Got a Story 2 Tell

Just a few things here and there I wanna share. I don't have a blog...so I guess this will be it.

[gotastory2tell]

I'm not hungry. At least I don't think I am. And I don't mean that in the physical sense. I mean it in more of the ambition sense.

Let me clear it up...by going backwards.

2018 wasn't half bad for me. I got to do a lot of growing professionally -- packages, live shots, special projects, all that. I kinda lived out dreams I never thought I'd ever dream. It was good.

Pretty cool, right?

Well, things slowed down. And my role changed. Not because of anything I did. Circumstances changed. It happens. We all go through it. I just never thought it would take the one thing I never thought I'd lose. Not even partially.

So what happened? Why am I not hungry anymore?

I think it comes down to being in a spot and just staying there longer than you want. I don't technically mean physically, but I kinda do. I don't have the rush of being under the gun. And I think it bothers me.

So how do I fix this? I don't know. I don't know if I can singlehandedly fix it. And I generally don't like asking for help to fix my problems. But this one certainly is different.

I'm not hungry. It's a different scenario each day, but I feel like I'm on the same hamster wheel. And I'm not a fan of running.

Something's gotta change.

I don't like being "full." I don't like sitting still. I don't like holding patterns. But I know life is full of them.

So I guess I'll wait...until waiting is no longer an option.

[gotastory2tell]

What I learned in 2018

This time every year, we all get a little introspective. 

We all look back to try to figure out what we’ve done well, what we could’ve done better, and maybe even what we regret. I’m no different. From a professional standpoint, I think 2018 was pretty cool. I’m continuing to grow as a reporter -- in front of a camera and behind a keyboard. If you know me, you know the pride I take in the work I do is extremely high and that’s not going to change. 

Outside of the walls of the station, there are a few things I wish I could have done better. I don’t believe I’ve completely mastered the work-life balance. I believe there are a lot of factors that attribute to that and I know I need to work on that. 

What I’ve also learned from that is the value of friendships. I’m not the best at keeping in touch, but I could almost guarantee you that I’ve thought about people I need to call on my 15-minute drive to or from work. Does it ever happen? Nah. Schedules conflict. Again, we’ll file that under “things Emery needs to work on.”

I guess what I’ve learned is this: as good as 2018 was to me in my career, there are definitely a few things I could’ve been better at socially. I want that. So, that’s the goal. It’s not a resolution. It’s not a promise. It’s just something I’m going to do my best to be more aware of...because tomorrow isn’t promised. 

[gotastory2tell]

It's been how long??

Honestly, I never thought I'd be back here. Actually, I take that back. I didn't want to come back here.

That's not a knock on Tumblr or the entire blog scene as a whole. I just figured when I started my position at my current job, I wouldn't have the time to do any blogging. Then I realized I wouldn't just have the time, I wouldn't have the mental capacity.

See, I write a lot at work. A whoooooole lot. Articles, scripts, etc. So between that and a few of the other duties I fulfill, I was mentally fried. Yep. Toast. Done.

So let's fast forward three years. To the here and now. It's 1:57 in the morning and I had this sudden urge to write. Odd, right? Writers don't do that.

So why am I back here? Well...if you must know, it's actually pretty therapeutic. I never really thought I'd want to write anything after writing all day...until I realized I wasn't writing for my personal reflection. For my personal benefit. So how is this benefical to me?

This is a way to vent, release, get my thoughts out, whatever. Sure, I have other outlets, but there's nothing like having that one thing you can do that can mellow you our just enough. For me, it's writing. I write until I've basically emptied the tank. And doing that is important because it's self-care.

You have to take care of yourself. I'm starting to learn that valuable lesson more and more each day...especially with how I work. I work pretty hard. Probably harder than I should if I'm being honest. But the last thing I want is to be stretchered out of anywhere because I did too much.

So this will be more to take care of self more than anything. Will you see everything I post? Nah. But I promise I'll have some good ones.

Sincerely yours,

Your friendly neighborhood sports reporter

[gotastory2tell]

Can removing the Confederate flag move us forward?

On a typical Friday, I would wake up around noon, walk into my living room and punch up CNN to watch some national news.

But today wasn’t a typical Friday.

Today, history was being made…and I was nowhere close to being on the scene. But I was still gonna be a part of it.

Today, the banner that flew in the South Carolina wind and oppressed so many people was brought down from the flagpole on the State House grounds.

It was a moment that brought forth mixed emotions throughout the state, but it was a moment that needed to happen.

What some fail to realize is that this moment was just a step in trying to mend a mindset that has been apparent and obstructive for so long. It was a moment that allows South Carolina to take a step forward rather than taking its traditional step backwards. It was a moment that encompasses everyone within the borders of the Palmetto State to heal.

Not just those impacted by the shooting of the Emanuel 9. This healing process includes those affected by the Walter Scott tragedy, those who have been the victims of racism, and even those who have been taught under the guise that hate is merely a form of heritage that has been passed down as normalcy from generation to generation.

But take a good realistic look at this moment. Yes, men of African-American descent were part of a historic ceremony to take down the Confederate battle flag, but it is just that. A flag being taken down.

