Ota Benga was literal "human zoo"

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I know what's it like being a human zoo. Having lived in Mexico, it is an unreal - and irritating - experience to be daily remarked at and literally pointed at in public. Look, a blacky! You'd think I was eight feet tall or an other worldly visitor to the deep primitive jungle. Maybe I was.


 But a 'walking zoo' that had it world's worse than me was the African "missing link" Ota Benga whose degradition, incidentally, also came in North America. And, yes, he actually lived at the Brooklyn Zoo! It is one thing to be awestruck by someone who looks different or novel; it is another thing - and rude - to be openly critical of that individual's normality. In the end he took his life with a bullet to the heart.    

Are there black people in Argentina?

Josephine Baker wondered so and got this fabulous reply: You and I. 

At least somebody is protecting their border

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According to the Examiner report below, the presidents of Mexico and Guatemala (beautiful countries, by the way, I've been to them both) recently confirmed a pact on July 7th to, essentially, aid further illegal immigration to the United States of America. Say whuh?!

(Examiner article)

When the natives vowed to take back their lands who would've thought it would come via a "humanitarian crisis"? 

My trouble at Greyhound station (SAN BERNARDINO)

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While waiting for my bus connection at the San Bernardino, California, Greyhound Station (I was directed to the wrong door (from Downtown LA), consequently boarded the wrong bus, and, as a logical result, missed my proper connection) I got into an exchange of opinions with the neon-jacketed "security" - aka rent-a-cop - who promptly got on her walkie-talkie and called for backup to "handle this bitch."   
Excuse me? Who is this bitch calling a bitch?
Then she tried to get up in my face - personal space! - to aggravate me further, insulting, if you can believe it, my mode of travel. According to her, only poor "broke, ghetto" people use Greyhound. Oh really?!
Then her superior who had came to "handle" me thought I would step outside in the parking lot to discuss things. Hell no!

according to her, only poor "broke, ghetto" people use Greyhound

I summoned the will - thankfully! - to walk away from them (rather than smack her across the goddamn mouth) and flipped the script: I requested the Greyhound staff call the police. They did. And I waited about an hour for their arrival. (You can be sure there wouldn't have been a wait if a woman, especially a white woman, had called the pigs). I sat and chilled in the lobby; because I sure as hell was not trusting the situation to step outside with those rent-a-cop fools. The supervisor even had a pistol! No sooner had I crossed the door then they would have warned me against trespassing if I made to re-enter. See, this is how shit plays out with young, black males. Whether you believe it or not. I personally believe black women love putting us in jail...makes for a powerful kick as we, black men, are always mindful of being just a phone call away from being locked-up.  

this is how it plays out with young, black males

When the San Bernadino copper finally showed up tempers had cooled. But I feel he did not take my complaint seriously because even though, as he explained, "it is not a crime to be an asshole" it would have been treated as a crime had I insulted the woman and made her feel threatened. Don't be surprised when I tell you the pig was black, himself. Evidently his uniform deludes him of the fact that he is just plain black-black without it.  

(IL)Legally detained in Scotland...for being sexy

On Saturday, Oct 28th I flew into Edinburgh for a six-day visit of little Britain.

Immigration, however, deemed me too corrupt to enter and, rather than turn me away, detained me in a minimum-security prison called Dungavel House.

The officer's prudent morality deemed my "sex paraphernalia"(e.g., condoms, sexy underwear, an X-rated DVD) conclusive grounds that I was seeking to sneak into the UK for illegal/criminal activity.

Thus I pledge: FUCK YOU UK BORDER!

Skimpy reports of Malcolm Shabazz's murder

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I was in Mexico when young Malcolm Shabazz was killed. However, I just now heard about it -- three weeks later. This is unbelievable. I flew into Mexico City on May 4th (and then traveled to the west coast) and Shabazz was beaten to death, presumably by extortionist waiters, on the night of May 9th. And this news I only happened to learn via The Christian Science Monitor article about last night's mass kidnappings in Mexico City. Unbelievable! 

Yesterday I read about the (white)Arizona mother jailed in Mexico because of marijuana found under her bus seat (yesterday I travelled through Mexico on the bus!) and, before that, the sensational torture and gang-rape of Spanish tourists in Acapulco plus other similar crimes to other similarly pale skinned peoples...but nothing - nothing - about Shabazz. This could be me. Or someone who looks like me. Why does this not surprise me? I'm shocked as all hell but I'm not surprised. As I write, "Mexico kidnapping" is 'trending' on Yahoo.

Why? Because it does not concern black people.

At the risk of sounding selfish, maybe even racist, Ain't this a bitch! 

This could be me. Or someone who looks like me

It is very easy for white people to caution, Don't play the race card; Like rich people extolling the virtues of humility and having-not to poor people. The news of Malcolm X's grandson's killing should have blazed across headlines, if only for that weekend. But not a peep did I hear and I'm here in the country, itself. Didn't come across a remark by President Obama in the Associated Press - but I'm convinced he's a lanky phony, anyway - didn't come across a 'trending' ticker-tape, didn't come across a social network meme, and I certainly didn't hear it mentioned by anyone in passing. This could be me. Or someone who looks like me. If I disappoint white friends or fans or casual readers over this, then simply go your way. And don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

Methinks I've had my fill of this country. Pity. I so enjoy Puerto Vallarta. The living is easy, the weather is wonderful and I have several friends here. I have connections here. There's even a burgeoning theatre group I was looking forward to working with next season. But hang it. If Mexico is a corrupt country, then that means it is filled with corrupt peoples who, by no coincidence, guide their actions by corrupt thinking. And as a man habitually thinks, so he behaves. 

sitting ducks in a sea of amnesiac eye-witnesses

A nation populated by cowards who only know fear and might means we're all sitting ducks in a sea of amnesiac eye-witnesses. There is absolutely nothing to stop what happens in Mexico City or Sonora or Sinaloa or Oaxaca or Acapulco or Queretero from happening in Vallarta. Nothing. Bet your bottom dollar that when it counts, cowards, those erstwhile smiling neighbors and friends, will see nothing, hear nothing, and sure as hell, will say nothing.

Somebody who looks like me mightn't make the news. But that doesn't save the misfortune from befalling someone who looks like YOU. 

My new book !!

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Available in ebook next month

Began work on my next book

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It was a wonderfully hot, hot sunny, sunny day in Germany BUT I stuck to the creative work mantra "seat of pants in seat of chair" and stayed hours in the city library working on my next book, a piece of travel writing based on my travel web log Don't Go To Canuckistan. 

Sure, I was sorely tempted to go relax by the river in Frankfurt Am Main and just chill bare-chested under a tree snacking on soft pretzels; but - no! - discipline, discipline, discipline. Pleased to share that I pretty much completed the first draft! Productivity is a good feeling, ain't it. I'd like to have this complete from soup to nuts long before mid-fall...so I give myself three weeks to accomplish it. As concerns the deadline, the actual writing isn't what worries me at all; rather it's the damn formatting technicalities of self-publication.

The infallibility of women in Christian society

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We were sound asleep in our beds when they burst in shouting, laughing, and throwing water -- in the middle of the night. Jumping up and down and singing, they even dragged one of us from our beds. What's the appropriate reaction to this boys-will-be-boys behaviour? Now imagine you can maintain that verdict when I flip your mind:  "we" are boys and "they" are girls.

Not just any girls. Dumb, punch-drunk girls...from England for what it's worth. (Certainly not the type whose parentage ever fretted over "presenting" them to society.) I believe the local word for them is...twats?

With the weekend headlines about Chad Johnson's unlucky weekend (arrest for domestic abuse quickly followed by job termination quickly followed by TV show cancellation quickly followed by divorce papers) and military rape cover-ups to say nothing of the haters' unyielding vitriol for Tiger Woods, Alec Baldwin and Chris Brown I'm reminded again of how the "fairer sex" becomes invisible and untouchable; which, in effect, is nothing short of a license to be stupid and reckless. The bullshit infallibility of women in Christian society - face it, you don't have things like Girls Gone Wild and Lindsay Lohans in Muslim cultures because Muslims, being far less progressive than their Christian counterparts, don't harp about gender equity and free love - is, oh I've already said it: bullshit. And damaging. It spoils girls and like any spoiled child, they can't really fathom beyond their own wants or hurts or find any fault in their wanting, period. And it's never their fault. 

Women never incite violence. It just visits them -- like an unlucky lottery 

If just one guy, drunk or not, had pulled the stunt that gaggle of girls pulled, he not only would have been thrown out of the hostel but probably would've been thrown in jail, to boot. And it's not hard to imagine the possible charges. Assault...battery...sexual assault...intent to do bodily harm...intent to rape...rape...public intoxication...invasion of privacy...disturbance of the peace...public nuisance, etc. But, short of setting a bed afire, a woman isn't held accountable for anything. Women never incite violence. It just visits - or re-visits - them -- like an unlucky lottery draw. Good girls never get pregnant. He gave her the baby. Women never get drunk. The sneaky liquor sneaks up on them. Women never consent to sex (with a stranger). He forced himself on her or, of course, spiked her drink, the snake! And speaking of snakes, wasn't it he who charmed us into all this mess to begin with?  

