Look Beyond The Surface !

When you look at this photo, what is your first emotion?
Is it one of pride?
Is it one of nostalgia?
Is it a reminder of how far we've come?
What is it?
Over the last few weeks this photo has been floating around social media under the caption;
"One Black Man Died For Another Black Man To Win."
When you read that caption the photo looks innocent, right?
It looks like a photo you can add to your Obama Photo Collection, right?
(All black people should have an Obama Photo Collection-this is history!)
So again I ask you, what is your first true emotion when you look at this photo?
I have to admit, when I first saw it, I too felt a sense of pride.
I felt a sense of nostalgia.
I felt a sense of history.
But then I looked at it again, and again, and again.
And the more I looked at it, the more those feelings started to disappear.
The more I looked at it, the more I started to feel offended.
The more I looked at it, the more I started to think,
"Something isn't right about this picture."
Look at it again..........
No go ahead, look at it!
A picture of Mrs. King comforting her daughter as she sit at her husband's funeral, and the picture of Mrs. Obama with her daughter, in the same position as Dr. King's daughter doesn't seem strange to you?
It's almost as if, someone-the creator of this picture, is trying to send a message.
I know, I know.....some of you are probably saying,
"Mod you're reading too much into it, it's just a photo."
Is it?
Am I really reading too much into it?
By now, many of you should know me well enough to know that I wasn't going to just let this photo go unchallenged......or shall I say, unchecked!
So I did a little research and wouldn't you know, my research lead me to a website (that I won't promote on this blog).
The website is a radical, right wing, modern day KKK  conservative website that's dedicated to demonizing President Obama.
This is the website that first came up with the idea of passing out bumper stickers with
" Pray For Obama- Psalm 109:8" on them.
You may ask, what's the big deal?
I'll tell you what the big deal is-go look up Psalm 109:8.
No, go ahead, I'll wait on you.
SERIOUSLY! GO LOOK IT UP!
*five minutes later*
NOW do you get it?
Just like people were putting those bumper stickers on their cars and not knowing the message behind that verse.
Many are now passing this photo around social media and not understanding the meaning behind this photo.
Yes, I know what the caption says, but that caption was added by someone on social media.

For those of you who are still lost, let me help you out.
The same people who was praying for President Obama's children to be fatherless, and his wife to be a widow (Psalm 109:8),
Are the same people who constructed this photo.

For those of you who are STILL lost, let me help you out some more.
These people want the same thing that happened to Dr. King to happen to President Obama.
They want this photo to become a reality.
So the next time someone shares this photo with you, share this blog with them and tell them to look beyond the surface!

The "Loving" Story

When a man loves a woman-I mean, REALLY loves a woman,
there is absolutely nothing he wouldn't do to be with her.

Sometimes he has to make sacrifices.
-Like putting her wants above his own.

Sometimes he has to make tough decisions.
-Like allowing her to leave so he can get her back.
 (Ok, that one was personal)

But sometimes, he has to be willing to risk everything he has,
including his life.

If you're not familiar with the "Story" of Richard and Mildred Story, it goes like this:
A white man in 1950s Virgina, falls in love with a black woman.
They get married and have children.
But there's a problem.
As you can imagine, interracial marriages were illegal back then.
But this white man loved this black woman so much, that he was willing to risk it all.

The documentary airs on HBO tonight at 8pm cst.
Here's a clip of the "Story".

Happy Valentine's Day, Ladies!

At the risk of losing my "Man Card", I want to wish all the ladies a Happy Valentine's Day.

Whitney!

There are superstars
And then there are superstars that all you have to do is say their first name:
Anita
Patti
Frankie
Stevie
The list goes on and on.
But there are very few of those superstars that redefined the music industry:
Michael
Prince
And yes........WHITNEY!

Whitney had one of those voices that as soon as you heard the first note
You knew, you were listening to something special.
I can't begin to put into words the void she will leave in the industry.
Neither can I put into words the many fun memories I have from her music.
The argument I got into with an old girlfriend while "Shoop" played in the background.
The time I fell flat on my behind during band practice at Alabama State while we were playing
"I'm Your Baby Tonight"
The first time I slow danced with a girl (on the wall) in the eighth grade over Reginald and Devo Collins house while listening to
"You Give Good Love"
(Yes, I started early-lol)
Her music created so many memories for so many.
And that's how I will remember her.
I refuse to get into her drug use or speculate on the cause of her death.
Instead, I will honor her memory by sharing one of my favorite Whitney songs:

Meet Lindora Richardson

It was just another day in Charlotte, North Carolina for school bus driver Lindora Richardson......and then this happened:



She's being called a hero by many (and rightfully so), but she says the children are the actual heroes.

Sorry to disagree Ms. Richardson, but YOU are the hero!

On behalf of all parents, I want to say thank you!

I Got Your "Food Stamp President".....Right Here! *makes gesture*

For months, we've had to listen to Newt Gingrich use the race baiting term "Food Stamp President" when addressing President Obama.
It's an old political move that plays on the false stereotypes of black people and black politicians.
You know how they do........
Make racial remarks without actually making racial remarks.

(For the record, to all of you Republicans who sneak in here, read my blog, then go back and discuss what I said on your blog or Facebook page, I would still prefer to be called a nigger than for you to insult my intelligence by saying you're not being racist when you make comments like this.)

Anyway......
I want to show you the perfect way to handle the modern day ku klux klan GOP.
Ladies and gentlemen..........
Boys and Girls............
I present to you, my new hero, Congressman Luis Guiterrez (D-IL).



Can we get a round of applause for Congressman Guiterrez?
*claps, whistles*
"Thank you..........thank you......you're far too kind!"

