Sometimes You Win, Sometimes the Bear Wins

You gotta love this critter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/31/bear-in-a-hammock-daytona-beach_n_5424012.html

Music Makes Gardening/Life Fun

As evidence below.

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/30/these_farmers_turned_blackstreets_no_diggity_into_an_organic_gardening_anthem/?source=newsletter

Classy Response

I had seen, but not read the emails that prompted this response, but Stanford's provost did a great job in responding to it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/30/stanford-snapchat-email-response_n_5419628.html

Really Clever

Check out how these artful pieces blend in with their surroundings.

http://www.boredpanda.com/street-art-interacts-with-surroundings.

Hat tip to Forrest.

Cat People are Smarter

There was never any doubt in my mind.

Check out the study below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/29/cat-people-dog-people-intelligence_n_5412245.html

Priceless Wisdom

“Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.” - Maya Angelou

My Favorite

I'm not a fan of poetry.  Never have been.  Most of the time it takes too much work to figure out what the author is trying to say.

"Dude, just spit it out in plain English," is my usual response.

I know.

I know.

This shines a light on my ignorance and my country ways, but it is a truth I speak about myself.

Anyway, one of the poems that dispels everything I dislike about this genre is by Dr. Maya Angelou.

Enjoy the strength, and the passion of her words.



STILL I RISE

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? 
Why are you beset with gloom? 
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? 
Bowed head and lowered eyes? 
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? 
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? 
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise. 

California vs. Texas

Really?

There is no contest.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/05/29/its-no-contest-california-really-is-better-than-texas/?hpid=z10

This article comparing the two states is fascinating to me, being a native Texan who lived in California for more than twenty years.

But here's the dilemma.

Do I claim California and deny the influence that Texas has had on my life?  Like surviving Jim Crow and the horrors of the segregated South. Or, do I claim Texas and forget the joys of living in the trendsetting, forward-thinking Golden State?

What do you think?

In Honor of Dr. Maya

Phenomenal Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkYh2BYONms

May she rest in peace.

Hat tip to Fahizah.

I Love the New York Post!

I love them for this article on Kim and Kanye's wedding.  It's quick and dirty and oh so to the point.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/25/new-york-post-kimye-wedding_n_5389559.html

My sentiments exactly.

Really, who cares about these self-absorbed people?

Hair

Hair is highly esteemed in this culture.  Although you can't see it because it's always covered up, women are expected to keep their hair long.

Typically babies heads are shaved as newborns, and unlike other cultures like India, I don't think it's done for religious reasons, but rather, to encourage growth.  By the time they're school-aged, the little girls' hair is down to their waists.  By the time they're in fourth grade, they are required to cover it up.

A couple of months ago, I got a really short hair cut.  I wore it this short many years ago when I first started working.  The impetus for this change was the heat in Vietnam.  That heat, coupled with the humidity, was unbearable.  I also knew that experience was foreshadowing the heat to come here, although we don't have the humidity, thank God.  However, once you get past 100 degrees, hot is hot.

Well, folks thought I had lost my mind.  They could not believe I chopped off all of my hair willfully.  It really is seen as a woman's crowning glory, so to cut it like this is blasphemous.

Now, the saving grace is that I'm American.  I sometimes think we're seen as the wayward child.  You know the kid you look at and shake your head at his/her antics, but love him/her just the same.  As long as what we're doing is not seen as disrespectful of the culture, we're OK.

An example of disrespect would be to wear something that did not cover you up from top to bottom.  Chances are, you'd be asked to change.

Anyway, back to my hair.

One of the first things I did when I got divorced was cut it.  Frank always wanted it long, and being the dutiful wife that I was, I wore it that way.  Cutting it was liberating. Never again would I allow someone else to dictate how I look, what I wear, or anything else in my life.

My mantra is . . . if you like me, wonderful.  If you don't, that's OK, too.  Life is too short, so move on to someone that you do like.

Me . . . I'm OK with myself.  I like me, and quite frankly, that's all that matters.

Here's to living the life you want to live.

Take it from me, it's a blast.

From Inmate to CEO

What a powerful message this is!

This guy was in prison for four years, recognized a need while there, and when he got out, proceeded to produce a solution to the problem.

Be sure to watch the three minute video.  You may have to click it a couple of times for it to come on.

Inspiring.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/23/federal-prison-system_n_5379840

The Help

Mellody Hobson, who is CEO of an investment firm, tells of being mistaken for the help in 2006.  She has a powerful message on becoming "color brave" in this TED Talk.

