Time to get it together

I write this note tonight with a heavy heart. We often say things like “life is short��? and “tomorrow is not promised��?, but we don’t actually know the depth of what we are saying until something happens to people who are close to us.For the past two weeks, I have been dealing with this death thing and it’s been rough on me. I just left the funeral of a family member Monday only to come back home and find out that two other young people that I knew died. Death is so unfair. It is not respecter of persons. It doesn’t care if you’re black, white, Indian, Chinese, male or female. It often comes without warning. The question is, will you be ready? You can be literally here today and gone tomorrow. You can be reading this note today and leave this Earth tomorrow with no previous warning! Now that’s scary.Because what I just said is fact, we have to always make sure that we are firstly in right standing with God. Heaven and Hell are real, despite New Age popular belief. Yet, many people today live like there’s no after life. We have to make sure that everyday that we get out of the bed we are living to please God and to defeat the enemy.Secondly, we have to make sure that we stick close together and care for one another. We can’t assume that our friends and relatives know that we love them, we have to SAY it. We shouldn’t argue and say things we don’t mean and keep grudges and beef between us. It’s just not worth it.And my last piece of advice for you my friends is that we not put off till tomorrow what can and should be done today. Each day is a new opportunity and we should maximize every breathing moment that God gives us. Live today like it was your last day because again, you never know, it just may be.

state of the black green union

As I take a look around at my Greek Fraters and Sorors, many emotions begin to arise. They range from pride to pity but the one that prevails in most instances today is disappointment. I am a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. That makes me the baby of the NPHC. Since I have become a member I have realized that you truly have to have a thick skin to be an Iota. I have been persecuted by many of my Greek families simply for being a brother of this still fledging organization. Though my main focus of this note is not the often blatant disrespect for my org., it is an example of what we've reduced ourselves to as not only Greek men and women but BLACK men and women. If you look at if from a Biblical analogy, we are the proverbial adams and eves of black Greek life. We were all created to give voice to a people who have none. To be servants of the community in which we live to strengthen the bonds so that we will not forget where we come from and know where we're going. However, we've bitten the forbidden fruit of pride, ignorance, and arrogance and we've lost paradise ever since. What will it take for us to realize that we are a family? Have we forgotten that our ancestors were ripped from their families and sold into slavery? Have we forgotten that they were broken from their tribes so that they could not communicate easily with each other and revolt? Do you not remember that despite their tribal affiliations and differences in language that they still managed to bond together to create new families? This blood still runs through our veins and our ancestors legacies are now made a mockery of by the Black Greek Organizations across the country.

Blown out of Proportion

Too long now Have I seen this mess about Jena 6 blown out of porportion. We have now been hearing about the story of Jena 6 for the past few weeks. Something that took place in 2006. The media is funny, as one who is going into the media field, I think its ridiculous how different races are depicted all over the news. We (African-Americans) get talked about bad because we fight injustice. We go to Jena, Louisiana and protest a right given to us and they tell us we blow it out of proportion. What will it take to get the world to notice us. What happened on the Edmund Petus Bridge back on Bloody Sunday? The world saw African Americans being treated like crap and the world spoke out...the media played its roled and showed everyone what was happening. And then the media does things to make us seem so cruel. We are stereotyped and portrayed as thugs, hoodlums, only rappers, and people who dog fight. It's amazing that Michael Vick was seen as the spawn of satan..No, dogfighting is not right, but what if Michael Vick wasn't Michael Vick what if he was an avergae person with no status? Would the America be own his case? What if he was Drew Breese? Would America condemn that man? No he'd be preparing for Sunday's game!!! And then the media stays on the story as if he's the only one to ever dog fight. Dogfighting is widely practiced in Latin America and in India! We don't have people flocking to those countries to protest though! Wonder why? is it because it's not America? OH come on!! Good ol' America cares about everyone! IF you care so much about animal rights, fly yo butt to India and Latin America and protest!!!!! In no form or fashion do I advocate violence or crime...im a believer of if u do the crime you should do the crime (fair trial and all) But soon as some Caucasion lady is kidnapped and rapped its on every single network and local channel and there is a massive man hunt on and everyone knows about it, but the same thing can happen to an African-American or a Hispanic, or Asian, but we never hear anything about it! I'm sry that just pisses me off. I know that rape, murder is all the same no matter what race you are and yes you should be convicted but the way the media covers it is ridiculous!! So excuse us for finally getting some coverage on the injustice of America. The bad thing about it is....it goes on all the time, but we never hear about it. SO we have to fight and fight to get our stories out there. There aren't many positive stories on us. We are the ones who get covered with crime and drugs..that's about it. We don't hear the stories of kindness and hope! I am not racist, but i can sit hear and say I know African Americans who are racist and Caucasions who are as well. So don't say I am being a racist. I just KNOW when I am in the field I will fight everyday in the morning meeting to get the stories that should be covered. Good Day

