I'm on Tyler Perry's e-mail list and he sent this e-mail today regarding his gift to some children in an orphanage. His gift was really special and I admire him for giving back. For those who may have missed it, here's Tyler message in total. Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year to all!
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FROM TYLER PERRY:
Hello there,
Merry Christmas to all! Sorry I haven't written in a while, but these holidays are tough for me since my mother died last year. But I'm getting through it. Thank God!
I wanted to write today to ask you a question: If someone said to you, "Go and get anything that you want free of charge!", what would it be?
Well, listen to this: Every year I do a lot of Christmas giving to battered women shelters, feed the hungry organizations, homeless shelters and so on. Well, this year, Cassi Davis, who runs my foundation, found an orphanage. I didn't even know they had orphanages in the US. Anyway, this place is amazing and these kids' stories really show you how strong the human spirit is. They are from the ages of 14 to 18. It is unfortunate, but as kids get between these ages the probability of them being adopted is highly unlikely. Hence this great orphanage that houses them until they're adults. This place has so much history it should be a movie.
Anyway, I took all of these children to a Target. I gave each one a shopping cart and told them to go and fill it with whatever they "WANTED".
Now I thought this would be easy. I had no idea that these kids had a different idea of wants and needs than most kids in this country. I'm thinking they are going to go for the video games, toys, make-up and things that teenagers are into. Well, they didn't!!
I was shocked because most of them went for cases of water and juice. I thought, "Water and juice?" Then they went on to undershirts, underwear, deodorant, soap, etc. You get my point. All the things we take for granted were huge for them. HUGE!
As they shopped, my staff from the studio escorted them through the store.
A lot of us were tearful watching these kids. They were happy, but so confused. They couldn't wrap their brains around being able to have anything they wanted. How sad is that? They didn't know that they could have it all. One child sat in front of two shirts for a long time. One was 10 dollars the other was 30. He was wondering which one to get. It took one of my folks a long time to explain to him that he can have them both.
After a lot of cajoling and pushing, he finally got it and so did the other 23 kids. To see their little minds start to believe was a powerful thing. To go from one level of belief to believing you can have it all in moments was something to see.
They came to the checkout with their red Target baskets looking like overloaded Santa sleighs. Boy that did my heart good! I could see my mother smiling in my mind about this. They were so happy. I wish you could have seen the joy on these kids faces. It was contagious. I caught it, and it helped brighten up these rough days for me. It was just wonderful. I left them on a high BIG TIME! It made me remember to be thankful for the little things. I hope it does the same for you...
Merry Christmas,
Tyler
To respond to this message, please go to http://www.tylerperry.com/messageboard
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
3 Black Book Web Sites Lead the Way w/Group Economics
I know you've heard the old saying that "black folks can't work together." There is usually some truth to old sayings and I'll admit that I've made this statement myself a time or two. But, for three years, my husband, Willie, and I, through Cushcity.com, have been part of an effort by the nation's three leading African-American book web sites to provide an opportunity for authors to affordably market their books. This partnership, among Cushcity.com, AALBC.com and Mosaicbooks.com, has endured for the past three years and has been surprisingly drama-free.
Cushcity.com, AALBC.com and Mosaicbooks.com all went online in the late 1990s and all three sites had the goal of promoting African American books, both old and new. We all quickly became aware of each other, communicated frequently and viewed each other as friendly competition.
Over the years, all three sites have evolved. Cushcity.com expanded its retail operation beyond books and also started offering marketing services. In addition, our company hosts the annual National Black Book Festival in Houston. AALBC.com and Mosaicbooks.com kept their focus on books, but expanded their sites to include author web pages, marketing services, contact lists and discussion boards.
About three years ago, we received a call from Troy Johnson of AALBC.com and he proposed the concept of our three sites working together to offer an author promotion program, where a book could be promoted on all three sites simultaneously. At first, we were skeptical, since we had been burned more than once by people who proposed joint ventures where we ultimately did all the work, acquired all of the clients, but had to share the revenue. In order for any partnership to be successful it has to be win-win: All partners have to share the risk and rewards equally. Troy seemed to understand this so we took the conversations a step further.
After a few more discussions which included Ron Kavanaugh of Mosaicbooks.com, we formed the outlines of our agreement. We called the new venture the "Power Campaign" and agreed that each site would retain its autonomy while promoting this program. To date, we have assisted dozens of authors with promoting their books this way -- achieving simultaneous exposure at an extremely affordable rate.
We've had a few bumps in the road and have revised our agreement when problems arose. Yet we've never had a disagreement that would cause the relationship to dissolve because each person involved operates with integrity and believes in the win-win principle.
For those who may want to pursue partnerships, here are some tips we've learned from this relationship and other ones we've had:
Cushcity.com, AALBC.com and Mosaicbooks.com all went online in the late 1990s and all three sites had the goal of promoting African American books, both old and new. We all quickly became aware of each other, communicated frequently and viewed each other as friendly competition.
Over the years, all three sites have evolved. Cushcity.com expanded its retail operation beyond books and also started offering marketing services. In addition, our company hosts the annual National Black Book Festival in Houston. AALBC.com and Mosaicbooks.com kept their focus on books, but expanded their sites to include author web pages, marketing services, contact lists and discussion boards.
About three years ago, we received a call from Troy Johnson of AALBC.com and he proposed the concept of our three sites working together to offer an author promotion program, where a book could be promoted on all three sites simultaneously. At first, we were skeptical, since we had been burned more than once by people who proposed joint ventures where we ultimately did all the work, acquired all of the clients, but had to share the revenue. In order for any partnership to be successful it has to be win-win: All partners have to share the risk and rewards equally. Troy seemed to understand this so we took the conversations a step further.
After a few more discussions which included Ron Kavanaugh of Mosaicbooks.com, we formed the outlines of our agreement. We called the new venture the "Power Campaign" and agreed that each site would retain its autonomy while promoting this program. To date, we have assisted dozens of authors with promoting their books this way -- achieving simultaneous exposure at an extremely affordable rate.
We've had a few bumps in the road and have revised our agreement when problems arose. Yet we've never had a disagreement that would cause the relationship to dissolve because each person involved operates with integrity and believes in the win-win principle.
For those who may want to pursue partnerships, here are some tips we've learned from this relationship and other ones we've had:
- The relationship has to be win-win. If the scales tip too far in any one direction, the other people involved are going to be short-changed and the relationship will eventually be severed.
- The partners all must operate with integrity. No cutting corners, no shenanigans, no half truths, falsehoods or lies. Mistakes happen, but each partner has to be upfront and honest.
- Communication is key. If something is bothering you or one of the partners, get the issue out on the table immediately. Don't let a disagreement fester and grow like a cancer, thus poisoning the relationship. Communication keeps drama to a minimum.
- Be flexible. As the relationship evolves and situations arise, adjustments will need to be made from time to time. Everyone will not always get exactly what they want but, as long as the relationship remains win-win, the adjustments can be made and the partnership can move forward.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Our Nightmare with Comcast Business Services
In August of this year, we made a decision to move our business office to a new location. This was a cost cutting measure as well as a move to a nicer facility. At our old location, we had a T1 for Internet access and phone service which was costing us about $500.00 per month. A Comcast sales person stopped by and introduced Comcast's new Triple Play service for businesses: Internet access, phone service and cable television for less than $200 per month. Sounds great, huh? We signed up, it's now Dec. 2nd, and we still don't have our service complete.
It all started with the salesman, who said that the building we were moving to wasn't wired for Comcast. But Comcast was interested in adding a new office building to its roster, we'd be the first client in the facility and it would take 45 to 60 days to wire the building. We signed the paperwork on Aug. 11th and, based on the salesman's assurances, were expecting to have service by early October. We relocated as of Aug. 31st and our plan was to forward our primary line to our cell phone for one month until the service was put in. We've been in business for 12 years with the same phone number, as well as a toll-free number, and it was important to us that we retain the same phone numbers.
We checked in with the salesperson periodically, who assured us that everything was on schedule. When September 30th rolled around and the service had not been installed, we tried contacting the salesperson who was hard to reach at that point. Meanwhile, Comcast had a computer virus infiltrate their corporate e-mail system (this event actually made national headlines) and, when the salesman finally responded, he said he couldn't get into any of his files and it would be two weeks before he'd have access to everything. Keep in mind that we are still paying our primary phone service $500.00 a month because the lines are forwarded.
