Come Correct or Stay Home or go Elsewhere...

but not to Morehouse College. The Historically Black College has banned urban gear from students on campus. No not NorthFace jackets, I'm talking about grills (fronts), saggy/baggy pants that expose underwear, and a concise list of other fashion backward stylings that our children think is cool to wear. Frankly, I agree, not because I despise the way our children present themselves at times, but this is Morehouse. If they institute a uniform policy, students would have to conform or go elsewhere. This is nothing new or unheard of. The uproar over what is worn on "free" time is irrelevant as well, especially if that free time is spent in any campus building or on campus grounds. One might think that this "culture" would not have even invaded the hallowed halls of such a historically rich college, but they obviously have. What you decide ully so.to wear when you graduate, or as you enter the corporate world IS your business, what you wear on the same ground that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. walked on is Morehouse's business, and rightf

Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?


AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Don't tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is!

In case you haven't seen it yet...

St Philips' Baptist Church Sunday School Youth Choir at McDonald's Gospelfest 2009.

Look where God has brought us!

Oh yeah, He said it, and to make sure you heard right, he repeated it...

On the same day the NAACP celebrated 100 years of existence, on the same day when the first African-American President spoke to African-Americans about the continued need of a refocused NAACP, on the same day that some naive souls went so far as to question the continued need for the NAACP...
On that same day....Rep Todd Tiahrt (R) from Kansas took to the House floor and let loose what can only be described as an unbelievable set of what ifs....

What if...abortions were free, and Obama's mother wanted one...

What if...abortions were free, and Clarence Thomas' mother wanted one...

The NAACP is necessary to counter the thought processes of people like Todd Tiahrt, not just for the consistent inequalities that HELP to keep some of us from acheivment, but as a source of leadership and guidance for our future generations.

Hey! Rep. Tiahrt! What if abortions were free and your....okay I don't usally go there, so I wont today either....but you know how I feel.

There's nothing I like more than "HONEST" Racism

Yeah that honest racism is just so refreshing. I'm tired of people trying to hide how they really feel. Why lie? If you really can't stand to be around other races, at least be up front with it. I believe a special award should go to the Valley Swim Club in Philly. They were upfront about their racist views... too many black kids in the pool will change the complexion of the club. Some guests snatched their precious unexposed white children out of that horrific environment of black kids having fun. The club officially came to the aid of thier white patrons and threw the kids out, even though they had paid $1900.00 for the "exclusive" privelege of using the pool. Their money was refunded and they were told (paraphrasing) that they were no longer welcome. 1950? no, 1960? no 2009!

Not so fast Mike!

Mayor Bloomberg is overly pleased with himself with regard to recently released statistics regarding the graduation/dropout rates for NYC 2008. Without even addressing the fact that the numbers may very well be skewed based on the "new" way the city identifies so called discharges. Even if you disregard the stats that stipulate that the trend toward better numbers began 4 years before Bloomberg ever entered Gracie Mansion. If you disregard all of that, there still exists a major disparity between black and white students with regard to graduation and dropout rates. Oh the "gap" has narrowed, by 16% over the past four years, better, but certainly nothing to celebrate. To date the achievement gap, based on students that enter and leave High School on time, is 21%. This is, simply put, unacceptable. What is being actually done to change these numbers? Why such a large gap? We all know the base answers, from environment to parental involvement to self-motivation and determination, but those issues still don't answer what is being done. Why are our children (and Hispanic children) so far behind? We have a part to play in this equation, of that there is no doubt, but the numbers point to a much larger issue at play here. This is not about passing blame, there still exists an underlying institutional separation and discrimination throughout our education system. The "system" leans fiercly against succes for minorities, and while some groups have overcome (and surpass) the majority through extreme cultural differences (notably Asians), there is still something missing. The numbers, however faulty do idicate progress, but progress for some, while leaving thousands of others behind is not progress at all.

see some stats here - http://schools.nyc.gov/Accountability/Reports/Data/Graduation/Grad_Rate_2008_HIGHLIGHTS.ppt#3

Cop(White) on Cop(Black) Shooting is no surprise

Tradgedy? Accident? Unintended consequence? None, not one of these words can or ever will comfort the family of Omar Edwards. It doesn't matter that the details (likely to be formulated in a lawyer's office) are not out yet. The end result is the same. In my view it would be the same level of shock, if it were any other race of officer, and even if the deceased wasn't law enforcement. The facts to date sppeak volumes to the value of an African-American's life on the streets of NY. Omar Edwards was shot by a pursuing officer without provocation. Mr. Edwards never fired a shot. The pursuing officer may have thought he was saving a citizen when he fired the first two shots. He likely thought, "hey, I'm doing my job". As he fired the next two shots he likely thought to himself, "this dirtbag doesn't deserve to live". Then the euphoria hit, as he thought about the speech he would give as he accepted the key to the city from the mayor. He thought about how much "trauma" time he could squeeze out of this "incident". Now his thoughts rest on saving his job, his career, his respect in his community. Whether he knows it or not, all of those things are gone, they were actually gone before he pulled the trigger, the shooting just brings it all to the surface so that everyone knows. It doesn't matter how many Black friends he has, his thought was not that Omar might be family to one of them. We can all guess how the story will go...There will be some BS story about how Omar didn't obey commands, or about how he turned and leveled his firearm at the pursuing officer (the way he would be trained to do by the way). In the end, there will be another, and another, and another....what needs to change is not the number of Blacks in prison or on drugs. What needs to change is not how many young black men will see prison walls before they have the opportunity to see university walls. What needs to change is how THEY (and sometimes WE) VIEW US. This is a view that transcends fishing trips with your Black friends, attending the wedding of a Black co-worker, or even dating a Black person. None of these things change INHERENT racial bias steeped in history and sub-consciously taught in schools, in homes, and even in our houses of worship. The meat of this issue is that it really is a learned behavior, the disdain for another race, it is as taught as naming animals and colors. The best part about the new generation with their baggy clothes and technology savvy, is that they see less color than we do. The worst thing is that their parents will break them of that color-blind trust.


Click here for full story.

I try not to edit posts once they are up, but exception becomes the rule when I get angry. Those who know me, truly know me, also know that it takes a lot to get me riled.

The following developments have transpired since my original post:

Don Lemon of CNN interviewed a former DC police officer with regard to the case. The interviewee immediately began defending the racial component of the story, (without being asked), and went so far as to say what Omar Edwards probably did wrong. He added insult to injury as he emphatically stated that the officer who shot Edwards did identify himself. This is significant because to date, the shooter has given no official statement. NYPD is in full damage control mode. Click HERE to see transcript of Don Lemon interview with CNN Security Analyst Mike Brooks. He also makes the allegation that the pursuing officer shot only after Omar Edwards turned toward him. This lie is significant because today the medical examiner released the fact that Officer Edwards was shot in the back, and that the bullet went through to his chest. All news reports, including a video conference by Commisioner Ray Kelly have reported that Officer Edwards was struck in the chest. Those are the developments so far, I allow you to make your own jdgement...but you already know what I think.