Shante Paradigm Presents

Moving to Tumblr

2010-08-06T21:13:00.003-05:00

I've migrated this blog to tumblr. Please find me at Randomness of a Brooklyn Scholar

This blog will serve as an archive, but I won't be posting here anymore.

Thank you all for reading.

Big Band in Union Square

2010-08-01T22:16:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, I was walking with Ethan Nichtern post-"Meditation in Everyday Life" class that he teaches and for which I'm the Teaching Assistant.

As we chatted and walked through Union Square, we heard the delightful sound of a live Big Band. It sounded to me like New Orleans-style music. It was delightful to hear and wonderful to watch people just dance and enjoy themselves.

I took a little snippet using my wifey, the Iphone 4.

enjoy!

Unexpected (for "Texas")

2010-08-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

we happened upon each other by circumstance.
a spark of something--recognition adorning desire.
a steady, slow pace.
dinner, laughter, conversation over dessert at Chikalicous.

yes, this was definitely a date.

Yo' Shortie, you East Indian?

2010-07-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

It's hilarious the things that (straight) men say to women in hopes of getting some...lovin'. So I'm walking the Brindles in lovely Prospect Park, when an older South Asian (at this point, I don't know his nationality/ethnicity) waves me over to ask some questions about my dogs (mm, hmm. yeah, right).

After the scintillating inquiries about Tilo's age and Drala's size, he looks at me and straight-up says, "You Indian?" BITCH PLEASE! I was silent for 5 seconds, whilst staring him in the eye, and then simply said, "No." I know, I know, I could have gone on and on about being AMERICAN Indian, not East Indian, but I just wanted to get away from Creepy Shala Creepy. The elderly gentleman, fo' real, put his arm next to mine and said, "we the same color." Now, I know this is some complicated post-colonial, color dialogue going on, but I am/was literally 47 shades darker than he is/was. DUDE!!!! I felt good about the fact that the years of colonial, white supremacy made him WANT to i.d. with blackness, but i knew there was a heterosexist agenda at work, so i had ta keep it movin'.

I did mumble an insincere, "well, all us brownies are related," before saying my goodbyes.

Sigh. If only he was 25 years younger and a woman...alas.

A Dream Gleeky Dream Come True

2010-06-04T10:17:00.000-05:00

There is no excuse for this blog post being this late, except for to say, I was ambivalent about writing is. Then I decided 'Eff it! I owe it to the gleeks of the world' to talk about my experience with DJing the Glee National Live Tour after party at the fabulous 6th Street Kitchen owned by my friend, Chris Genoversa.

It happened the way all of these Hollywood/New York City dream stories happen--very quickly. One minute Im on the phone with Sophia talking shop, the next, Chris is calling me to ask if I can show up in 6 hours to the restaurant...cuz the Glee cast is coming. Is you crazy? Hellz-to-the-yes I'll be there.

I show up around 11pm, already one hour past my bedtime, and chef Brandon and the rest of the kitchen guys were there along with Darren and another waiter. Coffee. Me, a self-professed non-coffee drinker needed coffee to both wake up and still my nerves (oh the irony). I felt like I was going to throw up. I was going to meet BRITTANY!!??? OH. M. GEE! It starts off with the sweet costume designer and a handful of back-up dancers and singers showing up around 11:30. It was all very civilized.

The menu, was, as usual, amazing: chorizo sliders with manchego and aoili, veal and lamb meatballs, delectable beet salad, and some to-die-for brownies ( i almost climaxed when I ate mine. sad but true). Okay, but ya'll wanna know was there? ER'EBODY, except Puck and Mercedes and Sue and Will. what up wit dat? I can understand my gf Jane Lynch and sexy Matty M. not showing up, but I really was hoping to catch a glimpse of Amber Riley (Mercedes) and Mark Salling's Puck. Alas.

All I have to say is that Kevin McHale (Artie) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) are as funny, quirky and sweet-as-pie as you would expect. These actors have manners and style. When Kevin asked me, oh-so-politely if I had Usher's "OMG," I rushed to find that shit (after my hands stopped shaking) just to see him dance more. He can jam. What else? Harry Shum (Mike aka Other Asian) and Dijon Talton (Matt aka Shaft (thank you Sue Sylvester)), are incredibly talented, handsome, sexy men, if I went that way, mm, mm, mm, mama would likey. Ahem, Didja know that Dijon's cousing is my wish-wife, Meagan Good? mm, Megan. Okay. Cory Monteith (aka Finn) was totally quiet and politely Canadian. Perhaps one of the straightest men I've met in a long time. Naya Rivera (Santana) walked in and the finest quotient went up about 1000%. I used to think Lea Michele's anti-hero Rachel was my favorite, but Heather Morris as Brittany has my heart. Lea walked in the latest sporting a smile and great dance moves. I didn't recognize Dianna Argon (Quinn) cuz diva was rocking the biggest Aretha Franklin-esque hat to obscure her visage. All these tricks were dancing like crazy. Chris Colfer (Kurt) was a bit shy but right up in the fray dancing and singing away.

And then there was Heather Morris--what a ham! Making screw faces every tome someone took jer picture, doing the running man and cutting up, having a really good time. She's got some true comedic talent--like Lucile Ball/Carol Burnett/Gilda Radner potential. Sigh. I kept thinking to myself, 'you're my favorite.' But who wants to say a thing like that to a stranger? No, no, I kept my shades on and spun out the tunes. At one point, one of the dancers said, 'look at the DJ getting down.' It's true, you can't spin that good as music ("Rhythm of the Night" Hello!!!) and not feel it.

I was so bummed when I didn't get ticket to Radio City Music Hall to see the Glee cast, but Iw as blessed with a much better gift--I get to say and know tthe cast and crew and creators and executives of Glee danced and sang the night away to the music I played.

Favorite Moments of the Night:

--Creator/Producer/Director Ryan Murphy telling me I was doing a "great job" spinning...DYING!!!!

--Kevin McHale talking to me.

--Naya Rivera asking me where the bathroom was

--overhearing some juicy ass gossip about someone's sexuality. ha ha ha.

--just watching it all, taking it all in, hands shaking and all.

--seeing Harry Shum and Dijon Talton singing to Beyonce's "Ego."

--the whole figgin' night!

the only thing that could possibly top this is the cast of 30 Rock partying at 6th Street Kitchen. Are you listening Tina Fey?

Letter to President Obama

2009-12-11T09:59:00.003-05:00

Some people say, writing letters, protesting, and forums of all sorts do no good. I can not stand by and not raise my voice in dissent to more war. This is not just a commitment to railing against wars started, continued or waged by governments, but it is a call for me and those I love to learn new ways to operate in the world. How do I let go of aggression, resentment, ego, sarcasm, fear, gossip as strategies? These are acts of war! True story. I say I'm against war, but I am not against talking shit about someone, defending MY position, making enemies, may times without conscious thought or a backward look. So, yes, waging material war and murdering and raping people and land is a gross form of aggressive warfare, but it is built upon smaller acts of aggression: discrimination, intolerance, superiority and other forms of power plays. So, I composed a letter, not the most eloquent, but full of my heart, to President Obama. I hope he reads it, I hope, I pray, I fervently want there to be room for us to solve problems without killing, without making money off of murder, without this having to be "the way it is" because someone with a lot of dough is talking in his ear about being "tough on terrorism." There is obviously more going on than I can ever know, but just because I like this guy and not the last one, doesn't mean I support war, this war, any war.

So, here it is:

Dear Mr. President:

I am extremely disappointed in your decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. While I whole-heartedly support the safe return of women and men who are in the battle zone, I also am afraid for the Afghan women, men and children who will continue to die at our hands, by your command. You said that America has never been a colonial power, (a lawerly equivocation sir), but we certainly are currently engaging in deadly imperialist tactics in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places in the world.

Why are we there? For Osama Bin Laden? Please. If we're there for oil, strategic position, or poppy, be more honest about that. Frankly, with unemployment reaching nearly 30% for some communities (Detroit), shouldn't the State of Emergency be sounding loudly for our own doomed economy?

I am one of your strongest supporters. As a act of love and conscience, I ask you to drop the smooth facade and truly lead us somewhere brave and enlightened, some place that does not follow the same script of greed, war, corporations, blind capitalism, crusading Christianity and xenophobic hatred.

Are you REALLY dedicated to making America a place of thoughtful leadership and citizenry? Or will you go down in history as another aborted dream, who crumbled to the will of those filled with lust for power and greed for resources?

I love you sir and your family.

Sincerely,

Shante Tanishia Smalls

Pre-Halloween Annoucement

2009-10-30T20:27:00.004-05:00

Hey all you nerd balls who like to plan ahead, check this out:

The program is as follows: The Social Text Collective cordially invites you to our

30th Anniversary Soirée

Friday, November 13, 2009
Philosophy Hall, Room 301
Columbia University
1150 Amsterdam Avenue

4:00 - 5:00 PM
Roundtable Discussion
Lisa Duggan
Jean Franco
Fred Moten
Gyan Prakash

5:30 - 7:30 PM
Reception

Please join us as we celebrate 30 years of Social Text, the recent publication of our 100th issue, and the launch of our new website www.socialtextjournal.org-->doesn't seem to be working yet.

Photo: "Reading Social Text 1 (North Amazon River Basin, Peru)" © Jorge Alberto Perez, 2009.

Yoga in the 'Hood

2009-07-09T14:50:00.008-05:00

I've been a consistent yoga practitioner since 2004, when I started taking advantage of the cheap yoga classes offered to NYU students through their recreation program. It was affordable, convenient, and helped me re-build and re-shape my body after going through a number of surgeries. As time went on, I began to develop, what I like to call "yoga hunger,": wanting to go to class all the time, searching for the"best" teachers and studios, constantly wanting to do more challenging poses, basically pumping up my ego. After a few years of that, and a number of serious injuries, I made my way to the Integral Yoga Institute, where I learned to slow down and let go of some of that ego-enthusiasm.

At some point, I was introduced to Ellen Saltonstall, a certified Anusara teacher, by my bodyworker. Ellen has been my primary teacher for the last two years, and I've done Anusara and a bit of Iyengar, exclusively since 2007. Because they are both alignment-based, I've been able to sharpen my practice and also relax into it and not worry so much about looking "gorgeous," but really learn whatever it is I'm supposed to learn in that practice session.I've also been able to develop a strong home practice, however, in the last moth, I've really struggled with practicing at home. More often than not, I've done a truncated practice, or not practiced at all. And especially since my teacher is traveling to teach a lot this summer, I thought I'd better look around for some classes.

I really didn't want to go to the City. I've been becoming more and more interested in finding as many of the services I need right in my 'hood of Fort Greene (or nearby 'hoods: Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, or Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Brooklyn Heights). Farmer's Market on Saturdays, dog park every morning, my CSA is in the City, :(, local shops and restaurants, but what about a yoga studio? My main focus has been on finding Anusara studios, but there are none in my area and sometimes I don't want to get on a bus, train or walk to another part of Brooklyn. I recently had a conversation with a dog-park friend who alerted me to the incredible sale Move with Grace was having.

When I went in to sign up, Owner Grace Tappin, was friendly, warm, helpful and absolutely welcoming. I gave her my $30 for 30 days unlimited classes(!!!) and returned that night for an Open Vinyasa class. Let me preface by saying, I am not a fan of Vinyasa classes, nor am I a fan of using music in a yoga class. However, the small studio itself was clean, beautiful and very relaxed and relaxing. It was an incredible experience to take a yoga class of all black women (save the teacher, who was white), when usually I am the only one in the class. Moreover, I am supporting the local economy, reducing my carbon footprint, actually doing yoga, and supporting a young, black, female entrepreneur. Wins all around!

I'm looking forward to taking the Iyengar class on Sundays and the new Iyengar classes Grace let me know they will be adding. For me, since I have some injuries, alignment-based yoga is the best, and it fits my style, but it was nice to feel invigorated by last night's class, even if that will not be my regular practice. Move with Grace has a wide variety of classes (if not yoga styles) and other types of movement classes, such as Ballet for Adults and Belly dancing! Fun!

I also think I've been infected by the fallacy that only the City has good studios. This is particularly false when many of the great and good teachers training or being trained live in Brooklyn. As my schedule changes significantly in the fall, it will be good to be able to pop down the street, pay $10 for a class, and walk home and cook dinner. So, if you live in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, or Bed-Stuy, you should check out Move with Grace. They also give discounts to college and university students and money off class packages if you sign up online.

If anyone knows any studios that offer Anusara or Iyengar classes in the FG/CH/BS area, let me know.

Holla! and Namaste.

The Dyke of Beauty

2009-07-07T18:17:00.011-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about my relationship to beauty--specifically beautiful women. It's been a bit of an experiment, really. As I've been easing back into the dating world these last six months or so, I've noticed my responses to women who find me attractive, or vice versa, seem stuck somewhere in awkward adolescence. It's made me curious about the "oh gosh darn it miss" vibe I sometimes give off, as well as how beauty is determined from the vantage point of a woman who loves woman.

Scene 1: We're in the club, some great summer banger is playing, maybe "No Letting Go," most likely, "Boom Boom Pow" and you know how the gays do, one hand up in the air, sexy hips shaking, a little peek of the hip bones...nice. So a fly Nicaraguan shortie approaches me, kicks a bit of game and I am smiling, whispering in her ear, letting her hands slide down to grasps each hip, encouraging her to explore...but of course, I'm looking at the other ladies, feeling there is something missing, something more, someone who when I see her, I will know...

The next day I reflected on my tension and lack of casualness at the West Village/Chelsea club. It's not like I really think I will meet the love of my life out at the club, but there's a certain level of posturing and manufactured desire that nightclubs are designed to produce. and silly, sometimes adolescent me falls for it.

Scene 2: I'm walking down Myrtle Avenue, on my way to the organic health food store and an older West Indian gentleman stops me to tell me how fine and chocolate-y I am. He relates, in his gorgeous, lilting accent, how he told his friend I ride a bike to "look as fine and sexy as ya do." I told him, "no, I do yoga," and we proceeded to talk about his daughter's (who is older than me!) yoga studio in the 'hood. He was delightful, we speak every time we see one another, and I felt really happy about our interaction.

It took me a long time to relate to compliments and attention from men. Sometimes I was intimated, sometimes I would be enraged or feel oppressed, other times, I was simply baffled ("can't they see how GAY I am??"), and still other times, I manipulated and lead them on in order to feel good about myself--in order to feel confident with women. Now, I feel grateful. Physical beauty is a gift. I know being someone who is considered attractive makes my life easier. I know my ability to pass makes my life easier. I am no longer so arrogant or ungrateful as to dismiss genuine attempts to be kind to me, or get my attention, or to be seen by me. I know what it feels like to want to be seen and I know how to handle dudes who get out of line.

I was never the pretty one in elementary, middle or high school. It wasn't until college that I really came into my own. As a matter of fact, It wasn't until I started experimenting with my gender presentation that I started to feel "beautiful." I'm not sure how that worked, but somehow, when I wore my ridiculously large JNCO jeans and skater sneakers, schoolboy sweater and matching Giants cap, I felt beautiful. I also felt protected. My body wasn't on display, yet it was in a way. I was alluding to what was underneath through an unisex fashion sense. At that time, I identified as a "girl fag," feeling like my femininity was exaggerated, playful, fierce and diva-like, just like the gay men who I loved growing up had taught me. But I didn't feel my femininity was embodied, and certainly not biological.

Lately, I've been playing with drag: One day I was doing high femme diva bitch during the summer (let me tell you, I was hit on by some strange parts of the NYC demographic); next was schoolboy realness (omg! I was so cute with my backpack, khaki shorts, polo shirt and glasses); and lately I've been feeling sporty femme 80's retro--big high tops, fat laces, neon colors, tight jeans and tight shirts. There is something being liberated in me that I haven't totally formulated or conceptualized, I am simply experiencing it with a tremendous amount of excitement and energy. being queer for me, has always been incredibly complex, but it's always been honest. I feel as though, for a time, I moved away from being queerly fierce, as though there was something juvenile about that, something undignified and regressive. I've found that my queerness thrives mostly when I am free to experiment with how I want to be in the world, when I am not blindly falling into the trappings of hetero- or homonormativity.

So, I'm just observing: how am I when I'm kicking it to women? Is my confidence or sense or worth swayed by who's interested in me? Am I really that shallow? I have to say though, I'm having the more genuine fun then I've had in years.

Femme Diva

school boy realness

The Cost of Health

2009-05-14T19:42:00.003-05:00

So, I'm no healthcare expert. Nor do I understand why it's a big deal for everyone to have basic health coverage (and even gasp! have the government help foot the bill). However, my own experiences with navigating the world of doctors, insurance companies and prescriptions has left me realizing it's a full time job to manage one's healthcare.

As a graduate student, I am afforded insurance, so I don't have to get married or get another job in order to have health insurance. As someone with a pre-existing condition, this is key. well color me broke when I realized my prescription benefits had been cut from $3500 to $2000. I went to the pharmacy and was told I would have to shell out $300+ a month for my 30 dang pills. Well. Of course I freaked out. After calling the insurance and the pharmacy, I called student health and a wonderful woman gave me a plethora of resources to check on free or reduced medication.

Many of the programs are for low-income, poor, or working-poor families. I only looked at the ones that were free, not the paid services that "found" free programs. At any rate. I applied for a few but was denied because I did have coverage or I made too much money. Yet I found one, Xubex that helped me find the appropriate programs for which to apply.

I got a free 30 day supply and will be able to order a 90 day supply for $40 ( i was paying $25/mo under my student insurance). Come August 22, I'll have my coverage again, but I wonder just how many people go through these types of struggles? I wanted to share a little bit of information if it could be of benefit.

Some helpful resources:
Xubex
Pfizer Friends
RxAssist

Happy Valiumtimes Day!!

2009-02-13T21:35:00.004-05:00

Today, I was talking with a friend about loneliness. Not the type of loneliness that leads to blog writing on a Friday night *ahem*, but that existential loneliness that creeps up temps a temps to smack one upset the head. The kind of loneliness that Valentine's Day seems to have been created to eradicate.

I know, I know, call me a cynic (ah, ah, ah, I am healing from that condition), but doesn't it strike you as a mite bit suspicious that smack-dab in the middle of winter
(no matter how unseasonably warm it's been), we celebrate this thing called Valentine's Day? Oh, I get it, sure, I'll buy some jerk-off some cards, candy or $700 boots, only to have them lie, cheat and be an all-around a-hole? yeah, that sounds good...bitter: they name is woman.

Beyond that, we're in like, an economic crisis or something, but love will save the day, right? Right? RIGHT?????!!! At least, for a day. Possibly maybe. Probably not. But back to this loneliness. It's possible to feel this loneliness, or longing, that has noting to do with Eros, with romantic love, and still be incredibly content, happy and joyous. I'm one of those people for whom romantic love has always been the pinnacle of existence. I lived, blinded by love, as it were.

I'm not hating. When people are in love and experiencing that true partnership with another human being, it's absolutely inspiring and lovely, In fact, the love extends beyond the partners to encompass everyone in the lives of the couple. I've been more desperate in love than I'd like to admit, yet, that feels like a kind of phase I had to encounter in order to see how much it really didn't work.

We certainly need more genuine love, loving-kindness, compassion, generosity and true care in the world. We don't need more rageful, jealous fits ending in violence, boy-meets-girl romances, lies, manipulation and co-dependent patsies in the world. It's hard to come by, this true love, which is extended to all without demand for anything back. Co-emergent with it is this existential loneliness, this knowledge that all the things I have or think I have cannot ease the ache, the longing.

Gratefully, humor provides much relief. Humor and really good music. In honor of both and of St. Valentine, I offer you these. Enjoy!

Teen Girl Squad

Happy Five Years Shante

2009-02-03T23:44:00.005-05:00

As of February 2009, I have been out of all cancer treatments for 5 years. I know I have been celebrating this 5 year anniversary for months, but here's the breakdown:

September 3, 2008-5 year anniversary of my diagnosis
October 1, 2008- 5 year anniversary of my mastectomy
February 1, 2009- 5 year anniversary of end of chemo

So all of my treatment is done and it's been 5 years, uhh, what does that mean?
It's the 5 year survival rate. I had Stage 1 breast cancer, so I have good odds of not kicking the bucket for a while due to cancer. I am a very, very, very blessed and lucky woman. I don't talk much about my cancer because it's become this very present reality to me, almost like a friend, a mundane reality...not that I don't take it seriously, or even get scurred sometimes, but it doesn't rule my life, nor do I live in fear of my death.

So to honor my survival and thriving, a poem:

A few pounds of flesh
taken for granted.
Mouths that caressed,
hands that teased,
fingers splayed on brownness.

I matured young, blood rushing from the space
between my legs at the tender age of eleven,
but the two hills of fat never quite grew.

I was proud of my body: slim, feline, strong.
It withstood the poisons of youthful chemistry,
the risks of promiscuity,
the trauma of neglect,
Arms like bands of steel,
legs small and muscled
a hidden, round jewel of a butt.

It was a day like any other; September, in fact.
A smile upon my face, first day of graduate school.
my nerves, popping, only a year married,
dreams of houses and children and vacations and lectures to give.
plans, designs, hopes, fears, all on 14th street and 8th avenue.

in a moment, he uttered "cancer."
like a whisper, like a curse.
the shock, slapping me, hot tears cascading
and he talks, not without compassion, but he talks and talks and talks
am i going to die? will it eat my flesh and leave me skeletal?
who will tell my wife? my parents? my brothers?
songs lyrics bounce around a lucid mind
mamma i wanna sing
but i must concentrate on how to save my life...

what can happen in 5 years?
a marriage dissolved
a degree earned only to pursue another
fall in love with her, and she leaves
two presidents. one, black, like me.
a dog or two.
saints of Tibet, vows taken, these are not to a woman. or any other person.
wars began, more lives lost.
many more friends and acquaintances touched by cellular overpopulation.
and a scar.

a scar that marks me, separates me.
makes me wonder if anyone could love me
and not be scared of my death, or her own.
a scar that i hid behind prosthetics and strategically placed clothing
until i said fuck it.
i'm asymmetrical in the most tragically comical way.

but on my wall hangs framed, pictures my dear friend took of me.
a day before the cutting, before i became an amputee.
in the light, near the world's most famous bridge
i look so young, beautiful, defiant, terrified, peaceful.

a tank top, eggplant.
locks that would fall out from chemo.
black jeans
a studded belt
silver bracelet glittering
and two breasts, one soon to part.

Requiem for W...Overture for O: Works of Conscience from 2000-2008

2009-01-08T10:53:00.001-05:00

Requiem for W...Overture for O: Works of Conscience from 2000-2008

Hosted by Shanté Paradigm and featuring
Alexandra Beller, Tara Betts, Sabrina Chapadjiev, Drastic Measures,
Guta Hedewig, Remi Kanazi, Rachel Lane, Jesse Phillips-Fein,
Sapphire, Paul Singh, Spiritchild
& Gina Young

An alternative inauguration celebration, this evening honors how artists responded to the policies of the Bush Administration and encourages continued action for change. The pieces move beyond simply bashing President Bush and heralding President-elect Obama. Instead, they are intended to provide reflection on the past eight years, to foster discussion about how we survived and commemoration for those who didn’t, to create a space for critical thought about the role of artists in activism, and to distribute information about how to become involved in local organizations that are working on issues of social justice.

Friday & Saturday, January 23rd & 24th, 2009, 8 PM
BRICstudio 57 Rockwell Pl between Fulton & DeKalb, Brooklyn
Tickets: $15 Cash Only
Reservations: 718-228-7151 or jesse@jumpoffdance.org

More info at www.jumpoffdance.org

Endorsed by Brooklyn For Peace www.brooklynforpeace.org

New Brooklyn Rebellion Dogs Blog

2009-01-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

More about Tilopa!

The Value of Friendship

2009-01-05T14:01:00.003-05:00

So far, so good. 2009 rocks! I doubt the year knows that it rocks, but in my silly, giddy opinion, the first 5 days of 200nizzle have been excellent so far. A couple of days ago I was reflecting on how I spent last New Year's Eve Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day--it was totally wonderful and beautiful and appropriate. When I look back at 2008, the year really reflected how I spent the last day of '07 and the first day of '08: with friends, in my various spiritual committees, with a dog (although a different one than my current), enjoying NYC, eating well, and giving myself appropriate and loving self-care. For some people, this may seem totally boring, but for this-here Libra, it was nothing short of miraculous!

Anywho, if 2008 was a year of tremendous growth, change and self-reflective "gettin' my mind right," 2009 seems to be the year of enjoying the fruits of my labor as well as digging deeper into those scary places.

I've just spent the last 6 days in sunny, warm SoFla hanging out in West Palm, Palm Beach, Lantana and Hollywood (as in Squares, not Tinseltown). I spent time with two of my closest friends in the world, Kanye and Martha. Kanye's name is really another name, but I refuse to say her name as she wants me to call her by the name her mama gave her and I've known her looooooo these many years as her nickname. Thus, we reach the logical conclusion of calling her Kanye. There is something incredibly powerful about spending time with people who've witnessed you through all kinds of growth: I've known Kanye and Martha since I was 17 and I am so not 17 any longer (thank the pan-dieties)! But we've seen it all: graduation from college, horrible and great relationships, marriages, moves, career changes, degrees, illness, crack-headed decisions, crazy-ass shit with our parents, sibling drama and celebrations...everything that life touches, we've been through together.

A few years ago, we started getting together in NY or Florida, at least once a year. Kanye and Martha live in SoFla and I live in NYC, but they both have family in NY State and we get to be together once a year to talk about what;'s occurred in the past year, what we are currently challenged by, and our aspirations for the future. These gatherings are affirming, filled with laughter and vital to our spiritual, emotional, mental and psychic lives.

I feel incredibly grateful to have such loving friendships. Just a few days into the year, and I already have plans with a host of well-loved friends (and plans for serious snuggle-time with the Shorty when she gets back to NYC). It's such a good, simple loving life I have and I am happy I finally really appreciate it.

Happy 2009 ya'll!!

Wake in '08, Fine in '09

2008-12-29T11:20:00.003-05:00

Well, well, well. Here we are, the end of another year. Not to sound like every old person on the planet, but seriously, where did this year go? Was it even a year, or just a few short weeks? At any rate, it really was an excellent year. I set out to do the most important thing for me which was to get my mind right after going done the path of self-will, which ,of course, placed me in a position to be hurt. Enough of the vagaries.

2008 was a year of incredible gifts, gratitude and accomplishments for me:
1. I officially became ABD (All But Dissertation) in my doctoral work, meaning all I have to do is write a measely four chapter BOOK! ha ha ha. Instead I write on my blog.

2. I found a great apartment and a great roommate. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect, supportive situation.

3. I fell more in love with Brooklyn and NYC, even as I realized that I probably won't be able to spend all of my time here for much longer.

4. I made more time for my friends, my sweet/wacky family and myself this year. No easy feat I tell you.

5. I adopted a great dog, Tilopa!!!! (whom I blog about at Fierce and Nerdy)

6. I saw lots of of good movies!!! I fell in love with 30 Rock and You Tube.

7. I got that flat screen...i will definitely be blogging about my Battalestar Galactica marathon and how it is totally different on a great TV.

