Monday, December 23, 2013
Quietly Taunting
You thought you were better. While I stood back you were pushed out front with your privilige and support. I was not too confident and stood by like a Diamond in the rough, like a lump of Clay, like a mound of aged Cheddar Cheese just waiting to be tasted. Time did tell and while you slipped I quietly kept to myself and on my grind. Now my light shines for all to see. Stars are not loud at all. They just quietly shine taunting the Universe.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Erased from memory
Your smile, the fairness of your skin, the genteelness in your voice, your soft touch I erase from memory. Your victorian scent, the tast of every orifice of your love was an apifeni that has fallen into eternity.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
It Profits my Heart Nothing
What does it profit my heart to give you much for little in return? What does it profit me to give you my heart when you are unwilling to give yours in return? It profits me not to give you time and attention. What does it profit my heart to wait for your awakening? It profits my heart nothing.
Monday, May 20, 2013
African Americans Original Art Forms in Music
The influence of African Americans on music and pop culture cover many musical genres. Jazz, Blues, Soul, and Hip Hope make up African American Music. Other then Rap these American art forms came up out of Slavery and characterized the lives of Black Americans before the Civil War. These musical styles were later fused with European Musical styles in the late 19th century. After the Civil war Blacks got jobs as musicians playing music in European bands and developed Rag Time that would be later called Jazz. African Americans gave knowledge of Poly-rhythmic structure of dance and Folk Music of peoples across Western and Sup-Saharan Africa. During the twentieth century these Art Forms had a wide range of influences over the development of music in the United States and the world.
Rock and Roll is a genre of Popular Music that originated and went from simple to complex in the United States in the 1940's and 1950's. Rock and Roll was formed of a combination of African American Blues, Jump Blues, Jazz and Gospel Music. The elements of Rock and Roll can be heard in Country Music of the 1930's and Blues recordings of the 1920's. The music was not coined Rock and Roll until the 1920's. It has long been thought in the Black community that Elvis Presley made the statement, "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." In an interview with then Black Weekly Jet. He told Jet reporter Louie Robinson that any one who knows him knows he would never have uttered those words. He mentioned being influence by attending the church of Rev. W. Herbert Brewster a Black gospel composer, whose songs had been recorded by Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward. Presley said of his Rhythm and Blues influences, "Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people." "I can't sing it like Fats Domino can." "I know that."
The rumor did not die and continues to this very day. Chuck D of Public Enemy repudiated his views expressed about Elvis Presley in his Rap song Fight the Power were he says, "Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me." "Straight up racist that sucker was, simple and plain." The rumor has lasted this long because social inequlity continue to exist. Chuch D made the observation, what does it mean for Elvis to be hailed as king if his being named King obscures the striving, the aspirations and achievements of so many others who provided him with his musical inspiration?
Hip Hop Music came on the scene with Cool Herc, disc jockeys and imitations creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks on small portions of songs and focusing on the percussive pattern on two turn tables and called it Juggling. This would later be added to Rap and presented in a 16 bar measurement of frames and beatboxing, a vocal technique used to provide more of a percussive element of music. Hip Hop originated from an African American community during the 70's in New York City in Morris Heights in the Boggie Down Bronx, then later spread to Latin American communities. Hip Hop culture is characterized as rapping, D Jaying, Breaking and Graffiti. An example of Hip Hop's influence on the world is B-boying or breaking. Breaking is a style of dance that came up out of African Americans and Latino youth self expression. The media coverage caused it to gain popularity fast. The dance spread world wide especially in South Korea, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and Japan. African American music and culture has world wind mass appeal and has influenced many other cultures.
Rock and Roll is a genre of Popular Music that originated and went from simple to complex in the United States in the 1940's and 1950's. Rock and Roll was formed of a combination of African American Blues, Jump Blues, Jazz and Gospel Music. The elements of Rock and Roll can be heard in Country Music of the 1930's and Blues recordings of the 1920's. The music was not coined Rock and Roll until the 1920's. It has long been thought in the Black community that Elvis Presley made the statement, "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." In an interview with then Black Weekly Jet. He told Jet reporter Louie Robinson that any one who knows him knows he would never have uttered those words. He mentioned being influence by attending the church of Rev. W. Herbert Brewster a Black gospel composer, whose songs had been recorded by Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward. Presley said of his Rhythm and Blues influences, "Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people." "I can't sing it like Fats Domino can." "I know that."
The rumor did not die and continues to this very day. Chuck D of Public Enemy repudiated his views expressed about Elvis Presley in his Rap song Fight the Power were he says, "Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me." "Straight up racist that sucker was, simple and plain." The rumor has lasted this long because social inequlity continue to exist. Chuch D made the observation, what does it mean for Elvis to be hailed as king if his being named King obscures the striving, the aspirations and achievements of so many others who provided him with his musical inspiration?
