Shawn James, Black Freelance Writer

IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS ARE FUCKTARDS

2012-02-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

Dogs are man’s best friend. But some dog owners are absolutely fucktarded when it comes to the basics of caring for a pet. Some of these dog owners are just so fucking irresponsible I want to slap the shit out of them.

Seriously, there should be a law requiring people to take an 8-hour-course with a written exam before they can take ownership of a dog. Because I’ve seen some grown-ass people aren’t smart enough to handle taking care of themselves let alone a goldfish.

There are idiots who walk their dogs on a city street without a leash. These morons arrogantly insist that “their dog will not hurt you” when they charge up to you barking and snarling. No, their dog won’t hurt THEM because they know them. Other people are fair game because dogs are territorial. Worse, other people’s dogs are fair game because dogs are territorial.

Seriously, people this obnoxious should have their pets taken away from them for being so stupid.

Then there are the fools with the pit bulls and the Rottweilers swagger around inner-city neighborhood with unleashed dogs and sagging pants thinking they’re intimidating people. Sorry, but this doesn’t impress anyone.

What’s so cool about showing how irresponsible you are? Someone who walks a dog without a leash is someone who doesn’t understand the basics of pet care.

What these types of dumbasses don’t understand is that a leash is for other people’s safety and the safety of your pet. Leashes keep your dogs under your control. Not just from charging at people, but from running into the street and getting hit by a car.

Moreover, leashes are the law in all 50 states. In some states you can be fined hundreds of dollars for walking a dog without a leash.

In some states you can be held liable if your dog causes harm to someone or damages their property in small claims and civil court.

Then there are the fucktards who tie their dogs in front of stores then go shopping. In their narrow minds “they’re just stopping in for a minute.” Unfortunately, these idiots don’t think of how they inconvenience others with their irresponsible behavior.

I was going to the store one day when some fool tied up his pit bull right in front of the supermarket entrance. While the dog barked and snarled at the entrance, no one could go in the market and those who were inside were left were terrorized by this scared dog as this clueless moron shopped.

Thanks to this dumbass, the business owner lost a whole bunch of money as I and others went to his competitor who had no pets tied out up front. I’m sure a lot of other patrons left that store and didn’t come back thanks to this idiot.

Seriously, how lazy are people that they can’t take a fucking dog back home and then go back to the store? It takes five or ten fucking minutes.

And if I’m a business owner I would have words with stupid asses who do this shit. Even if it costs me their business, I’d tell them to tie up their dogs someplace else. Or better yet, leave them at home when they go shopping. Because business owners are liable if someone is harmed by a dog left tied up by another customer in front of their property.

Hey fucktard dog owners: When you tie a dog up in front of a public entrance you put people’s safety at risk. No one knows if your animal which is barking and growling will attack them.

If time is that precious to you that you can’t schedule a return trip for your pet before going to the store or wherever else, then it’s clear you can’t handle the responsibility of pet ownership. Turn your dog in at the nearest pound.

A super special type of idiot are the dog owners who leave their pets in the car when they go shopping. Oh, this is a super special type of stupid ass who deserves the backside of a hand to the back of their head for being so fucking retarded.

This is another brand of jackass who is “just stopping in the store for a minute”. Usually the minute turns into twenty or so as they peruse items and chat with friends. Meanwhile their dog is frying in the backseat of a car interior that’s over a hundred fucking degrees. These dumbasses don’t understand that cars turn into fucking broilers, especially in the summertime. Even if you crack the back window there isn’t enough ventilation in a car for a pet to breathe. Leaving a dog in the backseat can cause a dog to pass out, get brain damage and in extreme cases die from asphyxiation due to the lack of air.

Seriously, don’t leave any living thing in the back seat of a car to “stop in for a minute”. I’ve even read about babies and toddlers who have died due to idiot parents doing this stupid shit.

Sorry, but again, if you have a pet and you want to shop after taking them for a drive, there is no “stopping in the store for a minute”. If the store doesn’t allow pets (and most don’t due to liability laws) then it means you dog owner are taking TWO FUCKING TRIPS. One to take them back home and another to go shopping. So allot the fucking time lazy motherfuckers.

Then there are the morons who take their dog out for a walk and spend most of their time on a cell phone. I’ve run into this shit numerous times and it just makes me mad every time I run into it. I just want to take that phone out of their hands and ram it up their ass. Maybe then it’ll make them PAY ATTENTION.

Hey idiot, how about paying attention to your pet so they don’t wind up urinating or defecating on someone’s property? Or running into someone else with a bigger dog?

Then there are the imbeciles with the retractable leashes. Oh, these people are FUCKING RETARDED. They let their dogs run around everywhere and don’t PAY FUCKING ATTENTION. These idiots don’t understand that retractable leashes don’t give you the luxury of being irresponsible.

The worst thing is watching these idiots with these retractable leashes standing around on a cell phone. How this fucktard manages to breathe is beyond me. What the fuck could you possibly be fucking talking about that’s so fucking important at seven AM in the damn morning?

Hey dumbass, how about looking out to make sure your pet doesn’t wind up running into the street being turned into roadkill?

What really pisses me off are the stupid ass owners of vicious breeds like Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, who have a new baby. Their ignorance puts their children’s safety at risk. This is another group of idiots that deserve a backhand pimp slap to the back of the skull. Seriously, I have no idea why these morons are allowed to even fucking breed.

These people don’t understand that these breeds aren’t child friendly and family friendly Because of their territorial nature and the need for a clear line of authority, dogs in these breeds see babies as a threat to their place in the hierarchy.

I’ve heard too many horror stories about children who were mutilated, disfigured or killed because irresponsible dog owners who don’t understand that their life has changed. Aggressive breeds and children DO NOT MIX.

If you have babies and toddlers, the aggressive dog must going to a new owner or a pound and be replaced with a more passive dog like a cocker spaniel or a Newfoundland.

And I also get angry at the fucktarded dog owners who send small children to walk big dogs like Pit Bulls, Rottweiler, and other vicious breeds. I’ve seen children small as six who barely weigh eighty pounds being pulled around like a mule by these hundred plus pound dogs they can’t control. The stupid ass parents who own these dogs think they’re teaching their kids responsibility, but they’re actually putting their kids in danger and the public in danger.

Aggressive breeds like pit bulls, Rottweillers and Dobermans need a clear line of authority and a short leash. When they are in public are to be handled and supervised by adults, not small children.

Here’s a note to you fucktarded parents: If you can’t get up off your lazy ass and go out and walk that dog YOU BOUGHT AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, then maybe you shouldn’t own it.

Most dog owners aren’t as incompetent as the people I’ve described. But the handful of idiots are making it hard for the responsible dog owners out there. And they make it hard for people they inconvenience with their reckless and irresponsible behavior. If you know a dog owner like this, show them this blog. These fools need to be checked and checked hard.

APOOO Book Club review of All About Nikki- The Fabulous First Season

2012-02-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615507018/?tag=apooo-20

APOOO Book Club review below

All About Nikki: The Fabulous First Season by Shawn James is the second teleplay I have read. Mr. James also wrote the first one, where the main character, Nikki, was introduced to me briefly. Nikki was a fictional character being played by an actress named Marilyn Marie. Now Nikki has gotten a life of her own and she believes everything should be all about her and no one else.

After Nikki’s parents got a divorce, custody was awarded to her mother. However, her mother was all about business and money, so she sent Nikki to boarding schools. Due to the distance, Nikki and her mother’s emotional relationship suffered. When Nikki got kicked out of yet another boarding school, her mother sent her to live with her father in California. She thought she was punishing Nikki, but she could not be further from the truth.

Donald Desmond, Nikki’s father, was more than happy to take on the responsibility of raising his daughter. He used the time he was given to teach Nikki the right way to go about earning and giving respect. Donald wants nothing more than to change her from her stuck-up, disrespectful ways. However, it will not be as easy as he thinks. Will Donald have to use the old-fashioned belt to get Nikki to learn the proper way to treat people?

Mr. James provides me with a different type of reading experiences with his teleplays. I enjoy them and like being able to picture more of the scenes and the characters’ actions without the added inflictions from the author. With all that said, there were some errors that needed corrections. There was one thing that stopped me in my flow of reading, causing me to turn back to an earlier episode (instead of chapters there are episodes). That thing was a repetitive beginning to two different episodes. I almost did not read the second one because I was certain it was the same one with a different episode title. However, I pushed through and enjoyed the episode. That one needed a little more creativity for the beginning, otherwise the entire teleplay was entertaining and at times emotional and/or funny. I recommend All About Nikki: The Fabulous First Season to readers of plays, young adult books and sitcom watchers.

The author provided a copy of the book for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

Pick up a copy in paperback or for your e-reader today!

New eBooks on Kindle

2012-02-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

As part of an effort to reach more readers with some of the great articles from the blog, I've published three popular articles as eBooks. They're currently available for Kindle for 99 cents. They're also enrolled in Amazon's KDP Select program. So if you have Amazon Prime, You can borrow these new titles for free.

Why Black Women Choose Thugs over Good Black Men details the real reason why brothers the real reasons behind why Black women choose thugs over them.

The Invisible Black Men features two popular blogs about the Black men in the community many of us don't see and fewer of us support. It also details a plan on how to give these men a hand in helping out the community.

The Myth of the Strong Black Woman explains how the divide between the Black Man and the Black woman came to be and the historical roots of the current gender war between brothers and sisters.

Writing 101: Part 4- Why Should we Care?

2012-02-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

The toughest of all the three basic questions a writer has to ask themselves before they start writing is: Why should we care?

A good writer understands that the reader’s time is precious. They understand that the reader needs reasons to pick up a book and read it. And they need more even more reasons to be compelled keep reading that story to the end. If the audience doesn’t care about the plot or characters in the first five pages they have no incentive to buy the book and invest time into reading the storyline.

A good writer also understands that a reader’s money is valuable. They understand that the reader has other entertainment options they can spend their money on including other writers’ books. Moreover, they understand that those entertainment options compete with their stories for the reader’s attention. So it is imperative that the writer write a story that gives the reader a story that is both entertaining and informative.

The best writers produce stories that are compelling, engaging, and provide the highest value of the entertainment dollar for the reader.

In answering the question of why should we care, a writer has to switch hats from writer to reader and see their story from the audience’s perspective. From that point of view they have to ask: What is the audience going to get from taking time from their valuable lives to read this story? What are they going to get for the money they invest? A laugh? A cry? An understanding of why the price of gas in China is so high? What lesson are readers going to get from finishing this story?

A writer has to have the question of why should we care answered clearly in their planning stages or all their work on a project is just wasted time. If the writer doesn’t have an understanding of what the audience will get out of a story, then they aren’t ready to write.

Understanding what makes the audience care requires the writer to think about someone other than themselves. When I answer the question why should we care, I take myself out of the equation and focus solely on the audience and what they’ll get out of the reading experience.

When I wrote Isis, I thought the audience would care because I was giving them a fresh perspective on the myth of Isis, Osiris and Seth and the Egyptian Gods. I thought people who liked mythology and fantasy would like to learn a little more about the gods of Ancient Egypt.

I also thought the audience would care because they would learn why some fathers aren’t in a child’s life. In most mainstream media regarding single parent homes and illegitimate children, I felt readers often got a female-centered perspective, a story where the mother tells us about a “no good daddy”.

However we never got to hear from the father or understand his reasons for allegedly abandoning his family. I wanted to tell that story.

With Isis I wanted to give a reader an insight into the complicated personal and political reasons why homes become broken and how having no father in a child’s life leads to children losing their way. Along with that insight, I wanted to show that it was possible for a father to re-establish a connection with his child and that if they forgave each other it was possible for them to restore their relationship.

When I wrote The Cassandra Cookbook/A Recipe for $ucce$$, I felt the audience would care because I was giving them an insight into life in the African-American corporate world. I also thought they’d care because they could read the story and pick up some tips they could apply to their own careers regarding interviewing, networking, and social etiquitte.

When I wrote All About Marilyn, I thought the reader would be fascinated because I was going to show them how the business side of Hollywood and the entertainment industry operated. Moreover I knew most people loved reading about what goes on behind the camera on more than what’s presented onscreen. That curiosity is why people buy tabloids and watch shows like Extra, Entertainment Tonight, TMZ and Access Hollywood.

I also thought older women would care about the story because they’re often made to feel worthless by Hollywood and Madison Avenue. In today’s youth-oriented world, most women over 35 are considered them over the hill. Past their prime. Told to sit their old behinds down somewhere and give up.

Myself being 33 when I wrote All About Marilyn, I saw the beauty, experience, and wisdom many women over 35 have. And I wanted to show those readers that that these older women are valuable and still have a lot to offer the world.

When I wrote All About Nikki-The Fabulous First Season, I thought Black tween and teen girls would care because they’d get to see how rich Black kids in Beverly Hills lived. And I thought their parents would care about these stories because they’d get some tips on how to constructively parent and discipline their children and give them guidance.

In the case of Marilyn and Nikki I also felt aspiring filmmakers would want to learn more about the craft of film and Television writing.

when I wrote The Temptation of John Haynes, I felt the audience would care because they’d get to see how The Devil works behind the scenes of everyday lives in his quest to take souls.

What makes the reader care? What makes them invest their time and compels them to read more? That varies from reader to reader. But the writer has to provide some incentive that motivates them to buy into the story. And a good writer takes their time to find out what that element is before putting ink to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Remember, if the writer doesn't give people a reason to care about their stories, then reader won’t have any reason to invest time in reading them. Making the reader care is paramount to selling a story to the public. If the readers don't care, then the writer can't build an audience.

*NOTE*

Articles will be back Monday. But Writing 101 will continue throughout the year!

Writing 101- Part 3 What does the Main Character Want?

2012-02-02T07:48:00.001-08:00

After a writer establishes their main character they have to answer a critical question: What do they want?

What the main character wants to accomplish is the primary reason for the story transpiring. It is what the character desires, what they must have above all else.

Usually the answer to this question is simple.

In Isis, Isis wants redemption.

In A Recipe for $ucce$$, Cassandra Lee wants to take over her family’s Bakery.

In All About Marilyn, Marilyn Marie wants to break out of being typecast

In The Temptation of John Haynes John Haynes wants a job.

In the Sneakers Trakaim and Luis want the Air Jordan sneakers.

In Trial of The Goddess Isis wants to get through her trial.

Usually I keep the main characters’ simple so the reader can have a clear understanding of what the story is about in the first couple of pages.

I also keep the main characters’ goal simple so I can have a clear understanding of what I’m writing about. It’s easy to get off track when a writer isn’t clear about what the main character wants.

All the subplots are related to the main character achieving their goal. All the supporting characters are working for (or in the case of an antagonist) against what the main character wants to achieve.

As I try to answer the question of what the main character wants, I ponder what obstacles would be in the main characters way in trying to accomplish this goal. Conflict is what drives a story. Each of the obstacles that are placed in front of the main character has a purpose:

To get the reader asking questions. The reader wants to know how the main character will overcome the challenges put in front of them. What solution will they come up with to achieve their goal.

To further the storyline. The conflict is what moves the story forward. Each obstacle the main character overcomes moves the story just that more forward towards the climax and the eventual conclusion.

To show what kind of person the character is. As the main character is confronted by the conflicts presented to them in the story they show parts of themselves to the reader. When confronted with conflict, does the character run away? Do they take time to plan a strategy to face the conflict? Do they explode in rage and frustration? Or do they give up?

How a character deals with conflict speaks volumes about what kind of person they are. The actions they take have a direct impact on the advancement of the storyline.

For example in The Temptation of John Haynes, John Haynes wants a job. In his quest to get that job he shows that he’s an honest man with pride. When presented with a job by his friend Scott Grayson, he declines. He feels it’s a step back. What does that tell us about him? That he’s proud. Is this a character flaw? Maybe. No one wants to go back. That keeps them from growing. So while he’s proud the reader can respect his decision. It shows his character as a man.

Moreover his actions show that wants to earn his own way. He doesn’t want a handout. After he doesn’t get the job at American Foods through his own networking efforts he’s desparate. He’s this close to swallowing his pride and calling Grayson for that job. But That would be the end of the story. Then he gets the call from the headhunter. Tempted with the offer of a new job, the story moves forward. When he gets to the headhunter’s office he’s offered the position of CEO of Morris Phillips. It’s a position where he’ll have lots of money and lots of power. An unemployed man down on his luck, John gives into the first of many Temptations furthering the story. The reader wonders will he compromise more? What will he show us about his character when he gets this new high-powered position? Will he change for the better? Or will he change for the worse?

In All About Marilyn, Marilyn Marie wants to break out of being typecast. She’s a washed up former child star, a woman down on her luck, struggling to pay bills. Her agent, Sabrina has retired leaving her with no way to get an acting job. Sabrina’s assistant Ava offers her a job, but her unethical and under-the-table tactics cross the line. But Marilyn is desperate. She needs money to stay afloat. She needs a role that will help her break out of this character. She takes Ava’s offer hoping for a way out. However, when she gets to the set she finds out she’s been set up by the unethical Ava. Worse, she’s trespassing on a friend’s set. The set of the very movie she tried to pitch years ago. That makes her feel guilty. Seeing how far she’s fallen, she decides to leave.

In that scene Marilyn shows that while she’s desperate she there’s a line she won’t cross. She has integrity, dignity and self-respect. Sure, the story could end there. But she’s crossed the line. The conflict can only build from here. As she tries to cross back over to the side of good, the story moves forward. The Clown recognizes her. As do other people she’s overwhelmed by former fans. The conflict builds. How does she get through the crowd? How does she get back to the side of good?

How a character handles each obstacle shows the reader what kind of person the main character is. What will they do to accomplish their goals? Will they cross the line? Will they find a way to solve their problems while doing the right thing? Or will they compromise?

In resolving conflict, the writer wants the reader to ask questions. The more questions the reader asks means the reader is more involved in the story.

Each conflict has the reader asking more questions. As the writer answers those questions through the character’s actions the story moves forward on its way to the conclusion.

Once a writer establishes their main character and what goal they want to accomplish they have to answer the toughest question of all: Why should we care? I’ll answer that question in the next blog.

Writing 101 Part 2- Who is the Main character?

2012-01-31T19:37:00.000-08:00

Working in a character driven model like mine, a writer quickly has to answer one question before putting fingers to keyboard. Who is the main character?

The main character is the primary protagonist in a story. They’re the first name we see in a synopsis on the back of the book. They are the person the reader is interested in reading about in the story.

The main character is who the story is about. They are the person who all the action in the story revolves around. They are the person who the reader follows on their quest to achieve their goal.

The main character is the one who faces all the challenges in the story. As the main character overcomes each of these obstacles, the story moves forward building to the climax and concluding with the accomplishment of their goal or the failure to achieve that goal.

The main character can be a hero, or they can be a villain. The focus of the story are the steps they take to achieve their goals and overcome the obstacles in their way.

I usually establish who the main character is in the first chapter of a novel. I feel the faster the reader is introduced to the main character, they’ll be drawn into the story.

Sometimes in a story like Isis I’ll delay introducing the main character until the second chapter so I can introduce supporting characters or establish the storyline, but most of these plot points will revolve around the main character. Usually these supporting characters will discuss the main character or mention them in their conversations or plans.

In character-driven fiction like revolving first-person and first-person perspective, the main character has to stand out above all the other characters. They have to have a strong “voice” which speaks to the reader. A main character’s words come alive on the page. They reveal their personality, their emotions and their heart.

Visually, I feel a main character has to be distinct, in appearance, and personality in a description. They have to stand out in a crowd. Be unforgettable. Readers have to imagine them like real people. They have to come alive to grab the reader’s interest.

A main character is a leader. They take charge. They inspire supporting characters like love interests to join them and best friends to help them in their quest. They motivate antagonists to keep throwing obstacles in their way. They find a way to beat the odds no one else can. In their quest, they compel the reader to keep following them on their journey as they make their way to the conclusion of the story.

A main character is always Active. Main characters do not sit passively by while the supporting characters do all the work. No, a main character LEADS the supporting characters and the antagonist through the story up to the climax and the conclusion. They are the strongest of all the characters pushing and persevering to achieve their goals. Supporting characters can quit, but the main character NEVER gives up.

A main character ALWAYS SHOWS and NEVER TELLS. We see a main character going to achieve their goals. SHOWING IS ACTIVE and STRONG. Telling is PASSIVE and WEAK. Main characters are always strong.

A Main character is established through their actions. Characters are mostly what they DO, not what they say. Action defines a character. A main character is the character who the supporting characters look up to, and the one the antagonist despises.

Main characters are bold and dynamic. They grab a reader’s interest. They hold their attention. They carry the story from beginning to end.

I usually establish the main character when I’m brainstorming. Before I put fingers to keyboard I imagine who the main character is first in the planning stages. Back in the day I used to draw pictures of the main character so I could visualize what they looked like so I could have an idea of who I was describing in those paragraphs. Sometimes I’ll go through catalogs to see what kinds of clothes they wear.

Once I get the main character established, I start focusing on answering the next of the three big questions I have to answer before writing a story: What do they want?

I’ll show readers how to answer that question in the next blog.

Writing 101 Shawn’s approach to Storytelling

2012-01-29T18:57:00.001-08:00

I’ve been writing for almost thirty years, almost twenty professionally. In that time I’ve learned a few things that have helped me become a better storyteller. I’m hoping through this series I can help writers improve in their craft as well.

To write my stories I take components from comic books, literary fiction, and screenwriting to create a unique storytelling model. I feel in today’s competitive entertainment market I feel a writer can’t write novels filled with long paragraphs filled with long blocks of prose describing things in graphic detail. Today’s reader won’t sit through over fifty pages to setup a story nor will they sit through books over 100,000 words*. With books competing with faster paced media such as movies, video games, the internet and apps, I realize a writer has to adapt their storytelling to fit the needs of today’s reader.

To reach today’s readers I use a compact style of storytelling which features tight writing. Short paragraphs, and short chapters.

I use shorter paragraphs to describe scenes action going on. Screenplays often tell a story using the least amount of words. Adapting this approach to storytelling, I write short paragraphs with minimal description which allows the reader to maximize their imagination. Less is more.

Along with the short paragraphs I also utilize short chapters to quickly get the reader into the story.1970’s and 1980’s comic books used to set up their stories very quickly. Usually by about the third page the reader knew what the story was about.

Screenplays also set up very quickly. Feature-length screenplays set up very quickly. A well-written screenplay will set up the story introduce most of the characters and tell what the story is about by the tenth page.

In most of my stories, like Isis and The Temptation of John Haynes the chapters are anywhere from three to five pages. Some climax scenes may go long as ten or fifteen pages.

The short chapters and short paragraphs build a fast pace. That gets the reader involved in the story quickly. The earlier the reader is involved in a story, the more they’ll be compelled to finish the book. I find finishing chapter after chapter gives readers confidence and encourages them to keep reading.

One of the things I learned from comic books, television and screenwriting was that most of those writers understood that the readers’ time was valuable. The reason they got right to the point was because they knew time was important. Many those writers understood they were competing for the customers’ attention with other media. They understood each second longer it takes the reader to get involved in the story is a second that they may choose to put a book down.

I don’t want the reader to put the book down. I want them to keep reading my stories.

Adapting the approaches I learned from screenwriting comic books and television, I try to setup a story by the first fifteen to twenty pages. Applying a technique I learned studying screenwriting in those 15-20 pages I try to answer the following three questions:

Who is the main character?

What do they want?

Why should we care?

I find once I answer those three questions in the outline stages, the story usually falls into place. From there I can fill in the details like setting, location, supporting characters “voice” and dialogue.

I’ll break down how to answer those questions one by one the next couple of blogs.

*(Yeah, I know Harry Potter Books are over 100,ooo words but the average reader isn’t going to sit through 600 to 900 page books filled with big descriptive paragraphs, especially those with big words. Most people will just get frustrated and stop reading. )

Last weekend for Holiday eBooks for Under a Buck

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

The 99 cent Holiday eBook sale is winding down. On February 1st many of my eBooks (the Novels and the full screenplay books) will be going up to $2.99. This is your last chance to get one of my novels for your Kindle, Nook, ipad iphone, ipod touch, cell phone or other e-reader. Spend that gift card and help a struggling writer!

For your Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Shawn-James/e/B00379H1CG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
For Your Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/shawn-james
For your ipad, ipod touch and iphone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shawn-james/id62882638
On Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sjsdirect

The Writing on Writing series will start Monday!

Parents, Take Your Child's Education into Your Own Hands

2012-01-25T18:55:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago I wrote a blog warning parents not to put their kids in a public middle school.

I stand by what I wrote in that piece. I know from personal experience Public Middle schools are a cesspool designed to teach Black children the values of failure. Today this is the place where Black boys join gangs and Black girls learn how to booty shake and wind up on World Star Hip Hop. If you want a future felon who will be in and out of the prison system or a baby mama on welfare, sit passively by and let your kids get sent to one of these Hellholes where they’ll get a social education that will damage them for life.

Now the main reason I wrote that piece was because I want parents to get more proactive about their involvement in their children’s education.

I had to learn the hard way at sixteen to take my education into my own hands. If I hadn’t I wouldn’t have my high school diploma today. I wouldn't have gone to college to get my degree.

And now I’m urging parents to take the same action in their children’s lives.

And I’m urging them to take that action sooner rather than later. Like Kindergarten. But if you have a child in public school right now it’s time to get actively involved in their education. It’s the only way they’ll get to college.

The earlier parents get involved in their child’s education, the better the earlier they’ll develop the study habits that will enable them to compete in High school and College. And the more they’ll value education as a part of their everyday lives.

This is more than about passing standardized tests. Standardized tests are garbage and don’t measure intelligence or mastery of material. They’re just statistics of how well a group of children are doing compared to kids in other parts of the country.

Someone can do well on a standardized test and be functionally illiterate. It doesn’t take much skill to bubble in a Scantron sheet.

Personally I believe a gorilla could pass a state standardized test. And score higher than a human being. That’s how easy they are.

Public Schools teach to tests. Black America needs to learn how to apply knowledge to their everyday lives so they can compete in the global marketplace.

Taking your child’s education into your own hands is about instilling the value of education in children when they’re young so that they’ll love to learn to learn on their own. So they’ll learn how to apply what they learn outside of the classroom in real life.

Want to know why so many inner-city kids fall apart in Middle School, High School and College? Because their parents see schools as some place to be warehoused while they go to work, not a place where they’ll learn what they need to compete later on in life. Because inner-city parents devalue education their children spend so much time on learning social rules that they turn to dust academically.

People who take their education into their own hands do not depend on the schools to do everything for them. They understand that a Public school can only do but so much. Long-term, children learn the value of education by watching us. Their parents, family members, friends and people in the neighborhood. We have to show them the value of education by reading to them, reading in front of them and applying our knowledge of things like math and science in our everyday lives.

When little ones hear adults calling education “White” and correlating it with being “stupid” it devalues it in their eyes. When we tell kids to stop reading and go play video games, it tells them reading is unimportant. When we tell a girl that she needs a man more than a High School diploma, it tells them that men are more important than their education. It’s little stuff like this that can destroy a child’s love for learning and put them on the road to self-destruction.

Education has been one of the backbones in building up the Black community. During slavery, our ancestors used education to overcome oppression. And when our slave ancestors were freed, they used education as the base to build up their own economy. They didn’t wait for anyone to give them anything like people of today do. They took their education into their own hands.

And just like our ancestors did back then, African-Americans today have to take our education into our own hands. We can’t depend on Public institutions to teach our children what they need to compete in High school and college.

In taking your education in your own hands:

Don’t depend on the school to give your kids books. Go out and get them for yourself. Go out and read them for yourself. If you can spend $200 on a pair of sneakers for your child or $100 on some jeans, you can spend $6.99 on a paperback. In fact, most literary classics are free online now if you have a computer or a cell phone. So there’s no excuse not to read.

Don’t expect the school to give your kids paper, pens or any other school supply. That’s not their job. Their job is to teach, not provide able bodied working people with free school supplies.

It always boggled my mind when I was in school how kids on had on $200 sneakers, $95 jeans and a $300 leather jacket but would ask me for paper and a pen. Almost a thousand dollars worth of clothes on and they couldn’t find $1.99 for notebook paper or $1.49 for a pack of pens. Then these same people’s parents complained that the school wasn’t helping their kids.

Now this mentality has escalated into entire schools providing everything from notebooks to winter coats for children. Seriously, when do Parents learn to take responsibility for their own children?

People who want their kids to learn will find a way to buy school supplies. Part of learning is improvising and adapting. Human beings who want something will make a way to get it. Parents and kids will sacrifice the $200 sneakers and $95 jeans for their kids if it’s paramount to them getting an education.

Don’t expect the school to know how your kids are doing in class. Sorry, it’s not the school’s job to know how many credits your child has in High School. Or how many classes they’re passing. I learned that the hard way. You the parent and You the student have to keep on top of things. Keep a tab of your gradepoint average. Keep a tab of your credits. Keep a tab on whether you’re passing or not.

Don’t expect the school to know where your children are. On occasion, I suggest parents drop by the school their children are attending. Unannounced. A couple of days per year. Especially in middle school and high school.p Talk to a guidance counselor. Talk to some teachers. Ask for attendance records, especially in Middle school and High school.

Why? Because some kids may leave the house, but I guarantee you they’re not going to school. These kids literally disappear. For months. Where are they? God only knows.

Kids disappearing has been going on since I was in High school. People show up on the first day of class and POOF! Gone for three months.

Or until Welfare recertification comes around. Then faces I wouldn’t see would pop up.

Most times here in New York City they’re riding around on the subway. Running the streets. Or at a friends’ house playing video games. Getting high. Joyriding in stolen cars. Shoplifting. Or having sex with adults while their parents in their homes while they’re at work.

Some may be involved in drug, gang or criminal activity.

And today, they may be filming their mischief and posting it on places like World Star Hip Hop. So I’d check that site out. And I’d check out their facebook and twitter and other social media.

Since they didn’t come in the school isn’t liable for them. Legally, they’re marked as absent. But you the parent are on the hook for their behavior. Any trouble they get in while out on these little escapades during school hours, the Parent is responsible for. So make an effort to find out if they’re going to school.

School is not a fashion show nor is it a social club. Most kids today go to school to socialize. To show off the latest sneakers, jeans ipods, cell phones and other stuff. That stuff will suck your child down the drain.

People who take their education into their own hands realize that school is not a fashion show or a social club. It’ is a place where they’ll learn some of the skills they’ll need to get to the next level. The main priority is reaching the next level. Clothes come and go. Gadgets come and go. But the education one gets stays with them.

I learned the hard way at sixteen that school wasn’t a social club or a fashion show. At the end of the day none of that stuff mattered. When I started taking my education into my own hands I stopped looking at what was trendy and hip. I stopped looking trying to socialize. As I focused on graduating, my goal was getting the grades I needed to pass classes and get my diploma. And that’s what Black children need to be prepared to do so they can compete in today’s global economy.

The Black Community really needs to get serious about education. With 70 percent of Black males dropping out and 50 percent of Black girls dropping out, It’s time for brothers and sisters to stop looking to the government to help with educating our own kids. These are our children and it’s our job to be responsible for what they’re learning and how they’re learning it. We have to take the education of our children into our own hands and stop making excuses.

Black America Always Invests in the WRONG People

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Many African-Americans wonder why their communities are always poor.

The Government, private industry and individuals have dumped billions into Black inner-city neighborhoods over the past fifty years.

Yet the poverty continues to get WORSE with each passing generation.

Want to know why Black America doesn’t It’s not racism, it’s not sexism nor any other form of discrimination.

It’s because everyone in the Black community invests in the WRONG Black people.

You can’t get a return on someone that has no value. Moreover, you can’t get a return on a person who doesn’t value themselves.

In the White, Hispanic, and Asian communities they support their best and brightest men and women above all others. They protect their gifted and talented people and give them the tools that they need to become leaders and captains of industry who can build an economic base and established an economic infrastructure that builds wealth.

Only in the Black community do we not invest in our best and brightest males and females. Instead we pour money into our worst males and females.

This primary investment into thugs, gang bangers, baby mamas ex-cons and other assorted degenerates has led to the total collapse of the economic base in the Black community over the last twenty years.

Why? Because these individuals HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY.

And investing in them first is the equivalent of putting money in a trash can. Investing in the highest risk individuals FIRST doesn’t yield a higher return on the dollar.

Nor is it how a community builds a strong economy.

When resources are heavily invested in “At Risk” individuals all they do is lose money because they don’t value the resources being put into them. And the more money that’s poured into them the more money that’s lost. Eventually it reaches a point where more money is invested in the person spent more than the individual is actually worth. A total loss of money, resources and time that could have been better spent on someone better deserving.

In some cases, it’d be a lot cheaper to take a child from birth and raise it up outside of the ghetto to produce someone of value than to pour billions into welfare, section 8, food stamps, WIC, college financial aid, job training and a dozen other government programs taking care of a baby mama, an ex-con or a thug who will develop a co-dependent set of values they will pass on to their children.

Black America needs to realize when it comes to human beings you invest heavily in the best and brightest because they are the lowest risk. And the best chance for a return that will yield a profit. By investing and supporting the gifted and talented men and women in the community when they are young, these brothers and sisters see the value of their community and return to invest in it by establishing their businesses in the neighborhoods they grew up in and providing jobs for people in the community. Basic economics.

But for the past 50 years Black America has ignored its best and brightest. Worse it doesn’t spend money on them nor does it make efforts to protect them or support them. This alienates these brothers and sisters from the communities they grew up in. Because they have no emotional connection to the neighborhoods they grew up in, they move away from those places looking for support elsewhere. And because they have no connection to their neighborhoods these individuals don’t return money and capital they’d use to establish businesses and provide jobs for people in the community like the Whites, Hispanics and Asians do.

Instead Black America invests in thugs, Baby mamas and assorted hoodrats in the vein hope that one of these pitiful individuals will pay off BIG like a lotto ticket. Most black folks are so busy gambling on the next Jay-Z or a Biggie or a Tupac, Tyler Perry, Lee Daniels or some NBA superstar they don’t take the time to invest in the invisible Black boys and girls who would have become the future backbones of the community and built our economy.

This is why 99% of Black dollars wind up in White, Asian, Arab and Hispanic hands instead of remaining in the Black community.

Black America invests in those who take our money, not make us money.

And it’s why we have no doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, computer scientists, lawyers or entrepreneurs who can build a middle class in our neighborhoods. No, those individuals take their money elsewhere because they don’t feel valued by their own communities.

If we had only spent the past 20 years investing in our gifted and talented, our best and brightest, then maybe they wouldn’t have felt alienated and abandoned by the people in the neighborhood. Maybe they wouldn’t have moved away from the neighborhoods they grew up in. Maybe after college they would have returned to the neighborhood and built an economic base that would have provided jobs and established wealth that would have built up the Black economy.

If you value your Children’s lives DO NOT ENROLL THEM IN A PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

2012-01-22T18:53:00.001-08:00

If you don’t want your son to wind up in a gang or with a juvenile record, read this blog.

If you don’t want to wind up with a son or daughter who is sexually promiscuous read this blog

If you don’t want to wind up with a daughter who is a teenage mother, read this blog.

If you don’t want to wind up with a son who is a teenage father, read this blog.

If you don’t want to wind up with children with drug problems, read this blog.

If you want your children to graduate High School, read this blog.

If you want your children to go to College read this blog.

If you want to raise children who are ready to compete in college read this blog.

If you want your children to grow up to be healthy, functional adults, read this blog.

I give you some advice from personal experience in my life Parents:

DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN IN A PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

Public middle schools are a black hole where the seeds of failure are planted in young minds. It’s a place where gifted and talented young people become troubled and disturbed. They are where potential is lost, and where children wind up on the fast track to teenage motherhood, drug abuse, and prison.

If you value your child’s life I implore you not to allow them to be enrolled in a public middle school. If you want your children to grow up to be productive individuals who will be able to function and compete in America, DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN IN PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL.

If your child is in the fifth or sixth grade it’s time to start looking at Catholic and private schools.

If you have children that are in a Public Middle school, TAKE THEM OUT and ENROLL THEM IN A CATHOLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL NOW. You may have a chance to reverse the damage.

And if you are having financial issues, it’s time to start looking for vouchers, scholarships, or a second job. This is no time to be stingy. The small investment in your child’s education you make now will last them a lifetime. It might even save their lives.

Public Middle school may be free but it will cost a parent years of grief, along with the thousands in legal fees and court costs in some cases. In extreme costs the time spent here it may lead up to funeral expenses.

Public Middle schools are the weak link in the American Education system. It’s a TOXIC environment where children wind up losing their direction in life. In some cases it’s where children lose their lives.

Academically Middle School is where children start going downhill in America. In grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 are where children don’t get the courses that will allow them to be prepared to need to compete in High school. Because they don’t get the classes like pre-algebra and science here they wind up lost and confused in High school in algebra and chemistry classes. Because they don’t get the comprehensive background in English literature they fall apart in High school when they’re presented with novels and term papers.

I can tell you from experience, a child who attends a public Middle school is a child who won’t be prepared for college either. Thanks to the garbage education they’ll receive in public middle school, They’ll be taking non-credit remedial courses trying to catch up. In some cases they’ll be taking these courses for years.

I can also tell you from personal experience Public Middle schools are not safe. A public Middle school is a war zone where children become filled with anxiety and fear. It’s hard for a child to concentrate on getting an education in a place where children are being terrorized on a daily basis by bullies who prowl the halls and criminals who stalk the campuses before and afterschool.

It’s a known fact gangs like the Crips and Bloods recruit boys in public middle schools. Drug dealers look for young men to be their lookouts in public Middle schools as well as couriers.

These thugs also look for girls to date and be part of their crew. Grown men as old as 20-25 look for 12-and 13 year old girls to pursue sexual relationships with. If your daughters will attend public middle school chances are she’ll be pressured into having sex by one of these pedophiles who lurk around the campus before and afterschool.

Public Middle schools are not a good social environment for adolescents. Unlike public elementary schools where there is some semblance of order and structure, a public middle school is chaos. Most of the faculty and administration there are apathetic and indifferent and will not look out for the needs and safety of your children. A public middle school is a place with no structure, no rules and no discipline. It’s the equivalent of sending your children to spend six hours a day in a prison complex unsupervised.

A Public Middle School is the equivalent of an Al-Qaeda Terrorist training camp for adolescents. The only things children learn there are violence, crime, sexual perversion or the start of a drug habit. It’s not a place where children learn the values that will help them grow into responsible young adults.

It is a place where a good responsible child will be turned into a juvenile delinquent, or start the path to becoming a hard-core criminal.

