A Royal Performance

munson steed / stephanie millsTo accompany a queen on a ride in her chariot is a privilege most gentleman would lunge at. In that vein the subject of my discourse in is Stephanie Mills who represents true to the lineage, blue blood royalty. Our encounter began when she emerged from her limousine, with body guards in tow should she falter or stumble. Poised and graceful, she floated through the throng of screaming fans who anxiously awaited her arrival. Even in the dead of night she emitted an inner confidence and radiance that luminated the space around her.  I along with her guards cleared a path for the lady, all of reveling in her glory and our association with her. We were in the presence of a bona fide super star.  Michael Jackson, the King of Pop himself had walked a magical path with Mills in the making of the classic, The Wiz

Under her command, Mills’ dressing room was transformed into a setting reminiscent of a Hollywood star’s bungalow. As we talked the accomplished starlet, sipped a humble cup of tea with honey which she coddled in her small hands. Floral aromas permeated the room’s atmosphere lending it a garden like of ambience.   


As I prepared to exit I stood up slowly, but Mills — always the lady — reached out without touching me and with a dart of  her eyes gestured for me to return to my seat. Seldom does a journalist’s request for an interview remain with him and mark him so vividly as did this one. But this wonderful woman left me feeling inspired and motivated, thanks to her professionalism and commitment to her craft. During the course of our conversation, she impressed every one gathered with her melodious responses to questions and the harmonies that sprang forward from her  5″ 2 frame. Her voice filled the room and us as she sang.  And then it was Mill’s turn to take her leave and her place on stage. The next words I uttered were expressions of my heartfelt gratitude followed by a quiet retreat from the glare in the presence of greatness.

Lights out … pause … and then the feeling that something magical was about to happen. Stephanie Mill’s soulful voice pierced through the air which was filled with anticipation from loyal and adoring fans. The devotees swayed and waved their arms to the music and caught up in the rapture of aural delight, they threw flowers at the feet of their queen.


Backstage there is pandemonium following the power packed performance.  An hour or so of pushing and  pulling, photos and tears, and tender stories ensues. Finally, her guards are cued and Mill’s chariot is prepared to whisk her away from the still clamoring, near hysterical crowd, when she instructs the driver to stop and allow one more photo for a pleading fan.

Her smile is one in a million and she’s worn it brilliantly all evening. I thank her for allowing my spirit to encounter hers. After arriving back at my hotel she thoughtfully expresses her appreciation for the meeting and she and her team speed away into the night. 

Peace.

Munson Steed


A Royal Performance
Making
a difference in a time of upheaval seems to be the call of the day.
Always observing distressing and sinister attitudes that are prevailing
in an emotional destructive way. We cast a shadow of doubt and
discredit on the legacy and the history of how we’ve struggled and
endure to clarify perspectives so that people will understand exactly
what African Americans will stand for and will stand up to.

The
increasingly regressive behavior gives credence to and justifies the
predatory behavior so many demonstrate toward one another so that
abuses gradually become tolerable and celebrities are forgiven for a
plethora of crimes and transgressions.

It is inconceivable
that great African American performers and entertainers as they
crossover to mainstream, don’t reach out to African American
publications and media outlets to provide them the platform from which
their voices can be heard.

The disrespect Rihanna exhibited
toward Oprah conveys contempt for the black women that went before her
and paved the path to fame for her. No she doesn’t share her painful
and sensitive tale with her sister Oprah, who is even the first lady’s
confidante. No, she goes to another network to publicly shed her tears.
And then her hair goes blonde.

Yes, the spin doctor will remedy
the situation by making this woman Riahnna appear to be a delicate
butterfly in need of saving from the angry black man. But there’s no
avoiding the damage done to the image of black women when you disregard
and dismiss them as inadequate to meet your needs.

Think what
all those girls Riahnna claims to be a role model for are rolling over
in their minds. Should they expect to be used and abused by men. Will
they feel compelled to participate in less than healthy relationships
and then air their dirty laundry on camera.

The distractions
and the denigration caused by Riahnna’s misery when 11 female African
American is abhorrent. The national guard did not come to their
rescue.  The obscure relatives of those obscure daughters will not be
invited to Star Island . They don’s sing songs about their umbrellas,
they use them to protect them from the acidic rain of harsh realities.

We cannot erase these images of Riahnna in the photo that appears on to your left
on
this page.  But clearly in what ever glasses your looking through don’t
look to Riahnna as a role model. She is what she appears to be — a
puppet being manipulated for fame and stardom.


A Royal PerformanceAt times, uncertainty and dark thoughts can cloud
our minds. Shadows of doubt may obscure the very
essence of our natural and permanent beings. We
discover and explore our concerns as we examine and
determine whether or not we have what it takes — the
intestinal fortitude to move us beyond where we are.
As we fasten ourselves in for the journey and attempt
to protect life, limb and intellectual property, we are
on occasion given the tools and resources to forge
advances and quasi-miracles in the quest to surpass
previously set records. One may give pause when the
task seems daunting, but ingenuity and enterprise will
help accomplish our objectives.

After all, exercising the mind requires rigorous
interaction and strategic thinking to effect the kind
of change that will ultimately defi ne our destinies.
In order to elevate our stations in life, we’ll have to
regularly evaluate the direction we move in to attain
higher living.

