Happy Birthday, Brother Malcolm

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – Feb 21, 1965)

This post is to honor the memory of Mr. El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X) for his birthday, May 19, 1925. You know, we sometimes forget that our leaders of the past and present were once little boys and girls who loved to laugh and play. They played games like 21, hop scotch, and hide-and-go-get-it. They became excited when they heard the ice cream truck; they loved bubble gum, cookies, and all types of sweets. They had a crush on the pretty girl or cute boy in their class.

Back then, the young Malcolm Little did not know that he would grow, fall, and rise like the Phoenix. He did not know that he would grow to be internationally known and respected. He did not know that he would carry the weight of the world on his shoulder. Malcolm Little did not know that he would die just trying to make things right -- right for everyone. God bless your soul, brother Malcolm. Happy Birthday. Peace~

Poem 4: Wor(L)d Problem

Wor(L)d Problem

Let us imagine that the discontent in the Black community could be summed up like a word problem

Question: How many injustices would it take for one Black Nation to explode?

Answer:

2 Kings 2 Many
2 Kings 2 Many
By: Stephen Bess 1992

Two Black Men Sitting On Porch

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

Lil' Stevie's Question on Crime

[Stevie arrives home from school. His mother is in the kitchen making dinner.]
Stevie: “Hey, momma!”

Momma: “Hey Stevie! How was school today?”

Stevie: “It was okay.”

[Stevie slumps into the chair at the kitchen table]

Momma: “What’s wrong baby? Is everything all right in school?”

Stevie: “Momma, didn’t you always tell me that if somebody put their hands on me that I should make sure that they don’t do it again?”

Momma: [Mother rushes to look at Stevie closely] “Yes. Why, did somebody put their hands on you today?”

Stevie: “No, but Officer Friendly was at our school today.”

Momma: “Oh, that’s nice. I used to love it when Officer Friendly came to visit our school when I was a little girl. What did he share with the kids today?”

Stevie: “Momma, he said that more and more young black men are dying by the hands of another black man every day in America before they reach the age of 21. Officer friendly said that kids are dying by the thousands!”

Momma: “Yes child…it’s a mess out there. A young boy was just killed over on 4th Street just the other day, but what does that have to do with what I told you?”

Stevie: “Well, I was thinking. There must be a lot of mothers out there telling their sons the same thing that you told me.”

Momma: “Hmmm…what makes you say that?”

Stevie: “Well, I was thinking...there are thousands of young black men who will never get a chance to put their hands on anybody ever again.”

Lil' Stevie's Christmas Questions

Lil Stevie: “Momma, how come we don’t got no chimney?
Momma: “You mean, why don’t we have a chimney?”
Lil Stevie: “Yes, Ma’am.”
Momma: “Well, because we live in an apartment.”
Lil Stevie: “Oh. Well, how is Santa going to get the presents to us if he can’t come down the chimney like on TV?”
Momma: “He’ll come through the front door.”
Lil Stevie: “Who will let him in? Won’t you be sleep?”
Momma: “I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

(Stevie looks at his mother and scratches his head)

Lil Stevie: “No momma! ‘Cause If you do that then somebody will come in behind Santa and try to rob him! Then, they will probably beat him up, take his money, take his reindeer and sell ‘em, sell all the little girls and boys toys, plus our gifts! After all of that then Christmas will be over!”
Momma: “No it won’t son because we’ll still have Jesus.”

(Stevie looks at his mother and scratches his head again)

Lil Stevie: “Momma, what does Jesus have to do with Christmas?”

Malcolm 3:10

El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X) died on this day in 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in NYC. It was a Sunday afternoon in February. The time of death was 3:10 pm. His death really resonates with me this year because he was only a few months older than me when he was shot and killed on that Sunday afternoon. I've never been shot(thank God), but I can only imagine his thoughts as he was taking his final breath. He must of thought of his wife and children. He thought of his hopes and his dreams that he would no longer be able to pursue. Finally, he must of thought of rest and to never again have to await this impending doom.