Holiday Memories

Memories of Christmas for me throughout the years have had special thoughts in an individual way. You see, I had problems sharing it with six other kids who more often than not invariably spoiled things whenever they could. Being the eldest kind of gave me free rein on 'first' things - like being the first to see mom and dad call themselves fooling us to believe that Santa really existed; and first to not fall asleep waiting for Christmas to come; and the first to ride the bicycle that had to be shared six different riding terms. Did I really believe in Santa Claus? I originally thought so until about seven years old when the cat was let out of the bag - literally! Back then one of the toys that Dad brought to place under the tree rolled out of his toy sack. From my vantage point under the stairs (which was a good hiding place) I had a perfect view. When I tell people that I remember verbatim what happened on that Christmas Eve they tend to look at me with jaundiced eyes, but I KNOW what I saw! I tried telling everybody that Daddy was really Santa Claus but quite a few people told me otherwise and several times I was threaten with whippings.

Then there was the matter of the Christmas tree. I hated that tree! Why? Because every time it would shed those needles guess who was summoned to clean them up? Yep, Me! I must admit though, that the best part of Christmas for me was always the bright lights and ornate displays. Mom and Dad used to take us all around town visiting neighborhoods oohing and aahing at how creative people were. What made this so fun was the fact that my Dad would round up all the other neighborhood kids and we'd make the rounds. This of course were during the times when there was a real village raising us, and Big Mamas had clout.

Yes, there were a few other things that made it memorable to think about how it was back in the day. I remember Union 5 roller skates, sweat shirts with our names sewn on the back and all of us skating in packs on real sidewalks in and around the tenement projects. I remember tangerines, pomegranates, egg nog (without the rum, darn it!), a bicycle built for seven, and fruit cake that I absolutely hated (even today!). Deep down inside I've always wondered what was all the hoopla was about...all I ever wanted was a good book and a warm space to crawl into.

Nowadays as the holidays approaches, I'm now reminded that things indeed are different and how children are STILL in suspense as to the who, what and why of it all. I must remember not to spoil it for the kids. To me, Christmas is not the same anymore. People change, times change, but the authenticity of this holiday is not celebrated right. Perhaps one day, unlike 50 years ago when I was seven the real reason for my season was getting to the bottom of the stairs just to get the jump on the rest of my siblings. In 2008, I'm smarter and spiritually aware that the birth of Jesus is being taught to my grandkids, and that Kwanzaa has significant meaning as a viable alternative to paganistic verve and commercial ill. 

A Senior Moment at the Polls

How many of you already are feeling the excitement of what this election has wrought? You should be proud of the multitude of folk who put aside everything and voted! The goose bumps appear every time I think about the audacity rendered for change.  Change and Hope have somehow become partners in anticipated anxiety. I think about the elderly, the physically challenged and people who may have voted for the very first time. There's stories to tell by all of the aforementioned. Especially from those with hallowed remembrance of yesteryear when Jim Crow ruled, ranted and renounced rights. Then came our senior citizens looking for reprieve and second chances. One such lady shared  her opinionated thoughts with me as I cast my vote. I'll call her Miss Ida.

I spotted her as I ambled toward the long line snaking around the building. Looking at me as if daring me to ask why she was in such a long line, I saw an unmistakable look of determination and thought better of mere casual conversation. I decided to wait until there was a favorable time to engage her in conversation. Miss Ida was one for the numbers! She was decked and dressed to the nines, with a conservative but natty two-piece suit with matching purse and shoes!  She leaned on the cane that defied the weight that gingerly held her up with a distinct aura. She continued to stare which made me uncomfortable to say the least, but out of the corner of my eyes I saw that she was chomping at the bit with something to say.  I decided to oblige her and break the steely ice between us. I asked two questions that morphed into one querying sentence - "Ma'am do you really think Obama will win; and, will white folk vote for him?

