Thursday, February 14, 2008

Joy! Unpseakable Joy!


I love art, and especially art featuring black dancers. I came across the above piece while searching the internet for something else. I wanted to share this piece with you. The piece is entitled, "Jumping for Joy." Looking at this piece reminds of those things that are honest, pure, lovely, virtuous, true, noble and of good report and I choose to think on those things. Happy Valentine's Day!

Author Toni Morrison Endorses Sen. Obama for President


In a beautiful and well written letter, author Toni Morrison endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States. As most of us know, Obama is a black American man with a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas. Hopefully, this will put to rest folks belief that in referring to former President Bill Clinton as "the first Black President" she meant her statement to be taken literally. Morrison made the statement to say that Clinton, in his presidency, had to deal with all of the attacks that are typically propelled against black men no matter how accomplished and intelligent they are. Morrison's endorsement of Obama and letter should put to rest this long-held misinterpretation of her true intent. Here is the endorsement letter:

Dear Senator Obama,

This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.

May I describe to you my thoughts?I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me "proud."

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it.

Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?

Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.

Good luck to you and to us,
Toni Morrison
(SOURCE).

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Clinton Replaces Campaign Manager with Maggie Williams


Sen. Hillary Clinton changes Campaign Managers in mid-stream and chooses Maggie Williams to lead her to victory. Williams served as the assistant to President Bill Clinton during his administration and as the chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when she was first lady. Most recently, Williams was one of Hillary Clinton's top presidential campaign advisors. (SOURCE). If Ms. Williams is indeed an advisor to Clinton, I wonder how she let Hillary's campaign get so out of control with the negative comments by surrogates and minions to the campaign. I don't know if the replacement of Ms. Williams will change anything. We'll soon see.

Michelle Obama on Larry King Live on Monday Night


Michelle Obama will be on Larry King Live on tommorrow night. Check your local listings for channel and time. I plan to watch the show.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Cosby Show Reunion on Oprah on Tuesday!



Calling all Cosby Show fans!!!!
On Tuesday, February 12, 2008 the Oprah Winfrey Show will feature a Cosby Show reunion. You all know the time and channel for the Oprah Winfrey show in your respective cities. If not, go on to Oprah's webpage to find out. What a great show the Cosby show was. I'm looking forward to seeing the reunion show and hearing from the cast about what it meant to them at the time to be a part of such a visionary show. I'd also like to know what cast members are doing now and how they view current television programming featuring African-Americans. I'm pretty sure of what Bill Cosby's stance is on the issue because he's been pretty vocal these past few years about his opinion on the State of Black America. Mr. Cosby has expressed extreme disappointment in the State of Black America. His most recent book, "Come on People" features his opinion on Black affairs. I haven't read it, so maybe I'll go and pick it up from library or read it at Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstores.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Celebrate Black Women in Jazz!


Over the weekend, I saw the renowned jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson at Yoshi's Jazz Club in the Bay Area. The event was amazing! Wilson has the ability to engage her audience with clarity, ease and seduction. I highly recommend a visit to Yoshi's to anyone who loves live music. The venue is intimate and cozy. It has become a premiere venue to hear great, live, jazz music.

Prior to going to the concert, I heard a lecture from Historian and Professor LaShonda Katrice Barnett as she talked about her book, "I Got Thunder: Black Women Songwriters On Their Craft." Barnett offered great depth and context to many black female vocalist we've taken for granted and have not gotten to really know beyond their music. Her book features private and intimate interviews with great writers such as Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone, just to name a couple. I purchased her book and look forward to learning more about the lives of these women.

I've become a huge fan of female jazz vocalist. Some of my favorites are Shirley Horn, Carmen McCrae and Etta James. Jazz is a musical genre that is almost lost in the black community because black folks neither buy jazz music nor attend jazz concerts at the same rate as do other groups. Jazz is considered the first musical genre rooted in the United States experience, having been created in New Orleans, Louisiana by enslaved Africans. (SOURCE). I intend to spend more time cultivating my interest in this musical genre, sharing it with young people and learning more about its history. If you are a jazz enthusiast who happens to be black, share the art form with your children so that the genre continues to be known to and appreciated by children of color.

Obama Rally With Oprah and Friends at UCLA -- Awesome!

On Sunday, Oprah Winfrey, Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama and suprise guest Maria Shriver appeared at UCLA to promote Sen. Obama's candidacy for President of the United States to Californians. The event was held two days before "Super Tuesday" a day in which Californians and voters from many other states around the country will cast their vote for their parties nomination for president. I watched this rally on C-SPAN and it was absolutely awesome! I loved Oprah's line in responding to disdain from women who claim that she is a traitor to her gender because she supports Obama. Oprah said,

After Iowa, some woman had the nerve to say to me, How could you, Oprah? How could you? You're a traitor to your gender. . . I was both surprised by that comment and insulted because I've been a woman my whole life and every part of me believes in the empowerment of women but the truth is I'm a free woman. Being free means you get to think for yourself. So I say, I am not a traitor . . I'm just following my own truth and that truth has led me to Barack Obama. . . . Don't play me small. I'm not that small. . . I would never vote for anybody because of gender or race. I'm not voting for Barack Obama because he's black. I'm voting for Barack Obama because he's brilliant."(SOURCE).
It is wonderful to see women with their own minds, exercising free-will to endorse the candidate who they believe is best for them and the country. Michelle, in my opinion, gave the best speech of the day when she talked about all that her husband has triumphantly overcome. It was a motivating and inspiring rally. Oh yeah, I can't forget Stevie. Stevie Wonder sang a beautiful melody to Obama's name. I haven't been able to get the melody out of my head. Awesome!