Goddesses Rising

When We Were Queens: Goddesses Rising On WBAI's Hip-Hop Takeover

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:06:00 +0000

Happy Summer Solstice! It's that time again for WBAI's Hip-Hop Takeover, a 25 hour marathon of Hip-Hop themed programming with talk, music, news and all sorts of good stuff. The Goddesses Rising crew will be there again (I think this is our 5th time participating!) hosting an hour show, "When We Were Queens," to go along with this year's theme: Tribute to the Pioneers. We're on from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., so you'll hear yours truly, goddess Angelika, and our goddess sister TastyKeish from Rise Up Radio. Join us for a special mix from the divine DJ Chela, interviews with Hip-Hop feminism pioneer Joan Morgan, and Sherri-Sherr of the Mercedes Ladies (courtesy of Davey D). In the in-between time, we'll be reminiscing about our favorite "old school" lady emcees and taking your calls, so join us and give us a ring!

MEGA thanks to Ife Dancy for having us join the Hip-Hop Takeover again, we are always honored to be part of such a beautiful community. Listen live online or if you're in the NYC metro area, it's on the FM dial at 99.5 FM.

And don't forget the afterparty!

Who Run the World? GIRLS! Who Wrote The Song? MEN!

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Wed, 25 May 2011 04:41:00 +0000

I've spent entirely too much of the last week talking, reading about and watching Beyonce. *shakes fist at the Interwebs* But the bevy of conversation and controversy that has surrounded the release of Beyonce's new video for her latest single, "Run the World (Girls)," has been nothing short of fascinating. Maybe I need new hobbies. As a consumer and critic of pop culture and feminism, I've found myself questioning and exploring how those things both beautifully harmonize and diametrically oppose each other. Then mix in ideas about sexual expression and black female sexuality and it becomes all the more conflicting. It reminds me (as Joan Morgan said on Facebook) that "feminism is complicated."

I first saw this video when I was watching "American Idol" last week (don't judge me) and Beyonce was a guest mentor. My first thoughts as they showed clips of her advising the contestants were: "Damn, why she look so pale! They keep trying to whiten her up more and more. The blond weave doesn't help either." Catty, maybe, but it was startling and that's a whole other topic. The video "premiered" during a break and I was thinking about the "American Idol" audience which is primarily teenyboppers and families and wondering what I would say if I was watching it with my 7 year-old goddaughter. How could we process this together? This words seemed (initially) fairly innocuous and scream of "girl power." Although the images were sexy, I thought it was tamer and even more justified than some of her previous videos. There was even legitimate African dance not just gyrating and grinding (though I'm a fan of all of the above) so I could explain that to a little girl. But what kind of discussion could we have what about what girl power looks like in the real world?

I liked the video a lot and I still do. The dancing is dynamic, the costumes are captivating, the set is stimulating and it's fantasy and it's fun...yes, fun! But enjoying much of our pop culture often requires a certain level of detachment. In this case, detaching from the obvious reality that we women/girls/ladies/females/chicks don't literally run the world. Women encounter a full range of experiences on a daily basis that remind us of our "place" in this world. Music, and videos, can provide an escape. For five minutes, I can pretend I'm in some alternate universe where women have political, economic and social power AND equality...and we exist as a dancing army of half-nekkid badasses in the desert. It's good for the imagination.

I also believe in the greater idea of speaking things into creation so I'd rather little girls be singing this than 98% of what's on commercial radio. If this song makes little girls feel confident and believe in their own internal power, specifically in contrast to all the confusing messages they are constantly receiving about gender dynamics, then I'm cool with it even if it is cheesy and not entirely factual. My friend Shani who is an awesome mama put it best: "It reminds me of my daughter and the sense of possibility unique to being 8."

I'm not going to regurgitate what so many lady bloggers have eloquently said before me. For example, Nineteen Percent has made huge waves with her vlog calling Beyonce a liar for telling girls that they run the world when femicide, paycheck inequality, wartime rape (I can go on) are major problems women face. I can't argue with her there. But as I said on Facebook, I'm just not expecting Beyonce to be on the forefront of any substantive discussion about women's rights, where we are and where we've come from.

I understand there is inherent danger in pop culture co-opting of feminism and "girl power" as Samhita over at Feministing clearly explains. The irony of all this conversation and debate, and what I think helps prove this point, is that the song was written primarily by MEN. Not one but a quintet: Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer (Vybz Kartel) all co-wrote this with Beyonce. These guys aren't exactly pro-woman intellectuals or activists so again why do we expect this to be an authentic anthem?

Many people ask "Why shouldn't we expect more?" Beyonce is an entertainer. Her JOB is to be a pop star i.e. sell lots of records and get lots of endorsements. Her songs are like the McDonald's fries of music. Horrible for you but deliciously addictive and readily available. They are both guilty pleasures relatively irresistible to the masses. (side note: I loathe McDonald's but you know about their fries.) She has been raised by parents determined to make her a star...and here she is. She is a cog in the music industry wheel. A wheel that is about making money off of selling people whatever crap they will buy, and/or creating formulaic music that won't make you think too hard. Maybe Bey wanted to write something more authentic and got shut down by the four men in the room, her record label or another more powerful male voice. Maybe these words truly empower her. Maybe she just wanted us to watch and discuss. We don't know. I'm just speculating and I'm not knocking her hustle.

It just sucks sometimes to feel like you're a "bad feminist" if enjoy clearly problematic and unsophisticated content. But to quote Arielle Loren: "Many women relate to rocking freakum dresses, graduating from prestigious universities, building powerhouse careers, and loving their families, all at the same time." Even if Bey's music is a bit misguided and often lacks nuance, there's something relatable (and danceable) that captivates large audiences, myself included.

We can sit around and have intellectual debates about this or do what oppressed peoples do. Flip the script. Take something that is created from patriarchal and capitalist intentions and make the messaging powerful for ourselves. There are important discussions happening now about women's and girls equality that are being sparked by this one catchy pop song. Use this as a teachable moment to talk with young girls about their self-esteem and how they interpret "running the world." As my friend Brandi reminded me on Facebook: "People's self-esteem have to be lifted in order to have the confidence to start a revolution." A place to start is with our girls and ourselves.

Update 5/23 at 5.07 p.m.: please talk to little boys and men too! equality requires all of us.

Ashley Judd Thinks Hip-Hop Ain't No Fun

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:08:00 +0000

I've been having some conversations over the last few days about Ashley Judd and her misguided and misinformed views on Hip-Hop in her just-released memoir. At first, I dismissed it as another older white feminist movie star talking about things that she has no idea about. I respect what she has done to advocate for international maternal health, so I rolled my eyes and tried to look at it as an opportunity to talk about misogyny in commercial Hip-Hop music, and how that affects perceptions of it within larger society. But that was a surface and reactionary response, lacking deeper thought about the larger implications of her statement and what it shows about her prejudices. Here's what she said:

"YouthAIDS created hip, public service announcements for TV and radio using popular local and international celebrities and athletes and was participating in the MTV World AIDS Day 'Staying Alive' concerts," she wrote. "Along with other performers, YouthAIDS was supported by rap and hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy to spread the message ... um, who? Those names were a red flag. As far as I'm concerned, most rap and hip-hop music -- with its rape culture and insanely abusive lyrics and depictions of girls and women as 'ho's' -- is the contemporary soundtrack of misogyny."

