Time to Pray

I don't know if you really have a prayer life, but as a newlywed I realize that it is time to pray. It is not even about the new husband who is fabulous. It is about haters related or not who spend some of their waking hours trying to cause unrest. I thank God that I have a prayer life and that I have some gifts operating. I ask God to let them operate even the more. I wish that I could share candidly with you some of the foolishness that I have witnessed or heard about over the last few weeks.

I say to myself people who are saved ought to act saved and then you might bring others to Christ. I remember a conversation that I had with someone at Trinity Broadcasting Network. I would often call for prayer during the telethons or whenever I needed someone to agree with me. You can have people pretend that they will agree with you in prayer but that is not always the case. I was speaking with them about a certain relative and said, "That person is supposed to be saved." I was shocked when a prayer warrior shared that even those with God's spirit act totally out of character. I just found that baffling considering the example I had given them.

Today being saved sometimes doesn't mean much for some because everyone is not walking the walk and think it not strange when various people or issues come up against you. Sometimes, people have their prophetic insight working and they see where God is taking you and it nearly makes them crazy. I have talked to people and even children who are basically scared of church because of some of the people who they have encounter.

One time Pastor Rod Parsley of Breakthrough Ministries said that you should look for these things when joining a church: 1) People are getting saved. 2) There is a strong distinction between right and wrong. 3) The Pastor is not afraid to speak out regarding sin. 4) The Holy Ghost has free reign. 5) The Word of God is going forth.

I may not have them listed in the order that he gave but it was somewhere along those lines. Everyone that is in a church is not always saved. I believed that a good percentage of them are and that there is a small percent that has a hidden agenda. The devil will use anyone who is willing. Just don't let him use you.

I still consider it a small miracle that I actually got married. Not saying that I am not marriage material but of the people who have dedicated their lives to being a hindrance. I was raised by my grandmother and that is enough to tell you what I have to deal with. My parents are still alive. My father is a pastor in Detroit and his wife assists him. He is to be admired as an old man who God called to pastor a church later in life. My father seeks to stay busy and is of a sound mind and has the right spirit most of the time when he does things as far as I know.

My mother is single and never married. I have several siblings on my mother's side and my father's side. So, like David in the Bible I have many half siblings. As a matter of fact, all of my siblings are half.

Stay prayerful. It is time to pray. Don't let the enemy trick you into being a hindrance. You never know who God is trying to use and you don't want to get in the way and have God's wrath unleashed and you don't know why. Ask God to keep you in His will and out of His way.

The New Civil Rights Struggle: Education

Over the years, I have often been asked, "Are you related to Fannie Lou Hamer?" I even started doing some research. Back in those days, the central library was located on Peabody Avenue. I went through a lot of the Census records on microfiche. My grandmother on my father's side was a Williams. My grandfather on my mother's side was a Hamer. I started researching the Hamers starting in Benton County, Mississippi. Fannie Lou Hamer resided in Ruleville, Mississippi which is in Sunflower County. After realizing that this is going to be a long search because most of the people seem to have 15 kids or more, I decided instead to write the book and do what I needed to do. I have always had that Fannie Lou Hamer spirit. She coined the phrase "Sick and tired of being sick and tired." I have a disdain for hindrance tactics. I personally think that it is a level of demonic activity.

Even in the Bible, the Jewish people were being held back and God sent Moses and commanded Pharaoh to let my people go. Pharaoh didn't want to do it, and you know the story of how he had no choice until tragedy struck his house and then he was forced to let the people go.

Also, the Bible makes reference to the fact that an Angel was trying to bring the answer to Daniel. The angel was withstood for 21 days from the prince of the kingdom of Persia. From what I have read and interpreted, this prince of Persia is a principality from the kingdom of Satan. Since the devil is not omniscient, he has to enlist the help of his highly organized group of devils and demons. So, he can't be everywhere at once. If they will withstand men and women of God, they will withstand you and me.

So when people act like, hindrance tactics are basically nonexistent or a figment of my imagination. I am thinking, you really need to wake up and smell the coffee because the struggle is real.I am thankful for the connection to Fannie Lou Hamer. I believe in broadcasting it opened doors for me. Over the years, I have interviewed or had chance encounters with many Civil Rights legends. I have interviewed and interacted with Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles, Judge D'Army Bailey, Stockley Carmichael, Dr. Vasco and Mrs. Maxine Smith, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, Andrew Young and Vivian Malone Jones, just to name a few. All have taken note of my name and whether I said I was related to her or not felt the need to impart information that the struggle needs to continue. Many have just assumed the relationship because of the rarity of the name.

My entry into broadcasting was paved by many brave journalists of National Associaton of Black Journalists(NABJ) who take it personally when it comes to mentoring up and coming journalists. Now, that I am in education I see the challenges that districts face in funding urban school districts and the belief by some that districts can operate on not enough funds.

I see people who have the time and the means to get out and be active but are waiting on others to take the lead and their children are the ones in the school district. Why can't others take a stand? Why can't all who are able to vote, vote? Why are you waiting on someone else to do something when you can do it yourself?

