Skyeview

Host: Sandy Mills, Mar Stevens, Charlene Gumbs & Monica Anderson
Location: The Noodle Factory
1255 26th Street, Oakland, CA
When: Saturday, November 15, 1:00PM to 4:00PM
Phone: (510) 381-0844
E-mail: imaniblessed@yahoo.com

When we drum – we send out waves of healing rhythm!
Bring your drum and your positive energy!

Become part of a circle of women who are creating a place of love, joy,
empowerment and artistic expression for Sistas of Color.

ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE WELCOME – LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A DRUM
(NEW ADDITION! FREE Traditional African Drumming Instruction 1:30-2pm)

DANCERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN US!

Be certain to bring water and a chair. You are also welcome to bring
fruit or veggies to share!

http://www.sankofaevents.com/the_ryhthm_sistas_drumming_circle

One of the local newspaper reports that over 84% of Parisians support the election of Barack Obama as US president. The report only confirms what I’ve witnessed with my own eyes and ears since the election. Folks are JUBLILANT, ESCATIC and ELATED by the election results because it gives them hope of getting rid of French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy as some of you might recall was the former interior minister who incited the North African youth during the 2005 riots by referring to them as “scum”.

My hope is that folks in the states will not get caught up in the cult of personality and Black male messiah fetishism that have derailed previous freedom trains. My hope is that the grassroots organizing, personal courage and alliance work that made this Obama election a success will be sustained.

Obama-Paris Gallery

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Sloganeering To The Extreme

This morning I went to a pharmacy to inquire about an herbal remedy for my digestive aliment brought on by too many business lunches and over-indulgence on French bread, cheese, and butter sauces. Since I wanted to be sure to know what the product contained I asked the male pharmacy assistant if there were English speakers on staff and if someone could assist me. He smiled, paused for affect and said, “Yes we can.” He looked at me for a moment to make sure I got the play on words. He was so pleased with himself.

Ummm, the product was an herbal LAXATIVE.

—

Are You Traveling to Paris?

Check out the exhibitions at the Musee Dapper

Musee Dapper
Femmes dans les arts d’Afrique
10 octobre 2008 – 12 juillet 2009

Inkanyezi Yobusuku/ Night Star
Fiction. Afrique du Sud. 2007. Couleur. 13′. VO : Anglais, ST : Français. Distr. : Out in Africa
La tradition veut que les jeunes filles Zoulous soient isolées pour un temps de repos et de contemplation lorsqu’elles ont leurs règles. Mais les rêves de Lindiwe sont perturbés par son désir pour sa guide spirituelle pendant cette période.

Traditionally, Zulu women were barred from household chores during menstruation, a time for rest and contemplation called Ukuya Enyangeni, going to the moon.

Skyeview: What’s not mentioned in the description for Inkanyezi Yobusuku is the tender and sensual exchanges between the two Zulu women. Why omit this important and beautiful subtext, especially since the filmmaker is a LGBT activist?

*

In Search of The Wild Kingdom (Trailer – Quicktime)
Fiction. États-Unis. 2006. Couleur. 65′. VO : Anglais, ST : Français. Distr. : Blowfish Production. Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans / Film prohibited under 16.
Suivez la réalisatrice Georgia Mann et son équipe à travers les rue de San Francisco alors qu’elles capturent certaines des scènes les plus chaudes du milieu de la nuit. Un vrai faux documentaire avec du vrai sexe dedans… Ce film a reçu le prix 2007 du Feminist Porn Awards.

Follow documentary filmmaker Georgia Mann and her crew through the streets of San Francisco as they capture some of the most raw and compelling sex to date. One woman’s quest to find, film and understand “real lesbian sex” leads her in the depths of queer sexuality.

*

The Apple
Expérimental. France. 2007. Couleur. 6′. Sans parole. Distr. : Emilie Jouvet. Film interdit aux moins de 16 ans / Film prohibited under 16.

L’histoire revisitée d’Eve croquant la pomme. Avec en fond une superbe musique de Mz Sunday Luv, Emilie Jouvet a réussi a créer un style qui mélange l’érotique, le burlesque et le fétichisme.

Eve wakes up in Paradise, finds an apple…and commits a delicious sin. On a gorgeous soundtrack, Emilie Jouvet has managed to create a style that mixes the genres of porn, burlesque and fetish.

Additional Links:
Cineffable Film List
Kekeletso Khena (Director of Night Star) Speaks Out
Holiday Inn Gare de l’Est
Skyeview: Cineaffable ‘07
Skyeview Gallery: Cineaffable ‘07
Skyeview: Paris Travelogue ‘07

Les salutations à toutes les femmes gentilles que j’ai rencontrée à
Cineaffable. Vous tout sait lancer un parti !  Les salutations spéciales à Mari, Peggy, Patricia et Celine (Serial Kisser).

Mari, festival volunteer and Skye with fete ticket.  Good to go!

Link:
Céline Tiberghien Contributes To Lesbian Visibility – French | English

Cineaffable is the BEST of the BEST lesbian cultural event bar none.
Imagine over a thousand lesbians from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Latin and Central America attending film screenings, parties, debates, visual art exhibition, and lesbian organization information tables all in the magnificent Baroque style Le Trianon and nearby Halle Saint Pierre. I can hardly wait!