During a conversation on Facebook with a feminist sisterfriend, we commented on how Ashley Judd is an outsider to the culture and knows nothing about Hip-Hop to make those statements. However, I also talked with my close friend, TastyKeish, and she was really upset and bothered by it. She opened my eyes to the severity of using "rape culture" to describe something so broad yet nuanced. I'm realizing that being caught up in academic feminist circles (of which I'm often on the periphery), I can have tunnelvision. Maybe I'm choosing gender over race...I'm not sure...I hate the idea that I even think about having to weigh the two. But I see I've become desensitized to these kinds of comments and if I am going to call myself a feminist, then I should be just as disgusted by gendered and ignorant comments about black men's sexuality and a culture that has raised me (even if it has its issues) as I am about how black women's sexuality is attacked through anti-choice billboards.

Aside from the fact that Ashley Judd has no clue about Hip-Hop as an art form and a culture, her comment shows an underlying prejudice towards black men. She says that Snoop and Diddy's participation in YouthAIDS raised a red flag for her. If she knew anything about Hip-Hop or maybe even had a conversation with either one of these men, she'd know that neither condone rape or create violent music (at least not in the last decade), both are intelligent and savvy media moguls, and both are fathers (each has a least one daughter). So why wouldn't they use their star power and influence to spread the message to young people, and especially the Hip-Hop community, about the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention? Shouldn't they be lauded? If their music is so sexually irresponsible, isn't it a good thing that they are talking about safe sex considering that HIV/AIDS transmission rates are so much higher among African-Americans?

What's particularly dangerous is the use of the phrase "rape culture" in this context. In the wake of the Cleveland, Texas rape case, we have seen how stereotypes of sexually aggressive black men spin out of control and dredge up historical beliefs of black men being rapists. This is the latest incarnation with Ashley Judd, a well-respected advocate for maternal health and women and girls, attacking Hip-Hop. Commercial Hip-Hop is misogynous. So is underground shit. Rock, metal, house, R&B, techno, etc. all have misogynous and violent content. But none is as popular, commercially viable, or controversial. There's a difference between talking about the music as being misogynous and honestly deconstructing what's behind that, and saying Hip-Hop as a whole promotes "rape culture." It shows a lack of understanding of the diversity of Hip-Hop and the commercial decisions that shape how it is sold and capitalized upon (and who makes those decisions).

I know that she is promoting a book and people think it's a publicity stunt. I don't know...maybe it is, generally speaking we as listeners and consumers of Hip-Hop (at least her definition of it) aren't her main audience. As a publicist and communications strategist, I think that's idiotic and shortsighted but I'm also not a big supporter of the idea that all publicity, even bad, is good publicity. If that's the case then mission accomplished...now people who didn't know or care about her memoir think she is a racist dumbass. Or some people think she is speaking out about negative imagery of women in Hip-Hop and pop culture. That depends on your point of view. What I do believe is that Ms. Judd wants to advance the discussion of attitudes that lead to sexual assault and rape since she experienced sexual abuse. Yet this is hardly a constructive way to do it.

I am no Hip-Hop expert. I grew up adoring Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Monie Love and MC Lyte...along with Snoop. (I'm still a fan.) As a teenager, I was offended that Biggie called women "hos" but loved Lil' Kim for spitting raw lyrics about liking to fuck. I worked in the industry and saw the best and worst treatment of women, how stereotypes can be expressed by both genders, and how the money would dry up if women were not running things behind the scenes and showing their bodies on camera giving even the lamest emcee a hope that his video will be seen. There is a spectrum of attitudes and expressions in music that is not individual to Hip-Hop, that's what creates art.

I don't want to go in on Ms. Judd because I know I've said and written things that were ill-informed and irresponsible, things I wish I had thought more about before putting into a public space. Instead since she is passionate about maternal health, I'd like her to see how Hip-Hop is raising awareness of the issue in the African continent, where she has done a lot of humanitarian work. Two powerful women (songstress Maya Azucena and filmmaker Lisa Russell) created MDGFive.com, a movement uniting artists and activists for maternal health. They just returned from Tanzania and collaborated with local artists there for the song, "Mama Creator." This is Hip-Hop. It might not sound like what's on the radio or in videos but it expresses a positive and life-affirming aspect of the culture in a way that I think Ms. Judd can relate to.

Now she has come out after the backlash and said this, exclusively to Russell Simmons via Global Grind:

“...What I’m being accused of is condemning rap and hip-hop as a whole, and the whole community and when they say community, they mean the fans, and African-Americans, it’s become so generalized. My intention was to take a stand to say the elements that are misogynistic and treat girls and women in a hyper-sexualized way are inappropriate. The male dominance that is displayed, and the reinforcement of girls' and women value and identify as primarily sexual, is not helpful in any artistic expression, in any cultural form, whether its country music or in television story lines.”

The idea of misogyny in Hip-Hop is not new but this can certainly be another opportunity to talk about how women are represented in popular culture, not just Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is an easy target but it's a lot more complicated than just saying it promotes rape culture without looking at the bigger picture. I identify as a feminist but I like "Ain't No Fun" and a whole slew of songs with shameful sexist lyrics. I know it's problematic and sometimes it's a mindfuck but I'm aware of Hip-Hop and all of its complexities. I want our community to be challenged by public condemnation of Hip-Hop and to think about what messages we are promoting globally and generationally. But I also think it's an unfortunate reminder that no matter how much success black men achieve the stereotypes about their sexuality continue to exist and persist. For feminism to move forward among all genders, we need to be cognizant of how this thinking keeps gender roles alive and inadvertently feeds a cycle of violence...one that has nothing to do with Hip-Hop.

What does pro-sex mean anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Angelika) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Pro-sex is a belief that sexuality is spiritual and human beings are naturally, sexual beings so women do not have to fit into the box prude vs. whore; there is definitely an in between. For example, Janet Jackson’s lyrics are just as provocative as Lil Kim’s but just more subtle. Janet is just as sexual as Lil Kim but in a different way. Thus, there are more ways to live a pro-sex life without being a “whore” or “slut”

It’s all about balance. One can be pro-sex yet practice abstinence/celibacy at certain point in one’s life in order to create/maintain sexual health and balance.

Pro-sex means looking at sex holistically; that sex is more than just a physical act and one must be sexually healthy and aware

Pro-sex does not mean sexually promiscuous, it actually means just the opposite that as sexual beings we are obligated to be sexually responsible.

Being pro-sex does not mean that you’re a nymphomaniac or currently sexually active. Being pro-sex is having the outlook that sex is just as important as nutrition and just as we teach people to have balanced eating habits, we must teach people to have balanced sex lives as well.

Greater Than Love: In Response to Questions on Pro-Sex

noreply@blogger.com (Angelika) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:57:00 +0000

When two spirits intertwine, something higher, something greater than love occurs

I appreciate all dialog on love, sex and relationships especially questions. And don't expect everyone to understand or agree with me.

Back in October, I wrote a piece on pro-sex feminism and received a few questions about what type of contraception I use and whether or not sex without love is like rape so here's my response below.

