Inteen.net

4th of July

2010-07-01T22:35:32Z

By: William Gissentanna, 17 years old

When I was younger, the 4^th of July was a time to pop fire crackers. I remember sneaking off with my cousins during the family cook out to pop them in different places around the neighborhood. As I have gotten older and paid attention in school, my thoughts have drastically changed.

Being from VA, it was drilled in school that VA was the first colony of the present-known USA. I've learned for years that VA is rich with history. A couple of years ago, however, I had some mentors and participated in a slave walk that started to change my thinking. I learned that VA was not just the first colony of the US; it was also the place, in 1619, where the first Africans arrived in America. Not only that, it would later serve as the state that housed the capital of the Confederate States of America (Richmond).

For the first time, I noticed that history was presented in different ways- depending on the teacher and what he or she wanted you to leave with. When I applied this thinking to the forth of July, I began to question why African Americans celebrate it at all--slaves were not freed in 1776 when Americans gained their independence. When we celebrate the 4^th of July, are we celebrating our condition then?

As I share these thoughts with other people, I get a lot of slack. People question my logic, motives, and a host of other things. Sometimes people even ask me where I would rather live. After I say Canada, they question my commitment to this nation. But I am forced to question America's commitment to me.

I live in a neighborhood that's not so good. Many people think its just TV, but when you can't even sit on your own front porch in the evening because you fear there will be a shoot out, you live in a bad neighborhood. When police enforcement units take thirty minutes to respond to a call in your neighborhood, something is not normal. How long should it take for a dispatch to arrive when lives are in danger? Does this happen in all neighborhoods, irrespective of race or class? I doubt it.

The school I attend is not in that great of a neighborhood either, and the public school transportation is terrible. My city has cut down on the number of bus routes in an effort to decrease the number of fights that take place on the bus between the different rivals in the different neighborhoods. But this doesn't fix the problem. Additionally, last year, one of my teachers clearly explained why he couldn't teach us due to the lack of city-funded material needed for the subject. How am I supposed to be prepared to compete with someone for a corporate position went to a school with all the needed materials? Is this commitment? Am I anti-American because I view things differently? Am I the only one who feels this way? I wonder how the people who were stranded after Hurricane Katrina feel about America. I wonder how the people who lost their houses during this recession after the banks and other corporations were bailed out. Was America committed to them?

I don't know about you, but I will not be celebrating the 4^th of July until I believe that America is committed to all of her citizens. Committed or not committed, that is the question. I say no. What do you say?

Making Healthy Choices: Nothing "Just Happens"

2010-06-25T20:33:53Z

By: David Mahan

Do you know why we have crisis hotlines? We have crisis hotlines because a lot of the teens running around their schools and neighborhoods acting grown have actually mis-defined maturity. They think in order to be mature you have to drink, or smoke, be promiscuous or be a thug. They are basically saying, without saying, that in order to be mature you have to make unhealthy choices. And when the inevitable consequences of those choices hit, the crisis hotline is there to help those misguided teens when they get in trouble and when they get scared.

Each year, right around homecoming, prom, and spring break, the phones at the crisis hotlines ring off the hook. Why? Think about it. Most people are running to buy lingerie, rent limousines, and reserve hotel rooms to celebrate what they consider a milestone: getting a date to a school dance or having a week off of school. Then, around 3:30am the same night the phones at the crisis hotlines start ringing off the hook.

"Hello, this is Susie at pregnancy health center, how can I help you?"

"I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I think I might be pregnant and I don't know how it happened!"

Has anybody [ever] seen two naked people skipping down the street, accidentally bump into each other and get pregnant? How, then, can anyone say they don't know how it happened? The truth of the matter is nothing just happens. Many of these young teens who call the hotlines are not saying that they don't understand how it happens. Instead, they mean that they don't understand how their lifestyle choices over the past two years, two weeks or 2 months has lead them to a consequence that they said would never happen to them.

As you discover more and more yourself, your world, and your God to improve yourself, I want to leave you with some good advice.

1. Everything in life has a process. Nothing just happens.

2. You cannot hate the consequence if you love the process that takes you there.

There are consequences to acting off of bad definitions. Sex, something with which many teens experiment, has consequences that include but are not limited to: becoming a teen parent (1 million each year), getting infected with an STD (9 thousand teens per day), having people calling you out of your name, losing a scholarships, breaking family relationships, developing low self-esteem, seeing a decline in grades--

As I travel around the country teaching youth about making healthy choices, I always say, you can't hate the consequence but love the process that takes you there. I encourage you to be committed to seriously think about the results (both good and bad) that may come from the processes you choose to engage in. And if you want good results, commit, above all else, to these 5 takeaways.

Commit to a closer walk with Jesus.
Commit to making healthy choices.
Commit to loving yourself.
Commit to serving Christ by serving others.
Commit to choosing friends who support your commitments.

David Mahan is a husband, father of 4, national youth communicator, and CEO of Frontline Youth Communications.

