Miffed-QUEEN

Today, as I sat eating my pooridge, fruit medley; reading the NY Times article on  Dr. James McCune Smith's backroom, radical politics and giggling to myself at all my "fashion friends" going IN over Michelle Obama's BRILLIANT choice of a swath of Alexander McQueen's legacy for the state dinner...I had a thought, "Did you see what I see!?"  In a lot of the photos I have had the pleasure of seeing of the FLOTUS she looks...ok!  [Beautiful, statuesque Yes, but not happy.]  This game of politics is not nice, easy or ever makes sense. 

The OTHER news from this state dinner was that we had struck up a deal with the Chinese "around $45 billion in exports to China. The money will come from a deal with Boeing worth around $19 billion, along with energy and rail contracts. The jobs are expected to create 235,000 jobs in 12 states."

Oh and yes,  "China still faces many challenges in economic and social development,” said Hu. “And a lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights.” But, he continued, in order to build a relationship with the U.S., American would need to employ a “principle of noninterference in each other’s internal affairs.”[NY Mag]

So, here is the connundrum - How do their personal politics rest with having to strike up a deal with a country that will admit that while "it" has serious human rights issues (the killing of Tibetan Monks for land at that top of the list], we need to mind our business...if we want to stay in business...to the tune of $45billion...for 235,000 jobs...through a [military] deal brokered by BOEING [private sector investment and gain]? 

From the look on Michelle's face...none too pleased!

[MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER playing on FIP]

She is a brilliant, accomplished, INFORMED woman/mother/human rights advocate watching her reflection be thrown to the political dogs...all while wearing couture!!! 

Now THAT's FIERCE!!!

Gregory Porter - Wisdom

hmmm...TRUE

SILVER's SAGESS

What then is Life 

- what is it for - 

What is its Great End?
Manifestly, in the light of all knowledge, and according to the
testimony of all men who have lived...

Life is the fullest, most
complete enjoyment of the possibilities of human existence. 

It
is the development and broadening of the feelings and emotions,
through sound and color, line and form.
 ...hence come literature with romance, poetry, and essay;
hence rise Love, Friendship, emulation, and ambition,
and the ever widening realms of thought, 

in increasing circles of ...  

Truth.

~ It is ... 

free enjoyment ... 

paths and emotions  ...
need for expression ... full meaning ...

~ W.E.B. du Bois, from The Revelation of Saint Orgne the Damned,
The Education of Black People)

COREY KNEW

[...Was LOST, but now I'm found!!!]

...was BLIND, but NOW I SEE!!! 

I was lost...searching.
Couldn't anyone tell?  Started out strange..."worked" my way to damaged.  Now, as I ponder the possibility of [still] others [foreign] perspectives, I can't help but wonder, "Did everyone know/think I was crazy/lost/aching?"  For the voices I so long ignored, now re-sound a BOOM too hard to turn from!!!

I was a...ME!!!  This is true.  However, I was a MESS!!!  Organized Confusion is what I called it.  Perhaps, that is what everyone saw/felt.  Perhaps, that is what they were warning me against.   

But how can you warn someone against themselves?

If you knew...why not say something?!  They tried, with tricks, but the guidance I desired...required, they had no idea about.  No one did...until I started studying every Saturday!!!

Corey knew.  He tried to tell me - inviting me in...sharing his home, his words, his world, his truth, his culture, his knowledge, his mother, his Harlem, his Morehouse, his Paris, his Senegal, his Music, His Song.  He saw...he knew that fire and tried to give me guidance to help turn the light on, before it forever be lost.

On THIS DAY...it is the memory, the love, the time, the brotherhood, the spirit, the Laughter and ELEGANCE I celebrate!!!

On THIS DAY I do - as I have done everyday since we first RE-Connected on 8th Street...over Sausage slices -  I ask that you (as the rest of my ANGELS) continue to Guide My Feet...While I RUN THIS RACE!!!

I am DOING WHAT I CAN to honor everything your being in my LIFE afforded me - FREEDOM, LAUGHTER, LOVE, LIGHT...SPIRITUALITY...an OPEN HEART, MIND, and SOUL!

Merci Beaucoupe MON FRERE!!!

[I miss you TERRIBLY...hope to, honor you wonderfully!!!]

43

may i be gay

like every lark

who lifts his life

from all the dark

who wings his why

beyond because

and sings an if

of day to yes

E.E. Cummings

There is NOTHING new under the Sun!!!

Today, as I watched FRIDA (for the hundreth time) I realized...My parents and I are more alike than we...I realized. I have often characterized my family as apolitical - A collection of "fringe-bougie" blacks/negros, doing their damdest just to be "get on"...ignoring the crazy that seemed so evident to me!!  They didn't MARCH, RIOT or SIT-IN.  They worked, pledged, and pontificated.  They became "The America Dream."  For me that seemed but a farce.  From my  perspective, they "bought-in" and were doing everything in their power to insure my sister & I did the same!!

However, 

when considered through the eyes/phyche of a more "seasoned" Man, I realize:

- They were young, driven, intelligent [brown] people, attempting to make some sense of all that WAS swirling about them in the very racist, very segregated, very sexist 60s.
- College educated & strong, with solid familial structures, the notion of being an active participant against the foolishness manifests in everyone differently.

THEY LEFT, 

opting to come North [with their collection of college friends] and worked with at-risk youth in Upstate NY...

[Dig-up all your pearls...teach the boys and girls - BADU]

...imparting, to the next generation, all that they gained.

[This was followed by graduate degrees... 

& ME!!!]

- Their form of protest was SUCCESS.  Not that success that shines in the sun, but dulls under pressure. Instead, the success rooted in depth, richness & truth...that BLOSSOMS, no matter the hour.
[For...ever I tried to make sense of my father's doting on how he excelled on every exam given at [his job].  It wasn't about proving to himself, "Yes I Can!!!"...but, DISPROVING "their" assertion, "He Couldn't Possibly!!!"

[Middle-Class(?) blacks have often faced an unruly, unfair judgement - vilified by whites & blacks [and others] for the same reason, "Why are THEY able?"  Thought to be "immediately" snobbish, their cool reactions could never be seen as bracing for [what's next].  Rather, is was often misconstrued for Bragging!!!]

I AM, Because THEY ARE.  

I honor THAT 

through 

my work

...LIFE and LOVE.

They left the oppressive, confusion of a space that no longer complimented them for the land of proported opportunity.

I have done the same. 

  [the confounding grey, for Beaute' Facades...;-)]

[I'm Ok...it's OK!!!]

I get it!!!

Just a Thought

Does anyone else think it IRONIC that 

The Most Popular HIV Positive person 

in the world 

is 

a BLACK man 

named 

MAGIC JOHNSON!?!?!?!

Hmmmm...