She hesitated much more than a pregnant minute, looked up at me with shining eyes, all the while pausing with dramatic effect as if the delay warranted my immediate attention, and said slowly and deliberately, "Son...not only will he win, but they have no choice but to vote for this man! They are 'tween a solid rock and a good hard place now that the Bushes they thought protected them have been exposed!"  She paused to catch her  breath, and ambled on, "Not only that, it's high time that the balancing act comes full circle". I implored as to what did she mean by that, and she was off to the races again. She shifted her weight, sighed and gave me a pitiful look as if admonishing a child for knowing something that should be etched in stone, and asserted, "they owe us, do you hear me? They OWE us! We have taken and nurtured their children, cleaned up after them, sat around passively throughout history and allowed them to define who we should be in their eyes. They have raped us as long as I can remember, stealing our inventions while using calculated divide and conquer techniques to keep us separated and adrift from our rich historical legacy".

At that moment my body longed to get this over with. I needed to vote, but Miss Ida commanded my attention as I began to see her in a different light. This erudite octogenarian-type woman brimming in rich-text format held me rooted to the spot. I imagined her back in the day formidable in her bearing and quite imposing like some of the women I've known, that not only talked a good game, but ruled with authoritarian grit. That was my 'Big Mama', who assisted the village with glee while raising me to uphold standards and think positively. This is all the reason why I felt bad for slipping, and for a moment forgetting all that she stood for by asking Miss Ida, 'do I think Obama could win'. My silence must have unnerved her as she hit me in the shin with her cane and demanded that I give a comment. What could I say to this lady? I knew I had to say something, and it had better be of worth and a gem of an answer. I muttered rather clumsily that, "yes, it'll be a history-making time, alright."  She looked at me askance, not pleased at all with my comment, and voiced more venom against the imbalance of racism during her hey-day.  

"Son, careless whispers have gotten louder and white folk are wringing their hands in dismay knowing that Bush is through. They can't vote for McCain, and now they have to cast a vote for a Black man. I 'spect though, that a lot of them will go to their grave 'fore they vote for one of us."  At that moment she burst out in a raucous laugh so hard almost losing her footing. She jabbed her cane forcefully on the sidewalk and yelled, "Hell no, I ain't voting for no McCain!" By this time a crowd gathered along with those still in line as she looked at me with a jaundiced eye continued, "Yeah, son we done come a long way and they owe us. It's our time, you know. We helped build this country with the forced and unforced labor...they steal our music, claim it for themselves and embrace our culture as if it was their own. I won't even talk about the many contributions we've made to society that our ancestors fought so hard to keep. Louis Latimer and a host of others are turning in their graves with glee knowing the real truth that Elijah McCoy spoke of. Yesiree!! You can bet your bottom dollar and every penny you find that this is one man of color that will defy all the odds, Honey!  Who else they gonna vote for?"

Dismissing me with a smirk and a firm grip on that cane, she gave a parting shot by saying, "Yep, we GOT this, believe that...we're on the threshold of history!"  Watching her walk toward the voting booth I felt the pride and knew that pomp and circumstance had finally given a real meaning to what is at hand and how it will effect us as a race. But there was more on my mind. Will this presidency have reverberating windfalls in areas that we cannot see or even fathom? I worry will they steal the election from us like they did in Florida, and whether we will actually get out and vote en masse? I earlier surveyed the crowd that attended one of the many local rallies, and my immediate perception gave reason that perhaps this time around the last will be first and the first will now bring up the rear. Miss Ida was live, in color and spoke for all senior citizens at the polls, and I respectfully saluted her. WOW!

It's A Done Deal - By Divine Order!

Let me share this with you, but you will need your bibles to fully fathom the gist of this essay. I imagine our ancestors are doing a jig watching what has unfolded in this past presidential election. They rejoice knowing that the day has finally come where there's a chance for change, and that a Black man is orchestrating it! I volunteered my services and campaigned for a man that stood head and shoulders above his opponents. Remarkably, he defied biased agendas and didn't allow race to color his canvas. I watched all of the debates, looked on with chagrin hearing people voice sentiments of not wanting to vote for him because of his color, or looking on in dismay as they attached his religious affiliation. I even watched with a heavy heart as they found conceivable ways to besmirch his character.

