Confessions From A Black Rose

This past week has been a dark chapter in American history. Over 100,000 American lives were lost to COVID-19.  On Memorial Day, in the city of Minneapolis George Floyd was murdered by four police officers. His death sparked a nation wide outrage. If you would like to know the ways you can support the movement please take a look at this website.  https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#   It will give you ways you can help. You can sign petitions, donate, find contact information for officials in Minneapolis and find out ways to participate in peaceful protests.  This would also be a good time to register to vote, if you have not done so already. Besides remaining informed, I would advise you all to take care of your health during this difficult time. Make sure you take time to remain both physically and mentally strong.  Keep yourself hydrated. Take your vitamins. Meditate. Pray. Find ways to find joy. It is also a good time to reach out to love ones.  Be safe...

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.  Gandhi  I am trying my best to not give up on humanity. Every day I learn about a horrific event that  makes me lose hope. Just this past week the Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for three horrific terrorist attacks. There were the twin bombings in Beirut, the Parisian attacks and the suicide bomb at a funeral in Baghdad. Just looking at these three events, over 200 people have lost their lives because of IS this week. As more news began to pour out about the attacks in Paris I found myself sobbing.  I began to think about the horrific things we as humans do to each other. We do it in the name of religion, patriotism, entitlement, and some false sense of racial superiority. We are suppose to be the superior species but we are the most barbaric. If you look at every species none of them do as much damage to ...

The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them   Lois McMaster Bujold A few hours ago, I watched as  Prosecutor Robert McCullough announced that the grand jury chose to not indict Darren Wilson. I was not surprised, but the announcement was still  painful. I could only imagine the pain the Brown family fe lt  when they heard the decision. Different emotions hit me a ll  at once: anger, sadness, hopelessness. History was repeating itself and I could not stand it. Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Frederick Douglass   There were calls for peaceful protests from several officials and I believe that is the only way to proceed. I just do not understand how you can call for peaceful protests when you make the announcemen...

Today I will be presenting breaking news across the African continent. I will be keeping up to date with the Ebola Outbreak on my blog but I wanted to focus my attention on other news today. There is some good news coming out about the fight against Ebola. The Sierra Leone government is reporting that British effort to fight against the outbreak has been a "game changer". News coming out of Liberia is the spread of Ebola is slowing down. I am hopeful that things will turn around in the next couple of months. Burkina Faso When news broke out that constitutional changes would allow President Compaoré to extend his presidency for five more years, all hell broke loose. Police were firing tear gas at protesters. Today protesters set ablaze the parliament, the city hall and the ruling party headquarters. For all those that do not know President Compaoré   has been president of  Burkina Faso for long as I been alive. That is no exaggeration, he really has been president for 27...

We are less than three weeks away from the Mid-Term Elections in the United States. There is a lot at stake this elections for both parties. It is possible that the Republicans can win the Senate. Which means that they would be in control of the House and the Senate. Both parties are in full campaign mode. There are also few Governor races taking place as well. The one in Florida gained nationwide coverage over a bizarre debate that took place last night. Where the candidates( I kid you not) had a disagreement over a fan. Regardless of whom you vote for, it is important to exercise your right to vote. It would be great if there were more positive tactics to winning an election. Instead of smearing the name of the other candidate, you could just ran a better campaign. A campaign that highlights your strength and your leadership. I am not surprised that several campaigns have chosen to use the recent Ebola Outbreak to stream votes. It is disheartening but not surprising. Historically,...

I write this blog post on the eve of a likely strike on Syria. The thought of an attack on Syria leaves me with a heavy heart. There is no doubt in my mind that crimes against humanity have and are occurring in Syria. Blood is on the hands of both the Syrian government and the armed rebellion. The past few weeks it was revealed that chemical weapons were used on the Syrian people. If this is in fact true, an unthinkable crime has occurred. I just do not believe that military action is the best solution to the Syrian crisis. There will be civilian casualties and that is something I do not feel comfortable with. I can understand theoretically why the Obama Administration is pushing for military action, but I don't understand it on a spiritual level. War is something that changes a country forever. I have lived in countries that have experienced devastating civil wars. I have witnessed the destruction war has on the infrastructure of these countries. I have seen how children's ...

If you turn on your telly or open a newspaper it appears that the entire world has gone crazy. A lot has happened over the course of the month. Here are the headlines that have caught my attention. Feel free to inform me of other headlines that I might have missed. Africa Earlier today a car bomb exploding outside of the French embassy in Tripoli. This is the first attack in Libyan capital since the revolution. This is the second major attack on a foreign embassy since the fatal attack on the American embassy back in September.  At least 187 people have died in the Nigerian northeastern state of Borno. These fatalities are a result of the continuous battle between  the Nigerian military and the armed group Boko Haram.  A gold mine has collapsed in Accra, Ghana killing at least 16 people.  Asia Last week a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit the south-western Sichuan province in China. The powerful earthquake has killed at least 160 people and has inj...

