4th of July Weekend Baar Bazaar

Hey Detroiters, I know your ashy so come & get stocked up on Quench Essentials this Saturday!!! Discounts are offered on our body mousses & moisture bars!!!!!!!!!!!!

As always it is free admission and an awesome mix of vendors selling vintage and handmade clothing, comic books, records, indie crafts and art, candy, jewelry, bath and body products, old toys and collectibles!

Other Hot Vendors Include:
Reware Vintage
Black Water Gallery
The Knifey Moloko
TJ's Vintage
Blackened Ruby
Rinaco Designs
You (of course)
Yummy Town
Sliptease Vintage
Detroit Dollface
2D Productions
Dorabean

Three super cool band are also booked to play - Art Fag, Bad Party, & Deastro

Also available for purchase @ my table: I Love Black People Tee's only found @ Spectacles!!!!!

Call All Dem Niggas Out!

Piggybacking off my Fathers Day post, I wanted to help spread this story from the news: "Obama tells black fathers to engage their children".

I think he needs to set up a council that I can join to help negligent, trifling & otherwise crappy fathers become men, parents & examples of greatness.

I hope Barack’s status in the world can engage loser fathers & make them want to be & act better. At this point, many great Black leaders have called fathers out but many seem not to get it. I guess if Barack cannot do, who the fuck can. I am not saying that Barack is the answer to all
the world’s problems but……
-----------------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO — Barack Obama celebrated Father's Day by calling on black fathers, who he said are "missing from too many lives and too many homes," to become active in raising their children.

"They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it," the Democratic presidential candidate said Sunday at a largely black church in his hometown.

Reminding the congregation of his firsthand experience growing up without a father, Obama said he was lucky to have loving grandparents who helped his mother. He got support, second chances and scholarships that helped him get an education. Obama's father left when he was 2.

"A lot of children don't get those chances. There is no margin for error in their lives," said Obama, an Illinois senator.

"I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle — that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls," added Obama, whose daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his wife, Michelle, watched from the audience.

..."Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father," he said. "It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father."... (Read More Here)

Barack Obama For President

As you may have guessed from my teaser post yesterday, I photographed Barack Obama, at a town hall meeting held in Troy, MI. It was very last minute & I spent the entire weekend waiting for the moment when I would have our next president as a photographic subject.

Like many, I have seen Barack speak on TV, defending himself, talking about what he envisions for America & going on the offensive against his GOP rivals. Whenever I watch, I get excited, inspired & yet nervous at the same time.

Well, after being there in person with about 2000+ (I think this number is not official) other supporters I got more than I bargained for. There was so much energy in the crowd that it could have lit up 2 city blocks, and this was before Barack appeared.

One of the major highlights before Barack took the stage was that he got two super delegate endorsements from Brenda Lawrence (Southfield, MI’s first Black and first female mayor) & Lu Battaglieri (Executive Director of the Michigan Education Association).

After all of the local notables said their piece, Barack was introduced by a local woman who seemed almost too excited to talk. She told the story of how her job left MI, & how her & her husband whose also unemployed cannot afford gas to live their daily lives. Her story was touching & all too familiar these days. Just before she exploded with excitement, she turned the mic over to Barack & the crowd went wild. At the same time, I was fighting with another local photographer after she PUSHED me to take a photo. I was so ready to jump off but, well, you know.

As Barack spoke the crowd burst into encouraging chants of we love you, Obama 08, etc. I think I even shouted once. Another photographer next to me called out & said, you are too happy & I take it that this is your first political assignment. I told him that he was more than 100% right & we both laughed.

Anyway, Barack, spoke on many of the points that he has covered over the past few months: gas, energy, education, jobs etc. He also dissed JM big time, which was awesome & he also showed Billary some love.

After his familiar speech, he turned to the audience for questions, which were unscreened & in a boy/girl fashion. The questions ranged from wanting answers on gas prices, his plan on mental health coverage, corporate greed/profits & a few others to which he broke down without skirting the issues. The best questioned asked from the audience IMO was from a gentleman who admitted to spending 13 years in prison because he stole a pair of Nikes & a set of bed sheets (a possible crack move!!!). The gentleman stated that since his release, he started a company that employs 1300 people & noted that he does hire ex-offenders. His question to Barack was what does he plan to do about decreasing prison/jail recidivism rates.

This question really resonated with me because of the paper that I wrote last semester on mandatory drug sentencing & the release of thousands of former crack dealers. His answer was on point & covered prevention programs to curb conditions that turn people to crime, offer programs that would help introduce ex-offenders back into society so that they could be successful & productive. Then he also flipped the script & stated that parents need to be more accountable for their children, “parents need to parent”, “fathers need to be step up to the plate”. Those last to statements made the crowd swell with praise. I heard several amens & hallelujahs from the older Black women that were standing near me.

After the Q&A session, Barack thanked the crowd for coming out & for the support. He then toured the crowed & was surrounded by the supported who wanted to hug him, shake his hand & get photos with their cell phones. It all seemed surreal to see the love that he was getting!

Quick flashback::::: When I showed up at the school, I meet many journalists from all over & they were open & warm. Many asked who I was with & when I told them that I was a blogger, I got some great reactions. They were like wow, who do you blog for & what do you write about. A few even asked what a blog was.

I also mentioned that I was a member of the AfroSpear & excitedly told them that a few the AfroSpear bloggers were recently credentialed to blog from the National Democratic Convention this August.

Two of the most notable people that I spoke with were Rochelle Riley of the Detroit Free Press (I swear I met her last year at a party) & Peggy Agar, the local reported who was the center of “Sweetie Gate”.

I actually talked with Peggy about the incident & she told me that it was not a big deal to her & she blew it off. Her main gripe was that Barack did not get back with her as he said he would. She went on to say that she was shocked to see how bloggers were dogging her out as if she created the drama & the way it was being handled in the media in general.

