“Kingdom”… has this become just another popular phrase?

For years now (all of my natural life) I have been a hardcore, down to the bone fan of this term ‘Kingdom’. Of course, now that I am 20 years old, this is a phrase that you can find everywhere, sermons, songs, and even names of churches. While 10 years ago, it could not be found anywhere. What does this mean? Is this an example of good Kingdom expansion? NO! I believe not!!! I’m reminded of that famous episode of the Boondocks where Jasmine says, “Beware of the false Santa”. I beseech you to beware of the false Kingdom impostors. The Kingdom of God has been distorted to become another get rich quick scheme (Just like Praise and Worship… but that’s on another note).
I believe that it is time for somebody to talk about the true Kingdom. It is not a place that you come to get health and wealth. Its not a place to cash in the worries of the present world because your scared of dooms day or “The Rapture”. But that is what it has become. Just like in 60’s and 70’s when 1,000’s of people where saved under tents to escape hell fire (my family included). That is what the Kingdom of God has become.
Now, are health and wealth some of the many things that come along with this lifestyle… YES! But that definitely should not be the Church’s mission in life. Don’t come to the Kingdom because you got bills to be paid next week. And don’t come because Momma and Auntie died of cancer and you scared that you next. But come because somewhere on the inside you know that is your calling. Come because the life of righteousness (obedience to the will of God) is what you yearn.
My best analogy is a fish and water. Water is the natural atmosphere of a fish. Their life outside of water is doomed to death. Water is the natural habitat of a fish, it was where they were created. So of course life outside of water is bad for a fish, and their days are numbered. The Kingdom of God works the same. It is the natural habitat of the believer! Of course operating outside of this realm is doomed to failure… but the fear of failure cannot be our motivator. But our motivation must come from the yearn for oneness with God. Because oneness with God (the Body of Christ) is our natural habitat.
I said all that to say this. Hope I don’t sound cliché but… I want to be one with the Father. I don’t care if I never see health or wealth. Those are just “signing bonuses”, but the real deal is to be with Him. I will not be fooled by these false beliefs that the Kingdom of God is just to make me happy in the flesh (health and wealth), but I know that as I continue to seek the will of the father my spirit shall be connected with his!!

Let's just be HONEST! Say how you feel

One of the biggest hindrances to race relations in this country is common debate. White people and Black people are afraid to talk because White people are scared of being labeled as "Racist" and Black folks are afraid of being accused of the infamous "Black Card". Well I have news for both of you SUCK IT UP and get to talking. Not to my surprise Whites and Blacks have a very different opinion on the state of race relations within the United States.

Many White folk believe thought there is still a good amount of discrimination in practice within the United States, it isn't anywhere near the amount during times past. They also have some sort of belief that Black people today have every chance as the next man in succeeding. And that's where they differ. Almost (There are a couple of Bills and Clarence's around) all Black people can admit that there are still institutional barriers toward success that are based on race(racism).

I really think that White people don't know that Black people feel this way, at least not in mass numbers. But I honestly believe if these conversation begin to take place, there would be at least a few grounds of improvement in this age old battle.

One of the first steps is not lashing out on White people when they make a mistake. I mean really, If you are of some age within in the United States the next time a White person makes the mistake of saying "You People".... don't curse them out... yet. Tell them that was unacceptable, and just continue to tell them how you feel about race. You lashing out on them would be like you didn't expect it coming (come on I know your mothers told you just like mine "Don't never put nothing past them"). By lashing you cut the lines of communication which are desperately needed. I know I need help in this area myself. Its going to be tuff but we can do it.

Another thing don't be afraid to call people out. If you go a restaurant and you are seated in the back... tell the wait staff that how you feel. And if you feel like their decision to sit you there was based on race... let know. Be calm, but tell them the truth!!

Check out the Malcolm clip below:) He agrees with me:)

Family Reunion

So I went home this last weekend to the Family Reunion type thing. It definitly wasn't the funnest thing that I had ever been to. Seeing as how, that is the side of my family that I am least connected with. But it sure was intresting to say the least.

