Digital Divide?

Ok so in class we have had many discussions about the digital divide on a national and international level. Again my focus in mainly on the U.S.

Here's my issue. I do realize that technology provides a lot of "missed" opportunities for people (i.e. signing up for programs they may qualify for, etc.) BUT I still say that the last thing on the minds of people in poverty, or people who are hungry, etc. is being on the internet. Their focus is on getting their basic needs met, and surviving.

I feel like we need to focus on issues that seem more pressing. Access to technology is an important issues, please don't misunderstand, but I feel like in this country and around the world that we always try to cure symptoms and neglect the virus or disease.

The digital divide is a symptom of racism and classism/poverty. We need to attack those issues directly, and when we attack those issues other problems (such as the digital divide) will be effected.

Just my opinion - write a comment, tell me yours

Flobatim - the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

Dave Chappelle's Block Party

To all who have not seen this movie I strongly recommend it.

This movie was great, because it was something unexpected. Everyone heard Dave Chappelle and thought 'Oh my god! This is gonna be hilarious!' but in actuality it's just a great movie about organizing. Don't get it twisted, I mean - he is Dave, so it's got some great humor in it, but it's really a good movie about getting people together.

This movie explains why I see the arts (in this case music) as a potential agent of social change...

DON'T SLEEP ON IT!!!

Flobatim the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

Why the Arts?

Many people ask me why my focus in social justice is on the arts in the United States. Well, first I see art all around me. Everyone is affected/effected by the arts in some way. It's all around people, 24/7/365. You can't escape it. It's something all people relate to, though it may no be the same type of art. People are creative beings, and they like seeing what others have created as well. Another reason is that I am an artist, and I feel that there is great power in doing what I do, and what better way to use that power than promoting societal changes? I know many artists that feel the same way.

I focus on the United States, because I'm a firm believer that we should take care of home first. How are "you" going to get someone elses house in order when "your" house isn't in order. That's like a person telling their friend what to do in a relationship when they're not in and have never been in a healthy one...does that make sense? Nope, sure doesn't. Prime example: The United States - how are we going to rebuild Iraq when we can't even manage to get New Orleans together? Just thought I'd throw that one out there...

Flobatim the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

Youth, Art, & Social Change

As I may have mentioned I'm a Social Justice & Community Organizing major. My biggest interest is using the creativity that young people today possess and "helping" them to focus and use their gifts for social change.

I did an internship at my old stomping ground - St. Paul Central High school last semester (and plan to continue when I get back from Miami). At Central I worked with CTT - Central Touring Theater. A fantastic group of high schoolers in Advanced Acting, taught by the amazing Jan Mandell.

Jan's class she really guides her students to focus on using their acting, and other artistic abilities to bring forth "real" issues. This group of high school students are indescribably amazing. They are actors, poets, singers, dancers, visual artists, etc. and they use all of their talents in their original plays.

The group that I worked with toured 2 original plays, "Katrina" which was the BEST play I've seen professional or otherwise...and "More Than A Party" which was about the lives of high school seniors.

Being an intern there at Central was a wake up call for me. I stood back an watched in awe as Jan cultivated these students into better performers, better artists, and better social change agents. I still haven't quite figured out how she does it, but hopefully when I go back next spring I will continue my learning process so that I can do the same. To keep myself fresh I'm reading a book that Jan co-wrote called Acting, Learning, and Change.

I'll keep you posted on the things that I pick up and I most definately welcome any ideas...

AND...I can't close this post without giving a shout-out to the CTT group of 2006 - the young people that rekindled my love of the arts, and made me realize that the arts has the possibility to be the agent that changes the world...

"CTT RESPECT...CTT RESPECT...RESPECT CTT...AAANNNNDDD ME. MEOW!!!"

Flobatim the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

Hey all...I'm finally back up and running. My old computer crashed about 2 weeks ago; just got a new laptop (cause we ain't got money just laying around like that). So thanks for bearing with me. I also realize my blogs are a little dated - like I said - technical difficulties, not to mention life. Working 2 jobs it be like that sometimes. Just wanted to let you all know that I'm back and new blogs will be posted regularly like before. Thanks for keeping up.

