Sonia

Haiku

we are sudden stars

you and i exploding in

our blue black skins

Written by Sonia Sanchez

October & November Books

The October book for the online book club followers was Fortune's Rocks, by Anita Shreve. We'll be discussing it in person next week, and I can't wait--I am so loving this book! Apologies for the late post.

The November book is North River, by Pete Hamill.

Details about both books can be viewed by clicking the titles in the side navigation. Happy reading!

My Last Day @ 30

As my 30th year in this world comes to an end, I've been doing a lot of introspection at The Sanctuary. This has been a tumultuous, unpredictable, exciting, heart-breaking and heart-mending year. On this last day, I am filled with a melancholic happiness--as much of an oxymoron as that is: for having said goodbye to things and people (one person in particular) and places that have occupied special places in my heart for a very long time, I feel a great loss; meanwhile I feel utter contentment for what my life has become as a result. Playing "catch up" after moving to New York didn't take as long as I was dreadfully expecting; I'm proud to say I am making up for lost time and catching up to where I believe I should be rather quickly.

30 has definitely been a wake-up call for me in more ways than one. The universe showed me the signs and told me I needed to get my life in order by the time I reached 30, the "I am officially a grown-up" year, and I obediently listened, no matter how deleterious I felt this new journey might be. As Oprah said once, "Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it." That is exactly what I have done and strive to do for the rest of my life; I believe I am the better for it and will continue to improve from 31 on.

Forgot Again!!!

The September book is Gentlemen and Players, by Joanne Harris.
So far, I'm really liking how twisted and sinister it is... :)

Backlog of Books

I've received complaints from people following my book club selections online. I apologize for my slippage. Here's what we have read over the past few months:

Midnight's Children: A Novel, Salman Rushdie
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (highly recommended and loved by all)
Shanghai Girls, Lisa See

And we have just started reading our August choice, Sag Harbor, by Colson Whitehead.
And for those who aren't very observant, I DO update the "Books I've Recently Read" section on the right navigation of this page. This list includes what I read outside of the book club selections, as well.

Happy reading to all of my online members!

Friday's Child

Friday's child.....Hard luck is her brother
Friday's child.....Her sister's misery
Friday's child.....Her daddy they call hard times
Friday's child.....That's me

Friday's child.....Born a little ugly
Friday's child.... Good looks passed her by..oh
Friday's child.....Makes something look like nothing
Friday's child.....Am I..ya

Friday's child.....Never climbed no mountain
Friday's child.....She ain't even gonna tray..oh
Friday's child.....Whom they'll forget to bury
Friday's child.....Am I

Things Come Together

As I prepare for my move and bring all the things from my former life in Miami to my new grown-up life in NYC, it's come to my realization that even though things can completely fall apart, there's always a way to bring them back together. It's not like this is a newsflash, or something I just learned: this is just something that I'm experiencing in a whole new way.

On the outside, I always look like everything is fine and dandy; I never really want people to think otherwise--it's no one's business but my own. However, there are instances when I feel that sharing my experiences and circumstances with others might help those who feel like things have fallen apart for them. So, I will share this:

My life was a wreck and it was all my fault. I screwed things up horribly and have been suffering the consequences silently for a long time. Only by taking a few steps back am I able to say that things are now coming up roses. Yes, they are still seedlings, but I can already smell their sweet scent. Because of the life I've led, no one can truly understand how nervous/excited/happy/scared I am to ride this new wave; none of it matters though, I am jumping in and savoring the splash.

Remember

Remember
by Christina Rosetti

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Oh, Canada!

I was watching commercials for the first time in quite a while, and saw a Canadian tourism ad that bothered the crap out of me. It was of a man filming the melting of a beautiful ice cap; off-screen you hear the man whooping and cheering as he watches. Does he, not to mention the ignoramuses who approved this commercial, not realize that he was filming the destruction of out planet?!? That melting ice caps and glaciers are a sign of all the stress and damage the human race has inflicted on the Earth? How is this a good advertisement for anything, let alone stand for a tourist attraction?

People can be really stupid sometimes.

Walking for Me & You

Saturday morning, after a late night flight from Vegas, I participated in the Revlon Run/Walk Against Cancer 5K that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. I again, want to thank everyone for their show of support through their words of encouragement and their donations.

I didn't think that I would get emotional, but seeing the huge turnout of people (men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds, totaling over 40,000 people) enthusiastically walking and running from Times Square through Central Park was so moving. As my mom and I walked together, we noticed that on some people's backs were homemade signs saying things such as: "I'm a Survivor: 13 Years," "In Memory of...," "In Support of...", and I couldn't help but think of all the women in my life or women with whom I've come in contact over the years, who have all been affected by breast cancer. As I walked and looked at groups of women crying, holding hands in solidarity, hugging each other and reaching out to one another, I got more and more choked up. I began thinking of my grandmother who died and I almost lost it right there on 7th Avenue; my aunt who is a survivor with both of her breasts removed and never batted an eyelash, and all of my friends' mothers who have been diagnosed and/or treated for breast cancer. I walked for them, the memory of them, and in support of them and every woman out there. I am considered a high risk candidate for breast cancer, so I was walking for myself, too.

Listening to Ciara, Jessicas Alba and Biel, Jennifer Connelly and Jimmy Fallon all speak on the subject and how they've been affected by cancer in women, made me want to get up there and speak on it, too! While I was watching them, a group of women came and stood by me, all with t-shirts that read: "Can't We At Least Get Early Detection?" I went up to them and told them that I liked their shirts; their response was to hug me. Again, I almost burst into tears--they were all already crying. But you could see the strength in their eyes and feel the determination in their hearts to make a difference.

If we could all be strong together, what a difference we could really make.

City Harvest-Giving Back & Being Grateful

Wednesday night my mother and I went to a charity event for an organization called City Harvest. This 25 year old group of volunteers and workers rescue food from markets, hotels, restaurants, etc., to feed the hungry all over New York. I was so touched by the giving spirits of the people who founded and run this project that I feel compelled to volunteer whatever time I have to this noble cause. Only $1.40 can feed a person for a week; that's cheaper than a train ride. So I figure, the more I walk, the more transportation money I save that can feed a hungry child or an elderly person who can't feed him/her -self. I won't miss that money, and I'll be better off for having "sacrificed" it. And that's just one of many things I plan to do to help the people involved, which include such notables as Rachel Ray, Eric Ripert, American Express, Credit Suisse, DKNY, and all the "little people" who aren't famous that make this all possible.

A man who is a truck driver shared his life story with us, telling us how he was homeless 20 years ago and was in soup kitchen lines, wondering how he was going to feed his family. A worker at the kitchen, part of City Harvest, suggested that he could work with them since he was jobless, had no place to go, and could use the help. Fast forward 20 years, and this man has a steady job, can feed himself and his family, and is helping others in their time of need. What could be better or feel more rewarding than that? Listening to him and seeing all the people who need aid, makes me feel so grateful for everything I have. I wrote not too long ago to complain about not having my own place--now I feel like a fool. Sometimes it takes occasions like this dinner to put things into perspective. I am one of the lucky ones, and I know that. I will not take for granted; rather I will give back as a token of my thanks to the universe.

People now more than ever, need to band together to help those who can't help themselves. These number will continue to climb as the recession in this country continues to lay workers off of jobs they've held for years, as more and more people can't afford the houses they live in; as graduates come out of college and into a workforce that can't accommodate them, and as senior citizens can't afford to retire because they no longer have pensions and/or not enough social security with which to sustain a peaceable life, we must lend a hand whenever we are able. I vow to do my part, give up the superficial outings and purchases to uplift the rest of my community. I urge you to do the same.

