Spirit First Foods on Baltimore Avenue

If you are seeking a break from fast food places and really want to try some great food, try Atiya Ola's Spirit First Foods at 48th & Spruce Street in West Philadelphia.   She serves breakfast items such as turkey beacon, eggs, vegan pancakes, gluten-free pancakes and salads with salmon for lunch [UMMM!!]. Call them at 1 (215) 939-3298 or just stop by. They are conveniently located in West Philadelphia near Clark Park... They Specialize in Vegetarian and Vagan and Raw foods... Atiya once catered an event for me last year and EVERYBODY LOVED THE RAW FOOD--even people who had not tried it before!!! The Salmon Wraps are just great. She also has alkaline water, low salt popcorn and vegan chocolate cake. She comes highly recommended...

** Late addition: recently I had Her Black Bean soup & pinto bean soup [ GREAT]  and a Salmon Salad and vegan chocolate cake. You are talking about something really great. I also get a great deal of wisdom when I visit Atya Ola's because many very smart Black people like to stop by for a meal & to see what's goin' on. It is becoming an effective, if small center for grass roots community education.

Book Promotion

``A Book For Black Youth’’

By Brother Tracy Gibson

A book designed to give deeper context to young Black lives & ignite more motivation to learn Black history. And offer paths to help empower Black youths to be more responsible financially. The road starts by thinking independently, but never forgetting where you came from. This short book will help Black youth focus and stay on course towards goals.

Available by calling 1 215 823 9985 or Writing

BlackExecutive46@GMail.Com

(Please write ```I Want the Book for Black Youth’’ in the Subject line. Include your: name; e-mail address; phone number; & address. Enclose a $7.00 Postal Money order for e-mail copies.) Print clearly. A hard copy is available for $15.00 including postage. Send this information to:

Brother Tracy Gibson

Post Office Box 42878

Philadelphia, Common Wealth of Pennsylvania 19101-2878

Make all Postal Money Orders only out to: Brother Tracy Gibson & Assoc., Inc. Please be sure to state clearly which book you want.

``The Book For Black Youth’’ is for young Black People & Their Parents, Guardians & Grandparents who want them to achieve with Black ethical pride & Black dignity.

No Guarantees & No Returns or Refunds. 23 pages long.

Also ready for Purchase: ``Let the Children Gather’’ by Brother Tracy Gibson. A Book of poetry especially designed to help inform and alleviate Black young anger & redirect it towards productive, responsible, positive behavior.

Cost: By Mail:  $15.00 (Not ready as yet on e-mail.).

Call: 1 215 823 9985

LOVe is Easy Change is...

LOVe is Easy. Changing is not. But we must work at it. Success saves our Black Planet.

By Anonymous

I Love Black men. In fact, I’m infatuated with them. This would not be so bad if I weren’t a Black man myself. This makes things hard. I’m not talkin about one or two Black men. I mean everyone I see. Everyone that ever was or ever will be. God gave me this LOVe so I could save the planet earth. It is LOVe that saves things. Not firemen. Not policemen. Not school teachers. Not community activists. Not money. It is the LOVe in the heart that forces these people to act the correct way and do the best at their jobs. The LOVe of a Mom for Her child is instilled in a young boy and when He becomes a Black man, He LOVes in turn.  Greetings from Heaven. We now all live in Heaven. If we are makin it a Hell that is because of circumstances. We also live in the United States of Native America. It is not necessarily our fault to have difficulty.  If we were lucky enough to make a difference, even just for ourselves – that is God workin for us and the universe workin with us.  A lot of Black men still blame the White man for their ills. Sayin we are oppressed. Certainly there is a situation in place that puts oppressive glue on us each morning when we turn the tv on; eat a donut; turn the radio on or read most magazines and newspapers. Not reading them and turning them on or eating a donut is a choice we can make. We can choose to go to the library instead of choosing to have another 40 and get laid. We can choose to go to school instead of blow $20.00 a day on lottery tickets. When White men wake up the oppressive glue they listen to, read or eat or turn on doesn’t oppress them – it tunes them up for their day and gets them goin and gives them every advantage White skin can muster and put forth. The People who tried to tell Black men – beautiful Black men – about this were killed. Martin. Malcolm. Medgar.  We lost something when the computer was invented. We used to invent a lot of things. The computer has turned the landscape in the Black community into self-haters and mush. Don’t use your computer night and day. Learn how to rule it instead of letting it rule you. Don’t hate on White People. It is useless to hate anyone or anything except perhaps injustice, greed, bigotry, economic inequality, -- did I say greed. If I sound like a broken record to you, you probably are already a Black activist workin hard to figure out a Way to free Black People from the often self imposed mind set of slavery. We work to ``improve’’ the school system. We should  have our own private school system with a set of principles to lift our children’s minds out of the ``imposed’’ gutter of the ghetto and become a new class of  thinkers and doers. They have a commercial on tv about doers and they are all White and just about all male. As Black men we have been erased from the class of doers in their minds. And we let these people teach our children. This is not wise. If we have the money to save part of the liquor industry, we have the money to stop smoking cigarettes and cigars and – stop Bling Blinging. We can put our children through privet schools with expert Black teachers and pay our Black students  (and give them scholarships). This will support our Black private school system and raise our standards for our children and the rest of us. Our children need to go to Black colleges and Black universities where there are expert Black teachers, expert Black Administrators and expert Black companies and expert Black individuals who want to see the Black students achieve greatly.  Black Colleges and Black Universities succeed must succeed or we have failed. But it really needs to start at the grade school level with private schools. We can do this if we change some of our old ways and behaviors and take on being very coherent to listen to positive direction. We have a certain Continent that is our land as Africans and still full of People who we have a very special attachment to. (Our African Brothers & Sisters).  ``They’’ (White People) say the Africans don’t like or LOVe us as African Americans. Some White People say Africans want to just come here for education and go back and save their own piece of the African planet. I think, given a few positive words, we will find a lot of LOVe from Africans. But we must embrace our whole family. We have to also ask our Black family to start acting correctly and stop all the self destructive behaviors. (Certainly slow those negative behaviors, down think about them and, with help turn some of them around into positive behaviors). This may well take years of re-training and therapy.  We need to get started right away and stop being fearful and stop accepting stereotypes and stigmas, and stop listening to fear monsters.  When we learn how to embrace each other no matter what we are or who we are -- like Jesus said we should (and I’m convinced He was talkin about Black People inside our race) – then we will start on a generational journey towards the self LOVe that will save the Black family, the Black earth and save Black LOVe. Otherwise, we may be doomed to another day of doom. Look in the mirror and say I’m gonna stop hating and start learning and lOVin to make the world, our Black World – a much better place. Spend the afternoon at the library reading anything you want instead of watchin the Hip Hop Awards nonsense. You will be inviting God into your life. He has a funny way of setting up shop and stayin when He finds interested parties. 

