Throwback Thoughts: Love Thy Neighbor

I originally wrote this as a Facebook status update in 2018 to express my frustration with America. It’s 2020, and we’re on the eve of a contentious election, our democracy on the brink of disaster. In the last 4 years, we’ve seen hate, the likes of the 1960s, rear its ugly head, once again. I figured I might share this post again, with a new audience in the hopes it might inspire someone to love.

Been working in Higher Education for 20 years this year (1998-2018, I know scary right). The thing about education (be it in the form of college, high school, or the school of life) is that you must embrace learning and be open minded. You must be willing to learn about yourself along the way, as well as learn about other people, other cultures, other perspectives, etc. Hate is home grown and comes out of the inability to not step out of our homogeneous communities to actually meet, live with, and get to know others who are different from us. No one said this was an easy task because we are all raised in different environments, with different parents, family members, friends, neighborhoods, etc., but it is still much easier to show compassion, kindness, and love to others than it is to have a closed mind and hate. You have to work real hard to do that. Now, we don’t have to be BFFs with everyone different from us, but a simple hello, good morning, a head nod, a something, is better than nothing. Then, you are telling people you know they exist and vice versa. And then, if you feel compelled to have further conversation or engage in a social activity (even something as simple as coffee, a drink, etc.) we are all the better for it, even the smallest gestures mean alot, they are building blocks. I have so many friends and acquaintances from all walks of life, from other countries, other states, speak other languages, have different life experiences, all ages, races, abilities, and identities. And no, I don’t always understand everything about who they are, but the one common bond we have is that we try, we talk, we ask questions, we laugh, we socialize, and we share time with each other. That is it. This is what it takes and that is what it will take for #America to get back on track. Hate cannot be our signature on the world. It cannot be what others see when they look at our history. Yes, it’s a part of our history but it cannot be what defines us. #LoveThyNeighbor #LoveIsKind

Report Card. Failed. Justice for Breonna Taylor

Update: As of 10/28/20, there still have been no charges filed against any of the officers involved in this case. Also, various Grand Jury members have spoken out and expressed frustration with the handling of this case. And get this, none of the Grand Jury members have ever met the KY Attorney General, Daniel Cameron.

GRAND JURY Report 10/3/20. Please READ. This report from the Grand Jury hearing from the fatal Breonna Taylor shooting, has lots of holes in it, lots of Innuendos and stereotypes, assumptions about black men, lots of exaggeration on the behalf of the police. Absolutely NOTHING about this case sounds right nor does it sound like above the board police work. The fact that this was a hodgepodge of random officers, who were not all clear about why they were there that night is a huge problem. Tragic. Confusion. I hope heads roll, the officer who shot Breonna, the officers who botched the warrant, the officers, who botched the entrance into her apartment, and most of all, Daniel Cameron, the KY Attorney General. This clearly, is a travesty of justice for Breonna Taylor.

#BreonnaTaylor #NoJusticeNoPeace

Grand Jury Report. Breonna Taylor case
A door busted open. A chaotic scene. A life taken. What the Breonna Taylor grand jury audio reveals

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/03/us/breonna-taylor-grand-jury-audio-highlights/index.html

What Has He Done For You Lately?

We have exactly one week left, one week from today, when we will know the fate of our country’s leadership. Once again, we are at the crossroads of one of the most contested elections in American History, let’s all keep in mind, exactly what’s at stake.

James Baldwin said:

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” “I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do”.

Those that continue to support 45 and make excuses, I will no longer entertain. He has shown us through his ACTION and In-Action who exactly he is and what exactly it is he stands for.

Please STOP making excuses for him. It’s getting so bad that it’s starting to look like those family members who make excuses for their alcoholic or drug addicted relative, enabling their behavior, over and over again. Trump supporters, you are enablers.

And it’s to the detriment of the rest of us, who are also citizens and immigrants of this country we call America, whom 45 disses, disrespects, and denies, on a daily basis, since his first day in office and many times before. If you agree with and/support him and his behavior, then you are complicit in the aiding and abetting of the perpetuation of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and classism in America.

And really, in the words of Janet Jackson, “What Has He Done For You Lately? For most of us, absolutely nothing (unless you are a rich, balding white man.) If he wins again, you will have blood on your hands (along with Coronavirus) only yourselves to blame. Whatever you do VOTE! And #GetHimOutOfOffice

Podcast Update: No Justice No Peace

#podcast #update #listen Before you write the Black Lives Matter Movement off, just remember, if freedom is what you celebrate, you must understand that both the celebration of freedom and an effort to move the needle of what it means to be free forward, can indeed coexist, because, well…. This is America. I originally blogged about this topic on the 4th of July this past summer, but I wanted to share the topic, No Justice No Peace, on the podcast because I believe it is a topic that is relevant year round. Thank you for listening and please share.
https://anchor.fm/the40andoverproject/episodes/No-Justice–No-Peace-eka2v8

And be sure to subscribe to my blog: https://the40andoverproject.com and join the Facebook group at:  www.facebook.com/groups/the40andoverprojectpodcast

The Kamala Effect

A couple of months ago, former Vice President Joe Biden announced his running mate for president as the current Senator Kamala Harris.

Harris already made history as the first Black woman to run for and be elected to become the Attorney General of the State of California, the largest legal system in the United States.

Harris has made history as the first African American woman to run for and receive the nomination for Vice President on a major party ticket in the United States

Harris has made history as the first Asian American woman to run for and receive the nomination for Vice President on a major party ticket in the United States.

Harris is also making history as the first member of one of, what we know as “The Divine Nine”, historically Black Greek-Lettered organizations to run for a major party’s political office on the national level. She is a member of the first Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

And yes, we’ve turned the world pink and green with pride in our Soror Kamala Harris and all of her accomplishments, as she not only symbolizes what women can do, but also what Black women can accomplish in this place we call the United States of America. And as a woman who was born on the cusp of Generation X (she was born in 1964), she is doing the damn thing for women in their early 50s (black don’t crack right!)

But unfortunately, American history has another very ugly past….it’s negative and derogatory treatment of African American women. And the affects of that history has not been lost on those of us who are charged with carrying on our legacy into the 21st Century. It seems that for every first we put forth, there’s a racist/sexist that is not ready for it and as a result, publicly makes us aware of their disdain for our achievements.

Not long after Joe Biden’s announcement about Kamala Harris as his running mate, Barry Presgraves, Mayor of Luray, Virginia said this, “Joe Biden has just announced Aunt Jemima as his VP pick.” And while this is not a shocker because many white men in America often do this whenever their world of privilege is upheavaled. It’s incredible how public and how non-fearful and unapologetic this person was. That should scare all of us in 2020.

This was my reply to the mayor’s comments on Facebook: To the mayor of #LurayVA who wrote the “Biden has chosen Aunt Jemima” comment about Kamala Harris who is now apologizing, saying, “that’s not what’s in my heart”. Yes, it is in your heart. If not, you would not have written it. And just so y’all know, just like Beyonce, the Kamala beehive is ready to take on anything y’all got cause we know the racists and sexists are coming out the woodwork and to those of you who are already in elected positions, disguising yourselves like this mayor as being #ForThePeople, who are really only out for people who look like you, we see you, and you’re time is up! But guess what, we will swat you like the annoying little racist gnats, that we know you are! Your words will not deter us! It’s on. Bring it! #BidenHarris2020

As we know, these types of comments will continue to rev up, the closer we get to the election. Case in point, following the Vice Presidential candidate debate between Kamala Harris and the current VP Mike Pence, the man known as president, I like to call him 45, commenced to his normal tyraid of misinformation on FOX News and called Harris a Monster…..Let that seep in….. This person, who is supposed to be the leader of the free world, who is supposed to provide words of wisdom and encouragement in the time of a pandemic, is calling a woman, a Black woman, a Monster. He is the worst. But this is what he does, especially in the shadow of successful, strong women, he calls us names. And he especially treats smart, successful Black women with a deep seded, historical, vitriol that comes from the times of the plantation. He will continue to be disrespectful and I have no doubt, that it will only get worse, as November fast approaches.

So, if his behavior and the behavior of other hate-filled politicians and organizations is something that makes you cringe, there is only one solution. VOTE like your life depends on it on November 3rd!

#ThrowbackThursday: Eddie Van Halen, Beat It, Guitar Solo

#ThrowbackThursday Remembering #EddieVanHalen, here’s a classic video of him with Michael Jackson playing his Beat It guitar solo LIVE! How awesome is that! #the40andoverproject #40AndOver #OldSchool

RIP to The Notorious RBG

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for women’s rights during her entire career, both as a lawyer, and as a judge on the highest court in the land. And while her passing is sad as well as a big yikes during this very volatile political climate, as we head to the polls to vote for our next president, let’s remember the rights she fought for that benefit not only women, but children, and the many men who have benefited from and supported the women in their lives. Also, as you take a look at the list, if you are anything like me, I hope you are also astonished and insulted that these were rights that were denied to women but I will say, that given America’s sexist and racist history, I’m not shocked. At 47, I’m forever grateful to Justice Ginsburg and I look forward to continuing to have the right to voice my opinion regarding women’s rights and social justice issues for as long as I have breath to do so.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a leading force in securing the following rights for women:

1. the rights to obtain a mortgage without a male co-signer
2. the right to open a checking account without a male co-signer
3. the right to start a business without a male co-signer
4. the right to get a credit card without a male co-signer
5. the right to get a credit card without a male co-signer
6. the right to obtain a business loan without a male co-signer
7. the right to obtain a job without gender based discrimination
8. the right to obtain/retain employment wile pregnant
9. the right to obtain birth control without having to obtain a husband’s permission
10. the right not to be forced to provide proof of sterilization to obtain/retain employment
11. the right to pension benefits equal to male workers
12. the right to equal consideration to be executors for their children’s estate

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Pexels.com

The day I became a Mom. A Plant Mom.

At 47, I’m what you call child-free so I don’t have kids, cats, or dogs but now I’m a #PlantMom, all gifted to us at my mother’s homegoing this summer. Let’s hope I have inherited my mother’s #greenthumb, I’ll keep you posted on their progress! I’ve even given them all fun names: Tupac, Kamala Ivy, Lil Kim, Shakira, JLo, Biggie, and Queen Bae (names in that order, see photo). Let’s call it a little self care.

#gardening #gardenlife #plantsofinstagram #planttherapy