One Week Til School Starts: Umoja Comes to West L.A. College!

Turn around, and summer's almost gone...

Sept. 2, 2008 at West Los Angeles College, we officially kick off the Umoja Village, a special program designed to retain and improve the grades and transfer rates of African American students in community colleges. Yes, we are at the bottom.

Here is a link to the website I designed for them and I will be teaching English 21, the class that prepares you for English 28, to be taught by Clare Norris. Both of us are prepping the students to pass English 101, which is the gate that keeps students out of the 4 year institution.

We (the folks in this picture at our week-long training for Umoja) are going to need your help from time to time and I will be letting you know when.

Isidra Person-Lynn,
Instructor

PS:
Still not too late to enroll! Make sure the un-enrolled young person in your life at least listens to the audio interview with the Financial Aid Director. Good info there!

My tribute to Issac Hayes

No, I did not know Isaac Hayes, but I felt him. Over and over and over again. He had the voice of the perfect man.

And that voice was fresh in my head because for the last day and a half, I have been working on a video to be posted for the Angel City Classic, where we were going to have him come and we all would pay tribute to him during the 5th quarter, after the big game on Sept. 27 th.

I thought my work was done (producing video is a butt-numbing experience in which you are glued to your padded chair for hours on end), when I got a call from Gail saying she'd heard another Black famous person passed. (Bernie Mac had just passed the day or two before.) I scoured the 'Net. Seeing nothing, I checked my email and shockingly, thanks to a Yahoo News headline, I learned that the other famous black man who had passed was Isaac Hayes. Our beloved Isaac Hayes.

Shockwaves coursed through my body. I still haven't recovered. Somebody shake me; wake me when its over, please.

Ironically, the two had starred in a movie Soul Men along with Samuel Jackson and John Legend. That movie took a major blow losing two stars.

We met Isaac Hayes once, years ago when my kids were middle-aged. He sauntered down the hall of KACE. I went to introduce them and asked them if they knew who he was. My son said "Yeah, we know him from 'I'm gonna Get You Sucka!'" and fell out laughing, going to give him a low five. I had not even seen the movie but the younger generation knew Isaac Hayes. (Yes, he was in South Park too, but that was later.)

Angel City Classic's Tribute to Isaac Hayes
So, now we are really beefing up this tribute to Isaac Hayes. He won't be there like we planned but hopefully you will. We want it to look just like it did that day he stretched his arms to the sky



with the back drop of 90,000 black folks looking on. We want to hear some of the songs, and spread the hot-buttered soul he made us feel.
Our condolences, Hayes family. We loved him too.
Stay tuned for more www.AngelCityClassic.com (better yet sign up for the email list and enter to win the BMW while you are there!)

Isidra Person-Lynn

PS: Isaac starred in a Heart Clinic commercial launched during the Olympics. Reading the initial reports, how ironic.

Growing up at the Expo: Where are they now?

These are the core friends of my son Jarim's (center--on cellphone)...an interesting group that I just want to publicly thank for being there from the 4th grade til today.

Although Jarim has four brothers, he chose these "brotherfriends."

Other than Duan, his cousin, (second from right) who he has been tight with since birth, the twins--Jemuel (extreme right) and Jamin were constant companions and visitors at the house. Brian, (back left), Robert and DeAndre (not pictured) and the twins were all friends Jarim met at Windsor Hills Math Science and Aerospace Magnet.

Duan is a career Navy man who just got back from an 8 month tour to Iraq.

We finally got the kids in the magnet in the 4th grade and Jarim and Jaaye (2nd grade) had to be transferred over from Wilshire Crest. Jarim, daunted by the new school, decided to bring "something" with him to help his introductions go smoothly. I learned about that "something" when I got a call at work, and was told my son had brought his hamster to school in his backpack. He was the talk of the campus.

Thankfully, that was the one and only call I ever got from that principal on Jarim.

The fellas all bonded and supported each other through state reports, toy inventions, comic book conventions, girls and first cars together.

The one thing in common they had was working at the Los Angeles Black Business Expo every year. Barbara Lindsey started that tradition, hiring all five of my sons, and Harold Hambrick continued it hiring their friends as well.

Jarim really absorbed the entrepreneurial spirit being around all those business owners with A-type personalities, and has been an exhibitor now for a few years.

He got his start when learning about how his Aunt Sherese's class made a load of money selling candy at the school fair. Jarim went to Smart and Final and bought a case of Snickers and Reese's Butter Cups. etc. and started selling candy on his way to school. Jarim always had money but I thought he was also spending it til the day we were at CompUSA. I was wistfully looking at the new computers. He said "Why don't you buy one?" I replied "I can't afford a Mac." And he said "Mom, why do you want a Mac? They are too expensive." Gesturing with his hands, he said "look at the tiny Mac section then look at allll of these PC's. Get a PC."

The boy was making sense, but I couldn't even afford a PC. Noticing my reluctance, he said "I'll loan you the money."
I sniffed, "Yeah, right $1100." Without batting an eye, he said , "Yes." The teenager had been saving his money.

And when we went home he pulled out $1100 (and had more to spare). A true budding businessman, I signed a repayment plan and a new world opened up for both of us.

At first, I taught Jarim what I knew, but before long I was asking him how to do things. And that is the day I started my PR business. It was a good thing, because my 9 year career at KACE FM was about to come to a close.

But back to the boys. They were cool nerds, but not in the traditional sense, because the girls loved these guys. But while our other sons were involved in sports or student government, they loved technology, gaming and comic books. And they engaged their brains.

When Jarim earned enough money to buy his first car, he picked up the twins and Robert and they went to the mall. When they parked they got out. As they closed the doors and checked their appearances in the smoky windows of the shiny Acura Vigor, Jarim asked them "Do you see any parents?" They replied, "No, do YOU see any parents?" Jarim said "No." And they all shared a heady laugh, welcoming their independence.

