Rebirth of a Writer

Last night I had the time of my life. It had been a few years since I have been to a real concert and I needed to remind myself of who I am, and what helped mold and shape me. The last few weeks I have felt as if I was stuck in an identity crisis. I mean, my environment is no help at all. Surrounded by open plains, cows grazing on the pasture and the constant natural gas rigs spewing their fumes tend to make a brother a little confused. There is no one around me that dresses like me, thinks like me, or even understands the complexity of some of the issues concerning identity.

Why am I still here? The answer is simple I am here for my children. See, the beauty of Hip-Hop is that it educates and motivates. When I was younger I fed myself so much Hip-Hop that I should have been a fat kid. It was like cake and soda. The clothes, the shows, and the lyrical delivery of some of the greatest artist of all time were helping me deal with the racism, the injustices, and all of the other issues that plague a black teenager. Last night there was nothing like screaming “Fuck the Police” with a thousand people. Nine hundred and sixty nine white folks screaming “Fuck the Police” is just want I needed in my life right now.

See, I never believed in the system. Because I know that the system is a lie and they only tell us what they feel we need to know. The stuff that we read in the newspaper and watch on the television is nothing but poison that slowly kills and slowly eats away any sense of reality that we were born with. But that is the difference with Hip-Hop. If the world would operate like a true Hip-Hop show things would be great. It is true that (C.R.E.A.M) cash rules everything around me. Did it take nine black youth from the East Coast to tell the world that? Yes it did.

Hip-Hop is like Wikileaks, some shit that the average person would never understand and would rather lock in a cage and call them a traitor or useless to society. But that is not the case to those that are smart enough to understand that we are all getting played. I feel that no matter how we learn the truth the importance is we learn the truth. I am glad that this information is leaked and that the world can see that there are some serious issues out there that we should be aware of.

For me, Hip-Hop introduced me to the New World Order, and broke down some of the greatest Philosophers in the world. Hip-Hop artist are the reporters for the ghetto. They are the real soldiers on the front line of equal justice for those that do not have a voice. No I will not trust the police. I will not believe that fake rap artist that plagues the airwaves and infects the public with the same nonsense that real Hip-Hoppers are trying to eradicate. See life is not just a party or sipping on a 40 ounce of St. Ides on the corner. Life is about a hustle, making things better for you and your family.

By Any Means Necessary? That is right by any fucking means necessary. Yes I was lucky to escape the struggle in the inner-city. But that should not mean that I cannot be a solder for the movement. Yes it is true that I am a recovering Conservative on a steady diet of libertarian values and insight. I want less government and more freedom. I want to blaze green without having to come up with some excuse to see the doctor. I want the opportunity to do what I like as long as it has no direct negative effect on another human being.

I deal with other people’s values and bullshit shoved down my throat all day long. The constant religious quotes, the unflattering number game, and the constant Facebook “look at me” post that often makes me want to swan dive into an empty pool to see if I am in reality or some fake ass computer world. Is this the Matrix or what? Do we force feed ourselves some shit so that we feel better about ourselves? Or is it because we want the attention and the acceptances of others? I am chucking up the deuces on that right now.

No longer will I try to blend into my environment. No longer will I second guess what I write, or filter myself. I am who I am. And I have to say thank you to Hip-Hop. Artist like Nas, Public Enemy, Paris, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and Ice Cube have turned on the light. While these new artist continue to play the role of the house Negro and do what Master wants, I will not fall victim to Master, but remember were I came from and who I am. I am not supposed to be here but I am, I can tell by the looks in the store and the glares on the road. But that is the beauty of Hip-Hop, no matter the age race, religion, or sex- we all belong.  There is no other music in the world that has the same power that true Hip-Hop brings to the world.

New Klan Hideout or a Black-OP

I am not ashamed to admit that I stood in line at the midnight launch and wanted for the latest installment of Call of Duty Black Op’s. I knew that I was going to subject myself to the racial tension of the virtual world. So I stood there, and waited to hear the same comments that I here online. The famous and unforgettable “N” word that is constantly spewing out the mouths of twelve year old boys, Monster fueled teenagers, and old men in their rocking chairs.  But not so surprisingly- while in the “real world”, I did not hear that word at all.  

Look, there are few things that you can call me that I will not disagree with. You can call me a nerd- because I am. I enjoy reading books, lucky enough to have great eye site, and I work hard on my GPA. If my GPA and kill death ratio were the same I would make even more unskilled spoiled kids dashboard their systems to save their winning streaks. You can tell me to get some sun, because I would rather be up all night playing games with my friends until the sun rises. But the fact that once my friends and I enter a room the “N” word starts to fly around like flies on dead carcasses is rather ridiculous.

Why is there so much hatred and prejudice language being exchanged on XBOX Live? Are these children repeating the language that they hear from their parents? Or do they really feel this way? I continually express to these backwoods-inbred-avatars that just because your trailer is located next door to McDonald’s does not allow you to use their Wi-Fi. If I was a true racist I would not even purchase a game called “Black-Ops” or is this the “Black-Op” an outlet for your racist tension because some are slowly falling into the minority category and swear they do not have a problem with it at all. But they do.

Of course, I do not live in my Mothers basement, I am not on Welfare, and I did not conduct a home invasion for my Call of Duty Special Edition XBOX. While I am tucked away in my Media Room hearing your loud footsteps in my Turtle Beaches I know what is coming next in the lobby. The “N” word. I tried to explain to these people if they want to be cool, or down with the cause, it is all right- just pronounce the word properly. They seem to forget that the ending has an “a” and not an “er”. I mean, you would think with all of the rap music that they purchase they would have learned this already.

But the fact remains at least twice a night I am engaged in a battle of words because I just so happen to be black. I mean some nights I might not even get to play a game and the word is being exchanged in the lobby. Is this were the Klan decides they want to hang out, because they can not really spew their nonsense in public. Is a headset the new robe? And why did they cover their faces anyway? Shouldn’t they be proud of their hatred of themselves since we all come from Africa?

