Greetings,
Remember when you were a child and your parents and teachers would
ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Have
you thought about that lately? Are you being who you want to be,
now that you are a grown up? As we get older, our dreams seem
to become farther and farther from where we are in life. Notice
I said SEEM...it is still possible to achieve your dreams, if
you believe you can do it. Your potential in life is limited only
by your perception of it. Imagine that! You can be that lawyer,
a doctor, a musician, an accomplished writer and the successful
loving husband, wife or parent you thought was for everyone else,
instead of you. I'll tell you a secret...You deserve all those
things too!
I feel that what makes a person old is their inability to change,
becoming "set in their ways". Being "old"
really has little to do with physical age. Life is too short to
be afraid to accomplish your dreams. Are you "old" already?
You don't have to be, life is a continuum of growth and learning
and you can be one step closer to having it all with each moment
of your life! Imagine that! Happy reading!
Peace and Blessings,
John A.
Riddick, Jr.
Chief Editor
It is the part of love that none of us like to think about too long. We look forward to a future together with our special someone, hoping and praying that the day will never come when we have to say goodbye. But, in most of our romantic relationships, the fact remains that we do come to a time of separation. Sometimes he leaves. Sometimes she leaves. Sometimes the "ex" returns. Sometimes the decision is reached by both. Sometimes circumstances change and require a shift in the relationship. And sometimes we simply lose that spark. There are so many different ways that we may come to the same point of realization: the relationship just isn't working anymore.
Advice is easy to find on how to attract a love, how to prepare
yourself for a relationship, the proper things to do and say to
keep your sweetheart interested. But words of wisdom are hard
to come by on how to best end a relationship. No one wants to
talk about that subject: we hope it will go away if we choose
not to address it. It doesn't. It only grows and causes more pain
to everyone concerned if we choose to ignore it.
One of the most edifying things we can do in a relationship is
to leave it with love. Be honest. Express your feelings. Do not
leave the other person wondering or guessing. Go into detail explaining
how you feel and why the relationship isn't working for you. And
then take the time to listen.
Many of us have no problems when it comes to expressing our opinions.
We can tell you what you did wrong, what time you did it, who
you did it with, and how much it hurt. We can throw the words
out like fiery darts when we have been wronged; hoping to obtain
some sort of satisfaction in hurting the other person involved.
But that kind of satisfaction has no real basis in reality. And
every story truly does have two sides.
If you are angry, say so. But think about tomorrow and what you
would appreciate if the tables were turned. It could very well
be the case that you are the one who will hear those words of
departure next time. Always remember that life is a circle. Let
your relationships begin...as well as end...with love.
As you consider what you would like to achieve in the new millennium, what is it that most readily comes to mind? A new job or career? A larger house or newer car? A greater bank account? A long term relationship or family addition? All of these are admirable pursuits, worthy of much of our time and efforts. But the most valuable asset that we can embrace is an Attitude of Excellence.
An Attitude of Excellence is what is achieved when we expect more
of ourselves than others expect of us. It is doing our best in
whatever we do..and then surpassing our own rigorous standards.
It is going that extra mile...because we care and honor our talents
and efforts. It is believing in ourselves. It is a sign of love
and self-respect.
So often we settle for less in our lives. We make excuses for
our shortcomings and the shortcomings of those with whom we come
in contact. We forgive when we should be fortifying. We accept
laziness when we should be learning our lessons. While we should
never deny our past and turn our backs on all that we have experienced
in this life, neither should we remain stuck in a time when we
were enslaved. Our past experiences are in the past because we
have chosen to become Women and Men; growing and incorporating
the greater lesson into our lives. We must never forget from whence
we came. But neither should we wallow and blame our condition
on others while failing to fully exercise our talents, gifts,
and greater potential.
Let us make a commitment to exhibiting Attitudes of Excellence
in this approaching millennium. We, as African Americans, are
a most creative people; let us reach deeply within to discover
the entirety of our creativity and not settle for restating the
old tried-and-true formulas for success. If there is something
we do not know, let us take the time to research and learn...and
then willingly share our knowledge. Let us be examples of what
Excellence can be and do, instead of well-meaning exceptions to
the rule.
Loss of Sight, Gain of Insight
To be suddenly blinded, what should have
been my last vibrant sight: the perfect sunset, and the face of
my son. I am left with compounded memories that will remain timeless.
Every audible experience paints abstracts in my mind. I am able
to feel azure, cobalt and midnight blue when songs of crickets
paint memories of perfect summer nights in my mind.
My mornings are painted a sunflower gold as the increasing warmth
of the rising sun awakens me. Love feels a comforting mauve. Pride
a royal purple.
I am no longer able to see a mango ripen, but I can taste its
sweet and sour ripe juices as they run down my chin. I still experience
a climactic joy upon tasting the perfect chocolate cheesecake.
One is forced to interpret human nature, to trust in the kindness
of strangers or to trust that strangers are without kindness.
Will wit or the blessings of God overt me from the dangers of
the outside? One cannot completely rely on wit and intuition to
sense danger. It can almost make a person paranoid, definitely
vulnerable and dependent, especially in new surroundings and with
new people. As this dying world grows more and more desperate,
it will be harder to find the solace that I seek.
I rely on my five remaining senses: to touch, to taste, to hear,
to smell and to be intuitive. Through learning to see through
my heart, I trust people in ordinary circumstances I never would
have relied on. In actuality, the word trust has taken on a whole
new meaning; I trust my faith in God.
I have learned to interpret the world with the tips of my fingers
using Braille. In using my sense of touch more and becoming more
passionate, I have taken up the art of sculpture. As a true artist,
one will never see or feel one's work as the rest of the world
does.
As an independent woman, it has been difficult to depend on others
so much. At times it is my son who must assist and "be the
mommy". He cleans up spills and wipes away my tears telling
me "it's okay, it's an askident." It is he who "brings
me home" all of those times I've wanted to scream out rage
and self-pity. With the gentle touch of his small hands cupping
my face, he paints warm earth toned abstracts in my mind over
the fiery red color of rage. Unable to see him, I feel his smile
as we embrace, his sorrow as tears run down his cheeks.
Human nature would render me constantly suspicious and timid of
the outside world. Yet, refusing to be a victim I do the best
with what God has given me, pray, have faith and believe in fate.
The world has become an abstract landscape with no visible definitive
lines, no boundaries and no limitations.
Sometimes I Cry by Linda Dominique Grosvenor
RATING: 
(Four
quills)
When should a woman let go and just be
happy in a relationship? Can one truly be happy at the expence
of someone else's pain? In Sometimes I Cry these questions coincide
with the issues covered in this thought provoking book. Ms. Grosvenor
takes you into some deep areas that are sure to get you and your
gal pals in some heated discussions. With issues such as domestic
violence, extramarital affairs and reality based love affairs,
this book gets you thinking and talking. You may not agree with
the way she weaves her tale, but she will definitely keep you
thinking the whole time you are reading.
Aliyah Barnwell is the main character who goes through some of
life's major dilemmas. Grosvenor uses her as the vehicle to place
you on this emotional roller coaster ride. You watch as she deals
with a broken heart from "unrequited love" and friendship
betrayed. You are hurt and angry with her. You share in her joy
in finding someone who has the ability to bring joy to her life
and seems to delight in doing so. Then you share in her devastation
when he divulges long after he'd become the sun, moon and stars
in her life, that he is married.
At this point some sistahs would lose all sympathy for the protagonist,
believing that there isn't sympathy available for the "other
woman." Here is where Grosvenor's writing escalates to show
you that love doesn't allow you to choose with whom you fall in
love. She even shows the struggle Aliyah goes through to distance
herself once she becomes wise to the situation. Some sistah may
scream about, "she's triflina home wrecker", etc., but
read the story and take an unbiased look before you judge.
Linda Grosvenor did an excellent job in her debut novel. Sometimes
I Cry is poignant and definitely makes a strong case for the "other
woman's" side of the story. I loved how she mixed in religion
to show that our protagonist wasn't a bad woman, out to "steal"
some other sistah's man. It's an excellent read and I look forward
to more thought provoking novels from Grosvenor in the future!
Getting to the Good Part by Lolita Files
RATING: (Five quills)
Best friends since grade school, Misty
Fine and Teresa "Reesy" Snowden have been there for
each other through some pretty rough times. Some of you may have
read File's debut novel, Scenes From a Sistah, which told the
story of these two sistahs' lives through the voice of Misty.
