The Marathon Continues: In Memoriam of Ermias Asghedom
It's been three years since the death of Nipsey Hussle. His legacy lives on through his music and the work he has done to make his neighborhood a better place. All of the things he'd done for the community stemmed from his current situation. It demonstrates how much he is willing to do for the community, and shouldn't we reciprocate?
I've seen what he's done for the community through articles, and how it's grown. I've come to realize that it doesn't matter what stereotypes they imposed on you; what matters is you. You are the only one who can rise above the difficulties you are facing; it only takes one dream for us to be better, to do better. Nipsey did that; he saw how things were, and he became a pillar of the community as a result. He became a philanthropist because he saw how much struggle they went through, and he doesn't want the next generation to go through the same thing. He was laying bricks and eventually built a wall, and from there he stayed because he wanted to continue helping the community, and he didn't forget. Dreams, plans, and faith, it was bigger than Nipsey, it’s bigger than life.
It's generational, teaching us to own things because, as he says, "it doesn't mean anything" if we don't. I think it's important because it doesn't matter if we're here for a long or short time. What matters is that we were able to be selfless, and that act of kindness and love for the community is unrivaled in life. Being present, showing and giving support to a place where you grew up is what success and happiness are all about; it doesn't matter if you have all the money in the world, what car you drive, or what position you hold; all of that can be taken away in an instant. The imprint you leave on this world is important because we all want to be remembered as someone who made a positive difference in the world; we don't want to be remembered as a nobody who didn't do anything in their life because we're too preoccupied with material things, thinking that they will make us happy, but what happens when you lose everything? Happiness does not come from material possessions; rather, it is created by you. You give your life a whole new meaning and feeling because it's the right thing to do. Be the color you've always wanted to be in this world of black and white.Go out there and start doing everything you want to do for yourself, not for the sake of others. It may not apply to others, but at the very least, do it with integrity, stand up for what you believe in, and give cause.
Nipsey Hussle did a lot of good for the community. Education, gun violence, marathon clothing, job opportunities, and music. All of those things were done for the benefit of the community. People would often see a place terrorized by guns and bloodshed as a lost cause, he believed in something that most people would not. Nipsey created Dropping the Rope, in which real assets can be used to help and care for people. He inspires and encourages future generations to learn and do better because what he said about "Dropping the Rope" is applicable to more than just finding a way to help people. “We playing the long game. We don’t want the money to stop when we go. When we can’t work no more. We want it to outlive us, we want it to be generational” as Nipsey said to FOX 11 reporter Leah Uk.
I believe that music is a universal language in the sense that it has its own way of connecting with people. It's not just about being able to hear them and experiencing various emotions. It's also about comprehending what the artists are attempting to convey. Even though I didn't grow up in that environment, I was able to relate to it from a different angle because we all face challenges in life. Nipsey Hussle's music serves as a wake-up call whenever I'm feeling lazy or uninspired as a result of what's going on. He is one of my role models not only because he was able to rise above his circumstances, but also because he inspires me to be a part of the community.
...For all of us, the marathon continues. We will always prosper and prevail, no matter what the challenge. There is no challenge in this world that we cannot overcome; we simply need to believe in ourselves, even if our own blood does not. If there's one thing I admire about Nipsey, it's how everything came to be with nothing but dreams and faith in our hands. It's a powerful thing in this world because it hurts people when we dream and prove them wrong. Invest more in ourselves rather than things that no longer serve us. "Fuck what they say, do your sh*t" THE MARATHON CONTINUES!
