While in Houston, I discovered...

I look nice with twists. I think. Do I? Dreads, next step.

I have hips and thighs...like a female.

And...

I can wear skinny's!!!

ATL Diaries: Happy Holidays...from Houston

Happy Holidays to all.

I was able to get a couple of days off work (the first days I've taken off since I started 5 months ago) and head home...the REAL home...to Houston for the Christmas holiday. Luckily, I got away before the snow came into ATL. Yes, I hate snow. Plus it was so warm in H-Town that I got to wear my Sperry's for the first time in weeks! Anyway, I took my first flight on a plane ever and let me just say it wasn't easy. And the fact that it was those small express jets didn't make it any easier.

It was great being around my family. I hadn't seen them since I left six months ago. I barely got halfway up the driveway and my niece comes running into my arms. I missed that little girl soooooooo much. She's going to throw a fit when I have to leave tonight. I don't blame her; I don't want to leave her. She's my baby, pretty much the closest I'll ever get to having my own kids.

Now it's back to ATL and back to life. I hope the snow is going to be gone. I'd hope the cold will be gone but that's pushing it. This was a great vacation but it's time to make some moves in 2011. Oh and start planning my next trip. But...

...about this flight tonight...

Being a victim makes me a negative person, apparently...

Funny thing, I was called a "negative" person for not understanding the justification of changing FB profile pics helping to stop child abuse, even after saying that people should SPEAK UP or go out and do something. Donate their time to the cause, and whatnot. 


FB isn't donating anything to any organization. I can understand it then if they were but they aren't. A better idea would have been sharing a story in their status that could help encourage victims to speak up. Cartoon characters aren't always a positive memory for some, especially victims of child abuse. It comes in many forms: physical, verbal and emotional. It can be neglect or sexual molestation/abuse. I know what it's like to be a victim because it happened to me. If you know it's happening to someone, SPEAK UP!! Go out and do something about it. Donate your time, if you can. Donate to organizations working for the cause. It doesn't have to just be money. 


People change their default pictures every single day. If you think that will help support a cause then do it every day. Don't do it just for Breast Cancer month. Don't do it just for World AIDS Day. Don't do it just for "stop the bully" day. Thinking that simply changing your picture for a specific amount of time is helping actually angers me. 


So don't call me negative for not agreeing with cartoon defaults because I'm a victim and it doesn't help anything.

53rd Annual Grammy Predictions

The nominees are here. These are just my predictions. If I don’t choose your faves, get a life. 

Record of the Year: B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars, “Nothing On You”, Eminem featuring Rihanna, “Love The Way You Lie”, Cee-lo Green, “Fuck You”, Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”; Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” - There’s no denying that all of these songs were big hits but “Need You Now” was definitely THE biggest. Plus the Grammy’s love Lady A.

Album of the Year: Eminem - Recovery, Arcade Fire - The Suburbs, Lady Antebellum - Need You Now, Katy Perry - Teenage Dream, Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster - I’m a bigger fan of Gaga but she’s not going to get this one. Katy has NO chance in Hell. Eminem and Lady A’s records were huge so this is basically a coin toss; one of them has it in the bag. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s given to the unknown Arcade Fire just as Herbie Hancock was given the award.

Song of the Year: Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs) - “Beg, Steal or Borrow”; Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green) - “Fuck You”; Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert) - “The House That Built Me”; Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna) - “Love The Way You Lie”; Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum) - “Need You Now” -There’s no denying this one.

Best New Artist: Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & The Machines, Mumford and Sons, Esperanza Spalding - Honestly, anybody but Justin(a) or Drake.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Sara Bareilles, “King of Anything”; Beyonce, “Halo (Live from I Am…Yours An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas)”; Norah Jones, “Chasing Pirates”; Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”; Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream” - I won’t even start with the Beyonce nomination. Straight to the point: it’s Lady Gaga or Norah Jones (another Grammy darling).

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Michael Jackson, “This Is It”; Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are”; Michael Buble, “Haven’t Met You Yet”; Adam Lambert, “Whataya Want From Me”; John Mayer, “Half of My Heart” - Definitely one of the toughest categories, I’m just going out on a limb and say Bruno Mars will take this one. Don’t quote me on this one, though. Either guy could win.

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: Glee Cast, “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)”; Maroon 5, “Misery”; Paramore, “The Only Exception”; Sade, “BabyFather”; Train, “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)” - If this was 10 years ago when the Grammy’s still had substance and serious credibility, Sade would take this home. But it’s 10 years later, and I’m going with Paramore. Still, a tough one.

