CRAZY LOVE {Tribute Day #1}

I can’t say I remember the day or the moment this love took hold of me, but the feeling is ever present; there’s a calming when I hear his voice…every word speaks to my whole soul. He has been my magic; my everything; he is Will Downing!

I was brought to tears over a perfect stranger today…more stranger that I find him perfect. I don’t know him but I’ve loved him since the 80’s when I first heard “I Go Crazy.” I couldn’t believe my emotions…I didn’t know they could move like that, as they slow danced to the deep soothing sound of Will’s voice. Today’s tears came as I read more on this debilitating disease that’s ATTEMPTING to overtake my Will, but the devil is a LIAR and by HIS stripes he WILL be healed. I’m reminded of the Women with the issue of blood who reached for the hem of the Lords garment KNOWING His healing powers belonged to whosoever will, so Mr. Downing, prayers are going up even as I type this.

Bio: Will Downing was born in 1963 hailing from New York’s Brooklyn area. His first solo album was released in 1988 entitled “Will Downing” and that’s when I met him and went crazy (“I Try” & “I Go Crazy” were my favorites, but “A Love Supreme” was the Billboard favorite, reaching #4 on the charts).

Will continued to do his thing and in 1993 “Love’s The Place To Be,” (at it was for me, because I could never seem to fall from this man.) showed it’s self strong; selling over 235,000 copies in the US and 300,000 in Great Britain…I’m sure you all remember his duet with Rochelle Ferrell, “Nothing Has Ever Felt.”

He’s never won a Grammy, although in 2000 “All The Man You Need” was nominated and in 2002 he received the International Association of African Music Diamond Award (which I’ve never heard of).

To date Will Downing has released 13 solo projects which include a Christmas album and a “Greatest Love Songs” compilation release…not to mention the many features he’s had on various Jazz and R&B albums of his peers.

Polymyositis: is an inflammatory muscle disease with an unknown cause (infliction against Mr. Downing). In the United States, Polymyositis, is most common amongst Blacks and more prevalent in women (please click link).

The more I read of his suffering the more determined I became in doing whatever I can to help fight the battle, so I’m in the very early stage of establishing an awareness campaign and research fundraisers for this and other neurological disorders…yeah I know what you guys might be thinking…”all this effort for a total stranger” – well, I’m not crazy…it’s just Crazy Love!!!

Welcome to DAY #1 of my week long homage to the man who’s made me fall in love with love - Will Downing

Me - Black Man, You - Woman!!!!

Ok, I'm sure you guys have seen and heard the talks over this cover and since I'd pretty much echo the sentiments of the article (everything in red), I have nothing else to add except to reverberate the idea of Black Male Athletes taking a personal liking (in the Biblical sense) to white women. I do have a couple of questions at the bottom but first, check out the article.

Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, the magazine noted with some fanfare that James was the first black man to grace its cover.

But the image is stirring up controversy, with some commentators decrying the photo as perpetuating racial stereotypes. James strikes what some see as a gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen’s tiny waist.
It’s an image some have likened to “King Kong” and Fay Wray.

“It conjures up this idea of a dangerous black man,” said Tamara Walker, 29, of Philadelphia.
Vogue spokesman Patrick O’Connell said the magazine “sought to celebrate two superstars at the top of their game” for the magazine’s annual issue devoted to size and shape.

“We think Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen look beautiful together and we are honored to have them on the cover,” he said.

James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he was “just showing a little emotion.”

But magazine analyst Samir Husni believes the photo was deliberately provocative, adding that it “screams King Kong.” Considering Vogue’s influential history, he said, covers are not something that the magazine does in a rush.

“So when you have a cover that reminds people of King Kong and brings those stereotypes to the front, black man wanting white woman, it’s not innocent,” he said.

In a column at ESPN.com, Jemele Hill called the cover “memorable for all the wrong reasons.” But she said in an interview that the image is not unusual — white athletes are generally portrayed smiling or laughing, while black sports figures are given a “beastly sort of vibe.”

For example, former NBA star Charles Barkley was depicted breaking free of neck and wrist shackles on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Dennis Rodman graced the cover of Rolling Stone with horns poking out of his forehead and his red tongue hanging out.
Images of black male athletes as aggressive and threatening “reinforce the criminalization of black men,”

“I didn’t see any kind of racist overtone to it,” she said. “I still don’t. I think there is such a hypersensitivity to race still in this country.”

“If more people of color worked for Vogue in positions of editorial authority, perhaps someone in the room might have been able to read the image the way so many of us are reading it now, and had the power to do something about it,”

QUESTIONS:

1) What do you think about the hypersensitivity to race thought… do you all think there’s an overreaction to race relations or are most cases valid.