I honestly feel that God had a lot to say about the state of affairs that made up this remarkable happening.  I hasten to say that it had already been ordained biblically, and the spirituality of it should not be ignored. The Divine order depicting that "the last shall be first and the first shall be last" in my opinion is relative to us as a people of destiny finally being favored to improve our lot, and Barack is the standard bearer and icon for it at this point. Of course, we the people are not exempt from doing our part. As such, we should adamantly and unapologetically take advantage of the significance of what has been achieved.  Needless to say, Obama will need help, and what a magnificent time to step up to the plate. Moreover, I will paraphrase a bit of that biblical content thereof to illustrate my point in two scriptures that God identifies and implicates His visionary.

Go if you will to the book of Hebrews 11:32-34 as it hails (Barak) a man of faith: "Barak, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength and who became powerful in battle routing foreign nations".  Reading through the lines and interpreting from a broader perspective, one could easily assess this to our present situation with what has transpired with Obama.

But wait!  Now go to Judges 4:6 - God through Deborah commands Barak to "Go lead the way"...isn't this what he is doing present-day? Better yet, the aforementioned passages in Hebrews gives us an insightful view of the type of man Barack Obama seems to be, as God has plans for such a man. This too me is AWESOME, and self-explanatory!  There's no way in the world to not convince me that this man wont be successful. His disposition and penchant for orderliness amid the earmarks of a born leader is evident. And he's smart! If indeed you think as I do you'd know that this is our time. It's a chance to purpose in your hearts what needs to be done individually and collectively to insure success. The threshold has been crossed. We must do our part to ensure that this is a total effort where all of us can band together as one -- both nations Black and white fulfilling what God has already revealed. Only then will the audacity for hope, and the fulcrums of change can manifest destiny. It's a done deal in this case because the time is NOW!

Is the New President-Elect Allowed to Sleep?

Wanna know who won the presidential election? Okay, bear with me as I give you this opportunity to be clairvoyant. My crystal ball is clear. What you see in this picture is a man who prevailed and gave his country a chance for change -- something we could believe in. Yes, he earned it fair and square! President Barack Obama has run a brilliant and well-oiled campaign to gain the highest office in the world. He survived the overt head of racism as it rose time and time again; he withstood ridicule at the hands of conservatives, including a nasty in-family arrogance at the hands of the Clintons who surely thought they had the Black vote in their pockets; he overcame attacks on who, where, and why of pastoral pangs with the Jeremiah Wright malaise; then came the cartoonish Senator (McCain) and his pallid running mate Pallen. Suffice it to say, and contrary to the ills that has seemingly transformed the global pecking order, the president of the United States still resonates with significance. Who then, is this man so determined, so dominate and ever so determined? Was he indeed the best man for this office? You becha! Coming on slowly but steadily, he built his resume and applied sophomoric efforts that required perseverance and patience. This, despite the fact that life in Congress was not picnic, nor was it paved with with gold, like some yellow brick road. Yet he trudged on with an agenda. Here was a man undeterred and wasn't denied using tried and true measures that he embraced.  He survived up to this point by employing a work ethic that transcends moralistic value coupled with applications to change status quo.

To say that America need Barack Obama would truly be an understatement, but there's no understated pessimism that tints this man with much color and charisma. America is at its crossroads, and this country was faced with the most critical election in its history. Yes, our country is in a pickle, but with a chance to come out Kosher, even. George W. Bush is a farce and should have been impeached. Liar extraordinaire with a penchant for being a rhetorical wreck, the weapons of mass destruction are now aimed at the Republican party and poised to allow the American people why chance is inevitable.  We are reeling, and from where I sit in my community the change of the guard will reverberate with new optimism. The Iraqui war, the collapse of our financial system, a revamping of our educational system, millions of people without health insurance, and with serious attention needed to be paid to our industrial infrastructure are but a few challenges that face Obama. Can he pull it off? Yes, it can be done, and he will be challenged. it's time for a change, though and we're ready! 

