"On The Rise Again"

For quite some time now, the city of Detroit, Michigan has developed a disgraceful reputation. It's been considered not only one of the most unprofessional cities, but also the most violent, the city with one of the highest illiteracy rates, and the home of one of the most frowned upon school systems in the nation. How did it ever come to all this? How did a city that was once on the rise day by day develop as one of the most all-time low cities in the United States? Who is to blame? Truthfully, we can only blame ourselves for letting things get this way.

As I walk around, I tend to see everything that I don't want to become. Some say that children are a product of their environment. If that's the case, then I along with thousands of other young men and women must be from other cities and even countries. My first step into becoming a DPS (Detroit Public School) student was high school and it was my first step into the real world of my city. Yes, it was almost a huge culture shock for me and I saw and experienced things that I would have never known went on in the minds and lifestyles of young men and women of my age. However, it was here that I got a revelation that my generation has some talented individuals that I know will take this city back to where it needs to be.

As a high school student, I was apart of one of the highest rated orchestras in the country. We scored high in all categories at competitions, and performed literally all across the globe. It wasn't until the end of my senior year that I realized just why Detroit is known for some of the most talented people in the world. At the end of each year, all of the DPS high schools would come together and put on a musical performance at the Fox Theater in Downtown Detroit. To say that the talent in that house was phenomenal would be an understatement. As I think back on how much talent rocked that place those nights, I realize that Detroit still has a chance to come back.

About a week ago, I had the privilege of meeting a young man who still believes in Detroit as much as I do. He is the author of an upcoming magazine called La Famiglia. Not only does it give local Detroit artist the chance to shine in music, but it shines light on the graphic artists that otherwise would not be heard of. I was astonished at the graphic art and music that were at the magazine release party, and I could not believe that all this talent came from the city of Detroit- my own hometown. I couldn't help but be proud of my city. Not only did those performance nights during high school remind me why Detroit is still the home of great music, but the night of La Famiglia's event confirmed it once again. It is through the people that still believe in this city that real talent can shine in this city. I truly believe that like our orchestra, magazines, and other venues that help encourage our talented people of Detroit, the Motor City will once again rise to the occassion like it was meant to do.

"Where Is The Love?"

What is love? It's a word that once had true meaning, and the true meaning of love was not taken seriously and not just tossed around like a rag doll. However, it seems that nowadays that word and the sanctity of it has become a thing of the past, and doesn't look like it is going to make it's way back into popularity anytime soon.

Being a celebrity/entertainment reporter, I have to oftentimes look at different celebrities and their lifestyles. That means that I look at all the gossip, events, concerts, films, and of course celeb relationships. What I have noticed all in all is that not only do most celebrities toss this word around, but those that look up to them mimic such carelessness and exude such to others when it comes to relationships.

When I was younger, I thought I knew what love was. It started with those little butterflies that fluttered in my stomach when I saw that certain guy. Then it went on to writing about him in my private journal and thoughts. Then it went to the giggling about him and talking about him with my friends. Sensing a pattern here? It's the puppy love that older generations say little girls and little boys experience, but not real love. As I got older, I realized what the older folks meant when they said we were too young to know what real love was. Today, I still think that even adults forget what real love is as well.

Ever since I can remember, I have always admired the love and commitment that actors Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith have exuded throughout the years that they have been together. You never hear of them cheating on one another, fighting in public, having their drama placed on the front cover of magazines, and they obviously love and absolutely adore one another. Why is it that we can see examples of what real love is and not want to follow it?

In my own relationship, I see that day by day he and I make one another a priority and see to it that eachother's happiness is attributed to one another. We have a very mature relationship and we make sacrifices for one another and see to it that we stay committed to one another. There were times when we would argue and fight, but even Jada says that a little conflict keeps the flame alive. I look at what we have and look at others and can understand why we are strange to others and why the way we interact with one another is almost incomprehensible. There is nothing strange about what we do; it's strange that others don't understand what we do.

Daily I hear young girls say how much they love a man that pretty much doesn't respect her. Daily I hear about how young men simply feel that love is how good sex feels. The truth of the matter is that just like N.E.R.D. said in their song, "We don't need another love song. We need a love bomb." The fact of the matter is that the real meaning of love and the sanctity of love has become lost in a whirlwind of confusion, lust, misunderstanding, and ignorance. God intended love to mean something to each and every one of us and for it to be shared with others. But how are you going to share something when you don't know what it is? We always hear about how women lay with men, get pregnant and the man leaves. Gee, I wonder why. Could it be because love was not there? Yeah, I think that just may be the case.

The real meaning of love starts with looking to the Word of God and finding what the true meaning of love is. The footprints of an angel are love and those footprints can be made daily if the time to understand what love is, is taken and given a chance. And where there is love, miraculous things can happen. I've seen it in my own relationship.

"Taking Pride In..."