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals: B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams and Eminem, “Airplanes Pt. II”; Herbie Hancock featuring P!NK, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare, “Imagine”; Elton John & Leon Russell, “If It Wasn’t For Bad”; Lady Gaga & Beyonce, “Telephone”; Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, “California Gurls” - This is a toss-up between Katy, Gaga and B.o.B. The other two doesn’t exactly scream “pop”. If fans were voting, Katy would win. But they’re not so BeyGaga has this one.

Best Pop Vocal Album: Justin Bieber, My World 2.0; Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream; Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster; John Mayer, Battle Studies; Katy Perry, Teenage Dream -SuBo. Nuff said. And I don’t even like her.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: Faith Evans, “Gone Already”; Fantasia, “Bittersweet”;Monica, “Everything To Me”; Kelly Price, “Tired”; Jazmine Sullivan, “Holding You Down (Going In Circles)” - If the Grammy’s were true to the vocal performances then, hands down, Kelly would just pick up her award without needing the winner announced. But the Grammy’s are more-so about popularity these days. It’s a battle between Mo and Fanny but Miss Thang will most likely take this one. One of the biggest songs, most added and 7 weeks at number one…what more do you need? Some SERIOUS sangin’-your-ass-off, of course.

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: El DeBarge, “Second Chance”; Jaheim, “Finding My Way Back”; Kem, “Why Would You Stay?”; Kirk Whalum & Musiq Soulchild, “We’re Still Friends”; Usher, “There Goes My Baby” - The Grammy’s love a comeback but not so much, according to the Whitney Houston snub fiasco. So El, no. This goes to Usher. C’mon son, it was another huge song.

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller, “Love”; Chris Brown & Tank, “Take My Time”; Ron Isley & Aretha Franklin, “You’ve Got A Friend”; John Legend & The Roots, “Shine”; Sade, “Soldier of Love” - Tough one. Hmm, Ron and ReeRee, John and the Roots or Sade gets this one. My money…Sade.

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: R. Kelly, “When A Woman Loves”, John Legend & The Roots, “Hang On In There”, Calvin Richardson, “You’re So Amazing”; Ryan Shaw, “In Between”; Betty Wright, “Go (Live)” - Kellz. I mean, have you HEARD the song? Trey Songz who?

Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Bilal, “Little One”; Cee-lo Green, “Fuck You”; Carolyn Malachi, “Orion”; Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi, “Tightrope”; Eric Roberson, “Still” - Cee-lo or Janelle. “Fuck You” was just genius.

Best R&B Song: Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia), “Bittersweet”; Ivan “Orthodox” Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin “Ransum” Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim), “Finding My Way Back”; E. Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge), “Second Chance”; John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots), “Shine”; K. Owens, songwriter (Kem), “Why Would You Stay” - Monica, Kelly Price, Alicia Keys, Sade, R. Kelly and Usher were snubbed in this category. The only one deserving of this nomination is Fantasia, so she gets it.

Best R&B Album:  Raheem DeVaughn, The Love & War Masterpeace; Fantasia, Back To Me; Jaheim, Another Round; John Legend & The Roots, Wake Up!; Monica, Still Standing - Mo or Fanny gets this. Two of the best R&B albums released this year. By the way, where’s Alicia.

Best Contemporary R&B Album: Chris Brown, Graffiti; R. Kelly, Untitled; Ryan Leslie, Transition; Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid; Usher, Raymond v. Raymond - My vote would go for Janelle. But this is the Grammy’s. Chris or Usher? Chris would be a pity win, though I liked his album. So…it’s Usher. Alicia’s missing again.

Best Rap Solo Performance: Drake, “Over”; Eminem, “Not Afraid”; Ludacris, “How Low”; T.I., “I’m Back”; Kanye West, “Power” - Too easy. Eminem. He’s a Grammy favorite. Yeezy is a close 2nd.

Best Rap Performance by a Duo/Group: Big Boi & Cutty, “Shutterbugg”; Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz, “Fancy”; Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz, “On to the Next One”; Ludacris & Nicki Minaj, “My Chick Bad”; Young Jeezy & Plies, “Lose My Mind” - It’s either Jay and Swizz or Luda and Nicki. Whether Nicki wins or loses, stan wars volume 75498…

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: B.o.B. & Bruno Mars, “Nothing On You”; Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall, “Deuces”; Eminem & Rihanna, “Love The Way You Lie”; Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State Of Mind”; John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common, “Wake Up! Everybody” - Eminem’s a Grammy favorite, so in this order: Love the Way You Lie, Deuces, Nothing on You.

Best Rap Song: Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys) - “Empire State of Mind”; Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna) - “Love The Way You Lie”; M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem) - “Not Afraid”; Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B & Bruno Mars) - “Nothing On You”; Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz) - “On To The Next One” - Wow. Jay-Z and Eminem are nominated twice here. B.o.B. has no chance. If Jay wins, it should be “Empire State of Mind”. If Em wins, it’s “Not Afraid”.