dont rock the boat

Ok here goes...As of lately, I haven't been really happy with things in my life when it comes to men. I'm kind of seeing a guy. We get along great. He's well educated (dual degree in biology/chemistry), works hard with two jobs, and is going to grad school. He also has two cute kids who he take really good care of. You are like whats the problem, right. Well, he's younger and really focusing on those three thing right now. So, a real commitment is not in is plans at the moment. He wants to get finished with more school which includes med school before he starts to really think about something serious. I mean I really can't say much since I'm still in school and living at home with my folks which puts me 2hrs away. We talked about it and have come to an understanding. We are still close, but I had to cut out the sex part. I know that sucks right!! But I had to, I couldn't keep doing that and not end up getting my feelings hurt. However, that's not the reason I'm writing this note. I said all that to get to this. I was talking with my best friend about a month ago and was telling her how unhappy I was. Like I know I need to be single right now because I really need to focus on school, but I hate it. I've always been that way and she knows how I am. I Kind of told her about my friend and some stuff that has kind of gone on over the past few years (but thats a whole nother story). Needless to say it kind of shocked her and she said something to me that I knew all along. She told me I need to just slow my roll, take this time and renew my relationship with God. All my wanting a man and having that good life wasn't going to come together until I started putting Him first again. It was stuff I had been thinking about for a while. So I got down on my knees that night and started praying about it again. That's also when I decied a little celibacy was in order (the other reason to cut the sex from my relationship). Now around the same time, maybe a week later, I recieved an email from a friend going through a similar situation. What a coinki dink! She was asking us for advice on what she should do. Well, a guy friend of ours sent us some information that just put me over the top. Some scripture, dealing with what a man and womans role was when it came to relationships. Basically it is the man who should find a good woman not the other way around. I know some of you are like that is so back in the day, but hey if you read it, it makes sense. Anyway I was like wow! Stuff is happening back to back.Now about a week after that I ended up going to a revival at my aunts church. The first night was about trusting in the Lord. The preacher said something that stood out like a neon sign. A lot of people believe in God but not many people really trust Him. I was like dang, I am one of those people. He was saying that God doesn't just want you to believe in Him, He wants you to trust Him. When you trust Him thats when your prayers get answered. You have to trust that He can do what you are asking for and give Him the time to do it.The next night it was get in the boat. A lot of people want to be half in, have their legs hanging off the sides and stuff. But the thing is we have to get in the boat with God. Decide that we are going to take that ride with Him no matter what we gotta go through and trust in Him that He will lead us through. The last night was stay focused. That's when we backslide, when we loose that focus. And its ok if you take your eyes off a little but the point is to get back to that goal. So in those three days I realized that I wasn't trusting Him, my legs were hanging out the boat and still touching part of the dock, and I was so not focused (well I had a focus but it wasn't Godly).Oh my goodness! All within a matter of weeks I'm getting messages. Tell me God ain't working. If you got a problem go to Him. I give my testimony right here and now. I'm not saying I got a man yet, but I do have some comfort in knowing that He is there and He is working on me and my situation. I just gotta trust Him and stay focused and of course put my feet in and don't rock the boat.