I asked if any of the cable news networks requested interviews after the jump off & she laughed & said many of them did. Her network requested that she not appear on any programs because they knew that it would spin out of control & she would just be a pawn in the game. Peggy also stated that she was just focused on doing her job, getting a paycheck so that she could feed her family & make sure that they had health coverage. Her husband has been laid off for an extended period of time & she has much bigger fish to fry. You go Peggy, & apologize for dogging you out boo!

Flashforward::::: The event was awesome, my journalistic experience was definitely interesting & I want more!!! Lastly, I encourage you to go see the political candidate that you are backing in person. Watching on TV is cool, but being there in the crowd is so much more. Kinda like watching a good movie, then you read the book & are just blown away by all of the detail that you missed.

To see images of the town hall meeting, check out my photojournal here.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Updates:

- My sister found out that she is having a boy & his name will be Asar. She asked that I give him a middle name, so I am choosing something of greatness to complement his powerful first name.

- Barack Obama is now the official Democratic nominee. He gave a scorching hot speech that anyone can be proud of. I teared up a bit & only wished that I was in that stadium tonight.

- Hillary Clinton showed her ass during her sappy assed speech that should have been a concession speech. Homegirl did not announce any future plans & did not concede. I think she maybe stuck in a state of denial so tight that only R. Kelly & Kwame Kilpatrick can understand. Hillary, give it up boo, the popular vote does not get you nominated, delegates do. Ask Al Gore if you don’t believe me.

- John McCain is now older than he was earlier today making him still one old as mutha who needs to retire to FL vs. trying to run the country. Why does he always look freshly embalmed????

- On CNN tonight Anderson Cooper tried to get all up into Donna Brasile's business & she shut him down by saying that he is not her boo. Anderson retorted, “I wanna be your boo”. That exchange cracked me the fuck up.

Blah... Blah... Blah...

Instead of taking 50 self portraits just to get the “right one”, I need to be working on a website that I volunteered to do.  I am so not in the mood to do it.  Why oh why did I volunteer my time when I have so little.

This will be my last web design for anyone outside of myself, unless of course if the client has my minimum & then it will still depend.

Anyway, my whole weekend turned out much different than I expected:

I got totally sold out for the VIP pass to the DEMF.  It is so tacky to offer gifts then disappear when it is time to give.  I was not pressed but happy to have a VIP pass & like I always do, I made a way out of no way & go a pass anyway.  On a related note, Cousin Dee sold me out Saturday to go to some Pistons basketball game.  One more sale out from Cousin Dee, & she will not be able to be added to my calendar.

Anyway, the festival was cool but I t has been better in past years.  The crowd has totally changed to young kids (under 25). And the music in most cases was too mainstream for my tastes.  Not only that, I am not feeling the ticket prices at all.  The real base of fans of house & electronic music are excluded from participating in this event IMO.  Most Detroiter’s do not have 50 bucks (I am so generalizing) to pay for music from obscure artist.

To make matters more interesting, I found the "Soul Skate" after party more fun than the hours I spent at the DEMF itself.

If you are interested in seeing my photojournal of the DEMF, click here. (May favorite shot is the one of Pete Rock spinning)

I got all of my cleaning done & swapped out my fall/winter clothes for my spring/summer.  This shit was not fun & I am out of storage space.  I really need to stop shopping as much as I do.

The fam & I never made it to see "Speed Racer" this weekend but we were so busy, no one cared.  To end the weekend, we set off a chicken & waffles dinner and it was all good!

The best unexpected things to jump off this weekend was a) I got booked to shoot a fashion show & party for next Friday & b) I was asked to speak at my friend Dahia’s retirement celebration.  The request came at the last minute, but it was right on time!  During my brief talk, I fought back a few tears so I had to cut it short. I was so honored to share my experience having Dahia in my life & now, half of Detroit knows.

Anyway, I am out, & hope to be back on the website project tomorrow after work.  Damn I don’t want to!!!

Live Today

Fortune cookies are fun but I feel the need to determine my own fortune through the spirit of Kujichagulia.

Kujichagulia [KOO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-YAH] (Self-Determination) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.

Thursday when I went to pick up my girls from daycare, Ms Joan (who happens to be a displaced Katrina victim, very religious, stern with my kids, she also has smooth brown skin & a comforting voice that makes me think she can make some good sweet tea.) said, "I heard you are graduating Saturday."  I was like I am but it is not a big deal, it's just an Associates.  She said, "who cares, you are graduating & when one of makes it happen, it is a big deal, congratulations".  Her comments made me think back a little & I smiled because it was so like something my grandmother would say.

So today was my WCC graduation & I am officially an “Associate”.   The graduation was actually fun, even the boring speeches held my attention.  My loved ones made it out & screamed for me when my name was called, which was encouraging.  I am proud that I made this happen even though it took forever, I still did it.

Today really marked a new beginning for me & I’m looking forward to the next leg of my educational stretch.  In about 2 weeks, I will be jumping off into a business statistics class & I’m looking forward to it.  Now that I have officially conquered a full-fledged math courses, nothing else intimidates me.

I know I treat my blog as a personal journal most times, so I appreciate the fact that many of you tune in & are down for your blogging boo!!!

Thx for your support,
Tafari

When a Client Calls

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Drake Phifer of Urban Organic who needed some updated photos of himself.

Days later, we were confirmed & the shoot was on.  We set up at a few somewhat on the street spots midtown Detroit & I found myself in challenging light conditions, cold windy weather but all with a client who was flexible & easy to work with.

It was fun doing this type of job for portraits & something that I miss from my Detroit Fashion Pages days.

After Drake got the photos, he contacted me & really stroked my ego with praise for the work I submitted. Later I ran into him & his wife & she echoed his sentiments, which made me feel proud of my little skills.

Hopefully when the image(s) appear in African American Family Magazine (the main purpose for the photos), I can get a few client hits.

On a on the grind note, last week, I contacted Wire Images to find out what it takes to be one of the photographers.  I left a message got no call back so far, so guess who I will be hitting up tomorrow!!!

Finally........

15 years post high school graduation & taking college classes off & on has finally amounted to something tangible.

Next week, I graduate from my extended stay at Washtenaw Community College!!!  Last week, I felt kinda funny about going to the graduation ceremony but now I am excited about it now that I got my cap & gown.

