Inauguration Day, MLK Day, & Black America!!!

Mood: Amusingly Composed
Music: Yolanda Charles "No ID" CD Acid Jazz
Date: Monday January 20, 2025

This 2024 Election Cycle Has Been Krazy!!! Who Could’ve Predicted What We Saw??? Current President Joe Biden Was All Set 2 Go Head 2 Head Against His Old Foe…, Donald Trump!!! They Had A Debate On June 27, 2024 Where All The World Could See That Uncle Joe Had DEFINITELY Lost A Little Bit On His Fastball. Was He Completely & Utterly Horrible??? No…, He Just Seemed Distant, Not As Clear/Concise As Necessary, & Unfocused!!! I Would Like 2 Take This Moment 2 Give Donald Trump His Due Because I Swear Even His Krazy Azz Took Pity On Ole Azz Joe That Day & DID NOT Go In On Him With FULL FORCE As We Know Only He Can!!!

Then Up Outta Nowhere Based Off Of This Debate Performance, The Cries 4 Joe Biden 2 Step Down Were Overwhelming & He Did Something We Have NEVER EVER Seen Done Before In American Presidential Politics. He Actually DID IT!!! On July 21, 2024 He Relinquished His Right 2 The Throne That He Had Fought So Hard 2 Climb Into Over His Five Decade Plus Political Career. Folks MAY NOT Appreciate It In The Moment, But When We LQQK Back At It Through History’s Eyez…, We Will See How Much Of A Gentleman Joe Biden Was. He Respected The Country More Than His Own Thirst 4 Power; So Just Like That…, We Had Our Next Serious, (after Hillary Clinton), Woman Candidate. A Woman Of Color By The Way, In Line For The Position Of Leader Of The Free World!!!

The Republican National Convention Was Held In Milwaukee, WI July 15 – 18, 2024…, & It Was Much Of What We’ve Come 2 Xpect From This New Wave MAGA Republican Party!!! I Am Still Amazed At The Rhetoric That Comes Forth From This Group As They Stick 2 The Script Of Hammering Away At Their FOX News Talking Points That Sometimes Border On The LUDICROUS!!! It Iz Equally SCARY That Half Of Us As A Nation Believe It?!? This IZ NOT The Republican Party Of UR Father/Grandfather Which Stood 4 Small Government, Business Friendly Tax Breaks, Filthy Stankin’ Wealth, & Conservative Politics!!! This New Regime Iz Into Conspiracy Theories, Rolling Back Women’s Rights, Limiting Civil Rights Liberties, Dismantling Education, No Gun Control Reform Whatsoever, & Full On Non Bi-Partison Support Even If It Means Crippling The Citizens Of America Through Those Very Actions!!! SAY WHUT???

The Democratic Convention Was Held In Chicago August 19 – 22, 2024, With Newly Cemented Candidate Kamala Harris In Place & It Was Like A Full On Party Being Done Up In A Way We Had NEVER EVER Seen Before!!! The NRG & The Vybe During/After The Event Had The Democratic Party As Welll As The World Charged Up 2 A FULL ON 10!!! It Was Dynamic, Amazing, & The Lineup Of Star Power Was Diversely Off The Charts. Now I Can Admit It…, It May Have Been Just A Tad Bit Heavy On The RAH-RAH & MAY NOT Have Delivered As Much Hard-Core Substance That We Wanted 2 See/Hear; But It Did Allow Us 2 See Kamala Harris Trying 2 Distinguish Herself From The Biden Policies As She Began 2 Carve Out Her Own Path Allowing Folks Could See What She Could LQQK Like As An Effective Leader On Her Own!!!

That Was The Wave Of NRG Folks Were Flyin’ On!!! No Longer Were They “Rydin’ With Biden”…, They Were “Jamala 4 Kamala!!!” Everyone Was Primed For The September 10, 2024 Presidential Debate Between Kamala Harris & Donald Trump In Philadelphia!!! We Xpected It 2 Be A Contentious Heated Battle Between 2 Strongly Differing Ideologies; Yet Surprisingly 2 All Involved It Was Much More Civil & Cordial Than Xpected!!! VP Kamala Harris Held Her Own In The Heat Of The Battle, Not Backing Down, Or Giving Ground As She Worked Hard 2 State Her Facts Against Trump’s Continued Bluster!!! She Showed Her Mettle As She Went Toe-To-Toe Against Him Delivering Probably One Of Her Strongest Showings 2 Date!!!

Now Folks Are Thinking OMG!!! This Really May Be Happening?!? Itz Not Just That “Black Barack Obama FX”…, But Itz A Black Woman Of Color Who IZ NOT Just Going 2 Crack Thru…, But She Iz Going 2 SMASH THROUGH That Last Remaining Hurdle Of A Sista Girl Leading The Free World From The White House As President Of These United States!!!

Well…, The November Primary Hit & Although Folks Want 2 Make It Out Like She Got CRUSHED…, It Was Over Quick Fast & In A Hurry!!! Quite Frankly…, She Simply Got Beat!!! Trump Won Blue States That Normally Stay Strongly Democratic, He Won Key Swing States That Continually Shift The Tide Of NE Election, But More Importantly & Probably Most Shockingly Of All…, He…, A Republican, Won The Popular Vote For The 1^st Tyme In Some 30 Odd Years!!!

