CEDTalks

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Who created that phrase? Slap yourself. Names ,  and on a broader scale words ,  carry the power to unite leaders of countries, empower races, motivate youth, and foster growth. If used incorrectly, isn't is possible to hurt someone? Try this experiment (if you dare to be so bold): the next time you are around a couple having an argument, scream out "b$@ch!" near the female arguing. For safety, throw your voice like a ventriloquist and make it seem like the boyfriend is doing it. The word not only hurts her, it might hurt HIM.  Words carry more weight than people believe. As a writer and linguist (fancy word I used to use on the ladies in '05), I've had incredible experiences with words and they create resounding effects. My lexicon has provided me opportunities professionally and socially that I only could have dreamed of. In addition, it put me in positions to listen to...

"That's passé." They'll have a song out soon. In my friend circle, we use this phrase commonly to highlight actions and behaviors that are frowned upon. An activity that would most CERTAINLY be considered passé here at Y.M.e? is the recent scuffle between  my light skinned twin Chris Brown (you know they call me "Chris Brown-skin") and his lighter counterpart, Drake. This nightclub...FIASCO is disheartening for several reasons. First, two light-skinned people shouldn't be fighting; it's counterproductive to y'all comeback and El Debarge would not appreciate it. Secondly, it's rumored that the fight surfaced over the two's previous involvement with a former flame, Ri-Ri. Now I know that Caribbean women are nice with it, but my Lord! It's NEVER to cool to fight over the past. If these claims are true, it leads me to back to the respective "break-ups" of these singing/rapping individuals with the previously menti...

Horrid. Appalling. Terrible. ABYSMAL. These are not adjectives describing my win-loss record on Madden (I'm nice on NBA 2K though). It's a reference to the disturbing fashion trends created, maintained, and perpetrated by my generation. As you look out your window, drive through the neighborhood, or shop at the local Super Fresh, you serve witness to god awful fashion statements that make you question yourself. Are these the descendants of Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Run DMC, Denzel, Halle Berry, Pam...Grier (say it slow, for emphasis)? Have you ever seen Elizabeth Taylor...Hugh Hefner...shoot, James Bond movies? I mention the previous, because these fashion "faux pas" know no race, and apparently no gender. In 2012, it is possible to see both women AND men be...as the kids say, "Ratchet!" .  There's a difference...one of these accessories needs to stay in the house. Looking at the stylish personalities of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, it mak...

In the last 15 years, the use of text messaging has grown tremendously. Originally starting as standard quotes to quickly inform people you were busy, "texting" has impacted how we communicate with each other. Gone are the days of written letters, replaced with facebook inbox messages, subtweets, and unique texts. In addition, texting carries its own language, making it even more important to understand the nuances of the urban language. This "new" technology has added a unique element to interpersonal relationship, especially romantic relationships. It is more important than ever to carefully select your words; the wrong phase could severely damage your relationship or chance at one. Through trial and error, my friends and I have stumbled onto positive text methods and shared them with each other. As a responsible man, it is my duty to pass these techniques to other brothers (If you use them to steal girls from me, I'll beat the brakes off you.) Here are ...

It was everything I expected. When Raymond Bracy, head writer of We're Just Talking, and his fiance' Jamie Robinson, announced they would be taking their talents to Miami and the Bahamas for the wedding of the year, I knew only good can come of this. Combining the smooth environment of Miami , home of (Chris Brown voice) beautiful people, and the Bahamas and its warm water and friendly natives would be perfect. It was evident the trip required a sound mind, a dashiki, and a nickname that properly depicted the hilarity that would ensue. The cast of characters was a combinatinon of unique personalities: Y.M.e?, a few Omegas, George Bush (inspiration of my "Al Gore" character), and a eclectic group of females known as "The Ghetto 4". This is not to mention my Dean, Crystal, and Amanda's fine as...umm, self. With the wild personalities, only one word captured how foolish this trip would be: Ignorance. Hence forth, we all prepared ourselves for a voyage ...

President Obama, I understand your stance. No, not your B-Boy stance that cemented you as the coolest president in U.S. History, but your eye-opening, head-turning, twitter-trending stance on same-sex marriages. It allowed many to reflect on their perspective on this topic and homosexuality overall, stopping to do some soul-searching. As a young Black heterosexual male, I grew up in a culture that (to this day) is fearful, judgemental, and demeaning towards gays and lesbians. In this culture, conversations with friends and associates result in the use of phrases such as "No Homo" and "Pause", a charge to excuse the previous statement because of its homosexual connotation. This excludes the "gay " metaphor, comparing something or someone bad to being gay (e.g. "You didn't get the job? That's so GAY.") While NBA players Grant Hill and Jared Dudley do their part to curb this behavior, it is still an ongoing issue. In my opinion Gay Ri...

They are found pretty much everywhere: at the supermarket, on the second floor at your job, and especially at family reunions. Though conspicuous in nature, this species is easy to spot. No I'm not talking about roaches, you heathen; I'm talking about the "Old School Player", aka a "piiimmmmp". Now it is important to differentiate between an Old School Player and a man who is simply "old school". My father, known affectionately as Charles Perry (please say the full name), is old school; he has traditional values, rough hands, and watches westerns like "Gunsmoke". An Old School Player (O.S.P) is different; they are commonly outlandish, shifty, and laugh really weird. These well-tenured romeos carry great influence on the youth of America, specifically young males. Coming into contact with old school playas brings guys to a critical transition in life: the older men become an example for their younger counterparts. Gentlemen decide f...