Perspective
Current mood: numb

Hey...

Just wanted to write and implore you all to constantly keep things in perspective. Too often we get caught up in the moment, the emotion of the time, and fail to see the big picture...the forest from the trees. We're all guilty of it to some degree...but it's important to realize this and make adjustments so that you don't fall victim to your own short sightedness.

This weekend, I lost a girl who was kinda like a sister to me. Hadn't talked to her for a while, but she crossed my thoughts often. I met her in Ghana, and the things we experienced there will forever connect us. Her death has been so shocking to everyone that knows her...I've been numb for the last two days, and don't really know how well I'll perform during my interviews this week in New York. I'm glad she left while we were on good terms, in thought and in practice...

Can you imagine what you'd do if someone you knew was taken from you, and you never had that chance to say I'm sorry? Or I forgive you? Or whatever, the bullshit we're trippin on doesn't matter...I love you? I know this may sound like common sense, but don't wait until someone isn't around anymore to show them or tell them how much you love and care for them. Don't let the stress of the day to day coherce you into getting angry over small things; you may miss out on an opportunity to forgive, to grow, to love...

Life's too short...so truly, truly, live y'all.

RIP Emilia, aka Rookie. I may not be able to make it down for your funeral, but I'm praying for you. I'm sure you understand.

Peace.

Currently listening : Reflection Eternal/Train of Thought By Talib Kweli Release date: 04 June, 2002

9:42 AM - 5 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

The N word...is it really worth it?
Current mood: determined

Black men and women living in America have historically had a way of turning negatives into positives. We always make the best of even the most bleak of situations. The food we eat, the style we exude, the music and art we create, are all symbols of our uniqueness and our strength as a people.

Unfortunately, I believe our generation has taken the "got lemons, make lemonade" mentality of our ancestors, and turned it completely on its head, in one major way. The use of the n word. At the risk of sounding like the old folks (which I take as a compliment) here are a couple thoughts.

Yeah, I can see how some might say we've turned this negative into a positive too: we take it to mean a term of endearment... we've created a sense of empowerment because other folks can't use this word anymore, but we can...yada yada yada. But I ask you to consider, say someone that wasn't Black came up to you and said "What up my n---a?" I mean, they switched the "er" at the end to "a" and everything. You know you'd still get upset, right? So has the meaning of the word really changed for everyone? Has it even changed for us?

I know this is a very rudimentary argument on a topic that is very complex, but it's only meant as an introduction...to make you think. If I've got you thinking a bit, visit this website: http:www.abolishthenword.com.

This site will take it a step further, show you the origins of the word, and more important, show you the legacy of our people, those who died behind the meaning of the word; a meaning which still exists today, whether you believe it or not.

http:www.abolishthenword.com

Take a look. Then really ask your self, is it worth it? At the end of the day, these are just my thoughts, and I'm not going to beat anyone over the head with this. But I hope that this will get you to thinking, and you'll at least begin to examine this issue, and what it means in the larger scheme of things. Let me know what you think.

Peace.

PS-Myspace is trippin, so I'll let you know that I'm currently listening to Little Brother's "The Minstrel Show" and that I'm currently watching "Bamboozled" all while reading "Two Thousand Seasons" by Ayi Kweh Armah.

8:00 AM - 5 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment