Eddie Harris - Funk Project "Listen Here"

Listen, learn............and keep the music alive. The progress of our future is marked by the history of the past. The mystery of our history is in the glory of our story. We must not forsake our history; for if we do, it will not forgive us because there in lies our foundation. If we neglect to observe and stand on our foundation, we will sink in the sands of time and disappear.

-Ronald Dove

Occupy Wallstreet

        The movement has become worldwide. It is the new sensation of people protest. This will go down in history as the..... Mother of all protest.
     I think it is wonderful for people to express there discontent with the powers that be. In the past one could be burned to the stake for unautherized expression. My problem with this movement is understanding the direction. What is the clear agenda. I know they want jobs and healthcare but there are other request.
  I don't see one co-heasive solidarity cause for the movement however good it might be.
      When a few protesters were interviewed they were not that supportive of the president. President Obama is the one advocate that understands the cries of the movement and would fight for them. He has consistantly pushed positive causes for the people, while the Republican party has gone out its way to stop him. I wait for the day when this movement embraces the president and spell out their support for him. When that happens here in the United States it will be explosive.

Changing Of The Guards

     The wheels of change are turning in the wind of time. Standards and laws have come in place to force citizens of color to obey new laws that have been designed to strip us of our voting power. If the

Tea Party and the Republicans Political Power Brokers are successful, we will loose all the gains of the last fifty years and return to oppression. We must pay attention to the politics of the day, or suffer devastating setbacks.
    States are now requiring photo I D's. That are designed to cut back the voting power of the democrats and people of color. In affect the powerbrokers for our political opposition has declared war ont he Black community and people of color who oppose them.
           This is serious stuff. We are in danger. We are about to go backward in time. While many of the youth are getting tattoos all over their bodys, papers are being signed that will deliver our death blow.
     We no longer have the luxury of not voting. We must vote for it is our passport to the future.
  If we are doing the rope a dope, we must move to the center of the ring and fight for our lives.

Photographing Models

5th Street Puerto Rican Community

I found this shot to be an interesting and creative display for women's jeans. On fifth street in the heart of the Hispanic shopping district of Philadelphia.

Identity Crisis

            There was a time in history when we were Negros. I remember it vividly. To be exact we were around 22 millions strong according to the U.S.Census. The 1950's was  an amazing period for Negros.
   While we  were busy creating New Music such as jazz, Rhythm and Blues, breaking barriers in sports, politics, Medicine appearing for the first time on television and opening doors in the field of employment. etc, we were being discriminated against.
    Marcus Garvey created the Universal Negro Improvement Association around 1911. We  were staunchly Negro at that time. After a period of time there were those of the Negro persuasion who preferred to be Called Colored. We became colored for a period of time which seemed to passify many but there were those who said being colored did not identify with any particular group so we returned to being Negroes.
       In the 60's Dr. Martin Luther King stood up and fought for Negroes to be free and make it to the promise land. Around 1968 James Brown wrote the Song, Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm proud, that became the anthem for the Black Power movement during this racially tumultuous period. This was a turning point for the Negro and those remaining Colored Folks. We were now officially Black. It was acceptable  for  Whites to address us as Black folks when earlier that would have been a fighting word.
    Now of course we can't forget the descenters those who identify with the indian nations by virtue of the percentage of indian blood flowing in their ancestral viens. Blackfoot tribe, Cherekee ,Shaktaw etc. anything but Black and Surely Not African. And we can't forget the escapees that passed for white.
       God Bless the Young Black and Various White Historians who researhed and dug up our history to conclude that we had strong black Ancient African History to identify with.
            We became African Americans after being taught our history. We must have drove the Census Bureau crazy in trying to figure out what to call us.  But wait it was'nt over. Enter the Black Jew, Black Muslim or Hebrew Israelite and Muslim.
      Haitians, Dominicans, Jamaicans, Africans and other groups of African decent escape the madness.
 Africa has always been the primary continent for us to identify with, even after the mixing of our blood with other groups.
   If the truth be told the White Man is not exempt from the confusion.  After doing some research I found that approximately 40% percent of the white race has black blood or other ethnisity. Due to Colinization and outright mingling with blacks and other groups Many Whites have secrets they would like to keep. How many of us white or black can truely say who we identify with.
     Oh..... and by the way where have all the negroes gone?..... Have you seen any lately or have you been too busy being African American.

Modern Day Slavery In The United States

       From the cotton fields of the South From the  early sixteen hundreds to 2011 slavery has survived.

In fact it is my belief that slavery never left the U.S.; it just took on  another form. We have been economic slaves for decades. Instead of staying in the Master's Cabin for free, we pay the Master to live there then give him all our money after laboring in his fields, factories, and offices making him rich. Many of us have had to live from pay check to pay check.

                      The growing movement in the United States is the Prison Industrial Complex. Small towns in rural America are hungry for new prisons to to help boost there economy. This almost free labour is a tremendous asset to a struggling community. Jobs money and industrial productivity. If the inmate population is counted with the citizens, this means more state funding based on the total census.

      Pennsylvania cut the budget for Schools by 15% while increasing the budget for new prisons by 20%.

    If our children can't get a good education, they increase their chances for going to prison. These new prisons need more prisoners. Where are they going to get the supply.  Three strikes and your out, drugs, economic crimes, false arrest and even the slightest infraction of the law.  Some politician wants to lock up aggressive beggars as well as some homeless folks. That would certainly increase the supply of needed slaves. The United States has more people in prison per capita then any other nation. This country believes in incarceration as much as it did slavery in the past. With the computer age upon us and Technology running rampant . The industrial jobs of the past no longer exist. The NAFTA deal has given many jobs to people outside the country. So massive unemployment which lends itself to crime is a prime motivator of prison recruits. This is by no means and excuse for crime. Citizens must exercise their responsibility for obeying the law, however it could very well be a reason.  Jail pays its inmates slave wages for their work. The jails have been overcrowded for years and still growing. If there is a massive civil disobedience in this country thousands could got to jail or detention centers. There could literally be in explosion of incarcerated citizens.
  There use to be a saying that crime does not pay, but in the United States crime is big business.
      The judicial system has Judges, Lawyers, court employees, Police, Prison Correctional Staff
etc.  They must be paid. Crime contributes greatly to the economy of the U.S..  If we eliminate crime who would be the first to loose their jobs.
 Of course that won't happen but...can you imagine how many people would be out of work as well as opportunist not being able to line their pockets. The war on drugs was suppose to have a dramatic affect on on the drug traffic. Drugs have not ceased. A few top dogs have been removed from the business but many low level drug pushers as well as users have been incarcerated, increasing the prison population. The burden is placed on the taxpayers to support the cost. The drug trade continues to prosper as the prison population grows an so does slavery.

Take Me Back

  Let us return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when a gallon of gas was under a dollar  A Penney could buy candy and and a hamburger was fifteen cents. Frankie Lyman and the teenagers were the Jackson Five of the Fifties. Chevys , Fords, and Chryslers were the hotrods of the track. Chevy had a 325 cubic inch block that produced 327 horsepower. The Dodge hemi over 400 horsepower The fords were also over 300 horses. Squealing tires was common occurrence on the streets. Speed and power was the law of the highway among speedsters. Angela Davis, H. Rap Brown, Elijah Muhammed and Malcolm X were the voices for the negroes. We were once Negros although some preferred being called colored.
          Father Devine's restaurants served the best fifty cent dinner you could ever eat. Soul food was the way of life in the black community and no-one new anything about cholesterol..... Pigsfeet , Hamhocks, and chitterlings was delicacy plain and simple. Fried chicken was premium.
         John Coltrane , Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Art Blakey were just a few of the Greats you could see in person.
         The Church world was on fire with brimstone preachers like Bishop S.C. Johnson whose church was mixed with white and black. The women in the church were not allowed to wear make-up or press their hair. The wore dresses down to the ankles. Bishop Johnson challenged most of the radio preachers of that day declaring they would all go to hell if their preaching didn't agree with his. He said Jesus Only!!
   A.A.Allen was a Miracle Faith Healer who prayed for the sick and cast out demons. Rev. Shamback was a close associate of Rev. Allen who also believed in signs, wonders and Miracles. Rev. Allen was famous for his tent meetings. He was credited for shrinking a goiter on a woman's throat in clear view for all to see. He also prayed for a woman with a short leg then pulled the short leg until it was the same size of the other. I watched it  on Youtube.
    I will never for get the thrills that Muhammed Ali gave when he beat Sonny Listen, and said' " I Am The Greatest". So many memories. But those were the days.
    

