Watch Night

Emancipation: "Waiting For The Hour"
(click on image for larger view)

The following information was actually written as an essay by Charyn D. Sutton, The Onyx Group, in December 2000 and revised in August 2004. The essay appears here in its entirety...

If you grew up in a black community in the United States, you have probably heard of "Watch Night" Services, the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year's Eve. The service usually begins anywhere from 7:00pm-10:00pm and ends at 12:00 midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year's Eve destination.

Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service, made a bit more Afrocentric because that's what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the black church. And yes, there is a history of Watch Night Services in the Methodist tradition.

Still, it seemed that most white Christians did not include Watch Night Services on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs. In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of linking religious services with a secular holiday like New Year's Eve.

However, in doing some research, I discovered there are two essential reasons for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African American congregations. Many of the Watch Night Services in black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings held on December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve."

On that night, Americans of African descent came together in churches, gathering places, and private homes throughout the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had become law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863 and according to President Abraham Lincoln's promise, all slaves in the Confederate States were legally free. People remained in churches and other gathering places, eagerly awaiting word that Emancipation had been declared. When the actual news of freedom was received later that day, there were prayers, shouts of joy, and songs of praise as people fell to their knees and thanked God.

But even before 1862 and the possibility of a Presidential Emancipation, African people had gathered on New Year's Eve on plantations across the South. That is because many owners of enslaved Africans tallied up their business accounts on the first day of each new year. Human property was sold along with land, furnishings, and livestock to satisfy debts. Families and friends were separated. Often they never saw each other again in this earthly world. Thus, coming together on December 31 might be the last time for enslaved and free Africans to be together with loved ones.

Black folks in North America have gathered annually on New Year's Eve since the earliest days, praising God for bringing us safely through another year and praying for the future. Certainly, those traditional gatherings were made even more poignant by the events of 1863 which brought freedom to the slaves and the Year of Jubilee.

Many generations have passed since that time and most of us were never taught the significance of gathering on New Year's Eve. Yet, our traditions and faith still bring us together at the end of every year to celebrate once again, "how we got over."

Please pass this information on to your family and friends so that they will know the true history behind the tradition we call "Watch Night".

First Visit to Chuck E. Cheese!

Back in October, we had our youngest granddaughter for a 'Just Me' sleepover weekend and we tried to take her to Chuck E. Cheese-Springfield for the first time while she was staying with us. Well, it appeared they had an overwhelming amount of birthday parties going on that day and the place was packed like we've never seen it before. So, we left but kept it in mind that we owed her a trip back there. Well, we were able to take her back today and she really seemed to enjoy it. I was amazed at just how friendly and outgoing she is, and she made herself known by simply waving her little hand as a gesture to say 'Hi' to just about everybody she came across. She even gave the hostess at the door a great big hug. She is just 2 sweet, and I'm glad we had a chance to take her back before the year came to a close! :)

Christmas Day 2013

Blessings and Greetings from our family to yours!
The Lady (Bug) of the Household

Merry Christmas!

Let The Countdown Begin!

The King Is Coming!

Job Well Done, Madiba!

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013) 

Black Friday 2013

This year, we decided to do the 'busiest shopping day of the year' a little differently. Normally, me and Pop-Pop accompany our daughter and hubby to a mall of their choosing so we can keep the kids distracted and occupied with other things while they begin their Christmas shopping for them. But this time, they asked if we could take the two oldest grands some place else for the day while they shopped, and they would take the youngest grand to the mall with them. We agreed and decided to take the two of them to Cracker Barrel for brunch, and then to the movies to see 'Frozen-3D'. The movie was great and both of them enjoyed it, especially the 3D effects and glasses. By the time the movie ended, our daughter and hubby were back home, so we took them home too.

