I Heard That

Press play, then pause (for a worthy) minute and allow the video to load.

She asked me how I survived. I said, "By Allah, it was my mother. Otherwise I would have been dead, crazed or institutionalized... And the struggles I saw her endure, I never want to see for my wife. So, I know that being a man is more than being male, and I'm focused on doing it right."

Contentment is Key,
B

YEAH ME! (revised)

So... I (don't know if I listed it in my rules for 2008, but) made the decision that I would get more invovled into the student writing scene on our campus (ie: papers, magazines, etc.). With that being said, I was assigned my first two articles a little over a week ago and they were due last night. With the help of my WONDERFUL journalism teacher (*big ups to Geo, peep his blog- it's in my 'respected blogs'), I wrote and revised my first "college clip". That's right. You guessed it! I will be sharing it with you. Here goes nothing:

For most people, the term ‘black cloud’ carries a negative connotation. For Temple University freshman, Isaiah Little, it is the name of his proudest achievement. Inspired by the lack of creativity he saw in the fashion industry and his love for entrepreneurship Little decided to create his own clothing line.

“I didn’t see anything of my preference, and I wanted something different,” he declared. Despite the authenticity behind his concept, few people showed support for his ideas. The negativity became ‘a black cloud that he had to rise above’. Therefore, the name was no longer solely representative of the brand. It was a lifestyle.

Little, a big kid at heart, can turn into a business man at the drop of hat. He is a zany person by nature, but he is fully aware that there is a time for everything. Nonetheless, his Jersey roots are undeniable: as they are apparent in his conversation and use of street slang.

Black Cloud is a reflection of its designer and his background. It’s a street brand, which means it’s inspired by the streets. Therefore, most designs include graphics of simple day to day objects. True to the ‘street brand’ concept, it is slowly taking over Temple campus.

You can find Little walking around in clothes that can be bought from places anywhere between Bloomingdales and the thrift store. Nothing is too expensive or too cheap. Fashion is a way of self expression, and the most important factor is confidence and comfort in whatever you are wearing.

For example, Little has a head full of dread locks. Some people grow dreads to further represent their culture and ethnicity, others grow it to be trendy. His reasoning is a lot less complex. He wanted to grow his hair out, but he didn’t want braids because they hurt too much.

Like his hair selection, the process for designing his clothing is just as simple. “Something will pop in my head, and I’ll just have to do something. I do things when I have the time, more or less,” said Little. There is no designated “design time”.

However, there is a design process. He pulls out his iPod, blast the music as loud as his roommates will allow, grabs a pencil and paper, and begins to design different patterns free handedly. If not sketching by hand, he uses the soft ware on the computer to create his designs versus scanning them onto the computer.

As with most great inventions, his first shirt was designed on accident. While internet surfing and listening to Joel Ortiz, the saying “hip hop started out in the park” stuck in his head. As he browsed through different websites, he saw a stereo. Following the stereo, he saw a picture of a man dancing, and decided to combine the two pictures with the quote.

With the shirts unanticipated success, he began to let his designs take on a form of their own. It is Little’s hope that Black Cloud will matures as he matures. “Ask questions. As much as you think you know, you don’t know everything. What better way of receiving information than from the source itself,” he advises.

His latest design, a black crew neck sweater, reads “The Muckers Club: Antidote for your Enemies”. The Muckers Club was a name given to an ambitious group of John F. Kennedy’s close friends who liked to enjoy themselves. This idea seems to be an exact reflection of Temple’s up and coming designer.
[THE END]

*The editor of the section I wrote the article for told me I did a great job. I was souped! So what if I'm corny for it; sue me. It's one thing to rant about topics of my choice and completely disregard grammar/style- it's something else to write for a school publication. This is my first major foot step down my road to success. I had to crawl before walking, but I think I've been a baby long enough. It's about time to step up. Don't be suprised if I'm chief editor of your favorite magazine in 4 years. No, really. Oh yeah, lesson learned in the completion of this article- my weakness is in revising. However, practice makes perfect, and I plan on getting lots of it. Got to go, I was actually supposed to be writing another article that's past due now. Sidetracked? Uh... yeah, a bit.

Contentment is Key, (your fav. aspiring magazine journalist)
B

ps- If you're interested in the clothing line, which I FULLY vouch for (the shirt I'm wearing in my 'Rules for 08' post is one of his)- you can check out his line and/or make a purchase (actually, I insist) at http://www.blackcloudeffect.com/blog.html

Midnight Ranting

Dear Reader,
I have assumed the political position of Democrat.. by default.. I guess. I mean, this is the first year that I have the chance to vote. Excited much? I am, you don't know how "grown" I felt when being questioned on whether or not I wanted to register to vote while upgrading my license at the DMV. Really. Whatever the case, I never paid too much attention to politics. The hostility I hold towards Bush was a learned behavior, and I couldn't really tell you why I'm a Democrat (beyond the fact that my grandmother is, and I think she knows everything- however, she may not be a declared democrat herself).

