A black man rising

Back when I was in middle school, my mother dabbled in political organizing as a campaign volunteer for Lucille Whipper, a woman of great stature where I'm from. I also tagged along on several occasions and got my first taste of politics at the grassroots level. Today, by chance, I learned of the tragic death of her grandson, Jasiri Whipper. As you can surmise from the tremendous shock, sorry, and solemness conveyed by every person with a comment, Jasiri was a stand-up guy. The thing that stood out to me the most was when someone questioned why they hadn't heard more about him when he was alive, despite the fact that he was a writer (and a damn good one) for the local newspaper. A very good question indeed.

You beat me.
No, you beat me.

You beat me on the back.
You beat me on the buttocks.

You beat me in my loin.

You beat me about my head and neck.

You beat me until I bled.
You beat me until I cried out.
You beat me until I fell to the ground.
You beat me until I lost consciousness.

You tried to beat me to death.
You tied to beat my Africa out of me.

But the more you beat me,
the more resilient I became.

Yes me,
the one who shoots your hoops
and runs your balls,
resilient.

Yes me,
the one you impoverish
and imprison,
resilient.

Yes me,
A black man rising.

-James Chapmyn

RIP, Jordan Gebre-Medhin

Jordan Gebre-Medhin was a tenured professor of African-American Studies at my alma mater, Northeastern University. I had the privilege of taking one of his classes as an elective and it my first time ever hearing of Eritrea. By now, many have come to know of this small country that gained its independence from Ethiopia. Yet, what many do not know is that professor Gebre-Medin was one of the leading catalysts for that independence. Let's just say he was one of those leaders who played the background but had an immense impact on the affairs of the world. That's certainly a legacy to be admired.

aspire to inspire

Powerful.

Those are the words that immediately come to mind after reading this essay, written by the homie Mr. Tran. I have come to know him as an off-the-hook high school science teacher with superior technology skills and a very down-to-earth demeanor. Yet, I had no idea how truly ill he was until today. Literally, his words have inspired me to do better. I like to think of my work as using technology as a means to engage and empower; much like he relates science as a tool for science justice. Utmost respect and big-ups to Mr Tran for some very thought-provoking and insightful writing.

God, save these streets

So as I sit here listening to Mos Def's, "Katrina Clap," I sift through the Bay State Banner e-mail newsletter and notice they did a story on the homie Ra'Shaun Nalls, a real good dude doing real good things. The article pretty much speaks for itself. He's never joined a gang or spent a night in jail. He gives it to the youth straight with no chaser. He used to put his all into it on the court when we played ball at Northeastern and he's still putting his all into his work trying to save the kids. Big ups to Ra'Shaun!

A view of China through hopeful eyes

Annie Osborn, an 11th grader at Boston Latin School, wrote this op-ed in today's Boston Globe. It is a fascinating account of her study abroad in China. Her writing speaks like a diary in mellowed tones and cautious optimism. This is by far one of the best op-eds I have ever read. Although it speaks acutely about her specific experiences thus far, it offers some interesting anecdotal commentary on the state of the world in which we live today. Check it out for yourself. Shout-out to Annie for being ill like that.

connect.politic.ditto

I had an interesting weekend.

I BS'd on writing a new piece almost called it quits until the writer's block gave away with barely an hour to spare before i had to get showered and dressed for a gala. I'm very appreciative of the feedback on it thus far.

The gala was dope. It was pricey, but not nearly as unaffordable as Steppin Out. Yet, it was on that level. I'm glad we got NSBE back involved this year. Gonna have to stay connected this time around and make it an annual thing. I'm gonna mak money when I'm old selling throwback pictures of us to my friends. Elderly entrepreneurs are us!

My son's school had a Pancake Breakfast at Applebees. I didn't make it last year, so wasn't sure what to expect. I should have stayed in bed for those two measly flapjacks.

