the story of the pigeon of 40th str...

pigeon...a simple inner city bird with little fan fair and not much of a future to make anything really big of himself. I met a pigeon today, this morning, as it were, at the park on 40th str.  in Philadelphia. I was resting after a walk from home on my Way all the Way down town to the Library at 20th and the Parkway.  That little dirty bird tought me a lesson right there as I sat near the Learning Tree. He is smarter than most black people.  He will change into a REAL Eagle or at least a Hawk very soon.  I think He will skip partridge status all together, even though the partridge is a very fine bird to be such a close cousin to the dirty pigeon, with all of that cooing the partridge does....  Now, why on Earth do I say that the pigeon is smarter than most black people??? Because He is a smart little bird.  He took one bite out of the potato chip that was on the ground and left it alone.  It was a barbecue chip which taste really good because of all that salt.  Maybe this little dirty bird pigeon has high blood pressure and didn't want to get sick so He left the potato ship alone.  Hundreds of BLack people  spend over $10 dollars on Potato Chips every year.  That $10.00 could go to buying socks or to buying a note book or a diary to keep notes of good things to do before GOD in.  [Notebooks are really cheap.] But, unlike the Dirty Bird, we as Black people keep buying potato chips and eating and consuming them and getting sick. We sell them to ourselves and other ethnic groups sell them to us.  That is why our blood pressures are up and why we are fat.  we could have even bought a bar of soap with the money we save from buying potato chips. GOD knows some of us could use some soap and water to clean ourselves up... The pigeon knows better than to eat the chips and walked right by the chip.  He was on his way to buy some nuts at the store at the corner to keep the corner store open so He didn't have to support WaL Mart--but that is another story.  The Dirty Bird Pigeon also walked right by a cigarette. [What is with these newports anyway and the BLackcommunity????  He didn't pick it up and smoke it and get sick.  Do you know how much we would save in health care bills and health care benefits if we did that--didn't smoke cigarettes like the dirty pigeon didn't...........................................................it would be hundreds of dollars.  But We humans have a tendency to smoke, especially if we are poor and homeless..... There seems to be some kind of contest to see who can get cancer quickest and fastest.....the pigeon Will not get cancer at all.   He puffs out His chest and fliesoff Proud and Healthy, but first He was on the Way to the corner store to get a yogurt.....He was not on His Way to McDonalds........   but that is another story.  Now you see why the Eagles really Will never win the super bowl no matter how hard they try because there are too many dirty pigeon who smoke and eat pork and eat potato chips and who haven't discovered that their bodies are a TEMPLE and must be respected....  The Eagles have a lot of Dirty Pigeons among them, but they are in the closet.  They eat fried chicken, pork, smoke, drink and eat potato chips.  In fact, the Eagles do commercials for HERS Potato chips.  This shows that they are not even smart Pigeon--let alone ready to be true and real Eagles.... We Will never get to the Super Bowl and WIN like that--with false and phony pigeons faking it as Eagles.  They haven't even reached Hawk or Dove or Partridge status yet.  BUT I think that pigeon I saw today at 40th str in the park today near U of P at the Learning Tree Will be an Eagle on Wednesday--a REAL Eagle!!!! An Eagle for GOD!!! HE IS READY!!!

New Ad For Craig's List.....

Our Progressive Public Relations / Education / Research / Fund Raising / Philanthropic organizations need you to invest in our future and the future of REAL Patriotic Black Americans and North Americans of every ethnic, racial and religious group who want the best for our country and our world.  We present papers and proposals to the government; write hundreds of articles; do tireless research; and provide job searches for clients. If you would like more information about us, please read some of the articles on our BLOG at: http://thepoliticsofreal.blogspot.com

Call us at 1.215.471.64.94 or Send an E-Mail to: BrotherTracy11@GMail.Com

Humbleness is GODLYNESS!!!

Often we take time for work, family, friends, church and even intimate time with our partners. We might go to church, but have we spent time to really say THANK YOU to GOD in a very special Way? Yesterday morning I went to the Delaware Water Front in Philadelphia and watched the SUN rise.  I didn't even really know why I was going down there.  I just thought I was going for an early morning walk, but I sat in front of the river and I noticed the SUN rising!!!  I am 56 years old and I think it was the FIRST time I actually sat and watched the sun rise....  It was stupendious, majestic, magnificent, romantic--even though I was alone with GOD only--; it was like discovering a new planet called EARTH!!!  The SUN is perfect.  It is round like nothing else is round and it leave a long trail--a reflection--on the water.  THe orange reflection is almost inviting us to come up to the SUN and join GOD.  it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen and it is there everyday for people who take the time to see it.  If you are feeling depressed and hopeless and are down on your luck and have no money, I strongly suggest you go to the river or any water facing EAST and watch the SUN rise.  GOD will not dissapoint you.  It is so gorgious and beautiful and you can do this as many days as you can find time for.  Thank you GOD for showing me your true beauty... I am ever thankful.  Brother Tracy Gibson...

