Wednesday, December 19, 2012

2012, Illuminati, and Mysticism: Discredited Through The Media

This post almost began as a simple tweet: I hate when waves and trends discredit valuable information. But then I felt the need to expand on the idea. I already don't like trends as it is because its just ppl adopting styles that have been made acceptable by someone else. Trends really show how little people actually think for themselves and listen to their inner voice. Think about that pink wave started by Cam'ron. Pre-Cam, wearing pink was the gayest thing a male could do...But I guess when someone on TV does it, it becomes fly and acceptable lol. Most of the time I refuse to be apart of any trend because I want to maintain some sort of autonomy. Why would I wanna look or behave like everyone else anyways??

My real beef though is how valuable info becomes discredited because social media and gossip has watered the shit down and altered the reality of it so much! I'm thinking things like Illuminati, this 2012 incident, astrology, psychics.... mysticism as a whole I should say! Look at this 2012 shit....it was FALSELY broadcasted into the media and twitter world as an apocalypse....which was never the message of the Mayans. Their prophecy has been altered and now a large # of people believe the idea is another mythical hoax of America. Personally, I can not say 100% that the 2012 prophecy is true  and no one can tell me 100% that its false. However, I intuitively believe that 2012 will mark a cultural shift in our society. I think if the idea was never presented as THE END OF THE WORLD *screams* then the idea WOULD have been explored more seriously by individuals. Now, its just another sensationalized idea that will spawn trending topics on twitter and news stories for CNN.

Now this Illuminati business...something else I believe to be true that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with devil worshipping. Once the media started saying Jay-Z worships the devil and he's in the Illuminati, I said FUCK! Haha because I knew the idea would become no longer credible. Its like the media puts this extravagant spin on an idea, like the Illuminati is for devil worshippers or 12/21 the world will end, which creates this panic/shock or image of something horrific/mythical and it divides the masses on the issue. Once everyone has these different views and opinions, many based off false blurbs of info via social media, the idea as a whole isn't credible anymore. Personally, I think this Illuminati shit has nothing to do with religion or Jay-Z. It's simply about the wealthiest keeping the pot small while exploiting, manipulating, and controlling the masses. Secret societies DEFINITELY exist, we know this. And if the secrets or aims of this 1 particular society were to be exposed to the masses, we would feel angry and maybe even REBEL against them. So of course, it must be altered and discredited.

Now astrology and mysticism as a whole. Let me just say 1 thing about astrology...ITS MORE THAN YOUR SUN SIGN AND DAILY HOROSCOPE!!!!! Astrology is sooooo much deeper and if you are just reading the traits of your sun sign, which is the sign we're all familiar with based off of our bdays, then you are only tapping into one part of this science. Just a quick note, your sun sign only tells how you express yourself to the outer world and how you are received. Its argued that our moon sign is a more accurate description of our personality, which can be found knowing your place and time of birth. However, in ancient times, astrology forecasting became so popular and it costs more to print locations/times in the newspaper for moon signs so horoscopes were deduced to sun signs because it was cheaper and easier to calculate. But, we also have a rising sign and signs in every planet. As well as houses etc....lol its a complicated science I repeat and to minimize its accuracy to your watered down daily horoscope and your sun sign is truly ignorant. But that's the age we live in eh....

Alright, off that tangent lol....astrology ties into the other mystical, spiritual, cosmic elements in our universe that our society completely discredits!! Anything that reinforces the idea of other dimensions, cosmic forces, psychic ability, universal oneness....anything that can not be experienced via the 5 senses....anything that can not be quantified and understood by the human brain....anything that goes against the cultural norms/beliefs in 1 God, a devil, and manmade boundaries enforced through manmade religion...must be discredited. Even in this time where ppl are using technology to uncover information, ppl still have doubts and close-minded attitudes ESPECIALLY towards mysticism because of the way society has portrayed these ideas/beliefs since as far as we can remember. Psychics and seers are stigmatized as crazy and fraudulent. Meanwhile we idolize basketball wives and rappers lol....

I would really love if people explored ideas further and came up with THEIR OWN conclusion based off of THEIR OWN research. In my opinion, there is no right and wrong because there aren't many facts, especially when we're talking about ideas that extend BEYOND the scope of our wee little senses. There are ppl in this world who fear independent thinking i.e the ppl who FEAR losing their power and feel the need to control and keep the masses in fear. We can't accept shit at face value! Especially not a tweet, a headline, or a news snippet. We must dig deeper IF we seek the truth ( I know some of yall don't mind being blind and controlled #DoYouBoo). The sensationalizing of information contributes to our own cognitive demise, as we neglect critical thinking and focus in on whatever is the ISSUE OF THE HOUR/DAY/WEEK/MONTH and move on to the next sensationalized thing, perusing the surface and harnessing onto cleverly constructed opinions stated as facts. I just can't *shrugs* #MamaAintRaiseNoFool

Fuck a trend, ride your own wave

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Classic Sh*t: Love & Basketball

Ask a young Black female their favorite movie and 7 times out of 10, they will say Love and Basketball. Love and Basketball is a classic movie amongst African Americans! It is a beautiful story of Black Love and the trials and tribulations that arise when pursuing your goals. This movie may not have been recognized and renowned as great by the general public but in the Black community, it will forever be a favorite. So, I've decided to compose a list of why my favorite movie is so great


The People
Now I mean the cast AND the creators. First off, the cast is incredible, starring Sanaa Lathan and sexy ass Omar Epps as the stars, and supported by a host of other Black actors and actresses, including Alfre Woodard, Regina Hall, Tyra Banks, Dennis Haysbert, Debbie Morgan, Kyla Pratt, Gabrielle Union, and Boris Kodjoe. Also, the director and screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood did an EXCELLENT job across the board (not to mention another African American woman woop woop!) as well as producer Spike Lee. Shit was bound to be epic.


The Soundtrack
This soundtrack was so perfect! They played the perfect songs at the perfect times. At the beginning of the movie they play Chaka Khan Sweet Thing , which also represents the decade in which the movie begins. As it transitions into the 2nd quarter of the movie and into the 1980's, the scene begins with MC Lyte's Light As A Rock to showcase Monica's skills and Kool Moe Dee's I Go To Work to showcase Q's. Then they play Zapp and Roger "I Wanna Be Your Man" at their homecoming dance and Maxwell's A Woman's Work as she loses her virginity. Then even at the end when they are playing one-on-one, "Fool of Me by Me'Shell NdegeOcello sets the perfect tone. It was just masterful, the way the songs matched the scenes in this movie AND they were actually good songs!


