Neo Soul Saturday

Today we're spotlighting Neo Soul artist, Green Tea.


DC-based singer Green Tea cut her musical teeth singing in church. But as a teen her interests extended beyond Gospel to include soul, jazz, blues and even opera. Her debut album, Have a Cup of Green Tea Dosage I: Shades of Green won for her a solid local following. She followed it with the poetic 2008 release, Dosage II: Choices, which again highlighted her personal, relationship-based lyrics and deep resonant voice.

-This review is courtesy of Soul Tracks and was written by Chris Rizik

Hard To Believe It's Been Two Years

It's still hard to believe that Michael Jackson isn't with us anymore. Enjoy one of my favorite performances from the "King of Pop"

Allow Me To (Re)-Introduce Myself

Judging from the almost 1,000 hits this site has had since Monday, I'm guessing many of you are finding yourselves here for the very first time. So on behalf of the regular Board of Directors, thanks for stopping by. Let me give you some background on why I started this blog movement called The Board Room.

This movement was started in December 2009.
It wasn't started as just something to do or a place to voice my opinions.
This was a vision given to me to achieve a specific purpose for the Kingdom of God.
Calm down, calm down.......I'm not about to start preaching or anything like that.
No, that's not my assignment-in this platform.
My assignment, in this platform is to challenge you to engage in mature dialogue about social, political and religious issues as it relates to the African-American community and our society as a whole.
(All races are welcomed here in The Board Room.)
My views come from a unique perspective.
I've been up and I've been down. I've had it all, lost it all, got it back, and lost it again.
It was at that point that I realized, God had a plan for my life.
But when I decided to follow that plan, things became interesting because I was trying to do things the right way for the first time in my life.
*Sidebar*
Have you ever tried to do the right thing but all the wrong things kept happening?
(My bad, I said I wasn't gonna preach, right?)

One thing you may have noticed by now is that I am very opinionated and don't bite my tongue mence my words for ANYONE!
That's not in my DNA!
So if you disagree with anything I write- and trust me, you will. All I ask is that you be respectful. I have to ask that because over the last few days, I've been called all kinds of crazy stuff. One woman even called me a "sell-out". THAT may be the funniest thing I've ever read on this blog.
Lady, one thing I'm not is a "sell-out." I just refuse to sit on the sideline and watch the destruction of an entire generation's mindset who thinks it's cool to walk around with their pants sagging.

I've also received some emails that have been...........let's just say, "button-pushers".
(I guess y'all didn't like the blog I did about "Single Mothers" for Father's Day, huh?)
I DON'T CARE! lol
I'm laughing, but I'm so serious............I really don't!
I was raised by my Great-Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother and Aunt and not one time did I ever hear either of them tell the other "Happy Father's Day."
What's next?
Single Father's wishing each other "Happy Mother's Day" because they're raising a child by themselves?

Regardless if you think I'm a 'sell-out" or too militant.
Regardless if you think I hate women or I'm an advocate for fathers.
I hope that you will stick around and join this movement. I pray that somehow, someway, something is said or written that inspires you to get involved and make a difference in our community. Because this next generation needs all of the difference makers it can get.

Again thanks for stopping by and welcome to The Board Room.

Join our FB page by clicking on the badge to the right. 

Another Senseless Murder

Kim Crawford of the Bronx has been charged with murder and manslaughter in the beating death of her 5 year old son. Police say she admitted to hitting 5 year old Jamar twice in the back and twice in the stomach after he.....
Are you sitting down?
BROKE HER NINTENDO Wii !!!
"It was an accident. I didn't mean to hit him that hard. That's the hardest I've ever hit him", she cried while telling the police what happened.
Simple case of a mother becoming upset and hitting her small child too hard, right?

WRONG!

Ms. Crawford watched Jamar vomit and roll around on the floor crying in agonizing pain for FIVE DAYS before deciding to take him to the emergency room.
She said she was afraid that the authorities would see all of the bruises on the child's body and arrest her.
I guess that's a valid excuse.
I take that back.
THERE IS NO VALID EXCUSE!
What kind of parent would watch their child vomit and scream in pain for FIVE DAYS?
And what kind of parent punches their FIVE YEAR OLD in the stomach?????????

Unfortunately, there are probably more Kim Crawford's out there.
 Let's just pray that someone who witness abusive behavior will contact DHR before we have to report Another Senseless Murder .

I Didn't Find A Damn Thing Funny!

