Challenge: Leave a legacy, make a difference and Think with the end in mind… DO (something) GOOD & BE GOOD (to others), everyday (What’s the worse that can happen?). Start right now!
I guess I’m a bit of a nerd because I read the news like… it’s a hobby. I’m interested in the world and the interactions of people. Especially people that look like me. Especially children that look like me. Especially women that look like me. NOT that I ignore anyone else but… my interest tend to gravitate towards that which I can immediately identify with…. I came across this article on MSNBC. It’s heartbreaking. The comments made by a young woman, Latoya Bell, are even more heartbreaking…. I’ll let you read it for yourself.
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MILWAUKEE - The last defendant sentenced in a group sexual assault on an 11-year-old girl was ordered Wednesday to serve five years in prison.
Seventeen-year-old Terrell Jefferson was the 14th person punished for his role in the Labor Day 2006 assault. Authorities said as many as 20 men and boys engaged in sex acts with the girl over several hours. A 16-year-old girl was accused of helping get the younger girl to take part.
Jefferson, who was 15 but was charged as an adult, has apologized to the victim and said he takes full responsibility for his actions. Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner told Jefferson in court Wednesday that the girl has had a difficult time.
Reverse psychology (and Jedi mind trickery) only work on the unsuspecting, Jesse. Always suspect. I can’t say with certainty that Ole Jess is jealous of Obama’s station but my first thought is… he (Jesse) can certainly identify with the word. NOW, let me say this, in order to be fair and kind of balanced I DO hate it when black folk get around each other and all of a sudden (on one hand) become down with the afro pick complete with the fist and on the other speak as if they have “arrived” (so why haven’t you)… I hate it when (doing business), tather than address you as sir/ma’am, it’s brotha/sista/”pimp”. That bugs me and I’m terribly averse to unprofessional behavior. Show me the same professional courtesy you are supposed to show ANY/EVERYone and don’t assume since we look alike that we’re that “cool”.
It’s argued that Obama speaks “differently” depending on the crowd he’s addressing…. Hmmm, i was always taught that a key element of public speaking is to know your audience… so as to identify with them.
Oh well.
I do think the Obama couple force “downdom” but I think it’s a well intentioned attempt/action. I like their perspective and I like what they represent as a couple. I will always respect the voice of social responsibility; in this case, if they didn’t speak on it– it would be another shot from the pundits on why he isn’t “black/diverse enough”.
I’d love to go on but this REALLY isn’t so much about Obama as it is Messy Jesse. His apology, in part, consisted of a mention that he’s regretful that his “private conversation” was… blah, blah, blah. So, but for the hot mic and the fact that he thought his conversation was private he would not be apologetic (because he wouldn’t have been “caught”)? You are a piece of work indeed.
Jacksons son spoke out, repudiating his father… his words reflected measured disappointment in his dad and soundly supportive of Obama. That’s a good thing. He needed to distance himself from that train wreck.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again– Jackson (and Sharpton) are smart men who have very little credibility. Credibility prevails, at least in my little mind.
Messing around with my camera phone (because I am NOT vain)... :-)
What did you do without me? Lol! I have SO much in my head that I want to share but I’ll have to measure my tantrums… time has not been my friend as of late. Wow, let’s see… where shall I begin…. Oh! I know, old faithful Jesse!
But first I have to share pics of the little monsters. Baylee and Tenka got haircuts today… me thinks Baylee looks like a dragon!
Ok, we all know this pedophile has 9 lives (most do)…. This “vent” (on this evening… at this moment) is not (EVEN) about him. I’m speaking directly to the IDIOTS who are, NOW (as in AFTER THE FACT), debating whether to play his music (a local radio station), signing petitions (the “approximately” 1000 black men) denouncing him as an artist and a person…. I’ve heard so many vile terms used for Kelly SINCE he’s been adjudicated…. I’m just curious to know where all of “you” were PRIOR to…. I mean, you all elevated him to this status, so what were you thinking BEFORE the trial (when one is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty)…. Where were you… around the time he was being nominated for an Image award, or reaching #1 status over and over, or selling out concerts, or collaborating endlessly…. How will this current view affect him in the future (or will “everyone” go back to bumping and grinding and promoting his god-complex as soon as he produces another “hit”?). Are you guys serious?
