Woe is We, If...

Yesterday, Donald Trump defined what America has become. It was not a proud moment for me as an American. I wondered how the world looked upon the press conference given by President Obama and Trump's response to it. Donald Trump, a man who would run for the presidency of the United States while accusing and bullying a sitting President of being an other, a fraud, a product of Affirmative Action, as if affirmative action was somehow a scourge upon American accomplishment.

Affirmative Action

Thanks to Affirmative Action, Americans who were historically denied access to opportunity based on race, color and/or gender, were given a few decades of guaranteed access, but not without obstacles at every twist and turn.  Thanks to the Affirmative Action program this country has produced many great cultural contributors, fine leaders, including credible presidential candidates over the years and the President of the United States. Affirmative Action was not about the admission of an inferior intellect or undeserving students. It was about fulfilling the American ideal. It was about the attempt to correct an inequity, to manage institutional unfairness and take the necessary actions necessary to take to ensure that fairness and opportunity was extended to a certain percentage of those disadvantaged by people who resisted the idea of America and what it stands for in the Declaration of Independence.
White women were the greatest beneficiaries of Affirmative Action, but Trump didn't point that out because the new integrity doesn't support facts or truth.

The New Integrity

The new integrity that is dragging America down appears to lie, cheat, steal, coerce, bully, take, step on, not care and to embrace these twisted practices. The new integrity is to stand in front of the world and be proud of being the first person to publicly admit that the new integrity is winning is all that counts. We have arrived at a new low in this country when journalistic integrity has been compromised by a mainstream media turned tabloid. A kind of journalism that never challenges but merely focuses on the most extraordinary aspects of the mundane and stupid. So-called "breaking news" that mean little to most Americans who live in the real world of intimidating fear, struggle and a pessimistic view that anything will be done anytime soon as silly season and a constipated misguided Congress continues its antics. Trump is silver spoon baby, an angry, red faced, comb-over clown and he's the poster face of the folks who want their country back.

America the Possibility of Possibility

My America is an idea, a possibility, a contract with the highest ideals of its citizens and the generations of future citizens to produce the best and brightest leaders and world contributors. That is one hell of a brand. People die trying to cross our borders. I wonder what immigrants in this country thought yesterday when the President of the United States had to show his birth certificate?. What hope have they? What hope has America? America is an evolutionary idea. It is designed to expand, grow and inspire greatness and great things. Revolution is inherent in such a vast and powerful undertaking, especially with so much diversity contained within its borders.

Trump Takes Credit

That which does not fulfill the possibility of America's true ideals will resist, be exposed, be fought and eventually defeated. Donald Trump, surrounded by microphones was defeated yesterday, but he has not given up. Alone he stood in the wind, that barely ruffled his hair and claimed to be proud of being the first to stand up and say that he is part of the problem. He took credit for being part of the resistance to the full expression of America's possibility, which, I believe lies in all of its people. Together. We will not survive apart. A new integrity has been exposed, an integrity that has an allegiance to death, disease, keeping down the poor and progress, destruction and exclusion. The new patriotism is accusing a fellow American, the President of the United States no less of not being American, of being illegitimate and an imposer. April 27, 2011 will go down in history as the day that America was sunk low by a clown and the constituents of his circus act. America was sunk low by an American citizen supported as a presidential candidate by 24% of right wing crazies and a once proud journalism turned tabloid.

Trump Balls

In the final analysis, I too, am proud of Donald Trump. It takes the kind of balls he has to really start a real debate about race in America. No longer is there any doubt. People are calling a spade a spade a spade. Trump exposed the upper class, polite society pretense that there is tolerance for anyone outside the circle of privilege. Trump and his ilk have gone to battle over who the real owners of this country are. He has expressed the call and sentiment of those disturbed privileged few that there is zero tolerance for a black boss in the white house. Zero.

Birth Certificates, Budgets, Bullshit

This is not a conversation about race or birth certificates or budgets. This is a conversation about America's future. This is about power and class warfare. This is about whether the privileged, ruling class will dictate what America is and who Americans are. This is a conversation about what America will be in the future and whether we want to live in it after its transformation. If Trump, his ilk and the right wing Republican crazies that serve them get their way in 2012, woe is we.

