Book Review 1: Falling Apart in One Piece by Stacy Morrison

Hello, Everyone:

I decided to do sort of book-a-thon this summer. Meaning, I will read a book every about 2 weeks and do a review summarizing/outlining the main points, what I liked, didn't like (because that matters), and finally, what I learned. It will be a fun way to keep my mind fit and not get too caught up in summer laziness.

First book: Falling Apart in One Piece by Stacy Morrison, a biography of a Morrison as she bravely relives her painful divorce and while pondering what may have lead to the demise of her marriage.

Chapter 1:

A Life Lesson

Hello, Everyone:

Today I’m going to talk about a subject that is very sensitive to me. As liberal and open-minded I believe myself to be from my participation in interracial dating to my pro-choice view on abortion one would think homosexuality is something that I would not have an issue with. Reluctantly, I admit that until recently it was something that made me very uncomfortable.

I moved to the city of Chicago about 2 years ago from a small town in Michigan. During my job as a waitress I encountered more gay people in a single night than I possibly had my entire time growing up. Initially I was taken back and I thought it was something that was wrong. I always looked at life as a means to procreate (try not to cringe) and clearly being gay/lesbian doesn’t allow for that to happen. My biggest fear was having a gay child or possibly marrying someone that ended up being a closeted homosexual. It wasn’t that I hated gay people at all, I don’t hate anyone, it was more a less a dislike for the way they lived their lives. As hard as it is to come to terms with I think being from a small town has warped my perception of the world.

My best friend (a guy) and I moved to Chicago at the same time. Almost immediately following the move he grew very distant. Keep in mind all throughout high school and college we were attached at the hip, he was more like a brother to me than a friend. Any who, he began to go through religious/spiritual changes and almost completely withdrew from me and I got angry because I didn’t know what was going on. I thought maybe because I didn’t share in his new religious views that he couldn’t be friends with me anymore. About a year and a half went by without much communication between the two of us until about 2 months ago when he came out in a status on Facebook.

At first I didn’t take it well, in fact, I think my reaction was quite selfish in that I couldn’t get over how his “new-founded” sexuality affected ME! Instead of my first thought being how hard/confusing life must have been for him for 25 years, I assumed that the person I once considered a brother was no longer. While I don’t think it’s entirely wrong to fear that a person once coming out will be different than the person one has grown to love, it is selfish to not first consider the pain that your loved one has suffered keeping such a secret for so long.

My biggest regret has been and will likely always be that he didn’t feel like he could talk to me about it. Of course, I know why he couldn’t… because he knew where I stood on the issue and I thought he stood with me. Since coming out, we have spoken and contrary to what I believed, he is the same person I’ve known for the past 10 years. I’ve learned that our sexuality doesn’t define who we are it’s merely a characteristic of our being. Sometimes in life it takes something that you frown upon to affect your personal world to understand how foolish an issue it was to frown upon in the first place. I’m grateful to have been given a second chance with my best friend and I’m grateful that the uncomfortable feeling that was once so strong in me has subsided. Frankly, being gay makes one a part of the minority communities which should stick together. xoxoxo

This post is dedicated to my best friend, BJ. I love you.

To see the photo or NOT see the photo?

Hello, Everyone:

Many conservatives are adamant about the release of the slain Bin laden's photos as proof that he is indeed dead. However, there is more than enough information/proof that he was killed and President Obama doesn't feel it necessary to reveal photos of the body to the public.

One of the biggest complaints this country has had since 9/11 was to hunt down and kill Bin Laden, now that that has been accomplished there is another issue. In my opinion, Obama cannot get a break from the other side. Personally, I don't think it is a good idea to publish the photos at it may cause an uproar in the Islamic extremist community. It should be enough to know that he can no longer plot any more attacks against the U.S. rather than further stir the pot.

Chris Matthews from Hardball on MSNBC says the mockery that could be done with the photos from photoshoping to video production would only cause more controversy.

What do you think? Should photos of Bin Laden's body be made public?

Osama Done Died

Hello, Everyone:

By now most everyone should be aware of the assassination of terrorist group Al-Queda leader, Osama bin-Laden. Bin Laden was gun down by in the Pakistan city of Abbotabad in his mansion-like compound. Monday, May 2nd. President Obama gave the go-ahead to U.S. forces to invade the compound after years of surveillance and what he felt was ample evidence to go through with the attack. Americans are outraged that the people of Pakistan were unaware Bin Laden could be living so closely amongst them.

