The Moral Compass – Which Way Do You Swing?
A compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction.
Morals are lessons learned as a result of an event or story. It is from what you’ve personally experienced or based on what someone else told you about from their experience.
The Moral Compass is the decision to not judge what is before you but to determine what mess you want within your square.
The moral compass is swinging in many directions. Are you making decisions for yourself or allowing others to persuade you to move to their motion.
What is happening with today’s times? Where is the moral compass that spins or points to any other direction except North (forward)? Is it pointing East, North, West, or South?
Pants are still sagging off the men’s butts. The history of sagging included being in prison and pulling the pants down letting the other prisoners know they’re ‘available for whatever’.
Welcome, Step and Fetch it – Black people have traded in their ‘Black face’ for cosmetics.
Hey… Basketball Wives – It was admitted on their reunion show that Shaunie O’Neal’s original concept was not what is seen on television today. Although Shaunie is not by far… broke, she did the Rockefeller (Nelson D). ‘How much is enough money? His response was ‘Just a little bit more”. The network isn’t socially conscious; just money hungry. Controversy sells! Admittedly, I was influenced by my husband to ‘try it.’ Of course I can try it, because I can always stop.
Welcome to the new crack… Reality shows! We were recording the shows and watching the currents. I found myself into the clothes and shoes. Hearing the drama was secondary but intriguing. ‘BW’ Crack is being marketed to the young girls and women in the neighborhood who live vicariously through them. The message says that I can be successful via an athlete, go through infidelities because ‘it is what it is’ and not leave empty-handed. This statement in no way implies, ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’ Even in my favorite BW – Tami, who says she didn’t receive any compensation in her divorce from Kenny Anderson, is now able to recoup her loss through her own efforts.
The fighting and the ever so tiring disrespect of Evelyn’s inability to effectively communicate, the use of the ‘B’ word is annoying, and the nude pictures are desperate cries for “mo’ money mo’ attention”.
Ladies, you have an obligation to mentor those everyday people; especially our young girls and women because you are taking their money.
You are taking control of your lives. You can be a ‘Power Woman’ – just be careful how you yield that power.
Yolanda Adams is in the renamed category of Inspirational Gospel. Music that makes you want to groove with a positive message. Translation: (Artists) are singing about the love of God and sometimes His name may not be used each time. In her interview on the Mo’nique Show (www.bet.com/…/themoniqueshow/…/monique2133-yolanda-s1.html) she encapsulated who she is as just being a human being. She wants to be herself. The pressure of people’s expectations confirms what I heard God speak ‘Just love me’. Her love for Christ cannot be judged or measured by anyone.
When you love someone; a best foot is put forward. No one has to preach fire and brimstone for you to do what it takes to show that love. We voluntarily and unconditionally change. She is human. She is a beautiful, sexy, intelligent business woman and mother who only asks to be recognized that she is no better or less than – just human.
Why is it that people can watch these reality shows of celebrities going to rehab, fighting and bickering amongst family, and all their problems but couldn’t give Tyler Perry’s ‘For Colored Girls’ (www.forcoloredgirlsmovie.com) the acclaim it deserves? Why? Because it was not done in humor or buffoonery but with real intellect and compassion; which is not what people want as a reminder to the reality to their own lives. They need to laugh to keep from crying.
So…
Recently, I pre-judged something and was thinking within the box. After opening up my heart, mind, soul; I endorsed a song entitled, ‘Pole in HER Bedroom’ by Uncle Win (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/unclewin3). The song implies that the woman is in control of her life as opposed being misrepresented or exploited by someone else. The movement is on to change the stereotype of women who belong to social clubs, motorcycle clubs, etc. The pole is being moved from the strip club to the fitness club and still allows women to be professionals and sexy without exploitation.
Being careful not to judge – I don’t think inside ‘the Box’. ‘My moral compass’ may sometimes move away from the North needle but through prayer, listening to that Higher Power greater than myself – my moral compass needle moves back to ‘North’- non-judgmentally but knowing what works for my life and how can I help someone else.
Is your needle pointed North – moving you forward
And finally if the needle on your moral compass…
Is your needle spinning around and around – never knowing where you’re bound?
And
If it’s pointed South – you’re going out the world ass backward.
