Choose wisely those you share your successes with. When you are happy and content and you want to shout about it, make sure you’re not surrounded by crabs in the barrel.
Those with no ambition will shoot yours down, and those who expect the most of you will always ask for more. Realize it is your path to take, and the chatter around you will always be there, just ease you mind and move forward. Don’t allow them to make you stand still.
In September, I didn’t have my website. I was moving into my new house on the day Master P, David Banner, and Dr. Michael Dyson spoke in front of Congress in the name on hip-hop.
I actually stopped packing and took a seat to watch. I thought it was excellent. Punch for punch, our voice was heard. It would’ve recieved more attention if those at the top of the game were there, but I give mad props to David Banner and Master P for showing up.
We complain and complain that we can’t get any help. Some of our artist make millions complaining. Here was their chance to make a footprint, where were they. If they couldn’t have spoken, they could have shown up and supported the voices and words that were heard.
Instead, they come out and bash Master P. He’s turning on us. He’s uppity now that he has some money. I heard it from everywhere.
What did he say that was so wrong.
Oh my God. It’s important that we understand our people need healthcare.
Oh, No. He grew up and learned lessons taught to him by life.
How dare he say we need more black faces behind the scence fighting for us?
I don’t blalme Master P for making some money and realizing the ghetto isn’t the only place on Earth. I don’t blame him for realizing that money makes the world go round, and though our songs make millions, or brand makes billions. I respect him for having the courage to say the unpopular thing.
I agree with David Banner and Master P. Our songs do influence our communities, and I hate artist that only dipict woman as sexual toys. But there are women out there that respond to that.
There are artist that are pure lyricist. They speak of guns, drugs, sex and hos, but they also speak of love for their brothers, our inablity to be stopped, respect for women that deserve it, and a swag that will carry you through any situation. They are complex and that’s how it should be.
Though we’re black, there is a large range of our likes and dislikes. Real rappers don’t dance. That’s my opinion. Pop stars dance, but there is a place in hip-hop for Soulja Boy and the rest. I don’t hate, but I don’t support either.
Except for raps Number 1 Clown, name an artist at the top that isn’t diverse. The top sellers have songs targeted to different groups because they understand we are diverse.
The backlash on Master P is uncalled for. We have to be the ones that stand up and take what belongs to us. If you think one day we’re going to wake up ruling the world without a fight you are delusional. It takes our voices of tracks, it takes our products in stores, it takes our command behind the scences, but more than anything, it takes us understanding WE HAVE TO DO IT.
We are doing it. We’re owning our own labels and getting top positions in long established music companies. Don’t you think we see that just as much as we see the bling? We know we’d rather have Jay-Z’s money instead of what’s his name’s temporary funds.
It takes us all. Those who want to tell what’s going on right now, we need you. Those that have been through it and made it out, we need you. Those that make offensive songs that make us argue, we need you. Only then will the complete picture be painted.
I don’t listen to David Banner as an artist, but as a black man using his word wisely, I WILL LISTEN.
You will find multiple blogs on the Congressional Hip-Hop meeting. It is important to realize we have to voice our problems in front of the movers and shakers of the government.
That’s right. Our music is fine the way it is. There are artist that don’t help our cause, but you can go to any bookstore and find stories written by people long forgotten.
I can disagree when David Banner says ‘It’s Just a Song’. It’s not. It’s our words. Our stories, from our point of view. I don’t want to hear only positive music. That is not the way the world is. I think we have enough problems deluding ourselves that racism can stop us from accomplishing anything.
My brothers that ran the streets, knew what they were doing. They knew it wasn’t right and that’s why they started rapping. Give us credit enough to know when our artist sings about their struggle, they overcame. That’s the point that’s missing.
Appearances can be deceiving. Deception can hide behind friendly words. Illness can hide between thick thighs.
Time and patience reveal more than a quick glance. Watch as they relate to others and if it contridicts your first opinion, believe it. There could be a reason they only show you the good.
“Acting is a form of deception, and actors can mesmerize themselves almost as easily as an audience.” Leo Rosten 1908-
I watch you struggle. You work so hard, but I can give you no pity. I can’t give you any more advice. My words are harsh and get worse with each exchange.
I ask you the same questions:
Where is he?
I don’t know
When was the last time you seen him?
Monday morning when he dropped off my car and borrowed $20.
He got his license back?
No
Then why did he have your car?
He went out with the boys Friday
Friday? And he’s just bringing your car back?
Yeah
Okay. Well what you doin?
I’m about to go and pick up some money
He finally giving you some money?
No! I’m borrowing some from my Aunt
Why are you borrowing money if you can give him money?
I don’t want to talk about it
Okay! Well what do you want to talk about?
I got new pictures of the kids. You should see them. They look just like their daddy. I bought them all new outfits for the pictures.
He showed up to take pictures?
Naw. He couldn’t make it, but they look so cute anyway
What color dress did you get?
