tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119239602024-03-15T21:10:44.973-04:00Morphological ConfettiA celebration of
literature, music,
and cultureStephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.comBlogger707125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-9679675898781412662022-08-14T20:58:00.006-04:002022-08-15T11:24:14.456-04:00Black Men in Life Space: A Change for the Better<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIt5uY8yISMBWV1a0WESPTIMe-9njb0LM3iNz7de1MVGmhfMDGavSApbIGbU29WMuFYY8ZryVhzrNMv7t32LezlW4g0wetJDkDxxgsb2EG0KEJbt51dx84KXA27Nw3I-Dv3TxahMYNhBZpOPrZxjmDxRH0vrdTBd6DBvi-5XkgvLjxZTqoeQ/s726/the-chi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIt5uY8yISMBWV1a0WESPTIMe-9njb0LM3iNz7de1MVGmhfMDGavSApbIGbU29WMuFYY8ZryVhzrNMv7t32LezlW4g0wetJDkDxxgsb2EG0KEJbt51dx84KXA27Nw3I-Dv3TxahMYNhBZpOPrZxjmDxRH0vrdTBd6DBvi-5XkgvLjxZTqoeQ/w430-h242/the-chi.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Source: Showtime</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The late great Chicago soul singer, Sam Cooke sang and announced that "A Change is Gonna Come." On season five of Showtime's, "The Chi," the award-winning writer, creator, producer, actor, and CEO Lena Waithe is helping to change the way everyone views Black men in life space. The </span>APA Dictionary of Psychology defines <span style="font-family: georgia;">Life space as <i>a representation of the environmental, biological, social, and psychological influences that define one person’s unique reality at a given moment in time. </i>The physical and psychological environment of Black men in life and in film has been in jeopardy for decades but Waithe is helping to change that perception while maintaining characters who are flawed but redeemable.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the eighth episode of The Chi, Season 5 “Sweet Thing” <b>(S5E8)</b> the overriding theme is all about change. For some, change can be painful. Change means that things will not remain as they were; in fact, change can mean a shift that is sometimes so dramatic it can transform a person’s life for the long</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHDKoW0T8UqkMBd3n4dmtKQgjhI_jr7GRyqnfsF6yunSJBzAyTJ8EZKaJC0K0uF_b7VaJ430UadyRQ-zznuHM5g35xAePM0a66kCW6zKJTwqruoaPy7Fxc8bklR9Aq6D-l9pEEMyFjCvnDGs2PbiHLqSfAGk4sg60NhSVPlB38zqq99u4_PM/s960/Yo-Bio+pic.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHDKoW0T8UqkMBd3n4dmtKQgjhI_jr7GRyqnfsF6yunSJBzAyTJ8EZKaJC0K0uF_b7VaJ430UadyRQ-zznuHM5g35xAePM0a66kCW6zKJTwqruoaPy7Fxc8bklR9Aq6D-l9pEEMyFjCvnDGs2PbiHLqSfAGk4sg60NhSVPlB38zqq99u4_PM/w200-h200/Yo-Bio+pic.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo source: <a href="http://yolondaross.com/bio">yolondaross.com/bio</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"> term. I have watched “The Chi” since the first season, and I have been more than pleased with the creative plot twist presented by director and creator, Lena Waithe. This Showtime American drama about the lives of Black people living on the Southside of Chicago has provided some of the most entertaining and riveting storylines that I have ever viewed and experienced in television. Character development since the first season has been both refreshing and true-to-life. For example, the character Jada (<a href="http://yolondaross.com">Yolonda Ross</a>) and her <span style="text-align: center;">progressions as a single mom navigating dating life, the pain of loss, and nearly loss of life as a cancer survivor, finally reaches a redemptive point when she rekindles her relationship with high school love and son’s father, Darnell (Rolando Boyce).</span><br /><br /> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58xiXBwko0S2xuzhQLP57oX1VU_RA1zDzRYVk81PK18RrhB16w3-ucFLYuxqneTiUh37akFCaiksqyBPS-Hx_UNdTA72jSQ2a7KoQcur9njpIeePdgBf7X5Q2nnIb5Q7uHo7ggkrEnAILvxfZpHmoeQCmbsZlm3m_57NA6gl1a97RFPGAPBY/s1031/ZpYHjrwUxJgZRmgopE8XSh-1920-80.jpg.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1031" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58xiXBwko0S2xuzhQLP57oX1VU_RA1zDzRYVk81PK18RrhB16w3-ucFLYuxqneTiUh37akFCaiksqyBPS-Hx_UNdTA72jSQ2a7KoQcur9njpIeePdgBf7X5Q2nnIb5Q7uHo7ggkrEnAILvxfZpHmoeQCmbsZlm3m_57NA6gl1a97RFPGAPBY/w270-h152/ZpYHjrwUxJgZRmgopE8XSh-1920-80.jpg.webp" width="270" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo source: Showtime</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Darnell’s transformation (as a Black man) from the mannish boy that Blues legend Muddy Waters screamed about to a man, father, and possible loyal husband is a rare sighting in television and film. Why is that important? Arguably, without looking at “The Chi” ratings based on race, gender, etc., it is safe to say that a majority of the viewership reflect the characters on the show – Black people. Some of those Black viewers are likely between the ages of 18-33. It is important (for a change) that those viewers and others see Black characters -- in all of their imperfections -- develop or change into people who make better life decisions. In other words, they are redeemable characters. This is important in a society that views many Black boys and men as oversexed, unredeemable, and completely lost. This counternarrative presented by Waithe and her team of writers demonstrates that even though characters like Darnell, as well as his son Emmett (Jacob Latimore) started as flawed, disloyal men, they were more than capable of changing for the better. Like anyone, they are capable of becoming loving fathers and husbands if they are given a chance to develop and make a change for the better. Bravo to the cast and crew of "The Chi". You are creating television that is worth watching and this is definitely a welcomed change. ~Peace </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-24384107442974973682020-08-21T13:16:00.005-04:002020-12-08T21:18:27.668-05:00Showing My Face: Self Reflection and Thoughts on Writing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuiYWN5Irlk/Xz_7iIb4SEI/AAAAAAAAZ38/KvLQv_ZJ-XMc8FLr3DcvKEIVvJB_04RNQCPcBGAsYHg/s1089/FB_IMG_1591451074361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuiYWN5Irlk/Xz_7iIb4SEI/AAAAAAAAZ38/KvLQv_ZJ-XMc8FLr3DcvKEIVvJB_04RNQCPcBGAsYHg/w318-h320/FB_IMG_1591451074361.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello friends. I'm just showing my face while I am still in my birthday month of August. Go Leos! Like many, I do an assessment of my life on my birthday; I take stock and think about the necessary changes for myself. For me, it's about getting better and doing better. This year was no different, while I have been sitting at home during this pandemic. I am still finishing up my doctoral studies. I have been doing my coursework since 2018 with a focus on critical pedagogy, and I will soon start my thesis work. So, I am moving forward, but I have been thinking more about creative writing. Currently, most of my writing is academic, but I long to sit and write creatively. I crave it so much that I throw some of that creativity into my academic writing. So, my goal this year is to make more of an effort to publish poetry and maybe some short stories. We'll see. I have made progress in other areas of my life this year, so maybe it is a sign of things to come. Again, we will see. Well, take care of yourself and continue to stay safe. Peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Stephen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-23923091060703179072020-05-05T21:30:00.001-04:002020-05-05T21:30:52.183-04:00Moanin' - Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Live<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uKOoxgI_xfQ" width="459"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-19565222135246168812020-04-30T14:21:00.001-04:002020-04-30T14:22:08.321-04:00Peace Be Still<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was just sitting here thinking about the "Stay-At-Home" order and how to be content through the madness. Trust me, it is not always easy. I have moments where I feel a little anxious, and I have moments where fear will try to set in to disturb my peace. Nevertheless, they are merely moments; they are not part of my daily existence. Most of the time, I feel content and at peace; most of the time, I feel happiness and joy; and most of the time, I feel loved and respected by my friends and family. I can only hope and wish the same for anyone who reads this post. Well, take care and be safe. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you today. Peace~</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-12174660877225383232020-04-04T13:25:00.000-04:002020-04-04T13:25:47.700-04:00Happy 15th Birthday Morphological Confetti!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today, on April 4, 2005, I joined blogger as a way to start a web journal. I thought that it would be a great platform to not only express myself but to sort of record my ideas, and it has proven true. I started with just my thoughts for a particular day. Soon, it morphed into a way to write and share my photography. Then, it morphed into a way to share my poetry and prose. That led to me meeting other writers, not only here in the United States, but writers and bloggers from across the globe. This blog has taken me from New York City poetry events to celebrations of African descendant culture in Uruguay, South America. It has been a blessing. So, today I celebrate this platform, and I hope to celebrate it for many more years to come. So much has changed since my first post 15 years ago. It will be interesting to see what God has in store for me in the next 15 years. I'm excited! Well, before I end this anniversary post, I'd like to thank all of you for supporting this blog and for sharing your thoughts in my post. It has added so much flavor to many a conversation about various topics. The journey has been almost as sweet and tasty as this featured cake. It was so yummy. 😋 Well, take care, thank you, and stay safe. Peace~ <br />
