I see Black people and Christians too in the OWS Protest…Part 1

Before hip-hop heads like Russell Simmons and Kanye West made an appearance at the Occupy Wall Street protests earlier this week, I wondered where the Black people were in this movement. Considering that the demonstrators are fighting against corporate greed, I felt African-Americans should be there front and center since we’ve been suffering from economic injustice as whole for centuries.

So this past Sunday, after church I hopped on the #2 train to Fulton St. My agenda was to find a group of Black people and a group of Christians who are a part of the OWS (Occupy Wall Street) Protest. Luckily, after 45 minutes of walking around and reading some clever signs, I found a circle of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Indians, Arabs and some White people in the midst of those that have gathered in Zuccotti Park for OWS. Together they called themselves the People of Color Working Group or POC.

I began listening to the group or should I say the group began listening to each other. Every time someone said something, the group repeated what they said. I assumed this was done because of the noise in the area. Also, when someone began to speak that person would say mic check. Even though there was no microphone in sight. I thought that was kind of funny.

Anyway, I must have listened to about five people give suggestions including activist and writer Kevin Powell on how the group can make a lasting impact in our society. Powell thanked the group for coming together since he said he has been getting calls from people across the country who wanted to know where were the Black leaders in the OWS movement. He encouraged the group to stay focused and develop an agenda to avoid falling apart.

However, the most surprising and sensible comment was that people of color needed to be on the OWS General Assembly (GA). The GA is the management team so to speak for the OWS protest. According to a young man in , the GA was 95% White at that present moment.

I never found out how many people already made up the GA but I was surprised that even in a movement about solidarity, Black people and other people of color were missing from the GA. Then again if people of color were not stepping up to the plate, I should not expect White people to seek them out and apparently neither does POC.

Before I go any further, according to an e-mail I got from Kanene who is in charge of the Press subcommittee, the POC Working Group was created “in response to the lack of racial diversity and lack of racial consciousness at #OWS (demographically and culturally and ideologically dominated by whites.)…The group aims to put the needs of the most oppressed sectors of society at the forefront of this struggle.

The e-mail went on to say that the POC Working Group is open to all who identify as people of color; much of its membership is folks of color who have felt alienated and/or disenfranchised by the 'colorblind' rhetoric and structure of #ows and by the lack of racial sensitivity/consciousness of so many of its participants/leaders.

Back to the POC Working Group meeting. Once everyone had their say, the group split into the different subcommittees like Childcare, Arts & Culture, Education, Strategy and many more. Then I began speaking to Malik Rashaan who created the Twitter handle @OccupytheHood during week two of OWS in order to get more Black people involved in the demonstrations.

Rashan told me that he got 4,000 followers in a matter of days including politicians, teachers, activists and artists. Evidently people nationwide were looking for the Black faces in the movement.

We had a real straightforward conversation about why Black people and all persons of color need to get involved. Here are some excerpts from that talk:

“I want Brothers and Sisters to come out here and volunteer. I don’t want anyone to think this is anti-wall street. This is your city. This is your country. Come and be heard. Don’t just melt into the pot. I don’t like that term. It’s the dumbest term ever. We’re a gumbo, we all stand out individually. Be the shrimp or whatever it is that you are…

I’m from South Jamaica, Queens. I was born and raised in the hood. Every sign I make says 'you should be here.' I’ve had Black Panthers out here who don’t necessarily like White people. They’re out here in solidarity because the beast is right here. My son is in college. That degree ain’t nothing but a proof of purchase. Where’s he gonna work when he graduates?

I let my son (20 years old) take off from school and come up here from Atlanta. I let my daughter (17 years old) take off from high school for a week because they had to be a part of this. If we’re not a part of this, we’re gonna break apart.”

I hope Malik’s words will encourage everyone reading this to contribute in any way to the OWS protest if you agree with the cause. Whether or not you’re a person of color, America is moving toward a society that only cares for the rich.

Don’t get me wrong, being wealthy is not a problem but when a majority of people in a society are not afforded the opportunity to live comfortably even when they’re working more than 40 hours a week or when they have a degree/ relevant experience but cannot find a job or when our young people turn to guns, drugs and violence to make a living. Something has to change.

As the poster says POC Working Group meets on Sundays at 3 PM and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM near Zuccotti Park under the big red thing in lower Mannhattan.

Can the First Lady and a Queens politician end Childhood Obesity?

