Springer's Journal

International Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

2009-11-27T00:40:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been awhile....but my husband, Norman, but a bug up my nose this morning.

For the rules, go here:
http://forums.koalawallop.com/viewtopic.php?t=1719

Feedback is VERY welcome!

I want to pretend to be a time traveler on Dec. 8th...location to be disclosed.

Norman and I were talking about the fact that there are so few African Americans in time travel literature. (The only one I can think of is Octavia Butler's Kindred)

It struck me, what would the effect of African Americans be on this event? What different choices would we make? And given that it is done in public, how would people respond to Black time traveller's? Given the historic nature of the past election, what would African-Americans from a dystopic future be here to "correct." And what would ones from a Utopian future be here to encourage?

The current scenario with which I am working is that a series of catastrophic events leads to the extinction of the White Race. My character comes from a future where there are no White People. I live in a world where I've never seen a living White person - only ancient photographs. I've returned to prevent that from happening.

So, I plan to walk around a good portion of the day marveling at the curious wonder of White People. And, I’ll be asking White people the same questions White people ask me everyday in the supermarket.

In order to be safe, my character must look opulent, regal and unthreatening. Her tone must always be soft, cajoling and co-operative.

Sample Scripts

In reverse to the "How long have you been growing your hair." For short haired people, I plan to use "It was kind of you to give up your hair for The InCureables. You look like the kind of person who would donate. I'm right, aren't I?" (with a great big smile and nod as if they are the best ever person in the word.)

For a person with very straight hair. "How long does it take to do your hair? I've never seen hair so straight. May I touch it?

With an incredulous look on my face followed by great concern, "You are so pale, are you safe outside at this time of day?"

LUNCH

Approach a random person.

“It is the time of Satiation. Where is the Community Cook Pot?”

Likely response - HUH?

Where do you gather to celebrate the gifts of nature?

Likely response - Huh?

Make the sign for eating. If they catch on, listen intently for directions. Then thank the profusely.

In the food court -

Ask a person “Which of these Community Cook Pots is for the scientists?”

Likely response - Huh?

(Gesture at all of the lines.) Which queue is for the scientists?

Likely response - Huh?

Where am I allowed to dine?

Likely response - Anywhere.

Stare at them in disbelief. Then, walk around a long time staring at the menus.

Hold up the line.

Ask the cashier -

“What is my allotment today?

Likely response - Thanks for choosing X. What can I get you?

What is my portion today?

Cashier
Huh?

What is my rightful allowance of food today?

Cashier
Huh? Have whatever you want.

That’s is unacceptable. I have not earned anything I want. What may I have?

Cashier
What do you want?

(Joyful!) A test! This is a test of my honesty!

Rummage through very small purse. Pull out pesos, dollars and pounds.
Order the smallest thing on the menu.

Here is my offering, what do you choose?

Let clerk pick up the dollars and give change.

I have done well!

Take food to a table. Bring out a candle, a lighter, some incense. Light the candle and incense. Open arms and give a great LOUD prayer of Thanksgiving.”

Eat....relishing every single bite.

To insinuate the Time Travel motif - What is the year?

Likely response, “2009.”

Who is the Nations Elder?

Likely response: Obama

(joyful response) Then we still have time! Oh! Oh! We still have time.

NEED:
More ideas
Some help with costumes. Flowing, new age-y, ethnic-y clothing. (A cloak in the event I don't choose a mall.)
A cohort ( or a court)
Documentation
Witnesses in the event that a Black Time Traveler is way too scary for some random people.
Childcare

Anyone interested?

Video of White men who have done brilliant applications of this are here:
http://vimeo.com/2567037
and here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEtVGsV2EcQ&NR=1

Watching Stacey Waite Open For Dr. Bernice Reagon

2009-03-16T17:28:00.003-05:00

behind me was a murder of cackling elders.
during the entire evening, they crackled their candy wrappers;
tittered; giggled; sucked their teeth and said "Oh, no!"

(especially when Jan was reading.)
they harumphed, groaned "uh, uh, uh"
and muttered about poems in which no cock protruded.

when you took the stage, I heard them shifting;
settling; roosting. You spoke.
and they didn't.

I saw a bridge building itself
that, in death, not even Sakia Gunn could erect.
under the eyes of frozen painted muses

these women recalled
passing; chewed on choices;
and were finally brought

to peace.

Seedlings

2009-03-15T10:46:00.002-05:00

Some people say the universe sings a song. If you listen closely enough, you can hear the moon in its orbit. Perhaps I am wrong, but it sounds something a calimbas, xylophones, violins and a small wooden drum.

I have heard the Earth’s heartbeat. Sometimes it is a reassuring sound ~ something deep ~ like the moment my brain finished forming and I noticed the heartbeat pumping nutrients into my forming limbs.

Whether these things are real or not, I do believe everything has a song.

As the weather warms, our thoughts turned to the garden. Winston was so pleased with himself last summer. So, no cajoling was necessary. He has big plans this year. He knows what he wants to plant. Milkweed is high on his list because he wants to attract butterflies. But, he also wants pumpkins, beans, broccoli, basil, mint, corn, and the list goes on and on.

Last week, we planted seeds. The little peat pellets are a magical thing. When you pour water on them, they expand. It was his favourite part of the planting.

But, my favourite was observing how clearly he could hear the songs of life all around him. As he placed each seed in its little hole, he sang it a growing song. Plant and sing and plant and sing - until all of the seeds were snug.

With each packet, I read him the germination time. He seemed a bit disappointed that it would take so long. But, lo and behold. Not three days after planting, his seeds sprouted. He was so proud that he had given them such a good start. And he sings to the seedlings almost every other day.

