Yesterday, I completed the Los Angeles Marathon.
It was a grueling exercise in fitness, focus and fortitude. Although it was my second marathon (I completed the 2006 Marathon), this one was particularly challenging as I did not train as vociferously as I had in the past and I had a lot on my mind.
I began the morning at around 4:30am. Sharon J. dropped me off at the Crenshaw/Imperial Green Line Station. MTA offered free transportation to the runners of the marathon. It was dark and cold, but I was ready. The train took about 20 minutes before it arrived at the station, and I was the only one at the platform - save for the homeless/crazy guy who wandered up there... The solitude and the view of the area from that elevated platform gave me pause to begin forming my concentration for the task at hand.
The train finally arrived and I boarded. I saw other runners on the train. The group of Suburbanite-looking folk... The young latino guy with his wife/girlfriend... we were on that Green Line heading towards the mega-event. As I observed the suburbanites, it was a culture clash to see them on the Green Line especially in the areas where we were and even more so as they transferred with the rest of us at Imperial/Wilmington station in Watts. The mixture of suburbanites, gangstas, hoodrats and brothas was profound. I wonder if these folk regarded us as curiously as we regarded them.
I struck up a conversation with a brotha who was on his way to work. He spoke in wonder about the prospect of running 26.2 miles...
Heading Towards Downtown Los Angeles
The Blue Line arrived and we jumped on - heading toward downtown... I estimate it to be a thirty minute ride from Watts to Downtown Los Angeles. I watched the sun rise as we rolled through the diverse communities of LA - 103rd Street, Firestone, Slauson, Vernon, Grand Avenue, Pico, and on into 7th Street/Metro Center. There, we joined the flow of hundreds of thousands of runners and their supporters packing the Red Line heading north to Universal Studios... It was a surreal experience at the 7th Street Metro station.. all those runners, plus massive security.. LA County Sheriffs with dogs and all kinds of officers.
My Ipod was bumpin' as my eclectic mix of gospel, r&B, classic jazz, neo-soul and hip-hop blazed into my eardome. Like a professional boxer or football player, I was getting myself psyched for the experience. We finally arrived at Universal Studios station and the doors of the train opened to let us off. "Time to Get it On!" I yelled out and moved with the throng to the starting line.
I had my backpack ready to run with it on my back, although I had preferred not to, and if I had to, all I was carrying was my jacket and an extra t-shirt. But the Marathon folks had that figured out too as UPS collected your stuff. You gave them your bib number and they filed your gear accordingly. You would be able to claim your stuff at the end of the marathon...
At Cahuenga and Lankershim, there were what looked like millions packing the streets to participate in the Marathon. I was getting more and more hype as the start time approached. And, wow, what a sight to behold!! There was a guy who painted himself green all over. There was a brotha with a blue afro. There was a guy who dressed up like some sort of superhero with Mickey Mouse hands. There was a guy who ran the marathon dressed in his native indian(american indian) attire. Elvis ran the marathon as did a squad of guys dressed up like Slash of Guns N Roses complete with top hats, long curly hair and fake cigarettes. It was a festive yet crazy scene.
The opening ceremonies got a little long-winded to me, I just wanted to get it on... You know, the National Anthem, the happy talk congratulating and acknowledging the VIP's and special elements of the Marathon. I loved to hear that the LAPD was running a torch relay in honor and memory of Randy Simmons, the first SWAT officer ever killed in the line of duty. After all that stuff it was finally ready to get started and we were off...
From Universal, over the hill through Hollywood, Hancock Park, The Wilshire area, Koreatown, South Los Angeles, Exposition Park, through the east side, all the way east to Eat LA/Boyle Heights... Coming out of Boyle Heights brought me to one of the most awesome sights I have ever witnessed. The panorama of the skyline of Los Angeles was magical even at 20 miles... It was here that I realized that I was about to complete this sojourn...
Within these miles, my mind, body and spirit were brought to submission. I found myself asking for the strength of my creator and I was convinced that He is the source of my strength. I re-evaluated my life. My situation in life, my career, my marriage, my spiritual walk.. everything. I prayed, I cried, I laughed, I danced. The experience was beyond cleansing. It was impactful and created yet another level of consciousness within me. There's physical strength and ability. Then there's will power and determination. And then there's the universal life force that I know is the Creator.. Almighty God himself.
