1987 - Nike - Air Jordan

The Greatness Of Muhammad Ali

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong…No Viet Cong ever call me Nigger.”

On this date April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his WBA Heavyweight Title after refusing to be inducted into the U.S. Army. Muhammad Ali took this stance based on his religious beliefs and personal beliefs. He took this stand against a war that he did not believe was right, refusing to fight against people that have done nothing to him, refusing to fight for a country that treated him as a second class citizen simply because of the color of his skin. Muhammad Ali was supported in his protest by fellow athletes, actors, civil rights leaders and other opponents of the Vietnam War.  April 26, 2014 an audio recording is released from the girlfriend of Los Clippers owner, Don Sterling, filled with racist comments about minorities and his disdain for black people being associated with his girlfriend or coming to his basketball games that were allegedly made by him. The irony of this release is that it afforded the current roster of Los Angeles Clippers basketball players and coaching staff to at the very least make a vocal statement voicing their own concerns with the remarks made by Sterling; yet the players and coaching staff refused to make any significant statements. From head coach Doc Rivers to superstar players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the emphasis has been placed more on the basketball end of the spectrum, rather than on the issue of the racial disdain that their boss has for them as black people. Superstars have power, power that is greater than money that can be used to make a change for the better.  Matt Barnes was quoted as saying "That's all that matters right now: basketball,” when asked about the comments made by Sterling. Silence is not always the solution, especially when you are in a position to make a difference. Reversing a practice jersey is not enough of a statement to facilitate any type of progress. Words make an impact, actions make an impact. Had Ali not taken a stance, would be talking about him today? No we wouldn’t. Right will always be right, wrong will always be wrong. Today’s superstars have to realize to whom much is given, much is expected; not just on the court or playing field, but in life.

Kobe.

Kobe Bryant talks with Los Angeles Lakers trainer Gary Vitti after injuring his knee in the 3rd quarter of Tuesday nights game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bryant finished the game with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal & 1 block. Bryant will miss the next 6 weeks with a fracture to his left knee. It's amazing that he was able to finish the game playing with a fracture in his knee. GREATNESS.

1963

1963. A year in in history that forever changed the direction of the United States of America. 1963 is a year that saw monumental events take place that spearheaded a change in social thought and also uncovered an ugly blanket that had so long been covering unacknowledged hatred and ignorance in this country. August 28^th 2013 marked the 50^th anniversary of the March On Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. The events that led to the moment that took place on that late August day in 1963 were fueled by segregation, hate crimes and blatant disdain and disrespect for a group of people due simply to one factor; the color of their skin. The Civil Rights movment was well underway in the United States of America, in particular the deep south. Spearheaded by the murder of Emmett Till in 1955, the Civil Rights Movement was a cry from black citizens of this country for equality in all sectors of American life which had been denied to them because of the color of their skin. August 28^th 1963 was a day that all races came together with the hopes of making positive progress to see that these transgressions against the black citizens of this country would cease. The irony of the March On Washington is that significant, monumental step backs in this country would take place following the unifying of races in the upcoming months. On September 15, 1963 four little girls were killed at their church, 16^th Street Baptist Church after it was bombed by the Klu Klux Klan. November 22^nd 1963 saw the 35^th President of The United States Of America, John F. Kennedy assassinated by a sniper’s bullet. These acts taking place after the March On Washington was a definite message from those that were against the possible acts of integration and unification on all levels. The “Dream” that MLK had was for all people to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. Blacks and whites were both killed post March On Washington; Malcolm X, Medgar Evers,  Dr. King and President Kennedy’s brother Bobby Kennedy were all victims of assassin’s bullets due to their beliefs for equality of not just one group of people in this country, but ALL people in this country. Fast forward to 2013. Has the United States of America reached any type of even field in regard to race relations and ideals; the facts and numbers indicate that there has not been a great deal of progress. Of course segregation is not supported by laws in this country, but the beliefs and robust ideas of inferiority in this country continue to exist, not because they are true, but because they are taught. A dream starts within and what is developed within will come out to the surface. People have to understand that it takes more energy to reverse something than to move forward. Progress is dependent upon a realization that things can be better when you seek to make things better and this was Dr. King’s goal on August 28^th 1963. Two people become one people for the betterment of all people. Have a dream, see the dream, be the dream and live the dream.