Themes
Now this is the deep shit. This movie addressed so many themes and patterns, I found it genius how Prince-Bythewood was able to portray so many messages, directly and indirectly through her film.

So there's some feminist issues addressed in this movie. The role of a woman and how she should behave, even in a competitive atmosphere. Monica expressed early on in the movie how she was expected to not "talk smack" or get passionate on the court because she is supposed to "behave like a lady". We even see gender roles addressed as we look at the relationship between Monica and her mother. Monica and her mom are on opposite ends of the spectrum; Monica is pursuing this extravagant goal of becoming the first woman in the NBA (because the WNBA wasn't around when she grew up) while her mom is a prissy housewife who tends to the house, her husband, and children. This difference strains their relationship! Even just the contrast between the # in attendance at the Men's and Women's games' shows that women weren't expected to be in competitive sports. At the beginning, young Q says "Girls can't play no ball!" This idea of what is expected of a woman and the barriers that women actively pursuing professional jobs outside of the home face is still an issue today, even as gender roles become more ambiguous.

Building off the topic of gender roles, its also interesting to see the character of Q play out throughout the movie. Now, as a woman, I can't explore and identify with all the issues Q faces as a Black man (cuz whaadya know I'm not a Black man), but I do notice the issues of pride and identity. I mean, Q went from being a superstar to an injured nobody. There's this pride issue of not being that star anymore and taking the "backseat" to your wife as the WNBA star, which I know many men would feel uncomfortable doing. Also, Q searching for his identity after being disappointed by his father and idol and ultimately finding that support and love with Monica, which is beautifully analagous to the role of man and woman in love, in my opinion at least. I believe men NEED the support and love of a supportive and loving woman, so they can feel secure in establishing and owning their identity. For Omar Epps to take on this role and still come off as a strong, secure, confident man is about as sexy as it gets.

 
Then there's the theme of love in this movie. What woman wouldn't love a movie that shows a woman marrying her childhood love AND still accomplishing her ultimate goal?! Fucking beautiful. But I got a little deeper with this too. See Prince-Blythewood clearly wanted to portray some messages in her film. I noticed that throughout the movie, Monica did not interact sexually/emotionally with ANY OTHER man except Q. She lost her virginity to him and there was no indication in the movie that she ever dealt with anyone else in college or in Spain when she played overseas. I thought this was a powerful message! This is a woman who not only FOUGHT for the man she loved, but also remained devoted and true to her heart. LOVE AND LOYALTY DAWG!! This is what Black Love is missing nowadays. Also, as a woman not playing into her traditonal gender role, Monica portrayed her vulnerability as a woman so well at the end of the movie, professing her love for a man that is about to get married and putting her shit on the line. Monica is portrayed as a truly virtuous (in the relationship/sexual context) woman yet still strong, courageous, and independent.

Another great thing that Prince-Bythewood does is portray the Black family in a way that other writers and directors do not. We see not one but TWO affluent Black families in this movie. They are living in a California suburb in huge houses married and successful. The father figures are active in the children's life, even when Q's family breaks up do to his father's cheating. Q's mother isn't like the Basketball Wives you see on tv; she is domestic, loving, but a bit feisty when she needs to be still. Monica's family seems damn near picture perfect, with a father working a corporate job, supporting his wife and daughters, whom both go on to college. It's nice to see a movie with a predominantly Black cast portraying affluent members in society versus oppressed and dysfunctional (i.e. Boyz N The Hood, Set It Off, Menace to Society).

So why do women love this movie? BECAUSE WE WIN!!! Women are winning in this movie and that doesn't always happen. And I don't mean winning like she got married to a rich man #winning. She not only married her childhood love, she's living her childhood dream out completely!! She is in the WNBA playing basketball professionally married to the love of her life, whom she grew up next to and lost her virginity to. Women are winning in this movie because Monica is a beautiful, college educated professional. Women are winning in this movie because Monica respected her body and stayed true to one man. Women are winning in this movie because she didn't have to choose between love and her career, which is what society tells EVERY WOMAN they must do. Women are winning in this movie because Monica is true to her self.

This is why we looovvveeee Love and Basketball.

PEACE

Monday, November 12, 2012

How Women Could Change The Planet

Ladies, lets all start by raising our standards!!

I was listening to the radio yesterday in Cleveland and the personality posed the question as to whether or not cheating should be permitted in marriage. Apparently West Coast rapper The Game made this statement and she agreed that since men "can not control themselves" that men should be allowed to cheat in a relationship. Pissed off point #1.

I get on twitter this morning and this is the exact tweet: #FACT If women were more understanding men wouldn't lie as much. Pissed off point #2

These are two of the dumbest, most idiotic statements I have ever heard but EVEN WORSE and more idiotic are the women that are agreeing with these statements and the overall attitude of many young people of our time. This attitude that says women need to LOWER their standard so men will not have to practice things such as self-discipline, loyalty, honesty, communication, patience...etc etc the list goes on.

Again LADIES, lets RAISE our standards.

In my 23 years on this Earth, I have learned that men will do anything to get and attract women. If a man really wants a woman, and he always does because men can not function without sex it seems, he will do what he has to in order to get her. Take her on dates that he doesn't want to take her on, listen to her problems that he doesn't care about, play with her kids that aren't his, buy her clothes, jewlery, pay her bills, rub her feet etc etc the list goes on of all the things men really don't want to do but do because he wants a woman.

There's this saying "The Power of The Pussy". A little derogative I know BUT oh so true. I hate being marginalized to my vagina, or my breasts, or my ass, or my hips BUT that does not change the fact that men go ape shit for a nice body and a pretty smile. Men are attracted to physical beauty which stimulates their loins and makes them want to have sex with you. LADIES, EVERY HETEROSEXUAL MAN YOU MEET WANTS TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU. EVERY SINGLE ONE. He may say he's not interested in sex, or wants a relationship, or wants to be friends, and this may well be true BUT, remember, the ultimate objective (and many times ONLY objective) is to GET IN THEM DRAWLS!

So, if we women raised our standards, men will automatically get their act together. If every single woman on this planet said "I am not dating a man who doesn't have a job, car, and supports himself" and actually didn't date men who didn't have these things, men would go get these things!!!!! The debate is endless as to whether its the man's fault for dogging the woman or the woman's fault for allowing it. Let the truth be told though, if women stopped allowing it, men would stop doing it. Furthermore, this is beneficial for both sexes, increasing the quality of single people available.

