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Color-Coded Culture January 11, 2010

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The issue of light skinned/dark-skinned has found itself at the center of today’s national political debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apparently made comments about President’s acceptability as an African American candidate stating that he is a light skinned African American who does not speak with the “Negro dialect” unless he wants to…. This comment was made as then Senator Obama was gearing up for his electoral run…. And now, America is up in arms about this comment and the subject was fodder for the Sunday talk shows and headlines are ablaze with accounts of Senator Reid’s subsequent apology to President Obama and the various civil rights leaders. Folk are calling for Sen. Reid’s resignation as Majority leader and the pundits are speculating that the remarks may have put his re-election bid in peril.

But why does Sen. Reid owe Black America an apology? His comment only places a longtime cultural dialogue onto the mainstream stage. We all know that the “general market” is less intimidated by the light skinned African American. The light skinned African American has always been more accepted by the mainstream. The light skinned/dark skinned battle has raged within our culture for centuries. In slavery, the light skinned black was the recipient of generous favor – often given the opportunity to gain education, own land and maneuver around with less scrutiny than that of the darker brothas and sistas. The issue of “passing” was a persistent benefit in the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Even now, the one that is light skinned with “good hair” is yet and still a preferential choice when identifying a more “favorable” black person.

We don’t need the mainstream to apologize. We already know that the light skinned person is more accepted. This is not news. So many studies and analyses have been conducted to prove the point and a gargantuan effort to overcome the stigma darker blacks have contracted because of this has been part of the fabric of our culture for years. The notion that the light skinned one is somehow better than being dark has wrought seemingly irreparable psychological damage on our people. We have been conditioned to perceive the darker skin as bad, dishonest, and somehow less valuable than the light skin….

The black elite contains more light skinned people than dark. The lighter black person rises to the heights of corporate promotion and opportunity while the darker one faces a more intense discrimination. Sometimes no matter the education, pedigree, experience… if you’re black, step back…

We don’t need the mainstream to apologize because we have perpetuated this self hate on ourselves for centuries. Back in the day, the standard for color-acceptability was the brown paper bag test. If you were darker than a brown paper bag, then you were too dark and would not be accepted into certain segments of black society. Daughters were prevented from dating brothas who were too dark because the darkness was a preventative from getting to the upper echelons of mainstream America.

On a global scale, the stigma of dark skin has catapulted skin lightening creams and cosmetic procedures to the top of the beauty industry. We have been duped into thinking that being dark is somehow bad…. The hair weave and pressing comb have provided an escape from our naturally nappy hair. All over the world, the notion of dark skin light skin and good hair, bad hair has caused us to be ashamed of who and how God created us….

While Sen. Reid’s observations are probably politically incorrect, he was only thinking what we know mainstream America thinks of us. And that is that the light skinned black is somehow more acceptable and less threatening in their eyes than the darker black person. Even Vice President Joe Biden made comments to the same, stating that “finally we have a mainstream African American, who speaks well….”

When President Obama was running for his office, an article appeared in Advertising Age, a marketing industry newspaper. This article examined the marketing strategies of the Obama campaign and expressed a perspective as to why even hardened racists would vote for him. The prognosis of the piece was that President Obama’s complexion makes him “acceptably black” and therefore white folk would be comfortable enough to hear his message and place a vote in his favor….. They called it the Halle Berry test.

It tickles me to hear light skinned blacks express outrage at the remarks of Senator Reid. They are the same ones who teased and ostracized dark skinned blacks in the ‘hood, in church, at college…. There are still black organizations that only admit and support light skinned blacks. In the not too distant past, and in some cases this may still stand, but you could always tell the girls who pledged Delta from the ones who pledged AKA because the AKA’s were always lighter. This collegiate fact was spoofed in Spike Lee’s School Daze(‘Your just a jigaboo, tryin to find somethin’ to do… you’re just a wannabe, tying to be better than me….) We still find light skinned black families who caution their daughters to stop dating a dark man based on their own sensitivities about skin color within our race.

It is ludicrous for Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele to get on national television and call for Harry Reid’s resignation and deplore the remarks. It’s fairly obvious to me that this light skinned consciousness is the same consciousness which allowed him to rise to the political heights to which he has attained? I bet he has been told of the paper bag test… I am sure he has engaged in this cultural self hate. I wonder how many times in his lifetime has he looked around his neighborhood and identified people as “too black”

Naw, Harry Reid doesn’t owe me an apology. We already know how white folk think of us. He has only brought to the light a secret that has plagued black culture for centuries…. there is an internal battle within the culture. The battle of light and dark. politically incorrect? probably. But we can’t get so up in arms about it because let’s keep it real-Long before he spoke, We were already a color coded culture….

