In the early 1990’s we knew that black women were more likely to develop many health problems, and to die of them, than white women. We also knew that most of the previous studies of women’s health had included only small numbers of black women or none at all. We felt that improving the health of black women required more knowledge of the causes of these health problems and also more knowledge about how women stayed healthy. More knowledge meant more research. We decided that we would do our best to take the lead in carrying out that research.

Recently, Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study has compiled research correlating obesity in Black women with childhood physical and sexual abuse. Yes, you read that right.

According to the above linked article, researchers used participants from the ongoing health studies dating back to 1985 and over 33,000 women responded. 58% of the respondents reported at least one incident of abuse in childhood and adolescence and 11% reported severe abuse.

While the report has yet to be published on BU’s BWHS website, the article on the research to me seems to be nothing more than shoddy generalizations. It would seem that the research may be pushing something more along the lines of:
physical/sexual abuse –> mental illness –> obesity

A major problem is that this has nothing to do with Black folks in particular. In fact, we know that race and ethnicity are trigger words in bad research in order to push certain agendas. Additionally, I’ve spent the better part of my career, working with victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence.

The correlation seems to go as follows: the Black community is more likely to experience obesity as defined by Americanized (oft read: white) standards. This is a result of a number of things that we know and have identified: 1) access to real food – the ‘good’ grocery stores are on the ‘other’ side of town; 2) socioeconomic status – the good-for-you food is more expensive than junk-food, 3) education about food and nutrition, 3) traditional styles of cooking and eating behaviors, and a number of other reasons. We know that the world has been discussing Black women’s bodies for years.

We also know that Black women are sexually assaulted/abused at rates higher than in other communities. Studies indicate 60% of Black women are sexually assaulted before 18. Also, apparently, colored folks use corporal punishment in way higher percentages than non-colored folks; all though, I will say, most research on the matter pisses me off because it’s propaganda used to force Black folks away from spanking. (Yes, I know that spanking is not the same as “physical abuse” and no, I am not a proponent of spanking.)

Voila! Science.

Er..bunk science. In addition to this being simple, poor, over-generalized science, it’s just offensive and misleading. Further, taking into consideration the idea the most survivors of sexual abuse in the general population never speak out, and that often in the monolith known as the Black community there is the attitude that we’re all family and should protect each other and not speak out about such things…

Is there an accurate way to capture such a correlation, especially in comparison to survivors of other ethnicities?

I think it’s another “let’s focus on Black women’s bodies!” article. I’m gonna go on a limb and call bullshit on this one. Don’t believe the hype. However, if you want to view an interesting documentary on food and the issues surrounding obesity, you should check out HBO’s The Weight of the Nation for the free.

Interesting that this hit the headlines at a similar time as NPR’s tumblr linked a very overly general article in Clutch Mag on why some Black folks ignore negative research on spanking; again, not a fan of spanking but also not a fan of faulty correlations like: spanking –> mental illness in the Black community. The author, Kirsten West Savali, cites nationally recognized sources like the National Institutes of Health, but also sources that say violence is a function of poverty. Wild. No shade though.

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Last Friday night just before going to bed, my wife thought it was important for me to see the video that err’bpdy and their mama was talkin’ ’bout here in Memphis last week. Which is really funny because I hadn’t heard a word about this in the news locally; but, I suppose that’s what I get for paying attention to national politics and the foolishness that comes out of other cities other than my own. So I look at this video, and my initial thought after my jaw hit the floor was: “Damn, the strip club is off the hook like a mugg!” Yeah, being as married as long as I have, let’s just say that it’s been a while since I stepped into such an establishment to be, er, entertained. But then it was explained that it was an actual nightclub around the way and not your everyday booty shake joint, and I was floored. I wasn’t the only one appalled by the display of reckless hedonism:

(Memphis) – Video that was posted online promoting a racy Memphis party has captured the attention of police.

The party was thrown by a group called Team Taboo

WREG caught up with the spokesperson of the organization to talk about what Team Taboo does.

“It’s an organization for the people of Memphis,” Kenny Lee said. “People who don’t have family we take them in.”

That’s how Kenny Lee originally described his organization Team Taboo.

The same group who promoted one of its community functions with a steamy video.

It shows young adult popping champagne bottles and engaging in various sex acts.

Some so explicit we can’t show them on TV.

“I am not proud of the video. I was upset after watching it,” he said.

Lee originally denounced the video and even wrote a statement to the media saying Team Taboo does not promote anything illegal or demeaning.

But after questioning Lee for several minutes he admitted his group did in fact release the video.

“We released the video,” he said.”We did.”

He also admitted the groups real focus is on the party.

“We’re an organization in the City of Memphis just like a number of the organizations. We’re just more on the X-Rated side I would say,” Lee said.

That X-Rated content captured in this video has captured the attention of local law enforcement. They are trying to figure out if any laws were broken at the party held at Club Elements.

“We are in the process to see what the owners knew. What information they were privileged too. If we have enough, we’ll proceed with public nuisance charges,” Memphis Police Chief Tony Armstrong.

