L-O-V-E

Having my bout with L-O-V-E right now. L-O-V-E, eh? yea..very interesting thing. It is the type of thing that can be there while there is STILL hot mess going on. In some instances, it can be good and be seen as unconditional love. In other instances, it is just crazy. I'm at the crazy point. But, I just wanted all of my readers to hear a very tried and true saying that I am not taking into consideration (and not just for me but for many that I see around me): "YOU CAN'T LOVE OTHERS IF YOU DON'T LOVE YOURSELF". It is plain and simple. Now, be careful. This issue can manifest itself in a variety of ways: jealousy, hurting others (both intentionally and unintentionally), cheating, abuse etc. My advice is, don't try to love someone else if you don't love yourself. It will save you from a lot of heart ache and pain. The FIRST lesson of the year 2009.

From this point, it is onward and upward.

Thanks for listening.

God Bless.

2009- Off To A Good Start

Wow. Happy 2009. This year has turned out to be great so far....our President is a God-fearing, Intelligent, and Humble Black Man. Couldn't ask for anything more. Well...yea...I had to ask God if our choir could sing at one of the Inaugural events...and God said....YES! We sang at the Inaugural Finance Committee Welcome Breakfast on Sunday, January 18th for the Financial Committee. You can see us on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MlCjgB1IBg). We rocked the house! Praise God! And we got to sing behind Bebe Winans, Carole King and Yolanda Adams. No one could ask for anything more.

Other than that, I am working on finishing my album. I am currently working on getting my demo tracks onto my myspace page, so you can see what I have been working on. Be patient. I am also working full time and doing other random things! There is never a dull moment.

A NEW SEASON.

NOW. I had the good pleasure of being in Grant Park when history was made. Let me lay out the night for you in a few quick sentences as I know some of you may be tired of hearing about it (NOT I!)...so, I live in downtown Chicago and after work, there was a hum of hope and anticipation over chicago. As I walked to Grant Park, it was around 70 degrees, there were thousands of hopeful people making their way to bars, parties, different parts of Grant park, big screens everywhere so that travelers wouldn't miss out on any updates, the flashing lights from the stage that had Barack's name all over it were in the background as people moved like ants on a mission (I am speaking from the perspective of not being in the main part of Grant Park). Once I got to my standing spot, I actually thanked God that I wasn't in the main part because it would have been more crowded. Where I was had a great personal space room and a great view of the big screen. Hallelujah.

We all know that the moment CNN displayed a "BREAKING NEWS!!!!!.....BARACK OBAMA IS ELECTED PRESIDENT", the crowd went wild. Some laughed, others clapped, others smiled, still others reflected, and other yelled and screamed. Then came the "YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!" chant and we were off. The whole world at that point was trying to call home which meant no one could get through on their phone lines, but nonetheless, we had each other to celebrate with. Perfect strangers came together like old friends and everyone beamed. We just beamed with pride.

I have to give it to McCain, he made a pretty decent concession speech. And as Obama took the stage, chills came over my body and we all cheered. There are no words that can encapsulate his extreme humility and accomplishment in that one moment. THEN (and this is secretly, my favorite part!) his family came out. God only knows how to create such a PULCHRITUDINOUS family ( I had to use that word...it's my favorite word).

NOW. Michelle Obama is a whole different story. Especially for me, as a young African-American woman. Her beauty radiates in so many directions that one doesn't know what to do with oneself. All I have to say about her is: the next day, I put on my best work clothes, put on my stilletos, put on my make up and walked into work representing myself in such a proud and confident manner that I thought I didn't have in me. She helped to bring it out of me (judge me if you will, but everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere/someone). A friend told me that NOW black women are vogue because of her.

Well, I mean...have you looked at her lately? With that unique, everyday beauty that is not glorified much..with her real woman figure (real women definitely have curves), her beautiful Michelle Obama smile with it's hint of crookedness (very slight)....all of that makes such a beautiful role model for all of us.
NOW. Because of Michelle, GBKs and the like can look up, be encourage, and aspire.

NOW. Because of Barack, black men have a chance to enhance their image which has been misunderstood (by both blacks and non blacks). Yes, beautiful black men, YOU CAN DO IT! whatever it is...

NOW. Because of Barack and Michelle, Black MARRIAGE and BLACK LOVE can begin to move to higher heights in from the outside perception (others looking in) as well as the inside perception (us looking at ourselves and determining what it should be like).

NOW. Because of the Obamas. Black family can begin to move to higher heights as well. MAN Oh MAN. Nothing can stop a strong, positive, God fearing Black family. Nothing.

Whew...I am going to come off of my soap box because I have a tuna casserole to check, but all of this rambling to say: IT IS INDEED A NEW DAY. In soooooo many respects. I haven't even scratched the surface in this blog.

