Yesterday I was fortunate enough to go to take part in a conversation at Morgan State University that many black people choose not to have. Either because of the heaviness of the topic or ignorance of it's existence (to some extent). The discussion, held in one of the lesser used buildings on campus, was entitled "Meet the Oreo". The only reason I was intrigued is because I have been called an Oreo multiple times in my life, and much to my dismay the word as well as it's negative connotations don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. Armed with my comfort team, Patrick Sweet and Isis Tutman I braved the conversation and even put forth my own opinion when necessary.
Here are a few things I wanted to make clear to people. Having darker skin does not make you inferior, dumber, poorer, ghettoer, or sneakier than the next guy, however, it also does not make you better than anyone either. We as a race (THE HUMAN RACE) need to get over skin color as a defining factor in our day to day living. Dating, hanging out, school choices, neighborhood choices, television channels, and radio stations have all become ways to separate ourselves from each other. We all breathe the same air, eat the same foods, need the same nutrients, and pump the same blood through our bodies, which as far as I'm concerned, makes us all equal. We ought not teach our children labels and instill them with garbage or the cycle of ignorance WILL continue.
We are the ones who have the opportunity at this present time, as the next generation to take over, to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. We have to be bigger than black, white, yellow, red and everything in between or we'll never move forward, and the unfortunate events of the past are doomed to repeat themselves. When we go out into our communities, we need to make meaningful change, we need to stop letting the media turn our tapestry of textures into a joke. We should not allow ourselves to be relegated to stereotypes, because when we allow one person to be brought down, it is not just at their expense, it's at ours also.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.....THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.....CHANGE THE WORLD
Join the what is white? what is black conversation at www.crackerdress.wordpress.com and share your thoughts and solutions to a problem that just doesn't want to go away....
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Vladimir Celestin (Vlah-duh-meer Sa-les-tin) *FRENCH ACCENT???*
Well I certainly had fun this weekend at the National Conservation Training Center, taking pictures, learning new things, and catching frogs at twilight hours. Lots of great food, lots of cool people, but one weird guy...ahaha....yeah Vlad I'm talking bought you kid. I've known him for a couple months now but never in my wildest imagination would I have thought that he has an alter ego....a alter creole ego... accent and all. I of course planned to come in, have normal fun, talk to people as myself, and maybe even make a friend or two but my goodness not with a lie lol.
As the people began to arrive out came this half African sounding, half French sounding accent, and in between being with the crowds of adoring fans who had questions galore for the new Frenchman, plenty of slip ups. Lots of inny-outy-half crazy-non funny stories told in half accent to appease the haha needs of the others. To my surprise he actually kept the act going, and even as I sit here staring at his lying face chewing on a dirty piece of grass from the semi polluted wilderness trail I half to laugh. Truly a hilarious adventure which is sure to have way more repercussions when people try to catch up with him. When maybe people want to I don't know...TALK to him later down the line. We'll see how it turns out but for now he'll just be the butt of lots and lots of jokes for weeks...hell maybe even months to come.
As the people began to arrive out came this half African sounding, half French sounding accent, and in between being with the crowds of adoring fans who had questions galore for the new Frenchman, plenty of slip ups. Lots of inny-outy-half crazy-non funny stories told in half accent to appease the haha needs of the others. To my surprise he actually kept the act going, and even as I sit here staring at his lying face chewing on a dirty piece of grass from the semi polluted wilderness trail I half to laugh. Truly a hilarious adventure which is sure to have way more repercussions when people try to catch up with him. When maybe people want to I don't know...TALK to him later down the line. We'll see how it turns out but for now he'll just be the butt of lots and lots of jokes for weeks...hell maybe even months to come.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
J. CREW, Mommies, and Boys with Pink Nail Polish
Once again Yahoo has sent my alarm bells ringing this morning. It featured an article about an ad showing J.Crew president and creative director Jenna spending a day with her son Beckett who just happens to like pink (my fav. color so he's already alright in my book). Unfortunately the article wasn't about anything happy, it talked about criticism from Fox "News" (why are we still taking them seriously?) and some woman named Erin Brown(never heard of her or the Media Research Center even though they claim to be "America's Media Watchdog") about how the ad was some sort of liberal propaganda about transgendered identity.
-_________________________-
HERE WE GO AGAIN! I take offense to this garbage first from the horses mouths and secondly from Yahoo, I didn't want to check my email and feel like I was getting gut checked by a rugby player. This little boy looks to be about four or five years old so first of all, as I stated in an earlier post about the "Princess Boy", children this young don't know if they are boys, girls, cucumbers, or rocks, they know nothing about sexual preferences, and I know that most of them can't even pronounce TRANSGENDERED.
This little boy is spending time with his mommy, getting his nails painted, and they look like they're having a blast. Now thanks to some nimrods who have nothing better to do, he will hear about these comments long after the age of five. I don't quite understand what makes grown people (who I'm guessing were raised by someone) target an ad that was actually wholesome, yet allow millions of Americans be bombarded by the soft porn covers of Maxim, Playboy, et. al. while they keep on rollin in the dough. All of these people (I'm sure) at one point or another whether male or female, worn their mom's heels, their dad's tie, or tried on some lipstick (or fingernail polish) for the fun of it.
Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they don't have feelings, doesn't mean they don't care about their children, and believe it or not everything is NOT about politics. It's sad that the people who need to hear this won't and if they do won't be receptive to it because they're so wrapped up in themselves to see how THEY are the ones hurting America, by causing separation instead of unification. No matter what someone else believes is right or wrong as a parent, at the end of the day, their opinion is all that matters. I support little Beckett and his mom Jenna and hope that none of this goes any further than it actually has to and I'll continue to buy and wear my pink nail polish in solidarity :)
-_________________________-
HERE WE GO AGAIN! I take offense to this garbage first from the horses mouths and secondly from Yahoo, I didn't want to check my email and feel like I was getting gut checked by a rugby player. This little boy looks to be about four or five years old so first of all, as I stated in an earlier post about the "Princess Boy", children this young don't know if they are boys, girls, cucumbers, or rocks, they know nothing about sexual preferences, and I know that most of them can't even pronounce TRANSGENDERED.
This little boy is spending time with his mommy, getting his nails painted, and they look like they're having a blast. Now thanks to some nimrods who have nothing better to do, he will hear about these comments long after the age of five. I don't quite understand what makes grown people (who I'm guessing were raised by someone) target an ad that was actually wholesome, yet allow millions of Americans be bombarded by the soft porn covers of Maxim, Playboy, et. al. while they keep on rollin in the dough. All of these people (I'm sure) at one point or another whether male or female, worn their mom's heels, their dad's tie, or tried on some lipstick (or fingernail polish) for the fun of it.
Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they don't have feelings, doesn't mean they don't care about their children, and believe it or not everything is NOT about politics. It's sad that the people who need to hear this won't and if they do won't be receptive to it because they're so wrapped up in themselves to see how THEY are the ones hurting America, by causing separation instead of unification. No matter what someone else believes is right or wrong as a parent, at the end of the day, their opinion is all that matters. I support little Beckett and his mom Jenna and hope that none of this goes any further than it actually has to and I'll continue to buy and wear my pink nail polish in solidarity :)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Delicious People, Deceptive Minds, and Dangerous Choices
Mmmmmmm.....We all have a couple of people in our circles that conjure up visions of chocolaty, caramel, whip cream topped bliss even though they shouldn't...because they're people lol. While certain people can simply be enticing by nature and not even know they exude deliciousness it is important to be forewarned of those who KNOW their state of deliciousness.
There are many people that are really ignorant of the way they appeal to others. They go about their day like the rest of us, sometimes happy, sometimes with a feeling of defeat, but at the end of the day feeling normal and wanting to somehow change that in the future. These people can be fun to be around, but then they also have their days that make you (as a friend, significant other, associate) want to learn how to build a guillotine just to watch their head roll....or maybe that's just me...but that's besides the point. Even when they are annoying they still somehow attract you to them which has a 50% chance of being a suckish relationship but if you work it right there's also a 50% chance of it being a pretty freakin awesome relationship.
HOWEVER
There are those who, as I stated before, know what they look like. This could quite possibly be because of an increase in reflective materials in their homes as a child or thirsty folk blowin their heads outta proportion later in life. These people are DANGEROUS. They are always on the prowl, have crazy mind game tricks up their sleeves, and they don't play fair. Sure you can pretend to ignore them, but unfortunately like a raccoon to your full and perfectly tied trash bag, attraction is inevitable. If you're strong you don't have to stop talking to the person, you must simply learn the art of saying no. Stay within your boundaries and make your body succumb to a state of normalcy and not to some over sexual, tripped out, lust factory. For those of you who are weak (you are reading this, no one else knows you're reading this, but you know I'm talkin to you) get outta dodge NOW! Don't wait for your body to become your lord, take control while you still can. Maybe you can't handle being at his house, or the movies, or his really psychedelic van with the cool colored carpet in the back lest you make foolish mistakes and "forget" your morals. It's ok. Lots of people can't handle being around delicious folk. BUT If you still want to hang out stay in brightly lit spaces, around at least two other people, or in public (still bright) areas. The brightness will remind you to keep yourself out of the lust bucket and other people will make you self conscious so you don't suddenly become a skank.
Don't fall into the trap, stay focused, and you'll be happier in the long run.
There are many people that are really ignorant of the way they appeal to others. They go about their day like the rest of us, sometimes happy, sometimes with a feeling of defeat, but at the end of the day feeling normal and wanting to somehow change that in the future. These people can be fun to be around, but then they also have their days that make you (as a friend, significant other, associate) want to learn how to build a guillotine just to watch their head roll....or maybe that's just me...but that's besides the point. Even when they are annoying they still somehow attract you to them which has a 50% chance of being a suckish relationship but if you work it right there's also a 50% chance of it being a pretty freakin awesome relationship.
HOWEVER
There are those who, as I stated before, know what they look like. This could quite possibly be because of an increase in reflective materials in their homes as a child or thirsty folk blowin their heads outta proportion later in life. These people are DANGEROUS. They are always on the prowl, have crazy mind game tricks up their sleeves, and they don't play fair. Sure you can pretend to ignore them, but unfortunately like a raccoon to your full and perfectly tied trash bag, attraction is inevitable. If you're strong you don't have to stop talking to the person, you must simply learn the art of saying no. Stay within your boundaries and make your body succumb to a state of normalcy and not to some over sexual, tripped out, lust factory. For those of you who are weak (you are reading this, no one else knows you're reading this, but you know I'm talkin to you) get outta dodge NOW! Don't wait for your body to become your lord, take control while you still can. Maybe you can't handle being at his house, or the movies, or his really psychedelic van with the cool colored carpet in the back lest you make foolish mistakes and "forget" your morals. It's ok. Lots of people can't handle being around delicious folk. BUT If you still want to hang out stay in brightly lit spaces, around at least two other people, or in public (still bright) areas. The brightness will remind you to keep yourself out of the lust bucket and other people will make you self conscious so you don't suddenly become a skank.
Don't fall into the trap, stay focused, and you'll be happier in the long run.
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