I shouldn’t have been shocked at the support Kelly received from women (especially and specifically) on Essence.com website…. Disheartening indeed but I don’t know why… Essence is proving itself to be just another opportunistic media outlet that will sell it’s soul….
My position remains the same. I’m judgmental and in my little mind I judged him guilty 6 years ago; I don’t know what could change my mind now. And, no, I really don’t care whether that makes me wrong or right. I’m consistently judgmental.
I’m not asking that people agree with me — I’d just like a little common sense (which, obviously, is not all that common). Exactly how do you “judge” someone after the fact? You made him.
In a jailhouse interview, a man charged with fatally shooting his wife and injuring his two children admitted to the crime.
Michael Turner said he was in a fit of rage when he opened fire in the family’s Mesquite home on Wednesday morning.
The 29-year-old said he killed the woman, 31-year-old Monique Turner, because, he said, she planned to turn him in to police for an outstanding warrant.
At the beginning of his interview with FOX 4, Turner asked reporter Scott Sayres if he could convince jailers to allow him to shower.
“I still got that girl blood on me from the day it happened. You heard me?” Turner said. “Put that on the news.”
Turner said while he intended to kill his wife, he did not mean to shoot the children.
“I shot their momma,” Turner said. “I’m terribly sorry, man, for shooting them kids. It was just, like, I guess, it was motherly instinct that — when the gun went off — to cover her kids up … and I just kept shooting,” he said. “I had a .45 caliber pistol, you heard me? All I had to do was pull the trigger one time at them kids and they were dead. So that just goes to show you I didn’t just target them kids.”
The children, ages 11 and 7, were wounded but expected to recover. An 8-month-old who was also in the home when the shooting happened was not hurt.
Turner said despite being shot, his wife was able to tell the children that she loved them. He said he then put the children in the bathroom and returned to his wife to finish her off.
“I shot her and then beat her to death. You heard me?” he said.
He has no regrets, he said. “Not for killing her, no,” he said. However, Turner said he was sorry that his children were wounded.
He also said that it was probably best that he was in jail and likely to serve a long prison sentence.
“I can’t control myself,” he said. “If you done tick me off to a way that I can’t handle it, I’m going to do something to you, man.”
Turner is charged with murder and two counts of attempted capital murder and is being held on $3 million bond.
He faces three other charges from three different cities, including one for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two involving drugs.
Now, I’m sure this video has made it’s rounds but I find that I MUST discuss it…. I was speechless! Aside from the obvious mental issues I’m not all that certain that this (case) will be the slam dunk everyone thinks it will be. Isn’t it plausible that, by some stretch of the imagination his public defender or, perhaps with pro bono assistance — this video could never see the light of day (as for as the court room)… (it can be argued this is not a legal confession, no?)…. If this interview should be admissible would it not do more harm to the prosecution? I know, I know, I’m probably being all sensitive but I can’t possibly believe this guy is mentally stable. He can’t be. And of all the stations… FOX got it. Surprised?
Starting April 1st, 2008 the nation’s second largest retailer will use the site as a promotional tool.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity,” says Ennis Blentic, Senior VP of Marketing at Target. “It’s a great chance for us to connect with some of our most valued customers and let them know about our great product line for 2008 and beyond.”
The company plans to have the regular writers do one post per week with the rest of the week devoted to posts that inform and educate customers about Target products.
I listened to I Choose by India Arie so many times during my commute home that it made me cry. It’s such a meaningful song to me….
- Can’t please everyone, when you try — it may only mean a lot to the person doing….
- Not everyone wants the best for you though you may always want the best for everyone….
- Can’t change a persons core personality and you shouldn’t let another change your core personality….If you’re “nice” don’t stop and become jaded…
- If you’re generous don’t stop giving….
