the Courageous and the wicked: Human Evaluations About the People You Know. .

the Courageous and the wicked: Human Evaluations.

More Evaluations of My Human Companions // Friends Here on this Precious Planet Earth.

 

Part B.

1. --  Lady Diana. I wasn’t that impressed at first, not paying much attention to the Royal Family as I toiled away at my work as a Human Rights activist, Black Activist and Gay Rights Activist.  However, over time, I saw you as a relentless leader who had many of the same political beliefs I had. In you death, I began to see you as a role model for me and thousands of others, and a victim of the Royal Family’s conceded, traitorous, and ungodly work to continue to dominate economically and sustain White Supremacy. You worked against this and paid for this with your life.  When you married the Arab gentleman, even though He was well connected and wealthy, the Royal Family was egested,(Look Up Spelling)  angry and out for revenge and received it at your death. I know for a fact that those flash camera men might have caused your death by car accident, but the long arm of the Royal English Family was at the root of it.  I also know you were becoming a world renowned anti-war activist as you insisted that the United States Pentagon  unearth the many war mines that had been placed in Africa and elsewhere – mostly Angola—and this anti-mine campaign of yours was beginning to show the Pentagon for the ruthless, uncaring, wrong-doers many of them are. The Pentagon didn’t appreciate this and I think the arm that reached out to your car and destroyed you and your boyfriend can  be traced back to the Pentagon as well.  Some People think heaven is only for Black People, but believe me, if I have anything to do with it, you are here as well.  Your memory will not be destroyed, and your work will live on into the far off future. The world is thankful for what you were able to achieve while you were a human with a human existence. As a positive Spirit I know for sure you continue your work. I Think you are especially Blessed by God and I wish, humbly, that you share some of those blessings with me for the hard work I am doing and not forget me. -- The little guy on 41^st Street.  I also wish your children well  and Pray they take on a positive role in helping the world in whatever Ways they can.
2. The Queen of England. You are a vampire. A blood sucker of the planet who gets away with looking real good in the public. I don’t like to call White poor People trash, but you are Dirty White Trash. (That come not only from me, but from many of the poor Black People in the Community where I live.) .  You have taken the life’s blood from entire countries in Africa and East India, and left those places, through plunder, stealing, rape, destruction and greed, you have left those places in need and want. What you give back is about 3% of what you have taken. If I could legally confiscate all the wealth you have stolen from Africa and East India I would do so in a heartbeat.  You ruthlessness will be rewarded to you by GOD with more than a sore ankle or a sore hip. You will get your come-up-ense as soon as GOD works His // Her Ways and take good care of you and exposes you for what and Who you really are. I suggest that People Goggle and  also look under Amazon.com and put in the Ruthless Queen of England if they want to find out the truth about you and all those African diamonds you are seen parading around in that were stolen from Africa along with the rubies, emeralds  and other gems, gold, oil and so forth – all plundered and stolen from the poor People in Afriac. .  The English government has been in deep compliance with your dirty and threatarious (LOOK UP WORD) work for generations, as you have outlived several Prime Ministers of England. If I travel to England it will be to visit the Black history sights not to see your blasted guard change.  Keep doing the charity work you do, but it will never buy you a ticket to heaven, where Lady Diana does Her work in perpetuity .  This is not to even mention the brutal, heartless enslavement of hundreds of Africans to do your horrible world domination work that once stretched around the globe, but has been properly receding for decades.  Your ``subjects’’ who are proud of your work look on in ignorance or turn their collective heads away from the Human Rights violations that carry your brand name and stamp. Your image in carefully tailored by the media to exclude the horrible things like beheadings, mass incarceration, murder, economic plunder and the literal rape of a land and Black People in far too much of Africa. I am suppose to forgive People like you, but I extend that work to GOD who has the last word on your fate.  You sit on over $300 billion dollars in stolen wealth and then you help the English government discriminate against foreigners and curb back on government benefits which makes it hard on far too many in England. Especially for the poor. You are a dastardly coward. I have been told to keep things positive, but I’m sorry, a proper criticism of you is not only in order, but a very positive thing in deed.  I just Pray that People get the courage and find the time to read more about you than what is put in the elite white – run, White Supremist press about you -- reading the truth about you and making their own judgments.
    
3. Mr. Curtis Jones, city councilman of Philadelphia. I looked on early as you ran, as almost a child, against City official Marg Tartaglioni (Look up Spelling—Chair City Committee Voting Etc. ). You were proud, angry courageous, caring, determined, GODLY, regal – a political Lion, an articulate  Tiger ready, willing and able to kick some high knee for the Black community. {Righteously so, it was shortly after the time or during the time rizzo lost his bid for a third term as Mayor. } I was very, very proud of you for running for that seat, even though you lost.  However, your loss was just an internal signal for you to come charging back to win the next time. You have done some great things in office as a City Councilman. That stands true and ripe.  However, you are not making the kind of waves you need to make any longer. That $170,000. Salary you make as a sitting City Councilman (Do the Research) , has helped you get into a position where you turn your back on people losing their houses to gentrification; suffering from police brutality; or suffering in poverty.  I offer you the opportunity to call my office and find out what we can work on together to repair the dastardly situations Black Philadelphians find themselves in  as too many White developers are greasing way too many palms here in the City of Brotherly LOVe so they can destroy Black neighborhoods and make boatloads of $$$...  You can do a lot better, and I pray you do.  I am disappointed with you, but hopeful that you are either replaced with fresh talent who can do much better, or turn your life around and face the True God and find out your true calling as a decent, honorable, and ethical Black  politician here in Philadelphia.
    
