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