But it is often hard to combat the Klan, Skinheads, and the deranged all at one time when I am just trying to get some kills and have a good night with my friends. Look, we have a black President. I will claim him now since you already have Tiger Woods. All of the trends are set by black folks and that jersey that you are wearing just happens to be a black guy that plays on the team.

So when you see xWDGx six50war online and in a room get ready for a game. Spare me the racist drama and let us have a great time. I am tired of feeling disappointed about my fellow Americans, and being reaffirmed that racism is alive and thriving online. Just because you got drop-shot by an old man that is old enough to be your dad gives you no reason at all to resort to your last line of defense- the “N” word. I am sure if there was even a word of that equivalence for your race being tossed around online like a sticky grenade you would be mad.

So here is a challenge: The next time you hear someone on XBOX Live or the dying out PlayStation community spewing some racist trash- do me a favor and tell them to cut it out. Oh yeah, and to all my brothers out there- stop talking so ghetto and ignorant online. This is not helping the cause. Now quick-scope that.

In Fear We Trust

Why, in a so called free society, do we live in so much fear? Fear is a means to control the people and make them do what a government or organization wants. For example, why do you punish children? This is an exercise to make them do what we want them to do, a way to modify their behavior in order to gain control of their actions. This is not a relatively hard concept to understand for most. .

Why do we move to nice and supposedly safe neighborhoods if we need to place cameras on our homes and buy security alarms? Why do we continually need to be subjected the fear that is packaged in the news media. Not the fear of the real enemy, but rather the everyday citizens. We have allowed for our basic rights to be erased because of fear. Fear is continuously used as a tool to degrade our society and put in play in a police state.

Fear is a way to control the people, a way to make the people nothing but mere numbers that they can manipulate and parade to do their evil bidding. Are we so ignorant that we believe a system can be created to warn us of a future terrorist attack? Do we really fail to use our own brain to understand that these so-called terrorist have access to the same media outlets as we do. What is the color today? Is it red, yellow, or orange? If I cannot trust the weatherman how can I trust the reports of future terrorism?

If the facts are known that there may be a terrorist attack then why do we not follow the leads and allow them to show themselves and be prepared to stop it. Yes there are terrorists out there. But these terrorist have been created by the world that we live in. We have to evaluate why we were attacked and find out who was really behind the events of 9/11 in order to understand what is going on around us.

Why do I go to the airport and watch a child remove their shoes? Are we really scared of a one year old with a bottle? No we are not. But this is a part of the programing that is needed to build a nation that will accept any removal of rights that they, the government, feel necessary. But there are many things that we should fear, but instead we trust these agencies and organizations.

You should fear the flu shot, because you do not know what is in the bottle at all. You do not have the tools necessary to determine what is in the needle that will be placed into your blood stream. You should fear the meat that is on your plate. You do not know what this animal has eaten for the last few years and the effect of the steroids and corn based diet would do. You should fear your government and your president past and present. The Electoral College is responsible for deciding who is our president, not us- this is something that should be feared.

The truth always will show itself, but by the time the facts and truths are know it is often too late and those that need to know are no longer here. But instead we fear each other, not the minister that is playing with our children while they are at the weekend church getaway. We should fear ourselves for not knowing the truth but being those sheep that are being led to the slaughter. We should fear the fact that we are turning into a third world country, due to the policies that have been put in place for years.

We should fear the truth that soon there will only be two classes in our society. There will only be the rich and the poor. We should fear the fact that we are slaves to our jobs, to our political parties, our religion, and our constant need to medicate ourselves from reality. A reality that we do not want to face, but makes us dread the Monday through Friday work on the plantation that needs to be done. The constant pushing of papers and phone calls that hold no real value but a way to play business the same way we used to play house.

We should fear the fact that in order for us to have some sort of feeling of necessity or purpose in life we impose ourselves on material gains. We should fear the world that we are creating and leaving for our children. A world that is filled with racism, injustices for minorities and women, a world where the tree of knowledge is being burned to ashes and the roots removed.

Will we challenge this fear and demand accountability? Will we turn off the local news that keeps us locked in our gated communities separated from the reality and the responsibility that we have to take care of one another? In order to control an enemy the first tactic deployed is fear and confusion. These are the tools that America is using to fight a war on its on citizens.

We are at war with the government and with each other all the time. Where do you stand? Will it be in fear of the communists? How about the socialists? No. Fear inaction. Fear apathy. Be proud that you still have a voice… and use it.

Obama and Bush Undercover Tapes: My First in a Series

Dude, Not My Car!!

The government has always tried to stick their hands in all of our pockets. But I have a problem when they start to tell me what type of car I can drive and what I can do with it. There needs to be a line drawn where we the people actually get to enjoy some freedoms. I love my muscle cars; they are a part of Americana. There is nothing like feeling horsepower and imaging the many after-market parts that I can add to my car.

The rumble, the looks, the ladies, and the smile on my children’s faces are all a part of that wonderful Sunday drive. But once again, big brother wants to eliminate the Sunday drive and force me to purchase a minivan. If a person can afford the insurance, the gas, and is willing to pay the gas guzzler tax, then they should be able to enjoy all of the horsepower they want.

I understand the concern, and yes we may be running out of oil and it might be in my lifetime. But there are other logical decisions that can be made in order to conserve some of our oil resources. We need to turn our attention to other issues rather than put more pressure on the citizens. There is a lot at stake if the government continues to try and regulate the muscle car industry.

There will be many small and large companies that will have to close up shop and fire their employees. There will be fewer shipments of products and fewer services needed as far as installation of new pipes and body kits. We are turning into a country with a longer list of what you can not do compared to what we can do.

I mean, really the only thing that is American to me they want to try to take away. I am not a big fan of baseball, or apple pie- I prefer pumpkin pie- it taste a lot better… especially if made by my grandmother. The one thing that defines America to me is the muscle car, not a Honda with a 4cylinder, a good ole Mustang 5.0 rumbling at the stop light. The sound of the exhaust and the feeling of taking off when the light turn green; there is nothing like it.

