Check on your old people…

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 4 Comments

Rest, Mr. Cornelius

People 65 and older make up a little more than 12 percent of the U.S. population. That same age group makes up about 16 percent of all suicides. Yesterday, not many people cared about those stats but today, a lot of folks woke up to the news that Soul Train creator Don Cornelius was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, California home. Reports say he died of a gunshot wound to the head that appears to be self-inflicted. He was 75. My heart goes out to his family.

It may appear that you rarely hear about older people committing suicide and that is true. The majority of news outlets don’t report suicides. For every news outlet I have ever worked for it has been policy that you just report that a person has died, you never say suicide. I’ve always been told it’s easier on the family to not have to see it in print and to have to constantly explain it to people over and over. This story is being reported because, well, it’s Don Cornelius and for years, black folks have thought that we’re immune to suicide.

I will not speculate about Mr. Cornelius or what could have possibly been going on with him. I will say, tho, that the National Institute of Mental Health says that untreated depression is the main cause of elderly suicide. A lot of older folks experience depression just like a lot of people period, it’s when it comes debilitating that it’s dangerous.

I am waiting for the insensitive to start talking about how cowardly and selfish suicide. I’m waiting for them to bring up how Mr. Cornelius appeared to be drunk at several of his last appearances. I’m waiting for someone to bring up his age. To those folks, I encourage them to first, grow up, then to speak to someone who has lost a family member to suicide. Depression doesn’t discriminate nor do suicidal thoughts. I’m sad he had the courage to go through it.

Moving forward, y’all please remember to look in on your old folks. Stop in for a chat, a hug – anything. Sometimes just seeing your face can brighten their day. Sleep well, Mr. Cornelius. Rest in love, peace and souuuuuuuuuuuuul!

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Posted in celebrity deaths, celebrity health, Random

Motivational Mondays

Posted on January 30, 2012 | 1 Comment

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”
(c) Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Week to you all!

Now that the weekend is over, it’s time to hit the ground running. You’ve probably walked into work to a mountain of messages, seemingly extra bubbly people who you simply don’t have time to deal with and you are probably less energetic than on Monday mornings than you are after you’ve worked a full day. I know it’s been ingrained in us to absolutely abhor Mondays, I propose we try something different.

Mighty O

For me, Oprah is the most inspiring person I have never met. While she is wealthy, it is not her wealth that makes me want to do better, it is because she is unapologetically her authentic self no matter who is offended. I. Love. It! What I also love is her willingness to share with the masses the wisdom she’s gained over the course of her life’s journey. Since she’s shared it before, I am going to share it again.

In the quote above, the Mighty O states that your future can be changed by simply changing your attitude. I happen to be a believer. We may not all have control over what happens to us in our lives but we do have control over our attitudes. Our reactions. Our ability to roll with the punches. How we treat others. I want to encourage you to shift your thinking and subsequently your attitude toward Monday. Let’s start by dissociating negative terms from it like mad and manic. How about we start using positive words like mighty and masterful or majestic. There is power in words, use it to your advantage.

Some years back, Oprah discussed on her show, the power of “The Secret.” The secret to success is all about willing great things to you. Part of that is speaking it to existence. That being said, speak greatness to your Monday and then speak it to the rest of your week.

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Posted in Random, hmmm, Oprah, random thoughts, optimism, Motivational Mondays

Go see Red Tails…

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 2 Comments

For the past couple of weeks, the interwebs have been abuzz with talk about the movie, “Red Tails.” It’s a fictionalized story about the all-black regiment of fighter pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, set in Italy in World War II. We get to meet a bunch of (fine ass) black men from different walks of life who were all a part of the “Tuskegee Experience” that wanted to test whether or not black men would be smart enough to be fighter pilots.

While I would just love to give you a history lesson, I would much rather you click this link and educate your damn selves. Personally, I interviewed a Tuskegee Airman so, I’m good. It’s a wonderful story in which all people need to be aware. I sincerely hope this movie will make people want to know more about it. Now, as for the movie and all these damn critics …

Dear Universe, you will never be able to satisfy an entire group of people. All men aren’t fans of the same thing nor are all men neither are all white people and definitely not all black people. “Red Tails” is no different. This movie has gotten a lot of attention because it is an all black cast and Mr. Star Wars, George Lucas, put up $100 million of his own money because he couldn’t get Hollywood to invest. That being said, black folks everywhere set out to prove Hollywood wrong and support this historic biopic. Problem is it wasn’t a biopic. Negroes flocked to the movie in droves expecting to see an Oscar-worthy film starring black men who were men of honor who were being snubbed by a system that sought to keep them down. They got an action movie.

I’m not sure if you are familiar with action movies but they aren’t famous for the dialogue, the sentiment or their maintenance of the integrity of whatever period they are highlighting. Action movies are known for action. Fights and explosions and shit like that. But because this one was financed by George Lucas and involved Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard, black folks expected something major. *smh* Look, if you went to see Red Tails and went to learn the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and you were disappointed that you got an action movie, that’s your fault.

