Some of you may have heard that I was moving to California in December. Well, that was the deal until today when the deal unravelled. So, I'll still be doing my thing from my Virginia base.

Also, some of you may have noticed that some of the sites on my network are now down or not functioning properly. It is a long story about those, but many of those sites were managed by some of the individuals involved with the California deal. Accordingly, they tore down the parts of the network to which they contributed.

I'll be working on this for a couple of days and will have everything working 100% again on Tuesday.

Thanks for your patience. Keep me in your prayers!

I am relatively inexperienced in the romantic world. This confession comes as a surprise to a lot of people. Given the subject of most of my music and the angles from which I describe the subject, most folks seem to assume that I'm some kind of Casanova. In reality, I'm anything but.

Because I have been so limited in my experience with romance, I am finding myself in a very difficult place these days. I am learning lessons in love that challenge my die-hard optimism towards romance. I am learning that love is indeed messy business; it doesn't always fit neatly into our lives the way we want it to. Neither does it always come to fruition at the moments we expect.

All of these realizations make it much easier for me to understand why some people avoid love in a romantic context. The constant pushing and pulling on the emotions, the uncertainty, and heightened sensitivity all make romance an adventure unsuited for the faint of heart. Only the strong are able to survive when it comes to love. Many fall by the wayside into bitterness, indifference, coldness and even neediness as a result of their romantic experiences.

While there are so many threats to the heart in love, I am also learning the splendid nature of the rewards that romanticism yields. These rewards are subtle and understated, but rich and meaningful in their own ways. Chief among these rewards is the exhilaration of feeling – a gift far too many take for granted.

Romance is something of a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs; full of unexpected twists and turns. But we who are rollercoaster aficionados (and we who are lovers and romantics) can attest there is great thrill in riding it through. Through all the ups and downs of love our hearts speed through many changes. The beautiful thing is that going through the changes and feeling all the dips and bumps lets us know our hearts are still there. The swing through fits of unimaginable despair, unspeakable frustration, rapturous joy and indescribable comfort are all a part of the beauty of love.

Love is truly an extreme sport. It is unsuited for the faint of heart, and not intended to adhere to any expectation whatsoever. Its like the weather – it comes and goes and changes on its own. It will not be contained. It will not be controlled. That's scary to a lot of people. But for me, in this world that is gone mad with controlling everything and everyone, love and romance is a welcome thing! I embrace love's erraticism as a gift. I embrace it, as the greatest thrill ride mankind will ever know!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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JON BIBBS @ SOUND BRIDGE
LIV Nightclub
2001 11th St. (@ U St.) NW
Washington, DC 20001

Virginia's rising soul music star, Jon Bibbs will return to Washington, DC this week. While building a world-wide fan base with his recordings for years, Bibbs has been working hard, performing extensively throughout the United States.

Mr. Bibbs has made quite a name for himself, building a reputation for his beautiful piano playing, candid stage presence, vocal virtuosity and heart-felt performances. Some may remember Jon for his last DC performance, a cameo with Verve recording artist, Ledisi at Blues Alley.

This show, Bibbs' third in DC, will feature one of Washington's own well known musicians/producers, Dre King. Other guests will include French harmonicist, Fred Yonnet.
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Sample These Artist Music @ MySpace

www.myspace.com/jonbibbsmusic
www.myspace.com/dreking
www.myspace.com/fredericyonnet

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Jon Bibbs Music is NOW on iTUNES!

www.jonbibbs.com for more about Jon!

Tour and perform with one of soul music's rising stars: Jon Bibbs!

Qualified candidates should:

- Have a gospel or soul music background
- Have flexible schedules conducive to travel
- Have a apealing look and stage persona
- Be able to hear 3 and 4 part harmonies
- Be fun, energetic, spontaneous, positive, and easy to work with

Interested parties should email sample recordings to: pharvey@jonbibbs.com
or, email this address to set up an audition with the artist.

This position includes both paying and non-paying performances on the eastern and southeastern region of te U.S.

Today, I called someone I know a nigga. I was shocked when he replied: "Don't call me that! We're supposed to be banishing that word!"

Nigga what!!!? I don't understand this issue. As a black, educated, professional man, I reject the idea that we as black folks should "banish" the so-called "N" word. I mean, banish the word to what end? What would not saying "Nigga" really change? Will we feel better about ourselves as people? Will there be a collective sigh of relief by the Black masses because "no one is calling us nigga anymore?" No. I don't think so.