November is right around the corner and there is a real need for all of us to be informed and make sure that we vote to keep our freedoms. We can not continue to vote by party lines because as we have seen in recent months and the past 10 years I do not think that any of these people can get their act together and make a difference. The backroom deals continue, the lies are told with a straight face, and lives are still lost for something that we can not identify.

This is not some made up story, this is a real issue. If you have a sports car or just enjoy being surprised at what part of history might be rumbling down the street, make sure you help us car lovers out and get involved in the fight for our rights to drive muscle cars. If you want to see our country lose 32 Billion dollars a year, and more of our history in the junkyard then pay no attention at all. But if you do care, then feel free to sign up with SEMA Action Network or (SAN) www.semasan.com. Oh yeah this is for you bike lovers too- they have grouped us all in one category.

Don’t Ask, But I Will Tell

The don’t ask, don’t tell policy in the military is something that needs to be eliminated immediately. No matter what an individual’s sexual preference may be they should have the right to fight for this country. Religion must be separated from the policies that we all must live by. The fact remains that many inside the military want this policy repealed and eliminated. And living in a country that is dependent solely on the freedom of religion should also include those that do not believe in religion.

But the don’t ask, don’t tell policy is an issue that should stand alone and not be included in military spending. This is why our government is failing the people. Our government continues to clump other policies inside one bill. Why is the Dream Act included in a vote about military spending and policies? The Dream Act is a nightmare for American citizens and the illegal immigrants that are supported by this act.

The Dream Act offers illegal students the opportunity to become American citizens if they join the military or attend College. What is this? Some benefit for parents breaking the law? Where are the benefits for the American citizens that have broken the law? Is there some special law for children whose parents are murders or drug users and currently in jail? And why do we always have to do some backroom deal to address issues that are vitally important in our society? I thought that we were going to be more transparent. If you call clumping everything in one vote transparent then maybe the talks of one term are becoming more evident.

Just yesterday I saw a park full of illegal immigrants looking for work. It had been a while since I have seen images like this. I mean, it is not their fault that Americans would rather pay for cheaper labor. And the fact remains that corporations will always look for a way to make a profit. Should we allow this illegal behavior to continue and be supported? I mean, these illegal aliens were standing two blocks away from the Court House while police officers are waiting to give people speeding tickets; people who are already paying enough taxes to support a small militia. They could round these individuals up, run a background check, take some fingerprints, and input them in the national database. But this would take to much work in the Texas heat.

The Dream Act makes it mandatory for illegal alien students to attend college or join the military. This is proof that our government sees citizens, legal or illegal, as tools to do their dirty work. They would rather build a larger army and create more debt with college loans then help the citizens that have done everything right to become a citizen. This is worse then when republican president Ronal Regan, waged war on drugs and then gave millions of illegal aliens amnesty.

Why do we need of 159 Billion dollars for two wars and one was officially called completed? 159 Billion dollars could do a lot of work in fixing failing schools, decrease the violence in some communities, and create opportunities for individuals that really need it. But no, our government would rather play war games in the mountains, stop people with different sexual preferences from joining the military, and spread Western Philosophies around the world even if the are proven to be failures.

I do support my troops, but they did not make the call to fight a war that the Soviets could not even win. I do not think that all illegals should be shipped out and sent back but rather documented and order to stand in line to become citizens, and their children should also have to do the same, no matter if they were born here or not. But I am not in support of creating a program that benefits the children of people that have broken the law. We have to change and not believe in one party over another. Our values should lead us not religion, not sexual preferences, and no way should corporations continue to run politics.

Democrats and Republicans need to be ashamed of themselves right now. I am upset with the government and the certain policies that are being put in place. I have said this before, and I will say it again- they are the puppets and the real leaders have not been shown. Question why we still fight over who sleeps with whom and really- if you are that caught up in another individual’s sex life then yours must be lacking.

Military spending, don’t ask, don’t tell, and the Dream Act are three different issues, and there is no reason they should all be treated as one. I say thank you to anyone that wants to fight for this country, but I also want say that the average citizen needs to fight as well for our government to stop talking and get something done- and now. 

Jungle Fever- Redux

I was standing outside of Wal-Mart smoking on a cancer stick and a young black gentleman walked up to me mumbling something. I could not understand what he was saying through his thick southern accent. As he walked closer we shook hands and I was almost blinded by the gold teeth that filled the top row of his mouth.


Before he went into the store he stated “man do you see all these white chicks? They are hot. I want one of these.” I agreed with him with a smile and thought to myself “what the hell did he just say?” Believe me, this dude looked like he was in a candy store- eyes wide open and drooling. This was one of those times that I was glad that I separated from my wife for a second and let her get the sandwiches.  If she was there I would have never had the best laugh of the day.

I won’t lie, for a second I felt like I pulled off mission impossible. But then, after thinking about all of the work that it takes to make an interracial marriage work, the cloud of doom slowly started to float above.

Is this the mentality that people take when it comes to marriage?  Are we trying to find someone to be with based solely upon color? I have dated all types of women and ethnicity was not the first trait that I based my preference. Being in a multicultural marriage is not for the weak of heart and those that continue to believe that racism has been eliminated are sorely mistaken.

But by all means, if you are ready to be treated like a second-hand citizen, be scrutinized by black women and white men, confuse all the children in the world- even yours, and live on the edge of sanity at times, then go for it!  But be prepared to adapt to all types of settings and know that it takes a strong couple with thick skin to deal with these issues.

I do not think that it is a coincidence that African American studies and Women studies are placed next to each other in the book store. It is like they have all of the minorities in one place. I mean blacks, gays, lesbians, and feminists can all huddle up in one section of the book store and exchange stories of oppression and frustration. Imagine that bumper sicker on the back of a car.  Of course, there is also a book in that section on why black men marry white women… written by a black woman. Hmmm.

But this confusion and mass hysteria is not only for the couple but the in-laws as well. Like the time I walked into Subway with my in-laws and it looked like a Klan was having a field trip.  I was used to it by now, but my mother in-law looked at me and we smiled. She knew that these people were confused and upset. I wonder what they were thinking. I just wanted to tell them that these people adopted me or better yet- “do not worry, there are still a few white women left for you”.

