GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

On The Road – The Texas Book Festival 2015 in Austin, Texas

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This past weekend I jumped on the highway to head west to my state’s capitol for the Texas Book Festival.    This was the 20th anniversary for this event at the Capitol Building and on the grounds surrounding it.   It was beautiful weather and lots of squirrels running around as we traipsed through grounds attending author speaker sessions and book signings.

I attended sessions of some famous people that are also authors, Attica Locke (Executive Producer of Empire), Wendell Pierce (Actor), Taye Diggs (Actor) and Leonard Pitts (Pulitzer Prize Columnist).   I also discovered some impressive authors for the first time, who are listed below:

Harry Hunsicker

Wendy S. Walters

Jason Sokol

James Hannaham

Saeed Jones

Margo Jefferson

Laila Lalami

Jeffery Renard Allen

Now, I am in the process of purchasing some new books from these authors that should keep me reading for the next year.   One of the most memorable terms I heard in one of the sessions was “historical erasure” which emphasized how the history we have been taught is in the one-sided perspective of the victor.

Also, while in Austin, I had the opportunity to have breakfast at Cisco’s Restaurant in the east end of Austin.   It is one of those historical places prevalent in Austin with an autographed picture of President Lyndon B. Johnson on the wall.    I had migas, sausuage, ranchero beans, picante sauce, tortillas, biscuits with butter/honey, and coffee.   It was a good traditional Tex-Mex breakfast and I loved it.

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Overall, I had a great time in Austin.  It is worth the 6-hours roundtrip to hang out there for the weekend – especially for the book festival.    I will definitely return next year.

QUESTION(s):

How is your reading life?

Do you attend book festivals?

If so, what do you like best about them?

One Woman Remembers The Million Man March on the 20th Anniversary

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MillionMan-2Twenty years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C. during the time of the Million Man March. My being in that place at that time was not intentional as it was for a business trip and not for the March. At that time, I thought it was a coincidence but now I believe it was a part of my life’s journey to be there in that moment because it became a validating experience to a future aspect for my life.

In the days immediately following the 1995 Million Man March, on Oct. 21, 1995, I shared my experience and feelings on the computer bulletin board named Prodigy in the Black Experience topic section. Prodigy was a precursor to the Internet and all of the social media platforms we enjoy today. The message subject was “To My Brothers” and the topic was the “Million Man March.” I realize now that the post I wrote on Prodigy was actually my first blog post. Even though that post was limited to only the Prodigy users, I received many positive responses from men who had attended the march telling me how moved they were by my words and their intent to share the message to other men in their communities.

In the time since the first Million Man March, an entire generation of young brothers have reached adulthood and another generation has been born. I want to share again my thoughts and feelings of witnessing one of those incredible moments of the African-American experience.

