QUOTATIONS OF "BLACK"
"Whenever I use BLACK it relates to some history of Africans in that particular place. It’s the idea of the color BLACK as a metaphor, or as a representation of African-Americans. It’s the notion of BLACK- BLACKNESS - and all its other meanings in relation to the history of race..."
- Fred Wilson
"Most of my fortitude to continue doing the work comes from the moral outrage I feel about the injustices that Black people endure disproportionately daily."
- N. Abdul-Wakil
"In the end, what matters is not skin shade but pan-African consciousness. Loving your complexion, your nose, lips, hair length and texture, no matter what the politics or trends decide, and simply be. That's the problem with us (African folks). We're still learning how to love ourselves. So used to glorifying others and putting others first..."
- Dredlocks Tree
Official Book e-Retailer (Purchase):
Lulu.comTouch...
Poems & Others Writings
of Love, Erotica, & Sensuality
For some reason sensuality and erotica have been labeled dirty and bad. In our society we are often taught that having those urges are impure and sinful. For me the truth of the matter is a healthy combination of spirituality and sensuality creates a much better balance for a person to understand who and what they are. How can you explain to a lover what it is you like if you’ve never explored what that is? I am not suggesting that a person needs to have a lot of sex or try many things but to not even be able to think about and suppress what comes natural seems like the most unnatural thing to me.
Hopefully you will find this collection of poetry (and other writings), artwork, & photos to be fun, fulfilling, entertaining, and on some level it expands your ideas of connecting to yourself and others. In other words I hope it “Touches” you...- Jair, The Literary MasturbatorOfficial Blog: Confessions Of A Literary Masturbator™
Touch... Will Also Be Coming To
Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble Soon!Meanwhile, Get Your Hard Copy At Lulu.com
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To Kindle And iPad Devices For $5.99
Darius Chris WestonSunrise: March 18th, 1972 To Sunset: 2001-
Remember When I Took This Picture Of You
With Your Beautiful Smile, Babe
-
An SGL House Party In
Rego Park, Queens (NYC)
(October 2000)
(GMHC's AIDS Walk ---> Circa: May 2002 or May 2003)
WOW! This Picture Seems And Feels Like Eons Ago...
Pictured Left To Right:ME (BIG ROD) With Lox (Not My Best Look, LOL! 
),
? (Green Hat), Stephen W. (Shades On),
Chester (Blue Hoodie/Pink Cap)
And ? (Cutie With Dark Blue Shirt)
My Handmade Banner That I Made Back In May 2002
To Honor The Memory Of My Friend Darius-
I Walked With The Banner At GMHC's AIDS Walk
On May 19th, 2002.
The Outpouring Of LOVE I Received From People
Was Amazing
It's been almost 10 years now, Darius, and so while I have Nubian Knights Network I honor you, Babe, with...
THE WHITE FALL
by
ROD PATRICK RISBROOK
{Feb./March ‘98}
Bundled like black polar bears
We trench through the perfectly
Untouched sea of snow
The sun’s gaze beams down
Onto the shiny glazed surface
Unmolested for quite some time
The retina interprets this part of nature
As a shiny piece of mirrored
Almost so reflective that we feel
I’ll eyes might get scorched
As we huffle through the pretty flakes
We look back and see our two pairs of footprints
They extend and trickle off into the distance
As far as the eye can see
IT'S COLD!
With my attention diverted
You run ahead
But not making much headway
As the thickness of the pile is restrictive
I turn and give chase
My long legs that I've been blessed me with
Gives me the advantage of taking
Double the amount of steps that you could ever take
You do a double take
And furiously try to hasten away
It is only a matter of time
I’m closing in
You then swirl like a car out of control
The brakes non-functional
You’re evasive to the left …then to the right…
Again to the left
My hands extend out like a vice-grip
About to apply pressure
You scream out with a high pitched tone
Knowing the inevitable as the
Wind chill carries the echoes
Of your plaint far and beyond
Running, our breaths hit the frigid air
And morphs and dissipates into a fog
Like a smokestack’s expenditure
Your last swirl goes for naught
As I jump and hit your back
We both fall and cascade
Into the white tundra
Displacing it like a huge meteor from a millennia ago
Striking and creavising the earth’s crust
We both wrestle, fighting for the advantage
As our bodies roll over and over
On top of each other
We collect snow on ourselves
Like a snowball amassing down a steep hill
We stop and face each other
And then blowing any snow in our mouths outward
The whole course of our bodies and nerve endings
Begin to freeze and drop like mercury on a temperature scale
Our chocolate brown faces covered in snow
Only our Nubian eyes piercing through
As our arms prompt each of us up in a sit up position
Laughter ensues at how ridiculous we both look
Our hard laughter permeating through the swirling winds
And carries our voices across the nearby ocean bay
One could almost swear our voices created ripples
In the water of the nearby patchy frozen bay
We then listen to “Old Man Winter”
Overwhelm our echoed voices
We stare at each other for a moment
Which seems to have frozen time
Our heads slowly move closer to each other
Brown eyes gaze into a like reflection of one another
As if on cue
Mother nature releases snow fall on us from her sky
This was our moment
Two pairs of lips kiss in unison
Suddenly warmth billows between us
Like mercury rising on a temperature scale
All the snow, the wind chill and “Old Man Winter”
Seemed irrelevant at this passionate moment
The passion continued as we caressed each other’s face
The cold air around our lips
Seemed not to want anything to do with us
We created our own hot air pocket
Our little time together
Our little place together
Our little love together
“Old Man Winter” started kicking up the snow
And like a flock of geese
Or an abstract painting
We could have sworn
The snow metamorphosed into a smiling face
Yes, this was our moment
And we are truly blessed
Tony HughesTony... since your transition to the African ancestors... Ibaye... I was thinkin' how I could honor what you meant to me. I was looking through a few Black SGL books for poems or quotes - didn't find anything adequate. I then got the idea to look at some of my own poetry/prose.