While that flag will no longer fly on State House grounds, it doesn’t change the fact that there are those who still harbor a supremacist hatred in their hearts. This moment was just another step in attempting to achieve race relations where we can all truly see each other as equals. This moment was just a reminder that there is still work to be done and we, as a people, have to collectively roll up our sleeves in order for true change to occur.

So, the question becomes how do we get to the point of true racial equality? Some say it may never happen, that Martin Luther King’s dream was one stitched with impossibility. Some say we’re too far removed to make those ends justify the means. Some even say it’s not even worth trying to achieve. But there are those who believe that impossible is nothing. Those people believe that helping your fellow man is more than just a rite of passage. Some believe that love for the next person – no matter their shape, size, color, dialect, or whatever – is the only way we as a people can coexist.

No matter what you believe, the one thing that is certain is that hearts have to be in the right place moving forward…because it only takes one critical act of hatred to turn today’s pivotal and historic moment into merely a moment.

Can we move forward following today’s historic moment? Sure. But we have to do it together.

[gotastory2tell]

Can removing the Confederate flag move us forward?

On a typical Friday, I would wake up around noon, walk into my living room and punch up CNN to watch some national news.

But today wasn’t a typical Friday.

Today, history was being made…and I was nowhere close to being on the scene. But I was still gonna be a part of it.

Today, the banner that flew in the South Carolina wind and oppressed so many people was brought down from the flagpole on the State House grounds.

It was a moment that brought forth mixed emotions throughout the state, but it was a moment that needed to happen.

What some fail to realize is that this moment was just a step in trying to mend a mindset that has been apparent and obstructive for so long. It was a moment that allows South Carolina to take a step forward rather than taking its traditional step backwards. It was a moment that encompasses everyone within the borders of the Palmetto State to heal.

Not just those impacted by the shooting of the Emanuel 9. This healing process includes those affected by the Walter Scott tragedy, those who have been the victims of racism, and even those who have been taught under the guise that hate is merely a form of heritage that has been passed down as normalcy from generation to generation.

But take a good realistic look at this moment. Yes, men of African-American descent were part of a historic ceremony to take down the Confederate battle flag, but it is just that. A flag being taken down.

While that flag will no longer fly on State House grounds, it doesn’t change the fact that there are those who still harbor a supremacist hatred in their hearts. This moment was just another step in attempting to achieve race relations where we can all truly see each other as equals. This moment was just a reminder that there is still work to be done and we, as a people, have to collectively roll up our sleeves in order for true change to occur.

So, the question becomes how do we get to the point of true racial equality? Some say it may never happen, that Martin Luther King’s dream was one stitched with impossibility. Some say we’re too far removed to make those ends justify the means. Some even say it’s not even worth trying to achieve. But there are those who believe that impossible is nothing. Those people believe that helping your fellow man is more than just a rite of passage. Some believe that love for the next person – no matter their shape, size, color, dialect, or whatever – is the only way we as a people can coexist.

No matter what you believe, the one thing that is certain is that hearts have to be in the right place moving forward…because it only takes one critical act of hatred to turn today’s pivotal and historic moment into merely a moment.

Can we move forward following today’s historic moment? Sure. But we have to do it together.

[gotastory2tell]

The Glorification of Ratchet (Part 1)

See that? 

That’s what some people are watching on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and anywhere that has a video player...regularly.

It’s just one of several example of ratchet behavior you can find on social media if you scroll or swipe through on a daily basis. It’s not just women that are being displayed as “ghetto gladiators” in a last-man standing format of bloodsport. It’s men, too. 

It’s something that people have grown accustomed to watching over the years. Yet, people wonder why African-Americans fail to get the respect they deserve in society. 

I’m not saying the video screenshot above is the only reason, but it’s a start. The concept of ratchet has been glorified and magnified with the rise of social media...and, because of it, the character of their peers have been tainted in the perspective of some. 

Why is this acceptable? Who thought it would be a great idea just to film these fights AND post them for others to “enjoy?” Better yet, let’s try this question on for size. If it was YOUR daughter, would you feel comfortable watching these videos? 

Something’s got to change...and I’m not saying that it’s all got to happen overnight. At the end of the day, some people are just going to do what they feel to entertain the masses and people are fine with stepping over that boundary instead of protecting the image of their peers. Believe it or not, that’s the future and the generations before them haven’t exactly ensured a secure handoff of the baton in terms of making sure we uplift one another. 

Sure, people are going to fight. It’s human nature. We’re all prone to get angry and feel the need to swing, but filming these acts isn’t doing much to put our younger generations in a positive light. 

Until we step in and say this isn’t acceptable, it’s going to continue. It may even get worse.

[gotastory2tell]

Someone needs to buy this woman Netflix.... - Imgur

[gotastory2tell]

Behind the 8-ball

They say that racism doesn’t exist...that’s it’s a figment of the non-white imagination. They say racism is merely a crutch for minorities to stand on when “things don’t go our way” or when we think an incident is far more tragic than it should be.

