Veterans Day, 2009

I always remember Veteran's Day. Why?

• Maybe it was the soldier I had a crush on in college.   We shared the same class.  He always managed to doze off during the professor's lecture.  So, I shared my notes with him. He appreciated this act. Nothing more came of this polite acquaintanceship.  (Anyway, this was before I lost my weight and was handicapped by shyness--a lingering handicape.)
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• Maybe it were the two privates I saw sitting INTIMATELY very close  and nervously at an eatery.  These brothers made an impression on me that has never been forgotten.
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• Maybe it was the soldier's funeral I witness a while back.  He died in Iran or Afghanistan.  To think about it now, what was the fate to come for my college crush and two privates I watched with intently observing eyes?

The pic above shows military personnel relaxing, smiling, generally have a light moment either before or after being on duty.  It is post WWII.

Willing to Serve, Understanding the Sacrifice

To wander through this living world

And leave uncut the roses

Is to remember fragrance where

The flower no scent encloses.

Remembrance by Langston Hughes

Protecting Her Favorites

Imagined Caption:

'I am a proud "hag." These two lovers are my favorite.   You mess with them, you mess with me!  I'll cut ya and then some, baby.'

A Sports Interest!!

So, are any of you brothers familiar with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)?  Basically, the UFC showcases fighters of different proficiencies—including boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and Muay Thai, among others.  The goal is an attempt to discover which martial art or mixed fighthing method is the most effective in a real fight.   The UFC is different is unexpectedly entertaining.  And, of late this "new sport" has become unexpectedly entertaining to me.

I will not lie.  One reason the sport has sparked an interest for me is because of the brothers in the sport, Afro/Black men from the Diaspora of every handsome hue in skin:  Anderson Silva, Thiago Alves, Thales Leites (Alves and Leites are from Brazil), Kevin Randleman, Cheik Kongo, Houston Alexander,  and Rashad Evans to name a few.

Thiago is a favorite and the one I'd like to have my virginity (smile and wink).  I'm a proudly picky romantic!   Presumably all these brothers are straight, but, I have my imagination! In lieu, I have settled on purchasing his image as captured in the form of this action figure:

Me, still a virgin with all this pent up "energy" needing to be expelled from my person,  I be the undefeated champion of the UFC. (Laughing)

P.S.
The other action figures of these brothers are HOT, HOT!!! as well.  And, I've never seen AFRO/BLACK light-skinned action figures before now.

The Real McCoy- Brother to Brother Love

The following photograph was taken about two or three decades earlier than when the the greetings card below was created, a time when passionate gay male bondings  could and were often disguised as simple fraternal friendships.

Proud to say that many of the images reproduced on this blog were made by any number of Afro males behind the camera.   Yes, there were black photographers during those horse-buggy or fanciful early automobile days!  All said, I didn't want the image below to stand alone today even though it is part of our collective Afro Diaspora gay history.

BTW, I own both images.  :-)

A Different Kind of Caricature of "Brother to Brother" Affection

Little doubt the marketing executives behind this politically incorrect-- overtly racist -- greeting card were aware of its running homoerotic undercurrent. The images presents a deliberately exaggerated caricature of two Europeanize and blue eyed Afro Diasporic males embracing and looking into one another's eyes. Probably produced bewteen the early to mide 20th century, and political incorrectness aside, the unintended Afro homoerotic undertone is rarity when set against the often overtly sexualize male and female Afro Diasporic image in greeting cards produced at the same back in the day.

Make No Apologies

We get so caught up in living for other people, and all of a sudden, life's passed us by. Our dreams are unfulfilled......make no apologies for living your life the way you want. --quote from actress Hilary Swank about Amelia Earhart

Image: Afro American Men, date unknown; Spot the out gay dude! or dudes?

Benjamin Banneker, "Gay" Action Figure Hero

I kid you not!!

Available for purchase is Afro gay America's/Diaspora's first 6 inch action figure based on a once living person. He doesn't wear a cape, nor does he dress in loud and blinding colors. For that matter, neither is he of this century. Who is he? Benjamin Banneker, scientist, mathematician, astronomer and 18Th century free man of color who just happened to be gay.

As with too many academics encased in the politics of sexual prejudices from yesterday--and a mercifully dying breed--, Banneker's same gender loving desire is a contentious issue to be dismissed or downplayed. Gay men of any creed are referred to as never marrying or "life long bachelors." Therefore it isn't a surprise the following tiny biography makes no mention of the fact that he was in the life:

A self-taught mathematician and astronomer, Benjamin Banneker was a pioneer of many things and accomplishments. Born a free man on a tobacco farm in Ellicott Mills, Maryland in 1731, Banneker lived during a time when Blacks in America were enslaved and denied rights. Despite these conditions, Banneker proved Blacks could excel when given the opportunity. hero


As a young adult, Banneker was mesmerized by a pocket watch a friend gave him and had a strong desire to see how it worked. After examining how the intricate wheels and gears functioned, Banneker replicated the mechanics into a large wood clock that kept perfect time for over 40 years. In fact, many believe that this clock made by Banneker was the first to be crafted entirely in America. This experiment led him to fixing watches, clocks and sundials and reawakened Banneker’s youthful interest in science and astronomy.


