Thursday, July 10, 2008

Proper English Is The New Trend


Greetings Fly Ones! So before I collapsed in my bed last night I was greeted by an interesting email. It was an email introducing me to JAM DONALDSON DESIGNS . Jam Donaldson is the creator of the controversial hit BET series starring Charlie Murphy, “We Got To Do Better,” and the popular website Hotghettomess.com. Jam Donaldson has launched a line of pop-culture tees with the same message she conveys on her site and television show, that we must improve as a whole in the African American Community. JAM DONALDSON DESIGNS creates vintage style tees which has broken phrases that many African Americans tend to use throughout a daily conversation. . I love the idea of encouraging people of Color that it is not cute/attractive to not speak proper English. Her designs allow you to read what one says and how it looks in written form.










As AFrican Americans we are continuing to have to fight against ignorant stereotypes that society places on us. It hurts my heart when we as a people continue to keep those same stereotypes flowing because we think that is the best we can do. It is utterly ridiculous on how we feel the need to PURPOSELY speak broken English and then have the nerve to write how it sounds. It kills me when people try to sound intelligent and uses made up words such as "Conversate." And we wonder why children are failing Spelling tests left and right. Children are video cameras that play back what they see and hear on an everyday basis. Stop the CycLe!





JAM DONALDSON DESIGNS can be found exclusively at http://store.jamdonaldsondesigns.com/shop.html. Support Proper English, watch what you say and buy a Tee!





God Bless!!





Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Why Have A Dream Deferred?



Lights Out!! No literally my lights and power were all knocked out last night by a storm that hit our neighborhood. Not only did our power shut off, but about a half of minute later my cell phone battery died in a middle of a refreshing conversation. So this left me in a candle lit living room contemplating on life with the presence of my mother and sister. This morning I was less than delighted to wake up to find our only source of light was the gloomy sky that sunk into our house. After running early morning errands and complaining to my mother that death was creeping around the corner in the form of boredom. I decided to be half way productive with the only passing time I could think of ..Read. Now, I do enjoy reading and expanding my everyday thoughts. But as they say the hardest step you take is usually the first. That is my issue with reading. I always seem to preoccupy my mind with soo many thoughts its often difficult for me to pick up a book and allow my thoughts to be guided by the author.

I had began reading The Alchemist about a week ago when my best recommended that I give it a chance. I was not doing anything else with my life so I had nothing to lose. So I set out to the front yard, laid out on our swing and got fully consumed with the book. The only reason why I didn't finish the book was because the warm sun encouraged me to doze off. So it was funny when our power went out because I felt as it was God's way of saying I needed to complete this book. And oh how He was right.

This book is a simple read but holds intense power in all 167 pages. This book explains the journey one goes through to reach ones dreams or as the book refers to it as your Personal Legend. The story is expressed in parable form. The story is about a Shepherd that keeps having repetitive dreams of finding a treasure by the Egyptian Pyramid. He then goes through different hardships, joys, and life lessons to achieve what God had prepared for him. I don't want to give away the story because I encourage every male, female, cat, dog, everyone to read this book and allow it to motivate you to continue to fight for your True purpose in life. I'm just going to hit some of the points that I took away after finishing this book...


  • To find your true dreams go back to your childhood. This was an interesting truth that appeared to me. It stated as young children we have clear dreams of what we want to be in this world. From an astronaut, to a singer to a model ..these are all passions that bursts into our spirit as youth before we are tainted by society. Once we grow older and older both society and ourselves make each one our dreams seem as if it is unobtainable to reach. So as adults we begin to settle what makes sense of the standards society has set.

  • Fear of Failure is the top reason people don't pursue there Personal Legend. Many people have built up fear in themselves that they think once you fail once in life, your life is officially over. This is so far from the truth that it hurts. People have to realize your failures in life is what makes us strong enough to hold the success that God has in store for your life. Live and learn.

  • People feel as if they are not worthy of achieving there dreams. In the Introduction it stated that people sabotage themselves on purpose once they see there dream insight. In our minds we see how not everyone has not been blessed to achieve there dreams and feel guilty when we can actually achieve our own.

  • Do not be so focused on your dream that you miss out on the present Blessings and Life Lessons that the Lord is providing you with at that moment. As a people we often are extreme. We either are so focused on our goal that we miss out on our everyday blessings that is shaping us or we only live for today and have not true direction in our life. Its all about Balance.

  • Everyone's Personal Legend is different. If you keep interfering with others dreams or try to mock them you will never reach your own. Follow your spirit and follow the path that God has carved out just for you.

  • True Love will never make you give up your dream. We often sacrifice our dreams for the people we love in our lives fearing that we will lose them. When we sacrifice our dreams for love we often become secretly bitter with ourselves because are dream is out of reach. If we are blessed to find true love it will be able to withstand many miles. Loved ones want to see you achieve your dreams and will often encourage you and not hold you back.

  • Follow and listen to your heart. It's that simple

I really do encourage you to read this book. Trust me you will be Blessed. I honestly believe God knocked out our power on purpose just so I could complete the book. I finished the book and dozed off to be greeted by a bright shining lamp in my face. Listen to God....God Bless.


Monday, July 7, 2008

Just Words

Anthony David feat. India Arie

Chorus

"Can't tell you nothin you aint already heard
No matter what I say it's nothin but words
Just let me prove to you what I know is real
Let me express to you the way that I feel

Fairy tales can be
Real if you just believe
Got my mind made
I don't plan to leave
Cuz you were meant for me
Simple that may be
Why be complex
Loving you is so easy "


I Love the simplicity of both the message and the video. It gives me hope for the future;)



God Bless..

Rag-O-Rama



Greetings Fly People! Okay so I have less than a week until im back in Chi town and once again it will be time to grind it out for another quarter soo i'm enjoying my relaxing days while I have them. If you read my previous post you would know I gave myself a personal mission to go thrifting. My goal was to try to find a less expensive version of the Brian Reyes Cardigan Ms. Gabrielle Union wore in July 2008 Essence issue. Well my mission is not yet complete....BUT I did find some dope items. Of Course I went with my bestie Al to go thrifting around the Broad Ripple area in Indianpolis,IN. The only downfall we ended up just making one stop(Eeek!) The place we went to was a new thrift store for Indianapolis which is called Rag-O-Rama. I was first introduced to this store at its Atlanta location when I was down visiting my other bestie Mimi down at CAU. When I went to the Atlanta location I fell in love...seriously. It could take a thrifter a full 24 hours to look at each rack of clothes and another 4 hours to search through all the accesories ( which are my favorite!)

Soo it was funny when I spotted the new Rag-O-Rama that just moved to Broad Ripple. I was driving past the strip and damn near slammed on the brakes. I honestly almost did and yes I know I'm a dramatic person;) But I was sooo geeked! I told everyone. I bugged everyone around me to go! Soo I finally went and loved it all over again.It was hilarious of course Allison looked at me and just shook her head as I reached for the shoes first..Its a sickness. I did make smarter selections with the shoes I purchased. I purposely bought a pair of red flats knowing that the majorityof my life im hoping on trains and buses in Chicago. I also bought an extremely fly pair of gold earrings that everone has tried to snatch fro me already; O And of course I had to make a random purchase of bright neon green fishnet gloves.Just for fun;0 Rag-O-rama is located in St. Louis, Columbus, OH and Atlanta. The service was warm and inviting. I would encourage you to go if there is one near you. God Bless!!