Many say being successful in tracking down and slaying Bin Laden has been the highlight of Obama's presidency as it was a task unaccomplished by former President George Bush. However, others haven't been impressed, claiming hypocrisy for the U.S. to retaliate to terrorism with more acts of violence.

It's an issue where many may stand divided. The first thing that came to mind for me were the values of the late Malcom X; "by any means necessary" vs. those of Martin Luther King; "peace not violence". It becomes very hard to know the right way to go about maintaining security and safety for the public when dealing with terrorism.

Let me know your thoughts. Is it hypocritical for the U.S. to react to terrorism with violence?

The Donald for President?!

Hola, Everyone:

So I'm sure you've all heard about the possibility of Donald Trump running for PRESIDENT in the 2012 presidential election as the Republican candidate. As a journalist I realize I need to be subjective but come on, I can't be the only one who thinks this a joke, right?

Trump recently jumped on the "birther" movement bandwagon by announcing in several on-air interviews his skepticism in President Obama's U.S citizenship despite Obama's many attempts of rebuttal by airing a 'live certificate of birth' from the state of Hawaii for the world to see.

If my memory serves me right, Trump who has filed bankruptcy on more than one occasion, is probably not in the best position to correct a country whose biggest problem is debt. According to CNN.com, the United States is over $14 trillion in debt...and filing bankruptcy is not an option Mr. Trump.

With more and more celebrities pretending to be politicians (i.e. The Terminator; gov of Cali.) I'm convinced that politics has become more about entertaining than the bottom line which should be people working together to improve the country.

On that note...make sure to hit the polls next November as the stakes are higher than ever in the upcoming election.

As usual, feedback is always welcome. What do you think? Would Donald Trump make a good President?

Celebrities do it too...

Think you are all alone in this interracial dating thing? ..Guess again! Many of our favorite actors and singers are doing it too...

I don't know about you, but it makes me feel more at ease to know I'm not the only one with the "fever", ha. I feel interracial dating is becoming more and more of a trend, and whether people like it or not, it's happening; I don't see it stopping anytime soon. I feel as though I'm apart of a movement, a revolution sort of a sort, to bringing people together. Dating outside your race is not always easy, in fact, there are additional obstacles that couples face on top of the obstacles already expected in a relationship. Who would have thought the difference in the shade of skin can stir up so much controversy? In the past I often pondered how much easier things might have been if I had stayed dating within my race (not that I've consciously made a decision to stray) and today I respond to that with, "Nothing worth something in life ever comes easy", which I believe whole heartily. For whatever reason this is how I love. I've questioned it for along enough, and now I am ready to embrace it. Done answering to other people, explaining and feeling bad. I am taking all necessary steps toward loving me and who I am. The way I love is a part of me, not all of me.

Going back to my introduction with celebrities also being on the interracial bandwagon, I mentioned I find comfort in this. I think it's great that the people we idolize not only for their talent, can also be people we genuinely relate to and help us get through difficult times. I can remember when I was about 12 years old, I watched a televised interview with singer, Mariah Carey, where she discussed her childhood and what it was like growing up as a bi-racial child. Something she said that I'll never forget was that she felt as though she never really fit in at school with the kids as she was too "white" for the black kids and too "black" for the white kids. I was instantly able to relate to her and for the most growing up I stayed neutral in terms of friendships. As I got older things became a little easier and I realized I didn't necessarily have to choose between the two races, rather it was more about making adjustments.

Perhaps you think I've strayed from my point in terms of celebrities and interracial dating as opposed to bi-racial celebrities, however, I feel the two are related because I think if you're bi-racial the group that tends to accept you more, makes sense that it would also became the group in which you date. I would say for the majority of my upbringing I have been more able to relate to white people, not so as to say I felt completely comfortable. However, you know the old saying, "get in where you fit it", and that is what I did.

Recently I came across a new artist Angel Taylor, who not only caught my ear with her beautiful voice and delicate melody, but also caught my heart with her message in one of my now favorite songs, Chai Tea Latte ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QjgcfPzi2s ). In the song she is describing a guy she has just met and instantly falls for; this guy turns out to be white. What I love the most about the song is that she doesn't make any apologies for liking him and she goes on to describe this guy as her own"Mr. Perfect". Chai Tea latte is a flavor of coffee which in the song symbolizes the mix/appearance of white and brown mixed together; making something beautiful and delicious. My favorite line of the song is:

"People might compliment our chocolate and vanilla and how it looks so good together mixed in because without you my flavor's a little plan and no one likes plain things".