Now we see their lives through Reesy's eyes in Getting to the
Good Part.
Getting to the Good Part picks up where the first novel left off,
but switches voices. You see that the wise-cracking, take-no-prisoners
Reesy from the first novel is back. From her point of view, we
see the whole Reesy, not just the front she shows to the rest
of the world. Readers get to watch as she attempts to accomplish
her dream and how she deals with the accompanying bumps and bruises
that come along with reaching her goal.
Several times you find yourself wanting to shout "You Go,
Girl!" for some of the gutsy moves she makes. You also want
to smack her for some of her other not-so-smart decisions. The
promise of "dreams fulfilled and happiness around the corner"
feeling you are left with from the first novel sticks around and
wraps you up in this story. If you liked the first book, this
one won't disappoint you. File's snappy, "sistah girl"
prose is easy to read and easy to relate to. Even if you're not
an avid fiction reader, this novel is one in which you will find
yourself drawn into, wanting to know what's going to happen next
because it is really easy to identify with the main character.
I truly enjoyed this book.
Abide With Me by E. Lynn Harris
RATING: (Four
quills)
The saga continues and if you've read
anyone of E. Lynn Harris' previous books, the characters represented
in this book, Abide With Me are like old friends who have come
home for a reunion of sorts. It's like catching up on their lives
as they fill you in on all the time that has passed since the
last time you were together. Yes, once again, we peek into the
lives of Raymond Tyler, Jr., our lawyer friend and main protagonist
from stories past. The sexy man that turns the heads of both sexes
has new trials and tribulations to deal with. The skilled lawyer
has gets a chance of a lifetime in a dream job, but feels it may
become jaded by his own homosexuality and his partner's past.
Then the coy, but still angry and confused, John "Basil"
Henderson is there for some spice. He's trying to come to terms
with his feelings about his childhood abuse, rejection from the
one man he wants and his reasons for hating women. His chapters
have you wanting to just talk with him on a one to one just to
see where he really is. You just want to see him reach some kind
of happiness with his life somehow.
Nicole, Raymond's one time love and best friend's wife, deals
with jealousy from fellow cast members in an off-broadway show
of Dreamgirls. This is in addition to her carrying the burden
of living up to her mother's expectations. Harris takes her to
the edge of despair and allows you to bear witness to the very
essence of her character..
We even get a special visit from Kyle, Raymond's friend who passed
away from AIDS. You would think in any other story his appearance
unbelievable and hooky, but it actually works here, And it just
continues the feeling of you a visit from an old friend.
Abide With Me is written in the same style as the other books.
If you loved any one of the first novels, you will definitely
love this one. Harris' characters are full of emotions and flavor
that you will not want to put the book down. Although this novel
is part of a series, Harris does a great job of filling you in
so you aren't entirely lost if this is your first excursion into
their lives. The others are prologue to this story though.
Men Cry in the Dark by Michael Baisden
RATING: (Four
quills)
In a market saturated with the female
voice speaking about male/female relationships, Michael Baisden's
Men Cry in the Dark is a refreshing change. He showed that men
make bad choices over and over and we don't blame them for it.
Baisden also illustrated that there are many great examples of
successful brothas out there struggling to find love too. This
is Baisden's second novel, also dealing with relationships. He
achieved status with Never Satisfied: How and Why Men Cheat.
In this book, Baisden introduces us to four smart, financially
successful black men and details their leaps and hurdles in attempting
to maintain relationships. One, who is driven to make his dream
of running a successful magazine. The second brother was scarred
by black girls' rejection as a youth and now only dates white
women. The third character is a successful florist struggles to
keep the "sugar daddy" image alive and kicking. Finally,
the brotha who is engaged to be married but has to fight constant
rebuttle from his "baby's mama" and be a good father
and start a family anew. All four stories take you through an
emotional roller coaster, drawing you into their stories. Baisden
has created an insightful classic told from the seldom heard male
point of view. u
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The Best of the BestJazzy
Ladies Pt.1
Sarah Vaughan &
Dinah Washington
In the history of Jazz, we always hear
about the brothas. Hardly ever, do we hear about the Female Jazz
Greats. Well starting this issue, Rhapsody Magazine will be kicking
off the "Best of the Best -- Jazzy Ladies". This will
offer a bit of history on several classy, lyrically unchallenged
warriors from the School of Hard Knocks -- within the Jazz Era.
