Question Bridge: Black Males

A powerful Art installation currently on view at the Brooklyn Museum in New York until July 15 , 2012. The most thought provoking conversation between inter, intra generational black men. At the very core of this conversation is this question: What it is to be Black Males in America or this world for that matter.

Black Men seeking, asking and answering this question for themselves. A drastic constrast from everyone else trying to analyse, define, categorize and caste Black Men to what they want them to be or who they think Black Men are.

 

Leadership & Sustainability Institute for Black Male Achievement

Below, please find an excerpt from the collaborative art project Question Bridge: Black Males entitled “Why didn’t you leave us the Blueprint?” Click here to read an LSI blog post about Question Bridge: Black Males by Question Bridge contributor Bayeté Ross Smith. Click here to visit the Question Bridge website.

Why didn’t you leave us the Blueprint? – Answered by David Lemieux from Question Bridge on Vimeo.

Question Bridge: Black Males had its national launch in January 2012. It appeared at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and has had museum exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, Oakland Museum of California, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and the City Gallery at Chastain in Atlanta. The exhibition will continue to travel in 2013 and 2014.

Question Bridge was created by Chris Johnson, Hank Willis Thomas, Bayeté Ross Smith, and Kamal Sinclair. The Executive Producers are Delroy Lindo, Jesse Williams, and Deborah…

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Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in new blog Tags: Bayete Ross Smith, Black Males, Brooklyn Museum, Chris Johnson, Healing Efforts, Healling Efforts, Kamal Sinclair, Powerful Conversation, Question Bridge, Self-Actualization, Self-Affirming, Self-Discovery, Soul Searching

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Why I can not seem to shake him off!

 

Obama is Warming Up to my Heart… Again! 

I have this love and hate thing going with the presidency of Barak H Obama. He frustrates the hell out me the way he plays politics. Intellectually his play at politics makes sense – at times slow, meek and indecisive but yields result. Not the kind I would want or agree for the most part but result just the same. 

He is like New York to me. I have that love / hate thing going with New York. I LOVE this City yet at times it gets under my skin and I often finding myself of Kayak seeking for cheap fare and dusting off my passport to get away. That is always the scenario that plays out only to fall in love again with New York even before my plane full taxing onto the tarmac. Both New York and President Obama hold a special place in heart and the equally get under my skin just the same.   

Today President Obama is all over my heart. Here is mainly why – President Obama just announced the New Recovery Act Smart New Smart Grid Fund with $3.4 billion investment.   

His smart just never fails to amaze me. I remember the Two Day long Black Out of August 2003 that crippled the entire northeast region the province of Ontario in Canada due to an antiquated power grid serving about 45 millions people in the United States along. 

In Florida, where the president made the announcement at a joint venture of private and public investment in a new smart power grid that will harness all renewable energy – solar and wind to generate electricity. A model I hope for the entire country.

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Barak Obama, new blog Tags: Green Energy, New Energy, Smart Grid, Solar Power

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On Charles Blow’s Impatiently Waiting Op-Ed in the New York Times

Well said Mr. Blow. I do not understand for the life of me all this needs for bipartisanship when the majority of Americans are for comprehensive health care reform. Instead you have Harry Reid handing over to Max Baucus the task of drafting a health care bill. Max Baucus and his gang of six are members of the Senate Finance Committee. Why are bean counters the ones writing a HEALTH CARE bill?

Perhaps I am slow in comprehension, but should the Senate Health Committee be the one in charge of this bill. Do they have Health Committee in the Senate or is this just wishful thinking on my part?

I understands it takes more than the President to enact laws. That is the constitutional power of the Congress. I do agree with you Mr. Blow that President Obama needs to channel his message of the Urgency of Now and backs it up with major COJONES.

But at issue, I believe, is the mis-signals coming from the White House. One from Rham’s office, he who could careless about what the American people wants and the other from the oval office that is meek and definitely play second fiddle to Rham Emmanuel’s in the Hall of Congress. Especially with the so called Blue Democrats, Moderate Republicans who too could give a damn what their constituency wants and needs and play to the beat of their powerful and rich lobbyists on K Street

That is why you have Queen Olympia Snowe and King Baucus being worship as the Monach Gods that they have become. I am sick of this and impatient does not even to begin to express my frustration. That is it ! Now I want UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE for ALL!

