Quwwa

The Nerve of It All...

2012-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

Peace All,

Kinda thought I'd condense all of the past week's events into one blog, and call it the Bad and the Good, that way I can spill out the whole shabang about Q's News...lol

Anyway let's hit up THE BAD first shall we? You all remember last week when I put out a blog about whether or not I should voice my opinion about the continuing demise of my area and show how the public transit system is contributing to this process. Well at first I felt I may have been too hasty in thinking they would not listen to our opinions and such and take feedback in good faith, but once I saw the "DART representatives" from our area and heard the reasons for removing the 155 express bus from our area, let's just say as the Joker told Batman in The Dark Knight..."You didn't disappoint."

These people had the nerve to say the reason they want to get rid of the service is because "DART is not in the business in repeating its' routes" and the riders can catch the local rail station and get downtown in the same fashion. Excuse me, but the DART rail is far from ANYTHING EXPRESS!!! Not to mention they plan to open express busing in the West Plano area...The nerve of people to think that you can tell some people anything and expect them to believe it. I tell you, Thomas Jefferson was a bold man...

Anyway, then they proceeded to give convoluted information about the ridership of the express bus in saying that at a particular stop there are only an average of 6 people on the bus, which is besides the point. The fact is that the bus is FULL on its way to Downtown Dallas, so again, the insults to the people's intelligence rages on, all in a meager attempt to slash costs' and concentrate on people that they feel are "worthy" of patronage. Anyone with a keen sense and a critical eye can see that very little effort is being made to keep a quality standard of life here in the Southern sector of Dallas, and rather than tend to the needs of the actual Dallas citizens, these people are trying to expand and connect in areas outside of Dallas, along with spending money in the soon to be gentrified Trinity River area on an unneeded trolley system, it's clear to see what's going on here. I guess they really look at those who use public transportation from the inner cities as "undesirables".

So on that note, I abruptly left the meeting because 1)the two women there were only present to receive the barbs and the complaints from the people. They really don't have any input in the final decision making here, so why waste time, breath and energy on them? 2) The citizens of Dallas will not have a final say in what happens here, the "Board" will vote and "consider" all of the comments in March, which pretty much means if the 155 express continues by the summer, Q will be surprised to say the least.

Only God(Allah)knows the future, but I ain't optimistic in the least...Such are the Lifestyles of the Ignored

Then on top of that some fool hacked into my email account...The nerve of these fools...

CWATIC @ HTTP://WWW.REALQUWWA.COM. Click here to enter.

Peace....I'll tell you the good later, God Willing...

Which Comes First?(Peepin' the Game)

2012-01-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

Peace all...

Just a little heads up on the next upcoming exhibit while I'm at it...The new name of the exhibit will be Grey Matters...Don't ask me now why I want to give it such a name, it's very long and extensive trying to explain it all right now, but believe you me, I thought long and hard on how to approach this next exhibit. The initial date was set for sometime in February in commemoration of Black History Month, however me being the person that I am, always trying to find something different, decided that my project will not actually fit in Black History Month, although it is dealing with issues pertaining to race in America and African Americans in particular, more on that later.

Right now I'm pressed with another issue, as tonight there is a meeting in my local library concerning route changes in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, this area will be affected as well with a proposal to eliminate the express bus in my area by early Summer of this year, and those who used to ride the express bus which takes one who lives in my area directly to downtown during the rush hours via the freeway instead will be inconvenienced in going to the nearest train station and taking a train to downtown, which takes MUCH longer and causes much more of an inconvenience for those who just need to go directly to downtown. Without any real reason given on the brochure this decision is made, which again affects an area which continues to see nothing of any good coming this way from City Hall except junk and increased police presence. One look at the brochure clearly shows that the focus is up north, or the newly gentrified areas of Dallas, with elaborate depots being built near downtown, express buses being shifted to the West Plano area, and a 35 million dollar trolley being built which will service the Trinity and "old, resegregated" Oak Cliff areas.

The question I have is does Q finally step up to speak his mind or continue to lay in the cut and continue to make an impression in the community? I mean even if I speak my mind tonight and begin to let these people know that everyone here does not accept what's clearly going on here, and their gestures only add to the speculation of ghettoization and gentrification going on here, City Hall is not going to give two cents of concern. The only thing they will do is put me in a "troublemaker" database, and spend their time trying to isolate and incriminate me or anyone in the area who openly opposes the tactics of the greedy, and continue to misinform the community about what the real deal is. C'mon now, I wasn't born yesterday, OK? Anything tonight is only a ceremonial gesture of my support of this neighborhood and human beings beings in general. You don't really think these people will change their minds, do you? I've had too much recent experiences on these plantations to know the people in charge will not do ANYTHING...

But do I also continue to lay low and continue to make an impression on a community that is nothing short of lethargic, whose main concern is "husslin' and stayin' alive" or even worse, preoccupied with some of the most self destructive mechanisms of self hate, conspicuous consumption on this side of the globe, pointing fingers at the supposed high level of crime that they claim keeps the "good" grocery stores and businesses from thinking of setting up shop over here, and agreeing with the corporate media, who justifies the growing police presence, so called gang units, and helicopters flying consistently over my area as if a person can't walk the streets alone here? I mean I walk the streets here DAILY and have rarely come across any hostilities here, but what can one Black man do when the major media outlet in Dallas comes to his area and broadcasts a scene featuring 20-25 police cars, two helicopters, all over one dude who jumped out of a bus after shooting another passenger on the bus? I guarantee you this type of stuff doesn't happen at the other side of town...

Either way, Q will make a statement, God Willing....Stay Tuned...

Dining With The Wretched

2012-01-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Pardon the lack of blogging here, but I've been busying coming up with a theme for the next possible exhibit...One thing for sure, it won't be called Back and Forth as first imagined, but it appears to be something much more special, and I will fill you in on the details ASAP. The past couple of weeks have been emotionally draining on me after a couple of incidents that I've experienced, mainly regarding actions, reactions and responses from people that I've respected or had long friendships with. I've come to realize that it's not an issue of whether or not my friends agree with me, for I have friends both on and offline from different walks of life, but rather or not are you seeing what I'm seeing? I become more convinced by the moment that someone else is shaping or reshaping our beliefs and thought patterns, and it ain't God for sure. A couple of people that I would imagine would have more compassion and understanding about the plight of the poor and downtrodden have exposed some very peculiar beliefs, and after attempt to reason with them have given me very different ideas about their way of thinking. One such person who has faced discrimination and injustice for the past 10 years for issues that he has either had resurfaced unjustly or from paid his debt to society open proclaims that injustice is not an issue worth concerning with as long as he has the opportunity to get employment. This type of apathy that comes from people who have experienced some sort of injustice from this cruel and hypocritical society shows just how sad the state of humanity has deteriorated, where one is only concerned about themselves, and even moreso will judge others who may experiences the same cruelty by different standards.

In any event, it is sad to see the masses of people who are of the poor, downtrodden, or even the middle class hold themselves to such hypocritical standards, and allow the immaculately rich, oppressive and greedy few of this planet to dictate, incriminate, discriminate and exploit them all because some evil person supports the stupid notion that "if you're so smart, how come you're not rich?" when the real question is how can you possibly amass so much money? This past week we've witnessed a few of the old racist, slave states come back with discriminatory measures against the poor and people of color, and call it "welfare reform", yet the actions of the wealthy against the poor in America still go unchecked, underexposed, and no accountability is held against these internal crooks. But I'm supposed to be happy the Bin Laden and Anwar Al-Awlaki are no longer living. Yeah right.

I just finished watching this movie entitled Fierce People, a movie about the wealthy and influential and the mirage of peace and tranquility that is giving simply because one is wealthy. The special features section has the actors giving insight on the movie, and one of the directors of the film mentioned that America does have a ruling class despite the claims of Democracy, and that these exorbiant amounts of wealth are not accrued by so-called hard working people, but through inhumane and brutal measures, but an increasing amount of the exploited don't really see the problem with this, as long as they are gettting a crumb or two...Little do they know that this life is not about accruing wealth....

Stay tuned people...It get's more interesting....Peace!

Dead Prez - Stimulus Plan

2012-01-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

Peace all, working on another blog, and trying to decide whether or not to come out of the shyness and finally do a video or a vlog....Dunno yet...lol...But still working on it. Will keep you informed...lol...just stay tuned, God Willing we've just got started...BTW scope this little ditty out...Take care all, PEACE!!!!!

Patience.....Young Grasshoppa(A Year in Review)

2011-12-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

I had to think for awhile about how I wanted to do a year ending blog, things flipped so quickly that if I really wanted to fully recap Q's year in review, it would probably be a long, cumbersome blog, so let's trim the fat shall we?

I guess I can say I began to see promise this past February when I was able to start up my own website and expose my art among other things with it. REALQUWWA.COM started slowly, and not having much fanfare, I tried to advertise on my Youtube channel as well as Facebook, but response has been slow to say the least. But I don't despair in any event because I know what to expect, especially as an independent artist, along with the subject matter of my work. Today my website has two displays, the ongoing Lifestyles of the Ignored and the See What I See exhibit (CWATIC) which I renamed The All Aboard the 554 Exhibit , which chronicles scenes in my area of South Dallas. 554 is the route number of the city bus that goes through my area.

The See What I See(CWATIC)Exhibit held this past October 29th marked a milestone for the Q, seeing that I had not presented an exhibit of any sort, the only time I really exhibited my work at any time was at a student art exhibit when I attended Community College, and that was a while to say the least. But the response was great, especially in the fact that many people were able to see the direction my art was going, and also gave the opportunity to expose the possibilities of visual art to an area that does not get a chance to truly see a cultural event like this. To show the mindstate of my area as well as American society as a whole, I received replies from people who were somewhat surprised and/or dismayed when I explained that this exhibit was for FREE, and not to commercialize my work. I mean don't get me wrong, I am not saying I will not sell my work when the opportunity comes, but the purpose of my art is not just to "sell things" and make money, but to make a difference, inspire, and motivate too. In my area people have relegated everything now to a "hustle" or "getting up" and we are missing out on making a serious impact in society today. This is the sad state of society, mostly stemming from the notion of not seeing things in a spiritual perspective, and only seeing things from this temporal materialistic existence. It's high time we start changing that perception. The corrupt only hold the money for a period of time, but in the end everything goes back to Allah(Al-Warith, The Inheritor).

Other events include the inspiring art sale I attend two weeks ago, held by renowned artist and Dallas resident Frank Frazier, Jr. He's a veteran at this thing, and his invitation thru Facebook was something I did not want to pass up. I met other artists, and saw astounding work that inspired me. I am very grateful to witness such an event. Also can't forget the BlogTalkRadio interviews with Angel Ayes and Lady Flava, which let me air out my outlook on many things in art and society as well.

This year has ended on a positive note in that the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library graciously invited me to display my artwork. This was a library I had targeted for CWATIC, but finances prevented me from holding such an exhibit, but thankfully I was able to present a CWATIC display. Here are the photos:

So I have no choice but to take this as a step in the right direction. I feel that God(Allah) is putting me in a much better position, and I must remain patient and not be deterred from any naysayers, or any type of "slow" response, because in the end the victory will be there for me, if I just hold on. People are politicking for my work to be displayed in different areas, and other opportunities await me. I keep thinking about the day when I almost gave everything up, but that something inside me told me to just submit the proposal. Fear of rejection had pretty much overtaken me, but after realizing I'm just following the course that's already paved for me, things became a lot easier. Now I am more confident in my ability, and ready to expand my repetoire and come up with more artwork. 2012 looks to be very interesting, and I will not wait for February, when my next exhibit hits.

It's about to be fun.....Peace......CWATIC @ www.realquwwa.com

http://www.queensmuseum.org/8230/detroit-disassembled-photographs-by-andrew-moore

2011-12-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.queensmuseum.org/8230/detroit-disassembled-photographs-by-andrew-moore

The Fixx - Less Cities, More Moving People

2011-12-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Peace all, just wanted to drop by and see how the bloggy family doing today...Having problems at the library with this WiFi thing, can't even load up a simple The Dark Knight Rises trailer...drats...Wrapping up the works for the display at the library and oh, I had a blast last weekend at Artist Frank Frazier's home at an art sale. Met some interesting and inspiring artists, but won't tell ya until the next blog(IA)...Right now enjoy the blast from the past. I was thinking about this ditty while taking pictures around my area. Take care and love you all....Peace!

NEXT UP ON THE MENU!!!!

2011-12-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

I've been hard at work(well sorta)putting the final pieces together, trying to come up with a theme for the exhibition at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library, hopefully I will be able to set up the display this weekend.

This library was one of the few in the southern Dallas sector that I targeted for the See What I See(CWATiC) exhibit, but other things came in the way, and with the exhibition that I'm working on for February 2012 entitled Back And Forth so close, I've kinda put CWATiC over to the side. However I received an email a few days ago requesting some of my artwork to be displayed there. When I received the picture I was like "OK, great" and began to look for some smaller scale paintings to display there, more in the 8x10 to 9x12 range, however when I arrived there personally to take a look, I was amazed at the amount of space that I saw, and from there the ideas just started flowing...

Basically I plan to mix it up a bit, showing works from both the Lifestyles of the Ignored series and a couple of works from the CWATiC exhibit, especially the bottles I worked on for The New Gold Rush and maybe a couple of new twists in store. So it looks as if the CWATiC exhibit will continue, but in a different fashion this time around...I hope I can capture a few shots for a promo video of some sorts, ya know?

Also the same weekend I'm planning to attend this function held by renowned artist Frank Frazier Jr, who also lives in the southern Dallas area as well. I attended an exhibit he held a few years back and recently we became Facebook friends. So this looks to be an exciting and educational weekend ahead for me, and I hope to take full advantage of the opportunity...

Take care all, hope to be back soon with another blog....Peace!

CWATIC @ http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Texas Welfare Office Shooting Mom Denied Food Stamps For Mo 12/09 by PPC1 | Blog Talk Radio

2011-12-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

Peace All, found this BlogTalkRadio segment and thought I would just post it to my blog, giving you an indication of what's happening here on this side of the world, for those who only see the bright lights and stuff. I'll be back with another blog soon(IA)and more info on my art. Take care.

Texas Welfare Office Shooting Mom Denied Food Stamps For Mo 12/09 by PPC1 | Blog Talk Radio

Is It Really?(Not Enough)

2011-12-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

I had intended to do a blog about this tripped-out documentary I saw entitled "Prohibition" from PBS, about the history of the Law of Prohibition on Alcohol in America, and the repealling of the law, but I'll hold off on that, because I'm still trippin' on it....LOL

Things have been jumping recently for me, and I have everyone to thank for the support, it is greatly appreciated. For starters, I have received an offer from another library to display my work...I can't begin to tell you how pumped up when I received the email, and now I have other things on hand to boot, but I can't tell ya right now....

LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE COOKING UP FOR THE Q!

Yeah, they do look that way, I just pray that I can take everything in stride, not forgetting what and Who am I doing this for! I keep thinking this thing almost didn't happen.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I mean I had presented the proposal to the librarian for the CWATIC exhibit, even after going through all of the other drama, and I had pretty much dropped the whole thing, but something internally inspired me to give it to her. The day I was ready to chuck it all in, she summoned me up to the desk and after explaining everything to her, I showed her the website, and then she introduced me to another librarian, who saw what I did, and she just took off and took it to another level, and it hasn't stopped since. Regardless of what happens, this is definitely a lesson to keep going regardless of how things look...I am ever grateful to my Creator for this, and grateful to those who supported me in any and every way.

SO WAS THIS ONE OF THE PICTURES AT THE EXHIBIT?

Yeah, it's called Not Enough. It was constructed almost two years ago, but I displayed it at the exhibit, and it was well received by both young and old. I didn't think it would go over so well, but they loved the blue and the message it contained. The red bowl added to the contrast.

SO EXPLAIN BRIEFLY THE MEANING...

Well it just to show that a growing number of Americans(and the rest of the world too as a matter of fact) are not able to fulfill their basic needs due to the criminal economy and the hyperinflation of basic goods and needs to a point where the average citizen may have to face a decision of whether to drop the health insurance, or have to cut back on nutrition, or letting go of some other type of basic need. Despite this there are some who are not suffering who do not see this discrepancy and do not see the effects of globalization, and make statements such as "any job is better than no job at all." But they miss the point greatly when they realize the menial jobs cannot cover the ever increasing costs of health care( or as one author wrote in a book disease care, which seems more appropriate) and the costs of food(whatever happened to Wal Mart price rollbacks?), not too mention insurance for every freaking thing from homeowners to car insurance to life insurance, to....oh my!!!!

SO PEOPLE REALLY MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS?

Yes they do...funny how humans can forget about others' plight and only judge another's situation based on their own experience, they also fail to understand the difference between a "little" job and not having any job is that even with a "little" job, you will eventually lose everything you own, it just doesn't happen right away....This picture also reminds me of a young man with five children and whose wife recently needed surgery, but was denied Medicaid because his $10 an hour job was deemed as too much for Medicaid to cover the surgery. Then we have politicians who prove everyday that they are more concerned with the corporations and the elite who oppress and exploit, who say in their campaigns for election that they are content with seeing someone dying rather than to sehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife to it that they would receive care.

WHAT ABOUT OBAMACARE?

Please don't get me started on that....just check out the language, and not just what they say, but what they "don't" say.

SO TRUE...

WHERE CAN ONE SEE THIS AND OTHERS LIKE IT?

http://www.realquwwa.com/lifestyles_of_the_ignored.html Just click on the link and I hope enjoy it...

Take care all....CWATiC @ WWW.REALQUWWA.COM

All Aboard the 554

2011-12-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Peace All!!!

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!! THE CWATIC Exhibit!!! Featuring the revised Lifestyles of the Ignored Exhibit, along with the new exhibit held in my hometown entitled Aboard the 554. Just click HERE to enter the website.

I am also in the process of working on prints and posters!!!! I should be out with those in the upcoming days!(IA)...

I hope to be back next week with another blog, but for now, enjoy, and CWATIC @ www.realquwwa.com....Peace!!!

The Perception of Reality

2011-11-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Peace all....

Putting the finishing touches to the online exhibit entitled The 554, everything looks great, hope to be finished with it and ready to present in a couple of days, God Willing...I think you're going to like it...

