5 Quick HIV Facts

In light of the alleged Charlie Sheen news and all the misinformation out there, i thought I’d give a few quick facts about HIV/AIDS.

 

5 HIV facts:

1. HIV is a virus and AIDS is a syndrome that comes from leaving HIV untreated. You CAN’T catch AIDS, it develops over time.

2. HIV/AIDS is NOT a gay disease. Anybody can catch it.

3. Not matter what any Tyler Perry films says, HIV/AIDS is not a punishment for being bad.

4. HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. There are over 1000 medications for the virus and countless programs to help pay for those medications.

5. HIV is usually transmitted through body fluids or blood with some one who had the virus.  The  rate of transmission is decreased 90%  among sexually active persons who actively take prep (Medicine taken to prevent catching the virus).

 

Source:  Google.com, its free and there, use it

The Spring Valley High Assualt Video Issue nobody is discussing

There has been so much to say about the video in Spring Valley High showing the child who was brutally assaulted by a school resource officer that went viral this week.  I just recently saw a video of newscaster Brenda Woods of  11 Alive in Atlanta response to the incident in her “Last Word” segment.  If her ‘cake by the pound’ makeup and crusty braids weren’t bad enough, what she had to say was even worse. In the video, she asserts that the ‘bigger picture’ that nobody is talking about is how ‘disrespectful’ children are and how we don’t know what she said before the incident to start it:

The Truth About Yourself

Honestly when dealing with personal issues is key to growth and development.  Many times we are not honest with ourselves and it hurts us.  Whether it be about how we feel about ourselves or our present/past situations, we find excuses or reasons to ignore how we truly feel.  Ignoring it means we don’t have to deal with the emotional impact it will have on us.  We are afraid it may tear us down or inhibit us from moving forward.

I didn’t like to think I told myself negative things.   Who could possibly tell themselves all day everyday that they weren’t good enough and that they will fail?  This was impossible right?  Wrong.  Once I became honest we how I felt, I couldn’t believe all the crap I told myself.  An acceptance had to happen out of the disbelief.  It makes me sad and cry sometimes, but that’s apart of the struggle.  I still struggle accepting what I tell myself so I can change it. This is a short post, I’m trying to get back in the swing of things.

The Mental Strain of Activism

The week of Sandra Bland’s death and my subsequent post got quite a few hits.  I actually got reblogged by the actor Jesse Williams on tumblr which was pretty cool.  Afterwards, came the bombardment of images, videos and speculation.  Normally, I don’t follow hearsay when it comes to cases like these until I get all the facts, but I’m only human and got caught up in the moment.  There were so many allegations going around, I thought I was following the Bill Cosby case for awhile.  Needless to say, it took a mental toll on me.

I try to be informative and write posts that change hearts and minds.  I want people to understand the movement black lives matter and what racial inequality exists, however I want to be fair and balanced and not throw out accusations like I see most people, even some of your favorite activists do from time to time.  Walking this fine line can be rather difficult sometimes…

Attempting to change minds and hearts is the worst because some people just don’t get it not do they want to get it.  Others get it but are afraid to speak out.  Sometimes I feel like a lone wolf out there fighting for justice in a world full of ignorance; I wouldn’t do myself the disservice of only speaking to people who agree with me like I see most activists do on Black Twitter, however the alternative is so mentally exhausting.  In addition, how do I display my love for black issues without coming off aggressive and combative.   I took a mental break these last few weeks to get my head together.  I think I’ve gotten a balance and I can give you a few easy steps in helping you.

1. Step Away From Your Social Media

I can’t stress this Enough.  Stepping away was the best thing for me.  I was able to relax, go to the park and clear my head.  I was able to prioritize things in my head including my personal life and goals with my activism which was a big concern for me…

2.  Choose your battles

There are so many injustices happening towards black and brown people everyday that it’s hard to keep up with some days.  As sad and foul as it is, you can’t champion every single issue that comes across your timeline or newsfeed.  Think of yourself as an editor of a newspaper, things you care about this most should be the things you post or retweet.  You’re only human, you can’t cover it all.  There are people who get paid to do that.

3.  Some People just aren’t going to get it

Some people just aren’t going to get it.  It’s as plain as that.  You can preach until you’re blue in the face, they aren’t not going to get it.  You shouldn’t waste your time debating or arguing with them.  Someone who believes racism nor police brutality exists, no matter how many black and brown men/women get killed, doesn’t deserve your time.  Allow them to live in their blissful ignorance.