The Powerful Third Eye -- The Money Question

The Powerful Third Eye.....

By Brother Tracy Gibson

{Visionary - Businessman}

This is an Open Letter to My Good Brothers and Sisters on the North American Shore and around the World, including the African Continent...

Look at the American Dollar Bill and you will see {On the Back} The Third Eye. The Eye in the Egyptian {African} Pyramid. Right at the TOP!!! We keep chasing these dollar bills as if they really mean a lot more than what they really do mean. There are people who have enough of them to stretch around the world a few times like Warren Buffet does--and they are still unsatisfied and still miserable people. They are still having a bad day, each and every day, because they just don't get enough dollar bills and have enough of Our money. They need to get over it and real quick. They are often filled with hatred, ugly mentalities, and scheming-money-grubbing--``Rule-the-World'' plots, ideas and thoughts. Some of these people who get caught up like this are also Black and Latin and Asian, but many, many of them are White. I would venture to say MOST of them are White and Male. They are usually against true democracy, true freedom and true justice as they make their plans to exploit, profit, plunder and take. They must learn How to share. Some of these people exist in places like China as well, which is suppose to be a Communists Country, so don't fall for the same old, run-of-the-mill Anti-Communism... It is the profit making and the exploitation of our fellow humans that is the real problem. Capitalism can work, but it needs to be vastly re-tooled, thought out a new and RECONSTRUCTED!!! Totally overhauled to be much, much more humane, decent and about renewable energy sources, sustainability and a clean environment and clean air and water... It simple needs to be made more ``People Friendly'' and we need to be putting our best minds and our energy hard at work, internationally, at working on this... We need to learn more than is being offered on TV because CNN doesn't tell you this stuff. They don't tell the Truth. They are the ``Smiling Faces'' the O Jays and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records were telling us about back in the 1970's and 1980's, as I am sure my fellow ``Old School'' comrades will remember.

I once took a class with the Money School of Delaware and the instructor said we have to keep some money stashed away for a rainy day because ``Cash is KING!!!''.. I have come to disagree with her. If there are people with enough dollar bills to stretch around the globe once or twice like the Mellon's do, and they are still unhappy, nasty and negative people like Sarah Palin is, Cash isn't ``KING'' at all--we as Black people and others who care about people first are the Kings and Queens and Empresses and Lords and the LOVe we hold so proudly in our hearts for ourselves and for each other and for GOD is REALLY KING!!! If you are a racist, an ignorant person who doesn't want to learn anything new and a hater, you are part and parcel of the problem--not the solution. Problems come in ALL races as do solutions.

