DNC 2012 Day One!!!

Greetings From DNC Convention 2012!

After last night's display of fantastic and thoughtful speakers, I do not have to tell you that I AM FIRED UP & READY TO GO!!!

Tickets were hard to come by so I felt blessed from the beginning. My two goals in attending were to hear both the First Lady and President Obama. So I knew that I needed to get passes for both Tuesday and Thursday night events. Thursday night tickets were pretty much confirmed. I did not, however, have confirmed seating to hear the First Lady speak last night.

MUCH to my delight, one of my contacts paid off and I did manage to get in to hear First Lady Obama live. As it turns out, she was the icing on a very appetizing cake. From beginning to end, each speaker mesmerized the audience with dignity, grace, compassion, intellect and genuine concern for the plight and well being of ALL Americans! They engaged the audience and made clear that the choice in this election is very clear! VOTE FOR THE GUY THAT HAS YOUR BACK!!!

Throughout the evening I was texting away making sure that close Friends and Family were tuned in and not missing this spectacular event. As the night went on I could not believe that the next speaker could be any better or even compare to the previous speaker. I was happy to repeatedly be proved wrong. Amazingly, one after the other gave the most powerful and compelling speech I have ever heard some of them give. Fellow attendees and I high fived, chanted and cheered them on!

We were inspired by a colorful display of eloquent, passionate, articulate and strong willed Democratic Congresswomen and female Democratic candidates. The late Ted Kennedy was channeled via video clips and warned the undecided voter not to be fooled by the many faces of Mitt Romney who was equally inconsistent on the issues in 1994 during a Massachusetts Senator race in which he was soundly defeated by the late Senator. I texted my Friends that the party would be crazy not to use some combination of those videos for a strong campaign message. Mr. Romney leaves no room for doubt that he will say or do ANYthing to get elected. All of the speakers warned of the dangers of this type of "leadership".

Lilly Ledbetter was visibly moved by an audience that could identify with her story and her passion and appreciation for a President who believed in her, in women, in equality and never hestiated to sign a historic piece of legislation that will benefit all women. We witnessed the birth of one who could conceivably follow in President Obama's footsteps and be the next minority Presidential candiate. His speech and his story was phenomenal!!! Governors, Mayors, Real Families, Enlightened former republicans, etc., all challenged us to get out the vote and to leave no mistake about the clear choice and whose got our back in this election.

The evening began with Mayor Corey Booker firing up the base and concluded with First Lady Obama sealing the deal! While First Lady Obama was speaking, I texted to my Friends that in an arena filled to the rafters, one could hear a pin drop. She fully engaged the audience and commanded our total attention and respect. She is a First Lady in every aspect of the term. She looked positively stunning and every woman in earshot was impressed with her perfect physique. It was a wonderful evening at the conclusion of a perfect day!

Days Two and Three will be harpressed to outdo Day One. Stay Tuned...

On This Mother's Day...

The video attached below is from, murder victim Trayvon Martin's Mother, Sybrina Fulton. Her words are very compelling. You can see her pain, feel her void, hear her sincerity... She wants that no other Mother is denied the sweet smell of success in celebration of their child's accomplishments. She wants to make sure that no other Mother has to endure the bitter taste of such senseless and avoidable loss...

Her heartfelt passion puts me in the mind of awakening in sunny Florida on Mother's Day 1997 following the ten year anniversary of my Mother's death. Resenting the pain of my void, I wrote and sent letters to her primary caregivers who I am convinced did not give my Mom the quality of medical care and attention she could afford but more importantly, that she deserved. I shared with them my displeasure with the service and advice provided and expressed to them the depth of my loss. I pleaded with them to be mindful of my pain and asked that going forward they commit to make it their duty to give EVERY Daughter's Mother the same care and advice they would give and want for their own Mother given similar medical circumstance. My Mother died from breast cancer on February 12, 1987. I miss her still...

One doctor is a female gynecologist, still treating and garnering trust of women who rely not only on her medical competence but who also ascribe to her, because she is a female, a badge of heightened concern and empathy, an assumed allegiance to due diligence in the care of women, AKA her "sisters". The other was a male oncologist. Both are still in practice. Of course neither doctor responded. Of course I did not expect them to...

Writing those letters however was therapy for me as surely making this video was for Ms. Fulton. I wanted those doctors to feel the depth of their recklessness. I wanted them to feel responsibility for their lack of regard for my Mother's life and the pain of the loved ones she left behind. I wanted that they recommit to their medical oath of service and that as they continued in practice, treating other Mother's daughters, although buried in the recess of their mind, that every now and again my words and my pain would resurface and resonate in the forefront of their mind and that they would consciously commit to do better! I can only hope...