Starting in early October, we called Comcast every other day to see when the service would be installed. Then we were contacted by our cell phone provider, Verizon, regarding our usage. We had used 600 minutes over the amount for our plan and we had a big bill that was due. In other words, at that point we're paying double for phone service. The first month, our cell phone bill didn't increase at all, but due to the billing cycle, we were impacted on the second month. Verizon gave us the solution to temporarily increase our plan to include more minutes but, unfortunately, it wasn't retroactive. This added another $400.00 in phone charges for one month to what we were already paying. This caught up completely off guard since our cell phone usage is always several hundred minutes below the maximum.
After about 50 phone calls and several more weeks, Comcast finally put our phone lines in on Friday, Nov. 26th. However, we still have to wait another two weeks for our original numbers to be ported over (another fact the salesman failed to mention), which means we have to retain our old service and keep paying them for another two weeks until the process is complete. The cable T.V. is in too, but it's a joke. We only get local channels, C-Span, Disney and HLN. If we want the usual channels that are included in basic cable (TBS, TNT, CNN, MSNBC, Lifetime, etc.), we have to pay an additional $30.00 per month.
This was a costly lesson for our company, but we wanted to make others aware. Lord only knows where we'd be if we hadn't been persistent with our phone calls. One would think that a company as large as Comcast would have better customer service, but you know what they say when you assume. If a Comcast salesman offers your business what appears to be a good deal, be skeptical and know that the rosy picture he is painting is likely a mirage. Let the buyer beware!
It all started with the salesman, who said that the building we were moving to wasn't wired for Comcast. But Comcast was interested in adding a new office building to its roster, we'd be the first client in the facility and it would take 45 to 60 days to wire the building. We signed the paperwork on Aug. 11th and, based on the salesman's assurances, were expecting to have service by early October. We relocated as of Aug. 31st and our plan was to forward our primary line to our cell phone for one month until the service was put in. We've been in business for 12 years with the same phone number, as well as a toll-free number, and it was important to us that we retain the same phone numbers.
We checked in with the salesperson periodically, who assured us that everything was on schedule. When September 30th rolled around and the service had not been installed, we tried contacting the salesperson who was hard to reach at that point. Meanwhile, Comcast had a computer virus infiltrate their corporate e-mail system (this event actually made national headlines) and, when the salesman finally responded, he said he couldn't get into any of his files and it would be two weeks before he'd have access to everything. Keep in mind that we are still paying our primary phone service $500.00 a month because the lines are forwarded.
Starting in early October, we called Comcast every other day to see when the service would be installed. Then we were contacted by our cell phone provider, Verizon, regarding our usage. We had used 600 minutes over the amount for our plan and we had a big bill that was due. In other words, at that point we're paying double for phone service. The first month, our cell phone bill didn't increase at all, but due to the billing cycle, we were impacted on the second month. Verizon gave us the solution to temporarily increase our plan to include more minutes but, unfortunately, it wasn't retroactive. This added another $400.00 in phone charges for one month to what we were already paying. This caught up completely off guard since our cell phone usage is always several hundred minutes below the maximum.
After about 50 phone calls and several more weeks, Comcast finally put our phone lines in on Friday, Nov. 26th. However, we still have to wait another two weeks for our original numbers to be ported over (another fact the salesman failed to mention), which means we have to retain our old service and keep paying them for another two weeks until the process is complete. The cable T.V. is in too, but it's a joke. We only get local channels, C-Span, Disney and HLN. If we want the usual channels that are included in basic cable (TBS, TNT, CNN, MSNBC, Lifetime, etc.), we have to pay an additional $30.00 per month.
This was a costly lesson for our company, but we wanted to make others aware. Lord only knows where we'd be if we hadn't been persistent with our phone calls. One would think that a company as large as Comcast would have better customer service, but you know what they say when you assume. If a Comcast salesman offers your business what appears to be a good deal, be skeptical and know that the rosy picture he is painting is likely a mirage. Let the buyer beware!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sarah Palin: A Symbol of Political Hypocrisy
Sarah Palin, the darling of the political right, is now being touted as the front-runner for the 2012 Republican nomination. It is clear that all of the so-called qualifications that used to be necessary for a potential presidential candidate have been thrown out the window. Her followers are so blinded by their shock and awe of a black man in the White House that they are willing to support someone who, in the past, would not have been given a second thought.
Let's see, President Obama is one of the most highly intelligent people in government, has excelled in every arena he's entered (e.g., educational and political), married well, is a devoted father and family man. He was handed the worst mess of any U.S. president ever, had to actually start working before he was sworn in because the public had lost complete confidence in the sitting president (Bush), and has dealt head-on with all of the major problems he's faced.
The economy has survived the worst, corporate profits are at an all-time high, Wall Street is making money, the banking system has stabilized and third-quarter GDP growth was higher than expected. And, by the way, in the face of nearly universal Republican opposition, Obama's actions saved General Motors and the auto industry, which, two years ago, was left for dead. GM issued an IPO last week and their stock sold at near record levels, netting $11.7 billion for the U.S. Treasury. All of these accomplishments are lost on Palin's supporters, who would rather focus on the fantasies of Obama's Muslim, terrorist and socialist connections.
If Obama had daughters old enough to bear children and one became pregnant when he was running for president, it would have been considered a disqualifying factor. Yet, the so-called "values voters" completely ignored the fact that Palin's daughter Bristol had a child out of wedlock. Palin took 6 years to get a 4-year college degree, matriculating at several different schools before finally finishing. She has no advanced degrees, no areas of expertise, no depth of knowledge about any subject. She has little, if any, knowledge of the world, believing that Africa is a country and that foreign policy is equivalent to a flyover of her home state, as long as she can visualize Canada and Russia from an aircraft. She served as mayor of a Alaska town with a population smaller than most four-year universities, and quit after a half term as governor of one of the least populous states in the Union.
Her sole qualifications seem to be that she's attractive, has folksy language, takes cheap shots at her political opponents (especially President Obama and first lady Michelle), hunts, fishes and shoots caribou from helicopters. But she's white and, as far as Palin's supporters are concerned, it doesn't matter how qualified President Obama is or what he's done while in office. They would rather elevate someone who would make America a laughing stock around the world than to support the current occupant in the White House -- the man who saved capitalism and, thus, saved them from themselves.
Let's see, President Obama is one of the most highly intelligent people in government, has excelled in every arena he's entered (e.g., educational and political), married well, is a devoted father and family man. He was handed the worst mess of any U.S. president ever, had to actually start working before he was sworn in because the public had lost complete confidence in the sitting president (Bush), and has dealt head-on with all of the major problems he's faced.
The economy has survived the worst, corporate profits are at an all-time high, Wall Street is making money, the banking system has stabilized and third-quarter GDP growth was higher than expected. And, by the way, in the face of nearly universal Republican opposition, Obama's actions saved General Motors and the auto industry, which, two years ago, was left for dead. GM issued an IPO last week and their stock sold at near record levels, netting $11.7 billion for the U.S. Treasury. All of these accomplishments are lost on Palin's supporters, who would rather focus on the fantasies of Obama's Muslim, terrorist and socialist connections.
If Obama had daughters old enough to bear children and one became pregnant when he was running for president, it would have been considered a disqualifying factor. Yet, the so-called "values voters" completely ignored the fact that Palin's daughter Bristol had a child out of wedlock. Palin took 6 years to get a 4-year college degree, matriculating at several different schools before finally finishing. She has no advanced degrees, no areas of expertise, no depth of knowledge about any subject. She has little, if any, knowledge of the world, believing that Africa is a country and that foreign policy is equivalent to a flyover of her home state, as long as she can visualize Canada and Russia from an aircraft. She served as mayor of a Alaska town with a population smaller than most four-year universities, and quit after a half term as governor of one of the least populous states in the Union.
Her sole qualifications seem to be that she's attractive, has folksy language, takes cheap shots at her political opponents (especially President Obama and first lady Michelle), hunts, fishes and shoots caribou from helicopters. But she's white and, as far as Palin's supporters are concerned, it doesn't matter how qualified President Obama is or what he's done while in office. They would rather elevate someone who would make America a laughing stock around the world than to support the current occupant in the White House -- the man who saved capitalism and, thus, saved them from themselves.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Does Congressional Black Caucus Need New Blood?
