Neo Soul Saturday

Today's spotlight features one of the most amazing voices you'll ever hear.
Her name is Maysa Leak.
She's been a fixture on the music scene for years.
Those of you who are true jazz fans, you may remember her from her days as the front singer with the group Incognito.
But for those of you who haven't heard of her, here's one of my favorites for you to enjoy.

Support Real Music!

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly To Be Honored At BET Awards

Remember last year when I told you I wasn't watching another award show until Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly was honored?

Well, guess what!

It's happening tomorrow night at the BET Awards.

So, if you hear someone screaming loud, or singing off key through your laptop, don't get alarmed.

It will be me celebrating with my favorite band of all time as they finally get the respect they deserve.

Black Marines Honored

This week, about 400 of the first black Marines were honored in Washington D.C. for their service to this country during World War II.

These are the Marines from Montford Point, N.C.- a camp that was specifically built for black Marines.

While their white counterparts lived in comfortable housing units, they were forced to live in huts made out of thick cardboard, with no A/C and no heat that housed as many as forty men.

Can you imagine that?

I commend these brave men for having the courage to fight for their country during a time when their country wouldn't fight for them.

So, the next time you see a member of our armed forces, shake their hand and thank them for their service to our country.

But if you're ever fortunate enough to run into one of these men, give them a hug and take a few extra minutes to let them know how much you appreciate their courage, their honor, and their sacrifice.

I'm sure it will mean a lot to them.

NOW What?

First, he was a Muslim.
Then, he wasn't born in America.
Then, he associated with terrorists.
Then, it was Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Then, he wasn't quailfied to be President.
Then, he only became President because ACORN "stole" the election for him.
Then, he wanted to take your guns.
Then, the tea party wanted to "take their country back".
(This ain't YOUR damn country to begin with.)
Then, he was compared to Hitler.
Then, he was a socialist.
Then, he was destroying America.
Then, he was attacking "Freedom".
Then...........
Then..........
Then...........

And now that the Supreme Court of The United States has upheld his Healthcare Reform Bill, I have one question for all of you detractors, haters, racists etc.

NOW, what?

What are you going to come up with next?
Don't you get it?
Don't you understand that this country doesn't have the hatred and venom in their hearts like you have in yours?
I mean, think about it.
A CONSERVATIVE justice, appointed by a Republican President was the deciding vote to rule that the President's signature bill was deemed constitutional.

If that doesn't wake you up, then maybe you'll just have to wait until the general election to see that you're now a minoirty in this country.
And I'm not talking about your skin color, or ethinicity-I'm talking about the way you think.

Happy Father's Day!

Look at this photo...........seriously, just look at it!
Wouldn't you love to know what the older man was saying to these kids?
If I had to guess, he was probably telling them about the struggle their families, and their people had just come out of.
This photo, titled Storytelling Time-was taken in Thomasville, Al. by Kathryn Tucker Windham in 1971-the year I was born.

Unfortunately, a lot has changed since 1971.
Many children are being raised without even knowing who their fathers are.
Many of those fathers have walked out on their families, and some just aren't ready to accept the responsibilty of fatherhood
There was a time when I would judge those men.
But the older I get, the more I realize it's not wise to judge a man's decisions unless I've walked in his shoes.
Sure, I have my own personal opinions on it, but on this Father's Day weekend-instead of talking down to those men. I'll just say a prayer for them and hope that God lays it on their heart to reach out to their children.
And for those of you who have fathers that have tried to reach out to you, but you're unwilling to accept that olive branch because you're still bitter about his absence-I want to challenge you to put your differences aside, just for this one day.
Because after all, he's still your father.

 

Don't Give Up On Your Dreams

Normally, (well not lately), but normally, I would post a Neo Soul Saturday video to spotlight an unknown, or up and coming Neo Soul artist.
But today, I want to do something different.
I want to post a song that has been playing in my head since the moment I woke up this morning.
You see, a few years ago, God gave me a vision.
I know, I know............some of you may look at me sideways when I say "GOD gave me a vision"-but that's your problem-not mine.
God indeed gave me a vision, and like most people, I thought my vision would happen overnight.
I thought I could just sit down, write the vision, make it plain, speak it into the atmosphere, and the vision would manifest out of nowhere.
What I didn't anticipate were the struggles along the way.
I didn't anticipate the extra distractions and drama I would have to deal with.
I didn't anticipate the mistrust of people who called themselves my friends.
I didn't anticipate the heartbreak and lessons in love I would experience.
I didn't anticipate that some who claimed to be for me, may actually be against me.
I didn't anticipate any of those things.

But regardless of the distractions, the roadblocks, the people telling me I was crazy, and even those who told me my "stupid" vision would never happen because I was cursed-I'm still encouraged.
And I want you to be too.
I hope this song encourages you to encourage someone else to continue to pursue their goals, their dreams, and their vision.
I hope it will encourage you to NEVER give up on your dreams.

"Men" Suing To Join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

*blank stare*

Really?
I mean, seriously?
Can we stop the madness now?
Is this what we're coming to?
Grown men suing to join a sorority?
Normally, I would laugh this mess off and keep it moving.
But with the "evolving" attitude of people in this country, including our President (who I still support), I wouldn't be surprised if some liberal judge somewhere decides to rule in favor of these "men".
And if that happens, we might as well shut all Black Greek Letter Organizations DOWN! 

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has produced some wonderful women.
It's a damn shame that a group of "men", are allowed to publicly disrespect them like this!
What's next: Some hard, lesbian chick suing to be a Q-Dog?

Black on Black Crime: When Will It Stop?

I was in Atlanta last week with my son at a baseball tournament and saw on the news where a young man showed up at the funeral of the guy he was suspected of murdering, and started shooting......killing two people and wounding three others.
-In Lowndes, County, Al., a man shot and killed a pair of nine year old twins and their 73 year old caretaker. The coward left their bodies on the side of the road.
-In Auburn, Al., a man showed up at a pool party, started a fight over a woman-then shot and killed three people-including two former Auburn football players.
-In Birmingham, Al. a teenager shot and killed three people because he felt like he was disrespected after a card game.
I could go on and on on but unfortunately, you get the picture.

You know, one of the things that really burns me up is what I call the "Selective Outrage" we have as a community. I blogged about it in reference to the Trayvon Martin case. Many of you disagreed with me, but you have to admit, I had a great point.
You disagree?
Ok, answer this for me:
How quick do you think these pimps  so called civil rights leaders would've been in Alabama if the man accused of murdering those nine year old black twins was white?

How much hell do you think they would have raised if the man who shot and killed those people at that funeral looked like George Zimmerman?

Don't get it twisted, that dude should get the electric chair, but my point is:
We look the other way when it comes to black on black crime because we don't want our dirty laundry to air out in a public place. But the minute we can air out someone else's dirty laundry, we get off of our lazy ass fat behinds and start singing "We Shall Overcome" and chanting "No Justice, No Peace!"

As much as it pains me to say this-correction-it doesn't pain me at all.
It needs to be said..........There's a certain segment of our community that are savages and need to be treated as such.
What?
Did I say something wrong?
You didn't like the savages remark?
Ok, go check the stats and murder rates. And if I'm wrong, I'll retract my statement.
Go ahead and check........I'll wait!
(That's what I thought.)

There's a certain segment of our community that are savages and need to be treated as such.
The best way to treat these savages is to make examples out of them.
And the way to make examples out of them is to make sure their punishments are quick and swift.
Yes, I'm talking about the death penalty.
If these guys (and in some cases-girls) knew they would be executed 72 hours after being convicted beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt, maybe they would think twice about taking someone else's life.
When will this cycle of black on black crime stop?