4.  Find distractions

For the past few weeks, all I posted on Facebook was funny videos that made me laugh.  Not only did it warm my heart, it was a balance to all the crap that was going on at the time.  Sometimes you need to laugh and escape.  We, as a black race have been doing it for a long time.   Read a book, meditate, go spend time with friends or fam and remember there is a world outside of social media.

5.  Keep hope alive

You have to stay strong during these times.  Going to work with people who don’t understand how you feel to seeing friends at home who just don’t seem to care, you sometimes loose hope.  You can’t though.  Everybody has their part to play in this huge movement.  Whether you retweet a story or are on the front-lines,  you are somebody in the bigger picture.

Those are a few of my tips/steps.  If you have any, please feel free to share in the comments…

Dear Black Lives Matter, Step Your Game Up

So I know many of you have seen the video of Black Lives Matter activists in Massachusetts speaking to Hillary Clinton.  The activists asked Hillary specially what changed in her heart and mind about issues surrounding mass incarceration and police brutality and how she had evolved on this issue.  She in return asked them what they hope to achieve as a movement.  They couldn’t answer and said it was up to her to help change the minds of mainstream America, they can’t do it themselves. Hillary responded to this by educated the protestors on having a platform with specific action they wanted.  I actually agree with her on this.  We can’t change everybody’s heart and mind.  There’s a vast majority of American’s who don’t understand Black Lives Matter and some who don’t want to understand.  Although I agree that changing hearts and minds could affect change long term in a few, we have to be honest with ourselves.  We can’t change everyone and the ones who are are on top, aren’t trying to hear that argument.  Politicians don’t operate with their hearts and minds and we’d be a fool to believe they ever will, they need talking points and things that they can sell in the few seconds of news camera time that they receive.

I couldn’t help but be embarrassed that we had no specific political legislation or laws that we wanted passed.  I went on blacklivesmatter.com and saw no national platform and no real concrete demands besides body cameras.  We can’t allow people to craft laws for us, we have to step it up and demand these ourselves.  I’m speaking on the national, regional and local levels.  Interrupting rallies and town hall meetings is fine, but if you have nothing behind it to stand on, then why are you even speaking up.  I know this movement is new for us and we’re still organizing, but an old 72 white lady shouldn’t have to tell you how to run your organization and what you need to do to be heard.  Ideologically, Black Lives Matter stands for something amazing but the world of politics is a different beast.

Let’s take a page from the LGBT activists. One thing I can say about them is that they’re organized and always have a plan.  They fought the issue of gay marriage not just with hearts and minds, but with pen and paper.  Behind the scenes in Hollywood, shows like Modern Family and Glee allowed middle America to see members of the LGBT community in their homes everyday.  Writers created characters who dealt with issues targeting the gay community like adoption and marriage equality.  Simultaneously, LGBT activists canvassed communities in several states educating people on LGBT issues including gay marriage.  On the legislation side, They fought laws and policies all the way to the supreme court and got gay marriage passed.  They attacked in on all fronts and that’s what Black Lives Matter needs to do if they want to be heard and understood.

I’m not accusing anybody of anything, this is just an honest critique so we can move forward.  Black Lives Matter has the momentum now, I would hate to see it wasted by just rhetoric, talk and idle marching.  People are only going to change so much, we see this with the recent events at the 1 year anniversary of Mike Brown. A year later and the police are still racist, still overly militarized, still assholes.  We need laws in place to help combat and undo systematic racism. You can check a few of my posts to see some laws I want to see passed.   I’m a supporter of Black Lives Matter and want to see it to far, however we need to step our game up.

TO see the full video of the Black Lives Matter activists exchange with Hillary Clinton, click here.

Top 20 Reality Show Villains (10-1)

Here’s the Top 10 of my favorite reality show villains…

Top 20 Reality Show Villains (20-11)

I’m not into reality TV as much as I used to be, but I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of my favorite reality show villains.