I never forget one year at the Expo when it was mild-mannered Jarim's job was to keep the front carpeted area clear. A lady let her son do cartwheels across the area. Jarim told the boy he couldn't do that and here comes the mother yelling and cursing saying "how dare you address my son!" She got so worked up, she pulled out her cell phone saying she was calling Johnnie Cochran. Luckily, I happened by at that moment to rescue him. Jarim was too through.

All these young men are doing well, and are still in touch. I love running into them out in the community doing good work, but I am fuzzy on the specifics. I do know Jamin (center bottom) moved to Hawaii and has been working there for eons. Jemuel is an accomplished video game tester. And DeAndre (El Prez) is still working on his rap career.

I am of course more familiar with what Jarim is doing: he enjoyed a long career as a popular DJ, now in early retirement (something he learned from Totally Entertainment, another Expo exhibitor). He went on to be the first African American advertising executive at Deutsch (Remember Donnie Deutsch--his company?). He now owns a home in Northridge (along with Duan) where he attended CSUN. He loves investing and that is what consumes his days.

With all being said about young men these days, I just wanted to remind you that your son's friends are a big influence on their lives, so welcome them into your home, give them rides and help guide them, because how they go, so will your son. Thanks guys! You make me (and all of us) proud.

Love, Mom.

Time Keeps on Slipping...Into the Future

Whoever starts a blog spends the rest of their time trying to find time to update it. But I am here now, cooling my heels in a library in the City of Orange, as I wait for something big to happen. Here are little chunks of my thoughts:

Errant Thought: Be among the first to enter to win the Brand Spanking New BMW 1 Series at the Angel City Classic on Sept. 27, 2008. Go to www.angelcityclassic.com and click the banner ad to the left that asks, "Are You the 1?" While you are there, order your tickets so you can be there because you must be present to win. When you win, tell me so I can let folks know you heard it here first.

This week I have been at church almost every evening for Vacation Bible School. Pastor Norman Johnson at First New Christian seems to have extended the reins over there to let the young speak to young: His son, Norman Junior taught, as well as the son of State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, Sinclair Ridley-Thomas, who left this morning to return to Morehouse for football camp. On Sept. 27 Sinclair and his team Morehouse will be playing the game on the almighty Coliseum field for the Angel City Classic sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group. Can you imagine his excitement? Cool as a cucumber, you wouldn't even know he was a senior in college. He is just the epitome of cool as he counsels kids, folds and unfolds chairs and does the work of the church.

My son, Jaaye Person-Lynn, was the third young man tapped to teach and he has taken to this like fish to water. And this is how I came to be there everyday. Every night he teaches the audience has grown. Last night the young talked about being Young Gifted and Black. He invited Kenyon Ates to speak along with Sinclair and another young man and young woman. Everyone was so well spoken and had a lot on their minds. The classroom was packed. Tonight they talk about leadership.

Errant Thought: One day, in a few more blogs I will tell you why Jaaye doing this was so remarkable, but for now that will have to wait. Remind me, if I forget.

The thing is Pastor Johnson has been touched or something because his sermons have been so on point it is amazing. He was always a great teacher, but now, I can't explain it. He is on a mission.

One session I sat in on was for parents to read the writing on the wall. A trio of police officers (looked like the Mod Squad, lacking a woman) came and told us so much about gangs I'd never noticed. For example, most of us know that gangs like wearing sports caps. But if your child is all of a sudden clamoring for Houston Astros gear, beware. (They wear orange t-shirts to match--so it ain't always about the red and the blue). Your cherub may be one of the Hoover Crips. Don't believe me or the police? Just google the subject. I found these two articles and they aren't even talking about Los Angeles. Gangs are nationwide:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4111/nogangs.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_sports_stores_still_sell_gear_in_gang_co-1.html

The largest gang (and it is international) is the 18th Street Gang, which is largely Latino. Even if you do not have children, you need to be aware because it could dictate where you move, how you dress and more. You may just happen to like the Astros, but beware.

Pastor Johnson said he wants the church to do something about this youth violence we are experiencing. He wants to reclaim the kids who feel they have no alternative to gang life. Jaaye sees them every day as his law career has him going into lockup every day. They act hard, but their lonely faces crumple up when they realize that they are looking at 25 to life when all they wanted was a little protection. Now nobody is coming to see them because since many of their homeboys have records, felons can't visit an inmate and if their families were broken before, they surely won't have family support once locked-up. It's too expensive even for the most well meaning family: collect calls, ordering food (yes, food...what they are rationed is not enough) and toiletries. The time and gas to drive hours into the desert to see them for a couple of hours alone is hard on the average human.

It makes sense to save them now. Like I always say, start with the one near you. That nephew that niece, the neighbor's kid or your own child can be an investment in your future, heck all of our futures.

One young man who was doing just that is Brandon Walker. Brandon headed up the Teen Clinic at T.H.E. Clinic, my former client. A robust guy, he acted in the plays to let the public know about AIDS and HIV and he was a creative graphic designer, designing the T-shirts for the annual summit which should be coming up next month. I said was because Brandon, who had been awaiting a kidney transplant, finally got that call. He was so ecstatic and emotional on his way to the hospital to get it, he thought all those years of struggling were over. But, his body rejected it, and he passed away a few days ago. He was in his late 20's and married, but now the world will never know what this young man was capable of. Rest in peace, Brandon.

So, who is the boss in your house hold?

Teaching Black History to Young People

So, who is the boss in your house hold? Maybe it is time to take a stand.

Dear Parent, is this your Saturday morning? You get up picking up after kids who are furiously wiping out some life form on the video game you worked hard to give them…You don’t want to fuss. You reason, "They are on vacation."

You want to take them to Dr. Kwaku’s class, but your child is shy, or would pitch a fit, hang back and you don’t feel like the bother.

Correct me if I am wrong but this is NOT the way you grew up. Your Mom had a list of chores to do before you could play or watch TV or go outside (go-outside???What a concept!)

You picked up a lot of Black history because at Sunday Dinner that’s what the older folks talked about. In church, the preacher combined the scripture with what was going on now and what went on way back yonder. And some adult dragged you somewhere totally against your will--whether it was church or vacation bible school or to head south for the summer. You didn’t want to do it (at first), you protested vehemently (albeit inwardly) but when you came home you were excited and breathless and couldn’t wait to tell your friends about fishing with Grandpa or picking quarts of blueberries…of eating homemade rolls or that boy you met at Vacation Bible School.

You might have proudly shown your house made of Popsicle sticks... or your decorated milk cartons. You wanted a mason jar to drink out of like grandpa's version of the Big Gulp and you appreciated him taking you to hunt possum. Ok…so that was my life, but can I get a witness?

I too leaned toward the path of least resistance. Since my Mom had that chore list written neatly every Saturday morning I thought "I will never make my kids do that kind of labor. " But as you must know, there is nothing more laborious than having worked all week, and tripping over a messy house and you can’t get any assistance from anyone. The knack of it is if you start with the list while they are young and the kids think this is just the way it is, and automatically they will do chores for themselves when they grow up, making the lives of their spouses easier and more pleasant.

The first year of Black History 4 Young People (BH4YP) the defiant ones—the parents who got the memo that if you want your kids exposed to certain things, sometimes you have to drag them—and their kids came silently kicking and screaming. The beautiful part was by the end of the 6 weeks, they were involved, and enjoyed the discussions. That year we had a range of students-- from private school kids who grew up in the hills above to 'Hood to the kids in alternative school. Some had already found trouble and a caring Aunt or Uncle or Foster parent sponsored them in order to wrest them from going down life's thorny path.

For a growing number of students, their parents had worked hard to get them into a nice neighborhood only to be alarmed that the children they were raising had taken on the traits and attitudes of their nonblack classmates. These parents drove great distances to expose their children to ideas of history and culture.

It did not matter. All students were well-behaved, inquisitive and a joy to have around. We never had a fight, a discipline problem or a one mumbling 4-letter word. Dr.Kwaku told them he would treat them as college students. If they needed to go to the rest room, he pointed the way. I remember the first young person tested the system, got up, looked around, sat back down, then got up and smiling ear to ear walked to the rest room. Freedom! (Of course, that year the rest rooms were 20 feet away. But when we moved to Audubon Middle School and this year to Kaos, we simply had student teachers posted along the way.)

The second year we had a number of students receive their DNA tests. How fulfilling to watch them make a connection to a certain area of Africa. Our son Jaaye once said of his trip to South Africa that the African students used to ask those from America what they considered themselves. They replied "Africans just like you." The continental African would laugh and say “Oh yeah, what part of Africa?” And that’s on point because many of us consider all of Africa home. Now, thanks to www.AfricanAncestry.com, many know they have a connection with a specific area and are planning to visit there or help built infrastructures there.

But I digress. When the world complains about Black youth today who do not want to work, and who don’t appreciate their educations, that fault really did start with us. We went too far overboard when we sought to escape the tyranny of yesteryear parents. We extracted the teeth from parenting and abdicated our power. We all have reminisced that back-in-the-day Ms Carolyn could whup you just like your Mama could. Today we do not even know our neighbors names. The network has too many holes and kids are falling through.

So, go ahead and force the issue. You spend more on a pair of tennis shoes ($60 for the class) and they will outgrow those in 3 months. However, they will never outgrow the ideas taught to them by Dr. Kwaku. They may not understand everything but it will stay with them and serve them at the right time.

Perhaps the most important thing to note is that your 12-18 years olds are closer to leaving you now than ever. This time frame is the last time you will have direct influence over them. Use it now, because once they head off to college or the military, they will sample other cultures, races and ways folks do things and sometimes get confused. At this point, they will either go buck wild because they did not get that home training or they will live on the principles you’ve taught them and experiences you've exposed them to.

Taking back the parental reigns will serve generations.

Time for the Black Man

Recently, my youngest son came in all aglow saying..."Mom! It's our time! It's the Black man's time. Who would ever think we'd have a Black man running for president, two black governors, the man at the top of golf is black and the team that took the NBA championship was all black with a black coach! In Boston!" As he added Lil Wayne's album success and more, I could not help engaging in his enthusiasm so, right on, my brothers! I gotta give y'all your props. When many said it couldn't be done, y'all are doing the danged thing!


Cheering for the Black Coach
I am a Laker fan. Period. I'm the kind that is thankful the fellas got there and am not embarrassed at all by game 6. But, I thought we were all past cheering on the Black coach because he was Black, but I'll be darned if many of my Laker fan friends didn't jump ship and side with "The Brothers from Boston." Makes me wonder if what happened won't send Phil Jackson in search of some more black power. Now I love Sasha, (Boo-Ya Chic!), Mihms, Radmanovich, Gasol and Walton --all white players. I have thanked them all during the season for saving the day. It did look a bit odd when Coach had what looked like an all white squad on the floor during the season--when Farmar and the fellas played some good minutes. (Farmar-- whose dad is African American,) blended right in. Not one announcer even commented. One columnist wrote "How far ahead do you have to be before it's safe to put in an all white squad?" He was writing about UNC being up 40 points, and they put that white squad in with under 2 minutes. That's cold.

Aren't we beyond all that? Having said that, did the media recognize the black squad playing for the black coach? Or did I miss something? One sportswriter said the Lakers have 6 white players while Boston only has 2. Times: They are a-changing.

For another take, visit here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080605/cm_csm/yzimmerman


URBAN LIVING: When things can change on a dime

I enjoy Leimert Park living on days like today. I started the day off at a live broadcast from KJLH talking about Obama, then went to Dr. Kwaku's Black History for Young People. The Park was prepping for a full out Obama Rally and Kwaku took the students. When else would they see a presidential rally like that? Then at noon, there was Elaine Brown, former head of the Black Panther Party. She and others organized a reunion/fund raiser to call attention to the fact that Chip Fitzgerald, a blank panther, is still incarcerated after like 38 years.

