BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG: EP 2 BOSTON

PART 1


PART 2


GVG
~SEE YOU IN THE AIR~

BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG INTRO AND EP1: PACKING SUCKS OR I SUCK AT PACKING

You may not know this, but my New Year’s resolution (that wasn’t actually done on New Year’s) was to travel again. Travel as much as I can, as often as I can, for as long as I can. I can’t figure out why it was that I stopped traveling, maybe it’s the same reason I never made that big move across the Atlantic, that I’ve been talking about doing for all these years. Anyway, I got to a point where I said enough is enough and just started to book everything that came across my computer screen. I’ve done rather well. I’ve been on a plane at least once a month if not a minimum of twice a month since April. Not all of them have been lavish, far off lands, but all of them great experiences that have added to my growth and fond memories. The most memorable of the trips being my first trip back to Haiti with my brother. We plan to do that one again very soon.

My cousin Stephanie especially, and a few other close friends have tried to get me to keep a journal of my journey’s, but as I’ve seemed to have lost my bug for writing, as anyone who used to reads this blog can attest to, I just didn’t have the desire to write. I needed another way of documenting this experience, I ran into a cool guy one night who told me about how he created a collage with all the things in his pockets and other small random items he collected from his trip to South Africa. Interesting. I came across a blog of a guy who took one Polaroid picture per day since the late 70s and never missed a day. Very interesting. Another friend’s father wrote about the best part of each day for one year, exactly one year. Also interesting. As I encountered all these creative ways of documenting ones life I knew I wanted my own way, but I knew it had to be my own and not the rehash of someone else’s.

I have played around with the idea of keeping a photo journal, but I knew me and how I would have to preface each pic with a story and thought that wouldn’t do the idea justice. Then I had another idea – how about a video journal of my travels. No writing, but I get to give you all the stuff that’s going on with me as its happening. On a good day it could hopefully be insightful, entertaining, funny, informative, and beautiful, on all the other days a complete car wreck, and who doesn’t love watching a good wreck in progress!

This was great. The only problem is I hate carrying stuff, I hated, hated, HATED the idea of having to carry a digital camera, a digital recorder, my cell phone, CrackBerry, extra batteries, more cords, adapters, god it’s hurting my back just to type it all out. I already think we all look like batman wannabes with utility belts on. Then I got a great e-mail informing me that there had been a new operating system update released for my blackberry that would give it the ability to create video – EUREKA!!! That’s it. I could do my video journals with my CrackBerry. All was right with the world and my new video blog was one-step closer to being a reality, now all I needed was somewhere to go.

This brings us to this point. Below is my first official entry of my "BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG" series. The video quality on the phone isn’t the greatest, but I think it’s good enough to get the job done.

P.S. Below that, I added my test run of the CrackBerry video feature.

BOOK EVERYTHING TRAVEL BLOG EP1 PACKING SUCKS OR I SUCK AT PACKING


Click on link for a pic of the finished product
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/photo.php?pid=1523468&id=592097266&ref=nf

TESTING 1 2 3

AND THEN SO I SAID...

I was reading part 2 of a blog over at A Belle in Brooklyn, about Belle’s first study abroad experience. The video below is in response to one of the comments left by Anon 11:14. Yes, I was TOO LAZY to write my response, so I took advantage of my newly acquired video option on my CrackBerry to create a video reply. I recommend reading the blog Part 1 here and Part 2 here and the comment by Anon 11:14 here, which motivated me to create the response below.




P.S. Check out Part 3 here.

GVG
~we're the warriors they write/videotape epics about~

P.P.S. This is my first time trying this Vlog thing on here.

A CONVERSATION BEFORE DEATH CALLS

Below is a CrackBerry Messenger conversation I had with a friend yesterday, while on a short flight from Michigan to NYC, after reading a blog post she wrote entitled “It was all a dream”.


Participants:
-------------
GVG, Belle

Messages:
---------

GVG: It’s funny you had a dream about death

GVG: The last couple of flights I've had have been especially bad for me

GVG: I've never been scared of flying

GVG: Outside of the little anxiety on takeoff and landing, but I think that's common with everyone.

GVG: The last couple of flights have been different

GVG: I have these weird daydreams about the plane crashing

GVG: Maybe it has to do with the fact that I always sit in the emergency row for the extra legroom n all of a sudden I have really started to think about why there is an emergency row n when my responsibilities would actually take effect

GVG: I honestly think I'm writing so I can stop thinking about dying

GVG: It’s not working

GVG: Cuss now instead of dreaming of dying, I'm writing about dying

GVG: Weird things pass through ur mind when you think u may die

GVG: Who you'd call

GVG: In what order

GVG: Who u wouldn’t

GVG: what you'd say

GVG: I keep thinking that I’ll do one last status update on FaceBook

*GVG: "Gardy is about to die. Hope you're having a better day. P.S. Spirit sucks!"

GVG: You start thinking about all the things u didn't do

GVG: the women u loved n never told

GVG: The women who loved u n u never appreciated

GVG: The petty issues u had with friends and family

GVG: I actually just had a great memory pop into my head about u

GVG: Don't know why it sticks, but I just thought about that smile u gave me that night I ran out of that Roots concert at Highline

GVG: Even while I sit here writing

GVG: I realize I'm not scared of death

GVG: God, just make it quick

GVG: I'm scared shitless of not being remembered

GVG: I can be better than I am

GVG: That's such a bullshit statement

GVG: We can all be better than we are

GVG: The question is what will we do to be better

GVG: I think you should know that I always thought the story that it was when you saw my "story of life/death" tattoo was when you lost interest was bs

GVG: The plane is bouncing back n fourth n it’s messing with me

GVG: My toees r clinched

GVG: I have to keep typing

GVG: I put the volume all the way up on Alice Smith’s album

*GVG: I love the irony that the beginning of the chorus to the song I’m listening to is "If we start to fall..."

GVG: We landed.

*Belle: Blog this. It's painfully honest.

Belle: I'm glad you made it safe.

Belle: And um, why is your phone on mofo. You're supposed to turn it off.

GVG: Painfully honest is just the right way to describe it

Belle: And the tats were it.

Belle: I wouldn't lie.

