This is America.......This is the Way!

 This morning I woke up feeling like a Mandalorian, chanting Childish Gambino's "This is America". For those who are into the Star Wars chain, a Mandalorian is a bounty hunter who embraces a simple principle, and conforms to complicity without judgement by reciting their mantra "This is the Way".  

Last night, hopeful America was praying for a landslide, hoping this modern slave owner, will finally get the ass kicking he deserves, and is booted out the White House. Well, like four years ago, this is not happening right now. We are experiencing a flash back of disappointment. We might have avoided this disappointment, had we come to terms with the way America operates.

Here's a brief history lesson of America; it was discovered by lost explorers, who then claimed it, and brutally dismantled its indigenous people.  Fast forward, America embraced slavery, and all existing states were involved, wasn't until after the Revolutionary war, the North abolished slavery, but they were still racist, for further information on this topic, read The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. Slaves are freed, with a failed system of reconstruction and a prosperous immersion of Jim Crow. We then get some civil rights, and we're done! Ladies and Gentlemen, this is America, this is the way. We live in a country in which the founding principle is based on brutality, a caste system, racism and ideologies of supremacy.

Unfortunately, us hopefuls, are confident America is better than this, after all these acts were centuries ago, we're in a better place.  I have to ask those who think like this, what were you watching this summer? All I saw was racial protest against police brutality, that were much needed, and startling COVID statistics, primarily compromising of  essential workers, which oops were mainly Black and Brown folks.  Compare to the above paragraph, not much has changed. Racism occurs in a myriad of ways. Some are blatant like Charlottesville, some are genocidal like COVID.  It was funny how this nice term of "essential" was derived to represent those who had positions of servitude. Thinking back, a slave would have been essential. So, if we are so easily disposed, why would we think this country is ready for a women of color to hold the second highest position of the land? They beat and kill us whether forcibly or genocidal, and we think they're ready for Kamala!?!?!?

As folks became excited at the promise of a Kamala, Vice Presidency, did we forget, what is America? Were we so jaded at this prospect that we clearly disregarded history and our current climate.  When I heard of her nomination all I could think was, what in the world was Biden's camp thinking of selecting Harris."  Furthermore, why oh why did the "Black delegate" whoever they are, strongly recommend Harris, and felt it was justified due to the racial intensity of this country, for that very reason she should not have been selected. While Sorors were running around in colors, and practicing choreography. America was thinking "oh hell no, if Joe dies while in office, she'll be president" Don't front you all thought the same, and became OVERJOYED.  The issue is they thought the same thing, but they weren't overjoyed. They barely accepted Obama, to the point they elected the anti-Obama. Do you think they would risk another negro at the top helm???? NOOOOO. 

The Democratic establishment lacked vision and balls. The objective was to get this FUCKER out, not to appease black America. You could appease them by getting him out. Never underestimate intrinsic ideologies. They may not show it, but it's deep rooted. Haven't we been here before? We've all witnessed a country who thrives on capitalism, to the extent states refused to shut down during COVID for fear of an economic backlash, translation, money means more than life, mainly black and brown life; further translation "essential workers" you still have to come in. Right there alone, there's a genocidal vibe. We clearly were not the benefactors, and why would those who were positively impacted want to change the way. 

As much as I believe Kamala would make a much better VP than Pence. I have no confidence in this country's ideology, it's embedded, carefully disguised, and unmasked when need be. The only thing we have left as Black and Brown is our money power. Either stop spending money on the unnecessary, and while you're at it stop supporting, Kanye, Ice Cube, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne. If you have the ability to work from anywhere, now may be the time to consider a temporary ex-pat relocation. If you decide to stay you want may want to consider reviewing The Trump Survival Kit, posted in 2017. This is not our country, we were never wanted, only if we could be inferior with a purpose. This is America.....This is the Way!

Peace Out, 
Blacktina

Say it So, Joe

OMG, Black America WTF up!!!! Joe Biden is being dragged through black media because he told Charlamagne self-proclaimed the God, “if you vote for Trump you ain’t black” Guess what, he’s fucking right!!!! How hypocritical of all those in black media blasting Biden on the pretense that he takes the black vote for granted, yet how many of us have seen that “Black Plant” in all the Trump rallies and we have echoed the same sentiment.

Like many in our community, I REQUEST of our leaders to take our vote seriously, but I be damn if I let an interview on a pop culture show, with a Stephen A host replica aka Charlemagne, a bragger, DJ Envy, and a self-indoctrinated therapist, Angela Yee (who I like BTW) determine should Joe get my vote or not. If he doesn’t, who gets it, Trump, or are we going be like those salty Bernie voters and just don’t come out at all. Haven’t we learned our lesson from the last time!?!?!?!

Another thing, stop pressuring Biden to get a black women VP candidate. He would surely lose this election if he does, or if he wins, nothing will be done because those former Dixiecrats' who are now Republicans won’t do shit with him.  We have to face reality, it’s about the lesser of two evils, and right now Trump wins at being the evilest, but he also wins because no matter what he does, he has a dedicated base. While we’re busy commentating, and writing articles about how WRONG Joe is, and possibly influencing where our vote or to vote should go. His base still thinks COVID 19 is a hoax, why, cause he told them; they refuse to wear a mask, why, cause he doesn’t, and are probably drinking Clorox, why, cause he told them; that’s DEDICATION to the max, albeit stupid, but nonetheless DEDICATION!  One thing I give to those damn Republicans, Trump could rape their daughter, take a shit on their desk, and they’ll still stand behind him, while we pout about Biden saying what we all feel; it’s like the word Nigger, he’s not allowed, give me a fucking a break!

Those in the media who have this platform, I beg of you to be careful, some things needs attention, and sometimes we just got to roll, and suspend on being the party of division.  I urge you and all those who have the responsibility of being woke, please don’t give this any legs.

Stay Safe, Peace Out,

Blacktina

White People Stop Telling Me Racism is Over!

If I sit in Starbuck’s too long, the police is called on me for loitering. Yet, YOU, white people can walk into a Subway restaurant armed with assault missiles, not just guns, we’re talking some war shit, and NOTHING happens to you, not even a talk to disband, a citation, NADA, NOTHING, ZILCH.  Hell, they were even served a sandwich, WTF!?!?!?!

And, you have the nerve to keep telling us, we need to get over slavery, or the succeeding dysfunction. You will NEVER EVER have the ingenuity of insight to just recognize, you’re some fucked up people. You LOVE being white cause you can get away with shit like this, all day, every day.  If you think I’m crazy, just look at the record. For chagrins I’ll give you my top 5, but hell you know the real number has plenty of zeros following:

1.     Emmitt Till killed for whistling, looking or speaking to a white woman (who lied), whatever it was he wasn’t supposed to be near her.

2.     Trayvon Martin was walking in his neighborhood, and was killed by George Zimmerman a neighborhood watch toy cop.  His reason, Trayvon looked suspicious because he wore a hoody.

3.     Philando Castile was asked for his license and registration, as he reached for it he was shot to death in front of his 4 year old daughter. The officer thought he was getting something else, but asshole you asked him to reach for his info, WTF!?!?!

4.     George Stinney Jr., at the age of fourteen was the youngest person executed in the United States. He was charged with double murder, with no evidence, other than he was black and two little white girls had been murdered.

5.     Mary Lynch, in 1918 she was lynched, doused with gasoline, set on fire, and if that wasn’t bad enough, here’s the WORST part, she was pregnant. The mob tore through her abdomen, took out the baby and a WHITE man of course, stomped the fetus twice, and killed it.

You may say some of these top 5’s were a century ago, but here’s the real KILLER, the same shit can happen today with the same outcome, we’re hunted and YOU WHITE person have no retribution. So, please stop telling me there’s no racism, REALLY. Whenever you feel the urge just read this, and look at the video that surfaced on May 9^th, 2020. 

