"young people like you see it different," said the 44 year old to the 42 year old.

I was in the hospital for over a month recently. One day my randomly assigned roommate was watching some kind of day time TV "My boyfriend is a WOMAN now" type show and this woman (who I was getting to be good friends with) was just laughing and enjoying this horrible transphobic TV show.

Since we were just getting to know each other, I didn't want to be a huge priss and tell her to turn it off, but I couldn't physically stand it after about 10 min. So, I said something like "I don't like this kind of show, it just feels like they trick people to come in and then make fun of them. Can we turn it off? Please?" (She did.) She then asked me about why, and (at first) was wondering if *I* was trans because I cared so much.

We went back and forth a bit. Turned out she knows a few gay people, even trans people, but still feels ambivalence. She then concluded "well you young people are different" I was like "how old are you?"

Do you know she's the same age as me! Or close enough. I'm 42 she is 44. But she saw me as "young people" It almost felt like she wanted to put me at some distance as we were very similar. Both in education, both black women, living in the South bronx, both short, in our 40s married for a long time, no kids... in the hospital with broken bones etc. I didn't tell her I'm bi. Maybe I should have.

Teach

Post: Good morning, black folks! https://www.blaqsbi.com/5uwF

where the black people on Tumblr???

🎨#ArtIsAWeapon #Artist: Lavett Ballard @lavettballardarts #Artwork: "Wash Day" Reposted from @lavettballardarts Where does the tradition of Black folk Not cleaning clothes on New Years Eve and New Years Day being bad luck come from? The tradition comes from slavery times when most slaves were "Sold" or "loaned" out to others during this time. It is believed the Master would offer them time to "Look their best" by washing their clothes. When it was really to make them more saleable at auctions. Thus the belief that those who washed their clothes on those days would lose someone important to them in the New Year. Mind you , there is also a tradition of wearing new or clean clothes on New Years Day. Which for Black Folk is a symbol of luck and prosperity in the New Year. WASH DAY by #lavettballard #mixedmediaart #collage #Artlife #Historyintheblack #newyears2023 #NewYearsEve2022 #BlackFolks #AmericanHistory #Kuumba #Creativity #Kwanzaa https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2CJU9OHtr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Blackness #PanAfricanism #AfricanDiaspora #BlackFolks • in the immortal words of the brother @edogpics “black people unite and let’s all get down.” • “If you are Black, regardless of your geographical position, you should be in solidarity with Black people everywhere. If you live in the US you should care about Nigeria. If you're in the UK you should care about Haiti, you get me? We are family.” @QGotNoRings • having recently listened to this interview with the brother @akalamusic, who talked about how influential black civil rights activists were/are on black british folk and how informed they are about u.s racial matters as well… • …compared to the experience of black french folk simply because of the language barrier despite proximity and even likely more similar circumstances given they are both neighboring european nations that had a hand in colonizing africa. • similarly, i've been thinking a lot about how the portuguese, french, spanish, & british colonized the americas and all of them enslaved africans, thus imposed their culture and language, which also serves as a barrier for descendants of enslaved africans throughout the americas. • the overwhelming majority of enslaved indigenous africans were kidnapped from the continent and brought to so-called latin america, which has since been masterful at attempting to erase this history and ultimately the significant presence of african descendants. • "Of the estimated 11 million enslaved Africans brought to the New World from 1400s–1860s, most were taken to Latin America and the Caribbean, with only some 645,000 landing in the U.S. 'So when you’re talking about [B]lackness, you’re really talking about Latin America.'” -Miriam Jiménez Román • “There are some Aboriginals that look black” NO. Aboriginals ARE bla(c)k. Pls for the love of God .. BLACKNESS EXISTS OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK-AMERICAN OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. @defsnotE • continued in comments… https://www.instagram.com/p/CjydK5DvSh_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

NYC thug #chriscrazyhouse #sketch #drawing #blackfolks https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRuFapujNQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Never Forget ✊🏾🤟🏾👍🏾

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Challenge Day 24: Kinky Boots (2005)

The film that inspired the musical sensation! Charlie Price teams up with fabulous drag queen Lola to safe his late-father's factory.

Rating: 4.9/5

I *love* this film! The musical is one of my favourites - Lola is one of my favourite fictional characters.

The movie plays with gender in a really great way, one of the themes is "What makes a man" and ultimately, I'd argue that the movie gives several answers and no answers. It makes you, the viewer, think about it for yourself, but gives lots of possible examples.

Wish Movie!Charlie was a stronger character though; I love the changes they made to him for the musical. And I'm really glad they took out Lola's subtle little crush on Charlie for the stage version too - so tired of that trope even if it's handled really well in the film.

Happy Pride Y'all 👢❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

(via mastodon/fediverse)

Post: This is one of the major lunacies amongst our... https://www.blaqsbi.com/5tJW

Not A Victim! White Cultural Marxist Are trying to turn Black folk into a victim class!!

#seasonings #spices #blackfolk (at Atlanta, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj8OkS1rLLf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Difference between The Black Agenda & The Reparations Movement

Reparations Commissions are popping up across the Country, but none of them come close to addressing the true spirit of Reparations. There are several reasons for this:

Neither Democrats nor Republicans in Congress have a real interest in discussing Reparations; let alone dispensing anything tangible.

Minorities involved in these Reparations Projects have either tried to include their demographic into the discussion, or they have been against it.

Infighting amongst members of the ADOS, FBA, Freemen, & Indigenous Community have weakened the overall message of Reparations. The Masses don't realize that they are All THE SAME LINEAGE GROUP. This division weakens Our collective argument, but has allowed some to eat well over the past few Yrs.

Organizations like The NAACP, The Urban League, The National Action Network, NCOBRA, & other like minded Groups have promoted a Trans Atlantic Reparations Agenda that ignores CARICOM. In effect, it 'Centers' Black Immigrants (including Afro Latinos) in the Black American Experience. Most arrived @ least 10Yrs after Jim Crow ended- how do they qualify for American Reparations?

The recent kerfuffle over San Francisco NAACP President Rev. Amos Brown's rejection of that City's Reparations Proposal spotlights the problem w/ letting Our (so called) 'Established Leaders' drive the Reparations Bus. They drove the Bus into Our current situation, why should We expect anything different from them? Many of these individuals chose Corporate Donations over Black Community Development. They arent 'Leaders', they're Corporate Lobbyists. These are the Same People that let HR- 40 rot on the 'social action vine' for over 30Yrs; If they REALLY wanted Reparations...

Another issue, are the individuals & Organizations narrating 'The Black Agenda' into the Reparations Argument. They are separate & distinct. The White Noise of their rhetoric has confused The Masses, which weakens the magnitude of Our Fight. For the sake of clarity, I want to point out the difference between The Black Agenda & The Reparations Movement.

The Black Agenda, is an All inclusive Program for Black Americans, regardless of their Country of Origin. This includes Africans, Caribbeans, Afro Latinos, & Afro Asians. All of Us share in the current experience of being Black in America. It is an experience that is unique to Us, & is also what unites Us.

The Black Agenda is about Equity. America loves to promote 'Equality', but equal measure doesn't guarantee that Everyone will somehow end up on equal ground. We have been collectively marginalized in America, so it's only fair that they level the playing field. 'Rising Tide' Programs, like those offered by The Democratic Party are on the right track, but none take into account the fact that Black America needs an extra scoop of whatever they propose.

The Black Agenda deals w/ the issues of Community Development: Residential & Commercial/ Business Property Ownership, Job Development & Employment Opportunities, Health Care & Mental Health Solutions, School Reform, After School Programs, Youth Empowerment, Visual & Performing Arts Programs, Daycare & Pre- K Programs, along w/ the necessary Community Boards needed to present these & other Community related issues to Local & State Agencies. The goal, is to improve the overall Quality of Life in Black Communities- up to the level of Every Other Community.

The Reparations Movement, is a specific call for American Society to pay their long overdue debt to American Descendants of Chattel Slavery. This Movement is about Indemnification. While Black America collectively deserves legislation, American Descendants Of Slavery deserve much more. The problem w/ EVERY Reparations Program offered so far, is they All ignore the fact that Reparations is a debt owed. They All read like Politicians are giving Blackfolk a hand out. These Programs also fall short on what is really owed.

A lot of numbers have been thrown around over the years, but I have consistently said that Final Reparations numbers will depend on WHO is held liable. If the U.S. Government alone is held liable, Reparations will probably be in the $18 Trillion- $22 Trillion range. If Corporations & Individual families are included, that number could reach $64 Trillion. That should give a clue to the extent of Terrorism & Oppression that Black America endured over the last 246Yrs- 400Yrs. American History is a chronicle of Anti- Black sentiment.

The Republican Party's outright refusal of, & The Democratic Party's attempt to graft Feminist & LGBTQ... rhetoric to Critical Race Theory (CRT), are attempts by both Parties to keep Mainstream America away from Our Nation's cruel & bloody past. They obviously fear divulging this history, because it will quell the Argument 'Against', as it strengthens the National Argument 'For' Reparations. The Immigrant Argument of 'I wasnt Here' becomes embarrassing, when We consider 2 facts:

It was Black American Labor that built America up & made it attractive (i.e. The Land of Milk & Honey) to Europeans, Asians, Latinos, Caribbeans, & Afrikans looking to start a New Life.

Black America is responsible for motivating ALL of the Immigration Initatives over the last 150Yrs; especially those since 1965.

It's only fitting for Immigrants living their American Dream (at another's expense) to pay tribute to the people who made that dream possible. I like the analogy of 'Inheriting an Old House'. The New Occupant didn't cause the wear & tear on the house, but that doesn't change the fact that they will have to invest the Time, Work, & Money needed to restore & maintain it. THAT, is the price of Occupancy.

Another thing to consider, is the fact that most Black Americans are descendants of Indigenous Americans or American Indians; not to be confused w/ 'Native Americans', who migrated from Siberia. Our Ancestors were Prisoners Of War, that were forced into Indentured Servitude, & later Chattel Slavery on their Own Land. Census Records reveal the effort to hide Our lineage.

Starting w/ the 1790 Census, Indigenous indentured servants were reclassified as Negro & Colored. By the 1900 Census, Indigenous People were being punished for identifying as 'Indian'. They were forced to identify as Colored or Negro. By the 1970 Census, We were designated 'Black'; & on the 1990 Census, We were 'Afrikan American'... Out Of Afrika Theory, while genealogically true, is not only Culturally false; it now appears to be a ploy to get Us off of Our Land. We're looking to Afrika, while the Blood & Bones of Our Ancestors fertilize This Land. Our success in agriculture isn't an accident- We were Here for millennia!... I guess that adds an extra wrinkle to the Reparations Discussion.

It's Time for Us to link the moving parts of Our Lineage into Black Voltron, so We can get on w/ The Work. -Just Saying