The Prodigal Sun

Two steps forward, One step back

Less than 150 years ago, Black Americans were in chains. Now, its 2009, and my president is Black... I am truly proud and excited to say that. And it doesn't sound real to me when I say it... But I love saying it. It fills me with such pride. I am proud of my people. And by 'my people', I do mean Black people of African American heritage and how far we have come. But I also mean my fellow Americans and how far WE have come. The majority of America is still white. And they have come far enough to freely elect a Black man as president. Its a wonderful thing.

I am excited and worried. Yes, we have a Black man for president, but our country is in the worst of shape its been in since the great depression. And it all falls in Barack's lap to fix. But I have faith in Barack, and he has taken his first step with the stimulus plan that has finally been signed and is going into effect.

The ink isn't even dry on the stimulus package when the New York Post publishes this comic:

No, really. That is a Chimpanzee that has just been shot. And the caption reads, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

Really? No. Really?... Really? They published this on purpose?

Needless to say, Al Sharpton as well as other national activists are right on it. Sharpton called the cartoon "troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys."

To which Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post, replied, "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."

That was the best they could come up with? You mean to tell me that no one on the NY Post staff thought that this might be really offensive to many many people? Come on... and you call Sharpton and opportunist? This is the NY Post trying to stir up some controversy to sell papers... THAT IS OPPORTUNISTIC! And its such a cheap way to go about it. The race card. Its sure to ruffle feathers ESPECIALLY in our kumbaya honeymoon period after the inauguration. It's ignorant, its cheap, corny and obvious...

Just when you think we are making progress in the country... ignorance once again surfaces its UGLY head. Two steps forward... one step back. But... at least that equals one forward step. It's still progress...

Change I believe in...

After 7 years of locks and 2 years of braids... I am debating cutting off my locks. I have been saying that I wanted to cut off my locks for a while now, but kept losing the nerve every time my deadline would approach. My locks have become such a major part of my identity that I was way too afraid to cut them.

When I mentioned to other folks that I was considering cutting them... they begged me not to cut them. They are so pretty... they are so neat... I love your locks... once you cut them, there is no going back. And it made me hesitate... I have a look that works. And if I cut my hair and it looks whack... I can't sew it back on... they are gone.

And the question was why do you want to cut them? And there were so many reasons... but the most important was that my hair was starting to thin in the front. Everyone thought it was 'baby hair'... but... I am a grown azz man, and ain't nothing 'baby' about my hair... lol It was because of my locks. But on the flip side, what if I cut my locks and my hair didn't thicken again, I would go from looking late 20's to early 40's... lol 

Then I thought, what if it gets worse? I DON'T want to be the guy with locks that start at the middle of my head, and walk around looking like a cling-on warrior like Sista Patterson... Thats not a cute look. 

So... it was the night of my birthday party, three days before the actual day (feb 10th), and the arbitrary deadline I set for my lock cutting. I was on the phone with one of my friends and was saying how I had once again changed my mind about cutting my hair. The person on the other line was one of my lock advocates. He loved the locks and normally said I shouldn't cut them when we had this conversation. But on this day... he said... just do it. If you are going to cut them, today will be the day. If not today, then just stop talking about it. He gave me the number to his barber. And we got off the phone. I don't know if he thought it was a good idea or if he was just tired of hearing me moan about it. But it resonated with me... 

So for the next hour or so... I went back and forth in my head... then called his barber and made an appointment. And figured I could just not go if I didn't want to go through with it...

Then I thought... fukk it. Its time for a change. I want to wash my hair without having to retwist for 2 or 3 hours. I want to sleep without my hair getting caught under my body and pulling it. I want to go swimming without hair drama. Its been 9 years since I had short hair, and it was time for a change. I was literally saying this shyt aloud to try to amp myself up to it.

So... I did it! I went to my friends barber, and sat in the chair... and did it. And to my surprise...

I LOVE IT!

I love the short hair. I missed it. I had short hair like this my entire life aside from a high top or a curly blow out fro here or there... And I feel more like myself than I have in a while.

The ironic thing is that people are telling me that I look much younger now... and here I was thinking I was going to turn 35 and start looking 42, and someone even said, not only do I look young, but  I looked like I was college age. And you KNOW that made my day.  So... it was a good change... I am glad I did it.

You all can see it when I change my blog profile pic... just kidding... LOL Here is a link to my new look. Take a Look at the NEW ME!

Something positive for a change

Ok... with all this negativity I have been talking about lately, I need to brighten it up a bit. So I will NOT tell you about my macbook pro drama and my screen going black and me being without my laptop for a week, or that I have to bring it back to get repaired and be without it another 7 to 10 days... nope... I am NOT here to talk about that... (ARRRRRRRGH!)

What I do want to talk about is my girl Jennifer Hudson. As you know, if you have read my blog in the past... I am a big fan of JHud. I have loved her ever since her AI season and I even stopped watching in protest when she was voted off after singing the best non-Whitney version of 'Run to You'... (well... I did tune in to the finale to see Fantasia win... I couldn't help myself... I loved Fantasia too... lol)

We have all heard about Jennifer Hudson's tragedy, losing her Mother, Brother and Nephew in one fell swoop... and our hearts went out to her. I know I really felt for her... So I am really glad to see her back on the scene, and come back in such a major way...

No doubt you have all seen her performance at the Superbowl singing the National Anthem... well if you haven't, here you go...

I have said it before, and I will say it again... JENNIFER HUDSON IS ONE SANGIN' AZZ HEFFA!!!!! WOOOO... THIS GIRL CAN SAAAAA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAANG! I mean dayum... its crazy. I LOVE her voice. And I love her runs... I love her power. I just love to hear her sing.

And immediately after the superbowl, the press was all over the fact that she lip-sync'd. So fukking what? She had to sing it at some point... its still her voice... and its no less amazing. And really, she didn't need to lip sync. She can perform like that live, and has proven that time and time again. JHud is one artist who doesn't need studio magic... that is for sure.

I am just glad to have her back. If she can overcome losing 3 family members at once... and still shine... how can I be upset about a laptop issue... or a houseguest that is a pain in the azz... or a friend who has drama in her life... 

Looking at what she has overcome makes my issues seem so small and insignificant... Just goes to show that no matter what happens, you have to keep on moving... and that you can overcome anything. Kudos to JHud.