The dangerous E's: Entitlement, Egocentrism, Ethnocentrism & Essentialism.
I tend to take things at face value while also allowing others to live. A self-reference approach, where I regularly use "to-me" language, reminding myself and others of the self-locality of my views and to explicitly affirm the rights of others to hold their own.
Science.
Read MoreMy story is familiar to many other unknown black males across these united of states. I’ve had my share of police stops with those charged to protect and serve. In most cases where I was responsible; speeding, failure to appear (long story) I was treated fairly – I believe it is worth mentioning that these interactions came from State Troopers and Sheriffs Deputies.
My experience with local police has always been unsettling.
Read MoreThe appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision. The proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it with or without a correct or sensible understanding of something’s true importance.
The creative imagination; unrestrained fancy. A capricious or fantastic idea; a conceit. An imagined event or sequence of mental images such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need.
Summer time. I'm looking out the window while working, attempting to put things into perspective and becoming bored with routine and the banal.
I choose fantasy.
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I have an affinity with darker skin women however I have only ever dated one, the rest have been caramel or butterscotch. Golden brown peach cobbler, Miss african-american pie, Lord I should've tasted, When she offered me a try...
Read MoreI write a lot in physical journals, also digital journals like Day One, Evernote & the Apple Notes App, most don't make it to this space unless I feel like fleshing it out. I don't write for circumstances, but solace from them. However, I am paying $8/month, so I'm going to start using it more ;)
Read MoreThey both show up when you least expect it. I have a young child at home so I try to be really careful about what we watch on television. Youtube has been my prefered source for watching videos because I can have better control over what he sees. Or so I thought. One evening, I entered asearch for one of our favorites,“Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear.” Several really cute and appropriate versions popped up. As my son and I were scrolling for THE ONE, there, mixed in for no apparent reason, were videos of women holding teddy bears, dressed in teddies, or AS teddies, and clearly not what a child should see.
Read MoreI’ve expressed my love for music & ya’ll know I’m a bit kooky. I often relate things happening in my life to the music I am listening to. While it is not specific to the song’s lyrics or meaning; a phrase, a verse or the hook may spark a thought.
Life set to And See That’s The Thing, Deja Trimble (DeJ Loaf)
Read MoreHow awesome is this narcissism; sitting on the couch with my iPhone, iPad Air and MacBook Pro everything in sync. Michelle, who is sitting on the couch with me, seemingly annoyed with the simultaneous notifications. & then my Apple life flashed in front of me, my photos are not syncing to my iPhone...
Read MoreA few weeks ago I was inspired by a former co-worker. I had begun to see her in the gym; I noticed she had dropped a few pounds from when we worked together, from my point of view I never thought she was in bad shape. Perhaps I Am biased, because I like grown woman weight. Read: Curves.
Read MoreVacation and the Art of Presence
My family and I squeezed in another vacation a few weeks ago; a mini reunion in Alabama. I have a cousin who is retired military and he was able to secure cabins for us at an incredible discount. Keyword; Cabins, as you might imagine we were surrounded by the outdoors but this is perfect for me. I Am an early riser and on the second morning after our arrival I sat outside on the cabin’s front stoop; my e-reader opened to Between the World and Me, but I have no desire to read. There was peace and silence.
Read MoreI’m a social drinker, my coffee break partner(s) and I opine about life and all of its ironic twist on a regular. The theme over this past week has been about things living souls are unwilling to do for balance, peace, healing, and/ or love.
Read More1991
When I moved to Atlanta I became quickly enamored with the amount of melanin in the metro area. One of my favorite things to do involved people watching in Underground. One day while taking in the sights, sounds and smells a young woman approached me from the stairs of the Dollar Store. She stopped and chatted’ me up. Most of you know from previous post that I have no idea when a woman is hitting on me.
She gassed me from the start...
Read MoreWhen Michelle & I started dating we visited Charleston, SC. While amazed at the culture, food and charm of the city I would be remiss if I did not state how sensitive to my surroundings I had become; the vendors on the market, the owners of the shops and restaurants and especially while on a tour of a plantation. Even more reticent when faced with the tour being rushed so they could set up for an onsite wedding that evening.
In retrospect I didn’t know how to effectively communicate my feelings so I remained silent.
Not speaking about the facets of racism only silences those who endure it. It does not erase the actions of those who engage in it or will engage in it in a number of ways; from individual to individual, legislatively, culturally (from law enforcement, banks, schools etc.) to of course the media.
Find your voice.
I Am
At times I Am an avid listener; I have family, friends and co-workers who call me to complain, often daily, but they are not seeking advice. (Even when they are fortunate enough to have a problem with a clear solution, they will ignore it and continue to complain.) At those times, I realize that they only seek to vent,. they are not seeking a solution nor would they implement one if it presented itself. This is what it sounds like when doves cry. It also sharpens my listening skills as I become a detached observer, allowing them the space to talk it out.
Read MoreCaught up in a reverie. One Summer in D.C., while playing in an abandonded pickup truck, I cut my left knee on an old, rusted hubcap. I'm horrible with time/age, I imagine I was five or six. I recall not being able to sleep at night. In part due to the pain but mostly by not being able to move/shift my body into a comfortable position.
Read MoreI've ran at least 2 miles everyday for the past three weeks, without injury, or fatigue. I hear my mother's voice (speaking of attending church) "...you get up and go to work everyday, apply the same thought..." We can apply this to anything.
Read MoreWe have been taught to believe many things. Questioning those learned behaviors can be great for logical calisthenics.
Sometimes.
Im here writing about nothing, journaling my thoughts at four-thirty in the AM for no apparent reason other than laughing to keep from crying at the biggest opportunity in my relationship with The Future...
Read MoreI've written previously that I ride CATS [Charlotte Area Transit System] to and from work everyday. Also that I purchase a 10 ride local pass. Yesterday on the evening ride home I step on, insert my card into the reader and it is not returned. Here inlays the disconnect.
Read MoreWhile on our morning walk, Maestro our 2 year old Cocker Spaniel, rarely barks. The dogs in our neighborhood are either behind fences or kept indoors. There is one however that is on a chain and the owner(s) normally leave him unattended in the front yard. He is pretty agressive to passerbys; canines and people alike.
Read MoreDog people bear witness to the incredible focus of their four-legged friends. While we prepare food or eat a meal their heads never shift, eyes locked, concentrating on every hand movement or every bite. While I steal time everyday to reflect, their mental experience encourages me to meditate. The absence of intention, without distractions has to be beneficial to both mental and physical health.
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