5 Things I’ve learned about ‘Hotep’ Aka Fake Deep people on social media

So I keep reading about ‘Hotep Twitter’ online and wondered what people were taking about. After researching all night and doing a Twitter search through some of the most draining posts ever, I think I’ve figured it out.   We have all come across these people who are way more woke than you, way more black than you and are usually full of fake pseudo-consciousness.   Here’s 6 Things I’ve Learned…

1.  The world starts and ends with the black man

 
Black men lead and everybody else follow.  Black women have no say so unless it’s a man involved.  Black women are subservient to men.  Women have to ‘do this’ or ‘do that’ to be respected by a man.  Lord forbid a woman twerks, or wears her dress to short or has sex with more than one person….    You see where this is going…

2. Everything is a distraction

 
You can’t fart, poot, watch your favorite tv show or follow a rap beef without Hoteps saying its a distraction.  It must be nice to be that woke 24/7, I’m sorry but I love my sleep.  I also like Empire and Game of Thrones…

3.  They are more black than you

 
If you went to a PWI and not an HBCU, they’re more black than you.  If you date outside your race (though most of them do), they’re more black than you.  If you support ANYTHING, outside of their ideal, what it takes to be black logic, then they have no respect for you.

4.  They subscribe to respectability politics

 
This is one I can’t stand. If you don’t pull your pants up or aren’t up to par with how white america wants us to be, then you won’t be respected.  You can’t become angry, fight, riot or anything or they automatically dismiss you. These are my least favorite kind of people.

5.  They’re usually homophobic

I’ve seen it many times.  As soon as a man shows any sign of femininity, he didn’t have a father growing up and a real man is ‘this’ and ‘that’ (hey Steve Harvey).  They are the ones shouting from the sidelines as LGBT men and women organize and protest about how the real men should lead and that gays don’t represent the community.  It’s funny because those same gays single handedly ran the old and now new black lives matter movements.

This is hilarious to me because I can relate.  I remember being attacked by one dude for making a joke about being light skin and he accused me of self-hating.  You can be pro-black and not be draining.  It’s funny because these people claim to be so progressive but they’re only setting the movement back with these fake, exclusive ideals.

What did I ever do to God?

Life is tough for everybody, I suppose.  I get that but for some of us, it is a bit tougher for some odd reason.  Every time we get a glimmer of hope, something comes and dashes that hope.   It’s like bad luck follows us around or like we’re cursed.  You try so hard to be positive in life and ignore the negative, but life just keeps throwing you lemons.  Sometimes you just want to throw your hands up and ask God, what did I ever do to you for my life to be such a struggle? I chose to write a letter to God.

 Dear God/Universe, 

I don’t know what I did, or what those who came before me did, but I fully apologize.  I worked so hard to win in life and I do understand that bad things happen, but damn why does it seem like  my life is on extra hard journey.  All I ask to work on my career, to be happy and for my loved ones to be well.  That’s all.  Yet, something always happens that makes me wonder if you really want me to win or if it’s set up for me to win.  Can I get a sign to let me know everything about will be ok?  Thanks. 

The Trouble with Being Myself is…

  
  Last night was pretty fun, I had drinks with my acting class and we discussed our careers and goals.  We all gave each other constructive criticism and said what we could work on.  I was told  that I’m a good looking dude and if I kept up with my appearance more I’d be on track for my career in entertainment.   This caught me off guard because I thought I had become more comfortable with who I was over the years.  I remember being so scared thay I wouldn’t even speak or give me opinion out of fear of judgment, and I’ve grown so much since then.  Honestly, I could give a shit about what I wear or how people perceive…..who am I kidding, I care so much I’ve given up on trying. I hate this because it stiffles me from being happy. Low self esteem has plagued me my entire life.  

 I took this test earlier today that told me I had low self esteem.  It’s something that I’ve always battled with my whole life, but never wanted to admit.  I’ve battled with having a low opinion of myself and what I offer ever since I could remember.  I’m in an industry where having confidence is probably the most important thing.  Looks have always been last priority to me.  I barely shave, I dress pretty plain although I have my moments that I look fashionable, but I dress to not be seen or stand out.  If I have to dress up for an event or audition I will, but normally I’m just a plain dude.  Btw, I hate ties and suits.  If I were back home, this would be applicable.  Here in Los Angeles, it makes me stand out but not in a good way. 

I’ve never admitted to myself that I cared so much and even thought I was above it.  I told myself on shallow people care about looks and my talent and personality would shine through. That was a lie. I cared so much about people thought about me that it was easier not to care at all.  So where do I go from here?  I haven’t decided yet, but I do know I’m going to start doing things and making choices that make me feel happy about myself.  It’s easier said that done because it’s easier to sabotage myself and do things that contradict my happiness.  I have to do it though because I’m tired of being unhappy with myself…