When I heard about the tragic shooting that happened in my own town, I realized how upset the people of this city make me. The City Council is in need of a serious makeover, the job market is in the dumps, younger people are dying everyday, and the school system is one of the worst in the country. How long does all this have to go on before the people of Detroit realize that changes need to be made, and unfortunately most of it is only going to happen without any governmental assistance.

Recently I was listening to Michael Jackson's Man In the Mirror and began to reflect on alot of the issues that take place here in the city of Detroit. People always complain about the high crime rates, the job district, the school system, the City Council, etc. But the truth of the matter is that many of those issues exist because of the lack of pride that the city people have for its city. As I got older and saw my own hometown deteriorating before my eyes, I realized that most of this stuff starts at home. It seems that people that complain about situations the most are the ones that are doing to least to improve things. I always hear people complain about how the suburbs looks better and has better ammenities than the inner city. But those same people never ask themselves if what they are doing is the reason why the city is the way it is. They never ask themselves if the level of pride they take in their city is what makes the city the way it is.

The fact of the matter is that a community is only as good as the people that live in it. If the people in the community do not take pride in their homes, then the community will become a disgusting place to inhabit. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up. If you see a helpless person, help them. If you see the school system failing, use other resources to help educate your children. It's like M.J. said in his song, "If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a....CHANGE!!!" Maybe that message was more than a song at all. It's a lesson on how to take pride in whatever you have.

"A True Disgrace to TV and a People"

There was a time when African-Americans desired to have their own. Their own neighborhoods, their own schools, and even their own television networks. So what happened? Well, the world gave them what they wanted. Then what? Let's just say that some things should just have restrictions.

This year's B.E.T. Awards were intended to be dedicated to the King of Pop Michael Jackson, in rememberance of the legacy and impact that he made on this world. B.E.T.'s CEO Debra Lee announced at the awards ceremony that the network had been working around the clock for three days to see to it that the entire show be dedicated to the King. Well, in my opinion if that was a revamp of the entire show, the station once again became the best of the worst.

Sure, there were a few performances dedicated to Michael, and when the stars accepted their awards they said their condolences to the family. But was that enough? NO!!!! Not by a landslide. MTV, VH1 and CBS all featured hours upon hours of segments and television specials dedicated to the King of Pop all in a matter of hours after his death had been confirmed. How is it that a predominantly white station could show so much more effort in honoring this icon whilea predominantly African-American station does less than the very least for this international incon? It's a mystery that even I cannot solve...and I know I am a great problem solver.

B.E.T. and its networks have notoriously disappointed its viewers with outlandish sitcoms, degrading and ignorant reality shows, and have displayed African-Americans as uneducated and unsuccessful people. It is true that there are other stations that feature other races as being ignorant as well. But the African-American race should be able to count on its own people to portray them in such a way that is completely opposite of the majority of society. The sad fact of the matter is that even we as a people can't even do that. I find it very shameful that this network would rather show hours of black women being degraded rather than being celebrated for their strength. I find it horrifying that this network would rather give two "hood rich" women a reality show about living a ghetto fabulous lifestyle than featuring a segment that teaches smart financial tactics. I find it just down right rediculous that this station would rather portray our men as uneducated street walkers and thugs rather than glorifying the men that live successful lives and pursue degrees at universities and colleges.

The fact of the matter is that B.E.T. needs an entire makeover as far as I'm concerned. It makes no sense the things that they put on this station. It seems that this stations becomes more and more of a disgrace to the African-American race each and every day. I don't think that this station will ever get better. It doesn't accurately portray the black race and it definitely doesn't know how to put together a good dedication to an icon. B.E.T. should simply stand for Bafoonery Entertainment.

"Icons Live On"

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 will be a day that will go down in history as the day the earth stood still. The Bible says that Heaven rejoices even when one person comes to the Lord and is saved. I believe that Heaven and Earth also rejoices together when the legacy of an icon is celebrated. This time that icon is the King of Pop Michael Joseph Jackson.

The impact that Michael Jackson had on this world is indescribable and is also a rare circumstance. Who would have thought that a young child from Gary, Indiana would lead the world into believing that when you look at "The Man in the Mirror" one could "Heal the World"? I don't even think Michael Jackson himself knew the impact that he would have on this world. His mother Katherine Jackson always said that she knew her son Michael was special. Now, we can all see why she said such.

Too often we as a people are so stuck on ourselves that we forget to love one another. Michael was not afraid to reach out to each and every country that he could and tell everyone that "We Are The World" and that we should help one another. In fact, he was one of the first individuals to reach out to continents such as Africa and inform the world of their struggles to live let alone find happiness and hope in living. It was through his acts of humanitarianism that the world came in contact with developing countries filled with hungry children and wars that break up families. As Americans, we grow to be so selfish and find pleasure in hurting others rather than simply giving someone a hug and let them know that they are loved. Michael wasn't afraid to do that. His acts were a testimony that said if you want to "Start Something" then simply let someone hear you "Say You'll Be There" for them.

