Clemente In Context/Clemente En contexto

On December 10th, I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a great event here in Baltimore.  The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is displaying an exhibit about the life of baseball great Roberto Clemente, and had asked me to participate in an event that they wanted to do as part of the exhibit.  Naturally I jumped at the chance to do it.

Clemente In Context was a panel discussion about the life, legacy, and struggles of Roberto Clemente, and what that means to African Americans, Afro Latinos, and issues of race as they stand today.  Joining me on the panel:

Modesto Lacen- Actor
Danny Torres- Sports Journalist
Miriam Jimenez Roman- Educator, author, activist
Juan Flores- Educator, author, activist
Clarissa Mendez - Activist, advocate
moderator: Michelle Joan Wilkinson--Reginald F. Lewis museum; Dept. of Collections and Exhibitions

The panel was quite well received, and very informative.  The audience was well engaged by the panel, and were really appreciative of the information that was provided.  It took a while for the audience to finally trickle in, but I enjoyed the opportunity to participate nonetheless.    It was quite comfortable being on the panel; we all warmly greeted each other, and no one came with an ego.  It was great for me, considering that I'm already friends with Miriam and Juan.  I had actually participated in their conference on/about Afro Latinos last month in November back in NY (Afro Latin@s Now! Conference), so it was great for me to get to see them again.  I really enjoyed meeting the other panelists, and hope to continue a long lasting friendship with all of them.

After the panel discussion, I had a lecture based on my book(s).  I have to admit, I was a bit nervous in the beginning; this was my first actual lecture since becoming a published author.  Once I started talking, however, I just went with the flow.  I have to admit, I personally felt like I babbled a little bit, but I think I did a pretty good job.  Maybe next time, I'll use index cards to keep me more focused on what it is I'm trying to say; it felt like I was jumping subjects a lot (imho).  My lecture lasted for about an hour, plus a (very) short Q&A afterwards (like I said, I babbled a bit).

After the lecture, the event was capped off with a book signing in the museum's Gift Shop.  I had copies of both of my books, Juan and Miriam had copies of their book, "The AfroLatin@ Reader", and Danny had copies of some articles that he had written about Roberto Clemente; he even donated the proceeds of the sales of the articles to the Lewis Museum.  It was great to experience all of this, and I was glad to meet people that were impacted by both what I had written in my books, and what I had stated during my lecture.  I was glad to have met people who identified with what I was saying, and had experienced that same struggle that I did.  In return, they thanked me for being able to articulate what they have felt (in some cases, for a very long time) in a book format for the masses to see.  A few of them worked with children, or specifically in the educational system, and wanted to connect with me to have me come and address their students at some future date.  This was all great for me, because it showed that a lot of my hard work and activism is finally starting to pay off.

So...December 10, 2011 will forever live in infamy for me.  This was truly a great experience, and I hope that it is a start for better things to come.

Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino

"Once again...IT'S ON!! Back with a fresh set of essays and verses, this second volume of RAISE YOUR BROWN BLACK FIST continues to help bridge the gap between the Black and Brown communities, and gives voice to the little known "Third Root" of Latino culture.  Extending the "Black Thoughts" article series into one complete volume, a new perspective is now given.  Whether still breaking it down in layman's terms, or still spittin' it in a Hip Hop vernacular, this second volume continues to deal with these issues from a different perspective.  Keep the fist raised!"

  http://outskirtspress.com/brownblackfist2

ISBN #: 978-1-4327-8354-9

Available for sale now at Outskirts Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Nobles

Black Science Fiction Society

In my cyber travels, I have been fortunate enough to come across many interesting people, and some fascinating online communities.  I've been able to cross paths with like-minded individuals, and other artistic souls.  Since I've always been one to infuse my politics with my art, I had always hoped to be able to find a place where I could do just that.

Enter the Black Science Fiction Society.