4. Marg Tartaglioni. You reeked with South Philadelphia. You were a heartless, corrupted, rude, God-Forsaken woman that Black People resented and White racist South Philadelphians LOVed to death.  The word corruption rang like a bell when you walked in a room. A rizzo crony from way back, you made sure as many Black People were taken off the voting rolls, regardless of their legitimate qualifications as a Philadelphia voter. I believe you are dead and gone, and I think your daughter, who is likewise a politician, is much improved from what you were.  You were cheap-looking, unprofessional, hateful, and disgusting. You sparked Mr. Curtis Jones and His partner at the time, to take up what money and power they had at the time, and run for office against you.  {It was around 1979 or 1980) Do the research). You twisted arms, cajoled people, and did favors and shamefully won your seat again.  GOD will never let you rest in your grave. If there is a devil,  he has charge of you now and probably has you cooking  some crazy food for the rest of your life in Hell, where you belong.  Being progressive and revolutionary and staying positive means turning negative at this point. I can’t find anything nice to say about you. One thing I will say is, I have to give an apology to your family who have, some of them, have worked towards racial harmony in our city. But for you – eat ashes.
5. Frank rizzo. I will not give you the respect to capitalize your last name. You have so much red blood on your hands, that I cannot even mention it.  One thing you did that makes me really angry was you made a legitimate Black business man – a Black refrigerator repair man – you made Him and His business put a fire hydrant in  His North Philadelphia store basement at His own cost.  I know this because I interviewed the Black store owner (You can look this up in the Philadelphia Tribune from 1970 to 1981 when I used the name Trace Gibson as a reporter).  He has a fire at His place of business during the winter months and His business was destroyed.  I always thought the fire was suspicious, but I never proved it. You were a kind and gentle man of good nature and good heart. You must have passed by now. I am sure you are on the shoulder of GOD with Ms. AKYRA MURRAY, who guides my every thought and decision, having had Her life snuffed out by Philadelphia police.  There are so many things I didn’t like about you. Things I really hated like the fact that you made some Black Brothers who were in the Black Panthers strip naked (The photos can be found in the Philadelphia Daily News);  you had Black school children’s heads whipped in at a legal and open school demonstration for better education; you killed MOVe members in Philadelphia at the shoot-out  on August 8^th, 1968 where Delbert Africa was kicked brutally by police as He stood there defenseless with His arms held out like Jesus Christ. He had His natural hair in dreadlocks pulled and ripped out by police as He was struck with a police helmet. (Do the research yourself and look in You Tube under MOVe  Shootout 1968 Philadelphia or Delbert Africa. He is now, some 30 years later, still languishing in jail in or near Philadelphia. I ask for what? You also laughed with a police night stick under your cummerbund as stupid Philadelphia Daily News reporters looked on and took your pictures. Yu failed at getting elected for a third term as Mayor – one of your greatest achievements, in my humble opinion.  You were corrupt, unprofessional, hateful towards Black People except Bill Peterson (my Uncle) and that Uncle Tom Boxer  Joe Frazer (Do the research).  Not only were you, as Mayor and Police Commissioner, unprofessional and hateful towards Black People, Liberals, and Progressives, you were an embarrassment as we prepared for the City’s bicentennial in 1976, you called out the National Guard or Army in fear of violence. There was no violence, but would-be tourist stayed away in droves as the national media spread the story like that Army sandwich on a shingle.  I was very young (22-23), but you were a natural embarrassment to me as a Philadelphia’s citizen.  There are hundreds of other things you did that were unlawful, stupid and relentlessly vulgar like putting Black men in jail just to be either hurt, killed or raped. (If I am wrong about this, please prove it and send me the proof. I will detract the statement).  You are the target of hatred by anyone decent and LOVing who lived through your time in office.  There must be a special place in Hell with your name in it, I hope your negative Spirit has been banned from the planet earth. If it is within my powers to do so I hereby proclaim your Spirit banished from the planet earth. Cracker!
6. Pam Africa.  You hold wisdom and faith in your heart and soul. You might not be a traditional religious person, but I know GOD has found a home in your work and in your house.  I know How hard it is to control anger because I have been hospitalized for anger issues myself. I used to cringe when I saw you speak publicly about the police and police brutality.  It has taken me years to understand the true nature and the true insidiousness of the Cracker and the police (Not all of them in my opinion)  and it is Black People like you who have taught me many lessons. You have led the Way in the Mumia case {Mumia Abu Jamal} and I know Frank rizzo rolls over in His grave after you, His legal team and the Power of the People  got Mumia a life sentence  -- turning over a death sentence.  Your level of courage, pride, boldness, woman-wonder, your intelligence at legal issues and the ways of White folks is beyond magnificent.  Over the years, you have tempered your anger a bit and cooled down the cursing, but you have never, ever stopped LOVing Mumia, the Black political movement and your Black People as well as MOVe members and ATAC members. Mother Tarrasa has different tactics, but you  both work with and for  honor, justice,  truth and decency.  Many People don’t know you have a family. How in the world you had time to have children when you took on so much work, I’ll never understand. You are not rich, which makes me angry. You have NOT been rewarded by our Black community, many of us being too fearful and stupid (frankly) to understand How important your work is. I am always saying How stupid and foolish it is for us as Black People, to go to Asian stores and forget about supporting our own People’s important work as activists.  We enjoy our jobs not realizing that it is often a Black activist like Pam Africa who helps keep the pressure on for those jobs to exists in the first place. I know MOVe, which you are a golden member of, had a conference recently in Philadelphia. I was too busy to take the time out to at least hear a speaker or two. Yet, MOVe literally saved my life.  I have guilt around this, but I’ll make it up to you and Ramona one day soon.   By the Way, some Black Philadelphians don’t know it, but you are a Black female general  on a par with any Black general in African History including Hannibal. You are a true revolutionary who will never be forgotten by Her People and this writer.  GOD BLESS MOVe forever.  GOD Bless you forever. When you get a chance, I don’t know if you have been there, but travel to Cuba and Africa when you can. Yu deserve it and will learn much.  
7.  
   The Revolutionary Cuban People. We, as revolutionaries, sit at your feet and learn. You defeated the United States and ousted them from your newly formed Island Nation as Batista was deposed and defeated. I have visited your island nation and was deeply impressed. I will never forget what I learned, the lectures, the food, the handsome men, and most of all, ALL  the People when I traveled there in circa 1991. The entire continent of Africa sits as a student at your feet – including the feet of White Cubans who are revolutionary as well.  Many People still don’t know that Cubans are, half of the population, are of African descent.  You are not brass and harsh like we might think revolutionaries are. I found the Cuban People to be kind, generous, intelligent, LOVing, decent, humble, knowledgeable of at lest two or three languages, funny, and have the brightest eyes and the brightest students as any People on God’s earth. By the Way, you are often also Christians, having taken on the Catholic religion in your own Way and your own time.  I don’t like the fact that it was President John Kennedy who ordered the Bay of Pigs invasion to try to destroy Cuba’s revolution and when that didn’t work, He started the embargo against Cuba which deeply impacted negatively on the Cuban People for generations. {I LOVe the Kennedy family, but this is one [point about John Kennedy I do NOT like}. By the Way, your land is beautiful as are your People. I met a Cuban women who ws scared to speak with me about Cuba. Other People, about 10 of them were not scared to talk. I think this one woman may have been someone who was being victimized for her anti-Castro views; or was under suspicion as colluding with the Central Intelligence Agency or maybe She just thought I was such a collaborator – which I am not and have never been. I tried to respect Her right not to speak with me. Many Cubans know the heated lies the Western Press tells about Cuba so they are leery of talking to people who present themselves =as reporters or writers. This is totally understandable.  The lush vegetation, the beautiful plants and wondrous flowers, Figs and mangoes hanging from the trees, beautiful, soulful salsa music. Beautiful men and beautiful women. And those old cars you have refurbished for decades because we can’t seem to get you new BMW’s and new Mercedes that you all --  each Cuban --  deserves. One point of clarification that most North Americans don’t understand and that I found our clearly when I traveled to Cuba. The thing the Cuban People value more than anything else is not only Fidel Castor – who will never die here in Cuba, but the Revolution itself. Anything or any entity that would overthrow the Revolution is seen as,  an enemy. This is why some People are in prison. They are usually guilty of crime {very little here}  but guilty of colluding with the Central Intelligence Agency or other agencies that would overthrow the Cuban Revolution and re-enslave the Revolutionary Cuban People in favor of Capitalist expansion for profit makers. This is not what the Cuban People want. This is why the Cuban government has been accused of so-called human rights violations – for putting some people in jail, when in fact it is the North American government who has hundreds of innocent People in jail in this country North America or Turtle Island or the United States of Native America.   Go yee Cuba among free men of the world and free women and make your ideas and thought those desired by all Real People questing real  freedom and real justice among the entire globe and especially in Africa.  Help Africa see you have not lost your cultural advantage by allowing freedom to Gay and lesbian People. Your doctors rock the world with their free work of healing, bringing food, shelter and healing elements wherever they go. Don’t forget your heroes like Ernesto Che  Guevara , Fidel Castor and Jose Martin and help us often foolish  North Americans to  know the truth about our government and the Cuban Revolution which wiped out prostitution, hunger {largely) and  corruption {largely} .  Your country is again, a bold, courageous and decent gift for the world.  Not to be overthrown, but appreciated, Honored and LOVed.  I ask the world to read Progressive histories about Cuba {Put Progressive History of Cuba or Revolutionary Cuban History in  WWW.Amazon.com or in WWW.Google.Com and look for videos and books on the subject. Visit there and visit stable parts of Africa as well.  You will be Blessed through GOD most High. 

