I am on a world tour, flowing dolo my man...in the ATL at present just chillin' with fam...word. I have been on the road for a few weeks now, with the job joint, but just checking out a few cities all the while-San Fran, the CHI and today, right now the A...or Hotlanta so to speak. It has been cooler than cool, you feel me. I have enjoyed the time away from homebase, the folk I have interacted with and the freedom it has offered. I am ready to head to the crib, but I have the night to enjoy. I have not posted a blog in a minute, but it seemed so appropriate right now. I mean, I am at my cuzin crib, on her laptop dropping my thoughts. That is sweet.
I have hung out with her and her husband for a few days now. They are artists, they live it and breathe it you dig. I know in time they will be more than successful in their craft, because they are dedicated to their passion. It drives them, gets them up in the morning and even feeds and clothes them. That is real. As much as I love the arts, it does nothing for me that is tangible today-at this very moment. It helps me maintain my sanity, but it does not feed me. That is a different level of dedication I have never known. Be it fear, or practicality or simply an amalgamation of both...it aint happened. I admire that about them, and they are fam. So I will always support their dream.
Now, ATL is hot. It is different from DC-not better or worse, just different. I would say a cooler more laid back vibe, which is peace for a brother at this stage of the game. Maybe we will get out tonight and feel the city...the next post may reveal the night...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Family Day...
Have you ever watched someone, maybe it was a child with his or her parent-perhaps the entire family and just wondered how did they live? I mean, what would it be like to spend some time with them-really get to know the people and have conversations-laughter, emotions-with them. I am right now, at present, being allowed that opportunity. I sit in the midst of family, not my own, but possibly in time. Regardless, I have been offered the most precious opportunity to be at a family reunion and to become a member of this most insular club...if only for the weekend. It is funny, family is so much alike, I mean different families. They all have the same components-love, loyalty, laughter, lineage, and generations of people. That is family. This weekend, it has become clear to me that though they may differ in color, race, ethnicity...they are all one in the same. Humanity needs family. Thank you to the Creator, for opening my eyes to the commonality of the human family.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Silence...
Is not always golden, it can be very loud. Like when two people who love each other are not speaking, or when you are in need of help and no one seems to step up...when you wanted a partner in elementary school and when the teacher said your name...and there was nothing, nothing but this loud, head-banging silence. The kind of silence that gives you a headache because you keep thinking about what is not being said. The kind of silence that allows a President to have his way with a country's national identity. The kind of silence that allowed a nation to legalize discrimination because that was just how it had been...silence.
America, today...is silent. Many would argue that it, or the proverbial she, is not. That America and its subjects speak out on all things...they act against the tyranny in the world, injustice at home and wrong-doing everywhere. I would not rebut, but, I would add that in doing some of that and not all, and choosing where to do this at because it is directly attached to future gain, well, that is not exactly doing anything...and the lack of doing anything, saying nothing-is silence. In other words, America does intervene all over to include at home, on issues that she finds immoral or unethical or just down right bad...except maybe when it comes to how those immoral, unethical or just down right bad issues may push our own political or economic agenda.
In this, I would then argue, is the illustration of America working most often out of benefit to herself, and not out of a so elevated sense of Moral Leadership. This to me, only acting when it is advantagous to oneself, is like not acting at all. Some good will come of it, but it is not in an effort to do good but simply to do better for self. In that, I feel that the actions are unworthy of praise, making them without true merit. Silent.
I sit here in the Nation's Capital...some call it the center of the political world. Right down the street from where I am seated is the Capitol building, where the business of government takes place. I have visited the building before, and the architecture and design is truly breathtaking. If you have never been there, in the grand Rotunda, you need to go. I have heard of the designs in famous buildings around the world-the Egyptian tombs, the great Cathedrals of Italy, but I have never been to them so I cannot do a comparison...regardless, the Rotunda inside of the Capitol building is a wonder.
An architectual wonder, and within it the story of America. However, the story is not entirely told in the carvings in the walls. No, much of the beloved story of American Emergence is not recorded...not etched in stone is the history of death and denial of rights. No where are there images of chattel slavery-the trail of tears cannot be found anywhere in the round...not even the Civil War is clearly identified.
