Monday, June 30, 2008
Earth & Women Documentary
New Vision was Associate Producer and Director of Photography. This project ended up being the pilot for a series about caring for Mother Earth & Nature by utilizing Sustainable Living. Producer, Lyndol Michael - Differentia Films www.media-theater.com and it was picked up by a distributor in USA.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Statement of Black Men Against the Exploitation of Black Women
*Statement of Black Men Against the Exploitation of Black Women*
Six years have gone by since we first heard the allegations that R. Kelly had filmed himself having sex with an underage girl. During that time we have seen the videotape being hawked on street corners in Black communities, as if the dehumanization of one of our own was not at stake. We have seen entertainers rally around him and watched his career reach new heights despite the grave possibility that he had molested and urinated on a 13-year old girl. We saw African Americans purchase millions of his records despite the long history of such charges swirling around the singer. Worst of all, we have witnessed the sad vision of Black people cheering his acquittal with a fervor usually reserved for community heroes and shaken our heads at the stunning lack of outrage over the verdict in the broader Black community.
Over these years, justice has been delayed and it has been denied. Perhaps a jury can accept R. Kelly's absurd defense and find "reasonable doubt" despite the fact that the film was shot in his home and featured a man who was identical to him. Perhaps they doubted that the young woman in the courtroom was, in fact, the same person featured in the ten year old video. But there is no doubt about this: some young Black woman was filmed being degraded and exploited by a much older Black man, some daughter of our community was left unprotected, and somewhere another Black woman is being molested, abused or raped and our callous handling of this case will make it that much more difficult for her to come forward and be believed. And each of us is responsible for it.
We have proudly seen the community take to the streets in defense of Black men who have been the victims of police violence or racist attacks, but that righteous outrage only highlights the silence surrounding this verdict.
We believe that our judgment has been clouded by celebrity-worship; we believe that we are a community in crisis and that our addiction to sexism has reached such an extreme that many of us cannot even recognize child molestation when we see it.
We recognize the absolute necessity for Black men to speak in a single, unified voice and state something that should be absolutely obvious: that the women of our community are full human beings, that we cannot and will not tolerate the poisonous hatred of women that has already damaged our families, relationships and culture.
We believe that our daughters are precious and they deserve our protection. We believe that Black men must take responsibility for our contributions to this terrible state of affairs and make an effort to change our lives and our communities.
This is about more than R. Kelly's claims to innocence. *It is about our survival as a community*. Until we believe that our daughters, sisters, mothers, wives and friends are worthy of justice, until we believe that rape, domestic violence and the casual sexism that permeates our culture are absolutely unacceptable, until we recognize that the first priority of any community is the protection of its young, we will remain in this tragic dead-end.
We ask that you:
o Sign your name if you are a Black male who supports this statement:
http://www.petitiononline.com/rkelly/petition.html
o Forward this statement to your entire network and ask other Black males to sign as well
o Make a personal pledge to never support R. Kelly again in any form or fashion, unless he publicly apologizes for his behavior and gets help for his long-standing sexual conduct, in his private life and in his music
o Make a commitment in your own life to never to hit, beat, molest, rape, or exploit Black females in any way and, if you have, to take ownership for your behavior, seek emotional and spiritual help, and, over time, become a voice against all forms of Black female exploitation
o Challenge other Black males, no matter their age, class or educational background, or status in life, if they engage in behavior and language that is exploitative and or disrespectful to Black females in any way. If you say nothing, you become just as guilty.
o Learn to listen to the voices, concerns, needs, criticisms, and challenges of Black females, because they are our equals, and because in listening we will learn a new and different kind of Black manhood
We support the work of scholars, activists and organizations that are helping to redefine Black manhood in healthy ways. Additional resources are listed below.
