Rap - Homophobia: Say What?

Prefer your rap minus the homophobia? Well, use the following link to find a list of queer rap artists.  It's nice to have variety, wouldn't you say?

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/16/10_queer_rappers_you_should_be_listening_to_instead_of_eminem/

Warning: Just because the artists fall in the queer continuum, doesn't mean that they are any less sexist, racist, specieism or classist. 

Black Feminists: Won't You Be My Neighbor?

One of my neighbors learned recently that I adopted two 22 year old black men who are living with me.  I mentioned that my second "child," who just moved in had to adjust to so many things as I am vegan and a feminist.

She sent me a thoughtful and lengthy email, which included a video link to a discussion about Black Feminists.  I think she was concerned and confused.  Below this is part of the email I wrote her after painfully listening to the hour long video.  Please let me know what you think.

The video she sent me is: http://youtu.be/8mJMjIHmsZ8
Quote from the Tariq Nasheed:
"You are a black woman, but you are a feminist."

Please brace yourself before you watch it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portion of the email I sent her:

I had a difficult time listening to Tariq as he started his show being verbally abusive towards a woman and perpetuated misogynistic perspectives from a "Man up" lens.

Feminism is not about men and women treating each other badly.  Feminism, as you know, is about the strive for equality for both men and women on an institutional, interpersonal and internalized level.  Domestic and Dating Violence or simply unhealthy relationships is only one part of the issue.  Tony Porter does a great job speaking about DV. He speaks eloquently about these issues and helped open my eyes to learning about how race impacts dating violence.   Please check him out using this link:   http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tony+porter&oq=tony+porter&gs_l=youtube.3..35i39j0i5.339606.341252.0.341417.11.11.0.0.0.0.116.752.10j1.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.2SN93NHZwp4

I do appreciate Tariq's ability to stay neutral with his callers as well as challenge them to think more critically about the issues.  He clearly is interested in helping people, and that is commendable.  However, I find his sexist language unchecked and sometimes quite offensive. 

To my mind, he is certainly doing good work on race relations, but I imagine he can think more about the sexist and heterosexism and transphobic paradigm he continues to perpetuate unintentionally.  Feminism is not about being less of a man, but being more.  I don't wear dresses or kilts and I have not asked my boys to do the same.  What I do is ask them to do is reconsider what it means to be a man. 

Being a feminist is not about being feminine, gay or simply standing up for women.  Being a feminist is about standing up for human rights.  Many of Tariq's underlying themes relate to social justice and equality.  So, I would submit that if Tariq learned more about feminism, sexual orientation (hetero and homo- sexualities), he would probably be a more effective leader.  He might even identify as a feminist, like President Obama does.  Based on this link, it appears he is in denial of his homophobia and transphobia.  He labeled a perspective as a lesbian perspective, when that is not the case.  He continues to say "sexual preference" when it is "sexual orientation."  These are some examples of why I think he could do well to learn a little more about LGBT issues as well as what the true meaning of feminism.

Tariq said, "Black feminism is an oxymoron."  I don't understand what he means.  He is misinformed, albeit well intentioned.  I hope he continues, as I have, to learn about social justice and the ways pop culture portrays feminism,  and racism in juxtaposition with actual feminism and racism.  A black feminist is a man or woman or child who identifies as black and is interested in equal rights for all people.  It used to be that a feminist was only interested in creating equal rights for men and women, but that was a long time ago.  Feminism is about equal rights for all.

I so appreciate you sharing this video/link with me as it helped me think through more of the positions people take when they have only part of the story.  I look forward to seeing how Tariq continues in his journey of helping people, as his heart and spirit is certainly well intentioned and we need more people like him.

And, you probably already know this, but I have found that many people confuse feminism and being

feminine.  Feminism, as previously discussed is a movement for equality for all, (though many defnitions still incorrectly state that it is in particular for women). 

Being feminine is different.  Femininity is about the traits generally associated with being a woman or a girl including roles and behaviors.  Of course, some men and women are feminine, but that doesn't mean they are feminists and vice versa.  Some feminists have long hair, wear dresses, make up and the like, while many, especially the men, don't. 

I think of it in this way.  Feminist = Equality while Feminine = Dress Up.  Some people who fight for equality do dress up, but not all.  Some people who dress up fight for equality, but not all.  AND many men who are feminists are quite masculine and butch.  And of course, a few women who are feminists can be masculine and butch as well.

Please check out the following videos about Feminism, Race and Masculinity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7woNwM4_J8 - Condoleezza Rice: My Father was  Feminist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YA13GNT8Mc  - This is What a Feminist Looks Like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc - We Should All Be Feminists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOQZqCGHctE - I Am a Man: Black Masculinity in America

http://www.itvs.org/films/hip-hop - Intro to Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKq0MwnMGcU&list=PLCC77DC92A01D4A41 - Gloria Steinem Supports President Obama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3exzMPT4nGI - Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity

Can You See Me Now?

