Exercise Your Right to Read

It's one thing to be registered to vote and black. Mainly because people died, were bitten by dogs, and sprayed by water hoses to get and keep that right. Many times we forget about the right to read, not just to read, but the right of education and being aware.

We get too caught up in getting out the vote, instead of knowing the reasons why we are voting. Are you voting Democrat because that's been the move of the black majority since The New Deal? Or you not voting for Romney because after party realignments the Republican Party has been allegedly associated with discrimination against the poor, disfranchisement of the black vote, or you think Willard will take away your food stamps and your 24 inch wet & wavy weave?

In the words of Waka Flocka "Voting Cool," but what's even cooler is having an understanding of where each candidate stands on the issues and how it will affect you, your family, your community, your nation and more importantly the world.

So your voting for Obama because his believes that investing in teachers and education can to improve our economy, (so that we can hire more talent from here) he wants to focus on more reusable energy to cut down on foreign oil dependence, and he visually promotes a well knit black family, which many sadly are lacking.

I get on my FB or twitter account and people that I'm 99% sure cant tell you about any local election candidates have the audacity to get political for 3 months out of 48 month period and preach about the importance of voting. If your comfortable with 9 bucks an hr, being single with 2 kids, and having a 2pm showing of Maury being the highlight of your day (so you can make side bets on DNA test) what can either candidate do for you? Nothing!

Motivate yourself to be more, than educate yourself on what they can do for you. Too many blacks have been beaten, raped, and lynched for people not to exercise their right to read, know, and obtain knowledge. Voting means nothing if you're doing just so you can tweet about it!

I Got That Work

"Too much flossing
Too much Sam Rothstein...When you could look in the mirror like, "There I am"
And still not see, what you've become
I know I'm guilty of it too but, not like them"

During a recent stint of homelessness last week for roughly 9 hours from 2am-11a (I lost my keys and my phone was dead forcing me to sleep in my car in the middle of a on and off again storm) I came in contact with a teacher who came in the form of a homeless man who profess to me how having a job, isn't as important as having place that you go to work daily, after I complained about the potential money from my job that I would be missing out on.

I was confused as to what was the difference, but I think he sensed that. According to him a job is something you have to do for money, but that "work" is a service that you do out of love. He was telling me about how people get so consumed into becoming rich and paid beyond need that they forget about the reasons why they chose a particular career path in the first place.

At times I personally get caught up in allure of "stunting" and forget where I came from. I leave it up to a higher power, I don't know whether its a man, woman, or simply spirit, but they always seem to humble me. I never look at misfortunes when it comes to money, friendships/relationships (business or personal) as bad, but just lessons. Like in the book of Job GOD can and will take you and put you in some shit just to test your faith. Whether its being poor for 18-19 years, or just taking a minor L. Its not only good to come up out of that dirt clean, but it's apart of your "WORK" to cleanse others. I'm not saying go broke for the cause, but don't get to caught up trying to get rich quick and exploiting the poor in the process and be desensitized to those you deem beneath you.

You have teachers like in Chicago this year that went on strike. Many may say for good reason, but when it boils down to it what did you get that teaching certificate for? Was it the pensions, or ensuring that you helped a child find a purpose in life. Do you turn away patients on Medicare because of the pay drop off, or did you become a doctor to help the sick live to see another day painless. Are you making music to share your story in hopes that some can identify with it, or did you come for the groupies, chains and cars. When it gets to the point where you only come for the paycheck, you have to remind yourself what exactly you came for.

I'm realizing this materialistic shit doesn't matter anymore to me. Everyone else can have it I'm done. I'm about getting out this work. Whether its giving new shoes, school supplies, or costs to these kids that's the work GOD put in my heart. They gon' get this work. I know I can't help everyone, but I can make sure a few have Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas presents, or whatever I can do somebody is going to "get this work."

Whatever you strive for in life whether is making sure you put extra salt on someone's fries or you they get the correct subscription just Make Sure They Get That Work!