Category Archives: Black Culture

#shookoneschallenge

I’mma properly record these soon, but If i don’t just spit them out I’ll sit on them forever… #shookoneschallenge the war on drugs ain’t just reagan and nixon the blood in my eye causes rose colored vision so i approach the game like george jackson in san quentin remind myself that patience has it’s limitsContinue reading “#shookoneschallenge”

4 Ways I Stay Sane as the State Executes My People in the Street

My job, at this point, is to maintain my sanity in a country that I pay my taxes to, and pledge allegiance to, even though it still does not see me as human. Somehow, I have remained eternally optimistic about my life, my future, and the future of our children in this country, despite seeing it snuffed out on video at the whim of an emotionally unstable employee of the state. How have I done this? Is it naiveté? Is it faith? Is it insanity? Maybe it is a combination of the three. I’ve only recently tried to figure out what it is that keeps me going mentally and emotionally. Here is a short list of the few things I know comforts me in this situation.

Chi-raq is 2015’s “Doing Too Much” not its “Do the Right Thing”.

Seven years ago around this time, we had just elected a black president. I remember the buzz in the air that lasted long after election night. Everyone was trying to figure out the new world we were in, and just happy to have lived to see it.  That year I ended up over my bestContinue reading “Chi-raq is 2015’s “Doing Too Much” not its “Do the Right Thing”.”

Bomani Talking Fatherhood and Homeschooling on Views and Vibes

Whenever Tariq Omarii calls, I’m there.  Thanks again brother, for inviting me to talk about fatherhood and homeschooling on Views and Vibes.  To be clear (I realize I might give a different impression on social media) I am not a “single father”.  Olu & Dela’s mom is just as invested and active even though theContinue reading “Bomani Talking Fatherhood and Homeschooling on Views and Vibes”

Bomani on the Global African for The Real News Network

I had the extreme pleasure of appearing on the Global African with Bill Fletcher Jr.  Here is the video and the transcript of my interview.  Click the link here to find out more about The Global African and the Real News Network! BILL FLETCHER, HOST, THE GLOBAL AFRICAN: Today on The Global African, we’ll talkContinue reading “Bomani on the Global African for The Real News Network”

David Amongst Us (for Ruby Dee)

I had the distinct honor of reading this commissioned piece for the DC Commission of the Arts screening of “Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee”.  I hope you are inspired by it: Before King David wore his crown before he ever used a slingshot to knock Goliath down the reason King Saul kept this young manContinue reading “David Amongst Us (for Ruby Dee)”

This Light of Mine

So, yesterday I had the cutest kindergarten girl at an assembly in a private school ask me during the Q&A portion “Did you grow up poor?” and I had a 7th grader at a suburban public school tell me she thought Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.” video was intimidating because the “gang of people” in the streets. Continue reading “This Light of Mine”

New Single “My People!”

Thank you guys for always supporting the music that supports you!  This is my new single, I’d love to shoot a video for it before the end of this year.  This features Charles Stewart on drums, David White on bass, Mark D. Hatcher on Guitar, and yours truly on keys and percussion.  Please take aContinue reading “New Single “My People!””

How Columbus Helped Me Discover Home Schooling

In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It’s amazing the things people discover by accident.  Discovering that my sons where learning the poem that began with those lines was the end of my children’s public education.  You see, I don’t pay attention to Columbus Day.  Other than wishing there was a hell forContinue reading “How Columbus Helped Me Discover Home Schooling”

Agent Zimmerman and the American Matrix

I’ve spent my adult life working with young black men, from all economic and social backgrounds, arming them with the rules I have learned to navigate the bi-polar United States that we live in.  This world is a complicated matrix of social constructs and unjust laws, a matrix my peers and our elders thought weContinue reading “Agent Zimmerman and the American Matrix”

5 WAYS YOU CAN HELP!

So, I’m here with my family and co-conspirators putting together this years Malcolm X Birthday Celebration, and we realized why this is such an important event for us.  There should be more opportunities in our community to reflect on our shared legacy of struggle against oppression, celebrate our abilities and potential as a people, andContinue reading “5 WAYS YOU CAN HELP!”

“Soul Food Junkies” with Byron Hurt

Join us as we launch our new show “the Indie” with Byron Hurt, writer and director of the winning film “Soul Food Junkies” that will air on PBS the same night.  Byron Hurt explores the health advantages and disadvantages of Soul Food, a quintessential American cuisine. Soul food will also be used as the lensContinue reading ““Soul Food Junkies” with Byron Hurt”

Single Parenting: Raising Sons with my Ex

“It didn’t work out with me an your mom But yo push come to shove You were conceived in love” –   Will Smith (Just the Two of Us) If you had told me my night would go like this, being out bowled by not one, but two six year olds, I would have never believedContinue reading “Single Parenting: Raising Sons with my Ex”

Time to be Independent

“Until the lions can tell their stories, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter.” – African Proverb Tune in next Monday at 10pm on PBS to watch the documentary “Soul Food Junkies” by noted filmmaker Byron Hurt.  This isn’t the entire point of this blog post, but I realized after writing half of thisContinue reading “Time to be Independent”