I think this year's Black History Month was the worse ever, at least for me. Last month we lost the legendary Whitney Houston and the reclusive, but trend-setting Don Cornelius, founder and producer of the "Hippest Trip In America", Soul Train.
As a person you will always remember certain things about your childhood, things you grew up on and will be a staple in your memory, Soul Train was one of those. I remember watching Soul Train EVERY Saturday; Soul Train was like an institution, it was as common to the Black Diaspora as Sunday Dinner and Big Momma!
Everybody who was anybody who wanted to reach out to the Black market went on Soul Train. God rest his soul, James Brown appeared in 1972 and could not believe that Don Cornelius was the man behind the Train!!! Often called the "the black Dick Clark," Don Cornelius was somewhat of an introvert with very few real friends. He came from a humble background in the Southside of Chicago, a Vietnam vet, he went into broadcasting and then founded Soul Train. The Rev Jesse Jackson said "Don gave people a chance to feel good about themselves...He's right up there with any civil rights leader of our generation..."
Soul Train changed the landscape of music and expanded the fanbase of a lot of musicians. Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, regulars on the Soul Train, talked about how their record sales exploded after making appearances. Simply put, Don "had a burning desire to see black people depicted on television in a positive light."
Much like most of the TV shows, organizations, Hollywood, etc that neglected Blacks throughout the 20th Century, Soul Train was modeled after the very popular American Bandstand but promoted artists like James Brown, Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson. Don understood the importance of ownership within the Black community and wanted something for Blacks that no one could take away!
Despite the difficulty in securing advertising, even into its last days, its popularity grew in each of its 35 years in syndication (the longest running syndicated show ever on TV). The artists that appeared on Soul Train and those that got their big break there (O'Jays, Destiny's Child, etc) were only a small part of what made Soul Train a permanent staple in the Black culture for years to come.
When you are at a wedding, outside of the Electric Slide, what HAS to happen before the wedding is officially over? That is right, you guessed it (you better had!), a Soul Train Line!!! The famous Soul Train line where 2 lines were formed, one for the males and the other for the females, and they would "dance" their way down the line. As a kid, I learned all the latest dance moves like the crazy penguin, the robot and this is where Michael Jackson learned how to the the moonwalk. That is right, Michael Jackson learned the moonwalk from the Soul Train dancers. Click here for a Soul Train line sample featuring a song by Whitney Houston!
Speaking of the soul train dancers, people like Rosie Perez, Darnell Williams, Carmen Electra, Nick Cannon, MC Hammer, Jermaine Stewart, Fred "Rerun" Berry, Pebbles, and Walter Payton started off, lived on, or appeared at least once as a Soul Train dancer and went on to other endeavors as a result of being on the show. The famous R&B group Shalamar was formed by Soul Train dancers Jody Watley, Jeffery Daniel and another crooner by the name of Howard Hewitt.
And what about the Soul Train Scramble Board!!! Now I am not saying the dancers were not smart, but they NEVER misspelled a name on the scramble board in all 35 years!!! You know what else Soul Train did no one really talks about, Soul Train was one of the very few shows that had commercials for Black-owned businesses like AfroSheen and Ebony magazine.
Here is Whitney Houston on Soul Train performing "How Will I Know" I think one of my favorite performances on Soul Train (and I do have many) was when New Edition performed "If It Isn't Love" and they were in all black!!!
As the last Soul Train pulled into the station, I want to say thank you Don for providing a voice and a vehicle for Black artists at a time when Black artists were not getting the play or recognition for the wonderful music they were putting out. Thank you Don for providing a lane for Black-owned businesses to advertise their products. Thank you Don for providing opportunities outside of your show for people who appeared on your show and made it what it was. Thank you Don for being a resource for new fashion, fads, and the hottest new dance moves. Thank you Don for being a Gentleman, an entrepreneur, and a role model that lived out your dreams and showed the rest of Black America they could live out theirs without selling out, being someone they are not, or acting a fool and doing anything for a dollar. Thank you Don Cornelius and I want to do one more thing...
I WISH YOU LOVE, PEACE, AND SOOUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Word Play...
I would first like to go on record and say the young man Trayvon Martin was MURDERED! Yea, that about sums that up, no discussion needed. If you do not know what I am talking about, just google the name and 40 articles will appear.
Now, I am not perfect in any way, shape or form but I have to go on a small rant here and talk about some words that are either misused or misspelled or just simply have been overused to the point where you cringe when you hear it.
Words misused or misspelled:
1. "There", "Their" and "They're" - there is a difference: there refers to a place or a direction. E.g., I am sitting over there. Their refers to possession. E.g., Someone left their book on the table. They're is a contraction for two words, they and are. E.g., They're going is the same as They are going.
I constantly see people mixup these up, especially "there" and "their"....
2. "Lose", "Loser", "Loose", and "Looser" - Lose is a verb and generally refers to a sporting event or misplacing a noun. E.g. to lose a sister, I lost my hat. Loser is noun that does the verb part of the word lose. E.g. The Heat lost to the Knicks so Lebron is a loser. Loose means unbound, free. E.g. to wear her hair loose. Looser is a form of loose. E.g. can you make the rope a little looser.
