Venus, you look fierce!

The pics come from an exhibit held at the French Open this year. The photos were taken by South African photographer Koto Bolofo.

My New Gravi

New Video, Stadium Music

Here's what Que had to say via his twitter page:

"Idun like the video to stadium music either lol.....pretty cheap...lmao i wish we could have had input...it would have been so much better?"

Po' Thang that's what I thought. Actually, a few days ago he said that "Your Heels" was the next single. "Your Heels" would have been a much better choice. I am beginning to believe Diddy is EVIL just a little.

BTW, congrats to the guys for being nominated for "Best New Group" for the BET Awards. About the video, hated it. "Your Heels" was a much better song choice. Then again I am glad they didn't make a video for it. They would have ruined the song for me I have a feeling that video would be wack too. And if they lettin anybody be "video vixens," where do I sign up? Cha-ching!

**Update** The video is now a viral video according to the Day 26 fanpage. Whatevs.

Balance...

Stand, My Arse!

So I watched that bull dookie “Stand.” It was just as I expected a bunch of arrogant Negroes with egos out of this world. This self proclaimed soul patrol did not provide any insight, direction or words of encouragement during this two hour infomercial about how awesome they are. In fact, all they did was what Jessie Jackson accused President Obama of, talk down to black people.

The show started off with an introduction of the pack which included two boys from the south who were interested in politics specifically the 08 Presidential Election. This self proclaimed “soul patrol” did nothing but try to promote themselves as profoundly intellectual, deeply spiritual, charismatic, elite and deeply concerned with the affairs of the black community which is all poppy cock. Tavis even said that Dr. Cornel West was this generation’s WEB Dubois. Shut you mouf! Then they went on to say that President Obama, Mayor Fenty and Mayor Corey Booker did not possess the same charisma as they have and that the three appealed to a different constituency. Americans with common sense? I get it these aren’t the “Give us free, we shall overcome, help a ninja out” kinda leaders. We don’t need that! We already free. We have proved we can overcome. Now we need to put in work and some overtime.

We know that people of color have it bad. We know about the color barriers within our communities and in mainstream society. We get it! We also know that we have to work three times as hard, be three times as talented and have the mental endurance to persevere in a society in which we are the minority. Duh, but Malcolm, Martin, Oprah, Halle, Colin, Condoleezza, Tyra, Harriet, etc… show that it can be done, that greatness is ours for the taking, IF WE GO GET IT.

You know what I can’t stand? A handout ninja. There is a difference between fighting for opportunities (i.e. civil rights, an effective public school system, a fair justice system) and asking for a handout. I also understand cultural barriers yes a lot of standardized tests and work place environments are culturally biased, but again we know this. We don’t need for anyone to tell us how bad we have it and that we need help. We NEED to DEAL WITH IT AND DO THE DAMN THANG! There is nothing more powerful, beautiful (I am talking about on earth. God is the most high and ain’t nothing sweeter than the name of Jesus) l or magnificent than a black man who realizes what he can be. What Tavis and em fail to realize is that all of us from the ghettoes to the suburbs have the power to be great. It does not matter what cards we are dealt, we have the power to be who we want to be.

The “Soul Patrol” has selected themselves as the elite, a part of the talented tent who will distribute the information to the rest of us ninjas at the bottom. They don’t want to have us gain access to that source of ‘knowledge’ because then they would not be so special and elite. So they make excuses for us and place blame on the man. All so they can be our new “leaders” and keep the black man down! Off with their mickey fickie heads! You my opposer! Michael Eric Dyson even sat up on the CNN documentary “Black in America” and said his brother who lived in the same house is in jail for murder because he is dark skinned. Got blame?

Then they crying as the Fisk University Jubilee singers sang old Negros spirituals and crying at the place where Dr. Martin Luther King was killed cause they so deep and in the same breath Tavis said something like Dr. King lost his life trying to help garbage workers get equal rights. GARBAGE WORKERS! It was just the WAY he said it that rubbed me the wrong way. That’s why I can’t stand some Educated Negroes. It always seems like it’s a “them” vs. “us” battle.

They wouldn’t even acknowledge the accomplishments of PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. However they did show a picture of him a couple of times. Instead they were upset because Pres. Obama did not outright thank Jessie for paving the way for him. They were also upset that Pres. Obama does not publicly acknowledge that he is black and the plights of black people. “You cannot love us in private.” Said Mr. Dyson. Get it over with Obama. Just do it like Chris Rock in the movie CB4 “I’m black yall, I’m black yall, bliggety bliggety black yall.” BTW Obama does acknowledge the road that lead him to where he is; he just doesn’t wear it on his forehead.

Are you kidding me? Um BA-RACK O-BA-MA, sounds ethnic to me. Why should he play the race card if he is running the US of A not the city of Compton? That’s why we stuck. If you ask me it is your generation Mr. Smiley that dropped the ball after the civil rights movement. It was you, the one who benefited from the new opportunities who polarized our community and instead of sharing the wealth and spreading it you doled it out to your selected elite Negroes to govern over the garbage workers and maids. Mr. Smiley I have lost all respect for you and your boys.