A Letter to Shell Oil.....Jobs for BLACK Youth Next Summer [2014]...

August 29, 2013, Thursday...

Shell Headquarters
CareL Van Bylandtlaan 16,
2596 HR The Hague,
The Netherlands

Dear Shell Oil:

I have written several of your competitors in past years concerning providing Summer jobs for youth, especially in the inner cities across North America, and especially for Black youth who have been so hard hit by unemployment, hunger, poor schools, lack of opportunities, depression, and bad tempriments and bad attitudes due mostly because of the aforementioned problems. .  My vision is that young Black men and young Black women between the ages of 15 and 23 can work at your filling stations for a fair wadge [not minimum wadge.] and do odd jobs such as: cleaning; sweeping; minor auto repair; customer service and helping with light machinery. They must be paid at least $10.10 an hour for the work to be furfilling and meaningful for them. Some of them Will be interested in advance auto repair and want to learn more things such as how autos impact on the environment through emmissions; and how to help fuel effencecy in older cars....  My proposal is for the program to take place during the Summer of 2014.

These Summer jobs will be great learning experiences for the young Black men and young Black women and will give them badly needed spending money over the Summer.  This should have a positive impact on jobless rates especially in inner cities like Newark, New Jersey; Chicago, IL; Camden, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pa; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; and New York City.  The Jobs will also have a positive impact on lowering inner city crime and will have a similar impact in suburban and rural areas.

There should also be quite a Public Relations prize for your company which will be seen as taking a bold and different initative to help our inner cities and our Country....

I hope you will consider this simple proposal and get back to me soon with Ways for me to help as a consultant with the project.

Sincerely,

Brother Tracy Gibson,
President, Founder and CEO OF:
The Black Millionaire's Network and Brother Tracy Gibson and Associates, Inc.

1.215.471.64.94.

BrotherTracy11@GMail.Com

Building Economic Bridges to Improve Cities and the People Who Live In Them.....

Business / Philanthropy / Fund Raising / Advocacy / Public Relations...

A Little Ditty About Ted Turner...

* His Father was Physically Abusive.
*He Went to a tough boarding school like in ``Lord of the Flies.''
*His Father told Him that ``The Commies would Kill everybody who had more than $50.00 in their pocket. Ted Kept $49.00 in His pocket.
*Ted Turner's Dad read books about parenting back in the 1930's and 1940's.
*His Dad was a ``Deep Thinker'' and ``Perfectionist.''
* Ted hated working with the hand-held soil tiller.
Jane Fonda says in Her book ``My  Life So Far,'' ``No one can make you feel inferior without your permission,'' She was once married to Mr. Turner, who is a Billionaire.

The preceding information about Ted Turner was culled from His best-selling book ``Ted.''

Asian Film Festival--November 7 - 17; 2013

Don't miss the exciting Asian American Film Festival in Philadelphia from November 7th to 17th, 2013. The physical locations for the film events include International House at 37th and Chestnut Str in University City; and Asian Arts Initiative at 1219 Vine Str. in China Town.

This is the 5th year for the Asian American Film Festival. ``Graceland,'' which some film critics call a modern day classic is the featured film on Friday November 9th, 2013 at International House.

The Quote to be Used at the END of My Book...

``I'd Like for them to Say;
He took a few cups of LOVe,
He took one tablespoon of patience,
One teaspoon of generosity,
One pint of kindness,
He Took one quart of Laughter,
One pinch of concern,
And then, He mixed Willingness and happiness,
He added Lots of faith,
And He stirred it up Well.
Then He spread it over a span of a Lifetime,
And He served it to each and every deserving person He met,

ALi from 1972 interview with David Frost

From the Book:  ``The Official Portrait of the Greatest of ALL Time, ALI.''

By Nancy J. Hajeski.