Public Middle schools are where good children become corrupted by bad values. Thanks to a failed liberal social policy where kids from multiple school districts wind up in one school good kids wind up mixed up with bad kids from severely dysfunctional homes. And because these good kids are in their exploratory phase they wind up adopting bad values from the dysfunctional kids that wind up staying with them for years. Worse, they wind up making mistakes that can impact them for the rest of their lives.

Public Middle schools are where good kids wind up turning into bad kids and the ones who struggle to remain good kids wind up invisible and forgotten. So much attention is paid to the dysfunctional children in public middle school that good kids are ignored and not encouraged to actualize their potential.

I’m urging every parent out there to start taking their child’s education into their own hands. Don’t feel compelled to keep your kids in a failing public educational institution for their academic career for any reason. The law may say kids have to go to school. But you have a right to say where. You as a parent have a right to choose the environment where your child is educated in. You have a right to make sure that the values you want promoted are part of that education. And you have a right to find an educational environment where your children will be safe from dangerous predators like gang bangers, pedophiles and drug dealers. Moreover, you as a parent have a right to a quality education that will provide an academic foundation that will allow your children to compete in high school and college.

There are alternatives to the toxic wasteland known as Public Middle school. Make every effort to find a Catholic or private institution to enroll your children in. And if that institution isn’t providing for their needs or safety, take them out until you find one that will provide for them. The seeds you plant today can grow up to yield bountiful fruit.

Or a bitter harvest.

I guarantee you the psychological trauma your child will get by spending two to four years in a Public Middle School will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Those scars will be next to impossible to heal, even with years of psychotherapy. Worse, the lessons in dysfunction they learn here could be passed on to spouses and their children.

Until the Federal Government and State and local governments pass laws that abolish the Middle schools as part of our educational system and replace them with something productive, it’s up to We The People to do what is best for our children. And that means removing our children from the American Public education system after grades 5 or 6.

Parents take your child’s education into your own hands. Don’t enroll your children in a public Middle School or Junior High School.

John Haynes Custom- Now with Pants!

2012-01-20T21:37:00.001-08:00

Pants for the JH custom arrived this week !

Why I Write about The Comic Book Industry

2012-01-19T11:13:00.001-08:00

Some of you probably wonder why I write so much about the Comic book industry. Why I’m so critical of the publishers, distribution system and the fans.

I’ll tell you why I’m so critical. I love comic books. I love this industry. And I love it so much I want it to be around for the next generation of youngsters to enjoy.

As I’ve stated numerous times before, comic books were my gateway to reading at four years old. If it weren’t for comic books showing me how much fun it was to read, I wouldn’t be a writer today. When I saw the comics in my brother’s collection I was inspired to make my own home-made comics with loose-leaf paper, construction paper, and glue at nine years old. Because I couldn’t draw the pictures, I used words to imagine the action going on.

As I grew into my teen years and adulthood I inherited my brothers’ collection of over 2,000 comics. Those comics and the new comics I bought kept me reading and kept my mind open as I focused on getting my high school diploma and my college degree in Business.

I want today’s generation of children to discover the joy of reading through comic books. I want to re-open this portal to literacy for the next generation so they can enjoy all these great characters I enjoyed growing up. In this technological age, another generation of kids are missing out on the gateway to reading and literacy.

In my South Bronx neighborhood a generation of readers was lost as comics disappeared off shelves in the mid 1990’s. And I’ve seen the damage that was done as the comic books were replaced with video games . Reading test scores have dropped over the last twenty years and literacy is at an all-time low here.

Personally, I feel the decline in comic book sales correlates with the dismal reading scores and poor literacy. In inner-city neighborhoods like the South Bronx, comic books were the only literature many kids like myself could afford to supplement their educations. Back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when I was growing up comic books were all-ages entertainment that made reading exciting and fun. They encouraged good readers like myself to keep reading with the next issue and motivated struggling readers to push themselves to learn how to read better. Comic Books made the kids in my classes passionate about reading and learning about a variety of subjects.

Comic books weren’t much to many, but for kids like me they were an escape from the urban blight of burnt down buildings, junkies and crime that made New York City insufferable back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They inspired kids like me to work towards doing something better. To learn how to read. To keep reading. To get an education. And in some cases, it inspired us to pursue careers in a variety of fields.

I want this industry to survive. And the only way for it to survive in the 21^st century is with the support of parents and children, women and minorities. They’re the only way this business will be able to get the volume sales of 300,000- 500,000 copies that can make it possible for a publisher to pull a profit on printing costs and overhead. These growing audiences are the only way that comic books can get the demand necessary to get retailers outside of comic shops interested in stocking them. And these large audiences are the only way comic publishers can reduce prices to print comic books at a price point where the value per entertainment dollar is competitive with other forms of entertainment like mp3s, TV shows, and games.

The only thing in the way of that growth is the industry’s adherence to archaic business model rendered obsolete in the late 1990’s, and an outdated business plan that targets a core demographic of White male customers who are currently over 35 years old. These are readers who have long outgrown comics and should have moved on to novels or at least graphic novels where the content can be packaged and tailored to their adult tastes.

Today’s old farts don’t understand how their selfishness is crippling the growth of the industry. Moreover, they don’t understand how their actions are keeping today’s youngsters from enjoying these characters, the customers who will keep the comic book business going for the next twenty to forty years until it’s time for them to pass these characters on to their sons and daughters.

I see how to right this ship. I see a way to get comics back into the hands of children. But most in the industry are resistant to change. Sadly I think it’ll take DC Comics or Marvel Comics ceasing publication of comics to get everyone in the industry to WAKE UP. Right now, many in the industry are comfortable sucking on a corporate tit of endless cash to stand up and be creative. Only when Time Warner or Disney stops subsidizing mediocre work will the surviving writers, artists, and editors change their approach and start creating product to appeal to the twenty million children of this baby boom.

I feel there’s room for both an adult and children’s market for comic books here in America just like in Japan. It’s just a matter of having a good editor who has the vision to see both audiences and who will make efforts to manage content for both.

There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing a kid reading a comic book. Because I know that child is developing a love for reading that will last them a lifetime.

Brothers- Don’t be a Pullman Porter in a Relationship

2012-01-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

A Pullman Porter carried bags on the railways when train travel was popular in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century. He was easily recognizable by his distinctive uniform.

The Pullman Porter carried passengers’ bags on and off trains, he served passengers in the diner car and rode in the caboose. It was hard demeaning work where grown men had to endure being called “boy” “nigger” and other racial slurs on a daily basis. Even if he were college educated, had to demean and debase himself to keep a job serving customers who mocked him laughed at him, and didn’t appreciate his work.

Being a Pullman Porter was the only job many Black men could get in some places. In fact, it was considered one of the best jobs a Black man could have during the Jim Crow period.

Back in those days many good Black men had to settle for less because of Jim Crow and institutional racism prevented them from competing in the job market and achieving the American Dream.

Now decades after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, Black men are still being asked to settle for less. And they’re being asked to settle for less from their own Black women.

Many Black women today are telling good brothers they have to put up with their baggage of ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands, ex-cons, mental health issues, veneral diseases and children from their failed past relationships.

Basically, they’re telling Good Black men they have to be Pullman Porters. That they have to clean up a mess. That they have to carry bags. That they have to put up with second-best second-rate treatment in order to be first in a relationship with them.

I find that unacceptable. I won’t tolerate it in my life and I’m urging other brothers to not to accept it in their lives.

Brothers, don’t be a Pullman Porter.

Don’t put on the white jacket and the bow tie just to win the heart of a woman. It was bad enough when we had to degrade ourselves for White racists during Jim Crow. And It’s just as demeaning for a Black man to degrade himself it for a Black woman today. Black men have worked too hard and too long to settle for abuse and second-rate treatment from Black women. Take your respect.

A Black man has value and worth, as a human being and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Black men are capable of giving and sharing love and they deserve to be loved by women who appreciate and value them.

Brothers I implore you,

Don’t settle for carrying some woman’s emotional baggage from one station in life to the next. Life is too short to carry someone’s bags from past failed relationships. It’s too short to spend every day tortured by a Black woman who wants to project all the anger and frustration she feels about a failed relationship with an ex-boyfriend onto someone so she can vent. Leave that woman to stew in her own anger and drown in her issues.

Don’t settle for verbal abuse. Our fathers and Grandfathers sacrificed their dignity and endured being called nigger and boy by White people for decades in those jobs like Pullman Porter so we could have a better life today. A Black man today shouldn’t have to come home to be verbally abused and called all types of names by a Black woman. If a woman can’t respect a man enough to speak to him tactfully, then he should leave her and find someone else. If she can’t disagree with him without resorting to verbally hitting below the belt in an argument, move on. Brothers, you have feelings and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. You are an equal to a woman and she has no right to talk down to you like a child.

Don’t settle for a bad attitude. Pullmen Porters had to endure the surly attitudes from white racists because during Jim Crow they could lose their jobs for any reason a White person felt was an infraction on their superiority. In the face of so much cruelty he had to smile and still be courteous. Black men are asked to do this every day with surly Black women. We’re told to smile while black women can be surly and stank, roll their eyes and act like spoiled children. Sorry, but this behavior is just unacceptable and Black Men mustn’t tolerate it anymore. Sistas can act right for everyone else, but won’t give Black men respect in social interactions. No, this belligerence needs to stop.

Don’t settle for cleaning up someone else’s mess. Pullman Porters had to clean up messes in the dining car because it was their job. But Black men today have sacrificed too much to come home to pick up some Black woman’s relationship garbage and take it to the curb. She had the relationship with a gang-banger or an ex-con. She had three kids for three different men. But here she is she’s asking yet ANOTHER MAN to help solve HER problems. He’s supposed to put up his money to take care of another man’s kids’s, help ex-cons who “want to get themselves right” find a job and get the police to help rid her of gang bangers who keep prowling around her house. HELL NO!

Ignore the sad eyes victim cries, and salty tears. Don’t give into the temptations to put on the white jacket and serve her needs like that unappreciated Pullman Porter from back in the day. All she’s going to do is make a brotha ride in the big red caboose and laugh at him.

No, SHE made the mess with these fools. Let HER clean it up and deal with it the best she can. Keep on walking, and get a ticket in the first-class car with the rest of the polished travelers and enjoy your life.

Don’t settle for being treated like you don’t exist by sisters who are emotionally unavailable. Black women love to put their kids, ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands and baby daddys needs ahead of a Good Black Man’s needs and tell him to take a number until they’re interested. Brothers need to understand that these women are sufficiently obligated in their relationships and will not be able to be there for you and cannot be there for them.

Brothers, when you see a woman like this drop your number ticket in the garbage. Keep on walking until you find someone who will put your needs FIRST. You deserve the best in life. Don’t settle for riding in the caboose when there’s a first class ticket with your name on it.

Don’t settle for being a surrogate father. Black women feel entitled to tell a good brother that it’s his job to be a father figure for their children by other men. Moreover they feel this absolves the children’s father or fathers in some cases of any responsibility whatsoever for the upbringing of their children. These sistas want every man to be a father to their children, but the man who impregnated her.

No, men, in the case of Single mothers, keep on walking. Again, this woman is SUFFICIENTLY OBLIGATED in the dysfunctional relationship with the baby daddy SHE CHOSE and it’s THEIR job to take care of THEIR CHILDREN. Find a woman with NO KIDS who wants to build a healthy relationship with you. Then you can have a family where the children can share the love you have for them.

Black men who have worked hard achieve success in their lives shouldn’t have to be Pullman Porters when it comes to relationships with women. Black men must demand better when it comes to how we’re treated by Black women. Leave the garbage bags and the suitcases at the curb because it’s not a Black man’s job to clean up a Black woman’s mess anymore.

CUNY Office Assistant- Black Men Need Not Apply

2012-01-12T11:50:00.001-08:00

The textbook definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing and expecting a different result.

Sometimes it takes people a while to realize what they’re doing is crazy.

I came to that revelation Tuesday about the CUNY Office Assistant Job in Civil service I’ve been pursuing for three years.

I have been going to hiring pools and interviews at local CityUniversity of New York campuses for approximately three years. I thought I was doing the right thing.

I was a fool.

I have exhausted my unemployment and wore down a lot of my savings chasing a chump change $26,714 a year job. Buying Business clothes. Paper. Toner. Dry cleaning. Internet. Subway fare. Traveling from the South Bronx to far away places like Brooklyn and Queens trying to get a job pays $350 a week or $8-$9 an hour. In some cases talking to the same HR people over and over again. Gambling on the hopes that one day, a position in one of the City University of New York’s campuses will open up and work out for me.

Seriously, That’s crazy to do that for three years. Just delusional when you think about it.

Most people would have quit after a year. But me goaded by my family I used to think that this will work out one day. I now realize it’s not. And I’m not throwing good money after bad anymore.

When it comes to the CUNY Office Assistant position I realize it is crazy to keep my name on the list for a Civil Service job I’m never going to get. Looking at the pattern of the hiring practices at the City University of New York and who is in charge of Human Resources at the City University of New York it’s clear that I am never going to get this job.

At most of the hiring pools and interviews I go to, I’m interviewed by women. Women HR managers attend the Hiring Pools. Women HR managers run the HR departments at CUNY.

And from my observations, The CUNY Office Assistant is a position given to women HR managers to other women.

And Black Men need not apply.

I now realize that a Black Man does not stand a chance of getting a job as a CUNY Office Assistant in the City University of New York Civil Service System. EVER.

Unless he’s a Homosexual. Then a man has the full support of all the women in CUNY. Cause Women love to have Gay men work in their offices so they can get fashion and cooking tips.

Sure, Government Civil Service says it’s not supposed to discriminate. But technically according to the law, they’ve met their minority quota for the CUNY office Assistant Position in most cases. Most of the times they’re hiring Black women, Latina women, or Asian Women for these jobs. That helps them meet the EEOC standards for diversity, while the occasional Hispanic Asian, or Gay male hire helps keep it look like they’re not overtly discriminating against men.

During my trips to hiring pools and interviews, most of the Black men including myself are mostly the ones who go home empty handed and told “your name will remain on the list”. And it’ll remain there until you quit. That’s right quit. When you decide to stop showing up for the interviews they take your name off the list. That absolves CUNY of any responsibility for their racist, sexist and discriminatory hiring system.

I realize this isn’t going to change. Why? Because most of the racist and sexist White Professors and administrators who run the departments at CUNY like it that way. The White Male Professors and Department heads are only comfortable with White women and minority women in office support positions.

Enduring this ordeal to get a CUNY office Assistant job I’ve come to the understanding that racists will hire Black women and minority women in support positions regardless of their skills because they just want to feel comfortable. A fat Black Chick named Unequa with a bad attitude and a big ass mouth will always get the job over a clean-cut on point brother named Shawn who works hard because she makes a White man feel easy about his position in life.

To these pseudo intellectual White Supremacists, a Black man can only either be a criminal or a degenerate, or some stereotype hoodrat they see on the 11o’clock news. They can’t stand the idea that Hardworking professional brothers like me exist.

Why? Because those White boys know that the Black Man named Shawn is ready to COMPETE with them. He has broken through their walls, sees their mediocrity and is ready to LEAD by example rather than HIDE BEHIND POLICY LIKE THEY DO.

It’s clear to me the pseudo-intellectual White Supremacists at the City University of New York wish to live in denial about who Black men are and don’t want them working in certain positions in their university system. With a support system of Black women and minorities helping them they erect ivy covered walls to their educational fortress and pretend that Brothers like me don’t exist.

Which is why the only Black Man you’ll ever see on a CUNY Campus is a janitor or a security guard. And that’s the way the White Supremacists there like it. They won’t openly say this, but just take one look around and those are primarily the only Heterosexual Black men you’ll see working on a CUNY campus or CUNY property, outside of the occasional Uncle Tom with a token position to make things look diverse and “fair”.

Since 2006, I’ve gotten a lesson in racism dealing with the City University of New York. Now I’m going to teach other Black Men about my lessons in Racism.

And the first lesson for the brothers is to save their money and not spend $30 on the Civil Service Exam for the CUNY office Assistant whenever it rolls around again. It’s the start of throwing good money after bad. From personal experience I can tell you Black Men need not Apply.

Brothers, keep your money in your pockets. There are other job opportunities for you to pursue when it comes to the CUNY Office Assistant position.

A Thug is Not a Man

2012-01-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

A thug is not a man.

Today, many Black males identify with the thug culture. Over the past twenty years it has been seen as a way of life in many Black neighborhoods. Fathers have passed these ideals on to their sons. And now their sons are passing it on to their grandsons.

Which is why a thug is not a man.

A thug is a concept.

The thug has always been a concept. A concept made up by White people to exploit young and vulnerable Black males who have no sense of identity and no understanding of their history.

African-Americans need to understand that Thug culture is a set of values and ideals made up by rich white males in Corporate America, Madison Avenue, and Hollywood to undermine the African-American Males of Generation X and beyond. This was part of a long-term master plan to keep African American males from competing in the United States economy and achieving financial independence in large numbers.

Thug culture did not come from the streets of the Black community. No, it came from a boardroom. Mixing concepts from prison, hip-hop, pimping, and gangs, rich white businessmen created the Thug and Thug culture and promoted it as a religion of values, beliefs and ideals to program the thinking of impressionable young African-American males 15 and under in the mid-1980s.

If one looks closer, the Thug is nothing more than a modernized repackaging of the coon and brute caricatures, amalgmating the two racist stereotypes into a brand new stereotype for a new generation. The ideal Thug for White America is a lazy shiftless Black male who looks for ways to avoid work through hustles and drug deals. He is an inarticulate buffon who can only speak in a string of profanities and street slang. Moreover, like the brute he has a voracious appetite for sex and a savage lust for violence. Like both caricatures, he is known for wearing brightly colored loose-fitting clothing and walking in an ape-like stance which some call a swagger.

Many African-American males who imbibe thug culture have no idea that they are just acting like coons and brutes, racist stereotypes that originated in the Antebellum south. They have no idea that they’re doing just what rich White people want them to do: destroying their lives and the lives of the people around them.

Before thug culture emerged as mainstream in the late 1980’s, most young Black males were just regular hardworking people, no different from Whites. Thanks to the progress of the Civil Rights Movement, a large majority of Black boys were starting to follow the path laid out by older traditional Black males in the job market and role models they saw on shows like Benson, The Cosby show and A Different World, and many were making inroads into the middle class. Before thug culture overtook the Black community, Black men finishing high school and going on to college was the norm.

Those who didn’t’ finish high school were working towards GEDs and plans for college. Others were working towards military careers, careers in civil service, and long-term employment in union jobs at factories, docks and other good-paying jobs.

Corporate America, Madison Avenue and Hollywood didn’t like that. Why? Because if large masses of Black males became educated and started to compete with them they could create their own businesses. Moreover, they would create their own economic and political systems which would undermine their power base in America. So they sought to sabotage that progress.

And the first salvo in undermining that progress was NWA’s Straight Outta Compton. With this music video, and the accompanying CD, the Thug had a visual image that children and adolescents could see as “cool”, A rebellious male that was fighting against the establishment. These forty guzzling criminals with foul mouths who ran from the cops and carried guns were nothing like the clean-cut images on television shows like The Cosby Show or the articulate clean-cut east coast rappers like Kid N’ Play, Heavy D, or Big Daddy Kane.

These rebels with a cause they became popular with many black males. As large masses of Blacks began imbibing the culture of thuggism spread like a virus. It permeated hip-hop music, clothing, art and film. Movies like Boyz N The Hood, Menace II Society, As thug life began infecting Black culture, pitchmen like Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Tupac Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Jay-Z glamourized and sold “Thug Life” as the way African-Americans should live.

