This Saturday, December 19, 2015, there’s a new attraction opening for people seeking to quench their “eye” thirsts. Those who appreciate admiring the beauty of an exquisite painting can now see what Baltimore’s most underrated visual artists have to share with the world.
In October, I had the opportunity to take a sneak peek of what I assume should be expected, along with a lot more admirable pieces, at this up and coming art gallery with my attendance at the Jerrell Gibbs art exhibit.
Jerrell Gibbs is one of the many artist who submitted to Doc’s Castle Media in 2014. Art has always been a passion of his, whether it was drawing sketches of his favorite cartoon characters or his favorite athletes. He adopted a lot of his influences from his dearly departed cousin Carlos Batts, “Tatman D”, Ron Bass, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Voka along with many others. While creating pieces stimulating the audience by exuding positive under tones through his work, he aspires to become a well- known freelance artist. I assume beginning with the Incredible Creation behind him during his cultivated, artistic exertion.
It wasn’t until three months ago, I’ve made the connection with my DCM submission box. I’ve finally seen with my own eyes the artwork of such a talented artist.
(I honestly stress that all artist get out there, talk about your work, and never give up! It’s the only way you’ll get the attention you’re seeking.)
Gibbs work is remarkable and I believe he has what it takes to pull the support of a new generation of eyes. He even has a documentary named “Got Gibbs?!” releasing this month, which follows him on a journey towards achieving his freelance arts aspiration. I know there is so much more to expect from Gibbs. I can’t wait to see what more he has to offer.
The Incredible Creation is a brand I started following at the closing of Fall 2013 beginning with the Incredible Creation Blog. Since its emergence, they have expanded in providing a broad band of products and services with a mission created by its founder Milly Vanderwood as an outlet “that artists from all mediums should be able to display their talents, regardless of traditional standards of the “art spectrum.” The latest addition to their extended list of products is the divinely scrumptious Incredible Little Cupcakes.
With exhibits inspired by today’s pop culture, there’s lots to look forward to from this gallery. From exhibits honoring the late Tupac Shakur & Aaliyah, to displays commemorating the artist themselves, the Incredible Creations is providing the leisure for the artist to tell us a beautiful story visually.
“Got Gibbs?!” Trailer
http://youtu.be/rEKAbaENNxA
Come out this Saturday to see more art from Jerrell Gibbs and other Incredible Creation artists at the Grand Opening of the Incredible Creations Art Gallery.
Today’s musician I’d like to highlight is Baltimore’s own R&B/ Soul artist 4TAE.
4TAE launched his professional career in 2005 playing with the Eubie Blake legacy jazz band and Marcell and the Truth. He has opened up for various artists, such as Anthony David, Anthony Hamilton, Algebra Blessett, and Lupe Fiasco.
He also played alongside artists, such as jazz violinist Regina Carter and Raheem Devaughn. Along with the Trombone, 4TAE plays piano, bass guitar, and is a producer. He is currently working on his debut EP “Blue hart”.
Stated via 4TAE’s press kit:
“His music is described as a smooth explosion of hip-hop and R&B. Music lovers will enjoy listening to the sexy smooth sounds of this new artist.”
Well, I’ve had the chance to be the judge of that as I was tagged in a recent music video of him on Facebook. Check out, “Right Where I Wanna Be” below.
The video and song were quite cool. It very well did pass off a smooth kind of vibe. I think the video complimented the theme of the song very well, too.
What did you like about the song? Leave your comments below.
Happy Halloween folks! I hope everyone had a good one. By the looks of my Facebook timeline, it definitely looked like everyone had a good time being “wanna be’s” for the day.
I enjoyed myself in Halloween spirit this year a day early while I dressed as a spin-off of the biggest wannabe of the year!
Can you guess who that spin-off might be?
I had to dress up for work at the last minute, and I never like picking the average costume to wear. So I had to come up with something quick. You won’t find me being a Wonder Woman or Batgirl costume, ever. But you’ll see me trying to be a little unique. Three Halloween’s ago, I was “Ratchet Girl.”
I just like to roll with what’s the talk of the year. So what better to do it by making the most talked-about move this year.
I’ll become the opposite sex. It seems easy, right?
Caitlyn Jenner, formally known as Olympian Bruce Jenner, made a huge statement earlier this year with his announcement to take on a new gender role; he decided to change from man to woman. He was later granted numerous awards such as the courage awards and woman of the year for making such a move. He’s even open up many gateways for other people to come out about who they truly are.