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<b>Here is my first post from April 4, 2005:</b><br />
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This is my first day on Blogger! I am very excited about blogger and my
future postings. Also, today is the first Monday after Daylight Savings
and I am still a day late and a dollar short. Peace~</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-62454953436670630112020-04-02T13:52:00.004-04:002020-04-02T13:52:58.946-04:00National Poetry Month: Gwendolyn Brooks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April is National Poetry Month. With all that I have on my plate, I will be happy if I can write at least one poem this month. We will see. Meanwhile, let us celebrate the art itself and celebrate those who have so poetically paved a way.<br />
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<b>Photo by S. Bess:</b> Bronze bust (1994) of poet, Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.<br />
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<dt>Artist, Sara S. Miller, 1924 - 2016</dt>
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We Real Cool
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By <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gwendolyn-brooks">Gwendolyn Brooks</a></span></div>
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<b> <span style="font-style: normal;">The Pool Players.<br />
Seven at the Golden Shovel.</span></b></div>
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We real cool. We </div>
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Left school. We</div>
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Lurk late. We</div>
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Strike straight. We</div>
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Sing sin. We </div>
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Thin gin. We</div>
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Jazz June. We </div>
Die soon.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2Montgomery Village, MD, USA39.172728 -77.20360409999999339.1234915 -77.284285099999991 39.2219645 -77.1229231tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-66785038340236040232019-06-12T09:32:00.000-04:002019-06-12T09:32:02.008-04:00Taraji P Henson, Toni Morrison, and Mental Healthcare for African Americans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mental health. This has been on my heart for many years concerning Americans in general, but it is especially crucial in the African American community because some of us have accepted the myth that it does not affect us. <b>News flash:</b> IT HAS ALWAYS AFFECTED US! When examining it from a historical perspective, there are countless narratives from the Antebellum era here in America of African Americans exceeding a psychotic threshold of no return. For example, there was the fugitive enslaved woman,<a href="http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=510" target="_blank"> Margaret Garner</a>, who when cornered during a siege in 1876, butchered her children to prevent them from returning to slavery. The narrative was so terrifying and compelling that writer, Toni Morrison, based her novel, <i>Beloved</i> on the event. Even though <a href="https://docsouth.unc.edu/highlights/turner.html" target="_blank">Nat Turner</a> attributed his actions to being under the direction of the Almighty God, what was his mental state?<br />
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I could go on with countless stories, but the bottom line is that mental health should be taken more seriously, and it should be daily concern as we move forward in the hectic world in which we live. We simply cannot live without it. So, thank you Ms. Henson for shining a light on this very serious topic. God bless you as you continue to battle your own mental health. May all of us follow that example and deal with our own. I think that it would make all the difference.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">References</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Georgia, serif; text-indent: -22px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Larson, J. L. (n.d.). A Rebellion to Remember: The Legacy of Nat Turner. Retrieved June 12, 2019, from https://docsouth.unc.edu/highlights/turner.html</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Georgia, serif; text-indent: -22px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Margaret Garner Kills One of Her Children Rather than Permit Her to be Returned to Slavery. (2019). Retrieved June 12, 2019, from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=510</span></span><br />
