YOU F___ UP MY DAY

You know I try to look at the good in all things before I speak. I like to listen and learn before I judge. Better yet, I try to HEAR. I hear because it’s deeper than listening. Listening is a passive action. You just stand and or sit there and allow the sounds to come to you BUT hearing requires action. You have to not only take in the sounds but the spirit and intent of the sounds that come in to you. In saying this I HOPE the person this Blog entry is meant for HEAR ME when and “IF” you decide to read this it is PERSONAL. (One Man .... I know you are out there listening but TRUST its not about YOU).

I woke up this morning with a dream about my Father. To all reading, my father past on last year from cancer. It was a changing moment for me because it closed the door on a chapter of my life that has brought me closure on a number of levels. I talk about it sometimes but I rather express it within my ART. I believe that DREAMS are mental signposts that can help you heal, give guidance and exercise desires in ways that “Sane Folk” could never do in the waking World. I like DREAMING, I don’t do it much, but when I do, I make note of them all the time. Today, in my dreams, my FATHER gave me a sign and I didn’t know what it meant until I walked through the door to begin this entry.

If I hadn’t said it before I’ll say it now, I had a good day until ……

I work up and took my time to prepare for a doctor’s appointment. I was a little stressed because I had just had a bad experience with a previous physician whom had a piss poor professionalism and bedside manner. The one thing I HATE more is having to demand and pull information from a doctor about my health and he or she having an attitude about giving it to you. I dealt with that for a little over six months until I decided to kick ol’ Doc to the curb and get another MORE qualified doctor. This new doctor was ON POINT. He did in one visit what my previous physician still hadn’t done over 6 months.

For me, that is a serious load of GOODWILL bestowed upon my spirit. So in that moment, on a cold and windy day, it was SUMMER and SUNNY all the way home. Mind you, I am on a waiting list for a New Place, a list for this great place I had been trying to get into for a while. So you’d think my blessings where raining upon me all full blast. Taking my time to get home I decided to whip out the camera to take pictures of the town. I was thinking about taking Blog pictures as my theme because LORD knows my Blog fans rarely see the LIGHT side of my personality. Soon the photographer in me came out. I haven't allowed myself enough ME TIME to take a few shots so I needed to test my eye, keep it sharp. As I took on subjects, the POET in me came out as well. I took pictures of people shopping, kids on the street playing, dogs and posters, gates and trees, store front signs, all the things that make up living in an urban city, the Metropolis called Harlem.

So I walk past a one of the high-rise projects and see a great pictorial concept, an iron gate in front of a tree. I looked at this contrast as any artist would; hard and soft, man-made and natural, dark and light, and many other possible contrasting examples.

As I am taking my picture I hear a voice behind me. “Hey you!”

Now I would like to put out there in the UNIVERSE, I neither respond to anyone who responds to me as HEY or YOU nor would I ever consider you worth my personal energy if you put the two together. This ASS did that.

I take my picture and then I begin to continue on my way when I hear from the same direction (which was behind me), “Excuse me, what are you taking pictures of? Buildings?”

It was a police officer in a squad car. In my mind I go, “WHAT THE F%*# DO YOU WANT”, but I give the benefit of the doubt. So I responded, “I’m taking pictures of this gate. Is that against the law now?”

“No, I was just curious.”, the officer responded in a smirk and condescending manner.

Lies. I had just walked past 5 drug dealers on the corner and 3 double-parked cars and several other possible easy citations and this Mofo rolls up on me for taking pictures of a gate and this MADE THEM CURIOUS? I would have given THEM pause if I was dressed like a THUG with my pants SAGGIN' in 20 degree weather, or I was carrying a lot of BAGS and wearing a beanie and a long ass Middle-Eastern gown, if I fit a stereotypically ARAB PROFILE, or was walking around constantly looking over my shoulder and circling the area, I mean anything that would give a RED FLAG for criminal behavior but I was walking and stopped for a minute and TOOK A FREAKIN' PICTURE OF A TREE. Last I checked, I didn't hear of a secret organization of Photographers banning together to DESTROY America, much less, A HOUSING PROJECT IN HARLEM ( Shyt I'll leave that to the Empowerment Zone and the Crooked Snakes behind that organization).