I passed my last math class with an A- & I am so happy to have math out of my scholastic life!!!  When I checked my grade online today, I was totally fucking shocked and I guess I am no longer a math dummy

On to Eastern Michigan University in the fall, which I am vowing to be down within in 3 years (only need 50 credits & I'm out that bitch).  I joked with BFB today that when school starts in the fall, I am going to get me an EMU sweatshirt, bumper sticker, & license plate cover.  He suggested not getting the bumper sticker.

DoYouLikeBaduLikeIDoBoo

Erykah Badu performed last night in Detroit with the Roots & the show was KICK ASS. I got so many awesome shots & I am so feeling myself right now. I may post one more, but I think this is a pretty good tease for now.

Don't you just love press passes???

Post Jump Off: Hey Boo

Dear Blog,

I am back up in this bitch & I hope that I will not bore you with a little Bygbaby potpourri.  I told you that a lot has been going on so I will try to be as brief as possible

“Although inspired in part by a true incident, the following story is fictional but not really and does not depict any actual person or event but it really does but I can’t say.”

School & Making it Through
My last math test was a b-eye-itch!  I really did not study & felt half way confident that I would do ok to get a C because I was at the point of not giving a fuck, I just want this shit ova!  So this Monday’s class was results & I had my fingers crossed to get a C.  The instructors lands the graded test in front of me & I had a big fat 93%!!!  I was like, is this my shit???  I was so geeked but even more excited that I have one test left.  At this point, I am looking at getting a B out of the class.  It will be great if I can pull off a B+ because my GPA will stay just above a 3.0, which means that I get my transfer scholarship when I land at the EMU business school in the fall.

Yes, the last piece of my last sentence is right.  I am finally fucking done with community college after a very sporadic 7 years of classes here & there.

I found out Monday that I was eligible to graduate this May from WCC.  1st thing Monday am, I met with the assistant dean at the b-school of EMU who looked at my transcript & was like what the are you waiting for, you need to be here now!  We combed through my current credits & the requirements of the BA program & all I need is 15 classes to have a BA with a specialization in HR.  15 classes ain’t shit now, I am looking forward to knocking them out.  I am ultra excited & cannot wait to be on my way to a 4 year degree.

My family & were excited to hear my little news & that made me feel good.  Thx to all of my blogging friends ho have lifted me up during the last 2 years especially with the math drama!!!

So I will be going to the little graduation ceremony next month & mostly to show my girls that this shit matters.  Some time next month I also plan to have a little party to celebrate with my friends who tease me about being the oldest nigga in my classes.

To celebrate myself (and I do that so well), I am getting a Vaja messenger bag in dk brown with red trim.  I need a bag upgrade desperately because my Coach messenger bag looks like it was taken from an organized crack head!!!

Photos & Soul for Sale
Sunday before last, I uploaded 13 photos to iStockphoto & Wednesday before last 9 were approved & 4 were rejected.  I was pretty excited about that.  By Thursday, I was a whole ¢26 richer!!!  One of my photos sold & I was so geeked.

I’m using iStockphoto as a litmus  test to see if some of my work as commercial viability in the stock industry.  If things go pretty good, then I will step my game up & try to join a stock house.

Time & sales will tell, so stay tuned.

Gym Hot Mess of the Week
If you go to the gym, you are familiar with a lot of the hot mess that walks up in there.  I usually do a gym hot mess of the week based on some of the tacky shit that people wear, do & say.  Before yesterday, the Overbuff Muscled Headed Negro (I have names for them all) was my gym hot mess of the week.  He’s new & when I first saw him, I was like WTF is up with those huge blue jean MC Hammer pants.  The as I got closer to him, I was like what is that shit hanging off your face.  Well upon closer inspection, I saw that it was a single lock, at least 8 ft long that he had wrapped around his neck like some type of necklace.

Well, yesterday, the Overbuff Muscled Headed Negro was no longer the gym hot mess of the week.  The Long Faced Red Locked Fat Boy was the official gym hot mess of the week.  Yes, I am the Long Faced Red Locked Fat Boy & it is impossible for me to be beat for this weeks title!  Let me tell you why.

Yesterday morning before work, I packed my gym bag & cross checked to be sure I have everything; tight work out shorts, over shorts, t-shirt, socks, gym shoes, hair tie, pad lock, water bottle, & towel.  Once I verified everything, I hit the door.  So now it’s 645, I’m at the gym getting ready to change.  So I go through the bag & was like shit, where is my t-shirt, where are my socks????  Did that shit leap out of my bag this am???

So I was like damn, I’m happy that I wore a wife beater today, because usually when it warms up outside, I don’t wear undershirts.  Well at least my shirt problem was solved or so I thought.  Once I took off me shirt, I realized that I had on a beat up wife beater with a hole all up in the front & it was “a little” ill fitted & basically tight as hell.  I was like I am going to look nasty as hell with this janky shit on.

Ok so now I take my shoes off & saw that I had on a pair of wildly colored argyle socks that were slight moist (yuk).  So who was I going to walk out of the locker room looking like a crack head by the socks & t-shirt with partially wet socks.  Damn my feet felt nasty.

After an abbreviate workout, I left looking a hotter mess than I did when I hit the gym floor.  I need to double & triple check my bag before leaving the house now, because I do not want to be the winner of my own mind game.

I told Cousin Dee about this & we both died laughing!!! I think sometimes we have to laugh at ourselves to stay sane.

Price of Rice
Yesterday while working out at the gym as the hot mess of the week, I was watching CNN & heard several stories about rice shortages & rice rationing from US retailers.  That shit made me have a mini panic.  I called Suite Suzy & told her to stock us up on rice ASAP.  She was like, do you know how much rice I buy.  I was like no.  She was like 25lbs at a time.  I was like ok, get 50bls.  She was like, that is enough for 6 months, then I was like fuck it, get 75lbs.  She was like, are you crazy!  I was like, I do not want to be caught out there with out being able to have my Basmati rice or paying high ass prices.  She talked me down a bit but came home with 50lbs worth.

My next 8 food recipes will all involve Basmati rice, so stay tuned!!! LOL.

I’d Rather Homeless
Sunday, my sister Baby called me & told me that she was about to be evicted from her apartment if she did not come up with 390 bucks before her eviction hearing, which was today.  So I was like, sorry boo, can’t help! But lets talk about what options you do have, which were not many.

Bottom line is that she & her boyfriend, I mean current jump off are totally irresponsible.  I cannot offer finances to support losers who have chronic cash issues.  I felt bad because I do not want my nephew Bay Bay caught up in her ghetto drama but I cannot save someone who does not want to save their self.

Yesterday, I call Baby up to see how she’s doing & she was like, I’m fine, just busy packing.  I was like, so nothing panned out & she was like no.  How can two adults not come up with 390 bucks (Only an elitist would ask that type of question!!!)???

I was like, you know my door is always open to you & Bay Bay (notice, I did not say you boo!!!) without a doubt & she was like that’s OK, we will be fine.  So I was like, so where are you going to go & she was like, I don’t know.  I was like, Baby, come stay with me until you get your shit together.  She was like no & I was like, why not, then she was like, I cannot live with you, I was like what???  You cannot live with me???  She was like no.  I was like what, are you telling me that you would rather be homeless with your child then live with me.  She was like yes.  I was fucked up.

At this point, I had nothing else to say other tan good luck & talk to you later.

So now, I’m like, I must be fucked up, a horrible person, a bitch, the nigga no one wants to be around right,,,

Fast forward a few hours, I’m hurt by what Baby said to me & I had to consult with my inner circle.  So I called my mom, Suite Suzy, Cousin Dee & BFB (individually), & told them what jumped off.  They all were like fuck her, yes even mamma.  They all said you were ok when she wanted money!!!!

Fast forward a few hours more, & I get a call from Baby.  She called to ask me how much it was to go to NYC.  I broke down airfare & hotel & she was like ohhhh.  I was like, why are you moving there now?  She was like no, I’m planning for my B-day.  I was like, oh, OK.  & in my mind, I was like should you not be concentrating on getting a place to live???

After that, I told her she hurt my feeling & from there a fight ensured.  Bottom line is, she really is a loser.  I love her but she has some fucked up priorities & my hands are dusted & I am with a free conscious.  Just because I look like I have it going on, does not mean that I can just break people off change.  And even if I did, have all kinds of money, I still would not be all like here you go boo.

I have no idea hat my sister’s lifestyle means for Bay Bay…

Anyway, I am using my 400 bucks for my custom Vaja bag, not another niggas rent! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.  Sorry Baby.

Car Troubles
I was so excited about my Prius but it is now dead & that’s because I’m not getting that bitch.  When the car came in, the dealership tried to fuck me over on my trade in & being fucked over is not something that I’m into.

So for now, I am saying fuck the environment & will continue to burn a whole in the ozone layer & my pocket with this damn SUV V6 engine.

Good thing I got them 4 damn tires.

Some of My Best Friends Are Black

Not only are they black, they are also from Rotofugi.

This is a test shot using some new gear.  I recently copped a Sekonic L-358 light meter & a WhiBal card; so far I'm impressed with both!

We will see if these new thingys help me produce better quality images & sale some of my images in iStockphoto.

Head to the Sky

I had a great & positive week here in Orlando @ the PS conference.  Right now I am on information overload but that’s OK.  “Yall’s boy” (line barrowed from Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Kwame’s momma)) is armed with lots of use tidbits, & new gadgets & looking forward to putting it all to use!

I have to wake up @ 3am tomorrow to get my red eye home & believe me, it is going to be some red eyes going on cuz I am tired as fuck right now & still need to eat & finish packing. My room got very messy & that is funny because it is just me so I guess I am not as neat as I claim to be.  Already in advance, I’m hoping that I leave nothing.

This weekend is going to be non-stop!  I got my much needed loc appointment tomorrow, & clothes to wash, Sunday I am assisting a Alvin Haas (bad ass fashion photographer) Sunday on a wedding themed shoot for Ambassador Magazine, so I am hoping I can sneak a nap in sometime before I have to go back to the plantation Monday.

Holla!

Bygbaby Week in Review

Yes, this is all about me. The post is long, kinda boring but I had to get it all out or die from excitement.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Monday I had a test in my math class that I was feeling pretty confident about because I had been hitting the books consistently over a period 3 weeks. This test had to be the test that I made my comeback on because I totally fucked up on got a 69% on the 1st one. So I had to prove to myself that like so many others before me, I could do it.

So I took the test, which took me a good hour. After it was over I felt good, went home, changed into my gym gear, hit the gym, came back home, ate dinner & eventually fell asleep.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday: I woke up feeling pretty good but nervous about the test from the day before. Got ready for work, hit the plantation for 8 hours, came home to cook dinner, went to the gym, ate dinner & eventually fell asleep.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday: So today was the day I got the results of Monday’s test & I was pretty much on edge all day wondering how things ended up. Work was boring as usual & after 8 hrs, I hit Whole Foods for an in-class snack & some two bite brownies just in case I needed to console myself after getting my test results.

So now I am in class & the instructor said that he would pass the tests back after the break; everyone was like damn.

Anyway, we jumped off into chapter 4 & that shit was not so easy to comprehend but I will be working my ass off over the next few weeks to keep up.

Now it’s break time. I pull out my snack & beverage & await the test results. Five minutes later, the instructor stops in front of me then gives me smirk. At 1st I was like what was that all about, was he laughing at me, was he like great you did it, what???? Bottom line is it was a smirk of you did it. I got a 94 fucking %. So I was so geeked, I could not concentrate one bit after the break.

My come back is now on & poppin’!

After class, I went home, changed into my gym gear, hit the gym & watched ANTM while working the elliptical, came back home, ate a delicious Thai dinner that Suite Suzy picked up for me & eventually fell asleep after basking in the glow of my math victory (can you say run on sentence like a mutha!!!).