First Lady Michelle Obama launched
the Let's Move campaign which
encourage children to participate in
physical activity and to eat right.

I was happy to hear that McDonalds-the largest fast food chain in the world- took heed to the complaints of parents and health advocates and decided to make their happy meals healthier.

Queens Councilman Leroy Comrie introduced
legislation that forced restaurants like
McDonalds to provide healthier options.

       
As a resident of New York City, I immediately thought about the efforts of Councilman Leroy Comire who introduced legislation back in April to ban toys in kids meals over 500 calories at fast food restaurants. I also thought about First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign which encourages children to participate in physical activity and to eat right.

I credit Comrie for tackling the rising childhood obesity rates of those youngsters in his district and nationwide especially since the majority of his constituents are African-Americans. According to the Office of Minority Health, African-American children were 30 percent likely to be overweight than non Hispanic Whites in 2007 through 2008.

SAD! Considering obesity is linked to a host of other related issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. All of which are very prevalent in the African-American community.

I reached out to Comrie’s office for an interview or a statement about McDonald’s changes to its Happy Meals. Thankfully, a press release was sent my way and Comrie brought up two important points.

I want to take this opportunity to applaud McDonald's for taking this much-needed step forward in providing healthier choices for our children. I believe that fast-food businesses, who invest millions of dollars in marketing their products to children, have a moral responsibility to provide their customers with safer, healthier options.”

I  agree with that since it’s my belief that the diet of most children is tied to the fact that they have parents or caretakers who are too tired or too lazy — I’ll admit it —to prepare a home cooked meal. Thus children rely on restaurants in their community. Depending on the median income of your neighborhood, there is a lack of options. In other words there is an abundance of pizzerias, fast food joints and Chinese food restaurants. All of these establishments and others are a factor in childhood obesity.

Councilman Comrie went on to say:

 "As someone who knows too-well the unhealthy effects and challenges of obesity, I have committed to trying to improve access to healthy food  in my community where fast-food restaurants outnumber supermarkets and produce stores 10-1. My colleagues in the New York City Council and I passed the FRESH (Food Retail Expansion to Support Health) Initiative to provide financial and zoning incentives for grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods”

Truth be told, every individual has a choice. Plus it is up to every individual to make the best option when it comes to their well being. However, what is one to do when options do not exist in their immediate neighborhood. That’s why Comrie and his fellow politicians must continue to enact programs like FRESH.

Earlier, I noted First Lady Michelle’s Let’s Move campaign which was launched in February 2010. Since then, the initiative has sparked a lot of changes nationwide including those noted on the website:

·         
   The Healthy. Hunger-Free Kids Act, a ground breaking piece of legislation, was signed into law so all kids have healthier food in school and even more have access to a healthy lunch.

  

       Three of the largest food service providers have committed to improving the food they provided to schools to meet recommended levels of fat, sugar, and whole grains over the next five years, and to double the fruits and vegetables they serve over the next 10 years.

        A coalition of the Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, the Food, Family and Farming Foundation and the United Fresh Produce Association has committed over the next three years to put 6,000 salad bars in schools across the country.

So between Comrie’s legislation which had something to do with McDonald’s decision and the First Lady Let’s Move campaign, will African-Americans be responsible for the end of childhood obesity?

We know the legacy of MJ, what will your's be?

Two years ago today, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died. Most of the radio stations I listen to will be playing his music all weekend long and taking calls from listeners to share their best memories of him. Michael's passion for music, dance, and philanthropy undoubtedly inspired others to follow in his footsteps.

A little over a week ago, I attended a memorial service for Ms. Angela Mills, a woman that was like a second mother to my sister and I while we attended Howard University (HU). Ms. Angela as I called her was a seamstress from Ghana who made the most beautiful clothes out of Kente for her clients. Once my sister and I even got to model her clothes for some photographs that were used as a part of her Master's thesis. In addition to being a student at HU, she also worked in the Medical School and in Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel.


Last week close to one hundred family members, friends and colleagues attended Ms. A's memorial service in that same chapel. During and after the service people shared how Ms. A's  warm smile always made their day a bit brighter. People also explained that wearing her clothes literally made them like African royalty.


I was very lucky to have Ms. A in my life. I know now  that my sister, those that were close to her and myself have an angel watching over us. The other realization I've had since her passing is "What will my legacy be once I depart this earth? 


Ms. A was a seamstress and clothing designer who made people feel good about themselves and their history.