Hip Hop Music came on the scene with Cool Herc, disc jockeys and imitations creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks on small portions of songs and focusing on the percussive pattern on two turn tables and called it Juggling. This would later be added to Rap and presented in a 16 bar measurement of frames and beatboxing, a vocal technique used to provide more of a percussive element of music. Hip Hop originated from an African American community during the 70's in New York City in Morris Heights in the Boggie Down Bronx, then later spread to Latin American communities. Hip Hop culture is characterized as rapping, D Jaying, Breaking and Graffiti. An example of Hip Hop's influence on the world is B-boying or breaking. Breaking is a style of dance that came up out of African Americans and Latino youth self expression. The media coverage caused it to gain popularity fast. The dance spread world wide especially in South Korea, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and Japan. African American music and culture has world wind mass appeal and has influenced many other cultures.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Swag is what we say it is
The word Swag has a few definitions. In some circles it means secretly we are Gay. It also mean the way you represent yourself, the way you present yourself, wearing baggy clothes etc. These definitions come from the Urban Dictionary. A more formal definition is to cause sway; or to droop or to decorate something with loops of draped fabric, but what ever its true meaning, Swag is what ever you want it to be. To me Swag is style. What ever style you choose. Swag is confidence, your manner of speech, how well you spit your game. Swag is your convictions and beliefs. Swag is a male's and females ability to engage in good conversation. It is how well a male can conversate and keep a females attention causing her to smile, laugh and engage him. Now you have some truly Swagless individuals that talk about the first definition in order to make themselves feel better about their Swaglessness. Cats with no kind of Swag sit back and watch you talk and engage a female in conversation and wonder why don't she laugh and smile at what I say? What could he be saying to her to keep her attention? What is it about him that she likes, but don't like about me? True Swag is confidence in yourself, your beliefs and your knowledge of self. It is mainly ones ability to project and elevate ones self without having to put someone else down. So be confident and convicted and Swag can be what ever you say it is.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Hawazin
At the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears on the
Horizon, your majestic, tall and shapely form rises to Pierce the
Arabian sky. Your undeniable Beauty commands attention, yet your poise
and earthiness is the eye of the storm that is Hawazin.
Monday, January 7, 2013
You are a Queen
You are worth so much more then you know. Your Beauty is immeasurable, but can be compared to the moons, stars and constellations of the cosmos. Not one treasure you possess should be just given away for mere trinkets or material wealth, but should be kept and held tight for you are a Queen and a man worth your time should prove he is worthy of a glimpse of your Majesty.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Minute by Minute
As each minute passes my heart beat is lessening. My pulse is slowing and my blood pressure dropping. It has only been a short while since we parted. In my mind a minute is like an eternity. Minute by minute, minute to minute my recollection of the time we spent together is escaping me. The sweet smell of your secret scent, the moist memory of your kisses are like oxygen sustaining my life force.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Don't Push: It is going down at the meet and greet.
It is about a quarter to seven and their is a knock at Lawrence's door. When he opens the door no one is there. He and Cheryl are about to leave for the meet and greet. Later Eric informs him that he knocked to see if he and Cheryl were ready. Lawrence and Cheryl arrives at the event early enough to get a good park. They exit the car to enter the building. Wedgwood Country Club has always been a popular spot for all kinds of events. It was always the party spot back in the day when the classmates where in high school. Lawrence and Cheryl enters the building, walks through the short walk way into the main area. Nothing has change over the last thirty years, but the event planners have done a great job with the food, drinks and decorations. They walk straight to the serving window and pick up some coaktails and walk to find where they will sit. Lawrence gets up to make his rounds greeting his classmates and friends. As he is going around the room, Eric and Merry comes in the building finds a seat and Eric and Lawrence begin to talk about how nice everyone looks and how some of their classmates have not change. They also talk about how some of the girls that they wanted to get with back in the day still having them nice plump, round booty's. Then there she is again. Lawrence lays eyes on Brenda. He says to himself, "Oh my dam!" "she is so beautiful." "I Would fight lions and tiger, and swim the English Channel for her Love." Lawrence goes back to his table with some wine for Cheryl and sits momentary and talks to her and she says, "You were gone long enough." "Were you trying to get up with some of your old flames." Lawrence replies, "Now see, this is what I am talking about when I say the tong is a little member, but can kindle a great fire." "What did I tell you about your mouth?" "This is my reunion." "What do you expect me to do? "Just chill while I go and get us some food." Lawrence get up from the table and goes to get in the serving line for some food.
While he is standing in line, Brenda Jackson walks up behind him and stands. Lawrence becomes warm all of a sudden because she is now standing next to him. After he places his hand on his chest to make sure he is not having an heart attack, he says, "Hi." "My name is Lawrence Roundfield and I am Eric's best friend." She replies, "Oh, you are Lawrence." After exchanging more pleasentries Lawrence asks her if she is with someone and she says she came alone. Lawrence asks her, "What is the most beautiful woman on earth doing here alone?" She flashes her beautiful smile, her eyes open up and look directly at Lawrence. Lawrence does what he can to contain himself while she is looking at him and smiling. The beautiful moment is short lived when Cheryl walks up to them and says, "What the hell is going on here!" Lawrence turns to her and says, "You need to chill out!" "I know you did not come all the way from Atlanta to make a dam fool out of yourself in front of a bunch of people you do not even know." Lawrence apologizes to Brenda and tells her he will talk to her another time. Lawrence and Cheryl walks away from the food line back to their table and Lawrence is thinking to himself, "When I get this heifer back to Atlanta, I am going to cut her ass so short she is going to have to look up to spit."