In all of my 58 years I'm most proud of my constituents and common folk who eschewed passivity and voted! Moreover, I've never experienced the type of political interest and participation as I've witnessed in all phases of how this man was embraced. It forced people to see beyond their ignorances and demanded that multicultural makeup of many segments of our society display a needed and diverse way of thinking. It wholeheartedly attributes toward a consolidation of ideals. The new President brings a lot to the table. His cool demeanor harkens to a man who has responded like a true statesman with a style that is believable - well, like a president should! Now that we are out of the Bushes as it pertain to the wherewithal for a new lease on life, we the people need something that can help us turn the tide and gain a toe-hold for temperance. We are in an economic funk with decadence abounding and unabated. Now comes the brash and confident Senator from Chicago with a plan.  I feel confident myself that he has the intelligence and steady temperament needed to run this country. Witness how the aforementioned campaigns were were marked by patience, planning, discipline and organization.  When the crisis struck, he handled them with aplomb and gave one of the most poignant speeches demonstrating a profound respect for the electorate. 

Verbose he was, and not apologizing for it, his oratorical skill in my opinion was the center of his campaigns, and has returned eloquence to its essential place for good politics. Hearing my friends of other persuasions echoing disapproval, and championing the color of a mans skin rather than the content of his character rang true of the bells of discontent having a Black man for president.  My feelings are strong and opinionated about this whole affair. We've just transcended the threshold of history and the world should be rejoicing!  Think about it: the times have changed and we are changed with them.  We KNOW that these are perilous and troubled times. The annals of history has proven that we are a people of destiny and have survived because of, and not despite overt prosecution. We have weathered storms and have withstood being much maligned. But guess what? America needs this uplift amid the realism for change.  It most definitely needs a leader with intelligence  and a disposition that is emotionally attuned to our rapidly changing times. I can hear my ancestors at the turn of each century rising in their graves spurring us on. Booker T. Washington is in accord with W.E.B DuBois and Frederick Douglass is giving yet, another oratorical gem of a speech extolling our preeminence. Then there's Martin Luther King standing with reverence on the mountaintop (with God's blessings), with outstretched hands helping Marcus Garvey reach the height of his ideals. "Up you mighty race!" he proclaims. But I, an humble man of idealistic fortitude can be heard saying in my own vice -- "get over it America, and thanks for electing Barack Obama to serve in the Black House! God said that the first will be last, and the last will be first. That's enough for me, so be it!"

How Important is Reading to You?

There’s nothing like a good book, right? I agree, and I’m dismayed every time I read about the demise of books and the de-emphasizing of reading. Reading is the forerunner to accumulated knowledge and our livelihood depend on it! I allude to the countless stories abounding online and in social circles relative to how the internet makes books obsolete. I’ve turned this over in my mind more often than not and always come up with the same conclusion - that reading, in all of its virtues real or imagined are still important to me! My first encounter with books began with a question mark and continues today emphatically as an exclamation point! I cannot remember the first book I read, nor can I recall how many, but I do profess to have an on-going love affair for the written word. As such, when I was quite young I was in awe of the local librarian of the elementary school I attended. 

Of course, she was the first who impressed upon me the many virtues of reading for pleasure, and later reading for knowledge. Mrs. Kimbro, the respected and revered head librarian at Miami’s Douglass Elementary in the Overtown section of the city was indeed special. She lit fires that are still burning within my literary soul, the embers simmering and smoldering ready to be illuminated at a moment’s notice. She instilled in me throughout my lifetime that books are commodities that will place you at the forefront of any presentation through imagery and intuitiveness.

How important is reading to you? The purpose of this essay is to bring to the front the basic realization that reading is fundamental and how it has revolutionalized my intelligence quotient. At this point in my life, I know that the basic fabrics that weave my soul and invigorate my mind are riveted in place by the plethora of books I’ve accumulated over the years. My personal library is bulging at the seams, where purging is a time I come to loathe. Somewhere down the line I have to depart with a title that the inner soul would admonishes me to keep. We as individuals in the information age rely on technology to stem the tide to thwart ignorance at every turn. Thus, we are stimulated by many things, and influenced by circumstances relative to experience(s) central to certain nuances thrust upon us by insensitive intellectuals - like ridding the public of books and eschewing the benefits of reading. 

