Go, Twanna! It’s Your Birthday. (No, Really, It Is.)
On a good day, upwards of 3,000+ people visit this site. Funky Brown Chick isn’t huge. It isn’t extremely tiny either. But, enough about me and my site. A bit on Haiti. I’ve given up on closely following the news about the series of earthquakes and aftershocks; It’s too heartbreaking to repeatedly look at the pictures and watch videos. That said, that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in (or haven’t donated to) the Haitian people’s struggle. And, sooooo, because today is a special day, here’s my birthday request: If you are able and you feel moved to do so, please make a donation to YELE, Red Cross, Partners in Health or one of the other humanitarian organizations. If every FBC reader gave only $1 today, collectively, that would be a nice little chunk. But, here’s the thing … I’m kind of “over” fashionably loudmouthed Haiti supporters. So, whether or not you choose to give today, feel free to make it your own little secret if you’d like :)
I have a story for you. By now, you’ve probably heard the U.S. has a black president, right? :) During the 2008 election campaign, A Peach-Skinned Guy Friend Who Shall Remain Nameless (APSGWSRN) gave me shit because I didn’t originally contribute to APSGWSRN’s fundraiser or go to a lot of the events he arranged.
HIM: “I really expected you to be there. Obama would be our first African-American president. This would be really historic.”
By way of context/background … APSGWSRN comes from privilege. Elite boarding school. Ivy League. Etc. I was proud of his volunteering/service to Obama. That said, I didn’t appreciate him spoon-feeding me guilt about not being as (visibly) active as he was. Just because I didn’t specifically contribute to APSGWSRN’s cause doesn’t mean I didn’t contribute to the cause. Plus, I thought, but didn’t say, “By the way, where were you in 2004?” Because, you know what? Even back then, Obama was still black. And, he was running for a seat in a U.S. Senate that hadn’t seen anyone who looked like him since 1999 when Carol Moseley Braun was there. However, in 2004, Obama wasn’t fashionable. Many people outside of Illinois hadn’t heard his name — nor could they pronounce it. And, it wasn’t hip to say “I volunteered for Obama” because, quite frankly, who cared. Yet, had Obama not won the Illinois seat, he wouldn’t be APSGWSRN’s president right now.
Same with Haiti. The country was poor and in need of help before the earthquake … and still needs help. Sometimes, it’s not about putting your money where your mouth is. It’s about shutting your mouth, and putting your money where your heart is.
January 20th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Thanks for sharing your birthday gifts with the world. Giving silently doesn’t make it less needed.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Happy Born Day T! Yyayayayayayayayayayayayaa lol
January 21st, 2010 at 12:16 am
I admit I am a wayward Christian, but have always fancied the Bible verse, Matthew 6:6, since I was always bothered by people who expressed themselves in church, only so that others could see.
“But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.”
I think that this applies to many things, especially those that you mentioned.
Great post!
January 21st, 2010 at 2:29 am
Happy Bird Day!
January 21st, 2010 at 4:22 am
Happy Birthday Twanna. Love your site!
January 21st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Happy birthday!!
I totally feel you on this. People really don’t understand just how jacked up Haiti was before the earthquake.
*newsflash!!*
people were poor, starving, homeless and without clean drinking water BEFORE the earthquake.
Would this country really care, to this extent, if Obama wasn’t president?
January 21st, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I agree that Haiti was already poverty-stricken, but this situation only highlights its many problems. Still, they need so much help– the pictures of children really get to me.
Happy Birthday Twanna!!! Any Plans??
January 21st, 2010 at 6:44 pm
It’s funny Twanna when I got this email, I thought for sure it was really your Birthday! Mine is tomorrow, so I was like OMG she’s an Aquarius WOMAN! LOL Great post thought… as always…
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:39 pm
A belated Happy- I was traveling. Live to the fullest.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
alicia: Very good point: “Giving silently doesn’t make it less needed.”
Ed: Thanks for the birthday wish! :)
AnnaScarlet: I love that! So true in many facets of life.
Baba Doodlius: Thanks, babe!
Ginger: Thank you!!
dkzone: Thanks for the birthday greeting!! :)
puma73: I’ve stopped looking at the pictures because it got to be too much. Re birthday plan, my friend “Bro” threw together a little shindig. Also, this summer, when the weather’s nice, I plan to do a bikini beach bash.
Miko Holt: I wasn’t joking. It really was my birthday :) Glad you liked the post!
Lee Coles: Thanks!