Disney's Shame.....A Thousand Points of Slight

There is a beautiful Disney Movie called ``Oceans'' from I believe 2011.  It depicts the beauty and mystery of what goes on and what lives in our oceans.  It was beautifully filmed, but when I looked in the back of the companion book and looked at who the underwater photographers were, there were 89 photographers and oceanographers and other ocean professionals and specialists involved in the project and just 2 or four of them were women.  I saw no Black men or Black women involved on the project and NO Latino or Hispanic people.  This is a shame and has made me want to think twice about supporting Disney.

Brother Tracy Gibson.....

Give Yourself and Your People Time.....

I have a strong suggestion.  It is important if you are Black, but ALL people, especially working people, the unemployed and the rest of us need to think about this.  Have you ever been in the Post Office and had to get back in line because you had to fill out some forms, applications or what-have-you?  You get back in front of the line and people's heads start to roll along with their eyes and they look at their watches.  You are saying to yourself, ``Well, I am ``allowed'' to get back up in line because I already waited once.''  Take the time to get in the back of the line and wait again.  You will be helping someone in that line lower their blood pressure, release stress and have a better day.  You will also be taking precious time for yourself to relax and bit.  People who don't have children never get to understand the importance of seeing a child grow up from a little baby to an adult.  Well, that's unless you are close to your nephews, nieces or other child relatives.  Sometimes we forget what a Blessed thing it is to have and raise children.  We HAVE to take the time to understand this because there is an ensuing battle over the future Black Mind and what goes into it and What doesn't go into it.  It is time for us to turn off our children's computer games and read a story to our children.  Even if that story is something very old like ``The Learning Tree,'' Which I loved as a child; or ``Man Child in the Promised Land,'' if the child is a bit older say 15 or 16.   Better yet, let the child read an old book themselves.  Turn off the TV and even the radio and ``discover'' your child for the first time.  Taking this time is important in your child's proper development and growth and it allows you to let your hair down and relax as well.  Instead of going to the fast food place for dinner and rushing back home [we should not be Russians because we are really North Americans--little joke], russing back home to watch TV and finding ourselves captivated by the mayhem on the small box--take time to talk to your husband or wife or significant other and your children about the events of their day and your day.  You will discover that they are worth the time and your level of understanding of your child and your appreciation of your mate will increase innumerably.  If you disagree with me please write me at BrotherTracy11@GMail.Com and let me know your views and opinions. 

Malcolm X's Effects--What to do About Them...

August 2, 2013 Friday

From: Brother Tracy Gibson…..

As a community educator, activist, philanthropist, businessman and fund raiser I am very, very concerned about what is happening to significant historical documents, memorabilia, keep-sakes, and ornate art objects that reflect the Black experience and our history as Black People.  Over two years ago I read that the papers and personal items that belonged to Brother Malcolm X were disbursed to a library or private source and or memorabilia merchant other than The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.   The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, because it is located in Harlem, is THE place where such historically significant items that once belonged to Brother Malcolm should be housed and put on public display—if that is the wish of His remaining family members. 

Since our good Brother Malcolm X came to be one of the most outspoken, powerful and courageous Black leaders while using Harlem as His base, it seems to me that the Schomburg Center would be the likely place for His papers and personal artifacts to be housed, preserved and, if His remaining family so pleases, put on display for the public to come and view and appreciate for the great significance they represent.   It would also be understandable if, again the family agrees, that such artifacts and papers, be put on display next year at the grand opening of the African American Cultural and History Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., again for a time the family so deems appropriate.

I was wondering if you knew if the new African American Museum at the Smithsonian has sought or is seeking legal resources or is working through Malcolm X’s daughters to get possession of said personal papers, letters and personal artifacts that belonged to our Great Black Leader...

I would like to offer my many skills and talents [see resume] to look into this matter for you.  In fact, I hope I have not been too verbose as to begin the Ball Rolling to look into this matter through the writing and publicizing of this particular letter you hold in your hand and or are reading on my blog or on Face Book right now. If you can at all manage it, I could use a small donation of $50. So I may be able and empowered to purchase ink cartridges for my computer and copy paper [100 % recycled] and postage to send important documents such as this particular letter out in the mail.]

On the wages I make right now I’m unable to get Internet service at home.  I must become more technologically proficient in our quest for Black Liberation and self-determination.

