Adoption

As mentioned in Ebony magazine - June 2010

African Cradle
National Adoption Center
One Church One Child
Roots Adoption Agency
Spence-Chapin Adoption Services
Catholic Charities

Good Black Men

Resources for dads (from Ebony June 2010)
Daddy's Promise
Concerned Black Men
Men Organized to Raise Engagement
Hip Hop Educational Literacy Program
Black Star Project
The Fatherhood Institute
Fathers Who Care
Real Dads Network
100 Black Men
Future Black Men of America Inc.

Hollywood Likes Dysfunctional Black Characters

Hollywood Likes Dysfunctional Black Characters

Black literature isn't just for Black people!

I love this .... and I'll tell you why ....

If you go to http://welcomewhitefolks.blogspot.com/ you will find this intro in the margins:

White Readers Meet Black Authors

Your official invitation into the African American section of the bookstore! A sometimes serious, sometimes light-hearted plea for EVERYBODY to give a black writer a try.

You know, it's interesting ... I've read Cosmo, Elle, Reader's Digest, Time, People, Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, Glamour, Seventeen, Sassy, Rolling Stone, and many more. I even had subscriptions to some of those, at one time or another .... in addition to my accounts with Essence, Jet, Ebony, Honey, Black Enterprise, Vibe.

Yet, how many non-black people do you know have ever read or subscribed to Essence (a classy fashion and lifestyle mag .... for anyone)? Or Ebony (a beautiful representation of Black people in America)? Or Vibe (hey, they say more Whites buy hip-hop music than anyone else... so why not subscribe and get the inside scoop on your favorite artists?) What about Black Enterprise? (money is green not black or white... yet popular money mags don't address the Black consumer and spending power of Blacks..... but money advice is colorless).

In school, we're all exposed to the writers of -what some people consider- "the Classics" ... Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Austen, Tolstoy, so on and so fourth.

But what a shame to deprive students of Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Angelou, Morrison, etc.

Yes, of course, there are some exceptional school programs out there exposing students to a diverse collection of literature. Bravo!!!

But back to my original point, how many non-Black book lovers / lovers of good writing .... line their shelves or integrate their coffee table with writers of color ... I mean... more than one or two token books?

Just a thought, what do you think?

Historical Times

2009 - What a year, and it's not even over!

We began the year with the inauguration of the First African-American President of the United States of America. It was a triumphant event that I spent all day watching on CNN, full of pomp and circumstance. (This Tuesday fell right after MLK day). I've never seen an inaguration.... I mean, I certainly don't remember much of the Clinton inauguration. But I don't think that CNN followed the event and surrounding events as closely as they did Obama. I do remember that Maya Angelou wrote a poem in commemoration.

The passing of a musical genius - Michael Jackson. The entire world mourned respectfully. The televised homecoming "celebration" was beautifully coordinated and performed.

The passing of Eunice Kennedy, closely followed by the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy and given the presidential treatment for his burial (which I've never seen).

The Revolution IS being televised, Mr. Gil Scott-Heron !

Reccomended by The Egyptian

• RUNOKO RASHIDI

HISTORIAN, RESEARCH SPECIALIST, WRITER,
PUBLIC LECTURER & WORLD TRAVELER
PAN-AFRICANIST SCHOLAR

• http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/bio.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runoko_Rashidi
• THE GLOBAL AFRICAN PRESENCE

===================================

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheikh_Anta_Diop

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8038982153755741666&ei=trXiSL4Riu6oArj1iMsO&q=cheikh+anta+diop

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF AFRICA (link to quiz below) ..... this is how I did ... not bad, huh? No I'm not a Native and I've never been to Africa (but hope to visit someday):

Your result for The Africa Test...

The Native

16-20 points!

You either are a native of and grew up in Africa, or you went to school in Africa, or you have lived in Africa for many years. Either way, your knowledge of Africa is extensive and you are not ashamed of sharing this information with others. Your knowledge is helping reduce the ignorance about this wonderful continent. Keep up the good work!!

Take The Africa Test at HelloQuizzy

To Be Young Gifted and Black

National Geographic magaine

The Black Pharaohs
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/02/black-pharaohs/robert-draper-text.html

============
Conflict / Blood Diamonds

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2002/03/01/html/ft_20020301.1.html#

I was flipping through an old March 2002 issue of National Geographic magazine. The pictures drew me into the story. A man about to dive into muddy waters to gather gravel. All he had was a rubber hose for oxygen. And the map. There was a map locating the major diamond mines throughout the world. Most were located in Africa, but there was one dot in Canada, one dot in Europe, some dots in Australia, and Russia. What struck me was the locations of "conflicts": all in Africa. I know that the diamond industry is full of corruption. But why is the bloody business only in Africa?

Oh yeah, there was pictures of the inside of factories. Workers are x-rayed daily to insure that no precious diamond leaves the place. Ummmmm, that can't be good for their health (exposure to so much radiation).