You and your jealousy over my president is indicative of your bruised ego. You even wrote a book about it. Now you gone make money of his name and your hate. Ain’t that a blip? He’ll only have a %66 completion rate my eye. Where were you fools when 50 cent made millions off of exploiting black people? Did you intervene when Plies dubbed sistas and brothers “bust it babies” and “goons”? Are you upset and planning to hold HBCU’s responsible for only graduating %38 of their students in six years? So you have time to be overly critical of a black man who took every opportunity and worked hard to be the leader of the free world and not them knuckle heads selling their bodies and integrity for Louis V? Get the flip outta here.

Tavis, you suck.

The Official White House Photostream's photostream

The White House just added more photos to the official photostream. My favs are below. Click on the title for more pics.

Stand

Flicking through the channels I came across a commercial for the documentary “Stand” a blurb taken from the TV One Web site is below.

“Sunday, May 24 at 9 pm (ET)

TV One presents the emotion-packed documentary Stand. Written, directed and produced by Tavis Smiley, this special stars Smiley’s so-called “Soul Patrol”--Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dick Gregory, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Cliff West, Wren Brown, Raymond Ross and BeBe Winans in ways you’ve never seen before.

Shot during the summer of 2008, Tavis Smiley and his Soul Patrol travel across the South and through Memphis on a bus, visiting key African-American landmarks while having in-depth and heartfelt discussions about the journey of Black Americans. Smiley and his friends make pit stops to pick up friends who share stories about the music, food and jokes that have contributed along the way. From the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the historic election of America’s first African-American President, Barack Obama—no subject is left untouched.

You never know where the bus will stop next and what little known story will be shared. Take a stand and don’t miss Tavis Smiley’s Stand, only on TV One.”


This should be interesting. Dr. Cornel West gets on my nerves. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson gets on my nerves and Tavis Smiley gets on my nerves. I’ll see about the rest once the special airs. The commercial made the documentary seem to be about Mr. Smiley’s beef with President Obama. I guess it was just to give the special more “hype’ around it since that fool Tavis has lost some credibility in the black community.


I used to like Tavis, but damn his true colors really came out after President Obama declined his invitation to one of his State of the Black Union gatherings. You still mad Tavis? Of course he is recently he talked about Obama only being able to fulfill %66.00 of his campaign promises after his term. Don’t believe me? Google it. So Tavis gets no love from me, Tavis and a bunch of them other self serving bastids. Jessie and Russell that includes you too. I mean we had all kinds of “black leaders” speaking out against Obama. Where were these mofos when Bob Johnson made millions off exploiting the black community on BET? Why aren’t these leaders speaking out against the coonery that is Hip-Hop today? Young sistas and brothas today have some of the lowest self esteem. Girls calling themselves ‘bitches” and selling T and A. Young brothas killing each other over dumb ish. Our freaking kids can’t read, write or do basic arithmetic. Our schools are failing, our communities look like war zones and these mofos are worried about a “qualified” black man being President on the US of A.


You have got to be kidding me? Where were you when Bush sent all those babies to die and or be traumatized by war? Where were you when families fell prey to predatory lending? You still talking Him and YOU ain’t doing ish, but talking. STFU! Hold yourselves accountable.

I used to respect Mr. West too, but he now seems out of touch and leaning on his mastery of stringing words together to remain a ‘leader.” Mr. Dyson gets on my nerves cause he is so patronizing toward negros acting fool. This fool takes up for rappers and their disgraceful behavior almost like saying “they ninjas. That’s how dey suppose to act.” All of them wanna be the next MLK, Dick Gregory, and so and so just trying to be known as something great/famous. They all the same as Jesse and Al to me. All of em thinking, “He trying to take my spot.”
As far as the journey of Black Americans, we have done a complete 360. We are in the same spot we started. We may even be worse off.


So I’ll be watching “Stand” screaming at the TV and shaking my head at the excuses, sad stories, and provisions we make for not making it to the Promised Land.

Free Chicken Is Not A Civil Right

So lately there has been hoopla over free or discounted chicken. First there was the eight piece for $4.99 deal at Popeye’s, then the free grilled chicken at KFC , now the Big O as in Oprah is providing free chicken at KFC via coupons on her Web site. There have been more promotions and this is getting out of hand.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to offer your product at a discounted price, promote a new product or to provide consumers with a free meal, but waiting in lines and staging sit-ins over free chicken is, err,not a good thing. The image is all too clear. Check out the link below.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7527626&page=1

Free fried/grill chicken is not a civil right. It’s a new day and to think some internet bloggers are blaming Oprah. Saying “She’s feeding into the stereo type.” “She is supplying us with the stuff that makes us overweight and unhealthy.” “SHE should know better.” She can afford her meals. She was trying to do something nice for yo arse. Who doesn’t like fried chicken? I know all of the people who participated in this foolishness were not African American, but for the ones who are it just opens old wounds.

When I heard on the free coupon I thought “good deal, but there are gonna be too many people in that line and somebody gonna act a fool.” Sadly, I was right, but I didn’t expect a sit-in. I am so disgusted.