The Irony of Progress

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant, ...all excessive incidents of police brutality towards unarmed young Black men.

Don't worry...my fist isn't raised up in the air, nor am I claiming that everybody in positions of authority are corrupt. Its never that simple. I just want to make sure we're all aware of what's going on. A 22 year old man with a four year old daughter rides the subway a few blocks from my home, is accosted by police, and ends up SHOT, close range, in front of a crowd of bewildered Oakland residents, many of them filming the incident on their cell phones? Wow. I'm saddened by the fact that I even have to write this. Saddened by the fact that instead of happy, healthy, lives, these individuals have become mere names in a song, postings on a blog, or a one minute segment on the nightly news, a tragic story told just before moving on to the weather, or sports. I try and let it go, but I can't. Not when I see the images plastered all over Oakland, hear the helicopters above keeping a close eye on protesters. Change and Progress are such poetic words, but all I see around me is Pain and Anger. And the image of this face.



Truth be told, I hate talking about race. Like many of us, I've evolved beyond the dated concept, and moved on into more important issues; the pursuit of happiness, self fulfillment, careers, family, God, Love. But every once in a while (in this country, approximately every year), something like this happens, and reminds us how closely race and social class are intertwined, especially in this United States of America. It reminds me that as the most feared minority group in this country (some would argue with this, post a comment and lets talk), it is unsafe for me to walk the streets of my own neighborhood, because clearly, my life can be taken at any time, irregardless of my family, friends, past and future. All it takes is a slight misinterpretation and a run in with someone with the authority to abuse power.

I'm grateful to all those who are the change they wish to see, who have taken steps to erase racism, transcend borders and stereotypes. I pray for those who for some reason, fail to see how precious a human life is...regardless of age, color, background, sex, sexual orientation, political class, people are people.

Lets Progress...please.

the role player-a study of miss Vinia Mojica

role player
n.
1. One who assumes or acts out a particular role.
2. One who engages in role-playing.
3. Sports A team athlete who plays mainly in specific situations.

Vinia Mojica has been singing background vocals on hip hop and soul records for the past twenty years, and she's somehow managed to remain relatively unknown. You know how in sports, every championship team must have their one or two all stars? Its the same with music. Artists like Vinia Mojica remind us all that sometimes role players are just as crucial to success as the stars themselves. Role players doing their jobs humbly are often the reason why the stars get to shine so bright.

Much like early JayDee (J-Dilla) productions, her songs are the types that people listen to and immediately like but never can pinpoint why. Her workings are subtle, entrancing, and incredibly melodic. From her contributions to the early Native Tongues to her recent delving into downtempo and experimental grooves, I'm sure you'll find the sounds of Miss Mojica as enchanting as I do.

(humming BlackStar's "Knowledge of Self Determination" as we speak. Yes, thats her singing Minnie Ripperton on the hook..)

Download the mixtape here.




a few of her more commonly knowns....

“Time Traveling (a Tribute to Fela)” from Common's Like Water For Chocolate.
-On this classic album from the brother Common Sense, Vinia’s voice opens up the first track, chanting Yoruba style, setting the mood, establishing the groove.

“KOS Determination” from Black Star's epic, Black Star

“Climb,” - Mos Def "Black On Both Sides"
-This record sounds like the soundtrack to the long ride home. You’re half-asleep and half-drunk and half-considering calling that ex-girlfriend or boyfriend who would really rather not hear from you – especially not at three-thirty in the morning. Looking out of the car window, you see the telephone poles and houses floating backwards through the night. The street lights looking all hazy. (courtesy of Mtume ya Salaam)

De La Soul – “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’” – From De La Soul Is Dead (Tommy Boy, 1991)
-click here for the video.

Hi-Tek feat. Mos Def & Vinia Mojica – “Get Ta Steppin’” – From Hi-Teknology (Rawkus, 2001)

A Tribe Called Quest – “Verses From The Abstract” – From The Low End Theory (Jive, 1991)
-One of my favorite tribe albums...with legendary bassist Ron Carter on the bass. So innovative for hip-hop.

enjoy!


*PS....just found this track of hers, "Idols"!!! soundtrack to my day. check it out.

War and Peace

Life can be stressful. There is work, play, bills, relationships, wants, needs, etc. that can get us tight about how to move on with our lives. Through the madness and trying to find balance in it all, sometimes we loose focus, we forget our intention, and we become stressed. My life has been flirting with this scenario lately. How do I deal with all of my responsibilities and still remain poised and calm? Speaking to a friend last night, getting stressed about another task I had to accomplish but hadn't been done yet -- post on this blog -- I remembered a book I read last year that shone a bright light on this topic. It is called Way of the Peaceful Warrior and I am recommending it you you.



"Way" was written by Dan Millman. Millman, a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, provides insights on how to manage your daily workload while still cultivating your life's purpose. He reminds us of the simplicities of life and the grandness of our spirits and resolve. His teachings, semi-autobiographical in nature, demands that we practice cultivating our crafts and talents, not just do them. They urge us to keep on when times get most challenging, stating "A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he is does." Peacful Warrior is full of wisdom and insights about becoming your best you...and the terribly strenous path of getting there. It is a contradiction of sorts: being at peace but working so hard to maintain it. Yet it makes perfect sense once you are in the moment.

I will not spoil the book by telling all of its secrets. Just go buy it and read it. There is also a movie about it that is pretty good. Check the trailer below. Ultimately, I am recommending this book because of its depth in truth and clarity in reflection. Life is tough these days managing a heavy workload, but through sacrifice, hard work, spiritual development, and faith I am refinding the peace in the war I am fighting for a better me, a better tomorrow, a better life experience for all.

On that note, I'm out. Peace.

A Delicate Balance

So last night, in my ongoing attempts to stay current and support independent theatre, I checked out a local San Francisco theatre house's production of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play, A Delicate Balance.

I hate to say it, but it was pretty weak.

Okay, so an upper middle class family spends an hour and a half of my time boasting on and on about the loneliness of their quiet lives of privilege out in suburbia somewhere. Fine. The play is salvaged by the few moments of truth that come from the blithe, diva-esque, alcoholic sister who butts in on every serious conversation and forces people to stop dancing around the truth and say what they were actually feeling. Good. Now, the "dramatic peak" in the play is when the family's best friends arrive unannounced and lock themselves upstairs in their daughters old room with no intention of leaving. Interesting. This leads them into a procession of elaborate monologues between husband, wife, alcoholic sister, and spoiled daughter, the theme of keeping a balance revisited every now and then, if you cared enough to listen carefully.

I wish I could say I loved it, because I generally love the live theatre, but the truth is that at no time during the entire production did I feel an ounce of sympathy for any of the characters. Their plight seem flighty and unbelievable. Their monologues overly wordy and full of moments of indecision.

The only character I felt bad for was the one Black actor in the play, Harry, who played a shy, stuttering, relatively one dimensional character who spoke like he was a servant happy to be in these folks home. As articulate as all these characters were (and they went over the top...the types who would say ''i wholeheartedly concur" instead of "yea i see your point" ), why is it that the one Black character, who had several lines, cant manage to have more than a monosyllabic word written into his script?

Now...maybe its because I was the only Black person in the audience, maybe. Maybe its because I'm taking an African American Lit class right now thats opening my eyes up to these sorts of things, but it amazes me how Bamboozled African American actors still are, even today.

Sorry to Hate, but Not Recommended.