Note: Posted below you will find a few of the postings from the annual Blackwards events. They are just FYI. The party is closed right now. Check back during the next Black History Month or email your name and email address and you will be notified of any special events. Sorry we missed you. "Blackwards" ™ BLACKWARDS (blăk'werds) adv. 1. At, to, or towards black. 2.movement towards understanding black and black understanding: towards African-centered thought. ™
********************************************** Welcome! Thanks for stopping by our national Blackwards party. This page was created to help folks understand African-centered, or Black thought and threaded nuances of African ideology. While we all know people are just people, cultural specificity does cause folks to function in uniquely beautiful ways. Blackwards is our way of celebrating the Beautiful Black of this wonderful vibrantly colored world. Come on in. Get comfortable. I'm Kim. If you need anything, let me know (click here). Here's how this works: * This is the check-in page. (No foul language, self-hate or other foolishness beyond this point) * Proceed to the Blackwards Data section below to pick up your reading for today. Think about it. * On to the Party/Chat Room (Check your drag first - this is where it all goes down - all eyes on you!) Most recent Party Room cocktail: Posting from "On My Mind" (Followed by Blackwards postings) Previous postings listed chronologically starting at the bottom of the page. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Group "line" dance: Give honor to something greater than yourself. Listen (Click Title Below) "Never Would've Made It" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 a.m. June 10th, 2010 Faith!
Almost 20 years ago... on lunch from work... sitting on a museum step on Michigan Avenue with this young man... He is bright-eyed and full of dreams... he is claiming he's going to travel around and speak for and to poor folks all over the world... he's gonna encourage them and put God's love in their hearts... his words are airy and fluffed, his hands speak in rhythm with his mouth... he's just a poor boy I met at a club in the hood a few nights ago, but for some reason I see it and I believe him. Over the years I pray as he climbs and stumbles and climbs and falls and climbs... He prays... the people pray... Today he sings honor and appreciation to Mandela!... Tomorrow he takes Chi-Town ghetto projects and the spirit of his mama and grandma and the only daddy he's ever known - God - to nations of folks gathered at the World Cup on the continent of his ancestors. Huddled near the eye of the flame of the AIDS and poverty crisis, he brings the "Sign of a Victory." Wow! Somebody say "God is good!" Somebody else say "FAITH!"
Okay, this is my last Rob post for a while :-). I'm just Big Mama proud of this guy and awestruck watching God do what only God can do, for reasons only God can know.
Until next time,
Kim
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June 8th, 2010 Music and a Mission... (Read the mission too, people!)
My new favorite song. I don't know who put together the photo show, but this dude is a looker, huh? J Enjoy! Oh, yeah, I also like the new single by Lyfe Jennings - "Statistics" Love the lyrics!
ATTENTION - Folks in Chicago!
Friday, June 18, 2010
7 pm
St. Sabina - 7800 S. Throop
The purpose is to send a message that violence will not be tolerated! Folks will use their presence to show their commitment and untiy! Don't punk out - come out; support this effort!
See you soon,
Kim D.
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June 3rd, 2010 Bird Brain
Today I had a strange experience. A big mouth bird was loud as ever, and would not quiet down. He was on a ledge of a one-story building. I was walking toward the building and this bird was yapping away. Its sound was loud and strong with inflections that would signify discontent or confrontation in human culture. As I walked toward the building I watched for a fight, or at least an opposer. At one point a bird of the same species flew over the loud bird. The bird only briefly turned to acknowledge the passerby, but never stopped, or slowed its squawking.
Later I found myself thinking about it. What was up with that bird? Had something tragic happened? Maybe something exciting prompted a public outcry. I don't know. Then I was slightly startled by the thought of the possibility that nothing special, or out of the ordinary happened. Maybe this was the normal behavior of that particular breed of bird. I'd seen that type of bird before, but never heard its loud mouth. What if that damn bird, squawks in that same manner, in or near that same spot all the time? What if in my focused and speedy effort to get to where I am going, I just have never noticed or heard the bird? :-)
This is some crazy writer's workout I'm doing now. Just roll with me. Look for the message behind the obvious. That's what writers do.
What if the bird, and its big voice is an alarm of sort to wake people from their hurried sleep-walking lives and routines? Hmmm... Just a thought. A perfect scene for a book... a person preoccupied... in a scene of much hustle and bustle... then this shrill of a sound that alerts the person just before... whatever. Stay tuned. You will probably read about this bird again. :-)
Be Easy,
Kim D.
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June 1, 2010 Sports!
The Lakers and Boston? Classic. Though I haven't kept up with NBA basketball this season, or last, I can't wait to watch now. Who doesn't remember the Lakers and Boston rivalry back in the day? Well, I do, and I will be watching!
Blackhawks? Go figure. Who knew? Not that they could win, but that I could get even mildly excited about a sport that so openly affirms American racism. I chalk it up to good marketing and a basic appreciation for competition.
The World Cup is battling with the Lakers and Boston for my attention, simply because Rob did one of the theme songs, which he will be performing at the opening or the World Cup. How cool is that? The money from the song "The Sign of a Victory" is going to a charity that supports a cause in, and relevant to Africa. Again, is that cool or what? I am extremely proud of Rob for this one! I'm inspired to watch based on that - and Invictus,of course. J
Tune in,
Kim D.
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May 30th, 2010 Summertime!
Okay people, it's almost summer. I have a bit of information for parents. There is a book titled Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Everyone should read this book. I absolutely love its exploration of culture and logical impact of environment, etc. on people's lives. Well, one of the many things this book talks about is KIPP School. I'm breezing through this because I don't want to tell you the whole story, just give you enough info to make my point and for you to be able to find the reference in the book. Somewhere in the KIPP example in the book, the author mentions the fact that during the school year the students in disadvantaged schools and neighborhoods progressed equally or more than the students in privileged schools. The study, the book talks about, found that the students fell behind more and more as they advanced in grades. This happened because of summertime. During the summer the privileged students were involved in activities that enriched their learning experience. The disadvantaged students were stifled or slipped backwards academically because of lack of stimulation.
This is a mouthful to simply advise you to pay particular attention to your children's summer activities. Don't let them just sit around doing nothing. If they play video games, select games like Brain Age or other games that help develop the mind and thinking skills. These games are fun. I'm telling you. I have sometimes played them well into the night (when I used to have time). Or, take your child to the museum, library, aquarium, zoo, etc. All of these places are free on certain days, or with a free pass from the library. If you won't have time because you will be working, then try a camp like ETA (in Chicago). It is a great cultural institution that functions in the tradition of Africans, with a focus on the arts. My daughter is too old to attend now, but she loved the program! Then finally folks, take your kids to church. Don't leave them there. Don't throw them into the hands of strangers. Just spend a little time exposing them to a positive message and the spirit of God. Spirituality is a vital part of African heritage; in fact, it is the strongest and most persistent thread in African culture. My non-African readers need heed to this advice, also :-)! The info for parents is not about ethnicity or race; it is more about access and habits that are related to finances and have an impact on academic success. Take good care,Kim D.
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May 26th, 2010 Good morning!
Today is going to be a good day! I wish you time and space to recognize and appreciate it!
Be easy,
Kim
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May 23rd, 2010 Work and fun, fun, fun!...
The other night I had big fun! I always have fun with my best buddy, but the other night I was with my buddy and his new work companion, David Ritz. Ritz is a writer. He has worked with Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Etta James, Janet Jackson, etc. He told me interesting stories about his career. A lot of his career experiences were similiar to mine, but far more vast. This dude wrote the song, "Sexual Healing." He was a peculiar, free bolt-of-energy type guy. His passion squeezed itself into space that normally belonged solely to my buddy and me. He related to our "space place" and went with us, on occassion leading the way :-). It was fun.
New music - wait until you hear Rob's remake of his song Michael Jackson made a hit - "You Are Not Alone." It is crazy fabulous! It will be released as part of a compilation of R. Kelly classic inspirational songs. You will want to pick that up!
Okay, so this semester is done. Before it finally wound up, I pulled an all-nighter, staying awake for 2 straight days working on a final project. Now I want to just stretch out in my bed and be still. I'm almost done with the coursework in my doctoral program. I think I'm almost done working 288 jobs, as well. Somebody shout hallelujah!
 Until again,
Kim D.
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May 15th, 2010 On my short list...
Today we celebrated my father's 70th birthday. It was big fun! Tonight I'm gonna catch up on the sleep I lost last night - Ladies Night. Tomorrow I work all day. Next week I step in and up to new challenges, face new fears, and welcome new victories.
Until later, Kim D.
******************************************************************* May 10th, 2010 Tavis Smiley & Me... Isn't this a cute picture of Tavis and me? It was taken at his conference at CSU earlier this year. Ms. Moti forwarded it to me (thanks!). I don't know if I'll post it to my pictures page because I don't know Tavis well enough for him to be on my permanent page .J I don't know... we'll see.
****************************************************************** May 9th, 2010 Happy Mother's Day! *********************************************************
May 5th, 2010 Reclaiming Medusa... ain't that some **shamalalala**? J Though the week isn't officially over, I need to wrap this baby up. It has been a blast. My students decorated t-shirts with hieroglyph messages for their mothers for the upcoming Mother's Day. African American Studies scholars came and guided the project, even the Chair of CSU's African American Studies Department came by to help the students. The class was decorated and themed ancient Egypt. It was a blast! That learning environment coupled with my nice date last weekend had me feeling real good. The spring weather boosted my spirit even more. I pulled out and wore a few skirts, and began to feel human again. Nothing could make me feel bad or down. Life was wonderful. Keep reading. Last night I stayed up on a tea-charged quest to get a presentation done for class tonight. I was exhausted, but pushed myself to complete the project last night because I knew I would have little time to dedicate to the project today. About 1:30 am I completed the project, emailed it, copied it to my flash drive in 2 versions (old and new), and checked the drive by logging off, then back on, and pulling up the files to be assured they were there and ready for class tonight. This morning I rose sharply at 4:55 am., got myself ready for an early arrival to work, gathered the excess of things I needed for this special project week, and made my way to teach. The day was long and compact. I felt inspired and even proud of the collaborative efforts that made the project possible. At the end of my work day, my students and I had learned some great things, had an enjoyable time, made gifts for mamas, and raised funds to help send students to Egypt this summer. Life could only have gotten better with a few more hours in the day, so I could pep up to give a dynamic presentation in school tonight. Long story short, I arrived to class, passed my instructor the flashdrive, and told myself the day, as great as it had been, was finally almost done. After several minutes of my instructor attempting to open the file, then me, then a classmate, I came to understand that the file was not accessible. Yep. I could have melted into a pile of lava and burned some "**shamalalalala**" up. "Are you freaking kidding me?" is all I kept thinking as my brain rattled and scraped itself against an imaginary brick wall of tiny faulty flashdrive wedges of steel and reels of error messages. It lasted about 10, maybe 15 minutes. My classmate tried to console me. She explained that I had copied the shortcut to the file and therefore my method of double-checking would have offered no help because the file will open on the computer where it was written and stored, as long as I had the shortcut. However, the shortcut was not enough to permit access from a different computer. Bullshamalalala! All bullshamalalala! Last night of class. Last presentation. No freakin' way! I offered a summary and a bare bones set of notes I had on my laptop. It basically covered the material in the chapter. So, it was what it was, right? Wrong! I was so absolutely disappointed. I worked my butt off to complete that project. I did it, in addition to all the other extra tasks I had. I had given at least 140% and it had yielded me **shamalalalala**. That's exactly why I don't get my filling in my tooth fixed. :-) That's why I don't get my hair done. That's why I wear clothes that function as standard unform for square, hermanphrodite-type-beings... LOL! Where are my glasses? Toss these contacts in the toilet! J That is partly why I'm living in the gray. It's all a plan - a methodology. I know what I'm doing. My life can be soooooo good when I permit color, that some things just get gone in the glare... vital components of tomorrow's greatness become blurred. In my foxy-mama skirts and good times, I had emailed the wrong link to the wrong address at the very wrongest (?) of times. **Shamalalalal!** So, I'm done. Since I have resolved to finish this doctoral program, I'm climbing back into my cave. Call me Medusa! Don't look at me. Don't talk to me (except via email). Don't try to take me out on fancy, fun dates. Just allow me to nerd up until I get this thing done. Where is my buddy? Somebody get me some protection! LOL! I'm trying to accomplish some thangs! **Shamalalala!** Talk to you - I mean, email me (ONLY!), Peace, KD **Shamalalala!!!!** ************************************************** May 2nd, 2010 Dag! I am swamped with homework, so I have about 2 minutes to post something here today. Well, here goes... I guess if I had to talk about anything recent, I would be totally faking if I didn't headline with the fabulous date I went on last night. I tell you this guy (who will remain nameless) earned about 8000 points for the surprise he managed last night. Wow! It was very special. I didn't have a clue. Dag! Dag! Wow! It was the sweetest thing. It started when he asked if I would have dinner with him. I was doing homework all day, but wanted to see him, so we arranged for him to pick me up- Oh, well, will you look at the time: it seems I've exhausted my 2 minutes. I don't type well or fast. :-) That's it - all I can say today. Until next time, Do yourself a date, with a fine, wonderful gentleman, or vice versa - you know what I mean :-), and be easy... ooooh, maybe not "EASY" (that didn't fit right) - just easy, like cool... relaxed... mellow. :-) Kim D. *********************************** May 1st, 2010 Stand By Me... Here is a cute lil' video I received yesterday. I'd seen it before, but am always happy when it rolls back around. Thanks Ron Deane! http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741 Enjoy! *****************************************
April 25th, 2010 Love lessons... Today is my parents' anniversary. My mother passed last year, but had she lived this would have been their 50th anniversary. They married when my mother was 17 and my father was 19. That's a lifetime! Plus, it seems like another world. In a climate and culture of disposables and constant newness, how do you keep one thing for that long? How does something work well enough to have some functionality after all those years? Well... from what I've witnessed and been told, I have concluded that it was all about love. My parents have told the story of their one-time-only almost divorce numerous times. My mother said my father thought he was married to the pool hall. My father says my mother had gone overboard - she had lost her mind. My father was a gambler. He frequently shot pool after work. I think he picked up the habit when he was in the military. He says it was just something to unwind before heading home. In my father's defense, I should add my opinion. My mother comes from a huge family. There was always someone who needed a place to stay - a runaway niece or nephew, a coming-of-age cousin, etc. who stayed with us. My father never refused the extra mouth to feed. The refusal option was rightfully all his, since my mother never worked when we were young. However, that's my opinion :-), not the opinion of my parents. For my mother and father, whether my mother worked or not, never impacted their relationship. My father was the provider; my mother was the manager of sort. Anyway, he went to shoot pool to unwind. My mother says he went too often. Though he usually won and many Bahamas trips with her sisters, complete with all new outfits, were the result of his work after work, my mother was not impressed. She told me that she warned my father that she did not marry a hustler and did not want one, especially one whose hustling kept him away from his home and children the few evening hours that were not his. That's right. This dude worked all day, and then the evenings belonged to us, according to my mama. So then I guess you could say his slumber was all he had full ownership of. My father didn't immediately stop his gambling. My mother actually went to see an attorney, after a couple of months of threats. My father proudly recants the evening he found out she'd seen an attorney. He says in the bigness of his authority, "After listening to this lil' woman rant and rave, I said one thing and I meant it. I told your mama, 'you can do what you believe you must do, I don't want you to, but I guess I can't stop you. But you need to decide how you are gonna tell the kids about your leaving, cause you can leave, but my children are not leaving this house.'" Behind that my mother's eyebrows would always raise high, almost to her hairline, and much like a tag team she would finish the story, half smile hidden behind her own power. "Yeah, but tell them how many times you went to that pool hall after that" she would charge. "Oh, I slowed up with the pool, but..." His eyelids would lower and slant, eyes rolling slightly, as his brows went up there somewhere near where hers had been. "But that's all it was about" my mother would continue. "Yeah, and I see you're still here woman," then he would be nodding slowly taunting playfully, "You knew what you had. You weren't craz-" Her loud sigh would pounce all over his puffed up performance, and then the fun would begin. "Ahhhh, Negro, I had mercy on you." She would drop her hand at its wrist. "I respected that you wanted to be with your kids. That's all that was." He would reduce his comments to few words, wrapped in grunts, crooked smiles, and slow cool bouncing head nods. "I didn't marry money. My kids can't be sold for money. I want a husband... at home with his children..." she would go on about the great things my father did as husband and father, and she would talk about those things diminishing with the thought of my father turning into this other man who would next be... this or that... my mother could imagine some down-the-line snowball effects like no other. However, by the end of the conversation my father's chest would be full and my mother would be queenly and proudly throned. And at several places in the journey back, we would all have laughter like we had paid for it, like we hadn't heard the story 700 times. All real. All okay. I believe that was the 50 year magic. Respect. Laughter. Love deeply enough to do what each knew was right. What a gift it was to have had a seat on their love train. It was never traded for a plane or private jet; just a simple train that chugged along steadily moving, but slow enough to see and appreciate the journey. Happy anniversary to my mom and dad! Until again, Kim D.