Rep. Charles Rangel is pleading for mercy after the House ethics committee earlier this week found him guilty of 11 violations of House rules. The 80-year-old New Yorker has served in Congress since 1971 and his tenure is similar to that of several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Does the CBC need new blood?
The Democrats in Congress experienced a drubbing in the Nov. 2nd election, except for Rangel and other Black Democrats in the House. To a person, every one of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who ran was re-elected. Two Black Republicans were also elected in South Carolina and Florida, which adds an interesting dynamic to the mix.
Why were the Black Democrats all returned to Congress? The reason is that nearly all represent "safe" districts which were carved out for them. This means the only challenge they ever really experience is during the primary when the voter turnout is extremely low. In the general election in November, there is either no Republican challenger or there is a sacrificial lamb on the ballot -- someone Republicans know will lose by 40 to 50 percentage points.
The lack of competitive races in the "black" districts also suppresses turnout in midterm elections. Because these candidates are a shoo-in for the November election, there's not much incentive for Black voters in their districts to go to the polls, as evidenced by the abysmal 10% turnout among Black voters on Nov. 2nd. There's no president on the ballot and, while there may be some statewide or local races that are interesting, these often do not receive the same level of exposure and emphasis by the media.
But this shouldn't be the case. There needs to be some new blood with some new ideas among the CBC. The lack of any genuine competition leads to a sense of stagnation as well as a sense of entitlement. After all, these seats are not thrones where elected officials can just occupy them for decades. They are offices that represent the people. Consider these facts:
The Democrats in Congress experienced a drubbing in the Nov. 2nd election, except for Rangel and other Black Democrats in the House. To a person, every one of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who ran was re-elected. Two Black Republicans were also elected in South Carolina and Florida, which adds an interesting dynamic to the mix.
Why were the Black Democrats all returned to Congress? The reason is that nearly all represent "safe" districts which were carved out for them. This means the only challenge they ever really experience is during the primary when the voter turnout is extremely low. In the general election in November, there is either no Republican challenger or there is a sacrificial lamb on the ballot -- someone Republicans know will lose by 40 to 50 percentage points.
The lack of competitive races in the "black" districts also suppresses turnout in midterm elections. Because these candidates are a shoo-in for the November election, there's not much incentive for Black voters in their districts to go to the polls, as evidenced by the abysmal 10% turnout among Black voters on Nov. 2nd. There's no president on the ballot and, while there may be some statewide or local races that are interesting, these often do not receive the same level of exposure and emphasis by the media.
But this shouldn't be the case. There needs to be some new blood with some new ideas among the CBC. The lack of any genuine competition leads to a sense of stagnation as well as a sense of entitlement. After all, these seats are not thrones where elected officials can just occupy them for decades. They are offices that represent the people. Consider these facts:
- The average age of CBC members is 62, close to the age when most people retire. Twelve of them (25%) are age 70 or older.
- The average years served among CBC members is 13, but nearly 50 percent have served in Congress for more than 15 years.
- Three of the CBC members (Andre Carson, William Lacy Clay Jr., and Kendrick Meek) succeeded family members, making their tenures within their families effectively much longer than their actual years served.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Are Muslims America's New Nig------?
A Gallup poll taken in January of this year showed more than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least "a little" prejudice toward Muslims -- more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), Jews (15%) and Buddhists (14%). And, since the 2008 presidential campaign, President Obama's political enemies have insisted upon insinuating that the President is himself a Muslim. This myth persists and grows, aided and abetted by elected officials in the Republican Party and right-wing talk show hosts who shamelessly enable some of their cohorts to spread this nonsense.
Indeed, Muslims have become the new nig---- in American politics. The right wing used to promote propaganda showing a violent black man (i.e., Willie Horton) who was likely to either rape white women or take a white man's job (for example, the Jesse Helms ad where the white man's hands were balling up a job rejection letter he received because a less-qualified black man took the job instead).
Now, the ads and the whisper campaign are about radical Muslims who, according to right wingers, are devising a terrorist plot around every corner in America. This campaign is craftily executed with the assistance of Hollywood producers, who promote the concept of the olive-skinned or dark-skinned Muslim terrorist in movies and on television.
The demonization process began in the late-1970s and continued throughout the 1980s with movies like "Black Sunday" and "The Delta Force" (loosely based on true events). After 9/11, Hollywood rapidly accelerated the production of movies and televisions shows about Islamic terrorists to the point where, presently, nearly every movie Hollywood produces that includes a real or imagined terrorist plot has a Muslim as the antagonist.
The word "terrorist" has now become synonymous with a Muslim to the point where on-camera personalities like co-host Brian Kilmeade on FOX News feel comfortable proclaiming: "A terrorist is a Muslim." And any mass shooting involving a Muslim is automatically considered an act of terrorism. Yet, a similar shooting -- by an aggrieved Postal worker, for example -- is simply an act carried out by a deranged citizen.
The effort to connect President Obama with Muslims and/or terrorists continues. At a recent political rally sponsored by Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa, a member of the audience said that he heard that Obama was "sneaking small quantities of Muslims into the country," and asked why can't Congress do something about it. King's response of, "You might have a point," only added fuel to the fire.
Author Dinesh D'Souza's latest book, "The Roots of Obama's Rage," in which he criticizes Obama for urging religious tolerance regarding the controversy to build a $100 million mosque near Ground Zero in New York, paints the President as a confused individual, haunted by the shortcomings of his Muslim father.
Emotions are running so raw that some xenophobic people see mosques and Muslims where none exist. Some fanatical citizens in Phoenix, Arizona are up in arms over a domed church that they wrongly believe to be a mosque. The large building, still under construction along a busy interstate, is actually a nondenominational Christian church. The backlash has been severe enough that the church's leaders have hung a giant banner over the dome: "IF YOU THINK DIFFERENT YOU ARE WRONG -- WE ARE BUILDING A CHRISTIAN HOUSE OF WORSHIP."
The following question arises: Will non-violent, law-abiding Muslim citizens in America and around the world tire of being stereotyped and begin to adopt the behavior and attitudes of which they are repeatedly accused?
On a more humorous note, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann aired a satirical piece on Nov. 9th about Obama's "secret Muslim faith." It's hilarious and accurately portrays the outrageousness of it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZl6KOwM5pg
Indeed, Muslims have become the new nig---- in American politics. The right wing used to promote propaganda showing a violent black man (i.e., Willie Horton) who was likely to either rape white women or take a white man's job (for example, the Jesse Helms ad where the white man's hands were balling up a job rejection letter he received because a less-qualified black man took the job instead).
Now, the ads and the whisper campaign are about radical Muslims who, according to right wingers, are devising a terrorist plot around every corner in America. This campaign is craftily executed with the assistance of Hollywood producers, who promote the concept of the olive-skinned or dark-skinned Muslim terrorist in movies and on television.
The demonization process began in the late-1970s and continued throughout the 1980s with movies like "Black Sunday" and "The Delta Force" (loosely based on true events). After 9/11, Hollywood rapidly accelerated the production of movies and televisions shows about Islamic terrorists to the point where, presently, nearly every movie Hollywood produces that includes a real or imagined terrorist plot has a Muslim as the antagonist.
The word "terrorist" has now become synonymous with a Muslim to the point where on-camera personalities like co-host Brian Kilmeade on FOX News feel comfortable proclaiming: "A terrorist is a Muslim." And any mass shooting involving a Muslim is automatically considered an act of terrorism. Yet, a similar shooting -- by an aggrieved Postal worker, for example -- is simply an act carried out by a deranged citizen.
The effort to connect President Obama with Muslims and/or terrorists continues. At a recent political rally sponsored by Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa, a member of the audience said that he heard that Obama was "sneaking small quantities of Muslims into the country," and asked why can't Congress do something about it. King's response of, "You might have a point," only added fuel to the fire.
Author Dinesh D'Souza's latest book, "The Roots of Obama's Rage," in which he criticizes Obama for urging religious tolerance regarding the controversy to build a $100 million mosque near Ground Zero in New York, paints the President as a confused individual, haunted by the shortcomings of his Muslim father.