That’s How You Know This Was A Landslide Victory. It WAS NOT Even 11PM & It Was Clear 2 All Involved That The Writing Was On The Wall As Donald Trump Secured The Electoral College Votes Required 2 Become #47…, The Next President Elect For The 2025 Presidential Cycle!!! Talk About Stunned, Shocked, Amazed, & In Disbelief??? Not So Unlike His Unlikely Win In 2016…, Against Another Woman No Less…, Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

What Happened??? What Went Wrong??? How Could This Nation That Prides Itself On Itz Supposed High IQ, 4get All Of That 2 Elect A Convicted, Insurrectionist, Government Overthrowing, Willing 2 Take Out His Own VP, Failed Business Man, Serial Philandering, Con Man, Back Into The White House After Seeing How Chaotic His 2016 Presidential Term Was??? What Does That Say About All Of Us As Americans??? The Fact That We Would Pass Over A Highly Qualified Black Woman Who Was A District Attorney In California, Served In Congress, Was The VP For 4 Years Thrusting Her Onto The Global Stage, & For All Intents & Purposes Was On Track 2 Become The Next Major 1^st In Our Country After She Made History As The 1^st Black VP???

A Few Things Here!!! First Off When Joe Unceremoniously Had The Carpet Pulled Out From Under Him, There Was A Sped Up Nomination Process That Probably DID NOT Sit Well With The American People Who May Have Felt That Kamala Harris Was SHOVED Down Their Throats & Not Voted In On In A Better Plan B Election Process. This Means That, By The Tyme She Had Won The Perceived Democratic Nomination, Even As She Raised An Ungodly Amount Of Campaign Money In A Very Short Tyme. She Was Already Behind The 8 Ball From A Tyme Perspective With Roughly 107 Dayz 2 Mount An ALL OUT Campaign 2 Run 4 President Of The United States. Quite Daunting 2 Put 2getha The Infrastructure Required 2 Truly Put UR Own Personal Stamp On A Major Campaign Run!!!

Marry That With The Fact That Some Of Her Policies As A DA In California Made Her An EZ & Unpopular Target In The Eyes Of Many, Xspecially Some Of Her Black Constituency. During Her 4 Years As VP…, She Was Mostly Invisible…, (not a knock), Because Thatz What A Good VP’s JOB Iz (keep ur eyez on JD Vance over these next four years). Itz 2 Not Rock The Boat Causing NE Undue Scandals That Puts The Bullseyes Squarely On Your President’s Back In A Negative Light Due 2 UR Dumb Azz Actions!!! The Perception Iz, Even Though She Was There in Full FX, Folks Truly Still DID NOT Know Who She Was, What Her Policies Were, Or What She Stood For???

Speaking Of Policies, Now She Was An EZ Target 4 NE Of The Failed Policies Of The Biden Presidency Because Let’s Face It, She Was Right There “IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED!!!” Regardless Of How Big Or Little Her Role Was In These Things, She Was Guilty By Association. Xspecially The Low Hanging Fruit Like The Failed Mexico Border Problem That Has Been A Bane Across Several Administrations, Not Just This One!!! Plus, DO NOT Even Mention NE Successes The Biden-Harris Team Achieved Because All Of That Was Going 2 Be Minimized Or Swept Under The Rug Like It Never Happened; Since Clearly She Had NOTHING Whatsoever 2 Do With That!!! SMH!!! LOL!!! She Was Damned If You Do…, & Damned If You Don’t!!! SMH!!!

I Would Also Be Remiss If I DID NOT Mention The Trump Assassination Attempt On July 13, 2024 In Pennsylvania As He Was Stumping On The Campaign Trail!!! Folks Have A Million Conspiracy Theories About This From Being Staged, 2 Trump Putting Ketchup On His Ear, 2 Putting A Spotlight On Lax Secret Service Coverage. None Of That Matters As 2 People Were Killed, (a rally attendee & the shooter) That Day, & It Again Highlighted 4 All The World 2 See Some Ramifications Of America’s Relaxed Gun Control Measures. But The Bigger & More Important Picture Iz…, This DEFI-NITELY Garnered A Level Of Sympathy & Also Added An Aura Of Invincibility 2 Donald Trump Who Only Stood 2 Gain From This Senseless Violent Act!!! This In FX Turned Him From A Cult Figure Into An Instant Un-Stoppable Demi-God!!!

The Last Big Hurdle 4 Kamala Harris Iz The Fact That In The HISTORY Of This Country, Unlike Other Nations Around The World, There Has NEVER EVER Been A Female Leader aka President Of The United States. Please…, Let’s Give Her, Her Flowers For Becoming The 1^st Black VP, As That’s The Highest Rank EVER Achieved By A Woman Of Color. We CANNOT Deny The History Of This Country As A White-Male Dominated & White-Ruled Nation. Based On The Strength Of Breaking Through That Barrier…, On That Achievement Alone…, She Has Already Won!!!

When Barack Obama Showed Up Outta Nowhere 2 Land In That TOP GUN Seat…, White America Has NOT Been The Same Since!!! That Surely Helped Grease The Wheels 2 Allow Someone Like Donald Trump 2 Rise Up From The Ashes With His Thinly Veiled Rhetoric Rife With Racial Commentary, White Superiority, Not 2 Mention Degrading Minorities, Ethnicities, & Even Whole Countries Simply 2 Appease His Rabid Base Of Small-Minded People Who DO NOT Want 2 See Another Person Of Colour…, & Specifically Not A Black Woman Running Thangs…, RUNNIN’ THANGS!!!

We ARE NOT Going 2 Talk About The World-View, We’re Going 2 Narrow This Down 2 The American View. This Has Been…, & Continues 2 Be The 600lb Elephant In The Room!!! The Division Along Racial Lines Of “Black vs White” In This Country Due 2 Our Shared History Of That “Peculiar Institution” Known As Slavery Has Held Us Back Since America’s Inception. We’ve Had Several Chances 2 Get It Right 1nce We Formed This Nation…, But Choose Another Path Every Single Tyme!!!

When America Dropped The Declaration Of Independence In 1776, Those Most Powerfullest Of Words Stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In Theory…, That Was The Perfect Backdrop Allowing “ALL OF US” 2 Simply Be Who We Were Destined 2 Be As We Embarked Upon A Journey Of Self-Fulfillment. How-En-Be-So-Ever…, Those Founding Fathers Who We Speak So Highly Of…, Instead Of Meeting This Crisis Head On 2 Kill It Off 4ever…, They Simply Kicked The Can Down The Road For Future Generations 2 Solve. In 1861 The Civil War Jumped Off As This Situation Truly Came 2 A Head!!! This War Pitted The Country Against Itself; As It Was The Slave Revolting North vs The Slave Owning/Retaining South In A Battle 2 Keep The Nation’s Status Quo!!!

