My Blog Sabbatical

Okay folks, so I've been away for a while. But, I'm BACK! Now that I'm not going to spend much time on facebook and myspace anymore, I'll express my views on the things that make this crazy world go around here, in the comfort of my blog. Stay tuned. I won't be away for too long!

DMX:What's My Name!? It sure isn't Troy Jones!

Okay ya'll....please help me out on this one. Can DMX not afford to pay a medical bill? He has to go as far as providing false information....such trickery! I couldn't help but be reminded of his famous "What's My Name!?" well Mr. Earl Simmons, your name is not Troy Jones! And the last comment had me rolling....they have to place him in isolation because the other inmates may not like his music. From....like 10 years ago!? Lol....who cares!

I guess he keeps himself in the spotlight in one way or the other. It seems adding pages to his wrap sheet is the method DMX has chosen. He should be ashamed!

According to AP:

PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- Rapper DMX was arrested at a Phoenix, Arizona, mall Saturday on suspicion of giving a gave a false name and Social Security number to a hospital to get out of paying for medical expenses.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that when DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, went to Scottsdale's Mayo Clinic in April, he used the name Troy Jones and failed to pay a $7,500 bill.

DMX's Scottsdale attorney, Cameron Morgan, declined to comment.

Arpaio said his office began investigating the charge after an animal neglect investigation last year at the 37-year-old rapper's north Phoenix home.

DMX was arrested in that case on felony drug possession and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after authorities seized 12 pit bull dogs and dug up the remains of three others.

The musician/actor has had other recent run-ins with the law, including an arrest at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport this month on outstanding warrants after he failed to appear in court.

The week before, he was arrested in Miami, Florida, on charges of attempting to purchase cocaine and marijuana.

"He's back in jail again," Arpaio said. "I don't know why judges keep letting this guy out. Every time he goes in there, he gets out on bond.

"I'm hoping this is the one time he's going to pay the penalty for his offense," he added. Arpaio said the bail had not been set in the recent arrest.

If DMX remains jailed, the sheriff said, he would be isolated from the rest of the inmates for his own safety.

"They may not like his music," he said.

Nelson Mandela Celebrates His 90th Birthday!

Today is Nelson Mandela's birthday. Happy 90th Birthday, and thank you for your contribution to world history and societal change! Below is the interview he gave today from his home.

Courtesy of the AP:

Mandela's B-Day message: Rich should help poor
By CELEAN JACOBSON – 1 hour ago

QUNU, South Africa (AP) — Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday Friday by urging the wealthy to share their prosperity with the less fortunate and by saying he wished he had been able to spend more time with his family during the anti-apartheid struggle.

In an interview at his home in rural southeastern South Africa, the anti-apartheid icon was asked if he had a message for the world.

"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," Mandela said.

Accompanied by his wife, Graca Machel, a smiling Mandela walked into his private lounge in the large home he built in Qunu, before sitting in his favorite yellow armchair and addressing a small gathering of reporters from The Associated Press and other outlets for about 15 minutes. It was his first such exchange with journalists in years.

Mandela, sounding and looking vigorous, said he was fortunate to have reached 90, but in the countryside and in the towns "poverty has gripped our people.

"If you are poor, you are not likely to live long," he said. He credited his "behavior" for his own longevity.

At one point, a granddaughter brought in a bowl of flowers and gave Mandela a birthday kiss. He was asked if he wished he had had more time with his family during a life spent fighting apartheid and then leading South Africa as its first black president.

"I am sure for many people that is their wish," he said. "I also have that wish that I spent more time (with my family). But I don't regret it."

Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against apartheid.

He was released in 1990 to lead negotiations that ended decades of racist white rule. He was elected president in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. After serving one five-year term, he devoted himself to campaigning against poverty, illiteracy and AIDS in Africa. But he has been slowed by age in recent years, cutting back on public appearances and spending more time with his family. He often spends holidays and his birthdays in Qunu.

Wearing one of his signature patterned shirts, this one in shades of green, gold and black, he glanced pensively out a window at the start of the interview.

"This is my property. When I am here, I feel I own something," he said of the rural area 600 miles south of Johannesburg where he spent his youth. In his autobiography, he describes herding cattle in the hills around Qunu as a boy.

