Showing posts with label social. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Keeping Things (True and Pure)





Keeping things true.

Keeping things pure.

My brain is running, even as my body is running on empty.

I first caught wind of this while watching The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, has launched his own website, seeking donations for living expenses and legal fees.

First of all, I’m outraged because there’s nothing disputing this man shot and killed Trayvon Martin; whether he killed Trayvon or not isn’t up for debate, yet as I’m writing this, the man still has not been arrested. Trayvon was unarmed; George Zimmerman was armed. George Zimmerman says, “Self defense” but looking at the video footage, there are no signs of a broken nose, torn clothing, grass stains, anything that would indicate there was any type of struggle. Experts reviewing the 911 call confirm that it’s Trayvon screaming, not George.

This isn’t media spin; it’s just facts.

On top of that, the website shows a picture of a vandalized cultural center with “Justice for Zimmerman” written in graffiti, along with these words:

“A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed”- Henrik, Isben
This page is dedicated to persons whom have displayed their justice for ALL.
Thank you,
George Zimmerman

Are you serious? This man took a life, an unarmed child’s life. No matter what race, it’s just wrong. Yet, he’s trying to make himself a victim, citing how difficult things are for him now that his employment was adversely affected. Well, if he didn’t shoot down somebody and pretend it was self defense, he would still have gainful employment. Why did he continue to follow Trayvon after the 911 dispatcher clearly told him not to? He is responsible for his own predicament; he doesn’t deserve donations to maintain his lifestyle for something caused by his lapse of judgment not should people fund his wrongdoing in taking out a child.

That’s the stance I’m coming from.

So where does the “keeping things true, keeping things pure” sentences come from that I put at the interim?

It comes from when people chime in and make statements that have nothing to do with the core and the facts.

I got a response from a person, trying to make it seem like this whole thing is “media spin”. Mentioning things about what the new Black Panther Party is saying, talking about they are advocating the “killing of whites” and “whites who have nothing to do with the crime are getting beaten”.

How did we get from my expressing my disgust about this website extend to “media spin”, “Black Panther Party”, and “advocacy of beating and killing white people”?

Nothing about “spin”, “Black Panther”, or “advocating killing white people” ever came from my lips or any of my postings.

So I made my response, from a diplomatic perspective, on my Facebook, because I don’t want outside things diluting the point I’m trying to make about this website being in existence in response to this individual….

But now that I’m addressing this on my blog….

WTF does media spin, the Black Panther Party, or these uprisings in whites getting beaten have to do with the fact that Trayvon’s dead, the guy who did it is still walking around free, and is adding insult to injury by putting up a website, asking folks to fund his lifestyle and his legal fees?

Not a MF-ing thing!

No disrespect to the Black Panther Party, but just because I am black doesn’t necessarily mean I have to be affiliated with the Black Panther Party.

Why would a person even come out of their mouth and mention anything about them? What point was this person really trying to make to even mention the Panther Party or their so-called advocacy of killing white people?

Why was the Panther Party brought up and not the Klan? Heck, if he was going to bring the Panther Party into it, why not bring the Klan in the mix as well?

And then going on to say, “It shouldn’t come to a race war”, then later for him to say, “But I agree with what you’re saying.”

But if he agreed with what I was saying why even let all that other stuff drip out on the scene?

Race war….if you think a race war was just now going on…news flash, the shit’s been going on for years.


Black folks getting killed unjustifiably isn’t a new predicament for us.


Neither are people in general being killed for no reason.

So the point I’m trying to make is this: If one is going to make a seemingly off the wall comment, tie it into the discussion where it makes sense.

Like the whole thing with Geraldo Rivera and the hoodie; he talked so much about Trayvon being targeted because of wearing his hoodie, yet he was at a game wearing a “hoodie.”

Should Geraldo be targeted for his own hoodie or can he use the excuse, “I was wearing the hoodie just to keep warm”?

What is the difference between when Geraldo wears one and when someone else wears one? Perhaps Trayvon was trying to keep warm, too!

If it doesn’t make sense, I call it—nicely put, nonsense. Bluntly put, “Bullshyt!”

