بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved and Beautiful Black Bebies!

This morning I was actually seriously thinking about leaving “Mr. Washington” forever. Seriously. I knew who I was going to try and replace him with and everything. That’s how it all started. I thought maybe if I got with someone else, Zawji would realize he can’t live without me.

I mean, I almost feel like that’s what he wants me to do. So he can swoop in and take me away from some poor man. Sometimes his self-centeredness borders on the unbelievable.

But, Muslims don’t court, so if I’m gonna do it, I would do it with the intent of marrying the Brother. That’s why I said it would be forever. That was my intention. I would have to accept that Allah is NEVER going to fix him and try to join my half of our soul to someone else.

But Zawji keeps reminding me it’s never going to work. And I know that’s true better than anybody, but I’m almost tempted just to see how far we can go. I think he wants to do something all extra Hollywood like this shit. As if my life isn’t dramatic enough. Being from L.A. can have its drawbacks.

https://youtu.be/6rLH9tpFAPA

I don’t know which is worse – “Mrs. Dwayne Wayne” or “Mrs. Whitley Wayne” SMH

I think about one of my aunts who married the wrong man. She’s miserable but they’re still together. The guy I was going to replace Zawji with is her husband’s Doppel.

But knowing Zawji, he would probably let me marry the Brother just so I would be miserable.

So then I thought maybe I could replace him with another one of his doppels.

But the last time I did that, it turned out so horribly that I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT!!!

So, looks like I’m stuck.

Unless I could just string the Brother along forever or until Zawji comes around.

He told me that’s what he’s doing…

But the difference is, HE’s the man. And the one traditionally who is supposed to pop the question. So, he can NEVER pop the question and just keep stringing the dumb bitch along.

But if my replacement pops the question, I would have to say no. And I would be back at one. With maybe a few years of happiness and companionship to look back on…

I feel like I’ve kinda done this though.

I’ve always told Brothers, I’m in love with someone else. They always jump at the challenge to try and turn me away. Never gonna happen but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to let a Brother try…

Worse case scenario – ….I break the Brother’s heart but I can live with that. I mean, as long as he knows from the start…

This is looking better and better the more I think about it….

I was just so concerned about “the poor brother” but if he knows, then he can’t blame me when Mr. Washington “puts on his dashiki!” CHEAH!!!!! (You’ll get it after you watch the movie below 😉 )

Now, I’m feeling like maybe perhaps I could start catching feelings but he’s gonna try and pop the question when I’m feeling like Zawji is never gonna come around and I’m ready to give up on him. But then we’ll still have to go through with the ceremony and this Brother is brilliant. He is probably capable of planning some extemporaneous wedding like Dwayne and getting me stuck.

I just have to keep in mind that this time is FOREVER so I can NEVER marry anyone but Dwayne’s doppel. 😉

Operation Transient Happiness is in effezzect! PHASE ONE already in progress. Update forthcoming.

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Last night the children, who are not children anymore, threw a celebration for A.J. Week. I already told you about how me and Zawji are at the age where they stay up and we go to bed. So that’s what we did.

They didn’t keep us up too late though. We have some super responsible children.

I got some more chocolate too. Montauk cookies. My absolute favorite.

My Subway sandwich tickets arrived today too! So, I’ll be getting some cookies from them too. They’re my other absolute favorite chocolate chip cookies but I like them a little bit better because they can heat them up for you! Ymmmssss….. Yaaaay Subway!!!

My California I.D. with the Santa Monica address arrived today too! Yaaayyy!!! I can get a library card!!!! They charge non-residents $25 a year to get a library card and $3/hour to use the computer. It’s about to be on and poppin’! I get two hours there and two hours in Malibu and whenever I can get on at the Club.

In sha Allah, next month I’ll be able to replace my Chromebook, then I won’t have these issues.

Tonight, they’re having something at the Hammer. Two things actually.

