Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce presents the 14th Annual Business Awards, Thursday, October 19, 2017

Is Hip Hop Bridging the Racial Divide?

On the elevator ride to my office this morning, there was a millennial on his way to work listening to a very loud song on his headphones (he had removed them when he got on). I said "Who are you listening to?"  He replied, "That would be "Young Thug.""

He smiled, departed the elevator and  wished me a good day as he headed to his job at Merrill Lynch.

Times have really changed.  Or have they?  

I mean it's nice that music is universal, knows no colors, etc.  But I can't help but believe that this young man is enjoying "code switching" of a different nature.  He can listen to all the rap he wants as long as he checks it at the door.

We are used to living in two worlds, however, I just wonder what the "suits and ties" would think if they knew what he was doing before he logged onto his computer?

I will believe things have truly changed when I see a young Black man on the elevator going to his job at Merrill Lynch. 

I ride the same elevator every day and I can't count that I've seen even one.

Flashback Friday: "Daddy Was a Number Runner" by Louise Meriwether (with Foreword by James Baldwin)

While riding the train this morning and reading my first ever Bernice McFadden novel (another post for another day), I was reminded of one of the very first "coming of age" books I read which was the classic, "Daddy Was a Number Runner" by Louise Meriwether.

The details of the book are cloudy, which is why I plan to read it again.  However, the realistic writing style and the descriptive narrative of African American culture is very similar in my recall.

I didn't want to miss a chance to "flashback" to arguably one of the greatest works of black literature of my time.

It also made me realize that the more things change the more they stay the same.

"Sin of a Woman" by Kimberla Lawson Roby

"Sin of a Woman" by Kimberla Lawson Roby is one of the best reads of the summer.

The latest "Curtis Black" novel has Raven Black (if you're a fan of Lawson Roby's you know Raven's history) playing with fire.  And I mean the fires of hell.

Nothing I dislike more than a man or woman pretending to be "called by God," when in fact, they're called by the devil.

If you thought that Raven's ex-husband Dillon was scandalous, you haven't seen anything.  Raven's latest act makes Dillon look like a boy scout.

When Raven and her new "BFF" Porsha Harrington (Dillon's ex-mistress) join forces and open one of the area's largest churches - well, let's just say it's a mess.

My favorite part is how Ms. Lawson Roby intertwines the gospel with urban fiction.

Put this on your summer list.



Available in bookstores, online and in hardback and kindle/e-reader formats.

"All Eyez on Me" Starring Demetrius Shipp, Jr. They Don't Want You to See This Movie.

Tupac Shakur

Demetrius Shipp, Jr. (as Tupac Shakur)

Critics be damned.  You cannot expect our movies to get the same kind of favorable treatment given to movies made by people who are not "of color."

So happy I didn't listen to the nay-sayers and went to see for myself this weekend, the newly released "All Eyez on Me" starring Demetrius Shipp, Jr.  

In addition to the fact that the resemblance to the late Tupac Shakur is "eery," Shipp is a great actor.  

The movie is over two hours long but it moved with a quick pace and kept me engaged.

Sure, the filmmakers took creative liberties.  That's what artists do.  But don't let folks tell you that it's not a good movie.  It's a great movie.

Go see for yourself.  In fact, pack the theaters.  

Watch the Official Trailer, HERE.

San Francisco Juneteenth 2017 Festival - June 17th

FREE ADMISSION

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Phaedra Parks and the Real Housewives of Atlanta - This is my confession

I'm going to talk about something here today that I've never fully admitted to before.

For years, I tried to ignore the Real Housewives of Atlanta.  As a Black woman, I felt it was not in the best interest of my race to engage in discussing a show that doesn't always depict black women at their best.

What joy can be gained from watching on-camera fights, break ups, good news, more often bad news and spilling of the tea in front of a national audience?

But, hey - I'm human.

I confess that I have finally given in to my "human side" or shall I say "nosey nature" and watched the entire four-part reunion.  I mean, after all, white women expose themselves on a number of reality series - right?

Question of the day - Is this scripted??  Phaedra Parks is a successful professional woman.  An attorney for crying out loud.  Would she risk her entire career for a short-term "cash cow?"

I don't know the answer, but I do know one thing - whether people admit it or not, it seems a whole lot of folks are watching to find out.


p.s. - anybody else miss Nene?