Well Lo & Behold…, In 1865 The North Won!!! So…, WTF Happened??? Clearly We Were Going 2 Solve These Problems Of Black 2^nd Class Citizenship Right Here & Right Now…, RIGHT??? We Notherner’s Won This Thang Damnit!!! But The Then, Leader Of The Free World, President Abraham Lincoln, (although flawed as a leader in these policies), He Iz Still Revered As The Visionary Who Sparked That Change. He Was Effectively Gunned Down By An Assassin’s Bullet!!! All The Goodwill He Ushered In Regarding This Institution Was Effectively Swept Away When His Southern VP Andrew Johnson (the first president to be impeached) Ascended 2 The Throne Immediately Reversing & Undoing All The Good That Reconstruction Had Planned 2 Do As The South Was Being Let Back Into The Union!!! WELL GAWD DAMN!!!

We Can Even LQQK Back 2 The Revolutionary War 1775 – 1783 As That 1^st Spark In Consciousness For Black Americans. This War, Pre-Declaration Of Independence Dayz, Pitted This Upstart Group Of Colonist In The New World Of The Americas Against The British Soopa-Power England!!! For Such A Tiny Piece Of Land In Europe, The Reach Of The British Empire Was INCREDIBLE As They Held Territories World-Wide Utilizing Their Superior Wealth, Naval, & Armed Forces Power!!!

We Never Hear Much About The Free Or Enslaved Blacks Who Had Front Row Seats 2 This Pivotal Moment In American History!!! Enslaved Blacks In The South Were Caught Between Keeping The Status Quo Of Slavery Going In This Country Or Xscaping 2 Join Ranks Fighting With The British Who Promised 2 Give Them Their Freedom When They Won The War. Even Free Blacks In The North Who Still Were Subservient 2^nd Class Citizens Were Offered That Same Enticing Offer 2 Stay In The Same Place Of Limbo In America Or Fight With The British 2 Help Secure Their Own True Freedoms!!! In Hindsight It May Sound Simple, Yet That Had 2 Be A Difficult Decision 4 Many Black Americans 2 Make As Yes They Fought On Both Sides Of The Battle In This Strange New World They Were Now A Part Of.

Fast FWD 2 War On Global Scale!!! America Had Settled Into Who She Was Becoming In The Early 1900’s As The Industrial Age Of The 1800’s & The Upcoming Roaring 20’s Were Ushering In A Golden Era Of Prosperity Across The Land!!! When World War I Comes Along 1914 – 1918, The Allies (France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, The United States, etc.) Went 2 Battle Against The Central Powers (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, etc.), Across Europe, The Middle East, Africa, & The Asia-Pacific Rim!!! America Held Out As Long As She Could Before Finally Entering In 1917. &&&&…, Guess Who Stepped In 2 Join The Fight??? That’s Right, Roughly 350,000 Black American’s Risked Everything Even As They STILL WERE NOT Being Treated Fairly At Home Because Jim Crow Laws & Segregation Held A Firm, Unfair Grip On Their Lives!!!

If That WAS NOT Enuff…, Here Comes World War II 1939 – 1945…, As If The World Learned Nothing From World War I?!? Not 2 Mention American Was In The Throes Of The Great Depression 1929 – 1939 Which Put An Incredible Strain On Her People & Her Resources!!! What Did Black Americans Do After STILL Not Getting Their Just Due From World War I??? More Than Three Million Of Us Enlisted In Droves 2 Go Overseas 2 Fight The Evil Axis!!! This War Surely Was Going 2 Bring About The Change Of Equality, Justice, & Civil Liberties That We Had Fought So Hard For??? Xspecially…, 1nce We Got Attacked At Home By The Japanese With Their Surprise Bombing Of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor Military Base In The Pacific Theater On December 7, 1941!!!

But Nope…, 1nce Again…, America Failed 2 Live Up 2 The Power Of The Words In The Declaration Of Independence As The Black Men Who Proudly Fought Abroad 2 Secure Freedom & Liberty For “OTHERS” In Foreign Nations…, Returned Home Only 2 Be Smacked In The Face With Continued 2^nd Class Citizenship By Not Receiving Those Same Freedoms Themselves. Not 2 Mention, How Unlike Their White Counterparts Who Returned Home 2 A Hero’s Welcome…, Black Soldiers WERE NOT Able 2 Secure G.I. Loans Or Low Cost Housing 2 Help Rebuild Their Lives That The War Had Rudely Interrupted. This Gave White America A Chance 2 Build Up A Middle Class Lifestyle In Newly Developed Suburbs, Leaving Black Americans 2 Head Back Into The Depressed Neighborhoods They Had Left Searching For Better Opportunities.

LQQKIN’ Back At The 13^th, 14^th, & 15^th Amendments From 1865 That Were Implemented 2 Make Amends Allowing Black Americans Some Sense Of Self Worth & Fulfillment. You Would’ve Thought The Global Impact Of The World Wars Some 50 Years Later Would’ve Accelerated Those Goals??? The 13^th Amendment Abolished Slavery, The 14^th Amendment Gave Citizenship 2 All People Born In The United States (aka the slave population), & The 15^th Amendment Gave Those Black Americans The Right 2 Vote!!!

Fast Forward Almost 100 Years After Those Amendments Were Put In Place We Land At The Civil Rights Act Of 1964. Black Americans Were STILL Fighting That Fight For Equality, Sustainability, & Self Worth!!! Things Like Red-Lining, Government Housing aka The Projects, Sub-Par Education Standards, Continued Segregation, Lack Of Upward Economic Corporate Mobility Kept Black America In Our Place If You Will.

The Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Basically Prohibited Discrimination / Segregation On The Basis Of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Or National Origin In Voting, The Workplace, Schools, Housing, & Public Accommodations. This Is How White America Continued 2 Accrue Generational Wealth As Black America Fell Further Behind In The Wealth Race Due 2 The Tremendous Head Start & Opportunities They Were Given!!! LQQK Around Even 2day, As That Disparity Iz Glaring When You Compare Wealth Status Amongst The Race Groups!!!

Folks Love 2 Say…, But That Was “Waaayyyyy Back Then, Not Now Here In The 2day…, I DO NOT Own Slaves…, & I Have Black Friends!!!” My Rebuttal 2 Them Iz…, Think Of This Like “COMPOUND INTEREST”; Because No Matter How Much You Start Saving 2day…, If You Had The Opportunity 25, 50, 100, Or 300 Years Ago 2 Start Saving & Accruing Wealth…, How Much Further Along Would My Jones Family Dynasty Be 2day??? My Jones Family Would’ve Been Up There With The Likes Of The Carnegie’s, The Rockefeller’s, The Getty’s, Or The Vanderbilt’s!!! No Amount Of Heinz 57 aka Catch Up Can Close That Gap. Basically It Was A 10K Race That Black America Started At The Starting Line…, But White America Had A 5K Head Start On Us & We’ve Been Playing Ketchup (lol) Ever Since. Now As Far As You Not Owning Slaves & Having Your “NEW” Black Friends…, That’s A Conversation We’re Gonna Table For Another Day…, Okay???

Every Tyme America Has Had A Chance 2 Stand Up, 2 Fight For, 2 Protect, Or Fully Engage Her Black Citizens…, She Has FAILED MISERABLY!!! We’ve Continued 2 Be Viewed As Less Than Or Expendable 2 The Greater Good!!! That’s A Shocking Revelation When You Realize How Intertwined & Integrated Black History Iz With American/White History!!! There Would Be No America In All Of Her Current Glory Without The Contributions Of Her Underappreciated & Underserved Black Citizens!!! & DO NOT Get Me Started On What Was Done 2 America’s True Indigenous People…, The Native Americans Who Were Here Long B4 Ole Christopher “I AM NOT LOST” Columbus Re-Discovered Them?!? The Generational Wealth Created During The Slave ERA Has Permeated All Aspects of This Country Giving Her A Head Start 2 Make Her The SOOPA POWER She STILL Iz 2day!!!

Fast FWD 1nce Again 2 The Events Of January 6, 2021 That Were On Full Display 4 All The Entire World 2 See!!! Never Before In The History Of This Country Have We Had A True “Coup D’Etat” Attempt 2 Disrupt/Interrupt Our Peaceful Transfer Of Power Process. Well…, On That Day As Then President Donald Trump Held A Rally In Washington, DC He Told His Followers 2 March Up 2 The Capitol Bldg 2 Voice Their Discontent!!! My Oh My…, Did You See How That Evolved Into A Full On Melee Causing Mayhem, Death, & Destruction On A Sacred US Building??? I Guess NOBODY Saw That Coming Huh???

Contrast That 2 The Black Lives Matter Demonstration June 1, 2020 Where National Guard & A Heavy Police Presence Was Deployed 2 Dissuade Protestors, Even Unleashing Tear Gas Pushing The Protesters Back So Then President Trump Could Have His Infamous Holding Up A Bible In Front Of The Church Photo Op!!! SMH!!! LOL!!! Now…, I CANNOT Emphatically Say He Led The January 1^st Insurrection Charge Or Was The True Ringleader Of The Event, (the Jack Smith report may shed some different light on this)…, But I Can Say Some Blood Iz DEFINITELY On His Hands As He Wanted 2 Stay In Power After Losing 2 Joe Biden & Kamala Harris Fair & Square!!!

Now Come Full Circle 2 This Year, Jan 6, 2025 When Many Of Those Same Members Of Congress Whose Lives Were Threatened As They Cowered In The Capital Chamber With Gas Masks In Hand, Along With Those Same Capitol Police Guards Who Were Viciously Attacked, Filed Back Into That Building With VP Kamala Harris Presiding Over The Proceedings Of Ratifying The Election She Lost In November For President Elect Donald Trump & VP JD Vance. She Held Up Her Part Of The Bargain 2 Ensure There WOULD NOT Be A Repeat Of What Happened A Mere 4 Years Earlier 2 The Dismay Of All Who Witnessed It!!! Order Had Been Restored, The Process Of Democracy Was Still Intact, Even As It Benefits Someone Who’s Character DOES NOT Seem Worthy Of The Lofty Perch He Has 1nce Again Ascended Into!!!

Quite Frankly Donald Trump Has Cheapened The Rank Of The Presidency!!! I Respect The Way He Was Able 2 Land In The Chair During His 1^st Term As He Was A Pure Outsider With No Prior Political Background!!! He Came In & Ran On A Campaign Of Being A Disruptor Who Would Shake Up Washington, Drain The Swamp, & Change The Way Government Was Being Done!!! Well…, He Did That & THEN SOME!!!

But In My Humble Opinion, He Has No Polish, No Shine, Or Grace About Him!!! He Leads In A Buffoonish, Bullying, Spoiled Brat Way, Which Iz Crude, & Lacks The Discipline, Nuance, Or IQ Necessary 2 Lead This Great Nation. His 1^st Term Was Full Of Chaos, Turmoil, Hirings & Firings Even As He Handled World Leaders & World Business In Ways Unbefitting The President Of The United States!!! LQQK No Further Than His Handling Of The Corona Virus Pandemic 2 Truly See How Things Unfolded On His Watch!!! This Was A Tyme When TRUE LEADERSHIP Was Necessary.