Emotions are running so raw that some xenophobic people see mosques and Muslims where none exist. Some fanatical citizens in Phoenix, Arizona are up in arms over a domed church that they wrongly believe to be a mosque. The large building, still under construction along a busy interstate, is actually a nondenominational Christian church. The backlash has been severe enough that the church's leaders have hung a giant banner over the dome: "IF YOU THINK DIFFERENT YOU ARE WRONG -- WE ARE BUILDING A CHRISTIAN HOUSE OF WORSHIP."
The following question arises: Will non-violent, law-abiding Muslim citizens in America and around the world tire of being stereotyped and begin to adopt the behavior and attitudes of which they are repeatedly accused?
On a more humorous note, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann aired a satirical piece on Nov. 9th about Obama's "secret Muslim faith." It's hilarious and accurately portrays the outrageousness of it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZl6KOwM5pg
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Career Guidance for the Next Generation
My 14-year-old daughter has a male friend who she has known since she was a toddler. He is her same age and they speak regularly about what they want to do when they grow up. Her friend says he wants to be drafted into the NBA straight from high school and, if he doesn't get drafted, he wants to be a fashion model. Therein lies the problem: Too many of today's youth have aspirations they have almost no chance of reaching because the career options are completely out of their control. These are more like pipe dreams than career goals.
Let me explain. If someone wants to aspire to be a teacher, doctor, lawyer, event planner, nurse, stock broker, etc., he/she can study hard, get good grades, go to college and actually enter that profession. They may have bumps in the road along the way and some may not reach the goal. But the pursuit is almost entirely in their control.
On the other hand, if someone aspires to be a professional athlete, model, rapper or other entertainer, these careers are completely out of their control. They have to be drafted, "discovered," or hand picked by insiders -- the powers that be -- who usually have a financial interest in the decision and make their selections accordingly. Pursuing these dreams is a one-in-a-million shot, similar to hitting the lotto, very unlikely to happen.
In the meantime, most of the young people who pursue these pipe dreams do not apply themselves in school. They skip classes, don't study, do just enough to get by. When they graduate and discover that their pipe dream was indeed an illusion, they don't have anything to fall back on because they missed out on the free education they could have had.
A report was released this week pointing to the abysmal academic achievement of black male students, with only 12% of black males in the fourth grade showing proficiency in reading, and an equal percentage of black boys in the eight grade with adequate math skills.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/education/09gap.html
Unfortunately, too many parents (even ones with college degrees themselves) encourage these pipe dreams, hoping that if their son or daughter hits the big time, they'll live large too. This is shameful and parents need to do better. There are too many washed out individuals who end up using drugs or alcohol because of the dream that got away.
If these young people get a million-dollar contract as a result of their talents, that is wonderful. But, if they do not, which is much more likely, and they apply themselves in school, they can still go on to be successful professionals in other careers. They can take care of themselves and their families and be responsible human beings.
Parents need to get more involved with helping to steer their children toward the proper career choices. These life-altering decisions cannot be left completely up to the child, who does not have the maturity or the foresight to see down the road of their life. That's why God gave children their parents.
Let me explain. If someone wants to aspire to be a teacher, doctor, lawyer, event planner, nurse, stock broker, etc., he/she can study hard, get good grades, go to college and actually enter that profession. They may have bumps in the road along the way and some may not reach the goal. But the pursuit is almost entirely in their control.
On the other hand, if someone aspires to be a professional athlete, model, rapper or other entertainer, these careers are completely out of their control. They have to be drafted, "discovered," or hand picked by insiders -- the powers that be -- who usually have a financial interest in the decision and make their selections accordingly. Pursuing these dreams is a one-in-a-million shot, similar to hitting the lotto, very unlikely to happen.
In the meantime, most of the young people who pursue these pipe dreams do not apply themselves in school. They skip classes, don't study, do just enough to get by. When they graduate and discover that their pipe dream was indeed an illusion, they don't have anything to fall back on because they missed out on the free education they could have had.
A report was released this week pointing to the abysmal academic achievement of black male students, with only 12% of black males in the fourth grade showing proficiency in reading, and an equal percentage of black boys in the eight grade with adequate math skills.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/education/09gap.html
Unfortunately, too many parents (even ones with college degrees themselves) encourage these pipe dreams, hoping that if their son or daughter hits the big time, they'll live large too. This is shameful and parents need to do better. There are too many washed out individuals who end up using drugs or alcohol because of the dream that got away.
If these young people get a million-dollar contract as a result of their talents, that is wonderful. But, if they do not, which is much more likely, and they apply themselves in school, they can still go on to be successful professionals in other careers. They can take care of themselves and their families and be responsible human beings.
Parents need to get more involved with helping to steer their children toward the proper career choices. These life-altering decisions cannot be left completely up to the child, who does not have the maturity or the foresight to see down the road of their life. That's why God gave children their parents.
Monday, November 8, 2010
For Colored Girls Who Fell In Love With and Married Good Black Men
There has been a lot of online chatter about Tyler Perry's latest film, "For Colored Girls," an adaptation of the stage play by Ntozake Shange. I had originally intended to go see the movie but, after having read some of the comments about the overall depressing nature of the film, I may wait for the DVD. The buzz around the film reminds me of the movie "Precious," which some called groundbreaking because it delved into a previously unexplored topic -- familial sexual abuse. But others just couldn't get past the negative feeling they had after sitting through it for two hours at the theater.
One question I've heard over and over again is: Why? Why is it that Hollywood only seems to green light films which depict black men as villains and black women as their victims? Why are there so few happy black couples on the silver screen? Is art reflecting life or is life reflecting art?
I do have my theories and I don't have all of the answers. But I do believe in the Biblical principle that as a man (or woman) thinketh, so is he. As long as these negative images are repeatedly pumped into our heads, and in the psyche of other cultures, these phenomena will continue to grow.
I also believe that the powers that be in Hollywood simply do not want any positive Black images to gain traction. A group that has low self-esteem is easier to exploit and Hollywood and others in the entertainment industry make billions of dollars by exploiting the talents of African American entertainers.
To turn the tide, those of us who have married black men and have outstanding husbands need to be more vocal. What are the qualities that make them outstanding? As one of those women, I find that a lot of single women are simply focused on the wrong things when they are seeking or responding to a potential mate. They are looking at the superficial, rather than the eternal.
They should be asking these questions: Does he love God? Does he love ME? Is he a responsible man, expecting to take care of me and whatever children we produce? Does he have goals? Is he a hard worker? Is he dependable and faithful? Can we build something together?
Throw out your list about what kind of car he drives, what kind of jeans he wears, whether or not he's drop dead gorgeous, is cool or has a walk that just makes you swoon. These things don't matter when the rent needs to be paid, the kids need to be fed and when you are all alone at night because he's out doing his thing.
Women: Be strong, yet supportive. Be persuasive without being bossy. Be feminine, yet productive. Be one of the colored girls who fell in love with and married a good black man.
One question I've heard over and over again is: Why? Why is it that Hollywood only seems to green light films which depict black men as villains and black women as their victims? Why are there so few happy black couples on the silver screen? Is art reflecting life or is life reflecting art?
I do have my theories and I don't have all of the answers. But I do believe in the Biblical principle that as a man (or woman) thinketh, so is he. As long as these negative images are repeatedly pumped into our heads, and in the psyche of other cultures, these phenomena will continue to grow.
I also believe that the powers that be in Hollywood simply do not want any positive Black images to gain traction. A group that has low self-esteem is easier to exploit and Hollywood and others in the entertainment industry make billions of dollars by exploiting the talents of African American entertainers.
To turn the tide, those of us who have married black men and have outstanding husbands need to be more vocal. What are the qualities that make them outstanding? As one of those women, I find that a lot of single women are simply focused on the wrong things when they are seeking or responding to a potential mate. They are looking at the superficial, rather than the eternal.
They should be asking these questions: Does he love God? Does he love ME? Is he a responsible man, expecting to take care of me and whatever children we produce? Does he have goals? Is he a hard worker? Is he dependable and faithful? Can we build something together?
Throw out your list about what kind of car he drives, what kind of jeans he wears, whether or not he's drop dead gorgeous, is cool or has a walk that just makes you swoon. These things don't matter when the rent needs to be paid, the kids need to be fed and when you are all alone at night because he's out doing his thing.
