This post is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Frank Brooks, Ms. Nakia Massey, Ms. Danielle Adams, and anyone else whom I either don't know of or forgot who passed that was either a member of Corpus Christi's last 8th grade class of 96 or a part of seeing us matriculate through that school...
Today, I was met with a shock, a realization that I may never see someone again in my life. But this person is not dead, only potentially gone forever currently appealing a life sentence murder conviction. This was a dear friend of mine, and although I hadn't seen him in years, I have more than a lifetime of memories of him. My thoughts of my old friend came as a result of Facebook, which is what the site was actually intended to do, provide a medium for friends so that they never lose contact. Well as I am nearing my 14th year anniversary of the graduation from Corpus Christi, I am thrilled to be in contact with people that I haven't seen or heard from in years, some since that night in May 1996 at the old church on St. Bernard. But, as with most reunions, there are the questions; "where have you been," "what have you been up to," "are you married," "what happened to such-and-such," the last of which is the whole inspiration for this posting.
A Facebook group was created for those Eagles who wore red, blue, and gold (although the red didn't come into play until like 92 or 93, and I don't really know where it came from) in hopes that we could all share our memories from cots and naps to trying to sneak off at field day to play "Kiss, Catch, and Get a Lil Bit." And in the course of a simple conversation on the board certain names came up. Now I won't put people out there on blast but I mean most people are doing well, married, kids, yanno, living life. And then there are others, one of my good friends whom I hung out with a lot because he and I were both short, even shorter than most of the girls lol, was acquitted of a murder charge where he had signed a confession alleging it was an accident. (Quick Sidebar: I don't know what the truth is or what isn't but he was acquitted in criminal court, so that means he's an innocent man despite what the streets say, or despite the NOPD's track record for putting the blame on innocent black men) Found out another old friend was indicted for rape in 2004, and again for aggravated assault in 2007, but I don't know if he ever served time, but have heard he did like 2 yrs for dealing heroin. But today was just the end all be all. I saw another friend post that one guy who I always looked at as like a big brother was fighting a murder charge, but what I didn't know is that on November 20, 2009, he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, and my heart just sank. Whether he did it or not I'll never know, but with the possibility of appeals getting overturned, especially for a murder, I know I'll probably never see him again.
So then I got to thinking. Is it normal for people to go to elementary school with murderers and rapists? Are we victims of being raised in New Orleans, or is this just life? Were these people always that bad but since I knew them as kids I dismissed their antics? My son is mischievous, does this mean he's heading down the same path and I need to get him out of New Orleans? I was afforded the same options as my classmates but yet I've never been to jail, and have done quite well for myself. I guess my dad said it best, "when you're little, you just never know who that person you're sitting next to will be in 10 or 20 years."
Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans. Show all posts
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Black and Gold Super Bowl...A Reflection...
43 years ago, the National Football Team blessed the world with the Super Bowl and the New Orleans Saints. One has never been a let down, while the other started 5-1 in the preseason and ran the opening kick back 94-yards to the excitement of the fans at Tulane Stadium. Although the Saints would go on to lose that and the six games that followed, they would post an expansion best 3-11 season, leaving the city of New Orleans with a glimmer of hope about their newest beau. And after that promising start, the relationship between this city and its football team would be one of love and hate, probably moreso hate, the love was probably just loyalty.
My love affair with the Saints started in 1983, at a time where the “S” had fallen off and brown-paper bags were the latest in stylish headgear in New Orleans. But I was drawn to this team. Probably because it was only a 20-minute drive to see them play, and my family, except my dad, loved them, but the Saints were MY team. I wasn’t privy to the ‘Aints, I just kept on rooting for them and those better days that were sure to come. I saw glimpses of greatness with the “Cajun Cannon” and “The Dome Patrol,” I cheered when “Bless You Boys” came on, and still believed that the Saints would “Go All the Way” when I “Cha-Chinged” my way to Rally’s. But I never gave up hope.
The Saints have become so important to me that I have a Fleur-de-Lis tattooed on my calf as a symbol of New Orleans, and still remember sneaking away from my go-kart post to the party room upstairs at Celebration Station to catch the first ever playoff victory against the Rams. I couldn’t tell you how many people I “high-fived” and hugged after Az Hakim muffed that punt, but I do remember exactly where I was. Likewise I remember watching the return to New Orleans on Monday night in 2006 instead of briefing cases and how that year almost caused me to fail out of law school because the team did so well and I had to be at Woodrow’s EVERY Sunday.
And I remember last Sunday just the same, I remember how nervous I was throughout the game and how at the end of the fourth quarter and during overtime I was shaking. I’ve experienced the let downs that true Saints fans have for the past 26 years, but I still continue to pull for the home team. Then came the kick…
Surprisingly, as nervous as I was, I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV, expecting the worse but hoping for the best. Hell, this is the same guy who missed a 37-yard field goal against the Bucs with no pressure, so with the Super Bowl on the line and a 40-yard kick coming up, I knew it wasn’t a guarantee. All I could do is look up at the ceiling and speak very softly “God, u know we need this. Not the fans, not the team, but the whole city of New Orleans.” And as the kick split the uprights perfectly the tears began to fall. It’s now Wednesday after the game and I still don’t have the words to express my emotions. It was all so surreal, so dream-like, so…so…PERFECT! All I could think about was calling my dad, the #1 Saints hater and say “now what!” To call my 82 year-old Grandmother to hear the joy in her voice after waiting 43 years for this moment was just crazy. The text messages, the Facebook messages, the shots of Bourbon Street, Jim Henderson’s call; “Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!”
For everyone who has stuck with the Saints all their lives like myself, this victory was more than just a game. For everyone who loves New Orleans and wants to see the city move to be better than we were before the storm, this was more than just a game. The naysayers contend that the Vikings gave us the game but we forced 5 turnovers, they say that we intentionally hit Favre and played dirty. Well guess what, we won and the “Brady rule” is BULLSHIT! Not to take nothing away from the Vikings, because that was still one of the greatest games ever played, period.
Thanks for the early birthday present, Saints! The only thing now is to make my dream of Drew Brees riding on a Bacchus float with the Lombardi trophy in tow come true! So where’s the party at on February 7th, New Orleans, or Miami?
WHO DAT?!
My love affair with the Saints started in 1983, at a time where the “S” had fallen off and brown-paper bags were the latest in stylish headgear in New Orleans. But I was drawn to this team. Probably because it was only a 20-minute drive to see them play, and my family, except my dad, loved them, but the Saints were MY team. I wasn’t privy to the ‘Aints, I just kept on rooting for them and those better days that were sure to come. I saw glimpses of greatness with the “Cajun Cannon” and “The Dome Patrol,” I cheered when “Bless You Boys” came on, and still believed that the Saints would “Go All the Way” when I “Cha-Chinged” my way to Rally’s. But I never gave up hope.
The Saints have become so important to me that I have a Fleur-de-Lis tattooed on my calf as a symbol of New Orleans, and still remember sneaking away from my go-kart post to the party room upstairs at Celebration Station to catch the first ever playoff victory against the Rams. I couldn’t tell you how many people I “high-fived” and hugged after Az Hakim muffed that punt, but I do remember exactly where I was. Likewise I remember watching the return to New Orleans on Monday night in 2006 instead of briefing cases and how that year almost caused me to fail out of law school because the team did so well and I had to be at Woodrow’s EVERY Sunday.
And I remember last Sunday just the same, I remember how nervous I was throughout the game and how at the end of the fourth quarter and during overtime I was shaking. I’ve experienced the let downs that true Saints fans have for the past 26 years, but I still continue to pull for the home team. Then came the kick…
Surprisingly, as nervous as I was, I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV, expecting the worse but hoping for the best. Hell, this is the same guy who missed a 37-yard field goal against the Bucs with no pressure, so with the Super Bowl on the line and a 40-yard kick coming up, I knew it wasn’t a guarantee. All I could do is look up at the ceiling and speak very softly “God, u know we need this. Not the fans, not the team, but the whole city of New Orleans.” And as the kick split the uprights perfectly the tears began to fall. It’s now Wednesday after the game and I still don’t have the words to express my emotions. It was all so surreal, so dream-like, so…so…PERFECT! All I could think about was calling my dad, the #1 Saints hater and say “now what!” To call my 82 year-old Grandmother to hear the joy in her voice after waiting 43 years for this moment was just crazy. The text messages, the Facebook messages, the shots of Bourbon Street, Jim Henderson’s call; “Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!”
For everyone who has stuck with the Saints all their lives like myself, this victory was more than just a game. For everyone who loves New Orleans and wants to see the city move to be better than we were before the storm, this was more than just a game. The naysayers contend that the Vikings gave us the game but we forced 5 turnovers, they say that we intentionally hit Favre and played dirty. Well guess what, we won and the “Brady rule” is BULLSHIT! Not to take nothing away from the Vikings, because that was still one of the greatest games ever played, period.
Thanks for the early birthday present, Saints! The only thing now is to make my dream of Drew Brees riding on a Bacchus float with the Lombardi trophy in tow come true! So where’s the party at on February 7th, New Orleans, or Miami?
