Carpe Diem

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My name is Wansena Spearman and I am a wife and mother of two beautiful daughters. As a Psychology Major, I am constantly challenged to reflect upon my values and cultural identity in relation to those biases and prejudice that I have developed about another race or culture. This is no easy task and requires complete honesty. However,through soul searching and reflection I have come to understand not only self but the soul of another. Subsequently, In using this blog as a platform to gain knowledge about different cultures, my goal is to pose topics that allow each individual to inform the readers about something we may not know about his or her race or culture. The blog is not intended for individuals to criticize or demoralize another individual’s race or cultural values but will focus on gaining insight by uncovering prejudice in order to discover understanding

Monday, January 5, 2009


As the aroma of my first cup of coffee tickles my senses; I am mentally gearing up for the start of a new job as well as returning back to school for the winter quarter. While the steam of my first morning brew brushes against my cheek, I take a sip, exhale and relax. In realizing that the start of new job always raises my anxiety level, I refuse to allow my mind to become a battleground for emotional overload. I allow the coffee to work its magic and take this opportunity to be thankful; thankful for being able to find a job in an economy that has seen its highest unemployment rate sense 1987. With each sip, I reflect on the promise of hope and become invigorated by each breath I take. Life is never promised and should never be taken for granted. So as I began this day, I send a message of love and hope. I hope that you would take this opportunity to relax, be thankful for life and enjoy your first morning brew.



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4 comments:

  1. FREE ALL CARDSJanuary 26, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    Insightful posts. Interesting. Never park your pen! :)

    Thanks for sharing!
    Freeallcards
    www.freeallcards.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. xenosapienFebruary 14, 2009 at 3:55 AM

    I honestly don’t care for the stupid racism issue. I think the solution to the racial issue is far easier to conquer than people think. Do you remember Jimmy “The Greek”? Stop shaking your head, and just listen.

    He lost his job and career simply because he told the truth. He stated in a round-about way that the black athletes were better than the white athletes because the slave owners purposely BREEDED the strongest black woman and strongest black man to make the strongest black babies to work the fields.

    Was he wrong? No. Is it factually correct? Yes. But the “touchy-feely-overly-sensitive-public” felt it was a racist thing for him to say.

    Now, was that a bad statement? I don’t think so. But when I was 17, and dating my white highschool sweetheart, I along with my white friend took her to her home. She lived in a town that was considered as the birth-place of the KKK. And apparently, the radical Klan (originally, it was not so full of hatred as some believe), had roots in this area.

    I was confronted by her uncle, her grandmother and grandfather. Her grandfather stared me dead in the eye, and said: “If I catch you dating my granddaughter again, you will be swinging from a rope in front of the courthouse.”

    Now breathe, and be calm, then ask yourself, as I did myself: Is Jimmy “The Greek’s” statement worse than that statement by grandpa’s statement? I think not. Was “The Shock Jock” Imus’s statement about those ‘nappy headed hoes’ worse than grandpa’s statement? No. Was Geraldine Ferraro’s statement on the campaign trail worse than grandpa’s statement? Definitely not.

    My point is quite simple. Take the most “racial” statement or situation you have personally endured–NOT what a friend of yours went through, not what your cousin went through, but rather, what YOU personally went through, and make yourself re-live that situation. I know it’s tough, but DO IT. Don’t leave anything out.

    Now compare these statements I’ve mentioned above to your situation…is your situation worse? If so, these statements have no value. They are nothing. Be truthful with yourself. Because when I hear these statements, none of them rise to the level of sickness I heard from grandpa to my face. If you can be honest with yourself, you can conquer your personal turmoil.

    XenoSapien

    (son of a psychologist)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 20, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    Interesting post, waiting for the next one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2010 at 4:38 AM

    Very well said. Life should never be taken for granted. Live everyday to its fullest. Thanks for this wonderful post... :)

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