Yeah white folks may have called us "niggers" as a means of demoralizing and degrading us. But, words are only words, and words get their meaning and weight from the people who say them. When one Black person says to another "you're my nigga," the meaning and weight of the word is drastically changed simply because of the individual who is speaking the words.

Besides, as a people, I think we have bigger fish to fry than this. Can really afford to use what little political capital we have in our community on an issue so small? We need to focus our attention on more tangible and meaningful discourses than name calling. Maybe we should be using the spotlight to talk about improving our money management skills as a people instead admonishing the Black masses to "stop calling each other names."

I mean, it just seems a little sophmoric to be worried about the name we call each other, when we have so many other issues to address like: education, family structure, health and dietary needs, political power and economic independence. Later for what you wanna be called!!! We all said the same saying in elementary school "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me." It is precisely these kinds of distractions that keep us from truly seeing the bigger picture.

The so-called "N" word has no bearing on our fight for liberation and freedom. None. And the vast energies we are putting into trying to get rid of the word are badly needed in other areas of our fight! So what if a Black person calls u a nigga!!! You know they aren't calling you "ignorant." We all know that's not what is trying to be communicated.

Some say, "Well, if you say it, then white folks will feel empowered to say it, too." I don't buy that. For centuries, white folks in America have businesses, busses, restrooms, water fountains, swimming pools, restaurants, movie theaters and more that we as Black people weren't allowed to enjoy. I think we're entitled to at least keep a word to ourselves!

It is our tradition as a people to take bad situations and make something good out of it. From the blues to soul food, our people have taken the bad that we've been given and turned it around into something comforting and positive. Such is the so-called N-word in my book.

Shakespeare taught us this lesson in 1594: A person or thing's worth is not determined by what it is called, rather by what it IS!

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"
- William Shakespeare

Today, I called someone I know a nigga. I was shocked when he replied: "Don't call me that! We're supposed to be banishing that word!"

Nigga please.

In the household where I was raised, there was a standard. There was a clearly defined order of priorities with regards to my social environment. God always came first. After God, came family; then my people.

As a child of the 1980's I was blessed to have never experienced the grossly demoralizing and degrading racism of the middle and early 20th century. And yet, though I had not seen such with my own eyes, I was postured to appreciate, understand and identify with the struggles through which my people have so bravely endured. Even as a small child, I was taught to hold fast to the lessons, trials and tragedies through which my fore-parents had so courageously waded.

Being raised in such an environment had a profound effect upon me. Even to this day, I do my best to honor that system of priority established in my childhood home. This standard from my youngest days ingrained in me a deep passion for my people – African people – and in so doing, provided me with the basis for self-realization in my adult years.

Reflecting on these things causes me to think of the young African boys and girls growing up in 21st century America. I observe them daily as they walk to and fro at the school where I work. I hear them talk. I see them act. I see how they identify themselves. Worse yet, I see the THINGS with which they identify. I talk to them about their priorities. To my amazement, they have no concept of Black identity. They have no real sense of "self."

In order to posture our people for forward and upward movement, we must return to a sense of collective identity. We must realign ourselves with one another as African people – a people of tremendous achievement and contribution. Allowing our children to accept the construct of "multi-culturalism," without providing with them with a working knowledge and appreciation for their own cultural value has been a serious misstep in our community over the last 3 decades. I would even infer that this misstep is the very basis for many of the contemporary issues facing our people in the western world.

Our children, if expected to achieve anything of value, must first know that they are valuable in and of themselves. They must be taught of the greatness of our cultural tradition. If we continue to fail to provide our children with this solid basis for self-identity, they will continue to seek fulfillment outside themselves.

We must reembrace the best and brightest of our forefather's ideals. We must teach our children the worth of their past. For if we fail, they are only left with the mindset of mainstream society which teaches that African people, African culture and African history – both in the Motherland and here in the west – are of no value. God forbid that our children should accept this frame of mind. For, if they believe they have come from valueless, insignificant people, they will be inclined to expect nothing of themselves.

