Author: bookmystorysite

“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” Imagine the knowledge missed because we have prejudiced ourselves against another person’s opinion, how they present themselves or simply the color of their skin. Erika Alexander a.k.a. Max the Maverick — on the groundbreaking sitcom Living Single is not a household name like Dr. King which carries a positive image, or Bill Cosby which now carries a negative connotation. Nonetheless, she has been a subliminal influence to many even in her character as Max, seemingly a buffoon. However, nonetheless a powerhouse of a Black Women. She is now a writer, a producer, an entrepreneur, and activist best known for her roles as Pam Tucker on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. As we come to the end of Black-History Month, I wish to share the insight of her intuitiveness. I strongly encourage, those who have the time to try and capture the underlining messages she gives on “The Breakfast Club.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmVcxfIdrMk

I empathically believe, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line with an uncluttered mind while reading the right books and listening to informative conversations, which in itself can be one’s crystal ball to greater things.

Proverbs 21:16 can be a reckoning

When longevity has been placed upon you through the mind’s eye, by the Grace of God, it is a Blessing. This Blessing, coupled with the love of reading makes it very difficult not to share my thoughts before this month’s ending. It’s Black History month, and unfortunately, many Blacks have no idea when the celebration of this month began. In 1964, the author James Baldwin reflected on the shortcomings of his education, he wrote: “When I was going to school,” he said, “I began to be bugged by the teaching of American history because it seemed that that history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.” (http://time.com/4197928/history-black-history-month/) Reflecting on his words, for me, it was not until after I was on my second enlistment in the Navy, thru rubbing elbows with white folks when it became apparent I was ignorant of my own existence. Black History Month was first proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. However Black History month was not decreed until 1976, twelve years after the Civil Rights Act of1964,. Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) dedicated his life to educating African Americans about the achievements and contributions of their ancestors. Like W.E.B. DuBois, Woodson believed that young African Americans in the early 20th century were not being taught enough of their own heritage. Wilson’s fraternity Omega Psi Phi thereby created Negro History and Literature Week in 1924.

I left school in 1961, and in the mid-1960s, the most popular textbook for the eighth-grade U.S. history classes still only mentioned two black people in the entire century of history that had transpired since the Civil War; of which Mr. Booker T. Washington was one. Thousands of Blacks have never been placed in the pages of history, depriving us of the equilibrium in the greatness of our actuality. There is one fact that cannot be ignored, what has been robbed and lost as a people thru oppression can only be retrieved by us as a people. Unfortunately, we as a people in general, don’t read as individuals for knowledge, just to satisfy an immediate need or desire, an attribute of slavery. The proof is in the pudding; for this document alone will most likely be read by less than a dozen and shared maybe once, although I pray it to be wrong. Nonetheless, the truth hurts, for we as a people have evolved with pride, but not with deep-seated knowledge pride.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The following was written by W.E.B. Dubois February 1st, 1903 in his book: “The Souls of Black Folk.” in his Forethought he wrote: “Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here at the dawning of the Twentieth Century. This meaning is not without interest to you, Gentle Reader; for the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line. I pray you, then, receive my little book in all charity, studying my words with me, forgiving mistake and foible for sake of the faith and passion that is in me, and seeking the grain of truth hidden there.”

In Chapter III, of his book, he wrote: (Mind you, this was over 100 years ago.)

“Easily the most striking thing in the history of the American Negro since 1876 is the ascendancy of Mr. Booker T. Washington. It began at the time when war memories and ideals were rapidly passing; a day of astonishing commercial development was dawning; a sense of doubt and hesitation overtook the freedmen’s sons,—then it was that his leading began. Mr. Washington came, with a simple definite program, at the psychological moment when the nation was a little ashamed of having bestowed so much sentiment on Negroes and was concentrating its energies on Dollars. His program of industrial education, conciliation of the South, and submission and silence as to civil and political rights, was not wholly original. The Free Negroes from 1830 up to war-time had striven to build industrial schools, and the American Missionary Association had from the first taught various trades, and Price and others had sought a way of honorable alliance with the best of the Southerners. But Mr. Washington first indissolubly linked these things; he put enthusiasm, unlimited energy, and perfect faith into his program, and changed it from a by-path into a veritable Way of Life. And the tale of the methods by which he did this is a fascinating study of human life.”

It startled the nation to hear a Negro advocating such a program after many decades of bitter complaint; it startled and won the applause of the South, it interested and won the admiration of the North; and after a confused murmur of protest, it silenced ….. If ….. it did not convert the Negroes themselves.”

