Live Blogging: All in the Family: Sammy's Visit

This is the first time I am doing a live blog. It's holds the same principles as live tweeting does...you write about an event as it is happening. For this live blog I am going to watch an "All in the Family," episode called "Sammy's Visit," when Archie Bunker (the protagonist) happened to drive the famous black actor Sammy Davis Jr. in his cab. Davis left his suitcase in the car and is now coming to Archie's house to pick it up. This episode is very funny, but also historic in that it openly talked about the issue of racism, but in a humorous way and also because it has a very famous and beloved celebrity of the time featured. For those of you who know about "All in the Family," it was an American sitcom ran by CBS from 1971-1979 that tackled many taboo issues such as racism, women's liberation, abortion, religion, breast cancer, the Vietnam War, etc. Archie is a bigot, but he is a very lovable character because it is obvious that he is trying to adjust to the modern world (though he is ignorant he is not hateful). His wife, Edith is very kind but also naive. Archie often clashes with his daughter's (Gloria) husband, Mike, who represents the Hippie and anti-establishment counterculture of the 1960s. So I will begin live blogging now:

"All in the Family"--Sammy's Visit
--Scene opens: Edith is playing cards by herself/Gloria and husband Mike talking in living room
Archie walks in, tells Mike to get out of his chair, demands more respect and a cup of coffee

Tells his family to guess who he carried in his cab today
Edith asks--"living or dead?" Archie: "I was driving a cab Edith, not a hearse."
Mike--"Well either it's Dezi Arnez or knowing you he's probably black."
Archie--"Hey black is the Ace of Spades!" Edith--"Archie for goodness sakes I just turned up the Ace of Spades (holding up her card)."
Gloria/Mike--"Was it Flip Wilson? Bellafonte?"
Archie--"I said black Mike! Ballafonte ain't black...he's white dipped in caramel!" (audience laughs)
Gloria guesses Sammy Davis Jr.!

Archie--"He's a fine guy. Sat in the back of the cap and talked to me about the weather and things just like  regular person. If I didn't have a rear view mirror, I'd think he was a white guy."
Mike--Aaarrcchhh, whadda yah gotta say things like that for?"
Archie--"What did I say anyhow?"

Phone rings...Sammy Davis Jr. calling to ask about suitcase
Archie--"He's coming over!" (Everyone yelling in excitement) And guess where he was calling from? A car...yeah he's in a limosine with a phone in it. Some of these coloreds are fancy...if they got it, they spend it."
Mike "What do you mean coloreds are classy?"
Archie--"Because when they deserve a compliment once in a while, I don't mind. Dummy up!"
Now Edith don't go blabbing all over the neighborhood that Sammy Davis Jr. is coming, because the house is going to be a mob scene....before you know it we'll be up to our armpits in jungle bunnies."
Mike--"When Sammy Davis Jr. gets here you gonna call him a jungle bunny?"
Archie--"Of course not! i'm gonna call him Mr. Davis
Mike--"Oh yeah, just a minute ago he was the Ace of Spades, now he's Mr. Davis?"
Archie--"Yes, because he worked his way up to be called Mr. Davis and he deserves that! In this great country a man like that can overcome the unequals of his color and rise to become a great star!" (audience laughs)
Edith starts calling and telling people

Next door neighbor Lionel shows up. Edith tells him who's coming and Archie says "The dingbat strikes again!"
Sammy Davis shows up
Edith is so excited! "I'm so excited but you can't imagine because you never had to meet yourself!"
Sammy mistakes Lionel for Gloria's husband. Archie yells NNNOOO! (Audience laughs)
Sammy pays Archie for getting him his briefcase. Archie gives Sammy his chair (Archie never gives ANYONE HIS CHAIR)
Archie says to Sammy, "I was just telling my family that you are perhaps the greatest credit to your race."
Sammy--"Well thank you very much. I'm sure you've done lots for yours too" (audience laughs)

