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Happiness

Posted on by JonathanT.

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Happiness is not found in the perception that others have of you.
It is not found in the material things that you collect while here on this earth.
It will not be found in achievements or accolades.
You wont find it in the bottom of a bottle or in the haze of smoke you cloud your mind with.
Not even the love of all those you hold near and dear will always make you truly happy.
We often try to overcompensate with relationships and addictions that we think will complete us or help us overlook whats really holding us back from finding that true happiness
Once those relationships fail or that high wears off we’re back at square one.
True happiness can only be found when you are content within.
Once you’ve learned to accept and love yourself in spite of all your flaws and imperfections then you will find true happiness.
40 years on this earth and I’ve come to the realization that the only person or thing that can dictate my happiness is me…

That energy

Posted on by JonathanT.

sexual-energy-transfer

I can tell you need
Some love and affection
Its your energy that’s hittin me
I can feel the connection
A gentle touch
Some intimacy
To cause your souls resurrection
Don’t worry luv
This fin to be
The best thing since Obama’s election
I plan to be a willing captive in your world
Already captivated by your perfect imperfection
My queen will never have to request the presence of her King in her court.
You are, and always will be
The most important piece on the board
And for that my loyalty must and always will be eternally and undoubtedly yours.

Trapped

Posted on by JonathanT.

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I find myself trapped in this paradox
Wondering just where i fit in
Fighting so hard to be judged by the content of my character
Yet still only judged by the color of my skin
Working day and night to prove that Im worthy
Worthy of freedom
Worthy of self expression
Worthy of respect
To only be minimized to an adjective
400 years and aint nothing changed yet
Black
Yes Black I am
Yes Black i will always be
And yes I am black and proud
But Im sick and tired of being sick and tired
Of being just another black man held down
See opportunities have never seemed to avoid me or be held just out of reach of my grasp
But theres always this invisible ceiling
Thats always dictating just how high my black ass can grab
I was always told I could be anything
All i gotta do is try hard
Oh yea and not be too black
That shit keeps tearing away at my insides
So much I wanna do and say but we are trained to fear the systems backlash
So I choose to hold my tongue and just continue to try and hold back
My southern roots I hate sometimes
Gotta beware of massas wrath
So I plot and plan my own mental revolution
To break these chains and remove the curse of the past
I try to focus myself on being conscious
Staying woke, eyes open wide, keep them lashes off my back
They dont want a brother to fly
I can only be fly
Not spread my wings and sore heavenly high
Meet my creator and ask Jah why
Why hast thou grounded me with these earthly burdens.
I don’t wanna get high
Just be like the utmost high
Mind elevated to godly status
And sit on a throne somewhere
Somewhat isolated on a mountain side
Contemplating my creation
Avoiding my souls devastation
While talking philosophically
With others of an enlightened mind
This twisted vision of seperation
Sparked by the damning situation
Perpetrated by integration
Has me on some
Lets build our own sovereign nation
And avoid the tyrrany of those
Who only see the slaves in us
With borders not bound by colors
And justice that is just for even us…
I wanna be free
Truly free
So for now I’ll have to settle for the freedom
And peace of my mind

 

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Posted on by JonathanT.

How can you call yourself a Christian and not speak out on or even recognize the inequalities and discrimination still present In this country that stem  from the privileged and unaccountable attitude of mainstream America. I understand all Americans do not share this same ailment but many if not most do. To attribute the circumstances of today’s black Americans as simply an unwillingness to conform and the makings of their own work ethic, character, education, or lack of, is a grave injustice and one that any logical human being with after or foresight would deem as ignorant if not simply just abhorrently evil, unless they lack the capability of comprehending and viewing the history of America without veiled shades on. The idea of such ignorance or the guise of, infuriates me to point of disgust with my fellow Americans. The occurrence of a black president did not end all racial problems in this country. If anything, it made them worse. Now Americans have more, whether valid or not, reasons to ridicule, criticize, and discriminate against black Americans even more. The disrespect that has been shown to this president is unprecedented. Nixon never received as much criticism and he was impeached. Acts of treason by congress and senate all occurred simply because of the unwillingness of the Good ole boys club to appear to be taking orders from a black man, or anyone who is not a  Anglo male for that matter. Loretta Lynch, the first African American female Attorney General has had the longest confirmation period from the senate ever recorded. 166 days total. I read a blog article about the two faced Christian a few days ago. The message was received instantly.