We’ve discussed the science of why plants enjoy having a soft song every now and then. As much as he understands and nods his head. I think, he knows there is something deeper. He believes in his songs.

And I believe him. He hears the world's music. And I hope he never forgets how to listen for it.

Utterances

2009-03-10T15:13:00.000-05:00

NOTE: These are exact utterances made by my son while he played a game called Noby, Noby Boy.

Scene 1

I learned that Boy could climb up anything when he climbed up a rainbow.

Cat can climb really well. Just like boy can climb up anything.

Boy has to stretch to feed girl so they can go to Saturn.

Look at the human girl standing on the floating turtle.

The people are always up.

I’m never leaving down here because of the people.

Look at the people running away because I want to eat them.

Scene 2

Want to see me go up to the clouds?

I’m flying.

I’m not flying, I’m falling. That doesn’t count for me. I tried to tell you, but, you wouldn’t listen.

(Singing)
But, I am mad at Boy because he is the cutest little doggie

He’s really a boy not a girl with little hearts coming out of him.

He’s not a girl. He’s a boy.

(Spoken)
He can only eat when he stretches.

Boy is missing! Oh! There he is, he’s right down there.

Okay, eating face. I call Boy eating face.

Scene 3

Want me to show you how I feed Girl?

I have to report my length to Girl.

Girl swallows the heart I gave her. It’s 879, 345,823 meters long. She grew! See!

Scene 4

Look Grandma can float. Run for your life, I’m coming for you Grandma! Grandma is by my house, but she can’t see me coming for her.

I got you Grandma.

I figured out a sneak attack for eating her.

Grandma come back, I just want to eat you.

Grandma won’t see me up in the clouds. She won’t be expecting me. I’ve been following Grandma all day. But, still she’s not running. She’s not hiding.

That sneaky little Grandma. She went into her house!

But, now, I’ve knocked her out of her car.

You can’t run. You can’t hide, Grandmas. I’m going to eat you.

Stupid old Grandma.

Where is she? In my tummy! I got you inside my tummy!

Better run. Better hide. I’m gonna get you inside.

Come here, darling!

Boy, come down, Grandma knows you love cookies. Come inside for cookie nookie tookies.

Bye, bye Grandma. I ate you all up.

Scene 5

I’m done with this.

Athena

2009-03-10T15:11:00.001-05:00

this young man rummages through your
top drawer, fingering knickers, bras,
personal things I used to fold, put away

in that cloudy dark universe I painted.
to sleep you sang through insomnia.
and sunny days began to slip

into hunted nights. no longer owl
but snake busy chasing tail.
you’ve left behind

the blue moon bedroom,
the soprano bow with its quiver,
the hounds and heart pumping

deer. dryads are simple,
fragile, easily burned like mist;
tattooed by men and felled

with rings carved around their trunks.
at the edge of every limb, roads
with racing cars, gun shots,

mutilated virgins, crumbling temples.
and consider these forests: they have never
been forever. not the way you think

they should be. but, sit
upon your own scale
if you can find it.

in their own way,
sirens have always been
beautiful. still. stride your night;

sing down sailors;
or fade like your temple.
but, look before you cross.

NOTE: My daughter just broke her other wrist after completing rehab for the first broken wrist. I trust her to choose wholeness.

this heavy house

2009-03-10T15:07:00.003-05:00

observe them drinking the laughter out of the air, smell
their vowels; taste their assonance and echo. I still feel

my favorites drinking my sweat, biting
my tongue, sucking alliteration and active verbs

from my pussy. the words keep coming ~
see this wrinkling brow; caress this grey hair;

fuck these fingers which keep typing. I am
tired of dead poets around my dining room table.

FRIENDS: I've been absent for awhile. Living life, observing deaths and evaluating the future. I wrote this thinking about the passing of my friend Brenda Moossy.

Today I Will Sit | After Mo Willem's "Today I Will Fly"

2009-02-20T09:19:00.002-05:00

Today I will sit.

No, you will not sit.

Yes, I will sit.

You can not sit. You must fix lunch.

Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit.

STARVING! DYING!

Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit.

I will get help.

I will sit.

I will get Daddy.

Good, I will sit.

Look! Chocolate and shortbread cookies for lunch!

No. I will fix lunch.

No, you sit.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T20:39:00.005-05:00

I've been focused on family these past few weeks. After all, it is the Mama who makes the holidays.

They say you spend the next year in the same way you spend the first day. I thought to myself, I'd love a year of laughter. So here is my new year's moment.

Today, I mentioned disliking the show The Doddlebops to my husband.

Without missing a keystroke, he looked up and said, "They are a Minstral Show. Except with White people in Blue face." And kept on typing.

I nearly fell over.

Talking Back Is Okay

2008-12-11T04:22:00.003-05:00

Obama is using technology to find out what is important to people. What a cool idea. Change.gov now has a place to go and ask leading questions. If you log in, you can vote on the questions or ask a few yourself. Here are some of the top questions.

"What will you do as President to restore the Constitutional protections that have been subverted by the Bush Administration and how will you ensure that our system of checks and balances is renewed?"

"Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor - ideally Patrick Fitzgerald - to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?"

"What do you plan to do to our food industry to make it more sustainable? Will there be changes to our farming policies?"

"Solar energy is in use throughout the world on an individual household basis for water and facility heating, as well as electricity generation. Will your admin. attempt to utilize the millions of acres available for solar energy collection?"

Okay, you know what to do. Go vote. Go ask. And remember, it's more than all right to talk back.

Wordless Wednesday | El Santuario Roseria

2008-12-10T12:13:00.008-05:00

So we went to see them.

Other people participating in Wordless Wednesday here:
Electronic Village,
Wordless Wednesday Headquarters

Pittsburgh | ACLU Bill Of Rights Poetry Reading

2008-12-01T16:53:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm honoured to be in such excellent company. If you are nearby, please consider attending!