Gun Violence

2010-05-10T21:44:42Z

by: Reuben Gibson

Gun violence is a very serious matter in the lives and communities of many Americans. All over the country you will hear on the news about a shooting or about someone dying after being shot just about every day. The average number of people killed from gun violence is 83 daily. Five of those 83 people are children, and nine are 19-year-olds. These losses completely change the future that could have been.

One of those little boys could have grown up and became a firefighter who could have saved hundreds of lives. One of the little girls could have grown up to be the very first female president. But now those chances are all gone, all because of gun violence.

Just think about how it makes a mother feel when she finds out that her child didn't survive the travel to the hospital, or that she would end up outliving her child. It would break the mother's heart. Can you imagine the mother of the child that fires the gun? That would completely tear her apart. It would make her think that she was a bad parent, and she would burst into tears seeing her own flesh and blood taken away for life to sit in jail because of a stupid decision to join the crowd and shoot people.

How do you think that this would make the mother feel on Mother's Day? It's suppose to be the day that the children get to honor their mothers. If her child is dead or in prison because of gun violence, then there is nobody to appreciate her. It would leave a hole in her heart that could never be filled. As long as gun violence exists, there will be sorrow in the world.

We are the new generation. We can stop it once and for all. We would say, "I love you, Mom... I will never leave you," and "I promise I won't do anything to hurt you." Now all we have to do is live up to our promise and make the right choices.

One of those choices is not letting your child know there is a gun in the house if you have one when you become a parent. About 40% of Americans have a gun and children in the household. People buy guns for protection in their homes, but little kids may see it as some kind of toy, not really knowing its destructive properties. If they find it, they start getting curious about it. They will try to make it shoot and show it to friends. In the end, they end up accidentally firing it and either killing themselves or killing their friend. Either way, that is a loss of a life, and another mother who lost their child.

Some people may say things like "Nobody would be that dumb," or "I know what I'm doing." But things happen, and once they do, it can't be changed. When someone kills a child or adult or anyone, wouldn't their conscience bother them for the rest of their life about what they did? I mean, what if someone just shot and killed you? How would that affect your friends and family? I think someone who killed someone would be thinking about this for the rest of their life.

This is what my mother thinks about gun violence: "I think gun violence is a tool of destruction that preys on innocent victims in our communities. We lost a family member due to a random shooting inside of a nightclub. Due to black on black crimes, drive-by shootings, and accidental deaths, gun violence will continue to eliminate many young people who may have made a difference in someone else's life." This was a thought by an everyday mother. I'm sure that all mothers feel this way about gun violence, and this just gives another reason to bring it to an end.

In My Opinion: I Am Because We Are

2010-04-26T14:25:01Z

Image via Wikipedia

by Melanie Chambliss

I am an American by birth and by culture. Having spent all my life in "the land of the free" where everyone fights to grab his or her own slice of the American pie, I was only concerned with what I thought and wanted. In my opinion, the individual mattered most. That is, until I traveled abroad. In Senegal, the community is more important than the individual, and their culture benefits in many ways from this idea. In the "individual vs. community" debate, almost everyone wins when the community wins. How did I come to this conclusion? Well, it was a relatively short journey.

The year after I graduated from college I decided to teach in Dakar, Senegal. My choice was influenced by personal interests in travel, the opportunity to learn a new language, and the availability of the program. In preparation for my year abroad, I had underestimated the subtlety of the cultural differences. Community, while it exists in America, has a stronger resonance in Senegalese culture, and the lesson we can derive from it as Christians is the importance of accountability.

On my first day, I did not even get past the informal introductions without being confronted with how cultures varied. "Good morning, my name is Bamba Sy," one student in the classroom would begin. "Bambasy?" I would repeat as rapidly as the student had said it. "My name is Oumar Cheikh," said a student in the hallway, and I'd echo, "Oumarcheikh?" with my American accent. After a few days, I realized that when teachers asked me my name in school, I'd commonly give a first-name-only response. But in Senegal that was not the custom. My students had been saying their first and last names so closely together that, as someone unfamiliar with the traditional importance of community, I could not hear the distinction. The first name is nothing without the last name in Senegal because the last name ties you to a larger family history. The community expects every individual to give reverence to the family ties that surround them. Thus, the students feel accountable to their family, and their behavior often reflects a desire not to shame their community.

For example, the most anxious I ever saw my seventh grade English class was on what seemed like an ordinary Monday. The group of usually reserved students might have been disturbed by a big test or the upcoming talent show, but that was not the case that day. As it happened, a teacher contacted their parents because they had performed poorly on a test, and that notice sent my students into a spiral. Palms sweating, fidgeting in their seats, they waited to be called out of the room one by one as their parents arrived. My seventh graders were not alone in this reaction. Typically students who were sent to the administration would return from the office with a down-turned, remorseful expression after only the threat of family involvement. Both students and teachers benefited from a calmer learning environment than one sees in many American schools. Iit was all because of the children's sense of accountability to their community.

