Black Man Black Woman

Author: admin

  • Nigga What?

    We embrace calling ourselves niggers, like that’s empowering, when in actuality, it’s disrespectful to our ancestors and just plain ignorant. To believe yourself to be a nigger, to behave like you are an ignorant sub human (the true implied meaning of the word) has no benefit or value. Defending the use of the word, trying to rationalize that it has been changed into something positive is insanity. Nine times out of ten, the usage of the word is meant to be disparaging and degrading, EXACTLY the way white people intended it to be used, and on the tenth time, it’s an empty a sign of self-hatred masquerading itself as a term of endearment.

    White people expect us to behave like niggers, so calling ourselves that, ESPECIALLY in front of them, does nothing but reinforce to them that we are inferior. To carry yourself like royalty, to walk with dignity, to boldly declare that you are not only equal to but better than white people with your speech, your actions, and your intellect is FAR more threatening to white people than calling yourself a nigga. Want proof? Write a blog calling yourself a nigga and talking about cars, drugs, guns, rap, sex, sports, and how much you love living in the ghetto. You won’t get a private response or two from white people. Well that’s not entirely true. You might get a response or two asking you to fulfill their sexual fantasies. Then, write a blog, grammatically correct and spell checked, that talks about the greatness of black people, our strength, and our ability to excel despite racism, oppression, and bigotry. Write about how our true history of greatness has been distorted with white lies and deception. Discuss, academically articulated with footnoted and documented proof, advanced African civilizations and how white people re-wrote history to make themselves appear superior. White people will crawl out of the woodworks to tell you that Black people are ignorant and that you are nothing but a nigger.

    You have to ask yourself, what would you rather be called, what benefit do you get from calling yourself a nigga? If calling yourself that makes you feel connected to other black people, consider yourself a slave on the plantation. If you do nothing else this year, decide to stop using the N word to describe yourself, to describe other black people you want to look down on, or as some sort of synonym supposedly meaning Black person. It’s negative, unenlightened, and stupid.

  • Tribute to a Titan of Public Service

    During a legislative career spanning five decades, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was a powerful, often irresistible, force for change in America.

  • Communication Is The Backbone Of Romance and Intimacy

    If communication is the recipe for a healthy relationship, romance and intimacy are the key ingredients. For most men, the concept of genuine, truthful communication in a relationship is an alien concept, let alone understanding the concepts of romance and intimacy. For most men, the idea of romance is equated to “game” or trying to get a woman into bed and the concept of genuine honesty is incomprehensible to many. Men have been convinced that crying, a natural, healthy, biological release of emotion makes a man weak. Reality check. If men weren’t supposed to cry, they would not have tear ducts. Crying is as natural as sneezing, it is necessary to help an individual process emotion, yet we have an entire population of men that think that shedding a tear means an individual less than a man. Black men in particular have been impressed upono for generations to deny their feelings and never taught to process or share those emotions with another human being. To have feelings is to be considered weak or gay. When we look at all the false perceptions that are in place to keep men from being fully functioning, emotionally mature human beings it’s no wonder that the state of Black relationships is in such peril.

    Being someone that has dedicated her life to showing Black sexuality in a healthy light, men often come to me to share their desires, secrets and fantasies when they have wives, girlfriends, and lovers that should be that confidant. Day in and day out, brothas come to me and share with me, a total stranger, their most intimate desires. They always seem to preface it by saying, “My wife would never understand . . .” News flash, your wife should be the first person you go to share your feelings and if she’s not, you need to re-examine your relationship and take the steps necessary to make that so. Your wife is your partner and your mate, if you don’t have a relationship where you can be open and honest with her, there’s something drastically wrong with that. Let’s assume that you married a woman with whom you share common ideologies, goals, and beliefs. If all of those things are in place, then you have the makings of fantastic communication and all that needs to be done is learning how to open up and share with your partner your thoughts.

