Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

You have cracked my view of America and for that I am grateful. I have grown to have a sick sense of comfort in living the wrong way because although I had hoped I never dreamed things could be right. I have lived in this country feeling like a visitor, a stranger, a refuge placed here under a system and a constitution that called me an incomplete person. I have cried here many times but the first tear of joy fell on your victory. As I have said before I don’t trust politicians, I am not a hypocrite; I am a radical so I still must hold to my own beliefs but you Mr. President changed history and anyone that can’t raise their hand to that has no pulse. My people came here in shackles and you are now standing amongst the men who once ruled over a country that condoned that fact. How strange this feels to know your face will be next to theirs in history.

Because of what I believe I have never encouraged integration, I have never felt that we needed to strive to be with them, do what they do and have what they have. I have however encouraged segregation to give Us a chance to repair our wounds without feeling the need to taint our race with their opinions and rules. But when I saw those thousands of people in Grant Park, in my city together I realized that this is not the same country that hardened me.

My niece has a white friend. I have censored myself from discouraging that relationship because I don’t want to teach her hate but I have to be honest and admit that I didn’t like it. I grew up in Englewood in Chicago, and for those of you who have never had the pleasure I will tell you Chicago was so segregated in some areas to see a white person growing up, who didn’t work in my school, was like an oddity. I grew in that segregated world never wanting to mix and even guarding myself and my secrets from these outsiders. She did not grow up in that world, for so long I feared for her future because of that but now I envy her for it. Not because I want white friends, because I feel that those youth who didn’t grow up with the barriers that I did achieved something in you Mr. President that I don’t think I can appreciate the way that they can. I see in you what I hoped for them and seeing that dream achieved is where my appreciation lies.

I have never expected much from the government before you, before you snatched that carrot off the stick we’ve been chasing for decades. I have never ever supported this “democracy”, because of you I can now remove my sarcastic quotes, democracy. I have never believed that following this system will lead us to our destination. My militant way of thinking has always steered me clear of this government and political system allowing me only to visit every now and then to vote and pay homage to those who tried to change things before me but now as I watched you break 300 in electoral votes, hope glimmered just a bit in that corner of my mind where I have dumped the lost causes. Because I still must hold up my end of the bargain for my people and fight for what is right; because I will hold you to your word and we may disagree, I will thank you now. I will thank you for a feeling I have never had, pride in the country I live in. Thank you.

The people are sovereign in America and because of what we did last night I can speak that statement as truth.

Kanye West Opened a Fat Burger

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/chi-100708-fatburger-story,0,3826731.story






Sorry Mr. West I love you but, I'm not impressed

The Covenant with Black America Pt. 2

Click below to buy the book from Amazon...

The Covenant with Black America

I made mention of The Covenant with Black America in a previous post and I wanted to provide more information on the subject for those interested.

People this is so important, we have to be INVOLVED in changing our future don't be a spectator today you can change someones life, volunteer, sponsor a little brother or sister, tutor, visit with your elders, help your community programs, take a few hours and give it to the People. The web offers so many opportunities to find volunteer projects all over the country, choose to improve.

This is the address to CWBA:
http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com/involved/individuals/alert/

One of the ways you can get involved is by sending letters to your elected officials directly from the site above. I have pasted a copy of the generic letter below to give you a better idea of the contract.

I can't stress enough how important it is to hold your local officials to the nose on these issues, politics aside if a community elects an alderman or representative they have an obligation to that community to provide improvement and change. Hold them accountable, make sure they are aware of the issues important to Us. And if and when that fails results form your own committee of concerned community members and focus on change yourself.

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Subject: Covenant with Black America
Dear [Lawmaker]:

Earlier this year, the Covenant with Black America captured the attention of millions of people who feel it is time to pay attention to advancing a policy agenda that will make this country live up to its promise. We hope that you will use your power and influence to help eliminate devastating racial disparities--from health care to housing, education to economic parity, criminal justice to civil rights--so that we can create a society that truly provides opportunity for all.