And on another note, to the politicians: Quit using this injustice to make yourselves look good.

If you really care, that’s one thing. If you are out there protesting and using your power to help the cause to ensure this doesn’t happen to any other child, no matter what race, that’s fine.

But don’t say, “Oh, it’s a travesty it happened,” and then tell people, “Drop it; move on to something else already!”

It’s easy for you to say it if it didn’t happen in your backyard. If this happened to your child, would you want people to quit talking about it? Or would you want them to continue to fight to see that justice was done for your child? I already know which one you would choose, so why do you expect others to not choose or do in the same fashion?

On top of that, I understand if funds are being raised to help out Trayvon Martin’s family. I understand if people are raising monies and donating to causes so that this travesty won’t happen to others.

What I am NOT a proponent of are people coming up with merchandise and what not, using it for their own personal gain. People should not be using this young man’s death to line their pockets with riches.

Keeping things true and pure is about keeping focus on the core of what this is about: An armed man killed an unarmed child, and that’s not right.

Deuces.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Fashion: The Real Woman's Synopsis (disclaimer & piece)



Before I share this, a few disclaimers are needed:

Disclaimer No. 1: I have NO issue with any of the slender ladies. This is not a slander to the slender but a wakeup call for those who use slender as blueprint for everyone.

Disclaimer No. 2: This is NOT a statement telling curvaceous women NOT to slim down or get toned if they need to in order to get healthy. This is only a statement about fashion, and although it’s made progress, it still has a long way to go to get that happy medium of depicting a proper representation of a real woman.

Disclaimer No. 3: This is NOT a diss to any person who likes wearing flower patterns or mumus. Heck, I like flower patterns from time to time myself but not every female wants to wear flowers, loud colors, huge dresses, or even patterns for that matter.

Disclaimer No. 4: No disrespect for those who like elastic bands, either. I know, for myself, I’m not a fan; even with my jogging pants, I’d rather have a smooth band or a drawstring, rather than just elastic by itself.

Disclaimer No. 5: I’m NOT saying there aren’t good fashions that do our curves justice and make us sexy. However, if all people are doing is taking material, just making it bigger and not giving regards of how it truly looks on our bodies, that is what I’m speaking to.

Okay, now that all of the PR ish is out the way….

Fashion (The Real Woman’s Synopsis)

My name is Average,

Average Woman.

No, I’m not a size double zero…

That sounds like the name of a double agent
If you ask me…

I’m not a size two, four, six, or eight,
Haven’t been a size ten or twelve
Since my high school days…

Okay, let’s just say
Fourteen and above.

My name is Average
Average Woman,
And I don’t get the proper attention
I truly deserve,
And I’ve gotta let You know
I’m pissed about it!

I love getting Flowers on special days,
Even getting them “just because”.

I like looking at them in gardens,
As part of wedding receptions,
On invites and stationery,
And sometimes, in my hair.

But do I have to wear them
All the frigging time?

Damn near every website
Or catalog I look at,
They want to put an Average Woman
In something that looks like
A flower garden
Or a mumu!

My name is Average
Average Woman
And I don’t get the proper attention
I truly deserve
And I’ve gotta let You know
I’m pissed about it!

I’m a big fan of elastic-
Good for stacks of papers,
Holding hair in place.

But do I have to have it in my shorts,
My pants, and my jeans?

Am I not sexy enough for buttons
Or cool enough for zippers?

And even worse,
That frigging indent
That shows up around my waist!

My name is Average
Average Woman
And I don’t get the proper attention
I truly deserve
And I’ve gotta let you know
I’m pissed about it!

What’s going on with these shirts;
The boat neck, crew neck,
Made so wide but not as long…

Some of us are super chesty,
So for us, V-neck is best.

And maybe, I don’t want my shirt
Mistaken for a cut off
Or something that got shrunk
When it got in the dryer…
Especially if my legs
Are longer than my torso.

Perhaps I want to accentuate the assets
And cover the liabilities.

Ever think of that?

My name is Average
Average Woman
And I don’t get the proper attention
I truly deserve
And I’ve gotta let You know
I’m pissed about it.

