Preacher's Kids turned celebrities

The number of celebrities that grew up in the church is outstanding. You'd never know it because they rarely, if ever acknowledge God for their fame & fortune. Many music celebs got their start in the church: Snoop Dogg, K-Ci and Jojo, Jennifer Hudson, Toni Braxton and her sisters, etc. The most notable ones are Toni Braxton and her sisters because both of their parents were pastors and they frowned upon secular music. After a while, the Braxton sisters parents eventually let them do their thing and from what I can see, they haven't forgotten where they come from and I respect that. From time to time, they broke out some old-school church harmonies on Braxton Family Values. Many singers got their first start in their church choir and from that point on, God anointed them to sing and it was a wrap. You have celebrities that grew up in the church and go bonkers. I guess being raised in a strict religious household can cause one to rebel because the assumption is that your life has to be based around church; having a life is frowned upon.

Teacher/Administrator Sexual Abuse

In light of the incidents involving sexual abuse between male teachers and female students and female teachers with their underage male students, one thing .certain...Sexual abuse stretches across all genders and races. It's true the vast majority of sex abuse cases involve men and little girls but after watching a documentary on Channel 46 that profiled female teachers being charged with sexual relations with their underage male students, women are rapidly catching up to men. Why is there little to no outrage when sexual abuse takes place between older women and underage boys but people are quick to raise hell when a grown man sexes an underage girl? That's a little lop-sided to me. Sexual abuse is foul, no matter who does it. I will point out that most teenage boys have fantasies about being with an older woman and when it happens, they feel good so I guess that's why there's not as much outrage when a female teacher/administrator sexes an underage boy. Let it be the other way around and the man will be crucified. If you're going to be outraged over an incident, it should be all across the board. Women who sexually abuse underage boys SHOULD NOT get a pass because she's attractive. Men don't, so why should she? As the documentary was going on, the narrator brought up an interesting point: The more attractive the predator, the less stiffer sentence she receives. Wow...I guess looks will get you far in life. I read about a story where an attractive female teacher had sex with one of her underage male students; she sends him racy texts & pictures and they meet up one day and do the do. These two teenage boys were giving their $.02 cents and they confirmed a lot of the hypocrisy: Most underage boys dream about being with an older woman and when it happens, they keep it on the low because it was enjoyable mostly for the boy (although I don't doubt she got a kick out of the act). If kids aren't safe at school, where can children go to be safe? I see why many parents opt for homeschool or private school (the incident of sexual abuse is far lower in private schools than public schools).

Jealousy

Jealousy is not a good look. Most people who say they aren't jealous of someone are usually lying because when another person achieves success, some people start hating on him/her. Why be jealous of someone? It doesn't make sense to me. We all chart our life's course. You can be just as successful as another person if you make the right moves and keep the faith. Jealousy reflects poorly on the person than the object of his/her's envy. I'm not jealous of anyone, why would I be? I like to see others doing well because chances are, they had to go through a lot to get where they're at. Going further, seeing someone else make it inspires me to keep pushing forward and use some of their strategies to reach my goal(s) faster. I'm too busy on my grind to be envious of another person. Some people get so envious they scheme to bring him/her down because they can't stand to see someone doing better than them. We need to get it together people, really. Many people don't have anything worthwile to be jealous of so to be envious over the average Joe Schmoe is ridiculous. This is why I keep my team small. When I make it, I want to be around genuine people that will celebrate my success with me, not snakes (People who smile in your face but cut your throat in a minute). Life is too short for jealousy.

Relationship Accountability

Accountability is a part of life, whether we like it or not. We're accountable to God, above all else but we're also accountable to certain people in our lives. Employees are accountable to management, husbands accountable to wives and vice versa. As much as we'd like no accountability in this world, it wasn't designed that way. When you're in a relationship, you have to sacrifice a certain amount of freedom or otherwise the relationship won't succeed. The problem with relationships is that couples want the freedom to rip & run like there's no tomorrow. They don't want to settle down because that means having enough respect for their mate to cease detrimental behaviors. I understand not wanting a controlling man/woman but if you care for someone like you say, you will respect them enough to cease & desist on detrimental behaviors. If that person leaves you because you lay down the law, they did you a favor. They showed you their true colors so you're better off without them. Case in point: A husband comes home at 2am during the week and his wife interrogates him on his whereabouts: Is that her right? It depends on the reason. If he legitmately had to work, yes but he should call to inform the misses that he will be home late. This way, she won't worry. If he comes home at 2am during the week because he was hanging with the fellas, then yes she does have a right to question him. There's nothing for one to do in a city that warrants staying out into the wee hours of the morning. Relationships involve give & take. There are couples that don't check in with each other because they don't see a need. As long as they come home to each other, that's all that matters. Those kind of relationships are based on trust, which I can respect. If you trust your man/woman to come home to you then what's the point of checking in?