I felt kind of bad that I didn't know many people there. Of the about 75 people there, I only knew about 5, and that was including my parents. What really was embarassing was knowing how much I preach about community involvement and the importance of strong family bond (outside of immediate) within the African American community.

Our family has always went beyond blood, and on into the community. For example, if a children were playing outside and were bad, they could be corrected by any adult in the neighborhood.

I hope to do better next time:)

Diversity... umm.... i think not

Something has been bothering me lately. It seems that everything that was given to black people to help strengthen the black community has been taken away. Anything that has been traditionally for black people only, now has opened its doors to everyone else in the minority category. Black people have moved into a segment of life, that if we don’t rise up and see the truth, we are going to be pushed aside and the permanent underclass that America has been creating for years will be a fact.

I came across this law passed in the United States in 1705 called the Diversity Act. Because of the fact that at the time the largest groups of peoples coming into the country were black (6 out of every 7), the government passed this diversity act. They were afraid of power in numbers, and thought that the blacks would come together and overthrow their oppressors. This law said that in every group of five blacks there must be one white.

Now God knows I love all the wonderful opportunities housed within all segments of my University. And the staff that works in these departments is the best! But, why does the institution steer away from having things just for one group. Why can’t there be a program dedicated just to black students. Why must EVERYTHING be title as “diversity” and “multi-cultural”.

And this is why, though internally I support immigrant rights, you will never see me marching up and down the street fighting together. I don’t want to be lumped up with any other minority and I don’t want there needs to be confused with mine. We have different histories and different current problems. I’ll support you, we can talk about it every once and a while, but let’s not get it confused and try to mesh issues together!

This should go for all minorities though, because different minorities need different things. Why should we all have to sit in the same things and act like all of our needs are same? And this would be assuming also, that (I can only speak for what I am) the black race has transcended to a point where we do not need focalized attention to make up for past injustices. I’m just saying… I’m tired of sitting in circles and singing Kumbaya. There is nothing wrong with having a UNIVERSITY SPONSORED (not student organization) service that says ‘Blacks Only’ or ‘Women Only’ or whatever your minor form may be.

So please stop lumping us all together like we are all the same!!!!

A Soulja Boy... I'm not hating on you... unlike ICE T!!!

First of all, where in the world do I start. As bad as a rapper that I think Soulja boy is.... Ice T... your a HATER!!! Please go somewhere and sit down! And what in the world kind of apology was that? You are doing too much! Like I said, I'm not a fan of Soulja boys rapping but you got to give the man credit on a lot of other levels. First of all his marking, and crossover potential is CRAZY!!! All he has to do is think about releasing something on you tube and its a hit. As a matter of fact nobody even cared about what Ice T said until Souja Boy posted his comment. I'm sorry Mr. Ice T, but I really think that your out of your league with this one...LoL!!

Does Pro Black mean Anti White

In the past couple of days I have been accused of being racist. Now, my first argument is to tell them to look up the TRUE definition of racism. But my second one is, "Why am I racist, just because I love being an African American and better yet I love being BLACK?" I mean this can go with plenty of other cases as well... like if a women is a feminist, then she automatically lesbian. Because in order to be proud to be a women you have to be a lesbian??? NOT TRUE!!!
Well let me just clear myself of future harassment! Yes I am

Pro Black, I believe in Black Nationalism, and I think that there are.... how do I put this.... "A lot" of people in "dominate culture" that haven't come to terms with their own privilege and identity (read between the lines); but I do not hate white people!!!! (Let me pull this card) I have a lot of white....ummm.... associates.

Why is it wrong to be proud in yourself!!! Why is it wrong to be proud in your culture??? Why is it wrong to question society and think that just maybe as a black male the system doesn't have my best interest at hand.

Listen at this mess.... this is why I don't appreciate what Obama had to say about black fathers!!!! Please do better Obama!!!

An Outside Opinion


Obama's Speech

I want a black President.... but stop pissing me off!!!