In 1791, Major Andrew Ellicott asked Banneker to be one of the six men to survey the Federal Territory later to become known as Washington, DC. Working with Pierre L'Enfant, the chief architect, Banneker became an expert on the plans. When L'Enfant was dismissed from the project because of his temper and took the plans with him, legend has it that Banneker reproduced the plans from memory, saving the government time and money.


Considered America’s first Black scientist and first civil engineer, Banneker intensely pursued his study of astronomy, eventually predicting future solar and lunar eclipses. Banneker’s almanac was the first scientific book published by a Black American. Benjamin Banneker’s Almanac predicted solar and lunar eclipse, tides and positions of the sun, moon and planets from 1792-1797.


Though he was born a free man, Banneker endeavored to speak out against slavery and disprove prejudice beliefs about Blacks. In a critical letter to Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, Banneker challenged how Jefferson could write “all men are created equal” when Blacks were enslaved and Jefferson himself owned many slaves. Jefferson simply responded by admitting Banneker was equally as talented as men of other races but refused to comment on the political issue of slavery which Banneker raised.


In Banneker was the first Black person to earn a presidential appointment. In fact, for his intelligence and ability to succeed during a time when Blacks were oppressed, Banneker became known internationally as “sable genius.” Never marrying, he died quietly in his home in Ellicott Mills, Maryland in 1806. In honor of his contributions to the city of Washington, DC, a memorial circle and fountain were constructed in the city. His legacy also lives on in the many schools named after him and the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the grounds of the Banneker farm. In 1980, the United States Postal Service created a stamp in his honor.

The action figure appears to have full articulation and comes with small assortmented accoutrements including a pocket watch, eyeglasses, and hat. Interested purchasers may check this "toy" out alongside two other Afro American action historical figures, aviatrix Bessie Coleman and Artic explorer Matthew Alexander Henson. These toys are to be fun but at the same time provide a teaching lesson in Afro American history. And, by accident, maybe a little Afro gay history for the open minded.

Silent March

The above photo was taken in Harlem during the 1920s. It shows Afro American men engaging in a silent march to protest inequalities of their day.

Considering the exploitative, token holding, and imperialistic larger gay culture today----the type reflected in last weeks march on Washington D.C. and the HRC audience President Obama took time out to speak with---- one should be inclined to believe the larger Afro American gay/lesbian community would be up in arms with protest. But, there is nothing but silence, not the good silence of protest like the men in the picture above. Just nothing. Apathy? Where are the outraged Afro American gay/lesbian intellectuals, A-list bloggers, and everyday gay/lesbian folk who have bared first hand witness to various sublime and blatantly racist inequalities within the overall same gender loving community?

Interesting Read: The National Equality March: let's think about it

Oh, well!

There times when you know no one is listening and cares. You know you are alone--the joke. Disillusioned and disgusted, you want to give up and give in to the status quo. Maybe the rhetoric is/was all wrong-- to much digging of the spurs into the backside than offering a pat on the head?

Play the "good, non-threatening and idle-brained" colored gay man for the larger gay culture. Let stereotypes, hypocrisy and inequality stand----challenge nothing!

To be honest, not sure anymore.

Oh, well!

Update 10/11/09: During an interview on CNN, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said his organization is representative of the gay community--the entire gay community. DON'T BELIEVE THE LIE!
I beg you, DON'T BELIEVE THIS AUDACIOUS, METICULOUSLY EVIL AND SELF-SERVING LIE!!

The Invisible Afro American Gay Man

This is one certainty, much of the larger Afro gay community isn't holding President Obama accountable for much of anything. That he is a brother living in the White House appears to be all that matters. NO ACCOUNTABILITY! Afro gay/lesbian political organizations want even raise their collective voice to make demands on President Obama. You know the ones I mean don't you?

Little wonder Afro American gay men are ALWAYS invisible to him! ALWAYS INVISIBLE!

Afro American gay/lesbian invisibility allows vocal homophobic pockets within the larger Afro American community to dominate and the larger (i.e. whiter) gay community to make token gestures of inclusion when they want their agenda propelled. Both these groups are VERY visible to "our" haloed President.

How manytimes must it be said here? If Obama sat down to talk with Afro Americans gays and lesbians (gay folk of color period who do not enjoy certain privileges because of skin color), he'd really challenge prejudice instead of catering to a larger gay community who wants to maintain the same power and privileges it enjoys in the larger world.

Readings:
Obama to Address Gay Rights Organization
Obama to Name Openly Gay Ambassador

Update: October 9/09, Barack Obama has just won the Nobel Prize for Peace. But, he still refuses to speak to, much less acknowledge, Afro gay folk in his own backyard! Now Afro gay folk might as well be the so called children of Ham or have the mark of Cain because he will NEVER speak to them! Personally, I should be rejoicing in his win, but I can't in good conscious do it. Guess I am just a bad Afro American male! At lease, this is the way I am made to feel for not being a constant Obama cheerleader, giving him blind and blanket support with no questions ever asked. If one was to ask me whether Obama deserved the Nobel, I would say......

I am about to get a nasty beat down!