Author: Lady G

I am Lady G šŸ’‹šŸ’‹Lover of family, friends, good food, good drink, and loud laughter. Spiritually aware sky-gazer and maker of good šŸ¤— things happening. āœØ

Not Lost on Us…

On By Lady GIn National Events, People and Populations, voice12 Comments

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?

I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all
other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.

-Frederick Douglass

I used to love celebrating the 4th of July when I was a kid.

You know, ice cream, apple pie, friends, family, freedom and liberty, right?

Well, I’m sad to report that my joy for the holiday changed once I went to school and learned the irony surrounding it…

What with slavery and all.

Here’s the odd part, nobody I talked to really wanted to acknowledge this ginormous paradox.

Trust me, no teacher, not even the Black ones, pointed this enigma out to me; it was something I had to figure out on my own.

I remember asking my mom why we were celebrating freedom and independence for America when our ancestors were slaves at the time.

Mama just cut her eyes at me and said, “HUSH your mouth!”

Clearly, I wasn’t telling her anything new…

In fact, I was pretty much stating the obvious.

But, I guess she didn’t want to deal with the heaviness that inevitably encroaches on Black folks whenever they attempt to reconcile the holiday with the history.

So, in my family, we simply opted not to go there.

Don’t get me wrong, since everybody was off work, we went with “the flow” and attended reunions, cook-outs and the like– sans the flag waving gratitude of independence.

In short, we worked it, but it wasn’t lost on us.

And, based on the quote I cited above, it most certainly was NOT lost on our dear Frederick Douglass, who gave a fiery speech to the nation back in 1852.

The premise of this magnificent oration?

ā€œWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?ā€
(1852)

Chile, Frederick read America for filth!

IN 1852 no less!

Honestly, I can’t help wondering what he would think about our current state of affairs and the super slow “progress” we’ve made.

Especially considering the fact that he still held out hope for our country all those years ago.

All in all, Mr. Douglass believed that The Divine was and is in control.

So do I.

Now…

As you think about that, please enjoy a reading (excerpts) from this important work-performed by me, LadyG, and my dear cousin and fellow blogger, Ron Brown.

LadyG loves YOU!

A Family Conversation: The Curious Transformation of a Weed into a Flower

On By Lady GIn A Family Conversation3 Comments

ā€œA Family Conversationā€ is a storytelling audio series that features weekly discussions between blogging cousins LadyG and Ron Brown on current events along with favorite posts from each otherā€™s blog.

***********************************************************************

Love is a flower, from that a bud
To spread its sunshine and make us love
Beautiful colors shinin' though
Bless you, brother, God is watching you

Think it over 
Life ain't a four leaf clover 

Think it over 
Life ain't a four leaf clover

From:  "Flowers" Performed by The Emotions.  Songwriters: Anthony James Bowers / et. al.

*****************************************************************

This week, the cousins discuss Ron’s post Z.O. My Hero.

During this discussion Ron shares about a time when one of his students taught him a very inspiring lesson.

We also discuss Ron’s teaching experience and suggestions for helping the next generation of students blossom into beautiful flowers.

We also talk about his “strange affliction” and whether or not he recovered.

Links:

Toni Morrison on The White Gaze

The ACLU Racial Justice Program challenging segregation in public school districts.

Pt. 1: New Generation Perspective & Energy/Revelation via ā€œPunishmentā€/Low Health Literacy/Due Diligence /Underfunded and Inadequate Schools

Pt 2:  Knowing the Student/Wuthering Heights and Caged Birds are a No Go/Eurocentric/Toniā€™s White Gaze/Better than and Less than

Pt 3: School Boards should know and care about Education/Hire Local/De Facto Segregation via Charter Schools/No blinders and No music/The Ho Spot/Adapt to them

*FAIR USE**

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ā€œfair useā€ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 

Rambling Musical Commentary: I’m As Real As Real Can Get!

On By Lady GIn Rambling Musical CommentaryLeave a comment

Join Lady G as she shares her favorite jams from 1971.

Tune in to find out which one is the “BIG JOKER!”

1971

**Featuring the original version of K-Jee

*FAIR USE**

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ā€œfair useā€ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 

Greens From Daddy’s Patio: Daddy Over My Shoulder (Week 9)

On By Lady GIn Greens From Daddy's PatioLeave a comment

Even though I’m getting more and more comfortable with gardening, Daddy is always watching over my shoulder.

Whenever I’m working with the plants, he usually says something like…

“Add a little bit of this!”

“Add a little more of that!”

OR

“Not too much!

“That’s enough!”

“Put it over there.”

“Move it over here.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Look here bae, do it like this.”

And when I get it just right, he reassures me with a super sweet …

“There ya go!”