Coltrane And Ella.... Philadelphia Arts Mural Program

Funk Master Flash And The Mothership Atlantic

       The mothership has suffered a terrible tragedy.  It has encountered a storm that has terrified its occupants. FunkMaster Flash at the controls is unable to guide the ship to a safe landing. The ship is spinning out of control about to self destruct without a plan B. The blue box will reveal the ugly details once recovered. Davie AKA  Funk Master Flash and his basketball sidekick Slam dunk Tom are trying to avoid a crash and save the crew. Some of the crew have already abandon the ship. Will the Funk Master Flash And Tom go down with the ship? ....Time is running out and unlike a ride on the Magic School Bus where everything turns out alright, the mothership is in a death roll.
           Since the ships occupants are predominately African American I will refrain from using the term   Titanic but never the less the ship is about to sink.
         The ship is traveling through time , space, and multilevel marketing seas.
        Its almost June  2010 Now and and the Sales Reps. are being paid for past February 2010. The checks received  have no explanation of who the reps are being paid for or what time period. Some of us have not been paid at all and are very angry.  When requested an explanation, the crew was sent a report so complicated that it was difficult to impossible to decipher.
        Now Davie and Tom are not faith healers who can lay hands on the situation and heal the problem.
            Seven months into the business and Davie and Tom are blaming Tricia And Tyrone's record keeping and management.
     Surely The Funk Master Davie should have known that someone has to keep records; some one who is qualified.
  Now Davie is a nice fellow. I like Davie. He can really dress to impress, but is the only Sales President
who can talk for two hours and say nothing. He is long winded, boring and corny .
          Dave I don't need you to tell me to dream. I do that every night.
          To dream about riches, success, and lots of money. Sure I would like to have a brand new house, new car and wonderful vacation.  ...... Give... me...a.... break.
          Just the facts Davie!!  Don't preach to the choir. We are already in the business. Just show us the money: that all..............Slam  Dunk Tom you might be able to sign a contract with the Seventy Sixer's if you survive.  They are hurting right now.
         Davie Boy I strongly recommend that you go directly to business school, do not pass go. Take an accounting course.
     Never the less we love you both and thanks for the ride. It was so exciting while it lasted but that sudden stop is what killed the deal. Waiting on checks is no fun. Please understand that business is business. Where the money talks is where  other stuff walks.
     May God Bless You!!               (Previously written May 17 2010)

The Night Has Eyes

The night has eyes that pierce the darkness . Predators stalk the night streets searching for easy prey. While most of the city sleeps, they operate under the cloak of darkness. History reveals the blood stained pavements of neighborhoods prone to violence. Stuffed teddy bears become a monument to the lives of sons and daughters who have become victims to violence.
             We are fearful of the night where darkness prevails, but the night now shares its legacy with the day. Bold killers are spontaneous and act day or night. While we cherish the bright sunshine of day and feel somewhat safe to walk streets, it is the night we fear.
  There is possibly more crime committed during the day. More people are out and about.
   There is more opportunity for those inclined to commit acts of evil. The element of surprise  works like a cloak of invisibility during the day. If the predator is calm and acts like nothing happened he is hardly noticed. Often the witnesses can’t believe what they actually saw because of the absolute  boldness of the act. There is a tendency to be confused about what we actually saw. We get the facts twisted because of the sudden actions of the antagonist.
       The night stirs the imagination of the scary causing fear when no one threatens.
We are fearful of our own shadows. If we are home alone, the slightest noise invokes nervousness. We jump at the movement of a fleeing mouse.
      Our dreams of fear are called ...nightmares. It is the night that causes excitement.
       Movies profit over night horrors. The Night Of  The Living Dead a popular horror movie used the night to intensify the fright. Fright Night  comes to mind. The Wolfman 
gets jiggy at the full moon. Dracula can’t stand the daylight. Vampires love the night and hate the day. When I was a child I asked my mom to leave the light on for fear of the bogey man. Even as an adult I like having a light somewhere when I sleep.
        Night is not all fearful. Ray Charles sang the night time is the right time for.......You know what!  Night time is a great time for sleep and rest.
       Night will always dominate its power and mystery over man. It is the night that we are mindful of. The night watches us and reveals our fears and joys.

