Monday, November 10, 2008

Post Election Day (Part 1)

Today is Nov. 10th. exactly 6 days after the biggest election in recent history. America and the rest of the world witnessed and recognized Barack Obama as our next president of the United States. Never will I forget the exact time, place and emotions I felt as the smoke cleared and our nations leader, our commander and chief... Was for the first time ever in history... A black man. My heart and my eyes welled with such a pride that I have never fathomed to have felt in any other night of my own existence. All I could think about was that I wished my great- grandmother could've fought 4 more years to see this monumental moment. She would have been 100 years old if God didn't call her home Oct. 31st, 2004. You see, I mentioned her because she experienced the some of the darkest times in the nations history. She had a first hand account of the segregation, the horrors of intolerance, the reality of being hated jst because you were darker than the next person. She was around back when being a "nigga" wasn't a word to rhyme with Jigga, or even a nice thing to be. She also saw the nation as it slowly but surely grew together throughout those dark times in our history. The only thing that could've topped it all off was to see what MLK and Malcolm could have never forseen. The same thing that brought Jesse Jackson and Oprah to tears. I'm still utterly awestruck, it's kinda surreal you know... Kinda like you are anticipating for yourself to finally wake up but it just won't happen.
The next morning I get a text message from my big homie Tommy (who is also black) and he asks me:
"Now that Obama has been elected, have we overcome?"
The question had me thinking. I mean truly pondering how I'd answer the question. I simply answered him with a simple yet pain-stakingly clear answer of:
"No"
I felt pretty shitty after the answer but I answered it as honestly as I could. I'm sure I've pissed a couple people off and I'll get the ole "Uncle Tom" tag but you gotta seriously take a look at it. Overcome is a broad term. I think we have realized King's dream of defeating segregation and racial discrimination while peacefully coexisting with all other races but some of our brothers and sisters have fallen by the way side. Caught up in the fast paced life in the streets, consumed by materialism and have nothing else better to do but to hate on or shoot up the next guy. There isn't an invisible force holding us back for the past twenty years... it's been our own fault. The same freedoms our ancestors fought and died for we take advantage of. Have you forgotten that they used to kill slaves that learned to read and now it's hard to get some kids to pick up a damn book? For years some of us threw our right to vote away when before the amendment was passed we weren't able to vote because we were considered property and 1/3 human!! Some of us rather make excuses on why they can't make it in life over actually putting in the work to see the fruits of their own labor. It seems as if whenever we turn on the news it's always a brotha that has killed one of his own kind over some petty bullshit, a few dollars or a minor disagreement... You can't help but to sit back and think if they put in that much effort to shooting each other up, how come they can't come together and build something positive and constructive. To me, while that still occurs we haven't quite made it to that mountain top yet . We have made progress by leaps and bounds but we have to get those that have wandered off back on track. Show them the right way in stead of giving them a check and telling them "Have at it!!" A team is only as good as it's weakest link.
I love the fact that Obama is our next president, that's who I voted for and I think he's a great leader for our nation and for all races alike but that doesn't mean we (as in blacks) have overcome. The truth is that Obama is only one man and can only take responsiblity for his own actions. He can show us the direction but that doesn't mean everyone will follow. He has removed all obstacles, there are no more excuses to be made. He beat 400 years of degradation, hate, and fear and turned it into inspiration and hope for the future, That's why President Obama means so much to me. I already knew that I was capable of anything no matter what race I was my pops taught me that... I just wanted everyone else to see. I understand that not everyone was fortunate to have that proper influence but he serves that purpose on and world scale. I'm not in the position to show people that truth and neither is my father... but he is. Now it's up to us as individuals to take responsibility for our own actions and show those that are on the path to failure that there is an alternative and that they can succeed in life. Remember... It takes a nation
-------------------------------------Part 1 of 3------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Nice Guys Finish Last?