    The number one fantasy that Black men come to me and share as their secret desire is to be submissive to a (in most cases, Black) woman. We must be cautious how we use the term submissive in this particular case because mainstream society would lead us to believe that being submissive means being beaten and whipped and assuming an inferior position in some sadomasochistic exchange. While in some cases, that may be the desire, more often than not they mean that they want to put aside their satisfaction for that of their partner. Unfortunately, the term submissive is the closest term Black men have to describe their fantasies of catering to a woman’s needs. I hear it time and time again, “I want to satisfy my woman . . . her pleasure is more important than mine . . . I want to do whatever it takes to make her cum until she passes out.” Society would have us believe that a Black man is supposed to “kill it” to use his dick as a weapon and that pleasing a woman is of no concern. Imagine Jay-Z making a rap where he says that he gave a woman pleasure without concern for his own. That’s not going to happen in this lifetime because Black men have to live up to the stereotype that women are for their pleasure, not the other way around. Again, the absurdity of the concept and the extent to which we as a people hold on to it is causing us to perish.

    When Black men approach me about their fantasies, they tend to be somewhat forthcoming with the details. Conversely, when I approach Black men about their fantasies their responses tend to be either, “I don’t have any fantasies,” or, “I have done everything that I want to do, I prefer the real thing.” When they do admit to a fantasy it’s the standard “threesome” scenario. Black men aren’t adept at expressing their fantasies or allowing themselves to creatively explore their sexuality. It’s only after intense and directed questioning that they can admit to having other fantasies. Conversely, white men tend to be able to describe in great detail their fantasies and have very involved and complex scenarios. Fantasies are a natural, normal part of our existence and allow us to experience different realities in a safe way. Going out and engaging in unhealthy behaviors rather than learning to express healthy fantasies is dysfunctional. Not being comfortable enough to share one’s fantasies with one’s partner and then going out to explore those fantasies as a reality with someone outside one’s relationship is unhealthy. We must, as a people, reexamine the guidelines that are keeping us dysfunctional.

    There seems to be a tremendous difficulty in men understanding that women crave romance and intimacy, a reluctance to embrace any personal responsibility in creating romance and intimacy in their relationship and even a difficulty understanding those terms. There is a belief that men seem to have that is reinforced by a society that says that women have to do the work to keep a man, not the other way around. Men, understand this if you understand nothing else I say. If you want peace in your relationship, if you want your woman to treat you like a king, then the single-most easiest way to do that is to treat her like a queen. For every one step you make to make a woman feel special, she will take ten in return to make you feel special. Surprise her with a small token that lets her know you are thinking of her, that she crosses your mind during the day. It needn’t be something extravagant or expensive. There are more things than just flowers, candy, or a designer purse that you can give that will show her that you care. Sadly, men don’t seem to understand the erotic potential and possibilities of anything other than material gifts as indications of romance have been conditioned to, thus they are limited in their creativity and expression.

    I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss Black women’s responsibility in fostering healthy communication and intimacy in relationships. Sadly, there are a great many women that will judge and condemn a man for sharing his thoughts and fantasies with her, no matter the level of honesty or intimacy he is showing. We’ve been conditioned to either view any expression of sexuality outside of missionary sex as vulgar, or conversely, we view sexuality as a tool of manipulation, source of income, or as recreation. As Black women, we’ve also been socialized to narrowly define manhood and equate it with sexual prowess and earning potential, not realizing that emotional depth and intimacy are things that men are capable of giving. We must be held accountable for our false perceptions and debilitating belief systems but the change must be partnered with Black men in an effort to grow together.

    Getting a woman to be receptive to your fantasies is not as difficult as one might think. Increasing communication, romance and intimacy in your relationship is not an impossible task. The most effective way to introduce your fantasies to your partner is to get her to a heightened state of arousal and subtly introduce the new concept to her. She will be more receptive to any new ideas that are initiated during that time. Getting her to a heightened state of arousal takes work on your part. It means that you must be willing to ask questions about what arouses her, to set aside everything that you’ve learned about what turns a woman on, and set aside your preferences for the things that turn you on. The benefits will be amazing and you will lay the foundation for a partnership with outstanding potential.

  • NBA suspends J.R. Smith, Richardson (AP)

    The NBA has suspended Denver's J.R. Smith and Phoenix's Jason Richardson after both were recently convicted of driving offenses. Smith will sit out the Nuggets' first seven games for pleading guilty to reckless driving in New Jersey. Richardson will miss two games after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Arizona.