Lawrence is sitting at their table talking to Cheryl trying to assure her that they were having mere conversation about the good old days when he looks over and notices his best friend Eric sitting with Merry and how happy they are together. He is happy for his friend and recalls Eric telling him that Merry is the best thing that has happened to him and he is marring his dream. Lawrence also remembers some good times he shared with his ex wife Tina during his seventeen year marriage were they had a son Lawrence the third. Lawrence really wishes things could have turned out different, but recalls that, "Whatever does not kill you, can only make you stronger."
Please return for part 3 of Don't Push: A Broken Heart Mends
While he is standing in line, Brenda Jackson walks up behind him and stands. Lawrence becomes warm all of a sudden because she is now standing next to him. After he places his hand on his chest to make sure he is not having an heart attack, he says, "Hi." "My name is Lawrence Roundfield and I am Eric's best friend." She replies, "Oh, you are Lawrence." After exchanging more pleasentries Lawrence asks her if she is with someone and she says she came alone. Lawrence asks her, "What is the most beautiful woman on earth doing here alone?" She flashes her beautiful smile, her eyes open up and look directly at Lawrence. Lawrence does what he can to contain himself while she is looking at him and smiling. The beautiful moment is short lived when Cheryl walks up to them and says, "What the hell is going on here!" Lawrence turns to her and says, "You need to chill out!" "I know you did not come all the way from Atlanta to make a dam fool out of yourself in front of a bunch of people you do not even know." Lawrence apologizes to Brenda and tells her he will talk to her another time. Lawrence and Cheryl walks away from the food line back to their table and Lawrence is thinking to himself, "When I get this heifer back to Atlanta, I am going to cut her ass so short she is going to have to look up to spit."
Lawrence is sitting at their table talking to Cheryl trying to assure her that they were having mere conversation about the good old days when he looks over and notices his best friend Eric sitting with Merry and how happy they are together. He is happy for his friend and recalls Eric telling him that Merry is the best thing that has happened to him and he is marring his dream. Lawrence also remembers some good times he shared with his ex wife Tina during his seventeen year marriage were they had a son Lawrence the third. Lawrence really wishes things could have turned out different, but recalls that, "Whatever does not kill you, can only make you stronger."
Please return for part 3 of Don't Push: A Broken Heart Mends
Don't Push
It is Memorial Day weekend and the Ole School Reunion is being held in Wilson, North Carolina located 45 minutes east of Raleigh. Every year on this weekend Classmates from all over the country come home to reunite with fellow Classmates and friends from back in the day. The Ole School Reunion attendees are graduates of Ralph L. Fike, James B. Hunt and Edgar T. Beddingfield.
Lawrence Roundfield and Erick McNally spoke from time to time during the winter about the event. Lawrence lives in Hot Lanta and works for a solar panel manufacture. Eric lives in South Beach and is owner and operator of Big E Trucking where their motto is, "We move freight from state to state." Lawrence and Eric talked about getting rooms next to each other at a Hotel on the outskirts of Wilson. Eric told Lawrence to call him once he got in town and he would reserve a room for him. Eric is engaged to Merry Maximum an extremely hot brown skinned Sistah that lived in Wilson , but moved to Florida some years ago. Erick met her while vacationing in Florida. They are getting married in November and is planning their wedding. Lawrence is kicking it with this tall thick pecan tan Sistah from Decatur Georgia named Cheryl Chery that works for the Georgia Department of Education. She will be coming with Lawrence on the trip to Wilson. Lawrence has a thing for them hot, tall, thick Sistahs.
Lawrence is just about in Wilson when he calls Eric and askes him if there are any rooms available where he is staying. Eric asks Lawrence how many beds does he need, Lawrence tells Eric that he only needs one bed and Eric reserves the room. Lawrence also need tickets for the meet and greet at the Wedgewood Country Club and tickets for the Ole School dance being held at the Lions Club on Forest Hills Road. Eric picks up two tickets for Lawrence from Charles Brown one of the reunion coordinators. Lawrence finally arrives at the Hotel, checks into the room and is on his way out the door to Eric's room when a white Honda Accord Ex pulls up, and a female gets out. Lawrence stops in his tracks when he see this tall, thick red bone exit her car and is on her way to Eric's and Merry's room. She is sporting a sexy short hair due, has the most beautiful big brown eyes and is wearing a cocktail dress with medium length heels. Her long legs go on for days and he can not take his eyes off of her and watches her has she walks up to Eric's and Merry's room and knocks on the door. Lawrence's tongue is just about to roll down the side walk, and at the same time he is hearing Jamie Foxx's wedding song That's My Dream playing in his head. Brenda Jackson has just gone in to see her best friend Merry. Lawrence's girlfriend Cheryl comes to the door and asks him why is he just standing in front of the door day dreaming. He says he is just getting some fresh air and returns back inside the room.
