G Spits It

On to the Next One!

2010-12-31T21:50:00.004-05:00

Greetings!

Well it looks like 2010 is about to be in the rear view! Unlike 2009, this year flew by. I finished school - a journey I chronicled in this space. I met a lot of new people this year and they complemented a host of other people who have been a part of my life. I found a few folks who had been MIA for a decade or two and when we reconnected it was like time stood still. Tragically I lost three good friends who did not reach 50, but the mark they made on me and others will be their lasting legacy.

For me it reinforced the importance of continuing to celebrate the little things - the birthdays, the good grades, the high school musicals and the WHATEVER. It beats getting bogged down with the trials and tribulations - remember to keep on pushin' and eventually you will make it through.

Happy New Year to those I know, and those I have yet meet.

G

A 21st Century Friend

2010-09-10T21:48:00.003-04:00

Social media has redefined the concept of a friend. Sites like Facebook allow you to connect with men and women you are related to, have fallen in and out of love with, and have shared your happiest times and darkest secrets. These tools give you a platform to criticize and signify. It is a virtual mood ring as people post statuses that indicate they hate their job, love their honey, or just elated that God has bestowed boundless blessings upon them. For some it builds brands for others it destroys reputations and relationships. As a networking tool you receive countless requests from people in your past or people who walked by you on a busy street in 1985. For every request that you accept, you allow one more person into your inner sanctum. Twenty-first century friendship….or is it?

True friendship has been the same since the beginning of time. At its core it is an organic process. I am blessed to have the most fascinating group of friends – different ages, colors, nationalities, shapes and sizes. They bring all types of life experiences, some shared with me and some not, that make them a critical part of my circle. Of course no friend is perfect, all of us have our “isms”, but at the end of the day you know you can count on them.

I have not written in a long time. There have been many things I intended to write about, but somehow life got in the way. What drove me to my PC today were conversations this week with four important people in my life – one on the move in Florida who called on a business trip, another halfway across the world via Skype, and a couple in their 70’s just a few miles away from me.

I talked to my friend in Florida about friendship – how many people have so many definitions of friendship. The reality that there are many people that you have shared a season with who will easily forget the ties that bind and how you often hate to see someone’s number come up on your phone because you know he or she wants something. We concluded that it is what it is. I took away that he was not that person - he has stood with me when I could stand and held me up when I couldn’t. Distance has never been an obstacle for us. I am truly grateful for his loyalty and commitment.

My friend halfway across the world consistently provides inspiration. As a creative mind and serial entrepreneur, he has unbelievable vision. Each exchange is a session – one that leaves me with a heightened sense of what could be. The type of brainstorming that goes on is priceless and we both grow because of it. How I am grateful for his creative energy that keeps me on my toes.

The couple I am about to talk about are relative newcomers in my life – the aunt and uncle of someone in my circle who I met in the early part of this century. She has been a frequent recipient of my floral arrangements and in turn has become my floral muse. I could put dandelions together and she would say it was beautiful. Her positive affirmations elevate me on all sorts of levels. Her husband always greets me with a smile on his face and never fails to walk me to my car even though I park right in their driveway! This type of support and caring is priceless.

That’s my personal testimony for this week. None of these encounters involved commenting on a status of writing on someone’s wall – real conversation and genuine interest in who you are and how you are feeling. Friendship to me is all those things – it’s checking in to say “hey – how are you?” It is seeing something that may be beneficial to someone in your circle and passing it on to them. It’s visiting them when they don’t feel that great. It’s providing the type of support that will help them through the challenges and celebrate the successes. It doesn’t have to be done every day, but there must be a concerted effort to make it happen as much as you can. If you are that kind of friend the riches that will come back will be ten-fold….trust me I have experienced this first hand.

Unfortunately I have experienced some of the negatives of this timeless concept called friendship. Do yourself a favor – shake loose folks who are self serving. Run the other way when a “friend” has no regard for your feelings. Show a “friend” the exit when she or he gets brand new because of a new love, new location or new economic status. If it feels lopsided in any way, it is time to check out – he or she really didn’t mean you any good and think about the time you get back for yourself or for those who are truly your FRIENDS.

Post your stories of true friendship.

With that I wish you the best today and always.

People Stand UP

2010-01-13T13:30:00.004-05:00

Greetings,

Here we are in a new decade…a time for reflections and realignment…a need to understand our role in the grand scheme of things. 2010 is a time to pull it together for ourselves, our family, the important people in our lives and our people as a whole.

Before yesterday that would have been the banter of an armchair revolutionary - something that is said at the beginning of the year, repeated during Black History Month, and quickly forgotten in March.

Today we are looking in the face of disaster. There is an undetermined number of casualties and injured in Haiti. Buildings in the capital have been leveled and the airport has sustained extensive damage preventing access in to the country. People are trying to reach loved ones and communication channels have been shut down.

We are familiar with disaster – 9/11, the 2004 tsunami, and hurricane Katrina in 2005. There is one shameful distinction in this tragedy – Haitian brothers and sisters can not take in their relatives and offer refuge while the country is stabilized. It’s no secret that darker people face unfair challenges relating to access to this country. It can take months and years to be able to visit loved ones, go to school or to embark on the “American dream.”

I have personally known some heroic folk that have gone into the trenches to help people in need. I am proud of them but don’t expect everyone to be willing or able to take such extraordinary measures. So I am asking all brothers and sisters of all walks of life to do four things in the short term:

1 - Visit and bookmark Wyclef Jean’s website -http://wyclefjean.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/statement-by-wyclef-jean-on-haiti-earthquake/ for updates from the front line. He has boarded a plane to the Dominican Republic so that he can make his way to his homeland. He’s been tirelessly working for Haiti and needs support now!

2 - Donate money through the Yele Earthquake Relief Fund http://www.yele.org/ or by texting Yele to 501501. A text will charge $5 to your monthly phone bill. You can also donate through the Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/

3 - Contact your United States senator by phone or e-mail and demand an emergency amnesty program that will enable Haitian Americans to provide temporary refuge to family members

4 - Wait before you begin assembling clothing donations until the Red Cross and the Haitian government have determined the appropriate transportation and logistics for such an effort. It’s all about the money right now and every dollar will help

Pray AND take action.

With that, I wish you all the best today and always.

G

2010 - The Next Episode

2009-12-31T15:14:00.005-05:00

Here goes – 2009 was the most challenging year of my adult life.

First the loss: my mother, my sister-friend’s mother, Michael Jackson, and Ted Kennedy. Two people I actually knew and shared time with and two others who shaped my life and countless others without even knowing my name. Others included one coworker from a job I had a lifetime ago and the most recent – A good guy and longtime employee at the flower exchange whose single vehicle car crash on the way to work Christmas Eve resulted in two young girls losing their dad during the holidays. There were some near misses with some people close to me battling serious and chronic illnesses that at times left their lives in peril.

Now the truth: life happens all day, everyday. What can you do about that? Not a thing – you just have to jump in and ride “it” until the wheels fall off. What I discovered in this year of transition is that not every situation is for you and sometimes you have to look at it and let it go. Not every person is right for you – that includes spouses, near-spouses, never to be spouses, family, friends, business partners, and colleagues. Don’t be afraid to distance yourself from entities that are not helping you be your BEST self. What does that mean - people and situations that help you to be physically and mentally healthy, strong and a positive force here on this earth. If you are always in a complex space, that means something or someone is making it hard for you to keep it simple! If you are the one adding to the complication with jealousy, naysaying, hateration, and narrow focus, be man or woman enough not to let your insecurities get in the way of someone else’s light.

What’s next – as always the chapter has not been written, however, I am doing whatever I can to build a solid foundation for the next episode. I have completed my requirements for my MBA which opens up new doors. I am also taking a good long look at people and situations in my life and making sure I am the best I can be for others without being weighed down by the unnecessary burdens and dramas of others. It’s a liberating space to be in and I hope that all of you will aim to get there and be happy in it.

Here’s to all those have been a part of Team “G”. It’s with love and complete gratitude that I wish you all the best in this next decade.

Don't Let Me be Misunderstood...

2009-09-15T11:33:00.005-04:00

Greetings!

It’s been a while since I touched this page – in the context of this page, time has flown in other aspects I feel like I am going in perpetual motion with time seemingly standing still. I have an understanding of this paradox so it doesn’t consume me. I just wish that I could bottle the “slow release” time and sell it for those occasions when you want time to stand still – a concert of your favorite artist, good times spent with friends and better times spent with someone you love….it would sure come in handy!

Last Friday, I watch VH1 THS (formerly True Hollywood Stories). They profiled Lil Wayne. Now for most people in my generation, there is no understanding Lil Wayne – tats al over his body, a 24 carat grill and wild erratic behavior that is sometimes staged and other times drug/alcohol induced. What was revealed was a person who had reverence for the heavyweights in his industry and worked hard to earn the respect and admiration of his peers and his fans. This documentary also detailed the work he did for his hometown New Orleans. Not just writing checks – out in the field, assessing what needed to be done and working with his people to make it happen. He winds up with three Grammy awards for Tha Carter III which contains the song Misunderstood – a soliloquy directed at Reverend Al Sharpton and the Wayne naysayers that samples the legendary Nina Simone’s haunting rendition of the song, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.

Fast forward to Saturday and enters Serena Williams. Her competitive nature is a gift and a curse. If anyone has followed even a little bit of her career, you know that she does not like to lose! She doesn’t even want to take a loss from her sister. She admittedly went too far as she cracked that racket and clenched that tennis ball as she took two gangster strides over to the official. However we can’t allow an incident like this to cloud her athletic accomplishments and her tireless efforts to show girls in our community what it looks like to be a motivated, strong and smart black woman. Every young girl should want to have half her drive because it would benefit our entire community. This incident is a teachable moment on all levels – being able to defend yourself without being defensive is not something that comes naturally to humans especially ones that have been historically oppressed because of gender or race. I got mad for Serena when that official said that Serena said that she was going to kill her. Now if that was a different time, Serena would have found herself underneath a jail or dangling from a tree based on the incendiary comments of someone who felt “threatened.” Instead she was able to correct this allegation real time in front of millions of people. Now unfortunately she is going to be impacted financially. In addition some of the attention from her upcoming book tour will be overshadowed by these recent events, but hopefully she will recover and pass this lesson along to anyone who needs its.

So I can’t complete this piece without addressing Kanye West. Here is Taylor Swift – a 19 year old country music star who definitely did not think she was going to win a VMA. She is giddy like someone who just crowned prom queen and was about to rattle a stream of thank you’s before Kanye commandeered the mike. He was wrong for doing that – no doubt about it. Taylor Swift could have really let that impact her game but she performed flawlessly a few minutes later. She even thought that he was up there for her and was honored that Kanye was on the stage with her. He on the other hand was driven by a blind obsession for Jay Z and the Roc-A-Fella family and took that opportunity to defend the honor of the first lady of the “Roc”. After listening to countless reports and reading the chatter on Facebook, I could not help but feel like it is way easier to make him the villain then to try to figure out what’s really going on. This dude came to the VMA with a liter of Hennessy in tow. He has been prone to outbursts, but this one seemed to cross the line for a whole heap of folks. So then you have to ask yourself – is this just some obnoxious ego maniac who is so intoxicated with his own success that he has no edit button OR is this someone who is possibly battling an undiagnosed or untreated mental illness due to a traumatic accident and the unexpected and tragic loss of his mother?

As I rode home yesterday, the CD changer shuffled in the car and suddenly Nina Simone was again pleaing – “Please don’t let me be misunderstood….” That sealed the deal for me – I had to look at these situations and public figures with a different lens. It is too easy to point a finger and judge instead of seeing the real possibility that there are underlying issues that are driving people to soar or to sink in an abyss. It is my hope that if you see someone in your circle that needs your help or understanding that you too will adjust the lens and reach out your hand.

With that, I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Time, Milestones, and Transition

2009-05-22T14:20:00.004-04:00

It’s been a long time since I even opened this page much less posted an entry. As I look back at the last date, January 18, 2009, it seems like a lifetime ago. In so many ways, time has flown since that day and in so many others ways, time has been moving at a snail’s pace. How it affects a person depends on the good and bad that occurs on any given day. My recent peaks and valleys have heightened my understanding of this mystery.

March 10 started like any other day – I was working from home so I woke up really early to work for awhile before getting my mother’s breakfast. Periodically I checked in with her between the two homecare workers who helped her when she was home during the day. There were two big differences on this day – I was home that evening because of spring break and my mother suffered a heart attack that would end life as I knew it. Because I was home I did everything I could to revive her and then EMTs came in and took over. These heroic efforts brought my mother back to life, however she never regained consciousness – she left this earthly life on March 19, 2009.

From the moment she drew her last breath I knew that my life was going to be different. What “different” is remains a day to day experience. My tears were the heaviest surrounding decisions about her care – always wanting to do the right thing, wanting her to be able to weigh in. Once the outcome became clear there was a sense that all had been done and it was time to let my mother assume her rightful place in heaven alongside our family members who had gone before her. Tears still come - not for the tragedy of this unexpected loss, but for the good times I had hoped to share with her.

Tomorrow would have been my mother’s 82nd birthday. Last year we celebrated in Connecticut on the “casino circuit”. This was quite an accomplishment because in 2007 she fought hard to recover from a life altering illness. It was her first time out of the state after her recovery and her first time in the casino. We had a great time just like many of the adventures we took when I was growing up.

When the ball dropped ushering in 2009, my mother turned to me and said “thank you for sticking by me”. In February, I told my mother – “Great things are going happen and I want you there right beside me.”

Great things will still happen and with me she still is.

Happy Birthday to my mother – the most phenomenal woman I will ever know.

All the best today and always.

An Armchair View of History

2009-01-18T21:14:00.004-05:00

Greetings!

I have often used this space to sing the praises of President-elect Obama. I have had countless conversations with believers and non-believers alike. The dialog made me stronger because you sure have to have a thick skin and a bag of verbal tricks when you are trying to convince folks that a new day is a comin’. I still walk on clouds when I see how Obama confidentially chooses his cabinet and responds to the critical issues of the day with the type of finesse never seen of any incoming president, ever.

Regretfully, I could not make it to Washington D.C. to witness the euphoria first hand. However, I had to weigh my commitments and responsibilities against the desire to be right there with the rest of my comrades who helped to make this day possible. Commitment and responsibility won out. It doesn’t sadden me though – I get to watch “The Moment” with the most important person in the world to me…my mother.

My mother is 81 years old and was born in the South during a time when segregation was alive and well. It was my mother who came north to join her siblings to improve her quality of life. In making that move, she improved my life by default. Although I was born in a very volatile time in civil rights history, I, like Barack Obama stand on the shoulders of my mother and other revolutionary and evolutionary ancestors who sought to make it better for generations to come. I am grateful that my mother has lived to see this day and I am HONORED to share “The Moment” with her.

So for everyone that I know that is in the area, enjoy your time and soak in the experience. Take plenty of pictures and carry a note book to chronicle this event.

Just remember one thing - January 21, 2009 is when the real work will begin.

With that, I wish you all the best today and always.

G

New Year, New Direction

2009-01-11T21:11:00.003-05:00

Greetings and Happy New Year to All,

It has been quite a ride since my last post – still caught in the euphoria of an Obama win but understanding the magnitude of what he has to undertake. Once again feeling hopeful about the future, but watching an economic crisis balloon by the day. Knowing that the world was ready to welcome the US back into its fold but seeing long simmering conflicts once again take center stage as tensions boil over in Gaza. On top of it all, local government officials find themselves the subjects of innuendo, indictments, and incarceration, casting more doubt on the system during the President-elect’s attempt to launch a movement that would mark a cosmic shift in the political landscape. No doubt about it – we find ourselves caught in a perfect storm.

So what do we do? It is very easy to lay low or put your head in the sand. It’s much more effective to reflect on how you and yours came be a part of solution. Much of what you can do starts right at home – understand the definition of LOYALTY and be loyal to those who have been there for you along the way; RAISE your kids; provide a safe haven for your family; be conscious of your finances, and take steps to be and remain healthy. It is also important to stay informed and well read because for everything you know, there are two things you don’t know. Believe me – ignorance is an affliction that you want to shake with every ounce of your being.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Yes We Did

2008-11-05T14:36:00.003-05:00

Greetings!

At 11:00p on November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the United States. At that minute, I was stunned, but as the reality of it all hit me upside the head I began to reflect on this 22 month journey, one that I was on board with from day one.

This journey started for me on a fall day at Boston College when my cousin, her friend and I had an opportunity to be a part of a select group of freshman, faculty, alumnae, and guests who came to see him speak about social responsibility. During this conversation, he notified the incoming class that they needed to be a part of something that was bigger than them selves – something that would stand as a testament to their parents, their children and their grandchildren. It was here that one student wanted to know when he was going to announce his candidacy for president. Obama slowly smiled and seemed to dismiss the notion that he could be a viable candidate. That was the fall of 2005 – what a difference a day makes….

I am beside myself right now. During the campaign, I allowed myself to dream about the possibilities. I have to admit that I got a little scared on Monday, thinking about the people who were not voting, the various reasons they made that choice and how far the right would go to get their peers to the polls to bring the McCain/Palin to the White House. At about 6:00p, after the first polls closed, they showed the electoral count and it was McCain 8, Obama 3. That worried me because in sports, 9 times out of 10, the one who gets on the board first, gains a momentum that sometimes can’t be stopped. I got my swagger back when Obama won Pennsylvania. When Ohio came in, my hopes escalated. At 11:00p the networks simultaneously called the race. The tears rolled down my face before my brain, my heart and my soul could reconcile the fact that history, our history was just made. It was difficult to go to sleep last night, but it was amazingly easy to get up this morning. I watch the BBC and saw all the celebrations all over the world as they congratulated us for being smart enough to choose change over fear.

I got text messages from a lot of folk – when they voted and when Obama won. The most profound message came from one of my closest childhood friends who said “I feel blessed that in my lifetime I was able to see a black man become president and more importantly that my children get to see that the sky in the limit.”

I went this morning to pick up the locals newspapers which I will save. I will also buy a half a dozen magazines I am bound to pick up that will chronicle Obama Rising.

As I rounded the corner to go to my desk, I saw this lady who many months ago said that she would support him; however, she was afraid that someone would try to kill him. I told her that we all should be aware of the danger, but not let that fear discourage us from our destiny. I reminded her of that conversation. She gave me a big hug and said – we did it!

And though it seems heaven sent / We ain't ready to have a black president."

Tupac said that almost ten years ago – I am glad he wasn’t right, but sad that he did not see OUR dream realized.

I am thoroughly distracted, extremely proud and very hopeful for all us – black, brown, white, yellow, purple and striped!

Tell me how you felt at 11:00p on November 4, 2008.

With that said all the best today and always.

G

The Time is Now

2008-11-04T09:36:00.006-05:00

Greetings –

I just wanted to check in. Much has happened since my last post but I am not going to try to recount it in this space today. Any clownery that may have been going on can be talked about on another day. Today is about making history. Not just any history because as you may have noticed electing the oldest president and the first female vice president is also history. No – it is time to change the game, raise the bar, and pave the way for a brighter future for all of us around the world.

As I watch Barack and Michelle Obama vote in Chicago along side their daughters and Joe Biden escorting his mother to the polls to cast their votes, I am getting excited about the possibility.

As I stood in line this morning (the first time I have EVER had to stand in line to vote) seeing generations of people reuniting with friends, schoolmates and play cousins, it made me feel good to know that we all understood what’s at stake. My neighbors whipped out their camera phones and digital cameras taking pictures of the lines, themselves and the people they know – recording history while they waited to vote, hoping for an “Obama Outcome”

Every news show is reporting that voting is at a fevered pitch.

That’s cool but make sure that you are a part of the solution. Take your place in history.

Toot, Barack Obama’s grandmother did not live to see this day. She did transition this life knowing she cast an absentee ballot for her grandson.

Vote and come back here and comment on your experiences. Even if you don’t plan to vote I would love to hear the reasons why - diverse views help everyone gain a better understanding.

With that said – I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Checkmate: The System Working the Way it's Supposed to

2008-09-19T12:11:00.004-04:00

Greetings!

Given the economic chaos in the United States, it’s probably hard to be optimistic about anything much less the political landscape on a local or national level.

Over the last two weeks I have renewed optimism in the basic tenets of the political system. Setting aside one’s ego, anyone who is actively pursuing or working in public service must be for his/her constituents. Quite simply he or she must be prepared to forsake their own litmus test of right and wrong and adopt the one that is going to reduce or eliminate the noise that makes it difficult for them to lead. What you do as Joe or Suzy Public may not be something Mayor Joe or Senator Suzy could do as an elected official.

This simple methodology is challenged over and over again by the folks we elect, but nothing hurts more than when this behavior comes from people in your community. What adds salt to these wounds is the fact that they are unwilling to own up to these missteps and ethical challenges by offering up arrogance, poor excuses, or wide eyed ignorance. This often disturbs me because not only are Black people impacted now, but it jeopardizes the future of our children as they are more meticulously scrutinized for the wrongs of their predecessors. It frustrates me because many of us are willing to forgive, forget and even enable this behavior to continue.

I am pleased to see Kwame Kilpatrick plead guilty, even to lesser charges so that at least he experiences CONSEQUENCE. He completed his last day in office at 12 noon yesterday and the family vacated the Manoogian Mansion once the final moving box was loaded onto the truck. This comes after a long torturous display of arrogance that started almost as soon as the Mayor took office. Now the good people of Detroit have been put of their misery as he spends four months in jail and spend many more months on probation. Even as justice was being served many in the Black community felt this punishment was too harsh because he was disbarred for being convicted of two felony counts (which by the way is a consequence for any lawyer convicted of two felonies in the state of Michigan). Many asked – how will he make a living? Welcome to our world Mayor Kilpatrick – dust off your resume, identify your skills, and figure out how you are going to explain that YES next to – have you been convicted of any felony that has not been annulled, expunged, sealed or statutorily expunged?

In Massachusetts, State Senator Dianne Wilkerson lost her seat to a young Latina woman because she continued to be “ethically challenged” – failure to file taxes, a brush with perjury charges, and a list of imaginary luminaries whose names appeared on her nomination sheets forcing a sticker campaign to get her back into office. The excuses were many – she had to pay the Fruits of Islam for a security detail, the payment fell behind the dresser, the dog ate her homework – everything but accountability and true atonement. My support waned many years back but my patience was maxed out in July 2008 when Senator Wilkerson had to shell out $10,000 and “forgive” a $30,000 debt “owed” to her from her political committee because of the poor record keeping of her 2006 campaign. That prompted me to reach out to Diaz’s campaign to do whatever I could do help her win this election. Although it was a small effort, I knew I had to be available. I couldn’t stay on the sideline and watch this trickery again. I guess this sentiment was shared by many. Sonia Chang-Diaz is now the State senator for my area and Dianne is faced with dusting off her resume and reminiscing about the days when she had the ability and the law license to join a downtown firm.

Not every battle will be won, but these two examples prove to me not to give up. It also demonstrates that we all can help to move the political machine in the right direction – conversing with people who are on the fence about your candidate, registering to vote, helping others to register to vote, canvassing your neighborhood, taking your elderly and disabled to the polls, or working your polls. Of course there is the obvious that I will not leave unsaid – VOTE.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that, I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Convention Wrap Up - What is Means to Us

2008-09-09T15:00:00.002-04:00

Greetings!!

It has been some kind of something since the end of the Democratic Convention!

I could spend a lot of time oozing my groupie love about Obama and his acceptance speech. I won’t indulge, I will just let the man and his words continue to resonate and motivate me and others to be the best we can be!