ps. This is what happens when I can't write for several days - I come back and write a book. :-) **************************************** *********************** Notes from "On My Mind" - April 12, 2010 A year ago this week my mother died - April 16th, 2009. The way I discovered it was almost the anniversary of her death is because I noticed I was doing things that I don't normally do. I have been overly emotional. I am an emotion person anyway, but I mean a couple of times I found myself feeling like I wanted to cry over ridiculous things. I can't even remember what those things were - maybe something like the carpet in the basement wasn't completely dry like the carpet cleaning man said it would be, or I accidently mixed the new mail with mail I'd already read. Minute things that don't and shouldn't affect me at all were suddenly huge issues. It was weird. The final straw for me was when I engaged in gossip. I don't gossip. I talk about people, and analyze people, but only if I am trying to figure a way to make something better. I don't talk about people, or point out negative things just to say it for nothing. That's sort of evil in my opinion. Well, yesterday I said something to my sister and a good friend about woman we know. I wasn't trying to help the situation. We were just acknowledging a fact, but I said something kind of crass. It was funny, but I instantly knew it was bad. Later last night, I felt horrible about what I'd said. It was true. It wasn't that bad. Nobody, who would tell, knew what I'd said. But I knew I'd said it and I knew I shouldn't have. It wasn't my business and I wasn't going to help. When I was in bed at night, I apologized to God. While I was lying there, I thought about how frustrated I had been doing my homework the other night. What was up with that? I thought about how I had been eating any and everything lately. I thought about several little things. Then I went to my bookshelves and tried to find a book that might center my thoughts. I picked up a good book by a strong African American scholar. I planned to re-read a great chapter he'd written. I know the book well, but could not find the portion of the book I wanted to read. I thumbed through the pages and for the life of me, I just could not find the part I thought I needed. I was sleepy, but couldn't go back to sleep. I was perplexed. I was tired. There was nothing left to do but pray. When I began to pray, the first thing that came out of my mouth was "I miss my mother." I had not planned to say that. I had not even thought about that, but there it was. In my surrendered space the truth was just boldly right there. After I completed the prayer, my confusion and sadness turned to praise. I kept thinking about the song He's Done Enough. Fantasia's version of the song looped in my mind a couple of times. Then I rested. I am so grateful that I have been taught to respect God. As a result of that, I respect myself. When I get too far from where I know I belong, I can tell. I make it my business to ask God to help me work my way back. Regardless of what caused the diversion, God never leaves me stranded. That's my word for the day. I just wanted to share that with somebody, just in case someone has gotten a little off course. Get quiet. Get still. Ask God to turn you towards the right thing, or place. Be honest. Be easy. Take good care, Kim D. Ps. Here's the Fantasia piece - He's Done Enough. It surely puts things in the proper perspective, huh?!
*********************************************************** April 10th, 2010 Scripts, prose, and "Off" episodes... Alright, enough is enough. Tyler is gonna have to step it up. Initially, I went to see Tyler Perry movies to support the brother. Though the writing wasn't the best, the tidbits of cultural familiarity always made the movie "acceptable" for me. However... his latest movie, Why Did I Get Married Too? is uhhhhh... how can I say... uhhhh... I'll just say... well... not his best work. Yeah, I'll say it like that :-(. Tyler had better step it up, round out and vary some of those characters and African American images, or he'll lose his "aren't we so proud of that dude" critic's review pass - real, real soon. Next! I'm tired of school - today. Can't it just end? Give a sistah a break. What's it all about? What's it all for? I'd rather be pickin' scattered peas from gravelled-over dust-cloudy dirt roads, than doing homework tonight :-). I'm sleepy from a rocket trip to heaven a couple of nights ago. My daughter's birthday is tomorrow. I'd rather be painting some love on a stocking to stretch between the trees in zig-zag formation down the block to honor the anniversary of her entrance into my life. I'd rather eat lizard eyeballs boiled in hot sauce and Alaga syrup, than to research another theory right now. My son is in ATL at school. This will be the first time he'll miss his sister's birthday celebration. Man, I'd rather drive a go-cart pulling my daughter bunched in a baby buggy across high wire electric lines in the rain, wearing a cloth backpack full of cell phones and sardine sandwiches for the next 62.7 hours, than to format another APA document at this here computer before midnight. In fact, let me be totally honest; I'd rather wild out and write some absolutely crazy prose to clear the clutter of my exhaustion from my mind, than to sit in this office chair and... oh, cool, I just did :-). Wow! It's sort of like screaming. I'm healed. :-). I'm good now. Back to business. Man, I love learning. LOL! Be easy, folks, Kim D. ******************************************************************* ************************************** April 5th, 2010 - 8a.m. Back in business... I'm back! I spent the weekend with my family. We traveled to Atlanta to spend time with my son. No computer. No work. Just peace and pleasure... ahhh, what a rejuvenating retreat - a great Easter weekend reminder of who I am and what I believe. Now back to work. :-) Oh yeah, but first... She's back! I get it. I completely understand Window Seat. Sounds like truth. Looks like freedom. Ms. Erykah Badu's new music is honest. At first glance it's sensationalistic and somewhat shocking. Yes, it's a marketing strategy, for sure. However, hers is a visual representation of the desired ideal existence for many truth-lovers. We just want to be free... appreciated for what is real and true... loved as is - no competitions, no falsities. I have read opinions that believe the naked image of Badu, as a Black woman, is exploitive. I say a Black woman in squeezy miracle girdles and nearly 12 inch heels, pumping on air, gyrating on chairs, flinging someone else's blonde hair, and sexing cameras with please-leave-a-tip eye depth is far more exploitive than a Black woman in a head rag, with a mother's pride pooch belly and matching behind walking barefoot celebrating maturity and growth. Nakedness, in and of itself, is not exploitive, is it? I could be wrong, though. On more than one occasion I have been led to believe that my reverence for authenticity can only find contentment and room for existence on Mars :-)... Well, from one Martian to the next - Right on, Ms. Badu! (Though, I must say, I hope she wasn't actually butt naked taping that video on the street in front of those little kids, without providing explanation, or first seeking consent; that would be a bit pass Mars, and as "free" as it may be, the trip should be optional ;-). Easy, Kim D. ******************************** April 1st, 2010 Much love for Haki...
My dear friend, mentor, and leader Haki Madhubuti will be honored at the Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Conference at
Love,
Kim L. Dulaney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday's schedule: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Student Union Building ~ Rotunda Builder of Positive Reality: Celebrating Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti Moderator: Mario Beatty Panelists: Jacqueline Bryant, Nora Brooks Blakely, Kelly Norman Ellis, Useni Eugene Perkins, and special guests 5:00p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Evening Break 6:30 p.m. – 7:30p.m. Douglas Hall ~ Breakey Theatre Tenth Annual Induction Ceremony for the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Douglas Hall ~ Breakey Theatre The International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent Keynote Speaker – Haki R. Madhubuti
****************************************************************** March 30th, 2010 A word to the wise... For folks who live in Chicago I'm told the place to be this Thursday night is St. Sabina Church. A little birdie told me the Holy Thursday deal at St. Sabina is the best service all year long. I am sad I have to miss it. I would describe in detail what I was told, but I don't want to ruin it for you. I will tell you this, it is no ordinary service. The birdie said you will feel like you've left the building (before you actually leave the building). Take a friend or two. Somebody hit me up Friday and let me know what happened. Enjoy! Kim D. ******************************************************************* March 28th, 2010 Coming soon... The 20th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Conferencefor Black Literature and Creative Writing Chicago State University ******************************************************************
Interesting... Why are these elected officials so angry and oppositional to any and everything the President does? Who does this? Who plays these extreme games with the country? Think about it. What could be the core motivation for their fury? I believe I know and so does anyone else who pays attention. It's unfortunate. 2010!
Obama Recess Appointments: 15 Names, Including Controversial Labor LawyerPosted: on AOL... Tom Diemer, Editor
03/27/10  President Barack Obama, impatient with Congress' pace, made 15 recess appointments to key posts in his administration Saturday, meaning the nominees can serve through next year without Senate confirmation. Among the appointees: Craig Becker, a controversial union lawyer, named to the National Labor Relations Board."The United States Senate has the responsibility to approve or disapprove of my nominees," Obama said in a statement. "But, if in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my authority to fill these positions... I simply cannot allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the basic functioning of government." Two appointees to the National Labor Relations Board, Becker, counsel to the Service Employees Union International, and Buffalo, N.Y. labor lawyer, Mark Peace, have drawn the ire of Republicans. All 41 Senate Republicans signed a recent letter to the White House urging Obama not to use the Spring recess to appoint Becker, a former UCLA professor and a strong advocate for card check legislation which would make it easier for unions to organize. But after Congress left town on Friday, Obama acted on his own. The White House said the 15 nominees have waited an average of 214 days for their confirmation votes in the Senate, where a single senator can hold up such a procedure almost indefinitely. On Saturday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) said he was disappointed in the recess appointments. He called Becker a "partisan nominee" and said his appointment was a "clear payback" to organized labor -- an important Democratic Party constituency. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said putting Becker on the NLRB board meant "the business community should be on red alert for radical changes that could significantly impair the ability of America's job creators to compete." The other appointments included: Jeffrey Goldstein, under secretary for domestic finance in the Treasury Department; Michael F. Mundaca as assistant secretary for tax policy at Treasury; former Indiana Rep. Jill Long Thompson to the Farm Credit Administration Board, and Rafael Borras, under secretary for management, Department of Homeland Security. **************************************************************** Okay... a friend forwarded this to me. I am not sure of its accuracy. Health Reform: A Year-by-Year List of What Happens and WhenPosted: 03/26/10
President Obama and Democrats in Congress have come to the end of a 14-month health care odyssey. The result is a historic new health law that will make sweeping changes in our health system over the next few years. They include new consumer protections, coverage of millions of uninsured people, penalties for individuals and businesses who don't buy insurance, attempts to control rising costs, and Medicare savings and new taxes to pay for it all. Here is a year-by-year look at what's in store:
People in the Medicare prescription drug program will receive a $250 rebate as the first step in closing the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," that requires them to pay full freight after they have spent $2,700 on drugs. The gap would be phased out entirely by 2020. ****************************************************************** March 24th, 2010 Foolish Flashbacks... The Healthcare Bill passed and folks are going crazy. I saw a very disturbing scene on the news. An African American congressman had been spit on and he was obviously upset. He pointed his finger and said repeatedly to the spitter, "You spit on me! You spit on me!" He had positively identified the spitter and he could think of nothing more to do than to clarify and affirm the act, over and over again. Where were the police? Where was the congressman's quick left hook? I hope these folks don't get confused. People on the radio keep making comparisons to the Civil Rights Movement. This is not 1965! There are repercussions, legal and OTHERWISE for an ignorant person who suffers from foolish flashbacks! I know a few Pookies who would love to walk the long walk with a congressman past an angry mob. Maybe it's time for some community enrichment programs that could offer employment to some of these Pookies; that's how you stimulate the economy and stop folks from engaging in unwarranted and unacceptable behavior. Folks are busting windows, issuing death threats, etc. just because someone has a different opinion. This is not some fantasy time machine that can be rolled backwards where folks can just bully others into submission. The White House had better wise up and gear up for the journey if they plan to shake some things up. Policy change and political gains are great, but only if they can be enforced; let's face it; hiring Pookie is real change folks can count on! Adding Pookie to the mix will give poor and lower-middle class folks more of a celebratory disposition. I guarantee it! :-) Kudos to the dude who was able to endure the glob of spit, without a violent response. Whippin' somebody's *** would have only exacerbated the situation. Well done, to that bruh! My kid’s kid’s kids will owe him their gratitude. Wow! It's crazy out here! Kim D. ***************************************************************** March 21st, 2010 Make up day... All work - no play day today. Business... business... busines... The only time I took out was to watch church online and to write this little note. Technology can be a blessing. I normally attend the 6pm service. Today at 5:50 pm I logged onto www.tucc.org and went to church from my pile of work. It was a good sermon. The pastor talked about the Black church being in jeopardy. How can an institution that has been the anchor for so many monumental achievements be in jeopardy? Because folks are leaving Jesus out; Jesus is getting lost in the shuffle of so many other things that folks are giving reverence to these days. That's what I heard the pastor say and the message I got from the sermon. You can watch for yourself next time and see what message you get. You know 7 folks can hear the same sermon and be convicted in 7 different ways - have seven different perspectives or interpretations. Nevertheless, I hope you had a good day today. I hope you fed your soul with something positive. My spring break at CSU is over. It's crunch time. I'm sure I won't be spending as much time with you, but know that I appreciate you for stopping by and sharing. It's been a blast! I'll try to drop a line or two (at least), when I come up for air. Until then, be easy. In a minute, Kim D. ******************************************************************* March 20th, 2010 Focus and effort... Last evening I wrote that little note about staying in and focusing on my work. Shortly after that I spoke with a friend and became a traitor to myself. :-) Last night I hung out with my buddy Robert Kelly. This guy is doing some phenomenal work. Get yourselves ready. That's all I can and will say. He will soon take us on a music adventure. I am in awe of his gift and extremely proud of his evolution of its use. Brace yourselves. Get your minds right and ready for something that you have not yet seen done by an R&B artist. It's hot! He's pushing himself and I hope folks will appreciate his effort to not only entertain, but expand our worlds in the area of music. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This morning I attended Tavis' We Count: The Black Agenda is the American Agenda forum. It was powerful. It's always a tough balancing act for Black Americans to consider and address the whole of who we are, while other folks are watching. Tavis and the panel did a great job. They were careful to point out the fact that they are not against anyone. An interesting sub-theme that emerged was the idea of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Hooray for that! So while we plan to get in the buffet line and request a fair share, we are not solely depending upon the buffet servers' willingness to oblige. It's much like having a plan B, or multiple simultaneously implemented plan A's. Some of the other areas of concern for a proposed agenda included the passing of the healthcare bill (failure to pass this bill might cause a bleed-over negative effect on other public services: postal service, transportation, etc.), funding for college students (increase in Pell Grant amounts per students, zero interest education loans), a balance of critique and protection of President Obama, equitable distribution of government funds to states, etc., equal public acknowledgment and respectful treatment of issues specific to African Americans in this country, careful analysis of factual data related to President Obama's policies and performance, corrective legislation for the inequities found in the criminal justice system, a brain cleansing of the notion and media perpetuated idea that Blacks are inferior, political and personal accountability, and a unified and consistent core theme of love. While I was observing the panel I received a phone call. My cousin wanted to know if I had heard anything about "a protest Tavis and Minister Farrakhan were having against Obama." My cousin said someone had called and asked her about it and she figured I would probably know when and where it was scheduled to take place. The call was funny, but sad. It was funny because Minister Farrakhan had just warned the media about twisting things. It was sad because I don't know if this particular query originated with formal media or with Black folks' grapevine. Without thought, folks were just spreading foolishness. I told my cousin I was in the presence of Tavis and Minister Farrakhan and there was no protest or rally. There was nothing but good things happening. I hope she reversed that cycle of news by responding with truth. I wonder how far that truth traveled. I am very appreciative of Tavis for choosing CSU to host the forum and in doing so providing an opportunity for CSU to showcase its assets. CSU is a great school. If you check our record much of what is good in Chicago has come from or through Chicago State University. Now finally, here is the sexist part of this commentary... Ladies, that Tavis is quite an attractive dude. My gracious. His desire to help others and his willingness to sacrifice himself in his efforts to make our lives better makes him that much more appealing. Plus, at a luncheon held after the forum I had a chance to feel his warm energy and witness his humility. That dude is a two-legged bundle of beauty (I know I'm country). I tell you, if my purse was not already so full ;-) I might have tried to fold that dude up, melt him down - do sum'n to pack him up, fit him in, and take that brother home - with me. :-) However, I digress. This isn't about me or my subliminal advice to the ladies; it's about the Agenda for ALL Black folks. So then, back to business. Focus and give your best effort, folks. Be sure to log on to the Covenant with Black America, familiarize yourselves with the issues that plague African American communities, listen to culturally specific radio and read culturally specific print news, at least occasionally. Write and email African American publications, noting your particular community issues and concerns. Remember not to bash people, concentrate on issues and desired resolutions. Watch for further developments and keep abreast of the accomplishments and the challenges of the current administration under our beloved President, Barack Obama. Do what you can, where you are. Seek opportunities to help. Affect and empower someone at arms length. Encourage each other and be encouraged. Think big (communal and global), but be willing to work small (in your house... with your children, parents, and siblings.. at your job...). Believe change is possible! Start now! In the meantime, be easy and take good care. Luv, Kim D. ******************************************************************* March 19th, 2010 Friday night in the big city... There's a lot going on in Chi-Town tonight. I had a thought of calling my buddy and taking in an event or two. The pile of books on my floor reminded me this is spring break, not graduation week. I've been kicking it, unlike I've done years. My body and my mind are yelling in unison, "easy homie!" I'm listening. I'm staying in. Tonight is a highlighter and sweet tea night. I hope to get lost in "almost there", savoring excess celebration and freedon for when I'm sure it belongs to me. :-) See you soon. Enjoy! Kim D. ****************************************************************** Quick note: On Friday, March 19th, Maya Angelou, my favorite poet will be featured at St. Sabina in Chicago at 7pm. Tickets are available at the church @ 78th and Throop. Ms. Angelou is truly a Phenomenal Woman; you don't want to miss this opportunity to experience her wisdom and grace. Don't forget CSU & Tavis Smiley Presents (see 3/16 posting) on Saturday, March 20, 2010. We are grateful to Tavis and honored that he would choose to have this event on the south side of Chicago at Chicago State University. March 17th, 2010 What's good? I have a young student who is a cool-spirited little fellow. Whenever he passes me in the hall, sees me in the lunchroom, or enters my class he gives me a slight head jerk upwards and if the atmosphere permits him speech, he asks "What's good, Ms. Dulaney?" I generally smile and respond, "All good" or I return the upward head jerk motion. My response causes him to smile. Initially, when this student asked me this question I automatically replied "Nothing much." Then one day I thought about it. A whole lot is good. In fact, it's ALL good. Sometimes we function on automatic and without even thinking, we blurr or dim the sunshine that is all around us, then we can't see the vibrancy and beauty of that which is near and good. An Ethiopian Proverb says: The fool is thirsty in the midst of water. Instead of looking away in the distance for the things you need and want, look at what is available to you. What can you do with what is already at your fingertips? Sometimes it's like we're standing in the ocean, praying for rain. What's good where you are? Take a breath... take a moment... look around and take inventory. Acknowledge all that you have. Make use of it. Appreciate it. Be Easy, folks, Kim D.
