Thanksgrabbing

Every year I am surprised to see at what new ideas some companies come up with to "celebrate" the holidays. Usually it ends up being an onslaught of shopping and gorging of cosumables-which I am guilty of other wise there wouldn't have been reason for me to have lost 35 pounds. When I worked at Best Buy I truly understood what "Black Friday" or what is supposed to be the busiest shopping day of the year was like. When I rolled out of bed and made it to work I had saw a line that wrapped twice around one side of the building. Some people were there the night before and camped out to be the first in line. I thought it was all crazy. One of the deals was a 27' knock off brand TV for a hundred dollars, but we only had like six of them. Another was a computer for about 300 dollars and those quickly. It seemed to me that the store had mediocre specials just to get people in the door and while people were in a shopping frenzy, they would continue drooling at the mouth and ready to buy, buy, buy. Reminds me of a particular movie. I remember thinking about the next year and being thankful I wouldn't have to do this again. I also remember the same year a woman being trampled at a Wal Mart because people were pushing and shoving to buy a thirty dollar DVD player. The other day I was surprised to see a whole entire shelf in a stationary store dedicated to Thanksgiving cards. Maybe I'm out of touch but other than sending a relative a little note I don't really see what else these cards would be good for - Dear Grandma I am thankful you are in a nursing home away from your family-love your insensitive grandson.

In the last few years I have tried to find new ways to make the holidays more meaningful. I have really tried not to be part of the cattle ranch that most malls become during the holidays. During Thanksgiving I try not to over exert myself and make time I spend family and friends more purposeful. The last several years, my wife has taken her youth group down to LA to hand out sandwiches the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I think about what the first Thanksgiving was like. I wonder how Native Americans view Thanksgiving. I wonder would it be like to serve on a reservation during Thanksgiving instead of stuffing my face. During the Christmas season I try to take advantage of my free time and visit as many family members and friends as I possibly can. I have also realized that the holidays are good times for reconciliation. I try to buy unique gifts and put time into what I am selecting for someone. I often have trouble with gift giving though. As Tony Campolo had said, why do we always have trouble with buying the person who has everything a gift? He talks about possibly giving this person nothing- that would go over great with your family/in laws real well, right? When my wife and I were at a youth pastor's conference recently we found a cool way to do some shopping this year. World Vision and Youth Specialties have this program called One Life Revolution where you can purchase useful items for families effected by AIDS in Africa. You could also pick up some Fair Trade Coffee for a loved one through Sojourners Magazine. These coming holidays I will yet again try think of creative ways on how to make them more God honoring and meaningful. Please post your ideas to share and have a safe and joyous holiday.

Procrastinators of the world unite! Later. Or (Why I am always tired.)

I realized a little while ago that procrastination isn't just for the fun loving. I had this conversation with my friend and realized that because I am so busy and have such a full schedule, that my mind, body, spirit, has used procrastination as a tool to keep my sanity. For example, there has been a few nights where I have gone to sleep late. Not because I have been searching for the cure to some disease, but simply to watch TV for a few minutes or talk with my wife. Thus making me a better husband. Often I find myself getting into deep or interesting conversations with students/friends/coworkers and I find myself to be a better teacher/friend/coworker. We all say that this isn't enough time in a day and I think we all realize that if there were more hours in the day that we would fill them up doing something else to keep us busy. So as I continue to procrastinate as I have a million things to do as you do, take to time to smell the roses, talk to God, have a laugh, make out with your spouse, and remember I too am rubbing my eyes.

Shuckin’ and Jivin’

This last week in both my grad classes we have had a discussion over what the Colorado Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry had said about "Afro American kids." In case you missed the controversy, DeBerry had responded to their lost to TCU by saying that they "had a lot more Afro-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did." "It just seems to me to be that way, Afro-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well." You can read the full story here. The usual responses were made, "I don't see what the big deal is" or "We are to sensitive these days." The conversations took different turns such as team mascots and crime loving Colombians but those could be for another blog, another time. The following is a collection of my responses and some of things I didn't get to say.

First, this issue brings up a larger question, "Are African-Americans better at sports, music, and dancing?" Which I asked in both my classes to both push the point and to confuse people - I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I leave that to Skybalon, "I wasn't trying to be a jerk", "sometimes people think I'm a jerk ", and " I kinda felt like a jerk" - love you man. So we explore the question, about the Ushers, Stevie Wonders, Alicia Keys, Michael Jordans, Magic Johnsons, Jim Browns, Dion Sanders (sorry if I'm dating myself, I really don't like sports), and Gregory Hines. A couple of people tried to explain that they heard of a physiological study that found that African Americans' muscles reacted faster and had a quicker recovery time than other ethnicities. I thought that this was absurd. In one class, I responded, "I heard a study that said Mexicans have stronger wrist muscles, so that is why they are so good at picking fruit." Everyone kind of starred at me. The girl next to me couldn't stand it any longer and told them I was kidding. In my other class I asked, "If this is true then why is it that African Americans make up 40% of the prison system and Latinos make up 30%? Are we simply better at committing crime?" My professor kind of went on a tangent about Columbia. I also mentioned that there are plenty of white folks who are good at sports. I also mentioned that it is popular music that African Americans are overrepresented in, and that every ethnicity has it's musical tradition.

Essentially I have come to understand that the reason why there is an overrepresentation of African Americans in sports and entertainment goes back to slavery. While African Americans were brought to this country it is arguable to say that many of the weak slaves died. In order to survive illness, cramped quarters, beatings, and familial separation was not easy. A few of the things that helped African-Americans to survive was faith in God and music/storytelling. According to a recent study of ethnicities that believe in God African-Americans outnumber other ethnicities at 94%. This is not say that this was a result because they were natural entertainers and extra religious but because of desperate times these became strong strands in African-American culture. Post slavery/Harlem renaissance most folks enjoyed watching black folks sing and dance for them but did not give them a seat next them. This can be read about in a portion of Langston Hughes's writing on "when Harlem was in vogue." Continuing to the early rock n roll and sports, it was the same deal but at this point African-Americans could sit in the back of the bus but not in the front. In early movies we have black face, where white actors would where molten cork on there face and act buffoonishly. Then, would have African Americans play these stereotypical roles which I think this still carries on until today. We like to watch African-Americans play a funny or dumb role and there seems to be a lot of the same typecasts. So, if we have a physically and socially limited group of people why is it a surprise that we see the statistics that we do? Does this also carry into other facets of society such as education and economics-you bet!

When we look at early sports and entertainment and how African Americans were able to use these things as outlets, this is away to explain why there would be a disproportionate number black folks singing, dancing, and playing sports. It's not that "they're a musical people" but the efforts to survive slavery and get ahead in society has been taken by larger white America and been labeled, sold, and welcomed it into our homes.

Some films and books to check out that cover these topic:
The Fifties by David Halberstam
Bamboozled
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Birth of a Nation

Can I speak to your manager?

One of my pet peeves are when people who make a scene for no good reasons. Maybe I am an overtly patient person, but there are many things that a store manager is not needed for. The scenario is a common one, the wrong food is brought out, service has been a little slow, a new person is on the job, and/or food isn't up to par. Some people just feel that they need to give the cashier, waiter/waitress, and/or manager a piece of their mind. I feel that part of the reason is that some people are just jerky in how they handle things. I think the other part is our "the customer is always right" culture. People feel more important when they have someone they can boss around. I understand that there are things there are worth complaining about but I think these are few and far in between. I once heard "Complaining isn't a spiritual gift." So I say be patient, give working folks a chance, and let's show a little humility.