Anywho, I don't know which Democratic candidate I will be voting for, and I don't even know who the Republican candidates are. Sad but true. I want to make an informed decision though, and I want to take advantage of my effect (regardless of how minor others may think it is) on the government under which I live. So, yeah, that's about it. I don't know what I'm doing, BUT you bes' believe I'm doing something. What about you?

Contentment is Key, (your uninformed blogger)
B

Contentment is Key

Rainy days like a war, use wisdom as a weapon
Hold your head up, dry your clothes, and keep stepping...

The road to riches is slippery when wet

Amongst the fog is where you truly find yourself...

Many say the rain they can't stand-
Never let the weather determine the man,

God has a plan, from it I never ran:

Followed my heart through the storms, umbrella in hand.

-The Rain, Will Smith

Woke up and realized that this world's not so bad after all

Looked at it through a child's eyes and I saw it's beautiful...

It's amazing how we don't appreciate our blessings

There's plenty of people who don't like me,

But there's ten times more who love me-

And I love myself.

Sometimes it gets tough, but you can't give up.

Just take a deep breath, close my eyes,

feel the love, and give a smile.

I woke up this morning, the sunshine was shining-

I put on my happy face.

I'm living, I'm able, I'm breathing,

I'm grateful to put on my happy face.

-Happy Face, Destiny's Child

Speechless.

I've been introduced to more info. that I had not been exposed to (*Thanks B). FYI- the pics are small, but they're brutal. If you're one of those people who turn their cheek when they notice something wrong, you might want to leave this page... right now.

With that being said-
These are photographs and postcards of lynchings in America that are posted on a (developing) sight. Yeah, post cards. Just in case you missed the great lynching "in a city near you", they'd mail the excitement to your door step. If some of their bodies looked ripped up or their limbs look burnt, it's because they are. Don't take my word for it. Go check it out for yourself, I insist:
http://www.withoutsanctuary.org/



*this one (above, right) deeply disturbed me- they're posing around him as if he's some show pig at a county carnival *the end caption for this one (above, right) read as follow: "The lynchers used a small rope, tying the rope under his arms and throwing the rope over a limb of the tree. They did not even hang him up. He was found this morning with his feet on the ground in an apparently standing position with his head thrown back . . . completely riddled with bullets and his ears severed."

What hurts the most? A good bit of these men went unidentified. Could you imagine someone you love hanging, believed to be not worthy of identification? Yet, they ask what's in a name.

Contentment is Key, ("Happy" Black History Month)
B

I'm proud to be an American- where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
(takes on a different meaning now don't ya think?)

Musical Therapy Anyone?

So, Ms. Be: I know I never provided you with a music list, but this should definitely be on it.

To All the Boys I've Ever Loved Before

I can't lie to myself, I know it's over. I knew that you would break my heart, see boy I told ya. (Tynisha Keli)

That's a line from a song that always seems to be the 'perfect ending' to the majority of my relationships. Ever heard the quote, I just want one guy to prove to me they aren't all the same? Like many females, I'm still a hopeless romantic waiting on some "prince" to rescue me... I still believe in fairy tales. Nonetheless, my alternate reality has been steadily working towards breaking my faith in them. Rather than being secure, listening to Everytime I Close My Eyes by Babyface, and thinking of that special someone who makes me believe every word he sang- I'm listening to Players Prayer by Lloyd, wishing the ones who messed up would see our relationship as something worth holding onto and truly want to reconcile our differences... waiting for them to call, just so I can test my strength as to whether or not I'll take them back "one last time". Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware that in a relationship, I will have to go through it with somebody. However, I also believe that "going through it" shouldn't have to be such a painful experience- just a test of your commitment.

I have a habit of putting my all into every situation, and although I already know it to be fact- I could never fully get with loving somebody whole heartedly and not getting that shit back...
-Scorpio Blues

So as a result, I'm often in it a little too deep, just over my head, and fighting to stay above surface. And of course, this is the time where my 20/20 hind sight starts to kick in. I look back on past mistakes and realize the lesson must have got lost through the airways of all the songs I was listening to, because here I am making those same mistakes I vowed against and wrote New Year's Resolutions for in the beginning of '07. Maybe the lesson was so worth learning that I, like fashion trends, allowed history to repeat itself. Whatever the case, it stops here.

(parts of) Wife, Woman, Friend by Dana Gilmore:

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my beginning was his end-
Afterall, we were just friends,
Although in my world I was his girl,
So I would pretend to be his wife
Saying shit like,
"It's only so many years in a womans life"...

And though he didn't choose me,
But that doesn't make him right nor wrong.
And just because he was the epitome of my life
Doesn't make me wrong nor right-
Like I said,I was his friend, not his wife.
And I should have acted within that capacity,
And maybe than this breakup would have been
Just "one of those things"- instead of a fuckin tragedy.
And all that time I spent mad at him,
Hell- I should have been mad at me...

