tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82273661826089491542024-03-05T13:31:43.503-06:00Millenium 2100: Post-Racial Proof positive a monkey & typewriter get some things right <br> "Pay us like you owe us for all the years that you ho'd us"Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-25445555131733985162014-07-12T07:19:00.001-05:002014-09-29T10:00:47.152-05:00 LeBron James: So Generous; Sui Generis <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The reasons LeBron James returned to Cleveland are many and myriad, with more motifs, motives and modi operandi than I can comprehend. Perhaps even he is not sure of all the forces behind his decison. What appears on the surface to be an emotional choice can instead of and as well be viewed as a smart business decision as his endorsements won't suffer and in fact are probably enhanced by his deft judgment and a surely genuine sui generis moment in professional sports; an athlete trying to give back to his community, especially in the black community, where human resources are severely scarce as the forces of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, incarceration, and structual and institutional racism take their toll. It appears as if James may really be <a href="http://binged.it/1zvPaDH">The Chosen One</a>, trying to help raise the standards of his whole community. A leader by example of what giving back means, for the people and by the people.</div>
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The opportunity to continue to learn and share his basketball prowess with other basketball elites, coaches and players alike, as well as ownership he knew and respected and was still comfortable with, played a part as well. Don't think owning an NBA team isn't a part of the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/qU7tVTCTLh/?modal=true">KingJames</a> future.</div>
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From the physical and mental aspect, a Cleveland team filled largely with young, vibrant minds still learning the game, and LeBron, still smarting from the way the Spurs dissected his team, hopes to help build and mentor a team to the NBA Championship. The kind of team that strives to find the best shot possible, regardless who shoots it, and a team that plays the best help defense in the NBA. </div>
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The Cavaliers were the best logical choice. He gets to try and groom them to playing basketball the right way, so much harder to do with established veterans, although they did well in Miami, it was over to LeBron, obviously. This new team is years younger and now man for man are a team to be reckoned with that will only get better. Wouldn't it be fun to see the Cavs win an NBA title? <br />
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The Cavs were 21 games behind Miami last year. If Lebron is good for 10, that makes them even, and the season hasn't even started. (Lebron brings Cleveland up at least 10 games and the Heat fall back 10 games next year. It's my math and I'm sticking to it.)</div>
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I first noticed James as he scored <a href="http://bit.ly/1mIMVqF">25 points</a> in a row against Detroit in the playoffs. We all watched him take Miami to four straight NBA finals and I was astonished as he took his talents back to the Midwest. Those were moments but what is really amazing to me is what transpired in <a href="http://bit.ly/1m0MaoB">Si.Com</a>. LeBron said "I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get." To me, that is impressive. For me, this is his signature moment, not as a basketball player, but as a black man. </div>
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I can see a political career for Mr. James if he chooses. Maybe even commissioner of the NBA someday. The graciousness he exuded concerning the Dan Gilbert letter and the fans that burned his jersey generated goodwill of unheard of proportions in <a href="http://binged.it/U7ruVo">O-H-I-O</a>. The man can run for mayor now and when he retires in most cities in America, don't doubt it. Much like Dave Bing and Kevin Johnson, among others, but with just a bit more cachet. Another trip to D.C. might be down the road as well, only this time as a member of the legislature.</div>
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With what he publicly set out to do and accomplished and with what his future portends, nothing he does will surprise any of us anymore. I can't wait for LeBron James and The Ohio Players in <a href="http://instagram.com/p/qUUdxNiTFr/?modal=true">Cleveland</a> next year. The NBA just became more interesting. </div>
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Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-24385553699717319082012-11-12T19:40:00.002-06:002013-06-16T17:14:15.016-05:00Barack Obama: 21st Century Black Genius<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In response to Fred Thompson column in The National Review Online <a href="http://bit.ly/RyH5b8">http://bit.ly/RyH5b8</a></div>
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Why Obama won</h3>
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"United States decided on the best choice."</h4>
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All of the lies and flip-flops Romney made, YOU can't even address them. America voted for the better man. Allow me to address your concerns elucidated previously.<br />
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“Being a businessman worked against him.” What kind of genius does it take to leverage a company into bankruptcy, destroying a viable American business in the process, take all the money, fire all the workers then ship all the jobs to china? <br />
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“Peanut allergies are epidemic and we’ve nominated Mr. Planter.” Few envy Romney his money but making it off the backs of fired American workers was too much for us average folk. He continued to lie and dodge about his tax reforms, obviously would support continuing super rich tax cuts and wouldn't ever show us his tax returns. How could we in good faith trust in his business acumen or in him?<br />
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“Role of money.” Your party were the ones overjoyed with the 2010 Citizens United decision but be careful what you wish for applies here. The citizens did unite and we gave freely to Barack Obama. Super PACs, 50l(c)(4)s and the ignominious Karl Rove fiascos, American Crossroads and Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, were defeated by GOP arrogance and failing to understand the changing face of democracy in America; simple white man politics rhetoric is dead. Time for new politics for a new epoch. <br />
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“Couldn’t make the case.” Romney couldn't make his case because it was built upon a house of cards, depending on who was dealing to determine what he was saying that day. Besides, Ayn Rand or trickle down economics are not only ancient, but failed concepts. Giving money to those in need would much better drive the recovery than Bush tax breaks for the wealthy. That is just simple math. Those in need would spend it, thereby lubricating the supply chain all the way up. Trickle down leaves it to the largesse of the business community to generate jobs. The former, much more than the latter, creates inertia for a recovering economy. Finally, it isn't so much that the proceeds from the super rich will fix our economy, it's the idea that they are paying their fair share, a concept not connected with percentages and dollar amounts, but more with a concept that prides itself on fairness and justice for all. We call that democracy, remember her? She governs so that all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that are affecting their lives.<br />
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"Hurricane Sandy and the “Christie embrace.” Imma give you that one, see because I am objective, I believe. The president proved he was the man for the job and Christie, who no doubt played the race card, (the one for 2016 presidential election), knew which side his bread was going to be buttered on. It didn't help that Romney had bad timing when he said Fema should be dismantled and states should be left to themselves to rebuild from disasters. Romney showed he wasnt presidential with those positions. Additionally, his blathering about Benghazi, even before the bodies had been recovered, was clearly a mistake. Politicizing that situation inaccurately and trying to get President Obama involved in minutia regarding whether he called the attack a terrorist action, only highlighted the smallness of the man. <br />
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"Despite all of this, Mitt kept it close with good debate performances." If you consider losing 2 out of 3 debates a good performance, well that explains how your whole sanctimonious GOP platform failed; being out of touch with reality does have repercussions.</div>
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“People concluded it doesn’t matter.” That old saw, trying to suppress the vote indirectly didn't work this time. The supposedly no difference between the candidates spiel we saw right through. We concluded that Romney didn't matter, nor did the GOP vision of and for America. It's a new day and we are feeling mighty good, get used to it. On the diminished GOP vote, they didn't stay home, they switched sides. Had you considered that? Add that to your why Romney lost soliloquy. <br />