8. I cleared up a lot of old wreckage: financial, emotional, inter-personal.

9. I had a successful year of running my own business (look here).

10. I re-connected with lots of people, mostly thanks to my 10 year college reunion and Facebook.

11. my iphone!!!!!!!!!

12. After reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I joined a CSA and began working my way to 75% local food purchase.

13. My yoga asana and meditation practice became steady and fairly daily after many, many years of being intermittent. Basically I dedicated myself to the spiritual practice rather than material practice.

14. I fell back in love with Nas.

15. I accepted myself for who I am, flaws and all and embraced my brand of black-homo-femaleness.

16. I laughed so much, 2008 was the year of bawdy, genuine laughter.

17. I turned 33.

18. I reached my 5 year mark free of cancer.

19. I simplified.

20. I got a great surprising Christmas gift.

I'm looking forward to 2009 because it's more days on this Earth and I have plans!!

Bonus: 21. I actually BLOGGED!!!!

With love,

SP and Tilo

I Love NY, Part Two

2008-12-08T22:24:00.004-05:00

So. It's cold. In the teens cold. Bitterly, miserably cold. Yet, I feel like jumping up and doing a little Irish jig. Why? Because everything's coming up (frozen) roses. Who knows? Life's Too Good, especially when it sometimes sucks donkey balls.

Anywho, So, I Love NY, Part Deux. I had a really great picture of some crazy-ass stickers, imparting such gems as " God The Father," in the font of The Godfather. Trez Awe-sume! And one other koo-koo one, but alas, I've lost them. So instead of talking about that, I want to talk about... DATING!

Oh. My. God! It's insane!!! Why do we do it??? It's so much fun. Seriously, I feel like I am on the coolest, scariest, sexiest ride of my life and it's basically due to the fact that I finally feel relaxed enough to be myself. At thirty-something years old (and from what I hear, that isn't too old to make these sort of discoveries), I'm pretty okay with me. Now, it took a failed marriage (okay we can pressure the term "failed," but the shit is over, so yeah, failed works), and a failed long-term relationship, for me to accept a lot a truths about myself, but I am beginning to do just that.

Truth Number 1: I am a NERD. I have hid this perceived shameful secret my whole life, but now that shit has cache (uhh, add the accent) so I am going with it. Nerd qualifications: Battlestar Galactica fan (old and new),HUGE Buffy/Josh Whedon fan (I know all the words top all the songs of Once More with Feeling)...that's right. I own several rolly carts (so maybe that's more granny than nerdy), I own comic boo--uh, graphic novels. I posses dictionaries in multiple languages. Sci-Fi turns me on. Stop me before I kill again!!!!

Truth Number 2: My middle name is Romantical. Ahhh, to be a mushball. Do you know there are people out there who are ashamed of being romantic? Mon Dieu!!! I am proud to say, I am a total mush ball. A pragmatic one, but soft and mushy at the center nonetheless. How do I know this? Well, let's see: I love breaking into song to express my feelings (this could also be a sign of delusional psychosis, but let's go with romance). Right now...I refuse to say what song is in my head right now. That will be my secret shame. Anywho, sweet, sappy, heart songs. woo-hoo! Don't fuck wit it. Oh, that was an earmuffs moment for the eyes. Sorry.

Truth Number 3: La La La...it gets mean and/or derivative from this point on, so let's just say that up close and personal, I have the same degree of warts and faults as all people, but am becoming increasingly relaxed about them. Basically, I care less about what you may think and more about how to be authentically me in the moment. This basically translates into treating myself and others well. As a friend once said to me, "we can do things that hurt people's feelings, but I promise no bullshit." Pretty cool and quite a challenge. Sorry for cussin'.

Truth Number 4: I have no idea what is going on. This is probably the truest of the true, but hell's bells, I am enjoying the unknown. It's really fun liking ladies and I had forgotten that. I got away from what was basic about me: I'm silly and light and serious and super-cute and arrogant and inappropriate and loyal and fierce and kind and all sorts of human contradictions and foibles and loveliness. Yea.

Truth Number 5: Kissing. Is heaven. I forgot just how much fun it is. I mean for those of you who like the ladies, whoa, ladies lips are super-soft. Amazing!!!! And NY ladies are sort of crazy but also really direct, upfront and take-charge--I dig that. Referring back to Truth Numero Dos, I am a typical Libran lover of hearth and home and family, but also, until I settle down, I like to be generous with my affections. I don't mean being loose or throwing it around, just being cautious and getting to know folks. wait, this was about kissing. Okay, kissing rocks. next paragraph.

I do the "ohhh you're intriguing, let's get together" thing, but you know, I may not really be feeling that person or her feeling me after a few months. But by then, you're trapped and in the "trying to work it out" phase. No thanks. Smooches, chilling, getting to know you, making sure you're not married, insane or from the Planet Marklar is where I'm at these days.

So I'm definitely looking forward to finding someone I can chill with long-term, but for now, the adventures continue and I welcome them.

New Column on Fierce and Nerdy

2008-12-08T16:39:00.002-05:00

Hey Ya'll:

So I'll be posting here twice a month or so and also writing a column for my homie, Ernessa T. Carter (etc) at Fierce and Nerdy. Check in out here.

Requiem for W...Overture for O

2008-11-21T08:52:00.002-05:00

For all you artists out there, who have had something to say about Bush, the War on Terror, all of the impingements the government has made on our civil liberties, and ,of course, the new day that has dawned with the election of Barack Obama as President off the United States, here's your opportunity to shine:

Seeking dance, theater, spoken word, video and music created from 2000-2008 in response to the Bush Administration’s domestic and foreign policy for the ‘Requiem for W…Overture for O’ show in January 2009. From the stolen elections, the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, torture & Guantanamo Bay, proposed Constitutional Amendments against gay marriage, to Hurricane Katrina, how did artists respond to the politics of the past 8 years? Let’s celebrate the end of the Bush era and continue to strengthen the movement for social justice for the years ahead.

Submit your own work or suggest a piece that you saw.

Email jesse@jumpoffdance.org or visit www.jumpoffdance.org for an application. Applications due November 24th!

I Heart NY, Part One

2008-11-16T22:45:00.005-05:00

Soooo...I've been suffering from serious writer's block. Songs go unwritten, my poor doctoral dissertation is a disparate garble of bizarre musings that are barely fit for my eyes only, and this poor, poor blog has remained sad and barren. Well thanks to my friend Ernessa, fellow Smithie, I am inspired to blog once again. Hopefully this will translate into beautiful songs and a fierce and nerdy dissertation (which, by the by, I did work on today. Tavia, that's for you if you're reading).

Why do I love New York? Too many reasons. The number one: BROOKLYN. That's right biz-natches, Brooklyn is the borough. Having lived here over 10 years, I can officially call myself a New Yorker, but more specifically and importantly, a Brooklynite. Brooklyn is like the nerdy girl in a John Hughes film who gets a make-over and you realize, "Oh My god! She's so hot and all she had to do was take of her glasses!!!" Yeah man, that's Brooklyn.

Being a single lady, I have lots of time to myself. I am also a dutiful mother to a sweet, unpredictable, seriously funny dog named, Tilo. I'll write more about him in my new column, still to be named, on Fierce and Nerdy. Anywho, we're walking down Clinton Avenue towards Fulton Avenue, passing gorgeous brownstones, trees popping with Autumnal vigor, latte-sipping liberals and then I see it...

what cruel, cruel summer human being could leave CHOCOLATE CHESTER ( I just made that up) here on his own? Both Tilo and I did a double-take and I worried that my dog, who loooooooovvveeeeess stuffed toys, would take this cute, but most-likely-infested-with-bedbugs, gorilla and drag him along the wide Brooklyn avenue. He didn't. A simple sniff, glance at me, and then we continued our merry trot in the blustering wind.

BUT, this is why I love New York and Brooklyn--the unexpected always occurs and it's frequently pleasing. I felt pure joy seeing this stuffed toy propped outside. Sure, some kid probably tired of it, or maybe it did have some unpleasant infestation, but there he was, so gloriously perched, giving me a chuckle, and my doggy something sweet to smell.

There was something completely innocent and small-townish about Chester and it's one of the situations that always makes me appreciate this challenging city. For every complaint, siren, crime, loud stereo, over-priced apartment, 8.25% sales taxed item, there is a stuffed toy on a stoop, a beautiful flea market, a gazillion homey, comfortable, over-priced-yet-completely-endearing coffee shops (that are not Starbucks), a ridiculous amount of people on scooters, bikes, and skateboards, lovely parks. New York City is the most beautiful, confounding, heart-breaking, heart-stopping, precious lover I've ever known. She's never left me, even when I fancied abandoning her for somewhere more bland or manageable, she's reminded me that I belong to her. And I do.

Quick story: I was walking down Dekalb Avenue, heading to WAMU (soon to be part of the JP Morgan Chase monster) and I glanced over at a tall, Black gentleman. He was dressed in what I like to call "Badu-Badu" wear: head wrap, many Hali Salasi pins, Ethiopian colors, and he grinned at me, asking me if he could take my picture, commenting on my beauty. I blushed, as one does, as I never know how to deal with the compliments of men, since they are really only friends, brothers and pals to me...but we walked and talked, he walked me to the bank, giving me his newsletter of Pan-African news. I smiled and thanked him for his conversation. We said our goodbyes. I felt happy, that I made that bit of connection. This city constantly gives me opportunities to remember how generous and loving people are, how funny and tragic we can be. For every person who tells a lie, someone else offers truth. For every unkind word, there is plenty of kindness.

This may not be the New York or Brooklyn most people think of, but it's the one I know, it's where I live.

A post that got lost

2008-11-11T11:54:00.001-05:00

http://shanteparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/06/shantes-most-absolutely-subjective-best.html

September 5th Show

2008-08-25T09:31:00.002-05:00

Thanks for everyone who came out to see me perform at Ryan Chelsea Clinton's fundraiser for Reach Out and Read, It really was an incredible show: AB Lugo, Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene and Carlos Andres Gomez were off the hook! Seriously, I haven't heard that much good poetry/spoken word in a minute. Thank you Radeyah and everyone at Ryan Chelsea Clinton for allowing me to be a part of the work.

Last Friday, I got to be the specail guest artist at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. I don't know if I've ever had more fun (or signed more autographs!) then being in front of this enthusiastic crowd of 8-18 year-old girls. Thanks to Noa D for recommending me to the WMRC staff.

On September 5th, I'll be in a show with some amazing performers. I'm attaching the bad-ass flyer. Please come, because you don't see a group of artists appear like this often.

I'll be on retreat from Aug 26-Sept- 2 and so out of touch, but I hope to see you all Friday, September 5th at WOW cafe.

Shante Paradigm's Upcoming Shows!

2008-07-30T09:13:00.003-05:00

I know, I know, I can hardly believe it myself:

Queer Women of Color, Boston
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 6pm
QWOC+ Boston presents "OUTSPOKEN: A Queer People of Color Spoken-Word Artist Showcase” in collaboration with Truth Serum productions
Co-sponsored by Queer Asian Pacific Alliance (QAPA)
@ MIDDLESEX LOUNGE 315 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge MA 02139

COST: $5
Open to ALL ages (must be 21+ to drink)

Reach Out and Recite Fundraiser
Wednesday, August 20th, 6-8pm
Ryan Chelsea-ClintonHealth Center

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
Friday, August 22, 2008 12:30pm (closed show)

Friday, September 5, 2008
Rivers of Honey
Doors @ 8:00
Show @9:00
WOW Cafe Theater
59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd & Bowery)
$10 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

see this old post never published

2008-06-26T21:18:00.003-05:00

Check out this post
couldn't figure out how to change the date and I re-designed and updated the Shante Paradigm website. enjoy!

Beyond Race Magazine Call Submissions

2008-06-26T21:12:00.001-05:00

Beyond Race Magazine, a national arts and culture publication, is expanding and we are looking for a few great people to grow with us.
Please view the details below.

Jobs, Internships, Freelance:

Account Executive: We are looking for an experienced account executive for online advertising and/or creative print and online packaging. pd. position.

Editorial Interns: We are looking for JOURNALISM STUDENTS in their senior year or GRADUATE STUDENTS to intern for mid-summer positions and fall. We want to facilitate the growth of people interested in senior, managerial, and content editor positions.
This posting is for seniors in undergrad and graduate students only.
College Credit.

Graphic and Digital Design Interns: mid-Summer and Fall positions. This posting is for juniors and seniors in undergraduate or graduate students only.
College Credit.

Internships are for college credit.
Internships are for mid-summer (July and Fall of 2008)

Freelance Writers and Photographers: We need experienced writers and photographers to pitch ideas and potential stories that fit the mission of the magazine. Writers and photographers will cover events, exhibitions and art openings, concerts, and other cultural events in New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, London, Paris, South Africa, Los Angeles, the Bay Area. Must be able to work to deadlines and submit stories and high resolution images.

About and Application:

ALL APPLICANTS ARE WELCOME. MEN and PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Beyond Race Magazine is a quarterly arts and culture publication designed to spotlight the unique and diverse community of artists in multiple genres (music, visual arts, performance, literature, etc.. We spotlight both emerging and established artists and encourage artists to build with us.

Account Executives: Submit resume + cover letter that illustrates sales experience and current contacts. Also submit your LinkedIn Profile and references.

Interns: Submit resume, links to websites, electronic portfolios, and references.

