Wow. I remember when he first came to prominence, when he was 10 and I was 11. He was an exceptional talent and grew up to be one of the biggest stars on the planet - deservedly so. In those days, to be famous and successful as a performer, you needed to have real talent. And he had it in spades.
He has had such a troubled life. He had no childhood. He faced his demons in adulthood but we don't know if he won.
I was just thinking about Michael Jackson a couple of nights ago, about how when he was a child and was appearing with the Jackson 5 at the Royal Variety Performance, Elton John said he felt sorry for them because they had been made to wait so long.
He was interviewed by Oprah, where they both talked about the childhood abuse they had suffered.
How could he have died of a heart attack? He was only 50. What was going on there?
This has really shocked me. No doubt we will be learning more over the next days and weeks.
See also, Celebrating the Legend That Is Motown.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Black Men's Health - Too Embarrassed to Talk about It?
On Oprah today, Dr. Oz will be the host. It's the first time anyone other than Oprah herself has hosted.
The topic is men's health. And everyone in the studio will be male.
If you are a Black man, are you too embarrassed to talk about your health? Do you avoid talking about it with your wife, the woman in your life, your family?
The topic is men's health. And everyone in the studio will be male.
If you are a Black man, are you too embarrassed to talk about your health? Do you avoid talking about it with your wife, the woman in your life, your family?
Do you avoid going to the doctor because you don't want to get bad news?
How can we as healthcare and health promotion workers reach African American and African Caribbean men? How can we support them to get the health checks they need?
In the free More Black Success ebook Volume 4, Dr. Bill Releford writes about the Black Barbershop Project. If we can't get the men to go to the doctor, we need to bring the doctor to the men.
For your free copy, visit More Black Success today!
Friday, June 19, 2009
I'm on TV Tonight!
I will be appearing on the Rhoda Wilson Show tonight (Friday 19th June) at 10:00 p.m. I hope you will join us.
Rhoda will interview me about my book Success Strategies for Black People and about my Nonviolent Communication (NVC) workshops for the African Caribbean Community.
BEN TV, Sky Channel 184
The Rhoda Wilson Show
I am very passionate about this work. It is changing people's lives.
Rhoda will interview me about my book Success Strategies for Black People and about my Nonviolent Communication (NVC) workshops for the African Caribbean Community.
BEN TV, Sky Channel 184
The Rhoda Wilson Show
I am very passionate about this work. It is changing people's lives.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Positive Change and Transformation
In the face of recent events such as, for example, the Samantha Orabator case, the Troy Davis case and the many instances of tasings of African American people, one of my online contacts recently raised the question, “What Can We Do?”.
We work so hard to battle these injustices. Yet they never seem to decrease. So what can we do?
My work is all about creating a more positive future.
The Law of Attraction tells us that whatever we put our energies into, increases in our lives. This is very similar to the Law of Increase, which I write about in my book Success Strategies for Black People.
Although our intention is to bring about positive change, we need to be aware that these universal laws are constantly working. They can work for us or against us. We can use them in our favour – or not.
In other words, the more energy we put into battling a problem, the more energy we are giving to that problem.
We need to turn our focus to the solution rather than the problem.
Situations such as the case of Samantha Orabator will often respond to Spiritual Response Therapy (SRT). I write about SRT and the Higher Self in Success Strategies.
I also write about Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as well as other highly effective processes.
These are transformative methods. I have seen miracles happen in my life and in the lives of others. This is why I wrote the book. I want to make these methods available to as many people of African heritage as possible. We can use these methods and other things I cover in the book to heal ourselves, our families and our communities. And we can use them to achieve much, much more.
I am passionate about the work I do because I have seen the difference it makes in people’s lives.
As Black people, we often get into victim mentality. This is because we have been victimised for so many generations.
Those of us of a political bent say, “Organise! Fight back!”. And of course, there is a time to organise. There is a time to fight, to defend our communities.
However, in order to bring about real positive, effective change and transformation, we need to turn our focus inward.
Human beings in general tend to blame others for our problems, difficulties and issues. This is a basic human tendency. And others are often to blame.
The problem with this is that it locates the solution outside of us. If only “they” would treat us better. If only he, she or they would stop doing whatever it is they are doing and do what we want them to do. Then everything would be okay.