Of course some time has to be spent on the Republican National Convention. I have never watched more than 15 minutes of the RNC. This year I was compelled to tune in because I needed to know how Senator Obama and the Democratic Party were being portrayed. I needed to take a hard look at the delegates – to see their faces and somehow see what motivates them to back Senator McCain. The most obvious difference was the lack of representation of color. It got to a place where I felt like I knew every Black, Latino, Asian and Other in the whole place because the same fifteen were presented hundreds of times throughout the night. Another thing I noticed about this small group is that they seem like zombies – somehow indoctrinated into a society that they did not necessarily belong. They probably are saying the same thing about the sea of color at the DNC, but it somehow seems so different.

Then came the big day that intended to be the 1-2-3 punch: Giuliani, Romney and Senator Palin, McCain’s choice for running mate. Now everyone that I know waited with bated breath to see her story – one that just one week before, wasn’t even trying to be told! When Giuliani and Romney took jabs at Obama’s record, it was really expected – all warm up “acts” zing the opponent. What I did not expect was the sarcastic, demeaning tone that Governor Palin opted to take for her debut on the world’s stage. Don’t get me wrong, she had a flawless delivery and definitely energized the base. She did a good job of giving America a glimpse of who she was and possible reasons that she should be one breath away from the presidency.

What she didn’t get across to me – why I as a woman would throw my support so squarely behind her because she is a woman? Also – who is she to go head to head with Obama, the media, and big government when her record speaks to flip flopping, scandal and red tape. Sara Palin is a poster child for the Hillbilly movement including having a baby and going back to work after three days, pictures showing her on the shooting range as if she was getting ready for Terminator 2008 – The Sara Palin Story, and being party to a shot gun wedding plot to reduce the sting of an out of wedlock pregnancy. What has been described as “spunkiness” seems to be more “bama-ness” (for those who are not sure what a “bama” is go to http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bama - number three seems to fit Sara perfectly.) I just have this horrible image in my mind of Miss Sara going to meet with foreign dignitaries in a country like India and she slays a sacred cow right there in the middle street. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that they have not had allowed her to do any serious speaking since the convention. They have been “de-bamatizing” her before they allow her out again. The Republican party is trying to make it about her and Obama when she is strictly a pawn in McCain’s game of chess.

The strategy has had some positive results – McCain is up in the polls and he is more animated which for some may make him look a bit younger. Based on what I am hearing on Black talk radio there is some anxiety which has translated itself into defensiveness. The media is feeding in to the “vagina for vagina” theory that assumes that Hillary Clinton’s women supporters are automatically going to support Palin because she is a woman. Although we shouldn’t let these factors derail us, it is something that has to be considered when taking next steps.

First of all – don’t be alarmed by murmuring coming from the Obama clan. With anything in life you have to move tactically. Palin wasn’t McCain’s first choice – it was a reaction to the Clintons’ performance at the DNC. Now Obama and his strategist have to make sure that the messages being conveyed are pointed. Not only that, these messages must be free of the sexism that many felt was ever present when Senator Clinton was in the race. That means putting your key sister soldiers in place to combat the war on Palin – a war none of us can afford.

Secondly – time is running out for people to get themselves together to vote. I have said this time and time again – felons, foreigner, fakers: do whatever you have to do to make sure that you have your paperwork straight before that registration deadline hits! I have been a lot of places this year and have talked to a lot of people and they all beam with pride about Senator Obama’s ascent. It’s all good to want to sport an Obama shirt/button/bumper sticker or debate the massive about his candidacy, but at the end of the day it begins and ends with your vote. Don’t let this race be close – we got 8 million Black people who are eligible to vote and don’t. Make it happen.

Lastly – do what we do when we are faced with insurmountable odds – pray in whatever way you do – bow your head, face Mecca 5-6 days a week, chant, sing, or whatever it takes to speak this presidency into existence. Then get up and get crackin’ – we need you!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that said – I wish you all the best today and always.

G

DNC - Sacrifice for the Greater Good

2008-08-28T14:58:00.006-04:00

Greetings!

I was so wound up from Tuesday’s convention program that I was up way too late when I had to get up way too early. I managed to make it through the day but I struggled to keep my eyes open during some of the speeches on Wednesday night. So although I promised myself that I would check in daily to this space to give my account of this convention, I just could not bring my fingers to the keyboard.

Let’s just start with Tuesday night’s lineup. The Governor of Montana, Brian Schwietzer came on immediately before Senator Clinton and did he get the crowd going! I felt like I was at a down home Rodeo. He really set the stage for the main event. Chelsea sauntered across the stage to introduce her mother after a nice video presentation of the work she has done leading to that moment. Some of the arm chair quarterbacks thought that she may have spent too much time talking about herself and her accomplishments, but I definitely disagree. Hillary came out the gate endorsing Barack Obama and she reinforced this message throughout her presentation. The portion of her speech that resonates with me is when she turned to her supporters and asked:

“I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?”

That said volumes to me – it said that she was willing to give up her own aspirations for the time to get the democrats back in the White House. Some people wanted to say this speech was the kick off for her 2012 bid – we won’t know until that times come. What we do know is that she is asking those rabid supporters who are willing to cast their ballot for John McCain to drink the Kool aid for the benefit of the party.

The next night was just as electrifying even if I did not have the same amount of energy to be fully engaged. I happen to be out for dinner and I broke a few traffic laws to make sure I was front and center for Bill Clinton’s speech. Now if anyone needed that Hillary pep talk Tuesday, it was her husband and partner and crime. President Clinton never did like the sound of no, never had a taste for defeat, so it is understandable that he didn’t immediately jump on the Obama band wagon. Media tried to make a big deal out of his enormous silence right after the primaries. Guess what? It is human nature to be deflated in the face of defeat – you didn’t get selected for a job, you are the last one picked for a game of dodge ball, you were outbid on Ebay – any number of setbacks can cause a human being to lose his/her footing. Whatever process President Clinton had to go through to get to that moment is OK with me. His speech was succinct bringing his own personal experience as a young man running for the president full circle. The story he unfolded took the gut feelings supporters AND opponents have for Senator Obama to a cerebral and logical space. His description of Obama was dead on – “remarkable ability to inspire people”; “a clear grasp…”; “a unique capacity.” These are powerful words from a man who already had his bags packed and ready to move back into the oval office!!

The Clintons reinforced an important lesson for me – despite the scars of the battle, you have to think tactically in order to win the war. They both understood that you can’t get in the way of momentum – the momentum being experienced in this historical campaign.

So tonight we will all witness history as Obama accepts this nomination in a large capacity stadium. Some haters have prayed for rain – it is too bad that they don’t get that rain drops make all good things grow. He will deliver this acceptance on the forty-fifth anniversary of the March on Washington where Dr. King delivered the historical speech “I Have a Dream.”

Today we don’t have to be asleep to realize the dream.

With that, I wish all the best today and always.

G

DNC: A Lesson in Black Love

2008-08-27T00:26:00.003-04:00

Greetings!

I watched the Democratic National Convention from 7:00 p.m. until it shut down on Monday. At a minimum the proceedings were a well orchestrated marketing tool that could possibly convince a few Hillary diehards or a few people in one of those red states to vote for Senator Obama. But for me it was more than that – it demonstrated that this candidacy is anointed. Who would ever imagine that a man, with inoperable brain cancer would muster up enough energy to strut across a stage and pledge his support to Obama. I pray that Ted Kennedy will be around to see the inauguration….

Michelle Obama only reinforced what I already knew. This is a woman that ALL women should be trying to emulate – a mother, a career woman, and a tireless advocate in her community. A woman with her own voice who is also ride or die for her husband – a husband who is ride or die for her. She gets that she is part of team and that she should take care of her franchise players – Malia and Sasha. By doing this she proves that real Black love exists and more importantly some of the toxic relationship behaviors that are prevalent in our community should be stopped and become the exception and not the rule. Taking decisive action to take care of one another the way the Obamas have been doing during this grueling campaign is a win-win for our partners, our children and our community.

I have included a link to the text of Michelle Obama’s speech. What did you think?

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/08/25/prepared_remarks_of_michelle_obama/

With that said, I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Let History Begin!

2008-08-25T15:19:00.005-04:00

Greetings!

I thought it fitting to emerge from my self imposed summer shutdown on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. I have to admit that I am excited and somewhat anxious. The stakes are ridiculously high - there are bruised egos, naysayers and maniacal forces hell bent on keeping Senator Obama out of the White House. I have accepted that as fact and have made it my mission to continually engage in conversations that help to correct any misconceptions lingering in the media and out of the mouths of the ignorant and misinformed.

Night one of the convention will be as critical as it will be historical. Michelle Obama will go the podium. I will leave it there and will welcome your thoughts tomorrow.

Lastly – I have to sadly remember three people that have shaped Black culture in this country and around the world. Rest in Peace to Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, and Pervis Jackson (from the Spinners). My heart is heavy because they will not be here on earth to witness history in making. During Bernie Mac’s memorial service, Samuel Jackson took a minute to acknowledge that Bernie Mac’s last public appearance was at an Obama event. Although there was controversy about his routine, Samuel Jackson appealed to the crowd to register and actually vote on November 4th hopefully casting their vote for Obama. Jackson went on to say that would be a fitting tribute to the Mac Man. I second and third that!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Random Acts of Fierceness

2008-07-24T14:55:00.004-04:00

Greetings!

At this moment, as I peck away at my keyboard, Barack Obama is getting a superstar reception from the people of Berlin. Thousand upon thousands lined up, waving German and American Flags and chanting YES WE CAN!!

If you didn’t get the memo – we are getting a sneak preview of the next President of the United States. A few hours ago Dick Gregory, comedian and political activist said on the Warren Ballantine show that the only people who don't know that Barack is going to be the next president is the people of United States. I don’t believe that – I just think folks are in denial. John McCain try put a dash of hateration on this situation when HE was the one who DARED Senator Obama to venture across the pond. My suggestion Senator McCain – don’t write a check you A$$ can’t cash! You are over here wandering around in supermarkets acting like you got a handle on America’s economic woes and you don't even have a clue. Prepare to shut it down...

So in honor of the ultimate fierceness of the Berlin moment, I bring you:

RANDOM ACTS OF FIERCENESS

Whoopie Goldberg took a minute to really school Elisabeth, her View comrade on why she should pack up her self righteousness and get out of Dodge. Elisabeth always seems like she thinks she is the only one in a profound space when in actuality she hasn’t lived enough life to be talking down to people the way that she does. She tried to dominate a conversation about the “N” word when she was sitting alongside two sisters who have personal experience with the word and an Italian American comedienne who I am sure has heard it in someone’s stand up routine a time or two. “How do I explain it to my daughter?” You tell your Mini-me: “use it at your own risk” and keep it moving. That’s what it comes down to – there are words in every language that when used with a different inflection, body language, audience and tone that can say one thing – or the other. Those who don’t understand the rules of engagement shouldn’t use the word no more than a person who doesn’t know how to swim should dive into a pool.

Soledad O’Brien should be applauded for the hard work she put in the series Black in America. More kudos is given to CNN for giving such liberal coverage to the subject. Sure it’s a slow news season, but to tie in a number of your shows to addressing the issues that Black people face in the country is commendable. I did not like all the stories that were told – some seem to reinforce some of the typical stereotypes, but guess what? These stories depict some people’s reality! Until more than just a select few can get past the minefields that await Black folks this story will have to be told again and again. What’s critical here that ALL of our people tune in and seek the direction that will uplift yourself, your family, and our people.

Last week Nasir Jones, better known to the world as Nas released his ninth studio album. In classic Nas tradition, the release had its share of scandal. He originally wanted to name the project "N", but Black activists, record company executives and pontificators on all sides of the issue furiously went to work to protest the project’s release with such an in-you-face title. Of course not one of them can tell you anything about the lyrical content, but made it their business to ignite a media circus that makes me question the motive – was it because of the potential detriment using the word would do to our young boys and girls? Or were you so angry that Nas was so unapologetic about his decision that you just wanted the project to ultimately fail? Well if teen/Disney sensation Jamie Lynn Spears can pimp her child on the cover of OK! magazine with no thought of the message SHE might be sending, then I think Nas should have been afforded the same privilege and let the people decide whether or not they would buy the CD, explain the decision to the children, etc., I am personally a fan and when I was driving home from school last night was struck by the intensity of the tracks. The one that seemed the most timely was Sly Fox – a tune our dear Reverend Jackson should have checked out before he found himself near a “hot mic.” I urge anyone who is curious AND open-minded to check it out.