Freelance Writer & Photographers: Submit Resume + work samples, websites, and or tear sheets.
CONTACT: unakariim@beyondracemagazine.com

Show this Sunday: Queens Museum of Art

2008-06-12T10:35:00.001-05:00

Queerin' Queens Annual Pride Month Celebration

Sunday, June 15, 2 - 6 pm

2 - 3 pm Performance Showcase - Join us for eclectic live performances including: Spoken word artists Robert Ortiz, Hip Hop & Soul artist Shanté Paradigm, fierce Queer Sri Lankan Tamil American Marian Yalini Thambynayagam --- accompanied by the carnal sounds of Varuni Tiruchelvam on cello who conjures spirit through her unique blend of poetry, song, and dance, and Rhythm Locura, (pictured) New York's premier LGBT Latin dance group

3 - 5 pm CINEMAROSA Queens Only Queer Film Series Screenings - The independent film initiative created in 2004 by New Media Artist, Hector Canonge, holds its monthly LGBT screening programs at QMA. For pride month join Brooklyn filmmaker Lesli Klainberg for a screening and discussion of:
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (Lisa Ades & Lesli Klainberg, 2006, 82 min)
The superstars of gay and lesbian cinema shine in this amazing overview of LGBT film history. It's packed with smart interviews and a tremendous array of film clips from the greatest movies of the genre celebrating more than half a century of queer independent filmmaking from Kenneth Anger's pioneering Fireworks (1947) to the smash hit blockbuster Brokeback Mountain. Also starring John Waters, Wilson Cruz, Guinevere Turner, Peter Paige, B. Ruby Rich, Gus Van Sant, and Alan Cumming. *Followed by a Complimentary Cocktail Reception!*

Shante's Most Absolutely Subjective: Best Sad/You Did Me Wrong/Why Lawd Why Songs on My Ipod

2008-06-04T14:46:00.006-05:00

So, we all know how lovely it is to fall in love: the birds chirp a little louder, images are a bit sharper, you skip to the loo, and every little thing your paramour does is so cute (even the things that will drive you to want to kill them later). We have a gazillion love songs, cheesy poetry and envious friends to cheer us on, but what about the "sour times?" That's right, Portishead will be on the list!

I am sure on another day, I will choose a different list and there are some people I left off (D'Angelo, Maxwell, Al Green, Chaka, Marvin Gaye,Patti Labelle, Sinead) who OBVIOUSLY have some slamming sad/longing songs. Okay, listening to Radiohead right now and need to get some peppier songs before I never make it out the house. "Lipgloss" here I
come!

Please send me yours, I want to know how you wallow when your loving feeling has been lost.

PS- only attempt to make this list when you are actually happy. otherwise, you may never emerge from the hellish emo abyss. Damn this Radiohead is depressing!

20.Resentment or Irreplaceable- Beyonce
B gives Jay-Z a piece of her mind when he was doing her wrong.Or so I imagine. And no, "to the left, to the left," is not the best lyric here. It has to be "I can have another you in a minute...Don't ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable..." Damn B, you cold girl! "Resentment" is just...well listen to the song. The influence of B playing Deanna in Dreamgirls shows. I played this one A LOT last year. Best lyric:" Loving you was easy, once upon a time."

19.On the Ground--Beady Belle
Swedish soul singer, Beady Belle, gives a dynamite rendition of "you made your bed, now lie in it...hoe!" over a gorgeous, minimalist down-tempo beat. It's a song about going on with your life. Thanks Vanessa for introducing me to her, cuz her albums are available import only and expensive. Love this song!

18.Gnarls Barkley-Who's Gonna Save My Soul?
Oh man. Cee-Lo, you really kill it. Haunting, psychedelic, trippy and dark. Does anyone know what the sample is? It sounds very familiar, like some 60s movie theme song. It sounds like it's about losing one's religion, but the longing is the same, I mean isn't love a type of worship? Cee-Lo moans, groans, growls, about selfishness, self-interest, fear, loss of control...whew I identify, like the best of them (Al Green, Marvin Gaye). Lesson: Co-dependence don't work fools! Buy this album

17.Burn-Usher
This song got me through all of 2004. Oh man, I know every lyric (singing now: "The party ain't jumpin' like used too, even if it bruise[s] you, let it burn, let it burn, let it burn..." It's got everything: falsetto, drama, multiple perspectives on a relationship ending, longing, sexual desire and you can dance to it while in that slow-cool way that I could never do.It is seriously a sexy song. Almost makes breaking up worth it just so you can sing along with conviction! Usher is the man.He does R. Kelley better that R and with more class.

16.(Another Song) All Over Again- Justin Timberlake
Okay, I know it may seem like sacrilege to rate J. Tim higher than Usher, but I think the fact that this song is newer and gets more play on my iPod gives it the one up. Plus for the longest time, I thought this was some Chris Brown-like guy who just "sounded like Justin Timberlake." Lol, silly me. This is the song from the side of the
one who done fucked up, come on, we've all been there and done that. I know I done some fucked up shit to people. So you know, it never works out, but he puts his heart and soul into it. And it is much less bitter than "Cry Me a River," or "What Goes Around Comes Around," (although they are very good when you are wishing your ex(es) ill will); this song is completely tender with lots of melismas and falsetto. And begging, A+.

15.How Can I Ease the Pain?-Lisa Fischer. Sigh. Oh Lisa, you won awards, but did we really give you credit for being the bombity-ass singer you were? And not just for being Luther's back-up singer either. How can you write something so perfect as, "IF it's not loooovveeeeeeee, you're coming foooooorrrrrr, why [are] you here, knock-knock-knocking at my doooorrr. I can't take it no more, no more, no more baby, give me love or nothing at alllllllll (in a high C no less)." Shit woman, you can wrench a tear out of a stone. Play this song only if you have friends or family to rescue you from your broke-down heart puddle.

14.Picture in a Frame- Ben Harper. He's angry. He's hurt. He writes a gorgeous traveling road song. The reminiscing doesn't bring the love back, as "all that's left...is a picture sitting in a frame." Yup, perfect.

13.You Don't Know what Love Is- Cassandra Wilson. This song, honey, over honey, over the smoothest honey. Ms. Wilson's voice is unbelievable, hypnotic, fierce and bereft. "You don't know what love is until you learn the meaning of the blues, til you've lost a love, you had to lose, you don't know what love is." Really? For shizz? Whyyy? Exactly. That's love and "sangin'" about it.

12. The entire Bitter album- Me'shell Ndegeocello. You just have to listen. In the dark, on your bed, with minimal clothing. Trust me.

11. Mary J. Blige's whole discography. I mean really, Mary J. is synonymous with heartache. And I know people say that they don't like her "know that she's happy." HATERS!! Mary J. cans still bring the pain to a sunny day and make you like it. Some MJB classic lost love songs: "Your Child" --ridiculously ghetto but still sort of amazing, her cover of Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing," "I'm the Only One You Need" and "You Gotta Believe," off of what is arguably Mary's best album, My Life and of course, "I Can Love You."

10. Getting Late- Floetry. Floetry can be a bit corny sometimes, but their first album has some incredible classics. "It's Getting Last," not only has glorious lyrics, harmonies, and concept, but gets at the vulnerability of hurt inside a relationship. How sex, desire, fear, fantasy and the reality of what is or was and how it all plays out with never enough time..."it's getting last, why you gotta be here?"

9. Just Friends/ Valerie (live on the DL) Amy Winehouse

8.The entire Dummy album--Portishead
7. Do I Love You?- Ella Fitzgerald
6.Bittersweet-Lewis Taylor (the best British soul singer EVER)
5.Weird Fishes/Arpeggi-Radiohead
4.TIE: Green Eyes- Erykah Badu/ Led Zepplin- Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
3.Oh Sailor or I Know- Fiona Apple
2. TIE: Lesson Learned- Alicia Keys ft John Mayer/ Ex-Factor (original or remix)- Lauryn Hill: both of these songs are complex, perspective-shifting pleas/homages to lost love. Timeless

And number one is:

1. A House is a Not a Home by the late and great Ms., uh, Mr. Luther Vandross

Brooklyn Public Schools and The Post

2008-05-29T09:36:00.003-05:00

This happened a few days ago and I meant to post it then, from my roomie, the divine Ms. UnaKariim:

"So right now, I'm trapped inside the school building because the school is surrounded by police and media.

Nothing jumped off today but this rawkus is a continuation of a meelee that ensued several weeks ago and may not die until someone actually dies. Today is obviously safe--nothing will happen with the news and the police around. The NYPost is sort of gossipy and ranks last of top NYer reads---3rd to the Times and the Daily News. What is crazy is that our small school drama that escalated into big drama (in a city of over 8 million people) The Post that has escalated into neighborhood drama is being covered by News4 as I type.

In this case of drama, the parents became involved on multiple levels... Some bringing their kids to school TO fight, some fighting (or bringing other family members to fight, some coming to escort their kids to school and to meet with other parents and the principal to come up with solutions. No solutions were reached, the room was filled with emotionally charged parents talking over one another pointing fingers and no real solutions at the end.

Shootings in and around this neighborhood are common place when it gets warm, and for those who don't know my car, poor thing, was actually caught in random cross-fire last fall.

I don't really worry about losing my life, I just worry about the kids and pray that I don't get maimed or caught up in something crazy.

What is sad is that all of this coverage is happening over escalating violence. However, I doubt that if news were asked to come and cover the horrendous disparities between this school (evident in the filth, the lack of technology and other BASIC resources--i.e. a library and a librarian, class sizes under 30, and host of other disadvantages) and others, they would probably not come---nor would the parents. The sad thing is when anyone asks "what's wrong with education" everyone says "the teachers."

Hopefully this clears up so I can leave. I have 12 more instruction days left and the possibility of transferring next year remains in limbo.

I'll keep you posted and hopefully I can bounce outta here in the next 15 minutes."

Umm, Where's the Music Paradigm?

2008-05-22T16:26:00.008-05:00

Yes, my friends, I am still making music. It's just sometimes these things take longer than one would like depending on circumstances. This last year has been spent "researching material," i.e, living life, encountering loss and profound change, having many happy, joyous and free moments, and working "tree job," like the family on In Living Color.

So, I've been working with my man Pat for a minute, but both of us are in grad school so sometimes it gets hectic. And frankly, I've had a severe case of writer's block for some time. It's slowly starting to lift. It's really part of the process and I've stopped being stumped/aggravated/incredulous by the natural ebb and flow of the mind and creativity. That's "deprivation mind." Oh, damn, ya'll don't know about that. It's a little inside joke between me and a Sandy. And it doesn't translate well virtually.

So, I am working on some songs: spoken word, rhyming and singing and basically listening to shitload of music; all types of music. What I'm really attempting to do is get real and in touch with my own voice or what is marketable or what might fit into some scene or category. At this point in my life and career, I'm not trying to famous. I really want to make and enjoy music and when this shit starts feeling like a job, naw, fuck it.

And I'm not talking about being some hairy-fairy "for the love" or "keeping it real, keeping it grimey" "authentic" art form either. I mean just simply as a person who gets tired, who is human, who wants to rest and chill, who wants a simple life, I'm not trying to run around the globe and sing for my supper. That shit is played for me. AND, I hate sleeping in strange beds, you know, hotels.

I was sort of reminding about why I shied away from "stardom" when I was at my 10 year reunion . So I sang in this group and we were sort of a big deal, on campus, but also we garnered quite a reputation in the college/university scene. A lot of that had to do with our pitch at the time, Hillary, who was/is a phenomenal musician/arranger/composer. And we found the most complicated songs ("Omaha" anyone?) and blasted them.

So I sang this song. It was bizarre that I even auditioned for it, but I did and got it. It became a sort of blessing/curse my entire career at Smith. It as "For What It's Worth." Now I know what you all are thinking: Stephen Stills/Buffalo Springfield? http://www.varsityvocals.com/icca/results1996a.html. But it really was moving...

anyway, I think my own thinking and "Merchurry" being in "Retro-grate" (it's an inside joke), have contributed to my morose musings. The writer's block has been serious but it seems to be lifting a bit.

So I am writing new music, listening to every sound and reading a great deal and getting inspired from every portion of my life. We shall see what is made of all this.

Until soon...

Two Friends, Two Art Shows, Too Fly!

2008-05-21T16:41:00.007-05:00

I have some talented friends and want you to go see their shows:

Next week, my good friend Kesha Bruce has her show opening up, details here. She's Coming to America all the way from France. Well, we met many years ago when she was still living in BK, but one of my favorite things about her is that she is from Iowa. yes, Iowa. I didn't know they had black people there either.Super-fun time will be had by one and all.

Another friend, Sophia Wallace, had an opening Tuesday, which I had to miss, but has a great show that I will be seeing very soon. Check it out.

I'm no art buff, but I am definitely learning more about it and appreciated the visual arts in greater measure. So many of my friends make visual art, I decided it's high time I get into it.

Anyway, I really am packing up my place. Moving day looks to be manana.Fun, fun, fun!

10 Year Reunion

2008-05-21T09:49:00.007-05:00

I am not sure how someone who is only 21 yeas old has a 10 year reunion. How time flies when you are a child prodigy genius. HA!

(I just don't want any evidence of my age on the Internet for when I become a famous-for-no-reason starlet. My future publicist will appreciate it).

So, I went to Smith and I loved it and I realized how absolutely out of my mind I was from ages 17-22, uh I mean, 6-11. a-hem. I fell in love an average of 42 times a month and my reputation still follows me. Geez, sue a girl for being young and hormonal. Can I live??!??!!??!

