#42

Bill Cosby, the black american dad.

The story that the media displays is bad.

If the story is true, that's sad.

All of the misfortune to our community,

Did someone ask the question you never ask?

You know? What else can go bad?

But something that media cannot take away

Its how you helped raise many generations today

The Cosby Show, Fat Albert and Little Bill

You, my sir, got the triple play

You portrayed a positive image of blacks

Not the image that the media has, which is wack

Your alter egos deserve an award or plaque

But I pray the rumors aren't true because

................that may set us all back.

#41

A moment in time and a quiet place is all we need

In a race for your heart, I hope I am in the lead

If not, I am gaining on the leader with God's speed

I would write love letters that you could read and reread

Netflixing all night through dull moments, seasons on repeat

We can go anywhere, a hometown bar or drinks on Wall Street

Would you prefer me to show you off or to be discreet?

A mutual benefit for us. I teach you, you teach me.

But I will not try to contain nor capture thee

Instead I will admire your flight, like a bird flying free

Ready to exercise my green thumb and plant our family tree

I'm only pursing this vision if it is something you can also see

But until we know for sure, we can wait until its a guarantee.

#40

As much as I call for education reform on part of "the system" I must duly call for reform in the parental sector to improve the state of education. Even though I am a young bachelor that has not begun his family yet, I come from a strong nuclear, peripheral and adopted family. I am a product of the many lessons I was taught in and out of school. Sometimes I learned things in school that helped me outside of school. Sometimes I learned things outside of school that helped me inside of school.

Again, I do not have any children, but through observation and interaction, I can say with certainty children are sponges. They will soak in anything and everything about their surroundings. Which is rightfully so, they are new here and really are just trying to learn how to survive, ya know? 

So parents and future parents just know, you have/will have a little spongebob squarepants foll that will one day be ready to start schooling, but will have been learning how to survive, the most important thing in this life, from those that they have been most exposed to. 

Imagine it like this, you just got a brand spanking new computer (the child) and you are installing the software (your survival tactics) on which this computer will run on until it's battery is complete gone. Continue imagining with me, this computer will be able to download different programs that it can run (learning in school) but these programs will only run as efficiently as the software that was initially installed allows for, it it even allows for it at all.

The parents and the family SET THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE LEARNERS. Until we can start realizing and being conscious that our kids' software for live is being install in those sponge years at home legally up to six years before the law requires they attend school. 

SIX YEARS of SURVIVAL SCHOOL. Be mindful of how you teach your little one(s) how "we" survive.

Interview: Karyn Cummings

The Great Change got the chance to catch up with long time educator and Dr. Ralph H. Poteet Principal Karyn Cummings and ask her some questions about the current state of our education system. Our conversation is below, enjoy!

The Great Change: How long have you been in education as a profession?

Principal Cummings: I have been an educator in MISD for 25 years.

The Great Change: What inspired you to get into this particular field?

Principal Cummings: I always loved being a teacher and wanted to be able to help other teachers become great. Administration affords me that opportunity without losing the connection with students. I love seeing students grow and succeed, and as a principal in high school, I am in a unique situation to do just that!

The Great Change: What is your opinion on the idea of adding money management and investment classes to the high school curriculum?

Principal Cummings: I think those courses would be a great addition to the high school curriculum. We currently offer Dollars and Sense as an elective, but the scope of the objectives is limited to what can be covered in one semester.

The Great Change: What is your response to those that say standardized testing constrains creativity in the classroom?

Principal Cummings: I have to disagree that standardized testing limits creativity. I believe teachers must insure a balance of skills and creativity in order for students to be successful on standardized tests. I do believe that the rigor of the tests keeps teachers focused on the skills as they require much time to teach.

The Great Change: How do we ensure that we continue to have good teachers that are capable of helping each student become a functional member of society?

Principal Cummings: Coaching new teachers is critical to keeping them in the profession. If we cannot keep them, they never learn to be truly skilled in the art of teaching. Teaching requires a specific skill set that is perfected over time. The mentoring and coaching by experienced teachers and administrators will assist in retaining teachers. If we can keep teachers through the first 7 years, they typically make teaching their career.

The Great Change: Do you have any further ambitions beyond your position as Dr. Ralph H. Poteet Principal?

Principal Cummings: To be honest, I still love being a campus principal. I am content being at Poteet, but I am willing to do whatever my superintendent would want me to do. Central office would be the next step for me, but I am in no hurry!

