Tonight I had coffee with a lovely friend. He is very sweet, timid, and interesting. We shall definitely hang out some more.

A Wonderful Tribute

Rosa Parks will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Sunday and Monday. Plans are being arranged for her to be buried at the Lincoln Memorial. I hope her spirit takes over Washington D.C. and shakes it at its very foundation.

Yea!!!!

Scooter Libby got indicted today! I hope this is the beginning of the end for this regine, although I am not hopeful. The United States is quickly becoming a right-winged state and I believe that it will continue in this path until its very end.

Go Iran.

I so envisioned my life as being something out of a woody allen movie(primarily Hannah and her Sisters). What happened?

This week, in regards to my classes, I opened a great big can of worms and almost got lynched. Those were the highlights of my week. Firstly, I almost got lynched as after we finished Watching Bowling for Columbine I introduced the concept of American Exceptionalism into our conversation about the film--and dared to questionthe superiority of the United States. There was some hot blood running through that room. Alas, after the discussion of Bowling for Columbine-- I brought in another lesson I had prepared--on the racial codes that were prevalent in the United States--the 1/4th , one drop, and one eitgth rules. I talked about Plessy Vs. ferfuson, the other supreme court case Jane Doe Vs. Louisiana and talked about the rhetoric of race--the purpose for these laws, how they affected people's lives, and how they played out in terms of defining personal and community identity. We talked about Carol Channing, Walter White ( and looked at pictures), and Rita Hayworth, just for kicks. I think they were beautiful discussions. Others might want to burn me at stake for being a Communist.

I absolutely believe that the word progressive needs to be troubled.

I absolutely adore burlesque. I am intrigued and am interested to know who was the inspiration for the character of "Satin Doll" in Jo Jo Dancer Your Life is Calling.

Building on My Previous Post

Yet I know that I was put here to do good work. And do it I will. I bitch and complain, but in the end I get to work.

I suppose I am a bit bitter that God sent me to Alabama and Indiana instead of giving me what I want/need. IF I ever found god I would probably try to castrate him for fucking with me.

We have to be in the struggle.

A Tribute to Rosa Parks from the New York Times

A Quote from the New York Times

In "Stride Toward Freedom," Dr. King wrote, "Actually no one can understand the action of Mrs. Parks unless he realizes that eventually the cup of endurance runs over, and the human personality cries out, 'I can take it no longer.' "