The way she is able to express herself so freely makes me feel a combination of envy and relief. Envious because she doesn't appear to be ashamed of what she likes and relief because I feel like I should not feel ashamed either.

Alicia Keys's new song,"Un-thinkable" also caught my interest. The music video for it was particularly moving to me which essentially depicts the story of a black woman and white man who are/have been interested in one another for sometime but are unable to be together as neither the era nor her family allows it. However, both are ready to do the unthinkable; defy all odds and give their love a chance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhuGQUZJot8

It continues to amaze me how other people think they have a say in who people can and cannot love. The beautiful thing though about love is that it can defy odds and it does unite people. Do not ever let anyone make you feel like who and how you love is wrong because in the end all we can do is follow our hearts♥...


Check out these other interracial celebrity couples:

Robert De Niro& wife Grace Hightower

^Halle Berry & ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry

< thicke="" wife="" paula="" patton="">

< Heidi Klum &husband Seal

< Justin Bieber &Girlfriend

Khloe Kardashian &Lamar Odom

Contributing factors to Interracial Dating?

Hello Blogger &Guests,

Before I begin I would like to say from this blog forward I will refer to "African American" & "Caucasian" as black &white. I figure this is my blog and I want it to represent me, and how I normally speak; don't want it to be overly formal at all. Hopefully this does not offend anyone as it not my intentions...

So how many times have you heard that the environment in which you are brought up mold/mirror the person you become in the future? Are we all just products of our environment, or at some point do we learn to leave the comforts of home with an open mind to the diversities of the world?

I opened with this thought because it is of popular belief that people are products of their environment. I will not go as far as to say there are no loopholes within this "theory", in fact I believe there are cases in which people who have not been exposed to interracial dating/diversity growing up acquire a taste for it later, from varying influences. I will also say that while a person may not have had a diverse upbringing, if the parents always that love has no boundaries, and skin color should not determine whom we develop feelings nor the ones we decide to call friends, then this person may develop curiosities about dating outside their race as well.


Factors that may contribute to interracial dating experimentation:

• Diverse school/Neighborhood
• Interracial/Bi-racial Parent(s)
  
• Music
• Television
• Internet
• Boredom/Curiosity

My personal experiences with bi-racial parents and growing up exposed to a lot of white people (schools, neighborhood, summer camp) I believe has had a lot to do with my curiosity to explore outside my race. I can remember growing up 3 particular movies that triggered something inside me, and fed this curiosity which I later explored for the first time in high school. Those movies were:

1. The Bodyguard (1992), with actress Whitney Houston (black female)& actor Kevin Costner (white male), Houston plays Rachel, a singer who hires a bodyguard as a result of harassing letters and phone calls. Costner who plays Frank Farmer does not anticipate the beauty and soon mixes business with pleasure as he can not escape her charm and wit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bodyguard
2. A Bronx Tale (1993), with Taral Hicks (black female)& actor Lillo Brancato (white male), directed by famous actor Robert De Niro, oddly enough reflects his own experience growing up in a time where interracial dating was completely unacceptable. However, Brancato's character Calogero does not let this stop him. He instantly becomes in intrigued by a black beauty he locks eyes with while taking a ride on his father's bus. Despite his racist friends and disobliging father, Calogero chooses to explore his curiosity and began a romance with Hicks's character Jane. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bronx_Tale
3. Corina, Corina (1994), with actress Whoopi Goldberg (black female)& actor Ray Liotta (white male), set in the 60's. Goldberg's character Corina plays a nanny for Liotta's character Manny, a recent widower. As Corina becomes closer with Manny's daughter Molly, through this hard time Manny becomes more enthralled by Corina's ability to connect with Molly. Before they know it a relationship starts to bloom despite his disapproving mother and neighbors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrine,_Corrina

Early on these movies taught me how difficult matters of the heart can be, especially when dating outside your race. It's important to remember that in life there are obstacles, it's inevitable but these obstacles don't always have to be deal breakers. I did not know then why these movies had so much impact on me but as I have gotten older and my personal life resemble those of the characters, I think it's an indication that things have come full circle. I continue to be inspired by interracial dating through television, music, and even real life. The more I see it the less alone I feel which is very comforting.

What other factors might contribute to interracial dating? How do you think a person's upbringing and exposure to diversity affects one's curiosity to explore outside their race??