"Kwame A River"

I'm on my way back to sleep, it's late on a Monday night / early Tuesday morning and I really have no business up. But, of course, I'm up surfin' around, lookin' at some news, and I found some. It may not be the latest, but it's a story I heard that I thought would just be a joke. Apparently, they were serious. According to Fox 2 news Detroit website:

"Kwame A River" is an original play satirizing Kwame Kilpatrick's tenure as Mayor of Detroit. It is a hilarious spoof that answers the questions you've always wanted to know about Kilpatrick's time as mayor, from security guards to stripper parties.

"Kwame a River" features dozens of local characters that will be familiar to Detroiters, from Kwame scandal icons like Christine Beatty, Carlita Kilpatrick and Mike Cox to Detroit cultural icons like Carmen Harlen, Chuck Gadica, Huel Perkins, Bill Bonds, Mel Farr, and attorney Sam Bernstein.

"Kwame a River" comically exposes the secret meeting where Kwame seduced Gov. Jennifer Granholm to stay in office, the advice Kwame was given by Dennis Archer and the ghost of Coleman A. Young, the anger management session that Kwame took his security force to, and the rumored party at the Manoogian mansion.

Me personally, I'm not laughing. I'm sitting here, wondering how long before mean in all black SUV's pull up outside the Second City-Detroit stage and have a few "conversations" with the actors. I understand tryin' to light of a bad situation, but this is just a poor attempt to make more fun of a man and the city he once represented. Do they really think that because they're fro Detroit that makes it better? That's like a white guy telling a racist joke and because one black person laugh, it's alright for them all to laugh. I've been in Detroit all my life, and only now do I want to do something about the way things are goin'. But, politics are not for me. Makin' contributions to worthy causes, that's me. Standin' up for what I believe is best for the city, that's me. Returnin' after college to be an example of the good within Detroit, that's me. Those little things in themselves may not seem like much, but let enough people realize the inevitability of this situation, and we may be able to do something before it's too late.


Kwame Kilpatrick became Detroit's youngest mayor when elected in 2001. Kilpatrick beat out Gil Hill and Freman Hendrix to secure two successful terms and Detroit mayor. In that time, most of what the mayor did for the city was trampled by malicious scandals and bad press. Not to sugarcoat anything, Kilpatrick was embroiled in the Manoogian Mansion party controversy, the murder of Tamara Greene, Whistleblower trial (where police officers claimed to be fired due to an internal investigation of the mayor), and the infamous Text-messaging scandal with chief of staff Christine Beatty. It's not my place to give my personal opinion about any of these issues, due to the fact that I don't know all the facts. When I have the time I will look closer into each of these and take a stance on them. For now, I will say that the longer these things continue to be a factor, Detroit will be on the receiving in of high criticism and lost hope. You can call him the "Hip-Hop mayor", like hip-hop implies unsuccessful, if you want to, but I call him an example. A good and bad example of how you should feel about where you come from. See, I have a personal stake in this somehow because the former mayor always reminded me of my brother-in-law. Not in how he looked or anything, but how he carried himself. A younger man, with a business savvy who knew how to handle his business. That's how I look at my bro. He's a deacon, and makes bein' a deacon seem cool. Just as Kwame made bein' mayor seem like the right thing to do. So with that, Kwame gave me ambition to not just talk about makin' a difference, but bein' about it (excluding any illegal business that may or may not have taken place.)


Anyway, I'm done for now. On a related note, Christine Beatty began her 120 day sentence for lying under oath on yesterday. The former mayor is expected to have completed his jail sentencing sometime in February. Awaiting him is 5 more years of probation, after time, only then will be able to ever run for any office again. But honestly, there are two reasons I'd never run for anything else if I were him. Once reason is because I know I would be disappointed because of the lack of respect, and the other is because my colleagues would not trust me nor any of my decisions. That's okay. People like this always seem to bounce back from adversity somehow or another. I heard some black people tell me once, "You can't keep a good nigga down!" Maybe that's the high point of all this, and if so, at least there is a high point. Until next time, everyone, please, do not be a failure!