For the sake of humanity we must learn to understand and accept each other. There is a cycle of poverty that is perpetuated by the practices of systemic racism in America that  Some don’t know exists or either refuse to acknowledge it. It starts in our school systems.

Schools are the socialization agent that was put in place well before the inception of this country. Our children learn their roles in society, and are educated or given the tools to succeed, in an ideal educational environment. In low income, high minority populated areas, this Is not the case. Schools are poorly funded, teachers poorly trained, paid and evaluated on job performance, and students are not afforded the same learning experiences as more affluent communities have. Often minority children are placed in special ed, or non-college preparatory classes and just pushed through the systems. College is rarely an option so the chance for a career and getting out of that cycle of poverty is slim.

We all know it is a fact that minorities and especially young black and Latino men are more likely to be convicted of the same crimes that their majority(white) counterparts but given a harsher sentence. I have personally seen how second chances from the court system are given to non-minority offenders more often than anyone of a minority race. 0 of 11 residents in a rehab center in a county where over 50 percent of the drug arrest are minorities but the prison population of minorities soar to over 70%. Mostly simple possession cases. All in a system where prisons are privately owned and earn profit when they stay full. You tell me if the discrimination or unfair treatment is obvious.

After having a record getting a job isn’t that easy, especially for convicted felons. Most have to take low level jobs or resort to crime again. Yet we judge those who have to survive by any means necessary. By no means do I condone criminal activity or violence against anyone for any reason other than defense of self and others. But not understanding why someone would act out in such a way is just as barbaric as the act itself because it is a conscious decision to ignore the wrongs and injustices being committed, have been committed, and the effects of those acts, to mankind by mankind. So again I ask, Am I My Brothers Keeper? Are You?

“What makes your error of man more righteous than mine?”

Posted on by JonathanT.

Riots and Gangs, that’s comical compared to the birth of a nation. Our Nation. Meet the Originators of riots and Gangsters.

Friday, May 1, 2015

7:32 AM

I can be so random at times. I was scrolling through my movies on Netflix and saw this. Something just clicked.

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The original gangs of America before the bloods and crips. I know all you have seen or either heard of this movie, Gangs of New York. If you follow history you know this is a pretty accurate account of how things happened and why. Gangs formed for power and control of the resources in a particular, or should I say group of particular neighborhoods. Sound Familiar. Even the colors should trigger something. No, nothing yet? Ok, I’ll spell it out. It’s the same thing as what goes on in the inner cities but just on a larger scale and the Gangs of New York introduces us to the violence of the streets and RIOTS with an added in political agenda. Today’s gangs are calling a truce to come together for the equal treatment of a people. The original gangs did it to gain control of a people and a city, or Burroughs as they say in New York. Are we seeing the parallels yet? No? These gangs eventually developed into political parties which sought and eventually fought for control of the country. Back then it was done in the streets. Elections were decided by gang wars and riots that were accompanied by looting and mass outbreaks of crimes of opportunity. The X-factor in all of this is the American Media. Today’s gangs are villainized, while their predecessors run the country.

The correlation between the Gangs and the rioting of then to now triggered something in my head. It actually shows you the evil of man. How can someone commit an act and deem it as a necessary evil, but then condemn someone else for committing the same act. Time and place in history should not matter. The reason for the rioting should.

Can you seriously question why the people of Baltimore are or were rioting. Better yet, can you tell me why that’s the  only question we have? Are you serious? For oppressed people, sometime the only way to be heard is to make a little noise. Considering the history of this country, I’m sure we can all agree that Americans have a tendency to protest with violence after peace and liberty has been taken. Don’t criticize and ask,” Why are they destroying their own city?” Ask what kind of pain can a human be experiencing if their cry for help is that loud and violent? If people don’t have the resources to pull themselves out of poverty do you really expect the ability to suppress rage, from existing every day in that desolate and unpromising existence to be present? The disease of hypocrisy is growing and shows in the words and post I see on Social media. People often forget. I think it’s time to remember all of our history! All I’m saying is we all need to own the truths of our duality in this reality. There are good and evil in all forms and we all have a duty to protect each other from the evil at all costs if any of us wish to survive, if our children and their children wish to survive.