My experience in Senegal taught me the value of seeing myself as more than an individual. My actions reflect my family and the values that they have instilled in me. I take that to heart as a Christian because when the world sees me, it should be more than just Melanie. They should see God in me.

Dorothy Height

2010-04-23T22:08:33Z

Image by now_photos via Flickr

Doro thy Height, a leading female voice of the 1960s civil rights movement and a participant in historic marches with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, died on April 20th at age 98. She led the National Council of Negro Wo men for 40 years and continued to speak out on civil rights issues into her 90s.

According to the Associated Press, President Obama called her "the godmother of the civil rights movement" and a hero to many Americans. Obama said in a statement that Height was the only woman at the highest level of the civil rights movement and witnessed "every march and milestone along the way."

Have you heard of Dorothy Height? If not, be sure to research about her life. We have lost a giant. Let us cherish her memory and keep her legacy alive.

Knowledge from Ghana, West Africa

2010-04-23T14:25:28Z

Image via Wikipedia

by: Jessica Newman (18 yrs old, 12th grade)

I believe that when a person is born, he or she is dealt a set of cards. Some people have a good hand; others are dealt a bad hand. Regardless of what type of hand people are dealt, a game is won or lost based on how well a hand is played. Someone with the good hand, for instance, can play a bad game. In the same way, someone with a bad hand can play a good game.

I recently traveled to Ghana, West Africa. Upon observing some of the differences between the cultures of Ghana and America, I have concluded that in America, for the most part, people are dealt a good hand, but play a bad game.

There is no doubt that America is the land of opportunity. You can see this by the number of people coming over here from less-privileged countries seeking a better life for themselves and their families. They recognize that Americans have better hands. But they are also coming to a land with many problems that result from playing a bad game.

Not everything in America is great. Historically, Americans have misused and abused people. The explorers who first settled in America took the land of others and called it their own. They took Black people from their homeland, brought them to America, and treated them as less than human during the era of slavery. Presently, living in America in Chicago, Illinois, I have seen how Americans continue to play bad games with good hands. I have witnessed how adults misuse their power of educating. I have friends who have had someone they know and love die from gun violence. I know many women who cannot walk down the street on a beautiful day without being inappropriately approached. I have seen sisters and brothers mistreat their younger siblings. And I am embarrassed to say that I have seen women in music videos with too few clothes on as men rap about sex, money, and drugs. Youth in America who soak in worldly values are more likely to play a bad hand as well. This can change if we read our Bible and go to church.

In Ghana, West Africa, I saw a lot of differences between their culture and American culture. The most significant difference I noticed is the seemingly bad hand they've been dealt. At first, I felt blessed to live in America, but as I became aware of how they played a good game, I started to appreciate their different way of living.

Ghana, West Africa, is a country of dignity despite the hardships they face currently and those they faced in the past. The women in Ghana are fully clothed. Men respect the women and children. The boys are studying and helping their families. Girls hold their sisters on their backs and food on her head as they walk. I did not see a lot of guys coming up to girls and talking to them or touching them inappropriately. Females were acknowledged as beautiful, not sexy.

Although Ghana is a poor country, the thing that I admired about Ghana is that the youth are still praying. Some remote parts of Ghana still have no electricity. Technology is not as available as it is in America. Opportunities are not as abundant. Yes, many Ghanaians were dealt a bad hand resulting from the slave trade and colonization; however, they are playing a good game. Ghana is a country of pride and dignity. They are pressing to triumph over their hardships. Even though the government currently owns the schools, the students are still praying and trying to find ways to make their villages and their country a beautiful home and society. Their youth are not picking up guns and tearing down the communities. They are trying to prosper in bad schools and fewer resources. This is not only impressive; it is admirable. I think many youth living in America can learn from our brothers and sisters across the ocean in Africa. In Ghana, I learned to play a good game at life no matter what kind of hand I was dealt. I will be successful not only for my family, my community, and myself, but for the world.

Building a Healthier You

2010-04-06T21:00:25Z

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By Janet Grier

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 1:2, KJV).

You're probably hearing a lot of people saying they want to get in shape for the summer. As a matter of fact, you may have said it your self. But just because you don't have to wear a swimsuit in front of your friends, it doesn't mean that you don't have to eat right or exercise daily. Healthy habits should not change with the seasons; they should be a consistent lifestyle.

Easier said than done, right? Let's be realistic. Convincing yourself that you need to optimize your health just for the sake of living a longer and more comfortable life sounds like a monster task. It's hard to pass a fast food restaurant when you are really hungry. It's hard to stop eating when there's plenty of food left over and you don't have the feeling that you're full. It's hard to exercise every day, especially with all the work you have to do; believe me, I understand. But no one said it would be easy. I will guarantee, however, that it will be worth it. If you want to start a consistent healthy lifestyle, don't wait another day. Here are eight steps to get you going.

1. Decide to care for your health. You must make a choice to live a healthy lifestyle. Until you make up in your mind to do so, you will continue to change with the seasons. It shouldn't take someone you know and love to die from health complications for you to decide to be healthier. Neither should it take you to be diagnosed with a disorder to force you to change your habits. Choose health so you can breathe easily, think clearly, and just plain feel better.

