The Cali Life

I know I haven't kept up on my blog... Few reasons for that... 1) I'm not in California anymore. I'm back in NYC for the summer. YAY!!! So this blog has no relevance to what's going on now. I plan on starting a new blog about Kwanzaa. Might even do research at my schools library for more info. Which leads me to my next excuse. 2) I have school work. I am not starting this new blog until I catch up on all my school work. Yeah I'm behind. So next blog post on Thursday? It's highly possible. I just need to stick to it. Which leads me to my next excuse... 3) I got issues ya'll. You know how I suffer from discipline issues. Well that has not changed is the least. In fact... it has probably increased with age and (dare I say) practiced rebellion. Pray for your sister. Because If I do not discipline myself, I'm fitting to get an F in these classes I'm taking. Pray for your girl... See you on Friday. New blog: Kwanzaa!!! I might do an update on m...

I know I promised you'd get something since last weekend... I've been busy vacationing in NYC. This weekend is when you're getting up on my life and promised  But I just want to give you a quote:   White people knew the Negro better than the Negro knew himself. They knew that the Negro would spend every dollar, nickel, and penny he earned. White people planned to get back every penny they paid the Negro in salary. The Negro hasn’t sen se enough to see it. Negros love luxuries, they bought silk shirts that cost 10 dollars a piece. They bought dresses and suits that cost 100 dollars. No other race of people have lived like this. The Jews save at least 50% of what they earn. The Italians save at least 60% of what they earn, but what have the Negro saved? Who made those factory silk shirts, and those expensive silk socks that you bought?Who sold them to you, it was the white man. It grieves me, it brings me to tears. When I see a race not of children, but of matured minds play...

I know  haven't been keeping up with my posts.... But I will get it to you. I've been planning lessons plans based on the novel Pride and Prejudice, which lead to the internet search for  modern day interpretations for the book... which lead to this care package video...which inspired me to put together a care package for my wonderful friend Danielle. Things to include in a care package according to Lizzie Bennet and Fitz: Fun!!! Food!!! Love!!! Look out for it Danielle!!!!

I thought that it should be important for me to do some research on Kwanzaa before I went all full throttle Kwanzaa mode. Kwanzaa is a holiday created by  Maulana Karenga . While secular in nature, it does celebrate the cultural heritage on Black people in America. The Seven core principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja  (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Kujichagulia  (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Ujima  (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. Ujamaa  ( Cooperative Economics ): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Nia  (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to...

This Video made me think of Don Lemon. You'll see why. The media seems to be so accepting of homosexuality and yet not accepting of those who choose to be heterosexual after clearly experiencing the homosexual side of things. Poor Antoine Dodson has to deal with people hating on him because he has chosen a different lifestyle. As I watch the video, I am a little annoyed that the anchor woman seems to find no problem with insulting millions of people who believe in a higher power and that higher power by sarcastically stating "pray the gay away". Can you say biased? She seems to be offended by his instability in choosing a sexual identity. People change their minds all the time. Why can't he be accepted for choosing to be a heterosexual? Antoine Dodson is definitely brave. But then his personality is so huge, he could pull it off.  I definitely appreciate Don Lemon's personality. I appreciate his support of Black History Month and the need for it. I li...

Burning the Midnight Oil... "Who taught you to hate who you are?"  I think it's important for me to quote something I mentioned before "No t only do white people view us as less than but we also view ourselves as less then or in comparison to them ." The need we have to compare ourselves to others is so strong. And it is made fairly easy because we don't set our own standard for what is beautiful, acceptable and palatable. The society on a whole sets that standard. The society of America is %70 white. Malcolm X calls in to question the need for our society to set the standard. Why can't you as the individual set that standard? Why are you begging for access from a society who unintentionally or intentionally sees you as less than themselves? Set your own standard. Create your own access. What I believe factored into the strength of Malcolm X's convictions was his upbringing. His parents were followers of Marcus Garvey and they celebrated black pr...

You've waited for it and now it is here. I'm just going to take this time reflect on Malcolm X and things I have learned about him from the film. His Mission. It's no secret that Malcolm X is definitely more aggressive than his southern counterpart, Martin Luther King, Jr. The fact that they both have two completely different religions says enough about their differences. But what about their mission? What is the difference between the mission of Martin and the mission of Malcolm? Consider their locations. Martin Luther King, Jr. ministered to the obvious and blatant racism within the south. Malcolm X catered to the psychologically oppressed negro of the North, a north that was not so blatant with racism.  He enlightened people about the folly of depending on white America,  having not been dependable in the past. He also inspired people to do more about their own situation in order to lift themselves up. He also created avenues by which Black people could become busines...