Investing in the future

An Ode to Youth 

Master Math and Science like...

Hank Aaron mastered baseball

Muhammad Ali mastered boxing

Michael Jackson mastered song and dance

Spike Lee mastered movie making

Wynton Marsalis mastered music

Venus and Serena Williams mastered tennis

Oprah Winfrey mastered television

...and the young quarterback, Michael Vick, who resurrected himself to master his destiny

with so many more not named here and you will master your destiny.

"Crabs in a Barrel Controversy"

It has often been remarked that the black community's own worst enemy is the "black community". This is sometimes referred to as the "crabs in the barrel" mentality. A crab is struggling to climb up to escape but is pulled back down by another crab...and it's still true today in politics, black-on-black crime, kids trying to do well in school being bullied and taunted by their peers with the most recent being the murder of an outstanding student in Chicago. I have personally witnessed one black leader based in Chicago who reared his following with such discipline that if one sought to apply this "crab mentality" it would wind up "one dead crab"...harsh and a subject for another time. However, it got results. I have yet to see any leadership within the black community that had such transformational discipline, to the extent of having to ask oneself, was this man, who is now deceased, divinely sent like Moses, who was known not to spare the rod on his followers? Many of you probably know of whom I speak. With all that's going on in terms of self-destruction within black communities across the US, possibly desperate measures are needed in desperate times, for we are doing far more or not doing enough in allowing our future generation to exterminate itself, without the sinister hand of the KKK, white supremacists, etc. 

This subject comes to mind with the "60 minutes" interview with Tyler Perry in light of the recent of what I would consider unduly harsh criticism by Spike Lee of Mr. Perry's body of work as being "coonery and buffoonery". Yes, I think Spike's criticism was not only harsh, but unfair, and over the top. Apology should be rendered to Mr. Perry for this man has shown himself to be creative, financially successful, and is reaching back to lift others to "escape the barrel" that all too often provides very little opportunity to do so. Man up, Spike and let's hear it for the brother. 

From the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley 

"I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." 

The title of the poem is also the title of the movie starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, the iconic leader who brought his nation out of the dreadful apartheid system, a guardian angel who has guided South Africa to a level of worldwide respect never thought possible. Then there is Robert Mugabe who also delivered his nation of Zimbabwe from the apartheid regime of Rhodesia to become a demon to the people and country. What manner of man in comparing the two? Could it be that one submitted to Divine Authority as opposed to seeing himself as the god? I think this is a fair an accurate assessment of men who think they are greater than the God of the Universe.

Just a sidebar, I wrote earlier about the misfortune of Michael Vick, from football millionaire to convict and apparently resurrecting himself and seeing "the Light" is now setting a vivid example of taking one's God-given ability for granted in the world as he considers himself a god. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods' peril is considered an example of the same foolish path taken...gained the world, but a soul condemned to the hell of a tarnished legacy. This is the fate of all tin gods...pedestaled by mankind.

The movie "Invictus" is bound to be great because it reveals the role of such a history-changing figure, who has maintained such humbling physical presence in this world centered by a strength of spirit unlike most mortals.