A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a

cup of coffee the same way again.

 

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and

how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going

to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and

struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

 

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with

water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and

in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and

boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off

the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.

She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled

the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter,

she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

 

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her

closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that

they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg

and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard

boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the

coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The

daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

 

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same

adversity - boiling water - each reacted differently. The carrot

went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being

subjected to the

boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had

been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid

interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside

became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however.

After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

 

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on

your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a

coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems

strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and

lose my strength?

 

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with

the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup,a

financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and

stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter

and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

 

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot

water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water

gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the

bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the

situation around you.

 

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you

elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? Count your blessings,

not your problems..... Putting others first makes relationships

last. You might want to send this message to those people who mean

something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life

in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really

need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when

you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to

those who are so meaningful in your life.

 

If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to

brighten someone's day with this message!!!

 

Don't count the years-count the memories...........

 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the

moments that take our breath away!

INFINITY PLUS LESSON: Black Liberation Banner

The science of the Black Liberation Banner: Red, Black, and Green

Commissioned by Marcus Garvey, the "Black Flag" was originally the flag of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, a "back to Africa" organization of the 1920s. The red, black, and green African Liberation or Black Nationalist flag is a symbol of universal black racial solidarity. The flag has three bars from top to bottom. The Red, the blood, stands as the top of all things. We lost our land through blood; and we cannot gain it except through blood. We must redeem our lives through the blood. Without the shedding of blood there can be no redemption of this race. However, the bloodshed and sorrow will not last always. The Red significantly stands in our flag as a reminder of the truth of history, and that men must gain and keep their liberty, even at the risk of bloodshed. The black, stands for the black race and the green symbolizes land and nationhood.

            The Red, the Black, and the Green (wit a "Z" on it)

The Red – the shed blood of our ancestors rebelling against white supremacy.

The Black – the conglomerate of people, with different hues, having the same common goal. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And The Green – to fight for the land that is naturally inherited to us by our ancestors. To preserve the natural resources in it, so we can have a land for our people.

Know your history, know yourself and you will see beyond tomorrow. (Truth be told)

The True Origin Of Thanksgiving / Historical Context / Traditional Harv...

Moors in Europe forgotten history

 

Knowledge of self

 

NASA BRAND MAN'S MORGELLONS HAIR

Hip Hop History 101

 

Afrika Bambaataa Aasim, or more commonly, Afrika Bambaataa, is a pioneering Hip-Hop DJ who, along with contemporaries such as Grandmaster Flash, became a recording artist as Rap records became marketed. He is most popular for conceiving the first breakthrough Electro record, “Planet Rock” in late 1981, which was recorded and released in 1982. The record redefined all of Hip-Hop to be produced electronically with drum machines and keyboards instead of relying on live house bands. Bambaataa is also widely regarded for founding a Hip-Hop cultural movement known as the Universal Zulu Nation, a collective that transcended gang-life and promotes history and culture, which has expanded globally. However, Bambaataa’s contribution as being the talent behind Hip-Hop’s entering the art-world’s consciousness in 1981, which in turn, caused Hip-Hop to expand beyond the Bronx and Harlem, is perhaps his most overlooked role, and greatest contribution to Hip-Hop.

Youth and the Black Spades

Between 1948-1963, the bulk of the Cross-Bronx Expressway is constructed. This is regularly blamed for the economic decline of The Bronx, and the South Bronx’s result was becoming plagued by street gangs. Afrika Bambaataa is raised within this landscape. His date-of-birth remains a mystery, although many sources have deduced it to probably be 1957, with some sources citing April 19, 1957. Bam clearly states, “we never speak of my age”. His birth name remains completely unknown. Biographers have incorrectly stated it as Kevin Donovan, but since then, it has been clarified that Kevin Donovan was a member of the Winely Records’ house band that backed early Bambaataa records.

What is known is he was born to parents of West Indian decent (Jamaican and Barbadian), in Manhattan, and his family relocated to the ground floor of the Bronx River Projects during his earliest days. As a child, he was exposed to the black liberation movement, and witnessed debates between his mother and uncle regarding the conflicting ideologies in the movement, as well as was exposure to his mother’s extensive and eclectic record collection.

Between 1968 and 1973, The Bronx becomes flooded with heroin due to the Mafia’s ties to regional suppliers such as Nicky Barnes. The economic crisis and dangerous conditions that arose from this caused street gangs in the South Bronx to become law of the land for youth. By the police’s own reports, there may’ve been as many as 10,000 gang members in the Bronx, alone. Reportedly, Bambaataa was a founding member of the the Savage Seven gang, which originated in 1968 at the Bronxdale Houses in

Soundview section of the Bronx. As the gang grew, they changed their name to the Black Spades (reportedly, future music partner DJ Jazzy Jay also was a member). The gang quickly spread to nearby housing projects and throughout the Bronx, with divisions in almost every precinct. They became one of the most prevalent violent African-American street gang in New York City during the 1970s, with over 50 divisions in New York State alone.