  • Broncos suspend WR Marshall for conduct (AP)

    FILE - in this Aug. 18, 2009 file photo, Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall(notes) heads to the practice field during NFL football training camp in Englewood, Colo. Marshall, openly unhappy with the Broncos, was suspended by the team on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, for unspecified "detrimental" conduct. The club did not say in its 15-word statement how long the suspension would last.

    Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, openly unhappy with the Denver Broncos, was suspended by the team for the rest of the preseason for what coach Josh McDaniels called "detrimental" conduct. Marshall, who has brooded since demanding a trade and asking for a new contract, was informed of the suspension by McDaniels on Friday.


  • Mom Locked Up for Black Carjacking Hoax

    DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – A white suburban mother who placed a 911 call claiming two black men had carjacked her ? but instead flew to Disney World with her child to escape a looming arrest ? was sent to prison this week for nine to 23 months.

    Bonnie Sweeten, 38, pleaded guilty in Bucks County Court to identity theft and filing a false police report, misdemeanors that typically bring probation.

  • The Cross Dressing Mayor

    Posted by: Illmatic

    A MAYOR has stepped down after being accused of breaking into women’s homes and parading around in their bra and knickers.

    Ian Stafford, 58, was charged with three counts of burglary after women told police their bras and knickers had vanished.

    One worried woman is said to have installed a secret camera in her bedroom and when police saw the footage they saw a semi-naked man going through her drawers.

    The video showed the man putting on her knickers and performing a sex act. Sources said that police had recovered a haul of underwear.

    Stafford resigned as a councillor immediately after his arrest. He was elected Mayor of Preesall and Knott End, in Lancashire, England, four years ago.

    The part-time handyman and gardener will appear in court next month.

  • Police Take Advantage Of Drunk Girl

    Posted by: realerthanlife Police take advantage of a Drunk Girl that came to a Police Station. For some reason they forgot that there are cameras in the building.

  • Where In The World Are The Best Wages?

    Posted by: Illmatic

    Which country can you make the most money in?

    It pays to work in Switzerland: employees in Zurich and Geneva have the highest net wages in the world, a study by banking group UBS shows, while those in India’s Mumbai take home the lowest.

    The Swiss cities were also ranked among the top five most expensive in the world in the bank’s 2009 “Price and Earnings” international study.

    “With its extremely high gross wages and comparatively low tax rates, Switzerland is a very employee-friendly country,” the Swiss bank said in a statement.

    The study, published every three years, compares the income and purchasing power of employees in 73 cities across the globe, highlighting wide discrepancies in wages between different regions, and even within the same country.

    Click Original Story For More.

  • RASHEED IS BACK, YOU BUM ASS NI**UH!!

    Posted by: Rasheed Young

    So, I’m in my office, minding my business and in comes my boss Russell. He’s wearing American Classics pique shirt which retails for $14 at Wal-Mart. I must admit, the shirt was fly! I had on my Billionaire Boys Club Stripped Helmet Polo which retails for $130. Now before I continue, the RUSH offices are family oriented. There’s so much love in this office its ridiculous! Now back to my story. Would you believe in the midst of the conversation Russ called me a “Bum A** Nizzle”. My funniest humble response him was “Now this is what I’m trying to explain!”. I know that response sounds silly but we laughed so hard you would’ve thought Dave Chapelle told his best joke. Now although my shirt was more expensive, the $14 American Classic shirt was the better looking one! I could’ve brought 10 of the American Classics shirts, and I would’ve, had I known. 
    Check out http://www.americanclassicsbrand.com/


    The point I’m trying to make is that humility breeds success. Its obvious I knew he was joking when he made the comment, which actually made several colleagues laugh and feel rejuvenated at end of day. Life teaches us things in funny ways. I realized that its so important to keep your head down and do the work at all times. Its better to see the beautiful things in life than focusing on the negative things. But this can only happen if your willing to be ego free and willing to learn. I’m happy that Russell has taught me to breathe, smile and show love always. In the words of Russell “Be still. See God everywhere.”

