Welcome!!! I have decided to take a journey deep into my inner self to discover a deeper sense of peace and maybe even to get some of life's most puzzling questions answered. Feel free to join me on this journey and leave your thoughts...
It is the day after Whitney Houston’s tragic and unexpected death and I’m laying here in my apartment looking at the walls and the furniture thinking, “Am I really here? Ok, come back. Come back to your world. Here. Today.” I find myself not even wanting to say her name, write her name, and I dread thinking it… but my mind at times is like a medley of her songs, it goes from 1 to the other unconsciously. Maybe that is effect that Twitter has on the brain. But somehow I just feel lost in it all. And I recognize this familiar feeling.
It is time to say good-bye.
I struggle to stay present in this moment while I reminisce about the past and worry about the future. I experience flashbacks of my life and feel pain in my body upon the realization that one day I am going to die and so will all the people who I love. I ask myself, “What am I going to do?”
I am aging. Nearing the age of 30, my body has now begun the downhill climb towards the end and yet I have so much more living to do. How will I do it? How will I make it to the end? How will I finish this race against time?
Upon the death of legendary Whitney Houston, I am bluntly reminded again that life is only a temporary and fleeting moment. My entire life's existence is put into perspective. I can remember the 80s. I remember the 90s. And then we have today; already so much of it is gone. One day we will not be here and most likely, yesterday will only register as a date on the calendar to our descendants to come 100 years from now.
A Story:
When I was in elementary school, we had a pageant once a year and I swear at least 1 little girl in the pageant got on stage and sang, “The Greatest Love of All” every year!
Well, six years ago I was baby-sitting my 9yr-old African-American cousin and I mentioned Whitney Houston. She turned to me and said, “Who is Whitney Houston?” I just looked at her in shock! I said, “You don’t know Whitney Houston?” She said, “No.” I thought to myself, “My God, where are we leading our children? So much of our history has been lost."
That was a turning point for me. I thought, “A little Black girl who doesn’t know the awe that is Whitney Houston?” I then realized that the younger generation’s experiences are so much different than mine were. I became scared thinking about the type of people they might be.
As a result of yesterday's tragedy, I’m sure my little cousin is already getting to know the splendor and awe of the entertainer who was Whitney Houston in all her glory! And I’m sure the late great Whitney Houston would have it no other way.
I remember right after Michael Jackson’s death, my friend's 4-yr old son would sing and dance to Michael Jackson songs all day! He told me, “I love Michael Jackson.” I told him, “I heard that I loved him too when I was your age. That was TWENTY years ago. I used to sing and dance to his songs just like you do!”
A happy thought connects the past, present, and future. I am able to smile through my grief a little as this memory helps me to accept that all is as it should be. I can only hope that the light of these stars continues to shine bright forever so that they will continue to live on forever.
To Bobbi Kristina, (Whitney’s only child) and to the rest of her family, I would like to send this message for you, out into the universe:
When I’ve had relatives pass away, I felt heart-breaking sadness at first, but after some time I was comforted by my memories of the times we shared. The memories are what helps to ensure their legacy lives on so that even though they are gone, they will not be forgotten. Whether it’s through my grandmothers’ favorite Caramel Cake or Spaghetti recipe, as long as I live, the talents, gifts, and the love they shared with me will live on forever.
And the award for "Most Sensitive Rapper" goes to...
Last night before bed I was listening to meditation music when another song kept popping into my head. I could faintly hear a girl singing it...so then I said, "Scratch this meditation. Let me hum this song so maybe I can figure out where I've heard it before." Then I remembered! Oh, that was one of the new songs off of Drake's "Take Care" album! So I went to listen to "Doing It Wrong" by Drake. (The voice I was hearing in my head was actually a cover by HotTottie on Youtube.)
[Verse 1] When a good thing goes bad it's not the end of the world It's just the end of a world that you had with one girl And she's the reason it happened, but she's overreacting And it's all because she don't want things to change
[Hook] So cry if you need to, but I can't stay to watch you That's the wrong thing to do Touch if you need to, but I can't stay to hold you That's the wrong thing to do Talk if you need to, but I can't stay to hear you That's the wrong thing to do Cause you'll say you love me, and I'll end up lying And say I love you, too
But I need someone different You know it, oh ho, you know it Oh ho, you know it, we both know it I need someone different You know it, oh ho, you know it Oh ho, you know it, we both know it Something's been missing You know it, oh ho, she knows it Oh ho, I know it, we all know it I need someone different (Oh ho, oh ho)
[Verse 2] We live in a generation of not being in love, and not being together But we sure make it feel like we're together Because we're scared to see each other with somebody else
What did this mean? Why was my mind pulling me to that song I happened to have heard only twice before... 1.) Well, obviously it sounds good. 2.) I have to say that I admire Drake for this one because he's doing the right thing by showing that he has a conscience. I just applaud him for that. 3.) Honesty, morality...wow, he's winning so many awards for just that one song! It is huge!
