Boycotting for Justice in the San Fernando Valley Is Hard

Black owned businesses are few and far in between. The majority of physical businesses you can find here at restaurants, but what I find hard is that for my everyday necessities like groceries, toiletries, and gas... I still have to patronize others. I feel that my black business support is relegated to just restaurants.

I want to be a part of the change, but living in a predominately White/Hispanic area hurts my efforts. Driving in to LA is too much a financial burden on me at this time. I am reaching out for help. If you are boycotting in the San Fernando Valley, how are you keeping all of your black dollars in black businesses when our business ownership here is not diverse?

I feel like a failure or not fully committed because the bulk of my dollars are still going to other people because of geographical and racial barriers. The socio-economic landscape of the valley is definitely up for discussion.

Thanks to a Facebook post I started compiling a list of black businesses that I can patronize. Feedback welcomed.

Remember My Name...my message going into 2015

Beautiful lyrics by the Maestro, Dionne Farris

They Came...

They came with the bible and took the land

They came with Christ and dehumanized the black man

The light being the white man and the black man being an uncivilized animal

The anglo Saxons… Hannibal

Give them your white god

The natives are down trod..den

They came trying to be the saviors for people who didn’t need saving

They came with promises of riches

But the gotten goods came at a price…freedom

They came and thought there would be an easy  gains

World War I World War II Cold War

Now the people are torn…apart

Nationalism stalled out

From Europe to Asia

Other people keep coming in and capitalizing on the land and the people

They came

They keep coming

But when will we keep them out?

Mo Groves (c)

Not So United States of Fallacy

There was a time when someone would ask me how I was doing and my reply would be
"I can't complain." Today I can't truthfully say that. As is the cycle of my adult life, I have suffered a career setback, am kinda, but not in a relationship, stress eating, and the rent is increasing.

Separately these may not seem like a big deal, but it seems that things are compounding and I want nothing more than to catch a break. Why can't I have the career I want, be in a loving, healthy relationship, and be solvent. I long for the years between 2002-2006 when life seemed promising.

That's the fallacy of the American Dream. When you are fresh out of college your future looks bright. 10 years later I am just trying to get by. I put on a brave face, but it's hard.

Dealing with life's setbacks is a skill that it takes time to handle. No one ever masters it. Works in progress in a recession, oppression ridden Not So United States of Fallacy.

We Are Dying

We Are dying

We Are dying

And there is nothing we can do about it til we march

Til we unify

Til we self-love

Blood trickling into the sewers

Blood flowing down the gutters

Blood spewing from every expression of self-hate

Blood

Blood is what we spill

Blood is what we are

Unify brothers and sisters

From every aspect of the African diaspora

Come together in rage, in peace, in strength, in solidarity, in triumph, in victory

Lay down your skinny jeans

Lay down your delusional sense of equality

Lay down your name brand clothes and fancy cars

Lay down your generational separation from the struggle and know

That it never ended. We struggle now, but are too busy trying to kumbaya to see

 For they are the trappings and the preoccupation of an idle people

Lay down your doubt

Lay down your fear

Lay down your complacency and a RISE
For the oppressed won’t be oppressed for long

Black Power! Black Power! Black Power!

Love thy self

Covet thyself

Embrace thyself

Kiss thyself

Beeee thyself

For when the time comes to rise up and fight we will know

We will know by the fire

The fire in the eyes of our people

The time has come

The meek shall inherit the earth

And that time is NOW!

(c) Mo Groves

No Indictment=No Justice=No Love For The DNA From Which All Humanity Came

In a society where not all people are held to the same letter of the law, it hurts my soul. If I killed someone I would be in jail until they figured things out. I would go to trial. As an everyday citizen, I do not have the same rights as police enforcement. As a person of African descent I do not have the same rights, peace of mind, and opportunity as my white counterparts.

Every person who kills another should be handled in the same way and this is a great example of the luxury Darren Wilson was given. If it was a black man there is no way he would have been allowed to chill at home and get married while waiting for murder charges to be handed down.

As much as I wanted things to turn out in our favor, I know our history and I know that the sad fact is that the system is not set up to give us equality. It’s hard to believe in a justice system that rarely if ever gives justice to black people. The deep seeded hatred of whites towards blacks is an oddity that sometimes makes me think is it something demonic and genetic. We are always expected to be peaceful, turn the other cheek, and believe in humanity… when humanity has turned against us.

I fear for my nephews, I fear for my brother, I fear for the man I love in a society where black men are vilified, ignored, and murdered in cold blood and there is no recourse. An oppressed population can only stay peaceful for so long.

No Indictment=No Justice=No Love For The DNA From Which All Humanity Came

Mike Brown's living was not in vain. He is a catalyst for change.

Is It Possible to Find a Black Man Over 30 With No Kids?

I just feel it's really unfair. I have been responsible and not got knocked up. Why is it so hard to find a black man with no kids? The guys I do find with "no kids" are running away from commitment and playing games.

I'm rather apprehensive about having to be motherly towards someone's child. Chime in, what has been your experience with dating men with a child or two?