Only the Strong

Strive Survive
Stay alive!
Be well and
ready to again revive!
Don't just be a worker
maintaining the hive
Do right have might
and you will always thrive!

When Jesse Jackson Cried

When the old man came out of the voting booth
with satisfaction welling in his eyes
and shouted while thrusting his fist in the air
"This is for those Birmingham girls who died"

Upon leaving the polling place I could see
A line stretched completely down the block
Full of pride filled smiles and jubilant eyes
This was not just a slumbering flock

Arriving at work to great greetings of joy
at the prospect of having our say
I realized this was a very unique time
That this would be no ordinary day

Then when Jesse Jackson cried and wiped his eyes
and Oprah appeared live on the scene
I knew that America had crossed an unseen line
Things would not be the same as they had been

The world has since cheered and offered its praise
There's much love and support for the cause
As Grandma, Martin, and John guide the way
We'll go forward and bid farewell to what was

A Visit to Gay Erotic Expo

New York City is rich with events and opportunities that truly make it the culture capital of the world. Discovering that the 2008 Gay Erotic Expo was in town speaks volumes as to the huge range of things to encounter here. From the most elite high brow happenings to the lowest beat its all here and there’s plenty of it. I made my way to the Gay Erotic Expo with the a lofty quest of locating the men of color. In many ways I was not surprised to find a lack of abundance but what I did find was worth telling.

I fully expected to find lots of venders that produced and sold porn featuring black men and I was not disappointed in finding Big City Video and B.C. Productions both with substantial product featuring exclusively Black and/or Latin brothers and the various urban tales they have to share
Go to www.bigcityvideo.com and www.bcnyproductions.com to check out the wares. You won’t be dissatisfied.
But that’s it- only two venders of men of color content DVDs were on hand. Where was Flava Men or Ebony D or even Latino Fan Club? I suspect the internet is having some kind of effect on the porn industry but that’s just a guess.
www.Forbiddenfunk.com reps were on hand speaking to brothers about the Leathersex scene and were also on a search for other black folk. We compared notes and concluded that there just did not seem to be enough chocolate around. These guys were handing out very well made little books called FUNK! A Brutha’s Guide to Safer Saner Leathersex. Produced by www.safersaner.org the tiny book is quite educational with lots of nice pictures.

A very nice discovery was one Mr. J.C. Etheredge an artist/illustrator on hand to display his work in the comic book field. The comics on display beautifully and openly dealt with the subject of homosexuality and featured super heroes of Asian, Arab, Black, Latin and White ethnicities. The work is very good and should find welcome places in the collections of many young gay men. Check out the good stuff at www.anti-heroes.net

The most joyous find of the whole Expo experience was to come upon the table manned by Gay Men of African Decent where I met one Mr. Donald R Powell, Project Director with the organization. GMAD has been at the fore front of activities and activism in the Gay and Lesbian communities of greater NYC for all of the ten plus years of my time in the city. I’ve even marched under the GMAD banner in a Heritage of Pride Parade during the late nineties which remains on my list of best things I’ve done. The GMAD table was a collection of info about current issues important to any caring gay man of color- HIV status, safe sex, and more. The individuals at the table with Powell (see blue briefs) were not GMAD staff members but recruiters for a unique program (Us Protecting You) that GMAD implements to partner with Black and Latino men involved in the adult entertainment/sex work industry to engage their peers, sexual and/or drug using partners in discussions that encourage them to obtain HIV tests and link them with supportive services (regardless of diagnosis). They were their to encourage other men from that social network to join the program as additional recruiters and link with their friends and peers for pre-arranged appointments to get them tested at GMAD’s mobile testing unit that was parked outside.

Moving Forward

The sky is clean, the clouds without chaos
I am suspended in a place without time
Uncluttered by judgment, opinion, pattern, past
I now dwell in the house of sublime
How I came to this door and cross this threshold of peace
is something I strive to understand, digest and ultimately release
If I’m to reach a godly place wherein my soul is fully forthright
It is love that must be held above all,
Therein is my singular plight

White On Black On White

Whizing whispering wilting past In bits and pieces that will not last Quickly quietly quality rain Flailing falling forming again Enough to touch yet not to hold Reaching and gaining clumps of cold Flakes in a pallette of politics pure Sending a message to forever edure

Cameras In My Life

I've had an intimate relationship with cameras all my adult life. Let me introduce a few of them to you...

Revisit the Now

This is the day the time is now empower the present with this simple vow

Nurture an outcome with patience and care only the present separates here and there

Treasure this instance of is life at its best never static in passing in its drama and jest

Envelope this silence know its power encompass this knowing within every hour

Go firmly fluidly with what flows through the veins release all regret born of what may remain

Hold not to the myth of the passing of time see the illusion of future as mist in the mind

Now's the time for ernest living full and rich and sublime with giving

Yes the time is Now

mini gallery

Jesus Was Gay

Jesus was gay
And still is today
Perhaps you question
Why I feel this way

It’s simple to deduce
This kernel of truth
Amid all the clatter
So loud and loose

His words attest
To man at his best
His message vibrantly
Outshines all the rest

Love is the key
Binding you, them and me
It unlocks all grief
Setting the whole world free

Hold fast to this
Therein resides bliss
Unconditional love reveals
Heaven’s eternal kiss

three basics

water
sand
sky

Maximus Majoritus

The rest of us
Let's now discuss
Mighty major Maximus
Mellow magic made for us
To love and admire
as hero and squire
A mountain of a man
Doing all that he can
To give love and a hand
To those of his clan
His glance is enough
Quite majestic and tough
To deliver a boon
or inspire a tune
So make a fuss
Consider it a plus
To ride on the bus
Of all that's Maximus

EbonyKing

The Ebony King came roaring into this life
Uncompromising wit in both calm and strife
No longer doubtful that love might come
What's left is a companion when the sun has gone
Beautiful, garish, proud and strong
Relentlessly nourishing all the day long
Giving up on the call to hibernate
Days pass quickly in the presence of the great

These guys are the best! These two residents of hauswerx are fitness models and are just beginning what should be busy futures in the feild. Belief in each one's unique beauty and style is the mantra at hauswerx. Maximus is a New Yorker, personal trainer, body builder and dancer. He is articulate and will go far on his powerful determination. Ebonyking is from the UK. He is at present a 9-5er, body builder, personal trainer, and is a true artist at heart. hauswerx wishes them only the best and will work towards that. If you'd like to contact Maximus or Ebonyking you may do so at this site.

The questions that we are still filled with are some of the same ones I've tried to find answers for all my life. Among them-"how does a modern black man get ahead in today's world?"

As February is upon us it a good time to review from whince we came. This will be the subject of the next few postings. An honest attempt at surveying the portrayals of black men in America since the time of slavery.