The challenges are huge. I mean, imagine shopping for an anniversary card. Do I pick the two white hands or the black hands? Why is it that every doll my daughter has looks like Dora? Or what do I say when other kids walk up to her speaking Spanish?  But there are so many benefits as well. We strategically send each other into certain places to get things done. For example if I need to go into a store in a black neighborhood guess who is going in? Or if we need directions on how to get out of the middle of nowhere it is her turn.

There have been so many times that I have heard people say they are searching for a “white girl” or I only date “black men”. There is nothing wrong with having preferences in a mate, but to only target specific races doesn’t seem right.

I did not search out for my wife on a web-site, or go to a club that was only filled with white women. It was a chance encounter that included great conversations and a few laughs that have led to years of love and raising a family. It did take some getting use to being the only black person in the room, but when it is all said and done we are all people. Love is something that should not be dependent on color or status because at the end of the day, we all are going to have to want to make it work for a marriage of any kind to succeed.   

There are still times that I feel rather angry at the way that I am treated and when people feel as if because I am married to a white woman that I am different from other black males. That is not the case. Sometimes I feel as if it has excluded me from my own community. When the black jokes start flying like June bugs it gets rather old and takes a suit of steel and a whole lot of love to make it through the night. I still feel as if I am Public Enemy No. 1 and that at any moment the blame will be pointed in my direction. 

I think multicultural children are some of the most beautiful children in the world. A message that we should all intertwine and marry in this world as this will slowly erase some of the racism and tension that we face.

It is a hard battle and one that some are not willing to fight. I have many friends that are in interracial marriages and right now I would like to applaud them all because we are changing the world one family at a time. Thanks to the last presidential election our children have a role model that they can look up to that is more than a movie star or an athlete. Who is, by the way, interracial.   

And to the young brother that I ran into at the store today, I hope you find the right person no matter what color they are. Oh, and to the black woman who wrote that book on why I, a black man, married my white wife- can you call me before you profit on your lack of information on the subject? Thanks.

Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangster

I never knew that I was a gangster; I was surprised when theses accusations were tossed my way. Politically motivated, a scholar, father and a husband sound more appropriate. It would be rather hard to play soccer outside with my daughter while I was dodging bullets. It would be rather hard to concentrate on my school work while I was constantly looking over my shoulder watching out for the rival gang member to attack me.

I mean, we all know that I live in one the roughest neighborhoods in the world- with the constant howling of coyotes and acres of farmland that surround my small town. This really offers me the best opportunity to recruit little kids and teach them how to do a drive-by. I’m such a hard gangster that I picked my children’s school based upon the merits of the district. Would a gangster be able to write and talk about society in a manner like this?

I have spoken out against the gangster mentality that has plagued our society. I have made a conscious decision due to role models like my father and mother to do something with my life and raise my family in the most respectful and honorable way that I can. I have taught my children about accountability, the importance of an education, and the importance of love and kindness.

But accusations like these are often misdirected due to the ignorance and sometimes racist insecurities of certain individuals. Those that have no connection to the real world but would rather believe the images they have seen on the 100 hours of television they are subjected to on a weekly basis.

But this is a problem with society- we never take the time to know anyone, but rather judge them by the way they dress. People should be judged on their actions. People often spend so much time worrying about other individuals that they do not take the time to look at themselves and understand how they can improve their own lives. There is always room for improvement. Are we all where we want to be in our lives? Is there more that we can do for one another and support one another in a world that is often filled with so much evil that goals seem impossible?

I have lost friends to the streets. They should still be here today. I have seen friends locked up for most of their teenage years. Poverty has increased in America; men and women are dying across the earth fighting for our freedom. There is so much more to focus on instead of passing lies and false accusations. These actions can be connected to the term “Hater”, but I would rather take it deeper than that, and deal with the fact that we have rather sick people that feel the need to lie to make them selves feel better by always talking about others.

God truly does work in mysterious ways. As soon as I started writing this blog there was a knock on the door. It was a delivery of the pictures of me and my wife walking across the stage accepting our diplomas. A reminder that I am not a gangster, that I am striving to do more with my life and I am surrounded by some of the greatest neighbors and friends that a man could ask for.

Being a gangster is not what young men strive for. It is a social and economic issue that has plagued America. Some of these young men and women do not have a chance or opportunity to become better citizens. Some of these children come from broken homes and are surrounded in conditions that I can not even imagine to be subjected to. There are other gangsters out there as well. There are gangsters that bottle water and sell it to the people, pollute our air, and control the media with negatives images of all aspects of our society only in search of profits.

This is a warning for me and all the others that just so happen to wear a pair of jeans and a baseball cap. We are gangsters! We should not and can not be trusted! We live for the excitement of war and killing our own people. While we send our children to school, attend college, and are there for our friends in the darkest moments, we are planning the next drive-by and waiting to sell drugs to our people.

To all of those that think they are surrounded by gangsters and feel the need to lock themselves in their homes with cameras and motion detectors- while you are at it add some bars on the windows and pad the walls of your home, because you are the real nutcases out there. Not those that have better things to worry about than the dog and pony show in their own front yard. The Devil approaches with a smile and spreads lies while he is stabbing you in the back with his pitchfork.

I will see you all later. It is time for me to jump in the low-low, throw on my baseball cap, and do a drive-by with my AK-47 and hoodlum children. I think there are a couple of cows that have been talking mess about me and my boys and I think that it is time for some pay back… gangster style.

Angry Black Man Syndrome (ABMS)

I have been told many times that I am an angry black man. But those that know me understand that this is not anger but passion. I am cut from a different cloth. There have been many that have told me “You are the whitest black man that I know”. I laugh and think to myself you really do not have a clue about who I really am. Is there a certain way that a black man should talk and dress? I mean, I do wear a belt and search for the correct size jeans.