What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Madness

2008-07-18T16:13:00.004-04:00

Greetings!

I have had my head down for the last couple of weeks wrapping up my two summer classes. I only have one more to go before I am to let my head rest a bit before getting back on the grin On September 2nd.

I have been simmering particularly over the last couple of weeks. I keep a running list of topics I would like to cover in this space, but that is useless because there is always SOMETHING that blows up the proverbial spot! Some things though can not be ignored so forgive me if I go back a bit.

There is no eloquent way to put this – I am pissed at Jesse Jackson.

I could state the obvious – Jesse talking about demasculating a fellow Chicagoan/civil rights enthusiast/presidential candidate or the fact that he used the “N” word during that same conversation. No that would be way too easy. This is why I am mad with Jesse:

1. He felt comfortable enough to share such disparaging remarks with someone he didn’t really know.

2. He didn’t have sense enough to know that Fox News is one big HOT MIC. This network has been known for biased/slanted reporting by the majority of its reporters, particularly when it comes to Barack Obama. If you must be in their camp you shouldn’t talk about the weather in their bathroom much less break them off the type of commentary that will make their ratings soar.

3. Jesse got every Black pundit in the world having to walk the fine line of explaining why you said what you did and defending your honor as our community’s elder statesman. That’s the kind of tightrope walking we don’t need right now.

4. He placed his SON, who is a key player in the Obama camp, possible candidate somewhere in Obama’s cabinet (or at least in the Chicago senate seat that Obama will vacate), in the position of having to throw his own father under the bus in the hopes of salvaging any hopes of attaining his political ambitions.

5. That he would shake his fist in such rage as if Obama is someone he wants to brawl with in the street.

Those are just the top five reasons why I’m mad, there are many more, but there are other things going on the world.

I did not like the New Yorker cover, but I was definitely not enraged by it. I clearly remember a cartoon of Teddy Roosevelt that was past unflattering during a time when people had more reverence for those who occupied the oval office. As with any other caricature, it sought to show the absurdity of all of the rumors that swarm around Obama. Problem is political satire doesn’t come with an instruction manual and for those backwards folks who have to have their news spoon fed to them, this piece only reinforces the lies that are out there. I love Obama’s reaction – he told Larry King that this is an example of first amendment and parody, they just didn’t do a good job of it! You might have noticed that Michelle has been pretty quiet about it – that’s because Miss Thing is probably mad at the possible implications of the cover and is in a room with NO MICROPHONES and NO CAMERAS going off! Then she will come out, bump the next fist and keep it moving – that’s real gangster there (Jesse take notes…)

I am not mad at the cover, but I am certainly mad at any one in the black community that is going to try to turn this into the type of race conversation that distracts us from the task at hand.

My last political rant is about a politician in my area. She has been “occupying” a senate seat in my district for more than a decade. At first I supported her – a lawyer, single mother and a person who seemed to have passion for the community. Her political tenure has evolved into political scandal almost as egregious as Kwame Kilpatrick and the highest level of pandering to special interest Black folk that I have ever seen in my lifetime. I am constantly in debate about her ineffectiveness, but there did not seem to be any possibility of her being removed. I have no political ambitions but I have actually had serious conversations with someone I thought would be perfect to “de-throne” her. Nothing seemed to work, until last year when she did not get enough signatures to be formerly placed on the ballot. Her constituents worked feverishly to do what they needed to do to get her on the ballot and she beat the young lady running against her. Now she is up for re-election. She knows she dodged a bullet last time so she has begun a much more effective messaging campaign to the voters in the area. Unfortunately, she will probably be right back on the hill regardless of those who dare to challenge her.

I am mad because this type of infinite reverence for “anybody” Black has got to stop! We are ready to give Jesse a pass, even when he makes himself an unnecessary and obnoxious distraction to the Obama campaign. My local candidate has not demonstrated any real leadership, but the black matriarchs and patriarchs of my community who get what they want from her will continue to “slice throats” just to keep her in office. I know there is a better way, so let’s try our best to get to it.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what makes you mad!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

9 ½ weeks

2008-06-27T10:28:00.006-04:00

Greetings!

It has been about 9 ½ weeks since my last post. A lot has happened in almost 70 days of constant grind. I don’t complain though – I am lucky enough to count myself amongst the living and pray that I can keep doing what I do in the best way I know how….

So I have decided to give you 9 ½ nuggets, to catch you up on what I have been observing, doing, talking, and thinking about. The challenge is making them bite size so I won’t lose you along the way!

1 – Most kids are out for the summer. Do everything possible to make a all or part of their exciting and productive – day trips that don’t involve the mall, overnight camp so they can learn how to do archery or learn how to develop pictures the old fashion way.

2 – I was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Watching Meet the Press had become a family past time particularly during this election. Who will be able to eliminate some of the noise coming from both parties? He was born to do that job and he will be missed.

3 – I am more than halfway through classes three and four in the quest for my MBA. I did well in the first two classes which gave me the motivation to classes in the summer.

4 – I think it is time for us to stop monitoring Imus’ show, waiting for him to trip up and use that energy in our communities. He is going to keep doing what he’s doing and he will still have a platform AND an audience. Only we can diffuse the power this radio cowboy has over us.

5 – I have applied for several positions inside and outside of my organization. There is nothing bad going on here, but I resolved to explore opportunities that may be a good fit for me. It is always good to see what ahead on the horizon.

6 – I have experienced first hand how self absorbed folks are right now – requests from long lost relatives, people choosing to hold information that is useful and in some cases critical, people putting others in compromising and embarrassing situations, or folks maxing out people’s time and energy. I encourage everyone to come out of the fog, engage in random acts of kindness, reach out to an old friend or long lost relative, and think of others before making moves that may adversely impact them. The bottom line is – be an active participant in human-KIND!!

7 – I have had to have some tough conversations with people in my life. I need people to understand that this sista is not made of Teflon OR run on batteries. The goal is to get the importants and the kind of importants in my life on the same page so we can exist in a comfortable space regardless of the circumstances. Only time will tell, but I think we are heading in the right direction.

8 – I am glad that Hillary has stepped aside to make way for Senator Obama to assume his rightful place in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. For all of those who wondered what took her so long – well we can dwell on the obvious: entitlement, Bill Clinton, and a never say die attitude. At the end of the day she knew her constituency – a group of people some of which were willing to jump off skyscrapers for their candidate. I watched some of the women who were at the DNC meeting regarding the Michigan and Florida delegates – their eyes were bulging and they appeared to be frothing at the mouth. You just don’t disengage folks like that particularly if they are in a mindset to undermine Senator Obama by any means necessary.

9 – And of course I have to express my sheer joy, overflowing pride and utter amazement at the nomination of Senator Barack Obama. I often questioned whether or not I was born at the right time. All indications tell me YES – born during the Civil Rights Movement, but not suffering the actual battle scars; witnessing the Black Power Movement although not old enough to actively participate in it; being an active participant in an era of the greatest medical and technological advancements known to man; and now bearing witness to people of African descent running corporations, innovating across many industries, and changing the landscape on so many levels across the world! This nomination and subsequent presidency is just one more example of the roadmap of success. The game has officially changed and the rest of us are going to have to get our “weight up” to be able to roll with the real contenders.

1/2 – The one thing I realized is that no matter how old we get, we never want our parents to get sick or pass on. For those who are caring for an ailing parent – keep pressing on…they did it for you. For those who have lost a parent – cherish the times you had with them and become or remain a shining example of their legacy.

1/2 (for good luck) - The Celtics are back on the block after 22 years. Congratulations to Doc Rivers who took a trio of superstars, mixed them with some productive rookies and veterans, and added a dash of vision to cook up the greatest turn around of all time (from WORST to FIRST!) Can't get much better than that! Well - may banner 1-8 in 0-9?

What have you been doing since April 21, 2008? I would love to hear your thoughts!

With that I wish you the best today and always.

Pimps and Politics

2008-04-21T16:10:00.002-04:00

Greetings!

For the last few years I have been following the career of Detroit’s mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. In 2001 at the age of 31, he became the City’s youngest elected mayor. Of course it was hard not to be proud of this accomplishment – a young black man, former football captain, law school graduate, and teacher in the inner city exemplified what could happen to our people if we stayed the course and kept our eyes on the prize.

The “pillar of the community” facade gave way as the Pimp of Wayne County emerged. Within months of his inaugural address, Kilpatrick was called to the carpet for leasing a car on the City’s dime for his family, using the city issued credit card to charge dinners and massages, and the biggest misstep of them all - the bashment at the Manoogian Mansion. Time after time Kilpatrick dodged the political bullet. Despite the murder of one of the “exotic dancers” who was at the fabled party and an approval rating that was plunging by the minute, Kilpatrick bobbed and weaved his way back into a second term.

You would have thought that this would have made him think – WOW!!! – these folks believe in me even when I chose to sow my pimp oats in the public eye and to the detriment of the people of Detroit. But no, that just stoked the fire of Kilpatrick’s arrogance! He then decides to he is going to use the People’s mobile device to text THOUSANDS of messages to his love thing. What got me is the complete indignation and neck rolling that accompanied the outright denial of these allegations. But as we all know – the text don’t lie.

Just when you thought he had enough public humiliation, he REFUSES to step down despite being indicted on several counts alongside his love thing. Last Friday he said that his departure would put Detroit in greater risk. Okay Super Pimp, I am sure that you can save Detroit from its ills while you and your massive “dream team” prepare your legal defense….interesting.

This case slays me. Of course there are countless others: Ray Nagin and his handling of Katrina, William Jefferson and his freezer full or money, and Black politicos refusing to pay taxes and student loans for a myriad of reasons. I introduce you to the Pimp elite – those that have gotten into our state houses, mayor’s mansions, and House of Representatives only to fall squarely in the hands of temptation that we as a people can not afford. Of course, this misconduct makes it harder for those who follow. Just take a look at Senator Obama who has to constantly deflect the bullets of impropriety even when he’s not a part of it!

So I ask Kilpatrick and all those who feel that they are above the law, the taxes, the oath they took when entering in office: please step down so that we can see ourselves to a legitimate political future that is not wracked with the misdeeds of our forefathers and foremothers.

To all my people in PA – make sure you are at the polls bright and early tomorrow!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Connecting the Dots

2008-04-18T12:32:00.003-04:00

Last week was pretty whirlwind – the never ending cycle of assignments from the two classes I am taking, the usual string of errands that need to be run, the housework, and of course the dreaded tax deadline! I know you all have a laundry list of things to do – some of the entries may be a bit different but the essence of it is still the same.

What really kept me going is the continuous symmetry that presented itself. One of the definitions of symmetry is “beauty as a result of balance or harmonious arrangement.” This beauty played itself out several times – a call to a friend so a mother could end an exhaustive search for prom dresses for her daughter; connecting one fitness guru and child advocate with a person who shares the same passions and happens to be traveling to the area where she lives; looking for information for one thing that results in information to many in my network; Getting resounding endorsement from a noted professor about a program that you just recommended to a friend. There were more than a dozen examples and NONE of them took more than ten minutes to make happen. These are the type of exchanges that I live for.

Connecting your circle to a person or a piece of information that is going to move them in the right direction does not have to be a Herculean effort. Truth be told it has five core elements:

Your strong belief in the person

Your knowledge and network

Communication in any form (text, e-mail, internet, telephone, letter, carrier pigeon)

A person’s ability to communicate a need, desire or vision

A network that, on the strength of knowing you and where you are coming from, is willing to help someone you know with their need, desire, and vision

Now this happened to be a particularly stellar week for these exchanges and trust me, I periodically get disappointed by people who fall short in receiving or delivering the “goods.” There are many people who are not selective about who they lend their support to and have no problem sharing their resource with someone who just doesn’t get it. On the flipside there are many people who are MORE than willing to accept a helping hand, but never seem to pay it forward – they don’t get it either! I try not to become so jaded that I can’t bring myself to connect the dots for someone who really needs it. I don’t waste a lot of time trying to uplift those who have 25 pound weights in their shoes, because I know that energy can be used to uplift someone who is ready soar!

