Did I just take a Quantum Leap back to 1942?

First its kids being banned at a swimming pool
then racist questioning from the Senate to Supreme court nominee Sotomayor
then Billy Graham going off about the rights of the white man (KKK much jerk?!)
AND NOW THIS!

For those of you that missed this, Prominent African American scholar Henry Louis Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct in his own home... HUH? Wait did I just type his own home, yes I certainly did. Here's the article for you to read:

Harvard professor Gates arrested at Cambridge home

July 20, 2009 05:55 PM

By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's pre-eminent African-American scholars, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home by Cambridge police investigating a possible break-in. The incident raised concerns among some Harvard faculty that Gates was a victim of racial profiling.

Police arrived at Gates’s Ware Street home near Harvard Square at 12:44 p.m. to question him. Gates, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, had trouble unlocking his door after it became jammed.

He was booked for disorderly conduct after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior,” according to a police report. Gates accused the investigating officer of being a racist and told him he had "no idea who he was messing with,'' the report said.

Gates told the officer that he was being targeted because "I'm a black man in America.'' [To read a copy of the police report, click here]

Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said.

The police report said Gates was arrested after he yelled at the investigating officer repeatedly inside the residence then followed the officer outside, where Gates continued to upbraid him. "It was at that time that I informed Professor Gates that he was under arrest,'' the officer wrote in the report.

Gates, 58, declined to comment today when reached by phone.

The arrest of such a prominent scholar under what some described as dubious circumstances shook some members of the black Harvard community.

“He and I both raised the question of if he had been a white professor, whether this kind of thing would have happened to him, that they arrested him without any corroborating evidence,” said S. Allen Counter, a Harvard Medical School professor who spoke with Gates about the incident Friday. “I am deeply concerned about the way he was treated, and called him to express my deepest sadness and sympathy.”

Counter, who had called Gates from the Nobel Institute in Sweden, where Counter is on sabbatical, said that Gates was “shaken” and “horrified” by his arrest.

Counter has faced a similar situation himself. The well-known neuroscience professor, who is also black, was stopped by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect as he crossed Harvard Yard. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.

That incident was among several that ignited criticism from black students and faculty, highlighting the prejudices that many black students say they continue to face at Harvard.

“This is very disturbing that this could happen to anyone, and not just to a person of such distinction,” Counter said. “He was just shocked that this had happened, at 12:44 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. It brings up the question of whether black males are being targeted by Cambridge police for harassment.”

Cambridge police would not comment on the arrest, citing an investigation into the incident by Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. A spokesman for Leone said Gates is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 26 and said the office could not provide details on the arrest until that time.

Gates is being represented by Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, who has taken on previous cases with racial implications.

Is this what Post Racial America means? Because this seems more like the same America. When is it OK to arrest someone for being in their own homes, even if they are screaming (which I do not believe this man did) at you from their porch?

I'm not shocked that the Cambridge, MA police are racist, after all Boston has quite the reputation for racism. What I'm in awe of is treatment of this man when a blind man could see they were wrong. The police officer was called to investigate a possible robbery, when it came up not at all a robbery then why didn't the cop go on his merry way? Let me tell you why, because Black men in this country are Guilty until proven innocent. It didn't matter that this man has degrees out the wazoo, and that he holds one of the highest positions in academia, NOPE none of that mattered.... All he was at that point was a BLACK MAN, and he was therefore GUILTY! If for some bizarre reason Skip Gates did say he'd speak to the officers mama outside, why didn't he just write it off as a crazy old man, and just go on to worry about real criminal? BLACK MAN is the only answer I can give, guilty so lets take him in.

And this you say is Post-racial America? Seems like the same old Jim Crow America. I laugh in the face of this notion that because white people voted for Obama we no longer see race. As I posted a few weeks back, America is plagued with this cancer of racism. And until it is recognized and cut out we will continue to have these kind of incidents happen. So what do I suggest, I urge you my readers (black, white, yellow whatever color) to explain these things to your kids, nieces, nephews, next door neighbors. Racism does not just have a choke hold on the group that is oppressed it eventually oppresses us ALL.
It's time for us to raise our fist and raise kids that will lead the revolution and put in place the changes our President spoke so eloquently of. The physical chains are gone but the mental one still remain and its time for us all to be free.