- If someone is in need don’t stop giving…
Don’t change You just because of another persons lack of (whatever)…. just choose who you can assist and do it with sincerity, kindness, honesty and courage. Courage is such a remarkably strong trait… that flies under the radar (of necessities”). Courage transcends so much….
Can’t be everything to every one all the time (at the same time)….
I love musics impact on life– it marks time…. You can hear a song and know where you were and what you were doing, if/when you were dating so and so… times with “your girls” (or guys), good times, painful times…. There are songs that I specifically serve to cheer me up (thanks Yolanda Adams!) and give me hope and make me happy… and/or contribute to clarity…. I know approximately what age I was when “You Got the Best of My Love” was my FAVORITE song. Hahaha…When I LOVEDEDEDED EricB and Rakim!Diggable Planets…Guy!
Anyway, I’ll get back on track… enjoy this song. Maybe it means something to you too!
I Choose
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
And you can’t change where you’ve been
But today, I have the opportunity to choose
Here I am now looking at 30 ?(!) and I got so much to say
Gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think
But I can’t live for everybody; I gotta live my life for me, Yea
I’ve reached a fork in the road of my life where
Ain’t nothing gonna happen unless I decide
And I choose, to be the best that I can be
I choose, to be authentic in everything
I do, my past don’t dictate who
I am, I choose
I don’ been through some painful things I thought I would never make it through
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes
I’ve put myself in so many chaotic circumstances
By the grace of God I’ve been given so many second chances
But today I decided to let it all go
I’m dropping these bags, I’m making room for my joy
And I choose, to be the best that I can be
I choose, to be authentic in everything
I do, my past don’t dictate who
I am, I choose
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
And you can’t change where you’ve been
But today, I have the opportunity to choose
Release the guilt about why things happen the way they do
Cause life is gonna do what it do
And everyday I have the opportunity to choose
From this day forward, I’m going to be exactly who I am
I don’t need to change the way that I live just to get a man, no
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her today I’m grown
From this day forward every decision that I make will be my own
And I choose, to be the best that I can be
I choose, to be courageous in everything
I do, my past don’t dictate who
I am, I choose
And I choose, to be the best that I can be
I choose, to be authentic in everything
I do, my past don’t dictate who
I am, I choose
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
And you can’t change where you’ve been
But today, I have the opportunity to choose
Release the guilt about why things happen the way they do
Cause life is gonna do what it do
And everyday I have the opportunity to choose.
I like this too….
Three Little Birds
Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright.
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright!”
Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, (”This is my message to you-ou-ou:”)
Singin’: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright.”
Singin’: “Don’t worry (don’t worry) ’bout a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright!”
Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, “This is my message to you-ou-ou:”
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be alright. Don’t worry!”
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing” - I won’t worry!
“‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright.”
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright” - I won’t worry!
What’s even worse… Kilpatrick has (bad) history…. Tell me again why he’s still seated?
(At the least, Ms. Beatty [though WRONG] isn’t out talking to whoever will listen and she did resign….
Will someone please nudge Kwame to exit stage…now.
He’s about to get a self-manufactured (well deserved) beat down.
Batter… batter, batter…. Swing!
DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) – Not guilty pleas were entered Tuesday for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff in a scandal in which they are accused of lying under oath about an affair.
Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, face felony charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office.
Kilpatrick has been at the center of a scandal since January when the Detroit Free Press reported he exchanged romantic text messages with Beatty, contradicting testimony the pair had given in a whistle-blower trial.
Both Kilpatrick and Beatty declined to enter pleas Tuesday before 36th District Court Chief Magistrate Steven Lockhart. Lockhart entered the pleas on their behalf.
Lockhart set a $75,000 personal bond for both defendants. If convicted on all charges, Kilpatrick could face 80 years in prison and/or $40,000 in fines. Beatty could face 75 years and/or $30,000 in fines.
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Timeline of text messaging scandal involving Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
Prelude (or else you just won’t “get” the Candid Camera reference)
When I was little younger … I was Truman — it was My Show before it was The Truman Show (<you can click there for a clue)!