Books:
Who's Gonna Take the Weight, Kevin Powell
New Black Man, Mark Anthony Neal
Deals with the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot, Pearl Cleage
Traps: African American Men on Gender and Sexuality, Rudolph Byrd and Beverly Guy-Sheftall
Films:
I Am A Man: Black Masculinity in America, by Byron Hurt
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, by Byron Hurt
NO! The Rape Documentary, by Aishah Simmons
Organizations
The 2025 Campaign: www.2025bmb.org <http://www.2025bmb.org>
Men Stopping Violence: www.menstoppingviolence.org <http://www.menstoppingviolence.org>
Six years have gone by since we first heard the allegations that R. Kelly had filmed himself having sex with an underage girl. During that time we have seen the videotape being hawked on street corners in Black communities, as if the dehumanization of one of our own was not at stake. We have seen entertainers rally around him and watched his career reach new heights despite the grave possibility that he had molested and urinated on a 13-year old girl. We saw African Americans purchase millions of his records despite the long history of such charges swirling around the singer. Worst of all, we have witnessed the sad vision of Black people cheering his acquittal with a fervor usually reserved for community heroes and shaken our heads at the stunning lack of outrage over the verdict in the broader Black community.
Over these years, justice has been delayed and it has been denied. Perhaps a jury can accept R. Kelly's absurd defense and find "reasonable doubt" despite the fact that the film was shot in his home and featured a man who was identical to him. Perhaps they doubted that the young woman in the courtroom was, in fact, the same person featured in the ten year old video. But there is no doubt about this: some young Black woman was filmed being degraded and exploited by a much older Black man, some daughter of our community was left unprotected, and somewhere another Black woman is being molested, abused or raped and our callous handling of this case will make it that much more difficult for her to come forward and be believed. And each of us is responsible for it.
We have proudly seen the community take to the streets in defense of Black men who have been the victims of police violence or racist attacks, but that righteous outrage only highlights the silence surrounding this verdict.
We believe that our judgment has been clouded by celebrity-worship; we believe that we are a community in crisis and that our addiction to sexism has reached such an extreme that many of us cannot even recognize child molestation when we see it.
We recognize the absolute necessity for Black men to speak in a single, unified voice and state something that should be absolutely obvious: that the women of our community are full human beings, that we cannot and will not tolerate the poisonous hatred of women that has already damaged our families, relationships and culture.
We believe that our daughters are precious and they deserve our protection. We believe that Black men must take responsibility for our contributions to this terrible state of affairs and make an effort to change our lives and our communities.
This is about more than R. Kelly's claims to innocence. *It is about our survival as a community*. Until we believe that our daughters, sisters, mothers, wives and friends are worthy of justice, until we believe that rape, domestic violence and the casual sexism that permeates our culture are absolutely unacceptable, until we recognize that the first priority of any community is the protection of its young, we will remain in this tragic dead-end.
We ask that you:
o Sign your name if you are a Black male who supports this statement:
http://www.petitiononline.com/rkelly/petition.html
o Forward this statement to your entire network and ask other Black males to sign as well
o Make a personal pledge to never support R. Kelly again in any form or fashion, unless he publicly apologizes for his behavior and gets help for his long-standing sexual conduct, in his private life and in his music
o Make a commitment in your own life to never to hit, beat, molest, rape, or exploit Black females in any way and, if you have, to take ownership for your behavior, seek emotional and spiritual help, and, over time, become a voice against all forms of Black female exploitation
o Challenge other Black males, no matter their age, class or educational background, or status in life, if they engage in behavior and language that is exploitative and or disrespectful to Black females in any way. If you say nothing, you become just as guilty.
o Learn to listen to the voices, concerns, needs, criticisms, and challenges of Black females, because they are our equals, and because in listening we will learn a new and different kind of Black manhood
We support the work of scholars, activists and organizations that are helping to redefine Black manhood in healthy ways. Additional resources are listed below.
Books:
Who's Gonna Take the Weight, Kevin Powell
New Black Man, Mark Anthony Neal
Deals with the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot, Pearl Cleage
Traps: African American Men on Gender and Sexuality, Rudolph Byrd and Beverly Guy-Sheftall
Films:
I Am A Man: Black Masculinity in America, by Byron Hurt
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, by Byron Hurt
NO! The Rape Documentary, by Aishah Simmons
Organizations
The 2025 Campaign: www.2025bmb.org <http://www.2025bmb.org>
Men Stopping Violence: www.menstoppingviolence.org <http://www.menstoppingviolence.org>
Friday, June 13, 2008
Happy Self-Love Day Activity !