TO: Dr. Molefi Kete  Asante, of Temple University and of the Dr. Molefi Kete Asante Institute [5535 Germantown Avenue; Philadelphia, Pa 19144 [1.(215).882.92.00; Writer / Activist Alice Walker; Former Congresswoman and Activist Cynthia McKinney; Writer / Novelist Tony Morrison; Professor Winston Kennedy of Howard University; Professor  Tony Montaro of Temple University; Doctor Walter Palmer of the Sociology Department at the University of Pennsylvania; Professor Charles Ogaltree at Harvard University's Law School; WURD Radio and the Lomax Family of Philadelphia [Specifically Sarah Lomax Reese];

With the deepest appreciation for the magnificent work you personally do for our African Diaspora, Best Wishes AND Peace and Blessings,

 

Brother Tracy Gibson…

 

This document and 400 other letters, ads, and articles are available for inspection on my community Blog at: http://thepoliticsofreal.blogspot.com

 

Any small donation you would be willing to make of $5. Or more will go to the on-going work of liberating Black People [Please note the list of items I have been working on that are listed on the Blog also].  Make all checks and money orders payable to: Brother Tracy Gibson and Associates, Inc. and send to:

The Black Millionaire’s Network; Post Office Box 42878; Philadelphia, Pa 19101-2878.

Phone: 1.215.471.64.94.

BLockBoi75@Yahoo.Com

 

This letter is still being worked on and should be completed in five days [by July 22, 2013]. I must do the appropriate research and google Malcolm X’s memorabilia and start there.

 

 

Thoughts on Being Black and Gay in North America.....

Introspective Thoughts on Being Black and Gay in North America….

By Brother Tracy Gibson.

It is not easy being Black and Gay in North America--especially if you are a Grass-Roots Patriot...  Yes we are attractive and in ``Vogue.’’ Yes we have sex and have fun and can, to some degree, enjoy our lives, especially now with the higher level of acceptance of Gay and Lesbian people in general.  But underneath the parties, the bar scenes, the entertainment industry jobs and flashy new acceptance and ``Gay Marriage’’ issue; there is a lot of pain that runs very, very deep and a Black community that is still unforgiving, harsh and often hateful towards us.  But all that aside, I have to ask each and every Gay and Lesbian Black person in North America, what have you done lately to raise the ethical standard for yourself and our community?  What have you done to be more honest in your personal and business relationships?  What have you done to make your living as a faithful Christian, Jew or Muslim ring true, real and authentic with yourself [ourselves] and in the face of GOD?  What have you done to be honest with yourself about the issues you have that need clarification, study, thought and mental and emotional healing?  When we do these things, this introspective homework, we will see our level of acceptance rise and even if we don’t our level of self-esteem, self-LOVe and self-acceptance will go up significantly and that will cause the healing and the forward motion we have all been working towards, waiting for and  or seeking.

  I have been politically and financially and even socially ostracized for some of the views I have.  When you LOVe God and LOVe yourself, you have a tendency to step on the toes of racism, injustice, bullying, phoniness and hate without even trying or taking calculated steps to do so.  The Bull-Shit artists have to move out of your Way so you can do your work.    It is NOT easy to be real with yourself. Especially if the Bull Shit artists sit in the White House, in Union Halls, in Editorial Board meetings at the Philadelphia Tribune or at Philadelphia Magazine’s plush down town editorial office.  Or, yes, on Wall Street or at the TV Networks or other places of power like the Pentagon or Madison Avenue.  There are now, more than even, a lot of Bull Shit artists in this world. [I could name several, but you might be surprised at the names I come up with. You might also be suprised to find that I am NOT only talking about White racist Republicans.] I am also talking about young attractive Black men who are homosexual, but because of a job and a paycheck, stay inside a cocoon they perceive as safe and cushioned.  Just ask the Brother who is now getting all the accolades for ``coming out’’ as a Gay BLack man who plays for the NBA.  Everybody loves him now, but no one is talking about the people he may have hurt when he was flexing his perceived Heterosexual  muscles by calling other Gay men, maybe even sex partners the big ``F’’ word... Calling people that name may have made his male ego larger and helped him shrug off the looks he might have been getting when it was discovered in the press that he had no steady girlfriend.   

But those are only alligations. I can really only talk about myself. Therapy has done me a world of good.  I have seen a therapist for about 33 years.  Now I mostly go to get medicine every third month and to chat a bit about any real troubles I’ve been having.  Usually now the troubles are more professional than personal in nature, especially since I don’t have a steady man friend right now.  But we as Black Gay men do a lot of hiding, shady treatment of others and back-biting that   feeds into a lot of negativity.  This negativity ultimately goes into the general perception that we are not a healthy segment of the Black community.  But our Whole Black community needs to be sitting on the Psychiatrist's sofa.  We have, as a people, some very hurt feelings and hurt ideas that need to be set correct, healed and rectified so we can, as a people move on and move foreward...