LADIES LETS RAISE OUR STANDARDS!!!!!!

Now just imagine if women began DEMANDING respect, chivalry, honesty, communication, a strong relationship with God, independence, protection, economic mobility, intelligence, good hygiene...etc. Not just 3% of women, how about 80% of women, beacuse lets face it, there will always be desperate hoes-- the 20%. Men will get away with whatever you let them get away with. Let me repeat MEN WILL GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER YOU LET THEM GET AWAY WITH!! If they can get away with a movie at the crib and a bottle of Moscato and smash on the 1st night, don't expect much more. If they can get away with a mass good morning text every other day and a half-ass phone conversation and you still buy them clothes, J's, and they eat all your shit, don't expect something more. Men love to do as little as possible to attain their goal (I aint mad at it) but if you demand MORE in exchange for your time, body, and loyalty and they really want you, they will do it. The Power of The Pussy.

SO AGAIN LADIES, LETS RAISE OUR STANDARDS!!

Whatever we do as women, men will follow accordingly because they want to fuck. Not 100% of men are shallow vagina-driven men BUT I'd say at least 98% lol. Don't you realize how much more attention you get when you wear leggings or low-cut shirts? This is the power of physical beauty. We reel em in easily ladies! That's the simplicity of a man!! But it seems like we have begun to believe that because men initially notice our bodies and looks, that is all we are worth. Noooo!! That is what arouses and attracts a man yes, but it is not what keeps a man, and definitely not a GOOD one.

A good book that goes into some more factual detail for all you fact and logic driven people is The Conspiracy to Destroy Black Women by Michael Porter. Now, you may want to disregard the whole Nation of Islam hatred of the White Devil undertone of the book and focus on the argument he lays out, which is excellent. He goes further by outlining how women set the tone of society. We as women are responsible for the cultivation of children! We teach and show our sons how to treat women and teach and show our daughters how to be a lady. Women maintain the standard of available single men by maintaining our level of womanhood. We really have the power to shift the attitudes of our society in regards to love, relationships, and marriage. It is simply a matter of how much we love ourselves. How willing are we to say NO to the thirsty men who will say anything to convince us that we should have sex with them 2 hrs after meeting them when we don't even know their last name? How willing are we to be lonely for a period of time? How willing are we to expect the same from our partners? How willing are we to DEMAND what we want? How willing are we to practice what we preach and correct our nasty habits as women? How willing are we to love ourselves as much as we love our God?

One thing I admire about men is their ability to ask for what they want without fear of rejection or embarassment. Guys have said some of the most ridiculous things to me, and even though I shut it down, I admired the courage to be up front about his wants. We women need to do the same thing. We want honesty, fidelity, chivalry, patience etc WE NEED TO DEMAND THAT SHIT!!! If he can't provide it, throw on a pair if leggings and I bet you will have 20 candidates ready to fulfill your needs. If someone isn't willing to take you out, or wait to have sex, or have a phone conversation with you, or treat you with respect, whatever, then YOU DON'T NEED HIM. HE'S BASIC!!

SO, LADIES, LETS RAISE OUR STANDARDS!!

PEACE

Monday, October 15, 2012

5 Minute Thought on "The Uppercut"

As a society, our thought patterns and overall cultural values and norms are constantly evolving. It appears that as  time goes on though, that we just want to combat every standard set forth until there are no more standards. We seem to play devils' advocate when it comes to all the wrong issues. Some things are just not broken and just don't need fixing.

This is all bothering me because of the Cleveland bus driver who punched the girl in the face. This was an instance where both people CLEARLY are at fault in some way. The girl should have never laid her hands on the driver or invaded his personal space. The driver should have never uppercutted the girl. TWO wrongs. But, many people are under the notion that the driver was right and only the girl was wrong O_o. In our culture, it is standard that males do not physically induce harm on females, due to the fact that men, in general and by nature, possess more physical strength than us females. This is a standard that for some UNKNOWN, IDIOTIC reason has been challenged by society. This notion that lesbians who wear mens clothing and females who hit you first DESERVE and SHOULD be hit by their male counterpart is now acceptable. A male SHOULD NEVER hit a female. Now any female is wrong for hitting a male--- so now that that has been acknowledged, can we get one party in the situation to act righteously?? We know the female is wrong if she's provoking you or hitting you!! The man is then left to be the bigger person-- He can walk away, restrain her, or CALL 911!!! If any of these options make you feel like less of a man, and hitting a female somehow makes you feel like more of a man, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PERSONAL PROBLEM.

This is not a right & wrong situation. Just 2 wrongs. Neither act is righteous or justified. And that is all.

PEACE

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Why Blacks Should Support President Obama

So the first presidential debate was last night. I don't really want to talk about what was said and who won etc etc. As I was watching the debate, I was preoccupied with the candidates body language, the tones of their voices, word choice etc. Romney was indirectly and sooo subtly patronizing our President. This has been happening for the past 4 years though so it's nothing new---- the level of disrespect shown to our President by other elected officials and on public national news programs has been ridiculous.But every Black person in America has been faced with these same attitudes at some point.

I know there are so many people that say we should stop categorizing him as a Black president and Blacks should not just support Obama because he is Black. Why???? As Blacks, we need to take the time to empathize with this man for a second....He is the FIRST Black President in a society that institutionalizes racism. Just think about the prejudice attitudes of his colleagues. He has to work with conservative people who WE ALL KNOW dislike Black people, hence the outrageous lack of cooperation he has received from the House and Congress. He has to walk into his job everyday, as the LEADER of this great nation, and listen to sneers, be patronized, compared to a monkey, ridiculed and probably belittled on a daily basis, directly and indirectly. I KNOW he has to deal with this because I deal with it, you deal with it, Black people deal with this!!!!

We walk into our college classrooms as the only Black face...this is something our White counterparts can't even comprehend or relate to. We walk into stores and managers follow us. We get profiled when we drive, walk down the street. WE get treated like shit at our own jobs!! Barack ain't no different. There are things that happen to us as Black people in the US that deter us mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally that our White counterparts do not fully understand because they have never walked in a Black person's shoes. I know the feelings of discouragement, disbelief, disgust, self-ridicule, discomfort etc. Now this is what Obama has to deal with on an extremely exclusive and LARGE scale, with people from a less accepting generation. What is he supposed to do though?? Get on TV and whine and complain that his colleagues don't like him and life is not fair lol. Is he supposed to just go off on everyone and quit his job? C'mon son.

