Proverbs have historically been used for African and Black
American youth for mental, spiritual, social, and/or physical
preparation in moving toward specific wholesome goals. The time
period in which Black American Proverbs have been used have
determined their content. From the beginning Black Americans
have come up with profound and powerful proverbs to help pave
the way for Black youth in going through a hostile "alligator"
filled path of life. For the 65% of American history when formal
slavery of Black people was present, Black folks' Proverbs
related to being "safe and secure" (implying staying on the
negative side of the Thinker's Scale -- i.e. a positive and
negative ruler separated by zero) -- meaning having an
orientation to survival, self-preservation, and self-protection.
An example is the "Keep going" proverb of Harriet Tubman
pertaining to escaping Slaves. During the subsequent 25% period
of informal slavery there has been an expansion of the "Be Safe"
proverbs of slavery to include those for me