I was “reasonably” sure that my life was being played out on a camera just beyond that big wall mirror… there, there and there — especially the one in the bathroom; I was only slightly suspect of the very small one attached to my dresser…. either way, I was a supastarah!
I was the Lead-slash-Producer-slash-Director… and nobody knew but me! How cool is that?!
As part of his probation, Leroy Schad must have signs stating that he is a sex offender on his car and home. He’s only allowed to leave his Hudson, Kan., home for counseling, doctor’s appointments and to register as a sex offender at the sheriff’s office. Schad, 72, was convicted in March 2007 of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.
HUDSON, Kan. | A Kansas judge has ordered a convicted child sex offender to post signs around his house and a decal on his car proclaiming his crime.
Leroy Schad, 72, was convicted in March 2007 of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.
As part of his sentence, District Judge Ron Svaty ordered Schad to post the signs on his house and on his vehicle during his five years of probation and house arrest.
Hand-painted wooden signs reading “A Sex Offender Lives Here” are posted on all four sides of the his white house in this small central Kansas town of about 150 people. On his vehicle is a large decal with bold yellow lettering reading “Sex Offender In This Car.”
The signs went up a few months ago.
“It’s been pure hell,” Schad said.
The loneliness and isolation imposed by the house arrest are the toughest to deal with, he said, adding that the signs on his car have sparked threatening gestures from other drivers that sometimes concern him.
Schad was originally charged with four counts of taking indecent liberties with a 9-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy on March 24 and 25, 2005. As part of a plea agreement, the charges were dismissed and he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of solicitation.
With no prior convictions, Kansas sentencing guidelines for the offense range from probation to about three years in prison. Schad’s underlying sentence, if he violates probation, is 3 1/2 years.
Svaty declined to comment on his ruling, citing Kansas rules of judicial conduct.
Defense attorney Joel Jacksons said the signs were the judge’s idea but declined to comment further.
Schad cannot appeal his conviction because he pleaded guilty, but he has appealed his sentence to the Kansas Court of Appeals. A ruling is pending.
“I know that was wrong,” Schad said. “I know that I deserve something for that, but I don’t think I deserve what I got.”
Ron Keefover, spokesman for the Kansas Supreme Court, said he could not remember any other sex offense case with similar probation conditions.
“I’m sure there is nothing specifically that says a court may sentence in this manner, but I think that the court has latitude in terms of the conditions it sets,” said Helen Pedigo, executive director of the Kansas Sentencing Commission. “I think the court has the ability to kind of be creative in what they consider restitution to the community.”
Schad has lived in Hudson since 1971.
“He’s no problem,” said neighbor Pete Witt. “I don’t think anyone has any qualms about it. We have a lot more troubles with drugs in this town than we ever did with Leroy Schad.”
Great Bend real estate salesman George Shelton said he hasn’t lost any sales in Hudson because of the signs.
“Business is about the same,” Shelton said. “It’s never been booming, necessarily, but it hasn’t hit a low ebb either.”
Schad admitted that he molested the boy but denied the other dismissed allegations. He said he took the plea deal to spare the children the ordeal of testifying and to “get this over with.”
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I’m BACKKKKKK!
I abhor sex crimes as much as the next but I really don’t see the purpose (or deterrent) in this form of punishment (posting signs)…. If he’s a danger to society, to the extent that he needs signs (a forcefield!) around his home… should not he be incarcerated? His conditions of probation are not otherwise mentioned — I would hope he’s mandated to attend/participate in appropriate counseling.
As a deterrent, I don’t find this to be very effective either; the “work-around” is — offenders will be less likely to cop a plea and more likely to opt for jail time.
He’s not very remorseful at all (I was just touching… lasted less than a minute)! I actually think he got off pretty easy — if he feels so lonely and isolated, well, that’s all the more reason to go to/be in jail. In fact he can always decide to remove the signs, be in contempt of court and complete the remaining incarceration period.