We can’t just talk about the problem and point out the flaws of man throughout time. We must offer solutions as well. How do we overcome this horrible tendency to overlook the reasons behind a group of individuals acts of violence and deviance? It must start at an early age. I work with children of all ages and one thing I have noticed is that no child is born with any inherited prejudices toward their fellow human being. By counter acting the negative influences from environmental factors in school, by teaching even the worst parts of history in school would be a great start. The History books in today’s classrooms are watered down. Well, since common core I guess there really aren’t books anymore but only worksheets, according to my children’s curriculum. That is a conversation I will save for a later date. Apologies, I digressed. Conversation on What is needed to overcome the effect of years of systemic and institutional racism. The same schools we just spoke of need to be equipped with adequate equipment and equally qualified teachers comparable to those in more affluent areas. Just a few ideas on a larger scale. Looking at it from the individual standpoint and speaking as a black man, we must focus on reestablishing our power as a community and as a people. We must value our own lives and the lives of our black people as much as we want law enforcement and the rest of the world to value us. We will not be taken seriously by anyone if we continue to kill each other for any reason. I understand that all the reasons for our circumstances are not in our control. I also understand that we CAN control our reactions to those circumstances and the path we choose to escape it, when given viable options.

Authors Note: Simply my ideas and opinions based on facts and self-evident truths. I am always open to others opinions and suggestions. How else can we stop the problem if we don’t communicate? So feel free to leave comments and add positive suggestion and ideas.

“Riot is The Language of The Unheard”

Posted on by JonathanT.

When will we learn?

People seem more concerned about the burning cars and the rioting in the streets and a very well insured CVS may I add, than they do about the violence from police and the death of so many. SMH Unite in all we do!! You dont have to condone the acts to understand why its being done. Not being able to understand why it is happening and empathize with those reasons, is the real issue. Shaming our own because many are letting out frustrations? Really. Find a way to reach out and explain anger is not the key my people. Talking down on people is that crab in a barrel mentality kicking in. Thugs, idiots, hoodlums, is the language of the oppressors might as well blast off with NIGGERS…with the ER on the end (skin cringes). Uplift and teach the misguided…anything else is part of the reason why we at this point now.

Who are we to judge. Are you there? Do you live there? Do you deal with the injustices and systemic racism that happens more frequently in highly minority populated areas like Baltimore. Have you ever been pulled over and told you fit the description with your son in the car and searched while he watched because you “fit the description”. Have you ever been arrested and beaten? Have you ever had to mourn the loss of a loved one to police violence? Have you ever had to wake up and realize that you have to better 10 times better and try twice as hard because you were born with a different skin? Have you ever been harassed while standing on your street corner talking to your friends by police because it’s laws that permit the gathering of too many black youth in certain areas because it is considered as a threat. Does that not sound like the tactics of slave owners keeping their slaves separated in fear of a revolt?

I am by no means saying that those individuals who rob stores for personal profit and gain are justified but I am saying I understand the frustration of those who are protesting and rioting without the intention of looting for personal gain. What I find more disgusting than the looting is the lack of empathy from the black community and others about the reasons why this happening in the first place. A Pastor in Baltimore is encouraging those same youth to join him in finding ways to make change without violence. Question is, can change be made without the threat of violence. Is that not how America and our fore fathers fought the oppression from the British? You can look at the petty issues that the media decides to publicize or focus on the real issues. Why do the lives of the average American citizen especially African American citizens and any others of color or socio-ecnomic disadvantages matter less than anyone else.

There’s levels to this ISH!!

Posted on by JonathanT.