Obama Predictions

I predict these words will be spoken after November 2008: I'M NOT A RACIST, I VOTED FOR OBAMA!

In addition, I predict that these words might be spoken: "Why can't more Black people be like Obama?"

No, I'm not psychic, just perceptive;)


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I love words, don't you? I already knew what perceptive means, but I just wanted to see what the dictionary would say, I love the dictionary: having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition
I think I'm going to start a million dollar word blog and a quote blog and a lyric quote blog ... love it, I can't wait!!!

White bread with your Soul Food

Correct me if I'm wrong, but "Soul Food" isn't the healthiest of food choices. I'm one of those African-Americans who doesn't really eat it. I don't do chitlins or pig feet (I really don't eat much of any pork). I've never had greens. I won't eat greens with any salt pork or any pork in it. I'll eat cornbread, I'll eat pound cake (from scratch, sparingly), and I'll eat black-eyed peas and green beans sans pork fat. I think so called "Soul Food" is the main reason diabetes is so prevalent in the Black community. I noticed today that my parents brought some barbeque from bar-b-que joint. I noticed the meal came with a slice of white bread. I shun the sight of sliced white bread. Switching over to wheat bread is a simple and healthier choice. A simple change. A step toward healthier eating.

Oprah and Maxi Pads

This is not a joke, but I can see how some men and/or comedians may find this funny (Warning: if you use this in your comedy act ... or even if you tell this "joke" to friends, you owe me royalties!!!!)

So the other day, I went to the store specifically to pick up Always Maxipads (night-time with wings) and the May issue of O Magazine (Oprah Winfrey's magazine). Yes, my shopping list consisted of ..... O magazine and maxipads. Ha ha ha, go ahead and laugh ... but a woman needs what a woman needs. ---end of "funny" part .... remember, royalties!!!!----

May was the "Spirituality" issue, so I thought that could be useful. So, it's the 2nd to last week in May and there's no May issue on the shelves, only June. This is absurd, however, I can recall having this problem before. Apparently this is some publishing standard. I say, it needs to change. I don't know WHY publishers start the next month issue during the previous month. It makes no sense to me. May issue should be on shelves from May 1st - May 31st. On June 1st, get in line and pick up June issue. That makes sense to me. Is it just me, am I the only one with sense? Anyway, I wrote O magazine and Oprah.com. ... so far no response :(

For Somebody

I saw this posted at work one day ... it's soooooo TRUE, to many situations:

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody
and Nobody.  There was an important job to be done and Everybody was
sure that Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but
Nobody did it.  Somebody got angry about that, because it was
Everybody's job.  Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody
realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.  It ended up that Everybody
blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Wowwwww ..... and the church say Amen!

Gas prices

Which of these candidates is going to lower gas prices?
When I say "which of these candidates" I mean Hillary or Obama, because I'm not even looking at anybody else.

When these two candidates came out as contenders. My first reaction was there is no way America is ready for a Black president. America will elect a White woman before a Black man. I kinda felt like it would be a wasted vote to vote for Obama, because he had no chance. But now that I see all the support .. maybe I was wrong.. I hope I was. When I got to the polls (to vote early) I hadn't really made up my mind. In the end, I voted Obama. Why, because it's time for a change.

DON'T MISS A Raisin in the Sun, Monday on ABC starring Phylicia Rashad, Sean Combs, Sanaa Lathan, and more .. 3hours, set your recorders!!!!!! Lorraine Hansberry is a genius!!!

Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Ireland gets its first black mayor

Hmmm, interesting.

War, what is it good for?

Friendly fire may have killed 2 in Iraq
What the hell is "friendly fire" ... that's an oxymoran.
"The families of the two soldiers were initially told they were killed by enemy fire." .... lies, why? to cover up the truth.

"I don't feel comfortable talking," she said. "Whatever I say isn't going to bring my son back." Word is bond.

I didn't read the full article. I just can't bear it. So many young lives ... lost ... for what?

I was upset to read an interview in a History magazine I found at work about how Rep. Charles Rangel wants to reinstate the draft. So much unfullfilled potential will go to waste, to send people .. esp. those that don't support war to go. I've always believe that no Black .. and not even Native American men or women should serve the military in war efforts. Why sacrifice you life for a country that took some much from the lives of our ancestors?

Makin' History

Did you know the 2007 SuperBowl takes place in Miami Gardens (a black town) NOT Miami: http://www.miamigardens-fl.gov/Demographics/demographics.aspx ?

Super Bowl XLI, played February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. http://www.dolphinstadium.com/

I never watch football, but I'm thrilled at the Black History being made today.

House Churches

But Scott and her friends don't call this a Bible study or a support group — they call it a church. They are part of the growing number of Americans who are shifting from traditional churches toward more informal, intimate settings, dubbed house churches.

"How do you form a community in a church of 4,000 people?" asks Scott, who used to attend a megachurch in St. Paul. "Sometimes it's hard to get really connected. What I've really been looking for is community."

Article: Living Room Liturgy By STEVE GROVE, abcnews.com