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Margaret Garner, a fugitive slave from Kentucky, killed one of her children rather than permit her to be returned to slavery. She drowned in a shipwreck as she was being brought back to slavery.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-34049694713192256422019-01-23T07:38:00.000-05:002019-01-30T12:36:53.452-05:00Thoughts From The Teacher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday was the start of a new semester with new students. It is always exciting for me to meet a new class full of eager and nervous students. They don't know what to expect from me, and I expect everything from them. Most importantly, I expect much from myself. As it says in scripture, "to whom much was given, of him much will be required..." (Luke 12:48). Therefore, I also have to be the best that I can be as a teacher. They are depending on me to teach them something that they did not know before entering my classroom. I am also expecting to learn from them. Overall, it is up to me to facilitate a viable teaching and learning environment. For me, there will always be room for improvement; therefore, I continue to strive for the perfecting of my craft. Power to the teacher, and more power to the student! Peace~</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-68439265961600378322018-05-08T18:31:00.000-04:002018-05-09T11:40:24.104-04:00This is America Symbolism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Like many, I am intrigued by Donald Glover's (Aka. Childish Gambino) new video, "This is America." I have been a fan of Glover's FX television series, "Atlanta" for some time, but I have not really explored his music until I watched Jordan Peele's film, <i>Get Out</i>. The film opened featuring Childish Gambino's song, "Redbone." Since then, I have been interested. It is safe to say that I am a true fan after hearing and viewing this shockingly creative song and video. Whooo! Anyway, I am not going to attempt to break down this video in my own words. I will allow this video from <i>Time</i> to do the talking. Yes, "This is America." </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-10391276217273062972018-05-08T18:09:00.000-04:002018-05-08T18:09:08.964-04:00End of Semester Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's that time of year again. Students are turning in their final papers and things are slowing down -- well, in the classroom. Meanwhile, I am grading papers in the basement and listening to a little music. What's better than some old school Delfonics? It helps me to relax and focus while I grade these essays. Soon, I will switch grading papers electronically. I have to get out of the old way of doing things. The future is now -- time has come today! Anyway, let me get back to my music. Oops! A comma splice. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-78987283004178208042017-10-18T22:42:00.000-04:002017-10-18T22:43:20.859-04:00Ready for a New Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxedQVh2G7k/WegQTh6KifI/AAAAAAAANi8/_F-oXoSOnsMFtNduBkxdjq9tipZEFSjigCLcBGAs/s1600/FALL_COUNTRY_ROAD_1_720x490_72_RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="720" height="270" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qxedQVh2G7k/WegQTh6KifI/AAAAAAAANi8/_F-oXoSOnsMFtNduBkxdjq9tipZEFSjigCLcBGAs/s400/FALL_COUNTRY_ROAD_1_720x490_72_RGB.jpg" width="400" /></a>It's after 10:00 p.m. on a Wednesday night and I'm thinking about seasons. I'm thinking about the natural progressions of nature, but I'm also thinking about the seasons we go through in life. What's your season? Me? I'm going through the season of building my career and education. In other words, I'm thinking about becoming better at what I do in the classroom. I'm also thinking about how to become better spiritually. What does that mean? Well, specifically, I mean building a relationship with God -- my personal relationship.<br />
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It all takes work - this building - but I am prepared to do it. Well, I know this is short, but it is my bedtime. I hope that you are in a good season right now. If not, just remember that seasons change. Good night. Peace ~</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-62277951988612368742017-07-24T21:03:00.001-04:002017-07-24T21:04:43.124-04:00Rhiannon Giddens: On the Lost History of the Black Banjo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-90743719412395699992017-07-12T21:05:00.001-04:002017-07-12T21:09:58.152-04:00Grover Washington Jr. - Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a beautiful live video. "Winelight" was one of my first purchases when I first started listening to Jazz. The other was George Howard's "Asphalt Gardens." Both artist passed away at an early age. Nevertheles, I love that smooth 80s Jazz music. It brings back such pleasant memories. Enjoy.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-68186716796365364882017-07-09T17:39:00.001-04:002020-04-04T13:44:58.721-04:00Memories of A Sunday Kind Of Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />I love this song by Etta James, "A Sunday Kind of Love." I loved it so much that I gave the title to my Sunday night show on WHCJ at Savannah State University (College in my day) in Savannah, Georgia in the early 90s. I was on-air every Sunday evening from 8:00 p.m. - 12 midnight. It was one of the few commitments that I would keep on a weekly basis for more than 3 years. That's how I knew that it was true love. It lasted longer than any of my campus relationships.<br />
