Emmett Till

On this day in 1955 Emmett Till was murdered. 14years old.

Hummmmm, ok?

I was in the DMV on Friday and this guy walked in with a t shirt on that said, in really big letters, NO BITCHASSNESS!

Hummmmm?

Red Stories last night

Thank you sooooooooo much all of you who came out to Red Stories last night! It was a fantastic night. Chas, a writer from The Adventures of an Awkward Black Girl and Jim Climente, the creator of Criminal Minds were the features. They were so awesome. Talk about telling some stories! The place was packed the energy was high, the vibes were good. Thank you thank you! I am already looking forward to next month. The show is usually the last Saturday of each month but this month it was on the last Sunday. Next month we will be back on our Saturday schedule. Hope to see you there!

Come on, Hampton. Really?

Oh my stars, Hampton University 's business school has a ban on locks, cornrows and braids. Seriously?! This is happening at a black college but not at Yale or Dartmouth? Not that it would be ok there either but I would almost understand the insanity. Corporate America has come a long way as far as the styles that are acceptable so why is our own school so far in the dark? Sheesh. Also, shouldn't we be at a point where we are teaching our children / students to create jobs and not just how to look the part to work for somebody else? That's what "they" are teaching "their" children. Hampton, Hampton, Hampton.

Hello there

Hello all. Just checking in to say hi. It's been emotionally challenging the past few days but I made it through as always. Even during the emotionally challenging times I was still functioning. Nothing too bad that had me in bed for days or anything like that. Just kinda low is all. I had some good rest and I feel much better today. More like the me I love the most. The wind is shifting. I love it. Gotta get back to exercising and I had more sugar cheats than I should ever allow myself. Sugar really is the devil. Seriously. What it does to me emotionally is crazy. In the moment though, when the juice or chocolate is in front of me and I'm feeling well, then I don't remember. Then I get low low again and remember all of the ways I cheated.

I'm looking forward to Red Stories this Sunday. Yay!

I'm at work right now and need to get back to it. Enjoy your day today. I will.

Morning all

Good morning all. Much better day for me today. Yesterday was an emotional downer. Last night though watched some good movies and hung out with some great friends laughing, talking and sharing stories. Just what I needed.

So I don't have the desire right now to talk about this but I can't go without mentioning Akin's crazy remarks about "legitimate" rape. What the hell?! He said that in the case of a legitimate rape women rarely get pregnant because our bodies have a way of shutting that down. Absolutely rediculous. And sadly he's is not alone in thinking like that. It is so important that we vote this November because if Romney and Ryan get into office women's rights are going to just disappear. Seriously.

Anyway, off of that for now. Red stories is this Sunday. It's usually the last Saturday of each month but this month it's on Sunday because they are doing something at the space on Saturday. All good. The features this month are Jim Climente and Chas Jackson. As always, I'm looking forward to it. Red stories blesses my life.

More news. I know I'm jumping like crazy on this entry but it's my blog and I can do what I want to. My birthday is on the 3rd of next month and I'm having a birthday party on the 8th at Vibrations. I was reluctant at first but hey, I need a birthday party.

It's 10:30 and I'm still at George and Alisha's. Chas is somewhere in the house and we will sit for a chat soon. I'm off today so it's writing day. Oh here's Chas. I'll get back soon.

Today

"Allow yourself morning." Bassey Ikpi

Morning all. Good energy. Pumpin' these books out.

I had a good week this week. My uncles Therman and John were visiting California and my aunt Janice came down to Long Beach to spend time. I loved hanging out with all of them. I know my mother was happy also to have her siblings in the house. Oh, also, my aunt Bobbie was here. It was good for me too. With the exception of a couple of days I have been here almost all week. Something about out of town guests I guess. On Tuesday night the gang all went with me to Da Poetry Lounge and they had a great time. I loved it. Thank God for family!

Speaking of family I am thankful for, I went to the World Stage last night to the memorial for D Black, whose given name is Dwight Johnson. There was so much love. The place overflowed with beautiful faces and great energy. I so love the love in our community.

Well the guests have just left and it's time for me to get dressed for work. Things are going well. I am ready to send another book to the publishers. I sent off Women in the village go 'round and 'round, which is a collection of short stories. Now I'm ready to send Woman's work, a collection of poetry. Today Bus stories, a collection of stories from 2009 of yes, bus stories. I plan to change the title but right now that's what it's called. The next book will be the home health care stories. Oh yes I did.

Anyway, it's off to work I go. I love you all. I do.

I miss you D Black

So I took a mini break from this blog. Was living my life. I need it today though. Some place to spill my thoughts. D Black, a very good friend of mine died yesterday. I know the metaphysical talk about how we never die. How we transition, change, evolve. I know. Give me time. Right now I am mourning the loss of him, in the flesh. We will never have those long conversations again. D Black encouraged me, taught me, loved me, was an inspiration to me. I will miss him tremendously.

There is a memorial for him tonight at the World Stage in Leimert Park. I am not ready to attend a memorial service for my friend. I am not ready to hear countless poems about his passing. I am sad right now. I will get better but right now my heart is heavy.

WomanPreach! Lancaster, PA.

Good morning all. It's 7:52 and I am on the train headed to Lancaster, PA for WomanPreach! Excited about it. I had a good flight though I couldn't seem to find a comfortable sleeping position.

I went to the airport straight from Sekou and Stacy's wedding. It was the most beautiful and creative wedding I have ever been to. I was so happy to see friends I haven't seen in a while and happy to see the ones I see often. I was also glad to have my uncle Therman with me. Love sharing my family with my family. Thankfully the traffic was better coming from the wedding than it was going to and I caught my flight on time without any problems.

I should be in Lancaster in about twenty minutes. I so love this train ride.

I'll keep you posted on WomanPreach this week. I usually do.

Another day

Hello lovelies! It's 11:31am and I am awesome. So are you. I had an amazing night last night sharing family stories with my mother, uncle and nephew. We shared stories about my uncle Bubba and grandfather who my nephew never got to meet. I wish he had. Some stories were stories I had never even heard. Family time like this is priceless.

Today is Sekou and Stacy's wedding! Yay! I'll be there and immediately after I'm going to Lancaster, PA for my work with WomanPreach for the week. I'm looking forward to it. Always looking forward to my work with them.

Much to do before wedding and flight tonight so I have to get to it.

Found out yesterday that D Black is in the hospital and had a heart attack while in hospital. Gotta go by and see him today. My love and prayers to him and his family.

I'll let y'all know how things go. I usually do.

Morning all.

Good morning all. It's 7:35 and I'm up feeling well on another day. I had a moment last night that seemed to come from nowhere. But that's how it happens, they come from nowhere. I breathed through it and went to sleep as early as I could.

Red Stories last Saturday went really well. Seriously that show blesses my soul. Korlah and Big Arch were featured and they were both great. Every month I'm nervous about that show. Crazy fear thoughts run through my head. Will anyone show? Will it be good? What stories am I going to tell? Will the audience like them? All that. I pray through it, breathe through it and every month there are folks there, beyond who I imagined, loving the show. I gotta learn.

In other news, I'm so incredibly proud of Gabby Douglas for her accomplishments in the women's gymnastics Olympics this year. The girl is only 16 years old and made such great history! She was beautiful and poised! I was greatly embarrassed by all of the talk that came from us black folks about her hair. Do we really hate ourselves that much? I guess so.

Anyway, I have a lot of work to do today so I'm going to get to it.

See y'all later!