I doubted this cops sincerity and his curiosity even less, so I had to decide how I was going to do this. I knew my next move; the next words that I’d say would either have me calling Al Sharpton just down the street or home Blogging off this situation in a RANT. Then I recalled the Dream I had earlier. In my dream I was visiting my father where he was living. I had to wait in line for my turn to use a one-person elevator when I was called to come forward to take my turn. As I got on the elevator, the Keeper or Elevator Operator asked who I was going to see and I told him. He responded, "How long has it been since you have visited your father?" I responded, “A while.” The Keeper then hands me an envelope and says, “Here, this is for you, he told me to give you this.” As I take the package I wake up.

A fairly simple dream but for me, it had significance. My FATHER in his youth was a man who knew the truth and when it came to using his mind, he was exceptional. That was his gift to me, and the package in my hand was that SIGN.

I know I am prone to SPEAK FIRST AND THINK LATER when it comes to a person’s RIGHTS and mine was being messed with BIG TIME. I did not want to end up like my father, who has seen HIS DAYS with police and brutality and civil right violations in the 50’s and 60’s and being placed behind bars because of his actions and or mouth and this was my lesson. "You are needed more outside then in right now, LET IT SLIDE." I have leaned in my activities against community OVER POLICING, it was more important for me to give the illusion of their POWER than TESTING it.

I decided to flip the script and humor the officer sitting on the passenger side so I walked toward the car and asked, “You do know what a BLOG is?” He hesitated as if taken off guard. “Ahhhh yes I do.”

“Good, then I don't have to explain to you that having pictures are a part of a good one”, I replied back.

“What is the BLOG about?” the cop asked.

“The BLOG is about me, I am a poet.” As I stare in his eyes as a challenge.

“REALLY?” he smirks back.

“Really. It has poetry and more. The more YOU might not like.” Long pause.

“And why is that?”

“Because I talk about people like you. Sometimes, not in the best of light.” I say with a smile.

“What is the BLOG address?” The cop asks.

I tell him the site address and as I do that, in the back of my mind I say to myself, “You just might get a promotion if you report it to HOMELAND SECURITY.” But I decided not to push it, we did our dance already and the song was over for now.

So the officer writes down the address on a sheet of paper and then shows the other officer who was driving (and silent all the while). As I back off from the squad car I say, “I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and don’t take everything I post personally. It’s just who I am as a POET.”

My day isn’t quite over as of this posting so maybe I can salvage it with some good MUSIC or reading Nathan McCall latest book, THEM. I get so exhausted when shyt like this happen. And it happens all the time to SO many people who are innocent and law abiding. Now you might think I am blowing this OUT OF PROPORTION but this happens all the time, policing urban areas like Military war zones. One might be happy for this type of policing if one lived in a crime infested area BUT for my area, the crime crack downs are MORE SO of what Mayors Giulliani and Bloomberg would deem, QUALITY OF LIFE offensives. And since those Guilliani years, the type of OVER POLICING that he established and allow to flourish, it has taken on a whole new face. Because of the radical changes Uptown and then factor in the economy and loss of home and housing, you now are getting a community that is ANGRY just because. And these rookie Cops sitting with the season Cops left over from those days of "Shoot and Empty Out You Gun And Worry About The Cover Up Later" isn't going to keep flying anymore. Especially Uptown. When a person is stopped for taking pictures of a Housing Project gate I have an issue. Taking pictures of Highway exits and Toll Booths I can understand. THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE you idiot. My anger doesn't come because I was stopped for picture taking, my anger comes from YOUR DUMB ASS STOPPING ME while ignoring the F&%$$ Drug Dealer across from you.

Where is my JILL SCOTT CD? I need a HIT of something POSITIVE!!

