March is Women's History Month. The National Writers Union, celebrates annually with a Womanist Read-In. This year we had 12 participants who read poetry, history, tributes, memoirs, science fiction and spiritual pieces. The pieces were as good as they were varied and I was happy to have had the opportunity of planning and hosting this event. It gets better every year.
There has been an ongoing conversation about this month through the years. People often wonder why there is a women's history month at all. Or all the other months that celebrate the various ethnicities that helped to create this country. The answer is alarmingly simple. If there were no women's history month, herstory would never be told. No one’s story would be told. After all, history is written from the perspective of the winner and in this country, the winner is always a White male.
It is an undeniable fact that history is written by the winners. When we look at the history of the United States, it is filled with stories of White males. The rest of us are thrown in here and there. If any of us go back to our history books, we see White men triumph time and time again regardless of the contributions of women, Blacks, Native Peoples, Latinos or Asians.
The story of Christopher Columbus is all about the Europeans who came to this country. Although the Native people who were here are mentioned, they take a back seat to Chris and his gang of marauders.
The first Thanksgiving is supposedly a story of harmony and friendship but eventually the Native people are swindled, killed and moved off their land in the name of progress. Never do the English make good on any of their promises to share the land. The term "Indian giver" means someone promises something or gives you something and then takes it back. The Native people were never Indian givers. They never took the land back. It was taken from them.
Even when someone else is victorious, the story is changed to favor the White male. Remember the story of Gen. George Armstrong Custer and the last stand? He and his army lost the battle. We all know Custer's army was slaughtered but history books proclaim no one survived. But someone did survive. The Lakota, the Northern Cheyenne and the Arapaho tribes led by Crazy Horse survived. Obviously their survival didn't count.
Blacks don't make an appearance until slavery except for that lone first soldier to die in the Revolutionary War, Crispus Attucks. If Attucks was there, wouldn't it make sense that other Blacks were there as well? But no. No other appearances by Blacks until slavery. After slavery, there is a brief mention of Blacks during the Reconstruction era but the only prominent Black person mentioned is George Washington Carver. But what of the other Blacks who made contributions during this crucial time. While cities were growing, there is no mention of Garrett A. Morgan who invented the stop light. There is no mention of Lewis Latimer who assisted Thomas Edison’s work with the light bulb. Black people make a brief appearance in history and then miraculously, we're gone until the Civil Rights era.
There is even less mention of Latinos and Asians other than a brief mention of the Asian contribution to the building of the railroads in the west. Very little is taught about the Latinos and Hispanics who are part of American history. Although Latinos founded cities like San Antonio and San Francisco, that contribution is no mentioned. Similarly like Custer’s Last Stand, a major battle is waged by Mexican forces at the Alamo. All 189 troops including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie lost to that army led by General Santa Ana. Yet instead of recognition of the event, we are left with the battle cry of “Remember the Alamo” as if the Mexican army was little more than a fly flitting around the bigger picture of Whites once again taking land that was originally owned by others. Afterwards Latinos and Hispanics are not referred to until historians mention Cesar Chavez and the farm workers.
What of the many women, both White and of color, who contributed to the history of this country? What of herstory? Betsy Ross and the making of the first flag. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the suffragette movement. Florence Nightingale and her dedication to nursing the troops. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Pocahontas and Jamestown. Jane Addams and Hull House. Herstory is defined by these few mentions. History is loath to speak of the contributions of women to this country. The longest historical references in the history books are of the suffragette movement. Little attention is given to the work of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her many contributions nationally and internationally. What of Anna Dudley Broadstreet, the first published poet? Deborah Sampson was the only woman known to fight in the Revolution War. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor in America. What of the many women who made history by virtue of the work they did on behalf of women, children and the family? What of the women who were staunch abolitionists during the time of slavery? What of the women who assisted their husbands, fathers and brothers during the turbulent times of labor battles? Or the many women who worked in factories while men went off to war in Europe? What of the sacrifices made by the countless women who work, raise children, assist husbands, and care for the sick with little thought to their own needs. Sleeping like the dead only to awaken to do It all over again.
