Retired from CCISD: Harry Williams

I do not follow the news as often as I could, perhaps should but an article jumped out today. Yes, it was on the front page of my coworker's newspaper [Caller Times]. The only black voice left on the school board in these parts has chosen to resign after a few years of hard work.

He has been viewed by some as "that guy"--you know, the troublemaker. The one who chooses to call a spade a spade, bringing others to shame/defense. This latest 'loss' of a prominent black individual in such an important position could cause others to lose hope. But as Eddie Murphy so candidly put it in Life, "I ain't give up no muthafvckin hope!!!"

Nobody wants to live life feeling that their input is not heard, rather, not respected. Choosing to be a leader should be accompanied with the realization that it won't be easy. I'm very sure that Rev. Williams realized that all along, from working with the local NAACP through the past quarter of a century (I'm not sure of his history, could have been longer than that). Fact of the matter is, you can never truly prepare yourself for some of the things that you will encounter when you choose to fight for justice.

Rev. Williams was one of a portion of this community who fought to keep one of the elementary schools open in this city's neglected Northside community. It reopened as a high school, which is a blessing, but it could have taken the route of countless schools in America, following the theme of gentrification. In Huntsville, Alabama, some older citizens are currently fighting to save a less-known building that represented the city's first black high school prior to desegregation. See the cause here. Chances are, some of the aged schools in your areas have gone down, because nobody cared to keep it up. There are people doing things, but they need the support of all of us.

I am rejoicing right now because I know that Mr. Williams' story will not be one of despair. True, he may have left the CCISD but he will now have time to work more closely with the students of the Corpus Christi area, even if he is wanting to work more with the black students. This area is an interesting one (this won't be my first or last time mentioning this) in that the population is actually 5% black. To have a black spokesperson has untold value in this day and age, least much in an area with such racial demographics.

Coming out of the real south, dixie that is, it was somewhat of a challenge to get accustomed, but I was okay since the majority of the population is Hispanic. The caucasian population has second place, but are still a minority, but greed--I mean green--is the real majority. Pretty much like everywhere else you go, regardless of the skin tones. But it's almost like a part of the Hispanic population is going through the same self-neglect as blacks and others have already been through (and still going through on many an instance). When you don't take care of your own and don't build up your kids' self-esteem and only want to go after what others are going after, regardless of the actual need, you end up living a crack-pipe dream.

I call it that because you see a high point and actually think you're living large, when ultimately you've done nothing to progress yourself/family/descendants. You've only done the opposite.

So anyway (my rambling sometimes has all too much control) continue to fight the good fight--whatever it may be. Law school, nursing school, equality, your court case, fundraiser, etc. It is going to be a challenge, else you wouldn't have to work at it. If you have decided to give up, pick up something else...or get up and try again. There never is an end to your accomplishments. I don't care how long it's been since you've done something towards a goal or if you haven't done anything at all. Just get to it, or as Nike made so famous, "Just Do It."

Yeah, I'm talking that smack, and my kitchen is stuck somewhere between Before and After. lol

One a dem days

Man, today was one for my recordbooks. You know the type where everyone at work is looking at you for answers, but you want to simply suggest that they do something with your extremity. Yeah, one a dem days. Unfortunately, I maintained that kind of attitude for part of my day and, therefore, probably didn't give as positive a look as people are used to getting out of me.

My turning point came when I thought about my seriously jacked attitude and its contribution to the solution. I had to remember that God has it all under control already. Somehow I didn't really sweat the small stuff anymore. Yeah, it was really that simple. I still have to take care of that work, but it ain't gettin to me like it was earlier.

Real N-I-double-G-A

Ice Cube ripped a verse some 20 years ago with this here reference to himself. I'm not sure how old I was at the time. I distinctly remember Skate Country in New Orleans East during this "F*ck da Police" timeframe. Yeah (for those who know)....THAT long ago. The movie ATL reminded me of Skate Country, although I don't recall the contests (I wasn't that much of an avid skater, either).

Anyhow I have to fast forward due to quitting time getting further away from me. Although I respect NWA for sharing sentiments of black urban youth and opening up the door for others to speak out on the injustices served in their own locales, I wonder about the effectiveness to date that referring to myself as a nicca has done for me and those around me.

I wondered recently about people's views that using [the N-word] to refer to oneself is actually a form of self-hatred. I sometimes feel that perhaps these individuals have a form of self-hatred themselves. I am not saying that I am referring to them by that name, but they and me should be the same ey? Chris Rock, who is one of my favorite comedians/actors said on a HBO standup special, "I love black people, but I can't stand niggaz!" I have a friend out here that likes to make an equally interesting observation: "I tell you, Niggaz!" I tend to use this statement myself because it's somewhat fitting (and humorous in my own slanted thinking).

As I was saying, I was wondering whether or not black people who are so against the use of the N-word hold some form of self-hatred. I know initial reactions come in the form of, "No, I LOVE MYself!!!" I am not saying that you don't love yourself, but you don't love the rest of us niggaz (who deem ourselves that, nahmean?). Interesting self-revelation: I speak so much (to myself) on separation of people that I don't realize that we self-professed niggaz tend to escalate the separation.


Hmmm, guess I have some thinking to do tonight. Haven't quite touched the house much...and I picked up a new toy.


For modern day Black History news, in a morbid theme however, the founder of the Boys Choir of Harlem died March 23. His name is Walter Turnbull and hailed from Greenville, MS. Now admittedly, I had no clue of the Boys Choir of Harlem, but I will start to look into some of the history and will definitely mark that location (and temporary location if still there...folks read the article) to visit when I get to New York this summer.

Here is another example of using what you have. This is a young black man coming out of Greenville, MS (guess that would have been around the late 50's to the 60's), pursuing Opera of all things and starting this choir in a church basement in Harlem. I suggest you guys put in some research of your own and please leave comments with reference spots. I would appreciate it. This goes to show you that God does a LOT with a little. Also noted in the article is a history of scandalous activity goinz on up in there, but sometimes evil infiltrates very good initiatives.