International AIDS Conference 2012

Next week in Washington, DC will be the International Aids Conference, July 22-27. Throughout the week there will be events sharing information regarding new scientific research, committees on sharing harm reduction. The WE CAN END AIDS campaign will be doing a march on July 24th. If you didn't know I was recently a part of a lead up action sponsored by Housing Works.

We hoisted a banner on public space in front of the capitol building,

The protest went for sometime before any authorities made any indication of physical action. I feel that this action was a good start to get out in-front of the conference and get people to pay attention to some of the issues that need to be addressed in relation to HIV/AIDS and civil rights. A list of demands are being put forth by WE CAN END AIDS,

So remember if your in the DMV area, come to the March.

Y-love...isn't that the question?

I've always had a thing...musically, :), for the orthodox Jewish rapper Y-Love and I'm so glad that he's found a way to express how he feels to world, and give them a deeper undersatnding of who he is,

"I'm ready to find a husband," "I'm ready to live without fear of being outed or the stress of keeping my whole self from people. And I've waited too long to do that.”


His latest video "Focus on the Flair" has recently dropped and focuses on the aspects that make him the man who he is. 

Making Newark Better

Video piece about Newark, New Jersey community organizations who are serving to make the LGBTQ youth and making them feel that they have a presence. This is a positive video about small changes in local communities, we need more of this from our homes and more safe spaces.

Arjun The Warrior Prince

Disney may be wholly evil, buying up company after company to bolster their own brand, but their acquisition of Indian media company UTV have bore fruit it this animated tail of India greates hero Arjun. Watch the trailer below. It may not get play outside of Indian but one can hope.

Juan of the Dead

I'm a fan of the zombie genre, I can't count how many times I sit around with friends talking about our plans for the zombie apocalypse. Up until now most films that depict the hordes of the undead lurching onward in thir never ending thirst for brains and guts have been from mostly an anglo point of view, director, locations, main hero. That changes with Juan Of The Dead. This movie looks like a blast featuring characters such as trans person, La China, (I hope they don't over play his transition and sexuality to much); the prerequisite best friend Lazaro played is Jorge Molina, who just happens to also be a director of film and at Professor at Havana’s Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television. I can't wait till I get a chance to see it. I missed it while it was playing at the Havava Film Festival , hopefully it come around again in some form.

I am an African man

Lets hope this doesn't go the way of KONY 2012. I'm wary but I like the idea behind the video, to break down the social construct of the western worlds view of African men.

Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force

The year is 2012 and it has been 30 years since the CDC has reported the first cases of HIV/AIDS in America. We've come along way in sharing knowledge and prevention. One facet of keeping up the work in prevention and all things that are included in is making a difference and donation to help the cause. My friend, writer and poet Shennod Moore, has been working with PATF on their spring donation drive. I asked him a few questions about the organization and the drive.

Kaos Blac: Tell me more about the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.

Shennod Moore: The Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force is an organization that helps people living with HIV and helps to prevent the sppread of HIV. PATF (for short) provides a full service food pantry for HIV positive individuals, housing, case management, legal services, emergency funds for low income HIV positive people who need help with rent, gas, electricity. PATF also has a pharmacy program that provides medications at a discount and with no-copay. PATF also provides supportive services.

Kaos Blac:  Can you tell me more about the Spring Campaign for the organization.

Shennod Moore:  The Red Ribbon Campaign is from a challenge grant for Coordinated Care Network (our pharmacy) they will match the total donoations up to 1000.00. Through the campaign people can:

Make a difference by: 

• $25 will purchase two rapid HIV testing kits, allowing two individuals to learn their HIV status. 

• $50 will provide three bags of nutritious food to four people living with HIV/AIDS.

• $100 will provide over 1,000 condoms for distribution to high risk individuals.

• $250 will provide two HIV-positive people with assistance with medical copays.

They can donate at DONATE NOW @ www.patf.org/Donation.asp
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Reference Shennod Moore in the comments section.