I'm starting to think the old saying "Nice Guys Finish Last" is true. I've been taking notice of all these blogs and facebook notes about "n*gga's ain't sh*t", "Where are all the good men?" and "I'm through with men" and I sit back and think... damn are the nice guys invisible? Are there so many whack cats that the good guys go unnoticed? It totally amazes me that woman will endure so much punishment from the opposite sex and it still doesn't dawn on them that maybe... JUST MAYBE they should tweak their tastes just a little bit. I mean think about it... if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Well shouldn't that same meaning work in reverse? If you find yourself constantly shi*tted on by the same type of dudes somewhere along the line the pattern has to dawn on you.
Ladies you can really tell what type of things a dude is on if you pay attention to detail. They way they approach you, the way they talk to you, what they talk about you know stuff like that. If you want a good brotha don't get lost in the sauce of a fool-proof mouth piece; it ain't really that hard to tell if what we say is genuine or not.
Another HUGE thing is how do you conduct yourself when you are in the presence of the opposite sex. Sorry to be blunt, but if you act like a ho chances are you might get approached like one. Now ladies, I'm not saying you can't go out with your "freakem dress" and have a night out with your homegirls but I am saying there is a thin line between sexy and slutty and us dudes (gentlemen, pimps and playas alike)... we can pick up on that on site.
I'm just venting because it seems like us gentleman aren't getting enough attention on nowadays. You whack cats are making it hard for us to make someone happy because you have totally annihilated a ladies trust in the opposite sex. It's us that have to deal with the trust issues that previous cats have put in place. I'm just saying give us good brotha's a fair shot. I'm starting to truly understand Musiq's joint "Previous Cats" (which is posted below for you listening pleasure, lol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaDF0w_3Uj0

Saturday, November 1, 2008

When You Can't Be Real With Yourself...

CAUTION: the language you are about to read may be deemed offensive to some so viewer discretion is advised

Wuz Good America!! I'm coming at y'all with some real sh*t... be warned with this here... some cats might get offended... if you do chances are one of (or all three) these items listed below are true

1. You'z a fake *ss n*gga / b*tch and I probably don't f*ck with you anyway
2. I couldn't give a sh*t if you was offended anyways.
3. Chances are you are everything that I'm bout to vent about.

Aight America, now that all that is outta the way I'm finna come atcha hard. Cats with weak hearts should go ahead and close this now. This is my diss to all phonies, fakes, p*ssies and stans!!

Real men and women can relate while those that can't... well they have plenty of time to change. I'ma start off with the definition of "Real". The definition is genuine and original, not fake or synthetic... with these truths being evident why are all these niggas around my way claiming to be real?! They pull this shit because they've "allegedly" sold a lil weed, busted a couple shots, balled out a lil bit, ride rims etc. etc. y'all know the routine but these inviduals know good and damn well they ain't did none of that shit and if they did they'd still be fictional characters. First off, a real man, n*gga, woman, b*tch or whatever you presume your title to be doesn't have to participate in none of that nonsense to be real!! But if you are in to that DON'T LIE ABOUT IT!! What being real is, is not having any inconsistancies in what claim to do or be. To be all honest with you, you can't get no realer than me. I've never sold drugs, or licked a shot but everything I've EVER said is all truth check my credentials if you choose!! I'm so sick of cats either yappin bout i pulled capers like this, I sold that, knowing damn well they don't know nothing bout that, never lived nothing like that, or ever seen it and anything else in between!! Suburban niggas are the most notorious about that... cats out here holla'n bout sellin crack off the stoop, boning so-n-so, or whatever trivial childish shit these dudes are yappin bout in music or just in general conversation. First off ain't no stoop in the burbs in the first place and half the cats out here talking that phone D Boy shit is more broke than a retard guarding Hot Sauce in a And One streetball game. I respect the real D Boys of America going out and having to go beyond the law to feed their family despite fed time hanging over their heads... (I see you pimpin!! Get money fam) but these characters out here pushing gateway when their parents are making 6-7 figures, had their kids in the best schools, lived in the suburbs all their entire lives and have all the opportunity in the world to live the American Dream... that shit is fucking crazy!!! It's a huge slap in the face of those that have gone to jail or been murdered out in the trap to make ends meet and keep food on the table, just because they didn't have those opportunities we have!! Hustlers don't hustle cuz it's fun!! They hustle because they have to!! Who are these lames trying to impress?

