Hillbilly Hellegy

Problematic to say the least. I haven't seen it, but trust the judgment of enough who have to avoid it. Only good for viewing with a critical eye, it would seem. Here's one pithy quote from a critic that sums the problem with this book and movie up nicely: "'It isn’t interested in the systems that create poverty and addiction and ignorance; it just wants to pretend that one straight white guy’s ability to rise above his surroundings means that there’s no excuse for everyone else not to have done so as well,' wrote TheWrap’s Alonso Dulrade in his review of the film."

A shame, too--I really admire much work of Glenn Close, Amy Adams and Ron Howard. But this one--nope.

https://www.thewrap.com/hillbilly-elegy-reviews-ron.../

Biden/Harris new Transition Website Highlights Racial Issues

 https://buildbackbetter.gov/

The site is just now up. I note that, among the top 4 priorities highlighted is "Calls for Racial Justice"/"Racial Equity." 

Significant. Don't remember any president in my memory (maybe since LBJ?) to place racial issues at such a high priority. Maybe we can make some real, measurable, lasting progress in upcoming times? Here's hopin'.

BLM, says Southern Baptist prez

It's amazing how those three simple words: "black lives matter," stuck in the dust-choked throats of so many of us for the past half a dozen years, but are now coming out quite smoothly and clearly.

https://relevantmagazine.com/god/church/sbc-president-southern-baptists-we-need-to-say-it-clearly-as-a-gospel-issue-black-lives-matter/?fbclid=IwAR08j8CpUq-TO_uYe7AO0Q8hpsdy8GljhYSmSSgi3xX3TrLqCkxFE5xjZgo

Jefferson Davis, Never Tried for Treason

Jefferson Davis's statue on Monument Ave. in Richmond came down last night. Good. We do not honor traitors against our nation who lead rebellion's against our duly elected federal government.

This news item led me to explore more the life history of Davis. Found that a jury panel of 12 white and 12 black men was assembled in 1867 for the purpose of trying Davis for treason. The trial never happened, and by Christmas 1868 Pres. Andrew Johnson declared amnesty for all involved "in the late rebellion" for the sake of "reconciliation" of North and South and Davis was released a free man in early 1869.

I find this picture intriguing. Here, in the former capital of the confederacy, men (yes, it's gendered--shame!) of both races, equally divided, posed for a photo with hands of mutual respect and affection placed on one another, rubbing shoulders seemingly with no concern for "propriety" of the "racial etiquette" which would be harshly reimposed under Jim Crow shortly after.

Had this picture remained the norm, and had the rebels been tried, convicted, served their terms, did their penance, and REAL reconciliation of the races been the focus (rather than of the regions), that statue of Davis might've never gone up in 1907 and symbolized the returning reign of White Supremacy for well over a century.

Hadda Takemdown

It seems the right moment (say their names: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd) to re-publish the weird nerdy retro-slam poem I wrote a few years ago. It's not been updated. 2019 copyright Steve McGlamery

Eric shoulda not resisted

Eric shoulda not resisted garner sellin’ doze eyeloveloosies didn’t he staten know that was a ‘spectable hood ny pantaleo hadda takimdown

John looked dangerous crawford pointing that III gun at walmart shoppers (nflers brought ‘im to notice) that cracker called and oh williams for the public safety hadda takimdown

Levar no quick moves jones getcher regis bam quick trig soc groubert just about (not thank god dead) tookimdown

Tamir threatenin’ the public rice looked older who knew it was just a toy tackle his sister cuffer and thrower in back oh loehmann in 2 secs hadda takimdown

Eric don’t do th’crime harris wasn’t reserve dep’s fault certified sort of ok bates oops haddit comin’ tookimdown

Walter shouldn’t a run scott noc slager’d still be a cop ‘cept for that video thrown to the wolves ‘cause he in cold blood tookimdown

David failure to follow orders washington are you on drugs sprayed and tased runover foot va jerkins you understand hadda kinda (still alive) takimdown

Freddie why’d you run gray knee in neck shackled no strap give ‘im a ride alright whole m(a)d gang of them hadda takimdowntowndown

All of ‘em haddit comin’ no not gonna mention michael handsup (bs) holdup brown but mo collardcops needed a little corruption here and there tookimdown

Bryant heyward rekia boyd akai gurley thaddeus mccarroll cedric bartee tony robinson enuffnow jonathan Ferrell we getcher point daniel please covarru stop bias the protectorservers tookemalldown

Ervin tasered to death Edwards big deal tanisha bodyslammed anderson so what Natasha tased and died mckenna doesn’t prove noth

Abner (who?) louima (wait) amadou (huh?) diallo (hold it) ousmane (really?) zongo (how far back you gonna?) sean (gimme a break!) bell (no more!) rodney (don’t say it!!) cali (whew) kerner (there’s a blast from the) commishking (dammit!) and so on and so forth and on and on

Who’s the brute reality?