This past weekend, Obama impersonator,comedian Reggie Brown made an appearance at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. If you're not familar with what I'm talking about, check it out:



If you thought it was funny, go ahead and laugh, other people thought he was hilarious too. But as for me, I didn't find a damn thing funny!
Call me sensitive.
Call me unable to take a joke.
Call me whatever you want to call me, but I'm not feeling this clown's routine and here's why.
During the summer of 2008, I worked at a place where I was the only black person on staff. Almost everyday, many of my former co-workers would gather around their computers and laugh at disparaging emails and offensive photos of then candidate Obama.
Some of those same photos were used by Reggie Brown in this video.
-The picture of the President that was darkened to make him look like a thug, while standing there with 6 or 7 cigarettes in his mouth.
-The picture of Fred Sanford fighting with Aunt Esther as a portrait of how Barack and Michelle will look in the future.
 Hell, I'm surprised he didn't use the one of Michelle looking like an ape. I'm sure they would have loved that one too. (I almost got into a fight over that one).
I'm not saying there's something wrong with his impersonation of the President, it was spot on.  But I strongly disgaree with the use of those photos as part of his routine and his willingness to openly make jokes that had racial overtures to them.
To me, it almost amounts to being "A SELL OUT".

Later in his routine, the crowd turned on Mr. Brown and he was physically escorted off the stage because he started making jokes about GOP presidential candidates. But honestly, by the time it got to that point, I had stopped watching.
Because I didn't find a damn thing funny in the first place!

Excuse Me Sir, Can You Pull Your Pants Up?

Recently, a University of New Mexico football player, Deshon Marman was flying back home from a friend's funeral. When he boarded the plane, one of the flight attendants asked him to pull his pants up. He refused, and they kicked him off the plane.
My response to that is:

GOOD FOR THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT!!!!

I am so sick and tired of seeing these kids walk around with their underwear showing! It's disrespectful to the people around them and it's disrespectful to me a black man. You may not like this but I wish they would have thrown him in jail.....I really do!

WHAT!!!???

Don't you get tired of seeing these boys (and in some cases) grown men walking around with their pants on the ground? I know I do!!
Kick them off of planes, put them out of restaurants, throw them out of school and YES, toss their behinds in jail if they want pull them up.

Attention: Single Mother's

Can you please stop with the wishing other single mother's "Happy Father's Day"?

It is so disrespectful!!!

Mother's day was last month.

You didn't hear any single father's wishing themselves "Happy Mother's Day" did you?

Listen, I appreciate the sacrifices single mother's make when their child's "DADDY" decides not to be in their life.

But that doesn't make you a FATHER.

That makes you a single mother who had a child with a sorry man!

So this weekend, can you PLEASE show a little respect to the FATHER'S who are doing the right thing?

PLEASE??

Thank you!

Woman Gives Eddie Long A Stack Of Money

*First "religious blog" *

Those of you who know me, know I have worked extremely hard to sift my tongue or shall I say, edit the words that come out of my mouth. But this entire thing has been bubbling inside of me like bad gas sitting on my stomach.
Maybe that's why to me, this latest thing has such a bad smell to it.
Many people have pleaded with me not to blog about the Eddie Long situation. I agreed to it, despite the fact that I didn't think a grown man who was being labeled a liar, a pedophile and a closet homosexual should settle out of court.
*detour*
Let me tell you something: If you say those things about me- AFTER WE FINISH FIGHTING, (because those are fighting words), we're going to court and you WILL make a public apology to the world for slandering my name.
(Sorry, I'm a work in progress).
*back to the blog*
 You would THINK, that a man who stood up in front of his congregation and said (and I quote)
"This thing, Im going to fight" would want his day in court so that his name could be cleared.
If not for him, then at least for his wife, his children AND his church family.
Yeah.......I know all of the bible verses and I know all the scriptures that some of you are thinking about.
I can hear you now, "Don't put your mouth on a Man of God"......"People need to leave this alone because we all have skeltons in our closets".
But in my opinion, it's that type of attitude that has allowed people in power-not just Pastors, but from all walks of life- to do things without fear of facing the consequences for their actions from their company or in this case, their congregation.

Which brings me to this:


Listen, I understand the principle of "FIRST FRUIT". 
I understand and believe in the principle of tithing.
I understand sowing, I get all of that.
But with the bad image this man AND the entire Body of Christ has, it would have made more sense to say, "Bless you sister but I want you to keep this and God will bless you for your desire to give".
But NOOOOO.......instead he screams out "MANIFEST"!
Maybe I have a problem with it because I have no faith in the person whose mouth it came out of.
It's already hard enough for people in the Body of Christ to convince others that church is still relevant and God is real.
Now they have video of a man who just paid young men $25 million to keep their mouths closed, accepting a stack of cash from some "random" woman?
Sorry, but it's hard for ME to accept this as genuine, so I know it's hard for the average person to do so.
We don't need anymore battles to fight while on this uphill journey to save souls.
It's bad enough we have to deal with people IN the Body of Christ attacking other Christians who are members of a "mega-church." Question: When did "mega-churches" become the enemy?
(Nevermind, we'll deal with that on my next religious blog.)
Maybe if we stop worshipping "Men of God" and started worshipping GOD HIMSELF, videos like this wouldn't even exist! Because if we truly worshipped GOD, we could give in PRIVATE and know that God would reward us for our sacrifice in PUBLIC.

