Why Love Black Men?

Loving Black men, Is Da NEW Sexy

Beautiful Black Men

(With compliments and apologies to all not mentioned by name)
by Nikki Giovanni

i wanta say just gotta say something
bout those beautiful beautiful beautiful outasight
black men
with they afros
walking down the street
is the same ol danger
but a brand new pleasure
sitting on stoops, in bars, going to offices
running numbers, watching for their whores
preaching in churches, driving their hogs
walking their dogs, winking at me
in their fire red, lime green, burnt orange
royal blue tight tight pants that hug
what i like to hug
jerry butler, wilson pickett, the impressions
temptations, mighty mighty sly
don't have to do anything but walk
on stage
and i scream and stamp and shout
see new breed men in breed alls
dashiki suits with shirts that match
the lining that compliments the ties
that smile at the sandals
where dirty toes peek at me
and i scream and stamp and shout
for more beautiful beautiful beautiful
black men with outasight afros

Nikki Giovanni, “Beautiful Black Men” from The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni. Copyright © 1996 by Nikki Giovanni. Reprinted with the permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Source: The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni (1996)

Clip Of The Day

and speaking of Bernie Mac...

Normally I offer y'all a gospel music clip but in honor of legends of comedy, I'm tossing up one of my favorite Bernie Mack routines. Sure, its not PC. And being a SGL person of color, I should prolly take offense to Bernie referring to his little nephew as a F-G! But Hell, Fu-k It, Da Ish is FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC4ul_FYnlQ

An Appreciation

The Grand Diva!

Bea Arthur

RIP

May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009

Television Royalty. A classy broad and extraordinary talent. One of a kind, unique. Never duplicated. Never imitated. Like Eve Arden in film, Arthur carve a niche for herself no one in television can ever follow. Her likeness sits along side Mary Tyler Moore, Lucile Ball, Carole Burnett, and fellow Golden Girls alum, Betty White. From her supporting role in the motion picture musical, MAME, to her guest appearances on the sitcom Malcolm In The Middle, I've never seen Arthur deliver a bad performance. For your 40 years of service to television comedy, I tip my hat to you Grand Dame, and most humbly say... Thank You.

A Message By George Carlin

Words Of Wisdom from a Brilliant Mind...

(Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac, Carlin, and now Bea Arthur... Heaven's definitely where I want to end up!!! )
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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor... We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete....

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Thought Of The Day

Understand

Seek not only to know, but also to understand. In a world that is awash in information, true understanding remains a rare and precious treasure.

The knowledge and information you collect is indeed valuable. The understanding you refine from that knowledge can be priceless.

Information tells you what has happened. Understanding enables you to know what will come as a result.

Understanding gives you a clear picture of opportunities that others cannot even glimpse. The effort you put into understanding brings great value to your life and your world.

Listen, learn, question, experience, think and understand. Do the work that turns ordinary facts into golden wisdom.

Have the courage and discipline to think for yourself. And out of the raw information will come real understanding.

-- Ralph Marston

Clutter

God Said NO

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, no. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, no. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, no. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it is not granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness. God said, no. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain. God said, no. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, no. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things, that I might enjoy life. God said, no. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me... God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

Thanks 4 sharing this with me Julie! I especially like, "I give you blessings; happiness is up to you."

We can choose happiness at any time. Its "clutter" that often distracts us from happiness. I use the term clutter purposely. No matter how we define and label our distractions, in the "mind of God" or the grand scheme of the universe, all of our issues, challenges, fears, are but clutter. According to A Course In Miracles, the only thing that's real is God and God is love, everything else is an illusion. Therefore, if it ain't God its an illusion. If it ain't love, it's an illusion. A Course In Miracle further asserts, there are only two emotions- love and fear. If we're not loving, we are oprating from fearing. A mind consumed with fear is a cluttered mind.

Clutter encompasses so very much, looking for love, loss of love, fear of love, fear of not being loved, addictions, hatreds, phobias and a multitude of isms, financial concerns, career concerns, as well demons from past, present, and anticipated. A cluttered mind is an unhappy mind preoccupied with illusions. An unhappy mind creates unhappiness. Unhappiness attracts unhappy people, places, themes and situations. A life consumed by unhappy people, places, themes and situations is the unhappy life defined. Happy people strive to face, manage, and transcend the clutter of our minds and lives. Simply put a happy mind chooses happiness. Therefore, happiness is indeed a choice.

And This 2 Shall Pass

And if you find trouble feeling happiness, I hope that Yolanda Adams inspires you. She has something to sing about hardship and our troubling times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6olU1D70eys