Sometimes I wonder how it is that people become dream stealers, career crushers, imitators. Never before have I payed much attention to these kinds of people because I didn’t think I ever had anything worth stealing or imitating. But now I know that there are a few who would like to be me. Not like me, but me. Yes I said it. There are a few copy cats out there with my MO. Even now I don’t let it bother me because I know that the truth will shine through. I remember some years ago when I approached a record producer about recording my group. He was into recording choirs so I made the intros and made it happen. I worked on the project to help it come to life. At the end of the session and the records were pressed, I looked for my name in the credits. Hmmm there were special thanks but no producer credits. That credit was given to the choir director. Again when I wrote a song for a major choir I listed the musicians that collaborated with me as I am a fair person. When the royalties were being distributed and the credits were given, one of the musicians was awarded a third of the song. Hmmmm! Now I don’t think as highly of myself as I should but I was perturbed that my work was being claimed by another. Who does that?
This afternoon as I watched cable access I listened to the VP of Tyler Perry Studios as he introduced Kim Fields Morgan, a recipient of the Trailblazer Award for Film I had a thought. Mrs. Fields-Morgan was being honored for her 30 year career in film and it was fitting that the VP of Tyler Perry Studios make an introduction as she is now directing the sitcom from that studio, “Meet the Browns”. My interest followed the story of her career and her work ethic on the set.
I think now of the few kids in my after school program that clamor for attention from anyone who walks through the door. One little boy is a pro at this to the point that he's downright aggravating. He attempts to gain all of the attention as the older children amuse themselves with distractions. I get annoyed sometimes because he interferes with the other children getting their proper time and attention while in my care. Ms. Fields-Morgan the story goes on is on the set of Meet the Browns and one of the extras is over zealous. Before Kim rushes in [angrily] to correct the situation someone else intervenes. I thought of how sometimes we let people get away with stealing our dreams and our goals by not “correcting them”. Today we say “checking them”. If it were not for the Kim Fields Morgan’s of the world who fight for the underdog and the integrity of a scene all of the scene stealers would go on their merry way, content that they have stolen something from someone that they want to be. My motto after having many scenes stolen from me is---make 'em work for it and move to the side so Kim can see them trying to steal your scene.

Perry's Film Another One in a Series of Male Bashing

Okay so the much publicized movie "For Colored Girls" has hit the theaters. It is amazing the various perspectives reported by men and women. The men regard the movie as another one of those "male bashing pieces" designed to put the brothers down. Hmmmm! First, isn't Tyler a man? He simply took the original production of "For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough" and brought it to the screen. The poetry and dialogue is mostly written by women. I saw the original play years ago and found it quite entertaining. I especially loved the dialogue from Loretta Devine toward the end of the movie...he's taken my stuff...I kept waiting for her to finish the poem with "you've taken my heart, give it back put it down", but oops that was a line from one of my poems. That part didn't dawn on me until 2:30AM. But to say that the movie was about male bashing is an understatement. Brothers we love you-sometimes to death. But until we as women learn to love ourselves and respect one another you'll find our love is limited where you are concerned. The movie depicted the struggles women face when they love a black man; particularly one who is broken. Not all brothers need to be fixed, but some do and to say that we bash you is your opinion. We long for a relationship where the drama is limited to mediocre things. But rape, murder, theft are huge and cannot be swept under a rug no matter who commits these atrocities toward women. I love black men, have always loved black men, am married to a beautiful black man and have raised two black sons. When we are wrong we need to accept the help from strong black women. Do you get me? We can't keep silent when you continue to hurt us.