Anyway, I wanted to touch a few bases with the reader here, who if one has read a few of my posts or even heard an interview, has heard or read from time to time about my disgust of the declining quality of life in my area, especially in regards to the inability to purchase produce and adequate food unless one goes to the nearest food store 10 minutes away, and if one is "underprivileged" to have meaningful transportation, then one must walk to the nearest dollar store, and get whatever they can find until one can get such means of transportation. Such is the life at the 554....

To set the record straight here, this is not the only beef I have, but it is a strong symbol of a much larger issue that we tend to overlook or even AVOID, and that is the reason why the quality of life is declining in my area so rapidly, especially with the post office threatening to close its customer service operations, just leaving a shell for local carriers to convene, along with attempts to make the local landfill here the GO TO Dump for ALL of Dallas and surrounding areas. Add the emerging police presence and Gang Units roaming throughout the area, the proliferation of liqour, the half-hearted efforts to fix the streets in the area although the people of Dallas allowed intoxicants to be sold in order to "create revenue" , the building of a prison in the locality, and the resegregation process taking place with a new name redistricting, one should understand that there is a certain belief about the people here which is the catalyst for why such events take place here.

Last week while at the library an African American woman was speaking with an White American man who apparently is trying to open a business in this area. While discussing the issue, the Black woman, who appears to be some sort of real estate agent or broker of some sort mentioned that there is a "perception" about this place that needs to be changed before this "revitalization" effort takes place here.

By the way, revitalize is a code word for gentrification. And gentrification has taken a new face now, it's no longer just the White middle class trying to oust the Blacks, but now the Black middle class is ousting the Black poor, calling it revitalizing efforts instead of what it really is, which is removing the grotesque look of "indecency" and "filth" in one's neighborhood. Which is why no one questions the occupying presence of a police, which didn't even come into existence until newer homes were being built in the area, around 10 years ago.

I strongly disagree that there is a perception about my area which disallows people to view my area in anyway except negative. I believe strongly that there is a REALITY that needs to be dealt with, not avoided, not hidden from the masses of the people by corrupt politicians, but CONFRONTED, but before confronting the reality, proper knowledge about the issue must be dispersed.

This picture looks innocent in scope, until you realize the reality behind the picture. I just found out this place which looks like any old warehouse or storage room is actually a peep show. This establishment was actually an underground event until the city of Dallas got wind of the issue, which only resulted in allowing the owner to legalize the business by getting a permit. This establishment which is actually walking distance from my home, somewhat like the prison here, but the city of Dallas is content with this establishment residing near a predominantly Black neighborhood. Never mind the consequences and the stigma that a place of pornography does to a neighborhood, especially one that has a problem with drugs and prostitution that came as a result of the truck stops built in the area, just as long as they pay their taxes and get the necessary permits.

This is a serious indictment upon a city and how it treats is so called constituents, when they feel it is ok to dump all of the unwanted things that predominantly White neighborhoods refuse to take, and go to extreme lengths to do such things. I remember going to the town hall meeting in '92 to protest the building of the prison in our area, only to listen to a prison official tell a predominately Black audience that allowing the construction of a prison will bring the prisoners closer to some of their relatives....And the Black politicians who paraded around television cameras and socking White joggers because they broke through picket lines DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! In fact one Black politician retorted aloud "I DON'T SEE ANY OF YOU COMING UP WITH ANY OFFERS ON THE TABLE!!!"

It's becoming more and more obvious of the intentions of many if not all of these Black politicians, yet many Blacks fail miserably to see the point. We fail to see the double dealing of these politicians to get what they want, the lies and shakedown tactics and the demagogery they display, all many of us see is the color of the skin, and despite the chicanery of these criminals we allow them to continue and let them "get a chance to get a piece of the pie."

We as humans will continue to suffer the consequences of our failure to change our reality...

Peace all...CWATIC @ http://www.realquwwa.com

Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman

2011-11-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Had a couple of blogs on tap, but working on this website to get my online presentation took up most of library time...And I got some goodies too! The degradation of my neighborhood continues with a peep show popping up in my area!!! I guess they figure the people here are TRASH anyway, so why not contribute? Liquor all over the place, no food store, no real opportunities to take care of your priorities, dumping all of the trash over in this area, prison located near the neighborhood? What the heck is this?

I guess this song here just coincides with the rest of the trash that's available at the 554....One of my favorites from one of my favorite all time movies....lol....Take care all...Online exhibit SOON!!!

Pete Rock & C L Smooth - Ghettos of the Mind

2011-11-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

Peace all, trying to recover from a serious head cold...Hope to be back real sometime later in the week...In the meantime peep the knowledge.....

Catching Recognition!

2011-11-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Working on different projects at the moment, mainly doing research for the next projected exhibit entitled Back And Forth in commemoration of Black History Month...Pssst...Don't tell anybody the name....LOL

This research has led me some very interesting reads, especially a great book I just finished reading entitled The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. This book had my mind spinning, for I can see clearly the points the author makes about the Prison Industrial Complex, but even moreso the backlash that affects a disproportionate number of African Americans AFTER they leave the prison, which she calls "legalized discrimination" from public and private housing, welfare, employment, you name it, and mentions the pretext of the War on Drugs...which is a joke to begin with, especially when alcohol has done more damage that crack, heroin, and methamphetamines COMBINED!!!! But anyway...I'll hip you up more on that later. But the book for the most part has some very strong points, and the profiling that comes from the discrimination and prejudices against African American men, suspecting them of drugs and gang involvement.

I experienced this last week walking in my area looking for pictures to take and use in any CWATIC future exhibits I hope to undertake. I noticed a helicopter hovering over the area extensively(which is starting to become more prevalent here). As I continued to walk I saw a transit bus, surrounded by anywhere between 10-15 police cars, along with an ambulance and corporate media(OH OOOH!). Also there were additional cars hovering around the immediate area. As I continued to watch I noticed many of the policemen wore "GANG UNIT" on the back of their uniforms...You probably start thinking, oh ohhh, two helicopters, up to 20 cops at or around a bus , and a gang unit, must've been a gang fight on the bus right?

Then I found out through a newspaper that the incident involving two men who one shot the other in the leg while on the bus, and then left the bus and ran out of the bus and into the nearby neighborhood...First question...What prompted police to think this was gang related? And up to 20 police cars and a gang unit to find one individual? What does that spell for the neighborhood, who continues to see the quality of life disappearing, but an increase in police presence! And coming from my experiences of being profiled yet have NO CRIMINAL RECORD AT ALL, I know exactly what is happening...

Other books I'm looking into is American Apartheid and Nixon's Piano...Looks like good reads...I'll keep you abreast on this exhibit...Take care all! PEACE!!!

More to Come?(CWATIC)

2011-11-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Actually this blog was set to drop earlier this week, especially since I was reeling from the positive response of the See What I See(CWATIC) Art Exhibit, but maybe that enthusiasm turned into brief dementia, as I goofed up and apparently erased the whole frag nabbin blog, and I wrote some stuff! I mean I wrote some quality material.

OK Q, GET ON WITH IT, PLEASE?

OK. Well the crowd was pretty moderate, considering the many promises I received from those local homeys and stuff, telling me that they will support it and show up. I mean some had reasonable excuses, family emergencies, and the librarian who really urged me to take this further had a sudden death in the family, I mean, I'm not trippin' or anything like that, but some people claim to wanting so bad to see something different being presented, but yet the continuing apathy seems to rear its face.

OK Q, AGAIN, GET ON WITH IT!!!! PLEASE!!!!

OK, anyway, those who came gave glowing reviews of the event, the content of the work which ranged from the marginalisation of Black Youth in Written Off to the stigmatizing of Blacks with usage of the words ghetto and gutter to describe certain unruly behaviour in some Blacks, especially poor Blacks, as well as delving into the real meaning and the true implications of the word itself, and why do Blacks gleefully accept this terminology or apply it to others in a double standard fashion.

OOOOOHHHHH.....

Yeah...I went there....

ANYTHING ELSE?

Of course, I mean after all it was for the community, and I only scratched the surface with this. Then there was Preoccupied Territory which may actually turn into an exhibit on its own. This piece dealt with how a neighborhood can be drawn away from the machinations of those who wish to exploit them in any fashion, being distracted from everything with useless or meaningless trinkets including cell phones, texting, social networking and the Golden Age of Wireless...

YEAH THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT CAN LEAD INTO BIGGER THINGS. WHAT ELSE?

Oh, then there was Blood, Sweat And Mostly Tears, which dealt with the spurious ads one may find in the local Employment Guide. I mean people were taken aback to find ads requesting those who may have been diagnosed as bipolar or having Hepatitis C to be used as labrats, I mean when did such things become opportunities for employment? And to top it off, ads advertising the giving of plasma? In an employment guide?

And then the piece de resistance, The New Gold Rush, which explains the high anticipation of the selling of alcoholic beverages in my area, turning the gas stations into overnight liquor stores, and neighboring areas into hangout spots. This was the supposed solution offered to create revenue to fix our streets, pools and library. Now the library has drastically reduced its hours, cut employees and inserted electronic check out machines...Gotta love efficiency....Now we hear the same suggestion being used to turn the nearby city dump into the main disposal unit in ALL of Dallas....Did I forget to mention we still don't have a grocery store here, and the post office is closing down its customer service center, causing potential customers to go out of their way to send packages? All of this decline of quality of life, and yet nearby neighborhoods are blossoming and money being spent on providing trolley service to gentrified areas of Dallas? OOOPS, did I go there?

YES YOU WENT THERE...

Well, someone has to...

GO ON THEN...

There were other works, and the one entitle Not Enough really captivated everyone. Guess it was the blues that got them. Then there was a collage that wowwed everyone.

SO WHAT'S THE FUTURE FOR SEE WHAT I SEE?

Only Allah knows, but I don't think this is the end yo...

CAN I SEE PICTURES?

I'm working on a slideshow of the entries to place on my personal website...www.realquwwa.com...I'll fill you in on the haps, God Willing.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD IT ROCKIN' UP IN THERE, RIGHT?

The joy of it all was the children who attended, who asked questions, and finally saw someone put their area in a different light, rather than the usual corporate media stereotyping BIRTH OF A NATION-esque fashion, showing people that we are unfit of any entitlements or any justice, rather imprisonment and exploitation....I went there again, didn't I?

YES YOU DID....

Well, bout time somebody did it...And I just begun....So CWATIC @ www.reaquwwa.com

Peace all...PS...I'm coming back up there in February, go get ready Highland Hills...I wanna know what else do you see?

Eid Mubarak to the Ummah....

What I've Gotten Myself Into(See What I See)

2011-10-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

Peace All,

Just dropping by in my usual weekly fashion, still overwhelmed over events that occurred recently regarding the See What I See Art Exhibit next Saturday. I spoke with a few of the librarians and let them see the website, and there was great enthusiasm in the air, so much so that this exhibit looks like it could expand into multiple libraries around the Dallas area. Just what I really wanted, I mean I definitely wanted my area to be a launching spot, but to have it possibly hit multiple areas is something only Allah planned, and I hope I can deliver the goods.

But I can tell you one thing, from what I am working on right at this moment, it could be something real eye-opening, God Willing.

The only setback is the inability to create a video of the event due to circumstances beyond my control, however that's small potatoes here, nothing to really trip over ya know? I mean where there is purpose there is a will and where there is a will there is a way, right? There's more than one way to broadcast this exhibit....I'll let you know when I find out what it is....LOL....

In the meantime CWATIC @ http://www.realquwwa.com....LOVE YA!!!! PEACE

Mind Blowin!!!

2011-10-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Working on this exhibit coming up in the next two weeks, and things are suddenly going top speed for me, I need my ice cream to slow down the pace... LOL

Anyway, the See What I See Art Exhibit is set and I am pumped to say the least. I would never thought that I would be actually promoting my own art exhibit, I usually keep events about myself on the hush hush, one for fear of ...oh many things...confidence is not on my list of strong points, that is until I've become comfortable with the situation. I think I've settled down from the excitement now.

At least that was until yesterday when the librarian posted the flyer she created on the entrance doors and the walls of the library...Then it really hit me when I saw my name on the flyer...Then I really started bugging...not egotistical rapper like, but buggin'...It was a little too much for me.

Then while surfing through the net I ran into one of my Facebook friends who lives not too far from me, who wants to contribute some sounds for the exhibit, to mix with some of the messages I wish to relay to the audience. That really geeked me up.

Then, in an act I can only say was God's Decree, I happened to come back to the library, only to find a gentlemen who noticed my constant presence in the library using the internet and such. Well we spoke about constructing websites, and I showed him my site and explained what my agenda is, which somehow, again saying it was the Decree of Allah, we happened to share the same vision. Well, needless to say, we exchanged numbers and he called me with details that I can give away, but this thing can go a looooong way, God Willing.

Then I received a reply from my good friend Tania Maria Xavier of ColoredPeople.Net and DaughterNature.Com, approving the exhibiting of one the paintings on her beautiful gallery. I try my best to never forget those who Allah put in my path, and she along with others play a huge role in Quwwa. All I can say is thanks to all who contributed, will contribute in any fashion. I am grateful for every effort, and can only pray this gets better.

All Praise is Due only to Allah, and the mistakes are mine. PEACE

Love Ya....It's just keeps getting better. Come See What I See @ http://www.realquwwa.com

Something to Believe In....(See What I See)

2011-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Well the anxiety is over now, well at I will say a part of the anxiety is over, thank God!!!

WHATCHA MEAN Q?

Well the art exhibit was approved today by my local library, after what I thought would be just another rejection. I'm beginning to think maybe this is what Allah(God)had in store all alone, I just had to realize it. I keep going back to the failed attempt to make it to The Lost Ones exhibit in August of 2010 with my Facebook friend and fellow artist Joanna Ballard. Trying so hard to find a way there to present the work after losing my car, it really put a dent in my get up and go. Kinda felt like chucking it all in.

BUT YOU DIDN'T...

Yeah but it was close...I mean other attempts seemed to have come up short, trying to get into different arenas to showcase my art and bring forth another message. But in reality I didn't want to go the common route anyway, trying to get into their galleries...At least not on their terms anyway. Too many are immersed in the sale of art, and not what it represents and the impact it can have on many sectors of society.

YOU MEAN YOU WON'T BE SELLING ANY ART AT THIS EXHIBIT?

No, that's not the plan here. The plan is more than that. It's about giving back to my community and showing different aspects and areas of visual art. It's about giving people who have been overlooked and flat out ignored a chance to speak. I represent those people and therefore it's time that other side got a chance to hear from one of the many.

ANY TITLE YET?

It's called See What I See

HMMM Interesting...

Ain't it always? LOL

WHAT DATE?

Slated for October 29th, 2010...

ANY SURPRISES IN STORE?

Now if I told you that where would the surprise be? More on that later....

Peace out...Love Ya....CWATIC @ http://www.realquwwa.com

I am an artist Cendrine Marrouat's Products : Cendrine Marrouat - CafePress Store

2011-09-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hey All!!! Check out this cool shirt designed by my great friend and fellow artist Cendrine Marrouat!!! Also check out her page filled with other great items!!!!

I am an artist Cendrine Marrouat's Products : Cendrine Marrouat - CafePress Store

Do I Look Deterred?(Contingency Plan)

2011-09-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

This is starting to be a recurring song, with me trusting people to assist me in this endeavor, only to find something different after looking deeper into the matter.

OK Q, WHATCHA TALKING ABOUT?

Oh, let me explain. The Down Here On The Ground art exhibit was supposed to be a collaboration with a certain non-profit organization whom I will not name here, however due to constant stagnation and other things that I saw that I felt was not in the best interest to do a joint venture in this regard, so I shelved the project.

CAN YOU ELABORATE MORE ON THIS?

Without going into too many specifics, I found it hard to keep communication with certain individuals regarding issues such as providing proof of non-profit status, which became a tedious task, and led me on many wild goose chases to obtain simple but pertinent information needed to request space to hold this event. Last Friday was the straw that broke the camel's back. After setting up a meeting with this person, I could not get a handle on the whereabouts. This individual told me that he would be at his office. So I hopped on another train and went out of my way to meet this person at the office. When I got there no one was there, so I waited for 30 minutes, then I left a voicemail that I arrived and was waiting for them. I have yet to receive a reply or response from such individual, so what am I to do, continue dealing with this situation? The message I want to give is way more important here.

I wanted it to start in my part of Dallas, and then we were to make rounds in numerous libraries holding this event, giving people a chance in the southern sector to witness a cultural event and also obtaining much needed knowledge regarding local events and organizations whose intention is to help citizens, especially lower income citizens to learn about programs that assist with immediate needs as well as reconnecting those who were in the prison system with their loved ones. But alas, it looks as if that won't happen, due to many issues that I won't go into right now.

My heart goes out to those who try to create and galvanize efforts in their communities, but continue to run into some sort of stumbling block, beit lack of professionalism or lack of scope of the part of people who claim to share your vision. Especially for independent artists who already have mountainous hills to climb, and virtually very little or no support from anyone unless some celebrity cosigns on their work.

But hey, I have a contingency plan here, so no need for the boo hoo. That only wastes time...I'll keep you abreast God Willing...Just consider this a temporary setback. Like the multitude of others I've had....LOL....Love ya!

Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

2011-09-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

More blogging on the way soon....Hopefully....

...Sweet Sorrow

2011-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Peace all, Yesterday was one of those days you wish you could capture it on camera, well at least I wish I did....lol. There was a series of events that gave me optimism and a better perspective on things and how I should approach my upcoming project Down Here on the Ground. .

But first let me tell you about my entry into Borders' Book Store, which brought me back to the old days.For those unaware of the situation, Borders' Bookstore is going out of business, and are now in the process of liquidating all assets, even the bookshelves. It didn't hit me until I walked up to the door and noticed from looking thru the window that the cappucino bar with all of its Wi-Fi capabilities were gone, just a bunch of tables lay scattered all across the area. As I walked into the doors for what will likely be my last time there, I saw that all of the materials had been pushed to the front. In the background an old James Brown classic Papa Don't Take No Mess piped through. I didn't know they had it in them. As I looked throughout the barren areas in the back, I felt a presence of sadness, well at least for me that is, I mean I could never be ranked among the best customers there, but it's just the whole idea of a bookstore closing down that gets me. Call me a sentimentalist, aren't all artists? Anyway, the books had discounts ranging from 60 to 80% off. WHOA!!!!!! DOUBLE WHOA!!!! TRIPLE WHOA!!!!

