BOBBEE BEE: WE ARE SURVIVORS

'I got so much trouble on my mind. I refuse to lose. Here's your ticket'
-- Chuck D. of Public Enemy from "Welcome to the Terrordome."


by Eric D. Graham

NORTH CAROLINA (BASN) -- Despite all the death and destruction caused by a devasting earthquake in Port-au-Prince which killed 250,000, injured 200,000, and left two million Haitians homeless and hopeless -- something miraculous happened.

Earlier this week, rescuers pulled a three-week-old baby girl alive from the rubble of a house, who had survived seven days without any food or water.

That little miracle is truly a blessing and a living testimony of the resilence of Black people. For that reason, the gospel song by the Williams Brothers entitled "I Am Still Here" is the perfect song to play while reading this article.

Because despite the Middle Passage, slavery, Jim Crow segregation, the Black Codes, lynching, South African Apartheid, Neo-Nazis, the KKK, church bombings, cross burnings, forced sterilization, abortions, poor schools, ghettos, police brutality, drive-by shootings, gangs, Heroin, CIA-crack cocaine, the Tuskegee Experiment, the Prison Industrial Complex, AIDS, crooked politicians, lying preachers, fast food restaurants, and microchips.

We are still here.

Even after the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, the Iraqi War, and the War in Afghanistan.

We are still here.

Even after George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Bull Connor, J. Edgar Hoover, Jesse Helms, Frederik de Klerk, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Sean Hannity, Pat Robertson, and Rush Limbaugh.

We are still here.

Even though they sprained up with water hoses, had dogs bite us, police beat us, refused to serve us, called us "every thing but a child of God," and spit in our faces.

We are still here.
Even though they hated Marcus Garvey, Elijah Muhammad, Wallace Fard Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan, Khalid Muhammed, Huey Newton, Stokley Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, President Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

We are still here.
Even though they assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, Medgar Evers, Fred Hampton Jr., Emmitt Till and Little Bobby Hutton.

We are still here.

Even though Muhammad Ali lost his heavyweight belt cause he refused to fight in Vietnam, Arthur Ashe passed away, Len Bias died from a cocaine overdose, Magic contracted AIDS, Michael Vick went to jail, Barry Bonds was accused of using steroids, and Tiger cheated on his wife.

We are still here.

Even though we imitated Richard Pryor, laughed with Robin Harris, cursed with Redd Foxx, and joked with Bernie Mack.

We are still here.

Even though we still miss Marvin Gaye, loved us some Luther Vandross, danced with James Brown, cried for Michael Jackson, and "made some good lovin" to Teddy Pendergrass.

We are still here.

Even though the Fugees broke up, Jam Master Jam got shot, Tupac Shakur got killed, and Biggie Smalls got murdered.

We are still here.

And despite 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the recent devasting earthquake that hit Haiti, we are still here.
Cause we're 'BEBE'S KIDS', WE DON'T DIE! WE MULTIPLY!!
And most importantly, we're still here

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if you like what you are learning please leave a comment for Eric D. Graham at lbiass34@yahoo.com

BOBBEE BEE: REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR WORDS

REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR WORDS
THEY BECOME YOUR FOUNDATION
WORDS PRODUCE THOUGHTS
THOUGHTS PRODUCE EMOTIONS
EMOTIONS PRODUCE DECISIONS
DECISIONS PRODUCE ACTION
ACTIONS PRODUCE HABITS
HABITS PRODUCE CHARACTER
CHARACTER PRODUCES DESTINY

TRAITS THAT YOUR CHILD MAYBE A TEENAGER (I AM BOBBEE BEE "THE HATER" BEWARE BEWARE

According to Joesph Tooley, Ph.D, Psychologist Marriage & Family Therapist and Life Coach there are 11 traits that your child maybe becoming a teenager. Here is a brakedown of those traits so parents beware.

1. Highly Influenced by Peer Pressure

Adolescents may need to reject your standards for the standards of their friends or to be down with the "IN CROWD" This includes wanting a tattoo, getting ear piercings, Mohawk haircuts, skinny jeans, smoking, drinking, or joining gangs.

2. DEVELOPS UNSTABLE RELATIONSHIPS

Teenagers change friends constantly. They may have a different boyfriend or girlfriend every other week. Best friends become enemies. "I don't like her anymore because she didn't speak to me yesterday."