Additionally, people say that Obama isn't really fighting for Black people or poor people. He has perpetuated the wars and his foreign policy is garbage. Now honestly, I couldn't break down all these statistical facts and happenings that have occurred over the past 4 years because politics isn't one of my great passions, but I would beg to differ. But first, we need to come to grips with some things: (1) Obama is a politician. Politicians are not saints, clergy, prophets etc. They are politicians-- sneaky, corrupt, power hungry figures. Of course some are worse than others and motives differ but we need to acknowledge the fact that politics is a dirty game but somebody has to play the game and Obama decided years ago its a game he's good at, he likes, and he wants to play to win...Just like any other job. (2) Obama is not obligated to Black people just because he is Black. (3) Our system of government is capitalism. That's what we do. It works for some and for others not so much. Some people are satisfied with this system but think it needs improvements and some people want a new system altogether. Most people have no idea what this means or why its relevant. But Obama has never expressed any discontent with capitalism...It's worked for him.

Ok now that that's clear, in my opinion, I have seen Obama pushing domestic policies that would benefit the poor, which includes many people of color and the elderly. Issues such as healthcare, education, green energy, job creation have all been addressed and sought to be improved upon. Flaws in healthcare, education and clean energy have effected people of color disproportionately tremendously and these are things he's addressing! At a time when others are blaming the poor for everything and ready to do away with us (YEAH YOU TOO; WE'RE ALL POOR IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED BY NOW), I can say he's trying. His success rate ...eh not so great however, there are many dynamics that have to be taken into account (uncompromising colleagues, prior economic conditions etc). We can't be expecting ANY politician to SAVE us anyways and I get the drift a lot of y'all are searching for a savior...sounds like a personal problem.

From a social standpoint, Black people need to realize the symbol that he represents to young Black girls and boys who have no knowledge of the political system. They see a family that looks just like them running the country. This image within itself can change millions of lives!!!! Just as we are bombarded with negative images of our race and acknowledge those effects and seek reform, we need to in turn, embrace the positive images as well.

With that being said, I believe Obama has THE HARDEST JOB in America right now. He's not perfect and everyone has room for improvement! At this point, if you don't plan on starting a revolution before November 6th, then you should be supporting Obama because otherwise, Romney will win and we'll be on plantations by the following Monday. This is voting for the lesser of two evils but thats what we have to do at this point. Otherwise you're wasting breath by just complaining how bad Obama & Romney are because complaints aint ever changed a damn thing.




Thursday, September 13, 2012

10 Basic Acts Of Common Courtesy


1. "Thank you" & "You're welcome" : Most basic of the basics. When someone gives you something, ANYTHING, say thank you! When someone tells you thank you, say you're welcome!

2. Saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes. I'm guilty of forgetting this all the time. If you're not for the whole God thing, "Bless You" is just fine too.

3. While we're on germs, covering your mouth/nose when you sneeze/cough. C'mon now that's just decency. We don't want your germs.

4. Saying "hello" when you enter a space that is already occupied. This means someone's home, someone's car, a classroom, your job, a circle of friends etc.... You speak. Acknowledge the people in that space and acknowledge the fact that you're making your presence felt. It's about you---NOT them! Speak because you have class. Who cares if they don't speak first or speak at all. Play your part!

5. Saying "Excuse me". If you need to get past somebody, use your muthaf***in words!! A simple excuse me will suffice.

6. Turning off profane and vulgar music when in the presence of elders/children! This is BASIC. Have respect for your elders man this is a PET PEEVE of mine. They don't need to hear "Two bad bitches just bouncin on my dick, bouncin on my dick, bounce bouncin on my dick" Have respect for the innocence of a child and the boundaries set forth by their parents.

7. Opening doors--- GENTLEMEN, if you are with a female, she shouldn't touch a door handle. Young people period, LADIES and GENTLEMEN, if there is an elderly person walking through a door near you, you should grab that door for them. Respect your elders.

8. When you go somewhere and you take your friend along that NO ONE ELSE KNOWS, you introduce this person to the crowd. It really is about respect for the friend that you brought. You introduce them to make them feel comfortable and also the other ppl.

9. OMG DO NOT INTERRUPT SOMEONE WHILE THEY ARE SPEAKING!! BASIC AS SH*T.


10. Saying Good Morning....My mom did not play about this! She was liable to knock me or my siblings head off if we didn't say good morning to her when we woke up. This goes if you're living at home or with roommates, or if it's just as a temporary house guest. Its customary to say Good Morning to whomever is in the house with you. I'm guilty af of forgetting this too---I'm not a morning person.


PEACE












Wednesday, August 8, 2012

4 Tools To Help Heighten Your Self Awareness

These are four tools that I've come across that have helped me to gain better knowledge of myself and the intricacies of my mind, body, and spirit.

1. The Enneagram- This is a model of the human personality which was developed in Alexandria in the 4th century and was introduced to the United States in the 1970s. It basically states that there are nine personality types: The Reformer, The Helper, The Achiever, The Individualist, The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast, The Challenger, and The Peacemaker. This is what the enneagram looks like:


The figure may seem complicated, but it truly is not. I would recommend in depth analysis and reading to thoroughly understand all aspects of the enneagram (wings, subtypes, points of integration and disintegration etc). A VERY good book that breaks all of this down as well as each personality type at its healthy, average and unhealthy stages is:

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self Discovery By Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
Also, a few links to try and discover your enneatype by taking a short quiz:


2. Astrology and the Zodiac- This is the first tool that I really began utilizing for myself. I suggest very in depth research of your sun sign, which most people already know (I'm a Leo, born August 8th). Google your sign but try to be more specific with your search like "Leo female personality" or "Leo characteristics and traits". From there, I would suggest learning your moon sign, which can be found out by getting a free birth chart at this link http://www.0800-horoscope.com/birthchart.php/. To obtain a birth chart, you do need to know your TIME and PLACE of birth, which can be found on your birth certificate. Once you have your birth chart, begin researching those signs and the personality traits associated with them. I would definitely start googling things like "Sun in Leo, Moon in Cancer" or "Sun in Leo with Aries Ascendant". Then there are planets, and houses; its a very in depth science.