So what does a brother like me do? Take advantage of the opportunity? I WISH....LOL...I mean in these lean and trim times I had to pass up the opportunity. It wasn't easy though, I mean where else will you find books originally sold for $27 become drasticatically reduced to like 5 or 7 dollars? And the selection was one to go GAGA over(no pun intended). First I found a book entitled The Fifteen Biggest Lies the Right Does Not Want You to Know About Taxes, Jobs, and Corporate America, then I saw Dark Alliance....ooooooh, this is the one I've been looking for, about how the CIA collabed with drug dealers to the sell crack in the inner city of Los Angeles, all to fund a clandestine war in Nicaragua...then I found Bought and Paid For: The Unholy Alliance Between Obama and Wall Street ooooooh, man, I started calculating right away....let's just say I hadn't found so many that I wanted to cop all at once.

The only thing I couldn't get with was the "sexy" fishing magazine they had on the magazine shelf, I mean when did women think so low of themselves nowadays to allow their bodies to be exploited to sell fish magazines? I mean imagine a woman in sexy lingerie holding a prize winning bass....and the slogan read "Putting more throb in your rod" Have we stooped that low as a society?

This picture is a little more lame than the one I found on the front page. The back page had a totally naked lady hiding her breasts with her arms and with certain balls covering her private areas. God Help Us.

But alas instead of indulging, priorities came first, especially when I look down and the shiny silver Reebok running shoes I found for little or nothing now show serious signs of wear and tear, especially at the sole, where the front portion started separating from the shoe itself, making my "rims" look as if it was sticking its tongue out whenever I walked....sniff...sniff...

Thankfully I found that the library had all three books, so I requested them all, but I like to own my materials, especially books like these....Someday God Willing I'll get them. But this is a final tribute to Borders' Bookstore and my "rims" my shiny silver Reebok shoes...you've served your purpose well.....KUDOS...Parting is such sweet sorrow.....Peace.

FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS!

2011-08-31T16:42:00.001-07:00

Peace all, and belated Eid Mubarak to the Muslims coming from the fasting of the month of Ramadhan. May Allah accept our fasting and deeds done for His Sake.

A very interesting Ramadhan and come and gone once again, filled with many lessons learned and very interesting concepts reflected upon. All in all, it was a very enlightning and uplifting experience. I pray I am able to see and experience another blessed Ramadhan again, there is nothing like the experience.

Keeping oneself focused was the task at hand, I mean imagine me walking constantly through the scorching Texas heat, not having eaten anything substantial in the last few hours, to go to the library and type out a passage or two reflecting on issues very few people ever contemplate over, only to write them on a Facebook book page with only 28 friends that subscribed to, and not even all of them read my writings. But again, mass appeal is not the object. But it does take focus, focus that even I didn't think I had...LOL...But where there is a purpose there is a will. I leave Ramadhan now with even more focus, and still thinking of more writings to fill up my Reflections page. I feel like I've only just begun.

But now I also have to turn my attention to my proposed Art Exhibit entitled Down Here on the Ground, and gear up for that event now. I've sent the proposal for space and I am awaiting a response. I've been looking through several pictures and trying to come up with different ideas to create. Right now I am on a mixed media and collage binge, looking for that right connection or that right energy. This looks to be very exciting, although I still lack many resources to pull this exhibit off. I set the date so I can have some kind of tangible deadline to make my self work and not procrastinate, which happens to be a great friend of mine...lol.

But throught it all, I keep pushing, hoping for something to come along that will give me that much needed boost. I guess I am just nervous due to the fact that about what happened last year, I don't think I can take anymore letdowns. Confidence does wane, especially after recurring instances....I pray this is not the case.

Take care.

Boyz n the hood Compton Scene

2011-08-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Salaams all, wrapping up the last days of Ramadhan, will give more info on the exhibit, God Willing, but the proposal has been sent, and after Ramadhan we're gonna get busy...Give you a hint though....Dealing with this issue. Peace.

Taking it Slowly....

2011-08-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Peace all...

It's been a couple of weeks since blogging and seeming to be so excited about a possible art exhibit. Well the enthusiasm is still there, but it's been tapered a little bit because of two factors:

The first is this heat, with sweltering temperatures in the 100s for the past couple of weeks. Thank God we finally received a little rain, which was enough to provide some shade for a change. These past few weeks have been murder on me due to the fact that I'm walking to the library, which for only God knows, opens in the middle of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So imagine me walking to the library, looking for paths of shade on the sidewalks because when the sun is in the middle of the sky, roads are not going to provide shades from trees. Thursdays thru Saturdays are not too bad, but this rain or just this one day without the sun beaming on me was badly needed. Thank you Allah.

The second thing is the month of fasting, or Ramadhan. This is my first Ramadhan in the summer months, fasting from the break of dawn to sunset. I've fasted before in the summertime, but never on a consistent basis, and compound this constant walking in this heat, it has sapped my energy and fatigue can set it as well. I am trying my best to complete this proposal, but being drained and fatigued has set a delay in presenting my proposal. But hopefully I will present it this upcoming week, God Willing. I will keep you updated, I'm looking toward holding the exhibit between September 24th and October 1st. That will give me more time to recollect my thoughts and re energize. Plus it gives me time to move about with my camera and develop a video to present as well. I've contacted some friends who have asked to help construct the video, which is just dandy for me. Helps me to concentrate on some other things.

Anyways, I will keep you posted on this event, and I will talk about it in upcoming blogs, and also will include details on a non-profit organization, run by a good fried of mine. In the meantime, to my Muslim family, May Allah accept our deeds and fasting for His Sake....Ameen

To the rest of the world....Look out....LOL

Peace...

Hard At Work

2011-07-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

Peace All...

Just a quick blog to give you an idea of what's up...Working on the exhibit, going through the motions, but it's looking better with each moment...I've spoken with some people who could make some things happen for me, and in the process I've come across some special jewels here...Ramadhan begins tomorrow, and I pray that Allah will accept the fasting and forgive us our sins...What do I have planned for Ramadhan you ask? Mainly reading Qu'ran but also reading other material, especially Black on the Block, about gentrification....Pretty exciting stuff, huh? Yeah I'm a party animal...Fill ya in more later....Peace

Keepin ya HIP!!!!

2011-07-15T12:25:00.001-07:00

Peace all,

Been a while since blogging, but still at it...Blogging gives me a sense of expressing myself in ways I don't necessarily think I can on Facebook or Twitter(especially Twitter since you are only allowed 140 characters anyway.)But here I get to spew completely uninhibited random thoughts without worry...well maybe some worry...lol

Anyway keeping you abreast on some things have become a bit of a task since my internet has gone kablewy, but on the real it was not all that I had expected in the first place...the wireless internet became more of a pain than an upgrade, and from the onstart I encountered problems with this system, especially being in a neighborhood with homes older than 20 years...And the customer service has been a problem too...

ANYWAY ENOUGH OF THAT...WHAT'S BEEN UP WITH YOU? HOW'S YOUR HEALTH SINCE THE PIT BULL ATTACKS?

Well, the wounds have healed pretty much, and I wasn't diagnosed with hypertension, but was given a strong warning to watch my diet and exercise more. The daily walks are great, but they want more of a faster pace to get the heart going. Eliminating or reducing stress, now that's a horse of another color....haven't been able to figure that one out yet.

HERE'S TO HOPING FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY...NOW WHAT'S UP WITH THE ARTWORK?

Well I have several projects on tap, I can't fill you in all at once, but hopefully as things develop I will ...First off I have opened the Lifestyles Of The Ignored Gallery on my website http://realquwwa.com. I have a few photos there, and plan to build more as time progresses...I really like what I have done so far, and I pray this is only the beginning. I have also began posting my tshirts and other apparel on the site too.

THAT'S GREAT...ANYTHING ELSE ON TAP?

Oooooh if you only knew...I am filming footage for future video in the works...Shooting most of the footage in my hometown area...

ANY WORD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE VIDEO?

Well it took a turn the more I started filming and gathering more info. It started out as something personal, but as I filmed more on the subjects, it looks like something else is going to come out of this. Not so much as focusing on the homeless, but moreso my area in general and attitudes toward certain sectors of towns, including politicians and such...Can't tell you all about it yet, but it is taking more shape now...This coming Ramadhan, the month of fasting for the Muslims, I will spending it reading The Qur'an and A Book Entitled Black on the Block...It's about gentrification in the Black Neighborhoods, and the behind the scenes look at who really benefits...This will help give direction as well..

GOTTA NAME FOR IT RIGHT NOW?

Tentatively it's called Down Here On The Ground I'll keep ya hip to the latest updates, God Willing.

COOL...ANYTHING ELSE?

Gotta stay tuned...Working on my own exhibitions...May have one in the works...But that's all I can say on that matter for right now...Can't give it all away just yet...

OK, I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR TIME TO KEEP UP POSTED....ANYTHING ELSE?

Just to be on the lookout...I love being under the radar....LOL...PEACE

http://realquwwa.com

Bustin' Out!!!

2011-06-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

Peace all,

Well, the website is coming along fine, still have to open up my Lifestyles of the Ignored gallery, but hopefully will do so by this weekend...And stay tuned for a chance to win an original painting from the artist himself!!! In the meantime take a look at the site http://www.realquwwa.com...Check out the items for sale, more on the way...Yeah it may be a shameless plug, but anyway...lol

More blogs on the way...Peace.

Realquwwa.wmv

2011-06-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

Letting it GO! Again...

2011-06-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

It's uhhruh...let's see here...12:50pm, and I am still trying to launch my website, nerves are really getting the best of me...I need a serious vacation from all of this...

Last week while walking from the store I was attacked by two pit bulls, who jumped out of the owners house. I was startled because I was in the middle of the street, was not agitating them. Minding my own business, yet I was jumped. Bitten in both the calf and thigh...went to the doctor's office and was asked if I was ever checked for hypertension, in which I told them no, and was informed that my blood pressure was at stroke level, and I needed a physical right away, which means more money to be diagnosed with a disease, which means more money that I don't have to buy blood pressure medicine, which will actually cause more stress and distress than initially intended...Every little thing is irritating me now, but I saw this coming a long time ago, from dealings as a customer service representative. The only difference is now I am not working, so that's not an excuse anymore but I can definitely say the stress has lingered, and so has the depression...I'm trying my best to let it go...

Peace all...Love you...

Just Making Conversation

2011-05-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

It's uhhruh 12:53pm here in Texas, heat is not as bad as yesterday, but can I fully enjoy the beautiful weather? Well not exactly...I have a bad case of the scratchies from these chiggers while sitting on the grass a couple of days ago...It's all good though, nothing that a nice hot bath won't cure, God Willing. Just need to stock up on the repellant because it could be one of those interesting summers here. Already experienced a couple of tornadoes, the last one came a few days ago, more scary is the fact they are coming more frequently in the nighttime, making it much more difficult to see anything on the outside. This one here came with much hail that rocked the roof here...In the final analysis, a total of eight tornadoes swept through the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area, rocking areas and even hovering over the downtown Dallas area, where the heedless all play...I'm scared to think what could become of that area should one touch down...Thinking about the tornadoes that rocked Joplin, MO, where one of my friends who just moved to this area lived. At the present 139 killed...Is there a message behind all of this? and more than just a call to go green, which I think is kinda like past that stage anyway...I mean I believe our abuse and misuse of things do have a part in this, but I just think we can't expect to alleviate the situation with abstaining of radioactive waves and aerosol cans and plastics and stuff...I believe it starts in the hearts of man....Change that first...I believe this Earth is in good hands and can always be repaired, remember we didn't create it anyways...But I'm just making conversation...

www.realquwwa.com

The Laying of the Hands Part TOO!!!

2011-05-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Peace all!!!!

Just a few pictures to show you my lack of blogging was not due to laziness!!!

That's right peeps, Q was working on a master plan to make things accessible to the public. Some may look at this as straying away from my art, but I don't think so. I think it enhances my art, knowing that I can be versatile with my expression, beit art, prints, or wearable art. I'm being very careful in choosing my words here, trying to avoid using the word FASHION...which is another way of saying TREND...I want all of my work to be relevant, however have a sense of durability, something that I think is sorely lacking in much of today's culture. Everything is all about the NOW...I think they call it Instant Gratification...LOL

Anyway The Hands On Experiment is something that resembles my approach to art and how I handle my affairs, and it lets me have fun too! This is one of the reasons I decided to remove my Zazzle and Etsy Accounts, although I think I still may be a member of these sites...I think...LOL...It was important for me to learn the ins and outs of creating and distributing my own work. I looked at Zazzle as an opportunity to spread my wings and offer some work to a wider audience, but after looking at who really benefits from these "partnerships" I took it upon myself to make a HANDS ON APPROACH in my ventures, not saying I would not like to partner up, but it should be for the best of both sides, and I didn't see that in Zazzle...I actually think I know how a rapper feels now, to have all of his hard work distributed worldwide and not see a decent percentage of royaties for it...

With Etsy I liked the handmade approach, but it began to get too crafty for me, and plus the idea of communicating with other Etsy members seemed to be too cumbersome, and time consuming, taking away from a lot of other things, and the competing to get front page notoriety and treasures made me tired. I saw some of my Etsy friends complain about not getting enough exposure, people haggling over the prices, which I loathe...So I put together my webbie together...Yeah there is a lot of hard work promoting, advertising, etc. etc. etc, but I like knowing the ins and outs of my work...Becoming more personally involved...The Hands On Approach....DIG?

Available soon on http://realquwwa.com

The Laying of the Hands

2011-05-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Real quickly...Been very busy, my apologies for no blogs recently, several things popped up and had to tend to some personals. I am really excited about the future of RealQuwwa.com and the up and coming events in store. It's just getting started.

In the meantime I'm getting ready to unleash my latest in works entitled The Hands On Collection. It is a collection of shirts and apparel designed by yours truly, coming out very soon. Gotta get the slides and the ads down packed so I can present it to you only the way Quwwa can...LOL...Here is just a tidbit sample of what will be present on http://realquwwa.com.

This is one of a few string backpacks I have worked on, and more to come. The ideas are just coming up from all over, and there is more in store so stay tuned. I have to go and calm down now from the biggest caffeine buzz I've experienced in years...Thank you cappucino!

Take care all.

SPECIAL MESSAGE....

2011-05-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

Peace all....

YEAH I'M STILL HERE!!! LOL....

Masterminds - Sunshine (1998) [HQ]

2011-04-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Peace all, just here at the lab, multitasking, and taking care of the personal. Stay Tuned for more blogs and information on the website which can be seen by clicking here.

BTW. I have been able to merge the blog onto my webbie without having to make any major changes, all one has to do on the website is to click on the widget icon and boom, you're back here. I am very happy about that, because I don't have to migrate stuff over or jump on some other format...I likes it right here.

In the meantime, check this indie chumpie I ran across on YouTube...

Just For Kicks!

2011-04-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Peace all...

Hmmm...it's 8:34 in the morning, got a new mixed media project I'm waiting to dry(textures can be soooo funnnn!) and I needs my bowl of cereal! Found the Granola at the store, and it's time to dig in!

Anyway, this small bloggie is dedicated to twelve of the most important individuals a person can ever have...Yeah that's right, the infamous ten toes and two feet. I mean without them one can not run, walk, jump, kick somebody in the booty, or any of those marvellous pastimes without some assistance from technology, which just doesn't have that natural feel, especially when it comes to kicking somebody in the BOOTY!

Anyway my high-top Adidas went sour on me, after travelling several miles on foot...Soooooooooo. I had to get some more comfortable shoes, realizing shoes made for basketball just don't cut it when it comes to walking...I think I now know the difference....LOL

Anyway check out these shiny discoesque running shoes I paid for. Although some say the shoes are not that bad, I felt uncomfortable putting these shiny shoes on, and developed nicknames like nickelfeet...lol

Well after putting them on one time I felt the difference...So it maybe goodbye basketball shoes and hello running and walking shoes...At least until I get on the court....Do yourself a favor...Treat yo' toesies right! Peace.

Up and Down...

2011-03-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

Peace all!

Well I got good news and bad news....The good news is that the bad news has not made me lose my freaking mind...YET!

The Bad News is the landline phone went BLEWEY!(as Barney Fife would say) I was on the net last Friday and it just went BLEWEY! No more innernets, nothing. My friend told me he tried to call me, but the line was busy, so I tried the troubleshooting steps I learned during my brief stint at Ver....well let me say there were a few good things I learned there. Anyway turns out the phone line has a short and the other teleplantation BLAH, BLAH and BLAH, tells me it will cost 179.00 AN HOUR to fix this thing...Imagine time ticking away while the technician sits on his derrier talking about he's waiting on a part he conveniently left back at the office, or other things. So I said ENOUGH! Let's take a walk on the wild side, or should I say the wireless side, and I got Clear Wireless...Still no internet...

Anyway things are going fine back at the lab, getting a better feel of Photoshop Elements, and starting to take pics and edit them, making another slideshow and doing a bio for a few others...Juices are just a flowing and I'm loving every bit of it. Gotta few things on the painting side taking place and I'll keep you posted asap. Also looking into videos to post on my site and YouTube as well...Keeping up the creativity as much as possible....

It's time to feel again....Take care all...

Letting It All Hang Out!

2011-03-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

12:05am on the dot! Jumuah for the Muslims....Friday morning....Wait a minute....What am I doing up? LOL

Playing with this Nintendo Wii thingy is addictive, even for a person whom the Wii Fitness Meter estimated to be BLAHBLAHBLAH years old...LOL

My arms are sore from the boxing game. Must admit I haven't moved my arms like this in a loooong time...SORE BUT LOVING IT! No pain, no gain, riiiiight?

Anyway, let me tell you about the Tuesday night interview with Lady Flava on Flava News, one of the many shows she has on Blog Talk Radio. First let me say that this lady is a dear friend of mine and a huge supporter of the arts, regardless of genre. However I think the interview was a great shot in the arm for the both of us, for me because out of the other respective interviews I've had in the past, this one was more of a relax, let-it-flow, let-it-all-out thing, and when the internet was working fine, it was real intense. I got to touch subjects I did not cover in previous interviews, and no disrespect to the other because I love them all, but this was the most intense interview I have encountered so far, mainly because the questions were more hard hitting and more to the point of what motivates me and the driving force behind my visual art.

But I also think it benefitted her as well, and gave her more diversity in the sense that she now can prove she is an avid supporter of the arts as a whole, and not just the music scene, with the spoken word scene coming right behind it. She had been trying to get me to get on the show and add some visual artist credibility to her repertoire, and I think it went over fine. Plus she covered the technical difficulties well by putting in some great jazz, too bad I couldn't hear it...LOL

You can catch the whole thing on her site or on www.realquwwa.com. All you have to do is click on the REALQUWWA link above, then click on About Quwwa and then Interviews.

