The last week, has been heavy since the news of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. The images alone haunted my dreams fro days. The concern over what would happen to my brothers & sisters in the Diaspora in the wake of chaos, destruction & panic broke my heart, as I’m sure is the case with most people who watch and wait for the slightest bit of good news.

The only thing that I knew to do immediately was donate cash for this cause & that was easy. I sent a text message to 501501 with the word Yele. Later, Suite Suzy went online & made a larger donation to the same organization.

Yes, these are small donations but every dollar adds up quickly. So I encourage you to act with a cash donations ASAP.

Here are a few links:

• American Red Cross
• Americares
• CARE
• Direct Relief International
• Doctors Without Borders
• Food for Poor
• Heart to Heart International
• International Rehabilitation Forum
• International Rescue Committee
• Oxfam
• Partners in Health
• Save the Children
• UNICEF
• World Food Programme
• Yele Haiti

As I stated on Twitter earlier this week: “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but prayers don’t deliver food, aid, medicines or missing loved ones. Cash will make all of the above happen. I’m just saying.

On a similar but somewhat related note, I’d like to address Pat Robert’s most ignorant statement to date. In case, you missed it, that fool said… What, you can see for yourself in the video below followed by two on point rebuttals.

I’d like to say Pat Robertson; you have officially been checked bitch!

One a final note, I spotted this very witty note from the devil to Pat Robertson written by Lily Coyle, of Minneapolis on NPR’s website today.

“Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished.

Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth — glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox — that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it – I’m just saying: Not how I roll.

You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings — just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan”

Photo Above:?
Photographer: Unknown
Decedents: 2010 Haiti earthquake victims

After reading Senator Harry Reid’s [“unintentional“] racist comment, I went into blank stare mode, then snapped out & went straight into no that mutha fucka didn’t mode. In case you’ve been under a rock, this fool said privately that he believed Barack Obama was well suited to a presidential run because he is a “light-skinned” African American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”

First, of all, it’s clear that there is a fear/dislike of the dark skinned Black. Reid’s statement & many echoed around news outlets, blogs etc have led me to believe that all of these incidences of unintentional racism go to the core of beliefs held by many white Americans.

I don’t know how many times today I’ve heard that Barack Obama would have not been our president had he been darker. Sounds like some Willie Lynch shit to me. Is a light Negro less dangerous & friendlier than a dark Negro?

Truth be told, if our ancestors were not raped and… No, I won’t go there, that’s another blog post.

Second, what the fuck is a “Negro dialect?” I’ve been searching for that meaning all weekend! And how does Reid know who has the ability to turn said dialect on & off? Is the ability to turn it on & off based on skin complexion?

Dictionary.com defines dialect as – a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.

Black Americans, just like any other group on this country are now homogeneous. And the last time I polled, my Negro friends, 94.254% of them sounded like my white friends. I’m just saying.

So now people, mainly republicans are calling on Reid to step down. I’m actually torn on this; not sure if he straight up needs to go or if he needs a verbal bitch slap from the top down; starting with the Black Messiah (Barack Obama) himself. Well, I guess that verbal bitch slap from the Black Messiah won’t be coming. He just feels that Reid used “inartful language.”

Lastly, I have an issue with the Congressional Black Caucus unequivocally backing Reid. Where’s the out rage in our “Black” leaders on Capital Hill?

Now: Do I dare broach the subject of a white man claiming that he’s blacker than a Black man? A nasty looking white man, who’s a disgrace to the state of IL, politics in general & possibly his race thinks that he’s blacker than a Black men; the man running this fucking nation? I think not!

Obama may be a lot of things, but one thing is, he is undeniably is the quintessential Black man in every fashion.

This fool Rod Blababitch Blagojevich said to Esquire magazine:

“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little Laundromat in a black community not far from where he lived. I saw it all growing up.”

Since when does shining shoes give a white man a ghetto pass? Shit, I play golf but that doesn’t make me white, or wanted on the golf course. Actually, I don’t play golf; I just want to make a point.

Honestly, I can’t even be mad at Blagojevich for his dumb ass comment. It’s clear that he’s struggling to remain relevant & in the news. What better way to attempt that by saying something so over the top. Creating this controversy gave this fool another three minutes on his fading fifteen minutes of fame. I guess his upcoming appearance on “Celebrity Apprentice” wasn’t enough.

I’ll tell you; today, I suffered the biggest racial tension headache that I’ve experienced since Don Dumb Imus said with pride; “Them some nappy headed hoes.”