I can't describe in one blog how much Michael Jackson impacted this world. But if there is one thing that I know he was and always will be, it's an inspiration to all. He was a voice to the voiceless; a healer to the sick; a humanitarian to those in need. He was more to others than he was to himself and what I like most about that is that he was humble about it. He didn't have to brag about his cars, money, women as most musicians tend to do today. He sang of love and helped take down walls that separated races and genders and told everyone that it doesn't matter if you're "Black or White". He sang of a day when all would come together. And you know what? I know he is in a better place smiling and realizing that the day he passed was the day that the world began to be healed.

Thank you Michael...We love you and your legacy will forever live on.

"A Responsible Mother"

"I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created..."
-- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Now one would wonder why is this quote even worth analyzing? When most think of Frankenstein, they think of the monster created by a mad scientist whose work drove him nearly crazy. However, if one really takes an in-depth look at the themes and meanings behind the actual novel Frankenstein, one would see that the role of responsibility is something that many of us fear and will run from at least once in our lives.
As we walk through life each day we make decisions. They could be good or they could horribly alter our lives or the lives of others. We make the decision of whether or not we will perform our daily work tasks, whether we will voice our opinions of something, and even whether we will allow someone or something to shape our day. Either way, each day is filled with decisions that we must make. But what happens when even the smallest decision makes such an impact on our lives or the ones around us that we are forced to deal with the responsibility of that decision? Do we run from it? Do we hide from it? Or do we just take responsibility for our actions?
The thing about Frankenstein is that he worked on his goal of creating life for so many years and so intently that the question of whether his work became an obsession began to come about. However, after his work had finally been completed, he began to become disgusted with his creation and began to run away from it rather than take responsibility for it. His lack of responsibility ultimately brought about fatal circumstances to himself and the people he loved as well.
When we make decisions, the bottom line is that we have to take responsibility for them whether we want to or not. Too often we hear about mothers and fathers abandoning the creation of life that they brought into this world and never take responsibility for that life. As a result, that forgotten life takes on a form of its own where the dangers of society began to shape and mold that once innocent life into an inner image of lifelessness and numbness.
So often we take extreme joy in the toils and adventures of life that we often forget to ask ourselves, "How is this going to look tomorrow?" or "Who may this affect later on in life outside of myself?" We tend to become so selfish that we don't ask such questions and simply act on an impulse and in the end when it comes time to take responsibility for our actions, we simply run away from it, in hopes that everything will just disappear and things will go back to how they were before. If you're going to play the role of Frankenstein and create life into a decision, take the road of responsibility and don't let a small thing become a reckless monster terrorizing us all.

"Crawl, Walk, Run, and Soar"

As babies, we grow to have a curiosity about the world and have an eagerness to explore it and see how things operate in this big world. With each passing year throughout that stage, we learn and grow. In the process of learning and growing, we develop ourselves inside and out. As we enter into elementary, teenage, and then adulthood, we learn and continue to grow even more. But with each of those transitions, we have to learn to accept that sometimes we may just have to make those transitions alone. Unfortunately, that means that the same people that we used to be with may or may not be able to handle it.

There is a little thing called maturity that each and every one of us has to encounter at one point or another and for some that may be a scary thing. Some of us don't like the idea of having to move out of our comfort zone and go on to encounter new things. We would rather sit and stay in the vicinity that we are most familiar with along with those that feel the exact same way. We don't want to grow and leave behind our former ways. But how can you get better in life and succeed in life when you just merely keep the same mentality as an adult that you had when you were in the stages of a teen? The answer is simply this...YOU CAN'T!!!

I see this alot in college especially. It seems that alot of the men and women that I once used to run with, can't seem to leave a certain type of "hood" mentality behind with childish ways. They seem to feel most comfortable walking, talking, and acting the way that they did during younger years and as as result, cannot seem to advance in life at all. They may say that they are a grown man or woman and that they are doing it "big" but it seems to me that the ones that can't leave that mentality behind are simply defining "big" as what is at the end of their block, failing to realize that the world doesn't end there.

For some of us, this experience isn't the best feeling in the world because it hurts us to have to leave those childish ways and people behind. We thought that those particular "friends" of ours would grow with us and continue to be there to this day. It turns out that those people that we once used to run next to are still in the stages of crawling and have yet to realize that they need to get out of their own comfort zone and mentality in order to grow in life.

Though it may seem like a diss to those that don't grow as fast in maturity, to see it that way would be considered childish anyway. One can only crawl first. Once you learn to crawl, you have to walk. Once you learn how to walk, you have to run. Once you learn to run, you have to soar. Once you learn to soar, no one can stop you and bring you down. Don't be afraid to leave childish ways and people behind for the sake of growing in life. God brings people in our lives for seasons. And once that season is up, it's time to move on. Crawl, walk, run, soar and you can never fall.