The type of contraception depends on who I am with at that time, but again as I pointed out in the post . . . pro-sex doesn't mean promiscuous

It seems you assumed I have more than one partner at a time or that have had a great deal of partners over time, please don't put me in that box

I've been celibate for almost a year now but still consider myself pro-sex

I have learned that it is extremely difficult for people to have sex without love and fear, which usually leads to control or power struggles

If I met the right person who could handle being with me without trying to control me then I wouldn't be celibate, but due to the fact that most people equate love with control and conditions I remain pro-sex but sex free

Pro-sex doesn't mean violence or teasing for tricks either. It simply means that it's up to me to choose who I have sex with and to be upfront about whether or not I want more than sex from that person

I disagree that sex without love is a form of rape because love sometimes means "controlling" or "struggling for power" just as rape is about power. Many people have twisted ideas of "love"

Love is not necessarily derogatory, however, I want something greater than love. Being together or being "in love" shouldn't require that I am with you everyday or living with you or marrying you or keeping tabs on you and vice versa

I believe there is a higher level of being connected to another person that doesn't require traditional models of relationships and "love"

Reproductive Justice: More Than Words

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:44:00 +0000

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Deadliest Snatch

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook

I know that I often talk (step on soapbox) about reproductive justice (RJ), particularly my frustrations with sensational claims that abortion is genocide in the African-American community or reasons why midwivery and doulas need support. I also realize that "reproductive justice" (the right to have children, not have children, and to parent the children we have in safe and healthy environments) can be heavy concept that turns off people who aren't interested in pro-choice issues, even though the RJ framework was created to recognize how abortion is directly related to other social justice issues (economic, environmental, etc.). Nonetheless it's something that I've become passionate about as I continue to grow into womanhood, and witness how the government and belief structures aim to dictate the tough decisions we have to make for our bodies and families. I am angered by offensive and incessant promotion of women, especially African-American women, as irresponsible blameworthy breeders and crafty spin equating abortion to genocide. I often wonder what Rwandans think of that comparison...

To channel some of this energy, I've been tasking myself to talk about reproductive justice and find entry points and intersections for a broader audience. One step in that direction was being a guest on Hot 97's Street Soldiers for their first-ever panel on abortion (click on the link that says "3/6 Abortion"). It was sparked by the outrageous billboard in Soho that read: "The most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb." Yes, the ad that was taken down in 2 days...New Yorkers ain't having that foolishness. Still I was hesitant to go on air because I've seen how these debates go and I get irritated when people's facts are shifty and the discussion becomes based on subjective beliefs on morality. It also felt like a huge responsibility to speak publicly as an expert about a complex issue which I care dearly about--I wanted to represent, ya know? But knowing that I'd be on the show with Sister Toldja (blogger extraordinaire) and Taja Lindley (doula extraordinaire), I felt ready.

It was an interesting and intense experience. First off, Lisa Evers did an admirable job moderating. She was fair and called bullshit. I respect the way she handled the Margaret Sanger topic, basically saying she's dead so let's move on. Classic. She also called out factually suspect information.

I got a very real public experience in countering spin. It can be difficult to keep a cool (and focused) head when you're pelted with nonsense. I'm talking about the references that women who have abortions have higher chances of getting breast cancer (medically DISPROVEN), pro-choice women don't care about life (anti-choicers' claim to fame), and that reproductive justice is a euphemism. *record scratch*

Reproductive justice is more than words. Since I've already stated the definition let's be clear that it's not just talk, it's a movement. It's not about pro-choice or pro-life labels or debating about when life begins, it's about ensuring healthy communities exist for us to parent and raise children, about keeping the government out of personal family decisions, and understanding that our choices are often shaped more by our conditions than solely individual morality. If these anti-choicers are so outraged by past eugenics and government control of women of color's reproduction, then why are they trying to control it now with religious dogma? Despite being branded as murders, reproductive justice advocates are pro-life. Not the "pro-life" label of anti-choice advocates that leaves little consideration for the lives of mothers or babies after they are born. We are pro-life (promoting and supporting life) because we are about human rights.

According to Sistersong:

In 2005, Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ) expanded the definition of reproductive justice to mean “the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social, and economic well-being of women and girls, based on the full achievement and protection of women’s human rights.”

As we get closer to the 2012 election, this debate is going to get fiercer and black women (and families) will continue to be rhetorical targets and pawns. We will continue to spoken about not as multi-dimensional, complicated and capable humans but as a easily duped species exceptional at breeding. The truth will become even more muddled with questionable research, religious posturing and mudslinging but with a solid foundation, understanding and respect for justice in all forms our community can rebuke shame and spin.

I've listed some RJ resources below which provide trustworthy and nuanced information. It's a starting point and I'd like to add more. Let's take a step forward towards combatting words with action.

Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice

Black Women For Reproductive Justice

California Latinas for Reproductive Justice

Dominican Women’s Development Center

Guttmacher Institute

International Center for Traditional Childbearing

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

National Asian Pacific Women’s Forum

National Organization for Women, NYC

New Voices Pittsburgh

New York Abortion Access Fund

Raising Women’s Voices

Sistersong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective

Spark Reproductive Justice Now

Women of Color Policy Network

Blogs:

Colorlines

ClutchMagazine

Crunk Feminist Collective

Goddesses Rising Gets Active With Momma's Hip Hop Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 02:07:00 +0000

Goddesses Rising is taking the show on the road and we'll be having a table at Momma's Hip Hop Kitchen Vol.4 "Let's Get Active!" We're really excited to be surrounded by fierce females all day using Hip-Hop culture to empower and uplift our sisters. There will be performances by female emcees, djs, b-girls and just all around positive vibes.

This year's theme is all about health so we will sharing some sexual health and reproductive justice resources, in addition to a fun goddess pack giveaway for stopping by. Looking forward to see you all there!

Get Up, Stand Up!

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Women's bodies have become a battleground for legislators in recent days. Last week, the House voted 240-185 to defund Planned Parenthood and all Title X services. This is not just about stopping abortion...this includes HIV/STI testing & mammograms among other vital women's health services. Don't believe the hype.

Jill from Feministe breaks down what this means for women's health services as a whole:

By law, federal funds haven’t paid for abortions since the 1970s, so the House hasn’t voted to cut abortion funding. They’re cutting funding for the entire Title X program — funding for contraception, cancer screening, STI tests, sex education, mammograms, HIV testing and diagnosis, and pregnancy screening and counseling. Title X is the only federal program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and preventive health services, particularly low-income families.

This legislation, known as the Pence Amendment, blocks federal funding from these services thus affecting low-income women. This affects freelancers and small business owners like myself without the comfort of health insurance among women who depend on Medicaid or public services. However, this amendment would have pass in the Democratically-controlled Senate (which is unlikely) and furthermore President Obama has promised not to approve a GOP budget.

So what's the problem here? If Planned Parenthood and Title X won't be defunded, why care? Lori at Feministing explains that the anti-choice GOP legislators aim to stigmatize normal reproductive health services such as pap smears, pregnancy testing and birth control counseling and what lies beneath the rhetoric:

In short, more than an attempt at “fiscal restraint”, the GOP attack on Planned Parenthood is an act of shameful political theater meant to create shame and embarrassment around issues of reproductive health- and the more we treat it as just a budget issue, the more we enable their cultural war.

