Peace be upon you

Anyone that has lived, or spent an extended amount of time "up north", Philly, NYC, Newark, etc., has seen the brothers of the N.O.I. They walk for miles calling out "FINAL CALL" to the masses with their newspapers in one hand, a fresh bean pie in the other, sporting a crisp cut and a bow-tie.
 

Courtesy of Reformed Blacks of America

But many don't know, nor understand, what the N.O.I. is, and why people choose to join their organization. I can only give my opinion in the latter matter, so please take it as just that, MY OPINION.


What is the N.O.I.?


The N.O.I. is an acronym for the Nation of Islam. A religious organization, based off of Islam and the teachings of a man named Master W. Fard Muhammad.


Courtesy of the Final Call

Excerpt from the Nation of Islam's website:

On July the Fourth, the day of America's Independence celebration, He [Master W. Fard Muhammad] announced the beginning of His mission which was to restore and to resurrect His lost and found people, who were identified as the original members of the Tribe of Shabazz from the Lost Nation of Asia. The lost people of the original nation of African descent, were captured, exploited, and dehumanized to serve as servitude slaves of America for over three centuries. His mission was to teach the downtrodden and defenseless Black people a thorough Knowledge of God and of themselves, and to put them on the road to Self-Independence with a superior culture and higher civilization than they had previously experienced.

I believe that the highlighted phrases are what attract Black American people to the N.O.I. These are good things, and the reasons why my brothers and sisters choose to join the N.O.I. ranks.

F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam)



Courtesy of Photo Bucket

 

Courtesy of Gordon Parks



In my opinion, the N.O.I is so desirable to Black Americans, because it give us a culture not given by the same people that have caused us harm in the past. It's not an affront to Christianity, as many would believe, and I even know many participants that attend both church and mosque.


What the N.O.I. does is loves you, and teaches you how to love yourself, despite the self hatred you have learned. They make you feel that not only is your blackness beautiful, but it is desired. They force you to take all of your pain, hurt and mistrust, and turn it into creativity, intelligence, innovation and inner strength. N.O.I restores the pride and self esteem that:

slavery

Source: Illinois Times

Jim Crow Laws

Source: Silver People Chronicle

  lynchings

Source: Black Hawk

cross burnings

Source: Digital Journal

church bombings

Source: Desiring God

discrimination

Source: Gordon Parks

segregation

Source: Wine & Bowties

forced poverty

Source: Poverty and Hunger

... rape, drugs, alcohol, medical experiments, forced sterilization and piracy takes from any person.

I'm no longer a part of the N.O.I. because of conflicting personal views and beliefs. However, I do support uplifting my Black American people, the lost tribe in the wilderness of North America.

No matter what struggle I face in this life, my umi (mother in Arabic) said to shine my light on the world.

Thank you Yasiin Bey. You said it all.


Asa lama lakum

Am I a Christian because I live in the Bible-Belt?

First, let me just say I am a Christian. I was born into a Southern Baptist family, but still struggled at times with my faith. After moving from the North to the South, my faith has grown stronger and my beliefs are more concrete. However, I sometimes wonder "Is it because I live in the Bible-Belt?" I can't say a definite "No" to this question because I do think living in the liberal North has played a huge part in the doubt of my faith.

For a large chunk of my childhood (11 years to 16 years of age), my family practiced a form of Islam. This always confused me. "Why did we convert to Islam from Christianity?" I asked my mother. "Was it because that was the religion most of the people around us practiced?"

"I don't know. Maybe," began her answer. "I guess I may have felt drawn to the Islamic faith because that was the strongest presence around us at the time, and I wanted us to be included in the community. Most of the people home [NY/NJ] are Islamic, or have started to form a culture based off of Islamic cultural practices. Like not eating pork or reading the Qur'an for guidance."

So, I started to really think about why I have embraced my Christian roots. Is it because I am being encircled by the Bible-Belt? Or is it because God strategically placed me here in order to strengthen what he already instilled in me?

My answer is the latter. God strengthens me no matter where I live. He walks with me. He walked me through the fires, and I will always reside in His embrace.

Kirk Franklin-Imagine Me

To be continued...

Yankee Land from a Southerner's Perspective

Recently, a few of my friends went to New York City for their first time. Before they set off on their most anticipated one day adventure, I asked them what they planned on doing while in NYC. Most of them said, "Oh, we're just going to wing it; Walk around, sight-see, go shopping, etc." WHAT!!!?

I really think they thought the NYC of Sex in the City was real :-/

Source: Boxed Ambivalence



Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!

I'm sorry, but you don't just wing New York City!!! And, many of them soon found that out. Axl Rose might as well had been singing as they stepped off their charter buses...

Source: Youtube

...because NYC soon showed them Mr. Big was not going to sweep them off to some posh New York restaurant, and they would not by stepping out on the town with a fresh pair of Manolo Blahnik. It was not time for fun and games.