******************************************************************* March 16th, 2010 Tavis Smiley Presents We Count: The Black Agenda is the American Agenda Chicago State University hosts nationally-televised forum, We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda Broadcaster Tavis Smiley to Moderate Conversation WHAT: Chicago State University (CSU) hosts the nationally-televised forum, We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda, The conversation will also raise awareness about participation among Black citizens in the 2010 Census. The forms, which will be mailed in March, are due on April 1. The data collected by the Census helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. COST: The event is free and open to the public on first-come, first-served basis. The parking fee for the event is $5. Parking gates will not open until 5:30 a.m. Advanced registration is available only at www.tavistalks.com. (please print and bring your e-mailed confirmation) WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 8 am – noon WHERE: Chicago State University’s Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center,
At a recent conference celebrating the life of Jacob Carruthers I heard it said that Chicago has the largest and most vibrant Black Consciousness Movement and community in the country. I believe it. I belong to 4 or 5 organizations myself :-). Let's all get together this weekend and try to focus on one objective. Contrary to popular belief, every good productive movement or every effort that yields history-altering results, started and starts with a meeting of brilliant minds and organizers. Folks get together and talk. They don't just start running in the streets or marching in varied directions. Think tanks exist around the world; they always have. Folks are studying you and planning your future and the future of your children right now. They are at a roundtable debating and strategizing about how to best direct and affect your housing, your schools, your jobs and careers... Usually, the strategizers are unidentified. They are qualitative info crunchers, and you are but a number, a statistic to them. If you could see them, you would quickly realize they are unconnected to your daily reality. Occasionally, one or two people who once lived like you are invited to the table to speak on your behalf. This weekend you have the unique opportunity to see who from among us is talking about you, your community, and all of the issues that will affect and are suppose to represent you. What are they saying you said? Tavis Smiley is hosting an event at Chicago State University this Saturday. It is about you. Don't show up - then don't complain when the rules change. Sit on the sidelines - then shut up trying to umpire the game from the bleachers. Yep, I said it. :-) Quick story: I once sat in on a board meeting at CSU. It was a class assignment. As I sat taking notes, an item on the agenda came up to be passed. It was a new rule that required all CSU students to pay a bus pass fee. I drive to CSU. Many CSU students drive to campus. We pay for parking passes. We don't want to be forced to pay for a bus pass that we don't need. The bus pass fee was expensive and was not optional. I put my pen down and sat there in amazement at the idea that such an outrageous proposal could make it to the floor of the meeting. One lone student representative was in attendance. He was late, but made it in time to object and was somehow able to have the bus pass issue continued. This student representative happened to be one of my former students. After the meeting he told me all about the bus pass situation. He asked a few questions I couldn't answer. I sought help for him. Ultimately, what I found out is that the folks who wanted the bus passes had followed proper protocol and was able to move the issue through the process by claiming to represent a majority of the student population. What?! Not one student in any of my classes was in favor of the rule. However, the school had posted signs, sent out letters, and made calls and none of the folks in my classes attended the sessions when the issue was being discussed. It turns out a few people who did show up qualified as the majority because they were the majority in attendance when the issue was discussed. So then, the moral of the story is when you have to pay a ghetto tax on the dirt that gathers on the fire hydrant on your block, just because it's on your block and not the block up north, don't say a word. When you are charged a $50 violation for listening to Lil' Wayne after 6pm on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month, just walk on into city hall and pay your $100 (double fine - because you know we are gonna pay late in protest of the absurdity of the whole thing).☺ Just don't dare complain. You didn't have time to listen to folks "talk." Though talk is the impetus for all that happens in our wonderful American culture - talk that everyone knows we're too busy to be burdened with - you opted out. Humph... C'mon people. Get up and do sum'n before the rules are made, before the laws are on the books. Be proactive instead of reactive. See you Saturday (hopefully), Kim D. ***************************************************************** March 13th, 2010 The Power of Dreams... So, now, let me share this with you. Over this past year, the most poignant lesson I learned was to be cognizant of the power of dreams. Some people have short patience with dreamers, even some of my friends; but I know that nothing above average or out of the norm has ever been accomplished without first imagining or dreaming of the possibility. When you lose the ability to dream you lose faith. When you lose faith you lose the ability to recognize solutions or deliverance from that which stifles you. The mind is very powerful. Your reality becomes what you perceive it to be. I could give examples, but I know it is unnecessary; I know you already know this. You've heard it again and again. I challenge you to believe it with your whole heart, and to live it with certainty. The funny thing is your dreams will give your reality clarity and direction. When you fill your life with dreams, which translate into plans, aims, and goals, foolishness is aborted. There is no room for it. Try it. Dream big dreams. Where do you imagine yourself? Who is with you? What's going on? How are you feeling about the scene? Stand up in that thing. Feel it. Allow it to fill you. I'm about to go out to do more birthday celebrating now, so I'm gonna have to tell you some of my dreams later. In fact, why don't you tell me some of yours? I look forward to dreaming with you :-). Be Easy, Kim D. ***************************************************************** March 11th, 2010 Go Kim!... La, la, la, la... okay, y'all ready? Hit it! Go Kim, it's ur birthday, go Kim, it's ur birthday! Where u from? South Side... Where U from? South Side... Oooohhhh! Yep! Happy Birthday to ME! Thanks to everyone who sent me a birthday greeting. I really appreciate it! Today is my birthday. On this day a few short years ago :-) I was born the second child to Doris and Curtis. My mother told me I was a gift from heaven, sent to warm her heart to God since she was so terribly disappointed behind the loss of her first child when he was only 2 months. Since my mother told me that when I was very young, I have always tried to be a blessing to folks :-). That is my life's thesis, of sort. I'm still working at it.☺ I just wanted to pause - stop through - and say thank you to everyone! Later on I'm gonna tell you what I've learned this past year. I gotta get back to my birthday right now, but I'll be back soon. Again, I appreciate you! Love, Kim D. ******************************************************************
March 7th, 2010 Oh my goodness, folks... I write this little diary of sorts, forgetting most of the people who read it do not know me personally. You are familiar with me a bit, but you don't know me well. I appreciate you a great deal, though. Here's why. You all can be extremely supportive and sincerely kind and good. Example: This morning I wrote a comment about if I die anytime after 6pm, tell the world I lived a faithful, wonderful... life full of love. I trailed a couple of hearts behind it because I was in that kind of happy, frilly, and free mood. That quick note was a celebratory statement, because a good friend of mine accepted an invitation to attend church with me today. I joked with my cousin that behind my recent historical African American Studies moment and now this friend planning to go to church, I must be getting my rewards and headed for heaven :-). However, many of you don't know me and though I frequently talk about loving others, you don't know just how much I love myself, too. So, here I am in my office rushing to finish some other work and I get a message of extreme. It was a message encouraging me to hold on pass 6pm. I paused my work to remove the post. Man, listen, I have about a good hundred 6pms left in me. I'm gonna be the first person to live 2 centuries. :-) See what I'm saying? There I go again. Now am I a crazy person who believes I will inhabit this wonderful sack of flesh and bones for 200 years? Nope. Lighten up, folks. Loosen up a bit. Thanks for looking out for me, though. I appreciate you. One never can tell if someone got a bad dose of turkey bacon and eggs that altered his/her mind and sent him trippin'. A case of food poison is about the only way I'm gonna get gone before that 200 year mark.☺ Believe that! Or at least believe I believe it, then you will be able to appreciate my off-color style and sense of humor and my swollen bursts of creativity. Y'all be easy this Sunday evening. Love, Kim D. ****************************************************************** March 6, 2010 Wow! The moment and the memory is the charge... Shut my mouth. Are you kidding? I am still shaking. My soul won't rest or settle down. Last night I attended a fundraiser where the Honorable Minister Farrakhan, Father Pfleger, and Rev. Wright were honored. I went expecting to feel something magnificent. I expected to somehow walk away bigger and more absolute having been in the space where history was made, when it was made. As an admirer of the 3 honored men and as an audience member at the event, my expectations would have been met. I would probably be resting soundly right now (5am). However, at one point in the program I was called upon to say a few words. I am a writer and a thinker. As such, I am afforded the benefit of dealing in truth. I am trained that way. I can think things out, sort them out, then find an appropriate and powerful way to color them with words. Unplanned, on-the-spot speaking is much different. You see... What I know for sure is that it is easy to exist in the world as a critic or an onlooker. It is easy to judge the efforts and intentions of a person when there is only one bright light and you are in the shadows not easily identifiable. It is a heckler's existence - a heckler's luxury. But what about when the light turns your way? No props. No production. The moment I stepped into the light on that stage I felt inadequate. I thank God for that moment. I found my word-wise self without proper words to speak. I felt small and unworthy. I thank God for that moment. I am a rather accomplished woman. I've done many things. In the presence of my contemporaries I feel full, confident, sometimes arrogant and absolute. There is nothing or no one that intimidates me. But in the light, with the attention of the greatest men my lifetime has witnessed, my words could only reflect my truth: I am not worthy... we are not worthy. I thank God for that moment of truth. What can I say to men who have given their whole selves to us - men who have stood on the front lines and suffered so that I could tip-toe into success and accomplishment? I was supposed to say something about the school where I work. While I wanted to say many great things about the programs and the commitment of the people, and I wanted to let the crowd know that we do better than most, and I thought it would be a good idea to give an example or two of things the children have taught me, and blah, blah, blah... my truth rendered those things irrelevant. There was nothing I could say. Something came from my mouth, but it was nothing profound, or even proficient. It was what I discovered I am, my generation is, it was inadequate. I wish I could have perpetrated. I wish I knew how. I can recall that I said something about thinking I would go to work at St. Sabina to "save the little Black children" from the cultural weaknesses of Catholicism. I didn't say it like that, but it is the general gist of what I meant. But the truth is when I got to St. Sabina the children, under the wisdom, guidance, and influence of Father Pfleger, didn't need me to expose them to their culture and self-identity, and they surely didn't need me to save them. In fact, I could make a strong argument that St. Sabina helped to save me. But I couldn't find the clarity to articulate that in the light. When I first began speaking I spoke about Rev. Wright. Surely I could speak about Rev. I have spoken about him many times. But in the light, exposed, I felt like I was speaking in front of my father who already knows my truths, strengths and WEAKNESSES so there was nothing much I could muster. Then I dared not even address the Honorable Minister Farrakhan. I sat one seat away from him during the concert and I could feel his soul. While his spirit was one of encouragement, it was also one of great discernment. I dared not attempt to bamboozle the man. I mean really, what could I say to these men? "I am nothing much, Sirs. When your time on earth is done, your efforts will have been in vain based on what I have offered the world thus far, but thank you and keep up the good work." Thank you would have been a contradiction; I'm sorry would have been more appropriate. That is my lesson from the event. I was hoping for a moment to remember and I got it. As long as I live I will never forget the standard that was revealed to me when I stood exposed in the spotlight. I am unworthy. We are unworthy, y'all. Our efforts pale in comparison to our predecessors. Our passions pale in comparison. There is much work to be done. Who will feel the charge when put in my presence in my latter years? Who will feel an aching need to be better because I am watching? Who will lose their bravado and have their accomplishments deflated and properly contextualized in the face of my efforts and God's relative yields? Uhhh... I don't know. What I do know is that I had better get to work - we had better get to work. The children are watching. The ancestors and the elders see us. The time is coming when the circle of life will roll us into the light, and the intensity of the moment will be magnified by a prolonged exposure and we will be naked with our truths, and those truths will have permanent resonance on our future, and we will have to answer for all we were and all we never even attempted to be. Think about it. Be encouraged, Kim D. Ps. It was an awesome concert (Shannon 1st, then the Whalum bros. Kirk and Kevin)and an unparallelled opportunity. Thanks to Jeri and Janet and the whole planning team for their great effort, and thanks to all the attendees for supporting education and Haitian relief. As for the honorees - without effort they did what they are prone to do - inspire us, and repesent us and themselves well. Thanks! ******************************************************************
March 5, 2010 Early B-Day gifts! It's about 3am. I can't sleep. First, I'm too excited. If you are in Chicago and you are not planning to attend the event that will honor Rev. Wright, Minister Farrakhan, and Father Pfleger, then I don't even know what to say about you :-). This thing tonight is like going to see Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X back in the day. As I told my son, one day these men will be written in history books - and come to think of it, I might be the person who writes the book! I wouldn't miss this event for the world. I am honored to be a helper to aid Rev. at the event (thanks to Jeri and Janet for thinking of me). I can only imagine what the ancestors will help me to see, know, and connect when I am standing there in the midst of living history. Wow! What an honor and gift! Happy early b-day to me... Also, this could be considered a gift, I guess :-(... Yesterday I was basically forced to buy a new car. Most folks would have been excited about that, huh? Me, I am a weird person. I have driven all types of cars. When I was young I drove Corvettes and whatever was new and fresh and rare. A few years ago I was rolling to school in a Range Rover. However, for the past few years I have been driving my longtime companion Mr. Mercury Minivan. I loved it. It seemed to love me. It was a vehicle my daughter walked into at a dealership while I was waiting on my cousin to pick up her new car. My daughter was a toddler and loved the idea of being able to walk through a car - so I bought it for her. I designated it my work car. I always said I would ride that baby until the wheels rolled off. Well, this week that old sweetheart made me miss an appointment I was obligated to attend. I don't do that! This forced me to realize maybe it's time to let him go. So, while he's STILL in the shop with mechanics finding something new wrong every day, I went and bought a car. It is funny what life does to you. I researched and found the best economic value, called the dealer and arranged to pick the car up later in the day. Best value? Without regard for anything but cost, mpg and reliability, and power windows and mirrors of course, I went and got this little car. Fortunately for my daughter, the car had a few modern bells and whistles: Bluetooth technology, satellite radio, iPod connection, etc. The car only cost 18K and I was feeling a little grumpy about it and dreading signing the papers. I'm cheap. Frugal. Something. I don't know how or when it happened, but it is now a bonafide truth. I have become an official penny-pinching square. And I think I like it. :-) Let's just hope I don't balance the car savings with a justification for 800 pairs of new shoes :-). Pray for me, Kim D. ******************************************************************* March 1, 2010 Balance... Advice of the day - Never take on a doctoral program, celibacy, two jobs, and a manuscript in one cycle. Spread it out. One thing, maybe two at a time. I think my mother's grave illness and her ultimate passing caused me to think about my mortality and pushed me to try to gather all of life and pack it into to my present space.☺ I have a confession. I have Superwoman-itis and whenever I'm in the presence of someone who gives half of their ability to something, it gives me the shakes. It sends me into overload in an effort to produce enough energy to crank-start the half-stepper. I don't know how to pretend that lackluster effort is good. I am a passionate person. I want folks to be alive and excited about things they pursue. I've lived dreams. I know they are possible. I know folks can reach their goals if they just have faith and try. I believe I can do anything. I just have to learn that even if I can, I shouldn't do them all at once. This advice was forced into my reality today because I had car trouble. I am exhausted. I need Popeye and some spinach right about now, but I'm fasting (no food after 6pm). I guess I'll get me some water and roll on into a rested tomorrow.
