how many shots have to ring before we hear freedom ring?

shout-out to Stacey Muhammad and Wild Seed Films on the production of "I Am Sean Bell"

we march to mourn another murdered in silence
where do our screams go?
why go to a place where dreams dry
and mothers cry for their sons on foreign soil
she did not send him here to die
would not have let him come here had she known
so who will hold her hand?
stroke her face?
fill that hole of empty baby place 41 times
who will acquit her of her grief?
-Bassey Ikpi


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

to protect and serve?

Standing up for the slain

"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for it." (Corinthians 13:8)

It's the phenomenon we become familiar with as little kids when something goes wrong.

Who did it?
I dunno. I didn't see anything.

My family would really get it. Was it a ghost?! Was it a disappearing magician?! They'd eventually break you. Or break their foot off in your rear. Either way, the truth had to come to the light.

In many ways, the drama of inner-city life unfortunately belts a similar tune. Casual shrugs and fears of retribution cast gloomy shadows over the bodies of mostly young black boys no longer here on this earth to grow into men.
Kevin Cullen's article last week, Standing up for the Slain, paints a stark comparison between the sanctioned lawlessness of some West Africa nations and the Wild West feel of some of America's hoods.

"There is risk, but the greater risk is saying nothing."

Fear is a powerful motivator. Some people aspire to put fear in others' hearts. Some would rather be respected than feared. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. Regardless, the truth has nothing to fear form scrutiny; it is strong in its own strength and feared in its own right.

social change is a lifestyle

Some very insightful anecdotes from an interview with the man I like to affectionately call, Uncle Horace.

love life knotted up like some black hair

come on shake it off, wake up enter the light of consciousness
where the dead don't exist
explore love find it in all shades of life
you're the driver when you see love just look both ways
-Ghostface, "Message from Ghost"

Ghostface has always been my dude. Especially back when I had the white Taurus and the MES crew from BU used to chill with the BESS crew from NU like we are all one family. Nobody can say "strawberry kiwi" quite like son. Anyways, I tend to stay away from celebrity gossip and such. But this Chris Brown & Rihanna stuff is almost too serious not to.

There have been all kinds of articles dissecting everything, but what I did notice missing in my opinion was more voices from the celebrity world. It seemed it was a whole bunch of fans chiming in. For the record, I am not an abuser; never have been; and never will be. But I've seen it. Up close. If I only knew then what I knew now, maybe I could have helped more. But when you are a young boy barely hitting puberty, you often find yourself still looking for guidance. 

Anyways, I can't help but keep replaying "Message from Ghost," his own little spiel released a few days ago. I'm just going to let the music do the talking from here...