They exist on a Ning platform.  They're an online community that you can easily join,dedicated to expanding the Black/African presence in the genre of Science Fiction.  Instead of just whining about not getting acceptance from white folks in that field, these people are actually doing something about it.  They are very progressive in their ideas, and also in their creative ventures.  One main thing about them that I like, is that they do a lot of stuff offline, as well as on their site.

You have many creative brothers and sister on that site.  They go from self-published authors, to artists...animators to publishers...poets to performance artists.  They are a very tight-knit community, and are very supportive of each other.

They have many different genres that they cater to; Sword and Soul, Fantasy, Steampunk/Steamfunk, Military, Action/Adventure, Suspense, Fan Fiction, Comic Books, and so many others.  They're not all diehard Afrocentrics, but a lot of their stories have elements of not only our continental culture, but also elements of the Diaspora.

Many are trying to collaborate with each other to work on projects.  They've already produced a magazine, and a few anthologies.  They event have an online store where you can purchase a number of the members' books.  They have even created an online TV channel; you can join that site, and upload your content.

it is definitely a way for me to be able to creatively express myself.  I've even posted and excerpt or two of some novels that I want to work on.  I've always wanted a way to 'edu-tain' the masses.  Perhaps for my next book ides, I should try my hand at fiction....?

If you get the opportunity, please go to their site, and join up.  Purchase some of their products, and sample some of the groups that they have to offer.  We need to support our own.  Because if we don't....who will?


Oh yeah.....being that this is the weekend after Thanksgiving....
BUY BLACK!!!!!!!!

Spend your Black dollars with a Black business on 'Black Friday'.

www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com

They also have a sister site:

www.wagadu.ning.com

Nation-Within-a-Nation: From Concept to Reality

For those of us versed in Nationalist ideology, we consistently hear the term "nation within a nation" being used to describe the African descended population that exists here in the United States.  From our combined economic wealth, to our numerical population size, all the way to our cultural practices, we can be considered a captive nation that exists within the 'greater' national borders that surrounds us.

Many that are uninitiated, or are completely antithetical to our ideological beliefs, tend to disagree with this assertion whole heartily.  They consider this assertion to be utter drivel, and cling to their assimilationist/intergrationist beliefs about the supposed benevolence of this country.  Yet, there are others in our revolutionary past that have attempted to prove this theory true, trying to create our own African-centered nation here on this very soil. The Republic for New Afrika comes to mind when thinking of this concept.

My question is...is there any way that we can do this on a smaller, experimental scale?  Maybe an Afrikan-centered city-within-a-city?

Hear me out, now.  A project like this might actually be feasible.

Many of us have these Afrocentric names for our cities to represent our Nationalist beliefs; Banneker City (DC), Tubman City (Baltimore), Prosser City (Richmond, VA), and so on.  Why not actually create a city based on these concepts that we say we should practice?  In places like Detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and a few other large cities, there are large swaths of the city that are completely abandoned.  Why not go into these places, block by block, and take them over?  Everything that we need to make this work, we can create:

1) a governmental center (city hall),
2) a banking system and our own currency,
3) our own police force and defense force,
4) our own educational system,
5) requirements for citizenship and residency,
6) diplomatic relationships for trade with the 'greater' city, and international governmental bodies, or similar settlements,
7) sovereign borders,
8) an Ujamaa Collective (business community)
9) our own local media (print, digital tv, web presence, etc.)


This was at once influence by a fictional work that I had written some time ago (but never completed).  The more research that I do, the more that I believe that it is feasible to do. We just need to strategize this out, and be totally dedicated to seeing this come to fruition.  Some of the literature that has influenced this is:

"The Rebirth of an African Civilization"- Chancellor Williams
"Black Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federated State" Cheik Anta Diop
Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles  of Marcus Garvey...."- Tony Martin
Ethiopian Sovereignty: African Nationhood"- Ras ESP McPherson
"Pawned Sovereignty" & "Sovereign Evolution"- Ezrah Aharone
"Afrocentricity"- Dr. Molefi Kete Asante
Constitution for the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League
"10-Point Program" for the Black Panther Party for Self Defense

The blueprints and guidelines have been left to us by our elders and ancestors.  It is time that we started to follow those examples left to us, and finally start to act on them.  Freedom ain't free.  Whatever doesn't work, we can discard, and create something else that can remedy that particular issue.  Whatever kinks that we can work out on a small, experimental scale...we can vastly improve upon when we finally decide to do this on a larger, more massive scale.