Not saying Tyler is someone I truly am…haha. I just wanted to remind people what Caitlyn did.
There’s a lot of controversy behind Caitlyn’s decision, and whether she truly deserves any of the honorable titles awarded to her throughout the year. But there is no denying she changed our history in many ways, publicly. She provided an opportunity for a new conversation amongst a curiosity which is called to the forefront of American society; the lifestyle of transgender.
My entire reasoning for choosing to be Tyler wasn’t too complex. I just thought maybe some of the luck she had from becoming a woman would rub off on me while being a man for the day. Haha.
What do you think about my costume? Do I look better as a man or a woman? Leave your comments below.
Earlier this month October 10,2015, history was made in Washington, DC. Justice or Else Million Man March was set to have it’s 20th Anniversary and I am proud to say I was a participant with fellow Bloggers Shaè McCoy of Uncommonrealist and Cortez Page of Alumni Marketing Group.
This event was set to monumentally make a difference in the way mainstream America perceived the Black American Male. It was a huge call of action to recent current events happening nationally regarding allegations and prosecutions in relations to police brutality and racial profiling. The Million Man March mission was as similar to its first annual with its attempts to purify the black man’s image. Twenty years later and things are showing little to no change.
The morning of the march, I arrived on the capital grounds, where the honorary Minister Louis Farrakhan was expected to give his address, at exactly 8:00 am. Minister Farrakhan wasn’t scheduled to speak until 1:00 pm. So I had lots of time to kill. What better to do than to take pictures of what was happening around me, right?
Did you or any of your friends attend the Million Man March? Share some of your photos in the comments below.
Want to watch the Million Man March Recap by the Mindy Jo News Show? Watch it here on Doc’s Castle Media.
To be an event with an estimate of 3 million people who showed up, there still were lots of disappointed black folk who didn’t have the chance to attend. As I spoke to some people through social media, I’ve heard many excuses for why they weren’t in attendance. Some saying because they had no transportation given such short notice or had to be at work. Others didn’t feel it necessary to come because they don’t believe in a current generation being in charge of black liberation. Lot’s of people simply didn’t want to hear what Minister Farrakhan had to say in conjunction to his past. But the majority relayed their absence was because they weren’t aware of the 20th Anniversary of the March being held this year.
If you weren’t aware of the Million Man March, who could truly blame you for not showing up for this special moment in history. Mainstream media failed to make you aware of such a historical event and still brushes it off with failure to broadcast the event’s successes and positivity.
Black media was sure to be in attendance. There’s plenty of good footage for you to get the gist of everything that happened on 10/10/15. Watch video brought to you by The Mindy Jo Show, below.
Support Black Media
What is the Mindy Jo News Show?
Mindy Jo News Show is an independent news show under PR WIZ, LLC and is based out of Washington, DC. The show’s purpose is to “connect with people through compelling content across various platforms such as online, digital, and mobile devices in the DC Metropolitan areas and around the world.”
Mindy Jo, photo from http://mjnewsshow.wix.com/
Mindy Jo, who’s the brains behind such publication, personally provided me with this video to share with my readers. I met her through Twitter as she caught wind of the coverage I’ve shared of the Million Man March. After I retweeted of footage with the hashtag #SupportBlackMedia, it came to my attention that I should really do just that.
Mindy Jo aims to be an “affiliate of the people” while “embracing all human beings.” Through her actually taking the time to share my writings, I know she’s doing a great job achieving that.
The Mindy Jo Show focuses on various topics, such as health, lifestyle, weather, wealth, science, education, technology, and politics. All news provided to you with a “pure” and “organic” touch. It’s a perspective worth taking the time to watch.
Are you willing to support black media? Check out more from the Mindy Jo Show via her website, mjnewsshow.wix.com. Have you read the Five Main Points Minister Farrakhan screamed at us during the Million Man March? Read it here on Doc’s Castle Media.
Minister Louis Farrakhan stepped up as leader of his people to share wisdom at Justice or Else March, Saturday, October 10, 2015. He spoke knowledge that any race of people could take with them to become a better being for changing the world around them.
By calling a meeting for all oppressed people, Native, Latin, and Black alike; he showed the world through stern intervention that he is a man who loves his people. He did this through speaking basic philosophy any human being should have the capacity to understand, and he did it with a mission to instill change within a society that shows limited signs of breakthrough due to ill-mannered government policies and social injustices.
