Who am I as a Black Man?

 This post is dedicated to all of our readers of African Descent.

      During this past week myself and the co-owner of this blog Geoffrey Allison have been to various events. Banquets, Parties and Church. It seems like at each of these events we are posed with the question "Who am I as a Black Man?, and What am i going to do with that responsiblity and power?". See the "Media" has transformed the "Black Man" into a image of negativity and violence. This is far from the truth, you see us Black Men have been doing amazing things since the beginning of time. It's only recently that black men have been virtually transformed from the pillar or cornerstone of the African family.

The infamous "Corner" in every black neighborhood, known for its drugs, liquor stores and all kinds of illegal activities, used to be a place to share knowledge and ideas. The past 40 years have truly been devastating for our communities. I don't understand why drugs are so rampant in the black community. think about it if we can find a bomb overseas, or find a person in Iraq, why can't we find that drug dealer who is terrorizing our communities, why cant we find that gang member who is destroying the lives of our young brothers?.

You see that's what people don't want, They do not want black men to return to our natural place as Thinkers, as entrepreneurs or inventors. In my humble opinion,  it seems like Black men are only viewed as entertainment, as athletes, comedians or music artists. We need to get off of that mindset, we need to get back to being the inventors for humanity. If we can make Pyramids that have lasted for over 3,800 years, design the layout for Washington D.C. and invent, I know we can do much more than jump high, Run fast and hit hard.

As black men it is our responsibility to bring the family dynamic back to our communities. That doesn't just mean being a role model to your children, or relatives. But that means helping out the young man you see standing on the "Corner". That means going to a Inner-City school and telling them about how important a college education is. As a Black man you are one of the most powerful entities in the world because people fear you...Yes fear you. People of other races know that an educated black man has no equals, the only people that don't realize this is ourselves.

All the Black Men out there, If you are going to do something, Do it to the best of your abilities. That means if you are going to school, be the best student you can be. If you are a Janitor work to the best of your abilities. your not only doing it for yourself but you are representing your family, community and the black community as a whole.


And remember  this quote


"Everyday A Lion wakes up knowing it has to chase down the fastest gazelle and if it doesn't it will not survive and everyday a gazelle wakes up knowing it has to outrun the fastest lion in order to survive... Which are you the lion or the Gazelle? either way you should wake up everyday knowing you must live life to the fullest" -Zack Lemelle

                                                                                                                                         -Von C.

What Would You Do?

     What would you do? When you first read the question you start to ponder upon different situations. You’re probably thinking of different situations which I could probably be speaking about. Things such as relationships, sports, and overall life situations we lead you to ask the question to a friend “What would you do?” In most situations people would choose to do what was right or even what made them happy.

                A friend, supporter, and inspiring male by the name of Pendarvis sparked this question. On twitter @OGpenn tweeted “Sometimes you have to ask yourself: if u didn't have to worry about $, education, health, bills, ect...What would u do with your life?” This very question sparked a great debate in my mind and in turn speaks volumes on personal happiness. Upon hearing the question I asked many others “what would you do with your life?”

                The responses given varied some people said they would still go to school for the “love of knowledge”, while others said they would try something new every single day. I realized that one thing was common in all the responses that I received and that common factor was happiness. When each person answered they spoke upon how the thing they would choose to do would make them happy despite what others thought.

                Now I will ask you another question “Are you happy?” Most of us will answer this question yes because we as people do not like to show others our weakness, however, I will ask you again “Are you happy?” You see most of us choose to go to school only because we have to and our hearts are not into what we are doing. Many students in college have chosen majors only to make other people within their lives happy.

                In all honesty there is no way on earth that money, education, health, and bills will all disappear from our radar of importance. Regardless of this fact we must increase our self-happiness as people and individuals on earth. Although we are forced by society virtually to become successful or be nothing at all , we have to think of ourselves. On this earth although you have friends you must remember that no person or individual will make you happier than you can make yourself.

                Knowing that you are the only person that can make yourself completely happy, you must remember this one thing. Upon graduation from school or finishing your education or even in life period remember this; your happiness is all important. So to end this blog post I will ask you a new question “What would you do to make yourself happy?” Upon answering this question promise yourself that regardless of whom you choose to make happy in life that you will remember yourself. Neglecting personal happiness is a big problem within men and women today. In my own opinion it is the fastest way to cause personal depression. This being said at the end of the day remember that loving yourself is everything and loving everyone can sometimes mean nothing.