Check it out below.

http://www.upworthy.com/an-executive-got-mistaken-for-kitchen-help-but-instead-of-getting-angry-she-turned-it-into-this?c=upw1

Good Strategy

This football team is targeting college grads in their recruitment.  That a change from the police blotter that many seem to use.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304422704579572050338722302?mg=reno64-wsj&utm_source=Daily+Skimm&utm_campaign=dded1988f8-daily_skimm&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74efee6205-dded1988f8-24014177

Not Happy

These Iranians dancing to Pharrell Williams' song "Happy," have been arrested.

Sad.

http://www.theroot.com/blogs/the_grapevine/2014/05/iranian_authorities_jail_singers_for_being_happy.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=f0f4a4abce&mc_eid=ac9b7800d4

School Program

My school has an EXPO today and tomorrow, showcasing student work from this year.  It is an opportunity for community members and families to see some of the students' accomplishments.  There is a large room that is housing all of the artifacts, that are presented by grade level.  The photos below don't do it justice.  It really is very nice.

The culminating activities for our guests were a musical program, a tour of the exhibition hall, ending with a catered meal.

This is our orchestra.  It was the first time I had seen them perform.  They were terrific!  Interestingly, it is mixed with boys and girls.  This school is more progressive in that regard.  Also note the two young ladies who are serving refreshments.  This is their primary job at school, to make and serve tea and coffee.  They also help with clerical duties.  The men in the audience are our guests, and are sitting directly in front of the stage.  They are wearing traditional dress and military uniforms.  The women are sitting to the right of the stage.  We are always separated from the men. The students are wearing their regular uniforms - the girls have on long green dresses with white shaylas (the head scarves).  The boys are wearing the gandooras (the long white robes) with the traditional head dress, the keffiyeh.

These are some of our younger boys performing karate drills.  The gentleman directing them is one of our PE teachers.

Side note - We have an olympic size pool, and all of our kids second through fifth grade, rotate through swimming classes twice a week.  The pool is open to mothers one night a week, and the one time I visited, it was chock full of mommas.  They were completely covered with bathing suits that look like wet suits.  Really cool to see.

You may have noticed the auditorium is almost empty.  There are about sixty fifth grade girls watching the performance, but I didn't get a shot of them.  The other classes will be invited to see the performance tomorrow, when the mothers are visiting.  We didn't want any distractions from kids in the audience today.

The little girls out front are modestly dressed.  At my previous school, they would have been in evening gowns, with full makeup for something like this.

 Here's another selection from the choir.

I hope you've enjoyed this slice of my world.

Experiencing the World

Ben has a buddy that runs an organization called Global Glimpse that takes high school kids on immersion trips to Central and South America.  What an eye-opening experience for these kids.

Check it out below, and please share this info.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime for these kids.

http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/15-things-youth-need-thrive-america-1-unexpected-way-get/

Lemons

Here are a bunch of uses for lemons, most of which I had not heard of.

Here's to enlightenment.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1hsVer

Great Movie!

I finally saw "12 Years a Slave," the Academy Award Best Picture Winner.  It is a great movie, but tough to watch.  I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time, knowing that unspeakable atrocities could be/would be in every scene.

We've come a long way, for sure.

What is most amazing is that a movie displaying so much truth about this hellaciously evil time in our history, would be recognized as the best picture of the year.

I was reminded as recently as in today's newspaper, that people are oftentimes sent to prison now for mistreating animals, and yet not long ago, when people were savagely beaten, with the flesh ripped from their bodies, just cause, there were no consequences whatsoever.

NONE.

I was also reminded of the slave labor that built this country into the great land that it is, and how the effects of that warped, single-minded, single-benefactor system are still very much evident today.

How can you not be advantaged when you reap the benefits of centuries of preferential treatment in land ownership and jobs?

How can folks, in good conscience, fight against affirmative action (which amounts to a bone being thrown our way), when they have been the recipients of untold advantages for generations?

So, as much as I appreciated the making of this movie, and the spreading of this message, it brings an uneasiness about my writings about forgiveness to the forefront.

I know.

I know.

We must forgive these unspeakable, hateful, vengeful, murderous people/episodes in our history, but it's no easy task when our children are still being gunned down for posing 'imaginary' threats to murderous, gun-toting state-sponsored vigilantes.

Yes.

We've come a long way, but dear God, we still have miles to go.

The Power of a Tweet

I'm not a fan of most social media.  I'm not on Facebook, and wouldn't know how to tweet if my life depended on it. But, when used for good, these tools can provide the platform to become a powerful force.

Check out an example of this below.

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/16/saudi_arabian_boy_tweets_about_hospitalization_and_it_became_the_most_retweeted_message_ever_in_saudi_arabia/?source=newsletter

Go Boise State!

They petitioned the NCAA to help a homeless recruit, and amazingly, the NCAA granted a waiver.

Go NCAA, too!

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/05/14/boise-state-gets-ok-to-help-homeless-player/20886059/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl33%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D47675

Hat tip to Forrest.

The Best is Yet to Come

This proves it.

http://www.upworthy.com/know-any-overachievers-that-are-upset-over-not-yet-doing-something-great-show-them-this?c=upw1

Happy Mother's Day!

To all of you fabulous Moms out there, here's hoping your day was filled with lots of love and fond memories.

To Houran, the newest mom in my world, congratulations on your first's Mother's Day.  Leila is one blessed little lady to have you as her mom.  If it's possible, you're even more amazing at motherhood than I thought you would be.

To Lupe, thank you for the gift of Milu.  What a darling sweetie pie!  I could not be prouder of you and the example that you're setting for her as a strong woman who stands up for what is right.

To Cara, thank you for Zadie.  Thank you, too, for welcoming me into your world and allowing me the absolute joy of being a grandma.  I'm bursting with pride at the way you are raising Zadie, as I'm watching her grow up into this amazing little lady.

Happy Mother's Day!

With love,

Faye/Aunt Faye/Grandma Faye 

Annual College Visits

New York Times article -

(http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/opinion/sunday/advice-for-a-troubled-teen.html?hpw&rref=opinion&_r=0)

This article in today's paper, took me back to my first year as principal.  I had four boys - two African-American, and two Latino - who were natural leaders.  They ruled the playground.  Unfortunately, they were not always leading in the right direction.  In fact, most times they were spearheading the trouble.

Although these boys were only 5th and 6th graders, I knew they were already at a crossroad in their lives.  I decided that we would take them on two field trips.  First, to the local Juvenile Hall, then to Stanford University.  I told them their choices would determine whether they would be headed to jail or to college.  Interestingly enough, after years and lots of effort, we were never granted permission to visit Juvenile Hall because of privacy concerns.  But we did visit Stanford.  We went there because Ben was a student, and I wanted these boys to see someone who looked like them on this college campus.

We expanded the program to three carloads the next year, and then after that we decided to take a busload to experience college for a day.

As I said, we began with Stanford, with Ben as our tour guide, then we added UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Sac State (our local university).  We took the trips in late Spring, allocating a day for each school.

These trips required dedicated chaperones.  I was always blessed with a great staff who was willing to do whatever they could to help our students.  Cathy took over the planning, and bought incredible organizational skills and a cohesiveness to these excursions.  Her guidance and help were invaluable.

We went on these trips every year that I was principal.

One of the most memorable ones was a visit to UC Berkeley where my dear friend Ray was teaching.  He invited our kids to sit in on one of his classes.  They listened to the discussion for about a half hour, and then Ray invited our students to comment and/or ask questions.  To my utter amazement, they had lots to contribute and they did great!  I was so proud of them.

On another visit to Berkeley, there were about a half dozen protestors who were living in a grove of trees that was scheduled for demolition to expand the athletic center.  Our kids were fascinated by their commitment to their cause, and by the buckets they used to send down their bodily fluids.  Set up nearby, was a table with baked goods that these folks offered our students.  We suspected they were made with illegal herbs and quickly moved our kids along.  All I needed was for a student to eat a brownie laced with marijuana.  Thankfully, we escaped incident, and left with just a quirky story to tell.

I'd like to say these college visits made an impact, but truth be told, I don't know.

So much of the fruit of what we do as educators is not reaped until years later,  so I hold out hope that  of the scores of kids who went on these special field trips, it helped someone.

There was no appreciable difference in the behavior of the first four boys, and at least two of them chose the wrong path.  I'm glad it was a while before I got that news.  It would probably have impacted our decision to continue to do this year after year.

Although I don't regret the time, energy, effort and money it took to do this, it saddens me when I think of the lost potential.  How many kids would have had a greater chance if they had the support they needed?  How many bright, talented kids, who, in spite of our best efforts, still fell by the wayside?  Was there more we/I could have done?

As an educator, these are the questions that haunt me.

Vodka . . . Really?

Here's some pretty crazy options for household cleaning, including vodka to clean mattresses.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/08/cleaning-hacks-spring-cleaning-shortcuts_n_5242987.html

My College Experience

I went to an HBCU (an Historically Black College and University), Florida A & M University in Tallahassee.  I followed Forrest there, and Terry followed me.  Terry was a year older than me, but he went to the Air Force first, for four years, and then entered FAMU.

I will forever be grateful to Forrest for making it his life's mission to get me out of China, Texas (our hometown) and off to his alma mater.  The fact that he was able to persuade our Mom to let me go was nothing short of a miracle.

Prior to leaving for college, I had only traveled out of state once as a very young child, when we went to San Francisco to visit my mother's brother, her only sibling, and then a couple of other times when we visited relatives in Louisiana.

Leaving home was a big deal.

HUGE.

Folks in my neck of the woods didn't leave home.

But with Forrest's help, I left Texas, heading first to Miami, where he was living. We then drove north for 500 miles to my new home at FAMU.

I was . . .

Excited.

Scared.

Anxious.

Worried.

Thrilled.

These were just some of the emotions I was experiencing with each passing mile of that trip.

There were no visits to the campus prior to entering school to check it out.  Forrest gave it his stamp of approval, and that was good enough for me.  I knew he wouldn't steer me wrong.

The campus was/is beautiful.  It sits on rolling hills and it's luscious greenery is a warm, welcoming site.  It has a down home flavor, a large dose of southern hospitality.

In contrast, China, Texas is barren on so many levels, with a population of 1100 folks. When I arrived on FAMU's campus with an enrollment of 5000, and all of them Black, it was a shock to my system.  A pleasant one, but a shock nonetheless.  I had never seen so many black folks in all of my life.  There were 10 black kids in my graduating class of 100.

This trip down memory land was prompted by an article I just read in the New York Times, by Charles Blow, one of the columnists, where he was reminiscing about his experiences at Grambling State University, in Louisiana, also an HBCU, and how nurturing it was.

Here's the link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/opinion/blow-in-college-nurturing-matters.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0

My experience mirrored his.

My professors had a vested interest in my success.  If I succeeded, they succeeded. If I failed, they had failed me, and that was not going to happen.

It was refreshing on a social level, too.  As I imagined it is at an all-boys' or all-girls' school, there were things we had in common that didn't require an explanation or discussion.  We could launch into conversations without fear of alienating anyone, or offending someone with our views.  Not to imply we were monolithic in the way we saw the world, but our common denominator helped us to move more easily pass our differences as we navigated this new world.

I wanted very much for Ben and Frankie to attend an HBCU, but they had other ideas.  To be fair, the world that they were raised in was radically different from mine. I'm not at all sure they would have been comfortable in an all-black setting.

Truthfully, that bothered/bothers me.

In our quest to send them to the best schools, did we inadvertently rob them of rich cultural experiences?

That's one of the many lingering questions that I don't have the answer to.  Or maybe I do, but I don't like what it is, so I keep it in the question column.

Side note - This is the 40th anniversary of my high school graduation.

Good gravy!

Anyway.

Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me.

I hope all is well in your world.

Can I Hear an Amen?

I know some folks who might not appreciate this.

That's OK.

I love it!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/characters-from-bible-really-look-like-_n_5281519.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black%20Voices

Singing One of Frank's Songs

Incredible!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/05/angelina-jordan-fly-me-to-the-moon_n_5267341.html

Another "WOW!"

Check out this young lady's amazing achievement and note why her parents encouraged their kids to take college courses while still in high school.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/05/meet_the_16_year_old_who_will_graduate_college_before_high_school.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=d578c0c540&mc_eid=ac9b7800d4

A Tribute to His Mom

This is just over a minute long, but it is oh so touching.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/05/watch_kevin_durant_s_emotional_mvp_speech_to_his_mother.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=d3ba4a4451&mc_eid=ac9b7800d4

Channeling Chris Tucker

These guys end their dance with some Chris Tucker moves.

Really cute.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/02/michael-fassbender-dancing-blurred-lines_n_5256372.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

How to Choose a Winner

Check out the link below to an interesting documentary on one of the biggest disappointments in football drafts, the 1998 one involving Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf for the top draft position.   This examines the art and science of choosing a winner.

It's 12 minutes long.

Fascinating.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000002859989/picking-a-winner-the-1998-nfl-draft.html?playlistId=100000002148738

Beautiful Black Ballerinas

Simply stunning!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/02/black-ballerinas-misty-copeland-pointe-magazine-june-july-2014_n_5255148.html

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

This is an article about the young woman who starred in "Precious."  We should all take a page from her book.  She has a powerful message.

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/02/gabourey_sidibe_dont_ask_me_why_im_confident_ask_rihanna/

A Really Smart Athlete

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-morehouse/meet-john-urschel-the-sma_b_5248272.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black%20Voices

Black Barbershops

I love black barbershops.  I spent lots of time in them with Ben and Frankie growing up.  The conversations are unusually interesting, and in an hour to two, the world's problems are typically solved.

Jimmy Kimmel visited one recently to get the guys' take on the Donald Sterling debacle.  Check it out below.

http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/05/01/kimmel-hits-up-black-barbershop-to-discuss-donald-sterling-watch/

Cheers to Tremendous Academic Success!

This kid is headed for more great things, after achieving a 5.0 GPA and 2100 on the SAT.

Incredible!

Bravo to Ellen for showcasing this gifted young man.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/ivy-league-ellen-degeneres_n_5237288.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices

Seeing Without Glasses

This quick video shows you what to do to see something in a pinch if you've forgotten your glasses or contacts.

Truly amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OydqR_7_DjI#t=155