The Dapper D – Meet Tafari Stevenson-Howard
Indigo Zuri for Detroit Men’s Style Examiner

A photographer is a photographer, even in front of his lens; especially in the case of this week’s Dapper D. When first spotted, our subject stood outside the Beverly Hills Grill restaurant awaiting a table. His head to toe look likened that of an intriguing photograph, with places for one’s eyes to wander and investigate, and spaces for them to rest and relax. He wore Afrocentric apparel skillfully mixed with classic tailoring, while placing a huge emphasis on a brilliant show of color reminiscent of the emerging fall foliage. The late September breeze caused his locs to dance elegantly away from his face, and I, your Detroit Men’s Examiner, was intrigued.

Meet Tafari Stevenson-Howard - Devoted husband, loving dad of three, gifted photographer and a definite man of style.

Describe your style. I define my style as eclectic Afro urban chic. I love pulling in hand made West African clothing and accessories or Afro inspired pieces and combining them with basic western pieces.

Who are your favorite designers? Haan, Cole, Kors, Old Navy. (Don’t laugh because they have the best jeans!) Then I have a whole host of everyday designers/artists that I love like Heather Fagan of Bettula, knit artist Yokoo, and Senegalese designer Aziz.

Who/what is/are your style influencers? My style is inspired by comfort! I’m a thick brother so I need to be comfortable! So that means that you will not see me buy into the tight shirt and skinny jeans/pants look.

What style rules do you break? I think I break color rules for men. By that I mean, I love LOUD colors, pinks, yellows, greens. Many of my friends say that I make courageous color choices especially when it comes to shirts & shoes. Perhaps that’s the Detroit in me. I love pushing the envelope but you will never catch me in a pair of pink gators.

What style rule(s) will you not break? Wearing white (pants, jackets, shoes) between Labor day & Memorial day. I don’t care what designers say. Fashion has not changed! Not only that, white looks totally silly when you’re trying to look hot during one of our Michigan winters.

What are you wearing today? Today I’m wearing a tie-dyed and embroidered dashiki from Ghana, gabardine slacks, of course argyle socks (my favorite type of sock) and a birch bark wrist cuff.

(Post Source: www.examiner.com)

Like millions of others yesterday, I stopped my life’s goings on to take part in one of the biggest celebrations of life that we may ever see for our beloved and sometimes misunderstood Michael Jackson.

Watching the celebration online was totally surreal & I can only imagine what the energy inside the Staple Center must have been like.

I was moved many times almost to tears but I stayed strong plus, I did not want to be all crying in public. I do have a rep to maintain.

Anyway, the point I almost lost it for the first time was when my boo Queen Latifah read Maya Angelou’s poem “We Had Him”

“Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.

Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.

Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.

His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.

And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana’s Black Star Square.

In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England

We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him, and we are the world.”

Maya’s (like we’re on 1st name basis) words are always on point and right on time. Her words are magical & legendary!

While watching the event I Tweeted live & it was awesome sharing this experience with others in real time from across the globe. A few of my Tweets:

• I’m sure the Staple Center will be filled with people just ready to jump into MJs casket. I hope they have it on lock down. #casketjumper about 14 hours ago
• This service would be over the top if Aretha came out singing “Trouble of the World.” That would break all the way down. #imitationoflife about 11 hours ago
• I’ll never forget when Lionel’s wife beat his ass. I haven’t cared for him since then. But I love the old music. about 12 hours ago
• When are they gonna open the casket? about 11 hours ago
• Al Sharpton either has a tapeworm or he got a gastric bypass. No matter what, he keeps it real & the perm is always fully coiffed & spritzed. about 11 hours ago
• Lets be honest, we’ve never seen a Negro’s funeral run this smooth. NEVER!!!! Its almost unnatural. about 11 hours ago
• I want one of them damn gloves! I must have one. Seriously!!! about 11 hours ago

You know me, it’s hard to stay serious when things are hectic. I have to resort to bullshitting.

So after work, I jumped in my car to head to Detroit to record the vibe at the Motown Museum/Hitsville USA. Have a look at my completed photojournal, which also includes photos from Harlem’s Apollo Theater. The pictures tell far more than I ever could.

Since we got the news well over a week ago, I have submerged myself into a Michael Jackson/The Jacksons/Jackson 5 musical coma while fighting back my emotions.

On the day the world stood still, I had a hard time keeping myself together but I managed. I tried to focus on all of what Michael represented. I thought about how my aunt gave me the “Bad” LP for my birthday when I turned 14. I thought about how I love to work out to “I Can’t Help It” & how I sing aloud without a care in the world.