Belle: ull be remembered. The question is how. That dream was eye opening for me.

GVG: Think it was eye opening for both of us

GVG: I started keeping it [my phone] on because I thought if I was going to die I didn't want to waste time trying to turn it back on to call n text

Belle: Am I living the way I want people to remember me? Will my folk remember me enuff to party on?

GVG: I think I would have had a panic attack if I wasn't typing

Belle: will kev and jess be ok? Will …… (Deleted because its none of your business)

Belle: Alice Smith is good. So is Nina Simone.

Belle: Or gospel music or Stevie- all songs about hope. Little trick I use.

GVG: I’ll remember that

GVG: I needed an uplifting album

GVG: Good God my hands r ashy

GVG: The things u notice...

Belle: He died, but did you see how ashy his hands were in that casket?

GVG: Thanx for giving me the space to type

Belle: Good lord. They coulda done a better job than that.

GVG: LOL

GVG: He don't even look like that

Belle: If I ever write this book. That line is going in there.

Belle: He woulda used more lotion.

Belle: Someone who loves you would put lotion on you.

GVG: Agreed

Belle: (It won't be me. Cause I ain't touching a body)

Belle: But we wouldn't let you go to the great beyond looking ashy.

Belle: You got to go how you came - in style.

GVG: Fresh to death!!!!

Belle: Word.

Belle: Gotta bounce for the train. $

GVG: Bye!

Belle: You should post this whole exchange on ur blog. $

GVG: Was thinking the same thing

GVG: Think I’ll call it "A conversation before death calls"

THE END

*It should be noted on this flight that Spirit left my luggage back in Michigan and at the time of posting still have not returned my luggage. Guess that status update wasn’t too far off.

* The song I was listening to was Gary’s Song off Alice Smith’s debut album “For Lovers, Dreamers, & Me”

* You may have noticed that I wrote a lot with no response. Up until this point I was still in the air with no signal on my phone. When we landed, my signal returned, and all the messages I had typed went through at once.

WOULD YOU SAVE A SOUL?

There is so much going on in my life that no one other than I will ever know, if you ask me I will lie, if you think you know, you probably don’t, but it’s there and it hurts. I remember the day I got the new Gnarls Barkley Album “The Odd Couple”, anxiously pressed play, then it got to track 2 “Who's Gonna Save My Soul”, I stayed there for days with it, playing it over and over and over again. It spoke to me. It made me think about writing. I didn’t. It made me think about speaking. I didn’t. I just listened. Today I was sent the video for it. The video has done just the same to me as the song has and I’d like to share it with you. I thought about writing and speaking some more. I won’t.

Who's Gonna Save My Soul

FINALLY...

MY THOUGHTS

Someone asked me today what my thoughts were of last nights primary presumptive victory after I asked him and another friend to stop a heated conversation/arguement concerning the magnitude or lack thereof of last nights primary victory by Barack Obama for the Presidential nomination. Below is my response.

"I’m the biggest cynic any of you will EVER meet. I'm still kind of pissy that they keep referreing to Obama as a “Black man” like we still live by the one drop rule (I made a conscious decision earlier this year to keep those thoughts to myself from then on for a bunch of reason I will not discuss now) . However, I have to admit it wasn’t until this morning that it really hit me what I had witnessed and through all my cynicism it touched me and I’m am proud of this moment. I acknowlegde the road ahead while enjoying the patch of glorious grass under my feet and clear sky above my head right now. I take the moment as it is and enjoy it, and then live each moment that follows as they come. Today is ours and we should enjoy it as such. It’s a step in a direction we did not grow up believing existed."

Great qoute from PostBourgie

“every cynic was once a wounded optimist who still secretly longs that he/she will be proven wrong.”

Only November will tell how I’ll see the cup from now on.

REPOST: SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT

This weekend while at an always good for a great house party I was outside of talking to friends and somehow, "She's got to have it" came up which then got me to thinking about the "A.S.S" survey I had reposted here last year and all the reactions that it brought about. Seeing as it's on my mind and I didn't write anything else, I’ve decided to repost it. Enjoy.

"I just came across a survey that Spike Lee had supposedly given to several women in order to help formulate the character that later became Nola Darling in “SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT” from Che Grand. I read through the survey and got very curious about what the answers to these questions would be 21 years after the original release of the film and the survey that created such a controversial character at the time. This is where you my loyal, beautiful, intelligent, open minded female readers and friends come in (Yes, I'm greasing you up, but I mean ever word), I would like you, if comfortable, to take the survey and if not comfortable having me know the answers came from you, you can post them as an anonymous commenter on my blog." Continue reading here

NOTE: The last time I posted this blog it lead to some controversy and not everyone was happy with my post (to say the least). If this offends you, I apologize in advance.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN - DANCE AFRICA IS HERE!!!!

One of the most beautiful gatherings of black people, food, music, art, woman, and great vibes each year. Also a wonderful beginning to the unofficial start of summer. See you in the streets.



http://www.bam.org/events/08AFRI/08AFRI_bazaar.aspx

Sat, May 24, 12noon—10pm
Sun, May 25, 12noon—8pm
Mon, May 26, 12noon—7pm

Over 250 vendors from around the world converge on the streets surrounding BAM, transforming the neighborhood into a global marketplace offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion. Rain or shine!

As part of the festivities, BAM presents a live showcase of roaming drummers, dancers, and stilt walkers inspired by the spirit of Africa.

I SEE PISS COMING I MOVE!

SHE SAW PISS COMING SHE STAYED!

I RESPECT THIS!

GVG
~when keeping it real goes right~

YOU KNOW I ALREADY KNEW THIS..,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU AND YOURS

LET THERE BE LIGHT....

Below is just the fix we need on a nasty, dark, rainy day like today. Enjoy.



THANX TIMM

LOLA'S VILLAGE VOICE STORY OUT TODAY!!!!!

Below is a link to the story in this month’s Village Voice about Lola's ongoing fight with the Soho Alliance and our "Dinner for a cause" events back on March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008 by Chloe A. Hilliard. A special Thanx goes to all the promoters who helped not only promote, but organize this event, and made it the huge success it was - DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

Thank you to EVERYONE who assisted in making this event such a great success by patronizing the restaurant on both nights of the "Dinner with a cause" events and all the nights after. We appreciate you all and hope you continue to support and spread the word about Lola's and their ongoing issues.

