Afrolatin@ Project: Afrolatin@s Presente! 2015 Kickstarter Campaign

Representing for my peoples at the Afrolatin@ Project/Proyecto Afrolatin@!!!!  Wanted to help spread the word about their Kickstarter campaign.  Please support them in their efforts!  Please pass the word on!!!!

The campaign runs from December 23, 2014 until January 28, 2015!!!  PLEASE CONTRIBUTE!!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/afrolatinospresente/afrolatins-presente-2015

Uhuru sase, y paz. 

PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!

End-of-Year Progress Report

So as 2014 comes to a close, I have a few upcoming events and initiatives that I'm working on.  This year didn't go exactly as I'd planned, not to mention ending on a bit of a weak note.  But hopefully, the new energies of the new year will help to bring me greater prosperity.

I'm trying to continue to do the joint book signing tour that I had started organizing this fall.  I have three potential dates already; I'm just awaiting confirmation from the establishments that we/I contacted.  I was severely disappointed with how the tour went this fall, with us having to cancel most of the dates because of the incompetence of the local Parks and Rec department in some of the other boroughs.  Hopefully, we can officially book those dates, and move on from there.  We're also trying to book some events that are OUT of NYC; we didn't have too positive of an experience in our own hometown, and so we're looking to get some recognition elsewhere.

On a more personal note...I've just recently completed writing my very first novel!  It's an action adventure piece I'm calling "Chronicles of the Black Fist".  I'm going through the editing process right now, and I hope to have it published by early Spring.  This time around though, I might have to hire a cover artist to do the cover for my book.  I know how I want it to look, but I just don't have the necessary artistic skills to do it myself.  Once the book is published, I know of a few book fairs and comic book conventions that I want to take it to, to promote it.

Once the novel starts going through the final publishing stages, I'll post pictures and excerpts of the book here.  Also, once the dates have been confirmed for the book signing appearances, I'll post the image of the flyer(s) here as well. It's all about staying on your grind. I'm hoping to keep pace with my goal to publish four books in five years.  I'll probably just focus on the publicity of the books after that, and then go wherever the Creator directs me afterward.

So, here's to the new year, and the new energies that come with them!  Wish me luck, and thanks for the continued support!!!  :)

Uhuru sase, y paz!!!

    

Rant Session: Fuck The Police

I'm really getting tired of this crap....

First you had the Grand Jury in Ferguson, MO let off the killer of Michael Brown, and now recently in my hometown of NYC, they let yet another cop walk for killing an unarmed brother on the street, Eric Gardner.

I'm also sick of the hashtagging and street protests.  Gathering and marching isn't going to change a DAMN thing!  The marches don't scare, nor intimidate them.  They see it as a nuisance...nothing more.  As I said before, marching worked back in the day because it was something that was unexpected of us.  They thought that we would remain docile and compliant, so when we did march, it was unprecedented.

FUCK MARCHING!!!!

I'm not going to march on Washington, City Hall, or wherever, and beg the government to do anything!  They won't do anything...they never have!  Even the Civil Rights Bills was ridiculously watered down and stripped of it's bite when it was finally passed.  What we really need to do is organize, and FIGHT BACK!!!!

We need to bring back a lot of these fighting formations from our past.  They won't stop wantonly shooting us down, and disrespecting our communities until we make some consequences for their actions.  Hell...even the ANC (African National Congress) had their military wing, the Umkhonto WeSiswe (MK), so that they could fight on both fronts.  We NEED to bring back the BLA (Black Liberation Army) and Deacons for Defense, and let the powers that be know that this WON'T be further tolerated.  You can keep your nonviolent bullshit, and shove it where the sun don't shine!

"To be practicing nonviolence against a violent enemy is doing a disservice to your community"--Malcolm X

We NEED to start practicing self defense!  Start forming RBG Fit & Training Clubs, organize ourselves, arm ourselves with political education, history, and military tacitcs, and FIGHT BACK!!!

In my 40 years of existence, I've been harassed and profiled by the cops.  I've known other associates who have been brutalized by the police.  This is systemic, it always has been.  Cut the crap!  If you're too much of a punk to stand up and fight, then sit down, STFU...and get the flying fuck out of the way, and let those of us that are willing to fight, fight.  If you're too busy looking out for your own self interest because you benefit from this bullshit system, they you are as much a part of the problem as they are, and you also need to be dealt with.

The time is NOW!!!!!!

STAND UP!!!!!

   

Juan Flores (1943-2014)

This blog is dedicated to a dear friend and mentor of mine, Juan Flores.  Juan is/was a scholar, author, and activist, being the co-founder and co-director of the Afrolatin@ Forum.  I've been fortunate enough to have had interactions with him, and be able to consider him my friend.

Juan passed away on the morning of Tuesday, December 2nd.  I checked my email that afternoon, and saw the e-blast sent out by his organization about his passing.  I was both stunned and hurt, having just seen him this past October at the Forum's Afrolatin@s Now! Conference, and having had the opportunity to talk to him.  I was lucky enough to see him a few times this past summer at other Forum related events, and get to share some laughs and quality time with him.  I felt better about seeing him, now that I was permanently back in NYC.  This would give me the opportunity to, not only come out and support the Forum more, but also to work with him on any other projects that they were doing, or that I would like to do with them jointly.

This is a deep loss for me; I don't have too many people out there that I can truly count on as friends and comrades in the struggle.  There are actually VERY few of us out there that are truly dedicated to instituting change, and fighting for the cause.  I especially liked Juan because he is/was a very warm, friendly, and personable type of personality.  I never felt like he was ever talking down to me, or that he didn't respect my opinion or ideological persuasion because of my age.  I don't really get that from a lot of older people, especially those that want to claim the status of 'elder' in the community.  To be considered an elder is a right that needs to be earned, not given just because you've reached a certain age.  Juan was truly an elder in my eyes, and was just as vibrant as any youthful activist.

So, this is deeply dedicated to my dear friend Juan Flores.  May you rest in power in the ancestral plane, and may I make you happy with all of my achievements and accomplishments.

Libertad ahora!!!
Uhuru sase, y paz

 

(Miriam Jimenez Roman <his wife>, myself, and Juan Flores; Baltimore, 2011)

 (Juan at the recent Afrolatin@s Now! Conference in 2014)