I haven't had my poetry/prose published online since waaaaaaaaaaayyy back in the days (2001) of my Cast of Chocolate Warriors Yahoo Geocities website.
You have awakened the written word in me to share yet again...
EYE CRIED
by
ROD PATRICK RISBROOK
{August ‘99}
Eye laid in bed thinking about you one night
Eye envisioned us making passionate love together
We were both naked and bare
We were embraced for a moment
The warmth kindling of our spirits
You stood back to take in my image
My left eye cried as a tear rolled down my face
You were startled and asked why eye was sad
Eye was not sad
But my body was rejoicing in happiness
Happiness in knowing you
Embracing you
Loving you
Eye’m thinking we could be potential soul mates
Yes, eye know it’s too early to say
And time will only tell
But if you are the one
Fate could not have granted me a better lover to love
Eye lit a candle last night
To awaken the spirit of you within me
The flame was a light of protection
Watching over me as Eye fell asleep like a baby
Eye awakened and you were still there
The flame ever luminescent
Still guarding and nurturing my being
You have been in my thoughts ever since we first met
Your image captured like a film negative exposed to my inner eye
My inner eye weeping with passion
Eye think eye have the potential for loving you
For love has no bounds
No limits for where…
Our spirits can fly
Like doves in a new found paradise gone by
Dear all, I was inspired to write this in response to so much hate and bigotry I see spewd in churches and society towards those considered "less than"......This is really a lament.
--
Victor R. Pond
Sanctified Bigotryby Victor Pond
(A Guest Nubian Knight's Perspective)When the wounded cry you feign deafness immune to the horror laying at your feet instead you step over itnot looking backless it assault the sieve that replaced your heart.When the wounded cry your mercy slither away leaving the aching body to desiccate and die and with a smile birthed in your own agony you dust the guilt from off your shoulders convincing yourself you are worshiping Jehovah. When the wounded cry your loathing blossoms ornamenting your scattered compassion .....so how would you answerwhen God asks you“why didn’t you love your brother?”
As a current member (and once part of the leadership) of the Black Men's Xchange-New York (BMX-NY) throughout my 7 years (since February 2003 to be exact), I had the honor of witnessing one of the more POWERFUL dialogue sessions on Friday, April 16th, 2010. The topic in question was:
"LOVING SAME GENDER LOVE:
Fighting for Our Right to Be"
In conjunction with that I had the honor of escorting two beautiful young bruthaz (friends of mine) who are same gender loving partners for 8 years strong who were visiting New York City from Chicago. I was quite giddy that night because I was so happy to see them after not seeing them for 6 years (since a Black Pride event in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, New York), and I was able to bring them to BMX for their first time where they witnessed the hospitality and the deep critical thinking and cultural affirmation (CTCA) model work that we do there which always has a frame-work around unlearning "anti-Black" and "anti-homosexual" perspectives via societal conditioning...
As the night wound down Friday evening, the BMX gathering ended climatically with the following quotes (in green) below which are excerpts from a room full of POWERFUL and ENLIGHTENING Black same gender loving men when the last question was asked over and over and over...
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
That It’s Life – It’s Beautiful –
Like A Seed Sprouting – Watch It Grow.
It’s Amazing.
Copyright © 2009 ROD PATRICK RISBROOK
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Affirmation Of It –
Who It Was Created By And Who It Was Created For.
When I Was Gay Identified, I Acted Out...
I Also Like The Connection To My African History.
All The Beautiful Contributions Of Our People.
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
It’s Light – Consciousness –
The Collective Brilliance Of It,
Copyright © 2008 ROD PATRICK RISBROOK (ADODI Retreat)
Knowing That We Have –
There’s Safety In That...
All The Sacred Secrets That We Talk About -
It Preserves Me, And It Preserves The Next Generation.
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
I Love The Freedom Of It;
The Passion, The Solace Of Being With Another Man.
It’s Healing. It Creates Community.
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
I Don't Know; I'm Still Finding Out
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Total Connection -
Body, Mind & Soul, And The Versatility.
If We Don’t Love Ourselves, How Can We Heal Our Community?
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
Indescribable...
