Thursday, October 14, 2010

why my girls rock #32...

so i recently had that moment of "should i call him?" and as a person who hasn't dated much and doesn't know the ropes, this was kinda serious in my world! it just so happened that my girl allison called me for some random check-in girl talk so i decided to get her opinion. after laying out the situation she takes about 5 seconds and replies:

"cats don't chase dogs. that shit is in nature."

BAM. and done.

i love you allison.

Friday, October 1, 2010

a wise man once said...

i generally delete forwards but this one was powerful, to me, so i wanted to share...


Making it plain
"The press is so powerful in its image-making role, it can make a criminal look like he's the victim and make the victim look like he's the criminal. This is the press, an irresponsible press. If you aren't careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing."
-Malcolm X


Words To Live By
"Remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power. Never forget that you can still do your share to redeem the world in spite of all absurdities and frustrations and disappointments."
-Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel



Speaking truth to power

"We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Telling it like it is

"I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He's just incapable of it."
-Barbara Jordan


Just A thought

"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them...the limits of tyrants are proscribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress..."
-Frederick Douglass


From The Front lines
"Nobody's free until everybody's free."
-Fannie Lou Hamer


Judicial Excellence
"The tragedy with Plessy v. Ferguson, is not that the Justices had the 'wrong' education, or that they attended the 'wrong' law schools. The tragedy is that the Justices had the wrong values, and that these values poisoned this society for decades."
-Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.


For the Ages
"I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life."
-Mahatma Gandhi


Change Agent
"In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed...it means facing a system that does not lend its self to your needs and devising means by which you change that system."
-Ella Baker


Liberation Philosopher
"The business of obscuring language is a mask behind which stands the much bigger business of plunder."
-Frantz Fanon


Poetic License
"It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have."
-James Baldwin


Sheer Brilliance
"As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this."
-Paul Robeson


Freedom Warrior
"The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
-Steve Biko

Sunday, September 12, 2010

"positive vibrations, yeah..."

random thoughts of a sunday...

our universe and everything in it...every molecule, every atom, every sound, every light, every person, every movement, every touch, every action, every word, every thought...is made up of energy (life force).

basic quantum physics.

though we can't see it, this energy is constantly vibrating within and out of us, into the people and the world around, and in turn, the universe reflects back to us what we radiate out. you ever get a bad feeling about someone? you're vibing their energy. you ever get a bad feeling about about a situation? you're vibing the energy around the situation. when animals can feel your fear, they're vibing your energy. you ever know someone was near even though you couldn't see then yet? you were vibing their energy. and though some may have a more focused sense than others, we ALL have a natural intuition to the energies around us because we're all a part of a higher vibration. we are all energy.

now, don't mistake this for feelings and emotions (happy/sad or good/bad). these are things which can be effected by and can effect your energy if you let them. i can be sad about something and still radiate positive energy. how you choose to use/exert/guide your energy is truly up to you! and really, we're unconsciously doing this all the time (using/exerting/guiding our energies).

soooooo, stop for a sec and take note. what's your vibe at this very moment? is it positive? negative? high? low? is it one that you would like to receive more, or less of in return? is it one that you want to pass to those around you, or not? do you have no idea??? that's alright too! the point is take some time to be mindful of our Self. to be conscious of the things we do, how we doing them and the spirit/energy in which we do them.

because each of us is apart of the same energy that is vibrating in and through all, we have an effect on our world, and each other for that matter, that is so much deeper than we often realize.

is it possible for us to be a little more conscious of what we're bringing to the table?


love and light,
z

Friday, July 16, 2010

free 'em all.

Former Political Prisoner (and my father's co-defendant) Marilyn Buck Freed!

On July 15, 2010, Marilyn Buck was released from the federal prison medical center in Carswell, Texas. She is paroled to New York. More news will be posted as it becomes available.

http://marilynbuck.com/

‎"When I think of Marilyn as a preacher's daughter, I think of her as someone who wrestled with the moral problems of our times and who was not afraid to take principled positions around those issues.

Marilyn had a choice. She could have remained silent; she could have reaped the benefits of white-skin privilege. But instead she chose the path of righteousness. She has defended the have-nots, the powerless, and as a woman she has struggled for the liberation of all women. The only reason that she remains incarcerated is because of her political activism.

She needs and deserves the support of all those who are committed to freedom and the abolition of pain and suffering on this earth. She deserves to be supported, she deserves to be respected, and she deserves to be free." -assata shakur

peace.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

so what is juneteenth anyways?

juneteenth is a holiday that was started, and is mainly celebrated, in the south, and it is such a controversial subject amongst the black community!

"how could you celebrate that?"
"how could you not celebrate that?"

whether you do or don't, don't know if you want to or not, here are the facts.

in 1862 lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation which declared the freedom of all slaves.

now texas, being texas, refused to free their slaves...surprise, surprise. it wasn't until 3 years later, on june 19, 1865, that union soldiers landed in galveston, texas with the news that the enslaved were free.

so there you have it. juneteenth.

why so controversial?

well, some folks feel like, "why would i celebrate the fact that texas waited three years, after the fact, to free their slaves?", whereas others celebrate it as independence day/freedom day/emancipation day for african americans.

you decide for you.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

snake in the grass...

sooooooo, i ran across my first snake of the season...YIKES!!! i figured i'm not the only one who could use some tips for dealin' with em:

get you some POWDERED SULFER

snakes can't stand the smell, as you'll find out when you open the bag :-/ now, many people will say it doesn't work, but the last year i saw a snake, i sprinkled the sulfer and i didn't see another all spring or summer. so, imma go with what i know.