Also you can check out some of Shennod's books for your e-reader or in print @ Amazon.

Project: Acropolis

Help support this diverse comic book start up, Project: Acropolis. Pittsburgh native creator Edward Williams is trying to start a new revolution in the vein of Milestone Comics with a diverse cast of characters. Check out what he has to say.

"Acropolis is a graphic novel project that has targeted the comic book industry’s weakness and developed a cure known as diversity and equality. Acropolis is about making sure YOU are represented; that YOU are able to relate and empathize with a character that looks just like you."

The project has twelve more days to be funded lets help out.

What about the rest of us Occupy Wall Street?

Yesterday, November 17 2011 I stepped up and met the occupy wall street head on. I support the movement but didn't go down to Zuccotti park. I didn't feel the movement did enough to include people of color, or to even address their own issues with-in their own communities. Since the beginning of the occupation of Zuccotti park all I head was wall street this and wall street that. Sure there is a whole bunch of thievery and corruption going on down in the American economic base and America has been hit by a recession of unprecedence and there are no jobs, well Black America has been dealing with that for ages. Old hat.

People of color have been dealing with these circumstances forever, why should I care what a bunch of people outside of that sphere are doing over there. I live in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and everybody I've ever know lives a hard knocks life. I didn't approach the movement because it didn't seem clear in presentation and method. Yesterday a direct action was put out to "call upon the 99% to participate in a national day of direct action..."(via www.occupywallst.org). I thought this was a right step after the occupation of Zuccotti park was halted and protesters began to get riled up, also they where stepping out of there bubble of wall street. Although there have been actions taken else where in the city that should be noted, there has been a huge swell in movements such as  Occupy-the-Bronx and upon further research right here in Brooklyn Occupy-Brooklyn. I headed out to the Broadway Junction gathering to see for myself the power, if any, of the movement on a populace deep in Brooklyn. I liked the idea of "Occupying Our Blocks".

 I got there a little before 3:pm I immediately noticed a police station in the subway on the ground floor. I stepped through the turnstile and outside of the station, I saw nothing. I milled around a bit I was a flustered, I walked back in for a bit and waited. I saw a Brooklyn News 12 video crew behind the turnstile walking around and proceed to follow them when they took leave of the area towards another part of the station where the J and L lines converged.

The group gathers on the left,
police in the center,
and News 12 Brooklyn  on the right.

This is where I finally saw some semblance of activity, a small group with fliers huddled planning.  Around 3:25 the group began to get marginally larger, as did the police presence. The group tried to make a dent in the waves off staphangers that seemed more agitated with their presence than anything else. I heard ridicule from teens, and disgruntled mumbles from elders. I was in agreement and also non-agreement. Yes I disagreed with the prospect that groups like these would be tying up transportation.

This is not a "on your blocking my way i'll join with your movement" kind of crowd. For the most part these are hard working individuals, and people with family's trying to get to work, some times from another job just to got to another job just to keep food on the table. I also agree with you have to reach out to people where they are, I felt they weren't aggressive enough but there were police hanging on the wall like insects just waiting to swarm a infraction. Its a hard line to tread between nuisance and just cause for a movement.

If they where were outside they may of had more leeway, I mean have you ever seen the cops stop the Hebrew Israelites, or The Nation of Islam dudes that occupy these spaces at times? Around 3:33 their was a "mic check", it's apart of how information is shared to a larger audience with in the movement by one person shouting out mic check the surrounding group around follows suit to spread outward the message of what one voice is saying. The group was about to make their way toward Foley Square in Manhattan to join with the other groups from the other boroughs.