Volunteer here.

Book Club Books

I've been asked a few times to keep posting the books my book club has been reading, but I keep forgetting to. We just finished reading The Way to Paradise, by Mario Vargas-Llosa, which was one of the best takes on historical fiction I have ever read. There was an overall consensus that it was a great read when my girls discussed it two nights ago at a delicious Peruvian restaurant I frequent in NYC called Pio Pio.

The April book is Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins. I'm one-third of the way through this book, and so far I'm enjoying it; it's fantastical, philosophical, witty and fun. I can't wait for everyone else to read it so we can delve into deep conversations about this one. Each of our beliefs, philosophies, and views on life itself will be revealed, I predict.

So there you have it, my avid readers. Enjoy!

Women Against Cancer

I recently signed up to do a 5k from Times Square to Central Park for the Revlon Run/Walk: Women Against Cancer and am so excited. It's on May 2nd, and I've decided to run it--well my run is really a "wog," but we don't need to be technical here. ;)

For those in the NYC area, please come out and support this worthy cause, or sponsor me! I'd greatly appreciate it. Just click here to donate on my fund raising page. I just hope the weather's nice; if it starts raining or is cold however, then maybe I'll finish in record time!

Calling a Spade a Spade

A very educated and cool girlfriend of mine in Miami (which is hard to come by) posted a funny, insightful note today about how sensitive certain words, slang, and phrases have become since Obama became our president. Race has always been a hot topic, but now that we have a black man in office, everyone seems to be a bit more careful with their word choice. Here's what Dianna wrote today:

I can't help but laugh when I hear public figures tap dance around certain terms that they would not hesitate to use if Obama was white. This learned gentleman was trying to explain the possibilities for negotiations with Iran on Diane Reem this morning and he actually stuttered out the following:

"...that's something they (Iran) never received with the Bush administration, and that's something they've gotten in sp....uh, great quantities, from the Obama administration."

Talk about quick thinking! The word he wanted was SPADES, the idiom for which is "in spades": To a considerable degree: They had financial trouble in spades.

The definition of the word spade itself however, causes concern:
Spade 2 (spd) n.1. Games
a. A black, leaf-shaped figure on certain playing cards.
b. A playing card with this figure.
c. also spades (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The suit of cards represented by this figure.
2. Offensive slang used as a disparaging term for a Black person.

He obviously realized very quickly that might not be the best choice...it's so silly that this kind of panic has to happen at all, but I suppose I'd rather have them err on the side of polite and respectful. Plus, it's kinda entertaining to hear them scramble to recover. :)

I agree, Dianna. A lot about this topic has been cropping up as of late; there are subtle hints all over the media. 30 Rock, a show I watch religiously, jokes about it all the time. For example, when Alec Baldwin's character was dating Salma Hayek, who was acting as a Puerto Rican nurse, he was stumbling for the "right thing" to call her, as if Puerto Rican sounded derogatory somehow. There are other instances they portray that I see a lot in real life, like non-black people not knowing what to call black people. They stutter and stumble, confused and conflicted about whether to say "African-American," or "Afro-American," as if "Black" might somehow be offensive. So long as I don't here colored, nigger, or negro coming out of a non-black person's mouth, I'm cool. But no one knows what to call each other anymore. I say, let's just call a spade a spade, haha! (spoken from a Chinegro, a Blasian, an Amerasian who can basically say whatever she wants without negative repercussion--I'm considered race-neutral...I think...wait, is there such a thing?)

Too Close for Comfort

I've finally made the transition from SoBe to NYC, and have been living with my mom. We're pretty close: we work together, eat together, shop together, travel together, etc., and now we live together in her one-bedroom apartment. I appreciate our relationship, our newfound closeness, and everything she's done for me--she's the best. All that said, I feel like a child again, or at least a teenager who thinks she's grown (as all teenagers feel). The only problem is I AM GROWN. After living on my own for years in a large apartment all to myself for the most part, I am now sharing a space 1/2 the size, I've given up 1/2 my wardrobe, 1/2 of my tv-watching time--and anybody who knows me knows I need my tv time--and all of my "me" time. To top it all off, we now share the same accountant! I'm a very private person who only tells people just enough information, and now I feel like I've been forced to be completely transparent. I'm very uncomfortable with this arrangement, yet at the same time, I do appreciate her assistance in the "Get Vicky's Life Together Project." I feel like I"m stuck between a rock and a hard place: I want to be close, but I don't want to be too close. Having a talk with her about it might blow up in my face and make what looks like a good situation bad, it might hurt her feelings, and it will definitely make me look the insensitive a-hole I've been accused of being my entire life.

I think I just need my own place and my own tv. Then I can shut up about the whole friggin' thing. Except for the accountant...

Kinda Sorta Freaking Out

I just found out that I'm going to be an official New Yorker for real! I knew it was going to happen eventually, but now that the time has come, I have such bittersweet feelings about it all. I'm ready, but I'm not; I'm excited, yet wanting to stall a bit longer; ready to move, but am hesitant at the same time. These mixed emotions have been keeping me up at night even more than usual, and my mind refuses to give me any peace. TV has become one of my only temorary escapes, but my eyes hurt! I'm ready for everything to be over, or not change at all. This whole situation is killing me and renewing me simultaneously. I wish I could just wake up from all of this, but I never fell asleep in the first place...

Th Gunmother Was No Fairy

We finally met to discuss The Fairy Gunmother the other night, and the consensus was that the book was anti-climactic, confusing, and that a lot of the humor probably got lost in translation (the book was originally written in French). There were too many characters to keep track of, and hence too many back stories to follow, albeit the back stories were fun to read and added depth to the characters and made some them more memorable than others. I know this book is part of a 4 book series, but I don't believe I will be reading any more of them. Je suis desoleil, M. Pennac.

I do look forward to discussing Paradise in a couple of weeks, though. This is another challenging book that I hope the rest of the group is prepared to delve into. Similar to Fairy, there are lots of characters, but at least the honorable Ms. Morrison gave each on their own chapter, even though all the characters overlap into each other's stories. Her thoughts and plots are so deep, I'm just hoping too much won't go over my head and lead to a bland and unfocused group chat...

February Book

We haven't met to discuss Fairy Gunmother yet, but we've already voted on this month's book, which I am happy to announce, is Paradise, by one of my favorite authors of all time, Toni Morrison. I will keep you posted on our discussions, for I appreciate everyone who is emailing and calling me to say how glad they are that I'm back into blogging. So with this welcomed pressure, I will be diligent. Thanks!

For Every Step Forward...

...there's always someone or something that puts us two steps back. In this case, it's baker Ted Kefalinos at his bakery called Lafayette French Pastry in The Village, NYC, who for some reason, thought making "Drunken Negro Cookies" a good idea. You can read the disturbing article here.

With all the wonderful sentiments of hope, pride, and togetherness so much of the country felt during the inauguration of President Obama, there is still a large faction out there that refuse to accept "progress." When I hear random comments like references of the inauguration as the "iniggeration," and I see t-shirts that say, "Nigger, it's called the WHITE house," I am made all too aware of the work that still needs to be done. Will racism ever be truly eradicated? I think not, but it's a nice concept.

Hit Counters

I'm a little peeved that my hit counter for this site failed me. I was finally up to 2655 views, and had to get a new one. So now it looks like I'm a newbie and/or nobody likes me. This really sucks.

I'm through venting now...other than this little snafu, this has been an unbelievable day!

New year, new president, renewed hope!

More on this special day later...

NYC Book Club Rocks!