Like millions of others in the world, I did not know Michael but I feel like did. Maybe its because he was a part of my life musically since I was a baby.

Shit I remember my momma having the “Off The Wall” & “Thriller” albums displayed on our living room wall, along side some of her other favorites of that time.

I remember so much & I only have good memories.

I remember teasing after the “Pepsi commercial” when I was in elementary school.

“Michael Jackson went to town thinking he was pony down. Pepsi Cola burnt him up, now he’s drinking 7-Up. 7-Up had no caffeine, now he’s singing Billie Jean.”

Who made that shit up & why was it so funny back then? We may never know.

So anyway, last week, while on vacation in NYC, I made it a point to visit Harlem so that I could experience 1st hand the frenzy of love circling the Apollo Theater.

When I walked upon the theater, it was hard not to get emotional. I almost had to detach myself from my personal being to work as a photojournalist. It was not an easy task as I’m a very emotional person anyway.

I can only imagine what Harlem will be like today (July 07, 2009).

So, it’s the day that I never thought would come but here it is & I guess finally considering all of the drama being reported out. I mean, Michael converted to Islam months ago & here he is still above ground. I feel that he has been totally disrespected in so many ways.

Will his soul ever be able to rest?

I’ll miss Michael but from the looks of things, he will continue to grace us with music for a long time to come. I’ll be there for every release. I am a fan & I’m not afraid to say that I LOVE Michael Jackson, no matter what.

To see other images that I captured at the Michael Jackson Tribute Memorial at the Apollo Theater, click here.

I origannly posted this on the Afro Spear blog last week & decided to cross post it here becuase it’s getting such a strong reponse there. Like a real strong response. The movie has been out for week now & the controversy has been swirling. Have a read & leave your thoughts. I’m interested in your thoughts.
————————————————
Transformers: Racism That Meets The Eye
June 25, 2009 by Tafari

Yesterday, I made it a point to go see “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in IMAX. Ever since the last Transformers theatrical release I had been giddy for more.

Hours before I headed to the movies, I started reading posts online that discussed racism in the movie but still I pressed on to Showcase Cinemas and dropped $10.50 for my ticket.

Fast forwarding 2.5 hours later. I’m walking out of the theater with my mind blown for many reasons; 1st, the movie was so action packed I thought I was going to slip into a seizure. 2nd the movie was overtly sexually, which made it seem like an R rated movie instead of PG-13 and 3rd The racism that was built into the movie billed as comedic relief.

As I drove home, I tried to reconcile the racism but I could not, so I decided to sleep on it. So this morning, when I woke up, I actually got mad about what I saw in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” The racism that I’m talking about in case you don’t already know is dealing with the Autobot twins “Skids” and “Mudflap” or the “ Little Black Sambo[ts].”

• Both of the twins talk like they are straight from a Lil Wayne video.
• The play the dozens (crack jokes on each other and anyone else) in every scene.
• They are seemingly proud of the fact that they cannot read. “Read?! Nuh-uh…” “No, we don’t really do much readin’!”
• Skids has a GOLD front tooth. Yes, a big bucked out gold tooth
• The names “Skids” and “Mudflap” imply darkness and or nastiness.
• Do I really need to add a 6th, you should get the picture now.

(Wait, for extra measure, if you want to see another relevant countdown list, you have to read this. “7 reasons why Transformers 2 might be racist…”)

With all this now parsed out, I’m wondering why and how this stereotypical bullshit slipped past Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures. Did they care? Did they know? Did they think it was ok?

I feel bad and torn because I actually liked the movie a lot, but how could I in good conscious? Maybe it’s the kid in me remembering watching the cartoon way back in the mid 80s.

Although the racism pisses me off about this flick, I was also disturbed about the adult content and overt hypersexuality. But like I said, I liked the movie, so what does this mean about me?

I know I won’t see the movie again, nor will I purchase the DVD. I do not want my kids seeing this mess and not only that it’s so not a kids movie. Don’t let the PG-13 rating fool you!

Transformers used to be all about the kids way back when, but not so much now thanks to Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures. I’m just saying.

Side note: This post is not nearly what I wanted it to be. Not at all! My thoughts are with and on Michael Jackson. As I wrap this up, I’m chair dancing to “Off The Wall” while I try to control my urge to cry about a man that reached my soul through song, dance and beauty.

Yesterday on the drive home I was listening to “All Things Considered” on NPR like I do most days. If you are a NPR listener, you know all about “driveway moments,” so lets just say that I had the worst driveway moment ever.

