Easing the heartbreak of goodbye after the holidays: Chaka Khan’s “Don’t talk to strangers”

For everyone feeling that tinge of heartbreak as the holidays end and we prepare to leave our families and loved ones to journey back to all those places we live that aren’t quite ‘home’… here’s a beautiful one from Prince to help ease the sorrows of goodbye:

Don’t talk to strangers,

Don’t forget to say your prayers at night.

And remember God – He made you…

One day, He’ll make everything alright.” ~ Prince

Peace on Earth: Take a listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful Christmas sermon on Peace, 1967

In his own words, Dr. King impresses upon us all our universal need for each other, especially in the most difficult of times:

“We aren’t going to have peace on earth until we recognize this basic fact of the inter-related structure of all reality.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered this deeply moving sermon on peace and non-violence at Ebenezer Baptist Church, his home church in Atlanta, Georgia on Christmas Eve in 1967.

Three months later, Dr. King was assassinated.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired this sermon as part of the seventh annual Massey Lectures. Click here to listen to it in its entirety. 

While much has changed since Dr. King originally delivered this sermon to his congregation, much is still the same with regard to the never-ending struggles for peace, equality and justice on all levels in the world and in our country.

Click here to listen without prejudice.  Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward All…

Merry Christmas with the BEST Gift of All: Love and Happiness ~ Happy Holidays!!

Here’s a double-scoop of lovin’ from Al Greene to enjoy your holidays! Much LOVE and HAPPINESS to everyone!!

Love for the Holidays: My heart melts for this 1956 Fire-engine Red Thunderbird Convertible

No words needed.

A Beautiful Swan Song from Cape Verde’s Legendary Barefoot Diva – RIP Cesaria Evora

Personal Essentials: Ms. Etta James may have sang her last song, but her music and voice will never leave us

In light of the somber news  today of Ms. James’ terminal illness, I can’t help but be moved to think of her and one of her best…

Oh Happy Day (Gospel)

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Washed my sins away (oh happy day)

-Written by Phillip Doddridge (based on Acts 8:35)

Florida A&M’s defining moment in the wake of the senseless hazing homicide of drum major Robert Champion

This is the image that thousands if not millions of Americans like myself have of legendary college marching bands like Florida A&M’s. As many have noted in stories since the alleged beating death of a young man who just wanted to be a part of the band, the lore and glamour associated with these groups has often made them as untouchable as the star quarterback, the legendary coach…you get where I’m going – the campus ‘rock stars.’

And therein lies the problem.

There is little dispute over some of the facts about drum major Robert Champion’s death:

• He collapsed and died after Florida A&M’s football team lost in a game last month
• The medical examiner found that Champion had bruises to his chest, arms, shoulder and back
• He sustained internal bleeding that caused him to go into shock, which killed him
• The noted injuries along with blunt force trauma to his body have led to homicide charges being filed in this case today

It’s also worth noting that another Florida A&M band member was severely beaten during a hazing ritual three weeks prior to Champion’s death.

Hazing is nothing new, nor is it restricted to Florida A&M or any other college or university. It happens at Black or HBCU’s and it happens at Ivy-League, White schools as well. It happens with bands, sports teams, sororities, fraternities and any other organization where people are willing to allow themselves to be dehumanized in order to ‘belong.’

I’ve never understood how people tolerate hazing. I wouldn’t allow someone to hit me, smack me, kick me, stomp me, spit on me or otherwise degrade me to be in any other relationship, so it baffles me why people allow it to be an acceptable initiation or “rite of passage” for so-called ‘social’ organizations, bands, etc.  Yet, I saw mild hazing when I was in undergrad and indeed, it’s the main reason I never ‘pledged’ a sorority at my alma mater. I realize that hazing is not a part of every college and I want to be clear not to use a broad brush toward all schools or particular organizations because many refrain from this type of silly, abusive activity. But to pretend that what happened at Florida A&M is an isolated incident is a complete and dangerous joke. Period.

Hazing will stop when school administrations stop giving hazing and many of the violent crimes related to it a wink and a pass. Florida A&M has a serious choice in this defining moment in the school’s history. They can:

• Pretend this was an isolated event and bury their heads in the sand
• Throw those involved with this crime under the bus (no pun intended) and pretend that they were the only people involved in hazing of any kind on the campus
• Take a stand and weed out any and all who knew of this nonsense and/or participated in it, AND institute a strictly enforced  Zero Tolerance stance against hazing of any kind. Automatic expulsion and criminal charges when necessary – no excuses, no passes.

In my mind at least, Florida A&M only has one choice, and it’s clear.

“Hang all the mistletoe, I’m going to get to know you better…” with Donnie Hathaway’s timeless classic, “This Christmas”

Joy and blessings to all!!

It’s beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas! Don’t forget the Reason for the Season

This beautiful shot belongs to Shannon Taylor on Flickr.

Lizz Wright’s onto something special with the beautifully written “Speak your heart…” Sometimes, that’s all it really takes.