When people say there’s levels to this I don’t think they comprehend the gravity of the statement they are making. Most think that the spoken of levels consist of only mental, physical and spiritual, but in actuality those three categories are the first three individual levels one must conquer before being ready to see, understand, proceed, and achieve those higher levels we all seek to reach in life. Western society and our capitalistic Democratic bureaucratic government and economic systems have divided us into class structures. This is a normal occurrence in city state societies. The objective is for the individual to be able to climb the ladder or levels of those class structures until they reach their socioeconomic ceiling. For some this is higher than others. What we all must understand is yes there are levels to this and we have to be prepared for what we are going to face when we reach those levels. Education of the arts and sciences of each culture for each culture is necessary for this to happen. Cross cultural education is a must and being from a disadvantaged home should not hinder a child from gaining the tools needed to move on to the next level and fulfill their complete potential.

Now let me code switch and state that so the generational age gap doesn’t stop the younger readers from receiving the message…

These days people always screaming “change”. OK I feel that and everything but the game we playing in. We didn’t make the rules. In order for us to make it we gotta play the game the way it was meant to be played. Now I understand that don’t mean lose yourself while you out there getting it. The only way to truly be successful is to make it as far as they say you possibly can and further without selling your soul or selling out your own moral beliefs (if you have any) for the price of success.

Now while you climbing these levels you can’t be a crab and drag others down to get yours. The way to win the game is to bring as many of your people with you. When I say your people I am not referring to any race or nationality. I am speaking of all of those who were and are as disadvantaged as you were before your journey up the levels began. This is why the 1% are the 1% and the rest of us struggle because they keep us down to profit off our blood sweat and perseverance. The longer we continue to make it and then conform to their selfish so called democratic ways we will always be the working class disadvantaged backbone of the nation.

Victory begins with knowledge. Then sharing that knowledge continues the circle. Educate yourselves and your children of what reaching success and climbing those levels truly means. For all my Christians we know faith in God is the first thing you need but for all those who believe otherwise the let’s just say faith in what’s right will lead you in the same direction. It all begins within.

Everyone wants to judge from the outside looking in. Everyone just assumes because the media only reports half of the story and always vilainizes people of color to make it seem as if people deserve what they get because they are doing wrong. But when you look at situation like this you see that institutional and systematic racism and slavery in a another form still exist in many cities in America. This city exploded for a reason and Mike Brown was just the catalyst to expose all the underhanded city official dealings, racial profiling by police, and overall discrimination that has been occurring in this city for years. Quantitative research does not lie when the data being analyzed comes from the books of those breaking the law. These citizens have been living with the foot of law enforcement pressed to their throats for their whole lives. You mix in the lack of appropriate education and the general moral decline of America with that environment and you’re gonna have a very hostile situation where the citizens are gonna lash out and rebel sooner or later…Everyone screams individual choices but dont take into account personal situations…If I lived like this I would take the first chance I got to march against the injustice or maybe even strike out against the symbol of the authority figures who are causing the obvious oppression and injustice, wouldn’t you?…FB_20150111_08_51_55_Saved_Picture

Hello world!

Posted on by JonathanT.

1. In social psychology, the fundamental attribution error, also known as the .correspondence bias or attributioneffect, is people’s tendency to place an undue emphasis on internal characteristics to explain someone else’s behavior in a given situation, rather than considering external factors.

Will we ever see eye to eye, or at least from each other’s perspectives? I feel as if I need to speak out on every injustice, misinterpretation, and underhanded or sly remark that I see or hear in regards to the circumstances of my people and It is taking a toll on my sanity. Ignorance from those I know on the sensitivities of social matters that happen in this country remind me of why I left the south and at the same time remind me of why I need to go back. Regardless of your race, religion, sex, nationality, or sexual preference I love you! I may not like you sometimes but I love you regardless.

The problem is not that there is a higher rate of black on black crime than police on black crime in this country. The problem is that the police, law enforcement, and the justice system all dictate the outcome or existence I should say of this same statistic. The precipitating factors that cause such a high crime rate in black neighborhoods is always enforced and statistically recorded by the same broken system that has a clear tendency to punish minorities and those socio-economically disadvantaged, when a lack of color is available, more than those of the majority.