Living Proof

“There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me — at least before I was a senator. There are very few African Americans who haven’t had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.” -- Barack Obama The two gay men who were brutally beaten in NYC. Dear President, Thank you for your heartfelt speech poured out to everyone in the United States watching mainstream media. My heart truly goes out to what you have been through, to what many "African Americans" have been through, and of course, still go through. Your struggles as a child is one that many can relate to,...

Finally, all the fights and shit slinging have simmered down on Facebook regarding the Zimmerman trial. I had a few posts that took a turn for the worse ( especially this one ) where a commenter with strong opinions made a snarky comment to the person who disagreed with them. Then it snowballed from there. The thing I don't understand whenever there is a controversial topic going on is when people start insulting one another, calling each other "stupid" or "ignorant" or even resorting to name calling. The fact is: there is nothing you can do about what happened. Whatever our opinions are. ..are just that . Fighting with other people is absolutely pointless because you're wasting your breath trying to convince someone else to go along with what you think it "right". Some people don't tolerate debates (even if childish) on their Facebook account, but as I see it, comment at your own risk because I have more than a few nutcases on my account, i...

About ten years ago, I picked up Madelene's father, Tom from the hospital because he had gotten a procedure done to relieve his sinus congestion. We drove off to the pharmacy to pick up his pain meds and Mad went inside while we waited in the car. While we were sitting there waiting, a young black kid maybe in his late teens or early twenties was across the street just hanging around with his buddies. He wore a blue bandana tied around his head like Tupac, a sweatshirt with a hoodie and his jeans were sagging so low, that his entire ass was exposed in his boxer shorts. It looked ridiculous. His crotch was down to his knees. I was hesitant to say a word, being that it may come across as a racial remark, but I couldn't help it. I said, "You know, I'm not a racist --" and I was cut off by Tom immediately. "I know! I know what you're going to say! It's not being racist, it's the way these kids dress today whether they're black or white. They mak...