Lola is Soul
www.Lolaissoul.com
15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)
T. 212.675.6700



Deep South of Houston: Is a Soul-Food Restaurant Too Black for Soho?
by Chloe A. Hilliard
May 6th, 2008 12:00 AM

Lola, a soul-food restaurant that featured live rhythm-and-blues acts, attracts a largely black clientele, and also went by the name Lola Is Soul, decided in 2004, for business reasons, to move from Chelsea to Soho. But once they got there, the owners—a biracial couple—ran into surprisingly stiff opposition from the Soho Alliance, a community group that has opposed Lola's liquor license and its legal petition to have live entertainment at its new location.

Cries of racism have, not surprisingly, been leveled by Lola's supporters. But Don Clark MacPherson, a longtime resident of the neighborhood and a member of the Soho Alliance—as well as the publisher of the Soho Journal—says that the accusations of racism are unfounded. Lola, he tells the Voice, just moved to Soho at a bad time: Frustrated by the large number of nightclubs already in the area, the alliance saw in Lola simply one liquor license too many. "Race in this issue is a red herring," he says. "I don't think that the type of music had anything to do with it. The objection started before anyone heard about the type of music Lola played." Continue reading here


Also check out the Villager story here

THE STORY OF ELIZA PT. 2 OF 2

This is the final part of the story. Enjoy

If you haven't already read part 1 scroll down to the post below and catch up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our relationship developed quickly, we were comfortable with each other in ways neither of us had ever been before with anyone else. We brought our strengths to each other’s life. We found balance in our differences. We seemed to understand each other; we could make the other laugh without ever having to utter a word. We had the same ideals and ethics. Lived by the same rules of conduct. Wanted similar lives.

One evening in the summer, she called me as both of us did more or less every night and informed me that she was in my neighborhood at her godfather’s house. I was in my friend’s car a couple of blocks away and decided this was a sign that we should see each other.
My friend commented on how my aura seemed to change the moment I picked up the phone to speak to her, how I perked up, sat straighter in my seat, and an uncontrollable grin plastered itself onto my face with each word she and I exchanged. I took the observation to be nothing more than a friend ribbing another for his own amusement.

We pulled up to find her and her godfather sitting on the steps of his brownstone laughing. I got out of the car, joined them in their conversation, and spent about three hours talking with them about everything under the evening stars. You would have thought we had all known each other forever. I felt at home and didn’t want the moment to end. However, it was late; he had to go to work in the morning and needed to go to bed.

Eliza and I thought it was a beautiful night - why not walk to the train station instead of her taking a cab. We walked in the direction of the train station but somehow never seemed to come to it, we walked and talked, and talked and walked some more, by the time we had looked up we had walked about 4 miles all the way to her neighborhood and never even realized it.

She suggested we extend the night a bit longer and partake in some handmade per order foreign beverage she had been raving about all night that could only be found at a café a couple of blocks away. We walked over only to find they had already closed for the evening. We crossed the street to another establishment both of us had walked pass for years but for some reason or another had never ventured into.

We approached the bar, sat, and asked the bartender for a drink recommendation. He quickly replied – rum punch. He asked us if we wanted anything to eat. We weren’t hungry but thought we could share a dessert to pass the time while we drank. He suggested their house specialty - Malva pudding; I was not a fan of pudding but took him on his word of its good and ordered it nonetheless. The bartender recommended we sit outside to enjoy our beverages in the summer breeze. The Malva pudding (which looked more like a circular brownie than pudding) came and initially, neither of us were brave enough to take the first bite. I finally manned up, slipped my dessertspoon into the pudding, and lifted it up with a small scoop of the vanilla ice cream that had accompanied it. I slipped it onto my tongue and allowed it to dissolve down my throat. Eliza asked me how it was and all I could do was to offer her to taste it for herself. Her facial expression seemed near orgasmic as the warm baked good touched her tongue. We had both fallen in love at the exact same moment, together, forever with Malva pudding.

We sat for hours talking about everything, anything, and sometimes even nothing as we always had. Except this time the conversation seemed to be different, we seemed to be closer, more honest, and sweeter. It just felt better. We closed the restaurant down. I finally took her to her front step that night, she made her way inside, and then I made my way home. Nothing happened nor was attempted.

I came home that night, took off my clothes, and went straight to bed. I slept well. I also had a dream about Eliza. She and our daughter kneeled on the floor, their elbows on a short table. They were coloring on a Playskool Lego desk. They looked so much alike with that shared hue of brown skin, that long curly black hair, and those gigantic cheesy smiles. They emanated happiness from every pore. As I walked in, both of my ladies looked up and let out huge uncontrollable squeals of joy. I felt their love and genuine happiness at my presence. It was the best feeling I’d ever had and I remembered how great it felt even after I woke.

I had that dream many more times over after that first night. Different variations but always the same constants - Eliza, our kids, and myself - happily ever after.

I kept those dreams to myself for years until now. Now that it’s over… and probably will never be… I tell you.

THE STORY OF ELIZA PT. 1 OF 2

Nothing beats summer in New York City for my friends and I. Days and nights filled with an abundance of friends, laughs, ladies, music, parties, food, and tons of free top shelf liquor and merch all Thanx to the wonderful marketing folks vying for our loyalty for their client’s brand of the moment and inturn your patronage. They've dubbed us the cool kids, so all these marketing folk think if we like it, then you’ll buy it. The girls and the wannabes think if the marketing folk like us, maybe they should be around us. Therefore, those parties tend to be filled with some of this city’s best draft picks looking to be our first pick. We are more than obliged to check out their stats then give them a tryout. All the while hoping to find our next superstar player to lead our team to the championship. Sorry for all the sports references, The NFL draft is here again and all we’ve been doing for the past week is hitting draft parties, it must all be sinking in. Guess those marketing dollars are working.