Peace Out,

Blacktina

I’m Kind of Feeling this COVID19, and No I’m Not Sick

Before I begin, my heart goes out to anyone who has been affected whether you’ve been sick or lost a family member during this crisis. I myself lost my husband during this global pandemic, therefore I too am your sister in arms when it comes to the grieving process.  However, I’ve been able to unapologetically live my grief without any remorse, hesitation, or concern myself with my inward behavior during this time. I owe the ability to sanely handle this process due to the COVID19 social distancing mandate, which has allowed me to telecommute and not have to deal with the daily work culture grind.  During my time of solace I’ve had the privilege of viewing how COVID has uncovered some misgivings about today’s society.

Pre-COVID19, I can recall many office conversations regarding a colleague’s phenomenal family whether it was about their children on the honor roll, community service, family vacation or just a regular happy weekend, hiking or biking somewhere. Especially when it came to the children there was these Proud Parent Moments (PPMs).  Here comes COVID19 and within a week that PP moment has literally turned into the other pee pee as in Pissed Off Moments.  The amount of social media postings I have viewed, literally begging cities to open up have been hysterical. The driving force of the begging is the inability with having to deal with the family dynamic. The once great kid is now a pain in the ass, and that spouse, oh boy this is where it gets good, has you now thinking WTF was I thinking of!?!?!  No longer were spouses, husbands in particular were being compared to the Barack to their Michelle.  Oh No, COVID19 took away sports and bars, what’s a man, at best what’s a wife to do. You could have sex, but after 45, and kids, it’s just not the same. The hysteria surrounding COVID has ignited a family breakdown which involves the notion of entertaining risking your precious children, and/or perfect spouse (wink wink) potentially contracting a deadly disease than stay at home, all because you’re getting on each other’s nerves!  But again Pre-COVID, it was all Leave it to Beaver!

On to the work environment, Walter Scott said it best “the tangle web we weave when we learn to deceive”. Organizations have longed scoffed at the idea of remote work. Some even said remote work reduces engagement and team collaboration.  (cough bullshit)  The real reason why they pretended remote work was sooooo bad for the culture, is one simple word TRUST. Why in the world did remote work seem so foreign?!?!?! After all we don’t even bank the same, watch TV the same, listen to music the same. But yet, we as a super power still had to report to work five days a week, 40 hours, 1 hour lunch, (2) 15 minute breaks, and had the nerve to vocally be bold if weren’t dressed appropriately.  I mean we had so many WTF moments at work, that honestly the pre COVID work culture killed more people at least on a mental level than COVID.  So, we’re hit with a global pandemic, and now everyone telecommutes. Why couldn’t we do this prior?!?! Again one word, TRUST! Companies are afraid of you stealing time which means stealing money, therefore they need to WATCH and make sure you’re working, (kind of sounds like slavery, but again that’s another conversation). As much as organizations want to tote engagement, inclusive work culture, and all that good shit, you still have HR departments governed by traditional leadership (aka the old people who need to leave, sorry to sound insensitive, but some of you know who you are) who really think that working remote was actually dishonesty coupled with theft. But, ah, here comes COVID and mostly everyone in corporate American can work remote. What I’m hearing from this exercise is, when an employee needs a work like balance, I’m being dishonest, but when you an employer needs to keep business as usual, then we’re in alternative mode and it’s OK.  In the words of Ed Lover, C’mon Son, GTFOHWTBS!!!But, I’ll say this, the work norm has definitely changed, and that MISTRUST shit ain’t going to work. Employees will be calling their employers to the table with that Aw Hell NO!, and Oh, hell yes I’ll be working from home from now on from time to time. You Mr. Employer can obviously deal with it.

My last COVID reveal is one that I think we all know but it takes global pandemic to damm near convert to a genocide.  My black/brown sisters and brothers are dying quicker than other race, why, not because we drink Crown Royal or eat fried chicken, despite what you may hear, that’s not it. The real reason is we’re considered “Essential” workers. Such a pretty word for such demeaning tasks.  We should all take into consideration the Field Slave was also considered an “Essential” worker. They had to pick that cotton in three digit temperature heat, snow, rain, hurricane, whips, etc. you name it.  Fast forward to 2020 there’s a respiratory virus that can kill you in 3 days, but you still have to go to work cause you work in the mail room and have to deliver mail to an empty office; or you’re a bus driver, people supposed to stay home but you still have to drive the bus; the best one for me is the security guards in the vacant office buildings. Look at these people, not a white face in sight.  There are so many reasons for this disparity, too much for one article, but just the magnitude should raise an eyebrow at the very least.  Is anyone concern? Can we close the corporate mailroom, mass transit, or close the building, apparently NO, cause their “Essential”. I ask essential to WHO?????  If we really care about the human race then NO ONE with the exception of the medical, police and fire department should have to defy the Stay at Home order. Do you realize these people going to work, are not only getting infected, but also the families they come home to. Global pandemic or Genocide, you decide!

