Rise and Shine

Saul Williams posted this poem this morning on MySpace and I'd like to share it with you:

every morning
I rise and face
the firing squad

every morning
there is one
who holds his fire

his dilemma
is my system
of belief

they fire rounds
but I am seldom
in their circle

a quiet mind
is labeled "sound"
and colored purple

my little boy
has not yet learned
to color within lines

his jumbled diction
has not yet learned
our contradiction

we speak of art
with flaming passion
then do work
void of compassion

and wonder why
reality is bleeding fiction

My Beef with Hemingway

OK. I've finally read an Ernest Hemingway book, A Farewell to Arms, and let me tell you, I'm quite disappointed. At first I thought, maybe I'm just not getting it. Why is he considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century? I really didn't like his writing style, although I eventually got used to it. I mean, if I wrote like that in school, I never would have graduated. What made it acceptable for him to write with improper grammatical form? Not fair.

Secondly, I can appreciate his view of the Great War, since he actively participated. However, what makes his perspective so great? His portrayal of the war was so bland, I found it hard to finish the book. I can understand the sentiments of the war being unnecessary, the feelings of defeat and even complacency, but did it need to sound so droll? I was like, gimme a break already!

Another major gripe I had was with the female character. How annoying and flat was she really? And once again, I am bearing in mind that this book was written by a man way back when, but good googly moogly! If I ever came across such an ingratiating, spineless, clueless wretch, I'd strangle her! "Do you love me? Say you love me. Do you find me pretty? Please say you do." "I like whatever you like all the time." "I want to live on an island with you and only you so you don't have to see any other woman but me." Come on already. This kind of talk makes me want to throw her worthless butt in a feminist boot camp run by Susan Powter. Stop the insanity! If this is the view men have of women, then women, we need to do something about it. Screw a farewell to arms, we need to pick some up and strengthen our spines. This is ludicrous.

My final beef with Hemingway was the unnecessary passage in which he uses the word, "nigger" when the main character's love (who, as I said previously I couldn't stand) compares him to Othello having his one possession taken away (his love for her). It comes so suddenly, and then a different conversation ensues out of nowhere. That passage, albeit it was written long ago, was probably still as unnecessary as it is now, no matter who read or reads it.

After reading this one work of Hemingway, I'm not very motivated to read anything else by him. I keep vacillating on whether or not to give it another go, but, so sad to say, I'm leaning toward not reading anything else. We'll see.

That is all for now.

The Little Black Man's Book

Came across this press release and found it quite interesting that someone has compiled this research and put it in a book "to help, to discipline, and to uplift the African-American Man-Child." I'm really interested in what my black male friends will say about this one. Actually, I'm curious to see what everyone has to say about this: parents, single parents, future parents, no matter what the ethnic background is. I will definitely be looking further into this one! I've checked out the website and it seems pretty good, so far. As I've said before, I'm always supportive of anything that will uplift and educate our youth. So, so long as this book isn't something that just sounds good, I hope it means and does well, too.

THE LITTLE BLACK MAN’S BOOK

Gardena, CA -- June, 2006 -- The Little Black Man'’s Book: 10 Strategies To Help, To Discipline, and To Uplift the African American Man-child is needed to assist parents (especially single female parents) to reach their man-child. Written by educational consultant John P. Hamilton, Ed.D, this mini-book discusses everything from "Building Structure," "Male Role Models," "Hip-hop," to "Access & Resources."

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

The purpose of The Little Black Man‚’s Book is for parents to use the ten recommended strategies to assist with molding their man-child into a responsible and productive man. Moreover, this mini book assists parents to help their man-child focus on creating a positive mindset, reframing negative issues, and promoting high expectations. This mini book reaches out to the single female parent, who needs guidance, assistance, and the will to reclaim her man-child or foster strategies to keep him on the straight and narrow.

This is an excellent resource for parents; schools; parent educators; parent advocacy groups, mentor programs; youth groups; Upward Bound; and any TRIO programs.