For Love of the Game: Pistols and Basketball January 9, 2010

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Guns in the locker room??? really, Arenas?

So…NBA All Star Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards and his teammate Javaris Crittenton drew down on each other in the locker room. Yup, with guns…. Over a gambling debt. According to one story, apparently, Gilbert needed $60,000 to pay somebody from whom he’d lost a game of cards… Javaris fronted him the money… and when he asked about his repayment in the locker room, things got heated to the point where each man went to thier locker and pulled pistols…..

Pistols? in an NBA locker room? how many laws does that break? and why oh why are highly paid basketball players coming to work strapped? they were playing cards on the team plane, but playing for real… gambling and all (err, what happened to playing for quarters???) Debts pile up… somebody doesn’t pay or doesn’t want to pay and pistols are brandished in a false display of bravado, machismo, thuggism, and a very real display of foolishness.

So what is the deal with this exchange? I mean today’s NBA player is fabulously famous, fabulously wealthy and they play a fabulous game for a living. They travel the country, gain VIP status wherever they go… It’s a far cry from the ghetto…. So what’s up with the guns?? It seems to me that these young guys have it made…. They were pampered in High School, given a free ride through America’s finest universities, and now are paid millions as they take center stage in one of America’s favorite pastimes, professional basketball.

Even if the young men grew up on mean streets where being strapped could be a necessity, a priviliged educational experience and multi millionaire status would smooth the rough edges and every conflict is resolved through reasoning and attorney negotiation, not street justice. The young men are trying to reinforce thier perception of a strong man through the display of firearms, but that’s not strength plus the city is full of stories of men in jail or in the ground behind the brandishment of a weapon.

Gilbert Arenas says he had the guns at the arena to hide from his children. Bullcrap. Even responsible gun owners know how to store weapons around thier homes. And even if the safety of his children were the real issue, then why did Jarvis Crittendon have a weapon in his locker? Why are y’all carrying heat? If you’re so rich, why not hire someone to carry for you??? And why do you need to carry? So the burden of being a rich athlete is a life threatening proposition? So then the hoop dreams are more like hoop nightmares….

And in these days of terrorism, I am sure the people who run these facilities where professional basketball is played are reviewing and practicing extreme security measures, looking for signs of terror among the fans coming in and around the stadium… These days all facilities are alert to make sure terror does not strike. But I wonder if they ever ever ever thought that they would have to watch the players? Now Homeland Security has a whole new meaning.

And what message are you sending to young people across the globe??? It’s ok to pack heat? It’s ok to threaten the life of your teammate? And what of the old adage that if you’re going to pull it, you better be prepared to use it?

And now as the investigation into the episode unfolds, we find that Gilbert Arenas has been suspended indefinitely. But what about the other guy?? He is just as culpable. Further I’d want both contracts voided. Both men should be forced to make anti gun violence PSA’s and appearances around the country. Both men should meet and talk to those who have lost loved ones to the violence of guns…

The damage done to the leauge could be irreparable. They have worked through so much and now, this. The damage done to the black male image is irreparable. They already think of us as violent men who can’t control ourselves. These guys should be made into an example. They should bear the brunt of harsh punishment. Their star should be extinguished as a consequence of their actions. Second chance? no. Jail? perhaps. redemptive work in the community? definitely.

For Love of the Game – Pistols and Basketball……. dag

2010: Random Contemplation January 1, 2010

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Happy New Year…. not too long ago, the clock struck midnight and we ushered in yet another year. I love to listen to the city when it is in celebration mode. Yes, I received a load of invitations to New Year’s shindigs. But, as is my custom, I am here…. home… in the quiet…. playing my playstation two while wifey watches Shaq’s All Star Comedy Slam…. And trust me… we are completely cool with that.

Happy New Year…. we’ve popped a little champagne and asti spumante.. clinked our crystal glasses… and welcomed the new year in…. After our toast.. I took my crystal champagne glass outside and listened to this town celebrate the new year…

pop pop pop!!!…. bang bang bang!!! buck buck buck!!…. the guns are shooting off into the air….. true to form someone nearby is having a party and has turned thier stereo way loud… so loud that if this were not New Years, the cops would be called most ricki tik…. That’s how quiet it usually is around here… The music is bumpin though….. in spanish!!