And the Survey Says…

Recently I had an opportunity to spend a little quality time with my grandson. I watched him as he laughed and played and climbed on top of furniture and pushed and pulled every button on every electronic gadget in the house. Wow! What a little learner I thought. At 20 months he has become more aware of the things in his environment and that things will work for you. He also understood that you have to push some buttons to make the things work. He is not in a private daycare, as a matter of fact I encouraged his mother to not place him in daycare until he is at least three years old. In his home there is lots of play, lots of talking and lots of love. He is encouraged to develop and I would imagine often imitates the actions of his older aunts and uncles with whom he lives.
In this age of intellect and technology the rush to be prepared to compete on a global level has gotten way out of control, in my opinion. One would think that the sooner you get your child involved in a learning environment the better. Hmmmmm! I have a few thoughts about that too.
It is easy to find parents and teachers who agree that starting a child in daycare at a later age is a better proposition. However growth and learning, according to school reforms, suggests that children entering kindergarten should have had the benefit of a structured early childcare experience. By the time a child enters kindergarten he has been stripped of the wonders of learning; learning through experiencing his environment, learning through play, beginning fine and gross motor skills, and developing his communication skills. How many times have we as teachers said, "that's too much talking, hush, shhhhhh, get your work done, stay in your seat" (guilty). We find that curriculum is structured to enhance learning; but at what cost to the child?
We take the rights of children away by imposing on them every new theory, every new curriculum and every new technological gadget. Always playing catch-up and never mastering what really works for children our educational systems are blundering. Have we progressed past the point where the teacher is the authority in the classroom and understands best, what works for her particular group of students? We train teachers, don’t we? I've noticed an early trend to begin rotating children to other teachers on the grade level in order to have "like" groups working together. Now here is the problem I've seen with this. At an early age the child really does not understand that he is supposed to know more than what he knows. He in fact, is penalized for not knowing enough. While the teacher stands on the sidelines shaking her head mumbling, "I could do a better job with this group if you let me", students are shuffled off to the next waiting teacher.
By strategically planning, schools are given the "blue print for education" how this is accomplished is seen in a number of ways. One chooses to believe that the plans can be altered to fit the specific needs of the student when current plans don't work. Hmmmm. Do we see educators as the catalysts for educational growth and change? Classroom teachers should be involved in the design of curriculum and practice. The travesty in some reform is that it dictates to communities of learners how and when they will learn. Changes that accumulate one on top of another should be dissected and examined for relevancy. Each government builds on layers of modification without submitting to the previous reforms. Rapid succession of instructional reforms brings abut new laws, regulations and additional reforms. What is reform? Reform is improvement, reorganization, restructuring, modification, transformation, change. Reform is only necessary when a society evolves to the next plateau, i.e. farming to industry to intellect.
The development of young children should not be sacrificed for the sake of competition. We certainly don't want to "dumb it down" but the original purpose of kindergarten may not be relevant in some communities; transitioning immigrant children into a western society. In the 1870s William T. Harris, Supt. of St. Louis Public Schools, harshly stated that kindergarten was "the salvation of the children of the slums". Today kindergarten is available to all classes of children. The nurture, inclusion and transition from one culture to another should remain for immigrant students and the socialization of the kindergartener should not be stripped away. Pre-Kindergarten has become the new Kindergarten and Kindergarten now addresses the curriculum of the first grade. A return to some of the practices of readiness might yield better learners if they are encouraged through their play to cooperate, share , listen, explore, invent and communicate with the world.
Although we promote readiness at early ages, children will only go so far before shutting completely down. Look at the statistics in other aggressive countries!

What Do You Want Me To Do

Every now and then the Lord sends a truly anointed vessel to encourage the body of Christ. This anointing spills over and affects all in close proximity. One anointed vessel can change an entire nation let alone, an entire city. Things happen in the spirit before they are manifested in the natural. Let he who has an ear to hear [and eye to see] listen. This weekend was filled with such an unusual anointing for praise. Being obedient to the Lord is so necessary in order to advance to the next level. In advancing to the next level one should be mindful that the blessings are not for you alone. Just as every negative thing we do affects others, so does every righteous thing. Doing good unto others or, “paying it forward” as we say today has never left a dry man thirsty or a starving man hungry. It should be a desire to do good to all men.
When we listen to the voice of Christ, aren’t we prepared to follow his instructions? Churches would be filled with thirsty, hungry men and women if we listen to the voice of God and follow his directives. When someone says praise the Lord, does that mean now or later for you. Is the praiser asking you to greet him back with the same command, or is he asking you to actually praise the Lord? When we stand before God’s people and say “Praise the Lord Saints”, do we want them to praise Him right then and there or are we simply greeting the body. If the latter is the case simply say, “Greetings saints, peace be unto you.” (Something I heard as a child growing up in the Pentecostal church.) The saints would reply, “Peace be multiplied.” In my home church after the benediction has been given, we hug, kiss and leave the building. We normally continue our conversations outside of the sanctuary. There’s nothing special about this.
This particular Sunday the Lord was not finished with us. After an excellent worship and praise time, a rhema word from the speaker, prayer and anointing of the parishioners we were ready to follow the norm. But oh, somebody had had a break through, much like the one I had the previous day. Recognizing this and listening to the woman of God who was instructed to lay hands on the rejoicing saints, we got back into worship mode. “I hear the Lord say I see you,” she started. “I see you all. “Praise me and give thanks,” the Lord spoke through her. Well needless to say most stood around looking until praises started flowing. We praise you Lord, You are awesome, you are special, you are altogether lovely, we adore you, you are a friend, and we love you for your many blessings. Sounds like praise to me. The next time someone stands in the pulpit and asks us to praise the Lord – let’s not greet them, but let’s do as instructed. Praise the Lord? Praise the Lord.