TO everyone out there, like Esther in the Bible, why wouldn't Barack step into office during such a time as this?

With GOD, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

And MOM, I know you see this from where you are. YOUR EFFORTS have NOT been in vain. You were there before Michelle Obama, teaching me how a black woman should conduct herself and her business. I love you and miss you as always. MY heart will never stop bleeding for you, but TODAY is also a new day. And I am seeing the hope that you have given me, rise up in me again.

Much love.

NY! NY!

I had a blast this past weekend.

I went to NY with my Gospel Choir and we visited a church in Harlem, 2 schools, a Jewish Community Center, and Lincoln Center was the last stop. Amen.

I had a great time debuting my demo songs at Jazz@ Lincoln Center! Now onto finishing my album!

My choir is dolng big things. big things. If only you could see us. Well...I guess you can...
go to Waltcunningham.net and there will be a list of our performance appearances.

Our goal is sing music of hope, faith, and inspiration. Plain and simple. Plain and simple.

I realize that my blogs have become less catchy and I apologize for that...I'll hit you up with better posts soon.

But in the meantime, go to Waltcunningham.net!!!! :0)

The Secret Life...

My goodness..."The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd totally just rocked my socks.

It all started on an unusually warm Friday night in September, when my best friend and I went to go see "A Family That Preys". Now...I love Tyler Perry, but that movie detracted from my life. HOWEVER, Lou and I got to see a trailer for the movie "The Secret Life of Bees"....we both became very excited. I, because my celebrity crush (Nate Parker from "The Great Debaters") is in it, and Lou, because it is one of her favorite books of all time. She turns to me and says "we have to read this book"....only to say, about a month and some later, I am a pridefully joined the group of women who call this book one of their favorite books of all time. Great read. And what I really liked was the great one-liners sprinkled throughout the book. I want to encourage you guys to read this book BEFORE seeing the movie. I know, I know....the temptation is strong, but be strong! Indulge in a Penguin Classic, will ya? Just to make me happy and then jump on the Hollywood bandwagon. Now, I am not saying that the movie won't be good...for I am about to go pay $11.00 to go see it....I am banking on it to be a pleasurable experience. HOWEVER, I know that there is nothing like a good book. Amen for GREAT WRITING. Just what I needed in this crazy world of economic downturn, incompetent presidents, and just hatred in many realms of society. This book speaks to the wonder of love and the power of love. Call it a chick book/flick...call it what you want. But I am better for having read it. Amen.

Shout out to Sue Monk Kidd for a great classic.

My Debut

I should be reading "The Secret Life of Bees" right now...but I felt compelled to write a blog.

So. In about a week, I will be debuting myself as a solo artist at Lincoln Center (Oct 28th). I am excited. A few years back, I promised myself that I wouldn't go down this road which would lead to disappointment. But God had other plans. Now, I am not saying that He wants to make me a superstar, but He definitely wants me to sing. And to this, I say "Ok God- Use me." Easier said than done. Nonetheless, it will be done.

Sometimes I think about how harmonies and great lyrics and beautiful voices can make my heart skip a beat. Nothing else can do that--except for true love (and I haven't experienced that yet!). If I took away ALL of the fears about people's judgment of my art and my gift, I could honestly say that singing is the love of my life. I used to think that being a musician is nothing compared to being a doctor, a professor, or a CEO. But one day, I woke up and God was telling me this: "they all need you. Doctors, professors, and CEOs need music"...now, they don't need me per say, but music is something that everyone needs. I rarely meet a soul that does not let music into a very sensitive part of themselves because of its capacity to enlighten, bring joy, bring tear, and bring healing. God wants to use me and I cannot fight it anymore.

I heard my demo on Saturday morning and there was nothing that could have brought more joy to my heart (other than falling in love and/or seeing my mother again). But alas, he is waking me up....God is waking up this droopy Blackbird that has been singing in the dead of night for too long.

It's time to take my chance.

Home Sweet Home

On Friday, October 3rd, I went home.

Home to me is Brooklyn, NY. However, home has taken on a double meaning. It also means Chicago. I flew into LaGuardia Airport and NY felt like what Chicago felt like to me when I lived in Brooklyn. Roles have not only overlapped, but reversed as well. Strange.

After a few minutes of analyzing this, I was back to normal (never been good at adjustments). Now, the reason I was home was to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday. We had a nice party for him at the house and I was again flooded by the feeling of "man, I have sooo many great friends in NY! I miss seeing them all the time!" We had a blast! My dad's party was open to everyone so my friends were able to come and boy oh boy did we make a night of it. If you recall, my pre-Chicago posts are all about my friends.

If you take nothing from this, just remember to always have a great core group of friends.

As you can see, there isn't really much to this post, but to say to my friends: I love you guys.

Thanks for making home feel like home.

BK fo' life :0)