MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER
Many of you, who know me, know that I love reading blogs. I am always on the lookout for new ones and look forward to reading blogs that deal with an individual’s life and what makes him/her tick. A few weeks ago, Marlive Harris, the founder of www.thegrits.com, was singing the praises of a blog titled Makes Me Wanna Holler. It is the blog of an African-American male author named Eric Payne. His name sounded familiar but I had not heard from him in a minute and wondered what had happened to him. So, being the inquisitive person that I am, I had to go over and check out his blog to see what he had been up to and if he lived up to Ms. Harris’ hype–LOL. Yes, I had to find out for myself if he was worthy of such high exaltation. I, also, found out that he had a legitimate reason to be MIA (missing-in-action) as he has been quite busy ‘manning up and handling his business.’
I so enjoyed reading his first blog, that I immediately subscribed so that I would not miss any future posts (Eric thanks for allowing me to subscribe via email–definitely a plus for anyone who wants me to visit your blog regularly&hint, hint). I look forward to receiving his blogs. I do not always comment on Eric’s blog but I do not sleep on it either. His is one of the few blogs that I read as soon as I receive it. I have not been disappointed. Every time I read Payne’s blog I find something which brings a smile to my face or tickles my funny bone. Payne’s writing is raw, poignant, witty, edgy, relatable, and believable and lives up to the title–Makes Me Wanna Holler. One of my favorites is titled, How to Endure Double Standards and Pop Crazy Pills, I laughed so hard while reading this one, all the while thinking, ‘Eric you are really on to something here because if the shoe was on the other foot, it would be different.’
While I would love to just keep Eric all to myself, it dawned on me today that he is too good for me to be so greedy and not share him with others. As I pondered whose mother’s son, sister friends husband, baby girl’s daddy, I was going to feature in today’s spotlight, I realized he was right under my nose. I was reading Payne’s blog and as he was professing his love for his daughter, in a tongue-in-cheek, humorous manner–’Baby girl is here and in the fast lane. She is personable, beautiful, gentle, kind, compassionate, funny, quite strong, demanding, rude, mean, obnoxious and outrageous. This was before she hit her terrible twos.’–he had me hook, line and sinker. There is something about a black man, black father, black husband giving me a raw, unedited version –On Being (a Black) Man, Dad & Husband in New York City– that really warms my heart.
It is no secret that I admire and respect strong, loving, family-oriented Black men. These men, unsung heroes, are not often portrayed in the media, but they exist and it my pleasure to rally around them and raise their awareness level throughout the month of June. So, join APOOO today as we invite you to learn more about Eric Payne, subscribe to his blog and check out his collection of narrative poetry and short prose titled i see through eyes. Bernice McFadden, author of Sugar, best describes his book with this quote, ‘It’s refreshing to read a black man’s naked words. There is no hype here, just pure, raw emotion that captures your attention and rocks you like a…dare I say it–LOVER. Mr. Payne’s work is an intimate one! Buy the book — read it over coffee, on the train to and from work or better yet — take it to bed with you…’
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