These among other maladies in our academic surroundings are being circulated in academia; and today we STILL wonder why Johnny can’t or won’t read. Too many young people are missing out on the pleasures and opportunities that come with reading. Back in the day at Mrs. Kimbro’s domain, I was a rambunctious kid thirsting for knowledge and she constantly challenged me to understand what I read long after I left her school. Yes, she was an integral part of that village that raised me, and kept me focused on all things literary.

I’ve asked myself what are the signs that I missed that have given people the audacity to suggest that reading has become passé? Moreover, is it that pronounced where technology has systematically redirected mindsets to forego status quo for a perceived new way of assessing knowledge at the expense of reading? Although I won’t attest to the aforementioned, but I WILL adamantly surmise that for some it comes down to a lack of interest, and for others a lack of ability. Lack of ability is the fulcrum that is turning the wheels of illiteracy and is my greatest concern. I feel that it reverts to the genesis of the problem: parental dysfunction in familial settings and communal disinterest where schools are placing emphasis on assessment testing vs. nurturing children in the fundamental aspects of why books are still the elements of learning.

 I would like to see families take an inherent interest in making sure that their children are reading, visiting libraries, and developing written and oral communicative skill; I worry about schools not providing the best curricula of inclusion for disadvantaged children not affording the opportunity to move forward; and lastly, what exposure are youngsters getting to books in general, and the ability to excel specifically?

If reading is important to you as it is to me, then wouldn’t it behoove you to allow initiatives to share in its relevancy so other can be enlightened? I’m an advocate of family literacy and know of no other way to champion the cause. We as concerned citizens and parents should be yelling loud and long for justice to be served. The myth and misplaced forum for the ‘No Child Left Behind’ debacle is enough to hone our minds for a greater challenge. Reading is still important to me; it’s fundamental, necessary and needed, so let’s endeavor to do our best to take some child in your midst and nurture him with a story; read for yourself for both knowledge and pleasure. READ – your life depends on it!

Will Registering to Vote Make a Difference in the African-American Political and Social Landscape?

I’m reading a book that is an eye-opener and one that I feel should be required reading to understand why voting should be as natural as walking! The apathy that usually permeates depressed and disenfranchised communities often bypass the need to stand up for issues that may directly affect challenges and change. Oftentimes we’ve seen other minorities and foreigners come to the shores of the United States expecting a new lease on life. Efforts are made to bolster and better living conditions with hard work, networking, sharing resources, and establishing a communiqué that keeps the analogy of ‘helping your own’ survive the times has been crucial to success. Have African-Americans living here since the beginning of the 16th century taken all of this in stride over the years? Are they in position to reap benefits because of strong economic gain and social affluence? Is there strength in their numbers to suggest a cohesive and united front? If you answer yes to any of these questions you’re not seeing the pictures that have been hanging for all to fathom. 

Moreover, you like me may feel the angst and consternation of misplaced priorities and dreams unfulfilled because of laziness and a lack of initiative to be both respected and privileged. The answer ‘No’ certainly is in line with what has to be done and what has been agonizingly true in a people that have had varying degrees of success, but nothing tangible to say that the scales are balanced.

Leverage for political office and favorable standing for societal influence in any culture will be fraught with undesirable results if nothing is done where there’s strength in numbers. Numerical influence is better represented in who votes, what is at stake, why one should vote in the first place, and when it is necessary to do so. For as long as measurable results have been calculated to gauge and judge progress people of color have been at the bottom of the totem pole – unrepresented and inaudible in being recognized as viable and valuable commodities to challenge change. Author Edward Delon offers a unique and comprehensive guide in dispensing information on the ways and means of the voting phenomena. 

In his new book, UNDERSTANDING WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE comes appropriately in these times. The political landscape has changed with Blacks projected to be overtaken by the Latin/Hispanic cultural bloc. With this shift in paradigm, new mindsets must be applied to the policy and procedure for constituency to have greater meaning.

