You’ve likely noticed that I haven’t had a blog post on black…MYstory in over two months. Believe me, it’s not that I don’t have things to say. It’s just that, sometimes, you need a change and have to take on new challenges to keep things fresh.
I launched blackmystory.com back in April 2001, just a few days after the uprising (”riots”) in Cincinnati. At the time, it was a news/opinion site. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the news of the day and got into more than a few heated debates for my opinions. I took a brief break in 2006 but, 6 months later, re-launched black…MYstory as a blog.
It’s funny. But, when George Bush was gone, though our country was in shambles, I just didn’t feel the need to vent as much. I didn’t see the election of Barack Obama as America’s salvation. Instead, I saw the departure of Bush and Co. as giving the country a fighting chance. We talked about “change” a lot in the last election and, for me, it was time for a change, too. I wanted to branch off to other online endeavors so, I began to feel that it was time to close this chapter in my life.
I thought my heart would be heavier but, in the end, I can leave feeling good about having been willing to be the same person online that I am offline (well, actually I’m probably a little nicer online). If I was able to offer a positive thought or encouragement to even one person then, it’s all been worth it.
As far as the my online life goes, I am not going away by any means. In fact, I just launched a technology site to show that people of color are greatly interested in and are actively involved in the world of technology. If you get a chance, come check me out at WeKnowTech.com.
Finally, it’s been real. Thanks to all who ever visited black…MYstory.
…can’t catch the rhythm of the stroke/
Why should I hold my breath/
Feelin’ that I might choke…/
-Aqua Boogie, Parliament
Are you underwater? If you’re a homeowner paying a mortgage in America today, there’s a 20% chance that you are.
Yesterday, a report issued by First American CoreLogic is saying that some 20% of those of us still paying mortgages owe more than the home is worth. Right now, this means that this is affecting some 8.3 million us mortgages. I knew the number was high but, I was unaware that it was this high.
We have not hit the bottom yet. CoreLogic also reported that another 2.2 million have homes worth only about 5% more that their mortgage value.
I know Ohio, where I live, has challenges but, just look at some of the other places impacted:
Nevada has the highest proportion of mortgage-holding homeowners with negative equity, 55 percent, the report released today states. About 15 percent of District homeowners who owe money on their homes are “underwater,” compared to nearly 20 percent of Virginia homeowners and 13 percent of those in Maryland.
I usually don’t go too heavily into the celeb stuff. We get “news” like this all the time. Typically, most of what they do has very little relevance in the lives of everyday people.
However, the whole Chris Brown/Rihanna fisaco did bother me. As someone whose seen women in his own family go through abusive relationships, I saw that such relationships are of absolutely no good.
I didn’t speak on this because, I thought, Rihanna seemed to have enough sense to break away from Chris Brown before it got worse. Today, I believe I was wrong.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I saw the women in my own family let abusive men back in, too. The men were so contrite, apologetic and loving after these beatings. The swore it wouldn’t happen again and admitted they needed help. Then, in no time at all, there would be another argument and another beating, just as bad, if not worse, would happen. I’ve seen the women in my family with cuts and bruises. I’ve seen the sunglasses being worn to work to cover black eyes. I’ve seen the so-called me calling or showing up at a place of work to publicly humiliate or intimidate the women. I’ve seen cases as severe as my own recently-deceased aunt who, over 20 years ago, was found after having being beaten and thrown through a glass table by her boyfriend. She was in a coma and, after awakening, could barely walk so that, in her 40’s, should could do no more that shuffle along. However, even this was not enough to convince her and, out of “love” she refused to press charges.
I guess this situation bothers me not because Rihanna is a celebrity. It bothers me for at least two other reasons:
because she is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her and doesn’t see what a volatile situation she may be a part of and
young women in similar situations may look to her example and not break with abusive mates, either.
Sadly, this isn’t a story of celebrity. This is something that is all too common and, I’m afraid, all too acceptable.
You know, some stories cross all those lines we put up between people and simply touch your heart. This past Friday, 11-year-old Brendan Foster passed away after battling leukemia. Often, we hear about a kid getting his/her last wish fulfilled with some item they wanted, a special trip or meeting a celebrity. But, when Brendan Foster found out that he had only two weeks left to live, he instead wanted something else for his last wish — to feed the homeless.
