Ellington

The Ghetto Science Team brings you The Financially Challenged Summer Camp, hosted by Grandma Pookie. It's time for po' folks and their spooky stories by the camp fire under the moon light. Tonight, Grandma Pookie shares with us a scary tale titled "Night of the Living Financially Challenged.

Grandma Pookie: "A frightening darkness covers the ghetto. Po' folk imprisoned within cluttered living spaces, crime and poverty, anticipate the coming of a massive utility disconnection because working poor folk cannot keep up with rising costs. At midnight, people must live without water, electricity and sanitation. Desperate individuals rush to Jo-Jo's Discount Dollar Store and spend their last dollars—courtesy the LMHFD National Bank—to buy candles and emergency items.

"City officials and police stand by for poor folk to loot and riot. At five seconds before disconnection, the financially challenged light their candles and gather in the streets. Three, two, one, disconnect—no lights, water, gas, phones, etc. A non-violent crowd marches toward downtown ironically chanting, 'Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge! I'm trying not to lose my head!'

"A flash of light appears. An astonished Sista Church Hat emerges from the crowd with her dog Alonzo. The dog clears his throat and speaks to the people, 'Times may be rough, rough, rough, but only when it is dark enough, you can see the stars as G.W. makes the world go 'round.'

"The end."

Ken Stiggers is a television producer in Jackson and the co-host of The Lyric Lounge Thursday nights at Santiago's.

Previous Comments

ID

70204

Comment

ëDonít push me ëcause Iím close to the edge! Iím trying not to lose my head!í Wow, I haven't heard that one in ages! Didn't that come from Doug E. Fresh? Anyway, that story really makes you think how close the average person is to losing it all. People have to work every day, but they can barely buy the gas they need to drive to work. It's crazy!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-07-06T18:08:38-06:00

ID

70205

Comment

'Donít push me ëcause Iím close to the edge! Iím trying not to lose my head!í L.W. - 'Wow, I haven't heard that one in ages! Didn't that come from Doug E. Fresh?' I think it came from Grandmaster Flash & The furious Five first.

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-07-07T10:41:29-06:00

ID

70206

Comment

Ken, you're quite talented at mixing humor with human conditions. Got any books? "It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." "The message" is absolutely my favorite Rap song of all times. I didn't believe Rap even had real potential until I heard "The Message." I have the lyrics written down in my desk drawer and often quote them to friends. I might add this song came out during a time when Ronald Reagan was Big and great poverty and unheard of unemployment were dominating the black communities across this nation. I was so angered by it that I still hate Reagan to this day. The effects and affects of him linger to this day on black and white folks. But this is altogether another subject.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-07-12T12:22:27-06:00