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The one thing I'm not cynical about is LOVE .   I love Love . I love being in Love , I love showing Love , I love watching others in Love .  Its so beautiful and its the one thing that we're messing nowadays.  Pure love escapes so many of us.  To think that some have no idea what a mother's love feels like is so sad.  I've seen loveless marriages take place and why, because we're all truly searching for Love and yet have a hard time really identifying what love means, feels like, and is. "You take the bitter with the sweet!" - Grandma That was my grandmother's advice to her children when they would complain about their marriages. You don't see too many staying in for the bitterness. Love isn't always about being HAPPY and gitty .  Its acceptance of your partners imperfections and flaws and a willingness to persevere through trials. Somehow, we want perfection even when we're not perfect ourselves. I desire and will have the Love of...

 By Kevin Powell "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." --Abraham Lincoln And the drama of Congressman Charlie Rangel continues to unfold with 13 charges of misconduct, even as I type this essay: Mr. Rangel faces a range of accusations stemming from accepting four rent-stabilized apartments and misusing his office to preserve a tax loophole worth half a billion dollars for an oil executive who pledged a donation for an educational center being built in Mr. Rangel's honor. In short, Mr. Rangel, one of the most powerful Democrats in the United States House of Representatives, has given his Republican foes much fodder to attack Dems as the November mid-term elections quickly approach. While this saga continues, two questions dangle in the air: First, where did it all go so terribly wrong? And, second, did Mr. Rangel begat the lack of ethics also present in the career of his colleague, friend, and...

 Its time. Its time for change beyond just a campaign slogan but for the Hip Hop generation, the post civil rights generation to take our place as leaders. We are late bloomers. We are now in our 30's-40's and are still having to push aside some of our civil rights leaders who have not willingly pass the baton. We respect them. We honor the path set before us and yet we recognize that times are different and  we need different leadership. I sincerely support Kevin Powell for Congress.  His sincerity and compassion are to be honored. He has put together a strong campaign staff full of smart, savvy, articulate leaders who understand the needs of the Brooklyn community.  September 14, 2010 - Vote for Kevin Powell for Congress, 10th Congressional District, Brooklyn, NY. Who is Your Congressperson? from Kevin Powell on Vimeo .

Dear You: I've yet to hold your hand or see your smile but I know, you are meant for me. I know your eyes will swim in my soul. I know your hand will provide protection. Your lips will love me right.  You have been made for me and not other. You've waited patiently for me as I have prayed and longed for that moment when I can hear your spirit call my name without the utterance of a single word. Your heart is towards God and towards his people. Service is your driving force. Love is your fuel. I'm busting out of my seams just thinking of when and where you will arrive. Who are you that has been created to love me? My twin soul understands the passion and longing of this letter. He knows its not out of loneliness, not out of desperation but one spirit calling to another.  I'm being prepared for you. I'm more than your helpmate. As the trees need the life force of the air I exhale, you need my presence to stand.  I send love vibrations.  I send my desires. I've ...

Silver shadow Glowing shadow Shining brightly For all to see I remember gazing on this quiet night The stars were bright as they could be Wonderin' if things would ever go right And if there was a spot up there for me Then one star got brighter by the minute Strange that it seemed to have my name written in it I reached for the star and it kissed me with it's light It made me cast a show that was silver and bright Silver shadow Glowing shadow Shining brightly For all to see I never had any good reason To thank my lucky stars But now I got a pretty good reason cause I know I'm gonna go so far I believe in magic, I really do With all that's happened It's got to be true I cast a silver shadow from the kiss of the light I knew that I was destined Starting with tonight Silver shadow A glowing shadow Shining brightly For all to see Silver shadow My future show Trying to tell me Of a star I would be Since I was chosen ...

Working in HIV, I've always had the battle of trying to educate my people on being preventive when it comes to their sexual health. I'm use to the excuses, the blame, etc.  I understand the issues around HIV but what about heart disease?  What about diabetes? What about taking preventive measures to reduce the risk of getting certain cancers?  Why are we the last to understand that our health IS something we can control no matter your economic situation. Yes, NO matter your economic situation.  Barriers There are barriers to access to fresh fruits and veggies BUT you still have access to fruits and veggies. Its called harm reduction.  Its used in substance abuse treatment.  You do what you can to reduce HARM by making the best choices you can make.  Using your EBT card and buying better foods is possible.  There are farmer's markets that accept EBT cards and even WIC.  No excuses.  Make better choices when you can. Advocacy is ...