I am often embarrassed when I see black men with their jeans down to their knees, staring at their Underroos with Sponge Bob Square Paints and the Wonder Twins. Yes I am frustrated when the hottest song on the radio is telling me that I should be single for the night. I mean come on; there is nothing wrong with arguing with your mate and then having hot passionate make-up sex.

I have been pulled over by the cops and racially profiled. I have tried my hardest to let some of the comments that I have heard pass right by like a speeding train and then move on with my life. But the more I heard these comments and evaluated the constant racial tension around me, I knew that it was time to do more with my life and use my talents as a writer to reach the world.

So, you can call me angry if I won’t stand for people not living up to their potential and crying poor me all the time. The excuses are old. The truth is just that the truth. There are some that will never understand the cultural differences and accept that there needs to be real conversation and an agenda developed to combat this racial tension. No matter where I have lived there has always been someone or something that has reminded me that before I am an American, I am black.

When I lived in California I was at my brother-in-laws weeding reception and his father-in-law asked me if I was from Oakland. I looked at him and his fuzzy blonde afro and replied no, I am from Pacifica California. I thought to myself “sorry for the disappointment and welcome to the family”, while his son was standing upside down drinking from a keg. Now explain that to the kids in Oakland!

Or better yet, the day that I moved into my first house and my new neighbor called her husband in fear because I was standing outside instructing the movers were to put my furniture. I can just imagine the conversation over the phone “honey you need to come home now, there is a black man outside his own house I think he is going to rob me and the alarm has not been set-up yet”.

But don’t worry; I get the same type of reaction from black people. Like, when I am standing outside smoking a cigarette and they ask for one and refuse to take one because it is not menthol. Or when we engage in a conversation and they are shocked and say “you speak proper”. I am sorry my house is not filled with Kool-Aid packets and my kids do not run around the neighborhood out of control.

I am not angry at the world and I have friends of all races. Any day around my home I can be the minority and the next the majority. That is the beauty of living in America. I might be a little louder than the next guy, or say something controversial, but why not? I mean, sometimes there are things that need to be addressed.

I do not see the world simply as black and white, but there are issues that can be directly tied to racism and a society that has not addressed the past. I see a bright future for our country. I see little children of all races playing together and eating lunch together at the same table. But as adults we have a responsibility to make it a better place, so these children will not grow up and be upset and understand that race is something that is important.

It was hard enough to explain to my son when he was a kindergartener that it was alright for a black man to marry a white woman. After his first week of kindergarten he came home confused and stated that he thought that a black man and a white woman should not be married. I thought that I would not have a conversation like this until he was at least a teenager. So for those to say that the world has totally moved forward and it is over- think again, because this mindset was taught to a child by their parents.

Even today Obama has tapped into his passion to express his concerns on the current struggles of our economy. They called it the new approach. But I guess since I am not the president and I am not wearing a suit and tie my approach is called anger.

Choose Ebonics! The DEA Did!

Two weeks ago while watching the “make people dumb machine”, better know as the television, I noticed an interesting story scrolling on the bottom of the screen. In a short incomplete sentence the words “DEA looking for Ebonics translators” passed by with an alarming speed. I was waiting for every news channel in the world to take this story and run with it. But I was not surprised at all when there was no major coverage of the issue. This story did not have the Dr. Laura type drama that is needed to discuss the issue of racism and address the issues of the third world America that is often hidden away from the rest of the world.

The DEA was in fact, looking to employ individuals that understood Ebonics so they could analyze wire taps and close in on major drug empires that are destroying the lives of citizens in the black community. They needed translators for areas like Florida, Louisiana, and California. But the fact that the DEA is in need of translators for Ebonics should be shocking and disturbing. Is the African American community really in that bad of shape that they do not even speak English anymore? For a moment of hope I thought, maybe they are smart enough to know the DEA is listening to their conversations and have created a code to communicate… But the skeptic in me knew better.

Today’s Ebonics is no longer the dialect that was used by slaves while speaking on the planation- a dialect that was known as “Black English”. Ebonics has become a feeble offspring, spawned from the devolution of its predecessor. This is the way the children in the ghetto have learned to speak before they step foot into the hallways of an understaffed, underfunded school.

Ebonics was a cop-out from the start. Ebonics was nothing more than an excuse for a failing school system and the lack of parents being involved in raising their children properly. I will admit even I have some problems trying to understand my African American friend’s posts on social networking sites. I often have to read them twice before I can even try and figure out what they are trying to say.

But this issue points directly to the problem that America has had since after the Civil Rights Movement. The lack of leaders, role models, and people that care for the future are the real issues. Our role models focus on material wealth and ghetto fabulous ideals. The street life has been glorified in movies, music, fashion, and sports and the damage that has been done at times seems as if it is almost irreversible. Where is the outrage? Where are Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton now? They tend to steer away from issues that may be too controversial and lack the promise of profits and increased publicity.

How can an individual be productive in a society whey they can not speak the English language? Is it alright to accept failure? The Drug War is nothing but a military mission against the people of America being conducted by the police and the criminal systems. The funding for the Drug War is ten times as high as the funds spent on educating our children. But we chose to fill our prisons with users instead of dealers. Prisons have become corporations and the DEA is an extension of that company. A division publicly funded and employed by the people that is supposed to protect the people.

The drug war is a war against the people; a way to keep police officers employed, maintain a steady stream of criminals that would be better off in a rehabilitation center, and not a jail cell that keeps this vicious cycle in motion. The DEA is part of the problem, not the solution. We often scream about our tax dollars being wasted but we avoid the real issues. The African American community should be ashamed that we let our children continuously fall behind in school and not demand more.

We have an obligation to the children to create a society that offers every citizen a chance to live their dreams. But we are sending mixed messages to our children. A message that is so deeply rooted in our society that the DEA feels as if they have to stoop to the level of criminals in order to decode wire taps. And where would this qualified candidate for this position be located? Would this job be filled by a drug dealer? Would this job be offered to a “snitch” that has been turned into state’s evidence? Or would this open up new opportunities for individuals that are already serving time in prison? I can imagine a whole floor of inmates listening to wiretaps, for minimum wage.

