Disaster Proof Your Family

Disaster Proof Your Family - John Jessup

Life throws you a curveball sometimes: cutbacks on the job, a roof that needs to be replaced. You can't completely insulate yourself from such shocks, but three straightforward steps will protect you against 90% of problems.

Step 1: Build an emergency fund Put aside at least three months' worth of living expenses in cash so you can get through a rough patch without having to borrow or dip into retirement savings (make that six months if your family relies on one wage earner).

Step 2: Buy life insurance With insurance, the simplest choice is also the best. In almost every case, term insurance gives you the biggest death benefit for your premium. All you need to decide is how much and for how long. Buy life insurance equal to five to 10 times your annual salary. The more children you have, the more debt you carry and the longer your family will need help (until your kids are out of college, say), the closer you should be to the top end of that range. You can lock in your payment for 10 to 35 years, but for most new insurance buyers 20 years is about right. If you need a quote from me, just let me know.

You also need disability insurance, which typically pays up to 60% of your salary if you can't work. But this policy virtually defies simplification. If you don't get adequate coverage on the job, you'll have to confer with an agent.

Step 3: Write a will You should have a will that, at minimum, appoints a guardian for your minor children, outlines how you want to divvy up your assets and names an executor. If you have an estate worth less than $2 million and you're leaving almost everything to your spouse and kids, you can write it yourself by using off-the-shelf software like Quicken's WillMaker Plus. If your situation is complicated, spend about $1,000 on a lawyer.

John Jessup
jjessup7spr94@yahoo.com

Playboy Bible ?

Playboy Bible?

I just happened to be flipping through the channels the other day and landed on a Congressional Hearing on African American Media Stereotypes. I came in on testimonies from rapper, David Banner, rapper/actor, Master P, and minister/professor, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. The testimonies and questioning were intriguing but also disturbing. I heard some valid and praiseworthy comments, but I also heard some downright ridiculous statements, most coming from Mr. Banner. I’d like to share a few of them with you.

First of all, David Banner told the panel that he went through a terrible depression last year, and he consulted with two pastors, one who pastors a 50-person congregation in Mississippi, and another pastor who leads a 5,000-person congregation in St. Louis. Both pastors told him to keep rapping because he needed to let out the hurt. I’m all about stress relief, but if you need to vent out frustration, write in a journal, exercise, or talk to God! I cannot believe two pastors advised him to continue to distribute Godless, sinful, misogynistic, explicit music worldwide to people young and old. If true, this is sad.

BUT . . . it gets better. Later Banner exclaims to the panel, “I do horror music; I’m the Stephen King of rap.” He tried to convince the panel that what he did with his music was no different than what Stephen King did with his movies and books. He argued that his music, “was just music.” Interestingly though, he spent a great deal of time trying to tell the congressmen and women that he was presenting real problems that exist in his ‘hood. Russell Simmons cried the same tune on Oprah Winfrey’s town hall meeting about Don Imus a few months ago. When will these brothers stop making excuses! Having nearly naked women on videos has nothing to do with socioeconomic problems in the ‘hood. Bragging about cars and jewels doesn’t highlight problems we still see with racism. Glorifying violence, promiscuity, and pimping doesn’t denote the problem; it is the problem!

Furthermore, if it’s just music, why are kids dressing, talking, and acting like the rappers they see and hear. When I was a kid, I saw other kids dressing like Jason or Freddy Kruegger during Halloween. But if someone wore the costume all the time, he or she would have been going to see the psychologist. However, today’s youth emulate these “entertainment figures” EVERYDAY. So either the young people have a badly warped sense of reality (which many do), or rappers need to wake up and figure out that their words and actions are REAL and have REAL consequences.

David Banner tried to convince the panel that his music is some sort of moral compass that has a few rough spots around the edges. He claims that his music has a message, but he is FORCED to throw baseless music in with it to sell records. He emphatically exclaimed to the panel on two occasions, “My music is the bible with a playboy cover.” He wants us not to judge his music based on the singles he releases; he wants us to look at his whole body of work. Well, nearly EVERY song on his last album, “Certified,” is sexually explicit (check it for yourself). Actually, explicit is an understatement. I was utterly disgusted as I read the lyrics to his songs. And his new single, “9mm Speaker” to his upcoming album, “Greatest Story Ever Told,” is just as bad. He exclaims, “I Lick (Shoot) Em All Like 18 Ti@s On 9 Chicks . . . And Shove 9 Inches Of Di%k In 99 Hoes.

