blakfriday's topics - tribe.net

Writers?

onyxhawke — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 01:27:52 GMT

Hello,

I'm a literary agent. A new one. A black one. I adore Urban Fantasy (among other slices of the SF/F persuasion) but i don't recall seeing any UF written by black writers, with lead black characters.

So, anyone feel like writing one or two novel length ones and sending them my way?

posted in blakfriday - 6 replies

New Website for Black Vegetarian Singles - Free to Join!

Mya — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:38:34 GMT

NAPTURALLUV: NEW WEBSITE FOR BLACK VEGETARIANS LOOKING FOR LOVE

NEW BLACK VEGETARIAN DATING WEBSITE - FREE TO JOIN!

Are you a vegetarian, single, and looking for love?

Check out napturalluv.ning.com, the newest website exclusively for black vegetarian singles! It's basically like a MySpace and an e-harmony put together, but it is for black non-meat eaters looking for love and it does shove religion down your throat. The site was launched less than a month ago and there is a hundred members so far from all over the U.S.

Napturalluv was started by, Mya B., 20-year vegetarian and sexy star of reality show, 'Can't Get a Date', that aired on VH1. "Nap-tural love is built on the fact that many vegetarians and holistic health folks want to date people who eat and think like them. We all want to eventually find our 'soul mate' right?", says Mya B. Mya B, independent filmmaker, also known for her award winning film, "Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America," is hoping to connect people looking for love in the right places...

Check out Nap-tural Love:
http://napturalluv.ning.com

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

)'( 'bout dat time!!!! The scent of playa dust is in the air....

skyclad — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:40:52 GMT

Who's in, what's the plan... will there be a Blakfriday on the playa this year? I'm just now getting my act together, but today was the first time the pre-playa rush hit me. Got my eyes on a cheap new bike at Target. Let me know what's up y 'all.

posted in blakfriday - 3 replies

competition for Carols Daughter! - New product line that is really all natural

Mya — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:39:01 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United States of America (Press Release) July 12, 2008 -- Products of the Earth
Phone: 347-529-1399
Email: info@productsoftheearth.com
Website: www.productsoftheearth.com

WATCH OUT CAROL'S DAUGHTER! NEW NATURAL PRODUCT LINE OUT OF CHICAGO IS TAKING NEW YORK BY STORM.

New York, NY - Products of the Earth www.productsoftheearth.com
has a full line of natural products for the face, body, and hair for both men, women, and children to indulge in. High quality natural shea butter is used as a main ingredient in several of the products along with jojoba oil, palm oil, organic coconut oil, etc. Some of the essential oils used to help nurture your skin are: lavender, tea tree oil, rosemary, eucalyptus, tangerine, ylang ylang, along with several others.

For many of his body and hair care products, they use cold-pressed herbal infusions. Each infusion is specially produced to target specific skin, hair, face, foot or hygiene issues. As a result you have products that not only target dry skin, but also other conditions such as eczema, blemishes, stretch marks, and rough patches. These infusions also help to tone and restore the skin from the inside out. The hair revitalizing cream, good for any hair type, infuses over 20 organic herbs to help target many hair and scalp conditions from dryness and brittleness to psoriasis and alopecia.

Products of the Earth takes pride in producing high quality products for their consumers. His body line has tantalizing salt and sugar scrubs, body washes, hand-whipped shea butters, and oil-based body sprays from exotic scents such as, Frank and Kush, Egyptian Amber, Mango Butter, Rocking Rio, Cranberry Rose, Green Tea, etc. Hand-whipped scented Shea Butters to soften and Citrus/Oats Earth Facial Scrub to softly exfoliate with walnut shell powder as it's base are just two of the fast selling products. "His products are the best products I have ever tried!", says one of Oprah Winfrey's sidekicks, Iyanla Vanzant, internationally recognized inspirational speaker and best-selling author.

Founded by a brotha named, Baheru from Chicago, whose products "began with the vision of providing an alternative to the chemicals in other products that we saturate our bodies with everyday." Baheru believes in using high quality, raw, organic herbs, carrier oils and essential oils to the actual production of his finished products.

Treat yourself to a day spa without leaving your home... All of Products of the Earth's products are available for purchase online at www.productsoftheearth.com.
To request a product sample for a potential article, please contact Baheru at baheru37@gmail.com.

Contact Information:
Products of the Earth
Baheru, Owner
www.productsoftheearth.com
Phone: 347-529-1399

###

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

It's been a little too quiet around here ....

steveJames — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:10:07 GMT

What's good ?
How's everyone doing ?
What are your plans this Summer ?

posted in blakfriday - 5 replies

The Comma After Embrace

DeeJay — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:51:14 GMT

Embrace...,
The gravitational pull between celestial bodies creates a road upon which, scientists say, our little earthly energies can travel. The pull is powerful, and although pictured here in this image for the purposes of explanation, it is invisible.

The pull of energy between people and the many ways we engage our life forces is powerful too. Sometimes the pull toward one thing or another is unexpected and so heavy that we follow it before we've had time to consider its meaning. But more often than not, we feel the pull and resist it, at least long enough to analyze and decide. The decision is cerebral, taking everything we know into account. The pull itself is visceral and does not care what we know.

It's like the moment after an embrace when something makes you want to share a kiss. Two people holding each other a bit longer than friendly affection calls for and both feel some power sitting between them. Analytical creatures that we are we tend to write in a comma after the embrace, giving ourselves time to be rational and reasonable. Slowing up the energy and cooling it off. Giving our counterpart time to back away. The couple might take two steps back and shut down the energy, only to find out 10 years later that the moment had been powerful for the other person too.

I feel that we are moving into a time in the world where trusting the energy we feel, those inexplicable and unexpected forces that come upon us, that moment where the spark in us is enlivened so greatly as to create a road to somewhere new, is going to be critical not only to our success in a given moment but to our survival as creative beings. At some point we have to combine our knowledge with our instinct, and know when to let our instincts lead.

Some days the healthiest thing we can do is just let go and follow the vibration that energizes our souls. Today is one of those days for me and I wish many more of those days for you.

So don't fight the feeling my dears...it might just lead you to a moment of unspeakable bliss.

Dee Jay
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PERSONAL STORIES FOR CONSIDERATION AT MY BLOG:
http://soulfamilystories.blogspot.com/
WE ARE LOOKING FOR GLIMPSES OF YOUR LIFE JOURNEY THAT HELP THE READER TO HEAL OR ACHIEVE GREATER UNDERSTANDING.
GUIDELINES:
250 WORDS MAX (ABOUT A PAGE). RELEVENT TO THE PLIGHT OF FOLKS IN THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. SUBMIT TO tinkerblinker@yahoo.com

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Check Out This Amazing Obama Video!

skyclad — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:54:18 GMT

http://www.dipdive.com/

You must see this!!!!

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Writers' Guild of America Strike

DaB0mb — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:49:58 GMT

Hey everybody, I've been doing a daily podcast from the strike lines of the WGA strike. Yesterday's episode is dedicated in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:

http://wgastrike2007.blogspot.com/2008/01/wsc-show-72-interview-with-monique-n.html

Please note that I am going by my real name on this project, so I would prefer not to have this forwarded using my alt here on tribe. Cheers!

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Spiritual Writers Wanted

rootwomin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:50:57 GMT

Greetings,

In honor of the 7th Annual Community Ancestral Feast hosted by Forces of Nature Metaphysical and Spiritual Center of Seattle, WA ,SpiritMovin, a group dedicated to writings related to african and native spirituality, is holding a contest for writing that relates how your Ancestors have helped you to overcome adversity, protected you, or warned you of an impending situation that required your attention.

You may submit up to 3 entries, none to exceed 1000 words.

To enter go to this link:

www.writerscafe.org/contests/2768/

Live Peacefully,
Forces of Nature Metaphysical and Spiritual Center
Seattle WA

www.fonspiritualcenter.org

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Brother Otto

DaB0mb — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:55:13 GMT

Otto is not very active here on Tribe, but he is VERY active in the SF community.

If you know him, he really needs some love right now. More info here:

http://burncast.blogspot.com/2007/10/brother-otto-has-friends.html

Apologies if this was mis-posted.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

BLACK CLUTURE MAKES ME ANGRY...

basicmemory — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 09:56:17 GMT

just so there is no misunderstanding... (revolutionaries fucking shout)

i'm angry because-

1) we have no "leaders" and we think it's cool to have a reverand with the last name "dollars"...

2) we feel let down over psuedo-rolemodels when we need to look to ourselves as individuials and do what it is we inherantly do best, "adapt and overcome". you know, i don't hear other ethnicities talking about "rolemodels", they don't need them, they know what success is and how to get it. they don't look for a hook-up when all they got is 43 cents of skills (except bush of course).

3) we value celebrity over cerebral... yeah, we spread all the thuggary of "bling-bling", "yo my nigga" annnnnnnnnd "bitches ain't shit but tricks and hoes" (does that mean your mamas, sisters, aunts and big mama?). rappers get out of the hood and take your stupid asses to school, widen your vocabulary and you won't have to make shit up like shizzy-my-(fucking) nizzy...!

4) my people constantly try to check each other over silly shit like speaking like you HAVE an education. when they need to know, that the most dark and down of us in africa speak the "kings" english. this happens to sound MUCH more "white" than anything, so pass the ignorance please...

5) have made no signifigant progress in the last 30 years and get played like monkeys on election day... if you care about our future, you'd be gottdamn angry too!

this is the world of shit we are in and i am damn angry! so excuse me if i "blakfriday" out and say so...

y'all join me in defiance of the world and our own self-inflicted dis-isms...!!!

WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY...?

posted in blakfriday - 17 replies

Midnight Mix : Spank Rock

DevastatorJr — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:17:12 GMT

Midnight Mix

To celebrate summer, we’ve invited five influential DJ’s to spin the beats that keep them on track. Select Friday nights at the Apple Store, Fifth Avenue. June through September, 12:00 midnight to 2:00am

Spank Rock
09.21.07
Baltimore-bred Spank Rock are relative newcomers, but the success of their 2006 debut album YoYoYoYoYo is undeniable. In the past year, they’ve brought their bouncy sound to remixes of Björk, Lady Sovereign, and more, but it’s the incredible energy of their live shows that’s not to be missed.

http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/midnightmix/

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Burning Man 07 Roll call

steveJames — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 01:02:30 GMT

Ok , were just about 4 weeks way ...