The Vilification of African American Women: Enough Is Enough!

I've been away for a few days, but this... this thing has brought me back!

The Most Dangerous Place For An African American Is In The Womb

I've been very angry lately by what I perceive as a renewed focused assault on African American women in this country by Right Wing Nuts, not to say this assault hasn't been the case since time. But I was so angered by the Pro-Life poster and campaign in New York by the organization, Life Always, that without qualification unflinchingly states, "The Most Dangerous Place For An African American is in the Womb" I couldn't even speak. It was thought-provoking. It was scary. I fantasized going to NewYork as an undercover Graffiti Grandmother with a can of spray paint adding to every sign, ... "Of A Poor Woman In Poverty."

Planned Parenthood

 
Life Always appears to have some humanitarian investment in African American babies. Ain't that nice? Could it be compassion for the conditions government policies and institutional unfairness has placed these African American women in? I don't think so. These right-wingers campaign to appear they care about these poor black unborn, but once these babies take their first breath of life outside the womb, oh well... they're on their own. Repugs attempt to pass laws that walk away from these mothers and their children. Laws that strip school budgets, increase taxes, bust unions, nix lunch programs, food stamps, Medicaid and oh, yeah, Planned Parenthood. Wow. Poor women are served by Planned Parenthood through education, health care, birth control, fetal care and yes, abortions that are not federally funded. I know the Righteous Right are trying to pass anti-abortion laws around the country that affects all women, but the vilification of African American women is truly special.

Catherine Ferguson Academy

When Rachel Maddow reported on the Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit, whose mission is to educate young high school mothers, provide daycare for their children while they're in school, I was truly inspired. DPS was working in at least one school. Then as Maddow further reported, I flew into a rage. Why is Governor Snyder shutting it down? The principal, Asenath Andrews is committed and dedicated to the success of these young women. The efforts at Catherine Ferguson Academy have a track record of success. Ms. Andrews attempts to locate jobs that pay at least $20,000 a year in agricultural gardens and farming in Detroit. Her efforts have positively impacted the outlook these young girls have for their future and the future of their young children. Yet, the images I saw in the feature on Rachel Maddow, angered me to tears. If the footage was in black and white, it would've looked like something from the Civil Rights Era of the 1960's. Very, very, very disturbing images of police handcuffing young girls and teachers, putting them in the back of their cars outside the school. The School? What is going on?

Have We Become a Police State?

I'm very angry. I'm so angry I don't know what to do. All I can do is ask, are you angry too? And, what do we do about it?

Rust Belt to Artist Belt III Conference, Detroit

My head is spinning! I just left the Rust Belt to Artist Bell III Conference. In its third year, the conference was sponsored by the College of Creative Studies, Artserve and Tech Town. Its purpose? To exchange ideas, provide insight, learn from and be inspired by the presenters to reach our full potential when we put the creative industries to work in post-industrial cities. It. Was. Amazing. Inspiring. Period. I'm from Detroit, okay. I admit it. Born and raised in Detroit. I'm from Detroit, y'all. I live here now, dammit. I'm saying it loud and saying it proud after my experience today. World renowned city that Detroit is I ran away from it in the mid 1980's. Crack. Death. Decay. No possibility. I needed to get out.

Self-exiled for many years, I created things in other cities and countries. Produced a television show in Hawaii to showcase all the wonderful artists I'd met. I wanted everyone within reach of the Honolulu cable signal to know who they were and what they dreamed of. I had never produced a television show before. It didn't seem important. It only seemed important that I try. It was easy. It was so easy. I had no idea that I was producing something. It didn't seem important. It was just so much damn fun! All I had to do was be deliriously happy and encouraging to the so many people who were doing so many different things. Things, art, what they loved to do and abracadabra Satori's Tea Room was born. I was so captured by the synergy I forgot to write a part in the show for myself. It didn't seem important. It wasn't about me anyway. The other day I watched the videotape from "Satori's Tea Room" with original soundtrack from those many years ago. I chuckled because mostly what I'm doing is answering the door, smiling and listening to their dreams as they walk around my curio shop. After we taped, I didn't sleep for three days unpacking all that stimulating love and joy.