All across America, Black people are struggling to live courageous and fulfilled lives in communities that are under-funded, neglected, and seemingly forgotten. We know that together, we can do better. As an official elected to serve and protect our interests, we ask that you promote the policies that are outlined in depth in the Covenant with Black America. We hope you will read the book and ask your staffs to read it as well. The book contains the facts regarding each of the areas highlighted below as well as examples of what individuals and communities are already doing to achieve these goals and a suggested policy agenda for each area. Please join The Covenant movement and advance policies that:

- Secure the Right to Healthcare and Well-Being, including universal access to health insurance, and support for policies that promote healthy communities and lifestyles;

- Establish a System of Public Education in which All Children Achieve at High Levels and Reach Their Full Potential, including universal access to high quality early education and after school programs;

- Correct the System of Unequal Justice in which African-Americans are disproportionately incarcerated, including reforming the juvenile justice system and providing effective programs to support those returning to community from jails and prisons;

- Foster Accountable Community-Centered Policing that attracts those who respectfully serve all communities and maintain safety;

- Ensure Broad Access to Affordable Neighborhoods that Connect to Opportunity, including more public transit linking low-income residents to good jobs throughout the region, enforcement of Fair Housing Policies, and promotion of mixed-income neighborhoods;

- Claim our Democracy, enforce voting rights laws, and promote broad participation in the democratic process;

- Strengthen our Rural Roots, support small farmers, and expand economic opportunity in rural communities;

- Promote Good Jobs, Wealth Building, and Economic Opportunity so that no one is left behind;

- Ensure Environmental Safety and Justice for All Communities;

- Close the Racial Digital Divide and support universal broadband access for all communities.

Thank you for joining this effort and expect to hear from us as specific opportunities to advance The Covenant goals emerge.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your street address
City, State Zip

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Also I have included a link to Volunteer Match, this is a great tool I have used successfully to find projects and areas where I can help. Even if you only have a few hours a week it can make a difference.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

For those of your involved with churches and religious organizations, talk with your church leaders about organizing food drives, career and job search seminars, neighborhood clean ups and youth outreach.

We all are responsible and We all have an obligation to secure Our future. Do your part, simple as that.

Obama vs. McCain vs. Us

I see the wires are already buzzing about the debate yesterday so I thought I would dedicate one post to this election.

If you notice I try very hard to stay away from politics in this blog, 1. Because I try not to avoid disagreements about those things and 2. I am a bit hard to understand in that arena because of the beliefs and views I have.

I don't trust politicians; Black, white or whatever I don't trust them. I am however pleasantly surprised and a bit confused as to how a Black man could and has gotten to the final race and because of that this race intrigues me. Don't get me wrong I am not taking away from him in any way. I think he deserves the spot he has worked for but I can not ignore the realistic view of america and how Our people are treated here. Everyday this country turns a blind eye to injustice and at the same time this country allows a Black man to possibly control it; I'm sorry if that's suspect to me but it is.

But here is the fact of the matter, there are hundreds of thousands of little black faces looking to him with hope that I have wished for them for a long time. Growing up in this society is hard for Our children. REAL role models are few and far between and the media projects so many negative and derogatory images on these kids it's a battle for them to find an identity in all that and it's sad. I have in the past attacked BET and still do for this fact alone. But regardless of who he is and what he will be and become the fact still stands that my nephews can see in him that you can reach higher than the studio and higher than the rim. That's what's important to me so that's what I will focus on.

Anyone involved with or working with a government with it's foot on my neck I don't trust. A government that allows the media to run rampant with negative images, propaganda, blatant racism, consumerism promotion, intellectual starvation and demoralization is not a government with my best interest at heart. And I do believe that that's where the brunt of america's problems originate. To see that neither candidate has addressed this from what I know (I could be wrong and I'm okay with that if you want to call me on it) makes me sad.

Part of the reason this country is in this financial state because of consumerism and I am guilty of that too. Everyone is searching and craving this "american dream" so We buy the house We couldn't afford in two lifetimes and the cars We don't need. This culture thrives on big bigger biggest and now We must reap what We sowed. I have heard the finger pointing going every which way to the banks that allowed the loans when they new they shouldn't, the mortgage companies, real estate market and so on but how about pointing the finger back at Us.

