Blues's blog

In my recent years I have studied and read a lot about racial relations and racial issues. From the melting pot and salad bowl theories to double consciences, minstrel shows to white flight. From these studies I have learn that their is a certain absurdity that exist. I do not credit this revelation that I am attempting to relate solely on my own studies, but credit goes to all.

Becoming 21 is a transformation from childhood to adulthood. For most they will find the definition of adulthood in the clear as water, strong as paint thinner spirits, and its friends. You wake up that morning thinking that the world is change. I can go to bars, clubs, underground, above ground, and do what?

I personally admire the formalities of the State of the Union address. The requirement that one stands when the President enters, and once again when he is introduced, and finally when the speech has ended, endlessly entertains me.

I wonder if there is a correlation between the amount of time I spend listening to Neko Case and the amount of time I day dream. The practical amount of time I spend my day self-reflecting. The process in which, I'm sure, many individuals find themselves doing...I like the way the music smoothes over vocal chords...that is what I expect my love to say.

Another entry into the world of Swing...A Poem called Brown Skin Lay/Assata

Ignorance, is what I am going to start this blog with.  Michael Richard's rant about black people during his performance at the Los Angeles' Laugh Factory is one of the most ignorant displays of racial hatred I have seen.  As a response to two black Americans 'interrupting' his performance he starts, "Fifty Years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass."  And continues for about five minutes on his racial tirade.

The nature of criminal activity among blacks is some what of a hot topic.  In various discussions I have partaking in, the main question is why do blacks commit a higher percentage of crimes than their population.  In prison and jails blacks make up 44% of the population.  The reasons behind this varies from individual to individual, ideologies to ideologies.  I happen to be a individual that believes race has a overwhelming factor in why there are so many blacks in jail.

The day had come, my first endeavor into the voting booth.  Many had died and suffered for my right to vote.  From the days of voter intimidation, discrimination, reading test that even the person administrated them didn't understand, to the days in which I have to convince my friends to vote because their grandmothers and grandfathers fight for it.  Living, presently in America as Black American voting is a strange issue.  Growing up I never really saw my mother vote, but she often said she did, which is good considering the circumstances I was raised in could easily lead to voter disillusionment on the part of my mother.  But, my mother carried on and did what she could to affect the outcome of the election.  Two days ago when I voted for the first time I felt a little strange.  The New York Times did an article a couple of weeks ago citing, "29 percent versus 8 percent — say they do not believe that their vote will be accurately tallied."  The article citied a number of reasons for the increase in black voters lack of confidence, "Voting experts say the disillusionment is the cumulative effect of election problems in 2000 and 2004, and a reaction to new identification and voter registration laws.