One mo time.... If you dig through my Myspace blogs (gotta be my friend to dig), you will find a lot of blogs on Sisterhood, women getting along. I've worked with women and girls all of my life.  I come from a family filled with strong women.  I understand the importance of female relationships.  Its very important for women to connect with other women. So why do we still have this breakdown in sisterhood? Why do we still have women saying, "I really don't get along with other females"?  Why do we roll our eyes at each other? Why are we afraid to show love? I'm not about to write an essay because there are so many reasons why we are were we are today. Sexism being one of the top reasons but lets move toward some solutions with first like simply -  looking in the mirror . Healing starts at home.  When you see another beautiful woman, do you immediately pass judgment or can you appreciate her beauty AND tell her she's beautiful? When you see a man...

Bottom line - God knows best. I'm all for being the one to bring about all that I want through the manifestation of will. I understand it and God works in that but God is our GUIDE .  He will point to the road we must travel to live happier, more fulfilling lives but he will give us the desires of our hearts even if its not in our purpose, if we protest much.  This is the manifestation of will. What are you summing unto yourself through your own desires that may not be good for your soul?  Or what are you rejecting out of fear and confusion? Obedience is better than sacrifice and yet I believe so many would rather sacrifice so they feel they can do what they want. This is the harder road traveled and I've been there. Allowing my spirit to heed to the Supreme Love, to Divine order, to God's plan, its sometimes hard but always necessary. We may want to call ourselves gods but we are not the Creator of all things. So, God knows best.  Yeshua provides life.  I...

I wrap myself up in the belief that I am an original. I'm perfect. I'm beautiful. I'm a great creation and create greatness.  Never again will I allow myself to be under a spell of confusion and despair.  I accept that I'm a great work which is daily being perfected.  Nobody can be me but me. 

The other day, I was at the gym and was approached by a young man while I was sweating it out on the treadmill.  He first asked me about my t-shirt.  It was some bootleg shirt that had "Police" on the back.  He asked me if I was an officer.  I said, "Nope". Of course, he wasn't done. He taps me on my shoulder. I turn towards him and he says, "I want you!"    My response, "Not right now. I'm working out."  I turn and continue to workout.  He still doesn't stop trying. He goes to his car and writes his number on a piece of paper and gives it to me.   I just sigh and said thanks. [shrug] Two days later, I'm walking from the gym and this OLDER man yells, 'Yo gurl! What IS up?"  I instantly said....UGH but then I thought back to the younger man and his approach to me. Why should I expect him to know the proper way to talk with a woman when older men yell down the street YO Gurl!  :/ I greet everyone. If you s...

I like Alicia Keys.  I do think she's a talented young woman. I don't have much to say about Swizz beatz.  I'm sure he's talented as well. [ kanye shrug ] Ok. That part is done. Lately, there's a lot of online and well, offline murmuring about their relationship and pregnancy. I will say, this isn't about throwing stones because I would be the first to get rocked out by some stones but learning how to be humble when making unpopular life choices. The public has weighed in.  He was married. It is what it is. She decided to be with him.  He decided to move onto a relationship before rightfully ending another one.  There it is but now, what we see is a couple who are very proud of their relationship and baby on the way.  Should they be so PUBLICLY PROUD? Maybe I'm old fashion on some levels. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I wasn't proud.  I rarely left the house.  Even though I had so much support from family and friends, I knew it wa...

How do you honor Prince?  This was the question many where asking when it was first announced that he would be honored at the BET Awards.  I even wondered.  I thought....hmmm...Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, and maybe even past band mates. I had one of them right.  BET took me in another direction with an all female tribute but I still was surprised by who was picked.  Its said that Prince himself chose each of the women on stage to honor him. I can believe it BUT where they appropriate? Very talented females graced the stage, no doubt. The effort was there so why did it still seemed weak? I feel like yelling, "Do over!!!"  Can we get a do over like they did with the MJ Tribute [which was GREAT]?   I doubt that we will.  Prince truly deserved better. We hear his influence in some of the songs produced by Robin Thicke, Ciara, and others who have done "Prince-like" ballads recently. I'm thankful for the effort. Prince is a great influence....

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day. Know your status.  Its time for African Americans to lose the fear. We need to take care of our sexual health.  Get tested.   

The Grind. The Purpose. Gotta get it. Gotta get there.  Watching folks on the move and on the grind and its motivating.  As I'm on my on grind and finding balance for my life, its becoming very important that I life my head from the paper to look around and see how I can give of myself, my skills to others.  My experiences, my journey is never for just me alone and I don't want to get into a habit of being so focused on CWUW and other goals that I don't lift up and share. Some are very protective of their purpose and others will even just take from your hard work and make their own. Sometimes our egos get a little large and we believe what we're doing, saying, and believing is more important than others or only will assist when they can see how it will directly benefit themselves.   I want to stay in my lane and give and share because its good for my soul, my spirit. I will always be as helpful as I can be when someone needs advice, a suggestion, or motivation....

This past week was an interesting one.  3 men gave me advice about my body and my Image . I'll admit that sometimes I take what men say about my body with a grain of salt.  Why? Well, I'll just say there are men who like my body just as it is.  They mean no harm but I'm clearly 25lbs over weight and the "thickness" isn't doing me any good. So what did they say.... One told me to simply take care of myself. He said that I try too hard to take care of others, take care of community work but not myself and it shows. [mouth drops] It shows ?  That's deep. I really received the advice well.  I understood what he was saying. The next one was my ex boyfriend.  This is a person I generally never listen to when it comes to how I look.  I'm not his physical type so whatever he says to me, I feel is always based on some other image in has in his head but this time, good things came from my friend [yes, my friend].  He also told me to take care of myse...

Its father's day.  We see celebrations of relationships between child and father happening on this day. Ties given, dinners being cooked, and cards being sent.....this is the tradition. Its an interesting day.  My daughter doesn't acknowledge the day.  It has no meaning. She has no relationship with her father and its so unfortunate.  For me, its surreal.  I was raised with my father but I can't say I really KNOW him. I love my dad. I think for the most part, he's a cool dude to sit and talk with.  I remember longing to go to the track meets with him. That was our time. I wasn't an athlete but I did love watching track and field.  I would get excited when dad would invite me to hang with him and his friends.  To this day, my dad is the one I can talk with about politics, any crazy governmental conspiracy, and music.  He can remember kids you went to school with and will know their whereabouts before you. My dad is quiet. He observes. He do...

A few weeks ago, I blogged about people keeping you in a box and then ascribing labels and meanings to who you are.  I spoke of how  much I hated it but then, today, I was looking at pictures of "Vanity".  She also has been someone I've blogged about admiring.  The "character" of "Vanity" is something use to connect to so deeply.  I felt that her sexuality was her power as if she was some superhero able to destroy men with her wiles and sensual ways. I loved that.  For years, I've spoken of my connection to this persona, "Vanity"- even today giving homage. Something - that something being God said to go to Denise Matthew's facebook page and look around. So I did.  We all know she's now an evangelist, so what was I looking for exactly?  I went to her website for her upcoming book, "Blame it on Vanity".  A very well done website that had me a little captivated.  Denise is not longer in the "Vanity" box we still...

I love being a servant of the people.  I love being one who helps others. I love love love it. Its so motivating and beautiful to have the opportunity to share in the lives of others and help when you can.  I don't feel I get enough opportunities to work in the community.  I'm an administrator, manager at my day gig and the Executive Director of my nonprofit which means paperwork and BS most days.  Every now and then I get a call in from one of my HIV testers who is unsure how to counseling someone or how to refer a client or even where.  I jump at those opportunities.  I want to do more community clean ups. I want to organize a Saturday school.  I want to have a "charm school" for girls.  I wanna wanna wanna.....do. It is a beautiful blessing to serve and I wish more people would see it that way. So many complain about this or that in their communities by don't even see its within their power to do something, to make a change, to serve. We ha...

There comes a time, in every man's life When he get's tired of foolin' around Juggling hearts in a three-ring circus Someday will drive a body down to the ground I never imagined that love would rain on me And make me want to settle down Baby it's true, I think I do And I just wanna tell you that I wanna with you (baby, if you do too) And baby, if you do too Forever, forever, baby I want you forever I wanna keep you for the rest of my life (you can make right) All that is wrong in my world (you are my saviour) You can make right (you are my light) You are my saviour, you are my light (forever I want you in my life) Forever I want you in my life (la da da da da da da da) (la da da da da da) (every man's journey) There comes a road in every man's journey (don't be afraid) A road that he's afraid to walk on his own (I'm at that road) I'm here to tell you that I'm at that road (I'd rather walk it with) And I'd rather wa...

One day I will get on for my home..... Anyway . Either this means something or I was just mad tired. It was about a 30 second dream. I'm sitting in a chair in front of Erykah Badu ....YES  E.badu. She says to me, "You are highly blessed and I'm blessed to know you."   She then kisses me on each cheek and once on the lips .  That was the dream. hmmmm......