Sisters & Young Men.. Bitches & Boys

It's pretty well known that I'm a music junkie. Truth be told, I'm more lyrical than anything.. it's not necessarily the beat on a track but the message that's being sent through the airways. I was listening to a track called "Take ya Time" by Black Ice ft. Musiq and he basically states the difference between young men and boys. In comparison, Jay-Z has a track called Sisters and Bitches where he describes what seperates a sister (a female worthy of respect) from a bitch (a female who is often disrespected). I'm posting the lyrics to both.. food for thought, grab a plate.

Bitches and Sisters: Jay-Z

Sisters get respect, bitches get what they deserve
Sisters work hard, bitches work your nerves
Sisters hold you down, bitches hold you up
Sisters help you progress, bitches will slow you up
Sisters cook up a meal, play their role with the kids
Bitches in street with their nose in your biz
Sisters tell the truth, bitches tell lies
Sisters drive cars, bitches wanna ride
Sisters give-up the ass, bitches give-up the ass
Sisters do it slow, bitches do it fast
Sisters do their dirt outside of where they live
Bitches have niggers all up in your crib
Sisters tell you quick "you better check your homie"
Bitches don't give a fuck, they wanna check for your homie

Take ya Time: Black Ice ft. Musiq

Boys don't know how to crack

They try to holla out the window of they ride
Young men know how to act
They humbly pull you to the side
A young man is genuine, he don’t suck up to ya moms
But a boy will kiss her ass and try to fuck before the prom
A boy will play hustler cause he think he's hiding through it
A young man would keep it on the low and hate they gotta do it
A young man is in his dorm room with a big poster of Pac
A boy know his songs word for word but cant get off the block
A boy wanna hit it, young men wanna hit it
Young men wait patiently and boys rush to get it
After school, a boy rushes home to jump on Playstation
A young man will stay late and try to further education
A boy wont say nothing if his homies try and sound you
A young man will defend ya honor if his niggas ever clown you
A young man sees practicing and studies with his team
But a boy don’t see nothing but crack and triple beams

Some people have problems with labels, but are those same people the ones with labels that aren't so pleasing? Where do you fall in line? Take time to think about it.

If you aren't being called a title that is becoming of you, you might want to become something different.

2fingers and blessings,
B

*Thanks Beans

Niggas & Figures

Being as this blog is inspired by my writing, it only makes sense that I put my pieces up here as well. This isn't one of my greatest, but I like it... get with me.

Niggas and Figures

I guess you find it necessary for your every sentence to contain a curse word
As if cursing or being loud is the equivalent of being heard
But in all honesty it just makes those around you wish they could tune you out
I'm walking what I'm talking, but are you about what you shout?
It's as if I'm whispering the truth while you're hollering the lies
And since you're all they can hear, it's me they're starting to despise
Looks that speak louder than words, asking why I can't keep "my kind" tamed
I'm not contributing to the noise, but I'm receiving all the blame
..because our skin tones are the same
So they group us like numbers and figures
I'm minding my civilized business, but you got them calling all of us niggas
..and though it shouldn't
Your actions reflect on all of "your kind"
So the next time you open your mouth, I hope you will keep that in mind
I'm not saying you should assimilate.. imitation is not the way
But you speak with so much authority; I just want you to mean what you say

Every black mans story was not built on guts and glory
Famous inventors spent nights up toiling while other people spent theirs snoring
To each his own, I do believe, but please stray from the black man the media potrays
Drug dealing, cursing, and stealing is not how all have spent their days
Some got dealt a bad hand, and instead of folding-they did what they could
But you don't have the same cards before you; As a matter of fact, your hands looking good
They went through the struggle for you, and we should keep their memories alive
Learn from their experience and grow, but don't back pedal and live their lives
In all actuality, we've got it easy- the most spoiled generation yet
The basis of our education is technology, and education they had to fight for us to get
So take advantage of what's before you; don't give them a reason to call you a nigga
And should they still categorize you- Oh well..
Cause now you're the one with all the figures

2 fingers and blessings,
B

Talking to the (Wo)Man in the Mirror

First and foremost: Jena 6

-Around campus, those protesting the trials of the Jena 6 are wearing black (representing strength and mourning) or green (to symbolize growth and surpassing hate). There are people protesting around our bell tower (the center of campus), and it's pretty hard to get around it. Am I complaining? HELL NO! I think this issue is worthy of all the attention it's receiving. Three black boys sit under a tree in the "white section", and the next day there are nooses hung. The principal wants them expelled, yet the city education director overrides this decision because he sees it as a harmless practical joke. Kids will be kids? Is that not ridiculous? The fact that there is a white section in the first place blows me. Apparently, seperate but equal still holds credibility some places. Than 6 (black) boys get in a fight and they receive charges, get put on trial, have ridiculous paroles set for them, and actually get sentenced. This issue is making a mockery of the progress America has made since slavery.. or the lack there of.

