What to The Party is Herschel Walker?

Although scribed and spoken nearly 140 years ago, the words below of the late and great Frederick Douglass seem so appropriate as we consider the reported closeness of the Senate race in Georgia between two Black men, an admittedly inexperienced former football player, Herschel Walker and incumbent Senator, Raphael Warnock.

Read the excerpt below and consider what is happening in Georgia and ask yourself why, how is it, that still, it is applicable today. Was Frederick Douglass psychic or have hearts and minds remained unchanged? Hmmm...

Pass it on, especially to your friends in Georgia.

Though the colored man is no longer subject to barter and sale, he is surrounded by an adverse settlement which fetters all his movements.

In his downward course he meets with no resistance, but his course upward is resented and resisted at every step of his progress.

If he comes in ignorance, rags and wretchedness he conforms to the popular belief of his character, and in that character he is welcome; but if he shall come as a gentleman, a scholar and a statesman, he is hailed as a contradiction to the national faith concerning his race, and his coming is resented as impudence.

In one case he may provoke contempt and derision, but in the other he is an affront to pride and provokes malice.”



Frederick Douglass

Negro Men Convention

Louisville, KY

September 24, 1883

VOTE PEOPLE VOTE!

Your vote is your Voice!

Your vote and your voice matter!

Believe It!

Regarding dahmer...

I could stand only 5 minutes of the Netflix movie on jeffrey dahmer before turning it off. I refused to allow it to disturb my peace by watching Black folks and melaninated others be subjected to torture by this white boy with damn near impunity. He was presented as fully human, rarely if ever, seen in handcuffs, much less shackles, despite being fully subhuman as one who preyed upon the most vulnerable and least protected, believed or defended in society.

He was literally a cannibal eating people and was treated with more dignity and respect,  once finally arrested, than will be many Black folks stopped for a mere traffic violation. Until justice was rightfully served him by another inmate, he was never treated as the heartless barbarian that he truly, truly was.

Once again, as was the case for dylan roof, the Charleston mass murderer and payton gendron, the Buffalo mass murderer, and so many other white male mass murderers, white skin trumped that he be treated or paraded before the cameras for the world to see, as the violent criminal deviant he was. The courts and the media  presented him as a poor pathetic mentally imbalanced and  fragile white boy deserving of prayers and sympathy. 

Although he had tortured and eaten others, no one was afraid of him, not the cops who arrested, not the sheriff officers who escorted him for court proceedings, not the judge with the gavel, nor the baliff maintaining order in the court. No One was afraid of a real live human consuming cannibal! No One! 

The press and the courts humanized him and never attacked, persecuted or belittled him or his family. Somehow the public was supposed to feel sorry and of course be forgiving and understanding of familial dysfunction. He was a barbaric cannibal!

To each his own but I opted to protect my peace [of mind] and I refused to watch us, Black folks and other naturally melaninated people, being unapologetically disrespected yet again...

#protectyourpeace

#noto the doublestandard

#nojustice

A Family That Shoots Together...

 

Family Values

Well looka' here!  A "family" that shoots together...

Are these your neighbors? 

Has this "family" been persecuted by the media for raising such an egregious subhuman masquerading as a child?

Has anyone called this 18 year old a full size "man" or is he still cast as "teenager" suggesting youthful indiscretion and some expectation of understanding and eventual forgiveness?

Have these "parents" been condemned by the media for rearing this young killer thug?

How about endangering the welfare of children? Have these breeders, AKA "parents", been arrested for exposing the gendron minor children to firearms?

Are the young ones in the photo still in the "family" home or have they been emergency removed for their own safety pending investigation?

Oh! Silly me! The drill I describe is reserved for when the accused is Black or non-white. What was I ever thinking?

White families are not dragged through the mud. The accused is not called a murderous thug POS or a victim of neglectful, uncouth, uneducated, poor or single "parents" who likely bred him on beer, fear, prejudice and overdoses of racism while taking pictures of themselves teaching "sweet little johnny" and the other of their offspring how to shoot, but an innocent, precious child, who's just a little disturbed, a victim of bullying, and/or of course, suffering from mental illness, better referred to as, delusions of white superiority.

