48 YEARS LATER

As you all know, the state of America is in an uproar because of the economy. People are disenfranchised and feel as if America has failed them, which has prompted a movement named Occupy Wall Street which has now gone global. Nations all over the world have taken part in the message and want their voices to be heard. The same way Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted his message to be heard when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech forty eight years ago in 1963. Dr. King had a vision and everyone who felt his vision took part in the marches and the peaceful demonstrations to bring about change. Dr. King stood for something and that was for all mankind to get along with one another as well as EQUALITY throughout the WORLD! After all the things that's been done in his honor, it baffles me that this message is still NOT being HEARD! Racism still exists in America, INEQUALITY still pervades the nation, CORPORATE GREED has caused our NATION to be in a recession. Unemployment has skyrocketed within the past couple years. People are losing their jobs left and right, mortgages cannot be paid therefore causing families to lose their homes to foreclosure. President Barack Obama personifies the DREAM that Dr. King had but the job is nowhere near done. A lot of people that voted for him are expecting him to make a miracle out of a country that was passed on to him AFTER the DAMAGE was already done. Its not his fault this country is in the situation that it is. Let's not forget about Bush's agenda with "weapons of mass destruction" and all the money he put into the war. For eight years this man ran our country tearing it down day by day and as soon as Barack Obama is elected, everyone expects him to eradicate a situation that was already DOOMED before he got in office. He is doing the best he can to rectify this economy and bring the country back to a normal state, but opposition is all he gets. This whole world is in a state of emergency, which is why Occupy Wall Street reminds me of the Civil Rights movement. People of all races are uniting together for what they feel is right. Too many times, we sit back and watch things happen right under our noses without doing anything about it. We are the 99% and it's only right that our voices be HEARD throughout the world. The same way Dr. Martin Luther King wanted FREEDOM, JUSTICE, and EQUALITY for all mankind to be heard is the same way Occupy Wall Street should be heard! People should not have to suffer over corporate greed, its not right! When you don't learn from history, its bound to repeat itself.

POLICE CORRUPTION, WHEN DOES IT END?

Does it surprise you that the ones who took the oath to serve and protect the 'community and it's citizens' are the ones who end up doing everything to oppose it? Not for me, it doesn't! I was reading the paper and I stumbled across an interesting article in the Daily News. A former cop is currently being prosecuted for charges of falsifying drug arrests in exchange for overtime. As I read the article, something in the pit of my stomach disgusted me! This is not an all out attack on cops, because contrary to popular belief there are still a handful of good ones out there. I'm not speaking on them, I'm speaking on the ones who knowingly put on their uniform to cause mayhem and chaos throughout our communities. With all that being said, that's all they'll ever get from me. We've all been affected by their public displays of indifference either directly or indirectly. Some of these officers go into the academy with the mindset that once they get in, they will be above the law and will be free to do as they please without any regard to the end result. It's a cruel world out there, that even officers of the law find a way to abuse their power. It doesn't matter whose affected or not, the only thing they care about is their selves.

Corrupt ex-undercover Stephen Anderson testified that undercover officers received two to three hours of overtime as payback for taking down crack suspects in a Brooklyn courtroom. He also testified that officers swiped police funds used for drug buys on a daily basis. He is accused of conspiracy for associating and taking part of other rogue officers operations. Operations that included planting cocaine on innocent victims, which means he had to lie to grand juries in order for D.A. to get a conviction. He fabricated circumstances of arrests in numerous locations such as Queens and Brooklyn. His justification he says, is because he didn't want to be blacklisted from other undercover officers. I am appalled at his reasoning and the fact that there are probably scores of people he helped get locked up still sitting in prison for his stupidity and poor judgment baffles me. I wonder how many families read the Daily News October 14, 2011 and are probably trying to find attorneys right this minute to spring their loved ones from jail. It's sad that this poor excuse for a human being could jeopardize people's lives like this and think it's okay. Karma always finds a way to play its role so now he is faced with charges and being brought to justice. If there is such a thing as justice, the way this world is these days. If he could engage in such a heinous act, just imagine how many other officers could be doing this to one of your family members right now or have done so in the past? I'm pretty sure he's not the only one, my question is when does it end!