When I was a senior in college I wrote a letter to my future daughter  for a class. Even though there were certain topics that I was supposed to address my letter was organic and heartfelt. As I look at the world around me I have no doubt in my mind that I will raise a strong independent female. She will be encourage to be honest, opinionated and a little warrior.  I know that things will never be easy for her but I am confident that I will give her a great foundation to handle all the punches. With each moment I get concerned for the welfare of my unborn son. What kind of man will he be? Will he know that being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness? Will he know that being caring does not make him less of a men? Will he know that sadness is apart of life and it is okay to express that emotion? Will he have no space for hate in his heart? Will he be able to play with dolls without people questioning his sexuality? Will he be a man the brings people up inst...

Over a month ago, I watched the absolutely beautiful My Own Private Idaho . I had a bit of a revelation after watching the film. Which is kind of interesting because it has nothing to do with the themes that were brought up in the film. If you have not watched My Own Private Idaho , I suggest that you check it out. It is hauntingly beautiful and River Phoenix is such a beautiful soul. Anyways, back to the topic of my post. I was thinking about how beautiful Keanu Reeves looked in the movie and how he could seriously get it. Jokingly I said to myself that "he doesn't even need to ask". Then a light bulb went off in my head. What exactly was I insinuating by that remark. Was I suggesting that because he was so attractive he does not need to ask for my permission to have sexual relations with me? After much thought, I realized that was what I was suggesting. As someone who considers themselves to be a feminist, this revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. I was compl...

When I started my War on Women series I had every intention of including a discussion about rape warfare. At the time I had so many thoughts flooding my brain that I could never find the right words to express them. I am beginning to feel that I still do not have the right words but I am ready to share my opinions with you all. I would have kept this topic for March to coincide with Women's History Month but recent events have made it apparent that today is the perfect time to raise awareness about rape warfare.  According to World Health Organization( WHO) violence against women is the main cause of death and disability for females within the age bracket of 15-44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and general warfare combined. If anyone of you keep updated with global news you know about the mass rapes that are occurring in Democratic Republic of Congo. In the DRC women are 100 times more likely to be raped than women in the United States....

I'm not too sure how I found myself in this position, with only twenty days until a whole new year. It seems that 2012 flew past me. I just remember ringing in the New Year in Florida and now I'm getting ready for a family vacation in Las Vegas. Looking back at what 2012 had to offer  there were so incredible moments this year but along with triumph there was also tragedy. Here are some of the biggest moments in my opinion that defined the year 2012. London Summer Olympics If you have been a long visitor to this blog you are fully aware about my obsession with the London 2012 games. The London Summer Olympics was one of my favorite moments this year. We got to marvel at the wonder of the human body and all that it can do. We got to root for our favorite teams and beam with joy at their victories. It was just an incredible experience and Rio has a lot to live up to. Here are some links to my previous posts about the Olympics  Chariots of Fire: London 201...

Throughout the 2012 General Elections in the United States, one question plagued my mind-when did being a liberal become such a bad thing? When did Republican and Christian become synonymous? I  also want to state that being a Democrat is not the same thing as being a liberal. Sorry that was a little side-note. Back to the topic-Liberal almost had the same connotation as being a communist during the Cold War. In high school terms it like being the known virgin or the slut. There is talk about liberals having a vendetta to corrupt the minds of the youth.  When conservatives think about liberals they think of people that lack moral restraint. For someone who considers themselves to be a moderate, I found this to be furthest from the truth.  Let's take a history trip shall we. If it was not for those damn liberals, France would never have had their revolution. If it was not for those damn liberals, slavery would not have been abolished. If it was not f...

I want to take the time to discuss last night because there were some historic events that occurred. First of all, Colorado and Washington are the first states to legalize  marijuana for recreational use. Up until a minute ago I thought they just legalized medical marijuana but recreational use is another monster. In those states you can smoke a joint without getting arrested. My mind is blown right now. Guess I don't have to go to Amsterdam to eat a pot brownie now. Second of all, what a great night it was for the fight for marriage equality. This was the first time that same-sex marriage had been on the ballot and won. Maine, Washington and Maryland have approved of marriage equality. There are now nine states where same-sex marriages are recognized by the law. In Minnesota voters did not approve of Amendment 1 that would ban same-sex marriages in the state. It is still not legalized but a constitutional amendment has not ...