Forgive me, I got stuck on this stupid notion of fairness and equality in  reporting, in arrests, in social service intervention,  in legal response.

This guy walks away without even a cut or a hair out of place. Buffalo PD said something about not being able to shoot because the murderer was wearing a bullet proof vest. I am told that it is for this reason cops are trained on the "Mozambique Technique", 2 shots to the body, 1 shot to the head. So, they forgot? ALL of them? The entirety of the force at the scene? Shall there be discipline for failing to perform? Not ONE shot fired at the menacing AR toting, sweet little innocent mass murdering payton [gendron]. You mean, they weren't fearful for their lives or the lives of others who they are sworn to protect and serve? Amazing! It has been proven that a Black "suspect", could have been holding a bag of Skittles, a toy gun, a cell phone, a butter knife, his body would be so full of gun holes, not even his Mama would have recognized him. SMH... Something has to give y'all. The inequities cannot continue.

Are the cops afraid of Black men in general or are they afraid of karma because of that which they have done historically and/or while out of sight to Black men? Are they fearful of the revenge they would seek against those who have harmed, violated or trespassed against them? Are these cops fit to police? I'm Just Askin'...

To take these young white killers into custody without incident or harm to them is to send a message of approval and to encourage copycats. What is the deterrent? Hell, the cops will all but high five these murderers and even roll them by Burger King on the way to the pokie'. It becomes a game and instead, when/because they live unharmed after killing innocent others, to include innocent children but especially Black folks, they are hailed as heroes in the warped minds of their community of fellow racists who are likely encouraged by this lackadaisical police response to become police officers themselves. The beat, more sadly however, the mass shootings, goes on...

#stopthemadness 

Role Model Parents 

 

Harmless suspect taken into custody by friendly police. Next stop Burger King 

Your Co-workers 
Your supervisor at work 
Your friendly neighbors 
Your child's scout leaders 
Your child's school teacher 
Good Christians...

Future school, church, mall, supermarket mass shooter in training 

My Choice

With all this talk going on about the end of a woman's right to CHOOSE abortion and the leak of the decision from the Supreme Court to abolish that choice, I am moved to share my views on choice. A lot of people claim to be pro-choice but are you really?

Most believe in choice or one's right to regulate her body as stopping at abortion, stopping at gender. That's limited choice, still in judgment of the choice(s) of others.

To believe in real choice, extends to anything that one chooses to do with their body. There is no judgment nor need to understand or endorse personal decisions of choice made by others about what to do, or not to do, to or with their body. It's their body, their choice, their business...

I choose to mind my business about your choices. Let people do with their body, that which they choose. If there is to be a problem with their Maker, they will find out in due time. I have nothing to do with it.

You want to have the baby? Have the baby.

Want to abort the baby? Abort the baby.

Do you want to take the medicine that might save your life? Take it. Don't want it? Don't take it.

Wanna' end your life? It's your life, end it. But be respectful however, of those you will leave behind. Don't do it in the living room where your loved ones will gather to watch TV after you are gone. Don't even do it in the house or other personal space where they must live.  If you're planning it, be mindful and do it somewhere that will not haunt your loved ones daily. After all,, they will be hurt by and mournful of your choice. Yes, there should be etiquette to even this choice. I digress. I actually could write several essays on that...

Wanna' tat' your body beyond recognition risking your bloodstream and God knows what else? Do you. Pay my facial expression no mind. I'm working on it. LOL!

If everyone could just mind your business and let people do with their bodies that which they will, as they leave you to do with yours what you will, we'd be a whole lot better off. How about that?

It's dreadful that the Courts are even considering reversing long ago decided law, a Woman's Right To Choose. It is legal meddling that really has very little to do with the constitution, law, religion, morals or preserving life. That too, is another story for which I have a whole other theory. Ending one's right to choose abortion is just as dreadful as when the court punished Dr. Kevorkian and imprisoned him for honoring the will or choice of others to die with dignity. He's an unsung hero in my book. I celebrate the man and his work.

How is it that immoral hypocrites, who have chosen abortion in the[ir] past or who actively exercise the choice to abort in the dark of night, get to judge morality by which others should live? Help me to understand...

I can't say it enough. Mind your business and your religion. Leave other folks to their business and their religion or whatever might be their moral compass. They get to choose.

This is my truth and you don't have to agree. Really, you don't. I get to choose...

#proALLchoice
#promindyourdamnbusiness
#proshameonthecourts

Messages In The Music

This is a Stevie Wonder and 70's music kind of day in my house. What beautiful, beautiful music. This new generation is sadly so culturally deprived of the brilliance of sheer musical genius innate to Black people. Music formerly called jazz, blues, soul or rhythm and blues. Black people are the creator of most genres of music, which, throughout history, has been stolen from us. I remember as a kid looking forward to watching the music award programs, because Black folks were sure to dominate and far outshine all other entertainers. No contest! We went to school on the following day, chests poked out and no short supply of bragging rights! We took full advantage of all such opportunities as they availed themselves. Of course, we did.

It has been taught to me recently that Black music was deliberately destroyed because they knew that's where we received our strength, our guidance and our positive messages to keep us strong, defiant and mindful of our value and worth no matter what was being said about us, told to us or done to us. 

From picking cotton in the blazing sun under the threat of lash, to the injustices of jim crow, to infiltration and destruction of the Black liberation organizations by the US government, flooding our communities with drugs and ultimately, all efforts to destroy the Black family, they could not break us, our spirit, our resilience or our will to fight. We were never intended to be strong, confident, independent or to survive. But we have...

Our music reminded, fortified and spoke to us. When all else failed us, our music lifted us, be it spiritual or secular. It was our source of pride and brought us common joy that sometimes only we understood.

So, they changed our music to what is now void of musical instruments, beats and melodic voices. Instead, it is now replete with self-demeaning, vile and negative messaging. It is so hurtful to my ears [and to my heart] that in the summer when stopped at a red light and someone pulls up next to me with the outrageous "lyrics" blasting from their car, I roll up my window and pull up if I can. I don't want it wafting in my window, not even for a minute.

Instead of building the minds of the listener, today's "music" is destroying the minds and the will of far too many and that folks, is deliberate, VERY deliberate and we are complicit in either our silence, purchase or performance of this "music". I believe that. Even some who perform and/or produce the junk "music" know the long term effects. They don't let their own kids listen to it. Yet they "sing" it feeling no responsibility to the collective. These individuals, with their individual focus, are responsible for loading the musical gun aimed directly at us and killing us, the collective, ever so slowly but ever so surely...

There is no way that one can repeatedly hear the same message, be it positive or negative, and not be effected to respond accordingly. Wanna' stop the violence? First step is to change the message in the music. Nothing about that is rocket science. It's actually pretty elementary...

Blow the dust off your old albums and play them! MAKE your kids listen. Share with them the happy stories and now abandoned traditions from your youth. Inspire them and as you are inspired to remember who we are, why we are, how we are, how we have come to be and how we have maintained, no matter the odds, no matter the hate and racism, no matter the obstacles. We are a phenomenal people and still we rise...

Beautiful, beautiful Black people. Beautiful, beautiful Soul music! Cherish It and Celebrate Us!

After The Debacle...

A day later after the fall out from the 'Will Smith Does The Oscars' debacle and I really, really hate that it ever happened. I am imagining that by now Will has assessed what he did and knows that it was terribly wrong. He has since released a public apology to Chris Rock, the public and the academy and probably wishes that he could take back or redo that one horrible minute of his life. I don't know what he was thinking or how he didn't, in that walk toward the stage, take time to [re]consider or take stock of what he was about to do. Take the mic, yell at or upstage Chris, anything but assault him...


I cannot imagine how Chris Rock, who demonstrated commendable restraint and who I think is a really nice guy, must be feeling. Surely he didn't think that he was about to be assaulted as he acknowledged Will's approach to the stage. Certainly, he didn't deserve what his friend, fellow comedian and/or colleague did to him on the world stage no less. Despite the shock of it all, being blindsided with a slap that has now been heard around the world, he was the consummate professional. He maintained his dignity, did not yield to cocky male ego or a need to "save face". Instead, he tried his best to rebound or salvage civility. In the midst of crazy, he did his best to manage a truly shocking, unpredictable and unexpected situation.


Thankfully, Chris did not respond in kind to Will's violence. There was nothing to have been gained from witnessing two rich and professional men all dressed up and physically fighting. Even from his seat however, Will was resistant to Chris' cooler head prevailing. He rejected following his lead of mature composure and further exacerbated an already bad situation.


I do not believe that Chris knew about Jada's alopecia. He does not have a history of being that kind of person. Heretofore, both Chris and Will have been thought to be nice people given their roles in Holly-weird. Recently Will has been open about coming to terms with a misplaced ego in certain aspects of his career and marriage and deeply remorseful about the horrible way he treated his co-star Janet Hubert (Aunt Viv). He used his power to ruin her and her career. It was refreshing to see him come to terms with and own the truth of his youthful arrogance and now this. It is all so unnecessary and so unfortunate...


Hopefully this is reparable and will result in a teachable moment for all of us. For right now however, it is still really bad. Will lost a lot, so much more than Chris. He has enjoyed a stellar reputation as a nice guy, the good guy with the good Grandmother who demanded clean rap lyrics. He has always been a decent role model for our children and an example of a roadmap for grace and success for many. He was a West Philly favored son, born and raised. That's a lot of pressure. We all have our breaking point. Sadly, his was in the most public of settings and is forever memorialized. We must give him grace and space to be fallible, to be human...


This is all so unfortunate but yet another test for Will Smith. Others have rebound from adversity. It is my sincere hope and belief that he will too...

~ Miss Higgi

Don't Dance on My Pain...

A high school friend posted on her Facebook page that she attended a wedding at a plantation in Florida. I posted the forthcoming comment in response. Just say NO to invitations of celebration at plantations! It ain't cool! 

Plantations are former torture camps! The history is real. The history is painful. To celebrate at these venues is the height of insensitivity toward Black Americans, some of whom you may call "friend". Don't invite us. Better yet, don't you go! 

Partying at a plantation is like dancing in Germany's gas chambers. These places should not be celebrated and in no way can they be sanitized. Their history is real...

Want the truth of what happened on America's plantations? Visit Whitney Plantation in Louisiana. NOTHING good came from the barbarity of slavery as NOTHING good came of the torture of people of Jewish faith in concentration camps across Germany. Nothing! Somehow, Germany understands that. America wants [us] to erase or forget. Never shall I forget. My Ancestors won't allow it. They [We] shall not be canceled... 

Wanna' cancel something? Cancel these venues! #Boycottplantations 

I hope my classmate understands what triggered this emotion. In the spirit of raising her level of [racial] consciousness, increasing her [and others] sensitivity to the realness and existence of Black pain, in fulfillment of my civic duty to say something when I see something, satisfying my duty to say "ouch" when it hurts, here is what I unapologetically wrote on my classmate's page: 

Getting married, creating a Bed & Breakfast, or having any other kind of happy occasion at a plantation is akin to having a party at Auschwitz in Germany. It just ain't gonna' happen and no explanation of why it ain't gonna' happen need be spoken. It is as understood as is the inhumanity of the holocaust. So, what makes a plantation in the US different than a Jewish concentration camp in Germany, I ask in all sincerity??? 

This is more of America's history she refuses to face, what she is trying to erase. There is nothing happy or joyous about plantations. Horriific and atrocious acts of barbarity were committed at plantations. In no way should these places be beautified or glorified. To do so is the height of insensitivity to Black Americans and by extension, persons of Jewish faith. I hope neither community support these venues... 

There is no sanitizing or washing away the history or the pain of rape, torture and other acts of inhumanity that happened upon that soil. There is blood in the soil that cannot be washed or danced away... 

I wish ghosts were real or that  trees and walls could talk. My Ancestors would have plenty to say. There would be no joy or happy occasions to be had at America's southern plantations, as there is nothing joyous, happy or beautiful about them. As they are torture chambers, they should be boycotted.

Don't Dance on My Pain...

#Americandenialisreal #Boycottplantationsp