I stand out front… in our super quiet neighborhood…. and listen….. The full moon is big and beautiful in the Southern California sky… and this town is off tha chain right now….. and me? ….. I take a sip of champagne… tske a deep breath of new 2010 air and go back inside….. and enjoy the peace and meditation of contemplation…. for 2010…. is the REAL year of change……

I look to the television… look! it’s the Black Eyed Peas!!! dang they’ve gained a lot of weight…. that’s what success will do for you…. I wonder if they resolve to lose that stomach…

I change the channel…. Green Day is live from LA Live… I bet that place is off the chain…

I wonder where the hot spot is in this town… I guess in the end it doesn’t matter…. I hope everyone is having fun… and being safe…

I’ve settled down in front of my Playstation….. looking forward to tomorrow’s dinner and football games….

Happy New Year, everybody…. Look toward the light…. Keep your head up…. for we have no where to go but up……..

2010… it’s our time….

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Tiger Woods’ Race War??? December 26, 2009

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I received this article in my inbox at the outset of the Tiger Woods mess… I immediately dismissed it as a far fetched fairy tale of conspiracy theorists and crackpots… but upon reading it a second time -and this some weeks after the story of Woods’ infidelities- I read it again just to critically analyze the article’s claims….

I’m not sure about all this, but I will say that being a part of a talk radio show known as Front Page over the years, I have met and talked to a number of scholars and well informed people who have long warned of a CIA-instigated race war…  read the article for yourself. I’ve inserted it here, but I must give credit to the originating website www.whatdoesitmean.com  Here there are supporting links with curious, yet interesting info…) Read…. comment… think….

To review, the CIA thinks Tiger is revered by the black population to the degree that his downfall would demoralize us and maybe just maybe we would take to the streets for war…., On a certain level ain’t nobody checkin’ for Tiger!!!

Tiger Woods ‘Takedown’ Reported Ordered By CIA

By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers

 An interesting FSB report circulating in the Kremlin today states that the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is behind an unrelenting media assault upon US golf legend Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods [photo top left with his Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren] and had ordered his ‘takedown’ in an effort to greater fuel their efforts to ignite a race war these forces believe is needed in order to socially re-engineer the United States as it nears total economic collapse.

The startling revelations in this report are reported by the FSB to have been released to Russian Glavnoye Razvedyvatel’noye Upravleniye (GRU) agents posted at the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. this past week by an “associate” of the head of the American private military force known as Blackwater (now known as Xe Services LLC), Erik Prince, who had just been “outed” by the CIA as being one of their main operatives involved in a covert plot to assassinate enemies of the United States. 

So angry was Prince over his outing by the CIA, that aside from releasing previously secret CIA intelligence to the GRU he blasted the American spy agency by publically stating to the US magazine Vanity Fair, “I put myself and my company at the CIA’s disposal for some very risky missions, but when it became politically expedient to do so, someone threw me under the bus.”

To the reason behind the CIA’s targeting of Tiger Woods, this report continues, is the ‘deliberate demoralization’ of Americas black raced population by the destruction of one of their most esteemed idols by the racially stereotyped depiction of him as an ‘out of control’ and ‘oversexed’ negro man unable to assimilate among whites.

Even worse, this report further states that the ‘main target’ behind the media destruction of Woods is President Obama, whom the CIA has calculated will suffer increasing alienation from his Nations white population (who number 75% of the American population compared to a black population of just 12.4%) by his being compared with Woods as both Obama and Woods are viewed as the two most popular of all black American peoples and reinforcing white Americans belief that ‘black men just can’t control themselves’.

New reports from the United States are showing that these CIA actions against Obama are indeed working as a just released Gallup Poll finds his approval rating falling below 50% among all Americans for the first time of his Presidency, and among white people alone falling to the chilling low level of just 39%.

To the disdain held by the CIA against Obama we can see evidenced by a report from a former member of the CIA’s Directorate of Operations named Kent Clizbe who states in an article titled “CIA Counterterrorism Expert: Obama and Holder ‘At War’ with Agency” that  the “Holder/Obama Global War on the CIA has only just begun.”

Not being understood by the American people, however, is that Obama’s war against the CIA is deemed vital to the survival of the black peoples of America who have been under an unrelenting assault by this spy agency for over 40 years and who have pumped literally hundreds of Trillions of dollars worth of drugs into America’s black communities (and reaping Trillions in profits) from their vast narcotics networks of cocaine from Colombia and opium from Afghanistan.

To the horrific destruction of American black peoples by the CIA it should be noted that the courageous investigative reporter Gary Webb first brought the insidiousness of this spy agencies actions in a 20,000 word, three-part investigative series titled “Dark Alliance” written for his then publisher San Jose Mercury News, but who under pressure from the US government stopped their publication of Webb’s articles, none of which were ever reported by the ‘mainstream’ US propaganda media. On December 10, 2004, Webb was found dead with two gunshot wounds to his head, which was ruled a ‘suicide’.   

So successful has the CIA’s genocidal destruction of the black population of America been that aside from having the World’s largest number of their citizens in prisons (Land of the Free?), the black population of the US is jailed at a rate of  3,138 black males per 100,000 against 451 per 100,000 of white males and leading Human Rights Watch to warn in a 2008 report that fully 11% of the black male population of the US were behind bars, and at just 12.4% of the American population they now make up nearly 55% of all American prisoners.

It is also interesting to note in this report that the CIA backed American tabloid newspaper National Enquirer is reported to have broken the scandalous stories about Woods, and which is important in that this tabloid was one of the main targets of the US Military retaliatory strike against the CIA following the attacks on September 11, 2001, when its headquarters building in Boca Raton, Florida was infected by the deadly anthrax botulism killing a photo editor named Robert Stevens who became the first death in what is now known as the “2001 Anthrax Attacks”.

To one of the most fearful conclusions of this report it states that with Woods “destruction by scandal” nearly complete, Obama will become so weakened among American white peoples that his effectiveness to govern will be destroyed, a most grim outlook especially when viewed in the light of the Global ratings agency Moody’s Investor Service now warning that the United States credit rating is in danger of being downgraded for the first time in its history and the US government also warning that their entire economy is in danger of collapse because their citizens are saving their money instead of spending it, and in an economy based not on making things but on consuming is vitally important.

Most unfortunately for these American people in all of these events is their utter failure to remember their own history, especially the events of the dark Great Depression year of 1933 when another of their Presidents, Franklin Roosevelt, when facing off against these evilest of forces was nearly deposed by coup called “The Business Plot” led by Prescott Bush (the father of one President, the grandfather of another) and which sought to join a new Fascist led United States with that of Nazi Germany which had, likewise in 1933, saw the seizure of their government by the US backed and financed Adolph Hitler.          

To if Obama, like Roosevelt before him, will be able to withstand and survive the war being waged against him it is not in our knowing. What is in our knowing though, is that unlike Roosevelt, Obama now governs a population of Americans of whom the majority have been reduced to nothing more than idiots and imbeciles and, like the peoples of Nazi Germany before them, are totally uncaring and blinded to the mass genocide of their black population that has been happening right before them.

© December 8, 2009 EU and US all rights reserved

Morning Glory: First Light Consciousness December 24, 2009

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I love waking up in the pre-dawn hours. The essence of being completely awake and alert in time to see the first light of God’s new day is exhilarating and empowering. Each day, I seek to detect the very moment that the sun pierces the veil of night’s darkness… The exact instance when the Sun’s ray’s explode over the horizon.

I’m not talking about that totally visible and dramatic moment of sunrise that we have seen in photographs, film and video… no… I’m talking about that short moment in time just before dawn’s explosion of light. The nano-second when the molecules of light first collide with and overtake the molecules of darkness. It is a moment that seemingly cannot be detected by video or photography. It is a moment that must be perceived and observed with your Third Eye… It is the moment just before your physical eye can behold the morning glory that is the rising sun as it illuminates the heavens and the stars which shone so brightly moments before but are now making a hasty exit 1 by 1…

” And God said, ‘Let there be light…’ ” Gen. 1;3

On most mornings, I am up meditating and excercising. 4 Am and I am outside embarking on my morning run. Usually a 7-10 mile run on most days. It is so still and quiet. The last vestiges of night’s denizens have gone in and the world seems to be completely still. Fully night. The darkest hour… I rise… I pray…. I run…. I listen. … I listen to the quiet. I am listening for God… He is there… I know it… I want to hear Him…and I want Him to hear me…At this hour there is nothing to do but be quiet and listen….. to the quiet….. listen……

And then, in a twinkling of an eye, the light comes. In that instant, I can actually hear the light colliding with the dark. I can perceive the light… it’s on but yet it is still dark… Have you ever been in a room or place where someone is taking photos with a flash, but you are not in the room or in direct view of the flash… you are just periphally conscious of the sudden burst of light. That’s what the instant of morning looks like to me… I see the light.. it’s like the flash but it does not diminish. It does not go away. It remains on… There is a discernable light all around me. But then I notice that not only is the light coming from the rising sun, there is a light emanating from my soul.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

When the sun’s light hits my consciousness, my inner light is energized. Like a solar battery is energized when exposed to sunlight, my inner light is energized. I am alive, recharged and powered up…ready for the new day… God has given me another day to share my light with the world for inside this light, He lives… This light is the force of God’s essence. This light is life’s energy…. for all things on the earth need sunshine. We need the light to see… We need it to share…. Light is the essential element for sight. We need to see… inside and out.

