Reflections of the Man in the Mirror - RIP MJ

Since birth, I have been a Michael Jackson fan.

Well, maybe not since birth.... but it has been a long time. The first CD I ever personally purchased was "Dangerous" and I jammed that CD at the tender age of 12 throughout the house driving my mother and half the neighborhood crazy. On Saturdays, which were classic "lets-clean-the-entire-house" days in our family, I would begin by placing DISC 1 of the HISTORY CD in my boombox and get to work. I was known (and you can ask my brothers) for playing Rock With You on repeat for days on in... that song remains my favorite to this day. When Michael was going through his legal troubles in 2003, one of my besties Amber and I rocked "Free Michael" Tshirts and Trucker hats in his name (wearing them to our senior farewell in our true spit in your face attitudes that we held at ML)....

I am not what you call a bandwagon MJ fan.

I have preset MJ playlists on my iTunes, and was thinking I would see a comeback concert a some point of my life.

RIP MJ.

Being an avid Twitter user, I actively pursued every media and news outlet seeking information about MJs passing. I was so surprised, so bewildered, so confused! I was in DC at the time, doing some work for the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation when I received the news. I mean, I know the ways I have felt when family members die and this was not comparable, but I was APTLY surprised to realize that I really felt some kind of way about Michael's passing.

Since that time, I have to admit that I have been potty swirled into the never-ending coverage of "BREAKING NEWS" regarding his death. With numerous tributes, (yes I watched the BET AWARDS and yes I would call it an epic #fail), and even more news reports, I can't help but be consumed with MJ Mania at this point. However, the good news is that this whole set of circumstances has set me and 1000s of others back to his music, back to the videos, the dances, the lyrics, the remarkable musical genius of Michael Joseph Jackson.

There are a number of things I have come to realize about Michael Jackson and his relation to world.

1. There has not been a world renowned music artist that has touched the variety of political, emotional, and philosophical questions that he has: (source)

futhermore, on Thriller he spoke abt teen preganancy, gang violence, challenging the social constructs of manhood, the culture of gossip, emotional blackmail, obsession, false accusations of paternity, and belief in one’s self

2. Michael's songs spoke volumes about himself and in the very near future I am sure some over ambitious and deeply creative college student is going to publish a thesis on the lyrical analysis and psychological profile of MJ. Just look at the lyrics to "Have you seen my childhood?": (source)

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

3. I honestly believe that the Michael Jackson story is a case of a real life Benjamin Button. At a very young age, Michael was forced to be very adult about his business and his work and many have criticized him later in his life (I can't believe I just said that) for having childlike tendencies. Just watch:

4. Lord Acton is credited with saying. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." but I think in MJ terms and the phrase "Absolute FAME corrupts ABSOLUTELY" makes complete logical sense. I believe that other than Jesus, Allah, Buddah, no one else at this time is this completely famous throughout the entire world regardless of class, religious affiliation, social context or WHATEVER..that kind of fame, I am now certain is not good for any HUMAN and certainly not for 45 years of life.

5. The Truman Show was funny to watch, but seeing it play out over 45 years of time in real life is absolutely tragic. --- The Story of MJ - At least he had the first 5 years of life in innocence, right?

Lastly, I need the world to remove the title "King of Pop" from Michael Jackson. This man has contributed so MUCH to the world of music that the title does not do him nor his work any type of justice. Though Quincy Jones is one bad muthasucka.... its working with MJ that thrust him into the world of "popular music".... when you think about it, what genre of music was Michael Jackson..... quite possibly his own. He holds a patent, he owns the Beatles Collection (at least half according to Sony), he's enthroned in Africa (I can't recall the village name), he has the number one album of ALL TIME and continues to set Billboard records after his death. Elvis? Can't even shine his patent leather loafers! Michael called attention to the famine in Ethiopia, donated over $25 million dollars to the UNCF and did more humanitarian work publicized and unpublicized than most of these stars even attempt to do these days.

I know that MJ suffered tremendously in his earthly life, I just hope in my heart of hearts that he has found PEACE in his transition from this life.

FOR SOME AWESOME POSTS ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON:
Greg Tate, The Village Voice

Phonte killed em here.

McCafe Dwele's Tribute

Partying With a Purpose - Life Unchained DELAWARE

Greetings Friends and Family!

I am writing this letter to invite you to become personally involved in an amazing opportunity for volunteerism, activism, and social networking. Over the last few weeks, I have been introduced to a nonprofit organization call Life Unchained. Life Unchained is a social / service 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in southeastern Pennsylvania that starts unique, first-time projects in the community. Life Unchained is looking to expand into Delaware and I have applied to take on the project.

Life Unchained provides funding and resources for local chapters to sponsor social events to raise money for charitable causes. For example, members can sponsor car washes and bar nights to support a middle school softball time. The organization firmly believes in "partying with a purpose". I found this as an amazing opportunity to for anyone college-age and older to remain socially active while participating in volunteerism and other charity work.

In order to get this chapter off the ground and functioning, I need volunteers to work in the planning and organizing of social and volunteer events. The chapter can easily attach itself to other organizations that are already working on projects or projects that the organization would like to start on their own. I have contacted you all especially, because I believe that you would be great people to be involved in this project. Any and all forms of support would be greatly appreciated.

I am planning an information session to be held in Newark before the end of the month. If you are interested in working with this chapter of Life Unchained or would just like to find out more information PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP (via email, phone, text, IM, smoke signal, whatever is easiest). I need people who are interested in being active members, social event coordinators, volunteer coordinators, and various other leadership roles.

For more information about the organization, please visit http://www.lifeunchained.org/.

Thanks again for taking the time to read this email and I hope that you are able to support this endeavor of engaging our community in "partying with a purpose"!

Monique Liston
moniqueliston@gmail.com

Lemonade Diet Day 2

Today was not as easy as the first day. I meant for this to be more of a spiritual journey. In my preparation, I prepared mentally, physically, and spirtitually. I believe I will make it through. It is helpful to be kept busy while at work to prevent my mind from drifting away to food. Amazingly enough, I don't really ever feel "hungry" but I do feel like I WANT TO EAT, not NEED TO EAT....I have a bit of headache this morning, and I havent been drinking the teas at night. My justification for this is that I often drink the last part of my lemonade near bedtime and I just don't feel like drinking anything else! Hopefully I will get to it tonight, since I premade my tea and all I will have to do is drink it. The first two days I used Organic Maple Syrup B but that is way more expensive than the molasses so I went to Newark Natural Foods (shoutout) and got a gallon of molasses syrup, so I will have to do this again! Now for that morning internal salt water bath....

Lemonade Diet Day 1

Ladies and gentleman....

for those of you who do not know, today is the first day on my detox journey. I have amassed all the necessary materials for my detox and am patiently awaiting to inherit my Beyonce body....

well, maybe not.

The purpose of the diet is to detox, which I could surely use after 9 months of alcohol, $.35 wings, spinach dip, and happy hour foods.

But most importantly, I just finished one of the roughest semesters of adult life and the stress and all the bullship that has happened this far in 2009 has surely built a muddy bank against the walls of my colon.

So far....

SO GOOD.

diversity project