I entered the D train to head into Manhattan for some dancing and fun.  As I checked the subway map, I accidentally bumped into the person behind me.  I didn't see him there, so I apologized.  He nodded a polite smile at me.  When I sat down, I  realized he was standing in the same spot while holding a cardboard sign.  He wore a grey tshirt with the American flag on it and what appeared to be a heavy bag on his back.  He cleared his throat as if it had been dry for years except for the bitter tears that sometimes trickled in by accident.  Looking at the passengers on the train, he apologized for interrupting and intruding on his fellow citizens' time.  He continued to speak, though I could hardly hear him through the headphones tucked neatly into my freshly showered ears.  I watched his lips and body move.  He expressed himself humbly with intent on asking for the generosity of strangers.  

As he spoke, I watched the various subway riders in the car. There were about 25 people, excluding me, looking down at their phones, books or feet.  It felt as though the severity of his case was too heavy for people to lift their eyes to gaze upon him, but  I looked.  

His face appeared kind and sunken.  The stubble on his face were sparse and spaced apart like the luck he had seen in his life.  The tight curls of his dark hair clung closely to his scalp like the way a child clusters close to his family.  His smile seemed genuine though forced through hours, days, weeks or years of hardship.  

I felt moved to want to hear what he had to say, so I removed one of my ear buds and lowered the volume of the bubbly music I chose for this subway ride.  I caught one line out of his short plea.  He said, " I've been walking for miles today trying to get some money to buy food and thought I might have better luck on the train." He then thanked us and scanned the train for some activity of generosity.  A woman in the middle of the car wrestled in her bright red Prada bag for something.  

With hope in his eyes, he continued to do what he had been doing all day and walked with a slight limp over to his benefactor. His shifty gait made me look at his legs and then his feet.  On his feet he wore grey sneakers which looked like they were once white, but that was only once upon a time, a long time ago and in a land far far away.  By the time his hobbled walk led him to her, she pulled out a can of soda which he quickly put in his pocket and then put his hands together, as if in prayer, and thanked her.  He took one more scan around the train and exited the car at the next station.  

And although I made eye contact with him but only twice within a few minutes, this man reminded me of all the times when I would ignore folks asking for money and avert my eyes.  

I got off the train and I felt sad. My heart ached for the rest of that evening recognizing the privilege I have to own my own home, have a good and stable job, and have people I can turn to regularly for support.  I thought about him all night while I was dancing.  I felt helpless thinking about him as he was probably limping along in his journey like many folks do who aren't privileged enough to even be seen.  

So, I make this ask.  Please join me in making eye contact with folks who ask for money and food.  Even for a brief second, people need to be seen. 

Innovation

In thinking about the shift in our culture in the last hundred years, I was curious as to what emerging themes helped create change.  Doing a short research via the internet, I found a great short clip about innovation.  This video offers seven questions that foster innovation.  The seven questions are:

1. What can we imagine?
2. What can we look at differently?
3. What can we use differently?
4. What can we move?
5. What can we interconnect?
6. What can we alter?
7. What can we make?

Check out this short clip.

Feminists in the South Bronx

Yesterday, I had the great fortune to work with two tenth grade classes at University Heights High School, located in Mott Haven section of the Bronx.  We talked about gender stereotypes, the power of language and ways in which we can shift our own culture to truly recognize all of us as equal participants in this world.

I was inspired by these young feminists and look forward to working with them again!

Below is a picture of us outside of the “red trailer.”

The Sticker and the Feminist

Hi there. 

 

Meet Ali. 

He owns a gas station and garage in Yonkers by the Cross County Mall.  I visited him last week as my car needed its NYS inspection done. 

While there, I noticed a white lanky guy in his  20s waiting for his car, which was being worked on in the dock.  On the back of his car was an offensive sticker (see below). 

The irony was not lost on me.  Ali, the mechanic working on both our cars, is Muslim. 

 

As a feminist, I can’t help but to notice these things on a regular basis.  The problem is I don’t  always know what to do.  Should I approach the owner of the car and ask him about his sticker?  Should I tell him I am offended?  If I did, would that offer any valuable impact or result?

I decided to make mention to Ali in private that bumper stickers are pretty interesting.  He then took a look at my “Proud to be a Feminist” sticker, and then glanced over to the other car.  His eyes locked on the anti-mosque sticker and smiled.

After a few moments, he asked the young man what was the meaning behind that sticker.  The young man turned bright red and said it was nothing.  “It’s just a joke” he added.  Ali asked the young man how he would feel about an anti-church sticker.  He asked him if that would be funny.

The young man sheepishly grinned and said, “No.”

At the register, Ali thanked me for bringing his attention to the sticker.  He had known this young man for over 14 years, “…since before 9/11.”  He told me that just after 9/11 his gas station (in Yorktown Heights) was trashed by several drunk white men screaming that they were protecting “their” country.  He added that he shared this information with this young man, when they were both much younger, and the blond white lanky boy shook his head because he couldn’t understand why people were so hateful.

As our conversation ended, I was grateful that my car passed inspection.  I paid my bill and drove off to the Bronx imagining, or hoping, that Ali and this young man will now have more conscious dialogue about the effects of racism, all because of a sticker and a feminist.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Dark Skin ≠ Looking Suspicious

Photo from A. Reyes-Evans

Tomorrow, at 9:30 AM, there will be a rally held in Mamaroneck.  Check below for info and join in the justice!

