(A little choppy, but I can’t find the video)

“I love being Black. I love being called Black. I love being an American. I love being a Black American, but as a Black man in this country I think it’s a shame That every few years we get a change of name.

Since those first ships arrived here from Africa that came across the sea There were already Black men in this country who were free. And as for those that came over here on those terrible boats, They were called niggah and slave And told what to do and how to behave.

And then master started trippin’ and doing his midnight tippin’, Down to the slave shacks where he forced he and Great-Great Grandma to be together, And if Great-Great Grandpa protested, he got tarred and feathered.

And at the same time, the Black men in the country who were free, Were mating with the tribes like the Apache and the Cherokee. And as a result of all that, we’re a parade of every shade. And as in this late day and age, you can be sure, They ain’t too many of us in this country whose bloodline is pure.

But, according to a geological, geographical, genealogy study published in Time Magazine, The Black African people were the first on the scene, So for what it’s worth, the Black African people were the first on earth And through migration, our characteristics started to change, and rearrange, To adapt to whatever climate we migrated to. And that’s how I became me, and you became you.

So, if we gonna go back, let’s go all the way back, And if Adam was Black and Eve was Black, Then that kind of makes it a natural fact that everybody in America is an African American.

Everybody in Europe is an African European; everybody in the Orient is an African Asian And so on and so on, That is, if the origin of man is what we’re gonna go on. And if one drop of Black blood makes you Black like they say, Then everybody’s Black anyway.

So quit trying to change my identity. I’m already who I was meant to be. I’m a Black American, born and raised. And brother James Brown wrote a wonderful phrase, “Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud! Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud!”

Cause I’m proud to be Black and I ain’t never lived in Africa, And ‘cause my Great-Great Granddaddy on my Daddy’s side did, don’t mean I want to go back. Now I have nothing against Africa, It’s where some of the most beautiful places and people in the world are found. But I’ve been blessed to go a lot of places in this world, And if you ask me where I choose to live, I pick America, hands down.

Now, by and by, we were called Negroes, and after while, that name has vanished. Anyway, Negro is just how you say “black” in Spanish. Then, we were called colored, but shit, everybody’s one color or another, And I think it’s a shame that we hold that against each other.

And it seems like we reverted back to a time when being called Black was an insult, Even if it was another Black man who said it, a fight would result, Cause we’ve been so brainwashed that Black was wrong, So that even the yellow niggahs and black niggahs couldn’t get along.

But then, came the 1960s when we struggled and died to be called equal and Black, And we walked with pride with our heads held high and our shoulders pushed back, And Black was beautiful.

But, I guess that wasn’t good enough, Cause now here they come with some other stuff. Who comes up with this shit anyway? Was it one, or a group of niggahs sitting around one day?

Feelin’ a little insecure again about being called Black And decided that African American sounded a little more exotic. Well, I think you were being a little more neurotic.

It’s that same mentality that got “Amos and Andy” put off the air, Cause’ they were embarrassed about the way the character’s spoke. And as a result of that action, a lot of wonderful Black actors ended up broke. When we were just laughin’ and have fun about ourselves. So I say, “fuck you if you can’t take a joke.”
You didn’t see the “Beverly Hillbilly’s” being protested by white folks.

And if you think, that cause you think that being called African American set all Black people’s mind at ease…..

Since we affectionately call each other “niggah”,

I affectionately say to you, “niggah Please”.

How come I didn’t get the chance to vote on who I’d like to be? Who gave you the right to make that decision for me? I ain’t under your rule or in your dominion, And I am entitled to my own opinion.

Now there are some African Americans here, But they recently moved here from places like Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Zaire. But, now the brother who’s family has lived in the country for generations, Occupying space in all the locations: New York, Miami, L.A., Detroit, Chicago- Even if he’s wearing a dashiki and sporting an afro.

And, if you go to Africa in search of your race, You’ll find out quick you’re not an African American, You’re just a Black American in Africa takin’ up space.

Why you keep trying to attach yourself to a continent, Where if you got the chance and you went, Most people there would even claim you as one of them; as a pure bread daughter or son of them. Your heritage is right here now, no matter what you call yourself or what you say, And a lot of people died to make it that way. And if you think America is a leader on inequality and suffering and grievin’ How come there so many people comin’ and so few leavin’?

