Radio Shows

What happen to all the liberal radio shows? There are not many for us in my State of Illinois. Mainly all we have are those conservative ones, bashing the President and the Democrats. Republicans are not bipartisan and never will be. They want the President to fail, so they can take back the country and screw it up just like the last 8 years. Please let’s start paying attention to what is happening. We need more voices on the radio that speak for us. We are even outgunned on the TV airwaves. Fox News has more viewers than all the so-called liberal stations combined. We need more liberals to talk for the poor and middle class people. We need more liberals to speak on our behalf, the older Americans (baby boomers) that worked hard all there life, put into the system, paid taxes, and tried to reach for the American dream. What happened to those people? We need people on the airwaves (to speak for us). We need people to speak up loud, like the Republicans do. What’s the problem? The Radio Stations say no one is listening. They say there are not enough listeners for sponsors to promote their products to (and therefore buy radio spots; sadly that’s a money game too.) They also question the quality of the host are they funny enough, hard hitting enough, convincing enough? What happened to our black leaders? We need more voices on the radio? If we don’t, then the conservatives will fill all Americans’ heads with misinformation. Pretty soon it will become a class war, the rich against the poor and the middle class in between. Let’s wake up people. This political system is really not working for the people. They hold us hostage and they control it all. They drain everything out of struggling people who can barely make ends meet. Come on true liberals take a stand. Start demanding liberal airwaves. And make sure to listen this time. Let’s stand united and together. You control more than you realize.

Politics 102:

Now lets get down to more facts. Recently the Democrat Party had enough votes to move any bill through the Congressional House and to the President’s desk. But as of Tuesday, January 19, 2010 the Republicans of all people, took the seat of the late Ted Kennedy-Senator from Massachusetts, a Democrat. Kennedy held that seat for decades, what a shame, I am sure he is turning in his grave. But the point I’m trying to make is what happen to the black votes, did we let the Republicans bully us into casting a Republican vote or did we vote at all? Like I said before, we need to learn, read and study politics. First of all, Massachusetts has Universal Healthcare, (this was done when Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts ("The Republican Who Thinks Big on Healthcare"). So maybe they don’t care about the rest of the country. Second, why did the Democrats seem so complacent (I guess they thought they had this election in the bag?) Third, why does our President seem like he’s just not sure as to what he should be focusing on first. Don’t get me wrong, but don’t we need jobs, jobs, and jobs? Is anyone listening up there in Washington? There was an article I read written by Howard Fineman from Newsweek entitled, "The Democrats Who Deserve Blame For Their Loss In Massachusetts", and one point that stood out was that the Democrats loss Kennedy’s seat. I sort of agree, which I am saddened, but I have noticed that since the Presidents been in office, the Democrats can’t seem to get along and they have the majority (refer to politics 101 introduction).

Now I am ashamed of the people of Massachusetts because they know that Ted Kennedy fought hard for the Universal Healthcare their State now has. Now the people of Massachusetts are afraid of Universal Healthcare for all, because in their State its mandatory and they have high premiums. They fear they will have to absorb additional costs by subsidizing the other States, so I can understand their concern, but not to the point that they will appoint a Republican to discredit the Democrats or deny other people Universal Healthcare (now is that selfish?). Another article to read is called "Why Health Reform may survive Brown’s win" – in Marketwatch by Kristen Gerencher.

We are a confused nation, full of greed and selfishness. We don’t care about the other person, just ourselves. So once again, especially my black people, let’s start paying attention to the ills of this world and let our voices be heard in a positive way. Why can’t we lend a hand to someone in need here in America? Why can’t we share our ideas and concerns with each other? Why can’t we help each other, especially, if we got it like that (and there are a lot of us who got it like that, if you know what I mean.) Come on my people, lets wake up.

Social Issue: Parenting/Abuse

Well, I grew up on the Westside of Chicago, Illinois. My mom was a single parent for a while when I was growing up. My mom was a good parent-- she was very stern but never abused my two brothers or me in any way. She was a good mom and I always felt protected. We were poor and grew up on public aid, food stamps, and my mom cleaned houses and did day labor. She was gone a lot, but she always made sure we had food, clean clothes and a warm clean apartment. She was a strict disciplinarian (back in them days the late50’s to early 60’s mothers didn’t spare the rod-- if you know what I mean). When she said something, all she needed was to give us that look, and we all knew what that meant. My mom then met my step-dad when I was maybe 8 or 9. He loved my mother so…. He provided for us and gave my mom everything she ever wanted. We had a good life. I felt protected with them all my life. I was never abused, harmed or mistreated. I got everything I asked for materially and never felt that I could not go to them for anything. My mom was my best friend and, I could tell her any and everything. In my growing up, none of my friends or anyone I knew had been molested by their parents. I didn’t know that sexual abuse existed in our community--it wasn’t around me. I remember neighbors looking out for people when I was a child, so I always felt safe and secure. I didn’t know it was so bad in our community until I became an adult. Anyway, the story is my mom did not play and would not have allowed anyone to harm me-- which I knew. Plus she told me and I know my step-dad knew that as well. Unfortunately I no longer have that sense of protection that my parents were so good about giving me (my mom passed away in 2005 and my step-dad in 2009—oh how I miss them so).

