Friday, July 12 Hope all went well, Ryan. Or, good luck, if still applicable. posted by Shayne F @ 11:18 PM [ e : w ]
Good Luck Ryan ... posted by Antonio Gaskin @ 3:12 PM [ e : w ]
Thursday, July 11 Good Luck Ryan!!! posted by Kenyon Farrow @ 10:06 PM [ e : w ]
Wish me luck everyone! i have two job interviews tomorrow (one for a director's assistant position at the mount sinai sexual assault and domestic violence program {mssm.edu/SAVI} the other--an admin asst job at The Picower Foundation) im so siked.... :) oh yeah and i get paid tomorrow..how cool is that?!?!?! Ryan posted by Ryan Canty @ 2:46 PM [ e : w ]
Wednesday, July 10 I spent the day which celebrates 200+ years of American imperialism (particularly this year, given the superpatriotism that is in over abundance), reading Assata Shakur's autobiography, listening to my favorite roots reggae records (Third World, Steel Pulse, and of coure, the Marleys) and sweating my ass off in my 3rd floor walkup with no A/C. Reading her words, and her struggle really made me wonder what this celebration had to do with me. What reason, would Assata, now in exile in Cuba, have to celebrate the 4th of July?
A friend called, and we got to talking. She told me that Fredrick Douglass once said, "What does the 4th of July mean to the slave?"
What this did for me was to renew my commitment to struggle against white supremacy, classism, patriarchy. For the 4th of July has not meant my independence, and I would argue all People of Color (and any poor people) in America have no day of independence to celebrate for we are not independent of this dominant society in any way that is tangible.
Lastly, a week after our celebration of Independence, and seeing the young man in LA thrown around like a rag doll by the Police in Englewood, CA brought me back to Douglass' question: What does the 4th of July mean to the slave? posted by Kenyon Farrow @ 11:16 PM [ e : w ]
Tuesday, July 9 Funny thing. During the Weekend O' Fireworks, I really wasn't looking. This weekend, the first in July, is always the time for my family reunion. So I travelled down there and enjoyed the festivities.
My spirit is rejuvenated. I guess I have developed a new-found appreciation for my natural family, warts, bunyons, scars and all. I realize that people often have to create their own families in a patchwork style after having been dealt some not-so-lovely cards. Although my second family is composed of my deep friendships, the few and the distant, I can also rely on the ready-made support unit I was born into. I am blessed to have a caring father with whom I can perform music with in front of the audience of my whole family. I have caring cousins that can share jokes and deep insight with me, while being genuine. It is pretty nice to observe the children of the family playing their games, saying those sweet little things that only children can say and being the voices of reason in awkward moments. Makes me think about having kids later--probably adoption or something.
It was nice being in a place where if someone asked about my hair, it wasn't out of curiosity fit for a museum. I didn't mind my family touching my locks and saying, "I've been wanting to do that all day!" I didn't have to maintain a position in a room full of shady strangers wait to be asked the trite question of, "So, are you a top or bottom?" I didn't have to explain my life story in a concise and alluring sentance. (Not that I ever do.) I didn't have to shield someone questioning my Africanness. I did not have to be suspicious of any complements. (Except maybe from visiting guests and friends, lol.) That is what comforts me about being with a group of people who know you a bit more than the average associate. And even though I am not totally out to all of my family--and that *is* only one line in my composition--I feel comfortable without having to make myself feel comfortable, like in other settings.
So this weekend was good. posted by Shayne F @ 8:26 PM [ e : w ]
