Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Native Son

At first I couldn't think of what to title this post because I'm still so angry. Then I started writing and it came to me. Here's what happened.

I went to my family reunion in Maryland and had a wonderful time. I had a straight through flight coming back, where I sat by the window and read Grace After Midnight by Felicia "Snoop" Pearson. The book took us through the changes in her life leading up to a her role on the HBO show The Wire.

As I finished her book in flight, I thought about how different my life had been and how far removed I was from the stereotypes and choices that she had to make in her life.

Well as you know life has a way of slapping you right back into reality. I exited the plane and proceeded to go to baggage claim to get my luggage. 3 flights of bags were all being unloaded at the same baggage claim. You can imagine the number of people waiting for their bags.

Since my flight was the last flight to arrive I knew there would be some time before I could retrieve my bag. I decided to walk outside and have a much needed cigarette. I stepped outside lit my smoke and a white woman began screaming at me.

"Oh no you don't" she said.

"No I don't what?" was my response.

"You can't do that here. You must not be from California." still screaming at the top of her lungs she said "I'll call the police on you right now."

So to avoid this crazy woman I walked 5 feet away from her and found an ashtray were I completed smoking my cigarette. She looked over at me and sneared as she blew me a kiss. This was not a gesture of endearment by any means. She was taunting me.

I'm a responsible smoker when it comes to those who don't smoke. I thought to myself instead of this woman going off like this all she had to do was to say the smoking section is over there or something. I would have taken no objection to that what-so-ever. So after finishing my cigarette and before retrieving my bag I decided to say just that to the woman . As I approached her from a respectable distance I began my attempt to educate her. I wanted this woman to know that she could not talk to me any way that she chose and that all of her antics were unnecessary.

Well before I could get a complete sentence out she began screaming again and dialing 911. She was again screaming at the top of her lungs for me not to touch her. To get away from her. Then the bitch had the nerve to say that I was assaulting her. She repeated that over and over and over again. Then she started screaming you touched me stop it don't touch me. He's assaulting me. I never touched the bitch. One of the taxi attendants walked over and said "man it's not worth it". I agreed and with that I walked back into the baggage claim area.

5 seconds later one of the airport traffic cops walked in and asked me to come outside. He said that I needed to wait for the police to arrive to make a statement. What the fuck! A statement, why should I have to make a statement about that crazy bitch. I thought fast. There were mostly white people in the area and I could not count on them being a witness to my behavior. So I told them that the Taxi attendant was right there so make sure that they grabbed him to corroborate my statements. They compliied.

The airport cop walked back inside with me to get my bag and await the police. Not 5 minutes later 9 police officers had arrived. NINE! I kid you not! I explained to one Asian officer what happened and he asked me if she was on the plane with me or if I knew her. To both I answered no.

He then asked for my ID. I'm assuming so that I wouldn't run away. 6 of the other officers stayed behind while I still waited for my bag. The officer came back and gave me my ID and asked if I was leaving after I got my bag. Of course I was leaving you dumb ass. I don't live at the airport is what I wanted to say. But didn't.

He then told me that the reason there were so many officers was because they got a report of domestic violence. 1st of all I didn't know the woman nor did I touch her. It's beyond me why they hadn't contacted the airport cops...(traffic cops I guess) to find out the true situation before even coming to the spot. What also astonished me was how quickly they arrived and how they really thought that I did do something to the bitch. If I had done anything to her there would have been no question about it. I wanted to bang the bitches head into the plate glass window for screaming at me the way she was.

I never was able to completely understand why Bigger in Richard Wright's, Native Son killed Mary and the affect it had on him. This situation sort of brought the idea in Wright's book to light for me. Notes on that portion of the book read: Mary’s murder gives Bigger a sense of power and identity he has never known. I think my thoughts of making her head a plate glass smasher aligns with that statement to a certain extent. Especially since only 1 black person came to try to diffuse the situation at all. He must have felt what I was feeling before.

The funny thing was that I wasn't even embarrassed when she was screaming. Anyone in the area could see that she has some issues. There are a lot of analogies I could make from this situation and I'm sure that actually all of them apply.

Like I said life has a way of slapping you back into reality. America has not changed very much even though the media tries to make us think it has. Black men are still the villians and the crazy white bitches are still the victims.

Don't be fooled.

Artwork by BARBARA KINSEY

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Direct Your Life


A friend of mine sent me these 24 items that one should do every day. He sent it in one of those chain email things that everyone gets all the time and just deletes them. For some reason I read this one. Supposedly knowing and doing these things will make your life better. I don't think there are any scientific facts related to all these things that will prove that they will in fact improve your life. On the other hand I don't think any of them will hurt. So if you can take just one or two of these items into you daily life, I would think that at the very least your life will be a little more pleasant on some level and place your life in the direction that you want it to go.


1. Take (at least) a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. In stead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________.Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
I'm adding this one.
25. I'm not Bitter, I'm Better.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Happy Jackie Washington Day!

I know I'm 2 days late but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Jackie Washington's Day! Jackie Washington's Day is every July 15th.


If you haven't seen the movie you should. Actually, Jackie Washingon Day can be any day you like cuz you will always have a good time.



Meet some friends down at the Threaded Needle and celebrate. You might even run into Cadillac the biggest Pimp in Kinlock at his regular table. If you haven't seen the movie, watch this trailer for a tidbit of what's in store. If you like crazy comedy you'll buy this one. It is a cult classic.




Enjoy!



Thursday, July 03, 2008

I Never Said Good Morning

it's early saturday morning
i wake you up and tell you that we have to go help your cousin..(you buy that cuz she always needs your help)
surprisingly you didn't even ask what was wrong this time
we quickly get dressed and head to the car
we get in the car and i'm driving
but instead of heading to your cousin's we head in another direction
stop asking me baby I'm not telling you where we're headed you'll see soon enough
we're on our way to the airport you scream
you're suddenly confused, asking me why we are here
i tell you that I'm taking you on a short trip
cover your eyes so you can't see our destination i want it to be a surprise.
you bombard me with questions.
how long are we staying?
what about clothes?
do i need a jacket?
i just look out the window
i park the car and walk you into the airport
we are in flight and the damn pilot announces how long it's going to take to get to Tobago
u get excited and squeeze my hand
i smile back at you
we arrive in Tobago and a white bentley picks us up and takes us to a white villa
as we walk through the lavishly decorated home you say i love you baby
your surprises are the best
we go to the kitchen and i give you something to drink and then undress you
stay right there I say
in the bedroom i open a suitcase that i had shipped prior to our arrival with our clothes
turn your back to me baby, i say as i walk towards you
i tie a colorful sorong around your waist that highlights the beauty of your skin and another around myself
i guide you to the back yard that is surrounded by lush landscaping
i take your hand and walk you through the trees to a clearing near a stream and small waterfall
i turn you to face me and tell you how much you mean to me.
i tell you how glad i am that i found you.
i tell you how you have enhanced my life
i tell you that my life before you was only preparation for you
and then get down on one knee and say
since life has now pepared me for you
there's no way that i want to grow old without you
will you marry me?
when you stop crying and say yes
our families run out of the trees cheering and smiling
they hug you and pull you away from me kissing you and laughing
i walk through the crowd of our families searching for your hand
i find it and pull you close to me
your head rest on my chest only hearing my heart beat
it's saying to you...i only beat for you
after the celebration and our families return to their hotels
we venture back to the waterfall in the warm night air only in our sorongs naked underneath
we end the night making love with the mist of the waterfall wetting our bodies until we glisten
the smell of gardenias envelopes us as we begin to fall asleep in each others arms.
i whisper in your ear,
hey baby i never said good morning.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Friends


The best thing about friends is that you get to pick them.
In this community they become your family.
They are a true reflection of who you are.
When you're in different cities they're only a phone call away.
If they've passed away you feel them when you need what they offered while living.
There's nothing better than good friends.
Who are your good friends?