We had a nice day and to be honest, me and Pop-Pop didn't miss the 'mall madness' at all this year. Even though the movie theater was packed with people too, at least nobody was fighting over the last movie ticket, if you know what I mean. Here are a few pics we took while we were waiting for a table on the infamous Cracker Barrel front porch and inside the restaurant. So, whether you were shopping or working today, we hope you survived 'Black Friday' too!

A Day To Give Thanks...

Here are some pics of my Thanksgiving Day with family. As always, we had a nice time at my mom's house. The dinner was great and we ate until we were stuffed. 2TU Mom, you did it again! Everyone is back home now, preparing for a good night's sleep before we hit the stores tomorrow morning around 10:00am. A definite highlight for my two oldest grands was something totally unexpected and initiated by my mom. Believe it or not, she still has a wind-up Victor Victrola in the basement. It was actually left there by the previous owner when my parents bought the house in 1968 and it still works! So, she pulled out some of her 78rpm records (that's right, 78rpms) and talked them into dancing with her, which she does as a form of exercise. What's amazing to me is, the kids had no idea who they were listening to (Fats Domino), what a 78rpm record is, or what that weird-looking contraption was playing the record. But, they didn't seem to care and they had a good time dancing with her, just the same. And, I know she enjoyed being able to expose her great-grands to a little piece of her past. You go, Mom!

My father passed away in 2002 and I still miss him very much, but I'm grateful and thankful that my mom has been blessed to meet all three of her great-grandchildren. I’m actually trying to get her to 'sit down' and stop preparing this meal every year, but she still wants to do it as long as God gives her the strength to do it, so what can I say. But, she comes to our house on Christmas Day and we prepare that annual meal for everyone. But, above all else, I’m most grateful for my family and the added blessing that everyone is doing okay in these difficult economic times. We’re not rich when it comes to money and it’s a struggle at times, but we have what we need the most, along with the added blessings of relatively good health, life, and strength. I'm also thankful that God has blessed us to be able to spend another Thanksgiving Day together, and no one else is missing from the table. So, from my family to yours, we hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

⏰ Quality Time w/ The Grands

Day 1 - Saturday

Me and the hubby had our grandson and youngest granddaughter over for a sleepover this weekend. We didn't plan an outing this time and just chilled at the house for the day. For one thing, Grammy and Pop-Pop also had a great-but-late dinner and movie date night with the Marriage Ministry of our church Friday evening. But, I'd like to think we made the most of our day indoors with them, just the same. One thing I did plan on doing was introducing them to one of my all-time favorite books from childhood, 'The Mouse & The Motorcycle' by Beverly Clearly. I read that book during my elementary school years until the cover fell off! I didn't know until recently that Beverly did two follow-up books, 'Runaway Ralph' and 'Ralph S. Mouse'. I also didn't know that mini-movies were done for all three books. I found out about all of this a month ago on the internet when I stumbled across a read-along 3-disc DVD set by Scholastic called 'The Ralph Mouse Collection'. I ordered it with much enthusiasm and had it ready for the next time they came to visit. It was big hit with my grandson in particular, because my granddaughter is still too young to appreciate it. And unfortunately, oldest granddaughter missed it because she was having a weekend sleepover with her godmother. But, I'm going to make sure she has an opportunity to see it too. We made some popcorn and enjoyed all 3 discs back-to-back, which also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the two follow-up stories for the first time. 

Day 2 - Sunday

The rest of the sleepover went well too. Me and the hubby got up, cooked breakfast, got everybody ready, and made it out to church. The kids were pretty good during the service so after it was over, we took them to Ruby's Diner in Ardmore, PA for lunch. Since all of their restaurants have trains running along the ceiling, it was the perfect spot to eat. We took them back home when lunch was over, and my oldest granddaughter returned home shortly after them from the sleepover she had with her godmother.

I (Still) Wanna Be A Toys-R-Us Kid!