I went to Orchard Gardens for the annual holiday party. It's always good to see the young kids having fun and enjoying themselves, especially in neighborhoods where outsiders would be quick to cast them aside as doomed to fail wih no hope for tomorrow. My peoples from Chucktown know what time it is. I will say though that was one helluva grouchy elf.

Went to a birthday for a 1-year-old. It was good to see and hang with the fellas. Jokes galore. And i was due for some good ribbing. The Critic takes no prisoners. We're getting old, boys.

I missed the Styles P concert and probably cried on the inside for a few seconds until i got over it. Maybe next time.

Sunday consisted of me being tortured by the multiple schizophrenics who discussed politics, photography, homosexaulity, religion, medicine, and current events for several hours. I've been spending a lot of time with these crazy people lately and the bond has grown tighter, yet the immenseness of what we are working cannot be understated. i just hope and pray we don't drop the ball and miss our window of opportunity. A lot of good things could potentially comeout of the groundwork we are doing that many others have worked on before us.

And lastly, I had a homemade breakfast at 9pm. Talk about a scrumptious Sunday dinner. You want beef kielbasa with your pancakes, young man? Hells yeah!

Today, I have help desk duty so all my teachers who don't know how to work their laptops; holla. And tonight is an intergenerational politics discussion and fact-finding activity. Should be an interesting and enlightening time. Holla.

i daydream in technicolor

"I don't want you to tell me what to do
And I don't want them to call it technicolor
when it's only shades of red that's filling up your head"
-Awol One & Daddy Kev, "Agony

for miss bessie

one morning not long ago
i arose to the sound of beeeeeeeeeep
beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
but this was not your average alarm clock
it was a garbage truck
traveling in reverse down my 1-way street
its incessant beeping
lured me from out of my midnight coma
into a crisp, cold post-dawn sky full of hushed pink hues
so i peered through the blinds as I slid on my house shoes
and saw a black leprechaun perched atop the hood of my ride
(deep breath) i sighed
unable and unwilling to undergo his torment to my pride
so this time i phoned a friend
and in no less than 5 minutes
i had him surrounded by my gang of gentlemanly goons
who were soon to graduate into goblins
and then - at that very moment
he said, WAIT!

i have have something to tell you
for the past 6 weeks
i have sat on the hood of your car
at precisely the same time every morning
that the trash folk choose to slide through
yet you consistently wave your hand
as though it were a wand
and tell me to shoo
yet you never asked was it is that i can do

so apparently
i hadn't fully flushed all the crust from the corners of my eyes
because before me was in fact a pitch black cat
with piercing eyes like my moms
and an elongated tail that twirled from front to back
with the flair of an acrobat

i am the mythical creature who lurks in the shadows of your nightmares

i am the sorcerer who blows cold air down your spine to provide the chill when you are scared

the overseer who prevails during your misfortune
the corner boy who supports your self-torture

no you see, i have this problem in both the present and past tense
i am not and never have been a fan of the absence of common sense
so why would you ask me a question to which you already had an answer
rhetorically speaking, your mere existence is a cancer

yet, i'll forgive your snubs
cuz grandama told me it ain't healthy to hold no grudge
but who am i to judge
plus, i do thank you for giving my morning a nudge

my dear friend, surely you must realize i was not done
i am the celestial spirit of both the father and the son
the rich blue providing background noise for the clouds
the focal point you direct your energy when life's noise gets a bit too loud

i daydream in technicolor
seeing only what you cannot
although you may be a bit taller
i see the end results when you've only just begun to plot

no magic 8-balls need to be shaken in my helm
i coach from afar and let you master your realm
i am the warm breeze on the road to prime time
i count the bass' grooves as you kick snares on the drum line

you see my dear friend, it's never about being a distraction
my goal in life is for you to recognize the importance of your interactions
so let's just keep this between you and i, you hear
when things get shaky just humble yourself and confide in me your fears

call your folks more often and let the ones you love hear you say it live
and trust that your faith in the power of hope will keep blessings at your side
i am the comforter offering warmth to you mind
just as long as your color within the dotted lines

amen

the consequence of your ignorance is the reality I now see before me

"the message will now be profoundly spoken
rules are meant to be broken
therefore it's my pleasure to mentor
but once learned you must yearn to discern
the mechanical glitch of artificial intelligence"
-Cee-Lo, "Microhard"