" people will gather at Foley Square (just across from City Hall) in solidarity with laborers demanding jobs to rebuild this country's infrastructure and economy. A gospel choir and a marching band will also be performing.
Afterwards we will march to our bridges. Let's make it as musical a march as possible - bring your songs, your voice, your spirit! Our "Musical" on the bridge will culminate in a festival of light as we mark the two-month anniversary of the #occupy movement, and our commitment to shining light into our broken economic and political system." - (via www.occupywallst.org)

I caught this bit of video before they took to the platform to head to the city. The video features Jodie, a woman, mother, immigrant, student, a member of the 99%.

I took the train in with the group, and joined in the "mic checks," I was filled with anticipation and angst of what was to come. Just before leaving the train a "mic check" called out, "You can't remain neutral on a moving train" which co-coincidentally is the title of a Howard Zinn penned book. I heard that and heard the System Of A Down song "Deer Dance". Upon arriving at Foley Square, around 4:15 I was met with the cold air, and the warmth of the gathers masses. 

Photographer I know Buggs, and a former roommate, Alvero

I witnessed a large cross section of peoples. Young and old, college student and middle school kids, labor unions and those with-out jobs. I stayed as long as I could out in the could and even joined a action with a group holding up posters with information about United states occupations worldwide. It was synergistic. Upon leaving I was got a small but better understanding of what's been going on. I still would like to Occupy All Streets and have a better approach for ushering some kind of action and change in my own community but I can see we all stand together.

Occupy All Streets

photo from occupyallstreets.us/ 

With the events of the Occupy wall street movement brewing around I can't help but think of the slogan "Occupy All Streets." Jay Z was going to use the slogan on t-shirts by his rocawear clothing line. However none of the money made from the sale of the tees would be going towards any protest or commuinty based organization. Sure I looked at this as "look at this mother fucker capitalist," but hey where in America and that is what the country is about. However reading a friends status update I've changed my mind,

"i'm with Jay OCCUPY ALL STREETS!! and i'm sick and tired of this wall street bullshit. how many of those privileged protesters give a fuck about everyone who been struggling all this time in NYC? what about the people too broke to get downtown to protest? what about all the parents that have to raise their kids in shelters because NYC would rather floss than see its people stable. Why aren't we more concerned with occupying ALL STREETS OF NYC to show solidarity. So brother, go head, get your money and thank you for saying something that matters to the rest of us."- Trezure Empire.


I agree what about any-street usa, Fuck that what about 125 street in Harlem, what about Malcolm X in Brooklyn, what about Grand Concourse in the Bronx, the project, the broken homes, poor schools, what about the streets that the homeless are sleeping on right now. The Occupation is a great movement but as I said before we can need to do so much more. 

We need to rally around our neighborhoods and build from there.

Ceremony That Lacks Substance

Marcher during the Village Halloween parade

What is the real accomplishment of being in a park encamped in the financial district. So the 1%er Michael Bloomberg hasn't broken up the occupation, so what. That is all that I can see from where I'm sitting. What is message being broadcast by having the worlds eye on this occupation and other movements around the country and world. What are the aspirations of change, the seeds of growth that they hope to plant and grow from it. What is the point? The following quotes from Dr. John Henrik Clarke speaking of the another movement, the Million Man March, characters my feelings for our current Occupy Wall street movement.

"Marching is a strategy, and I think we have gotten enough out of the strategy. I think the march is a a waste of shoe leather, gas, and energy...I'm saying there is more to liberation than throwing your fist in the air, there is more to progress than marching...We're doing show biz liberation and that's not liberation."

There needs to be grown work laid other than sitting in the cold. Sitting can only get you so far, you have to stand up at some point.

A Hero Among Us

Phenoix Jones aka Benjamin John Francis Fodor
Ted S. Warren  /  AP

Sometimes trying to do the right thing can lead you down the wrong path. Often the butt of jokes, but secretly admired, Pheniox Jones the Seattle based vigilante superhero has been putting his neck on the line night after night in a real life imitating art, comic book art that is, display of super-heroics. Trained in mixed martial artist Fodor, age 23, has gallantly taken to the streets to fight the good fight as his costumed alter ego Phoenix Jones but that's come to a halt now with a arrest. Fodor was arrested for and alleged assault connection to incident in which he was breaking up a fight and had to use pepper spray,


Phoenix Jones Stops Assault from Ryan McNamee on Vimeo.