Shows like the “Wire” offered Americans an insight in to a world that many never knew was out there. Yes this series could be seen as glorifying life in the ghetto, but that would only be to those with a 5^th grade education. The Wire offered us the opportunity to understand the life from both sides. The passion that real detectives have for saving lives, or the fact that a young black African American male’s life means nothing at all when they are involved in the world of drugs. Sometimes this life may be the only option they have when they have an education that could not even secure them a job at McDonalds.

This is a challenge to all of us. How can America be about the people when “WE” the people can not even understand one another and communicate? Fathers, pull up your pants, turn off that rap music, and decided to live life right because your children are watching. Mothers, put your child first instead of living your life searching for the right man. Malcolm X., Martin Luther King Jr., and J.F.K lost their lives so that we could live a better life. Stop using slang, and teaching your children the wrong things in life like having to have the latest Air Jordan’s and doing the latest dance on television. The blame is not just on the DEA, but the black community as well for dropping the ball after the dream was almost a reality.

Education: The New Sexy

What if Education was the new sexy? What if the smartest women in the world were on the cover of Maxim Magazine? Would this change the attitude of the youth and their willingness to accept the fact that an education is what separates the “haves” and the “have-nots”? But that is not the case. Most young men and women would rather worry about their appearance and how popular they are instead of their GPA.

America, we have a huge problem in education. We are falling behind and the statistics are mind-blowing. I understand that there is a huge gap between young black males that are graduating compared to their white counterparts. I wanted to discuss just that issue alone, but I think it is deeper than that. I think that we now live in a society that is dependent on the lack of an education to separate individuals. America’s educational structure is archaic and can not meet the demands of the global marketplace.

Education should be the new sexy. Education needs to be more important than your friend count on Facebook. With our advances in technology you would imagine a country that would have some of the smartest students in the world. You would image a country with the fastest internet in the world. But this is not the case.

The funny thing is, this is all part of the plan. A capitalistic society is not fair- it is dependent on the weak and the uneducated in order to keep the power in the hands that be. And it’s not easy to keep up.

Two weeks ago the wife and I purchased enough materials to educate a small village in Africa. And most of these materials will not be used by my children, but others in the class as well. I never knew of a child that went through 8 bottles of glue in a year, and that is per child- which means we bought 16 bottles! Not only am I paying taxes yearly for the school but I am supposed to be involved in fundraisers and a whole host of other activities. I know that some teachers work their tails off to educate their students, and some even spend their own money to purchase class materials.

There needs to be a change in the systems. Tax dollars need to be distributed evenly throughout the state. Every child should have access to an outstanding education no matter if they live in the ghetto or the suburbs. The standards should be the same, the teachers should have the same drive, and the curriculum should meet the needs of today’s world- not the 50’s.

Parents, both black and white, need to play a role in the education of their children. It is a shame when an athlete is praised in the community with greater exuberance than an honor roll student. There should be a parade for the smart kids; they should be introduced during half-time at the homecoming game. But instead they are often the brunt of jokes and made fun of in movies. The importance of an education is often overlooked by plastic upgrades and the newest digital device and often overshadowed by how fast a child can run, or how cute they look with pom-poms.

Let us as parents and grandparents make education the new sport, the new popularity contest. Let us make being smart the new sexy. There is nothing sexier than spending time with the wife, and a nightcap of intellectual conversation.

Help Wanted

Since when is it the responsibility of the government to create jobs? There needs to be some accountability by the people to accept that we are falling behind. Our lifestyle has started to exceed the amount of money that we are bringing in. The economy is a complicated machine that has been fed a virus led by the people, the government, and big business. Those that have lost jobs need to re-examine their skill set and create a job for themselves or take a pay cut and get used to the new style of living in America.

There are always opportunities in America and around the world, but our need for goods at a lower price, shareholders demanding huge profits, and people buying what they cannot afford has placed a strain on those that have made proper financial decisions. The president is not responsible for creating jobs. We the people need to create jobs, support American companies, and educate ourselves so that we can compete with the global markets.

Call center jobs have been lost to companies in India, manufacturing jobs have been lost to sweatshops in China, and it is easy to see what is happening when you stand in line for one of those new shinny phones- we are supporting everyone but ourselves.

Some people laugh and say that America will always be a superpower, but that is a theory that is slowly crumbling. America is an Empire and our walls are starting to burn, and our weaknesses are being shown across the world. The time of American exploitation is coming to an end. This is not a “the end of the world” conspiracy theory, but this is the end of the world as we knew it. This is reality. America has no natural resources that other countries are dependent on. America has depleted all creativity and has subjected itself to a state of vegetation.

This vegetation, or coma, is reversible- we can demand for companies to bring jobs back to America. We can increase the amount of tax on imported items. We can fix health care so that it is affordable for companies to offer their employees health care and compete with companies around the world. Capitalism is a system that is dependent on the citizens to spend money and government to regulate and protect the people. The more that we depend on the government to fix the economy, the larger the government becomes. The more government jobs that are created equal more taxes we are forced to pay.

Teachers, police officers, public officials, fire fighters, military personal, and a wide range of other jobs are all dependent on taxes for salaries. This money does not come out of thin air. So when people express their concern about the government fixing the economy it has to be understood that the only way to fix a capitalistic economy is by spending. Small business is the only way that we will escape this horrible economy. The corporations only care about the shareholders not the employees. The President is a man, a mortal, not a job making cybernetic machine. Americans have always found a way to forge forward. That is how our country was built. It is not the responsibility of the president to find citizens a job but rather the citizens to create jobs and opportunities for each other.

We have become lazy and dependent on government. We should not always look for someone else to blame, but rather find solutions ourselves. We can not continue to fight amongst each other and be divided by political agendas and religious ideology. Change within America has never been easy- there has always been bloodshed, riots, and causalities, but this is a revolution that many do not want to face.