What are people saying about The Little Black Man's Book?

"The Little Black Man's Book allows me to be interactive with my man-child through dialogue."
--Single-Female Parent

"AT LAST--a guide for single parents‚—especially single female parents as well as educators filled with easily accessible information on connecting with young African American males."
--Master Teacher

To place immediate orders for the book, a book signing, and/or interview contact:
Hamilton & Associates Consulting
PO Box 2627
Gardena, CA 90247
(323) 309-2502 Fax: (310) 538-0760
e-mail: johnphamilton@aol.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Press Contact
John Hamilton, Ed.D.
Website:www.hamiltonandassociatesconsulting.org

Let me know what you think, everyone! And remember, this is the same man who brought us "The Elevator Is Broken." Dr. Hamilton seems to be making very positive moves... Right on!

A Black Woman Speaks

This is a truly wonderful and deep poem in every sense of those words. Really pay attention, ladies, to what is being said here. It just might change your perspective, a little ;)

Thanks, Irena, for sharing this. It has been haunting me from the first time I read it. You're the best (but you already know that). I love you!

A Black Woman Speaks. . .
Of White Womanhood
Of White Supremacy
Of Peace

It is right that I a woman
black,
should speak of white womanhood.
My fathers
my brothers
my husbands
my sons
die for it; because of it.
And their blood chilled in electric chairs,
stopped by hangman's noose,
cooked by lynch mobs' fire,
spilled by white supremacist mad desire to kill for
profit,
gives me that right.

I would that I could speak of white womanhood
as it will and should be
when it stands tall in full equality.
But then, womanhood will be womanhood
void of color and of class,
and all necessity for my speaking thus will be past.
Gladly past.

But now, since 'tis deemed a thing apart
supreme,
I must in searching honesty report
how it seems to me.
White womanhood stands in bloodied skirt
and willing slavery
reaching out adulterous hand
killing mine and crushing me.
What then is this superior thing
that in order to be sustained must needs feed upon my
flesh?
How came this horror to be?
Let's look to history.

They said, the white supremacist said
that you were better than me,
that your fair brow should never know the sweat of
slavery.
They lied.
White womanhood too is enslaved,
the difference is degree.

They brought me here in chains.
They brought you here willing slaves to man.
You, shiploads of women each filled with hope
that she might win with ruby lip and saucy curl
and bright and flashing eye
him to wife who had the largest tender.
Remember?
And they sold you here even as they sold me.
My sisters, there is no room for mockery.
If they counted my teeth
they did appraise your thigh
and sold you to the highest bidder
the same as I.

And you did not fight for your right to choose
whom you would wed
but for whatever bartered price
that was the legal tender
you were sold to a stranger's bed
in a stranger land
remember?
And you did not fight.
Mind you, I speak not mockingly
but I fought for freedom,
I'm fighting now for our unity.
We are women all,
and what wrongs you murders me
and eventually marks your grave
so we share a mutual death at the hand of tyranny.

They trapped me with the chain and gun.
They trapped you with lying tongue.
For, 'less you see that fault
that male villainy
that robbed you of name, voice and authority,
that murderous greed that wasted you and me,
he, the white supremacist, fixed your minds with
poisonous thought:
"white skin is supreme."
and therewith bought that monstrous change
exiling you to things.
Changed all that nature had ill you wrought of gentle
usefulness,
abolishing your spring.
Tore out your heart,
set your good apart from all that you could say,
think,
feel,
know to be right.
And you did not fight,
but set your minds fast on my slavery
the better to endure your own.

'Tis true
my pearls were beads of sweat
wrung from weary bodies' pain,
instead of rings upon my hands
I wore swollen, bursting veins.
My ornaments were the wip-lash's scar
my diamond, perhaps, a tear.
Instead of paint and powder on my face
I wore a solid mask of fear to see my blood so
spilled.
And you, women seeing
spoke no protest
but cuddled down in your pink slavery
and thought somehow my wasted blood
confirmed your superiority.

Because your necklace was of gold
you did not notice that it throttled speech.
Because diamond rings bedecked your hands
you did not regret their dictated idleness.
Nor could you see that the platinum bracelets
which graced your wrists were chains
binding you fast to economic slavery.
And though you claimed your husband's name
still could not command his fidelity.

You bore him sons.
I bore him sons.
No, not willingly.
He purchased you.
He raped me,
I fought!
But you fought neither for yourselves nor me.
Sat trapped in your superiority
and spoke no reproach.
Consoled your outrage with an added diamond brooch.
Oh, God, how great is a woman's fear
who for a stone, a cold, cold stone
would not defend honor, love or dignity!

You bore the damning mockery of your marriage
and heaped your hate on me,
a woman too,
a slave more so.
And when your husband disowned his seed
that was my son
and sold him apart from me
you felt avenged.
Understand:
I was not your enemy in this,
I was not the source of your distress.
I was your friend, I fought.
But you would not help me fight
thinking you helped only me.
Your deceived eyes seeing only my slavery
aided your own decay.
Yes, they condemned me to death
and they condemned you to decay.
Your heart whisked away,
consumed in hate,
used up in idleness
playing yet the lady's part
estranged to vanity.
It is justice to you to say your fear equalled your
tyranny.

You were afraid to nurse your young
lest fallen breast offend your master's sight
and he should flee to firmer loveliness.
And so you passed them, your children, on to me.
Flesh that was your flesh and blood that was your
blood
drank the sustenance of life from me.
And as I gave suckle I knew I nursed my own child's
enemy.
I could have lied,
told you your child was fed till it was dead of
hunger.
But I could not find the heart to kill orphaned
innocence.
For as it fed, it smiled and burped and gurgled with
content
and as for color knew no difference.
Yes, in that first while
I kept your sons and daughters alive.

But when they grew strong in blood and bone
that was of my milk
you
taught them to hate me.
Put your decay in their hearts and upon their lips
so that strength that was of myself
turned and spat upon me,
despoiled my daughters, and killed my sons.
You know I speak true.
Though this is not true for all of you.

When I bestirred myself for freedom
and brave Harriet led the way
some of you found heart and played a part
in aiding my escape.
And when I made my big push for freedom
your sons fought at my sons' side,
Your husbands and brothers too fell in that battle
when Crispus Attucks died.
It's unfortunate that you acted not in the way of
justice
but to preserve the Union
and for dear sweet pity's sake;
Else how came it to be with me as it is today?
You abhorred slavery
yet loathed equality.

I would that the poor among you could have seen
through the scheme
and joined hands with me.
Then, we being the majority, could long ago have
rescued
our wasted lives.
But no.
The rich, becoming richer, could be content
while yet the poor had only the pretense of
superiority
and sought through murderous brutality
to convince themselves that what was false was true.

So with KKK and fiery cross
and bloodied appetites
set about to prove that "white is right"
forgetting their poverty.
Thus the white supremacist used your skins
to perpetuate slavery.
And woe to me.
Woe to Willie McGee.
Woe to the seven men of Martinsville.
And woe to you.
It was no mistake that your naked body on an Esquire
calendar
announced the date, May Eighth.
This is your fate if you do not wake to fight.
They will use your naked bodies to sell their wares
though it be hate, Coca Cola or rape.

When a white mother disdained to teach her children
this doctrine of hate,
but taught them instead of peace
and respect for all men's dignity
the courts of law did legislate
that they be taken from her
and sent to another state.
To make a Troy Hawkins of the little girl
and a killer of the little boy!

No, it was not for the womanhood of this mother
that Willie McGee died
but for a depraved, enslaved, adulterous woman
whose lustful demands denied,
lied and killed what she could not possess.
Only three months before another such woman lied
and seven black men shuddered and gave up their lives.
These women were upheld in these bloody deeds
by the president of this nation,
thus putting the official seal on the fate
of white womanhood within these United States.
This is what they plan for you.
This is the depravity they would reduce you to.
Death for me
and worse than death for you.

What will you do?
Will you fight with me?
White supremacy is your enemy and mine.
So be careful when you talk with me.
Remind me not of my slavery, I know it well
but rather tell me of your own.
Remember, you have never known me.
You've been busy seeing me
as white supremacist would have me be,
and I will be myself.
Free!
My aim is full equality.
I would usurp their plan!
Justice
peace
and plenty
for every man, woman and child
who walks the earth.
This is my fight!

If you will fight with me then take my hand
and the hand of Rosa Ingram, and Rosalee McGee,
and as we set about our plan
let our wholehearted fight be:
PEACE IN A WORLD WHERE THERE IS EQUALITY.

Beulah Richardson
1951

I know it's a mouthful, but chew on that for a while.

Detecting Prejudice

Came across this interesting article the other day, and was compelled to share it with the masses, in case they haven't come across it yet. I'm quite curious to see what the responses will be to this one.

According to new research, the brain processes social outsiders as less than human; brain imaging provides accurate depictions of this prejudice at an unconscious level.

A new study by Princeton University psychology researchers Lasana Harris and Susan Fiske shows that when viewing photographs of social out-groups, people respond to them with disgust, not a feeling of fellow humanity. The findings are reported in the article "Dehumanizing the Lowest of the Low: Neuro-imaging responses to Extreme Outgroups" in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science (previously the American Psychological Society).

Twenty four Princeton University undergraduates viewed a large number of color photographs of different social groups (including Olympic athletes, business professionals, elderly people, and drug addicts), and images of objects (including the Space Shuttle, a sports car, a cemetery, and an overflowing toilet) that elicited the emotions of pride, envy, pity, or disgust. The four emotions were derived from the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), which predicts differentiated prejudices based on warmth and competence. Warmth was determined by friendliness, competence by capability. The two emotional extremes were pride and disgust; pride elicited high warmth and high perception of competence, and disgust elicited low warmth and low perception of competence. Envy and pity were considered moderate prejudices; envy elicited low warmth and high perception of competence, and pity elicited high warmth and low perception of competence.

Medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) brain imaging determined if the students accurately chose the correct emotion illustrated by the picture (according to pretest results in which a different group of students determined the emotion that best fit each photograph). The MPFC is only activated when a person thinks about him- or her-self or another human. When viewing a picture representing disgust, however, no significant MPFC brain activity was recorded, showing that students did not perceive members of social out-groups as human. The area was only activated when viewing photographs that elicited pride, envy, and pity. (However, other brain regions - the amygdala and insula - were activated when viewing photographs of "disgusting" people and nonhuman objects.)

Emotions themselves were not responsible for generating this brain activity. Rather, it was the actual image viewed that produced a response. The MPFC only showed significant activity when a person saw or thought about a human being. The authors conclude that this lack of MPFC brain activity while viewing photographs of people proves that "members of some social groups seem to be dehumanized."

Social out-groups are perceived as unable to experience complex human emotions, share in-group beliefs, or act according to societal norms, moral rules, and values. The authors describe this as "extreme discrimination revealing the worst kind of prejudice: excluding out-groups from full humanity." Their study provides evidence that while individuals may consciously see members of social out-groups as people, the brain processes social out-groups as something less than human, whether we are aware of it or not. According to the authors, brain imaging provides a more accurate depiction of this prejudice than the verbal reporting usually used in research studies.

http://www.sciencenewsden.com

The Elevator Is Broken...

I'm always one to advocate the upliftment of our children. The currrent generation seems so lacking in guidance, I just know the future generations will feel it even more if we, as responsible, intelligent, and caring adults, don't do something about it. They need leaders and we need to make leaders out of them, as well. I found a press release about a new book that discusses just this issue.

The Elevator is Broken . . .

Gardena, CA -- July, 2006 -- The Elevator is Broken is what is needed to enhance your child’s or student’s leadership and study skills. Written by John P. Hamilton, Ed D., and Larry D. Brown Jr., this journal/workbook is a tool for students, as well as, parents, teachers, and counselors to use from third grade well into college.

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

The purpose of The Elevator is Broken is to make students more productive in and outside of the classroom. Moreover, this journal/workbook assists students with not only identifying, but also developing their leadership and decision-making skills. Students will be able to identify leadership characteristics, use hip-hop to decipher positive and negative messages, discuss various cultures and subcultures, understand the purpose of setting goals, and examine their personal past and present experiences of leadership and decision-making with enriching scenario exercises.

The Elevator is Broken allows students to not only think about the skills they should possess, but articulate these skills as well. Lastly, this journal/workbook helps students with strengthening their study skills to be academically successful.

What does renowned psychologist, educator, and author Dr. Na’im Akbar have to say about The
Elevator is Broken? “At last a readable and doable manual to help young people learn leadership. In a language and with examples that fit their experience, through these exercises, young people can learn to lead before they are led away from their potential to lead themselves to success. These authors have fulfilled a great need in developing a tool to reach our young people before they go astray rather than trying to reform them after they have been misled. This workbook should be a course requirement for all young people (especially those most socially vulnerable) between Grade 3 and the college years.”

To place immediate orders for the book, a book
signing, and/or interview contact:

Hamilton & Associates Consulting
PO Box 2627
Gardena, CA 90247
(323) 309-2502 Fax: (310) 538-0760
e-mail: johnphamilton@aol.com

I haven't read the book yet, but I'm sure it has some promising points in it!

Independence Day

With the soundtrack of festive fireworks in my ears, and the smell of barbecue wafting in from the windows, I am reminded of the real history of this young country. Whose Independence Day are we really celebrating, folks? Take the time to think about what this day commemorates and what it truly means to you. Too many times do we find ourselves celebrating holidays that have histories we never took the time to understand. So, I ask again: whose independence are we celebrating today? Our country's? Yes. All of its peoples that built this country with their blood, sweat and tears? A deafening NO! With the current state of our nation, do you feel you have the independence referred to in our Declaration?

Food for thought... thought for freedom.

Bubbly & Bling

Back in the day, there was a major uprising in the black community, nay, the hip-hop community, when Tommy Hilfiger said he didn't want black people wearing his clothing. Now it seems (approx. 15 years later) another major industry is declaring the same sentiment. Jean-Claude Rouzaude, the former manager of Roederer Estates, the company that makes the popular celebrity champagne, Cristal, has told The Economist (summer edition) of the discomfort the publicity from hip-hop stars has given them. He even went as far as saying that he's sure Krug and Dom Perignon wouldn't mind taking the hip-hop industry's business from them.

Jay Z is now boycotting the label and refuses to sell Cristal in his New York Club, 40/40, and has replaced it with Krug and Dom. A wise move, in my opinion. I will no longer patronize that company's products, either, and I will tell everyone I know who drinks it to stop. Anyone whose goal it is to "sip Cris in da club" will also be informed of this travesty. For all the progress the media keeps claiming we've made in race relations, there is always someone or something out there to remind us that it's not. If anything, race relations are inflamed. Is this 2006 or 1906? And why should Roederer Estates care who is buying from them? Do they realize that the hip-hop industry makes up a major portion of their annual sales? If they don't realize the impact that hip-hop has on the world, and in marketing and commerce, they will be learning the hard way. Will I feel sorry for them? Hmmm...in the immortal words of Whitney Houston: "Hell to tha no!"

View the inflammatory article here: Bubbles and Bling

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, mommy! You are the best, and I love you with all my heart. I know you'll be around for many more. You better be, or I'll have no travel partner, no shopping buddy, no nothing!!! You are simply the best. We've been through so mcuh together and because of that, we have forged a bond, a relationship, that is unique in and of itself. There's no other pair like us out there in this world. Nuff said.

It All Starts at Home

I am always inspired and motivated to achieve more when I hear success stories of people (especially minorities) who come from impoverished backgrounds. The following article is about one such family who didn't use their situation as a crutch or excuse to become delinquents or take on roles society would expect them to have. I just might go out and buy the book to show my appreciation for this family overcoming the struggle. None of us should have excuses not to excel in every and any way we can, no matter our positions in life. We must fight to get what we feel/think/know we deserve!

(*Grammatical errors in the following article are not my own. You know I'm a stickler for grammar, but I do not want to touch another person's work without his/her permission.)

"It All Starts At Home: 15 Reasons to Put Families First"

Fayetteville, NC - "“It All Starts at Home: 15 Reasons to Put Family First" (Revell/Baker Publishing) a classic family and parenting book by Larry C. Harris, M.D. written with best-selling author Cecil Murphey, is just what the doctor ordered.


A tribute to Harris'’ parents, with help from his siblings, "“It All Starts at Home" tells the inspirational story of Fred and Ruth Harris, uneducated African-American's who had ten children born in the south before the Civil Rights movement took hold. Remarkably, instead of the children becoming a product of their society, school dropouts to become lifelong welfare recipients, they all became well-educated and successful citizens with values and life principles that shaped their lives and made them productive members of society.

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

Resting on the simple concept the family comes first, "“It All Starts at Home"” incorporates 15 lessons the Harris'’ taught their children. These lessons were common sense child-rearing attributes empowered with great wisdom, much love, and strong discipline influenced their children for a lifetime. Lessons included: honor your name; because mom and dad lived what they taught, we had no trouble following; each child is responsible for the next younger child; always be willing to give to those who are less fortunate than you are, any honest job is good, no matter what it is; and we'’re as good as anybody else, no one is inferior.

"”My parents may have been uneducated, but that didn'’t stop them,"” states Larry Harris, M.D. "“Dad earned his GED while he was in the army. He also received his bachelor'’s degree in business, but only after all of us had gone through college. Mom, who had quit school in the eleventh grade, went back and graduated from high school. Later she completed a college course in business machines at a community college . . . none of us have ever been on drugs or alcohol, been arrested, or involved in any kind of behavior to bring reproach on the family. Whatever we'’ve amounted to in this life it'’s because our family wisely and lovingly taught us the right way to go."

The testimonies the family endured of prejudices and racism through the Civil Rights movement, the endless sacrifices Fred and Ruth Harris made for their children, the life lessons forever earned is forthcoming in "“It All Starts at Home." It impacted this family and is sure to impact others for years to come.

Foreword by Dr. Ben Carson, author of "“Gifted Hands"” and college roommate of Dr. Larry Harris.

ISBN#: 0-8007-5908-7
Publisher: Revell/Baker Books
Price: $12.99, paper
Pages: 224

www.itallstartsathome.com

Hooray, Miami Heat!!!

Before the Miami Heat won the Championship against Dallas:



After the Miami Heat won the Finals:






It was pretty crazy in the streets and everyone was super excited to be a part of sports history. I had a ball just getting stuck in traffic and walking with the celebrants up and down the overcrowded streets. Yet, even though I was happy and eager to participate in any festivities, the aftermath was a little anti-climactic for me. I know, people are probably like, "Is she nuts? How could it be anything but bananas fun?!?" Let me explain: I'm from Chicago, home of the legendary Chicago Bulls. I took part in each of the six, yes six, championship victories. So, I'm somewhat spoiled. Those days were utter chaos; no one knew how to handle such mobs, the city wasn't prepared for such riots after a simple little sporting event. Chicago paved the way for basketball celebrations in the streets, and also taught every other major US city how to prepare in the event some other team might eventually win... (Those were the days!)

[Congrats D. Wade (he's a Chi-town native as well) for winning a ring and MVP. You deserve it for all the hard work and wicked shots you made throughout the season.]

Miami and South Beach are the places to be and party, but Chicago has basketball championship parties on lock!!!