Ran into some of everyone from Poetess to Parks...and everything was all good.

Not at all like a day or two earlier when the police cordoned off our street. I had been sitting at my 'puter trying to stay awake in the unforgiving heat when I heard a thud and I said"That can't be good."

I got up to investigate but my husband was already outside along with the neighbors. There was a fuming white man walking around with one pants leg flapping in the wind, exposing his bare white scraped and bruised leg. Since a white person getting beat up in my neighborhood is grounds for all hands on deck, police cars were screeching to the scene and the harsh helicopter blades beat the hot, humid air mercilessly. Who knows what really happened but the scuttlebutt was he had followed a black woman he knew home in his shiny black Mercedes, there was an argument and two black dudes beat the man up, throwing him against his car (the thud I heard). Neighbors whispered about the newcomers: "They are up to no good over there." Made my imagination run wild. Drug deal gone wrong? Love triangle? Was he strung out and just trying to cop?

I should not have had to mention this man was white. But coming from where I'm from, that's reverse segregation.

My son's Utopia notwithstanding, it was business as usual on my block.



Let's Talk About Shoes: Because, there, race definitely doesn't matter.
Do you have a good shoe story? I mean we are living in times where there's all kinds of murder, mayhem and economic instability. I decided to conjure up some old thoughts of days gone by. Oddly enough, these thoughts are about shoes.

Many years ago, I went to a supper club in New York to hear a popular jazz band. The restaurant had three floors, with round tiers, and our tables ringed the circle so we could all look at the stage in the middle below. The bottom floor was full of tables except for the small stage.

While I ate, and drank and laughed and talked, I dangled my shoe off the tip of my toe ( a bad habit I got rid of that night). I was really cracking up when all of a sudden my shoe disengaged, and dropped square into the plate of a diner below.

I had to hobble downstairs on one foot to retrieve my high heel, wade through the tables to find out where it might actually be and face the taut faces of the livid when I got there. A woman held out my shoe, now drenched in tomato sauce, balancing my shoe on the tip of her finger, kind of like I had done on my toe. I never went back upstairs...choosing to slink out and hail a cab instead.

Last year, though, a friend of mine bought a new house and instituted a "no shoes" rule to preserve his white carpet. We had a delightful breakfast with his family and friends, then departed for the next affair we were to attend. When we got there, I stepped out of the car and noticed that my slip-on black leather heels were off balance. One step was up and the next step was an inch down. When I looked down I noticed that the two shoes did not match!

We had to drive all the way (30 mins) back to my friend's house, and give his sister-in-law her shoe back and retrieve my own. My friend had placed the guests' shoes on this cubbyhole contraption but he did not put them next to each other, for some reason. Naturally, I grabbed the two black shoes next to each other (Hey made sense to me!) and dashed out.

And my last shoe story (I promise!), as I was preparing to leave my beloved dog and go off to college, my mother had been discussing whether or not she should be put down. She had been getting fatter and slower and I would not be there to care for her. I did not want to put my best friend to sleep!

One night, some friends wanted to go bowling, so I rummaged in the back of my closet for my bowling shoes, and felt something cold, slimy and wet. Yuchh! But when I looked closer there were two of the cutest little wriggling puppies! My dog saved her life by giving birth to Sophie and Lorraine, a shock to us all. I had always been told she had been spayed before we got her and I even took her to my employer-- the local veterinarian-- who couldn't find out why she was getting so fat! He said it was because she was old! Little did we know...

OK...thanks for letting me "walk" down memory lane!

Happy Father's Day!

Yesterday, Father's Day Saturday, the Big Poppa of our family, Kwaku, was on the air with Jacquie Stephens at KJLH, who was doing her annual Father's Day Special at Derrick's Jamaican Cuisine.

The show, produced by her daughter Steja, (go, girl!) featured 4 men who had 19 kids between them. One had 10, one had 5 (that would be Kwaku), one had 1 and I think Derrick has 3. It was delightful to hear these Dads counsel other Dads.

Then, Kwaku rushed to Kaos Network where his first of the Black History for Young People program kicked off. Every time I peeked my head in class, hands were raised, and the discussion was lively. (We have a few scholarships available, thanks to generous donors. Email drkwaku@hotmail.com).

Then, thanks to Leroy Hamilton, we were able to go-- for the first time in our lives--to the Playboy Jazz Festival. We had great seats and a parking pass. Talk about a good time...Kwaku surely enjoyed the music, one of his favorite things: Pancho Sanchez, Al Jarreau, Tower of Power among many others. The lifted spirits of the 18,000 happy people in attendance at the Hollywood Bowl were infectious.

We watched Leroy lug all this photographic equipment around in the hot sun...shooting from every angle from the stage. Can't wait to see what images he comes up with. And he has to do it all over again today!

Today, Kwaku wants tacos for Father's Day, and lucky for him, Renee Brown made some gourmet tacos when I was in Dallas and I took notes. Since--as a rule--I do not cook, I think I'll do OK. I'll have to--the sons are coming!

I think about my own Dad, who I wish you could have met. Andrew Person could sing, play the piano and wrote long extensive tomes (yes, I get it honestly). He was the life of the party. He wanted to be a lawyer, but my Grandmother told him lawyers are liars. Instead he became a body and fender man.

He is the reason I am in California. He used to tell intriguing stories about it which made it sound so wonderful--and he was right. This is my first time writing about my Dad--a gentle soul who would slap his thigh and tell us to cry out so my mom would think he was spanking us. It should make me sad that he passed away the summer I came to California, except that my youngest son--the soon to be lawyer-- is a live ringer of my Dad by all family accounts, so Daddy is with me still.

Happy Father's Day All!

Of course, the best gift of all would be a win by the Lakers...

