Morphological Confetti

Man 1: "Why is it this man wanna take a picture of us?" Man 2: "I don't know, but I sho hope my check come today." Photo credit: www.discoverblackheritage.com

"The great danger," Richard told Sartre, "in the world today is that the very feeling and conception of what is a human being might well be lost." Richard Wright to Jean-Paul Sartre, In Richard Wright - By Constance Webb

Before I knew who Martin Luther King, Jr. really was, I probably thought he was some sort of medical doctor or healer. I was a year old when he was murdered in Memphis, so my infant mind had no understanding of the times. I had no idea that DC had erupted upon the announcement of his death and Washington's innercity was on fire. When I became old enough to be interested in what my parents and grownups were discussing I heard them talking about someone named Dr. King. It sounded as if they knew him personally because they spoke of him with so much affection. They talked about all the things he had done to help black people and how he was a minister of peace. I heard words in reference to Dr. King that I didn’t understand like equality, justice, discrimination, segregation, integration, and assassination. I heard grownups talk about his Nobel Peace Prize ; I didn’t understand what that was either, but I figured that it was something wonderful because it had the word “prize” in it....

Photo : My g randfather (pictured right) and friend in the Army--1944 One Shot Gimme one shot 'o liquor to chase 'dis beer Just one shot 'o liquor to chase 'dis beer Gimme two more shots and I'll run all 'dese folks outa here! makes no difference to me if it's scotch or rum makes no difference to me if it's scotch or rum Gimme two mo' shots and my head is sho' to be numb I figure it'll take some of the sting off that mighty blow I got waitin' on me at home when I walk through that front do' Note: Excerpt from my book of Blues-Inspired poetry, Liquid Lunch

On this day in African American history, Abraham Lincoln , the 16th President of the United States (1861-1865), declared that the recently emancipated African American population in Washington, D.C. should be educated. The African Slave Trade was abolished in Washington, D.C. in 1850, but Slavery in the District was not abolished until April of 1862. This is a moment in Black History...or is it? Meanwhile, the Editorial Projects in Education recently reported that The District of Columbia Public School system ranks 51st or last in (state rankings) six areas of education performance and policy. Grade = D- Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population, Washington, D.C. 84% African-American 5% Caucasian 10% Latino/Hispanic 2% Asian-American 1% Native American 1% Other In response to recent educational rankings, the DC State Board of Education has scheduled a meeting this evening so that students, parents, community members, teachers, school leaders, and education stakeholders can express their con...

"Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy, then my only worry was for Christmas, what would be my toy. Even though we sometimes would not get a thing, we were happy with the joy the day would bring...I wish those days could come back once more, why did those days ever have to go? I wish those days could come back once more, why did those days ever have to go? Cause I loved them so." ~ Stevie Wonder By the way, I am the taller of the two little boys. I remember that day well. I also remember that the shirt I was wearing was new and my grandmother purchased some flip-flop sandles to keep my feet cool. It was the Bess Family Reunion in the Summer of '75. Stevie Wonder's hit song, I Wish , would not become a hit until 1977, but it was so appropriate for this photo. I mean, just look at that image of me, little Stevie; life was so simple then. Peace~

The Lord's Prayer Mahalia Jackson is the perfect way to start off the New Year. Tell me, who could sing the spirituals like Mama Mahalia? The mere sound of her voice takes you back to that old country church that your grandmother would attend. It's that church that sits far back from the road and there is a long dusty road that leads to it. There were no musicians in the church our grandmothers attended; there was just the humming of voices, the clapping of hands, the tapping of shoes on wooden floor panels, and a tambourine. I thank God for this "Black Pearl" from New Orleans, who sang songs that blessed the young, the old, and the souls of ancestors. Mahalia Jackson represents that old time religion that we need so desperately today. God bless Mahalia Jackson and God bless you in 2008. Peace~ Sources: Biblegateway.com and Wikipedia.org