This is Mattie Roper and Morgan Goodson with two of their daughters. Morgan Goodson was a fierce, bold, and strong-willed man. He was also very keen and intelligent and inspired reverence from those that knew him. It is also said that he was the meanest man in Autauga County.

This is my great-great grandmother, Mattie Roper. She was a strong, industrious woman.

Up To Canann Land

(I'm on my way I'm on my way)
Well I'm on my way to Canaan's land I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I've done sunup made up my mind I'm on my way to Canaan's land

If my mother don't go don't you hand to me
If my mother don't go don't you hand to me
I've done sunup made up my mind I'm on my way to Canaan's land
Well I'm on my way...
[ piano ]
If my brother don't go don't you hand to me
If my brother don't go don't you hand to me
I've done sunup made up my mind I'm on my way to Canaan's land
Well I'm on my way...
**********

I think I am discovering what my purpose is. I am supposed to teach. I am supposed to teach on a fundamental level. And I am supposed to teach assholes that they can't neccessarily do whatever they might think they want to. My name means light from the beacon hill. I am supposed to bring others into the light. Allow them to truly see.

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

From Killing Rage

It was not a question of your giving up the seat, it was an occasion for you to intervene in the harassment of a young black woman and you chose your own comfort and tried to deflect away from your complicity in that choice by offering an insincere, face saving apology... It was this sequences of racialized incidents involving black women that intensified my rage against the white man sitting next to me. I felt a 'Killing Rage.' I wanted to stab him softly, to shoot him with the gun I wished I had in my purse. And as I watched his pain, I would say to him tenderly 'racism hurts.'-bell hooks, Killing Rage

King Adbullah of Jordan Condemns the U.S. Occupation of Iraq

This is a great statement from a very powerful voice in the Middle East. As a sidenote, I heard someone on television say that now U.S. companies control 85% of Iraq's oil wells.

Ella Fitzgerald was a beautiful woman.

I am a Goodson, a Deramus, and a Smith.

Thank god for bell hooks.

Tony Blair must rot in hell. When are the British going to get some integrity and get rid of that man?

Those in the know say that the U.S. is searching for war with Iran. Great Britain, the United States, and Israel. Watch closely now.

At the rally yesterday, a very astute 7th grader pointed out to me that Monument Circle in Indianapolis is surrounded by nothing but banks and churches. Very, very perceptive. A monument to capitalism...

Those in the Know Say the United States is Looking for War With Iran

The University of Flordia Won't Give Jeb Bush an Honorary Degree!

Hip Hip Hooray!!

The rally today was both Student organized and student attended.

A Turning Point

Today's rally on Monument Circle in Indianapolis was quite encouraging. There were between 3 and 4 hundred people there and the astounding part was that 90 percent of them were under the age of 20! This war is on its last legs.

Queen Latifah's new movie, Life Support is absolutely powerful. Ive watched it twice in the past two days.

Papillion

Chaka Khan (My Song for Charles)

A faded photograph i mailed to you
With feelings i don't want to face
And a long song of surrender in blue
I remember when you took my breath away

Chorus:

Chanson papillon, we were very young
Like butterflies, like hot butterfly
Chanson papillon, we had just begun
We let it slide on by
We didn't realize

All our memories are burning in time
Like a bittersweet perfume


Can you tell me how a love that's so fine
Could have climaxed in a single afternoon

Gone are the days of instant romance
And the nights of slow goodbyes
That was a time of life when foxy was the dance
But then you got wise to all my lies

Chorus

Chanson papillon, chanson
Chanson papillon, chanson
Chanson papillon, chanson
Chanson papillon, chanson

A Little Ditty My Mother Taught Me

"That's tough!"
"What's tough?"
"Life."
"What's life?"
"A magazine."
"Where d'you get it?"
"Drugstore."
"What's it cost?"
"A dime."
"shucks, I only got a nickel."
"That's tough.
"What's tough?"
"Life."
"What's life?"
"A magazine."