PS...She gave me some very uplifting news when she informed me that she received very positive feedback from people who listened to the archives, and thanked me for a candid and honest interview...

All Praise is due to Allah Alone...

Later y'all...Love ya!

What Da Heezy?

2011-03-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Peace all, check out my interview with Lady Flava tonight at 7pm Central/8 Eastern, if not check it out on www.realquwwa.com.

In the meantime I guess with the new laws allowing liquor to be sold in my area(we still don't have that grocery store yet!) I'm thinking people will react like this when they can't get their drank on....LOL

Peace Out

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

People Get Ready!!!

2011-03-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

OK WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MAN? YOU STARTED OUT OF THE GATES BLOGGING IT UP AND NOW YOU'VE TAPERED OFF? WHAT'S UP?
Been busy with building the webbie, ya know, and trying to take care of other priorities.

SUCH AAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS?
Blogging...lol....Along with working on the photo tip and trying to get some merch to put on the site. Remember now this is not an easy thing when you're flying solo here. But it's the challenge that comes with the territory of being an artist, especially in my case, having to come back from a long hiatus and things seem to go one way and then make drastic twists and turns...

DID YOU GET YOUR INTERNET GOING FINALLY?
Yep, Thank God I did...FINALLY...Took awhile but it fell into place, just in time for the interview with Angel Ayes.

HOW DID THAT GO?
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and wished it would have been longer than an hour. We got a chance to cover some very personal things in an attempt to give the youth of today another outlet to express themselves, and maybe parlay that expression into a career. Many people are grossly unaware of the possibilities that stem from being a visual artist, and it's not just what people conceive as back in the old days. The playing field has opened up with technology, which has also allowed me to evolve into more than just a painter, but a full fledge visual artist.

I have another interview this coming Tuesday with my dear friend Lady Flava, we're going to mix it up on her BTR show.

WHEN IS THAT WEBBIE GONNA DROP?
You can check it out now at http://www.realquwwa.com but it's at its raw stages now, and due to some illnesses, I had to step back a bit, but God Willing it will go on as planned. This is my personal victory...

SO YOU CONSIDER THIS A VICTORY ALREADY?
Yep...

WHY IS THAT?
Because I have it...Sometimes a victory comes at the beginning and not at the end.

ELABORATE PLEASE
This wasn't supposed to have according to many people. Q was supposed to go about his merry way and get a REAL JOB, ya know one with supposed benefits...This was to be left to the hippies and or people who made up in their minds early on this is what they wanted to do. So the fact I opened the site itself is a victory in itself.

GOTCHA. ANYTHING ELSE?
People get ready...Q wants to speak!

MARCH MADNESS IS HERE!

2011-03-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

March Madness is here...NO NOT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT! My version of March Madness! LOL

It's been a very eventful year to say the least for the Q and things are right now topsy-turvy. My interview with Angel Ayes which was rescheduled to March 7th(Hey, that's tomorrow, right?) will go on as planned, despite the ever-continuing saga of trying to get some decent internet access. This crap is really beginning to eat at me to the core, with all of the mishaps and stuff going on. I signed onto this service last week, only to have my activation date start TODAY! A FULL WEEK! Then as I tried to activate my account, no access...

So I call tech support today to see what was going on, and they have to escalate my issue to Level 2, which will be tomorrow, hopefully. Sooooo, while connecting to the modem I discovered that I can actually connect to server of my old provider, JUNO, but I would have to pay for the delinquent services in order to the internet. So simple, just call back and pay the bill and have the account reactivated, right? OH SO WRONG!

Usually I do not complain about the services of a company unless they have had a continuous string of inefficiency( I hate that word...efficiency!) but there have been several bad experiences with this provider in the past couple of weeks. I've been told that there was no availability for the service in my area, despite having the service a few months ago. Then I was told that the current modem I have will not work, and they need to send a new one, WRONG! I'm connected to the network right now, I just need to pay the bill and be provisioned to the internet! Then I was told that I could get the service, but my activation will not be until the 13th of March because they have to re-provision my signal and I need to pay a reactivation fee...

I won't go into the language and/or racial barrier, but I will say the experimenting of using foreign people to service your products as a means of efficiency( or shall we just say being plain CHEAP)is failing miserably. Giving people a script and running through scenarios to teach people how to approach certain issues SUCKS! How do I know? I've worked for two of the major tele-plantations myself and this is how they conduct business...All in the name of being CHEAP! Excuse me, efficient. Verizon goes a step further and tells you in training that they have to be cheap on you to stay competitive. So they give you a raise after 90 days, but everything after that is performance bonuses...WTF? So we work for tips now, huh? Like I'm some freakin waitress? Well as Flo used to say "KISS MY GRITS!" The same stress has returned, which means the same overeating and hypertension has reappeared.

These incidents are coming at a time when doubts are arriving, mainly from other factions, but I can't help it! I'm human and I'm tired of being judged or hearing that others are basically writing me off, especially because they don't understand what I'm trying to do here. They're looking at this as some novelty act, or goofy types of craft, but this is serious business...It's hurts me more because it's coming from the mouths of those who say they love me...That really hurts. They are expecting me to stay on a low paying ass job and smile simply because there is a check every two weeks, but if the check can't cover your basic needs, what the f*ck is the reason for staying there? Just to say you have money for a few minutes? What is this attitude that we have that now allows people to accept any type of ill treatment from Mr. Charlie, and tell people to pray on it and leave it to God, but the first insignificant little person ticks us off, we don't pray on it or leave it to God, we go straight for the jugular vein... No wonder these jobs treat us so badly. We worship them the same way or even more than we worship The Creator. We fear them MORE than the Creator, and because of this we will continue to slide down deeper and deeper into bedlam.

But be grateful, right? Yeah but be realistic TOO HOMEY! Struggling just to struggle ain't cutting it!

But when I tell people of my aspirations, they look at it as wishy-washy, so I'm not telling them anymore. I just don't want to hear any fake applause or see fake smiles if this thing jumps off...

Wanna know why I focus so much on Lifestyles of the Ignored? Let's just say I have a lot of experience on this issue.

WWW.REALQUWWA.COM is on it's way...

Peace all...

When You Want Somethin' Done Right...

2011-02-25T18:17:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Hey all, check check check it OWWWT! My new choice of weaponry, in the never-ending fight for truth and justice!

HEY WAIT A MINUTE! HOW CAN YOU FIGHT FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE WITH A CAMERA?
Easy! By associating the images with that of truth, and not some fabricated, superimposed, cut and paste hocus pocus that floods our media nowadays! Don't you get tired of watching videos and clips of propoganda and just nonsense poised and packaged to fool the public, or is it just willful deceit we are suffering from.

In any case this camera serves a purpose of taking much better pics and with more extensive zoom. I intended to get a new camera anyway, but I did not think of purchasing one with 26X Zoom and 14Megapixels. But this should serve many purposes, especially in the area of creating quality prints, which will go just great with the originals I plan to create. In addition also make some quality videos for my YouTube channel.

The previous blog entitled "Dreaming of a White Super Bowl" is a prime example of sorely lacking quality pictures, especially of the picture of Reunion Tower with the NFL Players Association logo on the building. I had so much trouble focusing in on the building as well as other pictures, which were taken with an older but still effective camera with 7 megapixels. The omitted quality is obviously seen. I tried to play it off as effects, but finally admitted that excuse won't work. So it's time to take it to the next level in photography.

Sometimes you just gotta get more serious about your craft, right?

...All I want is some innernets!

2011-02-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Let's get right to it, OK? First things first. The interview with Angel Ayes has been moved to March 7th, which gives me more time to work on my presentation, which seemed to be sorely lacking, thanks to the wonderful world of the World Wide Web.

The story goes like this...Being able to square up with some of my debts gave me the ability to seek retrieving my DSL internet back, only problem was I had switched numbers and phone companies, and you know how the monopolies go, right? I mean they swear up and down that they are no longer a monopoly, but the little companies who are only there due to deregulation from the government are still unable to be fully effective for their customers, especially when all they offer is dialup! OH BOY!

One provider says they have service for my current number, then calls back and says we are unable to validate the number, since it belongs to BLAH BLAH and BLAH, so after I sqaure up with the phone company and get a switch date, these people tell me it will take 3-5 days to validate, then another 3-5 to activate, oh these are business days too!...I searched different wireless providers figuring I would take a walk on the wild side so to speak, but that was harder than dealing with DSL...

Moving right along, I had to square up with my old provider, then re establish my account, then VOILA, RIGHT? WRONG! I spent time after time trying to contact different DSL providers, whom none could not give me any straight answer on regaining some access. The previous DSL provider, who was pretty decent if I say so myself could not validate my number, although it was the same number as before, then they told me they would have to send a new modem due to the possibility of the one I have now may not be compatible...Uh huh...

I was able to speak with my friend recently, who assured me it would be no problemo on the date change, so now it is March 7th...Hope you tune in, never know what could happen....More to come! (IA)

Take care...

...Dreaming of a White Super Bowl

2011-02-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

Peace all! Hope you had a very Merry Super Bowl! I wish you all nothing but the best this holiday season! LOL

This holiday season was somewhat even more special, being that the festivities took place in Dallas, Tx, my hometown! That meant the city had to be decorated from head to toe in the latest holiday decorations!

A lot of money was thrown into making the visitors get that good ol' Southern Hospitality...Where they got it I don't know, I can't even get a receipt from my local library showing the return date on items I've checked out due to cutbacks in the city!

Even building that were not completed construction-wise took part in the festivities!

Then we had a nice little winter storm which almost made it a White Super Bowl...I can hear Bing Crosby singing now...I'm Dream-ing of a Whiiiiiite Super...oops wrong lyrics.

The winter storm caught everyone by surprise, even the electric company, who issued a winter emergency on Wednesday, asking mainly residents to shut down their electricity for a few hours! Wouldn't have been much of a problem, but I seriously doubt Downtown Dallas with all of its top dollar paying visitors were affected by this strategic move...

Unlike most winter holidays this holiday does not have a food drive, but people are driven to a food frenzy by all of the advertisements to party up and stock up...Friday evening was torture just trying to get some basic necessities for being bombarded with the chips-and-dippers and the beer guzzlers and wine suckers all scurrying about, in addition to the rough traffic from all of the snow and ice. I just wanted to get enough food to last through the next week...LOL

When it was all over the the buzz was filled with complaints about people not getting their seats, the failure of the transit system among other things, giving Jerry Jones reason to issue a public apology. Poor thing, he's had to apologize a lot this season, especially for the sadistic pay of a team he'd hope would be the home team in this year's Super Bowl. In the end, he'll make out big, just like the NFL, just like every bar in grill in town who overpublicized the event, and just like all of those corporations who wasted up to 3 million a pop for a 30 second slot just to show an ecstasy induced rapper advertising a car, an old cut-up face woman advertising a web hosting shop with a name that reeks of pornography, the never ending potato chip commercialism, among the other jokes that make up this feast called the Super Bowl, event in the first place.

The only ones who don't benefit are the citizens of the host city, who watch these corporate monsters claim local pride, only to move the stadiums to out of the area to the suburbs in the next 20 years, only after they've booted residents out and bought up the area to build stadiums with corporate kiss-ass suites.

In closing I think back to last years' Super Bowl between New Orleans and Indianapolis. One was sure that the Katrina tragedy would be a storyline used to show how the city of New Orleans "overcame" adversity, but in the end Katrina was hardly mentioned, if it ever was mentioned at all. No memorial for the victims, no mentioning of the many residents still living in FEMA trailers being threatened to leave the trailers. Just "WHO DAT?"

Do these teams really represent the cities?

Happy Holidays Y'all...

Let's Do It Again...(Feb 22, 2011)

2011-01-28T17:24:00.000-08:00

Peace all...

This is beginning to get serious here, I mean Q actually has 6 blogs in one month? LOL

Sitting here, watching Stand and Deliver and Lean On Me...For inspiration or kicks? You decide..lol

Anyway news from the homefront. I have another interview on BlogTalkRadio with my friend Angel Ayes of the Coach K and Angel Show. The last interview which took place over a year ago was so much fun and my friend Angel who was to be the initial host had something happen to her, and she was unable to attend the show. Coach K filled in for her and it was an exciting show. I was able to hear from some supporters and it was something to behold. I was able to expound on several issues. This time I'm slated to speak about the importance of visual art. I hope to do well.

Things are picking up for me, hoping to get some normalcy real soon, and hoping to get some DSL REEEEEEAL SOOON!

Take Care...Love Ya!

Nonstop...Don't Stop...

2011-01-23T10:41:00.000-08:00

Peace all...

Well it's 12:42 pm, and my toes are freezing! Sitting on the floor on a Sunday January Morning watching old Andy Griffith reruns, thinking back to days where old shows like this were not placed on a DVD and/or placed in the back of the cable tv lineup...Quality entertainment, and I still find myself laughing at Otis and Barney...Some people think this reveals my age, although I disagree. Some people just are not into being bombarded with the sexual uninhibited, free floating so called contemporary entertainment. I remember in 2006 I met a young lady at my job who loved 50's music, and had a serious collection of old hits, although she was only 26 at the time...Some people just look for quality.

Anyway, good news on the homefront. After all of that worrying about losing the opportunity to gain employment, I went into the office Friday, took the test, and was able to pass, and so now my start date will be January 31st. That gives me one more week of freedom.

But who has freedom when you are an artist? I mean c'mon! As far as I am concerned I am very far behind on things I wanted to accomplish, and now I only have 7 days to show that my time off from work was not a total waste of time.

I admit I became very distracted and very depressed when things did not take shape like I wanted to last year. I began to look for instant comfort in food and online friends. I lost focus and plenty of times I wanted to chuck it in. Even at this moment I feel I am embattled, and it just gets tiring. Nothing seems to go right. This past fall a fellow artist and Facebook friend from across the seas agreed to do a swap with me. She did a beautiful painting of two Kenyan women and agreed to swap with me for one of my bags. She sent the picture via regular parcel December 9 and it has yet to arrive. We've been trying to find some information on the package, but to no avail. Very depressing for me.

I keep trying to convince myself something better is on the way, but it gets hard. It's hard for me to keep going sometimes for fear that I'm going to start all over again, and it just gets tiring. I can relate to the Roots song "Rising Down" where he says, "Yo I ain't trying to floss, yo I lost my passion, and I ain't trying to climb I done lost my passion" and "My contents Under pressure do not shake!"

I'm not complaining at all, I'm just telling it like it is. Sometimes if you don't share your feelings, your feelings will eat you up, so I put it in forms of poetry, art or blog.

I have done a couple of videos and hope to finish another one for an interview I have with a writer friend of mine, and I have plans to contact the director for the Stewpot, a collection of artists who sell their art, and give some of the proceeds to help the homeless. I hope to get some positive feedback from that.

Sabrun Jamil...

I'll keep you posted...Love y'all...Take Care.

Universal Truth

2011-01-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

Peace all, I kinda kept this blog under wraps for a few days and almost decided to shelve it, but things pop up and well, ya know, you blow the dust off the ol' bloggy and copy and paste! Simple as that!

Got more things in store so stay tuned, oh also gotta tell you this story, it's from the so you think you have the power? department...lol

Today after a great frolick through the fields and a brisk walk through the 'hood, I came back home to find the recruiter from my job called, wanting to speak with me. I called back and left a brief message to call me ASAP. A few minutes later the recruiter called stating that she had bad news, referring to the new job position that I was slated to start this Thursday. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the class was completely cancelled. TWO DAYS before I was slated to appear! In the meantime I am going to take another test this Friday, hopefully I will pass the test. But you know the Q by now, right? It's time for ME!

Until next time, enjoy the blog...Peace!

Peace all,

It's 5:29 am and I am up doing a blog? Another one? I just completed a blog a couple of days ago and now I have another one? What is the world coming to? LOL

Anyway, this one is kinda different because it involves a recent occurrance where one of my Facebook friends made a comment that I took exception to. The person made the comment praying for women to have elder women counselers because as she asks "why do we continue to ask men for counsel when they have no idea what is in our hearts?"

I immediately replied that Truth has no gender, and while I believe women should be educated and knowledgeable, it should not reach the point of feminist slant, for that will only cause more problems. I will not go into definitions of feminism in this blog for that is another topic althogether, my main issue here is Truth.

Then the question was asked to the men, "what is it I said that was offensive to the men who replied?" which I immediately countered that I am not offended but I do take exception to the statement made. See people have tendencies to make statements out of emotions without checking for full content. I was raised mostly by my mother, most of my early life teachings were from my mother, not my father, who worked constantly during my childhood years. He taught me some things however became disenchanted with alot of decisions I made before his death, especially my choice of Islam. I have no physical blood brothers at all, and grew up for a major portion of my life playing with my sisters if my male cousins or male friends were not around at the time. Yes, I know what it is like to play with paper dolls at an early age, cutting out pictures from JCPenney and Sears catalogs, cutting up boxes and converting them into houses and cars. I played jacks(bald headed baby) and so forth. Most of my memories of family have to do with women. Grandmothers, aunts, great grandmothers and so forth. So most of my upbringing was around a female environment, and truth be told, many African American men can relate to my story in one way or another. This is one of the reasons I continue to be on lookout for the welfare of my mother and sisters despite my fathers' death. No I don't know everything that goes on in a woman's heart, but shouldn't we all be searching for that same Truth, that Same Reality, or is their a Feminine Truth and Reality somewhere that separates women from men although we claim to be human?

Truth be told I have counseled many women on issues in the past and some have sought out my assistance in matters from Islam to marriage and so forth. So you can imagine how I felt when someone makes such a blanket statement as this.

The more I think of the human being the more frustrated I become. This enigma called human being continues to open itself to many contradictions and inconsistencies. We raise the banner to one fight, and ignore another fight of similar circumstances, yet we call ourselves fighters and seekers for Truth and Justice. Our prejudices ooze from cracks and crevices we either don't see, failed to see, or ignore completely. Our specific rants which may hint to discrimination becomes law and Absolute Truth is mere opinion and propaganda. Yes I do believe in Absolutes, and no I am not a Sith.

Truth has no gender, race, age bracket, social class, or tribal affiliation, for Truth comes from the One Who created all of these things, but try telling that to the human being who makes statements such as "With age comes Wisdom" completely ignoring the crimes and atrocities created by elder statesmen, or "It's a Black thang, you wouldn't understand", ignoring the worldwide oppression of other peoples and in many cases buying into the propaganda created by imperialistic factions. Or the many statements some females use to separate humanness from their male counterparts or males who perpetrate the same offences. Different perspectives does not amount to different Truths, does it? To me, it's either Truth or Falsehood.

Frankly put it doesn't matter to me what kind of counsel I get, I've heard both sides and I've heard counsel from my elders, some of them who still called me boy as is I'm not a grown man. I have also been pretty much cast aside by family member who have encouraged the dissolving of my family, basing their conclusions on slander which they have refused to recognize their wrongdoing and have yet to acknowledge their wrongdoings. Female counselers may I add, who have suggested to these things not based on Truth but conjecture and other sicknesses in their hearts. In the end it's not about a black or white, or male and female, or rich or poor thing, it's Truth and Falsehood, well at least that's the way I look at it. Different perspectives is great, but last I check it's still the same road.

So you can keep your specific desires and requests. Just give me the Truth, it's all from God(Allah) anyway.

Back on my BEAT!

2011-01-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

Peace All,

Sometimes you have to play the game injured! And that's exactly what I'm doing now, taking pictures of reconstruction in progress on a bum hip that I hurt, or should I say reaggravated while doing laundry last weekend. This sucka hurts soo much that raising my back while getting outta my bed is excruciating! Yet I got my gameface on, and the camera's in the bag and snap city is now in session! Although I can't quite sit up in a continuous manner to draw anything, I took the opportunity to venture outside and WHOA! SNOW!

News Flash! Snow in Texas! Again! Not as bad as last year when I woke up only to find a large branch resting comfortably on my car! LOL

I took my injured behind outside and walked 'til my heart was content. It's something about snow that makes the whole neighborhood seem so quiet and peaceful. I thought about things and new approaches to my work.

In the evening time I'm relaxing with different teas mixed with Green Tea. Today it was cups of Ginger Twist and Peppermint mixed with Green Tea. I'm sorta going back to my old ways of relaxing with teas, getting into a certain relaxed mood. Plus I'm getting my Kefir on, getting different flavors to keep it interesting. It was a very important part of my regiment in my quest to get back into tip-top shape...

Taking things one day at a time and one step at a time. Getting back into the flow.

Take care all...

RealQuwwa

2011-01-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Here is a short little promo ditty I cooked up just to show a special project of mine that I have coming in the near future, God Willing...More blogs on the way!

Now What? (Interview with myself...I KNOW...LOL)

2011-01-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Peace Y'all,

Thought I'd have a lil fun with this blog, so I put it in interview form. I just love interviewing myself! LOL

Q: WITH THE NEW YEAR UPON US TELL US SOME OF YOUR RESOLUTIONS.
A: I don't make New Year's resolutions

Q: AND WHY NOT MAY I ASK?
A: Well, several reasons, but let's just go with the fact that many of them will be broken shortly after they are made...lol...So why continue?

Q: OK, TELL US OF ANY FUTURE PLANS OR GOALS SET FOR THE YEAR.
A: You won't quit, will you? LOL

Q: YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMEWHAT A REASONABLE QUESTION?
A: Yes, it is, but after what I experienced the later parts of last year, I have become somewhat reluctant to set goals, although I know it's great to plan ahead and put my trust in God(Allah), but I'm human...

Q: SO YOU'RE GUN SHY NOW?
A: You can call it that, but I think I am coming out of the self-created shell I made for myself. Usually when people encounter many trials in their life they have a tendency to try to shield themselves from further hurt. I know I did. They just kept coming one after the other.

Q: LIKE THE LOST OF POSSESSIONS AND SUCH?
A: Definitely, especially my means of transportation, because it symbolized achievements some people actually doubted I could do for myself. Also it came at the time I was trying to do my first exhibition, so that really shook me. To almost quitting the whole thing.

Q: SO DO YOU FEEL ANY DIFFERENT NOW?
A: I know it's all a test and I have some great support from the home front as well as friends from afar, via blogs, BlogTalkRadio, Facebook and so forth. They all encouraged me from the spiritual aspect, and reminded me of what I am supposed to be doing and Who am I doing it for.

Q: SO DID YOU WORK ON ANYTHING AFTER MISSING THE EXHIBITION?
A: In all honesty I didn't do much, mainly because other personal things came into play, as well as looking for employment, which I hope has been solved on a temporary basis.

Q: SO YOU NEVER DISCARDED YOUR ASPIRATIONS OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY?
A: You can't discard your dreams and aspirations over a few setbacks. In reality they are only setbacks if you let them become setbacks. No one is promised ease in this life and Islam teaches trials are not given to flunk, but to make self assessments, purify, teach and gear up for even bigger tasks. I can only pray that is the case with me.

Q: SO CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE SCOOCH OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT OR HOPE TO EXPECT THIS YEAR?
A: Not much has been made concrete yet except for a website.

Q: YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WE ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE GRACED WITH A WEBSITE?
A: God Willing(Insha Allah) No set date yet.

Q: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS WEBSITE?
A: Everything hopefully. From videos to art and other items.

Q: MORE POETRY?
A: Huh? (LOL)

Q: CAN WE EXPECT MORE POETRY?
A: Depends...Most of my poems are spontaneous. I don't normally write down my poems, just like I normally don't sketch out my artwork either.

Q: SORTA FREESTYLE LIKE JAY-Z?
A: Whatever...(LOL)

Q: ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORKS?
A: I'm working on other Blog Talk Radio interviews in the near future, more details as they come, plus I may be looking into joining a local art group called The Stewpot. The artists there sell their work and some of the proceeds go to feeding the homeless. It's similar to The Lost Ones Exhibit I was slated for last August. But we'll see about that. Again more details as they come. Right now I'm working on a video to put on my YouTube Channel. I guess you can say if I have made any sort of a resolution it is to make myself more visible than previously. It should be coming out soon, God Willing.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE INTERVIEWING ME, WE MUST DO THIS AGAIN SOMETIME...LOL

ANY LAST WORDS?
A: Never give up, life is a test, and Allah has power over all things...Peace.

Video Tour

2010-12-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Working on a new blog, but in the meantime please check out one of my artistic friends, Doryssam...Check out her beautiful landscapes as well...

What Now?

2010-12-24T16:11:00.000-08:00

Peace all...

It's 6:14pm and I'm sitting down with this hot laptop on my lap, I guess I took the name laptop too seriously(lol).

But anyway, I have some good from the homestead! After over 6 months ya boy landed a JIZZOB!(YAY!)The time it took and the mental beating it took on me was brutal, but yeah, I landed one, so all those naysayers can sit down and shut up! But we know that won't happen right? HA HAAA!

With that in mind, the question now becomes what happens now? I mean granted it is a job, however it's a mere job that barely covers my immediate needs. I mean I'm grateful, but I also have to be a realist. Am I relegated to hopping from one job to another? And what does this mean for my art: is this another spiraling tale of unfulfilled wishes and dreams, is it a stepping stone for something greater? Granted when I left my previous job I felt it was the beginning of something great, with a show lined up, people digging some of my creations, and all of a sudden I lost a lot of things. My car was the most devastating thing because it was a source of independence for me. A symbol of efforts made along with patience and faith in God(Allah) and myself. Now I'm back to spending 2 and a half hours just to get to a job that takes 30 minutes to get there by personal transportation.

One of my Facebook friends told me that sometimes you have to purge yourself and keep those things that are needed. I'm realizing that now. It doesn't make sense from the outset when you look at it, after all I have to go and wash clothes, buy groceries, go to work, etc, etc, etc....LOL. But I think I'm getting the jist of what she meant. So I take that deep sigh, but move on...

It's gotta get better somewhere, somehow, someway...

Take care all...

Dustin' Off...

2010-12-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Had a real intense blog this week about my reaction with the HIV/AIDS awareness, but after trying to sort all of the frenzy out, I shelved it. I spent so much time contemplating and discussing the subject, and I faced so many opinions and strategies on supposed preventive measures, and what I can truly say is that this a very emotional and expansive topic, and it seemed to go nowhere. However from the discussions I have learned alot and I feel I can add HIV/AIDS to the topics to address with my art, and hope that God Willing it can spark as much dialogue and look for more avenues to address research and preventive measures than just giving addicts clean needles, making sexual active people use condoms and treading dangerous waters by admonishing the whole population to take tests, even long time married couples based on suspicions, isolated personal experience and sporadic evidence. It will not do a thing to solve the situation, nor to create a society of forgiveness, responsibility, and knowledge nor help those in need to really show sincerity and concern. It's bigger than what we may have expected and maybe some have even hoped. Everyone is affected somehow, someway. How it started and where and who started it is no longer a priority.

Anyway, I have other things lined up as well, and hopefully a website should be coming soon, filled with neat lil' goodies(oh boy!) but that's pending on a couple of issues, mainly financing. I have a potential job lined up, 3 guesses where? THAT'S RIGHT A CALL CENTER!

This one is a bit different, for I have no plans on staying on any job like this. I feel I am more focused than ever on what I really want to do, priorities are in order, strategy is in place, and now I am praying and waiting for the doors to open up. This is only to supplement my immediate needs, for we all have immediate needs right?

And DSL is one of them....Oh boy...

Take care all!

Moving on...

2010-11-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

I've been away for awhile, conjuring up new things to bring to the table. Things are happening so fast and so much that one can lose sight of the bigger picture, however at least I can say most of these things that are happening are on a more positive note. I usually balance my blogs so to give the reader the ups and downs, and not just a lot of fluff involved. I have a couple of blogs in mind coming soon, but in the meantime, kick back and relax while I smile a bit....LOL.

Still no word on the job status, and it is getting more frustrating by the day as I travail through this terrain trying to seek out some employment( ALL THOSE T'S...LOL)but I feel the end of the search is near, and pray that something good comes along. I can't help but feel apprehensive however when I find myself filling out an application for a call center position, knowing the last 3 jobs I've had were in those environments, and they have done so much to my mental that I can truly say I don't know if I can be effective in such an environment anymore. But I keep looking and applying. Anyway...

During my time away I am gaining more confidence in working with Photoshop Elements and with a pen tablet, yeah you've guessed it, Q is into digital arts too! I use to have some apprehension to technology as a whole, due to believing that it was not as "pure" and "natural" as maybe other forms of visual artistry, but now I feel it can only enhance my repetoire, especially in mixed media which can use a lot of photography and clippings, so stay tuned! Ol' Q looks to switch it up a bit here!

I've also been asked to give another BlogTalkRadio interview, more to come on that later.

Gotta go all, the library is closing up and I gotta get back home to watch the rest of The Wire....Until then..

Peace all...LOVE YA!

PS...This piece here has yet to be finished...I can truly say it has been my most troublesome piece, trying to find what can complement this piece...I'll get to it, God Willing..

Letting it go...

2010-11-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

Peace All,

At this point in my life I've come to learn to accept the fact that if I had a middle name it should be struggle...LOL

The past few months have completely taken a toll on me, as well as forced me to take a long look at myself, to check my intentions, look at my high points and low points, and try to come up with some form of strategy for both short and long term goals I made.

I thought I had a strategy all in place earlier this year, and I thought my departure from my job would signify a new era for the Q beginning with the exhibition, not to say this is why I left my job(though some have garnered serious allegations and slandered my name) but however things turned topsy-turvy, and I found myself sprawling into a pile of stress, worries, accusations and downfalls. I now find myself defending my positions to people who either don't know me fully, or don't really understand what is going on. At times I have even doubted myself and have stepped back many times to see if it is something I am doing wrong, or is it a test from God(Allah) which will purify me, develop more of a trust in Him as well as gear me up for something bigger down the road.

They say you should always have a good opinion about God, and I do, but it's really hard being a mere human being, trying to trust Him when you don't see the whole picture. I understand that's what the tests of life is for, and also understand that if He doesn't care or deem good for a person, He will not try them so severly. Last week was another one of those tests, I almost lost my storage which included very personal and important items, many of my books and videos among other things that I accumulated over 8 years.

The outcome was good, and I feel like my trust in God has grown, but I'm growing more tired of having to explain myself to people who don't see these things as tests and trials from God, but rather shortcomings or failures of my own. People ask why have I become somewhat of a recluse in the past few years. In reality I am not a recluse, just a man who is tired of being around people who don't seem to take things in a serious manner or who look at things from a superficial point of view.

I know of people who are unemployed for the same amount of time I've been, or even longer, yet in their conversations they don't seem to mention anyone doubting their intentions or integrity, so why should I be different? Why should I be looked upon as some deceitful, light-headed, non-serious guy with a dream simply because I'm looking within myself to advance myself instead of ever-chasing a permanently temporary job, and why am I being blasted for defending myself, my sanity and my integrity, as if to say these things are not important anymore? When did money replace integrity, decency, honor, and respect?

So I continue to travel lightly. One day, God Willing, it will all make sense.

Take care all...

Sobriety is the New Enemy!

2010-10-31T14:51:00.001-07:00

Peace Y'all

First I must apologize for my lack of political acumen. I mean I totally forgot this was the year of the elections, so there I said it! LOL

I mean after all, it's not like I don't have any interest in politics, but I don't believe that old cliche' "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is an all-encompassing statement, I mean sometimes you have to know when to continue to try and when to quit, when to let it go, ya know?

In this great state of mine our governor has slickly gotten away without any notice about the allegations of taking bribes from a Big Pharma company in exchange for making the HPV vaccine mandatory for ALL public school- attending girls over the age of 12, regardless if they are sexually active or not. Local schoolboard elections have given victory to gangsters who masterfully take the money from school(84,000,000 dollars last I checked) superintendents come and go like Arab nomads, our two-faced mayors and other city officials are continuing to find themselves on the news, and not for good reasons either. And the grand fiasco of all, realizing America's first Black President is not any better than America's last White President, bailing out the real bank robbers, lying about the economy, and now resorting to Juniors' old tricks of the same old tired "somebody's trying to terrorize America" scam, one must begin to wonder what is this politic mess all about.

But I must admit there are some things worth really voting for, and this year brought out some doozies, mainly Propositions 1 and 2, propositions about whether or not beer and wine can be sold in grocery stores in Dallas proper. For the most part Dallas is still a dry city, except for certain business areas and in the parts in the 'hood(as if that's a surprise). Surprisingly my area which is now seeing its part of ghettoization/gentrification taking place, had an ordinance prohibiting the sales of liquor in stores, but like most if not all pre-dominately African-American 'hoods, they were at one time predominately White neighborhoods until the n... well you know the rest of THAT story.

Now advertisements now popping up on so many billboards entering downtown and even skyscrapers are encouraging passers-by to get tow-down, with giant-size billboards of the latest and greatest of hooch, elegantly packaged to make even the stinky-bummy drunk look and feel as if they are privileged to swig such a fine wine.

To suck the voters into approving this move brochures were printed out using the old "enhance the economy" and "encourage economic development" and paying better wages to policemen routine, and adding the notion that if this is not passed, the city will be unable to recouperate at least 30 million dollars from an already whopping 80 million dollar city deficit. This lack of funding has supposedly made the city cutback funding to parks, pools and libraries, now even the downtown library looks like a ghost town every Monday, but strangely enough orchestrated music is piped through the elegant Bose speakers hanging above the entrance. This past summer, stores all around the Dallas area, even Wal Mart neighborhood markets hosted registration tables encouraging people to vote YES to sell beer and wine in grocery stores in Dallas proper.

This photo was taken at a gas station in my 'hood. My area has not had a grocery store in the past 2 years, yet people are being encouraged to vote YES on November 2nd to allow beer and wine to be sold in such places.

A couple of problems here, especially in my hood, where the nearest grocery store is a DOLLAR STORE! Which is more important, a grocery store, or the ability to sell hooch in a grocery store? If you don't have a car in my neck of the 'hood, tough rockos kid, 'cause the nearest decent store is miles away. There's only two ways to get food in my area, the dollar store(with its limited supply of meat, and even more limited supply of non-pork meat), or pretend you're poor(if you're not) and go to Mt. Tabor Baptist Church and front yo' self a sack of groceries every Tuesday.

Another issue is the cry about the rise of crime already in these 'hoods, especially in the impoverished areas, but nevermind that correct? I mean the only drugs that are illegal here are marijuana, crack and cocaine(which you won't see in my parts), right? Never mind that before the invention of crack, alcohol was the suicidal choice in the hood, right? Nevermind that every year more people die of alcohol-related incidents 4 times over than the amount of people killed in the World Trade Center on 9/11, but hey, no one's shut down a brewery right? Or accused a liquor store of being a terrorist cell, right? Then why use the same old revenue-generating excuse( which we the taxpayers won't see anyway) as a means to pump sauce into the neighborhoods, knowing fully we won't see the results of such ventures except maybe increases in deaths, dependency and depression? What happened to the Texas Lottery, that was legalized in 1992, which the proceeds from that was said to fix roads, schools and.... Where's that money? More and more casinos are being built, more ways to gamble your money away are being established, and more and more ways to hype up your addiction or depression are concocted, but what happened to the jobs? How can private-owned buildings continue to go up downtown while public libraries, pools and parks are closing down?

In closing, I want to make it clear that this is not a blog to encourage or discourage voting, or to urge to vote no, but basically showing the sickness of this society, allowing corporations and political pundits to to further contribute to the spread of vices and addictions and hide them under pseudonyms called "urban development" "economic growth" and so on. In the end who really wins?

Peace y'all

Flashback!!!

2010-10-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

Flashback picture...Did this in 2007, I had just started to play with pastels after spending all of the time off away from art. Really liked it. I don't mind doing still life pics(in fact I really dig it) but I felt I had to establish my voice first, in order to be taken seriously. But things like this make me wanna just whip out the pastels and let the dust fly!

...Quandry (Black Haunting)

2010-10-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Sometimes being a clutterbug(such as me!!!) has it's downers. Take today for instance. After feeling good about labelling my next project Black Haunting, some of the ideas I have for the project spurred into another direction, and ANOTHER project came about, one I'm thinking of entitling What Was It All For Anyway? I think both of these will really be interesting in scope and range, as well as content, and I'm sure it will be one that not too many people would want to talk about initially. But that's me right? Always into something, always causing trouble...Tee hee hee!!!

I am in my best mood right now after recovering from what looked like a down point in my life. Missing the exhibit, The Lost Ones, one that Joanna worked so hard in getting to happen, and one that I wanted to participate so badly made me take a hard look into wondering if I should continue on. But even more sad were the incidents that took place which resulted in my abscence. I usually don't place my personal feelings and incidents online, however I feel this one needed to be stated in order for me to move on with my life.