The Great Change: Thank you for your time talking to us here and look forward to talking to you again in the future!

#38

African-Americans make up only twelve percent of the entire American population. If you do not understand what I mean by African-American, I mean natural born American citizens that are decendents of humans taken from the African continent and brought to North America as slaves. 

Those people are the ones I am speaking of. 

I am an African-American. 

As a future/current African-American leader, my heart goes out to the families of the black men that are no longer with us. In today's United States of America, far too often are police too quick to lethal action when involved with black men. Far too often are police too quick to use an excess of force when involved with black men. Far too often are police guilty of more severe crimes in their methods of apprehending criminals than the actual so-called criminals.

I hear criticisms of my people: Ignorant, Noisy, Aggressive and Lazy.

In all actuality these negativities are lingering imagery from the slave era into our modern day lens'. They are extremely out dated. But, I know most non-African-American's will still maintain that we still embody these negativities. 

So let's really break this shit down.

Why are we "Ignorant"? Maybe you forgot, my people were not allowed to learn to read and write. Thus making teaching my people to read and write illegal in a number of states. The same way marijuana is illegal in states and legal in states. To really bring this home to you, me writing this post so elegantly, in this country in the 1800's would have gotten me killed and possibly would ever taught me too. The African-American most associated with pushing for the literacy of his people was Fredrick Douglas. I learned to read and write at Fredrick Douglas Elementary School in Jacksonville, Texas. Coincidence? I think not. But, to combat the literacy of African-Americans, many states enacted laws like the one below to make sure African-American's remained IGNORANT to the English language.

["Whereas the teaching of slaves to read and write has a tendency to excite dissatisfaction in their minds and to produce insurrection and rebellion to the manifest injury of the citizens of this state" - North Carolina]

Why are we "Noisy"? As previously mentioned, my people were not allowed to read or write, that means we could not communicate through the various means that were available. So we used the one God allowed for, our voices. We made our presence felt in the cotton fields with negro-spirituals because our voices surely were not heard in through the ballot box as the founders of this great country intended. Or did you forget that African-American's were not allowed to vote? Progress came slow, even to the point of compromising to see my people as 3/5 of a human. But now NOISY African-American's are the focus of every entertainment station and our songs are taking over the internet and mainstream radio, generating more revenue for non-African-American than we generate for ourselves.

Why are we "Aggressive"? If you are not African-American this one will be difficult to understand. We are AGGRESSIVE to protect our own. In times of slavery all African-American men were beaten in front of their female mates, to show that they could not protect their family which has caused many long lasting effects on the African-American family dynamic and our culture in general.

Lastly, why are we "Lazy"? After African-American's were slaves to this country for hundreds of years and built this country from the bottom up on their backs, without reparations or compensation, we still are NOT LAZY. If anything, those who benefit from white privilege and do not have to step outside of their comfort zone to survive ARE LAZY. What is lazy? Does it mean not doing manual labor? Because if that's the definition we are using, then the owners of NBA and NFL teams are lazy. Any person making passive income is lazy. My people are not lazy. I wish more of them could afford to be lazy but this is not the case in the United States in 2014. 

All of these negativities associated with my people have stemmed from a very dark time of brutal slavery in this country and just pure blindness from non-African-American's to the lingering effects that are still plaguing MY PEOPLE. The simple fact that I can use my scholarly wisdom to draft this post shows that we are more than we receive credit for. I am my people. My people are who I am.

Interview: Viktoras Merkevicius

Hello Valued Readers!

We here at The Great Change have the joy of interviewing an astounding young man that is from Lithuania, a country located in Europe, bordering Poland, Belarus and Latvia. Welcome Viktoras Merkevicius. Mr. Merkevicius is currently in the states as a student-athlete at Rochester College in Michigan, where he is studying History. Vik, for short, manages his own blog located at viktorasblogas.blogspot.com. He is a great friend of mine and I value his input greatly. Viktoras and I had a great conversation below about his view and experience here in the U.S.A.

Enjoy!

The Great Change: Hey Vik! So first off, when did you initially come to the states and what brought you to the United States of America?

Viktoras: I came to U.S July 6th, 2011. The reason I came here was free education via a basketball scholarship. My first stop was Los Angeles, CA. 

The Great Change: As someone who was not born here, what do you see as our biggest problem, in your eyes?

Viktoras: In my opinion, the biggest problem that America has is their EGO and PRIDE in their own country. Every person has to have strong feelings and love for his native country, but Americans have too much of it. For example: The American flag. I was driving twenty miles from one spot to another, and purposely I counted how many flags will I see. I counted forty-nine flags on a twenty mile road. When people are using flags without any good reason, the flag looses its meaning. This is only one example. Another problem would be: Americans think that this country is the center of the world, but it is not. Our Earth spins around the Sun, not around the U.S.A.

The Great Change: What is the biggest similarity between the U.S.A. and Lithuania?

Viktoras: The most similar thing would be people's hospitality and willingness to help others. Both countries for the most part will help one without even knowing him/her.

The Great Change: What do you like most about the U.S.A. so far?

Viktoras: As I mentioned, I love people's hospitality. I have had a unique chance to live in different places in U.S.A. and see different faces of this country. I lived year in Los Angeles, a year in the Dallas area (TX), and now I am living by the Great Lakes. Every I place I have been, I have met people who have helped me along my journey and I am truly thankful for them. Also, ranch dressing. In Lithuania we do not have ranch dressing, and now I am just obsessed with it.  

The Great Change: How many American states have you visited and which state happens to be your favorite, why?

Viktoras: I have visited 13 states so far. My favorite state would be California because of the weather and all different fun things you can do there. My dreams is to visit Alaska one day. 

The Great Change: What is your favorite American memory so far?

Viktoras: I had many, many great memories from my living years in this country. Ode to your host Donovan I would have to say that the best thing we did in Texas with him was mixing "Menthos with Coca Cola". I remember we spent over 10$ to buy many bottles of this drinks and "menthos" candy. 

The Great Change: Lastly, if you were a Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States what would be your most important point to get across to our head of state, Barack Obama?

Viktoras: I know how American people are divided on this matter. Half of them love him and supports him, other half - don't. I wouldn't talk about any problems with him, because his life is filled with problems. I would just take to the bar and have a glass of good imported beer. 

#36

Your path is being built right before your feet, as you are walking.

A journey of a lifetime, that is a golden brick road that requires hiking.

The created path listens to your mind, body and soul and only takes you places of your liking.

It's not a race to the finish line, you get to enjoy each step, instead of flying.

We all get weary along this journey we call life, but some how we are still surviving.

Please do not lose focus on this path by becoming concerned with when you will be arriving.

For there is no destination, with each step you choose life over dying.

Even if you were to leave this vessel, there will always be a part of you, your soul, that is undying.

Far too often we find ourselves caught up in labeling and defining.

While life passes us by, live now! Do not wait until the planets are aligning.

The path is not complete yet, each brick will slide under your feet as you step, with perfect timing.

So walk the path you decide for your experience with confidence, until we reach the after glow...



I'll see you on the other side, where we will all be shining!

Guest Writer: Taylor Isom

Hello Valued Readers!

We here at The Great Change love to provide material that has meaning to a wide variety of audiences and will provide clairty on subjects that will further reader's experiences after taking in each post. I am honored to introduce our next guest writer that has embodied the essence of The Great Change's mission, Taylor Isom. Ms. Isom, age twenty-one, grew up in a small city called Saginaw, Texas, where she graduated from Saginaw High School. Here she played varsity soccer and served as a captain. After graduation she found herself at Dallas Baptist University where she is currently a senior pursuing a Masters in Kinesiology and minor in Management. Her walk with Christ as been challenged, blessed, and strengthened. She participates in the International Soccer Ministry at DBU twice a week and works part time in a physical therapy clinic as well as soccer skills training with Global Futbol Training.

Enjoy this enlightening piece below, I sure did!

What Does Your Heart Say?

Nobody knows for sure what exactly will happen at the judgment seat of Christ. I mean, we understand that God will “judge” us individually and then of course we will either go “up” or we will go “down”. But how does He judge us? If you’re not able to catch my drift, let’s just say you definitely want to be going up!

Some time ago I was eavesdropping on a conversation, total invasion of privacy, I know. However, I heard some talk about sin, the different levels of sin and their consequences when we get to the Judgment seat of Christ. I thought to myself, there are no different levels of sin when we get to the judgment seat of Christ. God does not see “this” sin to be greater than “that” sin. They are simply tally marks on a chalkboard. One mark could be a little white lie and the next could be a murder. Crazy, I know right? So why can we not strive to see things from God’s eyes? Are we not made to be Christ-like? Regardless of the sin that takes place, you’re already forgiven. Those who repent and confess their sins before God, well, they’re solid! The Lord is no hypocrite and he would never ask us to partake in anything He has not already. Luke 17:5 says “And if he sins against you seven times saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him” Therefore, when you sin and repent to Christ, do you really think He is going to turn His back on you?

What you do or do not do as far as your actions is not what He is judging. He is listening to the consciousness of your heart. 1 Corinthians 4:5 says this, “Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before The Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts…” It did not say the “actions” of; it said the “intentions”. The difference between those going to heaven and those who are not, is the intentions of their hearts. So many people do not understand what a simple concept this is. The armed robber who went to jail for holding eight hostages and murdering one is going to heaven. However, the woman at work who steals her coworker’s desserts everyday may not get so lucky. That’s just it though, it has nothing to do with luck. The robber might of gone to jail for his actions here on earth, but later he ran to Christ in repentance, confessed what he did was wrong with a genuine heart and asked for forgiveness. Unlike the woman at work who is just happy everyday she still has yet to get caught red handed. Acts 3:19 says “Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”

Say whaaaaaat!?!? You mean all I have to do is tell God what I did and I’m forgiven? Just like that? 

Well, Yeah actually, provided you mean it from the heart as oppose to lip service. With repentance comes forgiveness! I mean, why else would Jesus have died on the cross, for fun? Yeah, right!

Will you go up, or will you go down?

What does your heart say?

Guest Writer: Mawen Maywin

Hello Valued Readers!

The Great Change is joyously overwhelmed to introduce its latest guest writer, Mawen Maywin. Mawen is a poetic bibliophile who loves to write about his many passions. He manages the blog God University, located at goduniversity.blogspot.com. Mawen is the Vice President of the Black Students Association and a staff reporter and photographer for The Brand at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Also, Mr. Mawyin is a Computer Science Major with a minor in Buisness. He has an immense passion for people, music, technology and space

Enjoy his piece below!

The Human Imagination

“The best horror story is the one you make up within your own mind.”

― M. Maywin

Imagination - the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

Have you ever had an intense day dream or vision, and felt like you were actually living out that dream or vision for a little while? What if I told you that everything you imagine is real in another dimension somewhere?

As a kid, like many other kids I had a phobia of the dark, I was afraid to death of the dark. I would always either sleep with my face under the covers, or with some sort of light source on. But after the lights come on I realize that there was never really anything there to be afraid of except for my own imagination. As I got older I began to realize that fear was only a product of my own imagination and nothing else.

I cannot stress enough the importance of optimism which is the opposite of fear, optimism is actually using your imagination in a positive and non-fearful way.

When reading a book or a piece of writing without any illustrations, I find that the image or movie that is generated by my imagination is always better than any movie or illustration that someone could of created because it is my own unique interpretation of the text.

When watching a movie based on a book that I’ve previously read I am often shocked by the drastic differences between my imaginary illustration and the production.

We have created our own images of god and the devil using our imaginations, why do you think that god has no real identity and neither does the devil. No pun intended but the way I see it, the human Imagination is like a vibrational translation or interpretation of your true desires and fears.

For further reading from Mr. Maywin visit his blog at goduniversity.blogspot.com!

#33

When I first saw you cross my vision all I could hear was my heart sounding like a drum kit.

I was sure you were an angel, I was waiting for Gabriel to blow his trumpet.

I almost began to whistle at you but the sound wouldn't be worth it.

The woman more gratifying than the sound of a purified saxophone.

So majestic, I swear I thought I heard a guitar lightly in the background but was an arpeggione.

But nothing would prepare me for the impact of the greatest instrument, that could move all of the oceans.

Your human voice, so filled with emotion.

In my mind, body and soul there was a great commotion.

Like the crash of cymbals and percussion instruments.

And just like that...

...you were gone in an instance.

#32

I once was a being of the cosmos.

Until the world called upon my spirit to enter this reality as if it were all I had ever known.

It is probably better that way. Or I would surely be ready to go back home.

With each passing moon, I meditate in my room, alone.

Searching for the answer to save the world from itself.

I even stopped dedicating time to destroying my body to put useless awards on my shelf.

I lost my lust for a lavish lifestyle.

Because far too many are concerned with self pleasure, that they forgot that real joy is making someone else smile.

My generation of progressive thinkers is ever growing in number.

The Great Change of a generation, that began last summer.

Join the change and let's change the game.

I challenge YOU. To see yourself for the true spark of creation that you truly are.

Let's change the consciousness of this world and I'll see YOU in the stars.