Thanks to my nighttime pill I was able to roll over and fall back to sleep -- eventually. (I think I dreamt of wicked schoolgirls chanting for more pudding.) First thing the following morning, though, I requested a room change and got my black ass out of there. Oh they batted their eyes and cooed "Sorry...sorry! Just having a laugh!" Bitch(es) please. Sorry doesn't sway the Law (or Public opinion) for a man accused of battery. Be gone.  

Greek airport security (Athens)

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I get the full-body pat down, including two-finger swipe around the inside of my waistband. And although the X-ray machines were being used they did not work either because my carry-on luggage had everything removed from it. 


Read more: Don't Go To Canuckistan; ó Rick Steves Blows: Racist Greek airport security (Athens) 

Son of a field negro

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Seen on a man's T-shirt in Paris last month:

Son of a Field Negro

... the struggle continues

My beef with FedEx

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Before leaving Mexico I shipped a parcel to a relative in the States. Using the online tracking system I saw the parcel arrived to FedEx office in Virginia where my relative lives. Next thing I know I'm receiving a text from my relative saying the package was back en route to Mexico! Turns out the lazy bums NEVER - never - tried to deliver the parcel to the house address but, instead, relied on telephoning the house. Since the phone was never answered FedEx returned the item from whence it came and refused to send it back to Virginia because the company didn't want to pay for the cost.

Back in Mexico I figure I could have a friend pick it up. No dice. Mexican Customs assigned a $117usd cost to it and unless I 1) paid the Customs fee and 2) paid another delivery fee the parcel is to remain in FedEx warehouse -- barring no employee has stolen it already.

Since FedEx took my money and failed to actually attempt to DELIVER the parcel and in the act of returning it "to sender" incurred a steep Customs charge I feel I don't warrant fault at all. I've spent months calling telephone customer service and really worry the parcel, which I went through so much effort to mail, will be stolen.   

This sounds like a matter for the small claims courts.

"N-word" is for talking heads. I'm "Nigga"

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It's taken me years to complete the manuscript and publish the doggone work but - whew! - now it is done! Holla! Begun nine years ago in Puerto Rico, outlined in Belize, illustrated in Mexico, completed in Indiana and California, and carried with me everywhere in between (I know how JK Rowling felt going through the airport with her manuscript), the book Autobiography of an American Nigger in San Juan (non-fiction) was finally published last week and is available in paperback, hardcover, and PDF download. 
To preview the book click on the cute Lulu button!

On the road to Glory indeed

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What to make of the sudden demise of a church leader and his followers in a freak accident on the road? Why, naturally, a bad joke. The good folks, maybe they even paid their taxes, loved to sing hymns about meeting the Creator and here they were on the road to Glory without even knowing it - not until, maybe, the second revolution of the vehicle. Da Lawd does not always call ye peacefully! 

The tragedy is as helplessly ironic,ergo tongue-in-cheek, as the Segway owner who inadvertently rode a Segway off a 30ft. cliff. Hello!

THIS IS A LIE

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"The best way to open doors around the world is to obtain a U.S. passport," P.J. Crowley said.

Clearly this U.S. State Dept spokesman is not referring to black American passport holders. My document is sometimes treated with the respect of a city metro card by border patrol; believe it or not, some countries do not believe black people are from America id est are bona fide American citizens. And what's the response of the American embassy or State Dept? They shrug their bootlicking shoulders and tell me, "Oh well. We can't control other people's borders. They are sovereign countries."

Opens doors around the world, my black ass...yeah when an idiot racist or moron who doesn't like the shape of your nose isn't working the shift.

Something fishy with this State Dept and passports

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What the hell are Obama and Hillary Clinton doing? I'm so glad I'm in Europe.

Read more: Don't Go To Canuckistan; ó Rick Steves Blows

The President of the United States of America

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My president!

What if you saw a bomb ?

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I saw something in the New York Port Authority and went to say something to a passing uniformed cop. The pig dismissed me at "Excuse me ---" and told me the Information booth was back there. He didn't even stop walking. 

Read more: Don't Go To Canuckistan; ó Rick Steves Blows: See something, say something? Hogwash!

I slept in Central Park last night

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How broke am I?
I'll say it straight
I slept in Central Park last night

Read more: Don't Go To Canuckistan; ó Rick Steves Blows: I slept in Central Park last night

Why I am barred from Canada !!

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I have been travelling to and through Canada for years and, before this year, haven't been grilled on arrest matters. I wish I knew then what I know now: no such arrest history appears in the database; the agents are being coached to SUSPECT ALL BLACK NIGGERS HAVE A PAST. 

Read more: Don't Go To Edirne; ó Rick Steves Blows