"Going Beyond the Gate"

So this is the first blog entry that I have written for the year 2009 and I must say that I have some serious stuff to reflect on. My thoughts actually all came on my 21st bday no last week. I realized that each year one should be able to advance further in life than what one did the year before. A new year should bring about new thoughts, new decisions, and simply a new life in general. But what happens when you realize that moving forward may hurt so much that you are afraid to even move at all? What happens when you may just end up at the other side of the gate alone? My answer to those questions and the like is simply this: How will you know what is even on the other side of the gate if you don't even go at all?

There's a story in the Bible that talks about a small group of men that had lepracy disease. They had been traveling for quite sometime until they got so tired that they just sat at the temple. After doing such, one of the men simply propsed a thought: why bother just sitting here waiting to die? Now, that may seem to some to be a simple question, but it's a question that brings about many thoughts. Sometimes we as a people have a tendency to just sit and wait for things to happen simply because that is what is most comfortable. Rather than go through the gates of the timple, we'd rather just sit at the steps and wait. My question is, wait for what and how long?

Oftentimes, when we see that the majority is doing something or the majority decides on a common thing, it will be accepted and become the general norm. But haven't norms been broken? Haven't there been so many people throughout history who refused to stand at the gate like everyone else and become what we call innovators? Why bother just sitting at the gate and letting time pass? Why not just go through the gate and see what the temple holds?

We may tell ourselves that since the steps is where everyone else is sitting, maybe we should do the same thing. We may just grow to accept that maybe the steps is the best place to sit. It's comfortable to sit there rather than just get up and walk. Some may grow so tired of walking that the steps is just the place to be. But my question for those step-sitters is this: if something is already being done by many, why bother reinventing the wheel? Why not start a new trend? Why not step out of your own comfort zone and go further? It can't be that hard. What have you got to lose anyway, you've already come that far.

"Don't Forget..."

You ever had one of those moments where you feel like you've been forgotten? Like you've just been hung out to dry with no one to care for you? I think we all have had moments where we had to walk alone with no one to have our back...or front for that matter. But I think sometimes those of us that feel forgotten just might feel that way because we have forgotten someone ourselves.

Usually when we feel forgotten it's most likely because we have become so caught up with the things that we do on a daily basis that when we finally get a chance to breathe, we ask ourselves where did everyone go? We come to the end of a long journey of work and want to celebrate but realize that we don't have anyone to celebrate with. How is that? Well, it could be because we may have left some people behind that would have otherwise been there for us to celebrate with.

It's funny how just when we think we are alone, someone that we had forgotten about ourselves comes along and reminds us that he or she was there the whole time. They just had to step back for a while and let us do us. But I believe that when those people come along and make themselves available again, they are showing us that they themselves will always be by our sides, front, and always have our back.

Maybe there are some people that we have forgotten about while we were so busy with our own lives. Maybe it's not just us who have been forgotten about. Take some time out of each day and make sure that you don't forget about those that have been there and always will be there through it all. That's what real friends do.


Inspired by: A Christmas card from my sophomore year roomie "Bernie". Thanx girl!!!

"Blowing It Up!!!"

Have you ever saw something or someone that belonged to someone else and you wished it was yours?  Did you grow envious?  Did you develop a hatred for that person?  Did that hatred drive you to insanity to the point of almost killing that person either in your mind or in real life?  Even if we haven't gone to the last point, we have all had that moment of envy.  But what happens when that envy hurts the person or thing that you have?  Well, that's a different story.

I think that sometimes when we see something that we want, our eyes grow so big that we forget to look at what we already have.  What we have all of a sudden doesn't have the same value in our eyes as it did when we first got it; its luster, shine and glossiness doesn't appear to be the same anymore.  It's almost as if it's an old toy and we throw it aside to make room for a newer and better toy.

But I think that we fail to realize that even if we were to get that new toy, it's only a matter of time before we find another new toy and that first new toy doesn't become so new anymore.  We fail to realize that there will always be something that is better than something else.  If that's the case, why bother even putting in the effort of trying to get anything else new?  Now that's the real question.  Another real question is this: What if we can make that old toy have a lasting value that outshines anything new?

Value is something that only we as the owners can create for our current possessions.  Sure, it's ok to have new possessions, but value doesn't come with something as soon as you get it.  Value can only be added after time has taken its toll on the possession.  Even after the possession has gone through battery, dirt, grime and oil that value is still there and continues to rise each and every day.  Don't throw away your old possessions because at the end of the day, their value will always outshine those possessions that are new.

Inspired By: An argument about old vs. new

"What Kind of Bag Are You Carrying?"

I think every once and a while we all have to go from one place in our lives to another. It's almost like every so often we have to pack our bags and move to a new temporary home. With each move each new home remains a home for a shorter and shorter period of time. But I believe that that is because with each move, we should be packing lighter and lighter bags.

Many of us have a tendency to pack so much luggage that we crowd our home and have to move to another temporary shelter. Depending on whether we pack all that stuff from our last home and put it in our new home will determine how long we stay there and how comfortable we will be able to live. I know I don't want to have to come home to a room with baggage packed to the ceiling to the point where I can't even come through the door and go to bed at night.