Random 'Ish

Whoo its been a long time since I've done a random post, why? because of that damn twitter hahaha. The ability to post my most random thought within seconds has ruined my blog, ok that and the fact that the sun is shining, weather is sweet:



ok now for my random thoughts:

If people don't believe that Global Warming is real, they need to take a look at NYC's weather the last month. RAIN for 24 of the 30 days in one month is not normal.

I really love watching the movie Wall-E with CJ. I hope somewhere deep down he's learning the message about taking care of Mother Earth.

Hmm maybe that is how I will start referring to the world for him, Mother Earth. He has a soft spot for Mothers especially his own.

I'm a firm believer that you have to not reinforce kids bad behavior with laughter and calling it cute. But I also believe in reigning in the adults that create an issue over simple shit: example: Don't call my three year old fresh because when he hugged you his hands grazed your butt. 1) he's three and only stands that tall and 2) he's not molesting you so don't make him feel ashamed.

ok I cheated the last one wasn't random just needed to air that out.

On that same note don't call my three year old sexy. HE's THREE.

I don't get why people are so worried about if their sons are going to be gay. I wouldn't love my son any less if he were but I will cut a B$%CH if they ever did offend him because he is. So while I'm at it ......watch that sh$T too.

I am loyal to a fault to my family and good friends. But I'm starting to see that its a one way street with some and I'm getting off the ride ASAP.

I just read this amazing book "The Shack" and I want my relationship with God to be stronger and more "Jesus is my homeboy" than "Jesus will come back and judge my every move".

I believe in real Love.

I also believe that in order to receive real Love you have to know what it really is. Not the TV made up 'ish either.

My sister made this slamming summer salad for CJ's bday party and I want to eat it every day.

I thought I had next weekend to chill, now I've been told I have to go rep at the Kappa picnic. Guess I need to do my hair hahaha.

I heard D.L Hugley say that Joe Jackson gets to much slack, he had 9 kids and never left his family and he should get credit for that....Mr F$%K it asked me how I felt about that statement. Do ya'll want to know what I said? *crickets, not exactly*

Speaking of the Mr, his locks are sooooo long. They look like ropes hanging down his back, and CJ thinks they are best used for climbing hahaha.

My cat Eartha needs to go to the groomers, but we're too busy now she looks like a giant rat.

Sometimes I miss living at home with my mom. :(

I can't wait to see the OJ's this summer whooo hooo and Gladys Knight. And guess how much the tickets cost? NADA, NOTHING ZILTCH *HATE ON ME HATER*

Skype is the business, Smarty and I were on there for hours laughing at folks. And looking like we'd just battled it out with a batch of fried chicken hehehe

Ohh Mama Mia is on HBO, this will replace my obsessive watching of "The Dark Knight" I watched it twice a day in one week).

I love and hate NY lately.

No that last one wasn't right, I just think I'm taking all my bad feelings out on the city, can't abuse the one you love like that so I take it back.

HBO has my heart forever (the only time my heart follows another is when The Tudors is on Showtime) with Entourage, Hung and Trueblood all on in what night what girl wouldn't swoon.

ok folks the family is looking at me like they haven't eaten in weeks. Time to make the pancakes :)

You're not real to me therefore you don't exist so

POOF VAMOOSE SON OF A BI&$H!

For the last few years this has been my feelings about crazy people that seem to enter my life, circle, personal space because they are not welcome. It doesn't matter if its for an five minutes or two hours sometimes people need to see just how not relevant they are, which leads me to my latest story from the MTA:

On Monday my first day back to work I decided to wear my real big girl shoes which meant the normal walk to the train was out (the shoes are 5inches, they are not made for walking hhehe). Any way I walk as far as the X-press bus and stand in the line like everyone else. When the bus finally arrives (really I would have made better time walking than waiting on that damn bus) it stops directly in front of me, about 5-6 people were in front of me at the right stop. I think nothing of it as I started to move back so they could get on the bus this one wom-child (a grown woman with a child's mentality) starts getting all in a huff, rolling her eyes and looking me up and down. At first I didn't really pay attention because I was looking for my Metro-card but after a while it was really obvious as people started to get on the bus.

As I'm not prone to getting into all that ghetto hoopla I just stepped aside to let her on the bus, to which she responded with "oh I thought so". HUH, she thought so? What did she think? I just laughed.