Overall, I think his sentence is a little too creative and borders on cruelty — I don’t believe it will stand up to the Appeals Court review….
March 21, 2008 — Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer has gone into therapy in the wake of the hooker scandal that swept him out of office, a Spitzer insider told The Post yesterday.
As part of the therapy, Spitzer will explore whether he has an addiction to sex, the source said….
There’s more– but I don’t need to say it. You can read it
Al Sharpton, of the National Action Network, and the West Palm Beach NAACP have decided to provide their services to four rapists of a Haitian mother and her 12 year old son.“I have never seen anything that would resemble this crime, with the brutality and the manner they did it,” said West Palm Beach Police Lt. Chuck Reed, a 29 year police veteran.Lets remind ourselves of the heinous crimes that occurred June 18, 2007:
A group of armed young men forced their way into their home, after telling her the tires on her car were flat.
The rapists repeatedly gang raped the mother and beat mother and son for approximately three hours.
They forced the mother to perform oral sex on her son.
They smashed a plate over the sons head and repeatedly beat the victims with fists and glass objects.
The rapists poured ammonia on both in an apparent attempt to destroy DNA evidence; chemicals got into the boy’s eyes.
They were forced to lie naked together in the bathtub and hit with a broom and a gun and threatened to be set on fire.
About 48 hours after the attack, the boy still lay immobile in a hospital bed, a 1 1/2 -inch scar stitched across the top left of his skull and bandages covering both eyes.
The rapist boldly took cell phone pictures to record their violent, immoral and sadistic acts, stole the victims purse, phones and jewelry; then stole someone else’s car from the complex in order to escape.
The victims walked a mile to Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Rev Sharpton showed up in in West Palm Beach to temper tantrum to the media — attempting to draw parallels between the Dunbar Village attack and an attack he thinks is (”obviously”) similar that took place in Boca Raton by white youths on New Years Eve. The boys in the Dunbar Village attack were not granted bail while the other youths were — Al thinks the Dunbar Village boys are being unfairly treated. (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/03/11/0311sharpton.html?cxntlid=inform)
I’m a little confused as to what, specifically, Sharp-Al’s purpose is.
Still reeling from the fact that there is so much celebration about the latest Hollywood single mother– Halle Berry, having a baby girl. Good for her! I’m glad she has a healthy child. I guess it’s OK because– it was planned (years ago… with a TBD dad), she’s rich, (selfish [imo] overall), gorgeous… oh, and rich. Obviously, that’s all that really matters….
I don’t know why I continue to feel disappointed at the fact that I know so few happily married couples. Worse, it seems to be… ok. I read this morning… Gov (NY) Paterson’s preemptive admission/”confession” to having a years long extramarital affair (one among many)… and his, well she cheated too, wife (did) too. Whoa! I guess this is… sorta like — mutual combat being fair game. I’m not judging…
From New York Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/17/2008-03-17_gov_paterson_admits_to_sex_with_other_wo.htmlThe thunderous applause was still ringing in his ears when the state’s new governor, David Paterson, told the Daily News that he and his wife had extramarital affairs. In a stunning revelation, both Paterson, 53, and his wife, Michelle, 46, acknowledged in a joint interview they each had intimate relationships with others during a rocky period in their marriage several years ago.In the course of several interviews in the past few days, Paterson said he maintained a relationship for two or three years with “a woman other than my wife,” beginning in 1999.As part of that relationship, Paterson said, he and the other woman sometimes stayed at an upper West Side hotel — the Days Inn (< << the same one he took his wife to) at Broadway and W. 94th St.
I’ve been told that what I want is a fairy tale… not true. I’ve just — “been there/done that” and don’t view marriage as a competitive sport. I’m glad the Paterson’s reconciled their marriage and I hope their children learn whatever valuable lesson this is supposed to be.
Is it me or does this story smack of tabloid? For some reason, after I read it… I was disappointed. I could infer SO much from what’s said and what’s not… but I won’t. When you remove everything that’s irrelevant– there’s not a whole lot of substance (ESPECIALLY when you’re talking about a 13 year old who’s in the hospital from a gunshot wound!). The picture above is mom’s covergirl shot (she declined to give her age though). I sure hope the real victim in this is OK.