I want to share with you two things that my Pastor at church, the Unity Fellowship Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pastor Jeff Haskins said to me or omitted to comment on that show just how far we have to go as BLack Gay and BLack Lesbian people and as BLack people in general.  I once mentioned in an e-mail that we should have a picture of a Black Christ at church, not the White one that has been there for seven years. [We share the church space, so I’m not sure this is possible, but it would have been nice to have gotten enough respect to have gotten an answer.]  Don’t get me wrong.  Pastor Haskins is a sweet, kind, generous [in spirit], LOVing, and healthy person [in mind and body]—much more so than many of us as Black people are.  He visited my home once when I was feeling a bit down and not making good decisions for myself.  I was not dealing with reality correctly and honestly for a while there and Pastor Haskins and my LOVing Sister, Mrs. Claudia Aziza Gibson Hunter, really helped me find a better path.  GOD helped also.  But the fact that there is a White Jesus at church speaks volumes about how we don’t or can’t correctly take on the mantel that GOD has given us and move forward with it.  When we truly LOVe ourselves we want to see our image in positive places and represented by positive people.   Sometimes I think it doesn’t matter if Jesus was Black or White, but to pray in the presence of a White picture of Jesus in a mostly Black, politically aware, self-affirming Gay church says we are not really serious about who and what we are and how we can advance from where we are to what we want to be.  That little picture says it ALL.  Black images have been emasculated, destroyed, torn asunder, disheveled and misrepresented since the days of Amos and Andy  right through to the images that are displayed in Tyler Perry’s movies.  That one little picture may be part of the reason we don’t have the new church building and new location we want for our church.  Another thing that Pastor Haskins did that showed me where He is as opposed to where He needs to be was I once told him over a nice Asian dinner at 40^th and Chestnut Str, that I had suffered with some anger issues around race in North America.  He said point blank, ``I Guess  you are just racist.’’  After I picked my broken ego off the floor, I said, no I’m not racist.  I have totally legitimate concerns about being Black in North America.  I think those concerns have been revealed by the dismay many people have after the ``innocent'' verdict for  Zimmerman as a dead Trayvon Martin lay in the ground....  I think those concerns are revealed when we look at the incredible numbers of Black men and Black women who are incarcerated in U.S. prisons. I think those concerns are totally understandable when we look at the continuing unemployment rates in cities like Philadelphia, Detroit [where the City Council voted down a proposal for Africa Town and now the City is going Bankrupt], Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark and Camden to mention only a few.  And I think those concerns are still very real when I look at the total mismanagement of our Schools at the hands of a mostly-White state board in Pennsylvania that is more concerned about the profits of the private sector than the Well-being of our youth and their proper education.  

Some of the leaders of the Black Gay community are in desperate need of more training on racial matters; leadership matters; matters of relating to other leaders without letting ego get in the way; and in matters of raising funds properly and ethically.  There is a segment of the so-called ruling class that really wants to help us even though much of our stigmatism has been their fault.  We have to find Ways of letting that help and healing happen in positive and meaningful Ways without falling all over each other grabbing for dollars, free professional services and the non-gentrified refurbishing of our houses, businesses, communities, churches and schools. We cannot afford to be in high and respected places and be novices politically. That just doesn't work.

On yet another matter and in my relating to another Black Gay activist in Philadelphia. I sent an e-Mail to Brother Tyrone Smith about how I felt a real level of ostracizing or marginalizing from our own community, but I personalized it and mentioned him and Michael Hinson, another Black Gay leader very visible in Philadelphia during the Street Administration here. Michael was also very visiable before that as head of the Colours Organization.  [Brother Tyrone was head of an organization called  Unity which provided support services to people with HIV and Aids in the Philadelphia area.]  Unity was very, very effective for any number of years and Brother Tyrone MUST be commended for part of that effectiveness under His stewardship.  I want to publically apologize to Brother Tyrone and Michael for that remark, but like I’ve said, I’ve felt out of the loop for years in some circles of leadership right here in Philadelphia, even though I have dedicated myself to the political struggle here for over three decades.

This article is still being written and edited…..

Copyright warnings and infringements from ``It's Your Biz,''  By Susan Wilson Solovic, with Ellen R. Kadin and a forward by Edie Weiner. Page 150...

``Because I write many columns and blog posts for a variety of companies and media organizations, I use search-engine tools to alert me if anyone is picking up and using my material.  Some people have literally copied my writing and presented it as their own, even though this is an obvious copyright infringement.  There are both civil and criminal penalties for copyright violations, and the severity of the penalties depends on the situation.''