I moved to California, in my first year of doing stand up comedy, I traveled around to poetry readings and anywhere else two or more people were gathered. I wanted to try out a new joke, tell some old ones and make them laugh. There were so many amazing poets and spoken word artists. I would sit in the audience waiting my turn to perform and think, "Why don't I know this person, personally?" After a couple of more times of me running into the same poet I asked her, "Why don't I know you? And would you be interested in bringing together other artists, poets, visual artists and writers?" She said yes!

And boom. Boom. BOOM! The Black Avante Garde was born. Thirty-three amazing artists, (I keep saying amazing but there's no other word) who came together just before the Rodney King Riots and set about to heal the city in a special edition of High Performance Magazine. We didn't know how to heal a city. It didn't seem important. It only mattered that we tried. We did so many projects around the city. Taping the stories of blacks and Koreans in South Central, Los Angeles where their voices and stories were heard as part of an installation art project in a gallery at Beyond Baroque.

In Toronto, it was out of sheer frustration I gave up trying to get a play produced by the existing theatre companies there.  Another frustrated actress and I pulled together a team of twelve powerful, diasporic Afri-Canadian actors and founded Obsidian Theatre Company. We didn't know how to found a theatre company. We were artists, actors. It didn't seem important. It just seemed important that we tried. It was an incredible experience! Oh, the creative tug of wars! Yowza! Don't you just love it? Now, eleven years later, under the artistic direction of Philip Akin, it thrives and grows and provides a level of theatre that serves up thought-provoking, human stories by prolific playwrights, who audiences claim through laughter and tears are cathartic and entertaining.

When I relocated back to Detroit, just before 9/11, I came back to a tragedy. I did not embrace my roots willingly I didn't go gracefully. Detroit was a bombed out city in fast decline. It was a painful reflection of my own personal and devastating loss. I escaped, as much and as often as possible. Performances from one part of the country to the other and back to Canada, my homeland too. Go, go, go, anywhere in the world, anywhere but back there. Home. Eight years pass and I realize I still had not embraced Detroit. I put it on my list of things to do... one day. Then, slowly over the last two years I began to take an interest. I started to see the sprouting of fresh new ideas, renovated structures, agricultural gardens, city art and endearing community art. Beauty peaking out, obscuring the more prevalent blight, it was a glimpse of a something possible, a sign that someone was invested. And. It. Was. Stunning! Stunning to my senses. So unexpected. So full of promise. So, hopeful and inspiring. Just like today.

The Rust Belt to Artist Belt Conference pushed me off the fence I had been sitting on. Inspired, I've emerged from my apathy and cynicism. What do I do with all this energy? I met so many folks today and asked myself that question of old, "Why don't I know these people and don't mind if I do?" Social media makes so many necessary things possible. Admittedly, I've been frustrated with this city, its management, the drama and politics, I've been pissed at Governor Snydley Whiplash Snyder. But today... today the conference changed all of that for me. My attitude is adjusted, y'all. Sorry for the delay. I've been a Humbled Diva for too long.

Today, I committed to be part of the collaborative, artistic energy that networks to uplift Detroit. I made the commitment to create with other like-minded individuals. Artists that see beyond the bombed out corridors of our city, the poor economy, homelessness and the exodus of people and resources. In the beyond, a vision becomes a compelling force, an opportunity to create, to innovate, remember and celebrate the history of Detroit and its people. World renowned for its innovative spirit. Automobiles, jazz, Cobo Hall where Dr. King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech, where dreams are possible, Motown, The Funk Brothers and Eminen. Today, I wrapped my arms around my roots, Detroit, the city that shaped me. Today I'm pouring my inspiration, seeds of ideas into this soil, into burned out places joined with others to rebuild it, love it, nourish it back to health and vibrancy, return it to its former glamour and glory.

Did you know that Jerry Bruckheimer was born in Detroit? Found that out today. Hey Jerry, I was born and raised in Detroit, too. We're connected, like friends on Facebook. Detroit. 313. Hike! There is nothing else to explain and so, so much to do!

Thank you, Detroit and the Rust Belt to Artist Belt III conference. You made my day. You made a difference in my life.