Once upon a time, I was in the 8th grade. My school, Buist Academy, had a mentoring program for 8th-graders that consisted of a day-long apprenticeship or job shadow component that occurred monthly. I remember getting dropped off in the white hoopty to the shopping plaza near the intersection of Rivers Ave & Aviation Ave (where Old Country Buffet used to be).

You see, a year or two earlier I had gotten the novel idea in my mind that I wanted to become an engine er when I grew up. So all the math and science that was whatever to me now mattered a lot more. I recall learning my social security number for the first time and hearing that I'd have to start memorizing it because I'd need it more often as I got older. But of course, nobody was talking about identity theft just yet. Go figure.

Anyways, I think it may have been the phone company or something like that. But I think there were three of us who all got assigned the same crew of adults. Whether they were engineers or technicians escapes me. I do remember one of them was white and one of them was black. And they had a good working relationship. Furthermore, all three of us were barely-teen black males who wanted to be engineers who lived in the city where the Civil War started and in a state notorious for being at the bottom of everyone's educational rankings.

We didn't give a damn. Set your mind to it and bang it out. Dream big and push yourself to achieve regardless of circumstance. And be ready and willing to sit up straight and listen to words of wisdom.

So....my peoples at the Boston Private Industry Council are coordinating their annual Job Shadow Day. It is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2009. Professionals do not have to pay anything to participate. They just have to be willing to host a student for a half-day and allow them to "shadow" you at the workplace. It is a great opportunity to support the career aspirations of the youth of this city. Plus, some of the conversation you'll have with these youth will truly stimulate your brain cells. Even though I am not from Boston, I can attest wholeheartedly that a job shadow experience is very rewarding and worth every second. Hell, I first learned how to use Microsoft Windows and was playing MineSweeper back in the fall of 1993 thanks to those 2 dudes. You down?

We from Magnet, son

My alma mater, Academic Magnet High School, was recently ranked #9 in the most recent US News & World Report rankings of America's Best High Schools. Boston Latin School was ranked #27 on the list, making it one of only schools in the state of Massachusetts to crack the top 100. But back to Magnet, maybe this will help spur some renewed interest in our alumni association becoming a more formal entity. Holla

A boy can make 'em, but a man can raise one

"You see, I hate when a brother makes a child and then denies it
Thinking that money is the answer so he buys it
A whole bunch of gifts and a lot of presents
It's not the presents, it's your presence and essence
Of being there..."
-Ed OG, "Be a Father to Your Child"

One of my personal struggles as an adult the last six years has been my parenting skills. There are those times when you feel on top of the world and ready to confront any challenge. And yet, there are those times when you want to wave the white flag, hang up your cleats, and simply call it quits. Dealing with tantrums and smelly poop come with the territory. But for all of this, I try (or at least I think I do) my best to keep a level-headed approach in the way that I raise my son. I surely won't be self-nominating myself for any awards, because there is certainly room for improvement on my part. However, I do feel that I can drop a gem every now and again as well. I'm half reluctant to even talk about it much because of that old throwback Chris Rock joke (when he was still funny) about how you're supposed to be taking care of your kids. So back-patting aside, I was pleasantly delighted to read an article (At school, there's no one like Dad) about local dads being more involved in the schools.

