Train Ride

I had to come to South Carolina for two funerals this week. I took Amtrak down which is a 13 1/2 hour ride. This is a very long ride normally but I had my 6year old hyper son with me. I couldn't get any rest with him jumping around me and asking me a million and one questions lol. He is very inquisitive and will drive you crazy when you are trying to rest. The trip down was uneventful and cool otherwise

New York New York

What's up world I have been watching the playoffs this weekend but it has been bittersweet. My hometown Knicks aren't playing and the way that stuff is going we won't be in the playoffs for a while. Coaching in the NBA is crazy I see coach's leave team after team but nobody questions their loyalty and committment. As they talk about the candidates for the Knicks head coaching job they bring up Jeff Van Gundy. He is a quitter. He quit on the Knicks when he was last here so I don't know why they wpild be even considering him for another job. It is my personal opinion that either Patrick Ewing or Mark Jackson should be given the job. Ewing has been an assistant coach for quite some time since he retired but he has worked with two of the most dominant big men in the league, Yao Ming and Dwight Howard. After working with Patrick Ewing both Yao and Dwight have put up numbers better than previous years. It goes to show that he can devevlop players especially big men. He would be the teacher that Eddie Curry needs to make him an All Star. Mark Jackson doesn't have any experience but he is eager and has the desire to make his hometown team a winner. But the way things are going they won't give them the job but they'll give it to a high priced name who won't win. What can you expect from a Presid3nt of Basketball who hasn't won anything ever in Donnie Walsh

The Epiphany of Black Pipe - Prophets of Rage

The spoken or written word wields immense power. It is one of the most powerful mediums in the world. So when words are spoken or read people tend to believe in them. That is why preachers, entertainers, athletes, spokespeople, and public officials have so much power; they are able to use words for the benefit. Something as powerful as words are also manipulated to the benefit of the user so that they can influence others to do for them what they are unable to do, whether it is to protest, hurt, attack, and build up. These so called prophets do not wield their power properly. It is the job of a prophet to lead his people to the promise land, whether their idea of the promise land is wealth, healthy living, closer to god, or material items. The prophet leads his people. There are many false prophets walking this earth, you hear them on the radio, see them on TV, you can recite every word that they say in their rhymes or songs, they are the one’s your kids wish to emulate no matter what their value system is. It is this power that should be used for a higher purpose but is not. Remember Kanye West said it best “We Rappers are role models. We rap we don’t think”. There could never be a better line said about what rappers do, they don’t think they refuse to utilize their influence for something positive and groundbreaking the uplifting of their people.
I grew up during a time and era when there were movements and organizations that were about uplifting the people. Shit that’s what rap first started out as the news channel of the hood. They talked about what was going on in the hood at the time, from clothes, to sports, police brutality, homelessness, and drugs. It wasn’t until the realization that money could be made off of the struggles and ills of these oppressed people did rap evolve into Hip Hop. Once it became a big business the relevancy of Hip Hop dwindled. It is still used to get out a message but the wrong type of message. Today rappers only talks about selling drugs and the cars and cribs that they buy from their illicit activities. They forget the numerous homes and families that are destroyed by drugs and drug wars. They forget to mention the innocent kids that are killed when they bust their guns. They forget to mention the decaying conditions of the community because of the effect that drugs have on everyone. What part of the game is this? This is not what a true prophet should do. A true prophet would tell them that drug dealing is not the way to go. There are alternatives to doing conventional work instead of drug dealing. A true prophet would show them how to clean up their neighborhood to get rid of the drugs, homelessness, crooked cops, crime, and many of societal ills. When Michael Jordan said buy my sneakers millions of kids and parents ran to the store nobody questioned what Michael Jordan’s beliefs about anything were. When Michael Jordan said he eats his Wheaties millions of parents bought his cereal never questioning if Mike feed anyone other that the stockholders and co owners of the business that he is aligned with. When Jordan drank Gatorade millions of people drank Gatorade. Have you ever wondered what would happen if Mike said put down your guns and embrace your brothers. When Oprah tells you to read this book from her book club or to listen to what Dr. Phil has to say you never question her. Can you imagine the spheres of influence she would have if she said that we are boycotting this business if they don’t hire some many black women or black men? These are the individuals with the power but are afraid to utilize it. Can you imagine if these celebrities stood up for something meaningful before it became a problem the power that they would wield over businesses and politicians, it would be immense. However the reality is that so many of them are afraid to stand up for something other than an endorsement deal or new contract.
The onus shouldn’t just be placed on the celebrities. We are not using our power as a community correctly. We are the true owners of shit. In most communities of color we are the predominant group. The politicians should be lining up begging for our votes and support. They work for us and we are not using them correctly. There should never be a building built anywhere in our communities without a minority contracting company being considered. I few don’t take the job the construction crew should be predominantly black or well represented by people of color. When the politician doesn’t give us what we want we create a new candidate and replace them with someone who will do what we want. That is true power this is community building. We should be in control of our communities not outsiders. We have to return to being a movement, a force to be reckoned with. Other groups do it and there is not a problem so why can’t we. We are responsible for over 500 billion dollars spent annually if we took our money out of any company or business they would falter and fail. They need us more than we need them. We have to create jobs for ourselves and not rely on others to create jobs for us. I can’t tell drug dealers to stop selling drugs and not provide them with an alternative source of income. I have to show them that they could still hustle but legally. Community mentoring needs to take place again. We can’t be afraid to step to our brothers and sisters when they are doing wrong. I don’t know who better to correct your behavior than your own brother. The message can be spread through each person individually but the power still resides in the hands of those who have a medium to reach millions, entertainers. Can you imagine the day Sean Combs says we aren’t buying anymore Gucci until they hire 250,000 people of color worldwide the panic and uproar that would create. Can you imagine the day that Russell Simmons says that until Chase Bank creates more jobs in the black community we will no longer bank with them and are planning to withdraw our money from our accounts I guarantee we will get some respect. We have to make this country understand the power and influence we have over things. This country’s economy runs smoothly because of our contributions and we should be treated and afforded the respect that it warrants. If not we will shake this mofo up. This is what America respects power and money. The power is truly in the money and it is up to us to show them we mean business.