Sorry if this blog is all over the place, but I did this in one shot without editing. (Blogger network still tripping)

Give me some feedback and let me know what you think.

Why Do Black Women STILL Have Issues With Interracial Couples

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher Gardner, author of the book, "The Pursuit Of Happiness".  Mr. Gardner was standing in the hotel lobby shooting the breeze with a couple of older white men, one white woman, a younger black man and yours truly. We all were mesmorized by this man who repeated the story of how he was totally dedicated to providing a better life for himself and his son.

While we were standing there talking, two black women came over and introduced themselves to Mr. Gardner. They thanked him for sharing his story and told him how much of an inspiration he was-to single mothers as well as single dads. They too were laughing as the charming, polite and extremely humble Mr. Gardner cracked jokes about the failures he had before all the success came.

But their laughter stopped when Mr. Gardner stopped holding court and said, "Baby, is everything ok?" Mr. Gardner was speaking to a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes who stood about 5'10 (in heels). 
They were EXTREMELY bothered by her presence and didn't try to hide it either. The two women walked off as if he had called them out of their names or something. Mr. Gardner didn't seemed bothered by it one bit. He told me and the other black guy, I get more attitudes and strange looks from black women than I do white people.
Unfortunately, I got a glimpse into what he has to deal with a few weeks ago.
As many of you know, I recently went on vacation to Hollywood, Florida. While there, I befriended a beautiful woman, who also was tall with blonde hair. To the naked eye, she looked white but she was of Cuban decent. Regardless of her nationality, we became friends and hung out by the pool during the day and danced to old school hip hop and 80s music at the spot across the street at night.
During the entire time we were hanging out, nobody-not one person gave us any funny looks or said anything out of the ordinary.
But the following morning, we noticed that our waitress (a black woman) had a slight attitude. My friend couldn't understand what the problem was, but I could.
The waitress had a problem with me having brunch with a woman who didn't look like her.
Did she tell me that? No!
But it was obvious by the disdained look on her face, that a black man sitting with what she thought was a white woman made her very uncomfortable if not angry.

My question is: WHY!!!???
Why are so many black women STILL uncomfortable with the sight of a black man with a white woman?
Also: Why is it when a black man dates a white woman, he's betraying black women.
But when it's the other way around, the woman is upgrading?

 Help a brotha out!!!

*FOR THE RECORD*
I am NOT dating nor have I ever dated anyone outside of my race. However, if I lived in South Florida, I would definitely consider it.

"Obama Has Failed America", REALLY?

Today former Massachusetts (did I spell that right?) governor Mitt Romney launched his 2012 Presidential bid by claiming "Obama Has Failed America!"
REALLY!?
Let's see:
The tax rate is lower than it has been in 60 years.
The country is once again respected around the world.
He has captured more terrorists in 3 years than President Bush did in 8.
He saved the automotive industry by giving them a bailout- despite the GOP demanding that he let them fail. They even praised Ford for NOT accepting a bailout and called GM "Government Motors".
Well, a few years later, not only has GM and Chrysler repaid their loan, they are making record profits.
All because the President and his administration had the balls courage to address the problem head on.
By the way, has anyone seen Ford quarterly profits lately?
And last but certainly not least, he kept his campaign promise of capturing AND killing Osama Bin Laden.

I could go on and on but the truth of the matter is this:
Whenever your "front runner" makes statements like
"Obama has failed America", you have serious issues.
My suggestion to the GOP is to come up with something different.
The BIRTHER issue didn't work.
The SOCIALIST label didn't stick.
And falsely claiming that "Obama has failed America" DEFINITELY won't work.
I wonder if Mitt Romney has looked at the President's poll numbers lately?
They are UP and if he can somehow, someway get this unemployment under 9%, it's a wrap.

The next time someone makes a claim that "Obama has failed America".
At least put the word PRESIDENT in front of  his name.
He definitely has earned it over the past 3 years.