A Lie for a lie

When is it a good time to lie? Or better yet is there ever a good or proper time to lie? This is a question that is routinely used in one of the few organizations that I am priveiaged to be apart and hold an position in. Anyway to get on with the story and my point, I was faced with this very problem after a certain truth had been revealed to me. How? It doesn't matter because in exploring this topic I came to the conclusion that truth or the truth is the right of all that the certain truth might effect. In the pursuit for a deeper understanding of the truth I would began to reveal my knowledge of the truth to one of it's primary sources. My attempts for a deeper understanding I was met with confusion in the form of questions and anger at the knowledge that I had thus far displayed. As a reaction I prepared my defense by ceasing the divolging of my limited known truth, in short I LIED. I honestly opened up to them in hopes that the same attitude & behavior might be returned, but lied as soon as I felt betrayed. The conversation then took a turn for the worse after they tried to disvalue the truth, told me that I had no right knowing these facts and that the truth can/will be hidden. After studying I came out with the phrase "an eye for an eye" Exodus 21:23–27 which made me feel secure in that I had made the right decision by protecting my knowledge, but was later brought to the light with Galatians 6:7. This simply states that a person reaps what they sow & prompted me to ask for forgiveness from two individuals that I had wronged in the past. Was this the fruits of a past misdeed commited by myself? NO. The people that I had asked for forgiveness had forgiven me years ago due to the fact that I asked years ago. So the question still stands, should I come clean about what I know and to what extend? As simple as this sounds I need help. This truth does or would effect several individuals if revealed,so at what point does this choice become an obiligation?

Fraternal appreciation

Nicholas Lewis
November 15, 2007
English 102

Fraternal Appreciation
Fraternities are filled with secrets and hidden messages behind the foundation which the proud founders instilled upon its initial members of the organization. Hypothetically speaking, after the final initiation, which should be a testament to there loyalty to the fraternity. The new members are lacking the little detailed characteristics and fraternal appreciation, which they should’ve attained throughout their process. When was the last time somebody gave you something? Now when was the last time you EARNED something? You’re probably more than likely able to answer the second question with ease. Simply because of the formula, which implies that, people normally forget about the things which they were not forced to work for? Fraternal society loses sight and focus of why they joined and the focus of what the founders sought to teach. This profoundly true because there was no method of maintaining or conditioning this method of order of knowledge. However we can end that now with a conditioning device known as hazing.
Hazing is a considered illegal by some, but will provide that resistance and forced needed to maintain that sense of effort and stability. It is that sense of earning something which brings the real meaning behind the territorial value of the fraternity. That sense of holding something. This may include a fraternity trying to show the essence of brotherhood to a group of male applicants or a sorority emphasizing sisterhood to a group of ladies in a much difficult more reality based scenario so that the teaching given can touch base inside and the applicants are better enabled to apply this throughout.
Hazing is defined as the act of being made or convinced to do something immoral or out your character that will hurt you or belittle you as a man. That definition leaves many questions to interpretation. Is it hazing if/she doesn’t mind doing it? This should be the concern of the individual because afterwards you will have attained such an honor to where that privilege of membership will be imbedded inside of you forever.

Whats wrong with the wor

There are sooo many wrong things about the world these days. And it's ashame. Black folks....we got to do better and I'm not saying we are the only ones..but it's ridiculous. I'm not perfect and never will be so I'm bout to give a speech and some scriptures to back it up cause the world is all about some wrongness these days! So if you got a problem... Argue with the word!My first topic is matureness. A lot of people think they are so mature and that drinking, having sex, smoking dope, stuff like that. So if you don't do this stuff you are looked down on like you stupid and that you in the wrong.1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 2 Timothy 3: 2-5 discusses the end of time what people will do. Like verse 3 “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.” Frats, Sorors, Masons, Eastern Stars, Regular organizations we act like we close at community service and stuff but when you get to the club there’s fighting and shooting one another. Here’s some words…1 Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the botherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”1 Corinthians 6:1 “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”And all of the bitterness between light skinned vs. Dark skinned people. Listen up…Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, slong with every form of malice.”Wickedness: When you playing with women /men…. Dudes saying they gone run trains on girls and kinds of wickedness and talking about skipping class to get on hoez or what have you. Fornication, disrespect, etc. Proverbs 10:23 “A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.”Self-Denial: Everybody wants to deny the truth …nobody wants to hear it.Romans 2:8 “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”Proverbs 15:10 “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.Getting Drunk: So I hear all the time about how people who don’t drink…need to get out more…get drunk yada yada yada…hear this.Isaiah 5:11 “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.”I’m not saying don’t have fun…but you will be judged….Ecclesiastes 11:9 “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”Black folks we got a problem with knowledge. If you want knowledge its stupid, it’s wrong, it’s only for white for white people, leave it to white people. This is untrue…look at the word. Gain some knowledge… stop rejecting it!! If you have a question in class..ask it. If you need extra help because you don’t understand it.. ask for it! If you want to know how something works..ask!! A conversation with someone can go a long way!Hosea 4:6 “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget they children.Lastly….the world is full of hate and sin and people need to stop being in love with it. 1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.” “For everthing in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.”

