"I didn't stay in the fight for 30 years to elect a black man or woman. I stayed in the fight so that black men and women could be free to compete in the arena with no more attention paid to their colour or gender than is paid to mine."

That is a great statement, imo.

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Regarding the Black thing. This has nothing to do with Obama. (I understand from remarks on this thread that he's a Black man. IMO, that's just a coincidence because of genetics.)

I have been writing songs of late and when I drift into a blues-rock area I often find myself using some Black speech (locutions or diction). And some vocal intonations. Despite being a White guy (for the most part), many of my earlier musical influences were Black musicians and singers: Odetta, Chuck Berry, Bernice Johnson Reagan, Lonnie Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Richie Havens. I met most of the aforementioned and they did have a big impact on me. My time living in south Harlem (NYC) brought me into contact with many 'ordinary' folks, some of whom spoke a 'different' English. Add to that the many friends of colour from a summer camp at which I worked and I am not surprised that in my dotage so many things from that past life are coming back to me.

Thanks to Azizi, some of my inaccurately remembered phrasing has been corrected in a few of the new songs. She has been a God-send in terms of talking straight across to me about wordings, phrase origins, reasons Black English (in some areas) has taken a turn from what many call the mainstream. She is an awesome researcher and justifiably proud of her culture and heritage. Just thought I'd mention that.

I'm gonna be away for a while, so y'all take care.

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Guest,Hummer. You HAVE to change that name.


BM