The current fall out from this unfortunate set of events is the lost of Fodor's job where for the past five years he has been working with autistic children and adults. Mind you he hasn't as of yet been charged with any wrong doing in connection to the incident but the Washington state Department of Soical and health services has informed him of he is no longer able to work with those populations, according to publicola. I say that this is a young guy trying to do what he felt was right sure he went about it in a highly unusual manner but it stood for something. He was making a stance in the face of the odds and making just the meager of  difference in the lives of the few that he came across in and out of costume.

We should all take a lesson from Phoenix Jones and stand up for ourselves and those around us to make this a better life. Life is impermance and last for only so long why not get the most out of it, why should we wallow in suffering, occupy the streets and boulevards with hope. Stand up for the those who can't make a stand for themselves. Let us all be our own super heroes. 

Interviews of African Americans On Occupy Wall Street

Yolo Akili heads to Occupy wall street to talk to get an African American view on Occupy Wall street.

White Wash

I always enjoy sitting near the ocean and marveling at the waves watching the tide roll in and out. Growing up in the middle of Brooklyn I never got the chance to learn to swim. I would of loved to learn and then go even further and catch a wave as a surfer. It seemed so cool as a kid to me. As a child surfers looked like they were just walking on water, just gliding through. Sadly my dreams were hampered by my lack of skill to swim and that well...I'm Black. As a Black person you aren't thought of as having the ability to surf much less able to swim. The film White Wash looks at the history of surf and the mostly unknown history of Black surfers. If you get a chance to see it please do, and live out your dreams to walk on water.

Tale of a Black Spider...Man

If you didn't know by now there is a "Black" spider-man, sure he's not the original Peter Parker or even from the same continuity of  comics but hes here to stay...so far.

Miles Morales is the new spider-man swinging around the marvel comics ultimate universe. Introduced in Ultimate Fallout #4 Miles is seen taking on the Kangaroo, a guy who can kick really hard, like through buildings hard. Throughout the issue he is seen in Peter Parker's old outfit to which many onlookers of the meta-human comment, comically, that it's in bad taste. You see the Peter Parker of this universe just recently died in a all out battle in front of his house unmasked for the whole world to see. It isn't until the end of the issue Miles face is seen and we get a glimpse of this bold new face to walk on walls.

This is a bold move for Marvel, although I say again the Peter Parker of the normal universe is still alive, wise crackin' and wall crawling, as this is the first time they made a well known property such as spider-man a topic of racial identity. Not saying they haven't tried in the past, the Captain America of the Ultimate universe was suppose to be of African-American background but they copped out and made the Nick Fury, a secondary character African-American. A not should also be added this Nick Fury was based of off the actor Samuel Jackson hence his popular appearance in the marvel movies, Ironman I and II, Captain America: The First Avenger, as well as in the Thor movie as Nick Fury. The Captain America idea also got snow balled into a new behind the scene's history of main stream universe in Captain America Truth.

Truth told the untold story of Isaiah Bradley and his fellow infantry men who took part of a medical apartheid like test run of a recreated super solider serum like the one that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America. Isaiah was the only test subject that survived the process, albeit later in years it affects his mental state but keeps him young and vital as the serum does to Steve Rogers. The government black balled the project and held Isiah in jail for many years so no one would know about Isaiah or the testing although it is widely known in the comic books Black community as a legend to be true. Steve Rogers eventually finds out about this and investigates and meets Isaiah and his wife in their Harlem Home. The story line adds depth to the origin of Steve Rogers but doesn't change it since it took place before that happened as was "discovered" years later by Steve.

