Up Against the Wall Continued. . ..

 

 

 

 

Up Against the Wall: The Biggest Sale of the Season

Up Against the Wall, one of the few clothing stores that current Howard University students can say has been on Georgia Avenue throughout their Howard career, shut down last week. The location was not filling its quota and business has been down for a while. The empty spaces are reminiscient of the brightly colored, often funky, brands that have been the staple of many students' wardrobes.

There are other locations open in the District and elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

Throwback: Incubus

"How do you do it, make me feel like I do. . . it's better than I ever knew."

Incubus - back to a time when music was music. When lyrics had a purpose and didn't spout some temperamental angst that is improperly placed.

I miss those days - and here is a piece of the past: Stellar, Acoustic Version

Why I Say Gay Marriage Should Be Allowed

The answer, I suspect, is that many people think of "marriage" as a religious rather than a legal term. If Christians suddenly started celebrating their birthdays as "bar mitzvahs," it would probably upset some Jews, who would see it as insulting. If atheists started wearing crucifixes to signify their atheism, it would surely perturb some Christians, who might see it as blasphemous. The real flash point about the word "marriage" is that some people strongly associate the word with their religious understandings, and those understandings most definitely do not embrace same-sex relationships. Thus, even if they are willing, as good citizens, to grant gays and lesbians "all the rights married people have," they can't stand the thought of seeing a "sacred" word, and concept, brutalized.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-r-stone/same-sex-marriage-and-the_b_347593.html&cp


Yes, Mr. Stone. A main misconception about the drive for gay marriage is the fact none of the opposition tends to know what they (LGBTQ) people want it for!

The beginning of the widespread media coverage of their plight consisted of controversy over the misconception of the origin of the AIDS virus. There were many articles published that implied the perception that the homosexual community was a large demographic of those affected by AIDS. In addition, it was because of their non conventional ways that they were at greater risk than any other subculture. In my research, though, I find that there is some rational truth embedded in the hoodoo.

For example:

In summary, this model illustrates how AIDS could have developed in homosexual men as a result of an interaction of known or likely biologic effects generated by repeated exposures to specific infectious and noninfectious environmental factors. Numerous reports now document the specific environmental and biologic features that were regarded as important in the 1983 model, which appears-with minor updating-below.

Let's be real and uncensored for a moment - with gay men, there is often the chance of anal sex. Just as with heterosexual sex, there is the potential for the sex to be protected or not protected. I can imagine that there is some misunderstanding of getting STDs through heterosexual sex only, or even just through vaginal intercourse rather than through a usually not spoken of orifice. However, it has been proven that among the different types of bodily excrement, urine is the one that can be considered safe to consume or to even deal with after it comes from the body. Feces, which come from the bum, are filled with different sorts of bacteria and viruses that are quite harmful to man.

Wikipedia will serve it's purpose now:

The main pathogens that are commonly looked for in feces include:

* Salmonella and Shigella
* Yersinia tends to be incubated at 30 °C (86 °F), which is cooler than usual
* Campylobacter incubated at 42 °C (108 °F), in a special environment
* Aeromonas
* Candida if the person is immunosuppressed (e.g., undergoing cancer treatment)
* E. coli O157 if blood is visible in the stool sample
* Cryptosporidium
* Entamoeba histolytica

Not to say that the female vagina isn't equally putrid - it can be at times, but fecal matter is far more dangerous.

Tangent. Obviously.



Nevertheless, there was a lack of safe sex practice - okay, understood.

If the demographic is basically underground, there is no forum to speak on progressive issues.


The next issue in widespread media in relation to the LGBTQ community involved the military.

Note: I do understand that the prevalence of homophobic action was and is an issue, however, to make this short and sweet, let's just move on with that understanding.

President Clinton mandated the "Don't ask, Don't tell" rule. My ex-girlfriend was in the army and was removed from such due to this rule. A rule that, in my opinion, was unfairly inflicted upon her. The military is a universal structural engine - to ensure that the citizens of the country have a way by which they can be taken care of financially as well as reinforce and maintain the self-discipline that they should have been taught when they were a child.

(After the lack of sexual activity in BCT, the troops have almost no way to expel sexual energy - why not engage in some team and muscle building exercise in one! JOKE JOKE JOKE)

Currently, President Obama professes to be on the war path to allow LGBTQ peoples equal rights in the military. With this strategic move, the rest of the country has no choice but to follow. This was expressed with the dislike of Black Americans in the early part of the 20th Century. It was not until the American military began to integrate their troops that the entire country followed suite and warmed up to the idea of equality for Black Americans.


Now, we have the issue of allowing the institution of marriage being open to members of other orientations and lifestyles. The institution of marriage always will be and still is a political institution in this imperial society we live in. From the royal families of Europe partaking in their incestuous rendezvous and the ancient Kemetians differentiating who their own royal family was allowed to marry - the institution of marriage has proven to be one of the main deciding factors in the make up of many social environments and hierarchies. Along with this institution, marriage has been brought to the level of allowances for those partaking in it. From death rights to tax allowances to the granting of citizenship to monetary spousal benefits - marriage has proven to be a money- and life- making business.

Here is where we find the true reasons why it is important to allow the LGBTQ community to have their simple title that the diluted demographic is holding onto oh so dearly.

Gay homeowners spend 50% more than their heterosexual counterparts, for one.

"I'm thinking down the road. Washington state could be one of the next states to allow same-sex marriage, and when they do, I want to have these images in my portfolio," he says. "Eventually I think it's going to be a great market, especially here in Seattle where gay couples tend to be dual income professionals."

- for two.


Although gay couples tend to spend more modestly, they tend to spend more. Just not where some may want them to spend (although that is at the fault of those who are homophobic), for three.



Just think:

you've been living with Sally/Tyrone for x years. Over the course of these decades, Sally/Tyrone and you have been estranged from your families due to your lifestyle and you two are the happiest people in the world. You both are living your lives, going on lavish vacations with your gay and gay-accepting friends. The both of your assets and overall worth and wealth grows immensely.
But, alas, Sally/Tyrone finds out they have cancer. They go into a state of being brain dead. There is a 10% chance of recovery and there is but one question - does Sally/Tyrone stay on life support or does the plug need to be pulled?

Then there comes the hierarchy of relevant parties: the patient (if sound, which Sally/Tyrone is not), a surrogate that the "sound" patient designated, the spouse, and the next of kin - going down that line.

You and Sally/Tyrone, however, are not married. You live in Bofunk, Mississippi - gay marriage and/or civil unions are banned by law, as many other states in your surrounding area. .

Sally/Tyrone and you have amassed a sick amount of wealth - investments, properties, stocks. Their father (who acted as if the both of you never existed for the past x decades) decides that he wants to use the money to get out of his debt and retire himself. You have no power over this. Your life-long partner, the light in your eye, is pulled off of life support and you are forced to deal with the consequences of a situation you had no control over.

THAT is inhumane.



Point Blank Period. Everyone is human. We should all be allowed to have the same rights despite the religious or historical implications of whatever terminology it entails.

Question - is it hurting you?

Did it hurt the white folks when we were integrated and we began to invite our innovation into their companies at corporate levels?

Thank you.

My case is stated and validated.

"When you represent freedom and you fight for peace"

I moseying around BBC when I found this little tidbit.

I am a Heath Ledger fan, I will admit. I might not exactly trust his music choice though.

This group, however, No Fixed Abode - is dope.

August 29, 2005

"We believe that kids and adults often times are self-medicating because it is cheaper to get marijuana than it is to pay" for prescription medication, he said.

Bell says many area residents probably suffer from untreated or undiagnosed post-traumatic stress.

August 29, 2005 - the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Soon after was Hurricane Rita. In between the two, the levees were obliterated in strategic places and a lot of other stuff happened that never got on the news. Over these four years, I've said my piece in closed forums, but I feel that I am going to end my part in the conversation once and for all (unless, of course, I deem it necessary to educate some ignorant soul) and state my case.


I, personally, am not from New Orleans. I have been there numerous times - my father used to live there many years ago; nevertheless, my experience is not of a direct New Orleans resident. My experience is that of a graduating senior in Baton Rouge with close ties to New Orleans, as majority of the residents of Baton Rouge do.

Some people may not know this, but I was not born in Baton Rouge, much less in Louisiana. Because of my family ties, BR has been a part of my life for longer than I can remember. I did not have an official address there until my high school years, though. Regardless, 'home' for me and those who I know who are born and raised natives is Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Home of the Fina stations, the Square, 'Jiggas,' and annoying trains from the surrounding plants that will slow down your whole day if you aren't fast enough to catch it before it blocks another crossing.