The meet and greet starts in about an hour, but Lawrence calls Eric and says, "Yo E!" "Who is the fine sistah that came to see Merry?" He replies, "That is Brenda Jackson." "Miss. Jackson if you nasty." Lawrence says, "Well dam!" "Baby is fine as hell and has more cakes then Duncan Hines." He goes on to say, "She is straight Butta and I am not talking about I can't believe it's not butter, but real Lando Lakes Butter;my nigga." He asks Eric to hook him up, but Eric quickly reminds him that he has Cheryl with him. After Lawrence regains consciousness, he says, "You are right." "This woman dam near made me lose my mind, but if Cheryl finds out, she will clown and I can't have that." "Cheryl is fine and I like dipping my spoon into her sugar bowl, but this Sistah is on a different level E." "The only draw back about Cheryl is that at times she has more mouth then a poor horse got ass and usually runs off at the mouth at the most enopportune times." Eric replies, "Man you crazy." and hangs up the phone.
Please return for part 2 of Don't Push titled It's going down at the meet and greet. Holla!!
Lawrence Roundfield and Erick McNally spoke from time to time during the winter about the event. Lawrence lives in Hot Lanta and works for a solar panel manufacture. Eric lives in South Beach and is owner and operator of Big E Trucking where their motto is, "We move freight from state to state." Lawrence and Eric talked about getting rooms next to each other at a Hotel on the outskirts of Wilson. Eric told Lawrence to call him once he got in town and he would reserve a room for him. Eric is engaged to Merry Maximum an extremely hot brown skinned Sistah that lived in Wilson , but moved to Florida some years ago. Erick met her while vacationing in Florida. They are getting married in November and is planning their wedding. Lawrence is kicking it with this tall thick pecan tan Sistah from Decatur Georgia named Cheryl Chery that works for the Georgia Department of Education. She will be coming with Lawrence on the trip to Wilson. Lawrence has a thing for them hot, tall, thick Sistahs.
Lawrence is just about in Wilson when he calls Eric and askes him if there are any rooms available where he is staying. Eric asks Lawrence how many beds does he need, Lawrence tells Eric that he only needs one bed and Eric reserves the room. Lawrence also need tickets for the meet and greet at the Wedgewood Country Club and tickets for the Ole School dance being held at the Lions Club on Forest Hills Road. Eric picks up two tickets for Lawrence from Charles Brown one of the reunion coordinators. Lawrence finally arrives at the Hotel, checks into the room and is on his way out the door to Eric's room when a white Honda Accord Ex pulls up, and a female gets out. Lawrence stops in his tracks when he see this tall, thick red bone exit her car and is on her way to Eric's and Merry's room. She is sporting a sexy short hair due, has the most beautiful big brown eyes and is wearing a cocktail dress with medium length heels. Her long legs go on for days and he can not take his eyes off of her and watches her has she walks up to Eric's and Merry's room and knocks on the door. Lawrence's tongue is just about to roll down the side walk, and at the same time he is hearing Jamie Foxx's wedding song That's My Dream playing in his head. Brenda Jackson has just gone in to see her best friend Merry. Lawrence's girlfriend Cheryl comes to the door and asks him why is he just standing in front of the door day dreaming. He says he is just getting some fresh air and returns back inside the room.
The meet and greet starts in about an hour, but Lawrence calls Eric and says, "Yo E!" "Who is the fine sistah that came to see Merry?" He replies, "That is Brenda Jackson." "Miss. Jackson if you nasty." Lawrence says, "Well dam!" "Baby is fine as hell and has more cakes then Duncan Hines." He goes on to say, "She is straight Butta and I am not talking about I can't believe it's not butter, but real Lando Lakes Butter;my nigga." He asks Eric to hook him up, but Eric quickly reminds him that he has Cheryl with him. After Lawrence regains consciousness, he says, "You are right." "This woman dam near made me lose my mind, but if Cheryl finds out, she will clown and I can't have that." "Cheryl is fine and I like dipping my spoon into her sugar bowl, but this Sistah is on a different level E." "The only draw back about Cheryl is that at times she has more mouth then a poor horse got ass and usually runs off at the mouth at the most enopportune times." Eric replies, "Man you crazy." and hangs up the phone.
Please return for part 2 of Don't Push titled It's going down at the meet and greet. Holla!!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Your Touch
Your touch is so soothing. It takes me to a place where fools are in plentiful supply. Fools that go to the well over and over again to tread the rough waters in search of that sweet sensation. Your touch leaves me drained of my will power to remain cynical about finding true love. Every touch from your hands multiply my chances of joining the chain of fools in search of that first high.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A Supreme Love
A supreme Love is an enduring love that transcends space and time. A
Love Supreme knows no judgment and is complete, unconditional and enduring. The
Greatest Possible Love may never be reached if one is unwilling to risk it all.
The quest for this treasure is not for the feeble or faint at heart.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Why you keep choosing Mr. Wrong
Recently women have been asking why they can not meet a good man or why they keep meeting not so good men. When it comes to African Americans, if we would study our history, as we should, we would discover that since our ancestors arrived on the shores of America, the relationship between Black men and Black women was doomed to failure. There could not be a truly loving relationship with both in Slavery. On the plantation Love and Healthy Relationships were like oil and water. One of the first things the owners did was to let the African woman know that her protectors was no longer in a position to help them. When the Slave Masters left their wives in bed to stroll through the slave quarters to sample their female stock, African men where not in any position to keep them form having there way and was in no position to bargain.
