Still I Rise

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust,

I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air,

I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

© Maya Angelou, 1978

Gettysburg forgot about Black Soldiers

This summer I was afforded the opportunity to visit Gettysburg, PA. Prior to my arrival I had great hopes of seeing a large collection of memorabilia that would honor the many African American soldiers who fought during the Civil War.

To my surprise there was very little representation or acknowledgement given to African American soldiers who fought and died to end slavery at Gettysburg just as white soldiers had. Moreover, I was deeply saddened to know that over 103 million dollars was recently spent renovating the Gettysburg’s Visitors Center.

In speaking to our unofficial tour guide (a professor at Gettysburg College) about the lack of African American representation, his only explanation for this oversight suggested that more black people should get involved with the preservation of their history and not depend on others to do it for them.

Wow! That got me to thinking.

Though his statement was quite bold. He is correct.

As I continued my tour through the town of Gettysburg, I noticed there was not a lack of Confederate flags. Which got me to thinking again. Why, in this Pennsylvania town year 2008 would people be bold enough to proudly display the Confederate flag?

There was only one logical answer I could piece together, and it is that these people understand the importance of preserving their history (right or wrong). After all, Confederate soldiers were fighting against the North, so their presence can not be excluded from history.

African American people, we must take a stand and demand for our rich history to be preserved. The first step is to have our voices heard by writing to the Gettysburg Preservation society dneil@gettysburgfoundation.org or by calling 866-889-1243.

They are Listening

What does it say when kids have thrown their support behind Obama instead of McCain?

It says they're listening!

Kids may not be able to vote in the presidential election, but they can give us a pretty good indication of who’s going to win, when the winner of the last four out of five Kids Pick polls has gone on to the White House.

The New, Part I

In celebration of my birthday a couple of friends invited me out for a
night on the town. I was a little reluctant at first, after all we
stayed out quite late the night before. To make a long story short, we ended up at a dance club.

If you have ever experienced the Dallas nightlife, you know the clubs can be a bit
daunting. But for some strange reason that night the atmosphere was
electrifying and the band unbelievable. We were having a
surprisingly good time, with the exception of a few knuckle heads whose
game could use a lot of work.

Moving about the club I finally found a spot where I could see the band
a little better. Then from out of nowhere a tall, dark and very
handsome guy stood next me. We made eye contact, but we didn't say
anything to each other.

Still enjoying the band I decide to do my usual
two-step (I am not much of a dancer). In doing so, I accidentally
stepped on the guy’s foot.

OMG!

I gave him a quick “excuse me,” (or something like that).

He being a perfect gentleman did not get upset. So I
continue moving from side to side. Finally, he asked me to dance
(remember, I am not much of a dancer).

So I politely said, “No thank you.”

Being persistent, he asked me my name and having to speak
above the music I told him. He told me his first and last
name. The first name was easy to pronounce; however, the last name was
unique. From the last name and his spicy accent, I could tell right away
he was not from the states. He told me he was from Houston, and in town on
business. Continuing to make small talk, I inquired about his business,
etc....and he gave me his business card. I was then thinking, this
brother might be all right. We exchanged contact information and left it at that.

As I was leaving the club we made eye contact again. Out of all thepeople in the club, we made eye contact again.



Check back for Part II

Life's Funny that Way

Just as the title suggest, life is funny. I say funny because I have had
many unexpected things to happen to me since I last visited my blog
(still trying to get this thing right, or at least make some sense of it).

With my fair share of ups and downs (lucky for me, more ups than
downs); It is time I revisit those pesky downs and of course
acknowledge some of the good fortunes that have befallen upon me.

So, here goes......

It is funny how getting out of a 14-year relationship has made me feel
like I have accomplished something heroic. Don’t get me wrong; I am in no way saying it was easy. Believe me, the emotional song and dance was enough to make anyone go insane. After all of that played out, that's when the blessings came (I'll
tell you all about the “blessing” later).

“Oh, the lessons.” One very important thing I learned is to put all of my faith in God and believe there is no problem too big or too small he can't fix. Sounds easy, right? Well it wasn’t. There were moments of bitterness, hatred and even some revengeful thoughts. However, the moment I decided to let go and let God; I was then able to receive his blessings.

Life’s funny that way, you have to go through trials and tribulations (bump your head hard enough) to get to the lesson.

Well, there is someone new (the blessing).

My, my, my, Life’s funny that way, out with the old and in with the new.

P.S. My next posting will be all about the new!