Another election cycle is underway. We have an African-American running for office offering hope and change. On the other side of the political coin are candidates that will vie for votes with only one thing in mind – to be elected under pretenses and grandiose notions of helping the downtrodden. The author offers sound instruction on why it’s necessary to be understanding of the political process, and in the interim offers the basics of citizenship, how politics affect the society in which you live, Immigration issues, the Electoral College, and the importance of informing themselves about issues on the periphery and the candidates themselves. Other pertinent subjects that feed into the need to vote are given ample room to be explored. I found the book to most informative, especially with it reading like a text full of charts, statistics, and resources.

In closing, I would like to offer sound opinions on why I think one should buy this book. I opine that we must be motivated and moved to make a difference in who is elected for beneficial results. I want people to be a part of the political process, stop sitting on the sidelines and get involved; understand how and why social science has a lot to do with why you should be voting; and, I definitely want all concerned to embrace the complex if not competing ideas of civic life, politics, and how government can be a boon instead of a ball of confusion! Edward Delon has given you the wherewithal to make a difference. Why not invest in the book and be enlightened!

A Word About Prayer from Me to You

You're never to young to pray, nor too old to stop praying. This essay mainly are for the young ones who may not understand the importance of establishing a relationship with God. If this bit of advice is something you can identify with, give me a moment of your time, will you? Praying is important and needed in your life. From birth you have learned to communicate. We as parents and teachers will always find your efforts endearing and, if we think honestly, the trust and confidence you’ve expressed has humbled us. We know and love you deeply and imperfectly. God, who gave you life, knows and loves you perfectly. Love and awareness of our human limits impel us to help you to learn and understand prayer, and communicating with God. 

By praying ourselves, our hope is to always know that you are following our examples when we talk to God. I believe that you truly want to know God as you’ve shown signs of an eager heart and a willing spirit. There’s a special place of rest that He preserves for us as grown-ups, and as you learn to communicate with Him, you too will find this special place of rest. It takes time and obedience to truly get it right…and as you progress, God will be right by your side!

The key to all of this is for you to gain confidence in your initiation to start praying more and understanding how to do so. It can lead you to re-examine your own attitudes about prayer. As a leader and Deacon here at Koinonia, I endeavor and pledge myself and all the help needed to make sure that you are instructed properly how to pray and get support. Prayer is the beginning of a personal relationship with God. Take what you’ve learned from new member orientation classes to be used to help build the Kingdom and be responsible children and young adults. I hope too, that if you have questions or comments you’d let them be known.

Share your concern with your parents, listen to your Pastor or any of the Elders and Deacons of your church as they share the wisdom of the Word. It wouldn't hurt to pray more in earnest, and DO let someone from time know your experiences with bowing your head and paying homage to Him. We want to see what amount of progress you're making!

The Soul of A Man

The soul of a Black man should be profound and practical should someone ask about content and character. The depths that are ours, deep within our psyche are the volumes of consciousness that make us who we are. We are men of color - Black men tried, true and transient at times. We are who we are because time has shaped our mindsets and given us definitive stereotypes that we are still endeavoring to grip for positive results. We are constantly being asked - what is it that makes us the way we are? My response is simple. I tell them I am who I am and iniquity has given me my lease on life to have changed and tell a GOOD story!

Early on I knew my destiny, but had problems accepting it and making it the entity that would give me confidence. I kept a store inside of me, as I kept my emotions captive. I was shy and introspective and lacked verve and vivacity to allow me to be open with my thoughts. I was told that I was sensitive, and I grew to believe it seeing much around me succumb to my penchant for change. I got the chance after enlisting in the military and attending college. I came away intact and armed with new truths that shaped me as a man. I saw the world, met people of stature, married, had kids, and have run businesses. I am the man that time created. I am a writer!