WHO DAT?!
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Pelican State of Mine...
For those of yall who say that Jay-Z is a walking dinosaur who has no status or grounds to talk about what is relevant in Hip Hop today, I really encourage you to give Blueprint 3 another listen. I know I may be speaking too early or moreso from a personal standpoint, but the track Empire State of Mind is definitely a classic in my opinion. The funny part is that I find the song inspiring although I'm not from New York and haven't been there in years. Which got me to thinking, in my course of trying to make New Orleans the worldwide centerpiece that I believe it should be (DARANDA FOR MAYOR...koming soon), if I were to capture New Orleans in a song, who would I put on it? I know Wayne is probably the obvious choice, but I dunno how well Mr. Carter would promote the message I'd try to give. I mean I'd want this track to be on some legendary shit, kinda like Jay and Alicia did. Hmmmm...I think I'll have this settled by the time I kome up with a campaign, but I have a more pressing blog that I need to write...
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Life of an Attorney
So I've had several facebook updates regarding the distaste in my mouth from the mentioning of the word "Essence" this weekend. References to Bourbon Street, Port-of-Call, Hand Grenades, Po-Boys, LePhare, NV, Metro, Beignets, and anything New Orleans caused me to regurgitate in my mouth. While everyone was enjoying one of the greatest tourist destinations of the world, I was stuck in Texas, preparing for a trial that wouldn't happen. From May 29th, I watched a dreaded day in court turn into a winnable endeavor. I had got with my partner and went over the case top to bottom working out our strategy and excited about the fact that we would get our first felony trial to jury before we had been practicing for a year, and might be able to win.
We arrived in court and asked the coordinator where we were on the trial docket, where she in turn told us to approach the judge to find out. The judge was unable to garner a response and had the state also approach at which time we learned that our opposing counsel was out on a family emergency, but that somebody else could potentially be found or if not the ADA at the bench with us, would be our opposing counsel today. Great, she doesn't know much about the case, none of the witnesses the state intended to call were subpoenaed, so there was no way we could lose. However, in an attempt not to piss off the judge, appear as gentlemen, and knowing that the case would probably carry over, we told the judge that defense counsel was ready, but due to the unforseen circumstances, we would not object to the court carrying over this cause. The judge asked if the state had offered anything to which the ADA replied 2 years TDC and her honor then instructs us to inform our client of the offer.
Our client then shoots down the offer, and we reapproach to inform the judge. The judge then asks for the facts of the case to which we respond, basically giving our trial issues and contentions. She then asks if our client would be open to a PSI with no agreed recommendation and although the client had denied it a month before we still had to tell her of the offer ethically. When informed of this deal and the consequences of it, our client jumps on the offer like a hungry dog at a steak hanging off the grill. THE STATE OF TEXAS BAMBOOZED OUR CLIENT OUT OF TRIAL WITH THE HELP OF A JUDGE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY! I can't believe this and I am so pissed off now...*sigh* the life of an attorney!
We arrived in court and asked the coordinator where we were on the trial docket, where she in turn told us to approach the judge to find out. The judge was unable to garner a response and had the state also approach at which time we learned that our opposing counsel was out on a family emergency, but that somebody else could potentially be found or if not the ADA at the bench with us, would be our opposing counsel today. Great, she doesn't know much about the case, none of the witnesses the state intended to call were subpoenaed, so there was no way we could lose. However, in an attempt not to piss off the judge, appear as gentlemen, and knowing that the case would probably carry over, we told the judge that defense counsel was ready, but due to the unforseen circumstances, we would not object to the court carrying over this cause. The judge asked if the state had offered anything to which the ADA replied 2 years TDC and her honor then instructs us to inform our client of the offer.
Our client then shoots down the offer, and we reapproach to inform the judge. The judge then asks for the facts of the case to which we respond, basically giving our trial issues and contentions. She then asks if our client would be open to a PSI with no agreed recommendation and although the client had denied it a month before we still had to tell her of the offer ethically. When informed of this deal and the consequences of it, our client jumps on the offer like a hungry dog at a steak hanging off the grill. THE STATE OF TEXAS BAMBOOZED OUR CLIENT OUT OF TRIAL WITH THE HELP OF A JUDGE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY! I can't believe this and I am so pissed off now...*sigh* the life of an attorney!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Code Amongst Criminals
In late 2004/early 2005, the hip hop community unveiled its “Stop Snitching” campaign, a movement that was met with great disdain by the “so-called” leaders of the black community. These “so-called” leaders are the same crew that have attempted to bury the word “nigger/nigga,” spoke amongst themselves to decide how our youth should act, and consistently attempt to censor entertainment in favor of “morality.” Those of you who consistently read my posts know how I feel about these leaders, and if you don’t remember, I suggest you listen to Lil Wayne’s Misunderstood on his Carter III LP.
