White Boys

Ok, there's been another tragedy. When are they going to start racially profiling white boys? Someone needs to alert the police and campus security that white boys are the one's they need to be watching. Because we all know that they will shoot the school up in a minute. The school, and the mall, note: alert mall security too. Brother's take a lot of slack because of the perceived threat of violence. But, these white boys are tearing it down with no one even bothering to check them for weapons. I think that there should be random checks on white boys in every school system in America. And that's my two cents......

The State of the Black Union

I'm going to the State of the Black Union symposium on Saturday. I'll be there bright and early so that I can get a good seat, hopefully. I had to take my ' fit to the dry cleaner's and get it fresh pressed... just in case I get a shout out on CSPAN, I'm so country. But, I am so looking forward to this event. The controversy that surrounds it is secondary. We need this for our community. It's way past time for us to shape our own agenda. Not just a few figure heads that somehow got to be our leaders. I won't say somehow, I owe those brother's and sister's more respect for what they have done. But, it is way past time for a changing of the guard. We need those old soldiers to help direct some of these young soldiers for tomorrow. If we don't do that, we are going to be in trouble. That's why I like the Covenants approach to our issues.
I think that anybody who is hating on Tavis because of his comments about Barack is just wrong. The purpose of his invitation was to see where the candidate's satnd on issues that we affect our community. Why should he not criticize any candidate who didn't deem it important enough to come. They all say that they want to represent us.... So he should have called Barack out on his nonattendence and his trying to send Michelle in his place. Barack is getting 80 pecent of the black vote and not having to work for it at all, simply because he looks like us. Yeah, hope is a powerful thing, inspiration is wonderful, but all this transcending our race is making me sick.
Again, I'm not hating on Barack, I love the brother. His candidacy is something I never thought that I would see in my life time. It gives me great pride to see what he is accomplishing, but I take issue with the fact that he can't run as a black man. That takes away a little bit of the shine for me. It's not his fault that for some reason America still feels threatened by us. It's not his fault that for many reason it is not best for him to come to this event. But, thats why we need this. It's time for us to take control of our own message and our own image. Then maybe we won't feel a need to transcend our blackness.

It's one of those many thoughts Saturday's. So, this will be about many things. First it's Black History Month and my church is not having a program.... WHAT? In all of my 32 years on this earth, I have never heard of a black church not having a black history program. We have time set aside during service for "Reflections In Black History". Now I think we can do this every Sunday of the year; and you know that I suggested it. There will be no teaching speeches, practicing skits, or dancing this year..... I don't know if we can call that progress. And why do we limit these celebrations to February? We teach the kids the same thing every year and put the costumes back in the closet on February 28. I don't know black people, we got to do better.
Obama fever seems to be taking hold of the nation. Yesterday in the tobacco store I talked to a white lady who says that she is voting for Barack. When the conversation started, I was ready to go off full blast. I ASSumed that the sister was going to say something inappropriate or say she wasn't going to vote. But, she caught me off guard. She said that it's time for a new day, she likes the inspiration and the idea of hope. When Obama has the support of white folk in Mississippi, there is something going on. States don't get any redder than Mississippi. Granted this was only a couple of ladies having a conversation over a pack of cigarettes, but believe me when I say that this is big. I'm beginning to belive that history is truely in the making here.
I do have some issues with campaign '08. Now that John Edwards is out of the race no one is carrying the torch for the poor and disenfranchised. We have lent our total support to Senator Obama and I have yet to hear him specifically address African American issues. Neither has Hillary, they are too busy stroking the latino's. People we have to become more safisticated voters and get engaged in the process. We all have our own reasons for supporting him, but those of us who are doing it just because he looks like us need to remember what has happened in D.C., Detroit, and New Orleans. I'm not hating or trying to discourage anyone. I'm just saying we need to require more from a candidate than what we are getting in this election. As my grandmother says " Everything that looks good, ain't good". In this case, the success of Senator Obama's candidacy makes us feel good. But are we sure that we will get what we need if he wins?
What's up with the big girls in skinny leg jeans? Just because they make them in our size does not mean that it is a good idea to wear them. I'm a big girl too, I believe all women are beautiful. I believe every woman has sex appeal. But dammit, y'all stop buying those tight ass jeans. They are called skinny leg jeans, if you don't have skinny legs then they won't look right on you..... got it?
I am still in the midst of this hair battle with myself. This week my good friend and hair dresser entered in the fight. I went to get a hair cut and the heffa wouldn't do it. What is this? I told her when I started not to let me cut it off, but she already knew the routine. I grow it out for a few months, then decide that it's too much hastle and cut it off. But, she is the professional. If I, the customer have a request and can pay for it then thats what she should do. I told her that she needs to work on her customer service skills. She told me that she is only following my wishes. I guess we will call this a hair battle?