There has been a war that has been waging on women for centuries now. It is not something that has been made up for political gain but an actual fact. The war on women is a war to control and suppress the female  mind, body and soul. When a young girl gets shot in the head for being an advocate for female education, you know that this war is alive and well. What did they have to gain by attacking Malala Yousafzai? The only clear message that they are making is that there has never been a more opportune moment to fight for female empowerment than today. Studies show that countries are doing more harm by not increasing women's access to education, health care and decent jobs (UN-Women). There is greater chance of sustainable development and poverty eradication if women are empowered. Now it is time fore some scary statistics. Did you know that 40% of women in developing countries are employed compared to 70% of men. Did you kn...

A little over three years ago I decided to join Twitter. I had been hearing about it and  I decided to check it out. A place where you get updates from your favorite celebrities and up to date news briefs, c'mon its a no brainer   Don't get it twisted I have enjoyed my three years with Twitter but there seems to be a humongous flaw with this particular social media. Twitter seems to breed assholes and trolls  who we love to call cyber-bullies. What is it about being behind our computer that allows us to write every single idiotic thought that crosses our mind. It is if there is no filter and no thought about how their words affect a second party. Sometimes I think people just say things to evoke a reaction. I have read death threats, racial slurs, homophobic outbursts and misogynistic comments. It really does leave a bad taste in your mouth. Here are few cases asshole syndrome on Twitter this past year. 1. Kelly Cl...

In 34 days the political storm will come to a head in The United States of America. All I can say is Hallelujah! It has been a long time coming. Seriously, I am experiencing election fatigue. Even though I am exhausted I know how much is riding on this election. I feel that this general election is more important than the one that took place four years ago. The global economy being what it is there has never been a better time to have leaders with the country's best interests at heart. If you have been watching what has been going on in the nation's capital, you know that it is a mess. There has never been a better time to make your voice heard. Every vote counts and your vote could be the difference between a bleak future and a promising future. The most important step of voting is registering to vote. In the next couple of days the registration deadlines will have passed. Make sure you do not miss your deadline.  Rock The Vote  has a great sec...

In June I wrote a post entitled What's Happening? After a popular response, I have decided to create a second post about global affairs. There is a lot that is going on in the world. Here is a list of breaking news that caught my attention. If you know of anymore information please do not hesitate to share. I will be reporting from a neutral basis. If you have any opinion about my findings, once again do not hesitate to share. Africa South African miners of Lomin platinum mine are set to resume work on Thursday after accepting a raise of 22%. This will conclude five week long bloody strike that left a reported 34 miners dead. These miners were killed during a police crackdown that took place last month.  World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a possible spread of Ebola virus to major towns in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Already the contiguous virus has killed 31 people in the country this past month. WHO believe that this...

Almost a week ago, the unthinkable happened in Aurora, Colorado. During the midnight showing of the highly anticipated conclusion to the Batman trilogy The Dark Knight Rises,  an armed gunman opened fire to unsuspecting crowd. It is the worst mass shooting in  US History . 12 people were killed and another 58 were wounded. I remember when I woke up Friday morning. I was thinking about what day would be best to see The Dark Knight Rises . To say I was looking forward to the film would be an understatement. When my twin sister told me  the unfathomable, I was in complete shock. Movies have always been my comfort from the storm and the movie theaters have been my sanctuary. For a place that is so sacred to me to be attacked, shook my core. If I can't be safe going to the movies, I can't be safe anywhere. It is just a reminder that life is fragile and tomorrow is not promised to no one. One thing that irked me during the news coverage of the ...

Here in the United States it is very difficult to turn on a news channel and hear anything other than American politics. This has been ongoing since 2009. It can be suffocating and I have had it up to here about the elections. I spend most of time searching for what is happening in the world. I thought I would share my findings with y'all. I have composed of a list of breaking news around the globe. There are some crazy things happening and there is not much focus on them here. Which I find a bit disheartening. Most of my findings( not all) came from Al Jazeera and BBC News. Africa Later on this month Libya is due to hold elections for a national assembly, this will be the first free poll in decades. The current ruling party is the National Transitional Council(NTC) which took power last year after the Libyan revolution. Things have not been easy for the Northern African country. Just earlier this month, the recent tribal clashes in western Libya have left 1...

Just moments ago President Obama became the first seating president to publicly endorse same-sex marriage. In the words of Vice President Joe Biden this is a big f@#$ing deal! Unless you are living under a rock, everyone is aware that the topic of same-sex marriage is hot button in the United States. Just earlier this week North Carolina passed the Marriage Protection Amendment which bans same-sex marriage in the state. Since apparently two people of the same- sex getting married  threatens the sanctity  of marriage. Already Fox News has accused President Obama of declaring war on marriage. I guess the "War on Christmas" was not sufficient enough for him. Now I will be the first to admit that I was shocked President Obama  publicly took a stance on Marriage Equality especially in the beginning of his reelection campaign. I always knew that he would take this position but I thought he would do so if and after he won ...