Now as for the rest of the album...hmm, well I dunno. But overall I love the Drake (((sound))) and especially his willingness to be vulnerable through his music. And really, his singing is awesome!
All you need is a cup of hot cocoa, your pajamas, and maybe headphones... Then you can sit back and enjoy all of the drama, madness, humor, and warm fuzzies of my youtube playlist, "Black Marriage and Dating Videos." <--To watch on Youtube click here.
This is a follow-up to my previous blog about the negative, downhill moral journey of black youth culture. I have to admit that I got a little flack for the last article. People said I was being judgemental and that I thought I was perfect... So how bout this one? I know and believe that black culture is (or can be) so much more than just a combination of risky sexual behavior, drug-use, illegal drug activity, etc. And it is my personal opinion that this type of lifestyle should not be glorified! Children as well as adults see their heroes engaged in this type of activity and they seek to imitate it. Then it becomes almost normal or expected to continue the pattern.
My focus for this article is pop sensation Rihanna, and her new video, "We Found Love." I can relate to Rihanna and I admire her creativity but I still believe that the image she puts forth as a young black woman is irresponsible.
Here are my thoughts on the video as well as the article.
Risk-taking behavior at it's highest!
1.) The slot machine symbolizes risk taking. As does her other video, "Russian Roulette." So does behavior like jumping on tables in public places, doing lots of drugs(and also the way that they do them, like smoking 4 joints, or whatever that was, at 1 time) and last but not least, remaining in an abusive relationship.
2.) In the scene where she was passed out, Chris Witherspoon interpreted that the man was trying to "comfort her in a drunken stupor." To me he looked worried. Also, there were ambulance lights flashing in-between that scene.
3.) In the end she was balled up into a corner because she realized that she needed to change her life but it was hard...also she was detoxing. She's detoxing from the relationship, which itself was like a drug--> like she said, "wanting the good without the bad."
4.) I don't think people realize the reality of how much drug use/abuse can contribute to poor decision making! If I was high on drugs all the time, I might fall in love with a tree!
5.) She's sick and she knows it...And she's only 23yrs old. Wow...
In the song "Rehab" off her 2nd album, she says, "I gotta check into rehab cause baby you're my disease." (Yeah, the video with Justin Timberlake as her love interest.) Well, this is her 6th album, so it seems like she's been dealing with these issues for at least the length of her entire music career!
6.) I applaud her for her creativity! However, I think a lot of kids will watch and think it's just cool to get high and f**k...
On another note (and completely off topic I guess), the "We Found Love" video reminds me of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream." Although, "We Found Love" reaches a little deeper and kind of looks more like a nightmare than a dream! A drug-induced one!
Is the Devil Hijacking Black youth culture by way of media representation? And I'm not talking about no illuminati/cult/etc! Just Lucifer/Satan in the form of distorted reality, straight up and pure. What do you think? Think people, THINK!
Don't get me wrong, I believe in Freedom of Speech but I also believe in morality... They have the right to say it, but you can be moral and reject it!
If the KuKluxKlan released a white supremacy album that went platinum in 1 week, and the video got 1bil hits across Youtube and Vimeo combined, Black people would be marching in the streets! But you have Wiz Khalifa and Too Short release a hit song glorifying drug-abuse and drug-induced rape, and people say "Leave them alone! They've had a hard life."
Just think, what other heroes do little 10-yr old Black and Hispanic boys have? That is why this attitude has become our culture and continues to contribute to the association of racial and ethnic minorities with moral deviance. Simply put, in the words of Lil' Wayne, "This is a culture." (Click here to watch Lil Wayne's Public Service Announcement.)
In the 90s when Tupac was talking about drive-bys, I knew children who were killed due to drive-bys! I understand that "thug-life" may be the truth of their reality, but the glorification of it doesn't help those who are 1.) not making money off it, and 2.) wasting their money by buying it and/or seeking to imitate it.
I recently read an article from The Root titled, "Liberals Still Fighting Old Culture Wars" which discussed liberal groups' frustration and intolerance of Conservative Republican leader, Pat Buchanan. Pat Buchanan recently wrote a new book, "Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?" In it he claims that our nation, born a Western Christian republic, is becoming a "multiracial, multicultural, multilingual, multiethnic stew...that has no successful precedent in the history of the world." Could his concern be due to reports like these?
1.) Professor Tricia Rose, author of "Black Noise" discusses the corporatization of black culture and states that marketing, rather than creativity now drives the work of artists, drives the sexual exploitation of black women...Yet it's difficult to be critical of young black men.
** View the net worth of the Top-5 Richest Rappers of 2011. Lil Wayne does not make the Top-5 due to his net worth being only $85million in 2011.
** See what HipHop artists earned, according to Forbes, in the year 2011. "HipHop Cash Kings 2011"
I realize that some of the images of drug use may be triggers for some people (probably why they made it). I think we all know that there's something wrong with this kind of lifestyle/music. :-( Nevertheless, the music is catchy...sigh. How many kids will begin a lifetime of addiction after dancing to this I wonder?
[Wiz Khalifa - Verse 1] It's the champagne pourin' Big joint rollin' Bombay sippin' No blunt smoking Bad bitch gettin' Thick and she got some friends with her I take 'em out pourin' shots of liquor Drinkin' out the bottle, smiling in all my pictures The marijuana loud so them hoes follow like twitter nigga, you know everything Taylored Don't rush to the bar fool, if you ain't got no paper That's the rules, high as fuck, sloppy drunk when I'm passing through Rollin' doobies up, ya hoe who we pass 'em to Hit the club spend this money up, roll another one, drink, act a fool That's what I have to do
[Chorus] See after drinking champagne all night Never worry bout a damn thing, y'all might Homie I'm on my level (yeh) I'm on my level (yeah) I'm on my level (yeh) I'm on my level (yeaah)
So let me take one shot to the brain And I order three more shots I'm going in, ayy I'm on my level (yeh) I'm on my level (yeah) I'm on my level (yeh) I'm on my level (yeaah)
[Wiz Khalifa - Verse 2] Spent a couple dollars on my engine motor roaring when I back out the garage Gin got me drunk as fuck stumbling out the bar Plus I'm struggling tryna find the keys to my car Cause I be going hard, roll the camera Life just like a movie, I'm the star Wish you was in my position You too broke to play the part Of course I keep some bad women with me in the back Sippin' Rose with some hash twistin' All about a dollar, my team in the cash gettin' Straight out the burb, we drinking we smash niggas So when I say I'm balling, that don't mean that I'm playing mate All my diamonds talkin', you can see what they sayin' mayne
[Chorus]
[Too $hort] In the middle of the night, early in the mornin' From the streets to the sheets with some freaks, I ain't yawnin' I'm wide awake, we ain't eatin', we ain't sleepin' These bitches so high man, we ain't even speakin' We just freakin' You rollin' with short dog baby She was high on that pill so I fucked yo lady Come to my house I give 'em everything they want I might not dot it, but I give to ya women Cocaine, mushrooms, ecstasy, GHB, Marijuana She can suck it if she wanna I got tequila, Ciroc and two freaky friends and this a Wednesday night, this ain't the weekend
[Chorus]
[Bridge] Man I'm high as fuck Man I swear I'm on my level Man I'm sloppy drunk Man I swear I'm on my level I finna pass out man I swear I'm on my level A nigga get smashed out Man I swear I'm on my level
Man I'm high as fuck Man I swear I'm on my level Man I'm sloppy drunk Man I swear I'm on my level I finna pass out man I swear I'm on my level A nigga get smashed out Man I swear I'm on my level
[Woman on phone] “Hello Yeah I just walked in Yeah I’m good you still working? tonight, right now? ‘Did I go out’ yeah I went out I went, I went to a couple of clubs I never went to bed shit… wine or water you should see someone about a cold drink I don’t know, I’m delirious… night”
[Drake - Verse 1] Cups of the Rose Bitches in my old phone I should call one and go home I’ve been in this club too long The woman that I would try Is happy with a good guy
But I’ve been drinking so much That I’ma call her anyway and say “Fuck that nigga that you love so bad I know you still think about the times we had” I say “fuck that nigga that you think you found And since you picked up I know he’s not around”
(Are you drunk right now?)
I’m just sayin’, you could do better Tell me have you heard that lately? I’m just sayin’ you could do better And I’ll start hatin’, only if you make me
Uh, cups of the XO All my people been here I see all of her friends here Guess she don’t have the time to kick it no more Flights in the morning What you doing that's so important? I’ve been drinking so much That I’ma call you anyway and say
“Fuck that nigga that you love so bad I know you still think about the times we had” I say “fuck that nigga that you think you found And since you picked up I know he’s not around” (Are you drunk right now?)