Had I knew than what I know now:
I probably would have listened when he said
'It was some shit he had to get up out his system' .
But see, I was too busy bitching-jumping bad like I was goin' hit him,
Cause in the back of my mind-
All I could fathom was how much I was goin' miss him.
But just because I'm crying ya'll don't mean that I'm the victim,
Just means I was scared to let him go cause some other chick might get him.
And that was my fault cause it was my decision,
I should have never put my heart in my minds position.
But I couldn't shake him, he was like a bad habit-
And all of this for a nigga that was just average.
Doing average nigga shit-
Like talking out the side of his neck and thinking with his dick.
But I must admit, he was the one I wanted to commit,
So either I wasn't living up to my potential,
Or I was just an average chick.
But I choose to believe I was a woman-
Caught up in a feeling both physical and emotional,
Who was way too willing to give her all to a man.
And though it may sound stupid, guess what?
I'd do it all again-
Just next time for my husband,
And not that nigga I call my friend.

So... taking my cue from different lyrics, ones of wisdom and truth-not just radio appeal. Let's try this again.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

My Man

And finally... once I get those two "lyrics" embedded in my brain and can really call them lessons learned and consider these things values that I take to the heart, maybe this will be my testimony. (& when you start to miss me, remember it was you who let me go)

Wife, Woman, Friend pt. 2


In the mean time, I'll end with a quote from your favorite rappers favorite rapper:
If through our travels we get seperated, never forget- in order to survive, gotta learn to live with regrets. (Jay-z)

Contentment is Key,
B

Make Black History Everyday, I Don't Need A Month

(It's long, but it's a good read. I promise. Look at that side pic. Does that look like the face of someone who would lie to you? Granted, you can't see the face. For visual learners, sorry- there are no pics in this one)

Being that it's Black History month, I thought it would only be right to shoot out some things we've discussed in two of my classes this semester. The things I learned have made me a bit angry at times, but it has also left me more informed. Therefore, it is in my place to spread the word and shed light on dark areas. Some of these things I had never heard of, and just like the movie, The Great Debaters- I'm sure there are more issues that occurred in the black community that have been buried deep in the books.

1st and foremost: My Intro. to Sociology class-
Ever heard of the Tuskegee experiment? No, I am not referring to the national historical landmark and historically black college, Tuskegee University. The Tuskegee Experiment took place between 1932 and 1972. 399 black men from Alabama were diagnosed with syphilis and went uncured. The doctors told them they had a case of 'bad blood'. In all actuality, the doctors were performing an experiment to test the differences in the effects of syphilis on black people in comparison to whites (only to later admit, that knowing this would not make any difference in regards to curing it). Mind you, syphilis is degenerative-deadly. Furthermore, these men were made to believe they were receiving free, frequent visits with the intended purpose of getting better. Yes, they were given (what was then) "the modern day medicines for syphilis", but they were given these prescripitions in such small doses that only 3% of the men showed any improvement. And when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I learned than penicillin (the cure for syphilis) was discovered in the 40's and these men were purposely declined treatment. The doctors only intended to keep up with their progresss, or the lack there of.

Make no mistakes, there were black nurses/doctors involved with this experiment. However, since learning about this in class and doing online research- it seems that they were either uninformed, only doing what was told to them by the doctors, or had attitudes described as "passively obedient" and "unquestioningly submissive".

I was going to mention the other statistics we've learned in class about the African-American population in America versus those in jail, but I have been led to believe that all these figures are not true; I wouldn't want to misinform you. So..

2nd runner up: My History Recitation-
We were in class talking about the large number of immigrants (over 20million) that moved to America between 1840 and the early 1900's. Our teacher pointed out, that of all the immigrants to move here, the African-American culture was the least embraced. For the most part, every other ethnicity moved here and was accepted after a certain time period. Initially, Asians weren't accepted and the first law about immigration was in regards to them. They did not look like the "average American", and that's why they were shunned from society. However, eventually, even they worked their way in.

We touched on the Native Americans as well. Personally, I think Africans were brought here, so the move wasn't optional, and in a similar fashion, Native Americans were forced to assimilate so their exception into our culture wasn't desired. Long story short, they could have cared less about "the American way". Let's not forget the massacre at Wounded Knee and the Trail of Tears. Personally, if we're "honoring" people- they deserve a month as well ::takes a deep breath:: Before I go off on a tangent... (back to African-Americans) we begin to discuss how slavery has shaped racism and the view of a black persons worth. A (northern) guy in class mentions that some of his closest friends are black and that people make way too big a deal out of racism. I am firm believer that things are what you make of them.

However, I think racism is a large issue by its own admittance, and society does not have to "amp it up" for it to be noticed. North Carolina isn't the deep south, but it's the south nonetheless, and there are many examples of racism all around- proudly boasting themselves, might I add. My first job was at what some described as a "cowboy store", and I can't begin to tell you the feeling I had when a group of white supremacist came in the doors. Not to mention, I'm sure everyone has heard the idea that Obama will be assassinated if elected into presidency. These aren't peoples way of "making a big deal out of things". These are the issues, the truth of the situation at hand. Furthermore, I think claiming friends of another race only proves the ignorance of one's knowledge on racism. Afterall, some slave owners were friends with some of their slaves. Don't be so simple-minded. I think I'm getting myself worked up, so I'm going to cut this off right here. My point: Kanye West said it best, "Racism's still alive, they just be concealing it".

*If any republicans happen to read this, please respond. I promise not to make a dispute out of this. As the saying goes: Never enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

Contentment is Key,
B