From Washinton Post
Staff Writer: Hamil R. Harris:
A Navy sailor accidentally shot and critically wounded his 13-year-old stepson at their home in Upper Marlboro when he opened fire on a man who had intervened in a domestic dispute, according to Prince George’s County police and the child’s mother.
Kimeka White said the dispute began Wednesday night when she and her husband, Marvin, were watching “Why Did I Get Married?”, the Tyler Perry drama about women who find new love after troubled relationships.
White, who declined to give her age, said she told her husband she could relate to a female character who was ridiculed as being too fat to fit into an airplane seat.
According to White, her husband said to her, “I told you, don’t put us in that situation.”
White said she sneezed, and her husband took offense. They began to argue, she said, and her sons — ages 13 and 17 — emerged from the basement, where they had been listening to music.
Check out this video! A big THANK YOU to (ONE) of the brothas who tried to stop the attack…. He showed amazing restraint– I don’t know if I could have… I’m throwing punches just watching!
Charmayne Brown
As if, on que, the Vatican released 7 “new sins”… I guess — “deadlier ones”. Speaking of sins… On to El Spit. Errr Uhh that’s, Eliot Spitzer. Since he’s going to “re-create” himself, I’m thinking — why not a new and improved Rat Dog/Taco Bell mascot– monikered, El Spit, or The Spitzer or The Spitzerator or Spit-Dog/Spit-Dawg or El-Dog….
Act the part… Live the part. Be the part!
Good fit to me….
Hip-hop/popular culture and The Hip-Hawtness himself, Mr. Kwame “Keep it Pimpin” Kilpatrick aside… it’s just strange… downright disturbing even, to see white people get gangsta! It’s even more disturbing when that “gangstaness” becomes so commonplace it only holds our interest for .05 seconds (in media time not real time). And worse yet… Politician Gangsta’s…. Doing what ever the heck they want…. Snatching up elections. Jacking up voting sequences (and everything else voting related). Stealing money/money laundering. Tax evasion….
But sex.
Wow!
Sex is, officially the play-thing du jour of Politico’s… The more deviant, the better… solicit gay sex, solicit straight sex, solicit adulterous sex, solicit kiddie sex, solicit same-sex kiddie sex… solicit internet sex, solicit Page sex… sex, lies, videotape (add) wire tap, text messages … and murder death for good measure and diversity.
Overwhelmingly, African-American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. In fact, they represent only 15% of the total US population but make up 35% of the children in foster care. Of all CASA volunteers, only 12% are African-American. Read more aboutdisproportional representation (857 KB PDF). Become a CASA volunteer and become an everyday hero to a child who needs you! >>>http://www.nationalcasa.org/aao/index.htm
Ok, I’m trying to be less angry but I’ll start tomorrow: A nearly 2 hour commute will just do that to you. Here’s what I experienced on my way home.· I was road-raged by a Priest. I think he forgot he was collared until I gave him the “peace be unto you” sign. Then he smiled and promptly lit a cig. He didn’t expect we’d be stopped at a light together. ·I heard a new, allegedly, “hot” song by Teyana Taylor…. hideously titled, “Google Me”. Every super hero needs a band so I’m going to make a song. I’ll sample the beat from Lil’ Mama’s “My Lip Gloss Be Poppin’” and as soon as I can find enough words to rhyme with dumbassification I’ll be poppin’ too.·I heard the “new” Soulja Boy song. I don’t know the name of it– I can never get past his diction. I do know the predominant words are Yah…Trick…Yah…Get out my face. It get’s no better.