Also, read books!! Learn the history of astrology!! It is alot more than these simple ass horoscopes we see on twitter, facebook, and in the paper. A few good books I can suggest are:
But there are so, so many and everyone prefers different reading selections. Amazon has a number of books that you can get for less than $5 or just visit the library. Google also works just fine too.

3. MBTI Personality Typology- The Myers Briggs Test was developed by Isabel Myers Briggs and is based on the theory of psychological type presented by Carl Jung.  Jung basically states that humans have their rational functions (thinking and feeling) and irrational functions (sensing and intuition) and they are expressed in an introverted or extroverted sense. From this, the MBTI questionnaire was developed and your personality is described using a four letter schematic (ISTJ, ENFP, etc.) Many people typically use this tool to help them discover what career typically fits their personality, but I have found it EXTREMELY helpful in just understanding my motives and actions as a whole. The test can be taken at this link http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp or this one http://similarminds.com/jung.html.


4: Keirsey Temperament Sorter- Temperament is a configuration of observable personality traits, such as habits of communication, patterns of action, and sets of characteristic attitudes, values, and talents. It also encompasses personal needs, the kinds of contributions that individuals make in the workplace, and the roles they play in society. Dr. David Keirsey has identified mankind's four basic temperaments as the Artisan, the Guardian, the Rational, and the Idealist.This test can be taken at this link http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/instruments2.aspx.


Some tips when exploring any of these further or taking the quizzes especially:
  • Have an OPEN MIND
  • Be HONEST with yourself when answering the questions
  • Look at various sources (books, websites, authors). Find one that YOU find credible 
I hope these can be as useful to others as they have been to me.

PEACE

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Riding the Natural Hair Wave~~~~~

I KNOWWWW everyone is noticing this recent trend in the Black community amongst our sisters who are converting to natural hair (woot! woot!). I swear before I got dreaded up and I was rockin the curly 'fro, I couldn't go anywhere without someone asking me what products I used and how long had I been natural because they were about to or had just started embarking on their natural hair journey as well. Now even more people, young women at that, are losing their weaves and relaxers. I'M ALL FOR IT!!!

I'm not one of those people who thinks that women shouldn't wear weaves or get relaxers....per se. I think a female should style her hair in whatever way is most manageable for her and makes her feel most comfortable. That's ultimately why I decided to go natural. I've NEVER liked combing my hair. I've NEVER liked the way relaxers made my hair feel. And I still had to flat iron the shit anyways so I always felt like WTF is the point of torturing my scalp, trying to refrain from scratching, just so I can get it straight,  when I still have to spend 1.5 hours flat ironing it. All the wrapping and retouches and work UH UH NOT ME!! So I switched to a style where I could get my hair wet in the shower, get in the pool carefree (even though I rarely swim lol I BLAME RELAXERS!!), and not worry about wrapping my hair each and every night. I loved my natural hair texture and my hair grew back so much more healthy.

But the real thing I'm pondering about Black women is: Do you REALLY prefer relaxers and weaves or is that what you have been CONDITIONED to prefer??? I mean, starting with the media and entertainment industry, they've always ingrained in our minds that LONG, STRAIGHT HAIR is a symbol of beauty. Not only were the women brainwashed to believe this but the men as well!! Men perpetuate this completely skewed and subjective viewpoint, openly saying (for the most part) that they prefer women with long, straight hair. Of course, most women want to please the man in their life or the man they seek to attract, so they alter their appearance without pause.

This viewpoint has plagued the Black community for decades, creating self hatred amongst our race. We don't like our hair texture or length or color (along with all the other features Black people hate about themselves i.e. MJ and his nose issue). Our natural hair texture was stigmatized as "nappy" and "bad", and women along with men began wearing wigs and getting "conked" up in order to appear socially acceptable and maintain society's standard of beauty. Now, decades and decades later, we still believe that our natural hair texture is not beautiful. We don't think it's good enough; we must add color and extensions and harmful chemicals in order to CREATE this acceptable image of beauty. All these alterations must indicate one thing: we don't like ourselves the way we are NATURALLY. Isn't that a slap in God's face though.....

I hear numerous reasons amongst Black women as to why they FEAR (yes FEAR!!) going natural: Their hair grows too slow, its too nappy, they don't think they will look right with short hair, they need their relaxers blah blah blah. I'm not trying to force the issue BUT those are some WEAK ASS excuses! I think women need to honestly re-evealuate their own insecurities. First, your hair doesn't define you. Second, someone else's standards of beauty, be it the men you're pursuing or society itself, should not affect the way you view and feel about yourself! This is the way GOD MADE YOU. This is the WAY YOU WERE BORN. No make up. No extensions. No relaxers. No acrylics. JUST YOU. Embrace that beauty. Once you do, others will as well.

This is why, although I absolutely DETEST trends, I'm AOK with this wave. I hope it is through this means that Black women come to appreciate their natural beauty; the natural beauty of our thick and kinky hair. We aren't meant to fit in. STAND UP & STAND OUT!!



20 Reasons To Go Natural http://meechymonroe.com/?p=1366

PEACE

Friday, July 27, 2012

Abuse Is Real- Why doesn't anyone care though?

People have become so desensitized to abuse, both sexual and domestic, and it is really sad man. I'm listening to Ricky Smiley on my way to work this morning and they are talking about Rihanna and Chris Brown. The one lady says "America needs to just stop. They are going to be together and they look happy so just let them be." Then, earlier this week when Penn State received all of their sanctions, all these people are on my twitter timeline talking about how they feel bad for Penn State and Paterno for taking his wins away. Somebody actually said its like they dug Paterno's body back up and buried him again. Really?? Its that bad REALLY THOUGH? Maybe if he would have took the proper action in the first place then dozens of kids wouldn't be scarred and Penn State's reputation wouldn't be ruined. IDGAFF about Paterno.

These are both serious cases of abuse, one domestic and one sexual. It seems that people view domestic abuse as a choice (Hey if she wants to get her ass beat, that's her choice) and when it comes to sexual abuse, the issue is so taboo to discuss openly and people are so under-informed, the topic is looked over, downplayed, or the victims get blamed (or shamed). It is truly sad because the effects of sexual abuse as well as domestic abuse are long-standing and extremely damaging to the victim, physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. With abuse being SOOOO prevalent, both domestic and sexual, with 1 out of 4 women being sexually abused/molested in their lifetime (and that's just the women who report it, when it is believed that 2/3 of all rape/molestation cases are unreported), I often wonder, why isn't this an epidemic in America? Why aren't there harsher punshiments for rape and domestic assault? Why aren't activists, social workers, politicians, the police, etc working to raise the public's awareness surrounding these issues?

