Tom COON-ery

Doesn't this picture of the White House look odd?

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Of course it does, its displays a watermelon patch in the front. This picture was sent out by
the (former) Mayor of Los Alamitos, Califnornia, Dean Grose.

He has decided to resign after making poor judgment and decided to engage in such tom coonery. Thing is, had he been "watching his set up", he would have omitted sending this out to a black lady.

What was on this fools mind any way?

Dean Grose, you do NOT work for Madd TV, SNL or any other sketch comedy show, you are/were the mayor of a city. I'm glad you decided to do the amicable thing and resigned from your mayoral duties.

If you can not make the correct judment or weather to send an E-mail filled with racist inuendo to people, OR NOT TO, then how can you make executive decisions for a city?

Source

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AinThissaBowda: Fool for the Fools

I would hate to be the person that has to follow up a Presiden Barack Obama speech. Therefore, I commend Gov. Bobby Jindals moxie to take on such a task but the commemorations end there. I Personally think pork pig could have done a better job of following up President Obama's state of the union address. Plus, Porky would have ended with "buh-dee-buh-dee-buh-dee-buh Thats all folks".

Word Of the Week: Avant-Garde

Avant-Garde
(1) of or pertaining to the experimental treatment of artistic, musical, or literary material.
(2) unorthodox or daring; radical.
(3) radically new or original



On this day, February 23, back in 1868, a prominent figure in Black History, W.E.B. DuBois, Was Born. Dubois was an avant-garde Civil Rights Activist and sociologist. He explored many avenues in an attempt to correct America's faux pas of racism the 20th century.

I Be Poppin Tags...

Okay

Today I took a break and just cruised the blogoshpere and will share with you what i endeavored.

I started with a stroll over at Diamond Dust and my gurl A.Smith dealt with some daddy issues. She got the idea for her post from Glennisha who told a tale about Accepting Things For What They Are, with her father. These two had my mind swooning this morning. Now I'll have to do a daddy post now tomorrow.

OMG, the 2 Ditzy Broads had me in stitches with If They Werent Famous....

I Can not forget about Mz Virgo she always got that good dirt. Wait a minute.... J-hud’s fiance wants to wrestle for the WWE?

That all for this here THIRSTday

Dafonzarelli Makievellli is out

Miseducation 101: I'm So Hood/ Your Ghetto

Once again I'm to exclaim how I'm inflamed by the misuse of words and phrases, that seemingly make you cool but truly make you foolish.

The lesson of the day is being 'hood' or 'ghetto'.

I'm pretty sure you may have heard the term used, or should I say misused. Most perceive being 'hood' or ghetto' as simply being disrespectful or behaving in an ignorant or delinquint manner. I, for one, do not agree with such an assumption. Its foolish to lump every one who, by the accidence of their existance, were born and/or lived in an impoverished neighborhood, as being being loud obnoxious degenerates. I'm personally offended, as I am from the 'ghetto' or 'hood', because I am neither. I also hate the notion that behaving in such a manner is perceived to make you cool.

I just do not get it...


See, I grew up in one of the worst neighborhoods in Milwaukee, WI. I know a lot of people ask, 'is there black people that live there?'

Well, the answer is... HELL YEAH!

I'm sorry that 'Happy Days' and 'Lavern and Shirley' gave you a depiction of a city that I did not even know, AND I LIVED THERE.

Anyway, my neighborhood was the typical poverty stricken back drop: dirty streets, abandon houses, liquor store on one corner, a church on the opposite corner, and a casscade of people sitting on porches, standing on corners or wondering aimlessly. Contrary to the song, its more than wearing you pants below your waist and having 'gol' teefasis in ya mouf'. This is why I seriously doubt that most rappers were even born and raised in 'da hood' because its nothing to be glorified.

Growing up in the ghetto has had a hand in shaping me into who I am today, good and bad. Most of the things that I've experienced from then has made me numb, numb to the ignorance and violence. See, while your misinformed about riding around in tricked out cars, getting head and smoking dope, the ultimate reality is not presented.

The reality is... PEOPLE DIE EVERYDAY IN 'DA HOOD'

People that you go to school and church with, your family and neighborhood friends. One day is permanently embedded in my mind...