We couldn’t get hold of Club Elements, but Lee says his group did nothing wrong. He added everyone at the party was consenting adults.

“You had to be 18 years of age to get into that party,” he said. “They I.D.’d everybody.”
He also vowed his parties won’t be stopping anytime soon.

“I mean we are party people you know what i mean,” Lee said. “We get down.”

A community-based organization that’s into giving back, my ass! What are they giving back? A new generation of single mothers struggling to survive while lil’ Raheem or Keisha wonders, “Where’s my daddy?” I’m sorry, but aren’t they contributing to the already startling numbers that places Memphis, TN. number one when it comes to STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and Infant Mortality rates? Shit, I don’t know what Team Taboo spokesman Kenny Lee is talking about; but hell, they might as well be running around handing out free crack to the community.

Here’s what they’re about from their Facebook Fan Page:

Team Taboo Heaux

A couple of pep have asked me how did I come up with the idea for the group. Well the meaning of “Taboo” is prohibited., and is defined as a social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom. For example, its considered as a “Taboo” from a societal standpoint if people: have oral sex, 3somes, are bisexual, swallow nut, lick ass, lick toes, balls, smoke weed, drink liquor, go to strip clubs, fuck doggy style,etc and basically do all of the fun shit in life. Ironically, people still do all of these things and go through extreme measures to hide it..some people pay thousands of dollars and go to Vegas to have their first 3some, some millionaires don’t live the exotic lives that we live in our empire…

[...]The people who you would least expect, the celebrities, doctors, judges, preachers, political figures, teachers, lawyers, judges, and any other human being damn near all do what we do, they just try to hide it from the eyes of society. It feels great being able to be yourself without being judged. Me personally, I don’t give 2 fucks about what people think about me and have lived my life freely, but im aware tht there were females who were hesitant to admit that they wanted a 3some w 2 guys or that they wanted to experience a woman…but they never acted upon their thoughts or fantasies outta fear of ridicule from their peers and embarrassment..

[...]but what they fail to realize was tht their peers actually was prly thinkn the same freaky shit as them…Ive saw where people had went thru molestation as children and felt dirty n had low self-esteem. The Taboo is a place where a person can sit back and laugh at the obstacles tht they encountered in their past and actually discuss them with open-minded people without being judged. I was molested by my babysitter at the age of 7, she use to beat my ass n force me to eat her pussy, but now I can laugh at it and prly would thank her for the training at such an early age lol..

[...]I could hypnotize a female with my tongue along at the age of 12 lol… I wanted to bring people inside of my world and my life and experience the fun that ive been havn for years. It’s a great feeling be able to express yourself freely without caring about what people think about you. We are trend-setters in the Taboo. The Taboo is a liberal empire that doesn’t live by societal expectations and views, we have our own set of rules and moral codes in this empire that basically plays as an advocator for self-happiness, a place of peace, solace, and an eradicator of stress, and low self-esteem for each loyal Diamond and King within us. I know half of yall prly didn’t read all of this, but this is for the pep who our really interested in what they are representing. When someone asks “What is the Taboo”, I don’t like when people reply tht we are a “Sex Group”….yes true enough we are some freaky mofos but this group represents way more than sex…..I could actually write all day about other things we reperesent…. But just know tht the Taboo is also a place where you don’t have to be a rapper, rockstar or pornstar, to have an amazing sex life…….

Now I don’t know if you grasp just how utterly ridiculous the video happens to be. Maybe in your mind I’m just a typical old dude hatin’ on the activities of young folk. Yeah, you know, just like our parents and grandparents did to us back in the day? Although I haven’t been to a nightclub in some years, trust me, I’m definitely not that guy. As a matter of fact, everyone who knows me will tell you that I’m the guy who will forever stay young at heart; heck, most of them will tell you that I don’t even look my age. Be that as it may, this stuff is out of control; and as far as “community organization,” the group Team Taboo needs their asses kicked for this bullshit. I’m gonna warn you, this isn’t safe for work; again, the following is very explicit; and shouldn’t be viewed around children:

Yeah, I could see a rape case developing at one of these parties…

Now I don’t know if any laws were broken, but I’m willing to bet that many were. First of all, the party was open to folks 18 and older. Now I don’t know how things are where you may live, but strip clubs here in Memphis are strictly open to adults 21-years-old and above. And you wanna hear something even crazier? I showed the video to my 18-year-old daughter who’s on her way to college next semester in Atlanta of all places, as a teachable moment. She was just as stunned as I was after viewing it; and, even more shocking is that she recognized a few kids that attend the high school she recently graduated. Yep, and she also noted that some of them were younger than her.

So yeah, I’d say there were laws broken. The one good thing, however, is that I know my daughter refuses to attend or participate in any fuction foolishness that mirrors anything like Team Taboo has produced here in Memphis, in Atlanta, or anywhere. I don’t know about you, but I’m comfortable knowing what my kid is up to; unfortunately, there are a lot of parents who cannot say that they are.