So a couple of years ago at one of those top shelf “my brand is better than that brand” events for some brand that I swear taste and looks just like the brand from the night before I met a girl. Let me rephrase, I noticed a girl. She was the complete opposite of anyone I, or anyone who knew me, would have picked for me. She was short, light, young, immature, ill dressed for my world and my future (tomboy), too perky, and did I mention short? She amused me though. The first time I met her, she was hopping up and down for attention while I was having a conversation with her friend (who by the way was closer to “my type.”) It was funny to me. I wanted to tap her on her head and tell her to go sit somewhere until her friend and I finished our grown folks business. I didn’t. I watched her hopping there with a big smile on her face and all that hair going everywhere and allowed her to amuse me. It made me happier than I had been that whole day.

I left both of them to head to the downstairs patio to speak to some of my like-minded friends who probably hadn’t hopped in 20 yrs and probably saw no good reason to ever do so again. I laughed to myself about that while I chatted with them. At one point, I turned around to check the talent coming out the doorway onto the patio. A steady stream of five-inch heels and super tight jersey dresses that would make any man happy to be alive and straight. As I watched the steady stream, she came to the top of the stairs. The sun was setting and the light hit her in just the right way. I thought to myself: “She’s beautiful. I should help her bring that out.” Pompous ass, aren’t I?

At that moment, I decided to make her my new pet project. I was going to dress her in big girl clothes and debut her to society. I told her of my plan and she was more than in love with the idea. Come to find out her favorite movie of all time was “My Fair Lady” and she had dreamt of one day being her own modern day version of Eliza Doolittle. I was to be her Professor Henry Higgins.

The plan was set. We spoke every day for two weeks about whom she was and who she wanted to be for her debut, a weekly event I used to produce for all the people of my ilk. I gave her pointers, but told her she could select her own ensemble for the event, but it had to be a dress and she had to wear heals. She reluctantly agreed.

I showed up to the event that next night and waited for her. I felt a tap on my shoulder as I spoke to a patron. I took a quick glance back, noticed a woman standing there in a black and green patterned dressed. After initially not recognizing the woman, I turned back and as I was about to continue my conversation, it hit me. I snapped by neck back again to the woman, and after a blink I realized it was none other than my very own Eliza Doolittle. Wow! I thought. She looked amazing. I congratulated her on the selections she had made, took a moment to take it all in, and then went back to doing my duties for the evening.

At different points in the night, I would look around for her to make sure she was doing okay. Eliza was doing more than great. Every man turned his head when she passed. Those who weren’t with anyone (even some who were) attempted to get her attention with an offer of a dance, a drink, a trip abroad, anything just for a moment of her time. The DJ had learned her name and shouted it out so much that I was asked at least half a dozen times if someone by the name of Eliza was having a birthday or was about to get her car towed.

I could see how much she loved the attention and I loved the attention for her. She was happy and I felt like a proud parent whose child just won the spelling bee. All the hard work had paid off.

That night she got a ride home from one of those gentlemen callers. It was the first time I realized I cared about her. I went off about how it was unsafe to get into the car of a stranger, no matter how good a friend of mine he was. It wasn’t to be done and I never wanted to see her do it again. “WTF was that?!” I thought to myself as I let the words escape my mouth.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR PT. 2

OFFICERS ACQUITTED OF SEAN BELL MURDER

3 NYPD detectives acquitted in groom slaying
Sean Bell, 23, killed in hail of bullets on night of his bachelor party

BREAKING NEWS


updated 49 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case that put the New York Police Department at the center of another dispute involving allegations of excessive firepower.

Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the verdict in a Queens courtroom packed with spectators, including victim Sean Bell's fiancee and parents, as at least 200 people gathered outside the building.

As word of the verdict spread, many outside the courthouse began crying and yelled "No!" Some briefly jostled with police officers. Continue reading here

GVG
~justice for all my ass~

BRING OUT THE CONGOS. WE GO GO GROOVIN'!

Is it just me or does GO GO seems like its breaking through and about to change the sound of hip-hop for the next few years a la Dr. Dre and Death Row in the 90s? First N.E.R.D with that crazy off the meat rack “Everyone Nose” joint that I honestly played every morning for like three weeks. Then all the buzz about Wale (Prounounced WAH-LAY), his signing with Mark Ronson, and his new mixtape “A mixtape about nothing” a.k.a the Seinfeld mixtape, and now this new video from the Roots ft Chrissette Michelle, and you guessed it – Wale and a serious go go beat. Think we might all have to hit Howard homecoming next yr or CBC to see whats going down down there.

The Roots ft. Wale & Chrisette Michele - Rising Up


N.E.R.D - Everyone Nose


Wale - "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E"


Wale - Nike Boots


Just to take it a bit back. Most non Marylanders first introduction to that Go Go groove.



GVG
~we go go groovin~

DEAR PA RESIDENTS...

Just checking in on all my PA people to make sure they’re ok. WHAT UP ANTOINE/MEGAN?! Your citizens as a whole have failed us, but we do not blame you (totally). We understand that this is just as hard for you as it is for us. We know you were out their fighting the good fight and spreading the word. Maybe not loud enough, but hey with each mistake a lesson is learned. All I am saying is if she wins the nomination, I’m coming for that ass. City of “Brotherly” love my ass. You ain’t give that brother no love. I’m just playing (sort of). Good day all.

HOME IS WHERE THE DEGREE IS?

This seems to be the month of the newspapers for me; I keep coming across really great articles that I feel obligated to share with you. Guess not all the papers are going to shit, as David Simon would like you to believe. Yesterday I read an article (I was going to use the word interesting, but still not sure that’s the right word to describe how I felt about it). The article was this weeks cover story for the Village Voice entitled “A New Home Room” by Chloé A. Hilliard.

The piece is an in-depth look at the relatively new trend amongst black families in New York of taking their children, primarly their young black male children, out of school to homeschool. I have my own thoughts on the story, but I’m going to allow you to read the piece for yourself and come to your own conclusions, before I bombard you with mine.

Below are some excerpts from the story and a link to the full piece. If interested in my thoughts hit the comment section, read mine, and then leave your own, or vice versa. This is a place for some talking.

