Mic On Monday: Dear Daddy...

Barack Obama is in the White House. America must now confront it's belief that black men are not in the home, that black men are not good fathers, that black men cannot provide for their families. Mr. Obama may be the father of a new hope & this era of change, but good responsible and nurturing black fathers are more prevalent than The Maury Povich Show would have us to believe. The positive black male presence is non-existent in most mainstream media. If a black man gives back to his community, he's given a 30-second blurb on the evening news; however, when a black athlete or musician commits a crime, he's glorified as if his poor behavior is what is to be expected of all black males. Anything better is frowned upon or ignored. Rappers T.I. & Lil Wayne provided money, afterschool programs, and housing for their respective communities. MTV & even BET covered the stories in less than five minutes. T.I. was recently incarcerated for weapons charges and Lil Wayne is facing jail time as well. Both artists' crimes and jail sentences have been the subject of several media outlets' Top Stories lists. Thus, it is easy and commonplace for the general public to perpetuate the lazy, careless, & absent black male stereotype.


Father's Day 2009 is a prime time to reflect on those men who have been present in our lives as father-figures. It's easy to look celebrities and socialites as if they are our only source of leadership. But, there was a time before our infatuation with glitz and glamour that we valued the town police officer, doctor, fireman, teacher, & pastor. Being a father figure and a positive male role model was important and a privilege that held more prestige than rims, bling, and the amount of women one has. Many insensitive, aimless, irresponsible males do create offspring and choose not to care for them. However, our society chooses to publicize their shortcomings & apply them to the majority who do care and provide for their families. This year's celebration of fathers should reflect the change Obama speaks of and the hope of America's future. We should rebel against the recession that aims to discount our fathers' presence and their great works. Our fathers deserve to be acknowledged for more than simply aiding in our conception.

To My Father

Daddy,

It's been said that I have your ears & your temperment. I hear your voice when I stray from the path I know to be right for me. I hate getting dirty but because of you I know that a gentleman can sweat and get the job done and still look smooth and be attractive. I am slow to speak because you taught me that actions always speak louder than words, unless an ass-whooping was in order. You never taught me to wait for anyone else when I could take care of myself. I know what hard work is, but more importantly I know what hard work & good planning can accomplish because I see it everyday when I look in the mirror and reflect on our home & our life. I know that I have the world in my hands because you've placed it in my palms. I know that negativity isn't worth my time & that negative people don't deserve my company. I know that you're proud of me & that you love me; your hugs tell me that this is true. I know that you may not always understand me but you still listen and let me sort through my own confusion. I know that I have safety & peace & assurance because you're only a phone call away. You welcomed my partner into our family & we're both grateful for your support. He reminds me of you in many ways, but the longer I am with him I realize that I remind me of you. My limbs are becoming wrought with veins that say

"I'm not afraid to take my future into my own hands."

Those same veins are what I prayed for when I didn't think I looked enough like you. I wanted people to say I looked strong like my daddy, that I spoke strong like my daddy, that I made every moment count like my daddy. I'm still learning. I can still shit-talk with the best of 'em because you taught me that sometimes life is just bullshit and trees. I know that my daddy is the first man to love me without any strings attached and Scott's learning this, too.

Thank you, Daddy, for not letting go when you could have so many times before.

I love you, Michael.

Speakeasy... new open mic in Philly

Oh yaaaa ... We ALSO wanted to remind you about Speakeasy! One of our closest AUTHENTIC chick's Ebonie Miles hosts a super DOPE open mic at the Rainbow Eye every Thursday! And it's totally a safe space! We love this .... and wanted to let you all love it too!

Queer/Trans/Allied/All Open Mic & Dancin every Thursday. Celebrate the age old traditions of spoken word, song and dance and the arts.

Directions: take the 15 trolly it will let you off on 5th and Girard... then turn left on Girard and walk two blocks to 5th and Jefferson ... the Rainbow Eye will be on the corner located on the second floor

Come be Easy, come be Free!!!

No Cover, Open Mic from 9pm-1am

W.O.W.: Janet Jackson

Hey! Remember this AUTHENTIC chick?

Don't act like you don't! -_- ... Well anyways .... if there's anyone we can think of with longevity ... with the ability to continuously recreate herself ... it's Janet. So we're letting her bring us back in with our Word of WIsdom Wednesdays!

And we knowwww, we've been a bit MIA ... but what HAVENT we been doing lately? e a s e got into Drexel ... I had a bday party ... like seven of our friends had birthdays ... there was the first lgbt arts festival in Philly ... if you missed that ... we got you!

See?!? Told you we were busy! And we've got MAD plans in the making ... just stay tuned!

Anyways ... we found these wonderful words from Janet useful ... so we'll let her take you out while we remind you to stay real.... stay AUTHENTIC.

“I'm convinced that we black women possess a special indestructible strength that allows us to not only get down, but the get up, to get through, and to get over.”

MIC ON MONDAY...on Tuesday!

What do you want to do before you die?

 

A grim, poignant, & tangible question it is. But, really...what do you want to do before you kick the bucket, fly the coop, go to heaven, burn in hell [Insert Samuel L. Jackson's "A Time to Kill" voice HERE.], bite the bullet, dream the sweet dream, kiss the world goodnight, head six feet under, push up daisies, take the eternal slumber?

 

Our country's current economic recession has made some of us a bit more cautious with our money, pinching our pennies, if you will. For some, it's a call to spend freely, and supply the economy with the money it so desperately needs. For others, the recession has many of us focusing our energy & money on tangible, practical, short-term goals. Either way, with this focus comes an awareness of one's own morality.  Thus, our life priorities begin to manifest in the small day-to-day happenings: choosing to have movie night at home instead of a night on the town, at home manicures & pedicures instead of visiting the local spa, emailing (or, writing a letter!) instead of using all those daytime & anytime minutes, & carpooling. All of these require that our home unit or family/friend unit becomes priority. We recognize our need for one another during times of stress.

 

I brought this conversation up because with all the “Doomsday” propaganda negatively destroying our psyches, it’s good to remind ourselves how the recession is helping us (in the words of songtress India.Arie) “get back to the middle.” The next time someone bums a ride, cigarette, book, or dinner please realize that you are seeing firsthand the effect of our economy bringing people together. This is remarkable when you think about how often class and economic status works to separate us from one another.

 

SO…what does this have to do with your bucket list? Well, sometimes spending time with friends & family will yield perspective, perspective that will help you realize how important it is that you pursue your dreams & make them a reality. It’s high time that we all pound the pavement, travel roads less traveled, & make each day count towards achieving our best life & our best selves possible.

 

Go make somethin’ happen! And don’t stop being AUTHENTIC. While you are at it, extend some of that AUTHENTICITY to the AUTHENTICALLY challenged.

 

mic

AUTHENTIC WOMEN: Farrah Burns

I dig her ... like really dig her.

trust. we'll be back with more.
i'm tryin' to find out EVERYTHING about her.

for now ... you can find her @ farrahburns.com

NEW WORK & FREE DOWNLOAD :: Art directing and illustrating NIKKI NTU :: "A History Dreams" album cover

As the first one of the AURAL VISIONS :: Lichiban presents series, I worked on as art director// illustrator// graphic designer for NIKKI NTU's debut album produced by MeLo-X, called A History of Dreams. My story with Nikki's project began last year when MEGA, one of her executive directors beside Claude Dary (also known as MeLo-X's manager), contacted me to ask me if I'd do an art installation for Nikki's private listening party in September 2008 (here is my post about the event). After hearing the album, I was blown away by MeLo-X's super versatile production skills (this was before he dropped his first album, Mustafa's Renaissance) and by Nikki's amazing lyrical skills, and connected immediately with her message that was powerful, empowering and spiritual...a tendency I'm very happy to see growing among the next generation of artists, who are fellow seekers and are trying to communicate good, higher vibrations and a love message through their art. (I think it's becoming more and more obvious to those who read my blog that I specifically support artists who have this kind of message...As the world is heading toward a cosmic transformation and a future of global struggle, artists are awakening to their mission to counteract all the negativity that is getting released through this shift. As I've been saying it for a while, I believe there is a new ART LOVE MOVEMENT in the making and we are the builders of it. I am very conscious about connecting people with this kind of approach to doing art.) But back to Nikki, I was very happy to be part of her and MeLo's project, a beautiful ascending sonic voyage through the land of cosmic dreams and this-wordly realities.