I don't know what gets into people first thing in the morning, that they are ready to fight every person that steps into their path. I couldn't stop laughing at this wom-child gearing up for a fight at 7:30am, are you serious? I know there have been mornings when I was MAD AS HELL at something or nothing, but I never get that mad that stranger become targets. Lately I've seen arguments/fights break out on the train, the bus with the driver and I just can't understand why? Yeah sure the MTA sucks but is it worth all that.

I look at it like this, these people are a vision in passing, not at all real or worth my energy so I don't bother. But clearly its just me. Oh well I'm cool with that.

Funny how time flies

Three years ago I woke up at 4:00am wanting to go to the bathroom, I was good and pregnant. I had this feeling that today was the day, and no one could tell me differently. I got in the shower (second one in a 4hr period),and proceeded to call the Dr. to let her know that this was the day and I was coming in. I woke up Mr. F#$K it list (his first day of vacation sleep)and told him he needed to get up because I was ready to go. In the hour it took him to get ready, I put together a super labor playlist, painted a clear coat of polish on my toes, and made sure my hair was perfectly wrapped in my silk scarf. When we arrived at the hospital laughing and cracking jokes, the security guards did not believe I was in labor (especially since I took the stairs to triage)

After 5hrs of waiting and waiting, then two hours of walking my water burst and I was in full blown labor. I remember the entire labor, all four hrs but here are the highlights: I was pissed that the TV was on b.e.t and I was in a lot of pain. My mother had a million jokes, and made a $20bet that the pain would end and the baby would be born and lastly the one thing that got me through it all, Mr. F#$K it list telling me how good I was doing (wait that and Lionel Ritchie singing "Jesus is Love"). At 3:03, and 12 hrs of labor I gave birth to the cutest baby boy, affectionately now known as CJ.

C. J's first pic, 6lbs 10oz 23inches long

Daddy was so proud, he never believed we would have kids. And our first was a son, in his eyes it was all too perfect. He would ignore my wishes and sleep with CJ on his chest EVERY chance he got ( I'd just move CJ when he fell asleep).
Before I knew it, he was one years old. We had just gotten back from Mexico and he was walking and trying to really talk. I was just happy he was still my little baby. He had all his little teeth and he was starting to have a great personality (he gets it from his mama). He was just the best fun and we were as happy as we could be.
Two was a crazy time, with moving and his mood swings. He had totally forgot how to walk he only ran, he really talked A LOT, he didn't want to get his hair combed and was just an all around Cranker! But the worst part of it all was when I dropped him of to the daycare and he just said Bye Mom, and ran off to the hang out with the boys. I cried all the way to the train. He wasn't a baby anymore....

This was also when we discovered Music for Aardvarks and all was well when it played, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.


Now here we are and he's wearing underwear, sleeping in his own bed, quoting Pixar movies (favorite of the day Wall-E), and has seen more than one movie in the theater. He loves to tell us he's not a baby anymore but will lay on his Daddy's chest and go right to sleep just like when he was a few days old. CJ loves to cuddle and is funny, talkative, smart and still the cutest baby boy ever. And Today on his third birthday I am the Luckiest Mom in the world!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CJ!
You're the best thing that ever happen to ME (and Daddy too)!

I sing this to CJ all the time. Can't go wrong with a little Glady Knight and the Pips!

Post Racial America = 1945

Yesterday as I was swaying to the smooth grooves of Maxwell (FREE CONCERTS YES!) I read about an injustice so ridiculous I thought it might be a joke. No its a very real story read below:


Dymire Baylor says he overheard a woman ask, "What are all these black kids doing?" when he and his friends showed up.

More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.

Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"

Kids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. But after only one trip to the private club, they were...

"I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor.

The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers' first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

"When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool," Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. "The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately."

The next day the club told the camp director that the camp's membership was being suspended and their money would be refunded.

"I said, 'The parents don't want the refund. They want a place for their children to swim,'" camp director Aetha Wright said.

Campers remain unsure why they're no longer welcome.

"They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything," said camper Simer Burwell.

The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded.

"There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

While the parents await an apology, the camp is scrambling to find a new place for the kids to beat the summer heat.