Farrakhan, by being emotionally attached to this cause for so long, also made contradictions while giving his speech. I choose not to focus on delivering what’s deemed unimportant. Instead, I’ll focus on the four main points discussed by Minister Louis Farrakhan that remained with me, which I see to be worth passing to my readers, beginning with why he called this meeting following 20 years.
Minister Louis Farrakhan on the big screen. Photo taken by Doc’s Castle Media
This is a movement. We have no time for vanity.
Minister Farrakhan came with a mission to let his people know that what he’s doing is not to be taken in vain. His life work is for the future of everyone’s lives, for the descendants of everyone’s children and grandchildren, that they may have a better outcome than what his ancestors had, he had, and what’s currently facing many Black people today. Like an angry grandpa frustrated with his grand-kids, he demanded the attention of the crowd to open their eyes, minds and hearts to what’s happening in America. He told us change is a requirement and not preference.
With plenty of conviction behind his words, Minister Farrakhan shared a passion that many who attended the march felt. Black people are trying to be heard from a government unwilling to lend a listening ear. He urged that Justice or Else not be just a day that Blacks, Natives, and Latinos meet in unity. He emphasized it being a call for all oppressed people to come together in continuation in working on unification to fully gain equality.
The only way we can gain justice is through unity from everyone who has ever been deprived from justice.
Minister Farrakhan sent an invite to every nation of people to be apart of the march for Justice or Else. Speakers from different cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and gender came together to unite even in our many differences because we all had a common dislike for mistreatment.
Everyone wants to be treated fairly and we want it now!
In the fight to gain common ground from those who are privileged, Minister Farrakhan stated we must come together by first seeking to find that love within ourselves. By loving first our body as the temple then showing love for those who are around us, no matter what color of the skin, we show a force that cannot be reckoned with; a stronger power than of one entity that holds the human race back as a whole. We will gain equality for blacks by taking a stand, but we also create opportunities for the Native Americans and Latino Americans who are still fighting those same social injustices.
Black Empowerment Photo taken by Doc’s Castle Media
We live not for ourselves but for the generations that come after us.
Minister Farrakhan stressed as a people we have to stop thinking of what we can only do for ourselves. We live in a generation that thrives off doing anything for personal gain whether it be reaching success in a positive manner, or slashing each other’s throat to get to the top. It hasn’t gotten the human race far through thinking this way because there are so many people still left to be treated unjustly.
Farrakhan reminded us that to show love for your fellow brother and sister, we must become selfless. We have to sacrifice those selfish thoughts to gain for ourselves and work on gaining for our children because that is who we work for. They are the one’s who are left to these unjust institutions once we are gone.
By referencing the accomplishments of great leaders like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., he explained why this life we live is only temporary. “From dusk we came, back to dusk we shall go.” (Something like that.) He asked what is the purpose of living a cut throat “I’ll-steal-and-kill-to-reach-success” kind of lifestyle if everyone’s end in life is the same? It only makes life more difficult. Why not think of making an easier life for generations to come?
Today’s Youth is crying out for a worthy leader.
Farrakhan stressed that leadership is what’s needed to create progress. He also spoke on how very few of genuine leaders our country has by insinuating that we have more leaders today who chase money and fame rather than a good principle for life.
All corruption is an enemy of the progress of man!- Minister Louis Farrakhan
In a system that is built on corruption, such as greed, fame, and betrayal, man cannot move forward. Everywhere we go, we see corruption with the lack of discipline to lend a helping hand towards another person so they may reach new heights of success. Instead we have people who are in charge that want to tear down another man. A great leader helps another up. They lead by example to be a better person.
Minister Farrakhan reminded us that we haven’t had an influential leader since Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both of these great leaders taught the basics of being a humanitarian. There’s a need for someone who’s able to lead and teach what we no longer learn from important public figures. There is no one dedicated solely to the liberation of an oppressed people. No one to promote a better living. Instead, there’s more negativity being broadcast to a large mass of people.
Farrakhan told everyone the essentials of demanding justice; the essentials of being a great leader. He did so to reach a generation of people he states as whom he works for, the youth. To be a great leader demanding justice, a person should seek integrity and selflessness. They should sacrifice for a principle bigger than their own lives because the majority is greater than one. When we find that leader who chooses the majority before themselves, we know the person is working in love and not war.