-----------------------------------------------------------
Thursday: I woke up feeling fucking great & glowing because of my successful math comeback. Got ready for work, hit a 9am work mtg, returned to the office for a few hours, then left for the day to pick up Olivia & Sade because they had a half day of school & I wanted to spend some time with them.

It’s now 1150am & the girls & I are on our way to lunch. Lunch was god but the conversation was much better. It is really fun listening to them voice their opinions (sometimes). They are quite strong in how they feel about things & speak with such conviction to be so young. It’s good to see my kids more advanced than I was at their age.

Now it’s 2pm & we are back home after stopping at the store to pick up some movie snacks. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching “Stardust” (rented in iTunes), popping milk duds & whoppers.

OK so now it’s 4 pm & I get an email from Vonnie @ Honey Soul who informed me that singer Anthony David was trying to get in touch with me. So moments later Anthony David & I touch base & he tells me that his record label wants to BUY the impromptu photo that I took of him back in Nov 07. I was like what???

He was then like name your price & it’s on. So at this point, I had to consult with one of my professional fashion photographer friends & he was like don’t accept anything less that ?00 but don’t lose the sale so be flexible at the same time. I was like for real? He was like hell yeah.

OK so now I am back with AD & was like my price with rights is ?50 or you can have all 6 for ?000. He was like no problem, let me hook you up with the record label rep (Universal Republic Records).

Hours later after all negotiations, my price was honored the paperwork was submitted & the images were sent.

So you can imagine I was on cloud 9 all fucking afternoon through the evening. The kids heard all of the discussions & were like OMG is that for real. They were like, we are so excited for you baba/brother. It felt good to her my babies talk that way. I then got in touch with my boo to share the good news & she shared that same sentiments as the kids.

During all of the negotiations & other shit, I attended a talk on becoming a stock photographer by professional photographer Ric Kasnoff. I learned a lot & hope that one day some I can put the information to use.

About 1030, I made it back home did some paperwork, & eventually fell asleep. Notice, I did not have dinner, I was too tired & went to be slightly hungry.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Friday: I woke up feeling fucking great & glowing because of my successful math comeback & my 1st photo sale!

Eventually, I scroll up into the plantation, work until about 1240pm then hit the Toyota dealership to test drive that Prius that I mentioned a few months back.

After being up in that bitch for 3 damn hours, a deal was made & I am now the proud “pre owner“ of a Prius. The one I wanted was not in stock & had to be ordered. It should be in by Wednesday next week. I am pretty geeked about my new car & the fact that I will be rolling fat like my boy Larry David!!! My car not is 24 bucks cheaper plus all of the gas money I will be saving. Cha ching!!!

The ride on the Prius was smooth, very quite & pretty roomy for a small vehicle. My gas guzzling V6 days are almost over!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, I got mine in the "magnetic gray metallic" color.

It’s now just before 4pm & I roll up to the house & see Suite Suzy off before their 3-day girls weekend in western MI somewhere. I will miss them but looking forward to a quite house, mos def.

So I run in the house to spend some of the money I earning on my photo sale. I now have a new Nikon 85mm & Nikon 12-24mm lens on the way.

It’s now almost 5, so I take a quick leak then hit the freeway to head to the Centaur for after 5 cocktails.

My BFB winded up meeting me & we chilled while talking some shit like we do with some of the other bar flies. About 730 my boy “Bouncer Locs” asked me if I was going to the Jill Scott concert that was jumping off @ 8. I was like no, I could not get tix in time. He then said he had 2 & could not go. He offered them to me for 125 bucks. The wheels in my head were turning big time. I was like hold on let me consult. Fifteen minutes later, BFB had the tix in hand after making the money exchange in a weed smoke filled car (nothing like a contact buzz after a few martinis). Fifteen minutes after that we were up in the Fox in our seats (half way decent seats).

We caught the end of Raheem DeVaughn’s set, which was just OK. I mean, I really like Raheem but that new CD Is wack!!!!!!!

Now it’s a little after 9pm & my boo Jilly from Philly on stage looking good & sounding even better. She burned the stage up for 2 straight hours & totally gave me an eargasm!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------
I ended my best 08’ week ever on such a high note, unlike that bitch ass Kwame Kilpatrick!

What the fuck is next?

Workin' My Side Hustle

I finally completed a Landscape Management website that I have been working on for months. The client was referred to my by Cousin Dee & the referral was based in part because the client like CD’s website, which is always good to hear.

The job started out as a simple site but grew into a logo design, business cards & other print materials.

I am very happy with the final look of what I put together & the client was as well.

With another website win under my belt & cash in the bank, I am chilling on any more web designing until this semester is over & then I will still not be doing much.

I am kinda over this business venture but the money is hard to say no to, so I will be operating on a case by base basis. One cool thing resulting from this project is it may turn into some landscape photography work this summer, which will be great for me Verta Photography portfolio!

Anyway, check it out, let me know what you think & don’t be afraid to hurt my feelings!

Grace Landscape Management Inc.

My Avid Learner

In my house, my children learn about Black history & beyond daily, not just the month of February. In addition, it is important for my children to know that Malcolm X, Frederic Douglas, MLK, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Mae Jemison, and a few chosen others are not the only figures that were important in terms of Black & current history.

So to help with their learning process, I make sure they attend exhibits, read books, & do independent research reports on random Africans across the Diaspora. Once my girls finish their researching, they present their information to the family and then we do a Q&A session, as we all have something to learn.

The last report given was tonight by Olivia on Angela Davis & she did an awesome job! I assigned her to do Angela Davis because last week, she was in a feminist rage telling me that I needed to take out the trash because she, her mom, & aunt Sade were strong women. After she finished letting me have it, I asked her if she was Angela Davis all of the sudden. She then asked me who Angela Davis was & from there a 2 page written paper assigned.

I also told her that she had to were here her like Angela did in the 70’s which she was excited about. She did such an awesome job with her vocabulary, that I could not help but to smile during her 10 minute talk.

I think in a couple of years, we will be doing a works cited page in the MLA format. Gotta prepare for the future, right???

Up next is Sade, this coming Friday & she is reporting on the Black Panther Party, because she asked Olivia questions about them & Olivia did not know, so another lesson is on the way. I am excited to here what she pulls together for us.

