tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826Sun, 31 Jan 2016 19:45:12 +0000racismracial issuesdouble standardhatelovelifethoughtsblack manracistinterracial relationshipskarmatruthraceraising childrenconditional lovegrowing upbiracial childrenbloggingprejudicesupportblogcommentsangerracial profilingawardsbalancefearmomwhite girlBilly Joe JohnsonRobbie Tolanmurderpolice brutalityOscar Grantapologyearthquake in haitigrandchildhope for haitihow to help in haitiSquidoodonations for haiti earthquakeforgivenesslife choicesAndrew ManisChioma GrayJane ElliottRyan MoatsSean DelonasShirlbiracialdeathdogsdriving while blackhate crimejamie and gladys scottjudgmentnegrorace riotsrefugeesrelationship advicereverse racismsegregationunconditional loveMy Part To Make The World A Better Place - One Heart At A Timehttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Shirl)Blogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-9127116967330680998Thu, 05 Dec 2013 01:06:00 +00002013-12-04T20:07:52.718-05:00judgmentlifeSo I had a lesson in perspective recently while driving to work one morning.  The lesson revolved around judgement.  How we judge others and certain situations to be more precise. Once I moved past the eureka moment of this lesson, I became a little squirmy with myself. I had to look in the proverbial mirror, gaze at my reflection while looking myself dead in the eye and call myself judgmentalhttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2013/12/judgement-is-mineand-yours-too.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-2622143760013540214Tue, 03 Dec 2013 00:12:00 +00002013-12-02T19:12:57.009-05:00dogsrelationship adviceunconditional loveI'm not the same person I was when I began writing.  Not even one little bit. When I started this blog, I was living my Almost Happily Ever After.  Well that didn't turn out so good and now it's just me.  And my dog.  And my cat. So I thought this would be a good time to dish out a little bit of relationship advice. Who better to do that but me, right?  A string of failed family relationshipshttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2013/12/lessons-from-my-dog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-6488660003883688511Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:40:00 +00002013-12-02T07:16:47.262-05:00lifeI quit writing for a while.  Life got messy and in the way of, well, just about everything. But it really got in the way of writing.  When I would sit down, poised to write, nothing happened. Nothing moved my fingers, no story ran around in my mind eagerly demanding to be transferred to my computer. My mind would go blank and then I would begin to dwell on everything I shouldn't. My many http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2013/12/time-does-heal-all-woundsdoesnt-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-4691186345135888920Sun, 30 Dec 2012 03:22:00 +00002013-12-01T17:11:36.878-05:00deathlifeloveLife is never black and white. Cut and dried. Clearly carved to give us a perpetual glimpse at any given moment of what to expect in order to reassure ourselves of what's to come. We desire to feel safe and secure nestled in the arms of life. But it's nothing like that at all. We expect it to be though. We expect that each day, each and every day will manifest itself just as we expect http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2012/12/saying-goodbye.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-5725278146789502329Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:36:00 +00002011-08-15T21:15:00.863-04:00interracial relationshipsracismthoughts "Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi I began writing this blog almost three years ago. Like a child that tires of a favorite toy, I've laid my words down for a bit, only to come back later and that "toy" looks all little shiny and new again. Much has changed in these past three years, my son graduated from high school and is preparing to go off to college. I put on a few http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/08/be-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-6328017897148648938Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:26:00 +00002011-08-08T21:54:48.556-04:00hate crimemurderraceracial issuesracismracistOnce again I am writing about Mississippi and once again it isn't good. Is there a more troubling state in this country that experiences the effects of racism to the extreme? This event took place in June in Jackson, Mississippi. James Craig Anderson was standing near his vehicle in the early morning just before dawn when a group of young people who were allegedly out looking to hurt a blackhttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/08/hate-shows-up-in-mississippi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-6692709875546079910Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:11:00 +00002011-08-08T14:54:51.258-04:00conditional loveinterracial relationshipsloveracial issuesracismThere's a book I've been meaning to read for some time called: "Just Don't Marry One: Interracial Dating, Marriage, and Parenting" I wish I could give you a stellar review and encourage you to read it, but until I read it myself I can't do that. I'm posting the link here because the nasty little term "just don't marry one" keeps popping into my mind. Also the term "just don't bring one home"http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/08/just-dont-bring-one-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-4096792627819323097Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:00:00 +00002011-07-28T15:43:44.009-04:00prejudiceracial issuesracismracistraising childrenImagine this. You are 18, graduating from high school after working your tail off taking AP and honors classes. You have consistently pulled down excellent grades for four years, focused on academics probably when a large number of your fellow classmates were Face Booking, Twittering and just plain loafing around doing nothing.But now it's the 11th hour, you're approaching that big graduation http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharing-best-with-second-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-2889363097829262211Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:55:00 +00002011-04-13T07:35:09.829-04:00loveraceracial issuesracismDrawing attention and awareness to racism often means showing something in a negative light. A current event in the news, an organization that fights racial issues or historical events that result from a negative situation. While bringing each into the open can seem negative, the desired result is to provide a positive and healthy outcome. A necessary evil if you will.Well, I've had the http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/04/breath-of-fresh-air.