I watched the documentary STAND by Tavis Smiley. It featured Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Tavis Smiley, BeBe Winans, Dick Gregory, and a few other black men that are part of Tavis' intellectual circle. They discuss President Obama, black men in America, responsibility, music, the black church, and Dr. King's legacy.
It was very interesting. I was amazed to see my alma mater FISK University highlighted in the documentary. Apparently, it is the place where Dr. Cornel West parents met. They also discussed my school's famed Jubilee Singers and the significance of negro spirituals.
Make sure to catch it the next time it airs. I would love to know your thoughts on the documentary.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Booksigning at Precious Memories Bookstore in Richmond, VA...
Hey everyone,
I am so very excited about the love and continued support of my book, "Hiding In Hip Hop." Thank you for sharing it with your friends, family members, co-workers, and colleagues.
I have been invited to Richmond, VA by the wonderful people of Readers With Attitude Book Club for a book reading and signing.
If you live in Richmond, or you have friends, family members, or anyone you know who lives in the area please come out and show your love. I would love to meet with you, talk, laugh, and sign your books!
The signing and discussion will take place at:
Precious Memories Bookstore
3229 Idlewood Ave
Richmond, VA 23221
When: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Time: 2:30PM
Phone: 804-263-0024
I hope you can make it and I look forward to meeting you!!
Peace and love ~
I am so very excited about the love and continued support of my book, "Hiding In Hip Hop." Thank you for sharing it with your friends, family members, co-workers, and colleagues.
I have been invited to Richmond, VA by the wonderful people of Readers With Attitude Book Club for a book reading and signing.
If you live in Richmond, or you have friends, family members, or anyone you know who lives in the area please come out and show your love. I would love to meet with you, talk, laugh, and sign your books!
The signing and discussion will take place at:
Precious Memories Bookstore
3229 Idlewood Ave
Richmond, VA 23221
When: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Time: 2:30PM
Phone: 804-263-0024
I hope you can make it and I look forward to meeting you!!
Peace and love ~
Book Publishing Seminar in Brooklyn, NY...
What's Up, Everyone?
There's a book publishing seminar coming your way for those in the NYC area. My good friend Byron Hurt forwarded me information on his colleague JLove Calderon who is continuing her seminar series and the next installment THIS WEDNESDAY, May 13 (details are below). Sorry for the last minute notice but if you say that you got this news from "B. Hurt," then you'll get a discount off the fee.
Peace.
B. Hurt
www.bhurt.com
author, educator, activist
JLOVE CALDERON
presents
Book Publishing Seminar Series #3
"How Do I Get A Book Deal?"
featuring highly resepected publisher
RICHARD NASH
(formerly of Soft Skull)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(the exact location will be given to those who register)
Hear a Publisher's Perspective on What You REALLY Need to Get That Book Deal! Learn What Publishers Think, PLUS Get The Answers To These Questions:
How To Stand Out from the Crowd of First-Time Authors? • Should You Get An Agent? • What Goes In a Great Book Proposal? • How Do I Perfect My Pitch? • How Do I Determine the RIGHT Publisher for ME? • Should I Self-Publish? • What Are the Pro's & Cons of Going with a Small, Medium, or Big Publishing House?
REGISTRATION INFO:
Seats are limited, so register TODAY
B. Hurt Special: $100 (if you mention "B. Hurt")
Sign Up Via Email: jlove@jlovecalderon.com
TWO WAYS TO PAY:
Pay NOW via PayPal
or
Mail Payments to
1+1+1=ONE
190 N. 10th Street, Suite 303 • Brooklyn, NY 11211
(make checks payable to Jennifer Calderon)
Questions? Contact JLove Calderon at 917.753.0186 or send
email to jlove@jlovecalderon.com. Visit www.jlovecalderon.com
This book publishing seminar series created and produced by JLove Calderon.
Richard Nash is an independent publishing consultant who ran the iconic indie press Soft Skull, and was awarded the Association of American Publishers Miriam Bass Award for Creativity in Independent Publishing. Publishing Weekly picked him as one of the ten editors to watch for in the coming decade.