Hakuna Matata: The Circle of Life--an Update

Well, Mary Ann Mitchell made her transition last Thursday. She fought the valiant fight--no details for the services yet...the BBA is handling all the information. This is the email we received from them:

"It is with great sadness that we share the following information about one of life’s most positive socio-economic change makers, Ms. Mary Ann Mitchell, President/CEO of CC-OPS, Chairperson of the National Black Business Council, Inc. (NBBC), and a former Chairperson of the Black Business Association ( BBA ). Today, Thursday, June 12, 2008, Ms. Mitchell transitioned peacefully following a tragic accident that took place at her home on Sunday morning, June 8^th.

Friends and colleagues continue to lift Mary Ann up in prayer, and send light and love to the family she cared about with pure devotion. While funeral arrangements are pending, the immediate family requests that those wishing to send flowers and gifts please refrain from doing so. However, as Ms. Mitchell was sincerely dedicated to the well-being and development of all youth, any heartfelt donations can be sent in her memory to the “Break the Cycle” Foundation, a program Ms. Mitchell spearheaded to help change the negative life patterns of youth at risk. Contributions can be sent to: Institute of the National Black Business Council, 600 Corporate Pointe, Suite 1010 ; Culver City , California 90230 .

The announcement of Ms. Mitchell’s memorial services is forthcoming."

We do have the details for Pat Tobin's homegoing services: Friday, June 27, 10 a.m. at Faithful Central Bible Church, the Tabernacle, 321 N. Eucalytpys, Inglewood, Ca For more details call Tobin and Associates: (323) 857-0869.

And in this circle of life, my cousin Alaina and Zach are having a baby! I haven't heard of a birth in our family for sometime -- and the news comes on a week that seemed shrouded in loss. Hakuna Matata. (For those of you who did not see The Lion King, that is the term they sang about --the Circle of Life."

A Whole Lot Going On

OK, slow down, Isidra. Stay in the moment. So much going on, all you can do is take it one step at a time.

This was supposed to be a post about one topic, but as I write, there is so much going on all I can do is make a list:

Recently returned from Dallas to help with the launch of Nature's Essential Ingredients (NEI), a true-to-its-word natural hair products line. It was such a great launch, the products are almost sold out. It is an all natural product line developed by Nadean Day (center photo), a stylist based in Fort Worth. My connection is through one of the three partners, Renee Cottrell Brown (right), who just left Pro-Line Corporation, (a company her dad founded) after 25 years. We met at USC and became roommates. She is really on to something--I love the way these products make my hair feel. They work together to nourish it to feel like it did when I was 20 years younger. The website is almost ready: http://www.neibeautycare.com/ where later this month you can order them. Currently, NEI is only distributed in areas like Texas, California and online. Get the serum if you only buy one product. It is a non-oily oil that restores hair to thinning spots, but I use it for everything. Oh, and the lady on the left is Atty. Renee Higginbotham-Brooks, the one who got the trio together.


Had the Expo Photo Shoot this week at the Watts Coffee House and it was a lovefest of professionals. At point guard is Wendy Raquel Robinson, celebrity spokesperson; small forward is Leroy Hamilton (photographer), at power forward is Rene Cross Washington (graphic designer); shooting guard is Desiree Edwards, owner of Watts Coffee House and at center is Harold Hambrick, Expo president. I enjoyed meeting the three delightful young people Wendy brought along and Mecca (makeup) and Aishah (hair). Me, I am the 6th (wo) man off the bench who coordinated the thing. Click the Expo Photo Shoot link above to see my behind-the-scenes shots from the day.

Hmmmm. All this basketbal talk must mean we are in the NBA finals, with bad officiating and all. The Lakers are down by 2...and are playing as I write. My husband keeps shooting me these looks that say "Put that laptop down and come help the Lakers." I scream so loud they can hear me at Staples. What a release!

We are starting a new program at West Los Angeles College called Umoja (Swahili for "unity") and I will be the English teacher. We had a successful launch yesterday. This is more than a program designed to retain African American students, it is a mentoring networking program for 30 students and if you have a student even thinking of going to West, this is the time to enroll-www.wlac.edu.

Last Friday was Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn's final class of a 16 week (extended) series of his Afrikan World Civlizations class. What a finale! We had a stirring song by Maurice Smith (right.) Another student, a poet, Sharon Massengale performed. Annie Smith coordinated all that as well as invited Chef Eugene, who brought some slamming jambalaya served in shiny steel pots while he was adorned with a starched white chef's coat and a smile. The potluck was my favorite, though, because those students throw down.

No time off th0ugh. This Saturday, Dr. Kwaku's Black History for Young People classes start --a 6 week summer series for youth aged 12-18. For the first time it will be held where the adult class is, at Ben's Place--Kaos Network. www.drkwaku.com/youth.html.

But, today started so sadly, with the news of the passing of Pat Tobin. I had to get up early and drop Jaaye off dowtown to work and the day seemed gloomy to match the mood. A woman who was in many ways the heart of Black Los Angeles goings on, lost her two year battle with cancer. I last saw her at the services of Muhammad Nassardeen and when I greeted her she was very fragile. A few days ago, the word came that her family was summoned and she only had hours to live. She passed away this A.M. June 10.

Meanwhile, another tragedy is hanging in the balance: Locally, Maryann Mitchell, who I do not know personally but everyone must know because my email box has been blowing up was found at the bottom of her pool. She is fighting for her life. And another young woman I do know--she will remain anonymous for family privacy -is in the hospital after crashing her car into a tree at 50 mph. She was in a coma but thank God she is alert now. I am praying for all.

The Lakers pulled it out (I long since put down the laptop to cheer them on). They allowed us a smile and a nod to Pat to send her on her way. Rest in peace, Pat. Thanks, fellas.

By the way, a note about our last post, congratulations to Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas wh0 won the vote count, but the race was forced into a runoff, so here we go again.

My video guru, William Byers, had me do a voice over on a project he did featuring Willie Gault. Check it out by clicking here.