So why is the Rotunda, seen by millions of tourists each year and within it the "presupposed" history of America serving as the major design element in its walls, why then is the place...upon entering and full of people, why is it so...silent. The walls of the space spoke not of the contributions-of love, labor and blood, of generations of people. The space itself, built by slaves, makes no mention of their labor in the construction of the Capitol. There are books on the building, the architecture, the beauty and splendor but not mere mention of the men who erected the place. Silence.
I could truly go on and on about different aspects of our American community, where not a word is uttered with regard to the treatment of our citizens...but for the moment ponder what has been written. I will delve more into the silence as the blog gains its voice over time.
America, today...is silent. Many would argue that it, or the proverbial she, is not. That America and its subjects speak out on all things...they act against the tyranny in the world, injustice at home and wrong-doing everywhere. I would not rebut, but, I would add that in doing some of that and not all, and choosing where to do this at because it is directly attached to future gain, well, that is not exactly doing anything...and the lack of doing anything, saying nothing-is silence. In other words, America does intervene all over to include at home, on issues that she finds immoral or unethical or just down right bad...except maybe when it comes to how those immoral, unethical or just down right bad issues may push our own political or economic agenda.
In this, I would then argue, is the illustration of America working most often out of benefit to herself, and not out of a so elevated sense of Moral Leadership. This to me, only acting when it is advantagous to oneself, is like not acting at all. Some good will come of it, but it is not in an effort to do good but simply to do better for self. In that, I feel that the actions are unworthy of praise, making them without true merit. Silent.
I sit here in the Nation's Capital...some call it the center of the political world. Right down the street from where I am seated is the Capitol building, where the business of government takes place. I have visited the building before, and the architecture and design is truly breathtaking. If you have never been there, in the grand Rotunda, you need to go. I have heard of the designs in famous buildings around the world-the Egyptian tombs, the great Cathedrals of Italy, but I have never been to them so I cannot do a comparison...regardless, the Rotunda inside of the Capitol building is a wonder.
An architectual wonder, and within it the story of America. However, the story is not entirely told in the carvings in the walls. No, much of the beloved story of American Emergence is not recorded...not etched in stone is the history of death and denial of rights. No where are there images of chattel slavery-the trail of tears cannot be found anywhere in the round...not even the Civil War is clearly identified.
So why is the Rotunda, seen by millions of tourists each year and within it the "presupposed" history of America serving as the major design element in its walls, why then is the place...upon entering and full of people, why is it so...silent. The walls of the space spoke not of the contributions-of love, labor and blood, of generations of people. The space itself, built by slaves, makes no mention of their labor in the construction of the Capitol. There are books on the building, the architecture, the beauty and splendor but not mere mention of the men who erected the place. Silence.
I could truly go on and on about different aspects of our American community, where not a word is uttered with regard to the treatment of our citizens...but for the moment ponder what has been written. I will delve more into the silence as the blog gains its voice over time.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Never-ending Story
I had a conversation this morning about life...well, it began about the end of the world. Is the end of the world coming? I mean, with war and rumors of war-as stated in Revelations...false prophets, Global warming, increase in natural disasters, and people just seeming to be less...well, humane. Is the world coming to an end and in turn, is life too...coming to an end? My response was a simple no. Not that I can tell. I mean all things change, and the world or Earth is changing, but ending...not in our lifetime. Unless you know, someone pushes the button...otherwise, we are merely in a contiuous state of evolution. I would even go further as to say that the story...that of the world and life and some kind of terminal date, is a fabrication and in fact the story-the world-never ends. Life, is a never-ending story.
The person I was talking to just looked at me, like what are you talking about-sensing some confusion, I simply continued. I said that we are just a part, a small miniscule part, of this much-incredibly larger thing called life. I mean, it is broken into a billion little pieces, but it is nearly impossible for us to grasp-even conceptually, the entirety of life. For us, right now is all there is. We can think of yesterday, and read of yesteryear and perhaps even dream of tomorrow but we never really leave the right now. Thing is, that nearly 5 billion other people are in their own respective "right nows" too, and they all have thoughts about the world and life and the continuation of it. All never venturing to far from the common thread-what does it mean to me? But none of them, not one in the 5 billion people that exist, control today nor tomorrow.