If we as a people (not just a few of us) don’t partake in the Glory through the knowledge of who we are, how in the world will anyone else? The more things change, the more they will always stay the same. Each One must teach One with an open mind. Each one Teach One is an African-American proverb. The phrase originated in the United States during slavery, when Africans were denied education, including learning to read.

Happy Black History Month!

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

                                                             Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On the 21st of January  2017, women of all ages, some with children, joined by men all across America and women around the world, were uniting in solidarity; characterized in what I call a Spiritual Partnership. At the same time, our new president was trying to make an atonement with an intelligence agency that he had belittled and was chastising the free press.  This is not an anti-Trump blog, but a reality check.

Movements can be a powerful means of change.  Protest marches, joined by Dr. King, brought the Vietnam War to a close.  Movements don’t start with a strategy; they start with a “Moment” and a “Set of Principles.”  A moment in the space of time where positive thoughts from rational people are united, correlating  with the phrase “when the stars align.” July of last year and with the upcoming presidential election, I attempted to tap into a rare moment of cohesiveness; by using a statement made by Dr. King which stated, “11 a.m. on Sunday mornings is the most segregated hour in this nation.”

As an unknown on the writing circuit, I saw my book as a tool during troubled times. It came in a dream, to promote “Guidance Against the Odds” through mass mailings to religious organizations throughout the country. Presenting the idea of floating Ambassadors, like facilitators.  Establishing emissaries from the Pews, everyday people, creating a network of Spiritual Partners.  Open communications will always net the realization that people have more in common than not, thereby sustaining the separation of church and state.  A unique idea, for a country so deeply divided.  But unfortunately, it wasn’t the right moment in time.  A similar outcome with a request to Colleges, Universities, and Public Libraries for catalog inclusion, which was an endeavor to coincide with upcoming media exposure.  It was not to be, as the emails and the buffoonery of name-calling took center stage.  On the international scene, our politicians looked ridiculous.

But, however, because of the overwhelming turnout around the world in the “Me Too,” the stars were in alignment on Saturday the 21st.  Thanks to Tarana Burke. The Women’s March in all 50 states and 32 countries were a positive force for the “Millennial Audacity,”  For this blog to be realized, always remember: “If there’s no enemy within, the enemy outside can not hurt you.” African Proverbs

I periodically share my thoughts and feeling through poems, metaphors, pictures, or something of which was a teachable moment for me. Moreover, I encourage others to do likewise. Sharing our feelings is the same as giving, as it brings a people closer in unity. Some may see the existence of harmony in a different light, such as having each other’s back when they are in need. True integration is much broader, as in the keywords of the African-American proverb from slavery: “Each One Teach One.”

Today December 26th is day one of Kwanzaa, the day to focus on Umoja (Unity). Kwanzaa is a celebration held in the United States and other nations of the African Diaspora in the Americas. The traditional way to observe Umoja is as follows: A black candle, placed right in the middle of red and green candles in Kinara, is lit on the very first day of the festival. It marks the commencement of the festive season. The person who takes the responsibility to light the candle makes a statement about the first principle i.e. Umoja (oo-MOH-jah) or unity. All the family members should listen to the statement and understand it in a way that all of them can explain the doctrine and its meaning. At times that particular member shares a passage or poem which is related to their lives and the principle in some way or the other. (Sharing) The Umoja (Unity cup) filled with fruit juice, is passed to all the members present in that congregating spot, some would correlate this in the way we stimulate communion with God.

Sharing from the heart without vilification is the pure-rest form of love; allowing one to be themselves free of the fear of being judged. Matthew 7:1 Sharing from the heart is the subliminal teacher of self-worth to our children, for they are the flowering sponges for whatever hits their ears. Fear of ridicule is the number one enemy to an empathic heart and nutritional stunting to an otherwise inspiring mind.

In a society where negativity is more prevalent because of social media, doubt can become an inhibitor of faith. It props open the doors for the bullies of the world.

Romans 1:17 ” For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

He who lacks faith can be a bookmark for failure. In the words of Michelle Obama from her new book “The Making of Michelle”; she writes “Failure is a feeling long before it becomes an actual result.”

For all intended purposes, it is fair to say…. Our country is in a pickle.   No one knows for sure who is running the justice department; the stock market is crashing, no Attorney General, no Chief of Staff, the only adult in the room, the Secretary of Defense gave notice of intent because it was impossible to compete with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter.  There have been more than 50 administration people in Trump’s orbit who have been fired, resigned or left for unknown reasons.  Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has indicted or gotten guilty pleas from 33 people and three companies that we know.  Healthcare is in crisis, and right now, the Federal government is partially shut down because of a wall.