OOOOOHHH NO HE DIDN'T

1-- Denzel Washington,

2—My mother once called Spike Lee (look up the spelling of His name)  ``a little nothing.’’  Mom had a Way with words and didn’t bite Her tongue. I don’t think Mom hated Spike Lee or was jealous of His success. I think She thought He was pretty cool. However,  I have pondered this statement ``a little nothing’’ and Mr. Lee’s movies over and over again in my head and I can’t figure out what’s at the root of what She was trying to say. Mom was also brilliant intellectually and LOVed Black People, so I’m figuring She wouldn’t say such a thing without a purpose in saying it. 

``Inside Job’’ is a film Mr. Lee made that broke new ground for Him and helped propel Him into a role as a main stream director.  He had some major stars like Jody Foster and Denzel Washington in this one. It was about a bank heist that never really happened. I would have to get the film again to figure out the plot completely, but that is the gist of it. I have always wondered why Black celebrity types can’t just get together and formulate their own distribution companies and overreach the big grasping hand of the White man, and distribute our films ourselves.   The distribution of films seems, to me, to e what is holding us back from approving films ourselves with Big Budgets and overstepping the financial risk which is the major excuse White distribution companies like Metro Goldwyn Miller (Look up Spelling), Dream Works and Seventy-Five Cent, LLC.  

At first blush, Mr. Lee seems like a really cool Brother.  His company is said to be a great one to work for. My therapist wants me to call Mr. Lee and ask for a job.  There are many jobs I could do for Mr. Lee including executive director of His major office; assistant director of staff;  or researcher.  I haven’t called. I am in need of work and pay really bad and barely have food on the table. I had an air sandwich tonight, for example.

3—Diana Ross is a wonderful singer and actress, but I have often wondered why She hasn’t ever taken a liking to Black men, except for Barry Gordy.  She married two White boys and had her children by them. This is Her prerogative, I’m not judging, just stating fact.  If you ever see Diana Ross on Television, She looks spooked. Something is really bothering Her that She won’t talk about. She has never, as far as I can tell, been very philanthropic  like Denzel Washington is of like Rudy Dee and Ossie Davis were.  Ms Ross may well just want to keep Her giving secret for political reasons or for whatever reasons, or maybe She doesn’t have so much control over Her money as the public – you and me – might think.  Her last husband (Get his name) was a billionaire who died in (get year) a skiing accident t. Apparently He left Her several billions of dollars. Yet I have NEVER seen any newspaper headlines showing where She puts Her money. This would take a very big mattress indeed!.  Diana Ross wanted to go on a probably final tour about seven years ago, but couldn’t get approval for money. Why didn’t She use Her own money? She could have certainly gotten together the cash She needed and got some managers and gone on tour Herself. Even if She couldn’t have gotten the original Supremes together She could have gotten some other pretty good singers and done a stage and light show that would have certainly brought in some major cash residuals for Herself.  ``LOVe Hangover,’’  ``The Boss,’’ ``Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’’ alone would have had me paying for a ticket and I know many young Black People would have bought tickets to experience Her for the first time.  What skeletons does Ms Ross have in Her house?  I think of ``Mahogany’’  which was Her second major film. She played a character named Tracy who was a brilliant fashion designer who was in LOVe with a gentleman from the Black community running for Congress in the formation of one Billy Dee Williams. Gene Shallot (Look up for spelling)  the film critic said the ``acting was rather wooden, but the film was oak,’’ in His opinion.  I liked the film, but the scene with the car crash with Anthony Hopkins (Do the research), was a bit much.  I would like to see Ms Diana Ross and several other B lack Celebrities do more philanthropy like Denzel Washington and Kevin Heart are doing.  One thing I can say for Ms. Diana Ross. She took several years off from Her career to bring up Her children in the Way She wanted to. For this I give Her high credits and high recommendations.  However, I would like to see Her do more philanthropy and speak out on some political issues if She so pleases.  One thing I have always been concerned about with Ms Ross is her weight. She is rather thin. I am sure She gets the proper diet and exercise, so maybe it is a health issue. I pray it is not anything serious and that She lives a good and long life.  It would be a triple scandal if She were diagnosed with HIV / AIDS because it would impact so tremendously on Her beautiful family.  Her children may be biracial, but they are some very good actors included there including Tracey Ross and  Her son (Look Up names). I have watched them in films and think they have great potential.

4 Samuel L. Jackson has to have a secret also.  mr. Jackson  gets so many coveted roles in Hollywood that  this is very, very strange because his acting style is OK, but nothing special. The character he played in ``Pulp Fiction’’ had an epiphany (Look Up for spelling and meaning) after when he was shot at and didn’t die.   Maybe mr. Jackson also experienced something like this in real life. his character in ``Brown’’ was ruthless and when he was ripped off for some significant lute, he got really mad and got even.  his character ended up dead as a door nail {I am sorry for the cliché, Brother Joseph Beam. LOVe, LOVe, LOVe}. My theory is, not that anybody asked me. My theory is that mr. Jackson has ``some major’’ on the fat cats in Hollywood and they want to keep him satisfied lest he reveal whatever it is they have on him and start a real squeak.  I have no idea what it is. I could think up a thousand people and a thousand things, but personally I think it is something about that former record producer of Whitney Houston’s, who was also into the film industry and film production. (Look up his name). I heard he was Gay, which is still the kiss of death unless you do a benevolent coming out like (look up the guy with His own show about architecture, or Gen – look her up as well – ABC, went to CVS with the First Lady – the respected and honored Mrs. Michelle Obama).  This is the most puzzling of all because I really can’t figure out what all the hubbub is about because I thought we were over the craziness about coming out and being Gay in Hollywood or anyplace else.  Even Wall Street workers and military heads are supposedly allowed to be Gay or Lesbian now a days and everybody almost applauds. At least this was so during the Obama Administration, which if you are Black, of course everybody knows we still have them in office someplace in Texas of Chicago.  I personally no longer accept a White president. Back to mr. Jackson. Strange.  Maybe he has figured out the ``Out of Africa’’ movement among progressive Whites. This is where all White settlers and White businessmen in Africa have to get  out in a few short months and look for housing and economic opportunities elsewhere and leave Africa to the Africans.  Thousands of Black professionals and Black Nationalists have signed onto this theory and are actively engaged in getting White folk out of Africa so we can help the continent become stable, resourceful, beautiful and a lively  thriving center point of Black pride and dignity. So, mr. Jackson has power among the Jewish People and he is not letting his Black Hollywood compatriots know How he got it or How they get it. I still go see his movies, but I don’t consider him an ethical person.

5—Becky Raboso.  The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is a Brother I respect. I have been greatly influenced in a positive Way, by not only His rhetoric, but His personal ethics. I have been especially influenced by the potent, direct and biting criticism of our established order including our often wrong-headed and corrupt government  and our often wrong-headed, unethical and corrupt corporate structure. But I don’t model my own activism after His and I don’t want to and can’t become a Black Muslim. The reason I can’t become a Muslim is two-fold. One, I don’t want to become a Black Muslim even though I believe many of the political dictates they believe in. I am a Christian and LOVe being a Christian. I believe in Liberation Theology and am partly a polytheist. (Look up this work before you go public with this).  Two, I have often wondered what The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan  does with all the money {$} they collect from people selling books, DVDs, newspapers {The Final Call}, and fees for events, schools, and collect at Mosque {If they do collect $ at Mosque}. It seems to me they could have done a great deal more to construct an alternative society for Muslims than they have. Now I don’t know what it cost to pay staff and maintain existing Black Muslim infrastructure, so I’m only going from what I see on the surface. I really shouldn’t even be giving my opinion without examining their books and such, but this is what I feel and think from what I know. I have to say I do not agree with the persecution of Muslims nor do I think the terroristic tactics a small minority of them use are useful, or helpful. I think such violent behavior must be persecuted no matter if the right wing or the left wing or the middle wing has taken part in that violent behavior. There was a point in my life that I not only attend meetings at Mosque Number 12 in North Philadelphia, I actually sat in the office of Minister Rodney Muhammad and talked about my interests in becoming a Black Muslim. Since then I have changed my thinking and my mind and found a really supportive Black church in Unity Fellowship Christ Church of Philadelphia and no longer want to even entertain the idea of becoming a Black Muslim. Plus, they don’t’ accept out Gay people, and I am not going to live my life in the closet as a repressed homosexual.  Two. And this is a related reason, I think The Honorable Louis Farrakhan is way too critical of Gay people. Not only that, I think He has a reason that goes beyond  the norm and is at the root or crux of His hatred of Gays. There is no denying that a lot of the Brothers who become Black Muslims come out of the prison system. And you know what goes on in prison. A lot of homosexual relations and man on man rape and man on man sex because there is no access to the female persuasion.  This is a secret that the Black Muslims don’t want to talk about. If there are a lot of Black Muslims coming out of the prison system and a lot of man on man sex in the prison system it would seem to follow that there are either repressed homosexuals in the Black Muslim movement or a lot of undercover or Down Low action among the Black Muslims.  Then Brother Minister Farrakhan is critical of homosexuality. This would make an inner conflict for some Brothers who want to be themselves and ``come out’’ as Black and Gay.  Being a former Calypso singer, I have to wonder if Minister Louis Farrakhan has ever had any personal experiences that have sharpened His tongue in regards to some experiences He Himself has had or that a floes family member has had.  I am just putting out thoughts and have no evidence here. I know How respected and in what high regard many Black men hold the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Like I said, I do also, but I’m a writer, a thinker and a journalist, and a businessman. One thing I must say also. Gays and Lesbians and Transgendered People do have some issues they themselves need to deal with as far as their own ethics and behaviors. There is way too much youth worship, way too much self hatred, way too much drinking, partying  and avoiding self-adjustment problems, and way too much free, open, sometimes kinky and unrestrained sex.  (By the way there is a whole community of People of all races that also take part in these behaviors who are straight or heterosexual.). I don’t approve of this either. To a similar point, however,  the White and Black Gay community needs to self examine itself and come up with some community-wide standards that are at least goals for behavior and actually work towards those goals.  I do not hold my tongue because I might step on someone’s toes with my words. I Pray all the time that I will only speak the truth and putout thoughts in my writing that are going to do good for Black People and People who work hard and honestly to improve the circumstances of Black People and Poor People, create justice, create decency, create freedom and stabilize democratic social orders that are fair and free no matter what part of the world they live in.  But there is something strange about the bitterness and hatred that comes from Minister Louis Farrakhan when He talks about homosexuals.  Another concern I have is whether   or not the Nation of Islam has deep connections with the Black Mafia and the Black or even the White underworld.  I can’t prove this, but I have heard very reliable People tell me that this is so. A former Black Muslim friend of mine who was a member of the Fruit of Islam told me that there is still until this day prostitution and illegal drug sales going on within the Black Muslim movement.  I had turned my head when I was younger because I didn’t want to believe it. I know they, the Black Muslims, do great things, but I once met with a group of elite Black People – mostly Brothers and one sister—who got around in a circle in Washington, D.C. and said some of these same things as if they were fact.  So this I wonder about also. Mind you, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Black Muslims, during the time of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,  got more men off of illegal drugs than ANY government institution within the United States government. It also does not refute the fact that the Black Muslims and the Black Muslim movement holds fast and strong as a righteous and positive movement that helps people in many positive Ways, including get off of drugs, have stronger ethics, and more determination and discipline in their daily lives which translates into stronger families, stronger family values and more success in business. The good, in my mind, outweighs the bad.   None of the articles I have written here have been written with revenge, vindictiveness, bitterness, hatred or hurtfulness in my heart and soul. I am working to help us become LOVing and decent souls. I want us to do our best and be honest with ourselves. If you have any comments please call me directly at my office / home at 1 (215) 823 9985.