And another thing-
These people trying to make us
Look so called sexy—
There are certain things
That curvaceous,
Super thick women,
Have absolutely no business
Trying to rock!

Yeah, you’re getting business
But you’re making us look ridiculous,
A hot ass mess,
And that’s almost as bad
As trying to cover us up
Like we’re frumpy ol’ grandmas....

No disrespect, Grandma, I love you…

My name is Average
Average Woman
And I don’t get the proper attention
I truly deserve
And I gotta let You know
I’m pissed about it!

And yes, I MUST add,
If you are going to promote
To the Average Woman,
You can’t use the skinny minis
To advertise the merchandise!

How do I know
Those cargos can fit me
If the chic is a size six
And I rock a size twenty?

You don’t see a size eighteen
Trying to model off fashions
For a lady who’s a size four—

Why?

Because it doesn’t make sense
And it’s 100 degrees of wrong!

So yes,
My name is Average...

SCRATCH THAT!

Call Me REAL,
REAL WOMAN!

A Real Woman with a Voice,
A Real Woman with Money!

So, until I see
the best Representations of Me
In print and online…

Don’t hold Your hand out
Expecting one thin dime!

© April 2012

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Last Words



George,

why are you following me?

TELL me what i did wrong?

what is it about my RACE that’s got you suspicious,
AGITATED and acting all vicious?

I’m just a YOUNG man, going down the street
trying to grab some skittles and some ice tea,
But you’re acting like I’m a VIRUS
infecting your community.

and instead of engaging in dialogue
you OPTED to open fire
now I’m deceased, looking from the sky,
and you’re still free…

I’m asking myself why?

when will justice come?

this isn’t just about me

because the longer you remain out,
the answer NEVER
could very well be.

Last Words
© April 2012

Dedicated to Trayvon Martin and any of our youth impacted by injustice.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Facebook...Wanna Meet


This is in correlation to a challenge I posted on Facebook:

"Name 10 FB Friends whom you have not met that you would like to meet and state why you would like to meet them."

I'm not going to issue a challenge if I'm not going to do it myself.

However, I found it hard to narrow it down to ten, but it was because there were so many people that I wanted to meet.  So I had to do the first ten that came to mind, so if you weren't mentioned, please don't feel as if I have slighted you.

Regina (aka Ms Good Karma)


1.  Regina: 

Origin:  I first started talking with her back when Yahoo 360 was the main spot where one did their blogging.  I do still miss Yahoo 360, but I am very glad that some of the connections I had from that spot still transcended over to other spots.

Reasons:  I love her positive energy.  She provides that extra ray of sunshine whenever I am feeling gloomy (and sometimes, she doesn't even realize she did anything).  I dig our contrast in that she is pretty social (loves to talk) and I'm more of the type who likes to listen.  She speaks her mind, very opinionated, and if she's tough on you, it's because you deserved it, she loves you, or both.


Tracy Hill (aka Mahogany Dymond)

2.  Tracy:

Origin:  Have to say the same as Regina (back on Yahoo 360).

Reasons:  Her accent for one--it's so sweet and thick, like peaches drenched in syrup.  When I talk to her I feel like I'm over at Big Mama's and she's sharing a story with me.  She and I have had such similar stories, especially when it comes to love gained and love loss that I feel as if we have encountered each other before.  I feel bad she and I missed each other when she was in NJ, but I'm going to be so sad if we don't make it happen some way, some how!


Chantay "Legacy" Leonard
spoken word artist/activist


3.  Chantay:

Origin:  They run extremely deep.  Back to when I was heavy in the Internet poetry groups, particularly Fireseek/Urban Poetic.  I won't go into all the details, but to make a long story short, I did experience a betrayal, and certain parties got caught up in the mix.  It caused me a lot of pain, disappointment and extremely reluctant to ever go back into the Internet poetry scene again.

Reasons:  First, I feel as if she and I have unfinished business.  There has to be closure on that particular time.  She and I got back in touch with each other a while or so back, and I would be lying if I said I did not think of the pangs of back then from time to time.  But I want to put those to rest.  Because I know outside of the drama of then, she is a good person.  She is opinionated and I do like a lot of the pieces she writes.  But she is also multifaceted, and she doesn't let too many people get to know those facets.  I would like to not only know "Legacy" but the facet who is "Chantay", the one people don't really get to.  I feel as if I'm owed that, considering all the history that has gone back since the late 1990's.