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-9204289019509922085Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:27:00 +00002011-02-15T09:49:51.153-05:00racial issuesracismraising childrenThis scenario is as old as time. Ten year olds calling each other names. One name trumps another. Someone "starts it", the next one finishes it. Sometimes it is indeed cruel, sometimes it's just what kids do. But calling a white child "brownie" is racist???Here's the story. Boy #1 was called "sausage boy" by Boy #2 because Boy#1's last name is Weiner. Ha ha, real funny and typical of ten http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/02/racism-or-childish-behavior.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-3460581791725807125Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:33:00 +00002011-01-26T20:02:11.932-05:00What is this term I see casually tossed around in various media forms and out of the mouths of so called authorities on the present condition of todays society?Post racial? Does it mean what I think it means that all racial, well everything, has been laid to rest in the distant past. A subject to be chronicled is history books and such? Are there really people out there functioning in the http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-post-racial-anyway.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-3715671695807680640Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:43:00 +00002010-12-31T19:58:43.783-05:00jamie and gladys scottracial issuesracismAfter serving 15 years of a life sentence for allegedly stealing $11 whole dollars, Jamie and Gladys Scott are finally seeing some justice. The governor in the great state of Mississippi is granting a pardon to the two sisters.That's all well and good.Unfortunately the reason they are earning a pardon is not because the state of Mississippi has seen the error of their ways. No, it appears the http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/12/jamie-gladys-scott.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-1875666542083788758Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:59:00 +00002010-11-22T10:34:07.198-05:00racismreverse racismShirlSquidooI was reading an article called Racism, can it work both ways? written by a fellow Lensmaster over at Squidoo, where I publish articles on a variety of subjects I'm passionate about. In his article Kevin talks about growing up in Rhodesia, the history of the English settling countries in Africa as well as the carnage inflicted by R.G.Mugabe. It's a well written, thought provoking article and ithttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/11/paradox-of-racism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-4618090522743369289Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:49:00 +00002010-11-17T12:04:38.082-05:00racism"She's real pretty for a nigger, isn't she?"Have you ever had a moment, you know, one of those life changing moments where something as you know it is forever changed, altered past recognition because of words uttered and an action taken?Maybe the person who spoke is forever viewed differently through your eyes. Sometimes the life changing moment, even though it was just a fraction in time, a http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/11/meandering-thoughts-from-past.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-2511084078985036130Tue, 11 May 2010 19:41:00 +00002010-05-11T15:56:10.767-04:00conditional loveinterracial relationshipsloveracismA few years ago my life changed drastically. I fell in love, moved to another state, went from being a mom to one to a mom to three and so on. When life happens, at least for me, certain habits and routines change,or even get left behind sometimes with my barely noticing the changes. Until one day. I don't know when I went from being an avid reader to an occasional reader, but I did. And http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/05/color-of-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-4173133744101407094Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:30:00 +00002011-02-24T09:00:53.778-05:00biracialnegroracial profilingLike most tasks that come my way, I procrastinated filling out and returning my 2010 Census Form. I was in for quite a surprise when I opened the form and began filling in the required information. I have previously written about my straight up dislike for pigeon holing people by labeling them some sort of shade of color on a box. I have a rebellious habit of creating my own box that is http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/04/black-white-or-maybe-negro.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-2316142147644214761Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:35:00 +00002011-02-24T09:14:24.071-05:00double standardforgivenessracial issuesracismLast time we talked I promised to deliver a story about a moment in time I am not proud of. A moment shared with a stranger that began and concluded in the span of no more than thirty seconds. This memory planted itself into my mind as a result of a "nickname", if you will, that the family grapevine informed me a while back my mother bestowed on me: "The Hypocritical Bigot." While attempting http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/02/looking-back-part-two.