Trayvon Martin: America Reawakened By A Verdict. Will America Continue To Sleep?

Not guilty. Race is not a factor. These two things correlate together when it comes to the murder of Florida Teen Trayvon Martin and the trial of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, regardless of how much the media and citizens of this country try to rule out race. The foundation for this death and trial stems from not "profiling" but "racial profiling" by George Zimmerman. The trial of George Zimmerman deviated from the charge of murder of an innocent person to why George Zimmerman had to defend himself against an unarmed individual that he pursued to justify his intent. Black skin, a hoodie and a gated community proved to be a lethal mix in the eyes of George Zimmerman. A neighborhood watch captain is supposed to be cognizant of suspicious activity; not people. How do you as a person determine if a person is suspicious? By looks or by actions? When a person begins to make assumptions and generalizations based on looks it is profiling. The facts presented in this case show that the profiling by Zimmerman was deeper than simple profiling; it was in fact racial profiling. This was based on previous robberies in the neighborhood and he figured that sense this was not a black community, any black within this neighborhood, dressed a certain way does not and did not belong, forcing him to take the law into his own hands to rectify this "wrong" in his eyes. As the 911 tape indicates, the dispatcher told Zimmerman to stop following Trayvon, but this was disregarded, leading to the tragic death of an unarmed teenager. This trial became deeper than the actual murder charge Zimmerman was in court for when the Trayvon's life prior to the second he was murdered was introduced to the trial. These two individuals had never met before in life; yet the defense formulated the idea that Trayvon's previous actions justified Zimmerman's action's on this fatal night. Everything that pertained to Trayvon was magnified in an attempt to justify Zimmerman's action of murder. The fact of this case is that had Trayvon Martin not been racially profiled as a black kid in a neighborhood that he "didn't belong in" he would still be alive today. The lawyers and the media did an outstanding job of voiding race from this trial, but the fact remains that race is and will always be a factor in the United States of America, especially when it comes to perceptions and ideologies about criminals. Black men in this country are perceived to be angry, difficult and thugs by many people in this country; whether in a suit or tie or in a hooded sweat shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. This is a truth that I can attest to everyday in my life. From the moment I leave my house till I return home I encounter a plethora of stereotypes, whether I'm in a suit with a bow tie or in a t-shirt and some shorts, simply because of the color of my skin. It's never fair, never will be fair, but I understand that to be the harsh reality of this society that I live in. It's something that cannot be explained with words that can make another person understand; it's like oxygen, everybody knows it's there but it can't necessarily be seen. Everybody plays a role in the perceptions and the racist ideologies running rampant in this country. People seem to negate the fact that racism is taught. Racism is not inherited, sold or bought. Some black individuals in this country also need to realize that many times you are setting yourself up for unwarranted stereotypes by actions and ideals. Glorifying the very ills of our community that fuel the stereotypes developed by others is why these stereotypes will linger above our heads as citizens in this country. We can't necessarily change people, but people can change laws by educating their selves and putting their selves in positions to enact change. Trayvon Martin is not the first and definitely will not be the last black youth to be killed without a cause, but we all can do our part to ensure that the avenue for stereotyping, racial profiling and MURDER is not an open avenue for anybody to drive down.

Pancakes by @thekitchenista

Take a moment out of your day and treat yourself to some of the best pancakes in the world. Check them out here:  http://instagram.com/p/a7gbdKxlee/  Also be sure to follow @thekitchenista on Instagram for more fascinating gourmet creations.

~How do like you like your pancakes? Follow @thekitchenista on Instagram For More Fascinating Dishes~

Take a moment out of your day and treat yourself to some of the best pancakes in the world. Check them out here:  http://instagram.com/p/a7gbdKxlee/  Also be sure to follow @thekitchenista on Instagram for more fascinating gourmet creations.