6 AM upon boarding the bus to Justice or Else
Attending the Million Man March was as familiar to me as attending the protests earlier this year for Freddie Gray in Baltimore following the riots exasperated through police brutality. That feeling of unity that is so scarce in a time of selfishness gave me life! I felt amazingly proud of the skin I was born in. I was proud of the people around me coming in unity against social injustices that minorities have fought against for years. I understood what needed to shared with people who didn’t find an importance in coming out for Justice or Else. I gained a better understanding of what Justice or Else stood for, which that “or else” stands for you and the interpretation you gain from Minister Farrakhan 3 hour speech.
All in all, I understood the change in a people, as a whole, that we must overcome in order to have a better future. It’s starts with ourselves channeling our inner leader, being that example that’ll spark a revolution to change. So I see and, so I shall do.
What do you think about things that Minister Louis Farrakhan had to say at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March? Leave your comments below.
Will you be participating in the 20th Anniversary Million Man March this year?
So here’s the scoop.
Doc’s Castle Media has decided to team up with Baltimore Blogger Shae McCoy of Uncommonrealist, Baltimore Entrepreneur Cortez Page of AMNGlobal, and NHENT to show the interweb our contributions, support and love towards our culture, our purpose, and our history by participating in the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March.
What’s the Million Man March?
Twenty years ago on October 16, 1995, Minister Louis Farrakahn, leader of the Nation of Islam, called on a march to the National Mall in Washington, DC to present a different image to society of what the Black Male represents. Civil rights leaders and organizations came together to unite in self-help and self-defense against economic and social issues faced in Black communities around our nation. This movement was mainly in works to gain politicians attention on matters happening in urban and minority environments, and also to encourage Black Americans to seek seminars and worship services for the betterment of the wellness of the black communities.
Why the Million Man March is Important today?
On April 12, 2015, twenty-five year old Baltimorean Freddie Gray was arrested by Baltimore City police on weapon charges. Seven days later, Gray died of spinal injuries which later sparked community protest and accusations of police brutality. Baltimore city witnessed its worst riots yet to be seen since the Baltimore riots of 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The April 2015 riots gave way for Baltimore blacks to say, “Helllllllllll nawwww! They done fucked with the wrong city now!,” and sparked a revolution for a new generation to make a choice on whether they were ready to end a war that’s been on the outskirts of social ills for decades upon decades of Black lives. Now we’re here, seven months later, with a drive that seems to me has slowed down since then.
The Baltimore Riots earlier this year had me worked up. I went to protests back-to-back for a week and a half straight. Now that all of the hostility from the Freddie Gray case is slowly turning down from the media’s hype, it’s evident that people can quickly lose interest in the importance of remembering the reasons why Black people fight so hard for fair opportunities, something our culture cannot ever get a break from doing.
You see it’s the 20TH ANNIVERSARY of the Million Man March, right?!
It makes no sense that black men and women should have to dress and look a certain way in our society to prevent ourselves from being killed by the very people who are meant to protect us. I guess, it’s become all about being out of sight and out of mind because now that the news isn’t putting images of police brutality on the television screens of Americans, mass majority of civil protest regarding Black Lives Matters have decreased.
Why Doc’s Castle Media will be participating in the Million Man March?
As I briefly stated in my previous post “The Real Revolution Will Not Be Televised. #ILoveBaltimore,” I mentioned it being my duty to record the history in the making of a new revolution for black people. It is my job to talk about these things the way the mainstream media does not, so that people will be able to judge accordingly to what they find fit for the justice and fairness of how they’ll live their lives.
Well, I’ve stirred up some motivation with some of my peers. Now we’re inviting you to get involved with remembering why it’s important to fight for the rights against social injustice. So here’s how you can join the march with us:
Buy a $20 bus ticket used as donation to secure a seat for attendance.
Invite a friend to come with you and have them buy a ticket.
Arrive at the School Board of Education before the 6 AM bus departure. (200 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202)
Take lots of photos of the history you’re sure to take place at The National Mall.
Post them online to motivate your friends.
Return to School Board of Education at 8 PM arrival.
It’s simple and worth your time and presence. Just think about your children.
If you have any further questions regarding this day trip, you’re invited to call 443-943-3309. You may also email your questions to either of the following emails.