Singing off: Brother Tracy Gibson…

 

6—Shariff Street  (Look up the spelling of His name, or call the committee of 70) is now a sitting State Senator from Pennsylvania and the son of a former Mayor of Philadelphia.  He is a very handsome young man, but He was made to stand outside of the political system fighting to find a seat to win successfully for several years before He finally won the seat of former State Senator Shirley Kitchen. The seat (Look up information) covers parts of North Philadelphia (do the research).  I am going to do the research to see if He has a family and all that. I know He is a lawyer, which helps a great deal if you want to be a city politician of state politician in Philadelphia.  Mr. Street is getting very good reports about How He is handling His constituent problems in His district.  Apparently He works hard and puts in long hours.  In a related matter, it was Shareef Street who stood with me outside of my house on 4635 Sansom Street as my house burned. There was no other sitting politician or recognized figure who was with me. My first cousin Vicky Wilmore was also there, by some strange circumstance.  Believe me, I never forgot the fact that  Shareef was there supporting me. (Thank GOD, but the Way, my house didn’t burn  down completely. The roof was badly damaged, however., but I was able to move back in quickly and get the damage repaired after a n adjuster took stock of the situation and I got money for the damage from insurance to pay for the repairs.  Street is deeply politically connected in Philadelphia. Yet it took Him a long time to get a political power base, even though His record is one of really ``being there’’ for People.  I wish Mr. Street well in his time in office, and I am confident that He will continue to do well. I don’t know if I’m on a trip this morning of ``misery LOVes company’’ but I still want to wonder why He took so long to get that political base He sought after for so long.  Was it because He isn’t much of a fiery speaker? Was He unable to rouse voters to go to the polls for Him? Were their rumors about His personal life?  He is a thin man and a little bit effeminate. Maybe the ``Black Community’’ didn’t like or accept something about Him. (Do the research about family).  If He has a family or not He could be bisexual. That is none of my business as long as it doesn’t interfere with the excellent work I hear He is doing for the Black community.  Are you getting at what I’m trying to put across here in these articles. We as a Black community need to stop thumping the Bible open and judging People about being ``GAY’’ like it is a crime. This is an era in which Gay marriage is accepted by the highest court in the land. I’m not saying Sharieff is Gay. But we have to evaluate People on more than that. Shareef has been a community activist for decades and has been successful at it and got some recognition. I wish this Brother well, no matter what His personal life is like. I am sure His father is proud of Him as well. 

 

 

 

7—Jannie L. Blackwell (Look up her research)  has been in City Council in Philadelphia since (Look up on doing research).  She has been a stall work, a  legal representative and a city politician for decades. She sits on the education committee and wants there to be an elected School Board, as do I.  Her commitment to Her West Philadelphia district is without a doubt, commendable. I don’t know How She does it with such consistency over such a long period of time.  She makes sure one group that deals in a positive Way with Africa – Echoes of Africa – gets proper funding.  She works diligently and hard at Her job and I would give her a C+. I say C+ because of two reasone. Fist She has been involved in scandal involving the Black Junior Mafia here in Philadelphia.  (Some kind of love twist I believe). I know it is very hard to stay out of scandal as a Philadelphia Black politician. I know there are temptations made to look just ripe and ready and good, by forces who themselves are not coming anywhere close to being ethical. And I know How much money gets flashed around in Philadelphia politics. None of those reasons are good enough excuses to fall off the beaten path and do things that are obviously wrong in the name of money, power, or wanting to maintain office.  I haven’t voted for Jannie for years, even though I have lived in Her district for quite some time(Check on this).  The reason I have not voted for Her brings us to the other reason Why I think She should not be in office. She has been there way too long. There needs to be term limits locally where a city politician can only stay In office for four terms. Anything else is unacceptable. // The Mayor only gets two terms. Why are we allowing limitless terms for City Council People?  There is a personal twist here as well. Ms Blackwell apparently has gone to bed with one of my ex-friends.  He was a thug type and in and out of prison. I was deeply in LOVe with Him and helped Him pay for needed items for His then baby like diapers and other baby items. He was married at the time, but told me (A damned fool at the time) that the woman He was married to didn’t mean anything to Him. I understand the pervasiveness of this individual named Blair Simmons.  I once sat up all night just looking at Blair sleep quietly after we had had an hours-long intimacy session while I live on Sansom Street.  He told me He slept with Jannie. I have no other proof, except the newspaper headlines that she slept with another ``thug’’ whose name I can’t remember. These allegations can be traced back through newspaper headlines in the Philadelphia Tribune.  These allegations make Ms. Blackwell sound like a rather unethical person. I want her to get out before they take away her pension.   Ms. Blackwell will get a very large pension for her time served in City Council. But she needs to step down and leave space for a young Bright Black face. No, I’m not talking about myself. I’m talking about a person who is qualified, educated, reliable, responsible, incorruptible, articulate, talented, electable, attractive and deeply concerned about Black People. They also need to have a special concern for Black children and their proper education as well as  be family oriented, without being homophobic. A delicate balance, if ever there was one.  Jannie capitalized off of the family name of Blackwell, from her husband Lucian (Look Up, Research) who served in that seat for years also.  SO I’m guilty of the typical political back slapping stuff myself, to a degree. I smile in Jannie’s face, but let it be known that I want her out of office.  The reason for that is sometimes I needs her help, like right now when I need a job.  Yet I truly feel she has been in office for long enough of a duration.  Enough said.

