Michelle Obama Booed By Nascar Fans

Never in the history of this country has a President and First Lady been so disrespected. Their HATERS detractors would have you believe it's because of their political differences.
(If you believe that, I have some beachfront property in Idaho to sell you).
Yesterday, the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden (wife of Vice President Joe Biden) were grand marshals at a NASCAR race in Miami. I know what you're thinking,
"What were they doing at a NASCAR race to begin with?"
I know, I thought the same thing.
They were there on behalf of their husbands to honor our troops and their families.
No big deal, right?
WRONG!
THIS is what happened when they were introduced:

SMH..............
Before you get too upset, here's what you need to understand. NASCAR is home to the most racist fans in sports. They openly fly the confederate flag at races. They think of people like Hank Williams Jr. as one of their own. They are just a different type of people.
I know that.
You know that.
But apparently the First Lady's people don't. Or if they do, they were too naive' to think this group of people wouldn't boo the first black First Lady in this country's history.
Where is Desiree' Rogers when you need her?
I'm sure Desiree' would have said (with an attitude),
"NASCAR? Oh......Hell naw. The First Lady ain't doing NASCAR."
But since Desiree' is no longer handling business for the First Lady, let me give her handlers some advice.
(because I know they check out The Board Room)
What? They DO check out The Board Room.
Here's the advice:
The next time you want to have the First Lady honor our troops and their families, bring her to a HBCU football classic.
As a matter fact, here's a personal invitation for the First Lady to come to Birmingham next year
for the largest and most popular black football game in the country, The Magic City Classic.
That way, you won't have the First Lady sitting around looking like this:

Memo to the First Lady:
Hire more competent advisors QUICK!

Sunday Praise & Inspiration

A lot has taken place in my life since we last had praise and inspiration here in The Board Room.
 If you don't mind, I'm going to share a personal story with you real quick.
If you do mind, then...........whatever!
Last month, my son suffered a knee injury at football practice. It was bad timing (so I thought) because he has a tremendous opportunity before him coming up during baseball season.
After scheduling an MRI, we found out that he had a sprained MCL and torm ACL which would require surgery.
But it would also require him to be out 8-12 months. Thus, putting his baseball opportunity in jeopardy
I became upset with God because he "allowed" something like this to happen to a young man who does all the right things the right way.
I started PUBLICLY questioning God by saying and asking things like,
"Why me God?"
" Why would you allow MY son to experience this?"
"I had less trouble when I wasn't trying to do the right than I have now."
I know, I know..........many of you have NEVER questioned God. (Bless your heart)
BUT I DID!

Well, during that entire ordeal I kept hearing this particular song in my head.
It was a song I had heard many times but for some reason, I heard it more often during this period.
I heard it in my sleep.
I heard it when I woke up.
I heard it in my car.
I heard it EVERYWHERE!

It was this song by Beverly Crawford;


Well, let me tell you the rest of the story...........
My son had surgery on October 19th and was told that he could possibly recover in 6-8 months.
That was encouraging news.
But two weeks later......
I SAID TWO WEEKS LATER............
His therapist cleared him to walk in a brace WITHOUT crutches.
(let that marinate)
A surgery that normally requires you to be on crutches for at LEAST two months-my son had been cleared after TWO WEEKS!
The therapist told me although my son doing rehab prior to surgery helped, he had no idea as to how my son was making that kind of progress, that soon.
I looked him straight in the eyes said, "Oh I know how he's making that kind of progress!"
Now, as I post this blog a month later, my son is walking with only an ACL brace and he barely has a limp when he walks.
My point:
Even when it doesn't look like it....
Even when it doesn't feel like it.....
Even when you think God has totally forgotten about your situation........
If you maintain your faith.........
If you keep trusting in the Lord.......
Not only will he show up and show out.....
But He will work a miracle on your behalf.........
Because He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ever think, wish or imagine.
God performed a miracle for me, and I know He'll do it for you!

*cue the praise break*

Neo Soul Saturday

Consisting of rapper/singer/songwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange came together via the online hip-hop community Okayplayer.com in 2002. After trading files through Instant Messenger for over a year, Nicolay (living in his native Holland at the time) and Phonte (a Raleigh, NC resident) completed their debut album before they ever met each other in person. The album, Connected, was released in 2004 to positive reviews, and was praised by legendary DJ’s such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and DJ Spinna for its inventive mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica.


Their sophomore album, Leave It All Behind (2008) found The Foreign Exchange much closer in geography (Nicolay becoming a resident of Wilmington, NC), but located much further from their hip-hop origins. On the strength of their exhilarating live show and several nationally programmed music videos, Leave It All Behind became the group’s most successful album to date, culminating in a Grammy-nomination for the album’s first single, Daykeeper.

Authenticity, released on October 12, 2010 on +FE Music, is The Foreign Exchange’s third album.

I had the great pleasure of seeing this group perform a few weeks ago. If you ever get the opportunity to catch them live, please do so.
 For more info on this talented group, click on this link to visit their website The Foreign Exchange.



*bio courtesy of thelast.fm.com*

Got Swag?

No blog to read!

Just want to show off this picture of the President!

That's all!

Carry On!

Occupy A Plan, THEN Occupy Wall Street

As the Occupy Wall Street movement celebrates it's two month anniversary today, I have two questions;
What has this movement accomplished?
And what exactly is the strategy of the movement?
Does anybody know?
Anybody?
Going once, going twice.........
That's exactly what I thought!
Nobody can tell me the objectives of this movement and what steps are being taken to reach those objectives.
I understand and agree with the concept behind the Occupy movement, but for the last two months all I've seen are images like the image posted above.
Question: How is that working out for you?
My suggestion is to pick a leader, write down your demands and get behind a candidate you can put in office that will support your agenda.
Just an observation from my chair here in The Board Room.