Pending Work, Maybe Red, What???

Today, I officially kicked my new photography project, featuring my Ikea “Alexander Visitor Chair”, that I copped last spring from the “As Is” bin.

When I got the chair last soring, I was so struck by the color that I did not even think about where I was going to put it at home. I guess, you can say this is a good example of me not being able to control my spending.

Anyway, so I got the chair home & just sat it at the top of my basement steps, where it collected dust and everything else for months. No wait, I think we did use it once when we needed an extra chair at the dinner table. And I did use it for a photo test last summer that came out very well.

So over the last few weeks, after attending a friend of mines photo art exhibit, I started to think that I could do this, next thing my idea was born. I had decided to use my Alexander Visitor chair as a focal point for my exhibit (if I get one/can make it happen).

My plan for the exhibited photos is to have each feature the chair out & about & in different situations, with & without people. At this point, I am going to do several months of work to get a collection of photos that I feel are representative of my style & exhibit worthy.

Like I said, today was the official jump off point & I did a series of 20+ shots & here is my favorite, titled "Passerby". This shot was taken at the Law School of the University of Michigan aka “the law quad”, & the ghost in the background is yours truly.

If you are interested in keeping up with my work, which I am calling “Mobile Ekundu Kiti” Check it out here. By the way, Ekundu Kiti means red chair in Swahili jicydnk.

@ The Movies: I Am Legend

Friday, I cut work a few minutes early so I could catch the 440 IMAX showing of Will Smith’s new movie “I Am Legend.” The little promos that I saw up until the release really had me intrigued about the movie as they did not seem to show anything but a lone Negro with a German Sheppard in NYC after some alien attack or something. So I went into the movie pretty much blind to what it was all about etc. Well I guess I could have read up on it 1st. I know now that this movie has been remade like 4 times.

Before the movie even began, it was off the hook, because they showed the trailer for the new Batman movie. It was a nice long IMAX exclusive preview & when it went off the audience was like damnnnnnnnnn! I cannot wait for it to be released.

Anyway, the move starts & for the 1st 20-30 minutes or so, I'm like what the hell is going on, where is everyone & why is he hunting deer by chasing them in a 2008 Ford Mustang? The later, Robert Neville (Will Smith) started having flashbacks, which started to pull the puzzle pieces together. I don’t want to give too much away but after one hunting trip, the movie flipped the mutha fuckin’ script & the pace was on like a runaway train.

My initial thoughts of an alien attack on NYC were so wrong & it turns out what jumped off was totally the fault of man…

The last few Will Smith movies have been totally wack but he so bounced back with this release & I do not think anyone else could have done a better job. I think he showed tremendous range & flexibility in his skills. Shit, I was even liking the his companion Sam (the German Sheppard) then something jumped off with Sam that would even make Michael Vick cry. Actually what jumped off with made the woman next to me cry, I though it was special. White people know they love them some dogs (me being an ass hole).

The action in this film was so amazing & breathtaking, I need to see it one mo gin’ just to make sure that I did not miss anything.

One thing that I really liked was that Neville actually had a Black wife (fine ass Salli Richardson. I have been wanting her to be my baby’s mama since “Low Down Dirty Shame.”). It seems like successful Black actors get stuck with a white love interest or… Yes, I'm a race watcher!

I know I'm being little schizo with my written thoughts here so just take my word for it & go see the movie for yourself! It was worth every penny of the 10 bucks I paid!

Final note: This movie will really make you think about medical advances & how we are altering things that perhaps should not be fucked with. I was thinking to myself as I walked to my car that maybe mother nature has the master plan & that science needs to take a chill pill & not cure everything. Animals are not intended to live forever, shit we all gotta die at some point.

OK, OK, One more last note: There was a older Black couple that sat in front of me at the movies & the man just kept on talking & commenting during the entire movie. His boo would say things but also but not as much as him. They really got on my damn nerves cause they acted like they had never been to the movies before. If they were not senior to me, I would have said something. I don’t know why in general, we Negroes do not know how to act in the damn movie theater.

Why come we gotta do all that damn talking, narrating & shit while people like me, shut the fuck up, & enjoy the film???

Anyway, while when we were walking out of the theater, I was still kinda mad because of all of their talking & when I looked at them in the face, I thought to myself, that they looked like some catfish sandwich & hot sauce eatin’ niggas & knew no better.

Back to the movie…
-----------------------------------------------------------
Advertised Synopsis:

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable...and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City...and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by “the Infected” - victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville’s every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.

Check out the trailer

Music from the Diaspora: Red Earth: A Malian Journey

Earlier this month while on a road trip to Detroit to shoot an event, I heard a very fascinating interview with NPR’s Melissa Block & jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater on All Things Considered. They were discussing Dee Dee’s latest CD Red Earth: A Malian Journey which is a tribute to her African Roots.

Before the interview even began, I was hooked when I heard a clip of one of her new cuts “Afro Blue” & then I became totally engrossed with every word that Dee Dee spoke as she described her process for developing this new master piece.

One thing from the interview really resonated with me was when Melissa asked Dee Dee if she knew anything about her African heritage before the beginning of her Red Earth project & Dee Dee said “I didn’t know anything. And as a matter of fact, to be perfectly honest, I had grown up with very, very negative impressions of Africa. In, you know, schoolbooks where they would talk about Africa, it was always like the Africans were savages. I had no idea that there were African kingdoms, that there were, you know, these deep, cultural roots, you know, the whole, griot oral historians. You know, I didn’t know this stuff because we weren’t taught that in school.” To that statement, I was like hello!!! I also felt proud because I am teaching my children about the beauty of Africa as I learn myself (it's really up to Black parents to learn & teach our children as much as possible about our own heritage because these white school systems are not down for the cause).

During the interview Dee Dee also talked about how Mali had this draw to her, some type unfamiliar familiarity but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it until she visited Bamako. To hear her describe the experience made me want to touch down on the motherland even more. On her website she says “The calling was so strong, so forceful, that I had to heed its inaudible cry. I took wing, and was guided to the land of my forefathers. The RED EARTH has always spoken to me, from the time of my birth in Memphis, Tennessee.