It is a day I'll never forget. I was 1o years old on my way home from school. I had just gotten off the school bus and the bus pulled away down the street. As I then proceeded to cross the street I crossed paths with 3 teenaged boys, nothing out of the ordinary. Not until I seen the guy dressed in all black creep from the alley directly across from me. His target was the 3 boys who, by now, were directly behind me. I seen the guy in the alley raise his pistol. Before I can even think to run shots were whizzing by my ear. The entire block was in a stampeed and there I was in a cross fire. By the grace of God I was unharmed.

That was a normal thing, at least the gun shots were, the cross fire situation was not. There were times when playing at the playground could transcend into gun violence. Occasionally, stray bullets would claim lives of children, in those situations. Its simply mind-numbing to think that some one is celebrating and glorifying the fact your life is in danger every time you go outside. Its even more disturbing that someone, who never had to live in that situation, promotes that life condition.

Back in the summer of 2001, in my neighboorhood alone, there were 24 deaths by gun violence. All the victims were black males between the ages of 16 and 25. One particular victim I had known since kindergarden. We went to the same neighborhood elementry school, had the same teacher, and hung out together though the years. That August, he was shot in the head. After he was shot he ran about 5 blocks, then collapsed in front of the butcher's shop in a pool of blood. He was not a thug, or anything of the like. He worked and, like me, had just graduated high school that June, and was about to go off to college. I guess, he just had a knack for being 'at the wrong place at the wrong time' because he had previously gotten shot, in the back, two year prior.

BUT AGAIN...

I was at the wrong place at the wrong time when I got off the school bus that one day.


Maybe I'm just off in my thinking here. First off, I do not think its correct to term some one as 'ghetto' or 'hood' any way because those are places - not persons. At any rate, if a person is to be 'hood' or 'ghetto' I would think that they would share similar experiences like mines. The stigmata of living in this type of environment during you childhood is eternal. Eventhough I was fortunatley able to move, after 19 years of the violence and mishaps, things tend to encamp in your psyche.

If your a true 'hood N*gga' its not because of how you talk or dress but because of what you have experienced, while LIVING IN THE 'HOOD'.


This clip shows 'my hood' at about the 3 minute mark. I remeber half of these young dudes from when they were between the ages of 10 and 12. Now at ages 17 and 18, they are an example of what you become when you can not get out of the hood.


The young man at the beginning of this video happens to be someone I know/knew. When I knew him he was only about 11 or 12 years old, attended the homework club that I worked at and he was a good kid. This should give you a glimps at how living in the hood tends to break most people. I know it reminded me.


Here is an article about violence in Milwaukee

Black (history) Tuesday: History in the Making

As President Barack Obama signs the economic stimulus bill...

I think back on history, 1865 to be exact. That was the year that Freedman's Saving and Trust Company was formed. This bank was formed, by congress, to help/teach newly emancipated slaves to save money. The intentions for this bank was simple, to aid Negroes in economic stability. Between 1865 and 1870 the bank become very lucrative. It was estimated that there were 70,000 accounts and around $57 million dollars in deposits - money of blacks from all over the country. Despite the banks booming success, less than 4 yrs later the bank was collapsing. By June of 1974 Freedman's Bank was closed.

What Does This Have to do with President Obama and the Stimulus Bill?

Well, the bank was stable because its policy made it so it only invested in government securities. In 1870, the bank got new management and they had congress change that policy, which ultimately led to the closing of the bank. In 1874, the bank had called on Frederick Douglass to come in and help the fledgling bank. He even invested his own money($10,000) as a show of faith in the bank but he soon realized that the bank was already 'deep fried and barbecued'.

RIGHT NOW, our country is looking for like Freedman's bank did back in 1874.

RIGHT NOW, we have President Obama coming in to a situation where all the rotting and decaying is already visibly present.

RIGHT NOW, President Obama is about to invest $800+ BILLION dollars into the economy.

BUT WILL THAT BE GOOD ENOUGH?

Is it best to completely uproot the current banks, rid them of their worthless securities and nationalize them?

Is it best for the automakers to relinquish control of their company's to the government and produce the type of product they want?

Is it best to help the real estate market by the government helping pay mortgages?

Is it best for the government to increase aid to Americans until the job market stabilizes?

Read more on Freedman's Savings and Trust company

Word of the Week: Audacious

Audacious -
(1) extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless:
(2) extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive:
(3) recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; brazen

In continuing in the Black History Month theme, for this weeks word of the week, I'll use a popular figure in black history, Frederick Douglass. I guess, there is really no need to go into what he has done with his life.

