by: Prentice Powell

Justice at playground

All it takes for me is one look at this picture of him looking at me….

You can look back at all the things you think aren’t fair and things you feel you don’t deserve.All the bad things you’ve done.All the coulda woulda shoulda’s.Single parenting.Bias Court System.Custody Battles. The Joys and stresses parenthood can bring.Milk.Diapers.Waking up every two hours.The nights he cant get comfortable because he doesn’t feel good, so you cant sleep either.The web cam chats because you have no other option. Or whatever the case may be in your own personal situation. And you can sit there..Cry, get depressed, pity yourself and ask God “why me?”
Or you can get your ass up and do something about it. You can work THAT much harder at attempting to attain the things you KNOW you deserve. You can stop feeling sorry for yourself and begin to be proud of yourself for setting the blueprint for your child/children through your own life. You can make sure that your LIFE is a reflection of how much you love and care about your child. So that when they get older, NO ONE can tell them that you didn’t do everything in your power to lead by example.

Now granted, you WILL make mistakes along the way. But its all about learning from them and bouncing back from adversity. Not living in fear. Fear of how powerful and successful you can be. Fear of not getting the results you want if you put in the work to obtain them. Having the courage to step out on faith and realize that if you dont get it done for yourself, NO ONE will do it for you. And when you have someone else to live for…who needs you…if it doesnt come naturally, you MUST learn how to put them first.
Do not allow the radio to raise your child. Do not let the media raise your child. 12 year old girls in low cut jeans and sidekick and an I Phone…..14 year old boys who KNOW they know everything.We wonder why so many youth think they’re grown at 10.Its because we treat them like they are.We dress them to look like Lil Wayne at 2. We place high value on material objects.If your 4 year old knows how to play X BOX better than you but cant tell you the letters on the buttons thats a problem.

Let your kid be a kid.

Let him know what its like to WORK for those Jordans rather than to EXPECT them.

My son wears shoes with winnie the pooh and Elmo on them because he is a CHILD.(and quite honestly im not spending $60 on some shoes that will only fit him for a few weeks)He loves to wear his Spiderman ( he calls him “maaaaaaaaaaaaan”lol) backpack full of pull ups, wipes and his sippy cup because he is learning that if things belong to you, you are responsible for keeping up with them.

I say the things that I say, participate in these documentaries and write these thoughts down to document my love for Justice.So that in his darkest moment, His father with do nothing but shed light. I pray that my son will find inspiration through his daddies life.

Lets instill the values that were, and were not given to us in our children so they do not go through the same situations that we did. Lets allow our kids to be KIDS. But we cant do that, until WE start acting like adults.

I pray that inspiration finds you to succeed and challenge things that you do not find right in the world.

Thank you for reading my random thoughts.

father and son

Now that we’re grown and have graduated, we can seriously ask “What the hell were all those unnecessary college courses for?” I mean for real, a journalism major taking micro economics. What was that class about anyway? If it wasn’t for my math genius best friend I would have NEVER passed. Can anyone tell me what micro economics is now? Smh. The government just sucked all of my little monies.

Ugh money… government… school. How many of you have begin paying back on your student loans? Crickets aye? Well neither have I so don’t feel bad. I wish I could but it just doesn’t seem more important then the mortgage, car note or even my credit card bill. Am I doing the right thing by pushing and pushing the deferment or are my interests adding up and I’m too dumb to realize?

I mean I know I should pay it and I think that the more I push it the more interest accrue and if I don’t pay it will go on my credit but what else should I and millions like me know? Somebody… anybody? Maybe I should have paid attention in micro economics after all. I still have the book because the bookstore wouldn’t buy it back. Let me wipe the dust off and school myself real quick before I’m in backdoor debt.

In case you had not googled the word yet, Wikipedia & Dictionary defines Microeconomics as ‘a branch of economics that studies how the individual parts of the economy, the household and the firms, make decisions to allocate limited resources, typically in markets where goods or services are being bought and sold. Microeconomics examines how these decisions and behaviors affect the supply and demand for goods and services, which determines prices, and how prices, in turn, determine the supply and demand of goods and services. This is a contrast to macroeconomics, which involves the “sum total of economic activity, dealing with the issues of growth, inflation, and unemployment.”‘

Students take advantage of all of your classes. There is something to learn from everyone, every experience and every class.

Love,
The Editor
Aerial

“If you can’t have what you want, start wanting what you have.”
That’s a nice quote isn’t it? Uplifting, reassuring? Well I don’t completely agree with it.
How about “Never settle for less than you deserve.”
Yeah I like that one a lot better primarily because this is your life and you should live it to the fullest. Never compromise.

I think that a lot of us are doomed from the beginning. If you’re smart, you’re a nerd. If you’re dumb just pick up a basketball and snag us a scholarship. What we fail to tell our children is “that is not all you’re good at.”

