Saturday, June 12, 2004
What's Right With My Race?
This is what's right with my race...
(among other points in reference I'll further explain)
Many blessings for Ray's transition.
I know he's moved on to brighter things.
So I will settle for comfort in that rather than
the ever common R.I.P. Ray Charles 1949-2004.
How many joker-profiling-pseudoconscious people
even own a Ray Charles tune.
Pretentious politeness is so patronizing.
I know I only do because my grandma (bless her soul)
use to listen to him all the time along with Nina Simone,
Stevie, Sam Cooke, Marvin, and especially Nat King Cole.
He was her favorite so I heard and have tons of his music.
As I sit, sipping a delicious '02' Pinot Grigio,
today I am not using my usual phrase...
"What's wrong with my race?"
Instead what right with my race?
Langston
Azali
Alice Walker
Vivian Thomas
Mos Def
Marvin
Mother
Malcolm
Nappy
Ankhenaton
Nat Turner
Chuck D
Ntoshake Shange
Tupac
Iyanla Vanzant
Omar
Coltrane
Ali
this man..
my grandpa, of whom I believe is partly responsible
for my philosophies and attitude to life...fighting through.
Though I was never fortunate to have met him.
There are to many beautiful black folks
who have contributed to our culture to name them all.
Grandpa usta say always have big dreams.
I turned that into my own quote
He with big dreams
is more powerful
than he with all the plans.
Watching Mos play this phenomenal man yesterday in the movie
Something the Lord Made
inspired me.
It's about a man who was the real brains
and hands behind the first heart surgery,
initially to save "blue" (ironic) children.
Beautiful flick full of metaphors!!!
I took a lot from this movie personally.
He lost the financial capability to achieve his dream.
Further diverted from his dream by being a responsible family man.
Credit and acknowledgement eluded him.
He moved and lived with grace.
And never lost what he loved.
From his story, this movie,
and Mos' prolific portrayal I learned...
God gives us setbacks to make us use our raw God given talents.
AND
Sometimes you have to go through the back door to catch your dreams.
My mother called as I was writing this and said
the title alone reflects that our dreams and talents
(amongst other things) are something the lord made.
As well as having heart.
What an on time poignant story
I needed to experience, at this moment.
The Rain
with the help of
Shango and Oya
rinse this swamp
as I type.
"We want some black people on the muddah phuckin wall, NOW!"
~buggin out (Do The Right Thing)
What's right with my race?
ME?!
WE!
RISE!
This is what's right with my race...
(among other points in reference I'll further explain)
Many blessings for Ray's transition.
I know he's moved on to brighter things.
So I will settle for comfort in that rather than
the ever common R.I.P. Ray Charles 1949-2004.
How many joker-profiling-pseudoconscious people
even own a Ray Charles tune.
Pretentious politeness is so patronizing.
I know I only do because my grandma (bless her soul)
use to listen to him all the time along with Nina Simone,
Stevie, Sam Cooke, Marvin, and especially Nat King Cole.
He was her favorite so I heard and have tons of his music.
As I sit, sipping a delicious '02' Pinot Grigio,
today I am not using my usual phrase...
"What's wrong with my race?"
Instead what right with my race?
Langston
Azali
Alice Walker
Vivian Thomas
Mos Def
Marvin
Mother
Malcolm
Nappy
Ankhenaton
Nat Turner
Chuck D
Ntoshake Shange
Tupac
Iyanla Vanzant
Omar
Coltrane
Ali
this man..
my grandpa, of whom I believe is partly responsible
for my philosophies and attitude to life...fighting through.
Though I was never fortunate to have met him.
There are to many beautiful black folks
who have contributed to our culture to name them all.
Grandpa usta say always have big dreams.
I turned that into my own quote
He with big dreams
is more powerful
than he with all the plans.
Watching Mos play this phenomenal man yesterday in the movie
Something the Lord Made
inspired me.
It's about a man who was the real brains
and hands behind the first heart surgery,
initially to save "blue" (ironic) children.
Beautiful flick full of metaphors!!!
I took a lot from this movie personally.
He lost the financial capability to achieve his dream.
Further diverted from his dream by being a responsible family man.
Credit and acknowledgement eluded him.
He moved and lived with grace.
And never lost what he loved.
From his story, this movie,
and Mos' prolific portrayal I learned...
God gives us setbacks to make us use our raw God given talents.
AND
Sometimes you have to go through the back door to catch your dreams.
My mother called as I was writing this and said
the title alone reflects that our dreams and talents
(amongst other things) are something the lord made.
As well as having heart.
What an on time poignant story
I needed to experience, at this moment.
The Rain
with the help of
Shango and Oya
rinse this swamp
as I type.
"We want some black people on the muddah phuckin wall, NOW!"
~buggin out (Do The Right Thing)
What's right with my race?
ME?!
WE!
RISE!
