MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Have you ever missed your opportunity or shall I say, missed the mark? I have, you see as I was growing up from elementary to Jr High; I always wanted to become a School Teacher. Yep, my entire being consisted of teaching. While others would play house, I would play school. I had chalkboard, books, school desk, bell ringer, playground. Yep, I said playground. I guess I was a bit nerdish. Anyway, I got into high school and let that dream slip by, I decided I wanted to go into Business Administration and this is where I received my degree. I missed the mark back then, but I always ended up teaching in a Sunday School Class or mentoring youth.

Round 3, here I go. Yes, I'm still in the ring!

About a month ago, I applied for a Sales Trainer position. I kinda was doing like most of us and listening to my negative self talk and almost talked myself out of applying. Can you believe that? I'm sure we all have done this from time to time.

Whelp, I waited till last minute and finally submitted my Resume. Yep, on the last day. I figured what the hell, what do I have to lose; afterall, all they can do is ignore the Resume. Right? Of course. As I submitted my Resume, my supervisior told me that over 100 people had applied. That shot me down right there, at least so I thought.

One week later, I received a phone call from Corporate Office in Cranberry, Pa asking to set up a phone interview for the position. Wow! I couldn't believe it, my Resume stood out among many. So, I had my phone interview and all went well. Matt, the Trainer Manager told me if I was selected there would be two more rounds.

Round Two - damn, I made it to Round 2. Again, I'm dismayed. Round 2 consisted of a round table question/answer under the STAR performance. Shit, they were shopting one question after another. They even asked me how did I like my new District Manager. Which by the way, he is smoking hot and black. I asked them, if that was some type of trick question. They laughed. Seriously, I think the biggest thing I had going for me, is that I am TOP Leader in our district for sales dollars. I'm not bragging, because honestly, my confidence level isnt that high.

You know, all through this process; I've been telling myself "I'm ok even if I don't get the position" and I truly am. I left the Round Two Interview feeling like, I'm happy I was even considered for a Round 2 Interview.

To my suprise, Corporate called agaim last week. Yes, and told me Merry Christmas, we want to set up a Round 3!! I made it all the way to Round 3. This roumd consist of Faciliating a Mock Training Dialoge using powerpoint and handouts. I will be give two days to prepare and my audience will be the Training Department. Wow, no worries right? Big time, butterflies in my stomach.

If I get this position, it will entail me travelling back to Cranberry, PA. My shift will consist of Mon-Fri 8am-5pm with weekends off. I will be travelling two weeks out of a month to Chicago, New York, PA, Ohio and West Virginia; this will be my training territory with Verizon Wireless. All travelling, airfares, hotels, meals will be paid for in advance by Verizon. The hotels let me add are the finest and luxuarious hotels around. Heck my kids are grown and as for me, I',m single, sassy & satisfied waiting to exhale again. So you know, this all sounds good to my ears.

My whole point is, if you missed the mark like me; there is still a way "to make it happen". Its a dream come true for me and maybe my time to fulfil the dream that I always wanted. But if I don't get it, I'm okay. I know I can "MAKE IT HAPPEN"!

The Whiz Kid

This article will definetly be read to "We Are The Dream Club", especially when society (corporate america) tries to put a muzzle over the voices and talents of our African American Youth or when our youth simply don't want to put forth any effort with academics. This article will movtivate us to believe that, "Yes We Can".

At thirteen years of age, Stephen Stafford is causing quite a stir at Morehouse College. Stafford has a triple major in pre-med, math and computer science. Though he loves playing video games and playing his drum set, he is no typical teenager. He is exactly the kind of student I had in mind when I wrote the book, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College," because he shows the power of the black male mind when we put our energy into things that matter most. Over the 17-years I've spent teaching at the college level, I have never seen anything more impressive, nor more reflective of what black men represent.

Stafford began his college career at the age of 11, after being home-schooled by his mother. Stafford's mother said that when Stafford began to teach her instead of being taught by her, she knew he needed to be in a college environment. Since that time, he has excelled in his classes and continues to grow intellectually.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Stephen Stafford, in my opinion, represents exactly what black men are about: Intelligence, ambition and high academic achievement. This is not to disrespect men in other walks of life, but the truth is that you will never see Stephen Stafford's accomplishments promoted like a rap music video.