Two weeks before the exhibit my car was repossessed for late payments. I had been searching for ways to pay for the car as well as looking for a job after leaving my last job, (an issue which some people are still trying to second guess to this day) but was unable to come up with any solution. I went through several ordeals to get this car, and to find out it was taken away really hurt me. I had left some personal belongings and some clothes in the car at the time it was repossessed. In order to retrieve those items I had to borrow my mother's car, drive 60 miles out of Dallas and back to retrieve my belongings.

I tried to look for employment opportunities to keep the car and my personal finances in good standing, but nothing happened. I searched and prayed for relief and kept toiling about. Finally I asked some relatives(who are very able mind you) to front me a loan until I can get back on my feet in order to redeem the car and to help with some basic needs. At first I was told that the check would be in the mail and I would get it the next day. I cried and thanked God(Allah) thinking this would save my car, and help with some basic needs until I can get back on my feet.

A couple of hours later I received a call from their son pretending to ask questions about what happened at my previous jobs, why I left those jobs or was fired, and what the future hold for me(which only God can answer that). He says we was trying to help me find some work or some leads, as if he was sincere. I honestly told him what happened and my aspirations for doing my own thing as well. The very next day I received a package with some old dates and a printout of a narration from Prophet Muhammad(S) about how the person's sustenance was written in the womb of the mother 120 days after conception and NO CHECK. This statement is true, but the circumstances behind why this happened are fishy. The rest of the story is too hard to tell, and too hard to think about.

In any case I lost my car, among other things, and now I am somewhat starting from scratch, but I have not lost my zeal and my drive in any way. Actually many of the current events are the catalyst for my newest projects. And these trials that I go through make me stronger for handling bigger problems that may come my way in the future.

Keep moving forward...

3 Blasts From The Past

2010-10-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

Peace All,

Still working on my blog, but in the meantime here are 3 ditties from the past, one even shows the softer side of the Q, if you can believe that...LOL

Take care all...Love Ya!!!

K'NAAN - Somalia

2010-10-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Peace all...

It's been over a month since hitting the blog, but getting busier than ever, working on a new project to be revealed soon...In the meantime, check out this video of one of my favorites...Somalia, by K'naan....Take care.

Silver Lining

2010-08-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

It's 1:56am where I live and it is the 16th of Ramadhan, the Muslim month of fasting. I am saddened, puzzled and perplexed to say the least. I sit here blogging, more confused than ever about recent events that forced me to cancel my appearance at The Lost Ones exhibit this Saturday. All that hyping up the event and all that planning came to a screeching halt as personal reasons forced me to deal with what still seems to be a priority. I am trying to bring a message with my art as well as make this and other art ventures my sole means of maintaining my family, but now I find myself disappointed to say the least. It says in the Quran that there maybe a thing that you like that may have something in it that is not good, and there may be a thing that you hate but may have good in it. I try to look at the things from this perspective, but hey, I am a human being with limited knowledge, meaning I'm not going to figure out everything in life that is thrown at me, so I must look toward Al Hakim(The Most Wise) to see what is the meaning of all of this. Sometimes I get the point later on, sometimes I don't, but it still adds up to God being in total control of everything, and I have to accept it as that. He knows and I don't know.

I find myself now in a state of flux, not trying to come off as wishy washy, but just finding myself wondering if I should continue on, that is until my friend Joanna Ballard, the one hosting the event, reminded me what is the main reason for this event. It is not about art, not about Quwwa or Joanna, it is about the homeless and us using our God given talents to bring about consciousness.

It still hurts though and even more so seeing that fact that I may be starting over, back to square one so to speak. I feel like a rapper right now, scared as heck of having to look for employment outside of my own talents. I have been looking for employment anyway but nothing has come of fruition, and frankly I don't want to go back into a world where I am disrespected, mistreated and used to make some other sucker rich, only to come home with a few measley crumbs to toss at my family. I have regained my agility, energy and health since leaving my job May 23, and since that time my weight has dropped drastically, as the size 50 baggy pants that I wore while at work now looks totally out of proportion, as I seem to have shrunk down to a size 46 now. The last time this happened in 2002 I lost a total of 120 pounds, only to gain it back once I started hitting up these jobs.

I have to do for my family though, and I have no problem with that at all. I don't look at kids as crumbsnatchers, however they are quickly becoming looked upon as crumbeaters, as criminals continue to force the hand of an economy that has no business being in existence, but continues to thrive while a sleeping population continues with the status quo, and very few are seeming to wake up and take charge of their own destinies. I pray that I don't go out as another dreaming independent artist who had to "face reality"

Please help me to understand Allah...

HOMESTRETCH!!!!

2010-08-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Peace all....

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

27 more days to go before the show....

Getting very excited and anxious here....Plans are being made, guests are being booked and ads are a flyin' everywhere. I had to refocus my energies on this project, so my ETSY and Zazzle items have taken a back seat somewhat, while I focus on finishing up the last pieces of work. Plus with the entrance of Ramadhan, the Muslim month of fasting coming up, it is imperative to finish up everything, well at least the physical work, because Ramadhan in the summer promises to be very interesting. The last time I tried to paint during Ramadhan I found out how very draining it could be....LOL...

Why did she list me also as a spoken word artist? OH BOY.....

Peace...

Check It OUT!

2010-07-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Peace All,

A lot of changes are happening on this blog as we speak, mainly the addition of the menu bar right below the Quwwa logo. This will give people the opportunity to link up with the other ventures I am involved in, mainly the addition of my Youtube channel, the Etsy Store and Zazzle store links. For a while people have been asking about purchasing some of my artworks, now finally they can go to either Etsy or Zazzle and check out the latest additions to the Quwwa repetoire. I also have plans for prints and posters to be sold as well so stay tuned for that too. Also coming soon will be a gallery exposing my work, and maybe even a complete website, showing all of the latest events, bio, gallery and other things. One other note, I know some may have experienced having to listen to the opening of my Blogtalkradio interview with Coach K and Angel. Well I have also created a link for those who would like to listen to the interview as well as the interview with my friend Tania-Maria Xavier of ColoredPeople. Net without having to turn off the interview as soon as you go to my blog. Just click on the link Blogtalkradio and enjoy.

More info on the The Lost Ones Exhibition coming up! Love you!

muMs The Schemer - Lincoln's Lie

2010-07-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Peace All,

Working hard on some pics for "The Lost Ones" exhibit coming this 8/28/10 in Shreveport, LA. Will be back with a new blog, but in the meantime check this out!! Great piece.....

The Lost Ones!! 8/28/10!!!

2010-07-10T15:32:00.001-07:00

PEACE ALL,

It gives me great pleasure to bring to your attention an event that I feel will be a great success with God's help, it is an event entitled "The Lost Ones" coming to Shreveport, LA on August 28th, 2010.

The event is the brainchild of a good friend of mine that I met on Facebook, Joanna "Louisiana Storyteller" Ballard, a great poetess, artist and storyteller, whom I met through another good friend on Facebook, Lady Flava, a very staunch supporter in Indie Arts and an all around cheerleader for the arts.

Joanna is a very enthusiastic person and very involved with the issue of homelessness, who in seeing my art and reading the few poems I have written believed that my work falls right in line with her vision as well. What's more monumental is the fact that this collaboration is very diverse in just the two of us, Joanna, being a White, Christian based, woman and I being an African American Male who is Muslim, promises to bring many different aspects to the table in this event, and in talking with her about the issues of the homeless people and how visual art among other art forms can contribute to awakening the mind, body and spirit to combat the seriousness of homelessness and poverty seemed to fall right in line with some of my ideas in my personal contribution entitled LIFESTYLES OF THE IGNORED.

The event will include poetry, music and visual art exhibitions ranging from her personal collections of photography to paintings by YOURS TRULY! That's right, after almost four years of resurrecting my passion and adding purpose to my art, God(Allah) has given my the opportunity to once again use my expression and spread the message, hoping that it will enlighten, educate and spur action. This is only the beginning, we are still in the process of putting everything together, but this could be the beginning of something very special, so special we may be looking into a similar venue in my hometown of Dallas, Tx as well. I will bring more details as they come, but in the meantime, I thank you for your constant support and backing.

All Praise Is To Allah(GOD)Alone...

Take care, Love You All......Quwwa

P.S.....DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK!!!! HA HAAAAAA!!!! TOLD YOU IT'S YO' LOSS SUCKAAAAAAAHS!

You Wouldn't Understand

2010-07-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Here at the lab working on the pictures from the upcoming art exhibit in Shreveport, LA this coming August. I have made great progress(thank God) and things are going full swing. I am in the process of making 8-9 original works along with 3-4 prints of previous works. I am very excited about this possibility to call to attention the ills of the society as well gain exposure about my art, and maybe make some money in the process. I have been bouncing around like a pinball, hitting different areas, some people don't get it, thinking this works against me, however I assure you it works in my best interest. It's great to concentrate solely on one piece, but what happens when you run out of ideas or hit that fork in the road on a particular piece? In my case i pull up another piece and get to work, never stopping for just one piece.

Speaking with my friend and fellow artist today she revealed a sad case wherein her parents have basically given her the boot due to her insistence of working on her passion instead securing a "real job"... I ask you, especially in today's world, what the feezy is a "real job"? Is it one of these jobs that you feel safe in knowing you have a paycheck every two weeks, although you are still unable to cover the costs of living? A job where in the bulk of the people working are also struggling with some type of vice or addiction that crept up on them as a result of trying to deal with the stress of overwork and underpaid? Disrespected? Don't people realize that the days of working for these plantations for 20 years, collecting pension, social security and profit sharing are now OVER? That they don't give a fick about you and your family's well being anymore?

Do they not think that independent artists have what it takes to succeed artistically and still make ends meet? Do they not know all of the avenues that are available to artists to express their true talent as well as make profit? Have we lost touch with what's going on in the world so much that we have given these slavemaster corporations the idea that we can't live without them? I grew up being taught that I could not live without God, now it seems we have allocated power to human beings that they do not deserve. They cannot create, produce, provide for anything here, and they too will die, so subjecting myself to them is not only wrong, but foolish. All that you see as a result of their doings (for many of them misdeeds is more like it) is really an illusion that has no foundation in truth. Truth will prevail.

I have reserved May 23, 2010 as a day I call my Independence Day, and I have no wish to go back. My attitude is now "I can work with you, but I can't work for you!"

Take care all, love you...Peace

Hip Hop & Politics: The Rockefeller Drug Laws

2010-06-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Another Level

2010-06-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Are Ya Ready?

2010-06-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

Straight From the Lab of Quwwa Artworks

Can you feel IT?
Do You See IT?
Can you taste IT?
Quwwa's Creations!

Told ya Playtime's OVER!

New From Quwwa Artworks!

2010-06-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

TShirt, Undeniably..., Quwwa Art by quwwa1
Create custom t-shirts using zazzle.com

Hey all, check out the new tshirt I just created with the help of Zazzle.Com. I really hope you like it, it has one of my original pieces of artwork with the UNDENIABLY... motto attached to it. Only from Quwwa Artworks

PARTY TIME!!!!

2010-06-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

Peace all...

Thinking back to the mid '90s, I can recall getting so excited about the upcoming family vacation to Disneyland. We saved our money to get the tickets, packed clothes and snacks, rented vans for the long road trip, took the scenic route (Very scenic when we got around Mississippi....lol), the whole nine yards. Rented some condos around Kissimmee, Florida, yeah, we were about to do it up Mickey style. But when the vacation was over, as far as me and my uncle, all we did was go half on a pizza, watch cable, fed the begging ducks who surrounded us at the park bench and sat around the condo while everyone else went to Dizzinyland (incorrect spelling intended). Many people looked at that as wasting money, but looking back I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look at it as one of the most memorable vacations I had ever taken, almost topping that time when my family went to Fiesta Texas and I spent a good portion of the time tormenting those little kids on the bumper cars !!!

Well, Q had to take another one of those wander-off-somewhere-for-no-reason-at-all vacations. Just hopped up, left town and stayed away from it all. Destination not important, and I have no pictures of me with balloons or riding on the roller coaster, no pics of me piggin out at the local restaurant, or running thru the beach like some crazed lunatic to splurge to my fans, none of that! Yes, again I just got away from it all, watched tv, and ate. Yeah, I had some other things planned, but they fell threw, and I did not pitch one hissy over it either, I got the rest that I needed, and now I am refocused.

Some people again thought, ok, you could have done this at home. Really? Sometimes you have to get away from familiarity, but we think getting away means camera, film, the whole nine, now we bring blackberries, and all kinds of things to the vacation, then complain about still needed rest. But I look at it this way, why should I paint the town like a madman, only to come back tired, still complaining of lack of rest just to say "I had big fun?" For the past 3 years, no make that 8 years I have been on a serious rollercoaster ride. Unemployed, stressed, starving, disputes, you name it. This was the first week I had the opportunity to just sit up and do nothing. No facebook, no art, no blog, Nuthin! Just got away from it all. Some people think a vacation or going out of town means non stop partying, whoopin it up, Disco Duck style! lol.... I'm the type that likes to take it down, especially after spending the past couple of months unhealthy and totally stressed out from dealing with this no account job I had. So my apologies to everyone for not bombarding my blogs or facebook with pictures and events of my vacation....But I had fun, and will do it again soon.....That is...

unless I see some little kids drivin' bumper cars ..... MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Take care all!

Emancipation....

2010-06-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

Peace all...

Yeah, after 3 years of working in a disrespected state at this company, I tendered my resignation. I was put in a position to where I was between a rock and a hard place, dealing with a person whose pettiness I would say is an understatement. As time wore on his displeasure of me became more apparent to even the company. As a gesture of my displeasure I tendered a resignation with an email I sent to the entire floor expressing my feelings and being in a plantation environment. To many this may seem a bit too extreme, we are used to telling people not to quit their jobs until they found another one. I didn't feel as if I had that time. My distrust of this character led me to believe that at any moment he would try to fire me. My heart goes out to the people who continue to put up with the abuse, but my honest opinions about these jobs are not pretty and I truly believe if more people do not stick up for their honor and rights they will receive nothing in return but constant disrespect. People have been put into a state of terror by these tyrants, fearing starvation, as if we are not already starving or struggling to pay the bills. This job held raises back for almost 3 years, then trying to pull some bullsh-t to only pay the current rate instead of what it owed to the people. I can safely say I could care less what happens to the weasel, he lost my respect long time ago.

It took a while for me to come to grips with what I did, fearing I would be looked at in an irresponsible way. I truly thank God(Allah) for giving me the fortification to bolt out at the right time and to speak from the heart about the situation as a whole. He is the One who gives sustenance, not man. Once we lose that understanding, we open ourselves up to be slaves at the hands of men....

I no longer feel defensive in my decision, but I feel like another door has opened...As a matter of fact I have an art show in Shreveport, LA in August and a possible contribution to UNESCO may be in the works. More info later, but expect this blog to get thick up in here!

Playtime's over.....For a lil bit.....LOL

Y'ALL READY?

America Continues To Eat Its Young....

2010-05-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Peace All......

This is one of my favorite interviews, coming from Dick Gregory, speaking about the harsh treatment of the youth that are into hip hop culture. I couldn't explain it any better. It exposes the cowardliness of those so called Black community leaders and parents who seem to have left the Black Youth in the lurch, to be eaten by this cannibalistic, dog eat dog system. It also gives us insight on what the Black Race is really trying to achieve, are we trying to achieve true justice, or just trying to get a piece of the pie?

Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik El Shabazz) warned the people in his classic autobiography that the most dangerous person is the ghetto hustler, because of his image, which shows him as one defiant of all civic laws, while those who accuse and attack have yet to give any solutions rather than stand, sit, and sing songs that do nothing to remedy this vicious cycle. I have become a firm believer that evil does not exist as a result of its might, for evil has no true might, but where there is a lack of true righteousness and justice, evil will take root and spread. And this is something that starts with the heart, not with flimsy pieces of paper with so called laws that separates gender, race, class, nationalities and so forth.

This is also why I feel that a Black man as a President of the United States does nothing but give those who championed for "Civil Rights" more ammo to abandon these youth, by actually believing that this was some big momentous victory for the Black Race, and belittle the other movements that took a more aggressive stance to get freedom and justice. We seem to have forgotten terms like tokenism and how colonial powers used people of the oppressed to keep them oppressed, but that's another story altogether. I hope you enjoy. I sure did.

Returning.....(Poem)

2010-05-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

Although we are grown
And have learned to walk
We still trip, stumble and fall from time to time
Because we are human
The same with life itself
Although we know right from wrong
We still trip, stumble and fall

The goal is not to attain perfection
No one can attain the impossible
Foolish are those who dare try
But the goal is to purify the heart
Before the Inevitable

For as time passes
Life too shall pass
Nothing here on earth is eternal
This is just a brief stop on a journey back

So please while you are on shore
Do not become too enchanted with the glitter of this life
Partake in the sales, but do not let the bargains distract you
Do not become too involved with those who fraternize outside of the boat
The boat will be leaving very soon
And we will all be returning.

© 2010 Quwwa. All Rights Reserved.

Soulmates....

2010-05-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Peace y'all,

I want to take time out to just mention a Ning site that meant the world to me, and helped me to regain some of my confidence which was needed at a time when I went out to face the art game on my own. The name of the site was Give Your Walls Some Soul and it was headed by Shannon Grissom, an extraordinary artist in California that I had the pleasure to meet from another Ning site at the time, Iseecolor. Iseecolor was not the medium that I wanted, but at that time I knew of no other site that I could use to expose my art and rub elbows with other artists. There I met Shannon and we traded comments with each other until one day I received an invitation to join her personal Ning site. There I tried to contribute as much as I could and she would make me a feature artist regularly. I met another great artist Janet Vanderhoof on this site as well, but I also hooked up with a plethora of knowledge and advice that helped me emerge into another type of artist. She is responsible for reminding me of artistic license, and giving me the understanding of letting your feelings translate to your canvas. I am very saddened that her site along with others like it are closing down as a result of Nings' changes, but I fully understand her decision and others like it. Although I may use Facebook a lot in many instances, I have always loved the Ning sites, and the opportunities they posed as well. It was just something special about this site. I'm really going to miss it.

Love y'all. Take care.

Recharge!

2010-05-08T13:24:00.001-07:00

Peace All...

