Hiatus

Ok so cleary to the one person who follows this, sorry for the long hiatus, LOL. I won't allow that to happen again, look for me to blog just about everyday now (or at least try to)
I come today to say that sometimes we go through situations and are not really sure why, but God is still in control. I feel like, I've come to a place where I'm treading water, and not really moving. This is the first time in my life that I've felt this way, I panicked at first because it was so new and it was uncharted territory. I've learned over the last few weeks that God is transitioning me to another place and that means new territory. But even in this new place God is saying keep your feet planted and plow ahead. He hasn't brought me this far to leave me, He's just making a way for me to go higher in Him. The lesson I take from this, is that God is using our pain to make us stronger and better people. We must keep our joy and not let the devil dictate how and when we react. God is to good, and has been to good to us all to forget that. I'm full and happy because I know God has been good to me, and if He allowed it there is purpose in it. Rejoice and be happy know that it aint over, and that what's ahead will be better than what's behind!!!

Amen

Post of Disgrace

As most of you know by now the New York Post illustration department published a clear and blatantly racist cartoon in yesterdays paper. It was two police officers one with a smoking gun and a chimp lying dead with bullet holes riddled through it's body. The other officer looks on and says "Now they'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill". The NY Post wants you to believe that this is a parody of today's issues, i.e the Connecticut monkey who mauled a woman. Then they said that the monkey is suppose to "represent" congress. Okay for one second let's consider this...first why wouldn't you make it clear that the monkey represents more than one person, by putting a collar around the monkey's neck that says "Congress or Senate". If they had done that, then it wouldn't have been any question as too who or what the cartoon was about. The fact that you equate a black president to a monkey brings on so many racial connotations. People who aren't African American always try to justify that it isn't all that crucial. Well it is crucial, when you have relatives who have been considered less than a man or woman. The argument is that there have been pictures of Bush, and Cheney and no ones said anything. Well for one, you can't compare apples to oranges. A race of people who have been demeaned and compared to animals throughout their history in this country,especially monkeys. There are just certain things that call for common sense and the NY Post didn't use any in this situation. The Post as always done edgy work, and their lack of diverse employment throughout the years shows in the lack of sensitivity in this cartoon. These cartoons are always up to the reader to get what they want out of it, and for the majority of Americans this was overt racism. Whether folks want to acknowledge it or not, it's a new day, deal with it. If you agree or disagree with President Obama he is the president, and we are moving forward, with or without you. African-American,Hispanic,White,Native American, Asia are ALL tired of the BS and we are no longer going to except the ignorance of a few. This nation is going to move forward, and the old wall of organizations like the NY Post have to realize that we are not going to sit by and allow this or anything like this to continue. I reiterate that this is a new day, and like President Obama said the ground is shifting and if you want to remain still you will be left behind. We are living in a time where jobs are being lost by all Americans, health-care is fading for all Americans. The last thing we need is for the old head of racism to rear it's ugly head only one month after the most historic election in our nations history, and no less during Black History Month. I join millions of others who are fed up and no longer will stand for ignorance to reign supreme or be allowed to go unchecked. New York Post office number 212-930-8000

Spring, Summer Feeling

Greetings, wow, it has been a while since I put finger to keys to type up a blog. ( I know I have got to get better!!) As we venture further into Feb 09, (which is flying by) I find myself trying to move into second gear for this year. Feb is always a great month artistic wise, with it being Black History Month alot of shows always seem to come up. I'm trying to gravitate more towards being just an artist 24/7. As most cats who do this know, that is easier said then done. I work all the time, just not every gig is paid. Had this convo with my roommate last night, if more of the stuff we did "artist" wise on a daily basis was paying, we'd be fulltime (working) artist. God is opening my eyes to soo much and I'm just praying I listen and hear what He is telling me. You will be hearing so much more from me this year guarantee it. I know that I will continue to become more complete as a person and an artist this year. I'm excited for what's coming in the spring/summer. I refuse limitation!!! I will not loose, because I've already won!!! Watch me work.

Who are You?

As we are less than one day before the most historic election of our lifetime, we must ask the question "Who are You"?. In the past week or so I've had a dozen or so coffee shop conversations, (some heated at times, but always in the spirit of good debate) about the implications of Tuesday. Some of the convo has ranged from agreement with having a black president, all the way to nothing will change I won't vote. This really disturbs me when in 2008 you have African Americans who don't understand the totality of what's at stake. Regardless if your democrat,republican, or independent you have to agree that this is big for a people who 400 years ago where enslaved by this very country. A people who 60 years ago weren't able to sit and eat at stores, and had water hoses turned on them. I people who just a month ago still got dragged behind trucks for being black. Far we have come yes, but so far we have to go. So I raise the question again, who are you, to destroy what the ancestors, and our fore parents prayed for. Who are you to disrespect their long labor, of sun up to sun down cotton picking and disparaging treatment. Who are you, to have their lives,prayers, and sacrifices be in vain. Some of us fail to realize that the only reason we are here is because someone prayed for us. Our grandparents gave their lives, literally!!! Who are we to act as if we can't stand in line for a few hours to make history. We get so caught up in ourselves that we fail to realize how crucial this moment really is. This is bigger than Barack, like the movement was bigger than Malcolm and Martin. Just like them I believe that Obama understands that. On Wednesday gas will still be high,homes will still be lost, but as an African American something inside you should definitely change. I was talking to a friend of mines little boy, and I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said"president". A four year old little boy, we have to look at the whole picture and understand what this means, not just for us, but to our children. So who are you to say I'm too tired to stand in line, or my feet hurt, or this isn't that important we got it. Voting on tomorrow isn't something you should be doing just for you, you should do it for Medgar and the countless others who lost their lives just to have the chance to vote. Now we sit on the cusp of the first African American president, and some have the nerve to say, "oh it's not that important, Who are you to disrespect those who labored,died, and prayed for us, me and you to be sitting here right now with the opportunity to have those prayers answered. WhoAre We, we should be a people with race pride and understand, that our voices will be heard, we will be counted and this fight will go on because "I don't feel no ways tired" Ashe ( Ahh-Shay)

Sadness, Monday Mourning Blues....

My thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer Hudson and her Family, also out to the two students killed in Arkansas and the anchor woman who died in the hospital. This list could go on and on senseless deaths.

Monday Mourning Blues

I got the Monday mourning blues, woke up to a day I'd never seen before, before, so I adore the Father for allowing me to see what some will never see again on this side, this side, 7years of completion then He's snatched from this life, said I've got the blues, the Monday mourning blues, was suppose to be a day of rejoicing, just knew they'd find him scared and hungry, not the way I envisioned it, I got the blues the Monday mourning blues, so tired of destruction, the taking of innocent lives, this battle is so spiritual, the enemy is a liar, I can't even begin to imagine the way the family must feel, only seven years old, 2,555 days, I feel like shedding 2,555 tears, still know that won't be enough to bring back life, but maybe the rain from my eyes, will help grow new seeds, as he looks down from his now heavenly home, still so wrong, Lord we ask why, know we may never know, your will is your will, but sometimes Lord it hurts, I said sometimes it hurts, we pray for the babies, and hug and kiss them even more today, cause he could have been ours, said he could have been your nephew or my niece so I pray for peace, cause even though the sun is shinning bright with magnificent glory...I've got the Monday mourning blues...Ashe(ahh-shay)

(For Julian King, 7 year old nephew of Jennifer Hudson)

Falling into our Destiny, Palin, The Children,Marvin Gaye(Live)

Okay so enough serious soapbox talk for one day...lol sorry had to get it out!!! LOL

Tonite Marvin Gaye "Live"
The whole "What's Going On" album performed by different artist throughout the city...go to www.myspace.com/kidelectricconcerts or www.myspace.com/nashvillepoet for more details doors open at 8 show starts at 9. Benefiting "Voting is Priceless" $10 or $8 with "I voted sticker" go early vote, then come to the show tonight!!!

12thandPorter 12th ave south downtown.

Joey Rich,Tim Dillenger,Jason Eskridge, Descendants of Reality,Juan Winans,Lisa Kimmey,Rashad"thaPoet", Joint Heirs, and MORE!!!!!

Falling into our Destiny, Palin, The Children,Marvin Gaye(Live)

So as some of you know, I sub to supplement my income when I'm not acting or doing spoken word. So today and really all week I have been at high schools. I broke up a fight today at school (I won't name the school) It was crazy because no other teachers came to break it up, it was just me. Imagine about 50 students crowding around you as you try and break up to huge guys, (without getting hit yourself, (because clearly I was not trying to get hit, LOL) so I got one of the guys and of course the other one ran down the steps. I finally got the one guy calm (or so I thought) then he ran down the steps as well. I first was going to chase him, then figured I'd be right back in the same scenario as before. So I went and called campus security. By the time I got downstairs they had fought again, and the police had them both in handcuffs taking them off to juvie. An hour early one of the guys was in my class and I was talking to a group of girls (who were cussing and using language I don't want to repeat) about being a young lady, and how what they think about themselves isn't true. They were talking about the "beefs" between Mexicans and blacks at the school. Now the guy in my class was black, the guy he was fighting was Mexican. As they were both taking away in handcuffs, by white officers, it just reiterated what I was telling them. Blacks,Latinos,Mexicans, and any other minorities we are all in the same boat. The sooner we realize that and come together the better we will be. Yet some will argue it's hard for us to come together with another race, when we aren't "together". Just goes to show, that we "adults, and those who can reach" have to be more diligent in making a difference. We have to "Save the Children" for real. I get so tired of grown folks being scared of children. If you see someone doing something they shouldn't say something!! Especially this is to grown men, stop being afraid of "what they might do to you." It's all about your approach, if your afraid they're going to smell your fear and dismiss anything you say. Just come at them real, and you'll be surprised how they react. The majority of these children want a positive outlet, but they aren't getting it so they act out. Black men we've got to do better, we gotta save our boys and teach them respect and how to be a man, because they don't know, and black women you've got to teach our you ladies how to act like young women, and respect themselves. We got work to do y'all and I'm in for the long haul....are you?