3.TEENAGERS CAN BE CRUEL

Children may tease and pick on one another. Name-calling is notorious in school. Words like "You are gay or " "HOMO" and stupid are popular verbal insults on the playground these days. In the classroom and in the hallways terms like nerd and retard are still being used. The old cliche' "sticks and stones" may brake my bones but words will never hurt me..is simply not true.

4.COMMUNICATION BECOMES A PROBLEMS.

Your Teenager may begin to speak in One words sentence.

Parent: How was school today?

Teenager:FINE

Parent: What did you learn today?

Teenager: NOTHING

5. ISOLATION FROM OTHERS.

Your teenager would rather be alone in his room than participate in family activities. They would rather hang with their "homeboys"play on the PS2 for hours and hours, talking on the telephone or sitting at the computer rather than hang with their old-fashion parents. The classic hip-hop song by Will Smith entitled "Parents Don't Understand" explains how teenagers feel. Take a listen to the remix verison featuring Lil Romeo.

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6.TIME ALONE BECOMES SUPER IMPORTANT

7.KNOW-IT-ALL ATTITUDE

Your teenager will reject your good advice and adopt the attitude that "I already know that...Duh"


8.MOOD SWINGS BECOME EXTREME

Happy one minute; sad the next! It's the life of every teenage girl. She loves me; she hates me.

9. BODY IMAGE BECOME EXTREME

As their bodies change, your children will become self-conscious and embarrassed about the slightest flaw. Pimples, blemishes, freckles, hairstyles, weight and braces. Girls may ask why they can't wear make-up. They will say "I can't go out looking like this

10. RESULTS OF ACTIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED

Your teen will act in the "here and now" without considering the long-term results of their behavior...

11. INDEPENDENCE IS ALL IMPORTANT

Teenagers feel that they have a right to do everything. They feel highly insulted when they have to ask permission to do anything

To learn more about Bobbee Bee and our educational programs contact Eric D. Graham at lbiass34@yahoo.com

BOBBEE BEE IS DOWN WITH OBAMA

by President Barack Hussein Obama

And no matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.

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BOBBEE BEE: THE TEACHER'S CREED(contains strong language)

In the classroom on the first day of a new school year, I am eager to meet my students. I have rehearsed my greeting and first day’s remarks, but no matter how many years I’ve prepared for this procedure, it’s always new. My heart pumps a bit harder, faster; I feel adrenaline like an athlete, or like an actor, or maybe like a novice public speaker. It’s a marvelous feeling, this first day, because I know that something special is going to happen, and I know it because I’ve experienced it before and I know that I will experience it every time I meet a new class throughout my venerable career. And then they’re seated before me and I smile at this special feeling. This is an assembly of students, yes. But there’s so much more, because each of these young persons is more than just a student entrusted to me. Each of these students has a story to tell, a lifetime, however brief, of experiences, a history in volumes whose richness and depth I can barely begin to fathom. And so as I absorb the first glimpse of these young charges, I must appreciate the extent of my responsibility, of the privilege I’ve accepted in presenting these young souls my special knowledge. In offering them my talent and passion, I am adding an enormous array of new bright stars to the vast firmament of their minds, stars that will never have time to fade in their lifetimes. I will be part of their story. And I know that each of them will always be part of mine. And that’s a good feeling, a feeling that is perpetually renewed, revisited, and rewritten in A Teacher’s Creed."

Please read our new book "In the Mind of Bobbee Bee" now available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.bn.com/

BOBBEE BEE: 8 TOXIC PERSONALITIES

My cartoon character, Bobbee Bee "THE HATER" has lots of personality but by definition, personality means the sum of the characteristics which makes up the physical and mental being, which include appearance, manners, habits, tastes and moral character. These characteristics will distinguish one person from another (this is equivalent to individuality) As a result, Brett Blumenthal, who holds a Bachelor in Architecture and an MBA with a focus a Spa Development and Brand Stragedy, from Cornell University descirbes 8 Toxic personalities everybody should avoid. So Pay close attention and listen good cause you may be one of these 8 Toxic people.