Domestic abuse and sexual abuse are sadly generational. So, if your grandmother was raped or beaten by a spouse, there's a good chance that your mother was raped or abused and there is a good chance that you will be as well. The emotional trauma associated with either type of abuse can last a victim an entire lifetime and many times because victims never report these issues, the feelings associated with the assault remain suppressed and the victim never properly heals from the incident and remains damaged all the way into adulthood.

Domestic abuse and sexual abuse are different though. I talked about domestic abuse in a previous post I wrote on Rihanna and Breezy so I don't want to reiterate too much, but domestic violence victims are unhealthy. This is why they need intervention. I mean, what healthy person do you know that likes to be abused?? So when people say "Hey if she wanted to leave she would" or similar statements, you are truly being ignorant. She or he is trapped in an unhealthy cycle of abuse and the interevntion of a healthy 3rd party is absolutely NECESSARY to help break the cycle!! Its one thing for us healthy outsiders to not intervene, because hey, that takes alot of courage to intrude on the personal lives of others. But when the general public condones the perpetuation of unhealthy relationships and adopts this blame the victim attitude where we make numerous excuses for the abuser ("Well we don't know what she did to  make him hit her"), WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

Sexual abuse is different though. People don't tend to make excuses for rapists or pedophiles; we, as humans are not completely loveless and hopeless (THANK GOD). However, many people don't even know what really constitutes rape, and many people have a gruesome image/ideaology when they just HEAR the word rape; You think of a stranger in an alley with a knife brutally invading a woman or date rape. You think of a crazy Law & Order SVU episode or something. The issue of rape and molestation is such a touchy subject to talk about because it is so devastating; many victims even refuse to discuss the incident or never share the incident until years later, feeling too ashamed. And when a victim does discuss it, its hard for others to empathize or they feel completely sympathetic. Its truly sad and you can feel the victims pain and you feel powerless in helping them. Also, there's the blame the victim attitude, with people saying "Well maybe if she wasn't wearing that then..." or "Well she led him to believe that...." The word rape has even been given slang meanings so people use it in everyday dialogue. If the victim can't even talk about it though, I can understand why no one else would and why people don't treat these instances with as much urgency as they deserve. However, we have been desensitized so much that we use the word rape like victims aren't everywhere and affected by the word itself; we've been so desensitized that we shame those that are affected. This desensitizing is counterproductive.

I think its time for the activists and coalitions and nonprofits and social service agencies and the federal government for that matter to raise the country's awareness. I think schools should address the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault directly and openly with the kids. These issues should no longer be kept on "hush mode". I don't understand why they are anyways!! The women who are being subjected to this abuse will be bearing the children that will have to carry America over into the next generation. These women are birthing and mothering the future doctors, lawyers, officers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. They are responsible for nurturing healthy and productive children but how can we expect a healthy upbringing from an unhealthy, scarred, unwhole mother?

Men should be reminded that their physical dominance should be used to protect women, not manipulate, abuse, and destroy women. Men should be aware of the consequences of their actions, both to themselves and to the women that are the victims. These issues need to be addressed during the adolescent stage, especially since we are living in a culture that is increasingly misogynistic. Men should be taught that it is NEVER okay to hit a woman, just as it is NEVER okay to sexually assault a woman. People should be aware of the extensive psychological and emotional harm that results from abuse of any kind.

I urge all women and men who are being abused or who have been abused to speak up. Stop being afraid!! You are the victim; there is NO SHAME in this. I urge all my peers and elders to research these issues and speak to their children about them. Stop treating the issue like "Well maybe if we don't talk about it, it won't happen". Nooo, its been happening and will continue to happen. These immoral blame the victim ideaologies are not only dilapidating for the individual, but they are helping in the decay of the victim, as he/she perils into emotional/psychological instability.

In Amsterdam, they place a HUGE billboard on the side of the apartment building where a sex offender resides. It says their name, that they're a sex offender, and this is where they live. Maybe we should adopt something like that and people would think twice before they commit the crimes they do so wrecklessly, thinking they will get away with their indecency. This epidemic is REAL and becoming more and more acceptable in today's society. I think this is a topic for all my activists' to do list.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Rap: What's the problem with mainstream rap??

So, I have this BIG issue with mainstream music constantly being criticized! Radio stations are criticized for playing mainstream rap; mainstream artists are criticized because of their content and lack of lyricism; supporters of mainstream music are criticized for listening to it. Why? Because all mainstream rap talks about is hoes, bitches, drugs, shooting people etc. It perpetuates negative images and stereotypes of the Black community. Keeps us down as a race...yada yada.

Now, the content of mainstream rap, for the most part, is misogynistic, degrading, and very materialistic and superficial. I can agree! But soooo what? What does that mean? I understand that music has a great impact on the masses and the way people think. I understand! But shouldn't our REAL quibble be with the parents?? I mean, why do we want to criticize artists for saying what they know? Why do we want to criticize artists for making music that CONSUMERS buy? Being a rapper is a JOB, just like McDonalds. You get paid to do a job, and the better you do it, the more you get paid. Now whats the point of getting a job people?? To get PAID right? Now how do you increase your revenue? Acquire a larger audience! How do you do that?? Make music that the masses will purchase and support!!

Now, you may not agree, but that's what makes us so unique! We are individuals with individual opinions and ideas. If you don't like it, don't listen. Now, I used to be extremely close minded about what I listened to. But we all value music in different ways: some for lyrics, some for beats, some love artists, some love dancers WHATEVER. I listen to 2 Chainz when I wanna go out, not Nas. I'm bumpin Lauryn Hill when I'm ready to write, not Travis Porter.

Now as I stated above, the REAL quibble should be with the parents! Parents have a responsibility for teaching a child to distinguish between music and reality, right and wrong etc. Now I know ppl are like "Well there's so many single parent homes, and young mothers who don't know" blah blah blah. That's true AND..... So the solution is to bypass the REAL PROBLEM, which would be lack of knowledge and responsibility amongst parents, and blame mainstream music.....That ain't right!

Now, I do believe people in positions of influence do have a great responsibility to the masses. But, rappers are merely puppets, and many come from the same streets and broken homes as the lost consumers. They have come from a life of drugs, violence, and promiscuous hood chicks. That is the reality of many rappers! Its a lifestyle that many young black men live and relate to, as well as women. These people idolize money and fame; are not of a higher consciousness; they're gettin dicked too!! They just want their money--- now its not right, BUT, when the roots of the problem are unaddressed, this attitude is perpetuated.

