My Summer Reading Challenge

If you've visited maggiereads, you'll know she has challenged us to read some southern authors this summer. I don't know if I have an interest in reading southern authors in particular, but it did make me think about challenging myself to read some of the classics by African American authors. I really started thinking about it as I catalogued a few books by W.E.B. Dubois and James Baldwin. I did a google search to find out what is considered classic literature by African American authors and found a wide range of material. After comparing lists, I've narrowed my choices down and hopefully someone will join me.

My choices include:


Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois

Race Matters by Cornel West

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington


Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

These I've already read, but I think I will revisit:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Native Son by Richard Wright

I realize my list is a small fraction of material considered as classics, but hey, I only have the summer to do all of this reading. I think it's a pretty ambitious list and I think Maggie will be happy to see I've chosen a few Southern authors.

Country, ghetto...whatever!

Last night, I was on the phone with a friend who lives in a large midwestern city and I told him that if it hadn't been raining I was going to mow my grass. He then asked what I meant by mow. I told him again and he just acted like he'd never heard that expression before and I told him mow and cut the grass are the same thing. He asked why I just didn't say cut the grass, why would I when mow in one word means the same as cut the grass in three? I told him I use a lawn mower, so mow is the verb of what I'm doing with it. He just tsked and added it to his list of things that he considered makes me a country, uninformed woman.

Lately, this guy has been really getting under my skin with his insinuations that because I come from a small town in Arkansas that I am stupid. I have known this guy for over 25 years. He, his sister and brother would spend every summer with their grandparents who lived down the street from my family. In fact, we had a mutual fondness for each other, but my mom wasn't having it, so he got passed around by all the other girls in town. Time passed and we grew apart, but circumstances allowed us to be reunited about three years ago. It was during Thanksgiving 2003, we were both in town for Thanksgiving and bumped into each other. We talked for hours and exchanged phone numbers. Our relationship and friendship grew and at one point I thought maybe he was the one. I ignored all of his comments regarding my ignorance about stuff. If I didn't understand something, he just dismissed as being stupid because I come from a small town. He just couldn't understand why people would want to live in a small town. I informed him that some people like small town life and if they want something to do, they could always drive to a nearby larger city. He would comment on the fact that people had to drive to nearby towns for work, but think about it, in larger cities, a drive across town can take just as long. I've lived in large cities and small towns and honestly, I prefer small town life. I guess if I'd spent my entire life in a large city, I'd probably prefer it over the small town.

Anyway, I've tried to explain to this guy that small city does not equate stupid. I realize he is not alone in his thinking. The media portrays people from the South as stupid, rednecks and illiterate. There are thousands of brilliant people who hail from the South. As a reader, I think of Alice Walker, Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris and Richard Wright. I also don't think I am stupid or dumb by any means. I don't equate knowing the lastest trends or gossip or even the latest slang terms and being stupid. If I happen to talk loud, he accuses me of being county. I spent two weeks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last year and had the pleasure of attending a barbecue on the 4th of July. The family who hosted the event was so friendly, I laughed and told my cousin, I felt like I was in Montrose! So I don't think that where you lives makes a person, it is what is on the inside. I had to laugh during the same conversation when I asked him if he likes asparagus and he said he doesn't know what it is!

Dear Mr. Imus...

I'm writing this letter to let you know how I feel about your remarks. I am an African American woman with two daughters. My first thoughts were that you called someone's daughter, sister and perhaps mother a nappyheaded ho. I was angry and saddened, but not surprised. We do live in a world where racism exists...always has, always will. I know your show insults and slams people, but usually they are well known and have done something deserving, these young ladies did nothing but play hard and make it to the championship game, not deserving of being called nappy headed hos. I don't think I equate your comments with being a racist, I think you just got caught up in the hype and the heat of the moment. I hear black people make demeaning comments about people of other races, but I wouldn't label them racist. I think racism is seen in actions, not words.

My next thoughts then went to why you would call them such. Where in the world would you, a middle aged White man hear such words? I then had to get angy with the African American community. We often degrade and call each other demeaning names. Our comedians and musicians lace their shows and songs with words such as hos, tricks, and *itches, referring to Black women. I then asked myself, why do we as a community just let that pass, but the minute a White person uses such expressions we get angry. I guess it's the same as when I talk about my kids, mother, sister, or father, but no one else better not say one negative word or I'll defend them. But that doesn't make it right does it?

So as I watch the media make a circus out of this, I feel saddened. I'm sad because instead of using this to talk about racism and how it is a taught behavior, there are people calling for your firing. How is that going to help? It will just breed more contempt and hatred. People are saying that racism should not be tolerated in any workplace, again, I say, wake up. Firing one person is not going to change things. We have to change the way people think and their perceptions. I'm saddened because Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are using this as a publicity stint instead of addressing the real issues. We need to be a proactive people and deal with our own issues, instead of being reactive. We wait until something happens or someone says something to start addressing issues. We need real leaders who aren't afraid to stand up to ANYONE, even our own people to bring change. Jackson and Sharpton do not speak for me. You have apologized and the Rutgers women's basketball team has agreed to meet with you so they can understand why you said those things. If they can move on, so can we. Isn't life about forgiveness? I mean don't both Sharpton and Jackson have the Reverend title? I'm sad because these women should be celebrating their accomplishments, but now have to deal with the media, and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

So I hope you've learned something from this and I hope that this will help people. I try to base my feelings on people individually, not as a group. This incident has helped me to remember to do so.

He's playing basketball!

LB has redeemed himself. The week before Spring Break, the PE teacher/coach sent a note home informing parents that the city basketball league would have tryouts the week of Spring Break. I was a bit disappointed because LB loves b-ball and would miss the tryouts due to our trip to AR. He didn't say much about it, afterall, he was looking forward to riding his bike and playing. We had a great Spring Break and returned home to find that he would still be able to try out.

Tryouts were held March 31st due to the low turnout during Spring Break. The night before LB reminded me several times the time would be 10:00 am. He even suggested I write myself a note so that I wouldn't forget. Oh yeah, he also asked me to wake him up at 9:00 so he could "get ready." As I watched him prepare, he reminded me of myself. I hate surprises, so I always try to have everything laid out the night before. LB studied his clothes for about thirty minutes, finally deciding on red shirts, a red Nike t-shirt, long white socks and his new Reeboks. He also took his bath and went to bed at 10:00. For those of you who know LB, 10:00 is early, especially on the weekend.

The next day he was up at 7:30 am! I told him he had over two hours, so he watched tv, had breakfast and rushed us out the house. The tryouts were pretty interesting. Skills ranged from great to those who couldn't dribble/shoot. LB was somewhere in the middle. The thing with LB is that whatever he does, he always gives 100% and watching him work so hard made me proud. I was cheering him on from the bleachers. I wonder what I'm going to do when he actually plays in a game?!

So Coach C told the boys to write down their phone numbers and he would call them if they made the team. He told the boys not to ask him about it at school, he would call. As the days passed this week, we waited for the call and LB told me that if he didn't make it, he would be okay. He knows that our summers are filled with days in AR and OKC and he is looking forward to being reunited with his dad.

Today I went to pick LB up from school and I saw Coach C. He told me that LB made the team! LB just smiled and wanted to call his dad with the good news. He then told me he was ready for his haircut!

The Biggest Loser

In an effort to promote wellness and health, NWCC has challenged faculty and staff with its version of The Biggest Loser. The Biggest Loser airs on NBC and is actually the only reality program that I enjoy. I guess it's because the contestants are actually doing something that is good for them. Contestants are taught that weight loss and good health is not about a life of diets, but a lifestyle. There are usually two teams and each week contestants weigh in and the team with highest percentage of weigh loss doesn't have to vote a member off-- that's for the losing team. To hear the contestants talk about their struggles and to watch weekly as they tranform is so inspiring. I encourage anyone who is lacking the motivation to get started to watch this program the next time it airs.

So, NWCC fitness instructor, MW came up with his version for faculty and staff. Different departments on campus have teams of four that are competing. The competiton began on March 1st with everyone weighing in. As I looked at my weight, I was stunned, what in the world have I been eating?! At that time we were also given a pedometer so we would know how many steps we take daily. 10,000 steps to maintain current weight, 12,000 for weight loss. For those of you who think you walk a lot during the day, I encourage you to buy a pedometer, you'll be amazed at how little you actually walk. The first two days of walking consisted of about 6000 steps. Having the pedometer has been a big motivator, I try to walk at least 10,000, aiming for 12,000 four times a week.

So, I know you're wondering, how does this program work? Well, as I mentioned, everyone weighed in the first day. Weights were recorded and pedometers given. We get one point for taking at least 12,000 steps, the maximum being four points per week. We get two points for having our blood pressure checked every two weeks, and we get one point for each pound lost. I am on the Lean, Mean Library Team and our team leader, MLL, is married to a coach, so we all know what that means-- win or die! She walks on Tuesdays and Thursday at 12:30 and the first time I joined her, I thought I was going to die! I lost three pounds that week, I'm sure it was sweated off trying to keep up with her! Since then, I have upped my speed so that I won't appear to be a wimp when I walk with her and RL, another team member. It's a challenge to walk 12,000 four times a week, but when I do, it's such an amazing accomplishment.

We were trying to monitor our weight weekly because after I lost those three pounds the first week, I was pumped! The second week, I lost two more pounds and I was ecstatic and began to watch portion sizes and increase my steps. The third week, I enter the weight room to find that the scale is gone...and it's has yet to be returned. Hopefully by the time it's returned, I will have lost ten pounds. The blood pressure checks have been good. The first week, I was a little high, but I'm sure it was due to stress. The nurse assured me that since I was walking and watching portions it would go down and the next week, it was much better. That, coupled with the weight loss have been such a motivator for me. I see an increase in my energy and that is what all single parents need...more energy!

So, we are currently in week five-- the half way mark and I feel great. I was informed that there will be individual and team prizes, so my interest has really piqued. We weigh in on May 10th, so I'm going into overdrive now!