Wednesday, January 27, 2016

THE QUOTE

If the SuperBowl is the ultimate game, how
come there is another one next year?

    - Duane Thomas, Dallas Cowboy Running Back.

1972

Sunday, January 24, 2016

G

Yesterday I had a fun conversation with the poet and teacher giovanni singleton.
We are always laughing about literary politics. g is responsible for editing 4 issues
of "Nocturnes" magazine. A journal ahead of it's time. It would be nice for a small college
or a large university to house her publication. If only I were a rich man.
Love you g.

Friday, January 22, 2016

THE E-GROUP

Yesterday I pulled together another E-Group meeting. This one was held at my house. A wonderful meeting of good minds sitting around a table. I hope to have 2 more in 2016. When I come across an interesting essay I reach out to a few friends and invite them to meet. It's like Ellington putting a small band together. Intellectual conversation is the foundation on which we build citizenship. This week the E-Group discussed "Who Benefits From A Post-Paris "Clash of Civilizations "? by Tom Englehardt.

The first and second E-Group looked at:
"The Death of the Artist-and the Birth of the Creative Entrepreneur " by William Deresiewicz.
" A World Without Work" by Derek Thompson.

Monday, January 18, 2016

In Search of Malcolm Little

Every life wears its crown. I find it interesting that the names of the departed black men we cherish and remember are not choir boys. Some have been hardheads and hoodlums. History is changed by those who stumble and those who march. Leadership however should never be a lottery. If we find ourselves following gangsters and hustlers then we need to check our moral compass. We all have the capacity to lead but only after personal transformation.  The idea that every young person has better ideas is as foolish as thinking every gray hair represents wisdom. I see many black boys being Malcolm Littles - not an X in their head about their history or plight. All they possess is a new black rage - anger against the police and everything white. This is Clockwork Orange and the new black. Violence is now a quickie for everything in the way. Never has there been such collective despair in our cities. When the next Malcolm Little is caught and sent to jail - let's hope someone finds him sleeping with the dictionary.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Looking for Mr. Oscar.

Every year I sit in theaters and watch trailers for black movies I know I will pray to forget. I cringe when black talent is forced back into coonery. I've also seen movies every year where a black actor should be given two Oscars and receive not even a nomination. Then there are the black movies I'm suppose to like and praise and the NAACP gives a jackass stamp image award for race pride. I know in the back of my mind DuBois is talking to Booker and neither could return to explain this commercial nonsense. Still we survive. We want to win Oscars the way we once wanted black quarterbacks to never throw an interception and setback the race. It's 2016 and we continue to measure progress by movies and not by an end to poverty and other ills. One goes to movies for escape and entertainment or maybe to just feel good in the dark. We need to reject the terrible habits that come from being a "popcorn" race lacking at times butter and the salt of genius.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Quote of the Day

I've got scars that can't be seen.

        - David Bowie

Friday, January 08, 2016

New work by E. Ethelbert Miller

My new work can be found in the lastest issues of these publications:
American Book Review, March/April 2015, Volume 36, Number 3. Here one will find my review of Gabriel Fried's HEART OF THE ORDER: BASEBALL POEMS.

CLA JOURNAL. Volume 58/Numbers 3-4/March/June 2015.
My poem "Is This The History of Air?" is included in a special section focusing 
on violence towards black bodies in the 21st Century.


Thursday, January 07, 2016

Is America heading into "Cruz" control?  The fact that Ted Cruz is from Texas might be enough
to get him on the Republican ticket. VP Cruz?
How conservative will America become in the next 4 years?
Any act of terrorism on US soil places a right-wing foot on American democracy.

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Next month I will begin hosting "On The Margin" a weekly radio program on WPFW.
This is the show my friend Jo Reed hosted for many years. I've invited her to be my first
guest. Much to do...

Sunday, January 03, 2016

Well it's 2016 and my Collected Poems will be out. I plan to ignore all reviews. I doubt if the book will be nominated for any awards. Hopefully my work will find an audience with hearts that care about the path humans are on. So much of African American culture is being destroyed from within.
The Talented Tenth no longer live in the neighborhood. We have fallen victim to want Eady once described as the latest dance craze.We continue to kiss the fool's butt. Why do we follow people who have loss their moral compass?  How long will black culture be held hostage by gangsters? I fear only the renegade ghosts can save us now.

Friday, January 01, 2016

A New Year outside my window. Can I ignore it by staying indoors?
2016 will be a year of transformation without any great expectations.
Back to basics and little things.
No lists or dreams this time- only simple pleasures.