LOOK AT THE BUTTS ON HILLARY

I held off on the whole political reviews for the front running Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, but recent events have snatched me back to the pen and paper. The Clintons were in Harlem. Actually the Clintons were in Harlem for a while since Bill Clinton held down Prime Real Estate up on 125th Street since the summer of 2000. I know I keep going back to this day but when he arrived, the Black residents of Harlem gave him the Red Carpet treatment. Some of it was justified but in the back of my mind I had misgivings about the level of festivity and adulation given to one man. Even if that Man opened up opportunities for “all” Americans and we (Black People) were able to benefit from those opportunities as well.

“Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it”, was never so real for people in Harlem. I recall conversations and the Public Relations Hoolpa of the media when Bill Clinton was looking for his Presidential Office in New York City. As a community activist and political analyst, people usually looked to me as the Man who sees conspiracy in everything political, economic and social issue but the truth of the matter is, I base my opinions on patterns, stated and or proven actions and a talent for seeing the loopholes in government, laws and business that the so call "Professional Analyst" seem to miss..

The Congress rejected Bill Clinton’s original real estate interests, which was in the famous Carnegie Hall Towers in midtown Manhattan. The whole issue was one of sticking it in the eye of Bill Clinton as he exited the White House. You had a newly elected George Bush and Dick Chaney in office and a newly elected Republican majority in Congress who with all things Clinton were all about throwing him to the curb on on his Ass as quick as a Tsunami wind. To give Clinton his way for Prime Midtown Manhattan was not going to happen so to the rescue, Congressman Charles Rangel worked out a deal to bring Bill Clinton uptown to Harlem. The move was made, signed and dealt to the residents of Harlem. Once he began moving in the furniture, the PARTY began. The swooning and swaying of the gospel choirs, the podium preaching, flag and banner waving, picture taking and dancing, the bullying of how “we showed them” cheered made me step back with pause. In my mind I said, "Something ain’t right with this picture. You just don’t get something this BIG without a price".

Then I began to see the players, Charles Rangel, Adam Clayton Powell IV, Rev. Calvin Butts, Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, C. Virginia Fields, Jesse Jackson and Jesse Jackson Jr., even attorney Johnny Cochran (may he rest in peace) got into the mix and many others positioning themselves for the windfall that was to come with ex-President Clinton's move to Harlem. Those windfalls came to Harlem in the form of 5 Billion dollars for Upper Manhattan (Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood) as community improvements, Grants and Loans. Funds that were to create the Empowerment Zone, Minority Small Business Development Centers, Empire State Development Corp., Educational Improvement Programs, Early Child and Pre-K Schooling Programs, Home Ownership Programs, Minority Contracting Jobs for New York City Residents and Waterfront Property Development Bonds.

As Black and Brown people in Harlem, inspired to build upon the limited economics that the Clinton years brought to them and ready to apply it within their own communities with that of the additional economic stimulus package, began to collectively map out their strategy for change. Knowing that aid from the New York State and Manhattan governments consistently invested south of 103rd street, Harlemites prepared to wait in line to ride that ride of their American Dreams in Harlem with aid specificly for them and having the CHAMPION of the People to protect them. Unfortunately no one told Harlem citizens that the economic stimulus package was not for them but for those willing to come on board to expand and assist Downtown into Uptown and for those who are on the Winning Team to make this happen would received the benefits for making this worth while. At the expense of those that have the desire to PLAY FAIR, they hold on to the scraps and bones thrown to the side of the road.

The lists of Gentrifying Atrocities are a mile long and the players involved in making this happen have made great financial strides in building and solidifying their generational wealth at the expense of Harlem residents. The players range from the aforementioned to the wealthiest developers such as Donald Trump and Bruce Ratner (add Jay-Z and Michael Jordan to the list of Ratner investors) to Ford Motor Group, Columbia University brokering deals behind closed doors and expanding into Harlem by use of imminent domain arguments, and Large Corporate Retailers and those entrepreneurs loyal to Team Windfall.