Who's going ?

posted in blakfriday - 17 replies

Jena six petition

Nuru — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:56:24 GMT

Please sign the petition for the Jena six party.

THE MICHAEL BAISDEN SHOW: LIVE FROM JENA, LA SEPTEMBER 20TH

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Baddest Man on radio is putting action behind his words. On September 20th Michael Baisden along with comedian George Wilborn, national celebrities, and thousands of loyal listeners will March on the Jena Courthouse to demand justice for Mychal Bell, one of the black teenagers awaiting sentencing in the Jena 6 Case. Mychal Bell could receive up to 22 years in prison for what amounted to nothing more then a fist fight between black and white high school students.

Michael will need all the support he can get to show the prosecutors, the Judge, and the entire nation that we will not stand by while they steal the lives of our children. Time for talk is over, it's time to act!

JOIN THE BAD BOY IN JENA - CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR DETAILS:
http://www.minglecity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=617

Please sign the petition for the Jena six party.

www.petitiononline.com/aZ51CqmR/petition.html

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Support Joya Mosely AA student studing medicine in Cuba

Nuru — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:56:47 GMT

I had the chance to listen to Ms. Joya live on LIBradio.com last week . She explained how Cube offered 800 scholerships to AA and other low income people around the world to become a medical doctor. I originally thought that this program was canceled but it is not and these students need care packages. We are hoping to hear from Joya on a regular basis. Here is her link please help to support our people in Cuba.

http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/Main/JoyaCubaMedicalStudent?action=browse

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Black man on a mission

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:21:28 GMT

Ok so many of you know me as the Angry Black Man from LA. But in life I am just a cool kind hearted person trying to do what I can to make a real difference in the my corner of this planet.

So I have this foundation where I try to help people who have less. I even lived for 34 days as a homeless person to get a first hand look at what life is really like for homeless people.

Next week I will be at it again. I am going to live as a homeless man for the second time here in LA. So from August 27 until September 26 I will be on the streets living just like a homeless man. I am working closely with my team of Docs to make sure I can do the entire 30 days without getting sick. As many of you know who read my blog I am a sickle cell patient and I have cancer, but my desire to help people and the ability of the God I serve is greater then both if these things.

So please keep me in your prayers as I begin another chapter in my mission to help people. I invite you to read my blog daily to keep up with what is going on how and what I am doing.

Also for those of you in the LA/SoCal area I invite you to come out and help with the largest Do Something Saturday Event to date on Saturday September 8th from 11:00AM until 3:00PM at the Vera Davis Center in Venice. Email me for more details.

There are 98 thousand homeless people here in LA and 51% of this population is black. Let’s stand united as one to STOMP out homelessness all over this country.

Thanks for your continued prayer and support

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

New Yorkers?

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:13:50 GMT

If there are any New York City natives and/or residents in this tribe, I would love to get some advice and tips from you on navigating, experiencing, and living in NYC. I am moving there soon to go to Columbia and I have never been to New York in my life. Thanks all!

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

Is Burning Man Radically Inclusive?

DaB0mb — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:48:31 GMT

Below is an article as posted in the SF Gate. It's about ethnic diversity (or the lack thereof IMHO) at Burning Man.

What do you think?

Is it true, as Maid Marian claims, that Burning Man "totally mixed"?

Do you think Burning Man is doing enough to attract more people of color?

What are things BM should/could do to attract minorities?

==============================================================================================

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/03/BAGNQEI2GU1.DTL

BURNING MAN AT 20
'Inclusive' is illusive for burners
Vanessa Marlin, Special to the Chronicle
Saturday, September 3, 2005

(09-03) 04:00 PDT Black Rock City, Nev. -- The absence of people of color at an event touted by founder Larry Harvey as "radically inclusive'' is a popular topic of discussion among burners.

"We're f -- ing here this year, and I'm a happy bastard," says Black Light, who would not give his real name. He is from Brooklyn and founded the Land of Califa camp, made up exclusively of African Americans. Members of the camp perform tribal music and create "meals of cultural delight" such as jerk chicken and collard greens.

Observant veterans say the number of minority burners, as those who attend Burning Man call themselves, is slowly expanding, pointing to camps like Roller Disco, lorded over by the "Godfather of Skate," David D. Miles, who is African American and runs Friday Night Skate in San Francisco. His assistants, who teach people to skate with secondhand skates, are Latino, African American and Asian.

Although diversity is being addressed in creative ways by some burners, Burning Man spokeswoman "Maid" Marian Goodell dismisses the topic as irrelevant in a short discussion laced with expletives.

"This isn't a white-Euro bunch," she says. "We're totally mixed."

But that's hard to tell on the playa.

Harvey acknowledges the lack of diversity, although he says no statistical studies have been done.

Burning Man's official census purposely does not collect information on race or ethnicity. The form simply asks whether the person filling it out considers himself white or not, and "Does this question offend you?"

Harvey says the race question comes up every year, but it's not right to put Burning Man in the position of fixing historical racial injustice.

Juke Mackey of Oregon, whose ancestry is Norwegian and African American, has been coming to Burning Man for 11 years and brought his 12-year-old daughter Sofi this year.

He says the inclusive dynamics of Burning Man unite people of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds. "From corporate lawyers to a step above homeless, people you would never put together are here like it's our family reunion."

Harvey says as the father of a mixed-race child, diversity is important to him. He says the absence of minorities reflects the larger issue of social injustice.

"There is a justifiable fear among minorities about leaving their tight- knit communities," he says. "Not to mention the enormous cost."

Harvey says he doesn't want Burning Man to get a reputation as a redneck, lily-white festival. But he understands why Burning Man is attractive for white people who lack tight-knit cultural communities.

"Whites are radically isolated from their families and each other," he said. "It's easy to get lost in a life where no one is connected."

Harvey hopes word of mouth will bring more minorities to Burning Man, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Burning Man's arms are open to everyone, he said.

Black Light, the burner from Brooklyn, is doing his best to spread the word. He's recruiting his friends of color to come to Burning Man and hopes his Land of Califa camp is an inspiration to others. "What I get out of Burning Man is freedom of expression and a sense of common bond beyond racial lines," he said.

E-mail Vanessa Marlin via Chuck Squatriglia at csquatriglia@sfchronicle.com.

posted in blakfriday - 21 replies

For That "One Black Kid'

DevastatorJr — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:07:38 GMT

For That "One Black Kid'
By Keith Knight
www.salon.com/comics/knig.../06/20/knig/

posted in blakfriday - 3 replies

hey there

parveneh — Sat, 19 May 2007 15:15:16 GMT

I produce and host a unique show involving bellydance and world music in Los Angeles my show is very inclusive of black women who dance I would love it if you would take a look at my videos uploaded to youtube.

www.youtube.com/parveneh

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Imus Is An Ass

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:20:11 GMT

Is it me or does there seem to be a lot of celebs and polititians
showin their true colors these days?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070407/ap_en_ce/imus_apology

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

Podcast Special: Obama Los Angeles Rally

DaB0mb — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:44:07 GMT

Illinois Sen. and presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigned in Los Angeles yesterday and I went to check it out. While I was there, I made a recording of the speech he gave.

This speech is entirely unedited and uncut. There is no spin on it from any reporter or mainstream media sources. It is simply the speech in it’s entirety for you to listen and to come to your own opinions about the candidate.
To listen, simply click on the following link below:

http://tinyurl.com/yop4ms

If you're interested in hearing more about what the Obama has to say about
the issues, I recommend listening to his podcasts by subscribing through
iTunes or, if you're allergic to anything Mac, then by all means click here:
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/index.php?iid=13094

Love & Rockets,
DaBomb
http://www.burncast.net

PLEASE NOTE: if you're having difficulties hearing these recordings, I
apologize, but I am unable to offer technical support at this time.

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

Truly Indie Fans

DevastatorJr — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:05:09 GMT

January 28, 2007
Truly Indie Fans
By JESSICA PRESSLER
WHEN Douglas Martin first saw the video for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as a teenager in High Point, N.C., “it blew my mind,” he said. Like many young people who soothe their angst with the balm of alternative rock, Mr. Martin was happy to discover music he enjoyed and a subculture where he belonged.

Except, as it turned out, he didn’t really belong, because he is black.

“For a long time I was laughed at by both black and white people about being the only black person in my school that liked Nirvana and bands like that,” said Mr. Martin, now 23, who lives in Seattle, where he is recording a folk-rock album.

But 40 years after black musicians laid down the foundations of rock, then largely left the genre to white artists and fans, some blacks are again looking to reconnect with the rock music scene.

The Internet has made it easier for black fans to find one another, some are adopting rock clothing styles, and a handful of bands with black members have growing followings in colleges and on the alternative or indie radio station circuit. It is not the first time there has been a black presence in modern rock. But some fans and musicians say they feel that a multiethnic rock scene is gathering momentum.

“There’s a level of progress in New York in particular,” said Daphne Brooks, an associate professor of African-American studies at Princeton. She was heartened last summer by the number of children of color in a class she taught at the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, where kids learn to play punk-rock standards.

There is even a new word for black fans of indie rock: “blipster,” which was added to UrbanDictionary .com last summer, defined as “a person who is black and also can be stereotyped by appearance, musical taste, and/or social scene as a hipster.”

Bahr Brown, an East Harlem resident whose Converse sneakers could be considered blipster attire, opened a skateboard and clothing boutique, Everything Must Go, in the neighborhood in October, to cater to consumers who, like himself, want to dress with the accouterments of indie rock: “young people who wear tight jeans and Vans and skateboard through the projects,” he said.

“And all the kids listen to indie rock,” he said. “If you ask them what’s on their iPod, its Death Cab for Cutie, the Killers.”

A 2003 documentary, “Afropunk,” featured black punk fans and musicians talking about music, race and identity issues, and it has since turned into a movement, said James Spooner, its director. Thousands of black rock fans use Afropunk.com’s message boards to discuss bands, commiserate about their outsider status and share tips on how to maintain their frohawk hairstyles.

“They walk outside and they’re different,” Mr. Spooner said of the Web site’s regulars. “But they know they can connect with someone who’s feeling the same way on the Internet.”

On MySpace, the trailer for Mr. Spooner’s new film, “White Lies, Black Sheep,” about a young black man in the predominantly white indie-rock scene, has been played upward of 40,000 times.