The Fifth Annual ACLU Bill of Rights Poetry Reading will be held in the Adamson Wing of Baker Hall at Carnegie Mellon University on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. Ten well-known, Pittsburgh-based poets will read their original work in celebration of the Bill of Rights. The event is a benefit for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The Adamson Wing is located mid-way in Baker Hall. Parking is available in campus lots and at meters on Frew Street, directly behind Baker Hall. For a map of the CMU campus, go to: www.cmu.edu/about/visit/campus-map.shtml

The poets sharing their works will be:

§ Jan Beatty, the winner of the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize from the University of Pittsburgh for her first book, Mad River, directs Carlow University’s creative writing program, and Carlow’s Madwomen in the Attic Writing Workshops; she is the author of Boneshaker, Ravenous and Red Sugar. Her radio program, “Prosody,” appears on WYEP-FM on Tuesday nights.

§ Jim Daniels is the author of eleven books of poetry, including most recently, In Line for the Exterminator, and Revolt of the Crash-Test Dummies. He has received the Brittingham Prize for Poetry, and his poems have appeared in the Pushcart Prize and Best American Poetry anthologies. He is the Thomas Stockman Baker Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon and directs the Creative Writing Program there.

§ Angele Ellis is a longtime peace activist and educator, and co-author of Dealing with Difference: Taking Action on Class, Race, Gender and Disability; her poetry has been published in numerous journals, and she is the author of Arab on Radar.

§ Cvetka Lipuš was born in Austria. Having grown up as a member of the Slovenian minority in Austria, she writes poetry in Slovenian as well as non-fiction in German. She is the author of five poetry collections and has received several fellowships and literary awards. She has lived in Pittsburgh since 1995.

§ Peter Oresick is the author of Warhol-O-Rama, published by Carnegie Mellon in 2008. His other books include: For a Living: The Poetry of Work, The Pittsburgh Book of Contemporary American Poetry, and Working Classics: Poems on Industrial Life. He is Associate Director of the Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing at Chatham University, and also teaches publishing at the University of Pittsburgh, and the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon.

§ Richard St. John is the author of The Pure Inconstancy of Grace, published by Truman State University Press, after placing 2^nd in the T.S. Eliot Prize competition. His poetry has appeared in Sewanee Review, Poet Lore, Carolina Quarterly and other periodicals. He is Executive Director of Autumn House Press, a non-profit literary press based in Pittsburgh.

§ Mike Schneider has written widely in Pittsburgh publications, including award-winning articles in Pittsburgh Magazine. His poetry has appeared in many journals, including 5 AM, Atlanta Review, Shenandoah and Poetry; and his chapbook, Rooster, was published in 2004 by Main Street Rag.

§ Ellen McGrath Smith teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and has been awarded the Academy of American Poets Prize, the Zone 3 Rainmaker Award, and the HyperAge Ascher Montandon Award for her poetry. Her work has appeared in the anthologies, For a Living: The Poetry of Work, and Living Inland, as well as numerous journals.

§ Christina Springer is a text artist who uses poetry, dance, theatre and film. She’s taught creative writing at City Lit College and The University of East London. Poems have appeared in Gathering Ground: A Cave Canem Reader, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Slam Poetry CD, The Drunken Boat, Janus Head and Callaloo and other journals.

§ Justin Vicari is the recipient of the Third Coast Poetry Award and the New Millennium Writings Poetry Prize. His first book, The Professional Weepers, and his chapbook, Siamese Twins of the 21^st Century, are forthcoming.

§ Joan E. Bauer (emcee) won the Earle Birney Poetry Prize in 2007 from Prism International. Her poetry has appeared in 5 AM, Italian Americana, Paper Street, Poet Lore, and several anthologies. Her first book, The Almost Sound of Drowning, has just been published by Main Street Rag.

A reception will follow the reading, and a selection of the poets’ books will be available for sale. A program will provide further biographical notes on the poets, and will acknowledge a “Friends of the ACLU” Host Committee that helps make this event possible.

Those attending are encouraged to renew or initiate an ACLU membership for $20, checks payable to ACLU, or make a donation to the ACLU Foundation. Requested donations: $20 (regular admission), $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Free book for those making a $20 donation or $20 membership!

For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Pittsburgh ACLU office

at 412-681-7736 or email poetry@aclupgh.org.

Journey To The Monarch Butterflies

2008-11-25T23:21:00.003-05:00

Photos later, uncooperative computer - ah...Mexico

We came to Morelia to visit friends and the Monarch butterflies which migrate here every year. In spite of landing at 1:50 in the morning, Winston was eager to get going. And in so many ways, for Winston, this has been the best vacation. He is wide open to possibility. He is eager to experience adventure. He trusts us that everything is okay.

On Sunday, we rose early in the morning. Travel is slow through the small towns of Mexico. No main roads lead to Ocampo. Every half mile, there are bumps in the road which would rip the underbelly right off your car. Cows, sheep and dogs appear to contemplate suicide using the hood of your car as their tool. From time to time we had to stop for a chicken to cross the road.

We stopped at a roadside stand to use the bathrooms. Winston was amazed that he had to pour water into the toilet so that it could flush. How amazing! How wonderful! How delightfully curious. Then, back into the car for more driving.

Morelia is not a top tourist destination. In comparison, Ocampo ranks right up there with a trip to the swamps of Mississippi. The road up the mountain is paved with bricks and stones. The bricks are where your tires should be. The stones are where you tires should not be. It looks and feels like driving for miles onto a mechanics lift. The side of the road is alternately a sheer drop off the mountain or a deep ditch.

After three hours of driving from Morelia, we arrived at Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca El Rosario. We pulled into the car park. Our car was surrounded by little boys brandishing souvenirs, bamboo walking sticks and songs. Here it seems, everyone wants a peso or five. We made our way through this mob towards the bathrooms. After spending 6 pesos for a wad of toilet paper and a receipt celebrating our eco-tourism, we felt prepared to head up the mountain.
Winston is so excited. He has this vision of holding a butterfly. I try to warn him that the butterflies might not land on him. He assures me that if he is still and patient, they will come to him.

Uphill and up the hill some more. Past singing children who think their songs are definitely worth a peso. Past wooden shacks selling souvenirs, food, water, soft drinks. We trudge up hill through the dust and wood smoke from the great metal drums which served as grills. Up and up we went seeking butterflies.

Finally, I see a great white building announcing that it is the butterfly sanctuary. On the mountain side, hundreds of butterflies are stream down the mountain. I think, we are here! Finally! Winston and his friend Ezzat romp through a small meadow outside of the sanctuary. Winston stand still. He is waiting for a butterfly to choose him.

“Wow!” I think. “The walk was totally worth it!” It will cost us 85 pesos to enter the Sanctuary. I’m ready for lunch. I’ve seen the butterflies. They were great. Bring on the cervessa and tostadas! We’ll sit around and wait for Winston to hold a butterfly.

But, no, the orange and black stream of loveliness is not what we came to see. So, we pay up, pass up through the building, and out onto the mountainside. We are given a guide. Suddenly, I am grateful that we paid our fee. Before we came, I was aware that the butterflies are endangered. Illegal logging has created a severe loss of habitat. Their numbers are dwindling.

Our guide seems to take his role very seriously. He will not let any of us lag behind. He watches us carefully to make sure we don’t touch the few butterflies we see resting in the plants or bushes along the path. He watches every time we remove something from our packs which might generate rubbish. He seems to serve a dual role - both protector of the forest and informative tour guide. This place in which his family has resided for generations has now become a viable means of support to him. Conservation is suddenly profitable.

As we reach the first cement staircase disappearing around a bend into the trees, our guide informs us that there are 600 of them. Okay.

So, up and up and up we climb. After the first 50 steps into the forest, it occurs to me that eco-tourism is not for me. (Not one single write up discusses the grueling up hill journey which awaits you.) I decide, I won’t make it. This is very different than hiking through Frick Park. This is a mountain. And there are 550 steps to go. Unlike the Cupola in the Vatican, there is no crowd pressing behind you. You have to do this on your own. You have to do it of your own free will.

Winston and Ezzat alternately race ahead and then double back to inform us they are tired. Then - off they go again. Only stopping only to carefully examine butterflies laying eggs, drinking nectar and resting in the shade.

I marvel at their youth and fitness. I am sure that I am going to have a heart attack on a Mexican mountainside where no emergency vehicles can reach me. After 200 more steps - with frequent rests while the children, my friends and the tour guide wait - I refuse to walk any further. I tell everyone to go ahead. I’ll meet them at the bottom. The tour guide reluctantly agrees. But, he insists that he will come back for me. Panting, sweating and with a racing heart, I sit on a bench.

Nobody speaks English here. Nobody believes I don’t speak Spanish. Old ladies with canes hobble down the mountain praising Jesus and urging me to get up and keep walking. Young women in heels pick their way down the steep hill. A stooped old man in a sombrero with cane limps past, a beatific smile on his face.

I realize that if I can painlessly give birth to two children, I have what is necessary within me to walk up a mountain. So I get up. I walk 30 paces. i sit and pant and rest. I repeat this for the last 400 steps. Finally, a dirt path snakes off up into the trees. I’ve made it!

With renewed vigour, I set off. A quarter of a mile later, I realize that I am not even close. I sit. I pant. I rest. I sweat. More people stream past me. The flow of butterflies has increased. Yet, the people walking down the mountainside take little notice of them. They all appear as if they have had some glorious and divine vision and the butterflies are but a residual manifestation of some more poignant experience.

I press on another quarter mile. I give up again. Suddenly, a family chattering in English approaches. I perk up. I ask them how much farther I have to go. The mother tells me, I’m almost there. I have to keep on. She points to a patch of blue sky.

“That’s the meadow,” she says. “Right there. So close. Keep going.”

Her teenaged daughter chimes in, “It’s awesome! Sooooo awesome!”

The teenaged son adds, “You have to do it. You have to.”

The father enthusiastically nods. (I’ll bet he was also worried about his heart an hour ago.)

So I press on. Suddenly the tree cover ends. The sun is warm and lovely. Brown grass, scrubby brush and the odd blooming flower look stunning to me. I make my way through the meadow. I don’t see many butterflies, but I keep walking. Up ahead, I see Norman, Winston and our friends. The guide stands off at a distance. He sees me approaching. The look on his face is priceless. He seems relieved, delighted and amazed.

I can only imagine what he thought of me when I sent them on ahead. Every morning to come to work, he walks up the mountain for an hour and a half. Then he spends his day walking tourists up and down the mountain. I must have seemed like every American stereotype - fat, privileged, wasteful and stubborn. (After all, the cost of my admission fee could probably feed his family for a month.) And he meant it that he was coming back for me. I’m sure he imagined having to prod me - with his worn walking stick - up the mountain like an old fat goat. The guides take their job very seriously.

Everyone else is surprised that I made it. But, the guide’s face was the best gift I could ever receive. It turns out that they had only arrived in this spot 10 minutes before I did. I remember at the beginning of the journey, he warned us to take it slow. He urged us to rest when we needed to rest. So, the fact that I came up the mountain at my own pace and in my own way showed that I respected what he had told us at the beginning.

He came over to talk with me. He seemed so disappointed that i couldn’t speak Spanish. I was so disappointed that I couldn’t speak Spanish. He wanted to say something to me - but he was not eager to have it translated. I’ll always wonder what it was.

I made my way over to Winston who was crouched at the top of a stream bed covered by butterflies - thousands of butterflies! They all had their proboscis stuck into the mud to get water. Patiently, Winston waited for a butterfly to notice him. The guide urged us onward. Apparently, we hadn’t seen the real deal yet. If this wasn’t what we’d travelled three hours and hiked two hours to see, I was sure curious about what was ahead. So, I urged the boys ahead.

Up and up some more. We stop at a marshy bit of land covered in thirsty butterflies. Then, into the thick Oyamel trees. I look up and the limbs are bent from butterflies too soporific from the shade to fly. It looks like a forest of Christmas trees covered in butterfly ornaments. It is staggering. There are millions of butterflies who have spent a month travelling from Canada to winter here. We find a dead butterfly. Our guide informs us to put it back where we found it.

“This is a cemetery. They must remain here. This is like a cemetery.” He says solemnly.

This holy place. This fragrant harbour. This refuge for a centuries old biological drive is sacred. Our guide watches us as we place the butterfly back down. It is time to return.

On our way back down the mountain, deep in the forest, on the top of a mountain, at the end of a five hour journey, Winston received what he had travelled so far to get. A butterfly chose his hand and stayed with him 500 feet until the sunshine warmed it enough to fly away.

And I realized, if I hadn’t made it, I would have missed one of the most important lessons life has to offer him. In one day he learned that patience and perseverance always pay off.

Dollar Tree Denies Claim From Victim Of A Hate Crime

2008-11-25T12:49:00.002-05:00

Good-bye Dollar Tree, you are a despicable and evil corporation. I can not imagine how callous and insensitive you are. I don’t shop often in your stores. But, I don’t think I’ll be setting foot in your establishment again.

Taneka Talley worked hard for Dollar Tree doing extra shifts and aiming for advancement. She wanted a better life for her son. Her sights were set on sending him to college.

In March, she was victim of a hate crime during her shift at a Dollar Store in California. A man stabbed her to death simply because she was Black. An ABC News report says,

"According to a psychiatrist, the suspect woke up that morning determined to kill a black person, and Taneka was the first one he saw.

Now, Talley's mother is fighting to get her daughter's workers compensation death benefits, which, according to the family's lawyer, have been denied because the killer's targeting her as a black person established a "personal connection" that the company says releases them from having to pay."

How outrageous. Her biological make-up gave her a “personal connection” to an insane racist? Give me a break. This is corporate greed at its worst.

The least you can do is not shop there. But, I'm going to send them a letter telling them why.

The Deep Thoughts Of Children

2008-11-16T18:37:00.004-05:00

I'm not a Christian. I'm more of a multi- path person. One of these folks that serves as a witness to good and then strives to adapt myself to that model.

I was raised Catholic. But, I haven't been back to church in years. My soul could never reconcile the history and reality of the church with what I knew to be true about Jesus. Since the election, there have been renegade priests who attempted to deny communion to people who voted for Obama. It happened in South Carolina. And a woman in California was told to leave church and remove her car which was covered with Obama stickers before he called the police! Not wanting a big public hoo-ha, the Church has since corrected these men. But, it looks like to many shades of the past to me.

I often find myself pushing my feet back from entering the circle of judgement. It is so easy to point a finger at a priest, preacher, rabbi, imam or other holy person skewing reality to their twisted agenda. And then to point the finger and say, "Bad! Awful! Wrong!"

In these times, I have to invite myself to recognize their fragile humanity. To understand that they are in a place where they can not see the true teaching of so many prophets and wise men/women. Because - they are human.

We are so much smaller than divinity. Try as we may to understand the Power/s That Be is not what we were made for. We were made to exercise our free will in conjunction with the gift of knowledge about right action. We were given the ability to discern.

The other day my son said, "Do you ever think that God has us all on puppet strings and moves us around like toys?"

And I answered, "That's an idea. It sure feels like that sometimes. But, God made some rules. And he told us what they are. Then, he asked us to choose. That's called free will."

And he said, "But not everybody follows the rules."

"Yeah."

"Because sometimes, the rules don't agree with the other rules."

"Yeah."

"But there ARE rules."

"Yeah."

"Like be nice, share, cooperate, solve problems nicely."

"Yeah."

"And sometimes that's hard to do."

"Yeah."

"So, we can always walk away when people aren't really doing the real rules."

"Right."

"That's what God wants. We gotta follow the real rules."

"At least the way we understand them best."

"Does that mean people who don't follow the rules don't go to heaven?"

"Some people say heaven is being close to God. If you don't follow most of the rules most of the time you go farther from God. And to be near God feels sooooo good."

"Oh."

End of conversation. Children are very wise. I hope my interpretation of the rules gets me closer to God.

Share Your Vision

2008-11-13T19:19:00.002-05:00

Obama's transition team has asked us to share our vision. You can do that here. This is an excerpt of mine:

As you prepare to address the agenda item of education, I ask that you take the needs of home educators seriously. Many universities, such as your alma mater Harvard, have been discovering that home educated students make some of the strongest students.

The home education community is growing. With it, are growing numbers of People Of Colour. (We now make up 26% of the community.) Many of us have chosen to home educate our children because we can no longer wait for change.

I'm very proud to feel as if I am raising a world citizen. I follow an educational philosophy with I call directed autonomy. It is a variation on a philosophy often referred to as "unschooling." Since, I allow my son to make some choices about what he wants to learn, I've been surprised at where he leads me.

Needless to say, this can get expensive. We manage. We are very fortunate to be able to afford extra classes. Not everyone can.

For this reason, I hope you will support S. 3076, the "Homes Act." As I am sure you know, this would relieve some of the financial burden of homeschooling families by providing a tax deduction of $500 per child (with an annual limit of $2,000.)

In addition, I hope you will also support S 3243 and 3244, the Education Savings For All Act. It seems unfair to me that only public and private school families have the opportunity to invest in a Coverdell Education Savings Account. I am sure you are well aware that this legislation would stop the discrimination faced by parents who choose to educate their children at home.

I strongly support better schools. I look forward to better resources for teachers. Every child deserves an excellent education. However, as you know, change does not happen over night. And true educational reform will not occur in time for my son to benefit from it. Therefore, as you develop polices and actions regarding education, I hope you will remember that there are many families who prefer to educate their children at home.

Throughout the election, you repeatedly reminded us that we had a responsibility to part of the change. And when you won, you let us know again that we had just begun making change happen in this country. I applaud the way in which your transition team has used all available technology to open the lines of communication between your team and the American people.

Everyone's Talking About Obama - What About Michelle

2008-11-13T13:03:00.004-05:00

Yobachi was discussing the significance of Michelle Obama being the First Lady. He asked for some feedback. So, I wrote this in response to his post.

It is exceptionally significant for a women like Michelle Obama to have become the First Lady. The early campaign days when they tried to swift boat Obama because of his spouse are very telling. “She angry.” “She’s unpatriotic.” These tactics were used because she is not the “preferred” image of a Black woman. (Read Lena Horne, Halle Berry, etc.) Michelle represents the “other Black woman” that America both reveres and fears.

She is the one who will not entertain you. She is the one competent enough to “steal” your God-given job. She is one people really worry about when they discuss affirmative action.

She is the revered no-nonsense lady who will tell it like it is. She is wise. She is the flip side of the woman Whites love and respect because someone like her was paid to raise them; was the only one they could rely upon; had a sense of her higher self and brought that sense to themselves. She carries all of that historic legacy.

I think the reason I always become weepy eyed when I see the first family is because it takes me to the Kennedy era. In spite of all of the compelling contrasts there are intersections between the two women. Where Jackie O represented the paragon of White femininity, Michelle O represents the paragon of Black femininity.

Jackie Kennedy was demure. Michelle is fierce. Jackie was fashionable. Michelle has style. Jackie provided support to her husband in matters related to the social networking, household and child-rearing. Michelle supports her husband by providing intellectual and critical feedback, managing the household, the children and her work. For Jackie O work was what she did for the family. For Michelle work is what she does to simultaneously fulfill her own sense of purpose and contribute to the financial goals of her family.

So, this has huge significance because it invites the nation to examine to different standards of womanhood. We have known the value of ours for centuries. Perhaps, the time has come for White people to learn from us. (Or rather - not just hijack the entertaining things - but to embrace the deeply ingrained cultural values that the recent media and corporate interests have tried to erase.)

To Be Invited To Teach

2008-11-11T18:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, we went to our homeschool class at the zoo. I recognise so few of the children at this particular homeschool class. Where are they all from? Considering how many conservative, Christian homeschool groups there are in and around this area, I hesitate to assume.

(I’m going to stick my neck out.) But comparing the scientific knowledge between kids at the zoo class with kids at the evolution museum classes, my guess about where they are all from is probably pretty right on.

Anyway....I’m usually one of the only mothers still sitting in on the homeschool classes that we attend. Most of the others have successfully separated. But, we’ve had several years of big transitions. So, if Winston is behind the separation curve, I don’t really mind.

I don’t like to waste my time. When I’m sitting in, I pitch in where I can. I compliment the children on their work. I do my best to be a supportive presence in the classroom. I listen and respond to the children. In some ways, the children have accepted me as part of their educational resource.

Yesterday was cold. So we all bundled up to trek through the zoo to meet Reptile Ray. We arrived a bit early so the kids were milling around. I didn’t bother to take my coat off. As the children were unencombering themselves, a little blonde girl looked up me. Her eyes went wide - almost fearful. She actually took a step back.

I cocked my head to one side and smiled.

“You....y...y..you supported Obama?” She asked incredulously.

“I sure did.” I said in a soft, gentle, smiling voice.

She took a step back. “We are for McCain,” she said nervously. (I knew what was racing through her brain - palling around with terrorists; killing babies; stealing people's hard earned money through taxation; killing babies; the fall of the government to socialists; killing babies; enslavement of the White race and killing babies.)

I smile. The teacher steps in closer. I feel the tension emanating from her body. The home schooling demographic has changed so drastically in recent years. These encounters between liberal and conservative homeschoolers could turn ugly.

I step closer to the little girl. I paste a huge, loving smile on my face. I softly say, “Well, that’s awesome! “

“It is?” she replies. Her eyebrows knit together. A timid frown quivers.

“It sure is!” I say. “You’ve made America a beautiful and strong place.” She looks even more confused. “If nobody could have different ideas, then nothing good could ever happen. We’d stay the same way forever and ever. We’d never grow. We’d never change. Nobody would think of new medicines or create the internet or anything.” I stop smiling. “That would be awful and boring.”

She just stands there looking mildly confused.

“Our forefathers made this country because they wanted everyone to have lots of different ideas. It is what has made us a great country.”

The teacher jumps in, “That’s right. We’re all free to think whatever we think. And we’re all free to talk about it. If nobody disagreed, then, nobody would ever learn anything new.”

I smiled. “And that is democracy,” I said. Everybody says what they think. And then we vote about which person has the best idea.”

Little girl looks confused and unsettled.