Don't Read this Unless you are Black and Ready to REALLY Help Yourself and Black People Who Have Been Held Back!

Anything for $??

  By Tracy Charles Gibson Written recently… finished on 5/28/2017

 

     *****Have we sold our souls like beast? Have we no ethical combination when it comes to the value we place on money and money alone, forgetting the TURE value of the Human Spirit?  Even when I say True Value, what comes to mind is a hardware store, not what I really wanted to convey, which is having real concerns for the Black Humans left on this precious, vital earth.  We have fallen for the folly of those who control most of the wealth placed in U.S. dollars instead of listening to People like Martin Luther King, Jr., who said unless you have something for which you are willing to die to work towards, you are NOT really fit to live. That thing I would die for is our Black youth, our Black children and their well-being. That thing I would die for is Peace on Earth – real PEACE!; That thing I would die for is LOVe and the Human Spirit ringing true to each of us as Humans; that thing I would die for is the living Spirits of my Black Ancient and not so ancient ancestors to live in and out of antiquity --  on into being remembered forever. That thing I would die for is seeing the smile of Black children and seeing the eyes and smile of my own Black male LOVer,. That thing I would die for and live for is having success, but it is a success that rings true with GOD, not something I have traded my soul in for cash for, a few pieces of GOLD, and a soft pretzel or hoagie. How did so many of us get broke and why do we accept it. What does it take for most of us as Black People to get the message and accept the message and act on the message that we MUST buy items at our own Black stores and never accept the White man, the Asian man, or the Latin man as a provider of goods and services for us or our families? If you get bad service, tell the Black store owner and try them or another Black store owner again. I know we are hard to find, but work at it as hard as you work at getting another lottery ticket, bottle of wine or LUCY cigarette. If we go to a White man or even an East Indian, our dollars are not going to work for us, they are going, more often than not, those dollars are going to work for them and not us. This is why, simply, we are left without.  A decent White man, if there are any, and this is questionable, a decent White man would not even accept us as customers and steer us in the direction of the next Black Person who would take our Black dollars and utilize them for good purpose, not a new car or a gold watch, but a Black youth’s education, needed housing, a Black bank account waiting to grow a Black business, a legitimate debt waiting to be paid so we can MOVe our Black selves and our Black MOVeMENT  forward. With all the continued unmet promise of this country, we need not ever again support White People economically, even if we work for a White company.  Yes, we all get tired and weary of the battle for Black Human Rights and for the rights of our Black People. But hanging everything on making the next dollar is inconsistent with the Bible , inconsistent with GOD and inconsistent with good and just African principals. It is also inconsistent with Human decency, Human kindness and the will to MOVe us forward as Black People.  Think before you spend. Do some research. Do you know that about 50 years ago there were over 130 Black-owned supermarkets in this country? Now there are about 30. This didn’t happen by mistake. And we can turn these things around. What you don’t know can hurt you. Is your life an endless parade of 40 OZ beers, marijuana cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes,  illegal drugs, unhealthy food like fried chicken,, mac and cheese, and chocolate cake. ? And you are complaining about the soda tax. Give me a second soda tax or a third. When was the last time you got any legitimate exercise in a legitimate gym or by walking around the village or estate where you live five times? I only walk around about two times, so I have to get up to five. When was the last time you looked up from your ipad, iphone, or cell phone to speak to the Black children down the street and your Black neighbors – if there are any left --  where you live? When was the last time you gave money to a LOVing and decent cause like feeding Black children, or paying for their education?  When was the last time you stopped asking GOD for money and started saving money by not buying lottery tickets, but put real dollars into a Black bank account?  When was the last time you went to see a decent Black movie like ``Get Out’’ or the one about the Black lady mathematicians at NASA?  If you think I am not also working on doing better, even after 30 + years of therapy, you would be mistaken… When was the last time you went to therapy yourself, understanding that our country is often void of decent values and decency and wanting to find more for yourself and your family? Do you go to a church or Mosque that allows you to question everything in the Bible honestly? If not I think you are just spinning your wheels.  When was the last time you enrolled in a good Black school, well prepared, ready to learn and directed towards achievement?  You might as well not even get up in the morning if you are just going to get another 40 OZ can of beer, a lottery ticket and another  motherfucking LUCY cigarette. The United Bank is at 15^th near Market or at Progress Plaza or in Germantown. Look them up and put some dollars in a brand new account. I think all you need is $10. Stop complaining about the fees if you can’t keep the balances you want to. Stop complaining that they don’t have all the advanced bells and whistles that  some other banks do. They will never get the bells and whistles unless you put your money in a Black Bank like United Bank.  Pay the fees and know a Black employee with a great attitude is getting some of that money. Take your Black dollars out of White elitists Banks that show you Black faces and give money to Black causes and take almost every dime of profits for themselves, their White stock holders, and their top White executives.  We, as Black People, can do so much better. I was on a South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority {SEPTA} trolley just yesterday  and a little Black baby boy got away from His father and ran into the street. The father moved like Black lightening and grabbed the child, not more than a year old, and snatched Him to safety. There was no time for the trolley to stop in time. That Black child may grow up to be the next Malcolm X or Fanny Lou Hammer.  The event  didn’t make the evening news.  Read the stories on my blog for just 15 minutes instead of listening to the evening news and learn something fresh, new and real. But I need you to send me a few dollars.  Call me and I’ll give you my home address where to send the money. All I want is a U.S. Postal Money Order for 75 Cent.  It will cost a dollar ninety five. You know why I ask for the donation? It is because when you spend your money you have invested in something. When you read my articles as a paid customer your life will change for the better. Question what I say and do your own research. Do some homework. Work your Way out of victimhood and discover the insidiousness of our new White neighbor who has a propensity for separating us and taking our Black dollars. I think we need to change our own behavior, and stop expecting them to change much. Some of them will, but even the most liberal White person takes full advantage of having White skin. Change what you are doing and step up to a new and better Black world. I don’t want to see empty chairs at the Free Library at 52^nd and Sansom Street next week or at the library in Winnfield. I want to see your Black ass in one of those chairs tomorrow. Read some Black history. Read to a Black child other than your own children. We are very, very special People as descendents of Black holocaust survivors.  Here is my blog access and my phone number. BOOG: http//thepoliticsofReal.blogspot.com Phone: 1 (215) 823 9985. Call and tell me something you learned.  MY NAME IS BROTHER TRACY GIBSON! May GOD Bless you with Her // forward MOVeMENT {HIS} infinite wisdom, Grace, kindness and the will to save and spend money in much better Ways. GOD BLESS YOU forever! Trust in yourself, your good & righteous Black People,  and GOD will find a road into your life --  and never leave you. Jesus, the REAL Jesus, was great for helping His own People first you know. Yes, He LOVEd all of humanity, but He worked very hard for His own Black People first!

