Blogging Feels Good...

Today, I decided to blog once again. In between my last entry and this particular one, life happened...but I had to remind myself that life - and all the distractions that often come along with it - should not steer us to far away from that dreamy destination called PEACE.

Part of my trek towards inner tranquility and outward calm includes writing. My well of creativity has felt dry, despite the many stories that my life - over the past few months - has produced. But here I am hammering at it once again...

Nonetheless, it feels great to take time out to type words that force me to center myself...it feels good to allow the flames of creativity to fully illuminate my mind...shit, it feels good to type the word "good" even while there is a whole bunch of madness going on all around us.

A Poem for the Brown Janitor Woman

"i see You"

While others pass you by
as if you don’t exist,
Benefitting from your labor -
floors baptized by your mop
just to be touched again by our soles.

Your dignity is radiant
You who are brown
and yet invisible to most
But I see you…
Yes, I do.

Folks in America kick and scream
complaining that you rob us
of good and decent jobs.
Because of you, they say,
papa hasn't worked in years.

But apparently
no one signed up for the
janitorial position that you have.
Because they are to busy watching you clean,
But I see you.

Dedicated to the brown woman that I observed cleaning the Princeton Junction train station on 1.31.07...

What do you think?

"When citizens feel themselves excluded, it is appropriate that they lobby, petition, attract the interest of government and employers. But when Americans organize into subgroups, it should be with an eye to merging with the whole, not remaining separate. What was the point of the Negro Civil Rights movement of the early twentieth century, if not integration? The trouble with today's ethnic and racial and sexual identifications is that they become evasions of citizenship. Groups beget subgroups."

-From Brown: The Last Discovery of America by Richard Rodriguez

Is Mr. Rodriguez correct? Should we, Americans, strive towards brown - impurity - mestisaze - or should we drift into separatism?

Good question: Any thoughts?

My Birthday and other updates....

So today is my birthday...31 years under my belt and I feel pretty great!!!

New news...I just received word that two papers that I wrote our being published in peer reviewed journals...Theology & Sexuality and Black Theology: An International Journal...cool right...I'm pretty excited! Two more papers are under review and I am awaiting a yea or nay...trust me, I know all about the nays...

I also will be presenting at 2 conferences...one is an international Queer Studies Conference...in Mexico City, Mexico...the other will be at the Univeristy of Rhode Island...

So I am pretty amped...and inspired...I will keep all five people who read this blog updated...haha!

After the Holiday is Over: Post-MLK Day Musings

On January 15, we celebrated the legacy of one whose very life contributed to the construction of a “new” America, Martin Luther King Jr. Some took the time on that commemorative day to reflect upon the consequential lessons of yet another chapter of American History in which hatred and prejudice served as the foundation of civil laws and uncivil conduct while others considered where we stand today. Yet, after our rest-filled or activity laden day off and commemoration we must ask: Are we still devoid of vision and hope for a better today and greater tomorrow? Are we to keep dreaming or should we maintain the resolve, that in our global world, the poor, disenfranchised, and marginalized have already overcome? I contend that our global community is in dire need of “dreamers” who will continually critique the social structures of our global community that inhibit peace and justice so as to carry out the legacy that the great Dr. King began.

Presently, many speak of Dr. King’s “dream” as nothing more than a sensationalistic flash in American history, a moment reminiscent of the social tremors of our discomforting past. For most Americans, life as we know it is fairly perfect. We no longer force any racial group to sit in the back of the bus nor do we publicly humiliate other human beings or allow our public servants to brutally attack those who seek to peacefully protest. America is no longer that two-faced country that exists as a nation founded upon the democratic principles of “freedom and unalienable rights” while simultaneously forcing some groups within its borders to live under inhumane conditions. Today, we have moved beyond those shortcomings or have we?

What issues would Dr. King force us to re-envision and dream about today? Would Dr. King be comfortable with the increasing role of violence in our society, in our global community, as a means to end conflict (i.e. Iraq war)? Would Dr. King support any group or faction, religious or secular, that fails to openly demonstrate true love and regard for others (i.e. gay and/or lesbian individuals)? Would Dr. King remain silent as larger continents like Africa are devastated by the AIDS virus and smaller countries like Sudan experience political upheaval and civil unrest? One would only hope that Dr. King would remain consistent in his moral grounding and respond to any of the aforementioned with the same passion as he approached the question of civil rights. Nonetheless, the task is left to us to dream and to act in accordance with Dr. King’s legacy.

Thus, MLK day is a national holiday that serves as a charge for us to consider the legacy of a great American leader. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that we must perpetually seek to situate ourselves, as participants, within his “dream” daily. Participating, in what I think, is a dream that points in the direction of the here-and-not-yet Kin-dom of God. A kin-dom actualized by through Christ and the participation of human kind. Alas, this one national day of reflection should propel us to action during the other three hundred and sixty four. Hail to Dr. King and hats off to the bearers of the dream who live amongst us today!

MySpace vs. RealSpace

I think that this MySpace gig is fascinating...

Think about it: MySpace friends exists within the confines of this dot.com generated universe...we can Add friends as we see fit...we can Delete them as well...damn, we can even request or deny them entry into our world...

I smiled while thinking about this...especially as our friend's lists grow and comments are posted from folk that I haven't talked to in RealSpace...I guess this is the genius of the invention...it causes MySpace to hit head on with RealSpace...

So here it is...what's the lesson? In RealSpace we too can Add friends simply by connecting with them...being real...and open...however, in RealSpace we can very well delete friends by doing the converse.

I am happy that MySpace exists in the world of the URL, otherwise I would be in trouble...I am fotunate that in RealSpace, we can cling to those who trek daily with us in our lives. I should put up a Friend's List on my frig to remind me of who they are...and how thankful I am for having them...

Yeah, I might do that...on second thoughts, I should just tell them and show them how much I appreciate them...

Breathe again...

Okay, I just got back to Jersey from the mountains of Pennsylvania. It was amazing!

It is nice to get away and lose one's self in the beauty of our natural surroundings. The mountains made me remember my own vulnerability. The rivers and streams made me consider the need for tranquility in my life. The dirt roads made me consider how things were...

I had a chance to breathe...reflect...and live!

I guess that it is why it is so important to take time out for ourselves. And even more important to spend quality tine with those that we love.

I need to go away more...it helped me to appreciate what and who awaits me at home.