I Forgot that It Was Hot!!

I mentioned my trip to Dallas, but I forgot to tell you all about the wide world of Dallas. My eyes could not stretch as far as its highways, my eyes could not conform to the overwhelmingly number of blacks, my eyes could not fathom the rudeness that I encountered. My favorite phrase while I was there was - "what happened to southern hospitality". There was hardly none, I can count on my hand how many people were nice to me while I was there. I think that I perhaps smiled a little too much and spoke a little too often, I should have been rude like them - maybe I would have fit in better.

I digress. With the help of the faceless Michael G, I was able to locate some hot spots for poetry. He was hosting a show in Addison - didn't make it. He was performing at a show is Austin - didn't make it. He pointed me towards a show in Downtown Dallas - didn't enjoy it. He pushed me toward a show in Dallas on MLK - score! Sankofa Nights is off the chain down there. Wait, let me tell you - they had a live band, they had brothas and sistas singing that neo-soul type shit that we all like, I had smoking hot catfish on the table before me and the poets blazed it at every chance they received. I was feeling the vibe that was running down through my bones and out of the tips of my fingertips, I was in love. The Sankofa Cafe had engulfed me and swallowed me up in its sweet nectar of home and space and everything imaginable. My hands clapped and my soul sang and even the hairs from underneath my braids screamed to be free like Sankofa! It felt like church on Sunday morning - where we worshipped the freedom of poetry, music, laughter, freedom, sensuality, Jesus Christ and My Sustainer from high above - we celebrated we!

I had to thank them for welcoming me and allowing me to bless the mic at their sanctuary. Not only did I receive the Sankofa cell phone light, I received a standing ovation and more love than I could cup into both of my hands.

Here we Go!

Breaking

Breaking is not easy. I have tried, I am trying and I will continue to try. People are seeking poets to perform at anything these days. Weddings, parties, poetry venues, recreation venues, churches, funerals...everywhere!

I have embarked on my journey. Learning, loving... more learning and more loving. I have just read Black Like Me, it was not the best writing but however it is a book that I am glad to have read. The book has been collecting dust on my shelf for years, honestly. It was an assigned read from Dr. Spencer, I guess he thought that it would be effective in teaching us about the black experience in America. I am however, more interested in re-discovering the black political movement. Which Dr. Spencer's class does not explore - I am to hungry to see who else I will discover on my journey. Assata is like fresh melon in the summertime, Carmichael is everything real in the spring time and H. Rap Brown is an open handed fist striking every wind that blows his way.

Before I left for Dallas, the Ice House was both terrifying and wonderful. It was supposedly my goodbye show (fingers crossed). My brother in poetry The D rocked the mic and missed it. A girl spoke on the mic next and if only I knew her name, but she was selling her books for 5 dollars. I was going to buy one, but her attitude was one of another world. Kato from the Chi did his thing after my boi Terrance. My man who is also nameless (because I don't know the brother), spoke on the mic in faces and tones that no one could respect enough not to laugh.

Brand New

I am going to write something here one day.