They cannot predict the end, or even agree unanimously on the beginning. It is all, this life, the perspective of the individual living it. However, regardless of how it is written, it will never end. All the fears we have are centered on the one true reality of life...Death. The end of the world, nuclear war, terrorism...the fear associated with any of that is the fact that we do not want to die and again cannot truly conceptualize what death is. We do know, or so we think, it is forever...but perhaps it is another beginning. People have written on this, religions are founded in it and yet most still fear that which is inevitable. But the fact of the matter is there were people before us and there will be those after...that is truth. What is also truth is that one day we will no longer exist as this...truth. But will the story end? No.
The person I was talking to just looked at me, like what are you talking about-sensing some confusion, I simply continued. I said that we are just a part, a small miniscule part, of this much-incredibly larger thing called life. I mean, it is broken into a billion little pieces, but it is nearly impossible for us to grasp-even conceptually, the entirety of life. For us, right now is all there is. We can think of yesterday, and read of yesteryear and perhaps even dream of tomorrow but we never really leave the right now. Thing is, that nearly 5 billion other people are in their own respective "right nows" too, and they all have thoughts about the world and life and the continuation of it. All never venturing to far from the common thread-what does it mean to me? But none of them, not one in the 5 billion people that exist, control today nor tomorrow.
They cannot predict the end, or even agree unanimously on the beginning. It is all, this life, the perspective of the individual living it. However, regardless of how it is written, it will never end. All the fears we have are centered on the one true reality of life...Death. The end of the world, nuclear war, terrorism...the fear associated with any of that is the fact that we do not want to die and again cannot truly conceptualize what death is. We do know, or so we think, it is forever...but perhaps it is another beginning. People have written on this, religions are founded in it and yet most still fear that which is inevitable. But the fact of the matter is there were people before us and there will be those after...that is truth. What is also truth is that one day we will no longer exist as this...truth. But will the story end? No.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Genocide...
There was a Hip-Hop song out when I was say, 14 years-old call "Self-Destruction." It was a collaboration of the biggest artists in Hip-Hop at the time, in an effort to stop the violence going on in urban areas. The violence they were trying to stop through their music, was that which has been entitled black-on-black crime. Young people killing each other, at will, and without remorse or even just cause. It was an issue then...but now, it is out of control. Every night a child is being shot for what is assumed to be a legitimate reason-if only to the shooter-but it makes no sense to the rest of us. It is both disheartening, and scary. With no regard for human life, you may as well be dead yourself. The irony is however, that this rampant violence is usually contained within the community that is predominantly poor and minority which in turns supports both the Prison Industrial Complex and the undertaker-but that is another entry altogether.
But prior to prison and/or death, the mere issue of self-destruction, academically described as genocide- the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group-is a real problem in the African American community. Truly, there is no one to directly blame, except those participating in the atrocity. I mean, there has been a recent debate surrounding the destructive lyrics of Hip-Hop, and I have even discussed it within the blog before, and how that has a negative and powerful influence on the youth. Perhaps Hip-Hop is the culprit, as it once was trying to be the cure as described before. But Hip-Hop alone is not the catalyst for the genocidal tendancies of our youth...Hip-Hop is an expression of the reality, not the determinant there of. In other words, Hip-Hop is reflective of that which is happening, but it does not necessarily create the environment in which this behavior happens. It is a product of it...merely the soundtrack of a generation faced with a myriad of issues and little means of expression.
Therefore, the issue is more one of indoctrinated self-hate and a loss of self-appreciation. But as Bill Cosby and others have stated, it is also one of acceptance. In that, I say that because this behavior is somewhat accepted, or even expected in some areas, many speak only to the problem and not to the resolution nor to how the problem has occurred. Where and how did it begin? Does history play a role in the present situation-or has the self-hatred demonstrated by such destructive behavior amongst our young people simply come out of nowhere? We argue over the problem, and to some extent where it comes from, but the voice of change is not as resounding. How do we end the problem...how do we regenerate self-love amongst our children; our entire community?