And last but not least--our film was at the Hollywood Black Film Festival (click for my pics) last week and we enjoyed the Filmmaker's brunch on Sunday. Check this out: I met the organizer, Tanya Kersey (photo center along with Rockmond Dunbar and Will Packer), online about 10 years ago. We were looking for someone to do the Entertainment Summit at the Los Angeles Black Business Expo. She agreed to do it, and brought along Kelli Moore, who did our Celebrity Expo as well. Some years after Tanya founded the HBFF, she and I were both part of a group that wanted to produce a local black news show. I knew NOTHING about video back then, but Andre Alporter gave me a private tutoring and got the ball rolling. My first piece ever was one we did on the Black College Expo in 2004. The group didn't last but I was set on a path that led me to being a filmmaker at the HBFF (along with Gail Parker and William Byers) which is now in its 9th year. That's the power of networking and the power of Internet networking. Pat would be so proud.

Take care, all!
Isidra Person-Lynn

PS: Congrats to Jasmyne Cannick who wrote the print story for Ebony on Serena Williams. Here is the video preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDlkfS0y9Ww
And the photo above of Tanya, Rockmond and Will Packer is by Hiltron Bailey.

PPS: Great seeing you Alaina! That's my cousin Alaina, left, visiting from Virginia and my niece, right, Tianna. Center is Kevin Ross, who has some exciting things coming up I will tell you about next time. If you go to www.threebrothersandasister.blogspot.com you can hear Tianna introduce Kevin's radio talk show. That's the face behind the voice!

My recommendation-- Vote June 3rd

Let's talk about the Supervisor's race between Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and Councilman Bernard Parks. This campaign has really ripped apart our community at the seams...reminding me of the bitter race between Yvonne Burke and Diane Watson 16 years ago. Do you remember how divisive that was?

But here we are...Bernard Parks, the man many of us fought for most recently because we did not like the way the LAPD brass was treating him, versus Mark Ridley-Thomas, the man who has been so consistently successful in office, his innovations--the Empowerment Congress and neighborhood councils--have been copied all over the country because he gives the constituents a voice.

Mark and I have known each other since he was at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1970's. He later became the executive director and hired me to do PR for the organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King. I thought I was going to ease into the position but from day one I hit the ground running.

Mark was always sought-after, busy, tech savvy, and committed, and was a fair boss. And all these years later for us to be on good terms with a former boss is saying something.

I once took my youngest son Jaaye, then 2 years old, to his house to see him and his equally intelligent wife, Avis. Mark always laughs remembering how my kid started knocking on the refrigerator door so he could get some food. Mark was tickled about my boys, then went on to have two of his own sons...the twins.

And Jaaye, who is now 25, is still knocking on doors, but this time he is knocking for Mark, elbow deep in his campaign for supervisor.

At the beginning of their campaigning season, the week after the hype of the California Primary in which we got the chance to vote for (or against) a black man--Senator Barack Obama, I moderated a campaign forum between Senator Ridley-Thomas, Councilman Bernard Parks and "Big Money Griff" Morris Griffin. KJLH's Jacquie Stephens fell ill and called me that morning at 6 a.m. to pinch hit for her, which I normally would do. Holman United Methodist Church was packed with hundreds of people and despite some technical broadcast difficulties, it went well-- or so I thought.

I kept the response time equal, and received many compliments for fairness. Having covered this community for decades and having moderated candidates forums before, you tend to know all of the players. I could have shown Mark favoritism, but I did not. I respected all three candidates. However, for a myriad of reasons, that was my last day at the station.

Since I am no longer saddled with having to be fair and balanced anymore, I can pick a candidate. To bolster my research, I attended a debate at the Foundation for the Junior Blind and I have seen growth in Mark as a candidate from that first debate. The biggest criticism he receives is that he is aloof and somewhat pompous. To that I say two things. First, to know him is to love him. Mark has a great sense of humor but he takes his work and his word seriously. If he says he will do something, he will do it. As for the big words (hence the pompousness)it comes with the territory of being a scholar and a Ph.D. But is he a great public servant? Yes. He really is, and he is very well connected, across the cultural divide. Is he a wonderful husband and father? No other politician I know exudes so much love, dedication and inclusion for his family --Avis and Sebastian and Sinclair--as Mark. If he comes off any other way, take the time to get to read up on him and see how he fights for his constituents and is very accessible. Mark is younger and that seat is a long term, and powerful seat. We need someone in there with consistency, people power and staying power.

As for Parks, to his credit, he too is popular and he and our family go way back as well. We supported him when we thought he was being abused by the LAPD powers that be. If you want to vote for him after you have done your research, fine. I think our community needs to get beyond mentally murdering people because we vote for different candidates.

The ugliness of this race is really not between the candidates as much as it is in their supporters--their camp directors-- who go overboard to smear the names of their favorites and try to wield power to ruin professional relationships. Doing that through the media is foul. Doing it through media you own is taking us to a new low. As a journalist, I take balanced reporting seriously and our media owes it to us to provide both sides and let the readers make up their minds.

Unfortunately, as Barack Obama shows us, your supporters can kill your efforts. So, as voters, we need to look a little deeper, but time is running out. Sometimes, you gotta take a recommendation from someone you trust. If you trust me, my recommendation is vote for Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas for 2nd District Supervisor, Tuesday, June 3.

The photo above of Jaaye (left) and Kwaku (right) was taken by Leroy Hamilton. To see more of Leroy's work which captures Mark's political life, click here: http://www.photographybyhamilton.com/mrt.htm . To support him, visit: www.markridleythomas.com

Welcome to the Big Leagues, Brian Barton!