At the end of the day I don’t know who to blame, nor can I figure out just how we got here. I do know that this isn’t a “black thing” as much as some may make it out to be; or an example of one of the many pathological issues associated with the lived African-American experience. No, this isn’t a direct result of a lack of education, poverty, or single motherhood often used to explain dysfunctional and destructive behavior. Instead, I see this as a societal problem; a problem which if anything, exacerbated by explosion the internet, in an attempt to feed our already voyeuristic nature, now more than ever. I could be wrong, and I’m open to correction by way of a discussion; but, at the end of the day it’s about corrective action.

Am I right, or am I right:

But hey, don’t tell that to the folks on Twitter who obviously approve.

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OK, so maybe I’m a little different and I don’t; but I guess being outspoken against the coontastic behavior of people with whom I share a melanin affliction, makes me a prime candidate to support such a move. However, not to shit on anyone’s dreams, but this petition is as stupid as the day the NAACP assembled folks in Detroit several years ago to host a mock funeral for the word “nigger,” in protest of lyrics in Hip Hop. A symbolic gesture at best, but as far as impact or the ability to promote and produce change? Welp, the lyrics haven’t changed, and they’re on television.

I, like many of you, watched in complete horror as a cable network debuted yet another reality drama based on black life as it purportedly unfolds in the ATL. I will refrain from mentioning the name of this show because if you saw it then you already know what I’m referring to and if you didn’t then I do not wish to entice or encourage you to seek it out. In fact, the more that I reflect on my feelings about what I witnessed Monday evening, the more I realize that my disgust lies not just with that particular show alone, but with the way that the city which was once a symbol of black progress is now being portrayed in the media as a whole.

Series after series I have watched with great chagrin as popular reality TV franchises select the jewel of the south to lift the veil of mystique behind the city’s affluent and create what ultimately amounts to a ratings bonanza for the networks and a cash windfall for the producers.

Time after time, executive producers from L.A. and New York, where I currently reside- bring their camera crews and A/V techs into our city to create what inevitably amounts to the Jerry Springer equivalent of the franchise’s northern counterparts. A series that historically featured the diamond encrusted lives of wealthy spouses debuted an Atlanta version of the series where the wealth was elusive and spouses were no longer a requirement. More recently, a show about popular entertainers and the women who love them premiered an Atlanta-based installment where the term popular was subjective and women suggested that other women should be put “on the track,” a prostitution reference that is particularly damaging for a city that is already noted for being one of the largest hubs for child sex trafficking in the world. To put it mildly I was offended. To state I plainly, I was aghast.

How is it that a city which was once the crowning jewel in the story of black America has allowed itself to be positioned as the melting pot of black affliction? The Atlanta that I knew and grew up in was one of great pride and self-respect. Our achievements were known across the globe, as people from far and wide would often respond, “Wow, I hear that black people are really doing their thing down there,” when I would tell them I’m from Atlanta. Today that assertion is often met with “Yoooo….I hear Atlanta’s got them bangin’ strip clubs.” …Really?!?

Um, who do you think told us about those bangin’ strip clubs, Kelly? I dunno, but my guess is that it wasn’t some rapper from Des Moine, Iowa. Which is actually kinda funny when you think about the fact that it’s white folks who are largely buying Hip Hop music, and even watching the show.

With 3.6 million people having watched he premiere, surely they aren’t all black.

Yeah, but now somebody has the gall to start a petition on change.org of all places? I’m not a comedian, but the fact that they’re using a website known to advance significant change — you know, like getting George Zimmerman arrested, and countless other issues related to social justice? — to get this particular show off the air, should be the punchline of the year in Negronia. Shit, whatever happened to hitting the pavement or using the internet to get people registered to vote? Nah, that’s not as important as the social activism associated with hating the foolishness on VH1.

Check out the petition:

After we made a ruckus about Basketball Wives, sponsors began to pull ads. Well, it’s that time again, folks!

While we should respect the perceptions and experiences of the men and women featured on “reality” television shows, networks are airing stories that could be very helpful for people to hear, but they’re telling these stories in EXTREMELY dangerous ways.

We all know premium digital crack rock is ‘slanged’ in digital hoods other than VH1. We also know the problem is not just TV–it’s a big, mean, social monster that we’ve gotta shoot down one non-violent bullet at a time. Nevertheless, somebody’s gotta be the face of this lovely movement. And since VH1 has chosen to give us yet another beautifully-blinged jewel of commercial exploitation (Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta), they might as well be the face of change. By the way, shout out to all African Americans who received Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta as their Juneteenth gift! You won and lost at the same time!

As we work toward national- and local-level change, let’s tell VH1 and their sponsors (again) why people from a broad range of backgrounds will NOT stand for the exploitation of the lived experiences of people who may not even know they’re being exploited. This isn’t a “Black or White” thing, this is a HUMAN thing…and we should all understand.