The World's Greatest Toy Store

Operation one-day Megabus trip to 'Toys-R-Us Times Square' was a success. The hubby and I discovered this TRU that is like no other when we went to NYC back in March to see 'Motown The Musical'. We decided on the spot that we had to go back there before the year was out so the grands could see it. So, that day was yesterday and my daughter went with us too. Here are some of the photos that we took during the day and we had a great time. Do you remember a little 'jingle' from yesteryear that went something like this: 'I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys-R-Us kid?" Well, that's exactly what we all were yesterday, and it felt good! LOL!

'Still' Missing Autistic Child Alert!

Let's continue to share this information across all social media so we can do our part to help bring Avonte home to his family. And, please... don't forget to keep him and his family in your prayers until he is found. This could be your child!

Same Show, Different Perspective

To My Father...

R.I.P. Roosevelt Williams 1936-2002
He would have been 77 years old today.

'Just Me' Sleepover

Me and my youngest grandchild after
Sunday morning worship service @ SBC!

Reactions to Government Shutdown & ACA

#1 QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The threats may continue, but they are not working. And they will never work. Because this is a democracy. And in a democracy, hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can’t otherwise win their fights through elections, can’t win their fights in Congress, can’t win their fights for the presidency, and can’t win their fights in Courts. For this right-wing minority, hostage-taking is all they have left. A last gasp of those who cannot cope with the realities of our democracy." - Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator for Massachusetts (D) YGG! 2TU!

#2 MEME OF THE DAY: Does anybody remember Little Miss Rich Girl 'Veruca Salt' from the original 'Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory' movie starring Gene Wilder? She was the girl who demanded that her father make all of his employees work non-stop day and night opening Wonka bars until they found her a golden ticket. And, she wanted her father to buy everything she saw when they got inside the chocolate factory. Sound familiar? Well, 2TU to whoever put this one together! It's absolutely priceless! LOL! #theeverlastinggobstopper

#3 VIDEO OF THE DAY: Jimmy Kimmel on Obamacare vs. The Affordable Care Act - Why is it that some Americans don't seem to know that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and 'Obamacare' (which is actually a nickname) are the same thing? OMG! Are you serious? What rock are these people living under? This little experiment was absolutely unbelieveable! SMH...

Traditional GOP Allies Are Defecting, Big Business Takes Sides w/ Obama

#4 HEADLINE OF THE DAY: Former President Teddy Roosevelt once said, 'When you've come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.' So, let's stay the course and not be swayed folks. This government shutdown that the Rethuglicans have forced upon us just might come back to bite them on the butt real soon, so stay tuned. Continue to keep hope alive because God's got it under control! 2TU!

Spread The Word!

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

The Time To Clean Is 2014!

U-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-e-a-b-l-e!
This government shutdown sucks and

I won't forget this at mid-term election time.
The Rethuglicans have got to go!

Where Is Addie Mae Collins?

A Child Lost to Racial Hate, Lost Again in Birmingham

Addie Mae is one of the 4 little girls that died in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL on September 15, 1963. But, did you know it was discovered by Addie Mae's family in 1998 that the body is missing from her grave? The whereabouts of her remains is a mystery to this day and the family is still searching for answers. Click on the image or text link for more biographical information about Addie Mae and the circumstances that led up to this heartbreaking discovery.

Update 05/03/17: There is strong evidence to suggest that Addie Mae's remains have finally been found using underground radar. The family is reasonably satisfied with the outcome and feel they finally have closure. Click on the update link for more information. 

50 Years Ago Today...

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing - Birmingham, AL

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing that took the lives of these four innocent little girls. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan planted sticks of dynamite outside the basement of the church. At 10:22am, it exploded killing the four young girls inside and injuring 22 other people. The funeral for the victims was attended by more than 8,000 mourners, white and black, but no city officials. Click on the image or text link underneath for more details about this horrific event.

'4 Little Girls' May Receive Congressional Gold Medals

In April of this year, it was reported that by a 420-0 vote, the House passed a measure that will posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. It was then presented to the Senate for consideration and expected to pass without oppostion. Click on the image or text link undernearth to read the full story reported on April 27, 2013.

Congress to Present Gold Medal Honoring Birmingham's '4 Little Girls'

As is often the case, there is so much going on America right now that most of the country probably doesn't realize that the vote passed the Senate and the gold medal was actually presented five days ago on September 10, 2013, just in time for the 50th anniversary. If you missed it, watch the video or click on the text link underneath to read about the presentation. 

Continue to rest in peace, little angels. Please know that you haven't been forgotten and your deaths were not in vain. The struggle for civil rights and equal treatment under the law still rages on...

Come Out & Celebrate His Life & Legacy...

He was a great broadcaster, community servant, and friend of the people.

🕊 We Will Never Forget

A PROCLAMATION
By The President of The United States

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

Through the twisted steel of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the scarred walls of the Pentagon, and the smoky wreckage in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, the patriotism and resiliency of the American people shone brightly on September 11, 2001. We stood as one people, united in our common humanity and shared sorrow. We grieved for those who perished and remembered what brought us together as Americans.

Today, we honor the lives we lost 9 years ago. On a bright September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of terrorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our Nation and the world.

As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. We must apprehend all those who perpetrated these heinous crimes, seek justice for those who were killed, and defend against all threats to our national security. We must also recommit ourselves to our founding principles. September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our Nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which our Nation was built: equality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values exemplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today.

In that same spirit of patriotism, I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad. In April, I was proud to sign the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Originated by the family members of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to salute the heroes of 9/11, recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that inspired our Nation following the attacks, and rededicate ourselves to sustained service to our communities.

Throughout the summer, people of all ages and backgrounds came together to lend a helping hand in their communities through United We Serve. As this summer of service draws to an end, we renew the call to engage in meaningful service activities and stay engaged with those projects throughout the year. Working together, we can usher in a new era in which volunteering and more service is a way of life for all Americans. Deriving strength from tragedy, we can write the next great chapter in our Nation's history and ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the promise of America.

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with other ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46am eastern daylight time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

Barack Obama

Back-to-School Prayer

❤️ It's National Grandparents Day!

If the shoe fits, enjoy your special day!

Click on the image to read about the history of this day on Wikipedia.

Celebrating A Happy Birthday w/ The Grands

Make a wish and blow out the candles!

I Was Born On This Day!

As of September 4, 2013 @ 12:00 AM ET:

* I am 55 years old.
* I am 660 months old.
* I am 2,869 weeks old.
* I am 20,089 days old.
* I am 482,136  hours old.
* I am 29,453,030 minutes old.
* I am 1,767,181,084 seconds old.

Fun Facts & Trivia:

* My date of conception was on or about December 12, 1957.
* I was born on a Thursday under the astrological sign Virgo.
* My opposition sign is Pisces.
* My ruling planet is Mercury.
* The moon's phase on the day of my birth was waning gibbous.
* My birth flower is Aster.
* My birth tree is Weeping Willow.
* My birthstone is Sapphire.
* My lucky day is Wednesday.
* My lucky dates are the 5th, 14th, and 23rd.
* My lucky number is 5.
* My opposition number is 3.
* My Life Path number is 9.
* I'm most compatible with people with the Life Path numbers 3, 6, and 9.
* I'm least compatible with people with the Life Path numbers 4, 8, and 22.
* My age is the equivalent of a dog that is 7.43326810176125 years old.
* My fortune cookie reads: Something you lost will soon turn up.

55 Candles:

The number of candles on my birthday cake produce 55 BTUs or 13,860 calories of heat and that's only 13.8600 food calories. I can boil 6.29 ounces of water with that many candles.