Just when I started to get on the Obama band wagon… there he go again opening his mouf!!! Yesterday, during a speech made at church Obama made a call to absent black fathers. Okay what is so bad about that? Nothing…. On the flip side, if you ask someone what is Obama going to do for black people folks say, “Well in that position he can’t vocalize everything because he has to know how to play the game”. Okay I dealt with that, but if your campaign doesn’t allow you to be “Pro-Black”… you shouldn’t be allow to be “Con-Black” either! If he isn’t going to make race an issue in his campaign then DON’T!
He is starting to remind me of a crazy old man that I can’t stand by the name of Bill Cosby!! Don’t do it Obama…. Don’t do it!!! I mean come on!!! All the white Obama Feens listening to this…. The first stance that he made on race (without the pressure of Rev. Wright) was talking about negatives in the community. Lord have mercy upon his soul!
Now I began to question his devotion to Rev. Wright myself. Because Rev. Wright seems like a smart man, that would have done this. Was Obama in the pews just because it was a large church in South Chicago and he knew what he wanted to do with his future, or was he really influence by the teachings.?
Okay Obama this is strike two (Rev. Wright and now this)…. Please do better!!!

Why can't we be friends!

So I was thinking about the presidential election recently, and I began to think about Rev. Wright. Everyone one that I talk two generally has one opinion (especially Barack supporters). They think that he shouldn't have sacrificed the Obama campaign by saying all that he did. But a lot of people (especially people of color) don't disagree with what Rev. Wright has to say about race. But everyone agrees that Rev. Wright shouldn't have been talking about it (race), or at least not the way he did.

It seems to me that people in America have become afraid to talk about race. After the civil rights movement race has become the hush of society. People of color will discuss it among themselves and so will people not of color. But when it comes to coming together to make solutions... or even just talk... that doesn't happen.

Americans need to stop guarding their feelings so much and begin to talk about some things. Challenge yourself no matter what your color or race may be, to talk with someone different about some controversial issues and don't limit your conversation to an hour. These talks can go on for hours

This is one reason that I am happy that Obama has gone as far as he did. He is forcing not only Americans... but the world to talk about race.

Bobby boy.... go somewhere and sit your tail down!!!!

What in the world does Bob Johnson think he’s doing? Why in the world is he speaking on the behalf of Hillary Clinton? All that stuff that he said is rubbish because first and foremost SHE HASN’T DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE YET. I really think that this is another one of her sneaky and conniving tactics! They (Hillary and her supporters) are trying to put Obama in a place that would force him to put Hillary on the ticket. But guess what Ms. Clinton? YOU LOSS!!! Get over it!!!

I know that I have been critical of Obama in the past, and rightly so… but It just felt good to be a black man yesterday when he made that speech. And this morning when I got up and herd Johnson on CNN I got of reality check about money in the world. Majority of the wealth in the country is held within dominate America, and in order to get that money you have to be on their side. I guess that is why Mr. Johnson used to be a billionaire. Mr. Johnson sold us over one time (in reference to BET and Viacom), so lets not put it past him to do it again!!!

God and Capitalism

The religious sector of the world, though they are very different indeed, tends to all align around common morals, ethics, and life standards. They believe in honesty and truth… good will toward all men. Generally this goes across the religious spectrum. We (the world) use these different belief systems to judge all that we do. But at what point does the judge get off the bench and we fail to continue to hold true to these altruistic standards.
Example #1 (and the only example of the night for that matter) is CAPITALISM. Makes me think back to those little bracelets that Christians used to wear that said W.W.J.D.? (What Would Jesus Do?). (Though I relate this blog to Christianity because it is what I adhere to the most… please know that I am being critical of all religions). What is the response of all these high deities toward the more and more capitalistic world?
I mean really… Do you think that Jesus feels comfortable with us eating at night until our belly’s are full, when there are people across the globe that starve. What about the fact that when we sit down to eat a nice juicy steak… the wheat that it took to feed the cow to produce the steak could have fed a family of four in a drought. Crime (most crime) in my personal opinion is just a common case of the haves and the have not’s… Crime is the have not’s being fed and erasing the “not” by themselves. There are many things that people across the world pray for an answer to, but in the words of Bob Marley… “Most people think Great God will come from the sky… but if you know what life is worth, you would look for yours on earth..”. Maybe I should be a Robin Hood??