UNBREAKABLE

I chose the title of this blog for the simple fact that I thought it was absolutely fitting to some of the things I've been through. It takes a special person to be able to wear this title, because not all of us are built the same. God chooses who to put through certain situations because He knows whether you can truly overcome whatever your going through or not. I am the epitome of this! All my life I've wondered why things never went as smoothly for me as they should. For one, I knew I made certain choices that inevitably ruined my chances at having a normal childhood and at that time I was fine with that. Being loyal to friends was more important to me than my own family. For some odd reason, that's just how it was for me growing up. Long story short, I was able to redefine who I was when I had nothing but time to think about all the wrong I done. I didn't want a life full of grief and misery. I wanted to be happy. I worked so hard at getting respect and street credibility, but there was still a void in my life. That void was love! Reflecting back on this, the things I encountered back then is what makes me who I am today. People will try to break you and everything you stand for, but they fail to realize that I'm unbreakable. I been this way, because it was written long before I was born. It kind of disturbs me that people that you would have went to war for are the same one who antagonize you and try to put you in this box! I acknowledge it for what it is and continue to do what I've been doing, which is to deter the youth from heading down a path of destruction as I once did. The bigger picture is about them, it's not about me! My gift to the world is to educate and inspire those in need of inspiration. I refuse to quit until I accomplish this! It doesn't matter what the naysayers think or feel, I will forever be UNBREAKABLE!!

Moment of Silence for Troy Davis

As I am writing this, chills run through me for I can only imagine what is going through the mind of Troy Davis and thousands of people who have rallied behind his cause. In 1989, Troy Davis was accused and convicted of killing off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia. Convicted in 1991, Davis has spent his time trying to prove his innocence. Currently on Death Row, he is hours away from being executed by lethal injection. Protesters have rallied all over the world in a last minute effort to take a stand and hopefully prevent his execution. There are way too many doubts surrounding his case as witnesses have recanted their stories during trial. That in itself would've been enough to grant him another trial and potentially set him free but when cases involve the shooting death of an off duty police officer, things can get quite complex. These things happen all too often in our society and I think it's a shame. I think its unfortunate and the fact that our judicial system are so quick to pull the plug on human life when there is so much doubt on the case is truly disturbing. How do you send a message that killing is wrong by taking another human life? I don't understand this for the life of me! I wasn't there to know the exact details of the case or what exactly transpired on that day. Only God and Troy Davis knows the truth. I truly hope justice will prevail, especially if this man is truly innocent! We live in a society that pride itself in the concept of Innocence til Proven Guilty but what happens when this is the case and people still won't let you prove your innocence? Life is precious, don't take yours for granted! God help Troy Davis!

REALITY IS

People are ignorant these days, no one wants to be educated! They're more concerned about whose the best rapper! Studying others bank accounts when they should be focusing on theirs! Kids aspire to go to jail (rite of passage) as opposed to getting their education! I don't glorify or sensationalize prison, those were the most miserablest days of my life! I don't live in the past, I move forward! I got friends still in jail, everything I do is for them! I am their voice on the outside. Suspended in Time isn't just related to prison, its a mind set! Ex: drug dealing leads to consequences! I try to provide ppl with an alternative and my debut novel is a deterrent. I talk about things I been through in that novel and hopefully it can save someone in your family's life! Back in the day, I was a stick up kid so robbery was not in the cards for me when I got out in 97'. I speak to the youth because you grown ppl already done made up your minds about life! The fragile kids who're leading down a path of destruction! The ones looking for something to inspire them other than rap music! I didn't just get locked up, I went da extra mile and got dat degree! If you can't relate to me, this msg aint for you! I am the epitome of hope and what it means to turn a negative situation into a positive one! People fear the unknown and thats expected when your a threat to their existence! I dont give any importance to small ppl with small minds, but shout out to all of you who know what's real! All my author colleagues, I salute you! All my true friends, you already know! The documentary is on the way before summer...



LOYALTY CANNOT BE BOUGHT, IT'S EARNED!!




Join the book page to the left of this box "Suspended In Time"



.