2. Drink life. Your body needs water and fresh, unpasteurized fruit and vegetable juices. How much you need depends on your age, current weight, activity level, metabolism, and even climate. The average is eight cups of water and two cups of fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

Why not just grab a half gallon of juice from the grocery store? Why do we need unpasteurized? Pasteurization is the process of heating liquids to destroy viruses, bacteria, and harmful organisms. What you get is juice that really isn't as pure as it could be if it came straight from the fruit or vegetable, which means the vitamins and minerals are reduced.

3. Eat life. Eat raw, living fruits and vegetables every day. When foods are cooked, their natural enzymes are killed, and some of the fibers in the foods are broken down. Cooking (and especially overcooking) foods can reduce the amount of vitamins and minerals.

4. Eat fewer animal products. That's right; meats and dairy products. They have no fiber, and they are the primary means that we ingest cholesterol.

5. Break addictions. Avoid smoking; reduce or eliminate caffeine, salt, and sugar. They all make your body systems work harder than they have to and cause strain on these systems.

6. Exercise. Do whatever you want to do that gets your heart rate up. Three times a week for twenty minutes per session will help. Check with your health care provider if there are physical challenges you have to work with.

7. Rest Trust God, don't worry, get enough sleep, relax your mind, remove or minimize stress, and do something enjoyable. Resting doesn't always mean logging more sleep hours. Take yourself away from your routines, even if it is for 15 minutes a day. Shut the phone, television, and radio off. Be still.

8. Cleanse your environment Treat yourself kindly by using natural products on your body and in your home. Man-made chemicals are all around us--in our foods, in the products we use, and even in the air we breathe. Be aware of them and try to avoid as many as you can.

Optimizing health can be done if you take small steps or huge leaps. Decisions have to be made because everything we eat, anything we spray, or even how long we sit will affect our health over time. Do research. Make sure there are different colors of food on your plate every day (if it's all one color, you're missing some nutrition). Be active. Use what God gave you, and don't settle for what's easy. You are worth the time and effort that it takes to be healthier.

Living with Drama

2010-03-15T18:30:07Z

by: Bryan Patterson

What do you think about this poem? Can you relate? What advice would you give the boy who lives with drama? Share your thoughts with us!

A young boy wakes up in a house full of corruption

His family's always fighting--arguing and cursin'

He tries his best--the problem to find

But the more he tries, the more he runs out of time

So he leaves to go to school, his heart heavy with grief
Problems at home, and the kid who got beef

So for him not to loose all of his teeth

He's got to stand back--at least 30 feet

Problems in the classroom

Didn't study for the test he had to take

The boy begins to think

I need to take a break

What's my reasoning for being in school?
Might as well be like the dropouts--they seem cool

Is there a really a future in this for myself?

Head down on his knees--he's not feeling like himself

Wednesday night prayer meeting

The young boy heads off to church

He really doesn't want to because he's feeling really hurt

He goes to the sanctuary--everyone looks up starin'

He feels very heavy pain inside but it seems that no one's carin'

He's looking for answers

He's looking for peace

But all he finds is hypocrisy

Black History Month

2010-02-02T20:37:38Z

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by Michael Myles

In recent years, I've heard a lot of talk about the future of Black History Month-- whether it's still needed, whether it unites or divides, whether it should be combined with American History. While I understand how this topic is intriguing to adults, I don't think they should make the final decision. I strongly believe that younger people, since we are the future and will be affected the most by the decision, should have a strong say in what the future of Black History Month looks like. Personally, I cast my vote in favor of keeping it separate.

Last year, in my junior year of high school, I was required to take US History. During the entire course, we never discussed anything about the contributions of African Americans- until February. And when February came, we talked about everything! (And I do mean EVERYTHING!) We talked about slavery, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Black inventors, African American Women, and even African American Olympians. There is no doubt that this was the part of the class that I paid the most attention to, but I felt as though the teacher tried to cover too much information in too short a time. In a way, I wished that the information would have been spread out throughout the entire course, and not just for that month; but then I thought that I wouldn't have learned as much.

Since grammar school, February has been the only time where I have formally learned about my history. And if there wasn't Black History Month, I don't know when I would have learned it. If it is taken away in the future, or combined with American History, I fear that Black children will never formally learn about their history. This is important to me because we need to know our roots. It is good for us to remember what our forefathers have been through so we can see what our ancestors gave us. When I learned how many Africans made something out of their lives despite how badly they were treated, I felt proud to be Black.

There may be those who disagree with me, but I honestly believe that the races are not treated equally in America- even today. I feel that Black people have to work harder to get opportunities. I remember my parents making our family watch a special. I have forgotten what is was, but I never forgot this statistic. It's probably worse now with the economy like is it and all, but then it was: If two men, one white and the other Black, walk into a corporate office looking for a job and both were equally qualified, 85 percent of the time, the white man will get the job because he is white.