Rather than all this ‘find fault with America’ fuck you promotin’, If you want to change something, use your privilege, get to the polls! Commence to votin’!

God knows we’ve earned the right to be called American Americans and be free at last. And rather than you movin’ forward progress, you dwelling in the past. We’ve struggled too long; we’ve come too far. Instead of focusing on who we were, let’s be proud of who we are.

We are the only people whose name is always a trend. When is this shit gonna end? Look at all the different colors of our skin- Black is not our color. It’s our core. It’s what we been livin’ and fightin’ and dyin’ for.

But if you choose to be called African American and that’s your preference Then I ‘ll give you that reference.

But I know on this issue I don’t stand alone on my own and if I do, then let me be me And I’d appreciate it if when you see me, you’d say, “there goes a man who says it loud I’m Black. I’m Black. I’m a Black American, and I’m proud

Cause I love being an American. And I love being Black. I love being called Black.

Yeah, I said it, and I don’t take it back.”

- Smokey Robinson, Def Poets, 3rd Season, May 16, 2003 ©

The following is from an email I received today forwarded from the website: The Israel of God. It deals with some racial/color issues as well as identity. It is information not propagated by mainstream society - so for some readers I can understand how it might be offensive, challenging and unbelievable. Nevertheless it is posted here for the purpose of informing, challenging, promoting discussion and understanding, and last but not least serving to highlight the underlying point which is: know who and whose you are and behave accordingly.

Three commandments to keep in mind:

… we have made a long and careful search of the Holy Bible and have concluded that the Israelites (Jews) are in fact a Black People.

We arrived at this conclusion by reasons such as the color of the Israelites (Jews) of the Bible, and most noteworthy, the Bad Treatment and Continuous Bad Conditions that were prophesied to befall the real Israelites if they fail to keep the laws and commandments of God. God promised the Israelites that if they failed to obey him, he would curse them and eventually have them removed from their land and carried as slaves into every nation upon the earth. Israel failed, and God kept his promise.

After the Israelites were removed from the land of Israel, it was left as an empty house with no inhabitants. Now, if one can understand that any land which has been emptied of it’s rightful owners can be claimed by any nationality of people that have the power or permission to settle in it and possess it, then it should also be easy to understand that the nationality of people which move in and take over the land can assume (adopt) the culture, history, and even call themselves by the name of the people that they have replaced. After a long period of years, that nationality would be accepted by the rest of the world as being the original and rightful inhabitants of that land. This would especially be true if the original people of the land had been moved by force, and carried off as slaves. Such is the case of the real Israelites (Jews)!

It is very easy to become lost when someone else is called by your name and is living in your land, while you have been carted off into slavery and are called by the name of the people of whatever nation you are found. After being in slavery for a long period of years, and throughout generations, it would be impossible for your children to remember their history. How can they remember what they were never taught?

Black History (The Holy Bible) tells us that there were two sons born to Isaac and to Rebekah, his wife. These two boys were struggling in their mother’s womb even before they were born, and Rebekah asked the Lord why they were struggling. The Lord answered her, telling her that there were two different nations and two different manner of people in her womb and that he would separate them at birth. (See Genesis 25 chapter, vs. 21-25).

When the oldest son was born, the Bible says he was Red and Hairy, and was given the name Esau, but was later also called by the name of Edom. The youngest son was named Jacob, with no reference made to his color. His name was later changed to Israel. The fact being that such emphasis was put on Esau’s appearance makes it clear that God had made more than just personality differences between the two boys!

As these two boys matured, there grew dislike between them because Esau claimed that Jacob stole his birthright. Therefore, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. As they developed into nations down through the generations, settling in different locations (Jacob in the land of Israel, which was named after him: and Esau in the land of Edom, also called and known as Mt. Seir), the children (descendants) of Esau were responsible for the death of many Israelites. Some time later, down through the generations, the children of Esau were able to take over the land of the children of Jacob, and to claim that they were the lost tribes of Israel. After taking the name and the land of the true Israelites, it was only a matter of time before the whole world accepted the children of Esau as being the lost tribes of Israel, (which is presently the case). Meanwhile, the true Israelites are still in captivity just as the Lord said they would be.