This Country Has Voted 4 A Return Back 2 The Chaos That Iz Donald Trump!!! He Will Only Be More Emboldened As He Has 2 Feel An Aura Of Invincibility Thinking He Iz Untouchable In This BIG BOY Seat 1nce Again!!! This Iz A Referendum On Where We Sit As A Nation Going Back Thru Every President Who’s Sat In That Seat!!! Yes Indeed We’ve Had Our Share Of Bad Leaders…, But This Iz Unprecedented, Uncharted Waters Bordering On The Twilight Zone Lunacy!!! I Swear When I LQQK In The Mirror As An American Or Talk 2 People From Other Countries, I Am Thoroughly Embarrassed 2 Be In This Position Again!!! What’s That Classic Line, “Fool Me 1nce Shame On You…, Fool Me Twice…, SHAME ON ME!!!” This Will Be Like Watching A Train Wreck In Slow Motion Because He’s Shown You Who He Iz & Folks Just DO NOT Want 2 Believe Him!!! He DOES NOT Care About You, Me, Or America…, He Simply Cares About DONALD J. TRUMP EMPEROR 4 LIFE!!!

Now If U Think All Of That Chatter From Me Was Enuff…, President Elect Donald Trump Will Take Office On Monday January 20, 2025 Which Just Happens 2 Fall On The Martin Luther King Jr Holidaze!!! This Iz A Man Who Gave Up His VERY LIFE In The Fight 4 Liberty & Justice For All; But He Worked Xspecially Hard For Equality For Black Americans!!!

If Ever There Was A Slap In The Face Moment In Our Lives As Black Americans…, By Golly THIS IZ IT!!! You CANNOT Plan It…, Make It Up…, Or Watch It Unfold NE Betta Than This!!! I Am Stunned…, & Like U…, I Have A Front Row Seat 2 The Madnezz!!! But…, I AM NOT Scared…, I AM NOT Runnin’…, & I AM NOT Going NE Where!!! Poor Dr King Will Be Spinning in His Grave As He Himself Will Be SHOCKED 2 See How Far We Have Regressed Based On The Ideals & Constructs He Died On The Cross For!!!

I Am Still An American…, I Am A Proud Black American 2 Be Clear…, & I Support & Love My Country!!! I Can Acknowledge & Respect That He Iz The President Because The Office, His Title, & The American People Have Given Him That Right!!! I Pray That I Am Wrong & He Will Have His “COME 2 JEEZ-SUS MOMENT” Realizing He DOES NOT Want 2 End His 2^nd Chance By Going Off The Rails Again. Maybe He Will Blow All Our Minds As He Turns The Corner 2 Become A Good, Effective, President 4 All Of America’s Citizens!!! Since I Am A Glass Half Full 4ever Optimistic Type…, Thatz The Way My Brain Iz Wired!!! I’m Willing 2 Work With NE Body & Give NE Body A Chance Or The Benefit Of A Doubt!!!

We Are All Works In Progress…, None Of Us Are Perfect & We All Make Mistakes. But It Iz Only Thru Your Actions That I’ll Believe In Who You Are Telling Me You Are Tryin’ 2 Be!!! In This His 2^nd & Supposed Final Act…, Only Tyme Will Tell What Side Of The Ledger He Stands On?!? Will It Be For America The Democracy Or Trump The Autocracy???

The Brother AJ

Katherine "CAT" Glover (singer, dancer, choreographer) Iz Gone!!! Sigghh!!!

 

Mood: Surprised
Music: Prince “Lovesexy” Lovesexy CD
Date: Wednesday September 25, 2024

This one kind of caught us by surprise. This is the NEW & IMPROVED modern miracle medical age. We can transplant hearts, operate on the brain, stem the tide of pandemic type epidemics, as we prolong life longer & longer for human beings on planet Earth. When you hear someone passing away at the young age of 60 itz almost like a culture shock. Hell…, me myself & I will turn 64 years old come December 7^th & like Prince says, “I GOTTA LOT MO’ MUFFIN’ 2 GO!!!”

Speaking of Prince is why we are here. We received word that Ms. Katherine “Cat” Glover a musician, singer, actress, dancer, & choreographer passed away at 60 years young. Hold Up…, Say Whut??? Us Prince fans came 2 know & love Cat when she landed in his camp starting with the Lovesexy Tour. The work she did with him on that tour, the Sign O’ The Times tour & also multiple record projects endeared her to us Prince-o-philes.

She was the perfect foil for his own unique dance moves allowing his stage shows to become more expansive & choreographed from a dance perspective. She would also provide backing vocals on tracks, even going so far as to step out front on the track “Alphabet St” where Prince calls for her to RAP & she delivers.

The reason this one hits just a tad different is she was there the very 1^st tyme I saw Prince & his band live!!! It was the Lovesexy Tour. The date was Monday October 24, 1988 8PM at ye ole Nassau Coliseum (now called the UBS Arena), home of the NY Islanders hockey team in Hempstead NY. It was me, my cuzzin’ Dalton, & my sidekick Kevin Cooke. We piled into wifey’s Hyundai Excel, (because i WAS NOT taking my hawt 2 death Camaro Z28) as we made the trek over the Hudson River to go see the guy who would become a singular force in my life.

On that night the band consisted of Prince on everything, Levi Seacer Jr. on bass/backing vocals, Boni Boyer on keyboards/vocals, Dr. Fink on keys, Atlanta Bliss on trumpet, Eric Leeds on sax, Sheila E on drums/vocals, & Cat dancer/backing vocals.

To say I was “MESMERIZED” that night was an understatement. What’s that classic line??? “You Only Have One Chance 2 Make A 1^st Impression!!!” Well…, that night cemented it for me. I thought in 1979 I had become a HUGE Prince fan the minute I got my hands on his 2^nd album “Prince” after hearing the track “Sexy Dancer.” I went back to get his 1^st album “For You” & I was HOOKED after hearing what he delivered on his debut project at 20 years old. Now fast forward almost 10 years & 11 albums later I had already been feenin’ like a junkie. I was obsessed with all thangs Prince as I slowly became indoctrinated into his tribe.