It is like, the ability to do more or be above destructive behavior has never been instilled in children, and as they grow into adolescence they have a blatant disregard for life. Most specifically their own. If I disrespect myself, then why would I respect your life? Questions never asked but answered in Emergency Rooms and cemetaries across the country. But as stated, it seems that many of us-to include myself-are so ready to discuss this issue but less inclined to take action to resolve it. The illustration of this sad commentary is in a story I read about this kid in Washington, DC, who was taking action against the violence in his community. He was promoting awareness, putting together documentaries on youth violence-just working towards improving the situation he found himself within. But now, now he is gone...taken away by the same senseless violence he spoke out against. Aaron Teeter, dead at 19. I cry for him, because as we lose Aaron Teeter we lose hope...for hope is born in the youth. We lose a grasp on our future as a community...because our children are dying. The story on Aaron Teeter is in the link below.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/13224512/detail.html?subid=10101441
But the entire story of his life, is in the streets outside. What is really happening to us-and why? How can we stop the cycle of pain? Who cares who is right or wrong about what has happened to the community-what can we do to fix it...to move forward? First identification with the beauty within-and a reconnection with the love of who we are as a people. Subsequent to that-marry education with opportunity and you move the mind of the youth and increase their possibility for success. Aaron Teeter was on that path...so many others are as well. Let us begin to reach out to them first...or tomorrow may never come.
But prior to prison and/or death, the mere issue of self-destruction, academically described as genocide- the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group-is a real problem in the African American community. Truly, there is no one to directly blame, except those participating in the atrocity. I mean, there has been a recent debate surrounding the destructive lyrics of Hip-Hop, and I have even discussed it within the blog before, and how that has a negative and powerful influence on the youth. Perhaps Hip-Hop is the culprit, as it once was trying to be the cure as described before. But Hip-Hop alone is not the catalyst for the genocidal tendancies of our youth...Hip-Hop is an expression of the reality, not the determinant there of. In other words, Hip-Hop is reflective of that which is happening, but it does not necessarily create the environment in which this behavior happens. It is a product of it...merely the soundtrack of a generation faced with a myriad of issues and little means of expression.
Therefore, the issue is more one of indoctrinated self-hate and a loss of self-appreciation. But as Bill Cosby and others have stated, it is also one of acceptance. In that, I say that because this behavior is somewhat accepted, or even expected in some areas, many speak only to the problem and not to the resolution nor to how the problem has occurred. Where and how did it begin? Does history play a role in the present situation-or has the self-hatred demonstrated by such destructive behavior amongst our young people simply come out of nowhere? We argue over the problem, and to some extent where it comes from, but the voice of change is not as resounding. How do we end the problem...how do we regenerate self-love amongst our children; our entire community?
It is like, the ability to do more or be above destructive behavior has never been instilled in children, and as they grow into adolescence they have a blatant disregard for life. Most specifically their own. If I disrespect myself, then why would I respect your life? Questions never asked but answered in Emergency Rooms and cemetaries across the country. But as stated, it seems that many of us-to include myself-are so ready to discuss this issue but less inclined to take action to resolve it. The illustration of this sad commentary is in a story I read about this kid in Washington, DC, who was taking action against the violence in his community. He was promoting awareness, putting together documentaries on youth violence-just working towards improving the situation he found himself within. But now, now he is gone...taken away by the same senseless violence he spoke out against. Aaron Teeter, dead at 19. I cry for him, because as we lose Aaron Teeter we lose hope...for hope is born in the youth. We lose a grasp on our future as a community...because our children are dying. The story on Aaron Teeter is in the link below.
http://www.nbc4.com/news/13224512/detail.html?subid=10101441
But the entire story of his life, is in the streets outside. What is really happening to us-and why? How can we stop the cycle of pain? Who cares who is right or wrong about what has happened to the community-what can we do to fix it...to move forward? First identification with the beauty within-and a reconnection with the love of who we are as a people. Subsequent to that-marry education with opportunity and you move the mind of the youth and increase their possibility for success. Aaron Teeter was on that path...so many others are as well. Let us begin to reach out to them first...or tomorrow may never come.
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