Obama Out Of The Gate, 2012

 Obama announced his run for the Presidency in 2012. How can he not prevail? The middle class of America has put its foot down. Radical Republicans have over reached. These Repugs have shown us who they're in bed with, they've shown us how terribly wrong they were when they misinterpreted and miscalculated the 2010 election results. They push their ideology of a fiscally responsible, American world. The flaw being it does not include all of America’s "others." They have pushed their hand to the point of arrogance and seeming disrespect. The freshman Tea Party people in Congress have Boehner's balls against the wall and he's busting a corpuscle up in Washington over budget cuts.

Terry Jones, a hate preacher inside the walls of America was warned about burning the Qur'an, the Muslim sacred book. The consequences played out as predicted, innocent people murdered, more protests, unrest and upheaval overseas. More fuel for the fire of our enemies to manipulate and agitate the vulnerable and misinformed. It is not the United States. But one man, Terry Jones, shortsighted with delusions of moral superiority and racist supremacy. I hear he's coming to Dearborn, Michigan seven miles from where I reside in Detroit. Please Mr. Jones, go back to your neck of the cave, we want no trouble here. Go home and leave our equilibrium alone.

Progressives Exist to Push Obama

I admire progressives. They exist to push President Obama and our country forward into the direction of democracy. Change is slow and at the end of the day who are progressives going to vote for? The Rad Republicans? Will they stay home? Progressives remind the rest of American that as a country we have not yet achieved democracy. Not yet. The conservatives exist to push back against democracy unless they get to decide what democracy is, who deserves it and who is entitled to it. Richard Trumpka, President of the AFL-CIO said in an interview on Morning Joe, that the Democrats in Wisconsin and Indiana are the real heroes. He showed little love for Republicans. 

"The army is gathering from near and from far. The trumpet is sounding the call for the war." - Civil War Song
 
Progressives and Independents may not be all the way down with Obama, but they know they have a better chance getting what they want from him than any Republican President. The Repugs have shown us what they do with power. They cut into national, state and local budgets without vision. They lie without remorse or conscience. And they are willing to do anything to get what they want, more power. The only thing that has ever held the Repugs back from representing an Oligarchy has been one man/woman, one vote. They have been campaigning for decades to eliminate the power of the men/women or deny them access to the vote. Meanwhile, the middle class, preoccupied with issues of employment, foreclosures, school closures and survival, may not have made the time to do the proper research or dissect the spin and the smudge. Perhaps too tired when they get home from jobs to rally or inform themselves. Most rely on digestible news sources that may not be as credible when it comes to journalism and reporting. 

The Middle Class Is Listening Now

Now. We The People have reach the end of our rope. We have time to rally. Out of work, We can sit at the capital all day and night waving signs, obtaining signatures for a recall of draconian Republican Governors. They have overstepped. They are encroaching on We The People’s toes and turf. Back up. Lives and futures depend on it. We don't give a damn about Republican ideology. But let them practice it in the privacy of their own homes and lives. We do, however, become concerned when Republicans want to force their ideology down our throats, and use our tax dollars to fund it. These ideas do not even begin to address the complexities of this nation or the individual States' issues. These ideas are not kind and they don’t appear to have much consideration for America's “others.” These ideas jeopardize and compromise the future of education and opportunity for our Granddaughters, our communities and the quality of life for the majority of middle class Americans. 


Nope. Not Having It.

Obama has stepped out. He is claiming his turf and the field. Where Repugs can't find anyone to step up. Obama is working his plan to Get Rich. Because whomever the Republican Party will choose as their man or woman, we know that corporations are people and we know they have endless cash. It's all about the message for 2012. Obama knows his medicine is beginning to work and with the country up for grabs, Obama is in a position to take it in 2012. Obama has established a pattern of doing what he says he’s going to do. He didn't do what he said on the Bush Tax Cuts. We don't have the Public Option and Gitmo isn't closed yet. But I understand the politics of those broken promises. I also have the sense we will revisit those promises when there is a better advantage. Obama is one hell of a brand when it comes to getting things done. We may not agree with everything he gets done. But he gets it done. That's a brand I can trust. The Republican brand in the last two years has been "No", "Hell, No!", "No Compromise", "No Way"and "So Be It on Jobs." Nope. Don't think so. The stakes are too high. The country knows it has to win this one. And there are no winners on the Republican side only clowns and sadists.