They’re screening “Breakin'” and you know I’m a Hip-Hop Heavyweight, but it’s just gonna piss me off. I mean they deliberately put a devil in the role that was meant for a Black girl. And especially after just finishing this movie…

First some disclaimers

1. Our Beloved Messenger (May the Peace and the Blessings of Allah Forever Be Upon Him) Taught us not to copy the styles of the Africans, so we are not supposed to wear their multi-colored fabrics (Dashikis). Nor are we supposed to wear our hair sticking out all over our heads (Afros/Naturals).
2. Gladys Ann (“Mrs. Brooks”) was wrong for TELLING John Henry (“Mr. Brooks”) to give her a job at his barber shop. In Islam we are taught that “nowhere in Islam is the woman required to go out and work.” The allowance is enough.
3. Don’t listen to the chief hypocrite, Malcolm.
4. They should have resolved Booker T’s issue with Blackwomen by cementing him in a relationship with that Sister.

Okay, now you can watch the movie. Enjoy! 😀

https://youtu.be/rSSizD7xpME

I found out about this movie from Re Re. She married Glynn Turman (“Gideon”). And I have heard rumours that he was abusive but she didn’t mention anything like that in her book. However, to let her tell it, she had the perfect life, so it’s understandable that she wouldn’t include something so controversial.

I kind of like the brother because he’s a cowboy and has a camp for inner-city youth. But he did a complete one-eighty going from super conscious Gideon in “Five on the Blackhand Side,” where Stormy Monday toasted Islam by saying,”May your toes always point towards Mecca.” to Colonel Taylor on “A Different World,” telling his son not to join the Nation of Islam because we don’t eat the poison, filthy, divinely-prohibited flesh of the poison animal.

• I’m going to try and stop cursing. I don’t actually curse because I think for a curse to be effective, it has to be spoken and I don’t curse when I speak. Only when I write. But nevertheless, I’m going to stop that too, In Sha Allah. I’m doing it Fi Si Billah, so In Sha Allah, I will be successful. Make Du’a for your Captain. I’m still a little rough around the edges… ❤
• There is going to be a jazz/funk collective playing at the Fisherman’s Village in the Marina on the 27th. I think that’s Sunday. They go on at 2 and 5. In sha Allah, I’ll be there. 😀
• I call ALL white women “Eve” now. It helps me keep in mind how Eve’il they are.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Members of the Asiatic Tribe of Shabazz!

How are you all? I’m okay. Just riding the waves of life although I feel like a ship without a rudder, lost at sea, just floating amongst the flotsam and jetsam with no direction.

I guess I can’t really say no direction. I never lose my direction. I just don’t have a, OKAY, I don’t have direction. I guess, honestly, I just don’t KNOW my direction.

Allah is my GUIDE. And I know my ultimate destination is Zawji, but I just don’t know when I’m going to arrive or exactly how I’m going to get there.

I just submit to Allah and go wherever He Tells Me to go.

Last night I went to an event at CAAM. And as much as I love it, I don’t like it.

I already told you about the time I went and there were no Black employees up from slavery (what most people call African-Americans).

Then I was going to go to a talk there and the lecturer was a devil.

THEN Ibnana and I were going to take the Lindy-Hop dance class and they were filming. And Muslims are not supposed to let devils or Christians photograph us.

So, believe me when I tell you I had my reservations.

Nevertheless, I went.

The event was titled “Remembering ’92” and it was slated to be a recollection of the Rodney King beating and the aftermath.

So, that was a lit time with emotions exploding all over the city and I was hoping to go and recall the whole thing with other people who experienced it like I had.

I’m a big history buff and a budding anthropologist, so I was looking forward to hearing other people’s recollections of the whole time.

I should have known.

When I pulled up, there was a young, nicely dressed Brother standing right by where I always park Lulu, but his demeanor was not receptive, to put it nicely.

So, my teacher taught me well.

I ignored him.