Sometimes we may take some of those bags with us wherever we go: school, work, church, parties, etc. How uncomfortable is that? But get this...some of us will take those bags with us and then come back home with those and more that we picked up along the way. Man! Talk about crowded living! But hey, that's how some of us live and some of us continue to live that way for quite some time until we get to our breaking point where we have to ask ourselves, "Do I really need all this stuff?"

I feel that whether you're carrying a garbage bag, a travel bag, a plastic bag, a paper bag, or even a Gucci bag, you need to be mindful of what type of baggage you're carrying with you. Do you have too much? Not enough? Depending on what you're carrying just may determine how far you can travel to a new home and also how comfortable you will live there. Live on today in a comfortable home and drop some of that unecessary baggage at the curb and carry less than you did at your old home.

Inspired by "Bag Lady"- Erykah Badu

"Step Back and Look"

For some odd reason finding friends has been a task that hasn't always been easy for some. Finding real friends can be an even more difficult task, especially when it comes to girls.

Most find that a friend is someone whom they can trust, respect, and count on. Should that be so hard to find? Well, if it were easy then one would find it very hard to truly value someone that is a friend. Finding good friends has always been a hard task for me and to this day I will never understand why. I often would look on the site "Facebook" and see that many of the people that I attended high school may still be seen with the people that they were close to in high school. I can't really say that I've had that. It seemed as if with every school transition I had to go through a transition with so-called friends as well. It wasn't until later on that I realized that some of the people who I had been looking past were the ones that were my friends all along.

I can count these girls on less than two hands, and you know what? For once I don't see that as a problem. I find that these girls came through for me and sacrificed time for me just to simply see to it that I could have moments of accomplishment and happiness. I find that I didn't have to ever force a friendship with these girls, because it just happened so naturally. I always found that when I needed major things such as a ride to someplace at the last minute or a simple thing like just someone to go eat with, they were always there.

Now there were some girls that I did consider my friends but found that even they had flown out of my life after some time. But I remember something that one lady had told me once before. She said that God sends us people for certain seasons and with every passing season, God will send us new people to be our friends. Well, I feel that God was taking me through these seasons of people so that I would have the chance to simply step back and take a look at who my real girls were. He took me to my high points and I saw who celebrated with me and He took me to some low points so that I could see who would hold my hand and pull me back up. He took me through some happy times to show me who would laugh with me and He took me through some sad times to show me who would wipe my tears away. Though these girls are a small number they leave an infinity amount of love and friendship in my heart and a lasting trail of footprints of smiles.

I love these girls, they know who they are. And I'm so happy that God has lead me to the end of my search of true girlfriends.

For:
Niska, Naja, Brittany J. and Carmen aka Catie

"Flawless Mistakes"

There are times in life when some of our biggest mistakes, mishaps, and falls really show us the type of person that we are. Each day, we all make some sort of mistake and have to decide how we face it. Do we hold our heads down in shame and fear what others will think? Do we run away from it and act as if nothing happened? Or do we merely just take it as it is and learn from it?

Well, for most of us, when we have a mistake that we make, we tend to just apologize for it and move on. But sometimes I wonder if we should always apologize for our mistakes. Just because we fall does that mean that we hurt someone else? Does it necessarily mean that we owe someone an explanation? I don't think so.

Mistakes are sometimes given a bad reputation and are rarely ever seen as beneficial. There are times when a mistake must be made in order for each of us to learn something new and to learn more about our character. I don't think that all mistakes are bad. Some are just little stepping stones that we stumble over that in the end allow us to pick ourselves up and climb to the highest mountains of our best characters.

Inspired By: My "Flawless" Performance as Amerie :)

"Inner Death For An Outer Resurrection"

There are times in life where we must all make a change. We must step outside of ourselves and see the world for what it is, see things for what they really are, and see that we have to sometimes change in order to live a better life.

As I look at the lives of some of our people in the world, I realize that some of them just don't want to change. Some of them are arrogant, deceitful, cold-hearted, liars, murderers, and just plain bad people. But I'm a firm believer that even in the most terrible of people, there is still some good in them that the right person just has to bring out in the right situation.

Some people feel that because of their bad situations, reputations, and past they are simply destined to be the way that they are and be complacent with the way things in this world are. The tend to call that "living in reality." They tend to say "well, this is just how I am." Well, I think they need to wake up themselves and realize that reality changes every single day and that they need to kill that mentality so that they can live for a better tomorrow.

I'm sure that when President Obama decided to run for President, he knew what reality was telling him. He knew that the reality was that this country did not want to see a black man lead it. He knew that reality was telling him that this was a white man's world and he was just another black man living in it. He knew that reality was telling him that every step along the way he was going to fall because this country would never let him get as far as he did. But look at what happened. He killed reality. He killed reality's doubts. He killed reality's sayings. He killed reality in order for this country to see an outer resurrection.

