I admit, I pride myself on being an equal opportunity critic. Regardless of if you are black or white, man or woman, democratic or republican, hetro- or homosexual, if you commit an act of utter stupidity, I will be the first to express my utter disgust.

The big news these days, well, big news for those of us not addicted to American Idol or trapped in this drama with Chris Brown and Rhianna, is the stimulus bill signed last week by President Obama. For those of us who are keeping track, we know this stimulus bill spent some time being debated by Democrats and Republicans because of its smell. Yes, its smell. You know how Republicans hate the smell of a Democrat being right? They also hate the smell of them having to reach into their wealthy pockets to help those who have holes in theirs. Well, due to these odors, Republicans tied this bill up in the House and the Senate for weeks.

Now, the bill has passed, money is set to go out this week to the States and guess what? Some Republican governors have decided NOT to accept the money based on principle. WTH??!! My empathetic side talks to me and says, "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything," but if someone says they will give me money to help my State, why the hell wouldn't I take it? Because of my principles?

One of the governors refusing the money is Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Yes, the same Louisiana hit by Hurricane Katrina a few years back and today still looks like an atomic bomb hit it. Yes, the same Louisiana that has an unemployment rate of over 5%. Why would Jindal not take the money? As I said earlier, utter stupidity. This is why I am soooo on his case. I understand as a Republican you are a hard-core capitalist and do not believe in big government, but, your State, your people NEED the money!! You are willing to risk higher unemployment rates and more home foreclosures because you are unwilling to put your Republican principles aside and see the bigger picture? People are suffering!! You have a job and so does your neighbor, but John who lives across the train tracks has a wife and three children. He has an eviction notice on his door and struggles to put food on the table. You are telling him your Republican principles mean more to you than him keeping a roof over the head of his children? REALLY?!

Is that how Robin Hood had it? I remember it being, "take from the rich and give to the poor." Oh, but wait...that sounds like socialism type talk. We can not have socialism take over in the U.S. The free-market, capitalist society of the U.S. is what makes its economy so great, and virtually flawless. No to socialism; up with capitalism!

Up with capitalism? Don't people who talk out of both sides of their mouth just anger you? These same people who talk this "up with capitalism" talk are the same ones who bailed out Citi Bank for 50 billion dollars just to have them later purchase a 45 million dollar private jet. Guess where the bailout funds came from? Your tax dollars! Yes, you! You with five children who need health care. You who are not sure if you will be able to enroll next semester because your student-aid does not cover tuition. You who run to the mailbox everyday looking for your social security disability check. You who just lost your job. You who just lost your home due to foreclosure. You who...well, fill in the blank.

This country, well, your congressmen and women, signed on the dotted line that has allowed for the systematic robbery of millions of Americans who struggle everyday to make ends meet. Where did the money go? Bank of America, Citi Bank, Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers, AIG...etc...yes, the billionaires of our country received your tax dollars. Sounds like socialism to me.

Interesting how when the time arrives for a bill to pass that will have the rich lend a hand to the poor, congressmen all over the country forget how to sign their name. However, in this most recent instance, it did not take much for them to provide their John Hancock which granted access to the tax dollars of struggling Americans for the bailout of corporate America.

So, some call Robin Hood a socialist, a communist. I call him just and fair. I need my congressman to play more like Robin Hood, instead, he is playing Tony Soprano.

I love Barack Obama. I love what he stands for and what he does not. I love his ability to move a crowd and his ability to say yes when the majority says no. I love what he represents as a black man and the example he sets as such. I also love what comes along with him...his wife; strong, black, and beautiful; his daughters, precious and inquisitive. There are many people who feel the same way I do. Then there are others who do not.

Those in and outside of the media, upset that Barack is not just another loud-mouthed, no action Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, would like all of the black folks out there to know that Barack is not Super Man and as much as we would like him to be, his super stardom does not make him perfect. My response to these critics is, do you think you are telling me something I do not know?