Archie asks Edith to bring him a cold beer in a glass and open up a fresh box of Twinkies for Mr. Davis
Sammy makes a face.
Mike--"Yeah, they're a WASP (White-Anglo Saxon Protestant) Soul food!"
Edith brings out a Twinkie on a plate for Sammy Davis
Visitors come in trying to impress Sammy Davis Jr. (lady makes her daughter tap dance)

Neighbor gives a toast, shares glass with Archie. Sammy drinks out of cup...Archie is about to drink but puts the cup down.
Archie--"Now Sammy, I want to ask you a question. Now I know being colored you didn't have no choice in that, but what made you turn Jew?" (audience laughs)
Archie--"Yeah, I saw you Sammy recently on TV with that uuhh Raquelle Walsh."
Edith--"Yeah, Archie said he never though he'd see the day when whites and coloreds would be kissing and hugging from coast to coast" (audience laughs)

Archie--"Now no prejudice intended but I always check the Bible on these things. I think if God had meant us to be together He'da put us together. But looked what He done. He put all of yall in Africa and the rest of us in all the white countries."
Sammy--"Well he must of told them where we were because SOMEBODY came and got us." (audience howls)
Archie--"I was always dead set against slavery
Gloria, Mike and Lionel all sing "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah"
Archie--"Sammy you've seen and met a lot of people. You see me. Do I strike you as the prejudice kind?"
Sammy--"Oh no, not you Archie. If you were you would have called no a coon or a Nig***, but you said it flat out and I hear you...you said colored! (audience laughs)...and if you were, you would close your eyes to all that's going on in this great country. But not you Archie...you can see the difference between black and white!
Before Sammy leaves he asks to get one picture with Archie Bunker. On the count of three he kisses Archie on the cheek and leaves. Archie frowns his face.

Sammy Davis Jr: http://www.biography.com/people/sammy-davis-jr-9268223
All in the Family: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_in_the_Family

HERO: Charles Ramsey Saves Amanda Berry, then gets Autotune Treatment

BREAKING: Amanda Berry, who has been missing for ten years, was rescued by neighbor Charles Ramsey. She was 16 when she disappeared in 2003. Below is the original version of Charles Ramsey's news interview and the following vid is the autotune remix of his interview. This autotune mix has become a trend, especially with seemingly funny black news interviewees. As strange as it is, the autotunes are actually humorous, however, is it okay to always want to make a joke of out serious situations. The first viral news interview autotune mix was made of Antoine Dodson, whose apartment was broken into and his sister was almost raped. From the autotune mix of his interview people began jokingly saying, "Hide your kids. Hide you wife!" The second was of who was named Sweet Brown, who ran out of her house after it caught on fire (video has more than 32 million views). Now you can commonly hear people make jokes saying, "Lord Jesus...it's a FFIIRRREEE!" What do you think of this autotune trend? And what common phrase will come of Charles Ramsey's interview? Perhaps..."dead giveaway"?

My 1st Sermon

This day, November 18, 2012, I will never forget! It was the day of my first sermon. The Pastor, Sir Walter Mack Jr. of Union Baptist Church (NC) not only invited me to come speak at their Annual Corner to Corner Conference Service (where the renowned Judge Greg Mathis spoke the year before and I would be alongside Roland Martin), but he gave me his seat. I could not believe it! Before then I had never sat in a preacher's chair. I was nervous, but it was a joyous day for me personally. If you are interested in seeing how it went, here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOucR9jK0Jw

Your 2013 Curvy Spokesmodel

Who says you have to put limits on yourself...on your imagination, on your dreams? Not me. While I am a college student, a non-profit director, blogger, and motivational speaker, I decided to add Plus Modeling to the list! I began my pursuit in 2011. One of my dear friends and photography major suggested that we do a fun, creative photo shoot. I had so much fun and the photos turned out great! She suggested that I pursue modeling and my initial thought was...Nah! However, I began doing research and building up my portfolio. I am proud to announce that now in 2013 I am CurvesRock Weekend's 2013 Curvy Spokesmodel. I wil have the blessed opportunity and pleasure of meeting already iconic plus models such as Anita Marshall and Liris Crosse this summer! I am anticipating a couple editorial features in a couple of magazines soon.

