Do Black Women Have Interesting Lives???

I read an article the other day regarding the new television show on TNT - don't ask me why - called "HawthoRNe" starring Jada Pinkett-Smith that stated that outside of Jill Scott's HBO series "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" that this "HawthoRNe" series is the first of its kind in 38+ years. Why is that of importance?? What that means is that there have not been a single television program written in the past 38+ years in which an African American, black, negro, person of color, etc. that has been the main character. Not the wife of, or the maid of, or the best friends of, or the girlfriend of, or etc. of, but the MAIN CHARACTER of a television program. This was crazy suprising to me and it got me to thinking . . .Do Black Women Have Interesing Lives???

I know a lot of black women who watch soap operas and mini-dramas and the like-wise and I find it hard to believe that they enjoy not see any representation of themselves on the television. The last television program that was written around a main character that was African American and female was "Julia" starring Diahann Carroll. Now don't even get me started that they are both nurses . . .not that there is anything wrong with African American femamles being nurses. I work at a Community Health Center and have nothing but respect for my coworkers. My concern is the fact that all of the fantastical films pre- and post-historic, outer space, futuristic films that they write and no one can write a full series about a black female who smart, funny and has a life!?!?!? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

I hope the community supports this program and that it is well written, but once again, it is upone us to provide for ourselves the things that we as a people need and not wait and wait and be dependent on others to give us when we need.

NOTHING BUT LOVE TO ALL WHO HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE!!!

Shawn

It Is Okay to Quit

MY FRIENDS

I SAW THIS AND WANTED TO SHARE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY.

IT IS OKAY TO QUIT

QUIT arguing with people about the same old foolishness! **Respect their position and keep it moving**

QUIT telling people your secrets when you know they are not going to keep them! **And if you keep telling them, then quit getting mad when they tell your secrets**

QUIT trying to pull people on your journey who don’t want to travel with you! **Either they believe in you and value you . . .or they don’t**

QUIT complaining about things you can’t and won’t change! **I am not working on looking like you or trying to be a model**

QUIT gossiping about other people! **Minding your own business should be a full time job**

QUIT blaming each other for things that in the big picture aren’t going to matter 3 weeks from now! **Talk solutions . . .and then implement them**

QUIT eating things you know are not good for you! **If you can’t quite . . .eat smaller portions. (I know . . .this is hard for me too!)**

QUIT buying things when you know you can’t afford them! **If you don’t have self control, the quit going to the stores and charging things, especially when you don’t NEED them**

QUIT staying in unhealthy relationships! **It is not okay for people to verbally or physically abuse you**

QUIT letting family members rope you into the drama! **Start telling them you don’t want to here it**

QUIT trying to change people! **IT DOESN’T WORK**

QUIT the job you hate! **Start pursuing your passion – NOTE: find the job that fuels your passion before you quit**

QUIT volunteering for things that you aren’t getting any personal fulfillment from anymore! **Quit volunteering for things and then failing to follow through with your commitment**

QUIT listening to the naysayers! **Quit watching the depressing news if you are going to live in the doom and gloom of it all**

QUIT wait on others to give you the answers! **Start finding the answers for yourself**

The Earth From Above

MY FRIENDS

JUST GOT BACK FROM MY VACATION IN PUERTO RICO AND VISITED AN OUTDOOR EXHIBIT FROM AN PHOTOGRAPH ARTISTS NAMED YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND. SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL PICUTRES I'VE EVER SEEN.

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY. GO TO HIS SITE AT:

http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org/v2/yab_us.htm

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES:

WORKER RESTING ON BALES OF COTTON, Thonakaha, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire

FIELDS OF TULIPS NEAR LISSE, near Amsterdam, Netherlands

HEART IN VOH, New Caledonia, France

THE UFFINGTON WHITE HORSE, Oxfordshire, England

KING JAMES DOING THE DAMN THANG!!

Cleveland Cavaliers'

LeBron James

Youngest to score 12,000 points as Cavs beat Toronto

LBJ youngest to 12,000 as Cavs reach

23-0 at home!!!

MY FRIENDS

THIS IS COPY OF THE ARTICLE IN THE PLAIN DEALER. IT APPEARS IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Brian Windhorst
Plain Dealer Reporter

It's easy to get lost in all the dunks and Player of the Week awards, and even the chalk-dust tossing.

That's the LeBron James style and it's on display just about nightly. But then there's the substance, the core of what the Cavaliers superstar brings that can't always be absorbed in highlights or statistics.

As the Cavs rolled to another win at The Q on Tuesday, 101-83 against the Raptors, it was the deeper and more complete side of James that oozed.