Frederick Douglass was audacious in speaking out against slavery, despite, at the time, being a slave himself.


Last week I had the privilege of speaking to my 9 year old niece, she was all excited to tell me about what she learned about Madam CJ Walker (ironically I had did a post on the same day she called). Strange thing was that her version of events withheld the very important portion of information, that Madam CJ Walker was a slave before she became a self-made millionaire. Why is that so important?, you may ask. Well, its not to keep the stigma of slavery on the hearts of Black/African American youth but I think its inspiring, to even non-black/African American children, to learn that a person born in slavery(or in slavery times) can become a millionaire in America.

I mean, is that not what black history month is about?

"What was possible for me is possible for you. Do not think because you
are colored you cannot accomplish anything. Strive earnestly to add to your
knowledge. So long as you remain in ignorance, so long will you fail to command
the respect of your fellow men."

~ Frederick Douglass

Black(history) Tuesday

Yesterday, I used the Word of the Week to pour out a little of information on Ralph Bunche. So in continuing with that theme I want to a mention a few more note worthy names of Black History that are not civil right or Harlem Renaissance or pop icons.

I'm going to start with another person whom is embedded in my mind since elementary school. No other than Benjamin Banneker. Now his name is pretty popular. You may have heard of high schools and subsidized housing projects named after him but that's not enough to know.

Banneker was born in 1731 so it was still slave times and despite that he was making history. Not Just history for African Americans - but for the world. Banneker was a mathematician and astronomer, mind you that this was well before computers and calculators and such. Its said that he constructed a working wooden clock, the first of its kind, that operated for 50 something odd years. Also, near the age of 60, he made ephemeris', which are astronomical tables that tell when the next lunar and solar eclipses is, and things of the like, will occur. With Banneker being from such a long time ago there are many variations to his life story but the claim of his intelligence rings loud from any version.

This is Matthew A. Henson. His name is not as popular in black history but he was the first person to stand at the north pole. At the age of 12 he had an interest in sailing but due to racism he stopped at age 18. After that he had began going on exploring expeditions with a US Navy sailor. They had made a few unsuccessful attempts to explore the north pole. It was not until Henson spent time and learned how Eskimos were able to live in the frigid cold climate, that they were able to make to the north pole in 1909.

Henson wrote a book about reaching the north pole and his other explorations but did not receive proper notoriety until after his death.

The first Female American to become a self made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove. Her claim to fame was the manufacturing company she founded that made hair and beauty products for black women.

Rather than just go over her biography I just want to make a few notes. I'm shocked that this is not a person that is popular in black history. This woman went from working in the cotton fields in in the late 1800's to becoming a millionaire.

I mean, were would we be without the hot comb?

But I don't know, that just seems really awesome to me.


and with that said...

Dream Variations
by Langston Hughes

To fling my arms wide

In some place of the sun,

To whirl and to dance

Till the white day is done.

Then rest at cool evening

Beneath a tall tree

While night comes on gently,

Dark like me-

That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide

In the face of the sun,

Dance! Whirl! Whirl!

Till the quick day is done.

Rest at pale evening...

A tall, slim tree...

Night coming tenderly

Black like me.

Word of the Week: Perspicacious

Perspicacious - having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning

In Honor of BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I'm choosing, for this week's word of the week, a person whom I had the opportunity of doing a report on back in elementry school. I did not choose this person he was actually deligated to me by my 5th grade teacher but I have never forgotten the history of this person. The person I'm referring to is Ralph Bunche, he was the first 'person of color' to win the Nobel Peace Prize(1950), a prize he won for mediations between Jews and Palestinians back in the late 1940's. In addition to being a diplomat, Bunche was also widely know for his continual ties to the education field and worked for prestine universities such as, Havard and Howard. Not to mention, that as a prominent African American of that time, he was impelling and expressive during the civil rights movement as well.

Ralph Bunche was perspicacious in his writting entitled, "A World View of Race", in which he compared racism and class warfare.

Are You a Non-Believer III

So wuttayano, I got response to my post Are you a Non-believe II, a post in response to a post titled, " My Atheism Is Not A Rejection Of Your God", which is a response to my original Are You a Non-Believer post. Basically I'm stating that atheist can not practice disbelief, so they resort to being indisposed about perpetual things, like the words "in God we trust" being on American currency.