All my adolescent years became a portrait of me framed for the notion of telling stories and being good at it. I began to write and envisioned becoming an author. I thought putting my thoughts on paper would be a nice life but never stopped dreaming. I studied hard, researched on my own, read laboriously for information on all things literary. And in the interim I learned HOW to write; I paid close attention to how specific writers wrote their stories, especially language and sentence structure; I took a few writing courses, but mainly I gained a penchant for talking to those that I'd befriended along the way. What's inside MY bears witness to a world of expressionism that is opinionated and quite open.

The career I’ve carved learning to be a respected as a journalist and freelance writer is best exemplified in my view from the catbird seat. That’s my voice viewing life as I see it as wit, words, and the wisdom thereof. The road that I and my brothers travel is not an easy one. What are we thinking about then? What else is on the minds of men? Our minds are not idle, and my mind is full and reverberating. I’m a conversationalist at heart and will talk to anyone willing to debate realism vs. ambiguity. I've always wanted to run as fast as I could to the finish line of life, where God would be there to shake my hand and say, “well done my faithful servants” I want to be deserving of this, because I do not want to see women continuing to be the head of households, and where my community is not run by matriarchy. I want my young folk to take inventory of their lives so that self, family and community are interwoven for sustained awareness. I want black-on-black crime to cease for Agape Love to permeated using a sense of connectivity, commitment and the commission of good intent.

My soul is my temple and my spiritual being is alive bubbling to the top waiting to explode! I'm striving for inner peace and ways to teach my children for the next generation. I want us Black men to finally get it together so that we are inferior to no one and that we have balanced the scales. I would want you to know me as I am!

Winners in the Face of Adversity

Signs of the times will have us in direct contact with the pertinent things that are prevalent to take heed of what's right and what's wrong in our lives. We go about our business and we are products of our environment and certainly the barometer to measure worth pertaining to all of the above. We Black men have been challenged in greater proportion than in any other time in our lives. We at times have searched for answers, and have given quite a bit to eschew some of the ill-will that surrounds us, but to some there are much more to do. We have to search within to apply much more to arrive at solutions. These are the times where we have to just put our feelings out there. We hurt, and are susceptible to scrutiny and critique.

I read a book recently there I'd like to share with you. I read it, reviewed it, and have come to realize that my colleagues and many others are just normal folk on the fringes of an impartial society that breeds brokenness. The book's characters are trapped in life, or in situations that they don't want to be in; some are looking for a way out, and others beyond hope BC. But a familiar thing happened along the way toward redemption. When you find the Lord and He gives you an amplified ear to hear His still small voice - you MOVE! This book, THE TRIUMPH OF MY SOUL is here for you, complete with my reflections. Read it and know that redeeming value is all in how one tackles his/her adversity.

The trials and tribulation that God allows us to traverse says a lot about challenges and change. We are broken on purpose to have the wherewithal and ability to keep our heads to the sky, and know that if there’s a will there’s a way. TRIUMPH OF MY SOUL by Elissa Gabrielle is the first of several books in a series that will give voice to human conditions that cater to the angst and adversity that color our spiritual Diaspora as people of color. These are inspiring stories of victory over adversity, and the ability to know the difference between living vertically vs. horizontally. The Triumph of My Soul ably delivers poignant testimonies with heartfelt stories of love, hope, faith, redemption and inspiration.

With this firmly in mind, the authors therein presented in this anthology spoke with heart-felt vigor and preservation of mind opening their souls to succeed beyond and despite the ‘brokenness’. These are their stories, and in the midst of the storms, there’s courage, faith, and wisdom to call upon He who strengthens us. You get a chance to read each entity and perhaps rejoice knowing that “this too shall pass”. Author Elissa Gabrielle assembled a worthy crew of writers to expound on these ideals of hurt and pain illustrating personal vistas in discovering solutions and applications. Albeit, not all of the stories in this set are created equal. There are a few that weren’t as strong as others which are typical of anthologies of this nature where balance may not be in the offering. In this case though, nothing is taken away from the overall tone of success that I render.

How far must one travel to know that a new lease on life is eminent, or there’s a saving Grace in adhering to that still small voice? I found ardent answers as I read each story and imagined how I could be the recipient of His loving embrace! The authors bearing their souls are some that I’m familiar with, and others that are cutting their literary teeth for the first time. 

