Don't Call It A Comeback

Barack Hussien Obama, you sir are my hero!

On Wednesday I watched you step to the podium and give a speech, that I honestly must say either was dry and boring (which surprisingly some of your joints have been) or it was totally overshadowed by that awesome ass press conference that followed!

Hours after last November's elections, after I had just watch the Tea Party spank your ass, I wrote you a letter. In it I begged you to do something to make me (a Black Republican) vote for you again based on your merits. I also made this request:

Deliver that transparency in government that you promised. Not only as it applies to evidence of weapons of mass destruction but also as it applies to those areas of your policy that cause political rifts and those legislators guilty of blocking it from being voted into law. I think you will find that if you let the press along with the American people know what is going on they together they will start to question any representative guilty of holding up progress. -Letter to the President, Nov 4, 2010

Imagine my pride when I watched you step to your podium on Wednesday, and have the single best press conference of your life! I watched you lay out a plan, and follow it up by showing where the measures you have already created were being held up by politics. You called Washington out! It took tremendous guts, and I totally have gained more respect for you because of it.

Here are a few quotes from your Q&A seesion that I feel go along way toward getting you reelected and my thoughts on them.

The problems that are causing the challenges that the Middle Class is facing weren't created overnight and they won't be solved overnight.
Finally!!! Remind people that this recession that we are in began in 2007, when you were just Candidate Obama! (Btw-I wrote a little something about you back then Joshua-but I digress.)

If everybody else is willing to take on their sacred cows and do tough things that I feel it will be hard for Republicans to say we don't want tax cuts on private jets or we want to keep giving tax breaks to oil companies that are making money hand over fist...I don't that's a sustainable position.
Now this right here was fuckin' brilliant!!! I swear I will no longer question your ethnicity again! If this ain't calling a Mofo Out 101 I don't know what is, as seen in black barbershops all around the United States.

What I propose is a plan that doesn't hurt the pockets of the ones that are struggling, it leans on the ones that are doing extraordinarily well. You'll still be able to ride on your private jet, it's just gonna cost a little more .
Then after you explained why tax hikes on the rich were part of your economic plan, you talked shit to the naysayers...You get's mega props for that shit!!

I maybe naive but I expect them to do the right thing. Leaders lead.
Then you hit 'em with a suave ass verbal jab...pow!!! Btw-totally digging your sarcasm here! Well played sir; well played!

Momar Gadhafi, is second to Osama Bin Ladin in having caused the most American deaths...As a member of NATO we are compelled to act...A lot of this fuss is politics and if you look substantively at what we've done we have done what we planned to do, we have protected millions of lives, lost no American casualties...we did what's right.
Now we both know this right here is some bull shit! I don't even think you believed it when you said it. If I go back to the tape you were probably shaking your head 'No' while you were saying it. And everyone who has watched the Fox show 'Lie to Me' knows, that is a sign of a lie...I'm just saying man, lets keep it real.

What we have done is said that we can not discrimate against a person because of their sexual orientation. We have done more during my administration for Gay & Lesbian couples so they can visit their loved ones in the hospital, we ended Don't Ask Don't tell...I think it's important for us to work through these issues state by state.
I hope I speak for all homosexuals when I say, thank you for this! As a disabled person I don't want my family (those people who think I have a homo demon & barely visit me) to have any control or say over my health care. I want the person who has lived the misery of my disease with me making the choices I can't make. This alone is reason enough for me to vote for you again.

What I think you are saying Chuck Todd is what millions of Americans are saying that Gays, Lesians, Transgendered people are Mothers, Fathers, Sons, Daughters, our Friends. They are Americans and they deserve to be treated that way.
I have to be honest when I say this gave me chills, but not because of the awesomeness of what you said. I got chills because in my mind I saw JFK in that Dallas square. I hope this doesn't get you killed, sir.

I think we could put construction workers back to work rebuilding bridges and roads. We used to have the best bridges & roads and we dont anymore and it hurts our competitiveness. It gets work done that we need done in America and it helps Americans at the same time.
I believed you were being genuine when you said this. I thought of that History Channel special on Chinese infrastructure, that outlined why goods move faster in parts of China than they can here. It reminded me that you are a geek too. (Whispers-The guy that lived there before you kinda set the bar low. Btw- I totally love the way you say the word 'Pakistan'.)

S. Korea has a better trade agreement than we do. I see tons of Korean cars here in American, but no American cars in S. Korea .
Just good ole common sense mixed with patriotism right here! It's okay to show a little bias for the home team.