Brain Patterns

Your Brain's Pattern

Structured and organized, you have a knack for thinking clearly. You are very logical - and you don't let your thoughts get polluted with emotions. And while your thoughts are pretty serious, they're anything from boring. It's minds like yours that have built the great cities of the world!

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

I Can't Hear You!!!!

Why is it that, when people know you are in a club or some other loud environment, they insist on callin you anyway? Isn't that one of the beautiful and splendid things about text messaging? But, of course, I forget about all that as well and actually pick up the call amid blaring music and thumping bass while right in the middle of my little shimmy, rather than forcing the person so desperately trying to contact me and join me in my world to text me his/her/their location. I will not be so forgetful next time. Thanks, Jen, for taking this candid of me screaming into my phone!

Nina

For those who appreciate jazz, You know that Nina Simone was a force and category all her own. For those who haven't heard her dynamic voice and compelling lyrics, I highy suggest you do a little audio research. I probably have at least one version of every song she ever released, along with live one-night-only performances. She is a sort of hero of mine and she deserves recognition from the newer generations. Never forget the pioneers, never forget those who came before us so that we might progress. Nina, you are loved, adored and respected. You are eternally among us and your voice breathes life still.

Check out Nina Simone in all her glory.





What a woman!

Derek

Loking into the archives of poetry I've written, my friend has written, and poetry we've shared from luminaries whose words touch us, I found this little gem from Derek Walcott, a poetry master.

The Fist

The fist clenched round my heart
loosens a little, and I gasp
brightness; but it tightens
again. When have I ever not loved
the pain of love? But this has moved

past love to mania. This has the strong
clench of the madman, this is
gripping the ledge of unreason, before
plunging howling in the abyss.

Hold hard then, heart. This way at least you live.

How did this make you feel?

A Great Feat Indeed

We all have certian goals we leave unsaid. Here, not in so many words, is one I hold dear.

Haiku #21

A great feat to write;
even greater to live and
write to tell it all.

Lucky Day

I woke up this morning feeling like absolute and utter crap. I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions this week and it has left me exhausted. The silver lining is that I've reconnected with a person who is extremely dear to me. Each morning, or anytime I've felt myself falling into a slump these past few days, this friend has completely turned my day around and made it lovely, regardless of the distance that is separating us right now (thank goodness for text messaging and email!).

I've been doing mental cartwheels through fields of gold because of you and thought I'd let you know, even though I think you know that already. I dedicate this to you (I know it's corny and sounds silly cuz I'm bad at rhyming poetry, but it's the thought that counts--I hope!)

Lucky Day

Looked at the sky, it was crystalline blue,
with pink cotton clouds that looked so sweet.
A stray black cat crossed over my feet,
but when I looked up I saw you.

Went to the mall and there was a sale;
I almost bought the whole rack.
When I got outside I stepped on a crack,
so I called my mom who laughed with unruffled sails.

A stranger bought me some lovely flowers.
I picked each of its petals for fun.
“Loves me not,” they said; you smiled like the sun.
That night, we star gazed and held each other for hours.

Before bed I looked in the mirror;
It shattered and my face turned bland.
But you entered the scene and took my hand;
now I see myself much clearer.

©2005 Vicky Therese Davis

Hope you like it and that it conveys what I feel. Thanks for being in my life.

A late comemmoration of Mommy as a late Mommy's Day celebration. The both of us in Bangkok 1994

A Little Ditty

This was sent to me from a poetry magazine that is interested in publishing a piece of mine. I thought it was thought provoking and cute.

Triolet on a Line Apocryphally Attributed to Martin Luther
A.E. Stallings

Why should the Devil get all the good tunes,
The booze and the neon and Saturday night,
The swaying in darkness, the lovers like spoons?
Why should the Devil get all the good tunes?
Does he hum them to while away sad afternoons
And the long, lonesome Sundays? Or sing them for spite?
Why should the Devil get all the good tunes,
The booze and the neon and Saturday night?


Do you believe in the Devil...?