Being that we understand the origin, fate, and destination of both the descendants of Jacob and of Esau , we can say with proof , according to the Bible, that the whole world has accepted the descendants of Esau as being the Jews, but in truth they are not, but are really the descendants of Esau (Edom).

When Esau (the father of the Edomites) and Jacob (the father of the Jews) were born, the Bible describes Esau as being “red and hairy”. Later, in other scriptures, Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was compared to the Ethiopians- “Are ye not as the children of Ethiopia unto me, O children of Israel?” (Amos 9:7). Ethiopia comes from the Greek word Aithiop, which means dark skin/ or face. The difference between “dark skin” and “red and hairy” is quite distinct, and has not changed down through the generations.

Now let us reason together. Understanding that Ethiopia comes from the Greek word Aithiop, which means Dark Skin, let us look at the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:14. “His head and his hairs were whit like wool, as white as snow: and his eyes were as a flame of fire”, (which only means they were red), “and his feet like fine brass, as if they were burned in a furnace.” (Also see Rev. 1:1Cool. Any rational minded person would understand that Jesus was not two colors, having a white head and a black or burnt (Aithiop) body. Reasoning will also cause you to understand that his hair is white and wooly, and his body and skin is like the Ethiopians (Dark Skin).

Song of Solomon 1:5-6, in the book of the Song of Solomon, we see the writing of Solomon where the Bible states, “The song of songs, which is Solomon’s (meaning that Solomon himself made all statements in this particular book): and I quote, “I am Black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me because I am Black, because the sun hath looked upon me. “Most people think this is just a love story Solomon wrote, but in reality this is describing the relationship between God and his people.

There are other things written that describe color, such as Acts 13:1 where a prophet was called Niger, which means black. Niger is the word that nigger comes from. Also in Exodus 4:6 where Moses’ hand turn leprous (as white as snow) and Numbers 12:13 where Miriam, Moses’ sister, was turned white. Leviticus tells us that there are two kinds of leprosy: one is unclean leprosy, when there is raw or swollen skin in the flesh: the other is clean leprosy, when a person simply turns white all over. Now, honestly ask yourself, why would a white person get excited about turning white? But, if a black person turns white, that’s something else! (See Leviticus 13:12-13).

There are even more scriptures on color, and there are also other things written concerning the true Israelites (Jews). Things like going into captivity, being sold as slaves, dispersed all over the world, and forever living as a poor people being badly treated.

The God of Israel (The God of the Bible) pronounced a sentence upon Israel. He told them that if they would not keep his laws and abide by his rules, he would curse them, telling them exactly what would befall them. Israel broke his laws and did not keep his rules, so the Lord cursed them as he said he would. (See Deuteronomy 28th chapter).

In the 28th chapter, it should be understood that a lot of these things happened over the course of many years, continuing down to our time. Because this curse was pronounces upon us when Israel first became a nation, many of these curses occurred before our time and we don’t recognize some of them, but some we do. Those we recognize are the ones that we will point out. The Lord said these curses will be upon us for a sign and wonder; (sign means to identify and wonder is to ask why). See Deuteronomy 28, verses 28-30: “the Lord shall smite thee with madness”, meaning you will be constantly angry because of the conditions; “blindness”, having no knowledge of your history and self; “astonishment of heart”, meaning always greatly surprised and amazed at your condition; “thou shalt grope at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness”, meaning to feel about or search or seek with blindness, and not certain or don’t know what you are looking for (as if you were looking for something in a dark place and had no light); “thou shall not prosper in thy ways; and thou shall be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee; thou shall betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her; thou shall build a house and thou shall not dwell therein; thou shalt plant vineyards and shalt not gather the grapes thereof”, meaning you work, but someone else will reap the proceeds; “thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people and thine eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand”, meaning your children will be sold and you will see them being sold by someone else and will not be able to do anything about it (remember Roots and “Slave Trading”); “the fruit of thy land and all thy labors shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up: and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway…..thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.”