This was a great story but not as monumental as "Black" Spider-man Miles Morales, as he is known now. My problem with this is two fold. One Miles Morales is not just Black he is also half Latino why couldn't he just be a Black Latino, and two why does his race have to donate who he is he wears a mask in any-case and is from another universe apart from Peter Parker, why can't he just be Ultimate universe Spider-man.

Would it be to big of a confusion for middle America to see a Black person identify as Latino or vice versa. The whole concept of racial identity in the America's is just a load of crap to me. I can't even fully comment on the idea's of the many peoples and shades it encompasses.

Next topic why does he have to be "Black" Spider-man. He's exist in a separate universe, can't his universe donate who he is? This to me is a double edged sword. We want to have our own hero's, The Falcon, Mr. Terrific, Blade, Luke Cage, Bronze Tiger, Storm, Static, Icon, but in order to make them valid we have to make them "Black" ie. Black Panther, Black Vulcan, Black Lightning, Black Manta.

 Another good example of the Blackification of a character theme is newly introduced Batwing secret identity David Zavimbi aka the Batman of Africa or the Black Batman of Africa, cause Africa is a place (to much to get into on that moving along), why does he he have to be donated by his race. Why can't his characterization stand on it's own. "With great power comes great responsibility." These words echo never more truer with the advent of these characters and the creative comic book teams behind them. I hope the stories involving Miles Morales and David Zavimbi both flesh the out as being more than a ethnic background, or a representative for a continent, or a racial counterpart and become heroes in their own right. Look for both Ultimate Spider-man #1, next week September 14th, and Batwing #1 out today September 7th in a comic shop near you.

Black August

If you didn't look at the calender for the past 17 days now well your smack dab in the middle of August and you know what that means, Black August. Black August is a movement that began as a remembrance of a revolution, check out some info about it's creation below,

Black August originated in the concentration camps of California to honor fallen Freedom Fighters, Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain and Khatari Gaulden. Jonathan Jackson was gunned down outside the Marin County California courthouse on August 7, 1970 as he attempted to liberate three imprisoned Black Liberation Fighters: James McClain, William Christmas and Ruchell Magee. 

Ruchell Magee is the sole survivor of that armed rebellion. He is the former co-defendant of Angela Davis and has been locked down for 40 years, most of it in solitary confinement. George Jackson was assassinated by prison guards during a Black prison rebellion at San Quentin on August 21, 1971. Three prison guards were also killed during that rebellion and prison officials charged six Black and Latino prisoners with the death of those guards. 

These six brothers became known as the San Quentin Six. To honor these fallen soldiers the brothers who participated in the collective founding of Black August wore black armbands on their left arm and studied revolutionary works, focusing on the works of George Jackson.
In the month of August the brothers did not listen to the radio or watch television. Additionally, they didn’t eat or drink anything from sun-up to sundown; and loud and boastful behavior was not allowed. The brothers did not support the prison’s canteen. The use of drugs and alcoholic beverages was prohibited and the brothers held daily exercises because during Black August emphasis is placed on sacrifice, fortitude and discipline. Black August is a time to embrace the principles of unity, self-sacrifice, political education, physical training and resistance. - From MXGM.org

Well each year for the last few years, The Malcom X Grassroots Movement puts on a series of events celebrating Black August. This year they put together a film festival, art show, and music showcase. The last two events resonates with me because of the inclusion of one of my favorite acts due to perform during both events, THEESatisfaction.

First up on the 20th they will be appearing at the Art show at the Brecht Forum. Art Auctioned off at the show will go to helping political prisoners.

The next event is

Each night is sure to please and go towards a good cause. So if your around check out these events.

Language Of The Colonized Mind

Language Of The Colonized Mind from Daniel Edwards on Vimeo.

Propaganda Images

The Five One have always been one of my favorite bands. Innovative in musical sound and concept of who they are as people and how they are represented in the media, the music industry and what comes with it. Always on a constant bend towards something new I noticed they been putting out what could be best called propaganda posters. Dipped in color and full of meaning check some of them out.