Barbershop talk: business.Family.God.Politics.Wealth

Fatherless homes.........

2008-09-23T14:50:00.004-05:00

After a great conversation with a local South Dallas Pastor about the problems that plauge the inner cities of America, and why with so many job programs, rehab centers, churches, schools, we are JUST NOT GETTING IT......In South Dallas this weekend, there were four murders...And business as usual. WTF......

I asked "if it could be narrowed down to one reason why this is" we came to an agreement that it is a dirrect result of FATHERLESS HOMES.

Listen Fathers/Husbands I know it is hard, very hard, but we have got to see whats happening to our families and we have to suck it up and take responsibility for the sake of our Daughters/Sons. I mean, what is really out there...a short skirt at the local happy hour ???? IT AIN'T WORTH IT, There are predators waiting for us to slip, so they can move in like a thief in the night.

Lets rededicate ourselves to our familes, and also ban together and hold each other accountable for what needs to be done. Also, for the male youth that are fatherless, we have an obligation to reach them, like someone reached us....Lets organize....We have organized for the Democratic Party...Lets use those same principles to go after our youth.

Family & Career/Business ???????????

2008-09-20T19:59:00.002-05:00

How do you make it work ? Please cime in.......

Where Do We Go From Here?

2008-09-13T18:34:00.001-05:00

Where Do We Go From Here?

In a speech given in 1967 in Atlanta, GA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed the question “Where do we go from here?” Dr. King surmised in that speech that before we map out our path we must first “honestly” answer an even more important question, “Where are we now?” As we live out arguably the most exciting, and some would say important, time in American politics I think that both of the questions posed by Dr. King should be revisited.

In my lifetime I have never witnessed the political enthusiasm that the emergence of Barack Obama has inspired in African Americans. There seems to be a common sentiment among us that if Senator Obama wins the upcoming Presidential election the ills of the African American community will begin to heal and we will finally realize our full potential as a people. That thinking is flawed. I agree that having an African American assume the most powerful position in the world would be monumental but would all of our problems be solved? I think not.

In Dr. King’s 1967 speech he stated that “When we view the negative experiences of life, the Negro has a double share.” That fact could not be argued in 1967 but in 2008 does that statement still ring true? When I survey the landscape in 2008 I see educated African Americans living in fine homes in some of the best suburban communities, occupying important positions in Corporate America, running successful businesses, driving the finest automobiles, their children attending private schools and basically doing what they want whenever they want. The majority of us are not in prison, we take care of our children, we love our wives and husbands, we believe in God (or at least we say we do), and are basically living the American Dream. So honestly, Where are we now?

I can tell you where we are not. We are not in our own communities but have instead chosen to follow our so called “oppressors” to the safe confines of the suburbs. We are not in public schools because we don’t believe they are good enough for our children. We are not participating in local elections that impact our day to day lives far more dramatically than the presidential election. So, Where are we now?

We have found it easier to gather in our safe circle of friends and complain about the “evil” George Bush than it is to attend a school board meeting. We talk about how we are “suffering” under the Bush administration while we go on shopping sprees every weekend. We demand that the government do something to help the poor and underprivileged while trying to convince ourselves that we have something in common with people that most of us shun on a daily basis. Where are we now? We are right where we want to be. In a place where most of us have more in common with the George Bush’s of the world than we do with the poor and homeless who live in unimaginable circumstances day in and day out.

So, where do we go from here? We must first realize that Barack Obama cannot change the plight of the poor in our communities. He cannot improve the schools in our neighborhoods. He cannot curb the gang violence that is overwhelming urban areas all over this country…………and we shouldn’t expect him to. We must begin to take responsibility for our own plight. We must move back into these forgotten neighborhoods and reclaim them. We must get involved in local politics. We must give young African Americans models of success. We must get involved in our churches and other civic organizations to help fight poverty, teenage pregnancy and the HIV epidemic. We must stop blaming Republicans for our problems! We must stop making excuses! The government cannot save us! Until we collectively decide to take responsibility for the so called state of Black America it won’t matter if Senator Obama becomes the next president. Where do we go from here?………….

Do you measure up ?

2008-08-25T23:40:00.005-05:00

When we meet someone what is the first thing we do............Well I think it is fair to say that we pre-judge, or at best we try to figure them out and place them in our own pre-determined little box, based on our own little reference point in life or society. Now I am a firm believer in that you never get a second chance at a first impression.....However, as I get older and I hope wiser, I think it is fair to say that "what we have been led or told what a person"should look like", really is all crap PERIOD", I think the more secure I am in myself, the less I am concerned with what someone else may or may not feel about me, and that is really relaxing, I meen no more faking, in essence, no more self manipulating situations. The cool thing about being a Husband and Father is that when the day is all over and you come home, your kids don't care what you are wearing or how much you made or what big deal you may or may not have just closed, they are just happy that you are who you are, and thats all that really matters.

I remember a story Dr. Wyane Dyer told to his students, it goes something like: A guy gets invited to a very formal dinner party, once he arrives at the party all the guest stop and look at him, you see he is wearing jeans and a t-shirt. The question Dr. Dyer asked his students is"what is going through the gentelman's mind at that moment"? Well the students start firing off answers, no one could get the answer correct, the correct answer is "the man would not think anything...He is totally comfortable with himself, and anyone that is present, that is also comfortable, would not even notice.

So, when we are in situations, or are even the "situation", lets give ourself the opportunity to see past the external and see that person for who they really are.....A creation, made by God and in the image of God.

Michael Phelps

2008-08-16T20:31:00.002-05:00

Is Michael Phelps the best athlete every?.....I answer a responding NO...Yes He is great, probaly the best swimer ever, but to say the best athlete ever, hell no. Has he faced cancer and beat it, and win how many Tour De France..with one Testicle ? i.e. Lance Armstrong....Has he had to take punches from a 250 pound man, and the government of America, and win every time ? i.e. Muhammad Ali, Has he changed the the hole way athletes make money from sponsorships win 6 titles, 6 rings and oh yeah, watch out for 250 pound men, slaming you to the hard wood ? i.e. Michael Jordan.. Has he transformed the game of golf, oh yeah, and at the same time faced DEATH threats..i.e. Tiger Woods. I can keep going but you get the point, I have so much respect for Phelps, he has risen the bar big time, he is a inspiration and a great role model, but I think it will take 10-15 yrs. to see how he rates in maybe to top 7-10 athletes of all time....