Undercover – Performing and Transforming Black Female Identities

Last night I attended the opening of the Spelman Museum of Art and their show Undercover: Performing and Transforming Black Female Identities. It was a great collection of work that left me breathless as I enter and saw an original print of Gordon Parks‘ famous shot of the women of the Nation of Islam. It literally gave me chills. What he accomplished through his work is such that I attain for and more.

The exhibit includes many different mediums of art such as film, sculpture, paints, mixed media, photography, sketches, etc. It was definitely a place to experience the various identities black women have taken shape in the past 80 years. It is amazing to see in real life some of the things that we endure when we wake our eyes every morning. Bittersweet if you ask me. If you are in the Atlanta area, I definitely recommend checking it out between now and December 10, 2009.

One of my favorite photographers, Renee Cox was included in the exhibit. Check out some of the images that were on display at the exhibit.

Filed under: Community Events, Life Experiences, Photography, atlanta , atlanta, black women, gordon parks, renee cox, spelman museum, undercover

Counter Recruitment Movement

Last night, went to a dinner and discussion about the truth of the military. It was of interest to me because i am definitely not a supporter of the military and its practices. i learned a lot about the movement against recruitment and am getting involved through A.C.A.P, a local Atlanta chapter committed to providing alternative career choices besides the military.

I learned that since the No Child Left Behind Act (a complete bullshit act) the military has access to every child’s information in the public school system. Which explains their excessive calls and monitoring that happens when they are in recruitment, also known as, enslavement. It was good hearing everyones different story regarding the military and they weren’t exactly the best examples. I’m sure some good can come out of serving in the military … not exactly sure what they are, but they must exist somewhere!

I am for sure going to be involved because I know that people access the military mostly out of desperation and the comfortableness of having someone else pay and feed you, all at the small risk of life (?) Different and BETTER opportunities exist out there. There just needs to be a movement to make those options accessible. Just as accessible as those obnoxious Army commercials.

p.s. “What are we fighting for?”

Filed under: Community Events, Life Experiences, atlanta , alternative career, army of none, counter recruitment movement, no child left behind

Poll

Filed under: Community Events

Unnatural Causes: When the Bough Breaks

 

World's Smallest Baby

Tonight I went to a film screening and discussion at the local feminist bookstore, Charis.  The film series, Unnatural Causes, is a seven party documentary that addresses the inequalities of socio-economic status in America that cause inequalities in health. 

 

The rate at which African American children being born prematurely is at an alarming rate that has proven over the past few decades to not show any signs of going away.  The factors of this epidemic have recently been researched in the area of how environmental influences impact the chances of prematurity.  As we all know, being an African American women in America is already a double minority–not countering in the fact of other individual traits that make us unique.  As the vessel for the continuation of our species, it is very disturbing to learn that it is becoming more and more difficult to uphold the lives of my future brothers and sisters. 

The conclusion that is being formed to why African American children are the most likely to be born prematurely is racism.

“Racism is taking a toll on African Americans.”

Whoever suggested that we are in a post-racial society due to the recent election of the first African American president is completely blind to the fact that Blacks live in more poverty, are the least to graduate from high school, have a number of numerous health risks, etctera.  And this observation isn’t new.

When you live in a country where an African American male without a record is less likely to get a job than a white male with a felony, you know that the inequality exists on a much more overt & concise form.  The fact that those who live in impoverished neighborhoods receive the least amount of inadequate health care is not by coincidence. 

 

“When the public education is a system that is based on the value of the property tax, you know that something is wrong” -CDC representative

As an African American woman, I feel like there should be more focus on this issue because if we put this off, there won’t be voice left.  Let’s not act as if the U.S. hasn’t already depleted the natives of this land and had no one to answer to. 

Racism exists on many levels.  We must do each and every thing we can to undertake this unequal perception of human beings based on looks. It begins with you. 

l/t

Unnatural Causes Website

Event Sponsored by Charis

Filed under: Community Events, Film Screenings , african american women, low birth rate, premature babies, stresses of racism