tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36227710022049702312024-03-14T05:40:59.766-07:00Making MovesYour #1 Source for MsTmusze Related Newsmstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-42401010335934398002023-02-24T00:47:00.000-08:002023-02-24T00:47:39.121-08:002023 Moves<span style="font-family: courier;"><b>To Our Kings </b></span><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Listening To </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>New Work: In The Car </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Live for Dave's Birthday </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Nove Gras at Spaghettini's </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>National Poetry Month at CSULB </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Removing Black Art</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>One Love Experience</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>To Our Kings</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsT with cohosts and founders Dr. Alice The Poet and Sandra Laraine Coleman ushered in the 23rd year of<i> <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/calling-poets-musicians-and-singers-1717239?just_published=true">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words(SLNSW)</a></i> with their 1st virtual event of the year, themed <i>To Our Kings</i>. New artists and <i>SLNSW</i> first timers Warren Swaggtastical Dixon Jr. and Francine Manuel came through with moving works and commentary weaving personal takes on being a Black King and experiencing the healing process while Black. New attendees and returning audience members from TikTok and <a href="https://www.blackeverywhere.com/"><i>Black Everywhere</i></a> enjoyed a fast paced 90 minute round of poetry, music and song delivered in the original <i>SLNSW</i> format of 3 thirds led by Sandra, Dr. ATP and MsT. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Listening To</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsT is dancing while listening to Afro-Cuban Funkstar <a href="https://cimafunk.com/">Cimafunk</a>'s band delivering "free yo mind and your ass will follow" rhythms fronted by Spanish vocals splashed by verses in <span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">I</span><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">nglés, including those by Mr. Mothership Connection himself, George Clinton. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><b>New Work: In The Car</b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: courier;">For a collection in progress called <i>In</i>, MsT has penned <i>In The Car</i> to inspired by a friend and the hammer they keep in their car.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>In The Car</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Copyright 2023</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>MsTMusze</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b><br /></b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>On the floor</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Passenger side</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Wooden handle</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Metal topped</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Hard</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Handy</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Here for it</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Be it dates</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Trips the store</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Dinners with friends</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Visits with family</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Errands alone</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>This hammer</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Stays on the floor</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Quickly reached </b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>From the steering wheel</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Glove box</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Door handle and</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Button that opens the trunk</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Hardly seen</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Til underfoot</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Of curious passengers</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Answered</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>TIckled alert</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>To the everyday danger</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>In our world, and </b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>The un-blinked eye</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Of the unsuspecting</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Bad actor malcontent</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Hoodlum rapist thief ex </b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Friend turned foe</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Mentally unhinged</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Human enslaver</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Or would be killer</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Who I pray never </b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Fucks around and finds out</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Why their skull </b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><b>Is bleeding</b></div></span></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9rKnf9f5iOhdk3rQDVdMtVY0YdGn9q5TFQ2KMYn6s43_e4-i5jyubfyZAh8_o72kkGay2XLG1MYhbBLVaLNWgCODdGBjpp0b-CABYxii_GyhYC3__rN0GrMKcpIzR6DeLOPFA1o0YAK-2SyVy39mmI1XwrwAZPmvpvvOrMzuw4jRsTyLIlhLtzF8w/s1062/Screenshot_20230223-221601_Messages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1062" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9rKnf9f5iOhdk3rQDVdMtVY0YdGn9q5TFQ2KMYn6s43_e4-i5jyubfyZAh8_o72kkGay2XLG1MYhbBLVaLNWgCODdGBjpp0b-CABYxii_GyhYC3__rN0GrMKcpIzR6DeLOPFA1o0YAK-2SyVy39mmI1XwrwAZPmvpvvOrMzuw4jRsTyLIlhLtzF8w/s320/Screenshot_20230223-221601_Messages.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Live for Dave's Birthday</b></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">One of Ms. Musze's muses trumpet playing band leader Dave Williams is approaching his half on a hundred milestone with music and vocals and poetry. MsT will join the celebration on and off stage in a show of artistry and aging that will be one for the books. Of Dave MsT says, "This is my brother in art, Long Beach residency, Blackness and life. I love that I get to witness, collaborate with and know a bit about his soul. What an honor."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhrUwMu8lKEa6NL-8QiDSF5w57052WUn0TF1VptEsPGWjEcuuFsccDe9hBSOdGRhvRPyuudzvG3Iwnld73Pbcowy5JUi0TXy5USFIHf1I1bIpxHe0iEiz4OO6ansCSj18_f-Afs38zGTS_0vbbG5ceFzXF6107fXUpWsvqNVQKo_hYIn70ug7kp0yKA/s2280/Screenshot_20230223-222952_Gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhrUwMu8lKEa6NL-8QiDSF5w57052WUn0TF1VptEsPGWjEcuuFsccDe9hBSOdGRhvRPyuudzvG3Iwnld73Pbcowy5JUi0TXy5USFIHf1I1bIpxHe0iEiz4OO6ansCSj18_f-Afs38zGTS_0vbbG5ceFzXF6107fXUpWsvqNVQKo_hYIn70ug7kp0yKA/w304-h640/Screenshot_20230223-222952_Gallery.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Few Members of Delta Nove<br />Taken by MsTmusze, Copyright 2013</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Nove Gras at Spaghettini's</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsT attended Mardi Gras Cali style with the musical leadership of none other than Long Beach's own </span><a href="https://www.deltanoveband.com/" style="font-family: courier;">Delta Nove</a><span style="font-family: courier;"> band. Band members and fans old and new came together from as far away as Colorado to descend on Spaghettini's for a rousing test of the venue's no dancing policy. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>National Poetry Month at CSULB</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsTmusze and Sandra Laraine Coleman will join partner in poetry Dr. Alice The Poet at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) for a special 2023 National Poetry Month return to presenting their long running open-mic <i>Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words</i> live. Details to be posted <a href="http://slnsw2.com">here</a> soon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Removing Black Art</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: courier;">The parallels between Black artists <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/mckinney-student-questions-why-black-history-month-painting-removed-campus-main-entrance/287-9e034828-fd0b-4496-b3a8-9d26557175d8">Basima Muhammad</a> and <a href="https://www.presstelegram.com/2015/01/22/artist-upset-after-long-beach-public-library-removes-doll-from-art-display-that-it-considered-controversial/">Lethia Cobbs</a> having their art requested, installed then suddenly rejected and removed does not escape MsTmusze. A friend of Cobbs, Ms. Musze was part of the team who installed <i>Dollandia</i>, a multi-part display of dolls in various scenes including one showing a standing white police doll aiming its finger like a gun at black doll with literally no arms laying in the middle of a street. About the connected incidents MsT exhales, "This happened to my friend as an adult and it hurt. To have Basima go through the same in what should have been an amazing early affirmation of her youth, Blackness and artistry is a hurt on top of hurt, in America during Black History Month 2023 no less."</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9qOnNQoroQCog8BjD5ixr7G_gd0HsaLrV2OwY9PtxOqlIpGMGOFeyZf5W7gBXmhxjCBbhQGFLHXqVAtvV-S0kn6_f8n7OFwe2oL5AMUycsptCB2SjLJE5z0lQQa-NVfqe5C4pk_wSF6krm3Oxw2dvoYLlPjAeRuKgPlX-kZvHy65WHozTA7mnXKwvw/s4032/20230205_123345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9qOnNQoroQCog8BjD5ixr7G_gd0HsaLrV2OwY9PtxOqlIpGMGOFeyZf5W7gBXmhxjCBbhQGFLHXqVAtvV-S0kn6_f8n7OFwe2oL5AMUycsptCB2SjLJE5z0lQQa-NVfqe5C4pk_wSF6krm3Oxw2dvoYLlPjAeRuKgPlX-kZvHy65WHozTA7mnXKwvw/w189-h400/20230205_123345.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Bob Marley One Love Experience in Hollywood<br />Taken by MsTmusze, Copyright 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yH-eVGyTwI4rXiejIUrEFqEVibQa2l1MHJn7bH--nSHbcBbnyuLz2llGK8LSzT_KgAId-RDkLxNgU_XVPUeiqeDnstiMtPumov6ozeUA05NfCUtjn7Jk73oPyjqkHUe4ahRRBoOvdCtJ0hys51EFGKip53CJFzKoViN7wu7Y-iUbWreSjZHaC4AL-A/s3968/20230205_125111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3968" data-original-width="1880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yH-eVGyTwI4rXiejIUrEFqEVibQa2l1MHJn7bH--nSHbcBbnyuLz2llGK8LSzT_KgAId-RDkLxNgU_XVPUeiqeDnstiMtPumov6ozeUA05NfCUtjn7Jk73oPyjqkHUe4ahRRBoOvdCtJ0hys51EFGKip53CJFzKoViN7wu7Y-iUbWreSjZHaC4AL-A/w190-h400/20230205_125111.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Selfie at Bob Marley One Love Experience<br />Taken by MsTmusze, Copyright 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>One Love Experience</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsT, introduced to <i>I Shot The Sherriff</i> and <i>No Woman No Cry</i> by her parents and their Rasta friends as a child, visited the touring <a href="https://bobmarleyexp.com/los-angeles/#tickets"><i>Bob Marley One Love Experience</i></a> at its stop in Hollywood. Pictured above is her vantage point of the exhibit's life sized lit blunt with what looks to be smoke on the ceiling above it. Below that is MsT standing with a picture of Bob that resembled and reminded her of her father as a young Reggae fan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"> </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;"><br /></span></span></div>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-33227455298783976172022-09-17T13:20:00.004-07:002022-09-17T13:27:11.609-07:00Sonic Moves<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">In this issue:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Sound is the Medicine</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Black Poems for Black Health</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">The Patio (Written at Baldwin & Co.)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Le Musèe de F.P.C.