But many brothers and sisters couldn’t see the insidious plan to undermine the progress of the Black community behind the luxury cars, baggy clothes and the swagger. In interviews Rappers like Nas, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G often bragged about how they dropped out of school in the eighth grade and how they didn’t need the “White Man’s Education”. This mantra became imbedded in the minds of young Black males and their mothers. Soon Education, which was the cornerstone of Black progression since slavery was seen as “Acting White.”

Going to work and having one’s own business began to be seen as dumb and drug dealing and hustling was the only way to go for a Black man in America. Crime was glamorized as the only way a Black man could achieve success.

The propoganda of Thug life was designed to program a way of thinking into a majority of Generation X. The values they took in subconsciously watching this media would impact the next generation, generation Y and the millenials and their children. And this is where the devastating impact of Thug culture can be seen on the Black community.

Notice how over the past 20 years since thug culture has permeated the Black community as a consciousness, the dropout rate in the black community has skyrocketed. In cities like New York the number of Black males dropping out of school is 70 percent. Nationwide the dropout rate among Black males is now over fifty percent.

Also notice how over the past 20 years African-Americans are more illiterate and undereducated. Those rappers who told teenagers from my generation and beyond that they were “Acting White” and that they dropped out of school in the eighth grade had a hand in inspiring a generation of young males to think they could do the same. After all, they became millionaires (LIE) without school so could they.

Also notice how the number of 18, 19, and 20 year olds with arrests has skyrocketed as well. In some cities like Washington DC, there isn’t a single black male under 25 who doesn’t have a case in the criminal justice system or an encounter with the criminal justice system. Again, those same entertainers had a hand in inspiring young males into thinking they could do the same. After all, they became millionaires with felony convictions (LIE) so they could do the same as well.

Those entertainers took blood money at the expense of the overall Black community. These Uncle Toms preached the religion of Thug culture poisoned the minds of a generation.

A Black male under 25 today is more likely to have a prison record than a High School diploma. He is less likely to have a college degree. Less than five percent of Black males attend college today. Why? Because being a thug is Black and college is for White people. Moreover it’s not cool for Black people to be educated.

Thanks to the false teachings of Thug culture the Black economy has collapsed. Over the past twenty years many of our businesses have either left the black community, were sold to Whites, or just went out of business. Because so many of our young men and women decided not to pursue entreprenurship to replenish the Black economy, instead choosing to become drug dealers , hustlers and gang banger, the overall infrastructure of the Black economy has collapsed.

Black America needs to wake up.

Brothers and sisters need to realize that a Thug is not a man.

A thug is a concept. A group of ideas, beliefs and values created by rich White people to destroy Black people. Moreover, a concept created by those same racists so Black people will destroy themselves so the racists won’t have to soil their hands.

Today Black America isn’t fighting a Black man or a group of men called thugs. No, it is fighting a group of ideas, beliefs and values. A group of ideas, beliefs and values that White America seeks to establish itself as the dominant culture in Black America. A new generation of coons, bucks, jezebels mammies and other old racist stereotypes White America feels comfortable with.

And the sad part is everything is going according to plan. In another 20 years there black race will be worse off than it was during slavery. Unskilled, uneducated and scavenging like dogs for scraps.

Brothers and sisters you must deprogram yourself from the false teachings of thug culture. It is a state of mind meant to destroy us as a people.

Brothers and Sisters, there is no such thing as a Thug. What you see people participating in described as Thug life are a set of false beliefs made up by a consortium of White racists and Uncle Toms.

Our slave ancestors weren’t thugs. Our Grandfathers and grandmothers weren’t thugs. Even some of our mothers and fathers weren’t thugs. No, they were hardworking men and women who took pride in building businesses and supporting each other. They adhered to conservative ideals and beliefs such as education, thrift, sacrifice employment, and entrepreneurship that allowed us to compete with the rest of America and have our piece of the American dream. They would be ashamed to see the people of this generation turning their backs on the traditions that built Black America and kept it strong for a false set of beliefs made up by a group of racists that destroy all they worked for.

How Brothers and Sisters in the Black Community Can Help the Invisible Black Men

2012-01-08T18:59:00.001-08:00

In a previous blog, I wrote about the Invisible Black men, the good brothers in the Black community who we don’t see every day. Staying on that straight and narrow path is a lonely journey where many of our best and brightest Black men are mocked ridiculed, laughed at, beaten, humiliated and driven out of the communities they want to serve.

In trying to be a part of their communities, The invisible Black men like myself often meet up with a wall of resistance from their own brothers and sisters. This lack of support can make a man feel like he’s swimming upstream. In extreme cases our good men feel like they’re drowning in a pool of apathy and indifference.

The White community protects and supports its best and brightest men. The Latino community protects its best and brightest The Asian community protects and supports their good men.

But the Black community doesn’t look out for its good men.

What can we all do to help the invisible Black men? What can we do to encourage them? For starters brothers and sisters can start acknowledging they exist. The next time we see a good brother doing the right thing, how about smiling at them. Say Hi to them. Introduce yourself. That can go a long way towards making good brothers feel wanted, appreciated and valued.

Next we can start providing with support. Many of our good brothers are neglected and forgotten in the mad quest to save the thugs, ex-cons hoodrats and hustlers on the street. Because these brothers don’t get their mental and emotional needs met by the community they become frustrated and angry and eventually abandon their communities.

Emotional support can also be doing something as simple as smiling at good brothers at myself and saying Hi when you see us on the street, at church or in your building. Or brothers and sisters can go further out of their way by saying thank you for being who they are. Congratulating them for finishing High School. Congratulate them for finishing College. Asking them how school was. Asking them how their day was when they come home from work. Letting these brothers know how much we all care about them. Let them see that we value them as people.

Seriously, it’s those little gestures people make that can have a big impact on encouraging good brothers like myself to keep doing what they’re doing and to not give up.

The invisible Black men like myself want to be there for their communities. We appreciate the time people take to acknowledge us and will make more efforts to be a part of our communities if they allow us an opportunity to connect with them.

Brothers and sisters can also start looking out for the next generation of good brothers in school. Let them know they are doing a great job. Encourage them to stay in school and that all the work they’re doing in the classroom will pay off eventually. That it’s not “White” to get an education. And most importantly, that it’s okay for them to be themselves. They’re not nerds,

Moreover, we all must make efforts to protect them from the gangstas, and hoodrats on the way to school who bully and harass them. All of us must let these invisible boys know that the community is watching them. and that we won’t stand for our best and brightest boys being terrorized for getting an education. These young men are the future of Black America and will be the captains of industry who will build our infrastructure.

Economically, brothers and sisters can support good men by making an effort to buy products from brothers like myself who have legit businesses or are trying to start legit businesses so they can be encouraged to persevere. Entrepreneurs in business struggle for the first five years to stay afloat. Many a good brother who started a business often was drowned by a lack of support from the brothers and sisters in the Black community who refused to take the time to put money into his business. Worse, after the failure of their business, these men became discouraged and gave up efforts to bring products and services to the community.

Brothers and sisters need to understand it’s the support from the Black community that allows Black men to build wealth in the Black community. That economic power keeps money in the neighborhood which allows business people to hire other African-Americans. Our economy is suffering currently because African-Americans don’t buy Black products or buy products from Black merchants. Moreover we don’t do anything to to protect the businesses in our communities.

Brothers and sisters can also support Black entrepreneurs by providing them with leads to new business clients and telling others about their products and services. This networking in the neighborhood allows good Black men to build their businesses and to create the economic web that keeps our communities strong. These business networks keep things .

Everyone needs to understand that when we don’t make the efforts to look out for our good brothers, we can’t look out for the quality of life in the Black community. We can’t reach back to support the next generation if the community doesn’t reach out to support us.

STOP SIMPIN

2012-01-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

The epidemic of Simpin (spending large amounts of money on women) in the Black community has reached epic proportions. Why should brothers stop Simpin?? Here are some of the reasons why:

It puts a big red target on your chest. Everyone on the block knows a simp. He’s the guy who tries too hard. He’s the guy who acts all goofy when a girl pays him some attention. Usually this peacock behavior marks him for all the predators who are looking for someone to take advantage of.

Simps attract the lowest forms of female life to themselves. Because Simps are so eager for affection from females they often use their wallets to get a woman’s attention. Because they put their cash out up front, they wind up attracting the attention of the worst types of females. These parasites include golddiggers, chicken heads, neighborhood tramps, and baby mamas. These women are just out to use a brother, get some gifts, dinners, houses, cars and trips. When they’re through maxing out his credit cards and emptying out his bank accounts, they just broom him to the curb broke and bitter.

It gives women a false sense of entitlement. Women who date Simps think that men are just supposed to take them out to dinners at five star-restaurants, buy them lots of stuff and give them the best just because they’re women. Sorrry ladies, but a date with someone isn’t a game show where you get cash and prizes for showing up . Courtship is about getting to know someone and if they’re compatible with you. Those gifts are EARNED as men and women build their relationship together, not given to buy a woman’s heart.

Women do not respect a Simp. For all the money a Simp spends it won’t earn him a woman’s respect. When she’s out with her girlfriends or with people at work, she’s mocking him, making jokes about him or speaking about him with contempt. In her eyes he’s not someone she loves he’s just a joke.

You can’t buy love. No matter how much money a Simp spends, he’ll never be able to buy a woman’s heart. Love is one of those things that doesn’t have a price tag. A man has to have things in common with a woman like attraction, chemistry and desire to form a connection and a relationship. These intangibles are something a man can’t get with money alone.

A Simp is a human ATM machine to women, not a man. A lot of guys think they’re impressing women flashing the cash, but the ladies see these kinds of men as having their own personal ATM machine. Ladies know these brothers are gullible and they can whisper a sweet nothing in their ear like a PIN number and money will come out of his pocket. He’s the fool buying dinners at expensive restaurant, buying furs, cars, and even paying rent to impress a woman. She’s getting all the things she wants from him and all he’s getting is played. In a lot of cases women take a Simp’s money and spend it on the man she really wants to be with.

A Simp is a second stringer. For all their spending, most Simps are not a woman’s first choice. No, a simp is the dude women call for dinner when the man she really wants to be with isn’t available. He’s the guy who gets called to pick her up when she’s at the airport coming back from a vacation with the man she really wants. He’s the backup who rarely ever gets to play, the dude who warms the bench. He’s the dead weight that gets cut when times get tough.

Simps rarely get any sex from women. Simps spend and spend and spend in the quest to get attention, affection and sex from women, but because they don’t know how to assert themselves in a relationship and state clearly what they want, all they get is strung along. While they’re playing with their dicks and masturbating to pornography, the women a simp pursues are getting their pussies pounded by another man.

Any Sex a Simp gets is usually sloppy seconds. If a Simp does gets sex on those rare occasions, it’s usally not that great. Any Pussy a simp gets has usually been run through and beat up by another dude the night before. Because a simp is the second choice, he’s only called for booty calls when her first choice isn’t available, or if a woman wants stuff that’s really expensive. For a woman sex with a Simp is just an ends to a means, not a way to express love or deepen a connection with someone. Once a Simp busts a nut, she’s glad it’s over so she can go to sleep.

Simps give all their power away. A Simp thinks he’s buying attention by getting a woman anything she wants, but by saying yes all the time to everything a woman wants he’s showing he has absolutely no spine at all. Showing weakness is a turn-off for most women, who like it when a man says NO to them and stands up for what he believes in.

Simps lose face in the company of other men. Simps think they are showing the fellas how much of a big shot they are by spending lots of money on women, but in reality men are laughing at him. Other men see a Simp as soft and weak for caving into a woman’s requests so easily. Because they see him as weak, mock him and make fun of him. In some cases they even make moves on his woman behind his back.

A Simp’s wallet will be ten pounds lighter going out of a relationship than coming into it. Simps spend and spend on women and all they wind up with is an empty wallet and a broken heart. Usually Simps wind up having their bank accounts cleaned out by ex-wives in divorces, baby mamas in child support cases or gold-diggers who get all the stuff they want out of him. In some cases they wind up taking care of another dude’s kids. In some cases where their women are cheating on them they’re actually paying to take care of other dudes!

A Simp is a doormat. At the end of the day a Simp is just a dude a woman wipes her feet on and closes the door on as she steps in the house he bought while she continues to have a relationship with the man she really wants. And when he’s all out of money, he’s tossed out into the relationship trashpile where his remains are picked at by the next female scavenger.

At the end of the day a man who is a Simp gets played like a record and glazed like a donut. This poor cuckold passively sits by and watches as the woman he pines for takes his money and has the relationship he wants to have with her with someone else. Brothers, don’t go out like that. Life is too short to spend it on the bench watching other dudes play while you wait for her to telly you when to get into the game.

Man up and stop the Simpin. Keep your wallet in your pocket. There’s a good woman out there for you. One who will love you for the contents of your character and not the contents of your wallet. All you need to do is be yourself and God will lead you to her.

Goals for 2012

2012-01-03T18:47:00.001-08:00

Writing my goals out last year helped me tremendously. All of what I posted on that list I wound up accomplishing. I’m hoping I can build on that momentum in 2012. I’ve been in this publishing game for ten years and I’m finally starting to see some serious progress to all my hard work. I feel if I just keep working I’ll get my big break.

My goals for 2012 include:

Finishing up Book #8. It’s still in the rough draft stage. But I’m hoping to get it done. This one is a YA/Teen book about an African-American secret society/sorority. All I can say about it now.

Increasing paperback sales. Last year was great for eBooks, but paperback sales have been really weak lately. If I’m going to make a living at this I need to sell paperbacks in numbers that allow me to pay my bills.

With the Amazon/Lightning Source mess screwing up the shipping of books like All About Nikki, I may have to rethink this goal and focus more on alternative ways to sell books. I really need to get paperback sales up and unfortunately most customers only buy books from Amazon in bundle purchases. I may have to do a campaign to persuade readers to buy books from other venues such as Barnes and Noble, offer them on the blog via paypal (with lowered prices and free shipping) or even auction autographed copies on eBay.

Do More YouTube videos. These aren’t getting that many hits yet, but they are building my self-confidence about public speaking. The more I do the better I get at it.

Try to keep up the momentum on the eBook sales front. A large percentage of the books I sold last year were eBooks. Most of my new readers came from the eBook audience. While it pays the least royalty wise it’s the fastest growing audience for my titles.

Do another YA ebook Exclusive series. Last year’s YA ebook series was a huge success. So I definitely want to bring it back with new titles. And I’m letting everyone know right now a new All About Nikki eBook will be in the mix.

Do more commissions. Most of the people I did page layout/eBook conversions for were happy with the work I did for them. I’m thinking of branching out to do more commissions for other authors. It may even become my primary business.

Focus more on writing on writing. I want to do a series of articles on the basics of fiction writing so blog readers can learn a bit more about how to tell stories. Working with new writers over the past few years I realize that there are a lot of things about craft I’ve learned and mastered that new authors could benefit from.

Write more political blogs. Last year was I started writing more on harder issues in the Black community. Stuff like the myth of the Strong Black woman, The invisible Black men, and Why Black women choose thugs got a lot of hits. There will be more articles like this in the future.

Try to get a movie review in. I’m so busy I don’t see that many movies anymore. I did see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I didn’t like it.

Now the next two are big lofty goals that will require some money to do but a brotha dreams of seeing it done:

To get a scene from an episode of All About Nikki acted out and presented on screen on YouTube. This one’s going to be a challenge, but I think I can do it. I just have to apply the same organizational and management skills that I have to self-publishing books.

To get a scene from All About Marilyn acted out and posted up on YouTube. Another challenge, but I think I can do it. I really want to see what my writing looks like when it’s acted out.

I think if I can get a scene acted out and posted up it can generate interest in financing a pilot episode or even a Marilyn trailer.

Amazon And Lightning Source are at it again- I'm really sick of this BULLSHIT

2012-01-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

I was looking at some of my books on Amazon and my recent titles like All About Nikki-The Fabulous First Season and Commencement and their order status was no longer “In Stock” Instead it read “Ships in 1 to 4 weeks”.

Then I read an article and found out Amazon and Lightning Source are at it again.

In 2008, Amazon threatened to turn off buy buttons on books to get self-publishers to print their books through their wonderful service Createspace. It backfired.

Amazon thinks that by increasing the ship times for books that sales will decline and publishers will run to CreateSpace.

No, it’ll just lead to more pissed off people.

Here’s a thought Jeff Bezos or whoever founded CreateSpace: How about you stop trying to ram CreateSpace down people’s throats? How about trying promoting your services? How about offering higher royalties than Lightning source? How about you lower your retail discounts so writers have an incentive to use them? How about you offer Kindle conversions to the mix of CreateSpace services instead of forcing me to go to kdp.amazon.com for publishing eBooks? How about you work things out with Mark Coker at Smashwords so he can get his Smashwords catalog? on the Kindle. How about everyone at Amazon stop trying to form a monopoly on book publishing?

As a publisher I’m really getting tired of this crap with Amazon. I’m changing all the links of my titles to Barnes & Noble because the “Ships in 1 to 4 weeks” status on Amazon is costing me money.

When big businesses screw with distribution it can cripple an industry. Having seen the damage done by distribution issues in the comic book industry in the 1990’s I’m telling Amazon and Lightning Source to check themselves before they wind up in the hole Marvel and DC’s print divisions has been stranded in for the past nineteen to twenty years.

The comic book industry was red hot until people screwing with the distribution. Soon retailers were stuck with loads of inventory. And guess what retailers like drugstores, newsstands and Mom & pop shops did when they were stuck with loads of comic books they couldn’t move? They stopped ORDERING COMICS and ordered OTHER STUFF that would MOVE.

The distribution issues in the comic book industry led to the video game industry gaining market share becoming a powerhouse among tweens and teens. The comic book industry literally handed the video game industry the keys to the kingdom.

Amazon is about to do the same thing with this feud with Lightning Source.

Here’s a basic tenet of business: If customers can’t find the product, then they don’t buy it. This trickles up as well as it does down.

If I can’t get books to list as In Stock, I stop publishing new paperbacks with Lighting Source. That costs them money. ($110) That costs Bowker Money. ($150 for ISBN and Barcode) and it costs other people like freelance artists($300-$500) Page layout specialists ($500-$750) and shippers like UPS and Fed Ex all the money they make shipping these books across the country.

Moreover, I terminate my contracts on old titles ($12 a year for each)

Does this mean I go to CreateSpace? No. I can’t afford to re-publish with another printer. As a struggling small publisher who publishes books out of his personal savings it means I close up shop. I’m not to the point where I’m making enough money on my catalog to pay for their Pro plan four times on top of the Lighting Source fees I’ve already invested in. My books go out of print and I move onto PC repair full time.

Amazon really needs to watch itself before it joins Borders on the bookstore scrap heap. Just because Amazon thinks it’s the 800 lb gorilla in the room now when it comes to books, doesn’t mean that it can’t be the next Gap, Best Buy, Sears or Kmart. All it takes is one bad season to alienate customers. No business is too big to fail.

Amazon needs to realize when it comes to books, most of its profits don’t come from the New York Times Best-seller list. No, most of their book sales actually come from those niche small press and self-published titles people can’t find at their local bookstores. The same books they’re listing as “Ships in 1 to 4 weeks” for the past few months. Make those books hard to get and it’ll be like giving Barnes & Noble and small independent bookstores the keys to the kingdom in the new book market that’s coming out of the ruins of the publishing collapse of 2008.

Amazon needs to realize that shoving CreateSpace down authors and publishers throats isn’t a good way to sell the service, nor is it a way to foster goodwill with them. In fact, it’s the fastest way to keep authors and publishers from trying it.

Now I’ve tried CreateSpace for Isis: Trial of the Goddess. The interface was easier to use than Lightning Source (Pain in the Ass) and Lulu (impossible to use on a slow connection) and the prices were OK. I also liked that I don’t have to pay maintenance fees and that distribution is only $39.

But what I didn’t like was the high retail prices per copy. Nor did I like the small royalties ($2.and change). And I didn’t like the fact that I couldn’t have a private account like Lulu where I could print and ship single personal copies without an ISBN. Now I realize Amazon wants to pull a profit on this venture, but someone at CreateSpace has no understanding of how the publishing business works. Books have always been a volume business. Which means you have to sell thousands of anything to make any serious money.

And in an industry where 90 percent of titles fail in an industry still recovering from a collapse it’s not a good idea to drive down small publishers and self-publishers sales with shipping schemes for short-term profits on a POD venture that may go belly-up itself in five years. If eBooks continue on in their popularity the POD press may soon go the way of the VCR.

If Amazon wants CreateSpace to compete with other POD printers then it needs to realize it needs to sell its strong points to self-published authors instead of getting into disputes with Lightning Source and using with small publishers and self-publishers as pawns. There’s money to be made for everyone. But if all the sides are greedy, customers will take their money elsewhere and find new products like a majority of comic fans did back in the 1990’s.

The Sneakers Chapter 1

2011-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

The first chapter of my internationally best-selling short The Sneakers

It’s Friday afternoon and school is out. Me and my boy Trakaim are chillin’ in front of the Fordham Road bus stop waiting for the bus to go home. While we wait, we look inside the store window of the Dr. Jays to check out the sneakers on display. There’s this one pair that we both had our eye on for about a week now, the new Jordans. Jordans are the most expensive sneakers out there, and anybody who gets them gets a lot of respect in school and on the street. Girls will do anything to be with a dude who got a pair of Jordans on. That’s why I got to get me a pair.

“Yo Trakaim, I gots to get a pair of the new Jordans.” I say.

“They are phat Luis.” Trakaim replies. They’re also expensive.”

“Two hundred dollars ain’t nothin but chump change man. You got to come correct with your gear son. That’s the only way you gonna get the girls.”

“Maybe two hundred is chump change to you. But this brother ain’t got it like that. Looking is as far as I’m ever gonna get to a new pair of Jordans.”

“Don’t be like that man. Yo, I know I’ma have me a pair.”

“Man, you ain’t gonna have nothin’. You as broke as I am dude.”

“Yo, I’m tellin you I’ma have em’.”

“This I gotta see.”

“Yo, I bet you ten dollars I’ma have me a pair of the new Jordans in a month.”

“Yo, I want some of that action son. Easiest money I ever made.”

“You mean the easiest money I ever made.” I snarl. “Yo, whoever don’t have the new Jordans in a month is a sucker.”

“Bet.” Trakaim says giving me pound to seal the deal.

The bus pulls up at the stop and we get on. As we take our seats, we take another look in the Dr. Jays window at the Jordans. Them joints gone be mine.

2011 Year in Review

2011-12-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

2011 is over and it’s time for another progress report. A progress report written on a Mac as my PC has a dead AC adapter and I’m waiting for the replacement to arrive in the mail. I’ve had more issues with this Dell Latitude D830 over the past year than I had with my Inspiron 2500 in the six years I owned it. Thankfully I’m A+ certified and can fix things.

In spite of computer issues, this year was a good year for. The good news is I sold a lot of books. More books than I did last year. While most of them were eBooks, I’m not complaining. It’s a start towards building an audience.

The Temptation of John Haynes was my top selling title this year. Combining paperback and eBook sales it’s the first title I had to do double-digit sales in a year. I just had my first UK temptation sale in December.

Isis still continues to sell ten years after it first saw print. In paperback and eBook the Isis series continues to get readers not just in the US, but in the UK as well.

The Summer YA eBook exclusive series on Smashwords was a huge hit too. Offering free titles this summer to teens and tweens helped spur some sales of eBooks at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

All About Nikki- Three Episodes from the Fabulous First Season was the most read book I’ve ever published. Counting Smashwords, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Sony and just about every other retail affilate I’d estimate over 1000 readers have downloaded and read the first three scripts from the All About Nikki Series. Over the Christmas holiday, Nikki was #9 in children’s books on the Amazon Kindle and the top 25 overall in other categories.

All About Nikki-Three Episodes from the Fabulous first Season was also a huge hit with lots of likes on Facebook as well.

With the success of All About Nikki, I’m pondering publishing an All About Nikki Season 2. No promises.

The Sneakers saw huge business. It’s one of my best-sellers in the international market. It’s sold in Canada, the UK, Italy, Australia, and the Czech Republic.

Isis: Trial of the Goddess also saw blockbuster business. It was the most popular title on Smashwords during the summer, and very popular with its affiliates. I’d have to s ay close to 300 people have read this part of the Isis series.

And the repackaged Cassandra Cookbook A Recipe for $ucce$$ has been doing very well as an eBook. After a free run, people are showing interest in paying for an eBook version.

eBooks have also allowed me to access foreign markets, a place I never thought my work would have a chance of selling in. And that’s where most of my new readers have been coming from lately. Readers have discovered my work in the UK, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Australia.

I did a couple of YouTube videos this year. Not that great at it, but I’m learning as I go. I’m still trying to get the hang of being on camera. I may do more depending on when I have time.

Also did some work for other authors to test the waters. I assisted in the self-publication of Commencement. And I did some eBook conversions for a national best-selling author. I’d like to do more paperback to eBook conversions in the future for other writers, as I do enjoy the work. If the job market doesn’t pick up I may make efforts to offer those services for pay.

With all that good news comes some bad news. Outside of Temptation of John Haynes my paperback sales haven’t been so great.

All About Nikki- The Fabulous First Season has been paperback flop. While the Three episodes sneak preview has done blockbuster business, and the eBook Version does great sales, the paperback hasn’t had a sale yet even with good reviews. I don’t know if it’s the $17 price tag, or the 418 page count but I can’t move a single copy of the print version. I’d love to offer a lower price, but the page count and the formatting make that cost-prohibitive. This book cost a lot of money, effort and time to layout, and I'm praying to see a return on the investment.

All About Marilyn paperback sales have flatlined as well. After a strong start, the critically acclaimed screenplay book hasn’t seen a sale since July 2010. It's a great book I wish more people would give a chance to.

In fact, paperback sales have been going nowhere since August. If it weren’t for eBook sales I’d have no sales at all.

I’m going to have to make an effort to revive paperback sales in 2012. Maintenance costs at Lightning Source are expensive ($12 a year) and I need to sell at least a dozen copies next year to keep all my books in print. If I can’t move any books, I may be forced to take some out of print.

In other news:

I’m halfway through writing a new book (Book #7) and I’m trying to find the time to finish it between blogs, book promotion and other stuff like sleeping and eating. It’s a YA title for older girls 14-17 about college age girl who pledges an African-American sorority/secret society. It’s still rough, (first draft) and I’m trying to keep it PG-13 so I can target 11-12 year olds as well. The language isn’t so coarse in the dialogue, but some could have an issue with the chapters where some characters talk about sex, pubic hair waxing, and masturbation. I’ll probably clean it up in revisions. This one is brand new and I have a long way to go on it.

I’ve rough outlined a Temptation of John Haynes sequel. It’s still gonna be a while before I have time to work on it. A long while. I’m not a machine.

I’ve grown a lot as a publisher and a writer over 2011. I’m hoping to take a lot of what I learned and build momentum into 2012. Maybe I can finally make a profit on this publishing thing!

And as 2011 ends, I’m gonna throw a question out here to the growing Nikki audience: If it were possible for me to get the resources together to produce an All About Nikki sitcom, would you watch it?

Isis: Trial of the Goddess Chapter 3

2011-12-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

Isis: Trial of the Goddess now available on Amazon.com

Half a day isn’t much time to prepare Isis for trial in the court of the Elder gods. I have a lot to do and I’ll have to work quickly. My knowledge of Heliopolitan law isn’t as extensive as Osiris or Thoth but Isis will be better off than facing the Elders alone. We can put an adequate defense together if she cooperates with me. Maybe we can even save her life.

I know Ra and the Elder gods hide their murderous intentions behind legal procedures. This trial is a legal formality so they can have the justification to do what they wish. They planned on executing Isis the moment they brought her back here. There’s no way Isis could have defended herself fairly; had the naive girl spoken just now she would have signed her own death warrant.

The Elder gods always felt that Isis would be a danger to all around her. They thought her human upbringing would corrupt her and eventually lead to her betraying us. The only reason they let her live is because Osiris loved her so much. However, Isis didn’t start out being a threat to mankind. She only became a danger to others because of our centuries of indifference. It was our fault that she killed those men. Had we not abandoned her she would have not gone astray.

The Elders were wrong to think I would go along with this farce of a trial and condone the execution of Isis because she’s the child of Osiris’ adulterous affair. I hold no ill feelings against Isis; I love her as much as my own son. I had hoped Osiris would care enough to have the courage to speak on our daughter’s behalf. Unfortunately, like everyone else at the trial he let the farce continue. I’m disappointed in him most of all. He could have stopped this before it all started.

Following me to my quarters, Horus and Anubis flank Isis’ sides. As we enter the royal bedchamber, I focus on the tasks at hand. We can plan a legal strategy later. Right now I have to get her out of those bloody clothes and into something fresh.

“Anubis unlock Isis’ chains.” I request.

“Mother, I don’t think that would be wise.” Horus protests.

“Son, as long as your sister is in my presence she is a guest.” I say. “I will provide her with the same generous hospitality you and your family would receive during a visit to the palace.”

“But mother, she’s a murderer.” Horus says. “She could-”

“Isis will not harm me Horus.” I reply.

“How can you be so sure? She tore people apart.” Horus continues.

“Horus, this is not the court of the Elders.” I demand. “Now I have much work to do and I can’t do it until Anubis unlocks those chains.”

Horus grimaces at me. I appreciate his concern, but he has no need to worry about my safety. Isis has no intention of harming me. She’s thinking more about those she’s lost and the upcoming trial, not planning the murder of us all. My son should not be so eager to take everything the Elders tell him to heart. Sometimes their stories are just stories.

Anubis eagerly unlocks the chains. He sees what I see, that Isis is no threat to me. “You’ll be fine sister.” He says. “Will that be all Mother?”

“That will be all.” I reply.

My sons take their leave. I clap my hands and two servants walk into the room. The women close the door behind them and await my instructions.

“Take Isis into the cistern and draw a bath.” I say to one of the women. “I will be there shortly.”

“Lay out my new kilt and short blouse.” I tell the other. “And lay out my white gown. Have them ready for us when we finish bathing.”

“Mistress, two garments?” One of the servants asks.

“Yes. One set of garments is for me and the other is for my daughter.” I say. “Have that- gown she’s wearing destroyed.”

As the servants take Isis out of the room, Osiris rushes in full of the anger he should have directed at the Elders. I don’t have time to argue with him. I’ve got to prepare to join Isis at the cistern.

“What do you think you’re doing interfering in the court of the elders?” He barks at me.

“What you wouldn’t do.” I order taking off my crown. “Standing up for our daughter.”

“Isis is a grown woman. She can stand trial for herself.” Osiris says.

“That trial is a farce and you know it.” I reply.

“It’s out of my hands. I can’t judge my own daughter. That’s the law of the Elder gods-”

“But you could have spoken for her.” I reply taking off my earrings. “The Elders plan to kill your own child and you sit there and allow it to happen-”

“I’m following the law. I can’t interfere in their court. Especially in the trial of one of my own family members-”

“You’re as bad as they are hiding behind legal procedures like a coward.” I snap yanking bracelets and armlets off my arms and wrists. “Sanctioning the murder of our own child-”

“What business of it is yours?” Osiris orders. “She lived her life the wrong way and now she’s paying for it.”

“We put her on that path.”

“With Isis’ life on the line this isn’t time for one of your maverick stunts.” Osiris demands. “You know Ra doesn’t like you. If your defense fails, Isis could die.”

“It doesn’t change anything.”

“Her death will be on your head.”

“Like I said Osiris, it doesn’t change anything.”

Osiris stands behind me to help me remove my pectoral collar. He may disagree with me but he is going to support me in helping our daughter.

“You are one stubborn woman. That’s why I love you so much.” He says kissing my neck. “Isis is lucky to have you at her side.”

“I hope I can adequately defend her.”

“I’m more worried about the Elders.” Osiris laughs. “Whenever you’re determined like this nothing can stop you. Not even them and they know it.”

“I got lucky back then.” I say. “I’ll need that luck again if I’m going to win this case.”

“If it wasn’t for your faith I wouldn’t be standing here.” Osiris says. “I know you’ll win.”

Isis Trial of the Goddess Chapter 2 and a Note

2011-12-25T21:13:00.000-08:00

Bad News: My Dell laptop AC Adapter died on Christmas Eve. So So until I can get replacement parts I can't write articles. For now it'll be sample chapters from my novels. Isis: Trial of the Goddess will lead it off, followed by Casssandra Cookbook/A Recipe For Success, and The Sneakers. So without further interruption Isis: Trial of the Goddess Chapter 2:

Chapter 2

I get more and more anxious with each step as we approach the two golden doors. The journey down the corridor isn’t that far but it feels like I’m walking a mile with each step. I’d think being among my fellow gods for the first time would make me uneasy. It doesn’t. What makes me tense is not knowing what offense I violated or how they’ll punish me.

When Horus opens the golden doors my body tenses with anticipation about what could possibly be on the other side. It can’t be good if it took both of Osiris’ sons to escort me here.

I let out a sigh of relief as we step into the room. It’s not a jail cell thank God. Behind those large golden doors is a large room decorated with the same wall paintings as the corridor. On each side of the golden doors we passed through are several rows of wooden pews. In the center of the room is a large golden bench like the one judges sit at. Anubis did say that the elders would hear my case; it looks like they’re allowing me to have a day in court.

I take deep breaths as Horus and Anubis lead me down the aisle into the center of the room in front of the golden bench. Horus then leaves my side and walks through the pair of golden doors behind the bench. A few minutes pass before he returns. As he stands at my side I’m awe-struck. Dozens of deities I only heard about in childhood stories walk past me and take their places in the trial that’s about to start.

Five older looking gods take seats behind the bench. Two are old women; three are old men. The oldest looking man sits in the center of the bench. He’s bald except for a white beard that frames his dark face. He’s dressed in a red caftan and purple robe that make his tall strong frame look all the more intimidating. On his right side sits one of the old women. She wears a sky blue gown and her hair is as white as a cloud. Next to her sits a man with gray skin with a texture like a stone. He’s clean-shaven and the chiseled lines in his hard face make him look more rugged. The charcoal caftan and black robe he wears remind me of the ground. On the left side of the old man with the beard sits another woman who is a bit younger than the other three. She wears a white gown and black pectoral collar. The middle-aged man sitting next to her has gray hair cut short to the scalp. He wears a white kilt, gold pectoral collar and a white shawl. When he smiles at me I look away.

I watch as the other gods take their place in the courtroom. One young woman wearing a short blue dress with a large white ostrich feather in her hair takes a seat at the small table next to the judge’s bench with the scroll. A stout dark skinned man dressed in a white caftan and scarlet robe stands next to a pair of thrones across from the judge’s bench.

The room falls silent as two deities enter the room and approach the thrones. A tall voluptuous bronze skinned woman dressed in pleated white gown, jeweled golden pectoral collar, bracelets and sandals eases into her seat. The confident way she carries herself tells me that she’s Queen of New Heliopolis. She smiles at me as the Pharaoh flops into the throne next to hers. He isn’t dressed as formally as she is for court. The dowdy white caftan and green robe he has on are what a common man would wear. The only gold he wears is on his belt. When I look at his somber face I’m shocked. Could this man be my father?

The remaining gods take their seats in the gallery behind me. When the stout man standing next to the bench speaks the whole room becomes silent. The young woman at the small table pulls the feather from her hair and starts writing on the scroll.

“Court is now in session.” He says. “All are to remain in the courtroom until directed to leave by the Elders.”

“Thank you Thoth.” The old man sitting at the center of the bench says. “Present the charges brought against the goddess.”

“Great Ra, Isis the daughter of the Pharaoh Osiris and the Nubian Keer-Sheba is charged with allowing hatred into her heart. She is also charged with forsaking her Heliopolitan heritage and worshipping another God.”

Ra looks down at me. His intense glare pierces me to the soul. I put on my bravest face and make eye contact with him as he addresses me.

“These are serious charges goddess. How do you answer them?” Ra asks.

That’s a good question. I don’t know much about the law except what my late husband Joe taught me. And I doubt American legal arguments would be effective in a Heliopolitan court. Sure I can defend myself against murder charges, but how do I defend myself against hatred in my heart and my religious beliefs? What would I plead to such abstract charges? Would guilty or not guilty even be a valid plea in such a case?

I decide to risk it and say not guilty. Before I can speak the Queen jumps off her throne and rushes over to stand beside me.

“Great Ra, Isis has no understanding of our system of laws. She was born of a mortal woman and raised in mortal culture.” She says.

Ra cuts a harsh look at the queen. I don’t think they like each other.

“It is no concern of yours Isis.” Ra says. “A New Heliopolitan whether birthed by goddess or mortal is under the jurisdiction of judgment by the Elders. She will state her case.”

I’m about to speak for myself for the second time when Queen Isis gives me a stern look that makes me decide to remain silent.

“Elders, I only ask for a few days to teach Isis about our laws.” Isis says. “From my instruction she will be able to defend herself in our court.”

“Isis why involve yourself in this proceeding?” The stone-faced man says. “Out of all of us it should be you who would most want to see this goddess face punishment.”

Isis scowls at the old man before she speaks. “Elders, it would be unjust for us to try Isis without giving her an opportunity to understand the charges and the concepts behind the laws she is accused of violating. I only ask for some time to prepare her so that she can have a fair trial in our court.”

The Elder gods confer among themselves before Ra speaks.

“We will grant you the remainder of this day to prepare your case Isis.” Ra says. “Because the goddess is not educated in our laws, she will not speak for herself in these proceedings. You will be her counsel in this case. Whatever judgment the she receives will be based upon your defense.”

Isis looks directly into Ra’s eyes. The smile she gives him lets him know that she’s not afraid of him. That scares the crap out of me.

“Thank you great Ra.” Isis says politely.

“If that is all then court will be adjourned.” Ra says. “We will reconvene here tomorrow at this time.”

The gods get up out of the pews and walk through the doors I came through. The Elders leave the bench and walk through the doors behind their bench. Thoth and the woman with the feather follow them. In a few minutes the room is empty of all the gods except for members of the royal family and myself.

I wonder what they’re going to do with me. What do gods do with their prisoners? Are Horus and Anubis going to take me to a deep dark cell somewhere until court starts again?

“Mother, where shall I escort Isis?” Anubis asks.

“Take her to my quarters.” Isis says.

Horus gives his mother a perplexed look. He’s probably wondering why she’s helping me. I’d like the answer to that question myself.

“Mother, what are you doing?” He asks. “Why are you involving yourself in this trial? Gods have to defend themselves in court.”

“She cannot defend herself in these proceedings son. And since her father will not protect her I shall.” Isis says glaring at the man sitting in the throne.

Isis takes my hand and leads me around the bench and through the golden doors. Horus and Anubis follow us. As we go through the doors, I look back and see my father still sitting in his throne quietly with a forlorn look on his face. I wish he had said something too.

