Category: Uncategorized

A week ago, I was preparing to wash off some grapes I had purchased and I realized one of the grapes was rotted. I quickly checked the grapes surrounding this one particular grape and realized other grapes were no longer edible due to their proximity to the rotten grape, so I threw them away.

Listen Proximity matters!

Especially, when it comes to your community of friends. While we don’t get to pick the family we are born into, we get to pick if we want to befriend someone. Be sure you have friends in your community who are like-minded.

The scripture says, “Iron sharpens iron.” (Proverbs 27:17) Use wisdom to ensure, there are no spoiled grapes in your community.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” I Corinthians 15:33

I’ve recently watched Inventing Anna and the Tinder Swindler. If you watched them, share your thoughts below in the comments and if you haven’t watched them, check them out on Netflix.  (Sidenote: Has anyone noticed Netflix keep increasing their bill – like Geesh everything is increasing in price.) 😩🙃

Okay, I was distracted,  but back to my story. 😂

In case you haven’t seen them here a Quick Summary of Both Shows: The series are based on true stories, in which both of the portrayed individuals change their names and utilize other people and resources in unorthodox ways to try and gain wealth and status.

First I want to say, I don’t agree with the actions from both shows and neither do I encourage or recommend anyone to recreate what they did to others. However, because I believe I can learn something from everything, it was interesting to see their confidence. For starters both individuals convinced themselves and others they were someone wealthy with a stellar family pedigree. In addition to them convincing themselves and others, they also acted upon and implemented strategies to get the resources they wanted to live the life they wanted and so much more.

After watching all of the episodes, I sat and thought about how beneficial it would be if we believed in ourselves and implemented the goals and strategies we want to accomplish our dream job or to launch our own company. With God’s help and our action – we could be unstoppable!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

As we wrap up this month with blogs focusing on all things American Black Culture, I want you to take a moment and consider your favorite enjoyable thing about American black culture. Whether it is the versatility of our hairstyles and hair textures, our music, the food, our style of clothing, or even our language between each other. Like there are some things we just know and it doesn’t have to be verbalized. Like your mom giving you a side-eye, you and your friend making that connecting glance, and y’all both spot the same thing or the trash-talking during a game of spades or dominoes. It’s all a part of what makes us, who we are.

As Black History Month is coming to a close, we still have every day to celebrate who we are. No day or month on the calendar will change my gratefulness for being a proud black woman.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms‬ ‭139:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Music is powerful. Music moves your heart, mind, and soul and even changes your mood. Music is a way to connect with others and is such a vibe. To be honest, I have my best cleaning days when I turn on some music and find a good playlist.

In American Black Culture music is a staple at every event from family reunions to birthdays. Family reunions are filled with line dances because it isn’t a family reunion until you do the electric slide. And let’s not forget about birthdays -y’all know we are going to sing the Stevie Wonder redemption of the song.

Even when you are singing at church, the runs on a solo hit a little differently and run a little longer. We will remix a song and combine them all into one and before you know it you have a 3 min song that turned into a 15-minute song. (But who’s counting?!!!) lol – me. 😂

The fact that we have our Black National Anthem, 🎶Lift Every Voice and Sing. 🎶

I mean – what more can I say!

From hip hop, rap, r&b, the quiet storm, blues, reggae, gospel, etc. – there’s music for everyone.

A good drum beat even without music – you can feel it in your soul.

Whether I’m saying, “It’s 7 o clock on the dot” or, “ You make me happy, this you can bet… someone will always jump in and finish the song.

I’ll leave you with this fun fact about my favorite artist and see if you can guess the artist.

“How you gon’ win when you ain’t right within”.

Our music is a part of American Black History.