Folks that love an artist, xspecially an artist like Prince, only get half the picture until you see them live in person doing what they do. We were truly BLOWN AWAY & unprepared for what we witnessed on that night. Prince sang his heart out, played guitar, bass, keys, drums, & even played basketball against Cat on a half court they had set up on the stage. He was out there straight hooping too!!! LOL!!! The concert opened up with Alphabet St with Prince, Sheila E, & Cat arriving on stage in that classic White ‘66 Thunderbird he sings about in the song!!! It was BANANAS!!! From that point on…, IT WAS ON!!!

Outside of Sheila E & Dr. Fink, I only knew a little bit about the rest of the band because we were only introduced to them on the previous album, 1987’s (& my favorite Prince album) “Sign O’ The Times”. We cried when he disbanded The Revolution after 1985’s “Around The World In A Day” project. We had no idea he needed 2 stretch & grow his sound as he was working out new ideas where he felt the need to tap into different musicians to execute the plan. After the success of his magnum opus “Purple Rain” with that unit, we the fans COULD NOT believe he was gonna blow that group up to start fresh & new??? WHY PRINCE??? Clearly, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Seeing this new unit live helped ease the sting of that loss, because you got completely sucked in because his electrifying presence was going to keep the NRG Soopa High regardless of who else was on stage with him. They were a well-oiled machine executing the music flawlessly. 2 my musical ears…, they were executing sounds & power that MAY NOT have been possible with his Revolution band. Sheila E on drums alone was awe inspiring as her speed, technique, & syncopation were incredible. The addition of a horn section elevated the music in ways we HAD NOT heard on his previous records.

Cat as a newcomer & non-musician on stage added much synergy to the mixxx. She moved effortlessly as she mimicked, counter-pointed, & dueted with Prince via dance & vocals. With her pretty LQQKS, lithe body, & constant motion you got wrapped up in her aura as she brought her own style to the band. In a way I guess you can say she paved the way for Prince 2 bring his future wife Mayte & ballet star Misty Copeland into his world as dancers on stage with him going forward across different live productions.

The fact that she was able to stay around through various projects showed Prince saw something in her he liked. Over the years she went off to do her own things…, but she is forever cemented into the lure that is Prince. She is definitely gone much too soon…, but just like his long tyme drummer John Blackwell & Prince himself…, so have they exited stage left long before “WE” were ready to see them go.

She can rest EZ knowing that she will be immortalized in the catacombs of tyme via the moments she spent in Prince’s eclectic & ever-changing world. Your life was never in vain lady as you made an impression & had a presence over this fan 36 years ago. I will carry that 1^st meeting & now this last chapter of your life in the lockbox of my heart that I keep stored deep in my closet, high up on the top shelf where only I can get to it.

Rest EZ Ms. Cat…, As U Truly Did A Thang!!!

P.S. I Had Rehearsal With My Own Band 2nite & We Spoke About Cat’s Death Bcuz As Musicians We Should Alwayz Keep The Memories Of Those We Dig Vibrant In Our Lives!!!

P.P.S. 2day Iz The Work Anniversary Of When I Started My PSE&G Utility Career. I Was Just Shy Of 42 Years When I Retired In July Of Last Year!!! Things That Make U Go Hmmm???

The Brother AJ

Two Ladies Of Soul Concert 10.21.23

“Two Ladies Of Soul Concert” Oleta Adams & Maysa Leak 
Union County Performing Arts Center Rahway, NJ 10.21.23

We had the pleasure of attending a unique show bringing two powerhouse divas together in one space on one ticket. Revered darling Ms. Oleta Adams had the house eating out of her hand as her vocals were crystal clear & sounded amazingly like every single record she sings on. For me, I had no idea she played keyboards as well as she did. I thought she was going to be fronting her three-piece trio consisting of guitar, bass, & her husband of 29 years on drums. HECK NO!!! Ms. Adams was right there in the mix with her band throwing down on a Roland keyboard as well as laying it down vocally. The only time she DID NOT play was when they stepped out front to do a two-three song acoustic set letting her simply sing to us, as the guitar player switched to an acoustic guitar, & the drummer played a cajon which looks like a rectangular box you sit on to play.

Now just when you thought it COULD NOT get any better, she announced to the crowd that she was 70 Years Old!!! That generated an incredible wave of applause because MY GAWD…, SHE LQQKED FLAWLESS!!! If there is ever hope for anyone who complains about getting a late start on life, she is the poster child for pursuing your dreams regardless of where you are on the life spectrum. She chose a nice mix of songs that featured her voice, her band, & her catalog. When she delivered the song she wrote for South Africa & their struggle for freedom, it resonated with the audience. When she got down, dirty, & grimy with a blues song it took us back down home with that soul shaking feeling that only the blues can deliver.

However, when she closed the show with her signature breakthrough smash hit “Get Here” it was game, set, & match. Every time I hear this song, I immediately think of Ms. Dianne Reeves’s song “Better Days.” Those two songs are bookends of our life journey as they transport us into better places & spaces in our life through the power of their words, their melodies, & their impassioned deliveries. She simply tore this song up, as she had the whole crowd jamming along with her & walked off triumphantly into the night when it ended. Thank You Ms. Adams You Were INCREDIBLE!!!

Then Ms. Maysa Leak came out & let’s be clear, this woman already has “Goddess Status.” When she finally took front & center with the UK Acid Jazz group Incognito, her voice was a breath of fresh air & a shot heard around the world. We COULD NOT wait for each new project just to get wrapped up in her rich/textured vocal tone. Then…, KABOOM!!! She left the group??? SAY WHUT??? Oh Wait…, She Left To Go Solo (but would still appear on selected Incognito album cuts)!!! Her 1^st solo project was everything we wanted & needed from her as she was finally able to deliver ALL of herself to us in a collection of songs that represented her. Then she continued to do that over like 13 more albums. I probably have 10 of those bad boys in my CD collection.