I am certain that on this Mother's Day, her first without her beloved son, Ms. Fulton shares similar desires. No doubt that she wants george zimmerman, who abused the "Stand Your Ground" law, and proponents, who wrote and/or support this ridiculous law, to feel her pain, appreciate her loss and re-examine the purpose and usefulness of such irresponsible legislation... I am sure it is her hope that the Florida legislators and others realize the potential for abuse and the very real and very tragic human impact of this law, that they feel her pain, consider the pain of other Mothers and rescind and/or stop further consideration of similar legislation. She can only hope...

As a nation, we can do better... As a nation, let's love our Mothers...

Miss Higgi Says, "HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!" to all GOOD Mothers who, like my own Mother, do their very best to love, protect and provide for their children and who regularly give so unselfishly of themselves!!! It is your day and you deserve it!!!

Check out the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrWgdQFgUQ4

Exercise is a MUST. Skinny is NOT the Goal!!!

Saw this article yesterday. Forwarded by my good Friend, Arthur Turner, who keeps me informed... Thank You Arthur!

Black women are fat by what measures? Recently I requested a copy of my medical records and was astonished to find that my doctor described me as "obese"! By whose standards? While I am the typical American who has bought into the national OVER obsession with weight loss (even when not necessary), in NO way do I meet the visual impression of obesity. NO WAY!!!

Many Black women never have and never will fit the body weight/height measurements established with European bone structure in mind. Lay people often underestimate our weight when they try to guess. What do they say, we "carry it well" (smile). As the author points out, we have never embraced Twiggy and never will. YUCK!

While being overweight and unhealthy is NOT good and IS a concern in our community, somehow I am sure that there is MANY a woman who might want to be "obese" like me. I'm Just Sayin'... (smile)

Not that I am downplaying that Black women, like many Americans, are visually overweight, I do not think there is a "one size fits all" model when it comes to assessing acceptable body measurements. Scale weight that is fat and unhealthy on one person might be fit and lovely on another. YES we must be conscious of weight and YES we must be concered with being healthy and fit. But we must stop feeding into the hype of a multi-BILLION dollar industry that thrives on our paranoia and and is vested in and encourages our over obsession with weight. Lose the scale and consider ALL factors when determining health status. Exercise IS a MUST but skinny is NOT the Goal!!!
Be Healthy & Take Care of YOU!!!


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/opinion/sunday/why-black-women-are-fat.html?_r=1

Be Inspired...

Recently I failed to slow down and share some of the very best news I have had in a long time! Bobby Higginbotham, the Mayor Of Waterproof, LA who was railroaded and imprisoned by a broken legal system filled with mean spirited, racist and overzealous jim crow "prosecutors" committed to advancing personal agendas, was VINDICATED! His conviction for a bunch of trumped up charges was VACATED in a 2-1 decision by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals!!!

As you know, Bobby and I are dear Friends. I met him as I traveled to Jena, LA in support of six young men also being railroaded by the same corrupt and racially biased "jim crow" legal system.

The larger story here is that like Bobby, when you know that you are right, STAND YOUR GROUND!!!

Bobby had the wherewithal, the means, the stamina but mostly the dignity and self pride to defend himself. Despite the questionable and usually effective bullying tactics of the court tipping "justice" in their favor, Bobby REFUSED to yield and plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. Once incarcerated for NEARLY 2 years, Bobby REFUSED to let them break his spirit no matter how hard they tried, and believe me they tried... When offered the possibility of parole if only he groveled and apologized for a "crime" he did not commit Bobby REFUSED and opted instead to maintain his position of innocence and do his time, day for day... In December he walked out of prison, back straight, head held high, still maintaining his innocence and committed to continuing his fight for the truth! Dignity and pride in tact!

Last week he was VINDICATED!!! May we all be inspired by Bobby's strength, his tenacity and his conviction. Most would cave under such odds. Bobby is a very spiritual MAN who passed the test of belief. He NEVER lost confidence and he holds no grudges, not even against the towns people who he tried to help and who lied against him... Talk about forgiveness. He is a bigger person than most, one from whom I gain strength, one with whom I am proud to share my last name and one I am proud to know and will always call My Friend! Love Ya' Bobby!!!!


Be Inspired,

~ Miss Higgi ~
http://www.colorofchange.org/blog/2012/apr/30/colorofchange-members-help-la-mayor-overturn-bogus/

Managing Perceptions...