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-4882800912039213678Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:47:00 +00002011-02-24T09:14:48.918-05:00conditional lovelife choicesracial issuesracismraising childrenthoughtstruthThe older I get the more often long forgotten memories resurface. Sometimes one memory can lead to yet another memory, and so on.Recently while taking a stroll down memory lane, I recalled a time a while back where I was told by a family member that my mother was affectionately referring to me as "The Hypocritical Bigot". This new pet name she assigned me was shortly after I was "thrown out" of http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/02/looking-back-part-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-9056592827359206875Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:18:00 +00002011-02-24T09:11:59.759-05:00donations for haiti earthquakeearthquake in haitihope for haitihow to help in haitiOne week ago Haiti was struck by an earthquake that will undoubtedly change an already plagued country forever.Help in the form of food, water and medical supplies has been fast to arrive in Haiti and inexcusably slow to reach those who desperately need it. Excuses and explanations as to why are in abundance.Solutions, however, are not. I suspect the blame game and finger pointing will begin to http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/01/cover-story-no-matter-damage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-1365097368469577791Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:41:00 +00002011-02-24T09:13:05.219-05:00earthquake in haitihope for haitihow to help in haitiWe live our lives each day dealing with issues, problems and hurt. There are the every day issues like the neighbors dog who barks incessantly, that pain in your back that strikes without notice, the biting wind in the dead of winter that chills your bones, the car that won't start when you need it most, or the paycheck that refuses to stretch far enough. Then there is life's heartbreaks. The http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/01/faith-and-hope.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-1152810761119133013Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:09:00 +00002010-01-13T16:46:34.214-05:00donations for haiti earthquakeearthquake in haitihope for haitihow to help in haitiAll eyes of the world are focused on Haiti today, staring in disbelief at the total devastation left behind after approximately only 45 seconds of monumental earth movement.We look at it, transfixed, follow the story, and think about helping. Then we look again at the magnitude the rescue and recovery process will involve and decide that whatever minor contribution we could make wouldn't be http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/01/hope-for-haiti-how-to-help.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-7487508724286648241Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:50:00 +00002010-01-08T15:58:08.799-05:00biracial childreninterracial relationshipsracial issuesracismracistI was reading a blog a while back about interracial dating. In the comment box readers were relating their experiences about the acceptance of interracial couples. A common thread kept weaving itself into virtually every comment which was the geographical location of each commenter and how it was or wasn't accepted in their part of the world.An interesting point I gathered from those comments ishttp://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/01/matter-of-heart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-7931182195639289616Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:14:00 +00002009-12-08T14:07:01.268-05:00angerforgivenesslovethoughtstruthWhen I began this blog a year and some months ago, my intention was twofold.First I hoped if I told my story, perhaps it could help others and their beliefs about racism. I thought maybe I could make a difference in others lives.Second I hoped writing would be therapeutic for me and help me come to terms with my hurt and rejection issues. That I could learn to forgive no matter the deed that http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-than-i-bargained-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-3400768184779424623Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:11:00 +00002011-02-24T09:02:37.440-05:00growing upraising childrenThe things we stumble upon are a constant source of amazement to me. You know, when you are looking for one thing and then out of nowhere, you walk right into another thing. Kind of like a sucker punch, the surprise hurts worse than the actual blow.Take this situation for example.I was working on a project that had me researching the history of Santa Claus. It didn't take me long to make a http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2009/11/santa-and-his-elvesnot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7270608086495594826.post-8068675195128912473Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:27:00 +00002010-04-05T17:11:40.357-04:00life choicesthoughtstruthThe story about Richard Henne and the colossal hoax he and his wife concocted with their home made helium balloon in order to achieve their proverbial 15 minutes of fame has really crawled under my skin.The focus of the media at this point appears to be the deception played on us, the public, and the impending charges that are apparently forth coming because of their stunt.Where the real focus http://someshadesofblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2009/10/deception-path-we-choose.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Shirl)4