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Art, Culture and Music</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Float, Flow On</span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">BAAADU </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">S.O.U.L.O. and Philosphy </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Listening to</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Sound is the Medicine</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMewNAlopessDe3YzzaR8QXZ6c0YsZQspOSMZJSECVzjU6L23QsPDPGN5lexXY2xc4QpvcDWwD0lForzQN6gHsc3muJrGPWP-2NHeiYzjy3Sp-2t2o9rU9Ch5i_6iTnflLuz48S8f9VTYDka2y3OinI1F5x1zCL6mSuZY3N7GVc2cWtWM41OUB8oL0Nw/s1080/306767116_1556890464770864_6210345463888560122_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMewNAlopessDe3YzzaR8QXZ6c0YsZQspOSMZJSECVzjU6L23QsPDPGN5lexXY2xc4QpvcDWwD0lForzQN6gHsc3muJrGPWP-2NHeiYzjy3Sp-2t2o9rU9Ch5i_6iTnflLuz48S8f9VTYDka2y3OinI1F5x1zCL6mSuZY3N7GVc2cWtWM41OUB8oL0Nw/s320/306767116_1556890464770864_6210345463888560122_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">In Downtown Long Beach, on Saturday September 24th <a href="https://www.sopurkh.love/sound-is-the-medicine">Sound is the Medicine</a> emcee and poet MsTmusze will co-create a 2-day ticketed experience in <span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conscious Music Alchemy & Performance Artistry complete with Intentional, Interactive & Inspirational sound offerings. Gearing up for the event, MsT exclaimed, "The grace I feel over my life is evidenced by opportunities like these. I am incredibly honored to be among those coming together for an intentional day of positive vibrations."</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Black Poems for Black Health</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Poetry for The Public's Health is a literary health endeaver co-led by Shanaè Burch, EdM. Poetry submission and general information can be found <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/author-instructions/HPP">here</a> and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15248399221105793">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">The Patio (Written at Baldwin & Co.)</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">The Patio is one of several new poems MsT penned inspired by her ongoing muse, New Orleans. More specific, this work was written at and as a reflection of her experience at <a href="https://www.baldwinandcobooks.com/">Baldwin & Co.</a>, a black owned book store/ coffeeshop/ podcast studio/ meeting space/ bar designed in tribute to James Baldwin.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">The Patio</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Copyright 2022</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsTmusze</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Striped</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Flashy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Low and lush</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">On the right of a flat gravel canal</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">The long green and yellow leaves</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Stand posed</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Come New Orleans humidity and</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Mississippi breeze</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Between buildings</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Built of wood, brick and plaster</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">On cracked slabs of </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Rosè pebbled rock</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Meshed iron tables and chairs</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Stagger below lights</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Zigzagged halfway</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">To the clouds</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">The latticed vines </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">On the left and far back</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Give clues in their diamond reliefs</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Where does pressured preciousness go</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">To know and receive release</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">To reflect on our making and</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Our fully formed brilliance</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAIZNlagtpV6eczq3x7tr6Q5iMVFUy2I7I4VrU8JVg4ZMK02cnDoJG17PxdwRTeQOuzf7qqgdJhPG195HvsLjhA6ueVtz1jTA2k18Yo-yDP740wxoLS4dXm82Q0WU0fHkBcwxP-bVS2_AVv2AP4v9YNICTiAZTjz85DMSpk1F3dor9hqNVIiaERfB1Xw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="1528" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAIZNlagtpV6eczq3x7tr6Q5iMVFUy2I7I4VrU8JVg4ZMK02cnDoJG17PxdwRTeQOuzf7qqgdJhPG195HvsLjhA6ueVtz1jTA2k18Yo-yDP740wxoLS4dXm82Q0WU0fHkBcwxP-bVS2_AVv2AP4v9YNICTiAZTjz85DMSpk1F3dor9hqNVIiaERfB1Xw=w212-h446" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MsTmusze outside of Le Mus<span style="text-align: left;">è</span>e de F.P.C. New Orleans, Louisiana (c) 2022</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Le Musèe de F.P.C.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">In New Orleans, Louisiana MsT visited <a href="https://www.lemuseedefpc.com/">Le Musèe de F.P.C</a>. a museum honoring the legacy of the city's free people of color. One stand out item on display was the framed signatures of over one thousand free black men from New Orleans who petitioned Congress and then President Abraham Lincoln for voting rights in 1864 with a speech entitled, <a href="https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1864-arnold-bertonneau-every-man-should-stand-equal-law/">Every Man Should Stand Equal Before The Law</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Art, Culture and Music</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgRC2Rwq0fWewj6Dbr1xklJ8s1XNekYH71RXOGWXTLoA-wLxMut4k6XHl5FB1v0P6ofm_Ux1xaEPk6qHzBEuBfyoHqd5jt3OVaaPJ85jIyrBeScRgNugjikHY5GW9kXCzHIXoIjA_J_zUMDYbG1BIR9hRKu3f-XYVElLHQWHQrPwnpDIXsqvPHBYmSSg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img alt="" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgRC2Rwq0fWewj6Dbr1xklJ8s1XNekYH71RXOGWXTLoA-wLxMut4k6XHl5FB1v0P6ofm_Ux1xaEPk6qHzBEuBfyoHqd5jt3OVaaPJ85jIyrBeScRgNugjikHY5GW9kXCzHIXoIjA_J_zUMDYbG1BIR9hRKu3f-XYVElLHQWHQrPwnpDIXsqvPHBYmSSg=w348-h348" width="348" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br />MsT celebrates arts leader Efren Luna and his work as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArtMusicandCulture">Art, Music & Culture</a> (A.M.C.) which were recently honored with a Certificate of Recognition presented by Long Beach City Council Member Dr. Suely Saro! In Luna's latest collaboration, he has joined forces with Cafè Chapin to provide arts programming for all ages.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Float, Flow On</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Floating into Fall and Meta Flow are the last 2 Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words open mics to be co-hosted by MsTmusze before the team goes on hiatus til 2023. Registration for both can be done on </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/slnsw-32660871845" style="font-family: courier;">Eventbrite</a><span style="font-family: courier;"> or through their promotional partner </span><a href="https://www.blackeverywhere.com/" style="font-family: courier;">Black Everywhere</a><span style="font-family: courier;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">BAAADU</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib6vA5UQ6PR5RVU3sP1Hmbpl7qjkvKD7Bkx6fMIR1JEIO_Gxz14VnGIWS-GFqRQM9HZZ1DlyHFN3gCTB93H_ARjDw1tzBmcjaZCkKnO5pGiXEAmZBZwCwN7HH13g0PFAk00zLV2GGtXhRkopnXt4v4nVK6G-R94OLCOcxAdC1Hp5LII3J2Z-szDSa1Uw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img alt="" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="499" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib6vA5UQ6PR5RVU3sP1Hmbpl7qjkvKD7Bkx6fMIR1JEIO_Gxz14VnGIWS-GFqRQM9HZZ1DlyHFN3gCTB93H_ARjDw1tzBmcjaZCkKnO5pGiXEAmZBZwCwN7HH13g0PFAk00zLV2GGtXhRkopnXt4v4nVK6G-R94OLCOcxAdC1Hp5LII3J2Z-szDSa1Uw=w340-h483" width="340" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">In Inglewood, California BAAADU is a new festival MsT looks forward to happening this October with the goal of uniting the African Diaspora through the arts! <a href="https://www.baaadu.com/">Click here</a> for more information and their call for artists.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;">S.O.U.L.O. and Philosphy</span></b></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinmim9eduY0Yla3Il_yg9xFSZo7D_iBSQtTHFu1yXC6bdweQ_Q8LlRsQRdIhSmux5qsru57hDUcRvsX3nMsbjeHuzzxonUil7HNqPg0ddeRzM440rfuQ7JntMoPAmKRAgof0GBP_0CYWOoSmCRQZQDjDppAeRzutJEhkeE6FR_XhYNZbiwFFoEgVKc4w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinmim9eduY0Yla3Il_yg9xFSZo7D_iBSQtTHFu1yXC6bdweQ_Q8LlRsQRdIhSmux5qsru57hDUcRvsX3nMsbjeHuzzxonUil7HNqPg0ddeRzM440rfuQ7JntMoPAmKRAgof0GBP_0CYWOoSmCRQZQDjDppAeRzutJEhkeE6FR_XhYNZbiwFFoEgVKc4w=w330-h330" width="330" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br />In Los Angeles today, September 17, 2022 S.O.U.L.-O (DJ/musician/producer) and Philosophy (poet/artist at large) are the featured artists at the <a href="https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3585.html">Getty 25 Family Festival</a>. MsT collaborated with both earlier this year as an inaugural honoree of the Pan African Film Festival's Spoken Word Fest. About the event, MsT shared, "Seeing my brothers in the arts holding down a full day of art offerings for LA families is exactly what I'm here to celebrate! The intersection of their consistent work ethic and this opportunity could only meet and cause the heartsmile I experience every time I see fellow artists about this life, in position to live their life's calling. That these are 2 beautiful grown up black men is comforting in light of the recent death of young rapper PnB." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div></div><div><b><span style="font-family: courier;">Listening To</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">MsT is listening to Keith Frank's <a href="https://youtu.be/VRIC5CQkXR4">Haterz</a> and trying to learn the accompanying shuffle after catching Frank deliver a rousing, crowd favored, Zydeco drenched live performance at this year's West Bank Heritage Festival.</span></div></div><p><br /></p>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-51659806514125502772022-01-27T00:47:00.005-08:002022-01-27T00:51:24.545-08:002022 Moves<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="675" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcAovnRZPKBLcCjYh8C5DwxoA9rdx3q-V0CJAafuxDBTiz7O29hzROMMdGIlWvxo8ZEfHnxZP3MVg-CYR5KgXpir5aYxY1AX1Ul5AckM6iHVxph1wmVpBDeYMdBhD-RQ6Lh0nqN8qVyTt/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MsT's Receipt for the For The FKN Love Album by Arrested Development</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcAovnRZPKBLcCjYh8C5DwxoA9rdx3q-V0CJAafuxDBTiz7O29hzROMMdGIlWvxo8ZEfHnxZP3MVg-CYR5KgXpir5aYxY1AX1Ul5AckM6iHVxph1wmVpBDeYMdBhD-RQ6Lh0nqN8qVyTt/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>2022 Moves</b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Black Is Soft</span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For The FKN Love</span></b><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Safe Strong and Free Scholarship</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Black Everywhere + SLNSW</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I Come From</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Black Is Soft</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MsT is featured with fellow black women poets in Black Is Soft, a video poetry archive for <a href="https://linktr.ee/blackisapoem" target="_blank">Black Is A Poem</a> (BIAP). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For The FKN Love</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MsT is listening to <a href="https://youtu.be/5N5dMnJWAEg" target="_blank">Neva Had Your Back</a> from Arrested Development's latest album (receipt above) <a href="https://officialarresteddevelopment.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">For The FKN Love</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <br /></span><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Safe Strong and Free Scholarship</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MsT is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SLNSWLLC/photos/a.179117447008821/442480727339157/" target="_blank">raising funds</a> for the Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words, Safe Strong and Free award open to <a href="https://slnsw2.com/scholarship" target="_blank">Black creative scholars</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Black Everywhere + Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words is partnered with <a href="https://www.blackeverywhere.com/" target="_blank">Black Everywhere</a> in launching the monthly and virtual open mic's return from winter hiatus beginning Wednesday, February 27, 2022.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I Come From</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MsT is exploring her genealogy in an a capella work called <a href="https://www.bandlab.com/revisions/ae07caf8-580d-ec11-981f-a04a5e798978?sharedKey=SpdZyNPV30G9xge3LoJMfg" target="_blank">I Come From</a>.