This morning light I have described is pure for it is at this moment the energy is untainted from evil thoughts, bad vibes and malicious intentions of those who dwell in the shadows. and so in the morning I run… I breathe, I open my heart and mind, my spiritual and physical consciousness to receive the pure essence of first light. The light empowers me and charges my life to do, think, act, and love… The light is the nucleus of my soul…

Now I know that most folk reading this are not up and moving about at this early hour. Most are turning over in their beds trying to capture a last hour or two of sleep. But think about it for a moment. There’s that instant in the morning when you awaken. You have been sleep all night and there is that moment when you wake up. You just open your eyes. It still dark, but nonetheless your eyes open…. You may glance at the clock, you may turn over and get even more cozy under your covers… and go back to sleep. But nonetheless you eyes opened and you did not rise to see the first instance of illumination. You went back to sleep. But the exact moment of God’s new day erasing the unconsciousness of night has not escaped you. Because after all, you heard the moment of first light in your consciousness. Yes, you heard it. Because in an instant.. in the early morning you were awakened by the voice of God from a deep sleep. Sleep so deep, that the next stage would be death. In that instant the solar batteries in your soul were charged and powered on… In that instant God turned on the light and whispered your name in your ear, telling you that another day is nigh… another day to act, think, do and love….God’s will. Get up and do something…. Yes. God called your name, you woke and opened your eyes.. but did you hop to? Did you get up to answer God’s call? or did you again close your eyes, roll over and go back to sleep????……

Some folk never see the light. It is all around them but they still cannot see… . Some folk never step out into the light…. we remain depressed, sitting in the dark… curtains drawn…. keeping God’s light out of their consciousness….. The solar battery in their soul has not been charged and needs a jumpstart. And so since they cannot get started with the light, they introduce alternative substances into the powertrain thinking that this will take the place of the light… abuse of drugs illegal and prescription..abuse of alcohol… sex addictions and perversions… other vices which seemingly replace the light inside thier soul. but in reality these things only dims the light and in the worst cases… completely extinguishes the light.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ” 2 cor. 4:6

Some folk receive the light but keep the light shuttered within thier soul. They do not allow the light to reflect as a beacon to humankind… Selfish. But the light is meant to be shared. The light is meant to be seen so that your light may be a help to all mankind. It is meant to help, guide and empower each of us through us. Love One Another…

Just think… those folk who do not see the light are fumbling around in the dark and maybe just maybe they need a little light to shine so that they can find thier way…. Your light is an essential element to other folk’s sight…. It may be in the kind words you say… the smile on your face… that encouraging word….. the most inconsequential action of lovingkindness emanating from the light you carry inside your soul could represent that initial pure light that pierces the veil of their darkness.. The solar battery of thier sou is powered on… And then the sun rises inside them… the dawn of a new day……. They can see….. no longer in darkness but inside the light because you shared your light……

” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16

Morning Glory……..

A Tiger’s Tale: Do we really care?? December 4, 2009

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Here's aview of the damage done as Tiger wrecks his ride after fight with wife...

This week’s news is peppered with accounts, recounts, conjecture and speculation of Tiger Woods’ crash in his front yard. Somehow, he ran his escalade over a fire hydrant and into a tree. Then his wife takes one of his golf clubs and smashes his windows out – stating she dragged him out of the wreckage of the car and to safety… yeah right!!

They didn’t fool anybody as, everyone has suspected a rat and we now know that Tiger was stepping out on his woman.. he’s got chicks on the side. The cold part about it is that one of these chicks released a recording of one of Tiger’s voice mails to her imploring her to remove her name from the phone as his wife is going through his phone and will more than likely call her and confront the issue of her man….