Soon after the interview, a group of seven or eight grandchildren crowded around Mandela's chair, sang "Happy Birthday" and kissed him. His legs were propped up on a large stool and covered with a pale yellow blanket. A pile of newspapers sat next to his chair.

The room was full of birthday presents from all over the world — a portrait, a bust, a collection of photography books — all featuring him — from well-known artists.

While Mandela was celebrating quietly in Qunu, events were taking place across the country in his honor.

Two runners holding South African flags circled Robben Island, where Mandela spent most of his 27 years in jail. At nearby Drakenstein prison, known as Victor Verster when Mandela was held their briefly at the end of his term, a prisoners' choir and a band performed for a live broadcast on state television, and prisoners who had created portraits of Mandela handed them over to Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour, who was to pass them on to Mandela.

"We are saying Mr. Mandela is 90 today; he gave a lot back to the country; he united us," said a prisons' spokesman, Mark Solomons.

In Johannesburg, children celebrated with birthday cake at the offices of the foundation Mandela founded after stepping down as president in 1999, and his African National Congress unfurled giant banners featuring his image at its downtown headquarters.

Qunu, meanwhile, had spruced up for the day.

On Thursday, gardeners mowed the lawn leading up to the museum honoring Mandela, a crew added a new layer of tarmac to the road outside his house, and a school choir rehearsed a song it created especially for him.

Mandela helped raise funds so the school could build new classrooms and move out of a dilapidated mud structure.

"He has done a lot for us, specially for the school," said its principal, Mpondomise Ndzambo. "He suffered a lot trying to get this South Africa to be free and fair. I think he is a great man."

Michelle Obama invited to join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Why so much hateration and fuss?

So, by now I am sure the entire world has heard that Michelle Obama accepted an invitation for Honorary Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The sorority celebrates its 100th year anniversary this year.

Of course news (whether it is confirmed or accurate) travels quickly! Needless to say, other bloggers are "unofficially reporting" their findings. In reading some of the comments that follow the posts, I can't help but see the great divide in America. How Historically Black Greek Sororities and Fraternities mean one thing in the Black community and another in the "majority" amazes me.

What doesn't amaze me, but rather embarrasses me as a member of a greek organization, are the negative sentiments of some members of BGLOs and their response to this news. As greeks, we all should be proud that she admires and respects what we all do in the community and that she is interested in joining our ranks to continue our service to our communities. Instead, you have some people who are bitter because their bid didn't go in first. Who really cares? I mean really? We ALL have notable members in our organizations, and remarkable achievements among us. Get over it people. If black greeks are supposed to be "sophisticated" I sure as hell would hate to see what others have to say....we are our own worst enemy. Let us uplift each other. It takes less energy than tearing each other down.

Now, there are some who are just anti-greek systems. To each, his or her own. But, there were some "brothers" and "sisters" who were of the opinion that "Obama has sold out" and that this acceptance into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was indicative of a "nation of division."

There were even some who went as far as to say that Barack Obama had just lost their votes. Some even stated that they would consider voting for McCain. To those people I have this to say....

Cindy McCain, wife of Republican Nominee John McCain, is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity for women.

Now, according to Wikipedia: "Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΘ) is an international women's fraternity founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University. Kappa Alpha Theta was the first Greek-letter women's fraternity. The organization currently has 125 chapters at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada with a total initiated membership of 210,000. Currently, it is one of the five largest sororities."

Some of its members:
Cindy Hensley McCain (Omicron, USC) - wife of 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.
Barbara Pierce Bush (Epsilon Tau, Yale University) - daughter of President George W. Bush.
Jenna Bush (Alpha Theta, University of Texas) - daughter of President George W. Bush.
Laura Bush (Beta Sigma, Southern Methodist) - wife of President George W. Bush.
Lynne Cheney (Beta Omega, Colorado College) - wife of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Now that we know this....and we look at this Michelle Obama sorority invitation, is it really that big of a deal? Does it really "indicate" anything we don't already know about the nominees? If anything is indicative of this one...is that birds of a feather flock together! Get it? Cheney....Bush...McCain....

So, I wonder how many of those sorority "haters" are going to stay home altogether on election day now????

This just in: Massah is DEAD!