When I touched the red earth of Bamako, when I inhaled the Malian air, when I heard the tambours, and listened to the griots, I felt my spirit begin to dance.

I saw myself in the people; I saw that our customs were the same. I found the answers to long-standing questions about the ‘how’, the ‘where’, and the ‘why’. I was invigorated and inspired; my soul was filled with an inexplicable peace.”

I could go on & on about how awesome the interview was but I’m not, I beg you to listen to it yourself (here).

One thing that I would have asked Dee Dee would have been if she got a DNA test to confirm her link to Mali. Actually I guess it really does not matter because ignorance is sometimes bliss & adoptive homes are just as welcoming.

Lastly while I am on Dee Dee's jock, I stumbled across an interview that she gave Baltimore Sun reporter Rashod D. Ollison where she said "...With this album, my concern was that my people, our people, would hear it and maybe it would inspire other brothers and sisters to make that connection with Africa. With this record, I've come full circle." To that I say, you have me all in but then again, you are preaching to the choir.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Back to the music.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Since I got the CD, it has been in heavy rotation especially the song “Red Earth (Massane Cisse)”. It has this strong Blues jump off blended with heavy Afro poly-rhythms that just gets my head boppin’. She really has the Griot song style down pat & it shows in this cut I think also hearing her talk about red earth reminds me of playing in the dirt as a child in Alabama & then getting in trouble when I got home because I ruined another Salvation Army outfit.

“The Griots (Sakhodougou)” also has me addicted its words and sound. This cut also drives my imagination wild when I close me eyes & imagine people dancing on the continent when the song hits the orgasmic crescendo. Most of the song is in either the Songhai or Babara language & I have no idea what they are saying but of course I sing along. Good thing music is a universal language!

My last highlighted favorite is “Afro Blue”, where her Griot skills are showcased yet again wonderfully. “Afro Blue” is an up-tempo jazzy cut infused with African percussions that really make this song go over the top. I have also determined that this is a good song to listen to a few times while cleaning the kitchen after dinner.

Other favorites include:

• Bad Spirits (Bani)
• Long Time Ago
• Children Go 'Round
• Four Woman

I’ve always considered Dee Dee to be a very diverse artist but she mos def stepped her game up with something to offer the jazz, blues and Neo Afro rhythms fans on “Red Earth: A Malian Journey.”

If you have this album, I would love to know your thoughts…….. So talk to me…………

Say Cheese on 1 - 2 - 3

A few weeks ago I had a Detroit Fashion Pages photo shoot with Detroit fashion maven Rufus Bartell, the owner of Simply Casual who is also the founder of Detroit Fashion Party Weekend.

Before the photo session jumped off I asked him if he wanted to crack a smile, which is when he informed me that he preferred not to smile in "pictures." Then I said (in my head) "I did not take "pictures", I make photographs cuz I'm a professional." Nevertheless, he never cracked a smile.

Anyway, Wednesday (11-21-07) I ran into Rufus at a party & he thanked me for the photos then complimented me on how they came out, which made me feel pretty good. Although he never smiled, he was mos def a satisfied subject. Who ever said taking portraits was easy was wrong!

If you are interested in knowing more about this Detroit mover & shaker read on....
-----------------------------------------------------------
Celebrate Detroit Style: Rufus Bartell and Fashion Party Weekend
By: Lauren Sackey

Just as the cold winter weather sets in, local retailer and entrepreneur Rufus Bartell’s Fashion Party Weekend heats up Detroit. December 14-16, four lavish events celebrate Detroit’s influence on fashion and showcase the hottest looks our city has to offer.

Growing up in Detroit, Bartell credits his family for instilling in him an appreciation for fashion at a young age. Bartell honed his business and marketing skills at Western Michigan University before launching a highly successful career in the garment industry. A determined entrepreneur, Bartell didn’t allow early setbacks to dispel his dream of creating a fashion empire in Detroit. When his first store in Pontiac did not meet his expectations, he moved back to his hometown and opened Simply Casual. Now in its third location, Simply Casual plays an integral role in attracting shoppers to Detroit’s historic Fashion District.

Bartell describes Simply Casual as a “lifestyle brand,” providing a complete wardrobe that can take the chic, urban professional from the office, to cocktails, to a star-studded event. The store exudes both class and comfort, providing plush velvet couches, chilled drinks, and the latest fashion publications. Its welcoming atmosphere makes Simply Casual both a social, as well as a shopping destination. Bartell plans to open a second store, Shoehouse Boulevard, nearby on Livernois before the holidays.

Believing that “fashion is a celebration,” Bartell held the first Fashion Party in 1999 as a showcase for not only his emerging clothing store, but also other local designers and merchandisers. The show has since grown into Detroit’s premiere three-day fashion event, Fashion Party Weekend. Fashion Party Weekend unites local and national designers, providing extensive networking and advertising opportunities. The events have successfully led to national exposure for many local specialty stores and designers. (read more here)

Are You Moist?

If you are reading this, then 9 times out of 10 you are ashy as hell. Check your hands, elbows & legs to verify!!!

Whether you verified that you were ashy or not, I guess really makes no difference because you need to order some Quench Essentials Body Mousse anyway.

Check out my website & place an order of $20 or more before Nov 2 & get 15% off For the discount, use coupon code "fighttheashyness"

Below is a fresh batch of Orchid Body Mousse that was used as VIP bags at a fashion show here in Detroit tonight for clothing designer Maisha Davis hosted by Niki Johnson f the Detroit Fashion Pages.

I had to whip together 50 jars last night so the kitchen product laboratory was trashed by the time I was done.

Help me feed my kids!

I’m a Winner Today

First off, I am excited to announce that I won a “Motif’d Challenge” in one the Motif'd Challenges Flickr group today for a photo that I took during my birthday dinner date with Suite Suzy. I love this Flickr group & it's one of my favorites!