One thing about shooting hoops to earn a scholarship is… (taps the glass ceiling) you might want to work on being a scholar as well. Most children will ditch classes to go to the gym and practice their jump shot. Stop leading these kids on, thinking they can substitute a ball for a book. Oh and don’t be so quick to pull out your camera phone when lil ReRe is putting down her bottle to back it up in her saggy diaper. We told her to join the pom pom team instead of encouraging her to write for the school paper.

Believe me – I’m guilty too. I wanted my 20-year-old brother to be a ball player. He’s is 6′ for goodness sake, he has the talent but he doesn’t have the passion nor patience for school. Needless to say he has taken a semester off to re-evaluate his game plan, we can’t choose for them. And yeah I sing “dance too much booty in the pants” when my 11-month-old sister starts tapping her foot … BUT I see my mistakes, I admit them and I’m ready to change. Change with me. Please?

Love,
The Editor
a.k.a. Aerial

How many tattoo’s do you have? Ok are any of them on your neck, collarbone, hands or wrist? Yes? Ok now where did you say you worked? Definitely not for the government and it’s funny because D-boys ALWAYS say they work for the “city” when they don’t wanna tell you their real occupation. Notice how I didn’t even ask if he had tattoos… I already know.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a “hoodie hood” with a fitted cap, crisp beater, shorts that look like pants and some fresh white nikes. But where can you take him other than the corner store? Where can he even take himself?

This gentleman came to my place of business yesterday with some name brand frames, no prescription; checkered yet name brand button down, khaki pants and sperrys. A typical “gangster” attempting to dress up without loosing who he really is (a street guy who loves name brands). I knew the glasses were not prescription because the brand name was covering the left lens. His teeth were gold (non removable) and his hands had “Magnolia 3rd Ward” tatted upon them. Then he had the nerve to ask me to put in a good word for him. Boy did my eyes get to rolling.

Who can expect to get a job, in the public, talking and assisting customers looking like that? Do we even think about this before we allow ourselves to become a drawing board?

So I ask again and maybe this time you won’t be so anxious to answer. How many tattoo’s do you have? Are any of them on your neck, collarbone… Oh you don’t? Wow neither do I, we are apart of a dying breed Sir. Now what position are you applying for?

Love,
The Editor

Have you said your please and thank you’s today? Where is our home training? Just because we are not getting our home training at home anymore means we shouldn’t search for and use them daily? Lets see: we wear our house shoes outside of the house, bath robe outside of the bathroom, under garments… well you see where I’m going with this.

I’ve always said that my child (whenever he or she is conceived) will be the most well mannered, well behaved creature ever, simply because I can not stand a snot nose, smart mouthed crumb snatcher, but as parents who can we blame but ourselves? Well I am not a parent so I guess I’m talking to you or the person behind you. Who can you blame but yourself?

Each child must know that it is not only improper but impolite to not address an adult as Maam or Sir. Funny be it though, whenever I use the word Maam to a woman older than myself, guess what they say to me… “who are you calling Maam, I ain’t that old.” I’m channeling Ed Lover right now … C’MON SON! We have to do better people. Teach the children! When was the last time you said Maam, Sir, please or thank you? Like Katt Williams’ said in “It’s Pimpin Pimpin,” “Don’t worry, I’ll wait.”

We must set a good example. “Do as I say not as I do” is sooooo contradictory of how a child is suppose to be raised. If the child sees right, they will know right. It is then up to the child to act right or not. As opposed to only knowing and channeling the wrong that is seen in their own home. Lets create a better future for our self, for our offspring, for our race; starting today. Please?

Love,
The Editor
*thank you*

It’s Black History Month Black people. This is our month! What are you doing to make history?

I hear many people saying they disagree with Black History Month. Some asking why it is just one month devoted to Black History, or asking in turn when White History Month is? I say to that, Black people are never satisfied. We must embrace the past! We must embrace the past so that we can know where we came from and how we must progress from there.

We were slaves… remember? Dumb, dirty and inferior, let them tell it, we didn’t know much about ourselves let alone our ancestors or forefathers until one smart Black man made a move to show the importance of our heritage, of our history. In 1926 United States historian Carter G. Woodson created “Negro History Week”. Woodson chose the second week of February because the 12th and 14th marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of our people: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.

Then we upgraded in 1976, fifty years after the first celebration, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History used its influence to institutionalize the shifts from a week to a month, and from Negro history to Black history. Think of how proud Black people were during this time, how much they had to endure to make sure we were present in the history books… now look at us… ungrateful.