So at some point today or this weekend, reach out to someone in your circle, see what’s going with them and share what’s going with you. More than likely this conversation will result in another conversation, a web page of information, or contact with someone who knows how to get to exactly where you want to be.

I would love to hear your connect the dot stories!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Being Your Healthiest You

2008-04-08T11:30:00.008-04:00

Greetings!!

Today is Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day. Radio Personality and philanthropist Tom Joyner began this tradition six years ago to underscore the necessity for Black people to take a proactive stance in physical and behavioral health.

There are two words that make this call to action critical in our community:

Healthcare Disparity

Black people are disproportionably impacted by chronic and life threatening conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Now you know that we have been through some things – Slavery, Jim Crow, and discrimination where we live and where we work. I am proud to say that we have managed to rise up against opposing forces to make a better life for ourselves and our loved ones. The one thing that we have struggled with is our health. Some of these struggles are born out of ignorance and most of it, in these days and times originate from fear – we simply don’t want to know. I think that the reason that distresses me the most is the health crises that are the result of the arrogance some people possess because they simply think it will not happen to them.

Guess what? You can’t afford to fall victim to any of these rationales.

Whatever it is keeping you from maintaining your most important commodity, think about this – it IS possible to live life in extreme vibrancy. In order to do that you must be the healthiest YOU that you can be! If you are scared to make your health your first priority, think about your parents, children, partners/spouses, and/or friends that will agonize over you when you are ill and grieve if you don’t make it. It is not fair of you to hand your inner circle any less than the best that you can be.

So I am going to keep this short because in the coming weeks I will deal directly with some of the issues that plague us and the personal ways that it has affected me. Until then, click on the links below to get more information, make an appointment with your primary doctor. If you don’t have a regular doctor, health insurance, or can’t afford to pay, drop in to your local clinic and get a check up. It is the first step to making it right…make it right TODAY.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Diabetes

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Stroke

http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200037

Heart Disease

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

HIV/AIDS

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm

http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/download.aspx?id=125

Behavioral Health

http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm

http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=DF8779E3-1372-4D20-C8D3E286D1279250

Obesity and Fitness

http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/obesity-overview

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/default.htm

People Get Ready

2008-04-04T14:27:00.006-04:00

Greetings!

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King used to tell his inner circle that he would not make it to age 40. He was 39. He was gunned down on the second floor landing of the Lorraine Motel, during an unscheduled visit to support the black sanitation workers who had been on strike since February 11, 1968.

Dr. King evoked the kind of passion in his followers that inspired calls for change. However, he understood that given his tireless quest for justice that he rubbed a few people the wrong way and unfortunately created an environment of hatred that helped to end his life.

Just like any other milestone anniversary, it gives us all a time to reflect on what’s been done and what CAN and should be done to move forward.

Today Reverend Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III and the other members of the King family, along with thousands of other have come together in Memphis, Tennessee to mark the anniversary of the tragic passing of this iconic figure. The scope of this event, the first commemoration since the one organized by Coretta Scott King in 1969, has been expanded to include a call to recommit ourselves to making a better life and community for ALL people, especially people of color and those that are economically compromised.

When Dr. King was killed, riots erupted in the street, mostly in our own neighborhoods. We can not afford to engage in any type of counter productive behavior. It is critical that when we converge on Tennessee forty years from now that we can honestly say we have moved forward for the common good.

I too believe that we all should recommit ourselves today. This is not something that has to be done with great fanfare – it’s just taking that baby step toward improving yourself, your family, your community, or your (fill in the blank). It will require some level of dedication, selflessness, and thirst for righteousness in order to reap our just rewards.

So today I invite everyone to figure out how this recommitment will manifest itself in your life. You may decide to lead a neighborhood clean up or tell your kids and other people’s kids about our history and how their greatness is critical for the advancement of our people. Amass ridiculous amounts education and/or skills you so that you are an asset to your family and your community. Be sure to take care of your physical and mental selves because without health there is no movement.

I am sure that you can think of hundreds more and I would love to hear from you.

In the meantime I will leave you with a link to Dr. King’s last speech.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

“Just as the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty-years after Moses brought them across the Red Sea, Dr. King was our Moses…”,

Reverend Al Sharpton

People get ready

There's a train a commin'

U don't need no baggage

U just get on board All

U need is faithTo hear the diesels hummin'
U don't need no ticket U just thank the lord

Curtis Mayfield

I’ve Been to the Mountaintop:

http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/sayitplain/mlking.html

Choosing Your Path Part II: Hustle and Flow

2008-03-28T12:04:00.007-04:00

Greetings!

A few weeks back I went to see Raheem Devaughn
for the third time in thirteen months. The first time was intentional – I fell upon a little publicized show that was held during a snow storm at the Berkley Performance Center. His show was so HOT! I was already a big fan of this self proclaimed "R&B hippie neo-soul rock star" and the show just sealed the deal. But the thing that really makes me respect Raheem DeVaughn is the fact that he still runs his hustle as if he is unsigned hype! He literally jumped off the stage at the end of the last song and perched himself at a table where he sold mixtape CDs that he had been creating since 2000. In addition he had autographed pictures as well as DVD which included another mixtape CD and a video diary of one of his tours. The fact that I saw him twice more in such a short time did not surprise me: this brother was about his hustle, by any means necessary.

So what does that have to do with your path? Unless you have been in a cave, everyone has heard about the nose dive that the economy has been taking over the last few years. This downturn has affected the poorest of our society, but has also impacted small business and big conglomerates. Raising fuel and commodity prices make everything we do cost more. With increased demand of goods coming from emerging markets such as India, China and South America, the U.S. has experienced scarcity in ways that none of us could have ever imagined. Job loss and the “war on terror” have also played a critical role in the pain many of us are feeling. The only sure thing that exist today is that we will continue to be faced with uncertaintity for the forseeable future.

So what should you do about it? I believe that we need to get beyond getting by. Every person, particularly people of color should be trying to BUILD WEALTH. That is a different concept from being rich. It is about accumulating assets that continue to grow long after you are gone. It is NOT about having the biggest car, biggest purse, or being the Biggest Willie in the neighborhood or the club.

So how does that happen? One of the tenets of wealth building is earning more and spending less. One of the weaknesses of human nature is that the more we earn, the more we tend to spend. We also tend to save for a specific goal – a vacation, wedding, a car, and not for passing down a legacy to our kids. In order to do that we need to make the money and put it in the right place.

Now I know some of you are probably thinking – she just talked about job loss and a weakening economy; I am trying to hold the job I have and she wants me to go and get another? What about the escalating cost of living? All really valid points which means it more important to work SMARTER than harder.

Which brings me back to Raheem Devaughn.

DeVaughn along with many other artists have multiple income streams including other artists and videophones. Lenny Kravitz not only is a musician but an interior designer. Sport figures have their game, endorsements, and will often branch off on related products. This, my friends is the equivalent of in Living Color’s Hey Mon skit that depicts the world’s hardest working Jamaican family. The difference is that each person has discovered a way to overlap the opportunities or find avenues to their passion.

This model can work for anyone. You should not be limited to the usual solutions for earning extra money such as working retail where you probably end up giving back half of your check to the store. Here are a few things to consider:

Know your skills – Do your friends, family, people of the street ask you to your world famous dish time and time again? Do you know how to write or have computer hardware or software experience? Evaluate what you can do and either sell your wares or expertise directly to consumers or to business as a part time consultant.

Leverage your network – This is another one of those two way streets – a friend of family member does painting, electrical or other types of construction, some one else does graphic design, or another may be a hairstylist. As people express a particular need, be willing to help them fill it either by referring them to this circle of experts or offering your services at competitive prices. Ask your network to do the same for you.

Know the industry – There is a saying don’t hate the player, hate the game. Every industry has rules of engagement. There are very few corners that can be cut that won’t result in some pain later on. What ever side hustle that you choose, you should research the industry for regulations, licensure, associations, wholesalers, etc., This process is helpful in a couple of ways – you save time, money and energy by knowing the pitfalls and more importantly it will give you an idea if you want to pursue the opportunity as an additional revenue stream.

Weigh the cost versus the benefits – This one goes hand in hand with your research. Many people will turn to crafting as a side hustle. They will often purchase their materials from a store at retail prices. It then takes them fifteen hours to complete one piece. When they go to price it, they charge $10. Now I don’t have to get into a mathematical equation to illustrate that the time, materials, and energy required, not to mention the table fee at the craft show that this ware will be peddled FAR exceeds that $10 price. This labor of love as now turned to this millenium’s slavery. Most people grow weary of this effort and abandoning it after the hype is gone. Be sure know the cost and the ultimate value of your product and price accordingly.

Everyone should be in on the game – I am often confused when I see one person in a family unit on the grind and the others (that includes the kids) are standing on the sidelines just waiting to reap the benefits. Your mate should be pursuing his/her hustles or making calls, doing research, loading the car to advance yours. Don’t sleep on the short people either – the kids can fold a letter, tack a stamp on envelope, be greeters, etc., It shows them that WEALTH is truly a family affair!

Feed the kitty – Now you have found what you wanted to do, researched the opportunity and have managed to earn some money for all your hard work! What do you do next? Put that money in a sound investment vehicle that will grow over time and will start you on the road to WEALTH (isn’t that what we started talking about?) Oh yeah – and purchase one splurge to reward yourself for a job well done.

If you have any other suggestions to add I would love to hear from you.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Choosing Your Path

2008-03-25T15:02:00.004-04:00

Most times I write about topics that interest me. They come to me as I am driving, sleeping, cooking, working out, or watching TV. Since I started last year my blog entries have made their way throughout the U.S. and to far away places in Latin America, United Kingdom, and Japan. I have been happy with the feedback I have been receiving on G Spits It. Most recently I have been asked to comment on topics that interest my readers. I am more than happy to add my two cents to almost any conversation.

Today’s topic comes to this page from one of my good friends who I am glad to say has just self published a mystery called You Don’t Know Me which is now available through LuLu Press and Amazon.com. I had the privilege of reading some of the earlier versions of this work and have watched the evolution from concept to finished product. This is not an easy task and she managed to get it done, work, raise two kids, etc., etc., She has also managed to be diligent about maintaining a blog (http://mathewsls.blogspot.com/) of her writing experiences and truth be told was one of the inspirations for me creating G Spits It.

That brings to the topic – she wanted me to talk about my career and what’s the best way for sisters and brothers to navigate their careers. She thought this would be a good read after I told her that I met with a young lady at work who was told by her colleague that I would be a good resource on the best way to make her next career move.

As always – I try to keep it as real as I can. I have been working steadily in Corporate America since I was eighteen years old. Most of that time has been in healthcare in various capacities, but I have also done a stint or two in telemarketing and customer service. The one reoccurring theme that I can reflect on is that many of the positions I have held, experiences I have had and skills I have developed have been a response to a need within my department or division.

Some of these situations were short term, others evolved in to long term opportunities, but at the end of the day many were borne out my supervisor/manager/leader/director’s need to get something accomplished that they were either unable or unwilling to do and did not have the luxury of an additional resource. That is how I became a Supervisor, Trainer, EEO Coordinator, Instructional Designer, Technical Writer, Manager, Webmaster, Business Analyst, and Entrepreneur just to name a few. For many of these positions, I actually saw the opportunity, communicated it to the right person and generated excitement around it.

Now understand this – it is not always easy. There are plenty of people who will be straight up HATERS – other employees who feel threatened by your greatness, a political environment that discourages innovation, human resource reps or hiring managers that don’t share your vision, and the list goes on and on. It is up to you not to get distracted by the noise and continue to forge ahead.

