So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.
2 Peter 3:14 niv
The cool guy in a jazzy expression has often been the envy of many. The jazz scene had seemed to embody the cool of the modern times. Smoke filled jazz lounge with people who’s demeanor exuded a cool styles and pursuits. The artist who dominated the era were described as” Cool as Ice”. The irony of the jazz scene was it was dominated with African-Americans. This era coincided with Jim Crow and the lynch mobs. The African-American experience was anything but a calm cool existential experience. Following the Reconstruction era, the migration of Blacks to the north and the growth of the cities brought about an music scene that was uniquely American. The Jazz artist was giving the world a new culture. The cool and laid back nature of the jazz artist is just an image. The artist of this era were aware of their surroundings and you could not think they were always cool. The image of a cool hip person however, caught on in American culture. The African -American culture had much to do with it’s birth and the white culture adopted and contributed to the vitality of jazz.
The cool African-American image was distinctly different from the white image. First, he was black. Second he rose above common guys issues. He was always ready to combat and confound the whites. The success and spread of Jazz was similar to how the cool guys image over came. He was accepted in the white culture when he would display his talents and charm. The uncool prejudice white antagonist was always a stark contrast to the cool man. This depiction would gain steam as many of our real heroes would display some of the same traits. The whites who witnessed these heroes of cool emulated these cool cats. The whites who thought of themselves as friends to the African-American laughed and enjoyed the confrontation between such characters and the gruff unpolished antagonist.
This image became a source of pride for me as I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. This image gave me a favorable view point by which to see African-Americans. Playing sports I desired to be the tough athlete who can perform under the pressure of competition with a cool demeanor. The accomplished musician and athlete had become larger than life icons in American culture. The image of someone being so accomplished and simultaneously smooth continues. This image is quite opposite of the many who are pop culture icons today. There are some who have managed to keep the cool in their image, but in the information age most are cynical of the image any famous or accomplished people put forward. The cool persona is not a image America readily embraces any longer. The scrutiny of social media and the proliferation of beefs and secrets exposed leave little room for the cool heroes of my childhood.
However, the calm spirit and analytical style of the educated adviser is desired and sought out by many. The truth is that most people are not cool, but desire to be cool or at peace. African -Americans often desire peaceful lives. Studies have found a calm mind has many benefits. I am unable to quote or list the numerous studies, but if you so desire look up the following topics:
Calm mind learning opposed to anxious mind.
Relaxed mind and health benefits.
The clear thinking of a calm mind.
Anxiety meditation ect.
The issue with all of the studies is how to get calm or at peace in the real world. The cool image doesn’t help us regular folk. The image of the first coolest guy sprung out of the African-American life. The reason this happened is a clue ; people ought to keep it cool.
The Jim Crow era was a result of white people reaction to the advancement of the Black man and the destruction of slavery and a way of life. The African-American ought have no inner conflict about his advancements. The whites however, rightly saw that they could no longer keep their status as superior race. The inner conflict they experienced produced the Jim Crow era. The ignorance of bigotry and racism produce an inner conflict for the oppressor. The oppressed are physically in a struggle against such ignorance. The oppressed are in the same struggles of life that the oppressors face ,but the added tension and violence bring life to critical cross roads at an accelerated pace for the oppressed. These moments and situations are what give our lives unique qualities and choices. The more I investigate our choices and purpose; the more I have seen God’s hand moving and acting. The big picture of life is that of God loving us in our situations. The parallels between Biblical stories and the African-American experience have so many intersections that I might right a book on it ,but today I want to say that the Bible is full of God’s desire to give us peace. The people in power or the oppressors often missed God because of their comfort and prosperity. Therefore, the offer of peace and fellowship with God Almighty seems empty and irrelevant. The oppressors often distort the Scripture in order to maintain the lifestyle they enjoy. Those who are least and the less hold onto the offers of peace with an intensity that is enviable. The hope for such a state of peace can take the smallest and weakest among people and fuel accomplishment and vigor that over runs the power and strength used against them.
This is why the culture of Africa-America often venerates and perpetuates the “cool” in it’s culture. The violence and hatred in America are the result of rejecting the peace of God and the conflicts within the hearts and minds. The best remedy is to be the example. The world is full of talking ,but the “cool” are being the example.