Real women and men can relate while those that can't... Time's running out to get it together... America make sure you are paying attention... A Real woman is one that knows how to carry herself. Gentle, Delicate, Beautiful, Intelligent creatures are our women, but some of you aren't neccessarily living up to some of them traits. No I'm not about to go on the male chauvenistic view that women are to be at home or anything like that because frankly America a lot of our ladies are more manly than some of us (not yours truly of course). A girl who presumes to be grown but what she holds to be important are clothes, shoes, running the streets to find the next cheap thrill, the next dick or the next amount of money she can squeeze out of insecure or ignorant male is not a real woman... She is skeeza, a ho bag, a chicken head, a slut monkey, a gold digger, or whatever you choose to call em is on you. Women... excuse me... females like you is the reason why women get called b*tches. NOW WAIT LET ME FINISH AMERICA!!! Let me show you where I'm going with this... Real Women just like Real Men, for some strange reason have to share the same bad rap that a selected few cause. Heaven knows, I and most of the male population, don't believe all women to be bitches or any other derogatory term because it's true you are not and do not deserve to be called out of your name. I will say I have dated and dealt with the select few who deserve these terms but even still to this day these skeeza's, if you will can't understand why they can't find someone that wants to put up with their shit. Crazy world huh, America... females that believe a males worth is in his bank account, or his car, or his gear can't seem to understand why they get treated like shit. I can't forget about the ones that are "so insecure" they push away the one's that love them to go play rent-a-d*ck or run the streets. Wonder why I don't for sorry for you self proclaimed "women" or "ladies" re read the paragraph.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH...

Today, America I'm speaking on trust & dependability...Think of hard times... everybody has had em once or twice, some more severe then others but of course in the end you get through them. Today I will touch on the topic of those are supposed to be the closest to you during those hard times and find it easy to exit stage left on you. It's crazy to know (and experience on more than one occasion) that there will be people you hold on the highest pedistal will bounce on you when you need them the most. I've experienced this on one more than one occasion. I'm not talking about just bad days... I'm talking about those times (not just days) when you ribs are touching, the laws are looking for you, you don't have any decent clothes, you can barely afford gas, the mob is going to break your legs, and your trying to keep all those items of stress and maintain and the one you took ages to finally let go and trust (whether it is your main home boy, your girl / man, your brother sister or even your own damn momma) is nowhere to be found. Despite how many times you gave your last dollar, your nights rest, last bite to eat, and risk 8 kinds of hell for them they "ghost out" on you. How, America would that make you feel? What action would you take...

a) Don't trust any-damn-body
b) Grow old the same way you came in... by your goddamn self
c) Flip the script and do everyone the same
d) take it in the ass (no homo) and hope someone else won't do you the same (again)
or...
e) all the above


Hard choice isn't it? Trust me, I know from a personal point of view because I have always been the one to get fucked over (no homo). Me, being the loner that I am, feel like I can't give anyone a benefit of a doubt because I predict someone to try to advantage of a good brotha's intentions. People just keep giving me more reasons to think the way that I do just by observing them handle other situations. My fam, I can always trust (most of you anyways... you know who you are) But others, I know I can't and there are those "lucky" few always and sometimes shockingly disappoint.

In conclusion (you like that word huh? lol) You can't just leave up to anyone to put your trust in or expect to depend on them because sometimes.. in the end you could get shitted on. The purpose of this here blog is to get you to arm yourself of those that'll leave you high and dry and your most urgent time of need. When the going gets tough, they softies jump out the back door.

F*ck Don Imus!!!

What's good America... I'm sure you saw the title so you know what this here is about. BUT, I will throw you a curve and alot of you will probably, disagree, get pissed and very adverse reactions to what I am about to say. Don Imus is coward, a racist bitch and sexist caveman BUT his latest comment on the air WAS NOT a racist one! The comment WAS sexist in every sense of the word and had racial undertones but was not meant for the sole purpose to insult the black race. We all know how racist that old wiley piece of shit is but you have to take an intelligent look at it before you try to play the race card. I know, I know some of y'all are a bit shocked but look at the comment and try to break it down and understand why I feel this way.

He called the women "Nappy headed ho's" from an intelligent and unbiased P.O.V take these factors into account.

1. To take this comment to as a racist one you would then have to associate the word "nappy" with every black person on earth when that simply isn't so. The word "nappy" as the dictionary defines it as matted tangled hair impenatrable by a comb. You know just as I do, with an afro or not a comb will travel through a black persons hair. I have had several afro's and I can run a comb through it without a single snag. I know I am not the only one dammit

2. The word "Ho" means slut or whore. I really don't even have to explain this one if you listen to rap music. For those that don't the word ho has synonym saying black women therefore it aint the same fucking thing.