I think as politicians we should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. We should be able to work on deficit reduction and creating jobs at the same time.
Man ole man would I love to see you in a Southside Chicago pool hall! I bet nobody talks shit better than you do!

We can't afford to have labor & management fighting all the time with we are competing with Japan, China, and other companies to sell goods all over the world. We still have the advantage in the airline industry and I want to make sure we keep it.
I like this statement! Again common sense mixed with patriotisim.

My top priority in each and every one of these situations is catching terrorists, getting intel from them, following the rule of the law...Their mission (in the field) is not to make sure the worry about legal issues, it is to capture the subject with minimum danger to American lives.
And this is why I love you! Let's get these muthafuckas then!!

I did not use the word victory in my speech, I said "We can be successful" and we are having success in carrying out our mission...We will continue to apply the pressure. The Afghans have trained police and military that can and will fill in the gaps. They can start defending themselves.
Did I mention I love the way you handle yourself with the media? I was wondering when the Afghans were going to do something besides train and collect American tax dollars.

Afghanistan is still a dangerous place, there are still going to be incidents like this...but as I said in my speech the tide of war has shifted. They aren't going to be totally safe even if we were there. Our goal is the help the Afghan people to defend themselves.
If we could some how deploy this same tactic to Urban negborhoods all over America, maybe their economy would improve too, and the domestic terrorist would be forced out by the people. You know, a little nation building at home?

I'm not gonna make news on that today, good try though.
Hands down my favorite quote! I love the respect you showed your opponet here!

I'll keep on giving you the same answer until I give you a different one...and that won't be today.
Again, all who questioned your Blackness before can point to this quote as irrefutable proof of your heritage.

We need to maintain our position as a nation of law, but we also have to maintain our position as a nation of immigrants.
Again, I got goose bumps from a JFK flashback. Please don't get killed man.

There are some people having to choose what bills they pay on this month...For the US govt to start picking & choosing is not going to inspire alot of confidence. Are we really gonna pay interest to the Chinese and not pay folks their Social Security, or Veterans their benefits?
You did me proud with this one man, for real!

These are bills Congress ran up. They took the vacation, they bought the car and now they don't want to pay as fast as they said they would. That's not how the responsible American family would act, and we're the greatest nation on earth.
I for one love your analogies! This one just replaced the 'wrecked car' one as my absolute favorite. I think you may have grabbed the attention of a few independents with this statement!

I think at some point these people need to do their job...It amuses me when people say I need to show leadership on this issue...They are here one week and gone the next...I'm here, and I've been working. They need to get here.
Dude just how big are your balls? (Insert Wayne & Garth bow) 'We're Not Worthy. We're Not Worthy!'

Everyday I get letters from people around the country...Some have lost their homes, lost businessness...haven't find a job in a few months, a year, a year and a half...Every day that weighs on me.
You showed us your heart here, and we've been begging to see it for a while.


These problems won't be solved overnight but we know what to do. If we educate our kids we will be more competitive...America has to make some investments.
As a current college student I can't tell you what this statement means to me. As a parent, I thank you because you know in this economy Ill be lucky to have $1000 saved in 5 years. (That's all I have until my oldest graduates high school.)

‎(Americans) They want to feel they leadership is getting the job done and not playing games.
You're right. We do!

You went in down 20 points at halftime, but you have come out in the third quarter full court pressin', makings steals, and fastbreakin' your competition. You have made some key adjustments at halftime and have really closed the gap. You have the ability to take the lead and blow out the competition if you can manage to create jobs domestically and deal with the deficit significantlly.

It's a tall order but I believe in you.

I think you campaign theme song should be LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out', and when you are successfully relected in 2012 I hope your first words to America will be:
"Don't Call It A Comeback; I've Been Here For Years!"

-Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'

Why is Being A Geek Still Not Cool?

When I was in school, people picked at me for being smart. No one and I mean no one in elementary school wanted to be labeled a Nerd, because that was lower on the social totem pole than the kid with perpetual bladder issues, dried boogers and shit.

I managed to survive middle school because I loved to play basketball more than I loved books. My friends from the courts got to see a different side of me because I was "the girl that could ball."

Now that I'm raising a rising 6th grade genius, I'm forced to accept the fact that not much has changed. My Deuce da Don, the infamous clone #2, is terrified of being labeled a Nerd at school.

