Tag Archives: barack obama

A Change Is Gonna Come

04 Tuesday Nov 2008

Posted by in Soundtrack of My Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

There were times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

My friends, this is it.

I feel very calm at this moment but I know when I wake up in the morning, I’m going to be quite giddy.

I’m so excited to be a part of history. I’m happy that I truly understand the significance of what I’m about to do tomorrow. Vote the first African American in as President of these United States.

This past weekend as I sat getting my hair done, my stylist was telling me how she asked her cousins whether they were going to be voting on Tuesday. They must have received the same miseducation as Joe because they told her “Naw I ain’t doing no voting. Obama got this. I don’t need to vote.”

Thank God I’m educated and knowledgeable about my history enough to say that nothing but death can keep me from those polls tomorrow. I know all of you that are eligible to vote in this country feel the same way. So no need for me to beg you to rock the vote. I’d be preaching to the choir.

For those of you not eligible to vote in this country, we appreciate your support and well wishes in this historic election. Some of you are more invested than many Americans and that means a lot.

I listened to Dorothy Height on the radio this morning reflecting on the significance of this election. She talked about the days that African Americans had to pay a poll tax to vote and about the courageous men and women who paid for our voting rights with their lives. Today, forty plus years later, it pains me to hear all of that being taken for granted. It doesn’t anger me. I just feel sadness. Pity.

Tomorrow, I’ll vote first thing in the morning and follow these rules to a tee. I’m bringing my camera to record the experience. I’m planning on wearing my Obama tee but keeping it covered until I leave. It’s not against the law in Maryland to wear paraphernalia. But I don’t feel like fighting. I’m all about peace tomorrow.

I’m fortunate to get two hours leave from my job to go and vote. However, I already told them I’ll get there when I get there. I’m fortunate to work for an organization that is extremely invested in the outcome so I likely won’t be penalized if I’m later than that.

That evening, I plan to attend a watch party – preferably at a place where I can actually listen to the results and have access to free wifi so I can blog and tweet my reactions. I’m not sure where yet. Most of the parties will be more focused on the social aspect so I may end up at home. I feel the urgent need to have a record of my experiences and thoughts throughout the day.

We also must not forget about the other renaissance taking place tomorrow – the official release day for Q-Tip’s album. If you have not already illegally or legally downloaded, this is a must have for your collection. I won’t be reviewing it because I’m not a hip-hop head like that and I’d rather leave that to the “professionals.” I just don’t feel like I can do it justice.  What I will say is simply that it’s everything I thought it would be – every single song is fire to me. It will be on my top albums of the year list. No question.

The second half of this year has been filled with such good music that it truly gives me hope.

A change is gonna come, indeed.

Patti Labelle covering Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” (wanted an outstanding LIVE version)

Old School Friday: Obama’s “Fight” Song

30 Thursday Oct 2008

Posted by in Soundtrack of My Life

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

I decided to do a bit of a different take on the theme for this week, which is “Fight Song For Your Candidate.” What is the song he needs to win; his background music; his call to battle?

I can’t believe we are now four days away from a Black man being the leader of the free world. While I’m excited beyond what I can even express to you here, I can’t help but think of what’s ahead for him. The first Black president digging us out of the deepest ditch this country has ever been in after eight years of Lil Bush’s fuck ups.  I can’t wrap my mind around the sleepless nights ahead as he tries to govern in a world where there are animals already wishing him dead.

There is only one person who is going to get him through this. There’s no way he would be where he is without her. And he will not make it through the first one hundred days without her having his back. Her voice and soothing presence will be his background music – and his fight song in the tough days ahead.

Today, I chose three songs that celebrate their love.

Mariah Carey/Pavarotti, “Hero”

Anita Baker, “You Bring Me Joy”

Curtis Mayfield, “The Makings Of You”

 As I prepare to press publish, a McCain attack ad is playing on the television.  Can someone please press the fast forward button?

Please.

This is a great theme this week. Please visit the other Old School Friday participants for more good theme music for this historic campaign.

Electronic Village | Mrs Grapevine | Quick | Cassandra | Danielle | Lisa C | Chocl8t | Kreative Talk | MarvalusOne | Regina | LaShonda | AJ | Sharon | Invisible Woman | Believer 1964 | Dee |SJP | sHaE-sHae | Thembi

“Good” Rebb’n Doctor, You Get The Side Eye of the Week Week Week

11 Friday Jul 2008

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

by vivrant thang on jesse jackson gets the side eye of the week

SECOND POST FOR TODAY: OLD SCHOOL FRIDAY IS BELOW

When I first got wind of this story last night, before the details developed, I just thought Jesse was talking slick again about Barack. Sipping out of that big cup of haterade that’s being passed around by our so-called “leaders.”