What makes you want that big house? So much that you would go into a contract knowing you can't hold up your end. What makes you rack up credit card debt till your eyes cross when you know your annual salary can't cover the bill. Why do We do these things, I have a theory maybe it's what We see, hear and are told. Who says to be respected and have status you have to have a fancy house and nice car? When did substance go out the window? I turn on the TV and see expensive things I can't afford, I'm assaulted with commercials and ads for all this shit I HAVE to have and then I turn to the news to learn what drugs I need to be on, that black men are still scary and coffee which would do wonders for my heart yesterday will kill me 20 years premature today.

The country in a whole is in turmoil but individual decisions have created crisis on a local level. We make the decision not to save money (and when I say We I mean Us not them remember that for future reference if you're going to read what I write) We make the decision to fall into the credit trap and We live beyond our means. I do understand the job shortage but at the same time that's not a cop out either. We make the decision to take the money We earn outside of the community and give it back to them, We could have made the decision to keep that money amongst Us and created our own jobs but lack of trust of one another, lack of the "leader" We don't need and the media made Us choose not to do that. Obama is a leader, obviously, but it saddens me that still after all these years of struggle for a people that has proved resilient and intelligent enough to survive still feels We need one man to tell Us things can change.

I walk through my neighborhood and see Obama t-shirts, buttons, flip flops (seriously) and I’m so perplexed why did it take so long if We can come together like this why did We wait. Is it solely on the strength of him? That’s a lot of weight for one man to carry no matter how great. I don’t want a quick fix because slapping a band aid on a wound this big would be a futile gesture but I don’t want bullshit promises either. You know that statement JFK made ask not what your country can do for you yadda yadda yadda, it takes on a whole new meaning for me now that I’m older. I don’t care what Obama or McCain can do for my people I only care about what I can do for them. I care about all of Us making a conscious decision to dedicate themselves to Us and fixing Us the right way. Politicians and presidents have came and went but We still have a horrible financial methods, our homes are still broken, our children are still lost and We still don’t trust each other enough to (as a majority) choose to patronize a Black business before another. There is no fucking way those of Asian and European decent should be able to come into our neighborhoods and set up shop (wow I’m getting heated but I will let it flow). This is not because I’m racist by any means, it’s because I’m upset that there is a gapping whole in Our community’s economy for them to move in. We should own the restaurants, bodegas, corner stores, and clothing stores in our own neighborhoods. There is no fucking way Our boys and men should have this major negative view of Our females. But We do nothing to stop the ass shaking and booty popping plastered all over pop culture, We say nothing to these TV stations that are supposed to be Ours. Martin shut down a whole transit bus system and We can’t shut BET down till they switch their style up? We complain about how hard it is for the Black man in this society but We won’t sacrifice trying to keep up with the Jones to save the money to create business and jobs to employ them.

For too long We have complained and complained about what’s wrong but We need to turn the onus back on ourselves and bear that burden till We fix it. Tavis Smiley had the right idea with the Covenant but We can’t come together to get behind it. And it doesn’t have to be a collective, one by one We can change Our lives. I think that Obama represents a lot of what We need to see today but he is not THE answer, no one man is. Do I believe what he says he can and will do, no. Do I hope a pray every night that he can and will do what he says, you damn right. This one fact worries me, if he doesn’t win (which doesn’t seem likely but hypothetically) or if he doesn’t do what he says what will We do? Will We go back to waiting for this “leader” or will We continue to believe in change? Politicians have made Us promises before time and time again and I can’t understand why We have yet to stop depending on them and depend on Us. I wish, as talented We are, that We used our individual skills selflessly for one night a week. If you’re into finance give a budgeting and credit seminar for the neighborhood. Can you cook? Make breakfast or lunch for the kids in the neighborhood who come home to an empty house cause mom and dad are working. Can you build things, good with your hands? Start your own community reform. See where I’m going with this. We don’t need anybody to help Us We possess power, creativity, and intelligence in volumes.

Now I am anti-politics but I will urge each and every one of you to vote for somebody, I won’t endorse one or the other because I hope that We are not being told who to vote for because that defeats the purpose. I want everyone to look at the issues, the platforms, watch the debates, listen to the speeches and make a decision out of intelligence not out of the thought process of the masses. There are a great number of people who shed blood to give you the right to vote so you should accept that and view it as a gift.


Forgetting the past will only leave you empty don’t let them make you forget under the illusion of controlled freedom, fight because They did for you. This battle is far from won.


*Side Note* I posted this and then read my quote of the day to the left, crazy right? Check it out.