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It does make a difference who is President of the United States, which must be a shock to you. Also a shock to you no doubt is that a Black man won again. You all expected your patriarchal and patronizing, good ol' boy, racist dog whistle, class warfare, ultra-conservative and antiquated business as usual politics to win, but the good guys won this time. The gay, God fearing, Asian, weed smoking, freedom of choice, transvestite, young, civil union wanting, Black, bi-sexual, Latin, contraceptive using, white, single woman, bi-racial, moms, educated and Warren Buffett all say it makes a difference. That is todays America. And that is why our 44th President is Barack Obama, 21st century Black genius.</div>
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Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-83168976025047679282012-02-10T10:50:00.058-06:002016-06-16T15:57:26.601-05:00 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-62289761593944206542011-11-02T00:19:00.002-05:002013-06-16T17:00:40.483-05:00Uncle Tom(e)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My points are valid and rather smoothly, here is my mantra Im going old school G; </div>
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delivering the message with style and grace, by the end of this session you and I can relate.</div>
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Here is the message not only for you visually, to take it easy on your learning disability; </div>
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the message is given to you empirically, follow along now trace the words lyrically.</div>
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Check it I aint mad at ya in fact I am ecstatic, black man to college and not a dope addict; </div>
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that sits at home streaming thoughts emphatic, hitting the bong and trippin the lights fantastic.</div>
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I can see you practicing how cow in your attic, watching oprah on tv mad ya got bad static; </div>
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nothing but a smiling face fake with some plastic, talking tome yourself and getting quite sarcastic.</div>
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My pen writes more dope than you have smoked, knowledge is your hope that you wont be a joke; </div>
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you start to choke when have to choose colors, a sellout so long dont know your own brothers,</div>
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Johnson or their song, get the funk out my face, back where you belong put you in your place. </div>
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Go get some slackers yeah play ps2 with crackers, we are the same color but you are a real motha. </div>
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Gonna have to fight to defend your views, be it black or white what race you choose; </div>
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you and your company really want to be white, no conscious in sight lets you sleep at night.</div>
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We cant get along until you learn circumspection, read the bible or koran get yourself in check son. </div>
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Giving you free lessons and now you stressing, spending time second guessing your own obsessions. </div>
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Now you can get with this or you can get with that, respect yourself - try to remember where you at. </div>
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Now you think you too cool going to a big school, favorite main ingredient everybody plays the fool.</div>
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I got a perfect stranger a full ride scholarship, worried writing papers so I helped him polish it; </div>
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even show you the school and his email slick, no need to make it up lord works miracles quick </div>
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Used to play chess in my best of days, made the moves while blazing purple haze; </div>
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glad it was really just a temporary phase, wisdom pass it on time earned sage.</div>
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My mind sees colors words my ink and canvas, stream of consciousness I didnt even plan this. </div>
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Still waters run deep and Im long and cold too, do ya thing playa but even you gotta pay some dues.</div>
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Hard to buy a house because they still redlining, discriminately shooting not guilty they are finding;</div>
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cops running brothers over and robbing them too, if you forget the past it will become your future boo.</div>
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A very special time now we are at the crossroads, youth leaders today taking over from the old souls; </div>
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waited your turn now you are in charge and in control, don't wind up tricked waking up on hoe stroll.</div>
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I know you had fun but I gotta get ghost son, have to run and get my notes and online posts done; </div>
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as the future of the black American fight for civil rights, careful who your friends are but include a few like me aight?</div>
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Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-17246970164837208202011-01-10T17:14:00.000-06:002011-05-09T15:36:35.612-05:00Original Rap Game4, 3, 2 and to the 1 done, I'm writin' this smack down just for fun son. First part, about my history, when it all became clear, like an epiphany.<br />
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When you look at me you see an amalgamation, cause my blood is mixed with the entire nations'. I'm an old G thug you a wannabe gangster, don't fuck with me or I'll have to gank ya, wanksta. <br />
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Dont play me freak cause I dont have time and I aint too fuckin' weak to pull out my nine. I take my respect, better give me some room, cause my trigger finger's itchin' for the sound of the boom,<br />
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from my 44 magnums goin zoom, zoom, zoom, and I always have them, they're my temples of doom. (SUPERFREAK) Do, do, do, do, it would be so simple, dropping shots, to the beat of a Rick James bassline tempo. <br />
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Start my nina blastin' caps without regret, send you to the undertaker with my personal check. Then it's too late to hear your secret confession, how I had become your number 1 obsession, <br />
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with my cold flow, that cuts you to your core, magician tricks my words and you never get bored. Be a poster boy on MTV with Ashton Kutcher, lookin' liked you got crunk like a steroid abuser. <br />
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Then I'll do my time without moanin' and whinin' cause a short while later I'll be filet mignonin', wearin' Sean Johns', Enyces and my Guccis, drinking all the Cristal, smellin' like coochi. <br />
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Ladies I have them, clock em' like Tyson, finger lickin' good like chicken, you oughta try some. I flow cold, like the wind from Chicago, women give me money like I'm the Wells Fargo. <br />
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And my fellas, I always do them right, we go droptop ridin' GMCs late night. We on Dubs, rollin', inside and out, down low, smoke thick, cant see, no doubt, <br />
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out of my Yukon Denali, cruise control locked, chance of getting stopped, by cops drops, to slim, or dim,like the lights behind my rims; illuminatin' the ground just of ahead of my sounds. <br />
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Playin poundin' pavement, glass shakin', baby makin', old school soul. Teddy P. still blows, smooth, like Close The Door. For a late night liaison, a change of pace you know The Deele, Two Occasions, Babyface just feels, <br />
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like a gentle persuasion, for my number 1 stunner, we flow front to back, in the middle of the Summer. Spring or fall, dont matter what the weather is, no ring at all, she's still the one I'm treasurin'. <br />
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The Mary Jane Girls and Lionel said, we goin' All Night Long before we even hit the bed, room for another, dont mind ya sister, but ya cant bring your brother or even your mother, <br />
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to this m'enage 'a trois, no time to pause, que sera sera, my mind's in a fog, been blow to bits, just about to call it quits, Bloodstone's the cd, track 6 is the shit. <br />
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While playing take to the sky on a Natural High, We gotta drop ya by the curb with a wave goodbye. Dry Ya Pretty Brown Eyes, my undercover shorty, we made a lot of good vibes, and you can keep the 40. <br />