</span></div><div><br /></div>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-6233213413575729032021-07-30T12:09:00.006-07:002021-07-31T16:10:02.665-07:00New Move: Interview with Loraine Mponela<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="1336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwfr697SYHbU6No5vHII0CRtt7I9mAfUyZ6k4ow9lRi9Hj1bZXDSpc_-lskOkRkoGTryb0ewmXmA7K8V3kDPK_d4dqvY-TihiFPLFGCK_zUZpENLfRLEX6g40e4ebxoad9hVT73KgtP4/s320/profile+picture2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="248" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">Loraine Mponela </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: times;">F</span><span style="font-family: times;">ollowing her recent participation in Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words, Malawian poet Loraine Mponela took time out to discuss her writing, life in the UK as an asylum seeking migrant rights campaigner and more with MsTmusze in the interview below.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: How are you and what is contributing to your answer?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: I think I am alright. (laughs). I am saying I THINK because physically I am ok. I am not sick. But internally I have so many things that I am debating about, fighting with and trying to find solutions to. If I am honest my answer to your question is I am busy and uncertain. I am fine with this too and grateful for everything that I have-family, friends and a</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"> team that supports my vision. I am sure things will get better, to where it's supposed to be.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: Would yo</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">u share how your name is pronounced for our readers?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: lo-RAIN MPO-ne-la</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: How do you identify geographically?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: I am from Malawi. I have lived in England since 2008. I love being near water because that reminds me of my growing up along Lake Malawi, most beautiful place I've ever seen.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: Who knows you are a poet? How did they find out?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: My first ever poem </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>God I Love My Son</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was written in June 2020. Maokwo arts made a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EDSJG-o-1c">video</a> of it which was shared online. So far it has attracted over 250 views </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Excerpts of the video have also been reproduced and used in online events such as <a href=" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yT9K52ZV-A" target="_blank">this</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>God I Love My Son</i> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was also published as part of the anthology </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Black Lives Matter: Poems for a New World</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in November 2020 which can be accessed at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1916459358" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Black-Lives-Matter-Poems-World/dp/1916459358/" target="_blank">here</a> for the US audience.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My other three write ups are in the press, one ebook and two physical books for academic purposes. </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have also read my poems in several online and physical events.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: How did you begin writing?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: That's the million dollar question (laughs). </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's a long story MsT. My channel is called NO AUDIENCE. This is because on 13th December 2016 I was told by someone from a big UK media organisation (won't reveal the name) to not tell a story about homelessness for asylum seekers in Coventry (where I live) because “it is not appealing to the British public” </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as explained in <a href="https://gal-dem.com/migrant-women-in-journalism/">this article</a>. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was the day I started to look for ways how I could still write about issues that are important to my community and myself even if there is no one who will see or read it-with NO AUDIENCE. I wasn't unhoused at the time but almost all my friends were unhoused. I wanted to make a difference to them. Seeing people frozen in the streets all day with no money to get a hot drink was heartbreaking and is still heartbreaking today. I also knew that I could be in their situation anytime. I was made homeless a couple months later. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is a story for another day but I felt I should give a background to NO AUDIENCE. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With this background in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if I have NO AUDIENCE because that is the place where I started from and very much so familiar with. I never expected anyone to read or watch my work so everything is a bonus for me. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But with or without an audience, NO AUDIENCE is here now. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am glad I didn't listen. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will keep writing till I die. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do regularly read some of my poems when I've been asked to but mostly on zoom with US based groups that I find on Eventbrite. I also read my poems when I've been asked to speak. Speaking is what I would say I am also fairly known for, not poetry. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I write and perform poems, write articles, [engage in] public speaking and recently have been writing comedy. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/the-guardian-foundation/2019/jun/20/a-place-of-refuge-and-hope" target="_blank">My very first article</a> was actually on homelessness published by the The Guardian Foundation. </span>At the beginning of the pandemic April 2020 I also wrote the article, <i><a href="https://mediamonitoringukhome.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/the-impact-of-covid-19-government-measures-on-asylum-seekers/">The Impact Of Covid-19 Government Measures on Asylum Seekers</a></i> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that resonated with many and was shared widely.</span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">Musze: What are the titles and subjects of your most recent poems?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: 1. </span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do We Really Need Another Pandemic to Wake Up?</i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was reflecting on the pandemic. We saw pockets of love and compassion, solidarity, communities coming together, supporting one another. Why can't we live like that, when we have shown it's possible? We don't need another pandemic to make us realise again that we are all connected as a human family. I wrote this because I am also hearing that people who were housed during the pandemic will be thrown out of their accommodation and some are back in the streets already. Its shocking to say the least</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Do Not Let Bukhariri Be Forgotten</i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There has been more deaths in asylum accommodation than the number of asylum seekers who have died crossing the British channels. Why is that? So this poem is my cry, can we learn from his death to avoid further death of asylum seekers? I hope so anyway.</span></span></div><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Penny Walker <br /></i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Penny Walker was o</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">ne of the people that started the only night shelter in Coventry for destitute asylum seekers. I was privileged to know and interview her in 2019 here. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">The house that she helped to found is where I live, where I am doing this work from as otherwise I would be in the streets. So my tribute is from my heart. She came and changed our world. I salute her even in her death. RIP.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt380N0zToaM8LJlhqxb0JRTD-80itQ_Fio3Bjc5W1Jq08lzjq_MbBUX5a7VfFjb55BWr0SJsMuGkEHCKhv5NMdfa12hpakyor_S98j3YMxUVLLkoLndjwbktoTgqbbc5E0gKkGS-M1_q/s1457/campaigner.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt380N0zToaM8LJlhqxb0JRTD-80itQ_Fio3Bjc5W1Jq08lzjq_MbBUX5a7VfFjb55BWr0SJsMuGkEHCKhv5NMdfa12hpakyor_S98j3YMxUVLLkoLndjwbktoTgqbbc5E0gKkGS-M1_q/w218-h320/campaigner.jpeg" width="218" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">L. Mponela with megaphone.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Kb5c6LC-tUm0lnyBUtB8xe3IbciffdMeuAfWiT-O3nIH-LKJUuzGfmMCfxzQ-Wwmamohl4hsXXHWm1lcELGcKUKqN-_0Y0LAbBmkcNcpxLJNeEvfPNljpCtWO-_VLLPzT-k3FNVNwKR/s640/I+cant+breathe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Kb5c6LC-tUm0lnyBUtB8xe3IbciffdMeuAfWiT-O3nIH-LKJUuzGfmMCfxzQ-Wwmamohl4hsXXHWm1lcELGcKUKqN-_0Y0LAbBmkcNcpxLJNeEvfPNljpCtWO-_VLLPzT-k3FNVNwKR/w320-h320/I+cant+breathe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L. Mponela with "I Can't Breathe" sign.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: How does London or the UK show up in your poetry?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: I call myself a Migrants Rights campaigner. This is what I nag about in my poetry and in my work. There are many things that need to change. Like the poem </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Do Not Let Bukhariri Be Forgotten</i> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- probably if something was done earlier, Bukhariri would not have died.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Musze: In what ways do you connect with fellow poets in London?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: I am still trying to find out what, how and where local poets do, meet etc. I wish I had the info to share with you. I am sure with time I will find out and squeeze myself on the table or make my own table if the other table can not be stretched-that might be the direction from the look of things. This year I contributed to </span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://inini.co.uk/#">The Inini Zine</a>.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorzx48rgZLavJTJOgAsK1oQXf-1AI9UV_fZNvm7_Y5dUpTcHC9SRthGM1m1p0VQmQIJGtXe5lQH9xQ5MhSJfPxsckraCU9-3xt7zavSxupP-dngPvldS_LCkj1PlLoXGRDc3ylsJT7YZ2/s978/slnsw04282021.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="978" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorzx48rgZLavJTJOgAsK1oQXf-1AI9UV_fZNvm7_Y5dUpTcHC9SRthGM1m1p0VQmQIJGtXe5lQH9xQ5MhSJfPxsckraCU9-3xt7zavSxupP-dngPvldS_LCkj1PlLoXGRDc3ylsJT7YZ2/w640-h245/slnsw04282021.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words (Shown clockwise: Co-hosts Sandra Laraine Coleman, MsTmusze, Dr. Alice The Poet and Musical Director Victor Taylor)<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Musze: What prompted you to virtually share your work in the wee hours of the night with us in America at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SLNSWLLC" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">? </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Note: PC users press Ctrl ++ if the following text appears too small)</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: small;">Mponela: It helps me to gain confidence. It's my way to practice but there's also an element of satisfaction. People make good comments about my poems like “keep writing” “its moving” “I love the imagery” etc. That energy helps me to carry on. I was also able to learn different ways of presenting and performing our poetry, appreciate other people's work but most importantly make connections with people after the dark year - this would not have been possible pre-pandemic. I truly feel good after performing. So thank you for creating the space.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 7pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: small;">Musze: Beyond the page, how do you spend your days?</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.30909; margin-bottom: 7pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 5pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mponela: I am chairperson for a community group Coventry Asylum and Refugee Action Group (CARAG) </span><a href="https://www.carag.co.uk" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.carag.co.uk</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . So I get asked to speak at events, we have our once weekly meeting which offers peer to peer support to members. CARAG is part of the national campaign #StatusNow4All </span><a href="https://www.statusnow4all.org" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.statusnow4all.