So here are some specifics:

Prepare, prepare, prepare – that takes on different meanings depending on the goals. If you want to be a doctor or a nurse that means hitting those books, if you want to be an athlete that means perfecting your technique and building up your endurance. Whatever it is, you have to know the game, emulate the top players, build your skills and experiences, and keep them SHARP.

Be good friends with humility – this is probably the most difficult for me and for others. It is hard to admit to yourself and others that you have a weakness that you need to strengthen or you may not have a clue how something works. Know this – pride has a tendency to get in the way greatness. It takes a big person to ask for help and make mistakes to make themselves better.

Reach out – this is a two way street. Reach out to others for information and direction – what’s the best way from me to get from point A to point B? On the flip side - be a resource to others as they make their quest to greatness. Warning with this one: don’t be an energy zapper or let anyone zap all of yours!

Make a plan – set goals, write them down and the steps you need to take to get to them. A pen and pad are the best ways to keep you on track.

Keep it simple – don’t try to take on too much. How is it possible to start five or six unrelated goals and manage to get even one of them right? That’s like starting Medical school, training for the decathlon, renovating your house, and getting married ALL on the same day. With all of those balls in the air, some are bound to fall on the ground!

EXECUTE – this is pretty self explanatory. Only thing I would add to it is that make sure you do so when most of your ducks are in a row. I say most because I think some people get caught in a self imposed paralysis and NOTHING gets done. They are just as bad as those that try to make is happen by half steppin’. There is no merit going down either path.

So that’s my nickel on the topic. I dedicate it to my people who dare to their thing.

This discussion will continue with my next entry – with a twist.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

A Much Needed Conversation

2008-03-19T15:30:00.003-04:00

Greetings!

I had a whole other topic in mind today, but I believe that it, along with a whole lot of things I dare to write about will make its way to the stage when it is supposed to.

I need to take a groupie moment out to applaud Senator Obama.

At 12:30p when I was driving yesterday, and tuned into Warren Ballantine to get his listeners’ reaction to Senator Obama’s much anticipated speech about his former Pastor.

As Ballantine spoke, you heard The Theme from Shaft!

That’s right – Obama is a Bad Mutha….. well you know the rest. You could almost see the pride that had welled up in everyone who called. Many went out on a limb and called Senator the next President of the United States.

When I saw my mother, she was beaming – she said “Obama told them where it’s at…” That was really the only words I could get out of her because she was glued to CNN as they played snippets of the speech. Honestly the anchors could not stop talking about the historical nature of his presentation.

I had not heard the complete speech yet, but knew that whatever he did say was going to leave a lasting impression that was going to change the discussion about race relations in this country. This was the same guy who some say wanted to ignore race and was “not Black enough”. He skillfully maneuvered through many of the minefields his opponents have been trying to put in his way.

I went back to my office and watched the speech. I sat in awe on how he calmly revealed his personal experience with race, the way race has impacted this country and more importantly how we can move beyond race to for a “more perfect union”. He established a framework of how the injustices look from both sides of the fence and quickly pointed how in so many ways that we want the same things for ourselves and our loved ones. Knowing that he was able to so eloquently explain his position was humbling. I am forever changed by what I have seen and read. I expect that when Obama gets to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that he will use his strengths to assess situations and provide thoughtful resolution to many of the ills that face us ALL.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

For Those Left Behind

2008-03-10T17:11:00.002-04:00

It’s been awhile and a lot has happened since I was last here…

Death has managed to reverberate throughout my existence for the last few weeks. I was blessed because it did not affect my family, however, it did touch my friends and in a couple of instances, they were people that I knew in my past lives.

On February 19, my good friend’s aunt passed away from a long battle with cancer.

A few months ago on the weekend before Columbus Day, two people, both 20, lost their lives in a one car accident caused by driver who had been drinking heavily all night. As soon as I heard the name of one of the victims, I felt the connection. For the next couple of months, I tried to locate her father to confirm what I thought might be true. A couple of weeks ago my old boyfriend called and let me know that it was indeed his daughter. I was not around her that much, but I had vivid memories of her when she was a baby. Her dad was devastated. This devastation was not foreign to me because I have the unfortunate distinction of knowing the parents or loved ones of three other 20 year olds that lost their lives in car accidents in the last three years. There is no more hurtful feeling to see a young person so unnecessarily cut down in their prime.

The next day, I was on my way home when I got a call from one of my childhood friends. She asked me to reach out to one of the people from the old neighborhood. Apparently her sister, who we ran with us when were kids, was very ill. As I returned to work the next hour, I got another call letting me know that my childhood friend had died at the age of 44. This was only eight months after her and her sister buried their mother. I had not seen her or her mother since 1982.

Two days later I received a letter in the mail. I did not recognize the name on the return address. I read the letter, which was from a former coworker’s husband - my coworker from so long ago had passed away of lung cancer back in 2006. This loss struck me particularly hard because Jean went out of her way to stay in touch with me at least once a year. This tradition went on long after we left the company. She would share snippets about her husband, children and grandchildren. She would always respond to my news by telling me that I was going to be the next Oprah. According to the naysayers, we should have never been friends in the first place - Jean grew up in South Boston in the height of desegregation. We never dwelt on those things – she was just a beautiful person who saw the good in everyone! I felt honored that her husband felt our relationship was important enough to take the time to tell me about his wife's passing.

This trend of sadness continued on February 24, when a good friend of mine lost his brother unexpectedly. He was a single dad raising his daughters and trying to hold it all down. Sickness took him down and he had not even made it to 40 years old. No older brother, mother or father wants to bury the baby, and there was a true sense of loss that could be felt in every conversation with his family members.

I recount these tales of sadness for two reasons. I learned valuable lessons about taking care of your business and staying connected. I think that all of us should prepare for the inevitable. Lots of people do not want to talk about it, but it alleviates a lot of stress when you share IN WRITING your final wishes about your finances, your children, who should be notified of your passing, and any tokens or treasures you would like to pass on to your loved ones. The second and most important lesson is while you are here – never miss an opportunity to reach out to people who made a difference in your current and past lives. So often we all get caught up in this and that and lose focus on the relationships that we have forged over the years. We always figure that there will be a next day or a next year to look forward to and that is not always the case. You may never be able to keep up with every single person that you have known from the cradle until now, but pick one person a week and pick up the landline or mobile phone, type that text message, send an e-mail or snail mail, and let them know that they counted in your life.

Condolences to all who were affected by the stories I have shared. The transition is harder for those who are left to carry on, but rest assured it the pain goes away with time...

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Brother Malcolm

2008-02-22T15:49:00.008-05:00

February 21st was the forty third anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. Although the death of this icon is not commemorated to the degree of the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. or John F. Kennedy, it is a moment in time that changed a whole lot of things for Black People.

Most of us know the story, even if we didn’t read the book – Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the seventh child of a Southern father and a West Indian, biracial mother. His father was brutally murdered, leaving his mother to care for eight children and battle mental illness that was thought to stem from the violent murder of her husband. Eventually Malcolm X’s family was split up and he ended up in Boston, Massachusetts with his sister. It was there (as well as in Harlem, NY) that he engaged in criminal activities that resulted in his incarceration. It was during his time in prison that he converted to the National of Islam (NOI).

As a faithful soldier of Elijah Muhammad, it was said that Malcolm X grew the Nation’s membership from approximately 500 to over 30,000 in a very short time. He gained national attention as a hate monger and was constantly under surveillance by the FBI. Eventually, dissension began to grow between factions of the NOI. This resulted in Malcolm leaving the Nation and began the Muslim Mosque Inc. Soon after the split, Malcolm journeyed to Mecca, the most significant pilgrimage of Muslims around the world. This event marked the evolution of Malcolm X to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. During this trip he realized that he could no longer characterize all white people based on the injustices at the hands of some white people in America.

This evolution in his thought promised to pave the way to constructive dialog that would have greatly contributed to the Civil Rights era. Collaborations were in the pipeline – there is even the famous picture of Malcolm and Martin, taken on March 26, 1964. These icons were vigorously shaking hands with these huge grins on their faces. The new day was dawning.

But we never got a chance to see what could have been. Less than a year later, Malcolm X was gunned down in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. Many years later, Minister Farrakhan admitted that radical members of the Nation of Islam were responsible. He made this admission right next to the late Betty Shabazz.

Malcolm X would have been eighty-two years old now. What would he have thought about this election? I constantly live in a parallel universe, so I can’t help but see the similarities in Malcolm X and Barack Obama: the ability to lead people; the intellect to understand one’s flaws and to work on them; the oratory to inspire a movement. I believe that Malcolm would have fully endorsed Senator Obama and would have been a trusted advisor that would have stood in the background to let the new guard take the helm.

I really wish you were here, but somehow I still feel like you’re watching.

By Any Means Necessary.

With that, I wish you all the best today and always.

A Way with Words

2008-02-20T16:15:00.005-05:00

pla·gia·rize - transitive verb : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source

A couple of days ago the media broke the story that the Clinton camp is accusing Barack Obama of plagiarism. This allegation was based on Obama’s use of phrases from Massachusetts Governer Deval Patrick’s speeches.

I love it – Obama a plagiarist. This claim is over the top and this is why I don’t believe the hype.

One – Obama and Patrick are cut from the same cloth. Two Black men of humble beginnings who find themselves in positions that no one ever thought possible. The message is obviously going to have some commonality – not unless they start making up new words for what these two have achieved!

Two – Obama and Patrick are friends. Can you imagine their conversations? Hey Barack, I saw your speech the other night. You killed it! But if you really want to bring down the house you should say….

Three – Obama, Patrick and many other public figures are scripted or use speech writers. Those folks are never really credited

Four – Words are a shared experience in our community – from Martin Luther King’s I have a dream, to Malcolm X’s daunting phrase – “By any means necessary”, to Martin Lawrence’s Wazzup!!!?? I bet you the folks from the ad agency who produced that beer commercial did not send Martin Lawrence a check for that catch phrase.

Words should be shared, and they do not have to be defamatory. Obama, cruising through to his tenth win is NOT a plagiarist but a victim of another borrowed term – HATERATION.

Now the residue from this toxin is trying to affect the position Michelle Obama has the right to assume as the future first lady of these United States.

Malcolm X said in his last speech that Black people need to develop the analytical ability to read between the lines. So make sure you don’t get caught in the hype. More importantly, save all your friends from the impenetrable noise of the media machine!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

We are not the enemy/Nosotros no somos el enemigo.

2008-02-18T14:58:00.006-05:00

The presidential race has created a political firestorm over many societal ills that plague this country. One of the most interesting and troublesome for me is the “Black and Brown Divide.”

As the primary moves to Texas, pollsters, pundits, and papers nationwide have chose to zero in on the question – why don’t black and brown people get along? The response to this question feeds into a bunch of other questions – can Obama woo the Latino vote? Why do the Clintons have such a stronghold on this voting bloc? The answers to these questions will only be answered at the end of the primaries when all the votes are counted and the nomination is in.

The one thing that I do know is this:

We are not the enemy. Nosotros no somos el enemigo.

Some Black people have a tendency to look at Latinos and focus on the differences – some Latinos have more European features, longer and straighter hair, and the most obvious, a different language. Many brothers and sisters feel as if Latinos are taking jobs away from Black people. Many have strong opinions about illegal immigration and most of it surrounds Latino illegals.

Some personas latinas believe that they are better than Black people in the United States because there seems to be a higher level of acceptance of them in this country. They are some that would rather their daughter come home with a nice young white boy than to come home with a black boy. Even in their native countries, Black hermanos y hermanas are looked down upon.

Guess What?

We are not the enemy. Nosotros no somos el enemigo.

What many seem to agree on is that this is more than an exercise in race relations. It is ultimate struggle for power in this country - power that is in its absolute form NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE.

So where does that leave us?

Well we are more alike than we care to admit – we both live with exuberance and love with intensity. We want the next generation to do better than us. Unfortunately, we have both been disproportionately impacted by racism, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, chronic disease, disparities in healthcare, and drug abuse.