As I sit here, I wonder how many of us, when we are faced with even moderately-tough challenges, find it in our hearts to think of helping others. Brendan Foster taught me a lesson today.
Up until a few years ago, I would get greatly offended at any comparison of the struggles of the GLBT (gay,lesbian,bisexual,transgender) community to that of black people to obtain civil rights. However, after seeing what certain Republicans (and a few of us on the left) have wrought, I can now understand the comparison.
There’s be a lot said about “the sanctity of marriage” and how gay marriage would undermine that. However, in a country where half the marriages end in divorce, “the sanctity of marriage” isn’t exactly a high priority. Also, let’s be honest. I have yet to hear a couple say, “We got divorced because a gay couple got married. We just felt that marrige in this country was becoming a mockery so, we split up!”
So, I would like to suggest some real ways in which we can address the “sanctity of marriage” for straight couples so that we can feel morally justified in telling other people how to live their lives.
Outlaw divorce: The number one killer of marriages is…ummm…divorce. Just cut in out altogther and the “success” rates of marriages double. Of course, there are loopholes. For example, there’s always death.
Enact harsh penalties for adultery: Too many marriages end due to infidelity. So, we need to outlaw adultery. To hell with scarlet letters or public shame — I’m talking about prison time. If the police catch you sneaking out on your spouse for a booty call in the middle of the night or a quick “lunch break”, you’ll be arrested, tried and convicted. Serial adulterers shall be stoned to death in the public square.
You do it and you’ll be saying “I do”: Caught having sex? Guess what — you’re now husband and wife…forever. If you’re going to play house, do it all they way. You now get the full experience, including bills, laundry and the annoying body odors that come in the middle of the night.
Make a kid and you’ve made the deal: We didn’t catch you in rule #3? Well, we got ya now! You made a kid and you’re now of to the chapel. Just don’t do this with anyone else. You do remember rule #2, don’t you?
Abuse your family and pay the price: Under no circumstances are you allowed to verbally or physically abuse your loved ones in any way. Since divorce is illegal, abuse will be met with maximum retaliation. Non-compliance can be met with penalties up to and including death, leaving your spouse free to marry someone more sensible.
Under no circumstances allow a celebrity to get married: Celebrities tend to treat marriage as something to do between roles or between releases of their latest CD’s. We sure would hate to have kill off your favorite actor or singer based on their indiscretions.
Finally, accept fate: Marriage isn’t about happiness — it’s about the sanctity of the institution. If you wanted to be happy you should have been…well…gay.
I usually don’t talk a whole lot about the weather but, today is no ordinary day. Part of the reason that I live in Ohio is because, for the most part, we don’t get a lot of tornadoes and we don’t live close enough to a coastal area to get a hurricane.
Well, yesterday, I was just expecting to get some rain as the remnants of Hurricane Ike came rumbling through. But, I, like hundreds of thousands of others, was caught flat-footed.
Here in the Cincinnati area, a 40 mph wind is a big deal. Well, what was left of Ike cut a path through the Midwest and I was looking out my window as 70 mph winds blew past for a few hours. When it was all said and done, communities were dealing with a lot of falling trees and cleanup but, that’s not the worst of it.
Nearly 1,000,000 customers of our local energy company were without power at some point. Over 24 hours later, about 600,000, including myself, are still without power (I am submitting this post from one of the places in town that still has power). If I’m lucky, I’ll get my power back tomorrow morning but, some people are being told it may take a week for them to get theirs back. Schools and businesses are closed. Good luck finding an open restaraunt, gas station or grocery store. Ice and gas are premium commodities. If I can find extras of any of those things, I’ll pass some on to a neighbor.
I have an even deeper respect today for people who have been through a hurricane. In just dealing with the side effects of one, we are having our lives put on hold.
Hopefully, my posts for tomorrow will be from the comfort of my own home.
As I see here, after watching some of the coverage on Hurricane Gustav, I worry for the people who, once again, had to pack up their lives or risk death and abandonment at the hands of their government. However, I also can’t help but remember something that I was always told growing up — “God don’t like ugly.”