Men!

A good man doesn't agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. Hedoesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. Hedoesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, sincere, yada, yada heis (He won't have to because it shows).He has his own opinions and yours may clash, but he doesn't have todegrade you to prove he's right. He even admits at times to beingwrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He ishuman with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful,strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. Hello!He needs to feel that you don't live to catch him doing somethingwrong so you can declare, Aha! I knew you were a dog!! A good man isn't insecure about his women having great achievements. In fact he is her number one supporter and becomes disappointed withher when she begins to lose herself, for the sake of not hurting hisfeelings, or just want to make him happy. His happiness comes with seeing her excel in her dreams andaccomplishing her goals. For as she excels and is exalted, a goodwoman will bring her good man right along with her. A good man doesn'tnecessarily give you a huge birthday or Valentine's gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him. Don'tjudge him by TV standards. No one is really living a fairy-tale. You'll miss out on your ownfairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are no good. It's just not true.

Feel it

The mind will wonder and the mind will stray,It has powers that will leave you in utter dismay,A peach today gone bad the next, One minute so happy and then so vexed.Its hard to keep yourself feeling sane,It takes for one to realise that lifes but a game.Its ups and downs,Bringing smiles then frowns,A saddness that just drowns and drowns.The narcotic night is what brings most tears,When all scattered thoughts become so clear.What am I doing. Where am i going.What keeps the life within me flowing?Never question too much, it gets so tiringFor some it gets their heart, their vessels firing.But one sad day, that will come your wayWill put an end to all this childs play,And all you will think is what might have been, the things you could have seen,And all thats in between.

idleness and labour

Idleness is a deadly deterrence to advancement. Life is a process of never ending refinement, resulting ultimately in the achievement of perfection. Toil, the effort we expend to reach a goal is the force which drives us to that perfection. There is always another lesson to be learned, always a new vista or horizon opening before us, and if we apply ourselves as if our lives depended on it, both as individuals and as a society, there is no limit to the heights we might climb.This is symbolized by labor and by the proper application of tools. Knowledge can destroy as readily as it can create, as a tool in a careless hand may cut the operator.You are taught how to apply your self in overcoming obstacles and learn that the only way to defeat evil is to make energetic progress in the good.""We are workers;Labor is honorable, and that we should strive to improve the condition of the tolling millions. We are all workmen in our several vocations, whether in actual labor, preparing plans for the laborers, or studying the calculations of Philosophy, the advancement of civilization and knowledge, or the destruction of ignorance and barbarism." - Bro. McClenachan The Book of the AASR

TAke time out.

So I've been doing some thinking lately. I have written once or twice about the evolution of the cell phone, but something crossed my mind. We tend to let pass us by so fast because of this little device. We go to our phone stores looking for the coolest phone: One with cameras, all types of organizing devices, internet..you name it; that's what catches our eye. Then we buy these things and we go to class or church, or a meeting. Then when we are at these functions we are either texting or stepping out to take calls. Or maybe you're with a loved on.... When we step out of class the first thing we do is check our missed calls and messages...and on the way to class we are returning these messages. I say we because I have done a few of these things and will not be called a hypocrite. We always wonder why we may have done bad on a test or we are dragging behind in school, or extra-curricular activities and we don't have time. Sometimes we are to occupied with the cell phone to be with our loved ones. So why can't we do things differently? Why can't we turn our phones off for 10 mins? Leave them behind in our rooms or something? Life is too short and we occupy most of our time by staying on the phone. When you're with a loved one...turn your phone off, put it down...have a great conversation with that person! When your in class put that bad boy on silent...not vibrate or put it up until the class is over. Like I said yes, I have done many of these things as well, but its just something to note because of what I see on campus 90% of the people are doing what I have stated. So I will work on these things....maybe you all can give it a try to.....Lets go back to the basics...