    Rasheed Young

    Follow me @Hasenpfefferinc

     

  • Shark With A Di*k In Its Mouth

    Posted by: Illmatic

    The famous penis shark caught and released in November 2008 from Flamingo Bay in Everglades National Park in South Florida.

  • 18 Yrs Later: Is She Who She Says She Is?

    Posted by: Illmatic

    Jaycee Lee Dugard, an 11-year-old girl abducted from her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, has been found alive in the Bay Area and two people reportedly have been detained in connection with the case.

    The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office this morning confirmed the identity of the 29-year-old woman who walked into a Bay Area police station claiming to be Dugard.

    Further, in an extraordinary sequence of events today, federal and local law agencies renewed their focus on the 18-year-old mystery surrounding what happened to the blond, blue-eyed girl who was abducted while walking to school June 10, 1991.

    Reports out of the Bay Area indicated a man and a woman were in custody in Martinez and that a search warrant was being executed at a home in Antioch.

    Click Original Story For More.

  • Four Years After Katrina: Have We Failed New Orleans?

    Posted by: www.huffingtonpost.com

    Shelia Phillips doesn’t see the New Orleans that Mayor Ray Nagin talks about, the one on its way to having just as many people and a more diverse economy than it did before Hurricane Katrina. How could she?

    From the front porch of her house in the devastated Lower 9th Ward, it’s hard to see past the vegetation slowly swallowing the property across the way. Nearby homes are boarded up or still bear the fading tattoos left by search and rescue teams nearly four years ago. The fence around a playground a few blocks down is padlocked.

    “I just want to see people again,” she said recently, swatting bugs in the muggy heat.

    CLICK ON ORIGINAL STORY TO SEE SOME SHOCKING STATISTICS….

  • Rev Run’s Words Of Wisdom: Win!

    Posted by: Reverend Run

    Good morning. If winning isn’t everything then why do they keep score!!??

    God is Love

    Rev Run

  • Jackson to be Buried on His Birthday

    The King of Pop will be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday, a spokesman for Michael Jackson’s family said Tuesday.

    Jackson will be buried at a private ceremony at Forest Lawn-Glendale on Aug. 29, spokesman Ken Sunshine said in a statement. Guests will be limited to family and close friends, Sunshine said.

  • Ex-Reporter Trades Scandal for Coaching

    McLEAN, Va. ? Jayson Blair knows his new profession ? life coach ? smacks some people in the face like a bad punchline.

    “People say, ‘Wait a minute. You’re a life coach?’ That makes no sense,’” says Blair, the ex-journalist best known for foisting plagiarism and fabrications into the pages of The New York Times. “Then they think about my life experiences and what I’ve been through and they say ‘Wait a minute. It does make sense.’”

  • Obamas Escape to Martha’s Vineyard

    President Barack Obama and his family began a weeklong vacation on this Massachusetts island with a message to the reporters who have crowded the New England villages: Chill out and don’t expect much.

  • Sen. Ted Kennedy Dies After Cancer Battle

    Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in an enduring political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, died Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.

  • Retiree Claims Massive Powerball Prize

    A retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks on the lottery was all smiles Tuesday as he claimed a $260 million Powerball jackpot.

  • Black Pastor’s Slaying Sparks Warning

    ANADARKO, Okla. ? Authorities warned pastors in a town where a preacher was brutally killed inside her own church that they should take precautions at their buildings, even as police refused to say exactly what happened.

    District Attorney Bret Burns, who described the killing as “horrific,” held a closed-door session with about two dozen pastors, along with members of law enforcement. Several pastors who were there said authorities did not discuss any facts of the case.

  • Meet The World’s Biggest Liars

    Posted by: Illmatic

    Meet The World’s Biggest Liars

    Click Original Story For More.

  • Mayor Pardons ’60s Civil Rights Protesters

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? Birmingham’s mayor offered a blanket pardon this week to thousands of demonstrators charged in this cauldron of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, a mostly symbolic forgiveness he acknowledges few may actually want.

    Many blacks who braved police dogs and fire hoses say they carry their misdemeanor record with them as a badge of honor.

