Race does Matters...

So, it's been along time.
I know. Life has been busy and the world has kept going despite of the fact I haven't blogged in more than three months. However, today I was moved by a horrible story from West Virginia that took place earlier in September. Many of you may know of this; however, I'm just hearing about it. Check it out. Story
Here's a rundown: A 20-year-old black woman raped and tortured for a week by six white people. Enough said, right? I don't know what's going on in America, but I do know that racism is still alive in 2007. We have to realize that we only are nearly 50 years removed from the end of segregation and Jim Crow. Look at Jena 6 in Louisiana and Genarlow Wilson in Georgia. There is too much going on surrounding race that is just unacceptable and I can't stay silent anymore.

Things to think about...

It's been so hard not to chime in on the various happenings of the past week or so. There's been so much to choose from in the news that I just didn't know what to write about. Well, here are a few things that are worth knowing about that make for good convo no matter where you are:

Paris Hilton said jail made here grateful... (I don't buy it)

Two-thousand pounds of weed gone in smoke...(420 will never be the same)


Free Gernalow Wilson (Georgia's racist ways of injustice still strong)


Bloomberg's independence 2008 (Not a surprise)

Charleston's fallen firefighters

Male breast reductions... (wow!)

Tell me what you think.

The city of Black ballers, churches and homeless...

I did it. I have completed the first week (and now on second week) of my internship with the Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta. It's a Clinical Pastoral Education program set in an urban ministry context. Basically, I work with homeless and low income families in the downtown area. With the program, I work with ministries that provide various social services like vouchers for birth certificates, clothing, driver's licenses, food, and medical needs. It gives me the opportunity to extend forms of pastoral care, which mostly means I listen to people and often lend words of encouragement and the ministry of presence. The ministry of presence simply is being in one's space (not talking them to death or offering words when you don't know what to say) as an authoritative/comforting figure in their time of need. I specifically work with a ministry call Crossroads, which feeds close to 300 mouths daily. Most of the clients who come for services are black males. It has been disheartening at times to see people who look just like me in this setting. You can never really tell where a person is in their life by appearance along. People who come through Crossroad come in all colors, shapes, sizes, ages. Some look deathly broken. Others look like they work in corporate America. However, they all need some sort of service because they have ran into a situation or two that has made them homeless. It's disturbing that most of the clients are black males who seem to be in the age range of 25 and up. What's most upsetting is the fact that the people offering the services are predominately white. Why aren't more blacks in Atlanta involved with helping the homelessness situation of the city? I have to say that Atlanta's homeless population is the worst I've seen in all of my travels. New York City, in my opinion has a better handle on their situation. Most of the churches in the inner city who deal the homeless are white. Why is that? As a black seminarian it is very frustrating; especially, when your white counterparts are looking to you for some explanation. I don't know what to say. I do know that there are hundreds of black churches (several mega ministries) in this city and there are nearly 1.5 million blacks in Metro Atlanta. Where's the reinforcement for their people? I can't say that there aren't any black churches or people doing anything. But, the number of black laborers in this field of service aren't well proportioned in comparison to the number of white churches or people that have taken initiative to do something. It's sucks, but it's true.
Where are the black churches? Where are the black people?

Tennessee On my Mind!!!

Since my move to Georgia, I look for every opportunity to brag to my peers that I hail from the great Volunteer State – TENNESSEE. When the Lady Vols made their win during the NCAA tourney, it was great. That week I won a few bets I’d place with some my seminary buddies who were stupid enough to do a women’s basketball bracket and not put Tennessee at the top. Come on! It’s was easy money. And I was like the only one who had Florida going all the way in my men's bracket too. But that’s a story for another day.
There have been some interesting things going on in my home state in the past few weeks that deserved to be highlighted.
Here goes:
David Price of Vanderbilt University could become the second college pitcher in the last decade selected as the No. 1 overall in the major league draft. This is hot because he’s originally from my college town and former stomping grounds, Murfreesboro. Story

Actor/Tennessee Politician Fred Thompson is vying for a presidential bid. I’m not that excited about this news, especially since I recently found out he was born outside of Tennessee soil. But, it’s still worth mentioning. Story

However, what takes the cake is State Senator Ophelia Ford. She is the infamous aunt of young politicker John Ford Jr., who after losing the senate election became a visiting public policy professor at Vanderbilt University. Supposedly, after his loss he was also named chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and vice chairman and senior policy adviser for Merrill Lynch and Co. Inc. Well, enough about him. His aunt Ophelia, on the other hand, recently showed her behind off in a Senate committee meeting. Ophelia, who in her own words sits on “the boards” of a national organization for funeral home directors, went off on a child-protective service official and a state auditor because they made reports that she didn’t think was adequate to say the least. You have to see the clip on YouTube. It’s like this woman began to channel Maranda from Devil Wears Prada and Whitney Houston during the heavy crack usage days. You have to see this woman wrapped up in a blanket during a Senate meeting and tell me what you think
Here’s the story too. Video

FLORIDA: It's a wrap!!!