The system repeatedly failed us generations and decades ago. Our ancestors bore from that failure a system of self reliance and survival. They gave us the tools necessary to further ourselves in a nation intended for our labor, our women’s wombs, and our perpetuation of the oh so profitable “American slave trade” through the loins of our women. A nation built by the blood and sweat of our fathers. The salted tears of our mothers stained the hearts of their offspring to always, always remind us of the pain. To make us conscious and aware of the humiliation, brutality, and shame they endured, unsure of tomorrow. And of that, my friend, the “angry black woman” was born. Some mothers killed their children in order to "send them to be with the Lord in heaven", so that they wouldn’t be born to the harsh reality of their innocence being stripped away from them, being torn from their mother’s arms, and sat on a wooden platform to be inspected and evaluated by hundreds as if they were young cattle.

For us black folk, our roots only go back so far…….our identities lost in the county records and archives, as we were less than human to this nation, we were counted among their property, and our names were replaced with the word “Chattel.” This is where our American Heritage began…..”chattel” From this, our black men fought to their deaths to acquire their identities in America and take their manhood back. Manhood, which they were robbed of when they were forced to witness their wives become Massah's late night whores, or Massah’s prize to his young apprentices. Manhood that was stripped when they were placed on wooden platforms and castrated before being lynched. Manhood that was lost when their children were stripped from their wives arms, for their wives to look to them to “protect” them and do something about it, yet he was prohibited from fulfilling his duties as a man by the cracking of Massah’s whip. Black men have since traveled on a winding, bewildering path in search of their manhood, their stake holds in America. Thus, they have struggled to propel themselves as husbands and fathers.

Then there was the black church. Our safe haven and only solitude. We sang together, we ate together, we organized together. The black church was the fiber that kept the Negro community strong. It was a source of social activism, a place for black men to be revered and followed. To hold the black church under a microscope as the media has done with the “Rev Wright” controversy as if it is some sort of science project showed just how disconnected America really is. To some, it was shocking and appalling….to others it was typical black church where political issues were discussed. Some say politics and social activism have no place in the church. But be reminded that the black church was the only place for black folk. So, those guidelines don’t equate to much in the black church, as there was no other “place” for them to be socially active or politically aware without the threat of being castrated, and burned alive or hung in a town hall. Sorry, those rules didn’t apply here.

Now…….I hope my black people are aroused by now…I hope this reminds you of the stories our grandfathers told of their grandfathers. I hope it reminds you of the lynching exhibits, the movie "Roots," "Mississippi Burning", and all that made you angry, bitter, and resentful of “the white man” for slavery.

Now that I have your attention…Newsflash! Massah is dead. I repeat, Massah is dead! No more blaming your self-inflicted perils on “the man” instead blame them on us. Note, I didn’t say “yourselves” because to use such language would disconnect me from the black community as if I were not one of “you.” Please note....however, some do. Bill Cosby has done a great job of calling the faults of our black men in the community. Barack Obama did the same on father’s day. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton………all of these black men. Speaking the very truths we need to hear, some perspectives to which some of us cannot relate or understand. Nonetheless….there is a “call to action” in the black community. But unfortunately these are mere sound bites mistaken for activism. Instead of poking at all that is WRONG with the black community....let's accept responsibility and CHANGE it!

BET…..you all know I “love” me some BET……let’s get it. BET disgusts me, with their pretend roundtable discussions and panels about the wrongs in the black community. Panels which include black intellectuals, preachers, authors, activists, video “models”, reality television “stars”, and rappers. I guess they call that social balance? BET harps on the black man and his failings as a father or the teen mom who sells her womb for crack in a 30 minute segment when they perpetuate the very PLAGUE that is having this affect on the black community. A year's worth of BLACK EXPLOITATION TELEVISION filling the airways....poisoning the minds of our youth, tainting and diminishing their hopes and dreams of being doctors and lawyers to video vixens and rappers with bling bling. Then they try to rectify it by giving a humanitarian of the year award to someone who is out fighting to reverse the damage BET has caused all year long.

Go into any “urban” public school and ask the children what they want to be when they grow up….you will be startled at their answers. Ask them who their role models are….and brace yourselves for their answers. The times have long since moved from “Martin Luther King” to “I wanna be like Mike!” to “Weezy F. Baby”…and who is responsible for shortening our children’s aspirations? Massah you say? I think not!