But who pushed pause and stopped you? The
career, the destination, the dream — all paused. And
in that simple paralyzing action came an onslaught
of self-doubt and personal recriminations. The pause
light came on and it put a halt to all those dreams of
greatness and the practices they hinged on. Positive
associations dwindle, you place your educational
conquest on pause and eventually you may lose sight
of that bright and brilliant future you planned.

 Even when we have cleared the hurdles and we
have attained the academic degree, we may sabotage
ourselves still by foolishly believing we have arrived and
backslide into a false sense of security and arrogance.
Again, we misguidedly push the pause button and relax
our zeal and believe we’ve done enough — no need
to strive for more. The danger in that line of thinking
though, is that we no longer work toward promotions or
honing our skills for bigger and better lifestyles and an
enhanced quality of living.

Ask yourself, ‘Have I placed the brakes on my life?’
Take the brakes off, take this moment to accelerate,
and to innovate and to transform yourself for the
destiny that is due, promised and possible for you.

Take the brakes off right now, and hold on to greatness
with resolve and unrelenting faith. Be innovative and
forward thinking. Take off the brakes and drive ahead
to claim your destiny of greatness today.

Peace.

Munson Steed, Publisher

twitter.com/munsonsteed


A Royal PerformanceIntelligence
represents the best part of us and developing our intellect is as
critical as feeding the body and nourishing the soul. President Obama
is the embodiment of lofty ideals and a living representation of what
education and discipline can accomplish. Having been awarded the Nobel
Prize last week for his relentless press for peace, we should take
another page from the book of knowledge and examine the benefits of
getting a quality education and riding that wave right onto the
socio-political horizon for years to come.

Obama’s opponents may
question him on a number of fronts and issues, but they cannot question
his ability to think on his feet and articulate his position. It is
also evident that even his detractors are frustrated in that they must
affirm that his credentials are impeachable and the man himself
impeccable. And although they have devised a litany of litmus tests to
discredit his theories and policies, he continues to make the grade as
well as set the standard for Democrats and Republicans alike.
 
In
the president’s personal life, as well as his professional one, there
don’t appear to be any sensational scandals or looming demons to
distract him and the nation from the work at hand. From the Pentagon to
Wall Street, no one is arguing his pedigree. Students are inspired by
him and the fact that he not only earned a law degree from Harvard, but
he parlayed it into a vehicle for attaining the highest political
station in the nation.
 
But it is not just academia that
propelled him to the presidency. In keeping sight of his dream, he
remained committed to living a life without reproach and was ever
vigilant about improving the quality of life for his constituents. We
should look not to him to change our personal stations in life, but we
must instead make adjustments in our behavior and how we conduct
ourselves each day. Tune into another station and change the
conversation from the clothing we wear to the heights we can achieve if
we dare. Form a coalition with others who are attempting to elevate
themselves personally and professionally.
 
There are enormous
tasks to tackle to extricate ourselves from the depths of destitution
and despair. It starts with education and living positively. We must
practice diligence and discipline in order to avoid sabotaging
ourselves and our children’s futures.
 
The essence of what it
means to give change a chance is to try. We must incorporate the change
slogan from ‘yes we can’  to ‘yes I do,’ which means mutual agreements
from me and you … or else we’re relegated to simply endure.
 
Peace.


alt

I seldom walk through the streets with my gaze directed down. I
rarely search the ground looking for people laying around. I’ve
traveled internationally and visited countries both developed and
developing around the world. But while on a trip to New Orleans after a
five star dinner, I walked through the Quarter to hear a band.
 
While en route I looked down and there was a salt and pepper bearded, postured on the ground — his leg had been amputated.

And I  passed him.

The
brother held his hand out and he reached out and I avoided him. I
didn’t stop to ponder what perils had befallen him, or what
circumstances had brought him to this place.

Here in the place
ravaged by Katrina, he is a brother, and I was a brother who could
choose to feed or not to feed him, to see or not to see him. 

I
walked back. I handed him a few dollars and had a conversation with
him. We spoke brother to brother. I didn’t ask how he lost his leg,
it’s not there and that’s enough. This man was striving like the rest
of us, not to end up six feet under. But the sad reality is that living
on the ground — exposed to all manner of malady — makes him vulnerable
prey and brings him closer to death each passing day.

If he’s
robbed he can’t give chase. He is relatively defenseless and a target
for ridicule and indifference, the offspring of inhumanity.

I
refrained from dredging through his past and delving into what’s
personal. I considered the notion that he was a reflection of me. He is
the evidence of societal shortcomings. And, during our discourse I
leaned on him and he steadied himself to support me.

There are
big stories and little stories. Little story: the cost of a cup of
coffee at Starbucks. Big story: Small gestures like sacrificing
Starbucks fix to give to homeless makes a difference.

The
weather is changing. And although it won’t snow in New Orleans, my
brother with one leg had been exposed to rain all day, and was chilled
through. I recognize that we’re all enduring some strain now, we are
not excused from endeavoring to help others live with dignity and walk
with grace. To the contrary this is the time to extend ourselves to
each other. So carry a blanket in the car and keep a jacket handy and
be prepared to give them away.

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