When Katrina descended upon us (BR) we lost power for a few weeks (some places for a month plus), trees were obliterated, houses were obliterated by trees, and all of the regular Hurricane occurrences took place. One thing that I, personally, was not used to was the aftermath. There was a terrible influx of people coming from the southern region of the state. People from New Orleans, Metarie, St. Bernard Parish, and all of the other surrounding parishes flocked to Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, and every other place where they had family and possible bed to sleep in.

One of my most distinct memories of that time is sitting around the radio in the house. Everything was extremely quiet outside. The wind was the only music to be heard. People had their doors open and some were barbecuing their previously frozen meats in hopes that they would not have to deal with spoiled food- the community was obviously a community. The radio, however spoke of the waves of people coming into Baton Rouge whether passing through or dropping their anchor. I remember my father saying that he had to go stock up on gas for his and my step mother's trucks, but not fully understanding why he would do that - 'gas stations always have gas,' I thought.

Boy! was I naive. The sudden onslaught of people not only rendered the gas stations inefficient, but people began to 'clown,' as one would say. What began as incredible lines twirling around the gas stations and down the streets turned into angry people and all sorts of atrocities that the residents of Baton Rouge couldn't believe. I vaguely remember reports of people being assaulted in the lines and people stealing from one another. Walmart, what I would consider the equivalent to a shopping mall to a Southerner, among other places was sold out of just about everything. People began to riot, I do remember, at different Walmarts (I think the one by Cortana was the one on the news) and caused the chain to close at 8 p.m. rather than stay open 24-hrs like they usually do. The city was overrun with people that were somewhat foreign to it and disrupted the economical balance on a scale that, at that time, I couldn't comprehend. All that I knew was that it was bad. As reports say, Baton Rouge had the third highest number of evacuees, but I beg to differ simply because there are people who chose not to give information upon immediately settling and what is not factored in is those who stayed for a short amount of time, still taking resources from the city.

I also remember a member of my extended family in BR whose family was living in New Orleans. She took them in out of family obligation, as so is Southern custom (there were 8-12 of them in total), and I can still remember her complaining in a conversation to someone else that they (the NO family members) were making no effort to get a job (although all employers offered priority to New Orleans residents) and were at the house most of the day drinking and smoking (although they did cook everyday they were there). There lie the problem with many of the evacuees that came - they took everything but gave almost nothing. Given many of them settled in Baton Rouge, it has been known as the sister to New Orleans for many years as the residents have extremely close family, business, and cultural ties; nevertheless, many of the NO residents were used to doing nothing constructive towards accepted American society and they continued to do such. However, this isn't going to be entirely a rant...so I'll get on with the facts.

Not only were the evacuees given employment priority, around 10,000 students flooded the East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. Hear this - just EAST Baton Rouge Parish, not Baton Rouge cumulative. Scotlandville Middle, which was closed down for the typical reasons, was reopened for some 800 New Orleans students who needed an education in lieu of disaster. My high school, Scotlandville Magnet High, was one of those high schools. The New Orleans residents did go through a lot, I must admit - being promised a paid graduation package and, at the last minute, the administation oblivious to that promise, among other isolated and widespread things. Many of them were living in trailers, in shelters, and some were fine - their families were well prepared and they transitioned like any person moving from one city to another. Disheartening to many Baton Rouge residents, however, was the attention pressed towards the New Orleans students. I, personally, was graduating senior at the time. My personal sentiment was that with the commotion of the storm and the aftermath, many opportunities that I could have had by way of scholarships and pre-college training was put to the side. Not that I am complaining that those who were in more need than I were being attended to, but it is a fact that this was the case at many schools that did not increase their staff (when I say increase staff, that is to say counselors and administrators, not instructors).


Another large part of the turmoil was the level of crime that came along with the aftermath of the storm. Aside from the riots at various markets, malls, and shops, there was an obvious spike in crime in Baton Rouge. Now, BR isn't the safest place to be at all times - there is a lot of 'hood beef' that takes the bulk of crimes. In high school, for example, metal detectors were brought in when we (Scotlandville) played Glen Oaks (our rivals) due to the fact that there was a high probablity of violence occurring. I have vivid memories of being at a party or even school function where the biggest worry was someone from Glen Oaks coming and starting something that would cause the function to be shut down. Regardless, if there wasn't enough going already, when the New Orleans residents came there was more 'hood beef' to behold. Baton Rouge residents were determined to keep 'their city.' There were more issues caused by BR residents trying to assert their dominance over their own turf than NO residents trying to impose in addition to the already heightening hood beef at the time. It came to the point where negativity was expected. It was not completely like that - at my high school, for example (perhaps because we were seniors and didn't care about petty things as much) my social circle made jokes but very rarely were their confrontations dealing with the difference in background much less violence. All that mattered is that we all graduated.

I tried to stay in touch with a few of those evacuees that came to our school - many I have fallen out of touch with at some point or another. One in particular, I remember, returned shortly after graduation. He told me that it wasn't the same - he was going to leave and go to either Houston or Atlanta. He said that every time one would dial 9-1-1, the National Guard would come rather than NOPD. He was fearful for his safety - martial law was in full effect (whether or not it was legal at the time or not and whether or not it was for the reasons that the news/Nagin reported) and the South's legacy of racism (which had already reared its hideous face in one way or another) was thick in the Bayou air.

A family member of mine went to work with the rebuilding effort, she returned with mold spores in her lungs from the waste that had accumulated in the air and water after the various plants has been flooded and destroyed and the sewers had overflowed. The Lower Ninth Ward was a cesspool of bacteria and waste. Driving in New Orleans for months thereafter was eerie. There was no light but the Bayou moon and stars to guide you. No street lights, city lights (in most places), no house lights, no other cars, and few animals rustling save the birds in the day.

Everyone knows what comes after this - the predominantly white area was rehabilitated first, the Black area was left longer - was allowed to fall under more depreciation. Primarily white contractors bought up the predominantly Black-occupied land, gentrifying the area at a rate and in a way that was and is so dastardly but, at the same time, completely legal. Many residents that tried to return were not allowed to and were even further outraged when they learned that their homes would not be recovered due to whatever excuse was given at the time.

This brings me to the quote at the beginning of this post:

"We believe that kids and adults often times are self-medicating because it is cheaper to get marijuana than it is to pay" for prescription medication, he said.

Bell says many area residents probably suffer from untreated or undiagnosed post-traumatic stress.

Undiagnosed or untreated mental illnesses due to this disaster - Post traumatic stress disorder or Post traumatic slave syndrome? The article is saying that marijuana is the choice self-medication for these victims. Marijuana, however, has been used by the Black community for years upon years. Not to mention William Jefferson and George Washington (among others) with their own hemp farms. It can be easily grown and it is generally cheaper in the South. During the time of Katrina, one half of an ounce would cost as little as 20 US.

I'm saying this to say that although officials are just now paying attention to some of the so-called issues of the Black community, they are in complete ignorance of the context of many other these things. 'It's due to the trauma of Katrina and displacement,' they say with a false sense of authority. 'Bullshit!' as my Daddy would say, who tends to have a more informed sense of authority. I feel that Black Americans tend to self-medicate themselves with marijuana specifically not only because it is a part of the healing culture of the world but also because it is something that provides so little negative repurcussions especially in comparison to the drugs that they will be prescribed for those same ailments that they smoke for.

The marijuana use, the drug trafficking, the drug involvement as a whole has nothing to do with Katrina in the least - it, just like the people who have no socially acceptable jobs, people who have hood beef, and a government that cares nothing about a demographic until they are put in the international spotlight (cite partitioning of Africa, Civil Rights Movement, the Presidency of Barak Obama, the stealing of oil from Africa), is a part of a larger cycle that has been going on longer than 500 years, much to the history-maker's dismay.

Katrina is but a chapter in this book of pain that Diasporic peoples have engraven in their DNA and genetic code. It is but another more real understanding of this relatively new concept of racism that did not exist in 'the beginning' (and no, I'm not talking about the Bible's beginning, I'm talking about the real beginning), it is an example of injustice that is more fresh in the minds of our generation - it also something that is being forgotten in this Obama administration.

Melting pot this, American society that - reality is that everyone on this earth came from Africa. Reality is that there are some that don't look like their ancestors anymore. Reality is that there is a jealous animosity that manifests itself in different conscious and unconscious ways. Reality is that Coonery is alive and kicking and biting and permeating your skull. . .. whoa...tangent - back to reality..


