Lightening Destroys Jesus Statue in Ohio

The statue that has grasp travelers attention on I-75 outside of Cincinnati, Ohio since 2004, was stuck by lightening on Monday. All that remained of the 6-story statue of Jesus Christ with his arms lifted toward heaven, was its steel-frame.

It's strange how this $250,000 symbol of salvation and redemption, was destroyed through burning.


The Columbus Dispatch's Article (Click to Read)

Sports, Drugs & Rapping...

   Two weeks ago I received a friend request on facebook. I was excited to see that it was a friend of mine from middle school, that I hadn't spoken with in almost five years.

   Lately we've been talking on fb chat while we're at work, and it's nice catching up on each others lives. I'm proud of him because he's really pursuing his rapping career, which I knew he really enjoyed. He gave me a mix tape back in the 7th grade! 

   As I was reading his bio on his label's site, and I was frustrated. I feel as if all Black men who have a desire to be an M.C., have this same generic life story. Granted it may be true, but it's depressing, and it starts a little like this: Young "Malcolm" grew up without a father and was raised by the streets. He desired to be the next Michael Jordan, but knew he had to make money and wanted to flash nice rings, and chains like the men he saw in his neighborhood. School wasn't the answer and Malcolm turned to selling drugs.

   This post is not to disrespect anyone, but as a Black women it makes my heart hurt. I want better for our men, for our brothers, our uncles and our sons. I want the path that leads toward becoming an M.C., a doctor, a lawyer or a professional athlete, not be be one of a hard life. 

   If raised by single mothers, I want them to be strong women, who tell their young Black sons, they can be anything they desire. Not that they will be just like their no good fathers.

   I read an article a few weeks ago on how rich kids like Diggy and Drake were taking over the "game", replacing artist, that really had a story of a struggle to tell. 

   Is that what Hip Hop and being an M.C. is all about? In order to have credibility and to have the ability to truly rhyme, you must have come from "nothing"?

  Reality is that some will have this life that is painted on television by the media (of which I am a part of), but I just hope that these same people desire more for their children. 

   My friend has a son, who by the way is adorable from the pictures I've seen. It's nice to hear him talk about him, and how someone so small has had such a grand impact on his life.

   If it is true, that rich kids are taking over the game, I wonder if it has anything to do with their parents making a change. Are parents like "Malcolm" wanting more for the one's that had such a huge impact on their lives. And are they refusing to allow them to live that same rough life that they rhymed about so many years ago? 

   If that is the case, has Hip Hop lost its originality?

Rue McClanahan dies at 76

I remember watching Golden Girls re-runs since I was 10-years-old, if not younger. I still catch myself watching the episodes on Lifetime, over and over again, some that I've already seen. For those of us who enjoy the saucy older women, who live together, we could always catch a laugh, at whatever Blanche Deveraux had planned for her new "man friend". This morning Rue McClanahan (Blanche) past away from a stroke. Below is a link for more information. However, her death will definitely not stop me from watching one of my favorite t.v. shows.

'Golden Girls' star Rue McClanahan dies from stroke; Betty White last surviving member of TV show

The Effects of Slavery, Do I Know Who I Am?

Yesterday I didn't find out that I was responsible for doing obits until about noon. It was frustrating seeing as how I usually start them at 9 a.m. on the Saturday's that I work for Tiffany.

But as I started I ran across the name James R. Webb Jr., and I had to stop and take a deep breathe. The obit was submitted from a Little Rock funeral home but it said, that he was originally from Macon, Ga.

Growing up I've always felt as if a void existed in my life, from the lack of knowing about my family tree. Trice is my maiden last name, yet my knowledge of my grandfather's family is almost little or none. About three years ago I met some of my cousins, after we began the planning for an annual family reunion. I always wondered why after almost 20 years I had just met this people that I share a last name with.

My mom's side of the family isn't as bad. Every third Saturday in July for as long as I can remember has been our annual Cadwell/Burch Family Reunion. This has been the day that my family looks forward to, like a birthday or Christmas.

The Cadwell side comes from my mom's dad. His mother's maiden name was Cadwell, and it's a large part of who I know myself to be.

Getting back to the Webb Obit. I was named after my grandmother-my mom's mom. And her maiden name is Webb. The oldest living relative in her family is my grandmother's Uncle- James Webb Jr. So do you see why I was a little caught off guard? Thinking that I had just received an obit for my great-great uncle. That was a little distrubing.

As I read through it, names and cities started to match and I called my mom and really started to feel a little uneasy. After she spoke with my Aunt Eddie-my grandmother's sister, we had a little clarity.

My Great-Great Uncle James is the son of James Webb Sr., and he the son of my Great-Great-Great Grandfather who was a slave in Macon, Ga. and as was common, received his last name from his slave master.

I finally went to the funeral website and pulled up the picture of this man who I assumed was going to be tall, slender and with dark complexion. I was wrong. The picture of saw was of a 93-year-old bald white man, with a tan suite on.

I was a little relieved.But, we are sure that he is a member of the family that owned mine. Because of his age, he and my great-great grandfather would have known each other. He has children in Little Rock and I almost want to contact them. Just to sit down and learn more about my history.

But this made me wonder. Being in Arkansas everyone asks me if I'm related to these Trice's or those. I have no idea! My mommy can go back almost five generations on her father and mothers side. However, I don't even know where to look or begin.

I've asked my granddad at times about his brothers and sisters, and it's hard for him to name them all, due to deaths at a young age and just the effects of time.

I wonder sometimes, am I any less of a person, because I can not trace my roots back to even three generations?