Being Bougie & Black

Well growing up I used to think that being bougie and black was just crazy. I thought that most blacks lived the same lifestyle that I grew up with and didn't think that any "black" person could be bougie. Well then I went to college at High Point University and discovered something different. It was like a new set of black people that I never knew existed. I couldn't believe it. Where were these people from and what were they thinking. I couldn't understand what the hell was going on with them. I knew I wasn't in little old Middletown, Ohio and I was now seeing a whole different aspect of black people.

Now before I go any further let me clarify some things. Most of the black people i knew didn't have a whole lot of money. Most of my friends were from single parent families and were going through everyday struggles. When every we came across someone who was black with money we considered them bougie and stuck up. I know we were living a very sheltered life in da Middie. There was a lot of black people out there that had money, but I just wasn't accustomed to seeing it.

Back to the point of the story. When I first got to college I met a wide variety of people. Some of the black people that I met I was intrigued because there life experiences were different from mine. They didn't grow up in a single parent home. They had both parents and came from a middle class families. One person in particular was my roommate sophomore year of college. We came from very different family backgrounds. We both were black, but that's were the similarities ended. He didn't quite see the world like I did. We both would say some foolish things. Of course, I thought then that he was crazy. I couldn't understand why he thought the way that he did. He probably couldn't figure out what I was thinking. I thought to myself he grew up bougie and black and that's just not a good combination.

Well I am now facing a dilema of my own. I have begun my career and have the potential to make a lot of money in my field. I fear that I could one day lose touch with what I grew up in. I already make more than double the salary of my mother. I have no desire of living in the ghetto and I want a better life, but some would say that I am being bougie. Am I being bougie by wanting to move up in the world? As most of my friends know, I am not a big spender. I like things simple and I have no problem not getting name brand things. I'm not a label whore. I just want to live a comfortable lifestyle. I just don't know. Why do I fear becoming bougie?

I know this post is all over the place, but I just sat down and started typing. I am America's Nightmare.

You think you know, but you have no idea...

I was sitting here thinking about quite a few things last night. There are many things that people think they know about me, but they really don't. So I came up with a list of 20 things that people may be surprised to know about me. All the things on the list aren't surprising so don't think your mouth will just hit the floor after everyone. So here goes.

1. I have never owned a pair of Jordans and I am 99.9% sure that I will never buy a tennis shoe that cost that much money. I have never understood why people are buying his shoes, and why they are re-releasing the old shoes and people are still buying those. Doesn't make sense to me.

2. My mother raised a family on 3 on less than $20,000 a year. When I think about it, I don't understand how she did it. That's one reason why I love my mom.

3. I think I want to write a book one day. I am thinking really soon, like within the next two years.

4. I played football and basketball in high school. Those that went to high school with me are probably like so who cares. Well I just think the friends that I made after high school are surprised when I tell them this.

5. I think oversized wite t's are stupid and tacky. Hey it's just my opinion.

6. I really want to be on Big Brother next season, but am very nervous about applying for it. People would be surprised to know that I would do almost anything to win.

7. I made fun of black greeks before I became one. I remember back when I was a senior in high school. I went to visit my friend Megan at Miami University with some of our other friends. We went to a step show. Well before we went we ran into this guy who knew Megan who was carrying this ridicuolous cane aroudn with him. I said who the hell would just carry around a cane. Well needless to say I am now a member of that organization. LOL!

8. Last week, I made my first campaign contribution to a presidential candidate. I was surprised I did it but I really feel strongly for this candidate. I know you all want to know who and that will be on a later post. So stay tuned for that one.

9. I just recently started using Ebay and I now want to buy so many things off of there.

10. I am surprised that people are surprised at what's happening with the Jena 6. It's been happening in America forever. It just has been looked over. Wake up AMERICA!

11. I've lived in Ohio my whole life and have never been to Cleveland.

12. I hate shaving or would wear a beard if I didn't have to groom it.

13. The more I visit HPU the more I wish that I could one more semester of undergrad. I think it is mainly since I crossed KAPsi and then graduated a few weeks after. It would be nice to enjoy one semester with my chapter bruhs.

14. I seriously have considered joining the army to get my college loans paid off. It's just ridiculous that you go to college for a better life and then you have to go into a crazy amount of debt just to do that. Is it really necessary?

15. Tyler Perry's Why did I Get Married is a really good movie. Tasha Smith was hilarous and needs to have her own show because she was one of the many highlights of the movie.

16. I collected basketball cards when I was a kid and had probably close to 1,000, but I havwe no idea what happened to them.

17. I think KFed wants custory of him and Britney's children just for the money. Has anyone else wondering why he didn't try and sue Shar Jackson for custody of their children? Because, she is nowhere near as rich Britney.

18. I hate the fact that Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina will decide who our next presidnet will be and it sickens me.

19. I've thought about becoming a vegetarian just to see what it is like never eating any meat.

20. I would like to be a political analyst one day. I could see myself having my own show and talking about politics.

I am America's Nightmare...

Random Thoughts

Well I am sitting here watching the Buckeyes play. Man It make me think why the hell didn't I go to an undergraduate institution that had a football team? My undergrad, High Point University, didn't have a football team and hasn't had one since 1954! Yeah its a tragedy. I had to settle on soccer games for homecoming. Yep a wack soccer game. This amazes a lot of people and I am still embarrassed to mention that fact to people.

Is anyone else ready for I Love New York 2 to come on? I am anxiously awaiting the return of the show. It's not the best show, but I can sit back for an hour and laugh at all the craziness that New York and her Sister Patterson have to offer. Actually I think the show premieres soon!

I need a vacation! I can't wait until the end of the year when I can take two weeks off from work and not worry about getting behind. Ugh I will have to just settle for taking some long weekends for now. I want to go to New York and see The Color Purple on Broadway. I don't know anyone that would be willing to go with me though. So if you are reading this and are interesting in taking a road trip/flight to NYC let me know and we can do it. I am dead serious too!

I do have a couple trips going on in the next few months. I have to go back to Chicago for a day in November for a meeting for my job. I would like to take that weekend and just relax in Chicago and site see and just hang out with some buddies that are in Chicago. (I might have another trip coming to mind). If I didn't do some days in Chicago I would have to get to a taping of Oprah and Jerry Springer! I can see myself now in Jerry's crowd yelling JERRY JERRY!!! LOL! I am going to Florida for the first time in December for a week of training. It should be some fun times. The weather hopefully will be nice there. I know that it won't be as cold there as it will be here. Finally to end my 2007 I am going to VEGAS!!! Yes, it's going to be the bomb! I am very excited about it. I have never been to VEGAS, but I plan on having a ridiculously fun time! (I will be drinking Patron and Grey Goose!)

IN all seriousness, so much has been going through my mind lately. I know I don't want to live in Columbus forever, but when will be the right time to leave? What city will I move to? Do I really want to move far away from my family again? Do I want to stay with my firm or get a new job? Should I go back to school? Do I want a Ph.d or another master's degree? I really have many questions going through my head but I am not coming up with any answers. With that said, I am America's Nightmare...