Monday, June 25, 2012

WRITE!!!


Note to self: Write not to be popular, but to fulfill a void. If you save a life, you fulfilled your role in the greater scheme of things. If you piss some people off, those will most likely be the ones who were already pissed off at you for pointing out the void. WRITE!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Father's Day Gift


I didn't just write it for him. This book's for you also, the parent. Because we can't expect him to answer to poor choices and not look into our own...

"Considering how most couples fuss over wedding plans but not on the marriage itself and how their children will be raised, they forget or avoid serious discussions on choices, intentions, sense of responsibility, accountability and timing...What was it about my father/my mother you found so attractive that's got nothing to do with his/her looks?...What was more important? The wedding dress or getting along? The bachelor party or sharing the same definition of what a marriage feels like and looks like?...Did the two of you go over health issues on both sides of the family tree?...How long did you date each other before I was born?...Were the two of you financially ready to even have a child?...
Some of us have dads who want to make up for their absence. If you have an opportunity to reconnect with your father, you're allowed to ask him the following questions:

1) Do you have any proof that you appealed to a judge to be allowed to see me?

2) Did you keep any receipts showing you paid child support, but was still not allowed to help raise me?

3) Are there any letters you wrote to me or my mom that were either never sent or returned to sender?

4) Do you have any photos of me or of us together?

5) Can you name any relatives who can back up your efforts to father me?


Might be wise to give him a chance if he answers one yes and let him be there for you in a way he couldn't before. Not just monetarily, but to help you understand your ways and this crazy ride called life...When Shaq made the decision that a missing father wanting to do the right thing after so many years passed--years his mother spent nurturing and protecting him without a word or penny from the man--deserved a respectful but firm 'no thanks, she already filled your shoes', it sent a loud message to all fathers who make babies but don't raise them..."
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Friday, June 1, 2012

684 Pages of African History


Later this month, I'll be at the CEMOTAP CENTER with some other serious heads to help answer the question: "Is Black Unity Even Possible?". This comes at a time when I just finished reading 684 pages of African history and how we had tribal wars, egotrippin and yes, slavery way before the first European arrived. Wasn't as atrocious as American slavery, but we had slavery; and it's not a rumour. Some of us helped the slave catchers in exchange for goods. It's important to remind ourselves not to romanticize African history like everything was butter til 'the White man' came cos it wasn't. That's how foreigners, including Muhammad and the Pope, were able to divide and conquer. Same way they took over while Native Americans were busy at each other's throats. Same way they take over our hoods when we do nothing but trash em, and then complain. So to me, asking if there's even such a thing as Black unity means also asking what and who we mean by unity and family. And how much more dividing are we gonna tolerate before realizing everyone admires us but us? I'm just sayin...