BHM2014 - Macon Bolling Allen

Here is a person near and dear to my heart. For all of you followers who didn't know, I went to law school and, at one time, thought that I would make a living rescuing the injured from jail and an overly oppressive legal system. A legal system where the field will never be level; one that takes advantage of the poor and makes scapegoats of some minorities… so needless to say when I read about Macon Bolling Allen about 25 years ago, I was awe inspired. 

Macon Bolling Allen (born Allen Macon Bolling; August 4, 1816 – June 11, 1894, is believed to be the first black man in the United States who was licensed to practice law and is believed to be the first African American to hold a judicial position. Very little is known about Allen’s early years other than the fact that he was named A. Macon Bolling when he was born a free Negro in Indiana in 1816, the same year Indiana was admitted as the nineteenth state to join the Union. He was a self-taught lawyer who gained his knowledge and legal skills by serving as an apprentice and law clerk to practicing white lawyers in the pre-Civil War era. 

In his late twenties, Allen moved to Portland, Maine, where he changed his name from A. Macon Bolling to Macon Bolling Allen. Allen became a friend of the local anti-slavery leader, General Samuel Fessenden, who established a law firm and took on Allen as an apprentice. 

After passing the Maine bar exam, Allen was granted his license to practice law on July 3, 1844. Finding work in Maine, however, was difficult. There were few blacks there willing and able to hire Allen and most whites were unwilling to have a black man represent them in court. In 1845 Allen moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he met his wife Hannah Allen. They had five sons together, most of whom became teachers. 

Allen had to take the Massachusetts Bar exam in order to practice in the state. He walked fifty miles to the bar exam test site because he could not afford transportation, and passed the exam, on May 5, 1845, despite his fatigue. Shortly afterwards he and Robert Morris, Jr., opened the first black law office in the United States.  Allen soon set his sights even higher; in 1848 he passed another rigorous exam to become Justice of the Peace for Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In addition to his license to practice law he is believed to be the first black man to hold a judiciary position.

Allen moved to Charleston, South Carolina after the Civil War to open a new legal practice. In 1873 he was appointed as a judge in the Inferior Court of Charleston and one year later was elected judge probate for Charleston County, South Carolina. After Reconstruction, Allen moved again, this time to Washington, D.C. where he worked as an attorney for the Land and Improvement Association. He continued to practice law right until his death at age 78.  Macon Bolling Allen was survived by his wife and one son, Arthur Allen.

I Need To Take a Poll - The Texas Case

OK- so there aren't many times that I ask people for their opinions. I mean, it seems clear to me that I have just enough opinions for us all, right? Yes. But as I was reading through some news today, I ran across something that I have to ask y'all about. I have my own conclusion, but seeing as how I have readers from all different aspects of life (married, single, parents, or not, city dwellers, country mice... you get it) I figured that I would ask you about this video below.

Let me state a couple of things before you watch the video. 1. This video deals with spanking a child-- don't want to shock you. 2. This incident happened 7 years ago. 3. The daughter in this video waited 7 years before posting this LAST week. 4. The father is a family court judge in Texas. 5. The wife participates. 6. The "child" is 16. 7. Somehow the mother has been forgiven by said "child" but the father has not.

If you can read between the lines, you can probably see how I feel about this video/situation. First of all-- why is a 23 year old woman releasing this movie now? How is this helpful? How is it that the mom has been given a pass? Why do the tears stop so quickly when the father is no longer in the room? Do you think that this is abuse? Why? Please leave comments here or on the facebook page... If you ask, I'm sure that I will give you my opinion!

Soulful Saturday- American Idol Edition

There has been so much said about the makeup of next season's American Idol panel. Who is getting fired? Who will stay? Who is going to be the celebrity judge? All kinds of craziness. My two cents? I want to stare at Justin Timberlake all season long, so it would be cool if he was a judge. Or Jon B, oooh members of the group New Edition. Yeah, essentially I want eye candy! :)

I have to admit- I was not very involved this year. I have had a lot going on- selling the house, trying to find a job... trying to figure out what state I am going to be living in. Essentially, putting together this crazy thing called life. I do believe that this year's winner is from Chicago, so that is exciting. :) Usually Idol is a bonding experience between my mother and I. She is still in Ohio, but we used to watch Idol and call each other during the commercials. Hey- it IS corny, but also amazingly cute!!

For this edition of Soulful Saturday I'm going to pay homage to the past ladies of Idol. I have to admit that I didn't like Carrie and Fantasia at first, but now they are mainstays on my iPod. I have always been a fan of Kelly's- she might just be totally awesome! I have used these songs (along with all other music) to make it through some tough times. Music is great therapy and if I have every made you a CD or (gasp) a mix tape we share a connection that is not easily broken. I have shared my bare feelings with you because for me it doesn't matter what type of music it is- all music is a glimpse of the soul of the person who gives it to you. You can always tell the frame of mind of a person by what is on their playlist... I wonder why people would glean from mine? Without further adieu:

Carrie Underwood- Cowboy Casanova

Key Lyrics:

* You better take it from me/that boy is like a disease

* He's like a curse/He's like drug... You get addicted to his love

* He's a good time, cowboy casanova, leaning up against the record machine

* He looks like a cool drink of water, but he's candy coated misery

* Gives you feelings that you don't wanna fight- you better run for your life

Fantasia- Free Yourself

Key Lyrics:

* The love I had inside has died

* This love thing is full of scandals, so you are welcome to walk

Kelly Clarkson- Never Again

Key Lyrics:

* I hope when you're in bed with her- you think of me

* When your day comes and he's through with you- and he'll be through with you...

* Does it hurt to know I'll never be there?

* Bet it sucks to see my face everywhere/ it was you who close to end it like you did- I was the last to know

* Never again will I hear you, Never again will I miss you, Never again will I fall to you

* Never again will I kiss you, Never again will I want to, Never again will I love you...