Women: Be strong, yet supportive. Be persuasive without being bossy. Be feminine, yet productive. Be one of the colored girls who fell in love with and married a good black man.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Conservatives' Big Lie About Wanting Smaller Government
For years, we've been hearing conservatives talk about wanting smaller government and returning to the kind of country the Founding Fathers envisioned. Let's put aside the fact that the world the Founding Fathers envisioned was one where blacks were three-fifths of a human being and women did not have the right to vote. But if conservatives really wanted smaller government, the budget would decrease when they have control of the Congress and the White House. Instead, because of tax cuts for the rich and drastic increases to the defense budget because of no-bid contracts and military engagements (i.e., wars), the expenses always increase. What conservatives really mean is that they don't want government payments to go to "those people" -- blacks, browns and low-income people -- who they consider to be undeserving.
That's why when they are asked what items they would cut from the budget, conservatives never have a good answer. They first take the largest chunks of the budget off the table -- Social Security, Medicare, defense spending and entitlements. This leaves only about 15% of the budget, which they call "discretionary spending." Then they make wild, irresponsible statements saying that they would eliminate entire departments, such as the Education Department or the Energy Department. They know this is simply not going to happen, but they really don't want anything to happen anyway. Their whole objective is to create a strawman, a phantom, a villain, a culprit who is responsible for the runaway spending. Of course, they are not the culprits, even though, again, the runaway spending happens under their watch as well as the Democrats.
I am continually amazed that the Republicans take no responsibility for what goes on in the government, even when they are in power. They blame everything on the Democrats and the Dems have, at best, a tepid response.
I guess the GOP uses this tactic because it works for them. Their beloved constituency of "working class whites" doesn't seem to have a problem with low wages and high unemployment in their communities, as long as blacks and browns aren't benefiting from any government programs. Once they perceive that there could be (not IS, but could be) any benefit to blacks or browns, they cry for smaller government.
It's the height of hypocrisy, but this attitude is leading to an increasing polarization of our politics to the point where I don't know if the government will be able to solve any genuine problems in the future. The underlying conundrum of race continues to haunt us.
That's why when they are asked what items they would cut from the budget, conservatives never have a good answer. They first take the largest chunks of the budget off the table -- Social Security, Medicare, defense spending and entitlements. This leaves only about 15% of the budget, which they call "discretionary spending." Then they make wild, irresponsible statements saying that they would eliminate entire departments, such as the Education Department or the Energy Department. They know this is simply not going to happen, but they really don't want anything to happen anyway. Their whole objective is to create a strawman, a phantom, a villain, a culprit who is responsible for the runaway spending. Of course, they are not the culprits, even though, again, the runaway spending happens under their watch as well as the Democrats.
I am continually amazed that the Republicans take no responsibility for what goes on in the government, even when they are in power. They blame everything on the Democrats and the Dems have, at best, a tepid response.
I guess the GOP uses this tactic because it works for them. Their beloved constituency of "working class whites" doesn't seem to have a problem with low wages and high unemployment in their communities, as long as blacks and browns aren't benefiting from any government programs. Once they perceive that there could be (not IS, but could be) any benefit to blacks or browns, they cry for smaller government.
It's the height of hypocrisy, but this attitude is leading to an increasing polarization of our politics to the point where I don't know if the government will be able to solve any genuine problems in the future. The underlying conundrum of race continues to haunt us.
Friday, November 5, 2010
No "Magic Bullet" To Success
I spoke with an author and life coach a few days who was excited about being quoted in an upcoming issue of Ebony magazine. I congratulated her and told her that I, too, had been featured in Ebony magazine exactly 10 years ago. She then asked me if it made a difference. My response to her was that yes, a few people mentioned that they saw it. But that one article didn't propel me to riches (an event I am still awaiting). Rather it is the accumulation of exposure over time that builds upon itself and leads to success.
I cannot count the number of times I have acquired business from people who told me they had observed my husband and I, as well as our business, for years. Yet, it might be 5 to 10 years before they actually needed our services. Because we had built a solid reputation, when they were ready, they called us.
Many times we will see the success of an individual and believe it occurred overnight, just because we are just hearing about it. In fact, that person probably labored in the vineyards unnoticed for years, scraping by on a meager existence to chase a dream that continually seemed to be elusive. After years of sacrifice, doing without, possible bankruptcy and failures large and small, they finally got their "big break."
But the so-called "big break" is like a miracle -- one has no control over it, no idea when it will manifest nor what form it will be in once it does materialize. That's why individuals who want to be successful must constantly be at work because there is no "magic bullet" to success, no get-rich-quick scheme.
Proverbs 13:11 says: Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
The road to success is traveled with many tiny steps. Get started and keep going!
I cannot count the number of times I have acquired business from people who told me they had observed my husband and I, as well as our business, for years. Yet, it might be 5 to 10 years before they actually needed our services. Because we had built a solid reputation, when they were ready, they called us.
Many times we will see the success of an individual and believe it occurred overnight, just because we are just hearing about it. In fact, that person probably labored in the vineyards unnoticed for years, scraping by on a meager existence to chase a dream that continually seemed to be elusive. After years of sacrifice, doing without, possible bankruptcy and failures large and small, they finally got their "big break."
But the so-called "big break" is like a miracle -- one has no control over it, no idea when it will manifest nor what form it will be in once it does materialize. That's why individuals who want to be successful must constantly be at work because there is no "magic bullet" to success, no get-rich-quick scheme.
Proverbs 13:11 says: Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
The road to success is traveled with many tiny steps. Get started and keep going!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Things Democrats Do Very, Very Poorly
Yesterday, I blogged about things Republicans do very, very well. As an Independent voter, I'm not wedded to either major political party and I like to take a step back and look at them both critically. I strongly support President Obama (I realize what the brother is up against) and I've been voting for Democrats lately, but there are some things they do very, very poorly when compared with the GOP. Most are the mirror opposite of Republican strengths.
- Messaging. The American public knew what the Republican message was, even though it was completely false: President Obama and the Democrats have taken over your lives, have run up the deficit and have usurped government control. They have a radical agenda and it's their fault that there are no jobs. Again, this was a complete fabrication. Yet what was the Democratic message? They were all over the place -- there was no cohesive slogan. The Republicans and their policies got us into this mess but the GOP was successful at taking absolutely no responsibility for the shape our country is in -- and the Democrats let them get away with it!
- Unity. The Democrats had a clear majority in the House and the Senate for two years and were afraid to act on it. Rather than working together with a united front, they formed a circular firing squad and pulled the trigger. In the final stretch of the campaign, when President Obama needed them most, a lot of them ran for cover. Thankfully, the majority of these weasles were defeated on Tuesday. But now there are a few rumblings on the political left about a potential challenge to Obama in 2012. Are they just plain crazy or do they have a death wish?
- Appealing to emotional triggers. Even though the Republicans are rich and have no empathy whatsoever for the lower or middle class, they are able to appeal to their fears and get them to vote. Democrats. . .well, sometimes they just don't get it. For the last six months, they should have been talking about the economy and jobs. They could have done a visual campaign showing what would have happened if the Republicans had had their way. The GOP didn't want to do the bank bailouts, but if not for them the economy would have completely collapsed. They didn't want to fund the stimulus, but if not for that, state governments would have massive layoffs and the middle class wouldn't have gotten its tax cut. They didn't want to bailout GM and Ford, but if not for that, more than 1 million jobs would have been lost. Instead, both companies have retooled, are now at profitability and on the way up again. Are the Democrats too intellectual or too high minded to figure out that winning is everything in politics? If you lose, you can't help anybody.
- Standing up to the opposition. The Democrats are too easily spooked by the GOP. If Republicans say "boo," Democrats "turn tail and run" (as the old folks used to say). They need to get some gumption, some spine, they all need to grow a pair and man up (even the women). They need to start throwing some punches instead of taking them in the gut and they need to go on the offensive, rather than having to defend all the time. Offense wins football games and elections.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Is Obama On the Ropes? History Has Clues
Some political pundits are predicting Obama's demise, implying that the mid-term elections weakened him to the point where he cannot recover for 2012. However, they are just blowing smoke. Nearly every president for the last 30 years has suffered losses in Congress at the mid-way point of his first term. Let's look at the facts.
"We're a very impatient society," Brinkley says. "People want problems solved quickly. It's a bit of a curse that the art of winning the presidency is to talk with grand rhetorical flourishes. But the act of being a president is to deliver on those promises. We are finding out that it's often tougher than candidates think."