Beautiful...

She doesn’t try to be yet she is appealing to me.Beautiful is her name And being sexy is her game.The first time I looked into her eyes, it helped me to realize whyShe is always approached by so many guys.It’s the way she walks and the way she talksShe has my undivided attention every time I see her.A lot of girls would love to be her.Beautiful is the main event like she is a show.She is the first one the men rush to help open up the door.She isn’t cute she is fine, in other words she what we call a DIME!So remember the next time u see us watching this is why.Beautiful once again she has stolen all our eyes!

What have we come to?

As we all know the world is full of unexpected happenings that we can only take in stride. But there are also many things that we can do and take that problem into our own hands and make a difference. I’m just going to get right to the point. HIV/AIDS is not a sickness among the majority of African Americans in Africa but it is more prevalent among our own African Americans in our state (MS) than you think. According to the Essence Magazine, the July 2007 issue, “A recent study of attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among Black women in the Mississippi Delta- where we account for 70 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases- found that more than 70 percent of those surveyed engage in casual sex without condoms.”As most of you may know Mississippi has never really been portrayed as a great place to be and to be quite honest that fact is becoming more and more true each day of our lives. I am a product of the Mississippi Delta and I love where I come from but I am not ecstatic of our accomplishments, or lack there of. And to be quite honest I can’t say that I want to go back when the people there are hurting themselves by using misguided judgments. I mean really, when did we become so naïve of the happenings around us that we stopped striving to do what was in our heart and what was right, why have we stopped protesting for our “rights” that we gained not even 5 decades ago? When I read that small paragraph I instantly became outraged that our people, My people, have become a statistic so severe that it will be years to overcome that fact. I’m not sure how many times Mississippi has been written about in a positive way in that particular magazine and it doesn’t matter. Now you think about it, How many times have you seen an article that has uplifted our state that would have made you proud?, probably a few but definitely not many. And that is what makes me so mad, the time we are written about we have to be talked about for our foolishness.

Us....As Good Men

Good Black Men are indeed all around us. We pass them in the streets, in the malls, and at work. Most we can't see because we don't know what a good man really looks like. He usually isn't flashy enough or rich enough to turn our heads. He might not wear a suit or push a Lexus. He might not have a body like Tyson with a Denzel face. But, as you mature, you realize it's better to find someone who's got your back rather than someone who turns your head. A good man doesn't agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. He doesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He doesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, sincere, etc..., he is (he won't have to because it shows). He has his own opinions and yours may clash, but he doesn't have to degrade you to prove he's right. He even admits at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful, strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. He needs to feel that you don't live to catch him doing something wrong so you can declare, "Aha! I knew you were a dog!"A good man isn't insecure about his woman having great achievements. In fact, he is her number one supporter and becomes disappointed with her when she begins to lose herself, especially for the sake of not hurting his feelings, or only wanting to make him happy. His happiness comes with seeing her excel in her dreams and accomplishing her goals. For as she excels and is exalted, a good woman will bring her good man right along with her.

Love

Why does love hurt so bad? Its an inevitable force which has no way of labeling its awareness. Males are often caught up in the act of love and never realize why they lose the interest of a significant other. I'll tell u why. It's because of the lack of communication that falls between two people in a relationship, and the increase of assumptions, which get you nowhere. Men like for women to be confrontational and personal rather than holding back and expressing there desires through emotions and actions. However, some males arent ready for such honesty in a woman. Not to say I'm perfect, but i've had my share of experiences with the mixtures of emothions dealing with the opposite sex. I mean thats how we learn right? You win some, you lose some. Am I right?