Its what the facts are, political analysts have observed, demographics have detailed and all Harlemites have witnessed their diminishing numbers as residents since the ex-President's arrival to the neighborhood. Some would argue that the events post 9/11, the failing economy, the invasion in Iraq, crime and other socio-economic element have cause the down turn in Harlem. Not true. Harlem actually prospered more during the period of 2000 until 2008 but only for those within that Windfall Circle and under that Most Favorite Business status of the Empowerment Zone and the Clinton deal. So the numbers of Black and Brown residents out of the debate, the discussion, the investment and ultimately in the cold continues to grow with the excuse being the BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

Fast forward to 2007/2008 and you have Hillary Clinton courting the Black and Brown vote in New York City. Both Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton have campaigned in Harlem up on 125th Street. Obama in a rally on the stage of the Apollo and then with a quick bite to eat with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Hillary accepting the support of Rev. Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. For those who don’t know, the Abyssinian Baptist Church is to Harlem, New York and the North as Ebenezer Baptist Church is to Atlanta, Georgia and the South. Although I cannot speak to the leadership of Ebenezer, the people of Harlem can of the hording of opportunities; economic opportunities and favoritism consolidated by the Rule at Abyssinian such as its establishment of a Contracting Group, which hired NO HARLEM BLACKS and investigated for having illegals workers on the payroll. As Rule, which underhandedly ostracized the interests of the people, corporate and wealthy interests moved into Harlem from both the front door and back door with the tools of gentrification handed to them from those who were Charged with protecting the interest of its people politically and spiritually. Who is at the head of the Abyssinian Baptist Church? You will find Rev. Calvin Butts on its throne, the same Butts that had recently endorsed Hillary Clinton.

This is a problem, not only for me, but also for Harlem residents who are already swayed towards voting for Barak Obama. The notion of being burned again is unsettling for a people who are already fighting like Palestinians holding sticks and stones against tanks, jets and high-powered rifles. Now I know someone will read that last statement and call me anti-Semitic BUT since I am Semitic, its hard to label me that so my example STANDS AS IS. What that endorsement says to the people of Harlem is that, “Even with another Clinton as President, you will see even less coming your way and more in TEAM Windfall’s pocket”.

After the Rev. Butts endorsement, Hillary Clinton made a press conference outside the Abyssinian Baptist Church only to be received with Boo’s and Jeers. To the media it seemed as if the responses were those from anti-Hillary and pro-Obama supporters but they were actually anti-establishment and gentrification activist. This isn’t good, especially since the week prior, Hillary allied herself with ex-BET’ founder and CEO, Robert Johnson, someone who not only through his words and actions but how he does business, is insensitive to the very community he comes from. Yes, he may be an American Capitalist at its best and I will be the first to not knock any American for pursuing this way of life if your soul and spirit believes this to be who you are, but to advocate it with a smile while smoking cigars made of ‘greenbacks” leaves me with a chill and I would not turn my back on him for a second.

As I said about the John Kerry endorsement with Barak Obama, I feel the same for people like Johnson and Butts. Hillary should drop them and yet I know it will not happen. At this point the idea that BLACK voters are being lead straight to that same dilemma we have faced for decades and that being “voting for the lesser of two Evils” is becoming crystal clear and that taints the illusion of POWER BLACKS believe they have as the caucuses and primaries continue in America.

As a person who has not made a decision on the candidates, my Pros vs. Cons chart is all over the place on the support factor. While others are concerning themselves with Race and Gender (both are non-factors because Ageism is the real issue with Black Americans) I keep to my formula of “What are the issues” and “Where is your MONEY coming from?” The last question is so important it screams at you. Senator John Edwards in the South Carolina debate hammered this issue several times. Directing it at both Clinton and Obama, “people don't donate that much money if they do not want something in return.” John Edwards was refering to the money donated to both candidates from Corporate Lobbist (Hillary) and Hedge Funds (Obama). The same can be said for endorsement. It is not unusual to find CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP promising Black votes for (financial) favors. The issue is those favors are only consolidated in house and behind closed doors and with their parishioners in mind. In the case of Harlem, if you are not down with Abyssinia and their Christians, you are pretty much Ass’ed out. And that’s what the Hillary endorsement meant for the people in New York City and Harlem.

Booooooo Hillary !!!!!