Role Models

According to Sir Charles Barkley "A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail, should they be role models" I don't think so. If we know this, then who do we let our kids emulate? The flashy rappers on TV. The dealers on the corner? Who? Who should be our children's role models? Growing up my father was my role model. He did everything a man should do. He laid a path for me and my brothers to follow. Although I strayed off it a few times. His path was paved in concrete. His path was also a long path that is still withstanding the test of time. I'm still walking on it 34 years later. The other paths that I tried were paved with gold for a little bit then they quickly faded to dirt and mud and sometimes quicksand. All thanks to GOD, I always found a way out of the quicksand. When I cleaned myself off, my fathers path was still there waiting for me to hop back on it. Thanks Dad. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a place where other fathers were doing what my father was doing. And all these men helped in my development. These are the unsung heroes of the black community. They didn't have the fly cars and jewelry when they were young. But right now in life they definitely have the resources to get it. Why are we getting mad at Bill Cosby. He is just speaking the truth. We need to raise our children. We need to expose them to other things in life. We need to take them down to Madison ave and teach them to set there sights high. I take my boy to museums, monuments and at times we just sight seed in the city. Most of the time we were among a handful of black people there. The rest were white. I never let it deter us. And it taught him and I how to interact among the races. Theses are the things we as parents should be doing. No excuses. If we just take the time to raise and discipline our kids we wouldn't be going thru have the problems with our youth today. Parents we need to buckle down and be the role models for our children. Please play your part and don't let your legacy down. And if you can throw the rope to another child. Remember each one teach one. By the way thanks Dad...............................

The Joneses

Warm apple pie, Hot dogs, hamburgers, the 4Th of July and keeping up with the Joneses. Whats more American than that. The great American way. Mortgage up to your eyeballs and credit cards maxxed out. We do it all chasing the American dream. The American pipe dream. Materialism. How much crap can I accumulate before I die. We say its living life to its fullest but are we really doing that? Don't get me wrong, we all like nice things. But whats the price we are willing to pay to get it. I'm guilty of running out to get the latest gadget at a high price. Knowing I should wait a few months for the price to drop. I just want to be seen with the hottest toy so I can get some compliments. I'm so vain. Back to the Joneses. Who are these people? And why do they have so much influence in our lives? Hello America the Joneses don't exist. It's corporate America selling us a pipe dream. Look at all the commercials for cars, clothing, food and drugs. The corporate giants are getting into our heads. Telling us what we need and how to get it. And if you get into debt trying to get it, we can help you with that to. What makes a name brand. Nothing but good marketing. They put some pretty actors up in there to promote and sell there products. And they hit them off with some good money also. Do you think Diddy, JayZ and Russell approve everything they sell? If we know this why do we still chase after it. We do it for the American dream. My black people are known for getting the latest fashions and maxxing out credit cards. Do you realize that if you took that money and put it the stock market it would increase by 12% in a year. Multiply that a few times and tell me what you end up with. Ca Ching. All this while your hot car and clothes are losing value as some as you get it. I learned a lot of this late in life. These are the classes that need to be taught in high school. Finance 101. we need more people out there to stress these lessons. These are the commercials that need to be made. I'm asking you if you know it share the wealth with somebody. You never know who is listening................

Video Lifestyle

You can find me in the club. The other night I was invited to hang out and watch some Monday night football. When I drove into the spot. I saw rows of exotic automobiles with big rims and all sort of chrome parts. After I parked my Lexus/Uplander. I walked into the spot AKA Dave and Busters. The doorman checked my ID and saw I was a New Yorker. He shouted me out like I was a superstar. Walking in I'm like isn't this where I take my son to play video games. I'm telling you this place was transformed into a nightclub. Matter of fact it was like a music video. The guys were in there blinged out all with the latest kicks. The women. Oh my goodness it was crazy, the clothes they were wearing a lot of them were letting it all out. If I had my video camera I could definitely sell the footage. In my mind i was like damn I'm in a music video. It was like an amateur audition. Call me naive in my older age. But what is it all about. Why when we go out do we emulate the video lifestyle. Why are we so caught up in it. Don't people realize that these rappers have money. And even if they don't the record company is fronting them the money to produce it. Don't get me wrong there is nothing with wanting nice stuff but why are we in debt trying to obtain it. I've lived in the hood and worked in the hood and I see first hand the madness. Why are we driving a 90 grand Benz and living in a apartment sleeping on a mattress on top of milk crates. Wearing 20 grand around your neck living at your mommas house. How far are we willing to pimp ourselves in order to live this lifestyle. What do we gain debt. Bad credit. We need more people making videos about stocks and bonds, real estate and other areas where we can accumulate wealth. Cars and chains have no return on the investment. Before I'm out look around and see where some of these rappers are now. Who is still living the video lifestyle and who is dead BROKE...............

Freedom Of Sp****

Freedom of speech. Is speech really free. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Welcome to America, Home of free speech. Yeah right. When I started this blog a few people close to me told me to watch what I say. I say for what am I not protected by the 1st amendment. I have nothing to worry about. Sure. Why if we have this freedom why cat we say what we want to say. Look at poor Timmy Hardaway. He went on a tirade saying he didn't like homosexuals. Now he is taking sensitivity classes with them. Damn. I don't understand if you don't like a certain group of people and then speak out about them you have to pay the price. And yes you you will pay the price, either in your wallet or your reputation. There are way too many people on this earth for everybody to get along. And we are far from a Utopian society. So with that being said, why can't we hate each other without reprecussins. Why do we have to sugar coat things. Why do we need the ACLU. As long as its not physical, why cant I say I don't like you...........