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My driver hits the switches as she shuts the door, we rise 6 inches before the pedal hits the floor. Rollin' down the avenue laughing like fools, chest hurts so much you know there's gonna be a bruise; <br />
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from the chokin' from the tokin' on a one foot blunt, we gettin crunked from the skunk so I pass it up front, to my best friend drivin', she's my four-leaf clover, knows just what to say if 5 oh pulls us over. <br />
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When the red lights flash and siren starts to wail, I drop my stash, count my cash, hit the bluetooth, makin' bail. My lawyer got busy before we even hit the jail, woman so fine makes me dizzy but I never hit that tail. <br />
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Gave me some mail that I was not inclined to pick up, as I reclined, saw the bill, it was a stick-up. Seriously stuntin' I was watching the Bourne Identity, wouldnt be frontin' to say that homegirl was glad to see me. <br />
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Rolled down my tinted window and in jest said c'est la vie, shyster winked, blew a kiss and said I best be paid by 3. There you have it, no longer to you a mystery, a real dichotomy I am, this is just one part of me.<br />
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This is my 1st rap ever written, this is how we do it.<br />
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copyright © 2009 D.Allen "Original Rap Game"Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-15466892378655858142010-11-02T15:50:00.451-05:002011-05-09T15:41:16.655-05:00To Vote or Not to Vote: is that really the question?I voted this midterm but not without a few starts and stops. My wife Kathy and I decided that we wanted to be in line early at our voting precinct. When the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ZX-geGG_g" target="new">alarm went off</a> at 5:30 a.m., I lamented my fate as I only had had 2 hours of sleep. My first thought was wtf?! Oh, yeah, voting today. I rolled over after turning off the clock and the first words out of my mouth to my wife, truth be told were, "we don't have to vote, it really won't matter." She says, "well I'm going." And that was the end of the discussion. Her parents taught her well; voting is fundamental.<br />
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The absurdity of my "won't matter" statement floated into my dreams as I sleepily remembered being upset the night before about folks twittering all day about voting, and that they should have been doing that 6 months ago, every one of them, myself included. As I returned to consciousness about 6 or so, it became clear that I really did want to vote. So I bum rushed my wife out the door as she gave me one of those "you-cant-be-serious" looks because she had been up for awhile and didn't expect me to wake up and vote.<br />
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She has a point there. I don't imagine I can count on more than one hand the number of votes she has missed, most caused by our moving from one state to another a few times. Given a chance to roost, she takes her democratic responsibility seriously. I, on the other hand, can count the number of times I have voted on one hand I suspect, maybe two but I'm leaning towards one. Seriously. I was one of those self-disenfranchised voters y'all be talking about. I suffered from apathy; what difference does it make? I felt deprived of power; marginalized.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><h4>They three-fifths compromised our bodies for <br />
taxes and representation; by not getting <br />
organized and voting freely, our minds are <br />
locked within a slave's mentality; allowing <br />
others who've mastered the vote to decide our future.</h4></div><br />
Whether my disenfranchisement was caused by time spent working incarceration with a hate for all things tinged with the man; or a lack of financial well being, being unemployed often not by choice usually put me in a negative frame of mind; or perhaps it was living a cut or two below where I deduced I/we should be living or maybe that blunt purple hazed my reality; perhaps just another logical fallacy or could it be, voting just didn't matter to me. <br />
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Now I can give you lots of mathematical statistical data that correlates with my a(pathetic)al mentality, that my vote did not matter, until I sparked within a few years back, a while before Mr. Barack Obama was running for the presidency; (although I was voting for Mrs Clinton because I thought she had a better chance of winning), that my vote really did matter, allow me to elucidate. <br />
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America is founded on one vote one voice. My vote counts for more than just another ballot in the box. My voting sets an example for my children, my friends, my peers and others that participating in the process is democracy in action. It is important that we keep exercising our right to vote. In local contests especially, a concerted effort can change outcomes of elections, we have all seen it done. <br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Almost 7% of the entire voting-age population is</h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">disenfranchised due to a past felony conviction in</h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">Virginia; most of the state's 20% African American </h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">population is <a href="http://www.theroot.com/views/voting-rights-act-45-whats-celebrate" target="new">locked out</a> of the voting booth.</h4><br />
From a historical perspective, scores of men, women and children have died trying to not only gain the right to vote, but to defend that right as well. Blacks and other disenfranchised groups have had to struggle for their fair share of the democratic process; the right to cast their ballot for the candidate, amendment, proposition, tax, et al. that all comes with being a member of these United States of America and subsidiaries. <br />
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I believe now that I have a duty to not only honor those before me, but after as well. I must continue to stand up and do whatever it takes to continue to cast my vote anyway I choose, not mattering for whom; just do it. To do so otherwise dishonors their hard work, their lives, and their memories. <br />
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My wife and I arrived at 6:25 a.m. and we were first in line. Well, since I dropped her off she was actually first but after I parked the car and she realized how long we had to wait, she went back and read her book in the car. So, I am first in line to vote, for the first time in my life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><h4>In America about 13 percent of all African-American <br />
men are <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/how-do-you-disenfranchise_n_502178.html"target="new">disenfranchised.</a> I'm tryin' to pull ya coat why do you think they keep trying to <a href="http://bit.ly/bKujoJ"target="new">steal your right</a> to vote?</h4></div><br />
"Doing what needs to be done," I reasoned, as I longed for my bed. About 10-15 minutes later others started to stroll up and after their double-takes seeing me at the head of the line, they assumed what is now SOP; playing on phones, Kindles, mp3 players, or just drank their coffee, silently. I decided then on writing this blog after after seeing their reactions. I covertly started taking a demographic assessment of my fellow constituents. I can only remember 30 but the rudimentary breakdown was 7 women and 23 men. <br />
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I hoped for other Blacks to show up to be a part of the process and let out a sign of relief when number 15 was a dapper, mature brother with a bluetooth in his ear. I silently high fived him for being here until I realized he may have been coming for decades, whilst I was new in this precinct and it was he silently high fiving me. Ok, I can go with that.<br />
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<em>The Texas Secretary of State site has some misinformation on it. <em>While </em><em>it is </em><em>true you have to register 30 days in advance </em><em>of any election, you </em><em>don't </em></em><em><em>have to have your registration card </em><em>with you. It is permanent </em><em>unless you move and change precincts.</em><em> Check your local laws and </em><em>pass the information forward.</em></em><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">They go to the polls, like it's an elegant religion, <br />
we lose our controls, with unintelligent decisions.</h4><br />
Did you know they have a Swearing-In ceremony for Election Officials on Election Morning? I didn't either. I watched the Election Judge do that. The polls opened at 7 a.m. and we went inside and lined up according to our last names; they only had 3 rows, thank heavens I was first. All of the Election Officials were White women except for 1 senior Black male who was an alternate Election Judge. 5 Election Officials and one main Election Judge makes 7 total. I asked one Election Official what I needed to be able to vote and she said I needed a voter registration card.<br />