You tell me what I’m supposed to think. Sure, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover; but we HAVE to judge what’s between the covers. What good is one page (that’s a stretch) of wholesome information amidst 100 pages of pornography? Playboy Magazines have articles in them, but people don’t buy them for good journalism (those who say they do are lying). And which do you think has a more lasting effect, the 100 pages or the 1 page? Rappers need to Wake Up! and we do too because we’re buying and listening to this crap!

We look forward to bringing you more thought-provoking, soul-stirring, heart checking articles in hopes to change the culture! We will wake up the slumberous and agitate the apathetic. Will you join us?

Discuss this with your friends, children, co-workers, and neighbors. Forward this letter; print it out; and pass it on. Shedding light on these topics is the first step to tearing down the stronghold of the enemy. We would also encourage you to visit our website, www.churchcatsmusic.com, where you’ll find tons of good information and material. You can also find us at www.myspace.com/churchcatsmusic . Thank you for reading!

Submitted by Church Cats Music
ChurchCats@churchcatsmusic.com

Saving the Babies...

At this point, I am sure many of you have at least heard about the Jolita Berry story from Baltimore, MD. (Visit the above link to watch the video) Ms. Berry is an art teacher was assaulted by one of her students. Fortunately for Ms. Berry, someone videotaped the incident since the school administration was ready to put her on thehot plate for catching an L in her classroom. I know I am joking about this. Yet it is serious business. As usual, the mainstream media is running with this. True to their mantra of "if it bleeds,it sells," they are having a virtual field day with it.I expect the mainstream media to echo the Moynihan Report and tomake their little jungle statements. It doesn't bother me.Oftentimes, the mainstream media creates these furors only to make money out of them. What bothers me is what I am hearing from everyday people on and off the street.

It bothers me to hear people I know and love say "those people," or "they need to get their act straight." It's as if we are talking about Cylons or something. Weact as if our babies live in a zoo. We treat them like they are hamsters in a lab.I have several close friends who are teachers in several run-down inner city schools. Many of them have horror stories. I had the opportunity to work with young people in several cities and actually worked in a group home for close to two years. I, too, have my share of horror stories. Yet it bothers me to hear our own consider our babies animals or as if they are beneath us.Watching Ms. Berry on the video getting beat while the other children egg the victimiser on says so much about OUR society. Yes,it is our society. People make up that society. WE are those people.I hear too many folks blame the school system. I hear too many folks blame the teachers. Yet no one is ready to accept responsibility.

I remember living in Norfolk, VA and I heard all these people whisper about gangs. It was amazing. I attended a so called police summit on gangs and was outraged at what I heard. There were mothers there who came out and explained how the police were racially profiling their sons. Yet the police and the politicians as well as the citizens sat there as if no one was speaking.If we don't accept some responsibility, it will only get worse. I know this sounds terrible, but I use this story on folks to get them to wake up:There was a man who raised his only son to be the best. His son was in honors all his life. His son was an all star athlete, active in the church, and volunteered at an old folks home when he could. Hisson easily earned a scholarship to an IVY league university. One day while his son was visiting his parents, he decided to go out with his friends. They went out to a club and on the way home were caught up in a drive by. The young man died upon arrival at the hospital.At the funeral, the father got up and spoke. "I did everything I could for my son to be the best he could be." The crowd clapped and amen'ed at that statement. "But I failed to ensure that the other boys in his neighborhood had just a few of the opportunities my son had."Now of course, the problems with our babies is multifaceted. It is going to take money, people, laws and bills being passed, resources,and most of all courage to save our babies. Yet I want to point out that we are all in this. We all have to chip in. I am not saying we all have to be school teachers or we all have to go out there and mediate gang disputes. Everyone has a job and everyone has somethingto contribute. We should not treat it as something that will go away or won't happen to us or someone we care about.

All my children go to public school. Two out of three go to schools in an inner city. All are doing well. I realized that a proper education needs the involvement of the parents. I say this not just for my children but for other children as well. They take their cues from us. When the babies see me come to pick up my son, they knowwho I am. All of our babies act accordingly. Our babies understand.One can send his or her babies to a private school, but if they are not involved, its all for naught. Trust.Let's stop pointing fingers. Let's do something. If you are single,sign up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. They are Rites of Passage programs in almost every major city in the United States. They are always looking for people to lend a hand in any way they can. If you have a degree or working on one, become a tutor. The local libraries have programs where one can come and read to the babies. Become a sports coach. Teach martial arts in a local school. If you are looking for a career that always brings challenges, become a teacher. Trust me, it's not for the weak at heart.Finally, when you get the chance, thank your babies teachers. They are on the front lines and they need all the support we can get.

For all you elitist folks out there, if you don't visit the bad neighborhood, the bad neighborhood will visit you.
Ase
Brother Omi

The Conscious Community
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The Imani Foundation
http://www.imanifoundation.com/
http://www.blackimprovement.blogspot.com/
http://www.blackimprovementmedia.blogspot.com/

Is the work finished ? - Legacy Day Weekend 2008

Legacy Weekend 2008 (April 4th) - Celebrating King

A tree will be known by it's roots/fruits. One of the most unknown fruits of the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King's life is Black Liberation Theology developed by Dr. James Cone. Dr. Cone blended the Black-Christian experience exemplified by Dr. King and the Black Revolutionary experience of Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X). (Click the link above to listen to Dr. Cones speak about Black Liberation Theology).

As we pour our libation for Dr. King this weekend I ask us to ask ourselves "Is the work finished ?" Many will hear the "I have a dream" speech quoted or sound-byted today. I've come to the belief that Dr. King stood for more than his frequently quoted dream, Dr. King stood for much more than racial equality, Dr. King stood for more than civil rights. Dr. King stood for liberation. Dr. King stood for improvement.

To better understand the fruits of Dr, King I listened to the interview with Dr. Cone for "Fresh Air" (click the link to do so yourself). When interviewed by Terry Gross Dr. Cone explained that Black Liberation Theology is a theology that "sees God as concerned with the poor and the weak." I listened to Dwight Hopkins' statements that "(Yeshua) Jesus came for liberation." (click this link to hear Hopkin's statements). Liberation provides a free and improved state of being.

Dr. King was murdered after his ministry moved from a focus on civil rights to a focus on human rights. He was preparing to aid workers who were not receiving a fair deal by employers and by the government. Dr. King was focusing on people who were poor and weak. Dr. King's own church disowned him as he began, to later proudly accept him as his strategy began to work. As much as I used to think that King's strategies were a bit soft, I must admit how much I admire those tactics currently. I listened to the interviews, I thought about all I heard about Dr. King, and then I asked myself the question "Is the work finished ?"

Some will say that in the year 2008 the wish/dream/idea that "Little black boys and little black girls will be able to walk hand in hand with little white boys and little white girls." has been realized. Some will say that we are in a time in our country that men are basically judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin in most of our American interactions.

I know that our work is greater than the time allowed in my generation. I know the work is greater than one person. I know the work is greater than the scope of my understanding. I know the work is a great work. I also know the work remain unfinished.

One of our Conscious-Community members, Dan Tres Omi, replied to an earlier post stating "Currently, the black church seems to be caught in a battle: Liberation Theology vs. self salvation. I think that is why many of us forgotten what the Black church was there for. Now we are caught in his idea that we are supposed to be rich versus helping build our communities."

The work remains unfinished. The work is a work in progress unfortunately without the needed manpower. We can argue that people of African descent in the United States of America have progressed, the U.S.A. has progressed and is living closer to it's creed, and that the rights/opportunities/lives that our ancestors prayed and bled for have arrived. We cannot argue that the work is done.

Over the last few months I've begun using the term "Black Improvement Movement" to describe the directions/messages that I've been receiving. I believe our work has moved from a total focus on Rights to Improvement. Since the U.S.A. has gotten closer to it's direction of equal rights we may now move to a Civil Improvement Movement. Our leaders from the Civil Rights era seem passe' when they speak. It's time for new leaders to take the torch. Join the movement for improvement. The website Hot Ghetto Mess says it well, "We've got to do better." I agree.

If a neighborhood is primarily Black (of African Descent) we should ensure that it is the cleanest, safest, and most prosperous neighborhood around. In many cases the opposite is true. The Civil Rights movement can't address this disparity, Law enforcement and the government can't fix this disparity, entertainers changing some of the words they use can't fix the problem, the Churches/Mosques/Synagogues/Houses/Liberation study Groups haven't fixed the problem...Yet it most cases where an improvement in a community has occured it has occurred by one person making a decision that "We can do better" and others following the lead.

When an un-involved parent acts in a manner that says 'I can do better" the family they neglected improves. When an involved parent makes a similar decision a similar effect occurs. When a student decides "I can do better" their grades improves. When one looks at themselves in the mirror and decides to make a lifestyle change to improve their health their lives, and the lives touched by them improves. Businesses constantly look for ways to improve their profits.
Let us look and act upon ways to improve our families, our communities, our nation, and our race. This sounds simplisitc..... I know....It's supposed too. We can begin by doing simplisitc acts of improvement, the results will show simple improvement. Let's all get improved. Let's all improve.

This is the Black Improvement Movement signing on ! May our actions improve the world.

Seko VArner
The Imani Foundation
http://www.imanifoundation.com/
http://www.blackimprovement.blogspot.com/
http://www.blackimprovementmedia.blogspot.com/