So Tiger’s been busted and is getting humiliated. While I wish that the public and the news media will let him alone to deal with his scorned woman and allow them to try and patch up their family, I can’t help but see that the public wants to denigrate this man and put him in the same category as an OJ Simpson. We are supposed to be shocked and appalled at this behavior that Tiger is displaying.. How dare he forsake his children for the attention of some fast women which he has met in his travels…

But who made Tiger a saint? I mean the stories of his philandering are far and wide and one of his favorite past times is gambling. In fact, I read an article that described how he was being honored at a formal banquet in Las Vegas and left his mom alone on the dais with the CEOS and such who were honoring him while he chilled in the High Rollers lounge putting down hundreds of thousands of dollars in bets on his favorite gaming table. That reads of a man who enjoys the fast, sporting life, not the sedentary life of a guy who comes home every night and snuggles with his wife and plays with the kids… He is not living the Huxtables’ lifestyle.

So, Tiger is a bad boy. And has been for a long time. So who decided he was a role model?? It is an assumption we put on this man. And so when he doesn’t live up to the assumptions and qualities we put on him, we are hurt miserably. I am not making excuses for Tiger’s behavior, I’m just saying that we may be expecting too much from him when we want him to be this wholesome image of American family.

Should we care about Tiger Woods? Well, there’s certainly a lot of items to worry about in our culture that weigh more heavily on the consciousness of the masses than whether Tiger is faithful to his fam or not. So in the end,  we expect Tiger to be honest, faithful, diligent and a all around good boy. But let’s face it: He gambles…. He likes the company of beautiful women…. He probably cusses…. But we expect him to be wholesome…..because why? Because we have invented this facade for him.  He’s a jet setter with no patriarchal influence coming his way…..

Fol don’t want to even connect race with this episode, but I think if you are conscious you can suppose that some if not most, mainstream America is going to see this episode as another opportunity to point and say look, the black man is not to be trusted. He cannot remain faithful to his woman and his family. It’s funny that this would be a concern because Tiger has never even claimed to be a black man.. He’s a Calibalasian… He’s not wanted anything to do with the culture. But yet, he would be right in the back of the bus with the rest of us.

Tiger Woods is not a role model. He messed up. and now has to make some hard choices of how he wants to live his life…. Is he a player? or not.

The Politics of Race December 3, 2009

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There’s no denying that this is an interesting and challenging time to be black in America. We have elected a black man as President of the United States of America which means the conscious image of the Black make once reviled, is now the premiere representative image of America’s might and power, Her leadership and her global consciousness.

Yes, the black male image was once reviled. A dangerous, shifty, not to be trusted man who could not – no- would not work, or take care of his familial responsibilities. And yet, in an effort to stimulate much-needed change in American Society, we, the people, elected the black man to lead the way. An notable accomplishment for a nation built on a foundation of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, miscegenation and outright racial terror. We have finally come to the moment, it seems, where Dr. King’s dream that we are judged by the content of our character, not by the color of our skin…

Even still, the politics of race has been energized through massive media outlets. The political rhetoric takes on a contentious tone reminding us just what grandma and them used to tell us while encouraging higher consciousness…” You have to be three times as good as them” It seems that every move of President Barack Obama is criticized, ostracized and minimized… There have been cartoons relating the President to a chimp… The watermelon jokes and other stereotypical literature..

The dishonoring of President Barack Obama is unconscionable. That is our President, the leader of the United States of America and he is due ALL the respect that you bestow on the one who holds that office.

That said, I have to ask, do we really expect white folk to suddenly stop having this feeling of supremacy and entitlement? We can change the laws of the land, but we cannot change the hearts of the people. The mistrust of the black male image is the underlining of the style of criticism we are seeing. The image of an African American man, highly educated, steadfastly married, father to his children, role model to millions is the image that most concerns mainstream America.

We cannot expect middle America to suddenly change their negative perception of the black people. We have to use this propitious opportunity to work on it ourselves… control how our images are presented to the world. Yes, they have their perception of us and that will always be present on the global media stage, but we control who we are and what we are.

Even those of us who choose to forget the stories past, certainly the images and rhetoric we see today should awaken that consciousness that says We cannot forget from whence we came in this country… we have to remember where we are and whose we are in this country, and stand strong to represent our progress.

For God has brought us this far along the way… delivering us, educating us, strengthening us, empowering us.. We owe it to Him to lift our image to higher heights.

Beyond the Wall November 30, 2009

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He gives power to the weak,
      And to those who have no might He increases strength.
       30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
      And the young men shall utterly fall,
       31 But those who wait on the LORD
      Shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
      They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-32

Running a marathon is a daunting challenge. I still marvel at those who lead the packs of tens of thousands as they complete the run in just over two hours.  Thus far my times have hovered in the six-hour range and for that I am thankful. I do not run for time.. I run to finish.