It got me thinking about what middle school could have been like for me, had I not had the fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on which story I tell) distinction of being "Nikki's little sister" or "Leon's cousin". I saw the kids who weren't able to move as effortlessly between the two groups; I befriended them but I certainly didn't envy them.

Kids can be hella cruel. I guess our social training needs a little more structure (but I digress). My brain was inundated with a tsunami of questions as I strolled down middle school memory lane.

Why do we place value on not succeeding? Why has it been cool to not be smart? Where did it begin? Do parents play a role? I could go on but I wanna keep this short...

After swimming through my thoughts I marooned on this conclusion...the little girls are the key.

The power of the doubled X chromosomes makes it's debut in the spring of 5th grade!

I have witnessed my often smelly (what is it about boys and hygiene) preteen who still cried when it was time to get a hair cut, actually request I iron his shirt and give me the sad face and beg not to just get an edgeup this time, and this is a different kid than the one who told me Happy New Year 6 months ago.

What was the catalyst for this change? Was it my countless lectures and repeating of my mantra "Personal hygene is about you!"?

HELL NAW!!! (you see my North Carolina coming out?)

It was pheromones!

This spring I've watched my son start to notice girls. It started in March when the pretty little chocolate girl who always wears the cutest skirts that lives in our complex stopped by. Before she turned to walk away when I told her Deuce wasn't home, she requested I let him know she had done so. This metamorphosis has blossomed into full blown open nose season when on the last day of school, while all decked out in his bowtie and Durango boots (ikr-you know his stylish mom was proud as hell) he ditched me twice (once at the bus stop and then after graduation) for that same little girl.

See what I mean? Right before my eyes...

I feel that if we went on a campaign teaching young girls that being smart was sexy, nerds wouldn't be socially ostracisized anymore. I'll keep my fingers crossed with the hope that there will be some teenage heartthrob that will equally excel academically and not be ashamed of it...one can dream right? Martin had his, this is mine!

Even though I know that change won't happen before Deuce starts the 6th grade, I don't worry about him because he will come to be known as "Trey's little brother" and "Ty's cousin" so he'll be just fine. I just hope he befriends his fellow brotheren, just as I did; they will always make him feel cool.

It's funny how history really does repeat itself.

...Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'

Father's Day Isn't Happy For Everyone

Days like this are hard when you have a parent who has passed away, I haven't bought a power tool, necktie, short/polo combination, card, or taken my father to dinner in 7 years.

It's funny the things you miss.

It was only last Father's Day that I brought myself to delete his number from my phonebook; the reality that I would never get a call during the game from him again finally set in. My father was my best friend, I used to think that was a great thing, but here we are 7 years later and he still hasn't been replaced.

William Reid Jr was a great man (notice I didn't say perfect). He embodied the soldier's creed. His love for God, his family, and his country drove nearly all the choices he made in his adult life.

As I reminisce, I can't help but smile because that's what my Father did more than anything; it's what most people remember him for. I haven't met a person who knew my father who hasn't had a funny story to tell about him. No question as to where I got my sense of humor from.

He was the strongest man I ever known. I have witnessed him defy the odds and survive and recover from 3 strokes, extreme hypoglycemia (his blood sugar so high the Doctors couldn't believe how he staved off a coma let alone death), Hodgkin's lymphoma, chemotherapy, the massive brain tumor that developed after the chemo stopped and daily radiation it took to shrink it, only to succumb to sepsis from an infection that developed when the wound in his stomach wasn't properly cared for after his dementia lead him to pull the feeding tube they placed in his stomach out.

I guess we really only get 9 lives...

My dad was a man who never stopped believing in Redemption. "No relationship based in love could ever be damaged beyond repair" is what he said to me when I was in the midst of a quarrel with one of my siblings that lasted for nearly a year. He orchestrated our reconciliation.

"Do what's right" has to be the best advice he ever gave me; even though I still struggle to follow it.

"Your breast got lost in the mail" has to be the funniest thing he has ever said to me. What a way to explain flat-chestedness to your 14 year old daughter. (Anyone else detect foreshadow here besides me?)

"You ain't fooling nobody, be yourself" were the last instructions he gave me, that February morning while I was feeding him his breakfast. Letting me know that he knew I was gay (no matter how I tried to hide and deny) and giving me the courage to live a life outside of the shadows.

"I love you" the last words I said to him, on Monday, February 24th at approximately 11:30 in Pitt Memorial Hospital, a little more than 7 years ago.