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Barak Obama, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, NYT, Obama, Op Ed, Opinion, Politic, Universal Health Care, US Congress, US Senators

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The Professor in Chief BHO On Ramadan

Wow who would have thought that the President of the USA would have made such an insightful and rightfully so a video message  for Ramadan, one of the holiest of holidays in the Muslim World.  Muslim Americans are a growing and diverse population of this nation. Besides there are Billions of Muslims in the world towards whom, we Americans have not being kind post September 11, 2001.  It is due time to set a tone of atonement for past mistakes and forge henceforth a respectful and dignified relationship with Muslims of this world. In Barak Obama, I believe, we not only stand a chance but have the perfect man in the leadership.

Bravo Professor President Obama…

First Oprah teaches Americans to pick up a book and read. Now our president is the Professor in Chief. From his rudimentary speech on race in the wake of Jeremiah Wright episodes during the presidenticial campaign of 2008 to his Inaugural Address last February 20, 2009, this president strives in tapping and inspiring the best in our heart and inciting our intellectual prowess and capacity to be better.

And I love it!

He frustrates the heck out me in his pragmatic and even-keel ways. I wish he could be a disciplinarian when circumstances call for and set straight those whose agenda is to see him fails.  That being said, I still thank the heavens for him in the wake for the last regime that played on and benefited from  the worse of  fears and barbaric ways.

wa Alaykum as Salaam!

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Barak, Barak Obama, BHO, Islam, Muslim, Muslim Americans, Muslim World, Obama, Politic, Religion, Spirituality, US President, VidCast Tags: BHO, Islam, Muslim Americans, Muslim World, Muslims, Obama, Professor in Chief, Ramadan, Ramadan Address, Religion, Spirituality, VidCast

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Sen. Harry Reid wants Obama to Fail!

Mr. Charles Blow wrote a poignant Op-Ed for the New York Times.  I understand and respect his niceness and professionalism as a respect and thoughtful Op Ed Columnist. However I think he missed one particular Culprit flying under the radar that I think should be exposed and taken to task. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada!

Below is my reaction to Mr. Blow’s peice.

The real culprit here is Harry Reid! the Democratic Senate Majority leader from Nevada. No matter what permeates in the passing or failure of the Health Care Reform. Spineless Harry Reid needs to go.

He is the one who anointed  Rep. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa as Deal Maker / Breaker on this issue. The Democrats has a majority in the Senate and Harry Reid appointed a panel of 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats to take the leadership in driving a Health Care bill in the Senate. That just makes no sense!

I bet you no Republican would dare do such a thing.

At times I truly wonder if the words of Rush Limbaugh are manifesting in the action of certain Democrats in both Houses of Congress.

They want Obama to fail!

p.

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in 14913830, 14917448, Charles Blow, Chuck Grassley, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, Obama, Op Ed, Opinion, Politic, Uncategorized, Universal Health Care, US Congress, US Senators Tags: Barak, BHO, Charles Blow, Chuch Grassley, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, New York Times, NYT, Obama, Op Ed, The US Senate, Universal Health Care, US Congress

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About Micheal Vick!

I have my two cents about this man and the reactions his dog fighting business generates among various groups…. I will bite my tongue… since I have issues with all sides… For Negro Vick to be damn delusional when it comes to shit that really has great impact on his character, personal freedom and dignity… but knows when to call lawyers, publicist and image makers…

Michael VIck on 60 Minutes…

The disconnect just makes me sick about these Negroes who tried to convinced themselves that big paycheck give them a license to fuck up their lives. Like million dollars contract exempt them from the obvious and blatant  trappings that never fails to get them. If these Negroes still have not learned from the OJ debacle nothing will…

It truly want to find out what exactly it is that seems to cloud these Negroes judgement. And worse the professionals they hired to handle their persona, business are not better… In my eyes they are nothing but the tools and apparatus of trapping… I have theory upon which the trapping operates. Give a Negro the rope eventually he will find a way to learn how to tie a noose, swing it over a over a tree and eventually commit character suicide.

