Poem to be featured in Bryant Terry's new cookbook, Organic Soul.

Gumbo

Granny is God in the kitchen

Her ladel
sunk deep in swamp green
ground brown
grey soup
vanished
and came up full
a mound of sea creatures
a crab leg bent over the edge
and reached
out of the manna roux

Granny turned and filled my bowl
gumbo swirled around its parts
and left a spiraling galaxy of spice
in my warm palms
its scent
swaddled in my own breath
soaked my tongue in savory
and when Granny looked down
at my face
at what she made…
she knew it was good

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE SHOULD MAKE YOU FURIOUS. WHY?

Schools to cut teaching force

by Darran Simon, Staff writer, The Times-Picayune

The Recovery School District in New Orleans will slash about 17 percent of its teaching force by terminating close to 180 teachers, librarians, math coaches and other staff members by Tuesday. JANUARY 24TH 2007, MSNBC REPORTS THAT NEW ORLEANS IS FACING A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

The layoffs and other eliminated positions under staffing changes will save about $15 million, officials said. JUNE 13TH 2006, NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS EDUCATION SECRETARY MARGARET SPELLINGS ANNOUNCED $24 MILLION IN AID TO HELP DEVELOP CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NEW ORLEANS.

About 260 other staff members fall into a "surplus" pool that principals can tap. Those in the surplus pool could stay at their schools or move into other positions. About three-quarters of that batch include certified teachers, math coaches, in-house substitutes, clerical staff and others whose positions were eliminated through school closings, elementary grade reconfigurations and principals' requests. DECEMBER 26, 2007, THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT NEW ORLEANS POPULATION HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING AND IS NEARLY 300,000. IF THERE WAS A SEVERE SHORTAGE IN TEACHERS IN JANUARY AND AN INCREASE IN POPULATION BY DECEMBER OF '07, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF '08 TO JUSTIFY FIRING 180 TEACHERS AND PLACING ANOTHER 240 IN THE CATEGORY OF 'SURPLUS'.

"Any certified teacher who wants to return, there will be a position for them," said Superintendent Paul Vallas. JAN RESSEGER OF THE CHICAGO DEFENDER REPORTS THAT AFTER LOUISIANA LAID OFF AND FIRED ALL 4,500 OF NEW ORLEANS' TEACHERS WHO HAD BEEN WORKING IN CLASSROOMS THE DAY BEFORE KATRINA STRUCK, THE RECOVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT (RSD) BEGAN ADVERTISING FOR 500 TEACHERS ONLY IN LATE JULY 2006, AFTER THOSE BEST QULIFIED HAD ALREADY TAKEN JOBS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS OR OUTSIDE NEW ORLEANS.

District officials said they have encouraged principals and others involved in hiring to give the "surplus" pool of about 200 teachers, math coaches and others priority in filling about 320 positions. The number of vacancies could change based on attrition and student enrollment, officials said. 'ENCOURAGEMENT' IS NOT A MANDATE. NONE OF THESE PRINCIPALS ARE UNDER ANY REAL OBLIGATION TO HIRE THESE TEACHERS OTHER THAN PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.

About 30 more clerical staff and paraprofessionals in the surplus pool are expected be hired, officials said.

In contrast to the scramble to fill teaching vacancies in past years, the state-run system can fill all its openings with its surplus pool and other candidates, including a batch of about 140 teachers through alternative certification programs such as teachNOLA and Teach for America. AHH, THE ANSWER. INSTEAD OF HIRING PEOPLE FROM NEW ORLEANS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAUGHT IN NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INSTEAD OF HELPING TEACHERS, WHOM BY ALL ACCOUNTS ARE GREAT CONTRIBUTORS AND BEDROCKS OF ANY COMMUNITY, INSTEAD OF HELPING TEACHERS FIRED AFTER KATRINA TO COME HOME AND GAIN WHATEVER SKILLS OR CERTIFICATION IS BEING HANDED TO TEACH FOR AMERICA KIDS, YOU FILL YOUR TEACHING VACANCIES WITH COLLEGE GRADS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MOSTLY WHITE AND MOSTLY NOT PLANNING TO STAY IN NEW ORLEANS LONGER THAN THEIR TWO YEAR COMMITMENT TO TEACH FOR AMERICA.

"We literally are full," Vallas said.

Most of the close to 180 terminated teachers, librarians and other staff members didn't complete certification requirements, officials said. Other staff members won't be asked to return because of poor performance. SO NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE BEING FIRED FOR NOT BEING CREDENTIALED OR FOR POOR PERFORMANCE. TWO PARAGRAPHS AGO IT WAS TO SAVE MONEY AND BECAUSE THERE WAS A SURPLUS OF TEACHERS.

With the eliminations, 100 percent of the district teachers will be certified, be working toward certification with a practitioner's license, or hold alternative certifications, compared with 80 percent in the 2007-08 school year, officials said. WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS FROM NEW ORLEANS WITH A LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AND ITS YOUNG?

Last year, the district hired staff for projected enrollment of 13,500 students to keep class sizes small and prevent the teacher shortages that plagued the district in 2006-07. The district kept the surplus of about 200 teachers and other staff even though enrollment didn't reach projected numbers. WHY DIDN'T ENROLLMENT REACH A MERE 13,500 STUDENTS?

The district will eliminate 85 positions by closing Livingston High, along with two alternative high schools, Booker T. Washington and Schwartz.

Livingston High, which served grades seven through 12, will serve only the eighth grade in 2008-09. Some 50 in-house substitute positions will also be eliminated. Booker T. Washington and Schwartz will reopen under Camelot Schools, a for-profit company that will be paid up to $4 million to continue managing the two schools as well as a third transition school for overage students in grades six through eight. About 45 positions need to be filled at each school, officials said. HOW DO YOU MORALLY OR RATIONALLY JUSTIFY PAYING A PRIVATE COMPANY $4 MILLION DOLLARS TO RUN TWO SCHOOLS THAT ARE BEING CLOSED TO SAVE MONEY?

"I envision that a lot will not be hired back," Vallas said of the schools' former staff. "It's up to Camelot." UP TO A FOR PROFIT CORPORATION WHETHER THEY WILL CUT EMPLOYEES AND OVER WORK THE REMAINING STAFF, OR REHIRE TEACHERS... WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'LL DO? AND THIS VALLAS FUCK, SO CAVALIER ABOUT IT BEING UP TO CAMELOT... HOW COULD THESE PEOPLE TAKE DISCRETION FROM A PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE SCHOOL BOARD AND HAND IT OVER TO A PRIVATE CORPORATION ACCOUNTABLE TO NOTHING BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, AKA PROFIT?

About 45 math- and reading-coach positions will be eliminated and replaced by the same number of small learning community leaders, whose duties include mentoring and leading instruction for groups of eight to 10 teachers.

In addition, the district plans to hire about 45 in-house math and English language arts experts who will serve as mentor teachers.

The introduction of mentor teachers and small learning community leaders is a change under the first year of the state's Teacher Advancement Program. TAP is part of a national school reform effort that includes teacher-driven professional development, opportunities for promotion and performance-based compensation. THEY FIRE 17% OF THEIR STAFF IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT A TEACHER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM THAT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTION AND PERFORMANCE BASED COMPENSATION? THIS IS FUCKING 1984 NEWSPEAK. I HOPE YALL CAN SEE IT.

Other staffing changes include fewer classroom teachers for a 24:1 ratio districtwide; fewer special education teachers for a 12:1 ratio; and restructuring under the TAP program.

Vallas said he is comfortable with the new model -- which mostly mirrors the framework of the charter school operator Knowledge is Power Program -- and said the district would have terminated uncertified employees regardless. He said the staff changes, which will save about $15 million, are not sparked by tight finances.

Earlier this month, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved the district's roughly $194 million spending plan for 2008-09, a decrease from the $261 million budget in 2007-08. A 26% REDUCTION IN EDUCATION BUDGET AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET HOME, FIND WORK, GET JOBS, AND GET THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL? THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS.

Ready?

This image appeared on the front page of the Roswell Beacon, an Atlanta suburb newspaper.  The same Atlanta suburb where a white restaurant owner has started making a small fortune selling a t-shirt depicting Barack Obama as a monkey.  I believe that this image along with Mike Huckabee's joke that Barack was ducking bullets during his speech are tacit hits.  I think what these ignorant racists are doing is saying "Okay, its open season.  If you want him go get him."  Some folks want a race war and they think killing Barack might start it.  Either way we need to be ready for any damn thing...

To You

No matter how high I get

I'll still be looking up to you

He was a short man

with thick hands

hands i felt wrapped around a belt

as he rapped my pelt to welts when i was twelve

that's old for a full out whipping

but I had punched my big sister in her face
and he had to get my mind right

my daddy was a good man

stood 5 foot 3
he was a good man who never lied to me
told me when he had to leave
and told me why
told me his whole life story before he died
the soft heft his voice stretched and hummed warm and bright
light poured from his smile

his laugh was wild,
started as a grumble and whistled into sistle
as he sang vibrato chuckles

his spirit was wild
wrapped in dignified clothes and positions
stuffed in big leather chairs and big business
presidential
and I'm reverential now
but back then I hated him
because he raised extended families and communities
but he didn't raise me
because he made money and gave scholarships
none of which he gave me
I had to make mine on my own

it wasn't till I was grown
and grateful for the independence him and mama taught me
wasn't till he took 10 in after the storm that I saw what daddy taught me
be there
wherever you are
be present
and he had been
even when I punished him
refused him the pride of my accomplishment
told him he couldn't see his youngest son graduate from yale law school
damn i was a fool
i'd cut a chunk out of my spirit to see his smile shine on mine
a dad proud of his son

he was long gone before I thanked the almighty for his golden soul
and what more can I say now that his passing is a year old
and my last living line to the divine has finished his time
as I wind on
what more can i say
thank you daddy

no matter how high I get
I'll still be looking up to you

love,

Michael Otieno

Barak represents the best of America

If you haven't, you need to see Barack Obama's reflection on race in response to attacks based upon statements of his former paster Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Barack is comprehensive, compassionate, sincere, and straight forward in his response. He took on the hardest shot of the race, and countered with a death blow to any racial talk for the remainder of the campaign. Mark my words, the racists lost with that one immensely powerful speech. Sure, they will cut and paste it to oblivion, leave out what they don't want to hear, but anyone who actually listened heard the story of America and why Barack Obama must be the next president.

Who else would say "Do you really want to talk about race? Let's talk about race..." and tell the history of American oppression of Black folks. Who else would say "I can't disown my pastor for making these comments as much as I can disown my white grandmother" for her racist attitudes... then challenge us to start dealing with the hidden bitterness that seethes between Black and white. Who else could relate racial healing to fixing healthcare and education, confronting climate change, and fighting terrorism? Then go on to say it will take work by black folks to deal with the problems in our community and white folks to acknowledge the history of oppression in this country... work by all of us to acknowledge our legitimate beefs with what's going on in America and not blame each other. Who else could change the way I want to relate to ALL white folks with one speech? Who else but Barack Obama?

No he isn't Jesus. Or Malcolm. Or Che Guevarra. He is Barack Obama, a person right on time for our much needed rebound from the depths of George Bush. The fact that he is black, the child of an immigrant, mixed-race, brilliant, and saavy enough to be courageous even when his whole campaign could go down in flames for dealing with race... all that is secondary to the fact that he is quintessentially American. More American than George Bush, born into billions, cowboy walking into the White house like a happy monkey. More American than John Bomb Iran McCain. More American than Hillary. Barack is what America is now. And he should represent us all in the White house.

I was for Barack before for a lot of good reasons. What he represents as a challenge to old politics, the intelligence to handle difficult and complex situations like those he will face as president, the humility to seek out good advice and discuss with opponents, his background as a community organizer... Now I'm voting for him because I believe he is America's best hope to actually progress. Anything less than Barack Obama would be uncivilized, more of the same old shit.

If you have any doubt about who to vote for, watch this speech.

A Rap for Purpose: Look at me

So ripe she's rotten
childhood forgotten
serving her meat and potatoes for that au gratin
something happened to make her wild
at 13 she was still a child
knock kneed with a precious smile
now she test the styles of grown men
comparing stats with her friends
she calculating inches on dicks and inches on rims

getting money such a cinch its a sin
her mama made sure that church was her whole world
but church was a prison for this beautiful young girl
in school she was free to be
it became her outlet
I never forget the call I when she was outed
posing naked
spreading her flower for the boys
on facebook and myspace she was all the noise
the fame it brought wasn't nothing to the fortune
once grown men started asking what it was costing
dim is the light in her eyes
i see her fading
deep in the streets with pirhanas
i see her wading
the season of her youth is waning

i see her changing

so ripe she's rotten
childhood forgotten

15 and her body screams
look at me, look at me

15 and her body screams

look at me

She spent her life doing right
got a nice man
professional husband
with soft hands
tell her he love her often
she loved his warm voice and passion
handsome and dashing
her wait was worth the satisfaction
he was her one and her only
when they were married the love was all right
every night made sure every hair on her body would fall right
she was like Adam's wife
cooked and cleaned
her work was the nest
her man would provide and protect
picture perfect
the children came, bringing joy
and pain
took her body and her attention
things would never be the same
she was tired and working harder and harder
the spaces between their embraces
got farther and farther
the kids are growing up and barely know their father
he's either gone
or gone off that fire water
he's been cheating
feeling guilty can't even look at his wife
she's too plump, too thick now
and he rolled the dice
did it once, did it twice
and now it is his life
chasing tail like a dog
marriage lost in the fog
she spent her life doing what she was told is right
got a man every body thought was right
now they're strangers full of anger and strife
she hit the scene

33 and her body screams
look at me, look at me
33 and her body screams
look at me

I'm at the hookah bar
looking for a good time
i see a fresh young thing
looking so fine
half skirt, half shirt, boots high on her thigh
red pumps, lips plump, oh my, my, my
must be 19 the cream of a young man's dream
dudes stand in line to buy Bailey's irish cream
can't see her crying
please look at me
refuse to see that she's 15
a broken heart on the scene
her older sister at the bar
seeks a balm for her scarred heart
peeps young men from afar
she thick, body fit right in that cat suite
she sexy, quick, and cute
and she straight shoot
aint chasing loot
looking for a nice man with soft hands
to stroke her like her husband stroke anybody new
men see a good fuck, no trouble
can't see the bursted bubble
a woman struggling over the rubble
of the life that used to be
acting 15
screaming look at me!

she 15 and her body screams
look at me, look at me
33 and her body screams
look at me

Public housing update

This is what America looks like

After the storm

After the poor have been sacraficed

For bike paths and equity