Those who feel that way haven’t been privy to the perspective of being a minority in America. See, there are some who want things to go to the way they were when the Confederate flag waved proudly, back to a time when colored folks were forced to drink from different water fountains, sit at the back of the bus and live in certain parts of town because someone was too uncomfortable with the idea of dealing with minorities. 

Those same people are the ones who argue why there is a need for Black History Month or wonder why we aren’t satisfied now that the country has a president who is partially African-American. To them, they believe the problem is minorities are too spoiled for their own damn good. Some would even dispute that minorities have made so much progress and should not feel this desire to want to continue moving forward. 

The problem is we haven’t made enough progress...not as minorities...but as people. As a society, our views can be so distorted until we reach a point where, to some, racism is a myth. It’s just this thing made up by African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and other ethnic group just to try to get a leg up. The problem is society doesn’t take the time to stand in one another’s shoes because “the shoes are too tight” or one “wouldn’t be caught dead even considering it.”

Let me throw this out there.

Many black mothers and fathers (before Walter Scott, before Trayvon Martin, before Rodney King, and before Emmett Till) have had to sit with their sons to explain to them that - in some shape, form, or fashion - they are a target to someone making it even more imperative to “be on your p’s and q’s” when you’re out and about in the world. 

It’s sad when a mother has to be concerned about sending her child off to college because they fear they may be racially profiled or worse. It’s sad that a father has to be concerned about letting his kid go out to the store in an inner city. 

Minorities have been put behind the 8-ball for a while...and I’m not saying everyone who’s not a minority is responsible for it. In some instances, we do it to ourselves. But there has to be a better understanding between races and there has to be more consideration for others. 

People are only going to do what they feel is best for them and not what would be best for everyone. That means bigots will continue to believe that minorities are inferior. We, as a people, need to do everything in our power to erase this type of behavior. The world should have no room for it. Period. 

[gotastory2tell]

How can you not love this song? Shout out to Stacy Barthe.

[gotastory2tell]

Ferguson Shooting Reinforces A Need to Teach Youth

This weekend, the nation looked on as a Missouri community took a stand over an officer-involved shooting of an unarmed teen.

Reports say 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot for "assaulting a police officer." Now, I wasn't there and I don't know all the details, but manay have stated that Brown's body was left lying in the street after the shooting for 4 hours before officers removed it.

Today, social media has exploded with reports of rioting and looting and shooting in Ferguson following this tragedy. Needless to say, things have gotten dangerous in that area.

While you may think this shooting may not directly impact you, it does. This shooting shows us that anything can happen at any given moment. A status posted by my former African-American Studies professor on Facebook stated

"...it is imperative that we use our talents to protect, educate, and inspire these young folks. absolutely sick over all of this death and destruction. take whatever knowledge and skills you have and teach the babies. please."

And he's right. We, as a people, need to be disgusted with acts like these. Too many young lives are being taken over foolishness. It's not just officers of the law taking young lives. It's older people taking young lives. It's young people taking the lives of other young people.

Now, there have been reports of looting and shooting in Ferguson. Needless to say, these forms of protest solve nothing. At the end of the day, this just adds to the mess that has already been made in a town that needs more prayer and healing than guns and violence. Something has to be done, but nothing like this. The family of this young man may never truly get justice, but people going out trying to justiify their own brand of justice again solves nothing.

So, what do we do? How do we solve this?

We become more proactive with our youth. Notice I said our youth. Not just black kids or kids from other minorities... all kids. Every member of the next generation needs to be educated about the past as well as what they can do to ensure they don't become a statistic.

Violence breeds violence. Folks, we have to be prepared. We have to have our youth prepared. Not only do they need to know about historic events similar to this, they need to be aware of what to do if they find themselves like this.

We're never going to end the senseless violence, but we can do what we can to minimize it.

[gotastory2tell]

These Memories We Share...

Facebook has always been a place where viral trends allowed people to share fond memories of people, places and events that have taken place in their lives.

The most recent trend being the "I'm So" game where folks say they're so *insert town/city/region/school/college/grad school/job* and they provide a memory from back in the day.

While I don't plan to participate in this, I do like a few from the city, area and schools I've gone to if the mood hits me.

It's gotten to the point now where people have gone about flooding Facebook news feeds with their memories to the point where it's almost overload for some. But these memories you share aren't just your memories, they're memories for the people closest to you to go back, laugh about and maybe even reunite because of them.

See, gone are the days where people actually had reunions. Scratch that, young people generally don't have reunions for one reason or another. Maybe social media has ruined that for us. But what matters most is you have these memories and you cherish them enough to share them.

Because, when it's all said and done, the memories we love and cherish not only gave us reason to smile...they, in some shape, molded us as people.

[gotastory2tell]

Bruh... Aaron McGruder created a series called Black Jesus...

[gotastory2tell]

Game...

[gotastory2tell]

My boy needs a haircut...

[gotastory2tell]

Xi Phi til I die...#aphia #xiphi #icecold #respectyourroots #neverforget April 12, 1980

[gotastory2tell]

I'll take "Signs That You're Not a Morning Person" for $1000, Alex.

[gotastory2tell]

My bad y'all. Here's last night's social media winner...