Best Rap Album:  B.o.B., The Adventures of Bobby Ray; Drake, Thank Me Later; Eminem, Recovery; Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3; The Roots, How I Got Over - Eminem. That’s a given.

World AIDS Day 2010

Know your status. Get tested. Wrap it up.

Even if you're a virgin. Even if you're celibate. Even if you've been with only one person all your life.

HIV/AIDS isn't only transmitted through sex.

Protect yourself.

Get the facts.

ATL Diaries: Playing catch-up

Yeah, I know. I've been neglecting my blog but it's been quite a busy life for me since the last update.

Working hard for the money: I've been working so much overtime over the past 3 or 4 weeks. I've been tired and exhausted. At the same time, I'm writing so many articles for the next issue of this local magazine. But in the end, the checks...well, direct deposit...shows it's all worth it. I gots goals to accomplish and dreams to make reality.

Up in da club: I finally decided to go to a club since my horribly unimpressive first gay club experience at Bulldogs four months ago. A friend and I went to Rain in the West End area of Atlanta. To be honest, I really enjoyed myself. The crowd was much younger, mostly around my age though some younger and a few older. It was my kind of crowd outside of the grown and sexy type crowd I'm used to with the straight clubs (that have a dress code).

Now that she's gone: I miss my best friend. Not talking about the one from Houston, although I miss her too. I'm talking about the new one I made here. You see, our hotel was being renovated and upon completion some jobs were being eliminated. Hers being one of them. But the bossman offered her another position, doing much more work for just a few cents more, which he was going to give her the position anyway. But she ended up getting a better job offer in Philadelphia. So, last week she moved. It's not the same without her anymore. At least we still talk, text and Skype. Hopefully, I'll be able to visit Philly at the beginning of the year. Now I don't have anyone I can cut up and act a fool with here. :(

Thanksgiving alone: Yep. It was my first Thanksgiving without my family. My cousin and his friends were going on a road trip to New Orleans but I decided not to go. I was saving my money for my trip to Houston for Christmas instead. I didn't really plan to do anything. My best friend was already gone by this time. Well, I had to cook this turkey my cousin decided to buy, knowing he was going to be gone. It was the first time I ever cooked a turkey and I'm proud of myself for how good it turned out. Of course, naturally, I cooked cornbread dressing, collard greens, broccoli and rice casserole, oven-baked mac-n-cheese and candied yams. Also made pumpkin pie, to top it off. My fridge is STILL full. I don't know how to cook for one.

So that's been me since the last post. Yup.

Gays v. Blacks and the Civil Rights Movement

I don't think people really understand the meaning of "Civil Rights".

Let me break it down for you.

IT DOES NOT MEAN BASIC RIGHTS FOR BLACK FOLKS.

Did you get that? No? Read it again. And again. And a-fucking-gain.

Sorry I had to use a little bit of profanity but I’m going to need for my people to get that “civil rights is a black people only thing” out of their heads. Yes, African Americans started the Civil Rights movement but the fight never ended. Not just for blacks but also for other minority groups such as Asians, Hispanics and the GLBT community. Yes, the gays are fighting for their rights too.

Let me break out the Wikipedia because my brain is mush from being up since 3AM and it’s after 11pm, and I gotta be back up at 3AM again.

Civil rights are a class of rights that protect individuals’ freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression. They include the ensuring of peoples’ physical integrity and safety; protection from discrimination on grounds such as physical or mental disability, gender, religion, race, national origin, age, or sexual orientation; and individual rights such as the freedoms of thought and conscience, speech and expression, religion, the press, and movement.

There you have it. So when you hear someone likening the gay rights fight to the black civil rights movement, they’re only expressing that from a minority viewpoint. Of course their fight isn’t the same as the black civil rights movement, where our mothers and fathers and grandparents were hosed, beaten or lynched for us to sit anywhere on the bus, to vote, to speak freely, to walk in the front of restaurants and sit at the counters, to share water fountains (ew, germ alert) to run for office and become the President of our country. We’ve achieved all of that and more but we still have a long way to go. The gay community, while not to the same extent of being hosed and lynched, are fighting for some things that we have. Benefits, marriage, adoption, tougher laws against hate crimes, the end of DADT. They want their voices heard just as we wanted ours heard. We are ALL American citizens and deserve to have our God-given rights as such without being discriminated and singled out for being different.

So again, my fellow African-Americans or Black people, however you want to refer to yourself: stop claiming “civil rights” as just a black thing. It’s not.