I am so grateful for the experience of running the Los Angeles Marathon. We ran 26.2 miles. Through the diverse communities of Los Angeles. I did it on my own. All by myself. I hit it and hit it hard. What a ride...
Monday, March 03, 2008
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Immigration Indigestion
May 1st has been designated as a date for one of the largest immigration protests the nation has ever seen. Last month, we saw over 500,000 immigrants protest downtown and in the subsequent week thousands of young people walked out of class in support of the protests. So, if this is being billed as one of the largest, then wowee, it should be mind boggling... It's interesting to note that organizers of the protest have laid out rules of engagement for those wishing to participate. Rules like, asking permission to take off of your job... driving with your lights on during the day, and wearing a white t-shirt, or bandana or ribbon of solidarity for the movement.
A week or so ago, I watched incredulously as a predominantly African American group led by homeless activist Ted Hayes, made a stand against immigration.The violence that marred the protest could have (and maybe it did) ruined the credibility of Ted Hayes' Movement. True, a fight broke out and to my eye, it looks as if Ted instigated it, but one not too quick to judge, the incident prompted me to investigate the African American position on immigration. I do not see the prominent black politicians, civil rights groups or even the church speaking out on this issue. Ted Hayes wants us to bond with the Minuteman Project, taking an almost vigilante stance against the issue. He has formed the Crispus Attucks Brigade of the Minuteman Project saying that says that continued immigration is a threat to the lives and culture of blacks in America. Jobs will be lost, educational standards will decline even more and housing - his central position - will be even more scarce... (see a CBS News Report about the demonstration/fight here)
I was surprised when I saw recently installed President of the NAACP, Bruce Gordon stand in solidarity with the immigrants, holding sway on-stage at the massive rally in Los Angeles... But, what is the official stance from the NAACP? Are you saying that immigration reform is right or wrong? Is it in the best interest of your people to allow continued, unabated, illegal immigration? What about the claim that continued illegal immigration affects the job market - especially among black folk? You can read the NAACP's stance here.. It seems ambivalent, at best...
I met a guy once in a diner. He was a truck driver and we were watching the protests on television. I was marveling at the sense of unity the latino protestors had as was he, but his perspective was much different than mine. He told me how even though he owned his rig, the already low fees he has to accept as a result of bias and perhaps, discrimination are now threatend by the proposed "reform" of immigration. How so?, I asked. He explained that the latino can come over the border with his rig and charge as much as FOUR TIMES lower than his minimum. He cannot afford that... Just think - married, two children, house note, car note, groceries.. the essentials of life. He's got to command a certain amount per trip or not survive in the city at all... The immigrant can come over the border, live in a two bedroom house or apartment with 20 other folk, divide the necessities of life and therefore maintain a much lower standard of living and consquently charge less for the gig... He further explained that this was the reality for him.. not being racist or discriminatory, that's just how it is in the real world. He underscored this claim with the observation that because the latino driver can command such a low rate, the employer may be motivated to look the other way when the immigrant's rig is below industry standards (insurance, maintenance logs, etc).. So, he's missing out on jobs left and right... But he said even at that, he worries more about the guys who are single... No one to help them... they have to accept lower paying gigs in a market that demands higher rent, food, gas... the essentials of life...
When I was on the radio, co-host of a program called Front Page, I noticed how a huge number of callers complained about discrimination in the work place. Not by white folk, as is traditionally the fight, but by Latino folk. This was amazing to me. I perceived the problem to be at City and County Jobs. Where there has been a definite rise of Latino managers... I talked to a guy in my neighborhood once who had more than 20 years working for the County. He said that the problem is even larger than Latinos taking over. He described how although the Latinos take care of their own first (hiring, promoting, the language barrier), he said that even if he has the experience and job knowledge, even as he has taken the opportunities given him in his years at the County to better his education, increase his knowledge and expertise on the job.. when it comes time to take the test for advancement, the test favors those who can speak spanish, tagalog, cantonese and other languages... he says, "good grief!! I though this was America!! Now immigrants from all over the world are getting the jobs and promotions because they can speak not only my language which is American Standard English, but thier native language.. They have the advantage not because of education and job knowledge, but because they come from another country!! Plus they will accept the job for a lower rate than we will"
The immigration issue is not a new debate in the African American Community and perhaps in another blog I will point it out, but just in case you cannot wait, click here "Immigrant Indigestion": A. Philip Randolph, Radical and Restrictionist to examine A. Phillip Randolph's position on immigration between the world wars... the issues are the same....