After all the laughs I shared at my friends' expense, I wanted to know how a Southerner would feel after actually living in the New York tri-state area. What are some of the things that would baffle them? What would they hate, and what things would they love about living in the Big Apple?

Well, I got my chance to interview a friend, and hear a Southerner's perspective on living in the "New Babylon".

*For my new friend's privacy I'm not going to share her name.*

Where are you from in the South?

Tuscaloosa, AL

Where did you live in the North?

Queens, NY

What are some differences/similarities you have witnessed between living in the South and living in the North, e.g. religion, cultural mannerisms, interactions between strangers, etc.?

There is more diversity in Queens. It’s part of one of the most diverse cities in America so that is definitely a difference. Tuscaloosa is a college town so there is more diversity there than in a typical city in the “deep south” but it’s not comparable to Queens. In the South people are friendlier to strangers. In NY, in particular, people just move at a faster pace, so there isn’t as much casual friendliness towards strangers on the street. But, people in NY are helpful on the street if you need directions. In my opinion, life in general moves at a faster pace in NY. In NY it’s so easy to always be on the go.

What are things that you missed while living in the North?

I missed the slower pace of life. In the South it is a lot easier to relax. And you can easily find peace and quiet. It was always noisy in NY all day and all night. Even if you’re at home the sounds of the city life drift in through your windows.

What are things you miss about the North, now that you live back in the South?

In NY you can walk most places and it’s easy to just walk out your front door and just stay out walking all day because there is always something interesting to see or do.

Would you rather live in the South or the North?

I like both but I’d rather raise children in the south mostly because of the weather and the quality of life.

What are some things you wish people from the North would understand about the South, and vice versa?

I wish especially in the “deep south” that there wasn’t the stereotype that Southerners are unintelligent and uncultured. I don’t really have anything I wish people from the South would understand about the North. From my experience is that there are more people in the South who visit the North than the other way around. I’ve met people in NY who’ve never been outside of NYC.

Well, there you have it folks. New York is not one for the snooze button, but the South is the place to be if you are looking to rest, relax and raising children.

I love it here!!!

Case of the "Southern Hospitality Fail"

And, here I thought New Yorkers were rude...


I was doing a little research on a restaurant that I wanted to write a blog review on. I've heard really good things about their food, atmosphere, service, etc. They just had an over all A+. The problem was that I couldn't find any other way there to try them out for myself because I don't drive. Then, I had a bright idea. I could just call the restaurant to see if they knew of any buses that stopped close to them. I mean they would give driving directions to a customer that needed to find their way there. Plus, this is the South, so I figured they would be as sweet as the tea... right? 


That brings us to the case of the Southern Hospitality Fail.


Case: Yankee with a Southern Heart v. Foster's Market, 2012
Crime: Failure to maintain Southern Hospitality
Charge: Misdemeanor
Arrest: Pending


Sunday, March 25, 2012


3:35 p.m.- YWASH Called Foster's Market to inquire about a way to reach their establishment by public transportation. Employee answers, hears question, then hangs up on caller without warning.


3:39 p.m.- YWASH Calls Foster's Market back, because there must have been a bad connection. Employee answers and hangs up on caller, again.


4:07 p.m.-YWASH Emails president of Foster's Market, Foster's General Manager Sera Cuni and Customer Service to apprise them of the ill treatment of customer that calls in for help.

__________________________________________________

Update:


Even though this could have been a fail on the employee of Foster's Market (it very well may have been a bad phone connection... who knows?), I am happy to say that Foster's Market has a great general manager Sera Cuni. Not only did she not pass the buck onto the employee, "I apologize for the inconvenience, and certainly it is not our policy, we would NEVER treat a customer that way!! Please give us another try and come in and visit." Ms. Cuni was kind, courteous, and professional when handling this case. She apologized to me, was quick in responding, kept in touch and offered to help me in anyway she could. 


I look forward to visiting Foster's soon, and giving a review of the service, food and atmosphere in person. Southern Hospitality has prevailed!!!

Foster's Market on Facebook

Courtesy of Foster's Market

Yankees' Delight in Dixieland

My little sister made the move below the Mason-Dixon line!!! Again...

Porsha and Me at River City Cafe in Surfside Beach, SC

This is not my sister's first time moving to the south, so I wanted to know why the south had such a hold on her. "I can't say it's the weather because it's WAY too hot here for my thick New York blood", Porsha quips, but then went on to divulge her delight in North Carolina in all seriousness:

"Honestly it's the convenience of living in the best of both worlds. You have mountains, which are a lot like being in the Catskills of NY. And, you have the ocean,which we have to drive through three states to get to. Plus, I just feel that life is so much easier and laid back in the south. For instance, I've only been here [vacationing] for two weeks, and I already have a job! In NY I would have been pounding the pavement for days, weeks, or even months, before I found a job. But, don't get me wrong, I LOVE and I'm very proud of my home and heritage. However, I still desire the simple pleasures a life in the south can provide; good food, sunshine even on a bad day, walking down the street without getting a crick in my neck. Those are just a few of the things that keep me coming back to NC."