New Shoe Is a Racial Misstep

A a lover of gym shoes both common and rare, and as avid follower of race relations, I found the following article of great interest, seeing as how both are discussed on this rare occasion. Thanks for this one, Miykie!

New Shoe is a Racial Misstep

By Jabari Asim
Monday, April 17, 2006; 12:01 AM

WASHINGTON -- During the 1980s, in the black neighborhood where I spent much of my time, a pair of rumors became as familiar as Jheri curls and that hideous red jacket Michael Jackson wore in his "Beat It" video. Both tales involved a couple of clothing lines that included sneakers among their products. One brand was said to have a logo that served as an acronym for "to rule over oppressed people." The other was widely believed to conceal a racial slur in the insole of each shoe. Both clothing lines have faded from prominence, and since the rumors were untrue, I won't name the manufacturers here.

I mention them merely to show that minority groups have occasionally voiced suspicions that clothes, sneakers and other commercial products can function as agents of racism. Asian-Americans expressed such sentiments in 2002, when Abercrombie & Fitch stocked their shelves with T-shirts bearing contemptible images of Asians and such infuriating slogans as "Wong Brothers Laundry Service -- Two Wongs Can Make It White."

A year later, the Urban Outfitters chain ticked off African-Americans by selling Ghettopoly, a racist board game created by David Chang.

Several readers wrote to me at that time, asking if I would have opposed the game if it had been created by an African-American. I responded that I would, and that I was just as disgusted by equally brainless products introduced by blacks, such as Pimp Juice, the brainchild of the rap star Nelly, and Rilniga jeans, sold by a black-owned company in Cincinnati.

I am no less disturbed by a new sneaker that Adidas has introduced as a limited-edition product in its "Yellow Series." A black shoe adorned by three gold stripes, its tongue is festooned with the face of a cartoon character with buck teeth and slanted eyes. Nearly as over-the-top as the Cleveland Indians' grinning logo, the image is lurid and confrontational. According to news reports and Internet chatter, the face on the $250 shoes has upset some Asian-Americans. Other Asian-Americans, however, have defended the footwear. The mixed response can be traced in part to the racial identity of the man who designed the shoe: Barry McGee, a San Francisco-based artist, happens to be half-Chinese. He says the image is based on his own appearance as a child.

Conventional wisdom suggests that some group behavior -- and other alleged characteristics, such as facial features -- can only be ridiculed from within the group. Therefore, a joke told by Dave Chappelle may be considered brilliant, while the same joke told by David Letterman would be deemed offensive. In a similar vein, African-Americans often seem reluctant to criticize racist language used by black performers, citing their ironic intent and attempts -- however feeble -- to remove the power from such words.

The irony is often lost on many blacks when others invoke similar arguments. David Chang tried to defend his Ghettopoly game in such terms. "I'm not trying to single a race out," he explained. "The whole point of me doing this is not so much stereotyping people, it's poking fun at stereotyping. It's meant to be satirical." Some of the same African-Americans who timidly tolerate black performers' obnoxious lyrics roundly denounced Chang's rationalizations. No doubt Asian-Americans confront similar dilemmas when they encounter creations like McGee's.

In a statement issued by Adidas, McGee said he never thought the image was racist and that he is "sorry to those people who perceive it that way. All I remember is having Stan Smith's face on my Adidas when I was young, and was elated to put a caricature of myself on a shoe when presented the opportunity this year." His motives may indeed be pure, although his defense of them is somewhat shaky. Unlike McGee's provocative design, the tennis champion's screen-printed visage on his namesake shoes couldn't possibly be described as satirical or stereotypical.

Nor did Smith's portrait carry as much potential to harm. Images such as McGee's are complicated by the wider, whiter world and its population, whose knowledge of racial minorities often remains inexplicably limited. Perhaps Adidas' puzzling decision to market the shoe -- and even more puzzling, to include it in its "Yellow Series" -- derives from its own circumscribed intelligence. Or perhaps the company was focused so intensely on profit that it was blind to everything but green.

2006 Washingtonpost. Newsweek Interactive