I’ve lived my entire life anticipating those words when I’m in the midst of learning new things from Daddy.

If you listen VERY CLOSELY, you can hear him say that to me in previous videos šŸ™‚

Anyway, today, I made more room for my spinach by replanting my rosemary and basil.

Best believe Daddy’s right there watching every step.

Enjoy the video and note that the voice-over near the end is not necessarily synced with the plants that are shown at the time.

A Family Conversation: We Don’t Need to Escalate

On By Lady GIn A Family ConversationLeave a comment

ā€œA Family Conversationā€ is a storytelling audio series that features weekly discussions between blogging cousins LadyG and Ron Brown on current events along with favorite posts from each otherā€™s blog.

***********************************************************************

Mother, mother

There’s too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brother

There’s far too many of you dying

You know we’ve got to find a way

To bring some lovin’ here today

What’s going on. Marvin Gaye

***Includes Strong Adult Language and Situations

This week, the cousins discuss a 2020 reblog of LadyG’s post, “I’ve Noticed,” from July 2016.

BEWARE! In the 3rd audio (maybe it was the 2nd audio), LadyG gets SIDETRACKED when talking about “bad cops.” Of course this led her down a nearby “rabbit hole.” A relevant topic, but a “rabbit hole” nonetheless.

Anyway…

Before abruptly switching topics, I was planning to make the point that bad cops are not made better through additional training. These officers just can’t fit into the new mold that we desire.

Seriously, we need to totally dismantle and restructure the system of racism in law enforcement that continues to dog the marginalized.

Jesus said, and I’m paraphrasing: Don’t pour new wine into old wineskins.

Derek Chauvin and the structure that supported his ability to don the badge is a prime case in point.

I believe that highly trained new officers, who don’t have all of that horrible history of bias, are a much better investment.

If we can train new soldiers to be both skilled at combat and accountable for their actions, we can do the same thing with new police officers.

*******************************************************************

Psychopaths vs Sociopaths:

Psychopaths tend to be more manipulative, can be seen by others as more charming, lead a semblance of a normal life, and minimize risk in criminal activities. Sociopaths tend to be more erratic, rage-prone, and unable to lead as much of a normal life. When sociopaths engage in criminal activity, they tend to do so in a reckless manner without regard to consequences.

From Psych Central

Based on DSM V

The Culture/Problematic 911/Black Cops Too

Black Cops Too II/A Good Cop/Old Dogs/Hellions/3 Soldiers/Turning PointĀ 

Death is Painful/School to Prison//Make America Great/He Killinā€™ ā€˜Em/Black on Black

Help Solve it/White Collar Murderers/ Meter Maids/Two Christianities/ A Chaperone

A Deterrent/Overwhelming Numbers/Voter Educate Yourself/Bonus: Axinā€™ ā€œingā€/Alive Today/Message to Good Cops

60 Minutes Article on so-called “white collar crime”

***FACT CHECK: Horace Greeley was not a candidate in the governor’s race in Georgia 1990! Don’t know where I got that from. LOL

What Jesus Are You Talking About?

On By Lady GIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I wrote this inĀ  2016 but it’s even more relevant today.

Seek The Best Blog

pray-1359099_1280

I know this lady who was raised in a very depraved environment.Ā  She, her mother and her siblings were treated as if they were the private property of her ā€˜father.ā€™

This young lady had been worked, raped and nearly beaten to death.Ā  She was not allowed to go to school so she never learned to read.

Throughout her teen years, her ā€˜father,ā€™ who had been her main abuser, gave his friends permission to violate her in any numberĀ of ways.Ā  As a result, she gave birth to six children; each with a different man. Her father sent several of the children away because he said that it wasnā€™t his responsibility to feed them.

Sadly, the young lady was never told of their whereabouts.Ā Before long, she and her remaining children suffered the same fate.

This young lady, who had nothing but the clothes on her back and three children in tow, didā€¦

View original post 382 more words

Rambling Musical Commentary: I Could Live Without Love

On By Lady GIn Rambling Musical Commentary5 Comments

Moving into a new decade!

Join LadyG as she presents three favorites from 1970.

My Jams 1970

*FAIR USE**

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for ā€œfair useā€ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 

Rambling Musical Commentary: Three Dusties

On By Lady GIn Rambling Musical CommentaryLeave a comment

Come along as Lady G rambles and sings off-key to a few of her favorite dusties!

Don’t know what dusties are?

Dusties are little known songs from a bygone era.

Anyway…

Never one to miss an opportunity to introduce thoughts that take unexpected twists and turns, LadyG gives you a plethora of non sequiturs along with loud Southern mama laughter !

But isn’t that what a ramble is supposed to be about?

Unscripted foolishness in 3rd person šŸ™‚

Enjoy!

Bonus Jams