JLove Calderon is an educator, activist, and author of three books: We Got Issues! A Young Women's Guide to Bold, Courageous and Empowered Life with Rha Goddess; That White Girl; and Conscious Women Rock the Page! Using Hip-Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change with Black Artemis, E-Fierce, and Marcella Runell Hall. Her fourth book, Till The White Day Is Done: White Privilege, Hip-Hop, and Social Change, is scheduled for release in 2009.
As a freelance writer and published author, JLove has experienced the highs and lows of the miraculous journey called "getting published." From being on small publishing houses, to large ones, to being self published, JLove has learned immensely from a full range of publishing experiences. Her debut novel, That White Girl, has been optioned for film.
There's a book publishing seminar coming your way for those in the NYC area. My good friend Byron Hurt forwarded me information on his colleague JLove Calderon who is continuing her seminar series and the next installment THIS WEDNESDAY, May 13 (details are below). Sorry for the last minute notice but if you say that you got this news from "B. Hurt," then you'll get a discount off the fee.
Peace.
B. Hurt
www.bhurt.com
author, educator, activist
JLOVE CALDERON
presents
Book Publishing Seminar Series #3
"How Do I Get A Book Deal?"
featuring highly resepected publisher
RICHARD NASH
(formerly of Soft Skull)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(the exact location will be given to those who register)
Hear a Publisher's Perspective on What You REALLY Need to Get That Book Deal! Learn What Publishers Think, PLUS Get The Answers To These Questions:
How To Stand Out from the Crowd of First-Time Authors? • Should You Get An Agent? • What Goes In a Great Book Proposal? • How Do I Perfect My Pitch? • How Do I Determine the RIGHT Publisher for ME? • Should I Self-Publish? • What Are the Pro's & Cons of Going with a Small, Medium, or Big Publishing House?
REGISTRATION INFO:
Seats are limited, so register TODAY
B. Hurt Special: $100 (if you mention "B. Hurt")
Sign Up Via Email: jlove@jlovecalderon.com
TWO WAYS TO PAY:
Pay NOW via PayPal
or
Mail Payments to
1+1+1=ONE
190 N. 10th Street, Suite 303 • Brooklyn, NY 11211
(make checks payable to Jennifer Calderon)
Questions? Contact JLove Calderon at 917.753.0186 or send
email to jlove@jlovecalderon.com. Visit www.jlovecalderon.com
This book publishing seminar series created and produced by JLove Calderon.
Richard Nash is an independent publishing consultant who ran the iconic indie press Soft Skull, and was awarded the Association of American Publishers Miriam Bass Award for Creativity in Independent Publishing. Publishing Weekly picked him as one of the ten editors to watch for in the coming decade.
JLove Calderon is an educator, activist, and author of three books: We Got Issues! A Young Women's Guide to Bold, Courageous and Empowered Life with Rha Goddess; That White Girl; and Conscious Women Rock the Page! Using Hip-Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change with Black Artemis, E-Fierce, and Marcella Runell Hall. Her fourth book, Till The White Day Is Done: White Privilege, Hip-Hop, and Social Change, is scheduled for release in 2009.
As a freelance writer and published author, JLove has experienced the highs and lows of the miraculous journey called "getting published." From being on small publishing houses, to large ones, to being self published, JLove has learned immensely from a full range of publishing experiences. Her debut novel, That White Girl, has been optioned for film.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, Now Names Can Kill You Too...
My heart sank when I heard the tragic news about Calvin Walker-Hoover, an 11-year old from Springfield, Mass., who committed suicide because he was bullied by classmates that called him gay. I felt for his mother who intervened and actively sought support from school administrators to stop the namecalling, but to no avail.
No less than two weeks later, another 11-year old boy, Jaheem Herrera, in Atlanta also committed suicide because he was taunted and bullied by his classmates who called him gay. This is absolutely absurd. What is going on in our schools and with young people today? Are we really a society that has spun out of control and become that insensitive toward our youth?