My driveway moment started after anchor Robert Siegal, in haste noted that singer Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious from possible cardiac arrest.

As I sat in my car, I screamed nooooooooooooo! I knew that he had died. I felt it! Not only that, after a cardiac arrest, survivability chances are very slim to none.

With that on my mind, I continued to sit in my car dumbfounded & lost. It took me almost an hour to make it into the house. I felt like I just couldn’t move at all.

Once I collected myself a little, I took to Twitter for more info & to share my thoughts.

When I started to share my thoughts & collect information, the rest of the world must have also done the same thing because Twitter was hardly moving.

Here are some of my tweets from the time that I got the news till the time I was finally able to go to sleep.

• OMG, is Michael Jackson gone?
• Please don’t tell me I need to pull out my pleather Thriller Jacket. Please……
• In my best Florida Evans voice “Damn! Damn! Damn!” I don’t care what they have said, I loved MJ, well B4 alleged molestations & whitening.
• Mom just called & told me Michael Jackson was dead & she said & Farah too. I said fuck Farah. MJs death trumps all. This is major!
• I lost my virginity on a red velvet couch listening to the “Off The Wall” album. #michaeljackson
• [Updated at 3:15] Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital… LA Times.
• Michael Jackson’s death is crippling Twitter. Could Twitter be the unheard of 4th death this week?
• My 10 year old just asked me what Michael Jackson’s last words were. Kids think of everything.
• People talked a lot of shit about MJ, but I’ll tell you what, the world is mourning this man. The fucking world! #bitchesalwaystalkshit
• Am I the only one fighting back a teary breakdown? I’m a mess right now!
• When I was a kid, I asked my mom if MJ used the bathroom. She said of course, he’s human like you & me. I thought he was so much more.
• Tired of how the news is talking about all of MJs legal issues. How about we focus on what he meant to ppl & not scandal. #dissedevenindeath
• If I had a bedazzler, I would be making me a MJ glove like right now.
  
• Taking a break from my MJ death watch. Great news! Getty Images wants 10 more of my photos. Got my Kool Aid on boo! #imgoodatwhatidobitch
• Typing a blog post & listening to “Liberian Girl.” Naku penda piya-naku taka Piya-mpenziwe. #michaeljackson
• Bout to call it a night, but before I do, I have to listen to “I Cant Help It.” My favorite Michael Jackson song.
• “I cant help it if I wanted to I wouldn’t help it even if I could I cant help it if I wanted to I wouldn’t help it no no no.” I wont cry. #liar
• If I had a Wave Nouveau, I would comb the shit out of my baby hair tomorrow & stunt on them hoes in the board meeting.

To get a clue as to how popular this unfortunate this story is in terms of Twitter & the internet, read this. It will also clue you into the relevance of the image above if you are not familiar with Twitter & a little more.

I read this story earlier today & the two things that ran through my mind were, 1) why does this bitch still have a job (we know why but still) & 2) regardless of what “list” you intended to send a blatantly offensive message to, it’s still wrong, inappropriate, & fucked up.

“The chairman of Tennessee’s Democratic Party wants a Republican legislative aide fired for sending out a “reprehensible” e-mail depicting President Obama as two cartoonish white eyes peering from a black background.

Obama’s image is in the last square of a collage containing portraits of the previous 43 U.S. presidents. The e-mail, which was sent to other GOP staff members, was posted on the Internet Monday.

Sherri Goforth, an administrative assistant to state Sen. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, has admitted she sent the e-mail May 28 with the title “Historical Keepsake Photo.” She said, without elaborating, that she mistakenly sent it “to the wrong list of people.”

According to the Tennessean, a Nashville newspaper, a note on the e-mail said it was paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party, but GOP officials denied they produced it. Black leads the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus.

There was no comment from the White House as of Tuesday afternoon.

Black rebuked Goforth but didn’t dismiss her.

“I want to be sure that everyone understands that the communication was sent without my knowledge,” Black said Tuesday afternoon. “It absolutely does not represent the beliefs or opinions of my office. I want to be very clear about that.”

“Ms. Goforth did get a verbal reprimand as well as a very strongly worded reprimand, written, that was put in her file that if this should ever occur again, that she would be terminated,” Black said.

“This is an employee who has had a stellar record,” Black said. She added that Goforth has worked in state government for more than 20 years, and has had a clean record.

“We followed policy. And that’s what you do when someone breaks the rules, you follow policy,” she said.

A phone message left for Goforth by CNN was not answered.