Be Easy, Kim D. ******************************************************************* February 28, 2010 Ask and you shall receive... Well, I put it out there and someone responded. I'm not saying this is for Jeff, but if someone wants to hit him up and pass on the info, I won't be mad :-). This is from Kim (the other PLJ Kim - Jones). "Hey Kim, just dropping in to say hi and to ask you to pass on some information Thanks Kim J. Enjoy, everybody! Kim D. ******************************************************************* February 23rd, 2010 Tavis' Commentary on TJMS Did you hear Tavis Smiley on the Tom Joyner Morning Show today? Well, I did and so did several of my friends. It sounded good to hear Tavis doing his thing again, in the morning. Tavis spoke about an event he will host at Chicago State University on March 20th. I am excited about that. CSU is my home. I don't remember how Tavis framed the theme for the event, but if I had to tell a friend what I thought the whole thing was going to be about, I'd say it's about Black folks falling to sleep at the wheel. Black folks got a new shiny car and don't remember that they have to drive that thing to where it needs to go. Don't forget to keep your eyes on the road. Know where you are going and how to navigate your journey based on your previous driving experience. A car is a car is a car - some shiny and new, some old and cruddy, all still capable of crashing, all still guaranteed to get off course without the proper attention to controlling the steering wheel. Don't be too impressed with the chauffeurs. Know the road so you will know where folks are taking you. Don't get too tired and fall to sleep at the wheel. Pay attention, people. Get a map. Chart your course, remembering from which you came. Here goes (not my video):
Let me make my thoughts completely clear; I am not one who believes in living in the past, but I am one who knows the value of a good lesson. Underrepresented groups who had to fight for basic human rights for hundreds of years need not soon forget the fight or ignore the imbalanced support structures or frames that remain in place. It is the same old car, same old engine, just a new body with a banging sound system and TVs in the headrest for your entertainment. Poor folks still can be put out of the car. They don't own the car. They still can't afford to go to the doctor if the car crashes. Truth be told poor folks can't even drive the car to where they want it to go; poor folks are just suppose to be happy to get a ride some times. C'mon y'all. You know we need a Black agenda, and a woman's agenda, and a general poor folk’s agenda... We can't drive in circles; we need a map!
Stop play'n, Kim D. ***************************************************************** February 20th, 2010 Parallels of love... I seem to have started a love fest yesterday. Everybody loves me, and I love everybody. This fact, the remnants of Valentine's Day in the air, and it being Black History Month and all, caused me to get trapped in discourse about love and what could and should be done in the name and honor of love. Some folks feel the looseleaf type of existence is not fun anymore; disappearing acts are not funny or entertaining. At some point love has to bind the loose pages - tie that thing together. Well... what can I say? I can't really argue against that. I know I'm guilty. Many of my friends (men and women) are guilty. It seems we prefer parallels, as opposed to fusions :-). There are a whole lot of reasons why. However, I wonder if we all were broke, or somehow in positions where needs were more pronounced and unavoidable, would we then find value worthy of self-compromise or ego-less communication in each other. Then could we permit ourselves to want or need others, shamelessly... fearlessly? Hmmmm.... Parallel
Standing here right next to you Know that I’m watching all u do Spending years on top of time "You-and-I" memories filling my mind
Can’t get away think I shouldn’t stay needing you to make it okay
Every time I think of life without you I think of birds with no wings seasons with no Spring moon-eating stars and bars on mars locked into a parallel all by myself
Riding here, passenger to a King Knowing you are my everything Waiting for something that doesn’t exist Magnets on bulls-eyes, but still I miss
Can’t get away think I shouldn’t stay needing you to make it okay
don’t want to be alright without you don’t want to leave you standing by don’t want to act like I don't need you don't want to live the lie in a parallel spell.
♥♥♥♥♥
Ouuuu! This thing is so elementary, but I like it. Don't you wish you could say it to somebody?☺ Go ahead, use it; it's yours. Be easy, be bold, be a soldier of love (like Ms. Sade). Take Care, Kim D. ****************************************************************** February 19th, 2010 (Revision) Much love! Well, I love you too, and you, and you... I love everybody! How about that?! That should do it,☺. February 19th, 2010 Good morning! This is just a quick good morning greeting for my friend. Hi. Hope all is well. I know you're reading me. I'm praying that life is, or will be what you thought it would. I'm praying for your strength and clarity. I love you! Have a great day! Be easy, y'all, Kim D. ***************************************************************** February 18, 2010 Good news... Three of the men I admire most in this world will be featured at an upcoming event. Rev. Jeremiah A, Wright, Jr. will debut his new book at the event. Come through if you can.
See you there☺. Be easy, be strong, be relentless, Kim D. ****************************************************************** February 15th, 2010 Welcome to my world... This is what smart girls teach their children☺. Thanks to Latiffany for the link. It's darling. Have a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zGFqSji420 *****************************************************************
February 14, 2010 Happy Valentine's Day! Give yourself a kiss for me :-). Thanks. I wish I could hand-deliver something special to each and everyone of you today. However, since that is not even a remote possibility, I will do what I can. Ok. Let me get my mind to crankin'... Here goes - What it is... It is the sound between the syllables, the sound that lingers at the end of the words It is eye-to-eye conviction and compassion It is the smell of human-ness pushing through the scent of candles and creams It's a roaring belly laugh and a wide chipped-tooth grin It is the feeling of rivers and streams of disappointment sandwiched between the jaws of life and undimpled sad-faced cheeks It is an unshelled-peanut-partner real, vulnerable, maintaining in the midst of burning caviar-camera lights and painfully gritty glam and glitter It is a touch of skin... the pressed print of a gentle pat on the back... a hand held long after the greeting It is dream sharing and fantasy flights that travel to places that never were and will never be... and blinded vision that visits them It is truth and forgiveness It is the forever that encompasses the never again It is love and it is now. ♥♥♥♥♥
Okay, it's a tad bit deep, but what can I say... I was up too late last night; I'm tired - plus I heard language that was so bad, I need to wash my mind out with sumn'. I went to a DL, DC, Wilborn, and Simmore comedy show last night. It was funny, and very, very raw. I need something mentally sweet and deep today :-). Hopefully, you do too. Be easy. Enjoy the day and spread some love, Kim D. ************************************************************** February 8, 2010 Superbowl and Flashbacks...
Today I'm only about 21 years old. That's because yesterday I walked into a time machine where I went from 8 to 18 :-). I have to thank Kevin for inviting me to his birthday/Superbowl celebration. I had a great time. I saw people I haven't see since elementary school. I signed books at the affair. That was fun. I must admit I was only half prepared - bare bones presentation. It was much like setting up to sell books to your cousins you haven't seen in a while. Thanks to Debbie for sharing her candles and aviance; what a warm and sweet spirit she is. Congrats to
Anyway, today I wanted to make sure I took time out to publicly say sum'n to all my beautiful peers who have helped to color my life so bright - What up Edward F. Dunne and Percy L. Julian alum? You all are still looking good and still loving and living well. I toast my morning tea to y'all. Yes, Janie, I'm still sipping - a little less, though☺.
Y'all be easy, but strong, and I'll see you soon,
Kim D.
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January 24, 2010 Oh my... Check this out - New MusicNew Music
************************************************************** January 22, 2010 Help for Haiti Now Broadcast I just finished watching the Hope For Haiti Now 2 hour program. It was really a great demonstration of the connectedness that exists in almost all of humankind. At one point in the show I thought only the magic of art, especially music, can achieve something as broad, as universal, and as antithetical to media-embellished and media-preserved cultural stereotypes as this display has. That thought entered my mind at the point where Bruce Springsteen performed the classic We Shall Overcome. Wow! I believe that is when I donated, but it may have been when that fine crooning John Legend did his thing, or maybe during Jennifer Hudson's spirit-filled performance... or just maybe it was when Justin Timberlake got that Hallelujah going. Or Wyclef... Yeah! My goodness! I can't be sure :-). What I am sure of is that there is a thread that binds folks when, one way or another, the bold stroke of reality swipes away barriers to reveal tragic and horrific inequities. Let me tell you what my students said this week as we sought to explore the history of Haiti. I showed them a map. We traced the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade. I reminded them of projects we did last year that revealed our connections to Africa. I showed them where folks with my same DNA exist today and we traced the route that brought my ancestors to America and took some folks from the same coast of West Africa to Haiti and other places. We had great conversations, the pure kind that only children can initiate. Many of the children were well informed about the situation. Their parents had used the news attention as a teaching moment. Yet, others were baffled and confused. They asked questions that I probably would have asked at their age, having not been exposed to varied historical perspectives. "Aren't they devil worshippers? That's what God does when you choose to worship the devil." "Naw, man. They do voodoo." "No, they are just wild and violent." Everyone was allowed to speak freely about what they thought they knew about Haiti and Haitian people. When asked why they thought the things they thought, or where they had learned the things they shared, they all claimed to have heard it somewhere, on tv or somewhere, but they could not remember the exact source. In a roundtable discussion I challenged my students to use facts to try to rebuild or to formulate new perspectives of Haiti's history and their past and current relationship with the United States and other countries. We talked about the revolt that ended in 1804. We discussed what that revolt may have made Haitian folks and others think or feel. I advised the students to try to analyze recorded accounts with a few questions in mind: Who would gain from the major action that occurred? Who would lose? From which vantage point is the account being told, the person who gained or the person who suffered a loss? What immediate impact or lasting legacy may have resulted from the major action? In the end, our Socratic exploration of this most devastating current event and the historical dealings that probably compounded the problem led us to decide that there were no winners. The Haitian revolt left Haitians with a cautiously warranted inflated sense of self that rendered them a wounded disposition of distrust and a sort of preemptive confrontational tendency. (These are my words - my summation of our conversation :-). Generations later Haitians are still extremely concerned about their independence and autonomy, yet not concerned enough about the destructive practices of their own government against their own people. Then too, America is ugly and bruised. America is still scared of Haitian strength, courage, and spirit. That which folks don't understand, they fear, especially when they may have participated in some type of ill act against the person, place, or thing. Their fears drive the creation of fantastic warped realities about the unknown. This is demonstrated in the notion that folks who fought against slavery, for their own freedom, are unruly savages, and so are their kids, and their kids kids. Our government is still disassociating from Haiti for not bowing to American ideology and control. We are still somewhat irritated at their insisting on being who they are. America can be a bit overwhelming. We are capitalists. We want to possess and own, or at least have a stake in everything of value. It is much like the person who offers you a free couch for your new home, then expects to be allowed to sleep on it every night because they bought it for you. At some point the blanketed wood floor becomes more appealing than the costly cushioned couch for which you seem to owe more than you agreed to, or can ever pay. But anyway, fortunately, beneath all of the padded and shielded truths and existences, there are souls... plain human souls that feel the same pain when innocence is prematurely aborted and children are left without safety and care... souls that thirst and hunger... souls that cringe at open-air unnatural and unfinished single-sided dirt road rocky weed-ridden graves where spent life can not yet be fully exhausted, just tucked and hidden in the folds of forever no more... souls that frown, cry, scream, and whisper without words - "Damn!" We are the human species: a soulful creation. Graciously, and thankfully art reminds us of that fact. Here is an interesting truth (believe it or not): The soul of a man is murdered when it ceases to find its likeness in others. The earthquake shook the curtains down, now all can see - soul to soul. Give from the soul - give to your likeness. Be Easy, Kim D.
********************************************************** January 18, 2009 Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Today is the day we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Be sure to search the web and find footage of some of his speeches to watch. Go beyond the "I Have a Dream" speech and you will find that this guy was an amazing and wonderfully committed man. The attention and praise he receives is well deserved. Also, in honor of Dr. King and his legacy today is a designated day of service. Do something to help someone else today. Then take some time to reflect about what you can do to make yourself a better person, focused on issues and things greater and larger than yourself. Later, Kim D. ***************************************************
January 16th, 2010 Haiti... For fear that I may say something ignorant, I won't say much at all. I need to acknowledge that my perspective is strongly influenced by my fields of study and my experiences. My background is in environmental engineering, African American Studies, and English. As a child my family had a vacation home in the rural area of Michigan, where we raised horses, cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals and we also planted and harvested vegetables from a garden my father forced us to tend. My mother wasn't too particular about country living. She was a sort of prissy city woman, but my father was a Mississippi born and bred guy who wanted his children to respect the earth and organic-style living. My combined city/country upbringing, as well as my work experience with the environment, and with African ideology leads me to believe in balance and respect for all things, including ecosystems. I believe nature has a way of taking care of itself when left alone or when treated with respect. It is my belief that human obsession with need to know and control everything disrupts the natural balance of life. This may be an ignorant idealistic way of viewing the world, but for me it is sensible and absolute. We cannot make everything bow to our desires, pleasures, and explorations. It is unnatural. All of existence is connected. We need to have a holistic understanding of existence and we have to pay attention to what the earth can bear. We have to be sure to consider the effects of our added luxuries, and scientific expansions. When we don't, disastrous phenomenons occur and appear as "mystical curses" :-) in small and foreign places - on the borders and peninsulas of humanity and innocence - first. Eventually, the boundaries move closer and closer to the impossible and we modernize ourselves into a bad situation. Watching the footage from Haiti made me think about scenes from the movie 2012. It also made me feel apologetic - like I wanted to apologize for running my air conditioner too long in the summer, or keeping my home too warm in the winter. Made me wish Haiti had a better understanding of what that little piece of land could carry or support. Wish they hadn't had sanctions and disassociations in the past that stifled their future, and left them few alternatives. It made me wish scientists around the world weren't funded well enough to figure out how to manipulate the atmosphere and make it rain :-). Most profoundly, though, the images I've seen on tv have caused me to have a gritty sort of uneasiness, and made me pray that folks trapped under that rubble were not alone or digging towards daylight in their final moments. I can't even begin to phathom what those gone and those left may have, or may still be experiencing. May God have mercy on Haitians, Haiti and all of the other small forgotten people and places who have become the recent recipients of effects from advancements, experiments, and distant or historical causes and prejudices for which they had no direct blame and from which they bore no benefit. Wow! Mercy, mercy, mercy... God's speed and mercy, Kim D.
********************************************* January 5th, 2010 New Year / New Life... I made some resolutions - just a couple. I am always careful to not make promises I know I can't or don't even plan to give my best effort to keep. If I just make an extensive list of everything I think needs changing, then I would be likely to make myself into a liar. I strongly dislike liars so I limit my goals to that which there is a great chance I can accomplish. This year's resolutions are simple, yet complex. * write a book (finish at least half) * I will try to help those who try to help themselves; the rest I will leave to God. * I will spend more time enjoying family and friends. * This year I will grab onto some things and let a few things go. I will not hoard and hold on to that which does not and will never again serve a purpose in the life I am living, or the life I plan to live. Since I am a person who feels a sense of loss after something as simple as trading in my car, then this will probably be my most difficult feat to accomplish this year. I'm allowing myself one night of tears for each major old treasure I must discard. I've already discarded two obviously broken treasures. I think I'll cry for them tonight. Then on to the next thing :-). * I will finish the course work for my doctorate degree - wooo-hoooo!!!!!!!!! * Finally, I will keep it moving! I hope you have put some deep thought into your goals, and made plans that make sense and support your aims. Be Easy and Stay Focused, Kim D.
******************************************************************* December 31st, 2009 Happy New Year! Below I've posted an article I received a few days ago from The Black Star Project. Enjoy!
For more info on The Black Star Project click here, or write to: The Black Star Project Talk to you next year! Kim D. ******************************************************************* December 29th, 2009 Open up! I had a great Christmas, hopefully you did too. The week went too fast. The food was too much and too rich for me, but it was worth it. I have enjoyed my family and friends in a way that I haven't been afforded in well... 12 months :-). Now I can feel myself begin to wound back up into work mode. I welcome it, though - it's like flying free, just looping for a bit, then setting aim back towards your target destination. I have already reviewed the past and set new goals for the new year. I'll tell you about that on a later date. The thing I want to tell you today, as you set your own goals and resolutions for the new year is that you have the power to do most of the things of your dreams. Period. Just try! Shed the fear of shame or embarrassment. Speak your desires, and then work with your whole self to achieve them. Look at this... My sister works with an organization that runs shelters for homeless families. Well, long story short she was recently in a "chance" meeting with our dear friend who works with Trinity United Church of Christ's (TUCC) preschool. Now, you must understand that when they took on the endeavor that brought them to the meeting they had no idea each other was involved. Some would call it coincidence. I don't. Then later after they did the work they were together to do, my sister reached out to the friend from the meeting, who she has known since she was 4 years old, who was in the meeting by chance, and told her of some of the needs of the people in the shelter. Well, I said long story short, but I don't know how to do that too well. Anyway, the bottom line is our friend and TUCC worked the shelter needs into their Kwanzaa program that takes place tomorrow. They are gonna pick up the folks from the shelter, take them to the church and supply them with goods they never expected. All this happened because both my sister and our friend are strong individuals who believe in the power of God. Oh this sounds trivial, but it is powerful. When you believe something you function in accordance with the expectation that it can and will be done. Oh my! I'm trying to help you get this thing. My sister wasn't expecting what our friend did; she was simply mentioning it - doing what she could to get help for the people she knew were in need. Her intentions were pure. Her effort was not calculated, controlled or overly scripted. She opened her heart and opened her mouth. Our friend then opened her heart and her mouth, then TUCC opened its heart and collective mouth and others answered the call. That is what African American folks knew to do right out of slavery. That is how they progressed expediently, in proportion to the timeline of their subjugation. Pretention and ego kills folks. It drowns them. The fallacy that "I am all powerful and capable, alone" beats folks down. Fear of being revealed and seen beyond the facade chokes folks to death. When you understand that everyone around you has some form of inefficiency or inadequacy in relation to someone else's abilities, then you are more likely to embrace your gift or strengths. When you embrace your strengths then you get familiar with passion and purpose and those things get you going - they turn you on. They make you bold and weird and awkwardly confident. It is more powerful than loads of money... sexier than sex itself. Better than just good company, more impressive than fancy titles, more enjoyable than eating good food... better than a good book or music... I'm trying to think of the things you might enjoy or respect. The point is existence in a pure place driven by passion and purpose is the ultimate high and it ALWAYS yields success - of some form. This year make it your goal to tell the truth about something you are insecure or nervous about. Open up. Don't go get yourself fired from work or nothing like that :-). Just extend yourself a bit. When you don't know something, if the setting is safe, say "I don't know." If the setting is not safe (like it might cost you your sustenance), then at least tell yourself the truth - "I don’t know that", then once you are clear from the setting go seek the answer. Stretch. Grow. Be better. That is all you can guarantee - I will give my best effort and I will be better than I was. Then "chance" will occur more and more for you and ultimately you will be made to realize that chance is the intricate, elaborate work of God that you are too small-minded to even comprehend. I don't even try to figure and plot it out anymore. I just trust and roll with it - with full effort, though. That is my New Years piece for you. Trust, work, and roll. I have some other stuff for you: my thoughts about women and family and our communal focus, but believe it or not I'm tired of talking right now. LOL! I just wanted to get this in before you finalized your plans for the new year. Go rest, and I'm going to go play my daughter's WII Fit; that thing is addictive :-).