Fast forward to today. 10 million people were polled by the Census Bureau in 2009 and they found the Divorce rate among African Americans was 11.5 percent. 47 percent of African American women first marriages ended in Divorce. The most alarming statistic is that 70 percent of all African American marriages end in Divorce and that does not include the number of couples that are separated , but not Divorced. With such a high Divorce rate, most of these house holds are headed by single Black women that find it extremely hard to meet Black men to reconstitute their families. Why is it so hard for Black woman to meet good Black men? Why do many continue to meet not so good Black men over and over again? In addition to the normal quoted negative statistics like high unemployment and incarceration, taste and preference in men play a major roll in the type of men Black women chose to deal with.
There is no way to expect to be in a productive relationship with a man that is not interested in being in one. Many Choose men according to their Street Credibility, their Edgy Life Style, the type of Car they drive and how much Money they make by legal and illegal means. Where in these reasons can you find the potential for a loving and productive, non-violent, non-mentally abusive or physically abusive relationship? Many women like needy, Irresponsible, so-called Bad Boys.
Why not instead seek out the qualities that make up a good Brutha like trust worthy, kind, a good work ethic, brave etc? Cease gravitating to the same character flaws in men. Reevaluate the qualities sought in a man and if they are too Shallow and Superficial, then expect to achieve the same results.
Fast forward to today. 10 million people were polled by the Census Bureau in 2009 and they found the Divorce rate among African Americans was 11.5 percent. 47 percent of African American women first marriages ended in Divorce. The most alarming statistic is that 70 percent of all African American marriages end in Divorce and that does not include the number of couples that are separated , but not Divorced. With such a high Divorce rate, most of these house holds are headed by single Black women that find it extremely hard to meet Black men to reconstitute their families. Why is it so hard for Black woman to meet good Black men? Why do many continue to meet not so good Black men over and over again? In addition to the normal quoted negative statistics like high unemployment and incarceration, taste and preference in men play a major roll in the type of men Black women chose to deal with.
There is no way to expect to be in a productive relationship with a man that is not interested in being in one. Many Choose men according to their Street Credibility, their Edgy Life Style, the type of Car they drive and how much Money they make by legal and illegal means. Where in these reasons can you find the potential for a loving and productive, non-violent, non-mentally abusive or physically abusive relationship? Many women like needy, Irresponsible, so-called Bad Boys.
Why not instead seek out the qualities that make up a good Brutha like trust worthy, kind, a good work ethic, brave etc? Cease gravitating to the same character flaws in men. Reevaluate the qualities sought in a man and if they are too Shallow and Superficial, then expect to achieve the same results.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A Slice Of My Life
In the beginning took place forty seven
years ago in the slums of Newark, New Jersey. My environment consisted
of open lots with mounds of trash, abandoned cars, and mattresses used
for trampolines. On a cold winters day, burning trash and urine filled
the air along with the sounds of bums singing the latest Motown hits
while passing a bottle of that cheap wine. I remember having a love for
watching television. My favorite shows were I love Lucy, Jack Lalane,
Love American Style and other popular shows of that time. When I was
not watching TV, I would look out the window at the package store across
the street. Fights, shootings, and drug buys were the soap opera of
the day and on into the night.
Many say that they have lead interesting lives, but I believe mine is one for the books. A slice of my life is made up of the some of the events that shaped my character and made me the person I am today. It is made up of childhood, teenage, and early adult events that shaped my out look towards life and living.
While growing up my father and mother believed in God and that belief carried our family through some hard times as it did many families, but their lack of understanding brought painful circumstances. They had a problem balancing what they thought was their calling to do missionary work with raising a family in a stable and functioning environment. We never lived in one place too long. My mother was a restless soul, so we not only moved frequently, but would just pick up and leave for a visit and end up staying for months. We missed so many days out of school it caused my brothers and sister and I to be behind in our school lesson. We developed slow socially and played with each other while our parents locked us in the house. Though traveling and missing school was fun, I remember visiting relatives and others and not feeling welcome. Often we lived like we were homeless and when we did settle, we never attended school on a regular basis. I think my parents did not want us to get used to regular schooling and friends because it would be harder to just leave at a moments notice. I had a love for school and some time I would do well. I remember my third grade teacher at Martin Luther King Public School placing colorful stickers on my school work. My mother would proudly put them up on the wall next to the kitchen door. I also painfully recollect missing too many days and having to be retained to the third grade.
My father and mother separated for a time and we moved from New Jersey to Wilson, North Carolina. They got back together and we became a more stable family and I started attending school regularly. Wilson was a much smaller city in what was known as the big eighties. There was three high schools in Wilson. Fike High School, Newly built James Baxter Hunt Jr and Edgar T. Beddingfield. They were all a buzz because each High School was preparing to graduate the largest senior classes in their schools history. The class of 1984. We all knew each other because we were one of the last classes to attend the eighth grade at Charles L. Coon Middle School before being separated at one of the three High Schools. I attended Hunt, but would end up graduating with Fike's senior class.
Compared to today, the 1980's was a much simpler time. The mostly African American community I grew up in was very close. We could not get away with anything! We were supervised by our teachers who taught or knew our parents and the elders in the neighborhood. If we got out of line, we would pay the price and Time Out was not the price. Though they disciplined us, it was because they expected the best from us. We represented them and our community. My mother would feed us breakfast, line us up and inspect us before we went off to school. She made sure we washed and put on clean clothes. It was stressed to us to make sure we wore clean underwear in case we got hurt and had to go to the hospital.