“Is this indicative of what Senate Republicans think about our commander-in-chief?” asked state Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester in a statement posted on the party’s Web site.

“I am calling on Sen. Black to reject this racist smear and fire this staffer who, on state government time, on state government computers, using a state government e-mail account, launched this bigoted attack on our president,” Forrester said. “Keeping her on the staff would send the message that this type of behavior is condoned by the Senate Republican Caucus.”…”

Read more here

I guess when you are so deeply ignorant; you cannot see the forest for the trees & everyone else is wrong for calling your bullshit out.

Maybe I should be outraged but I’m not. This kinda mess happens far to often & not much is done.

I wonder if they will send Sherri Goforth to some racial sensitivity training & make her volunteer at a food bank in the hood so that she will realize that “all” Negroes aren’t spooks. I’m just saying!

I’m also wondering if Sherri Goforth will say that some of her best friends are Black.

“A young Bronx mom was arrested Tuesday night for slugging her baby boy in the head – a blow that killed him, police said.

Na-aisha Riley, 21, allegedly punched her 7-month-old infant, Cashmere Obama Randall, with such force that it caused the baby to hemorrhage in the brain, officials said. He died Monday afternoon after cops found him at her boyfriend’s Bronx home, unresponsive and unconscious.

“She just lost it,” said a police source.

The medical examiner ruled Tuesday that Cashmere died of whiplash and shaking and blunt trauma to the head, a spokeswoman said.

Riley confessed yesterday to punching her 18 1/2-pound, 27-inch long baby, police sources said. She was charged with second-degree murder and assault.

Riley’s mother, Toinette Knight-Riley, said she doesn’t believe her daughter could have killed the boy, known as Obama because he was born on the day President Obama was elected.

“My grandson was beautiful. He was sent from heaven.

My daughter is kind and compassionate,” she said. “She’d never, ever do such a thing.”

But Riley’s boyfriend, Unique Jones, 18, said “she tried to make like it was me. Police told me at first she was blaming me. Then she confessed. It was like she wanted to kill me, too.”

Jones, a student at Lewis and Clark High School, said he reprimanded Riley over the Memorial Day weekend when “I saw her pop him in the head to keep him from crying.”

Read more Here

I read this story earlier today & got pissed the fuck off! The I made one of my list of total wrongdom to break the story down to the metaphysical.

Wrongdom/Issues:

1) The baby’s grandmother is in serious denial.

2) A good mother would never punch a baby.

3) Why is I mean why was she dating this young boy.

4) Why was her jump off’s people watching her baby, what about the grandmother or the aunt, or hell, the baby’s real daddy?

5) Is the baby daddy missing?

6) Why name your child after a great man then kill him?

7) Cashmere? I won’t comment further out of respect for of the recently departed but that is a fucked name.

8) Na-aisha probably should have just got an abortion if she was just gonna beat poor Cashmere Obama to fucking death

9) A bitch with a name like Na-aisha should never be trusted to do shit. No offense if you named your child something fucked up & totally made up.

10) I’m against violence but I hope that Na-aisha gets shanked by Bey Bey & nem’.

I hope that I do not appear to be to ignorant, radical or misogynistic in my breakdown. I’m just saying!

The latest white woman & child abduction in Pennsylvania has my blood on a slow simmer after it had been boiling all morning.

When Bonnie Sweeten stated that she along with her 9 year old daughter were abducted by black assailants pushing a Cadillac [that was sitting on 24s with spinning rims (I just made that up)], my eye brow raised in much skepticism, but still I was concerned for her.

Today we learn that she was not abducted and was chillaxing in a hotel near Disney World. What the fuck? Are you kidding me? There was really no big bad Negro involved, no, not at all???

It really pisses me off how (some) white women & or white men blame black or brown men for acting out fabricated crimes; be it rape, assault, robbery etc.

Pissing me off even more are the comments that I’ve read online from white respondents who have stated that they saw no issue with this crime being blamed on black men because of other socio-economic/political factors.

When will the caricature of the big bad black & brown man end?

And seriously speaking, what are the chances that a black or brown man will abduct an anonymous white woman with or without a kid in tow, especially in broad daylight? PLEASE!

The funny thing about this & other Susan Smith/Jennifer Willbanks(esque) situations is that it leaves the media with egg on their face as they aid in the search for the dark imaginary assailant(s). On the opposite side of the spectrum, these cases force people in the affected community to deal with racial issues whether they want to or not.

I wonder how Nancy Grace will react to this development tonight.

Originally posted on the Afrospear