Be easy, Kim ***********************************************************************
12/24/09 Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! May God grant you all of what you need, and at least a little of what you really, really want. May love warm your blood and fill your body. May family and good friends give you cause to give thanks. Then may you remember everything is birthed with purpose and access to the power to fulfill that purpose - Jesus and you, too! Be Blessed, Folks! Kim D. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 20th, 2009 Christmas traditions... Last week I taught my students in African American Studies class the history, meaning, and traditions of Christmas. We also looked at how people celebrate Christmas in Africa. Then we looked at the history, meaning, and traditions of Kwanzaa. Many students thought Kwanzaa was the African Christmas. They were shocked to find out Kwanzaa has nothing to do with Christ or Christmas (Christ Mass); Kwanzaa is a celebration of culture, not religion. One celebration does not replace the other. Plus, Kwanzaa is not an African celebration. Africans on the continent live African culture and are immersed in it daily. As African Americans there was a need to reclaim and reaffirm the principles and ideological traditions of our African ancestors. That is why an African American scholar by the name of Dr. Maulana Karenga created the Kwanzaa celebration back in 1966. So, anyway... Whether you celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa, or Christmas or Kwanzaa, take a moment to try to understand what you are celebrating and why. You don't have to do a critical analysis like I'm prone to do J, but at least try to know the basics so you won't be misguided. Also, I think it is important to introduce a cultural element into your celebrations. You don't necessarily have to celebrate Kwanzaa in order to celebrate culture. Last year I took a DNA test to find out where people with my same DNA exist in Africa today. I took the test through African Ancestry, the company that Skip Gates used when he did the special program with Oprah, Chris Rock, Quincy Jones, etc. I found out that Africans with my DNA are located in Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. Since Christmas is always at my house, I incorporated my findings into my family Christmas celebration. Everyone was excited about the information. After we looked at the certificates, maps, and other associated things, we did our usual music and dancing, only this time my silly sister and cousin grabbed these African decorative drums I have and tried to play them with our old school Temptations, P-Funk, and Marvin Gaye. Then my dancing aunt added her interpretation of how our ancestors "must-have" danced to this added drum beat. It was a fusion of an innate sum'n and a socially adapted sum'n. It was hilarious and wonderful. This year I'm sure we will dance and sing, and someone will add the drums, then we'll build on that and add something new that I'll introduce this year, and the tradition will continue and expand. The reason it is important to me is not just because I am a person who studies culture, but because we must realize that if ethnic groups (all of them) don't capture and keep their culture, then there will be none. America has no culture of its own, outside of the culture of capitalism. Any American traditions that are unrelated to capitalism are tidbits or remnants brought here and borrowed from various ethnic groups from other countries. So, in order to not live shallow lives based purely on shopping and loot, ethnic groups have to infuse culture and ideological rooting. If this is new to you, start off with some greens and beans or other foods, just be sure to toss in a story about how your grandmama or granddaddy liked to eat this or that and how your mama learned to cook this or that, or whatever. I'm just suggesting you connect to something, somehow. Then when you give thanks for your gifts it will mean a little more. It will be a richer experience; it isn't about money as much as it is about depth and quality. Trust me, if you connect to something deeper, your life will be better for it. Try it and let me know how it worked. Enjoy, Kim ******************************************************************
November 29, 2009 I Ride the Rim...
Okay, so, don't be confused - Life is not always perfect for me. Yes, I am often happy, or at least happy more than I am sad. It is not really about the challenges I face, as much as it is about the choices I make, and how I choose to think about my journey. As you know, my mother just passed in April of this year. Not much else could be worse. Innumerable middle-sized and little problems occur daily: a couple of weeks ago someone stole my dog; while out of town this weekend my laptop crashed (with a complete semester and a year's worth of work on it); stressed about the laptop, this afternoon I ate wrong and too much, now my stomach hurts J. How do I manage? How am I managing life's challenges and the demands of my obligations? Well, to the one writer who inquired, all I can say is I ride the rim. This is for you:
I Ride the Rim: A Reflection on Life
When you have achieved a certain level of success, your life can become scripted for you. Who you are to be, when, and how, are all questions answered for you by those who hold you in high regard. The expectations of your fans or followers basically dictate your life. It takes a special skill to navigate the terms of life while rolling in the lane of success and accomplishment. Different folks use various techniques to make it through life’s rocky and sometimes tumultuous terrain. I ride the rim.
Riding the rim is something like taking a back seat in life when you are use to driving. It is about managing trouble and troubled times in your life. It requires extreme self-confidence and unwavering belief in God. I ride the rim. This means when I am rolling down a path, following the rules of the road, minding my own business, fully alert, prepared, and aware of where I want to go... when I have directions, have calculated the trip time, got the car tuned up, full of gas and family and friends... when the open road is before me, winding miles of asphalt in pinstripes in my view... I ride the rim.
When the tire explodes and the car trembles beneath my grip, I ride the rim. Spare tire gone, control of things seemingly relinquished, I hold on. Having done all I could to position myself for a “successful” trip, I resolve to make it. Some folks pull over. Some have blankets, food, and water packed for survival just in case they can’t make it. Others believe in karma and circumstance and say this must be where they were meant to be and they just set up home wherever the difficulty is introduced or seems too much to manage. I keep rolling. Knowing that God is in control, I smile, rattle and roll. I am rarely ashamed or embarrassed. I understand who I am and what I am supposed to do. So then, as long as the engine starts and the mechanisms click in and kick in and the necessary combustion propels the car forward, I’m riding... rubber worn thin, raw metal on rocks, radio on ridiculous J... I ride the rim, baby! Because God told me to go... because the car can move... because the sun rises in the morning... because axles and cars can be replaced... I do as I’m told, control myself, my ego, and my urge to control my environment, and I roll... occasionally I pick up a Goose or two, occasionally I dance through the night on the hood while a trusted driver steers, every once in a while I stick my foot out for an on-the-fly pedicure or get a facial, but I keep rolling... tire or rim, I roll... that’s it. I roll with it. Knowing that God is taking me where I need to be, I dare to do what most careful intelligently cautious yet confused folks would not - I ride the rim: I have faith, I surrender to my purpose, and I never give up.
Be easy this Sunday morning,
Kim D. **************************************************************** November 15, 2009 Here's a picture from The PGA event in New Orleans yesterday. Read the story below.
* * * * * * * * * * * November 13, 2009 Check out Kevin! Hey everyone! Would you check this info out. This morning a friend of mine called me to tell me about this historic event that he is blessed to be a part of. His name is Kevin A. Williams (WAK). He is an artist who is originally from Chicago. I am sure you have seen his work somewhere at some point in your life. Kevin is a very good friend of mine. He has an amazing story of struggle and commitment to his gift of art. I am so absolutely proud of him! Here, read this... For Immediate Release:
Contact: Fine Art Concierge Phyllis Stephens,770.560-2344, phylstep@bellsouth.net PGA OF AMERICA Commissions Artist Kevin A. Williams to Commemorate the lives of four African American Golf Pioneers Atlanta, Georgia (November 9, 2009) – The PGA of America has commissioned award-winning internationally renowned artist Kevin A. Williams to commemorate the lives of four African American golf pioneers. Three of the men, Ted Rhodes, John Shippen and Bill Spiller were denied the opportunity for membership to the PGA due to a “Caucasian-Only” clause in the bylaws that prevented membership by non-white players. The clause was removed in 1961 during the annual PGA meeting. The fourth pioneer recognized is boxing legend Joe Louis Barrow, Sr. who was an advocate for diversity in golf. The PGA has granted posthumous membership to the three players and honorary membership to Joe Louis. Along with this honor is a 22” x 28” Williams’s original oil painting memorializing the lives of these distinguished men. Jim Remy, President of PGA America in a release by the PGA stated, "The PGA of America believes these men, but for the color of their skin, would have been PGA members who play the game, teach the game and promote the game. The PGA of America recognizes the importance of honoring these gentlemen with their rightful place in golf history.” He further states, “ We are pleased that the descendants of these four great Americans have accepted and embraced our Association's sincere efforts to recognize Ted Rhodes, John Shippen and Bill Spiller as PGA members, and Joe Louis as an Honorary Member." The four men will be honored and the oil painting entitled “Dawn of Greatness” unveiled during a ceremony at the 93rd PGA Annual meeting on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The long overdue membership is a historic event along with the selection of the artist Kevin A. Williams who will hold the distinct honor of being the first African American Artist whose work will hang in the PGA Museum. Mr. Williams is a visual historian documenting African American history and experiences for close to two decades. He was selected by the PGA after members of the organization saw his depiction of Shady Rest Country Club, the first African American owned golf country club in the United States . “I am honored that I was chosen to immortalize these incredible men. They represent strength, honor and dignity during a time when diversity was not an option,” said Williams. The painting will be mounted in the PGA Historical Center Museum located in St. Lucie , Florida . About the Artist – Kevin A. Williams Kevin A. Williams is an artist on a mission, but it’s no solo trip: He wants to take you on the journey, too. His destination is a place where African-American history is appreciated, owned and created. So far, tens of thousands of people have willingly followed Williams to that vista – including talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, and the late actor comedian Bernie Mac. From celebrity homes to small businesses, corporate offices and women’s spas, Williams’ original and lithograph artwork hangs from coast to coast. Williams also creates a number of commissioned works annually. As the best-selling artist in the African-American print market, Williams is a popular personality at national art shows, conferences of African-American groups and major international events, including the Essence Music Festival. His art has been featured on television’s “Law & Order” (NBC) and “Soul Food” (Showtime). For more information visit www.kawilliamsart.com. ### ********************************************
October 16th, 2009 "Sweetest Day" Poem Well, today is Sweetest Day, and just as it always happens, I almost missed it. What is it, anyway? Oh, yeah, it is the day women are suppose to laud the men in their lives - much like Valentine's Day for women. Never fear, I'm ready. The gift of writing is a swell gift. Even when it is last minute all a writer has to do is open his/her heart, let the words flow, and presto! The gift of truth is colorfully, and wonderfully wrapped and ready to be presented. So... this morning I wrote a gift of truth. Unfortunately, I can't publish here - it's personal :-)... but I can tell you it is about the sweetest thing a love has ever given me, and it changed my life - forever. However, what I can and will publish here is well wishes and words of thanks to the wonderful males in my life: my father, my brother, my wonderfully brilliant son, my cousins, nephews, buddies, and mentors. First Came Man I knew you first or best You told me and showed me well I came to know me thoroughly because you were and are man completely. Thanks for your honesty, consistency, support, appreciation, comraderie, and strength; I don't know who I would be without having experienced you! Love Always, Kim D. PS. How's that for spontaneous flow? It's real, too! I mean every word! JJJ
********************************** October 13th, 2009 “What the baby gon’ do?”
Okay people, I have much to tell you in a brief amount of time. Please pardon my rambling. This past Sunday St. Sabina Academy had their annual Education Sunday Event. Dr. Evelyn Bethune was the guest speaker. Dr. Bethune is the granddaughter of Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of
Now for the main point... I have a cousin that keeps me abreast of contemporary, underground street language. I love street language. It is always creative, poignant, and full of cultural swagger that can not be replicated. Guys in the gut of the hood have a saying they spout whenever someone in their presence begins to rant and rave and complain. Someone can be in full stride, detailing the complications they face when attempting some simple feat, and instead of stroking the speaker's back and assuring him/her that they can accomplish the thing they desire, the listener will respond with a simple question: "What the baby gon' do?"
This is a kind, yet grounded way of reminding folks to stop whining, "man up", and stop making excuses. "What the baby gon' do?" - Translation: What is the baby going to do? J If you do the crying and whimpering about all the challenges and difficulties that are involved in simple, common-sense tasks, then what will the children do? You've stolen their positions, their roles. They find themselves in an inescapable position where they must save you from your defeatist attitudes. That is what we watched the children do in the recent Fenger High School incident. They were trying to own something, if only a position and space, for only a moment in time. I’ve seen it before. I’ve dated and loved it. I grew up with and know those spirits. If only we would show these kids a better way to be seen and heard and respected. Well... Back to my example…
Last week the children and I found that Mary McLeod Bethune was born 10 years after slavery was abolished. Her mama, daddy, and older siblings had all been slaves. In fact, her daddy had to work extra hours to earn money to pay for Ms. Bethune's mama. Mary McLeod Bethune was the only person in her family who could read. She was the 15th of 17 children and was the sole chosen child that was able to attend school. She came home and taught her other family members what she learned in school. She later paid for her younger sisters to attend school. She rode a second-hand bike around town collecting donations door to door in order to ante up the $11 monthly rent needed to start the school. The school used crushed berries as ink, burnt charcoal as pencils and boxes as desks and chairs. Once one of Bethune's students was ill and was kept on a back porch at a Whites Only hospital in the area. Bethune was angry, but had to leave the student there because she was in desperate need of medical attention. However, when the student was well enough to leave, Bethune returned to her school and home and started a 2 bed hospital. That hospital grew to 20 beds and was known for having saved the lives of many Black folks in the area.
So what are you gonna do? What is really gangster? What does power and strength look like? What's for real, for real tough? Wait on state mandates? Wait on someone to come and save your children? Wait on the great hero to come and relieve you of your parental and communal duties? Waste your time and your God-given abilities hoping and wishing for a better day? What are you gonna do? Or better yet, before you answer all of that, first tell me, what the baby gon' do?
Use the examples of our ancestors as inspiration. Get up, get out and get sum'n today. Control your CHILD. Run your house. If things are out of control, then it is out of your control; seek help. Boarding school is better than the grave, isn't it? Take your house back. Teach your kids. Learn something with them. Don't be a helpless whiner. Again, I ask as my brothers from the wild wild hun'neds ask, "what the baby gon' do?"
Stand up for your child! Stand up to your CHILD! Everyone will be better for it. Be encouraged,
Kim D.
************************************ October 4, 2009 Strengths and Weaknesses
Today I was leading a group of third graders in a project I call a goal ladder. The ladder is made from strips of paper which function as steps. On each step the students are to note a step they must take in life in order to reach their life goal, which is noted on a large colored strip of paper at the top of the ladder. Well... while I was circulating and assisting with assembly of the ladders, a particular 3rd grade student in this African American Studies class handed me his strips and I proceeded to staple the steps to what would serve as the side anchors. The student watched, occasionally lifting a hand to help me properly line up his papers. Then, very matter-of-factly he stated "you're not too good with cutting." He never stopped, or even paused his assisting me, just fixed his eyes on the strips.
Without looking up, and speaking in a tone for private conversations, I replied "You found me out. Cutting isn't my forte."
The student said nothing.
"My thing. My specialty, you know?" I kept working, stapling the rugged-edged paper strips I had distributed earlier. "I'm gonna have to practice."
"Practice and slow down," the frog in his throat replied. Then with motions and resolve seemingly borrowed from my deceased-before-the-student-was-born grandfather, the student focused on his business. "Can you spell education on the board?" He asked. "And finish?" I need to write it on my first step." Then as he accepted the assembled ladder from my hands, giving continued attention to the uneven rips, he turned to reach for crayons and/or markers and added, "Keep at it; you'll get it."
I handed him a dictionary from the shelf and immediately he and I were gone... on to our various challenges, encouraged by nature's balance of strengths and weaknesses.
All of life should be so simple.
Be easy, Kim D.