Baltimore’s turmoil due to riots and protests for Freddie Gray have blossomed a hefty amount of creative masterpieces from independent artist of all sort. The Internet is buzzing of colorful opinions, many pale and others vibrant, depicting artists’ perception of peace and violence; justice and injustice; and moral or immoral.
Encouraging words from these rappers are expected since so many young people support these artist. We need them to inspire our kids to do better; to seek success and progression instead of lawlessness and turbulence, as the world watched Baltimore Youth as they rioted and looted as a result of police brutality towards Freddie Gray.
“Dumb Dumb” artist scratched the surface of reaching the you by releasing “No SunShine” in honor of Freddie Gray. Unfortunately, I do not believe he took this opportunity by storm. So much more could be done. So much more could be said.
“No SunShine” doesn’t get much praise from me because there’s more to be said than what these children who live in these neighborhoods already know. There are ways to get a message across without stating the obvious of what’s happening in our city’s black communities. We know of what our state’s governmental policies enable and forbid us from doing. We know about the “slums” that blacks have systematically become accustomed to. My concern was for artists like Young Moose to do a bit more, maybe lead more as an example.
I guess, I’m expecting too much in such a short amount of time. Huh?
Where are the programs they’re continuously supporting. As I look at each artists background and choice of brand for their music, I’m a little concerned about outsiders not understanding what’s needed to be said for our city. It could easily be misinterpreted if someone would listen to more of Young Mouse’s discography as his music is majority about drugs and trap life.
We need more “substance.” We need more positive messages young people will enjoy and support.
What do you think? Did you like Young Moose’s “No Sunshine?” Leave your comments below.
Waking up on April 28, 2015 was the most surreal feeling I’ve experienced in my 23 years of living. To open up my eyes at the crack of dawn after tossing and turning caused by the Baltimore riots happening blocks away from where I laid my head that night, how could anyone feel any other way?
Two days prior to probably one of the most shocking riots to ever happen in history, I spent 7 hours writing about my frustrations towards the riots in Downtown Baltimore. In opinion essay on Doc’s Castle Media, “The ‘Real’ Revolution Will Not Be Televised. #ILoveBaltimore,” I speak from an emotional standpoint on the ways I believe Blacks should move forward after the major breakthrough of riots on Saturday, April 25th. I’d hope it’d be a message to calm people down from seeking to destroy more of our city as my blog reached over its average viewership.
My words may have reach quite a bit of individuals but as this week started, I see that my efforts may have not made much of an impact. Monday morning at Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore, only 5 minutes away from my job, was rioted by a huge group of young people immediately when dismissed from school and lasted for hours that day.
Rioting eventually turned into looting and destroying of historical neighborhoods. People who once had jobs along North Avenue and Mondawmin Mall are now without employment, and as riots made it across East Baltimore later that night, near Monument Street, again around the corner from where I stayed that evening, a senior center was burned down, leaving older people who were anticipating to move into a new home suddenly without one. To top it off, our mayor grounded the entire city. So we have to be in our homes by our 10 o’clock curfew.
Baltimore is a mess. The city I’ve known all my life is scorned from which the world believes is because of police brutality against 25 year old African American man Freddie Gray. But our story is deeper than the surface. It is now that we use everyone’s cameras as a tool to let you in on the scoop.
Words cannot express how I feel about what happened in my city. I’m not a fan of the media like I once was before, especially as I’ve watched events that day come to pass. There’s a media circus in my backyard reporting from Penn-North subway station, now internationally famous for our CVS that burned down on its corner.
Come on, now! Just the other day I bought a chocolate Snickers bar out of there. I’ll never be able to do that again.
We’re never getting some of those shops back. It’s hard to have hope for the restoration of CVS or any of those other buildings due to the the reputation of reconstruction in Baltimore. We’ve waited YEARS for our government to rebuild the hundreds of vacant buildings and shops damaged from the Martin Luther King Jr. riots in 1968. The only reconstruction we’ve ever seen has been to our pothole infested streets, and I swear, we can’t improve the pavement on Charles Street anymore than it is.
Geeze! Does all our tax money go to that street?!
In the minds and hearts of many people here, it’s second nature for citizens to want to walk outside to see what’s happening for themselves, rather than to watch the news nowadays. The world’s painted picture on television is far from what we’re experiencing. A trust barrier is broken for many who relied on national news stations to give us the 4-1-1 on events occurring during the week. So the local news and social media is our only best friend during this time.
