HAPPY MLK DAY!

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King Jr.

Praise For A Natural Woman (by Lori Johnson)

Essence bestselling author, Lonnice Brittenum Bonner was kind enough to make the following remarks about my soon-to-be released novel, A Natural Woman:

"A Natural Woman is not your staid, tired 'message novel' about the righteousness of Afrocentricity--

this is a juicy read with sexual intrigue, dish and a smart, chocolate-skinned heroine with coily, napptural hair that men can't seem to keep their hands out of . . . ."

Lonnnice Brittenum Bonner, author of Good Hair: For Colored Girls Who've Considered Weaves When The Chemicals Became Too Ruff and Nice Dreads.

My New Motto . . .

Last week, I caught a bit of a PBS program about the artist/quilter/writer Faith Ringgold. During the course of a discussion about the stereotyping of African American women, Ringold had the following to say . . .

"I don't want to argue about it, I just want to retell the story."

Hmm, I SO love the energy, spirit and simplicity of the statement, I think I'll adopt it as my own new motto (smile).

IT'S 2008 . . . HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

How about we start off 2008 with a quote?

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Albert Einstein

Don't you love that? I ran across it several months ago in an article about Walter Isaacson who penned a bio entitled Einstein: His Life and Universe. Deep down in my gut, I've always believed the idea expressed in the statement above. But it was nice to see that a "genius" had actually confirmed it (smile).

TIME FOR A BREAK . . . FROM THE MADNESS . . .

I could post something silly today. Being silly is easy. My mind generally tends to lean in that direction and without requiring much by way of provocation. But, as of late, I've been in a reflective, contemplative mood. So, how about a couple of inspirational quotes, instead?

The following is one of my favorites: "If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off the cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down . . ." Annie Dillard

And here's one from a song I've been listening to for the past couple of days:

"In the end

There can be only laughter

After the dance

Lies a whole new chapter

So never wait too long to try

Cause you might

You might win . . ."

Kem (from his song "You Might Win")

Be encouraged. Be inspired. Be an inspiration. And hey, if none of those work for you . . . just be quiet (smile).

VENUS WILLIAMS . . . SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . .

The following is yet another great quote I found in the July 23, 2007 issue of JET magazine. According to the article on page 9, after her recent Wimbeldon victory, Venus Williams said:

"I was really motivated because no one picked me to win. They didn't even say, 'She can't win.' They weren't even talking about me."

I, too, noticed the lack of attention Venus received before, after and during the competition. The news media almost seemed to take an "oh,well" view of this accomplished athlete. I'd like to say, I don't understand . . . but if I did, I'd be lying (smile).

If Tiger Woods goes out on the golf course and breaks a nail, it's deemed a newsworthy item of the highest order. If Tiger were a Black woman (not that he has ever considered himself a Black man, of course *smile*) would he warrant the same kind of attention? Probably not.

I'll even go a step further and say, he most certainly WOULD NOT were he a dark-skinned Black woman. Yeah, I said it. Meant it too (smile).

No, racism, sexism and the "invisibility" of Black women is/are hardly anything new. Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" refrain is just as pertinent today as it was when she first uttered it back in 1851

I can only hope and pray that one day we'll stop being in denial about the "isms" that we've all internalized and that influence how we see or choose not to see certain people . . . and one another.

So, what are your thoughts on the subject?

WORDS OF WISDOM & HUMOR . . . FROM MARK TWAIN . . .

The following notice appeared in the opening of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn--

"Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot."

I think, quite often, a lot of us feel this way . . . but would never dare say it (smile). Of course, to be SUCCESSFUL in today's marketplace, we need all of those things and more. Don't we? (LOL) It's okay if you don't "get" the humor in the statement above. The truth is, the joke is generally always on the writer . . .

BRAVING THE EDGE . . . THE OSM'S SUNDAY BEST . . .

The following is one of several versions of a quote by the poet, writer, and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918). Apollinaire is also widely credited with coming up with the term "surrealism."

He said, "Come to the Edge."

They said, "We can't We're afraid.

He said, "Come to the Edge."

They said, "We can't. We'll fall!

He said, "Come to the Edge.

And they came.

And He pushed them.

And they flew.

Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)