Rock was created by black artists like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, and Elvis Presley and other white artists eventually picked up the sound. In the ’60s, teenagers were just as likely to stack their turntables with records from both white and black artists — with perhaps a little bit of Motown, another musical thread of the time, thrown in, said Larry Starr, who wrote “American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy to MTV,” with Christopher Waterman. But that began changing in the late ’60s. By the time Jimi Hendrix became the ultimate symbol of counterculture cool, with his wild wardrobe and wilder guitar playing, the racial divisions were evident.

Paul Friedlander, the author of “Rock and Roll: A Social History,” noted that Hendrix became popular just as the black power movement emerged. Yet his trio included two white musicians and his audience was largely white. That made him anathema to many blacks.

“To the black community he was not playing wholly African-American music,” Mr. Friedlander said, even when Hendrix formed a new all-black band.

By the early ’70s, “you began to have this very strict color line,” Mr. Starr said. Music splintered into many different directions and, for the most part, blacks and whites went separate ways. Black musicians gravitated toward genres in which they were more likely to find acceptance and lucre, such as disco, R & B and hip-hop, which have also been popular among whites.

The next few decades saw several successful and influential black musicians who crossed genres or were distinctly rock, such as Prince, Living Colour and Lenny Kravitz, and rock melodies and lyrics have been liberally sampled by hip-hop artists. But rock is still largely a genre played by white rockers and celebrated by white audiences.

THE recent attention given several bands with black members — like Bloc Party, Lightspeed Champion, and the Dears — could signify change. “Return to Cookie Mountain,” the second album by the group TV on the Radio, a band in which four of the five members are black, was on the best-album lists of many critics in 2006. Around the country, other rock bands with black members are emerging.

On an evening in December, at Gooski’s, a crowded dive bar in Pittsburgh, Lamont Thomas, sweating through a red T-shirt that read “Black Rock,” played the drums behind the lead singer Chris Kulcsar, who was flinging his skinny frame around the stage, and the guitarist Buddy Akita. The bass player, Lawrence Caswell, dreadlocked and gregarious, introduced the band, a punk quartet from Cleveland with the name This Moment in Black History.

“The funny thing is, a lot of people assume from the name that we’re just white kids being ironic,” Mr. Thomas said.

This may be because their fans, like the ones who attended the show at Gooski’s, tend to be white, although there are usually one or two people of color, Mr. Caswell said.

Nev Brown, a photographer and writer from Brooklyn, said that at the indie rock shows that he has covered for his music blog, FiddleWhileYouBurn.com, he is almost always the only black person in the room. Some fans are curious about why he is at the show and try to talk to him about it.

“And then you get idiots, like people who think you’re a security guard,” he said.

Damon Locks, a Chicago-based publicist and singer in a hardcore band called the Eternals, said he is frequently mistaken for “one of the other three black guys” in the city’s rock-music scene. “We joke about it,” he said. “We’ve been thinking about getting together and starting a band called Black People.”

That kind of isolation is one of the reasons Mr. Spooner, the documentary director, regularly showcases black and mixed-race rock bands at clubs. For a band to participate, the lead singer must be black. This caused some friction early on, he said. “A lot of white people were offended that I was saying, ‘This is for us,’ ” Mr. Spooner said on a recent evening at the Canal Room, a club in downtown Manhattan, where he was the D.J. between sets for multiethnic bands like Graykid, Martin Luther and Earl Greyhound.

But, he added: “Almost every black artist I know wants to play in front of their people. This is bigger than just rocking out or whatever.”

Mr. Thomas, of This Moment in Black History, said that white fans sometimes want to know why he is not rapping. “It’s the stupidest question,” he said.

Just as often, it is African-Americans who are judgmental. “There’s an unfortunate tendency for some black people to think if you listen to rock music or want to play rock music, you’re an Uncle Tom,” Mr. Thomas said.

LaRonda Davis, president of the Black Rock Coalition, an organization co-founded by Vernon Reid of Living Colour in the mid-80s to advocate for black rock bands, said the resistance is rooted in group-think. “Black people were forced to create a community,” she said. “We’re so protective and proud of it, like, ‘We have to protect our own,’ and why should we embrace something that has always excluded us?”

Nelson George, author of “Buppies, B-Boys, Baps & Boho’s: Notes on Post-Soul Culture,” suggested that the rock ’n’ roll aesthetic had been a major deterrent. “Black kids do not want to go out with bummy clothes and dirty sneakers,” Mr. George said. “There is a psychological subtext to that, about being in a culture where you are not valued and so you have to value yourself.”

But lately, rock music, and its accouterments, are being considered more stylish. Mainstream hip-hop artists like Kelis wear Mohawks, Lil Jon and Lupe Fiasco rap about skateboarding, and “all of the Southern rap stars are into the ’80s punk look, wearing big studded belts and shredded jeans,” said Anoma Whittaker, the fashion director of Complex magazine. At the same time, the hip-hop industry’s demand for new samples has increased the number of rock songs appearing on hip-hop tracks: Jay-Z’s latest album features contributions from Chris Martin of Coldplay and R & B artist Rihanna’s current single samples the New Wave band Soft Cell.

“Hip-hop has lost a lot of its originality,” said Mr. Brown of Everything Must Go, the East Harlem skateboard shop. “This is the new thing.”

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

10yrs for oral sex in GA!!

sexycapricorn-scorpio — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:21:14 GMT

Wuz-up fam, I don't know if yall have already heard, but in Douglas GA 17 year honor student was sentenced to 10 years for having consensual sex with a 15 year who initiated the whole thing. Let me not remind you that they were both minors at the time and both black, but what got him was his friends video taping it. The young brothas name is Genarlow Wilson, right now a online petition is being signed for his appeal and release and the passing of a new law in Ga that will not give anyone over 12mos for consensual oral sex and they would not have to register as a sex offender. So far Genarlow has been incarcerated for 2 years now, and still waithing for an appeal, supporters are trying to get the newly passed law to go in retro for Genarlow's case, but there is still hope for this young brotha.

to help you can go to:
www.wilsonappeal.com

and sign the online petition and email the Ga Court of Appeals for his release, please pass this on to as many people as you can, once again the man trying to put our good, young black men behind bars.

Love
Peace
Unity

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

Download The Catalyst Sampler

primusluta — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:43:06 GMT

Its been brewing long enough. Time for the taste test

Download Link - http://avanturb.com/news/?page_id=42

Read More About It - http://avanturb.com/news/?p=38

I'm saying... 2007 is right around the corner.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Negritude 2.0: Looking for the Perfect Off-Beat

DevastatorJr — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:38:39 GMT

Negritude 2.0: Looking for the Perfect Off-Beat
[22 November 2006]

This one is for the Afro-punks and black rockers and everyone else who doesn't see their hearts and minds reflected in what passes for mainstream black music nowadays.
by Mark Reynolds

The NFL Network’s commercial hawking rebroadcasts of just-played games seemed innocuous enough. Warren Sapp, Chad Johnson, and Tony Gonzalez gave catchy, half-sung renditions of perky ad copy, and the stop-time beat in the background evoked a feel-good oldies soundtrack. But after the 40,000th or so time I saw the spot, that very beat, plus that semi-eerie, semi-campy keyboard lick down beneath the voiceover towards the end, triggered an out-of-the-blue recognition: somewhere in the genesis of this commercial lies a BusBoys fan!

The tune of that ad closely mirrors “Did You See Me”, from the BusBoys’ debut album Minimum Wage Rock & Roll (1980). The BusBoys, led by Brian O’Neal, were a black band playing straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll with a satirical, lyrical twist on various songs, and reveled in the irony of being black and playing rock—“white people’s music”, if you will—as opposed to R&B or something more commonly accepted as “black people’s music”. Elsewhere on the album is a ditty called “There Goes the Neighborhood” (the chorus declared, “the whites are moving in / they’ll bring their next of kin / oh boy"), a Chuck Berry-esque rocker entitled “Johnny Souled Out” ("he’s into rock ‘n’ roll / and he’s given up the rhythm and blues"), and the breathless “KKK” ("I wanna join the Ku Klux Klan / and play in a rock & roll band"). But it’s on “Did You See Me” that their twisted wit cuts sharpest.

Our hero starts out lamenting that he needed something to do after a long day of shining shoes. His friends scoop him up to some club, and he can’t believe his eyes at all the strange goings-on. He’s at some New Wave club (remember, this song is happening in 1979-80, right around the time the world is catching up to punk just as the scene starts morphing and getting mainstream play), and the folks there are dancing the multi-colored hair right off their heads. In no time our hero is down as well, leading to the bodacious stop-time announcement:

You think it was hot in the shade
I betcha never heard music like this by spades

I discovered the BusBoys on Fridays, ABC’s short-lived attempt to coast on NBC’s Saturday Night Live zeitgeist, and was completely blown away. They performed “Did You See Me”, and when they got to the end I damn near fell out of my seat howling, first in shock and then with laughter, all from the same reaction: “Oh no these wigged-out black people dinn’t say ‘spades’ live on national TV!” Oh yes they did, and I was hooked.

See, back then I was attracted to—and actively sought out—black music that didn’t resemble black music. Like many others of my age and time, I venerated Stevie Wonder, waded not just knee deep into P-Funk’s cosmic slop, and nodded approvingly to Gil Scott-Heron’s pronouncements on the perils of the day. But none of that music, however wonderful or glorious, spoke to me on the personal tip, the point where you scribble down Pink Floyd lyrics during a boring lecture in class, when Hall & Oates’ “Sara Smile” is the soundtrack to your first heartbreak, when you can envision the flawed outlaws and lovers in Steely Dan songs. None of that emotional complexity was available in disco, and little lyrical complexity could be found in your average R&B love song—great music for slow dancing, but life for me was more than that, and even the funkiest funk couldn’t scratch that itch.

In retrospect, I was hardly alone. One of the untold secrets of black life in the post-civil rights years is that the soundtrack to those years, for more of us than one might imagine, is not mostly composed of mainstream black pop. Ever since “rock” departed from its blues and R&B roots far enough to connote “white music” for most people, there’s been a handful of black folks who liked rock anyway—for its beat, its aggression, its own sense of style, the possibilities for reinvention that weren’t as evident in the black pop of the day—and not just because of Jimi Hendrix . By the late ‘80s, the Black Rock Coalition (BRC) would emerge from this community of fellow travelers as a support system for artists who broke the racial paradigms that had barricaded “rock” from “black music” and their free-thinking fans. Guitarist Vernon Reid, a BRC co-founder, also led the band Living Colour, modern black rock’s great shining moment. But there were and are lots of other bands under the BRC umbrella, and they don’t all attempt to crank it to 11. What they do share is a desire to push the black pop envelope, to embrace their cultural roots but to resist being defined by any narrow interpretation of them.