I don't know about you but I'm disgusted. If you are frustrated with the politicization of our bodies and sexuality then my NYC folks can join this Saturday's Rally for Women's Health in lower Manhattan's Foley Square (across from the courthouse). Various Planned Parenthood affiliates, along with Raising Women's Voices, Trust Women, NOW New York City, New York Civil Liberties Union and numerous other organizations have coordinated the event and Gloria Steinem is set to share some words.

If you care about women, show your support either in person or online. Only with strength in numbers can we send a message to legislators that women's bodies are not a political playground. I'll be there...come find me, the rowdy chick with a faux-hawk hat and a yellow tambourine :)

Healing Reading Pt. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Blue Bird) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 01:39:00 +0000

To follow up on the previous post, in addition to reading The Shadow Effect, I concurrently read The Politics of Experience by RD Laing and Kick Ass Creativity by Mary Beth Maziarz. I could not have asked for more complimentary rhetoric in the three books.

The Shadow Effect explores the inner areas that we have tendencies to feel bad about. The Politics of Experience delves into the non-realism of experienced reality. So that those shadow areas that we think we hide from others, and we convince ourselves that we should not pay attention to at all, play just as equal part in reality as all those other experiences that happen outside of us with others. The way Kick Ass Creativity rounds it out is to validate that no matter how weird, how internal and how uncomfortable those impulses seem; we should trust the energy, work with all the facets of our being to convert these forces into some form of positive creation.

All of it has to do with shifting consciousness, patience, forgiveness and then releasing through active expression. Validation of our crazy, validation of our inner worlds, and acceptance for situations that confuse us. Blessings!

Healing Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Blue Bird) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:23:00 +0000

To kick off 2011, I read The Shadow Effect released in May 2010. I figured I needed to start the year off on an empowering note. And I definitely feel better for having read this book! I'll give a sampling of excerpts from the book co-written by Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, and Marianne Williamson.

There were parts that made me wonder why I needed to read these things in a book, such common sense rhetoric about forgiveness and awareness. Overall I appreciated the straight forward and direct language. Very worthwhile!

'You are not in the world. The world is in you.' -Vedas

'The most important thing in rebuilding your emotional body is becoming whole. When you experience yourself as your source and your world at the same time, you have become whole.'

'Feel feelings, whether it's anger, fear, envy, aggression, or anything else, and say, "I see you. You belong to me."'

'Our shadow is all that we try to hide from those we love and all that we don't want other people to find out about us.'

'Prayer is not just a symbol; it is a force. Meditation is not just something that relaxes us; it is something that harmonizes the energies of the universe.'

'Ultimately, the healing of the world will emerge not from our changing and correcting others, but from our willingness to change and correct ourselves.'

Bless up divine sistrens!
Happy 2011!

The Cisgender Privilege Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:57:00 +0000

Coming face to face with our own privilege is ugly...but it's necessary for growth. Understanding opens space for compassion. Please read and share...
Cross posted from Queers United & The Transgender Boards

"There appears to be little in the way of a comprehensive cisgender (non transgender) privilege list. These lists are generally written in the first person relative to having the privilege. Number #1 speaks to both heterosexual and cisgender privilege. The remainder of the list focuses on cisgender privilege."

Please read and re-post this list to make people aware of the hardships often faced by transgender individuals that cisgender people take for granted on a daily basis.

1. It is unlikely that I will be ostracized by my family and friends, fired from my job, evicted from my home, given substandard medical care, suffer violent or sexual abuse, ridiculed by the media, or preached against by religious organizations simply because of my professed identity or perceived incongruent gendered behaviors or characteristics.
2. I can be confident that people will not call me by a different name or use improper pronouns.
3. I never suffered the indignation of "holding it", when both functional and unoccupied public restrooms are available. In fact, I don't need to be concerned about public facilities segregated by sex.
4. If I am institutionalized, I don't have to worry about being housed in the wrong section of a facility segregated by sex.
5. I am not denied entrance to appropriate services or events that are segregated by sex.
6. My childhood innocence was not interrupted with desperate prayers to a divinity begging to wake up the opposite sex.
7. I never grieve about my lost childhood and adolescence because I was born the opposite sex.
8. I will only experience puberty once.
9. I never worry about potential lovers shifting instantly from amorous to disdain and even violence because of my genitals.
10. I am unlikely to be questioned about my genitals, even less likely to be touched inappropriately or asked to see them.
11. It is unlikely that I would risk my health by avoiding the medical profession for fear of discovery.
12. I never considered hiding my body parts by binding or tucking.
13. It is unlikely that I would consider changing my voice.
14. If I have a professionally recognized and diagnosed condition, I am unlikely to be excluded from medical insurance coverage.
15. As a man, I am more likely to look my age, and have a body similar in size and shape to other men.
16. As a man, I am more likely to be satisfied with the functionality of my genitals.
17. As a man, I am more likely able to father children .
18. As a woman, I am more likely to have a body similar in size and shape to other women.
19. As a woman, I am unlikely to lose my hair before middle age.
20. As a woman, I am more likely able to conceive and bear children.
21. As a woman, I don't have to dilate the rest of my life.
22. I am more likely able to achieving orgasm.
23. I will likely have $50,000 or more to spend or save for retirement.
24. I can't imagine spending months and $1000s of dollars on a therapist so they can tell me something I already knew.
25. If I am physically healthy, I don't think about having a hysterectomy, a mastectomy, massive hair removal, contra hormone therapy, vocal surgery, facial reassignment surgery, or genital reassignment surgery.
26. I have a better chance of reaching old age without taking my own life.
27. At my funeral, it is unlikely that my family would present me crossdressed against my living wishes.
28. I never worry about passing gender wise. I am oblivious to the consequences of someone failing to do so, and consequently loosing my cisgender (non transgender) privilege. In fact, I have the privilege of being completely unaware of my own cisgender privilege.

New Year Cleansing: Electronics Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Happy New Year! If you've spent some time clearing old clutter for the new year, you may have some electronic items that you don't want to throw out but don't need anymore. This resource courtesy of Ladies Lotto gives a calendar and list of locations to recycle your extraneous cables, old cell phones and other obsolete items. Please bear with the formatting but there is really good information courtesy of the Lower East Side Ecology Center about where the electronics end up and what specifically drop off.

