PULL UP YOUR PANTS

By Vernalee

Alright, I know you have seen them - the big baggy pants that hang miles from their waist; pants where their behinds are exposed! Oh my! Some of them show the crack of their derriere. Hush yo mouth! I kid you not! This despicable appearance is unsightly to the viewers, but vogue to the wearers. To them, it is the “in thing;” the clothing of choice.

Somewhere, they forgot that our physical appearance speaks for us. It is the first impression that we show. So for those who insist upon showing their behinds and their colorful underwear …, allow me to share some enlightening poetry by Dr. Charles Beady, Jr. entitled – “Don’t Be A Fool for Hip Hop: Pull Up Yo Pants.”

Here we go! “Hey you —with yo pants down to yo knees. Some of us still respect our women. Will you pull them up please! You old enough and I know that you should know enough not to be runnin’ round with yo pants down to yo knees. Naw, I take that back what I just said to you. You aint runnin’. Yo pants won’t allow you to. If you move too fast they fall down…to the ground. I declare. I swear. I do not want to see your underwear. How do you do that anyway? How do they stay in that position? You must be a magician. If you spent as much time with yo mind as you do with your behind ..showing..I be knowin’, in time, you would have a bank! I do not want to see yo draws! Pull up yo pants please!”

Say it Dr. Beady! Spoken in the lingo of their language, your poem is on

point! I’m clapping my hands right now. You are definitely a rapper of the truth.

So I end by asking for endorsements. For those who have seen those despicable sagging pants with either the person’s behind or their unsightly underwear showing, and wish they would have enough decency or sense to pull them up, shout Amen! The above poem is a Excerpt from “Don’t Be a Fool for Hip Hop: Pull Up Yo Pants” By Dr. Charles H. Beady, Jr. who served as President for Piney Woods Schools for 20 years. Piney Woods, located in Mississippi, is one of only four historically Black boarding high schools in the United States. Photo reprint: www.softpedia.com; www.fountainiss.com

SPEAK YOUR MIND

By Vernalee

To speak your mind is to say what you think about something very directly. Some folks put a colloquial spin to the words with the street vernacular such as “Have your say; let your voice be heard; make it plain, or sound off.” To speak your mind is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes it is easier to say what people want to hear rather than tell them the truth. Particularly this is the case for people who are relatively close to you. It may be hard to rationalize, because the same folks that you may cushion your comments toward don’t care what they say to you. They just blurt it out; whether distasteful or not. Should you do the same? Your rationale for holding back may not add up. What’s even worse is not telling them what you truthfully think! It’s irrational. Since we’re never too old to start over, maybe, we should do what the experts say and apply these rules: 1. Don’t overly worry about how people might react to you speaking your mind. 2. Don’t let aggressive people intimidate you. 3. Remain calm. 4. Be diplomatic and tasteful. 5. Speak clearly and make yourself heard without shouting. 6. Practice speaking your mind around your family and friends. They do with you. 7. Believe in yourself. You can do it! It is so amazing why we hold back the truth. The truth is such a great tool. It may hurt someone’s feelings, however, if we don’t tell people the truth, we are being deceitful. No one wins! When we are not truthful, who is hurting who? The truth is always the best path! Have your say! Speak your mind! Photo credit: www.pininterest.com

DEALING WITH A PHONY

Can you recognize a phony instantly or does it take time? Most people will never admit to being phony because it is not flattering! Not at all! Who wants to say that they’re a fraud or not genuine? No one!

Being phony means saying one thing and doing another. It includes being exceptionally kind in the public, but mean spirited when not in the limelight. It includes professing to be holier than thou, quoting scriptures off the top of your head, attending church every Sunday, but not helping your fellow man/woman when you have ample resources to do so. Wearing blinders so that you can see only what you wish to view is part of the phoniness program; turning your head in the opposite direction is the other. Why be accountable is their thought? The true phonies may never admit who they are, but eventually their disguises are revealed. While they are busy fooling us, they forgot one key thing. One person sees all acts of pretentiousness, hypocrisy, phoniness, and selfishness.

God!

With him, no one can pretend. If you are bold enough to try, be my guest. Rest assured, you will be found out! Photo reprint: www.jacolynmurphy.com