Still recovering, but spirits are much better now...Becoming more focused, still need vacation(don't we all?), but at least now I can concentrate on some things. I have a possible show lined up, and I will fill you in on the details later, however this show includes a slide show with pictures, aimed mainly at the homeless. I was asked if I wanted to contribute....Think I would refuse? This could be something that could take my art to, as they say on Mad TV, a whole nuva levul.....LOL....I'll will keep you abreast of the details, but until then check this video out. It's interesting. I would like to put on an art exhibit similar to this...

A Lil R and R

2010-05-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Taking a small break, but I wanted to share a special poem by a group called Twin Poets called Dreams are Illegal in the Ghetto....Take a listen!

Stunting the Creative Process....

2010-04-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

Peace all,

Lot of events happened the past week, most of them having to deal with sickness...lol. I have a few things on tap, good friends of mine wanting to do a spotlight on me, and I just got word of an upcoming show from another friend of mine who also happened to dig my poetry as well. We got some things cooking up, and as soon as everything has been made more concrete you will get the scoop...

Talking with a good artistic friend of mine last week she mentioned that she now understands where I'm coming from when I mention how stress and sickness can stunt the creative process...Sickness not being the main focus here, but how stress from everyday things hinder creativity. Many times in the past I've made very crude statements about my job(especially on facebook..lol) most were funny and jokingly, but in reality it is frustrating when dealing with situations that you really have no control over, and it affects the creative process. The madness continues as the jerk in charge continues to make moves and come up with formulas that put the employees in stressful situations, and most of all tries to keep his stature with the upper execs on a good level. Moreso he tries to psyche the people into buying his theories, which all fall flat on his face, only to find this arrogant idiot pointing the finger at the employees and not at himself. He keeps re emphasizing on who wants to work here and who doesn't, but it's not the case, the real issue is how people are making the workplace a living nightmare...

Yeah I know you're saying "just find another job!" but think about it, isn't this a recurring theme in most jobs today? Why jump out of the frying pan and into the fire?

Some of my friends say quit looking at the glass as half empty and start looking at it as half full....I have.....but I have to say that the water in this half full glass is quickly evaporating.....lol.....I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!

In the end my art has suffered tremendously. Coming home and having to change modes is a very hard task, especially when there are other factors involved. I pray for the day when my priorities and passions will one day mesh, instead of being two totally separate entities. It's really beginning to take its toll on me.

But through it all..... Believe and Keep smiling....Take care all, Love Ya

Here's something that made me smile today....Old Skool Ditty..Makes me wanna go soak up some good Asian culture..All I have to go on now is going to the Asian stores to buy some cuisine....Love it...but want more(smile)

Last Grain of Hope

2010-04-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

If I sat back and looked at my past
I might be ready to end my life
nothing but pain and struggle
The brief glimpses of happiness are too far and in between
really makes you consider leaving the whole scene

memories of watching bad examples of men
beating on the ones they claim to love
drowning their pain in nasty drinks made with grain
covering up their intelligence and exposing their shamelessness in broad daylight
sometimes I wonder if I was a woman would I believe all men are dogs too, however
many situations have they misconstrued as well
teasing and tempting and turning down those who could love them
to be with those who flash measly pieces of printed paper
makes me want to shoot the ones who sang money can't buy me love
cause I see different

and even worse bad examples of human beings
taking advantage of the poor just to accumulate more and more and more
claiming spirituality but show more compassion to dogs
embellishing and decorating the graves of the wicked and corrupt
not even thinking about the people inside who can't see the glitter
and hear the praises
because all of them are back to dust
and their filthy souls are getting a taste of the eternal punishment
just a taste
just a taste
just....a...taste

and I look back at myself
and I see all that I see and ask is there really hope for me
especially when man is spiralling downwardly?
being this soul
that wants to do right
but surrounded by corruption
people blurring the absolute
and worshipping the relative
just to justify their wrongdoing

this weak soul
who just a couple of years ago did not use profanity
now I feel more profane sometimes
than the words I utter...

Is there really hope for me?
Is there someway I can release this guilt?
Am I exaggerating?

© Quwwa 2010...All rights reserved

Oh NO HE Didn't......

2010-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Peace Y'all

NEW TO THE REPETOIRE! Ya boy Q done stepped into the abstract world! After getting over the jitters(first time ya know) I felt a deep need to delve into something a little different. OKAY! In all honesty I was in a funk after being told by the South Dallas Cultural Center that I WAS NOT READY! OH Boy! I want to do a blog expressing my disgust at the way people treat art today, which is more of a market than an expression, however I will save it for the appropriate time, right now I'm back at slugging away, hoping to connect...

I've gotten great responses from the abstracts, and it is a great way to loosen up to get myself ready for more serious projects. For a while I was under the impression that this could be a form of selling out, but I've moved away from that line of thinking. After all, I have landscapes I have yet to show my bloggy friends. I wanted to make sure I establish myself as a serious artist before going into other ventures, and with the help of great friends like my blogfriends Bella Cosa Art, Sheila of From Forensic to Fine Art, to my good friend Lady Flava, and to Shannon Grissom of Give Your Walls Some Soul and of course Tania-Maria Xavier of Coloredpeople.Net, along with other friends I feel more comfortable that people will take me seriously. If they don't it's their loss!

I have a few other surprises up my sleeve, but I can't give all of it right now! By the way, please check out the ColoredPeople.Net 2011 Calendar supporting Haiti Relief. Ya Boy Q has a couple of picks included, mixed in with excellent poetry from up and coming poets and more great pics from other artists on the ColoredPeople.Net Network! And no one from the network is getting a penny from the sales of this beautiful calendar! GET ONE TODAY!

Oh, check out the cool beanie! Love ya and Take Care! Quwwa

Controlling My Anger!

2010-03-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Peace Yo!

I sooooo wanted to do a blog this week about an incident that occurred this past week and my feelings on the whole thing. Apparently my anger is more deep seeded than I imagined, and I will hold off another week at least. All that I can say is I feel the art world is lacking alot of substance, and I really wonder if there is a wish to develop, inspire and promote new or upcoming artists, or is it just hogwash?

Anyway, although I was tempted to trash the whole thing, I'm back at it again. I'm more mad at myself than anything, but I have to tell you the whole thing, or at least from what I see.

Anyway I am experimenting with watercolors, something TOTALLY NEW for me, well not totally new, but this is my first extended work in watercolors, and it seems like it may be a mainstay in my work now...Cool get away from mixed media and pastels, at least for the moment....(wink, wink)

Anger is not a healthy thing to have....But at times it is needed...You just have to control it....

Hold on y'all...It gets better....Love ya!

Undeniably... T Shirt from Zazzle.com

2010-03-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Undeniably... T Shirt from Zazzle.com

HERE IT IS!

2010-03-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

I am proud to announce the 2011 ColoredPeople.Net Calendar for Haiti Relief will be available March 16th, with 100% of the proceeds going to Haiti Relief. My very good friend Tania-Maria Xavier, hostess of ColoredPeople.Net and Princess, a good friend of mine and also a member, came up with the idea of presenting a calendar filled with art and poetry. This was before the earthquake hit Haiti. Once the earthquake subsided, they decided to devote all of the proceeds from the sale of the calendar to Haiti relief.

Included in the calendar are two pictures by yours truly, and I considered it a blessing and an opportunity to contribute to this momentous occasion, to get a chance to get together with my ningmates and really come up with something special. I hope you get a chance to get a copy! Check out a sneak preview right here on my blog!

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this project, Tania-Maria Xavier and Princess of ColoredPeople.Net for coming up with this very exquisite calendar, all of the contributers to the project, and all of the supporters of this project and ColoredPeople.Net as a whole. I love you all..Take care and God Bless.

Why Me?

2010-03-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Peace all....

It's 8:05am, here I am with this pile of wood in my front yard waiting to be picked up by the shady city department. These crooks are talking as if they're going to charge us extra because of something we had no control over. Rumors have been spreading around the neighborhood that the city will pick up only a certain amount of the broken branches and trees that fell during last month's winter blast. After that they will begin to charge for any extra amounts.....Oh by the way, they've reduced the trash days to ONE DAY a week.... I tell you these fools get creative to steal tax dollars....

Anyway, I was distracted this week from an incident that occurred at my job, where the jerk that sits next to me put himself in a position where somewhere not as peaceful would have simply whupped his a**. I don't see myself as important or special, yet people seem to waste their time trying to diminish other peoples reputation. I wanted to speak with one of the supervisors at my job about this and other incidents this guy has pulled especially in an attempt to get me in trouble or get me angry and blow a fuse, however,I changed my mind, talking has gotten me nowhere at this place, where people only care about kissing butt and moving up. I feel that the end is near here, and it's just a matter of time.

Then I received my review which wasn't pleasant in any way shape of form, people are trying to convince me that my confidence is lacking, however it's not my confidence that's lacking, it's more that I hate the job period. The whole concept of call centers(although they try to convince us it's not a call center)sticks in my throat, but no one says a thing about it. This place is micromanagement at its worst, and they insist on trying to make it work. Why, because of the execs, and the chance for senior managers to move up, that's why. They don't really care. People's stress levels have increased tremendously and they don't care.

Now this trainwreck that sits next to me is really losing it and it's only matter of time before he either quits or is fired. It was nice to see him lose his freaking mind yesterday when one of the clients called him a liar, which is exactly what he is. This fool got so bummed out he had to take the rest of the day off. He takes multiple smoke breaks and spends about 20-30 mins smoking himself to death, then when he is working, he smells like an overused ashtray,. He talks to people very disrespectfully, and talks about people behind their backs, but it all seems to be catching up to him, such as the case yesterday.

The rest of the day was plenty peaceful and I got alot accomplished. I pray for the day I can walk out of there with my head up high, not giving a care about spineless weasels like this fool who complained and whined more than anyone, but tried to accuse me of having an attitude, simply because I disagree with the direction of the company which I think has hit sewer status right about now, mixed in with the rats and feces that pervade the area. People can smell the funk, but very few are complaining. But complaining really does nothing anyway, as I learned from my last job, so I've learned to look within myself and try to use my talents. Maybe that's why some people don't like others who take chances and strive to use their own resources, whereas others rely on kissing up to other people and stroking egos to get ahead.

In the end it doesn't work, so I refuse to kiss anyone's butt...Besides I know where my sustenance comes from anyway....

Take care.....Love ya!

Oh Pardon my manners! Check out the new piece, I used lots of textures and fabric for the face....I'm falling more in love with mixed media...It opens up another avenue to throw my textures all over the place.....I feel rejuvenated now that I have transportation and I can go visit various galleries....

LOOK OUT Y'ALL! HERE I COME!

The Aftermath....Snow in Dallas 2

2010-02-19T06:34:00.000-08:00

Peace all.... Got a new blog coming up, but I have to take care of the priorities first, that being looking for transportation and cleaning up this mess from the winter blast last week. Everyone can agree to some extent of the quiet that snowstorms seem to bring, and I got some good pics from this snowstorm, although my memories will be of removing a huge branch from my car(tee hee hee) that few minutes that I had of peace and quiet was remarkable... But all good things on earth come to an end, and this is what remained.

Looks like it's gonna BE FUN!!! YIPPPPEEEE!!!! But at least I have my memories...

That's all you need sometimes...right? Well, time to cut the wood.....Anybody wanna help? Please, pretty please, with sugar on it?...LOL

Take care all......Love ya, God Bless...

Say it Ain't So!

2010-02-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

You know just when you think there's nothing that can cheer you up, something happens and BAM you're proven wrong again. Snow has this effect of calming things down and slowing up things, especially living in a fast paced society. The idea of kids making snowmen and snowfights really cheer you up even when you see it in areas like the hood for example. That does not mean everytime it snows there is good in it for everyone, for many are homeless and have no resources. But I'm just saying in my case it was welcomed. We had 12 and a half inches of snow in Dallas, Texas a record. There's something peaceful about the snow, maybe it's because all of the loud and obnoxious people are still inside...lol. If this is the case then let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Now I did wake up to a surprise, seeing that a large branch from the old tree had fallen and landed on my car, but that's ok, it didn't work anyway....lol

we'll I had the crew to help me move it, but it took a lot out of my body, I hadn't worked out like that in months! My upper body will be sore for a while now. I may take some more pics before the snow melts, it doesn't last that long down here, so I'll enjoy it while I can....In the meantime take care all!

The Wanderers 8.5 x 11 PRINT

2010-02-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

NOW AVAILABLE IN AN 8.5 x 11 PRINT!

This is a special piece entitled The Wanderers, part of the Lifestyles of the Ignored series. It is a collage of two homeless men who took time out in their journey to just sit back and reflect on the world around them. It symbolizes the reality of those who are down and out. There are wanderers in every city, town and suburb even if they have an address.

You will receive an 8.5 x 11 from high quality ink print on premium glossy paper.

Shipping/Handling
All artworks are packed carefully, and are insured and shipped via USPS,UPS or FedEx ground.

©COPYRIGHT
QuwwaArt reserves all rights protected under the United States Copyright Act in all artwork and/or products purchased by the purchaser. The sale of a given artwork does not include any assignment, transfer, or license to purchaser of the right to reproduce, modify or create derivative works of any artwork and/or product, unless such right is expressly granted in writing by Vanhue Davis Jr.
Any violations of the above mentioned stipulations will result in prosecution to the highest possible degree.

Enough Already 2

2010-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Peace All,

I would like to thank anyone who listened to my show last Thursday night on the Coach K and Angel Show, it was truly a blast! I am humbled by the response and the comments, and I thank God(Allah) for the opportunity. But that takes second stage here for the moment.

January 16th I posted a blog entitled Enough Already, which started as a diatribe on my job, but easily meshed into an attack on how governments used the same tactics to get what they want, taking liberties, invading much privacy and introducing laws designed to "get rid of extremists" but in reality it is to produce a police state designed by evil people to enslave the masses.

Here is a result of what happens when peoples' prejudices run rampant, and fear of something they know nothing about takes over instead of seeking knowledge. A man is now dead and his earthly reputation has been demolished by ignorants who wish to keep the status quo going. What happens when the country they worship and try to protect comes down on them?

Thanks to my brother and FB friend Fateen Abdullah-Pickett who sent this clip. By the way here is something I've been meaning to ask. Why is it that arrests of suspected terrorists and raids on so called extremists organizations are only relegated to local newscasts but the national media broadcasts just the scare? If there was a war on terror, wouldn't you like to know the score?

God help us.....

Here We Go.

2010-01-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Please join me tomorrow at 6pm EST on The Coack K and Angel Show, as I will be interview by Angel herself. This is a major moment in my life, and I have you to thank.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thecoachkandangel/2010/01/28/the-vision-of-determination

Back at it again.....

2010-01-16T06:45:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Got alot on tap today, but I want to tell you about an event coming up on January 28th, where I will be the guest on The Coach K Nation and Angel Ayes show, an evening show that appears on several nights during the week on BlogTalk Radio. I will be interviewed by Angel Ayes herself, and will discuss my art, and maybe some other subjects as well.

I will provide the link as soon ASAP, or if you can't hear it live, then I will post the archive on my blog as well. I am very excited about this interview and also other events that are coming up. I will keep you on tap.. Special thanks are in order to everyone who took time to visit my world, and took part in commenting or observing my work. It really means the world to me, and I thank God(Allah) for giving me this opportunity to do it one more time. Take care all....

Enough Already!!!

2009-12-30T15:54:00.000-08:00

Peace y'all

Well today I almost lost it! That's right, Q went off and just started spittin' what he felt. Normally I don't do tangients and tantrums(hey that sounds like a great title for a rap album!)but this could not be held in. I have been working at this glorified craphole for almost 3 years and I have heard every weak excuse this side of 9/11 as why I have yet to see a raise(as well as the workers as a group)among other insults to the intelligence. Now the latest crop of doo-doo that was thrown to my team was that we are solely responsible for losing $120,000 to a client who refuses to pay for support, or lack thereof. This little red-headed rodent with a God complex basically held us responsible for why this penny-pinching hole-in-the-wall corporate client does not want to pay, yet would not admit that this faux pas was the product of the companys' failing attempt to restructure, streamline and introduce substandard micromanagement tactics designed to take advantage of employees' fears of losing jobs and allow these bite-size tyrants in the upper offices to increase their pocketbooks.

People have been buttered up and down like corn on the cobb just to work here, then once they bring them in, they ring up the most despicable excuses as to why they won't receive a raise, and it's always the employee's fault. This is a sad state of affairs when hard working human beings are stripped of their dignity and insulted with lies. Just tell me you are going to jerk me, don't lie to me, because one day they will lie to the wrong person.... so do you still wonder why some people go postal? Who wants to devote their hard work and sweat and for some people loss of family time just to be discarded like a sh****ty diaper?

It won't get to that point with me, for I know where my sustenance comes from(Ar-Razzaq), and it didn't come from these fools. It was already written, I'm just playing the part. But for some poor flag-saluting, FOX News watching, God Bless America and forget everybody else-sentiment-having sap, to have this happen and watch his beloved country transform into a corporate-ruled tyranny, this should drive them batty. What gets me is that people see this nonsense, and do nothing about it because somewhere in the deep dark unused portions of our brain, we still believe this is the best country in the world. Every day our liberties are being taken and every excuse there is some "foreign threat" that seeped into the hallowed landscapes of this country and are now plotting to take over, giving rise to the need to restrict movement and speech and this need to send forces out to combat the threat. But the real threat is internal, but we accept this and say stupid stuff like I don't mind having some of my liberties taken to ensure my freedom.

IT'S THE SAME THING FOOL!

The same tactics apply at the plantation(workforce), people are having their movement and freedom restricted over bogus excuses, but here we let it happen. This spells nothing but trouble for the American. What will it take before we wake up and see who is really behind all of this, whether it's the job or the world as a whole? Tell you what, it definitely isn't a rag wearing Arab sitting in the cave with a billy goat as his only immediate friend cookin' up some scheme to rule the world!

God Help Us......

A Lil' Sumpthin'

2009-12-17T18:28:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

Blog is on the way, but just wanted to fill ya in on the happenings here. I will be releasing some wearable art very soon, so stay tuned. I am working very hard to break from this place of work which is very draining and stressful, and keeping deadlines whether I made them on myself or someone else made them becomes chaotic. I have pushed the dates back so much that even I myself is getting tired of hearing about something that has yet to come to fruition.

