Thank you to My Black America  for sharing this news story with me:

Jamaica Gleaner News - Jamaica files slavery lawsuit against bank

It reminds me of what Deadira Farmer Paelleman's life mission which she has said on her myspace blurb here:

   "When I learned that trillion dollar corporations built their wealth off slavery, I had to do something about it. I initiated the Corporate Restitution Movement in 2000 demanding that the companies give back some of what they stole from enslaved people. Some companies have given back a total of $20 million. But they owe much more, and far more is needed. My goal is to create a trust fund to finance affordable housing, educational opportunities, economic development opportunities, and improved health care for slave descendants. Since 2000, I have been working full time without any pay doing this advocacy -- God has blessed me making this possible, so I'm just passing on the blessings." - from Deadria Farmer Paelleman's myspace page

Tonight please tune in to view the CNN Series, Black in America which examines what is life like for some people of African descent to live in America. I attempt to share what I can through this blog (and my others too)  but I am curious to see how CNN will examine this complex issue.

Washingtonpost.com article today from July 23, 2008 by Tom Shales

CNN's 'Black In America' Is An Expressive Portrait

Ordinary Stories Make An Extraordinary Series

Listen to the rhythm, listen to the rhyme. Listen to the clock tick tock the hands of time. Ticking, tocking, constantly revolving. Listen to the problems of the world that need solving. Listen to the child crying in the crib and listen to the sick act that the Daddy did. See Daddy turned his back on all of his responsibilities. Listen how Mummy copes to the best of her abilities. Listen to the cliche rapper that's bragging. Listen to the mother who is always nagging her son to get up and do something with his life. Listen to the vows when ya marrying ya wife. Listen to the scream of a mother giving birth. Listen to the sorrow of the Mother Earth. Listen to the beggarman begging in the street. Please can you spare some change so I can get some food to eat. Listen to the plight of the homeless and if you listen to the pessimist everything's hopeless. Listen to your heart, listen to your soul. Listen to your conscience, let it take control and just listen...

Listen...

Écoute la palombe, paisible dans le ciel. Écoute aussi la balle qui lui déchire les ailes. Qui est l'animal, l'oiseau ou le tireur. Ou celui qui vend l'arme, qui lui déchire le c½ur ? Écoute le dernier 'pff' d'un soldat inconnu. Écoute tomber les larmes d'une femme que l'on fait cocue. Écoute le consensus dans son entourage. Il était consciencieux quelle force et quel courage. Écoute plutôt le 'bzz' des ailes de l'abeille. Elle se fout du bizz, l'essentiel est le miel. Écoute aussi le 'pshit' que fait l'insecticide. Comme dans le monde actuel elle a choisi le génocide. Le Pen traîne sa haine malsaine. Écoute plutôt ton c½ur pas la flamme de la haine. Écoute plutôt le bon, pas la brute ou le truand. Écoute ce qui apaise. Écoute moi ce son.....

Écoute...

Listen to the fascists looking for your vote. Listen how he gets some with a scapegoat. He sees your tears and plays on your fears, 'till his promises become music to your ears. Écoute le clic-clac d'une paire de menottes. Le système est malade mais est-ce bien l'antidote ? Écoute la sirène qui file dans le domaine. La haine est la même, même dans ce domaine. Listen to the horrors my people saw. Listen to the politics of the gulf war. Place all the blame and name Hussein insane. Listen how he said 'two can play the same game'.

Listen...

Last.FM controlled by C.B.S have recently re-designed their platform. Most sites get re-designed to improve form or function in some way. Having just taken a look around at the new deisgn, they have managed to make the site worse than it was. It already looked cheap and dated but now they've managed to spend time and money making it look even more cheap, tacky and dated. Well done Last.FM, cash well wasted.

Let's just get this straight..

I am beyond tired but EXHAUSTED of *trying* to be civil with people in explaining kinky hair issues.

I have come to the conclusion that non kinky haired people will continue to ooh and ahh but then talk SMACK behind kinky haired people's backs because they do not understand kinky hair culture.

If you are so curious then why don't you educate yourself as to what kinky haired people go through.

