Teachers no longer role models--but stupid predators

A former male Chicago Public School elementary teacher is being held on $400,000 bond Thursday after being charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography;

A female Chicago high school teacher is charged with sexual assault and abuse for alleged sexual encounters with three students of the South Side charter school where she worked.
One of the boys was 15, and the other two were 16.

Since when is it acceptable for people who are entrusted to teach our kids, to also decide to have sex with them? These are supposedly educated, intelligent people. How utterly stupid of both of them.

A Homosexual H.S. in Chicago?

Recently I read the following blurb in a Chicago newspaper:
"On October 22, 2008, the Chicago Board of Education considered a controversial proposal that has been approved by Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan to “create a new high school campus to address the needs of the underserved population of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and their allies.”
All public schools receive state funds, so it is not just Chicagoans who will be subsidizing the Social Justice High School-Pride Campus. If the Chicago Board of Education votes in favor of this school, all Illinois taxpayers are going to be forced to support a school whose curricula and policies subvert a proper and traditional understanding of sexuality."

What are the implications and significance of this decision? Is this the best that educated professionals could come up with to help teens cope with confusion about sexual identity?
Why do we keep these folks in leadership?

No racism during Next Tuesday's Election? McCain, Gimme a break!

Republican presidential candidate John McCain says racism will play virtually no role when voters head to the polls next Tuesday because it will be trumped by the nation's economic problems.
In a transcript of an interview taped for broadcast Wednesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live,"

McCain said people will vote "for the best of reasons, not the worst of reasons." He said most people will vote based on who they want to lead the country.
Referring to people who might vote against Democrat Barack Obama because he is black, McCain added: "It would be a tiny, tiny, minority. Because people are hurting too much now. I mean, they're worried about staying in their homes, keeping their jobs."

Senator McCain, I respectfully ask you to "Gimme a Break," sir. Yes sir!

You don't really believe your statement yourself. During this election you did not campaign for the Black vote--period. Why did you feel it was okay not to? Were you worried about black people hanging onto their homes and jobs as well? I pray you don't think me presumptious but based on your immediate past actions, I surmise that you are a representative of those citizens just like you. Why do i say this? Cuz this is what your rallies reflect in the audience make-up. In actuality, your entire campaign strategy is built on the fear that many Americans have of change in leadership. Do not be dismayed, fearful or worried Senator--Black American people have never met together as a group to figure out how to pay Whites back for the things we've experienced in this country that have been less than ideal. Especially for slavery.

In light of this, please do not insult this country by not acknowledging that racism is alive and well--and headed to the polls.

Sarah's Glad Rags and All that Jazz. She Looks Good-- I Ain't No Hater

Sarah Palin was born with natural good looks. This is apparent. I could justify hating her for many things but certainly not for looking good. She's had 4 or 5 kids and still looks great; plus holding down a full-time, high profile gig and running for VeeP of the United States. Plus she's a wife.

Which brings me to this latest issue of her $150K campaign wardrobe. We are a curious people here in the United States. Democrat or Republican. It seems we just love to major in minors. These are 'costumes' people. They go with the persona that her people are trying to impress upon us during this campaign. They are not real life for her. Who cares about this, anyhow? I will be impressed when I see an all night prayer vigil protesting the vulgarly large contracts that professional athletes and entertainers command while school teachers are scrounging around for peanuts compared to the level of responsibility that their jobs entail.

Both candidates have raised vulgarly large amounts of money to travel around talking trash about each other in front of large audiences. This is not being protested--why not?

Leave Govenor Palin alone while she catches up on studying for the job she is applying for.

Jahiem Is 7 Years old Today! Hooray! Hooray!

My 3rd-born grandson, Jahiem Markel Williams is 7 years old today. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his mama, Renatta. He is a very smart and special little boy. Although we have spoken on the fone for 7 years, we have never met. Mainly because I live in Chicago.
I pray that he will have a wonderful birthday and be blessed with many more birthdays. I pray for his mother, Renatta, who has been an exemplary mommy for my grandson. And I pray for my first-born son, Ali-david, who is Jahiem's daddy.
I am so blessed.

Jennifer, I'm so sorry. Okay God, Where are you in This Mess?

Last Friday, October 23, 2008 as I was leaving the Daily Planet (the newspaper where I work), my publisher, Mary asked if I'd heard about some killings at Jennifer Hudson's mama's house that afternoon. Since it was only 4pm and the bodies weren't discovered until 3 pm or so, I hadn't been aware of

this news account and hadn't rec'd a police alert from the Chicago Police Department media dept.

In the 20 minutes or so that it took for me to walk home, the tv news accounts reported that Jennifer's mama and brother had been murdered in their home. To add insult to injury her nephew was missing. My heart immediately sank down as I reflected on several things: The fact that I am a native of the Englewood community as is Jennifer and family; and that Jennifer had just been home on the previous Saturday to accept an award from the Chicago Film Festival on program with Sidney Poitier; and that she is starring in a film that is currently running in theatres all over the country. Until Friday, Jennifer was on top of the world. Never happier, and involved in a new love affair and a life that is an 'urban fairytale'. In fact, she even has a CD project thats sweeping the charts.

This morning as I was posting this blog, the Chicago police found a white SUV with the body of a little boy inside. This is awful! Jennifer, I'm so sorry.

I have just one question for the highest authority that I know: "Okay God, where are you in this mess?" This is a very real question and I ask in all my humaness. Cuz I can't make heads or tails out of how or why this occurred. I'm simply wondern...

Did God close one of His eyes and while he had His head turned this crazy thing happened?

Are YOU in any of the details of this? Are you there with Jennifer and her family? Will she need to love and forgive whoever did these things?

Why did YOU allow this, God? Whose fault is this? Is there someone else to blame for this?

Since YOU are all-wise and all-knowing, should this be considered a blessing, too?

I'm crying out hurt and confused for my sister and her family. Can you explain in terms that my heart and mind can grasp?

Your daughter,

Vanessa (the brown skinned fluffy one--with the big eyes).

DreamGirl & Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson is experiencing a Nightmare

Academy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson is offering $100,000 for the safe return of her seven-year-old nephew, Julian King. The child remained missing as of Sunday, two days after the bodies of Jennifer’s mother and brother were found in the mother’s home on Chicago’s South Side.
Jennifer’s publicist Lisa Kasteler released a statement saying:
“Jennifer Hudson and her family are offering a reward of $100,000 for the safe return of her nephew Julian King who has been missing since Friday, October 24th. We ask that all inquiries be directed to the Chicago Police Department, Area 1 Detective Division at 312/747-8380. Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian."
The Chicago Sun-Times reports autopsies showed that Jennifer’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother, Julian, 29, died of gunshot wounds. Jennifer, 27, pictured here with her mother at the Governor's Ball following her Best Supporting Actress win at the 2007 Oscars, flew home when she heard the devastating news and identified the bodies, TMZ reports.
William Balfour, who is Julian’s stepfather and married to Jennifer’s sister Julia, is being held for parole violations and not for the double murders, according to the Sun-Times. The newspaper says that up until May William lived at the house where the murders occurred and that state records show that he was paroled in 2006 after convictions for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and receiving stolen property. He spent nearly seven years in prison, according to the Sun-Times. Reports quote William’s mother as saying her son and Julia, Jennifer’s sister, have been married around two years but are estranged.
Darnell watched Julian while Julia worked as a bus driver during the day. Julian had been at his grandmother's house on Friday and the two were, Julia said, "extremely close," People reports.
"I worked, so he was always with her, day in and day out," she said. "She did everything for him. She got him ready for school. She got him ready for bed."
Julia made a public plea for the return of her son on Saturday.
"I don't care who you are, just let the baby go," Julia, 31, accompanied by Julian’s father Greg King, said at a press conference at Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church on the South Side.”I just want my son. He don't deserve this."
Jennifer’s MySpace page was updated on Saturday with recent photos of Julian and this note:
Thank you all for your prayers and your calls. Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely. If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately. Here is a picture of Julian and what he was last seen wearing. Once again thank you all for being there for us through this tough time.
Sincerely,The Hudson Family

Life in the Fastlane--Surely make You lose yo Mind...

I'm baaaack! It's been a minute since I blogged but so much has been happenin' so quickly that I really haven't had an opportunity. Since I'm a news journalist and have definitely written my share of news--my blogs suffers. But because my thoughts have been so vast, I'm gonna post a bunch of reflections to bring you up to date with a sistah.
Hold onto your hats...

"It is the night, my body's weak; I'm on the run no time to sleep.
I've got to ride, ride like the wind to be free again.
And I've got such a long way to go--to make it to the borders of Mexico
So I'll ride like the wind--ride like the wind..."

Pastor Sylvester Williams: Portrait of a Spiritual Leader

My pastor, Rev. Dr. Sylvester Williams, Sr., recently celebrated his "golden birthday." Offiially "he's grown now." (That's what I always say whenever anybody I love turns 50.)
A native of Alabama, he became my pastor 6 years ago, when my former pastor, Rev. Dr. Henry M. Williamson Sr. became Bishop and the Presiding Prelate of the 9th District, and moved away to California.

He's a cool person and is beloved by our congregation. He uses a very practical approach to ministry and preaches sermons that could be considered motivational. He's not into condemnation and eschews anything that might "bring a person down." He is humble and respectful. He is committed and faithful to our Methodist tradition. He treats children and seniors as the special citizens that they are.

He loves his family and his friends. he is a dutiful son, brother and uncle. He is a husband and father of two adult daughters and a son.
He loves to eat at good restaurants and appreciates unique atmospheres and service. He also loves home cooked foods and is an excellent cook. He loves music and is fond of the blues. He likes sports and doing regular guy stuff.
The church celebrated his birthday this past Sunday. His birthday was October 11th. I wasn't there--although I emailed him a birthday greeting. Even that didn't seem enough to me so I'm sending this sentiment to cyberspace for eternity.
Happy Birthday, Pastor Williams.

You have been a blessing in my life and I have grown under your spiritual leadership. You encourage me to live right--but not cause man is watching. May God bless you with the desires of your heart.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
The Churchlady