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling at Bowling Green

January 08, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Bowling Green Park east side, Broadway at Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004

The Ecology Center is bringing its 8th Annual "After the Holidays" E-waste
Events to Bowling Green this January to help you responsibly dispose of a...
Learn More

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling in the Bronx

January 08, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

East 163rd Street between Southern and Bruckner Blvd, Bronx, NY 10474

The Ecology Center is bringing its 8th Annual "After the Holidays" E-waste
Events to the Bronx this January to help you responsibly dispose of al... Learn
More

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling at the Queens Botanical
Garden

January 09, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Queens Botanical Garden, parking lot entrance on Crommelin Street, Queens,
NY 11355

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling at Tekserve

January 15, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Tekserve, 119 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling at Prospect Park

January 16, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Prospect Park West and 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

COMPOSTING
Worm Composting Workshop

January 19, 2011 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

University Settlement at the Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery (at Houston
Street), New York, NY 10002

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling at Habana Outpost

January 22, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Habana Outpost, Fulton Street between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford
Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling in Inwood

January 22, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

RING Garden, Riverside Drive between Dyckman Street and Seaman Avenue, New
York, NY 10034

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling on the Upper East Side

January 23, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021

E-WASTE
Electronic Waste Recycling on the Upper West Side

January 23, 2011 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023

*What can I bring?*

We accept the following working and non-working equipment:

• Computers (laptops & desktops, servers, mainframes)
• Monitors
• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, copiers
• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)
• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, etc.)
• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.)
• TVs, VCRs, & DVD Players
• Audio-visual equipment
• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs
• Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.)*

Please note: To recycle media, such as floppies, cd’s, zips, VHS tapes
please recycle with Green Disk.

*Is my personal information on my computer safe? Do I have to delete the
hard drive?*
We require the electronics recycler to safeguard personal information on the
hard-drive by physically destroying the hard drive. If you would like to do
your own data removal go to Kill Disk or Darik's Boot and Nuke, both programs are free.

*What do I do with household batteries?*

All household batteries are accepted at any New York City Department of
Sanitation Self-Help Special Waste Drop-Off Site. There is one drop-off site
in each borough. Additionally, it is illegal to throw rechargeable batteries
in the trash. All NYC stores that sell rechargeable batteries must take back
rechargeable batteries. For more information about battery and other
household special waste recycling, click here.

*Why should I recycle my old electronics?*

According to the E.P.A., electronic waste contributes 70% of the toxins
found in landfills, while only contributing 1% of the volume of materials in
landfills. Electronic waste contains many toxic materials including lead,
mercury, cadmium, phosphors and flame-retardants. Recycling your electronics
waste decreases energy and water use, reduces pollution, and keeps hazardous
chemicals out of our air and water.

A recently passed law makes it illegal for New York State residents to
dispose of electronic items, starting April 1, 2011.

For more information see the Electronics Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act.

*What happens to the computers that people bring to events?
*Computer equipment dropped off during our events is loaded into trucks and
transported by to a recycling facility. We work with both WeRecycle! LLC and Sims Recycling Solutions as
our Electronics Recycling Partners.
They both guarantee:
• No-landfill policy: 100% of your donated electronics is broken down into
component materials and used to make recycled products.
• No out-sourcing: all recycled material stays in the US to be used by
American companies and is not shipped overseas.
• Components are sold to base metal brokers for use as raw materials,
precious metal recovery refiners, and secondary plastics industries. Leaded
CRT glass is shipped to funnel glass manufacturers.

*Is there a limit to how much I can bring?
*No, but we only accept materials from households, not-for-profit
organizations, schools, and small businesses (less than 50 employees). If
dropping off a large amount of equipment, please give us a call at (212)
477-4022 so we can plan accordingly.

*Do you offer pick-ups?
*Unfortunately, we are not able to make pickups. We would like to suggest
that you ask family and friends with cars for help. We have also seen people
with vehicles organize their building by offering to transport computers
from their neighbors to an event along with their own computers.

The next best thing to pick-up is to ship your computer back to the
manufacturers. This service is offered by some computer
manufacturers.

*Can I take used items at the recycling events?*
No. The collection events are not swap meets, they are drop off events.

*Can I receive a tax deduction for donating my computer equipment?*
Yes. Please visit our info table at the event, and we can help you there.

*How can I have an Electronics Recycling event in my neighborhood?*

In order to make e-waste recycling accessible and convenient to New York
City residents, the Ecology Center works with community partners to hold
events in a variety of neighborhoods. If you would like to bring an
electronics recycling event to your community, please contact
info@lesecologycenter.org or 212-477-4022.

*How much does an electronics recycling event cost the Lower East Side
Ecology Center?
*The Ecology Center is not a e-waste recycler. We hire e-waste recyclers
and pay a recycling fee, based on the tonnage of materials collected. In
order to make recycling free to the public and accessible to New Yorkers of
all income-levels, the Ecology Center raises funds to cover recycling fees
for electronics collected at each event and works to bring recycling events
to a diversity of neighborhoods.

via:
Nicole Smith
The Perfect Space- Total Organization from the Inside-->Out
Owner- Organizer/Life Design Guru
646.920.2734

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 9-Gorillaz

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Happy holidays and blizzard staycation to my NYC and northeast massive! LOL, I took a hiatus on this for some offline holiday biznass since it's "Music Monday" I wanted to bless you with the gift of some free music.

The Gorillaz are pretty dope and have their new album online available to listen to...go here and check it out. You have to give your email address but really it's not that serious. They mostly made it on their iPad which is pretty sick. I have no idea how that would even work...ah, technology is pretty amazing. It's been keeping me entertained as I'm snowbound and tying up old 2010 biz.

Their vibe makes me think of Saraswati, the goddess of music, knowledge and the arts.

In Hinduism, Saraswati represents intelligence, consciousness, cosmic knowledge, creativity, education, enlightenment, music, the arts, and power.

I like how she is often depicted holding many objects, particularly multiple instruments. It makes me think of how this album was created...with lots of different types of sounds and moving parts and voices...give thanks for creativity and innovation.

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 8-Democracy Now

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Day 8, getting back on track! First off...happy full moon eclipse and happy Winter Solstice! What did you releasing? It's time to let go of what's not working for you and/or put the past to rest. I asked the moon to take some of that old stagnant baggage from the past away into the darkness. Buh-bye.

I am a little braindead from staying up and watching the eclipse and the flurry of activity so I'm struggling to find a clever segue of how to introduce day 8's feature. Well I've been following the net neutrality debate and pending legislation and today, it was ruled that corporations are unable to randomly block Internet content on laptops and computers...but the rules against wireless carriers are a little more unclear. Basically, it boils down to another way for corporations to control what information is accessible and available to which populations. The Internet has opened up the door for regular folks without deep pockets like you and me to have a voice and a place to distribute self-made content. We already know that TV, radio, newspapers and other media don't have such open access so it's scary to think what would happen if the Internet had those same restrictions.

One of the saviors of broadcast media has been Democracy Now!. I have worked in non-commercial radio (big up WBAI in NYC!) and understand its importance in our media landscape. Shows like Democracy Now! do for broadcast media what countless blogs do for the internet: report on stories without corporate bias or that the mainstream media(MSM) won't touch, and give voice to marginalized populations who have little means or access to MSM.

As most media operations that don't rely on corporate sponsorship, Democracy Now needs help from the listeners. They are soliciting holiday donations this season and it's money well spent. They covered the Climate Change Summit in Cancun earlier this month giving airtime to youth voices, international perspectives, and grassroots organizers...I saw very little discussion of any of this in MSM showing the relative importance of our Mother Earth on the media's agenda. You can donate online easily and help support justice in our media, broadcast and online. Once it's gone, it's gone and we will be stuck with biased and bought information.

Here's a gem from this week...these are the types of discussions we must fight for!