Of course being a woman myself I gotta tell ya that I luv me
some Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington. Now I'm gonna go out
on a limb and say that these two are probably my favorite female
Jazz artists and I love them all!! My third favorite would
be Ella Fitzgerald, and we'll feature her in the next issue.
Alrighty now let's get back to Sarah and Dinah...I'm a Jazz fan
because my younger sister and I grew up listening to it all the
time. My father was witness to the "hey day" of jazz.
The days of GOOD MUSIC; when you could see them ole jazz cats
live performing in the now nonexistent clubs on the south side
of Chicago. Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Billie Holliday
and Art Blakely just to name a few.
This summer my mom and I were doing a bit of garage sale shopping
and found a Church selling a few items from some of their congregation.
I stumbled on 2 CD's 1 from Sarah Vaughan and another from
Dinah Washington. At $4 a pop, that was dirt cheap, mostly due
to the fact that these two ladies musical talents are a 'hard
find' at such a great price.
Sarah Vaughan Sarah
Vaughan: Sings Broadway - Great Songs from Hit Shows
Jazz Heritage
RATING:
(3 spades)
This 2 CD collection is a compilation
of Broadway tunes from Hit shows. Most of these tunes are quite
old but Sarah sings them in such a fashion that they don't appear
so 'dated'. The intro's are very dramatic, but they compliment
Sarah's wonderful savvy voice.
Usually I give my favorite picks, unfortunately that had become
quite a complicated task partly because all the songs are good
in they're own way. This CD was different from any CD I've ever
collected because I am more familiar with the well known songs
and jazz standards. You may not include this cd with some of
her other outstanding works, but give it a listen if you have
the opportunity
Dinah Washington Dinah Washington
Sings Standards
Verve Records
RATING: (4 spades)
Dinah Washington "The Queen", has a true combination of a blues and jazz feel. Her voice emits such a youthful, tender sound. As I listen to some of these songs, it's as if I'm seated in a smoky "jook joint" dressed up sippin' on something real real smooth, testifying the truth just spoken in a lyric or two in her song. Just like Sarah's 2 cd complication mentioned above, you cannot just pin point one or two good songs. This CD is simply one of many great compilations of her stellar works. This is the first Dinah Washington CD and I will make it my mission to find more. But this time, I'm merely here to "Teach You Tonite"...
Dave Hollister
Ghetto Hymns
Dreamworks Records
RATING: (4 spades)
Not too long ago, I was sitting at my
computer monitor tryin' to decide what CD I would jam to next
as I surfed the net. What I really needed was something I could
croon tocatch my drift; so I chose Mary's (Mary J. Blige), "My
Life" CD. You all probably know someone like my self, a
gal who is an admitted music junky; who reads the "Shot Out"
list that artists give within the inserts of their CD. As I read...whoop
there it is!!! I see the Ghetto Princess herself, Mary J. Blige
gives a shot out to Dave Hollister. I'm thinking to myself, I
had no idea he was my home boy from Chicago, was in Mary's crew..but
with a 'lil bit of research, I find that Dave Hollister sang back
up with Mary J. Blige back in the day. For all of you who may
not know, Dave was a member of BlackStreet, but now he's on his
own and this past May Dave's solo joint dropped.
My favorite picks on this Ghetto Hymns album include: Track 1-
"Came through the door pimpin"; great intro to the album
and it definitely let's ya know how the brotha will be puttin
it down. "Cheaterlude" (Track 6) owns a gospel feel
..almost like a preacher at the middle of his sermon. Last, but
not least, my #1 favorite which is always on repeat --Track 9
"Call on me". Now this is what I would call a compilation
of his sound; gospel and R&B with super guitar
While Dave was singing with Mary J. Blige, he met Erick Sermon
of EPMD (one of my all time favorite old school rap groups) who
is Executive producer of "Ghetto Hymns". Dave felt
that Erick Sermon has the "flava" he'd been looking
for. This 'flava" is apparent throughout the album. Dave
Hollister also appeared in the movie Ride (1998) which starred
Malik Yoba, Kellie Shanygne Williams, and is signed to Def Squad
Records; Home of those "wild boyz" Erik Sermon, Redman
and Keith Murray.
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