Final Black History Post--Plea to Our Nation

Time varies from place to place
But a rainbow is a rainbow from any place.
A child born in Russia may be different from
a child born in the USA, but a child is a child
from any place. I said that to say, things change
with perspective, but life is not simply about perspective.
We are more than our circumstances, and certainly,
more than the skin we are wrapped up in.
We have constant debate about whether or not
we are all the same.  Clearly, we are unique in our design.
But, no design is more perfect than another.
We are all men, and as such, we are all, imperfect.
There is none perfect among us.  I'm sure there are
some who would debate this to their grave, but
it wouldn't change a thing.  Simply defined, we are
all made by God's design and apart from the things
that we allow to separate us and destroy our trust,
we are the same.  A drowning man will sink
whether he is red, blue or pink.  In war, every one
suffers when any man dies, because, when it's all
said and done, the devastation left behind, impacts everyone

As long as the world turns and turns, what we do and say,
big or small, has an effect on us all.   A bomb that falls
someplace in the DMZ, impacts us all.  When the planes
hit the World Trade Center, there were no winners.  Death
only leaves pain for those who will never again see their
loved ones again.  We didn't ask the race of the victims lost,
as Americans, we suffered a collective loss.

So, as a nation, we have to realize that we are one unit of
many parts connected by, what should be our most important common bond,
our love for our country.  Democrat or Republican, immigrant American
born and bred, black or white, we all have the same goals and the same fight.
If failure is to be our plight, it will be our joint plight.  I can't come against
you without impacting my own circumstance.  We can
continue to separate and demonize one another in this fight, or we can
come together.   We have got to stop the hate.  Hate does not come
by chance.  It is a deliberate attempt to cause destruction and pain.  If we
lead with hate, we have no one to blame if hate is what we get in return.
It is my hope and prayer, that we will choose to lead with love and humanity
towards all men.

Black History Month (Looking Back in Remembrance and Honor)

This is my Eulogy to all those, black men and women, who lost their lives, from the greatest to the least, during our struggle for freedom.

Today, we honor you, our Great Grandfathers, our Great Grandmothers, our Grandfathers and our Grandmothers, our Fathers, and our Mothers; our ancestors, who stood on our behalf.   So that your death would not be in vain, we stand in your name.  For those who died on the way to a place they never chose as home, for those who lived their lives in captivity.  For those who were unfairly mocked and ridiculed, for those who were wrongly accused and falsely blamed, we not only seek justice in your name, we vow that things we will not remain the same.   For those who died with the promise of 40 acres and a mule; this is an apology for your sorrows, for all the unnecessary tears you had to cry, for your disappointments, heartaches, broken promises and unfulfilled dreams.  We know there is no pain greater than the pain of unmerited contempt, so today, we declare you free from the chains that had you bound. Today, we proudly stand in your place, vowing that your memory will never be erased.   From the known to the unknown of men, we say thank you for your courage, your determination, and your strength.  Thank you for doing what you could to preserve our history.  Without you, we never would have made it to where we are today.  We salute you, our pathfinders and our pioneers to freedom.  Because of you, we can build an undeniable future.  Because of you we can possess the courage to say, “Yes, we can” and have the hope to believe we can do more than hope we can be more.  Because of you, we can be more than you ever hoped, more than you ever dreamed we could be.   To our Great Grandfathers and our Great Grandmothers,  to our Grandfathers and Grandmothers, to our Fathers and our Mothers; and, to our ancestors who stood on our behalf, today, we say thank you.  We thank you for your unwavering faith in the midst of your trials and we thank you for your perpetual fervent prayers, which continue to prevail on our behalf.   We are forever grateful for your legacy of hope and strength.

Celebrating Black History Month (continued)

I would like to honor all of the great black musicians we have lost in recent years.  They contributed so much in their lifetime. We have loved to their music and celebrated with them on many joyous occasions throughout our lives.  They have been with us during times of great sorry and great joy. They have elevated our consciousness and taught us how to open our hearts. Through their music, they have crossed the boundaries of race and culture and helped us all to see that there are more similarities between us than there are differences.   We know they are having a big concert in the sky.