Tour de Central Florida is finally over and I am now back in Atlanta. I hit so many spot during my trek through the Sunshine State. Here’s my recap: First, I spent a day and a half with my best friend Willie, who has made his humble abode in Tallahassee. Outside of FAMU and FSU, there’s not much to the small town. Willie has done well for himself. He's been there only two year and already has a new home and car. He's also working with the music department of a progressive church ministry pastored by a graduate of my school, ITC. Not bad! There wasn’t much to do in the city. We hit a Buffalo Wild Wings, which was extremely hood. I was not prepared for the plethora of gold teeth and chains. BW3’s was like the club on a Tuesday night. I had to remind myself that 25 cent wings draw all kinds of people, and it's damn hard to escape the workings of ghettoism. It’s practically everywhere. So, we later hit a coffee shop and just chilled since I had to catch a bus in the early A.M. Luckily, I didn’t have to sit next to any weirdoes. The person who sat next to me was a beautiful girl named Amber who said she played soccer for Arizona State. She told me she was in Tallahassee visiting a boyfriend who plays football at FSU. Although I couldn’t find her stats online, she gave good convo and made the ride easy considering there were love bugs mating in the window the entire trek.
My next stop was Cocoa Beach. Sounds fun, right? It was good times with my mentors and friends, Dr. Hood and E. Smith. The ocean was the best. We all just spent time on the beach just catching up on school and life. I got some much deserved rest. I also received a call about an internship for the summer. The news came in perfect timing because I was uncertain about what I was exactly going to do for the summer. Let’s just say God worked it out. Once home I was to start at St. Luke Episcopal Church’s Urban Ministry in downtown Atlanta. Basically, I will be providing pastoral care and services to the city’s homeless and low income residents who daily seek food, clothing and shelter. It’s a change for me that I know will be very rewarding. So, the beach was good.
(I have to send thanks to my sister for warning me ahead of time that hurricane season started that weekend. Please believe that I felt the affects.) I was a little disappointed that there weren’t many people of color in the area. I’ve been spoiled. ATL's diversity has become commonplace for me. There just wasn’t much to see in Cocao Beach. My trip became most interesting when I made my way to Orlando. There, the Church of God in Christ was having its annual women’s convention. Approximately 18,000 bible totting, big hat, sequin dress wearing women filled the city. I believe I even saw a silhouette of Minnie Mouse decked in COGIC attire while there. I had a chance to catch up with Pastor Sheryl Randolph of Living Word Ministries from my hometown, her mother and my good friend Sparka. The weather began to turn bad because of Tropical Storm Barry. However, I did go out once in Orlando and made a day trip to Tampa with my homeboy Morris. Central Florida’s night spots pale in comparison to ATL. My peeps made it all worthwhile though. I had the greatest time. Yet, I was still so ready to come back to familiar surroundings. The bus ride back to ATL was 11 hours due to a horrible wreck on the expressway compliments of Barry. He’s also the reason I was drenched the entire ride from leakage on the bus. Plus, the bus was crazy for the fact I was surrounding by old COGIC women who wore big hats for the ride home. Did I mention there was a dog traveling with a drifter on board? Yeah. Old COGIC women and a Labrador made for an interesting combination. Soon as I returned, as usual, I had friends in town. Candy and Shanel were here to catch a flight to Minnesota. So, we went to a couple of my spots before I had to get up the next morning for the internship. We were out until like 2 a.m. Now that’s why I love ATL. There’s always something to do.

Check out the pics

Buses and Heroes...

This week I am on a Tour de Central Florida. For the first time in like five years, I’m getting on a Greyhound Bus and traveling for an extensive amount of time. Sucks right? After the big bus scares post Sept. 11^th that were thought to be terrorist related but actually just some people carrying weapons on board, I never imagined that I would back on one of the liners. Plus, I remember there were a series of traumatic bus crashes a couple of years ago. The more I write I realize that my anxieties aren’t really decreasing. However, I’ve already set the course and can’t turn back. So, of course I will have to write about this experience because something crazy is bound to happen. It never fails. Just wait and see. I will probably have to sit next to someone who suffers from bad body odder, or has some weird deformity like three arms or two glass eyes that don’t move. As I gear up for the ride, I couldn’t help but to think about the USAToday article, Lives of the Indelible Impact, about some of the most impacting people in the past 25 years.