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Although I have moved on with life and married, I still think about that commitment now and then; of course, it is usually on Sundays as 8:00 p.m. approaches. Back then, I would jump on my bike with my sack of choice music and glide on over to the station. Once that big hand hit the 8, I'd hit play and on came... "Summer Madness" by <i>Kool and the Gang</i>. I know. Why didn't I use Etta? Well, I thought that it would be too obvious. Plus, "Summer Madness"<i> </i>was a great music bed while I introduced myself and the night's show:<br />
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<i>Good evening. You're listening to Savannah State radio, WHCJ-90.3 FM. This is your host, Stephen Bess, and thank you for joining me this evening for another edition of "A Sunday Kind of Love." Please, just sit back and relax and I will take care of the rest...</i><br />
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Man, I loved it! Yes, those were good times. I will never forget those days. I enjoyed some quiet times every Sunday night in that campus studio. I took request and talked to friends of the station over the phone. Once in a while, I even received a visit from a friend on campus. However, most of the time it was just me and the microphone. Well, now that those days are behind me, I just listen to Ms. Etta sing as I reminisce of "A Sunday Kind of Love" at WHCJ radio. Those were good times. Good night everybody.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-55148879714438077972017-06-27T22:03:00.000-04:002017-06-27T22:05:55.892-04:00Photo of the Day: Old U Street<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Ben's Chilli Bowl </i>on U Street in Washington, DC (Photo: S Bess 2006)</b></span></div>
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Forget about the present situation, these were the Pre-Obama days in DC. Gentrification had not fully enveloped the U street corridor at this point. Ben's alley wall was blank and there was nothing happening "Next Door." There were still a few business left from the post-riot days; however, everyone knew that it was coming. The one hundred year cycle was over! The place was changing. DC was changing. My life was changing. Things are very different now in 2017. </div>
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~ Peace</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-76140865581038318632017-05-11T17:58:00.000-04:002017-05-11T17:58:55.877-04:00Rhiannon Giddens- "Julie"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Rhiannon Giddens' music is based on a collective number of slave narratives. This is an absolutely beautiful way to preserve the history of our enslaved ancestors; it addresses and expresses the very heart of wanting to be free from bondage. Thank you, Rhiannon Giddens. Lovely.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-23258269568749971112017-05-04T08:15:00.000-04:002017-05-04T08:15:09.334-04:00Zora and the Haiti Connection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a short video on Zora Neale Hurston and her novel, <i>Their Eyes Were Watching God</i>. Ms. Hurston was an anthropologist, folklorist, historian, and writer to a name a few, but I am sure that there was more to her as a human being and a woman. Thank you, Ms. Hurston. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-59082067726126031312017-04-21T22:13:00.001-04:002020-04-04T13:46:45.768-04:00Glory, Glory Hallelujah - Otha Turner & the Afrossippi Allstars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This music is so pure and unfiltered. I love it. It's true "soul" music. Glory, glory, hallelujah! Leave it all to God through Christ, our savior! "...when I lay my burdens down."</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-84410672948592825652017-03-11T21:04:00.001-05:002017-03-11T21:06:04.537-05:00John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 – June 21, 2001) is one of my favorite Blues singers. He was so poetic and creative with his guitar and lyrics. I think of the Blues as a linguistic record of African American Vernacular English. Listen closely and you will understand. Well, if you were raised in an environment where that language was spoken, you will have a better understanding. Enjoy. Peace~</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-70901526965584712282017-02-16T20:14:00.000-05:002017-02-16T20:20:13.866-05:00Jimmy Rushing: Sent For You Yesterday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jimmy Rushing, the beloved teddy bear, blues
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He also made appearances in film such as the 1969 Gordon