Which makes me wonder.....What the heck ever happened to the NEA, the National Endowment of Arts association? I mean far beit for me to believe that Sam is going to fund me some money to make social commentary art, but it's just amazing when I read about how supposed millions of dollars are supposedly allocated to the arts every year, yet no one really gets to see the results, well at least us po' folks don't.

I'm getting tired of witnessing people who can contribute to the upliftment of society in an artistic manner, but have to scrap and scrounge just to get noticed. Who knows how many great poets are lurking in the midst of the cafe lounges trying to be heard, or visual artists trying to get their expression out to the public, but also have to clock in the morning after.....Talk about a kill joy!

More on that later, but in the meantime here is a nice vid I saw about graffiti art and one of my favorites, Mohammed Ali. I'll be back....Peace

Burnley Murals from Mohammed Ali - Aerosol Arabic on Vimeo.

Ya Likes?

2009-12-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

Peace all,

I had an intense blog planned for this past week, but this past week had me really stressed out, except for the fact I received a beautiful piece of art from my blog friend Sheila, and I am in the process of finishing up a piece for her. I will show the beautiful work she gave me in the near future....

This is an official logo for some wearable art I am in the process of creating. It's something I am real excited about and it allows me to flex my old art muscles in creating wearable art. I plan to use whatever materials I have available and will keep you all posted on new apparel and new items appearing.

In the meantime if I feel up to putting out my belated blog, I will do so, but the situation at my job has increased dramatically, nothing short of despicable. So let me lighten up the room a bit before I attempt to go into deep mode.

Stay tuned my peeps...I've just begun.

Love ya.

A Brief History......

2009-11-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

Peace All,

I'm working on some really nice projects, hopefully one project coming this weekend, but in the meantime, I just wanted to give a little history on this piece, which seems to have attracted some admirers. This pic is untitled, and it was not intended to represent someone whom served in this country's armed forces. When I produced this piece in early 2007(while at work mind you) I just pulled up a green pastel and went to work. I worked on it extensively and VOILA! here's the end result. After a while I began to experience stories from former vets whom I would meet in the park, some were exercising, some were homeless, but some had very interesting stories to tell about wars they experienced, and how the government treated them after the wars were over. It was there where I found out who were some of the biggest users of Prozac and other antidepressants were. Add this with the stories I have read from other sources and books about how soldiers were suffering from anxiety attacks and extreme forms of depressions, and how some sources repeated of how former vets were experiencing hard times coping with civilian life, and how some became homeless, addicts, and all around disillusioned with the dream of fighting for something they believed in. The more I looked at the picture, the more it took on a totally different meaning, one of similar to my experiences of working to make someone else wealthy, and not getting any real rewards for the services rendered.

Coupled with reading stories of how soldiers were denied treatment for what is now known as Desert Storm Fever and how some of the soldiers' had deformed children as a result of coming into contact with the chemicals in the gulf war and not being acknowledged by their "employers" and this picture takes on a whole new meaning.

The picture is not in my possesion anymore, it was given to a person who encouraged me to desert the killing fields where I was employed, and was told, "Don't look back. You're stepping out on faith"

I plan to reproduce a much larger picture in the near future, God Willing..

Take care all, I love you......Quwwa signing off.

Check Da Spin Y'all! (No Voice at All!)

2009-11-08T12:31:00.001-08:00

Peace all,

It is 2:31pm and I am on vacation, tired but excited, I have some new things coming up in the very near future that I want you to check out. But this past week has my head spinning in circles wondering what could be going on? Incidents occurred this past week that I felt could have been cleared up just by both parties involved talking it out. Instead people are getting the runaround and are unable to express themselves because of someone else's invested interest or fear of loss.

This reminds me of an incident that took place in April 2005. I worked at this planta- ooops call center that serviced warranties for Circuit City. I was encountering sick remarks from someone because of my beard, which is symbolic of my Islamic belief. I was moved to sit right in front of this person and out of nowhere this person rises from his chair and tells the person sitting on my left " They took so-and-so away and put this ugly boy in her place!" I immediately went to Inhumane Resources(and there is a reason for calling it that) and explained the situation, along with the multitudes of racist statements made against people of Indian descent. Instead of Inhumane Resources doing something about the issue, they wanted me to give names, which I refused, and tried to justify the ignorance by stating that people are upset because jobs are going to India, which I quickly retorted that it was still wrong. I suggested that a notice should be sent throughout the area. The end result? No meeting between me and this guy, they just summoned me into the room, told me that this guy says he was just joking and I took it the wrong way. Then they moved me to the back of room, and after a couple of more weeks, terminated me on bogus charges of attendance issues. When I attempted to file for unemployment benefits the Workforce Commission stated that this sweatshop had notified them of instances of how I allegedly came into work, logged on the phones, then logged off and left for no reason, which made me ineligible for unemployment. So I began warning the other workers there that they will fire you and attach allegations of misconduct so as to protect them from paying unemployment. All of this because they didn't want Circuit City to know there were problems in the workplace that could affect their business. Well, we all know now Circuit City is no more, which obviously means their bread and butter is no more. God don't like ugly.

I have grown increasingly tired of these places who insult the employees, refuse to address the issues concerning abuse, slavery, anxiety and other injustices and spin the web to make the one complaining think this is all in their minds.

Which brings to mind the spin of the week, whereas people are being manipulated again to think of instances of terrorism instead of the increasing issues permeating the US Armed Forces. I wonder if Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Banks has been informed to cease speaking about the growing suicide rate among the troops, anxiety, battle stress, and the fact there were more than one shooter according to his own account, and just let the media spin their web on only one alleged shooter, their alleged past, focus on the Jessica Lynch-esque heroic stories that may/may not have occurred and let the peoples' blind patriotism and prejudices do the rest.

It must be real tough knowing your issues of underpayment, injustices, sicknesses, sexual harrassment and being victimized by discrimination at the workplace are no concern, even if you are protecting and serving your country.

"FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND" is what they tell you, in other words "F**** your issues, get out there and work!"

Although I have mixed emotions about the supposed "War on Terrorism" and the "need" to fight these evils, I was always taught that right is right and wrong is wrong, regardless of my feelings towards a particular person, group, organization whatever.

God don't like ugly....

By the way, speaking of spins, my local library has a new sign above the front desk that really disturbs me. It reads, WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR CUSTOMERS......

I thought the library was free......God Help Us.

I FEEL GUUUD!

2009-10-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Peace all....

It's 7:36pm and I am tired again(from being at the plantation) but things are looking up. I will fill everyone in on the haps, but I just wanted to share a feedback I received from my first sale on Etsy. I will cherish it.

i have admired QuwwaArt for awhile now. i love his work and wish to see it in a show. it needs to be seen in three dimension. as a person who has spent a lot of years surrounded by art and artists, it has meant a lot to find an artist who is so good. he uses uses his brush to communicate with refreshing clarity. his work is elegant. he is able to let his subject meet the canvas without interference. his portrayal of people who occupy the margins of our society is touching. dignity and respect make their way through the paint. he paints each soul with a calm which allows their being to unfold. it is beautiful stuff!!

it came at a time when needed that boost, not that I was sad or anything like that, but it just came as a sign to keep going. I had confronted another "nay-sayer" who saw my desktop picture at work of people standing at the unemployment line and stated that it was depressing, I proceeded to explain the reasoning behind such pics, but she wasn't trying to hear it...Who cares?

I know my art isn't for everyone, but it seems that most that I meet are intrigued with it. Even my mom shocked me this week when she commented on one of my pics yet to be exhibited. All I can say is thank you.

Can't say too much more now, I want to spend my blog time blogging it up with my friends @ ColoredPeople.Net and Give Your Walls Some Soul. So without further delay, KICK IT!

Take care all.......Love YA!!!

When The Shoe........(IS THIS MIC ON?)

2009-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Peace everybody,

It's 8:19pm, and I am wrapping up the art part of my week(sigh) to get back to this other part.....(more sigh)....

Anyway I have a few more things in store so stay tuned....But in the meantime while thumbing thru the blogs that I removed from the other site, I ran across this one about the swine flu and the attitudes of the American public, which seemed to have been one of jokes and puns about pigs and swine and pork, and the list goes on. Now that the shoe seems to be on the other foot, what is the attitude of Americans now? Where are the jokes now people? HELLOOOO!!! IS THIS MIC ON?!!!

Arrogance is a mutha..... The thing about arrogance is that the person does not seem to get the fact that he/she is arrogant.

Here is the edited version of the blog....Peace y'all. Love ya.

The Worst Kind of Death

Peace y'all

I know it's been a loooooong time( well actually a month is not THAT long) but when you start something, you would like to finish it. I started this blogging thing on my site, made some friends and contacts, and in the process people also got a chance to see another side of what I be(lol). I have been a very busy camper the past few weeks and blogging has been on my mind. Trust me, there are PLENTY of things to talk about, but not to the point of stopping my painting and just putting my feelings out there. That is until I saw this stupid picture from an email sent to me at work.

To me this is indicative of what this country is about. Arrogance and ignorance. No one can deny that the people in America have good qualities, but for a person on the outside looking in what does he/she see? Out of the hundreds of people in Mexico who lost a loved one to "swine flu" how does it feel to listen or see Americans make jokes about a tragedy?

The past couple of weeks we were bombarded at home or at the workplace with either fears of a pandemic, or jokes that reek of "better them that us" . I was hit with both, as people at work people joked of the swine flu, some people made insensitive comments about Mexicans( but hey I ain't got a racist bone in body!) Then I checked Twitter only to see people with same stupid jokes such as "swine flu is the past tense of pigs fly" nonsense. This past week on an all-talk sex(sorry) sports radio show some idiot went on and on with a barrage of swine flu jokes. But when the shoe was on the other foot, such as the Dallas Cowboy employee who is now permanently paralyzed as a result of the practice facility collasping in Valley Ranch, we heard no jokes, instead I heard "it is sooo tragic." So let me get this straight. One American permanently paralyzed is tragic, but 200 Mexicans dying from the flu is a new monologue for any stoopid wannabe comic, or village idiot.

That's us ain't it America? Make jokes of other countries' cultures, tragedies, still calling them Third World Countries( as if there are no ghettoes or poor people living under bridges and in tents in America) Yet when we hear comments from other countries about problems in America we blow a fuse. We go into this state of denial. For example we hear about rowdy, drunken fans who tear up the city after a Super Bowl or Championship match and immediately drum up riots in London after soccer games to minimize the fact that this country has a serious maturity issue. Our favorite TV shows are CARTOONS like South Park with old goats doing little kid voiceovers, The Family Guy, the Simpsons, my God, FOX TV at one point had a Sunday prime time lineup of CARTOONS (oh but they are for "mature audiences only).

Give me a break.....

Our denials remind me of a drunkard who swears up and down that he does not have a problem, and if he did have a problem he could quit at any moment. Like I just said.....Give me a break.

While the American people make jokes about diseases in other countries we should be very scared. Our habits, oh sorry, our "precious free way of life" has produced everything from breast cancer, fibroids, lung cancer to STD's and even impotence(but hey thank God for Viagra!) We forgot about Desert Storm fever( and for a long time the government forgot also) and the growing rate of autism found in kids from being poked over 50-60 times before they reach the age of 4 or 5 with vaccines that don't work. We have the largest rate of suicides in any "industrialized" nation, but we want other nations to be "industrialized" like us. The rate of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia in this country is staggering.

News Flash: Alzheimers is not a natural process of growing old.

Stress should be our middle name.

While those few hundreds of Mexicans die quickly from swine flu, millions of Americans die from the worst form of death, a slow torturous death. The worst part is to die and not even know your dying. To be a victim of your own undoing. To revel in your own ignorance.

But hey!! God Bless America right? More like God Help America.

Hit the Ground Running!

2009-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

PEEEACE!

It's 8:36pm, and I am tired as can be, but in a happy sense. Things have been looking much better for me, and I personally want to thank all of the well wishers who looked out for me and gave me greetings of peace and blessings. Although the month of Ramadan left and I always begin to conjure up feelings of anxiety about the upcoming months after Ramadan, there are four major events I would like to share with you that occurred. I will list the least major event first.

4)LEAVING HOME...
I said goodbye to the site that pretty much gave me foundation in regards to exposing my art and my writings to the public. You say "it's just a Ning site" but it was the first chance the public had to envision Quwwa Art and the Project as a whole. It grew in size and members, and I was very active in the site, commenting on forums, exposing my work and making contacts. It is the site where I met my sister in the Arts Shannon Grissom of Give Your Wall Some Soul, my friend La Faith LLC, and a couple of great contacts, and my great friend Tania-Maria Xavier of ColoredPeople.Net. But as the size of the site continued to grow and emphasis on sex and frivolity became a premium, it seemed as people of conscience were looked upon as oddities. I also believe the electing of an African-American as president of the United States took the sting out of the consciousness factor. People began to dream the American dream all over again, and corruption and injustice all of a sudden took a back seat, as if to say "The corruption ended when Bush was removed from office." This plight is more scarier than the corruption of the previous era due to the fact that people are being manipulated more than ever before as our President and First Lady enjoy rock-star status and to some extent idol worship. Never mind that people are still losing jobs, people are being kicked out of their homes more than ever before...Hey, no more conservatives! How foolish... A Politician is a Politician, forget the names.

3) GET YO SHINE ON!

After a long hiatus on Etsy, and at the prompting of a few friends(more like arm twisting...lol) I've added a few more items to my site, which also increased my repetoire, and I must say IT FEELS GOOD! My attempt at ACEO cards has attracted the attention of several people and it has also inspired me to delve more into the collage/mixed media aspect of things, which I believe can do nothing but strengthen and expand my knowledge and open the door to understanding and contributing to the growth of visual art, and personal growth as well.

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This also adds diversity to my portfolio, for no longer can I be looked at as a one trick pastelist pony....I will go back to painting soon...LOL

I've also added a contribution to support breast cancer research and so far the response has been overwhelming. I've already been asked to make some more as people believe this item won't stay in the store too long. It could not have come at a better time.

Since then I have been featured on a treasury and I am receiving great support from my fellow Etsymates....Thank You.

I feel I have hit another stride and my confidence has shot up another level. Be on the lookout for more wearable art, I've just begun!

2)MY FIRST SALE!!!!

Yes, a couple of my prints were sold to a long time blog follower and admirer of my art. To show you where my mindstate was, I did not know a couple of pieces sold until I looked on my blog and saw a couple of items were missing from my ETSY mini. I thought to myself, I'm gonna have to renew these items when lo and behold, I posted 2 sales on my Etsy! Talk about a boost!

1) SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED!

I've just signed my first contract to have some of my work posted in an online gallery for a beautiful store called DaughterNature.Com, which is run by Tania-Maria Xavier. I take this as a blessing from the Best of All Planners, God Almighty, Who is always on the case, never gets weary nor slumbers nor sleeps, and all depend on Him, while He depends on no one. This is a very beautiful store and I encourage you to check it out. Tania-Maria has put together a very powerful package in using her talents to expose artists and their works. I pray that I am a contributer to her success, as I have seen her work tirelessly to get the word out. She is a very God fearing person and always has a positive word for people at the right moment.

I'm sorry for the long post, but I felt I had to share this with my family, especially since two weeks away from blogging is a long time for ME!....LOL

Thank you all...You mean so much to me...We've only just begun......

Peace....Your Brother Quwwa!

Yet So Little.....

2009-09-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

Peace All,

It's 5:12pm Tuesday evening, two days since the end of Ramadhan. The end of Ramadhan gives me mixed emotions every year. Sadness because it is the end of a time of deep reflection and contemplation and doing charitable deeds like no other time of the year. Not to say these things are not done throughout the year, but during this time of the year one can say that they are able to raise their level of awareness and consciousness to another level, giving them the ability to do more deeds and stay more focused on the task at hand. I always cry at the missed opportunities at the end of the month.

On the other hand there is a sense of joy and hope because one comes from the month revived and refreshed, ready to take on the world. Lessons are learned, reminders are given about the brevity of life on this earth, giving one the sense of urgency to do whatever is in their power to bring about peace, justice and most of all a society in which God is the Sovereign Ruler, and not man's tawdry desires, which is driving humans to the pit of disarray and utter confusion.

This past Ramadhan was spent reading the Quran and listening to an audiobook entitled The Race Beat, which discussed the role of the media during The Civil Rights Struggle. The book was entertaining to say the least, although the book had gross flaws at the end,especially when discussing the uprising of the Black Power movements. The book failed to go into more detail about the reasons that prompted certain Blacks to opt out of the Civil Rights Movement and take a more militant stance toward racism and segregation in America. The book was brief on the subject, but like other books and reports seem to give the indication that everything was quiet on the homefront and all of a sudden these unsatisfied Blacks took matters into their own hands and started rioting, looting and destroying their own neighborhoods, which sounds strange to begin with. They also scantily mention Malcolm X's name except for the fact that they referred to him as "angry and militant".

It also failed miserably to convince me that desegregation was effective in combating racism, for while those reporters who were railing against the South and their racism, the television ,which by this time had taken over print as the main source of information(and Americans have been paying for it ever since) had cartoons like the one below in full circulation, nationwide, proving that forcing people to live with one another while sharing disrespect for one another is never a solution for something that was institutionalized whether in the workplace, halls of education, and even the houses of worship.

These cartoons are still published and sold to the masses, although some have disclaimers against the racism shown, such as the Oscar Award Winner series, which is as oxymoronic as cigarettes with the Surgeon General's warning on them. I purchased a DVD box set of cartoons last year from Wal-Mart, only to find a large number of the cartoons were similar to the one above.

In short, we have a long way to go and yet so little time to straighten this human thing out, and we keep taking the wrong avenues, hoping to strike a blow at something that is more of a belief or way of life rather than an attitude. Today people are still asking why Blacks allow calling themselves the N word, but others cannot say it?

My people (referencing African Americans) are doing a terrible job at tackling the issues head on, and keep looking for trinkets to justify the Civil Rights Struggle, and the issue with the current Presidency is no exception. There is a war going on in the Black community, and no one is really looking for the solution, but keep harping on the problems.

What does this have to do with Ramadhan you ask? LOL. I guess I just started venting due to a situation over the past weekend in which I spoke with a bus driver who was discussing the problems he encountered in which he asked the question when it came to "US" He asked, is it genetics? This incident also made me think of the young African American woman who posted a video on her Myspace page of a young Black woman with bad manners and she entitled it, this makes me ashamed to be black....

Believe or not, this is prevelant in my community. So far to go, yet so little time.

Take care everybody.