“They blazed trails. They showed courage. They made us cry. They are the 25 on USA TODAY's list of people who moved us in the past quarter-century. Most are famous, but some are ordinary folks in extraordinary situations. Many became accidental leaders, even heroes, whose spirit enriched our lives.”

I couldn’t help but think who would be my 25. I agree with most of the article’s picks, but I still need my own list. Here goes a few:
1. Parents (That’s a given)

2. WEB DuBois

3. Oprah

4. The cast members from StarTrek, the Next Generation (I guess this category should include casts from other shows I remember like Cheers, Perfect Strangers, Beverly Hill Billies, etc. I watched a lot of TV growing up)

5. Angela Tuck at The AJC along with several other staffers: P. Paul, S. Poole, C. Tucker, etc.

6. Leaders of NABJ i.e. P. Riley, M. Woolfolk, H. and M. Lowe, etc.

7. Dr. Jennifer Woodard at MTSU

8. Ms. Claire Lane, my 12^th grade English teacher.

9. Diddy

10. R. Simmons

11. Maya Angelou

12. Cornel West

13. Homie the Clown (You got to love it…)

14. (I’m too tired to go on…)

Speaking of buses and heroes, one of my heroes actually took me on my first bus trip. This would be none other than my maternal grandmother. She was one of the smartest, wittiest, classiest women I’ve ever encountered thus far in my nearly quarter of a century life. She took me on a bus trip to Washington D.C. when I was like eight-years-old. I attribute her for most of development into the man I am today – professional, polished, urbane, spiritual, and respectable. It was like I became her little project. She gave me mostly any and everything I wanted coming up. For instance, if my mom cooked something I didn’t want to eat, I would call Granny and McDonald’s would be in route. (Clearly, I would get hit up side the head later by Mom. But I was happy for the moment.) Just put it like this, I was so spoiled that she even called me “Special Boy.” Only once do I ever recall her using my first name. She even went so far as having most of my dress shirts, suits and other clothing all freshly dry cleaned and pressed since I was like five. Let’s just say those were the days, because after she passed when I was 13 it all stopped. My mom and pop were not having it. However, my grandmother was the greatest not because of the princely treatment she extending, but because she also gave me some of the most powerful words of wisdom to live by. She told me to always keep God first, save money, become a man of business, and vacation as often as possible. And since my childhood, I’ve been trying to live to out each one. I have other heroes, but none compare to Ella Mae.

Who’s on your list? (I wonder if Snoop Dogg or New York makes anyone top 25…)

Weekend of Weekends!!

Out of all the things I could write about (Rosie and Elizabeth, Patriots' Marquise Hill, Spurs vs. Jazz, the British Annual Cheese-Rolling Race, American Idol…etc.), I’ve decided to stick to the happenings surrounding my Memorial Day weekend. I had so many friends pass through Atlanta for the three-day weekend that by Tuesday I was worn out from all the cookouts, dinners, parties, etc.

The 30^Th Annual Atlanta Jazz fest was the highlight affair in the Big Peach with headliners Flora Purim, Herbie Hancock, Mike Phillips, Sheila E., and many more. Some friends and I grabbed blankets, lawn chairs, drinks, and snacks, and caught a couple nights of the event. The superb jazz sounds and great weather made the days in Piedmont Park worthwhile. It was good times. I also had a chance to catch up with three of my good friends from Nashville, Darnell Levine, and J and Tiff of The Light. They all were set to perform at an artist showcase at the Underground in downtown Atlanta. Darnell, whose self released album, We Gon’ Use What We Got is doing well, has been picking up a lot of gigs lately between Atlanta and his hometown, Louisville, Ky. J and Tiff, (The Light)whose long awaited album is due to release in a few months, were singing background for Darnell at this performance. And as usual, they rocked. One of my best friends and college buddy, Willie Nelson III, came through the city for the festivities. We hit up so many spots that I don’t even know where to begin. However, I must rub it in to my family that I had dinner Sunday at one of their favorite seafood spots -- Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. It was good as always. Just check out the pics from the weekend and tell me what you think or how was your weekend.