For Some Black Parents, the New Home Room is Home
Public schools are failing black boys, say a growing number of parents who are homeschooling
by Chloé A. Hilliard
April 8th, 2008 12:00 AM

“Say "homeschooling" and what tends to come to mind are the whitest people you know, holding Sunday school every day of the week in their basements, producing kids who can declaim against Charles Darwin for hours on end, but who are so screwed up socially that you can't imagine them getting a date, except years later as part of a group outing to Christian Day at Disney World.So, with that admittedly over-broad stereotype in mind, it's something of a shock to see the lessons in progress at Bread Stuy, a small café in Brooklyn, where customers sip at their coffee and read newspapers, unaware that a woman named P. Aurora Robinson is holding a homeschooling class in their midst.” Continue reading here


Full disclosure: The writer of this piece Chloé A. Hilliard, is a good friend of mine. That’s not the reason I posted the story though, it’s because in my groggy, half woke state yesterday morning the story woke me up and had me thinking, then writing, and then texting her ass like “YOU GOT SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER”. Now if a piece that does that to me is not worthy of some blog space sharing, I don’t know what is. I have a lot of friends doing a lot of things, but only the dopiest make it to this page.

DON'T PUT THAT BROWN PAPER BAG AWAY JUST YET...

Hello all. Yesterday I posted two articles that grabbed my attention and thought would grab yours, but one seemed to truly capture the thoughts and words of my friends, so I’m giving it its own shine.


Below is an excerpt and link to an article from the UK paper “The Independent” and the article is entitled “Men, women & the secrets of skin colour” -

Men, women, & the secrets of skin colour

"For him, the female ideal is fair-complexioned and pure; but for her, it's the wild, dark Heathcliff types who attract


The fair maiden of myth appears to have a basis in scientific reality, according to new research. Scientists looking into attractiveness in men and women suggest that men of all races are subconsciously attracted to fairer-skinned women, while women are more drawn to dark-complexioned men.

The researchers, whose study shows that across different races, lighter-skinned women are seen as the ideal, say the attraction is driven by preferences based on moral assumptions.

Men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin because of its association with innocence, purity, modesty, virginity, vulnerability and goodness, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. Women are attracted to men with darker complexions because these are associated with sex, virility, mystery, villainy and danger." Continue reading here

SOME GOOD READING TO PASS THE TIME

Hello people. I realize I’ve been MIA for a few days now (more to come on that soon. Great news. Maybe even a full blog on it. Maybe not. LOL) Anyway while gone I came across two completely unrelated but both good articles that I thought you my readers would both enjoy and have some things to say about. Check them out and hit that comment section.

The first one is from Newsweek entitled “Today's culture of povety”
http://www.newsweek.com/id/129681

The second I came across on my Homegirls new online mag “Parlour Magazine” from The Independent entitled “Men, women & the secrets of skin colour”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/men-women--the-secrets-of-skin-colour-796610.html

GVG
~we're the warriors they write epics about~

Do you believe I am the best-dressed real man in America?

At the behest of my good friend and fellow style aficionado - SRJ – I have entered Esquire's BEST DRESSED REAL MAN OF 2008 competition. I ask only three simple things of you –

1. Check out my Esquire Profile - http://www.esquirebdrm.com/GardyG/446

2. Vote for me, if and only if, you believe me to be deserving of the honor and title.

3. Please pass this on to everyone who would appreciate checking out some very well dressed men and maybe even voting for one of us.

To vote – Please click on the amount of stars you believe the contestant ranks at - 1 star = worst dressed - 5 stars = Best dressed. Please only vote once and if you would like more votes for a contestant just forward his Esquire profile URL to your friends for their votes. My Esquire profile URL is http://www.esquirebdrm.com/GardyG/446

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, check out my page, and hopefully vote me as Esquire's BEST DRESSED REAL MAN OF 08.

GVG
~Dress inappropriately and they notice the dress; dress impeccably and they notice the person.~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

Dear Friends,

I am writing you in hopes that you will be moved, just as I was, to help give towards a great cause. Lola is Soul (www.lolaissoul.com) is a smashing upscale southern/Cajun restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife Tom and Gayle Patrick - Odeen b/k/a Lola

Read the Full Background story on their current troubles here: http://thevillager.com/villager_252/lolacantlivewithout.html

Since relocating in 2004 from its location on 22nd street, where it hosted an amazing live R&B music showcase as well as a Gospel Brunch to its new digs at 15 Watts st. on the corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York), Lola's has been blacklisted by its neighbors and The Soho Alliance who has successfully rallied to cut out all live music for fear it would bring an "undesirable" read: BLACK, URBAN crowd.

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP: I invite you to join my friends and I for a full course dinner, drinks and music (soul, R&B, Jazz, and Classics), at Lola's. An after work dinner party for a truly worthy cause. Plus, some of the best food you will ever have.

DATE: March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008

TIME: 6pm – 12am

LOCATION: Lola is Soul - 15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Step 1: Call Lola's to make a RESERVATION at 212.675.6700!!! I should not have to say this but PLEASE BE ON TIME. The goal is to serve as many people as possible and make it a record-breaking night. If you are "FASHIONABLY LATE”, your table will be taken.

Step 2: BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD. The goal is to indulge in the full menu, so set aside 2 hours, and come ready to be wined and dined.

Step 3: Tell More Friends about Lola's. If you cannot make it on either, the 26th or the 27th do not give up - visit this fantastic spot some other time. We want Lola's to stay open for a long time. Add it to your top ten lists.

In the true spirit of giving, I hope to see you ALL there!

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU FOR THESE EVENTS, OTHER THAN THE LISTED MENU PRICES FOR WHATEVER YOU ORDER.

100% OF ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM THESE TWO EVENTS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO LOLA’S AND THEIR DEFENSE FUND.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU BELIEVE WOULD APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE

Thank you to our special host committee that has been working hard to make this event a great success – DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime with any of the contact info listed below and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can.

-GVG

Gardy
E-mail: GVG@iamGVG.com

Video: Damian Marley - One Loaf of Bread

Off the “Gang War” compilation, Tuff Gong Records
Shot & Directed by Jason Goldwatch for deconmedia.com

-black and white super 8mm footage shot in Haiti
-color super 8mm footage shot in South Africa

Video: Lupe Fiasco - Hip-Hop Saved My Life

FULL VIDEO: BARACK OBAMA'S A More Perfect Union speech

Watch Barack's speech on race in America and building a more perfect union.

you can find the full transcript of the speech here.