Then another Brother, similarly but not quite as formally dressed, approached him and they embraced.

Now, they both had on slim-fitted pants, but now I kind of look at it like how The Temps and other men dressed in the sixties. Their suit pants were slim-fitted tailored, so I didn’t automatically take that as a sign of him being gay.

And just because they embraced doesn’t automatically mean they were gay either.

I mean EVERYBODY hugs nowadays.

But Brothers, just to be on the safeside (and Our Beloved Messenger, The Honourable Elijah Muhammad (May the peace and the blessings of Allah forever be upon him) Taught us that anything other than a handshake between men is disgraceful, so don’t embrace – do like genteel men and shake hands.

So, as I was locking Lulu up, I noticed that nearly everybody that went inside was a devil. I got a good look at the audience during the discussion and it looked like rainbow sprinkles.

The Black Lives Matter guest was probably proud.

Instead of it being a “Remembering ’92” fest. It was a Black Lives Matter, everybody love everybody, how can we all live together in peace, let’s-make-mockery-of-everything-Allah-stands-for rally.

I’m not even, okay, I guess I will.

Black Lives Matter is stupid.

We know Black lives matter.

Devils know Black lives matter.

They just don’t care and you telling them is not going to make a difference.

They are still going to kill you every chance they get.

So, when they opened up the discussion for “questions” I made sure I was the first one to raise my hand. I have learned that if you don’t get in early, they may never get to you.

So, I knew I was going to comment and took a seat in the front row. And sensing they were about to open it up for questions, I shot my arm up so they couldn’t act like they didn’t see me.

But I knew the curator for the event DID NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME! He is one of those Brothers with political aspirations. At least that’s how he came off. He sat up there on the stage with his legs crossed so high up and so tight with his hips turned toward the side so much that he would have given a devil in a mini skirt a run for her money – SO GAY!!! He made it a point before giving me the floor to reiterate that he was only accepting QUESTIONS – NOT STATEMENTS!!!

So, I had that in the back of my mind when I opened.

“As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum, In remembering the ’92 rebellion, it was basically a repeat of the ’65 rebellion. Was anybody there? (I looked over the faces and nobody raised their hand but I already knew that.) The fact is, we can march, we can join every organization, but we are NEVER going to be able to stop them from killing us because killing us is what they were made to do. They can’t help it. The only way we can stop them from killing us is to get away from them. Separation is our Salvation.”

Somewhere in the middle of my soliloquy, I decided, to hell with his “question” requirement. I also knew, by the way they were just blankly nodding and smiling at me, that my statement wasn’t going to hit them fully until this morning, so I gathered my belongings and broke.

I was insulted that they had turned our rebellion into a Kumbaya campfire.

The only other person there who was actually AT the shit was this Brother who was on the cover of Newsweek and like the poster boy for the whole thing. They probably PAID him to be there.

Through the whole exhibit there was a recording playing in the background of an old DEVIL singing the BLM theme song. It was nauseating!

I found out the BLM was started by ARTISTS! From L.A.’s own St. Elmo’s Village.

They are using the struggle for Black Liberation (whatever that is )to advance their careers.

Some other highlights of the evening:

• A devil man with two Black boys ended up sitting right next to me. I had moved his place holders and took one of their seats. So then he comes explaining to me that he might have to keep getting up to attend to the younger of the boys who was about four. The elder was nine or ten. So, you know I didn’t move. He sat right next to me with the four-year-old on his lap. So, I look at his hand on the little boy’s bare thigh and asked him what was he doing with two little Black boys. Of course he couldn’t believe I had the temerity to ask such a thing in this day and age of tolerance and said just as much. He asked me what business was it of mine? I said, “I’m Black.”
• Later I told the older one to read Message To The Blackman and asked him if the little boy was his Brother. He nodded his head yes. I smiled and said gently, “But that’s not your father.” The poor boy looked so confused. He nodded his head, “Yes.” I said, “No, your father is Black like you.” Then the devil got all up in my face. “What did you say to my son?” I got right back up in his face and said, “That’s not your son.” Then he started getting all in his emotions and I just walked away.
• I should have added that HE was that little BLACK boy’s SON! You wanna get technical, motherfucker!
• I saw this fine Brother with a devil and he grinned a superfine smile at me and I don’t know what he expected me to say or do, but I said, “There’s a Black girl out there waiting for you.” He looked shocked and appalled but after he came back to his senses, he just said, “Well, isn’t that racist.” I shrugged and said, “It’s true though.”
• The best part of the night was the video they had of Reginald Denny. He was the devil who got caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and I had such an exquisite time remembering how the Brothers were throwing rocks and such at all the cars going by driven by devils or ANYBODY who wasn’t Black. 😀 😀 😀 That was some Black Unity for yo ass!!! For me, THAT was remembering ’92!!! CHEAH!

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• So, I was reading “the most popular book by Sigmund Freud” but I realized he was gay. First, I realized he was an atheist which I thought was rather amusing because he blamed everything wrong with humanity on Christianity. I couldn’t disagree with that. I also found it interesting the way he distanced himself from humanity and addressed common issues with such impartiality. But he went too far when he was talking about love and said that “a person’s only acceptable love object is limited to members of the opposite sex.” Who (or what ) else is supposed to be your “love object???” I threw that shit away.
• I decided after last night’s incident with the fine brother with the devil, that I no longer just “plant seeds,” I DROP BOMBS!!! 😀
• I forgot about one place The Homeless Society has also been – THE LIBRARY.
• Another proof the white woman is the ROOT of all evil. Let’s look up the definition of ROOT –
  root¹
  ro͞ot/

  noun

  noun: root; plural noun: roots

  1. 1.

     the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers.

     “cacti have deep and spreading roots”

     synonyms:

     rootstock, tuber, rootlet; More rhizome, radicle “a plant’s roots”

     • the persistent underground part of a plant, especially when fleshy and enlarged and used as a vegetable, e.g., a turnip or carrot.
     • any plant grown for its edible root.
     • the embedded part of a bodily organ or structure such as a hair, tooth, or nail.

       “her hair was fairer at the roots”
     • the part of a thing attaching it to a greater or more fundamental whole; the end or base.

       “a little lever near the root of the barrel”

  It’s worse than I thought. Eve was not only the first, meaning the root of white girls, but according to this definition, she is the one from whom they gather their strength. If that ain’t evil, I don’t know what is. According to the definition, Eve is the evil “support” for all white devil women that came after her, thus making her the ROOT of EVE-IL.

• Between homosexuality and interracial relationships, it’s a wonder that there are ANY full Black children in America.
• This is a picture I took of a sign from the Watts riots in 1965. It reads, “Turn left or GET SHOT.” LOL

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I was really going to try and not talk about you-know-who.

Yesterday was A.J. Day, as you know. He’s trying to make it A.J. WEEK! LOL He’s so conceited. The song he gave me for Mother’s Day last year was called “Hearsay” but the hook is, “It’s all about me…” 🙂

But I love his dirty drawls.

I tried not to celebrate yesterday but ended up stealing some Lindt and I got a rose from the event – chocolate and flowers. And I’m in Malibu again. I’ll probably come here every day for the rest of the week, so it looks like his ass is gonna get his wish, whether we like it or not. A.J. WEEK, Spoiled bitch. 😛

I never thought boys could be spoiled too. LOL I know I am. Maybe that’s our problem.

I titled this blog “Moonshadows” just because there is a restaurant on PCH with the same name and it seems like a place Zawji would like to take me….

I don’t even know what type of food they serve… Sometimes I wish restaurants would let you eat there, because they are so beautiful, but my diet is so particular, I need to bring my own food or have use of the kitchen.

