Sunday, November 21, 2010

Mothers, Fathers, Children, Teachers, Lovers too; and Who's Counseling the Counselor?

Mothers,
When you tell your son to stop crying, boys don't cry, i'll give you something to cry about, get outta my face, get off me, punk, punk-ass, you're just like your damn father, shut da fk up before i knock da Black offa' you!!!...when you lay your rage on him rather than checking yourself and finding out what's up with you, you plant the seed for a very sad wake up call later on when he gives you back everything you taught him!

Fathers,
Call/text your sons and daughters. tell'em you love them. don't buy them anything. there's time for that. plus, you don't want them thinking you're nothing but an atm. and if you're not being allowed to be in their lives, then go to family court and get your visitation rights. with no documentation to show you at least tried, you're setting yourself up for a 'don't need you no more' hand sign later on when they're grown and gone!

Children,
Education is a business. this is why the focus is on indoctrination and not inspiration; fitting in and not standing out. if your instructor isn't helping you become more self-empowered yet expects you to glorify everyone but you and those who look like you, switch to auto pilot (so you can get that grade), but be sure to get your needs met once you're out of the crashroom!!!

Teachers,
You're either teaching empowerment or teaching lies.

Lovers,
Love is not control, but it helps to show respect
Love is not forever, so best to focus on friendship and connection
Love is not dominance, but it helps to watch your ways and your tone
Love is not a sex act, so best to reach deeper
Love is not by chance, but it does take being open and available
Love is not a game, so tell those distractors to stay away
Love is not for everyone, but everyone needs it.

And Counselors,
If you're not working on your own issues,
why should we trust you with ours?

Message to a Youngblood


You can't be Muslim on Monday
and maybe on Tuesday
Can't change hand signs
depending on who's winning

You can't wear Nubian
and not know Sudan
Can't be a godbody
if you don't wash your ass!






You can't call yourself nigga
to justify nigger
Can't be a brotha
if you disrespect sista

A woman in her place
is not a cook and a maid
And walking a fine line
doesn't always mean wavering

You can't be free
if your freedom is money
Can't look fly
if your insides got maggots

You can't look at music
without looking at yourself
You can't act a fool
if your life means anything to you

A business transaction
doesn't have to turn fatal
And not all men
like to be called dog

You're not immortal
if you didn't reach your potential
You're not smoking a cigar
if you're inhaling paper bag

You can't say you're grown
when you still walk like a toddler
You can't be a father
if you have no wisdom to pass on

A typical video
is a man without depth
And depth is not
something you buy at the bodega

You don't get a prize
for not going to jail

Can't have a revolution
if you can't spell revolution!



From my upcoming book....stay tuned

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Not Using Colors 'No More

I'm learning to stop saying black or white, and brown, red or yellow, for that matter, when describing myself and others. Those words are merely colors. They don't define ethnicities and friendships. So as of today Autumn, Martha, Terry, Eliza and Jason are no longer 'my white friends', and hopefully I'll no longer be their 'black' friend. My father used to say how obsessed Americans are about skin color, so he escaped to Canada. Cos while he could only be black in the U.S., he could be himself just seven hours away. Color-coding makes it easier for people to categorize one another, rather than going deeper. Like I know a white-skinned woman who was born in Nigeria and a dark-complexioned bruh who's staight-up Japanese! I'm also gonna stop calling Obama our very first 'black' president, since that's leaving his mother out of the conversation. He can't be himself, so I'll at least consider him our first dark-complexioned prez. It's much more accurate this way and invites you to find out more about him, as opposed to letting a color alone tell the story. We each and all have stories to tell and they're far more interesting than just colors and other labels. Plus, when white or red acts more brotherly than black, it does help put things in their proper perspective. One more reason to close your eyes when you really wanna see a person!

Jerzee Chic

Jerzeechic now harlemchic soon2bcrooklynchic thinkn maybe movindownsouthchic if not outwestchic or maybejuststayputchic nomatterwhatchic shebefinechic...

Typical Times

When you know better and have had better, you have an obligation to ask, 'What else you got?' When you've had mess and are used to mess, you have an obligation to look at your own mess!