Miami Leaders Want To Put An End To Urban Beach Week

For the past few years on Memorial Day weekend, thousands of people from all over the country flock to South Beach for what is known as Urban Beach Week. Every year, local officials reluctantly roll out the welcome mat, despite many business owners complaining to the chamber of commerce about the negative effect it has on their businesses. But the events of this past weekend may have given local officials an excuse not to roll that welcome mat out again. This past weekend, city officials reported there were at least two dozen fights (most involving women)and a total of 4 different shootings, including this one that was caught on tape:



From what has been reported about the above incident, someone is the car was involved in a shooting a few blocks away. When the police attempted to pull them over, they became involved in a shootout with the police.......although some people in Miami say the people in the vehicle were unarmed. Whether that's true or not, local officials are ready to put an end to Urban Beach Week and I'm ready to see it done also. It's such an embarrasment to turn on the news and see these kids "MY PEOPLE" proving to the world that they DO NOT know how to behave when gathered in a large setting.

I will give Commissioner Jerry Libben credit for pointing out that he doesn't have ANY disturbances during "Jazz In The Garden" weekend. He even suggested replacing Urban Beach Week with a Jazz and Blues festival. Not sure if he was serious or just trying to protect himself from claims of racism that is starting to come from some "black leaders" in Miami.(SMH)
 Besides, that still may not deter people from converging on South Beach that weekend. The only thing that will stop them from converging on South Beach Memorial Day weekend is to move the Gay Pride weekend to that weekend. Because you know nothing scares a group of black people, like a group of Gay people! (Sad but True)
Nevertheless, let's hope this is the last time we'll see something like this happen all over the news.

Am I The Only One Having Issues With Blogger?

Dear Blogger,

Thanks for providing this free format to express my views and opinions.

I really appreciate it.

But MY GOODNESS........can you PLEASE get your network together?

 I can't log in to my blog.

 I'm having issues editing my posts.

I can't see who is following my blog.

What's going on!?

Help me out fellow bloggers-

Am I the only one having this issue?

Signed,

One Frustrated Blogger

My Mental Battery Has Been Recharged

Here in The Board Room, I've always tried to provide an angle that challenges the normal way of thinking when it comes to social, political, and religious issues.
Yeah, I know....... I haven't done many religious blogs-but TRUST me, they're on the way. I just hope you're ready.

As you may have noticed lately, I've been slacking. I can't tell you how many times I've sat here and started writing something only to delete it and shut my computer off.
At first, I didn't understand what was going on.
I knew what I wanted to write and how I wanted to write it.
But for some reason, my mind would always go in a different direction.
Although I hadn't lost my passion to express my views, I thought I had lost my passion to write.
I remember one night I sat at this computer, look at the screen and said,
"Forget this blog."
"Forget this book I've been working on for almost a year"
"FORGET EVERYTHING!"
I mean, I was ready to COMPLETELY give up on this vision.
Oh yes, I have a vision.
I'm sure some of you think this is just another blog , but it's not. It's bigger than that.
I'm talking about a vision so big that only God can make it happen.
But if I can keep it 100- I don't think it was the vision I was doubting. I think I was doubting God. 
I'm sure many of you have NEVER doubted him before, but I'm telling you, I was starting to doubt God.
Why? I don't know.
Well, maybe it's because I experienced some things this year that has thrown me for a loop.
Let me ask you a question:
Have you ever tried to do the right thing but all the wrong things kept happening?
(Ok, nevermind-maybe it's just me.)
Anyway, a few months ago I realized I needed a break.
I needed a vacation.
I needed to recharge my battery- my mental battery.

This past weekend I celebrated my 40th birthday by treating myself to a weekend getaway at
The Westin Diplomat &Resort in Hollywood, Fl. <(click on the link)
That's right, you read correctly, I treated MYSELF to a weekend getaway.
I didn't go with my boys and I didn't take a date.
It was just me!
I arrived at the resort Friday afternoon and stayed until Monday morning.
Many people have asked me, "Why would you go to Miami/ Fort Lauderdale by yourself?"
Others have said, "I couldn't go somewhere like that by myself. I would have to go with other people."
I say to those people,  if YOU can't enjoy spending time with you. How can you expect OTHERS to enjoy spending time with you?
Oh, I did meet a few new friends. It seems I never meet a stranger.
*side note* The women of other races (especially the Cuban women) love the brothas down there.
(that blog is coming tomorrow)
Needless to say, I had a good time. A REALLY good time!
I went to old school hip hop and 80s night. I took a water taxi down the coast. I enjoyed my company for three wonderful days.
It allowed me to recharge my mental battery and it also allowed me to see some things about ME that I couldn't see while I was in my normal environment. I strongly encourage all of you to every now and then, get away from your normal environment and recharge your mental battery.
You'll be amazed how it will change your entire perspective.
Now, I can't wait to get home and write.
I can't wait to read the headlines of the day and share my thoughts here in The Board Room.
And I also can't wait to manifest this vision God has placed on the inside of.