The emotions and struggles seemed up front and personal. I can hark to the stories that touched me most. To wit: Jessica Tilles’ ‘Julian’s Grace’ showed how one can go beyond living for the moment to enable a deeper value of an innate love beyond the surface. It’s a gut-wrenching love story that demands your attention; my favorite by Allison Deese – ‘Discovering the Joy Within’ is the story of how a teenaged mother rallied against the forces of nature to triumph over an abusive lover, and how examples were shown to give credence for perseverance. Then there are stories depicting adolescence where maturity materializes in the end for new leases on life, and where the downtrodden can realize how victory can be won by exhibiting due diligence.

In times like these we need shining examples of inspired triumph in the face of adversity, and this collection of short stories are yours to revel and rectify ways to ease issues that may be definitive in helping rather than hurting. This is the benefit of the empathy that compelled me to put my feet in the shoes of the authors that bared their souls. If this is the mettle that Ms Gabrielle adheres to, then the subsequent books that will be part of her lore will give notice that she is a force to be reckoned with. Grab this book, read it, and know that there’s a silver lining behind every dark cloud! Kudos to you Elissa for bring this coterie of writers together to share what it means to do what it takes to be winners!

Change, Hope, and the Audacity to Run for President

Change is not something that people readily accept, and when it impacts on the top job in the nation, well, you’re only as effective as your last voting choice. How relevant is it to how the next president is chosen, then? For all practical purposes the world now knows who Barack Obama is, and his intent. Who would have thunk it to think that a man of color in such a short time has positioned himself to seek the top job of the land? Running on a platform of challenging change, he is doing much more than turning heads. Is it his year? Witness his winning a Grammy for his book, The Audacity of Hope. Give more meaning to him winning eight straight primaries along the way to a total of 21 states proves to some extent that his popularity is much more than a lark. People indeed, are clamoring for change and believe in his quest. Check out the opinion polls, talk shows, and political pundits who are steadily jumping on the band wagon. You will see much more than hope for those looking for perhaps a new lease on life. Changing allegiances to represent the wishes of constituency is another welcomed sign. Audacity in my opinion is a moot point when you have some willing to defy unprecedented gall.

In these un-united states, it’s surely an oxymoron that he purports to unify the nation and do away with status quo. How? Better yet, WHO is this guy with a name that eschews common wisdom in the naming rights of all mothers who endeavor to be different? In an earlier correspondence I asked the question: Is Amerikkka ready for a darker shade of pale in the White House? I will readily admit that in the last two presidential elections my vote was non-existent, and like everybody else I’m fed up with the Bushes. I surmise that this is the chance in history to have an African-American president. Am I remorseful for not adequately casting my lot at the time to make a difference as it pertain to race and ethnicity? I have mixed emotions, but I DO support the fact that change is inevitable and for the first time in quite a spell we have someone willing to bring it about. Voting just because a Black man is in the race is not all folly, especially if you have mindsets that feel that it would be just another ‘achievement’ to add to the coffers of Black history lore. We people of color need and should demand more than just rhetoric and technical jargon while you run for president, Barack Make it real for us and provide substance to the promises of change.

We all know how Bill Clinton charmed us for those 8 years he spent on Capitol Hill, now comes Hillary with a new set of initiatives and reasons attempting to sway constituency to her side. In another day and time, I certainly would vote for Hillary, but not this time. Nosiree! I want to see history made and with a viable agenda for Obama to come true and translucent. I opined in that earlier note that “it was always easy to stifle and' retard my vote in lieu of voting just because I was registered Democrat, and (it) was expected to do so unequivocally. Today is a new one, and I’m encouraging all young folk to support this beacon that wants to give light anew. Do it because you believe that he is the best choice to unify this nation. Along the way as I scrutinize this race in earnest, I've refrained apologetically to those that may have a different persuasion, but I want them (young folk) to understand the power of the polls. As I close Barack, you go on with your bad self – continue to have as much audacity as it takes to gain a good footing on the pedestals of preeminence. I salute you and will pray for your deliverance!