Real Talk

There comes a time when you realize, all arguments aren't worth winning. Right or wrong, just doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things. You realize that the most appropriate response is simply to take responsibility for what ever you contributed - good, bad, or indifferent - and continue to move forward. And hold tight to faith, that your strivings will be rewarded.

JuJuan Buford

It's time for another 90 day run. 90 days of pain, for a life time of gain. Rewind. Repeat.

Where My Sell Outs?

So you are afraid of sales, eh? You don't do sales, eh.

Well, I have to be truthful with you. You sell every single second, minute, hour, and day of your life. From the time you open your eyes and peer into the mirror at yourself.

You sell yourself on your reasons for being successful; your willingness to do what successful people are willing to do; your desire to be a cut above the rest; you sell yourself on the belief that you deserve a life of satisfaction.... every time you look at yourself, talk to yourself, think about yourself.

Or you sell yourself on your excuses; what you can't do, what you won't do; what's too difficult; the stupid comments and thoughts of those around you; those who say what you can't do. You sell yourself on settling, just getting by, accepting things as they come...you gonna pray on it, as if you don't know faith without works is an empty promise.

Oh yeah, you are selling every moment of your life.

What did you sell yourself on today? Did you allow others to sell you their disappointments or fears, or did you sell your optimism, your belief in yourself, and the beauty of all the possibilities. Did you sell out on your reasons or your excuses. Did you sell out on your dreams. Or your failures and pessimism. Did you sell out on triumph or a life of blame?

What did you sell out on today?!!! What!

So people want to attack Congresswoman Bachmann for laying into our POTUS regarding the terrible state of affairs regarding black unemployment. Interesting.

Number one. Black America must get serious about education, entrepreneurship, and adopt a more international, merchantile posture if things are ever going to change. Period.

Number two. Let's be real. Too many have behaved like sheep regarding issues of importance in African American communities nationwide, and as result we are bearing witness to a horrific slaughter. The apathy and a failure to recognize that in a democratic republic, one must make noise to receive attention is smothering any semblance of sane discussion regarding the need to advocate just like any other community.

You can shoot the messenger all day long. And Backmann should not be heralded by in stretch of the imagination. However, did her color commentary not have some legitimacy?

If only black folks had as much spirituality as we do religion...

JuJuan Buford

Intelligent people make decisions after accumulating facts, rather than how they feel, what they heard, or unconfirmed beliefs. It matters. One course leads to a life of satisfaction; the other, a life colored by fear, anxiety, disappointment, and unabashed ignorance. It is the difference between permanent, sustainable independence versus temporal success.

JuJuan Buford

"You can dig your well, before you get thirsty" - Lugman El Amin

On a more serious note. The death of Osama Bin Laden should serve as a sobering reminder of the challenges that beset not only the United States, but the world. Bin Laden's death is not reason celebrate.

But rather an opportunity to ask ourselves as citizens of this nation and of the world community... What kind of world do we want to live in? How can we create a world whereas terrorism, death, vengeance, exploitation, and violence become less prevalent in all our lives?

JuJuan Buford

I can see it now. Obama is participating in a Town Hall with whoever the future Republican loser will be.

The question is posed to President Barack Obama... so what are the implications of the healthcare plan you advocated for U.S. citizens?

The POTUS responds, "Well, before I begin I need to preface my statement by reminding everyone that I lullibied Osama. Now what was the question?"

So, loser Republican, what is your response to that?

Ha?

JuJuan Buford

Children that read, observe parents that read. In fact, their parents read to them. I'm just sayin.

JuJuan Buford

Lately, major media outlets (CNN, MSNBC, FOX) and not so prominent outlets make me want to vomit. People are unemployed. If you're making between $8.00 and $10.00 an hour, and gas prices are approximately $4.00 per gallon, what does that mean? Ladies and gentlemen those are the jobs that a majority of U.S. citizens are dragging themselves to.

Wow. Why is this super-loser's face all over the television screen?

JuJuan Buford

I must say. The swirl of media coverage regarding a particular weddding in Europa is absolutely absurd. Additionally, for the most part, the parties are stunningly unattractive. Lastly, I am ashamed that more people haven't enough bottle to state the aforementioned. I am aghast.

JuJuan Buford

You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.

Vicent Freeman - Gattaca

So, I'm thinking if gas prices exceed $5.00 per gallon, and folks continue to drag their feet on building a real public transportation system....well, certain parts of Detroit Metro might start to look like a scene out of Resident Evil: Extinction.