Naomi Wolf vs. Jaclyn Friedman: Feminists Debate the Sexual Allegations Against Julian Assange

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 7-NYAAF

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:16:00 +0000

I'm a little behind schedule, I missed a day of the series (feastin' and holiday street running takes it toll!) but don't want to lose the sentiment. I finish what I start...we'll get there :)

Day 7 is dedicated to a cause which is a bit controversial in public discourse, but something which we at Goddesses Rising, strongly advocate for and often openly discuss. We have written about reproductive justice in many ways and our beliefs that all people should be able to make decisions about their bodies and lives without government interference. Easier said than done. This gets heavier when you deal with reproductive rights, particularly abortion.

Abortion is a common, legal medical procedure if you strip away all the politics that go with it. It is also not something women do for fun and games, nor is it an easy decision. Women have them because they want to be good mothers and they can't be for economic, mental, physical and a whole host of reasons. Many women having abortions are low-income, under 30, women who are already moms, women of color, not receiving support from the father or any combination of these. The stats below from the Guttmacher Institute tell the story:

Eighteen percent of U.S. women obtaining abortions are teenagers; those aged 15-17 obtain 6% of all abortions, teens aged 18-19 obtain 11%, and teens under age 15 obtain 0.4%.

Women in their twenties account for more than half of all abortions; women aged 20–24 obtain 33% of all abortions, and women aged 25-29 obtain 24%.

Thirty percent of abortions occur to non-Hispanic black women, 36% to non-Hispanic white women, 25% to Hispanic women and 9% to women of other races.

Thirty-seven percent of women obtaining abortions identify as Protestant and 28% as Catholic.

Women who have never married and are not cohabiting account for 45% of all abortions.

About 61% of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children.

Forty-two percent of women obtaining abortions have incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level ($10,830 for a single woman with no children). Twenty-seven percent of women obtaining abortions have incomes between 100-199% of the federal poverty level.*

The reasons women give for having an abortion underscore their understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood and family life. Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.

Despite the legality of abortion in this country, many states put up barriers which make it difficult for women to access these services. What's insane about it is that often in such places, birth control is not readily accessible either. It's ass backwards and emphasizes that it's more about control and dogma than really saving lives. Anyhoo, NYAAF is the New York Abortion Access Fund, an all-volunteer organization that assists low-income women in obtaining abortion services. Though most women are in New York State, sometimes they assist women from other states in dire situations with restrictive laws and set them up to come here. NYAAF has helped 122 women in the past year and provided $60,000 to health clinics, more than twice they were able to do last year. This seems to reflect an increased need for assistance in this down economy and increasing lack of access to reproductive health services.

If it's a moral choice for you to choose not to have an abortion, I respect that 100%. But dictating that a woman must have a baby she can't care for because abortion is morally wrong to you is unacceptable. Pro-choice isn't pro-abortion. This is a matter of reproductive justice and a small contribution in the name of another believer in choice and autonomy will directly help a woman in need access her legal right to choose.

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 6-Navegante

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 07:10:00 +0000

On day 6, I want to give a gift to you: music. hot sh*t. for free. thank me later :)

I have been following Navegante since early 2009. I discovered them at Camarada's El Barrio, a smoothed out uptown bar and live music spot, and have been a fan gal ever since. Their live show is an experience to say the least. Everyone that I've even taken has been literally mesmerized at how dope their music is, and how talented the musicians themselves are. Navegante only has 2 members, Jean and Wash, but the sounds that comes from each of their 2 hands and 2 feet is f*ckin' mindblowing. How to describe their sound: funky raucous electronic instrumentation combining elements rock, hip-hop and Afro-Latino rhythms. Their songs take you on a journey, changing up beats and breaks...they're one-of-a-kind. I consider their show a legitimate work out because that's how hard they go. Their live show makes people lose their daggone sense (myself included)...folks grinding, gyrating, jumping, fist-pumping, stripping, whatever makes 'em feel good. It's that serious.

Anyhoo...you can experience a piece of that magic via Youtube or even better download their EP for free. The video below is their docusode so you can learn more about these Brooklyn/Miami natives, and check out Combat Rock which was filmed at Santo's Party House this September to a packed house. We were sweating it out, literally. And thanks Navegante for the cameo (woot woot!). So check out these vids, find them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter to find out when they are playing live next...and I'll see you on the dance floor ;)

and this is for my homegirl, Samhita :)

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 5-Brown Girls Burlesque "The Feast"

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 03:01:00 +0000

I'm just under the gun for day 5 of our 12 Days of Christmakwanzakah series...never on schedule but always on time :) I'm inspired by sister goddess Angelika's post yesterday dedicated to Artemis, so each of our subsequent posts will reference a different goddess. 5 is the number associated with Oshun so it only makes sense to feature something beautiful, smart and sensual.

I have shared bits of my burlesque journey here on Goddesses Rising and tomorrow night I'm debuting on stage with Brown Girls Burlesque. I'm really excited about this...and admittedly anxious (that fun butterflies in your stomach feeling)...it's something I've been working towards in 2010 so it's an appropriate end to a transformational year.

The show, entitled "The Feast," is all about the overindulgence of the holidays. You know...so many parties, so much food, drink, lights, gift-giving, merriment, shopping and...tomfoolery. So in the spirit of decadence, we're just gonna go overboard with sass, satire and sex appeal.

One of the things I really dig about burlesque is that it's a means of story-telling with bodies and nudity...you can tantalize and/or excite people's intellect, or just let go and be seductive. I'm new in this space but I like that it challenges people's ideas of art and sexuality. It also has made me hyperaware that many people can't combine a woman's intellect and sexuality...it's like the two can't co-exist. My teacher, Howlin' Vic, likes to say that society is cool with naked women, but is scared of a naked woman talking. Communication comes in many different forms...

If you haven't experienced it, see for yourself. At the very least, your admission of $10 with 3 cans of food will support the NY Foodbank during this cold holiday season. And how could I forget our special guests: BLAZE will be bringing some man meat and Queen Esther will be blessing us with some vocal stylings. And bring a partner (or meet one there)...it's a perfect grown folks holiday gift: delicious foreplay... ;)

Saturday, December 18
Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, New York, NY
Doors at 9:30 p.m., Show starts at 10:00 p.m.
$15 - http://tinyurl.com/BGB15Feast
-OR-
$10 with a holiday donation of 3 cans of food to the NY Foodbank
http://tinyurl.com/BGBTheFeast-10

Here's some nearby by places to pick up can goods to donate:
4th Street Food Co - 58 East 4th St
Met Food Supermarket - 251 Mulberry St
Melisa Grocery Store - 73 East 4th St
Whole Foods Market - Bowery - 95 East Houston St

12 Days of Christmakwanzah: Day 4 - Tools for Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Angelika) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:55:00 +0000

On the fourth day of Christmakwanzakah, my true love gave to me . . . games, toys, and tools for teens!

Imagine a child who has never played with a hula hoop, never jumped rope, never played jenga, never played monopoly, never played a video game. Games we all assume children have played by the time they become teenagers but for some it is not so.

I work at a community school and everyday I interact with children and youth who are learning to have fun in peaceful, healthy ways. They not only need to play team building activities like basketball and football, they also need to learn tools for life (life skills) and play games that will teach them to think critically, problem solve, manage their emotions and release stress. Yes, children have stress because whatever their parents/families are stressed out about impacts them greatly.