The media from outside of Baltimore lacks an understand of the type of people who live in Baltimore and the lifestyle that we see on a day to day basis. It’s like the media’s way of looking at us is similar to viewing through a microscope. They’re looking to find where all these horrid problems and rioting behavior could be stimming from. But the people who experience the lifestyle of living in here will always have a better understanding and a better way of explaining what’s going on.
Poverty is one of the hardest struggles a person can try to shake in Baltimore City. With a phrase like “The struggle is real,” which is often recited in Baltimore’s Black communities, it models the hard knock situations we see as being seriously rough to live through. When we say this phrase, almost everyday nonchalantly, we as black Baltimoreans adopt an “It is what it is” attitude, learning to also desensitize and quiet ourselves from what’s really happening. Well, Baltimore’s tired of being quiet now.
People who are publicly judging my city worldwide are failing to understand. Even I feel uneasy each time I come into the realization of what’s happening to us sometimes. Tuesday evening, I walked passed a reporter from Russia and another from London. Like whaaa?! These people don’t even know that just 2 weeks ago I was frustrated from fighting to be heard because of Baltimore’s crab in a barrel reputation.
Our youth isn’t afraid to make a change. I think of how some of those kids who were rioting were doing so to scream out they were fed up. Some of those kids had no home before they rioted. Some of them go to school everyday to get away from their daily worries of not having something to eat once they leave school. Some of them were angered because they were stranded without transportation to get home due to the police shutting down the bus lines and subways before school let out. (But that’s another mystery in itself I won’t get into.) And I admit, some of them were just following the crowd. But to see our kids act this way, hurts the most because they are innocent. They’re the one’s we’re trying to protect from “the struggle.” But we can’t.
Baltimore needs change and everyone knows now. I’m so proud of us. We made a stand for so many things this week. We’re fighting police brutality, racial profiling & systematic racism, bad publicity and corrupted governmental policies not only for us, but for our entire country, we’re making a statement. My feet are suffering from it and I don’t mind it all. I have a bigger hope for my city, though I may doubt our government’s follow-up as an African American woman who’s part of the working force striving for success and a better Baltimore. But I’m glad to have seen a better side, finally! I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Rest In Peace, Freddie Gray. You’re gone, but you are not forgotten. Your name will be in history books along with our city. Change will surely come for us and our country.
Special Note: This post will be my least uniformed blog post due to the built up emotions from recent events caused by the death of Baltimore black man, Freddie Gray. It’s my duty as a Baltimore writer to talk about this the way mainstream media does not want us to. PLEASE KNOW THIS FIRST WHILE YOU READ THIS: I AM NOT A JOURNALIST, now. I AM WRITING AS A BLACK WOMAN FROM THE CITY OF BALTIMORE!
Words pour onto paper as I’ve become a part of American history today while I write about what my eyes have witness on April 25, 2015, a day which I thought I would never see my city be the forefront of America for something so severe and extremely civil. I thought it was a part of mankind’s inhumane struggle that Black people conquered, or at least scratched the surface of overcoming. But we haven’t and it’s obvious to the world now.
America is governed by a system corrupt that uses the very people who help build this very nation as a stepping stool to bringing the world back to square one by embarrassing my whole race through provoking us to move; by tormenting Blacks unfairly.
As a Black woman, myself, and a blogger who lives in Baltimore, it is my duty to talk about the problems my city faces in the eyes of millions, nationally and internationally, who are watching my town react to police brutality towards yet another African-American male, who met his end in the most unfortunate and unfair manner society could ever grant, death by the very people meant to protect him.
Who is Freddie Gray?
If you don’t know by now, get the fuck off my blog. You don’t care enough. This post isn’t for those who rather sit in their ignorance while we are at war. This post isn’t for the people seeking to view how “ratchet” and “routy” my city is to confirm our “home of The Wire” reputation. This post is not for people who go on major media outlets social media pages to read and participate in the racist comments. This post is to wake you the fuck up! This post is meant to make you realize from the eyes of a Baltimore writer that something really messed up is going on. So open your eyes.
Baltimore, what are we doing? No, let me redirect my concerns to the correct group of individuals… America, what are we doing? No, no, no. WORLD, what the fuck is going on?!
