A Tribute Fit For A King

I think the world has finally got a glimpse of modern day, American royalty. I also think for six hours at least, the world will be better for it. We can now fittingly, literarily and figuratively put to rest who the real backbone of God’s community is. It is hard to get four presidents to agree on lunch, never mind attending a Negro funeral, in a Baptist church in a southern region, during Black History Month. Only the backbone of the world community could bring that many differences under one roof in honor of one seemingly endless goal of World Peace. I am not sure I’ll ever see anything like that in my life again.



THE SPOKEN
The speakers (nearly 3 dozen) were plentiful, and for me, the most memorable were Ms. Shabaaz (Malcolm’s daughter), Charles Rachael (formerly of the Crips) and Joseph Lowery, who predictably and poetically reminded us of the really big picture. Bernice did what most children dread, eulogizing a parent. She was good. Kudos too to Bishop Eddie Long. He was exceptional, which simply means my low-expectations were far exceeded. Bush Jr. spoke well, which is something you won’t read every day, while his daddy’s new-found humility is living proof of Mrs. King’s greatness. Not enough for Harry Belafonte's comfort, and subsequent absence, which speaks volumes.

THE UNSPOKEN
For those of you that don’t know Dekalb County, Georgia has a black CEO. The (stone’s throw) neighboring Lithonia community has a black mayor. The majority of the South Dekalb residents are black. And, according to Bill Clintion’s speech and (the more credible) the U.S. Census, Dekalb County is the second richest black county in the nation (Prince George’s D.C. County is first). Despite those futile figures, I’ve always kept this historically, racial divisive, racially segregated Klan headquartered town in which I reside in the forefront of my mind. Well, for the first time since I lived here, I see the leafless winter tree branches as a sign of season’s change and not just the equipment used to hang black men.

Thanks Coretta, I'll miss you.

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

Waking The Souls of Black Folk

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-----Douglas Adams

I have to admit there was a time when seeing a black lady hugged up with a white man really unnerved me. Now, while I don’t celebrate their union with an “O.J. got off dance,” I am starting to understand that type of union more and more. No-so-subtlety, life in black America is changing at an alarming rate. Sadly, most black people are either unsure, unaware, or unconcerned. I wish someone in black America yanked the string on Spike Lee’s WAKE UP! Bell.

Too many times I hear black folks singing where are our black leaders? If in 2006, you are still asking that archaic question apparently that Wake Up bell has fallen and cracked your skull. Should you come out of the comma this century, understand this mystical Black leader’s theory:

a) Malcolm, Martin and Marcus are dead.
b) They left you with a blueprint, so the only other leader you would need is in the mirror.

While you are pondering that reality check, please ask yourself this.., who is the Mexican leader? Who is the Spanish leader? Who is the Asian leader? My people, please Wake Up!! Do you realize that by 2018, there will be shuttles taking ordinary Americans to the moon, while some dumb niggers are still putting 30” spinning wheels on an Impala, blasting nursery rhymes like Laffy Taffy.

Just think, Bush and Condi (that's what her pimps call her) were golfing and shopping (respectively), while hundreds of black people were drowning in an American city…. a city with a median household income is $12,752. Wake up!

Rosa Parks died late last year, yet every time a bus driver opens his doors 10 niggas fight to get a seat in the back of the bus. Wake Up.

Conservative politician and Trinity Broadcasting owner and Pastor, Pat Robertson called for the assassination of the president of Venezuela and the White House says nothing. Entertainer / Activist Harry Belafonte says Bush is responsible for more deaths than any living person on earth and the White House wants to revoke his passport.

Terrell Owens does sit-ups in his driveway, while my neighbor parks his car on the lawn. A twenty-six year-old, Barney-sounding vocalist named Ashanti received lifetime achievement award. For singing! Songs! In public! There is an all-gay high school in New York City. Bush is trying to spread democracy in a Muslim State and he sacrificing Christians to do it.

I had a nightmare that Dr. King's Family was fighting... In Atlanta!! I woke to find that at least their mom won't have to witness the outcome. R.I.P. CSK. If you are the benchmark, we're all losers.

At any give time, eight out of the top 10 songs on Urban Contemporary Radio are performed by an artist with a GED or a police record.

For those banking on the white conspiracies to aid in the never-to-be-seen reparations, chew on this… Two different, lily-white professional team owners paid two very black ball players (Terrell Owens and Ron Artest) to stay the hell away from the rest of the team. That is about as close as we’ll ever get to white people, paying black people to go away.

Maybe if some black “would-be” leader took the time to build a mega-school instead of (yet) another mega-church, we’d learn Monday-Friday, just what we missed on Sunday. That’s assuming we ever Wake Up!

1 Love,
Ray Lewis