2) When predominantly white corporations produce ads with racial undertones should Black (in this case) opinions be considered?

The Language of Love - Me, Venus/ You Mars

You’re entering an insert within my dating life (faux pas) - envision the spinning door of the Twilight Zone.

I was seeing this guy under some very clearly undefined circumstances, which I don’t really have a problem with, as I’m typically able to keep my emotions in check, but this dude wasn't making things easy for a sista. I mean after all…times are hard; you know it’s hard out here for a pimp'et(smile) and since I’m also not getting any younger, I’m finding myself entering “settling down” mode, with that in mind…check out this convo:

(He calls me – I smile when I see his name come up – that’s a problem under the circumstances):

He: “hey BABY” (WRONG WORD)
Me: “hey” (saying Baby in my head)

(He proceeds to tell me a story that really has no relevance, so I’ll only share the important parts)

He: “…so I’m laying down facing YOUR SIDE OF THE BED…blah, blah, blah”
Me: (now although I only shared the “important” parts of the story…the blah, blah, blah is what I actually heard because I just couldn’t get past MY SIDE OF THE BED)

PAUSE: Now, I’m sure you guys and gals see where I’m going with this…can you all BELIEVE what this cat's tryna do to me? I mean, I just don’t understand it…”Your side of the bed” = “Will you marry me” (or am I just interpreting the language of love wrong).

I laughed at the rest of his proposal…I mean, conversation but of course I dreamt about him for the next 16 days (a little goes a long way with me).

I told a male friend about the exchange and he laughed, because he could see how certain things a man could do or say may be misleading or misinterpreted by the women they’re courting (having relations with). As he reflected on some of his accidental proposals, he accepted that men and women just don’t speak the same language, and since I’m fluent in lady-jabber, I broke things down for him (M.S = Men Say / W.H = Women Hear)



M.S: “I’ll be back in a lil bit baby” (leaving you in their spot for the first time)
W.H: “Go get your stuff, because you’re moving in wit me baby”

M.S: “You should’ve told me you were calling out…I’d have taken off with you”
W.H: “We should go away together, because I falling in love with you”

M.S: “My mother…. (the rest of this statement is void…you shouldn’t have mentioned cha mom)
W.H.: “I want you to meet my mother, because I’m falling in love with you

There’s so much more, but since I’m still at work (lol) I’ll stop here, but can you guys please fill in the rest?

Disclaimer: I laughed hysterically when writing this and meant for you guys to do the same. The bottom line principal was rooted in my response to every man who says “she’s stalking me” – WHY? I always ask if there was something they could have said or done to cause the women to see something that wasn’t there. Aside from straight-up lies, I think men do play on those female sensibilities, which send off signals that are easily misinterpreted.

Now, or course you’ve got some serious issues for stalking, but men can at times be oblivious to the actions their words cause.

MEN: Think about the impact certain words and behaviors have on people, especially the women you’re entertaining.

WOMEN: Pay MORE attention to their actions then their words and ALWAYS make sure there’s clarity – know what YOU want…and make sure he knows too.

I hope this disclaimer dispels the vicious rumor that I, TLW aka JMW is, was, or ever will be stuck in uncertainty to the point of foolish wonderment! But I LOVE HIM…LOL. (just kidding)

America The Great!

Politics, Religion and Money are said to ruin a friendship or an ELECTION! I could never claim to be a patriot saint (remember I wanted to be a Panther), and I believe in the words of Mr. Hughes: “O, let America be America again-- The land that never has been yet-- And yet must be--the land where every man is free. The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME-- Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Must bring back our mighty dream again.”

The truth is said to set you free, but that only applies when you're NOT me (color that is) – maybe America was NEVER America to me – land of the brave and home of the free! Anyway, I digress, this isn’t about my political views, but lets talk about Mr. Wright’s comments (sermons) and how they’re going to shape this election.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Wright said. "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."

"The government gives them (blacks) the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

Now, I’m not in a position to really comment on this (I’m still at work – lol) but since this is all the buzz, I’m sure you guys have formed opinions…so let’s hear them!

HEY NOW!!!

Hey Guys,

I hope all has been well. There's been a lot going on over here on my end, but I'm actually about to crank this proposal out so I can't chat much (smile) but I wanted to drop you guys a line.

I just recently did this photo-shoot (MY FIRST) and it was sooooo exciting. The pictures were taken for no real reason...just because the photographer is a friend and wanted to immortalize me...LOL. So much stuff is happening...my oldest son even said..."everything's happening for you this year" I don't know how much truth is in that, but things are looking good (mr. carter) lol.

Well here are a couple of the pics I took and PLEASE check out this BEAUTIFUL from one of my favorite singers: