culture – The Fyne Prynt

Culture Commentary: A Day Without Woman

Posted on March 8, 2017March 8, 2017 by The Fyne Prynt

#ADWAW is a point of privilege. I feel its necessary to go ahead and plop that out right up front.

While its intentions are good and wholesome and very kumbaya, it is a point of privilege nonetheless. The woman. The woman who already works more only to be paid less, who uses sick days and vacation days to care of all but themselves. The woman who works … with NO paid time off. The woman who cannot afford to take a day off but is now forced to do so because schools are closed.

I salute each woman who has the mind to participate in #ADWAW. But I remain puzzled about its benefits; its beneficiaries. What good does our absence do when, tomorrow, we will have to work even harder to make up for today?

Absence, like quitting, is easy. The real work of the movement is in presence. The real work is in inviting women into your space who do not look like you, who do not worship like you, who do not live like you do and certainly not where you do. It is our presence that builds, that grows, that lifts. We are beyond the point of ABSENCE.

Resistance cannot only be about what we’re “not gonna do”. Resistance is and always has been about breaking barriers. INSISTING that your child’s school celebrates women’s history; INSISTING that Black history is everyone’s history; INSISTING that a girl’s/woman’s body is her own to control; INSISTING absolutely and on every available platform that Black Lives Matter; INSISTING that your coworker not be unfairly treated simply because her skin has been forever kissed by the sun.

Now is the time to be PRESENT

Now is the time to STAND

Now is the time to SPEAK

Now is the time to FIGHT

Now is the time to ACT

It is wonderful to have a national platform to showcase “solidarity” but the truth, for many/most of you is that the real platform – the place where the real work needs to be done, is WITHIN.

creative writing, creativity, culture, expression, headline

never.the.less

Posted on February 8, 2017 by The Fyne Prynt

she toiled

she labored

she was snatched from her home land

she was torn from her children,

and they, away from she

she was stolen from her own body,

dispossessed as nonchalantly as you please

she birthed

she buried

she grew angry

she grew weary

she fought

she {somehow} held fast

she prayed

she cried

she empowered, even those who only love her when it suits their best interests

she screamed

she sought vengeance

she listened

she learned

she grew

she took flight

she keeps pushing, even though they keep yelling, spitting, cursing her to stop

she forgives

she loves

she strives

she teaches

she brings forth

she hands down

she lifts up

she persisted.

nevertheless.

even before they ever thought that it was a righteous thing to do.

Image: tijienenetalks

creative writing, creativity, culture, expression

Ours

Posted on May 30, 2014May 30, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

At what point does yours/mine become ours?
When does our present subsume tradition yet pave the way towards the future?
If it is left to us to share the story, will we falter or rise?
How do we continue to ‘wear the mask’ in exchange for the promise of being accepted?

How do we witness loss upon loss upon loss yet retreat into the depths of silence?
At what point do individuals become the collective.
When do we recognize that the only singularity is the necessity for change?
Will we ever recognize that the urgency is indeed, this moment?

It is not your history.
It is not my struggle.
It is not your pain.
It is not my mistreatment.
It is not your inequality.
It is not my peculiar institution.

It is ours to learn.
It is ours to rememberer.
It is ours to teach.
It it ours to imagine.
It is ours to create.
It. is. OURS.

culture, expression, headline

Hue

Posted on April 26, 2014April 26, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

But somehow the complexion of my skin calls forward a hatred so deep and complex that history books can’t reach back far enough to truly capture the reasons why.

Their words are thick with despise and although they may sit behind shades and stacks of dollars their eyes cannot lie.

Their tongues frequently tell what lies beneath but the tools of today betray them with little warning. Shots fired in the dark, aiming at no one in particular but murdering souls and spirits at incomparable rates.

Taking away anything resembling power or forward movement and aiming as high as removing even the glimmer of potential for reasons inexplicable to the rational mind.

Your vote … regressing.
Your education … resegregating.
Your home … repossessed.
Your job … relegated to the menial.
Your power … removed.
Your hopes … reincarcerated.
Your life ………… TBD

Image: @thafyneprynt

creative writing, creativity, culture

Thus Saith

Posted on April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

Crusading for good.
All the while doing evil.
Asking for everything.
Giving nothing in return.
Speaking the words that give life.
Acting in ways that cause death.
Wearing the crown of the chosen.
Shedding the mask of the deceiver.
Pretending that all is well.
Wondering why everything is going wrong.

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Image: JDensen

culture, expression

Culture Commentary: A Man or A Message?

Posted on March 10, 2014March 10, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

I was listening to the radio recently and there was a conversation about the church ideologically versus the church functionally. This, along with numerous other conversations, articles and general “happenings” have brought me once again to the subject of “the church”.

The early disclaimer that I will insert here is this: I have been in and out of church since I was little. In fact, my earliest memory is falling over a pew and cutting my eye {there’s a scar there to this day} but anyway, I digress.

I share that, not as a qualifier but because I’ve seen a lot go on in and around church. And when I’ve had enough, I drop out. No pomp, no circumstance, I just quit.

And therein lies the rub {and the connection to the original point}. How is it so easy to just walk away from an institution whose primary purpose was meant to be connection?

Is it an indictment against the eclesia? Is it the off centering of my own moral compass? I think it’s an interesting combination or perhaps an intersection of the two.

There are some really great churches, preachers and teachers around who are doing great things in peoples lives and in communities. But for the ones that are doing more harm than good, the impact is deep and lasting.

It seems that the pulpit staff is far more interested in attracting masses and money than providing a message of instruction, guidance and healing. And members seem more concerned about the man {woman} and what is happening behind closed doors than learning, sharing and being a better self.

It is interesting because historically the church has played such an integral role in the lives of individuals, families and communities but today folks can barely share what {if anything} they LEARNED during a service let alone go out and actually APPLY it.

The “church” seems always to have a long list of what NOT to do:

Don’t smoke
Don’t drink
Don’t curse
Don’t fornicate
Don’t take the Lords name in vain
Don’t have abortions
Don’t talk back to elders
Don’t miss choir practice
Don’t miss Bible Study
Don’t forget to write your tithes and offering checks

But when it comes to the DO or HOW-TO list???

Do be sure to pay your tithes and your offering … even if you can’t make it to church.

And while that illustration may not be true in INTENTION it certainly is true by PERCEPTION – just Google ‘why people are leaving the church’.

There is very little character building or teaching people how to be better each day; and as people are hurting themselves and others at an alarmingly increasing rate this should be reason to re-shift focus to a Message rather than a Man {Woman}.

culture, expression, headline, Uncategorized

Culture Commentary: Oh, You Mad?

Posted on February 21, 2014February 21, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

Every time a Person of Color (POC) has to swallow yet another blatant injustice, it becomes more and more difficult. The anger and rage continue to fight against one’s individual peace. Even for that one POC in your life that you feel you know very well and you consider a friend; that person you can’t imagine ever being angry; Yes, her too.

It is a difficult circumstance to describe. It is truly peculiar to live a life that others try to summarize based on ‘cover’ rather than ‘content’. Many have and continue to try to articulate it in a way that resonates beyond our own voice.

Books like “Why Black People Tend To Shout”, a more recent article of a similar title, “Why Black Folks Tend To Shout” and works by James Baldwin … to name a very, very, few.

So, in absence of explicit explanation, I will provide examples instead. Ok? Ok.

For every instance when a woman pulls her purse close when you walk by – in a store where you’re both shopping …
For every instance when he’s told in a surprising tone: “oh you speak so well” …
For every instance when a woman says “do you work here?” even though there are 3 people who are also in her line of vision, actually wearing a uniform …
For every unsavory “inside” “joke” that is told in your presence at the office because “oh, she’s cool” …
For those moments when those same coworkers see you out in public and clearly pretend like they don’t so they won’t have to acknowledge you in front of their friends/family …
For every promotion that goes to someone less qualified …
For every time “they” sound genuinely surprised that your child is well dressed and well behaved …
For every son who gets “stopped & frisked” because he’s “walking while Black” …
For every daughter who has to speak on behalf of the entire race when she’s asked about her hair …
For every person who says: “why can’t we have a white history month?” …
For every person who says: “if we had a ‘White Girls Rock’ Black people would be screaming racism” … {ref. Black Girls Rock/Black Girls Rock}
For every major news outlet that granted an interview to an admitted murderer of an unarmed Black teen and went free …
For every state representative who sees nothing wrong at all with the Confederate flag and what it stands for …

This list is a very brief example but all these are real things.

And even after every injustice, whether purposeful or byproduct of other things – there is a spirit that still calls for peace. There is still a fight towards justice for all. There is still forgiveness. But also in that, these can never be forgotten.

They burrow deeply into the dreams of better days ahead. They hibernate in notions of moving beyond easy assumptions and stereotypes. They remain still and quiet and are such a part of everyday life that they cohabitate seamlessly with the business of each day. Until …

Until that last injustice becomes the last injustice; Until the words of peace and justice for all become too bitter to speak; Until the tears cease to flow because so many have come before; Until, the rage bubbles up and over out of its containment because the burdens of peace and respectability have become too much to continue to bear…

There is a rage that although there is no visible flame, its coals are burning hotter and hotter still.

