Call for Submissions

—Brista to Brista:

Letters of Affirmation

by Black Gay Men

Edited and with an Introduction by Darius Omar Williams
(Dandaluka Vanga)

Call for Submissions:

21 years after the groundbreaking anthology Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men, edited by Essex Hemphill and originally conceived by Joseph Beam, in a bold literary-critical-political response, Dr. Darius Omar Williams (Dandaluka Vanga) seeks submissions for a new anthology in celebration of the kinships shared, abandoned and lost among black gay men: the cultural, sexual and gendered framing of both brother and sister fused together as “Brista”, a popular form of sentiment coined in contemporary same gender loving tradition. The anthology will specifically include provocative personal letters of affirmation written by and to black gay men to encourage, uplift and empower one another through their individual and collective quest for companionship and political autonomy while also highlighting the intersected identities of lovers, brothers, sisters and friends in this codified world of sexual essentialism.

Topics might include:

-Personal letters to historical black gay icons including but not limited to James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, Joseph Beam, Essex Hemphill and E. Lynn Harris

Personal letters of affirmation from black gay men to their bristas both past and present: biological and non-biological brothers, “sisters”, colleagues and friends (ie. words of healing, loving, forgiveness and ‘water under the bridge’)

Personal letters examining, investigating and contemplating the severing/loss of bristahood

Personal autobiographical letters (from the author to himself) as a self-portrait of redemption, power and self-love

Personal letters from and to black gay men whose relationships have evolved from bristas to lovers and the liminal spaces in between (a measuring of the stakes involved insofar as the degrees of bristahood are concerned)

Personal letters to loved ones living or who have transitioned because of HIV/AIDS

Essays in the form of personal letters on the rising of Brista(s) as a term of endearment and its
linkage to the nature and politics of race, sexuality, spirituality and gender

Submission Guidelines:

Cover Letter

Brief Biography

MSWord electronic submissions 12” Times New Roman Font (11 pages maximum) to:
brista2brista@gmail.com (all documents should be saved and submitted as your last name_Brista to Brista) Your submission may include a single or series of letters to one or more different bristas, again, totaling no more than 11 pages. Also please include the date and time in which your personal letters were written.

Title Example : My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the 100th
Anniversary of the Emancipation by James Baldwin from The Fire Next Time (1962)

Warmest Regards,

Dr. Darius Omar Williams, editor
Brista to Brista: Letters of Affirmation by Black Gay Men

Deadline: August 7, 2012

Contact, inquiry and submission information:

brista2brista@gmail.com

Call for submissions:

Kaleidoscope Magazine

 

Kaleidoscope magazine  is accepting short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual arts which creatively focus on the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts.  The material chosen for Kaleidoscope challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. The editors accept works of writers with and without disabilities, however the work of a writer without a disability must focus on some aspect of disability. 

The criteria for good writing apply: effective technique, thought-provoking subject matter, and in general, a mature grasp of the art of story-telling. Writers should avoid using offensive language and always put the person before the disability.

Word count: 5,000 words maximum/double spaced.

Payment is made upon publication and varies from $10 to $125, plus contributors receive two complimentary copies of the magazine. Copyright reverts to author upon publication.

 UDS considers unsolicited material (always include SASE), accepts simultaneously published work, acknowledges receipt in two weeks, rejects or accepts within six months, and reserves the right to minor editing without author’s approval (substantive editing with approval)

Kaleidoscope is published twice a year, in January and July, with submission deadlines of August 1 and March 1. Please send your qualifying submissions to:

United Disability Services
Kaleidoscope Magazine
Gail Willmott, Editor-in-chief
701 South Main Street
Akron, OH 44311-1019
Phone: 330.762.9755
Fax: 330.762.0912
Email: kaleidoscope@udsakron.org

For more information, click HERE

 

 

Africa Shafted:

The Realities of Urban Life

in Johannesburg

4 July 2012 by Jenna Van Schoor

 

 

Ponte Towers is a landmark building in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, and not only because of its position, height or the lit-up advertising for cellular provider Vodacom along the top of its roof. For years, “Ponte”, as it is known, has been one of the most feared places in downtown Johannesburg. Seen as a notorious high-rise apartment building populated by drug-dealers, it’s a place that many people are scared to go into, never mind explore.

