People say dumb things, and Ben Carson says dumb things often. The other day he said poverty is a state of mind. So this means that with the right mind set people can pull themselves out of poverty. Sadly this is simply not true, Contrary to Carson’s point of view most people living in poverty would prefer not to be. There are millions of Americans working everyday for minimum wages and simply unable to get out of poverty. They are not driving luxury cars to the local grocery store picking up ribeye steaks and large costal shrimp. Carson grew up in poverty but over the years he has romanticized the story and his mother is the hero. Sure she might have been phenomenal but to say if everyone had a mother like his there would be no poverty is ridiculous. There are millions of encouraging, inspiring mothers living in poverty who might not ever get out of it but they are doing the best they can and they should be celebrated not accused of having the right mindset.
Sadly, we see horrible stories everyday but sometimes a story stops you and for me the Richard Collins III story is one of them. This wonderful young man should have graduated today from Bowie State University instead his family is planning his funeral. He planned a military career and Saturday night he was visiting friends on the campus of the University of Maryland. He was stabbed to death on Saturday night. He was simply waiting for his ride back to his campus. This was a young man who did everything right and the actions of a thug denied him his promising future. This hurts. We pray and grieve for the family and we hope to see justice served.
Social media has been ablaze today over this ad by Shea Moisture. Their products are used by black people but who do they feature in their ads. Watch the ad and share your thoughts.
OWN Fix My Life started its new season by profiling RB singer Keisha Cole’s sister Neffie and her husband. Their troubled marriage was put under the microscope. Early on Vanzant sympathized with the husband and she seemed to hone in on Neffie’s faults. She went step too far when she called Neffie a bitch. She justified using the vile term by saying Neffie’s actions dictated the use of the word. Later Vanzant uttered a half-hearted apology but it fell flat. If you promote yourself as the life fixer you need to work on how you talk to a guest, and know that you never call an invited a guest a bitch.
Bill O’Reilly the disrespectful Fox pundit has finally lost his stage. He has dominated that network for 20 years and he is revered by millions. Sponsors were fleeing and activists were protesting and finally the decision was made but what will the long term impact be for the network? Fox News is the president’s network of choice. He quotes unsubstantiated claims as fact and he has been one of O’Reilly’s chief supporters. The network will not change and they will simply elevate someone from their clan of conservatives and that person or persons will pick up the flag and gallop enthusiastically toward the land of alternative facts.
A cold heartless, killer took the life of Robert Godwin. An elderly man is walking down the street collecting cans for pennies. He is minding his own business when a killer pulls over engages him in a senseless conversation, and he ultimately shoots and kills the innocent man. The cowardly killer put the entire encounter on Facebook. People watched the footage, but they did not complain to Facebook. Facebook Live gives anybody the opportunity to have their 15 minutes of fame. The footage stays up for two hours and when finally reported it took Facebook 23 minutes to take it down. Who could watch this? Have we become desensitized to human suffering? If you watched network television over the past few weeks you have seen the Syrian people filmed as they gasped for breath or took their last breath. On one newscast we saw a father hold the lifeless bodies of his toddler twins during an interview. Is this one of the reasons people could watch the execution of an innocent man. Mr. Godwin was simply taking a walk on Easter Sunday when he encountered evil. A killer who wanted to kill in front of an audience. As he drove away he rattled off some nonsense to justify the unjustifiable. Some have said the killer was a good guy. Some have said he was mentally ill who knows. We do know he was evil. His last act will make him live in infamy. We should say a prayer for Mr. Godwin and he is the one who should remembered not the killer.
Basketball Wives had its heyday about 10 years ago. The show featured some actual basketball wives and former wives and some baby mamas. It ran its course and died a natural death, but just like the vampire it is back. Some of the same cast mates are back and many of them are pushing 50 heard. One would think they have evolved and would not be willing to take part of in manufactured fighting situations, but they are not. They are back and they are cursing and fighting. Some of them have grown children, but they are still ready and willing to throw a punch or a drink at one of the wives. One of the cast mates reached out to Star Jones because she claimed she wanted to change. This same cast mate showed up on OWN presenting a more moderated disposition but she is back at it. It is sad that self respect and dignity get shelved when there is a check from Basketball Wives being flashed.
All week we have heard the Republicans would employ the nuclear option to place Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court. The Democrats actually did the same thing years ago when Republicans refused to approve President Obama’s lower court choices. So this is not a dark day in history as pundits would argue. It has been a dark day in DC for years. The parties are divided and they refuse to work together. They are doing more investigating than legislating. It is not about us it is about them. Donald Trump promised to drain the swamp but what we have seen is the swamp has been replenished and that is in fact a bi-partisan effort.
From the Woodlawn Villager
By Joni L. Reynolds
Back in the good ole days the truth was not a subjective concept. It was bold and emphatic and you had to agree with it. Black was Black. Up was up, and down was down, but those days are gone. The truth has become a subjective concept subject to individual interpretation. I can remember watching Oprah and her saying the guest was “speaking her own truth”. What is her truth? Isn’t it just truth? We now live in the land where everyone has their own truth. Absolutes are challenged and we see this everywhere especially in our politics. We have been introduced to “alternative facts”, which are facts that conflict with the accepted proven facts. We now have the ability to watch news that affirms our opinion.
The days of Walter Cronkite are so far gone he has been replaced by Sean Hannity and Chris Matthews. Each one speaking the truth to their particular audience. So, both audiences walk away armed with their own truth and ready to defend it. How did we get here and is there any way we will ever accept one real truth?
Over the past few weeks we have seen President Trump accuse President Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower during the election. He had no evidence to support this information he tweeted to the world. This was his truth and he sent his minions and several government agencies in search of evidence to back up his truth. So far none has been uncovered, but Trump still holds fast to his truth.
So, we are left wondering where is truth and will we ever all be able to say in unison the sky is blue.
politics from the eyes of an ebony mom 