Now I know that that situation may seem to be more of an extreme case for some people. But the truth of the matter is that sometimes in order for us to make it through life, we have to kill ourselves from the inside in order to see the essence of our lives and be able to adapt to it. Sometimes we can be so stubborn to the point where we feel nothing but ourselves and how selfish is that? Sometimes we don't want anyone to tell us that we need to make changes about ourselves in order to make it further in life. But the truth of the matter is that we have to listen to those people that really care about us and can really teach us something. It doesn't matter who the messenger is. It can be a child, it can be an adult, it can be a book, it can be a word. The point is that we as people have to humble enough to realize that reality can change and reality doesn't have to set us in our ways.

There is a time for every season and we have to learn how to live in that season, but know that someday that season has to end and changes have to made. In order for a new life to begin, a death must occur.

"ELECTION DAY...AND ALL MY THOUGHTS THAT COME WITH IT"

OMG!!!! Today has got to be one of the biggest days in the history of life itself!!! We are sooo close to having a Black President!!!! I'm so excited right now it's ridiculous!!! Well, since this is history in the making, I figured I would post the action up right now as if you were walking beside me right now in the comfort of my dorm room. So sit back, relax, and let's make history!!!!

OK right now it's 207 (Obama) and 138 (McCain)...well, of course Obama is in the lead!!! I was so excited today to hear and see so many students around here going to exercise their right to vote. It made me feel so good. Part of me actually wished that I had waited until today to vote lol. Well, at least I went and voted so technically I'm still apart of history :). I just can't get over the fact that we are sooo close to the end. This is the dream that MLK had wanted and spoke of sooo much.

Oh NOOO!!!! It's 10:44pm and now it's 207 (Obama) and 143(McCain)!!!! I can't believe this. I swear Obama needs to pull this one out for real. Who could have imagined that something like this would be happening? I'm still so excited about this election. All I keep hearing is YES WE CAN!!!! And fyi, I feel that if when Obama wins, that slogan should become YEAH WE DID!!!! lol. Just remember that before Diddy or Jay-Z come out with t-shirts that say that, you heard it from me first at "The Voice Within."

I actually want to go and get me a frickin' sandwich from the cafe right now, but I promise you I can't pull my eyes away from this screen. OMG did I just hear the tv say that Obama will get well over 270 votes, making him the 44th President of the United States of America??? I better had heard that because I know I'm not deaf lol. This is still one of the most exciting things I've ever seen. I can't believe I'm witnessing history in the making. I'll be able to read about this event in history books and I'll be able to tell my children that I was there when all this happened. Not to mention the fact that I was right in the midst of the crowd when Obama came to the field across from my dorm and spoke before us!!! That was really exciting as well. I got some good video footage of that and everything :). I'm such a broadcast journalist lol.

Argh!!!! I'm so tired of seeing all these splashes of red on the map of electoral results!!! Why is it that the southern states with the most racist people are on McCain's side? Gee, I wonder why? lol. Oh well, that doesn't mean they have that much power because they're not even worth that many electoral votes.

Aside from the Presidential part, I know that the legal marijuana was up for the vote today as well. Well, I voted no on it, because I know that "y'all" will try and get the homeboy with the weed prescription to get it for the 'rellos for the night lol. Thats a shame. I voted yes on for the stem cell research though. I feel that people can definitely benefit from that so much more.

Why are these two reporters wearing red ties? Are they trying to represent McCain on the low? lol. Some supporters. Although I could be wrong lol. They could be for Obama.

IT IS 11PM ON THE DOT...AND OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!! HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!!!! YES WE DID IT!!!! GOD IS TOO GOOD!!!!! IT'S OVER!!!! CHANGE IS HERE!!!! PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!! AIN'T NO STOPPING US NOW!!!! THEY SAID WE WOULD NEVER MAKE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! YES WE CAN AND YES WE DID!!!!!!

FINAL SCORE....OBAMA(384+) MCCAIN(174). THE VOTES HAVE SAID IT. LET'S GO OUT AND CELEBRATE. THIS IS ASHLEIGH J. AKA BETTY PAGE MONROE SIGNING OFF!!!

Can't You Just Stand On Your Own???

So I have come to the conclusion that there are just far too many girls that I know that feel that they need a man in order to live their lives. A man just has to be there in order for them to go about their daily lives and such a cycle wouldn't be complete without them throwing this up in everyone's face. I swear I just laugh at this everytime I see it and hear about it for myself.

I mean, what ever happened to the strong black women that we should all strive to be? Since when was it a man's job to assure us of ourselves? Since when did it become an obligation for a man to tell us who we are and where we need to be in life? Since when did someone make a law saying that a man is the determiner of all things woman? Last time I checked this was...ummm....NEVER!!!!! I just don't understand how all this is coming about and where this is coming from.

