Browngirl Speaks

I. am. pissed!!! I’m watching the local news and one story is of a girl who gave birth in the bathroom of The Med. I’m already side eyein’ the TV. This 18 year old girl goes to The Med on Thursday having contractions. A nurse gets all of her information and proceeds to tell her there is no vacant bed for her.

Now let me interject with a bit of back story on The Med. This is basically the poor folks hospital. Now, I’m not implying that this girl is poor, but that they just don’t have a high standard for leaving folks with their dignity intact. Yes, I gave birth in this very facility because they also handle high risk pregnancies. That and traumas are their specialty. But, if you have no insurance and no money they will take you but in a “no, you go in around the back” kinda way. My birthing experience was not the most pleasant, but that’s a story for another day, maybe.

Anyway, so the young lady, a first time mother FYI, waits about 45 minutes when she feels the need to go to the ladies’ room. She feels the need to push and, naturally, does though she’s trying to stop because she can feel the baby’s head crowning. She’s on the f****** toilet! The baby girl is born and she calls for nurses to help her. What does a hospital spokesperson say? something like: nature has its own plans not like our typical standard of care. Please note that this is where I cocked my head to the side and crossed my eyes at the TV. I looked at the Mr. and said that is f***** up.

They interviewed the new mom and she didn’t seem angry. I’m sure her focus was on her new angel and being thankful it all worked out. So, I’m pissed for her because that is some bull****….

I’m so excited to see a release for The Secret Life of Bees. It’s been a long time coming for this film. I’m not as thrilled as I’d like to be about the cast but I can live with it. If you haven’t read the book–READ IT! Now, I have to cross off the days to October 17 like a kid waiting for Christmas…

I have seen many things in my life that I have deemed “the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen”. However, this is truly it. I got this in in an email form a close friend. It had been forwarded several times and some the messages read:

“Subject: Wow Wow Wow!!!”

“Wow…u will need tissue for this…..”

“A son asked his father, ‘Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?’
The father who, despite having a heart condition, says ‘Yes’. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join
other marathons, the father always saying ‘Yes’ to his son’s request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father,
‘Dad, let’s join the Ironman together’ to whi ch his father said, ‘Yes.’ For those who didn’t know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The
race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and
ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .
Father and son went on to complete the race together. Click here to view the video of the duo.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Now, normally I might not have watched, but I did this time. And normally, I would not need that tissue that every person who forwarded this message said I would need. But….

It was the swim portion of the race where I lost it. This has definitely reinvigorated my outlook on life. Peace.

these brothas…ahem…dance beautifully.

i know, i know—this seems to be a moot point these days. the two seem to be unified in a way that one requires the other to function at full capacity. and many are tired of the ongoing dialog on the issue. but that’s just it, the dialog must continue as long as this is an issue. voices must be heard that speak against the degradation of women. normally, i really don’t care much about the series of panel discussions on BET “Hip Hop v. America” but i thought i’d check this one out. this set of discussions was specifically on misogyny. so here are a few points i found interesting (these are paraphrased):

Nelson George: the issue of sexuality and sensuality needs to be raised in these discussions.

this i took in reference to music videos. now, i wasn’t quite clear on brother nelson’s point for bringing this up. i don’t know if he was justifying why those who choose to appear in and those who choose to watch are celebrating their sexuality. but, i immediately thought of bilal’s “soul sista”. i have always seen that video as more artistic in glorifying Black women’s beauty than gratuitous nudity. however, we all know that most artists–hip hop or otherwise–are not typically glorifying the Black woman’s temple but perpetuating the Jezebel image. i think the young women who patronize the artists who CHOOSE to promote this image with their music and videos are being slightly misled into believing that having their “goodies” on display is a sign of a secure woman. a woman in touch with her sensuality. a sensuality that was to be suppressed in the past because we were only to be seen as matriarchs, the stronghold of our own families and often that of white families that were employers. the women in these videos do not look like most of us in the real world which perpetuates a whole other set of problems, namely that of the white aesthetic. but that’s for another day. having said that, i can appreciate videos like Anthony Hamilton’s “sista big bone”. here’s a more realistic looking Black woman with a real job, truly “holding it down”. this woman is also very much in tuned to her sensuality and the man is also AND she is not scantily clad. side note: i just realized both more positive reflections of Black women i mentioned are songs that use the endearing term “sista”. any coincidence? i think not.

