Behind Every Great Man...

I was bored the other night, so I looked for a movie to watch, one from my own personal collection. Classes were about to begin for the semester, so I wanted to take a chance to enjoy myself before the rush of the new semester started to bumrush my senses.

Didn’t feel like dealing with romance or drama, so “Save the Last Dance” wasn’t an option.

And I didn’t particularly want to watch anything too violent without some friends to enjoy the mayhem with me, so “Live Free or Die Hard” was out of the running as well.

I wanted something simple, but not idiotic. Humorous, but not too offensive.

So I opted for “Undercover Brother”.

Most of us are familiar with this quasi-blaxpoitation spoof film, starring Eddie Griffin, Chris Kattan and Denise Richards. Carrying one of Dave Chappelle’s best film roles in tow, I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout this movie.

However, one of the funniest lines in this movie did something to me this time around…

Undercover Brother: You know what they say, behind every great black man...
Conspiracy Brother: is the police.
Undercover Brother: No.
Smart Brother: A bunch of slow white athletes?
Undercover Brother: No!
White She-Devil: A cute butt.
Undercover Brother: NO!
Lance: Probable cause.

Eventually, our hero is able to throw out that age-old cliché line that behind every great black man is a great black woman.

Now, I’ve always been able to over look this line and chalk it up to what I just said: cliché. Everyone one, from pastors to reflective college professors, has sprouted out this line at some point or another. However, for some reason, I started to sit and ponder on it.

Allow me to say this. By no means am I great yet. I mean, my ‘fro is growing to be a force to be reckoned with, but that’s about it.

All the same…were I great man, who would be behind me? Does that over-played adage apply to me?

And automatically, the answer came rushing to me, without challenge or second guessing.

I won’t lie; this woman can sometimes come across as naïve or fragile. When looking at her, “invulnerability” or “physicaly supremecy” are hardly the first things that come to mind. But to leave at the first impression would be your folly, because I have seen first-hand the strength that resides within this woman.

As a Christian, the Bible ends up being my resource and the main backdrop for my beliefs and standards. In this instance, I shall do the same. Enter the famed Proverbs 31 Comparison.

Proverbs 31: 13-15a – “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family…”

This passage describes a part of this woman to the T. Even when her body is screaming for her to stop or slow down, I have a cavalcade of memories of her constantly working hard. Almost as if working with some unknown secret X factor, she operates dutifully, taking care of business, handling her handle.

She has shown me how important it is to work hard. Honestly speaking, I am a hardcore creature of comfort. I may not necessarily go for mani/pedi combos or take the escalator versus the stairs, but if I can, I’ll definitely take an opportunity to nap my behind off. In watching her, I’m aware of how important a good, consistant work ethic is.

Proverbs 31:18,20 – “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night…she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

I think this goes hand-in-hand with the previous passage: she is aware of what her work is worth. We all know that the generous (pun intended) hand of the Millenium Recession has been slapping people up, left and right; she is not immune to the damage. In the same breath, she is fully conscious of the value of her hard work. Because if it were up to me…I’d probably give up and move to Canada or something.

She is also generous and open-hearted. One area that I’ve seen very evident in her is her willingness to serve, almost regardless of an individual’s situation…or her ability to give. In today’s world, it is advisable to don a hat of caution at all times. This woman has a nature to her that contests that ideology.

I wouldn’t call myself stingy, but if I’m at my last swig of Dr. Pepper…you’re probably not going to get it, unless I really like you. She encourages me, without speaking about it explicitly, to have a generous heart. 2 Corinthians 9:11 mentions being blessed (or rich, as the NIV translation states) so that “you can be generous on every occasion…”.

Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

I personally think that this woman is truly beautiful, but I don’t personally know of any other woman who fears and respect the name of God with such…adoration. I have heard this woman described as a prayer warrior, and I cannot think of any other way to describe her. I briefly mentioned her calm, almost passive demeanor earlier; don’t let that distract you from the strength that she possess. A believer in Christ, rarely would she offer any advice and admonition without bringing it back to God.

So, here I shall repeat myself. Were I to be called a ‘great man’, who would be behind me?

I am blessed with a crew of friends who love me dearly and have supported me for years, and I have a family behind me that is as real as it gets. But I believe that standing behind me, never moving or wavering in the position God granted her 22 years ago, is my mother, Margaret George.

Along with my father, she has been with me, behind me, supporting me since the day of my birth, doing what we all hear, but is usually the hardest put into practice.

Love me.

I am still but a seedling in the face of the man God wants me to be, but I know that without the die-hard persistence and dedication of both my parents, I would be nothing now.