Obama and the Democrats can regroup and do well in 2012. They need to start planning and acting NOW.
- A national poll taken shortly before this year's mid-term elections showed that 47% of respondents want Obama to seek re-election in 2012 -- back before the 1982 midterms, Gallup reported that only 36% wanted Reagan to run for re-election. Yet, two years later, Reagan won re-election winning 49 of the 50 states.
- In 1994, mid-way through Bill Clinton's first term, Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 40 years, when Democrats lost 54 seats. Yet, Clinton sailed to victory in 1996.
"We're a very impatient society," Brinkley says. "People want problems solved quickly. It's a bit of a curse that the art of winning the presidency is to talk with grand rhetorical flourishes. But the act of being a president is to deliver on those promises. We are finding out that it's often tougher than candidates think."
Obama and the Democrats can regroup and do well in 2012. They need to start planning and acting NOW.
Things Republicans Do Very, Very Well
I've been as critical as anyone about the GOP's use of right-wing tactics and its members' utter disrespect of President Obama. But with yesterday's election results and the Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives, one has to give them credit for the political things they do very, very well. They are simply better than the Democrats with some of the tactics they utilize.
Granted, I find some of these Republican tactics disgusting, but they are extremely efffective. Will Democrats learn anything from the shellacking they took in yesterday's election? That remains to be seen. But it is clear that the advantages they had in the 2008 election have evaporated. They'll need to go back to the drawing board if they expect to retain the White House and Senate in 2012, or have a prayer of regaining a majority in the House.
- Messaging: Republicans are good at sending a coherent, easy to understand message and repeating it over and over again. Their messages rarely have anything to do with the truth or the facts -- often they are completely false. But they get a message and stick with it. Their message this time was that President Obama and the Democrats have taken over people's lives with a massive increase in government control. They know most of the electorate, particularly their constitutents, don't read the details; they only read the headlines. In other words, facts don't matter.
- Unity. Republicans stick together. Unlike the Democrats, they don't throw each other under the bus or abandon their leaders when times get tough. They all sing from the same page of the same hymn book and they stick to the script.
- Appealing to emotional triggers. Republicans understand their constituents. They know that people are frightened by what has happened with the economy. They know that many people don't like the idea of having President Obama in the White House (and, yes, much of this is racial). They know that many people in the majority (that means white people) are nervous about what is happening in the country: Their percentage is dwindling and the percentage of blacks, browns and other minorities is growing. They don't realize that when Republicans talk about "cutting government spending," some of the programs they actually like are going to be affected (like Social Security, Medicare, defense spending, etc.). Republicans know that the solutions they offer -- tax cuts for the rich and letting the free market run amok -- will not solve any of these problems. But they know that an appeal to the emotions is more likely to get people to the polls than a cerebral, intellectual argument.
Granted, I find some of these Republican tactics disgusting, but they are extremely efffective. Will Democrats learn anything from the shellacking they took in yesterday's election? That remains to be seen. But it is clear that the advantages they had in the 2008 election have evaporated. They'll need to go back to the drawing board if they expect to retain the White House and Senate in 2012, or have a prayer of regaining a majority in the House.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
10 Reasons Why You Should Vote on Tuesday
Some of you may be considering opting out of Tuesday's election, disgusted and disillusioned with the entire process. I'll admit that I've had the same thoughts. But I am going to vote on Tuesday and here are ten reasons why I think you should too.
1) The most obvious: So many of our ancestors died so we could have the opportunity. They may not have been able to foresee that voting, for many of us, has boiled down to a choice between the lesser of two evils. But they fought for full citizenship rights and voting is central to that.
2) To help President Obama. The President has been called everything but a child of God by his political enemies. And the media, always eager to find fault, have created controversies were none existed (i.e., President Obama's recent interview with comedian Jon Stewart). A strong showing by his supporters would put some of these naysayers' antics to rest -- at least temporarily.
3) It's essentially free. The only costs are time and transportation. Since most polling places are close to home, costs for both should be minimal.
4) To set a good example. Children need to see their parents and other adults participate in American democracy. Thus, they will understand their role as adults and will, hopefully, emulate the exercise.
5) To shut up the pundits and prognosticators. The political pundits have been predicting that Black voters and progessive voters are disillusioned and will not go to the polls. In fact, they've already predicted the outcome before the voters have had their say. Wouldn't it be nice for them to have egg on their faces on election night?
6) To be a counterweight to the right wing nuts. Many of us spent lots of time and treasure in 2008 to remove right-wingers from office. Let's not allow them back in simply because of sheer laziness.
7) To be heard on local issues of importance. Besides the U.S. Senate and Congressional races, there will be statewide offices and local initiatives on most ballots. Most of the issues that closely affect voters are right in their own back yards.
8) To inject new blood into the political system. Incumbency carries a lot of benefits and advantages, primarily the receipt of political contributions by wealthy donors. Voting allows new candidates an opportunity to get elected and unseat some of the entrenched politicians who treat these positions like they own them.
9) To be a good citizen. Remember what you learned in elementary school social studies class? And something about pulling the lever does make you feel better.
10) If you don't vote and the political environment does not improve, you have no one to blame but yourself.
1) The most obvious: So many of our ancestors died so we could have the opportunity. They may not have been able to foresee that voting, for many of us, has boiled down to a choice between the lesser of two evils. But they fought for full citizenship rights and voting is central to that.
2) To help President Obama. The President has been called everything but a child of God by his political enemies. And the media, always eager to find fault, have created controversies were none existed (i.e., President Obama's recent interview with comedian Jon Stewart). A strong showing by his supporters would put some of these naysayers' antics to rest -- at least temporarily.
3) It's essentially free. The only costs are time and transportation. Since most polling places are close to home, costs for both should be minimal.
4) To set a good example. Children need to see their parents and other adults participate in American democracy. Thus, they will understand their role as adults and will, hopefully, emulate the exercise.
5) To shut up the pundits and prognosticators. The political pundits have been predicting that Black voters and progessive voters are disillusioned and will not go to the polls. In fact, they've already predicted the outcome before the voters have had their say. Wouldn't it be nice for them to have egg on their faces on election night?
6) To be a counterweight to the right wing nuts. Many of us spent lots of time and treasure in 2008 to remove right-wingers from office. Let's not allow them back in simply because of sheer laziness.
7) To be heard on local issues of importance. Besides the U.S. Senate and Congressional races, there will be statewide offices and local initiatives on most ballots. Most of the issues that closely affect voters are right in their own back yards.
8) To inject new blood into the political system. Incumbency carries a lot of benefits and advantages, primarily the receipt of political contributions by wealthy donors. Voting allows new candidates an opportunity to get elected and unseat some of the entrenched politicians who treat these positions like they own them.
9) To be a good citizen. Remember what you learned in elementary school social studies class? And something about pulling the lever does make you feel better.
10) If you don't vote and the political environment does not improve, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Jesus Take The Wheel?
George Hudson, one of my FB friends, wrote this yesterday, "More and more I see these days people are using religion to substitute for personal responsibility." I agree with him generally except this is not a new phenomenon. I wrote about this whole idea of "waiting" a couple of years ago in my book, "Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead: And How We Can Solve It With Group Economics." It's a reflection of the doctrine advanced in most Black churches today.
“I believe that God has created me in His image and that I have the power and ability to control my present and my future. God’s word says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ and I have faith that my efforts will succeed and that I can overcome any obstacle I may encounter. I will no longer look to others to provide my community’s needs and wants. I will take control of my neighborhoods, my schools and my businesses to provide jobs and a secure future for my children and my neighbors.”
Here's an excerpt:
With a few rare exceptions, Black ministers teach their parishioners that our future lies in the hands of entities outside ourselves. The Black church, in general, teaches its members to wait, rather than take action: Wait on God, wait on Jesus’ second coming, wait on the Rapture, wait on the afterlife or wait on some benevolent White person to deliver us from our current situation. It does not teach Black people to take control of our communities and our destinies as a routine matter.
It does teach us to respond with marches or protests when we are threatened by White racism or discrimination from members of other groups. But it does not teach that our future, if we are to have a successful one, will be based solely on our own efforts, with God’s help.