Last night, my book club met for our first meeting of 2009. As usual, we had a great time, and my spirited members had much to discuss about the December 2008 book of the month, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, by Eva Rice. Opinions varied across the board as to liking or disliking it; I was one of the naysayers. This book completely fell short of all my expectations for character development, storyline, plot (or lack thereof), and good ending (once again, or lack thereof). As I stated last night at our British venue, Pound and Pence in lower Manhattan, "If a book doesn't end well, then it's not a good book. If you like a book up until the ending--and you don't like how it ends--it's not a good book." Thanks, Toni for seconding me on that!

A few of the ladies kept saying how they enjoyed "Secrets," but kept asking questions or discussing topics within the book that revealed flaws to all of us. A couple of the highlights were noted by Krisha (pleasantly and quietly opinionated) and Marnie (a fiery one) who noted that they enjoyed when Rice narrated the banalities of everyday life; how she would randomly write about the little nuances in the characters' behavior that made them real and/or mroe special. We all agreed that that kind of writing is what makes for an enjoyable read.

However, there were some more complex issues raised as well. For example, Racquel, one of the most wonderfully opinionated women in the group, asked: "Why is it that strong women and/or promiscuous women always get punished in the end with death or some kind of disease (AIDS, cancer)?" She then drew parallels to SATC, all of which were very true. This is quite an interesting issue that I will have to address in an essay one day, but until then, much obliged to Racquel for searing this on my brain.

So, in the end, who truly liked the book? I think less people did than before we talked about it...

I'm curious to discover the opinions of our January book, Fairy Gunmother, by Daniel Pennac, one book of a French series that has been translated into English. It's gotten fantastic reviews the world over, but has yet to reckon with the eyes and minds of this fiesty group of ladies! Stay tuned...

New Year's Resolution

I know, I suck. I haven't posted anything here in almost a year. So I resolve to be more attentive and responsible to my blog this year.

In the meantime, I know some really great, artsy, funky, creatively cool peeps who formed a group a while back called Kinky Notti. Check out their music and their blog: Kinky Notti . Super nice!

February Book

I was going to dissolve the book club, but was encouraged to keep it going. Thanks for the support, everyone! The February book is The Darwin Conspiracy, by John Darnton. I am very curious to see how this book unfolds, and really hope its author doesn't say anything to refute Darwin (I'd like to continue believing his theories). However, as with all books, I would like The Darwin Conspiracy to originate new thoughts and perspectives. I can't wait to hear people's opinions on this choice!

Not a Love for Me

I've got to say how disappointed I was in our December book, The Love Wife, by Gish Jen. I had such high hopes for reading a book about merging cultures (namely Chinese and Amercian) because I am of that amalgam. The characters, the writing style, Gish Jen in general, were short of the mark. It read like an Amy Tan wannabe and that description is an insult to the highly revered Tan.

OK, just had to get that off my chest!

December Book

I know I haven't posted in a while, but for those that have actually been reading with my group, and I appreciate your participation, the december book is The Love Wife, by Gish Jen. Enjoy!

Jena 6 to Lead Panel @ Summit in Washington, D.C.

Jena Six Students to Lead Panel at Summit in Washington, DC

Singer Angie Stone, and the Jena Six students are participating in the Children's Defense Fund Summit Tuesday Night. CDF Event at Howard University will focus on America's "Cradle to Prison Pipeline" Tuesday, September 25, the evening session of the Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) national Cradle to Prison Pipeline Summit at Howard University.

Stone will take part in a panel discussion on "Transforming Popular Culture into a Positive Force to help Dismantle the Cradle to Prison Pipeline." Following that, students Robert Bailey and Theo Shaw, two of the"Jena Six" will join others involved in the case for a panel discussion on"Endangered Black Males: Racial Injustice and the Pipeline."

Bailey, Shawand, and four other Black high school students in Jena, Louisiana, known widely as the "Jena Six," have been unjustly charged with adult felony charges for allegedly participating in a school fight. Both events will take place in Howard University's Cramton Auditorium. The panel will be part of a larger summit to address America's Cradleto Prison Pipeline crisis and its devastating impact on children, youth, and their families, particularly within the Black and Latino communities. A full summit agenda can be viewed at the website below. For more information on CDF's Cradle toPrison Pipeline Initiative visit http://www.childrensdefense.org/cradletoprison.

September Book

I know, I know, I've totally negelcted this blog. So, here's a brief update:

The August book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was enjoyed by all who read it. We felt it was superbly written, and agreed it was quite homo-erotic, which is OK... Oscar Wilde was extremely ahead of his time and this, his only novel, proves thus.

The September book is A Mighty Heart, by Mariane Pearl. Mrs. Pearl is the widow of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal journalist who was kidnapped and beheaded in Afghanistan. So far, I think it a little corny, but well written and moving. We'll see if that changes and if the rest of those who read it think about it.

Until then..!

Augsut Book

The verdict is in: The book selection for the month of August is, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. He is one of the wittiest and biting classic writers that I've ever read. For those who are unfamiliar with this legendary man, he wrote The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband, among others. He has so many quotables, I'm sure if you read him, you'll agree. He was a man too ahead of the times for his own good, and I admire his spirit greatly.

Happy reading!

Was it Independence Day for You?

Whenever July 4th rolls around and I really think about what the day means, as I shared with you last year. This year, the CEO of iZania.com (an interactive marketplace for African-Americans) has sent a public message about this debatable day. I thought I'd post it and see what you think about it.

Independence Day -- The Cost of Freedom

I recently read an article about research facilitated by The Ohio State University's Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, titled, Whites Underestimate the Cost of Being
Black. The basic observation of the research by Phil Mazzocco is "While there has been progress in making racial conditions in American more equal, there's clearly a lot more work to be done," he said. "Blacks and whites are not experiencing the same America." As we approach this Independence Day, I began to ponder the "cost of being Black."

Independence has a very different meaning for African Americans, and that leaves many of us ambivalent as we watch the fireworks and hear the marching bands and see the parades celebrating our nation's independence. Freedom for Black Americans came more than 100 years after the Declaration of Independence, and still is characterized by huge gaps in the fruits of independence.

Looking back on our own independence, and evaluating our progress, we are not far removed from the indignities observed by Frederick Douglass, in his Independence Day Speech on the fourth of July 1852. At that point in the history of our nation - he made this observation:

"At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. Oh! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced."

“The costs of being black in our society are very well documented," Mazzocco said. "Blacks have significantly lower income and wealth, higher levels of poverty, and even shorter life spans, among many other disparities, compared to whites."

While whites may underestimate the cost, most Blacks are not far removed from the sentiments expressed by Frederick Douglass. As we celebrate along with our fellow citizens, we must continue to advance, in spite of the costs. It is important to recognize that, while emancipation was officially announced in 1863, we are still paying a higher cost of being Black in America.

For me, this makes my freedom more precious, and provides the motivation to continue the struggle for equality. My vote is more precious. My education is more valuable to me. I appreciate the progress that my parents and grandparents made - as well as my own progress -- because I had to work harder for it. I have a greater commitment to work for the progress of others, because Frederick Douglass also taught us that "power concedes nothing without a demand."

Do we have something to celebrate on this Independence Day? Yes, we do. We are not experiencing the same America, but this nation is just as much ours as it is anyone else's. So I encourage you to enjoy the celebration. Just don't forget the cost.

Roger Madison

CEO, iZania.com

I think that was pretty well stated, do you?

Summer Fun

I was just reading my July issue of Glamour Magazine (with Katherine Heigl on the cover), and came across a cute list of things to do to put you in a good mood (July is peak happiness month, after all, duh). I'd like to share them with all of you who do not subscribe to gloss mags and don't know what you're missing...