Here is the original post from 10/21/1995

TO MY BROTHERS OF THE MILLION MAN MARCH
I’m from Houston and due to my work I was in the DC area Oct. 14 -20, 1995. This business trip was planned in January, 1995, long before I knew the date of the Million Man March. So, when I heard about the March and the date, I was ecstatic. I promised my sister and girlfriends that I would give them a first-hand account of the atmosphere in DC. We were mindful that it was your day and did not have a problem with that doctrine. It was time for you to bond and unite…..to open your hearts and really share with one another. We, sisters, have always had each other. Since from the times when the slave masters sold our children, there has been sisterhood. Now, it was time for a rejuvenation of your brotherhood.
I decided to talk to every brother I encountered from the plane ride to the evening before the March. I met my brothers from Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, LA, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Gary, Harlem, Brooklyn, Paris, London, Tennessee, Detroit, Florida, New Orleans, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Seattle. I met you on the plane, on the Metro (subway), in hotel lobbies, restaurants, at the rally, and on the Mall the day before the March. I told you my name and asked yours. I asked you one question, “Why did you come to the March?”
Every one of you opened your hearts to me. Your answer was atonement, unity and brotherhood. You told me it was bigger than the controversy surrounding Minister Farrahkan and other leaders. You told me it was about God, you, and unity. You told me you wanted to make history and show the world the “realness” of the African-American man. You even said to me, “For you my sister. I’m here for you to ask your forgiveness for my treatment of you.” You extended an invitation for my participation in the March and begged me not to feel excluded. I assured you it was okay but declined because I felt it was your day. These were the things I heard from you, my brothers, not the media and I thank God for that experience.
So, I sat on the Mall the day before the March and watched you, eavesdropping on your conversations, chuckling at your excitement and animation………..I felt much joy. There was love, peace, harmony, enthusiasm, understanding, and truth amongst you. You were beautiful, beautiful, my brothers. There were other unknown sisters watching and we joined together in our smiles as we watched. We whispered about your majesty……….how there is no other man on the planet like you. You were a wonderful garden of powerful, warm, brown-hued flowers. We saw you as you saw yourselves – with renewed vision – and we said how we loved you. Sister to Brother. One brother in a group nearby turned and saw us. He rushed over to apologize for an unsavory word spoken. We had not heard it but the brother was concerned about offending us. This is the respect you must nurture always for your sisters, my brothers.
There were perhaps 100,000 of you on the Mall that day. My thoughts compared you to thousands of beautiful lamps………beautiful lamps that had been covered with the dark dust of your experiences with racism in America. But, now, through your communion, you were wiping off that dust from your brother. Each one of you did it for another so that your light grew brighter and brighter. I thought of my brothers still enroute to DC from the four corners of our country. I knew upon their arrival you would wipe away their dust, too. I knew your lights would stun the world on Oct. 16, 1995 and through God’s blessing it did. One million plus lights, united, cannot be ignored.
Thank you, my brothers. Thank you for obeying God’s call. Keep close to your heart that obedience is greater than sacrifice. Keep close to your heart that only God can change the hearts and minds of men and women. Your hearts are free, now. I am proud of you. Remember your pledges, honor your sisters, honor your families, and God will heal our communities.

Tribute to the American Worker on Labor Day

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Labor Day is usually the last remnant of the summer vacation.   We either have our last cookout on the patio, go shopping to catch the end-of-summer sale, or head to the beach for that last dip in the ocean before the Fall/Winter season.   However, we all should take a moment to appreciate the meaning of the holiday.

Becoming a federal holiday in 1894, the first Monday of September is the day that was chosen to observe the social and economic contributions of the American worker to our country and to the world.   These contributions were numerous and life changing.  All you have to do is look around in your own city to get a glimpse of the ingenuity of the American worker.

Here are just a few of those amazing contributions in my city – the Houston/Galveston area:

  • the Astrodome – the world’s first domed stadium and 8th wonder of the modern world
  • NASA Mission Control – helping to put the first man (an American) on the moon
  • Galveston Seawall – built to protect that portion of the Gulf Coast after the 1900 Hurricane that killed 8,000 persons which is still considered one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
  • Houston Ship Channel – a 100+ year-old “man-made’ deep water seaport which has made Houston one of the busiest seaports in the U.S. It is still considered a feat of civil engineering to this day.

I know that one of the key ingredients of the American worker is the “we can” attitude.   When there is a problem, a need, and/or an opportunity to reach beyond limits the American worker will show up.  We should all take a moment to honor and embrace that trait on Labor Day.

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Happy Labor Day, my fellow Americans!

 

Questions(s):

Can you share what marvels exist in your city from the efforts of the American worker?

 

July 4th – Happy 239th Birthday America!

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4th-of-july-american-independence-day-flyer_f1THcODuToday is the 239th year since the founding fathers boldly “declared” into existence my country that I love so dearly.   We were a fledgling group of colonies that banned together to battle the greatest empire of that day and now we stand as the greatest empire of this day.   The journey from that day to this one has been joyful and painful.    When we stand together and change the world we are joyful.   When we separate and are divided on an “-ism” there is pain.   The recent upheavals in our American society this past year alone is a glaring testimony to that fact.