Even documentary director Ingrid Martens was hesitant to visit Ponte, although she had traveled to several other cities throughout Africa, as she says in this interview. When she did eventually did visit the tallest residential building in Africa though, what she found was a community of people living together from all over the continent, a way of life that was familiar to her from her travels, and a story from South Africa that she wanted to share:

Ironically, the ominous reputation of Ponte is exactly the opposite for those that live there. For over 4000 people from differing backgrounds, Ponte is a place of safety and refuge in a country that has often been less than receptive to foreign immigrants. Apart from debunking myths about the prominent concrete towers, Africa Shafted therefore also highlights the issue of xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa, a subject dealt with in less direct ways in the movie District 9 and Zoo City, a novel by South African author Lauren Beukes.

After filming on and off for two years in Ponte’s lift, Martens released “Africa Shafted: Under One Roof”, and the film has been shown at international film festivals around the world. Filmed with the objective of non-interference, all the filming takes place in one of 8 lifts that travel 54 floors everyday and provide a platform for people from all walks of life to engage with the camera and tell their story.

The film’s soundtrack is another element of the film that speaks of the diversity of Ponte’s residents, and one that musicians from several different countries contributed to. Martens hopes that with the backup of this eclectic soundtrack, the documentary will be used as a tool to educate people about the realities of xenophobia, and the prominent social issues faced in an African city like Johannesburg.

Africa Shafted is currently showing for a limited time at the Bioscope Independent Theatre in downtown Johannesburg, which forms part of the newly developed Maboneng Precinct. This inner city location itself is evident of ongoing shifts in perception of the city centre, and a rethinking of Johannesburg as the documentary explores the complexities of urban life.

ABOUT JENNA VAN SCHOOR

Jenna is a writer/editor based in Pretoria, South Africa. She is currently studying towards an Honours degree in English, and feels strongly about sharing stories about Africa that don't fit the usual international media stereotypes.

 

>via: http://www.theurbn.com/2012/07/africa-shafted-the-realities-of-urban-life-in-...

Founder and CEO of Ushahidi, Ory Okolloh

20 Must-Follow Women

talking about

the African Diaspora,

Social Good Sector

and more.

March 18, 2012

Earlier this week, when #WhatILoveAboutAfrica became a trending topic, we thought about the African women who are helping spread the good word about the diaspora and the African social good sector.

There is a plethora of users, hashtags, and chats to keep track of on Twitterverse, and we wanted to bring together a list of passionate women who are accomplished, outspoken and a wealth of information on these topics.  Below are 20 Twitter accounts worth your follow.  To make it easy to follow them, we have created a Twitter list for you - Women-African-Diaspora

1)     Dambisa Moyo

@dambisamoyo

Economist and author of NY Times bestselling ‘Dead Aid & How The West Was Lost’

 

 

2)     Ory Okolloh

 

@kenyanpundit

Google Policy Manager Africa and Co-founder Ushahidi.com & Mzalendo.com

 

 

3)     Saran Kaba Jones

 

@sarankjones

Executive Director of FACE Africa

 

 

 

4)     Semhar Araia

@Semhar

Founder & Exec Director, D.A.W.N Diaspora African Women’s Network

 

 

 

5)     Jepchumba

 

@digitalafrican

Founder & Creative Director, African Digital Art Network

 

 

 

6)     Solome Lemma

 

@InnovateAfrica

Co-Founder of Hornlight

 

 

 

7)     Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenb

@wanjirukr

Founder & Director of Akili Dada and Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco

 

 

 

8)     Kathleen Bomani

 

@KateBomz

Contributor to Okay Africa & Pembazuka News; Event Manager, Africa Gathering

 

 

 

9)     Minna Salami

 

@MsAfropolitan

Founder of the MsAfropolitan Boutique and Huffington Post blogger

 

 

 

10) Phiona Okumu

 

@ophiona

Afripop! Editor and music marketeer

 

 

 

11) Dayo Olopade

 

@madayo

Journalist and student at Yale Law School.

