Had a great evening with friends last weekend. Food, drink, song, conversation - in at least 2 languages - cross continents, generations, sexes, professions. Commonly referred to as "Race", (I really think the conversation is about COLOR, language notwithstanding) the theme, (from a vintage, unnamable), wound up holding sway for a few hours.

Lately, I want to propose that so-called African Americans, INVEST in our expressions. In particular, our artistic expressions - those current and those of our forebears - but especially the RICH and visionary expressions of OUR "AVANT GARDE" in all of its manifestations. To my mind that means publishing; periodicals; founding record labels; museums; media concerns; etc., BY Black people, FOR ANYONE. My area of interest is music - and there's just TOO much important work that's been marginalized, of artists - (who are in mature periods of their work) - that is relevant to Africans in America, which ought to be regarded with a "dynastic consciousness". Creative work that ought to be perceived as the present and future endowment it IS. The work needs the active engagement and support of the Black community, and the Black community needs the active engagement with the rigor and virtuosity of the innovative practices of ALL it's ARTISTS.

There are, always have been and will be, MANY MORE of us with greatness to offer than the "mainstream" game - (it's NOT a bad thing - it's just that 'thing' of waitin' for 'dem to get it... ) - can apparently accommodate . WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT, SO WHY 'WAIT'? Why not CLAIM IT and foster and posit what we are, BEYOND the 'reparations' posture/mentality?

This idea is nothing new! (Russell Simmons, a contemporary DIY-er, did and continues to do this very successfully.) This action/initiative, we know from 'His-story', has been taken up by our predecessors, and we also know that in most cases, it has been attacked, and perceived as a 'threat'. Well, since we seem to be threatening just by SHOWING UP, might as well jus' go ahead on! I'm reminded of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's composition/LP, "Certain Blacks". Check it out if you don't know it.

So, those of you 'people of color' - (It'd be nice, maybe, if we could be called something WE could agree on and was NOT referential, geo-political, or trend-based... ) who HAVE (monetary) resources, intelligence, daring, talent and conviction, this is MY call to YOU to MINE (Y)OUR OWN DIAMONDS. Re-examine what is going on in our diaspora, circa 2009. Obama is in the White House - and lots of co-called white people figure: "Okay. Are we done, can we cross racism off the 'list' now?!" And the ironic humor of the circumstances of Obama's assent to that office - the current state of the Union - is not wasted on the B-folk! And yet, there was a Master Teacher who came and said "...He who is greatest among you shall be your servant..." Take that statement into it's subtlety, its mystery, sincerely. It is not about the President, per se. The mystery is never far if one knows how to see...

There's SO MUCH GOOD goin' down! As invigorating as the 2 volumes of "The Blacklist" are, there's a whole 'nother column unaccounted for! LOL! I just want to get to it NOW, while we live! Hey, check out the WNET/Channel 13 archives of the 70's TV show, "SOUL!". We ARE from another plane-t!!

The COloR thing.
L I G H T to it. And to you.

B