Well, the line was drawn when Steve Harvey, Mr. “Preacher Suit” himself, stated that black youths were mistaken to endorse the before-mentioned campaign, because stop snitching is a code amongst criminals and we as a people should never support something that has criminal ties. Well Steve, let me ask you this, did your mother ever beat the sleeves off you for being a tattle-tail? I know mine did, and that was never a code amongst criminals. As a youth I have been punished and disciplined for being a tattle-tail, and the logic behind it was always that “no one likes a tattle-tail.” So I ask you, Mr. Harvey, as well as my blog following, what’s the difference between being a tattle-tail and being a snitch? I don’t think there’s any, and if anything “stop snitching” is not a code amongst criminals but a cry for personal accountability, analogous to the chivalrous code of manhood exercised by knights in Medieval times.
That being said I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the newest exploits of New Orleans politics, the reporting of Stan “Pampy” Barre’, to jail. (http://blog.nola.com/nola/2008/10/stan_pampy_barres_confessions.html http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/library-157/122379071170590.xml&coll=1 ) Now, Pampy is apparently upset with a judge who sentenced him to 5 years in a federal prison after he managed to skim over a million dollars off a city contract. Now the recommended sentence for such an offense is 9-11 years, but Pampy was able to get 4 years shaved off his minimum in exchange for cooperating with federal agents in an attempt to get some of his comrades arrested. In his plea to his presiding judge, Pampy admitted that he was sorry for defrauding his city, that he had lost his business, several of his other ventures, friends, and even his “good” name. He even went so far as to state that he has been a regular donor to St. Peter Claver Church and St. Augustine High School, a characteristic the he feels is not conducive to a criminal. I look at such actions as money-laundering and that my good friends, is something that criminals do. Pampy regretted his action and also said that he was merely doing his part to rid the city of corruption. No, nigga, u were just someone else who got caught and couldn’t stand to see yourself as the only one to incur punishment. Quit your bitching, do your 5, and man up. Because you were man enough to do it, now be man enough to accept the consequences.
Is “Stop Snitching” really a code amongst thieves or a cry to break away from the “crabs in a barrel theory,” and “man-up?”
Well, the line was drawn when Steve Harvey, Mr. “Preacher Suit” himself, stated that black youths were mistaken to endorse the before-mentioned campaign, because stop snitching is a code amongst criminals and we as a people should never support something that has criminal ties. Well Steve, let me ask you this, did your mother ever beat the sleeves off you for being a tattle-tail? I know mine did, and that was never a code amongst criminals. As a youth I have been punished and disciplined for being a tattle-tail, and the logic behind it was always that “no one likes a tattle-tail.” So I ask you, Mr. Harvey, as well as my blog following, what’s the difference between being a tattle-tail and being a snitch? I don’t think there’s any, and if anything “stop snitching” is not a code amongst criminals but a cry for personal accountability, analogous to the chivalrous code of manhood exercised by knights in Medieval times.
That being said I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the newest exploits of New Orleans politics, the reporting of Stan “Pampy” Barre’, to jail. (http://blog.nola.com/nola/2008/10/stan_pampy_barres_confessions.html http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/library-157/122379071170590.xml&coll=1 ) Now, Pampy is apparently upset with a judge who sentenced him to 5 years in a federal prison after he managed to skim over a million dollars off a city contract. Now the recommended sentence for such an offense is 9-11 years, but Pampy was able to get 4 years shaved off his minimum in exchange for cooperating with federal agents in an attempt to get some of his comrades arrested. In his plea to his presiding judge, Pampy admitted that he was sorry for defrauding his city, that he had lost his business, several of his other ventures, friends, and even his “good” name. He even went so far as to state that he has been a regular donor to St. Peter Claver Church and St. Augustine High School, a characteristic the he feels is not conducive to a criminal. I look at such actions as money-laundering and that my good friends, is something that criminals do. Pampy regretted his action and also said that he was merely doing his part to rid the city of corruption. No, nigga, u were just someone else who got caught and couldn’t stand to see yourself as the only one to incur punishment. Quit your bitching, do your 5, and man up. Because you were man enough to do it, now be man enough to accept the consequences.
Is “Stop Snitching” really a code amongst thieves or a cry to break away from the “crabs in a barrel theory,” and “man-up?”
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Welcome to Our World...Karma is a Bitch!
Although this blog is kinda sorta copied from a note i wrote on facebook, its still applicable today...
"WHAT'S THAT, YOU SAY?
YOU'RE TIRED OF KATRINA-RELATED NEWS COVERAGE?
WELL GUESS WHAT
WE'RE TIRED OF FUCKING LIVING THROUGH IT
SO FOR YOU, YOU WITH YOUR OPTION TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL
DO THAT
BECAUSE FOR MANY OF US
IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING SIMPLE......"
And with that I move on to my Houstonians, the people with whom I am to share a place of residency for the time being or at least until I can find that six-figure paying job in Dallas, my favorite city in Texas. Its funny how three years ago Houstonians were dealing with another storm, except that time Bill White was the good mayor who came to the aid of the poor, helpless, and stupid New Orleans residents who lost everything. I heard so many people ask me "why didn't those people leave;" to which I responded, that part of it was ignorance, the rest, pride. And then 3 years later Texans who were encountered with Hurricane Ike and issued the same evacuation warnings that New Orleanians recieved for Katrina elected not to leave and look at what happened.
So, Mayor White, let's talk turkey. Okay so after Katrina you allowed the people who were stuck in the Superdome to come to Houston and gave them the Astrodome, awww, you're the savior of the city of New Orleans, but I really believe that you had your own agenda in doing so. If not, you would have told the New Orleans residents you were coming to get them BEFORE the storm. Im pretty sure Bush gave you some type of benefits for agreeing to take the downrodden into your "great" city. The same city of peace and love that apparently never had any crime before the "refugees" came to Houston, where people on the "Nawfside," 3rd Ward, Acres Homes, and Hiram Clarke, etc. could sleep with their doors unlocked. A sanctity that was destroyed by the New Orleans people. Yeah Mayor White, I remember your press conference when you announced that it was time for the New Orleans people to go home, I remember how your children said that we were all too lazy to get back on our feet because we were so dependent upon FEMA. And now Houston, you too know what it feels like to be in a home with no power, no running water, and to even be subject to a curfew in your own city. Welcome to our world, Karma is a bitch aint it?
So am I wrong because outside of my friends and people who were sympathetic to the plight of New Orleans evacuees, I don't feel sorry for folks in Houston? Sometimes fucked up things happen to good people, however, I guess this is one of those instances where the good indeed have to suffer for the bad...I guess next time you'll think before you speak.
"WHAT'S THAT, YOU SAY?
YOU'RE TIRED OF KATRINA-RELATED NEWS COVERAGE?
WELL GUESS WHAT
WE'RE TIRED OF FUCKING LIVING THROUGH IT
SO FOR YOU, YOU WITH YOUR OPTION TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL
DO THAT
BECAUSE FOR MANY OF US
IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING SIMPLE......"
And with that I move on to my Houstonians, the people with whom I am to share a place of residency for the time being or at least until I can find that six-figure paying job in Dallas, my favorite city in Texas. Its funny how three years ago Houstonians were dealing with another storm, except that time Bill White was the good mayor who came to the aid of the poor, helpless, and stupid New Orleans residents who lost everything. I heard so many people ask me "why didn't those people leave;" to which I responded, that part of it was ignorance, the rest, pride. And then 3 years later Texans who were encountered with Hurricane Ike and issued the same evacuation warnings that New Orleanians recieved for Katrina elected not to leave and look at what happened.
So, Mayor White, let's talk turkey. Okay so after Katrina you allowed the people who were stuck in the Superdome to come to Houston and gave them the Astrodome, awww, you're the savior of the city of New Orleans, but I really believe that you had your own agenda in doing so. If not, you would have told the New Orleans residents you were coming to get them BEFORE the storm. Im pretty sure Bush gave you some type of benefits for agreeing to take the downrodden into your "great" city. The same city of peace and love that apparently never had any crime before the "refugees" came to Houston, where people on the "Nawfside," 3rd Ward, Acres Homes, and Hiram Clarke, etc. could sleep with their doors unlocked. A sanctity that was destroyed by the New Orleans people. Yeah Mayor White, I remember your press conference when you announced that it was time for the New Orleans people to go home, I remember how your children said that we were all too lazy to get back on our feet because we were so dependent upon FEMA. And now Houston, you too know what it feels like to be in a home with no power, no running water, and to even be subject to a curfew in your own city. Welcome to our world, Karma is a bitch aint it?
So am I wrong because outside of my friends and people who were sympathetic to the plight of New Orleans evacuees, I don't feel sorry for folks in Houston? Sometimes fucked up things happen to good people, however, I guess this is one of those instances where the good indeed have to suffer for the bad...I guess next time you'll think before you speak.
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