I often wondered how the elders in the neighborhood knew who we belonged to. A lady who would pay me to go the store for her called me Faye and Billy's boy. That was my name. She would send me to Judge Store for a half a pound of half smokes, some Sweet La La snuff, corn meal and some Hoop Cheese. Hoop Cheese is cheese cut form a large round mound of cheese. She would always tell me I could keep the change and that was always fifty cents. I would get twenty five penny cookies and some Now or Later candy. As I walked home, I could hear the crackle of the cast iron frying pans and smell pork chops, fried chicken, and hamburger with bread added to stretch it. Depending on the day, you could smell fish and corn bread or neck bones and rice. In those days fast food was not something we would eat often. My mother cooked six or seven days a week. When I came in the house, she would tell me that the lady I went to the store for called and told her how well mannered I was and that I got everything she needed. I knew someone was always watching and no matter how I behaved, my parents would hear about it.
Sunday night was Soul Night at Roller World Skating Rink. It was called Soul Night because it was Black Folk night at the skating rink. Either we got a ride with a friend or got our parents to drop us off. It was like a low budget Soul Train that night. The lights would dim a little and we would start skating. The DJ would spin the hottest tunes. I could hold my own, but did not try anything too fancy because it was real easy to fall on your back side. Kids of all ages were skating and that meant your little brothers and sisters. I think our parents enjoyed the quiet in the house without us there. After skating around in circles for four hours, it was time to go home. No kid was left behind. Parents would pile as many kids as they could in their cars. When we got back home, all we had time to do was maybe eat something, wash up, iron school clothes and get to bed. Yes! Those were fun times.
Many say that they have lead interesting lives, but I believe mine is one for the books. A slice of my life is made up of the some of the events that shaped my character and made me the person I am today. It is made up of childhood, teenage, and early adult events that shaped my out look towards life and living.
While growing up my father and mother believed in God and that belief carried our family through some hard times as it did many families, but their lack of understanding brought painful circumstances. They had a problem balancing what they thought was their calling to do missionary work with raising a family in a stable and functioning environment. We never lived in one place too long. My mother was a restless soul, so we not only moved frequently, but would just pick up and leave for a visit and end up staying for months. We missed so many days out of school it caused my brothers and sister and I to be behind in our school lesson. We developed slow socially and played with each other while our parents locked us in the house. Though traveling and missing school was fun, I remember visiting relatives and others and not feeling welcome. Often we lived like we were homeless and when we did settle, we never attended school on a regular basis. I think my parents did not want us to get used to regular schooling and friends because it would be harder to just leave at a moments notice. I had a love for school and some time I would do well. I remember my third grade teacher at Martin Luther King Public School placing colorful stickers on my school work. My mother would proudly put them up on the wall next to the kitchen door. I also painfully recollect missing too many days and having to be retained to the third grade.
My father and mother separated for a time and we moved from New Jersey to Wilson, North Carolina. They got back together and we became a more stable family and I started attending school regularly. Wilson was a much smaller city in what was known as the big eighties. There was three high schools in Wilson. Fike High School, Newly built James Baxter Hunt Jr and Edgar T. Beddingfield. They were all a buzz because each High School was preparing to graduate the largest senior classes in their schools history. The class of 1984. We all knew each other because we were one of the last classes to attend the eighth grade at Charles L. Coon Middle School before being separated at one of the three High Schools. I attended Hunt, but would end up graduating with Fike's senior class.
Compared to today, the 1980's was a much simpler time. The mostly African American community I grew up in was very close. We could not get away with anything! We were supervised by our teachers who taught or knew our parents and the elders in the neighborhood. If we got out of line, we would pay the price and Time Out was not the price. Though they disciplined us, it was because they expected the best from us. We represented them and our community. My mother would feed us breakfast, line us up and inspect us before we went off to school. She made sure we washed and put on clean clothes. It was stressed to us to make sure we wore clean underwear in case we got hurt and had to go to the hospital.
I often wondered how the elders in the neighborhood knew who we belonged to. A lady who would pay me to go the store for her called me Faye and Billy's boy. That was my name. She would send me to Judge Store for a half a pound of half smokes, some Sweet La La snuff, corn meal and some Hoop Cheese. Hoop Cheese is cheese cut form a large round mound of cheese. She would always tell me I could keep the change and that was always fifty cents. I would get twenty five penny cookies and some Now or Later candy. As I walked home, I could hear the crackle of the cast iron frying pans and smell pork chops, fried chicken, and hamburger with bread added to stretch it. Depending on the day, you could smell fish and corn bread or neck bones and rice. In those days fast food was not something we would eat often. My mother cooked six or seven days a week. When I came in the house, she would tell me that the lady I went to the store for called and told her how well mannered I was and that I got everything she needed. I knew someone was always watching and no matter how I behaved, my parents would hear about it.
Sunday night was Soul Night at Roller World Skating Rink. It was called Soul Night because it was Black Folk night at the skating rink. Either we got a ride with a friend or got our parents to drop us off. It was like a low budget Soul Train that night. The lights would dim a little and we would start skating. The DJ would spin the hottest tunes. I could hold my own, but did not try anything too fancy because it was real easy to fall on your back side. Kids of all ages were skating and that meant your little brothers and sisters. I think our parents enjoyed the quiet in the house without us there. After skating around in circles for four hours, it was time to go home. No kid was left behind. Parents would pile as many kids as they could in their cars. When we got back home, all we had time to do was maybe eat something, wash up, iron school clothes and get to bed. Yes! Those were fun times.
Misplaced Love
Love is misplaced! Where is love? Why can't we find it? I was looking
for love and couldn't find it. Looked for it in my new car, but it
wasn't there. I abandoned the search after looking under the seats, in
the glove box, in the trunk, and under the hood. Drove to the bank to
see if it was there. Asked the teller to hand me a withdrawal slip and
tried to withdraw love form my checking account. I filled in all of the
blanks and placed L.O.V.E In the amount section then gave it to the
teller. She said she was sorry, but there was only money in my
checking. I apologized for wasting her time, bolted from the bank and
rushed to my car. I pulled up to my beautiful home with carefully
trimmed grass around a freshly built two story with great room, vaulted
ceilings, expensive paintings and old English furnishings. Leaving
nothing to chance, I threw caution to the wind and began turning over
lamps, moving furniture, and flipping over rugs. The longer the search
took, the more desperation took over. The search progressed with the
turning over of chairs, pulling the mattresses off the beds, then
snatching the cushions from the couches. Two hours later my home looked
like someone had driven a car from the front of the house to the back.
I found myself balled up in the middle of piles of clothes, dishes, and
kitchen appliances. It was so quiet that I could hear a rat pee on
cotton and the beating of my heart. Love finally revealed itself to me
while I was laying in the middle of the floor. It was with me all the
time. While standing in line at the bank, many people were trying to
make bogus withdrawals. We place too much value on material things and
the thoughts of others. If we would look within, we would love
ourselves and wouldn't waste time accumulating the things we think will
draw people to us.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Not Alot For Your Dollar These Days
It is extremely hard in these though economic times to get what you pay for when buying Fast Food and using Vending Machines. When I visit Fast Food Restaurants and use Vending Machines, I recall my childhood and teenage years in the seventies and eighties and not only remember what a dollar was worth, but I remember the quality and quantity a dollar did purchase in those days. I can see it all now! I am riding in the car with my parents and siblings and we are on our way to McDonald's to get The Real Big Mac. We never ate fast food too often so my taste buds were running in to each other and my stomach was doing flip flops the night before in anticipation of those two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Back then McDonald's had the best French Fries known to man and you had to eat your burger and fries first because by the time you finish, you may be able to get your thick chocolate Milk Shake to come through the straw. Now fast forward 25 years to the present. I was never so disappointed in my life when I thought I would relive my childhood by eating a Big Mac. The quality of fast food has really declined. My guess is that the fast food industry wanted to maximize profits, so they made eating fast food more affordable and could not deliver the same quality they once did. At a glance the sandwich looked nothing like the sandwich they advertise on television. You know the sandwich that you can actually see the meat and cheese between the three pieces of bread. When I bit into the Low Budget Big Mac, the meat was so thin that I nearly chocked on the bread and special sauce. When I opened the bread up to see what was inside, the meat was so thin that I could see through it. And those fries that use to be so good are a shadow of their former selves. I wonder what they are made of? My son dropped some in the car when he was three. I found them when I was cleaning it out and they looked the same as they did when they were bought. As for the shakes, they are average at best.
When It comes to vending machines there is not a whole lot to say accept that I bought a bag of chips the other day and when I made my selection and the machine dispensed the brand of potato chips I selected, they floated down from the space they where in. It seems to me that the smaller the candy bar or potato chips, the more expensive they are. In this economic climate, it is tough for companies to stay a float with operating cost going up along with fuel prices and the American consumer is trying to be convinced that less is more.
When it comes to fast food. Most of the major players in the fast food industry shot themselves in the foot when they made their food so affordable Americans could eat it nearly every night. Super Sizing everything caused stomachs to become so big that they had to dumb down their food or cook it in different oil. Now the food has less flavor, but still popular because the present generation and the generation after mine never experienced the taste of the Real Big Mac, Good KFC Chicken, Wendy's real thick and juicy burgers and Burger Kings original Whooper.
When It comes to vending machines there is not a whole lot to say accept that I bought a bag of chips the other day and when I made my selection and the machine dispensed the brand of potato chips I selected, they floated down from the space they where in. It seems to me that the smaller the candy bar or potato chips, the more expensive they are. In this economic climate, it is tough for companies to stay a float with operating cost going up along with fuel prices and the American consumer is trying to be convinced that less is more.
When it comes to fast food. Most of the major players in the fast food industry shot themselves in the foot when they made their food so affordable Americans could eat it nearly every night. Super Sizing everything caused stomachs to become so big that they had to dumb down their food or cook it in different oil. Now the food has less flavor, but still popular because the present generation and the generation after mine never experienced the taste of the Real Big Mac, Good KFC Chicken, Wendy's real thick and juicy burgers and Burger Kings original Whooper.