MsFeisty Carmelita

4.  Ms Feisty

Origin:  Through Facebook in one of the online clubs we both frequent.

Reason:  Strong, vibrant energy resonates from the way she talks to the way she carries herself.  She's a very forward thinker and opinionated in her ideas, yet is open to the thoughts of others.  She likes helping people and giving people the opportunity to help themselves.  She can serve as a great motivator and a cheerleader, the one constantly in your ear, saying "You can do it."  And everyone can use one of those, and I'm not excluded. 


Camille (code name, Jessica Rabbit)

5.  Camille

Origin:  I know many will think this is shocking but she's the ex of the current sweetie.  However, as it turns out, she and I have quite a few things in common, and that's how we ended up communicating with each other.

Reason:  It would just be cool to meet up with this mixture of smarts and street swag.  But I'm not sure if it will ever happen, for something always comes up the times we have planned to meet.  I'm in NJ and she's in NY (like in one of the 5 Boroughs, so I can hop on the train or vice versa).  It hasn't come into fruition yet.  We will see what 2012 will bring.


SaQwanna

6.  SaQwanna

Origin:  Part of some of the same online clubs she's in on Facebook.

Reason:  I admit that I am intrigued by some of the meet and greets she has hosted before.  If anything, I'll be the photographer or the one just looking and taking everything in.  Plus, she is the type that has a thirst for life and adventure, possesses a lot of facets of her.  It makes her very intriguing and someone you want to get to know, most definitely.


Kali
7.  Kali

Origin: Through Yahoo 360.

Reasons: She has a lot of knowledge, particularly in the avenue of Love.  I enjoy reading her blogs and her poetry.  She is very talented.  Some of her viewpoints on Love have actually helped me in coping with some of the pain I went through in the past and re-evaluating what Love means and what it has to offer.  She just seems like she'd be great to get to know.


Maria

8.   Maria

Origin:  Through some of the online clubs on Facebook.

Reasons:  She has great energy.  Tells it like it is, whether you like it or not.  Plus, she's cool with other people who have great energy, too, like Kali, Saqwanna, and Feisty.  So perhaps we can all have a get together...lol.


Chane
9.  Chane

Origin:  Through online club on Facebook

Reasons: I am a big fan of his writing ability--poet to poet.  Plus, I'm still waiting on that collaboration possibility.


Da Blowster
10.  Da Blowster

Origin:  Through Facebook.

Reasons:  I like his writings.  He and I have had some interesting conversations that have made me think.  He has a lot of knowledge and life experiences that I would enjoy taking in. 



Alrighty!  Challenge met.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Colorstruck


I saw a very interesting case on Divorce Court today.  The names of the two litigants were Copeland and Ladonna.  Ladonna is dark skinned; Copeland is quite fair skinned.  She wanted $700 for clothes that he bleached because he didn't want her to go out.

You could tell there were major trust issues between them; her lying about going to one state when she went to another; the female he messing with texting the phone...they definitely should have never gotten together.

But the thing that got me was when Ladonna said that Copeland was starting a "race war" between her two kids~~that one had his complexion; the other had her complexion.  That he feels like "lighter" is better.  I put up snippets of it...cause I did a bootleg recording...mainly because I could not believe not only what she said but his reaction to the whole thing.





His response to all this, along with the fact that he was cheesing the whole time as if nothing was wrong with what he was saying, leads me to wonder this:

Are people still color struck?  

I'm not sure what it's called everywhere else, but where I grew up, it was called  Color Struck.

Is lighter automatically appealing?

Like the picture I put on my blog.

Out of all the women shown there, which one is the more appealing to you?  Is it the darker female with strong African features?  Or are you going "Halle Berry...Halle Berry!"

I'm not taking away from any of the women; all of them are beautiful in their own way, but which one immediately shouts, "Beauty" or "I want to date her"?

For those who picked the lighter side, why did you?  Is it because you truly prefer lighter women or because you were conditioned that lighter is more visually appealing?  Are you trying to whiten the bloodline, thinking the lighter the skin tone, the better chances the child will have at success?

I know some of you may think this type of thing isn't still going on now.

But it is.

And it is not just the men who do it; females do it as well.  Some females check out a guy's features, even down to his hair...cause she want her son or daughter to have some good hair.

I'm not hating on folks who have preferences, just make sure that the preference is not based on programming and that you're not passing that programming on to your children.  Although physical slavery ended, we as a people may at times perpetuate the mental slavery--the house negro/field negro complex.  It is too simple to call this preference when it really isn't.  And if one gets too caught up on the outside, you may miss out on a wonderful person on the inside.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Celebrity Life/Normal Life...The (Dis)Connect

Amy Winehouse:  Dead at 27
"they tried to make me go to rehab 
and i said no..no...no..."
Amy Winehouse~Rehab

A life gone too soon.  All of the signs were there.  Everyone knew she was acting out.  Were people asleep?  Thought it was just all part of the rock and roll image.  Heck, isn't that what rockers do?

Although i am sad that a life is lost, I do have a problem with death that could have been prevented.  Life that could have been salvaged.  

You mean, no one in her support system was not ballsy enough to stand up and insist she get cleaned up?  Or were so many people mainly concerned about her money and not concerned enough about her?

That is the way it goes.  

When you are famous, you have to be particularly careful.  Careful of your circle--who is going to be down for you at your best and at your worst.  And when you are at your worst, will those people turn away the money, sit you aside and do what's best for you, even if you give them more money to just butt out?  

Money does not excuse stupidly, just increases the chances of it constantly happening.  If you can afford to take the risk, one will keep investing.

But this is not as much about her...as it is about this query:

Why does a celebrity have to put a face on something for it to be a problem?"

There are plenty of regular people out there every day struggling with addiction--to alcohol, to illegal drugs, to prescription drugs.  

When a normal person is constantly hitting the bottle, the person is an alcoholic...a sad case.  Sometimes, the family sits around and jokes about it.  "He is just being him--the life of the party", but rarely does anyone step up to try and intervene to take action.

When a celebrity hits the bottle--throwing wild parties, buying drinks for everyone...it is the same situation but the person gets a buy because she's rich.  She's treating everyone else; her entourage is getting paid big bucks.  If the money ain't broke, don't fix it.

A regular person gets strung out on heroin, crack, cocaine, meth, etc....she may have lost everything she had and is out on the street.  So many judgment calls; most don't stop to ask how she got there nor go the extra mile to guide this person to the help she needs.  

For many with any type of addiction, it's better to find a release to numb the pain than to deal.

But if she had something or someone strong to fight for her...to let her know that her life is worth living, it could be the extra motivation she needs to get out of her circumstance.

I'm not saying it always pans out that way, but more often than not, no one is willing to take the risk.  She's walked past, not given a second thought.

If a celebrity has a drug problem, it makes news, sometimes even joked about.  Some of the people in the circle are the very ones that keep her supplied.  The more messed up she is, the more those people are ensured they are going to get paid because she's more valuable to them fucked up...tweaked out of her mind.  When folks try to help her, too much negativety is still around; it's like a force field.  

With prescription drugs, it can be just as risky.  Plus it doesn't help if there are doctors willing to do the wrong thing if the price is right.  The Internet also make prescription drugs a little bit too accessible.  And the family or friends who have medication and giving it out to the addicted person is doing nothing but enabling.  You're only prolonging the process of getting well.

Jimi Hendrix~died at 27

Kurt Cobain (also died at 27)
As people, we should not have to have a famous poster child to realize how damaging drug and alcohol abuse can be.  

Nor should we wait until the problem is in our own backyard to address it.  

It's too easy to be in denial, so easy to say, "Not my family, not my culture!"

Particularly with my culture.

Just be aware; the problems of the world are bigger than you.  

Bigger than me.  

We are bound by our condition...don't get so engrossed in your own little bubble.  Never think these things cannot impact you on a closer level.  

