SMOKEY ON DEF POETRY JAM

MY BIRTHDAY

I HOPE EVERYONE ACTUALLY LISTENS TO THE WORDS OF THIS SONG. SO MANY TIMES WE DON'T TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME TO LET EACH OTHER KNOW THAT YOU LOVE THEM. SINCE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, MY WISH IS THAT ALL MY FAMILY, AND FRIENDS KNOW THAT I LOVE THEM. AND YOU EACH KNOW THAT IT COMES FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART...

MALCOLM

OBAMA

Another state for the records.....

ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can work full time while finishing school, raising respectful and intelligent children, be active in the PTA and a make it all seem effortless


ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can make a $100 out of 15 Cents

ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can go from the boardroom to the 'hood and "keep it real" in both places.




ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can slap the taste out of your mouth.


ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can live below poverty level and yet set fashion trends.

ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can fight two struggles everyday and make it look easy.



ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR

Can be 75 years old and look 45!

ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR
Can make other women want to pay plastic surgeons top $$$ for physical features she was already born with.



ONLY A WOMAN OF COLOR
Can be the mother of civilization.

Tell someone they're beautiful today

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!!!

O B A M A

SOME ONE SENT THIS TO ME AND I THINK ITS BEAUTIFUL! I'm not going to change her message below the photo for I agree with her. LET'S BLOW THIS ELECTION OUT OF THE WATER LET'S MAKE HISTORY BY BEING A PART OF IT. IF NOT NOW WHEN?


I realize that some folks are supporting Hillary Clinton and if you are you need to read this.

The attached photo inspired me to turn off my tv and sit down and write this to you. To me this photo is a picture of a strong black man who, in the face of a setback, is cherishing a moment with the support of a strong black woman who is 100% behind him. Together they are making history. This is the America I want to live in. This is what our families should be like and can be like.

If this photo moved you the way it moved me, forward it to every black person you know.

Many black folks in America talk hesitantly about voting for Barack Obama in the primaries and caucuses. That is certainly understandable. But here are a few things to consider:

Sports among other things, is a microcosm of the mentality of society. Recently, the NFL has mandated teams to interview at least one qualified minority candidate for each opening. Every NFL owner signed off on it. "Qualified" head coaches are plucked from the ranks of offensive and defensive coordinators. Look around, no one is promoting black offensive or defensive coordinators...in pros or college. In effect it nullifies the opportunity altogether.

When Kareem dominated the game, the college basketball leaders outlawed dunking. Yes, it's true.
As Tiger Woods blazed the trail, the golf governors sought to "Tiger-proof" courses.
Obama's big bre ak came during his Democratic National Convention speech. Rest assured, he will be the last black person to get that kind of national stage if it follows the same pattern as sports. Not my child, not my grandchild, not yours either.

Many of us, me included, say America isn't ready to vote him in yet. I wonder, is he the best guy for the job or am I interested in him only because he's black? His opponent being a woman is suddenly enough, so is being black any less dignifying? Maybe, maybe not.

However, 20-30 years from now, we'll have to tell our grandkids why we v oted the way we did. How will we justify it then when sports have taught us that the field will be changed almost immediately as soon as black person rises to the pinnacle? So if not now, it's not a question of when. The answer may be NEVER.

Twenty or thirty years from now some of us will answer to Emmitt Till, Medgar Evers, Martin, Malcolm and GOD himself in heaven as to why we passed up this opportunity. GOD will remind us that HE gave us the story of Joshua and Caleb and the lack of self-determination and self-worth that lead to 40 years of wilderness when the promised land was a hill away.
GOD may ask us: Didn't your great grandfathers die for this chance? Didn't your grandparents pray for this chance? Didn't you hope and dream of this chance? I heard your prayers, sorrows, and cries. Didn't I give you the chance? Why after 400 years of bondage, would you reason with yourself to pass it up? Did you not understand it was less about you and more about ME?