I “overhear” conversations a lot. It’s (almost) a hobby…. Today I had the displeasure of experiencing a young man who was to the point of physical confrontation because his girlfriend or wife was having a boy rather than a girl. He yelled “what good is a little girl to me?”. I’ll set aside, the fact that if he’s this out of control in public one can only wonder how private mattesr are handled…Because I have an opinion on most everything, Mr. Man, I’ll tell you what good you are to your daughter (from my perspective).I learned all I needed to know about relationships, respect and self respect from my dad. Was he perfect? NO! Teaching me by word, action and example — some things were strategic and others were “by accident” (in both good and bad ways).While my mom was in the hospital, my dad had to get the kids ready for school — my brother was a pretty easy. I, on the other had– not so much. You see, I had this head full of hair that my mom knew just how to finesse. My dad, a disabled vietnam vet with a paralyzed right had took charge. Perhaps this is where I learned to look confident even when I’m scared to death. He managed to get my hair into ONE thick pony tail that sat haphazardly off the side of my head. Just one stressed pony tail holder… no other accoutrements. No water. No Blue Magic hair grease (it was actually blue… and T-H-I-C-K!). My poor braid just sat there– If my life were a cartoon my braid would have pouted with crossed arms in stubborn protest. Instead it was just there… dry, lonely and I’m sure… afraid. I know I was. I was only in pre-k but I didn’t want to go to school. That nap couldn’t come soon enough! Somehow I made it though the day.
He was my protector. When I rebuffed Boy “X” and pushed me into the corner of a wall on which I scratched my eye — my dad was at the school bight and early the next morning (picture day!) to “meet” with the parents (for once [and only at that moment] it was a good thing the father was absent). Never had another problem
with him though: <<<< notice the scar!
They let me mess up sometimes… see the other mini-me picture. My brother used to get “blow outs” and I thought it looked right snazzy so I begged and pleaded for one too. My mom finally relented and… this was the first of many “mistakes”– it seemed that every year was adventure when it came to school pictures. I was so mad at myself for insisting…. The result:
Please stop! I usually laugh when I hear this EXCUSE because a few short years ago I was laughing at the “independent” women who were proclaiming to the world: ”I don’t ‘need’ a man”. Ha! Well, unless you’re dependent, disabled and/or perhaps co-dependent who really does “need” another person? But that’s wasn’t the implication. ”Need” in this context was thrown out as an insult. I never subscribed to that thought because I recognize there is a difference between a reason and an excuse. Most of the women I heard saying this were using it to “excuse” the fact they were unhappily single. Or as an “excuse” to justify why their latest romantic involvement went awry.
Actress Terri J. Vaughn sits down with 25 of Hollywood’s African-American actresses to discuss how they deal with being in today’s entertainment industry. While media floods unrealistic ideas to the general public about these women, this documentary allows viewers a candid, unscripted exposure into the minds and hearts of these actresses. Ms. Vaughn sincerely removes these women from the characters we know, and reveals the essence of the real women. These actresses open up to talk about their fears, disappointments, successes, families and careers. They drop pretensions about this industry to unfold basic truths about life. This film is star-studded, yet without hair and make-up, one gets a glimpse of reality and the real people underneath the illusion; a rare thing in Hollywood. The state of “Black Hollywood” is in a serious quandary, and these women hold no tongues when discussing their plights and obvious issues that are often quieted. Yet in that same moment of seriousness, each actress is able to relish in the splendor she brings to our television and film screens.
BUST it BABY… casting “call” and who is Plies, anyway?
It’s another sad day folks. Why do I subject myself to this? Because I have, literally, prayed to be in the position to be of help to others… Help prepare the next generation… if in no other way than facilitating the importance of proactive thought and (equally important) — being in a position to act, seek and accept opportunities…. Attached, is a “video” — supposedly a TV show that’s in the concept or production phase and I’ll tell you… I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen. When I’ve been passive or passive-aggressive with my head stuck in the sand because I “found” that I was too busy to pay attention to social issues—shows like Flavor of Love slipped my radar. Now I’m not pretending I have all this clout and my “voice” will be the end all… but my id/ego/superego believe one voice beats no voice at all so WHY NOT mine… so there.