P.S. That “turn of the TV/your kids’ TV if you don’t want to watch” argument doesn’t work here, VH1. A good number of the kids who are most at risk don’t have the luxury of living with parents who can just “turn off the TV”. Why? Because their parents are out working multiple jobs (thanks to this lovely thing called poverty); one or both parents are on drugs, dead, or in jail; or they’re raised by ill grandparents, relatives who aren’t that interested in their future, or foster parents who abuse them and only foster to collect a check.

So now y’all wanna boycott Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta after enabling all the fuckery VH1, Bravo, and Oxygen has provided? Nah, why boycott now? Shit, why not wait until they choose to portray black women as the throwback “Aunt Jemima with a head scarf” character, who’s happy to be slaving in the homes of rich white folks? You know, sorta like The Help but the reality TV version of it? Yeah, let’s wait for that one before we start this talk about boycotts. After all, didn’t we do this shit to ourselves? Yep, Rick James was right: “They never shoulda gave you niggas money!” But then again, that’s how exploitation works. Hell, who better than black folks — or more specifically black women — to once again take pleasure in our exploitation? After all, there’s no way a dope fiend can exist without someone close to enable him or her, or someone to push their poison on them, right?

Man please, start a petition to get Negroes jobs and I’ll be down.

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Ahh, its nothing like the sweet revenge from some voodoo boudin (a fat delicious sausage native to Louisiana) to fuck up the banking monopoly that has been carefully planned by elite, blue blood European families for the last 2,000.

It’s like Toussaint L’Overture, Gullah Jack and Marcus Garvey are bouncing with great delight while somewhere in a lavish flat in central London, the spirit of Marie Laveau is congratulating the conjuring, sensual ways of her son, New Orleans born Jay Electronica

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jay Electronica, I approve your penis.

You see most rappers get shot or start some silly beef with other economically irrelevant rappers for street credit. Or the fuck an irrelevant, broke, money-hungry bitch like Kim Kardashian. You, my brother, on the other hand, moulded yourself into a black mambo and went straight for the jugular of oppression. After biting a rich bitch, you gently stroked it to death by wooing a Rothschild with some Zydeco funk from your slave drawers. A Rothschild? In my Denzel Washington’s voice on Training Day, “Myyyy nigga!”

Jay Electronica

Easily you disrupted another 500 years of an economic monopoly by banking families that are the financiers of poverty, the funders of all world wars, and basically, the backers of a destabilized globe.

The torrid love affair between Kate Rothschild and Jay Electronica have the UK rethinking about allowing all these damn Mandingos into London for the Summer Olympics.

Kate Rothschild may come from scumbags who raped folks like the ancestors of Electronica, but you see, true gentlemen get the panties willingly. And I can attest, my grandfather laid them down too in Louisiana.

I mean if Electronica, the son of folk who cut sugarcane and barely got out of the projects to escape Katrina, can capture the heart of a high bred like Kate, the “true British” have no idea what they have signed up for when the rest of the descendants of slaves and colonized Africans land onto the Queen’s soil.

I think I have an uncle that can re-route the Queen too, all for a good cause. Fuck niggas in Paris, it’s them niggas in London you gotta watch. While Hovah and Yeezy are licking ass and doing these crazy masonic rituals to plow through rundown chicks like Beyonce and Amber rose, you, Electronica are replenishing the black and brown wealth that sits under the true throne.

You see, there was a reason why I always loved Erykah Badu. She taught you well.

Kate Rothschild & Ben Goldsmith

Oh by way, Jay Electronica’s music is the shit. And Jay, bring your ass back to the US before they lynch you until you’ll only be some mere evidence in the rap game like “Exhibit A”.

The post Elect Jay Electronica for Rerouting the Money Back to Slaves appeared first on THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY.

Now let’s say after the wife accuses said husband about his possible infidelity, mister accused cheating husband gets pissed because of the accusation and leaves the room only to return with a gun, stand and put a bullet in the chamber, and fires at his wife while two of her children are standing with her. Given that scenario, would you say that said husband deserves to be in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon? Yeah I know, this all sounds like a scene from a movie or an episode of “(I Almost) Got Away With It,” on your cable. However, this is exactly what occurred in real life on August 10th, 2010 and the shooter was not the husband, but instead, Marissa Alexander who is currently serving a 20 year sentence for firing what she continues to claim as a warning shot at her husband Rico Gray after he accused her of cheating with her ex-husband, Lincoln Alexander.

We’ve all heard Marissa’s account, but here’s what Gray had to say in speaking to Jacksonvile.com. In an article by Charles Broward, Gray contends that contrary to belief it was Marissa’s violent nature that lead to the shooting, and not the image of him cast as an abusive wife beater. Speaking at the State Attorney’s office in Jacksonville, Gray explained his account of how the event which landed his wife in prison unfolded. Since there are always three sides to a story, let’s hear his:

He said it was Alexander, 31, who first began punching him after he confronted her about some text messages she had sent to her ex-husband.