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of his big, smooth dance smooths and vocals. Read more about the life and times of of Jimmy
Rushing at <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-rushing-mn0000089675/biography" target="_blank">AllMusic.com.</a> </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-57172427450631029622017-01-31T21:59:00.001-05:002017-01-31T21:59:51.929-05:00James Cleveland: "Where Is Your Faith In God"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-25765298421157878942017-01-28T18:32:00.000-05:002017-01-28T18:32:06.900-05:00To Muslim Americans, With Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="hdg hdg_1" style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.231; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I, Too</span><h2 class="isVisuallyHidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">
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<span class="hdg hdg_utility" style="border: 0px; color: #505050; display: block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.025em; line-height: 1.231; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 5;">BY <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/langston-hughes" style="border: 0px; color: #045482; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LANGSTON HUGHES</a></span></div>
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I, too, sing America. </div>
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I am the darker brother. </div>
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They send me to eat in the kitchen </div>
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When company comes, </div>
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But I laugh, </div>
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And eat well, </div>
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And grow strong. </div>
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Tomorrow, </div>
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I’ll be at the table </div>
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When company comes. </div>
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Nobody’ll dare </div>
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Say to me, </div>
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“Eat in the kitchen,” </div>
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Then. </div>
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Besides, </div>
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They’ll see how beautiful I am </div>
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And be ashamed— </div>
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I, too, am America.</div>
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<b>Source: </b>Hughes, Langston, Arnold Rampersad, and David E. Roessel. The collected poems of Langston Hughes. New York: Knopf, 1994. Print.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-79043136165351587422016-12-20T22:40:00.001-05:002016-12-20T22:40:12.855-05:00Merry Christmas 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of my favorite Christmas scenes featuring Oprah Winfrey as "Ms. Sophia." This is for anyone who wishes to be home for the holidays. It's for those who miss their parents and loved ones. God bless and comfort you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I'm looking forward to a fantastic New Year for us all despite the forecast. Peace~</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-84527238690912746652016-10-19T19:22:00.001-04:002017-07-03T19:40:39.556-04:00'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins & Cast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm looking forward to seeing this film. It looks really interesting. <b>Just a thought:</b> I think that Oprah and the OWN channel has created a real market for black drama (for lack of a better term). This is a chance for some actors to really shine. It features Andre Holland; I really enjoyed him on <i>The Knick</i>. It also features British actress, Naomi Harris from <i>Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom</i>. I really love that the actors are not one dimensional and stereotypical. There seems to be some diverse characters from what I've seen of the trailer. I guess that it remains to be seen. I'm just glad that it's not a comedy. Black actors in Hollywood don't always have to make the audiences laugh. Sometimes, the audience needs to cry. In fact, we all need a really good cry after living through 2016. Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11923960.post-22421008124862132472016-10-18T21:23:00.001-04:002016-10-18T21:24:39.240-04:00St. James Missionary Baptist Church of Canton: I've Been Redeemed (1978)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Morphological Confetti is a celebration of history, literature, and culture in the Americas and the African Diaspora.</div>Stephen A. Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608563855643263599noreply@blogger.com0