People of realness...
I am speaking on a hard topic this time in my newsletter. Three issues that are linked together: race, racism, and people of color.
My sister and fellow poet out of the Bronx, New York; helped inspire this newsletter when she spoke about the use of the words “nigger” and “nigga”...and I will add, “kaffir” (the word used to refer to black people in South Africa). I also want to speak on that shameful act committed by radio station HOT97 out of New York.
First I'll start with race. There is this guy, another arts assistant I work with, an okay cat who has been re-creating himself away from the old racist, institutional set of ways and attitudes he was brought with in American society, embracing native Indian, African and Australian traditions.
He is white, and even speaks of going to Africa visiting tribes, learning chants, dance, and other rituals. He is embracing Eastern philosophies and other rituals. He believes himself to be striving for enlightenment, light and love, yet he cannot deal with the idea of human life originating in Africa. He says white people and black people came out of different places. That our ancestors crawled out of the ocean, or soup, or dirt, at different places, and/or God created two separate people.
That all sounds like JIM CROW or apartheid. What if life began in Africa or in space a billion miles from here? We are all people, all people this moment, wonderful thinking people. No one's any better or worse than anyone else. We all come from the same seed, the same spot of dust, the same evolutionary cell, the same Mother Earth.
The moment someone says we are separate, that is where all the bull---- comes in. That's where the sun sets and the white hoods go on and the spears are picked up and the moon is kicked out of the sky.
I'll never believe in that the Goddesses, Gods. Or whatever or whoever created life on this planet said, “ Well, let's make black people over here, red and brown up yonder, and white people down there...so as they came together, they can hate each other.
Now about HOT97 (apparently a big time radio station on the east coast, working with small minds, hearts and souls). HOT97 re-wrote the song “ We are the world” (a song, back in the day that was created by a host of people of color), and turned it into something dirty and racist. The song of love and sister and brotherhood was turned into racist lyrics about washing away Asian people, particularly Chinese people. There were people killed in the tsunami earthquake from Sweden, Africa, North America, Asia and Europe. There was nothing funny about the loss of lives.
HOT97, you should be bringing attention to war-torn areas or areas where there is need for food, where people are dying and being killed, in the Congo, Angola and other places around the world or speaking on the prison system in your country that is OFF THE HOOK with the death penalty, injustice, and racism.
You should be speaking on your vapid education systems in your ghettos and barrios. You should be speaking on politicians that are creating their own little kingdoms, running amok. You should be speaking on sexism and racism not only in your industry, but embedded in your schools and churches. You should be speaking on the lack of real art programs in your schools.
Instead you take a song that was created and sung by people of all colors as one, and made it into something against my Asian sisters and brothers.
People making fun at other people's woes or tragedies or of the great earthquake late 2004, is like people making light of slavery, the holocaust or of rape and abuse of children, women, or the elderly. For someone of color, with a history of slavery and rape, it's extra sickening.
People, what's wrong with you? What's wrong with us? We want to crap and then stand and wallow in it, and track it all over the place.
It is a shame, HOT97, a shame when a dog is sick enough to start eating itself up from tail to head. When I read what you have done, HOT97, I am happy I never listened to your station. Perhaps you should be called (and I use the word “should” under protest) COLD97, not cold in the cool sense of the word, but cold in a hateful, heartless, sick, myopic way.
This newsletter is dedicated to you, Que, my young poet sister in the Bronx, and to al people of color everywhere, without borders and without fear.
Lastly, if one could perform alchemy on the word “nigger” or “nigga” or “kaffir” and turned it from a turf into something else, it would still be hideous. If one poured honey on that word endlessly, it would still stink and taste of filth. These words are not hip, cool or freeing, and words that put people in boxes are never cool. These words should all be retired
There are just people, people with different shades of skin. The melting pot of people must be beyond borders, beyond borders of color, mind, and classily kept institutions that separate people.
Some say the n-word has been transformed into something beautiful, something endearing tender when uttered by a black, a close friend, homeboy or girl, or loved one.
That n-word, although I have been guilty of saying it myself when upset, that word has never rung in sweetly in my soul. Coming from anywhere or anybody that word and it's history, conjures up hideous visions that happened in slavery, that happened to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Emmet Teil, Assata Shakur, now in Cuba, Nelson Mandela, to all people of color. No matter how you turn you head up at waste it still stinks. The n-word is heavy, latent with death, hate, ignorance and pain. Can you turn God into the devil or the devil into God? “Whassaup nigga?” ”My nigga” or “nigga” will never be cool.
A word is one of the powerful entities in the universe. The n-word had its hideous destiny set centuries ago. Other words have been outdated and retired. What would we lose by retiring that word?
As creative as people are, as creative as people of color are, we can come up with a way cooler word. The real melting- pot is everywhere, and beyond borders. Flags and borders create discrimination and hate. We must be a people beyond hate. We must be the PEACE GANG pf people sending out love and realness without fear....
WRITING STUFF
The arts program here is rolling on with music and poetry, and our arts program has been adopted by local public radio station KVMR, thanks to Cheri Snook, promoter, producer and DJ from the station. She has gotten local poets to share their work and music, people from as far as Alaska. Thanks to my sister Cheri for bringing in the unique oneness and realness of the Flow motion group out of Seattle, Washington. Those young cats were off the hook!
Thanks for bringing alive, and sharing the space with us in the art room. Thanks also to the Grass Valley poets and artists. Thanks to Ms. Kimberly Bass, whose music is real and magical! You all sharing the space with us frees us all from our own little prisons, creating a “Universal Tapestry”. Keep that magical and realness flowing in.
I am looking for someone to work with me on re-writing; re-working my stage plays which are just lying around rusting. Also, I am looking for someone to work with me and help me edit some of my prose pieces, fiction and non fiction, and also I'm looking for someone to edit my news letters. So if anyone is interested, do write me a snail mail.
BIRD STUFF
Just found out today there is a new memo out prohibiting people from feeding the birds! Needless to say, I will continue to feed my little friends even if I must sneak and do it. I am struggling to figure out what aspect of prison life or human life it hurts by feeding my little fellows.
I am still waiting for the birds to show me a sign of spring and the beginning of my new year. The blackbirds and pigeons can still foretell spring because the male birds will be trailing its mate as soon as the spring moves him.
The two raccoons have been showing up in the barred ditch, nut I cannot think of a sign they give me to indicate spring. Still, I wish there were trees or bushes there, something where the birds can nest, and I can watch them, fat with spring. I am sure the birds know my plight, and will enlighten me.
STAY REAL SECTION
Drew, from my friend Katie and Adams class, I just got your e-mail and I cannot answer e-mail directly, so Drew, write me a regular mail and I will answer personal questions. I do believe in you. Keep going to school and unfolding yourself in books and knowledge! In life keep experiencing it; keep being open to life, love and realness. Remember to question what does not ring proper with your heart and soul. Never be ashamed of questions. Never be ashamed to walk in your own shoes.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I want to say hello to my new nephew, Little Ernest, and my nice, Tiffany, and my nieces Cindi, Dujaun, DeDe and Nadie, to all and any of my nieces and nephews who read this.
May peace and realness and understanding be yours.
The Peace G. be with everyone.
May the warmth of the sun bless everyone.
Spoon