Bambaataa was inspired to take his name while watching the 1964 Michael Caine film Zulu, being influenced by the depiction of the Zulu warriors attacking British troops at Rorke’s Drift. Bambaataa is a phonetic translation of Bhambatha, which Bam explains roughly translates to “affectionate leader”. Along with other Black Spades, he was bused to a predominantly White school in the Soundview area of the Bronx, where “race wars” are said to occur with White gang members attending his school. In 1971 the “Junkie Massacre” occurs, which is explained as gangs such as Savage Nomads, Roman Kings, The Brothers and Sisters, The Black Spades, and The Ghetto Brothers all taking vengeance on heroin addicts in the community.

Bambaataa rose to the position of Division Leader of The Black Spades,

Bambaataa rose to the position of Division Leader of The Black Spades, as he was known for defusing potential wars with other gangs, as well as recruitment. In November of 1971, The Black Spades went to war with a White division of the Golden Guineas and Misters Bronx at Stevenson High School, and with the Savage Nomads in a movie theater. Shortly after, an attempted “emergency” peace treaty at the picturesque Bethesda Fountain in Central park was called by the Ghetto Brothers. Although this was covered by columnist Joe Torres in the New York Post, who praises the Ghetto Brothers’ attempts at peace, it proved fruitless at ending violence in the Bronx.

The Death of Black Benjie

The following month, the Ghetto Brothers then gathered representatives in Horseshoe Park at 165th and Rogers. A sizable figure of the Ghetto Brothers, 25 year-old Cornell “Black Benjie” Benjamin was called in to mediate. Without weapons, Benjie called for a truce, reminiscent of the opening scene of The Warriors. Despite this, Benjie was severely beaten at the incident, dying at Lincoln Hospital later that day. The Daily News’ headline read: PEACEMAKER KILLED IN MELEE. BRONX TEEN WAR. That afternoon, after rumor of Benjie’s death spread, and Black Spades leader, Bam Bam (not to be confused with Bambaataa) was one of several gang presidents to visit Ghetto Brothers’ clubhouse to make amends and avoid retaliation. Bam Bam stated the Spades were not part of the killing, and vowed to aid the Ghetto Brothers in their effort to find the killer. Internally, there was a division amongst Ghetto Brothers leaders; Charlie Suarez wanted absolute retaliation, whereas top president Benjy Melendez wanted peace. Despite Melendez, members of the Ghetto Brothers, including Suarez, vowed retaliation against the Seven Immortals and the Mongols. By dusk, one of the Black Spades was detained in connection to Benjie’s murder. The Ghetto Brothers believed the wrong guy had taken the fall. They believed Julio, a leader of the Seven Immortals had delivered the death blow. Ironically, Julio was a former Ghetto Brother.

A hunt ensued, and some members of the Ghetto Brothers found Julio and four others of the Seven Immortals. Tying all five up, Suarez returned to execute Julio with a .45 calibre handgun. Melendez stepped in to prevent the Suarez from shooting Julio. After a severe beating to all five, they were set free. Suarez and Melendez visited Benjie’s mother Gwendolyn Benjamin to console her. Benjie’s mother pleaded for no revenge, as she felt Benjie lived for peace. The following day, reporters donned on the Ghetto Brothers clubhouse. Melendez gave an impromptu press conference. Melendez made it clear there would be no retaliation, and chastised the press for wanting reports of revenge.

One of the Youth Services Agency’s Bronx gang crisis squad, “Spanish Eddie” Vincenti, 27, a youthful veteran of the 1950s Bronx street gangs, began working on the grandiose notion of getting every major gang in the Bronx to sign an intergang treaty and alliance. This giant alliance would be called “The Family”, and every gang would become a division in the larger gang. The idea had just enough vision in it for gang leaders to be interested in its possibilities. Vincenti felt that once unified under a single name, the gangs could do virtually anything, if someone provided them with the right kind of social vision.

Размышления о Хип-Хопе (монография)

 

Некоторые люди привыкли видеть рэп ущербным и тупым. Рэп всего лишь то, что было сделано. Хип Хоп то, чем мы являемся. Скажи что это болтовня и демагогия. Я скажу пора взяться за самообучение. Люди в наше время двух слов связать не могут, не развиты интеллектуально. Привыкли быть серой массой и жить бездумно. Хип Хоп как термин подразумевает развитие и обновление движения. Возрождение аутентичной музыки помогает ощутить дух всего движения Хип Хоп. Само слово культура подразумевает рост человека над собой, не просто пребывание в комплексе каких-то идей, верований, а полное слияние с природой Хип Хопа. Развивая себя и обучая себя, мы делаем себя человеком, а не просто камнем в огороде. Мы должны двигать свой ум вперед, наполнять энергией Солнца каждое движение.

Mainstream media is bad for your health

 Mainstream media is bad for your health. It is their target and only job to deceive the viewer. Switch off the tell lie vision. 

Autochtons of America