Do you understand the plight of the daily struggles we go through with the stares of the OOHS of why did she do that to her hair? This is what I sometimes deal with about my hair. Hi, your hair is: [insert insult here]. I've been called a variety of things from black barbie doll to a delusional individual when I twisted my hair.

My own neighbor here in New York City put her hand in my hair not believing it was my hair. She thought I had a weave and she was shocked this is my hair.

Same thing happened when I was in the 6th grade. Kid could not believe that kinky hair could grow and he grabbed my head and pulled out a string of my hair. That hurt so bad and I will NEVER forget him doing that. But at that point I had a weave because my hair dresser F*ed up my hair using chemicals so that young kid did have some Korean nylon in his hands. However, when my own hair grew out people assumed I had a weave. NOT true! Kinky hair grows!

Please check out this video on Black American - Black Hair:

CNN Video - Black Hair

Here is some knowledge on kinky hair care:

http://cornrowsandco.com/company.cfm?companyID=2

There are plenty of blogs and websites on black hair issues but I found my best information by going to my various hair stylists who helped me learn how to manage my hair if I either wear it natural or if I have it chemically done.

Unfortunately, I had to cut and press (press = straighten my hair) my hair for an interview after I had been been wearing my hair natural for 8 years but I knew that this company I was dealing with was in a time warp for these were older white men who had made some comments to me about black women's hair essentially letting me know they did not like the braids, twists or locks but straight hair. I wanted to put a bag over my head after they said that for I wondered how they felt about me and my straight hair which was mine but I did not like wearing my hair straight. I wore it straight so I could get the position I had. I left after 9 months of chemically relaxing my hair. I went back to pressing my hair.

Now, I am loving my hair short. It was the best decision I ever made. I wear my hair with a relaxer in it because it is easier to manage this way but I am tempted to wear my hair naturally if I can get it shaped correctly. We will see.

For men to eat this meal, they will need 2 things. 1. A large crane and 2. A female. Get a female to make the dish as shown in the picture entitled 'english pasta' and then get someone to use the crane shown in the other picture to help move your lazy butt off the sofa and drop you at the dinning table so you can eat it. Simple.

Feels great not to have that drama in my life anymore.

I only joined because a family friend was on there but I was reunited with people I had not been in touch with for years.

Guess what?

Still does not matter to me that people I knew are not in touch because they can go through the school networks to find me. Further, I am listed so they can find me there too if it is really that serious but I doubt it. I usually am not bothered too much which is great.

I am so over facebook!

Personally, I am distressed of *trying* to support many artists with me buying their work but now I am absolutely flustered and upset by the lack of professionalism I am currently experiencing.

I ordered a book from a personal web store and paid with paypal for the item. It has now been a month without the item I have ordered. I have emailed the individual twice without any answers to my inquiry.

I know what to do now because this is a reason why I use the particular credit card I have but because of this incident I will NOT buy from personal webstores unless you are affiliated with a third party to intervene such as amazon.com or overstock.com, etc.

At this point, I do not even want the item but my money.

First I had issue with not receiving a music album from a music artist who lied and was not finished with the CD he claimed to be done with. I had pre-ordered a CD thinking I would get it in a month but that month ended up being a year later (I was DUMB to wait that long but I honestly wanted to see if I would receive the product. I did but I have no intentions of supporting that musician again. Further the individual said they were a graduate of Morehouse which was not true either).

In the instant case, this particular author said their book was done and now I see that may not be a truth either. My issue is with the person handling the webstore and not the author BUT if it is the author handling the webstore I am very surprised at your actions.

This needs to stop.

I still refuse to *pre-order* items but for someone to say their item is available and I still have not received it makes me extremely irritated.

I was a *supporter* of independent artists but now this support is being tested to the point that I don't even want to reach out like I have been doing.

Hire competent people to handle your web stores! Or allow a competent vendor to sell your work.
 
If not, NO sale from me.

Despite my current woes, I have to give a special shout out to Taalam Acey and hip hop artist Renaissance for quickly sending out my purchased items. These are the ONLY 2 artists I ordered from directly and I received the item within 3 days. I even used regular mail. I appreciate their professionalism. All of the independent artists should learn from them!