GVG
~still having cab wiz by his black ass~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

Dear Friends,

I am writing you in hopes that you will be moved, just as I was, to help give towards a great cause. Lola is Soul (www.lolaissoul.com) is a smashing upscale southern/Cajun restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife Tom and Gayle Patrick - Odeen b/k/a Lola

Read the Full Background story on their current troubles here: http://thevillager.com/villager_252/lolacantlivewithout.html

Since relocating in 2004 from its location on 22nd street, where it hosted an amazing live R&B music showcase as well as a Gospel Brunch to its new digs at 15 Watts st. on the corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York), Lola's has been blacklisted by its neighbors and The Soho Alliance who has successfully rallied to cut out all live music for fear it would bring an "undesirable" read: BLACK, URBAN crowd.

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP: I invite you to join my friends and I for a full course dinner, drinks and music (soul, R&B, Jazz, and Classics), at Lola's. An after work dinner party for a truly worthy cause. Plus, some of the best food you will ever have.

DATE: March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008

TIME: 6pm – 12am

LOCATION: Lola is Soul - 15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Step 1: Call Lola's to make a RESERVATION at 212.675.6700!!! I should not have to say this but PLEASE BE ON TIME. The goal is to serve as many people as possible and make it a record-breaking night. If you are "FASHIONABLY LATE”, your table will be taken.

Step 2: BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD. The goal is to indulge in the full menu, so set aside 2 hours, and come ready to be wined and dined.

Step 3: Tell More Friends about Lola's. If you cannot make it on either, the 26th or the 27th do not give up - visit this fantastic spot some other time. We want Lola's to stay open for a long time. Add it to your top ten lists.

In the true spirit of giving, I hope to see you ALL there!

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU FOR THESE EVENTS, OTHER THAN THE LISTED MENU PRICES FOR WHATEVER YOU ORDER.

100% OF ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM THESE TWO EVENTS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO LOLA’S AND THEIR DEFENSE FUND.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU BELIEVE WOULD APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE

Thank you to our special host committee that has been working hard to make this event a great success – DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime with any of the contact info listed below and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can.

-GVG

Gardy
E-mail: GVG@iamGVG.com

WE THE PEOPLE...

... WILL NO LONGER SIT QUIETLY.

I REALLY WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SHARING OF THIS GENIUS, BUT ALL CREDIT HAS TO GO TO ISIS FOR SENDING THIS TO ME! I LOVE HER AND SO SHOULD YOU!


Ok, so I’m sure most of you have seen or at least heard about the first part of the Boondocks episode entitled "Hunger strike" that was never aired because of serious threats by BET, but leaked to the internet. Guess they don’t like having their business out in the streets, just our dirty laundry. Anyway, for those who haven’t had the pleasure or know nothing of the genius I speak of, below is the first part of the “Hunger Strike” episode and below that is the second unaired part of the episode. ENJOY and pass it on to a friend.

The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 1 of 2)


The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 2 of 2)


P.S. I have a lot of friends at BET (past and present) and I hear this is right on the nose if not nicer to how bad they really are. All those people really do work (past and present) at BET. If you see them on the street feel free to tell them about themselves.

GVG
~the voice of decent can not be silenced~

ONE OF THESE DAYS...

In the past two weeks I’ve written more than I have in a very very long time and yet posted none of it. Great, introspective, sincere, honest, heartbreaking (at times), funny as all shit (at others), thought provoking stuff, too. I wonder if any of you are as amused by that as I am.

GVG
~"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." ~ Vladimir Nabakov~

DETAILS: COLORS

This shot honestly made my morning. I love this guy for putting it together and I love The Sartorialist even more for realizing how fly it was that he had to shoot and post it.



GVG
~never scared~

THE END OF GREATNESS: LET'S MOURN THE WIRE TOGETHER

Let’s all show some respect for the greatest show (2nd for me) of all time and stand with a united front. If you like, I’d love it if you changed your default photo to the one I created (shown above) on MySpace/FaceBook and send The Wire off, as it deserved. Show our mourning while thanking David Simon and each and EVERY member of that cast for every moment of the past five seasons. Wear your band publicly with pride and your head held high - show the world you appreciate what intelligent, well-written TV had to offer. DOWN WITH THE REST!

As you can all tell from the photo I am not a graphic designer, but I think it does the job.

GVG
~in need of another hit~

THE NIGERIAN GANGSTER ALBUM. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Below is the link to Mike Love’s Mash up of Fela Kuti and Jay z's American Gangster album entitled Nigerian Gangster. Most of you received the link I sent with the lead track off the mix tape “Nigerian Gangster” that mashes up Jay Z’s Roc Boys lyrics over The music from Fela’s "Water No Get Enemy" from, Expensive Shit, (1975) (http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/2/5/freeload-jay-z-roc-boys-mike-love-s-nigerian-gangster-remix) The whole album is now available for free download on Mike Love's MySpace page, which you can find through the link below.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=360955957

Below is a link to a list of all the Fela samples he used for the project.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=362645852

Currently listening to the album – you will not be dissapointed.

GVG
~my bands about 70 strong like Fela~

REPOST: Who Is At Fault When The American Dream Crumbles?

As of late, there have been a small series of revolving topics amongst my friends discussion list and one of the ones on the top of the list is and probably will be for a while is the subprime mortgage disaster currently taking homes away from many first time homeowners of color in our communities. Monica Potts of PostBourgie wrote an interesting piece about the situation and I think you will all enjoy the read. Please leave all comments there.

"As the subprime mortgage crash and the housing market’s downward spiral pull the rest of the economy with them, there is a lot of talk about “personal responsibility.” President Bush and other “reformers” used the same kind of rhetoric when he modified bankruptcy law in 2005.

The subprime mortgage crash occurred after an unprecedented decade of home ownership growth. Conventional wisdom holds that home ownership is a good thing; it makes people more invested in their communities and in their democracy, and it allows homeowners to build wealth. Politicians and policy makers have long worked to make home ownership easier; encouraging banks to extend credit to those with lower incomes and lowering down payments." Continue reading here

GVG
~I stay prime~

The Roots - Get Busy (Feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk & DJ Jazzy Jeff)

“My bands about 70 strong like Fela…” WOW!