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . I sit on the leadership of the campaign which is calling for indefinite leave to remain for undocumented migrants, refused asylum seekers and those stuck in the system as a public health measure (equity of access to food, housing, healthcare).</span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">I feel like campaigning gives me a sense of purpose to live because there are just so many injustices in the world we live in and only if we speak about these things that change can come whilst also saving lives on the way. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a lifelong learner. This means I attend training as needed to help me learn, grow and shift perspectives. Above all, I will be a grandmother anytime from now so am also trying to honour my role as a grandmother to be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-62952595943409593862021-07-23T06:53:00.010-07:002021-07-26T19:43:01.736-07:00Classic Move - A Quarter of MsTmusze News<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This classic quarterly update is the result of a hard pause in what has been a busy time since our last post. In this issue</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Saturday Morning Fun, Trivia & Prizes</b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">World Cup Stars in New Song Nth Degree </span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Black Is A Poem: Oceana's Spoken Word Community</span></b> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Spit A Verse Change A Life Release Party</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">SLNSW's 21 Year Reunion Continues </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The Virtual Definitive Soapbox (July Feature)</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Beats and Poems with BessKepp </span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">SLNSW's New Logo + New Graphic</span></b></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Everywhere Drums by Third World Press</b> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Virgos Write Now!</span></b></p></blockquote><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Saturday Morning Fun, Trivia & Prizes</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW5E6FzQIA8ItiS8lWMfynq8E4nq6rUgjbHG1O7Eo7Pe4SkxSCkvplrrzt7O2kiQ-NRZDL8c_lLrsWsqNw-412CfxMHb4DlagW5DSG9R9JyDyfQuG7w9I7on1Lx7o33o1k-Go6oVrhHPj/s2048/logo4096x4096.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW5E6FzQIA8ItiS8lWMfynq8E4nq6rUgjbHG1O7Eo7Pe4SkxSCkvplrrzt7O2kiQ-NRZDL8c_lLrsWsqNw-412CfxMHb4DlagW5DSG9R9JyDyfQuG7w9I7on1Lx7o33o1k-Go6oVrhHPj/s320/logo4096x4096.png" /></a></div><br /><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"></blockquote><p>MsTmusze returns to host a virtual trivia contest featuring Here and Now: African Diaspora Trivia. The goal of the contest and app is "Show What You Know and Learn More," in fun rounds of trivia based on the African Diaspora's people and experiences. Prizes for contest winners are sourced from the diaspora with past winners winning books The Hill We Climb, Mama Phife Represents and Africa 101, a King Pinz RBG Pin, Flip Flops from the app maker's store and timeline scrolls bearing African history and accomplishments. The next contest happens on Saturday, August 21st. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/here-and-now-african-diaspora-trivia-contest-let-the-games-begin-tickets-160331819789">Click here to play and learn more!</a></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">World Cup Stars in New Song Nth Degree</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.VlMncXlREQOSPancH6qImwHaDt%26pid%3DApi&f=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="474" height="200" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.VlMncXlREQOSPancH6qImwHaDt%26pid%3DApi&f=1" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ara.cat%2F2018%2F10%2F18%2Fesports%2FRonaldinho-del-Barca-Jair-Bolsonaro_2108799183_57590827_1500x1079.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ara.cat%2F2018%2F10%2F18%2Fesports%2FRonaldinho-del-Barca-Jair-Bolsonaro_2108799183_57590827_1500x1079.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" width="400" /></a> </span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Champion footballers Zinadine Zidane and Ronaldinho are featured in the lyrics of MsT's latest song Nth Degree. MsTmusze became aware of both athletes through watching them during FIFA's World Cup soccer championship games which happen every 4 years. Though none are named, Nth Degree also includes a recurring nod to Latinx fútbol announcers and the signature way they enthusiastically announce scored goals. MsT debuted Nth Degree at Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words' June event, Irregardless. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SLNSWLLC/videos/814713809243231">View video here at 1:05:00 in.</a></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Black Is A Poem: Oceana's Spoken Word Community</span></b> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In June, MsTmusze had the pleasure of joining Oceana's spoken word community Black Is A Poem for their event Black is Resilient streamed out of Hawaii by host Share Roman. Visit the IG pages linked below to check out some of the artists MsT shared the mic with and connect with Share to learn more about future Black Is A Poem events.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Ifa Segun Funmi "Lex"</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/lexlyrics/&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNHH0HMpeBqJMFqmOoPUhPsUOmrU8A" href="https://www.instagram.com/lexlyrics/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: small;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Joi Sanchez</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/j_thegodis/&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNEuV8mK2ZqQlxiS7QSbQ5h5ObWJHQ" href="https://www.instagram.com/j_thegodis/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: small;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Luanna Peterson</b>: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.patreon.com/join/TheGodISArts&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNGSoXXsqQZFqidY9GlFdL2WpwCuYg" href="https://www.patreon.com/join/TheGodISArts" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Malia Connor</b> : <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/tuffgyal808/?hl%3Den&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNHDuwb4OD1E4AruXUcyqCYzuJi0Eg" href="https://www.instagram.com/tuffgyal808/?hl=en" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Taja Lindley</b>: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/tajalindley/&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNEjygkRWdc5_aebIXoEFkgifZoLvg" href="https://www.instagram.com/tajalindley/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Instagram</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Share Roman</b>: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/candidlyshare/?hl%3Den&source=gmail&ust=1627423488843000&usg=AFQjCNGEJVyg1NV6JuAqJsHYKNYtuvZKQw" href="https://www.instagram.com/candidlyshare/?hl=en" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Instagram </a> (Black Is A Poem Facilitator/ Host)</span></div><div><br /></div><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">SWAAM Hosts C-Bone Jones Release Party</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h6YinJBIBoAPZk7AUjtqhXyYj1nHWw0N6OQ581VuCQ0q5gqV0frZ1UcSoxwHEb9ajrJT9aN1MN2wnHl_KbmoPTxZ26MTMtVn12xifux6oneRpp3w9uauRXEx_w8BsX1hr_n9JRiZzt8H/s593/cbonesurprise.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h6YinJBIBoAPZk7AUjtqhXyYj1nHWw0N6OQ581VuCQ0q5gqV0frZ1UcSoxwHEb9ajrJT9aN1MN2wnHl_KbmoPTxZ26MTMtVn12xifux6oneRpp3w9uauRXEx_w8BsX1hr_n9JRiZzt8H/s320/cbonesurprise.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XvRCFbEJVACT8Vh3HbxDyn3znOFctvKqP1wpTSF9pE0697zsaE9umeVFZQ0r7-1r3W6D14ubH5g548Bd4Cc95YN7_DlG4EfuFkQ-06L1656tBTKjoQDS7xvZSCc3xDkFK2rwMAbClF-3/s597/cbonerelease.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XvRCFbEJVACT8Vh3HbxDyn3znOFctvKqP1wpTSF9pE0697zsaE9umeVFZQ0r7-1r3W6D14ubH5g548Bd4Cc95YN7_DlG4EfuFkQ-06L1656tBTKjoQDS7xvZSCc3xDkFK2rwMAbClF-3/w314-h400/cbonerelease.png" width="314" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;">Months after C-Bone Jones surprised MsTmusze with an ultra-limited chapbook of hers in his collection, DePoet's S.W.A.A.M. event hosted the release party for #SpitAVerseChangeALife, a movement and merchandise brand Jones has launched (in English & Spanish) from his new website: <a href="https://www.theversestore.com/">https://www.theversestore.com/</a> </span><div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">SLNSW's 21 Year Reunion Continues </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words (SLNSW) is hosting a monthly reunion of their open-mic founded in the year 2000 and formerly held at the Ladera Center Magic Johnson Starbucks. The original team, co-hosts Sandra Laraine Coleman, Alice The Poet, MsTmusze and musical director X-Man are presenting a themed virtual event on the last Wednesday of each month. SLNSW's reunion began in February and will run through October 2021. Exact dates and more details are <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/slnsw-32660871845">available here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">The Virtual Definitive Soapbox (July Feature)</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One of many venues pivoting to the virtual world, The Definite Soapbox is presenting their next open-mic and featured spoken word artist Rhiannon McGavin online. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2091396407666553">Date & details are posted here</a>. MsTmusze plans to be 'in the building' for this one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Beats and Poems with BessKepp</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">BessKepp of A Mic and Dim Lights lands spots all over KSPC 88.7 radio's program schedule with his new show Beats and Poems. MsTmusze is celebrating & tuning in to Kepp's successful debut at the Claremont College based FM station which broadcasts chill instrumentals, progressive hip-hop and familiar voices from Southern Cali's spoken word community. <a href="https://kspc.org/listen/program-schedule/">Click here to catch BessKepp/ Beats and Poems on the air.</a></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">SLNSW's New Logo + New Graphic</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0dDN9dSo-gCgVerrqpbdzVyMJAk2MK_0Lm-PN8j1uVhrxSRPk4Mvb4YPprs6zIgyU0HaC95aPz8AOF5h9872xklYTvsdntzgklxDNciRPVtsv2RwS4BVNxiXI0PUKB-HskiBflERNzUh/s940/SLNSW+Logo+WHTTXT+onblk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="929" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0dDN9dSo-gCgVerrqpbdzVyMJAk2MK_0Lm-PN8j1uVhrxSRPk4Mvb4YPprs6zIgyU0HaC95aPz8AOF5h9872xklYTvsdntzgklxDNciRPVtsv2RwS4BVNxiXI0PUKB-HskiBflERNzUh/s320/SLNSW+Logo+WHTTXT+onblk.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words long time logo and the new one were intentionally designed by MsTmusze. Transitioning from the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/10583352@N07/2116528655/in/album-72157603476280972/">look</a> and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/10583352@N07/2117311026/in/album-72157603476280972/">meaning</a> of SLNSW's former artwork to the current brand (pictured above) was done with input & approval from the entire team as a nod to where their venue roots lay, Leimert Park Village. Beyond Leimert the place, Sandra, Alice, MsT & X also agreed the new logo should be a beacon for what they individually & collectively found there "an affirmation that our people and culture are safe, strong and free." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the new logo there is also a soon to be announced intentional SLNSW graphic design. Take a sneak <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/21-Safe-Strong-Free-by-SLNSW/78732622.IJ6L0">peek here</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SLNSWLLC">stay tuned</a> for the next event to learn more.