CRITICS CRY FOUL AT URBAN LIT

I JUST WATCHED A HELL OF A DOCUMENTARY BY KAVEN BROWN AND A HOST OF OTHER NOTABLE AUTHORS. THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT URBAN LITERATURE GENRE AND HOW IT EXPLOITS PEOPLE BY DEPICTING CHARACTERS THAT DON'T CONVEY A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO THE READERS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE VALIDITY OF THE ARGUMENT BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE'RE PROTECTED OF OUR 1ST AMMENDMENT RIGHTS. WHICH MEANS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR TALENTS THROUGH SPEECH, MUSIC, AND ANY OTHER FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT. THE PROBLEM WITH THESE CRITICS IS PROBABLY THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T SEPARATE ART FROM REALITY. I CAN PICK UP A BOOK AND KNOW ITS FOR MY ENTERTAINMENT AND ONCE I'M DONE, I KNOW THAT IT WAS ONE OR TWO THINGS. IT WAS A GREAT READ OR PURE BULLSHIT, EITHER WAY I WAS STILL ENTERTAINED WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF ME BUYING THE BOOK TO BEGIN WITH. SOMETIMES WE NEED A GOOD BOOK TO TAKE US AWAY FROM THE REALITY OF WHAT'S TRANSPIRING WITHIN OUR OWN LIVES. NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE REAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL ISSUES WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE TO ENDURE. IN FACT, THAT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO THEM. WHEN I SAY THEM, I MEAN CRITICS! EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, THERES SOME LOBBYIST GROUP WHO HAS A HIDDEN AGENDA TO TARGET WHATS TAKING PLACE IN THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS! IT'S ABSURD! THIS REMINDS ME OF WHEN NWA CAME OUT AND EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT "FUCK THE POLICE". ICE T CAME OUT WITH "COP KILLER" AND EVERYONE CRIED "GANGSTER RAP". I REMEMBER CALVIN BUTTS TOOK A STEAM ROLLER AND CRUSHED ICE CUBE'S CD DEATH CERTIFICATE AT THAT TIME. C. DELORES TUCKER AND HER GOONS SET OUT TO SINGLE HANDEDLY ANNIHILATE RAP. ANOTHER ART FORM WE CREATED FOR OURSELVES TO DOCUMENT THE THINGS TAKING PLACE WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AINT NOBODY STUPID ENOUGH TO GO COMMIT A CRIME ON A COP UNLESS YOUR INSANE. BUT THAT WAS THEIR RHETORIC BACK THEN AND THEY LOST THE BATTLE. THE MORE THEY DID TO TRY TO STOP THE MUSIC, THE MORE THE MUSIC WAS HEARD! ICE CUBE BECAME AN ICONIC FIGURE, NWA SOLD MILLIONS OF RECORDS, ICE T WAS A LEGEND AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THE SAME CRITICS GAVE HIM A SHOW ON LAW & ORDER! HOW IRONIC IS THAT? HE PLAYED HIS PART TO PERFECTION AND PEOPLE FORGOT HE WAS THE SAME ONE RAPPING "COP KILLER" MANY YEARS AGO. CRITICS HAVE THE TENDENCY TO SWARM IN ON WHAT'S HOT AND BASH IT AS OPPOSED TO RESPECTING IT. IF THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY FROM IT, IT BECOMES THEIR PROBLEM ALL THE SUDDEN!KIDS WITNESS VIOLENCE ALL DAY LONG, WHETHER ITS AT SCHOOL OR IN THE HOOD. IF NOT, THEY CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE MOVIES OR PLAY SOCOM ON PLAYSTATION. THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT! AS FOR THE DEPICTING OF SEX ON THE BOOK COVERS, I DO FIND IT COMMON BUT WHO AM I TO JUDGE? I APPLAUD ANYONE WITH ENOUGH TALENT TO WRITE A BOOK, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT EASY! THAT ALONE TAKES ALOT OF DETERMINATION, FOCUS, AND SKILL! IF WE DIDN'T HAVE WRITING AS AN OUTLET, I DON'T THINK THE WORLD WOULD BE READY FOR THE MAYHEM THAT WOULD DOMINATE OUR STREETS! ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO MY FELLOW AUTHORS OUT THERE IS KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO, DON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO CURTAIL WHAT YOUR DOING! AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY HAVE TO RESPECT IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER! LET'S STOP FIGHTING AND BICKERING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, THIS IS THE TIME TO UNITE AND SOLIDIFY BONDS. WHEN PEOPLE SEE WEAKNESS, THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO DISRUPT IT. IT'S THAT OLD DIVIDE AND CONQUER THING WE'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH. NOW THE NON-FICTION AUTHORS WILL SHY AWAY FROM THE ONES WHO WRITE FICTION CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE "NONSENSE". I ALREADY SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT HAPPENS. I HAVE THAT GIFT! SO BEFORE YA'LL START POINTING FINGERS AT ONE ANOTHER AND BLAMING EACH OTHER FOR WHAT'S OUT THERE THAT CAN'T BE CHANGED. RESTRATEGIZE AND KEEP IT MOVING! REMEMBER, IF THEY WEREN'T TALKING YOU'D THINK SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WE SET TRENDS, WE DON'T FOLLOW THEM!