I'm a Creep

Listen, Feel, Think...

I would love to tell you what I heard when I first listened to this...but first let me tell you that this man was homeless when singing in this video. When I heard "Mustard" sing this for the first time, the thing that stood out to me was this gentleman's emotion. I felt like every time he sang "I'm a creep" he truly believed it, and that my friends, broke my heart.

I've been toying with writing this blog post for a long time now. And...well today, let's just say today I had an experience that made it mandatory for me to share my feelings. At the local supermarket (Time's) I was buying an item for a potluck at work, and decided to buy a pack of bagels too. You see I was hungry still after breakfast and decided I could just leave the extras at work, or whatever....
Well, it turned out being whatever....As I was leaving Times I saw a homeless gentleman looking around for items worth something in the trash. I decided to give him my bagels...in giving them to him I sat and talked with him for a few minutes. That conversation changed me forever.

He was a very proud man, who through a series of unfortunate circumstances ended up homeless. He uses extra money found and given to him for a barber, so he can keep clean shaven and well kept. He doesn't use it for "booze" or drugs, and his "uncleanly-ness" is just as bothersome to him as it might be to you or me. He also stated that the taunts and ridicule of others passing by might not bother some, but it bothers him. Again, my heart broke...he was singing "I'm a creep" in his way.

Now, I understand there are circumstances that cause people to be homeless that might be their fault, it might not be...others don't mind living on the street, while some are just waiting for their opportunity again to leave the street. Either way, I believe, there is no gray area that makes it okay to ridicule and belittle them. They are humans too, just like you and me...and they deserve respect. You might not agree with their life choices, life style or way of life...I not asking that...

In the words of Aretha Franklin; "All I'm askin', is for a little Respect..."

The Local 5 and Dime....

February is Black History Month, as most of you (hopefully) already know! All of us know about Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks, but who knows about the The Greensboro Four ?

On February 1st 1960 4 college freshmen; David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and Ezell Blair Jr. (later known as Apostle Dr. Jibreel Khazan) sat down at the counter of their local 5 and dime to stand up to inequality and injustice, lighting the fire of the Civil Rights Movement in our Nation. (The link above is a wonderful  re-telling of their story)

Watching this video led me to think...How can I honor the memory of Black History Month, every month?
 Every day we have the opportunity to face mini (and not so mini) inequalities and prejudices. How we react to them, how we respond can make all the difference. When Mother Teresa was asked by a supporter how they could help her efforts, she would respond with "Find your own Calcutta". So......my new challenge to myself is to "Find my own 5 and Dime". Translated, basically stand up for what you believe in to make a change in this world before you have to leave it...

If I can attempt this then...hopefully I can make a difference...no matter how small. <3

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!