"Without healthy outlets, the desire for freedom turns into lawlessness and the need for safety and self-respect degenerates into violence . . . within each person lies a bone deep longing for freedom,safety, hope, self-respect,and the chance to make an important contribution to family, community, and the world" - Claire Forest

Our programs are city funded and our budget is cut every year. We need your help to continue to provide healthy outlets for youth and give them hope to prevent them from engaging in unsafe, risky behavior.

How can you help?

1. Donate board games, video games and game equipment(Every hula hoop counts!)
2. Volunteer to facilitate a workshop on teen issues, conflict resolution, etc.
3. Volunteer with our Fashion Club teaching sewing, knitting or how to crotchet
4. Volunteer to assist with homework help & tutoring; Math Geniuses needed!
5. Other ideas and items are welcome!

Contact angelikaimani@yahoo.com or call 718-322-0011 and ask for Jessica our Assistant Director, who's one of many roles is coordinating volunteers & donations!

Our Goddess Prayer:
We call on Artemis; strong, youthful, moon goddess to protect the innocent, especially children and empower us to protect them as well.

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 3-Karen's Body Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:50:00 +0000

We've made it to day 3 of Christmakwanzakah! I'm pretty stoked considering this is the first daily series I've ever done on the site so I'm patting myself on the back :) *pats self on back*

Depending on where you live, the holidays means it's COLD outside! Cold air for me means dry skin, hair and nails...so unpleasant. Therefore, we are often lathering and coating our skin with lotions and butters and all sorts of chemicals that only provide a quick fix. An hour later, we are reapplying and feeling no relief. To rectify this winter problem, I fell in love with the products from Brooklyn's own Karen's Body Beautiful. I found the store via Twitter and was drawn to their natural hair products. At the time I had a big ol' fro and that joint needed moisture all year round! Since then I've tried their Heavenly Jojoba Hair Oil, Sweet Ambrosia (formerly known as Hair Milk), Hair Nectar, the Luscious Locks Mask and Butter Love (formerly Hair Butter).

Let me say how wonderful these products are for natural styles of all lengths and also when I was getting my hair fried, uh I mean straightened, by the serious blowdryers at the Dominican salons, so I know my sister goddesses with perms will be happy too. I know the Luscious Locks Hair Mask (a thick leave-in conditioner) protected my hair from all that heat and subsequent cold dry air. I used to use the Hair Nectar and Sweet Ambrosia/Hair Milk to define my curls when I had long hair and not only did it keep my hair soft and non-crunchy, but it smelled delicious! I recommend the Coco Mango and Guava Nectar...just be prepared to receive many compliments on how good you smell ;) Now that I have a short cut/baby fro, I'm caught up on the jojoba hair oil because it gives my hair and scalp moisture and protection from the elements. I recommend the Egyptian Musk...goddess energy in a bottle, I swear. Again, you have been forewarned that you may get stopped in the street because you smell that good!

What I truly dig about these products is that they are made from shea butter, olive oil, vitamin E and other natural ingredients. I'm trying to limit the amount of crap I put on my skin these days...maybe I'm getting older and more health-conscious but I feel like whatever I can do to limit my amount of voluntary chemical exposure is worth the energy and the expense. The lovely creator, Karen, also is social media saavy and often has discounts on products and free shipping offers, so make sure you find her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or sign up for her mailing list. Look, I love me a sale and that's honestly what got me to test out her products. And now I'm a fiend.

Check them out for yourself and do something good for your body and health, and support a woman owned business. Beauty doesn't have to be painful or dangerous so treat yourself!

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 2-Media Make Change

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Story Melodies Vol. 1: Coming of Age in the City from Media Make Change on Vimeo.

On the second day of Christmakwanzakah, my true love gave to me...media lit-er-acy. Yeah, that's the remix.

On day 2 of this series, I'd like to profile a different type of gift-giving, one that's not as concrete as a pair of gloves, some new lipstick or an iPad. Instead, it's the kind of gift that will last longer than all 3 of said items (yes, even the iPad): the gift of media literacy, technology and advocacy for people in underserved communities. By now, most of us know about the "digital divide" and that many low-income communities, communities of color, along with immigrant, youth and senior populations are often behind the technology curve.

Media Make Change, a non-profit organization started by the brilliant Tara L. Conley, is working to even out the playing field. Because of her dedication to "snew media" (a term she has coined bridging "social media" + "new media"), her organization is working with these underserved communities to provide and train people to use technology, in addition to teaching media literacy. The organization conducts programs that teach blogging, social media usage, digital film making/editing, and importantly how to use these tools to advocate for justice issues they believe in.

As someone who studied media for many years in school and who works in public relations, I am really connected to their mission. One of the major blessings of the Internet is that it's a portal where essentially we can all create our own media and tell our own stories without the lens and filter of mainstream, commercially funded, monopolized media. MSNBC.com is gonna get a lot more play than say this blog, but the Internet theoretically gives all of us our own outlets and distribution channels. The division is about access and that's what Media Make Change is focusing on: allowing for more voices to speak their truths, and also helping underserved communities understand and analyze media messages. If media is only expanding and we are constantly being exposed to conflicting and confusing images, then we need to provide all people with the means and context to understand the way media functions (especially corporate media); and the ability to create their own counter messages.

*jumps off soapbox*

Point being, non-profits like Media Make Change need community support, i.e. the regular folks like you and me who want to see our money directly help others. Though monetary donations are always appreciated, they are also looking for tech devices, such as laptops, cameras, and microphones; they also could use counsel (legal, financial, fundraising) and volunteers for their workshops. So as you're replacing and upgrading your MacBooks and Flipcams, put your old ones to good use by donating them to Media Make Change. Give the gift of education, literacy and voice!

Above you can see some of the work in action...a short film created by founder, Tara L. Conley, entitled "Story Melodies Vol 1: Coming of Age in the City." Imagine if everyone had access to equipment to tell their stories...

12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 1-Radical Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:52:00 +0000

Happy holidays, goddesses and gods! I'm getting in the holiday this spirit this year and doing a lot of fun wishing. Part of the holiday madness involves gift-giving and showing love to the important people in your life. This shouldn't mean going crazy to purchase lavish things but also being thoughtful and creative in the way we celebrate these traditions and view giving and receiving.

In the spirit of giving, the Goddesses Rising team presents our "12 Days of Christmakwanzakah" gift guide of dope stuff worthy of gods and goddesses. Sorry that we missed Hanukkah (it was mad early this year!) but the gift giving season is all month long, right? We will feature independent artists, designers, musicians, non-profit organizations and other projects to directly support indie talent and small businesses...Macy's, Old Navy and Best Buy are doing just fine right now, ok?!

So let's kick off our 12-day celebration radical muffin style :) What are radical muffins, you ask? Well according to my multi-talented sister goddess, Vanessa, the creator of the Radical Muffin blog and apron collection, we are "world-changing people of a muffin-y disposition." I'm with that. But this radical goddess is not only muffin-y, she is a talented cook and makes some badass aprons. They're so cute, they even make me want to cook! They have lace, glitter, taffeta and embroidery floss so they are both functional and fashionable. To sweeten the deal, all Radical Muffin aprons are made from second hand fabrics and trim and each comes with a fresh recipe (ones that don't appear on the blog). Score.