what to do:
head to your nearest gardening center and buy a big bag of powdered sulfer. when you get home, sprinkle the sulfer aaaaaall along the perimeters of your yard and/or where you think they may be chillin'. and that's about it.


tip #1: snakes like to hide in cool and dark places like low shrubs, bushes and wood piles. also under houses so i'd sprinkle around the steps too, if your house is raised.

tip #2: make sure it's not going to rain the next day! (yes, you have to re-sulfer if it rains. don't be lazy, we're talkin' snakes man!)

tip #3: yeah, not a pleasant smell, but it'll go away. or you'll get used to it. whichever comes first.

tip #4: if you DO have to kill a snake, make sure you separate head from the body. if you don't, they may still be able to attack. (make sure it's a poisonous snake before you kill it! garter snakes are harmless and acutally helpful around the yard. they keep out mice, rodents, ect.)

and that's all i got. hope it helps!

peace,
z

Sunday, April 4, 2010

don't assume i cook tip #51...

if you have a recipe that calls for buttermilk and have none, have no fear!

* milk (just under one cup)
* 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

1. place a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.

2. add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.

3. let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

cheers!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

"for a good clean feeling, no matter what..."

in my ongoing pursuit to live a more simple life, i often have to take it back to the old school.

quite a few people i know, me included, are always looking for ways to brighten our teeth. we drink too much coffee, we're smokers, we like the candy just a liiiiitle too much. whatever the reason, there are about a billion different things you can buy to help, from gels to sprays, strips to mouthpieces.

my suggestion: all you need is BAKING SODA AND PEROXIDE. seriously.

baking soda is great for cleaning teeth and it kills bacteria that causes plaque; peroxide kills bacteria in the gums and on the tongue. together, they work well as a whitener.

what to do: put on your toothpaste on the brush and then dip it into a bit of baking soda. no, it's not the most pleasant taste, get over it. after that, floss, if you want to, and then, like you would a mouthwash, rinse with peroxide. no, you won't die if you accidentally swallow a bit. it happens. rinse with water or a mouthwash, and you're done!

tips #1) i bought some baking soda, put it in a mason jar by my toothpaste in the bathroom. that way it's there every time i pick up my toothbrush and i don't forget. lazy or genius, you decide. :-)

tip #2) do it EVERYDAY. you should be brushing your teeth at least once a day, twice for realz, anyway.

top five reasons you may want to try it out:
5) before they had toothpaste, what do you think they used?
4) it's cheaper. maaaaybe $2.99 for baking soda and $1.00 for peroxide.
3) you'll get more for your money.
2) my grandma knows everything.
1) i can damn near guarantee in 1 month your teeth will be whiter.


so that's that. let me know how it works out. go ahead and try. i dare ya. :-)

peace,
nzingha

disclaimer: no, just because i tagged you because your teeth look dingy. well, not all of you :-P and no, baking soda DOES NOT strip away your enamel.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

"my blood is a million stories..."


sitting here thinking and wanted to share...

my dad goes before the parole board december 2nd. thinking about my family and the families of other political prisoners and freedom fighters around the world. thinking about you especially, kamel. i am SO truly blessed to come from the family i do. the hearn clan. the shakur clan.

it's a different way of life in many ways, being children of revolutionaries. our parents fought, were imprisoned, were exiled, and died fighting for basic human equality; and all the while growing us in the discipline and knowledge, love and respect for not only our people, but for all people. we think differently; we see the world differently.

i was thinking about the last time i saw mutulu. it's a harsh reminder to me when i think about the fact that i've never known my dad in any other context outside of prison, even back to my first memory. his every entrance into my life since i can remember has always been the same...coming from behind those steel bars, he stops so the officer can take of the chains. i've never seen him for more than 4-5 hours at a time. you only get so many hours of visitation. i've never seen him standing in the sunlight, never seen him standing in grass; i've never seen him in anything other than a prison uniform.

we've never had a phone conversation that wasn't recorded, written letters that weren't read before it reached his hands, or given hugs that weren't closely watched. i've shared every intimate moment with him, with someone else. he's never been able to see all of his children together at once, and now that pac has passed away he'll never be able too.

now mutulu is in florence, colorado. the #1 maximum security prison in the united states. "also known as the ADMAX, Supermax, or The Alcatraz of the Rockies, ADX houses the prisoners who are deemed the most dangerous and in need of the tightest control. it is the highest level security federal prison in the united states, and generally considered the most secure prison in the world. individuals are kept for at least 23 hours each day in solitary confinement." that means he gets 1 hour, by himself, outside his cell in a heavily guarded area. all of our visits are behind glass and he often handcuffed.

these things come to mind as his parole hearing draws near. they have and continue to do everything the possibly can to keep him in prison. his upcoming parole hearing is a fight for due process and his right to come before the parole board and fight for his freedom in 2011.

as "thanksgiving" draws near, i am humbled by those who, like mutulu, saw their difficult path before them and even still chose to stand and fight, rather than lay down and continue to be enslaved. freedom fighters ALL OVER THE WORLD. many of them will not be able to sit down and have dinner with their families, will not be able to tuck their children in at night, and will not be able to hold the ones they love as they fall asleep.

yet they are fighting for our right to do so.

this thanksgiving, i give thanks for the people who fought and are still fighting for freedom and equality.
i give honor to the indigenous people of this country who are still fighting for their basic rights on their own land.
i give remembrance to who i am and where i come from. a people who's blood runs deep in the earth of this country.

...and i pray, so very hard, that we continue to move forward as a GLOBAL community, in love.

my blood? is a million stories. FREE 'EM ALL.

peace.