And as harsh as it may sound, things are this way, in my opinion, because of racism. I think that racism still exists in America. No, white people in white sheets are not burning crosses in my front yard, but there is inequality in the sense that Blacks don't get the same privileges as others. I could tell you stories my parents and grandparents told me, but I will tell you a story that I experienced personally.

One time, a couple of my friends and I were at the grocery store buying a lot of things. As we were checking out, we were struggling to get all our bags out of the store. I remember thinking that it was weird that they did not ask to see if we needed assistance as they usually do. I just brushed if off as a change in policy. But when the white woman behind us was asked, I knew something was fishy.

As a Christian teen, I pray that things get better in the world. I believe that God doesn't see color. He looks at the soul. He looks on the inside and not the outside. This is what I try to do, but it is hard sometimes when it seems that everyone else is not.

A Dream Deferred?

2010-01-19T17:16:41Z

Martin Luther King, Jr. via last.fm

By Quenton Keatts

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a legend. I especially esteem the memory and ministry of Dr. King because learning about him made me feel proud of my history and heritage. Studying his life "had me feeling like Black was the thing to be" in the words of the late, great Tupac Shakur.¹

As we celebrate the legacy of Dr. King this month, we also celebrate his contributions to the progress of the Black race in the 1960s. Unquestionably, we have made great advancements, but have we arrived? Has Dr. King's dream of racial harmony and equality been realized? Is the struggle over? I insist that the answer to all of these questions is no!

Some people will argue that Barack Obama's inauguration one day after the 2009 King Holiday was a symbol that Dr. King's dream had finally come true. But I disagree. There is a difference between the fulfillment of a dream and the furtherance of a dream. There is a distinction between the arrival of a people and the advancement of a people. Have we come a long way? Sure. Have we arrived? No. Are African American people living under better conditions now than we were a half a century ago? Yes. But do race, class, and gender still play a role in cases of discrimination in America today? If King were alive today, I don't think anyone would be telling him that his dream has been realized. In fact, I think he would still be fighting for justice and equality.

Think about the conditions of the Black community. What would King say about senseless murders in our communities? What would he say about Black on Black crime? What would he say about the number of single parent homes? What would he say about the divorce rate? Drug infested ghettos? Teenage pregnancies? The increasing dropout rate among high school boys? What would he say about racism, discrimination, police brutality, and racial profiling? I dare say that Dr. King would not be pleased with the state of the Black community today. As long as there are discriminatory practices in higher education and corporations, the dream has not been realized. As long as there is overcrowding in highly concentrated urban schools, the dream has not been realized. Until young teens understand that there are consequences to their actions, whether its sexual intercourse, drug use, gang activity, or wasted opportunities, the dream has not been realized. When this nation is more concerned with foreign policy than fighting poverty in our own backyard, the dream has not been realized. If our nation is more concerned with incarceration than education, the fulfillment of King's dream a long ways off in the distance.

I challenge you to do your part in bringing King's dream to fulfillment. Ask the questions that he would ask and to do the things that he would do. Become the leader that you admire in him. Receive the baton of leadership and represent the people who need you the most: the disadvantaged, the underprivileged, and the needy. I am going to commit myself to doing the same thing, but don't wait for me to do it. I may not make it. Don't wait for King to come back, because it's not going to happen. You must do it. And you must start today and start where you are. Look around you. See what changes you can make in your community. See how you can represent the voiceless. Because if you don't do it, who will? If you don't do something, what will become of our communities? What will become of us?

Setting Goals

2009-12-31T17:42:08Z

By: Willie Townes

Where do you see yourself in two years? What about five years? Do you have a detailed plan for achieving these goals? As a teen, it's easy to live from day to day without thinking about the specific steps you need to take to reach your future goals successfully. Many of you may be so bogged down with trying to balance work with school, responsibilities at a job, and expectations from parents that you think there is no time left in the day to plan. But if you are going to be successful, you must make time to think about where you want to go, and create a map that will take you there. As a Christian, keep in mind that it is not enough for you to simply implement a plan you thought of on your own. Be sure to pray as you plan your future. Below, find three steps to help you achieve the resolutions you set for the New Year and the plans you make for your future.

1. Set a specific goal

2. Write the goal

3. Making necessary adjustments to reach the goal.

]]> Set a Specific Goal

Can you imagine just getting in the car and driving without thinking about where you are going? I've done it before. It wastes a lot of time. Determining the destination before the trip begins allows you to drive with purpose. In the same way, setting a goal for your future focuses your attention to a specific end and gives meaning to the strides you take to get there. So think long and hard about where you want to end up, and be specific. Generalities like, "I want to help people" are good statements, but they are too general.

Write the Goal

As God reveals His plans for your life to you, write them down. Writing goals helps you to organize your thoughts and direct your energy so you can achieve your maximum potential. Writing your goals will force you to break the goals down into practical steps. It is helpful to place these written goals in an area that is easily accessible. This way, you will be able to find it when you need to refer to it. And, if you post it somewhere where you will see it daily, it will help you internalize it. Habakkuk 2:2 supports this step. "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." God wanted the vision to be so clear and available to read that even quick reminders of where God plans to take us will help us to stay on the right path.