I refuse to put God in a box. I refuse to allow people to put me in a box. I have to determine what is acceptable within my box and will not try to interject my beliefs into your box.
Continue reading The Moral Compass – Which Way Do You Swing?
When You Can’t Hide from your Destiny
All the stuff I talk being Ms. Positive, Ms. Inspirational, Ms. I Love God
Last week a friend (Sista) made her transition. I knew I couldn’t go. I didn’t know why. Not more reasoning than I was sad that she was gone. My life and Life is not simple. My life is CO-LOR-FUL.
There are those who argue that Black is not a color because it doesn’t emit or reflect light. For several months, Black was ‘coloring’ my life. I tried to intellectually figure out something spiritual. It wasn’t working. I was tired of being tired of this blackness (this feeling).
I prayed. Then it was too ‘dark’ to pray. So I hollered, cried, screamed, “Lord, help me!” Life could only be handled day by day. There was still something that made me to get up for something whether it was for medication or the bathroom or the doctor. That something or reason was still ‘Faith’. It was the size of a mustard seed; but isn’t that all God said we had to have? (Mathew 17:20)
At this time, I am admitting to a ‘secret’ that can no longer hurt me. You see, the enemy likes secrets because of the fear of being found out is accompanied with it. My book released me from condemnation of the ‘secrets’ that were in my life. To bring your life challenges to the forefront doesn’t mean you have to tell everything. But what you can release allows it to lose its power and no longer keeps you a hostage of the enemy. When I had my spiritual revelation with the Trinity and angels, (November 2007), one of the things Jesus spoke was ‘…the enemy uses our minds and our tongues to keep us away from the focus.” Think of it – mental health (mind), gossip, lies, cursing, (tongue). Take your power back! I did by calling friends and family to tell them that I’d suffered with depression since I was a teenager. To hear it, to know others (including Susan L. Taylor – remarkable woman) suffered with it also gave clearer understanding; no more guilt or embarrassment. I won’t allow it to stop me from my dreams.
I told people that if I’d ever missed their birthday or their wedding or disappeared from their lives for months or years at a time – forgive me. NO MORE HIDING! NO MORE DISAPPEARING ACTS! Now-no more dwelling on the subject or apologizing for it. Empowerment is to help other sisters! I am placing a new category entitled “WO! Deep!” which means ‘Women Outing Depression’. A blog area where women (and teens) can come and discuss how they’re feeling. It’s a way to empower ourselves and not keep this ‘pain’ inside. DISCLAIMER: IT IS IN NO WAY A SUBSTITUTION FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP!
TODAY~~~~~~ Epiphany~~~~~~ I’m OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW~~~~~~Confirmation~~~~~~~GOD
What made the difference~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It’s Time~~~~~~~ NO MORE RUNNING~~YOU CAN’T~~~RUN~~~~FROM GOD~~~~From your Destiny!
Today~~~ I realized (again) that I can’t make my family (or others) do what I want them to. (The old ‘Serenity Prayer‘ ). They have a right to do it their way. They have a right to make the choices and decisions they make. They also must live with the consequences of their decisions. If you don’t want someone in your business; don’t ask for help. When we ask people for help, we also give them an unspoken invitation to be in our business.
It’s not saying that I won’t be a help to anyone. Maybe adding these caveats can clarify:
- You can’t bring everybody with you on your journey.
- You have to be able to help yourself before you can help others. You might be stressed but you can still bless by taking the focus off of yourself – you sill helped yourself first.
- Get out of God’s way. Sometimes HE wants people to come to HIM and you just jumped in between somebody else’s faith walk and testimony.
My cousin, whom I’d hadn’t seen since I was a child but was placed at the appointed moment in my life’ – explained this best. She said, “I can’t bless what God has cursed and I can’t curse what God has blessed. I can’t do anything if God doesn’t tell (or allows) me to do it.” – Thank you, Malinda!
I realized that I’m to be the writer that I was destined to be. Writing is shared by all. So even if my purpose for writing is to leave a legacy for my family ~ it will be left for anyone whom it will help. That is the greatest gift to leave. I realized that when I wrote my first books it was not written for one little girl (Me) ~~~ it’s written to help every little and big girl who reads it.
Divine Order – As we three sisters began to share, we began to connect, literally connect, and a name was spoken. We all had a story to tell of how we know HER. And then, the next information was one sister saying that HER mom’s funeral was a couple of days prior. I (we) wanted but missed the opportunity to be celebrate the life and her sister’s’ mom.
My husband asked how I could have gone to HER mom’s home going and not Sistas’?
Hold up!!!! I AM NOT JUDGING!!! Sista was tired – she had a right to live her journey out as she saw. I realized what my issue was. To go would be to see what I was doing to myself for several months. EVEN,EVEN, after GOD saved me and I promised, promised that I would do His will, I succumbed to the enemy whispering in my ear and my mind that I can’t be Great~~~that I don’t have the power to do what God destined me to do. I was letting the spirit of fear take my life over (again). I remember when Sista asked me to pray for her because she saw that GOD saved my life and had brought me back from the dead. She believed that praying to GOD can heal. It can. HE can. But she told me she couldn’t stop her vice (smoking). It was like saying to GOD, ‘I want you to do this for me but I can’t do this for you’. For one, God is unconditional so you don’t have to bargain but if you say it – do it! That is your sacrifice But you didn’t have to. Jesus already did it. Many of us break our promises to others, to ourselves, to GOD! But to obey your own word is more pleasing to God because you are trying to show your love for Him.
What does this mean? Sista’s journey ended in less than 60 years. She was tired.
The other woman’s journey ended at nearly 100 years. She was finished. If she was tired, then I still can celebrate the legacy she left. All the stories, all the wisdom, all the love, and all the beautiful children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and adopted children and grandchildren- all of US were her ‘babies”. That’s the life and journey that I pray that I can leave.
So I can’t leave yet until GOD says it’s time. My destiny is to write. I AM A WRITER!!!! I have the opportunity to live the life I dreamed as a child. The only one that has been standing in my way is me.
Believe me, this isn’t easy. We get our blessings and it requires work to keep them. WE love ~~~ it requires work. Relationships~~~ require work. Success~~~~requires work. Why? Go back to Genesis, that darn garden and the FIRST couple~. Eve got caught up but Adam didn’t step up when GOD asked him about what happened. He blamed GOD for giving him his helpmeet. (Not MATE). Adam said ‘well God you gave her to me’ (Gen 3:12) And God responded, ‘for that, Adam you (and your girl, Eve) will W-O-R-K for everything you ask me for’. (KJV AMP (Parallel Bible) Genesis 3)
And today~~~ Man is still blaming and not taking responsibility for his actions. So we continue working.
What also happened in ‘the Garden’ was for Man to be like the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and be able to discern good and evil. But because our physical eye was opened to see what is before us makes it more difficult. Physically seeing sends a message to the brain (mind) and that is part of what is utilized with your Spirit Man. Remember, the eyes are the windows to the soul. (Cicero 106-43 B.C translated Matthew 6 22-23)
Discerning the right thing to do for you and your relationship with God. Your moral compass.
Spiritual warfare~~~ requires work!
If it comes too easy, we don’t appreciate the gift as much! If you work for it, you’ll remember the labor but it will be to complement the birth!
If you think the world is small, it just may be the way you think
Have you ever met someone and engaged in a conversation only to find that you both know several people that can link you together?
First thing that is said is “It’s a small world”.
Let’s think about this:
There are 7,000,000,000 (billion) people in the world. (2011 World hunger and poverty statistics. Retrieved May 23, 2011 from www.worldhunger.org/…/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm)
There are 194 countries in the world (195 if you count Taiwan). (How many countries? Retrieved May 22, 2011 from www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0932875.html)
The planet is 40 421 kilometers = 25 116.445 miles in size. (Size of the earth. Retrieved May 22, 2011 from www.universetoday.com/26653/size-of-the-earth/)
And you say it’s a small world. Is it the way YOU think?
Inspired to write this by Joel Osteen (#500 God Has the Right People in Your Future).
I thought about this:
If we believe that the world is small, we will not appreciate things like ‘blessings, miracles, Divine Intervention, Divine order, ordered steps, etc.