The philosophy of “waiting” was necessary during slavery and Jim Crow, when being assertive would have literally gotten African Americans killed. It was also necessary during the Civil Rights Movement, when passive resistance was the best way to prick the conscience of the American people. But, in the new millennium, a passive strategy will not suffice.
“We have been historically and helplessly waiting for the Lord, waiting for the ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ waiting for the welfare check, waiting to hit the lottery, waiting for the government and waiting for others to do for us what we should be doing for ourselves,” says Jeremiah Camara in his book, Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress?[i]
“We even wait for Democrats to take control of the White House, not realizing we are often more impacted by what is in our local communities and our homes rather than what is happening in city hall or Washington, D.C.,” he said.
“When we idly wait and witness people of other nationalities opening businesses in our neighborhoods,” added Camara, “it is not necessarily because of whom these people voted to serve in Washington
To drive home Camara’s assertion, in most cases, the people of other nationalities who open businesses in Black communities cannot even vote because they are not U.S.
The doctrine of teaching the people to wait has a long history in the traditional denominational ministries in Black churches, including Baptist, A.M.E., C.M.E., Church of God
Most of the non-denominational, or Word of Faith, ministries advocate the power of faith confessions or affirmations as a way of changing one’s reality. Based upon the Biblical principle that “death and life is in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), a new, fresh confession is needed, one which is empowering and does not rely on other groups to meet our needs.
Following is an example of a confession or affirmation that moves in that direction:
“I believe that God has created me in His image and that I have the power and ability to control my present and my future. God’s word says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ and I have faith that my efforts will succeed and that I can overcome any obstacle I may encounter. I will no longer look to others to provide my community’s needs and wants. I will take control of my neighborhoods, my schools and my businesses to provide jobs and a secure future for my children and my neighbors.”
A fresh, innovative doctrine is needed because, before a change can occur, the people’s minds must first be reprogrammed to no longer expect deliverance to come from outside our community. Throughout our nearly 400-year history in America we have been taught to see our future as an extension of the future of White Americans – first as our slave masters, then as our bosses and our elected officials. To survive and prosper, we must begin to see our future in our own hands, using our God-given ability to chart a destiny that is not contingent upon what any other group does.
[i] Holy Lockdown, p. 125.
[ii] Ibid, pp. 125-126.
Copies of "Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead and How We Can Solve It With Group Economics" are available from the following sources:
Autographed copies available at Cushcity.com:
http://www.cushcity.com/books/098002501x.htm
Amazon.com Kindle edition
Copies of "Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead and How We Can Solve It With Group Economics" are available from the following sources:
Autographed copies available at Cushcity.com:
http://www.cushcity.com/books/098002501x.htm
Amazon.com Kindle edition
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Music's Just Not Music Anymore
One of my Facebook friends posted today that she walked past her 15-year-old daughter's room, heard the music coming out of the speakers from her daughter's iPod, and "couldn't believe the words" she heard. She sent up a prayer and a confession: "Lord, Jesus, please help our kids." Sadly, music's just not music anymore.
Remember when the whole family used to listen to the classic sounds of the Temptations, Supremes, Spinners, O'Jays, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire. . .the list goes on and on. The lyrics were clean and the messages were either about love, having fun or changing the world. With a few exceptions, saying that today's music is "not family friendly" is a gross understatement. Much of it is garbage and if parents knew what they're children were listening to, the hairs on the backs of their necks would stand up.
Parents need to get more involved early on. They can't wait until the teen years to monitor their children's music and set guidelines. My daughter received an iPod for her 10th birthday. She is now 14. Since she got the device, we have a rule that I have to approve EVERY song that is downloaded to it. Since we purchase the songs for 99 cents and I'm paying for them, she has to adhere to the rules.
Once she upgrades to an iPOD Nano, the rules will still apply. I refuse to pay for garbage and filth going into my daughter's ears. No songs labeled "explicit" are approved, but I try to be somewhat flexible with the rap music. I still have to see written lyrics first. Fortunately, my daughter was brought up on old school music so half the songs on her iPod are old school and she has a real appreciation for good music.
I'm not naive (since I was 14 once upon a time) and I know that my daughter listens to music on her own. But since she was raised with musical standards and guidelines, she is less likely to stray from them. We have good lines of communication and she tells me a lot of the rap music is about sexual exploits, private parts, demeaning to women, etc. Remember: Train up a child. . .
The music industry tries to blame the victim, saying that parents need to be responsible. And this is true. But they know that about 80% of the market for music is between 12 and 25 years of age. They know this garbage is being listened to by children. They just don't care because they're "making money."
Parents: Beware, be involved, be informed, be vigilant. . .be blessed.
Remember when the whole family used to listen to the classic sounds of the Temptations, Supremes, Spinners, O'Jays, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire. . .the list goes on and on. The lyrics were clean and the messages were either about love, having fun or changing the world. With a few exceptions, saying that today's music is "not family friendly" is a gross understatement. Much of it is garbage and if parents knew what they're children were listening to, the hairs on the backs of their necks would stand up.
Parents need to get more involved early on. They can't wait until the teen years to monitor their children's music and set guidelines. My daughter received an iPod for her 10th birthday. She is now 14. Since she got the device, we have a rule that I have to approve EVERY song that is downloaded to it. Since we purchase the songs for 99 cents and I'm paying for them, she has to adhere to the rules.
Once she upgrades to an iPOD Nano, the rules will still apply. I refuse to pay for garbage and filth going into my daughter's ears. No songs labeled "explicit" are approved, but I try to be somewhat flexible with the rap music. I still have to see written lyrics first. Fortunately, my daughter was brought up on old school music so half the songs on her iPod are old school and she has a real appreciation for good music.
I'm not naive (since I was 14 once upon a time) and I know that my daughter listens to music on her own. But since she was raised with musical standards and guidelines, she is less likely to stray from them. We have good lines of communication and she tells me a lot of the rap music is about sexual exploits, private parts, demeaning to women, etc. Remember: Train up a child. . .
The music industry tries to blame the victim, saying that parents need to be responsible. And this is true. But they know that about 80% of the market for music is between 12 and 25 years of age. They know this garbage is being listened to by children. They just don't care because they're "making money."
Parents: Beware, be involved, be informed, be vigilant. . .be blessed.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
America's Misguided Political Right Wing
As the mid-term election season winds to a close, America has had the opportunity to observe the political right wing in all of its glory. There's very little subtlety in their approach -- usually they more closely resemble a mob than a political faction.
"We need to return to the original intent of the Founding Fathers" is a statement the right wing is fond of making. But they fail to recognize that, while the spirit of the original intent may have been heart felt, the reality was that three-fourths of the nation (women and Blacks) was excluded, resulting in ramifications for later generations. Once everyone was allowed to participate, the demands and consequences changed. Things are never going to be the way they once were (thank God) and the right wing's nostalgia is myopic, at best.
In addition, their economic solution of tax cuts for the rich as a panacea for everything has no basis in reality and works against any chance our nation has for a prosperous future. There are some tasks for the common good that only the government can perform. The interstate highway system, the semiconductor and, yes, even the Internet, were all innovations that were funded with government dollars. Investors of private and corporate money require a return on investment within a relatively short period of time. Projects like those listed above take years, sometimes decades, before the benefits and/or profits are realized. Yet, can any of us imagine a world without them?
The right wing seems to be more concerned about who benefits from new programs and they would rather throw out the baby with the bath water -- keep "those people" from benefiting -- even if it means that they too lose in the process. That's why any solutions to health care, energy or even jobs are so elusive.
The political left has its problems too, but the right wing is so out of touch that it's hard to take them seriously if you believe that all American citizens have equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
"We need to return to the original intent of the Founding Fathers" is a statement the right wing is fond of making. But they fail to recognize that, while the spirit of the original intent may have been heart felt, the reality was that three-fourths of the nation (women and Blacks) was excluded, resulting in ramifications for later generations. Once everyone was allowed to participate, the demands and consequences changed. Things are never going to be the way they once were (thank God) and the right wing's nostalgia is myopic, at best.
In addition, their economic solution of tax cuts for the rich as a panacea for everything has no basis in reality and works against any chance our nation has for a prosperous future. There are some tasks for the common good that only the government can perform. The interstate highway system, the semiconductor and, yes, even the Internet, were all innovations that were funded with government dollars. Investors of private and corporate money require a return on investment within a relatively short period of time. Projects like those listed above take years, sometimes decades, before the benefits and/or profits are realized. Yet, can any of us imagine a world without them?