Make Necessary Adjustments to Reach the Goal

You may discover that in addition to making adjustments to your original goal, you may have to also make personal adjustments to your behavior. Identify the habits in your life that keep you from reaching your goals. It is important that you constantly look within to find that which is not like God and remove it. As pointed out in James' analogy of the forgetful hearer who is like a man who looks into the mirror, goes off, and then forgets what he looks like, so too is the person who reviews their goals, sees the adjustments that need to be made in order to reach their goals, and never makes them. Reviewing your goals is very much like looking at yourself in the mirror, with the difference being the mirror reflecting what you will look like in the future. Making necessary adjustments from time to time will help ensure that the image you see becomes a reality.

Removing the junk from your life will help you be successful in accomplishing your goals. It will also allow you to hear more clearly from God concerning the direction He has for your life.

Happy New Year!

Reflections of Christmas Past and Present

2009-12-15T05:32:32Z

By Dyamond Pruitt

I never left milk and cookies out for Santa Claus... I never stayed up late to hear Rudolph on the roof... and I never begged my parents to put out the fire so Santa wouldn't burn his buns when he came down my chimney... LOL! But it wasn't that I didn't believe in him, because I did (at least for the first five years of my life). Thinking back though, I don't remember my parents teaching me about Santa Claus. I guess I believed in him because of all the songs I sang in preschool like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and all the cartoons I watched during the Christmas season. I was only 4 or 5 when my older friends and cousins told me he wasn't real.

]]> Between the ages of 6 and 10, I adopted the commercial meaning of Christmas. I honestly didn't know what the meaning of Christmas was. I thought it was a time when children would get presents. I can still remember the feeling I used to get when I would see a box wrapped in shiny paper with a bow in the center. Sometimes, my parents would have to keep me from opening other people's presents.

As I have gotten older, I have come a long way in my thoughts about Christmas. It is still my favorite holiday, and I still get that warm and fuzzy feeling when I see a present with my name on it, but I know now that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus.

Recently, there have been times when I have questioned some of the things I have learned. One time, about a year ago, after watching a program on the History Channel, I got a little confused. I started to question if it really possible for a virgin to become pregnant. Was Jesus really God in the flesh? I asked my parents and pastor about these things and they encouraged me to keep my faith. Since then, I have come to understand that I will always have questions, but for now, I have decided to go with what my faith has taught me--all things are possible with God! And though I may not understand His thoughts or His ways, I will not lean to my own understanding; I will trust Him in all that I do.

I hope the Christmas season brings you as much joy as it brings me. And always remember: Jesus is the reason for the season!

Disney's First Black Princess

2009-12-14T16:39:55Z

Months before the film officially hit theaters, black women everywhere were already referring to Princess Tiana of Disney's The Princess and the Frog like her last name was Obama. That's how momentous the arrival of Disney's first black princess felt to us. And while we could compare this landmark animated character to the decade's other cultural trailblazer, I think Tiana is less President Barack Obama and more Will Smith. I imagine that somewhere in the land of happily ever after, she's saying to Cinderella, tiara fully cocked to the side while sliding on a pair of black Ray Bans like Smith in Men in Black, "You know the difference between you and me? I make this look good."

]]> I'll admit I went to The Princess and the Frog fist-clenched, fully prepared to hate it based on the speculative criticism of multiple writers over the past year leading up to the film's release and my own angst about the cartoon. I've waited 26 years to see myself reflected onscreen by Disney, longing to break through the negative self-image the lack of a black princess has reinforced in my life. With only Oprah and a few others to latch onto as a high-profile black woman in America who is the star of the show, I've often thrown myself into playing the role of strong, supportive best friend or faithful employee rather than the leading lady in my own life. Black women are never leading ladies; that plotline isn't available to us. We don't get the prince or live happily ever after; we don't get swept up in fairytales. At least that's the implied message Hollywood traditionally has sent to us.

And that's why I was anxious going into a special New York screening of The Princess and the Frog. For me, there was a lot riding on the movie's success. But ten minutes in, I was hooked, squealing with delight between handfuls of popcorn and elbowing past 6-year-olds to take a photo with the lovely actress dressed up as Princess Tiana after the screening.

You see, Tiana is a not only a black princess -- she's a necessary princess who will likely serve as an inspiring heroine for countless young girls for years to come.

That said, I still feel some of the shots against the film, like those outlined by EEW Magazine, are completely valid. The Creole-speaking firefly may indeed perpetuate negative stereotypes of uneducated black southerners. The voodoo spiritual elements of The Princess and the Frog's villain are much darker and more realistic than other Disney bad guys. I was particularly surprised by the strong sexual innuendos from the philandering prince and the "bosomy" women of the movie. But ironically, the lack of an African American prince didn't bother me, and that was my primary criticism of the film prior to seeing it. In retrospect, given how sleazy and morally askew this handsome prince was drawn, I'm glad he wasn't black. We don't need another negative image of black males.