Honestly, I can't blame the young people because many of them don't know any better. They don't understand the meaning of the words "gay'" and "fag" and are only emulating adults who throw these hurtful and sometimes harmful words around casually.
I remember when I was young, me and my friends used those words to describe other boys. I never really understood what a fag or gay was because no one ever educated me. I heard adults whisper these verbal assaults about neighborhood men without explanation. As young boys we simply created our own definition of their meaning, which meant you had to follow the crowd. You had to agree on everything and have shared interests which included Kung Fu, play fighting, baseball and basketball. If you didn't share our ideaology, or have anything in common with us then you were outed or possibly ousted from our clique.
Today, many young men preface their conversations with "No homo" as if to exonerate themselves of any guilty association with homosexuality. So, it's customary for a young man to use extreme precaution when commenting on another's personal style with a macho disclaimer: "No homo, but I like your shoes." Newsflash: admiring another man's shoes or jeans does not make one homosexual.
When you look at the heart-wrenching stories of Calvin and Jaheem, these boys were harassed based on an assertion by their attacker's miseducation. Calvin was called gay and teased because of his attire, attending church regularly with his mom and volunteering locally. In Jaheem's case, he was deemed a snitch and gay, which his peers probably equated his snitching with being gay. We all know that in the 'hood, there is an absurd and asinine notion that if you report or recount someone's unfavorable or unlawful actions, you are indeed a bitch-ass weakling.
So, let's evaluate Calvin's situation. Can a young child be called gay because of the way he dresses? I am certain Calvin's mom, like many mothers, worked hard to dress her child in clean clothes so her son would be presentable when he attended school. I seriously doubt that she was shopping in the girls section for an outfit for him. And because a boy is raised by a loving mother who is a devoted Christian and wants him to be a productive citizen is he too a punk? Isn't that what every parent wants: a child who is a law abiding citizen, respectful of others and makes a positive contributes to the world positively.
Unfortunately, we have failed our children by not educating them on what the terms gay or LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) mean, and helping them to understand the dangers of bullying. Name-calling and threatening others can prove harmful and in most cases it is considered a hate crime. Yes people, calling someone gay and harassing them is a hate crime.
In the mortal words of Bill Cosby: "Come on people! We've got to do better."
For the sake of our young boys and men, let's redefine manhood, masculinity, and sexuality. Just because a young boy does not display mannerisms of grabbing his crotch, speaking in slang, wearing his pants low enough to expose his ass, and harassing young women does not make him gay. I have lots of male friends, who like plenty of males, have been raised in a single-parent home by their mothers. Sometimes these same males occassionally display effeminate mannerisms, but again, that doesn't make them gay. It's fairly normal for a child to mimic his or her parents because everything is learned behavior. Therefore, there's a great chance that a young boy raised by his mom might inherit some of her characteristics.
And another thing, not every male is into sports. That's a myth in our community that all boys want to showcase athletic prowess. We are a diverse people with equally diverse interests. If your son is creative, then support his creativity because you never know what brilliant genius you might be nurturing. And stop telling your sons that boys don't cry because it's a sign of weakness--translation he's a punk, soft, or a sissy. Real men do cry. Young boys are taught not to emote feelings: suck it up and keep it moving. Can you imagine how stifling that is to us? Instead of allowing ourselves to feel, we internalize the pain and hurt because we are too afraid to express our innermost feelings. All those bottled-up emotions causes us to become angry and hostile, and eventually we shutdown. Congratulations you've now homegrown the guarded, emotionally detached and poor communicator of a man that many women complain about.
If only their schools had intervened and had an open discussion and educated the student body, perhaps Calvin and Jahem would still be living life sharing laughs and not their silent tears and blood with their classmates. Let's not let their deaths be in vain and work together for the sake of the future of our children and community. Who cares who's gay or not? It's about teaching tolerance and respecting one another despite our differences. Sure you don't have to agree with someone's lifestyle, sexual orientation, culture, or religious beliefs, however, we live in a diverse world with diverse people. If you want your child to be able to function, live, and be productive in this world then you must be willing to empower your child with proper information about the real world and life.