Stay tuned

Sunday Praise & Inspiration

Neo Soul Saturday

30th Anniversary of Bob Marley's Death

May 11th marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Bob Marley.
He died of cancer (or so they say) at the young age of 36.
I'm not old enough to remember the impact and influence he had on the world while he was living, but I remember the first time his music impacted MY life.
It happened during my days at Alabama State University when me and the rest of the Birmingham crew would ride around 5-6 deep in Dwayne Carlton's Blue Chevy Blazer with all the windows up on our way to Top Flight Disco & Lounge.(insert your own thoughts)
Somehow, the  lyrical content in his music became embedded in my brain and changed the way I looked at the world. Honestly, it made me a rebellious, radical, outspoken young man who would question every aspect of life. Maybe that's part of the reason I'm the way I am today-I don't know. But I do know the message in his music is just as relevant today as it was 30 years ago.
Case and point: 

Now, Jill Scott Is A Racist?

For years, decades, centuries, a certain group of people in this country have believed that their way of life is the ONLY way of life. Everything else is strange, exotic or classless.
That's how many people on the right have described the "White House Poetry Slam".
They've done everything in their power to discredit this classy event as something that is unacceptable and "un-American".
But even I was shocked by some of their tactics this week.
First, it was President Obama was palling around with and glorifying that cop killer rapper Common.
When that didn't gain any real traction, they turned their attention to Jill Scott.
Matt Drudge and the people over at the Drudge Report-THE source of info for the right, called this beautiful (and sexy)
Mother
Actress
Entertainer
Philanthropist
Entrepreneur
 A RACIST!
*I had the same reaction you're having as you read this*
 They came to that conclusion after reading an Essence magazine article in which Jill expressed her disappointment of finding out a former male friend married a white woman.
(That's another blog for another day)
Jill Scott is a phenomenal woman and to reduce her to the level of a Rush Limbaugh should be an insult to every woman of color (any color).
Unfortuantely, it's not!
The more I read, the more I found out that it was a black woman within the Conservative movement who tipped off Drudge and the right wing media about the article.
The woman wasn't named but if I had to guess, it was probably someone like Angela McGlowan.
She's the black woman who ran as a tea party "favorite" in Mississippi. She was such a favotite that she finished with less than 10% of the Republican vote. SMH!
It's amazing how WE will sell each other down the road to gain favor in the eyes of certain people. Guess the Willie Lynch theory is alive and kicking.
Does this sound like a racist to you?

Nearly Half of Detroit's Citizens Are Illiterate?

The National Institute For Illiteracy recently reported that 47% of the ADULTS in the city of Detroit is illiterate....47%
That's what the report says and since the report says it, it must be true, right?
Let me ask you something:
Have you ever noticed that certain people and certain organizations poll a select group of people to get the desired result they want?

Example: FOX "news" is STILL reporting that almost 38% of "Americans" believe President Obama wasn't born in this country.
Do you think they poll anyone who doesn't watch their propaganda news network? OR, do you think they poll the people who view their website and other outlets that drive home the "birther" issue?
 Probably the latter, which is why the people of Detroit should be marching in the streets, protesting this report.
I refuse to believe that almost half of a city's ADULT population can't read or write.
I mean sure, last year their school Superintendent admitted he was illiterate, but I'm sure he just slipped through the cracks-right?
Let's start calling on the people who conduct these reports to publicly show the areas they studied and show the criteria they based their final decision on. Because a charge THIS serious is grounds for a lawsuit. That is, IF the report is false.

Herman Cain Wins Fox News Debate (Surprise Surprise)

Remember a couple of months ago when I told you how the GOP will try to use this man as the answer to Barack Obama? Well, they're starting early. Herman Cain won the FOX "news" debate last Thursday. This, despite not appearing to know his right foot from his left.
From the clips I've seen, this man is no more ready to be President than Sarah Palin. But the GOP doesn't care. Their plan is to use this pawn Herman Cain to take away some of the "black vote". Yes, I know it won't happen, but that's how they think. 
They think we don't pay attention to the political games that are played and truth be told, many of us don't. But that's why I'm here- to make sure that you are fully aware of the motives of people like Herman Cain.

Sunday Praise & Inspiration

WOW!

What a week we've had here in Birmingham. I have so many friends who lost everything except the clothes on their backs. After seeing some of the devastation up close and personal- I'm so GRATEFUL for what I have.