Jun 26 2009
From Dan Majors' obituary of Michael Jackson:
Sean Jones, a professor of jazz studies at Duquesne University, last night said that Mr. Jackson represented two things.
"First," he said, "was the constant pursuit of perfection. He made
sure that every last thing that he ever did was polished and pristine.
The result of that work is the greatest selling pop album that was ever
made. That's because of his unbelievable work ethic.
"And, second, his music spoke to the core of our humanity. Our
spirituality, our need for love, our physicality, our emotions, and our
need to bring people together. He found something that everyone could
relate to. His music was all about love. He didn't play music for a
race. He played music for people."
A comment on Mr. Jones' first point: there's talent, and then there's plain old hard work. Without the latter, the former doesn't matter.
Here's hoping that MJ's work ethic becomes a large part of his legacy.
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Jun 26 2009
Tomorrow, the Brother 2 Brother Leadership Forum will celebrate the third annual Day of Black Male Solidarity. This year's event will be dedicated to the life and memory of Dr. Dawud Akbar, who passed away April 26.
The event will be held at the Faison Arts Academy, 7430 Tioga Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the first Day of Black Male Solidarity had the character of a rally, tomorrow will offer a series of workshops under the overall heading "Reclaiming Black Manhood." Workshop topics will include, leadership development and rites of passage, fatherhood, and wealth building, among others.
The event is free and open to the public. Men are encouraged to bring their sons or other young boys with them. For more info, call (412) 371-3689.
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Jun 26 2009
When I left work yesterday, at about 5:30, all seemed normal.
When I got home, my tenant told me that the world had changed.
Not in so many words. With an astonished look on his face, he started talking about how quickly the news about Michael Jackson had changed, and I needed for him to slow down and back up.
"He's dead."
Then it was my turn to be astonished. Incredulous may be the better word. Acknowledging the fact, but not accepting the reality.
I had to run an errand after dinner. I tuned my car radio to a station that was playing MJ songs. Kept thinking, he was 50, I'm 57; I can't waste time.
Later, my wife tuned the TV to BET, offering a marathon of MJ videos. I canceled my workout to watch "Thriller." Samuel L. Jackson echoed what I had always believed, that "Thriller" changed the game when it came to music videos; that Michael Jackson elevated the music video to an art form. In fact, I have long suspected that "Thriller," and the videos that followed, may have had a larger impact than his music itself.
Janet and I didn't talk much; I couldn't think of much to say. Kept thinking, will I ever do anything as well as he did his thing?
Michael Jackson's funeral will, of course, be huge. I wonder if anyone local will hold any sort of memorial event?
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Jun 26 2009
A couple of months ago, I submitted a project outline to the Save Race Street Committee. They liked it and agreed that we should pursue it.
I have since circulated the outline to a bunch of other folks, and received a lot of positive feedback, including offers of help.
Good thing, because the project won't happen without a lot of help.
The project is called the Race Street Project. Here's the project description:
The Race Street Project is a community-based initiative to restore and enhance the built environment of Race Street, a five-block long street in the Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh, and to document the process in ways that allow interested parties to learn from the experience.
And here's the outline, which will change and grow.
I'll keep you folks informed about our progress, regress, digress, transgress and whatever else happens along the way.
All comments/questions are welcome.
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Jun 25 2009
I was just on the phone with Kiva Fisher-Green, and she said along the way, "At the end of the day, it's the people in the community, I believe, that's gonna turn things around."
She hastened to add that people who do not live in the community, but who work in the community in some fashion, can certainly help. But the residents have first and final responsibility for the community.
Just thought I'd share.
What do you think?
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Jun 16 2009
I put $1,000 into my Dwelling House account today.
A few minutes ago, I received a forwarded email announcing a meeting to be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the Hill House, 1835 Centre Ave. Longtime activists Rick Adams and Tim Stevens appear to be the organizers of the gathering, at which Dwelling House CEO John Haines will be present, "to discuss a community mobilization campaign."
"Bring
your check books," the email says, "because after the meeting
those of us who are able will go down to Dwelling House and put deposits in our
existing accounts or open new ones."
Here's hoping many people show up for the event; but here's hoping also that many others who don't, go ahead and make deposits anyway. After all, $1 million is only 1,000 x $1,000 - or 10,000 x $100. Not everyone has $1,000; not everyone has $100. But I'm betting my $1,000 that between us, we have enough. We can do this. Let's just go ahead and get it done.
Don't have an account yet? Start here.
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Jun 15 2009
Dwelling House Savings and Loan is in danger of being shut down by the federal agency that regulates S&Ls.
The savings and loan needs $1 million in new money by June 30 to meet the Office of Thrift Supervision's requirements. If that doesn't happen, it could be shut down or sold.
More than one observer has compared Robert R. Lavelle to the character of George Bailey in the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." Like George Bailey, Mr. Lavelle has led a financial institution that has, for decades, made mortgage loans to borrowers whom other lenders would deny, thereby helping those borrowers to become homeowners. That has been Dwelling House's mission, to increase homeownership among those who would otherwise be denied.
Now, also like George Bailey and the Bailey Savings and Loan, Mr. Lavelle and Dwelling House have been victimized by theft on a scale that threatens the institution's survival.
But the closure or sale of Dwelling House is by no means a foregone conclusion. In the movie, the savings and loan was saved by friends and neighbors who chipped in to help when they learned about the trouble.
And here let us make some important distinctions. Every one who chipped in did so freely, from his or her own pocket or purse. The money that saved Bailey Savings and Loan was not taxpayer money. Furthermore, the giving of that money was a matter, not simply of helping, but of repaying. The people who blessed George Bailey with that basket of cash were people who had been blessed by him over the decades.
Those of us who have been blessed by Robert R. Lavelle and Dwelling House can save Dwelling House, just as those who had been blessed by George Bailey saved the Bailey Savings and Loan (I say "us" because I have worked at both Dwelling House and Lavelle Real Estate, Inc. and have considered Mr. Lavelle a good friend for upwards of 20 years).
How can we save Dwelling House? Depends on who we are. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're delinquent, we can come current, or make a payment to reduce our delinquency. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're current, we can pay ahead according to our ability. If we have an savings account with Dwelling House (I'm in this group), we can make a deposit. If we don't have an account, we can open one.
Please note that I am talking about deposits, not about gifts. The way for us to save Dwelling House is by doing business with Dwelling House.
Why should we bother? Because if we don't, somebody we know may find it a lot harder to buy a house next year, or five years from now, or ten years from now. The U.S. Census Bureau says that in 2000, the homeownership rate for white Americans was 71 percent, while for blacks it was 46 percent. We need more Dwelling Houses; we cannot afford to lose the one we have.
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