We are sick with immigration indigestion
A week or so ago, I watched incredulously as a predominantly African American group led by homeless activist Ted Hayes, made a stand against immigration.The violence that marred the protest could have (and maybe it did) ruined the credibility of Ted Hayes' Movement. True, a fight broke out and to my eye, it looks as if Ted instigated it, but one not too quick to judge, the incident prompted me to investigate the African American position on immigration. I do not see the prominent black politicians, civil rights groups or even the church speaking out on this issue. Ted Hayes wants us to bond with the Minuteman Project, taking an almost vigilante stance against the issue. He has formed the Crispus Attucks Brigade of the Minuteman Project saying that says that continued immigration is a threat to the lives and culture of blacks in America. Jobs will be lost, educational standards will decline even more and housing - his central position - will be even more scarce... (see a CBS News Report about the demonstration/fight here)
I was surprised when I saw recently installed President of the NAACP, Bruce Gordon stand in solidarity with the immigrants, holding sway on-stage at the massive rally in Los Angeles... But, what is the official stance from the NAACP? Are you saying that immigration reform is right or wrong? Is it in the best interest of your people to allow continued, unabated, illegal immigration? What about the claim that continued illegal immigration affects the job market - especially among black folk? You can read the NAACP's stance here.. It seems ambivalent, at best...
I met a guy once in a diner. He was a truck driver and we were watching the protests on television. I was marveling at the sense of unity the latino protestors had as was he, but his perspective was much different than mine. He told me how even though he owned his rig, the already low fees he has to accept as a result of bias and perhaps, discrimination are now threatend by the proposed "reform" of immigration. How so?, I asked. He explained that the latino can come over the border with his rig and charge as much as FOUR TIMES lower than his minimum. He cannot afford that... Just think - married, two children, house note, car note, groceries.. the essentials of life. He's got to command a certain amount per trip or not survive in the city at all... The immigrant can come over the border, live in a two bedroom house or apartment with 20 other folk, divide the necessities of life and therefore maintain a much lower standard of living and consquently charge less for the gig... He further explained that this was the reality for him.. not being racist or discriminatory, that's just how it is in the real world. He underscored this claim with the observation that because the latino driver can command such a low rate, the employer may be motivated to look the other way when the immigrant's rig is below industry standards (insurance, maintenance logs, etc).. So, he's missing out on jobs left and right... But he said even at that, he worries more about the guys who are single... No one to help them... they have to accept lower paying gigs in a market that demands higher rent, food, gas... the essentials of life...
When I was on the radio, co-host of a program called Front Page, I noticed how a huge number of callers complained about discrimination in the work place. Not by white folk, as is traditionally the fight, but by Latino folk. This was amazing to me. I perceived the problem to be at City and County Jobs. Where there has been a definite rise of Latino managers... I talked to a guy in my neighborhood once who had more than 20 years working for the County. He said that the problem is even larger than Latinos taking over. He described how although the Latinos take care of their own first (hiring, promoting, the language barrier), he said that even if he has the experience and job knowledge, even as he has taken the opportunities given him in his years at the County to better his education, increase his knowledge and expertise on the job.. when it comes time to take the test for advancement, the test favors those who can speak spanish, tagalog, cantonese and other languages... he says, "good grief!! I though this was America!! Now immigrants from all over the world are getting the jobs and promotions because they can speak not only my language which is American Standard English, but thier native language.. They have the advantage not because of education and job knowledge, but because they come from another country!! Plus they will accept the job for a lower rate than we will"
The immigration issue is not a new debate in the African American Community and perhaps in another blog I will point it out, but just in case you cannot wait, click here "Immigrant Indigestion": A. Philip Randolph, Radical and Restrictionist to examine A. Phillip Randolph's position on immigration between the world wars... the issues are the same....
We are sick with immigration indigestion
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Lessons of the Duke University Rape Case
I am learning something as I read and research the Duke University Rape Case. In case you are not up on this latest piece of tragedy in our nation, the lacrosse team of Duke University had a party, hired some strippers, one of the strippers accused three of the teammates of rape. DNA is inconclusive...but the charges are not going away... The case is significant because it is a glaring case study of race, class and sex. It has exposed the ugly wounds of racism and elistism in the college town of Durham, North Carolina. We don't know if the girl is telling the truth or not, but we do hope that the truth comes out real soon....