I know I am aging myself, but the first concert I went to was an Isaac Hayes concert.  I loved the music and the man.  The next one was Barry White, and of course, my favorite, Luther Vandross.  I really felt like a part of me was missing in loosing the musicians who touched me to the core.  I saw Barry White with his orchestra at the Greek Theatre.  That is a night I will always remember.  The last concert of Luther's I went to was at the Hollywood Bowl.  The one thing I can say about that night is that it seemed to go on forever.  Those were the days, and those were the greats I will never foget.

We will always remember them all:

Andre Crouch, Walter Hawkins, Joe Ligon, Daryl Coley, Michael, Prince, Whitney, Natalie, Al Jarreau, Ray, BB, Gerald Levert, Maurice White and so many many more. I cannot name them all.  They are all gone to soon.

We love and miss them.

I’ll be Seeing You

When there are no more tomorrows

Don’t worry or sorrow

I have run my race

And gone to a better

There is nothing to fear

Dry your tears.

The time has come to let me go

It will be hard I know

When things appear amiss

Picture this.

I’m standing at heaven’s door

Rejoicing like never before.

When you start to feel sad,

Picture me sitting at our savior’s feet.

Think of all the wonderful people I will meet.

When you gaze upon that shining star

I’ll be watching over you from the heavens afar.

When you start to miss me, my child

Think of me with a smile

When it seems like years since we’ve parted,

Don’t be brokenhearted

My love for you will never die.

This won’t be our last good-bye

I love you

And I will be seeing you.

Dedicated to the family who shared their loved ones with us.

Happy Valentine's Day

What is this thing called love that we are so mindful of

That causes us to seek and seek until we find that one

Special one we vow to love, honor and cherish our whole

Life through.

For love, we will go through the fire and the rain.

It is a feeling that is hard to explain.

Love is that language between two people that only their

Hearts can understand.

When we find someone who hears and understands, we know

With all certainty that we have found a love that will never change.

Today, tomorrow and forevermore, it will always be the same.

That is when we know we have found a love that was meant to be.

We know love is meant to be when two hearts unite for eternity.

As if sharing their love was destiny.

Love is a dream they alone can see.

It does not come in any color or shade,

It is wondrously and mysteriously made.

Love is something we cannot surmise.

It takes us by surprise.

With a look, a touch or a voice,

The heart makes its own choice.

Lovers simply react.

Once they fall, there is no turning back.

Love holds them in an enticing trance.

Such is romance.

The moment the heart is stolen,

Love becomes golden

Filled with magical nights

And candlelight

Until, alas, the two soon confess love unrequited

And their hearts are united,

Creating a bond that was meant to be

Throughout eternity.

To all the married couples out there, newly married or married for how ever many years,

I celebrate you.

Today, we celebrate your love.

May God bless your union with his sweet peace.

May the vows you have professed one to another

Be your anchor and your strength.  May your love

towards one another always be settled in the heavens above 

and in the earth below.  May you always be in love.

copyright P. Newman-Harris

Black History Month---Remembering Our History, Telling Our Story

Part of knowing where we are going is knowing from whence we have come.  Sometimes, it's easier to focus on the things that are wrong, but if there is one glimmer of hope to be found, it will light the path to higher ground.  I have learned that focusing on the positive is what will take us where we want to go.  I am so grateful for those people who had the courage and the endurance to press forward through the darkest years in our history.  Because of them, we must continue to bring light where there is darkness.  I will be forever grateful to the people who sacrificed so we can enjoy the opportunities we have today.  We may not be where we want to be, but we are heading in the right direction.  We have to continue in faith believing (in spite of what we see) that we will reach the mountain top.  Hold on, because there is a change in the wind.

A Change is in the Wind

A change is in the wind

I know it is coming I just don’t know when

Talking drums beat a message of hope over land and sea,

Hope for those hungry and living in abject poverty

A change is in the wind

I know it is coming I just don’t know when

A renewing rain will wash over hills and plains

Bringing an end to the suffering and pain

There will be economical gain

For all who have lived under unbelievable strain

Hold on.

My brother,

Hold on my sister,

It won’t be long

Before a change will come

Soon, there will be no dying little ones,

No more sickness and disease.

This will be a wind that frees,

Releasing all the chains that now bind.

It will bring a freeing of mind

Like never before.

Of this I am sure.

Believe me when I say a change is going to come

Just keep looking to the Son

Talking drums are beating a message of hope over land and sea.

They say it is time for you to drink from the cup of mercy

I know a change is coming, I can feel it in the wind

I know it is coming I just don’t know when

copyright P. Newman-Harris