Well, the holidays are upon us once more and in 2012, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for.
First and foremost, I am thankful to God for my health and my ability to enjoy another day with my family, my friends, my loved ones, and all of you.
Given the recent presidential election, I’m thankful for the African American community that, despite numerous attempts to suppress the vote in places like my home state of Ohio, once again stepped up and rallied around those timeless and spiritual words, “ain’t gonna let nobody turn us ‘round.”
I am thankful that OWN, Oprah’s network has, after a rough start, righted the ship and established itself as one of the premiere networks on TV. Go Oprah!
I am thankful that Iyanla Vanzant and actress Maia Campbell have gotten together to ensure Maia has the best opportunity to overcome her setbacks and to live a productive life and be a good mother to her daughter.
I am thankful we were all blessed by the lives and contributions of the numerous notable individuals who left us in 2012 including Michael Clarke Duncan, Sherman Hemsley, Emanuel Steward, Chris Lighty, Rodney King, Donna Summer, Al Freeman Jr., Yvette Wilson, Chuck Brown, Tina Marie, Whitney Houston, David Peaston, Don Cornelius, Etta James and many more, may they truly rest in peace.
I am thankful that during this week, 146 years ago, the great Howard University was established.
For all of the families and individuals affected by Hurricane Sandy, I am thankful folks are beginning to put the pieces back together and that a number of relief efforts have been organized to help those still suffering.
I am thankful the police officer in Philadelphia who used excessive force and punched that woman in the face at a recent Puerto Rican Day parade festival was fired and is being charged accordingly.
That said, I’m also thankful that I know better than to disrespect a city bus driver. (they’ve been beating folks down left and right lately)
Given the Big Bird-PBS funding controversy that came up during the presidential campaign, I am sooooo thankful the term ‘Tickle Me Elmo’ didn’t take on new meaning until AFTER the election.
And finally, I am thankful for my TJMS family and the millions of listeners who, over the past four years, have become family to me. I love you guys!
I’ll leave you with this by French novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr:
“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns… but I am thankful that thorns have roses.”