Now just look around you , and look back at what happened to black people and what is happening to black people. Now, are we getting a fair chance, or equal opportunity to excel as the whites or the so-called Jews? Why is it that the so-called Jews are granted immediate citizenship when they migrate from other parts of the world? Why is it that any other nationality or race of people is accepted into this country, granted citizenship, and is exempted from paying taxes for a set period of years? The latest, among the foreigners that were granted this luxury are the Cubans, which are mostly Castilian, but the Haitians from the island of Haiti, which are blacks (part of the lost tribes of Israel) were caged up like animals and sent back to their oppression. Also, consider the poor blacks here, (being that the majority of us are worse off than a lot of immigrants), who were brought here against our will. Why aren’t we exempted from paying taxes for the same period of years? Why aren’t we compensated for now our ancestors were treated in the past? Have you ever wondered about these things? Surely you can’t say it’s because we are equally treated as the white American born citizens. Have you ever wondered why there are places like Haiti, Jamaica, South America and the Bahamas? Did you know that all of those places were slave camps, and that blacks were carried there to work and to produce while the whites reaped the proceeds! The Bible prophesied this concerning Israel/Jews Black Americans and blacks from the above mentioned slave camps must be Israelites then!

When slavery was abolished (chattel slavery), black people assumed self rule after their masters were forced to release them Either blacks did not know their real home, or did not have the means to return. If they did know, they did not have any army nor the power to kick out the foreigners that were possessing their land. See Deuteronomy 28: 36-37. “The Lord shall bring thee and thy king unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known and there shall thou serve other gods, wood and stone”, (gods which are not backed up with the Bible, and holy days, such as Easter and Christmas, of which the Bible makes no mention as holy to God); And thou shalt become an astonishment” (a great surprise and amazement to other races of people around you); ” a proverb” (a short wise saying used for a long time by many people, a well known case); In our case, we have been called for a long time, names such as nigger, coon, shine, john, boy, lazy, smelly, nasty, etc.; “and a byword ” (an object of contempt, a thing scorned, and a common saying). Now ask, are blacks scorned? Are we a common conversation, such as.. Those niggers this, and those niggers that? Are we a people (objects) of contempt? Who cares for us or our rights? Who tries to help us without wanting to use us for their own personal gain/goal? What harm have we done to organizations such as the Ku-Klux-Klan, to any of the majority of whites, or to other nationalities for them to hate us so? Why are we disliked and scorned and in some cases assaulted for asking for the smallest civil rights that whites are born with, and foreigners are given, with help, when they migrate to this or any other country? It’s a case of: if we do wrong we are damned, and if we do right we are damned. I thank God that I know the whole truth of the matter, and that there is an appointed end. Because if salvation was the way it’s being taught in most churches, if I had no knowledge of God’s true plan, and of this temporary curse that is upon the blacks (the real Israelites/Jew), then I could understand why some people stay drunk, take drugs, or use other means of trying to blind themselves to the reality of our true and unchangeable condition. In some cases, death would be more merciful.

Deuteronomy 28:41, Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shall not enjoy them, for they shall go into captivity” (slavery). Vs.43, “The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high, and thou shalt come down very low”; (which is to say that all of the people that were among the Israelites, but not Israelites themselves, are going to excel while the Israelites fall to the bottom). “He shall lend to thee, (Vs.44), and thou shalt not lend to him; he shall be the head and thou shall be the tail”. Now consider what this is saying. Can blacks as a people lend money to anyone? Where are our big corporations? Where are our big chain businesses? Where are our banks? Now consider the people called Jews, who the world has accepted as being Jews. Do they have big corporations, chain businesses, and banks?

For a people that is supposed to be poor and not able to loan money, those people that the world knows as Jews are doing pretty good. In fact, there used to be a household saying among black families on payday - “I got to go pay those Jews”. Either these people are not the real Jew of the Bible, or the Bible is grossly misprinted. Consider the scriptures and judge for yourself.

As we continue, see Joel 3:1, “For behold, in those days and at that time when I shall bring again the captivity (captives) of Judah and Jerusalem (Israelites/Jews), Vs.2 , I will also gather all nations, and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my (land of Israel), Vs.3, and they have cast lots for my people and given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink, Vs. 4. What have you to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coast of Palestine (Middle East)? Will you render me a recompense (pay me back/repay me)? And if you recompense (repay) me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head, Vs. 5, Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things, Vs. 6. The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem Israelites) have ye sold unto the Grecians (Greeks), that you might remove them far from their border”.