************************************ September 24th, 2009 Talkin' 'bout words... As you well know, I am a writer. As to be expected, I love words. Oftentimes, some words and the way they are used will excite me - just turn me on. At other times words and word usage will make me wanna holler... make me want to just strip away the frills and expose the naked truth of what folks are really saying. Well, close your eyes if you are easily offended, shy, insecure, or tender at heart. It's time to get naked. This exposure is for my folks in the field of education. Too many times I've heard the lovely saying "all children can learn." Folks recite those words and shut down conferences, town hall meetings, and their loudest and most ardent critics. "All kids can learn." Yep. Sounds good. Who would dare refute that? "All kids can learn." Well, I dare not oppose that position. It is a most popular one. It is the philosophy of most of my colleagues and comrades. It is an irrefutable truth. Right? But what does it mean? "All kids can learn." To me this statement in the context of an education philosophy is much like "All men are created equal", as it is written in the United States Constitution. It is an empty, shell of a sentence. It has about as much substance as its purpose of appeasement. Any reasonably sane individual knows that all men are created equal. Just like any reasonably sane individual knows that all kids can learn. These type of statements are like appetizers at a soul food restaurant. They beg the question, what else have you got? They are usually seemingly unrelated, yet actually core causal components of inarticulate outbursts that would be better understood and punctuated in the simplicity of a charge like "prove it!" I don't have the time to parallel these hypocritical somewhat idiomatic phrases, or mottos, or whatever we would like to call them. You can do that at your leisure. All I'm trying to say is when you turn off the violins and remove the rose-colored glasses, these couple of sentences deflate from grand pronouncements and affirmations of institutionalized equality to a more garbled ambiguous something that you have to listen real close to hear; it sounds a little like the voice of the great young philosopher Arnold and his classic Socratic-based formulation: "What U talkin' 'bout Willis?" Makes you wanna squint one eye and maybe scratch your head where there's no itch. No offense. I'm just talking about words. Be Easy, Kim ******************************************** September 2nd, 2009 S-l-o-w M-o-t-i-o-n... I know I am slow. You keep checking back and finding the same old posts. I apologize for that. I'm going to do better. I would tell you the list of "to-do's" that consumes my space daily, but it would only tire you to read it. So, in this brief moment I have with you today, I would rather spend time uplifting you - like encouraging you to read a book I recently read. The title of the book is The Shack. It is an easy-read, 200 sum odd page novel. It was given to me as a gift. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't want to give too much of the plot of the book away. I'll just say it is an interesting co-mingle of fiction and life's most elemental realities. If you get a chance, read it and email me your thoughts. Until later, KD ******************************************** July 28th, 2009 Second Chances & Whitney Houston! My new favorite song is Whitney Houston's I Look to You. Hurray for Whitney! When Michael Jackson passed unexpectedly, I didn't write anything. I just watched and listened, trying to see beyond the facade, trying to hear the words behind the media chatter. I learned some things watching the way the media functions. I would have liked to be able to say THE MEDIA is totally and completely responsible for the demise of Michael Jackson and other celebrities. If I found that to be true, I would have gladly posted it on the front home page of this site. I would have written something powerful and paid to send it out in a press release, making the world feel and know what I concretely discovered. However, that was not the case. I watched the media initially try to clown Michael Jackson's legacy when he first passed, only to be redirected by statements and the sentiments of the people. During celeb interviews, folks would stress the importance of the man's work and his contributions to the betterment of humankind. At first I remember thinking, even when this guy poses no threat to no one, he is not afforded basic human rights; even in death he is nothing more than a commodity to most. How do people forget to feel? How can we not imagine the pain a person feels when we, the public, require so much of them, watch their every move, criticize every detail of their existence? Is that not enough to push folks to extremes and abnormalities? But, power to the people! The people demanded Michael have at least a moment where the world could be reminded of what we loved about him. It is back to business as usual, but for a moment we were reminded of what Michael Jackson gave to us... how his emptying of himself saved us from ourselves and our own realities... how he grabbed us and led us into a cleared out space where he had labored tirelessly and drained himself emotionally then colored it with music and dance so that we were free to safely move about and sing along and bop to the beat, without the struggle of having to deal with the dirt, grime and harshness, or the ugly and tiresome cleaning up process. He helped us to see our essence, to find and appreciate our centers, our souls. Likewise, that is what Whitney Houston did for us. Whitney in her clean classic looks, with her clear crisp vocals and gutted organic emotion... she reminded us that we are fortified in the good of our existence. All else falls away when Whitney gets to the bottom of emotional lyrics steeped in common, universal reality. And so, she is back. Center stage. What are we gonna do? Hate from the sidelines? Taunt, celebrate, and perpetuate failure? Wait for her demise to say all the good we should have said about her, to her? Or will we respect human frailty, appreciate the gift she has been, remind her of her power and presence of God, and encourage her while she is still able to receive it? I am of the opinion that we should not cry for her later, if we were not willing to cry with her in the thick of her trials. Contemporary technology affords average individuals avenues to speak to the masses. In case you didn't know, I'm telling you. This is our second chance. I believe we failed Michael Jackson. We pressed him into the corner of the world, then laughed as he dangled over the edge, turned our heads the other way when he stayed out there by himself too long. Maybe if we would have said something, huh? Something positive. Something real and raw. Something that made him see what we once saw in him. Well, that is what maturity is - getting the lessons. Learning. Right? So then, when we know better, we do better. What am I saying? Open your mouths people. Say sum'n! "Whitney we love you!" Let her hear something positive. "We appreciate your efforts to help us feel and know and manage ourselves! You are a cold sister, Whitney!" Stop trying to feel better by finding the worst in others. "We believe in you, Whitney, and because you told us and showed us how to, we believe in miracles! Do your thing, Ms. Houston! Good to see you! Go get 'em, Girl!" Be easy, Kim D. PS. For an interesting report on Michael Jackson, check out the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan's 7/26/09 teaching (www.NOI.org). Order the tape of the event - The Crucifixion of Michael Jackson. It was powerful! - Made me feel silly for thinking I knew something, based on gossip and nothingness. ################################################################ March 28th - Catching up...
It's been a couple of weeks. I've been to a couple of conferences. I've had a few interesting experiences. Allow me to ramble a bit and hopefully, you can keep up.
I'll start with the Annual NCBS Conference which was held 3/19-21 in Atlanta. What a culturally rich and warm experience. Because I always learn something other than, or in addition to what the teacher is teaching, I came away from the NCBS Conference feeling good about my children's futures. When my daughter is ready, I think she might actually have a pool of comparably raised and educated prospects from which to choose a mate (or from which I can choose one for her J). My son and his rights of passage Morehouse experiences might just balance out and land him squarely where I have spent a lifetime hoping and fighting for him to be. But me?...
Weird. I don't know what's happening with me. I am turning into Queen Nerd Lady. I was single in warm Atlanta... surrounded by folks whose passions mirror mine - FINE, smart, gainfully employed men... and every night I passed up opportunities for great extended conversations, good food, and music and dancing, and I optioned to go to my room and stay there... one night to watch movies and grade papers, one night to rest and grade papers. What is up with that? ~ ~ ~
Next... this is gonna rock you. Couched between AFAM Studies conferences I had this experience: I teach AFAM Studies to elementary school children who happen to be African American. Throughout the year we have been exploring African culture and relating it to African American culture: Africanisms that have survived in America (regardless of how minute). Well, the school year is broken down into segments that deal with elements of culture - education, family structure and life/marriage, language, religion, governing systems/politics, art, etc. For the past couple of weeks we have focused on art work created by African Americans. We watched biographies of Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden. Both of these artists achieved great success which spawned from the Harlem Renaissance Period. I listed terms on the board so the children could properly dialogue about art, using jargon from that field. I explained concepts. Art is one of my passions, so we went deep. We talked about technique, lines, purpose, exaggeration verses realism, etc. When we began our conversation about color and its use, I was flabbergasted. In my excited state I scribbled a list of items and actions on the board. "If you wanted to show people the sound, you use color that you know would make them think of something familiar to the sound... So what color would you put in the background of these pictures in a painting?" The kids followed my passion. Their hands flew up into the air. I pointed at the board, beginning with the first word I'd written. "Trumpet." I motioned my hands, pulling the bottom closed fist down, then back up to meet the closed fist that rested against my lips. I made deep sounds, trying to emulate that of the deep note of a trumpet. "Yellow!" One student yelled, once called on. "Why yellow?" I asked. "Because a trumpet is sort of yellow colored and its sound is big like the big light from the sun." A different student offered, "Blue because the sound is deep, like the ocean, and it’s blue." We were on a roll. The kids were excited. I was excited. Man, this is what teaching is supposed to be. I wished I had a camera taping the whole thing to show somebody how much fun teaching can be! Yeah, all of that. I was charged up! We had almost gone through the whole list before my time with the kids would end. I quickly pointed to the last few words. We had to hurry. I lifted my hands and pointed. The word was "fussing". "What would fussing look like? What color?" The kids were out of their seats ooo-oooing. I quickly called on a few. "What color and why?" There was almost a unanimous choice. "BLACK!" I could roll with black. It's powerful and domineering, so if someone was being admonished or straightened out, it might be a person of power, and the color black, and guidance, and yeah, I could see that. "Why?" I asked the kids, hurriedly. Explanations sounded from all around the room. "It's mean... it's evil... it's bad... it's violent... it's ugly..."
Oh my God! I grabbed my heart much like Fred Sanford used to do. My excited rush slowed. Are you kidding me? "That hurts," I told the kids. "I'm Black. To hear you say all of those negative things about me and my color hurts. I feel like crying." The room was silent. The kids were watching my every move, expecting a dramatic performance, which I often provide. So, I do. Though I was not at all playing, or performing, in effort to not emotionally scar these little kids I quickly placed my hands on my hips, erected my body, and began a performance. "I am the black you don't know or understand. I am rich and powerful and beautiful. You can't easily change me - I'm that strong! I cover the earth at night while things are calm and cool and resting to grow." The kids were smiling and sitting totally still. For homework I told them to create a work of art using black in a positive way - and be able to explain what it represented in their work. This type of exchange went on all week with each class I encountered. I was almost broken by Friday. Then came my 8th grade boys. You have to understand the context. The boys could be called bad, at first glance. They are busy-bodies, always moving and wrestling, and playing. They are full of bravado and space-claiming aggression. Well... it seems that might be what is needed. When we came to the part of the lesson where the students apply color to items and actions, not one of these dudes applied black to anything negative. They applied black to strong sounding instruments, and one even applied black to a kiss.
Needless to say, I was proud. I have been thinking about that ever since. In fact, this morning I thought about it. I will be thinking about it for a while, equating it to my love for rebels and outliers, trying to understand how to create spaces that allow for this Black male aggression, passion and self-love, as these guys move on through their academic careers and their lives. These are the guys that will not grow up to hurt us if we dare to love them as much as they love us, before they are pushed into the headlock hug of the streets. ~ ~ ~
Then there was ASCAC in Chicago, my second conference in less than two weeks. I'm tired of typing, so I'll just say, I get it! These conferences and my lesson from the young students were perfectly aligned and positioned to infer that there is hope and to encourage me and let me know that my work, and the work of folks like me is not in vain. Thanks ASCAC! ~ ~ ~
Finally, I have to say something about Maya Angelou. My daughter and I went to see her speak Friday night. Long story short, I named my daughter after Miss Angelou. I was pregnant when I went to see Miss Angelou 12 years ago. It was a fancy gala. She stood there and spoke of her good and bad without flinching. She embodied a power in truth and transparency that I had not witnessed in man or woman. I was big and pregnant and my daughter kept kicking "right-ons!" in the right side of my belly. I was rubbing to make her still, but she wouldn't let up. Watching and listening to Maya Angelou back then, and wishing for that strength in my own daughter, and having my daughter connect with my wish and Maya's voice, made me make the decision to name my daughter Maya.
So, there we were full circle. My daughter and I had been out all day at a programming session for the new school she will attend next year. She tested into what has been called the "best school in Chicago." She will be going to that high school for a special 7th and 8th grade program. We topped that off with words, a handshake and a huge smile from Miss Maya Angelou. Life is good if you keep at it, huh?!
Stay Strong!
Kim D. ############################################ Free Write 3/10/09 - I appreciate... I have to write to you tonight because tomorrow I hope to be somewhere with some hands "laid on me" - a masseuse (I think that's the term for ladies, I'm going to have a manJ). I'm also going to be handling business. That is one thing that is drastically different than it was in my younger years; these days there is no such thing as a day off. Everyday there is something that must be done.
Well... what have I learned in the past year? My affirmations and confirmations are too many to post. The entire world wide web might just come crashing down if I try to tell you all the things that were taught to me over the past year, give or take a couple of months. I'll just mention a few things for you to ponder.
So I appreciate this new chance to live some more and learn and love some more and laugh some more and grow and change some more and cry some more and share some more and just be... some more...
Thanks to God! Have some cake and ice cream tomorrow - on me!
Kim ############################################ Free Write 2/22/09 - Patti Labelle and Crazy On Friday night 2/20 I went to see Patti Labelle. She was speaking at St. Sabina Church as part of their Black History Speaker's Series. I had not planned to see Ms. Patti. I had prior commitments that uncharacteristically ended early, then I drove by the church and there was a parking spot that appeared to be left open for me, so I felt I was destined to be there. The event was structured as a chat where Patti was discussing her life with Cheryl Burton, a Chicago-based news anchor for ABC Channel 7. Well, that's enough of setting the scene. I want to get to the part of the story where I tell you I realize I'm not quite normal in the mind. At one point in the discussion Patti Labelle is talking about her desires for her future - you know the question interviewers always ask about what is yet undone that the entertainer would like to accomplish. Patti says she has yet to achieve platinum status in record sales. Her aim for the future is to achieve platinum status as a recording artist. A moment after Ms Patti had expressed her desire, while I was still caught up in the shock and sadness about the fact that she's made more than 30 albums but never sold more than a million copies of a single one, I saw a light illuminating from my purse which was on my lap. I checked my cell phone and I had just missed an incoming call from my dear friend, Rob (R. Kelly). Well now... I'm at this event where it was an improbability that I would be able to attend... Patti wants a platinum selling record... the hit maker is one of my best friends and I'm sure he would feel my passion for Ms Patti and do his best to help me to help her... So then, this has to be a sign from God. Right? Plus, I know the folks who are sponsoring the event where Patti is speaking. Blah, blah, blah... After the event I was on my way to Rob's where a bunch of us meet and mingle from time to time. I had a brilliant idea. I'll text Father Pfleger, the event sponsor, and have him to ask Ms Patti if she wants to roll out to Rob's with me to go get that platinum status she seeks. I pulled my car over, was just about done typing the text when something shook me. I realized - I must be a little crazy. In fact, I am just straight up abnormal. There I was formulating a text message after 9pm at night, to a priest, about a 64 year old superstar, inviting her to another star's house with an assumption that it would all just flow with a sense of normalcy that would yield yet another funny story I would someday tell an audience of non-believers. That is how I roll. I figure if you have a need and I have access to, or knowledge of a means to fulfill that need, then let's make it happen. I don't usually think twice about it. Friday night it took all I had in me to not push that "send" button for that text. The only way I compromised myself out of sending the message was by assuring myself that I could make it happen at a later date because all of the people involved (with the exception of Patti Labelle) were friends of mine whom I could readily contact. But isn't that strange? Not just me. The fact that in every situation, with every problem or imagined problem, there is a solution among us, yet because of the regulatory standards and norms we have socially constructed, most of our personal and collective problems will be left unattended to. If you think about it, that is what is really crazy. The fact that I have the desire, the vision, and the means to help, but won't for fear of how it will be perceived is far crazier than the fact that I almost sent a text that my soul told me was warranted. Think about it. It's crazy, isn't it - me and my out-of-the-box fantasy-living self, and all of y'all and your notions that we all should live with etiquette restrictions that stifle our growth and healing? I guess we are all crazy in one way or another.
