I had car trouble this past week, tow truck and the trimmings. I felt defrauded, yet I was calm, prayed and turned up the love. I am thankful.

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         “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

― Bil Keane        

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I viewed the film Captain Phillips and it was riveting.  My emotions swayed from Captain Phillips to the Somalis.   It evoked my mission trips to Africa and the plight and poverty that prevail.

 

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The voices of the past are sometimes encouraging and thought provoking.

"My own voice cheered me, and, far more, the mind's
Internal echo of the imperfect sound;
To both I listened, drawing from them both
A cheerful confidence in things to come."

__William Wordsworth

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What the world needs today is love. 
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Someone sent me these powerful words today.  These words remind me that I am not perfect and I fall short many of times.   Those that I have hurt forgive me.

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.
__Mark Twain
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I would rather be a moon than a star; stars fall, but a moon shines forever.
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Let my inner being evoke love, joy, peace, patience and kindness.

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I still love dancing! I had a great time in jazz class,which is like life: executing the rhythm, turning and soaring with a grand jete!

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Is gun violence in Chicago something new or a continuation from the past?   In 1960-1970 the average life expectancy of Black males was 20 years of age or younger.  These statistics still exist.  As an African- American, I would like to speak to us and for us.  In the 70's, when I graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, I had a job offer to teach in St. Louis, but stopped in Chicago on my way.  Intrigued with Chicago, I decided to stay and find a job.  Fortunate for me, there we...

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Do not be afraid of those who want to hurt you.  They can hurt your body but not your soul.
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Do not hide your light.  Let it shine for all to see!
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“Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself & the right people will love the real you.” 

― Unknown

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LOVE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
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Should we go to war or take care of our needs at home?  We are spending billions of dollars in other countries, yet our cities are facing bankruptcy or bankrupt like Detroit, Michigan, which is predominantly African-Americans. Where should we focus our priorities?  American citizens are losing their homes, no jobs, and health care cost rising.  No longer can we turn our attention away from the problems at home.

The crisis is escalating with the insurmountable national debt of $70 trillion, w...

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Meditating on the words from Langston Hughes, I think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream.

Was King's dream deferred?    Did it dry up like a raisin in the sun?    Did it fester like a sore and run or sagged from a heavy load and then exploded?

Looking at the conditions and quality of life for African-Americans today, King’s dream is deferred. The voices of some African-American leaders stutter, mumble, or simply muted and paralyzed.   Their voices are meshed with other voices that hav...

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We  try everything to escape physical imperfections: weight loss, exercise, makeup, hair styles, and cosmetic surgery instead of overcoming character flaws.  Changing our looks is easier than changing our character.   We should be more concerned about the condition of our heart:  kindness, patience, integrity, and love.
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 I saw the film The Butler.  My emotions got the best of me after taking the historical roller-coaster ride through injustice, cruelty, deception, and denial.    Shadows of my past crept into my soul and exposed the demon again – racism.  For so long I kept that demon locked inside, secured in a box, daring it to escape; yet viewing The Butler, the  memories became so powerful all over again, my soul quailed and the tears flowed.  At one time, I had to hold my breath to avoid wailing.  Raci...
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 “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” 

― Mother Teresa
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I am sitting on my deck meditating, creating and just enjoying nature.  Sometimes it is good to pause to revitalize the mind, body and soul.

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On Sunday, I saw the musical production The Jungle Book.  This was an outstanding stage production from the actors, orchestra to the music (sounds of Dixieland and India) and set, lighting, and costume design.  This show had elements of The Lion King and The Wiz. The director Mary Zimmerman knows how to captivate the audience with her ingenious imagination.    Look out Broadway, this show is on fire and headed your way!

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I was perusing blogs about the Trayvon Martin's trial and several racist bloggers painted their thoughts that have been concealed behind their narrow minds.   One person commented that Rachel would make a great Aunt Jemima.  I was livid.  How could someone make such a cruel comment?  Then I started to reminisce, the hands of time have been turned back.  Justice is being denied and the ugly head of racism has surfaced.    I have been feeling and experiencing this for a while, but I just tried ...

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“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.” 

― Henry David Thoreau
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“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

― Martin Luther King, Jr.
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         “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”

― Les Brown        
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Do you ever feel sometimes that are you are "chasing the wind'?  The wind passes you, yet you cannot catch it or keep it.  Think about what you feel that is worthwhile in your life, so you will not find yourself "chasing the wind".
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Social media is an awesome tool to connect with people all over the world.   I am presently working with an illustrator from Italy.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming yet stimulating.  

Expand your horizon; take a leap of faith.

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Today, I spoke at Joseph Stockton School graduation.  I was so proud of our young people of color, ready to take the next steps in their lives.  In my speech, I told them to "Make Today's Dream Tomorrow's Reality" by continuing to pursue their goals and believe that they can succeed because nothing is impossible with faith, hope and love. I also quoted Helen Keller: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that ...

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Today, I participated in the College Board conference Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education.
This was a powerful, awesome, and unbelievable conference.  Educators, students and others discussed, brainstormed, engaged, networked, and collaborated.  The highlight was Robert Townsend. Educators and students viewed his new film The Hive about a young man pulled from his father's gang and forced into a reform school .  Afterwards, we engaged in profound and enlightening discussio...
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