Then we say…..”It’s entertainment” well it is only entertainment when we have other forms of intellectual stimulation to take up the “un-wrinkled” portions of our brains…..not when it is our babysitter, our family pastime, and our source of “news.” It is no longer entertainment then. Our little boys, instead of playing “cops and robbers” are playing “dope boy busted.” I once watched some black children playing in the yard. (True Story) It appeared to be some sort of cops and robbers game….until I heard “Get on the motherfuckin ground,” “Nigga you move and I will kill yo ass,” and “Where is my damn money.” Now, I’m not that old…but I surely know these weren’t the types of things we said when we played outside. Instead, this doesn’t sound like children playing at all. It sounds like sound bits from movies…..movies our children have no business watching. I just wonder, if it is movies like the ones BET loves to play. You know, the common dope boy, baby mama, mother buries teen son, type movies they play? Yeah those…..

I won’t even touch on the lost institution of the black family…..it would take days to write….maybe some other day. But just note, just as it was ripped apart by Massah generations ago…we are doing it to ourselves now. Socially, it is hip and cool to be a teen mom. Somewhere we gained this warped thinking that being an “independent, strong black woman” meant we didn’t need our black men. Newsflash…..WE DO! (Again….I digress for the sake of time)

It is empowering….it is invigorating…and it is resuscitating to the black community to see a black man in a positive light. Barack Obama. His wife is a “strong black woman” who is interdependent on her husband (not baby daddy as Fox thought it would be cool to say). They are raising two beautiful children. A great example of what is absent in the black community. The Black Family!

We have gone for quite some time without a “hero” and instead replace that politically and socially conscious brother with bling wearing, gold and platinum tooth swearing, 4-XL shirt wearing rapper. That is the image of the hero in the black community. When one thinks “black entrepreneur” they think Jay-Z and P Diddy. Nothing against these “hip-hop entrepreneurs” because for the most part, they adhere to some form of social responsibility. But to think about the short sighted vision of our youth being distorted to viewing rappers as role models and sources of inspiration displays the intense urgency for CHANGE in the black community.

Some of my colleagues don’t understand how black people can vote blindly for Obama and support him so passionately. Well the answer is simple (Not that I agree, because we should all be politically aware and vote for candidates based on their platform and policies, but this here...this is a different beast) You see, some have waited a very long time to see something like this occur and they revel in the moment, in hopes that it is an indicator of greater things to come in America. In hopes that it helps to blur the color line that divides us into 4 and 5 different sets and “classes” of “Americans.” I am a politically “conscious” individual who supports Barack Obama because I believe he has what America needs in order to invoke progressive change from the old, stale, antiquated system that was specifically manufactured for a set class of individuals.

Obama wants more funding for college education, and those of us who have not been so fortunate to have our educations afforded to us feel the brunt of the costs of “higher” education. But, this won’t be a “hand me out” from the government….there will be accountability. In order to reap the benefits, students are to be held accountable and work in public interest, for the greater good of the communitiy. Accountability and responsibility….something lacking but greatly needed in the black community.

To many, Barack Obama seems to be the “answer” the black community has been looking for. We have gone quite some time without an “African American Hero” and Obama is that person for some. BUT....it's time we stop looking for a saviour, stop looking for hand outs, and stop looking for someone to give us something we have already had but have thrown away.....and that's opportunities.

Obama frequently refers to what Dr. King called “the fierce urgency of now.” Well black people, the time is now. The time has come to reclaim our black communities and stop doing a disservice to the blood, sweat, and tears our ancestors shed so that we could have better ways of life. We stand on the shoulders of giants……let us not piss on their legacies any longer. Restore faith in the black church and rid it of the misogyny and bigotry that has infected it. Give our children dreams again. Allow our black men to be men. Women, demand the respect your mothers did. Stop accepting mediocracy. Stop being complacent. Complacency didn’t free the slave! Mediocracy didn’t free the slave! Embody the spirit of the Negro slave, do not shun it. It is who we are; it is where we come from. Black people have a unique story that goes untold in the nation’s history as if it were a bastard child. We are responsible for ourselves. We didn’t rely on “the system” to teach us….we taught ourselves. We didn’t rely on American History books to tell our story, we wrote our own.

Stop the ignorance black people! When we truly understand the sacrifices made on our behalf and become accountable, the black community will have no choice but to restore itself. Get “Fired up, ready to go” change our community! “Declare your independence” from self-enslavement. Oh, and by the way….Happy “Independence Day.”And remember….Massah is DEAD!

Love to ALL,

Unofficially Reporting