In Memory of My Grandma Jackie, 1938-2012
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
My grandmother, Jacqueline Gibson, passed away January 1, 2012 at the age of 73. What I’ll miss most is her kindness, spirituality and sense of humor. (One memorable day she taught me to see auras and hold a yoga pose. Midway through the lesson she said, “If you fart, just fan it with your hand so I know it’s coming!” I couldn’t stop laughing, let alone finish the lesson…but my stomach felt better.)
Grandma Jackie, who raised seven kids, also touched many others. In 1987 she founded The Light Center, a Columbus, Ohio based nonprofit organization that provided support services and self-esteem programs for incarcerated women and grandparents raising grandchildren. She received numerous awards for her work with The Light Center, including recognition from dignitaries such as Former Governor George Voinovich, Former Senator Ray Miller and Former Council Member Charleta Tavares. Most importantly, she left a lasting impression and helped produce positive change in some of the most downtrodden and vulnerable members of society.
Even though Grandma Jackie has passed, the need to help incarcerated and recently paroled women and their families continues. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are over 200,000 women incarcerated in the United States; most are imprisoned for non-violent offenses. More importantly, over 70 percent of these women have children. Also, more than 60 percent of imprisoned women suffered sexual or physical abuse prior to their incarceration.
The family of Jacqueline Gibson hopes to continue her work through Amethyst Inc. (http://www.amethyst-inc.org), an organization in Central Ohio that has provided addiction and trauma treatment for women for over 25 years, many of whom were recently incarcerated.
We are seeking donations of any dollar amount to fund an award to Amethyst Inc. in Grandma Jackie’s name. The fundraising period runs until February 1, 2012. Funds will be used to help Amethyst Inc. provide housing, counseling and assistance with family reunification to recently incarcerated women. Amethyst’s 2 to 5 year program is proven to prevent 97 percent of its participants from reentering jail or prison.
Please click the button below to give using your credit or debit card. If you are unable to give even a dollar, do us a favor and pass this link to others. Thanks a lot for your care and help. Feel free to contact me with questions.
Dewan Gibson: The Imperfect Blog
dewangibson@gmail.com
Our New Baby: Nile Anthony Wayne Gibson
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Babies, Personal
Nile was born on July 11, 2011 at 10:05a.m. Just 90 seconds later he dropped an amazing deuce. He’s 9 lbs, 9 ounces and 20.5 inches long. Mother is doing well. Damn she skrong, real skrong. She has a great core and the wide, feminine hips that caught my eye when we first met proved handy for childbirth. Dad was the weakest link on the team. He got dizzy and had to sit his ass down. But he did wear a medical mask to give the impression that he was actually doing more than push counts.
Thanks a lot for your prayers and well-wishes. By the way, hopefully you’ll see Nile in any number of baby films in 2011-2012 (young man needs to earn his keep).
Dewan Gibson: The Imperfect Blog
I Love TJ, Still…
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal, Social Comm
I love TJ. For those outside of Southern California I’m not talking about a hulking man with big meat who wears leather chaps and a baby tee. I’m talking about Tijuana; T.J. as it’s known in my hood. Though the city gets a bad rap it’s not just a place to get cheap prescription meds, prostitutes that smell like Victoria Secret’s Warm Vanilla Sugar bodyspray, street tacos, a good ol’ fashion PO-lice beating, Chiclets from orphans and harassment from the oft-overzealous U.S. Border Patrol.
It’s actually a great city full of colorful, kind people that’s been castigated in the midst of Mexico’s drug war. A war instigated by America’s demand for illegal drugs and supply of automatic weapons and Mexico’s corrupt elite. (chuuch!) Well, enough of the politics. Have a look at the pics from a wedding I attended in Tijuana courtesy of a dear friend. Feel free to play “Spot the tall, awkward black guy with the tight silver vest and shiny ass forehead” in the picture above!
Dewan Gibson: Download My Book, The Imperfect Enjoyment
New Year’s Eve: All Purple Everything
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Humor, Personal
Hell yeah. I celebrated New Year’s Eve at Gibb’s in Cleveland Heights. That’s my pops, “Gibbs” as they call him, the misses and her womb holding a little girl or boy that might be named “Purple”, me with the bulging man-print and hot oil treated hair, and my older brother, Ken “Dallas Sexy” Gibson with the Christmas shit on. Missing are Mama (recovering from a broken leg, little dingy ass kid fell on her at school), my sis LaShaunta (Cleveland isn’t ghetto enough for her so she went to Chi-Town for the holiday) and the youngest octoroon sibling–my lil bro’ Durrell (He was at a no-draws hotel party. Young man had his pubes lined-up like a mutha’.)
The spot was packed. Old school players and playettes had on furs and leathers. One couple even had on matching LEATHER Adidas track suits. There were at least two men with relaxers. One had a tiny snatch back pony tail that looked like a baby dick. The other was a tiny man with long, gray hair that was tucked under. He looked my woman up and down and asked if we were together. I was finna’ pull his hair and scratch his face but figured I’d avoid conflict and just slip a little cyanide in his Hennessy. Anyway, a grand ol’ time was had by all. I can’t wait for my next Ohio trip in 7-9 years!
Dewan Gibson: Download My Book, The Imperfect Enjoyment
Who Moved My Cell Phone
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Do you have an extra cell phone that works with AT&T for loan or sale? Mine was lost and stolen. I’ll give you a few dollars and let you in on my secrets to world domination in return for your kindness. If you hear of someone finding a Blackberry in a San Diego bar on Sunday, December 26 please tell him to return it. The phone is laced with explosives.
Dewan Gibson: Author of The Imperfect Enjoyment
Black-N-Funny!
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Many of know standup/actor comedian Joe Clair as the former host of Rap City and the Negro from the commercials that tried to sell you fried chicken and Progressive insurance. Well, he’s also created a new humor website, www.blackNfunny.com. (You need NOT be black to log on and laugh at black people.) I’ll be contributing to the site every Tuesday. Have a look and be sure to catch Joe on stage when he comes to your town (his black ass stays on the road!).
Dewan Gibson: Author of The Imperfect Enjoyment
Told Her I’d Catch Her in 2010
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Half Cape-Verdian/Half Swedish, met her in a nightclub in Lisboa, Portugal, shared nothing more than conversation and a brief peck, saw her again the following night–but her s-curled/musclebound boyfriend was there, I made a lame nerve-stricken joke relating to “catch u in a few years.” That was in 2007. Fuck it. No more detail is necessary, there’s an entire chapter about this in my book. Sonia, how you been? A few years is up. Shit I can smell the desperation.
Dewan W. Gibson: Author of The Imperfect Enjoyment
The Head Detectives: Me and Neyo in Times Square
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Obviously I’m on a quarter life crisis voyage that has led me to the UK, Malaga, Amsterdam, NYC and now back to tired ass Cleveland (I say tired with the upmost respect, don’t beat my ass). Anyway, a couple of days ago I met R&B superstar Ne-yo as I walked around NYC like a human billboard in yet another instance of shameless self-promotion, or better yet shameless book promotion. Of course Ne-yo’s Superdome was covered so at first I didn’t recognize him, once I did he was more than willing to take a pic. Nice guy, seemed easy going. Shout out to Ne-yo to making life easier for those of us with large craniums.
Colonel Sanders is Pissed!
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Give it a Try Bumbaclot!
My quarter life journey crisis has continued on to the UK, specifically Liverpool, England. While walking around this working class city known as the home of The Beatles I noticed some interesting fast food choices: 1) A Special Reggae Sub from Subway and 2) Krunchy Fried Chicken with a logo almost identical to Kentucky Fried Chicken…I mean KFC. I have yet to try the reggae sub, but the Indian guy at Krunchy Fried Chicken fried the hell out my spicy wings.
Hiatus aka Refractory Period
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Personal
Dudes and Dudettes, ready for some sorry ass excuses. My laptop broke, I’ve been traveling and therefore unable to blog. HOWEVER…I did purchase a new and fancy two pound netbook that I will use to travel blog and then return to Target the day I return home to Cali. Okay, well enough excuses. I’m heading to Amsterdam in a few hours and will be sure to post something at least somewhat interesting. Holla.
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