“So, you’re awesome for believing in someone you thought had the best ideas. You keep doing that.”

Then she ran off to play. And I was honoured to be invited to teach. I hope she gained a new way of viewing the world. If not, maybe a seed was planted for a later understanding.

Beautiful Evening!

2008-11-08T20:19:00.003-05:00

We had a beautiful evening. Tonight, a few friends gathered to celebrate the outcome of the election. All of us had done whatever we could on behalf of the campaign.

All of us are parents of young children. Many of us are home educators who also practise attachment parenting. Others are dynamic innovators in their field. (Like one poet celebrity guest who joined us.) Still others are out there in the trenches everyday healing people or teaching our nation's young. But, each of us were praying, hoping, working and doing whatever wa sin our power towards an Obama win.

We couldn't celebrate Wednesday. We delayed our celebration until a convienent time. So, tonight we gathered at my house. Norman got the fire pit burning bright. The children played. We had a little sumthin' sumthin' and some snacks. Then, using lovely paper, each of us wrote down a well wish (or five) for Barack Obama. Some folded their wishes into cranes. Others folded them into stars. One even folded their's into a box. We gathered around the fire and - one - by - one - we cast our good wishes out into the universe in support of the Obama family. Some of us spoke about what we'd written. Others just quietly tossed in their wish.

The children got caught up in the idea. One wrote, "I hope he will bring and end to the war." Another wrote, "I hope he will make the country great again." Pre-literate children made lovely drawings. Some had us write words like "hope," "peace," and "love" on their paper. Then, they ran out to cast their wishes into the fire.

We had a lovely dinner. The political banter continued as the children got caught up in their games again. And suddenly, it was bed time.

Here's a lovely video which encapsulates our evening.

Remembering To Go Where The Learner Is

2008-11-07T18:10:00.004-05:00

So we found this great learning resource. It’s called Study Dog. It is a online literacy game. (Fairly pricey, but, if you can round up 11 friends, they lower the cost.) Study Dog has taken over Winston's brain. He absolutely adores it. He would sit and teach himself to read all day, if I let him. I had to pry him off of the computer this morning to go to his violin lesson. Then, I added a caveat. “You will only get to play Study Dog later if you are very focused in violin today.” Well he was more than focused. He had his best lesson this year.

I should be glowing with excitement. But, this has been incredibly difficult for me. I prefer a more natural, organic approach. I’d like to form letters with dough; draw them in the dirt; dance their pattern on the floor while we said their sounds.

He is not interested in a single idea of mine. (And until we met the most wonderful librarian, Miss Leanne, he was a reluctant reader.) I was puzzled. My only back up for teaching reading was to read to him; talk about the concepts when the opportunity presented itself; attack the infrequent work sheet; and trust that he would eventually pick it up.

But, in two days, Winston has learned more than I have been able to teach him for months. The program kept urging him to stop. It praised him for working so hard. It said, “we’ve done a lot today.” But, he just wants to keep going! It is the most remarkable thing I’ve ever seen. Suddenly, I am confronted with actually practising what I preach.

This child will draw letters in the dirt. He will dance the patterns on the floor. He will use the worksheets I’ve gotten for him. But, he craves the fun and adventure of a game and the neutral privacy it provides him. He has preferences about the way in which he prefers to learn.

And facilitating those choices is what I believe in doing. A long time back, I posted a quote from a teacher I admire. (I think it was Kit Crawford from The Antioch School. ) She says, “Learning begins where the learner is.” It made so much sense to me. And it still does.

But, here I am...he wants to learn in a completely different way than I prefer to facilitate. But, then just to back her colleague Kit Crawford up, Jeanne Felker adds this other favourite bit of wisdom, “We have to move out of the way, so knowledge can move in. We have to make space for learning to happen.”

So, now I’m on a mission. I'm looking for other game-like educational resources. I like Study Dog because they did an initial assessment of his skills; tailored the game to his level; track his progress, and gives me detailed assessment. The only thing I don’t like is that none of the characters I’ve met as non-white. (But, they have this other bonus of letting him use the points earned in his game to order little toys as a reward.) So any tips would be useful.

THE FUN PEACE - WEEK SEVEN

2008-11-06T18:16:00.007-05:00

I. Welcome
Craft - Peace Sticks
Using string and a stick, we are making Peace Sticks. Thoughts on peace have been written down each week. Then they are being wrapped with coloured string.

Movement Meditation - Walking The World
Today, we practised all of the different ways we walk in the world. We took big giant steps, itty bitty tiny steps, sideways steps, turtle steps, stomping steps, goose steps. Everyone contributed ideas about how to go from one place to another.

II. Circle
A. Get in Circle
1. Love Grows
2. So Glad You’re Here
3. Wind The Bobbin Up

III. Story
The Three Questions, by John Muth. (This is a remarkable book. Okay, all of the books we’ve been using have been remarkable books. In the story, Nikolai needs to find the answers to three questions: “What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?”)

Discussion - we discussed circles today. The Earth is a circle. The day is a circle. The year is a circle. The seasons are a circle. Our lives are a circle. And when we are able to sit calmly in the centre of the circle, we can see the way the world moves around us. And we are able to take good action.

IV. Craft
Wreaths - We decorated grapevine wreaths with feathers, raffia, acorns, buckeyes, seed pods, pom poms, and bits of felt (hearts, lightning bolts, triangles, etc.)

V. Undirected Play
It was a lovely Autumn day, so we too the children outside to play. They burned off some energy and were ready to suggest organized games they would all like to play together. Some wanted to play “Together Tag.” Others wanted to play “What’s The Rhythm Mother Earth.” We discussed voting. Then we took a vote. It resulted in a wonderful game of “What’s The Rhythm Mother Earth.”