The roots done got me hyped about a Hip Hop Album. PHILLY STAND UP! YOU HAVE JUST BEEN REPPED!

CTFU @ THE CORNERSTONE STAFF, OFFICES, AND PRODUCT PLACEMENT ALL IN THE VIDEO. SOMEBODY CUTTING CHECKS! I WANT SOME!!!

Previously: The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)

~my city ain't nothin like yours~

YOU ARE ALL SMARTER THAN ME...

So maybe you can tell me - HOW THE HELL DID HILLARY CLINTON TAKE OHIO AND TEXAS?!?!!!

GVG
~moving~

VIDEO: THE ROOTS - 75 BARS

The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction).

Directed by Rik Cordero a.k.a The only director seemingly working in Hip Hop. Download the full video over at Okayplayer.

So, what do you think?

GVG
~on a quest for love~

BIRTHDAYS...

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANY WORDS AND MY FRIENDS SCREAMED FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH THEY TRULY LOVED ME WITH THEIRS LAST NIGHT.

GVG
~growing~

I find it rather amusing, correction, poignant that while writing this post my random playlist just switched to Bill Wither's "Lean on me". Guess you are getting an Audio Foreplay Sampling for today. ENJOY



Watch where you lean though, you might end up on the floor.

P.P.S. Yes, my birthday was yesterday.

HISTORY WITNESSED: Q TIP, COMMON, AND KRS ONE ROCK THE SMIRNOFF SIGNATURE MIX EVENT

About two weeks ago, I read the blurb below on Miss Info’s blog:

"Smirnoff and Cornerstone Promotions are making art and commerce work together for our benefit. To promote the new Smirnoff Signature Mix drinks, they've commissioned Common and Just Blaze to remake "The Light," Q-tip and Cool n Dre to remake Tribe's "Midnight," and KRS One and DJ Premier to remake "Criminal Minded. All of the artists will be performing their classics live at the Smirnoff/Cornerstone launch party on Feb, 26th."

YES! YOU AND I BOTH READ IT RIGHT!!! I READ IT THREE TIMES TO MAKE SURE!

Then a mass e-mail was immediately sent out to ALL my insider friends with the subject “WHO KNOWS THE DETAILS ON THIS?! WE NEED TO BE IN THIS ROOM!!!!” A few phone calls later and I had all the info I needed. Thanx to all that got back to me ASAP on this one.

I showed up considerably earlier than I normally do for most things just because I didn’t want to deal with any BS or miss any parts of this history-making event. I’m a huge hip-hop (music as a whole) fan and quality performers, but with a mild case of Claustrophobia, I’m not a big crowd’s person so I tend to stay away from concerts except for very very special exceptions – this being one of them. I’m a HUGE fan of Tribe, Common, and the #1,2,3,4,5 spot holder – KRS ONE. This night was a dream come true.

I was fortunate enough to get there and IN early enough to witness common, KRS-One and DJ Premiere doing their soundcheck from the an ideal balcony spot that was directly in front of the stage. I thought this would have been the best part of the show – God was I mistaken. I’m not going to give you a long min by min recap. Except to say Common and KRS – One tore down the house, then rebuilt it in their likeness. I just wrote this so I could post the video clips from Mikey Fresh’s blog. ENJOY///

A very special thanx to Eliza Doolittle for making this experience happen for me and sharing it with me as well. ;)

Also a very very special thanx to the staff of Element that always takes great care of me and the special ladies of Cornerstone Promotions – you know who you are.

HIP HOP LIVES!!! TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS!!!

GVG
~riding with this Hip-Hop thing till the wheels fall off~

P.S. Who else but Common could make a song and Video about a straight up freaky rock star orgy come across like a plausible savior of us as a people?!

Common freestyling…


Q-tip performing “Midnight 2008″….



KRS-One performing “South Bronx”….


Q-tip “Excursions”….


Q-tip “Can I Kick It”….


Common “Go”….


Common “The People”…..


Common “Testify”….


KRS-One freestyle…


KRS-One “Step Into”….


KRS-One “Classic”….

SOME QUALITY TO CLOSE OUT "BLACK HISTORY MONTH"

Cha$e Dollaz - The Best Of Me


A blog is probably coming real soon on those quotation marks, just wanted to give you this video and song that one of my good friends Shimy produced. Enjoy

GVG
~taking no shorts~

A PHOTO MASTERPIECE UNVEILED

I saw the above shown photo of Malcolm X as a teenager in a store in the west village of NYC, I would always frequent the shop for books, art, cloths, and personal enlightenment on my persuit of “Knowledge of self”. The photo was hung on the wall behind the shopkeeper. Every time I would go to the store, I would stare at the pic as I spoke to the shop owner. I was so impressed by the composition of the photo, the color, and Malcolm’s seemingly tranquil state that I always wanted to travel to that mosque and have that same red light shower me as it had him so many years earlier.

When I came across the photo again a few months ago online, I quickly saved it, and then did my best with the information I had (none) to find where and when it was taken. I had always thought the photo was from Malcolm's pilgrimage to Mecca and had to this day never shown it to anyone, just a photo I would look at on hard days to calm my soul and think of my trip one day to that place that seem to calm him. I finally posted the photo yesterday in honor of Malcolm X’s life on the day it was taken from us and my friend Megan immediately identified the location of that red light. I would like to introduce you all to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The trip just got one-step closer. Thanx Megan.

PLEASE CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO ENLARGEThe Blue Mosque lit at night from the water

A daytime shot of the front of the Blue Mosque

View of the inner courtyard

Interior view of the mosque; in the back, the mihrab; on the right side at the pier is the imperial loge

Interior Prayer room

Central dome semi-dome with three exedrae; fine overview of the decorations in the mosque

From the Wikipedia entry

"The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul."

GVG
~better~

O'REILLY DOESN'T WANT TO LYNCH MICHELLE OBAMA UNLESS...