However, despite its failings, The Princess and the Frog will quickly be added to the cartoon canon alongside other greats like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. The movie is fun, with bold characters, colorful music, and flawless pacing. And if the giggles and mile-wide smiles from the little girls I saw leaving the theater are any indication, it's a delight for kids to watch.

And while the movie will undoubtedly hold a specially nuanced appeal for black children who will laugh over references to cousin Pookie and the grandma firefly who's light goes out like a hearing aid, it should be noted that this film is relatable to all children, whether urban or suburban. This isn't to say I want to set aside Tiana's ethnicity as a Variety reviewer suggested, saying that The Princess and the Frog "revolves around a lovely maiden who, headstrong though she may be, is in the end so blandly honorable that her ethnicity is pretty much beside the point." I disagree -- her ethnicity is exactly the point.

Imbued with rich African American cultural values, Princess Tiana redefines what it means to be a princess. There'll be no waiting for a prince to break the spell or a plump godmother to fulfill her dreams. Tiana is a strong black woman: responsible, sassy, and dedicated to her family. Our princess is fiercely independent. And it's this aspect of the movie that will charm black female adults who have longed to see a princess they can relate to grace the screen. Tiana reflects the honor and pressure felt by black women to fulfill the dreams of their family, safeguard their culture, and place the needs of others before their own.

And it's on this point that Disney should be applauded. Historically, Disney has done well to take the cultural constraints placed on children, particularly girls, and release the locks. Cinderella proved that a poor background and step-family drama couldn't hold her back from her dreams. Belle (of Beauty and Beast) learned looks don't count in matters of the heart. And Snow White learned hope could come alive by a single kiss. And now Tiana comes at a critical point in the evolution of black culture to teach us that the dreams of our ancestors should empower, not burden us, as all viewers are reminded to leap into the joy and fantasy of life in the midst of responsibility.

Smart, beautiful, modern, and full of class, Princess Tiana wears her tiara well.

Film images courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
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By Chanel Graham, a New York-based writer and UrbanFaith's Pop Culture Editor.

Non-News Is Bad News

2009-12-04T00:43:39Z

Photo by Keith Allison

By Tim Lee, COMMENTARY

The Tiger Woods scandal is just one more example of how the media use irrelevant gossip and slanted opinion to distract us from what really matters.

]]> Sex isn't the only thing that sells; so do lies, rumors, and gossip. But these do more than sell merchandise. When they dominate our television news reports, online news flashes, and newspaper/ magazine headlines, they distract, divert attention, and keep our thoughts in the gutter.

I remember when I used to respect the news. I used to think that reporters reported trustworthy facts. I used to think that the majority of the information on the 5:30 news was meaningful and relevant. While I do not know if my memory serves me correctly or if I was just naïve as a youth, I do know that I believe very little of what I hear from the news media today. As a matter of fact, much of what I hear I don't even categorize as news at all. Take the Tiger Woods coverage, for instance.

Winning his first Masters in 1997 was newsworthy. So was his record-breaking assent to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings only 42 weeks after becoming a professional. And holding one of the greatest sustained periods of dominance in the history of men's golf is newsworthy. But Tiger Woods' recent "scandal" is not news.

The circumstances that caused his car accident a week ago or whether or not he had an extramarital relationship is none of our business, and it doesn't take an MBA student to know that. Why, then, do news reporters and their producers insist on giving the American people information that is meaningless and irrelevant to our everyday lives?

Well, of course ratings and money have something to do with it. But let's suppose for a moment that the men and women who work in media have enough self-respect to truly believe what they're doing is more important than ratings and dollars. If so, either they really believe their gossip-laden cover stories impact our day-to-day living, or they are saturating us with information about nonsensical elementary matters to keep us ignorant of information they don't want us to know about. My suspicion is the latter.

Do people really care what celebrities are wearing when they are not in the spotlight, who they are sleeping with, or who doesn't pay their parking tickets? While there may be a modicum of curiosity, I don't think people care to the degree that they want to have these questions answered in the lead stories on the nightly news -- especially when their sons and daughters and friends and loved ones are being deployed to the Middle East to fight in wars for reasons that too few people can fluently articulate, and especially when they are living in an economy where jobs and homes are being lost faster than New Jersey Nets basketball games.

I am not saying that the news should be filled with stories that scare us (which has been done too). I am, however, saying that as a viewing public, we should look at news media with more critical eyes. Some guiding suggestions:

• Listen to what the reporters are saying

• Listen to what they are not saying

• Notice the amount of time news media spend on various subjects and question their reasons and judgment

• Ask why the reports sound so similar from news station to news station

• Become aware of how you feel after watching the news and how that impacts your day

• Note how stories are spun to shape your opinion -- everything from the reporter's tone and facial expression, to language and visual images

Have you noticed how many successful Black men have been targeted in recent events in the news? Black men have always been treated harshly and unfairly in the media, but now even our successful role models are under attack. Tiger Woods (guilty or innocent) is not the first. Remember how Henry Louis Gates was treated when he responded to an unjust arrest? How Michael Jackson was re-scandalized after his death? How Michael Jordan was criticized for his Hall of Fame speech? And how even Barack Obama was assailed for something as innocuous as a "stay in school" speech to American students?