30 Things to Put You in an Instant Good Mood

1. Google your first head-over-heels summer love. Consider sending him and email.
2. Get rid of some unhappiness: Let go of a grudge, forgive a slight, unload a worry.
3. Give dark nail polish the summer off. Yes, it's edgy, but nothing compares to looking down at 10 pretty pastels.
4. See The Bourne Ultimatum just for brainy Matty D's biceps
5. Eat plenty of pink: lemonade, grapefruit, champagne, frosting.
6. Run an ice cube all over him. Or if there's no him, you.
7. Marco? Polo!
8. Use your sexy walk. Take all catcalls as compliments.
9. Open drawer. Insert BlackBerry. Close drawer. Walk away.
10. Skip makeup for a day and call it your new nude look.
11. Sit in front of a freezing cold air conditioner in a darkened room and have an all day screening of winter movies like Doctor Zhivago, Never Cry Wolf, March of the Penguins.
12. Plant something. Watch it grow. Eat it with a nice vinaigrette.
13. Spend 15 minutes browsing for sandals at zappos.com, which has--no joke--338 pairs under $40.
14. Naked sleeping, naked TV watching, naked iPod updating, naked tub scrubbing...need we go on?
15. Download the singsongy ice cream truck jingle as your ringtone (for as long as you can stand it). Just search for "download ice cream truck ringtone"--it actually works!
16. Give the kid a whole dollar for the lemonade.
17. Dip your feet in a cool, crisp body of water (yes, a blowup pool counts).
18. Order the 2 1/2 pound lobster. Of course you can finish it!
19. Bikram sex. As in hot, sweaty, intense.
20. "Don't worry about a thing. 'Cause every little thing gonna be alright." Repeat anytime you need a Bob Marley moment.
21. Make sangria (check out mixdrinx.com). Wine-soaked fruit: Does it get any better?
*22. Get a dog. Do it! You know you want to.
23. Put a pair of sunglasses on a baby strictly for your own enjoyment.
24. Entertain your fellow drivers by singing out loud to the radio with the windows down. Also, make "air waves" with your hands.
25. Add fresh mint to all cold beverages.
26. Price a quickie weekend trip to Vegas. Yeah, it's hotter 'n hell there, but the fun is all indoors.
**27. Be barefoot more often than is socially appropriate.
28. Hit the pool or beach at sundown, when all the crowds have gone. Have yourself a lovely solo swim.
29. Celebrate Take Your Sundress to Work Day. Wear an office-y little sweater, but know that underneath it you have the day off.
30. Turn 360 degrees and identify five things around you that are making your life beautiful right now.

*I am anti this item. Why would I want to take care of a smelly dog in the summer and have to walk it in this crazy heat and humidity?!?
**I think this is highly unsanitary. I do not recommend this item, either.

Albeit, some of the list items seem corny and kooky, I think that's what makes a person happy sometimes. A little corniness might just be what it takes to get you out of whatever rut is bogging you down. Have fun!

Book Club

My girlfriend, Trish, who I met in a book club I still belong to, is our book club coordinator, until now. Due to a new job and hectic schedule, she has passed on the torch to yours truly. I think I will be quite capable at my new role, and have already started coordinating my first gathering. I am always encouraging people to read, read more often, and/or join our book club (which is in Miami). Some people are on our list who read the books from wherever they are in the country; they just don't participate in the discussions. Rather, they use our list and monthly selection to do some reading on their own.

All that said, I have decided to post our monthly selections here every time a vote takes place. I encourage you to join online and share your thoughts and questions of our books with me. I will even bring them up to my group when we meet. Our next vote takes place early in the new week, so I will be posting our August book here later in the week.

Are you game?

(I'm hoping it's going to be a book I already own. Last thing I need is to buy another book to add to the piles of still unread books lying around the house!)

Anti-Age?

Gotta get something off of my chest right quick (as is said in Chicago): I am so sick of the anti-aging campaigns that are saturating the market! There is no such this as not aging; you can prolong a youthful appearance, but you cannot stop this totally normal and natural progression. So, get over it! Embrace yourself at any age and celebrate it by living a healthy life that will keep you looking youthful for a longer period of time. Just please, please, stop this anti-aging crap!

Sunflower

The sunflower is one of my favorite flowers, although technically, it is a weed. I think that's what makes me appreciate it even more. Weeds are considered undesirable, ugly, and are treated like pests when they pop up in one's grass, or struggle through cracks in the concrete. Weeds are strong, sometimes beautiful, taken for granted, and pulled from the root in order to prevent anymore from growing. Sunflowers are the only weeds that are left to grow to enormous heights and are even cultivated and nurtured on farms. They stand majestically in fields and follow the sun as it passes in the sky, a wondrous thing and quite symbolic if you internalize these actions as I have.

Sunflower

In a field of wild sunflowers,
I sway among the stalks in the wind
and follow the sun as it passes.
My body dances to an inner rhythm
and I am a wild flower, too.
Dew saturates my skin, leaving
an iridescent sheen as I bloom
under the daystar’s warming rays.
Let the bees come and pollinate,
so that they might spread my love
to those wanting.

During the summer of my life,
I will dance under the sky,
lifting my head in thanks
to the splendor of my field.

And though autumn will come,
I will dance in the wind till my
end; for I will return in the spring.
Yes, maybe in a different form, yet
‘twill be a resurrection under the sun
nonetheless.

©2005 Vicky T. Davis

Dreams Ablaze

Every once in a while, do you get the eerie feeling that all your efforts are for naught? Like you can actually see your dreams crashing and burning right in front of you? Today is one of those days for me, when everything seems fruitless. Despair is winning the war today... Here's a tanka I wrote the last time sentiment defeated logic:

#8 (Cigar Smoke)

I puffed a cigar,
blew the heat from my insides.
My essence felt weightless
as the blood in my veins slowed.
“There go my dreams,” I sensed.

C. 2006 Vicky Therese Davis

VIP List or Racism

I purposely didn't post anything regarding Black History Month in February because frankly, I don't celebrate or acknowledge it. I will, however, post something I've been meaning to address for a while now about the blatant racism that is exhibited at nightclubs all over the country. Countless times I've seen people of color being turned away from the petty tyrants who guard the velvet rope because they were "outside their element" and made the club look bad in terms of image. Why should anyone be made to feel sub-par just to listen to good music, have a couple of drinks, and dance? Either the bouncers make people they don't like wait for hours in line, or act like they don't exist. These people are trying to spend money in these establishments and are getting humiliated and turned away.

I refuse to let anyone treat me so horribly and only patronize venues where I don't have to feel humiliated. Until people realize their self-worth, these brutes will wield their "power" over them. Why give them such control? Not only is this behavior racist, discriminatory, and tyrannical, it's bad business. I have copied the following letter, written by a black woman last year, that perfectly describes this experience. Once you read this, I hope you will realize that these atrocities are getting out of hand and will not stop until we take back the power we've relinquished.

On Saturday, August 12, my husband, soror and I had the displeasure of visiting Transit Nightclub. We were there supposedly as VIP guests of a friend for his birthday. His evite instructed us to mention his name at the front of the door and we would be admitted entry, free of charge into the club. We arrived shortly after 11PM and that is where the melee began. Let me preface all of this by saying, I don't take use of the race card lightly and am annoyed at people when they blame the ills of their life on being an African American. I am aware that racism exists, but I haven't experienced blatant racism since my time in Nashville as a college student.

We waited in line to enter the club, once we reached the front of the line; my husband was told that he couldn't enter because he had on sandals. We had on sandals, almost every woman that entered had on sandals, and so we were quite surprised when he said this. My husband had on a starched button down shirt, some jeans and dressy sandals- not $5 flip-flops, leather sandals he had purchased in Europe.