Her latest project has to be the most special project to her since her debut project, because this one is released on her own record label imprint. She said she was involved with EVERY THANG from the writing, to recording, to merchandising, & the selling of this record. It’s a double CD called “Music For Your Soul.” Again, if you are a fan of Ms. Maysa Leak, you already know what to expect. She’s gonna deliver soulful vocals, jazzy grooves, R&B grooves, love songs, & a dance track or two you can groove to.

On this night she featured quite a few cuts from this project. “Relax Your Mind, Music For Your Soul, Make Sure You’re Sure, & Runnin’ From Myself” come immediately to mind. Her band was tight consisting of two background singers, saxophone player, keyboards, guitar, bass, & my man Tim Hutson on drums who I had the pleasure of chatting with in May down in Philly as he played with bassist Gerald Veasley backing saxophonist Ms. Paula Atherton.

Maysa actually featured more of her new songs, than any of her past hits & sometimes fans feel a type of way when artist do that, cause most of them really only come to hear the hits, refusing to grow with their artist as they themselves have grow. Well Maysa solved that quick, fast & in a hurry. She told us that she loved all those funky 70’s – 90’s party jams & she was going to take us on a journey. She kicked it off with one of her own tunes, then that morphed into a mega mashup mix as they ran through like 15 jams non-stop the way a DJ would mix from one party song to the next. It Was Pure Fire!!! Everything from Cameo, to Pleasure, to Ohio Players, to Parliament Funkadelic, to club bangers, & beyond as she had us eating out of her hand making half the venue jump up to start dancing in their seats.

For me when it comes to Maysa it is simple. She has one of the most unique & recognizable voices in the business. Its dripped in honey with a deep richness to it that tingles your ear drums. Add in her range of hitting high notes, then dropping down to her resonant lows, with a tone that is as clear as glass, letting you see she can move you with strictly her voice. She graduated from Baltimore’s Morgan State music college, so you know her musical training was perfect given the depth of their curriculum. She can cover any style from the scatting harmonies of jazz, to the soulful walings of R&B, all the way up to the soaring glory of gospel. She gave us a little bit of all that last night. She’s bad & she knows she bad.

The mark of a true artist is even with some technical sound issues, mostly the onstage monitoring system trying to throw her off, she centered herself & delivered in spite of that until the venue finally got it together for her. At one point she even stepped in front of the monitors, leaving the microphone on the stand & just belted out the song to us at the edge of the stage like she was in a high school musical. GO ‘HEAD LADY!!!

As Ms. Oleta Adams did…, Ms. Maysa Leak also closed the show with one of her iconic signature jams, “Deep Waters” from the Incognito files. She took us on 15-minute ride as she sang the song, then blended vocal lines from other artist songs inside her song as she just poured her heart out to us to end the show. Me & my wife LQQKED at each other, like WOW!!! The gentleman on my left who recognized me from the Liz Warfield show at SOPAC exhaled right along with us. Then the two ladies behind us were saying the same thing. We COULD NOT get over the jam session of the show where Maysa took us on a dance floor thumper journey. We were like, “WHO IZ THIS LADY & WHERE DID OUR REAL MS. MAYSA GO???” Cause whoever this woman is out her right now…, she is KILLING IT!!! LOL!!!

As I’m getting older I DO NOT NJoy the Big Arena shows like I used to in the days of my youth. I love intimate theaters, where you can see the artist, feel the band, absorb the venue & see the audience’s faces. It’s probably because as a musician in a band myself, I know what it takes to simply try to deliver a cohesive show to an audience out in front of you. When artist do shows in intimate places like this, they CANNOT hide behind the technology, the lights, the glitz, or the glamour. They must LQQK you straight in the eye & deliver the goods. Oleta Adams made mention of this & on this night…, these two divas DID NOT just deliver…, they superseded expectations with not one, but two AMAZING PERFORMANCES!!!

The Brother AJ

May The Best Team Be Left Standing..., Welcome 2 NFL Week 1!!!

 

Well Squad After What Seems Like An Eternity…,

I mean I had enuff tyme on July 7th, after 42 years in the game 2 retire, then I graduated college 2 FINALLY cop that Bachelor’s Degree after 23 long years of struggle…, been down 2 Jamaica & back & now the 2023-24 NFL Football Season is upon us. Defending Soopabowl Champion the Kansas City Chiefs kick in the door Thursday night against the up & coming Detroit Lions. Take KC in spite of the absent players…

My NFC East Division goes up against the NFC West on our 4-year cycle as the NFL is just trying to make the road that much more difficult with San Fran, Arizona, Seattle, & the LA Rams on deck. SHUDDER!!!

2 My Man John with all of your high hopes…, your Eagles take on a Patriots team that has been taking on water of late. Last year was a disaster with OC fiasco, so they bring back Bill O’Brien to fix those woes & Mac Jones too. New toy RB Zeke Elliott is in the garage so they’ll bring him out 2 play too. However…, the Eagles are still the Eagles. In spite of losing your OC & DC due 2 your unmitigated success last year, I just CANNOT find myself going against your squad. Until y’all show me that y’all ain’t…, I gotta believe y’all still got everything required to make ANOTHA DEEP PLAYOFF RUN!!! As Jalen Hurts goes..., so goes this Philly Eagles squad. If he continues 2 ascend..., lead with quiet intensity..., & has ZERO FEAR of the bullseye placed upon his City O' Brotherly Love back..., they may just be the 1st team in the division 4 the 1st tyme in like 20 years who will repeat as division champs!!! So sit back & NJoy The Show!!!