The next time one of your modern day ku klux klan GOP friends refer to President Obama as the "Food Stamp President", please show them this clip.

*side note*
Why didn't someone from the CBC think to do this?

Where's The Outrage Over Roland Martin's Suspension?

*Last week, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced that they would stop funding Planned Parenthood.
But their donors organized and complained so much that the Foundation reversed their decision.

*Late last week, the Obama administration announced that it would not allow religiously affiliated employers, such as universities and hospitals to deny full birth control coverage to women they employ.
(In other words pay for their contraceptives.)
But the Catholic church (lead by mis-guided bishops) organized and complained so much that now, the President is considering reversing or adjusting that bill.

*During the Super Bowl, Roland Martin sent out this tweet after a commercial aired featuring soccer star David Beckham modeling in his new line of men's underwear.

 If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl

 

Afterwards, gay rights groups organized and complained to CNN that Roland's tweet was "insensitive".

Today, Roland Martin was suspended by CNN.

 

My point:

Women (mostly white) will organize and complain to get something they want done.

Religious groups (mostly white) will organize and complain to get something they want done.

Gay and Lesbian groups will organize and complain to get something they want done.

Why is it that black people won't do the same?

 

Can you imagine what would happen if we decided to organize and complain?

Can you imagine the amount of racist rhetoric we could eliminate about our President if we organized and complained to remove certain radio and television personlities?

Can you imagine how much we could change the perception of black people if we organized and complained AND demanded that certain networks stop producing shows that portray our women as golddigging, classless whores?

Can you imagine?

 

Probably not...........

Because while other groups and races are concerned about issues that affect their communities, we're more concerned about issues that affect us individually!

Oh, sure we will organize and complain to get our favorite show back on televsion (see The Game), but we won't organize or complain about anything else.

That may explain why there's no outrage over the suspension of one of the very few voices we have on television-Roland Martin.

 

 

Sunday Praise & Inspiration

It's two o'clock in the morning, I just finished writing, and I still can't go to sleep.
And the reason I can't go to sleep has nothing to do with the thirty minute nap I took earlier that turned into a three hour nap.
No............
It has nothing to do with that.
You see, I just heard a song that sent me into full worship mode, a full eight hours before it's time for me go to church.
You DO know that you don't have to wait until you get to church to worship God.
I mean, you do know that, right?
Anyway, the song I heard was a song that you've probably never heard before, being song by someone that you may or may not have ever heard sing before.
Her name is Candy West!
Candy has an anointing on her life that honestly,  you really have to see and experience in person, to understand it.
Fortunately, I get to see and experience it every Sunday morning.
Candy is the Director of Praise and Worship at my church,
    The Worship Center Christian Church (click on the link)
Not sure if it will have the same effect on you as it had on me, but I just felt lead to make this my Sunday Praise & Inspiration video
Hope you enjoy it.
And get used to the name because I believe God is about to use Candy to minister to people all over this country.

Neo Soul Saturday

Here's a little something different for you on this Neo Soul Saturday.

I want to introduce you to South African music superstar Zakes Bantwini.

Zakes is the South African version of Ne-Yo.

When this talented songwriter, producer and entertainer hits the scene in the U.S., remember, you heard about him first, right here in The Board Room!

*side note*
I think I've perfected all of these dance moves . I think........... lol

Jobs Report

As if having Mitt Romney as their potential nominee wasn't bad enough..............

The GOP now has to deal with the fact that their biggest argument, "The Bad Economy" is blowing up in their faces.

Today, the jobs report came out and it stated as follows:
 243,000 jobs were added in January
 Unemployment dropped to 8.3% (the lowest in three years)

I understand there are other factors that go into making these numbers.

But this is the same report that the GOP used, to make their case that the President wasn't creating any jobs.

Well, let's hear what they have to say now.

There's Only ONE King!

You know, I tried, I really tried to stay away from this Eddie Long thing.
Seriously, you don't know how many times I got ready to post a blog and decided to delete it.
I started to post something about the boys he was accused of sleeping with, but I deleted it.
I started to post something about a ceremony I saw online where he made his "spiritual sons" take an oath
of loyalty, but I deleted it.
I started to post something about his wife wanting a divorce,
but I deleted that too.
But when I saw a video of this man being crowned a KING.................
Well, I couldn't bite my tongue any longer.

"Watch This"

*long pause*, *deep sigh*
As I've grown closer to God and more confident in my walk with Him, I've become less tolerant of "church".
Not the physical place, but the extra stuff that takes place, that has nothing to do with God.
I love my church, my church family and my pastor.
But I love God more!
And if THIS happened while I was sitting in the congregation,
I wouldn't walk out.......
I would RUN out of my church! 
All of this new age stuff thats taking place in the church.......
Serving.........
Idolizing.......
Worshipping.........and now,
Crowning MEN as Kings has gotten completely out of control!
I understand we should respect and honor our Men of God...........
I understand we should want them to prosper.............,
I understand all of that!
But what I don't understand is how did we get to a point where we allow something like this to take place, and nobody says anything about it?
Sure, the church critics, websites and blogs are going to say something about it.
But I don't pay those clowns any attention!
They're always complaining about something that's going on in the church.
The only religious website or blog that I read or subscribe to is
The Old Black Church (click on the link)
But why aren't people in the Body of Christ speaking out on this?
Why aren't members of New Birth speaking out on this?
Why aren't other Pastors and Bishops speaking out on this?
Oh I forgot, they're not speaking out because they don't want to
"Put their mouth on a Man of God" !
But that's the problem.
That type of passive behavior..........
That type of attitude, is what has allowed this type of foolishness to spread throughout our churches.

People it's time to wake up and stop playing with God !

There's only one King and his name is NOT Eddie Long!