Health Care for All

We can be very proud of a President who doesn't forget where he came from. These pictures are of President Obama as "the man" and as "a child." Now the children and people of America will have health care coverage with the passage of the bill through the House of Representatives. Now, the Senate needs to approve its version of the bill and send it to Conference Committee to work out the details. Change is complex. Change has a cost. Change is what the average America needs. Congratulations President Obama and the members of the House of Representatives who voted to address the needs of others: 219 Democrats and 1 Republican.

When will the Republicans ever learn that fighting against the needs of everyday Americans is a losing position?

No amount of rationalization will take our country back to a era when the needs of people are on the back burner.

We must never rest and never relent. Change is a aspect of freedom.

Grover Washington Jr.

Does anyone remember the soulful sounds of Grover Washington? When the weekend came his sound ushered in the merriment of a house party with your friends.

I can remember chilling out in Philadelphia at his Annual Jazz event.

The old days where good! The memories are great!

When will the killings end?

Instability of the mind and the pressures of our society are leading people to do inhumane things to other people. Senseless killing is a shock to our cultural norm. We are shocked by the public outbreaks of mass murders.

We are immune to the daily killings that occur in American urban areas everyday.

Is there a solution to humans killing other humans?

I wish we could identify a remedy to this unfortunate phenomena.

Soul Man? Michael Steele

What if you went to sleep one night and then woke up the next morning and the President of the United States was Michael Steele? That is a daunting thought! Just offered this blog because sometimes you just need to laugh out loud.

I will give Steele credit for being able to maneuver around and through obstacles to end up with a good job. He is getting paid. He is getting national exposure. He is the most visible African American within the Republican party. If that is all he wanted he has accomplished his goal.

Clarence Thomas accomplished his.

The scripture reminds us, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"

Finding a Great City

Does anyone recognize this city? Hint: The twins towers was featured in the movie, "Entrapment" starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Second hint: It is not in America.

As African American people we must regain our sense of travel and adventurous zeal. We are descendants of great migrators who traveled distant lands by sea, land, and now air. Our world is getting smaller. Our reach is getting wider.

Be safe in your travels. The spirit of God is everywhere.

Tyler Perry and Spike Lee

Why do we have to make a choice between the two producers? Why does one have to be critical of the other? Why can't we just get along?

We cannot have a short sighted view of obtaining wealth in America. Wealth is intergenerational. Real wealth is not obtained in one lifetime. We need African American people about empire building.

Therefore, I applaud both of these men for entering into a world of movie making with nothing but their God given talent. They both have made an impact on the production of films. They have provided opportunities for talent to have a media of expression. They have created jobs. They have succeeded against all odds. Brother Spike should direct his tirades against a system of exploitation that pigeon holes all screenwriters into producing films, stories, and shows that require white distribution systems and funding to get to the marketplace. The beauty of the marketplace is there is room for all products. Therefore, references to times when African Americans had no clout in the movie making industry is not relevant to today when Tyler Perry, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Will and Jada Smith and Spike Lee are proving that they don't have to bend over to have their products produced and distributed. The African American Marketplace is saying by their spending dollars; there is room for them in our pocketbooks.

Drop the criticism and build a distribution network that doesn't require White approval of the products your creative geniuses have in mind.

SCLC's New President

I must commend Rev. Bernice King for stepping up to the plate as the new President of SCLC. Her challenge will be to chart her own course and develop a relationship with the everyday people of America.

Unfortunately, I believe she may very well be trapped in the role of a public image without public support.

If she is willing to do the grass roots organizing throughout America that is necessary, she can be effective. But if she is reduced to preaching, speaking, and televised appearances, she will be ineffective in mobilizing the masses. If the role of charismatic leader is her choice, she will have a difficult time relating to the youth of America, particularly our African American youth who are disenchanted with the status quo. But, if she is willing to take the road less traveled, visiting the local communities of America and "taking it to the streets" she may have a marvelous chance to chart her own course and make her own way.

I pray she choses the latter.

A Lesson to Learn

This is a picture of the Turkish air force, similar to our Blue Angels. This formation mimics the flight pattern of birds as they migrate south for the winter. It's a formation where the lead breaks the wind force barrier thus permitting those behind to be able to fly with less resistance. When birds use this formation the lead flies until he is tired and then falls back and another takes the point position. By working together they are able to accomplish more than they would if they worked separately.

When will we learn this lesson?

Talking about race

It's amazing to me that organizations are sponsoring discussions on race. It's as if talking about it will solve the economic, health, and racial disparities within America. Many understand that 40 acres and a mule is a far distant dream. Many understand that reparations is an overdue remedy. Some understand that the tremendous wealth that many within the white community enjoy was derived from the no payment or underpayment of colored labor. Some understand that inventions for which patents should have been given were stolen from colored inventors. What you may not known is that slaves were taxed as property (chattel). As a result states received tax benefits for the insidious practice that forced many of our ancestors to labor and die to enrich others. States owe real money to those of us who understand that there enrichment was also upon our backs. States who derived taxes from the ownership of slaves have a outstanding debt to repay. If you want to talk about race - let's talk about that!