Something is going on, and we can't wait for news editors and producers to tell us what it is. We have to be skeptical about what we hear. We have to open our eyes. We have to read between the lines. We have to have eyes to see what is being deliberately hidden. And when we do, we must act swiftly to expose the darkness with light. ______________________________________________________________________

Tim Lee is the editor of Youth and Teen Resources for Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI). He is also the youth minister at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago and the founder of One Black Man, a leadership consulting firm that teaches self-confidence, leadership development, and Black history to Black boys between the ages of 13 and 18. Lee also hosts Youth Talk Back, a television segment of the International Sunday School Broadcast, founded by Rev. Clay Evans of Chicago. In his free time, Lee actively participates as a member of the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Tiger Woods photo by Jim Epler from Wikipedia. Related Post: Talking About Tiger.

Faith, Family, and Football

2009-12-03T17:03:05Z

Part drama, part sports flick, part urban exposé, The Blind Side tells the inspiring true story of NFL star Michael Oher and the white family who transformed his life -- and had theirs transformed as a result.

]]> Ever since I saw the trailer for The Blind Side a few months ago, I've been eagerly anticipating its release but had a couple concerns. Could Sandra Bullock handle a more dramatic role? Could this film portray an inspiring true story without feeling like the Hallmark Channel's movie of the week? Fortunately, I saw an advanced screening of the film and was not disappointed.

Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis, this film brings to life the true and triumphant story of pro football player Michael Oher. As a black teen on the streets of Memphis, Michael is taken in by the Tuohys, a white and wealthy Christian family that helps him achieve success both academically and athletically.

Lewis's book weaves Oher's inspiring story together with a sober look at the college sports machine, tactical and economic trends in the NFL game, and the strange serendipity that often determines who makes it and who doesn't. The film's primary concern is the relationship between Oher and the Tuohy family.

Bullock's feisty performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy is one of her best, if not the best of her career to date (her dramatic turn in Crash was solid, but brief). It truly is an achievement on her part. She has noticeably grown as an actress in this role and takes her craft to a new level. Is it Oscar-worthy? Maybe. Initially it doesn't feel like an artsy, Oscar-caliber performance, but it's very good. The rest of the cast, which includes Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, is solid. Newcomers Quinton Aaron (who plays Michael) and Jae Head (who plays the youngest Tuohy child, S.J.) hold their own and provide some of the film's most humorous moments with their brotherly rapport.

Unlike sports movies such as Remember the Titans or Facing the Giants, this film does not rely heavily on game-time action. Instead, it's an entertaining mix of sports, drama, and comedy. Relationships and values, along with the importance of education, are key themes.

The film's sentiments and heartfelt moments feel natural and believable. Writer-director John Lee Hancock's script uses Christian themes without coming across as preachy. Instead, he focuses on the actions of the characters and their motivations.

Unfortunately, toward the end of the film, it seems Hancock is uncertain about how and where he should actually conclude the story. This unevenness reflects the film's sometimes schizophrenic mood swings: Is it a light family drama, an inspirational sports flick, or a gritty look at inner-city poverty and dysfunction? Of course, there's no reason why the movie shouldn't aspire to be all of these things, and The Blind Side pulls it off most of the time. However, the film's latter portion would've benefited from a tighter, more focused narrative.

Still, The Blind Side's virtues far outweigh any of its narrative flaws. I especially enjoyed the concepts of faith and mission throughout the film. Several characters do things in the name of "Christian duty," but not all are truly sincere. Even when intentions are pure, outsiders question the motives of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, which leads them to doubt themselves. Though I wish this theme would've been developed more throughout the entire storyline, I'm glad it was addressed because it is a very relatable and real concern that many of us experience in our efforts to live out our faith by giving and serving others.

Some may initially write this off as another "white family saves the day for a black kid" story, but the film isn't really about that. Sure, this is technically one aspect of the movie, but what makes this story different is that it really happened. The Blind Side not only shows how the Tuohy family was a blessing to Michael, but how Michael was a blessing to the Tuohys.

Michael Oher is currently a star right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. And no matter what NFL team you ordinarily support, believe me, it will be hard for you to root against Oher once you've seen this movie. The Blind Side hits theaters nationwide this weekend, and I highly recommend it. It's funny, uplifting, and thoughtful on many levels -- a definite must-see during this Thanksgiving season. ___________________________________________________________________

The Blind Side: Rated PG-13, for one scene involving brief violence, drug, and sexual references. There's some minor language, but it's usually rebuked by characters within the film; 128 minutes long. Opens: Friday, Nov. 20 Released by: Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros. Written and Directed by: John Lee Hancock Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates