Many of us don't realize it but the Black Man is fighting a war on several different fronts. The Black Man is fighting a war against injustice, discrimination, and racism (what else is new). He's fighting a war against law enforcement and the justice system. The Black Man is also fighting a war against those of other races and nationalities who succumb to the propaganda that states all Blacks are lazy and criminals. The Black Man is fighting a war against his Black female counterpart who has been forced to bear the brunt of his shortcomings when it comes to being the head of single parent households. Can you blame her for her anger, hurt and frustration? Painfully and regretfully, this even applies to my own personal situation. Are we as a race still suffering the psychological scars and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that Slavery inflicted even after 145 years of freedom? But the most destructive war that the Black Man is fighting brothers and sisters is the war he fights against himself. This is called the war of “self-hatred” and it is one of the most destructive and catastrophic wars that can be fought because it destroys his community and his family. Instead we “hate” on one another. In many areas of the country a wrong look or a wrong stare can literally cost you your life. Crack cocaine and the easy availability of firearms have literally ruined our neighborhoods. Young brothers are being hauled off to jail by literally the hundreds and thousands every day! For every brother that gets killed there's another brother that gets charged with murder and another brother that gets charged with being an accessory to murder. So that's three brothers off the street for one incident. Now you multiply that situation with the hundred of instances that take place in our neighborhoods every day in America and you can see why I say Brother's are being taken off the streets by the thousands every day! They're building jail cells, beds, and prisons specifically for YOU Black man and you don't even realize it. A family member told me a chilling statistic one night. He said he saw a news report which stated that they are building jails according to our population growth. In other words for every Black male being born they are building a bed and jail cell for. If this isn't cause for alarm I don't know what is! You have become expendable Black Man! Do you not see that the Hispanic population in every state has grown by 5 fold in the last 10 years??? As G-Money said in the movie “New Jack Ciy” (paraphrasing) ‘Black Man, I'm here to tell you (that the White man says) your services are no longer needed'. That is, unless of course you can play ball, rap, dance or make the White man laugh. The most disappointing thing is that many of our young people could care less. Gone is the spirit of solidarity displayed during the civil-rights marches, sit- in's, and Black Power rallies of the 60's. Gone is the spirit of unity displayed by our Pastors and spiritual leaders who served as the cornerstone for courage and social justice. (I'm sorry but Rev. Al Sharpton getting on TV and condemning a White Man because he called a group of Basketball players a bunch of “nappy headed hoes” does not equate courage and social justice with me). As a community we are all accountable in answering for our shortcomings and lack of action. There are all things that you and me could be doing to uplift and better the condition of our people. Even though many in our community are still trapped in poverty and ignorance there are many who are educated and have made it out of the “neighborhood”. With all our bright, educated, and articulate Black men and women graduating from Colleges and Universities, how come we fail to manifest the next Dr. King, Thurgood Marshall, Shirley Chisolm, Angela Davis and Huey P. Newton on the horizon? Black America needs a strong leader and we need him or her now! Not some one who caters to “mainstream America” and makes White folk feel at ease because that leader is a “non-threatening Negro”. Finally we must get our own house in order people. Black People talk about the White man did this and the White man did that, and that's true, he has done some horrible and despicable things to our people. But what about what we do to ourselves??!! Were you not outraged when you saw the Video of the two guys making a three year old smoke weed?? Or when you saw the video of the guy punching and mugging a 100 year old lady in the lobby of her apartment? What about the two kids in Philly who broke a teacher's neck because he took away their I-pods in class? You cannot blame your enemy for your own misfortunes when your own hand is doing the evil! Jesus said “how can you point out the speck of dirt in your brothers eye, when you have a plank in your eye?” Let's get it together people as the sun sets on Western- civilization as we know it.

There are people on this earth who've seen more pain, heartache, bitterness and disappointment than we can fathom. Oh, Sure I know you've been through some seriously tough times in your life. SO have I. Trust me on this! If you're like me, you could sit for hours trading “war” stories and showing battle scars from the ups and downs that life has thrown our way… we must also consider the fact that we've been Blessed, no doubt about it. I was spared the horrors of living in the antebellum slavery era of 1800's in the Southeastern United States. So were you! Still…the pain and heartache I've experienced these last 48 ½ years have worn on my mind, body and soul. I've experienced enough disappointment of a person twice my age. And you know what? I've got more to go…(long drawn out sigh)… The Bible says to forgive your enemies. That's hard, but ok. I think I can be obedient and do that. The Bible says pray for enemies. Ok, that's hard, but I can do that. The Bible says be kind to Your enemies as if to “heap coals above their heads”…all right, I'll do the best I can in that regard. The Bible says the Lord wont put on you more than you can bear…(that is the most difficult of all for me to believe. I'm sorry! I fall short in that area). If you could look in my soul and feel the pain, heartache and disappointment of my life's experience than you could understand why I feel this way. I don't have time to chronicle my life's experience in this brief literary piece. I'm not just writing this in a narcissistic and self-centered fashion either. I write this on behalf of all the people suffering and enduring injustice around the world. I write this for the child soldiers in Africa. I write this for the elderly Jews who live in Siberia who live with no heat in their apartments and have to live on $22 a month. I write this for the innocents who are butchered in Syria as they try to bring their country out of civil war and under the rule of a tyrant. I write this for the innocent people in Mexico who are murdered by the ruthless and wicked drug cartels that have no regard for human life. I write this for innocent people working in the brutal labor camps in North Korea who live in conditions so horrid the human mind cannot comprehend their modern day forced slavery. Just because I have to endure a bit of discomfort and suffering while on this side of existence I am not naive to the suffering of my fellow man. As I flip though the pages of history in my mind I am Shocked at the horrible treatment humanity has had to endure. In fact I am filled with indignant Rage at man's inhumanity to man. In several instances throughout world history man has committed acts of abominations, which I cannot even wrap my mind around. What would those instances be? How about the Roman Emperor Nero, covering the ancient Christians with pitch and burning them alive. How about Nero having innocent women and children thrown to the lions and wild beast to be torn apart for the he spectacle of sport in the Roman coliseum. Lets fast forward through history to the 20th century and Comment on how Hitler wiped out 75% of the Jews in Europe. Gassing many of them and putting their bodies in the crematoriums of the Concentration camps… Oh, I tell you the history books are filled with the sins, crimes, atrocities, and abominations of Evil and wicked men! Yet they will not escape the judgment!! The word clearly states in Daniel 12:2 “…. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”. As mortal men our lives are measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years. I realize too That I have to stand before the Lord one day and give an account (we all will). I have to give an account of the good as well as the bad. All I ask is that while standing in Line while waiting the Judgment seat of Christ, (humbly and meekly) is that I be allowed to watch the just punishments of the wicked and evil men who have walked the face of this earth. They will beg for mercy before they are sentenced to eternal separation from the Father. But the Lord will consider that they showed no mercy to those that they had power over while they were living. The Lord's response will be…”away from me you worker of iniquity, I I never knew you”…. Dr. King stated while he was alive that he wanted to be known as a Drum major…not just for justice, but also for peace and righteousness. Selah! Great Sir! Selah! It is with this mindset that I humbly try and carry on this man's inspirational legacy. His death was not in vain. I say to you that one day GOOD will Triumph over wickedness and Evil! It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, or the next day, but God Promises us that IT will happen. And HE has never broken a promise.

Days and nights continue to get rougher and tougher. It's no wonder people got to keep strugglin' and scappin' to survive. People eatin' noodles strugglin' to survive. One bedroom Apartments downtown cost $995. Gasoline costin' 4.29… meanwhile judges givin' brothers all kinds of time. Things seem to look pretty bleak. Our economy is stalled And unemployment has yet to peak. The housing problem in America is out of control. I know people personally who have slept out in the cold. What you say Uncle Marvin: “Makes me wanna holla and throw Up both my hands”. God's brought me from a mighty long way. I can easily remember when I did not have a place to stay. I feel God's Hand upon my life, despite the turmoil, adversity, and srife. To be a scribe is my mission in life. If I am obedient, then He may give me a prosperous life.Maybe even send me and understanding wife… I'm flesh and blood just like any man. My days are numbered like an hourglass filled with sand. My life is guided by our Creator's unchanging hand. There are times when I'm disobedient and separated by sin…I've accepted The fact that our Savior is mankind's eternal friend! Though problems and conflicts continue to exist….with prayer and patience we Will persist. Insight happens to be my greatest gift. Inspiration and encouragement for humanity, I use it to lift. 50 million without benefits and health care. These days working a job without Getting laid off is rare. Politicians pushing taxes up, up, up….the president spends 87 billion for war like its tea in a cup. Young Black Men dis-respecting their elders showing their underwear instead of their pants…..(will our ball club win the pennant? Do you think they have a chance?) A Deranged maniac shoots up a movie theatre and another shoots 6 year- old children at their school. Why Lord are these evil men allowed to roam the face of the earth like fools? The morals of society have gone down the drain. If we are not careful we will Receive prophecies of wrath and pain. Are we now upon the Apocalpyse and have the bowls of wrath been poured? Poverty and hunger is on rise yet the prosperous continue to hoard. Do people know the meaning of character, respect, and manners anymore? Or has this world become rotten to the core? “I've been running up and down the line…I wanna know ‘cause I'm slightly behind….the times”. (Marvin Gaye-“What's Happenin' Brother” 1971)

Babylon promises Many riches and fame, In Reality Babylon seeks to make you a slave with no name. Those who don't repent……..below him get sent. Eternal separation from Jah………… But to him who ask forgiveness and be sincere. Show love… Him be rewarded from up above…. Life is difficult, life is no game….. Many twists and turns life will make…. Stay in prayer and hold on the Holy promises for goodness sake. Before the judgement, it is appointed unto man he will surely die. But if he be forgiven then him will make peace with Jah, say I & I…. Meditate pon scripture and ask for wisdom and peace of mind…. If you love your brother and sister, then the same will be returned in kind. Life is like a battle, life is like a war…. Life is full of sins , these iniquities come from Babylon cause she is a whore! King Solomon was the pinnacle of wisdom many examples are shown….. You must study scripture for the manifestation of prayer to be sewn…. But those who ask for wisdom, Jah freely give. If You accept the Yeshua as Messiah, than eternal enchantment and forever You will live. Study scripture to show thyself approved…. Ask the Holy spirit how best your vessel can be used…. Towards the end of your life, your life starts to flash before your eyes….. Everyman that is born, it is written that he shall surely die! 400 years has bought many tears of pain…… For 400 years many things seem to stay the same… Policeman shoot an un-armed man and then he walk free…. The Justice system is the law of the land….. ust remember Brederen….lies and wickedness come from Babylon! You may choose to partake of the Sacrament and let your soul go…. I'd rather partake of the Pen and paper and lets my thoughts flow…. Yah! Yah! Yah! Sometimes the pressures of life gets me down….. No one to talk to when I look around….. Rastaman I come to you for fellowship and advice….. You give me wisdom and charge me at no price…… Him who seek Knowledge, Jah will freely give……….. A man needs spiritual sustenance for him to truly live………. Misfortune and adversity seem to be a part of life….. Calm your soul Brederen, and don't let it cause you strife….. I ponder these thoughts as I walk down the street……. Look! I see the Rasta man! How do I know that's him? Because of him dreads and the Sceptor of Solomon in his hands….. Peace and Blessings,

Makes Me wanna Holler! …Like all of Us I've seen my share of ups and downs this year. Bitter-sweet like most of my life…. Days peppered with disappointment and strife…. Had some good days and had days filled with despair…. I don't have to tell you that love and life ain't fair….. In fact the brutality and coldness of life can make you pull out your hair…. People actin' like they don't care…. They are in pain also, but to show it they wouldn't dare….. Why do good people suffer with hurt and pain?.... Whether good or bad, rain falls on the saint and sinner just the same…. I don't have to tell you that life ain't no freakin' game…. You could die tomorrow and no one would know your name….. I'm the type that never wanted notoriety or fame……. I only want acknowledgement and peace of mind to keep me sane…. In this Post 9-11 era we live in, the top 1% controls the masses…. I guess that's why the police, politicians and judges keep kickin' our asses…. Every day on the news its poverty, crime, chaos and strife….. You can obey law enforcements commands and still lose your life…. What you say uncle Marvin?....”bad breaks, let downs, trigger happy policing” “Oh….makes me wanner holler, way they do my life. Makes me wanna holla And throw up both my hands”……….