[DISCLAIMER: I understand why companies or groups may want to stay quiet during controversial times. I understand that they may not want to backlash of revealing their thoughts on a topic. I understand they may not want to cause controversies for themselves. There are ways to relay your support and empathy without making a public announcement, it’s okay to want to be careful. -- You've heard the saying, "Silence speaks volumes" or "Silence can be deadly"...yeah, sometimes silence can be damaging to relationships you don't realize are important to keep. Let that sit.]

Sometimes life has its disappointments...food, sports, places, outfits...people. It's one of those guarantees that we plan to avoid, but destiny does not send us heralds and we are met with necessary lessons. The best thing we can is to discuss and share in hopes the experience will birth new enlightenment. — Mind you, this practice is relevant to any topic in life not just about the explosion the world is currently facing. When I'm feeling overwhelmed and my mind is dwindling, I tend to block things I need to address, but my nightly dreams never fail me and like to play "Captain Save-A-Hoe" by dropping off messages for interpretation to remind me I need to put my big girl shoes on and the address issues in my life. What a joy those dreams are. (-__-)

A friend shared THIS ARTICLE with me after I told her I had to have a candid conversation with my high school aged daughter about the racial divides. I also know that I will need to have the same conversation with my son. With having 4 godsons and 1 goddaughter from different families, all black, ages 9 months to 18 years old, I know they had or will be getting the talk from their parents. The article is a first hand narrative of a black man and his experiences of racial inflections even though he comes from a two parent home, prestigious neighborhood and with a high praised education. The article is lengthy, but it is insightful of the author's first hand accounts of racial profiling, embedded systematic bias, and titles. What I really appreciated is that even though the author’s upbringing was whitewashed, he still knew and understood he was different from his friends, they could not fully relate to him and he could not fully relate to them.

Within my children's environment, they are that "token friend" where most of their peers will not be able to relate to my daughter's and my son's experiences because their acceptance in society requires a little more practice and effort...it's a reality not every family has. Although, the main concern with my children is that because they can be oblivious racial issues they may say or doing something that can cause them to face the harsh realities of prejudice and I’m not around to help them process it.

In some of my own circles because my skin tone is darker than what most Americans "expects" Asians to be, I'm usually asked what race I am or mixed with. For those who may be wondering, I am not Black. There have been suggestions that my ancestry is linked to descendants of the Moor People which have African bloodlines, but that's not confirmed and I only know of my Asian history. Although, the two reflections of me do check off the box that reads African American/Black and are Citizens of the U.S. And let me tell you, both of my young ones excel in their academics, are respectful, and have their mother's off keel sense of humor, but that means nothing to people who do not see their human value.

When I would take my kids to birthday parties, my little beautiful brown babies would stick out like sore thumbs and I'd watch how other kids and parents act around them. The kids were fine, it was some of the parents who looked a little too hard for my comfort and were met with a gaze from me. I'm a parent who's of the Knuck of You Buck generation.

Even with my kids having an Asian mother and me not facing the same scrutiny as darker toned friends, it doesn't void negative stereotypes and unbeknownst to some people, my little family does fit into several unflattering statistical categories. I play it down to avoid questioning and sharing too much of our personal lives.

There is an issue, whether we chose to identify it or not.

“Civilization is not, by any means, an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which men can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt.”

- Oscar Wilde

I am interested to see how this year is written in the history books...Australia burning, almost faced WWIII, Kobe Bryant tragically passed, Covid-19 came and is changing the blueprint of business functions, then a senseless death of a man sparked outraged of "Enough is Enough"...and we are only half way through the year. WTF. — Can I return 2020? I think it got damaged during delivery. Although, this may be the defining year that gets us out of our comfort zones.

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”

- Oscar Wilde

It's not ONLY a matter of police brutality, is it an irrational fear other of the Black Community and making decisions from that fear. For some resources to help aide against injustice and racism: CLICK HERE

HERE is a conversation between two influential women, Candace Reese Walters and Carli K. Mathews of Empowering Woman Locally based in *Tuscaloosa, AL. (my review of the city HERE), about having conversations regarding race.

Let me be clear, no one is telling you how to raise your children, but it is a fundamental sin to teach them to second guess someone based on their ethnic backgrounds. These racial crimes stem from people who were once children that were subconsciously or directly fed information to develop negative views against certain demographics.

Have you ever seen that movie, American History X with Edward Norton? It's not a movie for children, but there is a scene where you see how a parent influences a child's views.

If you are still reading, do you want to know what happens when you die? Every action, every thought, every laugh, every change that could have came from you stops. People go on either remembering you loved them or not knowing how much you truly cared for them and what continues is those lives you've influenced.

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.” - Ray Bradbury

Comfort Food Meal: Smothered Chicken over Mashed Red Potatoes

Seasoning for Chicken: Cayenne Pepper, Ground Mustard, Minced Garlic, Garlic Salt, Dried Oregano, Lemon Pepper, Worcestershire Sauce 🧂

I started the base of the pan with chicken stock, collard greens, and mushrooms. Added garlic salt, Brown Sugar, Tabasco sauce, vinegar, and ground pepper. Simmered for 30 mins. 🥬

Then I added the seasoned chicken. On top, I added fresh basil and rosemary, plus asparagus. After 30 minutes, I added 1/2 a can of coconut milk. 🥥

Allow to cook on medium for 45 more minutes ⌚

Red Potatoes: Boiled until soft. Then mashed with butter and added garlic powder and dried oregano. 🥔