For Marissa Alexander
For Jordan Davis
For Renisha McBride
For Jonathan Ferrell
For Oscar Grant
For Kendrick Johnson
For Michael Giles
For Miriam Carey
For you
For me
For us

Photo: @thafyneprynt

culture, news, Uncategorized

July 16, 2013

Posted on February 15, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

The Verdict has been read. We’ve been angry. We’ve been sad. We’ve been inundated with images of “post-racial” America that really aren’t so pleasing to the eye or the spirit.

And perhaps more importantly we’ve been left with the question of “What Now?” And to this question, provided numerous answers – but the most viable of all those recommendations is to Start Where You Are and Use What You Have.

READ: find at least five different credible/reliable news sources and subscribe to/follow them. Being informed across issues and platforms is critical.

VOLUNTEER: find a local organization that provides services to an issue that is important to you and give some of your time.

MENTOR: share your life, skills and awesomeness with a child who could use a great influence.

VOTE: the past several months have shown us the power of the vote. And with the latest changes to the Voting Rights Act, now more than ever our voice at the polls matters.

SHOW UP: if you’re summoned … get there!

GIVE: if you prefer a more hands-off approach, there is always an organization willing to accept financial gifts to support your cause. But if you’re a first time giver be sure to do a bit of research and vet your chosen agency/ies well.

NONE of these things will bring back Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Jordan Davis or the countless others. But perhaps if each one of us takes some action now – it can prevent the next one…

To each of us, His Strength, Peace & Blessings

*I wrote this just a few days after Trayvon Martin’s murderer was found “not guilty”. And so tonight, just hours after the verdict in the murder of Jordan Davis – sadly, here I am again. Heavy hearted, as though he we were my own …. Tomorrow would have been Jordan’s 19th birthday.

Photo: @thafyneprynt

culture, expression, headline, Uncategorized

Culture Commentary: Your Music Is Too Loud

Posted on February 7, 2014 by The Fyne Prynt

Almost against my will I have been consumed this week by the trial of Michael David Dunn in the shooting death of unarmed teenager, Jordan Davis. And when I say consumed I mean, keeping tabs on progress, watching the live stream of the trial, having ‘twittersation’ about it … the whole nine yards.

And there is just so much to it: seeing the justice system in action; listening to those not involved provide their opinions; and seeing the lives of the victims, accusers and people they know literally laid out for the world to see – in the form of questions and answers.

If you are unaware of the case you can learn more here but while you’re learning, I’m just going to go ahead and share my thoughts okay? Ok. The facts as we know them are that Dunn fired 10 shots into the car the four boys were in after he got into a verbal spar with one of them because the music was “too loud”.

I am concerned.

I’m concerned that too few people seem interested in what’s happening with this case and its many implications. Like the Zimmerman trial, the defendant is accused of shooting a young Black male because he “felt threatened”.
I’m also concerned that a 45 year old man would not simply move his car or leave the parking lot altogether.
I’m concerned that all too easily the blame has been shifted to the boys in the car and that there is a sense of “they probably deserved it”.

I am dumfounded.

I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that you can simply say you “felt” threatened – by people in a car and you were in your car – and fire, not one or two warning shots, but TEN shots into a vehicle at close range.
I also can’t imagine why not simply more your vehicle if you felt the music was “too loud” – after all, you pulled your vehicle up beside theirs.

I am sad.

Undoubtedly, children can do and say some really outrageous things when they are out of the presence of their caregivers (I have firsthand knowledge as a parent and as a formerly stubborn youngster). That is understandable. But how is it that we have gotten to a point where their childish/immature behavior is being met with oftentimes serious bodily harm and death?
Why are so many parents grieving the loss of their children?

I am aware that race absolutely matters.

No one ever wants to talk about the “r” word. I have mentioned that before and I wholeheartedly believe it. People who are not ‘melanin rich’ will never understand the role that race plays in everyday life, and personally I think it’s ridiculous to even have that expectation. But I do think it is important to have conversation about it.

In this particular case, the situation is simple:
– 4 Black males sitting in a parked truck with tinted windows blasting music
– 1 White male pulls up beside them, becomes agitated by their music, begins a word exchange, ends with firing 10 shots into Jordan Davis’ window

If the situation was reversed and there were 4 white males and 1 Black male ….

Would he have felt emboldened or entitled enough to pull up beside, and then ask them to turn the radio down?
Would he have felt safe enough to ride around with a concealed weapon?
Would he have been able to not even be questioned until the following day?
Would he not have been arrested and charged 3 days after the murder took place?
Would he have been able to put forth Stand Your Ground as a defense? (see Marissa Alexander)

I’m just going to leave this here for now.

Photo of Jordan Russell Davis
from actionnewsjax