In the meantime I’m watching endless loops of Paris, J’taime a brilliant and entertaining film about The City of Love. Anyone familiar with the different flavors of Paris arrondisments (districts) will appreciate this film.

Share the joy of coming together to blow out our 20 candles for this essential event on the international lesbian scene (rated in the Top 10 of worldwide lesbian events in the British magazine Diva!). We look forward to seeing you all this fall to wish the festival a happy birthday! [Cineaffable website]

LINKS
Paris, je t’aime (IMDB plot summary, dvd available on netflix)
Cineaffable
Skye Gallery (France ’07)
Dispatch #10 – Cineaffable: Paris International Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival
Travelogue – Paris, France

I vote because so many have sacrificed so much for me and mine.

Telegenic Black Male Manufactured Charismatic Leadership
I neither support nor oppose Barack Obama and have really come to resent the assumption that my vote for him is a given.

The names of Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell came up in discussions on potential first African American presidential contenders, but not once during this 2-year campaign did I hear the name of the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm. On January 23, 1972, she became the first major party African American candidate for President of the United States.

Roll Call
As an Afriles feminist independent critical thinker I’m not willing to
quietly ignore the historical and contemporary contribution of everyday
folk and a few extraordinary Black women who’ve made it possible for me to cast my vote.

Freedom Summer

So as I cast my mail ballot today, I call out the names of ancestors’ known and unknown who have cleared the path.

Shirley Chisholm

Carol Moseley Braun

Barbara Jordan

Fannie Lou Hammer

Let’s flip the script in 2008 and remember the womenfolk this time around.

Bay Area sistern come get your DRUM MEDICINE on. I’ll be there!

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Announcement

Lets Do It Again! (Sat. OCT 25th 1-5pm) Rhythm Sistas Drumming Lesson & Session

Lets do it again! Rhythm Sistas Drumming Lesson & Session

If you know the sweet sensation of the drum & positive energy of the dance – then you also know its power to heal & elevate the spirit! Last month, over 30 sistas felt it & wanted more! Its time, ladies!

WHEN: Saturday – OCT 25th, 2008
WHAT: 1pm-5pm DRUMMING AND DANCE SESSION (Drum Lesson 1:30 – 2pm)
WHERE: Snow Park – alongside beautiful Lake Merritt! – 250 19th Street, Oakland, CA
WHO: YOU! Dancers and Drummers – All skill levels are welcome!!!

CONTACT: (510) 381-0844 Mar Stevens cell

When we drum – we send out waves of healing rhythm!
Bring your drum and your positive energy!

Become part of a circle of women who are creating a place of love, joy, healing, empowerment and artistic expression for Sistas of Color.

ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE WELCOME – LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A DRUM
(NEW ADDITION! FREE Traditional African Drumming Instruction 1:30-2pm)

Be certain to bring water and a chair. You are also welcome to bring fruit or veggies to share! Monetary love offerings to help with the cost of the healthy snacks that we provide are readily accepted as well!

WE CAN’T WAIT TO JAM WITH YOU – Mar, Sandy, Charlene & Monica!

Announcement:

Marriage Equality and Homophobia in African American Churches

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
8:30 am to 11:00 am
Location Mudd 100

Pacific School of Religion
1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA

BREAKFAST PROVIDED

Many of our Brothers and Sisters are suffering from the homophobia that is a serious problem in society at large and within the African American community. Too often, gay people within our own communities are not treated with respect. Too often they do not find refuge from the intolerance and discrimination they experience in the world, and in our churches, but a continuation of it.

Homophobia makes our churches fertile ground for those who seek to set us against one another and promote discrimination and unequal treatment in pursuit of their own political power. It is time that we Speak Until Justice Comes and lift up a gospel of hope and love for one another, and challenge discrimination that harms our Brothers and Sisters, their families, and our communities.

Come learn how to begin these conversations in your Families, Communities, and especially Churches

SPONSORED BY

The African American Ministers Leadership Council, People for the American Way

The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS)
___________________________________________________
Jennifer Gall
Center Administrator
Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry

Pacific School of Religion
1798 Scenic Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709
Email: jgall@clgs.org

To learn more about CLGS, visit our website at http://www.clgs.org/

To my absolute shock and dismay while going through the security checkpoint in Beijing Capital Airport I spotted a partially used tube of Darkie toothpaste amongst the confiscated liquid and creams bin near the x-ray machines.

Links:
Darlie
Colgate to Rename a Toothpaste
Atomic Bomb Cinema: Mouth Jazz Toothpaste, aka Darkie Toothpaste and Black Face Toothpaste

The ginger garlic crumb shrimp was DELICIOUS!

Wo Bu Yau Xiea Xiea
(translation “no thank you”)

The fish was served whole, then the head was returned to the table for plundering by my hosts. I had to take a pass cuz Nemo kept staring back at me with those jagged
teeth! Too much…

Not Your Neighborhood Fowl

I’m not particularly fond of duck but since this Peking Duck was ordered in my honor I had to at least take a nibble or two as a courtesy. It was cooked to perfection.