Gray said he put his hands up in defense “buying time” for his two sons to gather their belongings so he could take them and leave. But when he made the remark that their newborn baby must be fathered by her ex-husband, he said she immediately stopped.

“She said, ‘I got something for your — —,’ and walked away,” Gray said. “I knew exactly what she was going to do.”

Gray said she went to the garage, to her truck, to get her gun and then returned back inside the home. He said the garage door that she claimed was inoperable worked for him earlier that morning and later that day with no trouble.

“When she came back inside, the first thing I saw was her putting one [a bullet] in the chamber,” he said.

Gray said by the time his kids had come to his side to leave, she had the gun pointed at him.

“As soon as I took my eyes off Marissa, that’s when I heard the gunshot,” Gray said.

He said he never looked back, grabbing the children and running out of the house and down the street.

[...] Gray said he lied during an initial deposition when he said he had been the aggressor because the couple had settled their differences and gotten back together. He said he didn’t want to see his wife go to prison.

It was after Alexander assaulted him again less than five months later that he decided to no longer support her. She pleaded no contest to domestic battery in that incident and was sentenced to time served. (source)

Now given Gray’s account, can you honestly say that there’d be all this uproar and calls for action like the national day of protest on behalf of Marissa on June 24th, if she was a man? No seriously, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this. Of course I understand it’s hard to imagine a woman being abusive towards her husband or even aggressive in that regard. Yes, and given that Marissa’s story as told by herself and her supporters has made Gray out to be Ike Turner on steroids and bath salts, It’s hard for most to see her as the aggressor in this instance; heck, women never lie.

Listen to Rico Gray Sr.’s 911 recording:

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I don’t have a degree in anything, I am sure any educated person can tell from my rough draft style of writing. Nonetheless, that is not to say that I have nothing to say. I am a single, uneducated, hard working mother of four with heart and soul. I am 40 years old and have not rolled the dice at this point to claim “middle class.” But I am happy at where I am and have an inner peace about me that money can’t buy. I hit rock bottom and used it as a springboard.

That is not to say I didn’t try to go to college. I did. I was also raising kids and had no support in the city I lived in, so when I was denied daycare I withdrew. Yes, that was a sad day walking away but it happened and is over.

So I don’t have an education, but I read, I listen, I observe, I soak in the ways of the world around me like a sponge. I can Google quicker than anyone, and set one day aside each week to give thanks to Google. (Just kidding)

Seriously, I feel like lately, middle class hipsters think that struggling is a fad. Dude, what makes you think struggling is cool? What, with everyone preparing for doomsday, end of the world, zombie apocalypse, and all that other shit everyone is scared of.

And, not to forget the new one I heard “economic downfall.”

I even forgot to sigh heavily. I was asked to join a group that is saving the world by preparing each other for “disaster and economic downfall.” I was told this group includes people who pump gas and people with PhD’s. Really? I said, Where do they still pump gas?

Irregardless, though I was a little offended.

I don’t want to put anyone down and make you feel all messed up for preparing for an economic downfall but man, I can’t help you. I can’t join a group of people with for real credit cards, ridiculous credit cards like you got Toys R Us and Starbucks credit cards, that is proclaiming to be out to “save the world.”

For one, I retired the Wonder Woman UnderRoos back in 4th grade due to holiness and for two, my bitch ass is trying to climb out of my own downfall, why would I fall down there again? On purpose.

Not only that but the ways you prepare for an “economic downfall” and what I call “in between paydays” are not the same thing. Like, I don’t sew my own clothing, nor darn my stinking boys’ socks. I hit up yard sales and thrift stores or WalMart, for the sock and undie thing.

And I also don’t raise my own chickens.

For one, my people didn’t eat yardbird and some still consider it a dirty meal, however I do, so do my kids. Chicken is cheap, but we don’t pluck them, gather their eggs or kill and eat them. However, we have eaten so many versions of this dirty bird that at times I wondered if it was chicken. I can bake chicken one day and turn the leftovers into stir-fry the next day, that is sustainability to me.

I don’t stockpile food because I am a mother of four and really there is no such thing.

I used to garden as a child with my stepdad but a life of renting and mostly living in apartments, mostly HUD approved low income apartments, put the ixnay to any sort garden in my life, and also I don’t have a green thumb. I could find 21 ways to guarantee a houseplant will die a slow death, so I just don’t do plants. Not that I never tried. I just choose not to torture them anymore

I can’t afford organic foods, that is my reality.

And to top that all off, I was born an raised in one of the poorest places in this country, where the unemployment rate hovers between 75% to 90%.

This country screams about 8% while my people don’t scream about 80%. I want to scream at both sides “WAKE UP!”

So see, I can’t help but get offended when a groups of hipsters and yuppies ask me to join a group that “wants to save the world by preparing each other for disaster and economic downfall.” If you really think poverty is trendy, try spending a day on the streets with a homeless person, and see how they are treated. That is reality. Not a bunker full of dried goods and canned soup.