We must, as a community, applaud and uphold this young man. We must cheer for him as if he averages 40 points a game. We should converse about his achievements as if he had released a platinum hip-hop album. He should get the same respect as every linebacker, point guard or hip-hop artist in America.

Corporate America will not blow Stephen's trumpet, but I will. I also want all the other Stephen Staffords to make themselves seen. There are hundreds of thousands of Stephen Staffords out there who've been convinced by a culture of thuggery that they should do their best to hide their greatness. Rather than acing math class, they've been taught to measure grams and kilos or to memorize football playbooks that are 100 pages thick. Our young men can analyze the triangle offense in basketball and break down a nickel defense, but then become mentally deficient when it comes to doing algebra, science and social studies. The time for mediocrity is over, since education is the key to making your dreams come true. Sports only creates more nightmares for most of the young men who sacrifice their education in order to be athletes (even those who become professionals). This doesn't mean that athletes don't deserve our respect; instead, it means that we've got to learn to separate the hype from reality.

The recipe for our kids is simple:

1) Spend as much time studying as you spend playing sports or working at fast food restaurant jobs. If a kid can work 8 hours for McDonalds, then he can study 4 hours a day in the library.

2) Don't let anyone convince you that you can't achieve whatever you put your mind to. No one has the right to define you or your child. Because my grades were horrible in high school, I was told that I wasn't smart enough to go to college and (like millions of black boys across America) recommended for special education. Later on, I became the only African American in the world to earn a PhD in Finance during the year 2002. I didn't earn the degree because I was brilliant. I actually earned it because I finally realized that I had the ability and determination to make my dream into a reality.

Just by studying 4 to 5 hours per day (less than the number of hours they would put in to working a minimum wage job), almost any child in America can get a college degree and become a doctor, lawyer or whatever they want. If George Bush can go to Harvard, then every kid in America can graduate from college if they choose to do so. I've taught college for 16 years, and I can tell you that the term "college material" needs to be abolished. Every child is college material if they want to be. That's the truth.


written by: Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and author of the book, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College."

Dramatic Monlogue "From disgrace to Dignity"

The title alone got my attention. Can you imagaine moving from disgrace to dignity? What's even more rewarding is to know that this drama monlogue will be held right in our very own backyard. I dig promoting other peoples work. It's a part of who I am and what I enjoy about lyfe. It's good to see black people moving from one level to the next, having the power to express themselves freely. I love helping others in anyway that is healthly and legal. Anyhoo, I think this is going to be an excellent play and I'm sure I will be able to relate to some parts/forms of this monlogue.

Anyone that knows me, knows I love all types of comedy, skits, plays, documentaries, monologues, dance or singing and I'm very excited to say: I'm spending my New Year's Eve right here watching/listening to 5 short stories come to lyfe. Im sooo excited to go, some people might say how boring; but no not me...

I find this to be very entertaining and fun!!!

Envious Attitude

The DivaTude wanted to shed light, Stomp on the head of and yell stay down to an "Envious Attitude". No, "Envy", you are not welcome to dwell in this mind, body or soul! YOU MUST GO.

I've been dealing with a word and a feeling for a while now and I'm open-minded enough to discuss and share with you and the world.

For quite some time I've been feeling quite envious of what someone else has that I desire. It's been bothering me and at first I thought it was jealousy, but as I began to be honest with myself; I learned that I desired to have what someone else has and it wasn't being jealous over not having it. It was envious.

After much sole searching, crying, asking why, I finally had to come clean with myself: I realised it was envy that I was feeling. Yep, envy had reared its ugly ass head and tried to destroy my self esteem.

Let me ask you, Can you handle success? No, not your success but someone eles. Or better yet, can you handle falling in love. No, not you falling in love; but someone else. I'm sure everyone at some point and time have felt this type of discontentment or possibly resentment. I know I have and I confess and come true with my feelings.

What do you think causes this envious? and, why do we have to critize someone who has what we desire? I'm sure there are many reasons and I had to sole search and answer these questions for myself.