His absence in my life mean my children have to grow up without their Grandfather; my youngest is too young to remember any of the memories he created with him. I think that saddens me more than anything else.

Today I honor my Father by praying for those Fathers and Grandfathers who have CHOSEN to be absent in their children's lives and for those who have severed relationships due to circumstances. My prayer is they find themselves on the road to Redemption before they leave this dimension.

I salute you Dad; your love for me has transcended the grave.

RIP SSG William Reid, Jr you will forever be loved and missed.

For you people who have your Fathers here, honor them, and take time to think about those who have to spend the day absent from their Fathers for whatever reason.

Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'

Letter to LeBron

Dear LeBron,

I am NOT one of your fans (just wanted to say that up front) but I LOVE the game of basketball with everything that is in me. I love it in a way that only a person who doesn't have your talent can.

I think you are a prime example of what's wrong with the game! You don't LOVE or RESPECT the soul of the game.

I know this morning you are somewhere scratching your head trying to figure out how this bunch of old vets have found a way to defend you, out play you, make 4th quarter runs, repeatedly remain defiant in the face of your youthful exuberance.

I think people compare you to Michael Jordan too much and do you a disservice by doing so. Yes Michael Jordan was one of the most talented players the game of basketball had ever seen, BUT his talent is NOT what made him one of the game's greatest winners.

His will to win was born through his intimate knowledge of defeat, and his fortunate apprenticeship under basketball's Socrates, Dean E. Smith. See people who are innately born without the ability to leap backboards in a single bound have a different type of appreciation for the game, that's why they make the greatest coaches.

Dean Smith taught Michael that talent was not enough to win, it takes a team to win. Even though he temporarily forgot this lesson when he came into the league. Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Magic Johnson each took turns reinforcing that lesson. Dean Smith taught Michael to respect, outthink, and outwork each opponent (I'm paraphrasing from his Hall of Fame speech), once he applied that knowledge and combined it with his talent he began to dominate on a championship level.


Oh yeah and before you start thinking this is another one of MJs fans hating on you, every one who knows me knows that I also am NOT a Michael Jordan fan!

You sir lack the work ethic Everything has come to you so easily that you (like all other 80s babies) feel you are entitled. Where were you taught to persevere? My mother always told me "the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

Here are a few things that all champions must possess:
-Confidence
-Perseverance
-Determination

These things come with time and experience. I feel you did yourself a huge disservice by not going to college. You chose money over success. You believed the hype that you were the best. If you want to be a professional you need to study your craft. Most people go to college to become experts in their field. You had the audacity to feel like you were Great enough to skip that part...well now you are feeling the pressure.

Ever wondered why Derrick Rose and Kevin Durrant are having so much success early in their careers...they went to college!

Players later in their careers choose to go form alliances to win championships. You had the opportunity to bring the first championship to your home state and you gave that up. You flaunted your choice to leave and you are relying on your talent to get you through...you have SO much to learn!

There are a lot of GREAT, talented, and deserving ball players who never won a championship. Championships aren't guaranteed and everybody wont get one. You may join their ranks. I for one hope so, I think it will be good for the game...it will force kids to go to college to LEARN the game of basketball.



You have to develop the heart of of a champion...that heart is tested in the fire.

Hate It Or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Last week, May 27, 2011, the great poet, musician, author, and spoken word pioneer Gil Scott-Heron left this dimension, and we all have been inspired to ponder his legacy.

I remember one Saturday afternoon in the early 80s, while fingering through the record collection at my Grandma Annie's house in Elizabeth City, NC, I came across the LP (or the big plastic cd thing to you youngsters) Small Talk at 125th and Lenox. I had no idea who this guy was but I knew that I LOVED LOVED LOVED the song 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'! I can still hear him chanting "the revolution will not be televised"

The only line that called out to me as a 6 year old was "The revolution will not come with Coke", and would anxiously wait for that part to come. I was my quest to time it just right and jump in with that line on time. I wouldn't play anything else until I was successful.

As I look back it becomes obvious to me that I walked away with more than the powerful feeling that came with my success. No one ever thinks about who or what influences them until they get famous and asked the question.

I had never really pondered my answer to the question until this very moment...ok well maybe 3 minutes ago.

Gil Scott-Heron is one of my biggest influences. He is the first person to introduce me to poetry and the actual idea of a Revolution in smooth ass kinda way. I had never really thought of how he helped me fall in love with poetry, and embrace my inner rebel.