Anywho, it was a total and absolute blast: so great to see and converse with people whom I used to see on a daily basis. Had some really lovely conversations (thanks Liz G!) and much hilarity ensued, especially when Molly, Sheridan, Amy, Marc and I were together. Marc, a distinguished gentleman from LA, had the patience of Job with our insane inside Smith jokes, "center campus" intrigue (center campus were where the "cool" kids lived, i.e., the kids who did all the drugs, scored all the boys and girls, DJed at WOZQ and generally made Smith a party. I was not cool, but lived there), and MOST terrifying of all, he dealt with our Noteables humor/reminiscing, including the list of all of our silly, immature and doomed trysts...no comments from the peanut gallery. And for those of you trying to clown me, a Cappella was cool...in the 90s...on the East Coast. IT WAS!!! We won competitions. Anyway, Sher you have yourself a winner.

The best part of the reunion, I refuse to tell, because it makes me look like an utter jackass, goofball, although Molly and Sheridan re-told the story to whomever would listen. And their families apparently. Thanks "ladies." Let's just say it included me forgetting my name, calling myself Molly, and standing up as if I was a 19th century English countryside gentleman. Sigh, total nerdball.

And then there were the babies...I fell in love with them all, Judy's little girl,who she kept making give all of us kisses; Ayanna's two adorable girl (one of whom I kept referring to as "him" despite the full pink outfit. Thank you Frankie for correcting me gently and Ayanna for just indulging me),and them Amy's little man who fell asleep on my chest at Jake's. I don't know how you mommies do it, but I want one!!! ha ha ha.

For some reason, at the over-priced dinner ($50 for over-cooked asparagus, "fennel," and some sort of portabella mushroom-rice pilaf thing), I was given the award for the one with the most children, despite having none and it being a biological, medical and physical impossibility, due to me missing a few key baby-making portions of my female anatomy. We decided it was racist (why the black lady got to have the most kids? huh? huh? huh?), homophobic (why the lesbo have to have the most kids? huh? huh? ok that doesn't work), ableist (how come the cancer survivor has to win that award? huh? huh? huh?) and all sorts of "ists" and "isms" so good to be be back at Smith. The sad, single, childless homo is always an easy target. Damn you all, damn you all to hell!!

The best part was remembering that I never have before or after met white folks like I have at Smith. It doesn't matter if they are rich, middle-class or poor, American or no, urban, suburban, or rural, black, white or Asian...you know what I mean: there is one commonality--they are GHETTO! Particularly my class. Example: we had 39% class giving participation and rasised...$13,000. (Opposed to the 1.5 Million other classes raised). And the best part? We laughed!!! Ghettois.

Also, I don't know about anyone else, but our class mix contained such classics as Next's "Too Close," Big Pun's "I'm not A Player," Ginuwine's "Pony," Mary J and Meth "You;re all I need remix" (still the best song EVER) and my favorite Something for the People's "My Love is the Shhh" remix with Trina and Tamara. What white people know these songs??!?!?!?!?!? Thank you Thea, I'm still bumping it.

It was the bizzity, so thank yo all for making it fun. Some of is are going out to night to dance our booties off at Cattyshack..oh dear, I can't wait to blog about it!!

Umm, for you freaks who keep emailing me about Flat Screen TV dates...leave me alone!! This is a blog folks, not real life. Geeez...but if you want to pay for an upgrade, we can talk...No, no, no just kidding...sort of.

Ok, here's Meth and Mary, it's not the remix but still, 1998 was a blazing summer and this kept it heated even though Lauryn Hill overshadowed the best hip hop album ever.

More blogging after I pack some more!

Cuz We Are Living in a Material World...

2008-05-20T23:11:00.005-05:00

...I'm not much of a Material Girl. Really I'm not. I'm more of a reformed materialist; a recovering Material Girl if you will. HOWEVER, I've been bitten by the LCD flat screen bug. I have no idea why, now, or from where this has come, but I have some ideas.

1. I'm moving to a new place:
Since I'll pretty much have my own space, I can kick back and watch movies (I don't have cable/Direct TV) without feeling like a total isolationist and having it in my room. My current apartment (for the next little bit) has an old school TV, but it's never amounted to a big communal space. I'm also prone to fits of quiet solitude and don't always find the television soothing. In fact, I like more the way a tv (especially a flat screen) looks rather than how it sounds...BUT, it seems I am driiiiffffftinnggg toward getting one and watching it.

2. I miss TV: well mostly I want to watch HULU and I want my poor Mac to just be it's cute computer self, not double as a TV anymore. Uhh, fine I'll still have to hook up the VGA cable, but it sounds good anyway.

3. Something for the Ladies: That's right, "Do you want to see my flat screen?" gets 'em everytime.

So what will it be:

Well, I went to Circuit City (i.e. Bootleg-ass, Ghetto-ass City) tonight to price them. I decided against the TV/DVD combo, even though it seemed the easiest choice. But I know those combo-things ALWAYS break down quickly. I saw a Samsung I liked: 20 inches, under 300 bucks and super-cute, but no VGA...boooooo. so can't get it.

Then I went to ebay and saw one in my price range and size range. Proud to say I;m not a size queen so it can be between 19-22 inches...oh god, LOL, can you IMAGINE?!!??! Anywho, get your minds out of the gutter children!!!

We shall see. Any of you who have any advice or extra money lying around, hit me up Shante [AT] ShanteParadigm [DOT] com.

and ladies (and some special gents) get ready for some goooood loving opportunities.

This will be one of the gems I'll be watching on my new TV:

New York is Weird

2008-04-29T11:44:00.004-05:00

So...I'm walking around the West Vill last night to make a few purchases at Satya and I see these guys who look like Secret Service. I peek my head into the bakery next door and who's there...Bill Clinton...eating cherry cheescake.

I SWEAR to you!

It's weird because seeing him in person, was like seeing him on the big screen. There was a fuzzy light around him. It was either the aura of enlightenment or some scary black-ops weirdo government neuro-disrupter. Which one do you think I chose?

Anyway, a no-neck (seriously, the dude had no neck) Agent came over and I said, "I guess I can't stand here, huh?" He replies," Well, you're standing here and then 5 guys are going to come over and ask you out and then I'm going to have to crack skulls." I looked at him and reminded him we were on the corner of Christopher and Bleecker Streets...he didn't need to worry about any men hitting on me. At least not the type he was speaking of.

ANYWHO.

Here's a weird picture I can actually show: a classic caddy with a taped roof top. I Heart NY
Happy Spring!

Calling All Musicians

2008-04-29T11:42:00.001-05:00

(I was asked to pass this on)

Calling all musicians!

Want to get an inspirational message out there, but find yourself beating the same drum? Lambda Legal, the largest and oldest national legal organization dedicated to achieving civil rights for the LGBT and HIV communities, wants you!

This year we are hosting our biggest anti-workplace discrimination rally yet. Already thousands of Americans have signed the pledge, and we want thousands more to sign before our national Clock In Pledge-a-Thon for Workplace Equality on May 15. We’ve got victory on our minds and music in our hearts. There’s only one problem. We don’t have a theme song!

Want to give a unique gift to the fight against workplace discrimination? Help us educate the public, our allies and our communities about the harassment and discrimination LGBT people and people with HIV can face at work. Donate your very own inspirational, motivational and upbeat jam for us to put to our 2008 Clock In video on YouTube and you’ve got your name in the credits!

Double your exposure.

Send us your “I signed the pledge!” photo with your video to isigned[AT]lambdalegal [DOT]org, and we’ll post it to our Flickr Clock In group. Carson Kressley (Queer Eye) and Christian Siriano (Project Runway) did it. What are you waiting for?

Together we can crush workplace discrimination!

For more about Lambda Legal, visit Lambda Legal. For more about the 2008 Clock In Pledge-a-Thon for Workplace Equality, visit our Clock In page. And don’t forget to join us on MySpace!

(NYC)Theorizing Blackness Conference TOMORROW!

2008-04-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

THEORIZING BLACKNESS

Friday, April 4th, 2008

CUNY Graduate Center

365 5th Avenue (at 34th Street)

New York, NY 10016

8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The Africana Studies Group (ASG) of the CUNY Graduate Center invites you to join us for a day of presentations and discussion.

On April 4th, 1968 the esteemed civil rights leader and social philosopher, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee thus marking what many regard as the closing bookend of the mainstream African-American Civil Rights Movement. Since that pivotal moment in 1968 (a watershed year in numerous other respects) momentous sociopolitical, technological, and cultural changes have occurred both within the United States and around the world. In light of those substantial changes, "Theorizing Blackness" asks: What does blackness mean in the current day? How is blackness conceived, constructed, represented, and consumed. How has it changed or remained the same?

Keynote speaker:

Professor Mark Anthony Neal is Professor of Black Popular Culture in the Department of African and African American Studies and the Director of the Institute for Critical U.S. Studies (ICUSS) at Duke University.

Professor Neal is the author of four books: What the Music Said: Black Popular Music and Black Public Culture (1998), Soul Babies: Black Popular Culture and the Post-Soul Aesthetic (2002), Songs in the Keys of Black Life: A Rhythm and Blues Nation (2003), and New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity (2005), and co-editor of That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader (2004).

Plenary participants:

Dr. William E. Cross Jr. is the Director of the Social-Personality Psychology Ph.D. program at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is author of Shades of Black: Diversity in African American Identity.

Mahen Bonetti is the founder and Executive Director of African Film Festival Inc. (AFF), a non-profit art organization founded in 1990.

Jacqueline Nassy Brown is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Hunter College (CUNY). Dr. Brown is the author of Dropping Anchor, Setting Sail: Geographies of Race in Black Liverpool.

Donette Francis is an Assistant Professor of English at SUNY Binghamton. She is currently writing a book defining the "third wave" of Caribbean women writers, Fictions of Citizenship: Rewriting Sexual Histories in Third Wave Caribbean Women's Literature, forthcoming in 2009.

Throughout the day, panels will be moderated by doctoral students and faculty members such as Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Leith Mullings and, Jerry G. Watts, Professor of English and Sociology and Interim Director of the Institute for Research in the African Diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean (IRADAC).

Theorizing Blackness is FREE and OPEN to the public!!!

Theorizing Blackness Conference Schedule

Friday, April 4th, 2008

CUNY Graduate Center

365 Fifth Avenue (at 34th Street)

New York, NY 10016

8:00am - 9:00am: Registration / Breakfast

Please note that all events aside from the evening reception will be held on the Concourse Level of The Graduate Center

Bluestocking Books will be selling books on the Concourse Level from 4-6:30 pm

9:00am - 10:30am: Session 1

Panel 1 - Room C-197

Moderator: Kevin McGruder (CUNY Graduate Center)

La Marr Jurelle Bruce (Yale University): "Possessing the 'Body Beautiful': Black Drag Queens, White Heteronormativity, and 'Happily Ever After' in American Cinema"

Angelique Harris (California State University, Fullerton): "Sexuality and Homosexuality in the Black Church"

Panel 2 - Room C-202

"Cope, Conform or Resist?: How Blacks "Use" their Blackness at Predominantly White University" (University of Delaware)

Moderator: Dr. Yasser Payne

Brittany Pearl Battle

Mamawa Lemon Fofana

LaMar Rashad Gibson

Thea James Ogunusi

Carl Suddler

Panel 3 - Room C-201

Moderator: Hank Williams (CUNY Graduate Center)

Donald Levit (CUNY Graduate Center): "The Spiritual Present: The Inextricable Relationship Between Jazz and the Black Arts Movement"

Algernon Austin (The Thora Institute): "Mapping the Afrocentric Era, 1988-1998"

Leah M. Wright (Princeton University): "Constructions of Conservatism: Black Republicans, 1932-1964"

Panel 4 - Room C-198

"The Politics of the Black Atlantic Body and the Body of Black Atlantic Politics: Nation, Identity, and Resistance"

Moderator: Akissi Britton (CUNY Graduate Center)

Natalie Belisle (U. Wisconsin, Madison): "In the Spirit of the Ancestors: Spiritual Discourse and the Black Revolutionary Struggle in O Ano Em Que Zumbí Tomou O Rio"

Jessica Krug (U. Wisconsin, Madison): "Social Dismemberment, Social Remembering: Contested Kromanti Identities, Nationalism, and Obeah, 1675-Present"

T.J. Desch-Obi (Baruch College, CUNY): "Embodying Honour: Liberating Enslaved Identities Through the Body"

Jarett M. Fields (U. Wisconsin, Madison): "Blackness, the Body, and the 1968 Olympics"

Panel 5 - Room C-203

Moderator: Dr. Deborah Vietze (CUNY Graduate Center)

Julian Ellison: "Melanesia: Pacific Blacks in the African American Consciousness"

Kelly Baker-Josephs (York College, CUNY): "Afrofruturism from a Caribbean Past: The Local Orientation of a Black World Vision"

10:45am - 11:45am: Keynote Lecture:

Professor Mark Anthony Neal (Duke University)
"Fragments of a Feedback Loop: Blackness in Conversation"

12:00pm - 1:15pm: Lunch

1:30pm - 3:00pm: Session 2

Panel 6 - Room C-201

Moderator: Dr. Angelique C. Harris (California State University, Fullerton)

Alan R. Takeall (CUNY Graduate Center): "Black Uplift in the New Racial Domain"

Jacqueline Jones (Francis Marion University): "Pondering the Strange Meaning of Being Black or How Black Can I Be At Work?"