Christmas Surprise #2! John Haynes Custom Action Fgure

2011-12-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

Over the past six months I've made a lot of progress on the custom John Haynes Action figure::

Custom headshot

What? You ain't never seen a brotha in his briefs befo?

After being stuck for a long while on fleshtone and clothing issues this summer, I finally worked thingfs out. and I finally learned how to paint eyes. I got lucky and found a Barbie Basics Black label Ken set that had a nice watch, dress shoes, socks an iphone and a cool shirt at Toys R' Us in Times Square to suit him up with. Now I'm looking for a nice pair of 1/8 or 1/6 scale jeans to finish the figure. Until then, here are a few action shots with the other Isis action figures: :

Tempted!

Watch out John!

Ready for anything!

Teaming up to overcome Temptation!

And a few pics of a possible future team-up of two heroes:

Terrific Team-up!

Partners in Danger!

The goddess and the gentleman

Work in progress photos

The Temptation of John Haynes is available in paperback and eBook at Amazon.com and other online retailers. It's five-star critcally acclaimed African-American fantasy people of all ages will enjoy.

A Holiday Surprise- ISIS 10th Anniversary Art Commissions

2011-12-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Next year is the tenth Anniversary of the publication of Isis, and to celebrate it being in print for ten years I commissioned a pair of drawings by Eisner-award winning artist Terry Beatty. Terry’s work includes Return toPerdition and the classic independent comic mystery series Ms. Tree (I highly recommend you pick up the back issues of that series, because it’s one of the best comics to feature a female character in the last 25 years). He has also inked DC's animated comics such as The Batman Adventures, The Batman Strikes! and Batman Brave and the Bold.

I was surfing the net doing research on Ms. Tree this September and saw some of Terry’s work. I knew his bright, lively old-school comic style would be a perfect fit for my characters.

As a long-time comic fan I was extremely happy with the finished art. Terry did a spectacular job on these pieces and really captured the spirit of both Isis and E’steem in his work from the concept sketches I sent to him.

I love the way he depicted the cuteness and playfulness of Isis. His rendition of her Island of Solitude outfit is my favorite. The little nuances of her jewelry and kilt clasp make this piece pop.

I also love the sultry sophisticated way he rendered E’steem. She reminds me of the femme fatales of 40’s and 50’s Noir films. I can even see Salli Richardson-Whitfield’s likeness in E’steem’s face.

It’s always been a life-long dream for me to see my characters rendered by a comic book artist. Before I wrote it as a YA novel, Isis was originally planned to be a comic book graphic novel featuring the Osiris' daughter as an African-American female superheorine. It was supposed to be designed in the style of Marvel comics The Mighty Thor and DC comics’ New Gods, a big brightly colored adventure continuing the adventures of the Egyptian gods in the future.

I only wish I had more money right now. I’d love to see Terry’s rendering of John Haynes and Cassandra Lee. I’ve got some ideas for a Cassandra holding a birthday cake up I’d love to see done! (Maybe I'll see if it can be done for my next birthday!)

Both Isis and Isis: Trial of the Goddess are available at amazon and Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers

The Invisible Black Men

2011-12-18T18:58:00.000-08:00

Many in the Black community often wonder happened to “the good black men”. Those honest, hardworking intelligent responsible brothers our grandmothers and some of our mothers married. Black folks say they’re always looking for good brothers but can’t seem to find them.

“Where are the Good Black men of this generation?”

We’re not hiding.

We’re everywhere.

But no one is looking for us.

The “Good Black Men” are often ignored and overlooked by the masses in Black society. So many are looking for “good” brothers to have the flash and the swagger of the thugs, gang bangers, and drug dealers that they pass right by the good Black men living in their communities every day.

No, we’re not the guy in the Armani suit and alligator shoes wearing diamond and platinum jewelry behind the wheel of a Lexus. We don’t have the six-figure high-profile executive job. We don’t have McMansion in the suburbs or a Fifth Avenue Penthouse. And most of us aren’t six feet tall with rippling muscles.

No, that’s the dude on the S-Curl Box. Or Shemar Moore.

But it ain’t a good Black man.

So many Black women are so busy looking for the Madison Avenue and Hollywood image of what a good Black man is that they can’t see the good black men hiding in plain sight. These hardworking, kind, intelligent brothers are practically invisible to everyone because we are men of substance and character, not flash and style.

The internal traits we good brothers have aren’t visible to the world like an expensive car, expensive sneakers, designer clothes, jewelry and a glib manner of speech that the thugs, gangstas, drug dealers, Afrocentric playas, intellectuals, and jivetime hustlers have in their array of gimmicks to deflect everyone’s attention from their lack of character, and lack of integrity.

Yes, we good Black men are all around you. They’re the quiet mild-mannered guys behind the scenes most people ignore and don’t pay attention to. The guys working in an office or doing jobs in civil service, UPS or FedEx. The guys in the library. The guys in the church or the mosque praying quietly. The guys who are reading on the bus or the train. The men many Black people say are acting White and want nothing to do with.

They’re the guys people call nerds. The boring guys. The brothers no one wants to talk to. The brothers suffering in silence.

The Black community spends so much of its time focusing on fixing thugs, ex-cons and other “at risk” Negroes that it neglects its good Black men. And that neglect is having a devastating impact on the Black community.

Many good brothers like myself feel like ghosts. Being invisible in our own communities we aren’t seen and we aren’t heard. As we try to live positive lives and do the right thing, we’re often overlooked and ignored by the people in our neighborhoods in their blind quest to reform the thugs ex-cons and gangstas. We receive no emotional support and we get no encouragement to continue staying on the right track.

In the inner-city, a Black man who comes out of prison gets a party. A Black man who graduates college gets forgotten.

Black America pisses on its best and brightest brothers.

In fact it’s the only community in the world that spends more time investing in the men going to prison than the men going to college.

No one in the Black community sees the value of a good Black man in the Black community. No one in the Black community cares about the good Black man in the Black community. No one appreciates our hard work, or our efforts to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods because they can’t see the little things we do every day that make life better like getting up and going to work. Being fathers to our children. Being a role model for other young men in the community. Being the very example of what the “at risk” thugs, ex-cons and other niggers are supposed to aspire to.

Seriously, why should a thug aspire to be a good black man like myself when he receives more attention and support from his community for being a criminal than being a good Black man? Where’s his incentive to change if he’s getting all the rewards for being who he is right now?

In the face of so much apathy, indifference, and neglect from our own community many good Black men like myself feel abandoned and alone. We’re tired, frustrated, and angry.

It’s aggravating for brothers like myself to work hard towards doing the right thing like graduating high school, graduating college, and trying to start their own business and be told it’s not good enough to receive the support of our own community and to be criticized by our own women and families. We’re always told we have to do more while the thugs, gangstas and other assorted incorrigible Negroes are continuously rewarded for doing the same amount of nothing.

It’s more enraging for good Black men like myself to watch as the members of my own community embrace these thugs, pimps, criminals and jiveass hustlers who do half of nothing get all the praise, support and encouragement from those same people in the neighborhood for doing harm to them. Seriously, how much skill does it take to talk fast? How much skill does it take to sell some rock, or a some weed? How much talent do you need to break into a house and steal stuff or shoplift from a store? How easy is it to evade some cops? How easy is it to sponge off people instead of getting a job or the skills to start a business?

Is it harder than finishing High School? Completing the coursework of a College degree? Learning PC repair? Studying for and passing The CompTia A+ exam? How about writing six or seven novels and going through the query process with publishers and literary agents? Learning the craft of screenwriting or self-publishing? Is it harder than starting your own publishing imprint and promoting books?

Some good brothers in the Black community have become so disgusted with the lack of support they receive from their brothers and sisters that they’ve decided to move on to places where they are appreciated. Those tired brothers have joined White, Hispanic and even some Asian communities where they found something in common with people who have work ethics and want to pursue a better quality of life.

Others have become so discouraged they’ve turned to food, drugs and alcohol to numb their pain. It helps them get through the day so they can get up and face a world that forgets they exist tomorrow.

And more and good brothers every day are so tired of being invisible they’re committing suicide in record numbers.

A good Black Man like myself feels like he’s stranded in a void that’s between the Black world and the White world. Our world is an intangible place sandwiched between the worlds of White America and the Black America where Niggers, Coons and Uncle Toms live. It’s a lonely place that where we feel like phantoms. We see our people but they won’t see us. We reach out to the people in our communities and they won’t touch us. We try to talk to them and they won’t hear us. They won’t connect with us. We can’t get close to them, we can’t connect with them or form relationships with them. The pain and heartache are unbearable and the silence is deafening. The mental and emotional starvation we go through is slow painful torture that leaves our souls empty and kills our spirits.

While the good brothers like myself can endure racism from the worst of White America, we can’t take the indifference, apathy and lack of support we receive from our own brothers and sisters. It’s that cold reception we receive that hurts more than anything. Being abandoned by your own people makes men like me want to find the nearest exit, whether it be another community, narcotics, or even death. All of these alternatives are better than being treated as if you don’t exist.

Brothers and Sisters have to start investing more time and resources in our best and brightest Black men. If we want more Good Black Men who are hardworking intelligent and responsible, then the community has to provide them with the emotional support and encouragement to do their best. Oftentimes people in the Black community take our best and brightest men for granted and don’t acknowledge all the efforts they make towards making life better for brothers and sisters. It’s the little things that good Black men like myself do everyday that have the biggest visible impact on the Black community.

When a community doesn’t take care of its best and brightest men it winds up with the worst kind of males. Which is the Black community is producing so many thugs, ex-cons, gang bangers dropouts and other ghetto scavengers who destroy our communities instead of the scientists, doctors, lawyers, artists, artisans, engineers and other skilled tradesmen who can build up the infrastructure of Black America into a strong nation.

National Bestselling author Francine Craft's Review of The Temptation of John Haynes Kindle Edition and a note

2011-12-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

National Bestselling Author Francine Craft was kind enough to write another review for the Kindle version of The Temptation of John Haynes.

I posted a five-star review for John Haynes when the author first published it. I'm doing the same for the Kindle version because I like the book so much. John is a handsome, wholesome man, devout and smart - too smart and too devout. In fact, he incurs the devil's wrath and old Lucifer sets out to undo our hero. Who best to send but E'esteem, that ancient arch villianess who is sure to bring John down? But John doesn't have God on his side for nothing. After highly interesting depictions of the big city and marvelous treatment of the inner workings of a huge conglomerate where the devil gets John in as CEO, the author develops his love story. There are twists and turns and no small amount of humor. All in all, I think it's a winner that I hugely enjoyed. Write on, Brother. Write on!

NOTE:

eBooks for Under a Buck is Back!

All of my eBooks are 99 cents until February 2012. There are a bunch of great titles in genres like African-American fiction, African-American fantasy fiction, Young Adult, screenplays and teleplays.Pick up one as a gift for someone during this holiday season or just get one for yourself. My titles are available in for Nook, Kindle, ipad and other e-reading devices.

The Temptation of John Haynes for Kindle
Isis for Kindle
Isis Trial of the Goddesss for Kindle
Baptism of Blood - The Origin of E'steem for Kindle
The Saga of MastiKatious For Kindle

All About Marilyn for Kindle
All About Nikki- The Fabulous First Season For Kindle

A Recipe for Succe$$ For Kindle (The Cassandra Cookbook)
The Sneakers For Kindle

The Temptation of John Haynes for Nook
Isis for Nook
Isis- Trial of the Goddess for Nook
Baptism of Blood- The Origin of E'steem For Nook
The Saga of MastiKatious for Nook

All About Marilyn For Nook
All About Nikki- The Fabulous First Season for Nook

A Recipe for $ucce$$ for Nook
The Sneakers For Nook

The Temptation of John Haynes on itunes
Isis on itunes
Isis- Trial of the Goddess on itunes
Baptism of Blood- The Origin of E'steem on itunes
The Saga of MastiKatious on itunes

All About Marilyn on itunes
All About Nikki- The Fabulous First Season on itunes

A Recipe for $ucce$$ on itunes
The Sneakers on itunes

Readers can also find my ttiles on Smashwords and at the Sony eBookstore as well.

Articles will be back Monday!

The Softer Side of Black Women

2011-12-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

There’s a Black woman we don’t see in American media. She’s the kind of woman guys want to date and the best friend girls want to hang out with. The kind of woman that makes people smile and want to know more about her. She lights up a room with her presence, energy, and charisma. She’s charming cute and playful.

She is the Soft Black Woman.

I feel in the media we only see one or two sides of the Black female experience. It's usually the “Strong Black woman” and her “downtrodden miserable experiences.” or the "Ghetto girl" and her "loud mouth, belligerence and bad attiude."

Because these stereotypes are so popular in American media and correlated with the definitive Black female experience, readers rarely get to see the softer side of the Black women. The loving side, the playful side, the friendly side, the flirtatious side. The woman who likes ribbons, and bows wears pink, and is cute and sweet. The feminine female who has fun with friends or on a date. The girl who makes us laugh, the one we want to take home to mother, the one men want to marry. The Black woman we love and want to share our lives with.

I feel we rarely see this softer side of Black women in media because racists want us to see White women as the ideal beauty and the feminine female. In institutionally racist America It’s not considered acceptable for Black women to be presented as a feminine female because they fear most of America will consider a Black woman to be sexually attractive and desirable. And the racists who run Madison Avenue and Hollywood don’t want a Black woman to be presented as sexually attractive and desirable because they don’t want to offend the millions of White females out there who they make their money from.

According to Madison Avenue and Hollywood, White women are supposed to be soft, gentle, dainty, and sexually attractive to the world, while Black women are supposed to take on the stereotypical traits of the emasculating Sapphire, the whorish Jezebel, or the asexual mammy. Unattractive, unrelatable and undesirable in American society.

And that’s the way it’s been since the Antebellum South.

I have to ask: Why aren’t most Black women challenging these images of themselves in the media? Why aren’t sisters trying to explore their softer sides? Why aren’t Black women trying to present themselves as softer, gentler, and kinder? Don’t Black women see themselves as cute, playful or flirtatious? Don’t they see the positive aspects to soft feminine traits? Or have they been brainwashed to see this side of womanhood as weakness?

I feel it’s time Black women in America started exploring the softer, gentler, side of themselves.. I’ve always thought Black women should play up the things that make them a woman, what makes them attractive and what makes them desirable. Every woman has something about them that makes them stand out. But most Black women don’t bring that part of themselves to the forefront. Instead, they take on the identities formed for them by Madison Avenue and Hollywood.

As a writer, I’ve been making efforts to explore and present the softer side of Black womanhood in my writing. Since The Cassandra Cookbook I’ve been developing female characters who are cuter, more playful flirtatious and more desirable; girly girls. Women men want to date and girls want to be friends with. I feel by presenting the softer side of Black women in stories, it’ll inspire other Black women to start exploring their softer sides and learn to value what makes them attractive and desirable.

Moreover I feel writing the softer side of Black women will allow readers to be able to connect with characters, identify more strongly with the experiences of women in the stories and relate to them as people on a human level.

I really want to see more black women take time to explore their softer sides. Sistas need to realize that they can be soft and gentle too and that there's nothing weak about it.

The Real Reason Why Some Black Women Choose Thugs, Gangstas, Ex-Cons and other Bums over “Good Black Men”

2011-12-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

A lot of hardworking good brothers with good jobs often wonder why Black women often pass them up for thugs, gangstas, ex-cons and other assorted bums. The answer some Black women give them is that these kinds of guys are “more “exciting.

That’s a crock of crap. A deflection to keep Black men from seeing the truth.

The real reason some Black women choose these thugs, Ex-Cons gangstas and other assorted bums over good hardworking Black men is power and control.

Black women prefer thugs, ex-cons gangstas and other bums is because they feel they can maintain a semblance of control over these kinds of men. The truth is that most Black women raised in Feminist theories over the past 40 years are extremely insecure and have low self-esteem. So they pursue romantic relationships with men they feel are going to be beneath them. With these men in a subservient role they can maintain a sense of superiority in the relationship.

These thugs and Ex-Con brothers in many cases are dependent on these women for their existence. Because they can’t make their own living in most cases due to a felony record or lack of real skills, they’re forced to take an emasculated role that allows the woman to be the leader of the relationship. In these co-dependent relationships, the thugs, gangstas, ex-cons, are basically like sons, and talked down to like adolescents. If they act out they’re punished, manipulated and shamed into behaving in a way the Black woman finds satisfactory.

Want to know why some Black women always have so much drama with Thugs, Gangstas, Ex-Cons, and other Bums? It’s a form of emotional blackmail to maintain power and control in the relationship.

That arguing, threatening, screaming yelling, violence and drama are how Black women keep control over these kinds of guys. Because many Black women are insecure they feel the need to constantly test their relationships to make sure they still have the power in them. So they throw these fits and provoke these guys not to anger because they’ve done something wrong, but to get a reaction out of them. It’s that response to their tantrum that makes them feel like they’re still the dominant role in the relationship and the man is submissive one.

Want to watch these kinds of Black women go CRAZY? Let her thug, gangsta or bum starts to grow in some way that she feels challenges her authority. If these brothers start making steps to get an education, get real skills or make any movement towards employment that has that challenges her authority, power structure and shatters her sense of superiority she’ll lose her mind.

A thug can cheat on a Black woman with another Black woman from the same economic power structure and she’ll take him back because she still feels some sense of power. She knows he still depends on her like a child for most of his needs. If other women become interested in him, no problem. He’s still coming back to her. But if he thinks about moving in with that other woman? No problem. She’ll get pregnant. Pregnancy allows her to keep her control over the thug and maintain her co-dependent relationship with him where she’s still in charge of him even if he’s in that other woman’s house.

But when a man makes these kinds of moves that will allow him to start growing out of her locus of control, The Black Woman becomes TERRIFIED. It’s only then when she starts doing things to sabotage her man’s progress. Usually it’ll start with passive aggressive stuff like dismissing his work, “losing” his homework, “forgetting” to make his dinner, “accidentally” burning the shirt he was going to wear to school with an iron, Not listening to anything he says, and getting in his way when he’s trying to do things that make him take charge of his own life.

And when the Black man begins to assert his independence, this behavior will escalate to emotional abuse and mental manipulations. Accusations of cheating if he comes home late from class or work, locking the man out or changing the locks if he works late, taking the keys to the apartment and the car, throwing his clothes out of the window, cutting up work clothes, burning stuff up, breaking things she bought for him or he bought with his own money, and if she’s extremely insecure even physical attacks of violence with weapons.

Their greatest fear the Black Woman has is that her thug (child) will grow out of his immature behaviors and become a “Good Black Man” who can stand on his own two feet and be a leader.

Why don’t these Black women want a relationship with a good Black Man? It’s not because he’s too nice. It’s not because he’s boring. Plain and simple these women are troubled. No matter how educated and successful they are on the surface, deep down inside they feel they don’t deserve the love of a Good Black Man or any type of spiritual success.

Moreover, these Black Women fear being the equal of a Black man in a relationship. A Black woman’s greatest fear is a Real Black Man, one who is independent self-sufficient and can take care of himself. She can’t belittle him, she can’t verbally abuse him, and she can’t humiliate him. She can’t manipulate him. She can’t control him. He is impervious to her psychological tactics. Why? Because he understands his own self worth and has a healthy self-esteem. This man knows who he is and is in total control of himself. Moreover, he understands that he has options and chooses other women to be his help meet over an insecure woman with issues and baggage.

