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[ u r b a n ] J U K E J O I N T
: 1 : a nobler expression - open mic : 2 : alternative venue dedicated to the craft of poetry, rhyme, and spoken word hybrids residing under the rubric creative writing: 3 : a poetry cafe (relating to character of a city) designed to : unify : fit together by joint [one soul many bodies] : 4 : spiritual platform, as in (STAGE) for growth & development: 5 : a holy cosmospolitian created to spit in the whirlwind : 6 : a city's "G" spot. : 7 : a place where poets drop diamonds fr they mouth(s)
Although housed n the NYC Baha'i Unity Center, "Da Joint" truly resides 1n t/ heart. We believe nside home of the HEART artists R able to move 2 a place that can best be described as noble but n order 4 this nobility to find its voice we believe the ego and the commercially-driven cult of t/ personality must b replaced bythe heartist's need to serve humanity. UJJ seeks to foster a spirit of unity in its diversity. Through cross cultural fertilization we believe writers gain a greater understanding of "the other" aesthetics and the social-political, spiritual responsibility associated with the craft of writing. It is withn this spiritually charged atmosphere we see not just : a : light : b : but an entire spectrum of voices giving back to the spirit facilitating / healing thru the power of poetry - giving rise to t/ axiom : c : "We are all ONE human family/The earth is but ONE country-mankind its citizens."
-Baha'i Writing
[ o r i g i n a l ] T H O U G H T
............................................................ ....................... ............................................ What if this is God's work? What if real poets walked the earth and live lives fit for a prophet's birth? spreading ancient wisdomlike the Coptic church? and those that know what they're hearing know that they are hearing something special. Perhaps, eventually, will be sent here just to bless YOU. Test you in this world of lies and if you feel your eyes cry be cause they recognize that what they are seeing is the truth. And, the chills up your spine will provide absolute truth that in this now, where politicians and clergy have proven themselves unworthy of our time and television shows and music videos have proven themselves unworthy of our mind. Dont be surprise to find that just those men who pretend to be closer to G*d then you by making you ashamed of your sins.
[ u r b a n ] I N F O R M A T I O N
The last Friday of every month URBAN JUKE JOINT is hosted by Christ Phoenix. Sign up begins at 8:30. One poem (4 min limit). All artists R asked to refram from using any PROFANITY or explicit material. There are a limited number of slots available for the open mic. Once the list has been filled, any artist who still wishes 2 sign up will go on "stand-by" & may be able to perform if time permits. WHERE: Baha'i Unity Center. 53 East 11th Street (btwn Broadway & University Pl) Take 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, or W to Union Square - 14 St. station SHOW BEGIN 9:00 PM, doors open 8:00 PM. Free
When the lives that they have lived may not have been for your salvation. What if this is G*d's work. What if the creator realizes that the creation isnt perfect but only wishes for us to worship, sincerely. To not be hypocrites but to really be concern about our fellow man to stand against injustices falsely perpetuated in G*d's name in foreign lands? What if this is G*d's work? What if the poets are closer to Muhammad, Buddha, and Jesus than the preachers, I mean think about it which of us are the poor righteous teachers? What if this is G*d's work? And if so, then poetry is sacred so ye poets should be concerned what you step on this stage with. And, be on your job cause if this is G*d's work then stealing from another poet is the same thing as stealing from G*d. And, its not about whether you use your tools for aahs and oohs but whether you use your tools to improve humanity. What if this is God's? And,I know blasphemers have hell to pay so i wouldn't say anything to you tonight that i wouldn't be so comfortable repeating on judgment day. What if this is G*d's work? Let us pray. -- Taalam Acey
For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it? Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in
"Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."
Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.
But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."
Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can - once and for all – get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?
How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?
I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?
How long before we starting "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?
Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan: First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built, I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service)will protect him and his family from us white people.
Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama. Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."
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