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Drums Everywhere by Third World Press</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0ZcGozVX7F4reThIz4fheBoVeZiMluJ-juFqL3nu5aGOpCHJ1_3KjFJE1HsB1KQzq9s5K7OJcec1XwQjW1T47WC29vmh7Km2KSH1OSqzQspGs1hE3QQK71RmTqbLbEFZq5WlaRk5LPdX/s2048/20200619_201652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0ZcGozVX7F4reThIz4fheBoVeZiMluJ-juFqL3nu5aGOpCHJ1_3KjFJE1HsB1KQzq9s5K7OJcec1XwQjW1T47WC29vmh7Km2KSH1OSqzQspGs1hE3QQK71RmTqbLbEFZq5WlaRk5LPdX/s320/20200619_201652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">MsTmusze is one of many writers in the African Diaspora who answered the call for poetry released by Third World Press for their upcoming compilation Drums Everywhere, Volumes 1 & 2. As MsT awaits the fate of her submission, you can read below about MsT's works under consideration for publication: <i><b>Report, Two Poems In One & Pyro. </b></i></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></i></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Report</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a report about black people's full awareness of the paradox of our vulnerability when confronted with the need to call the police. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Two Poems in One</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a living tribute to the 1990s era Black Arts Movement in Los Angeles, as it was lived in Leimert Park Village, within the walls of the late Richard Fulton’s 5th Street Dicks coffeehouse/ community space/ performance venue/ intergenerational safe space for black folks. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Pyro</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a snippet of black rage. In and between its few lines is the threat of incineration of our black self, the life we think we should have and the life institutional racism thrusts upon us.</span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Virgos Write Now!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">MsTmusze will lead The Fighting Flowers Creative Writing Workshop: Virgos Write Now! - virtually, in September 2021. Virgo astrological traits: excellence, trust, kindness and love will be discussed as themes during an overview of the writing process experienced through fun, hands-on activities. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virgos-write-now-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-160329597141?aff=ebdsoporgprofile">Learn more and register here.</a></span></p></div>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-86224778916594538672021-03-25T23:11:00.005-07:002021-03-25T23:54:02.604-07:00A Move for Love - I Am As We Are: Africana Womanism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWj_qtfMANUKih1EZmAIz7Qn47dqgo81uuXPVzZveyLtpn3F2d3P6EtIpI6y3eqAv9oDQURqR1Z9wVLZOjpgIAoGnidDUmIHh_xxLv9Jb5U8T-RCH4FLeIB7La0k7aLS-y-Nx_3Y7gfBL/s2048/SLNSW+Banner+WHTTXT+onblk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="2048" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWj_qtfMANUKih1EZmAIz7Qn47dqgo81uuXPVzZveyLtpn3F2d3P6EtIpI6y3eqAv9oDQURqR1Z9wVLZOjpgIAoGnidDUmIHh_xxLv9Jb5U8T-RCH4FLeIB7La0k7aLS-y-Nx_3Y7gfBL/w640-h322/SLNSW+Banner+WHTTXT+onblk.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://clenorahudson.com/" style="text-align: left;">Clenora Hudson-Weems</a><span style="text-align: left;"> is the namer of Africana Womanism, a way of being for black women that is distinct from Feminism. In Africana Womanism, black women prioritize our family and our community's struggle against racism over our struggle for gender equity. If we're okay, I'm okay is Africana Womanists' attitude when we look at our men, children, extended family and ourselves. Per Hudson-Weems, Africana Womanists are part of a family-centered self-naming sisterhood she witnessed long before she named it. This sisterhood is the International Women's History Month Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words theme to be presented as poetry music and song by hosts Dr. Alice The Poet Nicholas, Sandra Laraine Coleman, MsTmusze, musical director Victor X-Man Taylor and open-mic guests on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 beginning at 7pm PST. </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spreading-love-n-spoken-words-speaking-africana-womanism-tickets-143004788171" style="text-align: left;">Click here for more information.</a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-56617334989910273712021-02-12T00:44:00.007-08:002021-02-27T10:17:50.032-08:00A Move for Love - Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words Reunion<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCJvLD8zfej_gGyIAV4tt-ZkVaaC-DdrriAHptnNnH-KSNvjfKIs7mJ0_aCMrslhZ5c8yygqrLgxs5VGdV5vSAuCWYXechKtZ62tS9ytYS1eEY8Xch7ahP_W71nJzaeiLCHeG8oomq-uX/s0/Adobe_Post_20210207_1302490.21931869136236415.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCJvLD8zfej_gGyIAV4tt-ZkVaaC-DdrriAHptnNnH-KSNvjfKIs7mJ0_aCMrslhZ5c8yygqrLgxs5VGdV5vSAuCWYXechKtZ62tS9ytYS1eEY8Xch7ahP_W71nJzaeiLCHeG8oomq-uX/w400-h400/Adobe_Post_20210207_1302490.21931869136236415.png" title="SLC, ATP, MST & X" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>It's 24 hours past the first event in the Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words Virtual Reunion. I am MsTmusze, one of the co-founders and hosts. I am home, where I've been most of the time during the pandemic, feeling all kinds of things about what transpired last night. The love. The pain. The energy. The joy. It was good to be together, even if on Zoom, once again on a Wednesday night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">21 years ago I would take a train and a bus, or drive, or ride with a friend for 22 miles from Long Beach to 5301 Centinela Avenue in Ladera Heights/ Inglewood. Every Wednesday night. For a decade. On my journey, I'd wonder about what would happen that night. Who would be there? Would they perform familiar poems or something brand new? Would someone sing? Would fellow venue hosts pop in?Would we have any first timers? I always loved that! Getting to help someone open the door to their soul for the first time, with all the care and encouragement that moment deserves, is great work if you can get it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Alice The Poet, X-Man and Sandra Laraine Coleman (otherwise known as SLLLLLLLC!) and I did that work together for many years. We hosted our open-mic inside of what was then Magic Johnson's Starbucks at first. Later we were out on patio. It was colder some nights, even with the heat lamps on, but the open unrestricted air space served everyone well. After a time, life came calling us individually away from the venue. Ron Deezy stepped in when it was time for X-man to answer. Charlene Green stepped up as we three ladies stepped away one by one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In 2021, we three and X-Man with Nikki Skies, Lynnae Smith, La Femme Creole, C-Bone Jones, Rob Morrow, Nikki Blak, Nadia Hunter-Bey, Charlene "Hustle Diva" Green, Darnell Johnson and Dana Chisolm have just had a virtual conversation about having a place to be, breathe, begin, expand, create, connect and return to called Spreading Love-N-Spoken Words. With some edits, what was shared will be posted as part of our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Spreading-Love-N-Spoken-Words-LLC-178058783781354">5 Day Virtual Reunion</a> next week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-87696479136597790932020-10-27T19:06:00.001-07:002020-10-28T09:36:51.390-07:00Graphic Move - 5 Masks, Characters and Clues in Fatizen: The Graphic Novel, Part Two<p>I interrupt your anti-covid mask wearing. </p><p>Below, are 5 masked characters I encountered in <b>Fatizen: The Graphic Novel, Part Two</b> by Long Beach, California's creative duo Mason Arrigo and Philip C. Barragan.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9EtqjAVZ0IIylGkAJqH1QAjZBz9lKGVcHEINnH4PX0XXXvj0Wofmwz-CzwO1VLs2ghIbaClHMa4EdZ6_awtdsBbtV0QlbDEGyHvRrJmQn19NPuwTbvIUPW0XVpvPLWZysSiGqvhfhFwI/s1080/20201025_2309310.968621873683684.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9EtqjAVZ0IIylGkAJqH1QAjZBz9lKGVcHEINnH4PX0XXXvj0Wofmwz-CzwO1VLs2ghIbaClHMa4EdZ6_awtdsBbtV0QlbDEGyHvRrJmQn19NPuwTbvIUPW0XVpvPLWZysSiGqvhfhFwI/w400-h400/20201025_2309310.968621873683684.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: Rushton, Esther, Fabio, Barnabus and Random Teen <br />presented with permission from <a href="https://www.embonpointpublishing.com/">Embonpoint Publishing</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Will they take your mind off our global pandemic? Maybe. Will their stories hit too close to home? Perhaps. They are profiled here in no particular order, with their names, roles, locations and memorable quotes detailed. I will also offer clues to their status as rebels or villains.</p><p></p><p><b>Rushton</b> - This guy. Rushton works for the Office of Size Compliance (OSC) in San Fernando, California. He is a Nurse Manager for their newly opened Good Neighbor Clinic offering world class bariatric treatment for all ages. Prior to attending the first of its kind surgery of a prominent nine year old citizen, Rushton says, "The beauty of this equipment is the seamless integration between the holo-server and the surgical arms." Clue: The look on his patient's face.</p><p><b>Random Teen</b> - Pronouns unknown. Among other masked thirteen year-olds, this random teen hangs out at the OSC's Everglades Fermentation Facility in Florida. Their gender and other identifying traits such as their voice, skin color or facial expression are obscured not only by their mask but a full bodysuit worn by all the teens in their section. No quote here. This teen is speechless. Even after 5 weeks with their peers. Clue: Their location.</p><p><b>Esther</b> - Let's go! Esther is her mother's daughter. She is also the mother of two adult children and a prisoner at OSC's Calorie Camp in San Diego, California. Despite her situation, Esther does not deal in the devil or confusion. Prepared to attack the enemy dangling her family's freedom and safety before her, Esther rebukes, "God has nothing to do with this." Clue: Her mask type.</p><p><b>Barnabus</b> - The one. The only. Dietary Guard Patrol (DPG) Trainer Barnabus is an essential worker of the OSC in an undisclosed facility in Florida. He is all about skin care, smoothies and smiles. Wearing PPE on the job is also very important to this trainer. When Barnabus notices a new hire working around machines and bodily fluids with their face and hair exposed, he is quick to remark, "Where the hell is yer face shield?" Clue: His level of glee.</p><p><b>Fabio</b> - In the cut. Fabio is a low key butcher for the last buffet in the underground of Las Vegas, Nevada. His work is lonely and creates a bloody mess. Fabio doesn't mind and gets it done. While the OSC has virtually outlawed his job, Fabio enjoys steady employment and occasional run ins with the girls of the underground. One evening he says a familiar, "Enjoy your dinner" to one as his well used blade drips beside him. Clue: His employer.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Rebels or Villains?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Who does Fabio work for? What kind of mask is Esther wearing and why? Is Barnabus' glee suspect? What connection could there be between the Random Teen and a fermentation facility? Can Rushton's character be judged by a single patient, let alone a child? So many questions and one book to help you decide. <b>Fatizen: The Graphic Novel, Part Two</b> is available <a href="https://www.amazon.com/FATIZEN-Graphic-Novel-Part-Two/dp/0578758164/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fatizen+the+graphic+novel+part+two&qid=1600355073&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here</a>. Today!</p>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-75124221653020151732020-10-25T17:29:00.001-07:002020-10-27T20:07:41.615-07:00New Move: Nodding With Watermelon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcz_fAjMpajSBtT8Lt0QXmVU9nXy6eu6MDL_-tZKXmyeEZEsw6o8AtZyFYfqNBha9pESgv1mS7w6MQQ32ms0c1qxSsYExDuj7pSabYEQtJ16aLXzY6YsLX4BkzWhbnUvoNWHQHWraI0ci/s2048/png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1324" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcz_fAjMpajSBtT8Lt0QXmVU9nXy6eu6MDL_-tZKXmyeEZEsw6o8AtZyFYfqNBha9pESgv1mS7w6MQQ32ms0c1qxSsYExDuj7pSabYEQtJ16aLXzY6YsLX4BkzWhbnUvoNWHQHWraI0ci/s640/png.