Whelp, if you ever start to feel a little envious of someone else's success or happiness wage a campaign against it and refuse to view it as your own personal failure.

I just think we need to be happy for others success and happiness. Maybe if we become the reflection of what we want, that reflection will come back on us.

Next time, when you feel the ugly head of envy trying to rear up, STOMP on its head and tell it to STAY DOWN~~

Because "that ugly head ENVY", it's not welcome to live, dwell or pass by this MIND~body~SOUL

Didn't Cha Know

I love the beat to this song and the words actually speak for itself. E. Badu is certainly one of a kind. The video itself draws strength, confidence and pride to us as a people of color to continue moving forward.

I kinda digged the video and wanted to share.

Crank dat LUDAchrismas

I needed to unwind tonight. I'm feeling a little down and felt like watching Fred Claus again. Laughter is good for the soul. This tyme of year gets very hectic for us, but let's remember why we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. I know this isn't spiritual but it does put you in that mood.

Vince Vaughn is hilarious.... I love his movies and Fred Claus is one of my ole tyme favorites....by the way, so is LUDA!! ENJOY the video!

The Scott Sisters

In 1993, the two black women reportedly took part in an $11 robbery. No, that's not a typo. You read it correctly. $11.00.

This type of unjustice literally turns my stomach. Almost like the plot of Les Miserables. Every once in a while a criminal case brings to mind the plot of Les Miserables. In that story, a man is forced into a 20-year ordeal with the law simply for stealing bread. Well, the case of Mississippi sisters Jamie and Gladys Scott proves that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

The Scotts, who were 19 and 21 when the robbery occurred, have been incarcerated for 16 years. Meanwhile, three male acquaintances also convicted in the robbery are free after serving just a couple of years in prison. The men reportedly received lighter sentences in exchange for providing the prosecution with incriminating information against the Scotts. At the time of their arrest, conviction and sentencing, Gladys was 19 years old and pregnant with her second child; Jamie was a 22-year-old with three young children. Their children are being raised by Jamie and Gladys’ mother, Elaine Rasco. Despite having to move to Florida due to years of emotional stress, Ms. Rasco remains active in fighting for her daughters’ freedom.

The state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have refused to hear the Scotts’ appeals. Since being in prison, Jamie has developed almost complete kidney failure due to poor diet and inhumane prison medical care. She is receiving irregular dialysis treatments and has gone into shock numerous times. If it were not for the pressure and local attention that community, legal and political activists have put on the prison authorities, Jamie Scott could have easily died.

I mean honestly, hasn't the punishment in this case truly outweigh the crime? Isn't a life, oh no that's right; two life sentences. Isn't that a bit much?

However you feel about the Scotts’ innocence or guilt, at least consider the tens of thousands of dollars required to keep just one person in prison. Funneling these resources into locking up two women for petty theft does a disservice to the residents of Mississippi.

It also speaks to how little regard society has for black life. Is black life considered so worthless that lawmakers don’t care if the Scotts rot in prison over $11

National Human Rights Day

I like to believe that we as a people all have rights, wouldn't you?

Yeah, we certainly do have rights, I just don't think that the concept of those rights are treated equally for ALL people. We've come a long way, over the valley and through the storms; but we still have a ways to go!

On Friday, December 10th this year the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, along with the Charleston, Wheeling and Beckley Human Rights Commissions, are jointly raising awareness for National Human Rights Day. Help us spread the word!

National Human Rights Day is a day to remember and to promote the great freedoms that we have which were adopted On December 10, 1948, whereby the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

On February 16, 1946, facing the incredible violations of human rights which victims of World War II suffered, the United Nations established a Human Rights Commission, with Eleanor Roosevelt as one of its members. Eleanor Roosevelt had been appointed a delegate to the United Nations by President Harry S Truman after the death of her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Lady Eleanor Roosevelt worked on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, writing parts of its text, helping to keep the language direct and clear and focused on human dignity. She also spent many days lobbying American and international leaders, both arguing against opponents and trying to fire up the enthusiasm among those more friendly to the ideas. She described her approach to the project this way: "I drive hard and when I get home I will be tired! The men on the Commission will be also!"

Spread the Word: Friday, December 10 is "National Human Rights Day".
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