Wait so while I was swaying with Maxwell about doing a lil something something I entered some sort of time warp and was sent back to 1945.... This is the most absurdly racist thing I have ever heard. Let's dissect this shall we:

So 60 Black kids go to the pool to swim, and the Caucasian member of the club fear that they might hurt their kids, and change the complexion of the pool. ~ REALLY? This is the best statement they could release? What the F$%k does that even mean?

I'm no swimmer but I do know that my blackness doesn't rub off or run into the water and then attaches itself the the nearest person. This is ABSURD and RACIST to say the least and clearly the Valley Swimclub really could care less how this looks since they allowed that to be released as a statement. Did the kids not pay the $1900 it took to swim there, so was the green of the money they used not as green as the white members? Hey Valley Swimclub why not just hang a huge confederate flag and "Whites Only" sign because at least then prospective camps would know where they stand...

And what then do you tell your children, who at that age know very little about race issues? I know what I would tell CJ, and those of you that know me personally know exactly what I would say to him. My mind does not allow me to pussyfoot around race issues not even with my three year old. RACE is STILL AN ISSUE PEOPLE! And the longer we dance around it the more power we give it. The election of President Obama, the first Black President does not and will not wipe away the four hundred plus years of oppression and racism. And its time WE as a people embrace that and teach our kids about it..because only through their knowledge of their history will they learn how to handle these events.

Yes wipe your babies tears, but then look them in the eyes and explain the real racial dynamics of this country. So that when faced by the KKK whether in sheets or swim trunks they know. I am beside myself about this incident and how it is being handled, if the Valley Swimclub has not fired this moron manager/director than they are waving the flag pretty high and the people of the city of brotherly love need to raise their fist in protest.

I'm tired

I don't even know if words can express how very tired I really am. This last two days it feels like my brain is bouncing around in my head and I can't get a hold of anything. Usually Yoga will relax me but yesterday as I stood in warrior 1 I just wanted to scream and go back to bed..... This is SO NOT LIKE ME! But I'm tired, cranky and really kind of hostile at this point. First I thought it was that I wasn't getting enough sleep, but really I think I'm getting too much.

Right now its like the world is being placed on my little bitty shoulders and I need to shake it pronto.

Most times if I write down what is bugging me, give it to the universe I feel better. So I'm gonna try that now here on blogger.

I'm tired of people that think they can get away with harassment. The person(s) I speak of are wearing me down and forcing me to lose my otherwise even temper.

I'm tired of looking for a house, tired of real estate agents (seller and buyer), lawyers, inspections, contracts, mortgage brokers, banks. Just everything involved, I was almost tempted to just give the seller that is holding up this process his number just so I could be done.... (Don't worry commonsense kicked in, its a BUYERS market and I need to just hold on).

I'm tired of this f$%king SLUMLORD that does nothing, speaks no f$%king English, tries to rip me off because I'm a woman, and then tries to get his wife to smooth things over so they can get their rent check.

I'm tired of dealing with this city! No one loves NY more than I but I really feel like removing myself from this city might make me happy. I love my career, I love the firm I work for but if they opened a one man shop in the smallest of small towns in GA, I'd leave this city faster than you can say Mayor Bloomberg!

I'm tired of feeling like I have no support system, yet I'm there for EVERYONE, anytime they ask. Hell even a rock needs the ground to lean on.

I'm tired of missing my friends. I wish they would all just move here or maybe I'll move down there.

I'm tired of people that don't listen to what I'm saying but still feel the need to give me their damn opinion. Sometimes a person needs to VENT and all you need to do is listen.

I'M
JUST
F$%KING
TIRED

and I need a break from all the hoopla that has become my rather stress-less life!

**** Here's to hoping I get back to my normal self in time for CJ's bday party. T-5 and counting

Bamboozled Entertainment Television part II

So I said my peace about that hellish b.e.t and so did a lot of my favorite blogger. Now comes the Vlogs... First up:

Smarty Smarty ~ She's on a blog hiatus but she seems to have time to Vlog (heheh)



She's funny and maybe you should tune in weekly.

Then I just happen to be on Youtube listening to Paul Simon and I saw my man Elon James had FINALLY put together a Vlog and what was the topic... YES b.e.t awards



YESSS! Did he say a bucket of fried chicken and a grape soda? YES and raping a watermelon? YES!!!

I love it. and damn you b.e.t

Lastly I've finally put up my web cam and signed in to my 18 year old skype account. If you have skype hit me up rashida.d