Alexanders, The Greats

"I was in my senior year of college on my 17th day when I got my draft notice." -- Harvey Alexander

Last night I had the opportunity of a lifetime (I tend to have a lot of those. God must be planning great things for me). And the best part is, it was unintentional.

This past week was my first week working at Target. I love it but I missed Desireè so we decided that I would come visit her this weekend. Friday evening after work, I went to the Amtrak station to catch a train to Charlotte, only to find that the train that was scheduled to leave at 6:30 PM had been pushed back to 8:20 PM. So I went home, got out of my work clothes, hopped in the shower, and threw on some relaxed jeans, my Manhattan Metro Map tee, and my Mets fitted baseball cap. Me dressing like that is a rarity but who cares? No one will be at the train station, right? Wrong.

As I am sitting on the bench at the depot, I see an elderly couple come in. They are both fair-skinned but visibly African-American. I smile as usual but look back down at my iPod so as not to draw any extra attention to myself or my less than impressive appearance*. But, for some reason, after about 5 minutes, the gentleman stood up and came to greet me. He asked "Have you ever heard of the Tuskegee Airmen?" I wanted to say "Yes! That's one of my favorite movies. I used to watch it all the time. My parents still have my copy of it back in Durham. I even have a Tuskegee Airmen tee shirt at my apartment," but I kept it simple and just said "Yes sir, I have." He said, "Well I am one of them," and handed me a business card with his name, rank in the army, and a picture of him in his uniform. I lie to you not, my eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. For those of you who don't know, I have a degree in Af.-Am. Studies and my appreciation for the material goes much deeper than just my college experience. I have been a Black History enthusiast since I could read so I was going to milk this opportunity for all I could.

I moved to the side of the bench that Mr. Harvey Alexander and his wife were sitting on and we began talking. He told me stories about his days in college and WWII and the depression and his battles with segregation in the United States Air Force as well as those he had as a private citizen. Every so often Mrs. Alexander would chime in with details.

They both started school at Fisk. That started a whole new conversation because my mentor and role model, the late world-renowned historian Brother Dr. John Hope Franklin, is a Fisk Graduate. I asked the Alexanders if they knew him and Mrs. Alexander said that Dr. Franklin was a close friend of her family's and had stayed with them on numerous occasions. He was like her older brother during his college years. I then began to rattle off names of well-known persons who were around the Alexander's age that I had personal relationships with and they knew almost everyone I mentioned. Mrs. Alexander kept saying "It's such a small world."

Mrs. Alexander then asked for my story and I gave her a brief biography. She asked how UNCG had treated me and I told her I enjoyed it and that I had had a number of leadership roles on the campus and I mentioned that I had been president of my fraternity. Mr. Alexander asked, "What fraternity is that?" I responded, "Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated." He said, "The only fraternity." Once again, my eyes lit up. "You're an Alpha?" The whole time we talked, I knew that, if this man was Greek, he had to be an Alpha but I am not one to challenge gentlemen who are so much older than me because, after a certain age you get forgetful and I would hate to disrespect an old brother.

He had "gone over" at Fisk in 1941. I was asking him how he felt about the nuances of today and he told me that the masks and the line names were non-existent but that he has no problem with the changes as long as we are still serving and leading in the right way.

I was showing Bro. and Mrs. Alexander pictures of my probate on my iPod and scrolled across one of Desireè and me. Mrs. Alexander said we looked nice and somehow it came up that Desireè is a Delta. "He just keeps getting it right Harvey." "You're a Delta? My mom is a Delta as well." "Well you've got a good mother and a good girlfriend." They are one year apart from one another in age (like Desireè and I are). Mrs. Alexander said "Having so much in common with young people is refreshing."

We then began discussing my career plans and their daughter, who was also waiting with them at the train station, said she wants to see me on the cover of Black Enterprise one day. I said, "I want to see that too."

Soon after, the train came. I can honestly say though, for once, Amtrak's mistake was to my benefit. Maybe in 70 years, I will be talking to a young brother like myself, giving him words of encouragement with a strong, smart, beautiful lady beside me, helping remember the things that have slipped my mind.






*One thing I hate more than anything is looking like a young man who isn't going anywhere in front of elderly people, black or white. It reinforces the preconceived notion that many of those in our generation are going to fail. Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Need I Say More?

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Beauty In Its Truest Form

Beauty is not in the eyes of the beholder but instead in the hands of the Creator.  Beauty is not just found in the aesthetically pleasing smile, the arousing physique, the seductive eyes or the nice personality.  Beauty in its truest form is a combination of each of those things, but even moreso, true beauty is found in the depth of one's spirituality.  A deep spirit is what allows one to think and converse on a higher plane. It is what drives ambition.  It breeds confidence and wisdom.

Some may read this and say "I know people who are confident or ambitious or great conversationalists who have no connection with a higher power."  And to those individuals, I say "There are plenty of people who do not like America and who still reap the benefits of the welfare system."  Just because some people don't have the relationship with God that He wants doesn't mean He has taken away the gifts He has given.  It just means He hopes you will come to Him eventually so he can polish them and add to them.

My girlfriend is beautiful on all the basic levels that make someone attractive.  But more importantly, seeing "Pray" on her daily To Do List is a reminder that I have a beautiful woman.  God doesn't make anyone who doesn't have the potential to be.  Question is, will we stretch to meet our potential or settle for an unpolished gift or two?


Sent from my iPod

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Do The R(esponsible)ight Thing

"See the difference between me and you is that I just hit rock bottom. After this I don't have a choice. I got people to provide for, promises I've made, goals to meet." -- Drake

Living paycheck to paycheck is hard when you don't have a paycheck coming in. Before I got offered this Target offer, I was a few days away from beginning to pack my bags to move back to Durham. You can't pay your rent without a job. You can't eat without a job. Honestly, it is difficult to have fun without a job because while you're out having fun, you're thinking that you could be spending that time looking for a job.

I know all too well what being financially unstable can do to a family. I have also seen the benefits that stability offers. I am determined to take the opportunity that I've been given and change the lives of my future kids and wife, my siblings, and my parents. Too many people need me to make it. Based on the current national debt and the continual frivolous spending that we Americans do, m y forecast is that by the time my children become college-aged, student loans will not be an option. Shoot, there probably won't even be that many scholarships. I have to be prepared to put them through college. I don't expect to do it without their mothers' help but I do want both of us to be stable enough to do it, if need be.

All this means that, when budgeting, I have to cut down on my fun. I had 5 years of college that I thoroughly enjoyed. I partied. I had a few drinks. I have the memories to remind me. Now I have to make sure the next generation of kids can do the same. Do the responsible thing; think about the future.

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Brace Yourself... This is Extreme

I know what America needs to do to get out of this deficit: RAISE TAXES!

I don't mean a percent or two.  I mean a 5-15% increase across the board (excluding those legitimately on welfare).  I know it isn't a popular stance and it won't happen but it makes sense.  Hear me out (well I guess I should say "Read me out").

We have too much imaginary disposable income.  In actuality, we are a nation of slaves.  We are working to pay taxes on an ever increasing national debt.  All this money we are borrowing is decreasing the value of the dollar (which, by the way are just printed promissory notes that have no real value outside of that which we as a nation place on them).  We buy iPods like the one I am blogging from for 200+.  If every iPod, iPad, and Mac book owner in America gave the $200 that the cheapest of those three items costs toward the national debt, we would be in $10,000,000,000 less debt, which is better than the -$14,000,000,000,000 we are sitting at right now.  Or think about how much gas we waste driving around trying to decide where to go instead of pulling over to regroup.  We purchase new mobile "devices" (can't just own a cellular phone anymore) every 6 months to keep up with the Joneses.  Parents, does your middle schooler really need that iPhone you got her to increase her  productivity?

Come on.  Let's really look at ourselves.  I hosted a party at the beginning of last year.  My roommate and I spent $200 on the party for our guests' enjoyment.  Why?  Now I look back and I don't know.  And  this is how many Americans live.  We utilize money to buy dumb things and then charge the things we want later on and cannot afford.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has nothing to do with a 42" flat screen on the wall of student housing.  But you know what?  My apartment complex is putting them in so they can compete.  This is sad but it's America.  We look so happy but one day we will pay for it.  I'd rather the government raise taxes now so that I can get used to not having than to do it when it's really going to hurt.


Sent from my iPod

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Up For The Challenge

I just got out of school on May 6, 2011. For 65 days, I did very little but pray, read, workout, apply for jobs and interview. In all actuality, my interviews began 45 days into this period. Two of the three companies I interviewed with were companies that other people put me in touch with and that I filled out no preliminary application for. But every day I was filling out anywhere from 10-25 job applications online. It was discouraging. Very few people really knew the detrimental impact that not working would have had on my future. I would have had to move back to my hometown (Durham), lived with my parents, and for all intents and purposes, as driven as I am, I likely would have remained stagnant for a period of time. That was not the situation I needed to be in.

Thankfully, God answers prayers. I have received a job offer. I will be earning a salary that will allow me to establish both financial stability and wealth. I have one of my fraternity brothers who is a professional financial advisor helping me properly budget, manage and invest my money. The second I get my first check from my new company, every cent in it will have already been properly spent, saved, and invested.

Though the road may not have been as long as some, I spent those 65 days working harder than most so that I would not end up putting myself in a position that would be counterproductive in my quest to meet my goals in life. And to everyone who is still working to get a job, do so diligently. Something is going to come from your hard work.

A special thanks goes out to Brittany Butler, Stevan Dozier, Desireè Bell, James Hart, Jakiya Brown and Yivkarah Young for helping me get the position, each in your own capacity. Now I just have to go in there, work hard, and let the company know that I am one of the greatest assets to their success in the history of the company. I'm up for the challenge though.

Sent from my iPod

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

The "I wish an N-word would" Complex

"(W)hen its dead let it go, put it in a casket and don’t dig it back up" -- Fabolous

I often see blacks who are well-off try to act a certain way to maintain a manufactured sense of authenticity. I wonder why this is necessary. If you have never fought, why try to walk around being loud saying what you will do? I really don't understand it. Is it the music that has people believing that things are as simple as saying a word? Because the majority of these rappers have entourages that do their fighting for them.

So when people say "I wish a ninja would" (no autocorrect), I want to ask, "And what if a ninja does?" Most people have no response. And I am not saying that violence should be encouraged. But even this facade of violence and coldheartedness among middle and upper-class blacks puts our youth in a mindset that, no matter how successful I am, I have to maintain this hard exterior, which ultimately perpetuates the stereotypes that America is working to destroy.

So, my middle-class ladies, next time you hear a song and you want to act like you have an attitude about all the hardships you have endured and now you're at the top, remember that daddy just paid for your new car or topped off your tank. And to my upper-class brothers, next time you want to say "I wish a ninja would bump into me one more time," don't forget that you're going back to your private high school next week to play a round of golf because your dad and the headmaster are friends.

Keep it real. Really real.


Sent from my iPod
Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Independence Day Through My Eyes

 “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim…” -- Frederick Douglass*

Some people wonder why all Americans don't feel as if they have as much to celebrate on the 4th of July.  Well, let's look at it this way - it is a day that we are supposed to celebrate our ancestors and the role they played during this period in history.  Whereas many of my countrymen's forefathers were fighting for their freedom, they were simultaneously fighting for my forefathers to remain in bondage and for my foremothers to be raped by their forefathers.  How can I celebrate such a day when, had America remained a British colony, the slave trade would have ended decades earlier, all other things constant?  It is not that I hate America at all nor do I wish it any harm.  I love my country and I take ownership over it, even if all of its decisions have not been made with my best interest at heart. That is what it means to be a part of a democratic society. The past is the past and, though it cannot be changed, it must be understood.


This post does not speak to the sentiments of all blacks, possibly to none at all.  I only speak for myself.  Look at our shared history in this nation through my eyes.

Race is real.  Learn from it instead of running from it.

*Source: Brandon Jackson
Sent from my iPod
Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Love > Money. Love + Money = A Happy Family

Don't let go of love for success. Force the two to coexist. As I sit here and think about the fact that my heart is moving for work and I am one interview from getting a well-paid job, I realize that we both have to make the best decisions for our futures as well as our future. She is apartment hunting right now. No longer will our apartments be on the same block and it's kind of messing with me because she means a lot to me but at the same time, we pledged. We know how to fight for what we want. If it's meant to be, we will make it and He will make it happen. Trust, dedication, sacrifice and commitment are the only place my heart is right now.

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown