Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Headlines Read...





In Todays news I am sad to report that:

racism is still alive and well. Come on sir, you know full and damn well you didn't have no business talking like that. I wasn't going to touch this subject, but I had to.




Black people and cops just don't get along. I just recently reported on this issue, I will tackle it again at a later date. Rest in Peace to Sean Bell.


The Good Reverend Al Sharpton will not be up for the 2008 election. Honestly, was he serious the first time? He has a fun face!



Obama has critics now. What? I'll kill 'em, I'll nail up by their tails! I'll kill 'em!



Did she really lose her mind and microwave her baby? Somebody better come up with something quick, cuz I am about to trip!

Next time: Students on the campus of UNLV protest to the new English speaking rule up in Pahrump, Nevada, by taping their mouths shut.
Thank you for tuning in to today's news...until next time, it has been an honor and pleasure. Yeah, a honor and a pleasure.
Be blessed

Poetry Venues

Grace and Peace

I have been asked to post the poetry events around the Las Vegas Valley

3rd Fridays - Poet's Corner ( WLV Arts Center) 7:00pm
1st and 3rd Saturdays - Purban Poetry Pulpit (Cafe Hookah) 8:30pm
2nd and 4th Wednesdays -Ice House Poetry (Ice House) 8:30pm
2nd and 4th Saturdays - Untamed Tongues (Bar Code Lounge) 8:00pm
4th Saturdays - Goodtimes Poetry Venue (Wildflower Cafe) 8:00pm
Last Saturday- Black Book Sessions (Money Plays Bar) *more of an open mic from rappers*

questions? ask.

Peace

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thankful!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and even if you don't believe give up a few thanks!
Even if you do thank every day (which would be a good thing to do) Give up a few extra!
Happy Turkey Day!
I will see y'all in anudda while!
Happy Wednesday!

Road Trip!

Grace and Peace

I took a road trip today, passed by and through a few places.

Straight ahead!

Hook a left at the light!

Get over in your far right lane!

What you say?

Now, you can come on back home!

A Personal Blog

I didn't know what it would be like once I got there, it wasn't any kind of fear...Just the feeling of not knowing. Of course she is warm and has this amazing forgiving smile. A warrior woman with the beds of peace surrounding her insides and curling outward. She is the perfect picture of evolving and growth. I sat there on her couch wanting to snoop around- the paintings where of her own heart and everything means something.

I found myself lounging on couch, when usually womanly instinct would have told me to sit up straight. But, it was okay...Slouching was allowed in this place. The dish she prepared for me was delicious and the cup of tea had me dreaming about sweeter and better days. My shoes were already off, so all the more comfortable all the more...Better.

I found myself seeking advice about a certain male that I wouldn't mind making mine. She told me the secrets...It was good. A warm and cozy nook, thank you!

Friday, November 17, 2006

Do You Know Malcolm






Giving Honor Where the Highest Honor is Due!

*Bliss Says: Today I thought about Malcolm. How he want to walk like Malcolm and talk like Malcolm and how he want to think like Malcolm. He told me that he wish he could move like Malcolm, swing like Malcolm...Make his voice be heard just like Malcolm. Then he say, do you know Malcolm?

Do you really know Malcolm? El Haj Malik El-Shabazz

Do you really know Malcolm? El Haj Malik El-Shabazz



Everywhere you go you see Malcolm on display

In Atlanta or Dallas, from New York to L.A.

His photos on a T-shirt, and you'll always see an "X"

But unless you know his message it's just a pretext

Do you really know Malcolm with his name on your clothes

Or is it just a fashion thing that comes and goes

Do you really know Malcolm or is his name just a word?

**Song written by Phil Morrison**

Malcolm says:

"The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God." -- Speech, Dec. 1, 1963, New York City.

"ItÂ’s just like when youÂ’ve got some coffee thatÂ’s too black, which means itÂ’s too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour too much cream in it, you wonÂ’t even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep." -- "Message to the Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).

"If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country." -- Speech, Nov. 1963, New York City.

"I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color."

"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."

**Bliss Says - There is Malcolm. Walking and talking and swinging, like he do. Smile Malcolm, for me, Would ya? One day he will be able to walk like Malcolm and talk like Malcolm and ...make his-self be heard just like Malcolm did.

Much respect...keepers of the flame.

Grace and Peace

Bliss

Police!

Grace and Peace

I have been reading about police brutality for past few days and the information that is available to us is alarming. I reside in Las Vegas and who would think that Metro police would be so brutal towards the citizens. I know that I can not and I will not place all officers into my little box, but for those who fit the profile, put the shoe on. I agree that there are some things that we as citizens have to take into consideration when judging officers. I know that you all have families at home and friends, but you can not take on the position of an officer in order to take out your childhood or adolescent frustrations.

In this world there in no one poking at your pimples or chasing you around the lunch hall calling you fat. In this world there are consequences for your actions and yes, you too are under the binding of the law. Fuck your classes and your bullet proof vest! Fuck your addiction to Superman and Batman movies! This is real life and you can not simply enter the game thinking that you can do what you please to people.

Young black men of America are suffering on the account of your hands! Young Hispanic men of America are suffering on the account of your hands! Hell, even some young white men are suffering on the account of your hands! The body count is too many and the bloodshed is too much!

Stand down, shit. When do you stand down, when do you stop and think, when do you learn to try to control the situation. Who told you it was time to go crazy and just start killing people?

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TO POLICE OFFICERS THAT PRACTICE BRUTALITY- WE NEED YOU TO STOP!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Turn The Word Upside a Damn Wall

Grace and Peace

I was reading today on BET News how the students at Howard University are calling each other "coons". I assume that this is the latest try at word play for young black Americans. Black Americans turning words that are used as racial slurs into everyday words. To think that this would be taking place at a place of higher education and not to mention at a HBCU. Could "coon" be the next "nigger"?




I have taken the liberty of looking up the definitions and the ideals of "coon". Thank you to Ferris State University for providing some insight, although I will not take incerpts from the actual article I will place some of the images that they provided on their web site.

I found the definition of coon on the urban dictionary site:


A coon is a black actor or actress, who takes roles that stereotypically portrays black people. They think they've made it but they are slaves to the same images. A.k.a selloutIt comes from the term baracoons (a cage), where they used to place Africans, who were waiting to be sent to America to be slaves.

They had no idea of this, so some of them were even eager waiting in the baracoons.Examples- Roles or advertisements were black people:-play basketball-rap about a product-are obsessed with money or chicken-have a lot of video hoes-have names that show that they are black (kwame, darnel, any two capital letters (JT, TJ, AJ, TC, JJ), any female name ending in a "qua",

excessively use old terms we made up like-
woo wee-
bling bling-
yo-holla-
im da man,
you da man-
that's wack yo-
daaaamn!-
or any term that white people have begun to acknowledge, use and accept.-(I hope you get the idea- this happens everyday)

Black guy on commercial or in movie: Woo wee! Boy do I love me some chicken, where da Koolaid at?




I found this definition on Urban Dictionary Also:

The coon is a lazy, easily frightened, chronically idle, inarticulate, buffoon. Often working as a servant he is unhappy with his status but is too simple or lazy to improve his lowly position. He is a gaudly dressed "Dandy" who "Puts on airs". Coons do not know their place and think they are as smart as White people; however, their frequent malapropisms and distorted logic suggested that any attempt to compete intellectually with Whites is pathetic. His use of bastardized English confirms the commonly held beliefs that Blacks are inherently less intelligent than whites. The coon's goal in life is leisure, and his leisure time is spent strutting, styling, fighting, avoiding real work, eating watermelons, and making a fool of himself. If he is married, his wife dominates him. If he is single, he seeks to please the flesh without entanglements.

**Bliss says: I know a few of them**




**Bliss Says:
Unconsciously we let these stereotypes consume who we are as a people, knowing the consequence of such use. We often let it slide and we think that because we are such powerful users of artistic ability that we can ultimately control what we create. I beg to differ:



The keepers of the flame said the future was bright, I am starting to think; maybe not.