Again, if you are unclear about something investigate, research, and ask someone. Once you're informed, show your child some love by sitting him or her down and educating them about how they can coexist in this diverse world without exercising hate and intolerance that might eventually cause the senseless harm or death of any human being.
To become better informed about LGBT people and issues you can visit the National Black Justice Coalition at www.nbjcoalition.org; Human Rights Campaign at www.hrc.org; or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation at www.glaad.org.
Now that you are informed you can sit down and educate your child.
No less than two weeks later, another 11-year old boy, Jaheem Herrera, in Atlanta also committed suicide because he was taunted and bullied by his classmates who called him gay. This is absolutely absurd. What is going on in our schools and with young people today? Are we really a society that has spun out of control and become that insensitive toward our youth?
Honestly, I can't blame the young people because many of them don't know any better. They don't understand the meaning of the words "gay'" and "fag" and are only emulating adults who throw these hurtful and sometimes harmful words around casually.
I remember when I was young, me and my friends used those words to describe other boys. I never really understood what a fag or gay was because no one ever educated me. I heard adults whisper these verbal assaults about neighborhood men without explanation. As young boys we simply created our own definition of their meaning, which meant you had to follow the crowd. You had to agree on everything and have shared interests which included Kung Fu, play fighting, baseball and basketball. If you didn't share our ideaology, or have anything in common with us then you were outed or possibly ousted from our clique.
Today, many young men preface their conversations with "No homo" as if to exonerate themselves of any guilty association with homosexuality. So, it's customary for a young man to use extreme precaution when commenting on another's personal style with a macho disclaimer: "No homo, but I like your shoes." Newsflash: admiring another man's shoes or jeans does not make one homosexual.
When you look at the heart-wrenching stories of Calvin and Jaheem, these boys were harassed based on an assertion by their attacker's miseducation. Calvin was called gay and teased because of his attire, attending church regularly with his mom and volunteering locally. In Jaheem's case, he was deemed a snitch and gay, which his peers probably equated his snitching with being gay. We all know that in the 'hood, there is an absurd and asinine notion that if you report or recount someone's unfavorable or unlawful actions, you are indeed a bitch-ass weakling.
So, let's evaluate Calvin's situation. Can a young child be called gay because of the way he dresses? I am certain Calvin's mom, like many mothers, worked hard to dress her child in clean clothes so her son would be presentable when he attended school. I seriously doubt that she was shopping in the girls section for an outfit for him. And because a boy is raised by a loving mother who is a devoted Christian and wants him to be a productive citizen is he too a punk? Isn't that what every parent wants: a child who is a law abiding citizen, respectful of others and makes a positive contributes to the world positively.
Unfortunately, we have failed our children by not educating them on what the terms gay or LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) mean, and helping them to understand the dangers of bullying. Name-calling and threatening others can prove harmful and in most cases it is considered a hate crime. Yes people, calling someone gay and harassing them is a hate crime.
In the mortal words of Bill Cosby: "Come on people! We've got to do better."
For the sake of our young boys and men, let's redefine manhood, masculinity, and sexuality. Just because a young boy does not display mannerisms of grabbing his crotch, speaking in slang, wearing his pants low enough to expose his ass, and harassing young women does not make him gay. I have lots of male friends, who like plenty of males, have been raised in a single-parent home by their mothers. Sometimes these same males occassionally display effeminate mannerisms, but again, that doesn't make them gay. It's fairly normal for a child to mimic his or her parents because everything is learned behavior. Therefore, there's a great chance that a young boy raised by his mom might inherit some of her characteristics.