Nobody ever billed this movie to be anything more than an action film. But because it stars an abundance of black men we turned it into a demonstration against the racial injustice in the Hollywood establishment. We have to get over ourselves. We need to realize that more black quality films aren’t being made because we aren’t demanding them. Some of us continue to be pissed about movies like Red Tails yet they line up in droves for the latest in Tyler Perry’s never-ending story of the downtrodden black woman with the dark-skinned villains.

I have never in all my movie-watching days seen reviews more mixed for a movie than this one. Ever. “This was an awesome black film!” “That movie sucked! Don’t waste your money!” “I wish they would have done more.” “Why weren’t there any black women in the movie?” “He was with a white woman!” Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah! *smh* Some of y’all need to see this movie for what it was – entertainment. I looked at this movie the same as I would “Captain America,” “Superman,” or any other hero movie. The only difference here is there were actual Tuskegee Airmen.

Personally, I think “Red Tails” made strides in how black men are perceived in hero movies. Up until now we only had Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sam Jackson. Now, we’ve got an assload of black heroes for them to choose from. Let’s just support this movie for being what it is, the first all-black action flick since the blacksploitation period and keep it moving.

Let’s stop taking shit to higher and higher levels of foolishness and irrelevance by getting in our feelings. I need for y’all to come out of there and join the rest of us in the real world. This movie was made to see black men catapulted to the role of hero not to give black films relevance. That’s our job. You want to see more quality black films? Let’s support the ones we do have coming out and demand better of our own filmmakers. If nothing else, go see it for yourself and stop taking everyone else’s word for it.

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Posted in Random, hmmm, insanity, movies, random thoughts, rants, Red Tails

I’ve got the power …

Posted on January 24, 2012 | 2 Comments

I just started Week No. 13 of unemployment and FINALLY the North Carolina Economic Security Commission has decided to start giving me my money. I tell you, it’s not much but Lord knows it’s way more than what I was getting. There is nothing like bills coming in and no money to pay them to make you real humble, real quick.

Last weekend, I attended the Brand You workshop put on the Triad Association of Black Journalists, my local chapter of the national organization. I learned a lot, got to see some friends and really put into thought what my next move should be. Because it’s already been three months and I’m still unemployed, a lot of folks who want to help have been asking me “what is it that you want to do next?” I can honestly say, I have no idea.

I've got the power!

I’ve been working as a professional journalist for the last eight years of my life. I’ve dabbled in retail and working with kids. When in college, I did a little bit of IT work, but at this moment in my life, I have no clue as to what I want to do next. This weekend while answering the question of “what kind of jobs are you looking for,” I realized there is not a single ounce of shame in not knowing. In fact, I think there’s some power in it.

Wherever I go and whatever I do next is all on me. If I decide to go back to school, work with kids, roam the Earth like Caine in Kung Fu – it’s MY decision. I’ve got the power. That is scary and exciting all at the same time. If I succeed, it’s my victory. If I fail, it’s my fault. A year ago, I would have flown into a full-on panic attack. Today, tho, I’m peaceful. Today, I’m ready – for whatever.

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Posted in Random, hmmm, random thoughts, rants, lay-offs

STOP SOPA!!!

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Congress is at it again, y’all. While they should be coming together to create jobs, they are out here working on -ish that isn’t exactly a top priority. I’m sure you guys have seen that some sites have gone black today and several of us have replaced the avatars over our various social networking accounts with graphics encouraging Congress to “Stop SOPA.”

SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) is the bill sponsored by house Republican Lamar Smith. In theory, the bill and its Senate cousin, PIPA, Protect IP Act, is designed to protect intellectual property by getting a handle on rogue sites. The way it sounds, it seems as if the bill would be in place to protect those creatives amongst us from having our work stolen and passed off as someone else’s. Right? Wrong. When you read through all the legal jargon, SOPA is essentially creating a situation where they will have total control over the internet.

That’s right, you read just right. If SOPA and PIPA pass in the house and senate, it will change the internet as we know it. All these things we love like YouTube and your favorite social networking sites all have the potential to be censored to the point of being shut down. Why, you may ask? The smallest things are being deemed as piracy. And with that, Congress is proposing that websites suspected of copyright infringement be blocked or access to the illegal portion be blocked. While I agree that something should be done to stop the piracy, a.k.a. bootlegging, I just don’t see how violating everyone’s first amendments rights will make that happen.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

If these bills pass, my blog, your blog and all blogs you like could be deemed illegal because everything from a YouTube video to a gif someone decides to post in response to a post can all be deemed copyright infringement. Those videos I’ve done with music beds playing in the background … Copyright infringement. Artists sharing their mixtapes with us… Copyright infringement. The gov’t will be able to force sites like Google, bing, Adsense and others to cut ties with you because you or someone who comments on your site have violated this law. Something as simple as organizing a petition online can be deemed illegal. This, my friends, violates our first amendment rights.

While some of you who are not creative can afford not to care, those of us who are can’t. I urge you to visit this site and sign the petition to urge Congress to vote “no” on SOPA and PIPA. Do it for me!

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Posted in foolishness, journalism, political foolishness, politics, Random, random thoughts, rants