Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson was escorted off the premises of a Delaware radio station on Tuesday after speaking out against liquor stores near elementary schools.
The “Fast Five” and “Transformers” star, a guest at WJKS KISS 101.7, in Delaware said that while driving to the station he saw a liquor store operating near a public school.
I guess Tyrese offended the station when he told the DJ. “Get them cats out of here selling alcohol right across from your kids’ school, homie put the pressure on them homie. You know how to put pressure on dudes selling in your hood.”
Tyrese was asked to leave the building during the commercial break.
According to reports, the radio station owner felt the actor was “disrespecting” the Delaware community with his comments. Tyrese confirmed the incident, tweeting “I just got kicked out of a radio station from a [program director] who had a problem w/ me speaking on liquor stores that are by elementary schools in Delaware. If you don’t STAND for something.. You will damn near fall for Anything. If you don’t know WHO you are.. Or your purpose in life.. You will go your whole life with people TELLING you who you are.”
I don’t see how what he said was disrespectful, aren’t we allowed to speak our minds and have an opinion? That’s just sad and ridiculous, I take my hat off to Tyrese for not being afraid to speak his mind and tell it like it is. Good job brother.
It breaks my heart to have to write about the passing of Vesta Williams, simply known in the late 80s and 90s as Vesta!!! The sassy powerhouse R &B, Jazz vocalist was found dead in a LA hotel room on September 22, 2011. Vesta is known for her signature hit Congratulations, as well songs like Special, Once Bitten Twice Shy and my personal favorite Sweet Sweet Love. Although she faded from the charts in the 90s she continued to tour and was known for her soulful, sexy, humorous live shows. The latest reports say they suspect she died from accidental overdose but nothing has been confirmed. RIP Vesta!
It's finally here! I know I've been saying for months that I was going to post this interview as part of the Your Story Series (where I showcase independent artist, singers etc). I sat down with the lovely Lela Jefferson, author, host, poet, singer etc..... This woman does it all and she loves the lord. I hope you all enjoy this interview. I know I sure did.
You have a wonderful blog, Memoirs of A Black Girl is very positive and inspirational. Most blogs today are filled with gossip and negativity. What made you take this route instead?
Lela Jefferson: Well, first off I just want to say thank you so much for your comments! To be quite honest, as you know I will be (smile)... I created Memoirs of a Black Girl (www.memoirsofablackgirl.com), its companion podcast and its sister site Poetry of a Black Girl (www.poetryofablackgirl.com) to be mediums where I could just be free and share my thoughts, my loves and my experiences. I have not really ever been good at following trends per say. I am kind of a throwback individual. I guess it comes from being a child of older parents. I was my parents second batch of kids.
Second batch? That's hilarious. So tell me how long have you had your blog?
Lela: I began posting the blog in 2008.
Here we are in 2011 and you are still going strong. You wear many hats tell the people all of the titles you hold?
Lela: Day job wise I work in health care coordination. Passion wise I am a author/poet. I dabble a bit in marketing and PR. I also spent the better part of a decade working as a web producer. Spiritually wise I am a volunteer project manager for my church's music department. I actually worked in full-time ministry for about 3 years. Wow girl that's a lot of tasks? When do you sleep? LOL Tell us about your books? What was the inspiration for the books.
Lela: My first book "Poetry of a Black Girl the Darkness and the Light Volume 1" Is a collection of my poems spanning from age 10 - 30. So it's kind of hard to say what actually inspired the book. My life experiences motivate me to write. I know what inspired me to release it though. It was a number of major life changes, including the lost of a job, a failed romantic relationship and the passing of my mother. I hadn't written a poem in about 5 years before I began editing the collection to be published. I needed an outlet (outside of my prayer life) to get what I was feeling out, so I could move on.
That's wonderful you took painful situations and did something positive. Give us a little bit of background. How was your childhood?
Lela: Let me see. I am one of 11 of a blended family. I am the youngest both parents were married before they had me. My youngest older sister was 15 when I was born and is my godmother. My youngest older big brother is 15 years older than me if you get the picture. I am a native New Yorker. Brooklynite and grew up in the 80s and 90s. My childhood was privileged because I was well loved.
I come from a big family as well, my mother was one of 12. We have a lot in common, I represent Brooklyn all day everyday. LOL Let me stop being silly. Back to the questions. Describe your writing process. How long does it take you to write?
Lela: Writing for me is very organic. What I mean by this is that I generally am moved by something. I jot down a few lines and then go back and expand OR not on the brainstorming session. I have some pieces that took me just minutes to write and others that were years in the making.