In my daily five hour reading of online newspapers and blogs, I frequently arrive at articles that bash this idea that Barack is fulfilling the ideas of Dr. King, Jr. or that one should not even attempt to draw a correlation between Dr. King, Jr.'s dream and Obama's success. I find myself asking, "are these fools serious?" You are telling me that a black man is trying his best to change the image of a country that has been despised the last eight years by other countries, grant quality health access to all, widen the middle class and fight for civil rights and all you can think about is...how can I hate on Barack Obama today? White folks defend and defend and defend each other like murder should never be a crime, but black folks will hang you if you pop your chewing gum in a public place.

So I am not naive. I understand that regardless of how hard my people try, there will always be someone else similar in complexion following our every step only to indicate the mistakes we make. They are formally known as haters. Barack sure has a lot of them. No he is not Super Man, but he is trying. Maybe our people will do a better job if we have better support. We are a family. None of us are super men or women, but if we learn to work together and not against, we can be a super force.

I am very confused with the double-standard this nation continues to standby. First, Hiliary Clinton and now this Mrs. Sarah Palin. When women, as an oppressed group, decide to support a women for the presidency or vice-presidency, it is seen as ok and no one talks about how some women only want a woman in office because the person is a woman and not because the person holds a particular stance on important issues. To the contrary, if a black person says he/she would like to vote for Barack Obama, because they would like to see a black person in office, and not because of the stance held by Barack Obama on important issues, he/she is said to be voting frivolusly and should be voting based on issues and not race. So, why is ok to vote based on sex?

Hiliary Clinton and Sarah Palin can say the word "woman" or "women" 50 million times in their speeches, but if Barack Obama says the word "black" one time in any of his speeches, he is said to be playing the race card. If a supporter of Hiliary Clinton or Sarah Palin talks about how women have been oppressed over the centuries and continue to be oppressed, everyone cheers. If a supporter of Barack Obama, say Rev. Wright, talks about how Black people have been oppressed and continue to be oppressed, everyone says Rev. Wright is a racist and so is Obama for being an associate of Rev. Wright.

Why is a Black man from humble beginnings who attended Harvard University and has one house considered elite, but McCain with over three houses, Clinton with an income over a million dollars/year and Bush with a ranch, horses and cows, not considered elite?

What kind of double-stand is this???

What makes it even worse, is that black people are also feeding into this. I have spoken to some of my friends that I have spread all across the country and even though Barack Obama has huge support of Black voters, there exist many Black people who say they will not vote for Obama because, HE IS BLACK!!! What type of foolishness is this??!! Their reasoning is that a Black man can never successfully, lead a nation. When a white person says a Black person can not do it because they are Black it is hurtful, but expected. When a Black person says a Black person can not do it because the person is Black, it is more than a sad day in the United States of America.

It frustrates me because I do not understand why in this day of Black people doing so many things to "break glass ceilings" (sounds familiar??), that there is still an air of Black folks not wanting to support their own. We fight day in and day out to gain the "approval" of White folks but what does that fight mean if we don't have the support/approval of our own.

White women support each other all day long, but Black folks still seem to be bugged by the idea of a Black man in the Oval Office. Granted, as I do, you should vote based on the issues and not based on the sex or race of the candidate, but when a Black candidate has more support of White folks than Black folks, it really hurts my feelings.

To close this out...why is it ok to vote "woman" but not "black"?? And why are Black folks so afraid of succeeding as a group?

Yes, I have been in El Salvador for over a year and I can say in that bit of time I already notice a change in me; a change in how I see myself in this world. As I have told you before, adjusting to the culture has definitely not been easy, but it is making me a better person.

As usual, I am writing to give you an update on my progress...first, a little about my projects...

1. My wonderful church, Greater Mt. Calvery Holy Church, donated 100+ toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to my community. With this donation, I have been giving presentations on the importance of good dental hygiene to the children, ages 6-12, and afterwards blessing them with their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Of course, the children love it because many of them have nothing to call their own because they are so poor. Most of them have to share toothbrushes IF they even decide to make it priority to brush their teeth. Yes, it is only a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, but it does two things: help them to be more responsible for their health and it is something brand new they can open and show off!! LOL!