Be a Mentor: Because Kids Need More Thank Just Milk and Cookies

Everyone needs someone in their life to help them reach their goals and often find those hidden skills that are tucked away deep down inside. A mentor is something that all of us can be, no matter what we do for a living. There is always someone out there that needs a little guidance and help. I have spent years helping people around me. I had a mentor that showed me the importance of music and also how damaging some negative music can be to our society. This individual was a father figure to me and unfortunately, is no longer here to see me showcase my skills to the rest of the world.

Becoming a mentor is one thing that we can do to make this a better world. There are always Big Brother and Big Sister programs that are searching for individuals that have the time to spend with the youth. This is a great program but some individuals do not have the time to attend this type of structured mentoring program. Some churches also have mentoring programs that can be helpful, but issues that I have with programs that are dependent on a belief structure is that those views are often forced fed to the individual that is being mentored.

Why is mentoring so important? We live in a world that is dependent on a particular skill set to earn a living. We live in a country that has lost control of our media, the same media that bombards our children with their agendas 24 hours a day. It is important for us to share the stories and experiences that we have been through so that our children do not make the same mistakes we might have made in the past. Helping someone achieve their goals is the best feeling in the world. It is important for us to help create a country that is filled with individuals that are bright and can avoid the mistakes of the past.

The youth look to adults to figure out how they should react in certain situations and they depend on us to teach them how to survive in a world that is forever changing. We all have something to share with another individual. Our educational structure is failing our children and it is up to the parents and the citizens of America to educate our children. There are children that are just roaming the streets while their parents are working two jobs and do not have the time to raise them anymore. Parents are sometimes consumed by the materialism themselves and have often allowed the glowing box to be a mentor for their children.

I am not suggesting that you gather up the little children in your neighborhood and feed them cookies and milk, but rather engage in conversation that will help them make the right decisions. The youth in America are asking for help. You can tell by the music that they listen to, the televisions shows that they enjoy and the increase in teen-pregnancies. We all complain about the world and how it is failing apart, but what are we doing to make it better?

Become a mentor to a person at work and show them how the business works. Mentor a family member that may be dealing with issues and needs another perspective on life. All of our experiences are only random acts if we do not learn from them and share them with others.

Simpler, Quicker, Dumber: The American Zombie

Is it me, or is everything too easy? With just a few keystrokes you can find just about anything. No longer do you have to search for material at a library, read a book, or even write you own paper in college (as long as you have some left over money from binge drinking). Even commercials express the ease of life with their easy button.

This new easy lifestyle has even been forced upon my favorite game of all time- Madden NFL. I should have known when the back of the case stated that the new Madden 2011 is “Simpler. Quicker. Deeper.” I use to like searching for the next play that I was going to use to exploit my opponent. But now they have this option to let the computer pick your play. WOW- never mind actually playing the game, just drop your money off at the store, unwrap the game, and watch the pretty graphics unfold. On the outside of the box it should say “No Skill Needed Just an HD TV”. I understand that this is some new option and that I can still pick my play, but did the public really want this?

What ever happen to the good old American way? Does anyone still believe in working hard for something? After all, it is the only true way to appreciate what you have. Life has become too easy and our children will fall victim to it. We are breeding the new American Zombies. Traveling in packs- snatching up the latest products that feed us radioactive rays that are eating away at our brains. That’s right, some sort of Zombie creation that is product driven, without the capacity to do the simple tasks in life.

Let us explore some of these recent trends. GPS applications. No need to know how to read a map or know what street you are on, just follow the blue dot. Can’t follow the dot? That’s OK, just listen to the computer voice! Then when you arrive at your destination and find the only parking left is the dreaded parallel spots, no worry! Your car will park itself perfectly for you! Now you need to find a place to catch a good meal, well there's an application for that as well! It can even count the calories! Forget about finding that cool hidden hole-in-the-wall. Just pull up your friend’s reviews on Yelp! or Foursquare! Don't know how much to tip? There is an application for that too! Now who will join you at this fine dining establishment? Can’t find your friends? That’s ok, you don’t need to actually call them anymore, just check out their new GPS enabled Twitter Feed! Oh- there they are!

It is too easy to get married, then divorced, to have kids- or eliminate them. It is too easy to fail high school and get a G.E.D. It is too easy to sue anyone for anything. It is too easy to become a left or right wing nutcase without examining the issues with any critical thinking skills. It is too easy to access credit, create debt, and then wipe it away for seven years. There is no accountability in a majority of the things that we do in life and it only seems to be getting worse. Is it because we have decided to push the easy button too many times?

So the next time you plan a trip maybe investing in an actual map might be a good purchase. Besides, this may help for streets and neighborhoods that may not be on MapQuest yet. Try reading a book from cover to cover and those college credits might really be earned. Life is getting easier and the damage to the human brain is not yet understood. Will our brains start to shrink? Will we become more dependent on collective thought rather than our own? I see a future that includes a nation of American Zombies with nothing but barcodes because reaching for our wallets takes too much effort.

No Mosque in My Hood

You are kidding me right? People all across America have decided that it is not in good taste to place a Mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero. Some say that it is some sort of sacred ground; well I think that the ground we walk on is sacred. Or is the elimination of the Native Americans not included in this sacred conversation? But once again the American citizens have showed the world what they do best- and that is to discriminate.

A land that was built on the concept of Freedom of Religion has decided that it wants to restrict the location of a religious facility. I wonder if the strippers that are also located two blocks down the street from Ground Zero have any issue with taking money from these future tourists that want to see the forbidden Mosque. But the strippers support the model of the new America, more money and more taxes- that is how we roll. I guess taxi drivers will not take paying customers to this new Mosque at all.

I have seen Mega churches take over farmland, while rich Christians make their Sunday trip to church to only forget the teachings from the ministers. I see news reports of Christians and Catholics that have molested children and pillaged money from the congregation to support their ultra-elite, ultra-holly lifestyles. So if you ask me America has a problem with religion as a whole and not just a Mosque being built in New York City next to Ground Zero.