Grace and Peace

Bliss

Thursday, November 09, 2006

What Ya Doin'



Grace and Peace

Tomorrow, I break. You will not reach me on this blog tomorrow. So if ya need me, u can catch me on Saturday, this is where I will be. It is Thursday, but HAPPY FRIDAY!

BLISS

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Lady Sings The Blues



Strange Fruit

Southern trees, bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves, blood at the roots
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the popular trees

Pastoral scene, of the gallant south
Them big bulging eyes and the twisted mouths
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh- then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck, for the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop.
Here is a strange and bitter crop.


Bliss says: Honestly it pisses me off when black folk say that they have no reason to vote. Ignorance is not Bliss, it is just plain ignorance. I'd personally like to think that if my people died for anything, then they died for me. I'd like to think that if they fought for anything then they fought for me. They laid themselves on the alter and offered up themselves as sacrifices - FOR ME! For them you have to live on, strive on, fight on and you may have to give up your comfortableness and do something out of the ordinary and turn it into the extraordinary!

Monday, November 06, 2006

This is Where I went Today

I found her today. Rested in her place for a while and decided to come on home. You should go by, bet she wouldn't mind.

On The Eve of My Reckoning:

On The Eve of my Reckoning:

There is something to be said about Vanity. About heavy it can be and how easy it can weigh you down. Met a girl named "Vanity" once and I thought what in the world was her momma thinking, went and named that child Vanity.

Vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Vanity is considered a form of self-idolatry, in which one rejects God for sake of one's own image, and thereby becomes divorced from the graces of God. Nietzsche wrote that "vanity is the fear of appearing original: it is thus a lack of pride, but not necessarily a lack of originality."

Don't get Vanity confused with confidence. Being confident comes by the work of God, so it can in no way be confused with Vanity. So to label someone vain means, that you have nothing else to do with your time.

I have come to realize that people will say what they please about you and about your circumstance, but when confronted with their own baggage they flee. Momma told me that people wouldn't like my walk and wouldn't be able to understand my talk. She said that they act like they get mad when you hold your head up too high. Like it is something heavy on them, like you challenge them to do and be better.

Of all the people, I thought you understood.


Now, I think I'll add a picture of me to this place. See how they like that.

"Here come Mr., always talking about Shug"

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Revolution Will Be...


Thought I'd share with you what happened on this day in history!


1983 : MLK federal holiday declared

President Ronald Reagan signs a bill in the White House Rose Garden designating a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., to be observed on the third Monday of January.
Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in Atlanta in 1929, the son of a Baptist minister. He received a doctorate degree in theology and in 1955 organized the first major protest of the civil rights movement: the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott. Influenced by Mohandas Gandhi, he advocated nonviolent civil disobedience to racial segregation. The peaceful protests he led throughout the American South were often met with violence, but King and his followers persisted, and the movement gained momentum.
A powerful orator, he appealed to Christian and American ideals and won growing support from the federal government and Northern whites. In 1963, he led his massive March on Washington, in which he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" address. In 1964, the civil rights movement achieved two of its greatest successes: the ratification of the 24th Amendment, which abolished the poll tax, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited racial discrimination in employment and education and outlawed racial segregation in public facilities. In October of that year, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He donated the prize money, valued at $54,600, to the civil rights movement.
In the late 1960s, King openly criticized U.S. involvement in Vietnam and turned his efforts to winning economic equality for poorer Americans. By that time, the civil rights movement had begun to fracture, with activists such as Stokely Carmichael rejecting King's vision of nonviolent integration in favor of African American self-reliance and self-defense. In 1968, King intended to revive his movement through an interracial "Poor People's March" on Washington, but on April 4 escaped white convict James Earl Ray assassinated him in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Revolution Will Be...Whatever you need it to be!

Grace and Peace

Bliss

A Test

Grace and Peace

In the past few months, weeks, days, hours and minutes my faith has been tested. Hanging on to that mustard seed is not as easy as it may seem. Having faith and walking in it is a trying job.

Thank Him for bringing me through!

Grace and Peace