Jill Nelson: we are conditioned to think Black men have suffered more, so we take low so that they can take high.

so true, so true. but obviously neither owns the rights to suffering. another panelist stated, all Black people have suffered almost equally just in different areas. i disagree. Black women have been and remain the most oppressed and marginalized group. i was so glad that the brilliant Melissa Harris-Lacewell, professor of politics and African American studies @ Princeton, mentioned the Combahee River Collective’s statement that says the liberation of Black women will inevitably mean freedom for everyone from every “ism”.

rapper David Banner gave me a headache with his mindless rhetoric. he never had the courage to come out and say he does what he does with only financial gain in mind. neither does he see the need to be socially responsible with his “music” and videos. instead, he sees rappers and Black men as scapegoats for the issue at hand AND he does not see them as part of the solution. he says “we (rappers) are not responsible for raising your kids” and Black women should “pick better mates” and “close their legs”. this is his answer to eliminating misogyny in hip-hop??? as Willona Woods would say: “Negro, PLEASE!”….

I just attended a White Privilege 101 session and am very excited about the White Privilege Conference coming to Memphis in April 2009. I knew I wanted to attend the conference before the session and now I’m more fascinated. This conference is not about bashing white folks but instead about examining the white supremacist/ privilege paradigm that our society is built on and how to bring about “progress” when viewing things from this perspective. So, this is a series of discussions and seminars that go beyond race/ ethnicity which is why I think any and everyone should attend. The conference explores a number of issues where privilege and oppression are prevalent including gender, sexual orientation and religion. So, check the website for updates. Dr. Eddie Moore, its founder, told me that registration will begin around the MLK holiday.

As a fellow blogger once mentioned, “I want to be light, I need to be light”. Words to live by…
Times are rough, for most I’m sure, but I remain positive because I really need to be light.

Anyway, I was pleased to see Adele on the Today Show this morning singing Chasing Pavements. Lov.er.ly!

I’m making strides on my special project– a black literacy fair for my community. Some aspects are intimidating like communicating with executive directors and whatnot of major non-profit organizations. Preparing a proposal and budget for the event is also proving to stretch my skillset. But it’s all gonna be worth it when this brainchild manifests.

Before I get back to my project, I just wanna send love and positive energy into the universe for Danielle at Black Kool…

it’s hard to write lately b/c life is kicking my butt. i haven’t done anything to life, but that probably has no bearings on when and what life chooses to bring upon me. anyway, i’m trying to keep up with my reading. not so successful there. i’m a friggin’ pedestrian again. this is quite pissy. i’m submerging myself in fabulous tunes. eureeka! my saving grace. as usual, music is my sanity. i recently discovered and artist, well two actually, that i have apparently slept on. on first listen, i felt ashamed and guilty. i felt like i had betrayed music. i felt like i had been sleeping under a rock! how? why did i not ever listen to georgia anne muldrow?!?!?! she is phe.nom.i.nal! right now, she and muhsinah are my audio crack and in heavy rotation on my last.fm. i almost didn’t share this information because i almost want to keep them both to myself. but i digress, i will share with those not already in the know. for those who did, shame on you for not telling me…

This really pertains to those residing in the Memphis metropolitan so if you do, responses to the following survey would be greatly appreciated.  If you know someone who lives in this area, please direct them to this survey. It’s regarding interest in a local literacy fair. Thanx!

Click Here to take survey

3 NYPD detectives acquitted in 50-shot killing

Our The U.S. justice system loves to get rid of us any underhanded way it can as well as make examples of us.  i hope bell’s now fatherless children are strong and prosperous. 

 i hope these and other young brown men do not let this injustice allow bitterness and anger to fester in their hearts and become something just as vile and grotesque as this, but instead fuel them to lead the revolution….