Celebrities Who Share My Birthday:

Henry Ford II (1917)
Jason David Frank (1973)
Mitzi Gaynor (1930)
Paul Harvey (1918)
Beyonce Knowles (1981)
Dan Miller (1980)
Mike Piazza (1968)
Dr. Drew Pinsky (1958)
Ione Skye (1970)
Tom Watson (1949)
Damon Wayans (1960)
Richard Wright (1908)
Dick York (1928)

Top Songs of 1958:

"At the Hop" by Danny & The Juniors
"It's All In the Game" by Tommy Edwards
"The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers
"Tequila" by The Champs
"Don't" by Elvis Presley
"Volare" by Domenico
"Modugno Sugartime" by The McGuire Sisters
"He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" by Laurie London
"The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville & The Chipmunks

1958 in the United States:

* The President was Dwight Eisenhower.
* The Vice-President was Richard Nixon.
* It was not a leap year.
* The date of Ash Wednesday was February 19th.
* The date of Passover was Saturday, April 5th.
* The date of Easter was Sunday, April 6th.
* There were approximately 1,667,231 marriages and 385,144 divorces.
* A new person was born approximately every 8 seconds.
* There were approximately 4.0 million births.
* The population was approximately 150,697,361 people.
* One person died approximately every 12 seconds.
* There were approximately 1,452,000 deaths.
* Click here for more information about 1958...

Disney Dream Portrait of Princess Tiana

Jennifer Hudson looks absolutely beautiful as Princess Tiana from 'The Princess and the Frog'. This photo is from the Disney Dream Portrait photo shoot by photographer Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks. Click on the image to see the photo shoot video!

Jennifer Hudson Sparkles Under the Moon as Princess Tiana in this portrait called 'Where You Always Follow Your Heart'. It is the latest addition to the collection of Disney Dream Portraits by photographer Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks. Click on the image to see the 'First Look' article!

The Story Behind Labor Day

What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Enjoy your day off today!

Sometimes, Clothes Can Make The Man...

"Black Tie Week" Website

Television host and former reality TV star Teck Holmes and “Burn Notice” star Eric Bivens-Bush have partnered up to launch a new movement called Black Tie Week.

Black Tie Week was created in an effort to change the perception of Black men in America and get people to continue speaking out on the inequality in the criminal justice system after the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.

Holmes and Bush aim to make a visible statement from September 3-8, 2013, by having Black men, young and old, wear suits.

“The Trayvon Martin case has inspired the men to come together to encourage a solution for improving the public perception of Black Americans. How a person dresses is how they are perceived. Black Tie Week brings our entire community together to change the perception of young black men,” said Holmes, who hosts Cartoon Network’s game show “Hole in the Wall.”

A group of Black Hollywood talent has come together for the campaign including Wesley Jonathan, Edwin Hodge Shawn Carter Peterson, Aldis Hodge, Nicholas “The World Famous N.I.C.” Demps, Dennis L.A. White, Malik Barnhardt, Toryan Rogers and director/writer Terry Gingles, according to a report in Jawn Murray’s AlwaysAlist.

The Black Tie Week photo campaign was shot by photographer Lanisha Cole and there were also contributions by makeup artist Hanna Morrow and publicist Sherise Ford.

The week-long Black Tie Week tribute campaign aims to raise the national consciousness of the devastating racial profiling problem in the United States, and to recognize the ongoing commitment to addressing the urgent needs of our African-American youth.

For additional information about this campaign, click on the image or the text link underneath to visit the website.

"MJ Unmasked" - Artist Unknown

Happy Birthday, Michael!

He would have been 55 years old today.

Still shaking my head over the loss of this one...

March On Washington 50th Anniversary

The Civil Rights Movement

I was 4 years old on August 28, 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with other civil rights activists, lead the "March on Washington (DC)". This is also the day that Dr. King delivered his unforgettable "I Have A Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I cannot say "Thank You" enough to all those who answered "Yes" when God put it in their hearts to stand up for what is right and what they believed in so we could have a better way of life. They sacrificed so much... and, in some cases, their very lives. So today, I pause to honor and reflect on them because I still have faith in God and "The Dream"...

Christopher Lane & Trayvon Martin: No Comparison!