Whatever your feelings are about COVID19, I hope for the sake of humanity that your conscious of respecting the well-being of your fellow man prevails.  This is one serious virus that should not be taken lightly. Listen to the medical professionals, who we need to THANK every day, and stay your ASS at home!!!!! 

Peace Out,

Blacktina 

The Trump Survival Kit

I didn’t think it would come this, but after the latest press conference and Lord knows countless others, “are you fucking kidding me!?!?!” moments, I think it’s now time to invoke the Trump Survival Kit for African Americans. Some may think a survival kit is a bit drastic, but so is having an imbecile for president who has surrounded himself with the most progressive racists of our time. As a women of color it scares me what these men could do with the 13^th amendment; remember the Jews in a million years never thought one man could turn nations against them.  I ain’t trying to live through a modern holocaust!

Please note: if you are any other “minority” race, I hate the word minority, but if you fall under this category based on societal standards, then you too may need to create a kit or adjust the contents of what’s being explained below:

The Trump Survival Kit

Item #1.    Passport – If you don’t have one already, it’s time to start the process. The cost for a passport whether new or renewal ranges from $110 - $165.  Check out https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html for exact info. And while you’re at it, start researching other countries you may want to export to. 

Item #2.      Money – Start saving your coin. You do not need anything new right now.  But, you will need bribe cash in the event you need to escape.

Item #3.      Escape Route – At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if someone isn’t building a new underground railroad. Folks, it’s time we get our Harriet Tubman on.  Figure out where you want to go as mentioned in Item #1

Item #4.      Learn a new language – Depending on the destination or destinations you’re thinking of, it will be helpful if you learn the language, which will make your transition a bit easier.

Item #5.      Swimming Lessons – If there’s one thing we learned from the slave trade, swimming was not one of our strong suits. Hell, just watch Amazing Race there’s always a black team who can’t swim.  During an escape we will not be able to control the method of transportation, some of it may require getting on a raft and then swimming the rest of the way.  Start learning, plus it’s healthy for you!

Item #6.      Natural Hair – Sistahs, sistahs, sistahs, now more than ever is the time to go natural. During an escape you will not be able to maintain a weave, plus you might pisst off the other escapees with the smell, let’s be real.  For the relaxer chicks, you can pretend your hair is not nappy, but you know six weeks into an escape you will lose your mind.  I’m personally going through the relaxer-less process now.  My advice, start slow, get use to the hair your ancestors gave you, and you’ll see you’ll adjust!

Item #7.      Berries and edible Plants – In every slave movie escape, somewhere somehow they end up in the woods and actually survive.  Back in the day, peeps knew what natural aka organic really was. Take a class on natural berries and plants that can be used for consumption and medicinal purposes. As a matter of fact, Groupon was recently offering a survival in the woods class for $59, I suggest you check your local listing.

Item #8.      Dog Training – As much as we love our furry family members, we all know they were the primary weapon of slave recovery.  With this being said, now is the time to embrace your inner Cesar Millian and take a dog training class, learn to disarm, pacify them or whatever it takes not to be eaten or caught.

Item #9.      Learn to climb a tree – If you don’t subscribe to item #8 then may I suggest you learn how to climb a tree.  This is an official reach out to Bree Newsome to host some classes.  Remember, this was the sistah who climbed the flag pole to remove the confederate flag in South Carolina.

Item #10.   Get a Massa – If you absolutely feel you can’t follow items 1-9, then may I suggest you broker a deal with a white person you can trust, and ensure he/she will be your Massa in the event the 13^th amendment is repealed and we’re once again deemed legal property. 

