Yea, Its Me.

I will post soon---promise. (Within the week, in fact)

Green and Black for the Environment

The Green Revolution has hit the world by storm. Its kinda like the movements that happened where concepts such as organic eating, electronic networking sites, blogging and others changed the way that the world's citizens live their lives.

Well, a local museum is hosting a ground breaking exhibit which features the innovation of African American architects, designers, engineers and business leaders that are making headway in the Green Revolution. The Museum of Science and Industry will showcase innovations in agriculture, renewable energy and sustainable building contributions made by our folks! 

The Green Revolution has to do with living lives that have the least impact on the environment. That could be from starting a compost, buying locally grown foods, recycling or not using harsh chemicals to clean. The US Green Building Council selectively doles out the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification  which recognizes buildings with a stamp of approval after its constructors have adhered to environment friendly guidelines and processes during construction. I had the privilege to live in a LEED certified dorm during a recent fellowship. For examples, shower heads used less water, lights dimmed if there was not movement in a particular room, and the building used solar energy.

I plan on getting to this one!

Black Creativitiy 2009: Green Revolution

January 15- March 1, 2009

Museum of Science and Industry

5700 South Lake Shore Drive

Opinion Bound to DC

I leave for DC next weekend.  Making the pilgrimage to DC for Obama's Inauguration will be my generation's March on Washington.  I witnessed the excitement in Grant Park on Election Day and this trip will complete the package.

With all of this Obama phenomenon, there has been one thing thats been eating at me. I will pose the issue as a statement rather than asking a question: Racism is not over. There is no such thing as Post-Race America!-yet

Thoughts?

Mississippi Anyone?

Race relations seem to be the hot topic right now. I do not even like to get into the debate though. Some would say that my opinions are rather extremist and offensive. So I wont. 

Still, I recognize that I probably wouldn't know how the hell to act back in the day.  I am talking about those days that our grandparents grew up in before they moved north. I know it 

was hard, from what I hear. And I don't even like to think about the pain and suffering that they experienced but seem to no longer be afflicted by. It seems like maybe those feeling of animosity and resentment toward the oppression of blacks back then has been passed down to me. That's why its always tense for me to watch a movie like, "A Time to Kill" or to read "To Kill A Mockingbird". 

Here's an excerpt of a review from last week's edition of The Chicago Reader of a new play that relives the pre-civil rights Mississippi experience ...

Endesha Ida Mae Holland's 1991 autobiographical play is compo

sed of short vignettes that chronicle her life and times in post-World War II, pre-civil rights Greenwood Mississippi. The script moves so quickly from one memory to the next that at times their impact is blunted, and in the end the fragments never quite click together into a unified whole. Still, director Audrey Morgan, and her talented cast kept me enthralled.

From the Mississippi Delta

Runs through January 11, 2009

at the ETA Creative Arts Foundation

7558  S. South Chicago

773-752-3955

Mah Man Rahsaan Patterson

I have an infatuation with music. I meticulously maintain my iTunes collection at least twice a week. Both of my parents have eclectic music tastes which influenced me. Sometimes I am not sure if my tastes can be classified, much like the style of the below mentioned artist.

I first heard Rahsaan Patterson on Ledisi's 'We Are One' from her most recent LP, Lost and Found. It was hard to tell the gender of the high pitched voice. I was surprised when I found out that Rahsaan is a male.

Shortly after this discovery, I picked up Wine and Spirits. And I fell in love. I wouldn't call 

him neo-soul, nor R&B. My take on his style would describe it as the cousin of a baby by India.Arie and Prince who is married to Maxwell. Did you follow that? If not, then you just need to go ahead and test him out by coppin' one of his CDs. And he is coming to town!

You know imma be there! Tickets on sale today! Here is the info.

February 8, 2009 @7:30pm

Rahsaan Patterson

Park West

322 West Armitage

Ticketmaster.

Kwanzaa In Chicago

If you didn't know, the holiday was created by in 1968 by Dr. R. Karenga. It is not an African holiday, but it is a holiday that celebrates elements of community and African Heritage of African Americans. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate our history and not simply imitate the dominant American Culture!

Each year, Malcolm X College on the city's near west side hosts a renowned celebration of Kwanzaa. 

The holiday will be celebrated over seven days, each with its own principle. Kwanzaa kicks off tomorrow, December 26th and ends  Jan 2, 2009. The program features a myriad of musical and dance performances and an elaborate African Marketplace.

14th Annual Kwanzaa Observance Program

Malcolm X College

1900 West Van Buren Street Chicago, IL 60643