DOWNLOAD
Nikki NTU :: "A History of Dreams" HERE!!

While meditating on the cover, I'd try to focus on two aspects of her spirituality :: the visionary amazon-poet shamaness & and the modern-day warrior-priestess. The heart is a very strong symbol for her (this is another aspect on which we connected). Here is a passage from her art statement, that says so much about her spiritual stance "With strong themes of healing, revolution and love, Nikki is birthing new concepts of female empowerment but moreover people empowerment. “My music breaks down a lot of barriers in people. The rhythms bring out emotion and the lyrics stimulate the mind as well as the heart. Those simple things have a great impact on inspiring and informing folks. And when you have a safe space to put everything on the table, healing is the only outcome.” For me, this project was more than just a commissioned work...She is in many ways on the same mission that I have been traveling for a while...to mediate an old but timeless message for the present generation through her art. Nikki is an old soul and as I learned more about her and her project, I realized that two of us were meant to do this together. She had an amazingly loving & supportive core team of Melo-X, her producer, and MEGA and Claude Dary her executive producers and myself (big shout out to all three who have been giving me lots of love & support throughout as well)...the energy that went into this album and the spirit of the people involved made this project very special for me. You can expect more visual & sonic collabo's with this group in the future..it's meant to happen! Thank you!

Make sure to link Nikki's and MeLo's blogs and link them on myspace (Nikki's link // MeLo's link) as well.
Here are some of the steps...



I played around with a number of logo ideas until we picked the final version above.

You can link me on myspace.com/lichiban and on twitter.com/lichiban

Mic on Monday: Love is so 20th Century.

When it comes to love, would you rather have romance or stability? Live happily ever after or simply live knowing that the bills are paid?

 

It’s amazing how such a question can come about. I was watching “Moulin Rouge” as part of my Sunday afternoon chillax session and the scene where Nicole Kidman’s character, The Courtesan,  must sleep with the financier in order to save her lover’s  (Ewan McGregor) stage show. The financier claims that it is absurd that The Courtesan would settle for Ewan McGregor’s character, the poor bohemian writer, especially when the financier can offer her a life of financial security.

 

One cannot deny that our most recent economic climate is affecting our relationships. In 1999, it was a tad bit comical when Destiny’s Child asked “can you pay my bills, bills, bills?” But, nowadays this question may not be out of the realm of reason when it comes to post-9/11 relationships.

 

Money can’t buy you love, but it can keep the lights on.

 

Stay AUTHENTIC.

 

mic

Dancing in the Streets! HIV testing...Philly!

Ciao!
Just saw the flier..and I had to post!
I love dancing..i love RICH MEDINA!
and you already know, one of our social efforts is in knowing your status!
June 26th marks, NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY!!!
Join us and FLYGIRRL/MAZZONI Center from 6-11pm @ The Artists Piazza..2nd and Girard

Mic on Monday: BLACK MUSIC MONTH: Aretha Franklin

On May 31^st, 2002, former President George W. Bush proclaimed June as Black Music Month.  

 

Aretha Louise Franklin (Source) also known as “The Queen of Soul,” has this to say in regards to music:

 

“I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is.” (Source)

 

It is the realist who blooms within the confines of truth, no matter how dark, dank, harsh, or cold it may be. In the wake of our country’s transitioning beyond recession, sexism, racism, homophobia, and ultimately hate, let us remember that music is the intersection where we all meet in spite of difference. June is but a moment in American history when we can support black/African-American efforts to cement Music’s place in all of our lives.

 

mic