Thursday, January 26, 2012

You Are Here

You Are Here!
Who is the most ghetto of them all?  Well according to Tasha Mack it's Mrs. Dr. Melanie Barnett-Davis.  If you caught episode 4 of season 5 of The Game on BET, you know that Melanie tried  to prove that she's more cultured and refined than Tasha (and all of the other Sunbeams for that matter), once again.

Using her "President" status to veto Tasha's fashion choices for a fashion show she's successfully organized for over five years, Melanie keeps trying to set herself apart and above the rest.  Could it be because her husband is the Derwin "Boom" Davis?  Or perhaps it's because she did graduate from medical school?  Or is it because unlike Tasha, she grew up in Connecticut with doting parents and a picket fence.

Regardless of the reason behind Melanie's "better than the rest" attitude, it's not far-fetched from real life.  How many of us have had conversations between friends, co-workers and peers who depict pasts, former life-style or childhood scenarios as being the ideal situations for what sets them apart today?  If you don't have friends or associates like that, perhaps it's you I'm speaking of.  The truth is so many people draw imaginary lines and create impromptu rules to make themselves feel worthy and even superior to others.

I have a dear friend who once went on a little too long about how being from a two-parent home set her apart from most other Americans.  She discussed at length about not being from a single parent home and thus, dispelling those standards for her own life.  She hit all of the redundant news statistics about how grim and unfortunate the lives were of children from single parent homes.  She contrasted the benefits of a two-parent family home-life and the dreaded life one must have endured from a single parent household.  I agree, there are definite perks accompanied by a two parent home.  However, I had to remind her that after all of those benefits, she was still working in a cube next to me- one who was raised by a single parent.

That awkward moment of silence only lasted a milli-second and our friendship stayed in tact.  Sometimes we need to be reminded that no matter how good, bad or just plain old different our lives or careers begin, it's really about where we're going and where we are at the moment.  Doctor or not, Sunbeam President or not, Tasha reminded Melanie that she's still just a Baller's wife, who doesn't do anything else.  Calling on all Melanies of the world, "Your past circumstances are not neccesarily worse or better, just different!  Recognize that!  Where you were is where you were; where you are is where you are and niether means you have to or will remain."  Hopefully, all of the Melanie's of the world will begin to respect and appreciate their peers for being just that-peers!

What do you think? Was Tasha right on the money or does Melanie really have it going on?

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