2. I solicited an organization that fights for the rights of women and children and promotes violence-free homes to enter and work with the people of my community. This NGO and myself as overseer, trains the civic leaders of the community (police, teachers, pastors, doctors, etc) in how to recognize domestic violence victims and then how to help and support them. We also give women empowerment workshops. For the children, we give self-esteem and STD prevention workshops.

3. I have also solicited the Secretary of Youth of El Salvador to come into my community to give advice on jobs and scholarships. They also give talks on alcoholism, prostitution and addiction to tobacco since many of the youth result to these types of non-productive activities after graduating from high school due to lack of other more productive activities present in this community.

4. Every now and then I do little fundraisers for shoes, toys or school supplies for the children.

On a more personal note, things are going great for me. I just came back from a vacation in Honduras and LOVED it. Being in El Salvador and traveling to other parts of Central America has sparked in me a desire to extend my Peace Corps service and maybe go to Honduras or a country in Africa after I am done here and work with the youth. When I get back to the States, if that ever happens...lol, I plan to begin working with an international development organization like CARE or USAID.

As you all know, my dream was to work on K Street, Dupont Circle or Connecticut Ave. as an attorney or lobbyist, but I feel that God has called me to do something different so this is how I arrived at my current thoughts of maybe doing another year in another country after my time here is up. Just for your information I will be done here in El Salvador August of 2009.

To all of you who are so very supportive of everything I do right and very understanding but hard on me when I do the wrong thing, THANK YOU!!! I am so blessed to have so many people who care about me regardless of the bumps in the road I may sometimes hit while driving down the road of life. I will never forget you!!! I love you!!!

ONE MORE THING....I am currently running around begging for donations of toys for my children that are enrolled in kindergarten. If you feel obliged, please send me any toys you may have left over from your children or if you are feeling extra giving, you can just buy some...lol!! Also, if there is anything else, besides toys, you would like to donate, feel free to do that. Trust me, anything would be a blessing to my children here.

Here is my address:

Street: Alcaldia Municipal

City: Jutiapa

State: Cabanas

Country: El Salvador

I will never understand why this is continuing...why is Darfur still in havoc??!!! With countries like Britian and the U.S., should there not be enough power within those two countries (or hell, just the U.S.) to put a halt to this genocide in Darfur? What ever happened to this group we call the United Nations?!

The U.S. has spent billions of dollars in Iraq and, I think, will continue to do so. Oil companies are becoming richer and richer by the hour and while they are cutting into huge steaks and drinking imported wine, little girls continue to be raped, young boys continue to be killed and families continue to be torn a part in Darfur.

I can not help but to compare this situation to that of Hurricane Katrina and the Rwandan Civil War and so many other situations where the livelihood of "coloreds" has been put on the backburner or not even given a thought, because some people are too busy with more important things like the war in Iraq; a war that is soooo unjustified, but I will not begin my spiel on that. I am going to keep this about Darfur.

It is 2008 and a Black man has just won the U.S. Presidential Primary. You would think folk are beginning to think a little differently about this "hierarchy of human life" right?? WRONG!!! There is a hierarchy, people...I will give you five seconds to guess who is at the top...

Check out this link and you will get your answer...

Darfur now a living hell...

If you care as much as I do, help support the relief efforts is Darfur. Go here to contribute...Save Darfur

Don't be confused...

None of the posts I have made in regards to race relations are meant to dismiss any responsibility Black folk have of their current state in America. Black folk have total control, with the help of God, over their destiny.

Yes, there is a system set up to keep the majority in control and as African-Americans we are certainly not the majority and therefore are not manipulators of the system. As you well know, there are injustices in the school system, employment system, judicial system, political system, etc. However, like a wave, you can either allow it to take you along with it or you can use all in you that is necessary to overcome and get on your surfboard and use the wave. Let the wave use you or you use the wave. That is the life of Black folk.