I think I got “it” from my daddy. A true man of strength in an era of many (and whom internalized the importance). He once “picketed” the mom&pop corner store (reminiscent of “hell no/we won’t go”) for not refunding my money for a bag of stale chips. My brother “helped” too. People laughed, others were curious… I didn’t “get it”.
I was mortified… but I wasn’t wrong and they stood up for me.
And I appreciate that (now).
I don’t yet know how I would go about protest but I will make it known to the parent company, network affiliates, advertisers… and common folk that this is not acceptable and when you find that you believe it is… you’ll find, too, that this in merely a prelude…
Are these “artistic endeavors” only black-stamped approved when “we” act in and/or produce them? Today I was directed to the website Ban Shirley Q. Liquor! I have to say: I am shocked and appalled… just SHOCKED and APPALLED (as I am with ALL of these “types” of “entertainment”)!
Let us revisit the impact of FUBU stage plays and movies that depict AA women in a less than flattering (spot)light.
I went to the website to see what all the PROTEST was about and I couldn’t tell I wasn’t at the website PROMOTING Mrs. Shirley Q. Liquor—they offer a pretty vast sampling of his work…. Hmmm, I guess it could be there to show his “works” and allow one to be educated on the many reasons they should ban him– but it doesn’t look that way to my small mind.
(The Ban Shirley Q. Liquor website will herein be referred to as BSQL)
From the website (link is at the bottom of this page… if you feel so inclined):
I’d like originality and substance for $500, Alex.
PLEASE!
I’ve not made it a secret that I abhor the lot of black stage plays.
Here’s why:
TOO often they play into (and perpetuate) the whoa-is-me-lawd-why-won’t-you-send-me-a “good”-man-even-if-he’s-drug-addicted-recently released-from-jail theme that black men and women alike seem to find entertaining.
I don’t.
More recently it’s the big black fat gangsta-grandmother we’re finding entertaining.
Not I.
Can I identify… well, sure.
Would I ever seek it out as a form of entertainment?
I thought about this subject while viewing the trailer for the movie Cover. The teaser shows a man leading a double life… good husband, good father, accomplished-looking life (nice house/car, affectionate home life) and “chick” on the side… in the form of another man. Wife finds out and somebody gets killed. The movie may be great but that’s about all I know.
Some folk fight mighty hard to remain ignorant… and silly. Black people are the perfect vehicle to scare the hell out of other black people… and the media—it’s ever so faithful vehicle-voice, is only SO willing to oblige this “crusade”… and we take it all in AS IF– they are telling us something we don’t know. Heterosexual African American women are contracting HIV/AIDS at an alarming pace. GOT IT!
That’s a mouth full that could take me in so many directions but I’ll try to focus….
(Consider the dollar-power of African Americans and then consider it in relation to the generational wealth of the average AA family)
If you accept the average black family starts over every 18 years (and I do) then you must, too, accept wealth isn’t MERELY a life-cycle accumulation of money and “stuff” (meaning it’s accumulated from scratch…grows and is spent by the time one dies)….
Sidebar: (I have absolutely no statistical data to support my position so I must stress this is my opinion based on observation. )
I wonder: do white people hustle their “own” like black people do?I can’t watch an entire TV show or listen to a segment on the radio without seeing/hearing advertisements for payday loans/check cashing shacks/bad credit-no-credit-all-is not-loss-as-long-as- you-disregard-the 45% interest rate predators….These are not white people on TV trying to get black people to buy into a shady deal, by the way—these people look like the people they’re preying on.
And “we” buy into it… and “they” know it—put a black face on it and they will come….
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PR Newswire) - The Target Corporation (TGT) has purchased the popular blog
<< the same one he took his wife to) at Broadway and W. 94th St. 
He managed to get my hair into ONE thick pony tail that sat haphazardly off the side of my head. Just one stressed pony tail holder… no other accoutrements. No water. No Blue Magic hair grease (it was actually blue… and T-H-I-C-K!). My poor braid just sat there– If my life were a cartoon my braid would have pouted with crossed arms in stubborn protest. Instead it 
<<<< notice the scar! 