Think about unlikely it is to run into somebody that you clicked with. We pass people every day. Some we speak to; some we don’t. We think it’s because we’re reading their expressions or it is what it is – we’re not clicking.
R. Kelly sang “She’s got that vibe.” (1992)
What is that? In his case, he was correct but ‘the vibe’ that I’m speaking of became secondary to the additional connotations of sexual attraction in the song.
A vibe is that feeling; that connection!
That feeling is…
Your Spirit!
The spiritual connection.
In my workbook (part 2 for the book with the same title), “May – Dec Winds (And Dorothy, You’re Not In Kansas Anymore)” I speak of how Man impacts his destiny but God controls it (pg. 4)
Let’s see the bigger picture.
God will order your steps to be at a certain point at the exact moment for you to receive your blessing or another piece to your ultimate blessing. Think about meeting someone or something happening at the appropriate time that had you been a minute or more early or later, you would have missed it.
And no it’s not the early bird catches the worm. That only means that you were there to beat out everyone else to get what you want first.
It’s deeper than that.
It’s being there precisely when you’re supposed to.
Think about when you wanted to be somewhere and you got distracted. It’s as if the enemy is trying to keep you from what God has for you. Some people give up only to find out they missed something very important that they needed. Those who pressed on realize that because they pressed on, God had a treat waiting just for them.
There is a difference between procrastination and those who are late for everything. That is not of God. That is the flesh in control. It is your disobedience to that ‘voice’ telling you to keep going. And ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’ (NKJ 1 Samuel 15:22). Therefore, if you press on – your blessing is waiting for you. If you’re stubborn and do just the way you want to – the enemy is laughing at your hard-headed self.
And finally, if you did everything you could to get to there and missed it – God is going to hold on to your blessing (for your appointed time)so that you can give your testimony all the way back from when you thought you missed it by adding AND “Guess what ELSE happened?”
The something extra – the piece de resistance. ‘Else’ are the extra gifts God gave to you.
God shows us coming attractions, He never reveals the BIG picture because He wants us to remain faithful.
Continue reading If you think the world is small, it just may be the way you think
The Power in a Name
Look around, there is fighting just about everywhere in the world. There is unrest. There is a cry for change. As Prince said, ‘some people want to die so they can be free – Controversy’ Why is there so much killing?
We have a new set of murderers – doctors who think they’re GOD. Do you think these murderers believe they are helping to set people free? Like Canada that told the parents of the 13 month old baby– ‘Hey, we’re going to kill him (let him die) because we know that his life would be worse or have no value if he ‘lives’. What should his ‘quality’ of life be? Well, let us be the judge of that… ‘
GOD is spelled ‘G-O-D’, not ‘D-O-C
But God still sits on the throne… that baby is breathing on his own… Remember when God breathed life into ‘Man’? Did they take their baby from them? Yes. But he’s out of that hospital and with his family in the United States, also surrounded by priests.
The power in a name – the baby’s name is Joseph – In the Bible, Joseph was in slavery, was reunited with his family, and a very powerful man who had favor by God and the king of Egypt. Joseph was the 11th son but was loved by his father the most. If you read the articles about baby Joseph, it is his father who is pictured the most and it’s his father who said he would die shortly after Joseph if they removed him from life support. http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2987022
In Detroit, they took Marianne’s (Godboldo) baby….. This is no different. There was plenty of media portraying Marianne as a potential cop killer – she shot at the police…. BIG PRINT EVERYWHERE…
But when it was told that Marianne’s daughter didn’t need to be drug pushed by the government…. That print was smaller and now the only thing to try to portray her in a negative light was to say… okay – she might not be a ‘bad’ parent but we have to save face and make it look like we didn’t make a mistake – very similar to saying ‘we didn’t lie on her’.
Befittingly on Mother’s Day, her daughter is ‘home’ released to her aunt, Penny Godboldo. It’s the same thing as releasing her to her mom because those sisters are very close. But you see, CPS had to save face – they couldn’t just let the daughter go home with her mom. That would make a statement that ‘maybe, just maybe’ we (CPS) were wrong’. They are not that honest or compassionate.
The power in a name – Godboldo – Break it down ‘God – Bold – O’
Marianne, I went through what you’re going through. I worked for juvenile court and they took my son. I know about your work in our community – you and Penny. I was also known within the community but people began to believe the lies told in court. The best revenge is success. I got my son back and it is one of my upcoming books!
Why Terry Jones came to Metropolitan Detroit
Detroit. Below poverty. Murders. Rapes. Fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, neighbors against neighbors. Wasn’t this foretold in some ‘Book’?
Disrespect for children and the elderly. Destroying your own neighborhoods before the new homes are even finished being built.
Robbin’ Hood (s) in reverse – Take from the poor to give to the rich.
Joblessness.Thievery. Extortion. White-collar crime. Political strong arm takeovers.”Get your hand out my pocket”. – Don’t lose focus, people!
Less Hope …..
but not Hopeless.
Please people, see the bigger picture. Terry Jones picked Metro Detroit because right now Detroit is ripe for spiritual warfare. Am I saying that the Apocalypse is near? I definitely do not know. But see the bigger picture:
The best way to spread a message to make sure it is in the media.
Now, Terry Jones has what he wants regardless.
He has the attention and if he’s killed he will be a martyr.
So what to do…
Love! Love! Love! Pray! Pray! Pray!
Hate IS NOT the opposite of love.
The opposite of LOVE is INDIFFERENCE.
Somehow let’s flip the script and refocus on something else other than Terry Jones.
What to do… Love
Let Terry Jones come back without any (media) coverage, without any hoopla. Put him on the ‘Invisible Man’ (s) list. Treat him like the relationship you ended and no longer care to neither sleep with nor care who they are sleeping with.
INDIFFERENCE.
Remember the sweet free feeling when you got to that point?
Terry Jones – the Invisible Man; the man who you no longer f*** and no longer gives a f*** about what he does!
Detroit. Surrounded by Water. A cleansing Spot. The Healing Spot. The opportunity to have Mecca right here. The largest Arabic community in the world. We have the opportunity to show that no matter what – we agree on Love, we agree on Peace, and we agree that GOD is GOD. ALLAH is Arabic for GOD! As I said when I died, God said, ‘Just love ME”.
Don’t get caught up in rhetoric – Keep it simple – Just LOVE, PRAY, and have FAITH!
These things will propel you to take action instead of reacting.
Continue reading Why Terry Jones came to Metropolitan Detroit
It’s All about Love
“I’ve been looking around and you were here all the time.”
- Sylvester (1979) from the song “You Are My Friend”
People are so quick to judge. When this song came out in 1979, many assumed that Sylvester was singing about a person or more specifically; his lover. Sylvester was a soulful, gospel singing, trend setter whose voice range (falsetto) was so unique, he could take you to the bowels of gospel with his deepness and have you jumping up and down to his “Dance (Disco Heat)” (1978) with his screams and shouts. His flamboyant style was not accepted by everyone so Sylvester would leave certain record companies who had a problem with his natural right to be who he wanted to be. This is what everyone else wants right – to be themselves?
Despite what most of the singers sing (blues, R &B, hip hop, jazz, country, rock, etc.) or how they look, curse, or express themselves, most have a common beginning – singing in the church. Sylvester was no different. This monumental song that was later performed by Patti Labelle (2006) had the same meaning for her as it originally did for Sylvester – the “Friend” is Jesus!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzEChdqjbGY
You see, even when we don’t feel (emotions) or think (cognitive; logic) that God is there for us- He is. Galatians 5:6 (AMP) talks about Christ’s love and it doesn’t matter if it is for the circumcised or the uncircumcised. God never said he hates one and loves another. Translation: God will use the gay person as well as the heterosexual person to spread His message.
Finally, it is Man who passes judgment on people but Man is warned in 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP) to ‘have intense and unfailing love for one another as love covers a multitude of sins love…’ . So nobody can determine which ones are or are not forgiven or disregarded.
But because man has the ability to obtain knowledge and ‘question’ everything, even this blog may be challenged by readers saying ,“Lynette, that’s Your interpretation and maybe it’s because you use the Amplified version but I use the NI (New International) version or the NAS (New American Standard) version or the LB (Living Bible), etc.” You can’t please people so you do what you believe is truly from God. In my quest, it is based on my spiritually miraculous experience and vision in which God stated, “I didn’t put all that stuff in the Bible, Man did – but read it because it’s good Word – Just love Me”.
