ghettoGEEKS: November 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Attention Gentlemen: Fall Back in Love with your NUTSACK!

This message is directed to Men, in general. But as an African-American man, who understands the nature and circumstance of that particular form of masculinity best, I would like to direct this message more SPECIFICALLY to them.

First and foremost, I feel it is appropriate to share the catalyst for this particular post. Recently, I was scrolling through FaceBook, skimming through the daily chatter between friends....when one particular conversation caught my attention. It was between two young women in their mid to late 20s (marrying age). This conversation didn't catch my attention because it was out-of-the-ordinary. No, in fact, it caught my attention because conversations like these are becoming TOO ORDINARY! (Read conversation below:)

Female #1: [FaceBook Status] Wants 2 line up all the skinny jean wearing, whiny, actin' more like a bitch-than a bitch.......& take the out the game Execution style.....this would make the world a better place!

Female #2: Wow!!! Take a deep breath...

Female #1: Whoo-sa....right!lol Girl all of this bitch made ass men out here just Gross me the fuck out! WTF is r winnin abt?! Ain't nuthin givin.....u gotta get ya shoes alrdy!

Female #2: And u know it. These dudes act more like women everyday. And as soon as they start wit that sh!t they get dropped. I'm startin to feel like the guy in the situation. I feel ya...

Female #1: U feel me B! Uugh! I can't deal with these non-masculine males. It sickens me! Can we just be the women in the situation?! My girl said, ever since niggas stopped drinkin tapp water they don got soft! Lol I'm finna send out a PSA....No more bottled water....Lmao

Female #2: That's right!!! No Smartwater, No Fiji, not even Dasani. Turn on ur faucet and drink some damn MANHOOD! I'll sponsor the PSA!!!

Female #1: LMAO!!!! U killin me! We cld UVA walk-a-thon fundraiser! Us women hv it soo hard out here!

Female #3(New): OKKKKKKKKKKK (Lil' John voice!)

Male #1 (New): Dayohmmm....interesting

Female #1: Female #3, u know better than most! We don't like these types!! Male #1, dnt change......u r leading the league!!! Lol

Female #4 (New): Get em' Girl!!

Male #1: Dayolmao.......

Female #1: Female #4,......dnt blame me, blame tha Eastside.........100, Lol

Female #4: LMBO!!!! Yeah, that's that eastside in you.

Female #1: U already know, where niggas stand on tha block of Eastmain all day.......doin what they do, but no room for softness. Only the hard, only the strong!

Now, this can be read as a simple conversation of a lover scorned. Most of us have experienced love gone bad. (Sh)It happens. It is natural. Disappointment, anger, confusion, miscommunication, frustration, impatience, immaturity, fear, and a host of other emotions connected with a dissolving relationship, are not limited to age, race, sexual orientation, culture, gender, intellect, or financial status. These feelings are emotions that EVERYONE is succeptible to at some point.

But, as you may be able to deduce, this is a conversation between African-American females...and they are most likely discussing the behavior of African-American men. Again, I chose to highlight THIS conversation, but I could have picked ANY one of MANY conversations between women. Whether it be on FaceBook, through face-to-face interactions, on the telephone, between family members, you name it....it seems that it is becoming more and more evident that (Black) women are losing faith, interest, respect, affinity, etc. for (Black) men. I will stop here.

For purposes of COMPLETE CLARITY, I am NOT directing this conversation to women. This correspondence is STRICTLY FOR MY N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Gentleman: It has become EXTRA-evident that you need FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH YOUR NUTSACK.

Let me re-phrase for all those who may have missed it. You need to re-evaluate the way you understand Masculinity. Masculinity is about Principle. Masculinity is about Power. Masculinity is about Provision. Masculinity is about Focus. Masculinity is setting GOALS and achieving GOALS. These tenets are not new, innovative, contemporary, or new-age theories of Manhood. These tenets are Historical, Classic, Timeless.

Masculinity is NOT about imitating a RAP SONG. Masculinity is NOT about imitating your favorite ACTION MOVIE STAR. Masculinity is NOT available at your local mall through the purchase of ANY type of clothing. Masculinity is NOT found in a bottle or a blunt. Masculinity is NOT about playing video games all day long. Masculinity is NOT, at least at the very core, solely about VIOLENCE. Masculinity is NOT about SEXUAL PROWESS. Masculinity is NOT about PIMPIN' HOES. Simultaneously, Masculinity is NOT about INVESTING ALL TYPES OF MONEY, TIME, AND ENERGY DOING THINGS TO IMPRESS WOMEN, either. In fact, Masculinity, in many situations, may go unrecognized...but Masculinity is NOT about recognition. Jesus Christ illustrated this tenet in John 6:15; after feeding the multitude of 5,000, they rushed to MAKE Him a King...and he left to be alone.

And if you don't understand ANYTHING else, it is important that you understand this:

Masculinity is nothing that any woman will ever be able to teach you, show you, or give you.

So, STOP LOOKING FOR APPROVAL FROM WOMEN. But, that DOES NOT MEAN you go to the other end of the spectrum and MISTREAT Women, either. (Masculinity is about Moderation.) Women are Beautiful people. But, you can't love them correctly if you don't know yourself. Knowledge of Self. Know Thyself. That is the essence of Masculinity.

I am thoroughly aware, in many instances, some of us lacked male role models. But guess what? Masculinity is NOT about EXCUSES, either. Life is Hard. Life is not fair. At times, it can be down right cruel. As Africans in America, we know this far too well. BUT, a Man (1.) assesses the situation, (2.) formulates a plan to counter the situation, (3.) ENGAGES the plan with DETERMINATION and FOCUS, (4.) provides the Spoils of War to his Family, Community, and People, and (5.) then lives to protect his Family, Commodities, Community, and People from foreign invasion and abuse.

So, please Gentlemen. I beg of Thee. Go Home. Get Naked. Get in front of a Full-Size Mirror. Grab your NUTSACK. Look yourself in the Eye...and find your Manhood.

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com

Black Jesus - Wake Up and Listen! might help you get started.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Black Jesus - Wake Up and Listen

Credits:
Black Jesus. (1968). Dir. V. Zurilini. Perf. W. Strode.
Smile. (1997). T. Shakur, B. Jordan. Untouchables. Asylum Records.

WeBeGeekin'
http://www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com/

Saturday, November 14, 2009

WORD OF THE DAY

Profit Motive /prof-it moh-tiv/, noun:

Defined as the tendency or logic in pursuing a particular goal or action solely because that goal or action will return greater desired outputs than required inputs.

The profit motive is present in many of aspects of our lives. It is the reason why some of us practice in particular professions. It is the reason why some of us buy homes or play the lottery. Desired outputs from the profit motive do not always have to be money, it can be time as well.

See, the profit motive is not just the simply based on the exchange of one good for another. It is based on returns over and above that which was used to create the return. And it is this drive and only this drive that advances the profit motive.

On its surface the profit motive may seem benign and intuitive, however, there is a cause for concern. When one sets his or her goals based on the profit motive, one must pay attention to its repercussions. Rarely does anything occur in a vacuum. The desired outputs we seek so much, may be at the cost of others. Sometimes we may "profit" but the profit creates a better standard of living for all. Other times, the "profit" may be at the peril of others.

BEWARE OF THE PROFIT MOTIVE...

WeBeGeekin'
www.ghettogeekin.blogspot.com