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As I handed her my driver's license I was grateful that I had looked up the requirements the night before. I had discovered that all I needed to be able to vote was to have been registered for 30 days prior to the election, and just to show them something that proved who I was, albeit a driver's license or personal identification card, expired or not. It's important to know the rules of the game. Sometimes those in charge of the process willingly or unwillingly lead us astray.<br />
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<em>In order to vote I also could have used any identification containing a photograph </em><em>that established my identity; a birth certificate or other document </em><em>confirming </em><em>birth that is admissible in a court of law; United States citizenship papers issued to me; a United States passport issued to </em><em>me; official mail addressed </em><em>to me from a governmental entity; a copy </em><em>of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, </em><em>or other government document </em><em>that shows my name and address; or any other form of identification prescribed </em><em>by the Secretary of State, </em><em>all allow me to vote.</em><br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Trust me, I so wanted to give her a gas or </h4><h4 style="text-align: center;">water bill but prudence dictated otherwise.</h4><br />
There were 6 electronic polling machines and one of them was broken, wouldn't you know it. I guess it wasn't important enough to plug them in and check a day or two before. Imagine this happening in larger communities and the resultant furor that would cause. Note: I will be contacting my local precinct and reporting this ridiculous development. Not exactly how one wants to run an election, I dont't think. This needs to change, no excuse.<br />
<br />
My unofficial voter demographics of the first 30 or so participants of 23 men and 7 women included one each of Asian persuasion, three Black men and 1 woman, the rest were White. I must add that a sister was getting in line while we were leaving but not counted in the first 30. <br />
<br />
After we <strike>exercised our constitutional right to</strike> cast our votes, my wife and I had breakfast out before she went to work. She told me she had a good time, I did too. Might have only been the second time we ever voted at the same time. Our voting turned into an outing where we shared time together. I am beginning to respect and understand better this privilege our forefathers, no, <u> our</u> forefathers, handed down to us. I realize most of the suffering and sacrificing that made it possible for me to be able to vote today. <br />
<br />
As I continue to evolve my nascent conscience, I pass this on to you; don't sleep. Any registered voter in California may vote using a <a href="http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm"target="new">vote-by-mail</a> ballot instead of going to the polls on Election Day while in <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml"target="new">Texas</a> the requirements are much more restrictive. Between early voting, absentee and vote-by-mail ballots, it becomes really easy to vote for some of you. As citizens, one vote one voice is our opportunity to have a say in the world around us.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">By not voting you are simply playing yourself, <br />
it's another way they use to distribute the wealth; <br />
either you get some, or you get none.</h4><br />
<em>In Texas, persons declared mentally incompetent and felons in prison or on probation are denied the right to vote. A convicted felon regains the right to vote after completing his or her sentence. Once the punishment phase has been completed (including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by the court), you would be eligible to register and vote within the state.</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP4NAoesPli5ogTzlAQsGaxkroMkvXIvUfWjZEppcYEUWR-zKwR4SITD4JWbCrjVUBKsTb9mVPVMYnytaCLQ0ovFJ0RdxU1Rw7mP-8T3S5WgvFTv2Enq0CYlxbFeMh-NWXuWKcIBBXdw/s1600/midterm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP4NAoesPli5ogTzlAQsGaxkroMkvXIvUfWjZEppcYEUWR-zKwR4SITD4JWbCrjVUBKsTb9mVPVMYnytaCLQ0ovFJ0RdxU1Rw7mP-8T3S5WgvFTv2Enq0CYlxbFeMh-NWXuWKcIBBXdw/s400/midterm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqdaGHEcGf0&feature=related" target="new">Wake up</a> that is all</div>Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-83630273373638688542010-09-22T11:55:00.022-05:002010-11-02T16:26:42.775-05:00A Womb is not a TombNo wedding no womb, whoever said it's a tomb? My brief take on no sex before marriage, for my Black people. <br />
<br />
Because I have been with my wife for nearly 30 years, I can only surmise that it has to be hard out there for single folk wanting monogamous relationships. There is a fine line between satisfying needs and being a slut. Some would say total abstinence is the only way, not me, I don't claim sainthood. I would say practice discretion.<br />
<br />
Looking at both sides, the aids epidemic, especially in the Black community, needs to be addressed. One way is to practice more abstinence. No one can be better at that than the keeper of the vagina castle, the Black woman. At the same time, more abstinence can help teach Black men to respect Black women better, over time; no cheap, fast, disposable person here. We have feelings more than lust.<br />
<br />
In today's "now" society, slowing down to appreciate and respect our Black women is needed, necessary, and besides, it's nice. One way to teach respect is to have respect, for self and others. You actually show respect to our brothers when you say no. If you easy as 1,2,3; hello, drink at club, knocking boots by 2:30 a.m., how you gonna represent class and style? Represent Black women, and respect yourself. Help teach our men to respect you, and themselves better as well. <br />
<br />
All I want is the coochie, I aint lookin to get married. Ladies, if you feel the same as I do, then let's get it on and quit playin. However, if you desire to find a mate for life, giving it up every Saturday night isn't going to win you many wife-material points. You gave up your sexuality for free, I suspect you do that for anyone with a drink, a car, and a motel room. <br />
<br />
Of course that plays both ways but women are the ones suffering the most, at least at first glance. Long-term, the fellas are suffering, too. Learning to give freely to a mate over decades is absolutely priceless and cant be borrowed, bartered or bought; it has to be earned, through time and appreciation. It's called love and committment. Quick-strike artists wouldn't know a thing about that. <br />
<br />
No solutions here, just observations. And I would tell the same things, and I have, to my children as well. Only for my daughter I would add, "act like a ho, be treated like a ho, and watch all the fellas come a callin. Funny how EASY and Freebie gets passed around so quickly along with getting a bad reputation."<br />
<br />
To my sons, "dont disrespect your partner that's given you their sexuality, keep ya damn mouth closed." I can be more direct with my kids. It's a fine line but now that they are adults, they need to learn to make good decisions.<br />
<br />
For my children and you I implore, please use protection; somebody has to try and stop accidental pregnancies and the spread of aids; it starts with you. <br />
<br />
A womb is not a tomb, nor is marriage a jail; think of it like having a condo, with benefits for life. Hell yes I'm a chauvinist pig, but I'm trying to reform. Perfection is an ideal, not my goal.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-90604519055325180292010-07-15T19:56:00.046-05:002010-11-08T08:43:05.137-06:00Reading Between The Lines: Racism in the ElevatorDiscussing @mikhaill <a href="http://bit.ly/ccK145"target="new">Racism in the Elevator: Misogyny in the Video Production Room</a> My friend, methinks thou doth protest <br />
too much. The point of the elevator video was to highlight white fear and unfounded racism; it winds up, from your perspective, concerned with patriarchal misogynistic behavior; its singular purpose washed out in continued efforts at misplaced feminist manifesto, page 1, no bitch.<br />
<br />
The most glaring omission is the fact that NO ONE noticed enough to care about the (unintended) continued casting of a Black man as angry, disrespectful and violent; obviously incapable of intelligent discourse regarding this matter. This sterotype, emboldened by D. W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation," continues the portrayal of Black people as the American boogeyman. Continued negative imaging of Blacks must be addressed and corrected.<br />
<br />
"The man in the video did not utter bitch out of frustration. He uttered it because the script writer thought the most important or best thing was (to) assert power. I see it as a misogynistic act..." I believe that is a totally incorrect assessment. You have to learn to appreciate humor...test tube baby. Have you ever laughed when someone said bitch or motherfucker? If you haven't, you dont get it.<br />
<br />
Shulamit Berlevtov (@shuliji) tweeted, “The misogyny I perceive in this video frightens me more than his Blackness...After watching this video, I don’t want to hang out with this guy." Unless born and raised in America and well studied on the subject, most don't really understand the subtle dynamics of black white relationships, especially if you're neither. Much like knowing how to play the blues, without having the soul to feel them. <br />
<br />
Instead of saying bitch, (or other profanity, which, by the way, if executed correctly, should follow action by 2 seconds,any more or less and it loses value), what if the Black man said motherfucker, would you care? Would you then decry oh, being meany to white woman? <br />
<br />
Change the woman to an elderly man and depict fear with body language and lack of eye contact. Now have the Black man say bitch or motherfucker; anyone gonna complain? <br />
<br />
Reverse the players, Black man on elevator minding his own business, white woman gets on, sees she's alone, shrinks as far away as possible while further securing her purse, voice-over intones, "MDKRS; murder, death, kill, rape, steal." <br />
<br />
Now voice from man follows, "after picking up Susanna from school, I must get some orange juice for home and flowers for her grandmother, she's been so nice to me lately." Doors open, white woman, still clutching purse, looks back furtively as she scurries away. <br />
<br />
As doors close, Black man, whose face or body posture hasn't changed the whole time, turns to camera, smiles and says..."mo...tha...fuc'ka!" Bastard, bitch, asshole, and others technically, work equally well; mofo adds particular humor. <br />
<br />
Black man noticed her innate prejudice, chose to ignore; yet he did not miss her misplaced fear. The profanity is understood to be addressed at the actions of the woman, rather than gender; anti-racist message left intact. Most importantly, the white woman is the villian - Black man is not.<br />
<br />
What is being singled out is misplaced fear and racism from the white woman/race. What you chose to focus on was the use of bitch and some perceived denegration of women. I believe you speak truthfully from your perspective, however, I think it's one huge step backwards...(2 second pause), a friend. <br />
<br />
PS - I was on an elevator today and smiled as I took subtle notice of the actions of 3 white women. I didnt discern anything unusual, maybe that's because I was like Ellison's "Invisible Man." JK, but I dont think I will be able to "just ride" an elevator again, thanks.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-64687569289778401472010-07-13T08:37:00.045-05:002010-07-24T02:09:46.476-05:00Jesse Jackson: Keeping Hope AliveRev. Jesse Jackson is a long time, dues paid, leader of blacks in America, a world ambassador and humanitarian, perfect he is not. He deserves more.<br />
<br />
Beginning with the Civil Rights Movement, Rev. Jesse Jackson has worked towards human rights, economic justice, world peace, and the United States presidency.<br />
<br />
Focused upon imbuing black pride, Jackson's rainbow themed poem for children, the landmark "I Am - Somebody," addressed poverty as well as inclusion; universal worldwide struggles.<br />
<br />
Taking W.E.B.'s black consciousness to another level, Jackson's poem remixed to infusing much needed truth and positivity to a starved black psyche, soul, and life; much like James Brown's, "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud); anthems for blacks national and international. <br />
<br />
His PUSH/Excel combined visions of black pride and inclusiveness, with soliciting and gaining advances in education and jobs for urban youth. Jackson helped forge ties with leading companies and corporations within the black community, bringing major businesses into, and helping develop, black business people and businesses.<br />
<br />
The New Rainbow Coalition, Rev. Jackson's presidential organization, mobilized supporters across the spectra, while focusing his campaign on the issues of the disenfranchised,<br />
the underrepresented, women, gays, and minorities. <br />
<br />
It's unfortunate some choose to criticize without respect, in my opinion, while discussing and discounting Jesse Jackson and his Dan Gilbert Lebron James slave analogy. <br />
<br />
Blair LM Kelley, professor, and author said, "LeBron James is a free man...None of this has anything to do with slavery." Ironic, don't you think? And Jesse Jackson has nothing to do with the Civil Rights Movement, either. <br />
<br />
Elon James White, writer, and comedian, said, " All families have an uncle who says crazy things that might be based in some sort of reality...please meet black people's Uncle Jesse." Uncle Elon is being what the Native Americans call a dick. Please, James, just sit down and finish eating your turkey, grownfolk talkin' here. <br />
<br />
Instead of being put to pasture with disdain and distain, Rev. Jackson's legacy should be respected and revered, even when you dont agree with what he says. NBA commissioner David Stern showed great veneration when he said, "Rev Jackson is, as he rarely is, mistaken." Our generation next should be taking notes.<br />
<br />
While we dont always agree with everything Rev. Jackson says, you can't just dismiss his contributions to and for black people, and the world. He deserves more; thanks Jesse, for keeping hope alive.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-51125713489492804972010-07-05T21:54:00.016-05:002010-07-07T13:14:33.665-05:00Friends of Oscar GrantFriends of #OscarGrant - violence in any form or fashion dishonors his name, his family's name, and our community. If the verdict comes back acquittal, there are legal procedures in place to try and overturn that judgement. Tony Coleman, of OneFam, and others, are organizing a speak out, at 6pm the day of the verdict, on 14th and Broadway. We ask that everyone in our community with interest in justice for #OscarGrant - to please gather with us on 14th and Broadway - to listen and dialogue about the verdict and continued violence against the youth of our community. <br />
<br />
Friends of #OscarGrant - the First Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects free speech; the freedom to assemble peacefully to air out our grievances, and our right for peaceful demonstrations as part of the process of righting what we not only perceive to be, but know to be, a wrongful verdict. We plan on utilizing our First Amendment rights to the fullest. Join us, the day of the verdict, at 6pm, on 14th and Broadway.<br />
<br />
Friends of #OscarGrant - we all have the same thoughts and feelings if the verdict comes back with acquittal. However, we must remain calm throughout this process. Cooler heads must prevail and together we must lead the nation in setting an example of how a community comes together to address and seek redress for our grievances. Come speak your mind the day of the verdict with Tony Coleman of OneFam, and others in the community at 6pm on 14th and Broadway, after we hear the verdict. <br />
<br />
Friends of #OscarGrant - no violence of any kind, against people, property, or even the police, is encouraged or condoned, absolutely none. This sends the wrong message throughout our community and the nation. Come together, all of you with concerns for our community and #OscarGrant, at 6pm, on 14th and Broadway, the day of the verdict; do it for yourself, do it for your community, do it for #OscarGrant.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-76814312333790838372010-05-30T15:15:00.005-05:002010-09-19T22:42:45.427-05:00Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey; Mighty Mighty, Spades and Whitey, I'm Black and I'm ProudI talked to my neighbor the other day, the one that loves to say nigger everytime we talk. I only realized, after he told me, I talk about race everytime I see him. It appears that's my coping mechanism. Anyway, I see him and say, "it bothered me that you said I talk about race everytime I see you. And I have to say you are right. I have told you I am black and yet you say nigger nearly everytime we speak together. And we wind up talking about race."<br />
<br />
His first response today, "when did I say nigger?" I explained about the nigger bitch he complained about and further elucidate that each time he says nigger(s), I speak about race. At this point he couldnt handle the truth. He says that's not true, and he can't talk anymore, and goes inside, muttering my name, like I am the one with the problem.<br />
<br />
Now at this point let me describe my neighbor. He's a 2nd or 3th generation white male of one sort or another. Long-haired hippy friend, with a pony tail. His dream is to retire in Colorado and live off the grid. As he has his own internet business, and only has 12 house payments left, he may just do it next year. He is what one might call, a highly educated, unintentional bigot. He thinks that white folks can be niggers, too. Only, I have never heard him mention white niggers. In fact, I have only heard him mention white trash, wetbacks, and niggers. But then again, I am the one with the problem.<br />
<br />
We must confront racism everytime we see it. It is uncomfortable, unpleasant, and unpretty. Because we had little power previous, we still have to deal with being called nigger. Now that we have reached a certain level of accomplishment, we need to speak on race every chance we get. Time to stop running from the discussion, but use it as a chance to stay engaged with the uninformed, the unintelligent, and the uninitiated. @kyraocity originates it as "Agreeing to be Offended & Staying Connected."<br />
<br />
At the same time, we must realize the hate going on in our own community. Those entertainers and others that deem it necessary to say nigger, niggas, niggaz, in any and all alliterations, are hurting Black society. We weaken ourselves everytime we use it to greet one another. I know, some ya all do not believe it is true, mainly cause this pertains to you. But, you are wrong, completely. All these years after slavery, why do we still have niggers? One reason is that it is kept alive in the Black community. <br />