In the meantime, I am learning about the challenges that today's twenty-something black woman goes through. In the Duke case, the guys actions are, as some scholars and philosophers have described, a manifestation of how the white male views the black female. A being that is to be submissive and sexed over, because that's how they like it and the white male is going to display his racial superiority through dominant sex. It is a view that has been a part of this nation's history since the first slaves were brought over from Africa. But even at that, the present day urban entertainment culture displays the black woman as a overly sexed being, exuding sexuality - often x-rated sexuality - just as she goes aboiut her day. This x-rated sexuality is reflected as one walks around the 'hood and sees how young women carry themselves, how they talk to one another, how they dress. One doesn't have to go too far to see how this is coming about...The music videos have a distinct impact on the images of black women. And for most white folk, this is the only glimpse of black life they see.
I've learned that the 20-something black woman can meet a white guy, and more often than not, the guy will make a comment that totally reveals that he thinks this black woman is someone who walked right out of the video screen or off the ho' track... In some extreme cases - actually quite a few from what I have been able to observe - the white guy will walk right up to a girl in the club or at the concert and smack that booty... The black woman's beauty, the curves, her essence drives the white male wild.. so wild he says and does things that are totally contrary to what his family rasied him to do when it comes to the honor of a woman... Why? Because he sees all these videos and images of the black woman as some sexual trollop. And since this is all the exposure he is going to have regarding the black community, he thinks that this is how the sista wants to be treated....So in this age of ultra integration, on the college campus, or places where you'll see more and more assimilation into society, the 20-something woman has to endure the white male coming up to them, rubbing that booty, or after a gentlemanly introduction, making lewd comments because they actually think that's what the black woman does!!! I'm not making this up, y'all!! The Duke case has illuminated this on campuses across the country. (See MSNBC article Duke Case reopens wounds for black women)
I bet you think I'm going to place the blame for all this white on black misogynism at the feet of the "evil white man"... Nope, definitely not. The man is going to be the man is going to be the man. We've already learned from scholars that this behavior has been a part of our nation since the first slave ships arrived on our shores... Oh No.... It is the brothas that are to blame for this societal problem. I mean we are the ones who promote pimps and hos in the music. It is the black man who produces the videos. It is the black man who in his quest to reign supreme in the world of entertainment and provide everyone with a glimpse of the 'hood (you know-keepin' it real?), has presented a global view of women as ho's and brothas as gangstas and thugs. The black man made the pimp game a cool pop icon..... It is our music, videos and sometimes movies that has the world thinking that we are a degenirate people. It is the brothas who first disrespects his woman by promoting her as a sexual trollop, cheap, easy... A creature who is not to be treated with any form of respect or reverence. Folk see this and think that's how the woman should be dealt with. And to make matters worse, my brothas put this treatment on videos for everyone to see across the globe...
A friend of mine went to Turkey with her husband. She was telling me about how surprised the Turks were that she did not act or look like the black folk they see on video.... hmmmmmm. The global perspective of our people is that of gangstas, thugs, pimps and hos.... Brothas, you are the ones responsible for this...
As we talk about revolution, equality and social justice. The preservation of the family unit is nuclear to the survival of our people. The way we treat our women is a glaring weak link in the history of our people and the reason why we have a HUGE gender gap within our culture. Brothas, we are not staying with the mothers of our children. Sistas, you are not respecting the man, further castrating him in this society where he is already down. They think we are thugs, crooks pimps, and they are intimidated by us That's why we don't get the jobs...and when we come home, here you come further putting us down.... (All men are dogs - He ain't nothing)
Brothas in the industry, you are promoting our women alright, but as ho's and strippers (btw, why is the number one song in America called "I'm in love with a Stripper"?). How come we can't promote the beauty of the sista, the essence of her strength, her natural inclination towards spirituality... Can't we talk more eloquently about her God given curves and sexual essence? I mean she is the mother of the earth, the center of our existence.... can't we treat her like the queen that she is??? Sistas, can't you walk with more regality? Can you get over the neck bending, tongue wagging, finger pointing? Can you not buy into the ho mentality, thinking that you cannot get a man unless you conduct yourselves like the images on video?
Folk are going to think what they think.. There's a 400 year history of that, but we don't have to encourage that behavior by promoting our culture as something that it is not.
In the meantime, we have to help our young sistas gain and keep respect - from all males - especially the brothas..... It's getting dangerous out here......