Speaking of San Fran they kick the weekend off against a team folks have high hopes for. That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are well coached as Mike Tomlin was a magician last year even though they DID NOT make the playoffs. They settled in rookie QB Kenny Pickett & now he has a few weapons around him mostly WR Pickens to do some damage with. San Fran had the shot heard round the league as they dumped 3^rd pick in the draft QB Trey Lance down to the Cowboys. Ole boy after multiple years in the system COULD NOT beat out incoming QB2 Sam Darnold the Ex-Jet 1^st round pick. If Brock Purdy can do half of what he did last year, I gotta ride with Harv & Rog’s 49er’s to continue 2 be an NFC dominant team in search of that elusive Soopabowl Run!!!

Then on Sunday night in one of the MANY prime tyme games my damn team is featured in…, we open with division foe The Cowboys at Giants Stadium. I hate opening the season against a division foe, I think that should at least game 3 to set the table. Well, fresh off a new $40 million per year contract for QB Danny Boy Jones & smacking RB Saquon Barkley with the franchise tag, then reaching a standard deal for RB’s with this new ceiling that’s been set, we’ll see if NFL Coach Of The Year Brian Daboll can continue the upward trajectory he has my squad on. We still need WR’s, the defense could be better, but this is what we got.

The Cowboys were simply the Cowboys during the off-season with turmoil surrounding offensive lineman Zach Martin who they placated with cash. They have put Dak on notice as Coach McCarthy is now calling the plays after releasing #1 offense in the league play caller OC Kellen Moore (I guess y’all don’t wanna score no more points, huh???) They got some more financial things to clean up in order to sign Micah Parson’s who’s due to be paid 1^st in front of all the others who are on deck & they let Zeke go 2 the Patriots so itz gonna be different with Pollard as RB #1!!!

Dak’s hefty $60 million dollar cap hit next year is why he’s auditioning in front of QB3 Trey Lance who’s been given a lifeline from Owner / GM / Coach / Scout / Ticket Sales / Concessions Worker / Custodian / Uncle Jerry Jones!!! LMAO!!! Call me krazy…, Call me krazy…, Shasta, Ian, & DeVon but I think this is the game my NY Giants will catch these boyz zzzlpin’ on as we secure our 1^st “W” of the season to start this division fight off right. Sherry, Scottie, Kimbo, don't worry as AJ Got Ya!!! I mean did you see what Danny Boy Jones' Duke Blue Devils did 2 Mighty Clemson??? Rinse, Wash, Repeat!!! LMAO!!!

The next night in Prime Tyme is the anointing of the A-A-Ron ERA as QB of the NY Jets. I CANNOT lie, I am JEALOUS as hell because that move alone stole ALL THE THUNDER away from my NY Giants 1nce it happened. Had my azz watching this years “Hard Knocks” & everythang because this is an intriguing experiment we’ve seen recently. We saw TB12 go to Tampa Bay & Matt Stafford go to the Rams & they both won Soopabowls proving the move was everythang it was ‘sposed 2 be. Can the NY Jets repeat that trend??? I Say..., HELL 2 DA NAWH!!! Bcuz they just CANNOT HAVE NICE THANGS!!! But these ARE NOT your same ole Jets. Not since Rex Ryan coached the team have they been in a better position 2 succeed. However…, they are in the Buzz Saw that iz The AFC East & The AFC Conference in particular. Great teams with great QB’s sprinkled all across the country in that conference.

They kick off week 1 against their divisional foe the Buffalo Bills & them boyz gotta be good & ready as they’re tired of all this NY Jets talk of Soopabowl or Bust!!! Hell…, the last tyme I checked…, Buffalo iz STILL in New York State too??? QB Josh Allen is STILL HIM & they have been 2getha a minute figuring out their identity of who they be. The A-A-Ron led Jets are just starting that journey. How-En-Be-So-Ever as I did with my NY Giants…, I am going out on a limb 2 say Team Gang-Green iz gonna light Giants Stadium green, set that place on fire, & give their fans an opening day they’ve been dying for. So 2 Charles / Chuck / “Le Marquis De La Hate” / Miller (just like his idol Uncle Jerry Jones did u see what I did there???) I am taking YOUR NY J-E-T-S, in the season opening upset. OMG!!! DID I JUST DO THAT??? YEAH U DID AJ!!! DAMMNNNN!!!

Quite Simply…, R U (no not Rutgers, but a good win 4 them) READY 4 SOME FOOTBALL?!? WELL LET’S GO GET IT DAMNIT!!!

	2023 NFL FOOTBALL
	FAVORITE	SPREAD	POINTS	UNDERDOG	AJ's PICK 'EM
1	CHIEFS	5.5	51.5	Lions	CHIEFS
2	FALCONS	3.5	39	Panthers	Panthers
3	Jaguars	4.5	45.5	COLTS	Jaguars
4	49ers	2.5	41	STEELERS	49ers
5	Commanders	7	38.5	CARDINALS	Commanders
6	Bengals	2.5	47.5	BROWNS	Bengals
7	VIKINGS	6	45.5	Buccaneers	VIKINGS
8	SAINTS	3	41.5	Titans	SAINTS
9	RAVENS	10	43.5	Texans	RAVENS
10	BEARS	1	43.5	Packers	Packers
11	SEAHAWKS	5.5	45.5	Rams	SEAHAWKS
12	BRONCOS	4	44	Raiders	Raiders
13	Eagles	3.5	45	PATRIOTS	Eagles
14	CHARGERS	2.5	50.5	Dolphins	CHARGERS
15	Cowboys	3.5	46.5	GIANTS	GIANTS
16	Bills	2.5	46.5	JETS	JETS
	Home Team Is In CAPS

 

P.S. 2day Iz 2 Months 2 The Day Since I Broke The Chains & Stepped Off The PS Plantation!!! Free At Last…, Free At Last…, THANK GAWD ALMIGHTY AJ IZ MFK’N FREE AT LAST!!! LOL!!!