New Mattresses

There are two things that I don't like to buy, but they are of periodic necessity. The primary reason that these items are such an annoying purchase is that they can cost a nice little chunk of money. I'm referring to [4] new tires and new mattresses.

In this great megatropolis, the king of urban sprawl - Los Angeles, for most of us, it takes roughly about two years to drive 40,000 miles, so the need for tires is more digestible, because a brother gotta roll. But mattresses, on the other hand...that's another story. How many mattress stores do you see in the hood? Think about it. You may see a mom and pop furniture store with a big sign out front offering mattresses as low $99. You know, the kind with the button tuck. It's not just rap that keeps you angry, its those uncomfortable mattresses that prevent you from having a restful sleep.

Many years ago there was a top brand mattress store in Inglewood on Manchester Boulevard, you remember that one in the curve, across from Von's, up the street from the Forum where Magic and Kareem use to make us happy. Yeah, that one. It was owned by a very nice couple who happened to be American black. Well, it was there all of about a year. Why? Because we refuse to spend a grand on mattresses. We want the biggest bed we can find, but dread to replace the mattresses.

Whatever happened to the good old days when you visited mama's house and you saw mattresses out on the curb. In shock and awe you ask, "Mama? Whose mattresses are those out on the curb?" "Oh those are my old one's baby," mama so graciously explained. "Those are for the junk man. Mama just bought some new mattresses. You know we had those since you was in 2nd grade. Me and your daddy got them at the White Front store that use to be over there on Avalon. We got your bike there too."

With the utmost of urgency you plead, "Mama, me and BeBe need some mattresses. Good thing I drove my truck." Bebe never told you, but she wants some new mattresses. Now, after five [more] years, BeBe begs you to get some NEW mattresses. Isn't she lovely?

The moral of this story is, brothers, buy your woman some NEW mattresses. From a reputable store. Take her with you to pick the right set - together. The night of the day of the delivery she will thank you in a mighty fine way. Oh, and don't forget to take the old mattresses back to mama's house for the junk man. He knows someone who needs them.

The Coffee Has Turned To Ice

WARNING: The truth will be told in this blog.

American Black men have been systematically squeezed out of the workforce for many years. We are faced with new competition approximately every 10 years. First, there was calling the white female a minority. Not only did she become our competition, she got the promotion we worked for and then she became our boss in a lot of professional positions. Then came the Asian boom, primarily in technical positions. A lot of black men had technical degrees and expertise at the time. We were engineers, field service techs, data center managers, etc., pushed out because we didn't wear thick glasses or wear a smile for 10 straight hours a day. Big time politics. Dig what I'm saying?

Currently latino's are driving the bus. Joblessness for qualified black men has reached it's pinnacle. The once hot coffee in the office has turned to ice [coffee]. Those who had been fortunate to work for many years are scratching to survive, dipping into retirement funds, annuities, and other once treasured resources to keep their heads above water. Not to mention the pressure that our women are faced with. For better, for worse; for richer or poorer is being tested now more than ever.

As the workplace continues to make its changes, we are now seeing other minorities in positions that control hiring that we once had. Back in the 80's and early 90's token positions were created for black men, and later black women, i.e., VP of Diversity, Manager of Conflict Resolution, and Assistant HR Manager, which were high paying jobs in most cases, but the difference was that these black men had 'better not' hire or promote other black men to policy changing positions or open the flood gates for black in general. However, the new minority non-black recruiters and hiring managers are hiring his own to get the jobs we once had or still desire. Bilingual is now a new prerequisite. Spanish, Korean, and Farsi are currently the 'must know' languages as part of job requirements. A lot of these jobs have absolutely nothing to do with serving the general public.

American black men, we have shot ourselves in the foot being more concerned about the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the clubs we frequent than working your way into the board room, or setting your eyes on a policy changing position. Don't get me wrong, we work hard for the things we want, and we deserve it, but don't take your eye off the prize.

Let's talk a little man talk now.

Example:

Remember several seasons ago the Clippers made it to the playoffs, going toe-to-toe with the best of the west. Elton Brand was a monster. The team was clicking in over-drive. They were less than a minute from making it to the conference finals when then Clipper and perennial seasoned championship caliber pro named Sam Cassell cost them advancement to the next round. With a big ole kool-aid grin, thinking they had the game in the bag, Sam took his time advancing the ball past the half court line in the required eight seconds. The violation was a turnover, giving the opponent momentum to score and ultimately winning the game. The all-pro took his eye off the prize.

You don't take your eye off the prize until you have it in your hand. Even then you have to protect it to keep it. American black man, we will always have an opponent. Take the prize back. And remember, the coffee will always be black underneath all that cream.

What Is Courage?

  A Warrior's Creed   

by Steve E. Masters  -  All rights reserved

Courage is doing what you must do in light of the circumstances 

and despite the consequences. Since God has not given us the spirit of fear, there can be no courage where there is no faith.

Is Gay the New Black?

Is this an insult to every American Black person? Being gay is a choice. Being black is not. Its disgusting how some don't want to even try to understand black's, but are ready to compare their plight to that of American blacks. Share your opinion.

Do You Know Your Mate?

Do you truly know your mate? There is more to knowing her than just merely knowing her habits, likes or dislikes, how well she handles the children, etc. Do you know her heart. To really know her heart, you have to know your own. So, the real question is, do you know you? Doing what you're supposed to do as a man and mate, will bring out where she is truly at in heart and the relationship.