Most people I know, and they are just about ALL Black people, only want or envision having enough money to make it another day or two: to get food on the table and needed medicine; to pay for their children's educations' to pay for decent housing and shelter; to get around from place to place--{Trans passes from SEPTA--especially monthly ones--are a great commodity and of great value right about now if you live in the Philadelphia area--``at least I can get to my job if I have one,'' most local people think.}.. Most of us aren't thinking and dreaming of great mansions; expensive European vacations; big Sweetish-Built Yachts; diamonds, furs, fancy expensive bracelets; fine antiques; jewels; expensive, extravagant meals like fillet Minion or Chateau Bria; expensive Persian carpets; servants and valets to wait on us hand and foot; fancy Italian and German cars with funny names; flouncy Italian designer clothing, slacks, shoes and dresses; expensive Italian and French suites and shoes; expensive cigarettes, cigars and cigarettes and cigar habits; expensive, flagrant bubble baths from France and Spain; expensive drug habits; expensive hats and fancy hairstyles. No, we don't think of that stuff at all No. We just want to make it another day and get our children educated properly. We just want to have good values instilled in our children and a nice warm place to live.... We just want our children to be able to learn about the illustrious history {Our proper place in World History as People from the Black and African Diaspora} in as real and as truthful a manner as possible. Some of us want the Bling, Bling and the frills, and the bull stuff--but most of us will settle for the basics in life because we know to want for more in a country and World that is so filled to the rim with anti-Black and Anti-African Racism and hatred for us as a people--wanting more, wanting Bling Bling is like grasping for the Brass ring at the Circus--The Ring that we will never get and never reach or attain in actuality...If we get the Brass Ring we usually have to tow the line for keeping ourselves and our Black People right in chains for ``Massa''  AKA Oprah & Clarence Thomas. I don't want that and I know you don't either. Remember to support the Black People in our Black community who work very hard to help stabalize our Black Businesses and our Black People. It is hard work. But never feel forced to support me, especially me. You should feel very natural in giving. Not forced. God LOVes a cheerful giver. GOD Bless You. 

West Phillie PRoduce

Fresh produce and kind service abound at West Phillie Produce 18 South 62nd Street near 62nd and Market on the west side of the street. I have bought one of the freshest water Melons I have ever tasted there; some very good cherries; some very good corn on the cob; some great lemons; and some simply great bananas that I made banana Fresh Toast out of. It is great and high time we started supporting Black stores and this is one such store.  Don't ask for the ``hook up'' because getting free fruits and vegetables is How our Black stores go right out of business. PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET JUST LIKE YOU PAY THAT EUROPEAN MAN AND BE PROUD YOU HAVE A BLACK STORE TO GO TO!!!  I THANK YOU AND BROTHER LARNETT & HIS FAMILY THANKS YOU. Easily accessable at 63rd and market by the El; or the number 21 Bus.

An Open Letter to Gifted Thespian Mr. Denzel Washington

An Open Letter to:

August 25th, 2015 Tuesday.

Dear Good Friend, Thespian, Mr. Denzel Washington:

Actress Doris Day & Black Singer / Poet Erykah Badu would seem, at first blush, to have nothing much in common. However, taking a deeper look, one sees a very deep belief in ethics in MS. Day that was NOT lost on Ms Badu either. Ms Day was the All-American girl; the small-town country girl who made it big in Hollywood with such films as ``Please Don't Eat the Daisy's,'' The Glass-Bottom Boat,'' &``Pillow Talk'' . The fact that She had African diplomats in a short scene in one of Her movies shows an early hopeful sign  (often lost now-a-days in movie-making) that She wanted to, or Her director wanted to show a more than one-sided, stereotyped image of some African decent People. (This is something lost on people like Tyler Perry even in 2015 more than 50 years later).  Ms Badu has a song called ``Tyrone,'' that is about a loser Black man who talks a good game, but is basically full of… well you know what I was going to say here…. A man who is not dedicated to anything but the bottom of a beer can and having babies out of wed lock and taking no responsibility for his children whatsoever. At first glance this would seem to be a stereotype, but in the artful hands of Ms. Badu it is an attempt to child and scold Black men into being more responsible, reliable, and better fathers. I just heard yesterday a major information center come out with a statistic that said Black men spend more time with their children than any other groups of men.  It seems Badu has reached a level of success and of course Black men can take even more, much more of the credit for this on themselves. But, more to the point, you have neveR been a Tyrone type and this is why I'm writing you. I want to ask for money again, but what I'm going to do is pretend that you have already written the check for $20 Million Dollars and it is on the Way to me. What I want everyone to know is there was no pressure put on you from me in regards to getting such money. From the Start with ``Carbon Copy,'' the Black child of a rather up-scale, perturbed & confused …..(George Segal) …  I could go on about your films, but you apparently want me to go on about myself and what I've done for our Black community.  I have been an advocate, like you, for Justice and Freedom. You have worked through your movies and films, I work through helping People directly in the community by starting pilot programs; mentoring youth; writing letters of advocacy to power figures, government officials, & civic & community leaders [See sample letter below]; creating hope & considerable Peace by just serving as a good role model. This, I feel, is what Erykah has done through Her music. And what Doris did through comedy--yes, lillie White and all--. There is a lot to be said for wholesomeness, decency, goodness and all that.  There has always been an Achilles' heel for me and that is that I'm a homosexual and proud of it. Our Supreme Court has finally caught up with us and allowed Gays and Lesbians to marry; and the military, with the courageous leadership of President Obama, who I have issues with on some things, our President did away with Don't ask Don't tell in the military. (I would venture to guess that this ``New-Found freedom'' for Gays and Lesbians in the military has caused some consternation and considerable uncomfortableness for straight members of the military. Guess what, Straight White men had to go through some of the same feelings when Blacks were let in the military under Dwight D. Eisenhower and when women were allowed to be Generals and fully commissioned officers as well. Now there is talk of a woman President of the United States of Native America. (I call our country the United States of Native America because the Native Americans are the People who have true rights to this land. I don't care How much development went on or How much that development is worth, or How much time has gone by. Although Native People didn't have the same concept of land ownership as the Europeans who came here to settle things up and ``take over'' that has changed. Even thought Native People have mostly been pushed onto reservations, they deserve a major say in what goes on here and deserve not only their land back to be rented to us as United States of Native America citizens, they deserve to say who gets to live here. ALl this hub hub about getting rid of the immigrants and not letting so and so's race in the country must be tempered by the slow and steady voice of the Native American People.  I have a visionary team ticket for President and Vice PResident I want you to consider backing. Elizabeth Warren as PResident & Cory Booker for Vice President. I think such a ``Visionary Team'' ticket would be unstoppable. What do you think? I could go on, but I won't. It is very hard to make positive vision step into reality if you have very little money. I hope you can help, but don't feel any pressure. I know you do a great deal already.

LOVe, Peace & Blessings,

Brother Tracy Gibson,

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President (Disabled)

Brother Tracy Gibson & Associates, Inc.

Building Bridges of Hope within Black communities, Black People,, Black Institutions, & Black Organizations. Feeding our youth & stabilizing our Black Folk through truth.        

An Apology to White Folk.....

BlackExecutive46@GMail.Com

An Apology to White Folk.

First off, I'll get far into deeper waters for writing this article than I've gotten in for just about anything else I've written. I think, and this is a conclusion I've come to after much soul searching and deep thought -- I think White folk can mostly be forgiven for what they did in the past up until today --August 15th, 2015-- From now on they can be judged accordingly for what they do to us from now on because there is more than enough information out there to judge things and do what Spike Lee says is the right thing. We as BlACK FOLKS, can forgive what your ancestors --the White racists -- did to us as Black People because that was far in the past. We can forgive the recent discrimination because White People could claim ignorance and not caring, but after the fiasco of the murder of so many Black children and the killing of nine Black angels in the South, there is no more excuses about racism and what needs to be done. I no longer want to hear excuses and I have forgiven the past. It felt uncomfortable for me as a Black activist to keep blaming what you did in the past on relatives who are dead.  You were't even born yet. Why should you be blamed? Well, now we know that the financial and economic advantages that come so compactly included with your White skin need to be take away and it is every woman and man for himself, or herself every race for themselves, every person for there self. If you have the knowledge to get along with other races and see this as a goal, you are ahead of most others. If you are still stuck wondering where your next corporate welfare check is coming from where your next monopoly chip and tax exemption is coming from you are going to be left WAY out in the cold, because most of the things that were holding up such systems of discrimination and inequity are breaking down and being discarded.  You are going to have a real problem in the new world that is evolving each and every day on this precious planet…. You will experience this difficulty because of certain People doing certain things that I can't talk about yet. So, you are forgiven, now start acting correctly. We will not discriminate against you, but hire the best People for the job. We have a right to take heed and hire Black People because of our being left out AFTER AUGUST 15th, 2015!!!. It is still happening.  But you have no excuse for not hiring us if we are qualified, educated, skilled and ready to take on the job & WORK!!! What I'm getting at here is too many of us continue to complain about our differences and not discover our similarities and what we can work on to better the entire human race -- one person at a time….  I tried to get one organization --a multicultural gay men's organization -- I belonged to to meet with some radical Black organizations and they refused, so I don't have my membership money for them right now. Sorry. I don't have time for people who will not even meet with other people who are different from them to try to work on some mutual interests and iron out some differences. So ends this letter for now.



LOVe, Peace & Blessings,


Brother Tracy Gibson

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President,
Brother Tracy Gibson & Associates, Inc.

A Firm dedicated to building better relations and economic strength within and between Black communities, Black individuals, Black organizations & Black Institutions.