I wasn’t prepared for this.

What kind of fuckery is this? Somebody please tell me that Faux News framed him.

Afraid not because he issued this stumbling, bumbling “apology” which some feel that he should not even have made.

I’m not even going to address his contention that Obama is talking down to Black folk. While I don’t agree, that’s not even the issue.

Why would Reverend Jesse ,a black man who was active in the Civil Rights Movement and ran for President of these here United States of Amerikka, let anything about cutting another black man’s balls off come out of his mouth? Why was that even in his head? We don’t need that kind of rhetoric coming from our own people when there are plenty of white men (and women) who would love to string Obama up on a tree and get ahold of his nuts. Need I remind you? Jesse are you smoking that Pookie?

What is he really mad about? He wasn’t mad about how we looked when his very public and messy dirty laundry came spilling out of the closet in the form of a yet another illegitimate black child.

Doesn’t matter if he thought the mic was off. Soundbite my ass. Did you see that slicing movement he did with his hand? He was serious with it! Besides, this was Faux News. They had it in for his black ass the minute he stepped off the elevator.

It’s obvious that deep down he does not support Barack’s candidacy. Guess someone will be holding his nose and pulling that lever huh? So be it. We’re doing okay without you. We’re busy trying to give an old man a beat down so just put a muzzle on it, mmkay? I don’t want to hear from you. Don’t you have an outside kid to raise?

Jesse, for your foolishness, you are awarded the hardest bitch slap Michelle can muster and the Side Eye of The Week Week Week.

You know though, for all my ranting, this could turn out to be a good thing. Barack could be having his “accidental Sista Souljah Moment.”

While I got that good twitch going on, I want to share some thoughts inspired by a comment left on my Malia Obama post.

The problem is they are kids of today. Kids of today are TOO BRATTY. In addition, I think Michelle’s real problem is not her kids, but herself, turning her kids on her husband,. She likes to castrate him and often, perhaps the way Jesse would like to.


First, I do agree that many kids today are bratty. I was going to disagree when I first read this in the morning. But on my evening commute, I listened as a black father and his teen daughter talked about the phone he was going to buy her. She was rejecting the phone he wanted to get her because she didn’t want the same phone that everyone else had. She then suggested that he buy her an iPhone and he was actually amenable to it. When he saw my not-so-subtle side eye he started pretending to lecture her about how there was only one phone in the entire house when he was a kid. Whateva sucka. I put on my IPOD at that point. I see why the Lord took care of me when I wasn’t taking care of myself (kept me childless thus far.) By the time I finished with that little heffa, she would have been begging me to use Morse Code to communicate with her little friends.

That being said, I blame the father. I would have never thought to ask for an expensive ass smart phone. She is a kid without a j-o-b! What appointments does she have? He should have nipped that in the bud long ago. It’s all in how you raise these kids. My hair stylist told me that she taught her kids long ago not to even expect stuff like that and to be happy with the things they got. And they are. I believe that’s what the Obamas are teaching their kids. Therefore, Malia is not a brat.

This person is not alone in their assertion that essentially Michelle is a giant, angry black woman that walks around with Barack’s balls in her purse. Lots of people feel that way, which is part of the reason there’s the need for a site like Michelle Obama Watch. Obviously since I am a Michelle Obamaholic, my side eye explodes each and every time I come across these kinds of comments.

Amerikkka has not seen anything like this statuesque, dynamic and vibrant woman before and they just can’t handle it. She is not the Stepford Wife staring into space, waving like an empty headed pageant contestant. She is going to dap her man up, telling him with her eyes, “You that man, B! The world is yours! I got your back.”

I, for one, love how she keeps it real about her husband – that he is just a man and not some god that’s going to swoop into the White House and save the world overnight. America is not used to her brand of wit and I fear that she will have to change her rhetoric quite a bit a bit once the general gets under way. I already see it happening as a result of her “political makeover” and that saddens me. It’s already starting. What was with that Daisy Mae dress she had on during the Access Hollywood interview? It wasn’t “her.” Very subdued and matronly, even for a casual day out.

In any event, I know Michelle will do what she has to do to get her man in there, including snatching up the good Rebb’n Doctor. Oh to have been a fly on the wall when she heard that one!

Makes Me Wanna Holler: I’m Close to The Edge!

05 Tuesday Feb 2008

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by vivrant thang on makes me wanna holler

message.jpg 

Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge
I’m trying not to lose my head

Now usually I don’t do this because I just don’t have time for multiple postings in one day. However, this was very necessary.

