U People Episode #49 “Just So Presidential”

Hanifah Walidah and Liza Jessie Peterson sit down on a previously recorded U People to talk about this political life. Just in time for THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION in our lifetimes.

Rachel Maddow Interviews Obama

Rachel Maddow of MSNBC interviews Barack Obama as we have just a few days to go until election day. In the interview they discuss about the GOP accusations of socialism, compare the present day GOP as oppose to the traditional values of Republicans, Afghanistan and rebuilding the nations infrastructure. Good Stuff and of course we love Rachel who confesses she wears sneakers underneath her desk when on air to remind herself who she is.

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PART 2

U People NO ON PROP 8 PSA

Most of you have heard about Prop 8, but for those who are not aware, there is a proposition in California that is up for a vote that will essentially revoke the recent law passed that legalized gay marriage in California. It would be a huge step backwards.

Below is a PSA video directed and produced by Olive Demetrius of U People starring, herself, Gloria Bigelow and Dumeha Thompson that makes the case in a short and sweet way.

Download the video and spread its message here.

For more information about Prop 8 visit www.jordanrustincoalition.org or www.noonprop8.com

Tonya TKO Goes Gay: shouts out iloveupeople.com

Ok, so I was fishing through some more of Tonya TKOs videos because I am a new fan and found a recent episode where she gives mad props to iloveupeople.com. She has scheduled a live show to talk about gay issues though she admittedly is ignorant, yet open to understanding where our worlds bridge. This woman and sites like iloveupeople.com are a shining example of how heterosexuals and homosexuals can build and cross bridges to one another; in particularly in the Black and of color communities. How when educated, people begin to understand that it all doesn’t have to be that deep or that serious. I applaud you Tonya TKO for being such a genuine and loving voice. And for the last few videos darling you have truly been displaying your more butchy side, though still maintaining that underlining femme. What a sweet combination. I am a happily committed woman but Tonya i think I have a small crush on ya.

Let me put this out now Ms. TKO, iLoveUpeople in many ways share your own mission of showing a genuine and progressive voice for “those people” however defined. I invite you to truly browse the site and we would love to have you on Olive and my podcast some day soon since you are just a couple of boroughs away in Harlem; we are in Brooklyn.

Check out Tonya TKOs new video that shouts out iloveUPeople.com below and another video I found where she dresses in drag, in criticism of Chris Stokes, and pulls it off true to form. Mmwah lady, keep doing your thing.

Tonya TKO shouts out iloveupeople.com

Tonya dresses in drag!

- Souloperator
Note: for some reason Ahhluv and not my signature is not popping up when I post, so until we fix the issue I will sign below.

I like it: El Debarge busted for smoking crack

Bossip Reports: El Debarge was caught with Rocks again:

The “original” falsetto king El DeBarge is serving time behind bars following an encounter with police in Los Angeles. According to reports, the former DeBarge frontman was charged with possession of a controlled substance, after he was arrested on Monday the 27th of this month. The incident marks another setback for DeBarge, born Patrick Eldra DeBarge, who was arrested and jailed earlier this month after two warrants for his arrest were discovered by authorities. The singer was charged with several offenses last year, including vandalism, drugs and domestic violence.

El Debarge has been smoking rocks since the early 80’s while pimping and slappin ho’s. The 47yr old still hangs out in Compton hoods performing with DJ Quick, and we knew this was imminent. This explains one of his greatest songs, I Like It.

Michelle Obama on Leno: A tall glass of class

Michelle Obama recently appeared on Leno. She is such a delight.She talks about where Obama gets his strength from and his debating skills.

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MC Yogi: Great Obama Music Video

I was forwarded a music video by independent rapper MC Yogi that is beautifully done. It is an anthem of sorts that give voice to a changing nation. I love the writing, though MC Yogi’s flow is a bit simple. But the message out weighs the messenger. And that we have 9 more days to go!

None On Record: Waafrika! (an original audio play)

In this week’s None on Record podcast we listen to Nick Mwaluko’s play WAAFRIKA (Part 1).

WAAFRIKA is set in a Kenyan village where Awino, the favorite daughter of a local tribal chief named Odhiambo, has left her home and gone to live with Bobby, a white woman and former Peace Corps volunteer who has decided to stay on in Kenya. Bobby is an out, and outspoken, lesbian; she wants Awino to embrace her new found sexual identity with vigor and pride. But Awino knows that while Bobby is buffered from the facts of African life by her American sense of privilege, such a step is fraught with peril. Homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty.

Playwright: Nick Mwaluko
letters@noneonrecord.com

Two women — one white, one black — fight to survive in a place where being gay is punishable by death. Written by African playwright Nick Mwaluko, Waafrika brings us into a frightening terrain giving a deeper dimension to the international struggle for lesbian and gay civil rights, as well as our world and ourselves.

WAAFRIKA

CAST OF CHARACTERS

AWINO: A Kenyan woman of extremely dark complexion; early twenties A boyish woman with a husky voice who often passes for a man. She wears army boots, men’s trousers, a man’s undershirt and a large over shirt to hide her small breasts. Her head is bald. She often wears a baseball cap.

BOBBY: A white American woman in her thirties. She is canonically attractive according to western feminine aesthetics and mannerisms. Feminine, delicate, petite, and ultra-sensitive yet tough against what she believes to be social injustice, particularly against marginalized communities.

CHIEF ODHIAMBO: A heavy-set Kenyan man in his late forties. He is stern in appearance and reverential in manner. He wears traditional clothes befitting his honored status as Chief. His clothes are brightly colored with lavish embroidery put together by fine gold thread. He walks majestically on stage with a staff-like wooden cane or walking stick in hand.

MAMA MUGABE: Chief’s second wife

MAMA OPIO: Chief’s fourth and youngest wife

Recorded in New York City

Photo Credit: Zanele Muholi
Photo Credit: Sulai Lopez (Nick Portraits)

Here is the cast of WAAFRIKA:

Zainab Jah (Awino)
Amanda Boekelheide (Bobby)
Ahmat Jallo (Chief)
Jennifer J. Joseph (Mama Mugabe)
Ebony JoAnn (Mama Opio)

U People Episode #48 “Get Me Bodied”

Olive meets up with one of the stars of the music video shoot “Make a Move” and resulting film U People Ayesha Harris. She is a a full time personal trainer with her own company AEFit. Watch as she imparts some much needed tips to U People.

Obama’s talk fashion on a budget (too cute)

Ok, I’m just in from a gig where I have worn the same pants 3 times within a week; to the point where the funk in the Brooklyn Funk Essentials is real. So I found myself relating to Barack Obama in a new way; he too does not like to shop. In this video the Obama’s talk fashion with their daughters to which they show more of their fashion for the love of one another than what they are wearing.

On the other side of the country there is Sarah Palin. Its reported that the GOP invested 150,000 dollars in Sarah Palin’s wardrobe. Read full story and pics here.

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