If you do not understand racism (white supremacy) and how it works, everything else you understand will only confuse you. - Neely Fuller

We need something to clarify everything for us, because we get confused...but if we use the concept of Asili, we will understand that whatever it is they are doing, whatever terms they use, however they come at you, you need to be thinking about what? How is this going to facilitate their power and help them to dominate me? -Marimba Ani

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Champion & Voice of Discrimination


Although Hillary Clinton's efforts against Barack Obama are failing, it's time to call her out for the essence of her miscalculated behavior. There's only one reason why Hillary and her people interjected race into the political campaign. It was intended to hurt him and help her. They believed that by making the race about race, Hillary's race would give her an advantage over Barack's race. They believed if they reminded America Obama is Black, Americans would discount him as a candidate. The Clintons & Company attempted to create a climate for discrimination based on race. They essentially asked Americans to ignore the Declaration of Independence and the Civil Rights Act. Let us not fall for misdirection and miss this point.

On February 19th in Ohio, Hillary said, “Only one of us has spent 35 years being a doer, a fighter, and a champion for those who need a voice."

Who has she been a voice for? Those who are enablers of disgusting behavior? Those who are anxious to discriminate against protected classes? Hillary's comprehensive campaign strategy based on all the meaningful experience she claims to have fell apart. Her Plan B hinged on making comments and inferences to communicate she's better for the job because she was born better. This is the quintessential “swampland for sale” pitch. Simply put, Hillary, Bill and their buddies depended on using doubts and fears about Blacks to help her defeat Obama when her own merits were not sufficient. Hillary is a fighter - a cheapshot fighter - who should never be anyone's champion.

In the same speech Hillary said, "Only one of us is ready on day one to be commander in chief, ready to manage our economy, and ready to defeat the Republicans.”

The only thing Hillary is ready to do is win at all costs even if it means disregarding laws and destroying public confidence. George Bush used the same reproach.

This is an opportunity to vote for democracy, equal opportunity and self-evident truths. Our country's condition will continue to reflect the character of the people we vote for. Knowing this, we must be more discriminating without discriminating.

References:
Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination
Hillary's Speech

Please email this article to as many people as possible before the upcoming primaries/caucuses are held.

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Image Award Opportunity, Experience & Acceptance


And the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry, goes to Nikki Giovanni.

Participating in certain events specific to my field are experiences only possible by making my dream an integral part of life. That's my part. Other forces often intervene; therefore, I am grateful and fortunate when opportunities materialize. Being nominated awarded opportunities that would not have been possible without being in full hot pursuit.

Yes, I met some celebrities. Many were decent, gracious and unpretentious if you were. That was the minor experience. The most important things were things with greater substance that don't sit on a shelf. Things like...

Allowing my mother to experience the experience.
Meeting person after person whose personality is their celebrity.
Receiving a boost of energy to work with as encouragement.
Realizing life is not about any single thing. Only the spirit it contains.
Being able to personally place my book into some hands.
Being blessed by having the poem "Eloquence" placed in the souvenir journal.
Learning to listen for more than a knock because today's opportunity uses many methods, including email.
Understanding the NAACP, our image and I have come partway down previously prepared paths and now we must press forward to secure the extension of these paths for others.


Here's my acceptance speech for the opportunities and the experiences.

Thank you momma. Thank you NAACP and thanks to all those cool people who support others as they extend their reach in search of their better selves.

We were told at the opening luncheon to expect to win. It is a far better thing to expect to dream.

This moment is not mine alone. So be encouraged to, dream big, dig deep and let the Spirit of Truth direct your feet.

Take your gifts and your talents. Combine them with purpose, passion, courage and stamina. Stand Up and Be Counted.

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Sunday, February 10, 2008

Pants Legs & Blood Red


I was blessed with good company during my flight to Los Angeles. He is half Apache, half White and 100% human. He has and still is leading a diverse, dynamic and “no holds will bar me from my dreams”-driven life. He has overcome and withstood the trials and tests while managing to maintain conscience and character. His decency and desire to learn more about life and himself is invigorating. His varied travels, knowledge and integration of such into their proper minor and larger contexts is a testament to the better balanced selves possible for each of us.

On the surface, Beverly Hills is a different place than the West Virginia hills. The red carpet is a flash-filled environment while the natural environment is perennially picturesque. In the midst of 90210 camera muggers and celebrity huggers, I met a couple who said California is not the place they wanna be so they moved to the other Coast to raise a family. A couple alive with loving and supporting. A father holding it down to free the mother. An artist winning the battles of staying true to artform and personal values. A writer 35 books, several publishers, an agent and a publicist into the game. A writer keeping continued success in its place.

Then there was another entertainment and media professional with whom I spoke about pecans, peanut butter, performers, publicity and psychic practices.

When it comes to people, it always comes down to realizing our joyful and painful parts between first and last breaths are the same. Though public personae and personal accomplishments vary, in the core of experiences there is absolutely no difference. We put our pants on one leg at a time and bleed one color.

Cool People

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

Inspiring Quotes from Top Blog Posts




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