On a final note, I encourage all folks to stay woke. We live in a country that kidnapped, abused, degraded and continues to despise us. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do to make their AmeriKKKa great again! Be on guard and if you can’t fight them, then get the hell out. At least this time it will be on your own terms! 

Peace out,
Blacktina

The Folders

I don’t have a problem with Steve Harvey, Ray Lewis, Jim Brown and Kanye West meeting with Donald Trump. Hell, I don’t have a problem with the Talladega marching band performing at the inauguration. Nope, no problem at all.  What I have a problem with is the easy way all of these people and institutions fold like a bad hand in Vegas.  I would just like to see for once in my lifetime black people stand up like other races, Asians, Jewish,  Latinos and go HAM on someone. Why do we always believe in turning the other cheek? Why is we have to be the forgivers and move on? Why can’t we demand apologies? Why can’t other party atone for their behavior? Why is it that moving on requires us to just take it and excuse the other party for the sake of moving on.

Have any of these people who are in the spotlight and represent us, so they say, ever think that their representation appears misguided.  I can only imagine how other races laugh at us. For real, think about it, slavery lasted centuries and we don’t even think of bringing up the word reparations.  The holocaust was a decade plus, and hell even if you think Nazi, you will be sued.  Yet, our race will sit with a man who refuses to denounce racism or sexism, rather he unapologetically promotes it.  If you’re unclear about his stance just remember the campaign and his emergence of the Alternative Right aka the new Nazi’s, remember we can’t say Nazi.  And if the campaign isn’t enough to understand his view, then go back to his history and research the Central Park 5.  Homeboy was real about prosecuting and throwing away the key for 5 young black youths.  Who ironically were found innocent 20 years later. When asked would he apologize, he said NO, cause he still felt they were guilty, despite overwhelming DNA evidence and a confession from the actual criminal.  And, when it comes to discrimination him and his Daddy were prime advocates, to the point where a Black person couldn’t even rent an apartment in one of their buildings.  But the biggest offense is when he championed the movement to overthrow the first Black President, accusing him of not being a natural born citizen and forcing him to produce a birth certificate; all because his name was “foreign”, and because he was Black.

 

I don’t know how in their conscious do any of the named celebrities in this article or anyone else of color meet with such a man who clearly belittles, and HATES your people. Yes HATE‼! He is a fear monger and if given the chance not only deport every immigrant legal or not, but hell who knows, may look to reverse the 13^th amendment, after all our freedom is actually an amendment to the constitution, which one can debate that the laws of the land were not for us! Having the audacity to meet with a man like this and coming out grinning for cameras, is shameful, disgraceful and just disrespectful to your base and your ancestors.  Yesterday I heard Jeff Johnson say, that just because some people read two books they think they have the right to criticize Steve Harvey.  Mr. Johnson, I have read plenty of books, just because I’m not a journalist doesn’t mean I don’t know my shit.  I know enough to know that even before Dr. King met with the Kennedys who were Democrats aka Dixicrats, they had to prove to him with actions they were genuinely serious about helping the southern blacks.  As a matter of fact it was not until Robert Kennedy who fought for the release of MLK, who was sentenced to a chain gang, did we then embrace the Democratic party.  I ask you and all the other “folders” what has this man done to make you think he will have our best interest at heart? So far, nothing, except for a meeting with disconnected individuals who grew up hood, but have long been gone!  It’s a travesty, that what represents us is spineless and profit seeking for their own celebrity. Not to mention how insulting it is for us as Black people that this man thinks that a comedian, football player and rapper can institute community change.  He asked to speak to them because to him we’re so dumb, that we’ll listen to the radio talk show host or Kim Kardashian’s husband.  Let that sink in, how much this man thinks of us!

 

Steve Harvey glaringly attacked Donald Trump during the election and rightly so, but in the same token to shuck and jive afterwards is just so UNFORGIVING, so CHEAP.  For heaven’s sake people have some pride! Demand the respect you and all of us around you are due.  Now, I don’t expect the “folders” to carry our race, however I don’t want them to represent us.  To quote Harriet Tubman “I would of freed more slaves if they knew they were slaves.”  It’s apparent that their motives are too far removed with what’s plaguing our communities.  With that being said, I’m not here to change the “folders”, as a matter of fact, fuck them! But as citizens, we have a duty to call these people out, close the chapter and move on.  As of now, I’m taking a cue from Dr. King, until action is done in our favor, and only then will I entertain a compromise. 

