America is momma's momma

This past week, I had an assignment in my US African American history class that I had to find a primary source from the Civil Rights Movement from the 1960's and then present this material to the class. Originally, I wanted to find foreign news articles about our civil rights movement and to see how it played overseas but stumbling around in the Library I came across this book. American Mix the Minority Experience in America edited by Morris Freedman and Carolyn Banks. The first document that caught my eye was an excerpt from Correta Scott King's autobiography but it was a short two paragraph "sermon" by Dick Gregory. I was familiar with his name. People still come into to Barnes and Noble to buy his autobiography, that's title I can't even type because all of my life I have told that is just not a word that is said, written or thought.

Gregory is an interesting man. He began his career as a comic in Chicago. He was an activist during the Civil Rights movement and even participated in Sit-ins and getting people registered to vote. He spoke out against the Vietnam War and even ran for President in 1968. In that same year he published The Shadow that Scares Me, a collection of his "sermons". One was America was momma's momma. I was taken aback at how Gregory was able to pack so much anger, hurt, pain, grievances into two short paragraphs. I could go on and on but I think Mr. Gregory speaks for himself. There is still nothing more powerful then the written word.

America was momma's momma

Now that I am a man, I have "given up childish ways." I realize that America in my momma and American was Momma's momma. And I am going to place the blame for injustice and wrong on the right momma. Even today, when I leave my country to appear on television and make other public appearances in foreign countries, I find it difficult to speak of the injustices I experience in this country. Because America in my momma. Even if Momma is a whore, she is still Momma. Many times I am asked if I would go to to war if drafted. I alwasys answer, "Yes, under one condition; that I be allowed to go to the front linke withough a gun. Momma is worth dying for, but there is nothing worth killing for. And If I ever change my opinion about killing, I will go to Mississippi and kill that sheriff who spit in my wife's face."
America is my momma. One Fourth of July, I want to go to the New York harbor and talk to Momma - the Statue of Liberty. I want to snatch that torch out of her hand take her with me to the ghetto and sit her down on the street corner. I want to show her the "tired, the poor and the huddled masses yearning to breather free.: I want to show Momma what she had been doing to her children. And Momma should weep, For the grief of the ghetto is the grief of the entire American family.

Gregory, Dick. America was momma's momma; The Shadow that Scares Me. Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1968

Spring Break!

I had such a great time in Indian Wells! The tennis was great. It was great to see Fee and Susan again and Caryn, Christine, Angela and Mel were awesome!! I learned a lot about what it's like to be a working journalist at the tennis tournament. The one disappointment was that one of my favorite players, Juan Carlos Ferrero had to pull out because he had the Chicken Pox. What is a 24 year old man getting the chicken pox anyway? The poor guy.

So that was the first half of my spring break. The second half, my mom and I went to the mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. I love that place. We didn't do the as much shopping as we usually do but mostly just hung out. That's what I love about my family, is that we genuinely like being with each other. We all have our own interests but try to include all of us in our interests. It's great! I hear all the time of other families don't get along and fight all the time and feel lucky that I come from a family that I can talk to and feel comfortable joking around with. My family is Wonderful!!!

School News

See this is what always happens to me. Every time I start a diary or a journal, I write on a regular basis for a couple of weeks and then a couple of months later, I realize that I haven't written in it for a while. *sigh* I think I am just too lazy to keep up a good diary.

In other news, I've really enjoying my paper making class. I'm getting ok at it but it's a lot harder then it looks. In our last class, we made stamps. How cool is that?! I've been doing better in my other classes as well. I got an A- on my first midterm of the semester. So that's a good sign. I also got a B- on my book report for African American History. Personally, I think my professor was an easy grader in this case because I don't think it was a B- paper but at least a C but Hey! I'll take it! I have two midterms and a paper due on Thursday, so wish me luck.

The best thing about midterm time is that it means that spring break is soon. Kat and I are going to Indian Wells, CA to meet up with some friends and see some world class Tennis! I love tennis but I think I've mentioned that before but what is going to be really cool is that I'll be doing some work while I'm there. I'll be one of two reporters covering the event for www.menstennisnews.com My friend Christine started this site so our little tennis community could have an outlet for our work. I like to think that this experience, along with my work last year, will help hone my journalism skills. Who knows what I will end up doing after I graduate but hopefully this will open some doors.

Back to School!

After a month off, I'm back to school. It was a nice break but it's good to have a regular schedule. I'm taking five classes, two history courses and two journalism courses and one just for fun, Paper making! Woohoo! I have had two classes so far and I already know how to make my own paper and I have beaten my own pulp in the Hollander beater! That was cool but to be honest the beater did all the work. I'm so stoked about this course! It's fun to have a class that I do not have to take an exam or write five or six papers. Later in the semester, I'm going to learn how to make my own ink and bind a book together. I may never have to buy my own paper again. Ok, that's not true but it's still a pretty groovy skill to have.

Off for a month!

It was a tough semester but it's over! As of 8:00 this morning when I walked out of Phillips Hall after completing my Social Science final, I am free for a month. No homework, papers or exams for a month. I can read whatever I want! It's all very exciting! I did enjoy the classes I took this semester, excluding Social Science. One of the classes was about book production in the Middle Ages. It was just fascinating on how books used to be made all by hand. It was a slow process but the quality is beyond anything we have now a days. They were made on parchment which is basically indestructible, as long as it isn't attacked by bookworms or is in a fire. This class inspired me to take a book making class in the spring. I'm totally stoked about that because it's the first art class I've taken since high school!

Now that school is out of the way, I can look forward to the holidays. I have my shopping done and I just have to wrap a few more presents and send out cards. To be honest, I liked the holidays a lot more before I worked in retail but I've decided that no matter how rude or obnoxious the customers are the last couple of days leading up to Christmas, I'm not going to let it dampen my spirit. Earlier this week Kat and I went to the store and bought big lighted stars. We were going to hang them on our porch but then we discovered that we didn't have an outlet outside so Kat hang them up in our kitchen window so they can be seen outside. We also bought fake snow and stencils. We could never do that at home because we had cats. And we also have my scooby Christmas lights, that my mom bought me last year, in the living room and the wreath on the door. We are officially decorated for the Holidays!

Happy Holidays Everyone!