Panel 7 - Room C-198

"Theorizing the African Diaspora": (U.C. Berkeley African Diaspora Studies Graduate Group)

Moderator: Anamaria Flores (CUNY Graduate Center)

Vielka Cecilia Hoy: "Race, Multiple Diasporas, and Points of Departure: Creating a Framework for Theorizing Afro-Latinos"

Petra Raquel Rivera: "'Soca, Reggae, Reggaetón, Tropical Mix': Afro-Latino Spaces and Notch's Reggaetón"

Asia Leeds: "Redeeming Black Womanhood: Newspaper Portraits and Notions of Femininity in Marcus Garvey's Negro World"

Robeson T. P. Frazier: "From Mao to Yao: Chinese–African American Exchanges in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century"

Panel 8 - Room C-197

Moderator: Rashida Bumbray (Assistant Currator, The Kitchen)

Johanna Faith Cacho Almiron (University of Hawaii, Manoa): "Still Not For Sale: Basquiat's Blackness & The Reeboppers"

Jordana Saggese (Santa Clara University): "Basquiat's Blackness: Re-defining an African-American Aesthetic"

Panel 9 - Room C-202

Moderator: Kazembe Belagun (The Brecht Forum)

Janette Yarwood (CUNY Graduate Center): "Deterritorialized Blackness: (Re)making Coloured Identity Among Youth in Post-Apartheid South Africa"

Sara Nichole Artes (American University): "We are, But We Aren't: Constructing African American Identity Through Cultural Heritage Performance on the US/Mexican Border"

Alexander Lamazares (Bronx Community College, CUNY): "Afro-Cuban Aesthetics: The Africa Decade, Secret Societies, and Racial Politics"

Panel 10 - Room C-203

Moderator: Gregory Pardlo (CUNY Graduate Center)

Marissel Hernández-Romero (CUNY Graduate Center): "Contemporary Afro-Brazilian Female Literature: A Threat to an Imagined Nation?"

Katherine Baxter (University of Hong Kong): "New Black Fiction of the Far East"

Ronald Tyson (Raritan Valley Community College): "The Changing Same": Essentialized Blackness in Contemporary African American Popular Fiction"

Panel 11 - Room C-204

"The Ontologies of James Baldwin"

Moderator: Dr. Jerry G. Watts (CUNY Graduate Center)

Sam Han (CUNY Graduate Center): "An Encounter of Mitsein: The Ontology of James Baldwin's Ethics of Victimhood"

David Stein (Yale University): "(Re)naming/Revealing: James Baldwin's Theorizations of Racialized Formations Under the Terror of State Sanctioned Violence"

3:15pm - 4:45pm: Session 3

Panel 12 - Room C-197

Moderator: Dr. Leith Mullings (CUNY Graduate Center)

Yamuna Sangarasivam (Nazareth College): "'Terrorist' as Fugitive Slave: Blackness in the Foundations of Citizenship and Democracy"

Robin Hayes (Santa Clara University): "African Liberation, Black Power and a Diasporic Underground"

Juliana Smith (University of California, San Diego): "Freedom Dreams: Political Exile, U.S. Social Movements, and Post-Revolutionary Cuba"

Panel 13 - Room C-201

Moderator: Leslie Craigo (CUNY Graduate Center)

Daren Graves (Simmons College): "Critical Racial Awareness, Racialized Aspects of School Culture, and Academic Achievement: Listening to the Voices of Black High School Students"

Jessica Ruglis (CUNY Graduate Center): "The Graduation Rate Crisis: Adverse Consequences and the Construction of Blackness in the Context of Cultural Oppression"

Gail Perry-Ryder (CUNY Graduate Center): "Making Race Real: Exploring the Intersection of Race, Academic Performance and Educational Culture in Our Public Schools and Colleges"

Brian Purnell (Fordham University): "From "Negro" to "Black": Black Power Politics in New York City's Public Schools During the Mid-1960s – The Story of Jitu Weusi (Les Campbell) and the Origins of the Afro-American Teachers' Association"

Panel 14 - Room C-198

Moderator: Lise Esdaile (CUNY Graduate Center)

La Marr Jurelle Bruce (Yale University): "Looking for Lauryn: Madness, Genius, and the Black Prophetess,"

Alexis Pauline Gumbs (Vanderbilt University): "Salvaged Tongue: Transnational Translations of English Between Black Feminists"

GerShun Avilez (University of Pennsylvania): "'Once You Go White': Inter-racial Desire and Contemporary Black Female Identity in Film"

Stacie McCormick (CUNY Graduate Center): "From Jolly Joe's Lady Minstrels to Madea Simmons: Enduring Representations of Black Womanhood through Impersonation"

Panel 15 - Room C-202

"How Much and What Kind of Blackness is Enough?": (University of Delaware Black American Studies Department)

Moderator: Dr. James M. Jones (University of Delaware)

James M. Jones and David Wilson: "Black Enough?: Dimensions of Blackness and Attitudes toward Black Leaders"

Carol Henderson: "Boxing' on Paper: Authenticity in the Preservation of a Black Self"

Antonia Randolph: "Retreating from Race: The Social Cost of Erasing Black Ethnicity"

Yasser Payne: "Street Life Black Men: A Culture of Honor, Respect and Resilience"

Maggie Ussery: "Not Just any Job: The Development of Work-related Identity in Young, Black Workers"

Panel 16 - Room C-203

Moderator: Dr. James DeJongh (The City College of New York, CUNY)

Richard Perez (CUNY Graduate Center): "Archives, Knowledges, and Detours: Rereading the Black Atlantic with and against Ian Baucom's Specters of the Atlantic: Finance Capital, Slavery, and the Philosophy of History"

DeWitt King (University of California, Santa Barbara): "Theorizing Black Geographies"

Panel 17 - Room C-204

"Post(modern) Blackness"

Moderator: Tyler Schmidt (CUNY Graduate Center)

Alessandra Raengo (Georgia State University): "Counterfeit Currency: Race at Face Value"

Jonathan Gray (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY): "Black Cultural Artifacts and the Conditions of Democracy"

Danielle Jackson: "Beyond Race: Black People and the Multicultural Idea in Contemporary Magazine Culture"

5:00pm – 6:45pm: Evening Plenary:

Moderator: William E. Cross Jr. (CUNY Graduate Center)

Mahen Bonetti (African Film Festival, Inc.)

Jacqueline Nassy Brown (Hunter College, CUNY)

Donette Francis (Binghamton University, SUNY)

7:00pm – 9:00pm: Closing Reception/Party – Room 5414

Workplace Equality

2008-03-27T14:08:00.004-05:00

Hi Ya'll:

I'm working on a campaign called Clock In which works to ensure that LGBT folks and folks with HIV can work free of harassment and discrimination. Do you care? I hope so. What can you do? Sign this little pledge. you can do more as well.

Thanks!!

Friday Bliss

2008-03-14T10:47:00.003-05:00

One of My Cute-as-Heck Nephews

This is Kaleb Hermes Caraballo Smalls having his first taste cereal. I hope that's some organic,wheat-free, gluten-free, taste-free flax and prune cereal ya'll feeding him!!

ha ha!

Happy Friday!

Calling All Black Star Fans!

2008-03-05T17:04:00.004-05:00

I remember my first Black Star show: it was the Malcolm X Grassroots Movements Black August show at the Bowery Ballroom. Those were the days. Common was still a homophobe. No one but the NYC underground kids had heard of dead prez, The Roots were blowing up,Sarah Jones was giving true hip hop feminism, and Erykah was still wearing her headwrap. Well, now you TOO can "reminisce over you my god," and submit your thoughts, theories, poetries, music, etc to Proud Flesh's call for papers honoring the 10th Anniversary of Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star. (thanks Alena for alerting me to this!)

"Brown skin lady, how you doin'? Brown skin lady, how you feeeel? I like the way you walk when you walk on by..."

Call for Papers: Black Star’s 10th Anniversary

In honor of Black Star’s ten-year anniversary, Proud Flesh is calling for
works that speak to the impact and legacy of their masterpiece album, Mos
Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, for an upcoming journal
(www.proudfleshjournal.com).

Released in the fall of 1998, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
re-energized the b-boy and backpacker face of Hip Hop with a heightened
analytic and deep consciousness of self and community. Taking their name
from Marcus Garvey and the UNIA’s 1920s shipping company (established to
move Black Americans to a Black state located in Liberia), Black Star,
conceptually and sonically, presented a wide and colorful depiction of
Black life and Black identity.

In contrast to much of the mainstream Hip Hop of that period, they
stressed that life should be more about “the struggle” than “the hustle,
”and critiqued viewpoints that conceived of Black culture in only singular
terms. On “Definition,” Mos Def raps: “Manhattan keep on makin it,
Brooklyn keep on takin it, so relax we're takin it back, Redhook where
we're livin at. Plenty cats be struggling not hustlin and bubblin, if it
ain't about production and -- what else we discussin?” Black Star
chronicled Black folks’ ability and tenacity to produce via work,
language, the arts, communal culture, and cultural production.

A decade has passed since the release of this monumental album. More than
a hot album, this thirteen-track masterpiece continues to offer a
theoretical and practical analysis of urban Black culture and politics,
and a grass-roots base of knowledge that is not adequately engaged. By
stating in their album’s introduction that their music was not meant to
“stand still,” the group signaled that their conception of time and space
did not adhere to the linearity of common epistemological standards.

Acknowledging their point that the music cannot and should not stand
still, Proud Flesh is calling on writers, academics, artists, community
activists/organizers, and fans to submit essays, poems, prose,
photography, graphic artwork, etc., detailing how this album has impacted
your work and your life. Included in this are critical analyses of the
album and/or individual songs, works that place the album and/or songs
within a broader context and legacy (historical, political, social,
artistic), and works that speak to the album's continued relevance.

We are asking that all works be submitted by May 1, 2008 to:

blackstarproject@gmail.com

Visit Proud Flesh at http://www.proudfleshjournal.com/ for more information.

Tonight! Tonight! Tonight!--Kung Fu Blaxploitation!

2008-03-04T16:33:00.002-05:00

Me and Tavia be pre'sen'in'

THE COLLOQUIUM FOR UNPOPULAR CULTURE presents:

NO, NOW, NEVER: RADICAL NEW YORK CINEMA

WILD STYLIN': A DOUBLE BILL OF 70s NYC STREET-GANG MOVIES:
THE DEADLY ART OF SURVIVAL (dir. Charlie Ahearn, 1979)/
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S (Gary Weis, 1979)

WHEN: Tuesday 4 March 2008, 6pm
WHERE: 53 Washington Square South, Room 428
All Welcome. Refreshments provided.
__________________

“They think they’re outlaws. I think they’re bums.” The late 1970s witnessed the first trickle of films to look at the battered housing projects, block parties, ghetto self-fashioning, MCs language, and joyous, fugitive sounds and textualities that birthed what later came to be known as hip hop culture. THE DEADLY ART OF SURVIVAL by Charlie Ahearn, director of the celebrated ‘Wild Style’ (1983), is a no-budget, Super-8 martial-arts epic, influenced in equal parts by ‘The Harder They Come’ and Andy Warhol, in which black and Puerto Rican kids from the Lower East Side ninja-fight and karate-kick their rivals, some of them belonging to the magnificently titled ‘Disco Dojo’ crew, across local rooftops and handball courts.

Ahearn’s film was later projected at parties and shows around NYC where its Bruce Lee creolisations went down a storm. They represented a caperish counterpoint to the more solemn flexings and macho struttings of the gangs depicted in Gary Weis’s documentary 80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY’S, a look at the Savage Nomads and Savage Skulls gangs that competed for ascendancy in recessionary, quasi-apocalyptic Bronx. Sporting Nazi regalia and fiercesome moustaches, brimming with near-psychotic violence, they come on like a real-life version of The Warriors. The Colloquium for Unpopular Culture is delighted to present a very rare screening of these two hugely evocative and enjoyable time pieces that spotlight an all-too under-recorded segment of recent New York cultural history.

The films will be co-presented by Tavia Nyong’o, Assistant Professor of Performance Studies at NYU, and author of ‘Punk’d Theory’ in Social Text and ‘Do You Want Queer Theory (Or Do You Want the Truth?)’ in Radical History Review; and by Shante Paradigm Smalls, an emcee, singer, poet, events producer, writer, and PhD student in Performance Studies at NYU.

Check out Invincible!

2008-03-01T15:42:00.002-05:00

My homegirl, Invincible, has a new label and website up. Please check her out. I met Invincible in 2000 at a GLAAD panel on Homophobia and Hip Hop. There were two of us artists on the panel, as well as James Earl Hardy. GLAAD wanted us to talk about how horrible hip hop was and why we as black folks was 'shamed of it. Well. We were having none of that.

At any rate, I met her and we ended up vibin', staying in touch and building together over the years. She is also a part of an incredible group, called The Anamolies, an all-female, multi-racial/ethnic hip hop group filled with emcees, DJ, breakers and poppers.

Independent Hip Hop Forever!

How To Read This Blog

2008-03-01T15:30:00.003-05:00

I realized some of my readers are less tech-savvy than others ("hi mom!") and since I changed my site design, I may have overlooked some key information about reading this blog. It's simple really: all hyperlinks are in bold, um except that one.

Enjoy reading, linking and having fun.

OH! And if you have personal blogs or websites that you'd like for me to put on my Friends list to the right, please send them on to me.

Enjoy the Spring-like weather!

New Queer Female DJ Party

2008-03-01T05:50:00.003-05:00

My research comes to Life!! Ha ha ha. Seriously, my homegirls are throwing a new part in LES.
They'll be spinning hip hop, R&B, House, Old Skool soul and hip hop. Good times!

Music Scholar, Music Holla!

2008-02-28T22:43:00.009-05:00

When I'm not reading my new fave site, I'm busily thinking about, talking about, listening to, and making music. I've recently had a flurry of scholarly-related music/popular culture gigs. Tabs, Gelsey Bell and I are trying to get some money to make an album over the next year. That's the hotness.

Here's a little pic of us messing around, even though Chris made fun of my lack of gee-tar skills by saying I was playing "More Than Words." God helps us all.

Today, it was a PS Panel of Plenty! It was organized by MA students, Eric Miles Glover and Ellen Cleghorne and featured stellar thinkers and practitioners, Marti Newland, Frank Leon Roberts and Tavia Nyong'o as well as yours truly. It was a great panel with incredible range (music, lit, politics, theatre, TV).