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Oh yeah! I wanted another book, but Allah Gave me a movie instead. So far so good, but these things have a way of taking a turn. But if I was at the end, I would post it even though I disagree with some parts.

I am loving all the subliminal messages. But I’m not gonna say any more because I don’t wanna give it away. YET.

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

https://youtu.be/OH3OFq_G5vc

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Brothers & Sisters!

You can see what an influence Aunt Re has had on my fashion sense. I am also a big fan of her music. However, after reading her autobiography, I must say that I don’t really like her personality. If Guinness had a category for biggest ego, Aunt Re would win.

She was so much on the defensive. Always defending her behaviour, misunderstandings, industry disagreements and false media reports. It made me question who was really at fault for her to have SO MANY issues to address.

Especially after reading what she had to say about her relationship with G. I had to mark the page, it was so funny. But I’m not going to go downstairs just to quote her, I will tell you this. She was so “Christian,” but more like Problem #2, all she said was she was going to “pray for” Ms. Knight. LOL So Christian of her.

As a matter of fact, she was so “Christian” that she had three babies by three different men, none of whom did she bother to marry, before she was twenty! I wonder what Christ would have to say about that!

To put it bluntly, Aunt Re was a ho.

Probably still is the way she talked so much about how much she loves the lord and what a good Christian she is. No reason to think she’s changed.

Shows you how terrible Christianity is for Our Nation, also considering that her father was and is one of the most well-known Reverends in the history of Reverends, Reverend C.L. Franklin.

It was opening up for him, that she began her career in music.

And oh my God, why did she tell us everything she had to eat?!?! Every where she went, every family vacation, every shopping spree, every new house, every turn of events in her life was accented with what type of food went with it and how GOOOOOOD it was!!!

But she blamed her weight gain on quitting smoking.

Needless to say, I liked her a lot more before I read her book.

But it was interesting to find out, that just as I was realizing my favorite Aunt Re song was Rock Steady,

…she got to that part of her book and mentioned that the organist, whose contribution made the song what it is, was none other than my favorite singer of all time, Mr. Donny Hathaway.

It’s easy to see why she and G don’t get along. Aunt Re blamed it on G’s fledgling career, but G said it started when they met.

She said she and Aunt Re shared a dressing room when Re came to Atlanta, and G, being from Atlanta, was a little intimidated by Re’s star, already having established herself as a great gospel singer. Nevertheless, G extended her hand in warm greeting, welcoming Aunt Re, “Hi, I’m Gladys Knight. Welcome to Atlanta.” Aunt Re just looked at her and then turned her back and resumed her conversation with her background singers, saying nothing.

G said nobody really believed the cold treatment she received from Ree Ree until one day backstage at a concert, she ran into her again. Again Gladys greeted Aunt Re and again Aunt Re snubbed her.

But this time Bubba was with her and Gladys and he exchanged glances. She was like, “I told you.” And Bubba said, “Hey, Ree Ree!” and Aretha turned around and came and gave Bubba a big hug.

Bubba said, “Gladys was speaking to you too.”

Then Ree Ree acted like she had only just noticed Gladys was there. “Oh, hi.”

Both women were raised in the church with heavy gospel backgrounds. But Gladys has a real love for Allah (God) while Re seems to just like going to church and being the Rt. Reverend’s daughter and all that accompanies it.

She said he had his “lady friends” too, one of whom LIVED WITH THEM IN SIN, so the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.

SHAMEFUL what Christianity allows. Last time I checked FORNICATION AND ADULTERY ARE STILL SINS.

And such a highly respected man and his daughter. SMH

One of the first things about Aretha that really made me dislike her was the way she treated her musical associates. THREE times throughout her book, she spoke of how badly people she had previously gloated over were treated (Quincy Jones being one) by record company executives, but obviously it didn’t phase her one bit.

She just went on to a different subject.

I felt she could have done a little bit more. She seems really selfish and egotistical. She gives QUEENS a bad name.