I did so much ranting last week that I promised myself I would focus on the music this week. After all, that  is what this blog is supposed to be about for all intents and purposes. Unfortunately, that’s going to be pretty much impossible in the world we live in. Besides, as I mentioned, I just accepted a new job that is very politically focused so as I learn more about the issues, I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say. I’ll always have a song for ya though!

Two things have got me close to the edge today. Before I get into all that, I would be remiss on a Super Tuesday if I didn’t say to any of my readers in primary states to be sure to get out and rock the vote! Being an Obama Mama, of course I would prefer that you “Barack the Vote!” However, I just want you to get out and cast an informed vote for the candidate of your choice.

Now there’s a chance that I won’t be saying this same thing in November.

I was listening to News and Notes with Farai Chideya yesterday, specifically the Bloggers Roundtable. One of the bloggers, a black male, said that he would vote Republican if Hillary was the nominee.

Pause.

Relax, relate, release.

Farai asked him to expound on that. He said that Billary has revealed themselves to be racist, particularly with that comment about Martin Luther King and it taking a White person to get things done.

Okay. Let’s go with that.

Do people really think that the Republican party feels any differently? Do people really not think that the GOP believes that anyone other than John Q. WhiteMan can be the “Decider” for this country?

I was watching the last round of Republican debates because I believe in keeping my side eye on what they are up to on the other side of the aisle. I had to hit the Goose hard after watching that mess. It was that painful. They have absolutely no intention of ending this war until I have a complete head of gray hair to go along with the five strands I’ve already found.

McCain, the likely nominee, does not appear to be strong on the economy. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that the pressing issue for most people?

Readers, that blogger is not alone. This is a very scary thought for me that the hatred people feel for the Billary machine would outweigh the desperate need to rescue this country from the incompetent hands of another war-hungry cowboy. That blows my mind. I am going to need someone to explain this to me like I’m a three year old. Why? And please give me some other reasons besides you feeling duped by Billary. I accept that, but I need something more. I sincerely want to understand this because at this point, I just want people that feel that way to keep their tails in the house on Election Day. I realize that is a harsh thing to say but I’m that worried about the direction this country is headed. Scratch that. Don’t stay home. Take the Average Bro approach and write yourself in as the candidate if you have to. But voting Republican?

I’m not saying that the Democratic party cares so much about us that we should blindly give them our votes. However, to say that you are voting across party lines for a candidate that will likely continue to push this sinking ship to the bottom of the ocean just to vote against Billary is frankly…well, let’s just say I strongly disagree with that. If you’ve always been a Republican or an Independent, then I can’t argue with that. However, I see this as just another case of Obama-itis. Stans*, wake up!

For anyone that chooses to comment, I will respectfully respond. Let’s be clear though, I will likely disagree. However, we always keep it respectful here  in the comments. If you know anyone that plans to vote this way, please ask them to come here and respond. I really would like to be able to wrap my mind around this.

*update: 2/11 – Indeed, we don’t have the luxury of a protest vote. Preach!

As if this wasn’t enough, I have to read about this mess.

Tragedy of 10-year-old mom

The baby’s birth at University Hospital on Nov. 4 was routine.

chaffer.jpgWhat wasn’t routine was the fact the infant’s mother was just 10, impregnated by her mother’s boyfriend.

Now, social workers are trying to figure out how to unravel the mess involving one of the youngest children ever to give birth in Greater Cincinnati.

Michael Chaffer, 40, is accused of impregnating his girlfriend’s 10-year-old daughter, according to Hamilton County prosecutors. The baby has been taken from her mother and put in a foster home while the child-mother is now being taken care of by a relative. Her mother is not allowed to see the baby and can only see her daughter when supervised by social workers.

Lawyers jammed the courtroom Wednesday, representing the prosecutor’s office and all three generations of the family.The girl’s mother was warned not to let any adult men in her Lockland home while caseworkers tried to track down the infant’s father.

Paternity was not determined until Wednesday morning.Prosecutors say the girl’s mother ignored that order to keep adult men away from her child, and when a caseworker made a surprise visit to her Lockland home Jan. 4, they found Chaffer.

Read this story in it’s entirety here.

I think I’m going to let you all do the ranting on this one.  I’ve done my share. I don’t know how many more ways I can express my anger over these type of situations. I’ve had about all I can take of these poor excuses for human beings masquerading as mothers and putting a man before the needs of their own child. Now this little girl has experienced things that she should have been shielded from because of her “mother’s” selfishness. Now she has to deal with the pain of being kept away from her baby that I’m sure she loves.

You already know that I hope they put Chaffer in Oz…in gen pop. He should enjoy his stay there.

 *(again, not to be confused with supporters of which I am one).