Category Archives: Race

Wake Up Everybody

Leave a reply

Have you noticed that Race in America is prevalent in our daily discourse?

Like back pain that is temporarily masked by therapy or medication, the topic of race is always just beneath the surface, lurking.

A sudden movement, twist or turn can act as a catalyst thrusting it forward.

While I am fully aware of the recent remarks by Laura Schlessinger, I chose to not ‘weigh in’ because I felt that I had nothing ‘new’ to add to the conversation.

Inappropriate behavior is simply that, inappropriate.

It is neither a ‘pass’ for the offender or a justification for the offended to wear the badge of victim.

I attended a client meeting at an ‘old world’ resort in the Virginia Mountains not too long ago. By old world, I mean it first opened its doors a decade before the American Revolution.

Another guest, an elderly White gentleman, made the assumption that I was at the front desk, not to check in, but to assist with his luggage.
His assumption was based on what? Certainly not the clothing that I wore because the standard uniform for employees was topped off with a split pea green vest with a small gold-like name tag.

I’ve always found green a difficult color to pull off.

When the news of a horrific crime is reported, I hold my breath and wait for the description of the suspect.

My mind automatically shifts into ‘auto drive’ and think, “thank God it wasn’t someone Black” or “I hope it wasn’t someone Black.”

These circumstantial examples, along with a handful of other current events, caused Bob Herbert’s Op-Ed column in last Saturday’s New York Times, Too Long Ignored, to touch a nerve. He said,

Terrible injustices have been visited on black people in the United States, but there is never a good reason to collaborate in one’s own destruction. Blacks in America have a long and proud history of overcoming hardship and injustice. It’s time to do it again.

We are in need of an intervention and for all of the reasons outlined in Too Long Ignored, Black America is at a crucial point where the fix must come sooner rather than later.

This fix is one that we have to take responsibility for and implement. Our survival is dependent upon it.

I encourage you to read the full piece and join me in fueling the conversation.
This sentiment is not new, but one that requires igniting…again.

Like the lyrics from the Gamble-Huff song, Wake Up Everybody say:

The world won’t get no better if we just let it be
The world won’t get no better we gotta change it yeah, just you and me.

For the full Herbert column full text click here

Goin Up Yonder

1 Reply

I grew up in a household where music was not only foundational, but like electricity, food and water, it was ever-present and essential.

The musical palette that I developed is a result of the eclectic genres I was exposed to in my youth.

The sounds that I grew up listening to broadened my horizons allowing for new and unexpected delights.

For example, it took me many years to appreciate the raw emotion and vulnerability of Billie Holiday or to understand what a 16 year old Billy Strayhorn was saying in his haunting ballad “Lush Life.”

Like many of my contemporaries, I “got” Stevie right away and became devoted to him and his female disciples of songs, notably Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams and Syreeta.

But somehow the music of Walter Hawkins was different.

Walter Hawkins changed the way I heard gospel music.

Despite the fact that gospel was a staple in my childhood, I don’t think I really listened, paid attention or truly comprehended it until I heard the word from Walter Hawkins and the Hawkins family.

I did not realize until very recently that Hawkins was a prolific songwriter and composer. He authored the songs that have left an indelible impression on me -– “Changed,” “I Won’t Be Satisfied, “He’s That Kind of Friend” and “I’m Not the Same.”

To the uninitiated these are merely song titles, but in actuality they are much more than that.

Throughout his career, Hawkins recorded hundreds of songs that charted on Billboard and received numerous accolades, including Grammy, Stellar and Dove Awards.

Walter Hawkins crafted songs that combined simple chord structure, rich gospel gravy and contemporary verve — all infused with love, joy, deep spirituality and optimism.

He did not rely on studio gimmickry. In fact, his most vital and compelling work was recorded live, using vocals, piano, bass, organ, drums, and guitar.

I did not learn that Walter Hawkins had passed away until a week ago. A friend, Bishop Dawn Brown, told me.

Although we never discussed it before, Bishop Brown and I discovered that we shared an appreciation and admiration for Walter Hawkins’ music.

What has since struck me is that while from different backgrounds, upbringings and religious affiliations, many of my friends, peers and colleagues share the same love and respect for the man and his music.

To this day when I hear the infectious opening chords of “Goin Up Yonder,” I get goose bumps. I can’t help but tap my foot, sway me head and sing along with Tramaine.

“Goin Up Yonder” is a nine minute master class in praise and fellowship. It is one of nine songs from arguably one of his best works, “Love Alive,” circa 1975.

The recording captures the essence of Hawkins’ gifts and devotion.

The music sounds as fresh and vital today as it did when it was initially released over thirty years ago.

In his opening remarks for the “Love Alive” recording, Walter Hawkins said,

“I think we should be able to tell everybody, like Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ…that is the kind of life we want to live.”