Putting It Together

Barbra Streisand

Barbra: look, I?ve spent a lot of time working on this
Producer 1: look, no one?s gonna buy it -- no one.
Producer 2: no one in middle america, anyway. that?s for sure.
Producer 3: he?s right!
Producer 1: sweetheart, it?s just not commercial!
Barbra: what is commercial?
Producer 2: it?s not what?s selling nowadays.
Producer 1: I mean - personally, I love it, but
Barbra (sung):be nice, girl!
Producer 3: nobody?s into this kind of material.
Barbra (sung): you have to pay a price, girl!
Producer 2: this album needs a hit single we can push.
Barbra (sung):they like to give advice, girl!
Producer 1: the whole idea?s too risky.
Barbra (sung): don?t think about it twice, girl!
Producer 2: the audience won?t understand this kind of thing!
Barbra (sung):it?s time to get to work!
Barbra(spoken): I disagree! why don?t you wait until you hear
it?
Producer 3: this is like your old stuff!
Barbra (sung): art isn?t easy.
Producer 3: you?ve got to appeal to the kids.
Barbra (sung): even when you?re hot.
Producer 2: why would you want to make an album like this
anyway?
Barbra (sung): advancing art is easy.
Producer 1: I think we ought to talk seriously about this.
Barbra (sung): financing it is not!
Producer 2: why take chances?
Barbra (sung): a vision?s just a vision if it?s only in your
head!
Producer 1: nobody respects your artistic integrity more than I
do, but
Barbra (sung): if no one gets to hear it, it?s as good as dead!
Producer 2: you have to think about you career!
Barbra (sung): it has to come to life!
Barbra (sung): bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution
Every little detail plays a parts
Having just a vision?s no solution
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that?s what counts!
Ounce by ounce, putting in together
Small amounts, adding up to make a work of art
First of all you need a good foundation
Otherwise it?s risky from the start
Takes a little cocktail conversation
But without the proper preparation
Having just a vision?s no solution
Everything depends on execution
The art of making art
Is putting it together, bit by bit
Producer 2: do we really need all these musicians?
Barbra: link by link, making the connections, yes we do!
Drink by drink, taking every comment as it comes
Learning how to play the politician
Like you play piano, bass and drums
Otherwise you?ll find your composition
Isn?t gonna get much exhibition
Art isn?t easy
Every minor detail is a major decision
Have to keep things in scale
Have to hold to your vision
Producer 1: why don?t we talk about this over dinner, darling?
What?s a little cocktail conversation
If it gets the funds for your foundation
Every time I start to feel defensive
I remember vinyl is expensive!
Producer 3: would you agree to do an interview?
Barbra: maybe one!
Dot by dot, building up the image
Shot by shot, keeping at a distance doesn?t pay
Still if you remember your objective
Not give all your privacy away
A little bit of hype can be effective
As long as you can keep it in perspective
Even when you get some recognition
Everything you do you still audition
Art isn?t easy
Overnight you?re a trend
You?re the right combination
Then the trend?s at an end
You?re suddenly last year?s sensation!
All they ever want is repetition
All they really like is what they know
Gotta keep a link with your tradition
Gotta learn to trust your intuition
While you re-establish your position
So that you can be on exhibit...
So that your work can be on exhibition!
Be new, girl!
They tell you till they?re blue, girl!
You?re new, or else you?re through, girl!
And even if it?s true, girl,
You do what you can do!
Bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, working on the vision night and day
All it takes is time and perseverance
With a little luck along the way
Putting in a personal appearance
Gathering supporters and adherents...
Producer 1: well, she?s an original!
Producer 3: was!
Barbra: mapping out the songs but in addition
Harmonizing each negotiation
Balancing the part that?s all musicians
With the part that?s strictly presentation
Balancing the money with the mission
Till you have the perfect orchestration
Even if you do have the suspicion
That it?s taking all your concentration
The art of making art
Is putting it together, bit by bit
Beat by beat, part by part
Sheet by sheet, chart by chart track by track, bit by bit,
Reel by reel, pout by pout
Stack by stack, snit by snit,
Meal by meal, shout by shout
Deal by deal, spat by spat
Shpiel by shpiel, doubt by doubt
And that... is the state of the art!

OH GOD

I am crying soo on the inside...for the whole world...and for me.....Rosa Parks just died today. Is there any hope left for the world?

To Oprah: I love you girl.


I think Oprah and Soledad O'Brien are most progressive souls.

I want to look more into the one drop rule an d the legal defintions of blackness and whiteness. I have read a lot about it, know a lot aboutit, but I want to seriously and in a focused way consider it.

If someone could bottle up all of the colors of the changing leaves and turn them into wine, that would be a wine I would definitely love to drink. I saw the most beautiful red tree, beautiful and rich in color on my way to campus.

As I was just going onver some notes I had written down previously, I began to think about the construction of the self, specifically in relation to the Afro-American community. I have always argued that the Afro-American community has failed to construct an identity for itself, always dependent upon the white patrarchial structure to provide it with the definition of itself, which is a byproduct of the state of bastardy.It has never been able to acheive that level of integrity--integralness where it as been completely whole. There must be some very significant changes made in order for this to take place.

Am I selfish?

Why aren't there more Cornel Wests? Where are the Kimberley Williams-Crenshaws, the Barbra Streisands, the bell hooks? The Alice Walkers? I need these people.

Ive written my fiftieth review on epinons(again). It was of Julia. I am pleased.

There is this lovely boy named Will that works at Taco Bell. He is quite cute and he is a socialist.;-) I enjoy talking to him.