Remembering Berta

Mentor, Friend, Confidant

G-mom, Sister, Mother, Aunt

Traveler, Shopper,

The Ultimate Survivor

Domestic Abuse, Breast Cancer and Depression

You beat the odds, inspired many, and stayed in remission.

Your prophecy has been fulfilled

My “rude awakening” has been revealed.

My journey still continues...

Memories of quotes and anecdotes provide me with encouragement and strength

in my darkest hours.

Still missing your physical presence,

My comfort lies in knowing that your spirit lives on with your ancestors.

More Money For Parking Authority?!?!?

Now they are increasing the cost for meter parking. When the state took over the parking authority, they promised the Philadelphia School District 45 million dollars. So far they have only paid 4 million to the school district.

Read FOX Story....

Legal Intelligencer Story...

Their website tells you nothing except how they intend to continue this method of legal extortion among Philadelphia residents. Then, they are taking the money out of Philly and funding state initiatives. Does any other city in Pennsylvania have this form of extortion going on? Please advise.

Peace and Love.

Proud To Be An American

I have never been more proud to be an American who is black than I was on yesterday. As I watched our new President, proudly and boldly take his oath, how could I not feel a sense of pride?

My current job provided me the opportunity to share that experience with about 45 teenage boys and girls. As the students at A. Philip Randolph Career Academy watched in awe and admiration, you could hear a pin drop. The applause and cheers that filled the school after the oath was something I will never forget. I think that knowing the history of their school's namesake made these young people more aware of the significance of this event.

The entire day was emotional for me on many levels, and I enjoyed every moment of it! I went to the gym with the intention of getting home in time to watch the Neighborhood Ball. When I got home and realized that I missed the dance, I was deeply disappointed, so I decided to watch Katie Couric instead I'm glad I did, because it offered quite a pleasant surprise. She did a segment on a civil rights leader who is often unsung...Medgar Evers. Then, she showed clips of the first couple's dance - so I didn't feel like I missed anything.

I have always felt that Mr. Obama - oops, I mean Mr. PRESIDENT was cool, suave and debonair, but in my opinion, his most admirable trait is the way that he adores, appreciates, and respects his wife. This is a real man, who recognizes the important role that his wife plays and is not in any way threatened or intimidated by her strength, intellegence and beauty. He knows that "he's a movement by himself, but with her at his side, he is a force to be reckoned with" (Neyo)

I will continue to keep our new President and his family in prayer as he now moves on to the multi-faceted task of cleaning up Bush's mess.

Speaking of prayer, did Rick Warren read his prayer, or was I imagining things. To me he appeared to be reading a prepared speech and not giving a heart felt prayer. Mr. Presiden't speeches never appear to even be rehearsed, let alone read from a script.

Anyway, as always, I leave you with...

Peace and Love.

The Dream...

...in my opinion, is still deferred.

As I celebrated Dr. King's birthday yesterday, (his actual DOB), I thought about a phrase from his "I Have A Dream" speech that has always stayed in the back of my mind... "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

The dream that MLK spoke of in his speech is still unfulfilled. Undoubtedly, blacks Americans have something to be proud of and I wish my mother and grandparents were here to witness this event. They would have been indescribably hyped and proud to see our new real life Huxtable family role model. Hopefully this will raise standards and hopes in our communities, but I think we need alot more than lip service and unrealistic promises.

I participated in a workshop yesterday where the facilitator shared the findings of a recent study. The findings were that African-American children who come from low-income, one-parent households, are academically inferior. The fact that they needed to pay somebody to to tell them that makes them academically inferior and lacking in common sense. If you put a child from any race, creed or color in the same conditions, you will get the same results. I am so tired of hearing how our local and federal governments and foundations spend millions of dollars to conduct studies to tell them what we already know. Last year, The Urban League of Philadelphia published one of the most comprehensive reports that I've ever seen, entitled "The State Of Black Philadelphia". And they GAVE COPIES AWAY FOR FREE last summer!!! (Now it will cost you a nominal amount)

Now that all the study results are in, they should begin earmarking money to implement programs and services needed to enhance the quality of life in underserved communities.

I hope and pray that Mr. Obama will allocate some of the trillions of stimulus dollars directly to our needs. We would have to come correct from jump street in order to even be considered. As the old saying goes, we have to jump higher and run faster. Because we don't have a group of leaders or lobbyists who represent us to actually come up with and present a well prepared proposal to the powers that be, all I can do is hope and pray. Don't get me wrong, I know that there is power in prayer, but sometimes God requires us to have a vision and take action as well.
Having said all that, looking at the trickle down affect of the US Stock Market to worldwide economy, I can't help but smile as I remember those controversial infamous words from one of our other prominent leaders of that same era.

As Brother Malcolm put it..."Their chickens have come home to roost".

Peace and Love.

I'm Back

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I've blogged anything publicly. Over the past year or so, my blog entries have been private and for my eyes only. I called myself staying below the radar - keeping a low profile - finding and defining myself. Then I learned that rumors were circulating about me. I couldn't understand why - I was at home minding my own business. Then my favorite cousin snapped me back to reality - "Kendall, don't you know that's when people talk about you the most - when they don't hear anything from you, they make shit up."

Well there's no need to guess anymore. I'm back. If you want to know something about me, just ask.

One of my favorite rumors about me is that I have been blackballed, lost all my connections with the city's power players.

First of all, let me say that yes, I am familiar with a lot of people and a lot of people are familiar with me, but they have no idea who I really am. To me, people are people. I don't esteem the mayor or governor any more than I do the man who pumps my gas and cleans my windshield.

Secondly, as far as connections, I have the ULTIMATE connection with the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent Creator of the Universe!!! That's about all the connection I need!!!

Peace and Love!