Get Rich. Be of Service. Change The World. We The People. Watch The Mo'Nique Show.

Naomi and Lynda

Hello, Naomi. We’ve never met. My name is Satori. Your mom, “Lynda, with a "y” and I work out at the same gym. One day, in the locker room, I was scribbling edits to a piece I was writing when your mom came over and asked, “Are you a teacher or a writer? I always see you writing.” I told her, "I’m a lot of things and writer is one of them." She looked at me and said, “If I had another life, I would be a writer.”

Now, Naomi, I’m the curious and straightforward type, so I asked Lynda with a "y" why she needed a whole other life to be a writer? I could see no reason, no obstacle or barrier to her writing in the life she already has. I write everywhere. I write on the elliptical machines in the gym, I write in the locker room, in my car… well I don’t write in my car, Naomi that would be dangerous. What I do is record the thoughts and ideas rushing to get out of my head into my digital recorder. I write everywhere, on napkins in a restaurant, I beg for scrap paper in Kroger’s at the cash register, I write on the palm of my hand if I have to, because you never know when the words or an idea may start to march across your mind. Be prepared for the flood of words, but sometimes you can’t capture them all. Not to worry, if they're compelling enough they'll come back to haunt you.

Write Now

Well your mom never really answered the question about why she doesn’t write right now in the life she already has. Instead her face lit up telling me about you, Naomi. Boy is she proud of you! She shared that you want to be a writer. Yes! She told me about a story you wrote when you were just a wee little girl. Was it a bird in your story, a mouse or was it a butterfly? I don’t remember exactly, but I do remember it flew all over the world. That’s what you’re able to do Naomi. You’re able to fly all over the world whenever you read or write and when you use your imagination.

Your beautiful mom, Lynda with a “y” told me you wrote your own version of the Anne Frank story. That tells me, Naomi that you’re inspired by the courage and integrity of another young girl and that you can recognize the value in these human qualities. Not only that, Naomi, it tells me you’re able to take what inspires you and tell your own story about it. That’s amazing! Do you realize how amazing that is?

Write Love

Your mom loves you, OMG! She talks about you all the time. In fact, I knew your name three whole days before I knew her name. Lynda tells me that sometimes you get frustrated with your writing when it doesn’t come out “right” the first time. Let me share something with you, my young friend. Trust me when I tell you, very few, if any, writers get it “right” the first time. There is always at least a second draft, at least. That is, if you want your writing to be satisfying. The point is to get it out of our heads the first time and then the fun really begins! We get to paint with words, we get to expand our ideas, we get to correct the misspelled words and grammatical errors, but most importantly we get to play with our ideas because now their on the page and not stuck in our heads! Capice? Google that word if you don’t already know what it means, okay. Hint: It's Italian. That’s another thing, Naomi learn as many words as possible, make up words, words are your tools and your box of colors. The more colors you have… need I say more?

Bored?

Lynda with a “y” tells me that sometimes you get “bored” with your writing. That is perfectly natural. It's expected. It’s a blessing to get bored, Naomi. Boredom means it’s time to put that piece of writing away for a day, a week, even a month and go run, jump, play or write something else. I guarantee when you come back to that boring piece of writing with fresh eyes, you’ll be surprised how it’s no longer boring to read. In other words, don’t throw your words away, keep them, you may be able to use them in another story.

Writers Write

Bottom line, Naomi, writers write. That’s what we do. We write on paper napkins, we write on walls, we write in our heads, we write messages in the sky. Why? Because our heads are too small to contain all the ideas we want to express. We write because we love it, Naomi, because we can and because we have to. Write because you like it, love it, Naomi. Write when you feel like it, write when you don’t, when you’re angry, happy, sad and joyful and even write about being bored with writing. Don’t worry about it coming out “right” or “wrong” you can always make it just the way you want to afterwards. Just get it on the page.

Write About Your Dreams

Naomi, encourage your mom to write, right now, in this life. Let her know she can live her dreams, write about them, expand the possibilities of her life. Right now. Encourage your mom, beautiful Lynda with a “y” to write her own inspiring version of the Anne Frank story and ask her to share it with you. How about you and her write a story together? When you do, I’ll proudly post it on my blog, okay?

From one writer to another, “Write, on! Right, on!”