The Epiphany of Black Pipe

I have been in a funk for a minute but couldn’t pinpoint why. For the last five months I have been upset and angry but I couldn’t understand what was really bothering me. I am in good health, I have a job, and my kids are healthy. I have everything going well in my life so why am I in a funk. Then it hit me one day the true reason that I am really angry is the Sean Bell case. For those that don’t know Sean Bell was killed the night of his bachelor party by undercover police detectives. Sean Bell was unarmed and his car was fired upon by the five detectives over 50 times. This is a travesty and a direct violation of the intended job of the NYPD, to serve and protect. Sean Bell was killed the night before his wedding by overzealous police. It can’t be seen as a racially charged killing because the Police Officers were predominantly men of color. The true crime is that they were afraid and opened fire on defenseless men because they were black. One officer Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and reloaded. These are the actions of a man who is afraid not a man who is supposed to protect people. Fear makes you do things that you normally wouldn’t do. Fear clouds your thoughts and either brings out the coward in you or makes you reach deep down inside and bring out the hero you have hidden.
I’m angry and instead of acting impulsively and going outside and taking foolish action I have retreated to what I do best, I am writing. My first book is called the MisEducation of Black Pipe which illustrates the evolution of a mind from being miseducated to being enlightened. My second book will be called the Emancipation of Black Pipe which will signify the freedom of a mind but I have decided to do something just for people who read my blogs. I am going to write a book for the internet that will serve as a bridge betweem both of my books. In order for my mind to be emancipated I must first have an epiphany. So this is the Epiphany of Black Pipe. Damn I’m jumping the gun I must first explain to those who don’t know what is the meaning behind the name Black Pipe. The beginning of the universe started from out of the darkness and as it then states and then there was light. The creation of everything in life comes from the darkness or black. The Pipe is a conduit for which I write and share my ideas. So like a pipe my ideas and words flow through my mind and me. So when you place them both together you get the formation of ideas, life, and thought all coming from one person, me to the world, henceforth the name Black Pipe. So when I say that this book is the Epiphany of Black Pipe it means that this is an illuminating discovery, realization, revealing scene or moment. My gift to the world my thoughts and feelings.

Heart Break Hotel

I had my heart broken yesterday. It has been several years since that has happened. I am usually the person who doesn't live up to the expectations that someone had of me never the opposite. This is a very sad and depressing feeling. I truly regret doing this to anyone now that I am on the receiving end. The shit was fucking with my mind all damn night. I couldn't sleep at all I was tossing and turning. My stomach was hurting and I wanted to cry for no reason. Damn I feel like such a pussy. But hey those are the breaks in this game called life you win some you lose some but you have to play the game. I know this shit is never going to happen again I don't like this feeling whatsoever so I am not going to fall victim to Cupid's wicked ways again. Call me a sore loser or say that I am denying myself a fundamental right. But the pain and heartache associated with love is something I can do without. So to love I give you my middle finger and say peace I'll holla.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

All Memphis had to do was hold the damn ball and make their freakin free throws. But no they couldn't do that. They have to be one of the dumbest basketball IQ teams in the world. I am really upset because I lost the office pool I could have won by default if Memphis would have beaten Kansas. Damn they blew a 9 point lead with 2 minutes left. Eww I hate them right now lol

NCAA FINAL FOUR

I am sitting here pissed as hell. UCLA has cost me $300 dollars in my basketball pool at work. I picked UCLA because they play outstanding defense and are one of the best teams overall in college basketball. I should have known better out of all the teams in the Final Four UCLA is the only team without a player from New Yorker or New Jersey. North Carolina has one, Memphis has one, and Kansas had two. Damn I forgot one of my rules when picking teams in the NCAA tournament, always go for the team with players from the TriState area. It's not that we are the best players in the world we just play sports harder than other States. For many sports is their ticket out of the projects and the ghetto. They are not going to let you take food out of their mouth. They bring that bully mentality to sports and you can't get no better than that.

New Home

This is my first blog post from my new home. This is birth of the BlackPipe Chronicles.Blogspot.com. Many people are going to say what in the hell is a Black Pipe. Everything orignates from the darkness which black represents. From the Darkness God created light. A pipe is just a conduit in which things travel. As I am a writer and I write about various things and in many different forms therefore my mind is like a pipe. Henceforth the name Black Pipe. Welcome to my world