I’m crawling out of an economic downfall that took me longer than expected. I am preparing my children for a better life than I gave them. I don’t want a doomsday attitude even if the Mayans have a good hand. I want to live each and every day of my life, loving my life, loving the day, loving my family, and hoping tomorrow is better than today.

Because that is what us poor folks do. For real.

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I mean, why not the extreme stuff like catching a heart attack or a stroke while knee deep in some off-limits coochie? Or worse — said owner of the cooch themselves catching a heart attack or dying while doing the horizontal mambo. Trust me, as crazy as it sounds, that type of stuff happens more often than you think. As a matter of fact, I have a good friend who’s father died while having sex with his side piece. Not that dying is a better option, but having to live through the embarrassment of explaining how you tripped and fell into some pussy to your friends and family, might be a bit too much, that you wished you had actually died. But hey, don’t tell that to the wife of William Martinez:

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -A jury awarded a widow a multimillion dollar verdict in a medical malpractice case involving a man who suffered a fatal heart attack during a sex act with two other people.

William Martinez, a police officer, went to a physician at the Cardiovascular Group in Lawrenceville after experiencing heart problems.

Lawyers said that the doctor should have recognized that Martinez’s symptoms were serious and should have sent him to the hospital for treatment.

“There was enough for him to make the call and to know that he should have sent this man directly to the hospital to get a stress test that clearly would have identified and diagnosed his blocked heart arteries,” said attorney Rod Edmond.

A few days after the doctor’s visit, Martinez went to a motel near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to see a woman – not his wife – and another man for a sexual rendezvous.

Martinez died after having sex numerous times. The female returned from the bathroom and found him collapsed on the floor.

A Gwinnett County jury found the doctor negligent and awarded his widow a $3 million settlement. (source)

A lawyer representing the doctor said that Martinez was told to make an appointment the next day, but Martinez delayed.

Yeah, dying butt-naked in a hotel room after fucking off on your wife, has to suck. So what’s the moral of the story you ask? Other than visiting your doctor regularly, never leave home with dirty underwear; and, never get butt-naked anywhere your wife isn’t present unless it’s at the hospital or doctor’s office. No really, why take that gamble when there’s all this free internet porn?

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Not that I’m sympathetic to people who shoot and kill unarmed black youth. But on the contrary, I figured the lead story in the media this week would be what Kelly Virella reported over at Dominion Of New York. She introduced us to what I think to be a significant study, which concludes that in the state of Florida, contrary to popular opinion, black folks have fared better within the state’s judicial system since the 2005 implementation of the now infamous “stand your ground” or “shoot to kill” law. One would think a such a story as covered by Kelly, would have made major headlines; but, I suppose such a revelation or finding isn’t as polarizing as the typical race-related story or incident the mainstream media craves. That is, with the exception of the good folks from the Tampa Bay Times, of course:

A Tampa Bay Times analysis of nearly 200 cases — the first to examine the role of race in “stand your ground” — found that people who killed a black person walked free 73 percent of the time, while those who killed a white person went free 59 percent of the time.

[...] The Times analysis found no obvious bias in how black defendants have been treated:

• Whites who invoked the law were charged at the same rate as blacks.

• Whites who went to trial were convicted at the same rate as blacks.

• In mixed-race cases involving fatalities, the outcomes were similar. Four of the five blacks who killed a white went free; five of the six whites who killed a black went free.

• Overall, black defendants went free 66 percent of the time in fatal cases compared to 61 percent for white defendants — a difference explained, in part, by the fact blacks were more likely to kill another black.

“Let’s be clear,” said Alfreda Coward, a black Fort Lauderdale lawyer whose clients are mostly black men. “This law was not designed for the protection of young black males, but it’s benefiting them in certain cases.”

The Times analysis does not prove that race caused the disparity between cases with black and white victims. Other factors may be at play.

The analysis, for example, found that black victims were more likely to be carrying a weapon when they were killed. They also were more likely than whites to be committing a crime, such as burglary, at the time.

Experts note that most cases have unique combinations of facts and circumstances that determine whether a person goes free or goes to prison. They caution against drawing conclusions on statistics alone.

Now, we have the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights launching an investigation into whether there’s a racial bias applied to the law which grants defendants the ability to use deadly force, without having the duty to retreat from a confrontation. According to the commission, there may be signs of bias:

Data compiled by the Wall Street Journal shows a near-doubling of justifiable homicides from 2005-2011 in states where SYG [Stand Your Ground] has passed. Moreover, their data shows that while white killers of black victims comprises only 3.1% of all homicides, such cross-racial killing constitute 15.6% of justifiable homicides.

A separate FBI study found that, “34% of cases involving a white shooter killing a black person were deemed as a justifiable homicide. Meanwhile, in similar situations, when the shooter was black and the victim was white, the homicide was ruled justifiable only 3.3% of the time.”

While I welcome the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ investigation and pending release of their finding about one year from now, we must be careful in our rush to judgement. It’s easy to look at those numbers above and arrive at the conclusion, that the laws application has be wrought with racial bias. But there are a couple things to consider when you spout the notion that when white folks kill black folks, under stand your ground, they’re somehow egregiously justified.