In the meantime, I am learning about the challenges that today's twenty-something black woman goes through. In the Duke case, the guys actions are, as some scholars and philosophers have described, a manifestation of how the white male views the black female. A being that is to be submissive and sexed over, because that's how they like it and the white male is going to display his racial superiority through dominant sex. It is a view that has been a part of this nation's history since the first slaves were brought over from Africa. But even at that, the present day urban entertainment culture displays the black woman as a overly sexed being, exuding sexuality - often x-rated sexuality - just as she goes aboiut her day. This x-rated sexuality is reflected as one walks around the 'hood and sees how young women carry themselves, how they talk to one another, how they dress. One doesn't have to go too far to see how this is coming about...The music videos have a distinct impact on the images of black women. And for most white folk, this is the only glimpse of black life they see.
I've learned that the 20-something black woman can meet a white guy, and more often than not, the guy will make a comment that totally reveals that he thinks this black woman is someone who walked right out of the video screen or off the ho' track... In some extreme cases - actually quite a few from what I have been able to observe - the white guy will walk right up to a girl in the club or at the concert and smack that booty... The black woman's beauty, the curves, her essence drives the white male wild.. so wild he says and does things that are totally contrary to what his family rasied him to do when it comes to the honor of a woman... Why? Because he sees all these videos and images of the black woman as some sexual trollop. And since this is all the exposure he is going to have regarding the black community, he thinks that this is how the sista wants to be treated....So in this age of ultra integration, on the college campus, or places where you'll see more and more assimilation into society, the 20-something woman has to endure the white male coming up to them, rubbing that booty, or after a gentlemanly introduction, making lewd comments because they actually think that's what the black woman does!!! I'm not making this up, y'all!! The Duke case has illuminated this on campuses across the country. (See MSNBC article Duke Case reopens wounds for black women)
I bet you think I'm going to place the blame for all this white on black misogynism at the feet of the "evil white man"... Nope, definitely not. The man is going to be the man is going to be the man. We've already learned from scholars that this behavior has been a part of our nation since the first slave ships arrived on our shores... Oh No.... It is the brothas that are to blame for this societal problem. I mean we are the ones who promote pimps and hos in the music. It is the black man who produces the videos. It is the black man who in his quest to reign supreme in the world of entertainment and provide everyone with a glimpse of the 'hood (you know-keepin' it real?), has presented a global view of women as ho's and brothas as gangstas and thugs. The black man made the pimp game a cool pop icon..... It is our music, videos and sometimes movies that has the world thinking that we are a degenirate people. It is the brothas who first disrespects his woman by promoting her as a sexual trollop, cheap, easy... A creature who is not to be treated with any form of respect or reverence. Folk see this and think that's how the woman should be dealt with. And to make matters worse, my brothas put this treatment on videos for everyone to see across the globe...
A friend of mine went to Turkey with her husband. She was telling me about how surprised the Turks were that she did not act or look like the black folk they see on video.... hmmmmmm. The global perspective of our people is that of gangstas, thugs, pimps and hos.... Brothas, you are the ones responsible for this...
As we talk about revolution, equality and social justice. The preservation of the family unit is nuclear to the survival of our people. The way we treat our women is a glaring weak link in the history of our people and the reason why we have a HUGE gender gap within our culture. Brothas, we are not staying with the mothers of our children. Sistas, you are not respecting the man, further castrating him in this society where he is already down. They think we are thugs, crooks pimps, and they are intimidated by us That's why we don't get the jobs...and when we come home, here you come further putting us down.... (All men are dogs - He ain't nothing)
Brothas in the industry, you are promoting our women alright, but as ho's and strippers (btw, why is the number one song in America called "I'm in love with a Stripper"?). How come we can't promote the beauty of the sista, the essence of her strength, her natural inclination towards spirituality... Can't we talk more eloquently about her God given curves and sexual essence? I mean she is the mother of the earth, the center of our existence.... can't we treat her like the queen that she is??? Sistas, can't you walk with more regality? Can you get over the neck bending, tongue wagging, finger pointing? Can you not buy into the ho mentality, thinking that you cannot get a man unless you conduct yourselves like the images on video?
Folk are going to think what they think.. There's a 400 year history of that, but we don't have to encourage that behavior by promoting our culture as something that it is not.
In the meantime, we have to help our young sistas gain and keep respect - from all males - especially the brothas..... It's getting dangerous out here......
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