Community Building is Revolutionary
| May 20, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Last week I took the opportunity to attend the PAALF (Portland African American Leadership Forum) intergenerational forum. Whenever Black people get together to talk, skeptics ask questions like, “Why? What’s the point? What are you actually going to get accomplished?” People have no shortage of excuses for passing up these events. They will focus…
Sometimes
Sometimes I get so angry I go to black businesses And spend as much as I can afford. I tip 30 instead of 15. Sometimes I get so annoyed I tell my woman how beautiful her curls are. I drool over her complexion. I get so mad I tell her to never lose her…
Female MCs Get No Shine and I’m Part of the Problem
The biggest irony of the Rick Ross “date rape” controversy was that everyone saw a rise in their profile except female MCs. Everyone from Rosa Clemente to Crunk Feminist to Talib Kweli to Jasiri X made their presence felt in the conversation. I even read an article today interviewing children. With everyone talking about what…
Am I the Only One That Missed the Actual Evidence?
I may have helped commit a crime yesterday. As soon as the news that the FBI had identified suspects in the Boston bombing came out, I was given the word to throw the CNN Wire story up immediately. After we got it up and beat out some other local publications, we cheered; not because we…
Boston Marathon Tragedy: When Explosions Hit Our TV Screens
Like many people, I’ve been following the coverage of the explosions at the Boston Marathon. I keep hearing the word “terrorist” and I cringe because despite the fact that the term could apply to anyone, Americans often associate it with “foreign” people. Since 9/11, our response to “terrorism” targeting us has been one of blood…
The Privilege Bubble
| April 6, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Lack of Foresight and Bad Examples While enjoying some pizza earlier this week, a friend posed the question, “What was your favorite part of the LO (Lake Oswego) Woodshop class?” The three of us at the table chuckled. If you missed the joke, it’s because we never had such a class. Our education was based…
Freedom
| March 30, 2013 | Posted by admin under Music for Thought, Musings |
Awhile back, while attending a lecture by Immortal Technique, someone in the audience asked him about the Seattle WTO protests and what his thoughts were on the necessity of violent tactics in demonstrations. I’ll never forget his response. To paraphrase, he said that anyone can go out in a blaze of glory. What is truly…
Believe it or Not, Your Least Favorite Artist Really Isn’t Destroying the Community
| March 22, 2013 | Posted by admin under Music for Thought, Musings |
No week goes by without someone talking about how negative rap music is destroying the Black community. Apparently, not just are these ignorant rappers not “real,” but they are killing our children’s minds. This line of thought always bothered me. I’d be lying if I said emcees don’t have an influence, especially on impressionable young…
National Punch a Sexist A-Hole in the Face Day
| March 12, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Every time I hear the latest story of a woman being sexually abused, harassed or simply having some creeper at the bus stop shamelessly undressing her with his eyes, I want to start National Punch a Sexist Asshole in the Face Day. It would be a 24/7 365 holiday. The fact is, there is…
Check Me Out on Oregon Voter’s Digest
| May 22, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism, Musings |
This past Sunday I was the guest for an hour on Oregon Voter’s Digest, hosted by Bruce Broussard. I discussed cultural ignorance in education and the role of parenting in helping students thrive in school. Check it out here.