There Seems To Be A Problem Standing Your Ground In Florida If You Are Black
Here is another case of the Bitch pulling down her blindfold and taking a peek at who is in line for Justice. The Bitch I am speaking of is the symbol of the American Justice System. A female holding a scale with a blindfold on as not to be able to see any individual standing in line to receive Justice under the Laws of these United States. This symbol of the United States Justice System does not know if one is rich or poor and can not judge what race or ethnic background one is from. But in the case of Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, she has said to hell with this blindfold and has decided to view all involved.
Marissa Alexander shot at a wall to run off her abusive husband because she felt threatened. No one was injured, but in early May of 2012 a northeast Florida judge sentenced her to 20 years in Prison. She was denied her right to protect herself by standing her ground. She was sentenced under Florida's 10-20 Law. When she fired her gun not a soul was injured, but she was charged under Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws for firing a gun. The act was viewed as a Felony.
Trevor Dooley another Black citizen of Florida was denied immunity under the Stand Your Ground Law. The Law is Suppose to allow a citizen to defend him or her self if they feel threatened. Deadly Force can be used in accordance with this Law. Mr. Dooley shot and killed David James in a dispute over a youth Skateboarding on a Basketball Court. Mr. Dooley stated that he felt threatened while Mr. James had his hands around his neck choking him. His trial is set for the 4th of September.
Jeb Bush signed the Stand Your Ground Law in 2005. The Bill was written by former Senator Durell Peaden and co sponsered by Rep. Dennis Baxley. The Bill was heavily supported by the National Rifle Association and The American Legislative Exchange Council; a so called nonpartisan individual membership organization of state legislators which favor Federalism and Conservative Public Policy Solutions. Draw your own conclusion. David and Charles Koch (coke) multi-billionaires, funders of the Tea Party and against the reduction of Air Pollution also backed Stand your Ground Legislation. The Koch brothers benefited from the 2009 Supreme Court decision that grants person-hood to Corporations. This gives them the power to support Ultra Conservative politions without being detected. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that Unions and Corporations could spend an unlimited amount of money on Campaign Advertising. The Koch Brothers are anti Union and is contributing what they can to dismantle Unions. Former Senator Peaden stated that Zimmerman has no protection under his Law because he ignored the 911 Operator and followed Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012 which resulted in Zimmerman allegedly shooting and killing Trayvon Martin. Many states have a Chastle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground Law. Alaska, Arizona, California, and Georgia. If Zimmerman is convicted while claiming to be covered under Stand Your Ground, the Florida Law may be in jeopardy.
Routers wrote, "Critics say the measure could lead to Racially Motivated killings and promote deadly escalations of arguments." Since the Trayvon Martin shooting, Stand Your Ground Law cases in Florida have gone form 13 to 36 or more. With the Stand Your Ground Law, the burden of Proof is with the prosecution to prove with a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not shoot in self defense.
Marissa Alexander shot at a wall to run off her abusive husband because she felt threatened. No one was injured, but in early May of 2012 a northeast Florida judge sentenced her to 20 years in Prison. She was denied her right to protect herself by standing her ground. She was sentenced under Florida's 10-20 Law. When she fired her gun not a soul was injured, but she was charged under Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws for firing a gun. The act was viewed as a Felony.
Trevor Dooley another Black citizen of Florida was denied immunity under the Stand Your Ground Law. The Law is Suppose to allow a citizen to defend him or her self if they feel threatened. Deadly Force can be used in accordance with this Law. Mr. Dooley shot and killed David James in a dispute over a youth Skateboarding on a Basketball Court. Mr. Dooley stated that he felt threatened while Mr. James had his hands around his neck choking him. His trial is set for the 4th of September.
Jeb Bush signed the Stand Your Ground Law in 2005. The Bill was written by former Senator Durell Peaden and co sponsered by Rep. Dennis Baxley. The Bill was heavily supported by the National Rifle Association and The American Legislative Exchange Council; a so called nonpartisan individual membership organization of state legislators which favor Federalism and Conservative Public Policy Solutions. Draw your own conclusion. David and Charles Koch (coke) multi-billionaires, funders of the Tea Party and against the reduction of Air Pollution also backed Stand your Ground Legislation. The Koch brothers benefited from the 2009 Supreme Court decision that grants person-hood to Corporations. This gives them the power to support Ultra Conservative politions without being detected. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that Unions and Corporations could spend an unlimited amount of money on Campaign Advertising. The Koch Brothers are anti Union and is contributing what they can to dismantle Unions. Former Senator Peaden stated that Zimmerman has no protection under his Law because he ignored the 911 Operator and followed Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012 which resulted in Zimmerman allegedly shooting and killing Trayvon Martin. Many states have a Chastle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground Law. Alaska, Arizona, California, and Georgia. If Zimmerman is convicted while claiming to be covered under Stand Your Ground, the Florida Law may be in jeopardy.
Routers wrote, "Critics say the measure could lead to Racially Motivated killings and promote deadly escalations of arguments." Since the Trayvon Martin shooting, Stand Your Ground Law cases in Florida have gone form 13 to 36 or more. With the Stand Your Ground Law, the burden of Proof is with the prosecution to prove with a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not shoot in self defense.
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