July 14, 2009
Blacks in the United States of America should think twice before joining the band wagon in trying to deny any group of people their basic human rights.
It is okay to disagree with the lifestyle of other but it is not okay to deny others their rights because of your conservative beliefs.
Many blacks use the bible to denounce the GBLT community forgetting that it is same bible the slave owners and colonials had used to put blacks in a separate category of servitude. How soon we forget. It is not our place to dictate the way others should live their lives. We all have one life to live and it is not right to cheat a person out of their way of expressing that life.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the 50-year-old civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, is seeking to remove the president of its Los Angeles chapter in response to his support of same-sex marriage in California. Dr. King would have been disappointed with the short memory of the black population. More than any other race you Blacks should have a deep appreciation for the human rights of others. It took Blacks more than 300 years to get that right and even today it is on shaky ground. Think about that and then see whether you could open your heart to help another group get their rights.
July 11, 2009
A musical star of Senegal, Africa, who ignited worldwide controversy among fellow Muslims with one of his albums recently performed at New York City arts festival.
Youssou N’Dour, the 49 year old Senegalese singer is a controversial entertainer in the Muslim world. Some do not like what he sings or talks about. N’Dour sings religious based songs and wants to use his talents to endear people to Islam and to dispel fears of terrorism and negativities. He was especially criticized for his Emmy award winning album “Egypt” and was boycotted by his fellow Muslims and countrymen as an insult to Islam was really misunderstand. The controversial album was a collaborative effort between N’Dour and the Egyptian Fathy Salama Orchestra and explores Islam as it is practiced in Senegal and Egypt. His lyrics offer a hopeful, tolerant view of Islam, but were received with criticism from Muslims who felt that it was blasphemous to dilute the religion by melding it with pop culture. N’Dour maintain that the way Islam is practiced in his country, Senegal, is beautiful, tolerant and an enjoyable religion
He is a highly successful musician whose records have been sold in the millions and now a documentary of his life and career “Youssou N”Dour: I bring what I love” has just been released.
“I want to show the true face of Islam — a religion in which people can dance, even enjoy,” Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour said over lunch in Harlem, where children mobbed him with adoration in the streets. “People don’t have to associate Islam with fear and sadness. Why is that the only image of Islam in the media?”
He persisted, winning over many of his detractors as an official UNICEF goodwill ambassador who is working to stop malaria in Africa on behalf of the U.S.-based nonprofit Malaria No More, distributing free mosquito nets to families on the continent while entertaining them.
N’Dour said he hopes the documentary will help him “to break a taboo subject — that Islam is what the extremists do.”
July 9, 2009
Dianna Ross and Elizabeth Taylor were noticeably absent from the Memorial Service yesterday. I could understand why Liz might not have been able to go because she is elderly and not in good health.
Diana Ross sent the following message to the family:
“I am trying to find closure, I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center, I am there in my heart. I have decided to pause and be silent. This feels right for me. Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can’t seem to find words to express,” her statement began.
Diana also promised to be there for his children, Prince 12, Paris 11 and Blanket 7, if they ever needed her. Diana has been like a big sister to Michael and his brothers when they were younger. Some believed that Michael had a crush on Diana and wanted to be like her.
As for his long time friend and mentor Quincy Jones, he said he cannot do any more funerals. It’s hard on him. He loved Michael a lot and everyone knows it.
Stevie Wonder said he always expressed his love to Michael so he is okay with that.
July 9, 2009
For me it was touching, tasteful and respectful send off for the King of Pop and perhaps the greatest entertainer this world has seen so far. Looking over Michael’s life I was stuck at the little boy I knew, the boy I fell in love with and had such a crush on his voice. When Ben came out, it was like the best song I had ever heard. It was so sweet and innocent. I felt sad for the child whose childhood was snuffed out in order to fulfill his destiny in life. Michael’s work was done.