A real Black man is ready to take his position as the leader God established. He is a man realizes his life is too short to spend being miserable with someone who won’t enrich it towards doing God’s work. He walks away from toxic women who won’t be a suitable help meet and doesn’t look back.

That’s something many Black women fear. That if the Black men in their community evolve into Real Black men they’ll rise to power and assert their authority overthrowing the co-dependent power structure that allows Black Women to remain in power as the de facto overseers of the Black community for Uncle Sam. These Black women fear that if Black men begin to take the leadership role God established, they’ll be forced back into a subservient position, or worse, they’ll walk away and leave them behind for women of other races.

What most Black women don’t understand is that Real Black men have the love of God in them and will forgive them if they are repentant and ready to be his help meet in the service of God. He is looking for the equal partner God made for him to share his life and share his love with.

Unfortunately, too many Black women are insecure and afraid to allow themselves to evolve into real women who are ready to help him lead the Black family. Raised with fear, doubt, and self-hate they’ve become dependent on the security of Uncle Sam’s government programs to trust God and the leader that He established to be her help meet to take her in the right direction.

Having no faith in God these lost Black women seeking out a series of unsatisfying co-dependent relationships with men like thugs ex-cons, gangstas, and other assorted bums that keep them from growing in Christ.

This enmity between the sexes in the African-American community can’t be closed until Black women and Black men acknowledge the authority of God. It’s only when both the Black man and the Black woman acknowledge the power and authority of God as their leader that they can come together as one ready to lead the Black family. Only when Brothers and Sisters have faith in the Living God and trust in Him instead of Uncle Sam’s government programs can they truly be the leaders who can be good stewards of the Black community.

Kim Kardashian is NOT a Role Model-Tyler Perry on Blast Part 3

2011-12-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

In his statement regarding the casting of Kim Kardashian for the role of Ava in “The Marriage Counselor” Tyler Perry stated that Kim Kardashian is a role model. I'm thinking he must be on the same crack Montana Fishburne is on.

I’m sorry but Kim Kardashian is NOT a role model.

Plain and simple Kim Kardashian is a whore. A glamorized prostitute selling her body in exchange for fame and popularity because she has no talent except for showing her tits and ass to people.

And Tyler Perry is old enough to know better than to promote Kim Kardaishian as a role model for young women. I’m deeply disgusted in him for exploiting their ignorance of children just to make a buck on a movie. Teenage Black girls who see Kim Kardashian appearing in The Marriage Counselor have no idea that she has White Privilege and how the reflexive properties of institutional racism work against them for acting like her. Nor do they understand how the Jezebel stereotype tarnishes them and their reputations among men all over the world.

I wonder if Tyler Perry knew about the impact of Kim Kardashian as a role model. I wonder if he read about Montana Fishburne. And I wonder if he read about the fourteen year old black girl who was trying to be like Kim Kardashian before he cast her in the role of the Marriage Counselor. The child who videotaped herself behind her high school sucking dick and had it posted it on World Star Hip Hop in the hopes of getting friends on Twitter and Facebook. Or the girl who sucked dick in a Memphis college and videotaped it and posted it up on World Star Hip Hop in the hopes of getting fame like Kim. Is this the role model he wants promoted in the Black community?

Seriously, do we want more girls having their thinking warped like Montana Fishburne?

Just because someone is popular doesn’t mean they’re popular for a good reason. And just because someone is popular for all the wrong reasons doesn’t mean you take advantage of that popularity to profit from it.

Kim Kardashian is popular with men because she’s an easy lay. A sex object. They like her because they can pump her full of dick and then dump her after they’re through. She’s a cum dumpster.

Girls and Women follow Kim Kardashian because they don’t know any better. All most see is the surface Kim Kardashian with her designer clothes, her riches, on the cover of magazines and tabloids, with her own reality show, Sears clothing line and think her popularity is what success is about. These misguided females indoctrinated by the propaganda of Madison Avenue and Hollywood grow up believing the lie that a woman needs to be sexually promiscuous in order to attract attention to themselves.

What these poor females following Kim Kardashian don’t know is that she’s popular but day she’s only popular for pandering to the lowest common denominator. Outside of her silicone injected ass she has nothing else of value to offer anyone.

Kim Kardashian is not a role model for girls. She has no values any girls or women should aspire to emulate. Seriously, what’s inspiring about someone being famous for having sex on videotape, having multiple sexual partners and multiple marriages before the age of 30? What’s to emulate about a woman who poses for Playboy, and is nude on a dozen covers of magazines? Why should other girls and women aspire to be like a woman who runs around in skimpy designer clothes and sells her body to the highest bidder?

Break down Kim Kardashian’s short list of professional accomplishments and it’s clear that she’s just another whore who slept her way to the top. There are a hundred chicks like this in Hollywood. Kim just has more money and a better publicist than the rest to make herself stand out from the rest of the tramps.

If I made films like Tyler Perry, I wouldn’t cast her for any of my projects. Her headshot would go in my garbage. I’m looking for someone who’d have more talent than showing their tits and ass in my work.

Seriously, where will Kim Kardashian be in five years? Ten years? Twenty? What happens when her breasts starts to sag, and she’s got worn out vagina that’s been broken down by dozens of men going in and out of it like a commuter train at rush-hour? Where will she be when she’s older with cellulite, stretch marks and the makeup can’t cover her wrinkles? Will she be a role model to men like Tyler Perry then?

Or will she be just another worn out old bag men laugh at because they remember how easy it was to get over on her. The kind of chick on my block that guys say they can get with a smile and a slice of pizza, or a carton of fried rice and some chicken wings.

I remember what Judge Judith Sheindlin said a long time ago about a girl who stepped into her courtroom dressed up sexy and showing her ass to the world: “Beauty fades. Dumb is forever.”

And I believe Black women can be smarter than Kim Kardashian. I believe ALL women can be smarter than Kim Kardashian.

There were several Black actresses Tyler Perry could have given that role of Ava to and would have gotten solid press from it. Kyla Pratt. Tia Mowry. Tamera Mowry. Raven Symone. Golden Brooks. Jill Marie Jones. Persia White. Megan Goode. Paula Patton. And if he wanted to go older Robin Givens. If he wanted sex appeal, and the same type of press Kim Kardashian gets, he could have called up Halle Berry. All these actresses have great skills and a solid following of fans that would have given him a strong weekend box-office opening.

And if he wanted a White actress there were a dozen white actresses he could have given the role to as well. Amanda Bynes, Kaley Couco, Laura Prepon, Erica Durance, Summer Glau, Nicole Eggert, Heidi Lenhart, Melissa Joan Hart, Josie Davis, Minka Kelly, and Kelly Packard come to mind off the top of my head. Again, any of these ladies would draw well and have solid followings of fans.

Women should aspire to be more than cum dumpsters like Kim Kardashian. And we don’t need anyone like Tyler Perry who is old enough and knows better promoting whorish behavior among our Black sisters by rewarding a tramp like Kim Kardashian for her promiscuous behavior. By pimping Kim Kardashian as a role-model to women he has compromised himself as a role model in the Black community.

Tyler Perry on Blast Part 2- “Hollywood will not Change me”

2011-12-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Tyler Perry Says Hollywood won’t change him.

Shawn bets a hundred dollars it already has if he's making this statement.

If he thinks Kim Kardashian is a role model for Black women, the corruption process has already started.

Bigger people than Tyler Perry have been corrupted by Hollywood’s influence. Michael Jackson, George Lucas, Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey OJ Simpson and Lee Daniels and many more have all have been corrupted by the dark forces in the town known as Hollywood. All of them lost their souls in the same way Tyler Perry is in the process of losing his.

Here’s what happened to them and what’s happening to Tyler Perry as we speak. His inner-circle of friends and family who supported him through the years are slowly being replaced by a group of parasites and vultures who seek to leech off his riches. These yes men and ass-kissing toadies are isolating him from the people who love and care about him and telling him everything he’s doing is right and the people who don’t agree with him are wrong. Then they tell him to cut anyone out of his circle who doesn’t agree his opinion is right. As he cuts off friends and family and even God, he winds up completely dependent on this group of advisers to tell him to make decisions.

Once he’s isolated by these yes men and ass-kissers they tell him he needs to take risks so he can grow as an artist. So he can reach a broader audience. Then they tell him he needs to start watering down his Christian Message to reach those “non-secular” audiences.

Eventually, this group of handlers will twist him into someone who will lose his way spiritually, mentally and artistically. Under their influence he’ll lose his connection with the very audience of African-Americans who supported him and elevated him to the powerful position he enjoys today. He’ll become a shell of a man consumed by the very parasites who will leech off him until he dies or runs out of money, whichever comes first.

It’s what happened to Michael Jackson, George Lucas, Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, OJ Simpson, Lee Daniels and countless others. They lost touch with their mission and themselves in an attempt to be more appealing to the world instead of doing their work for God’s favor.

Those who understood the corrupting influences of Hollywood retreated far, far away from it. Pam Grier, Denzel Washington and, George Clooney all reside outside of Hollywood and only go there to work. The late Paul Newman felt so strongly about Hollywood having a negative influence on his family he moved his wife and daughters to Connecticut so they could grow up to live normal lives.

As screenwriter Syd Field stated, Hollywood is a town run by fear and greed. Only the most ruthless will survive here; ones who will kill their own mothers to make a buck.It’s a place where a person will eventually compromise the values and beliefs at the essence of themselves in the quest to get ahead and the quest to stay relevant to the masses. It’s not a place where people with values can have or maintain a career.

No one can take the fire of Hollywood in their bosom and not be burned by it. Not even Tyler Perry.

Death kills the flesh. But the compromises one must make to survive in Hollywood kill the soul.

The way I see it, Hollywood has already changed Tyler Perry. He has made a spiritual compromise with the Devil in casting Kim Kardashian. Instead of having faith that he can sustain his audience through making efforts to improve the quality of his work, he’s now pandering to the masses in an attempt to appeal to a “broader” audience. How can Christian stand by an unrepentant sinner like Kim Kardashian who has starred in sex tapes, committed adultery numerous times and has had multiple marriages and say she’s a role model unless he’s been compromised?

Kim Kardashian is the little leaven that corrupts the whole lump of Tyler Perry’s the Marriage Counselor. Her presence takes away from the most important part of his mission as a filmmaker: His Christian message.

Moreover, casting Kim Kardashian, compromises Tyler Perry’s mission as a Black filmmaker. Perry originally wanted to give opportunities to Black actresses who could not get jobs inside the racist Hollywood system. By joining the Hollywood machine he participates in the institutionally racist system that takes jobs and job opportunities away from Black actresses and keeps African-Americans from working.

Tyler Perry doesn’t understand the subtle politics transpiring around him. He doesn’t understand the insidious forces that seek to undermine him and are undermining him right now. These Hollywood insiders he’s involved himself with are looking for ways to dismantle his studio from the inside and make it part of their corporate oligarchy because they don’t want him competing with them.

The long-term plans of the big six media conglomerates such as SONY, Newscorp, Disney, Vivendi Universal, Time Warner and Viacom are offer him enough money for the Tyler Perry Studios to silence his voice as a filmmaker and playwright so the Black viewpoint and Black stories aren’t presented in a public forum. Or if he’s allowed to continue operating compromise his work to the point where it reflects the coonish and caricatured images currently presented on BET.

As I stated in my novel The Temptation of John Haynes, radio silence is a way to keep brothers and sisters oppressed. Because we don’t own that many media institutions, newspapers, magazines, or radio stations anymore thanks to the telecommunications act of 1996, that allows big corporations to exploit and manipulate the Black community with misinformation and the perpetuation of ignorance.

Studying the entertainment business since I was seven years old, I’ve seen numerous celebrities fall down the same bad road Tyler Perry is headed on now. I’ve also seen this self-destructive pattern happen numerous times over my life in jobs I’ve had. And in every case, the scariest part of selling out is that you don’t even know you’ve done it.

When Tyler Perry says Hollywood will not change him, he has no idea how much he has changed already. He needs to take a long look in the mirror and see the monster he’s turning into.

In Part 3 I will discuss why Kim Kardashian is NOT a role model.

Tyler Perry on Blast Part 1 Dissecting the plot of the Marriage Counselor and the Casting of Kim Kardashian.

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

WARNING: The following blog contains profanity, sarcasm and lots and lots of angry ranting. ShawnJames The “Amateur Film Critic” from Amazon.com. is UNLEASHED. The intelligent free-lance writer and his logic and reason can’t get people to understand the ignorance of Tyler Perry and his legion of imbeciles. No, only the sharp tongue of the circa 2006 film critic can put this pied piper and his church going rats on BLAST. Fools will be checked and feelings will be hurt. Read at your own risk.

There’s a big brew-ha-ha over Tyler Perry Casting Kim Kardashian to star in his new movie The Marriage Counselor. Perry is casting Kardashian to keep viewers from seeing how horrible the story is for this movie. Reading the synopsis from Perry’s own letter to the public, it’s easy to see how awful a storyteller he is and how progressively worse he's gotten over a decade.

Here is his letter in its entirety broken down with my comments reading between the lines of his cold-filtered bullshit.

I think many of you know that this is a very difficult time of year for me, so what I try to do is make sure that I'm working during this time.

*Cue the violins.* Here come the salty tears. Tyler Perry is the victim of everyone else’s criticism. You choose to cast a controversial person in your movie, the audience who supports you with their MONEY gives you flack about it, and they’re doing you wrong? FUCK OFF.

Difficult time of year for you? PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP MR.PERRY. Shawn has had a difficult THREE YEARS . He lost a civil service job he thought he’d have for life, has been unemployed FOR THREE YEARS and thanks to the start-stop of numerous shitty jobs he’s had his life has been on hold for close to a DECADE. But he sucks that shit up and goes on with his life like a MAN. Gird up your loins and MAN UP.

What I try to do is make sure I’m working for myself as a self-publisher so I can SURVIVE until I find that next paying job to pay my bills. Unfortunately, I don’t have a bunch of gullible church going zealots to milk for a half-billion dollars like you do you simp bitch.

All I wanted to do was shoot a great film-

Dude, if you want to shoot a great film, go to film school. Learn something about the CRAFT before you shoot your next movie. Things like FRAMING a fucking shot, transitions and camera angles. Read a damn screenplay book like Syd Fierld’s Screenplay and learn how to WRITE A DAMN STORY.

and try to keep my mind off the holiday grief that I have been experiencing for the past two years.

Holiday grief? What about the grief we’ve been suffering for close to a decade watching your shitty movies? Can’t the audience get a break so their eyes and ears can stop bleeding?

I could not have imagined I'd be getting all these emails about Kim Kardashian. I

HAVE SEEN THEM!! YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!!...LOL. Now, may I say something? Can a brother get a word in?...LOL. Y'all gave me a new movie title, Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman Cause You Hired Kim Kardashian, Don't Make Me Take Off My Earrings and Boycott Yo A**."...LOL. Some of my ladies are upset. Ok, all jokes aside, can I have my say? Will you at least here me out?

Ah, the smooth flow of cold filtered bullshit from a blubbering mangina. I love how he turns things around and makes it all about him and how he's been victimized. Please proceed. Just don’t get any of your Mangina juice on my carpet. Shit makes my house smell like ravioli and corn juice.

I was in a Mexican restaurant and the cutest little old woman stopped me and said, "I want

to talk to you about KAR-DAT- CHA-NEM." I said, "Ma'am?" She said, "What is wrong with

you putting her in the lead role of your movie?" By the time I explained to her that she was

not in the lead role and why I thought she should be in "The Marriage Counselor", she said,

"Oh, I see your point and I can't wait to see the movie."

You mean you sweet talked an old lady into watching another one of your shitty movies? God, you are a monster.

So, if you don't mind, I'd like to share with you what I said to her then maybe you'll see why I wanted her in the film. This movie is about a young lady named Judith (Jurnee Smolett), who grew up in the countryside of Virginia in a trailer park. She was raised in the church by her mother Sarah (Ella Joyce).

She’s a po’ trailer park girl raised by her good Christian mother. Standard Tyler Perry fare. Ready made victim.

Judith married her childhood sweetheart Brice (Lance Gross) and had the perfect life until she graduated college and went to work in the big city.

OOOOH. Childhood sweethearts. People get older, they grow, they change, and move on. But in Tyler Perry’s world they get married and have the perfect life until she goes to college and works in the big city. No, she couldn’t have been a pain in the ass at fourteen like every other teenager dealing with hormones. Everything was sweet before then. Damn those college educations and white collar jobs! They make Black people EEEEVIL.

Seriously, this is more of Tyler Perry’s anti-college bullshit pandering to the growing uneducated black masses who THINK only need Jesus and Oprah to make it in the world. Cause Blue-Collar Brothers are always good for Black women because they don’t have the “White Man’s education”.

Seriously, this anti-college undertone in Tyler Perry movies really pisses me off. We live in an age where 70% of Black men and 50% of Black women do not get a High School Diploma. And most jobs that pay a living wage require a minimum of an associate degree. He needs to cut this shit out, because all those blue collar jobs he thinks are so great don't exist anymore.

After college, all she wanted to do was be a marriage counselor, but the only job she could find was working for a matchmaker named Janice (Vanessa Williams).

Hold on. Plothole ahead. She wants to be a marriage counselor and she’s in her twenties WTF? A twentysomething fresh out of school doesn’t know ANYTHING about LIFE except how to WIPE THEIR ASS in a straight line. How the FUCK is she going to counsel people about marriage when she hasn’t been married LONG enough to know anything about anything?

Of course this is the only job she could find, There’s something called EXPERIENCE you have to get before you get that job as a Marriage Counselor. That’s why she’d be working in an entry level job for a matchmaker.

Besides, who becomes a Marriage counselor fresh out of college? My brother who has TWO master’s degrees in counseling didn’t get a job counseling when he first graduated and STILL hasn’t gotten a counselor job yet. In fact, you have to get a LICENSE to start counseling anyone. Moreover, you have to build up your skills in smaller jobs before you do go out and practice. Hey Tyler, do some damn research before you write next time. It might help your stories make some sense.

Reading the synopsis so far isn't that title a little misleading? I thought this movie was called "The Marriage Counselor, not "Entry level employee who works for a Matchmaker or I can't believe she's NOT a Marriage Counselor" But a title that the story really is about isn't as Bankable for Mr. Perry.

Janice has several employees that work for her, including a woman named Ava (Kim Kardashian). Ava is constantly trying to influence Judith on everything from her shoes to her hair.

Sweet, naive trailer park good Christian under the influence of a Jezebel type white chick? Oh I see where this is going. It’s the usual story. It’s the White woman’s fault the Black woman acts like a WHORE and commits ADULTERY. Good God, here we go again, the Black woman is a VICTIM of SOMEONE ELSE’s INFLUENCE and never takes RESPONSIBILITY for HER OWN ACTIONS. SCREW YOU TYLER. PERRY.

Sorry, that bullshit may play with the Chitlin’ Circuit crowd, but it ain’t playing with Shawn from the South Bronx. I see right through this story And I already know the ending of this hot mess.

Judith meets a man at work named Harley (Robbie Jones). Harley challenges everything in her life from her marriage to her husband to her faith.

Judith sees Harley’s riches and wants to get broke off. Trailer park hillbilly reveals her inner gold-digger. Typical tramp.

Hey Judith, general rule for keeping that first job: Don’t shit where you eat. It keeps you from winding up in some fucked up hot mess like a sexual harassment lawsuit. Also keeps your employer from getting sued.

I also love how ironic a married not marriage counselor meets a married at work and has an affair with him. Tyler Perry showing some flashes of depth? Nah. Irony used poorly just shows how incompetent he is.