This is what the non-believer had to say about my last post on the subject...

This guy has no idea what he's talking about. "In God We Trust" isn't
offensive because it's "distracting". It's offensive because it is our
government, which is supposed to represent everyone, basically saying "real
Americans believe in God". It relegates atheists to second-class status. How
many times have you heard someone (like, say, George Bush 41) say that atheists
aren't real patriots or real Americans because "this is one nation under God" or
try to claim that this is a Christian nation because it says right on your money
"In God We Trust"? I know I've heard arguments like that from a lot of people.
These supposedly benign examples of "ceremonial deism" actually do cause
problems for atheists, and they are real problems.


It's simply false to claim that atheists are trying to remove God from
everything or from everywhere. We're trying to get God out of our government
(yes, it's our government too). You would throw a fit if our government declared
"Allah is Great" (implying that Islam was true), so why would you have a problem
with atheists who don't think "In God We Trust" should be an official statement
from the government?

('this guy' refers to me)

sigh

Primarily, I find it strange that when making an argument one would dare use someone as sophomoric as George W. Bush. Personally, I have never heard of, or referred to, atheist as 'un-American' or 'not real patriots'. If anything I have heard of, or referred to, atheist as heathens, which by definition they are. Regardless of that, theoretically, America is a 'Christian Nation' because the founders were christian, and every president has professed a faith in Christianity. On that basic premise, we can say that we live in a christian nation - not because of print on pecuniary paper. What truly bothers me on this argument is that its never addressed, or seemingly realized, that despite the country being found on Christianity, they still saw it fit to separate church from state, in order not to impose, or require, others to practice their religion(but slaves were okay but I wont go there).

Are atheist aware that most countries only have one religion that allowed to be openly practiced?

If the words, 'In God We Trust' gets removed from money, then whats next? No prayer in public?

Yes, atheist are wanting to remove God from everything and everywhere. God is only in the government to the extent of the beliefs of the government officials. If it were anything else then atheist would probably be hung and drowned like witches were back in the 18th century. They claimed to be 'relegated as 2nd class' citizens? That seems strange, as I never heard of an atheist being beat, stabbed, shot or killed for their DISBELIEF.

Any way, Stop your pissing and moaning an atheist has a better shot of becoming president than a Muslim. The only reason the atheist would lose is because they would only be concerned about removing words from American currency and ridding government establishments of religious facets. ~ LMAO!

In all seriousness, since you want to use American Presidents as examples, then use our current one, President Obama, as an example too. I recall in his inauguration speech that he called everyone, including, and I quote, "NON-BELIEVERS" as Americans, all equal. Despite that he still continued to display and profess HIS belief, while not spiting another belief, or dis-belief...

and he does the same here when he speaks at this prayer breakfast...
(Its ok to watch this atheist. No one prays during this clip and God is only mentioned once.)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

AinThissaBowda: Freak Fest

Last week I did a post about the attention CitiGroup received when they wanted to purchase a $50 million dollar jet. Now Wells Fargo, the same bank that fought over who would get to liquidate Wychovia, is raising eyebrows. Monday they metioned paying $371.5 million to the government, Tuesday its been found that they are going on an 'all expense paid vegas five-star freak fest' - not just any weekend at Vegas romp, Wednesday(today) they CANCELLED the trip. It was nothing but a week ago that CitiGroup felt the heat and Wells Fargo must have not been watching the news. How did they think that this would not garner as much attention as the other financial institutions did? Oh, they said the trip was not a junket but a meeting and recognition event; But get this... it was for their employees that made home ownership acheivable.

Do these fools know the state of the real estate market today?

What Wells Fargo needs to do is recognize the state of our economy and meet on how they can help fix that, which will not require a 2 week gala in Vegas. Now, financially, and despite losing a heaping amount of money between October and December, Wells Fargo is still one of the better off financial institutions. What Wells Fargo has to realize is, regardless of their stability, they were given bail out money to help the economy. None of these banks have yet to start lending. Rather than figuring out how to best use OUR money we gave them, they'd rather relax and live it up taking posh spa retreats, buying private jets, and planning buttfuggathons in Vegas.

You can not hide

Word of the Week: Meretricious

Meretricious

Definition:

1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.

Sentence:
After being impeached, last week, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was very meretricious during the press conference held outside of his home.