Living While Black (Say Their Names)

If you need to run some errands today, to ensure you get there alive, don't take public transit (Oscar Grant). If you decide to drive, remove all air fresheners from the vehicle and double-check your registration status (Daunte Wright), then make sure your license plate is visible (Lt. Caron Nazario). Be careful to follow all traffic rules (Philando Castille), signal for every turn (Sandra Bland), keep the music volume low (Jordan Davis), and don't stop for a meal at a fast food restaurant (Rayshard Brooks). You might be too afraid to pray (Rev. Clementa C. Pickney) and you better hope the car doesn't break down (Corey Jones).

While you are out and about, be sure not to dance (Elijah McClain), or stop to play in a park (Tamir Rice), or patronize the local convenience store for snacks (Trayvon Martin), or walk around the neighborhood (Mike Brown). Once you are home, don’t stand in the backyard (Stephon Clark), or eat ice cream on the couch (Botham Jean), or play any video games (Atatiana Jefferson).

Maybe you should stay home and watch a movie. Don’t leave the house to go to Walmart (John Crawford), or to the gym (Tshyrand Oates), or on a jog (Ahmaud Arbery), or for a walk to watch the birds (Christian Cooper). In fact, just sit and remember what a blessing it is to breathe (George Floyd), and definitely don’t go to sleep (Breonna Taylor).

All of these are normal things that white people don't have to think about as they live their lives from day to day (White Privilege), and it is our constitutional right to do the same (Black Lives Matter)!

⏳ #FBF We Knew She Was Special...

Meeting my youngest granddaughter for the first time!
She was born on 04/16 @ 4:16pm. What are the odds?

My Granddaughter Was Born Today!

Monday's child is fair of face and my youngest granddaughter is 9 years old today! I won't ask where the time is going again because I know the answer... it's just going w-a-y too fast. May God continue to bless, guide, and watch over you every day. Grammy loves you and He loves you more! #AriesTheRam

⏳ #TBT Sometime in 1960

Me and mom sitting on the bed having a thumb break!

Policing Done Right

Black Buffalo Cop Fired For Stopping Chokehold Gets Pension

Kudos to Cariole Horne! In 2006, she was a veteran police officer in Buffalo, NY. She physically intervened during an arrest to protect Neal Mack, a 59 year old black man, after her white colleague, Gregory Kwiatkowski, put him in a chokehold for an extended period of time. She warned Kwiatkowski that he was choking Mack and grabbed his arm from around Mack's neck. Kwiatkowski responded in kind by punching her in the face.

Two years after the altercation and subsequent investigation, Horne (a mother of five) was fired without a pension. At the time, she had served on the force for 20 years and was just a few months away from receiving the pension. The police department claimed that she had put Kwiatkowski and other officers at risk, even though Mack was handcuffed and unarmed at the time. She lost everything, but Mack did not lose his life.

Long story short, after a 13-year legal battle Horne was vindicated and awarded her back pay, benefits, and pension yesterday. She always knew that saving Mack's life was the right thing to do and she never wanted another police officer to go through the same for intervening on behalf of a suspect when necessary. Apparently, the court determined that her actions were indeed warranted at the time of the incident, so any previous decisions that were made against her regarding benefits, pay, and pension were reversed.

God don't like ugly and, of course, there is more to the story regarding Kwiatkowski--but, this blogger is not going to waste another minute of her time on him because this was another situation in which the police needed to be policed. However, I do want to say "thank you" to Cariole Horne for what she did, which probably saved Mack's life, and it should not have taken 13 years for her to be vindicated. Click on the image or text link underneath to read the full article on MSN News.

🤔 Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Driving While Black #BlackLivesMatter

🤔 Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Question of the Day #BlackLivesMatter

🤔 Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Question of the Day #BlackLivesMatter

COVID-19: Vax-A-Nation

💯 Fully Vaccinated! How 'Boutchoo?

COVID-19: Proud G-Mom

I love it! I need these to add to my Grammy stuff collection!

Meme of the Day

#Grateful

When you are searching for one thing and find something

better. I love this meme and thank you GOD for everything!

COVID-19: SBC Vax Clinic

🌈 The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to The Rainbow Bridge. There are hills and meadows for all of our special friends so they can play and run together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine where our friends are comfortable and warm. 

All of the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made strong and whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are content and happy, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all play and run together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Their bright eyes are intent; their eager body quivers. Suddenly they begin to run from the group, flying over the green grass, their legs carrying them faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress their beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

Then, you can cross The Rainbow Bridge together... 

Paul C. Dahm

⏳ #FBF Classic Music

#StarDate040821

"Everybody Is A Star" according to Sly & The Family Stone, so this one is for me. The song was released in Dec '69 and reached #1 on Billboard's Top 100 in Feb '70. I still love the sentiment to this day. Remember when there was always a message in the music?