 

 

 

12) Vickie Remoe

 

@VickieRemoe

Multimedia journalist and activist

 

 

 

13) Anne Kiguta

 

@AnneKiguta

Senior news anchor and editor at KTN

 

 

 

14) Kalkidan M

 

@Kalkidafrique

Co-founder and President, Rise Against Hunger

 

 

 

15) Nanjira Sambuli

 

@NiNanjira

Digital Strategist and activist

 

 

 

16) Ngozi Odita

 

@HAElifestyle

Creative Director of Society HAE

 

 

 

17) Kelechi Anyadiegwu

 

@designafriKA

Afro-cultural design enthusiast and grad student at Carnegie-Mellon

 

 

 

18) Zawadi Nyong’o

 

@Zawadin

Founder, “Zero By Zawadi” company

 

 

 

 

19) Chika Uwazie

 

@ChikaUwazie

Human resources professional and blogger

 

 

 

20) African Entrepreneur

@africatechie

African Tech Entrepreneur and blogger

 

Follow these amazing women on the Twitter list we created for you - Women-African-Diaspora.  Also, special thanks to Semhar for kick starting the #WhatILoveAboutAfrica topic.

Who else are we missing?  Let us know and we will be glad to share!

 

(Photos Courtesy: Twitter profiles of individuals.)

 

Black Women, Black Men,

& Solidarity

July 4, 2012

by Dreux Dougall

Generally, when people begin dissertations or articles about black women and our relationships with black men, they preface it by giving disclaimers such as, “Let me start by saying I love black men,” or “Let me first say that as a black woman I stand behind black men.” As if those statements somehow soften the blow of the bigger picture, which frankly, can be extremely fucked up.

So I was glad to hear Jada Pinkett-Smith praising her hubby, the ever-famous actor Will Smith, for his support of her new ad, “Nada Se Compara,” which raises awareness of human slave trafficking.

“He’s amazing because he wants to lend support in every way. In order to combat this, we need our men. We need our soldiers. Let me tell you, I love girl power, but ain’t nothin’ like having some muscle behind you! Will’s got some big ones.”

This time last year I went on a date with a man who ended up physically attacking me. It was our first and last date. Without going into much detail, I’ll just say that he stole my car keys, choked me, and dragged me down the block in an area of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Hours later, after traumatically crying into the arms of my friend, I headed to the police and reported the attack. They never found him.

Much of that night I’d rather not remember, but one thing I will never forget was running down the block screaming for help.

It was a summer night. There were people sitting out on their stoops and standing around on the block. Groups of black men were posted up on various street corners, mulling around, and hanging out by the delis. Even after frantically yelling and flapping my arms in the air, I received nonchalant glances and cold shoulders. No one came to my rescue.

I was fine, thank God. But that experience got me to thinking about the roles that black men and black women play with each other. As a self-proclaimed black feminist, sometimes the lines between independence as a black woman and loyalty to a black man becomes skewed. Black feminism has long been discussed by bell hooks, Angela Davis, and Joan Morgan, black writers who have written diatribes on the subject. Yet we are still left questioning how it affects us within our own communities. It almost seems that as a black feminist, I am supposed to adhere to an unspoken code of conduct that no matter what happens with black men, I should be standing alongside them, hoisting them up on pedestals, treating them like kings, and waving flags for their successes.

None of which I’m opposed too. But far too often, none of that is reciprocated.

I’ve seen black women unite, protest, and bear arms for men who show up half-assed and late for the party. I’ve watched men solemnly stand by while women get harassed in the street both verbally and sexually, and then turn the other cheek because, “well, that’s just how men are.” I’ve witnessed groups of men hanging with their friends, calling the same women they claim to love madly “bitches and hoes” when the women aren’t around.

