Black Star quote

"...I find it's distressin', there's never no in-between
We either niggaz or Kings
We either bitchiz or Queens
The deadly ritual seems immersed, in the perverse
Full of short attention spans, short tempers, and short skirts
Long barrel automatics released in short bursts
The length of Black life is treated with short worth
Get yours first, them other niggaz secondary
That type of illin that be fillin up the cemetary
This life is temporary but the soul is eternal.."

Authors: Mos Def & Talib Kweli

On this eve of the annual celebration of Independence Day we need to take a serious look at the problems that plague the African-American community. We are sick and very ill as a nation, and it doesn't take Bill Cosby or anyone else to make us see that. I'm not preaching....I merely stating a fact. It's our choice to do all that we can. Otherwise, you can fire up the grill, pop a few brews and maybe you won't remember a damn thing about what I wrote or what Bill Cosby said. Happy Holidays!!!! Be safe. Peace~

Law Of The Bluest Eye

"And it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect...."
Author: Toni Morrison (Bluest Eye, 1970)
Toni Morrison's words sounded off in my head like a siren when I first read them. They were also reiterated in Black Star's (Mos Def & Talib Kweli) lyrics for Thieves In The Night. The words speak truth about human behavior and who we really are. Do you ever think about what you would do if no one could see you? According to Bismark, "our character is what we do when we think no one is looking ." It certainly makes me question my character especially in my most vulnerable moments. Are we good beings? Am I a good person? I think that most of us are guilty of not being such good people. There are few among us who would not do something that is considered illegal or immoral if we could get away with it or if it were acceptable. So, some of us have something in our lives that governs our actions and makes us think twice about how we conduct ourselves. This governance can be in the form of our conscience (God), loved ones, or law enforcement. I don't think that makes us evil or mean individuals. It becomes nefarious when we carryout heinous acts with no remorse or fear of consequences. So, it's not that we are so good; we're just well behaved. Peace~