I always see these mixed up for whatever reason and it drives me nuts!!!
3. "Where" and "Wear" - Where is an adverb that talks about a place. E.g. where is the bank? Wear is a verb and usually talks about items of clothing. E.g. I am wearing a suit today at work.
Words that should be retired:
1. Swag or Swagger - first off, the general population does not even know what this really means but it is continuously being used in the most ill-mannered way. Swag or Swagger is multifaceted and it means a person that possesses Style, Confidence, AND Manners. I think people just apply swag when the person has style and confidence but the crucial piece is manners. Apply manners and those we say have "swag" fall out of the category immediately! Either way, it should be retired!
2. Irregardless - simply put, IT IS NOT A WORD! It is considered a double negative, let it go people!
3. Wretched versus Ratchet - the use of these words is not only becoming unbearable, but one is being used in place of the other and they mean two totally different things! So first, if you are going to use this word to describe something, an adjective, please use "wretched". Second, how bout we just do not use either one at all. Thanks!
As stated, I am not perfect but I at least try to get the basics and so to help those around me or if you know someone who needs to read this, just send them this link and just tell them to read. This is the polite way of saying your word usage SUCKS and here is why, so change! without really saying it.
If you know anymore words misused or overused, please feel free to add on!!!
Now, I am not perfect in any way, shape or form but I have to go on a small rant here and talk about some words that are either misused or misspelled or just simply have been overused to the point where you cringe when you hear it.
Words misused or misspelled:
1. "There", "Their" and "They're" - there is a difference: there refers to a place or a direction. E.g., I am sitting over there. Their refers to possession. E.g., Someone left their book on the table. They're is a contraction for two words, they and are. E.g., They're going is the same as They are going.
I constantly see people mixup these up, especially "there" and "their"....
2. "Lose", "Loser", "Loose", and "Looser" - Lose is a verb and generally refers to a sporting event or misplacing a noun. E.g. to lose a sister, I lost my hat. Loser is noun that does the verb part of the word lose. E.g. The Heat lost to the Knicks so Lebron is a loser. Loose means unbound, free. E.g. to wear her hair loose. Looser is a form of loose. E.g. can you make the rope a little looser.
I always see these mixed up for whatever reason and it drives me nuts!!!
3. "Where" and "Wear" - Where is an adverb that talks about a place. E.g. where is the bank? Wear is a verb and usually talks about items of clothing. E.g. I am wearing a suit today at work.
Words that should be retired:
1. Swag or Swagger - first off, the general population does not even know what this really means but it is continuously being used in the most ill-mannered way. Swag or Swagger is multifaceted and it means a person that possesses Style, Confidence, AND Manners. I think people just apply swag when the person has style and confidence but the crucial piece is manners. Apply manners and those we say have "swag" fall out of the category immediately! Either way, it should be retired!
2. Irregardless - simply put, IT IS NOT A WORD! It is considered a double negative, let it go people!
3. Wretched versus Ratchet - the use of these words is not only becoming unbearable, but one is being used in place of the other and they mean two totally different things! So first, if you are going to use this word to describe something, an adjective, please use "wretched". Second, how bout we just do not use either one at all. Thanks!
As stated, I am not perfect but I at least try to get the basics and so to help those around me or if you know someone who needs to read this, just send them this link and just tell them to read. This is the polite way of saying your word usage SUCKS and here is why, so change! without really saying it.
If you know anymore words misused or overused, please feel free to add on!!!
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Lost Generation
It was a sunny Saturday morning and I was finishing up cleaning the house. If you grew up back in the day, you remember you had to clean up the entire house; you were your parents private cleaning service except you worked for free! Another tradition for my parents is that they would walk to the corner store and pick-up 3-4 newspapers they would read for the rest of the morning. Well, this particularly Saturday turned into the "Saturday from hell" for me.
See, every morning before school I would walk into this corner store and steal candy for the day. I did not have any money but I wanted some Reese Cups to eat at lunchtime so I would steal a pack or two. Well, the workers in the store caught on to me coming into the store every morning and not buying anything so when I did come in, one of them would go behind the refrigeration area where the drinks were kept and look at me five-finger discount some candy. In all my genius, I did not realize that those were GLASS DOORS to the refrigerated drinks so you could clearly see out into the entire store.
They never called the police but they waited to talk to my parents because of course, back in the day, in your neighborhood everybody knew everybody and you were a child of the neighborhood. They would have probably beat me if they had access to some belts, quiet as it is kept! So, my Mom came back from the store that morning and immediately called my Dad to the living room. My Mother told my Father that the lady at the corner store has been waiting to see one of us to inform us that our son has been stealing candy from them for the last two weeks. Yea, my life just ended!
My Father grabbed the big leather belt (the one that look like it came straight off a horse's ass), ordered me to my room where he promptly closed the window and shut the blinds (so the neighbors or neighborhood for that matter did not hear me yelling for my life), and then I got my butt promptly whooped! Not one of my better moments and the worse part, I could not even lay down on my own arse because it was bleeding internally.
