My So-called Life
So, you want to be a consultant?
[From the Bitch Box archives at Media Bistro]
All praises to "arrogant cocksuckers" everywhere.
Just finished reading Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon and began Wonder Boys, so maybe I'll get enough energy to create a book section later this week. So much for my August sabbatical.
New frontpage: [ r o n n t a y l o r DOT c o m ]
One of these days I'll write about meeting one of my idols. For now, just enjoy Half Past Autumn: the Life and Works of Gordon Parks.
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From the Urbanworld Film Festival 2002:
LIFE ON CHRISTOPHER ST. is an expose on a rising subculture of Black and Latino gay youth born in the late 70s and 80s who are inspired by and represent the Hip-Hop generation. The people portrayed in this film maintain the aggressive hyper-masculine image and attitude represented in the culture, yet they are gay, thus contradicting the stereotypical image of homosexuals. Through the interviews of these individuals better known as "Homo Thugs," we see gay rappers, "Bloods" gang members, pimps and prostitutes. This documentary shows the struggle for individuals to maintain dignity as gay minorities in a society that is biased against the rising gay lifestyle.
It's a Gay World After All
Commentator and activist Keith Boykin charges Miami Black ministers distort gay rights:
The Success or failure of a Sept. 10 referendum to repeal Miami-Dade County's gay rights ordinance could rest in the hands of the county's 180,000 Black voters.
Black religious and political leaders have been recruited and a have already lined up on both sides of the fight. But the arguments by those who want to repeal the gay rights law just don't add up.
The African American Council of Christian Clergy, a leading group of ministers, recently aligned with the anti-gay right forces in Miami. In a flyer distributed at Black churches last month, the ministers claim that "Martin Luther King Jr. would be outraged if he knew that homosexual extremists were abusing the civil rights movement to get special rights based on their sexual behavior."
[...]
[T]he appeal to the legacy of Dr. King is grossly inaccurate. Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, is a strong supporter of civil rights protections for gays and lesbians. Lynn Cothren, a spokesman for Mrs. King and the King Center in Atlanta, even repudiated the ministers' flyer. Cothren said Dr. King never publicly discussed his views about homosexuality but, in private conversations with his wife, expressed concern about discrimination against gay men and lesbians.
The ministers' claims also conveniently ignores the contributions of Bayard Rustin to King's nonviolent tactics and outlook. Earl Ofari Hutchinson joins Coretta Scott King in setting the record straight:
Given King’s relentless, and uncompromising, battle against discrimination during his life, it’s absolutely incredible to imagine that he would back an anti-gay campaign. Yet, it’s hardly a surprise that a group would be brazen enough to enlist King as their ally. Since his murder 34 years ago, legions of groups and individuals have snatched at King’s picture, name and words to push their cause, agenda, issue, and even commercial products. They smother themselves in King’s mantle because they know that many still rank him next to God as the embodiment of truth and purity. Attorney-General John Ashcroft, for instance, whom civil rights leaders lambaste for his past anti-civil rights stance and racially insensitive comments calls King his hero.
From the New York Sun: Gay Marriages To Be Recognized
New York City could become the first jurisdiction in America to apply the word "marriage" to gay and lesbian unions, a move that would shatter a taboo in the legislation of homosexual relationships.
Meanwhile, the New York Times screams: A Comic Book Gets Serious on Gay Issues--
In April last year, eight months after his introduction to the supporting cast, Terry did something few characters in comic books do: he revealed he was gay. In Green Lantern No. 154, which will go on sale in September, Terry is spotlighted in the first half of a two-part story about a downside of being proudly out. He will be the victim of a gay bashing. While the comic book industry over the years has introduced gay and lesbian characters, this is the first major story line involving a gay central character of a mainstream comic book.
The Gay League of America has a comprehensive list of Queer Characters in Comics. While the list is probably incomplete, it is impressive, listing the character's history and her/his respective storyline.
[GLA link culled from J. Bernard Jones' reply to a post on a mailing list I subscribe to.]
My memory is fading. I mentioned something or other about Frida Kahlo a while ago. So I should have rememberd to mention El Museo Del Barrio's soon to close exhibition when I passed by while visiting the Conservatory Garden across the street--
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Twentieth-Century Mexican Art: The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection
April 28th - September 8, 2002
The Gelman Collection, widely regarded as the most significant private holding of twentieth-century Mexican art, was assembled by the late cinematic mogul Jacques Gelman and his wife Natasha. The superb collection features works by Kahlo, Rivera, and other masters of modern Mexican art, including Gunther Gerzso, Maria Izquierdo, Carlos Mérida, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siquieros, and Rufino Tamayo.
Congratulate Rachel and Marcel on the occasion of their wedding.
Sometimes I'm such a liar. Nearly twenty-five years after my initial embarassment on the Cyclone my baby convinced me to ride again. While there was no screaming (like a biaaaatch!), I had my eyes closed for most of the trip. I know the ride is 75 years ago, but are the seats as well? Man, those mofos don't give room for anyone taller than Emmanuel Lewis! My knees were pressing into the back of the two Latin Papis ahead of us and at one point, I heard and felt a pop in my left knee. Still feeling sore and know I'll have a grotesque leg at some point this weekend.
Yes, Mugabe is a racist homophobe! And?
[ Random Thoughts From la malinchista ] :
"There is no doubt that Mugabe is a ruthless man, or that his policies are contributing to the further impoverishment of the Zimbabweans. But to suggest that his land seizures are largely responsible for the nation's hunger is fanciful.
Though the 4,500 white farmers there own two-thirds of the best land, many of them grow not food but tobacco. Seventy per cent of the nation's maize - its primary staple crop - is grown by Black peasant farmers hacking a living from the marginal lands they were left by the whites."
-- George Monbiot in the UK Guardian...
Like, context... and shit.
Travelled to Coney Island this past weekend. It was great to be in the area once again. I graduated from nearby John Dewey High School and played hooky there a few times during my four-year stint. The Village Voice profiles the up-and-coming neighborhood:
Coney Island was a microcosm of New York City, a place where cramped intensity allowed one to transcend the harsh reality of social caste. Today, the shadows of yesterday's rides serve as testament to the insane ingenuity of mankind. But the new Coney Island is alive and growing with an ever changing mix of immigrants, artists, businesses, and even a minor league baseball team.
It's Not About HomoHop
[ From the San Francisco Bay Guardian: Stick this into your mind ] :
What the D/DC is doing is not about homohop, and it's not really about gay people in hip-hop. What it's really about is, we are rappers who believe, struggle, and fight for freedom inside of hip-hop to the utmost degree. -- Tim'm T. West/25percenter
[ Anil Dash offers some hilarious insights on Michael Jackson's third child/children ] :
The kids have grown up under their father's watchful eye. Michael continues to be completely fucking insane ill flipped crazy out of his gourd lost his shit incomprehensible what the fuck got in that boy do you even remember back when he used to be cute and talented and oh my god. Prince appears in a short, insufferable segue on an execrable song on the almost entirely worthless most recent Michael Jackson release, the so-inaccurately-titled-it's-not-even-ironic Invincible. Michael fails to see the parallels between his enlisting of his 5-year-old son for vocal duties on his album and his own forced fronting of the Jackson 5 beginning at, yes, five years old.
Not even funny at this point. *sigh*
[ from Uppity Negro/Aaron ] :
See the Racial Segregation Statistics for Cities and Metropolitan Areas if you're into that whole objective data thing. Before the Racial Privacy Initiative types shut 'em down.
[ Zizka's dead-on advice/thoughts for the prospective Liberal Arts degree-go-getter ] :
Some years back a sociologist friend of mine told me about a study of why people went to college. None of the reasons given (economic, cultural, etc.) quite explained what was happening. There were too many exceptions, and no matter how you cut it, some students ended up going to college for no apparent reason. His conclusion was that going to college after high school is an "institution" -- like marriage for example. And one of the definitions of "institutions" is that you don't have to give any reason for them except that "everyone does it".
This reminds me: I'll post my personal essay, I Am So Not a Secretary, one of these days. *sigh*
[ link via Laura, 26 Aug 02 ]
Still in lazy/busy mode. So instead of my usual half-assed "content," I'll continue to point to posts and stories of interest from others.
[ From George Kelly of allaboutgeorge.com ] :
Washington Post: No Rest for African Burial Ground
Two centuries ago, mapmakers noted a Negro burial ground in lower Manhattan, near the site of today's City Hall. Yet federal officials were surprised in 1991 when, at that precise spot, construction workers excavating for a proposed federal building began unearthing intact burials -- skeletal remains, grave goods and remnants of coffins. The site was part of a five-acre 18th-century cemetery that historians believe held the remains of as many as 20,000 people.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency, immediately advised the General Services Administration to develop a plan to preserve the site's historic value. But GSA officials, worried about costly delays, initially declined to modify the construction schedule. Instead, the GSA accelerated the excavation and in a year's time had unearthed more than 400 skeletal remains.
In the meantime, New York's Black community accused the government of desecrating sacred ground and mishandling the remains, some of which were wrapped in newspaper. A scientist gingerly handling one burial would later discover that the words "New York Post" had transferred onto a skull.
Outraged by the long ass delay? Contact Dr. Sherrill D. Wilson, Director of The office of Public Education and Interpretation of the African Burial Ground Project at 212-337-2001 or 212-337-1447 fax. The GSA funds this office.
New York City has a forgotten African Burial Ground in Queens: The Bunn Cemetry. A 19th-Century burial place, old records indicate this plot was used as an African-American burial ground, most prominently for the Bunn family. Pan-Africanists and other "radicals" want the park on top of the burial ground removed, a plaque installed acknowledging the historic site and a promise that it won't be desecrated again in the future.
I hope they don't hold their collective breath.
Ernie's going to be on TV!
So, remember how I auditioned to be on The Weakest Link a year ago? And then again six months later? Well, I'm picking up my friend David up from the train station when I get a call on my cellphone...
Go read the entire entry then wish him mucho luck...like now!
[ From George Kelly, again! ;-) Part of his Headphone Project, Pt. 5 ] :
Donald says: I'm wearing Sony MDR-E827 Sports Earbuds (which are surely discontinued) and am listening to Petals: The Minnie Riperton Collection (by Minnie Riperton, of course) and Paradigm by Osunlade.
VINYL FOREVER! *grin!*
Tony's lie about Baltimore: "yeah, it's nice here."
Many of the neighborhoods are quite spectacular. And then, a block over, it's downright slummy. It's a lot like Harlem in this way.
Sounds a lot like my old neighborhood, Prospect Heights. The Main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden just around the corner, but crackheads down the block, used condoms littering the sidewalk every morning and 24-hour bodegas every 1-1/2 blocks.
[ from George, yet another discussion about the infamous Joe Boxer commercial ] :
T&A commercials are stupid. Yes, they work. But still. I don't know if the ad agency that thought up this idea was thinking about race-specific caricatures. (Uh, to my ad-agency peoples who read this site? How often do you think about race-based caricatures?) You know what I loved? I lovedlovedloved that black guy walking past the window and making faces at the new iMac in the store window. I am seeing a smiling and dancing black man in his boxers, and I am feeling ... shame. More on this later.
It has generated a generous debate with most posters dissin' the spot. My initial reaction was one of "huh?" Never did racism, coonin', buck-dancing or stupidity enter in my thoughts. I still say sometimes a commercial is just a commercial. Even Oliver agrees with me. Maybe I'll have more on this.
ronn: Baby, even George doesn't like the commercial.
Owen: Who?
ronn: George.
Owen: ...
ronn: George! The copyeditor in Cali?!
Owen: OK. Do you have the link for the commercial?
ronn: Ummm...
Owen: You showed it to me before, remember?
ronn: *in a low voice* Try George's site.
Owen: *quickly types Youpi Key macro for George*
ronn: ...
Owen: *clicks on link; plays video*
ronn: ...
Owen: *plays video again, smiles*
ronn: ...
Owen: *plays video a third time, smile widens*
ronn: I change my mind, it's a goofy commercial!
Owen: Huh? *plays video a fourth time*
Owen: *drool forms at the corners of his mouth*
ronn: Ahem!
Owen: What's his website again?
ronn: *lying* I don?t remember!
Owen: aboutvaughn.com, right?
ronn: ...