GVG
~O'Reilly got a neck too...~

THE CORFORMIST x KANYE WEST x ADDICTION = GENIUS

Below is the latest video creation to come from the brain of the oh so talented VA$HTIE for Kanye West's song "Addiction" off his Late Registration album. Vashtie is probably best known for her video for "Us Placers" by CRS's (The "super group" Kanye West, Pharrel Williams, and Lupe Fiasco)

Below is what she had to say about the piece in which she mashes up the iconic film "The Conformist" and one of my favorite songs off the Late Registration album "Addiction" to create something special.

""the conformist" by bertolucci is one of my favorite movies ever. it's my version of porn...the cinematography makes my mouth water. it might be a little lame, but i was bored and i like it ;) if i could have directed a video for this, "the conformist" would have been my inspiration."



GVG
~taking the train~

IN HONOR OF MALCOLM X

Today is the 43rd anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. We have an election currently going on that has a lot of focus being placed on the spoken word and the way in which certain candidates deliver said words in their speeches. Malcolm X was who the word orator was created for. When he delivered a speech, he gave you more than just words and rhetoric - he gave you belief - both in him and his words. He died giving those words, but his words will never die.

PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND LISTEN TO SOME OF MY FAVORITE WORDS FROM ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MEN -

MALCOLM X
May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965











The best for last. This is a bit longer than the others, but truly worthy of your time. If you have it to give, take the time, and listen.

Below is, I think, one of the greatest moments ever put on film from Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's 1992 portrayal of Malcolm X in their biopic of the same name. We have all had those moments when a piece of art effected us in such a way that it stayed with us for life and from then on we were different, correction, better for having witnessed - The first time I heard Rakim Allah's "Microphone fiend", read James Baldwin's "Giovanni's room", heard Gil Scott-Heron, saw Clockwork orange - the list for each of us is different and I’m sure lengthy. The scene below is one of those that made me better. Enjoy.

P.S. It's been my dream for as long I could remember,since I first saw the photo above, to travel to this Mosque and recreate the image.

GVG
~the ballot or the bullet~

DERRICK ASHONG IS A POLI-SCI ROCK STAR!!!

It's funny that I just wrote a post about friends sending me clips to rile me up then I get an e-mail from my friend Reggie entitled "Check this brother out...Barack Supporter? Do we know why we support who we support?". I had a really busy day and didn't get to it until today about 23hrs later and God did it make my night. I don't want to give too much info about what it is, but to all those that say this generation is uninformed, tuned out, and indifferent - press play.



Derrick Ashong explains a bit about his background and his emotional reasons for supporting Barack Obama.


Thanx for this Reggie.

Here's an interesting sidenote - while doing some research on who Derrick was I came across this article in the Economist that used Derricks YouTube clip as an opening point to a very interesting article about the independent party (My party!).

"ONE of the most interesting political videos on YouTube features a young Obama supporter, Derrick Ashong. A camera-wielding interviewer collars Mr Ashong in the street and starts to pepper him with questions. The interviewer assumes that his victim's casual appearance—he is wearing a baseball hat, a shell necklace and is chewing gum—betokens an equally casual approach to politics. “Do you have any specifics?” he demands aggressively. “What are their policies?” Mr Ashong delivers a series of carefully argued replies that could form the basis of an editorial in a serious newspaper. The interviewer is increasingly abashed. But, having delivered his defence of Barack Obama, Mr Ashong concludes the interview by saying “I'm independent. I'm not a Democrat. I might vote for McCain.”" Continue reading here

Source: Think On These Things

GVG
~going to read a book~

DR. FIDEL CASTRO STEPS DOWN AS CUBA'S PRESIDENT AFTER 49 YRS

Dr. Fidel Castro - Council and Commander in Chief stepped down as Cuba’s president after 49 years - 1959-2008 - I have such a conflicted love for Fidel. As a black man born in America, but of Haitian Parents and a strong connection to my Haitian roots, you can't help but respect if not love the man who stood up to the super power and said "NO! I will not back down. Come try to take me out." The man stood strong for 49years in the name of COO-BAH - The longest leader in history. Please allow me to say that again Dr. Fidel Castro now stands as the longest sitting leader of any country.

The man has done so much for Haiti and its people. When the floods happened in Haiti a couple of years ago(The magnitude of the flooding due in large part to all the trees being cut down and used for the production of coal by America and France), he was one of the first to send aide. When our Bicentennial came around, he was one of a small few of world leaders to show his pride and respect for our accomplishment of being the first black republic to TAKE our independence 200 years earlier from the hands of our French oppressors. The same couldn't be said for many other leaders and nations that I thought should and would stand with us. When the Typhoon that hit Thailand also hit Haiti and other unmentioned black islands in the Caribbean and caused disastrous flooding, tens of thousands of deaths and many many more left with nothing- Castro was there. The doctors exchange program, which educates some of Haiti and Cuba’s best and brighest young minds and has them spend time in each other’s countryside’s providing free healthcare for the poorest of both our fellow citizens. The list could go on for pages…

I say proudly - God bless his good, while acknowledging what some may call his “Bad”. Remember many a black person believed in the basic tenants of communism during the 60s. Marxism isn't just a trendy intellectual dinner party conversation point. It stood as a beacon of hope and change for many a downtrodden, disillusioned, marginalized person back then, and still stands for many until this day as an inspiration of a different view. We understood in the 60s that the world in which we existed as black and Latino people did not see us as equals.

Communism stood as a path to equality for a people disillusioned with the pace of progress and saw change in a different way of government. The problem with communism has always been the same - it looks good on paper, but doesn’t account for peoples need to be tops and bottoms. People’s selfish nature to want to have more than their neighbor and take the power away from those who can’t stand up for themselves. This then directly contradicts the basic principals of communism: a socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production.

A good friend told me of something his father once said to him as a child about Fidel Castro that I think really speaks to the sum of Fidel's parts.

“Fidel was a great man who possessed great ideas, but made some great mistakes. Eh...He is human” – said in his best Panamanian accent.

I’m not here to argue the pros and cons of communism, just to acknowledge a man I will not hide my pride for on this day as he stepped down from power on his own two feet and wasn’t pushed out by America’s.

VIVE LA REVOLUCION!

GVG
~VIVE LA REVOLUCION~