When Destiny's Child came out with that song "Independent Women" I thought that that would be every woman's anthem and at that point it was. But I guess it was only a matter of time before that trend faded like a pair of 70's bell bottoms. But that is just crazy to me. It seems that now more than ever so many of our women are allowing men to validate them, especially females of my generation. I mean, I know one girl who was with a guy off and on for a minute. But the problem was that this guy put his hands on her and she allowed it. I swear I couldn't be in that situation cuz that fool would definitely be dead as a door nail. Then he comes back with the whole "baby I've changed" story. PLEASE!!!! Save me the drama. This girl is obviously dumb and needs her head examined. Or better yet, maybe she needs to get a clue and realize that you need to stand on your own two feet before you get into a relationship. Not only does this girl sleep with everything on two legs after only knowing it for less than 24 hours but she then expects those same guys to be in a relationship with her and respect her after the fact. NICE TRY HO!!!!

Then what's up with this whole trend of every girl wanting to get pregnant so fast? Girl, you dropped outta school for some old guy who gets you pregnant after only knowing you for so long? What kinda sh** is that??? If a man loves you, shouldn't he be trying to do what's best for you? Shouldn't he be supporting you in achieving a good education so that you wouldn't just be another silly dumb biotch on the street? Last time I checked, that was the case. But hey such is life.

I want to also give a shout out to my reunited sister Lucky Laura!!!! I love you sis and I"m so glad that we finally united again and I'm looking forward to you moving up here in East Lansing with me and hopefully we can start that video blog reality show together. Us models have to look out for one another lol. Plus we are both sweethearts and I'm sure both our lives combined will make us the new "Stallionaires" lol. MUAH!!!

Well, that's about all that I wanted to say today. Tune in on the next blog entry in the wonderful life of Ashleigh J.

Symbols Of Obscurity

So I was at my job and was a little bored and I was watching one of my fave movies "V for Vendetta" and I never realized how much of an impact this film has the potential to make on people when they really look at it and pay attention to the obscured symbols behind it.

Some of the quotes in there film were so impacting and thoughtful. "People shouldn't be afraid of their government; the government should be afraid of its people." "Blowing up a building is a symbol." Just those two quotes, although they aren't the exact quotes from the movie (lol) made me truly think about this year's presidential election and then some.

September 11, 2001: I'm sure we all remember that day, at least I do. The Twin Towers and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorists. In the film "V for Vendetta" the saying went "Remember remember the 5th of November...". It was on that day that a man tried to blow up Parliament. In the film the main character V later acomplished that goal. But anyway, the question was not why did this attack happen, but rather what did this attack symbolize. True, blowing up a building does not really accomplish much when it is just looked on the surface as an action and only an action. However, with enough people that action can become a life-changing symbol and that's just what the attacks on 9/11 did. The attack became a symbol for the American people. It became a symbol of unity. It was on that day that color, race, religion, gender and sexuality no longer mattered. All that mattered was that each one of us held hands and prayed together for our loss and that we all came together and stood as one people.

November 4, 2008: Well, that day is just around the corner and by now we all know what this year's presidential election is a symbol of - CHANGE!!!! When JFK was in office, there was a moment when he said that there was no reason why a black man should not be able to obtain the same position that he was in. I believe he knew what he was talking about. Here we are not with a black man running for President and he has a great potential to win. There should not be a reason why his color should even be a factor in him going into office. But his color and the fact that he is running is- like the other examples above- a symbol that can often be obscured by surface circumstances. He is the change that the Black race has been praying for. He is the symbol of opportunity that MLK, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and even JFK had fought for. Why wouldn't we as Blacks go out and vote? This is too important. This is the one chance that we as a people have a positive African American male to look at and see that change has come. He is a symbol that is speaking out to America saying YES WE CAN!!!!

Don't let weather, tv shows, classes, or a job stop you from voting in this election. We have come so far as a people and still have such a long way to go. Don't let the journey toward change stop here. Get out there and VOTE!!!!!

Inspired by: "V for Vendetta"

"Ask More..."

So I was walking through a CVS store near campus one day and I went to the book and magazine section. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but there was one book that caught my eye titled, "All About Me." I looked through it, and it was one of those fill-in-the blank books that ask you about yourself. Sure, I've seen those types of books before, but this one got really personal. It asked you about your morals, sexuality, God and the world, family, friends, etc. The questions were very mind-boggling and really made me wonder how well do I really know myself? How well does anyone really know themselves for that matter?

I decided to get the book just to see what answers I would fill in. To my surprise, I found it a bit of a challenge to answer everything, which to me was no surprise seeing as how sometimes I even forget who I am (lol). But I believe that the point of this book wasn't to simply fill out the questions and that's it. I believe the author intended for the book to be some sort of reflection type book, and really lets a person ask questions that otherwise probably wouldn't be asked.

I often wonder if I even ask enough questions. Whether the questions be about myself, or other people and things, I just don't know if I ask enough sometimes. There's no such thing as a dumb question right? Well, I supose sometimes there are exceptions to even that rule. However, I think that each day we are destined to learn something new. It can be a small lesson, or an even more valuable lesson. Either way, asking questions is the only way to get by in this world, because no one is born with the answers to everything. Even Jesus asked His Father questions sometimes too. What have you asked someone today?

"My Man"

I was walking around outside one day, and I overheard a group of young girls talking amongst each other as to what kind of wedding they wanted to have.  It was actually really cute and funny at the same time.  These girls couldn't have been any older than seven or eight years old.  "My man is gonna be big and strong," one stated.  "My man is gonna wear a blue tie and be a doctor," another one voiced.  Little did they know that when I was there age I used to say the same thing with my girls.  It didn't occur to me until years later that I had been looking at my ideal man the entire time.

I wanted my man to be intelligent.  I wanted him to be strong and good looking.  I wanted him to always tell me that I was pretty.  I wanted him to make me smile and understand me.  But most of all, I wanted him to love me simply for me.  I would imagine that all girls would want a man like  the one I desired.  Why wouldn't they want someone like that?  I even know some older women who have yet to find a man like the one I had and still do have.  Yeah, I used to speak of him all the time whenever me and my girls would sit around and talk about our future husbands.  I sill laugh to this day about it.

So where did this man go?  Some may read this and wonder if he's still in my life.  Is he alive?  Do I plan to be his forever?  Does he still love and respect me?  Does he buy me nice things?  Does he still treat me like a princess or queen?  I even look at these questions and would probably wonder the same things if some girl had described this man to me.  I would even ask her if she even found this fantasy man at all.  

The truth of the matter is, I have always answered "yes" to those questions.  I go on to tell those people that ask me such questions that he even cooks for me.  That really surprises them all.  He was the first man that ever held me.  The first man I ran to when I needed help.  The first man I ever cried in front of.  The first man that ever told me that he loved me.  The first man that ever had my back.  The first man that called me his own and to this day I'm still his own.  

So how could I have  found such a man at such a young age and remained his for this long?  Well, it's easy.  While some girls look to television stars, famous athletes, movie stars, singers, rappers and models for their ideal men, I found mine the day I was born.  I had found my father.

I realize that there are so many girls out there that don't have their fathers around and in the end look for any kind of man to make them feel like a "woman."  Well, each day I thank God that I have a real man in my life to show me  what a real man truly is.  Daily my father treats me and my mother in a way where we are royalty.  He takes charge and takes care of his family.  He works for us, cooks for us, and most of all follows Christ in his daily walk.  This is the kind of man that my father will soon walk me down the aisle to, and it's not because I looked at idle men to find what a "real" man was.  I simply looked at the first man that has ever loved me and that is how I found the type of man that I want my dad to walk me down the aisle to on my wedding day.

I love you dad.  You will always be My Man.

"The Biggest Stunt of a Stunna"

So I was driving on the highway on my way to class and I overheard something on the radio. Apparently, rapper Rick Ross was allegedly reported to have been a corrections officer in Miami before he was a rapper. This was quite funny to me, not for the fact that he had a job in corrections but for the fact that he would lie in his raps where he speaks of his so called "gangster" lifestyle. He speaks of drug trafficking and other illegal acts that are a part of his life, but I have to question the validity of such after hearing about this alleged career of his. But aside from that, I have to wonder if living the life of a gangster is the only way to make it successful in the rap industry.

As I think about the rap industry, the first thing that comes to mind is the thuggish lifestyle that is often glamorized. But then after that thought, I think about the rappers that may have come from those types of conditions, but their lyrical content speaks to a generation in need of hope and love. Rappers such Common, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, and even Jay-Z have come from rough areas where an infestation of drugs, alcohol, violence, and sex circulated on a daily basis and survival was the goal each day. However, what stands out about each of these artists is that though their lyrical content once spoke of their detrimental surroundings, they have since today shown growth in their lives in their lyrics, lifestyles, and even public appearances.

I often look at some of the other popular rappers out there now that speak more about gang violence, sex, drugs and the like and wonder if this is really what rap is all about. Does an upcoming rap artist simply become respected based on how many times he's been shot, how many people he's killed, or how much time he's spent in a penitentiary? If that's the case, then how do we expect our younger generation to feel when they hear that the only way to get up is to put someone else six feet under? Can a rap artist be respected by only speaking of positive and thought provoking subjects?

Rap artists of today that are glamorized based on their hard core thuggish lifestyles are of course making platinum singles and selling out concerts. But that doesn't discourage the rap artists that have grown and matured from their years of the thug life. Even rappers such as Tupac that lived the life of a thug and grew up around drugs, alcohol, and sex, didn't let that outshine their true talent as an artist. He never shied away from political topics, uplifting topics, and other thought provoking topics such as mothers, strong women, and just getting together to have a great time. Until now, it seemed that rap told a story. It had a beginning, a middle, and an end. It contained characters, a narrator, and a lesson. However, nowadays, it seems that it becomes harder to find a story in a book that is written by bullets, blood, and the sounds of clanging cells bars.