I’m aware that many of these inconsistencies began at birth; men and women are raised differently by nature. Through societal influences, physical pressures, growing pains, and a mix of male ego, men aren’t generally raised in the manner that women are. They support us by being the protectors and providers of the household, so where women can connect emotionally to others whom they don’t know — men and women alike — often men can detach and distance themselves, not willingly coming to a woman’s defense or heeding women’s issues in the same manner.

If men choose to come to the defense of women, it’s often women they know – their wife, girlfriend, sister, or mother. Yet there are cases when men will turn a blind eye to them as well. They go by many names – abusers, rapists, misogynists – and they’re among us. Many are in our own homes and we don’t even realize it.

To be a feminist is one thing; it’s a movement designed for equality. It has given women liberation from the patriarchal society that’s placed us in a box. But when we try to take that next step and add the word “black” in front of feminism, suddenly we’re alienated for wanting a mutual support from black men with equal vigor and love. We’ve been told to shut up and just accept that there’s a double standard. We’ve been talked to condescendingly, coddled to appeasement, and asked to be strong while staring in the face of indifference and sometimes brutality.

If I’m sounding like I’m straight out of Ntozake Shange’s book For Colored Girls, well, so be it. But I stood alone on those streets that night. A united front is not something that black women should have to ask for; it’s something that should be understood.

Like Jada said, I’m all for girl power. But it really would have been nice to have some muscle behind me. Or better yet, standing with me.

City Year Campaign

 

Arnold Worldwide

City Year - Hope/Apathy/Mentor

 

__________________________

About City Year

Frank Ocean

confirms bisexuality

in heartfelt open letter:

‘I don’t have any secrets

I need kept anymore’

Max-El July 4, 2012

 

After rumors about his sexuality began circulating following a post on UK blog ThisIsMax, celebrated R&B crooner and Odd Future affiliate Frank Ocean addressed and confirmed them in an open letter posted on his own blog Wednesday morning.

In a July 2nd blog post detailing a recent listening event for Ocean’s upcoming channelORANGE album, blogger Max Akhtar wrote the following:

Frank has also opened up about his sexuality on the album, we think it’s brave and admire him for being so honest and sharing such a personal aspect of his life through his music. On the songs ‘Bad Religion’ ‘Pink Matter and ‘Forrest Gump’ you can hear him sing about being in love and there are quite obvious words used like ‘him’ and not ‘her’.

Her revelation sparked a roar of criticism and rumors around the blog world and Twittersphere, with many wondering whether Akhtar actually heard what she thought she did.

Early Wednesday morning, Ocean responded to the rumors by taking to his blog with a pair of posts. The first was simply a short note to introduce the second. It read, in part:

what i’m about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you’s section in my album credits, but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it’d be good to clarify..

The second is a long, heartfelt screed detailing the summer he found his first love in a male friend.

“4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost,” he wrote. “By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiation with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life.”

The letter goes on to explain his emotions after telling his friend how he felt, only to find that those feelings were not mutual.

“I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best. But he wouldn’t admit the same. … I felt like I’d only imagined reciprocity for years.”

Ocean ends the letter, which was intended for the channelORANGE liner notes, with a series of “thank-yous” and the declaration that he now feels “like a free man.”

Read the letter in full below:

Whoever you are, wherever you are, I’m beginning to think we’re a lot alike. Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to. My loved ones are everything to me here. In the last year or 3 I’ve screamed at my creator. Screamed at clouds in the sky. For some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like manna somehow. 4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence … until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiation with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life.

Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed when I was a teenager … the ones I played when I experienced a girlfriend for the first time. I realized they were written in a language I did not yet speak. I realized too much, too quickly. Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn’t in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same car I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in. I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best. But he wouldn’t admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn’t tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I’d only imagined reciprocity for years. Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No, I wasn’t on a cliff. I was still in my car telling myself it was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn’t imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions. I wasn’t always successful.