Haterism isn't a new phenomena. It's been around since the dawn of time. Lucifer got kicked out of Heaven for hating on God's omnipotence. Cain slew his brother as an act of hating on Able's more excellent sacrifice to God. Thus my point is proven: folk have been hating on each other since forever. This treatise for haters is an attempt to provide instruction and enlightenment to the haters - particularly those whom I've run into over the last few months.

The tradgedy of hating is that, while it purposes itself to tear down those who wish to achieve and grow, its most devasting effects are felt mainly by the hater himself. The hater allows his hate to taint his perception. The result is a negative individual; a pessimist of the highest degree, who over time loses view of positivity altogether. The hater cuts himself out of the way of great blessings and great opportunites by aligning himself with negativity... "As a man thinketh, so is he."

Life is funny. Looking back, I can see so many defining moments - moments that contribute to who I am today. However, there is one such moment in which I have found new importance today through conversation with a friend of mine... (good talk, Shadia. lol)

Before today, I didn't know that I bared my heart the way I do. Before today, I never realized that I was quite so transparent. But what I discovered is the importance of a moment that goes back to almost 7 years ago.

I was a freshman at Hampton, enjoying life and making friends. Things were fine. I was in an English course with some of the most amazing people I've yet to meet. Among them was a young woman who intrigued me. Intrigue eventually grew to became a major crush that I was working very hard to keep under wraps. Being the relatively shy, and considerably odd young man that I was, I thought this young woman would reject me. I saw her as "out of my league."

Months passed. The semester ended and a new one began. Having been home for nearly a month, and also having passed out of the English course, my attraction began to subside and by April, I'd put the whole thing out of mind. Although I didn't see her in class, we spoke weekly and had lunch or dinner together as friends.

One night as we talked, she told me "I have a confession." Naturally, I was drawn in...
I asked what that confession was. She replied:

"Well, last semester, I had the BIGGEST crush on you."

I was livid!

"No, I had the biggest crush on YOU!!!"

But across the time, she'd also put the whole thing out of head, and had begun a serious relationship with another young man at our school. I'd missed my opportunity.

In a world where we're surrounded with superficiality, it is hard to let ourselves be us. It's hard to show our weaknesses and our pains. It's hard to open up.

That night I decided that this situation would never happen to me again. I determined for myself that I would wear my heart on my sleeve. I would never miss love or anything else because I hadn't opened my heart to it.

It is a hard and often danting task, but keeping my heart open is of utmost importance in my life. I can't imaging living any other way now. Baring my heart this way makes me feel alive. It's like walking in the rain.

I'm grateful for the blessing that moment in Pierce Hall Dormitory provided to me. And even though sometimes I'm emotionally injurred because of it; even though I, at times send out love without receiving in return, I am proud of my wide-opened heart.

Do you remember your first taste of soul music? I can't remember mine exactly. I remember when I was growing up our household would be filled with the Motown sound. And while I can't exactly remember the day or the hour that it took hold, I'm sure that it was during those days that I began to truly love soul music.

Perhaps what I love most about this genre of music is the intense sincerity - the clarity with which the writers and performers shared their hearts with us. I love to listen to music wherein you truly feel as if the artist is telling their own story. For me, there is no other genre that offers us such a deep and clear picture of the heart.

My favorite singer of all time is Gladys Knight. She is the quentisential soul singer in my book. Every song she sings, I believe. From "Midnight Train to Georgia" to "Daddy Could Swear (I declare)" Ms. Knight has the unique ability to make us feel her pain, her nostalgia, her joys. She is able to make us feel HER.

So when did you fall in love with soul music? What it is about this form that moves you most, and who are your favorite artists within it?

As people across the Western Hemisphere ring in the New Year this evening, I am reflecting on the sweeping hand of death that we saw across the spectrum of American life. In the past seven days we have lost one of music's most influential innovators (even in a global context,) a former President of the United States of America and the former President (Dictator) of Iraq.

This is a week has provided me with a revelation that struck to my very core. That revelation is to our finiteness. Whether we be those whom society would call "great", or those whom they assume to be small, we are set (and must live) within the same boundaries of humanity. Death gives no preferential treatment in its bidding. Our carnal achievements mean nothing before it. Our titles cannot immunize us to it, nor can our wealth secure us passage around it. When death calls, we must reply.

It is humbling to see death in such terms. To examine death in such a way would force us to understand our sameness and connection... "Dust thou art and dust thou shalt return."