How did it feel when you finally completed your book and it was published?
Lela: When I finally completed the book and published I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. All that I had went thorough the first half of my life was documented in a way in the book. My memoirs series will really spotlight different segments, but "Poetry of a Black Girl" allowed me to dress up my emotions with prose so they would not be so raw.
When did you realize you wanted to sing and write?
Lela: Singing for me has always been a bit of a mixed bag. I just enjoy doing it. I feel truly blessed to be able to sing when I can at church (the main venue where I get to minster.) I think I have been writing since I could hold a pen :)
Did anyone ever try to discourage you from going after your dreams?
Lela: Only two people I can recall I could ever I consider being my haters. A former boss, who was also my friend (still is) and my ex. I used them as stepping stones in my development because of them I am better than who I might have been.
I totally feel you on that. I always say I don't have no time for the haters it takes up too much energy. What would you say to the little girls out there today trying to find their way in life?
I would tell them to follow their dreams with all their passion. If the adults around them are not supportive find ones that are. Or like myself I found mentors from a far in the books I read. As one of my current mentors always says "Success leaves clues."
Who are some of your biggest influences? Lela: God my pastors, my parents, my uncles and aunts and my big sister cousins have been my biggest influences. After them, people like Maya Angelou, John Maxwell, Langston Hughes, Gordon Parks and Nikki Giovanni.
What inspires you?
Lela: Life inspires me. God's word inspires me.
Amen to that! What’s next for Lela Jefferson? Any new books, any music up ahead? List all of your projects.
Well, I recently became engaged to my very own God-designed Boaz; whom I affectionately call "The Coach" :-). My fiance, he coaches football professionally. So my #1 project right now is preparing myself mentally, spiritually, and physically to be his wife. I also have two novels in the works. I enjoy writing and video blogging for myself. Lastly, I have been asked to begin feature and guest write on a few other blogs. All and all I am always leaning on God and the Holy Spirit for guidance to how I should order my steps so that I can remain in balance and always in His perfect will for my life.
Wow Lela!! Congratulations on the engagement and all your wonderful projects. Please let me know when these new novels come out. You are truly a jack of all trades keep doing it sister. Thank you for your time and thank you for the positive things you do. I think that you will have a very bright future ahead of you. I love how you are keeping God in your life.
Lela: Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I really enjoy your blog and see it becoming really popular! Shine on my brother shine!
Thanks Lela!! Folks if you want to learn more about the lovely Lela Jefferson be sure click on the links listed for her website and check out the video below.
In February I posted some tips on how to save money and I can say that things have been looking good. It's so easy to get discouraged when it comes to saving money. We hear everyday on the news about the poor economy. I didn't let that stop me. I took baby steps, I made a list of all the things I was spending money on. We need to know where every dime is going and I mean every single dime. That is the only way to get a grip on things. Stop being in denial not opening the bill is not going to make it go away it will only pile up. So now you have a bunch of dept and a pile of envelopes taking up space on your desk.
I stepped back and looked at all that I was doing. I asked myself was I spending too much money on foolishness? Was every bill that I had a necessity? Then off course I separated my wants from my needs. Got rid of the magazine, music and book clubs. I started putting a little money aside every week. I stopped with the damn credit cards, my attitude was if I can't buy it with cash then I don't need it.
Everything has worked out good for me so far. I have a nice little savings and an emergency fund that I have not touched No I am not rich, (not yet anyway) but I am headed down the right road. While on my journey of saving money I stumbled upon this great show called The Dave Ramsey Show. I can't credit him for getting my finances together because I had already started several months before ever hearing his show, but I can say listening to his show is very motivating and keeping me on the right track. Check out www.daverasmey.com I listen to his podcast on Itunes. This man tells it like it is and hearing the stories of others who overcame debt is sure to inspire.
Now this is what I call a performance. At 70 years old Ms. Franklin still knows her way around the stage. Aretha gave a rousing free summer concert in Coney Island Brooklyn. Please watch this to the end she took it to church with this one. This is stuff that legends are made of.
On August 28, 2011 the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was officially dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Despite all the latest rhetoric between Tea Party, the Democrats and Republicans it's great to know that a man such as King who stood for tolerance and justice for all is being memorialized. I know we have a long way to go but some progress has been made. Let's home that we all can learn to truly live in peace and harmony. Hopefully one day we will all learn to respect each other and our different views on the world. For more information visit www.mlkmemorial.org