Peace, Kim
###############################################################
Free Write 11/4/08 - Obama Wins! - Oh, what a feeling! My sister called and said she felt she might be having an asthma attack. In the same instance my heart pressed into itself as if trying to squeeze or wring something out. I didn't even know my heart had been leaking. I guess you could say I was flooded with emotions. For the first few seconds after they announced that Obama clinched the presidency, I couldn't respond. I tried dropping to my knees, as I had anticipated I might do. However, that motion was more commanded than it was natural. I didn't totally feel it. The weight was too heavy, or too light, or too absolutely unfathomable. I felt much like I felt when I had a child - That came out of me? I did something that miraculous? Though birthing children had been done on some level (millions of levels) before, it had never looked like me, came from my private place, and been intimately attached to, or associated with my personal DNA. Mothers know what it's like in the instance when the baby is out and it is being checked out by the doctor and nurses, and you get a hold of your vision and catch your first glimpse of your child's tiny blood-streaked legs, moving. There is a moment when you are not elated, not worried, not in pain, just numb and awestruck. What you feel, the way you connect with the creator in that instance is unlike anything you have or will ever feel again. Until a night like tonight - Here, in the murder capital of the United States, in front of the entire world, you see a man who looks like you, lives in your neighborhood, attends your church, plays basketball at the gym where your friends play, walks with the swagger of your daddy, or your son... and you see him step out ahead of his country's ugly racist history and stand before the world as the president elect of the most powerful country in the free world - then you feel it again. You feel the majesty of the most merciful, God. At least I did. I shed tears. I yelled. I was silent and still. I felt sick to the stomach and heart. I think I could've died and would have lived a full life - in that moment. It made me happy and sad. I don't want to explain that right now. Don't want to raise the newborn right away, just look at it for a while... just want to feel good, and proud, and cry some more. Just want to think about my son and the young men I teach in classes, everyday. Want to believe I won't have to work so hard to make them believe. Want to hope my daughter will have better mate selections than the ones on the news of late. Want to go to sleep tonight watching the reporters scramble to figure out, track, and analyze man moves in what was really a God game. Want to fall asleep dreaming that there is an African American male president of the United States of America. Want to ride this emotional flood to the enormity of the sea... if only for one night. ********************************************************** Free Write 10/3/08 - Palomino Pattern: A Memo to Me Once while I was on a camping trip with my daughter I saw an unusual sight. It was a horse, a female Palomino. She was golden brown with a blond mane that flapped wildly in sync when she trotted. I knew her pedigree without inquiry because I had grown up around horses. My parents bought a farm - a vacation home for us when I was a kid. My father was determined to have his children experience a piece of the life he'd known and appreciated as a kid growing up in Missisippi. So, almost every weekend, and surely every summer for most of my youth, my family headed to a classic 40 acre piece of property in Grand Junction, Michigan. We raised pigs, chickens, hens, turkeys and cows they expected us to eat, but I never did, and we owned a few horses. I guess that is why I noticed her - this Palomino reminded me of Golden Lady, a beautiful and my most favorite horse of ours. Only this horse did not seem to possess the temperment that made me favor Golden Lady. This horse seemed wild and untamed, as if she'd never been broken or trained. She ran in circles, pausing only for brief periods in exhausted submission. Then it seemed she'd catch her breath and break out into a trot, then a full stretch looping circles unevenly, extending her pattern with each wild loop. I lingered behind the campers, and stood behind a fence watching her, trying to figure her out. I was drawn to her. I had never seen such a thing and something in my spirit locked me into hers. I wanted to bridle her, take her to a supply of hay, rub her to stillness. But I couldn't. After a short while one of the women who worked on the farm beside the campground walked up. "Lost?" She spoke as she busied herself moving something on the ground. "No. Well, not really. Just wondering about that horse." "Which one?-" Then before she could finish, I interrupted. "The Palomino. She's been running in circles for at least ten minutes. Going nowhere. Just spinning a big loop around the pasture..." "Oh, yeh. She's been going at it for about two weeks now. She's looking for her colt. Just separated them a couple of weeks ago and she's grieving, that's all. " "Really? I've never seen that before. I grew up around horses as a kid and I've never known one to behave like that." "Maybe you didn't notice it, but they all do it. Some for four weeks, some for as many as eight." "Hmph. Interesting." I offered. Then I walked away to catch up with the group. I thought about that horse for hours, wrestling with the notion that every thing that lives and breathes could have the capacity to love, care, and grieve, even the work horse. And so today I remember the spirit of that Palomino; I feel it in a special way. My mother is very ill - once again near death. It seems like I just left the hospital and I am working through my day awaiting the time to go back. So then, even when my body is slumped and still my soul and spirit is restless and running there is no calm for me right now only space and duty and time ticking too fast my feet have developed iron u-shaped shoes and their soles are clod-like and cumbersome I too, am spinning, searching for a connection, chasing a yesterday that holds captive the key to my tomorrow. So then, I petition my Superwoman self to please pardon me. Bear with me, for a moment at least, while I exercise my nature-of-the-living, in this Palomino Pattern. **************************************** Free Write - Morning 9/14/08:
The Legend
He was all I could hope for in a man - two truths (his and mine) and a plan, But he didn’t know how to win – never stayed in a game till the end He could put balls in holes with his eyes closed he was a smooth, mellow dude - never loud, never rude had skills that gave thrills that could have sealed limitless deals and I loved him so... But he didn’t know how to win – never stayed in a game till the end Could’ve went pro, but was afraid to let go So he won women and street fame, but never, ever, ever, won a championship game. Though his were the greatest hands to ever touch a ball.
**************************************************************************************************************** The opening topic for June is dedicated to 2 of my former students: Eboni and Tamika. Thanks for writing. I appreciate your encouraging words and continued support. Alright. A former student recently wrote to me for advice. Here's what this lovely young woman wrote: "Ms. Dulaney, First and foremost, I wish you all the blessing from God. I hope you and your family are doing well. I want to talk to you because during the time I was enrolled in your class I enjoyed you as a teacher. Now that I am NOT currently enrolled in school, I often think about how great of a person you were to me. You inspired me to keep trying even in the moment of me losing my father during the year. It has been hard for me lately to even think about returning to school... Being a single mother of three and family always depending on me as well all other aspects of life trying to bring me down. I wanted to know what advice can you share with me? How a single mother who strives to do her best for herself & kids make it in this economy at this time? Some people suggest I prioritize and go from there, but what if everything that is presented to me is very important... Just having a diploma is not enough for my career (13 yrs). I do not see the option to leave because of the time I have invested into this Company. This is how I look at things, if I go to school, my kids feel neglected because I am not around. If I do not get my degree, I will soon lose my job because of the competition out here... Just seeking words of wisdom from someone I admire... Thank you for taking your time to read my e-mail." The funny thing is, I always have advice for folks who don't want or need my advice, but as soon as someone asks for it I'm hesitant. I always worry about imposing my ideals on other people's lives. However, I will offer this - One day at a time. In my humble opinion, that is the only way to live life successfully. There is no place to get to, so there should be no hurried anxiety, and therefore no overwhelming sense of missing accomplishments. Say to yourself, "I will always do that which I can. I will do that which I can to the best of my ability. That is all that is required of me." Then let it go. Also, I must add my anecdotal truth - that is I could do nothing without help from God. I know our society is so self-sufficient we have come to believe we are existentialists, in control of the totality of ourselves. I don't believe it. In fact, I know it to NOT be true. I do believe we have choices and those choices greatly impact our lives, but I don't believe our choices dictate the totality of our realities. I feel just as the song by Marvin Sapp expresses - Never Would've Made It... For real. Practical application:
Take one class a semester on Saturdays while your children are in Bible study at a church, girl scouts or boy scouts, a Park District class or something. For me I stuck school into my social slot. Time I would have spent gossiping or dating, I spent in class. Now, in my pursuit of a doctorate degree, I'm enrolled in one evening class and one online class. Try that. Finances... well, just go back to the basics. We don't really need all that we think we need. If I told you what I survived on while I went back to school fulltime, you'd cry for me. I cried for me, occasionally. :-) But everything lasts but for a season. Be focused, get moving and when you wake up school will be done. Be sure to pause and catch your breath occasionally. Hit me back if it feels like you're suffocating. :-) Special note: Thanks to my longtime buddy for the many breaths he provided this past weekend. It's been a while since I partied like a rock star! Wow! Have advice? Post in the Chat room. Thanks! ********************************************* Good News for Good Friday...(April 2008) Well, you've been checking my site, checking with me for my thoughts on the controversy surrounding my pastor, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. I have been reluctant to give a public statement on this matter. I've been reluctant because unlike times in the past when I felt the need to translate cultural actions and statements for you, Reverend Wright's statements require no translation. The guy is an anointed genius. I don't use that characterization lightly. I am embarrassed at the notion that I might make an attempt to explain someone of his intellectual caliber; so I won't. View the tapes - the whole thing. I will tell you that Rev's eldest daughters are two of my dearest friends. His oldest was in my class from 2nd grade through high school. I have known her for almost 40 years. As teens we rebelled against our parents together. As young adults we partied together. As mature women we have prayed together. So, I know the full complexity of man-daddy-Rev. Wright. That is why it makes me smile, and does not surprise me that with all the media digging and searching, nothing but TRUTH has been found. So then, the media has been charged with the difficult ugly task of twisting and sculpting something sensational out of the plain, old, unsexy truth. I don't know where the story is. The fact that a pastor might have some level of disdain for sin: war; the killing of innocent people; the judging, discriminating against and marginalizing of innocent people... Where's the scoop - the BIG story? I think the bigger story is one that is truly shameful. Ignorance. Ignorance is the big story here. As sophisticated as we Americans are, folks are yet so ignorant they are unable to engage in critical thought. No street sense. No common sense. They are too educated, or uneducated to listen and think, too spiritually disconnected to engage in basic Christ-like behavior: the act of separating sin from sinners. Rev. is an educated, street smart, Christian man. He hates sin. Listen to him preach. Again, I won't attempt to translate. Listen to him. He loves truth and hates sin - not people. The funny thing is, I heard the sermon. I was there, but I think I couldn't see well. The Sunday he preached the sermon I saw clipped on the news, I believe there were White Americans standing up clapping in the pew in front of me. I remember because the week before there were Black folks standing up in the pew in front of me. All this standing in front of me, blocking my view because I was late and didn't get the seat I prefer. Folks pile into to Trinity United Church of Christ to hear a Word from God. They come to hear a truth translation properly contextualized for their reality. To deem that Word or truth "distorted" or "separatist" is to assume Americans are monolithic and uni-cultured. It is to say that Asante Sana and gracias is not as valid as thank you. It is to say that Langston Hughes and Junot Diaz are somehow twisted distortions of Frost. It is an elitist idealism that is, in itself, not validated across the collection of subcultures that are squeezed into this land we call America. America is a salad, not a soup. There is no melted down forced conformity, just a blending - a tossing gently together, all parts accenting the whole. Rev. is recently retired and I already miss him. I am extremely proud of, and grateful for what he has done - the truth he has added to the world. He is a reason I am a professor, and author. He is a reason Obama is a presidential candidate. He is a reason there are doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, administrators, public officials, counselors, and clergymen who understand cultural diversity. He is a reason I give unpaid time to folks who need help finding their voices and language in this loud chatter-filled country. He is one of the main reasons I love this land of the free. I'm not mad at the media. I take the media for what it is. I'm not mad at Obama. His experiences and interpretations are his own. I definitely am not mad at Rev. His God-filled work stands up and out. I'm happy. I have an inclination towards sociology, anthropology, psychology and spirituality :-). I know that stagnation excites nothing. Folks don't get their feathers ruffled unless something's changing. We are surely fearful of change. I understand it. God bless it ALL. That's the good news this Good Friday. God Bless It All. No one need dare convince me, prove to you, or satisfy others. Truth, in all of its drama and color, speaks for itself. That is why some folks can't stand Truth. Some folks outright despise Truth. Truth always has something to say, and usually will say it loudly. :-) God bless and keep Truth. We love Truth!
Until next time - God Bless It ALL. ~ Kim L. Dulaney
******************************************************************************************************************* 2007 This year during Black History Month we're gonna focus on the issue of writing. This series of postings will be called The Whole Story. Hope you will actively participate (that means do some writing, y'all), and enjoy the process. Please post your comments and experiences in the 'Party Room'. Also, which African American classic and contemporary writers do you like best? Post your answers.
The Whole Story Week 5: Thanks for joining this month’s celebration. I have definitely enjoyed you. Hope you enjoyed yourselves. Hope you will continue writing and reading; ultimately it makes the world a bigger, and smaller, and better place. J Below I’ll answer a few of the questions I received this month. Hopefully, the answer to your question will be included. If not, email me and I’ll try to provide a more in depth response.
Where do I suggest aspiring writers focus their attention first?
How can people who don’t have “the gift” become better writers? I don’t believe people are born with the "gift" of writing. I believe I was born with an extreme emotional capacity - a hypersensitivity that enables me to feel, relate, connect, and understand. Writing those feelings down and making the reader get them requires training and practice. Didn’t I tell y’all I’m in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program at CSU? J
How do I find time to write? I make time; late night or early morning works best for me. For me writing is much like washing my butt, brushing my teeth, combing my hair, breathing, eating (scratch eating) - all the things I don’t think I have time to do, but I can’t not do.
How much money do I make? That ain’t your bit-ness! J No, really, your earnings will vary. Ninety-five percent of authors won’t get rich from writing. Ninety percent won’t even earn a living at it. This is my full time job.
Where do I get my ideas and inspiration for my stories? Real life. If something pisses me off, saddens me, makes me happy, or proud, visits me in my dreams… you’ll read about it. It will be somewhere tucked between the lines and lives on the page. For instance, I was interviewed the other day. The interview focused on a topic that really, really troubles me. I’ve done several interviews with major media sources, to no effect; it seems to change nothing regarding this particular troubling issue. So, the other night long, after the interview had concluded, a story came to me. It was about 4am. I got out of the bed and wrote a story. That is why I write. That is how I cope with life. ***********************************************************************
******************************* Congrats to Barack Obama on his BIG announcement (hear his speech at http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm), and to Tavis Smiley on The Covenant In Action reaching Best-Selling status! Week 3: This week we'll look at a couple of great writings by African Americans. Each of these writings, as different as they are, have the same basic essay model at their foundation. I'll start with Tupac Shakur (his piece is shorter), then move to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tupac's "Me Against the World" - Intro and conclusion in maroon, point 1 in black, 2 in purple, 3 in blue, green is just the chorus, reiterating the intro, which is the thesis for the piece: Album: Me Against the World ### In this second piece, written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the basic essay model is apparent: intro and conclusion in maroon, body and points in black. Also, upon close examination you'll see evidence of the basic essay model in the structure of successful "movements" as noted by Dr. King (look for blue highlights in the letter). King writes of the structure of a non-violent campaign (my explanation in red): 1) Collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive. Intro to the issue - why care? 2) Negotiation. What are your points? 3) Self-purification Have you addressed opposing opinions and positions fairly, and adequately? - Counter and 4) Direct action. Conclusion - Again, what's your point and what are you gonna do about it? There is a basic essay model all writing follows (at least to some general degree). This model is used in all academic writing classes. It is as follows:
Okay. Since we have high school and college students being forced to participate :-), and high school dropouts, as well as aspring PhD's watching, first let me describe the setting for this function. You are all gathered up front in my livingroom. Some folks are sitting on the floor, others are on the couch and standing along the walls. It is cramped, and folks could easily be frustrated :-). So be considerate of other's opinions, and be patient with us.
Week 2: ***************************************************************************** 2006 - Success! This this month we will be dealing with the issue, or notion of success. What is success? What does it look like to you? How did you determine the criteria for your definition of success? Let's look at it. Let's explore our history to discover what success looked like for our ancestors. Then let's see if we can draw upon the experience of our ancestors and contemporary others to help us realize our own success. 2/1/06: Food for thought: In African culture, times were considered good if the rain came in spring, the sun showed up and provided the necessary rays to foster the photosynthesis process that made for good and plentiful crop, which allowed for strong and healthy kinfolk and workers, to plant crop in fall... Folks were busy working to eat. History shows that countries and cultures meet their demise when they are afforded too much luxury for too little effort... Hmmm. 2/2/06: Centerstage: What have you done for others lately? In ancient African cultures it was believed that life existed in a circular mode on a circular structure - So then everything was connected. Using this understanding as the basis for their existence, it is understandable why all efforts were given to uplift or strengthen the whole of society. Therefore, those who were exalted (in positions similiar to America's president role) in the society were persons who demonstrated the greatest concern for the group's best interest. Bush? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2005... Black Thought There needs to be a discussion about thought. We need to know why we think what we think. Have you witnessed things that are unique to African American culture and wondered "Where'd that come from? Why do Black folks do that?" Well, I'm glad you asked. There are legitimate explanations for things like: CP-Time, folks all up in yo' business, thug passion, trash talkin, soul music, etc. This month we'll explore some of these things and see if we can trace their origin back to historic African culture.
2/25/05: "Trash Talkin' ": Imagine you are in a place where there's no television, no telephone, no radio, no internet, no newspapers, no magazines, no books... no media. This is the place where trash talkin' was born. In historic African cultures, Africans nearly worshipped language. Language was not only their means of communicating facts and pertinent details it was used as their form of entertainment as well. Metaphors, parables and vivid imagery was fused with life-lessons, historical facts and traditional values and beliefs. Wide dark eyes, tear-streaked cheeks, bruised aching legs, tightly held hands, sweaty compacted breathing bodies, large lonely ears, smiling fully-inflated lips, angry aching arms, happy hearts and soaring souls were all ushered to a state of equilibrium through the magical power of language. Language is our gift. It's just what we do. Africans and all African descendants are natural linguists. Slang, proper, swear... whatever. We love words! Whether they're over heavy, hollow horns and a tight baseline, or lightly interspersed around the melodic notes of a saxophone’s sullen pleas... WORDS... behind the podium spewing from the guts of the impassioned, incomparable Malcolm X, or in the alley behind Mr. Jones' raised-door garage lounging neatly atop embellished accounts of yesteryear... WORDS... whenever, whatever, wherever there is a space, the African has had and will always have a WORD to fill it.
2/23/05: "Soul Music": The notion that black folks' music is soul music, the depth of emotion put into words carefully chosen to create images in your mind, melodies meant to coerce your blood to attention beneath your skin, the boom-boom-boom drum bass that meets you at your core - can all be traced back to Ancient African culture. In Africa music was not just music for music's sake. In ancient African culture nothing was done purely for one's own satisfaction. Self-gratification was not the order of the time. Everything that was done was done with the purpose of honoring God or the ancestors or basically something or someone outside of one's self. Africans believed their fate was in the hands of God and the ancestors so when they made music or danced to honor the source of their survival, the source of their peace, the architects of their very existence, they did so with every bit of borrowed or gifted breath they possessed - they gave of their hearts and "soul."