I took this to mean that we should live a life that is filled with love – love of our fellow man, love of ourselves, love and appreciation of all that we have and should be grateful for.

What a blessing Walter Hawkins was. His gift of song and those he touched will be a lasting testament to love and devotion.

New York Times Obituary, click here

The Evolution of Black Women

2 Replies

My co-workers and I are in the throes of what we call “planning.”

To the uninitiated, this “annual ritual” is when we “plan” a marketing calendar on behalf of a specific client for the upcoming year.

In anticipation of this, I typically read as much as I can get my hands on relating to the African-American Consumer.

There was an article in The New York Times today, “Black Women See Fewer Black Men at the Altar,” that caught my attention.

While intrigued and fascinated by the content of this article, I couldn’t help but feel that it didn’t tell the whole story.

The Evolution of Black Women in America shows a shift and “re-org” of her priorities…her needs, desires and ultimately, what is motivating to her.

Fact – Younger Black women are delaying and/or forgoing childbearing.

Only 13% age 18 – 24 are living with related children compared to 37.9%,
age 25-34

…and this makes sense, because delayed childbearing has, in my opinion, a direct correlation to increased levels of college enrollment and graduation rates.

One could go further and say that this translates to higher paying jobs and the ability to pursue and commit to career growth and development.

Fact – 40% of Black adults, 18 years of age and older are married compared to 57% of all adults.
Conversely, 42% of Black adults have never married versus 26% of all adults.

There is a Bill Cosby quote that may be the best articulation of the evolution of Black women in America:

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

Perhaps it is “harder for Black women to find a husband.”
But could it be that it is not at the top of her new priority list?

Click here -to read the full article from the Times.

A Different Kind of Father’s Day Gift

Leave a reply

I recently experienced chest pains and freaked out…

Freaked out because I don’t get sick.

Really.

The last cold I had was 2 years ago and I was “on the mend” within in 48 hours of the onset.

More important than that, I am afraid of the doctor.

There, I said it.

The even more shocking news is that I am not alone.

For all of our bravado and machismo, the majority of men would prefer to suffer in silence and/or simply ignore a medical ailment than face it and make the trek to the doctor’s office.

Fact. African-American men among all racial groups are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at an advanced stage – moreover they are more likely to die from prostate cancer.

Fact. Diabetes is 60% more common in African-American men that in White men, and, get this, limb amputation is higher in African-Americans men than any other group.

Fact. African-American Men have higher cancer death rates than Whites.

Diabetes. Sickle Cell Anemia. HIV. Alzheimer’s Disease. High Blood Pressure. Stroke and Depression. While these diseases are color blind and affect everyone, there is a higher incidence among African-American men.

My dad survived prostate cancer and cardiac disease.

His prognosis for both was dramatically positive.

This was, in part, due to early intervention and a willingness to seek the appropriate medical attention.

Father’s Day is just around the corner.

Whether you are a mother, grandmother, father, grandfather, uncle, aunt, wife, daughter, son or simply a caring friend, encourage all of the men in your life to make the trip to the doctor’s office for a physical exam. If he is reticent or unwilling, threaten him. That is the course of action that got me to the seek treatment.

If “he” is 45+ years old, a PSA Blood test is strongly suggested too.

Much more than a tie, bottle of wine or a subscription to Netflix, the gift of love is one that can only be measured through actions that demonstrate what is most important.

"The Black Boogie Man Shot Me," said the cop

3 Replies

If one “happened” to be a Black male in West Philadelphia in the early morning hours on April 5th, there is a good chance that “they” were pulled over and questioned.

Police Sgt. Robert Ralston claimed to have been shot by “a Black man with corn rows.”

He later admitted that the gun shot wound was self-inflicted and that the story was a lie.

This brought to mind two separate cases, both from the early 1990’s with eerily similar circumstances…

In Boston, Charles Stuart murdered his seven-months-pregnant wife, but told authorities and the media that the culprit was “a raspy voiced Black man.”

What followed was a “Black manhunt,” producing an alleged suspect, Willie Bennett. Mr. Bennett was singled out by Stuart from a police lineup.

In an effort to give his story credibility, Stuart, too, had a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

Stuart ultimately killed himself, jumping off of a bridge.

The other case involved Susan Smith, the former University of South Carolina Union student who murdered her two sons.

She claimed that a Black man stole her car and kidnapped her kids.

Susan Smith later claimed that mental health issues impaired her judgement.
Smith is currently serving time and will be eligible for parole in the Fall of 2024.

Clearly, all three cases fuel negative and damaging assumptions about race.
The initiation of searches and hunts for the Black Boogie Men do nothing more than raise the bar on racial discord, mistrust and suspicion.

For the full Ralston article click – here