"UNITED" States of America...The James Anderson Case

So, I have been trying to make an effort to stay up on National news. In my doing so, I came across the most saddening story about a man, James Anderson. As the doll that can cover it all, I will certainly be offering an opinion about this story. For those of you that are not familiar with the James Anderson story, here is an excerpt about the story from CNN's website:

"Jackson, Mississippi (CNN) -- On a recent Sunday morning just before dawn, two carloads of white teenagers drove to Jackson, Mississippi, on what the county district attorney says was a mission of hate: to find and hurt a black person. In a parking lot on the western side of town they found their victim. James Craig Anderson, a 49-year-old auto plant worker, was standing in a parking lot, near his car. The teens allegedly beat Anderson repeatedly, yelled racial epithets, including "White Power!" according to witnesses. Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith says a group of the teens then climbed into their large Ford F250 green pickup truck, floored the gas, and drove the truck right over Anderson, killing him instantly. "

I can imagine that, like myself, most people have been FLABBERGASTED by this story!! For a young African American woman it's; frustrating, infuriating, astonishing, hurtful, and a REMINDER!!! America refuses to part with her first, truest, longest lasting romance with RACISM!! Racism is ever present and abound...the oppression, discrimination, prejudice against people of color, namely African American people will never be something we REMEMBER. We did not need to know this story to remind us of this fact, just look at the hard time that the President of the Nation is getting and we all know why its that way! Oh and remember the Jena 6 in Jena, Louisiana? Yea, that was less than 10 years ago..forgot about that? I posted about that too!

While, the death of James Anderson and the means by which he died should really not be a surprise to people, it is because of where we are as a country, but honestly it should not be because of the same reason. Mississippi especially, has teetered tottered with it's Jim Crow past since the day of Reconstruction. Doubt me? The state did not adopt the 13th Amendment UNTIL 1995!!!! HOWEVER, with ALL OF THAT, taken into account; the nerve, the gull, the motivation, the will of someone to act the way those teenagers did that night is ASTONISHING, APPALLING, SHOCKING, HATEFUL, MORBID TO say the LEAST!!

I will be glued to the media to see just how the state of Mississippi, who has declared this a racial, hate crime already, will handle this case and the offenders.

They should be made example of in every way possible, National examples.

Let this incident remind us that to know one's history and to progress as a unit and a country is to also take on the responsibility to personally rectify it by any means necessary. It is PRE-Election year, remember the voting rights act was not passed until 1965, schools were not desegregated until 1954, it took 232 years approximately to get our first President of color, the President was just publicly called a "Tar baby", and everyday subtle gestures of racism are among us all. These were not old people that killed James Anderson. They did not burn crosses and sport white robes and masks. These were simply teenagers with evil intentions that had fatal results...in the America we live in NOW! It was not that long ago that the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents of these children hosed down blacks, refused service to blacks, and owned slaves! Like folk tales, and recipes, ideas of racism and evil are passed down through generations. WE, AMERICANS, have to KNOW better to do better for the common good. My prayers are extended to both the family of James Anderson as well as his soul, and the families of those teenagers.

Will Mississippi adequately seek justice?

Link to the story http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/index.html

When it's over...

between you and an ex, do you mind if your ex still keep in touch with your family/friends??? Do you expect your ex to breakup with your entire personal environment (your hangouts, family, friends) when you breakup with them?? What boundaries or aspects of your life, do you mind your ex lover to not cross or show face in after your flame has died out???

My two co-workers and I often chat about specific situations in which you or someone you're close with interacts with your old flame and whether it's boundary crossing or not, and our opinions are very varied so I wanted to get my readers opinions on this....

Is it cool??? or when it's over is everything that came with you, over for them too????

& He Apologizes

So, Chris Breezy has apologized for viciously beating ex girlfriend & awesome pop star Rihanna and asked his fans for forgiveness. As I sit here watching Showbiz Tonight attentively listening to what the critics have to say about his apology, I am forced to address the issue of forgiveness once again. In a sense, I feel like his apology is too little too late from BOTH parties! I think that both Chris and Rihanna should have spoken about the incident months ago as role models for their young fans. At this late date Chris' apology seems anything but authentic and Rihanna should make plans to speak soon about the ordeal, taking a public stand against domestic violence or violence in general, as someone who has been through it herself, to her followers. Before the incident in February, I liked Chris Brown's music and loved Rihanna's music & image (Good Girl Gone Bad is still bumpin in my M-Class) LOL..BUT, domestic violence/abuse in relationships is an issue that we must sweep from up under the rug & ADDRESS!!! As a result of women being more powerful and more successful than ever before, there is a notion that "women aren't taking that mess, abuse, anymore." While this may be true it is NOT true that modern women/men are not encountering negative and abusive relationships. Whether it is emotion, verbal or physical abuse, IT IS TAKING PLACE!!! Additionally, I think that it is IMPERATIVE that abusees forgive their abusers but make the conscious & intelligent decision to approach the situation head on and demand respect while actively living a life free of abuse (in ANY regard) and disrespect, NEVER letting their negative relationship escalate to the level of bruises, hits, loss of self-esteem and the like!!

Both stars have suffered from public scrutiny and opinion BUT can turn this aweful negative into a positive by crusading against unhappy and painfully negative relationships. Rihanna has started that by continuing to lead a publicly happy and social life....H/E whether the apology is sincere or not, it is imperative that Chris Brown is forgiven by all naysayers as I am a firm believer of second chances but of respect as well. HE HAS ALOT TO PROVE!!! Abuse, at even the early stages, take a huge toll on the psyche of the abusee....BETTER EXISTS!!!!

My Refusal to Hurt....

FORGIVENESS is the refusal to hurt the one that hurt you, a gift so to speak given to the perpetrator of the heartache imposed upon you. There has been a point in all of our lives in which we were hurt, angered, and either physically, emotionally or verbally badgered by someone near and dear to our hearts resulting in feelings of betrayal, hearbreak, and often times revenge....the desire to GET BACK AT the one responsible for the pain we are in or have felt as a result of something they did or said to us. However, as the BEAUTIFULLY AND PERFECTLY IMPERFECT beings we were created to be, we have a DUTY or responsibility to forgive those that act out against us negatively for OUR OWN well being. Forgiveness does not necessarily come after the delivery of an apology to you from the one that hurt you BUT more importantly FORGIVENESS is, as I said above, a gift, a choice for you to make in regards to your own mental, emotional and physical health, even if said relationship will never be reconciled!!!!! DO IT FOR YOU!

However, forgiveness is not something said but felt within the heart. I have found it to be true that it is impossible to fully forgive someone without ever fully feeling the pain that person caused you....such an attempt can and will end in the "hurt" party feeling resentful, angry, distant, vindictive among other UGLY not so becoming emotions. Find comfort in knowing that in the end, EVIL COMES TO EVIL!!! Life is made up of choices....choose to, if nothing else, be good to you and KNOW that NO ONE can take your ability to be a good person but you!!!

BE BLESSED & BEAUTIFUL, GIVE FORGIVENESS!!!!!