And to make matters worse! Her sister Carolyn died of cancer and Ree Ree talked about what a wonderful sister she was and what a terrible time in her life it was. THEN she goes on to say, how her Sister went to the press and talked about Ree and how much Ree didn’t like what she had to say!

Why say that AFTER you talked about her death??? And your SISTER!!! She spoke ill of the dead – something EVERYBODY knows you’re not supposed to do – and her own sister. Like Gladys Knight said, “she can sing it and she can spell it,” but Aretha Franklin doesn’t know the first thing about respect.

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So, the past couple of nights, I did somethings that regular people might think was boring.

On Tuesday, I finally went to the Santa Monica History Museum. It’s free from 5-8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But they were having a talk and there were too many people there talking loud and annoying me for me to really enjoy it. So I left but not before I asked about The Inkwell.

They had one picture and one paragraph, mostly emphasizing how polluted the water was.

But I was told that they are going to have a talk in February about it. In sha Allah, I’m going to ask them to do a full exhibit, at least. It will be Black History Month.

Maybe if more people express an interest in it, they will be more apt to expand the exhibit. www.SantaMonicaHistory.org

Last night, I went to hear a classical bassist play some very unusual music which I really dug. It was mathematical. It was music but it was based on numbers and doubling and combining different types of playing and was very cool.

It showed how versatile music can be. The composers name was Tom Johnson and the last number reminded me of a regular song but instead of singing the lyrics, they were spoken.

I discovered I like when bassists slide their finger down the string and wondered if it could be done while walking the bass. Hmmmm???

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• Oh My God! Why did I have FRESH dates?!?!!!! They were yellow and crunchy and the sweetest thing since Soan Papdi!!! If you EVER have the chance to try them, buy them all!!!
• https://youtu.be/rs0bsUgB-c0
• My favorite flavor of honey is “Wildflower.” I don’t care for “Cotton.”
• People my age are at the age wherein we go to bed and the “kids” stay up! LOL
• Badu didn’t mention Bag Ladies like myself in her classic song. I’m a Sleeping Bag Lady LOL
• Remember I wrote about the Black drug dealer who just asks, “You f__k with that s__t? Well, I passed a white drug dealer one day, and he said, “I got that. If you need it.”
• My view of regentrification: “If you can’t STOP IT, might as well PROFIT!!!“
• I don’t know why Mexicans feel like they need to put seasonings on Mango! It’s already delicioso!!! Why make it salty? No comprendo.
• I forgot to mention how beautiful and clear the night sky has been the past few nights. All I saw were stars, stars and more stars. Did you see it? The moon is also awfully close to the Sun. You can see why there’s going to be a total eclipse on Monday. Astronomy is a natural science. We should encourage our children to participate in viewings. In sha Allah, I’m going to one at the Santa Monica Public Library Pico Branch. Here are some more locations where you can view it in L.A. TOTAL ECLIPSE.
• One of these men is Cholly Atkins – the man responsible for The Pips signature and impeccable choreography. Eventually, The Tempations, who met Cholly after a tour with G and the Pips, referred him to Motown, where Berry Gordy hired him to refine his own acts.
• https://youtu.be/M6f6ewUdHcQ
• FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ Community Build 4305 Degnan. Call for times (323)290-6560
• FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION – 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ Community Build 8730 S. Vermont Ave. Call for times (323)789-9950
• SISTERS OF WATTS
• CAMP GID D UP
• The Marcus Garvey Day Parade & Festival is going on today in Leimert Park. I may or may not go. Probably not. Our Beloved Messenger, The Honourable and Humble Elijah Muhammad (May the Peace and the Blessings of Allah Forever Be Upon Him) Taught us that both Marcus Garvey and Noble Drew Ali, “loved us but they didn’t have the knowledge to have brought us out.” THAT knowledge was only taught to us from Allah, Himself, through his Divine Messenger (PBUH) and can be read in this book. Click the picture to read it in its entirety.