Below are other scriptures you might find helpful as it relates to this blog. This was not what I’d planned to write but it is what was meant for me to write this time. Let go, Let God!
6For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. —Galatians 5:6 (AMP)
8Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. — 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
9In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or [f]unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him.
10In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.
11Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.
12No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!
13By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit.
14And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world.
15Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God.
16And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.
17In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].
19We love Him, because He first loved us.
20If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [[i]in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.
21And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother believer] also. — 1 John 4:7-21 (AMP)
Blame the Black Man
Problems – Blame the Trouble-making, Militant Black Man!
AIDS – Blame the Black Man’s Friend – Dick!
Broken Families – Blame the Irresponsible Black Man!
Violence – Blame the Angry Black man!
Unemployment – Blame the Lazy Black Man!
Tonight I am proud that a Black Man cleaned up the bullshit of the White Man!
Let’s thank the White Man cause because of him:
A trillion in money was spent on the war.
Thousands of soldiers are dead.
Tens of thousands are disabled.
President Obama announced that after 7 ½ years the war is over – the troops are leaving Iraq and all will be back home by next year – his last year of his presidential term!
So now, Blame the Black Man?
or you can
Thank the Black Man!
‘Something Like a Business’ – Sad but True – Established Black Actors Really Made This Movie
(I won’t say ‘starring’; I’ll say ‘in it’) – Tasha Smith, Clifton Powell, Kym Whitley, Kevin Hart, David Alan Grier, John Salley, Jay Anthony Brown
Written & Produced: Russ Parr
Here was an opportunity to make a meaningful movie and this is what they made. Black actors complain of how the mainstream ‘white’ film industry portraits us as pimps, prostitutes, drug addicts and dealers and they went and did the same thing to themselves. Like getting mad at a white person for using the ‘n’ word and still call ourselves the ‘n’ word.
Hollywood Shuffle (Robert Townsend, 1987) was made 30+ years ago and he was highly criticized for it. Townsend satirized how blacks are portrayed but this film was straight out acting. These actors have played in great movies of Tyler Perry’s (Why Did I Get Married (2007) and WDIGM, Too (2010), Ray (2004), Drumline (2002)’; even ‘Soul Plane’ (2004) was silly-funny but much better than this mess. I never laughed at the drinking of urine or the eating of boogers to showing the graphic image of ‘pubic hair’ replacement for men. Nothing was funny – just sad – Especially filming the opening of the film in Washington DC showing Howard University as one of the landmarks.
There is no rationalization – were the actors bored? Were they ‘smoking’ and said ‘Hey we can make our own movie?’, – no, no, no. There is no rationalization. I’m sure this wasn’t meant to be seen mainstream, even if it was underground, why do this? State Property (2002) is said to have been a profound movie that made more money underground and is one to study for an up and coming movie screenwriter or director. I am interested in the film industry and really wasn’t interested in it. That same weekend I read the review and it came on BET (of course it did). The resource said ‘Lynette, check it out from the artistic point’ and I was able to understand – imagery, angles, etc.
I am outraged, ashamed, and feel that their money could have been spent more wisely making a real business instead of something like….
Is it me? I mean Hustle and Flow (2005) got Terrance Howard nominated for an Oscar, Denzel won the Oscar for Training Day (2002), and Halle for Monster’s Ball (2002) when they all have other films that could have won an award. My son tried to explain Denzel to me by saying it was because the character was totally the opposite of who Denzel is and the roles he usually portrayed. (Son I’m trying to understand but…). Halle was just as strong in Losing Isaiah (1995) but just didn’t get ‘screwed’ on set by Billy Bob Thornton.
The storyline of pimps and prostitutes (hoes as they used it), the ‘b’ word, are all so ‘passé’ in this film. Give us something more than this. To the people involved in the making of this film, I ask “Is this how you feel about yourselves? If you don’t demand respect, you won’t get respect”. Believe me, this will be an indelible blemish when I see them acting in other films. Did they make this while they were high or is it to be watched while one is high? Either way, it has me looking at these people who advocate for positive messages and positive imagery in the ‘black’ community makes me ask ‘Who is the ‘real’ sellout’?