So maybe if you people want rappers to stop talking about "nonsense", you same people should be concerned about bettering communities and the education system so as these individuals grow up, they will have a better understanding of how the music industry works, the effect of their songs on the Black community, and the images they perpetuate. I love a lot of mainstream artists  for various reasons! I may not agree with the things they say, but I don't have to for me to like their song. Radio stations are businesses. They are going to play what 80% of people want to hear, not the 20%.

Mainstream is mainstream because WE buy the music. If we didn't buy it, it wouldn't be mainstream, plain and simple. Hip hop was not always about spreading a message. In the late 70s and early 80s, mainstream hip hop music was just what it is now (in a less vulgar way though): Music to make you dance! Music to get your adrenaline going! Music to party to! That's exactly what it is now!! Content has changed and the culture has evolved. Hip Hop was exploited, just as most great Black things are.

So I guess what I'm saying is if you don't like mainstream rap, that's fine. You don't have to listen or support because billions of other people are. Opening your mind can be good though :) If you don't like the messages being portrayed through mainstream rap, I don't think your real quibble is with mainstream rap. Think a little deeper and harder to the root issues and stop making my precious rap music your scapegoat!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Race: Being Pro-Black vs Anti-White

I would definitely consider myself Pro-Black. I love being Black. I love Black people. I strive to uplift the Black community. I have a passion for rectifying issues that plague the Black community specifically and incessantly. I am not Anti-White though. I love all people. I want equality, justice, liberation, and peace for all mankind. However, this is a FINE line to walk, especially out in the public.

On one hand, many people will criticize me and my other Pro-Black brethren about this concept of race being a divisive factor and by focusing on Black issues, I am "a generation behind"; it is no longer Black issues or Black vs White but rather rich vs poor. Now, I agree with both of these above statements: race is a man-made tool meant to divide people and the rich are serving to oppress the poor. However, the issues of the Black community are unlike any other issues faced by any other group of people in America. Whether or not I as an individual believe in this thing called "race", people in America undoubtedly can be (and are) classified by race and the basis of many prejeudices and discrimination is the concept of race. With that being said, we have to recognize the issues that plague and affect the Black community in a unique way and address these issues specifically in relation to our race.

The Black experience in America is unlike the White, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian experience. Our race and culture was constructed from slavery, creating a multitude of psychological, social, economic, and mental issues for the descendants of slaves. Issues such as poor self-concept, lack of education, generational poverty, family dysfunction, disunity, etc plague our community severely as a result of slavery. Furthermore, racism has been institutionalized and Black people still comprise the majority of individuals in America who are impoverished and incarcerated. Innercity communities remain to be primarily Black and Brown, and in these communities, schools remain to be inadequate, and negative images and values are reinforced (i.e violence, chauvinism, materialism, false idolization etc).

Now, America wants us to essentially disregard the strife we face due to our race and take personal responisbility for our prosperity, or lack thereof. Now, I agree that we do have to take personal responsibility for the choices we make and the consequences that result. We are afforded opportunities in this day and age to be "successful" ( by American standards). However, as a Black person, the obstacles that we face are unmatched by any other race- they are so unique to our people because (1) society has policies and laws set in place that oppress Blacks (directly and indirectly) and (2) the psychological/social issues that have been ingrained into Black individuals, Black culture, and Black communities remain unaddressed and continually detrimental. I think that the latter is most important to focus on reforming because  society will not be changed so readily; however our behaviors can simply be unlearned, once we have the knowledge to do so.

I think if as individuals, if we can see the errors in our ways, we can work to correct them. I think many times, such as with the Occupy Movement, revolution and change is the desired outcome, however gathering a mass of uninformed, unaware individuals will not bring about the desired results. It will not bring about permanent, lasting change either.

If the Black community continues to disregard our African origins and disregard the effects of slavery, we will never truly understand the problems that plague us today and therefore can not work to correct these problems. I think its important for someone to stand up and say "I love my Black People and what is happening to my brothers and sisters isn't right and I want to make a change." I read something earlier that said Black children are expendable (in reference to the Trayvon Martin incident). Society obviously doesn't care about the astronomical rates of unemployment, violence, incarceration, AIDS, and single parent families that have been plaguing the Black community for decades. Somebody has to care.

Its not about separating us--- its about empowerment. An oppressed community needs to be empowered in order to prosper. We are individually and collectively suffering physically and spiritually. Its not about "hating them", just about loving us. Our past is apart of us. It can never be changed or forgotten, and shouldn't be. It has made our race and culture into what it is today, both negative and positive. Unfortunately, society works to highlight and accentuate the negatives and shun the positive and the beautiful. Even if as a Black woman in America I will never be afforded a truly equal opportunity, I think it is important that we be prepared to take on the injustices of society by being strong in mind, body, and spirit, and by being aware of our past and the present state of our race and the attitudes of the people. This awareness and education will uplift our people and as a result revolutionize America and our society.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Rihanna and Breezy's Relationship Just Aint Right

I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about Rihanna and Chris Brown on their remix to "Birthday Cake". I really was feeling a way! Normally, I like to separate the artist from the individual--- like R. Kelly and MJ. They make great music despite their personal issues. I usually don't even pay it any mind. But listening to this Rihanna and Chris Brown issue, I just didn't like the entire situation since she got fu**ed up in the 1st place. First, I just didn't like how 1 minute the world hates Chris Brown, doing all these domestic violence specials then the next minute they're doing album release specials. First he was portrayed as a monster, then as a fricking idol. Media had people never ready to support him again then back to #TeamBreezy.

I really think we shouldn't be acting like Rihanna's behavior is in anyway healthy or should be condoned, supported, or neglected. This is the domestic violence cycle:
So we all seen the pics....Rihanna looked pretty bad. Its very well likely that next time she will look worse, could have some broken bones, then the next time she will be dead. This is what happens in domestic violence instances!!! People want to say, "its not our business", or "she's dumb" or "if thats what she wants to do its her life". This is #1 a blaming the victim mentality and #2 shows no compassion or concern for our women or humankind as a whole. Women involved in abusive relationships many times remain in this vicious cycle. In unorthodox circumstances, the obvious and practical decision (to leave) is not always easy or feasible. In this instance, I can only imagine the other burdens faced by Rihanna as she tries to make sense of the situation while the media paints all sorts of pictures and she faces immense criticism.