People often ask “what is it like?” And I always try to explain that it is a spiritual experience that words almost cannot explain. I mean, you train and train.. prepare and prepare… but still the obstacle comes… This is called “the wall”… The point in the run where your body is aching and your mind is questioning your sanity in even taking on such a task. The spirit of doubt starts whispering in your ear, telling you to quit… advising you that you will not make it to the end… This is where the conversation with God gets very real and very intense…

For me, this occurs right around mile 17 or 18.  My legs are aching.  My shoulders are sore from the back and forth motion. Even my beloved iPod music program is getting on my nerves… And then the conversation begins… I realize that it is at this moment that I have a direct line to the Almighty.  God is ever-present.  I start asking God to help me make it to the finish line. To give me the fortitude to stay the course. My body starts reacting, telling me to look at my hands.. I do. and they are swollen, looking like the mitts on the Pillsbury Doughboy.

I raise my hands above my head and the blood rushes back into my torso,  giving me a rush of energy…. My lungs fill with fresh oxygen and suddenly I am stronger,  I can make it…. I really can make it! The impact of fresh oxygenated blood fills my body and I move as if I have wings… yes, there’s pep in my step…  I can fly!!  I look around and people younger than me are stopping, quitting, throwing up, crying, giving in….

My legs are aching but I keep them moving. Like we used to sing as we ran in the Marine Corps.. “Pick ‘em up and put ‘em down, 40 inches all around… oooorah!!”

My mind’s state is on another level. I am not conscious of this world, for I am conversing with God.  “Lord, just take me to the end, Lord… Help me overcome this… take me through this wilderness to the Promised Land… Lord make me new….. stronger, smarter,  make me realize that as I complete this I will be a better person on the inside…  I am running and not weary.  As the old song says, Lord help me to hold out”

In the end, I cross the finish line and I break down in a frenzy of praise. I have never been able to contain my tears as I finish. I am ecstatic because I know that even with my strenuous preparation, I still need the Lord my God to take me through. And I thank Him!!! I praise Him!! Hallelujah!!!

In many ways, life is like this.. we prepare and prepare for our life’s goals and yet, we still find ourselves at that realization that we need the Lord.  Life is a marathon and not a sprint. We have to pace ourselves,  but then there is that time in our lives where we have been running and running… we’ve completed many miles but still have miles to go to get to the finish line… we are tired… aching, almost ready to toss it in…. but we wait on the Lord. We seek the voice of God… We inhale His ever-present essence. We converse with Him in a very serious and earnest way. And He energizes, revitalizes and we have not even broken stride in the run. Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…..

In everyday life and on the marathon course, I need the Lord my God to take me Beyond the Wall….

This is It: a fitting introspect October 29, 2009

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I had the honor of being at the Red Carpet Premiere of “Michael Jackson’s This is It” in Los Angeles. The Nokia Center was abuzz with papparazzi, crystal chandeliers and aerial artists as Hollywood came out to show support for this much anticipated movie.

The film is a documentary put together as Michael rehearsed for his “This is It” tour. The dates were announced in March of 2009 amid much hubbub and accolades… It would have been the King of Pop’s first concert tour in over a decade and as the apt title suggests, it would be his last… This is It….

Amid a hectic schedule of rehearsals and show development, Michael suddenly passed away on June 25, 2009. “This is It” the film is a journal of behind the scenes footage at those rehearals.

As a musicoloist of sorts, I have no problem saying Michael Jackson was truly one of the greatest if not the greatest entertainer of our time. That said, the journey I experienced through the viewing of “This is It” provided me with a newfound love for the entertainment genius that was Michael Jackson. Based on what I saw, the tour would have been his greatest ever… The music was tight, the singers, dancers, visual effects..even though we view this from a rehearsal standpoint, It was clear the MJ was about to blow it up across the globe.

The film also reinforces Michael’s concern for the health of our planet. a perspective finely woven into the essence of the film. He’s right, we must take care of this world or it will be consumed by Man’s greed for natural resources.

I was inspired, awed and impressed by the film. I loved seeing Michael in this light. He looked healthy, vibrant and still had his voice and his moves. I loved seeing a piece of the brainpower and effort that goes into a major production. I loved being reminded that Michael Jackson quite simply was and is…. THE KING OF POP!

Michael Jackson's This is It

Michael Jackson's This is It.... you must see this film....