I Guess There’s A Lot Less Judgment –
[It’s] A Lot More Peaceful
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
It's Ancient...
The Tenderness...
African Men Are The Most Sensitive
Human Beings On The Planet
And When You Are Able To Experience That,
It Is The Most Wonderful Delight
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Physicality Of The Black... Male... Body...
The Mental: Someone Who Can Understand My Daily Struggles
As A Black Man Living In Amerikkka)
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
I Love A Kiss – A Deep Kiss…
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
You Have My Experiences, My Oppression
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
You Are My Mirror
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
I Feel I Love The Variety.
We Don’t Have To Be A One-Size-Fits-All Community
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Independence It Gives You
[When You Declare Who You Are, Or What You Like]
That’s Something No One Can Take Away From You
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
It’s Something I Desire,
Therefore, It’s Beautiful – Unique –
Has The Creative Potential Of Finding Its Own Form.
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
[We Are] Gatekeepers...
Giving Directions And Marching Orders
To Protect And Do What We Need To Do
[For Community]
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
Personal, Private, Public
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
A Rhythm
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
As A Man,
You’re Expected To Be Strong
And Go Out There Everyday…
It’s Nice That I Can Be Strong Sometimes
And He Can Be Strong Sometimes.
I Don’t Have To Be Strong All The Time.
And He Can Squeeze Me, And Hold Me Tight.
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
If God Made Anything More Beautiful Than A Black Male,
He Must Have Kept It For Himself
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Duality Which Is A Mystique And Familiarity
Which Has A Special Shape And Texture
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
The Limitless Beauty And Power
And Creativity That Flows Through Us;
That Gives Us The Capacity To Heal Ourselves,
Each Other, Our Family, And The Capacity To Love
Even As We Are Told We Have No Right
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
Wil and Lamonte On Their 8-Year Relationship
What's Beautiful About SAME GENDER LOVE?
Carrying Wounds And Scars [As We Are],
There Is Filial (Paternal) Love,
There Is Agape (Selfless) Love –
Sometimes They Come Together –
To Embrace That And Get It Right With Each Other,
There’s A Melting Of The Soul That’s Just...
Butter
CIRCLE OF VOICES INC.presents"Issues Through Art"An evening of Social ExpressionismPoetry, Singing, Book Readings, & more....Community Artist Addressing Community IssuesSaturday, November 21st, 2009
7PM -10PM
@
The Center
208 West 13th Street
(Between 7th & 8th Avenues)
NYC, NY 10003GOOGLE MAPS
Advance admission: $10
On-line $11 w/Service fees
$15 at the door*Group ticket special available
(Buy 10 & get one free! Offer not available on-line-must send e-mail)
(Until Nov 10th 2009 12am )ONLINE TICKETINGA Pre-Holiday Benefit & Market Place & Gallery (with Silent Auction) Featuring: G Winston James -Author of Shaming the Devil, Renair- Spoken Word Diva, “Mildred” Artist formally know as “Dred”, Devin Christy – Vocalist,Stefon Royce, Impersonator & more........Gallery Artist Charly Dominguez & John HanningVendors & Exhibitors wanted now ($40 special) Early Bird Rate(Offer will increase Nov 10th 2009 After12am) (Limited time offer) Info call: 718-975-0141 or email info[at]covinc.org-www.circleofvoicesinc.orgUPDATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd, 2009:The Issues Through Art event was pretty decent. Not a bad show, but for some reason I was under the impression (assumption) of seeing a lot of African Diasporic drawn art. Instead the "art" manifested itself through a myriad of spoken word, dance performances, singing and drumming. It was good and I liked the event, but I was expecting paintings of art. MY stuff. But perhaps because I knew about this event through my friend Charly who posted this on Facebook and is an artist who draws, I probably drew my parallels from that.
Strangely, as my friend Charly Dominguez, whose art work was on display at this event,pointed out to me, the "issues" were kind of missing from most of the art since this was called "ISSUES THROUGH ART". The most prolific part of the event was one spoken word artist who spoke on some serious issues concerning the Black SGL (same gender loving) community and the lack of LOVE we receive from the larger Black community. I think I've seen and heard this sistah before at another African event at The Center (KWANZAA perhaps).
Below are a bunch of pics from the event of different things going on. Have FUN looking...
MilDRED Performing One Of Many Characters
Hmmmmm...?
MilDRED's Revelation! LOL! ;-)
MilDRED Performing Another Alter Ego Character
G. Winston James Doing A Live ReadingFrom His Latest Novel
Author G. Winston James Selling and Signing His Books
An Entertainment Performer
Another An Entertainment Performer
Featured "Issues Through Art" Artist Charly Dominguez(Table 1)
Charly's Alter Ego.
Charly Is Not Only A INCREDIBLY Talented Artist,
But A HOTTIE/CUTIE As Well! LOL! ;-)
Charly's Work on Exhibition (Table 2)
Charly's Work on Exhibition (Table 3)
Close-up Of Charly's Art
More Close-ups Of The Art
T-Shirts For Sale
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