PROJECT I'M ALIVE MAGAZINE 1st Edition

The 1st Edition of Project I'm Alive Magazine is available April 11, 2016. Sign up to receive your magazine now at http://oscarcrawfordmedia.wix.com/projectimalive.

If I Was Broadcasting to the World Today

Honor Yourself and Bless Others

If I was broadcasting to the world today, the message I share would simply say, “Honor yourself and bless others.”

Honor what is good to you and bless other in your doing it. 

Follow your inspiration to do good and bless others in your doing it. 

Enjoy what you do that is good and blessing others in your doing it. Some, not all, will appreciate your authentic nature. 

Honor Yourself and Bless Others. If I was broadcasting to the world today, that would be my message.

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Paradise Found Series Giveaway February 19, 20, and 21

The first three books in the Paradise Found Series (30 Hours, 30 Days, and Love Makes Way for Paris) are FREE on Amazon this weekend, Friday, February 19, 20, and 21.  

30 HOURS tells the story of lonely man and an abused woman. Johnny Oakes opened his home to hurting friend, Maryl Lee Dyesst, fleeing a miserable abusive marriage.  Neither could have anticipated what happened. Friends Discovered Perfect Erotic Love.  Get 30 Hours @ http://amzn.to/1QmXHhh 

30 DAYS tells the story of an abused woman that finds refuge in the home of her friend, Johnny Oakes, after escaping from her husband. Needing time to sort out a lifetime of emotions resulting from incest, rape, domestic violence and, abandonment, Maryl Lee discovers what she never dreamed possible. From a leap of faith into the arms of her friend Johnny O., they discover perfect erotic love. Will it be enough to heal her deep soul level wounds? Will it be enough for Johnny? Is it enough for them? Travel with them for 30 Days and ask what would you do? Get 30 Days @ http://amzn.to/1PH2TiL

LOVE MAKES WAY FOR PARIS continues the love story of friends who discovered perfect erotic love in 30 Hours. Now they are on a 30 Day Journey across Europe to see if their love is real. From the Mile High Club to the Ocean Club follow Johnny Oaks and Maryl Lee's erotic passion for each other explode across the continent. Travel in Perfect Erotic Love with them from London to Paris and feel every touch of love and emotion they share. Get Love Makes Way for Paris @ http://amzn.to/1WsKfwV Read FREE this weekend only. 

Recommended Reading from Oscar Crawford

Reading these three over the next few weeks. Mastering Online Marketing by Mitch Meyerson is a must read for developing and application of best practices for your online business. Gift from the Sea is Anne Morrow Lindbergh's testament to being woman in the 1950's. If you would understand the experience of woman beyond class, race, religion and politics, read this book. For a period in my life, I gifted this to as many women as I could. John Maxwell, I have had the privilege to hangout with a couple of times. The first time I met him, he reached to hug me so quick on meeting me, I was surprised he had this much Jesus touch. His latest work, Living Intentionally will recharge your sense of purpose and value. This is what Oscar is reading. If you have read the texts, let's talk. I am  interesting in what they are saying to you. Comment below or email.

The Synopsis of ReVengence

The synopsis of ReVengence:

What Happens When You Hurt the Wrong Woman, on Amazon's page is good. I'd add if you like fantasy and time travel, if you believe that we all have a link to the past or if you believe in nature vs nurture, read this book. 

There are themes in this book that make it a good discussion group read. Also, it is part of a series, which was good for me to know because I really do want know what the ReVengers will do next. ~Gingersnap

ReVengeance Available on Amazon

Spotlight on Black History More Beautiful When Personal

From Left to Right Sojourner Truth, Thurgood Marshall, Booker T. Washington.
Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman and Frederick Doughlas

The spotlight on Black History is more beautiful when it is personal. It was May 1957.  It was springtime in Kentucky and the family headed north.  There were two ceremonies to attend with two of the family honored. The first stop would be the Lincoln Institute, named for President Abraham Lincoln. The second stop would be the Kentucky State College.

Lincoln Institute was a boarding school for (colored) high school students.  The disintegration of integration had not yet arrived.  Lincoln had come into existence early in the century because of the Day Law, named for sponsoring legislator, Carl Day.

Carl Day had discovered black and white children attending school together in Berea, Kentucky in the early 1900’s.  He was outraged.  As a member of the Kentucky House, he sponsored legislation making it illegal for blacks and whites to be in public school, together.

The Day Law, was "an Act to Prohibit White and Colored Persons from Attending the Same School," was signed into law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by Governor J.C.W. Beckham in March 1904. The Day Law, named after Breathitt Countian Carl Day who introduced the bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives, prohibited students of color from attending the same school as white students. Also, they could not attend schools less than twenty-five miles from a whites-only school.

Because of this legislation, it was necessary for my father Clyde Crawford Jr. and his siblings to attend the Lincoln Institute.  The only (colored) schools available only went to eighth grade.  My grandfather Clyde Crawford, Sr. was the principal of one county (colored) school and my grandmother Maude Estil Crawford was a teacher in the bordering county (colored) school. 

Emma Jean Crawford

My father, Clyde Crawford, Jr. and his brother, Oscar Crawford graduated from Lincoln in 1948, number one and number three in their class.  Sister Emma Jean Crawford would be the family honoree in May of 1957.

Dr. Samuel Morris gave the baccalaureate address at Lincoln on that May morning.  At the conclusion of his speech, Dr. Morris said, “You have heard nothing until you hear the speaker at Kentucky State’s graduation this afternoon.”

That afternoon my grandmother Maude Estil Crawford received her Bachelors in Teacher Education from Kentucky State College.  The speaker did not give the usual commencement address.  This one was different.

Maude Estil Crawford

He stood up with the deep sound of a southern Black Baptist Preacher in his voice.  He preached the audience happy to shouting standing on their feet.  They were prompting this pulpit soldier to go on and say it, Reverend! 

Two of our family’s great ones received honors that day.  There would be a Crawford at Lincoln Institute and Kentucky State from 1944 until 1961.  My brother Ronnie Crawford and I picked up the mantle again in 1973.  Our family believes is deeply invested in education as the pathway up to personal and professional development.

The most memorable day seems to have been that day back in 1957, in a public school gymnasium packed to capacity because the king was in town.  The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the speaker that day and the family still speaks of it after all these years. The spotlight on Black History is more beautiful when it is personal.

Monday Morning Word for February 1, 2016.

Here is your Monday Morning Word for February 1, 2016. From the moment we are conceived until the moment our soul flees our body we are connected to other people. Relationship is what we humans do more than anything else and the thing for which we have the least directed education and training. Who taught you what you believe you have learned or did you just pick up pieces of information through observation along the way? We must do better if we are to build a better world. Good Morning!