One of my bosses in TV once told us, "If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything." I believe that the school districts are doing the best that they can with the money that they have, but I am really tired of people thinking it can be run on a shoestring budget. Everyone can't put their child in a private school. Actually, I think quite highly of public schools. It could be because I was educated in public schools and had good teachers. It could be because I am a teacher. It might also be because of the level of research that I have done that keeps me aware of how effective education can be for anyone at any age.

It might also be because of the Word of God that says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). People send their children to public schools because for many it is all they can do. For others, it is because they have confidence in the school system and for others they realize that's what it's for. They are supposed to educate our children because of the law.

If you are not already doing it, do something different this year. Stand for children. Stand for the future. I often tell my students that I teach the importance of education whether they want to hear it or not. They know Mrs. Smith is on her soapbox. I am trying to make you the best version of yourself. That's what parents and teachers are called to do. You are supposed to help make your child or student the best version of themselves even if it means out shadowing your own accomplishments. That's love. That's purpose. Forget about whether or not they will appreciate it. You just do the best that you can by them and if they don't already appreciate it, they will one day.

What A Year!

This has been an amazing year. I believe that my hair care is turning around and I also changed my name as I became Mrs. Smith about a month ago. Here's to better hair days especially as a married woman. I still nonetheless continue my crusade for all things hair. I have found out that one has to educate yourself regarding hair care in between salon visits. You have to use the right type of moisturizer if your hair type calls for it. I recently had to start using a hair creme that I used decades ago. My stylist explained that oils and other moisturizers that I had been using caused my hair to revert and become frizzy. I also changed

out the types of rollers that I use. The hard rollers seem to provide the best curls. I also use satin rollers on occasion. You have to watch any of the rollers because they can pull your hair out while you sleep...especially if you sleep rough some nights. Then, if you don't use rollers and just try to wrap your hair, you might not have enough curls. I use to try getting up early and rolling my hair and then get in the shower. Sometimes, you might have a nice curl bump. Sometimes, you don't. Here's to boss hair like a babe in 2016.

Why Is Hair Such A Big Deal?

You have probably read a previous post of mine talking about hair. The hair care industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Who doesn't spend money on hair? Everyone you know spends money on hair or gives someone money to spend on hair. Women primarily spend the most on hair, but men are not immune from spending on hair as well. They spend money to shampoo, cut and color their hair. They have beards and mustaches and spend money there. People spend money to remove hair from various parts of their body. Hair is a part of the culture and will always be a part of the culture. Now people are spending money to color their hair in various vibrant colors.

Recently, I ran into a GLORY...THE HAIR fan at a family outing. A relative of my sister-in-law told me he had read the book. He said it was a good book and that they support me. My sister-in-law said she was reading it but since it's so long it is taking her awhile. I have also found out that many of them are passing it around like in a book club or something. I have always gotten support from folks in my hometown. I suppose that is the way that people should be. They sort of respect you out there trying to hustle and make some things happen. Everyone is trying to make some things happen. You just got to put in the work. Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day. I remember back in the day when I was on TV. Folks back in Grand Junction and Hardeman County were so proud of me. I have always told folks where I am from. It is easy to blend in with the big city and act like I'm from Memphis. I would not dare do that. My hometown people would not let me live it down. Anyway, you can read a sneak peak of GLORY...THE HAIR at https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0759607796. I can not tell you exactly when my next book will be published. It is finished and I am going a different route at present than trying to self-publish. It is not GLORY...THE HAIR two but some of the characters from GLORY...THE HAIR appear in this book. There is not a big court battle over hair, but there are other battles going on. Hopefully in the next year I will get it published. It has taken a while because I teach school during the day and go to school. Working on a degree does take up a lot of time. I can't wait until I get finished with all of that. People might start thinking I'm a professional student or something.

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Venita Smith

This is a video of a friend of mine's husband and friends sharing after she passed. She was a woman of wisdom.

What Type of Leader Are You?

For those who don't know, I am in graduate school. I am also a teacher. So, I have to do a lot of reflecting. I have to reflect on teaching practices. As a doctoral student, I have to reflect on various topics for class. We have been looking at various types of leadership styles. I have been asked the question, "What type of leader are you?" Based on the data, I think that I have the makings of a transformational leader. This is one of the leaders that appears to be en vogue. They can get more done because they are not doing it all by themselves. They have the ability to inspire others. Yes, they are good to work for and have good people skills. They are not the type that run around and say I am the boss, but you and everyone else knows who's running the show. They like to delegate and assign various tasks. They also like to train others to do their jobs. They have successors even though they have no plans of going anywhere. They are just that secure. What type of leader are you for your field? It is also important to know what type of leader works best for your industry. In my field, the top leadership job that many aspire to is that of principal. We also talked about those who are career assistant principals. That is also okay. Some people are very good at supporting the work that someone else has to do. Next year as a teacher, I want to free myself up more and help students who are capable and not too power hungry to take more initiative in the classroom. Some students don't really want to take more initiative, but there are others that do want to take that initiative. What I have found in my studies is that the dictator is not really the best kind of leader. Sometimes people will resent them and sometimes they are not well trusted. Ask yourself, what type of leader am I? What type of leader do I desire to be?