Anytime you can have fun, do what you love, and help and inspire people at the same time, you've found a true jewel that you should wrap your arms around and embrace. I cannot wait to see where this goes in 2 more years, before I graduate! 

I am all about breaking barriers and reaching new heights, if anything because of the freedom and liberation it brings for you and the others who will follow behind! Plus modeling just 5 years ago or especially 10 years ago was not very popular and scolded by many. Popular fashion designers tried to do plus model shows where people got up and walked out! However, as I'm sure you know without me waving a flag of the statistics, most people and most women wear double digits and are not a size 00 or even a size 08, yet for the longest time, renowned fashion designers had ignored this million and perhaps billion dollar market! Plus women have said ENOUGH! We are showing that world that we are strong, that we are beautiful, and that we have buying power! THAT MEAN GREEN BABY! Unfortunately as it is, most executive decisions to change something center around the revenue a decision will generate, but the bigger picture is that change is being made. More people are demanding to see beautiful thickness in the tabloids and magazines. I'm glad to be a part of the movement! 

Now I must set straight one last thing...being PLUS SIZE does not mean we are celebrating unhealthy lifestyles. Plus models have to exercise and eat well, just the same. But we also promote eating and not starving oneself, because that's not healthy either. WILL I SEE YOU ARE CURVESROCK WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE THIS SUMMER? http://www.curvesrockweekend.com/index.html

Case to Repeal Affirmative Action Rise, Supreme Court 2013, Really?

I was shocked when I read this! The decision that race could be used as a limited factor in educational institutions' application evaluation processes' was only made in 2003. Two young Caucasian girls filled a case in 2008! They both applied to the University of Texas and did not get accepted. They blamed this on Affirmative Action, claiming that less-qualified minority students got into the university instead of them because of Affirmative Action. One young lady dropped her name from the case and Fisher now stands alone. She claims that she was being discriminated against because of her race. "I was born the wrong color," she says to reporters.

If you are reading this and you are not either angry, or confused right now then....Anyways, First of all, their claim WAS NOT TRUE. The minority students were in fact qualified and more qualified than them. The University of Texas IS REQUIRED to admit the top 10% of every Texan high school grad that applies and Fisher did not fit under that category for one. This is what Affirmative Action seeks to prevent...it seeks to prevent discrimination on the basis that a less-qualified non-minority can get accepted into a program over a more-qualified minority, and do we truly believe that we do not need this after only 10 YEARS? The fact that this case was filed alone already says that people in this country still do not believe all humans are equal and because she did not get in, something is wrong with the system. I could go on for days. I made a video about it that gives much more detail. I do not plan to just drop this issue and forget about it. THIS IS NOT OKAY! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyMQzdW3QmA&feature=youtu.be

Documentary: BULLY: Whatever Happened to It Takes a Village to Raise a Child?

I'm a little late. I had been meaning to watch the documentary BULLY (2011) for a while. I see many students on Elon's campus wearing the button that says BULLY with a red slash going through it. Well, I sat down this evening to watch it on Netflix and it tore my heart apart. If you have seen it, you know what I mean or if you know someone who has been bullied severely or even worse has committed suicide for being bullied, then you know what I mean. What made me angry was the adults in the children's lives who were all saying that "They cannot take responsibility for the children's actions." School Superintendents, school boards, principals and even police were saying things like, "We cannot change the actions of a student. We have lots of students to supervise and if the parents do not enforce it, we cannot do anything." And what gets me is that these adults who work in CHILDCARE were saying these things after some young individuals were bullied so much to the point that they committed suicide. I'm sure they would not be saying this if it were their child who was the victim. I think what our problem is in the 21st century, is that many of us have become numb/desensitized to and almost dare I say accepting of pain and meanness. We have become consumed with the ideas of capitalism, and each man for himself! So adults convincing themselves "Oh this is just a phase. They'll grow out of it," is a dangerous state of mind to fall victim to.