Further afield, more than a few of us found ourselves rocking out at punk shows like that BusBoys protagonist, and not only when the Bad Brains or Fishbone came to town (it’s cool for black folk to like Hendrix, finally, now that he’s acknowledged as a genius with black musical roots and all that, but no such love awaits those two best-known black alterna-punk bands, no matter how prodigious their chops and smarts). Eventually, this tribe got a name too, thanks to James Spooner’s 2003 documentary Afro-Punk. Like the BRC, Afro-Punk is a community, a state of mind, and judging by the recently released companion CD (Image Entertainment), as much a varied sub-genre as the BRC represents.
And yes, black folk also listen to country music. Always have, in fact, and vice versa. Go back into the roots of country music in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and you’ll hear music deeply informed by the rural blues being made by black folk not far down the road from the country fans. Hank Williams, Bob Willis, Jimmie Rodgers and numerous others brought black idioms and riffs into their music; years later, Charley Pride, Ray Charles, Arthur Alexander and even Al Green would repay the favor. For evidence, seek out the definitive box set From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music (Warner Brothers, 1998), or check out Tyina L. Steptoe’s account of fronting an all-black Dixie Chicks cover band, and the tale of Louis Armstrong’s late-career Nashville session, in the current Oxford American Music Issue.
Over the years, I’ve cycled through all manner of rock (all black folk who love Pet Sounds, holla!) and punk/new wave (Clive Pig and the Hopeful Chinamen, anyone?), and I’ve made my peace with mainstream black pop enough to sit through an occasional dose of those overplayed, shopworn “quiet storm” oldies that others of my age and time still cherish. But I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart, and I suspect I always will, for those black acts that strayed from the path of the straight and narrow, who worked in the fringes of “black” and /or “white” pop. Perhaps I was trying to find myself, perhaps I was trying to find a way to be myself, perhaps I just liked their idiosyncratic way with words, melody and rhythm. And perhaps they made the roster of possible definitions of “black” just broad enough that a kid with a jones for both the Ohio Players and Todd Rundgren could feel at home. And now, some personal favorites from my sojourn off black music’s beaten path:

Hot Chocolate
They aren’t really that obscure, seeing as how their big hit “You Sexy Thing” (1975) gets lots of disco-oldies airplay and has been used in commercials more than once. But this interracial UK sextet, led by rubber-throated lead singer Errol Brown, amassed several albums’ worth of often-biting work. Cicero Park (1974) featured an unsanitized version of “Brother Louie”, the ballad of a doomed interracial love affair that was a big American hit for some band named Stories. By decade’s end, the band’s supple pop-funk and given way to keyboard-driven beats, but they hadn’t lost their edge: “Mindless Boogie” (1980) pounded away for nine minutes, part throbbing disco beat, part lampooning of those who chased after throbbing disco beats.

Nona Hendrix
When LaBelle, the world’s greatest R&B/glam girl group, broke up in the mid-70’s, Patti Labelle retreated to their R&B roots, and Sarah Dash continued to hang in the clubs. The third member of the “Lady Marmalade” trinity, Nona Hendrix was not related to Jimi, but proceeded to fly her freak flag high nonetheless. She’s pictured on the cover of her first solo album (Epic, 1977) in leather jacket, rolled-up jeans, short ‘fro, and swinging an electric guitar. Not a common image for sistas to adopt, then or now. The taut little songs didn’t rock quite as hard as the black-and-white cover art, although Carlos Santana would cover “Winning” for some radio love in 1978.

August Darnell
Like Hot Chocolate, Darnell had his 15 minutes of disco fame, with “Cherchez La Femme”, the 1976 classic by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, the retro-leaning band co-led by Darnell and his half-brother Stony Browder. After three Dr. Buzzard albums, Browder fell disenchanted with the industry and left the band. Darnell was already soldiering on, producing side projects Gichy Dan’s Beachwood #9, a semi-tropical mélange of Afro-Cuban, doo-wop and show music, the left-field semi-camp disco of Don Armando’s 2nd Avenue Rhumba Band, and Machine, a disco-rock hybrid ("There But For the Grace of God Go I"). But Darnell’s primary claim to fame was Kid Creole and the Coconuts, a revue-styled ensemble with three white back-up singers (one of whom was his wife) and manic vibes player Coati Mundi, the re-christened “Sugar Coated” Andy Hernandez from Dr. Buzzard. Darnell’s lyrics were full of cosmopolitan wit, multiple racial and sexual entendres, and the occasional social commentary, while the underrated band mashed up rhumbas, rock and whatever else into a frothy musical concoction. That they were able to do this over the course of seven albums on Sire and Columbia back in the day with only the barest hint of airplay ("I’m a Wonderful Thing”, 1982), let alone name recognition anywhere west of Manhattan (besides, of course, my record collection), is all but unfathomable today.

PM Dawn
PM Dawn never really was a rap band, although that’s how they got classified when “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” recycled Spandau Ballet in 1991. Prince Be’s dreamy lyrics were indeed spoken, and they were adept enough at sampling and beat-making, but there was none of rap’s boastfulness or confrontation in their mix. Their songs were gentle and dreamy with a subtle sense of swing, and some of the ballads on Jesus Wept (Island, 1995) were as achingly beautiful as can be. If anything, they presaged emo. No wonder legend has it that KRS-One beat down Prince Be on stage for being wack.

AR Kane
While PM Dawn was pre-emo, AR Kane was pre-TV on the Radio. The UK duo of Alex Ayuli and Rudi Tambala were closer in sound and spirit to 4AD labelmates the Cocteau Twins than, say, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (production work on “Pump Up the Volume” notwithstanding). Their 1988 album 69 (Rough Trade) is a masterpiece of swirling electronics, deep bass, and strange aural mysteries. They more or less were history by the mid-’90s, but one song title from the 1994 comp Americana (Luaka Bop) captures their overall vibe: “A Love from Outer Space.”

Basehead
Michael Ivey is hip-hop’s greatest slacker ever. His band Basehead (basically him on guitar and vocals, and whoever else was around at the time), surfaced in the early ‘90s with an offhand groove and offhand lyrics, all delivered in a stoner deadpan that stands far, far apart from your typical rap boombastics. Play with Toys (Imago, 1991) is book-ended by skits featuring a bad country band (again, Ivey and crew) doing bad James Brown covers. The album proper is ostensibly about a breakup, but a weird sideplot emerges that ends up with one of his fellow slackers taking a bullet. Go figure. Meantime, the slinky beat of “2000 B.C.” sounded appropriately warped and slinkier when I played my 15-year-old advance cassette the other day.

Stepchild
This five-guy vocal group was a year or two ahead of its time in 1995. Their Take 6-ish jazz harmonizing and mellow lyrical vibe would have found some neo-soul love, but record companies weren’t up to throwing money at alternative R&B acts just yet, so their one and only CD (Warner Brothers) ended up in obscurity shortly after release. But “#@?in Wit’ Me” has always stuck in my mind somewhere: many a band has felt like singing “you keep fucking with me” as a hook to a song about memories that won’t let go, but few could ever have made it sound so damned smooth.

N*E*R*D
So what does the side project of an A-list production duo have to do with the aforementioned oddballs and departures from normality? Simply put, Fly or Die (Virgin, 2004) is the one CD above all others that picks up where the BusBoys left off. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo went digging through their roots as music-addled kids in the ‘80s, and fashioned a story of modern-day teenage ennui, from the title track, which catches a kid about to make a life-altering decision (I’ll say – the song’s about death), to “She Wants to Move”, a kid who sees a woman he yearns to treat better than her current companion is doing. There aren’t really any minimalist Neptunes-sounding beats here, but its sharp musicianship, shamelessly retro sound, and celebration of the social misfit was comfort food for my inner oddball.

All of which brings me to Lupe Fiasco, the young Chicago rapper whose sparkling Food and Liquor(Atlantic) has finally seen the legit light of day after being leaked online. “Kick, Push” is about escape from ghetto realities. Countless folks have taken that subject on, but he’s the only one I know of who did it not through fantasy, chemicals, sex, conspicuous consumption, or God, but through skateboarding. Yes, that’s right, a rap ode to skateboarding. Of course there are black sk8ter boys and girls, but like listening to punk or country, somehow that notion falls outside the typical idea of what black people do. News flash: there are also black skiers, scuba divers, hang gliders, extreme sport athletes, hockey players and NASCAR drivers. Rumor has it that there’s even a pretty good golfer nowadays whose dad was black.
If “Kick, Push” gives aid and comfort to some misfit of color somewhere, somebody whose passion isn’t pre-stereotyped as suitably black enough, that’s great.

And the same goes for the Afro-punks and black rockers and everyone else who doesn’t see their hearts and minds reflected in what passes for mainstream black music nowadays. It took me a long time to learn this, but just because you’re a fan of some black act so far removed from R&B or hip-hop that they couldn’t get arrested while robbing a bank, or some white act playing the same kind of music, doesn’t make you any less black. It simply means that lots of other folk have never heard music like that by spades.

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/columns/article/6674/looking-for-the-perfect-off-beat/

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Kramer... Not so funny anymore!

inyewokoma — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:36:32 GMT

http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?pmmsid=1772645

LOS ANGELES Nov 20, 2006 (AP)— Michael Richards stunned a comedy club audience, shouting racial epithets at people who heckled him during a stand-up routine.

The 57-year-old actor-comedian, best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's eccentric neighbor Kramer on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," was performing at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood Friday night when he launched into the verbal rampage, according to video posted on TMZ.com.

The tirade apparently began after two black audience members started shouting at him that he wasn't funny.

Richards retorted: "Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f——— fork up your a—."

He then paced across the stage taunting the men for interrupting his show, peppering his speech with racial slurs and profanities.

"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now mother———. Throw his a— out. He's a n——-!" Richards shouts before repeating the racial epithet over and over again.