The photo and the criticism it is receiving reminds me of attending a DNC rally in DC some years ago, during the 90s when DC was still "chocolate", majority Black. A young group of aspiring "future" Democrats attended the rally to conduct a workshop. As their leader was speaking about "future" Democrats, her workers were mingling about the crowd disseminating the new organization's brochures. The cover was adorned with an overhead shot of a group of young people looking face up at the camera, ostensibly depicting the image of future Democrats...

Amongst this planned photo shoot depicting the face of "future" Democrats, was not one face of color! Recall that this group was speaking to a predominantly Black audience in DC, which was likely 70% Black at the time, about the future of the Democratic party, speaking to an audience of Black folks who tend to be blindly loyal to the Democratic party...

The group's leader, a young White woman, was horrified when I pointed out to her what a terrible blunder her organization had made. She apologized profusely, immediately stopped disseminating the brochures and tried to retrieve those already passed around. It was too late, the damage had been done. The message, although subliminal, perhaps unintentional, had already been transmitted...

A valuable lesson on why it is important to give MORE than lip service to one's commitment to diversity... Had there been people of color on her team, they would have immediately noticed and alerted leadership that they were not included in the organization's perception of "future" Democrats. The organization would likely have never published the photo and spared themselves public humiliation or even the perception of future exclusion of persons of color ... While the present photo depicts only a fraction of the Obama campaign staff in Chicago, perception is reality and there is still ample time to manage this image.

I'm Just Sayin'...

Here is link to Newsweek article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/10/an-obama-campaign-photo-that-looks-like-a-young-republican-rally.html#comments

Newsweek: Americans Still Divided Over Race

Recently I read a book wherein a Black character, limited by the impediments of jim crow and the social timing of his existence (late 50's early 60's), pondered how he could live in a cage restricted by circumstance and denial of opportunity and his White counterpart, living in the same time, be oblivious to the "bars" restricting his friend... I found the answer in another book.


One cannot see the bars limiting the existence and growth of another because s/he is not affected by the bars, the plight(s), surrounding others. S/he is indifferent to “the bars”, even when the bars are restricting friends. Also many believe that post President Obama, America has cleared the hurdles of race, bleached the stains of the past and proven to be a "post racial" and harmonious society tolerant of race and diversity. No longer is racism angry, overtly hostile or terroristic. Surely it [racism] must be behind us... It takes only a second to walk in the shoes of another to know that this is not so...

I am reminded of vacationing in Hawaii circa 2001. I met a very nice young White American couple. They were school teachers who explained that during the previous year they had come on vacation, fell in love with the natural beauty and peacefulness of the island, returned home long enough to pack their belongings and quickly returned to settle in paradise until death made them part...

Unfortunately paradise was not so welcoming. They explained that the native Hawaiians and Samoans, mostly young, were not kind to them and did not want them there. They described how horribly they were treated, disrespected and how often the male especially feared for his safety, even in the classroom. They were hurt and sad to be leaving. I will never forget their sharing with me that every White American should live in HI to know “how it must feel to be Black in America”, back on the mainland... It was not the same experience as being a tourist in Hawaii. They were not in the majority and they were painfully aware that they were not welcome [as residents] in Honolulu... I have since corroborated their experience with other White Americans who have also ventured to live there. Their experience was not so unusual...

Race is the proverbial elephant in the American living room. He is recklessly stomping about, blinding us in his shadow and deafening us with his trumpeting blow. We fear him, deny his existence, refuse to see or hear him and we dare not discuss him. So is it any wonder that we are so far apart in our perceptions as depicted in this Newsweek article? http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/08/a-newsweek-poll-show-americans-still-divided-over-race.html#comments. One's perception is his reality...

As we pretend that the elephant is extinct or that he will somehow just go away, his might will surely trample us. I’m Just Sayin’…

Time to let the Dialogue, thus the healing, begin…

Strange Fruit in 2012...

I live in upstate NY where I am President of a local branch of the NAACP. On Monday I received a call from a member reporting that there was a Black doll baby hanging from a tree in a nearby town. Ironically, later that day, I had business near that town. I decided to do a drive by and Lo & Behold, in Endwell, NY in 2012 there actually stood a very tall and leafless tree bearing "Strange Fruit"!!! I could not believe it!!!


Here is the link for the eventual story... http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012204020364  The homeowner would have you believe that his 8 or 10 year child playfully and casually threw the doll up in this very high tree some 6 months ago, it got dirty or "molded" while up there, thus giving the appearance that it is a Black doll AND that it just happened to innocently suspend in a manner that resembles hanging from a noose... OK... You Decide...