Folks, this one is long. Come back when you have time! OR SIMPLY VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY NOW

On Memorial Day Saturday, my son and his friends threw a party for their boyhood friend, Brian Barton, who was recently signed to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was in town to play against the Dodgers. We called it the 54/55 Celebration (54 because that is Brian's number and 55 because it happened to be my birthday!). We had it at a big, pretty, empty home owned by a family friend. Thank you, friend! (He's kind of shy.)
My other son is house sitting for him and as an aquatics instructor, he is comfortable relaxing around the pool and jacuzzi, a vision that made Jaaye say "we should have the party here."

So, they organized this "set" and it was great. The young folk from my son's law school, and high school, and Brian's Loyola classmates, teammates, etc were there. They sang me a happy (but off key) birthday song and barbecued, played cards, and all.

We kicked it 'til game time, then went 5 minutes to Dodger Stadium. Rene from our group was featured on the jumbotron and even Brian was called up to pinch hit so we wouldn't have to go without seeing him play. It was exciting even though he struck out. The man who made that special day possible was Sweet Lou Johnson, star of the Negro leagues and later the Dodgers.. We pass his home every morning walking and one day he had his garage door open. At 75, he still works for the Dodgers., He told us he was being honored Saturday by the Dodgers. I said "I'll be there! I will be going to the game." Incredulously, he asked "Did you get your tickets yet?" I said "No, but we need 20." He didn't blink. And he said "Done." So we all got better seats than we would have bought. And we got to see him brought out on the field in a salute.

So, I am home now and just basking in the glow of a day with such a peaceful cooperative flow. My sons and niece and nephew all worked to pull this off.

Today, continuing the nice vibe, as we lounged around killing time til the Lakers, we turned on the Dodger game at 1:10 a.m. and Vin Scully was saying "...and Brian Barton is coming up to bat!" Breathlessly, we watched as Brian came to bat 4 times and scored two runs. The Dodgers won this one, but Brian had a great game. And get this: He is the only African American on the St. Louis Cardinals! Even Joe Torre was on TV talking about how we need more black players. We are avid sports fans but we couldn't even name a current player and it seemed there was only one or two on the Dodgers as well.

Sweet Lou Johnson, Jim Mudcat Grant and Al Downing --African American baseball greats--were all on hand because the Dodgers were celebrating the 1960s. Now that was the baseball I remember!

But Brian is the future. A graduate of the class of 2000 at Westchester High School, he was V.P. of the class when Jaaye was President. He played football and baseball and ran track...all transferable skills he is using today. Although he was drafted by the Dodgers out of High School he chose to attend Loyola Marymount, majoring in aerospace engineering then left to attend University of Miami because LMU did not have a class Brian needed, and played minor league baseball for some years.

During the celebration program, Jaaye remembered the morning Brian's early morning text message woke him up. It said simply "I made it!" And from then his biggest cheerleaders have been Jaaye and Kenyon who flew up to see him play in San Francisco, drove to San Diego, and saw all three games in Los Angeles.

But I want to leave you with this: When the boys were in high school, Kenyon, Jaaye and Brian were selected to go to Boys' State, a prestigious gathering of student leaders around the states. The winner of the Boys State would go on to Boys Nation. They all just knew Kenyon had a great chance of winning, especially since the other boys all fed back that he was he was the best orator. But, these three boys were African American and many of the rest were not. Kenyon won the straw poll but lost the actual vote. These high achievers were devastated. Together, they got their first real taste of the real world. And that was an education they could not pay for.

Shaken, but not broken, they continued on their paths hurdling obstacles along the way. For them, Brian's perseverance of years of minor league play and finally making it to the major league is an indication of great things to come for all of them. They are inspired, and me at 55, well, I am inspired about my future, too.

To see the photos from the party and the game, click here:
http://www.theprperson.smugmug.com/gallery/5019553_KL6Y4/1/301331957_pjk5j#301331957_pjk5j
P.S. Special thanks to So Lynn, for your hard work; Aunt Bea, Auntie Joanne and Ms. Rene for tables and grills and things; and Tianna, Kim and Brittany for your big assists. Kenyon, you still got it and thanks for that thoughtful gift and thanks to Kwaku who barbecued up a storm!

The Comedy Act Theater is back!

Yeah, yeah, I know it's now called Comedy Act Planet, but Angelenos have fond memories of the place that made us laugh so hard our faces hurt for days. Michael Williams was the unassuming businessman who founded the theater. He ran into some health problems, closed it and for years looked a bit lost . Now, the picture of health, he finally answered the clarion call for some good comedy-- something to laugh at-- so this Thursday he is reopening the Comedy Act Planet at the Regency West. The first night is $25, then each Thursday thereafter it's $15.



Flashback: The late Robin Harris really put the Comedy Act Theater on the map, and as his star was rising meteorically, something just came and took his breath away. I was working at KACE FM at the time and Robin used to come in and cut commercials for his shows and things. He always had a group of comedians around him and, as he did in his nightclub act, he cracked on every one in sight. The first show I ever broadcast with him, he told Mark Whitlock, who once sported a bit of a Jheri Curl, that his hair looked like a thousand ink pen springs. I was rolling. Then he turned those bubble eyes on me and told me my braids were so tight it looked like I slept with my eyes open. Ouch! (We were on air.) I did not know then that joke was a staple of his shtick.

One day, the production guy was called away and Robin and Joe Torry and some others were on deadline to cut a commercial. Being News and Public Affairs Director, this was not my forte, but I ran the board for them, glad to pitch in. In my headphones I noticed Robin was breathing hard into the mic. Mind you, Robin had been cracking on everyone, but when I cracked on him "Robin, why are you breathing all hard into the Mic?" He went ice cold, his eyes studying the carpet. The laughter and gaiety fell to the floor. We re-recorded the voice over, but I could not wait to get out of there. I assumed Robin could dish it out but couldn't take it.

A very short while later, I interviewed Robin at the opening of the Spike Lee Film, "Do the Right Thing." Robin played in that film, he had Bebes Kids (the movie) coming out, starred in House Party, and he was on a roll. Stardom was the express he was riding.