So why do mothers (of all people) let their husbands, man, friend or family member abuse/molest their child? I have an issue with our black families, when fathers abandon their children, or molest their children. What is up with that? What makes a man or women abuse a child, especially their own? Maybe it happened to them in their childhood? That still doesn’t make it right. Where does the cycle stop? We have a problem within our black community where we sweep everything under the rug without speaking out to someone about it. Why are we so afraid to air our dirty laundry? Why do we paint the picture that all is well at home when we know it isn’t? What’s wrong with our mothers, that allow our children to be abused and mistreated by a no good man.

Why do we as black people have so many children and then expect the government to take care of them? Why can’t we just use the appropriate precautions and say to ourselves that we won’t have anymore babies if we can’t afford them? Ultimately it is the child that suffers in the end. Why do we make our young daughters bare a child when we know they can’t take care of it? Why is it acceptable to be a grandmother in your 30’s? Why do we think that if our daughter’s abort the child then we have sinned— why is it right to submit a child to violence, drugs, poverty and promiscuity? (And the line “The Lord will make a way” is wearing thin) Isn’t it a sin to promote/encourage detrimental behavior? What happened to a good, nuclear family structure where there is a husband and wife, with strong values and morals? Let’s wake up my black people! Let’s teach our children to respect themselves and adults. Let someone give you some good advice on how you can better raise your child. Let someone mentor you on being a good parent. Parents drop your pride and search inside yourself to find out how/why you dropped the ball. Lots of parents need help in parenting. Reach out for help… stop… stop hiding behind the darkness and enter into the light. Let’s take a look at ourselves and look around to see what a mess we are in. Come on black people, start changing your ways. Let me hear from you…

Social Issue: Bringing Up Children In The Ghetto

Why are our children dying? What are we doing as parents to save them? Well, here is my story. I grew up in the Ghetto on the West Side of Chicago, IL. I had to leave the Ghetto. I was an ambitious person that finished high school, trade school and then was off to a 4 year University in pursuit of a career as a Special Education Teacher. I had high hopes and dreams... The year was 1976 and I met this nice guy (or so I thought). He was handsome, suave and debonair. I immediately fell head over heels for him. He was a sophomore and I a freshman. To make a long story short I got caught up and became pregnant. I was so disappointed with myself, but back then abortion was out of the question for me. I broke the news to my parents and the rest is history. They were disappointed as well, but very supportive. I worked the summer of 1977 as a Clerk-Typist, saved up my cash and bought all the essentials for my child to be (back in those days you could only work up until 6 months so I left my job at 51/2 months). After leaving my job I had no health insurance, so I had to get on Public Aid, which I really, really didn’t want to, but had no choice (the baby’s dad, oh he’s another story, another topic if you know what I mean, ha-ha.) My baby to be had all the things that were needed - diapers, blankets, clothes, etc. My friend also gave me a baby shower and I got more of the essentials. In December 1977 I had a beautiful baby girl. I was a 21 year old mother and had no clue as to how to be a mom or what to do, but I knew for sure that I had to learn fast.

Thank God I had great parents that were willing to help me raise my child. I was blessed. Of course my parents wanted me to go back to school, but I didn’t want to leave my child. In those days I wasn’t sure about child-care or taking my baby with me to the University (I did finish one-year, 2 semesters), so I dropped out. I did know that as much as I loved and trusted my parents I didn’t want to leave my child. I wanted her to know me and the struggle I endured being her mom. I decided that I would not leave her; she was my responsibility and I wanted her to grow up knowing me. I felt that when she began to grow she would have gotten me and my mom (her grandmother) confused as to who is the mom and grandma, if you can relate to that… This is something that happens often in our black community, grandparents raising their children’s children. I knew early on that I didn’t want that.

So I stayed on Public Aid for about a year and a half (this time included my pregnancy.) I received healthcare, food stamps and money (once a month, but really it was not enough). I was always an ambitious person, so this Public Aid stuff was not for me. I was determined to find work and raise my daughter on my own, without the governments’ assistance. In those days Public Aid required monthly visits and all that knowing all your business/control was not for me, (don’t get me wrong, I think the Public Aid system needs to go back to the old way and crack down on all the abuse in the system. But once again, this is another topic for another day). Back in those days jobs came a dime a dozen (not anymore, but once again another day another topic), so I landed me a full-time job as a Purchasing Clerk with full benefits. So my mom became my babysitter because I would not have trusted anyone else to take care of my only child. Life was good but raising a child without a spouse was not easy. I had my share of emotional problems with my baby’s daddy. I wasn’t proud to have a child out of wedlock. I never envisioned that for myself, but such is life in a not so perfect world, right. However, I was determined not to have another child without a husband (the way God intended it to be).

Around the mid to late 80’s drugs started to drift into the community, big time and because of that my daughter was a very sheltered child (she didn’t play outside without supervision). I worked hard and she had all the things she needed (the neighbor kids loved to play with her and all her toys). As she got older the drugs got worse. She once told me a story about one of the neighbor kids’ mom who had her take a brown paper bag to another neighbor, which we later discovered was drugs; that was the first straw. Then the building next to ours started drug trafficking, which my daughter and I witnessed. People were lined up to receive drugs like animals outside our window; that was the second straw and that made me realize it was time to figure out a plan to leave the ghetto. The final straw was when the school my daughter attended said that she was too smart and her talents would go to waste in the ghetto (such a shame). They gave me three suggestions: some UIC university academy, catholic school, or move to the suburbs. I wasn’t sure about the university and I knew I could not afford the catholic school (plus I had a problem with their beliefs), so I decided to find a part-time job, save my money and move to the suburbs. I had a full-time job as a Personnel Assistant, so I found a part-time job at a Lounge/Night Club as a Waitress working weekends to make extra money. I worked my part-time job for two years and saved enough money to move out of the ghetto for my child’s sake.

I said all that to say this… Let’s save our children. Be good and God fearing parents and take a stance as adults and parents. Do what is right for our children. Remember they didn’t ask to be born, we made that choice, but they expect to be taken care of and that is our duty as parents (yes I said its" our duty”). So mothers get out of the clubs (stop being selfish) and see what your children are doing. Stay home for their sake and don’t bring no good men home with you (keep them away, I repeat keep them away; they will only cause confusion and conflict and it’s hard to trust just any man around your children if you know what I mean). Be good parents, check your resources, ask questions and be concerned, paying attention to what your child has to say. Stop thinking being a friend is the answer because being a parent is far more important. Know the parents of the kids they associate with. Be active and take them places. Protect them and teach them about being God fearing and loving themselves. Be an active figure in their lives and get them out of harm’s way. If you have to move them out of the GHETTO do it quick, fast and in a hurry.

Sorry to say, but sometimes black people act ghetto for no reason. We are not the Ghetto; we were just born in the Ghetto. We are an oppressed people and we need to find our way. The only way to do that is to look at ourselves in the mirror and not look the other way. We need to stand up for what is right and saving our children is what is right. So my people…start looking in the mirror and adjusting it to what is happening in our world today. Ask yourself if the decisions you are making are the right ones and stop if it isn’t the right thing to do. And if you don’t know how then get some help (talk to someone you may admire), but please wake up and take care of our future, our children. We are a race that is so divided can’t you see, I know I can. Come on my black people, wake up and stay awake for the children. Take care of the one’s you have and stop having more if you can’t provide for them. Oh by the way, I finally found that good man when my daughter was 17 years old and on her way to college (she would say to me, “Mom, you need to find you someone because I am leaving and I don’t want you to be lonely”; isn’t that something?) Now she has a wonderful step-dad. So mothers, just wait until the time is right and give all you can to your children. Once you have done that then you can find love again for yourself. Keep God first and the rest will sort itself out. It worked for me, just an average sista from the Ghetto that moved to the suburbs.

Just a note, our daughter is 32 years old, has a BA, MPH and will be graduating from Medical School this June 2010. We need more of her in our black community. So wake up my black people and let’s save our race from destruction. I know it can be done because I did it. Have some faith in yourselves and the rest will fall into place with God’s help. Can I get an Amen?

Healthcare 101

The healthcare system is broken, and a lot is going on in Washington to fix it, or is it? According to what is happening now, we need to pay close attention to it. If things stay or change according to Congress (House and Senate) with what they propose now, we will be paying higher premiums until 2013 or 2014. That’s when all of this goes into effect. What happens in the meantime or even if it passes? Can we afford that? I know I can’t. Yes there will be coverage for all, but at a price. If you are below the poverty level you can get Medicaid, but what about people that are just barley above it by a few dollar’s (e.g. my husband and I)? We will have to pay higher premiums until 2013. That’s not right, what the heck, can we just all get healthcare without the government, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and hordes of people robbing us out of every dime? Did you know that we the taxpayers pay for the politicians’ great healthcare coverage? Did you know that the Republicans don’t want healthcare changed because they don’t want their wonderful healthcare shared by others? People we need to wake up and pay attention to what is happening with our government.