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6, "Proxima Nova", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Segoe UI", "Nimbus Sans L", "Liberation Sans", "Open Sans", FreeSans, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: left;">Delicious</span> <span face="DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6, "Proxima Nova", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Segoe UI", "Nimbus Sans L", "Liberation Sans", "Open Sans", FreeSans, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: left;">© 2020 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6, "Proxima Nova", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "Segoe UI", "Nimbus Sans L", "Liberation Sans", "Open Sans", FreeSans, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.4px; text-align: left;">Designed by MsTmusze </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and watermelon go way back. Before anyone corrected me to say, "fill in the blank <i>and</i> I," I remember being little in a world where watermelon was huge. My family bought the oblong green skinned fruit from the supermarket or a man on the street with a piled high truck. I did not know how many pounds they weighed, but adults used two hands to hold them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw watermelon in my home, at the park and on the table at backyard barbecues. I ate it on hot summer days that did not cool down at night. The only utensil involved was the largest knife in the house. This was used to cut large mostly red wedges that children and adults held in their hands to eat. After my last bite, my mouth and chin would be wet and the fruit eaten down to the white and green rind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then there was the matter of the seeds. I do not remember seedless watermelon or anyone telling me what to do with the seeds that were there. I saw seeds on the ground. I must have spat some out but can't believe I did in front of my mom or aunts. Some were thin and an off white color. Most were black and seemed too many to count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watermelon was delicious. It still is. Between my early memories of it and now, I have read about and seen examples of racist stereotypes distorting the enjoyment of watermelon. The fruit and the act of eating it were used as a prop and trope to cast people of African-descent as <a href="https://www.cardcow.com/777326/evolution-coon-no-2-black-mans-head-reverting-watermelon-ethnic-americana/">ugly</a>, <a href="https://www.historyonthenet.com/authentichistory/diversity/african/3-coon/5-chickwatermelon/index.html">mock-worthy</a>, <a href="https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/question/2008/may.htm">lazy</a> <a href="https://www.cardcow.com/777326/evolution-coon-no-2-black-mans-head-reverting-watermelon-ethnic-americana/">objects</a>. Contrasting this, is the work ethic and agricultural skill of stolen people surviving in a strange land. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beyond survival, formerly enslaved Africans sowed the <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/popular-and-pervasive-stereotypes-african-americans">seeds of self-reliance</a>, financial success and pride with the watermelons they grew and sold in America after the Civil War. Watermelon was a real symbol of a thriving, freely determined future for African Americans repurposed by racists to create a fictional world where black inferiority and white supremacy exist indefinitely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In 2020, the real future of African Americans and the wish world of racists continue to be at odds. Delicious, shown above and available on MsT's <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55152485" target="_blank">Redbubble</a>, nods toward the struggle between the two. </div> <p></p>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-28286972758111790582020-07-28T12:34:00.001-07:002020-07-29T09:17:36.982-07:00Classic Move - Being Two Cool with Kershawn Ware <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhAPU7IPJPHBa2_mURsc80kCgxTkoOjG17RVSJoviRtp8JVgUOztCEbKgzli10_YRKFyjhyphenhyphenBPBZ3Du9rSse8Xor0QCoM6jl3v8aICBp80sviRil4KOxDRnpepxXwg5dST7i8u98R3nWvc/s1600/Screenshot_20190310-151111.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhAPU7IPJPHBa2_mURsc80kCgxTkoOjG17RVSJoviRtp8JVgUOztCEbKgzli10_YRKFyjhyphenhyphenBPBZ3Du9rSse8Xor0QCoM6jl3v8aICBp80sviRil4KOxDRnpepxXwg5dST7i8u98R3nWvc/s1600/Screenshot_20190310-151111.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kershawn Ware and MsTmusze on Downtown Long Beach rooftop. </td></tr>
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"You look like the billboard/ Blah da da da dah/ On I Fit In Boulevard," is the opening line to Cool, a song MsTmusze wrote and Kershawn Ware recorded that explores the social distance between looking and being cool. In 2019 Ware released a music video for Cool (embedded below) featuring her performing her recorded version of the song, a cameo appearance by MsT, the downtown Long Beach skyline, Fingerprints Music store and direction by Protius James.</div>
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About the song Cool, MsT says, "Cool came to me while I was working at LACMA after seeing Sheila E. perform with her father Pete Escovedo and their family band on my lunch break. How cool was that?! Astronomically and to date one of the coolest things that has happened to me. Still, I wondered whether the experience felt that way for everyone else. I made a point to observe the scene of it all: the cars passing on Wilshire Boulevard and Chris Burden's Urban Light sculpture in the background, the buzzing crowd of standing and seated people of all ages stretched from the front of the stage to the grassy picnic area further back, other guests walking through the crowd from one building's art galleries to another, the security guards on their posts and the drinks being sold at Ray's and Stark bar. From my vantage on the Ahmanson building's patio, I allowed my mind to consider the scene I saw below, other scenes I've been part of and the concept of scenes in general which resulted in my writing the lyrics to Cool."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kershawn Ware, MsTmusze on Downtown Long Beach rooftop during Cool video shoot.</td></tr>
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Kershawn Ware is a rapper and jazz vocalist MsT came to know through frequenting the long standing Griot Cafe open-mic presented by Shades of Afrika at its former 3rd street and current 4th street locations in downtown Long Beach. Of collaborating with Ware on Cool MsT says,"I was excited to learn Kershawn (one of my favorite emcees, singers and writers) was interested in recording Cool and releasing a music video for it. There are times I have felt born in the wrong place or time as far as being among fellow artists of a certain era. With Kershawn, I know we were meant to know each other here and now, to inspire each other's art and be a bridge between what has been and what is coming. Her take on Cool is clever, sophisticated, playful and confident - all of the characteristics I love about her solo work and am thrilled to have come through for something I wrote." </div>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-18337768537645740512020-06-29T19:06:00.000-07:002020-06-29T19:06:09.412-07:00New Move: MsT Pens Post Civil Harassment Shrug<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSaB9i_-gjeX4MbKtox-MCbXoFNjw1uTSIebh62er-kzDGXN6vSi5EW-XpmEk44G6sq7TjRAjESOBcblWidoin_yJDZQbjv-e0PslQ8mFs22OTt8qRu420eHc-ADfh0NDiSJTcdGCiIsE/s1600/Force.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSaB9i_-gjeX4MbKtox-MCbXoFNjw1uTSIebh62er-kzDGXN6vSi5EW-XpmEk44G6sq7TjRAjESOBcblWidoin_yJDZQbjv-e0PslQ8mFs22OTt8qRu420eHc-ADfh0NDiSJTcdGCiIsE/s320/Force.png" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Force by MsTmusze<br />Copyright 2020<br />(Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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Force is a new poem and part of a collection in progress called Shrug by MsTmusze in which she confronts her own experience living as a victim of civil harassment. Force depicts the frustration of attempting to communicate the right words to trigger police to understand and intervene in a then escalating situation that endangered her life in 2019.</div>
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About her poem Force and current calls to defund the police in 2020 MsT says, "Our current world and the one being demanded by those who want to defund the police are not ready for the complex safety needs of the people." One complexity MsT faced was the distinction in the law between civil harassment, which occurs between unrelated people and domestic violence involving people known to each other and often living together. Another was the law rendering the actions of someone deemed psychotic as non-crimes and people endangered by those non-crimes, non-victims.</div>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-55237106781925030512020-05-17T21:33:00.000-07:002020-05-20T15:46:20.026-07:00New Move - Modern Day Ediths<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WJG3yDXL7QNi5Y_GfDFNPmU-04jIDhxUvlIgEbgPQ23tjNTKQWBgdg-Xw-hK0WyhTRXRyxenQA_77T88f7WHB2nCnvGjW5soR_s6cZMLlf96YI0FgN2VdDC2PadLXetcM0GCke02RFIy/s1600/Edith+to+Now.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1035" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WJG3yDXL7QNi5Y_GfDFNPmU-04jIDhxUvlIgEbgPQ23tjNTKQWBgdg-Xw-hK0WyhTRXRyxenQA_77T88f7WHB2nCnvGjW5soR_s6cZMLlf96YI0FgN2VdDC2PadLXetcM0GCke02RFIy/s320/Edith+to+Now.png" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
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Edith to Now<br />
Copyright 2020<br />
MsTmusze</td></tr>
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Before Jean Stapleton was cast as Edith on All in The Family, a real girl named Edith was brought to California. She was 12 years old and purchased in Missouri before entering California with a man from Tennessee. She was black. The man was white. It was known she was his slave.<br />
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In 1864, Edith and her owner came to the attention of a former slave named Daniel Blue. Daniel was profiled recently as part of Gold Chains, The Hidden History of Slavery in California project linked below. California had been a free state for 15 years when Daniel went to a county court to legally win Edith's freedom.<br />
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The Gold Chains project reports this as the last known case of slavery in California. Working with Here and Now: African Diaspora Trivia, I began to write a question suggesting this as well. When my text looked back at me, my spirit dropped. When I re-read what Edith experienced, my sadness deepened.<br />
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A good friend shared that their young cousin recently escaped from being kidnapped, abused and held against her will. We discussed this in California, in 2020. There is one person between me and a former slave. Her enslavement was not 400 years ago or in the deep south. It was a few months back and in the state I live in.<br />
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The 1864 Edith was a visibly abused and neglected slave. Modern Day Ediths are just as abused and neglected but invisibly enslaved in modern neighborhoods. After being kidnapped, my friend's cousin was physically abused, threatened, prevented from going outside, forced to close her social media accounts, turn off and give up her phone, have a hair weave installed and take suggestive pictures.<br />
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When she escaped, it was into a nice southern California community. After knocking and crying at the front door of several homes, someone opened theirs and let her use their phone. She called her family and was soon picked up. Days later, she was out of state recuperating. I do not believe the police were called or that those who enslaved her were white.<br />
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<a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11818409/how-the-founder-of-californias-first-black-church-fought-its-last-known-slavery-case">Gold Chains Article</a><br />
<a href="https://oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking">Human Trafficking Information</a><br />
<br />mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-5484595817204218892020-05-11T22:39:00.000-07:002020-05-11T23:04:09.557-07:00Classic Move: Pre-Pandemic Pondering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Heads Missing was penned and recorded by MsTmusze as an exploration of invisibility and fear. In her poem set to music she produced, her words place the listener in a scene with an invisible enemy that erases people except for their hair. Different types of hair are found in places people would normally have been. MsT's words begins as an urgent eye-witnessing that concludes with a resolved call for action. Below are an excerpt and audio link to this pre-covid pandemic work.<br />
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Side to side and<br />
front to back<br />
Look around<br />
we under attack<br />
Nobody round<br />
No, not a soul<br />
Just headless hair and<br />
wind that blows</blockquote>
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Heads Missing Excerpt<br />
Copyright 2020<br />
MsTmusze</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.musicxray.com/xrays/443032">Heads Missing Audio Link</a></blockquote>
mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-51841568640958721622020-05-10T15:47:00.000-07:002020-05-10T15:47:56.155-07:00New Move - Celebrating 10 Mothers of Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdMJj46N8rTmCqYH1vKXhANpGOUu8U_726B9rWhTDpBed-zlTvRIDb55QyaQ_nKEEnwGdXkv0Nv1cA_utUIUX9QinRt0yrdpNO5aOaZ0USo7aDGWm1hCBf4Plrf4FC4gDvIXIT3aB76Ve/s1600/Mothers+pre+title+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdMJj46N8rTmCqYH1vKXhANpGOUu8U_726B9rWhTDpBed-zlTvRIDb55QyaQ_nKEEnwGdXkv0Nv1cA_utUIUX9QinRt0yrdpNO5aOaZ0USo7aDGWm1hCBf4Plrf4FC4gDvIXIT3aB76Ve/s320/Mothers+pre+title+%25281%2529.png" width="247" /></a></div>
