Merry Christmakwanzanukkahfestivus and The Pursuit of Happyness

Hope everyone had a good holiDay. Mine has gone swimmingly.

My wife and mother-in-law and I had a good period of reflection on all the spiritual meanings trotted out at this time of year, exchanged some gifts, and just got to relax and enjoy each other's company.

This time of year though is great for more than gifts and spiritual stuff though. There's no better time to watch movies.

We just got home from seeing The Pursuit of Happyness. I thought Will Smith did a great job. I thought Chris Gardner's story was beyond inspirational. But - and I admit I'm a mind-wandering weirdo - one of the things that impressed me most was how people in positions of power seemed to be willing and almost eager to give Gardner a chance to make it.

I have an occasional paranoia that I will come across someone who doesn't want to take me seriously because I'm young and black. Some of you may think it's a silly thing to worry about. But what can I tell you? I'm human. And past experience tells me there are folks who would not think to consider my character, work ethic, etc., before writing me off for my appearance.

So I can't tell you how moved I was when Gardner on top of being a black man struggling in the 1970s and early '80s, with a wild fro' and a Yosemite Sam mustache, and sometimes wearing unkempt, dirty clothes, was given shot after shot.

I won't get all weepy and emotional. But it said something about good people.

There are people out there who in spite of politics and prejudice can look beyond your...look.

I hope that there are more of those people than there were a few years ago. And I hope in the new year that they multiply exponentially.