The right wing seems to be more concerned about who benefits from new programs and they would rather throw out the baby with the bath water -- keep "those people" from benefiting -- even if it means that they too lose in the process. That's why any solutions to health care, energy or even jobs are so elusive.
The political left has its problems too, but the right wing is so out of touch that it's hard to take them seriously if you believe that all American citizens have equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing
As a bookstore retailer and marketer, I have observed the trend in the closure of independent bookstores in general, and African American bookstores in particularly. I posted my ten reasons why Black bookstores are closing on Facebook in September 2010, but wanted to post them on my blog so the information could have some permanence. Here it is.
1) Book sales migrated to the Internet. Most Black bookstores failed to take advantage of this trend. According to WebPro News, books are the #1 item people purchase online. Other brick-and-mortar chains, such as Blockbuster, also were flanked by their online competition, so this trend is not exclusive to bookstores.
2) Price competition. The advent of Internet sales ushered deep discounting on books. Because large online sites like, Amazon and Wal-Mart, are able to take advantage of volume discounts, Black bookstores could not match these discounted prices and, if they tried to, they were unable to maintain profitability.
3) Failure to diversify. With the advent of price competition and Internet book sales, diversification into other product lines was the only way Black bookstores stood a chance of maintaining viability. Most did not make this adjustment fast enough and some didn't make it at all.
4) African American Sections Added to stores like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, WaldenBooks and Borders. Black consumers urged the major chains to include African American sections in their stores. Once this occurred, most Black consumers flocked to these stores for their purchases and kicked the Black bookstores to the curb. (See reason #5)
5) Lack of loyalty from consumers. African American consumers do not have a tradition of loyalty to Black-owned establishments. If they can purchase the same products at a white-owned (Asian-owned, or any non-black owned) establishment, they will do so FIRST. The vast majority will only shop at a black-owned establishment if they have no choice -- if they are unable to obtain a much-desired item elsewhere. This is the primary reason why dollars leave our community so rapidly, while other ethnic groups have loyalty to their merchants and turn dollars multiple times.
6) Black Expressions Book Club. Owned by Doubleday, Black Expressions Book Club has the financial resources to advertise in every major Black magazine in America. They offer 4 books for $1 to African American consumers if they agree to purchase X number of books over a two-year period. They now have 460,000+ Black readers as members and these individuals obtain many of their books this way, rather than shop at brick-and-mortar bookstores. A lot of the members of the club actually believe it is Black-owned, when it most definitely is not.
7) Unprofitable locations. Many of the Black-owned bookstores are located in predominantly Black neighborhoods. The reading population of Black consumers tends to be middle-class and these people tend to live in suburban areas and mixed-raced communities. The bookstores are not in proximity to their most likely clientele.
8) Poor management. Many people who opened Black bookstores did so because they had a passion for literature, but not necessarily because they had good business and management skills. A business requires experienced management in order to be successful. It also requires sacrifice -- one has to reinvest dollars into their business for the long-term, especially during the early years, and not take money out of the business for personal "bling."
9) Tough economic times. When the economy goes into a recession, the firms in the weakest position are among the many casualties. Many of the black-owned bookstores were already barely hanging on when the economy took a nose-dive in 2008. With limited financing and a dwindling clientele, they simply had no choice but to close their doors.
10) Lack of commitment from owners. Business ownership is not for the faint of heart and requires a tremendous commitment. Recessions will come and go, but if the commitment is there, the entrepreneur will find a way to adjust with the environment. It may be painful during the tough times, but faith, ingenuity, a willingness to be innovative and stay abreast of the industry will lead to ultimate success. To survive, these stores must figure out how to remain relevant.
1) Book sales migrated to the Internet. Most Black bookstores failed to take advantage of this trend. According to WebPro News, books are the #1 item people purchase online. Other brick-and-mortar chains, such as Blockbuster, also were flanked by their online competition, so this trend is not exclusive to bookstores.
2) Price competition. The advent of Internet sales ushered deep discounting on books. Because large online sites like, Amazon and Wal-Mart, are able to take advantage of volume discounts, Black bookstores could not match these discounted prices and, if they tried to, they were unable to maintain profitability.
3) Failure to diversify. With the advent of price competition and Internet book sales, diversification into other product lines was the only way Black bookstores stood a chance of maintaining viability. Most did not make this adjustment fast enough and some didn't make it at all.
4) African American Sections Added to stores like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, WaldenBooks and Borders. Black consumers urged the major chains to include African American sections in their stores. Once this occurred, most Black consumers flocked to these stores for their purchases and kicked the Black bookstores to the curb. (See reason #5)
5) Lack of loyalty from consumers. African American consumers do not have a tradition of loyalty to Black-owned establishments. If they can purchase the same products at a white-owned (Asian-owned, or any non-black owned) establishment, they will do so FIRST. The vast majority will only shop at a black-owned establishment if they have no choice -- if they are unable to obtain a much-desired item elsewhere. This is the primary reason why dollars leave our community so rapidly, while other ethnic groups have loyalty to their merchants and turn dollars multiple times.
6) Black Expressions Book Club. Owned by Doubleday, Black Expressions Book Club has the financial resources to advertise in every major Black magazine in America. They offer 4 books for $1 to African American consumers if they agree to purchase X number of books over a two-year period. They now have 460,000+ Black readers as members and these individuals obtain many of their books this way, rather than shop at brick-and-mortar bookstores. A lot of the members of the club actually believe it is Black-owned, when it most definitely is not.
7) Unprofitable locations. Many of the Black-owned bookstores are located in predominantly Black neighborhoods. The reading population of Black consumers tends to be middle-class and these people tend to live in suburban areas and mixed-raced communities. The bookstores are not in proximity to their most likely clientele.
8) Poor management. Many people who opened Black bookstores did so because they had a passion for literature, but not necessarily because they had good business and management skills. A business requires experienced management in order to be successful. It also requires sacrifice -- one has to reinvest dollars into their business for the long-term, especially during the early years, and not take money out of the business for personal "bling."
9) Tough economic times. When the economy goes into a recession, the firms in the weakest position are among the many casualties. Many of the black-owned bookstores were already barely hanging on when the economy took a nose-dive in 2008. With limited financing and a dwindling clientele, they simply had no choice but to close their doors.
10) Lack of commitment from owners. Business ownership is not for the faint of heart and requires a tremendous commitment. Recessions will come and go, but if the commitment is there, the entrepreneur will find a way to adjust with the environment. It may be painful during the tough times, but faith, ingenuity, a willingness to be innovative and stay abreast of the industry will lead to ultimate success. To survive, these stores must figure out how to remain relevant.
The Church and the Economy
When economic times are tight, you can tell what a church's priorities are by the programs and services they cut. If a church is eliminating programs for the children, youth and needy, but are retaining the "bling" for the pastor -- e.g., jets, helicopters, high-end cars, expensive vacations -- then they've missed the meaning of Christianity.
The children and youth represent tomorrow, our future. In these times when Satan is busy trying to capture the souls and minds of our children with low moral standards and material excess, the church is needed more than ever. In addition, the government can do only so much for those in need. It is the church's charge to fill the gap.
Jesus set the example. He could have ridden in a chariot or a camel with eight "armor bearers" surrounding him, keeping the people at bay. Instead, he rode on a donkey, surrounded by the people, so he could tend to and address their needs.
The church is the body -- it is all of us. But if we are following leadership that is misguided, then we are individually to blame. We need to recommit ourselves to the original tenets of Christianity: Love God, love your fellow man, keep the commandments, win souls for Christ.
The children and youth represent tomorrow, our future. In these times when Satan is busy trying to capture the souls and minds of our children with low moral standards and material excess, the church is needed more than ever. In addition, the government can do only so much for those in need. It is the church's charge to fill the gap.
Jesus set the example. He could have ridden in a chariot or a camel with eight "armor bearers" surrounding him, keeping the people at bay. Instead, he rode on a donkey, surrounded by the people, so he could tend to and address their needs.
The church is the body -- it is all of us. But if we are following leadership that is misguided, then we are individually to blame. We need to recommit ourselves to the original tenets of Christianity: Love God, love your fellow man, keep the commandments, win souls for Christ.
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