  • Pioneering Civil Rights Lawyer Dies

    ST. LOUIS (AP) ? Pioneering civil rights lawyer Margaret Bush Wilson, a former national chair of the NAACP, died this week. She was 90.

    She died Tuesday of multiple organ failure, her son, Robert E. Wilson III, said.

    Wilson, whose life passion was being a lawyer, had continued practicing law until June. She was the second black woman to pass the Missouri Bar after graduating from the now-defunct Lincoln University School of Law, a “separate but equal” institution that had been created for blacks in Missouri.

  • Shia LaBeouf Dumped By Cheetah Girl Kiely Williams

    Posted by: BlogXilla

    Kevin Federline: Central Park Zoo With The Boys!

    Ex–Cheetah Girl Kiely Williams is breaking her silence about her 2003 relationship with Shia LaBeouf.

    “We’re still friends,” shares Kiely, who met Shia at the 2003 premiere of the original Cheetah Girls TV movie. “We have the same best friend, so it’s hard to avoid each other.”

    These days, Kiely won’t date celebrities. “I need to be the center of attention!” jokes Kiely, who will celebrate her first anniversary with her current “not famous” boyfriend in October.

    Kiely adds, “It’s hard to see how two artists who are building their careers can really date. They’re going to be constantly hogging the spotlight.”

  • The Heaven Shop

    In her latest novel focused on world issues, Ellis (the Breadwinner trilogy) focuses on the plight of AIDS orphans in Mulawi. In the opening chapters, current events take precedence over character development. The author establishes how 13-year-old Binti went from starring on a popular radio show, attending a private girls’ school and helping her generous father tend his Heaven coffin shop, to becoming an impoverished AIDS orphan. However, Binti comes to the fore once her father dies (at the funeral, her grandmother reveals the cause as AIDS) and greedy relatives descend upon Binti and her siblings, seize their possessions, and grudgingly offer them homes (separating the sisters from their brother). Ellis lays bare the prejudice and superstitions surrounding AIDS: the abusive uncle who adopts Binti cautions his children to “keep away from them,” to avoid contracting the disease, and men believe that sleeping with a virgin will cure them. Hardship has an impact on the family in myriad ways, including her brother’s trip to prison and her sister’s sensitively portrayed downward spiral into prostitution, but it also brings the siblings full circle to seek out their grandmother, who cares for a band of AIDS orphans, and to employ their coffin-making skills to start another Heaven Shop. The ending may seem a bit tidy to readers who become immersed in this grim portrait of disease and ignorance, but they will likely cheer on this stalwart heroine and may well pay closer attention to headlines about AIDS and Africa.

  • Sleep Your Stress Away!

    Stressed? Anxious? Nerves in a bundle? Getting quality sleep is one sure-fire way to ease your mind, reduce the tension and make each day far more productive and satisfying.

    We grow and heal in our sleep as our body regenerates and assimilates minerals crucial to cellular repair and growth. Stress results in the release of a myriad of hormones and chemicals in your body that affect your mental state, nervous and immune systems as well as causes cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine imbalances.

     

    Here are some tips on how to achieve higher quality zzz’s

     

    • Beware of electromagnetic fields in your sleep space. Keep alarm clocks, cell phones, PDAs and other electrical devices at least 3 feet away from your body while you sleep. These devices can interfere with melatonin secretion and achieving deep sleep cycles.

     

    • Don’t work before bed, watch TV before bed, play computer games, take pharmaceutical sleeping pills, drink yourself to sleep, eat sugar before bed, watch the clock, frequently change your sleep cycle.

     

    • Sleep in the dark to stimulate the pineal gland to secrete melatonin, an important hormone in the regulation of our circadian rhythm which dictates our wake-sleep cycles. Recent studies demonstrate melatonin’s powerful anti-oxidant properties as well as its critical role in cancer prevention and treatment.

     

    • Avoid late night snacking on grains or sugar, these food will raise your blood sugar before bed and possibly inhibit your ability to sleep well. When you blood sugar drops in the middle of the night you could wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep.

     

    • Take a hot shower or bath 30-60 minutes before sleep. The cooling down of the body will trigger the hypothalamus to aid in the body in falling asleep and the hot water wi11 relax your muscles. Drink chamomile tea, listen to relaxing music or white noise, write in your journal, practice deep breathing, stretch, take a hot bath, use aromatherapy, go to the bathroom right before sleep, and go to sleep by 10pm    
       

       

        
       
       
       
       

       

       
       
       
       
       

       

    • Drinking alcohol helps some of us fall asleep easily but can keep us from falling into the restorative, deeper stages of sleep. You surely notice the most lasting impact from a drink-filled night is next day tiredness, even when you get a decent amount of rest. This is because alcohol shortens or hastens our REM sleep. Studies show REM sleep is important to maintaining a positive mental outlook and that people who suffer from depression also experience short or rapid onset REM sleep. Bottom line is our sleep quality is greatly compromised when we drink alcohol. So, if you are having sleep troubles skip the booze or accept the reality of next day fatigue.

    Sleep and stress reduction are intermingled, critical components for our overall health and well being, and is why we introduced these all natural, non-addictive nutritional supplement formulations each available at www.GoodElements.com:

     

    Dream Supply™ – A safe, gentle and effective sleep formula that promotes a restful and restorative deep sleep without next day drowsiness.


    Chill™ – An all-natural, non-addictive stress and anxiety relief supplement that reduces feelings of anxiety, and supports emotional well being by moderating the body’s physical and emotional response to daily stress.

    Dr. Britta Zimmer, N.D., is the Co-Founder and Chief Health Officer at GoodElements.com – a purveyor of best-of-breed physician-formulated, all-natural vegan health supplements for everyday healthy living. She may be reached through the company’s Web site at www.GoodElements.com.

     

  • Beverly Johnson: Wants you to know your options.

    Former Supermodel is helping to spread the word about uterine fibroid tumors.

     

    Beverly Johnson is speaking out and encouraging women everywhere to ask four simple questions and tell four women about uterine fibroids.  Beverly has decided to completely open up her experience with suffering from fibroids in the 30s and in hopes of education African-American women to learn more about their treatment options.

    When Beverly was suffering with fibroids, she suffered alone-not even telling her mother.  Today she wishes that she had been more open, because she possibly could have received advice that could have provided a better recovery for her.

    “I was not as educated about my body as I should have been”, admits Beverly.   Her first experience with fibroids caused severe pain and heavy menstrual cycles for many months.  Her doctor removed those fibroids in a procedure known as a myomectomy.  Beverly felt relieved and got on with her life, hoping that everything was behind her but keeping a watchful eye on her yearly exams.   Unfortunately, as in many fibroid cases, her condition returned and was even worse.

    Looking back on it now, it is hard to believe how she manage working while dealing with the pain and discomfort of menstruating every day for a year.  So at 43, Beverly went with her doctor’s decision to have a hysterectomy which removed her uterus and ovaries.

    If an attempt to get relief from fibroids, Beverly’s decision was she thought the best choice to make, but she was not made aware of other treatment options that would be less intrusive to her body.  As a result of the hysterectomy, she immediately went into full-blown menopause at a young age and was not at all prepared for the many side effects. 

    This time in her life was one of the lowest points.  Imbalanced hormones caused weight gain, skin problems, fatigue and complete loss of sex drive. She felt lonely and her daily routine suffered greatly. 

    Now after many years of hormone replacement therapy, Beverly has resumed her lifestyle that she has always enjoyed.  She is fit and active and enjoying the social scene around the globe….and just look at her pictures!  She is back on top of feeling great and sharing her story with women.  Her new campaign “Ask4tell4” encourages women to ask their doctors and themselves the right questions about uterine fibroids and then help raise awareness by telling four women the facts about this condition.  

     

    Four Question to Ask Yourself and Your Doctor

    Am I at risk for uterine fibroids?

    How do I know if I have uterine fibroids?

    What options are available for the treatment of fibroids?

    To whom should I talk to if I think I have uterine fibroids?

      

    We can ensure that all women are informed about uterine fibroids and treatment options by raising awareness through this important program.”   Please visit, www.ask4tell4.com to learn more about treatment options and empower yourself.