One would be, just as the Florida study points out above, at least in their state, black victims were more likely (than white victims) to be acting in the commission of a crime, or to be in possession of a weapon; and, let’s not forget that black folk are more likely to be killed by a black defendant in a “stand your ground” case. That last point is something to marinate on if somewhere in your head you develop the notion that white folks are killing black folks and getting away with it.

I mean, I don’t think a white person who kills a black person who attempts to rob, car-jack, or simply kick his ass for being white isn’t justified in bussin’ a cap in a brotha’s ass. Hell, I’m black and I don’t care if you’re black, white, or purple: If you run up on me with the intent to do me harm — which almost always happens in the commission of a crime — I reserve the right to use deadly force to defend and protect myself from serious injury or death. And, I’m kinda glad that the law would look past my race, and instead focus on the circumstances leading to my defense of self.

Sure, Trayvon Martin’s parents are mourning the loss of their son, and as such, they feel compelled to do something to ensure that he did not die in vain. I can understand and empathize with them working to repeal Florida’s stand your ground law; however, at the end of the day, Trayvon was not killed by Florida’s stand your ground law. As a matter of fact, without the law on the books, I’m of the belief that that though unfortunate, he would still be dead. Not because he was committing a crime or being in the wrong place at the wrong time; but simply because George Zimmerman had a gun at the time of their confrontation. And unlike Marissa Alexander, Zimmerman didn’t fire a warning shot as an act of self-defense. Fortunately for Marissa, her actions could have, but didn’t lead to the death of another individual, given the presence of two children when she  pulled the trigger.

So who’s Marissa Alexander?

Look, there’s no argument from me on the history of racial bias when it comes to black folk and the judicial system. However, when it comes to justice, what matters more in my opinion, are the facts and circumstances surrounding the actions of a defendant, rather than the color of their skin, or if they’re male or female. At the end of the day, Marissa Alexander isn’t in jail for being black, any more than O.J. Simpson is. But, don’t tell that to Rep. Corine Brown (D-Fla) and the host of Alexander supporters who say otherwise; sadly, for them, facts do not matter.

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Her latest effort with The Flaming Lips however, left some fans scrambling for an explanation… while others were put off entirely, vowing never to watch it again. Some folks across the Twitter-verse and Facebook commended Erykah for being fearless and waxed poetic about what Nayrok’s sensual expression symbolized. Granted, some folks sounded as if they were blowing hot, putrid air, but boy did they speculate and try to tie it all together into a cohesive meaning. Erykah herself, commended her sister Nayrok for being a good sport for sacrificing her body in the name of artistic expression. While I didn’t even attempt to formulate my own interpretation of the video, I did find it interesting and chalked it up to Erykah and Nayrok embracing their bodies on their terms.  Those with a keener eye, saw it for what it was and didn’t buy it as art; and so refused to whip out their checkbooks to co-sign for the meat that was being sold. The video was deemed another exploitative piece of work showing Black female bodies on display for male profit and for the male gaze (a notion Black feminist Bell Hooks challenges in her essay “The Oppositional Gaze”). I left the video open to interpretation because I assumed Erykah would eventually offer an explanation.

According to Black cinema blog Shadow and Act, Erykah has since reached out to her fans via Twitter and asked what they thought about the video. After receiving a wide range of responses, Badu then posed another puzzling question: “What if the video has no meaning at all? Now how do u feel?” 

In a far more interesting chain of events, Erykah’s professional relationship with The Flaming Lips’ lead singer Wayne Coyne, publicly imploded due to what appeared to be a sinister example of exploitation. In an official statement, Coyne more or less admitted to releasing an unfinished and unedited version of the controversial video to the public, before getting the input of Erykah and her sister and before green-screening away the nudity like he allegedly promised to do, according to the singer. Erykah explained her agitation after Wayne aired her grievance on Twitter. He also released the following statement…

The video link that was erroneously posted on Pitchfork by the Flaming Lips of the Music Video ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’, which features Erykah Badu, is unedited and unapproved… Sorry!! We, the Flaming Lips, accept full responsibility for prematurely having Pitchfork post it. It has outraged and upset a segment of fans and we apologize if we offended any viewers!!! This is a Flaming Lips video which features Erykah Badu and her sister Nayrok and is not meant to be considered an Erykah Badu or Nayrok statement, creation, or approved version.

Erykah was none too pleased and fired off a litany of angry words of her own, expressing her dismay and regret for not listening to her initial feelings of apprehension about Wayne’s idea...