Should Old Acquaintances Be Forgotten?

Terry McMillan, a favorite urban writer commented on her Facebook page that "by the time we reach our fifty's we pretty much have made the friends that we will have for life." I tend to agree. That circle of friends who have known us the longest, who don't judge our every move also applauds our successes. This fantastic group of friends may not be a very large group, but it is a manageable one. I further agree that sometimes it seems hard to let new people in because we already have that circle of people that we can trust. Even though we have grown apart, there is a common thread that reminds us of those friends who helped make us what we are today. I longed to reconnect with my line sisters and Facebook was one of the tools that would make that possible. A few weeks ago I wrote to a couple of my sorority sisters in an attempt to catch up. When we started connecting it was thrilling. On my next trip home I was able to briefly visit with one of my sisters. Another soror finally figured out I was one and the same person showing up on her Facebook page under a pseudonym. She called and we talked for a long time, laughing and getting caught up. I asked each of the sorors if they had been in touch with others and how could I reach one of my favorite line sisters. I went on Barb's page and found her. Another exciting conversation and happy reunion. The morning that I rose feeling a need to reconnect with my old friends was no coincidence. When the third soror told me that she had been living in my city for the past month, on assignment from her job, I couldn't believe it. She was right under my nose for the past month and I didn't know it. Or did I? There is a strong bond between your natural sisters as well as with your sorority sisters. Having all my sisters with me has given me such an unexplainable boost and confidence. And so to all of my dear friends near and far I say thank you for loving me and considering me a friend.

In Retrospect

Last night as I prepared for sleep, all of the days events and conversations came up for review. I thought about one conversation about how I should settle on something and do that well. The advice was given in love and I received it as such. But as I delved further into that statement I found some shocking evidence that warrants my propensity for multi-tasking.

Everything that I now do has assigned destiny and purpose. It seems at first that I am doing too much, spinning my wheels and engaging in multiple tasks and ventures. BUT everything that I now do has a specific purpose. It is not that these tasks are ongoing, I have taken on the characteristics of a serial entrepreneur, utilizing all of my skill set. Some will not understand the assignments given to me and may feel that I am hopeless. But I do know that I can turn to scripture to support my own behavior.
I have an advantage because I talk to and listen to my Father. It is his will for this time, He says to me, that I will accomplish great things in your life. I have promised and I will bring it to pass. I am the Lord Jehovah.

Understanding that my life was designed to touch lives from various walks, I must study and learn more about people and their way of life to reach them for Christ. God reminded me that in every facet of my life He was been there guiding me, encouraging me to do well with the gifts he has given. For this I can only exclaim, WOW! My Father has invested so much in me, who am I to sit down on the talents he has nurtured.

Now, I am reminded of an internet legend of how God gave the races talents and asked them to go and do something with those talents. The story states that every race except one was fruitful and duplicated the talents (money). "Sadly, God looked at His people and said, 'With what you have done with your talents, you may as well have buried them in the ground. Because of your slothfulness and lack of good stewardship, I will give your future talents to those who have the least. You have gravely disappointed me by not adhering to one of my most important admonishments: To whom much is given, much is expected.' "

This I Know

I was stumped for a minute, but today while meditating I read a passage from Success! The Glenn Bland Method. I've had this book in my library for many years and every now and then I'll read it to refresh myself of the biblical truths Mr. Bland speaks. His words were dear to me and caused me to do some light reflection on the turn of this season in my life. Glenn spoke to me when he said, "If you have a genuine thirst for opportunity, then you must launch out confidently, leaving the details of providing for the necessities of life to the spirit within you." He goes further to quote Matthew 6:25-33. At evening prayer tonight my spirit quickened when I thought about how the Lord is orchestrating a few things in my life. No one can do it better and this I know.