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

https://youtu.be/aB31hxtwHvM

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Brothers & Sisters

I pray Allah you all had a blessed and magnificent weekend. I am happy to report that I did too, I thank Allah!

By far the highlight of my weekend was when I saw Ibnana! I was in the neighborhood because I had planned to go to LACMA but the bus took forever, so I ended up going to Target and riding around Black Beverly Hills. And since I was so close, Allah Told Me To Go See IBNANA.

I hadn’t seen him since the week before Mother’s Day and we just started talking again, so I just went over there. He lives with my father and I REALLY didn’t want to see him, so I was faced with the task of figuring out how to get him outside.

Luckily, his friend was outside his house and he went and got him.

When I tell you my son is dope, believe me.

He bought a 24 karat gold-plated chain and he was blinging.

He wears jewelry like I wear jewelry.

It can be Walmart, gold-plated glass but on us looks like $15,000.00 Tiffany’s.

He is so funny and can dance and super-SMART, just like Zawji.

Not to mention he looks so much like him it’s scary.

But we had a REALLY good visit. He was SOOOO happy to see me! I felt good.

So when I left, I went riding around Leimert and came up on a performance at The Stage; saw some old friends and ate a good healthy meal, courtesy of Kah’s Grill…

And heard some live JAZZ!!!

Saturday, I laid on the beach all day.

Sunday, I laid on the beach and then went to the Drum Circle. I love supporting Black Businesses with the money I get from the Government.

You know I love reading autobiographies by musicians and I picked up TWO. All of the previous autobiographies have been jazz musicians but when I saw a book titled, “Between Each Line Of Pain and Glory,” it just piqued my interest. I knew it was a song, but when I found out it was Glady’s Knight’s autobiography, I had to have it. She is so funny! She reminds me of Miss Manners’ sense of humour. I am really enjoying her book.

I also had to buy ‘Retha’s just on G.P.

I bought some much needed earrings, some supersweet Lemonade courtesy of the Honey Queen and talked to the most inspirational young Black Father with his own clothing line: JUST BE DOPE.

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NOW, THE BULLETS…

• PAN-AFRICAN GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
• HAMMER KID’S SUMMER PROGRAM
• ARRAY
• So, I read in the Standard that there is an effort being made to rename Rodeo Road to Obama Blvd.
• I found out that L.A. used to have our own “Ink Well”
• https://youtu.be/kYBITnM2pDM
• The “Ink Well” in L.A. was located between Bay & Bicknell Streets, long after 1927 when beach segregation ended. There is a monument which is on my “Bucket List” to visit, memorializing The Ink Well, located at Bay Street and Ocean Front Walk.
• MALIBU CONCERT ON THE BLUFFS
• I keep seeing Fritz. I was talking to him at The Central Avenue Jazz Fest when they called him to go onstage. I thought that was Uber Cool. Groupies talk to musicians AFTER the show. We were talking BEFORE. Only fellow musicians do that. 😉
• https://youtu.be/muMsIEyRu8U
• AND THE SISTER CAPTAIN LOVES LINCOLNS!!!
• ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Asiatic Black Kings And Queens!

I don’t really have much to say except I was robbed last night. *gasp!*

I went through some donations to Goodwill last night and picked up a black pleather backpack and some other things I needed and went to sleep on the beach.

Fortunately, I had put on the items I really needed, so when I woke up and the backpack was gone, I felt more violated than taken advantage of.

I think Allah, no, I KNOW Allah Wants me to travel lightly and the added weight was really unnecessary. I knew that when I took it but I’m a hip-hop head and we like backpacks, for some reason, so I liked wearing it, even if after awhile the burden made itself manifest.

I wanted it; but I certainly didn’t need any of it. It’s just that I was just thinking about a change of clothes and then I see all of these donations. I really needed some shoes but there were about ten pairs of sneakers – all too small.