 

``The proceeding article was authentically written by Mr. Tracy Charles Gibson. It authentically represents my  real  thoughts, beliefs, views, opinions, and desires . It should not, cannot and will not contain any suggestions of violence, bold-face lies (unless it is marked FICTION --  ) or hurtfulness or physical pain to anyone or any animal life. I am instructing my staff to add this statement to all my published works.  ‘’

 

Gratefully True,

 

Tracy Charles Gibson

a letter to United States Senator Cory Booker.

Dear Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey:

       **I just re-registered as a Democrat after about a year and a half absence. The only reason is that I want to vote in the Philadelphia primary and help select / elect a new District Attorney and some better judges for our fair city.  What I want you to tell me is why in GOD’s country I should stay a Democrat. Don’t give me some corny rhetoric or some jive about How great this country is. I know we invaded some 150 other times on shores we didn’t belong on to give strategic and economic cover for future corporate exploitation that our citizens and the thinking world had very little to gain from.; I know we have Watergate; Iran / Contra;  wars in Afghanistan and Viet Nam {Where we were defeated}; Iraq; Libya etc. in our past and hundreds of body bags that come back into Dover Air Force base are not even allowed to be shown on Television.; I know we no longer have a democracy where our Presidential races are in the hands of the People and not the corporations and our elections debates are run fairly, openly, and without undue tampering like they were when the League of Women’s voters handled them,; I know we are in trouble economically because we bailed out hundreds of nasty banks that ran roughshod over the People with the help of the government, while People – like me – go without jobs, decent housing or a feeling of safety.; and I know we continue to run a game on the North American People that Bernie Sanders {Check spelling}  was exposing {You see How far He got in running for the Presidency. I know all that, so please don’t come at me with snow in a snow storm called Donald Trump.

       **How are you going to make a difference in 2020 and are you going to run as a openly gay candidate  -- if you are that—and win. I want to believe again, but I don’t and I don’t want to get swept away by the likes of a law like the one that lets our corporations run over elections with money like they have no connection to the People and the democracy we profess to cherish.  I like the things coming from your campaign. I thought President Obama was going to bring the ``needed change’’ to the office, but I was so severely let down so earl I didn’t even bother to vote in 2012 and haven’t felt like voting since then. { in 2012 I wrote in Nelson Mandela for President; Angela Davis for Vice President – even though I am NOT a communist; and myself for Congressman} . Hillary Clinton is still a powerful woman and her husband is powerful also, but when you take a clear and definitive and honest look at the Clinton years in the White House I see hundreds more Black men going to jail because of the Three Strikes You Are Out law; Don’t ask Don’t tell; and the beginning stages of the debt crisis and the mortgage bank-bail-out fiasco.

       **I don’t know what I think one man or one woman can do about the situation we have here in this country {Which, by the Way I call Turtle Island or the United States of Native America because I think we need to give the whole thing back to them and admit it is stolen,  corrupted, racially segregated land on which way too many innocent People die each day without proper food and shelter while hundreds of millionaires still act like puppeteers while the politicians and People are puppets dancing in overt consumerism, socially orchestrated , corporate orchestrated distractions and the continued rule of the rich and the White.

       **Are you going to seriously put yourself up against the enormous financially endowed and technologically dominate oligarchy and try to make a difference by being right and real with the North American {Turtle Island} People, or are you just another whist in the wind who is taking a paycheck and not being really real? Tell me before I vote next May 16^th.

an open letter to a dear BLACK community sistah

Dear Sistah Atiola:

     I Hope and Pray You are Blessed with good health and well-being and live a good long life. I am Praying you find a new location for your Restaurant. You serve a vitally important Role in our Black community as a person providing good, and often excellent nutritious food along with a nice meeting place to exchange information and get educated about health, food, good nutrition, Black businesses and so much moore.

     Sistah Atiola, you are a champion of Black People and a champion of Black women. I put you up there with Angela Davis, Anita Hill & Althia Gibson in the stature and importance to our community. It literally made me ill to see Leonard call you a racist and disrespect you like that. But I beg you and the community to forgive Him because He can still learn and He is very young, only 47 years ole.

       I do very much want you to be successful with your new location. I promise to call you and see what I can do to help you, for the sake of our Black community and for the sake of Leonard, who I LOVe dearly. You deserve the best from us as Black People and you will have the very best, but what some of us don’t understand is Leonard also deserves the very best also.

     I am very apologetic about my business partner and companion MR. Leonard coming into your respected place of worship and acting the fool.  He can be a very nice person sometimes, but He can also be someone in desperate need of proper education about our Black Culture, Black History and our Black struggle as successful People in North America or what I like to call Turtle Island or The United States of Native America.

     Leonard has not, at 47, taken it upon Himself to learn about and study what we as Black People have been through in This Nation.    

     He has no idea that each and every penny He spends at Wal Mart puts another nail in the coffin of our liberation as Black People.  He also calls me a racist, so don’t feel hurt or singled out. Leonard is quite intelligent, but He can also reflect the very deep kind of ignorance about Black People that is so ramped among our youth and even among our Black general population.