Most of you reading this never knew Ms. A,  but you do know about a man named Micheal Jackson. A musician whose dance moves brought enjoyment to our lives.  A musician whose songs will always get the party started. A musician whose words inspired others to create a better world if they did not like what they were seeing. This is Micheal's legacy.

What will your legacy be once you depart this earth?   

                                            

Do not let fear, lack of planning, lack of money or societal expectations prevent you from creating your legacy NOW.

Here's some inspiration for the both of us. The following is an excerpt from my favorite Micheal Jackson song-"Man in the Mirror." 


I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror  

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) 

Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change 

(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change) 

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Oh Yeah!)

Gonna Feel Real Good Now! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! 

I've Got To Make That Change, Today!                                                

Courtesy of http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/maninthemirror.html

In memory of Ms. Angela A. Mills: August 31, 1950 to May 28, 2011. Thanks for all the LOVE.

Wine Tasting at Duck Walk

On Saturday I went to Duck Walk Vineyards in Southhampton, Long Island for a wine tasting. I've always enjoyed drinking a glass of Chardonnay, so I was looking forward to taste what they had to offer.

I tried five different wines and though a Chardonnay was in the mix, the 2008 Aphrodite is officially my new favortie wine.



Before I could even taste this goodness, the aromatic smell of the Aphrodite drew me in. This wine has a fruity pleasant taste thanks to the honeysuckle, apricot, peach and hint of spice. It is recommended to serve with dessert. I recommend to drink it anytime.

The other four wines were


2007 Chardonnay: Made with hints of pear, apple and vanilla. Great with seafood or chicken.


Windmill White: This wine displays hints of honey, pear and wildflower. Perfect alongside hor d'oeuvres, seafood, salad, and pasta.



Windmill Blush: Made with strawberry and rasberry fruit flavors. It's Long Island's challenge to White Zinfandel and can be eaten with barbecue foods, chicken, fish, and picnic foods.


Gatsby Red: A semi sweet blend of several red grape varieties along with plum, cherry, and spice flavors.


These latter four wines were not pleasing at all to my palate. They fit the defintion of "dry." To those of you that may not be accustomed to the wine terminology, just know that the first four wines can also be described as BITTER!

Overall, my wine tasting experience was enjoyable. I was just dissapointed that I could not get close to the actual grape vineyards.

Before the wine tasting, Brad, the tourguide, said that this site had been growing grapes since 1987. After a couple of different owners Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos and his son Alexander bought the 30-acre vineyard in 1994 and renamed it Duck Walk. This vineyard grows five different grapes including Merlot, Chardonnay and the unique Pinot Meunier. Duck walk produces about 30,000 cases of wine a year. Now thats a lot of wine.

Three New Things I Learned About My Teeth

Yesterday I received a teeth cleaning for the first time in about five years. Thankfully, my hygienist told me that I was doing something right because I appeared to have no cavities and my gums were pink and firm.

During this visit, Ms. James my hygienist who has been practicing for over 30 years told me three useful tips that I would like to share with you:

• Brush teeth on an angle and be gentle. When brushing your upper teeth, the toothbrush should be pointed downward and for your bottom teeth, the tooth brush should be pointed upward.

(When my hygienist, Ms. James told me this, I responded by saying that’s not how they do it on TV. To which she replied why are you looking at an advertisement to tell you how to brush your teeth? I didn’t have anything to say after that.)

• Vigorous teeth brushing actually makes your teeth translucent. In turn, its harder for your teeth to have that dazzling white smile. Instead James said people ought to pay more attention to their gums since firm, pink gums (like mine, LOL) are the source of healthy teeth. She also said that whitening treatments are fine.

• Wisdom teeth don’t have to be removed if they’re not hurting you. James pointed out that wisdom teeth serve a purpose. They are just an extra pair of molars. Therefore they can help us grind our food better. Even if your wisdom teeth have a cavity, don’t pull them out! As an alternative, you could just ask for a filling.

I hope you learned something new but at the same time this piece of advice only scratches the surface. To learn more about great oral health, go to COLGATE.

Shout out to Ms. James who has so much experience in her field that she gave me content for a blog post by just having small talk during my treatment. I love that.

Perplexed and delighted at the NYC Ballet

Last night I was entertained by the classical sounds of Morton Gould, Sergei Prokofiev and George Gershwin at the 2010 Fall Season New York City Ballet in Lincoln Center. This was a new experience for me since the Nutcracker was the last ballet performance I saw as a little girl.



Now I am a fan of theatre, dance, and Broadway shows but the New York City Ballet is a bit different. For one the music is provided by an orchestra who at times put me to sleep. No manners? Right?

However, I will say that my eyes remained opened for the entirety of the last two acts which were “Opus 19/The Dreamer” choreographed by Jerome Roberts and “Who Cares?” choreographed by George Balanchie. “Interplay,” the first act, was also choreographed by Roberts.

As I was saying the New York City Ballet was boring at first. Then by the last act—“Who Cares”— things picked up once I heard songs like “I Got Rhythm,” “Strike Up the Band,” and “The Man I Love” all by Gershwin. Just like the Nutcracker, “Who Cares” was lively and it had a vague story line of girl meets boy, boy affectionately holds girl when they dance, and girl falls in love with boy.

Also “Who Cares” lived up to of all my expectations of what the ballet should be: romantic, ballerinas in pink tutus, and magical.

Unfortunately, for the first two acts this was not the case. Although most of the movements were graceful and beautiful, I just couldn’t understand for the life of me what the choreographers were trying to convey. This could’ve been avoided if the orchestra added some vocalists. Then, I would’ve been able to connect the dancer's movements with what the vocalist was saying.

Still I was very excited to say I attended the ballet but MsKonflicted would like to know what‘s the point of attending a high cultured event such as the ballet if you don’t even understand what’s going on? Just asking.

Exchange Art wants to level playing field

You’ve heard of Netflix, R-A-C (Rent-A-Center,) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. These companies were successful because they offered people a necessity or a luxury—depending on how you look at it—for a period of time at a reasonable cost. But where do you draw the line between necessity and want?

Hardcore fashionistas who must have the latest designer duds can now rent a classic Louis Vuitton bag at sites like bagborroworsteal.com. Many of you Mary Jane dressers may think that’s a waste of money but the creators of bagborroworsteal.com who have over one million members that each pay between $5 and $10 per month are shaking their heads in disagreement all the way to the bank.

So movies, cars, furniture, and designer clothes are all fair game in the rental category. What about art? Yes, what about showcasing a piece of art in your home from the next Jacob Lawrence (aka the unknown artist in your city) for a couple of months. Curious? Read on to find out more...

Jonathan D. Pierre feels that just because young urban professionals lack the funds to purchase an expensive piece of fine art that should not prevent them from displaying art in their home.

“There are a lot of things in life where you can say well if you can’t afford it you shouldn’t have it but … art is something to me that should and can be appreciated by all. It shouldn’t be exclusive because… everyone can find a piece of art that resonates with them …no matter what your background is,” he said.

With that in mind, Pierre teamed up with Shante Cozier three months ago to launch exchangeartnyc.com. The web site was set up for anyone who creates art to have their work seen, shared, and appreciated. He got the idea after hosting a charity art show with Cozier and meeting artists who didn’t have a venue to display their work once the event ended.

“We’re here for the artist. There are many artists out there that might not have the marketing capabilities or the marketing ‘know-how’ to get their name out there or have the connection to get themselves into galleries or restaurants, “explained Pierre who has a background in public relations.

Acquiring pieces of art from Exchange Art is similar to renting a video even though Pierre does not like the connotation. He likes to think of the site as a community and here’s why. A person can “exchange” a piece of art for a period of time that they determine with Pierre. Then that piece of art is on to its next destination.

“We don’t believe in having the word rent in our lexicon, we really are a community. It’s an atmosphere of sharing in the sense that the art you may be seeing today was in someone else’s house last month is the piece that went in someone’s office three months ago. “

A customer can have up to four pieces of art at the same with the first piece starting between $20.00 and $25.00 and the second, third, and fourth piece increasing by increments of $5.00.

Pierre believes that “a lot of people like art but not everyone is an art buyer. We try to target those people who may not have the income or the desire to commit to an expensive piece of art.”

Currently Exchange Art is only available to people living in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania but Pierre wants to expand. “I would love to reach any and every corner accessible where there are artists that need a medium to exchange, who need a medium to get there work out there and seen by the local community and beyond,” he said.

In time Pierre would also like to have a gallery space in New York City where emerging artists can submit their work and art enthusiasts of any income bracket can purchase fine art.

To learn more about Exchange Art, go to exchangeartnyc.com or contact Jonathan Pierre at Pierre@exchangeartnyc.com.