I too LOVE living conveniently between two very different worlds, and Porsha and I had a great time exploring one of those worlds this past spring break week.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

Ewww...Jellyfish on Surfside Beach, SC

No matter what pet-peeves I have about the differences between the north and the south, the LOVE I have developed for my new home far out weighs a few negatives. My yankee heart has found delight in dixieland.

I know this song has nothing to do with moving, but this is one of my and Porsha's favorite songs:

Dixie Chicks-Landslide

Beware of the hi noon friend!!!!

I have made great friends here in North Carolina. Friends that I know I can count on to always tell me the truth, and to be here, there, anywhere whenever I need them, and I LOVE them with all my heart and soul.

Sid, Me, Fee, Lexi and Trice

However, this entry is about those friends I have dubbed "hi noon friends".

A "hi noon friend" meets you in the a.m., and expects you to be their best friend by noon. They want you to tell them your life story, so they can then judge you and talk behind your back with other "hi noon friends". They hide behind "southern charm" phrases like: "We are just friendly in the south.", or my favorite "We like to get to know people, and welcome them with open arms down here." Now don't get me wrong, southerners are very nice, welcoming and friendly, and MANY are tried and true, but quite a few are sneaky and mean spirited snakes with sweet smiles and southern drawls. Beware, because they are slethering everywhere down here.

I am not saying that the north doesn't have these same types of people, but they aren't out in the open as often as here in the south. My classmate, and fellow yankee, Lenaa Battle recently gave me her opinion on the matter,"I don't know if it's just a southern thing, but where we are from, we practice the 'bitches/snitches get stitches' policy. So, people that are known to run their mouths have gotten the hint before leaving grade school. They know that if they are found to be a fake broad, they learn to stay to themselves. Northerners don't tend to jump into these fly by night  friendships. We like to take our time getting to know people because they can be crazy."

That brings me back to the BFF's by noon. I for one can not bring myself to spill my life story to someone that I just meet. It may be a cultural thing, or it could just be my upbringing, but something just seems so wrong with people that ask too many questions at first meeting. I don't trust them [period]. I need time to get to know you through multiple interactions and casual conversations. Yeah, it may just take a few months before I consider you to be a friend, but I believe that "anything done too fast, doesn't last too long".

So, my advise is to beware of the "hi noon friend". Take your time to truly get to know people, and you will eventually find out who your friends are.

Tracey Lawrence - Find Out Who Your Friends Are

Hey!!! I don't know if this thing is on.

America's has been dubbed the Great Melting Pot, but I don't know if this thing is on sometimes. For example, when I decided to move south, I had family and friends all tell me that, "The south is racist. It's too many Kux Klux Klan members living there. They use to own your great grandparents."

The list goes on and on, so I'm going to spare you the BS.

First of all there are racist people everywhere. Just like in a pot of stew, time and heat are the key factors to meld all the flavors together. Even with those two strong influences, you are still going to end up with very distinct flavors, and whole pieces that don't want to give up all of their properties.

The only difference between the north and the south, when it comes to race relations, is one is more straightforward than the other, but they are both BS.

For example, where I'm from, people segregate themselves. They live in neighborhoods that are designated as "white only", "black only", or "Latin only" with these invisible borders. People talk about their dislike for the different races of people openly, "I don't want to live around, work, or go to school with those people because..."

Down south, it's more behind the scenes, until someone wants to date or marry outside of their race.

I have a friend, who does not want to be named, that is marrying a "white man", and she is a "black woman". They have known each other since high school, hang out with mutual friends, and even go to church together. However, they have experienced some tension from friends, family and the public. One incident happened, while on her job, at a well known radio station here in Raleigh. She told me that when she showed her manager a picture of her and her boyfriend, he said, "Oh, so you're a cracker snatcher, huh?"

WTF!!!!?

Then another thing that happened to seal the deal was when she was introduced to another co-worker. The co-worker was a "white woman" that just so happen to have graduated from the same college as my friend, so she was asked if she had ever seen her around. The co-worker replied, "No, I don't believe I have." So, the manager asked, "Well, how can you be so sure?". The woman's response was, "Because, we didn't have many of them running around our school, so I think I would have remembered if I'd met her."

WOW!!!

It really is sad that things in America are so hot and heated, but the good thing is that the fire we endure in this "Great Melting Pot" will burn off all the bad as it keeps the good. And, what a beautiful stew we will be :-)