     

     

     

     

  • Ben Vereen on Diabetes

    Ben Vereen, Tony Award-Winning Actor, Strives to Raise Awareness of Diabetes and Treatment

     

    Tony Award-winning actor and Broadway star Ben Vereen is partnering with sanofi-aventis, a world leader in diabetes care, to launch Take the Stage for Diabetes Awareness, a national awareness campaign designed to educate people living with diabetes about their condition.  Since he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007, Mr. Vereen has worked hard to anage his condition and is now urging others living with diabetes to work with their 

    healthcare providers to find the best overall treatment plan for them.   “When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I was very scared and confused.  After I accepted the initial diagnosis, I committed to doing everything I could to manage my diabetes,” said Mr. Vereen.  “My doctor talked to me about the importance of managing my blood sugar levels to help reduce the isk of diabetes-related complications. I worked closely with him to find the treatment plan that was right for him and now I want to urge others living with diabetesto do the same.”   For some, controlling blood sugar levels may require diet, exercise and/or taking oral diabetes medications.  For others, adding an insulin to their overall diabetes treatment plan may be necessary to help maintain control of their blood sugar levels.

     

     

    “I had many doubts and fears about taking insulin. I was worried the injections would be painful and interfere with my daily schedule,” said Mr. Vereen.  “Since I never wanted diabetes to define who I am or stop me from doing the things I love, I kept an open mind about all potential treatment options.  My doctor and I decided together that along with watching the types of foods I eat and exercising regularly, I should start using insulin to help manage my blood sugar.  My treatment plan has gotten where it needs to be and now my blood sugar levels are under control.”

      

     

    As a part of Take the Stage for Diabetes Awareness, Mr. Vereen is kicking off a nation-wide tour, traveling around the country with healthcare professionals to educate people living with diabetes and their families about theimportance of diabetes awareness.  He will share his personal story about living with type 2 diabetes and speak about how essential it is to find the best diabees treatment plan for them.  While living with diabetes is not always easy, the first step to managing it is to get serious about your health and talk with your treating healthcare provider about all available diabetes 

    treatment options and your individual blood sugar goals.   “The good news for people living with diabetes is that the condition is manageable,” said Michael Bush, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, UCLA, and Division of Endocrinology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  “However, treatment regimens may need to be changed or adjusted over time, and many people living with type 2 diabetes who currently manage their condition through diet, exercise and taking oral medications alone, may eventually require the addition of insulin to their treatment plan.  That is why it is so important to regularly talk with your doctor about which treatment plan is 

    best for you.”

       

     

    “I am lucky – I have a great doctor who helped me reach my personal treatment goals,” said Mr. Vereen.  “But, it is important for people to know that I take action everyday to maintain my blood sugar control. Checking my blood sugar levels often, continuing to make healthy food choices, xercising regularly, monitoring my activity levels, and taking my diabetes medication as prescribed has become part of my daily routine.”  To read Mr. Vereen’s personal story about living with diabetes, or for more information about diabetes, treatment, and care, please visit www.BensDiabetesStory.com.

     

     About Diabetes  Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin – the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. More than 230 million people worldwide are living with the disease, and this number is expected to rise to a staggering 350 million within 20 years. It is estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 5.7 million who remain undiagnosed.

     

  • Exclusive Interview with NY Jets’ Dustin Keller

    Enter Dustin Keller—the New York Jets’ 2008 first round draft choice from Purdue University went through his decorated collegiate as a star offensive talent in the Big 10 Conference. Originally sought as a first-day selection the National Football League Draft, Keller saw his stock rise high in the NFL Combine and became the 30th overall selection of the Jets franchise. Currently a starting tight end in his rookie season and receiving passes from the immortal Brett Favre, Keller took a breather during his busy football schedule to give Black Health Magazine a few words about his ascendance into the League, his daily preparation and the work he’s undertaken to become a target for arguably the greatest quarterback in professional football history.

     

    1.   How does it feel to finally be in the NFL, coming from Purdue University as a first-round selection?

    It was really a dream, more than anything…it’s a huge accomplishment.

    2.   How would you compare the differences between the NFL and the Big 10 Conference from a physical level?

     

    I wouldn’t say it’s that much more physical than it was in the Big 10, but the speed of the game, more than anything…it’s a lot more precise (in the NFL).

     

    3.   Being a first-round draft pick and being depended upon a significant option on the team, how do you prepare on a day-to-day basis?

    Well, you just have to do all the things that are expected of you. You have to go in and spend a lot of time doing film work. You have to take care of your body, because your body is your job now—it’s what keeps you going. And anything that the coach asks of you—they’re paying you good money to go out there and put everything you’ve got into football and be prepared every single Sunday; and if you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job.

    4.   What are the best ways to describe both your training regimens in college and in the pros?

    Well, in college, we did lot more heavy lifting work, and then you get to the League, everything’s really more based on speed, than just power. So, we’re doing a lot more high reps-lower weight types of things, just to keep you a lot more explosive…it’s really a long season, so you just gotta take care of your body.

    5.   Coming from a family with athletic histories, how has been raised among them accelerated your development as a player?

    It’s done a lot for me, I’ve learned a lot from them when I was younger, but more than anything, it was just growing up with four brothers, just being in a really competitive environment; always trying to challenge them, even though they were older than me, and I think they made me a lot better and definitely more competitive…and helped give me a swagger about things to make it in the NFL.

    They definitely helped and kept me encouraged and always pushed for me to do my best, and anytime I ever needed anything they were always there for me. They made it a lot easier to deal with where I am now.

    6.  You have a multifaceted prep history in various sports, namely basketball, and you see players at your position, like Tony Gonzales of the Kansas City Chiefs and Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers, who were major players on the hardwood in their amateur careers as well, who are now All-Pro tight ends—what advantages has basketball given you, if any, on the gridiron?

    I think a lot of it’s hand-eye coordination, with the ball being passed around a lot, so that’s why those guys are such good receivers, and they’re able to use their bodies really well to shield off defenders to catch the ball; and definitely leaping ability and explosion that you have in basketball—that all kind of transfers onto the football field.

    7.   How have the Jets organization and coaches helped in your improvement in your play and physical condition thus far?

    They’ve done a lot, especially with a couple guys on the team at the tight end position, Chris Baker and Bubba Franks. They’ve been helping me out a lot, teaching me a few things that it would take most guys a couple of years to learn, as far as taking care of your body and stuff like that; but they spend a lot of money for these guys to stay in top shape and always be healthy…(the Jets) kind of stress that.

    8.   Does being a target of (future Hall of Fame quarterback) Brett Favre carry any significance that contributes to your play on the field?

    I just really praise Brett for having the confidence in me to throw to me…I think we’ve developed a rapport between the two of us throughout the season, it seems as if it’s come along. At first, things weren’t so smooth, and you have that when you have a lot of new people on a team, but as the season’s gone on, we’ll get better and we’ll continue to get better.

    9.   Do you have any goals, short-term or long-term, about how you want to improve your physical condition?

    I feel comfortable about where I’m at right now, just with me being more a pass-catcher than anything else. I gotta make sure to keep my speed, so I don’t wanna be 265 lbs. or anything like that. I’m really comfortable with where I’m at right now, and getting bigger and stronger is not really something you can during in the season, it’s more of an off-season type thing, because during the season, there’s more of a “maintain (muscle)” type of attitude; and with our strength coach, Sal Alosi, I think we’ll do pretty good.

    10. What advice do you have for young players that see you in your position as a NFL player and want to build on their performance?

     

    The biggest thing, I would say, is just listening to your coaches. At Purdue, I was originally a receiver and my head coach, Joe Tiller, he had me move to tight end, and rather than being upset and staying at the receiver position, I kind of took that in and realized that it was gonna be the best (move) for me; so I worked really hard at it, gained some weight, and worked on blocking and I’m fortunate enough to be in the position I am today. More than anything, just listen to your coaches, because they always have your best interests.

     

    Just keep on cheering for the Jets, wish the best for us for the rest of the season, and hopefully things keep going on the way they are!

     

    -Sandy Dover, Writer

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