Roy Shuler – Actor. Print Model. Blogger. Voice Actor. Inspirational Speaker.

Roy Shuler

Actor. Print Model. Blogger. Voice Actor. Inspirational Speaker.

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Happy Birthday, Stevland Hardaway Morris 🎉

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If you don’t recognize the name, I’m certain that you’ll recognize the songs. Fingertips. Uptight. My Cherie Amour. I Was Made to Love Her. For Once in My Life. Superwoman. Superstition. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing. You Are The Sunshine of My Life. You Haven’t Done Nothin’. I Wish. Sir Duke. All I Do. Part Time Lover. These Three Words. From the Bottom of My Heart. Today is the 72nd birthday of the incredible artist, musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and humanitarian Stevie Wonder. I’ve shared with a few people how he helped to change my life as a preteen. I was 11 years old in 1976 when he released, by common consent, his magnum opus, Songs in the Key of Life, the final album in what has been described as “The Greatest Creative Run in the History of Popular Music.” In addition to containing a brilliant array of songs supported by an equally brilliant group of musicians and singers, it was the first album that I recalled having a booklet that contained the lyrics to all of the songs. By learning and reciting those lyrics, unknowingly, this would set me off on a path in which I would embrace the power of words in storytelling as a writer, public speaker, and actor. Almost 50 years after its release, I still listen to this landmark release today. By clicking on the Spotify logo below, I invite you to the do the same in celebration of this phenomenal man. Thank you, Stevie. Happy Birthday 🎉!

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A Move Towards Reparations for Black Americans?

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As uncomfortable as it may be, I firmly believe that this country cannot be what it purports to be without addressing the long shadow of its sordid, racist past. Specifically, its treatment of Black people. Discovering that this behavior is deeply rooted in what is often described as one the finest institutions in the world is indeed an eye opener. Perhaps this step by Harvard University, among others, is a bold and necessary step towards righting a wrong and establishing a level playing field, a fight that is several centuries in the making.

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🎵 Play that one called ‘Soul Twist, play that one called ‘I Know’…🎵

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Some may recognize those words as lyrics from Sam Cooke‘s hit song ‘Havin’ A Party,’ one of many, that was released 60 years ago that hit #17 and #4 on the Billboard Pop and R&B Charts, respectively. Sam was talking about playing records, the dominant form of music during that time. Well, many may be surprised to know that vinyl records, once considered a thing of the past upon the arrival of compact discs, then, digital formats, have been making a steady comeback for the past 15 years. According to the folks Statista, for the first time in three decades, last year album sales exceeded CD sales! Today is Record Store Day, an annual event that began back in 2007. According to their website: “Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.” In addition to classic releases, many contemporary artists acknowledge the day by releasing limited versions of their current releases. Check out their website to see if there are participating record stores in your area!

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Blurred Lines and the Absence of Deterring Consequences

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“I quit.” In essence, humbly, tact and eloquence aside, at the infancy of what was supposed to be an assignment for the balance of the academic year, that is what I communicated to a school administrator one week ago today. Respectfully, I’ve worked to build a personal work ethic and brand, if you will, that affords me options and I delighted in exercising them with the quickness. Disheartened by both student behavior and subsequent administrative responses, in full recognition of my value, intent, and triggers, and in the absence, from my perspective, of remedies and consequences strong enough to deter behavior that is detrimental from the purpose of its very existence, I chose to bounce. From what I’ve witnessed during the past few years as a Substitute Teacher, there are far too many children who don’t understand the relationship between their actions and their ultimate consequences. Dictionary.com defines consequence as ‘the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.” Politely, without painting with a broad brush, I’m concerned. The coarse and rampant disrespect shown towards adults and others in authority. The dismissiveness towards the importance of learning. The normalization of such behavior that ill prepares them for the challenges of the real world. I pray that those who have already gone astray find correction.

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