These last two years of my life has been about watching a massacre of black men, AND black women, being slaughtered by a system who prays on a culture who isn’t united and hasn’t been since we were active in the 1960s US Civil rights movement. The way that I feel about it, I have no words for what’s going on in my heart. I have no words for how I see my country being portrayed. I have no words for how my race is being treated. I only feel a fire burning within me from how close to home Freddie Gray’s death has hit thousands and thousands of hearts around this country, and I’m in awe because I would have never thought something this relentless happening in front of billions of people watching is happening in my very own backyard.
I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EYES! This shit happens everywhere else, not in my home.
As each month unfolds since the death of Trayvon Martin, I started to view my country as the ultimate hypocrite and bully. I use to watch and read about the United States in international affairs while growing up, thinking how phoney we must be to walk into other countries, like Liberia and South Africa, trying to assist with their racial issues when in neighborhoods where I live didn’t match up to the persona America tries to paint for the world to see. It is here, the media hides what’s really happening between blacks and whites, until now. Why? Our country’s own racism was hidden and blocked from mainstream media and majority of this country’s citizen for so long, so we could believe we were past oppression; to make us feel like we could give a helping hand to other cultures around the world. America needed us on the same page so we could be viewed by countries around us as “land of the free” and “home of the brave.”
Black people have fallen by the arms of police officers since forever ago, and white people, and even black people, still want to yell out one of the most irrelevant and most repeated statements recited in recent years as if it’s an excuse for why we shouldn’t make a difference in our law enforcers policies. “Blacks kill blacks all the time.” WE KNOW THIS! WTF DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH POLICE KILLING US TOO!?
Black people I need you to listen! I need you to open your eyes because this is what’s real.
Do you know we are being manipulated by national news? Of all things to capture and broadcast to the world, they choose the most uncalled for and offensive images to represent our race at such a delicate moment in our history because they know it will make our uneducated youth move and take an opportunity like protesting as an excuse to “show out” and express their anger, when they don’t even know what to be angry about. Do you know we are being made to have opinions that we’re unsure of because the media knows this will make us angry and ready for a revolution? And why is it that our own news stations WJZ and WBAL are taking a different approach in reporting about Freddie Gray than stations like CNN and the Huffington Post? Nothing’s making sense. This isn’t adding up.
Do you realize the media’s power, now? LISTEN!
Though we are made to believe the media is not bias, people of Baltimore and black people around the world, we do not have control of the media’s motivation to stay unbiased. Even I am being bias now (and I encourage you to continue to have your own opinions during this time. All I ask is that you realize and watch everything going on)! The media is what’s making police brutality the fuel of our anger ; it’s turning it into something bigger than expected. The media, which is funded by BIG corporations who bank on black people’s money, are making my culture out to be unruly savages and it does not sit well with me. It makes me angry. It’s what made me step up and write how I feel today. Black people I don’t blame you at all. We have a right to be mad, but it is unwise to be so turbulent.
To me, this is beyond race. Racism is being used as a tool to push a bigger motive because it’s the only way to get large bodies of people to move. We have to be wiser. We have to be smarter in our decisions because 10 years ago, we lived in a better peace. But with the media suddenly pushing stories about police brutality incorrectly more often, seems every couple of weeks to days, it’s also corporations that are funding the media’s weapon to wither our peace away and box us in for something we don’t fully understand yet.
So what is real? What is true? We can’t rely on our reporters to be honest and staying away from these stereotypes we’re fighting about.
To all the kids who are reading this, you must choose now to learn your history. You need not act before you are educated. Do you see how dangerous it is to go through this? This entire ordeal isn’t transparent enough, and this anger escalating within us is not good, especially coming from a group like us who can’t get past light skin and dark skin.
Peace, love, joy. Peace, love, joy, everyone.
Why is it that America decides to use my backyard as a war zone this week? America decides to take the city that I’ve spent the last 3 years trying to help put on the map, positively, as a target and guinea pig for a bigger agenda. Can you image how I feel right now? For someone who spends all her spare time trying to help the city become angry with her fellow Baltimoreans. They don’t see the bigger picture, and rather dig a bigger hole for us to climb out of? I’m so disappointed and proud at the same time. This is why I have no words. I’m so all over the place.
I doubt this will be my last post on this. I’ve been awakened.
I ask that anyone who lives outside of my city to turn to the World Wide Web for real accounts of what my city is doing in honor of Freddie Gray and not CNN. I ask you to read about what we are really going through from us. I ask that you empathize for us. I ask that you pray.
#PrayForBaltimore #PrayForMyCity
Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. -Proverbs 28:9
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