We questioned the doorman and he stated that men couldn't wear sandals in this club nor any other club in Chicago. I knew this was a lie because we've been to several clubs in Chicago and were admitted to all of them without incident. As we were talking to the doorman, another guest of our friend was told he couldn't get in because he had on a polo style shirt. I went into the club and to let our friend know that we'd be leaving and he was holding a conversation with one of the employees, where they stated that sandals were a liability issue because you could cut your foot on glass. If that were the case, why were women allowed to wear sandals? I informed our friend that we would be leaving and attempted to talk to the employee about his policy.

I left the club and again, since we had driven 50 miles to get there, attempted to talk some sense into the doorman. As I was talking to him, I noticed several Caucasian and Indian people entering the club, not only did they have on polo shirts, some had on plain white t-shirts, gym shoes and other garments that were not nearly as neat and professional as my husband. When I pointed this out to the doorman, he came up with a myriad of excuses, like they were repeat customers or their shirts didn't have stripes really a bunch of unreasonable excuses. At this time, it became apparent to me that the difference between these patrons and us was our skin color.

I explained to the doorman that I understand there is a certain element in Chicago that you want to keep out of your club. Trust me, I've seen many good clubs close because the wrong type of people started coming and fights, shoot outs and stampedes were the result. However, I explained that clearly we weren't those people and it was quite obvious that we weren't gaining admission because we were black.

At this point, another employee approached us and told us that no one cares that we aren't getting in. He also informed us to tell all of our friends so that they wouldn't come to the club because we weren't wanted there. He informed us that it was a private club and if they wanted to refuse admission to anyone for anything that they were within their legal rights to do so. My husband was angry by these remarks and told the employee to please step away from us so that we could wait on our car from valet (it wasn't as polite as this, but the essence of his message). The employee then told my husband that he would stomp him like an ant and that he wished he would try to hit him so that he could beat him to a pulp. He went on with a barrage of other threatening statements until his coworkers asked him to step inside.

This was a horrible incident and honestly, I think I had gotten comfortable in my little suburban life and had turned a blind eye to these types of incidents. It was a slap in the face and honestly, in addition to being angry, my feelings were very hurt. However, this caused me to think about other clubs in Chicago. The trend right now is to say you have to be on the "VIP" list to gain entry into clubs and lounges (Rednofive, Le Passage, Slicks, Transit, Bella, Sugar, etc). The reality of the situation is the VIP list is an excuse to exclude certain people. These people can be African American and typically are, they can be some other minority, they could even simply be unattractive people that don't fit into the image of the club. A columnist in Chicago even wrote how one Chicago establishment made African American patrons wait in line to gain entry, while countless Caucasian people walked in.

I went to Metromix.com to read the reviews on Transit and another woman, who seemed to be African American, had a similar experience. It is appalling and absurd, that in 2006, in a city as metropolitan as Chicago, that racism is still blatantly used to exclude minorities from clubs. Socioeconomic status doesn't preclude you from experiencing blatant racism, I am aware of that. However, I was silly enough to think that my friends and I, with all of our degrees and careers, would be sheltered to some extent. Silly me.


[Submitted by Jennifer Lee-Gilbert via CityAlert.com Message Board (http://www.cityalert.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.pl?board=nightlife)]

Invalid

I pulled my calf muscle almost two weeks ago; this is my first injury ever. I've been pretty upbeat about things until today. I'm usually a very active person, and this is a very hard pill for me to swallow. I'm officially sick of TV, and this is the first time I ever thought I'd be able to say this, but, I'm sick of reading! It's come to the point where the thought of reading or even writing makes me sick. My creative juices have dried, and I have a serious case of cabin fever. All I want to do is go for a walk, and I can't even do that.

I know this isn't an original thought or feeling, but I'm going to say it anyway: You never know how good you have it until it gets taken away from you. I feel like I've taken mobility for granted. After I heal from this mishap, I don't think I'll ever take for granted the gift of mobility.

What the New Year Should Bring

Every new year brings with it changes and expectations. I've always been a firm believer in making as many improvements in my all aspects of my life as possible. Mind you, I don't make "New Year's Resolutions," I simply want to take the steps necessary to build on the things I've accomplished the year before, or try to correct the mistakes I made that prevented me from achieving certain goals on my timeline.

Toward the end of 2006, I reflected long and hard on what I failed to accomplish, and searched within to figure out what I can do in the new year to improve. I have so many lines in the water this time around, and a pretty good plan--better than I've ever devised hence--and have decided that this is the year I will not procrastinate. Truth be told, I have a few secret goals that I tend to achieve by the time I turn 30 (which is next year), so the fire is burning a little hotter now, and my booty is feeling the heat.

So here's to everyone who plans to make the quality of life for themselves and others in the new year!

Cheers!

Firefly

A special person in my life recently broadcast his feelings for me in a very public way. This is my response:

Firefly

With the innocence of a child in summer,
Let me capture your light in a jar
So you can twinkle just for me.

I will not smother you,
But will answer your mating call with
My own fire.

Let us release ourselves to fly
Together in the balm of summer
Glowing for each other with the stars.

© 2005 Vicky Therese Davis

I love you more than you will ever know; I don't think my feelings for you will be fading or get smothered any time soon.

Records of Freed Slaves to go Online

A really good friend of mine sent this to me a while back, and I thought it should be shared to all the black people in America who want to find records of their ancestors in this country. I know I'll be looking into this once it becomes easier to access. As of right now, the website hasn't been updated in a long time, so this article will have to suffice for now, and I'll have to wait with baited breath.


Records of freed slaves to go online


RICHMOND, Va. - Records the Freedmen's Bureau used to reconnect families — from battered work contracts to bank forms — will be placed online in part of a new project linking modern-day blacks with their ancestors.
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The Virginia Freedmen Project plans to digitize more than 200,000 images collected by the Richmond bureau, one of dozens of offices established throughout the South to help former slaves adjust to free life.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Thursday unveiled the project and a state marker near the site where the bureau once stood in downtown Richmond.

"This is the equivalent for African Americans of Ellis Island's records being put up," said Kaine, who was joined by Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor and a grandson of slaves.

Researchers will eventually transfer data from all of the southern states to an online database, said Wayne Metcalfe, vice president of the Genealogical Society of Utah, a partner in the project.

Records from Virginia should be ready to go online by the middle of next year, Metcalfe said.

"It was one of the larger states and one of the most complete collections available," he said. "It's a gold mine, as far as a genealogist is concerned."

About a half-million slaves were left to establish a new life following emancipation, Metcalfe said.

Established in 1865, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands — also called the Freedmen's Bureau — helped former slaves find clothes, food and jobs.

Bureaus kept meticulous records, documenting marriages and work histories. Those records will be scanned from microfilm and compiled into an electronic index families will eventually be able to access, Metcalfe said.

Twenty-four years removed from slavery in rural Virginia, Hawkins Wilson had established himself as a respected Texas minister. But there was something missing from his life as a free man: the mother and sisters he left behind.

In a letter dated May 11, 1867, he offered bureau officials details of his family's old home in Caroline County, and urged them to pass along a note to his sister, Jane.

"Your little brother Hawkins is trying to find out where you are and where his poor old mother is," reads the letter, which will be included in the database. "Your advice to me to meet you in Heaven has never (lapsed) from my mind."

