tony hey-ho

There are some things that we know are wrong and that should never be done. I guess G-Unit member Marvin Bernard (Tony Yayo) never learned this growing up. Recently, the 29-year-old hip-hop artist was arrested for physically assaulting a 14-year old child. The child was the son of Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond, the head of record label/management firm Czar Entertainment. The incident occurred when Rosemond's son left school and was on his way to his internship at his father's offices on West 25th Street.

According to reports, Tony Yayo and several of his friends were leaving Violator Management and saw Rosemond’s son walking down the street dressed in a Czar T-shirt. News reports suggested that Yayo then backhanded the boy with his jewelry-loaded hand and proceeded to curse at the child and towards Czar Entertainment. Witnesses claim that Yayo pushed the boy against the wall, showed him his gun that was tucked in his belt, asking why he was wearing the t-shirt and how old he was. While he was being transported by police, Bernard bragged to reporters “Fitty’ll get me out- I’ll be out tomorrow”.

The child’s mother released a news statement in which she described Yayo’s actions as a “cowardly act” and that it “was a step away from child molestation.” I honestly do not get what is wrong with folks who let celebrity and the so-called credo of violent behavior for the sake of keeping it real; make them not see right from wrong. I agree with the mother, this is a bitch move and we should not tolerate such nonsense anymore. In addition, we should be very careful about how and who we place on pedestals as a function of their celebrity status. Marvin Bernard from this vantage point is just another punk who should be in jail. The problem is that his fans, and the women how admire his lifestyle will still seek to be with or want a person like him in their life.

young, dumb and no income

It seems to me that being lazy and having little if any value for hard work and work ethic is commonplace nowadays. From my perspective, more and more people, in particular folks that look like me want something for nothing. Many times, the request to be taken care of are so vivid that they themselves do not see their own behaviors. It so bad now that people expect things to be done for them yet they at the same time feel that they do not have to do anything in return or may even posture the opinion that they are entitled to such treatment.

I write this to say that we need to evaluate ourselves and our own behavior to the point of being more realistic about our own personal beliefs. This is to say that if we expect people to do for us, then we should not have a problem with them expecting the same in return. Such practices and inappreciation for others can destroy relationships and friendships and are often the fruit of our own inactivity. Some may blame this on youth, others may blame it on a lack of home training. In most respects, it is due to individuals never having seen love or recive love in an unconditional manner.

The question is reduced to this, is it wise, smart, or realistic to expect folks to do for us, when we do not do for ourselves or those that do for us? I would not be surprised as if some folks would say it is wise. But then again, it will be those same people who cannot show compassion, passion or unconditional positive regard to others, or let alone, see that such behavior makes other less likely to do for them.

not enuff television - i think 2 much

Call me Candide (Voltaire is my favorite writer), but I was kind of anticipating a warm recognition for an anniversary last week. No, not the Biggy ten years after his death aniversary, nor the 25-year anniversary of “the message – Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five athough such is worth in these eyes.” And most definitely I am not speaking of the 25 year anniversary of John Belushi's death. I was just expecting that the 50th aniversary celebrating of Ghana's independence from Britain would have gained some recognition from African Americans over in this camp. I mean we have problems to solve but the first step in solidartity is the regonition ofg respect for mutual self determination. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to break with its colonial power.

Even the U.S., I mean President Bush sent a delegation to honor this momentous ocassion. The Presidential Delegation to Accra, Ghana for the 50th Anniversary of Independence was lead by Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and included Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, John J. Danilovich, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ronald A. Tschetter, Director of the Peace Corps, Jendayi Elizabeth Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs) and R. Timothy Ziemer, Rear Admiral, United States Navy (Retired), Coordinator for the President's Malaria Initiative. Leave it to President Bush to be disrespectful and send second tier dignitaries to this historic Event. As well, I can comprehend the sentiments of former President Jerry Rawlings, who criticized the event.

Sure, every body knows that on 5 March 1957, Britain formally transferred power to independence leader Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was a great and powerful man and still is relevant today if you asked me. Not to mention, he wrote one of my faviorite books ever by african thinker, AFRICA MUST UNITE, inclusive of The Mind of Africa by Peter Abrahams. Africa must unite was the first bok that explained racism in terms of power (page 15). Kwame Nkrumah guided Ghana to independence on March 6 1957 and was the first black nation to achieve such in Africa. Not to mention that Ghana was once the world's top exporter of cocoa and a leading producer of gold.

I was just optimistic that there were fans of self-determination and history as I am myself. Guess the song we shall overcome will always be enigmatic for us as a collective. Or maybe, just maybe I don’t look at enough television and think too much.

the golden rules of fools

The way I see the world as An African American is very different from the manner white folks and even our women see it. For me, trust and truthfulness are the only things I have and they are manifested in my word. If I say I am going to do something, I will do it or at least do all in my power to accomplish the task at hand. This is really consistent in the manner in which I treat people. I am a firm believer in the golden rule – do unto others as they do unto you.

With that said, I also acknowledge that in our daily interactions with people, even those that we are around all of the time, many of us fail to acknowledge this rule, which means we can not honestly look other in the face and be truthful about how we feel and what we feel. I could never for example, stay in a job if I did not like or value the work that I was doing in that job. Likewise, I could never stay or be with a person whom I know I have no liking, desire, or affinity for. I mean, why hang around someone one does not like or may even despise? This boggles my mind for I feel that a clean heart is the only type of heart that can show respect and love and value and appreciation.

However, for some of us, our personal penchant and insecurities and selfish ways prevent us from ever having a clean heart for we prefer to hide, sneak, and be dishonest and insincere about what ever we feel to those we are around most or even should care about the most. I was taught that if one gave then they would receive. But I was also taught that if there is no giving that they should not receive. As an African American man, my heart is pure and clean and I know that I have no support out in this world other than myself and my work ethic. There is no one I can depend on to do for me as I do for them I don’t expect such, but it would be nice to have such. But When I offer myself unconditionally to my work, my family, and my wife/girlfriend (if I had one), it will be for better or worse and completely. I will make time to do my job well and to love those around me the same.

For those who don’t have an open and loving heart, and who can not appreciate or notice a blessing when they have them right in front of their eyes, they never will, for they will only see the world in terms of lies, deceit, and chicanery. It is these folk we have to nurture and watch out for – the ungrateful who can never give as they receive.

I'm With Stupid

One of my favorite sayings I have seen on a T-Shirt is “I’m with stupid.” Therefore, in honor of this saying, I have outlined several things that I have seen observed that would want me to stand next to a person that does or says the following:

1] Spending time in clubs, bars or on the corner instead of being around to provide for your family and nurture your kids

2] Locking your keys inn the car, with the engine running, and a baby in the back in a car seat to run i9n a store and get a lottery ticket (saw this on TV).

3] Thinking that a married man who offers to furnish another woman’s apartment is not expecting sex or anything in return.

4] Letting you cell phone get cut off after receiving a text message from the company two days before for a bill of 50$.

5] Letting your electricity be cut off because you are too lazy to go to the mailbox, check the mail, and get the bill.

6] Expecting a person to sign over private contracts obtained 7 years prior to being employed with a company, because you did not ask a person in a higher position for permission to secure the contract. When you did not work for that person at the time of employment by some 6 years (going through this as we speak).

You tell me what u think about these and give me some more I am with stupid actions. Blog will be back in full force this week.