In recent days, we all watched in horror in the aftermath of the deadly shooting of the nine victims in the historic Emanuel, A.M.E church in Charleston, S. C. where the shooter admitted he wanted to start a “race” war.   He worshipped with the victims.   He prayed with the victims.   He shot the victims because of their race.   Yet, what he intended to incite turned into just the opposite.  We, the people, rose up together as one against this heinous crime.  The Confederate flag, a symbol of the shooter and long associated with racial hatred, was removed from the state capitol of Alabama by the Governor in the heart of Dixie and major retailers will no longer sell the flags.    I believe many hearts were changed by this painful tragedy.

Our country is only as great as its citizens and the actions they employ because of their beliefs.   Because of recent actions, I believe the majority of us still believe in the words of our founding fathers when they wrote, “We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”   I believe that the majority of us still believe that we, the people, must always seek and must always strive to form a more perfect union with one another.   It is the American way.

We have lots to celebrate.   We stood on the brink of non-existence 239 years ago because the founding fathers were divided on the issue of slavery and the equality of African-Americans.  Yet, they found a way to unite and forge a democracy that would improve to allow us in this present day to have an African-American president – President Barack Obama.   Some of the modern world’s greatest inventions were created in our backyard.    An American was the first to walk on the moon.    Our military is the greatest on earth.  They have always stepped up, heroically, to defend our values and those of our allies abroad.    Yes, we have lots to celebrate.    So, let’s get to it!

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Happy 4th of July – Independence Day – to all my fellow Americans!

I love y’all!  (As we say down here in Texas).

For the Love of Blue Bell Ice Cream

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ice-cream-cup_zy1JHJvOLast week, the executives at Blue Bell Creameries made the decision to recall all of their products from all markets and to temporarily stop production in their commitment to doing 100% the right thing in addressing the Listeria contamination issue.   I applaud them for this “fresh start” iniative.   As a Texan, I am very proud of them.   The decision was bold, courageous, and indicative of the true spirit of this 108 year-old company.

Blue Bell Creameries is a true Texas icon.   It is a treasure in Texas culture along with such icons as The Alamo, the Astrodome, and the Hotel Galvez.   Most Texans make a pilgrimage at least once to that little creamery in Brenham, Texas that has given us the best ice cream in the world.   We were proud when Blue Bell expanded their market nationwide so that others could get a taste of Texas.

Personally, Blue Bell has been the center of many loving memories with my family and friends.   When I was growing up in Houston my siblings and I would not ask our Mother if we could have ice cream – we would ask if we could have Blue Bell.    In our home, the name Blue Bell was synonymous to the words ice cream and that was the only brand my Mother purchased.     Homemade Vanilla has graced many a dessert plate accompanied with German Chocolate Cake, Peach Cobbler, Pecan Pie, and Sock-It-To-Me Cake just to name a few.   I remember those hot summer Sunday afternoons dressed in my ruffled cotton dress and cowgirl boots going with my Dad and sister to the nearby ice cream shop to get shakes made with Blue Bell strawberry ice cream.

When the Listeria contamination first occurred, I received several phone calls with one coming from a friend as far away as Cleveland, Ohio to tell me about it.     They felt they had to inform me because it is well-known how much I love Blue Bell Ice Cream.    I have my favorite flavors as well as taste-testing the amazing new creative flavors that Blue Bell introduces seasonally.  So I eat ice cream a lot and I have special white porcelain bowls just for my Blue Bell Ice Cream.

One friend suggested that I may have to consider giving up Blue Bell because of this recent issue.   I told her there would never come a day where I would give up Blue Bell Ice Cream.  I told her I had faith that Blue Bell Creameries would resolve this issue responsibly.   The recent announcement solidified the faith I expressed to my friends.

I look forward to the day that Blue Bell Creameries will start production of all of its products again.   When I hear that announcement, I will surely celebrate with a few colorful and delicious scoops of ice cream in my special white bowls.

 

QUESTION(S):

How do you feel about Blue Bell Ice Cream?

What do you think about the recent actions regarding the Listeria issue?