Ping Pong Politics

     Today I’m surviving on 2 hours sleep,  like many others I stood up last night watching the election results.  My persistence at remaining awake was due to an enormous surge of anxiety coupled with the reality that this couldn’t be true. Donald Trump, (oh lord it kills me to write this) is the President of the United States.  NOOOOOOOO‼‼‼ Why America? Why? But then it hit me, Americans have been tired of the standard DC politics, the bureaucracy, the overall political bullshit. We vote you in and still get shitted on, so in the words of Donald Trump, “what do you have to lose” But for me I lost my sense of hope in this country.  Here I write to you as a Black Latina woman who has to self sanction what she says in public, and yet the man running for President has referred to African Americans as The Blacks, homosexuals as The Gays, and the Hispanics as criminals! To the dismay and shock of many he WINS‼‼! But did he really win because of his brashness or better yet was it because Americans had embraced his idiotic statements and internalized them to symbolize he was different, different from the standard  DC politics. Was it like, fuck it, we need somebody to say what they mean without sugar coating it, and hopefully things will get done.  As I thought about how Trump supporters felt, begrudgingly I had to admit, I get it!  I understand,  because I felt the same way when Barack Obama entered the 2008 presidential race.

      In 2008 Barack Obama was a Jr. Senator from Illinois with about a year and half experience. Prior to running for President his only claim to fame was electrifying voters as he delivered one of the most memorable DNC speeches for the Kerry/Edwards ticket.  Other than that and a few appearances on Oprah and some news shows I can’t recite what Obama had done as a Senator. But yet, with his lack of experience he beat Hilary Clinton out of the Democratic primaries. Coincidentally like this election she too had more experience than Obama, even to the point where she served as his informal mentor while in the Senate. And then the unthinkable happened, he beat John McCain, an established tenured Senator. We never asked how in the hell did this happen? A man with only a year and half political experience beat out two veteran politicians.  He was able to sail to the office because he promised what we all wanted to hear, we need CHANGE in Washington. The change from the Washington status quo, in particular the Bush presidency.  Fast forward to 2016 not much has changed. Washington is still stalled, bills for the middle class aren’t being passed.  The Affordable Care Act is not that affordable.  To note, Barack Obama has done a lot despite the clear opposition he faced from a Republican congress, but he still came up short from the CHANGE he promised.  So, 2016, here we go again and guess what we still need CHANGE. Just like we needed change from the Bush presidency, Americans felt a need to change from the lack of progress promised by the Obama administration.  Unfortunately, Hilary Clinton was part of that administration and like McCain fell prey to guilty by association.  Yes, there were the emails, Benghazi and the dishonesty of the DNC (Thank you, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Donna Brazile, smh…..), but let’s be honest that was in no way in comparison to Trump’s “grabbing the pussy”.  Yet he wins and she loses. 

      Hilary’s lost signifies the attention span of the American voter.  We live in a world of get it done or get out.  Since it doesn’t look like the Democrats got much done, then why come back right now, again quoting Trump “What do you have to lose”.  So let’s go back and switch to Republican.  America will Ping Pong the hell out of the parties till one gets it right.  For those non Trump supporters like myself. I take solace in knowing the scales will tip in 2024 back to Democrat as I’m sure Trump and his cabinet of crooks (Guiliani, Christie, etc.) will make it easy for us to make that decision.  As an American, my psyche, my emotions and my disdain for this process can’t take any more of this.  As citizens we need to truly understand the laws of our land, and legislate to re-write them if needed; understand the election process especially the importance of mid-elections, and research/understand how to “fire” our representatives who don’t represent us but look out for their own interest.  This level of Ping Pong politics is costing us far more than we can ever calculate.  If you’re still unsure of the ramifications, then just look no further than our newly elected President, the host of Celebrity Apprentice!


Peace Out,
Blacktina