Booker T. Washington on Superiority

I have always been made sad when I have heard members of any race claiming rights and privileges, or certain badges of distinction, on the ground simply that they were members of this or that race, regardless of their own individual worth or attainments. I have been made to feel sad for such persons because I am conscious of the fact that mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless he has individual worth, and mere connection with what is regarded as an inferior race will not finally hold an individual back if he possesses the intrinsic, individual merit. Every persecuted individual and race should get much consolation out of the great human law, which is universal and eternal, that merit, no matter under what skin found, is, and the long run, recognized and rewarded. This I have said here, not to call attention to myself as an individual, but o the race to which I am proud to belong. -Booker T. Washington

Be Water My Friend

Empty your mind. Be formless. Be shapeless. Like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. If you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. If you put water in teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water my friend. – Bruce Lee

Things You Can Only Say In An R&B Song

R&B is one of my favorite genres of music. I’ve been listening to it as long as I can remember. The first album I ever bought was Monica’s Miss Thang. The second album I bought was Jodeci’s The Show, The After party, The Hotel. Why my parents let me listen to Jodeci when I was eleven is beside the point. However, from Joe, Public Announcement and R. Kelly to 112, Case, and Dave Hollister, I always find myself turning on those jams regardless of what’s going on in my life.

Listening to the song is one thing, but listening to the words is totally different. I found myself cracking up as I went back and listened to the lyrics of some of my favorite songs. Here are some lines that only work when used in an R&B song. If you want to try these out on a person, do so at your own risk. I’ll start with ten, but feel free to add your favorites in a comment below. Until next time…peace.

“Friends don’t let friends sleep alone.” – Joe
“1…2 girl whachu wanna do, baby pump me while I pump you.” – Jodeci
“You remind me of my jeep.” – R. Kelly
“Don’t sleep on the woman.” – H-Town
“Seeing you reminds me of all the nights I used to beat it up.” – Dave Hollister
“Girl I feel you when you comb your hair.” – Maxwell
“I bet the neighbors know my name.” – Trey Songz
“I wanna do you after school like some homework.” – Tevin Campbell
“I gotta Jonz in my bonz” – D’Angelo
“If you’re horny, let’s do it, ride it, my pony.” – Ginuwine
“I like the crotch on you” - R. Kelly 

Helen Keller on American Ideology of Individualism and Social Mobility

I had once believed that we were all masters of our fate-that we could mold our lives into any form we pleased…I had overcome deafness and blindness sufficiently to be happy, and I supposed that anyone could come out victorious if he threw himself valiantly into life’s struggle. But as I went more and more about the country I learned that I had spoken with assurance on a subject I knew little about. I forgot that I owed my success partly to the advantages of my birth and environment…Now, however, I learned that the power to rise in the world is not within the reach of everyone. – Helen Keller

What can we do to make sure that the power to rise in this world is within reach of everyone?