As we say goodbye to Women’s History Month 2014, maybe we should all give a shout out to the women who make up our own personal history. Although history is written by the winner, there is no winning history without herstory. Long may her story wave!
SOCIAL ISSUES | POLITICS | RACISM | INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Sheroes
March is Women's History Month. I'd like to take a moment to recognize the women who've contributed to my life. Here's to my sheroes.
Mae West - this Brooklyn born, master of the double entendre and sex symbol is one of the women who taught me "too much of a good thing is wonderful." She was a woman well before her time. Arrested on morals charges more than once, she was a bawdy, sexy, racy woman who wrote her own material and more importantly, she was an independent woman at a time when most women were considered property to be controlled by a man.
Jackie "Moms" Mabley - The funniest woman I've ever seen who could make you laugh just by looking at her. Moms, like Mae West, was a woman before her time. Her comedy tackled all sorts of taboo subjects including ageism and racism but she was fearless. She was a proud lesbian who men's clothing when not performing and was addressed at Mr. Mabley when away from the stage. She was an original and there has been no one like her since.
Nikki Giovanni - I'm not a poetry buff but I love me some Nikki. She was one of the first people I heard embrace the term "Black" and after I heard her, I vowed I would never call myself colored or Negro again. To this day, I use the term "Black", not African American. Nikki made the phrase "Black is beautiful" means something to me in my formative years as the Civil Rights Movement sputtered to an end and I will always believe in my head and my heart that Black is absolutely, positively, unequivocally, unashamedly Beautiful.
Barbara Streisand - That voice, that phrasing, that clarity. I love to hear Streisand sing. Funny Girl is one of my favorite films and I still sing with Barbara when she's belting out Don't Rain on My Parade. That song gives me permission to tell anyone in my general vicinity that I won't allow anyone to get in my way. It's my theme song and nobody can sing it like Barbara.
Tananarive Due - Like poetry, I'm not a reader of science fiction or supernatural but Tananarive's African Immortals series have given me some great hours of entertainment, fear and speculation. She is a first rate writer whose worked simply cannot be confined to one genre. Her books are well worth the time and effort and shoud not be misssed if you like a good story well told.
Toni Morrison - There isn't too much left to say about this award winning, world renowned writer. Every so often, I re-read Sula or The Bluest Eyeor Song of Solomon and I remember why I wanted to write fiction (although I own up to the fact that I can't). Thank God she writes it so well. And thank God, she inspires me to continue writing even when I think I have nothing left to say.
Molly Ivins - This Texas columnist gave me the courage to write op-eds about politics. No one covered the winding road of dirty politics like Molly Ivins. She watched the underhanded bigwigs in Texas government like a hawk and had the guts to call them out when they were wrong. She's gone now but her spirit is alive and well. I hope to be as courageous as she was when some politician is lying, cheating and stealing.
Aretha Franklin> - That powerhouse of a voice moves inside and through me like nothing else in this world. No matter where in the world you are, when you hear Respect, you have to stop and sing along because everyone around you is singing it too. Only Aretha seems to understand how a woman feels desperation, sadness, humility and love. Only Aretha seems to share that pain. And Aretha can do it in different genres without breaking a sweat. She could sing the ABC song and you can feel it in your bones. Aretha's singing moves inside me like she has a map and that's why she is the undisputed Queen.
LuWillie Luster - My mother who died when I was six years old. I have only brief memories of her but they are as clear as day and remain with me. She came from Texas to study at Providence Hospital. She became a lab technician and worked on the original polio vaccine. Her dancing to the music of American Bandstand. Her singing to me at night. Her standing by the sink sticking vanilla wafers under the cold water as she ate them dripping wet. Her eating Jell-O with milk. Her walking me to kindergarten. Her stretched out in her coffin. I have these memories and although they are few, they help me to understand what kind of woman I could be. They hold the promise of what I can be.