In 1987 President Reagan made a speech in West Berlin, Germany telling Mikhail Gorbachev the Soviet Union, “Tear down this wall.” Now Putin, Russia, the old Soviet Union is praising Trump for pulling out of Syria. Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops came only weeks after Putin and Saudi Crown Prince high-fived at the G20 summit.  We’ll never know the private conversation between  Putin and Trump in Helsinki, a complete smack in the face to the people of the United States, compounded by Trump believing the Saudi’s Prince explanation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi over our nation’s Intelligence Agencies.  Trump is making Nixon look like a saint.

In honor of the recently departed, the late 41st president of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, I would like a kinder, gentler nation.

In an era of rapacious fake news, hacking of emails, politicians trolling each other, election tampering, and the banning of a news reporter, one must wonder about censorship in blogging i.e., “A Tweet for the President of these United States,” posted almost two years ago, February of 2017 @        In an era of rapacious fake news, hacking of emails, politicians trolling of each other, election tampering, and the banning of a news reporter, one must wonder about censorship in blogging i.e. I posted “A Tweet for the President of these United States,” almost two years ago, February of 2017 @ book mystory domain. blog.   I have high regards for the office of the presidency, as a 22-year veteran of the US Navy, honorably serving under the banner of free speech.  However, in the words of Denzel Washington, “Anything you practice you can get good at, including BS.”   The current president by any standard of sensibility has proven himself a liar, yet still commands a fortyish approval rating, sending free speech to a new height of hypocrisy.  For me, blogging/tweeting the truth to a free and mostly sensible America is not a poor man’s portal. “A Tweet for the President of the United States,” in my opinion has become proof positive, censorship is alive and well of my site https://bookmystorydomain.blog/.  The stats after that blog showed a sharp decline.  Go-figure?.  I have high regards for the office of the presidency as a 22-year veteran of the US Navy, honorably serving under the banner of free speech. However, in the words of Denzel Washington, “Anything you practice, you can get good at, including BS.” The current president, by any standard of sensibility, has proven himself a liar yet still commands a forty-ish approval rating, sending free speech to a new height of hypocrisy. For me, blogging/tweeting the truth to a mostly free and sensible America is not a poor man’s portal. “A Tweet for the President of the United States,” in my opinion, was proof, censored, further creating censorship of my site https://bookmystorydomain.blog/. The stats after that blog showed a sharp decline. Go-figure?

Recently I completed the books  “Capitalism,” The Unknown Ideal:  by  Ayn Rand and “Winners Take All” The Elite Charade: by Anand Giridharadas.   Many of us take certain things in life for granted with assumptions placed on our individual intellects. Subduing our emotions to the humdrum of —-“That’s just the way life is.” Thoughts are the seeds of the imagination, but complacency is the unplugged hole in a sinking ship.    Many of us don’t read, especially about history. For myself, I will never be too old to learn to understand, as I flower from season to season, soaking up the wisdom of life. I read to gain knowledge, thereby putting the critical bugs of life into perspective.  In the soil of things, I feel compelled to share, planting seeds, for open minds to water.  i.e.

 In 1917 the year my mother was born, the Russians were demanding land and freedom, but they got Lenin and Stalin. In 1933 two years before my brother Nathaniel was born, the Germans were demanding room to live, but what they got was Hitler. While Africans were being transported to North America in 1793, the French were shouting for liberty, equality, and fraternity, but what they got was Napoleon. In 1776, Americans were proclaiming citizens’ rights and achieved it by severing political ties with Great Britain, and the Declaration of Independence was signed. However, slavery existed for nearly another 100 years. In 2008, America elected a Black as President and he, Obama again in 2012.  However, then complacency set in.  The hole in the ship remained unplugged, and we got Trump.  Reading is Fundamental.

By ignoring the noise in the wall, the rat will someday get in the closet, in the pantry, and soon may nibble at your feet.  “Each one teach one.” African American proverb. It started in the church.

After a series of confrontations with three black women reporters this week by #45, I must share my thoughts.

When I was a child, a wise woman told me about people who call people names with four letter words. She said they have small minds, which mean they can’t think fast enough to same something intelligent. It’s called stupid …. because they don’t read. So don’t grow up ignorant.       >>>>  That woman was my mother.   Ladies, I salute you.