The story highlights the monthly Dads Club meetings at the nearby Trotter Elementary School, which is "at the forefront of a national movement to get more men involved at their children's schools." Ironically, my son's school is having a Dads Reading Day on the Friday before Christmas. I think I'm going to have to float the idea of starting our own Dads Club and see if we can get it to pop off. Big shouts to Ed OG who continues to be a role model to this very day.

we don't believe you, you need more people

"A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Because people from a distance can't tell who is who"
-Jay-Z, "Takeover"

Humorist Josh Billings must have had Joan Venocchi's article, "Turner plays the race card," in mind when that he said, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." To imply that US Attorney Sullivan has forced the discussion of a new wave of black leadership is utterly laughable. Far too often, laudable deeds in the community go uncovered and thus, receive little to no attention in the mainstream media. It is indisputable that public opinion is largely affected by what the media chooses to allow through its filters. If it's not sensational or crime-related, rarely will you see it above the fold. Imbalanced coverage of communities of color has long been a standard operating procedure bemoaned by many. Maybe all of this commotion will also force Boston media outlets to take a closer look at what they determine to be worthwhile news and start to shine light on the people, organizations, and movements of the city that truly keeps it thriving.

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.

My peoples who work at Bank of America; please bear with me. I still love yall. But BoA should be ashamed. My peoples in the Chi are probably hip by now to the news that the Republic WIndows and Doors company shut down one of its plants this week. However, instead of giving workers the 60 days advance notice to which the were entitled and by which the company was required to do so by law, they only gave the workers 3 days notice. 'Tis true, yo. The company claims that BoA won't allow them to pay out the severance and vacation back pay the employees are owed in light of how the manufacturer's revenues dropped in the last month. So guess what? They took it back to some real grassroots ish. The laid-off employees have been occupying the closed plant. It makes me think of 2001 when students at my alma mater occupied the African-American Institute. Ah....the good ole days. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention one small detail. Bank of America got $25 billion as part of the big bailout that made headlines mere weeks ago. Furious anger, yo. I've never really paid much attention to labor rights save from some organizing Boston-area janitors did during my college years. Time to start paying attention, I suppose.

Job Opportunity @ Project HIP-HOP

We just finished the job description. As we aim to tae the organization to higher levels, we need someone with a real presence and vision to join us as we strategically impact the lives of the youth we serve. You know the drill, yo.

Deputy Director, Project HIP-HOP

Job Category: Administrative
Job Types: Permanent
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Roxbury, MA

The Deputy Director must be a highly motivated professional who understands the challenges of building a grassroots organization. He/she will be responsible for playing a significant role in fundraising, with a focus on grant writing and event planning. A successful candidate will be highly dependable and organized, a great advocate for our mission and programs, have the heart of a community organizer, comfortable working with people from diverse backgrounds, and meticulous at managing events. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.

Job Responsibilities

Fundraising (approx 30% of time)
• Work closely with the Executive Director (ED) and the Board Fundraising Committee to establish overall development strategy.
• Research, prepare, and write grant proposals to secure increased funding from private foundations for annual operating funds and project-specific grants
• Manage fundraising events for Project HIP-HOP
• Manage the Development database and oversee data entry. Improve usage of existing software and tracking systems
• Serve as a resource to young people when they plan their own fundraising events and get young people involved in the fundraising process
• Manage all requests for in-kind donations.

Board and Organizational Development (approx. 10% of time)
• Manage the logistics of board meetings – setting dates, sending out reminders, taking notes and following up with board members on their tasks
• Assist the Executive Director, Board President and Organizational Development consultant in executing strategic planning and organizational development work
• Work with the ED to support the young people who serve on the board

Volunteer Management (approx 10% of time)
• Recruit volunteers to assist with all aspects of Project HIP-HOP’s work
• Monitor overall volunteer relations to ensure that volunteers are followed up with, screened, trained and connected to a particular role in a professional and timely manor.