We have the power through collaboration and our vote to work together to move forward with our common agenda. We should work together to eliminate this chasm that gets in our way.

The Black/Brown debate is personal to me because as a product of a Black American mother and an Afro-Latino father, I would love for these groups of powerful people to form a coalition that transcends race, nationality, language, or ethnicity. As one, we become more than a political bloc that would fuel media madness – we become a force to be reckoned with. Now that's true power!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

From Bob to Barack

2008-02-06T15:06:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

Today is Bob Marley’s 63rd birthday. Robert Nestor Marley was born in St. Ann’s Parish in Jamaica. This legendary musician not only brought reggae to global prominence, he also was a tireless advocate for the downtrodden and the disenfranchised. His musical messages spoke against injustice, called people to action, and routinely reminded people that we are all one people.any consider him a modern day prophet.

Does this sound familiar?

Barack Obama may not be able to carry a tune, but his message is still the same. Better education and affordable healthcare for all; people from all walks of life coming together to resolve global issues; messages of hope. I am in awe when I hear some of the most unlikely people speak of him in such reverent tones.

Who knew that we would see Bob Marley's message reinvent themselves in a presidential race?

So I thought it only fitting to celebrate two men – both products of a biracial union, who have and will continue to deliver a powerful message.

Happy Birthday Bob Marley! Congratulations on taking 13 states Barack Obama!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Raise Your Hands Up!

2008-02-05T14:19:00.000-05:00

Today is an exciting day here in the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts along with 23 other states will vote or caucus for their favorite candidate. This race, which started after the last election, has been like a three ring circus at times. This race has created factions within the two parties that have divided races, genders, and even families. This race has caused people to step outside themselves either to be for or against a particular candidate.

Soon, the votes will be counted, the delegates will be distributed, and the nominees will be selected. Just remember one thing – only one person is going to pull that lever, fill that oval, or press that button. Your race, gender, family or party affiliations, position on the food chain, education, or financial situation are a few factors that will influence your decision. The media hype may also weigh heavily in your decision. I only ask that none of these factors be the ONLY factor in this process. Ultimately a careful assessment of a candidate’s position on the things that are important to you and your family is the best way to end up with the right person in the White House.

I think I can say with some level of confidence that the people of the United States would like to feed and cloth themselves and their loved ones, to have a safe place to live, work, and worship, and not pay an arm and a leg when seeking medical treatment, filling our gas tanks, heating our homes, or for that matter trying to keep our homes. With that said – the true essence of what is needed to accomplish these goals can not be measured by what the media says or whether you share the same race, gender, or religious affiliation of a candidate. No – it has to do with whether or not they have the intellect and drive to make it happen.

So with that said, I am asking everyone to get out and cast their ballot. Here are a few things to consider:

For those of you that were born in America, make sure your vote is counted today.

For those who have migrated to this country and have reaped the rewards of a better life for you and yours, I encourage you to take the step toward citizenship. It disturbs me that there are so many Black people from countries all over the world will arrive in the US, stay here for decades, exploit the system, benefit from it, and then scoff at the notion of being fully engaged in the process that is reserved for our citizens. Bring the success of your journey full circle for your children and ALL your brown and black brothers and sisters.

For all of you, who think they can not vote because you are a convicted felon, understand this – not all felonies are alike! What does that mean? You can petition your state and federal governments to reinstate your right to vote. Take the time, find out the steps and put them into ACTION!!

I know this is running long, but I will make these last sections as precise as I can. I have already voted today. I cast my vote for Barack Obama. Why? I have been a long time follower of Senator Obama – he is a legal genius who went to Harvard Law School. He has been on the grind for the people of Illinois for a long time – years before John Kerry made the decision to choose him to speak at the Democratic National Convention. He the delivered THE speech – the very one that brought him national attention. That made me curious, so I did some more research. At the time he was running for Senator. The political machine understood the magnitude of Obama’s greatness. So much so that they IMPORTED a Black Republican candidate from Maryland to run against him! He overcame that barrier and went on to win. All of these events and his books (Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope) reaffirmed the seemingly boundless amount of optimism that he bought to the table.

In 2005, I received an impromptu invitation to see Senator Obama at Boston College. The freshman class was required to read Dreams of My Father before the semester started. The assignment culminated with the mandatory attendance of each and every freshman in the school’s gymnasium. I was fortunate enough to be a part of small group of invited guests. I brought my cousin and her friend who were going to graduate from high school the following year. I thought it was important to have as many young people as possible witness his greatness. He did not let me down.

Although this speech was not as fiery as the one delivered at the DNC, it was impactful and got to the core of his future campaign. He told the incoming class that it was their responsibility to contribute to the greater good. That message has not changed. One of the freshmen got up and asked Obama when he planned on announcing his presidential candidacy. At that point, he had no comment, but I couldn't help but think, as that whole room rose to its feet and cheered for him, that this dream was about to be rooted in reality. This is the reality that I hope that we all will be able to experience….together.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Decisions with Precision

2008-01-09T15:17:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

You know life is never a dull moment! Just when you think you can fall back and catch your breath for a second, there are new and interesting “challenges” that fall right into your path.

The last entry was heavy, but it was cathartic. The outreach I received during that time was incredible and for that I am forever grateful. It was like a strong antibiotic – medicine for faster healing. As I began to forge ahead in 2008 I remain hopeful that this year will help me move in the right direction.

Seven days into ’08, my team at work and I were pulled into a conference room and told that our senior leader’s position was eliminated and our department was in essence being disbanded. This is the same department I was “invited” to join after my last department was outsourced to a vendor less than one year ago. This position was, for the most part a disappointment from day one. No one really knew what role I should play and never really had an opportunity to figure that out. In the mean time I was regularly using $2.00 skills to tackle $.50 tasks. For some that may be alright, but I understand that continuous underutilization would result in job experience that would shout “underachiever” on my resume. I continually called this fact to the attention of the numerous managers I had in my short time in the area. Each one of them asked me to remain hopeful, but the reality of it was they did not and would not have any answers. January 7, 2008 was the culmination of brief and less than impactful era in my career.

Now I struggle with my next steps – do I continue to stay in a constant state of career flux? Because no one can speak to my specific role in this “new organization” I am literally at a standstill. Do I try to secure employment within an organization that routinely compromises an individual’s livelihood or do I go out to another company and start new with a steep learning curve, particularly in the wake of starting graduate school? Just when I reconciled the fact that I would be relegated to mindless tasks in my current position, the rug was pulled from under me. So not only will I be trying to get adjusted to grad school, I will have to figure my way around a new work situation. This type of turmoil makes a sister want to throw her hands up! I can’t do that though - I have to keep it real. My next steps can’t be rash because there is way too much at stake!

One thing I am convinced of, and constantly tell anyone who will listen, that false moves have far reaching repercussions for people of African decent. Many people have lied, cheated, stole, maimed, and killed but have still been able to bounce back relatively unscathed (yes Britney, you will be OK!) In our community, the smallest wrong move may result in continued or sudden poverty, bad credit, and life altering criminal record information (CORI) records which will restrict an individual’s ability to vote, secure housing or to get a good job. Moves must be strategic at all times, with ourselves, our children and our extended family in order for us to keep moving forward.

So with all this said, know that the road may be filled with traffic, detours, road blocks, and pot holes. That doesn’t mean you should get out and start walking. It only means that you put your foot on the brakes and navigate carefully through it all until you get to your destination.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Priorities and Options

2007-12-26T12:21:00.001-05:00

Greetings!

I know it has been a long stretch since I checked in. So much has happened that it would be useless to try to catch up on ALL the things I wanted to talk about. I have committed to write more often because if I don’t my head will explode!

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Barring all the insanity of the season, I hope that each and every one of you had a chance to sit down with at least one person in your life that you have not seen or talked to in awhile. Over the last week, I have been fortunate to have sit down with at least five people that by virtue of geography, we are unable to connect on a regular basis. It was an indescribable feeling to watch the years melt away as each conversation brought up fond memories of events and people from our past. This is always the time when people commit to staying in touch with the people that represent those bright spots in their lives, but the momentum gets dashed as people get caught up in their lives again – kids, bills, the J-O-B, careers and other struggles. I am a firm believer that you can still reach out to people without it being a big production and let them know that they are in your thoughts. There is way too much technology out here to let years pass without staying connected.

With that said I wanted to talk a little bit about a quote that a friend of mine forwarded to me some weeks back - Never make someone your priority while allowing yourself to become their option. The moment she sent it to me, I knew that I was going to have comment on it. However, I did not realize how REAL it was going to be for me this past Sunday. It was on that day that someone sat across from me and said in more words than were necessary that he started a relationship despite the fact we had unfinished business. I am a pretty good judge of when someone is acting unusual, so I was not really surprised. In fact, we weren't even locked in like that – we had been down this road once before, so I remained very cautious and extremely verbal when I felt like things weren’t exactly right. At this point, I only asked that this person be up front and exact. I think what ultimately sent me over the edge was the fact that he tried to spin this scenario like it “just happened” and that he was “blindsided” by this person’s desire to transition a 30 year friendship into something more. It started out with one trip to the Midwest for a football game, to some “potential business opportunities” that coincidentally had to be addressed on the weekend of my birthday, to a full blown commitment that was shared with an ex-wife, three kids and various others before it was presented to me two days before Christmas. The timeline didn’t make sense or the rationales that were put on the table. As a result I was ticked off for being played so stupid!

So here comes the part that is so real for me – there have been numerous times when I exerted boundless energy to do what I could to make sure this person was encouraged to reach their career goals, be uplifted when family issues seemed overwhelming, and just be supportive of the path he was trying to take. During the four years I have known him, I have taken the good with the bad. With the exception of a period of time when we had no communications at all, I witnessed and have been party to a lot of STUFF. Part of it was trying to make this person my PRIORITY when he had several OPTIONS that he exercised on a regular basis. When the kids got older, other family issues were resolved, and he saw an opportunity to make what he considered “a clean break”, that’s exactly what he did. Problem is he found this escape hatch just when his support would have been invaluable to moving my cause either as a partner or a friend. There are countless stories from other individuals about how this person came to the aid of this man, this woman, this child, etc., but even if I asked the smallest of favors, it was either a struggle or just never got done. You see I was just an OPTION, and regardless of what I have done in the past, I was never a PRIORITY. So this breaking news two days before Christmas has left me yearning to grab a lot of moments back – moments of compromise, moments of tolerance of people in his life, and moments wracking my brain to figure out what I did to be relegated to an OPTION rather than a PRIORITY.

So this is life lesson I wanted to share with all of you as we move into ’08 – Pick and choose your PRIORITIES with precision, particularly when it comes to other people. Be wary of the newcomers because they may ultimately be energy zappers. If you count among your circle people or persons who constantly have their hand out to TAKE, but never offer to help out or uplift, this might be a good time to shake them loose. If you encounter people who are not who they claim to be try keep them at bay. Focus on your family and their needs and your long time comrades who continue to hold it down for you each and every time. Most importantly take care of your physical and mental SELF so that you can detect when you are an OPTION and prepare to be the best person to the people that count you as one of their PRIORITIES.

To all those that continue to be mindful of the WOMAN, the feeling person, AND the S-HERO – I appreciate the love.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Positioning Yourself

2007-11-13T13:48:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

Yesterday I took the Graduate Management Admissions Council test which was pretty much the last step needed in my quest to get an MBA.

For those who know me, you are probably asking - why an MBA now? Sometimes I ask myself the same question, but in nearly two years of self reflection I came up with the following assessment:

- You are either part of the victims or the victors. For the majority of us that are right there in the middle just trying to do our thing, we are either positive or negatively impacted by a victim or a victor. For the most part, victors act as catalysts, for things good and bad. Victims are sucking the life out of those in the middle because the "middlers" get caught in a victim's weave of drama somehow and manage to come through unscathed. Middlers are also the buffer to the victors so most times they are not bogged down with the ills of the victims. I decided it is time to be a victor which leads me to point 2.