Foreigners owning businesses in black neighborhoods

Arabs and Asians opening business in black neighborhoods seems to be a recurring trend all across America. Going further, An Arab, Asian or an owner of another race/ethnicity can open a business in the black community and it does well. Why is that? Because many blacks will support other businesses instead of their own. I'm all for supporting black-owned business (I'm a frequent patron of one in Tallahassee; she makes good breakfasts. $2.68 after tax for grits, eggs, bacon & toast) because I believe if black-owned businesses thrive in black neighborhoods, the entire community benefits because a black-owned business can provide jobs to unemployed people. When someone from another race opens a business in a black hood, they have a suggested retail price because some blacks in the inner-city are on a fixed income. It makes good business sense to charge what your clientele can afford. I have to be real here: The reason why many black businesses (there are some that do very well) don't succeed in black communities is that the owner gives terrible customer service, doesn't invest profits back into the business and the crime issue. It's Business 101 that if you want your business to do well, treat your customer right. It's hard for a business to succeed with bad service. Word gets around that your business doesn't do right by its customers and that makes it difficult for a black-owned business to prosper. Of the black-owned businesses that do succeed, the profits aren't invested back into the business so it ends up looking shabby just like the neighborhood. Just because your business is located in a black neighborhood doesn't mean the business has to be unkempt like the area. I've patronized several black-owned businesses in black areas and unless it's a strip-mall location, most stand-alone black businesses in black hoods aren't appealing to the eye. The business could be well-run but the appearance will say otherwise. Honestly, I think most business owners don't want to open in black areas because they feel there's not as much money to be made, which may be true because when you're on a limited income, you can't spend willy nilly. You have to make your money stretch from one month to the next. The criminality is another red-flag which deters potential businesses from setting up shop in a black area. It's risky opening a business in a black neighborhood due to you having to worry about your business being robbed/looted. Some inner-city residents are very jealous when they see a fellow inner-city resident trying to do better so the criminal wants to take what someone has. It's pathetic but when you can't stand someone doing better than you, that's what happens.

Is Marriage Dead?

Is marriage dead? I want to say no but looking at long-term unmarried couples who in many cases stay together longer than most marrieds, I'm inclined to say yes. Cohabitation seems to be the new marriage nowadays because there's an upward trend of couples staying together for long periods of time without tying the knot. Whether it's right or wrong remains to be seen. From a Biblical standpoint, shacking up is wrong but from a cultural standpoint, it makes sense. One argument for cohabitation is that you can see the true essence of a person because you're around them 24-7. You see them at their best & worst. Another argument for co-habitation is when the going gets tough, both parties are free to leave without the legal/financial ramifications. I think most people want to keep the option of leaving open, which is why they opt for cohabitation rather than marriage. In marriage, when the going gets tough, you tend to try your hardest to make it work especially since you have years invested in the relationship. Shackers can easily say "Look, I'm sick of this, I'm out". Marriage is a beautiful thing when you find Mr. or Mrs. Right but the reality is, many people marry for the wrong reasons. They didn't take the time to thoroughly screen a person. Start off as friends and see where that goes. Most people look at the outside rather than the inside. Let's be real, nobody wants to deal with someone at their worst. People love their man/woman when they're acting right. When life hits, that love is tested. That so-called Mr(s) Right could turn into Mr(s) Wrong later down the line & you're looking crazy because you got married under false pretenses. The following link supports my argument: http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2011/02/divorce_and_marriage. Don't get me wrong, marriage is beautiful because there's nothing like waking up every day to that special man or woman, having someone to confide in that will have your back through thick and thin. That feeling is priceless.

Black Stereotype

It comes as no surprise that blacks are stereotyped. Whether it's right or wrong remains to be seen. Stereotypes are never ok under any circumstances because usually you're dead wrong when you find out the person is nothing like you portrayed. When you live up to the stereotype, you're giving people a reason to say "I told you they don't have any sense". Everything is not a black and white issue! For example; If 20 of you fools are dressed in all black, in the mall disturbing others from having a nice shopping experience then guess what? THE COPS HAVE A RIGHT TO ARREST YOU FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE! It doesn't matter if you grew up in the hood! That doesn't give you the right to act a fool! Personally, I don't want to hear or see it! If you're doing drops and your flaunting your cash as quickly as you get it and you're bragging about it with your youtube videos..then guess what? YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ARRESTED! Please stop thinking that the world owes you something! If you don't want to be stereotyped, then stop acting like the stereotype! I feel sorry for this generation! Stop being so ratchet and put something in your BRAIN!.STOP ALL THIS SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE! Why fight every time you're in public? What are you proving? NOTHING! WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS "I TOLD YOU THEY DON'T HAVE SENSE!". I'm so happy that my parents raised me not to be RATCHET! Read a book or get an education! But most importantly: STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW SOCIETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TREATING YOU IF YOU'RE ACTING LIKE THE STEREOTYPE! That's why I don't oblige to the stereotype. That's why I only hang around people (black especially) that want or have the desire to do better. It doesn't matter where you come from, its where you're going that matters. Everything is not a white and black issue, but some things are.