Stud with Swag » Reading List

Introducing Rebel & Rene

Knowledge — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:47:52 +0000

After a conversation with an ex about where our relationship went wrong, I realized that we had to be in two different relationships. How could her version be so different from mine? Well, when they say there are two sides to every story, people are telling you the truth.

I have partnered with the wonderful Alix B Golden of A Brown Girl to bring you two sides of the same love story. Even from the beginning there were sparks between Rebel & Rene…

Rebel:

Taking a deep breath, I rushed out of the powder room bumping into a customer in my haste. A tall customer with hazel eyes and locs. Any other day, I would have flashed her my dimpled smile, but I wasn’t my normal flirtatious self. She placed her hands on my hips to steady me as I felt myself ankles wobble courtesy of my ridiculous 6 inch stilettos. Her hands were warm at my waist and even in my grouchy mood, I couldn’t help but notice how the finger tips of her hands almost met. Gotta love a girl with big hands.

“Oh, excuse me!” I said, as I tried to talk myself out of blushing. My cheeks weren’t listening.

“Excuse me, too, beautiful.” She spoke and I found myself looking into thickly lashed hazel eyes. I put an extra swing in my hips as I glided away from her, causing my dress to flow around me. I looked behind me, catching her smirking at my swaying my ass. I rolled my eyes. Pervert, I thought with a smile.

Rene:

As I entered [the bathroom], a short, petite, pale-skinned sales girl was exiting. We bumped into each other hard as I reflexively reached down to steady the camera hanging from my neck. I thought she was going to stumble so I grabbed her around her waist and pulled her toward me to steady her gait.

I felt my face get all hot and my head rushed a little while I considered, for a moment, how good my hands felt around her tiny waist, before quickly retracting them.

”Oh, excuse me!” she exclaimed, in a southern drawl that I just knew had to be exaggerated ‘cause whoa. I hadn’t heard an accent that heavy, deep, and sexy since I first watched True Blood.

I said, “Excuse me, too, beautiful,” as she slipped past me and headed toward the front of the boutique. I watched her hips and ass sway as she walked away. She turned and saw me staring before I caught her roll her eyes as she turned around and continued on.

Make sure you catch Rebel & Rene every Tuesday and Thursday on I Bleed Ink Magazine beginning July 27th!

The Epitome Of A Stud Revisited: Artangel & Oreet Ashery Present ‘Staying’

Knowledge — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:46:05 +0000

Early last year I wrote a blog titled The Epitome Of A Stud. Later that year I received a letter from Satoko Fujishiro from the London-based organization Artangel. They asked to use excerpts from The Epitome Of A Stud to be included in an upcoming publication. A select portion of my writing would be used in conjunction with one of the alter egos in the book who is called Soft Stud.

There was no contemplating anything. Suffice it to say, I said yes because I had absolutely no reason to say no. I researched the organization to familiarize myself with their work and the rest is history. They were working on a project titled Staying: Dream, Bin, Soft Stud and Other Stories. Through art, discussion, monologue, interviews, imagery and doodles hand drawn by the women, we are asked to try to understand a collective journey from oppression. They fled their homes in Africa and the Caribbean after suffering trauma, homophobia and discrimination at the hands of society and family because of their sexual orientation. Homosexuality is considered illegal and punishable by death in some of these countries. All of the women are still seeking or have already been granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

Stayingis a celebration of life, love, fear and perseverance. The alter ego, Soft Stud, seeks to expand not only the terminology, but the way that others envision the heart, mind and soul of the woman behind the word: soft stud. She also discusses sexual experiences and romantic relationships with women and how she’s viewed them both in terms of self-identity and expectations. She expressed that in her role as a stud, there are certain expectations, but there should be none because every single lesbian who identifies as stud or soft stud is unique.

Artangel took a bold step in bringing to light some of the issues that gay and lesbian asylum seekers face in whatever country they seek it. Asylum is often viewed as life or death for many. The threat of violence or worse among international gays and lesbians has made asylum an incredibly viable resource, despite the fact that the process can at times seem never-ending. As recent as 1990, being gay or lesbian was grounds for denying an individual asylum in the United States. That changed with a court decision by former Attorney General Janet Reno in 1994. The ruling set a precedent that says persecution based on sexual orientation can be grounds for person to seek political asylum. It remains a difficult and dangerous journey from start to end no matter where it is sought. What remains is the knowledge that the need for political asylum is still great and can be felt stronger than ever in a day in age where one step forward for gays in the US or UK can mean two steps back for them elsewhere.

I support the individual and collaborative efforts of interactive artists like Oreet Ashery and organizations like Artangel and a slew of others who use their powers for good. I enjoyed the interactive artistic approach. Dramatic storytelling through raw emotion using writing, art and dialogue will remain an art form I hold in high regard.

Staying: Dream, Bin, Soft Stud and Other Stories went live in London on January 20, 2010.

My text appears on page 49, downloadable from the link below;
http://www.artangel.org.uk/docs/file_1268147908645.pdf

The link to download ‘workshop notes’ is in this page as part of the introduction of the project by artist Oreet Ashery; http://www.artangel.org.uk//projects/2010/staying/introduction_staying_and_learning/page_1

If you would like to read the printed publication, two PDF files are downloadable from here; http://www.artangel.org.uk/projects/2010/staying

Roots of My Black America; A Charleston Plantation

Knowledge — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:27:23 +0000

This is truly a one of a kind coffee table book!

Roots of My Black America; A Charleston Plantation began as a travel journal from the summer of 2005. This book is undoubtedly a ground-breaking work of art with it’s colorful images, history, and first hand experiences!

The distinguished LGBT/SGL author and poet, Azaan Kamau takes us on a prolific journey back in time. This is a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece that leaves you hungry for more! This breathtaking book is packed with Azaan’s amazing, brilliant images, Her very personal journal entries about slavery, the plantation, facts and a few unexpected surprises!

Roots of My Black America; A Charleston Plantation is guaranteed to make you think, empower and inspire you.

It’s a book release, and you’re invited — check out the new book at Blurb. Follow the link and enjoy.