From Facebook:
"Dark Skin ≠ Looking Suspicious but Mamaroneck police seemed to think otherwise. Luis Quiros, local activist, community organizer, educator, and author, was considered "suspicious", harassedm and arrested--for sitting in his car in front of his home? Please see the above link for more details a...bout Luis's experience."

"IN RESPONSE, we will be showing up for his court date. It will be Feb. 28 9:30 at 169 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543."

"This will be a peaceful and nonviolent rally. We will be holding signs with messages like, "Dark Skin ≠ Looking Suspicious" and "Dissent is Patriotic" etc."

"PLEASE JOIN US & INVITE OTHERS!"

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/432178113525162/

A Shot in the Heart!

Today, I visited a friend on the upper west side of Manhattan.  We walked and talked about the various cool things NY had to offer as well as matters of the heart.

As we continued our journey, we found a great restaurant called the PeaceFood Cafe.  There, we ordered sandwiches and aweome Chic Pea Fries!  Yum!

At PeaceFood Cafe, all of the delicious foods are animal and animal secretions free!  Yup.  Everything on the menu was vegan and very good, in all aspects of the word.  So not only did the food taste great, but it was good for the heart!

My favorite person who speaks volumes on vegan issues, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau recently posted on FB a heartfelt message.  It read, "We tend to indulge in rich, decadent, animal-based foods when we dine with our beloved on Valentine’s Day. Ironically, the heart, the symbol of this romantic holiday, is the organ we stop from beating in animals, whose flesh and secretions we then then serve to loved ones, which in turn hinders the blood flowing to our own hearts. For the sake of our loved ones, our health, and the animals, choose life-giving rather than life-taking foods."

My friend and I parted after our scrumptious meal, and I headed to the subway.  There, I started to think more about the foods I eat and the reasons why I am a vegan.  I think choosing to be vegan was the best choice I ever made, however staying vegan sometimes gets difficult.  Today, it was easy. 

So when I got home, I decided to jump start the compassion in my heart by watching a few videos on youtube about veganism.  My heart skipped a beat when I found an interesting video about building muscle as a vegan starring Noel Polanco, a vegan male fitness model (see below).

In his video, he describes his typical breakfast and dinner as well as offers a sample of his workout routine.  You might want to check him out below as well as like his page on FB.

My heart is now racing, and probably beating a little healthier after a great day visiting with a friend, dining at a great restaurant and feeding my soul with the awesome choices I make to stay on the vegan path.

May joy fill your heart so that you can love more deeply.

Happy Valentine's Week!

Victoria's Secret Exposed - Just in Time for Valentine's Day!

The snow is falling in NY today and that might cut into some holiday shopping with Valentine's just a few days away.  Many people shop for various gifts during this time of year for their partners.  Many people go for the flowers, chocolate and jewlery, while other people go as far as to buy expensive underwear from high priced stores like Victoria's Secret. 



Well, have you ever wanted to really get to know a Victoria Secret Model?  Perhaps you have been itching to know the truth behind the camera? 

Well, you are in luck! 

Cameron Russell, underwear model, answers typical questions models are asked.  She does this in a thoughtful, humble, and honest way.  Please enjoy her reveal.

Mass Media Messages Through Gaming

Happy New Year and Cheers to you and yours!

This holiday season I shifted gears and bought a television into my home. Since then, my son and I have enjoyed hours of Netflix and video games!

On Netflix, we have been watching Cheers, the 1982 sitcom that takes place in a bar in Boston.

We finished the first season yesterday and we were both very much satisfied with it. It was funny and provocative.

Within the first season, Cheers had episodes on marriage, feminism, masculinity, racism, dating, homophobia and alcoholism. Thirty years later, theses issues are still important to discuss in mainstream media.





On our PS3, we have been playing Star Wars Legos together, and we are about 70% of the way done.

When I am working on my computer, I sometimes look over at him playing Resident Evil 5, and I can't help but to wonder how race and gender play out in video games.

In Resident Evil, the main character, who is a man, appears as muscular and the second character, who is a woman, is scantily clad, and both of whom are light-skinned.

You might notice in the poster that the male character is facing forward.  This is a typical stance for men in ads.  Please also notice the female character is facing to the side, but her body is facing backwards.  And more to the point, her butt is facing forwards in an enticing (vs. menacing) stance.

In Star Wars Legos, most of the characters are male with only a few female characters sprinkled in. When the game first starts, the characters that are automatically selected for both controllers are always male and light-skinned.

You can see the cover of the video game here with 9 male characters displayed and one female character.  All of the human characters that are not masked are presumably white. The one female takes centerstage with her right eye winking, her lips kissing, and her outfit ready to entice!

These are just my observations on two games in my own home. However, I am not alone in this discovery.  Below is a video put together by Feminist Frequency: Anita Sarkeesian.  She has compiled characters from video games and made some interesting discoveries.   
 
Please watch the video to learn about how she is discovering the tropes in videogames and what you can do to support her work.

BTW, tropes = a theme.