BET Awards ‘09: Disappointment and Coonery June 30, 2009

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The BET Awards has emerged to be the single most important awards show celebrating black entertainment accomplishment. And while I really don’t watch BET on a regular basis, I have recognized the awards show as the preeminent show for black music and entertainment. I know that the show was hugely anticipated as parties raged in LA all week and stars converged from all points to the City of Angels to imbibe in the festivities.

And then we were all shocked by the news of the sudden death of Michael Jackson.

Now BET was front and center all over the world as THE place for a Michael Jackson tribute. CNN broadcast live from the red carpet.. All media, particularly those that wouldn’t normally cover BET were providing anticipation for what the BET Awards would be in terms of a tribute to the fallen MJ. The entire world was watching, through BET, how the black community would celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved Michael Jackson..

And then, true to form, BET’s show fell short, providing the world with a confirmation that our people… our culture is full of coonery and buffoonery. What was BET thinking??

I followed the preshow comments on twitter. Everyone, fans and industry heads, were wondering what in tarnation was happening. It was an utter joke. An gargantuan display of stereotypes and musical garbage.

Now, to be fair, there were some great moments in the show. The O’Jay’s tribute: Tyrese, Johnny Gill and Trey Songz did a great job and they were followed by the O’Jays who were…well, the O’Jays.. pros, awesome pros…… the duet with Jamie Foxx and Neyo singing “I’ll Be There”… The icing on the cake for me was to watch Janet Jackson sum up enough courage to come out and speak briefly to everyone. That took strength and fortitude… She was elegant, articulate and I pray for her comfort in this time of bereavement. Her grief will take a lot of time to stabilize from…..For me that pretty much summed up the positives.

The show was ruined by:

Lil Wayne and this new guy called Drake… What was up with the little girls dancing all over those grown men?

Ving Rhames: What was up with him? On the red carpet he was trying to explain to CNN that the Rollin 60’s gang are misunderstood.. On the stage, he tried to contrast Michael with a gun..an analogy that went over everyone’s head… this just after he tried to re-enact his role in “Baby Boy” with a shocked Taraji P. Henson and Tyrese Gibson. These antics ruined the presentation of Video of the Year, which I suppose is the highlight of this awards show…

Soulja Boy Tellem: To be fair, I already hate the song “Turn Your Swag On”.. so I guess this is a jaded criticism… To me his raps smack of uneducated buffoonery. A fact even more exacerbated by the atmosphere of a tribute for Michael Jackson… They could have left him off the performance lineup.

Joe Jackson: I am sorely disappointed that he is using this tragic time to promote a new record label.

New Edition: As we get older gentlemen, we need regular exercise…

Tiny: Ghetto Fabulous at the highest level. And the gum smacking, southern drawl made her look really wack. Perhaps that’s just her way… But I’m just sayin’

Frankie and Neffie: Couldn’t BET find something more positive to promote? I’m just sayin’…

T-Pain: I already had a beef with this guy since I saw him at the Grammy Awards two years ago… Big Ass Chain and sipping from a red plastic cup??? Stepin Fetchit is a good comparison.

Jamie Foxx: Shameless plugs of his upcoming tour…. I get it. I’m speculating that maybe BET was short on his normal fee and to compensate they allowed him to promote his tour.. I ain’t mad, but it’s the way it was promoted… it could have been promoted with much more subtlety and with much more class. Other than that Jamie was…well, Jamie… I ain’t mad at the moonwalk!!!

In the end, I was really disappointed with BET. I have wondered for some years now if they are purposely promoting coonery to the world as a strategy to keep us dumbed down. I mean the shows and videos are proof in the pudding. But for the Awards I would think they would kick it up a notch. I understand that the suddenness of the times caused a huge re-write of things.. The Awards are a huge undertaking and have been in the planning for months… BUT it seems that they could have done a better job…

Or maybe it’s not BET that we’re shocked with. Maybe the reality of current African American Pop Culture is too much for us to bear. We are looking for a scapegoat in BET when maybe we ought to blame ourselves. We have not taken advantage of the times to promote more positive images of ourselves. We have allowed the pimp, the hoe, and the baller image to permeate our consciousness.. Being dumbed down, illiterate and ill-mannered is at the top of our consciousness while the well mannered, sensitive, cultured black person is pushed under the rug.

So in the end, is it BET that we should be disappointed with? After all, they just did what they do. Provide us with a front row seat to coonery.

Or is it our fault for allowing coonery and debauchery come to the forefront when showcasing or describing our people?

I’m just sayin’…