<br />
"Those who dont know history are destined to repeat it." Edmund Burke<br />
<br />
To change the times, we have to change minds. Dont pass down our hate, pass forward our hope. Make a stand, make a difference, by every means necessary. Or dont complain, 30 years from now, when they still calling us nigger.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-16894205605037945222010-05-27T09:27:00.000-05:002010-07-13T18:38:14.585-05:00Lebron James: Witness in SeattleLebron James - SeattleSonics - 50 mill signing bonus, 6 year 120 million dollar contract - player/club options yrs 5 & 6, with ownership options vested in 10. Details still to be announced include player input on college draft and free agency, along with jointly working with community youth and civic projects, and funding education scholarships for high school graduates. Sonic4LifeSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-3300929507095125682010-05-21T16:19:00.031-05:002010-09-19T23:15:42.273-05:00IF Not Now, When?I see the progress that has been made, <br />
but it is not enough. <br />
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, <br />
but it is not enough. <br />
If common courtesy and decency are not <br />
exhibited everyday, <br />
then it is not enough. <br />
If people still sufferin' on a daily <br />
basis for the basic necessities of life, <br />
then it is not enough. <br />
If violence and crime and drugs and <br />
illiteracy run rampant in our community, <br />
babies continuing to have babies <br />
before they are ladies, <br />
then it is not enough. <br />
If we still segregating education and menfolk <br />
lagging behind the womenfolk and they are not <br />
paid fairly and children dont have places to play, <br />
youngsters do not have jobs during the day, <br />
elderly not sure who is gonna pay and the man <br />
in the house can not or will not stay, <br />
then it is not enough. <br />
If we can not walk the streets free of fear, our homes<br />
a place where we can raise our children without pause,<br />
then it is not enough. <br />
And if it is not enough, we need to do more. <br />
We all can and must do more.<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-33935687072260925222010-05-20T23:43:00.011-05:002010-07-16T00:24:15.333-05:00I Am - SomebodyThe list of hundred greatest Americans <br />
should include Jesse Jackson, and his <br />
"I am Somebody." He too, is America. <br />
<br />
I am<br />
Somebody!<br />
I am<br />
Somebody!<br />
I may be poor,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
I may be young,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
I may be on welfare,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
I may be small,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
I may have made mistakes,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
My clothes are different,<br />
My face is different,<br />
My hair is different,<br />
But I am<br />
Somebody.<br />
I am black,<br />
Brown,or white.<br />
I speak a different language<br />
But I must be respected,<br />
Protected,<br />
Never rejected.<br />
I am<br />
God’s child!<br />
<br />
that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-72657791986833247342010-01-30T00:38:00.008-06:002013-09-13T15:44:07.570-05:00 Tupac Lives Within <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We miss ya Tupac, and all the things you had to offer,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Americaz Most Wanted, the only way that they could stop ya.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear Momma you swore, you thought it was The Big Poppa,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">got word to ya motha, was a John Gotti copa Who Shot Ya.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some things were said that you really felt sorry for,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by any </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4DlfEQ7cyk" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">means necessary</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, Malcolm said, settle the score.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A dish best served cold, we know that's what revenge is,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">let's wish (live) to die old, hold all of our little grandkids.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stepped out that night, caught up with Suge Knight,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">went to see a fight; red light, they ended your life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your time was too short, but everyday you held court,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">made the world a better place, for what that is worth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lookin back now, we all were obsessin' on second guessin',</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">missing you both equally, we all learned this painful lesson;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">should never stop talking, communicating to each other,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">never have to see you in coffins, one brotha after another.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now you're both deceased, with your spirits released,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the world has no peace, hip-hop fans still grieve.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Going down on bended knees with Prayers To The East,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">no more Black blood on the streets, or enemies at our feet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maya Angelou's, </span><a href="http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Maya_Angelou/13474" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">engaged and touched you, single mom raised you. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tell me what happens to a dream deferred,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">will it </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnlTrq6wLf0" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fly Like An Eagle</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, will we hear another word?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Isn't it ironic that they started legalizing chronic,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">we'd be ridin sub-sonic, inhaling the latest bubonic.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we got hungry we'd get at some Sonic's,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">then wash it all down with some Gin and Juice tonic.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black Panther Party flowed throughout your veins,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">momma said tell the truth son, make use of your pains.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got smart and learned to make paper using your brain,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a prophet for the people, you shared our many shames.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of ya claims to fame was the way you told a story,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl54ABY8VgY" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brenda Got A Baby</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> was a clever allegory;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">about the life and times of a child in the neighborhood,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">looking for love from anyone, even those up to no good.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have to tell ya Brenda's baby had a little lady, the other day,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">with a frienda hers from the college, but he would not stay.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Future she had planned, seems it would have been great,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">graduating from high school now, just gonna have to wait.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got a job at a restaurant, earning her own wage daily,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">tries to get credits at school too, but it's really crazy;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">finding a sitter to help her care for her precious Sadie,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mostly does it all alone, so momma won't say she's lazy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wakes up sometimes, feeling like she just got punched,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">knowing that without a diploma, jobs don't pay a bunch.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She downsized her cell phone, because it costs too much,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">eats fries and burgers a lot, ya know she gets a free lunch.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She dreams her progeny goes further than she was able to,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">seems the odds to me, are against that reality coming true.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now it does occur to her she became another statistic,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">chance of going to college, not too fuckin' optimistic.