Katrina - yes - Katrina is a horse that is dead. STOP BEATING IT. Things happen. All of this 'remembrance' is for those who didn't know before figure out what they still don't know and will not understand. If your grandmother died, would you want to relive her death year after year after year? In the news? In magazines? In classes at school? I wouldn't. So why do that to those hundreds of thousands that lived through Katrina and Rita and the millions that were directly affected by the same?

Personally, I don't think it's very nice or fair, to beat a dead horse that is.

Despite such, my heart still goes out to those who I was connected with before, during, and because of the storm. My heart goes out to my family members that suffered and those who I don't know that suffered as well. My efforts are still strong to dispell myths of the truths of the situation and I trust that they can heal from this despite the media's unrelenting need to regurgitate painful things just because they have nothing better to fill their news slot with.

Summer 2009

Hello Bloggers!


I have been out of commission for a while - the life of a student has got to me in the most intriguing ways. I am currently Co-Editor of Photography of the Howard University Hilltop as well as a misused intern for an unnamed paper. On the daily, I am the student coordinator for the Commissioner's Camp: Summers of Success.


Through all of these things, I have found that photography and images are an integral part of life. . .

In Costa Rica, I found that outside life isn't what the government wants it to be from a firsthand perspective. It was the visual realization of the fact that Imperialist governments come into so-called 'third world countries' with over abundant resources . It has the largest percentage of protected areas in the world at a whopping 25% - that is, 25% of Costa Rica is made up of national parks and protected areas.

Businesses are able to secure tax exemption statuses due to the fact that the government wants to generate outside revenue. This allows all sorts of people to come through and overrun the population with things that are completely unlike the inherent culture. It disturbs me to see Asian Cuisine here. It makes no sense whatsoever.

The most desirable jobs are those which bring them in constant contact with tourists and the resorts there - whew! Perhaps because I have never been to an all-inclusive resort I am so overwhelmed with annoyance at the separation between the actual country and the resort. The only way that one would know that you were in Costa Rica is because of the beach, the Costa Rican workers, and . .. no - that's it. The weather is comparable to any tropical area. It makes me want to cry - I wanted to practice my almost non existent Spanish, but the people who worked there and that I ran into were more interested in learning English.

I find that discouraging - the fact that many of the people that live in places other than America are more comfortable with learning and accepting customs and traditions from America rather than preserving their own culture and identity.



Other than that, I have not encountered anything out of the ordinary. Michelle Obama came to our school for a cameo appearance at a high school graduation. It was, among other things, a regurgitated mess. I'm sure she has the same exact speech in different variations for the same occassions. It was broadcasted but in the same respect, I don't feel any further motivated or moved. While I do understand that there are only so many minutes in a day and being such an important person (so-called) you have to prioritize your time and energies. With that being said - why hasn't Barack Obama been to Howard University (one of the premiere HBCUs) since he's been elected the leader of this country? Perhaps this is my own sentiment that no one else shares, but I feel as if he should pay homage where it is due. It is not a problem of him being a "Black President" in the respect of catering to "his people," but more so also because he is a beacon of light to all of America (whether it be a flourescent light or one of those new energy saving bulbs) to let it be known that he is a person of cultural understanding and loyalty. Yes, he is half white and yes, he is half Black, and yes - he identifies as Black. However, he is also a President of Change. In that respect, in my opinion, he should have been present at one point or another at all of the universities in the D.C. area. No Question.

Giving younger children something to look at - 'Oh! He visited a college - I can't wait until I can get to college so I can meet really important people' and giving those who may have not made an effort to go to college when they were at the 'ordinary' age some sort of motivation (that is, if it's the Black President that rocks their boat).

Perhaps I am just one of the many who is overlooking the fact that he is one of the busiest men in the world, but I do feel that some things can be taken care of especially since this man has a contract with William Morris (as well as Ms. Rice) and if has the AUDACITY to charge people to hear him, then he can have the grace and humility to be a decent icon towards the youth of America. The same youth that will be figuring out his health care coverage when he's old and decript.

[sigh]


America..... what are we to do.



In other news,

I'm in Lousiana - getting ready to go to New Orleans to cover Essence Fest. My travel and housing plans are sooo unstable but I will trust in the powers that be and believe that everything will work out for the best.

I'll be posting a few images as I see them - I'm armed with the D40 this time. If anyone has a camcorder it would be nice to lend it to me!