My umi said...

RUN- A poem inspired by the Trayvon Martin's of the World.

Booty Shots- The Remix, a performance piece inspired by the boxes black women are often placed in.

My Acting Reel

Saturday Confessions

I know
actors are supposed to be camera hogs
Many of us feel the need to be the center of attention.
When the lights are on, we are often on...putting on shows.

So.

When people hear that I often deactivate my social networking accounts, decline the need to create a 'fan page', record videos that never get uploaded, etc., it is a bit jarring, to say the least.
Some have even questioned my sincerity.

I can't always explain it.

I do recognize that I have a natural magnetism, so to speak, but there's huge part of me that likes to be left alone---or moreso allowed to move in spaces (feeling free as ever) without explanation.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE people. I love talking, laughing loud, asking really deep life questions, learning, being praised, etc., but when it comes to putting myself out there (promoting my fabulous stuff and self, networking, etc) I am not always the best at it.

Well
next week
i'm gonna release some really powerful videos

& today
i recorded this little saturday confession. Seeing it go live IS a big deal.

Keeping it live, is an even bigger deal.

With that being said:
 Enjoy me.

TheeSatisfaction- QueenS

PURE DOPENESS.

After a long and emotional day, this piece of ART is just what the doctor ordered.

I don't know how I found this video, but I am so glad I did.

DREAM HAMPTON directed this!~ whoa. So pretty and fly...

http://www.theesatisfaction.com/ 

Fan them. please.

harriet

harriet
if i be you
let me not forget
to be the pistol
pointed
to be the madwoman
at the rivers edge
warning
be free or die
and isabell
if i be you
let me in my
sojourning
not forget
to ask my brothers
ain't i a woman too
and
grandmother
if i be you
let me not forget to
work hard
trust the Gods
love my children and
wait.

Lucille Clifton

Be Good

I opened my email and my great friend/mentor, Bernestine Singley, shared this piece of awesomeness with moi.  Gregory Porter has a fantastic voice and Pierre Bennu, the incredible artist/director, has once again, captured a piece of my heart. Shout out to my boy, Shawn Peters for his wonderful work as well.


*Update: I purchased the album, BE GOOD, and it's in heavy rotation. Great stuff.

Whitney!

As a little girl, I had a vivid imagination.  I would spend countless nights pretending that pop stars and gangster rappers were my family members.  Most notably, Whitney Houston: The Queen, The Voice, The Diva, The Doll.  She was my mother, M.C. Hammer was my father, and  Eazy E was my pretend brother.

I am not joking.

Although I loved my biological family---especially my own brother, who was as spirited as any west coast O.G., but I digress.  I simply loved the idea of having professional entertainers in my house....in Hollywood...on top of a hill...with a pool in our backyard.

I don't remember what exactly made me select Whitney as a maternal figure since this was at the height of her youthful and 'good girl' persona.  But in my young mind, she was all that a great mother was made of. She was stunning and extremely talented.  I remember watching the video for "I Will Always Love You" and noticing the way she perched her lips.  This became one of my late night bathroom rituals. Not only would I attempt to sang like my mama, I would give my own lips, new shape.  If only the mirrors from my childhood could speak.

Fast forward to my senior year of college.  I was given the opportunity to take voice lessons at The New School for Jazz.  I am a wonderful actress, but singing is not my strongest talent.  So it was pretty advantageous of me to select, "Saving All My Love", as my signature song to learn and perform. Yup.  Those were big shoes to fill and for the first time in my life, I practically froze in the middle of  my 'performance.' Thank goodness it was only for a class of about six other students :)

It was then that I realized that singing a Whitney Houston song---with Whitney Houston in the background or simply singing loud and proud by myself, ALWAYS seemed to work.  That's not the case when an untrained vocalist attempts to belt out a Whitney tune live and in color.

I've learned my lesson and I give myself an E for effort.

I'd like to give Ms. Houston a P for Peace.

An EP works too.

Whitney, I will always love you.

Makes You Want to Jump, Jump

LOVE can sometimes make you dance the sleepiness out your body.

It makes frozen dinners warm & petty disagreements -just that---petty.

If it's good, it should make you FEEL good....like this song
which has me doing high kicks at 3 in the morning.