civil rights & the nypd

the nypd is still fryin' niggas

we remain ingredients
in their pan seared
stir fried and sauteed
poisonous dishes
burned and burnt
marred and charred

we need more heat
so the oil in the pan
can sizzle, then spit
hot in their faces
sending them running
to wipe the shame away  

N.Y. police officer charged with civil rights violation

rest in peace

when i was in high school i was on the school newspaper. one year we were doing either profiles for black history month or women's history month. you were allowed to choose who you wanted to write about. among the people i chose was wangari maathai. my teacher did not know who she was. i'm pretty sure i had chosen all african/black women and i remember the teacher (who was european/white) saying, "these are such interesting choices. how did you find out about all these people?" and i was shocked that she did not know about the first african woman to win the nobel peace prize (or about the other people on my list. where did she live, in the ground?). i felt like this was common knowledge. it was a major moment in history. its a pity the way the world works where it takes death for greatness to be appreciated.

Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dies

this week [25-09-2011]

a weekly round up with a tune for your listening pleasure. september 23 is john coltrane's birthday. be blessed! 

• check out dr. jared ball's review of Defying the Tomb, a prison narrative focusing on gaining social consciousness: Defying the Tomb, Defying Ilogic 
• also check this cool website SeeingBlack and their weekly round-up: The 411
• Unfortunately, Troy Davis has been killed. However, the good people of the Georgia parole boards etc were able to spare the life of this man (who evidence proved had committed murder) 3 hours before his execution (albeit this was four years ago): Killer spared from death hours before execution
• University of The West Indies, St Augustine recently published an interview with Shani Mootoo for which i was present (and they mentioned that for a reason which i don't understand): Connect with Shani Mootoo.