Looking Past the Surface

Monday, April 26, 2010

Your Wonderland is my Twilight Zone

I have had the distinct pleasure of sitting down and having dinner with Tim Wise when he did a lecture at my college, and that night he brought me peace (at least for a few days). Tim Wise is a White man who speaks about White privilege. There is something so amazing to listening to a conversation that you are forced to have on a regular basis based upon the color of your skin. The night that he spoke at my college it was as if the seas had parted. The same things that I had been telling my fellow classmates for years was being said by this man who was seen as a person of authority. The ideas I had been trying to express finally sank in. No matter who the messenger was I was happy that I did not have to be a part of the conversation. Here is a piece that Wise has written , “What if the Tea Party were Black?”

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Friday, April 23, 2010

DEFENSE wins games

As we all know the 2009 NY Giant Football Season was full of ups and downs. The explosive defense was inconsistent due mostly to injuries which resulted in changes in the roster that many of the younger players were not comfortable with. Hopefully they have rested up and are ready to back this year full force! The addition of Jason Pierre-Paul is an exciting one that will a great edge to the defense of the G-MEN. I can't wait to see what other picks are up next!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Dorothy Height

Many times as Black women we complain that the Civil Rights movement forgets about women and that the Women’s rights movement forgets about Blacks. Dorothy Height was one of the pioneers in our country to get people to address the issue of the Black woman. Some of you may be wondering who is Ms. Height, and I would encourage you to educate yourselves. There are many more civil rights leaders besides those heralded in your U.S. History books. To read more about Ms. Height, you can check out her book “Open Wide the Freedom Gates.” I also would like to remind all of us to take a step back and think about powerful people such as Ms. Height who have graced this earth, and think about the sacrifices that she made to make our futures better. When you think of all of the problems that are going on in your life, remember what life would have been like if Dorothy had not inspired others to make a difference. Ms. Dorothy Height may you Rest in peace, and I salute you.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Hip Hopera- Clip of the Week

Now, I don't watch GLEE, but my parents are always raving about the show along with everyone else. Now I'm sure you've seen this internet sensation, but kudos to any show that inspires great laughs like these. Clips like this break up the work day. Enjoy!

Friday, April 16, 2010

NO H8

I remember as a teenager that a lot of people would participate in the national day of silence as a way to get out of talking in class. Not all of the people were supporting the movement, but everyone in my high school knew what it stood for. Hopefully the majority of the participants are giving this day the respect it deserves, but I encourage everyone to take the time out to educate them on an issue that may not be directly related to them.

I’ve always gone to schools that are LGBT friendly, but I have also grown up in Black culture, which is extremely homophobic. So today, I encourage those who still feel the need to demonstrate hate to remember the trials and tribulations that their cultures have gone through. Remember the justification those who oppressed you, your friends, and/or your family gave as an excuse to continue to belittle you and treat you as if you were not equal to them. Now look at yourself and assess your own beliefs. If someone is not infringing upon your personal rights to live, then what does it matter how they choose to live their lives. I’m not saying that you need to go and rally in the streets for LGBT causes; however, allowing people to be themselves regardless of your beliefs and your lifestyle can sometimes be enough to make a positive change.

And for those of you who choose to hate based upon your religious beliefs are being quite selective in your reading. Although all doctrine is up to interpretation, almost every culture has something similar to the golden rule. Spread the love stop the hate!

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Mastering the Mom Glare

I was sitting in a Cosi with my sister and my niece when my niece decided to act out. There is nothing more frustrating and embarrassing than a child who acts out in public! My niece had decided that she did not feel like saying her prayers for her food before she ate; therefore, I took her food, prayed for my food, and continued to eat with my sister in front of her. When she began to cry, I sternly asked her to remove herself from the table and to not come back to the table until she was ready to act like a young lady.
She mustered her way to the bathroom, composed herself, and returned to say her prayers. We continued with our lunch and were laughing and joking within seconds. All the while, the woman sitting next to me could not tame her wild children who screamed, yelled at their mother, and were completely disrespectful to her. The look of amazement on her face as my niece waltzed her way back to the table and began to behave herself was priceless. She then gazed at her kids in disbelief and embarrassment. I made a comment to my sister, “ She must not spank her kids.”
The truth is that I do not remember the last time (if-ever) I had to spank my niece; but, there is power in the fact that she knows that I will spank her if I need to. I do not abuse her, I always warn her, and she is very well aware of the behavior I expect of her. Making these boundaries clear at an early age has fostered a relationship of respect, which has provided us with the ability to have fun and be extremely close.
I do not see a problem with the statistics stating children being spanked (as long as they are not being abused) are aggressive than children who are not spanked. I am curious to find out what the studies determine as aggressive behavior. Aggressiveness is a trait that is prevalent in many successful people, and should not always be seen a s negative trait. The behaviors of children that stem from the behaviors of the adults in their lives depend largely on parenting. Do not just spank your children and expect them to learn any sort of lesson. There is a huge difference between respect and fear. I know this may seem like a lot from a person who does not have children, but I have been extremely active in the raising of my niece. I am not afraid to state that more people need to PARENT along with their discipline.

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