Mos Def on Yo Gabba Gabba

Mos Def on Yo Gabba Gabba childrens show. Spandex, singing, flying, wig. All I have to say is wow. he kinda sounds like Dave Chappelle too.

Basquiat Documentary

I can't wait till I can see this here. I loved the Film Basquiat which was apparently utterly fictional. The film is entitled JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD, and I can't help but think of all the young black radiant children I know.

I remember back in the day my English teacher saying the Basquiat was the only great black painter. If only she knew of the legacy of white supremacy and the racism involved in western canonization which was so normative to her she couldn't see it right before her eyes.

The Poem I Wrote for You on Valentines Day on my Blackberry When You Weren't Looking

I.

I learned something
When dancing with you tonight
Off beat
My cheek squished into your chest
Because you are tall

To give up control
Stroll and sway
Though a different kinda vibe
As your cougar dream wifey Sade plays
And Marvin Gaye
Tevin Campbell
Janelle Monet

It was lovely
But earlier you were mad
Stuck in line in the cold
After parking
And thinking
I was treating you like a cab

I came out and kissed your face
Went back and waited in the warm
Club for you to fill up the space
A vacuum of fun without you

My designated driver
During those tipsy runs
So strong and steady
Till the night's all done

And then you fold down
Into my soft comfy pillow
Cuddle and relax

The lights get low
Your voice fades out of our
Bed time chat
And I drift
Into the stars on the tips
Of your glistening skin

A silent eclipse
As sleep sinks in
Your clutch a quiet art
The pulsing of my ear
As it hears your heart

The nights ends
And new day begins
With you beside me

II.

Your Valentine's Day gift to me
Was the book "Things Fall Apart"
Mine to you
Was the pill Plan B
The protection popped
We had to stop
You were the only guy
Who was ever
Really cared to read the box

III.

You said I couldn't have
A piece of your pizza
So I just picked up and ran away
I mean who the heck is so damn selfish
On their date
On Valentine's Day
You couldn't find me
At the Starbucks I said I'd be at
Nor the one down by Bay
I went and had a Platinum Roll at Sushi Time
And when you called
There was nothing really
You could say
You screwed up
Then I screwed up
So now we were both on the same page
I paid my bill
And then met you on the corner
It was just going to be one of those days

The Mohawk Explained

My friend Kahsenniyo spitting on the meaning of the Mohawk hairstyle.

It is: a symbol of going into/being in war

Supposed to be: 3 fingers wide, and 3 fingers high

+ more

-enjoy. she goes in.

Ambush

From my learnings in JA:

ambush (verb: to ambush;attack -i.e. the British Colonialists)
ambush (noun: the sacred bush used by the Maroons of Jamaica as camouflage during their revolts)

photographer: Renee Cox

Example of a British solider (Backra) getting jacked up: ..."Or a banana tree that ripe: you there to pick it to eat, and you start dead from de banana. De banana just start to lance you with knife and kill you...Ambush. "" from "True Born Maroons by (the infamous) Kenneth M Bilby.

Thanks Erica for putting me on to Renee Cox

spell

Spell from Ashley McFarlane on Vimeo.

The poem below in video form.

Playing around with my digital harinezumi 2 ;0 yes that's my eye

a poem
and short video
by Ashley Alexis McFarlane

with music by Hayling Price
myspace.com/vocabproductions