I find it interesting, to say the least, that, on the day that the party behind the horrible response to Hurricane Katrina is to begin their convention, our attention is turned back to New Orleans, Louisiana. We just commemorated 3 years since some roughly 1700 people in that city died from a combination of the immediate impact of Hurricane Katrina, subsequent flooding and sheer governmental neglect.
So, today, I see that FEMA, the agency that helped mismanage the response to Katrina, is now putting out press releases and talking points, saying everything from people remaining in the city will not be helped to there is a possibility that the levees may be breached.
So, as the Republicans convene in Minnesota, the irony of this day is not lost on me. George Bush and Dick Cheney have already stated that they will not be attending because of Gustav, a stark contrast to Bush’s not cutting his vacation short as people were dying in the streets 3 years ago. Now, there is talk that even the nominee himself, John McCain, may skip the convention, due to concerns of how a celebratory gathering might look in contrast to the potential devastation caused by Gustav. However, McCain is planning on staging some photo ops in Louisiana, a move that could backfire should the levees fail.
Nonetheless, we shall see if the lessons of three years ago have been learned, in both the governmental and political response to such a disaster.
I understand that there have been a lot of Democratic debates (last night made the 21st) but, seeing how they sunk to the levels of tabloid journalism in presenting this debate, they could have left it at 20.
Many bloggers have already panned this debate. It was over 50 minutes before a single policy question. Instead, we were treated to a rehash of Rev. Wright, Hillary Clinton’s Bosnia story, an obscure reference to 60’s radical William Ayers and — *gasp* — flag pins.
However, it’s not just me and bloggers. Just check out the comments on ABC’s web site. There are over 12.000 at this point and from what I have read, the general consensus is that ABC did a horrible job last night.
This child, DeVaughn Davis, is one of 3,450 homeless children attending public school in Detroit. His mother is out every day looking for a job and some place for them to stay. But, for now, she gets $480/month on public assistance and is trying to save for a deposit on an apartment.
But, for now, she is forced to try to keep her family together by moving from homeless shelter to homeless shelter every few weeks. These moves also mean new schools for DeVaughn and his sister, Cherish.
In the state of Michigan, some 20,000 homeless students join their struggle. Who knows just how many homeless children their are that don’t attend school. I shudder to think of what their circumstances lead them to do to survive.
In America, we can find money to build “bridges to nowhere” or fight wars with no end but, we it comes to helping out Americans, our concerns wane. It is my hope that the DeVaughns of this world make it, despite their circumstances but, the fact is, too many won’t.
To be honest, I usually skip watching the “State of the Black Union” because, I just don’t see very much substance there. However, I will say that there were some definite highlights this year. Dick Gregory was absolutely on fire and clearly generated a huge buzz with his comments, which ranged from the humorous to the absolutely profound. Al Sharpton also got big props for calling out the Clinton camp and its supporters for its race-baiting during this campaign season. I have a few clips from the speakers below.
Al Sharpton on Clinton Changing Rules and Comments
Michael Dyson on if Barack Obama Becomes President
Dick Gregory on Bill Clinton the “Black President”
…can’t catch the rhythm of the stroke/
I usually don’t go too heavily into the celeb stuff. We get “news” like this all the time. Typically, most of what they do has very little relevance in the lives of everyday people.
Up until a few years ago, I would get greatly offended at any comparison of the struggles of the GLBT (gay,lesbian,bisexual,transgender) community to that of black people to obtain civil rights. However, after seeing what certain Republicans (and a few of us on the left) have wrought, I can now understand the comparison.
I usually don’t talk a whole lot about the weather but, today is no ordinary day. Part of the reason that I live in Ohio is because, for the most part, we don’t get a lot of tornadoes and we don’t live close enough to a coastal area to get a hurricane.
As I see here, after watching some of the coverage on Hurricane Gustav, I worry for the people who, once again, had to pack up their lives or risk death and abandonment at the hands of their government. However, I also can’t help but remember something that I was always told growing up — “God don’t like ugly.”
…and, ABC News, your debate stunk.