1. Manipulators : These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.

Note: These techinques can be and are still being used by politicans even in this current Obama administration. Politics as Usual.

2. Narcissistic: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulat0rs of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.3.Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.

4. Judgers : When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.
Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.


5. Dream Killers Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.
Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.


6. Insincere : You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.

7. Disrespecters: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.
8. Never Enoughers
You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.
Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?
Please read "In the Mind of Bobbee Bee" the cartoon on http://www.blackathlete.com/ every week. And please get the book series "In the Mind of Bobbee Bee" at http://www.bn.com/, and http://www.amazon.com/

BOBBEE BEE "THE LIE DETECTOR

by Eric D.Graham

America was build on a lie because Christopher Columbus didn't discover America. The Native Americans didn't celebrate Thanksgiving. Jesus is not white and George Washington had slaves. As a result, Duane Alan Hahn said that a Liar's motto is "If at first you don't deceive, lie, lie, and lie again." So Let the Truth be Told: Crooks lie, Criminals lie, Children lie, Parents lie, Husbands and Wives lie, News Reporters lie, Teachers lie, Lawyers lie, Politicians lie, Police Officers lie, Preachers lie, the Government lies and even you and I lie. But can you spot a liar, if you saw one. Because the Lie is written all over your face according to Marc Salem, a leading authority on nonverbal communication and interpersonal skills,who reveals how to spot a liar in his book The Six Keys To Unlock and Empower Your Mind. Here are a few hidden clues.

1. Sharp Pauses
When a person is lying, the pauses are longer in the middle of the sentences, provide short answers to questions and take longer to begin their response than someone who's merely nervous. After all, they need time to create the lie.

2. The Eyes are the Windows to the Soul
See where the eyes go after you ask the question. People tend to look up to the right to visualize or invent, a response and down to the right to invent sounds. We often recall the truth by looking up to the left or down to the left

3.Excessive gesturing
When people lie, they move their hands alot, nervous movements like scratching the body or fiddling with a pencil. If a candidate is asked a question & immediately pick up a pen and begins playing with it, something's a miss subconsciously.

4.Lack of gesturing.

The rehearsed or practiced liar, who has planned his deceit ahead of time, will try to control gestures. Many politicians are coached to stay still during TV appearances. They keep their face inexpressive, upper body stiff and legs often crossed.

5. READ HIS LIPS

Look for unsusal movement of the mouth, lips, or tongue, While discussing weapons of mass destruction in recent interview, former Vice president Dick Chaney bit his lips, sucked them inward more than half a dozen times. Tight lips indicate you may be planning to keep the truth in. If you actually suck the lips in, you maybe withholding anger. A dry cough or cracking voice is psychological response to the discomfort of lying. When you are nervous your mouth becomes dry and you lick your lips and swallow as you struggle to find the right words to say.

6.HAND HIDING

Hands symbolically express the emotions of the heart which is why liars tend to keep them hidden. Research on handshakes shows that the single most important factor is palm-to-palm contact. When people don't get this contact, they wonder what the other person is hiding. They'll stick their hands in their pockets, clench them, or hold them behind their back.

7.HALF SMILES.

A smile is the most common facial expression to make emotions. If is often used to hide displeasure and anger. A real smile changes the entire face. The eyes light up. The forehead wrinkles, the eyebrows and cheeck muscles rise.....

8.EXCESSIVE CONFIDENCE

Think of this as the super smooth salesman effect. Look for nonverbal communication, which include voice, tune, volume, and speaking rate that sound overconfident. You can spot a liar by going with your gut impression. Listen for anything that doesn't sound normal. If you feel something is out of norm, even if you can't articulate it specifically, you are probably right. Both President Bush and Condi Rice display this behavior.

9. CREATION OF BARRIERS

Just as we pull down the shades when we don't want others to see into our home, we close off entrances to our body so our feelings aren't seen. There are windows at the bottom of our feet, kneecaps, bottom of the torso, middle of the chest, neck, mouth, eyes, and top the head. A liar tends to close off these entrances- putting clothing over them, turning them away from the person's he is talking to, putting objects or furniture between himself and others, or simply folding his arms. When someone's windows are closed, we don't feel as comfortable with the interaction.

Please read "In the Mind of Bobbee Bee" the cartoon every week on the http://www.blackathlete.com/