Historians don't know if he ever found his family.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061027/ap_on_hi_te/slave_records

The Passage of Time

A lot has happened since my last post: Halloween; the deaths of Ed Bradley and Gerald LeVert; new business ventures on the horizon for me and a couple of good friends; more bombs and attacks as governements continue in their pursuit of world domination; the forging of new (and hopefully long-lasting) friendships; a visit from my as-always-entertaining father and his lovely wife; Thanksgiving (or Thankstaking as I like to call this "holiday"); the Miami International Book Fair; the reading of several good books; the release of Barack O'Bama's new novel; Michael Richards's racial rant; and a long overdue trip to China with my mother and grandmother. To top it all off, I got to hang out with Farnsworth Bentley and Lord Jamar last night and listen to them record. How cool is that?

So because of all the events of the past couple of months, I sincerely apologize for my absence. I will try not to let this happen too often. I hope everyone else has had a wonderful couple of months and that the nearing holiday season will be fruitful for us all, whether or not we all follow the same
traditions and/or customs.

In Memoriam: Cleopatra Jones

Simply because I didn’t know this, I thought I’d post the following information. Even though it’s a few months old, it’s news to me. I was a big fan of Cleopatra Jones and her character has influenced pop cultures in more ways than can be recounted in this little blog. So, here’s to a strikingly beautiful, intelligent, strong, and influential black woman. You will not be forgotten.

Wednesday, 04 August 2004

Tamara Dobson, star of Cleopatra Jones, dies

Tamara Dobson, the tall, stunning, model-turned-actress who portrayed a strong female role as Cleopatra Jones in two "blaxploitation" films, has died.

Dobson, 59, died Monday of complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis at the Keswick Multi-Care Center, where she had lived for the past two years, her publicist said.

At six foot two, Dobson was striking as the kung-fu fighting government agent Cleopatra Jones in 1973. She reprised the role in 1975's "Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold."

"She was not afraid to start a trend," said her brother, Peter Dobson, of Houston. "She designed a lot of the clothing that so many women emulated."

Dobson also appeared in "Come Back, Charleston Blue," "Norman, Is That You?" "Murder at the World Series" and "Chained Heat."

She had TV roles in the early 1980s in "Jason of Star Command" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century."

Dobson lived most of her adult life in New York, her family said. She was diagnosed six years ago with multiple sclerosis.

Last Updated (Thursday, 12 October 2006 )

Nesting Iinstinct

As you know all well know, I'm all about the upliftment of people in less fortunate circumstances than average. So when I came upon this email from Daily Candy, I couldn't help but spread the word of this new organization that offers interest-free loans to women in developing countries start their own businesses. What's a more "me" topic than that?!?!?

Nesting Instinct

As a child, your piggy bank held a meager 38 cents (counting the few pennies stuck in the mouth). As an adult, your savings still reside in a pink ceramic pig.

New rule: No more frivolous shopping.

Loophole: Nest, the new nonprofit shopping site.

Nest provides interest-free loans to women in developing countries (like India and Madagascar) who are trying to start their own businesses. A co-op of sorts, Nest sells clothes, housewares, and jewelry made by both loan recipients and up-and-coming designers. Portions of proceeds then recirculate into the Nest community.

And the rewards for your charity are downright pretty: The Benefactress wristlet, which was designed in Istanbul, has gathered retro fabric adorned with an aquamarine charm. The cheery red and white Kukka (“flower”) throw, made of ecofriendly materials, is created in Lithuania.

It’s all guilt free, so go ahead and shamelessly spend what’s left in your piggy bank.

You’ve always been a big advocate for change.

Available online at buildanest.com.

October Joy

I know I've been away for a really long time, and I apologize for not keeping up with you. I just got really caught up in working and writing for other purposes, and then my birthday came! So a special thanks to all those who sent me their well wishes and celebrated with me.

I will be back soon!

In Memoriam

Today was my grandmother's birthday. She passed away two years ago, yet it feels so fresh. Today's entry is dedicated to her, so here is a little something she wrote. She remains in the forefront of my mind and probably always will in some form or another; every time I write, I think of her and how I wish she could read my work and tell me what she thinks.

To think she wrote this about my dad and uncle makes her life lesson even dearer to my heart.

The Most Important Lesson I've Learned in my Life
By Maurine Davis

The most important lesson I’ve learned in my life is to love each and every day as if it was the last day I'd have on this earth.

My husband and I lived on the second floor of my in-laws' frame house. I had six children at this particular time and was expecting twins. I was always anemic along with very low blood pressure and this created a grave problem. All the other expecting mothers in the group gained some weight, while I constantly lost weight. I began to look like a broomstick with an old fashioned #2 tin tub attached in the middle. Every time I came down the stairs, my mother-in-law would almost have a heart attack. She thought I would fall over on my face and thus cause a catastrophe.

To make bad matters worse, my blood count dropped so low they almost couldn't take a count. To keep a closer check on the problem, I had to go to the hospital every other day. This really became a chase. I would go by myself but had to call home for someone to come and pick me up. To add to my problems, the doctors told me they didn't see how I was going to make it.

At this point, I began to reflect back upon my life so far. I hadn't done anything so far to speak of, hadn't been anywhere or seen too much. It all seemed so blank. However, I had only one hope and that was the Almighty God. If he would see fit to let me live to see my children grow up, I would be forever grateful. And in case he didn't, I asked for my uncle and his wife to take all of my children, raise them, and keep them all together.

So the twins were born! I didn't die and I named that hereafter I would love each and every day to the absolute fullest, for tomorrow may never come.

So true. She was one of the busiest women I knew who never had enough hours in her day. My grandmother lived her life to the fullest and traveled the world; she was making travel plans before he died. Maurine Davis was truly an exemplary woman, and I can only dream to follow her lead.

Introducing "Ghetto Fabulous"

Ghetto Fabulous Cartoon

When I first saw this headline, the tiny hairs on my arms automatically began to raise. Then I read further and calmed down slightly. I received this bulletin a while back from iZania about an African, now American, named Manny Otiko, who has written a satirical comic strip exposing the idiosyncrasies he's observed in the African and African-American communities. I am always for the pointing out the silly things in our society and trying to make light of them while at the same time bringing them to light. If we take a closer look at our actions (as a whole, of course), I think we will realize some the stupid things we do and hence, discontinue some of them and eventually all. Initially, we never like it when someone holds a mirror to our flaws, but ultimately, with an open mind, we begin to appreciate the gesture.

Manny Otiko, creator of the urban satire Ghetto Fabulous is a firm believer in the old adage truth is stranger than fiction. Otiko, who created the comic strip which runs in several newspapers across the nation, now offers his creation to the iZania audience. The cartoon will run in the iZania Newsletter and on the home page.

Apart from commenting on hip hop culture and current events, the comic strip also deals with edgy subjects such as "“black names,"” tensions between African Americans and African immigrants, and racial profiling.

Otiko was raised in Britain and Nigeria before moving to the United States in the early 1990s. He says that being an outsider helps as a writer. "“When you grow up the way I did, you are constantly looking from the outside in,"” he said. "“You learn to analyze cultures and point out their flaws and contradictions. It makes you an excellent commentator."

Ghetto Fabulous is the brainchild of Manny and his brother Chris. They launched the strip about two years ago after conceiving the idea during a cross-country road trip to California. The comic strip has been published in The LA Sentinel, the African Independent, Our Weekly (Los Angeles), Westside Story, (San Bernardino, Calif.,) City News Ohio, The Washington Afro Am, The Tennessee Tribune, The Pensacola Voice and The Riverside Press Enterprise. Ghetto Fabulous is also featured in "“The Melting Pot of Black Humor,"” a compilation of humor from African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean writers.

"”Ghetto Fabulous started out as a satire on life in urban America," Otiko said. "“I commented on absurdities such as rappers who get million-dollar contracts in jail and grown men who live at home with their moms but drive $50,000 SUVs. But some of the more recent cartoons have veered into political commentary. If you watch the news and keep up with politics some of these jokes literally write themselves,"” he said.