I’m just sayin’, you could do better Tell me have you heard that lately I’m just sayin’ you could do better And I’ll start hatin’, only if you make me
I think I’m addicted to naked pictures And sittin talkin’ ’bout bitches that we almost had I don’t think I’m concious of making monsters Outta the women that I sponsor til it all goes bad But shit it’s all good We threw a party, yeh we threw a party Bitches came over, yeh, we threw a party I was just calling cause they were just leaving Talk to me please, don’t have much to believe in I need you right now, are you down to listen to me? Too many drinks have been given to me I got some women that's living off me Paid for their flights and hotels I’m ashamed Bet that you know them, I won’t say no names After a while girl they all seem the same I’ve had sex four times this week I’ll explain Having a hard time adjusting to fame Sprite in that mixture, I’ve been talking crazy girl I’m lucky that you picked up Lucky that you stayed on I need someone to put this weight on
[Drake and Woman on phone] “Well I’m sorry” – [Drake] “Are you drunk right now?” – [Woman]
I’m just sayin’, you could do better Tell me have you heard that lately I’m just sayin’ you could do better And I’ll start hatin’, only if you make me
[Drake on phone] “You’re not going to come?” “Guess I’m bout to just kick it here then…”
Just throw up while I hold your hair back Her white friend said “you niggas crazy” I hope no-one heard that I hope no-one heard that Cause if they did, we gon be in some trouble
Chip on my shoulda, big enough to feed Cambodia See I never fit into they quotas Sneakers wasn't fittin' and my knees needed lotion Long before I knew the significance of a comb I roam like foam with no vocal reception
Immigrant parents had me feeling like a step-kid And black Americans never did accept me That's why I thrive so much winnin' respect, dig I never fit in with them light skins I thought the lighter they was, the better that they life is
So I resented them and they resented me Cheated on light skin Dominique, we were 17 I figure I hurt her she'd evidently hurt me And all women who have light features see I never let a light broad hurt me That's why I strike first and the first cut's deep
From a light skin girl to a dark skin brotha Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Boy, you so beautiful, boy, you so beautiful Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Honey brown, caramel, coffee brown, chocolate Toffee, pecan, licorice, boy, you so beautiful
Just another knotty head, nigga Hoping Wes Snipes make my life a bit different In middle school I had the right to be timid I had beautiful words but girls never listened
Listen, blacker the berry, sweeter the product Well, I'm fruit punch concentrate and they water Walk into my room thinking how to make moves Ain't thinking like a student but how Ice-T do it
Light dudes had the girls looking there Aw yeah, it's not fair, the ones with the good hurr Couldn't adapt to naps I wore caps They napped and slept on me
Man, I hate black skin tone I wish I could take it back or rearrange my status Maybe if I was khaki, associating light skin with classy The minstrel show, showed a me that was not me
From a light skin girl to a dark skin brotha Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Boy, you so beautiful, boy, you so beautiful Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Honey brown, caramel, coffee brown, chocolate Toffee, pecan, licorice, boy, you so beautiful
They say black is beautiful But ask them beautiful light girls If it's black they attract to usually What if Barack's skin was all black? Truthfully would he be a candidate Or just a black in community?
We as black dudes tend to lack unity And them blacker girls ain't on the tube usually Right now at 23 I ain't mad at them reds no more But for long time I had gone cold blind
Full of my own insecurity, it was holding me Back to reds, I ain't know how to act They would get the cold shoulder And know it was an act, a defense mechanism What I thought that I lacked
From a light skin girl to a dark skin brotha Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Boy, you so beautiful, boy, you so beautiful Shade doesn't matter, heart makes the lover Honey brown, caramel, coffee brown, chocolate Toffee, pecan, licorice, boy, you so beautiful
Black people, lets wake up and stop destroying ourselves! Rappers and others in the Hip Hop music industry have historically been known for skin color bias in their music videos. Now, why is it that rappers think it is okay to specify skin color preference in their songs when they speak about females? "brown skin" "yellow bone" "red bone" ...and u know that they are talking about women who are lighter than a brown paper bag, yet u never hear them say, "My girl is so dark." As a matter of fact, black people know this is a putdown, not a compliment.
So now they have another excuse to disrespect both the light and dark-skinned females. They say that the light-skinned one thinks she's all that and the dark-skinned one has low self-esteem.
And then there was "Becky"...the one that b***p, b***ps... these men don't even respect themselves... If I had children they would never watch TV or listen to the radio! They would be so sheltered! We would be reading books. I would not ...want to teach my children hatred. I don't want them to learn it somewhere else either...especially hating themselves...my little dark-skinned girls watching BET, MTV, Disney, TV One, you name it, and feeling like they just don't measure up because they're too dark...sad and ridiculous...what I call black on black racism.
And major news networks wonder what's wrong with the state of black marriage! Ha! How can you really love someone else when you hate yourself? And black men wonder why black women get attitudes!
Stupidness and Ignorance are tearing our community apart!
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