@waynecoyne then… perhaps, next time u get an occasion to work with an artist who respects your mind/art, you should send at least a ROUGh version of the video u PLAN to release b4 u manipulate or compromise the artist’s brand by desperately releasing a poor excuse for shock and nudity that sends a convoluted message that passes as art( to some).Even with Window Seat there was a method and thought process involved. I have not one need for publicity . I just love artistic dialogue . And just because an image is shocking does not make it art. You obviously have a misconception of who I am artistically. I don’t mind that but…By the way you are an ass. Yu did everything wrong from the on set .  First: You showed me a concept of beautiful tasteful imagery( by way of vid text messages) .  I trusted that. I was mistaken. Then u release an unedited, unapproved version within the next few days.  That all spells 1 thing , Self Serving . When asked what the concept meant after u explained it , u replied ,”it doesn’t mean anything , I just want to make a great video that everyone is going to watch. ” I understood , because as an artist we all desire that. But we don’t all do it at another artist’s expense . I attempted to resolve this respectfully by having conversations with u after the release but that too proved to be a poor excuse for art. From jump, You begged me to sit in a tub of that other shit and I said naw. I refused to sit in any liquid that was not water. But Out of RESPECT for you and the artist you ‘appear’ to be, I Didn’t wanna kill your concept , wanted u to at least get it out of your head . After all, u spent your dough on studio , trip to Dallas etc.. Sooo, I invited Nayrok , my lil sis and artist, who is much more liberal ,to be subject of those other disturbing (to me) scenes… Read the rest here

Needless to say, the video went against all the tenets of ‘Baduizm‘: it harbored no real meaning like people wanted it to, it wasn’t Erykah’s full vision like many of us assumed it to be, contrary to the usual proprietary authority Erykah has over her art, it appears as if she (and her sister) got bamboozled and used… which is unfortunate: “As a sociologist I understand your type. As your fellow artist I am uninspired. As a woman I feel violated and underestimated.”

And all yesterday-long (and today), much to Twitter followers’ exasperation and chagrin, Erykah Badu engaged in an exhausting, non-stop exchange with Wayne Coyne, who seemed to bask in taunting Badu and her followers with a series of antagonistic Tweets and Retweets on his timeline.

There are many lessons to be gleaned from these sorts of situations, particularly when you’re a Black woman trying to maintain ownership and respect over your image and body within the realm of the arts and media. And while Badu seems philosophical about the jarring experience…  “He’s got a record coming out, so you do what you do. But as artists we don’t do it at each other’s expense. I  adore his art. But not at my expense.”  

… I think Maya Angelou’s warning very concisely sums it all up: “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

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CORSET is the go-to magazine for all things sexuality. We embrace human curiosity. We honor sensuality. We celebrate sex. And we want you to join our movement.

So with that, I packed up my proverbial bags and headed on over to sign my professional life away. I have been working with a photographer for the past several month on creating what I hope to become a lesson in observation of erotic nudes of Black women.

We shot some images, I wrote an article and actually used spell check and read that bitch for errors twice and BAM!!

[imagebrowser id=4]I have been looking at porn since the age of nine and fighting the stupid ass conservative opinions of the Blacks I was unfortunate enough to have been raised around since I could form words (true story!).

We’ve never been on the same page, as I, a sexually enthusiastic and curious sort wouldn’t be made to feel ashamed of something that bought me and other people so much pleasure. They were talking, but I wasn’t paying that shit NO attention no matter how bad they felt at the fact that I wouldn’t feel bad about myself.

Physical interactions are like gifts to me, just think of me as a woman that naturally liked to give ‘feel goods’ to whomever I choose.

Overall, the response to my work has been very positive. I’m receiving emails and Facebook messages from my conservative Christian friends who wish they had the balls to do it. Much of the feed back has been that its about time for black women to enjoy self motivated boldness.

Trills Smith, my photographer always delivers images that are both tasteful and intriguing. I can explain any variation of sexual irony in society or sub-culture details and he gets it whether he’s personally invested in my topic or not.

What’s even more interesting is that we’ve got a decade of age span between us and we’re both growing as students of life through our work as photographer and subject.

His insight, comments, and questions are teaching me about myself, subjectively. And I’m sure he’s leaning a thing or two from the crazy shit that I’ve been throwing at him these last few months. We deliver sex and sensuality but if you only knew what goes on behind the scenes.

But they do say laughter is sexy….so…

Of course it would take a wandering Facebook voyeur who doesn’t know me very well to have the nerve to inquire about the well being of my daughter or any ‘children’ of mine (Ha!) who may see this in the future.

I’m concerned about their concern over my display of sensual thumb sucking and how it may affect the morality and future good social graces of my decedents.

So, how does my daughter feel about her mother’s blatant sexual display……?

She’s proud of me because I am ‘a kick ass sex positive Mom’ and my picture is ‘cool’.

She did blush momentarily. I did too, how audacious, right!?

Obtaining the cover of an international magazine is indeed, cool, but having a daughter who understands why I do what I do is even cooler. Having an adult daughter who is sexually freer and more knowledgeable than I was allowed to be is absolutely priceless.

Grab your copy of the upcoming Corset Magazine: The Oral Issue before it goes on sale July 1 and get a second past or future issue for FREE. Find out what I have to say about Oral sex, bask in the glory of several full color visual photo spreads and thigh clenching articles that will make you re-think the meaning of having a filthy mouth.

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