Leaderboard

Thanks Troy. Cynique I've piste your link to my Facebook page.

I had a really good post written but my browser closed and I'm not writing that long post again, lol. Troy I know all of the things you've written above. The difference is you're looking at it with New York eyes. I'm looking at it with Memphis eyes and that is a huge difference. Where you see racism as a factor I don't. Memphis is almost 70% Black, Memphis' school system is run by Blacks. The city government is run by Blacks, the major companies in Memphis have Blacks in a high position. Memphis has more jobs available than people willing to work. Memphis has a great prison to employment program. Everything that you are saying hinders Black folks isn't here. So that leaves one option as to why Memphis is always on the First 48 and leads the country in murders and unemployment: Choice. You're saying people don't choose to be in the situation they are in. I'm saying that's bull because in Memphis the jobs are here. Anyone who tells you anything otherwise is full of shit. You can rent a house in Memphis for 600.00 a month. In the worst parts of town the rent is as low as 300-400. This means two people working at McDonald's can earn 7 bucks per hour and work 4 hours a day for 5 days per week and those two people can bring in a 1200 a month together. After taxes that's about 900. Is it enough to live? when your income is only 30% of your housing yes. That's Memphis. We have more warehouses and distribution here than anywhere else. As a matter of fact, the city has to bring people in to fill jobs because people here just don't want to work. Now are there factors in play that prevent some from getting to jobs? Maybe but once again everything you see as an obstruction is a choice. Education in Memphis is damn near free. Community College is paid for with Hope Scholarships. This is the real land of opportunity but racism is stopping people in a Black city controlled by Black folks? In the seventies we could sleep with our doors open in the 100 degree weather. Now we have one of the highest murder rates in the country. So you're saying when White people controlled the city we were better behaved and more educated? Now that we have had Black mayors and Black police chiefs we are out of control? Don't tell me about crack in the 80s and racism because at that time we still had a ton of Black controlled services in place (churches and temporary employment services, etc) but in the last 30 years we just regressed? in Memphis all you have to do is the right thing. That's a fact. There are people here who work for Fed Ex part time and Nike part time and for temp services part time and when you sit and break down the numbers in Memphis part time with two people is money that you can actually live on because unlike McDonalds these jobs pay 12-15 per hour with only a high school diploma. More important most of the warehouses here have tuition reimbursement. After living in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Memphis I can say without a doubt that big cities are definitely hindered by racism and social constructs: LA and SD. However, Memphis is an open book and there really aren't any excuses for failure here. There are just poor decisions.

DEADLY ARTIFACT: A Science Fiction Novel By Eugene Allen Wilson FINAL SCENE OF CHAPTER 35 They both laugh. He pulls a folded sheet of paper out of his right pants pocket and hands it to her. “What’s that?” She asks with surprise. “It’s a poem I wrote for you,” he replies with noticeable glee. “When did you start writing poetry?” “Just before I begin putting those love notes in your hallway locker. Until you confronted me, I was going to put this in your locker too. So, I just kept it. It’s kind of old, but I think you’ll like it.” She removes the paper from his hand and unfolds it. She notices that the paper is yellowed and wrinkled. She begins reading it. If I tell you how happy you make me, would you be my girl? Would you doubt me if I told you that you are my world? Could I be the man to dwell in the recesses of your mind? Is it true that what I feel for you will last for all time? I feel as though I am standing in the cold of night Knocking on your door, shivering with fright Even on a warm summer day, I could never know If you care for me, your love can make this so. A relationship can be fraught with uncertainties, I agree. I will strive to be open and honest. On this, you will see. Before you, I was a man searching aimlessly throughout the world. My search for happiness will end only if you become my girl. Your voice is truly a soothing melody. The warmth of your touch is my fondest wish. The beauty of your smile is such a joy to see. To walk beside you, will this ever be? What can I do to let you know what I truly mean? With heart in hand, I offer you my love. This is no dream. Your answer will determine where I stand in this world. Therefore, I ask you this fervent question. Will you? Will you please be my girl? After reading the poem, she looks up and sees the eagerness in his eyes. “Yes…I will be your girl.” For a few brief seconds, each exchanges an impassioned gaze with the other. From farther away, Vernon feels that the moment is right. He begins playing a 45-speed record. After turning up the volume loud, he opens the front door wide. Maurice and Eunice break out in a short laugh as they recognize Lamont Dozier’s highly popular and heartrending love ballad, Trying To Hold On To My Woman. As the song progresses, Maurice looks into Eunice’s eyes with one fervent desire. “May I please have this dance?” His voice is warm and inviting. “Yes,” is her reply. Maurice encircles his arms around her waist. She, in turn, encircles her arms around his neck. Closing their eyes, each buries their head into the other’s shoulder. Eagerly, Maurice takes this rare opportunity to slow dance with the only woman whom he desperately wants to hold on to for the rest of his life. In turn, Eunice feels secure in the arms of the only man she truly loves. For the remaining duration of the song, no one or nothing else is of any concern to either of them.