I am not a supporter of this "it is the fault of the man" mentality. They may have control over many things, but slavery is over, at least legally. They are not in control of you. Matter of fact, unless you are under the age of 18, no one has the power to decide for you which road to take, unless you give them that power.

The problem with many Black folk is that we give other folks (for the purpose of this discussion, white folk) power over our lives. You see it all throughout the black community. Black women purchasing bleaching creams for lighter complexions, straightening their hair or buying it to get that extra European look because they are frustrated with their God given kinky hair, lying on the operation room table to remove hips and shrink breast size, black men moving to date white women because "sistahs are just too difficult," black women moving to date white men because "all black men are dogs," black children only wanting to play with the white doll, because the black doll is ugly, BET with their constant programs of black folks who only know how to sing, dance, and, oh yes, call each other bitches and niggas, etc. These issues, I submit, are systemic, but they are also tolerated by the Black community.

Until we as Black folk, step up and take over our community and our lives, the system will continue to, like a wave, determine our destiny.

What is the solution to this problem?? I have no idea. I suppose we have to begin to be a tad bit more diligent in our fight. It is time for the parents of black folks to take a stand and do their job, not release all parental rights to BET. It is time for Black men and women to work together in their desire to maintain relationships. Black women, stop talking too much and Black men start taking responsibility for your actions. Better for both parties to listen to each other more than talk, because it is destroying our community.

More simply put, the current state of Black folk is the shared by everyone, but Black folks have the burden. Don't wait for white folk to fix our problems. Don't depend on white folk to GIVE you a job. Don't depend on white folk to GIVE you money for college. Don't depend on white folks to GIVE you money to feed or parent your children. Don't depend of white folk to give you YOUR image of what is beautiful.

Let's get back to what we know how to do best...FIGHT for the betterment of our community.

Obama just secured the nomination!! Yes, it is true; potentially a black president. More importantly, for me, he represents the Black population as does his wife. He isn't, as far as I have viewed, the uncletom type. If you need the definition of an uncletom, wait for a follow up blog. Now, I am not really a supporter of defining folks as uncletoms especially since I myself has been described as such, but admittedly, they do exist.

I digress...so, as I watch Obama rip this nomination out of the hands of Mrs. Clinton, I begin to think this country is getting to the point of acknowledging that a higher level of melanin does not imply incompetence. Also, with Obama bringing up, not as much as I would like, the issue of race and there being a positive reaction to these speeches, filled me with joy. (ok...maybe joy is too strong of a word, but you get my point.) Then, I am quickly slapped with the realization that white folks just don't get it. Now, I am not naive. White folks, in general, have always been a little, well, a lot ignorant to the state of Black folks in America and in the areas of the world in which our presence dominate lands. However, you would think with this Obama nomination maybe their consideration for how we are treated in this country changed a bit. HA!!! WRONG!!!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I attended a spiritual retreat. It was awesome. At one point in the retreat, there was a discussion about the lack of support offered by the United States to developing/third-world countries...the conclusion arrived and made itself clear that American with it being one of if not the biggest proclaimer of Christianity in the world, ranks almost last as a power-country that sacrifices to run to the aid of less fortunate countries. This means, America claims to be so Christian, but does not comply with the basic principles of Jesus Christ; to love is to give. Now, to my point...this is also true for how Whites look at Blacks. In the same discussion, I brought up how many whites were surprised to hear the words of Rev. Wright and other Black leaders that Black folks continue to be oppressed in this country. In this SAME meeting, their were white volunteers who seemed to disagree with this also!!! What they hell??!!! So, me thinking, being in Peace Corps, I am in a bubble of people who think outside the box; people who are a lot more in touch with reallity...HA!! WRONG AGAIN!!!

One of them made the statement that I turn every situation into one of race. UMMM...YEAH!!! Of course, everything is not about race for you if you are white. Have you heard of gentrification?? When have you ever been pulled over because you are white? When have you ever been followed through the store because you are white? When have you every been turned down for a job because you are white? Don't talk to me about how race is not a major factor in the lives of Black folks when you walk around WHITE!!!

