I wanted to do something special, considering that this makes my 150th blog post. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with anything really significant, other than the subject matter for this particular post. So, here we go...
Firstly, any and all versions of The Consortium of Afro Latino events are hereby suspended for the remainder of the year, until further notice. Considering that nuccas never come out to support it anyway, it's one less headache that I have to worry about, as far as organizing is concerned. Why bother wasting my time putting something together that nobody is going to attend, any?
Secondly, I am concentrating my efforts out of state. Considering the lack of support that I've received for the past year+, especially with this being my hometown, why continue to waste my efforts in a place where no one is bothering to support you? I am hoping to relocate OUT of NYC by the fall. Considering that it's already the first week of August, I have some serious work to do. I'm already doing my research as far as trying to find employment, and a place to live (I've actually been doing that since early July). Moving around sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do to reach your goals, and get that support you feel you deserve.
I'm sick of being broke, hungry, and frustrated. This is NOT what I envisioned when I moved back home, and don't want to continue living like this. If I wanted to struggle, I would have stayed out on my own, NOT move back home, and deal with other people and their bullshit. I'm pissed and frustrated at being not supported by so-called 'friends', but yet everybody expects me to bend over backwards to support them. I felt that I had earned enough respect from people through my activism and support to have them support my literary endeavors; obviously I was wrong. I shouldn't be spending the majority of my time trying to get motherfuckas that ALREADY know about my books to BUY them. FUCK clicking the "like" button, or 'favorite'-ing the damn post....BUY the motherfucka already! How many times you gotta "like" the shit, before you get the fucking hint to buy it?!?!?
Considering my literary versatility, I didn't really want to have to rejoin the corporate workforce. Unfortunately, I have no choice in the matter now, if I want to be able to survive, and get the hell out of here. I was hoping that my writing career would bring me some semblance of financial freedom; apparently not, at least, not in this bullshit ass city. Maybe somewhere else where the cost of living isn't as high, and the people aren't as full of shit. It's kinda hard not to be bitter, or take this personally. It feels like I just wasted the last year+ of my life, and for what?!?! Let me go someplace else where my work will probably be more appreciated, and niggas don't have their heads up their own asses. Everybody out here is a fucking expert and authority figure, yet they have absolutely NO resume' in the field that you're in.
So, hopefully, I'm on to better things. Hopefully I can make this move, and my luck will change. The sooner that I can get the hell out of here, the better. I'm at that point already; time to move the hell on. I've had enough, and am looking for greener pastures. Here's to the success of my plans...
CHRONICLES OF THE BROWN BLACK FIST: Home to the literature, art, and activism of Kevin Alberto Sabio
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
Starvin' Artist
I've become very reflective, the older that I get. I try to learn from my experiences, and increase my personal growth.
So....I've been back in NYC for a little over a year, and it hasn't been very positive. The whole reason for my return, was to work on my writing career full time, and take advantage of being back in my hometown. Especially at that time, I had just recently dropped my third published book, and felt that I had gained enough a of a reputation, specifically through my activism in various fields, to be able to make some sort of a comfortable living back in my hometown.
Fat chance......
Looking back over the past year, it feels like I've been wasting my time here. Never mind the gentrification of the city, and the transplants that have basically taken over many of our communities...the city has definitely changed. It is NOT the Brooklyn, nor the New York, that I know/knew and loved. Of course, if I loved it so much, I never would have left in the first place. Now, going through this struggle....I remember why the fuck I left this city in the first place.
You're not supported out here....not unless you're backed by some big hype machine. If the mainstream ain't singing your praises...people ain't fucking with you out here.
...And I though NYC was the capital of the trendsetters.
That's a bygone era. We are no longer innovators and trendsetters. We have now become sheeple.
Considering that I've published FIVE books within the last five years, I should be living comfortably, financially speaking. Cat's who I thought were my friends and supporters, proved themselves not to be. I've organized and held my own book signing events...cats never showed up. I've done appearances at other festivals around the city....cats never showed up. I've posted links to my books on social media, and tagged these muffkas in it, if not posted it on their damned profile page...cats just press the fucking 'like' button, and keep it moving. WTFFM?!?!?! [What The Flying Fuck, Man]
I've done what I can to promote the books to my circle of people; text message, emails/e-blasts, posting on social media, blogging....and nothing!!! I've even approached underground media outlets out here, like cable access TV show hosts, and still nada. I should NOT be struggling this hard, especially not in my own hometown. Even when I've done festivals, people out here be acting mad funny, like they're either scared to approach my table, or like I'm a threat cause I wrote a book (or, several). Niggaz wanna sit there and debate you, when they see my nonfiction books, trying to prove how smart they think they are.
Nigga....you read a book, while I actually wrote one! If you were so much better than me, you'd be on my side of the table.
I'm getting really sick of being out here, and am seriously considering moving on again. I kinda hate having to start over again, but this struggling shit is for the birds. I have goals that I'm trying to reach, and don't have time for the bullshit. It should not be this much of a struggle for me, especially with all that I've done to support others through my activism and support.
I kinda needed to get this off my chest. I'm going to try to give it until the end of the year, but don't blame me if I'm gone by the fall. It's too expensive out there for this bullshit, nor is it worth it. Especially considering the versatility of my written works, I should at least be comfortable, and making some sort of headway.
If this sounded like a bit of a rant session...then fuck it, it was. I just needed to get this off of my chest. I've lost a lot this past year, and I can't get that time back. I'm not where I want to be, and don't need to waste any more time trying to get to where I want to be. If I have to do that elsewhere, then so be it.
So....I've been back in NYC for a little over a year, and it hasn't been very positive. The whole reason for my return, was to work on my writing career full time, and take advantage of being back in my hometown. Especially at that time, I had just recently dropped my third published book, and felt that I had gained enough a of a reputation, specifically through my activism in various fields, to be able to make some sort of a comfortable living back in my hometown.
Fat chance......
Looking back over the past year, it feels like I've been wasting my time here. Never mind the gentrification of the city, and the transplants that have basically taken over many of our communities...the city has definitely changed. It is NOT the Brooklyn, nor the New York, that I know/knew and loved. Of course, if I loved it so much, I never would have left in the first place. Now, going through this struggle....I remember why the fuck I left this city in the first place.
You're not supported out here....not unless you're backed by some big hype machine. If the mainstream ain't singing your praises...people ain't fucking with you out here.
...And I though NYC was the capital of the trendsetters.
That's a bygone era. We are no longer innovators and trendsetters. We have now become sheeple.
Considering that I've published FIVE books within the last five years, I should be living comfortably, financially speaking. Cat's who I thought were my friends and supporters, proved themselves not to be. I've organized and held my own book signing events...cats never showed up. I've done appearances at other festivals around the city....cats never showed up. I've posted links to my books on social media, and tagged these muffkas in it, if not posted it on their damned profile page...cats just press the fucking 'like' button, and keep it moving. WTFFM?!?!?! [What The Flying Fuck, Man]
I've done what I can to promote the books to my circle of people; text message, emails/e-blasts, posting on social media, blogging....and nothing!!! I've even approached underground media outlets out here, like cable access TV show hosts, and still nada. I should NOT be struggling this hard, especially not in my own hometown. Even when I've done festivals, people out here be acting mad funny, like they're either scared to approach my table, or like I'm a threat cause I wrote a book (or, several). Niggaz wanna sit there and debate you, when they see my nonfiction books, trying to prove how smart they think they are.
Nigga....you read a book, while I actually wrote one! If you were so much better than me, you'd be on my side of the table.
I'm getting really sick of being out here, and am seriously considering moving on again. I kinda hate having to start over again, but this struggling shit is for the birds. I have goals that I'm trying to reach, and don't have time for the bullshit. It should not be this much of a struggle for me, especially with all that I've done to support others through my activism and support.
I kinda needed to get this off my chest. I'm going to try to give it until the end of the year, but don't blame me if I'm gone by the fall. It's too expensive out there for this bullshit, nor is it worth it. Especially considering the versatility of my written works, I should at least be comfortable, and making some sort of headway.
If this sounded like a bit of a rant session...then fuck it, it was. I just needed to get this off of my chest. I've lost a lot this past year, and I can't get that time back. I'm not where I want to be, and don't need to waste any more time trying to get to where I want to be. If I have to do that elsewhere, then so be it.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Loiza Festival of El Barrio 2015
Loiza Festival of El Barrio
July 24-26, 2015
E. 105th Street Between Park Ave & Lexington Ave
East Harlem (El Barrio)
www.cccadi.org
Mark your calendars!!!
BE THERE!!!!
Friday, July 17, 2015
"AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story" film screening 7-16-2015
I was lucky and honored to have been able to attend a film screening for the documentary film/series "AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story", screened at Subrosa in the West Village. I had been aware of the film/series since around 2007-08, when I was writing for an an online e-magazine at the time. They were promoting the film for the producers (Alicia Anabel Santos, and Renzo Devia), and I just knew that I had to come out and support them. I've been lucky enough to establish a friendship with the producers/directors of the film since that time.
They had had an earlier screening for the film as part of this year's Afro Latino Festival NYC, but I was unfortunately unable to attend that particular screening. I was able to get tickets for this particular screening, and attended with one of my closest friends, Robert Oriyama'at. I was also lucky enough to see a few other friends attending the screening as well, and finally get the chance to meet a few people in person.
The film is WONDERFUL!!! It was originally supposed to encompass 7 hours of footage, each hour to be it's own individual episode in the series; but even in it's currently condensed form of 90 minutes, it still made an impact. They only screened an hour of it, a teaser if you will, and it left us wanting more. The entire crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and really appreciative of the film.
It was especially wonderful for me, having always been a strong supporter of the project, ever since I found out about it. I was lucky enough to have met Alicia three years ago at the first Afro Latino Festival NYC. Last night was the first time that I got to meet Renzo in person, and it was well worth it. It's great to be able to connect with people that you respect, admire, and support. The plan now, is for the producers to take the film on the road, and do a college tour, screening the film on various campuses. After that, the plan is to take the film abroad to Latin America, and hopefully have it air on television.
If the film comes to a campus near you, PLEASE go out and see it! It is very informative, and thoroughly enlightening and entertaining. Please support the producers and the film. They are telling OUR stories from OUR perspective, giving us a voice.
They had had an earlier screening for the film as part of this year's Afro Latino Festival NYC, but I was unfortunately unable to attend that particular screening. I was able to get tickets for this particular screening, and attended with one of my closest friends, Robert Oriyama'at. I was also lucky enough to see a few other friends attending the screening as well, and finally get the chance to meet a few people in person.
The film is WONDERFUL!!! It was originally supposed to encompass 7 hours of footage, each hour to be it's own individual episode in the series; but even in it's currently condensed form of 90 minutes, it still made an impact. They only screened an hour of it, a teaser if you will, and it left us wanting more. The entire crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and really appreciative of the film.
It was especially wonderful for me, having always been a strong supporter of the project, ever since I found out about it. I was lucky enough to have met Alicia three years ago at the first Afro Latino Festival NYC. Last night was the first time that I got to meet Renzo in person, and it was well worth it. It's great to be able to connect with people that you respect, admire, and support. The plan now, is for the producers to take the film on the road, and do a college tour, screening the film on various campuses. After that, the plan is to take the film abroad to Latin America, and hopefully have it air on television.
If the film comes to a campus near you, PLEASE go out and see it! It is very informative, and thoroughly enlightening and entertaining. Please support the producers and the film. They are telling OUR stories from OUR perspective, giving us a voice.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Afro Latino Festival NYC 2015
Proud to announce the THIRD annual Afro Latino Festival NYC, to be held in BROOKLYN, and various other parts of the city. The event has been expanded the THREE days this year, from July 10th through July 12th.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!
BE THERE!!!!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!
BE THERE!!!!!!
Friday, June 26, 2015
International African Arts Festival 2015
Not able to particiapte in the festival this year, but I'll still do what I can to help promote it. One of my most favorite events of the year, or all time! Please pass the word, and come out and support!!
I mean...REALLY support! Not just coming out there...taking pictures...posting them on social media...and then going home. SUPPORT THE VENDORS!!!
International African Arts Festival
July 2-5, 2015
Brooklyn, NY
www.iaafestival.org
BE THERE!!!!
I mean...REALLY support! Not just coming out there...taking pictures...posting them on social media...and then going home. SUPPORT THE VENDORS!!!
International African Arts Festival
July 2-5, 2015
Brooklyn, NY
www.iaafestival.org
BE THERE!!!!
Demure Nights (Paperback)
My latest book is now available in paperback format! Trying my hand at writing Erotica!
Available in paperback format through CreateSpace! Purchase through amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, or Barnes & Noble!!
https://www.createspace.com/5549938
https://www.createspace.com/5549938
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