DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM?

A Goal and a Standardl? Really!!!

I just completed reading Midnight: A Gangsters Love Story written by Sister Souljah. I completely enjoyed the read, but seriously asks the question (which by the way I will answer): Is the character Midnight a goal and a standard for men in America?

Answer: Midnight is NOT a goal and standard for men in America!!! A male protagonists in literature whom I would consider a goal and standard would be Grant from A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. It is important to note that to understand and embody manhood (it's aquisition, practice, and perfection) is a process. The transformation from Boy to Man (as articulated by Naim Ak'bar in his book 'Visions for Black Men - and be mindful that this text can represent ALL MEN regardless of Race) - is as great a challenge as any that we mortals must grapple with. Many have fallen short of achieving the feat of manhood, but remember - only a MALE can truly understand, practice, and perfect manhood. Women have enough of a task trying to aquire, practice, and perfect womanhood, so I usually become weary when a women expresses her opinion concerning what she feels the goals and standards of men should be. I enjoyed the Character of Midnight, but experiencing his weakness in the face of adversity (he kills two men who posed a challenge in the silence of the night) leads me to many questions about his aquisition of manhood, as asserted by brother Ak'bar. There have been many people I have wanted to choke the life from over my years, but in many of these cases time, and emotional healing brought about kindness and friendship. Was Gold and Conflict that big a threat to the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for Midnight and his Umma and Naja? Is Sister Souljah saying through her text that some homicides are 'justifiable' for boy's in the projects? I pray she is not, because it would be as culturally damaging as Beyonce's Soldier which articulates the idea that a SOLDIER is one whose status is HOOD and STREET with the ability to FLIP MONEY THREE WAYS! In my humble opinion MEN who are goals for other men or those who are standards are those who have saved lives or become presidents. I would argue that Grant or Barack Obama would be a goal and standard for manhood, and I doubt very seriously that either of them would conclude (if faced with the same circumstances as Midnight was when he DECIDED on ending Gold and Conflicts life) DEATH TO THEM BOTH! A MAN would have found another way to protect his family, even if it meant recreating the business plan and taking some of the aquired income that Umma Designs secured and moving into a safer community. Midnight had many qualities that MEN have, but unfortunately at the end he was still a BOY not a MAN; so to speak of his as a goal and standard for men raises my eyebrow to Sister Souljah! Question to Sister Souljah: Is Midnight: A Gangster's Love Story and INDICTMENT of men within American culture?

Congratulations to Fantasia's Stars Cheerleaders

Fantasia's Stars Cheerleaders had a wonderful performance at Our Lady of Sorrow's Cheerleading competition in Hamilton, New Jersey over the weekend on 2/26/11. Great job Indira on your outstanding performance.

ISSUES CONCERNING MEN ALL THE TIME

It is important for men to have a place to go in order to get information, and discuss issues that affect them. Some of the issues are as follows: 1 - Does the most Abuse cases against women take place during the superbowl? 2 - Is Child Support in California state sanctioned homicide 3 - Gender. Visit http://ncfm.org/

Holiday's We Must Begin to Celebrate

When Apartheid ended and the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela came into power in South Africa in 1994, the national holidays were changed to days that would be meaningful to all South Africans.

21 March: Human Rights Day

On this day in 1960 the police killed 69 people at Sharpeville who were participating in a protest against the pass laws. Many were shot in the back. The carnage made world headlines. Four days later the government banned black political organizations, many leaders were arrested or went into exile. During the Apartheid era there were human rights abuses by all sides; Human Rights Day is but one step to ensure that the people of South Africa are aware of their human rights and to ensure that such abuses never again occur.

27 April: Freedom Day

This was the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa, i.e. an election when all adults could vote irrespective of their race, and the day in 1997 when the new constitution took effect.

1 May: Worker's Day

Many countries around the world commemorate the contribution made by workers to society on May Day (America doesn't celebrate this holiday because of its communist origins). It has traditionally been a day to protest for better wages and working conditions. Given the role that trade unions played in the fight for freedom, it is unsurprising that South Africa commemorates this day.

16 June: Youth Day

On June 1976 students in Soweto rioted in protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction of half their school curriculum, sparking eight months of violent uprisings across the country. Youth Day is a national holiday in honour of all the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Education.

18 July: Mandela Day

A new public holiday introduced by President Jacob Zuma in 2009 to celebrate South Africa's most famous son -- Nelson Mandela. "It will give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. Madiba was politically active for 67 years, and on Mandela Day people all over the world, in the workplace, at home and in schools, will be called upon to spend at least 67 minutes of their time doing something useful within their communities, especially among the less fortunate."

9 August: National Women's Day

On this day in 1956 some 20,000 women marched to the Union [government] Buildings in Pretoria to protest against a law requiring black women to carry passes. This day is celebrated as a reminder of the contribution made by women to society, the achievements that have been made for women's rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face.

24 September: Heritage Day

Nelson Mandela used the phrase "rainbow nation" to describe South Africa's diverse cultures, customs, traditions, histories, and languages. This day is a celebration of that diversity.

16 December: Day of Reconciliation

Afrikaners traditionally celebrated 16 December as the Day of the Vow, remembering the day in 1838 when a group of Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu army at the Battle of Blood River, while ANC activists commemorated it as the day in 1961 when the ANC started to arm its soldiers to overthrow Apartheid. In the new South Africa's it's a day of reconciliation, a day to focus on overcoming the conflicts of the past and building a new nation.

MY FIRST TRUE VALENTINE - ODE TO MY WIFE - SHIRIN QUDDUS-CLARK

An Arctic World,

of darkness

and chilling thoughts

at bedtime,

of lonely anguish -

I've lived - many years;

until the ICE

had engulfed

MY HEART -

the DOUBT,

of being adequate -

knowing that the ONE,

who REQUIRED INTEGRITY,

HONOR,

MATURE RESPONSIBILITY,

PATIENCE,

HUMILITY,

PERSERVERANCE,

while at the same time,

an ability to EXCITE PASSION,

would not accept

mediocrity -

even if it meant

standing alone -

I chipped -

many years,

the GLAICER of my ways -

Praying that one day,

I'd be ready to

take on, master, and succeed

IN BEING A HUSBAND!

HUMBLE

UNDERSTANDING

SUPERMAN

BOLD

ALLURING

NEEDING-PASSION

DIVINE!

I'm going to spend

this LIFETIME

getting to know you -

falling in love OVER and OVER

again,

till DEATH do we DIFFUSE -

into one another's SOUL

ABSORBING EACH OTHER -

REFUSING TO MISS ONE DROP -

OF THE LOVE -

THAT STRUCK MY BLEEDING HEART,

THAT FIRST DAY

I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU!

FROM OUR VERY FIRST

INTERACTION

WHEN THE IDEA OF YOU

PIERCED THE ICE,

AND THE MELTING BEGAN -

MY LOVE,

I CHERISH YOU!

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME

TO BE YOUR LAWFUL!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

SHIRIN QUDDUS-CLARK

BLACK BEAUTY EXPO 2011

DO YOU THINK YOUR HAIRSTYLE CAN WIN IT ALL? http://momoway.com/black-beauty-expo-2011-fair-event-8fvx