     The ignorance is scary because it spreads so quickly that it sometimes gets back to and impacts on even the knowledgeable Black grass roots like you, me and most of the Black People who enter your lovely, important, warm and wonderful store there on 4505 Baltimore Avenue.

     The ignorance, wiping it out, has been part of my personal life time goals.  Yet I sat in McDonalds the other day and shook my head and even laughed slightly at a poor Black women I saw with a baby. I wondered aloud what that Black baby’s future would be with a Mom who frequented McDonalds. I was only there because Leonard likes to go there. I was actually boycotting McDonalds because of their terrible addictive food that is poorly prepared and sold at way too high prices.

     But we have to be careful when we criticize Black People like Leonard because He spends dollars that can become Black dollars as well. He doesn’t understand How He needs help and He doesn’t understand the seriousness and depth of nor the insidiousness of our oppression as Black People.

     I have sent Him my book list with hundreds of Black books and other important books of self-improvement on it. Yet He wants to read about White and European clothing designers and not discover much about How to become a designer who faces extreme success at designing clothing that incorporates Black and African designs with other cultural designs.

     Our grass roots ignorance of Our Black and African History and Black and African Culture is extremely dangerous for the future ad continuous success of and stability of our Black community.

     When we walk into Wal Mart and support that store, I don’t care if a few sell-outs products like Pattie LaBell’s Bar B Que sauce are sold exclusively there, we are supporting the White political foot on our collective necks. We have to explain this to people like Leonard and we have to explain that supporting ourselves is not racist but about self-LOVe ad self-survival.  

GOD Bless you and don’t give up on People like Leonard. He is worth working with, educating, and yes, even listening to.

      

Did You Wait Too Late? Mother's Day Dinner Reservations for Six at Relish.

Did you wait too late to make Dinner Reservations for Mother’s Day, and finding everything booked up? Dinner reservations for six  Black People who are REAL about helping other real Black people be all they can be are available. The location is Relish Restaurant in Mount Airy Philadelphia, (for Mother Day May 14^th, 2017 ).  First come, first serve.  No extra cost. All you have to do is pay your restaurant   dinner bill with a generous tip and say a Prayer for our company – Seventy – Five Cent, LLC.  We are dedicated to helping Black People reach their own good and great destinies and become their best se selves.  This is all being done through the auspices of Mr. Tracy Charles Gibson. Reach me at 1 (215) 823 9985.  Please be real and be honest. This is not a come on. It is also NOT an invitation to imitate, take the place of or take the identity of Mr. Gibson.  It is also NOT an invitation to stick me with the bill. If you have any of those notions in mind, please DON”T  take part in enjoying these reservations and the tremendous obeisance of Relish Restaurant. .    (I was simply unable to enjoy the food and good company at Relish, due to out-of-town business, and wanted to help a Black family who might be in need of dinner reservations.  Just say you are with the Gibson party of six, but fully expect to pay for the reservations (about $29.75 a person) and a reasonable tip. I thank you. Enjoy your Mother’s Day.

a total confession about sexual obsession.....

A  Total Confession to GOD—My Sexual Obsession // By Brother Tracy Gibson…

** I try so hard Lord, and yet, I fail every time. I am under the powers of my own sexual drive and sexual obsession. I am like a child in a candy store – sorry Joseph Beam for the cliché – I am like a child in the candy store even though I don’t cheat on my LOVer, my desires remain out of control as I watch hours of pornography, [I claim it relaxes me and allows me to move forward to do God’s work]  even though I destroyed 17 DVD’s of porn to try so hard to work against my sexual obsession for beautiful Black men, beautiful Native men and beautiful Latin-Black men.  I have failed myself and my Black People.

** Will you, GOD, will you forgive me? I see the beautiful feet and beautiful stomachs and beautiful faces and incredible sex organs you made by your hand Lord, and I am amazed at my own desires. They seem out of control, and yet, in some strange Way, perfect.

** I Am especially titillated by younger Black men, and I give total control of myself over to them. I am helpless, coy, timid and out of control, even though I put forth an African mask of total cool and total control. I give myself to them, through GOD. Yet, somehow, I must remain faithful to you, my friend.

**Sometimes I think there is a rapist inside me waiting to pounce out like a Black Panther. Sometimes I think there is a leopard inside me waiting to find PRAY.  Sometimes I think there is a ruthless tiger waiting to find refuge between the legs of yet another BLACK man .

** I have a place at Home where I put photos of my BLACK family, JESUS,  and Ancient Black ancestors – including God’s picture [JESUS] and they give me strength to make it another day as I PRAY for redemption, SALVATION, forgiveness, and resolve. I move forward with my activist work and I want to save this world made wretched, by ungodly forces. I don’t know if I will ever meet with success.

** I think of my mentors Nelson Mandela, Pastor Paul Washington, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Reverend Jeff Haskins, Reverend Victoria, Reverend Brian Robinson, Cynthia McKinney, Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Junior, Rosa Parks, Rosita Johnson, Joseph Beam, Joseph Bunch, Pam Africa, Ramona   Africa, Debbie Africa, Wanda, James Wright, Nebraska Bowman,  Blondell Reynolds Brown, Jessie Gibson, Charles Gibson, Bill Hill, Bill Peterson, Estelle Welch,  Aunt Helen / Aunt Maud, Aunt Helen Peterson - Thornton, Grandma Jessie Thornton, Uncle Ken Gibson, Uncle Lionel Gibson, My Grandfathers, Uncle Raymond Gibson, Uncle Lloyd Gibson, Aunt Ruby my many cousins. I ask forgiveness from you for all the men I have had while I was in search for LOVe, tenderness, intimacy, kindness, closeness,  kisses, soft touches, thrusting in LOVe’s last climax.

**  Taking off my obsession is like trying to take off my skin or unload my heart and still live. It is impossible. Good friend, please forgive my obsession for lust, closeness and intimacy. I want to make a family with you, but the children I want to raise with you will most likely never happen now that I’m 60 years ole. GOD says never give up on yourself. His / Her hand is the most tender of all and His / Her face is in the faces of babies, the laughter of ole men, the quiet falling of rain, waves crashing against the rocks, and in the eye on each dollar bill the government has ever produced or printed – He / She is totally and forever undefeated. He allows me to walk with Him / Her each day and I am forever thankful and grateful.