While fine-tuning “Buckwheat’s Journey”, I begin laughing.   Buckwheat, a doll, lands in Harlem during the minstrel shows and at the Savoy with Bert Williams.
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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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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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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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“Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself & the right people will love the real you.” 

― Unknown

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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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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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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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Jessica’s eyes popped open like a robot.  She bounced out of bed, dashed to the display case but came to a screeching halt.  A shock wave passed through Jessica’s body, imprisoning her vocal chords. 

     After a moment of silence, her throat released a high-pitched tone.  “Mom, Dad, help!” 

Her parents scurried into the room.

     Jessica panic-stricken, pointed at the floor.  “Look, Look at Buckwheat!” 

     “What happened?”  Sharon gasped.

     Her father interject...

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Spiff guarded the display case, waiting to capture his prey.  The clock struck midnight, and chattering resumed.  Ready to attack, Spiff leaped up.  With smirks plastered on their faces, the female dolls paraded over to Buckwheat.  Buckwheat’s body stiffened, scared to move.  The females slithered toward him with seductive movements, adding pleasing tones to their conversations. 

     “We would like to apologize for treating you so harshly,” Chelsea said.    

     “Yes, we’re s...

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      A dazzling full moon camouflaged the sinister aura of the fierce, gusty wind.  The grandfather clock chimed midnight.  Bickering and scuffling sounds interrupted the stillness in the night.  The streetlight shone through the bay window capturing the shadows of the female dolls shoving Buckwheat as he tried to defend himself.  The females discharged words at Buckwheat like a firing squad.

      “Who is he?”  Hearts asked.

     “You mean what is he?”  Chelsea asked.

     “W...

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Jessica eyed Buckwheat, reflecting on the message from her father.  Feeling a little remorse, Jessica caressed Buckwheat and promenaded toward the display case as her father trailed behind.  She lingered for a while to admire her classy female doll collection.  Sophisticated Lady fashioned a satin fusion evening gown, trimmed in black lace, with a black netted bow in her hair.  Satin Doll adorned in a glitzy satin blue lace evening gown accented with embroidered gold thread and matching headd...

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Thirteen- year old Jessica, avid collector of black female dolls, received a big surprise from her father.  He gave Jessica her first male doll Buckwheat.  Jessica negative response led her father to teach her a brief history lesson about picanniny.     

      “Jessica, let me give you a little history lesson.”  Her father expounded as if he was a history professor.  “There was once a television show called Our Gang originated by Hal Roach, which was also known as Little Rascals.  It ran...

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The idioms stereotype and picaninny are lost in translation.   People hear, see and feel these words yet ignore that these expressions are exploited in every form and fashion today. 

Buckwheat’s Journey… is a young adult fiction, with a light-hearted yet evocative perspective of stereotype/picaninny that addresses social skills, self-esteem, and bullying and conflict resolution.  Set in Chicago, Buckwheat re- enters the 21^st century as a doll and clashes with black classy female dolls beca...

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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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There are so many people giving advice about the writing process and lots of writers blogging, searching for their niche that the sound bytes are getting louder. I just want to turn down the volume and just write and let my words ring out.  I love writing regardless of who is listening.
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Despite all the evil that surrounds us, we must continue to love one another.  We hate the sin but love the person.

It takes more energy to hate and less to love.

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My condolences to Rick Warren and his wife in the lost of their son from depression.  In Romans 5:3, it states that the problems that we run into will develop our perseverance, which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God and give us greater confidence about the future.   In this difficult time, Rick and his family only need to let the Holy Spirit fill their hearts with love and continue to pursue God's purpose in their lives.  
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A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.
__Anon

I hope that the words I write are loving and healing.
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I never imagine that I would be writing condolences to the family who lost their 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins from gun violence. This person that committed this heinous act has no heart, soul or fear of God.  Evil and darkness is devouring the human race, and I pray that God's light permeates the spirit of mankind.    Let us heed God's warning.  God save our children.

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Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. official birthday.  I reflect on the Civil Rights Movement and the role I played as a young girl.   African-Americans fought so hard for fairness, freedom and human rights, yet I feel that we are still down-trodden and losing ground.  It is time for us to take up the baton.

To my African-American brothers and sisters, I give you a message from Dr. King:  “Our hope for creative living in this world house that we have inherited lies in our ability to re-e...

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To start the New Year, I went to see Les Miserables at the theater.  This film had multiple conflicts and subplots yet a tearjerker as well as thought-provoking.  Some of the scenes were cathartic and I cried.   At the end these words rung out “To love another person is to see the face of God.”  Happy New Year!

 

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2013 brings an old and new perspective to my life.  In 1986, I wrote the song What Happen to this Beautiful World.  It was a time when I felt the world was spinning out of control.  Now entering 2013 my outlook is back again. There is so much hate that is decaying our state of mind. This country is so splintered because people are no longer tolerant of others’ opinions and beliefs. Everyone lives in their own bubble.  We need to keep our focus on God, who is love; and this world would becom...

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Courage is not having strength to go on---It is going on when you don't have the strength.
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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." __ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 Congratulations President Obama!

 

Let us all move forward with love.  God bless America!

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While reading the Daily Bread today, I was inspired by this quote:  "God desires that we show respect to all people, because everyone bears His image."   With so much hate in the world and less love, we need to remember this.
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I was riding my bike today and tuning into the sounds of nature:  birds, insects, wind, water etc.  Yet, the other bikers were wearing earplugs and missing out on the sweet and beautiful sounds of nature.

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Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.
Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go
wrong.

~ Ella Fitzgerald

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Our  character is measured by what we do when no one is looking.

This is a reminder to all of us.
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It is time to turn off the Smart Phones, Blue Tooth, Ipod, Email, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube etc.

It is time that we have "Courageous Conversations" face to face.



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I love this song "Grateful" by Hezekiah Walker. 

My family will be singing this song at our 2012 Family Reunion. 

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I recently saw the film screening of Undefeated, which is a riveting documentary that examines the coach's efforts to give the school a winning season, as well as the sometimes complex relationship between Courtney, who is white and wealthy, and the players, who are all African-American and mostly come from communities stuck in a cycle of poverty and crime. It is also up for an Oscar.  This movie is very powerful and reveals the struggles that are still prevalent for African-Americans.  It br...

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Today I saw the film The Iron Lady about Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher portrayed by Meryl Streep.  This was a great movie and excellent performance by Meryl Streep!   Margaret Thatcher quoted St. Francis Assisi when times were rough and crucial decisions had to be made.

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadn...

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