Overseeing Programming (approx 50% of time)
Currently, the ED supervises all programming. The new Deputy Director will need to supervise programming in either two of the following areas: Girls Support Work, Boys Support Work, Hip Hop Arts & Culture, Community Engagement, the Summer Leadership Training or the Lower Roxbury Youth Collaborative. The Hiring Committee and the Executive Director will work with potential candidates to figure out which area they are most qualified to lead.
• Supervise staff within programming area
• Manage the setting of yearly outcomes and quarterly program workplans
• Ensure that programming is moving in line with the overall vision of Project HIP-HOP
• Maintain program reports that will be used to update other staff and the board
• Participate in weekly programming activities particularly in the first year of employment

Qualifications and Application Requirements

Skills & Qualifications:

Requisite Values
- Belief that in order for communities to transform, the people who live there must be at the forefront of decision-making and they must be able to set their own path for success
- Ongoing commitment to working with low-income Black and Latino communities
- Recognize that relationship building is the key foundation on which all other service and organizing work is built
- See the people that you are working with not as “clients” but as your personal “community” and in some cases your “family”
- Able to balance the need to really support people with the need to hold people to high standards

Background Experience
- At least two years of experience in youth development work
- Strong background in social justice issues
- Ability to work with young people who have educational or criminal justice challenges
- Background in development and implementation of programs

Desired Skills
- Good interpersonal skills specifically as related to working closely w/ teenagers
- Ability to see an idea through completion w/ teamwork , but without close supervision
- Creativity around working with students with different needs (esp. educational needs)
- Strong Facilitation Skills – Can manage a meeting of 30 people, keep them on track, and move through an ambitious agenda
- Driver’s license preferable

To Apply:
Resumes and cover letters can be sent by e-mail, fax or snail mail by December 17, 2008 to the following:

jobs @ projecthiphop.org
617-427-7955 (fax)
Project HIP-HOP, 2181 Washington Street, Suite 315, Roxbury, MA 02119

Please go to our website for more information about Project HIP-HOP. If you have any questions contact Mariama White-Hammond at 617-427-7950. 
NOTE – Cover letter required. We will not respond to generic cover letters

Trying to live high on the hog leaves you bankrupt

"keep it all in perspective, carbon copies
Getting caught up in the Paparazzi"
-Xzibit, "Paparazzi"

Brian Schmitz, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, wrote this nice piece on Monday that gave me some newfound respect for Tony Battie. My bball heads will recall Battie as a former Celtic - and current Magic - player, who was no All-Star, but got it in when necessary. The article takes a journey in time eight years ago to when Pierce got jumped in a local club while out with Battie and his brother (who used to STAY up in the clubs. lol).

"We're all people before we're players. This is what we do; this is not really who we are. Outside the bright lights and jerseys and screaming fans, we're fathers, we're brothers, we're sons. We're just regular people..."

Anyways, the gist of it is how happy Battie was for Pierce and how the Celtics came up last season when Pierce almost didn't make it past that episode. He talks about how he felt like he didn't have his boy's back because he was using the bathroom when the attack happened and ended up going through a brief bout of depression afterwards. This is one of those sports stories that go beyond the sport itself and doesn't just sensationalize stuff just for the hell of it.

I hope that God forgive us, all of us sinners

Turn us back into beginners
Put us up where the winners go
Holy apartments in the gardens in which the rivers flow
Thank you for all your blessings and all of your miracles
-Lupe Fiasco, "Fighters"

I came across an article and video clip today about the Louis D Brown Peace Institute. Apparently, their budget was severely impacted by the state's latest budget cuts. I have previously written about the Peace Institute and my admiration for the its mission. I've participated in their Mother's Day Walk for Peace several times. Coincidentally, I had a conversation during lunch today that made me think of my all-time favorite movie scene. It's a scene that leaves me very humbled and emotional every time I watch it. It's very similar to the feeling I get when I hug Tina Chery. If you happen to be in a generous mood, please feel free to swing by the fundraiser at Blarney Stone tonight from 7-9pm that the good folks from H. Levenbaum Real Estate are throwing. I'm about to make my donation. Here are a few more links if you'd like to contribute as well.