If that was a test, I failed. But Allah Will Have His Way.

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Did you see the Moon? It was aight. I mean, it was kinda full with the top right corner shaved off a little bit. Not nearly as amazing as the previous two nights, but still beautiful just the same.

Like I said, I slept on the beach, then I went to this Homeless Resource Center I had heard about. (I like to have options. I also never want to get stuck at any one place. Anything could happen and then where would I go?) They weren’t there but I found a couple giving free donuts and coffee to whoever needed it, so I helped myself.

The lady was even kind enough to Google the HRC I had been looking for and found their new address. However, when I got there it was like “under new management” and had none of the services I was in need of. Well, maybe one, but the people who offered the adult services were at another location while they had Summer Youth Camp.

So, I got the address and pushed to the Promenade.

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My GR finally came in (I always get benefits on the LAST day but I’m grateful. Allahu Akbar) and I had planned to buy some Skechers since my dividends are so low now.

I had met this Brother on the Row back in April and when I was in the market for some new sneaks, he recommended that brand.

Back then, I was almost offended. Skechers??? Don’t make me laugh.

I had planned to buy some Shelltoes but went with some Pumas instead.

So, now since my check has been cut by about 90 per cent, it seemed as if my only option was the Sketches.

They have a store on the Promenade and last week I reluctantly went in to see what they were working with.

I was repulsed by the inferior quality of the shoes but they were all only $50-$55, which was within my budget and I thought, Hey, at one time, Skechers were pretty hot. They are a recognizable brand and, well that’s about it.

But this morning on my way to the Promenade after the disappointment of the now defunct HRC, Zawji reminded of our own local favorite – CHUCK’S!!!

ALLAHU AKBAR!!!

I could get some decent shoes, well CHUCK’S are beyond decent, they are well-respected and even the shoe of choice for many (myself included) when budget is not a factor. Allahu Akbar!

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Now, the bullets…

• Go support the homie, Max, KPFK DJ and Event DJ at the Townhouse in Venice, CA Tuesday, August 15, from 9p-2a Right near the Boardwalk – Ocean Front Walk. It’s going to be nice to see him after all this time. Our sons used to participate in the Drum Workshop at the Stage BITD…
• So, I passed on the political music of L.A. talk at CAAM, but there are two related events that incorporate DANCE to this music. They’re both going to be held on the next two Sundays at 1-2:30. The first is 90’s dance and the following week will be the Lindy Hop. My Grammy told me she used to be really good at this. We’ll see how her grandbaby fares…

• Also, coming up in September at CAAM, there is going to be a screening and discussion on the history of Silent Race Films, of which I have a particular interest, so if the facilitator is not a devil, you will, In Sha Allah, find your Sister there. Wednesday, September 6 from 7-9
• There is an artsy venue in Santa Monica that I’ve been dying to visit, but every time I go by there, they are always closed. So I Googled it and found the schedule and In Sha Allah, I will visit the Open Craft Lounge that is open to artists to work on any project alongside other artists in an “Open Craft Lounge” It’s the second Saturday of every month at Camera Obscura from 11-2.
• Another venue that just looks so high class and beautiful that I thought I had to have an excuse (like some type of event) to visit is the Annenberg Beach House. They do have a lot of events scheduled, so if you have to have an excuse, check out the website, but I’m just going to drop by after I wake up on the beach…
• Another Literary Arts Center I happened upon this weekend during a ride through the beautiful city of Venice (whenever I hit up Venice it makes me feel that way)

• BEYOND BAROQUE
• Here’s what’s going on at the inimitable – UCLA CENTER FOR THE ART OF PERFORMANCE (CAP)
• Farmer’s Markets always offer a healthy alternative to the processed and packaged foods that most grocery stores offer. Try the West L.A. Farmer’s Market
• And you know, I don’t know what I like better, the fact that it’s LIVE Music or that it is FREE CONCERTS DOWNTOWN

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