Next Tuesday, Tavia and I are doing a great talk for the Colloqium for Unpopular Culture at NYU's SCSA on two obscure films, Deadly Art of Survival and 80 Blocks from Tiffanys. Come watch the bizarre unfold with us!

Ok, just downloaded the new Erykah, so gotta rock that. Even though some Educated Black Folks think she's too popular.

Jean Grae, Talib Kweli, and MC Colt 45???

2008-02-11T17:43:00.000-05:00

Sooooo, I'm writing about Jean Grae in-depth for my Doctoral dissertation. I have no title as of yet, but the topic is: The Performance of Gender and Sexuality in New York City Hip Hop from 1985-Present. Whew!

And one day, I will break it down, but for now, I want to talk a little about Jeanie. Jean is a fascinating lyricist, vocalist,producer. She was formerly known as Wha? Wha? and has had a strange, brilliant and somewhat frustrating career as a preeminent underground emcee. Of course, she is a particular breed of emcee, being female, South African-born, fiercely and poetically honest in her subject matter, tone and delivery.

But she's also one hell of a comedian. My homeboy, B Prof (you got a webpage, boo?) sent me this AMAZING video, featuring Talib Kweli and Jean Grae. It's an episode of the MTV web series MADE.

In this one, MC Colt 45 wants to...oh just watch it, it's GLORIOUS!!!

Selling My Djembe

2008-02-11T17:27:00.000-05:00

It's beautiful, it's large, it's from Af-Ri-Kaaaaaa (read "authentic.").

Seriously, it's a beautiful drum. I got it in 2001 when I was Dakar, Senegal.

It's in lovely condition, sounds wonderfully and is gorgeous to look at as well as play.

Hit me up with an offer or send your friends to me.

Holllllaaaaaaa.

Shante

Voices of Queer Black Women: A Panel Discussion

2008-02-03T22:22:00.000-05:00

Hi All:

Just a reminder about this panel.

Hope to see some of you there, now that I am getting over this flu!

-----------

Don't miss this exciting panel event, which is part of African Heritage Month!

Voices of Queer Black Women: A Panel Discussion

THIS MONDAY, February 4th

6:00-8:00pm, Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South), Room 908

Come hear the voices of Ash (an international undergrad from Zimbabwe and leader of Shades), Shante Paradigm (ABD Doctoral Student, Performance Studies (Tisch)/Artist)., e. Frances White, PhD (NYU’s Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs), and Hanifah Walidah (Brooklyn-based filmmaker, co-producer of “U People”), as they speak about their experiences as queer black women. This event is brought to you as part of NYU’s African Heritage Month and V-Day/Voices for Choice, and is co-sponsored by Shades and CampGrrl.

Tom Bourdon
Program Administrator
NYU LGBT Office
www.nyu.edu/lgbt (212) 998-4699

RIP Peace Out East Website

2008-01-31T16:22:00.000-05:00

Hello my friends:

As some of you know, I am discontinuing to produce Peace Out East as I am ready to move on and do other projects.

As a practical matter, I have discontinued the www.peaceouteast.com page. You can still befriend POE at the myspace page.

Thank you for all of your support for POE all these years.

Holla at your girl!

SP

Black, Female and Queer Panel at NYU 2/4

2008-01-31T16:11:00.000-05:00

Panel Discussion: The Voices of Queer Black Women

Hi ya'll:

Come and hear a great panel on Monday, featuring 4 fabulous black, queer women: me, e. Frances White, Ash, chair of NYU LGBTQ of Color group, SHADES and Hanifah Walidah

Monday, February 4, 2008
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South), Room 908

Complete Description from NYU:

Come hear the voices of Ash (an international undergrad from Zimbabwe and leader of Shades), Shante Paradigm (ABD Doctoral Student, Performance Studies (Tisch)/Artist)., e. Frances White, PhD (NYU's Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs), and Hanifah Walidah (Brooklyn-based filmmaker, co-producer of "U People"), as they speak about their experiences as queer black women. This event is brought to you as part of NYU's African Heritage Month and V-Day/Voices for Choice, and is co-sponsored by Shades and CampGrrl.

Show this Wednesday, 1/23

2008-01-20T12:32:00.001-05:00

Hi Ya'll:

I'm doing a short set in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, around 8pm at Cattyshack Check out the details!!

Jan 23- Lesbian Justice League Fundraiser at Cattyshack, Brooklyn, NY. Me, doing some songs, come, enjoy and get your drink on. See? That rhymed, that's what I do, rhyme. Yay me! Come support, by a cd, take pictures of me, etc.

Here's the blurb:
Brooklyn, NY

Lesbian Justice League Celebration
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
With Executive Director Kate Kendell Esq.

Catty Shack Club & Bar
249 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Suggested donation $10

Come party with the Lesbian Justice League: The National Center for Lesbian Rights and The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice as they celebrate 30 years of fighting the good fight. Executive Directors Kate Kendell and Katherine Acey will be in attendance. This Outreach party for both organizations features a special performance by Shante Paradigm, a Brooklyn emcee and singer. Attendees will have the chance to win fabulous door prizes.

For more information, please contact Eleanor Palacios at epalacios@nclrights.org or at 415.365.1309.

Paradigm Consulting

2008-01-11T19:16:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year All!

I hope that 2008 is bringing you all much joy, fun, and peace. I wanted to let you all know about a new business I am launching. I've started a boutique consulting firm, specialinzing in non-profits and artists. I am calling it Paradigm Consulting. The non-profit is a bit more off the ground. I have two clients, but can't let you know about them yet, as the ink is not signed on the contracts.

I am also working on building a business to help represent and book DJs (other artists to follow if I have time). If you are a DJ and you are interested in working with me on this, let me know. I am adding this consulting work to my ShanteParadigm.com website, so we shall see how that goes.

In other news, I have decided to discontinue producing Peace Out East. It's sad, but pragmatic news. I am writing a dissertation, working on an album, and building a business, and POE is incredibly daunting work. My intention is to turn the POE website into a living archive of sorts. I will keep the myspace page as well.

That's the news for now. I have a show coming up in two weeks at Cattyshack, on Jan 23rd.

Holla at your girl!!!!

SP

What Will 2008 Bring O Magic Crystal Ball?

2007-12-27T16:58:00.000-05:00

2007 is almost over and I thought I'd take some time to reflect on what I'd like next year to look like. In other words, my reflections are projections.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave my current consulting job and try to figure out something more stimulating for money.

I'm writing my dissertation. No title yet, but the topic is "The Performance of Gender and Sexuality in NYC Hip Hop from 1985 to the Present." I'm looking at 5 iconic subjects to think through how NYC hip hop has been particularly influenced and influential in discussing, critiquing and playing with gender and sexuality. "What is this hip hop we talking about?" you ask. Mais, oui. And my dissertation sets out to illuminate hip hop's fruity/fun history.

Travel. I know I seem to travel a lot, but I want to go places and do meaningful things, not just go on vacation. Vacation is hot, don't get me wrong, but I need to be creating: music, writing, friendships, love. You know what I'm saying?

Yoga Training: I'm contemplating taking a yoga teacher training in either the late summer or early fall. Do I want to be a yoga teacher? I don't know. But I do want that skill.

Complete Meditation Training. I've just completed Level II of the Shambhala Meditation Training. Level III is in March and there are five levels in the first series. I'd like 2008 to see me getting through number 5.

Finish and promote my solo album. I really have been avoiding working on my own career and have been so distracted by making things happen for others. I'm in the studio already, so now to finish those songs, lay down those tracks and promote the hell out of it.

Learn a music program. I have both Garage Band and Reason on my lovely Mac Book Pro. Anyone want to help a sista out???

I'll keep you updated. This blog has no pics because I am at work. See? One more reason to quit.

I've Been Tagged...

2007-12-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Ok, so appparently, I have to share 5 things about myself here, that ya'll don't know.

1. I am a big, fat sap. I love sentimental things: sad songs, sad movies, talking animals are guarenteed to make me cry and so forth. It's true, very, very true.

2. My dog, Bronte, is probably my best friend. HEY! She doesn't talk back...much.

3. I heart hot chocolate. Some of you know this, but I do drink it all year long.

4. I am fastidious, bordering on neurotic. I like things clean and orderly.

5. I lived on a farm as a child.

PS- shanteparadigm.com and myspace.com/shanteparadigm have been updated.

Fave You Tube Vid of the Week

2007-12-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

I admit it. I don't watch television, but for some reason, I love watching clips of TV shows on my computer. Sigh. I am weirdly twisted.

I have many, many, many YouTube vids saved but I will start giving you some that have recently changed my life:

First of all, for all of you MadTV fans out there, you don't get any funnier than Ms. Debra Wilson--cuz she is genius!!! This is her doing one great Whitney Houston impression.

To say she is brilliant, is an understatement. She does many great characters, but her Whitney is the bomb!

Enjoy!!!!

2008 Appearances

2007-12-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

Well, we're in a recording lull, as both Music Man (aka Pat Rivers) and me gotz school to deal with.

I'm basically blogging because I am sick and peeps keep posting wack shit on my MySpace page. PEOPLE! When it says "post a comment." it doesn't mean to post some crazy thing about your new book/album/kitten/facebook/sock drawer arrangement. Geez! It means say something TO or ABOUT the person you are leaving the comment for. And end rant here.

Okay, so appearances in 2008, so far:

Jan 10th-Greenwich Academy, Greenwich, CT. talking about being a music entrepreneur. This is my high school alma mater. 7-10pm. I'm still slightly traumatized by my high school experience, but, here goes nothing.

Jan 17-22- Yoga Journal Conference, San Francisco, CA. This isn't really an appearance per se, but I will be in SF...doing lots of yoga. Can I stay with someone? LOL...no really.

Jan 23- Astrea Fundraiser at Cattyshack, Brooklyn, NY. Me, doing some songs, come, enjoy and get your drink on. See? That rhymed, that's what I do, rhyme. Yay me! Hmmm, I see I'm on neither website. DIVA TIME!!!!!!

Here's the blurb:
Brooklyn, NY

Lesbian Justice League Celebration
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
With Executive Director Kate Kendell Esq.

Catty Shack Club & Bar
249 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Suggested donation $10

Come party with the Lesbian Justice League: The National Center for Lesbian Rights and The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice as they celebrate 30 years of fighting the good fight. Executive Directors Kate Kendell and Katherine Acey will be in attendance. This Outreach party for both organizations features a special performance by Shante Paradigm, a Brooklyn emcee and singer. Attendees will have the chance to win fabulous door prizes.

For more information, please contact Eleanor Palacios at epalacios@nclrights.org or at 415.365.1309.

At some point, I am supposed to be doing a radio show, but I have to return the call...I need a manager ya'll. It's true.

Okay sweet kisses to all who gave me love in 2007.

SP

Journal of Sonic Ethnography Meeting

2007-12-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya'll:

I'm a pretty lucky lady. Not only do I make music sometimes, write about music and culture for my scholarly work, I am an Editor for the soon-to-be launched, Journal of Sonic Ethnography.

The Journal, supported by the Music Department at New York University, is just getting started. We met today to discuss our web design, content, issue themes, etc. My role is....uh, I'm the...Edi-t-or of Per-for-mance Stu-dies, yeah that's it. Anyway, I do some stuff that none of us have figured out yet.

The greatest thing is that we are creating a multi-media online journal incorporating sound, visual, text, and whatever else we can manage.

My very handsome, very cool, very talented colleague, Chris Tabron, is also on the Board.

But here's the truth: anyone who is on a board of something called the Journal of Sonic Ethnography is a serious nerd-ball.

Here are some pics of us:

First, our intrepid leader (on a rotating basis, of course) Ben Tausig.

Then we got the rest of us (excluding moi) just chizz-nillin':

One of my friends asked me to blog more. I'm really trying. That's a New Year's resolution for sure.

Toodles!

SP

Garden Party, 5pm, 10/28.

2007-10-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

Come shake off your Halloween party lethargy at Oupost Lounge in Brooklyn. Me, baron, Rose Royce, Fucci and Noa D, liven it up for FREE!!

http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.showDetails&Band_Show_ID=16332177&friendid=122804732

Peace Out East 2007 CANCELLED

2007-09-17T23:26:00.000-05:00

Hey POE fans:

Due to a variety of issues, including the major venue backing out and insurance issues, POE 2007 has been cancelled. I am definitely sad and disappointed as this year's line-up was dazzling. I am re-thinking how to present Queer hip hop music in 2008 and hope to have a new plan for making it available in NYC in the next year. For now, I am going to meditate, lick my wounds and keep it moving.

Peace and Blessings,

Shante Paradigm

GO NYC's August Music Issue

2007-08-20T12:33:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya'll:

Just wanted to let you know I'm featured in Go NYC's August Music Issue. Check it out here.

In other work, I'm working on the line-up for this year's Peace Out East and it's looking like a good one.

I'm also writing a blog for Velvet Park magazine, I just need to get it done!!

More soon.

SP

Une, deux Shows Thursday, August 2, 2007

2007-07-29T23:06:00.000-05:00

I have not one, but two Brooklyn shows this week! Come check me out on Thursday for a short set at RANT ART. I'm going on around 8:30pm, just doing one song.

If that window of opportunity is too narrow, I'll be headlining later that night at, the show happening at OUTpost Lounge. I am doing a longish set around 10:30, only 5 bucks for two performers!! Don't miss your girl.

Much Light,

SP

Where in the World is Paradigm?

2007-07-18T13:54:00.000-05:00

Okay Paradigm Fans and Supporters:
It's been a month since my last update, so there is lots to catch up on. I'll just give you the highlights.