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To celebrate 10 Mothers of Inspiration soon to be included in the <a href="https://africandiasporatrivia.com/">Here and Now: African Diaspora Trivia</a> app, MsTmusze created the collection of slides below. View each slide to explore their names, origins and inspirational highlights. You can also click Learn More as you discover their questions while playing the app!<br />
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-79632725170596764282020-04-10T15:28:00.000-07:002020-04-10T15:37:19.786-07:00New Move: Love, the Good and Corona<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94k0yDSJ_r6y4DXvt7sySQrCbZ2RvbGMIxWq2k-9R0xSIAAH8eMPx4riIhAWAOa6buUg6pUIJAj_AQilJ-zT9rL_gWfRPPh0Cu_sN7cKNqSv7raPexgf3WRa5WQtEIbL7qIvJuPBBmqD8/s1600/My+Post+%25287%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94k0yDSJ_r6y4DXvt7sySQrCbZ2RvbGMIxWq2k-9R0xSIAAH8eMPx4riIhAWAOa6buUg6pUIJAj_AQilJ-zT9rL_gWfRPPh0Cu_sN7cKNqSv7raPexgf3WRa5WQtEIbL7qIvJuPBBmqD8/s320/My+Post+%25287%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascade, the first word in MsTmusze's poem Pause and Hum.</td></tr>
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Cascade was the first word that came to mind when writing Pause and Hum. The poem came to me as many do. It was an interruption of other thoughts by a string of braided words and feelings. I was in love. My partner stirred something that caused me to reflect on what lovers share. I began writing and enjoyed knowing the poem skewed away from heartache, pain and all that is awful between people. Poets can break your heart with their knack for bleeding on the page or mic. Poetry audiences can hunger for the trauma too. Given a choice between poems about to be performed, they often call out for the one they think will express a hurt they can relate to. I am not exempt. I have created and requested my share of work inspired by things gone wrong.<br />
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Pause and Hum came from experiencing the good. My own with the collective love lives of couples I know informed every line. When I read it now, it makes me want to walk up behind my partner and give him a huge hug or smile genuinely as if I'm seeing pda on a Sunday afternoon. Thinking about COVID's impact on relationships gives this poem new meaning. Significant others in love pre-corona are likely in love now. That some are isolating themselves within their own homes to protect their partners is hard to know. It is also a testament to good feelings they have shared, are sharing now and want to keep sharing together.<br />
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About the last word. Those who love love and the good despite corona, will get it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collage of poem Pause and Hum by MsTmusze.</td></tr>
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<br />mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-38300369902970710652020-03-26T01:11:00.000-07:002020-03-26T01:22:47.469-07:00New Move: MsT "Went" Outside <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday, March 24th, MsT attended the virtual open-mic Say That Sis! hosted on Zoom by The Restoration of Orange author Sheikess Nadia Hunter Bey. From Washington D.C. Bey welcomed nearly a dozen women including many fellow Moorish sheikesses with warm greetings and a poem titled Clash from her book pictured below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">MsT enjoyed getting outside of her corona related self-containment to join women and writers across the United States. What stood out to her was, "the collected beauty and joy of our being isolated yet gathered together. Indoors in Long Beach, California under ongoing stay at home orders from our mayor and governor it was truly wonderful to see the faces of sisters around our country radiate hopefulness and determination to stay connected with each other. Hearing and sharing poetry with them was an experience I will always remember." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Among works MsT heard recited by women in the group besides Shiekess Nadia, there was a poem about being whole before being diminished by another person's presence and an uplifting piece written by a male Moorish poet composed as a guide for a joy filled life. To these works MsT offered a poem she wrote in 2015 titled Two Feet. Originally penned for the grand opening of The Brass Lamp in downtown Long Beach, the opening line, "Take me outside" and those that follow have taken on new meaning.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Front cover of The Restoration of Orange poetry book written by Sheikess Nadia Hunter Bey</span></td></tr>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-71106436822277279042020-03-25T23:56:00.000-07:002020-03-25T23:56:36.595-07:00New Move - MsT Works with The African Diaspora<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MsT near the flowing fountain in her artistic home Leimert Park</td></tr>
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MsTmusze is partnered with Olamz, LLC in the roll out of <a href="https://africandiasporatrivia.com/">Here and Now: African Diaspora Trivia</a>, the gaming app now available on iOS and Android devices. In this role, she is a contributor of questions and answers reflecting the diaspora's people and experiences. MsT leverages her skill with words, critical thinking and research to Olamz. She also consults with the graphic designer and developer on the app's look and functionality.<br />
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About her involvement with the app MsT says, "I am honored to be at the <a href="https://olamz.com/">Olamz</a> team table launching a world wide platform. We are highlighting people of African descent and their lives including experiences with non-African people and places not typically associated with the diaspora. Here and Now - Through All Time and Around The World are all phrases that came to my mind soon after I began working on this. They guide my view of the diaspora and my method for creating content for our players."<br />
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MsT feels great joy in having a hand in letting people get their trivia on around the globe. In her words the bonus is, "The app is brand new and an awesome way to affirm the diaspora's contributions to life on planet earth."<br />
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<br />mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-9938008225601412992020-03-20T20:03:00.000-07:002020-03-20T20:35:30.802-07:00New Move - Women Write Now! - Creative Writing Workshop Ready for Corona and Zoom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yokkaichi book collection in the Miller Room at Billie Jean King Main Library in Long Beach, CA</td></tr>
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The closure of Billie Jean King Library due to efforts to control coronavirus has gifted MsT the chance to offer her <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-write-now-creative-writing-for-adults-tickets-97668811043">Women Write Now! - Creative Writing for Adults online</a>. While she wishes she could have included books at the library, including one from the Yokkaichi collection pictured above, MsT looks forward to highlighting real and imagined women in their own words between the pages of books she owns.<br />
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Leading Women Write Now! online will be a first for MsT but one she is glad to have the option to experience. About this MsT says, "Using Zoom to beat the gloom of having normal life upended while celebrating women and writing gives me purpose and a reason to smile. While the internet and electricity continue to function normally, I like many others will adapt. My workshops are meant to happen face-to-face but this is a time to make do with alternatives."</div>
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Women Write Now! is the next workshop in The Fighting Flowers writing series created by MsT. People interested in writing no matter their experience level are welcome. During each workshop attendees engage in fun, informative, hands-on activities that provide an overview of the writing process.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of MsT in photobook gifted to her by an attendee of her workshop Black Write Now! </td></tr>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-55313704249802335812020-03-08T10:28:00.002-07:002020-03-08T12:29:41.802-07:00New Move - 2 and 2, MsT Pops Up and Performs Twice in Same Night<br />
MsT popped up and performed at <a href="https://madebymillworks.com/blogs/elinor-events/we-can-do-it-open-mic-march?_pos=3&_sid=fbf41fc37&_ss=r">We Can Do It</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/offthedome_lb/">Off The Dome</a> open-mic venues in Long Beach Thursday night March 5th 2020. At We Can Do It, she was the first performer and delivered her well received tribute to jazz music I Like To Hear Myself Speak. At Off The Dome, she went on stage closer to the end of the night and offered Best of The Lioness, her tribute to fellow women artists meant to be performed collectively by all women in the room. The Soundcloud player embedded below features MsT's a capella recordings of these works, another called Soul Suckers and a digital music track 12V produced by MsT<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/884598268&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br /></div>
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About performing and the works she shared, MsT says, "I don't think I've been on a mic in 2 years. These performances happened rather organically. I keep my eye on Elinor/ MADE as my friends work there and host many great events including the 100th birthday party for the bar's namesake. I learned about Gamboa Theater's Off The Dome in a conversation sparked by my asking about the graphic novel a juice bar counter person was reading between orders. Later I noticed Elinor's We Can Do It was happening on the same night after being rescheduled due to the election. Since I was already thinking of going out, I decided I would try to get to both events.<br />
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Performing was a possibility. I do that from time to time and these are open-mics. At Elinor some time ago, I met the person who actually built the stage and have wanted to do something on it ever since. Still, I was undecided right up until I was presented with the sign up sheet by the host of We Can Do It. The room's lighting, her hair and dress, her make up and the tone of her voice made me feel like I was being offered an appointment to be fitted for angel's wings. I picked the first slot and let the audience pick between jazz and love, subjects to two signature works I have practiced and delivered many times.<br />
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They chose jazz and I began. I wrote and recorded I Like to Hear Myself Speak after the listening to jazz for the first time in a long time. At Off The Dome, already in full swing when I arrived, I sought out the list and decided to offer Best of The Lioness. This is a work I wrote inspired by the legacy of women writers and performers I find myself part of. I celebrate those who have come before, live right now and are coming after us by calling women within the sound of my voice to perform this work together.<br />
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Visiting both venues for the first time on the same night brought me much joy. No matter how seasoned a performer, it can be a vulnerable experience to get in front of people who don't know you, particularly if you are sharing original work. In both spaces, there was a great sense of everyone being welcomed, encouraged and respected that was regularly reinforced throughout the events by the hosts of each. That We Can Do It included live painting and Off The Dome held a cipher session made each venue distinct and increased the level of creativity experienced by performers and audience members alike.<br />
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I feel most like performing and creating new work after being in environments like these."<br />