Yes, we should mourn, but we also need to take into account how many things or instances of this level could have been prevented but because of denial, turning a blind eye, the concern comes far too late.

One

PS:  Also, check out this article.  Amy, Kurt, and Jimi were not the only ones who met their unfortunate deaths at the age of 27.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Working Title: Protest


Protest



Idiots run rampant
in a world where Common Sense
is now rare.

Where are the people
who Screamed for the ones
that struggle to Whisper?

Perhaps they were captured
in the cloak of night
or maybe polluted
by the Blood of the wealthy...

Either way, I shake my head.

Armani suited,
Briefcase toting,
Stock market forecasting
Bureaucrats
have invaded our lands,
carnage equivalent
to visions of the Apocalypse,
and I am pierced,
stuck in the Barbed Wire
of Not Giving a Fuck
and Caring Too Much.

revision April 2011

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Cell Phones and Common Sense


I admit I was a late bloomer when it comes to cell phones. To me, they were a luxury. I didn't have my first cell phone until a year after I graduated from college..around 2001. This phone had the basics--ability to make calls and text message. None of the sending pictures, accessing the Internet, taking professional camera shots, downloading mp3's, playing sophisticated games, accessing radio stations, spoof apps...no, none of that.

When I first started out, I just wanted something that was easy to use and gave me the amount of minutes I thought I would need. The first company I ended up with gave what seemed to be a good deal, but there were so many hidden fees that I decided to just not have a cell phone for a while until this other company came along, and I've been with them for 10 years strong.

Dang, a lot of relationships don't last that long must less a bond with a wireless phone company...lol.



But that is not what this is about...but it does set up the scenario.

In this day and age, almost everyone in the universe has a cell phone. Last time I checked a phone was for one-on-one use, maybe the occasional 3-way, conference calling, and what not. Cell phones are personal...like one's own personal portal of communication.

I'm going to keep it real:

Unless I am on a stretcher ready to go to the hospital..

Busy driving; don't have my bluetooth and a passenger I TRUST is on the opposite side..

Or during my restaurant management days and I couldn't stop making the food to grab my phone (and it was my BOSS or GRANDPARENTS CALLING)....

I DO NOT PERMIT OTHER PEOPLE TO ANSWER MY CELL PHONE.

THAT IS IT.

END OF DISCUSSION.



Not even my grandparents, when I am visiting them in Mississippi, answer my cell phone. If they see it ring, they will tell me its' ringing. They will not take it upon themselves to answer.

BECAUSE IT IS, I FEEL, DISRESPECTFUL.



And I respect other people's property in the same way. Unless you tell me to pick the phone up for you, I will not move to push a button or even look at the caller ID screen. That is your phone, for your use.

Fast forward to the scenario:

I see that one of my close friends tried to call me a couple of times while I was napping. So when I try to return her call, instead of hearing her voice, some guy picks up the phone. This is highly unusual, since she usually doesn't have anyone else answer, but I ask this guy if I can speak to her.

He not only says that it's not her phone but that I have the wrong number. I keep trying to call the number back but the person who has her phone hangs it up.

I get in touch with her brother and tell him to try. He's not getting an answer, either. So he calls his sister's house and she's not there...she's probably trying to find her phone.

Now, if you have a phone that doesn't belong to you, if you are a honest person, you would either turn it in to the lost and found of the place you found it or call the police to turn it in.

But if you have traces of dishonesty, you would do stuff like...take the phone with you, hang up when important people are trying to call the other person, and say you are going to mail the phone instead of meeting up with people to get the phone back to her.

And since this person was playing phone tag, I was on the verge of turning him in if he didn't cooperate when her mom calls back to let us know that the phone was returned.

The guy who had the phone...his excuse was that his friend was just having a little fun and he didn't think he was going to go as far as he did.   If that is his idea of fun, then it won't be long before he ends up in a jail cell.

Certain stuff should just be common sense. You wouldn't mess with other people's belongings in this way...why would a cell phone be an exception?

The more technology we have, the more careless people are in real life. Every day, this is being revealed as truth.

I am glad that my friend's iPhone was found cause goodness knows it could have been way worse.

Peace.