Some argue that this mosque only acts as a tribute to the portrayers of 9/11. That is only if you have been feed all the lies by the media and think that all Muslims are some evil terrorist waiting to blow your silly ass up while sipping on a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Americans pay tribute to the terrorist act all the time. We have used drones to kill more innocent people than 10 times the amount of people killed on 9/11. We have fought wars that have been created by lies; we have propped up evil men across the world and put them in control to do the evil that we wanted but never would admit to.

But Americans, please think about the situation for what it is and not for what the media wants you to believe. They want to build a recreation center, and a mosque, they want a place to worship. This should be something that we all support no matter what type of religion is being worshipped in the building.

Like I always say, if you want to believe in a talking snake, and that all of the animals in the world could fit on one boat with out slaughtering each other then that is your business. But do not deny another individual to believe in what they want and hinder the development of productive members of society.

The Top Five Tips to Keep Your Ass Alive

The Top Five Tips to Keep Your Ass Alive

1. Question Everything

No matter what the subject or the issue may be, ask yourself questions. What is in this for them? How will this change my life? Not all events, friendships, or relationships are bad, but often the ones that act is they perfectly fine are nothing but scams.

2. Stay On Your Hustle and Keep Cash

I told you I would keep it real and I am true to my word. It is important to always stay on your hustle and think about making money and not always spending your money. There is no reason that you shouldn’t be thinking of a way to make more money. We all are born with a set of skills that offer us a world of opportunity. C.R.E.A.M. Yes- Cash Rules Everything Around Me. The world of hip-hop (not rap) has a huge amount of information to offer to the people. If the banking systems fails, or your identity is stolen, you will need to rely on cash. And no, I am not getting a micro-chip planted in my arm.

3. Learn To Shoot

Yes that is right. One of the most important rights in our country has been put in a place to protect us. With the increase in police officers being let go, a bad economy, and just stupidity it is important to learn how to protect yourself. Yes our tax dollars and local taxes are responsible for hiring individuals that are supposed to protect us, but while they are breaking down the doors of a pot farm they have no time to react to your break-in. It is up to us to protect ourselves.

4. Educate yourself

I am not talking about a College Education but rather what is going on around you. Take a trip to your local bookstore and search for something factual. I often think of our mind as a hard drive. If you fill it with nothing but porn eventually you will get a virus and your hard drive is toast. Materialism is a form of porn, it gets you excited for a moment, and then it passes right by. Educate yourself and you will make better decisions and not fall for the traps out there.

5. Learn to eat properly

After you feed your mind, it is important to feed your body properly. The only way that this can be done is by educating yourself. It is important to understand the source of the food that you are eating. Ask questions like has this fish been imported or raised in a fishery? By educating yourself you will notice the chemicals that should not be included in food. You will understand that cows do not eat corn and that it is important to purchase free range poultry.

These tips will keep you alive in this country that is often too late to respond to emergences. Katrina is a great example of how important it is to be prepared for anything. There are dangers in every part of the United States. Staying on your hustle, stacking money and not material, and reading a book for a change will open up your world. Stop worrying about teenage high school vampires and picking sides, when there are laws that are being created to enslave the citizens of America.

A Message to Fathers Raising Daughters

Raising a daughter is a task like no other. Fathers always hear that their little daughters will have them wrapped around their finger. You will do anything for them.

I am very lucky because I was able to watch my mother and father raise two girls. They raised their daughters to be strong and stand up for what they believed in. They made sure to never break their sprits. It is very important to make sure that a child’s spirit is never broken. Parents play a huge role in the mental developmental process of children.

As a stay at home father I have spent long periods of time with my children alone and have had to deal with all types of situations. When I was left alone with my daughter for the first time, I was in shock. I spent 14 months alone with my son, but all of the sudden I was afraid to change a diaper. I didn’t want to do it, but there was no way that I was going to allow her to walk around the house with a saggy diaper. After overcoming my fear of the little girl zone there emerged several new obstacles that were different from raising a son. These are my tips based on what I have learned so far:

1) Treat your children fairly

My son was rather easy and very calm. My daughter was always very excited and full of energy. She was always trying to keep up with her brother. Since she is younger than her brother she is always in a competitive mode. No matter what the situation is even to this day my daughter is always trying to get praise and beat out her brother in any situation. After hearing all of the comments of how she was going to control my feelings and that I was going to treat her differently then her brother, I made a conscious decision to make sure that I raised them fair and treated them the same way.

2) Give them the attention they need

Children need a father’s attention, but especially daughters. As fathers, our job is to raise children that are productive and can offer something to society. As a father raising a daughter I have taken the approach to show my daughter what it is like to be around a man that treats women with respect. I hope that this will show her how she should be treated by any other man that may enter her life.

3) Treat your wife with respect

This may sound rather simple but this approach is very important. I make sure that I treat my wife with respect in front of both my son and daughter so that my son knows how important it is to respect woman, this also demonstrates to my daughter how a man should treat her in the future. Our current society is still disrespectful to women. It is shown in our movies, music, advertisements, and many other aspects of our society. It is important to offer our children, especially daughters, positive images of women in society.

4) Find role models

My daughter is lucky that she has the opportunity to see such a positive woman like her mother in her life. My wife is a breadwinner, a scholar, a nurse, and to most a feminist. All of these traits have helped my daughter develop into a strong little girl due to roles being reversed in a household. But it is also important for the negative images of women to be counteracted by positive images of women. For example most men enjoy watching sports, if your daughter is in the room and the opportunity is available let your daughter watch women playing sports. My daughter enjoys watching women playing soccer with me. The first time she watched women playing she was happy and sat down on the couch and watched the whole game. This was one of the best moments that I have experienced this summer with my daughter.

5) Teach your daughter to respect herself

Do not force her to become a sex object by letting her run around town in her two-piece bikini, and cover her face in make-up in the early stages of her life. This only helps promote the sex image that the media is dependent on. Fathers, we are raising the women of the future and it is important that they have the tools necessary to find men that will respect them and love them.

So in short fathers- treat your daughter like she is the love of your life. Cherish her and allow her to be who she is. If we love them like they should be loved then we can help them grow into the strong women we know they can be.