It angers me when White folks with there Visa filled passports and high degrees open their mouths to talk about the state of Black folks and how far we have come as a people and how wonderful we have it when white folks can never know what it is to be Black. Don't get me wrong, I am in love with a few White folks, but they are the type that are not blinded by their posh lifestyles. They do not subscribe to the idea that the U.S. is a melting pot and accepting of anyone. I am currently living in El Salvador. Do you think the Salvadorans feel that way?? They can't get into the U.S. without suffering from dehydration and starvation as they attempt to walk across the borders, often time being beaten or killed in the process.

Yes, it is about race, but you may find that hard to believe since your race has allowed prosperity to fly in the lap of your people; but then again, wouldn't that only confirm that most situations ride on the heels of race?

P.S. This blog is not edited for grammar or spelling errors...get over yourself!!

This guy is sooo serious it is sad...

I am not sure if you know him, but he is a conservative, out-spoken, claims to be intelligent, obviously not living in the same USA I am living in, black man. His name is Larry Elder. Yes, he is serious in everything he says. Sadly enough, he writes books, has a television show and a radio show.

Basically, this man believes that most black folk are extreme in their belief that racism is still a huge problem in America. For Elder, black people are not longer being oppressed at a level in which we should cry or boo-hoo about. From what I have read in his books and heard on his radio station, to me, he seems to feel sorry for white folks. He contends that black folks commit more crime against white folks than white folks do against white folks. I wonder why the hell that is Larry!! He feels the issue of DWB (Driving While Black) is largely due to the black folks contribution to the selling of drugs. Elder believes black folks are too hung up on racism and that the USA has done much to make sure black folks are able to succeed at the level of whites. For Elder, all of the injustices black folks face are largely due to their own contribution, not the fact that some white folks are just plain racist!!! To him, getting a good education and following the law is all you need to be successful in this world, and regardless of race, everyone is afforded the same opportunities. Yes, he is serious!!! I mean, is he really living in the same USA I am living in?? Obviously, not. Or maybe he is but has been brainwashed...remember the Willie Lynch story?? Well, here it is in full effect!!!

I can not even begin to explain this character named Larry Elder. You should check him out for yourself...there are links below to some of his interviews. Also, you should check out his book, "Stupid Black Men..." It will make you want to scream!!!

Larry Elder talks with Wolf Blitzer

Larry Elder talks with Tavis Smiley

I am offended...hell yes I am!!!

Rev. Wright speaks the truth. White folks are so out of the loop it is RIDICULOUS!!! What is more sad is some black folk have fallen into this hypocrisy America is feeding. Everyone needs to read "The Miseducation of the Negro" by Carter G. Woodson!!

This book speaks of how since black folk have been educated by white folks, black folks see themselves and accept the history that white folks have given them. Black folks call you a nigger and you fall into this concept and begin calling each other niggers. White folk teach you white is right and you accept this idea as true and bleach your skin. White folk teach you black men are trash and you run to start dating white men. When does this stop??!! Rev. Wright speaks on all of this.

White folks have worked very hard to train black folk and Rev. Wright is working very hard to expose this. Now, white folks are acting as if this information of continued racism and oppression is news to them. Now, I can deal with white folk being stupid. I can deal with white folks who claim to be about equal rights and think the U.S. has become a lot more tolerant...I can deal with white folks who wear a blindfold because they refuse to accept the truth. What I can not deal with are my people who hold the SAME position as white folks. Some of the black folks of our history that white people now celebrate, held the SAME views as Rev. Wright!! Do you not remember Dr. King and his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech??!!

Black folks need to wake up. Understand, white folks are asleep because they can not admit themselves as terrorists; they can not admit themselves as racists; they can not admit themselves as oppressors. White folks will be asleep for a long time because it aids in their motives to hold anyone who does not look like them, behind.

I could go on forever on this topic. Better you should watch this video of a Rev. Wright interview...

Rev. Wright Interview w/ Bill Moyer

P.S. Rev. Wright is a Howard University graduate!! And you wonder where I get it from?? LOL!