VI. Snack
We did more circle discussion. They were really keen on the importance of circles.

VII. Story
The Librarian Of Basra: A True Story About Iraq by Jeanette Winter with discussion on how she was able to remain calm and peaceful at the centre of the circle of life. (Another remarkable book which tells the story of Alia Muhammad Baker's book rescue mission in Basra, Iraq, in spring 2003.)

“The Little Girl Named I” from Fairy Tales, by e.e.cummings. Lovely laugh out loud.

And...we ran out of time!

Shocked And Numb

2008-11-05T19:34:00.004-05:00

Thanks Electronic Village for the nifty picture!

You may or may not know that I can handle Barack alone. But, every time I picture his family romping across the White House lawn, I get all weepy eyed. Every time I witness M'dear Obama being her family's bedrock, strength and power, I get all weepy eyed. Everytime I imagine them in their new home - with their LOL! puppy - I fall to pieces.

Ready, Set, Hankies Ready.....

On another note, thanks to my Funky Cheeky Mamas and Brigit from African-American Unchooling list for pulling these few words out of me.

I'm still kind of shocked and numb. I have deeply entrenched faith tempered by cynical self-preservation. My cynicism was greatly challenged today. I hope I am strong enough to let it go. I want to give in to hope. I want to release my self to belief. I want to be free to dream wildly. I also need to keep my head space intact.

Funny, Winston seems almost nonchalant. It makes me adore him even more. Ah! The unshakable faith of children! When Mama says we have to make something happen...it does. But, I am so not looking forward to the day when that is tested.

I remember Imani working her tail off for Acorn when Kerry was running. It was the first election in which she could vote. She was pumped! She out-performed every other worker at Acorn. They even gave her an office job - she was so excellent. Then Bush won. She was so sad, it kind of broke my heart. She totally did not commit to this election. She had lost her faith.

Today - she was completely shocked and delighted about the Obama win. (But, she wasn't part of it.) I hope she sees this as a way to regain her momentum.

VOTED!

2008-11-04T16:30:00.003-05:00

Yobachi over at Black Perspective is calling for people to share their voting stories. This is ours.

We woke to a gorgeous, warm Autumn morning. My husband, Winston and I walked into the sunshine filled with excitement and optimism. Our polling place is in the park one block from our house. It is a small, grey cinder block building which used to be Westinghouse's laboratory. My son only knows it as "the voting building."

Approaching the polling place, we encountered sign after Obama sign. There was not a single McCain sign in sight and one sign for Nadar/Gonzalez. (WTF? How did I miss that?)

We entered and were happily signed in by our neighbor. As she gave me my card to sign, Winston proudly stated his name and looked on eagerly, as if she would produce a card for him. A late middle years African-American gentleman guided me and Winston to our voting machine. He gave Winston a short tutorial on how to use the machine. Winston nodded and listened, then stated, "Just like last time, right?" This generated a chuckle.

As I pulled up the ballot, I asked Winston if he wanted to push the buttons. He said, "No." I think he was really worried that he might mess it up. He seemed to understand how high the stakes are. Instead, he offered to push the next button.

Finally, it was time to push the flashing red button, which he did with great concentration and controlled excitement. As we left the booth, the elder shook his hand and thanked him for voting. We walked back out into the sunshine and played at the park.

It occured to me that he will remember this election for the rest of his life. It made me realize this would be a story he would tell his grandchildren about one day. And I can't think of any better civics or history lesson that I could offer. Then again, this is why we home educate because life is filled with so many beautiful lessons.

VOTE!

2008-11-04T09:43:00.003-05:00

Rosa sat,
so Martin could walk,
so Obama could run,
so our children can fly.

- quote flying around the internet.

Go vote! And if you have any trouble, report it here at Voter Supression Wiki

Blessed & Sweet Transition Toot

2008-11-03T17:32:00.004-05:00

(go to hell GOP)

Between 4 and 5 AM, one day before the election, Madelyn Dunham made her transition. She did so in an increasingly rare manner in modern America. She died the old fashioned way - peacefully, at home. From the way in which Obama talks about her, I believe she can do more for the election in the destination of her choosing. It gives me comfort to believe this is why she chose this moment for her transition.

And while John & Cindy McCain expressed their formal condolences, their party was busy at work maintaining the detestable shenanigans for which their party has become known.

At 1:30 today, the GOP firmly cemented and proved that they have a unique ability to consistently make poor decisions. They filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission claiming Obama violated federal law when he made one last visit to "Toot Madelyn Dunham." They stated:

"Obama for America violated federal law by converting its campaign funds to Senator Obama's personal use," the release stated. "Senator Obama recently traveled to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. This was the right thing for any grandson to do -- at his own expense -- but it was not travel that his campaign may fund."

Of course, the Obama's want to create change. They issued this statement to direct well-wishers to take a positive action:

"Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Dear "Toot" Madelyn Dunham, may your transition bring you every reward in the place you imagined yourself going. May your passing motivate others to find a cure.

The Maids | Elizabeth

2008-11-02T19:18:00.004-05:00

tuesdays and thursdays.
tiny wire sprung cinnamon milk
chocolate woman hunted dirt:

under beds, above
window sills,
grease dots

on the cook top.
thrust
deep into the toilet’s infected bowels.

from fabric or shag,
extracted hidden detritus -
strands of untamed kink,

fingernail clippings,
sloughed dry skin.
teary-eyed smiled at

me watch
my brother spatula spanked
by the Irish nanny screaming

about his dark skin
and the devil.
never minded

slipping his 2nd grade beer can
into the outside trash. until
she got fired for drinking.

i still
try to make fried baloney
and butter onion spinach.

I can eat tender brown love
and taste a perpetrator's guilt.