I really don't have much to say from this week, BUT - I am going to give a word of advice to those who patron myspace and other online communities (including blogs).

Please, please, please DO NOT incriminate yourself by putting pictures/videos of you doing things that are more than likely illegal. I get so sick of people getting charged with crimes because someone saw what they posted OF THEMSELVES on THEIR OWN myspace page. Let's be a little more intelligent than that people.

Having said that I'm gonna throw this piece of advice in for free. Here are some questions you should probably ask yourself before you post a pic or video on a blog or myspace:

1. Can anything visible in this pic/video be interpreted as illegal activity?
2. Am I noticeably high on an illegal substance (even if there is no visible contraband)?
3. Are there witnesses that can testify against me or extort money from me?

If you answer yes, to one or more of the above questions...BURN the damn evidence.

Now there is no reason for anyone who has read this to be incriminated by THEIR OWN blogs and/or myspace pages. You have been properly forewarned...

FloBatim the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

I recently began working for MN COACT - Minnesota Citizens Organized ACting Together - as a field canvasser. Basically what I do is: knock on people's doors, tell them about the issue we're petitioning for (Single-Payer Universal Health Care in MN & the administration of our state health programs by the Dept. of Human Services and NOT HMOs), and taking donations. They're a really great people!!! But they do not use any technology at all, and they like the old fashioned way of organizing. I'm attempting to get them to start a database to do their phoning, and look-ups, as well as alert people of the issues and get their newsletter out. I put a bug in their ear at my interview, and have been bringing it up here and there. Hopefully I'm wearing into them. Wish me luck!!!

FloBatim the HipHop Nerd: Over & Out

PICKIN' COTTON

The Touch...
The Feel...
Of Cotton

It's the fabric of our lives
Ya'll know Fruit of the Loom ain't neva lied
400 years of tearing children from parents and husbands from wives

And though we've come a ways from bloodied hands and bent backs
We still pickin cotton...just now off of racks
Strugglin for paper but charging plastic to the max
Just so we can have the latest Ecko and BabyPhat

Rims and TVs in the head rests
Jordans and Nike Forces
We'll do just about anything for a few cents
Better learn to share love like we share fashion sense

ATTENTION LADIES & GENTLEMEN
Fashion is NOT a community crisis
Yet we stay worried about how shiny our ice is
In the meantime we got babies...in the street...lifeless
"Oh My GOD girl look at them new tims..."

Louis Vutton and Coach did not pave the way
More concerned with name brands than dying of AIDS
Have the opportunity to be more that share croppers and maids
And yet the market still manages to have our minds enslaved

Highest buying power in the USA
38% of people on governement aid
WAIT...

$700 billion dollars and in the poor house
Seem to me those type of mathematics don't work out
Our biggest concern being social clout - that's not what life is really about

Pickin cotton is not an historical phenomenon
It happens daily when your biggest worry is what you have on

Don't get me wrong...
I'm not saying don't look fly
I'm just saying there's more to picking cotton than meets the eye

The Touch...
The Feel...
Of Cotton
It's the fabric of our lives...

Spoken Word Poem by: FloBatim(me)

*~FloBatim The HipHop Nerd: Over & Out~*

Hello Ladies and Gents, and welcome to Critical Mentalz...The Cake Session. For those of you who are wondering what exactly a "Cake Session" is - it's simply a conversation between, usually 2, people. That simple.

This is my first post, and I'm excited to see what new perspectives the coming conversations will bring. I'm in a Summer course right now at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, basically about community advocacy and organizing over this thing we call "cyberspace." Sounded interesting to me because I'm interested in organizing youth specifically, and quite a few of them are on the web. I figured this would be a great way to start organizing young people.

I hope to have quite a bit of interesting stuff on here...From random thoughts, to spoken word poetry, to critical thoughts, to epiphanies. So hopefully you will join me on this journey through Summer 2006 and beyond.

That's really all that I have to say at the current moment. See you soon...
*~FloBatim the HipHop Nerd: Over and Out~*