Home is where the Hatred is

Everyone, I would again like to apologize for my long absence. I just got back to Detroit today, and after a long Finals week (which I barely survived), I was just really tired. My mind wasn't focused on what it should have been. But, I'm back now, and hopefully still with your attention. I want to start by displayin' the beautiful gifts I received for Christmas from my bay. With the distance between us, we have to exchange early. Before the semester ends. I loved them. Pretty much everything I asked for, and it wasn't even about the physical gifts themselves, it was more about her willingness to make me happy in the ways she does. I really appreciate all the things she does for me, above and beyond the monetary value of anything in the picture. Although, she has helped me out so much with these things. The Audacity of Hope written by our President-Elect Barack Obama, I asked for because the man is a true role model and a testament to the fact that, indeed, we can do anything we put our minds to. Also, readin' his book will help me form the structure of a book I want to write. 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West. I haven't listened to it all the way just yet, but I can't to listen and love it, so I can review it, and shove his talent down the throats of his haters and megacritics. Also, I just appreciate good/great music. I have been blessed to understand the difference, and even though its harder to find that now-a-days, its a true pleasure when I do. The Dark Knight, one of the best movies I've ever watched. That goes beyond comic-movies, Batman movies, or anything. Simply, one of the best movies I've ever watched. I don't think I can stress that enough. Just wait 'til I get to watch it with all the extended features and extra footage. Hours of time to myself right there. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is the new installment of the Mortal Kombat franchise. Technically, Mortal Kombat 8 if you're countin'. Anyway, despite what review say, I'm havin' hella fun playin' already. I didn't want to put down the joystick. The story was gettin' good, and I was eager to see what was goin' to happen next. Plus, gettin' to beat up Superman with Batman in a realistic way is a great concept in and of itself. The card she gave me was beautiful. Her words really touched me, which made openin' it first, not only polite, but well worth it. It is just as important to me as anything else she gave me. I want to thank you again bay. Everything was beautiful. I hope you enjoy your Baby Phat outfit, with your new purse, while bumpin' your new Beyonce' cd (Had to throw in what I bought her lol!).



Now, the thought provokin' part of today's conversation. Home is where the hatred is:

My Way Home (Feat. Common) - Kanye West
Since the last time I was in Detroit (a couple of weeks ago), I had been thinkin' about how I felt about it. And honestly, I was down because things around me just don't seem like home anymore. My room may still be there, and my family, but a home is more than that. A home is more than a place to stay, its a place of my affections. I feel like I may have turned my back on my city, and in turn, it's grown cold. It's changed a bit, and that small bit seems so unfamiliar to me now. Family members have grown since I've last seen them. It was only a few months, but everyday, growth and maturity happens, and I hope in the course of that they learned something new. I hope that my absence will be used as a way to show them what decisions they should make in their lives, and how to somewhat avoid the bad ones. The major difference between this trip and the last is that my father is back from California this time. It's bittersweet to see him back because we've grown so far apart recently. There's no animosity between us, but it's just weird that your father is "that guy" in California. I would never make assumptions about his absence, but I'm not stupid. I like to think of myself as a pretty intelligent young man, I would hope to be treated like that. But, I won't speculate on anything specific. I told my moms that I didn't want to ask him for anything, because I didn't care if he came back. I didn't. So after sittin' down and talkin' with him for an hour or so, I realized that I wasn't as mad at him for leavin' as I was for just how awkward he seems to make things sometimes. Like, it's difficult to understand what kind of situation is goin' on in this house. I talk to mama, and I talk to daddy, yet I don't know if they are even a family. I've seen this a lot and I understand that they are adults, I am too. But, it's hard because I grew up a mama's boy, who was spoiled by both parents, and my only memories are of all of us close and happy. So now that I can see clearly, it's a difficult to adjust my feelings. I'm sure as I grow and get used to it, things will be better. After talkin' with you all, I feel better about the situation. I still don't feel at home, but I'll take stayin' at the house until God handles things in my favor.


Well everyone, it's cold outside, so wrap up. I'm in Detroit, so it you're here, then I'm here. I will be back with more to talk about soon. Reviews, thoughts, and answering any questions you may have with the The Gentleman Perspective. Until next time, be good, and don't be a failure.