The documentary traces the journeys of I believe five families in dealing with the harassment of their children in school, but the children and their parents alike feel helpless because the people in upper administration will not take any ownership or responsibility in it. What the hell is happening to our world? What ever happened to "It takes a village to raise a child?" Everyone is so afraid to take responsibility for someone else's child, and everyone wants to be "politically correct," but bullying is a bigger problem then I thought. There are lots of campaigns that parents of victims of bullying have created to fight bullying, however, they can campaign all day till they're blue in the face, but that won't make a significant change until administration puts their foot down.

It is heart breaking to know that a young, innocent child who has not yet experienced all the joys and even true sorrows that life has to offer, feels that they MUST end it all because they feel so much pain from bullies...their peers who slap them, physically abuse them, call them names all while adults stand on the sidelines and say "Oh well." That makes me angry! Adults should know better. If the adults can't teach the future generations the right way...WE ARE DOOMED!--And that is an understatement.

Honestly, I remember being bullied as a kid for my weight, the way I dressed, etc. but I had a mother and people to tell me that they loved me and that I was beautiful! My mother would tell me to "defend myself," and sure enough when I did so, people did not tease me anymore the way they once did. Many people go through the phase [of being bullied], some worse than others, but I believe that in order for a child to successfully pull their way out of it, without feeling like they must take their own life, they need to feel 1)support from their parents and 2) support from their teachers and principals.

Two scenarios in the documentary stuck out to me. One, two parents of a boy who committed suicide called a town meeting and a few students testified. A poor boy got up with tears running down his face saying, "I can't believe _____ had to do this just for people to notice! Just for people to care. I can't believe it had to go this far!" I thought, "Wow, this kid has more sense then the adults." Two, the last family the documentary followed was a black family in Mississippi. The victim of bullying was a young, black girl who was an honor student who played basketball. She was constantly teased so bad at school that she took her mother's gun and brought it to school and took it out on the bus. She did not shoot anyone, but of course she was taken to a juvenile detention center. And here goes the raggedy sheriff taking about, "This young lady has 22 counts of assault plus another 22 counts...she has over 40 counts of misdemeanor charges which if she was old enough could land her YEARS in jail. I don't care how bad the bullying gets, to me there is no excuse for bringing a gun to school."

If you are reading this you may be saying to yourself "Oh, he's right,"...but let me ask you this, have you truly been bullied to the point that you felt like a piece of dirt? Have you ever been bullied everyday of your life in school to the point that you felt like you wanted to give up? If the answer is no, then you would not understand why she brought the gun to school. She didn't fire the gun or shoot anyone, she said she was tired of them picking on her and she wanted to scare them. Yet when that crazy lunatic boy shot up the movie theater...American news outlets want to talk about how smart he was...that he attended an Ivy league and that he had mental problems. Creating nothing but a bunch of excuses for him...but here's a 14 years old black girl...honor student, who was sick and tired, but she has 40 plus counts of misdemeanors and "Americans" want to THROUGH HER IN JAIL! at even Also a lesbian student was dealing with bullying and it got so bad that even the child's parents' friends disassociated with them. When it comes to certain issues, this country makes me sick. We have too many bystanders and onlookers in certain situations who fail to speak up when they know something is wrong with the situation. You may not agree with someone's viewpoint but bullying is never "okay" or acceptable or appropriate. And we'er always busy judging someone...WHY? No one is perfect and EVERYONE had dirty laundry, it's just that everyone's is not as visible as others' but that doesn't make us better than anyone else.

In college it's much more rare to see open "bullying" then in elementary and jr high school, but if I see it I WILL SPEAK UP! It would kill me inside to know that I could've done something but didn't. Also, I can't change the world alone, but I will make a video to encourage people who have been bullied. And as always I start with informing people with my blog, then I will apply it to my personal life, and then take it to the MIGHY TUBE...YOUTUBE THAT IS! Any thoughts? Comments? Concerns? If you haven't seen it, watch it. If you have seen it what did you like? Dislike?