Back to the regular scheduled program:
My yesterday (9/19/2007) sucked. It started off with me not waking up in time for class and progressed into something even worse. Give me a brief moment to complain:
-I tripped and fell twice (get your laugh out), one trip was so hard that I actually broke my toenail
-I was EXTREMELY hungry, bought a sandwhich, and dropped half of it on the floor (just after I thought, "it would be ridiculous if I dropped this")
-My grandmother (Lord knows I love her) wouldn't stop nagging me about a loan
-the list goes on.. but this will suffice

It was one of those days that, had it been in a comic strip, the story would have been called "When Something Can Go Wrong, It Does". I was feeling defeated. A few days before I had called my sister to tell her I was quitting college. She immediately dismissed the notion. As a matter of fact, she said, "Girl shutup". She has the ability to make light of any situation, and though I was seriously stressing, I needed that reminder... it's not always that serious. Sometimes I just need to sit back and breathe, re-evaluate the situation, and figure out what I can do to make the best of it. My greatest advice to myself was be progressive or sleep (I stated that in the previous blog). Kinda dramatic, I know but efficient nonetheless. Well, it would be effecient if I could actually put it into action.

This is all beyond me. I went through highschool just gliding. It wasn't hard to keep up with school work, and good grades came with ease. Now, I get to college and I'm two steps away from needing a tutor in every class. It's not hard to feel imcompetent when I don't see anyone else struggling the way I am. Taking into consideration that I'm more emotional than most and I wear my heart on my sleeve, everyone doesn't show it as much as I do when the pressure is on and getting to them. I'd like to believe that this is temporary and I'm stressing myself out. However, the facts are that there is work to be done and I have to be the one to do it. Everyone isn't struggling as much as I am because they're doing more work than I am. If I do my best than there's nothing for me to feel bad about. Problem is.. I haven't been doing my best and that's where the worry sets in. Sometimes the answer isn't always so easy.

This time, the answer is simple.. get on my job. Admitting defeat is not an option. Jigga said it best: I will not lose!
In order to change the world, I must first start with myself.


2 fingers and blessings,
B

Note to Self: Wake Up, Stay Up

I'm sure we've all heard sayings about how beneficial it is to be an early riser. When hearing these quotes, the speaker failed to mention that early rising doesn't always come with ease. Nonetheless, it's supposedly essential to having a productive day.
-It is the early bird that gets the worm.
-Early riser.. out before them other guys, that's the way to profit everytime.
-Cultivate the habit of early rising. It is unwise to keep the head long on level with the feet.

Any of these ring a bell?
Unfortunately... they all ring too many bells in my ears, and I've learned a valuable lesson.

Wake up when the alarm goes off, and stay up when the alarm goes off.

Like many, I have the habit of tricking myself into believing if I catch 15 more minutes of sleep, I will be better off. The problem that comes with this way of thinking is that those (measley) 15 minutes usually turn into an hour and some change. The problem? If you're in college, which I am, you've missed a class or two as a result of your "fifteen minutes" . Some don't see the harm in missing a class. People keep telling me, "Don't worry", "Everyone does it", "Just make sure you're at the next one".

However, I see a problem in this. It's one thing to copy notes from someone else. It's another, more informative, thing to hear the teacher elaborate on the notes first hand. Furthermore, just because everyone's missing classes doesn't make up for my absence. I have plans on changing the world; I can't do that following the paths of other people.

There needs to be some set of helpful hints instructing us how to rise early, effectively. For now, the obvious answer to me is- Go to bed at a reasonable time. I am a night owl, I usually don't hit the sack til' around 4 in the morning. That will have to change. Sitting up wasting the night away because sleeping just doesn't sound entertaining is no longer an option. If the time I'm up isn't productive, I'm better off sleeping. That's all there is to it.

2 fingers and blessings,
B

*Random (yet, on my mind)- WHAT IS OJ THINKING ABOUT! Was it not enough that he got off with accusations of murder? Now he wants to test the waters and give robbery a try too. While I'm struggling to wake up in time for classes, he's creating another controversial issue for us to discuss in Journalism. And, for what? His own personal collection of sports memorabilia. Loser.

In the beginning..

I'm a freshman in college, and the only thing I'm (absolutely) sure of at this point is that I love to write. I take comfort in it. I see the power of words. I want to be a part of the movement.

So.. I'm starting a blog.

I have these random, sudden, nagging urges to write. This blog will be composed of my thoughts, poems, developing ideas, and whatever other material I consider news worthy or monumental.

During my orientation in July 2007, I declared my major (magazine) journalism-which is a basic foundation for writing; whose to say this will still be my declared field upon graduation? For me it was a simple equation.

Passion for writing+Money to be made as a journalist= Journalism Major

Why magazine journalism? I feel like it causes a writer to use different levels of creativity. I can write an editorial, straight news, conduct interviews, or learn the layout for magazines. Nonetheless, I'm not sure this is supposed to be my profession. This is definitely my calling, but I am supposed to study it in college or study something else and practice my craft freely? I think people should know their craft, so I guess learning it wouldn't bring any harm. After all, this is only the beginning.

This blog..
college..
my career path..
taking my passion to the next level..

All of these are in their beginning stages. The best is yet to come. Hang on for the ride and cross your fingers. I don't promise to fill these post with excitement that keeps you yearning for more, just an undeniable truth.. my truth as I figure this "thing" out. Let's hope thats enough.

2 fingers and blessings,
B