The dance went on … I kept the rhythm for several summers after. It’s winter now. I’m typing this on a plane back to Los Angeles from New Orleans. I flew home for another marred Christmas. I have a windowseat. It’s December 27, 2011. By now I’ve written two albums, this being the second. I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine. I tried to channel overwhelming emotions. I’m surprised at how far all of it has taken me. Before writing this I’d told some people my story. I’m sure these people kept me alive; kept me sane … sincerely, these are the folks I wanna thank from the floor of my heart. Everyone of you knows who you are … great humans, probably angels. I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite. I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore. There’s probably some small shit still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it … as much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don’t think I ever could be. Thanks. To my first love. I’m grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn’t what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are … and we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the summer. I’ll remember who I was when I met you. I’ll remember who you were and how we’ve both changed and stayed the same. I’ve never had more respect for life and living than I have right now. Maybe it takes a near death experience to feel alive. Thanks. To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I’m only brave because you were first … so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely … I can hear the sky falling too.

- Frank

Ocean is the first member of the mainstream Hip-Hop/R&B community to freely and publicly admit his homosexuality. In June 2011, legendary New York DJ and radio personality Mr. Cee plead guilty to one charge of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense after his March arrest for being caught in a lewd sex act with a young man. Outside of some initial denials that the charge was true, though, Cee has never publicly addressed the issue or commented about his sexuality.

Since Ocean’s letter became public, dozens of fans, media personalities and celebrities have been showing their support via Twitter. The obvious question would be how his partners in Odd Future — a collective that counts an open lesbian among its members but is known and roundly criticized for its often homophobic lyrics — would react to the news. OFWGKTA frontman Tyler, The Creator is among the chorus of well-wishers, congratulating Ocean for his bravery in a way that only he can.

Take a look at some of the celebrity tweets below:

Tyler, The Creator@fucktyler 

Fucking Finally Sus Boy @frank_ocean Hahahaha, You Still Aint Got No Bitches Hahaha My Nigga Dawg

  4 Jul 12

Tyler, The Creator@fucktyler 

My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That Nigga Cause I Know That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever. Anyway. Im A Toilet.

4 Jul 12

Earl Sweatshirt @earlxsweat

Proud of frank.

  4 Jul 12

Ed Sheeran@edsheeran 

big up frank ocean

  4 Jul 12

LoLa Mnroe@Thee_LoLaMonroe 

ShotzOut to Frank Ocean...Embrace the love in you ✌

4 Jul 12

A-Trak@atrak 

Good for Frank Ocean. Happy to see people accept him too. It's about time we started seeing some actual tolerance.

4 Jul 12

Mac Miller@MacMiller 

frank ocean is very important for the growth of humanity.

  4 Jul 12

via soulculture.co.uk

__________________________

Frank Ocean’s Independence Day:

R&B crooner comes out;

hip-hop community reacts

Frank Ocean performs onstage at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival held at The Empire Polo Field on April 13, 2012 in Indio, California. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)

Sonya Krishnamurthy is a pop culture critic and host of MTV’s Hip Hop POV. Follow her at @SowmyaKor on TheSowmyaLife.

 >via: http://thegrio.com/2012/07/04/frank-oceans-independence-day-rb-crooner-comes-... 

 SAUL WILLIAMS

DNA / Coded Language

devoya:

more. than all the rest.

but dope enough not to be concerned with that.

Posted on Thursday, June 28th 2012, by devoya

Thunderbird Gerard - Thunderbird

• Added by Sound Check on June 13, 2012 at 9:25am
• Send Message   View Videos

We're hearing that the fierce dancers in AP member Thunderbird Gerard's new video are from 'Fela!' (the musical).
You might know the now Berlin-based artist from his former hip-hop/punk band, Ezra Bang & Hot Machine.
Video directed & produced by CC Steinmetz.
Cinematography by Philipp Baben der Erde.
Choreography by Nandi Bhebhe.
Dancers: Nandi Bhebhe, Poundo Gomis and Catia Mota Da Cruz.