And another thing, not every male is into sports. That's a myth in our community that all boys want to showcase athletic prowess. We are a diverse people with equally diverse interests. If your son is creative, then support his creativity because you never know what brilliant genius you might be nurturing. And stop telling your sons that boys don't cry because it's a sign of weakness--translation he's a punk, soft, or a sissy. Real men do cry. Young boys are taught not to emote feelings: suck it up and keep it moving. Can you imagine how stifling that is to us? Instead of allowing ourselves to feel, we internalize the pain and hurt because we are too afraid to express our innermost feelings. All those bottled-up emotions causes us to become angry and hostile, and eventually we shutdown. Congratulations you've now homegrown the guarded, emotionally detached and poor communicator of a man that many women complain about.
If only their schools had intervened and had an open discussion and educated the student body, perhaps Calvin and Jahem would still be living life sharing laughs and not their silent tears and blood with their classmates. Let's not let their deaths be in vain and work together for the sake of the future of our children and community. Who cares who's gay or not? It's about teaching tolerance and respecting one another despite our differences. Sure you don't have to agree with someone's lifestyle, sexual orientation, culture, or religious beliefs, however, we live in a diverse world with diverse people. If you want your child to be able to function, live, and be productive in this world then you must be willing to empower your child with proper information about the real world and life.
Again, if you are unclear about something investigate, research, and ask someone. Once you're informed, show your child some love by sitting him or her down and educating them about how they can coexist in this diverse world without exercising hate and intolerance that might eventually cause the senseless harm or death of any human being.
To become better informed about LGBT people and issues you can visit the National Black Justice Coalition at www.nbjcoalition.org; Human Rights Campaign at www.hrc.org; or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation at www.glaad.org.
Now that you are informed you can sit down and educate your child.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Do You Know What Your Credit Rating Is?
One of my good friends, Terrell King, has started his own company that helps individuals to repair poor credit ratings, as well as help those with fair credit and those who wish to maintain a great credit rating.
During these financially challenging times we all should be concerned with our credit scores and making sure we are able to get credit to purchase homes, autos, and get loans from big banks.
If you are uncertain about your credit score, or you want to improve your credit rating, check out Terrell King at www.ezcreditcorrect.com
During these financially challenging times we all should be concerned with our credit scores and making sure we are able to get credit to purchase homes, autos, and get loans from big banks.
If you are uncertain about your credit score, or you want to improve your credit rating, check out Terrell King at www.ezcreditcorrect.com
Check out Douglas Powell with Creating Revenue...
Companies going under, the government spending billions of dollars to keep many of them in business, who is helping you? So many of us in these troubled financial times wish we had an alternative to our main source of income, wondering what we can do to add to our income on a regular basis without taking time away from our main source of income. Well the Internet has just those opportunities. If you need to know the truth about what is real and works, I have done the research, and I have put into practice what works, and I am telling the secrets that many people making real money from Internet marketing are keeping to themselves. You can make a little extra money or you can replace your full time income, the choice is yours. Get a free sample of these secrets by visiting www.creatingrevenue.com, and begin your journey towards a new and more financially rewarding life.
For more free information on how to create income on line using social marketing visit: www.douglaspowell.blogspot.com
www.creatingrevenue.com
For more free information on how to create income on line using social marketing visit: www.douglaspowell.blogspot.com
www.creatingrevenue.com
Monday, May 4, 2009
One Of The Dopest Female Emcee's...
One of my best friends, Toni Blackman, is a lyrical genius. She's brilliant, smart, and socially conscious when it comes to rhyming.
I've known Toni since 1993 when I interned at CNN in Washington, DC. She had just graduated from Howard University and was HUGE in the DC area.
Many years later, she is Hip Hop Ambassador for the United Nations! That is dope....what other emcee you know holds that title?
If you are in the NYC area, definitely check her out:
651 ARTS & boomBOOM present
Toni Blackman’s Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador
In this work-in-progress, Toni Blackman examines the power of hip-hop, music and poetry to inspire personal and social change around the globe.
BRICstudio, 57 Rockwell Place (between Fulton and DeKalb), BKLYN
Tix: $7 at the door or www.SmartTix.com
More info at: www.651ARTS.org ● www.boomBOOMnyc.com
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