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanted to be a doctor, nurse, or even a scholar,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hard to find her biological, if you see him, holla.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another boo in the neighborhood growin' up mad,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">because they never got to visit with their natural dad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since you been gone, let me bring you up to speed,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a lot of the game's now full of sucka' MCs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Candy asses swingin', even got thugs singing,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">trying to cross over, so they can buy </span><a href="http://www.hipandpop.com/justin-bieber-gets-range-rover-from-usher/190/" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">range rovers</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Repeating the 9th grade twice due to truancy,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">from Detroit's 8 mile, Eminem spits lyrical lunancy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think you would like him, and his alter ego Stan,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">pays homage to your style, whenever they can.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember in Compton, with you and Dre bouncin',</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">smokin on those dubs, full of California Love?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's still getting paid, getting his checks everyday,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">15 million last year, I even hear Detox is near.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your old buddy Flav, clowning up of course,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">on MTV's stage, freaking out with New York.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Old school soul's starting to make a come back,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keyshia Cole's layin' down some bomb ass </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v3T_KxvFyM" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">tracks</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jay Z and Nas, you remember them Blacks,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">all through the big apple, they played out their raps;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to see who was number one, when it was said and done,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nas may have had panache, but Hova had all the cash.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jigga did get with a Destiny's Child,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">gave her a 5 mill rock, got that booty on lock.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hova is now a major entrepreneur,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beyonce married him with that half billy for sure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Republicans left us with a multi-trillion dollar debt,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">we voted for a Democrat, that seemed the best bet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michelle and her girls, setting a new Black precedent,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">while Barack plays hoops, in the white house basement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You would've loved seeing elected, this man that represents,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">maybe after you vetted, get a job, with desk and bullshit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hill Harper, POTUS buddy, had a brand new web page,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">still sharper, black minds sharing knowledge every way.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The inauguration celebration was wall to wall packed,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">you would've sat next to Oprah, that would have been wack.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She found herself crying, on some unknown folks shoulders,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesse Jackson did too, not sure if fake, or if they were sober.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">American civil rights leaders, did the job, now getting older,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">new ones sound meek, could have taught them to be bolder.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time for us to get paid, sound the call for our reparations,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">U.S. has to pay for robbing and raping the Black nation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kanye West, </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUzLpO1kxI" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">said it best</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, Bush didnt like black people,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">connin' ya yes, not in jest, we all saw his abject evil.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Illuminati vision, no division or checkin their decisions,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear Lord, they put the world at war, stock markets soared.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fightin' for their autocracy , we doin' unheard of atrocities,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">using our ideology, we're killing their preferred societies.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following our instructions with beautiful seduction,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">without any obstruction we did total deconstruction.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We fighting in Iraq, you'd say what kind of shit is that,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">killing people near Black, for fool's gold, we got jacked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Weapons of mass destruction, never had to touch em,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in beds while they lay, even got them while they prayed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saddam Hussein never called us a </span><a href="http://www.aavw.org/protest/homepage_ali.html" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nigger</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">yet we goin insane 'cause we have to pull the trigger,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to defend ourselves, and somebody elses oil wells,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">we come back home, lock us in their fucking jail cells.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bombing on a nation that really did us no harm,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">but now we have color-coded terrorist alarms;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in our cities and towns around the world and USA,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">wish the war would end, family members let us pray.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An eye for an eye is just not worth fightin' for,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">tired of the knocking, a stranger at our front door;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">telling us about loved ones, stationed at the front,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">died in the middle east, body count up each month.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Supposed to be fightin' for a peoples's democracy,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">oh say cant you see, the incredible hypocrisy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That one over there, McCain said on national tv,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://bit.ly/i7RlIW" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Invisible Man</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, please don't tell me about equality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Less than 50% of of Black men get past the 12th grade,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">is it their lack of effort, or are they just gettin played.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How come their parents dont march or protest with rage,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">lettin' all the teachers know that </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a change is gonna come.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One in three or four of our brothers, in some jail or prison,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">maybe you could help them make bail, or better decisions.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It costs much less money to pay for a college education,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">instead America leads all the world in our incarceration.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Would have been fun, to see you get your college degree,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">you could have got it done, then we call you Tupac, M.D.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Against All Odds, Blacks men winding up on </span><a href="http://newsone.com/nation/boycewatkins/dr-boyce-why-arent-black-men-graduating-from-college" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">college</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> quads,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">spend more time on broads, listening to the Terror Squad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it better to carry a book or a gun, be a crook or a nun,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">read A Raisin In The Sun, or become a don at Exxon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depends on what you want done, if ya live ya life on the run,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or have children at home, waiting for your call on the phone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doesn't matter where or how you think you're livin',</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">each and every Sunday goin' to church for religion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But if you are not greedy, and learn to give freely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">especially to the needy, the Lord will surely bless thee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now this is from the heart, so listen well from the start,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">we all only get one chance, so I hope you </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0sKRpejEwQ" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> dance</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Make the world a better place, for each and every face;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">do for others like it's for you, and believe in it too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born into poverty's a self-fulfulling prophesy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">don't need philosophy, free from you always costs me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope this wasn't too obtuse for you all to fathom,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">just one MC to another, with a Tupac anthem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well now it's hasta la vista and goodbye my friend,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope I get to meet ya, up on high in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From city streets of Queens, to desert plains of Soweto,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hope you found your answer; Wonder If</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRJTQ7FHx0o" target="new"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Heaven's </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got A Ghetto.</span></div>
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I think this is the 3rd rap I did</div>
Soulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227366182608949154.post-79857939734955989632001-01-14T23:56:00.000-06:002011-08-11T07:15:36.801-05:00 What is death?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">Guest Blogger: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/OwlsAsylum">J. Farand</a>, the Owl in Owl's Asylum</div><br />
Death is the destruction of the body. What is the "destruction of the body"? It is the separation of the body from the mind. It is the removal of the electromagnetic spectrum from the form. It is the leaving of the spirit from the body. In many ways this could be considered a good thing. Anyone that has ever been to jail, been to prison, been handcuffed, or suffered from a stroke understands how it feels to be imprisoned. To be held against your will. And as we become more aware, or conscious of this feeling, this particular part of living: the losing of will power, we begin to compare it to the feeling of living life it Self. For those of us living in capitalistic communities that are not of the higher arch of the hierarchy (read that again, please, and tell me I don't deserve my position...), life in society becomes a prison sentence. <br />
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Many of us are actually Tupac Shakurs: men and women born in prisons, forced to labor for money that is controlled by others. The capitalist system that I was born into is not just the Western man's economic apex - it is the culmination of a thinking that was developed from humans forced to survive the cold and lifeless mountains of Caucus Asia, which was the world's first prison. It is the culmination of those raised in a climate that lacked life. In that sort of environment, men-who tend to be physically stronger than women- have been documented as burying their daughters, raping one another to stave off the sexual desire, eating other human beings as a means to survive, and multitudinous acts that were not apart of the lifestyle of the original peoples. <br />
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The "Eden," or the crest of humanity, the area which even the Western people's have to concede would provide the best conditions for the human being to be produced, did not see such acts as burying female children until after the western man returned back to that area in the form of the Arab. This is not to say that the practices of those people that would be known as the original society had the most good, or the Ma'at principle at heart, yet they developed a set of ordinances that IN COMPARISON to what was acted out by those that escaped from Europe to raid the the world (a whole world, Craig...alright, old joke) are easily determined to be less about the group, more about the individuals.<br />
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As we have stated earlier, the death of anything is the separation of that entity's mental/spiritual/-electro-magnetic faculty from its purely physical elements. What we see in the Western philosophy is a separation of all individuals from the collective passion. Whereby the Eastern orientation as seen in the ideas deciphered by the concept Ma'at reflect a concern with the society proper, the US is built on the backs of slaves, indentured servants, and the poor in general. Capitalism reflects every societal ill worked against by the notion of Ma'at. The homeless woman with three children is blamed for situation and used to produce killers of the poor and workers in the prison slavery complex.<br />
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In the Western ideology of existentialism, we find man being pit against nature, man being pit against society, and man being pit against him Self. It is interesting that the word "pit" is used here. We also see this word 'pit' used to describe dogs that are trained to fight. The 'pit' is the place where one fights. The term 'pit' is also used to refer to the seeds of fruit. For the Western people, the root is the 'pit'. In this pit, the man is typically the objectified gender sent to die and kill for those who are the most individualistic because of their wealth. This is one of the reasons why the Western society is deemed 'patriarcial'. They don't see the power of the womb. They reckon life as an evil construct. This is why Zeus, an agrarian construct-as most gods are constructs of the tale shapers that weave tales told to explain nature- has the power of lightning, and tortures one of his children that brings fire to humans. The explanation of the same reality of fire in the East is depicted in the structure of the pyramids. 'Pyramid' meaning house of fire and a temple to the gods. In the West, the original temples are houses of sacrifice and battling grounds...pits to be exact.<br />
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The original peoples would obviously be a more matriarcial type as they worshipped Creators as benevolent and even placed in their scriptures a woman savior in the form of Isis. The gods of the Greeks, Romans, and Jews take a disposition towards man(humans) as vile beings, ungodly, to the point where we today worship a man sent by this most high god to be killed by us humans. The very fabric of the thinking of this Western system, the most emotive element of the society, its religion, causes us to despise our Selves, to separate from our Selves, and to be held in some contempt of a court in which we are guilty before innocent. And this court is life it Self. We seek to approve of one another not by acts of kindness, but by acts of "shineness." To those that have taken the most, the most shall be given.<br />
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The focus of the Black peoples that find them Selves children of slaves and revoltist in the West is to develop a philosophy and ideological science that can explain and convince the rest of the peoples of the world to come back to the wholeness of life. To forge a new thinking, that is an old thinking, that can comprehensively tie the individual back to the whole. It is not an error to think for one Self, but it is a fallacy and a ridiculous one, I might add, to consider one Self above the collective. We come not to this plane of existence as separate, but as faculties of the whole in the same manner that the bark, the leaves, and the cells of the tree are not separate, but only elements of the whole tree. We are simply cells in the neural workings of life. And it is the duty of those that have been pained the most, those that have been degreed in the discipline of human agony to explain this to the immature peoples that have not been such educated.<br />
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that is allSoulful1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16345643874253269096noreply@blogger.com0