Watching the video of his practice, I knew he would have conquered Mt. Kilimangaro again but that was not in the plan. The plan was perhaps to let us see that he could have done it again and that he would have been vindicated. Michael, I am sure was God’s gift to the world. He must have come to teach us tolerance and acceptance. Many people see him as wanting to be white and I did too, but it came to me that maybe by reaching out to white people, adopting or fathering white children was his way of showing us that it did not matter if you are black or white, we can get along. His music touched everyone, black and white, yellow and red. We all are connected through his music.
Like Obama, who has brought us together through his politics, Michael has done the same through music. Maybe this is the work of Black people.
The Prophet Founder of today, Baha’u'llah said that Black people are like the iris of the eyes through the darkness light comes. What a wonderful imagery. Michael was childlike and many of us might have been jealous of his ability to be like a child. The gurus all tell us we must maintain our childlike curiosity – when we lose the child inside we lose ourselves. But the world has judged him on the basis of what others have done to children. They could not see that there could be pure love between an adult and a child. Perhaps it was his job to show us that it can be done without harm.
I hope those people who may have betrayed Michael Jackson’s friendship could not come forward and speak the truth. The world needs to know the truth. His children may need to know the truth.
Last evening when Paris spoke for the first time in public and she described her dad as the best dad you could ever imagine, it struck a chord in everyone’s heart. The child brought tears to everyone who must have listened to her as her voice strained with grief. It made the world see Michael in another light, not as a superstar but the father of children who loved and adored him.
Well, I tried to change channels on the TV but everywhere I looked there were more of Michael. What an incredible life, what an incredible guy who, in spite of all the negative press at times, survived and thrived in his music.
July 8, 2009
A legend slipped away from the world quietly as he came. Thanks for all the love and all the good times we had with your energy. May your beautiful soul rest in peace.
July 3, 2009
According to recent polls of the most influential Black Celebrities, Oprah Tops the list followed by Bill Cosby. President Obama came in 4th. Here is the breakdown
These are responses by Blacks to the question ” Blacks celebs who have a good influence”
Oprah – 87%
Bill Cosby 85%
Bishop T.D. Jakes 76%
Barack Obama 76%
Colin Powell 70%
Tyra Banks 68%
Jess Jackson 68%
Russell Simmons 67%
Rev Al Sharpton 65%
Condoleeza Rice 50%
Kanye West – 49%
Clarence Thomas 31%
Fifty Cents 17%
July 3, 2009
Our beloved Farrah, one of Charlie’s famous angels, was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles. Even though her fans were excluded they gathered across from the Church to pay their last tribute to the iconic figure Farrah had become. People just loved her. She maintained her down-home Texas charm and her fans responded to that. The other of Charlie’s angels, Kate Jackson, Cherly Tiegs and her ex husband, Lee Majors were also spotted.
Her long time partner, soul mate, Ryan O’Neal and Cynthia Steward, her friend, were by her side when she died and he was a big part in arranging her funeral. Their son, who is in rehab was let out to attend his mother’s funeral. How sad that he could not be by her side in those last hours of life on this plane. I hope that will be the lesson he needs to make a gallant effort to straighten out his life.
July 3, 2009
In a 2002 will Michael names his mother as the guardian for his children should anything happen to him. Michael and his mother have always had a close relationship. It appears she understood him more than anyone else in the world perhaps. That’s a mother. She stood by Michael through thick and thin. I think Michael made a good choice. His mother has proved herself to be the staying power of the Jackson family. She appears to be a woman not caught up with money, power and a fancy lifestyle – she appears to truly exhibit a lifestyle that coincides with her spiritual/religious beliefs. I think she has done a great job raising her children.
In spite of the media and those who wished to destroy Michael Jackson as the King of Pop, his fans have rallied around him and I hear he is set to break his own incredible record with sales climbing like there is no tomorrow.
Fans at Neverland
June 30, 2009
P.s. I heard on the news today that Michael is heading to break his own record of album sales as his CD’s keep flying off the shelves faster than the storekeeper can replace them.
Maybe his alleged financial woes are in the bag. This proves, Michael has and is truly the KING OF POP.