Asher Roth's New Mixtape

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Click the link above to download Asher Roth's new mixtape

Let The Hype Begin- Upcoming Retro Nike Releases

After the Release of the Eggplants last weekend, here is a sneak peak of the other shoes Nike is releasing

Nike Foamposite One Metallic Red -House of Hoops release only- May 15th

CB34II Holiday '10 release date

Foamposite 1 Royal Blue- September 2010 Release

 Air Jordan 9 Retro White/Powder Blue- Release Date Fall 2010

Cranberry and Eggplant Half Cents- Release Date Holiday '10

Women and Makeup

  So this week I was placed into a great debate with a female whom I shall not name. She basically stated to me that a female in college or perhaps any female of our  generation will always wear makeup. Her opinion was that the completely natural phase has died and that most women have something about them that is not real.

   I posted this to see what women's opinions on the matter where. Why do women in college who are educated feel that their only way to gain the attention of a man is to wear makeup and live this flamboyant lifestyle? You see my personal believe is that girls who do this will only look great on Friday Nights. Every male in college knows about the Friday Night girl. The girl who is never dressed during the week and her hair looks a mess but on friday you see her and it's like "WHOA" where did you come from I didnt even know you went to school with me.

  I understand looking your best on a friday night perhaps when your headed to the club but see the problem with this is that its not true beauty. A man who finds a women in the club only wants a few things from her. Most of the time women you are correct when you say I know he only wants one thing. Well lets analyze a possible situation

1. 
   
   Your in the club in a skin tight dress
2. 
   
   The man comes and dances with you before he even talks to you
3. 
   
   He touches you in a seductive way
4. 
   
   He then asks for your number
5. 
   
   He takes you on maybe 1 or 2 outings
6. 
   
   Now he's talking about sex

     You see how the relationship began is how it will end if it starts physically then it will end that way. Makeup doesnt have to be used in my opinion to make a girl look attractive. I feel it's a lack of self confidence that makes women do this to themselves. Women will argue that they do this just because but you see truth of the matter is that no human is perfect so why try and be that by using makeup?

Ladies comment with honest reasons you use makeup and If you dont explain why your friends might

Please :-)

New Song By Trey Songz titled "Lil Freak"

Click this link to listen to Trey's New track

Ben Rothlisberger CNN ARTICLE

(CNN) -- NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a rural Georgia nightspot early Friday, police said.

     Police talked to Roethlisberger, 28, and the 20-year-old woman at the scene immediately after the incident was reported at about 2:30 a.m. Friday morning at Capital City in Milledgeville, Georgia, said Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone.

     However, Malone said investigators still need to do a follow-up interview with Roethlisberger and witnesses. He added that nobody has been charged in the alleged incident and stopped short of calling the football player a suspect. The woman "alleged that he is the perpetrator," Malone told reporters. He said the woman was part of a group mingling with Roethlisberger's friends at the restaurant and that the groups had gone to other bars and restaurants over the course of the evening. He said the woman was treated and released from a local hospital Friday morning.



     Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, said his client would cooperate in the investigation. Roethlisberger has been the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for six seasons, guiding the team to two Super Bowl championships.



"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," Tollner said in a written statement Friday. "We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night.



"Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."



Tollner was referring to a civil complaint filed against Roethlisberger last year, also alleging sexual assault. Roethlisberger has denied the allegations by an executive casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, saying, "I would never, ever force myself on a woman."



Roethlisberger and eight Harrah's employees are named in the suit, which seeks at least $390,000, plus unspecified punitive damages, from the defendants.

Accepting Your Brothers

     Recently me and a group of friends had a little party/get together. The party ended in several disputes which led to a semi-beef between our group. This whole incident got me thinking as to why we have brothers and why we even choose to have friends in the first place. As I journeyed in my mind I began to think many things such as, we have friends because of our fair of loneliness or perhaps we just need someone to talk to about what's on our mind.

   I realized that the main reason most of us have friends is because each one of them reminds us of ourselves in some sort of way. As I sat and talked with my friends about the incident I realized that the more I looked into it they were each a part of who I was as an individual. Upon realizing this I thought to myself about everything that I embodied as an individual and if everyone around me embodied a peice of that.

     Now at times in life all individuals will doubt a certain characteristic of themselves such as a peice of their individual personality or even the way that they look. This is the same way that you look at a friend and get angered by what he/she has done to you in the present. Sometimes we wish we could have handled a certain situation a different way and in doing this we doubt our decision making abilities.

   You chose to hang around your group of friends for a reason, so when you do choose your friends look at their personalities and realize which part of you they actually are. You see their is a reason for them being around you. The reason may be to show you what bad you should fix within your life or to show you what good you can be. All of your friends will not be perfect but each one of them will help you along this journey we know as life. The moral of this story is to accept your brothers and sisters despite their faults. I say this because whether they treat you good or bad in the end you will learn from it.

Quote of the Day

"We've got to have a dream if we are going to make a dream come true."



Denis Waitley