Not surprisingly my favorite one is called the "disco kitchen fairy." It's got a wipe down top layer...perfect for messy cooks like myself:

You can see more of these fabulous and absolutely adorable creations on the Radical Muffin site and if your'e interested in getting one for the holidays, contact Vanessa Rae directly at radicalmuffin @ gmail.com. Happy shopping...and then cooking! :)

Cold nights, hot burlesque

noreply@blogger.com (jaz) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:35:00 +0000

I can't believe it's the end of the year again...where did 2010 go? It's been a roller coaster but I'm finishing up this year strong, bringing things full circle, maintaining projects that I started when this year began. I started out this year taking an amazing Goddess Burlesque workshop which I've talked a bit about here and it opened me up to a whole new world of expression and movement.

So here we are in December and I'm performing again with my Goddess Burlesque sistren this Friday. It's Howlin' Vic's (also known as Liza Minelli) last show for a long, long, long time (maybe ever...*sheds tears*) so we are doing it BIG! It's 2 shows back to back and I'll be performing in the 7:30 show. I'm really excited to be reunited with the beautiful and powerful goddesses who I started this journey with, and to see how we've all grown in this performance space. So when you get your butt out of work this Friday, head over to the Brooklyn Arts Exchange and come show us some love :)

Burlesque Ad Infinitum
Friday, December 10th: Two shows: 7:30PM and 9:30PM
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 Fifth Avenue (btn 7th & 8th Street), Park Slope Brooklyn
Tickets are $15 ahead of time, $20 at the door

7:30PM SHOW:
Auburn Hills, Bitty Bamboo, Brauntastic, Cora Caverns, Crystal Balls aka Lauren Hunter, Dom Juan, Jazabel Jade, Kstar, Plum Manchego, Poisoned Ivy, Sparkle Plenty, Tallulah Luv, and Tiny D.

gems amidst the clutter

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Part of my mission for this fall has been to clear out the clutter. I've noticed that clutter in all forms, physical, emotional, digital, energetic, can cloud our visions and can keep us shrouded in the past. I've done a lot of cleaning house and it has allowed for many positive things to enter into my life. It's also been a walk down memory lane finding old parts of self, painful old ways of being and uncomfortable memories stored in computer files, captured in photos or lingering in old clothes. Not that life has been so horrible (AT ALL), but there were growing pains and bruised egos.

I've also been working doing some full moon release intentions: writing down things I want to work on releasing in each full moon cycle. One theme has been releasing guilt of poor decisions I've made or resentment about situations in which clearing clutter was necessary but did not end well. I've been marinating on the ideas that the past does not dictate the future (thanks to Tisa Silver for the simple yet wise reminder) and as the magnet on my refrigerator says: always make new mistakes.

Today I'm in the process of cleaning out digital files so I can open some new things in my world and I found some stream-of-consciousness poetry I wrote a little over 2 years ago. I didn't know this existed and don't really remember writing it but it's certainly on that "Return of Saturn" tip. Nonetheless it's on time, speaking directly to these ideas of jumping into things full-throttle, learning from mistakes and not letting fear keep you back. These kinds of discoveries have been the rewards of taking inventory and dusting off some shadows especially since cleaning and organizing aren't at the top of my list of favorite activities. I like to think it's the past self sending some friendly reminders to the future self.

This cleansing process serves as a reminder of how I've grown, changed, adapted and learned and that it's time to apply these lessons. It's funny though in retrospect, I had conviction in my choices even if I knew they were poor, but even more so when I believed they were right. Perhaps that's the key...using that energy and esteem to keep moving forward towards intuition to release the clutter of the past...

Freaking out

Intimacy is frightening me

Testing the waters

End up open wide

That’s living, take risks

She says

Curbing verbal vulnerabilities

Just eliminate fear

Feel and release

Listen and hear

Can’t be the same pattern

I’ve felt before

And thought before

Bet on before

Deciphering illusions

Silencing noise

Sensitivity heightened

Anxious energy

Exhaled in rhythm

That’s my heart

It’s raw, scared

Scarred

Regenerated

Guarded

The pendulum swings

Blind hopes dashed?

High stakes

Each side pleads its case

What do I believe?

Healing . . . For Colored Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Angelika) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:25:00 +0000

There was a lot of negative talk about Terry Perry producing the film "For Colored Girls" based on Ntzoke Shange's For Colored Girls Who've Considered Suicide When the Rainbow's Enough so I was nervous about seeing the film. But I am happy to say that I was just as blown away by the film as I was the first time I read the choreopoem and saw the play off-Broadway years ago.

All the Tyler Perry bashing blogs and tweets had me thinking he was going to somehow mess up the story, but he kept it pure and raw, oh so raw . . . down to the bone.

I was surprised but, pleased of course, that so many of the original monologues and poems were so brilliantly and eloquently incorporated into the film's dialogue.

I don't want to say too much about the actual content so it's not ruined for those of you who've not yet seen the movie nor experienced/read the play/choreopoem. But it is full of issues we consider taboo and would rather not discuss such as women's sexual liberation, rape, incest, unsafe/illegal abortion, STDs and HIV/AIDS (STIs), abuse, mental issues and more.

Sad but true these are our colored girls stories, but with sisterhood and support we can not only heal but bring diminishing these taboo issues to the forefront of our daily lives.

Even if you aren't a fan of Tyler Perry and refuse to see the film, you can't help but admit that he brought Ntzoke Shange's choreopoem to mainstream audiences, which could be the beginning of us having more open dialogue leading to solutions on healing for not only colored girls but colored boys too

So again I feel compelled to repeat what I tweet frequently, "Our problems are bigger than politics, bigger than media, bigger than religion, bigger than it all . . . we need healing"

Oh No She Di'n't...!

noreply@blogger.com (swirlgirls) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:38:00 +0000

I'm coming to understand that many people thumb their nose at burlesque and think it's just about some chicks stripping on a stage thinking they're fancy cuz they wear boas and corsets. Now boas and corsets are hella fun and sexy and there's nothing wrong with getting nekkid but there is a very specific theatrical aspect to the art form of burlesque that should be revered and respected.

The ladies of Brown Girls Burlesque are masters of this art, making political statements and telling relevant stories to the audience with sass, strength and satire. Last month's Culture Classics was a full-out production providing commentary on mail order brides, Christian imperialism, the myth of the "tragic mulatto," and Israeli occupation of Gaza. It challenged your brains and your loins ;) Mindblowing, huh?

Well, now the ladies are cooling it down with "Oh No She Di'n't..." (part of the Coney Island Burlesque at the Beach series) which shows women coming out of their comfort zones, acting a fool and being controversial. The show will cover religion, abortion, international violence while uncovering some beautiful and powerful goddesses. I am the "Stage Mommy" of the show and I'm totally amped to be working with these dynamic sisters again. The legendary Miss Astrid is hosting so it should get pretty raucous. If you missed Culture Classics, here's your second chance to see how brown girls get down...