Below, we will introduce you to some of the characters:

1,000 Voltt: (famous rapper who survived electrocution) He has a lightening bolt tattooed below his left eye; Corporate America loves him.

Chief Adedas: hard working Nigerian immigrant who works as a telemarketer and cab driver (at the same time): drives cab in bad neighborhood wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet; also has African magical charms for double protection. He is called Adedas because of the three tribal marks on his cheeks; was a doctor in his country and has three wives, and several family members to support.

Latrell Jackson: Part-time drug dealer, dog breeder, security guard, big-screen TV owner, who lives in mom's basement and dreams of "“making it big" in something; obsessed with Don Ravioli attire, and even has a gold tooth with the "“DR"” logo etched in it.

Trent Bagwell IV: a.k.a. T-Bag. White hip hop fan; yuppie by day, hip hopper by night.

Sharon (pronounced Sharone, not Sharon) Edwards: strong black woman. She is an over-worked public defender who'’s number one client is Latrell Jackson. Her husband looks like John Lennon/Jesus Christ with a head band, and is stuck in the 60s.

A Preacher ex-con who became born again in jail; still fighting the devils temptations: booze and women.

Lacreatia St. James: the single mom cashier who dreams of driving a Lexus. She has two kids, Shaqkobe and Klamideeya; grandma is from Jamaica.

Sports mad Dad (Jerome Jordan): wants his six-month old (Lyon Jordan) to be the next Michael Jordan/Tiger Woods/ Venus Williams of snowboarding/skiing.

I'm curious to see if this comic strip will catch on in wider circles...

Bleeding

Woohoo!

The New York Review has posted one of my poems on their website: newyorkreview.org . It's called "Bleeding." I can't believe it. They sent me a nice note and everything.

OK, I'm finished. I just wanted to brag a little. In the meantime, check out the site and look at my poem. Just click here.

Million Father March

Always the advocate of parents stepping up to the plate and actually raising their children, rather than passing them off to teachers and other people not in charge of rearing them full time, I was happy to come across this bulletin this morning and had to share it with everyone. Yay for the fathers who won't have the adjective "deadbeat" associated with them. Just remember, we need the number to continue to grow!

Below are excerpts from the press conference on August 30, 2006, ahead of the opening of Chicago Public Schools on September 5, 2006

For the second year, the funding for this national program is provided by a grant from the Schott Foundation on Public Education. Please see their work on high school graduation rates for Black male students in your packets.

For the first year of the Million Father March, we were in 25 cities, and we estimated about 35,000 to 40,000 men took their children to school across the country. Last year, the second year of the March, we were in 83 cities, including Auckland, New Zealand, and we estimated about 200,000 men took their children to school. This year to date, we are in 123 cities including London, England, and Tamale, Ghana, and we expect more than 350,000 men across the world, through this program, to take their children to school as we move towards the million father figure.

The honorary Chairmen for the March this year are Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan.

What if I told you that I knew of a proven way to get students to learn more, faster, and better? A way to help children get higher test scores, higher grade-point averages, better attendance, and a way to make them more likely to graduate from high school and to attend college? Many of you would say "What has Phillip been drinking before 12:00 noon? This sounds too good to be true."

And then if I went on to tell you that I know of a way to reduce discipline problems, suspensions and expulsion rates, to decrease dropout rates, to reduce violent behaviors in school and at home, to lessen the use of alcohol and illegal drugs by students, and to have fewer students engage in teen-age sex. You would want to know, wouldn't you?

Well I do have a solution. I do have an answer to these overwhelming problems in our schools and our society. It is simply getting men substantially involved in the educational and social developmental lives of their children.

And so today, we launch and celebrate the Million Father March 2006. Not men marching to Washington D.C., not men marching to our state capital, not men marching to city hall, but men marching to their neighborhood schools with children. And by doing so, these men will be marching into the hearts, minds, and spirits of their children and they will make an impact on these young people for the rest of their lives.

To this end, our volunteers and staff have gone door-to-door in the Dearborn and Ickes Public Housing Communities here in Chicago to remind fathers--and all parents -- to take their children to school on the first day, Tuesday, September 5, 2006. We have passed out flyers around the city at bus stops and train stops, at barber shops and beauty shops, and at grocery stores, night clubs, basketball courts, churches, and parks.

We have been on radio shows and television shows, and we have had great printed press on this event nationwide. In Chicago, there is only one thing left for fathers to do--show up at schools to support all of our children on this first fall day.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2005, we are hoping for 100% attendance at every Chicago Public School and we want an army of strong positive men at every school because it will:

* jumpstart the academic learning for most

* generate much needed revenues for the schools

* connect men to children in a way that will improve our children's lives and make the world in which we live a better place.

So on the first day of school, we want men and women of all races, Asian, White, Latino, Native American, as well as African American, to be at a school on the first day and to take a child to school on the first day. Our motto for the Million Father March in America and around the world is: Any Man, Any Child. Any School! The Million Father March won't end on September 5. After that, we are working on year-round programs to flood schools with strong, talented, giving men who want to make a difference in the lives of children as tutors, mentors, coaches and volunteers.

I especially want to thank the staff of The Black Star Project who manages the great programs of The Black Star Project such as the Toyota/Black Star Parent University, The Student Motivation Program, The Silas Purnell Destination College Program, and Men In Schools Program. They are Eleanor Perrone, Marques Williams, Briana Nichols, Catherine Jackson, Marcus Mundy, Abel Henry, Ivory Harris. And of course, I want to thank our fantastic Director of Operations who makes Black Star go, Kirsten Rokke.

Thank you for this time.

For more information about the Million Father March
or the programs of the Black Star Project, please call
312/842-3527, visit www.blackstarproject.org , or www.millionfathermarch.org

We all need to do our part in raising our future leaders. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, family friends: TAKE AN INTEREST IN YOUR LITTLE LOVED ONES!!!

Marbury is THE MAN

For a long time, I've wondered why basketball stars (specifically Jordan) have never created an affordable sneaker for the underprivileged consumer. When people were killing each other over the newest $200 Jordans in the projects, why didn't Jordan deliver a truckload of new shoes to them. It would have been a great tax write-off for him and he would have been a hero. Now, after all this time, Stephon Marbury is stepping up to the plate by offering a shoe that costs only $15! Kudos to him. He just gained major cool points and should be considered a modern day hero and inspiration to his colleagues and us all.

Knicks star Stephon Marbury is putting his name behind a pair of $15 basketball shoes that he's hoping will give underprivileged kids the chance to wear sneaks fit for the pros.

The black high tops drew rave reviews yesterday from the critics who matter most - young hoopsters.

"They're comfortable," said Mylique Owens, 13, a seventh-grader from midtown, after he tried on a pair of the sleek kicks at the famed basketball court on W. Fourth St. yesterday.

Owens couldn't believe his ears when told the price of the lightweight sneakers.

"Fifteen? Not 5-0? 1-5?" he asked, incredulously. "This shoe could easily go for $70 to a $100."

The groundbreaking sneaker, the Starbury One, is Marbury's attempt at combating the trend toward astonishingly high-priced basketball shoes.

Air Jordans, the sneakers that revolutionized the industry, now go for as much as $180.

The Starbury Ones are far less expensive than even the second-tier Jordans.

"I paid $130 for these Air Jordans that I bought four months ago," said Lenart Williams, a 20-year-old from Harlem. "To get them for $15 from Marbury, I think these shoes are fly."

The sneakers, which will be sold only at Steve & Barry's sports apparel stores, will go on sale tomorrow.