Doomsday May21 2011

Doomsday May21 2011 

     I remember seeing a man walking down Broad Street here in Philadelphia about a month ago with a sign, saying Doomsday The End Of the World. It was a double face sign that he was wearing front and back. It caught my attention not because it alarmed me but  the message made you think. My attention was focused on the fact that man is not immortal and the bible speaks of the of the Rapture and Judgement day.
   The scriptures says, No man knows the day nor the hour, not even the Son but only God. After that sighting I began to hear and see more about this coming prophetic biblical event.  I later heard  that the radio minister Harold Camping was the prophetic voice behind this prediction.
       As the day grew closer the prediction spread throughout the Radio world and TV land. The subject became food for jokes . To some it sparked humor but fear for others. The danger of spreading rumors is the reaction of those who follow and believe.  The hour 6pm or 6:30 came and past  after calling a few Of my Christian friends we joked and laughed and had no reports of anyone suddenly missing.
      I believe  the bible more than the doomsday prophets who misinterpret.  
       The world is going to end for all of us at our appointed time.  As man pollutes the oceans and poisons the land he is contributing to the destruction of his world. The recent oil spill  in the gulf of Mexico threatened the fishing industry and further polluted the ocean. The fishing industry has been affected to the point where we now have farm raised fish that many of us are skeptical of. Who knows what the farmers are feeding the fish to make them grow and what impact  it has on our health. The supply of certain salmon is running out and other species are being depleted because of over fishing. Our food supply is constantly being threatened either by man made devices or nature's devastation. Our drinking water is being polluted by chemical runoff from industries and factories. Our planet is in danger from global warming and other catastrophes.
    Earthquakes, Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, twisters wars all threaten our survival . Nuclear meltdowns and Nuclear War all add to our doom, not to mention the spread of decease. Who knows how long man will survive as a species? No one knows but God.

Dreamscape

    We sleep and dream. We dream nightmares, mysteries, love and sex, fame and fortune, wars and about death. There are those of us who say they never dream, how unfortunate. I have dreamed about trivial matters woke up and forgot. But I have experienced dreams that woke me up in the middle of the night so profound that I had palpitations of the heart and sometimes cold sweats. I have often wondered about the meaning of dreams. Sometimes it seems that I take a trip to another world through my dreams where the dreamworld imitates reality creating a fine line of separation. At  times I can't tell the dream from reality.
    I received visits from  family members and loved ones who have passed away. They return so real, so like the days when they were alive. The dream becomes reality and my visitors are there to instruct me warn me or remind me. It is like I have entered an alternate universe.
          The kings of the Old  Testament  Bible called on Joseph and Daniel to interpret their dreams The dreams revealed messages and mysteries. Nebuchadnezzar King Of Babylon after calling on the astrologers, magicians, enchanters, and wise men, finally relied on Daniel to interpret his dream.
  Pharaoh's king Of Egypt called on Joseph to interpret his dreams.
          How many of us have had dreams that troubled us? How many of us have had dreams come true?
  I have read about Phychiatrist  who have had patients lay on a bench and induce sleep in order to have their patients relive the past under a hypnotic spell.
      How amazing is this phenomena we experience called dreaming. I suppose there are experts out there who can expound on the dream. I am still learning about dreams. For many of us it is the one event we can't escape.
     Question:  Do the dead sleep.?