JuJuan Buford

Donald Trump is simply a loser on a higher level. Nothing more, nothing less.

JuJuan Buford

MLK was a Figurehead

By JuJuan Buford Did he become more? Of course he did. Nevertheless, the movement chose him to be its face. In other words MLK was not the movement. The people were the movement; the hundreds and thousands of unsung heroes; the strivings for freedom and justice; everyday people. The danger of lionizing men and women so much, that we forget the peopleis that when he or she dies, people are too inclined to let movement die. MLK became a great leader. However if no one is there to organize, galvanize, and follow then King would have simply been taking a walk. The movement was the exercise of leadership, not one individual. So, yes MLK was a figurehead. A damn good one. King became a great leader. However, the Movement was and is You. And when you deny this simple fact, you disempower yourself. And you bastardize King. Just the random reflections of someone who thinks he knows a little something about activism.

You know, sometimes the Creator just smiles upon you. Gives you a little dap. And only asks thereafter that you simply return the favor...then pay it forward. JuJuan Buford

To The Soul

It's one thing to fail from time to time. You just don't want to get good at it. However, it really hurts when you catch an L because of over confidence. You live, you learn, grow stronger, go harder, go longer...and never ever repeat such an error again.

Remember shows like A Different World, The Cosby Show, Roc, etc., etc.,? The kind of shows whereas if you were going to practice escapism, you could do so and get edified at the same time. Remember how it felt to see yourself on television, and really, really like what you see? I mean some episodes could have actually passed for edutainment.

I want to feel that way again.

JuJuan Buford

You want evidence that Willie Lynch is alive and well? Kick back and look at folks next time a bunch of cacophony transpires. If folks are bucking for influence (consumed with the politics of something), and upon closer examination you see a whole lot of effort being wasted over pennies...less than a million dollars.

And I'm being so serious. A billion is the new million in this century.

Accompanied with little to no work getting done (effort and work are two different things)... than that's the Willie Lynch syndrome. Take a good, hard look at the innumerable politicians that catch Ls over a couple thousand bucks. Businesses that fold over juvenile disputes. People who have common socio-economic interests engaging each other as opponents rather than partners.

HNIC folks just running a muck. Just kick back and observe. Sometimes you have to laugh, to keep from crying.

JuJuan Buford

Random FaceBook commentary on living a purpose filled life.

God doesn't grant wishes for things, but rather opportunities. So, you have to be willing to pay a price to seize them. However, the price of resignation and poor (passing over opportunities repeatedly) judgment is far greater.

What does that mean?

It means, too often people are blessed with fantastic opportunities that could literally transform their lives. And respond with, "I need to pray on it". So many pray for a fantistic home, a new car, a great spouse, fame, and fortune. God doesn't grant wishes for things. God blesses you with opportunities to achieve your desires, provided they are a reflection of his will for his people. However, opportunities require a willingness to put in the effort to make them grow and endure. Faith without works is an empty promise. People want the glory, but without the story, the journey, the fire that shapes and brands. "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work." - Thomas Edison.

JuJuan Buford

Fathers who take the time to do their daughters' hair should be given special recognition. Shameless plug? Am I being biased by positing such a long overdue idea?

Oh, and if they do so on an almost weekly basis, they should receive a trophy on an annual basis. Yep, I said it.

Better believe it.

JuJuan Buford

They'd Rather Repeal Rights Than Win Voters

Let’s say I buy William O’Brien’s reasons for trying to thwart college students from voting.

Let’s say I buy the remarks that O’Brien, a Republican who is state House Speaker in New Hampshire, made to some tea partiers about student voters recently - that they’re “foolish,” that they have “no life experience,” and that they “just vote their feelings.”

Even if I agreed with that, and even if GOPers like O’Brien fervently believe that foolish people ought to have to leap through more hoops than others to get to the ballot box, then I’d have to insist that such criteria shouldn’t just apply to college students.

via www.blackamericaweb.com

This article by Tonyaa Weathersbee is on time. The Republicans are preying on the ignorant and fearful, and driving stakes through the democratic process.

However, keep in mind, this is what alot of people wanted. This is what taking America back looks like for many of these folks. It's a last yelp... but a vicious yelp indeed.

The United States stopped being a representative democracy a long time ago. The transition to a plutocracy has been staring the people in the face, but now the taking has begun.

The termination of unions will be the death nail. However, know this, Wisconsin is a distraction.