Mary Liza Holmes Seavers - My paternal grandmother who taught me what a woman is supposed to be. She worked every day and came home to cook dinner and then start all over again. She taught me when to be a lady, when to be a woman and when to be a whore and to never get the three confused. She took me the Ice Capades and wrestling matches. She taught me to cook and do laundry. She encouraged my reading and my writing. She showed me everyday what a woman with little education but lots of drive could do. She was proud and strong and did everything in her power to make sure I was too. She loved me more than she could ever say but she showed me every day. The best of what is in me is because of her and I owe her everything that I am.
March is Women's History Month. Tell the women in your life that you love them. Take a moment to acknowledge your sheroes. The world is a better place because of them. And if you're like me, you're a better person because of them. Shine a light on them today!
Mae West - this Brooklyn born, master of the double entendre and sex symbol is one of the women who taught me "too much of a good thing is wonderful." She was a woman well before her time. Arrested on morals charges more than once, she was a bawdy, sexy, racy woman who wrote her own material and more importantly, she was an independent woman at a time when most women were considered property to be controlled by a man.
Jackie "Moms" Mabley - The funniest woman I've ever seen who could make you laugh just by looking at her. Moms, like Mae West, was a woman before her time. Her comedy tackled all sorts of taboo subjects including ageism and racism but she was fearless. She was a proud lesbian who men's clothing when not performing and was addressed at Mr. Mabley when away from the stage. She was an original and there has been no one like her since.
Nikki Giovanni - I'm not a poetry buff but I love me some Nikki. She was one of the first people I heard embrace the term "Black" and after I heard her, I vowed I would never call myself colored or Negro again. To this day, I use the term "Black", not African American. Nikki made the phrase "Black is beautiful" means something to me in my formative years as the Civil Rights Movement sputtered to an end and I will always believe in my head and my heart that Black is absolutely, positively, unequivocally, unashamedly Beautiful.
Barbara Streisand - That voice, that phrasing, that clarity. I love to hear Streisand sing. Funny Girl is one of my favorite films and I still sing with Barbara when she's belting out Don't Rain on My Parade. That song gives me permission to tell anyone in my general vicinity that I won't allow anyone to get in my way. It's my theme song and nobody can sing it like Barbara.
Tananarive Due - Like poetry, I'm not a reader of science fiction or supernatural but Tananarive's African Immortals series have given me some great hours of entertainment, fear and speculation. She is a first rate writer whose worked simply cannot be confined to one genre. Her books are well worth the time and effort and shoud not be misssed if you like a good story well told.
Toni Morrison - There isn't too much left to say about this award winning, world renowned writer. Every so often, I re-read Sula or The Bluest Eyeor Song of Solomon and I remember why I wanted to write fiction (although I own up to the fact that I can't). Thank God she writes it so well. And thank God, she inspires me to continue writing even when I think I have nothing left to say.
Molly Ivins - This Texas columnist gave me the courage to write op-eds about politics. No one covered the winding road of dirty politics like Molly Ivins. She watched the underhanded bigwigs in Texas government like a hawk and had the guts to call them out when they were wrong. She's gone now but her spirit is alive and well. I hope to be as courageous as she was when some politician is lying, cheating and stealing.
Aretha Franklin> - That powerhouse of a voice moves inside and through me like nothing else in this world. No matter where in the world you are, when you hear Respect, you have to stop and sing along because everyone around you is singing it too. Only Aretha seems to understand how a woman feels desperation, sadness, humility and love. Only Aretha seems to share that pain. And Aretha can do it in different genres without breaking a sweat. She could sing the ABC song and you can feel it in your bones. Aretha's singing moves inside me like she has a map and that's why she is the undisputed Queen.
LuWillie Luster - My mother who died when I was six years old. I have only brief memories of her but they are as clear as day and remain with me. She came from Texas to study at Providence Hospital. She became a lab technician and worked on the original polio vaccine. Her dancing to the music of American Bandstand. Her singing to me at night. Her standing by the sink sticking vanilla wafers under the cold water as she ate them dripping wet. Her eating Jell-O with milk. Her walking me to kindergarten. Her stretched out in her coffin. I have these memories and although they are few, they help me to understand what kind of woman I could be. They hold the promise of what I can be.
Mary Liza Holmes Seavers - My paternal grandmother who taught me what a woman is supposed to be. She worked every day and came home to cook dinner and then start all over again. She taught me when to be a lady, when to be a woman and when to be a whore and to never get the three confused. She took me the Ice Capades and wrestling matches. She taught me to cook and do laundry. She encouraged my reading and my writing. She showed me everyday what a woman with little education but lots of drive could do. She was proud and strong and did everything in her power to make sure I was too. She loved me more than she could ever say but she showed me every day. The best of what is in me is because of her and I owe her everything that I am.
March is Women's History Month. Tell the women in your life that you love them. Take a moment to acknowledge your sheroes. The world is a better place because of them. And if you're like me, you're a better person because of them. Shine a light on them today!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
The Powerful Bullet in Your Arsenal
Early voting is going on in Chicago this week for the primary. It began Monday, March 3rd and continues through Saturday, March 15th from 9am to 5pm. In addition to the usual suspects, there are judges and several very important referendum including one about domestic violence shelters, banning guns in pubs, limiting the size of clips on an automatic weapon and raising the minimum wage. There are some serious issues here and yet we have yet to get 100 voters a day. Why? Because people are listening to the pundits declare voter turnout will be low and voters decide they must be right and don't vote.
People often complain there are no good candidates in the general election. If you want great candidates for the general election, they must be voted for in the primary. If they don't win the primary, that incompetent incumbent will be on the ballot once again. They complain they never seen that incumbent until election time but if he knows he's going to win the primary which means he will absolutely win the general election, why would he do better? The challenger, the person who might just unseat that wasteful politician is on the primary ballot. If you don’t vote, a better candidate has lost before he ever had a chance. If you want to see change, do something to make change. Voting in the primary is of the best ways to do that.
As a Black person in America, I recognize that some of the most important people on the ballot are judges. Young Black people, especially males, are disproportionally part of the criminal justice system for both misdemeanors and felonies. Yet because we routinely disregard voting in the primary, we miss the opportunity of removing less than fair judges from the bench. We often wonder why there are often such blatant miscarriages of justice when part of the real problem is that we fail to look at the records of judges and vote accordingly.
It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to sign a petition. It’s easy to join a rally. You can complain every day, sign every petition and join every rally. But sound without action is noise. We’ve made plenty of noise over the years. Don’t you think it’s time to turn that noise into action? Then vote. If you don’t, then don’t complain about the useless incumbent on the ballot again in November. The fault of that is no one’s but your own.
In other words, if you don't vote, sit down and shut the f*** up. You deserve exactly who you voted for.
People often complain there are no good candidates in the general election. If you want great candidates for the general election, they must be voted for in the primary. If they don't win the primary, that incompetent incumbent will be on the ballot once again. They complain they never seen that incumbent until election time but if he knows he's going to win the primary which means he will absolutely win the general election, why would he do better? The challenger, the person who might just unseat that wasteful politician is on the primary ballot. If you don’t vote, a better candidate has lost before he ever had a chance. If you want to see change, do something to make change. Voting in the primary is of the best ways to do that.
As a Black person in America, I recognize that some of the most important people on the ballot are judges. Young Black people, especially males, are disproportionally part of the criminal justice system for both misdemeanors and felonies. Yet because we routinely disregard voting in the primary, we miss the opportunity of removing less than fair judges from the bench. We often wonder why there are often such blatant miscarriages of justice when part of the real problem is that we fail to look at the records of judges and vote accordingly.
It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to sign a petition. It’s easy to join a rally. You can complain every day, sign every petition and join every rally. But sound without action is noise. We’ve made plenty of noise over the years. Don’t you think it’s time to turn that noise into action? Then vote. If you don’t, then don’t complain about the useless incumbent on the ballot again in November. The fault of that is no one’s but your own.
In other words, if you don't vote, sit down and shut the f*** up. You deserve exactly who you voted for.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
And The Oscar Goes To,,,
It's Oscar Day - one of my favorite days of the year. I have a special menu consisting of my favorite pates, cheeses, breads and desserts. I have a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge. My Oscar sheet is taped to the wall in the living room with my picks circled in black. Everyone who knows me knows to call before 5pm because the phone is officially off at 5pm. Oscar Day is sacred to me and everyone in my circle knows it.
(br>Yes, I recognize that with everything going on in the world, the Oscars don't mean that much. I know it's going to be long and tedious at some points. I know the speeches will be almost all the same given the two minutes the winners are given. There will be a tribute to those film people who died last year. There will be presentations I hate and songs I've never heard. Yes, I know all of this but still I watch every year and love every minute of it.
This will be my 50th Oscar celebration. And over the years, I've developed some insights about who will be taking home the golden bald guy we call Oscar.
Best Acting - Any actor who plays someone with a mental or physical defect or illness wins. Geoffrey Rush, Daniel Day Lewis, Holly Hunter, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks -to name a few, have all won playing someone with some sort of ailment. Pacino, who was great in all the Godfather movies, never won for any of them but won for playing blind in Scent of a Woman. It wasn't even close to his best performance but he was playing blind. This tells me Matthew McConaughey will win as an AIDS striken man in Dallas Buyers Club.
The same can be said for women who are nominated for Woody Allen movies. Think what you will about Woody, he writes great roles for women and his ladies usually win. Cate Blanchett doesn't have a care in the world tonight. She's bringing Oscar home...again.
Best Supporting Acting - Movies follow life in this category so this is where the Black nominee usually wins. There are more winning Black actors in this category than any other. Beginning with Hattie McDaniel in Gone with the Wind and ending with Octavia Spencer in The Help, the number of winning Black actors in this category includes Morgan Freeman, Louis Gossett, Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Monique. This is no way saying they were undeserving of their wins; it's just a reflection of Hollywood. As we marvel at what Lupita Nyong'o will be wearing, I hope she's practicing her acceptance speech.
Documentary feature or short - Any documentary that is about or features the Jewish Holocaust will win. That's not to say they are not without merit but there are a lot of really great documentaries out there that could use the boost an Oscar win would give. I haven't seen a lot of the nominated films this year but I do know that The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life will win given its subject is a 106 year old Holocaust survivor.
Best Song - This category has become one of the most surprising categories in recent years. Normally the best song was one with great radio play or something by a classical composer. Now it's populated with winners under the age of 40 whom many Oscar voters don't know. I would imagine it's because the musical branch of the academy is filled with people under the age of 40 and the musicians vote for their peers. One of my favorite Oscar moments was watching Queen Latifah annoucing rap group Three 6 Mafia winning for It's Hard Out There for a Pimp from the movie Hustle and Flow. It still gives me a kick. A close rival to that moment was Barbara Streisand announcing Eminem. As we say in my house, you could have bought her cheap.
Make-up and Costume Design - The more elaborate the make-up and costume, the better chance of a win. I think this is a bit of a cheat. It's easy to make-up a monster. After all creating a monster is subjective. It's also easy to create costumes for a period piece. But the real artistry for me is making up and costuming a character from the past 20-30 years. Although there are loads of pictures about the 60's-90's, there is no solid historical frame. So doing these times periods mean more difficult research. Doing it right separates the great from the really good. I don't really have a choice in this category. Just 50 years of watching people create Victorian era design with 20th and 21st century know-how.
Best Picture - The winner will be 12 Years a Slave. First let me say that I will scream my head off when it wins for I believe it should win. However I recognize a win is a two-fer for the Hollywood voters. First the Academy can pat itself on the back for voting for this film. They can say it proves Hollywood is not racist (which is a load of bull). After all, the cast is predominantly Black although almost all the speaking roles are done by Whites. Second, this is type of historical film the academy loves. Like so many other winning films, there is grand cinematography, classical music, wonderful acting and great direction. The film is visceral in more ways than one. It caused me great anger and anquish. It pushed every button. And in the end, good triumphs over evil.
Those are my predictions for tonight. You may agree or think I'm totally off the mark. You probably think I'm giving in to the worst of the worst by writing a post about the Oscars. To paraphrase Bill Joel, "you may be right. I may be crazy. But I just might be the lunatic you're looking for." Enjoy your night. I'm certainly going to enjoy mine. Champagne, anyone?