While there is some audible chuckling in the audience throughout the outburst, someone can be heard gasping "Oh my God" and various people "0oh" after Richard uses the n-word.

Richards performed the next night at the Laugh Factory without incident.

Calls to Richards' representatives were not immediately returned early Monday.

He refused to comment on-camera when reached by CNN, but the network reported that he said off-camera he felt sorry for what had happened and had made amends.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

republicrat, democan

jocelyn — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:20:27 GMT

okay people,
it's been a little quiet here lately.
hope everybody's well, having a blast, loving life, etc.
my friend jessica posted a blog asking if people felt
like a yoke of oppression had been lifted now that the dems are in
"control" again. what's the word in blakfriday land?
did you vote, not vote?
why?
i did not vote yesterday.
here's my response to my beautiful friend jessica:

wow, j. i'm encouraged by your optimism! lately i've been reading so much about secret societies and symbols and the true nature of government that i really can't bring myself to rejoice. i think that ultimately, the freedom we all deserve and possess is not something that can ever be granted by a government. the good thing though, is that if people feel freer, they will promote a sense of being liberated in themselves and in their communities. that's the best thing to come out of the elections. the trick is to maintain that feeling of freedom when all the hope placed in government action stalls. this is a cycle. we've been through this before. remember when clinton became president? i don't think we should be distracted anymore by our see-saw government.

thoughts?

posted in blakfriday - 9 replies

First, Ed Bradley, now...

LaDonna — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:59:58 GMT

...they just flashed on the news that Gerald Levert died. He was only 40. I wonder what happened. That man had a great voice. I still listen to Rope-A-Dope.

posted in blakfriday - 6 replies

Trailer the color of the cross

Nuru — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:54:08 GMT

http://www.colorofthecross.com/

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Resurrecting African-based Religions

LaDonna — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 05:16:06 GMT

So it seems not just Jesus, but Buddha, Krishna, the first emperor of china, and early yogis were all black. How important is it to bring any of these religions/philosophies back into black communities? There are already some who have taken up these practices and seem to benefit in a lot of positive ways, but black majority still seems very attached to christianity as the main religion. Personally, I feel that anything that includes learning meditation would be beneficial. Does it seem as though more black people are heading in this direction?

posted in blakfriday - 12 replies

Burning Man Refugees...

LaDonna — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:00:28 GMT

...So how was it, for any of you on here that went? I would love to hear some stories, good or bad.
I hope that one crazy girl from BM tribe didn't go ahead with that KKK stunt she was planning on pulling.

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

Hi

DaB0mb — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:16:29 GMT

I'm not black, but I've played so on TV. Can I still join this most excellent tribe?

posted in blakfriday - 10 replies

Looking for other pigmented Hue_man Earth-dwellers for friends and networking...

RASUN — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 22:22:06 GMT

Musician / Healer / DJ / Meditation Counselor / Initiate / Cook / Reader / Desiginer / Etc,Etc,Etc.........
Seeking fellow walkers on the path. Check my page...if it resonates lets network as friends
P.E.A.C.E. ALL are Welcome
IN LVX!!
RaSun

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Sistas Group In Austin Tx

Lesleyanne — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:15:53 GMT

I am looking to start a Sistas Group here in Austin, that would meet once a week .
The ideal would be a group a enlightened black women, meeting to provide help an support for each other

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Burning Man

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:45:44 GMT

who is going to burning man this year. Let's meet up?

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

Wtf?

otto — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:09:58 GMT

http://bm.tribe.net/thread/1a2263da-9cdd-4eb5-a735-215cff6fb974

posted in blakfriday - 18 replies

in between a brown woman’s thighs

Christopher D. — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:15:06 GMT

I miss, really miss,
being in the deep abyss
of a brown woman’s thighs.

In between the tide
of today, tomorrow and time
where I have felt most refined,
divine.

I can remember feeling
the motion of her inner Ocean.

I can recall being wrapped
in her arms safe.

Looking into the mocha pupils
on her face finding forever.

I miss, really miss
being in the deep abyss
of a brown woman’s thighs
giving rise to a revolution
of the Lion in me.

She, tenderly rubs the pain away.

She understands.

She knows she heals man.

In those thighs I fight with strength
stress, long days, aches, pains,
the World inhumane.

Loving the scent and softness
of her brown skin.

Loving the Heaven I am in.

(c) Christopher Donshale Sims
2006
http://www.myspace.com/universouloveuniversoul

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Black Yogi Tribe

LaDonna — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:02:43 GMT

Well, I have to say, I was combing Tribe to find some more black people
who love yoga as much as I do, and came across this tribe. I had no
idea it was even in here. I'm glad, tho. yes, I am a freaky, hippie black
girl into trying all of the great things in life, whether people think I should
or not. Anyway, I just started a tribe for black people into yoga, to connect
and learn, and help each other with progressing in our careers and
practice. Anyone is welcome to post something yoga-related.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bpy

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Call for Submissions

paradigmbrooklyn — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:35:59 GMT

Submit to be an artist or panelist/speaker at Peace Out East. Peace Out East (www.peaceouteast.com) is an annual LGBTQ and allies hip hop cultural festival in NYC, Oct 12-15, 2006. We are looking for music, visual, performance artists and panelists/speakers/scholars. Please see www.peaceouteast.com for details. Don't be scared off by HIP HOP, alternative music and performances considered. Include links to music/art or email for a mailing address. Deadline 9/1/06 NO EXCEPTIONS.

submit to: artists@ peaceouteast.com

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

holla back

jocelyn — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:29:33 GMT

speaking of burning man, who's going to be on the playa this year?

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

I've posted a listing in your Events Section

NubianDarling — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 23:24:06 GMT

Hi
My name is Jessica, I'm one of the Nubian Divas. Please see our event in your events section.

Thanks

or just go to www.nubiandivas.com

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Who else is into science fiction?

Yul — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:41:57 GMT

Who else is into science fiction?

posted in blakfriday - 30 replies

Where The Hell Can I Get A Drink Around Here?

DevastatorJr — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:29:58 GMT

Oh, sorry for cross-posting this, but I thought it'd be more relevant here, since I'm a big, black dork...

Cool bars in NYC? Around The World?
Where is it? What kind of music do they play? Who goes there?

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Octavia Butler Dies

inyewokoma — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:05:10 GMT

She fell on her walkway and suffered a head injury.

It's a sad sad tragic loss.

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/...m.html

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

A wonderful opportunity to support Black Belly Dancers!

NubianDarling — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:55:43 GMT

The historical Hipdrop Tour features African American Bellydancers across the USA.
The tour starts May 13 in Van Nuys CA

please paypal a ticket at www.hipdrop.com and check out the flyer at www.jessicadances.com and www.nubiandivas.com

Y'ALL COME AROUND NOW YA HEAR!

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

My friend Danyel

donnell — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:47:43 GMT

Thought I'd give y'all the heads up on Danyel Smith's upcoming radio show host gig. The program is called The Conversation and it airs on WNYC next week.

http://www.wnyc.org/

She's smart and funny. Bet ya gonna like it!

Hope all's chill.

dEA

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Scalp Greaser: An Ode

Christopher D. — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:11:50 GMT

she's a scalp greaser
a crown pleaser
brothas like me need her
after she's done
a brotha's scalp takes a breather

her finger tips dip
into the natural conditioner
of choice
she cunningly takes invoice
of your scalps dimensions
the attention it receives
is beyond description

steadily, she operates
like a scientist and mathematician:
to apply small portions
of healthy chemicals and sistah know-how

this brotha,
in constant ease only achieved
after having received
this metaphysical massage of sorts
is at peace and calm
'cause of t he sistah's gentle grace
as she paces with the balm
she takes from her palm.

she's a scalp greaser
a crown pleaser
brother's like myself need her
after she's done
a brotha's scalp takes a breather

sittin' in between her legs
at the couches edge
we converse as she continues to rehearse:
a Black ritual that ultimately enhances the mental.

we talk about cousins, aunts,
friends, travels and school
politics, social environments.
and the state of the people
puttin' it all in perspective
as she chooses to be selective
on the amount of Blue Magic,
Vaseline, carrot oil, or she butter
she'll oil my scalp with.

in the midst of conversation,
i turn my head too far to the right
she gently straightens it and i sit up
because my butt is hurting.

in twenty minutes or so she's done.

my scalp hums happy songs.

she's a scalp greaser
a crown pleaser
brother's like me need her
after she's done
a brotha's scalp takes a breather

(c) Christopher Donshale Sims
All rights reserved
2006

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

Happily Natural Day

Christopher D. — Thu, 25 May 2006 23:13:58 GMT

The 4th Annual Happily Natural Day

August 25th - 27th

Richmond, Virginia

http://happilynaturalday.com

FMI call 804-622-9364

Vendor Spaces: $75.00 per day & $125.00 for two days

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

Nubian Refreshing Streams

Chasm — Tue, 09 May 2006 17:48:20 GMT

Hey,
Check out http://www.refreshingstreams.com/nubian
This website is for black people who are ready for a change.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Heads Up

donnell — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 00:24:37 GMT

Just thought this crew might appreciate knowing...

http://www.akashicbooks.com/bronxbiannual.htm

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

Are there any Dr Who fans out there?

Fitnat — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 22:19:18 GMT

I recently heard from my sis in England that there was a new Dr Who series which has just passed me by; has anyone seen it?

What were your thoughts, would you recommend it???

I'm keen to know cos I was a fan of the original series way back when but if the new one is crap I don't want to spend a fortune in getting it.

posted in blakfriday - 9 replies

hit it

DeeJay — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:36:26 GMT

i kept saying i wanted something
better
wetter
more heat heavy
than what we see with
two eyes

you kept saying you wanted a funnel
for your mad red
moments
and off to the side
thoughts

if i say you can hit

you won't ever get
what's underneath
all the swelling
of pride
and skin

but i like you

so go ahead

hit it

hit it now

hard
fast
slow
ugly
whatever way you think
is for real

until the sound
rocks
your yesterday
free

and you're ready
for some
of this

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

you might be a ...

voudou_doll — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:05:10 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/piratesistahs

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Smoke one for Dilla tonight.

marsnova — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 04:26:12 GMT

One of underground hip-hop's shining lights--and one of my favorites, hands down.