Family Guy vs. The Boondocks

One of the most offensive shows on T.V. today is Family Guy. On every show the fail not to make fun of a different minority group within the US. I had enough on the episode where the little baby says, "What would I be if I didn't take care of my responsibilities" and then the dog says "A black guy". Call me crazy but isn't that a little over the top??? When has this type of mockery become acceptable. Some people make the argument that Family Guy makes fun of all people the same. So F*ing what!!! It still is a white cartoon that makes fun of minorities from a seat of privilege.


Well if you don't think that it is offensive that is okay too... everyone is entitled to there own opinion. But some people have went as far to say that the Boondocks... a wonderful cartoon that satires politics and attacks the system and not people is racist also. WRONG ANSWER!!! First of all, there is a difference between a black person making a joke about race and a white person making a joke about race. When I white person does it, it is like a person that can walking making fun of someone for being in a wheel chair. And when a Black person makes a racial joke it is like some one in a wheel chair laugh a some because they can walk. Which situation is meaner. I think the real problem is that we (the world) hasn't come to terms with this whole notion of privilege. Why certain things coming from certain people mean different thing. Take a look at the below clips.


The Boondocks



Family Guy

A People United

“…any emancipation hereafter granted to any slave of slaves… shale be upon the expressed condition that he she or they will leave the state within ninety days from the granting thereof and never will return within the state afterwards.”

This was a law that I found that was passed through the General Assembly of North Carolina in January of 1831. We have this forced separation with in the Black population way back in the 1800’s. There is a famous quote that the Black Student Union at UNC-Charlotte always uses that say a people united shall never see defeat. This law was obviously a ploy to calm down rising tension among free blacks that help lead to the Civil War and eventually emancipation for everyone.

In what ways do African Americans allow themselves to be separated from their powerful halves. UNC-Charlotte, a PWI, is located about ten minutes from one of the best HBCU’s in the country. But yet there is still an unsaid feeling of superiority at the unranked PWI. When speaking with an early African American attendee of UNC-Charlotte, I was shocked to find out that of reasons that the school was built so far away from the middle of the city was to be away from “outside influence”. Could we as the so called educated be falling for and unconscious attempt to separate a people again?

The Pitfalls of Racial Reasoning

In Dr. West’s book he goes into a chapter that elaborates in details the downside of too much racial reasoning. I would definitely be doing too much to also going in detail and defining this. I suggest you buy the book… it is a classic called Race Matters.

It has come to my attention that we (African Americans) just might be doing this again in the current political race. Now I’m an Obama supporter and God knows that I hope he gets in the White House and turn it Black. But have become so preoccupied with the man’s race that we fail to be critical of his platform and policies.

As a supporter of Obama I think we should all take a step back and remember that this man is not Jesus. I asked a few supporters of Obama what do they not like about him today, and there response was “I haven’t found no fault in him”. Now call me crazy, but don’t that sound like a scripture or something? Have we made Obama into God… Is he the Anti-Christ??? No… he is definitely not the Anti-Christ but please people ***in the mocking tone of Bill Cosby*** lets be critical.

I read a good blog the other day talking about Black People’s not being honest in the presidential race (Shannon). But I believe this slight ignorance goes beyond the presidential race. Sometimes that we become so happy to have black person in position that we aren’t critical enough. And sometimes dominate culture is so happy to put one of us in position, just to shut us up.

Lets not let race go beyond truth. Now don’t get me wrong I’m all for bringing down the all white hierarchy that has been in place since the conception of America, but let’s do it with intelligence so that we don’t look like babbling fools. Case in point of foolish Racial Reasoning that we have supported in the past… R. Kelly (GUILTY!!), Duke Lacrosse (We were ready to start marching before the case even got started), and O.J. (Yes I understand the argument that Black people made about making sure there was a fair trial… and that is needed… but once again we jumped to conclusions from the start!!)

Come on people let’s begin to use those higher level thinking skills that we know we have and don’t act like because we want to see the race progress (and that we do), that we aren’t critical and smart people.