So what say you?  Can we do this...?

Kuumba Njia TV: The Road to Independent Black Media

I have to admit....I hated the conversion from analog to digital reception for basic television.  I thought that it was unnecessary, not to mention intrusive; why should the government be telling you how you can watch free TV?  I was one of the people that resisted; I never got one of those converter boxes, nor did I get cable (couldn't afford it).  Not to mention...the rising cost of cable, and the unregulated and unchecked greed of the various cable companies that were out there.  I just spent more time reading, or writing up my various projects (screenplays, novels), or surfing the web.

It wasn't until recently, when I heard about a new Black-owned digital channel, that I began to change my mind about the digital conversion.  I had heard of this new channel called BounceTV, based out of Atlanta, GA.  There was an article about it written in one of the local Black newspapers out here in Baltimore (I believe it was The Afro).  The channel was being headed by Martin Luther King III, and Andrew Young.  That's when the idea hit me...

If they can do it, why can't the rest of us?

Considering my media background, I had already known about  the past attempts at creating a Black-owned cable network (NUE-TV, MBC/Black Family Channel, Real Hip Hop Network, etc).  Most of them eventually folded, while BET was sold into white hands.  TV One, in my own humble opinion, leaves much to be desired as far as original content is concerned.  Not to mention, TV One is only 1/2 Black owned; Comcast owns the other 51 % of the company.  But...a digital television channel, on the other hand?  That was uncharted territory.  This was actually a first.

I went online, and did some research about creating a digital television channel.  Financially, it is so much more feasible to accomplish, than to create a cable network.  It would cost I believe around $100k-$150k to start up the network.  You would have to apply with the FCC for an operating license, and also find a Network Engineer to run it.  Also, you would need to see what available carrier space is available for your network to run on.  With more channel space being made available every other week, that's not very hard.  And...all you would need to see the channel is an HDTV antenna, if you're not already hooked up to a cable service.

To find out more, you can just go to the FCC's website, or just type HDTV channels into the search engine for either Google, Bing, or Yahoo.  The information is able to be printed out for your own personal records.

I decided to come up with my own idea for a digital television channel, hence the title for this particular entry.  Kuumba Njia Television; "Looking to Edu-tain the Masses".  Many of us in the 'conscious community' always talk about owning our own media so as to be able to control our own images, and how they are presented to the public.  Not to mention, how a venture like this can help to create jobs for our community.  You have jobs from production workers (directors, camera people, editors, graphic artists), to office assistants, to technicians (lighting, sound, computers), to actors and writers. 

The initial treatment for the channel has already been written up.  It could be completely funded by the black business community, and global black dollars.  Why complain about Black media not receiving funds from Main Street or Wall Street like their White counterparts?  We need to fund our own media, and show and prove just how powerful  and successful it can really be.  We could also eventually create sister channels that target other specific types of programming (sports, movies, talk shows, etc).

So, what say you?  Are we ready to build this media empire?

Solidarity and the Sexes: Does it Exist?

I've had some recent experiences that make me ask this question.  It's been bothering me for quite some time now....

I remember back a number of years ago, I'd have to say about five years, that I remember a particular experience that this situation reminds me of.  I was still living in NYC, working at a condo in Manhattan at the time.  I had just gotten off work, pulling one of my graveyard shifts that I worked at that time.  I wanted to enter one of my screenplays into one of the local Black film festivals; they were holding a screenplay competition with the rest of their festival.  I felt that my chances were good, and that the concept of the script was pretty strong.  I decide to make copies of it, and mail it out on my next free day.

