THE MAGNIFICENT DELLS HAVE LOST ANOTHER LEAD SINGER TO THE AGES: RIP ~ MARVIN JUNIOR ~

Marvin Junior ~ 1936- 5/29/2013

In my blog profile I address the significance of  memorable musical accompaniments for this grand symphony that we call life. Stevie Wonder's timeless album "Songs in the Key Of Life" dramatizes this concept so well.  The quotes "music is what feelings sound like"–Author Unknown and "Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn." {Charlie Parker} were also used to further illustrate the importance of musical backdrops and how it enhances our lives.
 
Yesterday, we lost Marvin Junior of The Dells to kidney failure at age 77. His rich, raspy baritone voice will be with us as long as we have access to their many albums, cds, tapes and videos of concert performances.  The 'Baby Boomers' and their offspring can better understand the mixed feelings of sadness and joy as I type this tribute.  There were many wonderful memories--some bittersweet with the melodic stirrings of life altering and sustaining events.  Many of us rocked, reflected, laughed and cried to those lilts that stirred our souls and made us dance.  If such a thing exists; it would be wonderful if he's had a reunion with his long time friend and group member, Johnny Carter, who transitioned in 2009. 

Johnny Carter ~ 1939- 8/21/2009

'There Is' Review: Released 1968

One of my favorite albums "There Is" was one of the soundtracks during the earlier years of our marriage.  James and I created some of our best achievements, Kamilah, Niya and Lakie during that time. 






There are three remaining members of the group, Charles Barksdale, Michael McGill and Verne Allison and although they are in semi-retirement; I wish them the very best as they continue on this journey without Marvin and Johnny.

Photo Credit: The Mighty Dells.Com

For your viewing and listening pleasure; this is a video of one of their performances; 'Oh What A Night' !

Ta-Nehisi Coates and Tim Wise Address President Obama's Recent Cautionary Speech to Morehouse Graduates;Class of 2013

I've decided to combine the links of the articles penned by these two gentleman in this post-- given their similar views on President Obama's seemingly propensity to address black audiences in a condescending and berating manner.  In particular, his recent speech to Morehouse graduates; was disturbing for this group is the least likely audience to require such admonishment.  It is a pattern with the President over the past 5 years to do this and it has caused some division in many facets of the black community. There are some who believe it is needed regardless of the demographics and there are others and I'm included in the latter; who perceive this canned speech as a diversion for the administration's reluctance to address the needs of his most supportive demographic--black folks. 

Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a senior editor at The Atlantic and Tim Wise, is an educator and author whose  piece was featured in  Black and Brown News.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Senior Editor

   How the Obama Administration Talks to Black America

Tim Wise, Educator and Author

Tim Wise: Racism, Barack Obama and the Selective Call for Personal Responsibility

 

IN HONOR OF YOUR 88TH BIRTHDAY EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ {AKA MALCOLM X} : MAY 19, 1925 – FEBRUARY 21,1965

"That's where I saw in the bars all of these men and women with what looked like the easiest life in the world.  Plenty of money, big cars, all of it.  I could tell they were in the rackets and vice.  I hung around these bars whenever I came in town and I kept my ears open and mouth shut.  And they kept their eyes on me, too.  Finally, one day a numbers man told me that he needed a runner and I never caught the night train back to Boston."















"For 12 long years I lived within the narrow minded confines of the 'straightjacket world' created by my strong belief that Elijah Muhammad was a messenger direct from God Himself, and my faith in what I now see to be pseudo-religious philosophy that he preaches..I shall never rest until I have undone the harm I did to so many well-meaning, innocent. Negroes who through my own evangelistic zeal now believe in him even more fanatically and more blindly than I did" .                                                                                    

 

"The holiest and most sacred city on earth.  The foundation of truth, love, peace and brotherhood. Here I am, back in Mecca.  I am still traveling, trying to broaden my mind, for I've seen too much of the damage narrow-mindedness can make of things, and when I return home to America, I will devote what energies I have to repairing the damage". 

                                                               

"The price of freedom is death"

"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary".

"It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood.  That's the only thing that can save this country".

"Once I was yes.  But now I have turned my direction away from anything that's racist".

"I am not a racist.  I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.  I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color".

"We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have proven acceptable to ourselves".

The life cycle and complexities of Malcolm X with its many stages as well as post death events still require ongoing scholarship forty-eight years later.

Related Links:

The Birthday of Malcolm X
Manning Marable Tribute & Scholarly Book On Malcolm X

A MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE FEATURING DR. MAYA ANGELOU

Photo by Ken Charnock/Getty Images

I've always been rather fascinated by Dr. Angelou's perspective on her mother and grandmother in her 5 part autobiographical  series.  Her new book; Mom & Me & Mom;  gives us a more in-depth view of just how complex the relationship with her mother, Vivian Baxter was and the crucial role her grandmother, Annie Henderson served in providing a bridge that would eventually lead to a reconciliation between them.  My decision to feature her and the book for this Mother's Day comes from a place of understanding that with all the tributes and loving asides; many relationships with our parents and for the sake of this post--our mothers are complicated.  On the far end of the continuum they are daunting as well.  A recent episode of Iyanla Fix My Broken Mom really drives that point home and evokes discomfort in general and for many recollections that continue to fuel bouts of anxiety and neuroses throughout the spring, summer, fall and winter seasons of their lives .  

Dr. Angelou becomes quite philosophical about mothers who can't live up to the idealized version of what they should be during their child's infant, toddler and early adolescent stages.  She further  describes her mother, Vivian Baxter in a loving manner although there were obvious missteps and abandonment during her earlier years.  There is a focus, however, on how her mother stepped up to the plate during her teenage years  when she gave birth to her son, Guy. "Maya admires her unflinching honesty, her strength, and her caring nature, despite her frequent fumbling as a parent". This was absolutely necessary to strengthen her love for her mother, absolve mistakes she made with her own young son and eventually forged a formidable bond that continued until Ms. Baxter's death.  

During my previous posts  on celebrating our mothers; I chose not to fully address the dismal side of motherhood and as Dr. Angelou eloquently relates that we find ways to make the worrisome aspects of our mothers mean something.  Lessons learned and wisdom gained when we find ways to reconcile those complexities especially when female offspring become mothers. 

There are many interesting perspectives on how to celebrate the day and give honor to our mothers. There is an article by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri that focuses on the importance of love and not so much the material gifts that we shower our mothers on that special day.  The relevance of sharing that love with other women whom by happenstance may benefit through service the real meaning of honoring our mothers. The latter is a fitting introduction to The Global Mom Relay  a movement initiated  by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki -Moon to save the lives of millions of women and children by 2015. 

I can't reiterate enough that we should not forget to honor those women who took on the role of mother for so many of us.  She may have been a close family friend, cousin, aunt, grandmother or a stranger with a loving and giving heart.  A magnificent day to all! 


 
 A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ~Washington Irving~

Justice Abdus-Salaam Nominated for NY's Highest Court - Atlanta News

How wonderful is this and after researching the background of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam I became more impressed.  The Appeals Court has an awesome responsibility of assessing the legality of the cases presented and to either affirm the decision of the lower courts or return them for re-trial.  As I learn more about the Criminal Justice System by reading and viewing panel discussions by authors like Michelle Alexander and viewing lectures by Bryan Stevenson re: the maze inherent in this system and the many inequities; a judge with her history, stature and equanimity is sorely needed.

Shared this article from the Atlanta News and kudos to  Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who  nominated Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam to serve on the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court..


 Link:

Abdus-Salaam nominated for NY's highest court - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5