Produced in China, the shoes are constructed using the same materials as the other top-end basketball sneakers on the market, said Howard Schacter, chief partnership officer for Steve & Barry's.

"[Marbury] had a vision. We had an expertise. And together it became a match made in heaven," Schacter said.

Marbury has vowed to wear the shoes he's hoping will enable disadvantaged kids to feel like stars.

The mercurial guard's benevolent intentions were not lost on the young players assembled at the W. Fourth St. court yesterday.

"I feel him for doing something like this," said Mamadou Harvey, 18, of the lower East Side. "Not everyone can afford $80 or $90 shoes."

View the article:New York Daily News

Preconceived Notion

My cousin sent this email out a while back, and I thought it was so cute and provocative that I had to post it for all to see!

Thought for the Day

I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, start out dead and get it out of the way. Then you wake up in a nursing home, feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You drink alcohol, you party, you're generally promiscuous and you get ready for High School. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a baby, then, you spend your last 9 months floating peacefully with luxuries like central heating, spa room service on tap, larger quarters everyday, and finally you finish off as an orgasm.

I rest my case.

Sounds like a plan to me!

Phew, I Can Still Vote!

Members of the CBC Attend White House Signing Ceremony of the Voting Rights Act

In Congress, members of the CBC and the civil rights community, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Urban League (NUL), led the effort in the passage of the VRA. The bill recently passed the U.S. House by a vote of 390 to 33 and the U.S. Senate by a margin of 98 to 0.

Amidst applause and a gathering of prominent Civil Rights leaders, President Bush signed the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 on July 27, 2006. This event passed quietly, like a private party, but has a tremendous importance and responsibility attached. Many young Black Americans were not born when this hard-fought victory was won. And many do not understand the significance of the renewal of certain provisions of this act, which were due to expire in 2007.

Why was the act renewed in 2006? It is a key mid-term election year. There are Governor’s races in Ohio and Pennsylvania where Black Republicans are running. There are important races that could shift the balance of power in the House and the Senate. The importance of this renewal has to do with your response to support issues of importance to Black people all over the country. The Congressional Black Caucus has identified a set of issues that represent an agenda that is important to Black constituents. Do you know what these issues are? Will you register and vote? The CBC has its annual meeting in September, and is facing a turnover in leadership.
This is an opportunity focus on the national priorities of our Black congressional leaders.

SEPTEMBER 6 - 9, 2006

Changing Course, Confronting Crises, Continuing the Legacy
Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC
Our rights are only secure if you register and vote.

For more information, see:
CBC Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.

Let's Say Thanks

For those of you who might be interested:

If you go to this website: www.letssaythanks.com

you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It is FREE and it only takes a second. A friend of mine has a husband in the armed forces and she personally knows for a fact that the single soldiers really appreciate these kind gestures that only take a minute of our time.

It's the least we can do when they're over there fighting a senseless oil war, and we're over here knowing how terrible the world's situation is. Since we can't bring them home ourselves, we can at least let them know they aren't forgotten and that they are in our thoughts.

Rise and Shine

Saul Williams posted this poem this morning on MySpace and I'd like to share it with you:

every morning
I rise and face
the firing squad

every morning
there is one
who holds his fire

his dilemma
is my system
of belief

they fire rounds
but I am seldom
in their circle

a quiet mind
is labeled "sound"
and colored purple

my little boy
has not yet learned
to color within lines

his jumbled diction
has not yet learned
our contradiction

we speak of art
with flaming passion
then do work
void of compassion

and wonder why
reality is bleeding fiction

My Beef with Hemingway

OK. I've finally read an Ernest Hemingway book, A Farewell to Arms, and let me tell you, I'm quite disappointed. At first I thought, maybe I'm just not getting it. Why is he considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century? I really didn't like his writing style, although I eventually got used to it. I mean, if I wrote like that in school, I never would have graduated. What made it acceptable for him to write with improper grammatical form? Not fair.

Secondly, I can appreciate his view of the Great War, since he actively participated. However, what makes his perspective so great? His portrayal of the war was so bland, I found it hard to finish the book. I can understand the sentiments of the war being unnecessary, the feelings of defeat and even complacency, but did it need to sound so droll? I was like, gimme a break already!

Another major gripe I had was with the female character. How annoying and flat was she really? And once again, I am bearing in mind that this book was written by a man way back when, but good googly moogly! If I ever came across such an ingratiating, spineless, clueless wretch, I'd strangle her! "Do you love me? Say you love me. Do you find me pretty? Please say you do." "I like whatever you like all the time." "I want to live on an island with you and only you so you don't have to see any other woman but me." Come on already. This kind of talk makes me want to throw her worthless butt in a feminist boot camp run by Susan Powter. Stop the insanity! If this is the view men have of women, then women, we need to do something about it. Screw a farewell to arms, we need to pick some up and strengthen our spines. This is ludicrous.

My final beef with Hemingway was the unnecessary passage in which he uses the word, "nigger" when the main character's love (who, as I said previously I couldn't stand) compares him to Othello having his one possession taken away (his love for her). It comes so suddenly, and then a different conversation ensues out of nowhere. That passage, albeit it was written long ago, was probably still as unnecessary as it is now, no matter who read or reads it.

After reading this one work of Hemingway, I'm not very motivated to read anything else by him. I keep vacillating on whether or not to give it another go, but, so sad to say, I'm leaning toward not reading anything else. We'll see.

That is all for now.

The Little Black Man's Book

Came across this press release and found it quite interesting that someone has compiled this research and put it in a book "to help, to discipline, and to uplift the African-American Man-Child." I'm really interested in what my black male friends will say about this one. Actually, I'm curious to see what everyone has to say about this: parents, single parents, future parents, no matter what the ethnic background is. I will definitely be looking further into this one! I've checked out the website and it seems pretty good, so far. As I've said before, I'm always supportive of anything that will uplift and educate our youth. So, so long as this book isn't something that just sounds good, I hope it means and does well, too.

THE LITTLE BLACK MAN’S BOOK

Gardena, CA -- June, 2006 -- The Little Black Man'’s Book: 10 Strategies To Help, To Discipline, and To Uplift the African American Man-child is needed to assist parents (especially single female parents) to reach their man-child. Written by educational consultant John P. Hamilton, Ed.D, this mini-book discusses everything from "Building Structure," "Male Role Models," "Hip-hop," to "Access & Resources."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The purpose of The Little Black Man‚’s Book is for parents to use the ten recommended strategies to assist with molding their man-child into a responsible and productive man. Moreover, this mini book assists parents to help their man-child focus on creating a positive mindset, reframing negative issues, and promoting high expectations. This mini book reaches out to the single female parent, who needs guidance, assistance, and the will to reclaim her man-child or foster strategies to keep him on the straight and narrow.

This is an excellent resource for parents; schools; parent educators; parent advocacy groups, mentor programs; youth groups; Upward Bound; and any TRIO programs.

What are people saying about The Little Black Man's Book?

"The Little Black Man's Book allows me to be interactive with my man-child through dialogue."
--Single-Female Parent

"AT LAST--a guide for single parents‚—especially single female parents as well as educators filled with easily accessible information on connecting with young African American males."
--Master Teacher

To place immediate orders for the book, a book signing, and/or interview contact:
Hamilton & Associates Consulting
PO Box 2627
Gardena, CA 90247
(323) 309-2502 Fax: (310) 538-0760
e-mail: johnphamilton@aol.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Press Contact
John Hamilton, Ed.D.
Website:www.hamiltonandassociatesconsulting.org

Let me know what you think, everyone! And remember, this is the same man who brought us "The Elevator Is Broken." Dr. Hamilton seems to be making very positive moves... Right on!