What you see here is the marvelous lemonade cake topped with a lemon gummy wedge & fresh raspberry served with fresh strawberry sorbet. This is a periodic desert served at Gratzi Ristorante downtown Ann Arbor, MI.

Secondly, I was contacted by my boss Niki Johnson, the publisher of the Detroit Fashion Pages (my side photography gig) & was asked to come on board as the new Photo Editor.

OMG, when she asked me, I was like damn, I’m really just a Nigga with a camera & a dream but I guess I am much more (we both laughed!!!).

After the terms are worked out, I will make my final decision & move from there. From our initial conversation, I am thinking YES, YES, YES. And yes, I will still keep my fulltime job, shit I need benefits up in this bitch.

So after all this jumped off I called Suite Suzy & Cousin Dee to share my news; they were excited for me. After I had lunch, I gave Cousin Dee another call & told her that she was talking to a real winner, she then said fuck you & hung up in my face. Aren’t best friends great!

Anyway, now I can afford to get another $18 water bottle!!! LOL

Last but not least, I did my official non ghetto photo shoot for an article article published in the Detroit Fashion Pages last week & had so much fun working with the crew & the subject. Today I got the email that the piece was online & I got so excited to see my images coupled with the journalism.

If you are interested in knowing about a rising Detroit mover & shaker, please check out the piece on my girl Melinda Anderson.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Inside Look at Melinda Anderson
By: Nicole Brown

As the Michigan Opera Theater opens a new season with the world premier of "Cyrano", Dr. David DiChiera's original opera, there are tons of preparations underway to ensure that patrons experience the French provincial countryside from the beginning of their three day journey to the end. Heading up the design of the opening weekend's events is event designer extraordinaire and industry veteran Melinda Anderson of Colonial Party Event Rental.

If the name sounds familiar it should. In the past five years, Anderson has taken the event world in Michigan by storm by transforming local venues into flights of fancy using her signature dashes of bright, bold colors and utilizing lights in unique ways. Most recently patrons who attended the Michigan Opera Theater's Encore group's Bravo Bravo! event, which Anderson chaired were privy to not just another fundraiser, but a multi-sensory extravaganza. This year's event which included the traditional restaurant and bar buffets provided by the area's leading restaurants, but featured a wide variety of Metro Detroit talent including three DJ's, two bands, a violinist, a singer, a psychic duo all inside of what seemed to be the biggest club in the world. Using modern furniture, lighting, a dizzying array of flowing fabrics and a volunteer staff of 100, the Detroit Opera House ceased to exist that evening and the ultimate home of cool was erected. Read More Here

Work Them Skills Boo!

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a client who needed an emergency website together & I mean like needed in 5 days. Since it was one of my favorite clients I had to rise to the challenge, especially cuz I needed to pay my credit card down considering all of my photo equipment buys lately. And at this point, consider my iPhone & new Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 lens paid for!

The challenge was quite simple, just a basic page & a little e-commerce. Luckily this client gives me creative freedom, so the only real challenge was to come up with a design that made me feel proud (sometimes not always the case).

One day later, I submitted my design & he loved it! I was so geeked & it was on & poppin’.

Side note: Another reason I have been absent from Blogger is because I have been slaving away getting my CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) right + busy @ photography.

Well, a little over a week later than expected, the site is completed, approved & officially online. So check out my hard work here.

What do you think about it? Keep it real, I’m a byg boy.

Now I can concentrate on my homework & one final website for the next few months for a landscape design client.

Make That Money Boo! (Reprise)

To follow up to my "Make That Money Boo" post, I want to share my 1st experience as a paid photographer. If you read the original post, then you know I worked for the Detroit Fashion Pages at the 2nd Annual House Picnic.

Before hit the picnic, I had to run to a BBQ that my girl was throwing to get a Dearborn Sausage (with a little burnt on it) cuz I knew I was not going to have time to eat at the picnic. After I stuffed my face, I hit the freeway & made my way to Belle Isle for business & fun.

So I hit the Isle @ 5 and the party & BBQ was going strong, people looked like they were having a good time. Moments later, I make my way around to see who was there & get a feel for the environment and after I built up my confidence, I set up.

After the 1st 20 or so shots I was in my zone & without hesitation introduced myself & asked groups & individuals if I could get a snapshot of them. It was funny but no one said no & as a matter of fact just before I took their picture, they sucked everything in, perked up & put on their best smiles.

In between snaps I talked shit with friends, danced a little & had a few drinks. I found it really fun getting paid to party but I learned that cocktails, photography & house music do not mix. A few of the shots I took came out fucked up, so I am vowing not to do that again.

Anyway, so last night I submit the best of what I took to meet the submission deadline & nervously awaited feedback. Well this AM I got a message saying that the pictures were good & that they would be online this afternoon (Monday). At this point, I did my bitch scream & called Suite Suzy & Cousin Dee to share my little news.

Seeing my pictures online on someone else’s website was very satisfying & I feel like I really made it happen.

If you are interested in seeing what I saw click here for the goods then click the Detroit House Music Picnic" link. Let me know what you think.

Oh wait, I forgot to mention that I was asked to shoot a fashion show next Saturday for a Detroit designer while at the picnic. I am waiting for a confirmation & if this pans out, I see another lens in my future. Watch my smoke!

Make That Money Boo!

You are talking to one happy Negro right fucking now. I’m one happy Negro because I just got my 1st photography gig, which is popping off this Saturday in Detroit.

The job is with a new online fashion spot called the Detroit Fashion Pages. The DFP is pretty hot now & host some pretty upscale events in the Detroit area.

A few weeks ago, I had the nerve to call (actually, I emailed) them up to see if they were looking for a "hot" staff photographer/freelancer & after a few emails & some name dropping, I was in.

Luckily I stepped up my game & downsized my pockets to get & another lens (50mm) & flash (SB-600), which is going to come in handy like right away.

Anyway, the event I will be shooting at is the 2nd Annual Detroit House Picnic being held at Belle Isle park. This event is going to call out all sorts of house heads from around the area.

I hate to bore you with another little detail in my mundane life but I had to share this piece. Stay tuned for pics from the event, they should be pretty interesting.

Hopefully next week, DF