Take a few moments to ask yourself what the Self-Love Day message mean to you.
What does it mean to you?
I invite you to leave a comment so we can all share in the reflection.
Peace and Greatness,
Lacey C. Clark!
What does it mean to you?
I invite you to leave a comment so we can all share in the reflection.
Peace and Greatness,
Lacey C. Clark!
HAPPY SELF-LOVE DAY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!
Greeting Beautiful People!
Happy June Self -Love Day! YEAAAAAAAAH!
I came across this quote...it vibrated with my spirit and I wanted to share it with you as the theme of this month's Self-love Day:
"Hearts are blocked by attachment. The heart is a radiant energy and we block it from flowing out. If we let if flow peace, love and joy would become real. " -Sian
Here's to being in the DIVINE flow with our cups overflowing with peace, love and joy and inspiring our youth to do the same.
Happy Self-love Day Beautiful People!
Lacey!
Personal Empowerment/ Self Esteem Coach!
Founder
Sisters' Sanctuary
Happy June Self -Love Day! YEAAAAAAAAH!
I came across this quote...it vibrated with my spirit and I wanted to share it with you as the theme of this month's Self-love Day:
"Hearts are blocked by attachment. The heart is a radiant energy and we block it from flowing out. If we let if flow peace, love and joy would become real. " -Sian
Here's to being in the DIVINE flow with our cups overflowing with peace, love and joy and inspiring our youth to do the same.
Happy Self-love Day Beautiful People!
Lacey!
Personal Empowerment/ Self Esteem Coach!
Founder
Sisters' Sanctuary
Temple Sanctuary by Monisha Garner of Moya Body Care
- Apply a light Yoga and Breathing routine in the morning before you start your day. You will have increased blood circulation and oxygen throughout the body which enhances skin tone, keeps eyes bright and clear and promotes a healthy mental outlook.
Moya Body Care is about returning back to our natural state, becoming centered beings and 
maintaining a balance between a healthy lifestyle and genuine wellness. Our mission is to assist in creating a wholistic approach in attaining greatness in life. We offer a combination of Colon Hydrotherapy, Massage Therapy, Yoga and Organic Body Care as well as individualized Wellness Coaching that is designed to empower and move you to take action.
Email: monisha_garner@yahoo.com
Lacey! Loooooooves:
- Hanging out with Monique and Z(he's so beautiful, he's only 1.5 years), Monisha and Ksands. Monique, Z and I went to a non denominational church and during one of the musical selections, I was overwhelmed with joy and vulnerability that I began to cry. As soon as the tears fell he began to rub me in comfort. The DIVINE speaks through the youth. Are we listening? I just met Z(two weeks ago)... but he is so intuitive. He was 95 percent quiet the whole service..imagine that.
- Kiting on the beach at sunset.
- Jumping and laughing uncontrollably in a bounce house (the kind at amusement parks).
- My friend, "Beats".
- The time spent with Michael in Long Beach,CA...so effortless and beautiful! Thank you.
- Grilled fish.
- Leslie Odom - because he exudes grace, greatness and an artistic brilliance and I am filled to the brim in his presence. Here is Leslie singing, Try a Little Tenderness.
What do you looooooOOve?
Friday, June 6, 2008
Word From Our Youth
- Name calling is disrespectful, words like “ho”, “bitch”, and “slut” hurt us. Approach us with encouraging words like, “beautiful”, “smart”, and “sacred” when talking to us. To find out more ways to handle difficult situations see “Celebrate HER Now!” An Interactive Guide to Loving Ourselves and Embracing Female Youth of The Hip-Hop Generation, By Lacey C. Clark!
Anjanae DeCoursey
01/09/07
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