(br>Yes, I recognize that with everything going on in the world, the Oscars don't mean that much. I know it's going to be long and tedious at some points. I know the speeches will be almost all the same given the two minutes the winners are given. There will be a tribute to those film people who died last year. There will be presentations I hate and songs I've never heard. Yes, I know all of this but still I watch every year and love every minute of it.
This will be my 50th Oscar celebration. And over the years, I've developed some insights about who will be taking home the golden bald guy we call Oscar.
Best Acting - Any actor who plays someone with a mental or physical defect or illness wins. Geoffrey Rush, Daniel Day Lewis, Holly Hunter, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks -to name a few, have all won playing someone with some sort of ailment. Pacino, who was great in all the Godfather movies, never won for any of them but won for playing blind in Scent of a Woman. It wasn't even close to his best performance but he was playing blind. This tells me Matthew McConaughey will win as an AIDS striken man in Dallas Buyers Club.
The same can be said for women who are nominated for Woody Allen movies. Think what you will about Woody, he writes great roles for women and his ladies usually win. Cate Blanchett doesn't have a care in the world tonight. She's bringing Oscar home...again.
Best Supporting Acting - Movies follow life in this category so this is where the Black nominee usually wins. There are more winning Black actors in this category than any other. Beginning with Hattie McDaniel in Gone with the Wind and ending with Octavia Spencer in The Help, the number of winning Black actors in this category includes Morgan Freeman, Louis Gossett, Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Monique. This is no way saying they were undeserving of their wins; it's just a reflection of Hollywood. As we marvel at what Lupita Nyong'o will be wearing, I hope she's practicing her acceptance speech.
Documentary feature or short - Any documentary that is about or features the Jewish Holocaust will win. That's not to say they are not without merit but there are a lot of really great documentaries out there that could use the boost an Oscar win would give. I haven't seen a lot of the nominated films this year but I do know that The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life will win given its subject is a 106 year old Holocaust survivor.
Best Song - This category has become one of the most surprising categories in recent years. Normally the best song was one with great radio play or something by a classical composer. Now it's populated with winners under the age of 40 whom many Oscar voters don't know. I would imagine it's because the musical branch of the academy is filled with people under the age of 40 and the musicians vote for their peers. One of my favorite Oscar moments was watching Queen Latifah annoucing rap group Three 6 Mafia winning for It's Hard Out There for a Pimp from the movie Hustle and Flow. It still gives me a kick. A close rival to that moment was Barbara Streisand announcing Eminem. As we say in my house, you could have bought her cheap.
Make-up and Costume Design - The more elaborate the make-up and costume, the better chance of a win. I think this is a bit of a cheat. It's easy to make-up a monster. After all creating a monster is subjective. It's also easy to create costumes for a period piece. But the real artistry for me is making up and costuming a character from the past 20-30 years. Although there are loads of pictures about the 60's-90's, there is no solid historical frame. So doing these times periods mean more difficult research. Doing it right separates the great from the really good. I don't really have a choice in this category. Just 50 years of watching people create Victorian era design with 20th and 21st century know-how.
Best Picture - The winner will be 12 Years a Slave. First let me say that I will scream my head off when it wins for I believe it should win. However I recognize a win is a two-fer for the Hollywood voters. First the Academy can pat itself on the back for voting for this film. They can say it proves Hollywood is not racist (which is a load of bull). After all, the cast is predominantly Black although almost all the speaking roles are done by Whites. Second, this is type of historical film the academy loves. Like so many other winning films, there is grand cinematography, classical music, wonderful acting and great direction. The film is visceral in more ways than one. It caused me great anger and anquish. It pushed every button. And in the end, good triumphs over evil.
Those are my predictions for tonight. You may agree or think I'm totally off the mark. You probably think I'm giving in to the worst of the worst by writing a post about the Oscars. To paraphrase Bill Joel, "you may be right. I may be crazy. But I just might be the lunatic you're looking for." Enjoy your night. I'm certainly going to enjoy mine. Champagne, anyone?
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