I am loving the concept of young artists and producers creating shows or web series.  It's a great way to build up an audience/following before someone actually signs them to a major deal.  I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Lenox Avenue, but it's a pretty cool show that I will continue to support.  I like the way that these producers tell a story in an episodes in less than 10 minutes.  It keeps you engaged.  If you wanna check about this series, simply click on the video above and then follow the rest of the series.  If you know of other web series worth viewing, please leave a comment with the information.  Thank you. 

It's been nearly 20 years since my mother passed away back in 1993 and all I can think about is all the love and guidance that she gave.  I appreciate everything that she gave to me and shown me.  I am the man I am today because of GLORIA H. BOYKIN. 

Earlier this week, I took a little time out to watch the interview that Oprah conducted with the amazing spiritual guru Deepak Chopra.  I found myself being in awe with the amount of peace that this man has discovered.  To work on oneself is a constant commitment, but it is encouraging to seek peace more proactively just by listening to his words.  Unfortunately, many people are not at peace with themselves and find it difficult to achieve this type of peace, love for self and love for others.  What I don't understand is why people hold on to turmoil and fight for the position to stay in that space.  I believe if we all genuine deep deeper into spirit, into God, into self, we will all discover the peace and love that he has discovered.  Maybe not as deeply as he has, but a portion of it is better than what I'm seeing today.  No one left a comment on this video on youtube saying "Well...very nice.. now back to reality... back to work!"  Are we really that content with our disposition?  Why do we knock down journeys instead of starting our own?   After watching video, ask yourself some of the questions in this video.  For example, leave a comment and tell us "What is Love?"  "What is peace?"

Speak is a book written by Laurie Anderson. http://madwomanintheforest.com/

I read this book, and then my 14 year old son read it, and we both loved the story and the voice of Melinda. The book is about a young girl who was raped by a boy at a party. She had drank (for the first time) beer at a party was then raped by a boy from the high school she was attending; she called the police and then was bullied at school for calling the police. No one knew about the rape or that this guy kept on harassing her at school. She didn’t speak. Throughout the book she doesn’t speak. As the reader, you don’t realize she isn’t speaking because we know what she is thinking.

We are given a look into her life after the rape and slowly she opens up to us what happened and then we are in the present time of how she survives and fights off bullies, friends, and the school to her to change to be the ideal girl, someone else. She fights to find herself and make peace with what happens. In the journey, she discovers that she is stronger than she imagined and it helps
her to confront her worst nightmare and biggest fight for her life.

What struck me in this story was her survival, her mindset. She does try to share what happened but there was never the ‘right’ moment. I won’t tell you the whole story, because there is more to this tale. For girls and boys who are victimized in school, this story really gives us, and teens a view into the world of being scared. What we do, what happens to us physically and emotionally, when faced in a situation of no control.

When people are victimized, we dare not to speak because when we did things went wrong. We blame ourselves, and the outside (sometimes) shames us, for speaking. We become a freak. In  her walk, she tells us about this ‘being a freak’ and we laugh with her and cry with her. I feel the
author was brave to write a story with so much pain and on a subject, we don’t like to talk about: Rape. Teen rape is a shameful experience that happens to: One in four adolescent girls, and one in six adolescent boys, have been sexually or physically abused or forced to have sex against their will. Reference: http://listen.nycagainstrape.org/learn.html

Books can teach us why we don’t want to speak but also, show us how we can overcome and find our voice again after the storm. The voice of Melinda, the main character, is one that I felt close too, she was just a regular girl, with a regular family trying to fit in, like all teen girls; when this happened her life was turned upside-down. I hope that you will pick up this book, and if you
have friends, that you believe has experienced this, pass the book name on to them.

“Hey, have you heard about “Speak”? I heard it’s a good book, check it out.”
This can happen, and does happen to everyone. No matter the color, class or gender. Don’t be afraid to speak but if you are-- here is a book that will give you voice and a smile to remind you: You are not alone.

I was chatting with a friend today about how open mics are not as inspiring for me as they used to be.  Seems like so many poets are more into "performing" and waiting on standing ovations.  Poems filled with one liners, designed to get you out of your seats, clap your hands and yell "reeeeeeeeewind!"  I guess that's cool sometimes, because I must admit that some of those poems are on point.  I guess my beef with that would be if those are the only type of poems you are writing.  But them again, you write what you feel.  All I'm saying is that I miss the days when I felt spiritually fed going to the open mics.  I remember going to poetry nights with my pen and notebook waiting to be inspired to write.  That hasn't happened in years.  Recently, I was reminded of this feeling, but it wasn't at an open mic.  Ironically, it was on Youtube?  Who Knew?  I started listening to younger poets, brave new voices, and these young people were phenomenal.  I started to write again.  I was inspired to memorize.  I was so inspired by the youth.  It's amazing because most of the time, our children get a bad "rap" and people in my generation think that our children are lost.  But not me.  I believe in these children.  I believe in their expression.  I am very proud to hear their voices so loudly and articulately.  I am so inspired by them.  Thanks for reminding me of my own voice.  Thanks for inspiring my life. 

This is an amazing work of art.  "Strangers, Again."  This is a realistic view of how relationships go in many stages, somethings to the degree where you don't know your mate any more.  It's like two new people appear in two different places.  When I first saw this short film, I posted it on FaceBook and MAN you would not believe the impact it had to many people in relationships.  Many people feel that they are in this place in life now.  But if you are in this place, how do you return from it?  Do you want to return from it?  Do you find yourself in an one sided situation where you don't know if it is best to end it or amend it?  Take a look at this fascinating realistic short film by WongFu Productions and let me know your thoughts.

Welcome to the SV Blog.  So many of my friends who happen to be women, have been raped, molested, abused or all of the above.  As a man, I cannot comprehend the mentality of a person violating someone physically, emotionally and spiritually, committing a malicious act such as rape.   I have several friends who have been gang raped.  I have several friends who have been molested by their fathers, or some other family member.  I have friends who have been abused by their boyfriends and husbands.  It really tears my heart apart to know of these situations and to hear my friends vent and release the horror they have faced.  In the same sense, I salute these women that I know because most of them have been able convert their pain into a message of hope for themselves and others who directly relate to this experience.  "Queen" performed by a Donalja James, is a prime example of taking hurt and transforming it to empowerment.  Take a look at this video and tell me what you think.  Also, do you know someone who has experienced rape, abuse and/or molestation?  More than likely you do.  Let's end these sensely acts.  Let's educate our boys and girls.  Teach the boys to respect women and NEVER violate them.  Teach girls to not tolerate it and to know their worth.  Their worth is not in the hands of another.