In Joel 3:1-3, the Lord is speaking of the time when he will return the real Jews to their own Country. Vs. 2 is saying that at the same time the Lord will gather all nations in one place to plead with them (do battle) because of what they have done to the real Jews- because they have captured and sold them (the real Jews) , and the whole coast of Palestine/ Middle East have taken their possessions, and divided the Jews’ land among themselves. In Vs.3 and 4 the Lord is telling all of these nations that whatever they would repay him, it is not enough for what they have done to his people. Therefore, if they try to repay him, he will return it upon their own head. Why? Because the nations (all nations) have taken the real Jews and cast lots for them (bidded for them/or auctioned them off like animals), and given a boy for an harlot (men traded or gave slave boys instead of money in payment to sleep with a prostitute), and sold a slave girl for wine (traded a young girl for some liquor). Vs. 5 and 6. The nations have taken valuables and riches of the real Jews and carried them into their own temples, and have taken the Jews themselves and sold them to the sons of the Greeks, and to other nations, and removed them far from their own borders.

See Zechariah 11:4, “Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter, Vs. 5, whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, blessed be the Lord, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not.”

This scripture is very clear, and lets you know that whosoever owned the real Jews would kill them if they felt like it, and wouldn’t think that they had done anything wrong (for instance: Kill an old slave that couldn’t work anymore, or one that they thought was rebellious, or one whose will they could not break). Historically, the various hate groups didn’t feel that they were wrong when they burned crosses in front of blacks’ homes, hung them, or castrated and maimed them for sport. Even in these modern days, who cares if a young or old black is shot by a white person, or another black for that matter? Who cares how many black women get raped or how many blacks are killed by police officers? No real investigations are made to find the true criminal or the reason why. Just read the statistics and you will find that the highest mortality rate in the nation is among young Black males. Or look at the sympathy that Cubans and other non-black immigrants get when entering this country. Then look at the non-sympathetic help that Haitians (blacks) get when they are fleeing into this country to escape oppression and death. I could write page upon page concerning the guiltless feelings of people who kill blacks (so-called Negroes or African-Americans).

The scripture in Zechariah 11:5 states that their possessors (slave owners) sold them and thanked and blessed God because they became rich for doing so. Just look and consider the many nations and their histories. They all profess to be great “Christians” nations not only tolerated slave traders that packed black people in holes of ships (most of which died) en route to the market, but they also rushed to the market and cast their bid for the strongest and fittest that made it. Yes, as a slave trader, riches were dedicated by the amount he could buy. The majority of these people professed to be God-fearing Christians and probably sat in church every Sunday, yet none felt guilty ( and this included America, England, France, Greece, Rome, and all so-called Christians and Moslem nations as well). Also, in the same 5th verse, it states that their (the real Jews) shepards pity them not. How is that so? Just look at all of the black churches in America and in other nations. They don’t truly care about their own people! They fill their collection plates and treasuries with the hard-earned money of poor blacks, build larger and fancier churches so they can have more room and more “sheep” to fleece, and put on all kinds of programs (gimmicks) to increase their flow of money. Then they buy big cars to drive to their big churches to show their flocks how nice they have been to their shepherds. The flocks love it, and they increase their donations. The height or riches of a shepherd (preacher) are dedicated by the size of his congregation or church!

If their/our shepherds pitied us (the real Jews), they would consolidate some of that wealth that they acquired from their flocks, and build factories so that the black unemployment can be decreased or almost eliminated. They would sponsor housing developments so that blacks can move out of some of these rat and roach infested flop houses; or better yet, they (poor blacks) would be able to purchase homes with the income earned from church-created factories. Most of all, the pastors in these churches would teach the truth and stop telling people that God is coming to take you off to heaven, when God clearly states that he is coming to the earth (Zechariah 14:1-11, Revelation 5: 9-10, Revelation 21: 1-2). Even Jesus said clearly that no man has gone to heaven except he that came from heaven. He was speaking of himself (see St. John 3:13). Also, such un-truths as Jesus died on Friday and rose on Easter Sunday, and that Jesus was born on the 25th of December along with many other lies would cease to be taught if the shepherds cared. See Isaiah 56: 9-12, the Lord talks about these same shepherds that have no pity for their own people.

The Bible tells us that the Israelites (real Jews) would be incarcerated (in prison) in great numbers, see Isaiah 42:22-23, “But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, restore.” Now ask yourself what people do you know that is a minority in the country but a majority in the penal institution (jail)? Even the Lord wanted to know who in the future would see this kind of condition and recognize that this is talking about the real Israelites (blacks). Vs. 23, “who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?”

Read the book of Obadiah, and it will tell you how the Israelites (real Jews) were captured and carried out of the land of Israel as slaves (captives) and how the nations went in and parted the land among themselves. It clearly states that Edom, the descendants of Esau (those who currently claim to be Jews), caught those of the real Jews that did escape, and delivered them into the hands of the enemy. They also went into the gates of the Jews (cities) and laid hands on their substance
(possessions, culture, books, etc.).

Also, see Ezekiel chapters 35-36, the Edomites (those who claim to be Jews), which are also known and called by the names of Mount Seir, Bozrah, Teman, and Idumea, are spoken against by the Lord. The Lord tells of how they shed the blood of the Israelites (Jews), and said, “these two nations and these two countries (speaking of Judah and Samaria) shall be theirs (Edom’s) in possession, and they will possess it, whereas the Lord was there.”

The 36th chapter of Ezekiel tells us that Edom has done just that! For the Lord said, “Thus said the Lord God, because the enemy has said, aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession.” Read on and the Lord will tell you that they (Idumea, which is still Edom) have appointed his land (land of Israel) into their possession with the joy of all their heart, and with despiteful minds to cast it out for a prey.

But ask yourself, why do the people that the world has accepted as being the Jews, have such hard times, such as the trouble they had with Germany and the trouble with the Arab nations? Because of what they did to the real Jews, that’s why! See Obadiah 9th and 10th verses and read on. Also, see Ezekiel 35:6-15. The Lord said “when the whole world rejoiceth”, he will make Edom most desolate.

Lastly, I refer you to Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. The Lord, in both of these places speaks of a people that say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; but they are the Synagogue of Satan. Note that the Lord said also that he knows the work and the tribulations and poverty of the real Jews (but he said, thou art rich). Reasoning tells us that no people, or person, can be rich and impoverished at the same time. But the riches of the people of God (the blacks-the real Jew) is his promise to lift the curse off of us in in the time appointed, and to restore us to our former estate. Plus no one can say that the people known and accepted as Jews ( the descendants of Edom) are in poverty; consider this publication closely and reason with the Bible whether or not it makes sense.

To those that read this, be it known and understood that this is not hate, neither does the writer teach or believe in hate, nor condone it.

This is merely designed to identify the lost people of Israel and the facts according to the Holy Bible. If anyone is to be hated, it should be our ancestors for sinning against God, because he clearly told them what would happen if they broke his laws.

Be it known also that we believe in, and teach, all of the Holy Bible: from Genesis to Revelation, and that we acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, and that he is God. Also, we only teach what we can prove (through scriptures).

1… Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED.”

2… When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the “For” line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

3… Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4… Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to C! all and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here’s some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5… We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6… File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

But here’s what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7… Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the Credit checks initiated by the thieves’ purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1) Equifax: 800-525-6285

2) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

3) Trans Union : 800-680-7289

4) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271

- Shared by David S., MO

by Kiri Davis

“I knew from an early age that film was a medium I wanted to work in. Through my films I’ve found a way of expressing myself as well as telling the stories that are important to me. At sixteen, I directed my first documentary, A Girl Like Me. Before that, I created numerous short films and attended the New York Film Academy. I would love to pursue a career in film making as well as to explore my passions for acting and writing. I have a love of traveling, which affords me the opportunity to meet new people and explore other cultures. My goal is to develop more projects that will help my community and give a much needed voice to issues that pertain to people of color. I am currently attending Urban Academy, a NYC public high school, and I live with my mother in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.”

Reel Works Teen Filmmaking

Reel Works Teen Filmmaking, supported by HBO, is a free after-school program that challenges high school students to create short documentary films about their lives. Working one-on-one with professional filmmaker-mentors, students write, shoot and edit personal narrative videos on subjects they choose. In the process, they gain self-esteem, develop media literacy and master state-of-the-art digital filmmaking technology. We say to teens: You have a voice! Use it!

And the world is listening! Since we began in 2001, our students’ films have been broadcast on HBO Family, PBS and LINK-TV and have been presented at film festivals nationwide from the American Film Institute in Hollywood to the Museum of Television & Radio in Manhattan. Our teen filmmaking program has been featured in the New York Times, The Daily News and on MSNBC, PBS and NY1 News. We have won numerous awards including four Honorable Mention National Student Emmys. Today, our films are being used in classrooms to teach powerful life lessons of diversity, tolerance and hope.

Young student’s documentary leaving audiences stunned.

To see some of the comments generates by this video, visit the YouTube post here.

If you happen to get a page full of garbled code, then type “ricomachiavelli” in the search bar on the YouTube site and click on the video link.

We forget ourselves, wanting
Shocking, dangerous colors
Angry with what we
Don’t understand

Daring God with broken laughter
Eyes bleeding, begging
Desperately asking
Without words

Destructively calling art that violence
That soul weeping music
That precious blood
We spare so freely

Holding our breath to be
Invisible, ashamed of our impotence
Whining and shouting and cussing
Loudly
Like we can’t help ourselves

Beating ourselves up so bad
Hard headed
Unable to forgive
Ourselves

Standing in the cold, watching the flow of traffic, waiting for an opportunity to pull up to my curb, I happened to reflect on what had brought me here. Life wasn’t always like this. It used to be warm, full of love inside and out, and cozy with friends, family and interests that didn’t require anyone’s approval for me to enjoy them.

Somewhere along the way, I allowed myself to be duped into believing that success was all about the accouterments. Images of the materialistic became the only evidence of prosperity. Prosperity was proof of living up to one’s potential and expectations. One’s potential and expectations qualified one’s value; so money equaled self-worth.

Lost in that foggy processing, I didn’t become clear on the idea that money is only ONE of the fruits of labor until I was much older in terms of experience and wisdom. Before that revelation I was one of those who sought to acquire monetary wealth without necessarily doing all or any of the work - essentially looking for shortcuts to success.

While at first glance this sounds like a worthwhile pursuit, it should be noted that those things taken for granted are usually those things we didn’t earn in the first place. In other words, anything acquired without any effort is usually unappreciated for its true value.

Like the prodigal son I had taken my gifts and talents and ran off to squander them by indulging in my undisciplined desires. Those same talents and gifts which should have been used to glorify my heavenly father, I instead used to satisfy my selfish wants. They bore no fruit and soon, like Samson, I was relegated to the status of a slave, bound by my own foolishness and burdened with the guilt in the knowledge that I had done such a thing.

I had shackled myself to a hell I could never be free of until I changed my mind. I could never change my mind until I forgave myself. And I could never forgive myself truly until I realized exactly what it was I had done.

That moment came when I saw myself peddling what little I had left for even less. In that moment I realized that once upon a time, even this little I had would have been esteemed greatly among those who loved me. Now I was at a pawn shop getting so much less that not only was it an insult to my spirit, but a disrespect to my person. Like the prodigal son, I got up from the mud I was wallowing in and decided to go home - even if it meant eating crow.

In wanting the blessing without the obedience, I had turned away from my heavenly Father and sought satisfy myself - effectively usurping control of my life to make a mess of it. Ultimately I found out the hard way that what I can conceive for myself pales in comparison to what my Father in heaven has in store for me. Until that revelation, I was out there in the world like a prostitute - hustling my own talents and gifts for crumbs that never satisfied me.

Be busy using the talents and gifts God has given you to glorify Him with, that you might be a blessing to yourself as well as others. In believing that we can do better for ourselves than God can and will do for us, we divorce ourselves from our faith in Him, lean to our own understanding and walk through the doors of the School of Hard Knocks. Believe me, while the diploma you get if you make it out of there is certainly worth its salt, the price you pay for that education ain’t really worth it. Spare yourself the headache and debt and stop trying to re-invent the wheel.