Not a month later, I filled in on the morning news when Sam and Steve were the morning guys on KACE. Sam had come in from a ski trip (a station promotion) and was there when I received the tragic news report that Robin had passed away. Something to do with his breathing. Sam took it straight to his gut. He and Steve launched an on-air tribute fit for the king of that era's comedy.

But, I kept thinking back to that day in the studio. He must have known he was having some kind of troubles and here I had picked the scab. He might have felt his time was short.There is nothing less enjoyable than a funny man gone cold.

But 18 years later we are still talking about Robin. And now Michael is rebuilding his comedy house. Click the You Tube for a 3 minute interview I did with the club's founder. Michael wandered into Ben Caldwell's KAOS Network where my husband teaches his Afrikan World Civilizations Class (and where his Black History 4 Young People Class will be held this year.) When Michael told me what he was doing, I was ecstatic. The best way to save Leimert Park is to get back to doing what we first did to make it great. Welcome back, Michael.

For a comedy treat, visit the www.comedyactplanet.com webpage. Wait for the video to load...and let it play. You will see/hear all kinds of comedians in that one elongated clip. But it's not for the faint of ears. Trust me.

Thanks for reading...but don't forget to click on the You Tube interview I did with Michael Williams above! By the way, the first photo above is the cover of Robin Harris' Live from the Comedy Act Theater DVD and the second is Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas speaking at Anthony Samad's Urban Issues Breakfast Forum at the Regency West earlier that morning (taken from my cell phone). As Robin Harris would say, Small World!

By the way, congratulations to our sister Assemblyperson Karen Bass! Speaker of the House, WOW! I lived vicariously through Leroy Hamilton who photographed her photo at left and the swearing in. See his fabulous photo presentation here.

Our son, JaayePerson-Lynn, has been shooting pics all around town as he campaigns for Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and whatever else he can get in to. If you want to see the photos and captions larger than they are (top right), click here.

Stay strong, y'all. Isidra Person-Lynn

Is it the media that's making this racial?

Last night, we were glued to CNN, watching this new-fangled telestrator in amazement. All anchors were white and reporter John King, who flawlessly demonstrated the new technology, kept referring to Gary and Indianapolis as largely "African American" areas. He never said that the outlying areas that favored Hillary were "white" or Caucasian" areas, calling them instead simply "rural." They chided Gary's election results for coming in late and even had the neighboring mayor of Hammond say it appeared there was impropriety. Interesting to note, there was a little rural area that never reported ANY numbers while I was watching, and no one questioned that. The way the black Mayor of Gary was cross examined and asked the same question over and over again was a "pile-on" at best, even though he explained over and over about the onslaught his thousands and thousands more-than-usual voters caused.

The implication is that Barack is doing well because African Americans are voting for him because he is black, and not that white Americans are voting for Hillary because she is white. And isn't that the case? Gary always strongly for whoever the democratic candidate was--when there was NO black in the race-- in the same numbers! Yes, the Mayor of Gary indicated that they were swamped by the numbers of voters so of course the areas with a paltry 1200 people can get numbers out more quickly.

And what's up with Rush Limbaugh urging Republican voters to vote for Hillary in Operation Chaos? Even though that was his big campaign, Barack STILL closed in on Hillary's lead within two points. Remember when she won Pennsylvania by 9 points and crowed about how great the victory? Here he won North Carolina which had more delegates by 14 points and little is made of that. The reporters still called it neck and neck.

So even with Hillary (who just loaned herself $6.4 million) against you, Rush Limbaugh's dittoheads against you, and many in the media against you, Barack still prevailed.

I'm with Obama, who said he believes in the people who can see right through these onslaughts of attacks and still want change. And the people have spoken.

By the way, the YouTube I embedded is about Michael Moore endorsing Obama, but please scroll below and view a piece I produced which is poignant for too many mothers this Mother's Day. Hold your children close!

Who is murdering our children?

This may seem like a "Duh" type question, and maybe it would be better asked "Of the children we witness murdering our children, what or who is leading them to pull the trigger?" But, the question must be answered because the youth death toll is on the rise again.

This is a 15 minute piece I produced on Charlotte Austin-Jordan's Mothers on the March event April 20, 2008. Elements of it will be included in a larger piece I am working on. I wanted you to get the young people you know to sit down and watch it. Will you email them the link? You know which ones I mean. Your thoughts? Thanks. IPL

Hack a Barack-- Get back to Bush, Obama!

I am reading the headlines that presidential hopeful Barack Obama is again distancing himself from his now more famous Pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Now that you have said that, Senator, please go back to your stunning offense and hammer away the message that the country President Bush is leaving you to lead is a mess and it is largely because of HIS POLITICS, not his pastor's.

Every day another industry is raising prices, another company is going under. Circuit City? Have you been to a store lately to see how much wheat and other foods have become? Forget the earthquake food you should be saving. You might as well stock up on Depression food, now, while you can.

The Bush administration has sold this country out from underneath us, has allowed the oil companies to put us in a headlock, and has left many children behind. You are popular because you offer a change, and this is why the media is fighting so hard against you. Why else would Pastor Wright's actions be made out to be worse than the lies Hillary has told or the fact that her husband is conducting business totally opposite of what she is proclaiming? Had you done either of these things or if you were at the helm when the country was a mess, you would have been thrown under the bus long ago.

This is what you must do: When they ask you about Wright, start talking about Bush. You've already answered them, so YOU move on. Keep your eyes focused, do not feel you have to answer every question. Keep providing us with your thoughtful solutions, and don't let up. In this case the best defense is a strong offense. Hillary is not the enemy. You have beaten her by my count. Instead, keep Bush and the Republican party in front of your sight because THAT is what we all want relief from. That is why we want you in there.

The American media is using the Hack a Barack...over and over again. It slows the game and turns the voters off. Take a page out of Kobe's book: It's the 4th quarter. Just take over the game.

Yes, my metaphors are mixed but I hope my message is clear. It ain't over.