This should be a wake up call for all people for several reasons. The way that we talk to each other as blacks some think it's funny, it's also what some of us grew up on and for others it's all they know. Everybody has their own reason why we use certain terms of endearment that aren't socially acceptable but on that same thought eventually someone will say "If they can say that to each other, how come I can't say without meaning any harm?" Nobody is buying the double standard anymore.

Why they hate me so bad?

I just heard the craziest news this weekend, America... I mean, I've some foul shit said about me in my day but this one here I had to inform y'all about. Someone said that, and I quote "They don't see success when they look at me," some of you are like "who said that" others my say "why woutld they say that" My answer to that is the individual that said it irrelevant but why would they say that is the question. I had to sit back and think about it and ask myself that question. How could you derive a 20 year old full time student, full time mechanical designer of 3 years making a little under 30K+ a year be considered an unsuccessful person. Honestly I don't know I think that is a bougie person view on a person that is still growing up. For those who don't know the word bougie is a slang term for a person who acts as if their proverbial shit doesn't stink. Look at my credentials and you be the judge if I am not the image of pending success

1. I'm 20 years old making just about 30K+ WITHOUT a college degree. How many 20 year olds in college make that much money? We won't even mention those that don't have the degree (I'm not hating just puttin numbers up.)

2. How many mechanical engineers do you know without a college degree? I know two (shouts out to Jeremy Kissel, Ricky Hemphil & Tim Kaelin Jr.) For all you Jesse Jackson fans how many do you know that are black? Shouts out to Darryl Steward because that's the only one that I know

3. While holding down a full time job @ MHS, I am also a full time student at ITT Tech. All my college students know that holding down ANY job and balancing your education is no easy task. Balancing a load that heavy exhibits heart, responsibility and dedication to finishing everything that you start.

4. Since I mentioned my job, I might as well mention that I have been mechanical design since high school. No average cat wanting apply to McDonalds or Wendy can do what the fuck I can do. I have skill beyond my years (shouts out to Jeremy, Ricky & Tim again because they can feel me on that)

After listing those facts and credentials I'll let you be the judge... Am on the path to failure or success. The numbers will let me know everything I need. Usually after I lay the facts I would give the individual with the retarded comments a stinging tirade of words but this time I won't. This time I'll just prove them wrong... trust me... it won't be hard and it won't take long.

Men & Women: A little honesty would save everyone a whole lot of pain

Uh Oh... It's that time again America. I'm kicking knowledge yet again on another important subject. (No it ain't Paris Hilton either) This lil ditty here is about honesty between the yourself and the opposite sex. It's a pretty broad category on paper but I will narrow it down to minimum in a minute. If we all had a little more honesty in our lives we would be happier people... correct?!

We've all heard the bad rap that guys get from you women. All men are liars dogs, cheaters, yadda yadda yadda but think about that just a second. Ladies, when you first meet a guy, you will 8 times out of 10 get the sugar coated version of the person in front of you. The reason that is, is you may not like the truth that the guy in front of you is holding in his brain. What if all of those liars cheaters and decievers told you the truth from the jump? Would you give him a chance? What if the guy getting at you was something like

Male: "Hi you doin, my name is so and so and I'm not looking for no relationship. With all due respect I'm just trying to get in your pants. If you don't mind can I get your number so we can make that happen?"

How many of you ladies would allow that to happen? Instead those guys put on the front and hide their true intentions until their purpose has been met. Truthfully if the direct approach really worked men wouldn't have to lie. Women want good guys but are not receptible to the real uncut form of the truth. If men AND women were more honest from the jump, less hearts would be broken HANDS DOWN, POINT BLANK!! Even though that's true that will never come to pass. The reason why that is is because people are afraid of the truth. For instance picture this

Female: "Excuse me, I saw you across the way and I was wondering if I could give you my phone number because I'm just looking for a man that I can start a relationship with and possibly grow old with someday."

That alone would scare most men and women off. Deep down I believe that men and women actually enjoy the idea of trial and error until they have their feelings hurt. Singles may say they don't like being alone but the thrill of hunt is exciting rather you like to admit it or not. So everyone saying they want someone that is real are partially lying to themselves. Stand back and think about it.