I have not even stolen a kiss from that day on. Fast forward, I read an article where a couple of kids tried to kill their fifth grade teacher with rat poisoning. That is correct...hold on, I will wait for your reaction!
Do not worry, I am still waiting!
Yea, that is correct, three fifth grade students attempted to poison their teacher. And they did it because "they didnt like the teacher...she was too strict." Like seriously, if I ever...hold on, back up, one time I did something I was not supposed to be doing and I got hymned up by the cops (yea, I fractured a few laws here and there when I was young, DONT JUDGE ME!) and the cop wanted my parents phone number. I refused to give it to them and instructed them to take me to jail, it would be safer! I told them my Dad might (actually, he would) shoot me if he knew what I did so please, just take me to jail! Unfortunately, these bonehead cops called my parents anyway. You would think taking me to jail would have been easier!!
You want to know why three kids tried to kill their teacher. In the immortal words of Bernie Mac, "because we some PUNKASS parents" that is why! Kids have way too many rights and they know they are able to get away with just about anything because the state along with Child Protective Services has deemed it illegal to discipline your child. But where is CPS when three kids try to murder their teacher?
These kids have a sense of entitlement that is beyond reason, they do not appreciate anything, and you cannot even look at them wrong or you will be in handcuffs. Well, I got news for you, my child is not going to kill me! Bill Cosby said it best, "I brought you in this world, I will take you out!"
You are probably asking at this moment what all of this has to do with Man Code? Well, my parents instilled in me it just is not right to steal, lie, or cheat. If you have to cheat, take the F; tell the truth and be man enough to take the consequences and if you have to steal, you did not need it in the first place. I was taught to always respect my elders and to always give it my best shot. If I failed, get back up and try again. I was never rewarded for fifth place so I was encouraged to be the best and then get the spoils. These "small" lessons have become a part of who I am and provide a backdrop for my own personal rules. As a man, you gotta have rules; no rules, no code and every man has a code.
See, every morning before school I would walk into this corner store and steal candy for the day. I did not have any money but I wanted some Reese Cups to eat at lunchtime so I would steal a pack or two. Well, the workers in the store caught on to me coming into the store every morning and not buying anything so when I did come in, one of them would go behind the refrigeration area where the drinks were kept and look at me five-finger discount some candy. In all my genius, I did not realize that those were GLASS DOORS to the refrigerated drinks so you could clearly see out into the entire store.
They never called the police but they waited to talk to my parents because of course, back in the day, in your neighborhood everybody knew everybody and you were a child of the neighborhood. They would have probably beat me if they had access to some belts, quiet as it is kept! So, my Mom came back from the store that morning and immediately called my Dad to the living room. My Mother told my Father that the lady at the corner store has been waiting to see one of us to inform us that our son has been stealing candy from them for the last two weeks. Yea, my life just ended!
My Father grabbed the big leather belt (the one that look like it came straight off a horse's ass), ordered me to my room where he promptly closed the window and shut the blinds (so the neighbors or neighborhood for that matter did not hear me yelling for my life), and then I got my butt promptly whooped! Not one of my better moments and the worse part, I could not even lay down on my own arse because it was bleeding internally.
I have not even stolen a kiss from that day on. Fast forward, I read an article where a couple of kids tried to kill their fifth grade teacher with rat poisoning. That is correct...hold on, I will wait for your reaction!
Do not worry, I am still waiting!
Yea, that is correct, three fifth grade students attempted to poison their teacher. And they did it because "they didnt like the teacher...she was too strict." Like seriously, if I ever...hold on, back up, one time I did something I was not supposed to be doing and I got hymned up by the cops (yea, I fractured a few laws here and there when I was young, DONT JUDGE ME!) and the cop wanted my parents phone number. I refused to give it to them and instructed them to take me to jail, it would be safer! I told them my Dad might (actually, he would) shoot me if he knew what I did so please, just take me to jail! Unfortunately, these bonehead cops called my parents anyway. You would think taking me to jail would have been easier!!
You want to know why three kids tried to kill their teacher. In the immortal words of Bernie Mac, "because we some PUNKASS parents" that is why! Kids have way too many rights and they know they are able to get away with just about anything because the state along with Child Protective Services has deemed it illegal to discipline your child. But where is CPS when three kids try to murder their teacher?
These kids have a sense of entitlement that is beyond reason, they do not appreciate anything, and you cannot even look at them wrong or you will be in handcuffs. Well, I got news for you, my child is not going to kill me! Bill Cosby said it best, "I brought you in this world, I will take you out!"
You are probably asking at this moment what all of this has to do with Man Code? Well, my parents instilled in me it just is not right to steal, lie, or cheat. If you have to cheat, take the F; tell the truth and be man enough to take the consequences and if you have to steal, you did not need it in the first place. I was taught to always respect my elders and to always give it my best shot. If I failed, get back up and try again. I was never rewarded for fifth place so I was encouraged to be the best and then get the spoils. These "small" lessons have become a part of who I am and provide a backdrop for my own personal rules. As a man, you gotta have rules; no rules, no code and every man has a code.
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