- The working world is caught up in letters. My day job is in healthcare. When you see employees' names at the bottom of their e-mails or on their business cards, they have five or six sets of initials behind their name - RD, RN, BSN, CPM, MPH, ABC, XYZ. Intellectually these initials amount to alphabet soup when you don't have the swagger to back them up, but those in the position to promote you are desperately seeking some indication that you MAY be smart. So whether I decide to stay where I am or be an "expert" either as a professor, or on even some tacky daytime talk show, those letters will take me a long way.

- Right now, I am all about the elevation of my purse. I need money to be able to take care of mine, save for retirement and exist IN COMFORT in a world that is becoming increasingly expensive. Bad part about that is salaries are not moving proportionally with these price hikes! The only way to be able to make quantum leaps in salary is to leave a company, hit the lottery, OR arm yourself with those perceived assets that make you more valuable in the eyes of the people pulling the purse strings!

With all that said my thoughts are around positioning - build a skill set, go or return to school, meet great people that can help you enter a field or give you valuable information that will help you move to where you want to be - great ways to position yourself in the place you would like to be. An MBA is NOT a silver bullet, it is a tactic in a list of strategies that will ultimately empower me to write my own meal/travel/wealth/retirement ticket. Find your tactic and move toward it.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Measure of Success - Part II

2007-11-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

I went to see Ridley Scott’s American Gangster along with millions of other folks this weekend. This movie starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and countless other talented actors, is about Frank Lucas, reputed to be the largest heroin kingpin in the late sixties and early seventies.

I have to say that I think this movie is brilliant. Denzel delivered a performance that definitely lived up to the hype. Yes, I am pretty biased when it comes to Denzel – his swagger in front of the camera, behind the camera and in his life is something I wish could be reproduced over and over and over again. But that’s not the primary reason I feel so strongly about this film.

Honestly, I think that every business student and business person should be required to STUDY American Gangster. Why? Because there are countless references to running a successful business and the various pitfalls that will cause a business to fail. Even some of the off-screen activities serve as examples of commerce at work.

So not to give away too much of the movie or to bore you with my fascination, I will describe two of the MANY examples to think about. First - Frank Lucas seemed frustrated about the “commission” that the mob was getting for basically facilitating the transactions. Not only did he realize that the cost of doing business was more with a middleman, he also understood that he had no control of the quality of product that he was receiving. So he set out to reduce costs and improve quality. In order to do this he examined his supply chain and figured out a way to go direct to his supplier, half way across the world in Vietnam. Talk about writing the playbook used by Starbucks and Walmart! By working directly with his supplier, he was able to offer a higher quality product at a cheaper price – can we say Ikea? Second – Frank Lucas quickly confronted Niki Barnes (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.), another heroin heavy weight in Harlem when he began to sell his product under a brand name that was very similar to Lucas’ Blue Magic. Barnes’ product was easily confused with Blue Magic until the “consumers” realized that it was not as potent. Complaints came in and Lucas needed to address the compromise to his brand. The business reference was so blatant that in the movie, Lucas likened his product to Pepsi and that Barnes had to change his name to eliminate this confusion that threatened his brand. Now this is business acumen coming from a person from the backwoods on North Carolina who barely went to school!

In the meantime, the underground commerce that has erupted has even been noteworthy. The bootleg for American Gangster is reported to be of such high quality that the studio is actively pursuing the “manufacturers”. Above ground – Jay Z released a disk based on the movie and his bio has themes parallel to Frank Lucas’ life story.

The movie also shows Lucas’ fall. There are many lessons to be learned here too, lessons that the CEOs of Time Warner and Merrill Lynch could have used before they were shown the door. However at the end of the day, Frank Lucas was able to measure his success by his ability to provide economic opportunity to thirty members of his family, and provide his mother and wife a lifestyle that they would have only dreamed of.

So I close by saying that by no means do I condone making millions at the expense of the well being of others, but you must admit that a) it happens and b) the lessons are there for the taking. By being aware you are able to positively apply these themes for yourself, the betterment of your loved ones, or your business. Then you choose your measures of success and move toward them!

I am including some links to an article about American Gangster and to Frank Lucas’ story.

With that I wish you all the best today and always. G

Time Online - UK

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2772472.ece

The Return of Superfly – The Story of Frank Lucas

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/3649/

Measure of Success - Part I

2007-11-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I wanted to take some time out to talk about Warren Ballantine’s Blackout that happened Friday, November 2, 2007. I honestly had mixed feelings about it. I think the intentions were good, but I am not sure of the impact. A friend of mine and I were talking about it and he brought up a couple of points that really hit home – if you needed to spend money that day you would. If my mother needed medicine on November 2, I was going to get it. If that same 80 year old wanted a magazine, I am not going to tell her no, because there were sisters and brothers out there that chose not participate for FAR more selfish reasons.

I think there are two big factors that have me torn about this effort - first: all of us live in global economy, which means before the early 90’s we could pull our money out of the economy, and there might have been some impact. Today – our money leaves the economy and it is being replaced by Chinese, Indians and others who are part of the global economy. Because of the Internet, money is moving all day everyday and until we cross the pond to Europe, Africa, Central and South Americas, etc., and ask every person of color not to POUR money into the US economy, then the impact is NOT going to be significant. Second: with everything else, it is important to show measurable results - your child goes to school, takes a test, and gets a grade; a person goes to work, gets a project, and has to finish it in a specific timeframe with specific results. Everyone has expectations, including the ones that participated in the Blackout - were we successful? How was this success measured? Are the measurements acceptable not only our people, but to the ones whose attention we were trying to get with this effort?

I did participate, but I am certainly not mad at anyone who did not – no madder than I get with them about other things they refuse to do (like not by expensive handbags that could feed a small country!) I am hoping that whatever the next steps will be, that we will leverage the teachings of this experience (or lack of it) to take a next step in the RIGHT direction!

With that I wish you all the best today and always. G

Don't Be a Dead Sister Walking

2007-10-31T11:05:00.000-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I had not started this forum at the beginning of the month so I was unable to hop on the pink ribbon band wagon that has spawned walks, merchandise, and a giant marketing frenzy that now, like Christmas starts about four months ahead. Even in the face of a medical crisis, this society has turned breast cancer into a marketing machine.

One thing is for certain though - breast cancer is a life altering event that affect millions every year. In fact, black women are more like to DIE of breast cancer than white women and they are diagnosed with the disease more! One of my cousins died of breast cancer back in '99 and other friends and family have also battled the disease. It really struck me though when three black women were affected by breast cancer or breast related diseases - all a part of morning television and all in 2007. The coincidence was surreal to me, but it just brought home the fact that breast health is something that women, particularly black women need to be thinking of 365 days a year.

Rene Syler was one of the "founding mothers" of the Early Morning show on CBS. In her book Good Enough Mother, she describes her journey to and through the decision to have a both breasts removed in a procedure called prophylactic double mastectomy. I am sure that may be very radical to some, but Ms. Syler's mother AND father both battled breast cancer so she had a genetic disposition to the disease.

On July 31, 2007 Robin Roberts announced on Good Morning America that she too had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In her case, she has no family history. She fortunately caught it early through self examination. The lump was removed and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.

The third story of this cancer "trifecta" is Hoda Kotb who recently announced that she has been battling the disease since February. Because the cancer has spread, Ms. Kotb had to have the breast removed. She has chronicle her story in a video diary and an extensive interview with her colleague Ann Curry.

I comend these women for deciding to put themselves out there. I know that it will help many. I am particularly proud of how it may change the life of a sister who is hanging on to old beliefs that "what you don't know won't hurt you", and cancer is something "you just don't talk about." Don't sleep - there are many she-roes like this! I have heard first-hand from one of my customers about survival. She lends her face to the pink and black campaign in Boston that spotlights the need for black women not to fall prey to health care disparity. Every time a bus passes or I drive by a bus stop, I beam when I see her smiling face!

Here are some links that are sure to helpful AND inspirational:

The Pink and Black Campaign: http://www.bphc.org/pinkblack/index2.asp

Rene Syler: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3000268&page=1 and http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/features/rene-syler-pre-emptive-double-mastectomy

Black Women's Health: http://www.blackwomenshealth.com/2006/index.php

Robin Roberts: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3430554

Hoda Kotb: http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=702c2b28-22e2-4d80-9496-799758ece711 and http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21350469/

So I know I have said a lot, so I will close by saying to my black sisters - conduct self exams, make a date with your GYN, and get that mammogram (I know it does NOT feel good, but the alternative doesn't either). If the clinician you are dealing with is not tuned in - tune him or her OUT!!! Just take care of yourself, because if you don't who will?

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

Lifting While You Climb

2007-10-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

Over the last decade, I have had a love/hate relationship with Oprah. She is truly a relative in my head - you know that cousin, sister, aunt that you love to death, but at times you would like to wring their neck!

I am a firm believer that if you are making your money than you should spend your money the best way you see fit. Sometimes though I feel like Oprah's choices intentionally veer away from her Black American roots. How? We all know when Oprah talks, folks listen - it is responsible for the meteoric fame of Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray and Nate Berkus. Most recently Jerry Seinfeld's wife has been the benefactor of that Oprah magic. My question is - what about sisters, who are not a celebrity and are not connected to one - why aren't they afforded these opportunities? For every Dr. Phil there is a psychologist of African descent who could benefit from a platform like hers. I just think of my small circle of creatives, community activists, writers, performers, clinicians, etc., that can't even get through to one of Oprah's people to get their big chance.

I say all this to say that Oprah did a wonderful thing for those young ladies in Africa. They were given a state of the art school with the ULTIMATE mentor. In addition, her circle of friends also pass on their pearls of wisdom which will forever have these girls reaching for new heights. HOWEVER, I am sure that there are hundred of black girls in the US that would also benefit from this program. Not only that, there would be a chance for Oprah and her staff to take advantage of background checks to minimize the risk of sexual improprieties. Now I feel as if Oprah is about to get the Big Payback - the potential of a group of African parents actively pursued by attorneys who will try to bury Oprah in litigation until the school is forced to close. Not to say that can't happen here - but she sure could have leveraged her resources closer to home to reduce the chances of it happening! I love you Oprah, but don't forsake your sisters here in the States!

I am finished with the soap box segment of this program. I want to congratulate the Red Sox for the second World Series this century! I would not describe myself as a sports fanatic, but I do pay attention to those moments of greatness that come from my people. In addition to the Sox, the Patriots are on fire! Makes living in the Bean a beautiful thing. Big up to David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, CoCo Crisp and the other players of color on the team.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G

So Much to Say

2007-10-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

I like to welcome you to G Spits It. My blog will contain a little bit of everything. I hope that everyone will read it, but many of my posts will be relevant to people of African descent - what should and shouldn't be happening in advancing us as a people. Don't get it twisted though - there will be entertainment news, some snippets of my day to day, some snippets of other people's day to day, and just information that might be helpful.

I have not revealed my whole name - not because I am ashamed of it, but because these days people in positions of power (employers, universities, TMZ, etc.,) regularly use information to prevent people from obtaining jobs, getting in to graduate schools,or just living life in obscurity. I am not sure what my next 100 steps will be, so I am going to play it safe. My friends will know and when they pass it on, they may know too, other than that I am going to lay low.

The snippets I will share will also protect the names of the "innocent", unless they are in the public eye and then frankly they will be on their own! I also will use real names when their achievement is worth noting - not the famous, the everyday folks that are doing their things and doing it well. There will be shameless plugs, but some of my crew are hustling to get their wares out and if this forum will help them, I will certainly open it up to them!

I hope you visit often and respond to me when I say something that makes you feel good and even better makes you real, real mad!! I promise you that some of the opinions you will see here will blow your mind - but the goal ultimately is to make you think twice!

Lastly - Genarlow Wilson is free now. For all those who advocated for his release, I am sure he and his mom are truly grateful. Now let's take it one step further - Educators and university administrators - prepare him to enter college, FREE OF CHARGE and let his life really begin!

With that I wish you all the best for today and always.

G