You get to plan a dinner party for 4-8 of your favorite writers/artists/musicians/other notable figures, whether dead or alive. Who do you seat next to whom in order to inspire the most fun evening?
I’d seat these Black Literary, Harlem Renaissance, Educators, Social, Political and Cultural Leaders in a semi-circle horseshoe fashion. That way they would be able to see, hear, discuss and listen to each other’s outlook on the state of the African diaspora in general and the state of Black America specifically.
I’d make liberal use of today’s innovative technology enabling this discussion to be broadcast worldwide.
Given their diverse lifestyles, experiences, and viewpoints we would be like sponges absorbing wisdom, knowledge and understanding I know the resulting dialogue and debate would be scintillating!
Thoughts on the Craziness and Greed of Black Friday
BUY BLACK FRIDAY!!!! Stephen went with me on today’s Soulful Strut. Usually his residence over packs with too much clothing however this time they under packed requiring me to buy him extra clothes. Ever determined to support Black merchants, store-owners and entrepreneurs I was able to buy Stephen some much needed items from Black-owned stores located on Fulton Street and Marcus Garvey. My African people Please patronize these stores so that all Peoples of African descent can better our economic development in America. We Must Support Our Own People. Every other ethnic group does this and that allows them to rise financially as the dollars circulate within our community and our neighborhoods are improved. Thank you!
Yes most of us are all shopping for our respective Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa but make buying easy on yourself. Why not make Black Friday, Cyber Friday and extend to Cyber Monday. Avoid the crowds and the hassles plus still get the deals. Since most folks have PCs, Laptops and/or Tablets you can buy gifts in the comfort of your home without fighting the greedy hordes. Just Saying……….
Black Friday = Broke Friday. If you must make purchases today please support your local small businesses and merchants.
My Sisters and Brothers of African descent BUY BLACK!!
So we can either #BoycottBlackFriday or make it work for us and #BuyBlack
This is another non-PC post dealing with racial attitudes. If you’re white this blog post is gonna Fuck with you to the utmost. I pull no punches and make no apologies for my words. If you don’t like it feel Free to Unsubscribe. I don’t give a flying Fuck.
Often my colleagues of Color and I will talk about the racist comments and insults we get on a daily basis while performing our jobs as Security Officers at the museum. One encounter by a Black co-worker who is a retired Marine Officer and who is multi-lingual especially sticks out. A white visitor told him he was an Uppity Nigger. His response, “I come from a long line of Uppity niggers and am proud of it.” I’m sure that white patron had no answer for that one.
Basically during my tenure at the museum patrons have cursed me in every language know to mankind and called me everything but a child of God.
Now let me back track to my encounter this past week with a dumb-ass old white woman who had the nerve, gall and audacity to come up to me and compare my beautiful cornrows to a Medusa sculpture. I was raised to respect my elders but there are times when you just want to slap the shit out of old white people whose minds are still stuck in the early 20th or 19th Centuries. Then there are the trust fund babies and wealthy white folks of privilege who have that “To The Manor Born” attitude to most workers of Color and especially Black workers.
Dear Folks of the Caucasian Persuasion. Do Not Touch my Hair. This is not a petting zoo. Do not ask me stupid questions like, “Do you comb your hair?” Do Not compare my braids, locs or cornrows to Medusa and I won’t say anything about your wrinkles, age spots or your open audacity and stupidity to think you can come up to any random Black person that you don’t know and just spew the first idiotic thing that issues forth from that pie hole in the middle of your face. And No you Do Not have the right to become offended if I call you out on your arrogance and foolishness. Keep your ignorant racist sexist dumb words and attitude to yourself! Don’t get it Twisted. Mammy and StepAndFetchIt are long gone. In fact do me a favor. Shut the Fuck Up and stop commenting on my appearance! Don’t Fuck with the African Goddess! I am a Proud Uppity Black Woman with Attitude. Don’t you forget it.
I don’t have too many problems with other working class whites. We are more or less sailing in the same ship but if you’re Black and you commit the smallest infraction of the rules we get thrown overboard. Most of the problem lies with the 1%. The “Beautiful People.” The Society Matrons. The Trust Fund Babies. Tea Partiers formerly known as the “Moral Majority.” You know them. The patrons who attempt to give you half chewed gum and candy or some sort of other garbage thinking you’re a fucking janitor. I tell them them the trash can is located in the nearest restroom.
Caucasian Americans let’s get re-educated. No I don’t look like another Black person you may know or see on TV, in the movies or in magazines. Black people have the most diversity of skin color, hair textures, and hues than any other race on earth. Unless that particular Black person is an identical twin there goes the notion that we all Look Alike.
If you don’t know me. Don’t touch me. Keep your hands to yourself. Hey you never know. The Black might rub off!
Yes I speak proper English and not Ebonics. Sure I can lapse into slang but only around my friends. Stop saying how you’re incredibly amazed at how “articulate” I am. That’s a back-handed compliment which is really an insult in disguise. Quit being so condescending.
No I absolutely Do Not take or sell drugs. Black does not equal drug addict. However it is obvious that you do since you seem to know so much about illicit drugs. No I’m not here to be your sex slave. Don’t even go there! For I will put your sorry ass out of my galleries. If we were out in the street my foot would be up your ass! You may have gotten away with raping my Great, Great, Great Grandmother back in slavery days but today I will not only knock you silly but cut off your minuscule package and shove it down your throat.
You insult me to my face and make snide remarks behind my back. You extend your hand in supposed friendship and support, with that phony shit-eating grin while telling me “I Voted for Obama!” Really. Oh joy! How white of you! You know what? I don’t want to be your friend. You would not survive a week No Not even a day in my Black skin. You need to back the Fuck up and get out of my face with your hypocrisy. My patience is gone and Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.
When the sky erupts spewing stars like spores upon the heavenly tiers. The seas break forth and separate giving up the noble dead. For the people flew forth to Atlantis each speaking their own tongue. Return to the Mother Land. Mother Africa! The Amistad has landed.
I see stitches where the blood has come undone. Skin graffiti. Splotches of blood drops dripping rippling sperm impregnating the earth giving life to dry bones. If crimson be the elixir of life then I shall populate new beings for my Mother. I see my arteries and veins crisscrossing the land. The extent of my DNA lives in all peoples. The Ashanti Empire has been regained and reigns once more.
All Hail Mother Yaa Asantewaa Queen Mother of the Rebel Forces!
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 