As a sixth grader my English teacher Mrs McMillian told me that I was "A rebel with NO cause." Even though I embraced her statement, (Kinda thought it was cool) I never really took the time to think about what that statement meant.

Rebellion is in my DNA. Every cell in my body was programmed to revolt. It clearly is so rebellious that my white blood cells are now attacking ME (thanks MS...flips the bird) but I still stand here in defiance.

I will honor Gil Scott-Heron's legacy and strive to be a part of this proverbial Revolution.

If you continue to sit on the sidelines you will miss it.

Life is but a dream. Our days were allotted & our burdens assigned long before we even crossed into this dimension.

I hope to live a life in defiance of the status quo...so I speak words of revolution & change.

Rest in Paradise Mr. Gil Scott-Heron. I am honored to have been inspired by you. I hope that you see the fruit of your labor and look on with pride.

Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Will Not Be Televised. Will Not Be Televised.

Letter to Donald Trump

Dear Mr Trump,

As a Republican and lover of all things free enterprise, I'm letting you know it would be so much easier for me to take you seriously as a candidate if you would stop talking about Obama's birth certificate.

You are already making strong arguments about us losing 290 billion in commerce and job opportunities to the Chinese just last year. You seemed passionate as a business man when you said that you were "tired of building buildings with parts that are made in China". Good...me too! I like that you allege to have a business plan to get America out of "this mess". Great...I'd love to see it. Its early and you have already laid the groundwork for what it will take to keep me from voting for Obama again but this time ONLY because he's black.

Then I hear you say some dumb shit like "It is POSSIBLE that the President was born in Hawaii. How can any Red-Blooded Republican question the legality of someone's presidency? Didn't the other guy get more votes that time? Didn't Bush have his little brother Jeb trick those geezers out of their vote so he could secure his electoral college numbers?

But wait...let me pump my brakes because I almost sound like you when I say stuff like that. Difference is I'm a journalist and not running for President of this great country.

UrbanJournalist

Jim Crow on Display in Eastern NC

On April 6, 2011 James Richardson was convicted of double murder in Greenville, NC and sentenced to two consecutive life without parole sentences, plus another 8 to 12 years for the gun charge.

Lamuel Anderson, Juror #12, held a press conference and spoke out on April 7th saying he caved under pressure from Judge and Jury. Jury deliberations in James Richardson's trial began on Friday, April 1st and lasted for four days.

Anderson's wife stated that her husband told her that on Friday there were three votes for not-guilty Juror 7, Juror 11, and , Juror 12.

The jury was not sequestered over the weekend.

According to Anderson, by Monday morning April 4th Juror 11 had changed their mind. Juror 12 then sent a note by the foreman to Judge Duke asking for an explanation of a hung jury, noting his hesitancy to change his mind.

Judge Duke responded by telling the jury it was their "duty" to return a unanimous verdict.

Tuesday April 5th, Juror 7 changed their mind. Juror 12 asked to be removed from the jury. Judge Duke denied his request.

Judge Duke met with the Jury on the morning of April 6th and laid out the rules of conviction once more. Telling jurors, "In the course of your deliberations, you should not hesitate to reexamine your own views and change your opinion."

Juror 12 changed his mind on April 6th.

The Defendant, James Richardson's mother spoke out at the press conference saying the state failed to prove its case. Pointing out that the burden of proof was on the state.

The defense was able to poke holes into the state's case by pointing out discrepancies in statements taken by police, showed their lack of eyewitnesses and DNA evidence. There were no witnesses who placed Richardson in the car while shots were fired. There were also witnesses who testified seeing more than one gunman in the car.

Richardson's mother said, "They had no suspect. They didn't have enough probable cause for a warrant, much less a Capital case!"

Juror 12 said the state didn't not prove to him beyond a reasonable doubt that Richardson was even in the car at the time of the shooting. He said the evidence showed the gunman had to be firing from the passenger's seat, which directly contrasted the state's lone gunman theory.

He says he regrets not sticking to his convictions but is glad he spoke out. He says he wants to see justice served.

When corruption in the legal system on all levels its disheartening but sadly all too common.

Several witnesses testified under oath that police falsified their statements when they were reported as identifying the defendant in the car.

The prosecution denied offering the one witness who testified against Richardson a deal in exchange for his testimony, despite the documentation presented by the defense.

The judge repeatedly ignored juror issues and ordered the jury to return a unanimous decision.

Separate but equal still seems to apply in Eastern North Carolina. It is my hope that Jim Crow's reign will finally end soon.