Stop The "Domestic" Violence

In honor of National Domestic Violence Month, I want to share something with you.
Have you ever wondered how the cycle of domestic abuse is passed from one generation to another?
Well, watch this video;


*long deep breath*

I don't know where to start. It's bad enough that our children live in a world where pimping  is viewed as some kind of glorious lifestyle. Where groups like Three Six Mafia can win an Oscar for a song called, "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp".
Where in that same movie a song called, "Whoop That Trick" can soar to number one on the billboard charts.
But when you have someone encouraging his son to film his mother getting beat, it takes it to a completely different level.
Other than learned behavior, I can't understand why a coward  man will put his hands on a woman.
I also can't understand how a woman will stay with a man after he hits her for the first time.
But at the risk of sounding ignorant and insensitive, I'll keep my thoughts about that to myself.
If you know anyone who is being physically or verbally abused, please speak out and get them some help. Or else, you may end up like this:

Sunday Praise & Inspiration

Neo Soul Saturday

It's the return of Neo Soul Saturday here in The Board Room.

This week's featured artist is Zo!

Zo!(n) — 1. Metro Detroit-born, Metro DC-based musician/producer Lorenzo Ferguson. 2. An exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist who claims the piano/keyboard as his primary instrument, but is self-taught on the bass guitar, the drums, and most recently the guitar. 3. A Musical Architect who utilizes all sound elements to form original compositions that can be classified under no single genre of music.


Though largely known for his solo work, Zo! has collaborated with a variety of artists from the likes of Finale, Slum Village, Asylum 7, YahZarah and Sy Smith to Asheru, Kev Brown, Platinum Pied Pipers, Little Brother, and The Foreign Exchange. In 2004 he teamed with producer Waajeed of the Platinum Pied Pipers (PPP) to play keys on the lead single “Stay With Me” featuring vocalist Tiombe Lockhart, which appears on their debut album Triple P.


Zo! released his highly anticipated solo project SunStorm. So far the collaborating artists include: Phonte, Sy Smith, YahZarah, Rapper Big Pooh, Darien Brockington, Lady Alma, Jesse Boykins III Carlitta Durand, and Monica Blaire. SunStorm was released July 27, 2010 under The Foreign Exchange Music imprint. Zo! has also recently contributed keyboard work to producer/musician Nicolay’s 2009 release, Shibuya: City Lights 2 (“Shibuya Station” and “Wake Up In Another Life”) and production (“Shadow”), keys work, and bass playing (“Why Dontcha Call Me No More”) to YahZarah’s new album, The Ballad of Purple St. James.

info courtesy of Neo Soul Cafe

Ladies, Beware Of The New Hustle

Question: How many of you are on facebook or twitter?
*looks around the blogasphere, counts hands*
Ok, that's about 98% .
Cool, so most of you should be able to relate to this post.
Ladies, do you know someone that's always sending out tweets or facebook posts telling you how you should be treated in a relationship?
You know, stuff like this:
 "A real man wants to make love to your mind, instead of your body."
" If a man can't love you when the lights are on, don't let him make love to you when the lights go out."
" Ladies, if you have to ask if you're the only woman he's seeing, you're not the only on he's seeing."
"Your MAN introduces you to his family, your BOYFRIEND, introduces you to his boys."
Ok, the last one was MINES, but you get the point.
This is the new hustle and here's how it works:
The dude starts posting things that you and most women want to hear.
Then the next thing you know, you're going to their page and sharing their tweets or posts everyday.
Then you're sending private messages.
Then you're meeting for dinner.
Then you're meeting for drinks.
Then you're having sex with them.
Then you're complaining because he's not calling you back.
Then you're putting him on blast on social media outlets.
Then you're stalking him.
Then you're trying to key his car.
Then.......oh my bad, my bad.......got carried away.
* flashbacks* smh
Some of you may ask, "Mod, how do you know all of this to be true?"
Glad you asked!
Here's how I know!
Years ago, someone told me the following:
"You can't play and a former player, you can't hustle a former hustler, and you can't BS a former, BS'er."
And as someone who has been all of the above, I can spot it when I see it.
Normally, I wouldn't knock the next man's hustle but this mess is getting out of control and must be stopped!
But there's also another angle to this hustle.
Some of these dudes are trying to deflect attention away from the fact that they have no interest in women at all!
Ok, I better leave that one alone.
All I'm saying is, "Ladies, beware of the new hustle".

A Farewell To One Of My Heroes, Rev.Fred Shuttlesworth

My heart is heavy right now as I mourn the lost of one of my heroes, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
Long before there was a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there was "that crazy preacher from Bethel Baptist Church".
He was the spark that ignited the fire that started the civil rights movement-and that fire was "A Fire You Can't Put Out."
I can tell you how in 1956 he tried to integrate the Birmingham Police force during a time when black folks weren't allowed to share the same sidewalk as a white person.
I can tell you how he had his home bombed, his church bombed and his life threatened on a daily basis.
I can tell you how he bravely walked through an all white crowd and tried to enroll two black kids in an all white elementary school.
I can tell you how the following year, he was almost beaten to death for trying to get his sons into all white Phillips High School, (the school I graduate from in 1989).
I can tell you how he embodies the spirit of an entire city.
I can tell you how he inspired people like myself to speak my mind boldy, without fear or hesitation.
I can tell you about the many awards he received during his 89 years of living.
I can tell you what I think his greatest accomplishments are.
I could go on all day and night about Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
But my attempt to put into words what he meant to me, my city and our people wouldn't do his memory justice.
Therefore, I will let you hear from the man himself- my hero, the late Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.