The real battle is right here in Michigan. The strategy is being perfected, Detroit Metro is serving as practice, it will be executed statewide, and then nationwide. Heaven help us.

JuJuan Buford

Maybe it's just me. However, anyone else notice that since countries like Libya and Egypt, previously Iran and Iraq, so on and so forth...anyone else notice how these countries went from being referred to as Middle East countries to African countries?

Too many may think nothing of it. There are some that might be inclined to ponder this slight of hand by the media. Then there are those of us who get it. And those of us that get it, isn't it ironic?

JuJuan Buford

Losers don't win often. Losers don't fail often either. However, losers are the best quitters. Oh yeah, they do that real well.

JuJuan Buford

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz's, aka Malcolm X, "The Ballot or the Bullet"

post by JuJuan Buford

This speech is without argument one of the most significant statements regarding the conditions that color the lives of people of African descent in this country in history. It is amazing just how relevant it is today. Lord knows we must teach our children this history or we are destined to continue to suffer under the tyranny (much of it self imposed) and spectacle of our dehumanization. There is a reason that the commercialism of Brother Malcolm just wasn't all that successful. It's just so difficult to do. Dag, Brother Malcolm was hard as he!!.

 

   

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz's, aka Malcolm X, "The Ballot or the Bullet"

post by JuJuan Buford

This speech is without argument one of the most significant statements regarding the conditions that color the lives of people of African descent in this country in history. It is amazing just how relevant it is today. Lord knows we must teach our children this history or we are destined to continue to suffer under the tyranny (much of it self imposed) and spectacle of our dehumanization. There is a reason that the commercialism of Brother Malcolm just wasn't all that successful. It's just so difficult to do. Dag, Brother Malcolm was hard as he!!.

 

   

Wow! The supermajority of our media outlets are owned by a few private, super corporations. Big problem.

Federal and state governments are dealing with serious budget issues. Big problem.

So the response from elected officials is to take away Sesame Street? These greedy, intellectually lazy idiots want to blow up funding for public radio broadcasting. One of the few mediums where local people still have a degree of agency; one of the few mediums where educational programs are not the exception but the rule; a place where children get introduced to math, reading exercises, and scientific concepts as opposed to "SpongeBob SquarePants".

As if cutting public broadcasting funding will actually balance anything. So what are we saying... that McDonalds commercials are more important to our national and local interests, than educating people?

You know what, you get what you vote for, or did not vote for.

JuJuan Buford

Here's the thing. The Democrats lost bad in Michigan, and any serious consideration regarding regrouping after the incredible a$! whupping that occurred must involve retooling everything.

The Republicans won, and unlike the Democrats (particularly on the federal level), they have no inhibition concerning executing their agenda. The idea of trampling the dreams and aspirations of U.S. citizens is not the least bit nauseating to them, as they unabashedly serve the interests of their wealthy benefactors.

What the aforementioned circumstances mean for citizens nationwide and here in Michigan is the gap between the have and have nots will only become more exacerbated. As the provincial prejudices and whimsical identification with people who could really care less about their well-being are stoked, we will watch the middle-class be vaporized.

What does it mean for Detroit? Well, consider the absence of any semblance of leadership (with a few exceptions) from elected representatives, a black Church that seems to be paralyzed for some reason (I'm going to come back to this), and a host of civic organizations that threw in the town long ago or are simply hanging on for dear life. And yes, I meant town. The writing is literally on the wall, and via vitriolic legislation is being introduced in Lansing. Know this Detroit...the Republicans will not relent. It's simply not in them.

The only thing that may stem the tide temporarily is a mass movement of Detroit's citizenry socio-politically at the polls, as the economic base has been crippled and really has been a mirage for quite some time anyway. A series of aggressive voter registration drives, coupled with some successful recall efforts will definitely get the attention of those who mean to strip Detroit to its bones.

However, it really is a done deal. It is the consequence of unrequited corruption, anti-intellectualism, greed, and unabashed arrogance on the part of those stunting off their past accomplishments; those who were unwilling to step out of the way, and let those who have solutions exercise a little agency.

Regionalism is here, not on Detroit's terms, and it isn't considering asking for permission. The only thing that Detroit's citizenry can do at this point is make some intelligent moves and slide into position to benefit from what is to come.

Unless, the only institutions that have the capacity, but alas lacks the will, intellectual temerity, and the spirit of sacrifice necessary to inspire and organize (with only very, very few exceptions) gets involved.

JuJuan Buford