Please note, I am NOT trying to take the blame for racism and racist violence off of white people.
I am just saying that, whether we blame ourselves or other people, blame is not a solution. And I am interested in solutions.
We have amazing power. We need to use this power to bring about the changes we need. Blame then becomes a distraction from what will bring about the real changes we deserve.
I am a pragmatist. I am committed to doing what works.
I will be blogging about this further within the next few days.
We work so hard to battle these injustices. Yet they never seem to decrease. So what can we do?
My work is all about creating a more positive future.
The Law of Attraction tells us that whatever we put our energies into, increases in our lives. This is very similar to the Law of Increase, which I write about in my book Success Strategies for Black People.
Although our intention is to bring about positive change, we need to be aware that these universal laws are constantly working. They can work for us or against us. We can use them in our favour – or not.
In other words, the more energy we put into battling a problem, the more energy we are giving to that problem.
We need to turn our focus to the solution rather than the problem.
Situations such as the case of Samantha Orabator will often respond to Spiritual Response Therapy (SRT). I write about SRT and the Higher Self in Success Strategies.
I also write about Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as well as other highly effective processes.
These are transformative methods. I have seen miracles happen in my life and in the lives of others. This is why I wrote the book. I want to make these methods available to as many people of African heritage as possible. We can use these methods and other things I cover in the book to heal ourselves, our families and our communities. And we can use them to achieve much, much more.
I am passionate about the work I do because I have seen the difference it makes in people’s lives.
As Black people, we often get into victim mentality. This is because we have been victimised for so many generations.
Those of us of a political bent say, “Organise! Fight back!”. And of course, there is a time to organise. There is a time to fight, to defend our communities.
However, in order to bring about real positive, effective change and transformation, we need to turn our focus inward.
Human beings in general tend to blame others for our problems, difficulties and issues. This is a basic human tendency. And others are often to blame.
The problem with this is that it locates the solution outside of us. If only “they” would treat us better. If only he, she or they would stop doing whatever it is they are doing and do what we want them to do. Then everything would be okay.
Please note, I am NOT trying to take the blame for racism and racist violence off of white people.
I am just saying that, whether we blame ourselves or other people, blame is not a solution. And I am interested in solutions.
We have amazing power. We need to use this power to bring about the changes we need. Blame then becomes a distraction from what will bring about the real changes we deserve.
I am a pragmatist. I am committed to doing what works.
I will be blogging about this further within the next few days.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Too Many Politicians?
In the light of the recent Parliamentary expenses scandal, David Cameron has been calling for a reduction in the number of politicians.
Surely there need to be more. Constituencies are way too big, which is one reason why the politicians have gotten out of touch with the electorate. One politician said his "private life", i.e. how he spends our money, is none of our business!
Meanwhile, there has been this row over the fact that all members of the London Assembly, including the BNP member, have been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace by the Queen. Apparently, she invites the Assembly every year.
I do not hold with the argument that if she invites one, she has to invite all of them. The BNP are no better than the National Front, albeit with briefcases and nice suits. In other words, Nazis.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we not fight a war against these people? Are these not the same people who dropped bombs on London and other British cities every night? Now they are attacking from the inside.
But I blame the electorate. These people would not be in power if people didn't vote for them. Similarly, people voted for Hitler. Learn from history, folks!
Maybe Cameron's right, we do have too many politicians.
Surely there need to be more. Constituencies are way too big, which is one reason why the politicians have gotten out of touch with the electorate. One politician said his "private life", i.e. how he spends our money, is none of our business!
Meanwhile, there has been this row over the fact that all members of the London Assembly, including the BNP member, have been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace by the Queen. Apparently, she invites the Assembly every year.
I do not hold with the argument that if she invites one, she has to invite all of them. The BNP are no better than the National Front, albeit with briefcases and nice suits. In other words, Nazis.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but did we not fight a war against these people? Are these not the same people who dropped bombs on London and other British cities every night? Now they are attacking from the inside.
But I blame the electorate. These people would not be in power if people didn't vote for them. Similarly, people voted for Hitler. Learn from history, folks!
Maybe Cameron's right, we do have too many politicians.
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