Don’t talk about it, be about it. If you don’t like something just dive in head first and make a change. Extend Black History by being about it; just as Woodson has, just as President Barack Obama has. Children 20 years from now will be quizzed on how influential January 20, 2009, what it meant to us then, what it means to them now. Think about our fellow minorities who don’t even have a month of celebration. How can we help them progress? History is not just about what happened to us, but how what happened to us has helped changed the world. It’s bigger than you thought, right? Nah you knew this, you just don’t care. But you should, especially this month… especially this month!

It’s Black History Month people. This is our month! What are you doing to make history?

Love,
The Editor

Which would you rather read about? A newborn panda bear or a child molester that just moved to your county?

Those of you who answered panda bear either really likes baby panda bears or is one of the many people that are sick and tired of hearing disturbing news from the media. Those of you who answered child molester either have children or will be the next senator. Drastic equation I know, but in my best DMX voice I must ask “What do you really want from a journalist?”

Many people opt to get their news from media outlets other than television so they can choose what type of news they take in. I’m sure the numbers would show that people spend more time and more search engine power looking up celebrity gossip as opposed to serious world changing news. Journalists call the two: soft news and hard news, or as I like to call it: bubble gum and steak. One difference between hard and soft news is the tone of the presentation.

A hard news story takes a factual approach: What happened? Who was involved? Where and when did it happen? Why did it happen? A soft news story tries to entertain or advise the reader. Here is some bubble gum for you: who doesn’t want to hear about the new iPhone that records and streams live video? It’s probably sold best when said “girl when you see your best friend’s boyfriend in the club grinding on a hot young tender and you can immediately stream to your best friend’s phone as well as online for the whole world to see!” Now who wouldn’t want to catch a player up!? Soft news is a clear winner because it could be both factual and entertaining. Hard news is just serious. Who wants to be serious all time?

In September 2009 the Kanye and Taylor Swift fiasco was publicly aired. It was devastating right… wrong: soft news. Two weeks later the tragic beating and death of Derrion Albert surfaced: hard news. Which do you know more of? Which do you still talk about? Which do you even care about? Both Kayne West and Derrion Albert are from Chicago, so a Chicagoan would know and care about both, but I can bet $5 everyone is still talking about crazy ass ‘Ye (and yes I can talk, as I am rolling my neck and smacking my lips, because I’m a Chicagoan.) But for those of you not in or from Chicago, which got more coverage?

Has everyone forgotten the type of world we live in? Life is not all about skinny jeans, Ciroq, bald head Amber Rose or even lace front wigs… SURPRISE! We live in a world where bad things happen and the only way you would be able to hear about these things is through media outlets: newspapers, magazines, radio, television or the internet. Knowledge is power people. It has always been better to have known and dismissed than to never have known at all.

From now on I urge you, young business people, to stay focused on what’s really important in life. Continue to support the hard footwork journalist risk their lives doing. They go directly to the war zone to report, some go undercover to get the real nit and grit… do we even appreciate their hard work? Value the timeliness of the information given, the factual although sometime sided words. Think about what it is you really want from a journalist. If it’s a drastic change from the one we have, then maybe you should be the one implementing it.

Love,
The Editor

It’s so easy to go from college, knowing and doing what you want, to one year after graduation back in your parents basement indenting your bottom on their cream leather couch. I commend those of you who opted not to go back home, who moved far away from the safe zone into the wicked world of retail or fiery pits of fast food because there were no positions open in the field you just spent the last four years diving into debt for.

But I must ask… who is really worst off? Someone who decided to save money by going home, working at auto zone, hanging out with old high school buddies or someone who decided to fly away from the nest to be a big boy, calling mom every month because the local burger shop didn’t give enough hours to pay the light bill? When will it be time to put down the patties and put yourself in a position that will further your experience into the field of your dreams?

The Black Intel is Fresh, Innovative, Authentic. Our mission is to bring a voice to the void of intelligent young black commentary. The Black Intel believes in bringing social analysis from the wide range of African American perspectives. We cover everything from News to Culture, with an edge. In the age of change, The Black Intel brings you the up and coming leaders and entrepreneurs from across the country and have been for almost a year.

We are well stocked with strongly opinionated professionals but no strictly words, dictionary loving, passionate “I’ve been waiting to express myself through my words all my life,” hard core writers. If you are one of those people who have yet to find their outlet, this my dear, is just for you.

Now is the time, the best time, the time for you to become apart of this growing family, this multi-dimensional family full of daring ideas and significant insight. Now is the time for you to join us in spreading your knowledge and experience with others. Mind you, we are not in need of anyone, but from one of those who opted to move out of state far away from the place I call home to come be the grown up me, on my own, in my field, making moves and breaking barriers… it wasn’t until I met The Black Intel did I tie all those aspects together.

Come shoot, photojournalist; record, videographer; draw, graphic designer. Come write, writer.

Love,
The Editor