I have no sympathy for such Negroes…  so Michael Vick I hope this new rope you got from the Eagles you  use it well.  I would suggest that tied around you waist, given the end part of it to someone whom you trust and most importantly loves you to yank you back into line until you learn to love, respect and honor thyself for the man that you are. The BLACK MAN THAT YOU ARE..

Stop being yet another selfdestructed  tragic NEGRO!

p.

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in American Slavery, Athlete, Black Man Speaks, Football, Micheal, Negrophile, NFL, Opinion, Personal, Personality, VIck Tags: 60 Minutes, Dog Fight, Eagles, Interview, Micheal Vick, NFL, Reactions

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Good Morning World!

A friend sent me this note about the Poet scheduled for Obama’s inauguration next month. (Learn more about  Elizabeth Alexander.)

In her note she shared with me how Maya’s poem at the inauguration of Clinton’s first term would have been appropriate for this time around and how ahead of its time Maya’s poem was, in light of the historic nature and significance of this government elect…

Here is an except of The Rock Cries Out To Us Today!, by Maya Angelou.  These words send chills through me when juxtapose to this pending occasion on Tuesday January 20th, 2009.

It is a New Day…

Good Morning World!

p.

I, the rock, I the river, I the tree
I am yours–your passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes,
Into your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Barak Obama, Literature, Obama, Poets, Politic, Presidential Inauguration, US Presidential Campaign Tags: Barak Obama, Elizabeth Alexander, Literature, Maya Angelou, Poetry, Presidential Inauguration, The Rock Cries Out To Us Today!

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Melvin Van Peeples

Melvin Van Peeples, originally uploaded by P.Yoruba.

This just ooze Koolness… He was at the Harlem Book Fair 2009 in NYC with his pal Amiri Baraka…

Other then these to Kool Kats, the Harlem Book Fair was a bust. 99.9% of o call authors and there books were just pitiful so called Street Literature.

Thank to C-Span for broadcasting the various panels that was going on inside the Schomburg Library where one can at least learn a thing or too…

Enough with the what I categorize as Stripper Lit, Hustler Lit, Pimp & Ho Lit and Get Money or Die Trying Lit. Get a damn blog and call it a day. How many good trees have been wasted to print these sorry books. I bet you reading these books is like inflicting damage to one’s brain cells.

Just Stop it!

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Uncategorized

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Who Cares About the Death of Black Radio?

Who Cares About the Death of Black Radio?

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Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Uncategorized

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First US Black President Does Not Have a Slave Master Name

It has just dawned on me that President Obama, who is visibly Black as the First USA President, does not carry a name like Jefferson, Jackson, Johnson, Washington etc. To simply put a White Slave Master’s Name.

It was weird how out of nowhere this string of thought pop up in my head. I found it a bit fascinating and tried to wrap my brain around this light bulb that just turned on. So I decided to process in hope of finding a meaning in this idea.

All can think of is that how our names were beating out us a la Kunta Kinte during slavery. How we were branded, killed and terrorized badly enough so we forget our Names. The trauma suffered, hunt us still to this very day. And God knows how much many of us have struggled to overcome this stigma. The sense of being nameless and lost hence belong to no one and nothing.

Many who were intuitive enough to sense what was waiting on the other side of the Atlantic chose their fate and willingly jumped, others starved themselves to death taken with them their Name. Intact.  

I may be over dramatic about this and making a big deal out of nothing but I could not help but find the irony and yet another profound meaning in the presidency of Barak Hussein Obama. The leader of the free world and yes he is Black.

This is an event that most had thought they would never live to witness and yet it is here and not only there is Black President in the White House, his name is OBAMA, an AFRICAN NAME. How Wonderful is that?

 Peace,

philippe

Posted by Philippe Loves Cities in Africa, African, American Slavery, Barak, Barak Obama, Middle Passage, Obama, Opinion, Slave Trade, US Presidency, US President, US Presidential Campaign Tags: Africa, African Diaspora, African Name, African-American, Barak, Black, Obama, US Presidency

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