I just wore my old black dress. You know I can’t afford clothes for myself
And then I lose it. I cuss and fuss and make you cry. I do it because I care but I only hurt you. I don’t like hurting you. Unlike him, I get no pleasure in seeing you in pain.
You love him more than you love yourself. Unfortunate.
You love him more than you love your kids. Unacceptable.
They’re watching him treat you like dirt, the same way you once watched. I know you. Inside there is a strong woman and when she’s ready to come out, I’ll get the alcohol and Orange Juice.
Until then, I have to walk away. I can’t hurt you on purpose. You’ll probably resent me for turning my back when you need me most, but I love you so much I can’t watch you hurt and then contribute to it.
Call me when you need the pieces put back together. I won’t look down on you for loving hard, nor will I blame you for following you heart. I look forward to that moment.
Until then………
Dear Lover
I began our relationship with hopes of forever. I saw in you, MAGIC. You weren’t perfect, neither was I, but together we made sense. Where I was weak you made me strong, and I gave every bit of strength I had to you, without asking.
Now I find it difficult to see any magic. Where I once trusted you with my heart, I now cry above the broken pieces. Where I once cradled you in my soul, now echos with emptiness. Where I once held thoughts of a future, now pulses pain in my brain.
So what to do?
Shall I continue on or should I bail out? I pose this question to you. What will you do to get me to stay?
Let me answer. You don’t care, because I need you more than you need me. I’ve heard it a thousand times, You don’t care, but I stay.
So Dear Lover
I’ve found my self worth, and it’s worth more than you give. So I’ll walk away, with nothing but what I came with, and I’ll cry. I’ll want you back. I’ll think I need you back, but I’ll remember your words.
Your words, that once sparked magic, will now reinforce my self worth. Your words will become seeds that grow my self-confidence.
So thank you Lover
From you I’ve learned so much about myself. I don’t need you. I need to love myself enough to throw you aside.
I do love you. I just love me more.
What would you do if your spouse walked out and left you penniless? What would you do if you couldn’t even get a bed in a homeless shelter?
ELON BOMANI, a black woman, raised on the streets of Philadelphia to a drug dealing father and welfare mother found herself there. Reliving the cycle set forth by her mother. She refused.
“I was not going to play the victim blame game. My greatest fear was that i was going to be in the vicious cycle that my mother fell into; a single mom on welfare.”
BOMANI, with her perfect credit, took a chance on herself. With nothing more than faith, hardwork, and a refusal to give up, she brought herself from homeless to prosperous.
“I believe in multiple incomes. Your not wealthy until your making money in your sleep.”
After investing in one property, she took that equity and bought a duplex. This was right in the real estate boom. So, she took her profits and moved to Houston, where she now lives well.
It would’ve been easy to get a check for ELON BOMANI. She could have applied for public housing and sat around and let the Democrats take care of her. Instead she decided she could control her future better.
She realized the social programs that didn’t push her mother forward, were not a path to financial freedom or peace of mind.
No one was going to hold her down. She had good credit, so she got a loan. If you opened a credit card account, maxed it out, and aren’t paying it, you’re not getting a loan because you are irresponsible. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin. The only thing that matters is the color of your money, and I’ve never seen someone get credit with foodstamps.
There is no magic man trying to hold you down. If you don’t have faith you can do it, write to me and I will give you all I have, because I know you can. I have had people tell me writing is not a real job. I’d like to see you try and stop my words.
So to ELON BOMANI, I say thank you for having the courage to follow your dreams, thank you for not following the easy path, and thank you for sharing your story. Now I have another example for those who say ‘We Can’t Do It’.
The moment someone mentions faith, those who don’t believe have something to say. Yet, they have faith that their government will protect their speech.
Faith is important. Knowing you can accomplish something when all signs point to failure, faithful. Having that faith and letting the world see you wear it as a badge of honor, priceless.
“I always admired Atheists. I think it takes a lot of faith.” Northern Exposure1991
“They didn’t give me any options, but to go to jail or go home.” Marche Taylor
I wouldn’t have given her any options either.
Usually the main concern over Prom Night is underage drinking and hotel reservations, but Marche Taylor never got to participate. Before she could make it into the lobby of the Sugar Land Marriott, Taylor was stopped and told her dress was inappropriate.
She offered to cover up, but was still denied access. Taylor then requested her money back. During the confrontation, someone called the police, and when they arrived, they escorted Taylor from the venue.
The dress was totally inappropriate, and the officials had every right to deny Marche Taylor the right to attend the Prom. She does deserve her money back though.
But what does this do for schools all over the country? In our YouTube society, the amount of attention brought to the disagreement has only set up future rule breakers. Some Junior in High School is designing a dress that would make Taylor’s dress look like Sunday wear, and she is going to show that dress to her friends and they are going to want one too.
Get where I’m going. Instead of having a single incident involving a single person, there is going to be a swell of groups participating. Tact should have been used in this situation. Taylor’s offer to cover up, should have been taken, instead of giving the youth another reason to rebel.
I’ll be back in one year to say I told you so.