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-72829751657529125902020-03-04T07:42:00.000-08:002020-03-04T07:50:02.791-08:00New Move: March Writing Workshops Feature Stories about Women and Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNr2resbc9gM5K1imO8kqg3u1qH9G4DkxVaVsclZ4BZHraMF3kb0byMm2PMxPOI1AqeTngghdIPCnF8Al9ISyk2ddBtxjwa9cvvSCDm0dJDt5NY_grzgnAs63W-1jO1LXKmbj2-WA2D9/s1600/Women+Write+Now%2521++.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDNr2resbc9gM5K1imO8kqg3u1qH9G4DkxVaVsclZ4BZHraMF3kb0byMm2PMxPOI1AqeTngghdIPCnF8Al9ISyk2ddBtxjwa9cvvSCDm0dJDt5NY_grzgnAs63W-1jO1LXKmbj2-WA2D9/s320/Women+Write+Now%2521++.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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This March, The Fighting Flowers <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mstmusze-works-6690374069">creative writing workshops</a> feature a selection of writing about real and imagined women and girls. Titled Women Write Now! - and, Girls Write Now! - they give people interested in writing an overview of the process during fun, informative, hands-on activities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVeQogtkgdyPFw3J6VzvRjKKBMGHmXDMONdSeful2osBNHF8LKr7vSCzQipga2KY6DlidzJRXRDYY0H_inb-oPmhYIE-EYx2EqG0C9oqjNWMoeYRsukq30TkzXq3yA2rZxsF3g6oBcKhc/s1600/delilah+%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVeQogtkgdyPFw3J6VzvRjKKBMGHmXDMONdSeful2osBNHF8LKr7vSCzQipga2KY6DlidzJRXRDYY0H_inb-oPmhYIE-EYx2EqG0C9oqjNWMoeYRsukq30TkzXq3yA2rZxsF3g6oBcKhc/s320/delilah+%25282%2529.PNG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delilah of Fatizen, Illustrated by Mason Arrigo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1vRTko_km1MbRDd7fJIxZVYwLxGU0PbIv2NisRVVP7NR6WiNJIa6J7brfgYWlqjPEoWzNseRdNfIBRdPZ39u8nTGLARYnvjrvd0w4wznxLFCmmwsRERjnqYHJje-JXlPntfwAJvo4J4F/s1600/mira+%25283%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1vRTko_km1MbRDd7fJIxZVYwLxGU0PbIv2NisRVVP7NR6WiNJIa6J7brfgYWlqjPEoWzNseRdNfIBRdPZ39u8nTGLARYnvjrvd0w4wznxLFCmmwsRERjnqYHJje-JXlPntfwAJvo4J4F/s320/mira+%25283%2529.PNG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mira of Fish Girl, Illustrated by Donna Jo Napoli</td></tr>
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In observation of Women's History Month, workshop attendees are introduced to the young mermaid Mira and plus-sized wife/ mother/ revolutionary Delilah of graphic novels Fish Girl and Fatizen. These fictional characters and their stories are considered in an activity encouraging writers to read the varied works of other writers.<br />
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Writers of all experience levels are welcome to attend. The workshops are led by MsTmusze and offered at the Billie Jean King Main Library in downtown Long Beach.<br />
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<br />mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-8821044712513978852020-02-21T19:07:00.001-08:002020-02-24T14:25:28.587-08:00New Move: Standing Still for PAFF Co-Founder Janet DuBoisIt didn't occur to me until this post that there were two actresses on Good Times named Janet. During the sitcom's run, I was a kid who saw Penny as a girl just like me, who just so happened to be Michael Jackson's baby sister. I thought of Janet DuBois as simply Willona, a combination of all the women I knew and loved: the independent, fashion on any budget, direct communicators with big hearts- who were funny and knew how to laugh. Jokes aside, her work with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8uyqlmpFRv/">Janet Jackson</a> to portray child abuse intervention and recovery for victims remains one of the strongest and thoughtfully executed performances to date on the topic.<br />
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As an adult, I came to know DuBois' career spanned pre and post Good Times. I did not know she was a <a href="https://www.paff.org/about-us/">Pan African Film Festival/ PAFF</a> co-founder. Performing spoken word at PAFF was one of my first major gigs. I auditioned, was booked, rehearsed and performed in front of the largest audience I had experienced before that time. It was a whirlwind opportunity that led to many others including returning to PAFF as a children's program volunteer. To learn this cultural institution's co-founder was someone who brightened my imagined and real life, deepens my gratitude as I stand still in reflection of the life of <a href="http://www.janetdubois.com/Janet_Dubois_Story_1.html">Janet DuBois</a>.<br />
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~ MsTmusze</div>
<br />mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-39508276633551778302020-02-20T13:59:00.000-08:002020-02-27T09:45:00.275-08:00New Move: EZ Thoughts, MsTmusze on New Orleans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MsT's beads spelling EZ on a pillow at home in Cali.</td></tr>
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My name would have been Batiste. I was a junior self-transferred to a magnet high school out of my area desperate for something more than what my assigned campus had to offer. In one of my classes, a male classmate dressed (and groomed himself and smelled good) and smiled in ways I was totally unaccustomed to. He was confident, stylish and intentional. His last name was Batiste and he was my high school sweetheart thru college fiance. My first invitation to New Orleans was to meet his family.<br />
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Like most young loves, it was just for a time. Long after and back in California, I with the world was shook by Hurricane Katrina. A sing-songwriter's family was evacuated to different places throughout the country. Keilla landed in Long Beach where she was hired to work part-time by <a href="https://shadesofafrika.com/">Shades of Afrika</a>. We hit it off and I booked her to perform at an event I produced called <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSNFbfg4dPQLq1fjdvwa5zovvGfIl-2CCEUR4V2IiwDHLtUUKZ6k2bQ-ZGiMklTVclOFaHbtFQxFN6r/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000">Souls in Hand</a>. We became friends who wrote songs together over seafood pasta, home made pralines and first hand stories about Treme, Algiers, second lines and Mardi Gras Indians.<br />
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Keilla was always homesick. Eventually, she got to a point where she needed to go home. She took me with her. We drove cross country and I wrote so many lyrics. I was inspired by her, our trip and my being an eye-witness to the city's people and culture. I too was home. The flamboyant architecture, savory language, heightened couture, fierce regional identity and ever-happening cultural life all spoke to and moved me. We often crossed the Mississippi river by ferry. The dock, not far from a building where slaves were sold, was where my working American, Afro-Indigenous, woman and human identities were deepened.<br />
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While there this month, I caught Mardi Gras beads handed to me by Backstreet Cultural Museum's chief photographer and historian Sylvester Francis, had a romantic fire-pit lit oyster dinner at <a href="https://neyows.com/">Neyow's Creole Cafe</a>, performed at the Second Line Lounge with Queen Keilla and her band and saw Haitian musical powerhouse <a href="https://lakoumizik.com/">Lakou Mizik</a> debut songs from their HAITINOLA album live at the Maple Leaf Bar. My hotel was down the street from murals of queen diva Big Freedia and a bigger than life sized $20 bill featuring Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman. Bonus for me: my partner bought us beignets from Cafe Du Monde at 4 in the morning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Clockwise from the top: Sculptor Sheleen Jones-Adenle's tribute to Mardi Gras Indian "Chief Tootie Montana," MsT holding Mardi Gras beads "caught" at Backstreet Cultural Center in New Orleans up to the sky in Long Beach, MsT standing in New Orleans Municipal Theater archway under the word Poetry, Desk of MsT's partner returned to work in Cali post trip to NOLA, Friends Queen Keilla and MsT after Second Lounge Performance and the mic on the Maple Leaf Bar's stage</span></td></tr>
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Though I am a Cali native, I remain drawn home to New Orleans. How do I equate a state with a city? It is more a sameness in states of being. I find it easy to be in both places.<br />
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Back home, I made it to the <a href="https://madebymillworks.com/blogs/elinor-events/hepcat-rent-party-sunday-jazz-series">Hepcat Rent Party Live Jazz Series at Elinor/ MADE</a> featuring my friends in music and life Dave Williams and Brendan Vasquez. I am leading Jazz Write Now! and Black Write Now!, 2 of the 3 <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mstmusze-works-6690374069">creative writing workshops</a> soon happening at Billie Jean King Main Library. My teenage nephew showed me his dog and moonshine still on a new frontier adventure game he's playing. I toured a new visual art, live music venue, bar, special events and community meeting space WITH PARKING opening in the Zaferia District. I had Hole Mole's cheese enchiladas one day. On another, my mom randomly brought me a 2 piece fried chicken order from Popeye's.mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-26564441996819458032020-02-19T09:39:00.000-08:002020-02-24T14:38:32.841-08:00New Move: Long Beach Lit Fires Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LBLAC Women Who Submit Event</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.lbliteraryarts.com/about" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long Beach Literary Arts Center</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (LBLAC) is blazing hot in its mission to uplift the literary art and artists in our city. In their new logo, they pay tribute to the former Acres of Books. In their work, they push writers to get off their keyboards and submit. They also rally around o.g. storytelling, one voice at a time surrounded by eager listening ears. </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-869e130f-7fff-1413-a47d-9d8c971f4d42"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">True to their burning interest in all things lit in Long Beach, LBLAC co-founder </span><a href="https://www.lbliteraryarts.com/board-members" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Desiree Kannel </span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will be on hand for the launch of MsT’s creative writing series: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mstmusze-works-6690374069">The Fighting Flowers</a> at Billie Jean King Main Library. About LBLAC's work and their interest in her series MsT said, "Where were they when I was in college hosting poetry readings in my living room? Today, I am so excited writers and people interested in the literary arts have this local source of support and information. The interest between LBLAC and I is mutual. I look forward to stoking literary flames with them."</span></span></div>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-86504712965047445432020-02-18T23:36:00.001-08:002020-02-24T14:41:31.821-08:00New Move - LB Library Offers Teens a Full Day of Creative Writing Workshops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Billie Jean King Main Library will host 3, count them, 3 creative writing workshops for teens Saturday, February 22nd scheduled as follows:<br />
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Poetry Workshop for Teens Applying to be <a href="https://artslb.org/youth-poet-laureate/">Long Beach's 1st Youth Poet Laureate</a></div>
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1:30 pm </div>
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<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-write-now-creative-writing-for-young-adults-tickets-91080124103">Jazz Write Now!</a> - Creative Writing for Young Adults 18 - 24</div>
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3:30 pm</div>
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<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-write-now-creative-writing-workshop-for-teens-tickets-93214800979?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">Black Write Now!</a> - Creative Writing for Teens 14 - 17</div>
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mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3622771002204970231.post-24013481625868760832020-02-17T12:55:00.000-08:002020-02-17T12:59:00.693-08:00New Move: The Fighting Flowers at Main Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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MsTmusze is partnering with Joshua Sanchez to offer The Fighting Flowers at the Long Beach main library branch, Billie Jean King. Joshua is the library's Family Learning Center Coordinator. The Fighting Flowers is a creative writing series created and led by MsT for library patrons and visitors.<br />
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The first workshops in the series: Jazz Write Now! and Black Write Now! happen Saturday, February 22nd starting at 1:30 pm. Eventbrite registration and details are linked below.<br />
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<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mstmusze-works-6690374069">https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mstmusze-works-6690374069</a>mstmusze@yahoo.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06736952860463953588noreply@blogger.com0