Meanwhile, Brice (Lance Gross), Judith's husband works at a pharmacy owned by Mrs. Waco (Renee Taylor). Brice has just hired a coworker named Melinda (Brandy), who has some major demons that she is running from.

*FACEPALM*

And while she’s philandering behind his back he’s changing into his costume and…

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Captain-Save-A-Hoe!

I’ve seen this story before. “Nice Guy” sees a jacked up chick with her issues and instead of doing his job and not giving a fuck about her and her damn baggage like I would, he steps in to save the day like a hero wanna be. Hey Brice, Mrs. Waco hired you to be a manager, not be a damn Pullman Porter! Leave that heifers bags at the Amtrak station and take care of your own business on the job!

In the end, the choices that both of these young women have made come crashing down on them and their lives will never be the same. I wish I could tell you more, but I don't want to ruin it for you.

I don’t need this movie spoiled for me because I’ve seen it a dozen times outside my window. Dumb heifers see grass on the other side of the road, leave their pasture and find out it tastes like shit. Then they rush back over to the other pasture where they had it good and find out the farmer had it paved over and a strip mall has been built there. Farmer is paid, got a new lady and doesn’t give a shit about her sorry ass. When she crosses back over to the other meadow with the shitty grass she gets hit by a truck. The End.

After I finished writing this movie, I sat back and re-read it. Half way through my read, the gravity of what I had written hit me. I knew that this message was not only for my age group, but for all audiences, especially the youth. ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH!! YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO SEE THIS!!!

Did you hear that? The young people need to see this!!! After halfway re-reading half of his half-assed script ONCE Tyler Perry thinks it’s ready for production. The message is not only for his age group, but all audiences especially the YOUTH.

You know what’s amazing about Tyler Perry? It’s amazing how he gets a head that big out of his ass every morning to sit at the keyboard and write this dreck. Man Tyler Perry is so full of shit toilet bowls get jealous.

I’m going to stop for a moment and give you some insight into my creative process. When I wrote the first draft All About Marilyn I felt the same kind of hubris. Then my computer died. That humbled the shit out of me. As I did revisions by hand on loose-leaf -paper I realized what a piece of shit that first draft was. Transitional scenes were missing, characters were underdeveloped, and the storyline was incomplete and uneven. I am so glad I took the time to re-write it into something much better. And I’ll own up to the fact that it still needs work. But Tyler Perry’s work is so great that the FIRST DRAFT HAS TO BE FILMED AND SEEN BY THE YOUNG FOLKS!

What he really means by seen by the young folks is that his movies need to be seeen by people young enough not to have learned TASTE, STYLE or ART. People who haven't grown up enough to see through his shitty half-assed writing. All first drafts suck. And by suck I mean Vanessa Del Rio/Angel Kelly/Nina DePonca deep throat suck. I may just publish an eBook or two of my first drafts just to show readers how absolutely shitty first drafts really are.

Here’s some advice to Mr. Tyler Perry: Before you spend another $20 million on another movie, get some script coverage from some professionals. Get Some Notes. Enter it in the Bluecat Screenplay competition, or Cynosure, because they give you notes for free. Those notes will help you become a better writer. And maybe you’ll actually make something mediocre next time.

And not just the young people that follow me, but the young people that are following other young people, as well. I wanted a younger cast, that's why I put Jurnee in the lead and invited Lance Gross, Robbie Jones and Brandy.

*Shawn Shakes his head*

I like how he invites actors. Me, If I ever adapt one of my books into a movie one of these days I want people to READ before I cast and watch some reels, so I can get a good fit for the role, but he has roles ready-made for people. Shows his lack of experience in casting roles.

Poor Jurnee Smollett. I feel bad when an actress of her caliber is stranded in a pile of whale dungahreea like this. I wish I could hand her a copy of Isis, TheCassandra Cookbook or All About Marilyn so she could see what a multidimensional CHARACTER and a STORY with DEPTH and SUBSTANCE looks like.

And Brandy young? WTF? That chick has to be pushing 35 or 36. Tyler must have watched too many episodes of Moesha and still sees the teenager with braids dating Q.

About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim's marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting. I said to one of my producers, "who else is out there that young people are looking up to?"

More like Jurnee Smollett isn’t a star. Tyler needs someone who can DRAW box-office. With his name is slowly declining in popularity among the good Black Church folks after crapfests like Why Did I Get Married Too and Madea's big Crappy Family he needs someone to get the butts into seats.

One of my producers showed me pictures that his daughter had taken of several hundred kids lined up around the corner to get into a Kardashian store. They wanted to meet Kim. I thought, what better person! She literally has millions of young people following her. I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film. To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about, what happens in life when you make the wrong choices. Whether you're aware of it or not, to be honest with you I wasn't, millions of young people adore her and are following her every move. If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I'm being led to do here. I hope you understand. I really do!

Your producer is a fucktard. Fire his ass. In fact fire your entire inner-circle. This was a money grab and an attempt to cross-over to the White audience plain and simple. You want to cast someone white with talent for the role of Ava, cool. Coax Amanda Bynes out of retirement. Fly over to Paris and beg Heidi Lenhart to take a job with you. You want sex appeal? Get Joan Sevarence, Josie Davis, or Nicole Eggert. Or hire a Christian actress like Kelly Packard. Those women have great talent, amazing range and would stand out in the role of Ava. But they wouldn’t bring you the controversy or the press Kim Kardashian would.

Tyler Perry in this paragraph shows me his true colors. He’s an unethical bastard who will sell out his community for a dollar. Just like Halle Berry accepting the role of Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball, he has compromised himself and his community to seek validation and approval from Whites. This man is tainted. Poisioned. He’s SOLD OUT.

As a Christian you’re supposed to do what’s right in the eyes of God. Just because the young people look up to a WHORE doesn’t mean you cast her in your production to get their money. Just because millions of young people adore Kim Kardashian and watch her every move doesn’t mean you EXPLOIT their ignorance and TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. Tyler, you are OLDER. You’re SUPPOSED TO KNOW BETTER. You’re supposed to have the MORAL STANDARDS to do what is RIGHT. According to my Bible, and what I’ve read your TRANSGRESSION is GREATER. AND YOU WILL BE BEATEN WITH MORE STRIPES BY GOD.

Applying the logic in that last paragraph I have two more scenarios for Mr .Perry:

Millions of young White people followed the Ku Klux Klan back in the 1880’s. They were considered “role models” for what “Good White Citizens” should be in the south should be as they lynched, raped and tortured Blacks. A few decades later Those racists found the strength to live a better life after they watched Birth of a Nation a few decades later. After watching that film they became inspired to commit more lynching than ever.

Millions of young Black people followed Drug dealers during the crack pandemic of the 1980’s. They were considered “role models” to many in the Black community of what a “Strong Black Man” should be as they sold poison to their own people. Those people found the strength to cannibalize their own people after they watched Scarface. After watching that film they became inspired to kill their own people and destroy their own communities.

Just because people follow someone or some cause doesn’t mean they're role models.. A lot of Arabs followed Al-Queada and Osama Bin Laden until recently. Would you put terrorists in a movie if it made money?

That being said, I really do understand Mr. Perry. I understand you have lost your mind. You are a sociopath who panders to the lowest common denominatior and exploits Black people all for the almighty dollar. You sir, are scum.

And lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn't Kim

Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God?What is wrong with that??

Dude, what is wrong with you? Kim Kardashian shouldn’t be invited into a film about Faith, Forgivnes and the healing power of God? Why? Because she hasn’t REPENTED of her SINS yet.

Nor has she presented a repentant attitude or tried to ATONE for any of her UNETHICAL behaviors. It’s still ALL ABOUT KIM. Kim Kardashian is a thrice married serial adulterer and fornicator. She just abandoned her husband 72 days after marrying him because she stopped being POPULAR. She strung a guy along, married him and then dumped him and acted like she did nothing wrong all because she wasn't getting any PRESS. That is something a SOCIOPATH does.

Sorry, but this woman is not worthy of FORGIVENESS YET. People who want to be FORGIVEN are REPENTANT and REMORSEFUL about their behavior and are willing to CHANGE their ways for the BETTER. Kim Kardashian has not shown that she is willing to make an EFFORT to change from her WHORISH behaviors. When she has shown a willingness to ATONE for her BEHAVIOR in ACTION then I’ll give her a CHANCE.

I own The Marriage Counselor Play on DVD. I bought it for my sister who was a rabid Tyler Perry fan as a gift.

She gave it back to me.

Yeah, it was that shitty. $12.99 of my unemployment wasted. Wonder if Tyler will ever come out of his $500 million pocket to give me a refund for his craptacular play.

After she gave it back to me, I watched it myself and The Marriage Counselor is HORRIBLE. Absolutely HORRIBLE. Even for Tyler Perry’s low standards. I dare to say Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark is a better production.

Moreover, The Marriage Counselor one of the most anti-Christian plays I have ever seen. Throughout the story God is mocked and made to be a joke, Pot-smoking, is glamourized and the plot meanders and meanders until the terrible end. We never get a good Christian message about the institution of marriage enduring for better or worse, richer or poorer in sickness and in health, you know those VOWS people make on their wedding day. Instead we get a story of a “nice guy” moving on leaving his adulterous tramp ex-wife and going on to happiness. What was the message again? The Marriage Counselor’s marriage didn’t work so divorce and find someone you can be happy with. WTF? Talk about mixed signals here.

As I read Tyler’s incoherent synopsis and then compared notes to the play, the adaptations don’t measure up consistently. I don’t understand why he hired a younger cast. The characters in the play are clearly mid-30s early 40s. The Marriage counselor in the play is an educated professional woman with years of experience. How did she become a twentysomething fresh out of school?

I’m thinking he de-aged all the characters so he could conveniently cast Kim Kardashian in his little movie. Perry knows his box-office is declining. Since Why Did I Get Married Too Tyler Perry movies have had a slow drop-off at the box office. Now he’s desperate to keep those numbers high after BYROONNNN! started alienating Black viewers.

With the Black audience souring on his stale formula for his poorly-made movies, Perry now he panders to the lowest common denominator to get the White teen audience into theaters. A gamble. And a gamble he’ll lose.

Now that I've dissected how silly the plot of The Marriage Counselor is, in part 2 I'll be discussing How Hollywood has changed Tyler Perry, even though he has stated "Hollywood will not change me" .

Shawn Ranks the Gourmet Supermarkets in New York City

2011-12-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

When I’m not writing, publishing or pursuing one of my other hobbies I’m a foodie. And being a foodie I travel to different supermarkets to see what unique products are on the shelf and to try these exotic gourmet delicacies.

From my journeys I’ve visited several of the top gourmet chain supermarkets in the city and I thought I’d rank them. Please understand this is my opinion based on my shopping experiences at these stores and your experience may vary based on the day you visit there.

My criteria for this critique are:

Environment

Product selection

Baked goods/prepared food

Produce

Customer service

Each category is 20 points, with 100 being the highest overall score a store can get. A 60 is a failing grade and a store you should avoid.

Westside Market

110^th Street and Broadway

Environment: A delight. Westside Market is small, but it’s a place that invites the customer in to explore, smell and taste. But what WestsideMarket lacks in elbow room they make up for in style. I The Black Metal wire racks make the product stand out and the displays are easy to access. could stay here for hours perusing the shelves; it’s that relaxing.

Selection: The selection of products here is pretty solid. You can find a lot of unique products here in addition to the household staples. I’d have to say they have the best fresh Cheese selection on the West Side of Manhattan. The frozen food section has a nice variety of high-end products such as Van’s waffles and Amy’s organic pizza in addition to the household staples like Kellogg’s Eggo.

Produce: The produce here looks great. I’ve been here several times and I haven’t seen a bruised fruit or a wilted vegetable on display outside or inside. The produce looks clean and there’s a wonderful selection of fruits and vegetables. A little pricey, but I’d say it was worth it in terms of quality.

Baked goods/prepared food: The baked goods looked fresh, and they have a spectacular variety of cookies, cakes, pies, scones bagels and cheesecake! A little on the pricey side, but worth it if you want to treat yourself.

This small store even has a nice selection of beverages such as coffee, lemonade and tea self-serve.

Prepared foods have a various selection of hot food behind the deli counter. From what I saw in the prepared foods, a working person on the go could get a nice lunch or dinner in a hurry.

Customer service: Pretty solid. When I visited around lunchtime, I got in and out no problems.

Whenever me and my sister visit Columbia University I always make a connection to the Westside Market. While this place is the priciest of all the gourmet markets, a trip here is always worth it.

Overall score 90/100

Dagastino’s

Multiple locations across the city, but I visited the 110^th Street and Broadway location across the street from the WestSide Market.

Environment: BLAND. This market was renovated a few years ago and it STILL looks like the 80’s threw

up in hepre. And WTF was up with the lighting? This place was so dark I felt like I was in a nightclub.

Selection: LAME. Every product here is at my local Associated. And a good deal less. Everything here is overpriced, and under quality.

Produce: Not great. Produce section is tightly packed. Fruits looked tired and veggies looked wilted. Wasn’t impressed with the selection either.

Baked goods/Prepared foods. Crappy, the worst I’ve seen in 10 years of going to markets like this. Even the Associated in my neighborhood is better than this wreck. Baked goods like bagels and rolls looked stale. And there were some turkey burgers on display at the deli that looked like hockey pucks.

Customer service: I didn’t care to buy anything. This place offered me no reason to.

Dag this store was a drag. Not coming back here EVER.

Overall Score 0/100

Trader Joe’s

22^nd and Sixth (Chelsea) Manhattan

Environment Trader Joe’s has a big open sales floor which makes there stores look cavernous. While it makes walking around easy, you realize how limited a shopping experience is when you get a good look at the product selection.

Product selection: Very limited. Most of what Trader Joe’stocks are their own brands. They say they do this to highlight their lower prices, but the selection is LIMITED, which defeats the purpose of shopping gourmet. While there are some interesting frozen items like Shrimp fried rice and dumplings, there aren’t enough household staples here to make me shop here regularly. They need to take a page from Whole Foods whose 365 Brand is in just about everything.

Baked goods/prepared food: No fresh anything/no deli. Everything is prepackaged. Scones are small, hard and dry. A package of lemon turnovers I bought were a huge disappointment. They had more crust than filling. In the prepared foods section everything is refrigerated and cold, so a person will have to heat up anyting they buy in the microwave. Sorry, but gourmet does not get cooked in a microwave. Defeats the whole purpose.

Produce: A very limited selection, no exotic stuff here like blood oranges. I’ve seen Korean grocers with a bigger selection and better quality fruits and vegetables in their stores. Fruits here were dried out looking and bruised and the vegetables looked JACKED UP. And I didn’t see any misting equipment anywhere

Customer service: The best part of Trader JoeThings move fast here, A long line was thinned out in just a few minutes at the register. And the cashier I had was very friendly.

Trader Joe’s says it’s a Bargain gourmet market and promotes its brands over big names. While it has solid customer service, a lack of depth on the aisles may keep it from competing in the NYC area. The management of Trader Joes needs to understand if it’s not in the store, money walks out the door. I wanted to buy more from here, but I didn’t see much that grabbed me.

This was a disappointing shopping experience for me. Instead of Trader Joe’s it felt like Trader Blows. I wasn’t impressed by the store with the Hula shirts.

Overall Score 60/100

Whole Foods

59^th Street and Broadway

14^th Street and Broadway

Environment: Very inviting. Walk into a Whole Foods store and you’ll want to spend a day here, It’s that comfortable. I’d say Whole Foods on Columbus Circle is a place where a customer will want to spend a few hours just walking around. The place has warm lighting, easy to get around aisles without a lot of clutter and merchandise is easy-to find.

Product selection: A lot of unique brands here, but a lot of stuff here is pricey. However Whole Foods 365 Brand makes shopping here a bit more affordable for the consumer who is looking to eat gourmet on a budget.

Produce: One of the best selections of fruits and vegetables in New York City. You can find just about anything here. The quality here is usually top notch, however, I have seen wilted vegetable or bruised fruit on occasion. But with staff running around, usually this stuff is taken off the shelf quickly and replaced.

Baked goods/prepared foods: The Hot food is prepared fresh; When I walk in I see the steamer trays being replaced regularly, so food is constantly moving. The service counters at the Columbus Circle location are always busy. There’s a great selection of hot food for an on-the go person to make a meal out of at the Columbus Circle

Baked goods like scones and Bagels aren’t as good as they could be though. I’ve purchased a stale bagel or two and the Scones are on the dry side lately. But most of the other baked goods seem fresh from touch and samples.

Customer Service Checking out at Whole Foods feels like a George Orwell novel waiting standing on a colored line and waiting for a computerized voice to tell you what register to go to. Worse, pretentious register system is SLOW. When it gets crowded you’re not going anywhere for a while. If they sold Snickers there I would have grabbed one.

Whole Foods is a shopping experience with inviting stores and a great selection of products, but the way they check customers in and out could be much better.

Overall score 80/100

Fairway

86^th Street and Second Avenue

Environment: Very spartan and minimalist on style, but inviting. The two levels of fairway are laid out so the customer can easily find things on their own without asking for help. The sales floor is very clean, and a customer can get comfortable here perusing the shelves

Product selection: The selection here is very strong. I found Silver Palate Grain Berry and McCann’s Irish Oatmeal here along with Van’s waffles and Amy’s organic. All the top brands are here. And I’d have to say Fairway has the best prices on gourmet groceries in New York City. Some things here are a good twenty to thirty percent cheaper than competitors.

Produce: Fairway has the one of the best selection of produce in the city. Displays look fresh, fruits look beautiful and veggies look alive.

Customer service: Very friendly, very professional, and extremely efficient. I get in and get out.

Baked goods/prepared foods: Top notch. I’d have to say Fairway has the best scones in New York City. The Hot food is a limited selection, but Everything always looks fresh. Meats and cheeses have a nice selection of items.

I love this store. Great prices, great selection of products, very inviting environment and fast customer service.

Overall score 100/100

Food Emporium

Multiple locations in the New York area, but I visited the one on 68^Th Street and Third Avenue

Environment: The retail floor in the basement is well-organized and efficient, but still feels like the 1980’s in terms of style. A customer can walk in and walk out. But the Second floor of gourmet products is modern and just a delight to shop in. Up there a customer will want to spend an hour or two just perusing the displays.

Product selection: Pretty solid. The Original gourmet market in NYC has held its own against competitiors like Whole Foods and Fairway and looks like It’s ready to competing with the newcomers for the next twenty years. From Silver Palate to Carr’s crackers to Van’s waffles and San Peligrino water, if it’s gourmet grocery customers are going to find it here at a competitive price.

Baked goods/prepared food. The Baked goods are prepared fresh on premises, I’ve been happy with the scones, pretzels and rolls I’ve bought here. There’s also a solid selection of meats and cheeses There’s always a delicious aroma on the second floor, a customer will be tempted to buy something on a visit here.

Customer Service: Rock solid. Fast, friendly and well-organized. Customers go in and out like a breeze.

A&P’s long standing gourmet brand is still a delight to shop at. Whenever I’m in the Hunter College area I make a visit at the Food Emporium at the Trump Palace on 68^th and Third. If you’re in the NYC area you need to check this supermarket out too.

Overall score 90/100

So if you’re in the New York area, take a moment to stop in a gourmet supermarket in between visiting the tourist attractions like the Empire State Building and Broadway. The smells and tastes you’ll experience in between the aisles are just as exciting as the sights on the streets.