2/17/05: "Thug Passion": It's true... African American women have a tendency to favor fellas that possess a lil' edge. Yep. We "don't want no punks!" We tend to equate manhood with aggression of various sorts. In the "hood" or street settings we want physical strength. In the boardroom we want intellectual strength. In this capitalistic society we look for financial strength. We want these things and we want them in abundance! That reality grows out of our most intimate fears. Most actions and ideas people possess are intiated in response to their environment. Our security (being black and female) is extremely fragile, so we seek an increase in stability in our mate. This is not new, people. Even in traditional African cultures that practiced communalism (where folks shared almost everything), there was almost always relative drama or heightened activity with regard to match-making or partner selection. Here enters the aggression factor. Africans negotiated "bride-prices." Not out of greed, but more so as means for gaging the man's commitment to the female which was an indirect means of gauging the likelihood of her security. Families invested gifts to familes. Security! Several African cultures even had a staged "capture" ceremony after the bride-price had been agreed upon by the families and mates involved. During the "capture" ritual the groom would go into a designated place and pretend to "take his woman." The bride would then pretend to resist. Ultimately, the bride would be literally carried away by the sheer strength and will of her man leaving the onlookers with the understanding that this dude would do whatever necessary for his woman!
2/15/05: Workaholic Women: African American women are often criticized for working too much or too hard. What is "too" much? Traditionally women of African descent have simply done what was necessary to sustain their families. In traditional African cultures women and children most often did the bulk of the planting and tending to the crop while the men went away from the village to do other, more dangerous tasks. There was no measurement of what was too hard for folks. People did what worked as dictated by the environmental and social restraints of their particular situations. For Africans in America, slavery has been a constant influence on the way in which we function. During slavery families were frequently torn apart so women had to be prepared to take care of themselves and their families in the absence of the man. After slavery men weren't afforded jobs that paid incomes that would support the family, so women had to work to earn money to subsidize the man's earnings. Still today, many men are disenfranchised by the American system which forces them to the margins of American society. So then, African American women do what African women have always done - they do what they must! Don't hate, Congratulate! Massage a back and give a Sista a break!
2/14/05: "Playa-Playa": Some brothers believe it's natural to have more than one woman. They grab and tug at their African roots when they want to justify infidelity. They say it's innate, it's a natural part of their heritage and there is nothing they can do to overcome it. It seems they may have inherited only a minute portion of their "natural" genes :-). The fact is many Africans traditionally have had more than one mate at a time - but it wasn't exclusive to men. There have been African societies where the women had several mates at a time and the women ruled the society. In either case, it wasn't the majority that participated in this practice. It wasn't uncommon but it wasn't the case most of the time. There were rigid stipulations that had to be adhered to in order to participate in multiples. The main factor which was consistent throughout historical African societies was the fact that in order to indulge in multiples, one had to be able to "properly provide" for each of their multiple partners and all offsprings! The term "provide" covered all realms: financial, emotional, spiritual,etc. Sound inviting?!
2/11/05: In African tradition the naming process is very important. At birth a child might receive a name associated with something the parents wish for him or her. As the child matures he or she is renamed in accordance with his unique character traits or qualities. If this were the practice in America, what would your name be?! A little something to think about...
2/10/05: David Walker said: "Man is a peculiar creature - he is the image of his God, though he may be subject to the most wretched conditions upon earth, yet the spirit and feeling which constitute the creature, man, can never be entirely erased from his breast, because the God who made him after his own image, planted it in his heart." An Old Ashanti proverb says: "Rain beats a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots."
2/9/05 "My Brother's Keeper": The closest thing to ancient African culture that urban America has witnessed is street "gang" culture. What evolved into violent gang-banging culture began as a basic clan. Guys got together and sought a means of survival in a system that was socially constructed to exclude them. Brothers decided they would create their own markets, schools, programs, support systems, governing rules, etc. They had meetings. They had the "LAW" which had to be learned and adhered to. Guys who were disruptive to the system or the neighborhood would be in "violation" and might be subjected to what was called a "pumpkin head." There were chiefs, soldiers, enforcement officers, committeemen and every other role player needed to have a full functioning society. Communalism was realized. People shared outgrown clothes, shoes and work carpools. Gang members had hook-ups with hook-ups who could magically make fifty dollars worth of meat fill the fridge and deep freezers of at least half the homes on the block. Painters painted. Mechanics fixed cars. Meals were bartered for carpentry work, plumbing, hairdo's and news. Black folks succeeded at creating a culture within a culture, where every turtle-necked man and Kangol donned boy proudly echoed the African's sentiment - I am my brother's keeper.
~Join our mailing list~ Message from Kim L. Dulaney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Special Thanks to: Isaac Perry, Editor-at-Large, DIME Magazine (my editor and buddy) Dr. Bartley McSwine, Prof. AFAM Studies, Chicago State University (my brilliant mentor) Katéy Assem, VP for Advancement and Research, Fort Valley State Univ. (my guide through academia's rhetoric) Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Trinity United Church of Christ (my pastor and spiritual doctor) Maya and Kendel, my jewels and the entire staff in the AFAM Studies Department at Chicago State University (Dr. Bryant, Dr. Bradbury... I appreciate your help getting the word out!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shameless Plug for a group of men who have committed their lives to the betterment of Black folks. Thanks to Minister Michael Muhammad and all the other soldiers in The New Black Leadership Coalition! ~ Please visit www.designandprint95.cceasy.com for all your business and social printing needs. A portion of the profit from your purchase will go to support their work. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author Kim L. Dulaney's Group or Organization Affiliation: National Association of Black Journalists - Chicago Chapter Chicago Council on Black Studies National Council on Black Studies New Black Leadership Coalition Publishers Marketing Association Recent Honors and Awards: National Dean's List Award CSU's Dean's List (2003, 2004, 2005) CSU African American Studies MAAT Award CSU Academic Achievement Award Publisher of the Year Award -2003 Kanye West Fresh to Death Scholarship Recipient
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A different interesting tidbit of information will be posted here periodically. Please post your thoughts or reactions to the reading in the "party room". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excerpts from: Me Note: Please read Thought Questions and More Info listed at the bottom of the page. This month we're going to talk about health. I wish I could have begun this dialogue painting mental pictures of folks on the track... stretching and twisting towards the sun, preparing for a heart-healthy walk or fat-fighting run. I wish I could've began by talking about things like "black folks need to be conscious of their diet" or "we need to make a conscientious effort to incorporate exercise into our daily routines, we need to take time for meditation, create a space for solace and peace"... No doubt these things are all important, however, we as African Americans would be remiss to even part our lips or direct our minds to health without beginning the discussion at the point that is most ailing our people - AIDS. This topic is so ugly, it's so out of control we can't even truly comprehend its magnitude. So we don't even try. We close our eyes, cover our ears, pull the shades over our sensibilities and hope for the best for "those folks" not wanting to embrace the fact that we are those folks. We've got to do better. We have to force ourselves to face this thing.
__________________________________________________________________________ Just to think...
I was bothered by the fact that I could no longer freely and fully indulge in sexual intimacy without having to safeguard my life. Think about that. The deepest faction of life itself when properly handled... the space where I can help my man grow ten feet beyond his reality to believe in and construct a new... the place where he crowns me Miss America and affords me the adulation I was born to bare... the space where black men and women have traditionally found a reason to try again... is now tainted. Folks like to say you can find fuel for these things in other spaces and places and it's true, and no, sex isn't the be-all end-all to life or intimacy but anyone who has experienced a full, well-fed love will concur with the fact that physical intimacy helps.
I was once bothered by the notion that my generation is charged with the task of re-energizing a Black Power Movement without access to the tools that helped to "bring together" and solidly forge "soul" commitments. Peace and Love? How? Sistahs fear dudes with promiscuous tendencies and two-sided secrets. Brothers feel the disconnect of sistahs and misconstrue their apprehension as a broadswipe against black manhood. The fantasy is lost in the fear. It forces folks to look at each other differently - logically. All this results from sex or the lack there of, at least I thought so.
Then I was startled by the statistics. I began to realize AIDS was much bigger than personal pleasures. Whew! Much, much, much bigger. When folks started withering away like sun-deprived tulips... I watched AIDS work its way through the gardens of our communities. It went from a drug thing to a gay thing to a down-low thing to a love thing. It’s now a part of the soil. AIDS has wrapped itself in the nutrients that feed the soul - the elements that sustain our existence. Folks are now dying to live. Simple. AIDS is so much bigger than the physical act that facilitates it. It’s huge! It's as tragic as, if not worse than slavery. Your children and their children are being born into it. Just look at
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Lifestyles of the Rich and the Needy: American-vs-Ugandan Lifestyles
(Written Novemeber 4, 2003 for a Physical Science Course)
Today’s headline news in
Meanwhile the BBC News was reporting on “Children ‘massacred’ in DR Congo” near
This brief glimpse into the lifestyles of average Americans and average Ugandans reveals there are extreme differences. A longer glance at our lives further confirms our differences.
When I decided I was ready to write this report, I walked over to my workstation, decided which of my three computers I wanted to use for the project, powered the chosen computer up, turned on the television to keep me company while my children slept comfortably and in good health in the other room, decided it would be nice to have some warm tea while working, walked a few feet away (without leaving my home, without working to ignite a big fire), turned a knob and watched as a flame jumped up through the black rack that warmed in preparation for my teapot (a special decorative vessel used to warm water for a specific drink). Then I turned another knob, which instantly yielded clean fresh water with a choice of warm or cold. I filled the teapot, went back to the workstation, sat down in a cushy black chair and began researching my subject. I didn’t concern myself with calculations that would determine when the water should boil, the teapot was conveniently designed to figure that out for me and alert me with a whistle when it had completed its job. So I was free to concentrate on my research. I searched through newspapers, federal files, published papers and various other sources. I searched through these sources without ever leaving or cluttering my home. I searched through sources that spanned the globe in a few short hours. I didn’t spend much time on information I deemed irrelevant. I happened to have an efficient assistant that sorted through the information and afforded me the luxury of zeroing in on specific data - this particular assistant is called America Online. In the comfort of my home with powered lights I took my time and waded through the info until well past midnight. At one point I had to get up and walk over to a small box on the wall to push a small tab slightly to the left to reduce the temperature. The warm tea seemed to heat me up a bit and the forced-air heating that automatically distributed itself evenly through my home was somewhat excessive. After turning down my heat and selecting a low-fat snack from the refrigerator (a large, electronically chilled box that keeps food fresh), I finalized the sorting of my Ugandan facts and prepared to write this paper that was due on Tuesday, the first of three days a week that I attend my school for higher learning (optional schooling after 13 years of free education), taking my full-time load of four classes during a few hours in the afternoon and evening. I don’t attend the school because I have to or particularly need to, I attend because I just want to, I feel more knowledge can only help me to become better informed.
Far away in a distant land at this very moment, a woman about my age lies beneath a net, hopefully shielded from the death of a disease-carrying mosquito, on a cloth on a hard floor, in a corner, in a dark, tight space, exhausted, clutching her dying child. This woman herself is sick but can not divulge that information nor can she seek medical attention. She is one of the few who is afforded higher education and a chance to elevate her entire village from its state of poverty. If this woman admits she is afflicted with AIDS she will be ejected from her school and rejected by her society. Never mind the fact that she became afflicted while breeding in attempt to increase her family’s wealth by producing more workers. No one cares how she became infected. The point is - she’s infected and like so many of her family and friends who could not afford medicine, she too will die a slow, torturous death. In her sickness this woman is stronger than I have ever been! This woman will rise before the sun, tear herself away from her sick child, walk a mile to the well to get water (she’s not fortunate to be one of the 10% of the 25,632,794 citizens with running water), wash one of her two outfits and hang it out to dry, make her way through the masses of orphaned children (44% of the population is under age 15) to the market with hopes of selling something small she has been able to acquire, before going to her deficiently supplied school to cram her stressed yet resilient mind as she does seven days a week from 8am to 8pm in eight classes each semester. Though brilliant, this woman’s life is limited by her culture, government, and her marginal access to world data and technology. This woman’s sick body, whose 46-year life expectancy is reducing at a rapid rate, will function off of a fairly decent diet of fruit, vegetables and lots of carbohydrates provided in her one and only meal for the day. This woman is not afforded much in a population where the average salary is $260 per year. She isn’t even afforded the luxury of worry. She well understands that her child is probably out quickening her death as she lives near and scavenges through squalor and filth in search of something of worth. She knows the dangers she herself will face on her long walk home from school after her long day as a secondary, unattended to and unappreciated female citizen. When she finally makes it to her home, this woman will take her bought charcoal from its huge bag and make one fire to heat the 55 gallon tank that gravity feeds the communal shower and she will make another fire to heat water to do chores and to provide light for study. Then, she will tend to the strands of her poverty-torn family determined, as mothers are universally, to be the thread that binds. Finally this pillar-of-a-woman, will retire for a few brief hours until time to do it all again.
I reserve my tears for this woman! I reserve my praise and my prayers for this woman - May God hear her silent cries and use our excessive American “wants” to fill her basic Ugandan “needs.”
References
Kanis, Dr.. Personal Presentation. September 30, 2003.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ug.html ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Don't log off! Take a look at the following websites:
Listen to a documentary on AIDS in
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Other issues: (This info was provided by my Dr. Joseph S. Thomas D.D, M.D., M.B.A.)
Take heed of his free advice - please!
** Facts about Cervical Cancer - 50% of the women who get cervical cancer never had a pap smear in their life. 99% have HPV (human papilloma virus) this virus causes warts on the genitals and several types can accelerate mutations that lead to cancer. Multiple partners expose the woman to many carcinogenic substances as well as increases the risk of HIV. Although the Pap smear is about 41% sensitive it is an excellent screening test and can lead to diagnosis and treating precancerous lesions and thus actually prevents invasive carcinoma. So why do black women wait too long to get Pap smears? FEAR... only fear can kill your body, soul and spirit. Overcome fear with knowledge and a solid sense of self-importance.
** Did you know that it is now a medical fact that high fat diets have been proven to cause cancer? Want to reduce your risk of cancer or premature death?
- Stop smoking
- Start exercising daily
- Food choices: low fat
- Get yearly Pap smears
- Food choices: fruits and vegetables
- Increase Anti-oxidants
- Reduce mental stress effects
- Increase spiritual connections
- Demand cleaner air & water (reduce toxin exposure)
- Universal precautions
** This AIDS thing may be a bit redundant yet it is worth repeating. Recent Chicago research indicated white males weren't aware they had HIV 50% of the time, Hispanic males weren't aware 70% of the time and Black males weren't aware they were HIV positive 90% of the time! Whoa! Denial is deadly! Get tested! AIDS among black girls 13 to 19 has doubled in the past few years. Talk to your children! The number one cause of death in black women 25 to 45 is now AIDS! Wow!
** One in two black women will die from heart related illness. Stop stressing. Let it go. WALK it off - literally.
** Annual minimal health checks:
30's - Pap smear, STD's
40's - Pap smear, STD's, Mammogram
50's - Pap's smear, Mammogram, Osteoporosis
** NOTE ** Most health issues can be corrected or at least managed with medication, vitamins, etc. We take care of e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, yet we pay no attention to our health until it's failing. Some health issues Black folks face can be attributed to public health policies and practices but truth be told, many of our issues are just that - OUR ISSUES! Get to know your body - listen to it - love it - take care of it. We'll work on the system but in the interim do your best for yourself.
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RUWell Wellness Assessment - How well are you?
RUWell is a wellness assessment based on the seven dynamic dimensions of wellness (Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual, Environmental, Spiritual, and Time). Researchers refer to the dimensions as dynamic because they are always changing. Each dimension is affected by the other. As you read through the RUWell assessment, take note of how one dimension of wellness may affect other areas of wellness. The purpose of the RUWell assessment is to provide you with an increased awareness about your individual wellness. With this increased awareness you can identify which dimensions of wellness you are currently satisfied with and which dimensions could use some improvement. Check the answer that best fits your response to each of the statements listed below.
PHYSICAL DIMENSION:
SOCIAL DIMENSION:
EMOTIONAL DIMENSION:
Almost Always Almost Never INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS:
Almost Always Almost Never ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION:
Almost Always Almost Never SPIRITUAL DIMENSION:
Almost Always Almost Never TIME DIMENSION:
Almost Always Almost Never Congratulations! You have completed the RUWell assessment. Please take a moment to reflect upon your scores in each category. In which dimensions did you mostly answer "Almost Always?" These dimensions represent positive areas of your individual wellness. In which dimensions did you mostly answer "Almost Never?" You may want to strive to enhance your level of wellness by making some positive changes in these dimensions. To derive an average for each section, give 3 points for "Almost Always", 2 points for "Sometimes", and 1 point for "Almost Never" - add the total points for each section then divide that number by 11. Remember one dimension is not more important than another. For a high level of wellness to occur, all dimensions must positively work together. Perhaps you could begin by improving your weakest dimension and set a realistic goal for improvement in the other areas. Good luck in reaching a higher level of wellness. Be well! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thought Questions:
What small adjustments can you make to your current lifestyle to better your health? What can and will you do starting today? Talk about it in the Party Room.
More Info:
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© 2007 Kim L. Dulaney
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