Thanks and Shout outs go to my girl over at "Reel Talk" (http://ticketstubz.blogspot.com/) for inviting me to attend this screening with her. "Skin", based on the true story of Sandra Laing, focuses on the story of a young, clearly black, girl growing up during apartheid. She is the biological child of two white "looking" Afrikaans. Sandra's arrival calls into question many things, most importantly her parents latent African ancestry.

For a review of the film follow the link and head on over to Reel Talk to see what my girl has to say about it. This is my reaction.

This film and Sandra's story is yet another depiction of how and why race is, a. created and b. so vital to the persecution of a "submissive" race. This young girl and her family could clearly see that she is "colored" yet, with such a horrible opinion of black people and the treatment of black people in their homeland, they stopped at nothing to convince themselves, the child and the world that she was white. They willing subjected her to debasing scrutiny and degradation, and when SHE herself began to see the truth, well, they did the unthinkable.

The struggle over race in this film called to mind our own struggle with race in this very country. This film reminds us that RACE is not biological. It is a deliberate and systemic separation of people, necessary to further the submission of one group of people over another. I am reminded that just because an institution assigns to me a race, and therefore a series of stereotypes, assumptions and beliefs, does not mean that I embrace them. I define who and what I am. It will not take thirty years, the death of a family member, the government or an election to validate me. Note: this is not at all a "dig" at Ms. Laing. It is my thank you for her struggle, so that I don't have too.

Skin also reminded me of the importance of our stories. What about your life has shaped you into the person you are today? You may not think your story matters, yet it can provide someone with a message. Telling it can provide you with something you need as well. Think about your story, I think about mine. Think about telling your story. It matters...

Stay tuned...

*Editors Note: Skin hits theaters October 30th. Click the link to see the gripping trailer.

If I don't buy and you don't buy it..WE GON Shut it DOWN!!!!

So finally my reaction the protest at the NY Post headquarters last week...
I probably should have written this right after, BUT I was waiting for pictures...don't worry they'll soon come, for now though my thousand words will have to be worth a picture...

As I arrived the first thing I saw was an NYPD van, a squad car and SEVERAL COPS! Well that right there was almost THE END of this post. Yet I realized that may have been the purpose of all this police activity, to scare us away, or "keep us in line", so I kept on towards my destination. As I arrived I saw few people and I got worried, I thought we would appear as a few fanatics, causing a commotion. "Where is everyone??" "Doesn't this matter?"...I waited on the side, texting a friend who were supposed to meet me there, wondering whether I should have made a sign, should I go to work afterwards?...then I saw her...

A woman who could be my grandma...marching..With. Her.CANE...chanting..."Shut Down the Post" in a strong, clear voice...I could stand to the side no LONGER! I had to add my voice to hers, and the faithful few. I stopped worrying, stopped looking around and starting marching..I mean that's what I came for RIGHT?

Soon, I was in it full blast! And about that sign...I got one...then 2 then I had 3 and even one a POLE!!! About the faithful few, soon The Rev. (Al Sharpton that is) showed up a whole SLEW of folks...including MY BIG SISTER Lin, and then it was really on, as we re-fueled each other and pointed out hopeful signs all around us...I even came up with my own protest chant ("Hit em' where it hurts...pull your ADS!') not bad for my first time.

I listened to the leaders speak...most importantly I listened to the PEOPLE speak. I saw a little boy with a sign 3 times his size, and a little girl whose face was a serious as any adult, her mother said coming was her idea. I was moved and inspired, this certainly will not be my last protest/rally/march/demonstration...I still have a healthy dislike of the NYPD but I refuse to allow myself to be intimidated...

I often say whats on my mind...I tell friends, and family how I feel about the issues, I stay informed, I even share with the children in my life in hopes that they too would feel encouraged to speak up for what they believe, but it felt good to be part of one BIG voice...

Stay tuned...

NY Post/No They can't because..Yes We Did!

So by now most of us should have seen the highly inflammatory cartoon featured in the NY Post. It features Police holding a smoking gun after having shot and killed a raging Chimp. The caption makes a blatant referral to Pres. Obama.

As a practice I make it a habit to stay away from protests and demonstrations. Not that I have anything against protests and demonstrations in theory, it's simply an internal mechanism of self-preservation to stay away from any venue where the NYPD will be making a scheduled appearance. This stems from growing up with trigger happy, baton waving, evidence planting NYPD of the 80's and 90's, not the so-called "Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect" of this day and age.

However, yesterdays posts in the NY Post was just TOO much! We did something GREAT during this last election. For once I was proud to be an American. For once when someone said "We the People" , I felt like they could be talking about me. The overt racism of a someone referring to a chimp as the President of the United States makes Me the People too restless to contain. I am offended not as an African-American (although the AA in me is slowly headed towards Brooklyn-mode) I'm offended as an AMERICAN...period!

I have a sinking sensation that this isn't the first of such filth, and it won't be the last. However, it is the first I have seen and it will be the last I put up with. I stand behind the vote I cast in November, and I stand behind the work this country has done, therefore today February 19, 2009, four days after my 28th birthday, I will be attending my first protest/demonstration in front of the NY Post headquarters.

Stay tuned...