Why Ferguson Had To Burn

The jury's decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for firing six shots into eighteen-year-old Michael Brown could go down as the the worst judicial response to racism in U.S. history. Peaceful protest is expected from the people of Ferguson, Missouri; and one can certainly expect that non-peaceful protest will exist as well. Unfortunately, there truly may be a need for both.

The biggest misconception that the general public has about the protesters in Ferguson is that there is a desire for an "eye for an eye" type of resolve. Although there are people who want Darren Wilson to suffer, the reality is that all the people of Ferguson really want is for the world to see that racism is happening in their town.

"We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen." 

Those were the recent words of Michael Brown's family, in addition to a request for a peaceful resolution. President Obama and U.S. Attorney Eric Holder have voiced their concerns regarding non-peaceful demonstration; however, peaceful protest have been active for months yet the jury's outcome was one that many had expected. There is a need for an outlet in the town of Ferguson, and sadly the only one which appears to get the most attention is one of violence. Are visuals of war zone activity necessary for people to see that there are position needs for special investigators to look into particular matters such is this one? Surely, one would assume that such logical ideas would be an immediate response to a police killing of a teenager. Unfortunately, such resolves do not happen in places like Ferguson, Missouri.

Peaceful demonstrations will help bring a conclusion to this dilemma; but they will not be effective until the powers-that-be view the smoldering embers that was once a town's factory, warehouse, or restaurant.  It appears that many have forgotten that a unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a man who was hired to serve and protect the citizens of that town. It also seems as if the jury there had forgotten that the people of Ferguson are no longer going to witness the senseless killings of its young black men.  

Why It Took An Army To Bring Down Bill Cosby

The story had been alive for years that actor, comedian, and philanthropist, Bill Cosby, had been drugging women and taking advantage of them. Some women reported that he would pretend to be their confidant and life coach who would steer them into the entertainment business. Other women reported that the drugging was simply his standard method for obtaining sex. However, it wasn't until after the interview with former model Janice Dickinson's on "Entertainment Tonight" did the masses take the matter seriously.

Some people know Bill Cosby from the days of the television series "I Spy" and his creative social cartoon "Fat Albert." But most of America know him as the loving father Heathcliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." In addition to those works, there have also been a slew of other television shows and movies which Cosby has starred. In his later years, Cosby has been considered an educator and a philanthropist who has been paid to talk about societal problems in America. Beloved by white America for his comedy and fatherly roles, including one as the popular host for, "Kids Say The Darndest Things," such allegations of rape and sexual assault appeared to be of no interest to anyone. Cosby had already lost favoritism with most black Americans due to years of his criticism of blacks on issues pertaining to education and culture. Even today, more white Americans come to Cosby's defense than do black Americans.

It was only two months ago when another rape allegation surfaced concerning Bill Cosby. The story lingered in the news for about a week or so before drifting away. When Cosby himself requested that he wanted to be projected in social media memes (an idea or style expressed by way of using pictures with captions), it appeared as if Cosby was purposely shooting himself in the foot as the public brought more attention to the accusations. However, when Dickinson recently voiced her opinions on the matter, the issue became a career-altering one for Cosby. The television series "The Cosby Show" alone had generated well over $300,000,000 dollars; therefore those who were financially affiliated with it certainly did not want to rock that money-making boat. But, it was Cosby's request for attention fused with the strength of social media, in addition to Janice Dickinson's comments, that forced TV Land, Netflix, and NBC to cancelled its recent showings. Cosby's new project has also been scrapped due to the popularity of the topic.

So why did it take so long for the matter to be taken seriously?  Was there simply too much money involved for anyone to care that a celebrated figure had been drugging and rapping women for years?  Did the women involved not have enough clout to get Cosby's crimes acknowledged?  Oddly enough, as all of this unravels, it still feels as if we still won't get an understanding of who the true victim really is. In the meantime, let us at least seem content with the idea that due diligence is finally taking its course.

The Reason We've Given Up On Keyshia Cole

She has 3 platinum albums and sings in a way that can easily be described as soul fused with raw emotion. Keyshia Cole has entered the hearts of millions, yet somehow has not been able to stay there. Cole isn't a menace to society nor is she an attention-seeker looking for the next opportunity to discard her clothes.  So how could this songstress so quickly fall from many people's lists of favorite people?

Keyshia Cole appeared on the national scene with her debut album, The Way It Is.  She has a total of six albums with half of those selling over a million units. Cole was one of America's favorite star who represented her life, her culture, and her city to the fullest. She is also known for dauntlessly displaying her true self on reality television. But is it Keyshia Cole's "realness" that has placed her in the public eye as being inconsistent, or maybe "too hood" (as if such a term exist)?

Cole married professional basketball athlete, Daniel Gibson, and seemingly poured all into a relationship that eventually ended in failure. She's criticized for making comments about singers Beyonce and Michelle Williams. Her judgement is questioned again when she appeared at rapper Birdman's condo and gets arrested for attacking one of his female companions. We invited her in to our lives and then we discarded her just as quickly for doing things that most of us claim that we would do but probably would not.

I am not Keyshia Cole's #1 Fan nor will I ever be. That title probably belongs to a little girl in Cole's hometown who sees nothing but God's graces when she stares at the artist's postered face on her bedroom wall. However, I do confess to being someone who knows passion personified in a human form when I see it. Keyshia Cole is someone who will respond outwardly (and sometimes publicly) to matters without totally spiraling away from her ability to self-reason.

A similar type of person was introduced to me in a novel years ago entitled The Sorrows of Young Werther, a book written  by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In that novel the main character, Werther (pronounced Vector), would not allow his passion for the woman he loved be constrained. Young Werther inhaled the essence of his love-interest on a daily basis ultimately displaying true love in its paramount. It's a book of which one learns that a closed mouth and a closed heart proves unsuccessful in the areas of true love and conviction. Keyshia Cole is indeed like the character Werther. Her voice is strong and her actions are even stronger when it relates to something that she deems important.

I proclaim that Keyshia Cole is certainly not a "hood chick" who can't control herself, nor do I consider her to be a pampered artist. We need to support her for being quite the opposite. Cole is someone who is simply led by her heart; and surely that's a character-trait which should be respected. Or maybe we should give credit to another of her lesser known qualities: the ability to disregard her heart's cravings when love no longer beckons its way. I'm sure that talent alone should make us all want to buy Keyshia Cole posters.