There was an understated yet defining play and some long-term historical gratification rolled into it. And though it was just another home win, now 23 in a row this season to set a franchise record, it left the subject soberly introspective about it all.

"I was blessed with God-given ability and I've taken full advantage of it," James said on the night he also became the youngest to score 12,000 points.

"I'm getting better every year and getting better every day and not taking a day off. To be able to do it all in a Cavs uniform has been great, and the fans have been with me these six years and seen me the youngest to 1,000 and all the way to 12,000. Unbelievable honor."

The final score looked lopsided, but for a few moments the Cavs were truly in some danger. With 10 minutes to go, the Raptors had cut a once-massive 23-point lead to just seven. The Cavs' (38-9) top two big men were on the bench with foul trouble and Toronto's twin towers of Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal were living up to the hype for a change and ripping the Cavs inside.

That is when James did his best work, even if some of it was easy to miss.

It wasn't hard to miss his incredible blocked shot on Olympic teammate and friend Bosh: a high-flying, arms-fully-extended swipe as Bosh looked like he was ready to silence the building with a jam. Just exactly what James was doing down there in the trenches was another story.

With Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao on the bench with five fouls each and Bosh (29 points) and O'Neal (20) taking advantage, coach Mike Brown went with James as the defensive center to battle O'Neal. The same James that on Sunday was guarding the Detroit Pistons point guards.

James proceeded to shut down O'Neal. Once when the lanky Raptor tried a turnaround move in the post, James blanketed him and forced a miss. Another time, James was trying to deny an entry pass by playing in front of O'Neal. When Bosh, in a classic high / low setup, lobbed the ball inside , James smothered O'Neal again and forced a turnover.

On that block, well, it was a combination of technique, instinct and talent, stuff James gets credit for all the time on offense, but not so on defense.

After Bosh slipped past Ben Wallace, it looked like he was headed for "SportsCenter." Guarding O'Neal on the opposite side of the lane, James dashed over to help. Bosh was already in the air with the ball in his left hand when James took off. He beat the ball to the hoop.

"People ask me is there anything LeBron does that just amazes you," Brown said. "When he came from the weak side to get that block, I was just floored."

James had 33 points in the game and was 13-of-13 at the foul line, tying his personal best for most makes without a miss at the line in his career. Mo Williams had another strong game with 16 points and nine assists. Starting in place of an ill Sasha Pavlovic, Wally Szczerbiak had 15 points.

All were important facets in the win, but once again it was James that overshadowed it all. This time was with that often overlooked defense.

"At that point of the game you have to go all out," James said. "I was in the right position and I was able to get a good read and get a good jump. A block is like a dunk on offense, it's a momentum play that you're always seeking."

Do We Still Need Black History Month?

MY FRIENDS

FOR THOSE OF YOUR THAT ARE IN CLEVELAND, I WAS READING THE PLAIN DEALER AND RAN ACROSS AN ARTICLE BY A BLACK MAN WHO SEEMS TO THINK THAT NOW THAT AMERICA HAS ELECTED A BLACK PRESIDENT THAT THE NEED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH HAS COME TO AN END.

BELOW IS MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR RESPONSE!! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!

I was reading my newspaper during my lunch hour as I do almost every day and was taken aback. One of your writers, Mr. Phillip Morris, who, while I don’t agree with every opinion and article that I have read, I consider to be intelligent, insightful and witty, suggested that maybe its “time to think about canceling Black History Month.” Me being a Black male and witnessing President Barack Obama campaign a most glorious victory to the highest office in the land, I understood how some could come to this conclusion. Needless to say it didn’t sit well with me but read the article and moved on.

Less than 10 seconds after reading Mr. Morris’ article and turning the page to the inside of the Metro Section the headline inside, in the same section reads: “Blacks denied more loans despite higher income”. Taken aback again.

While I don’t believe that Black History Month is the only and complete solution to equality, I do believe that as the future generations look toward their futures, just as Black History can help produce someone like President Barack Obama, they too will believe in obtaining unimaginable heights – Black History, American History, International History or World History.

I love the United States of America and I love being black. Can not one strive, live and be a source of great pride without sacrificing the other? As with any great recipe, all the cook’s ingredients’ purpose is to combine, to enhance and compliment each other. Not one overran by another, but each individual seasoning and spice inside the melting pot doing its part to raise every level of need, desire and longing. Not everyone likes country soul food, Chinese food, Thai or Mexican, but surely there can be enough acceptance and understanding, diversity and love to allow all dishes to be served with the same love, like my mom and yours.

The Will of God

MY FRIENDS

REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS:

The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Use you Imagination

MY FRIENDS

No matter what, life is something to be enjoyed. Remember perspective and imagination can alter your actuality!!

Shawn

NOTE: Thanks Naj for the pics!!