Wishing Heavy D "Peaceful Journey"

Earlier this week we lost a true hip hop legend.
When Heavy D stepped on the scene in the late 80s, he represented something that we had never seen in hip hop; A big man who could charm the ladies and move just as smooth as he could flow.
One of my favorite Heavy D joints was this one:

My roommate and I used to blast that song and the entire "Big Tyme" CASSETTE in our dorm during our freshman year at Alabama State University.
Even though that was a long time ago, his music can still move a crowd today just as it did in 1989.
And you know what?
He moved that crowd with a positive message and without spitting cuss words all over the place.

Here's wishing you a "Peaceful Journey" Heavy D.

Don't Fall For The Herman Cain Okie Doke

A few months ago I told you there would come a day when Herman Cain would try to make himself out to be a victim of racism in hopes of making blacks sympathetic to his campaign.
It's a strategy to snatch as many black votes away from the President as possible.
YES.......he and other conservatives think blacks are that stupid.
Well, we're not which is why the allegations of this particular woman aren't sitting right with me.
Not that I don't believe Herman Cain is guilty of the allegations of sexual harassment.
I do!
Nobody pays someone $35,000 for nothing as he did the first accuser.
But this allegation sounds unbelieveable and made up.
In fact, it sounds TOO unbelievable and TOO made up!
It sounds like someone paid this woman to come forward and publicly accuse him of sexual harassment- only to later have her be exposed as a liar.
Thus giving him the perfect avenue to acknowledge something he said didn't exist-racism in America.
Thus allowing him to have an open discussion on race. 
Thus allowing him to talk to many black voters.
Thus allowing him to do what he set out to do,
cipher off black votes from the President.
I may be wrong about this woman, time will tell.
But regardless if I'm wrong or not, please don't fall for the Herman Cain okie doke!

Men Lie.....Women Lie.....Numbers Don"t

For years, the image of the black woman in the media has always been a sensitive topic. Whether it's a music video, roles in a movie or let's say.............reality tv, the concern for many is that the image of the black woman has been and is still being distorted and misrepresented. I believe that's one of the many reasons a certain segment of people in our country had/has a problem with Michelle Obama. But that's another blog for another day.
Sunday night was the night BET showed their annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK special.
It's a show dedicated to highlighting and recognizing the many hats that black women wear.
The CEO
The Actress
The Entertainer
The Activist
The Harvard Educated Business woman
All of those things show the diversity of the most beautiful creature that God ever created;
The Black Woman!
Here, check it out.
(video courtesy of The Root)

(I didn't see the entire show but the parts I saw I loved.)
As I was saying, it was a celebration of the diversity of black women and the many hats they wear.
But out of all of those hats and titles, maybe the hardest is that of a HOUSEWIFE!
A housewife is a mother, a wife, a homemaker.
She's in charge of maintaining the home, taking care of the family, making sure the checkbook is balanced, the bills are current, etc. etc
She has to do all of this while at the same time being able to maintain the ability flip the script at any moment and walk into a workplace if she needs to or wants to.
That's the example of a REAL HOUSEWIFE!
But judging from the early numbers of the Nielson ratings, many people-women (BLACK women)
think THIS is what a "Real Housewife" does.
(video courtesy of Bravo TV)

Please don't misconstrue this blog as me trying to judge you for watching this form of entertainment.
That's not my intent.
My intent is to simply point out to you that if you want to dispel the myths and stereotypes.
If you want people to stop looking at you crazy when you walk into a department store.
If you want people to stop thinking you are a bunch of loud, golddigging drama queens,
SUPPORT SHOWS LIKE BLACK GIRLS ROCK and "REED BETWEEN THE LINES" with the same enthusiasm you support RHOA!
The early numbers for Sunday night shows that while BGR did well, it trailed RHOA by an almost three to one ratio.That means for every woman that watched the positive images of beautiful black women, there were three others watching the negative images of women who have silicone, boob jobs, butt implants no talent and sleep with married men to get what they want in life.......sorry, I meant these beautiful black women.*side eyes*
I hate to say that many women of color are more concerned with entertainment than substance, but as that great philosopher (Jay-Z) once said,
"Men lie...women lie....numbers don't."

Trick Or Treat

So, did you go trick or treating last night?
No?
Why not?
Because Halloween is "of the devil" and Christians don't/shouldn't celebrate the "devil's holiday"?
Really?
When did all of this start?
It's always been that way?
Hmmm......that's interesting.
My grandmother and great-grandmother (R.I.P. to both) were two of the most religious, saved, filled with the holy spirit women EVER and not once when I was growing up do I recall them saying, "Halloween is the devil's day."
In fact, my grandmother's birthday was October 31st and she enjoyed celebrating her birthday by giving candy to kids dressed in Halloween costumes.
So again I ask you, when did all of this start?
*listening to your explaination and shaking my head*
I don't get it.
I don't get how people-(mainly Christians) can be so adamant about this, yet be silent on homelessness, the murder rate in our community, the lack of educational funding in many of our public school systems.......etc. etc.
Aren't those things evil and "of the devil" too?
Shouldn't the same type of tenancity you use when fighting off the evil spirits of a man made holiday or criticizing those who celebrate it, be used to fight off the evil injustices in our community? 
Just a thought........
Sometimes people can be so heavenly bound that they're no earthly good.


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