I get home from work, change my clothes, and head to the local Staples that was close to the house where I was living.  Normally, I would try to go a a Black-owned business, but unfortunately, none of the local Black print shops made bound copies for bulk documents.  Anyway...I made it to Staples with my script in tow.  I waited on line so that I could be serviced.  Ahead of me, this young sista was being tended to by the Service Rep (also a sista) behind the desk.  Quite obviously, she was trying to apply for a job.  I patiently waited, watching the two women interact with each other.  It actually brought a smile out of me, being able to witness some sisterly solidarity among my people, especially when it comes to finding employment.  The Sales Rep was giving the young sista pointers, telling her the ins and outs of Staples' application process, even letting her know which stores that she should apply to because she knew first hand that they had vacancies open.

After a few minutes, they wrapped up their business, and the young sista left.  I step up in line, still smiling after watching their exchange, feeling proud to have witnessed my people working together in a positive manner.  The Rep turns to me, frowns, and responds with an attitude, "May I help you?!"

?????????

WTF?!?!?!?!

I had to pause.  That really caught me off guard.  I had stood there patiently, not making a nuisance of myself, not even becoming aggravated for having to wait.  I had even pulled out my script from my book bag, just so that I wouldn't waste anyone else's time who was also on line.  Considering that I had just finished being up all night, I wasn't in a crab ass mood.  Then this chick wants to hit me with an attitude...and for what?!

My response?  I slapped my script down on the counter (134 pages), and sternly replied, "Two copies...bound".

Obviously, she was shocked.  You can tell that she was embarrassed by my reaction. I wasn't there to hit on her, or beg for a job that she felt I probably didn't deserve.  I was there for business....period.  She got to work printing up the two copies of my script, asking me questions as to my needs, trying to make up for the way she initially treated me.  I wasn't having none of it.  I just gave her very direct, one-word answers.  She printed up my copies, bound them up, and handed them to me.  I paid for my copies, and was seriously ghost afterwards.

That's not the first time that I've had experiences like that.  I often hear women, especially sisters, complaining about the ill treatment that they receive from men in the street.  Of course, I hear a strange silence from them when men complain about ill treatment that they receive from women that was totally uncalled for.  If you weren't approached or treated in a disrespectful manner...then what the fuck is with the damn attitude?!?!?!

If we are unable to get along with each other, then our people are doomed.  If brothers and sisters can't cordially interact with each other, then we will cease to exist as a people in a few short years.  It's bad enough that we have to deal with the Black-on-Black violence that's pervasive in our communities; when the sexes can't even get along with each other, we'll NEVER be able to move forward as a people.

Even out here in Baltimore, I get annoyed when I'm walking into a business, and the sisters that work there act like they can't even speak to you.  Of course, that could also mean that the young people here just have piss poor customer service skills, but that's another matter for another day.

What say you all?

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Book Series

So...how did all of this get started?

It all started about four years ago.  I had moved out of New York, and relocated to the south (Richmond, VA to be specific).  I had a profile on a particular social networking site (MySpace), and I used to post blogs there.  Apparently, my blogs caught the eyes of one of the people that I befriended on the site.  I was contacted by one of the co-creators of an (now defunct) e-magazine called Blacktino.net.  They had approached me to be a Contributing Writer for their site, so that they can add some original content.

Initially...I balked.  I told them 'no'.

I don't do journalism.  That bored me.  I liked to read it; it's quite informative.  But as far as actually writing it...?  Nah.  Plus, I had no practical experience writing journalism, save one class that I took in college (for credit).

Luckily...they were persistent.  They made a compelling offer, so I bit.  I decided to write for them.  I wrote a particular article, and forwarded it to them.

It ended up being posted on their proverbial front page.  I stuck with them after that.

Time went by, and a few more articles were written, and I was inspired to write a particular article series that put us BOTH on the map.  The series was called "Black vs. Brown"; it ended up being an eight-part series.  It spoke on the 'supposed' schism between the Black and Latino communities, and put that 'supposed' conflict in it's proper historical perspective.  Basically...we were never enemies to begin with, and the whole beef between the two is utter bullshit.  That particular series was inspired by an article that I had read in a local Black newspaper (Richmond Voice) about the impact of illegal immigration on the Black community.  The article itself started off pretty good...then it devolved into utter bullshit and ignorance, basically blaming Latinos for the current plight of the African American community.

??????????

Okay...so, Joe Bob and Billy Ray have been fucking you over ever since before this country was even a country, but you want to lay the blame on Jose and Miguel who just got here six months ago?!?!?!?

Anyway.....

That lead to my second article series.  That one is titled "Black Thoughts: A Political Ideological Perspective for Afro Latinos".  That particular series was (at the time) a seven-part article series dedicated to explaining why Latinos of African descent should embrace the ideology of Pan Africanism/Black Nationalism.  Alas...only the first three articles of that series was published/posted by Blacktino.net.

We had a falling out.  It was very negative.

They were bullshit artists.  Fuck 'em.  One thing that I stated in that series (and subsequently in the book) was that most Afro Latino media is produced by three main types of people; activists, academics/scholars, and journalists.  The people at Blacktino were none-of-the-above.  They were business people; they were out to make the best business decision available.  And the best business decision...?  NOT always the right moral decision....

They did some real gutter shit that pissed off A LOT of people.  The site soon went kaput after that.  I just continued to write the remaining articles, and posting them elsewhere, helped by a number of friends that I had made while writing both series.  The last article in that series was written in 2008.

Fast forward..

It was always in the back of my mind to eventually turn both series into a book.  They both a got A  LOT of feedback on the web; image what they could do in book form?  Let's face it...the "digital divide" isn't a myth; it exists, and it exists in our communities (Black AND Latino).  There were/are a lot of people who were unaware of both the two article series, and the website.  Better to put them in book form, and make them readily available to the masses.  Because of my advocacy for the literary arts, I learned a bit about the publishing industry (specifically independent self-publishing).  I contacted a few POD publishers, put together my manuscript, and sent it off to the publisher I finally decided on.

In 2010, I officially become a published author.  "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" finally became a reality.  It encompasses both article series in it, plus three miscellaneous entries.  Been spending the last year and change promoting the book, and being more active as an activist.  Since I hated being in Richmond, I finally was able to move the hell out, and moved to Baltimore.  I've been a lot more successful out here in B'more, being able to reach out to a (more organized) Latino community, and do more collaborative projects with them and my organization's local chapter out here (UNIA--Universal Negro Improvement Association).

By the end of this month, Book #2 should be dropping.  This one is titled "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino".  With that one, I've expanded the "Black Thoughts" article series into one complete volume.  I'm going with a different POD publisher this time around.  My old one fucked up; it's their loss.

So, there you have it; the genesis of the Brown Black Fist.

Keep the Fist raised!!!!!

It's ON!!!!!

Tried to deny myself....but fate eventually caught up with me.

I needed another way to express myself and my ideas.  My initial book project helped a lot.  The follow up should be coming out soon (once I finally switched publishers).  But...there was still too much on my mind to just sit around, and go crazy with.  I needed to do something.

There weren't too many people that I could talk to about this.  And, if I kept my ideas all to myself, I would eventually go crazy.  So...what's a brother to do?

Create a blog.

It's a way to reach others, and express my political thoughts.  It's also a way for me to express my creative ideas (which i have LOTS of).  And...it took me long enough to do it.  I just didn't want to do something half-assed, and be all inconsistent about it.  Actually...I think I'm ready now.  My preparation for this was when I worked as an online journalist for a (now defunct) e-magazine about three years ago.  That was mostly for exposure, which I got a good amount of.  Ended up getting a book out of it.  Now, it's time to take it to the next level.

Until next time.....


On, and on, and on...
On, and on, and on...
(Check it, check it out...'til the break of, break of dawn)
It's ON!!!!!