Why are You Single?

I've answered this question so many times in the past couple of years that I have a prepared monologue. I was thinking about it last night after someone asked me again. The reason for me being single has changed since I first decided to be single for a while. Afte a long relationship ended on very bad terms I thought it would be good to just do me for a minute. I had spent my twenties in 2 long relationships that spanned a complete decade. Spending time with myself and enjoying me was the plan. I am happy that I took that time for me. I learned a lot about myself. I am not one of those women who have to be in a relationship, it just worked out that way. Companionship is a wonderful thing and a basic human need. But, I am one who needs intimacy. That doesn't always work well in the dating world. Women are not the only ones with their guards up, there are brother's out there who have some things they need to work thru.

About a year ago, I thought I was ready to get back in the game. I was wrong. What I wanted was not possible. I wanted someone to give me all of them and be willing to only have a part of me. There was still hurt I had not delt with sufficiently. I wanted all the perks of a relationship with none of the responsibility. That would not be fair to me or the the person I became involved with. After a few deep conversations with my girls ( i LOVE those chicks) , I saw the errors in that philosophy. And so, I began deal with my feelings. There were a few things that I had to admit to myself before moving on. A few things that I needed to accept and bring to a conclusion. I that and I am better for it. I didn't want to be the woman who is always waiting for a brother to mess up. I didn't want to carry the baggage of my broken heart into another relationship. I refused to be bitter because of one mans mistake and to make another man have to pay for that mistake.
Today I am single simply because I choose to be. I want to be in a committed relationship, i miss having a partner. It is not due to a lack of options or disinterest. I will wait on the right man for me. I won't go looking for him, I think all things have a time and a place in life. Now I can say that when the right brother comes along I am ready to give him all of me.

Sister's Are One of God's Greatest Gifts

I know that it's leaning a bit to the right. I am a little technically challenged so I can't figure out how to fix it. My Technical skills, or lack there of aside. Today I am going to give my two wonderful sisters some praise. I love these two ladies. I admire these two ladies. I adore these two ladies. I cherish these two ladies.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I believe in the strength of the black family. That is because I come from a strong family. I have the privilage of being the youngest in a big family. I call it a privialge because my mother was tired by the time I surprised her. I say that because she was not a strict on me as my sisters, she gave me a little room, just a little. Probably because I had two big sisters to pick up the slack. And they gave me no room, none. Not none. My oldest sister (sitting front and center as always!) gave me my first job at 13. I was her baby sitter. She showed me how wonderful it is to have your own. My middle sister ( standing to my right) showed me how to save. She has to be the most frugal woman I know, even when we were kids she was never broke. I am so blessed to have these two ladies in my life. They show me what it is to be a virtuous woman everyday. I seen them go thru trials in their lives with their heads up and their eyes on God. I've often wondered how they handle it all: Wives, mothers, sisters, friends, employees, community activists, coaches, and certified hell raisers when they have to be. Their answer is always " you just do what you have to do". I guess it's not complicated when it comes from love.

These are my sisters, my friends. In them I have strength in my time of weakness. In them I have shelter in my time of storm. God gave me a wonderful gift when he gave me my sisters.