Right now, go and check out http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif. Yours Truly is one of the featured poets. This issue is edited by my friend, Emmanuel Xavier and he's done a gosh darn good job of picking some fine poets. Check it, check it, check it out!

So, I had some shows and that was all good. Last month, I got to go back to Toronto, where I last was for the Pick Up the Mic world premier at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005. This time I went for Toronto Pride and performed for my largest crowd yet, I think there were 300-400 people and it was exhilarating! Johnny Dangerous, DDC and Cazwell were there and I got to some lovely time with a new artist-friend, Belladonna and The Awakening. Here's me with Belladonna and the band before the show.
I also got my own dressing room with my name on it. Granted it was on a piece of lined paper that was torn down to make room for another guest, but still...I signed my first autograph, at least I think it was my first. Look Ma! I'm a star!!!!

I got to stay at two fly hotels: The Gladstone and The Drake

This was my room at The Gladstone. Sometimes touring can be so Sweet.

Saturday night's show offered it's own set of excitement for me. The two highlights were being the headline of CKLN's show, the second, was doing a rendition of "Wade in the Water," that featured Tim'm T. West and Solis of DDC. It was FIRE! That's Tim in the back. Solis, I'll get one of you too!

Loads of other things happened, but i was lazy and didn't blog. The best part was my interview on MTV. Canadian MTV, but still MTV.

Click here to watch, go to the left and scroll down to the Video that has Princes Harry and William as the topic , i be there in the Queer Culture mets Hip Hop article. SUPAH-STAHHHHHHHH!

Don't forget, Peace Out East submissions close at the end of the month, so if you want to perform, sumbit now.

Suspect Thoughts

2007-06-13T02:59:00.000-05:00

My friend, Emanuel Xavier is guest editor for an online journal named suspect thoughts: a journal of subversive writing. Check out Issue #18 that's up now.

Yours Truly, will be in the next issue (#19, which runs July-December, with my poem, "They Call Me 'Star-Fucker.'" I'm incredibly honored and excited to be a part of this project: free, online and subversive, it doesn't get any better. It's also a delightful challenge to keep writing rhymes, songs and poetry. Even though they all deal with setting words to rhythm, tone, melody, key, timbre, etc., I find that each genre lends itself to a different kind of flexibility and latitude. Each has it's own limits and its own expansion. Let me know what you think when it hits the web July 1st.

More to come.

Peace and Blessings,

Shante Paradigm

NEW DATES for Peace Out East

2007-06-12T14:17:00.000-05:00

The new dates are October 5, 6 and 7th. call for artist goes out next week, venues and sponsors to be announced.

email: info@peaceouteast.com for more details.

new POE website coming as well.

Cheers,

SP

Shante Paradigm Website

2007-06-11T19:39:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya'll! The Shante Paradigm website is live. I know it need work, but a girl is just proud to have it up after owning the URL for a year with nothing there.

I will continue to use to site for musings and other such things. I am working on Peace Out East right now, so look for the updates to get more frequent.

As a little treat, I will leave you with two videos for discussion.

The first is a fabulous YouTube creation called, Miss Cleo vs. Milan, this is outrageously funny and fantastic. I'm really digging the quotidian topic, the high phone bill from calling Miss Cleo, but really the fake Cazels are the star of this video....but that Theo Huxtable shirt is a close second.The gold teefs round out the top three.

Speaking of old school vibes, my boy Bryan alerted me to a lovely little bubble gum song, that is helping to renew my faith in age-appropriate hip hop. Lil' Mama's "Lip Gloss" is kinda the jam (shut up Loo Loo)! I mean, shouldn't a 17 year-old be rapping about school lip gloss (from Mac), her locker, anxiety about the cool crowd, her Yankees cap (Booooo, the Stankees suck, Mets baby!!!), and other such innocent topics? No gats, no drugs, no Courvoisier, no clubs, no Jags and rims, just kid stuff. Plus this little girl can rap, even if her subject matter is pretty silly. Check it out! Oh, but black people with light eyes scare the bejesus out of me! She looks like Bow-Wow's lil sister. Anyway, here's Lip Gloss. I can't figure out why she is grabbing her crotch so much. And why must black people always try to make our children grown, Lil Mama? Lil Man, etc,. Sigh, we've got problems, but at least we can sang and dance...

Hit me up with your comments: shante@shanteparadigm.com

One Love

Oh I know...I'm Bootleg

2007-05-17T08:16:00.000-05:00

*sigh* I'm sorry for the lack of updates--it's been a busy six weeks. I was busy with my Area Exams in order to qualify for my doctorate (once I write my dissertation). I PASSED!!! This is great news and means that my self-imposed prison sentence of being a graduate student is over and now I get to be more of an independent scholar. All is not complete and I am not yet a Doctor of Ideas, but I will be working on my dissertation proposal this summer. After I finish that and my committee approves it in the Fall, I can "officially" start writing my "diss," but ya'll know I've been working on that baby already. Anywho, I'm sure to blog about my participation in my exciting Lacan Summer Reading Group, who is Jacques Lacan? Click Here, por plus d'information.

So what do my days look like now? Well, I've just returned from my favorite place in the Mexican Yucahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif=tan that shall remain nameless because Snow told me to stop blogging about it, less rude, fat, American heathens descend upon it, ruining all it's pristine glory. Well, it's already happening (thanks to me), but I still will refrain from naming the place. Anyway, it was glorious--the best time I've had, even as it was difficult as well. Here's me writing just a few days ago:
I think I was writing my friend Sandy Bell an email.

I did yoga twice a day most days. Once at a local place, with my lovely Mexican teacher, Carla, and also with the incredibly intense and energetic Elise. I also cultivated my self-practice, which I can't find any good links for right now so sorry. But I tried out some Yin Yoga to help me balance my more vigourous Hatha Vinyasa practice. But wait, where's the hip hop? Why all this yoga-smoga talk? Hey, hey, relax, I'm getting to it--it's all part of the same thing. Not convinced, read this article while I'm writing.

what's new for your girl Paradigm with song and rhyme? Well, I have two shows in Toronto next month for their Pride and some other things cooking in Detroit and my fair City, the N-Y as well.

Next blog, will be about my last two shows in Denver and Brooklyn, my Buddhist retreat, Peace Out East and much much more. Holla!

Listening to RIGHT NOW: Jean Grae's "A-Alikes," from This Week

write me ya'll!

Spring Awakenings

2007-03-22T09:07:00.000-05:00

Hey ya'll, Happy Spring and all that jazz. My good friend and fellow PhD candidate, Frank Leon Roberts, interviewed me for his blog, Brooklyn Boy Blues, which is just to the right as well, under Frank Leon Roberts in my Friends O' Paradigm section. I'm talking about the music scholarship side of my work. Let me know what you think.

This is the picture from the Princeton Event, I blogged about last time. From left to write, Larry D. Lyons, Dr. David Malebranche, Lynne d Johnson, Dr. Cornel West, et moi. I was going on and on about how Princeton had their own water, see the bottom of the picture, until I recalled that NYU and Smith College do as well. Why do these schools need to bottle their own water and advertise themselves on school premises? Don't people who are already there, know where they are?

Also, exciting news: My good pal, Eric Pritchard let me know that Homegirls Make Some Noise! Hip Hop Feminist Anthology is out. It contains an article her wrote, "Sista Outsider: Queer Women of Color and Hip Hop," which interviews me, Jen Ro and Mz. Fontaine, as well as talking about Hanifah Walidah. check it out!

I have a show coming up in a few weeks. I'll be blogging about the details while on the road. I've got exams for school from April 12-24th, but will blog my little heart out after that.

SP

A Treat

2007-03-15T22:10:00.000-05:00

and, if you haven't, cop that Amy Winehouse, NOW!

March Madness. It's carpets, it's madness.

2007-03-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been a minute ya'll. I had to take a little escape to one of my favorite places on Earth: Tulum. I know it's odd to link a site that translates, "Crazy white dude," but all the other ones were even more WACK! Fix that, cuz Tulum is the bomb! Here's me looking crazy in the hammock.

I flew back early from my vacation to be on a panel, "Hip-Hop and Homophobia: Exploring Bisexuality, Masculinity, and the DL," organized by Princeton University's LGBT Center (big shout to Larry Lyons and Deb Barasky for making that happen). I was pumped because I got to sit on the a panel with Dr. Cornel West!! Yo, and that cat is as off the hook as he is brilliant. Marc, sorry I didn't tell you beforehand--it was hectic, but I got his number, son, holla. Anywho. Other panelist, were Dr. David Malebranche and Lynne d Johnson. It was pretty lively and think Princeton never had so much hip hop, queerness and blackness all in one place. Very dope. All the panelist where incredibly artrickulate and down-to-earth.

I've been checking out shows, you know, artists got to get inspired and such. I saw my homie, Reuben Butchart at his album release party for Golden Boy. He's sensational and you should see him live--Quebecois soul. Two days later, I had the privilege of seeing Antony & the Johnsons with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM. All I can say is "wow." It was truly a sensationally powerful experience. His voice is dazzling and transportative. Plus, he did the most unbelievable rendition of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." Seriously. Brilliant insanity.

In terms of my own work, got lots going on: next week, I'll be uptown as an audience member at, what looks to be a great panel at Harlem Children's Zone, a screening and dialogue about Byron Hurt's film, Beyond Beats and Rhymes, sponsored by GenderPAC. Should be cool.

I'm doing some studio work with the AV Folklore peeps who are bringing their groovy sounds and art from London.

Next month, I'm heading into the studio to work on some more songs for my solo album. I'm doing in a show in Denver...I know, but hey, cool, right. It's going to be the hotness. Check it, check it, check it out, just channeling a little LONS there (isn't INSANE they have a wiki entry?). My "studio" look (notice how I'm mad important and on the phone).

What else? Oh, in a totally different musical vein, I'm bringing it back and singing classical/operatic music on May 19th at my high school alma mater, in a tribute to the woman who basically convinced me I could have a career as a singer. She died 10 years ago from stomach cancer, but had a heavy influence on my life (and many others). We're singing some of her fave songs. Oh don't worry, I'll make sure Snowflake takes mad pictures and I will post them here. And you will all laugh.

Still studying for my doctoral qualifying exams next month, that's also part of the reason I've been a bit off the radar. Doing so much yoga it's insane and loving it. I have a great school and am getting super-buff, even if Snowflake still makes fun of my bebidas belly. I'm all about yoga and creativity.

Oh yeah, buy my album.

I will be writing soon. Seriously. I have to write about my obsession with Chris Brown. And my adventures with my homie, Keasha, who's coming to NYC next week.

Save the date for Peace Out East 2007

2007-02-15T11:17:00.000-05:00

Hey ya'll Peace Out East 2007 will happen Thursday Oct 18-Saturday Oct 20th in New York City. Venues and Times TBA. Call for artists will happen in late April/early May.

If anyone wants to help me update the POE website, that would be eexxxxccccccceeeelllleeeennntttttttt.

More regular updates this weekend.

smooches,

Shante Paradigm

February Ain't No Joke!

2007-02-07T19:20:00.000-05:00

Greetings and Salutations from beautiful Brooklyn! It's cold, ya'll. Anyway, this week brings a couple of little updates of the interview variety. One is an audio interview from WNYC's Soundcheck that I did with Soce, the Elemental Wizard in December and this one has our performances (the website doesn't). It was definitely cool to have independent, queer hip hop representing on NPR, but, there's still a long way to go in terms of hip hop artists being actually listened to as artists by other "music aficionados." The dynamics of race and gender tend to come up as well, and many, many people think hip hop started 5 or 6 years ago by the limited artists they constantly check. Listen for yourself and let me know what you think.

The second interview is by my high school alma mater, my how things have changed. Read it here. And yes, it was as scary as it looks. Scarier.

In other news, the B.Q.E. album, The Digm and the Dutch is out. How many of ya'll copped that? Come one, pleeeeaasssseeee. I understand all my friends who are broke-ass, don't worry, you keep showing me love. But, really, buy that. Feel free to holla at me or Dutchboy with your feedback.

In other news, I have some projects brewing that I can't talk about right now, but hopefully, I will be able to write more soon.

Okay I have to go study, 'cuz I'm a nerdy scholar and spend way too much time here. I'm working on some songs though, no lie.

P.S.: Oh well, Blogger doesn't let you upload big audio clips. Email me if you'd like a copy. Damn I need to learn coding. Help!

Until next week,

SP

B.Q.E releases album and more!

2007-01-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Fans of Shante Paradigm, B.Q.E., and Peace Out East:

Happy New Year! I hope 2007 is going well for everyone. It's almost the end of January and its already been a tough year for people I love. 2007 is also going to be be a year of great things, one of them is already here: the long-awaited B.Q.E. full-length album, The Digm and the Dutch. It's out now, so go buy it! Don't worry, no need to leave your house, just click any of these links below.

Only $10 on our Myspace page
CD Baby We love our CD Baby
iTunes Only want a few songs?

I've (re)launched this blog to consolidate the various projects I have going and am interested in. I hope you log in frequently, as I am planning to blog with updates once a week, even if they are minor.

This blog will feature news about my music projects, including B.Q.E. and Peace Out East, and interviews with and news about various LGBTQ hip hop artists and scholars. I hope to introduce people to some lesser-known, but well-deserving artists. If you're interested in being interviewed, please email: shanteparadigm@gmail.com

Here's a clip from Here!TV from POE 2006
More to come soon!

Buy my album! I need to eat.

One,

SP

Welcome to the POE Blog!

2006-08-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

Hi Ya'll:

I will try and keep you updated on the events on teh world of LGBTQ hip hop festival organizing. Welcome to Peace Out East's blog!

More to come soon!

Peace

Shante Paradigm