Domestic violence cases are kind of like rape cases....the woman can be physically, mentally, and emotionally traumatized, clouding the woman's judgement, decision making abilities, making them vulnerable, lowering feelings of self- worth and esteem etc. I just feel as if Rih should have an ear telling her to be weary of forming any sort of relationship with Chris Brown. Also, what kind of message is that sending to all of her female fans?? That it's ok to reconcile an abusive relationship. Some stats right quick:

  • Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
  • Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
  • Based on reports from 10 countries, between 55 percent and 95 percent of women who had been physically abused by their partners had never contacted non-governmental organizations, shelters, or the police for help.
  • Women of all ages are at risk for domestic and sexual violence, and those age 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk of experiencing nonfatal intimate partner violence
  • Of the total domestic violence homicides, about 75% of the victims were killed as they attempted to leave the relationship or after the relationship had ended. 
  • About 4,000 women die each year due to domestic violence. 
  • On average, a woman will leave an abusive relationship seven times before she leaves for good.
Domestic violence is another issue that women face at an alarming rate that society would like us to believe "isn't really happening" or "isn't that bad". We've become desensitized just like with rape!!! These instances present enormous emotional and mental barriers for women that may last a lifetime. As a result, many women do not report these instances because they blame themselves, or feel ashamed or scared. These populations of women need support systems and need to know that they will be ok and the behavior of their significant other is not normal or healthy!! Let's not keep brushing everything under the rug just because it isn't happening in your household. It is still affecting you and your daughters and sons and the entire community.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Race: Why Black ppl can't get along

I mean Black ppl get along, but we don't know how to unify....if that makes some sense. I mean we will get along when we have to, like when we walk into class/work and its only a handful of Black ppl. We all stick together then. But what about when it comes to supporting Black business, talent, prosperity etc??? Not to mention the rate of Black on Black crime is ridiculous. There seems to be some sort of disconnect.

Well lets start with the breaking of the slave. If you haven't read the Willie Lynch papers, it is something everyone should read, especially Black ppl. It basically is a manual for slave owners, showing how to weaken the mind, body, and spirit of the slave by turning male against female, light against dark, and breaking up the family unit. We're compared to the breaking of a horse. This disunity began the moment we were brought into America. They taught us to distrust one another (field slaves not trusting house slaves); they taught women to be strong by weakening their males- the man was broken and spirit diminished as he was beaten and berated in front of wife and child and the woman was to think he was weak and she did not need him. The psychological effects of this were never addressed, therefore our great great great grandparents passed down ideologies and they continue to trickle down and remain unaddressed for generations to come.

Now inner-city communities: Now I'm thinking inner-city communities that are predominantly Black, but may have traces of our White and Hispanic brothers and sisters. We're talking about communities plagued with robbery, rape, assault, drugs etc. So we're talking about a community of maybe 5000 Blacks who all are dealing with similar hardships ( weak family unit, poverty, drugs, violence etc) and express it through anger and must fight to keep what is theirs. This is the attitude of anyone from an inner-city. If you grow up in a community where vulnerability, fear, and weakness makes you target for robbery, rape, assault or all of the above, you develop a tough exterior, interior, and a high level of distrust for the people around you ( who happen to all look like you!). You also develop a harsh attitude and quick temper. You become weary of the ills that men do, and in this neighborhood, you witness it daily! You don't want to build with these people! They are probably trying to rob you or use you!

I think these are 2 reasons why we as Black people find it difficult to support one another and unify. Many of us come from harsh neighborhoods and households that do not strengthen our unity. Also, the damage done to our ancestors is affecting us greatly and its almost as if society is building off of these weaknesses and is not truly seeking to undo the problems created by this country ( for Blacks) in the 1st place!

I have hope and faith in my race that we will unify. Having a strong family unit is important because ultimately, your household sets the foundation for your thoughts and the person you grow into. It is thought of by other cultures that the African American culture's strength lies in our strong sense of family and extended family, however it seems we have strayed from that strength and bond, reflecting our break in unity as well!

I think it is important we don't let our personal experiences hinder us from growth. Although we may have came from communities that make it difficult for us to love and trust, we must remember that we must judge each person individually, just as we expect people to receive us individually. If you see your brother selling his cd's, give him a chance!! He just talkin about his life, trying to provide for his family and you might just like his music! If you see your sister trying to come up in the fashion or catering game support them! If you don't spend $20 at this Black owned restaurant, you're just going to spend $25 getting some mediocre fast food or at some mediocre chain restaurant. If you don't buy your sister's fashions, you're just going to support Habeeb at the Arab store or Phil or Becky who owns some chain store or boutique with fashions that look just like everyone else's.

Government is not going to uplift our race. Obama is not going to save us. Al Sharpton is not going to save us. Collectively we will save ourselves. Society doesn't care what happens to us! If they did, many problems would have been rectified, not stitched up with duct tape. The ROOT of the problem would be addressed. Handouts don't solve problems. They pacify and breed westernized mentalities that demote hard work, equality, education, and prosperity. We must trust that our brothers and sisters will invest into our race and communities! We must support each other in order to promote unity! We must lead with intent and purpose!

Happy Black History Month lol.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Something I wrote about my hood back in 09 lol

**14215 is my zip code in Buffalo where I grew up in the same house my whole life lol**

I'm from the 14215
Where when 1 falls, 2 more cry.
And when 1 mourns, 2 more die.
Niggas made in this do or die shit.
Fightin cuz its either you or I live.
That's that 14215 shit.
It aint no one poor, few more thrivin.
It's guns drawn if you gon survive dis.
14215 shit.
Teenage moms 14-2-15 in da 14215.
Unknown dads, she told one-fold, two-fold lies
In da 14215....
We got the highest AIDS count
Highest girls w/ da flyest braids count
Highest kids with the lowest grades count
Dats da 14215 route.
Yea dats my house...
Go to Bailey, hit the church, then the food spot.
Get cha hair did, hit da nail shop,
get tatted, get a bottle,
buy a car, play the lotto,
pawn some jewels, buy some shoes,
hit da bank, hit some freaks,
cop some CD's that done leaked.
Get the bud from hustlers peddlin.
Basically do EVERYTHING that's relevant
and thats just between Kensington and Delavan....

LOL dats all I wrote but I came across this today and found it funny. I added some stats!!