Moving Forward...

So, I've been feeling better lately. I want to thank all of my friends, family and newfound blog buddies for reading and/or offering your positive feedback over this past week. What a blessing it is to have people in my world who understand! Politically, we are headed further up the river without a paddle. Personally, things are getting back to normal and these past few days have been a bit brighter, despite the big Micro-Econ midterm that I'm going to FAIL miserably this coming Thursday! I feel good for the most part...LOL!

On Saturday afternoon, I went to the Chicago Humanities Festival to hear Chuck D lecture. Yes, thats Chuck D of the Public Enemy fame.

(My favorite Public Enemy album, by the way! )He spoke with much authority on rap, race, the media and the globalization of hip hop. He was quite a breath of fresh air. Chuck came across as knowledgable, invested and very humble! I'm always surprised to hear a celebrity speak and sound just a little bit intelligent. I'm glad he's still down for the cause!

Additionally, someone asked him if PE had any new music coming. Chuck said stuff is recorded, but he's been crazy busy. So, I think it's safe to say that we can expect a new album in the near future.

Later that night, I went to see Ray. You want to talk about another pleasant surprise! What an excellent movie and Jamie Foxx...like whoa! I didn't know what to expect going in and sad to say, considering that its Jamie Foxx, I wasn't looking forward to much. However, Jamie acted like his career depended on it. I'm so proud of the entire production! I Loved It!!

Favorite line from the movie: "I'ma make it do what it do baby!"

Now you know thats not all...this coming Friday night, The Roots are performing at the House of Blues...to a sold out show I must add. It's gonna be hot to death!!
They are touring their fairly new album...The Tipping Point, titled after the novel by Malcolm Gladwell. I can't wait!

Aside from the HOB being one of my favorite venues and The Roots being like my absolute favorite hip hop group ever, this is gonna be my 5th Roots concert. I just can't get enough. Every show is like the first time all over again. I still remember that faithful day back in 1999 when they came to Pitzer as the headliner of our outdoor Kouhetek festival. They rocked out so hard that the city shut it down an hour early. I was hooked from that point on!!

Ok, last one...I swear!

Patricia Williams, author of you guessed it..one of my favorite books, The Alchemy of Race and Rights will be speaking and at Loyola as apart of the final week of the Chicago Humanities Festival on Sunday. She is touring her latest book, Open House: Of Family, Friends, Food, Piano Lessons and the Search for a Room of My Own.
Her work was one of the first by a black feminist to really speak to me. She brought a clarity to everyday life situations that forever changed my outlook on everything! I so look forward to her lecture!

So, I hope everyone has a good week. Pray for a sistah!

-M