James Yancey p/k/a Jay Dee, J Dilla, Dilla...whichever you choose. Former member and producer of Slum Village; man behind the boards on hit tracks for Common, A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde and many more; collaboator with Madlib on the critically-accliamed Jaylib album, "Champion Sound"; centrifugal force of the Now Sound of Detroit (flanked by SA-RA Creative Partners, Platinum Pied Pipers, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Phat Kat, Waajeed and the Bling47 collective).

Dilla passed today from liver complications.

Dude was only thirty-one.

RIP.

posted in blakfriday - 3 replies

Anyone been to EarthDance?

Archangel-Michael — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 06:22:33 GMT

Hey yall, just wanted to give the heads up on this peace festival that happens world-wide every year. the main "hub|" event is gonna be near Laytonville CA, about 2.5 hours north of the Bay.
It's a cool vibe, this year they have Zap Mama, Ozomatli, Culture, and many others.....
Of course it ain't no Chocalate City, as far as the crowd goes. (though I must say that the Sugar Water Festival- w/erykah, jill scott etc. -was!)
--but I go every year ( for the past 5) anyway, cuz I like the intention, the world-wide syncronized prayer for peace, and all the great variety of good music (pretty much every genre is covered).

I would be thrilled ta see more black folks there.......perhaps in time. check the website :
www.earthdance.org
Peace Yall,
Michael

posted in blakfriday - 5 replies

Reducing negative influences

Yul — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 15:12:41 GMT

Because of my increasing success with web comics, I've decided I should reduce the amount of negative influences in my life. That way, those negative influences will be less likely to interfere with that my increasing success. Of course there's no guarantee it'll work. But I'm going to try it anyway.

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies

A possible reason why some say success equals failure if you don't conform

Yul — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:46:05 GMT

In this so-called "society", many people believe that the primary purpose of the individual is to conform to some standard "normal" way of being. Because of that, many people believe that not conforming to the standard "normal" way of being constitutes failure. For example, consider my recent web comic success. I mentioned this success on a comics-themed message board a few weeks ago. Most of the responses I got there were statements that claimed I'm still a failure or will fail or haven't provided any evidence of success. This may be my opionion, but I suspect that these people are saying I'm a failure as a web comic artist because the theme of my web comic does not conform to the standard "normal" way of being. And what theme is that? The theme is LONG TOENAILS ON WOMEN! (Yeah! Really, man!)

Yes, the notion of long-toenailed women is not popular in most comic strip areas. But it is very popular in the area of long nail fetish web sites. Thus, my new web comic is featured on a LONG NAIL FETISH WEB SITE. THAT'S why I say my web comic is a success! Especailly since it probably gets more views than all my other web site endeavors combined.

I'm of the mind that creativity is mainly about changing the world. It has little if anything to do with the standard "normal" way of being. Any and all changes to the world go against the standard "normal" way of being. Consider this outragous statement that may have been made some 50 years ago:

"Rosa Parks, your protesting of the segragation laws contradicts the standard 'normal' way of being. Therefore, you're a was a failure."

Needeless to say, the same people who say I'm a failure because I won't do my comics in the standard "normal" way of being won't say that Rosa Parks was a failure for also going against the standard "normal" way of being.

"But that was years ago. Segreation is no longer part of the standard 'normal' way of being."

That proves my point exactly. The world won't stay the way it is forever. It's possible (no guarantee, of course) that long nail fetish comics may become more popular in the future.

"But now you're saying that the standard 'normal' way of being will be a good thing if your ideas become popular."

No. I'm just saying that change is one of the few constants of life. And the standard "normal" way of being is only wrong in my view if it's being forced on people when they have a right not to take part in it. I mean, there is no law that says that all web comics should conform to the standard "normal" way of being. People have the right to do comics -- web or otherwise -- any way they want, be it the standard "normal" way of being or otherwise. Success, basically, is whatever you want it to be. And in my case, success is expressing new ideas to a sizable audience. With my latest web comic, that's exactly what I got. I'm a successful web comic artist whether you don't like it or do. Yeah, baby!

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Nothing changes on new year's day! (And I DON'T CARE if I'm taking that U2 song out of context!!)

Yul — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:19:44 GMT

I have a number of reasons why I hate new years. but I think the biggest reason is the strong implication of PREDETERMINATION. It's as if people think the year controls them and that whatever happens to them in a particular year is the fault of the year. Similaly, I've heard folks say such nonsensicle statements as, "I hope 2006 turns out better than 2005." 2006 and 2005 are MENTAL CONCEPTS. They can't have any effect on how good or bad your year is. It's not like the year 2005 is some living, breathing entity who's taken a dislike to you and decided to ruin your year.

I want COMPLETE SELF-DETERMINATION. Therefore, I REJECT the notion that a year itself can control your life. I also REJECT the notion of celebrating new years as if they have some life-changing importance. You may have right to believe in such nonsense, but I also have the right to reject such nonesense. And I can never shut up about how I hate, hate, hate, hate new years! Nothing changes on new year's day! (And I DON'T CARE if I'm taking that U2 song out of context!!)

posted in blakfriday - 5 replies

Happy New Year!

Fitnat — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:16:52 GMT

Greetings and glad tidings to one and all. I hope that 2006 qualifies and exceeds all your expectations.

Cheers,
Fit.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Crap, crap crappy new year!!

Yul — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 20:34:25 GMT

Hey! Who else hates new years day? I hate it to death and I hate it by te megaton! Have a crappy! Have a crappy! Have a crap, crap crappy new year!!

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

any vancouverites out there?

Fitnat — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 23:18:06 GMT

This may seem a tad odd asking this question on this site but I needed the question answered from a particularly perspective. I am planning to migrate to Vancouver with my own mini tribe and I wanted to get a little insight into what life is generally like for 'blak folks' in vancouver i.e racism, access to resources incl. work etc. I've heard of 'canadian experience' being used as a tool to discriminate and I'm not too sure how to approach that little hurdle?

I would appreciate any insights or anecdotes which may be of help. I do intend to check out the area before my migration is complete but info. adds to the armoury.

Thanx for the help.

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

mohawk

queer711 — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 17:12:08 GMT

I just gave myslf (with some help fr my buddy Bob) a mohawk. now I know I can't be the only one on this tribe with an untraditional do. whatchya got?

posted in blakfriday - 3 replies

Gen X Blog Notes

Yul — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:43:03 GMT

If I had my way, I would talk and talk and talk and talk and never shut up! But since it seems like doing that could get me in trouble, I've decided to slap together a personal blog of my own:
http://timeliketoons.tripod.com/genx_text/genx_notes.htm
"Hey! Can't you still get in trouble with your blog?" Yup, I still could get in trouble with my blog. But at least there, folks won't be able to tell me to shut up to my face. Or at least that's the theory.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Rosa Parks was not a conformist

Yul — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 14:52:42 GMT

I find much of the admiration for Rosa Parks to be disingenuous because of the simple contradiction between pseudo-society's demand for blind conformity and her fame for the extremely nonformist act she did. If being a nonconformist is so horrible, then why is Rosa Parks such a hero? Those who followed the segretation laws were CONFORMISTS. And as anyone with functioning brain cells should know, conformity is not always good (though in a lot of cases it is). Therefore, I would like to assert that if you're going to condemn someone for not conforming, make sure your condemnation is justified. Otherwise, you may end up supporting a view that will be defined as wrong in the future. In other words, be like Rosa Parks and don't conform to stupid rules. (Yeah, I know there's no consensus on what the stupid rules are, but we'll get into that later.)

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

Why this group is named 'blakfriday'.

marsnova — Mon, 10 Nov 2003 07:14:08 GMT

At Burning Man 2003, I opened the theme-camp directory and saw a listing for an event called "Black Friday".

http://www.burningman.com/calendar/playa/view_entry.php?id=1038&date=20030829

It was hosted by the "Black People of Black Rock City".

Of course, I jumped up and got all anxious to participate, initially. As the day went on, though, I debated with myself about it--did something like this jibe with the "philosophies" of BM? WAS THERE A PHILOSOPHY regarding people of color as members of the community? How many of us are out here, anyway? When we see each other out there, what the hell are we thinking?

I got on my bike around ten-o'-clock and rode to the site.

You guessed it--no one was there.

Was it a stunt of some sort? Did I just show up late?

WHO KNOWS?

And that's why this Tribe is called 'blakfriday'.

posted in blakfriday - 13 replies

Rosa Parks

DeeJay — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:36:21 GMT

Sistas and Brothas,

I think it's our job to honor women who made a difference when they cross over into the realm of the ancestors. With the passing of Ms. Parks last night -- I hope we can each do something in our communities, on our jobs, and especially in relating to our children to make sure she is honored and the legacy of resistance she represents. Even if it's something small like a memorial stone in your local park or asking that a street be renamed in her honor -- there's something we all can do. We could suggest Rosa Parks community projects (where students push back against something wrong in their community) for our local elementary, middle or high schools. Just a phone call to a school could make a big difference.

Post your ideas. Let's honor our ancestors. ~~Peace~~

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

sex as spirituality

DeeJay — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 23:36:07 GMT

you know the best way to connect with the great spirits? mmm hmm. if you don't connect when you get in there...you are definitely missing out. what y'all thank? anyone wanna share deepest experiences...epiphanies?

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

LA DECOM

skyclad — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 03:30:21 GMT

Who's going? I'll be there, and I hope to see a bunch of you.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Damali Ayo

Yul — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:05:53 GMT

I saw author Damali Ayo talk about her recent bookHow to Rent a Negro on C-SPAN over the weekend. As I recall, her book primarily and humorously looks at the way many whites continue to cling to sterotypes about blacks. On the one hand, I wasn't surprised to hear Ayo's shocking tales on this issue. On the other hand, I was also surprised that this problem continues here in the 21st century. If I had my way, I'd establish a racially-diverse colony on Mars where clinging to sterotypes about blaks or anyone else would not exist. Plus, we'd speak Esperanto all the time there too. It's just a though.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Cheap Mars Flight Blog

Yul — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 21:14:00 GMT

Yup! There's a Cheap Mars Flight Blog. It chronicles the Mars flight exploits of one Sy Simmonson, deputy commander of the International Corporate Space Explorer. I created this blog because in that alternate world where Sy Simmonson is from, a human flight to Mars is happening as we speak. Try it out at: http://timeliketoons.tripod.com/gyatm-blog/entry.htm

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Burning Man 05

steveJames — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 18:19:59 GMT

Were less then 90 days from the main event , i was just wondering how many of yáll were going . I'll be there, this being my 2nd year . Would love to meet up with some of you out there .

Who's going ?

posted in blakfriday - 25 replies

burning man...

ultra_low_frequency — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:19:25 GMT

i don't know what thisis...i've heard a lot about it and all...i used to go to it's precursors...rainbow gatherings...(before they let dogs and alcohol into them)...i've done and seen some very interesting things at those gatherings...i muust admit i'm sorta put off by the idea of having to have a ticket for something like this...the idea of art is nice...appropriate even...and i saw plenty of that at rainbow gatherings...maybe if it lasts...i'll get my ancient ass to one...but for now...it's something that i just don't get...
d

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Final info: blakfriday meet-up in Seattle: Let's DO this, Folks!

kyooverse — Sat, 14 May 2005 07:51:55 GMT

OK, tomorrow is the day! I plan to be there -- re-arranged my weekend so I could be there (in other words, I have a committment ceremony at the end of the month and I am putting off helping my in-outlaws because I think both are important and it's a shame we haven't had a face to face with each other, you know?)

Anyway.... the details agreed to are:

Where: Trabant Chai Lounge located at 1309 N.E. 45th ST
Seattle, WA 98105 (right next to the Neptune in the U District)

Time: 4:30

Date: Saturday, May 14th

If you plan to be there, lemme know. If you don't think you can make it, lemme know -- no shame, promise. But as long as there is one other person there, I am cool.

posted in blakfriday - 16 replies

Anyone here from Los Angeles area???

NubianDarling — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 00:37:01 GMT

Hiya

Are you going to see the Nubian Diva Showcase in Hollywood on Sun Aug 7th?

go to www.nubiandivas.com click on showcase for all of the details.

See Ya there!

bright blessings

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Streaming some music. Listen in.

marsnova — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:01:03 GMT

3030radio.primcast.com:7290/listen.pls

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

Athlete

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:59:46 GMT

Anyone have any Athlete in their music library.

I've heard them on MPR's music station and just checked out their video (Wires) on the iTunes Music Store.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

SCOTUS vacancy

SHOCKA — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 22:51:15 GMT

Now that there's a vacancy on the high court, just how screwed is the country?

We lookin' at a rabid conservative? Somebody as crazy as the other two?

Sure, the Democrats will give him or her a serious workout, but sufficiently prepped, the nominee could easily sqeeze through.

Early rumors put the attorney general on the short list. I was wondering whether the person would be Latino.

Wouldn't it be something if the court got a Latina?

I'd like to see a sensible Black nominee, but apparently we only get one shot.

Think there's any chance it'll be somebody Borkable like another Thomas?

posted in blakfriday - 10 replies

pro-lynching senators?

travelho — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:24:50 GMT

Don't know if you heard, but 13 senators refused to sign a resolution apologizing for failing to enact anti-lynching legislation.

On top of that they manipulated the procedure so they didn't have to publicly come out an say it. No surpise, but our boy Trent Lott is one of the group.

Wellll, now.

So, here's an opportunity to act. at heidiandjames.org/senate_shame/ is an online petition. I want to hear these guys defend themselves.

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

Sell-Outs?

skyclad — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 03:49:00 GMT

I had to start a new thread based on Turner's comments concerning
"sell-out" entertainers. Has an entertainer sold out because tickets to his concerts are sold out? What the hell does this mean? Am I a sell-out if I take a job at the post office? Has Will Smith sold out or, has he just bought in? Y'all tell me what it takes to "keep it real." I'm just axin'.

posted in blakfriday - 19 replies

Who has seen "Crash"?

travelho — Fri, 27 May 2005 15:54:45 GMT

Forget the Sith--Crash is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Don Cheadle is amazing (again), thandie newton, even Ludacris are all great.

Best dialogue about race relations and attitudes in LA. I'd laugh and feel the ouch inside of me at the same time. The kind of humor that makes you think.

Don't want to give away the story, so I'll hold my favorite scene--but I will say there is some righteous acting.

Thoughts?

posted in blakfriday - 7 replies

Meet-up: Seattle

kyooverse — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 10:52:30 GMT

PLEASE tell me it happened on the 9th?

Shit, nah!

Well, that was a HARSH Mercury in Retrograde... so... um... let's try to pin something down... AGAIN.

I am free Wed - Sun (that I can think without consultation of Herr Redbook).... and any ideas in terms of place? What neighborhoods are represented so we can figure out what's central for folks. (I take Metro... if Metro goes, I can go.)

Let's do this, k?

Quentin/Cue/Ergane/Crouton

posted in blakfriday - 37 replies

BEAT ME... FCK ME... CALL ME NGG*R

inyewokoma — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 00:51:33 GMT

Some things are simply beyond commentary....
You have to let them speak for themselves:

Playing with Race
by Daisy Hern ández

On the edge of edgy sex, racial BDSM excites some and reviles others.

Mollena Williams is gregarious, the kind of woman who makes a point of saying, “How are you today? ”to the Walgreens cashier. She has a short afro and laughs easily. She works as an administrative assistant and at night, she pens her theater performances. She is also a masochist.

Williams is part of San Francisco ’s BDSM community (shorthand for “bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism ”). By definition, a masochist receives pleasure from experiencing certain types of pain. By her own account, Williams loves pleasing her partners. That might mean a whipping. It might also mean obeying her partner ’s commands or being called a “slut. ”Her partners aren ’t strangers. Like non-BDSM people, she expects to feel a connection and develop trust —enough to submit to a partner for the hour or the day or the week that they agree to. And she, in turn, expects a lot. Her partners have to be comforting, quick thinking, and treat her like the princess she ’s always felt herself to be.

Contrary to popular notions, BDSM is not about abuse. It ’s consensual and trusting and people refer to it as “play ”(as in “I want to play with you ”). The point of BDSM is not sexual intercourse. In fact, when Williams recalls her first experience as a masochist seven years ago, she says she met her partner, a white man, at a bar and “fell in love at first sight. ”They made their way back to his hotel. “For the first time I felt someone could see who I really was. ”And that was someone who found it erotic to be a submissive to her partner.

In recent years, Williams has added another element to her repertoire as a masochist. She ’s begun to engage in what is called “race play ”or “racial play ”—that is getting aroused by intentionally using racial epithets like the word “nigger ”or racist scenarios like a slave auction. Race play is being enjoyed in the privacy of bedrooms and publicly at BDSM parties, and it ’s far from just black and white. It also includes “playing out ”Nazi interrogations of Jews or Latino-on-black racism, and the players can be of any racial background and paired up in a number of ways (including a black man calling his black girlfriend a “nigger bitch ”). White master seeking black slave, however, seems the more popular of the combinations....

full article:
www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLAr...e/story7_4_01.html

posted in blakfriday - 16 replies

Favorite blogs

travelho — Wed, 04 May 2005 03:57:51 GMT

Lots of posts mention getting alternative news and information, so I'm curious whether any of you have favorite blogs or sites that you visit regularly to another viewpoint, a laugh, or stratch that itch.

Starting off: nelsongeorge.com, topleftpixel.com, focusedforward.com

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

Blak LA?

Foxybrown — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 19:51:46 GMT

Are there any black Friday tribers in LA who want to meet up have fun, but aren't going to bore me with the same old monologue of how much black culture sucks and makes you angry and rap has sold out etc...? I think all of that is relevant, but I also joined to meet some fun black people because sometimes I just don't always feel like being the only rap and punk listening- snowboarding- gallery going- black chick in the room!

posted in blakfriday - 8 replies

Read This...

nilochem — Sat, 02 Apr 2005 21:33:42 GMT

interesting article.

http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/050401-edutainment.shtml

posted in blakfriday - 2 replies

We know the sickness, who is ready for the cure?

nilochem — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:44:21 GMT

There have been a lot discussions analyzing these isms. But what about the cures? Have there been any rituals, ceromonies, or other group symbolic processes directed at healing the wounds of these isms? Have people participated in group with this goal? What was is like? What techniques or rituals did it use? If not, would people be interested in doing something like this? What sorts of processes would people like to see? What processes or rituals (symbolic relationships) would people like to see?

We know the sickness, who is ready for the cure?

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

ISO living space in SF very soon.

marsnova — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 19:43:55 GMT

Am steadily utilizing SFGate, Tribe and Craigslist, but hit me up if you know anything, comrades. It'll be much appreciated.

Can pay $400-$500 a month. Need something close to a bus line. Got some dings on my credit (for which my older sister may NEVER be erased from the s--tlist), but a hundred positive references.

posted in blakfriday - 5 replies

Ethiopian short films by young people

cafesociety — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 13:15:26 GMT

Dear Friends,

Cafesociety.org is a UK based arts organisation which works closely
with many schools to develop creative arts projects with young people.

We work regularly with young people in the Yorkshire region of the UK
and communities as far away as the Seychelles, Ethiopia and the
Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona.

Our projects focus on digital storytelling, film making and digital photography.

We aim to teach young people how to make short films and document their lives
by creating short stories about subjects and interests that they choose.

We have just returned from Ethiopia and would like to invite you to view
a selection of the short films made by the young students of the Jamaican
Rastafari Development Community School in Shashemene – Ethiopia.

http://www.cafesociety.org/imagegallery/categories.php?cat_id=82

[Click the folder marked ‘movies’ to access the short films. ]

Our intention is to link schools in Ethiopia with schools here in the UK
by way of collaborative projects and exchanges.

We plan a return to Shashemene in July to continue our work with

the young students and to set up links with schools in the UK.

We aim to raise enough funds to enable the purchase of 2 laptop computers
and 2 digital video cameras which we will train the students and staff to use

and leave at the school to enable a sustainable element to the project.

We want the school to have the skills and technology to make short films

after we leave and communicate their stories to their new partner schools.

Please let us know your opinions and comments regarding the short films.

I’m sure the kids would love to know what you think…

If you have any further comments or suggestions please email us.

Looking forward to hearing your comments,

Kind regards

Jon Robson

Cafesociety.org

10 St. James Court

Victoria Dock

Kingston Upon Hull

United Kingdom

www.cafesociety.org

jon@cafesociety.org

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

RIP Johnnie Cochran

skyclad — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 05:49:51 GMT

As a black lawyer in LA, I owe a special debt of gratitute to Johnnie.
It is difficult to explain how Johnnie changed the perception of black lawyers from the bumbling ill prepared "Calhoun" from Amos N Andy to someone to be reckoned with. I will never forget how different it felt to stroll through an LA courthouse in a suit and tie and briefacase AFTER the OJ trial. Eyes would look at you like you mattered. And your psyche would say: "Yes, I can kick some ass." But his legacy was in place before OJ as an advocate for the powerless, a voice for those who could not be heard.

I have been a direct beneficiary of his legacy. For every aggrieved black man on the planet, the mantra has been "Call Johnnie!" Fortunately or unfortunately, Johnnie can't represent everybody in every kind of case. I have been one of the lucky ones who has been on the list of lawyers who got cases beyond the scope of Johnnie's interests. For that I am grateful.

The next generation of us has an obligation to carry the torch to continue speaking for those who have no voice - to continue speaking truth to power. Today, I renew my commitment.

l

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

For all U Kinky Folks

mskayasattva — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:48:53 GMT

check out

http://www.shdivasbootylicious.com/

We hope to see you there!

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

being different and where you live

labalianne — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 23:49:41 GMT

While perusing through some of the profiles of the members on this list, I realized that most of us seem to come from and / or live in these places:

1. Seattle (where I am)
2. San Francisco
3. Los Angeles

Are these cities more accepting of the concept of alternative blackness? Do they fuel black alternate creativity? If so, why? Is it just because the majority of tribesters are from these three cities?

posted in blakfriday - 15 replies

wha'sup yall?

Archangel-Michael — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 02:49:17 GMT

Hey,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been checkin out tribe for a few months, and am enjoin it.
Cool group. Yeah, I've come to realize that there's only one me. I'd probably feel a bit alone no matter what heritage I was born with. It's good to see this tribe.
Peace,
Michael

posted in blakfriday - 8 replies

Envisioning a Stronger Community.

nilochem — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:53:21 GMT

Enough doom and gloom.

We all know the problems of the black community -- many of them are either problems that stem from the history of slavery or are just the kinds that poor and oppressed people all over the world face.

But deconstruction and analysis can only get us so far. The next step is to synthesize, conceive and constuct the world we want to live in. It will be the most creative, strange, tripped out and spaced out who will get the ball rolling.

I am interested in hearing from people what type of community they would like to live in and what they believe are the steps to getting there.

For myself I think one component is to build co-ops and collectives as a way to concentrate capital and as a mechanism of direct reinvestment. The only problem is so many black people have internalized other's opinions of us that we don't trust eachother, and disrespect one another so easily. A challenge I have thougt a lot about is how do we transmute the "too many massa's not enough slaves" mentality and behaviors that inhabit many of us into something positive.

posted in blakfriday - 6 replies

The REAL Matrix Creator...!!!

basicmemory — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:02:01 GMT

y'all they never stop with the ripping off of our ideas!

-LEARN-

"Mother of the Matrix" Victorious
By Martha Carter

Monday, October 4th 2004 ended a six-year dispute involving Sophia Stewart, the Wachowski Brothers, Joel Silver and Warner Brothers. Stewart's allegations, involving copyright infringement and racketeering, were received and acknowledged by the Central District of California, Judge Margaret Morrow residing.

Stewart, a New Yorker who has resided in Salt Lake City for the past five years, will recover damages from the films, The Matrix I, II and III, as well as The Terminator and its sequels. She will soon receive one of the biggest payoffs in the history of Hollywood, as the gross receipts of both films and their sequels total over 2.5 billion dollars.

Stewart filed her case in 1999, after viewing the Matrix, which she felt had been based on her manuscript, "The Third Eye," copyrighted in 1981. In the mid-eighties Stewart had submitted her manuscript to an ad placed by the Wachowski Brothers, requesting new sci-fi works.
According to court documentation, an FBI investigation discovered that more than thirty minutes had been edited from the original film, in attempt to avoid penalties for copyright infringement. The investigation also stated that "credible witnesses employed at Warner Brothers came forward, claiming that the executives and lawyers had full knowledge that the work in question did not belong to the Wachowski Brothers." These witnesses claimed to have seen Stewart's original work and that it had been "often used during preparation of the motion pictures."
The defendants tried, on several occasions, to have Stewart's case dismissed, without success.

Stewart has confronted skepticism on all sides, much of which comes from Matrix fans, who are strangely loyal to the Wachowski Brothers. One on-line forum, entitled Matrix Explained has an entire section devoted to Stewart. Some who have researched her history and writings are open to her story. Others are suspicious and mocking. "It doesn't bother me," said Stewart in a phone interview last week, "I always knew what was true."

Some fans, are unaware of the case or they question its legitimacy, due to the fact that it has received little to no media coverage. Though the case was not made public until October of 2003, Stewart has her own explanation, as quoted at daghettotymz.com:

"The reason you have not seen any of this in the media is because Warner Brothers parent company is AOL-Time Warner... this GIANT owns 95 percent of the media... let me give you a clue as to what they own in the media business... New York Times papers/magazines, LA Times papers/magazines, People Magazine, CNN news, Extra, Celebrity Justice, Entertainment Tonight, HBO, New Line Cinema, Dreamworks, Newsweek, Village Roadshow... many, many more!... They are not going to report on themselves. They have been surpressing my case for years..."

Fans who have taken Stewart's allegations seriously, have found eerie mythological parallels, which seem significant in a case that revolves around the highly metaphorical and symbolic Matrix series. Sophia, the greek goddess of wisdom has been referenced many times in speculation about Stewart. In one book about the Goddess Sophia, it reads, "The black goddess is the mistress of web creation spun in her divine matrix."
Although there have been outside implications as to racial injustice (Stewart is African American), she does not feel that this is the case. "This is all about the Benjamins," said Stewart. "It's not about money with me. It's about justice."
Stewart's future plans involve a record label, entitled Popsilk Records, and a motion picture production company, All Eyez On Me, in reference to God. "I wrote The Third Eye to wake people up, to remind them why God put them here. There's more to life than money," said Stewart. "My whole message to the world is about God and good and about choice, about spirituality prevailing over 'technocracy'."

If Stewart represents spirituality, then she truly has prevailed over the "technocracy" represented in both the Terminator and the Matrix, and now, ironically, by their supposed creators.
Stewart is currently having discussions with CBS about a possible exclusive story and has several media engagements in the near future to nationally publicize her victory.

CORRECTION REGARDING PREVIOUS STORY
In reference to the recent article entitled "Mother of the Matrix Victorious," some information has been deemed misleading. Ms. Sophia Stewart has not yet won her case against Joel Silver, Time Warner and the Wachowski Bros. The decision on October 4th enabled Ms. Stewart to proceed with her case, as all attempts to have it dismissed were unsuccessful. Ms. Stewart's case will proceed through the Central District Court of California.

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

NEO-Black... WHO IS HAPPY TO SEE US?

basicmemory — Tue, 11 Jan 2005 13:33:01 GMT

called "white" by those less enriched in our ethnicity? (even though africans who speak english sound even more "white" than you do)

fear of your mind by those in the work place, who sho are glad you don't just "fresh-prince" out when you are around them or at a company meeting?

confused over the constant wish to parse your personality file with an official "black" greeting...? (slap-5, sheezy-my-nizzy, yo this and that, ect.)

verbal prompts by others outside of your ethnicity who wish to date you but signal you they are down by listing they like- r&b, rap, jazz (like wow man), sports (foot/basket ball only) and (oh crap) bbq's (gin & juice alert)...?

well then just who IS "expecting" the new modern mutant progressive black man/woman...?

posted in blakfriday - 5 replies

the blakfriday hall of fame!

labalianne — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:36:39 GMT

Hello all:

I am doing a small exhibit featuring pictures and bios of black folx that do things that are not so ordinary. My goal is to let people know (especially African-Americans) that we do all kinds of things!

So, if you have anyone I should check out, post their name, what they do, if they have a website -- even it it's you!

I don't need those that we all know about -- Kravitz, Hendrix, Rodman, you know the drill.

posted in blakfriday - 1 reply

i am not a number, i am a free man...!

basicmemory — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:42:06 GMT

i live in a country that isn't mine...

i live in simulation of a culture that isn't mine...

i pray to a god who is not mine...

just what do you hold onto when all around you is not, "you"...?

posted in blakfriday - 17 replies

Ossie Davis Dead At 87

Fri, 04 Feb 2005 18:06:27 GMT

The world has lost a great talent and a warrior for civil rights.
He was one of my childhood heros and will be sadly missed.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050204/ap_en_mo/obit_davis_5

posted in blakfriday - 0 replies

What's Goin On?

Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:57:20 GMT

I'm hot at the moment and need to vent.
Maybe a different perspective would help?
So everyone feel free to respond.

While shopping at Rasputan's Records downtown today
( BTW..not my fave store.) I got into it with a rather foul mouthed young sista. She was on her cell in the middle of the store talking loudly to her friend. Every word out of her mouth was "nigga and fuck!" Her voice was so loud I could hear her on another floor! Well,while waiting for the elevator she was standing near me,going to town with various explitives. Her volume had increased about 1000% at this point. Annoyed I turned to look at her hoping she would get the hint to pipe down a bit. She then says "what the fuck you shakin your head for nigga ain't nobody talkin to you!" I told her that we didn't need to be apart of her conversation. She then informed me not to listen. I told her that was impossible since she was talking loud enough for folks to hear her on the 3rd floor,where I recently was. "Fuck you bitchass nigga!" she said. "Then she tells her friend "some nigga tryin to tell me to shut the fuck up." And proceeds to try and rip me a new one. I ignore her and proceed to the 5th floor.

By the time I got there I was HOT!! Hey maybe I shouldn't have said anything to her. But what upset me was that I felt not only did she have zero self respect,she had no respect for anyone else either. First off I feel anyone talking that loud using that kind of language in public is trying to get attention. That or showboating how bad they are. Which seems even more desperate to me. Why do some folks do this? No respect. That's how I felt, there was no respect. It was all about her. She was not in the wrong.

Now, I'm not a prude. I have been told that I have a mouth like a truckdriver. ( and I do. ) But there is a time and place for everything. Respecting ourselves and others seems to be a dead idea. How did this come to be? Having just recently turned 40
I felt all is lost with our youth. They don't care. Nor do they want to. It's all about the "I."

posted in blakfriday - 4 replies