V&B :: New Open Mic

The hottest new open mic on the South Side ::




The bi-monthly event boasts free food, free entry, drink specials and two local-vocal hostesses :: KrisDeLaRash & Amanda Furdge as well as the masterful queen of wax, FathomDj on the 1's and 2's. We welcome all poets, emcees, comedians, singers and anybody else that wants to share their soul. The list opens at 8pm and we'll be vibing into the new day (1am).

I am my father's daughter.

I feel kinda bad.

I just ruined something for my sister.

She was telling me about this new alternative song she likes called "I Need You Now" apparently by Lady Antebellum. Now, my sis isn't the biggest fan of Alternative music...I can remember countless ridicule during my emo kid days (That's just fine. Made me stronger once the tears dried). But that is not the point.

I told her I hadn't heard the song. Actually, I haven't heard any of their music. And it all comes down to their name which is pretty repelling.

I told my sister, "I just hate their name. A lot. You know, antebellum? The Antebellum South? That's a reference to the South before the Civil War...that ended slavery...? I mean, the racism is implied. I mean, maybe they aren't racist but, just seems pretty lame since they are from the south...so why choose that name? You know?"

You know?

Well, just in that moment, I realized that I had turned into my father.

My dad used to ruin everything it seemed when we were kids. I couldn't watch Aladin cuz it had magic in it (not becoming of a Christian). I couldn't listen to rap music cuz it was profane and violent (not becoming of a Christian). I couldn't celebrate holidays cuz they were pagan in origin (not becoming of a Christian). Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

My dad did not always succeed in keeping me from those things, but he succeeded in teaching me to dig deeper; To seek knowledge. To be critical. And to evaluate based on not just what's good for me, but based upon what really is the greater good.

In the world of academia, it's appreciated but usually this "skill" of mine pisses people off (I ruined Avatar for a lot of people by critiquing the racist, heterosexist/heteronormative themes, and ruined Jay-Z for a friend of mine after revealing that he has stock in the prison system). But sometimes, it really saves the day.

And I guess, this is my little way of saying "Thanks Pops."

My kids will get to watch and listen to pretty much whatever they want. But afterwards will have to write me critical essays. lol

P.S. - I aint sayin Lady Antebellum is racist. I just think their name is SKETCH

Published in WOMEN IN RED!

Check out my poem "Her Hands." published in WOMEN IN RED ZINE

What St. Patrick's Day Means To Me.

Spin Aftermath ::

I am bitterly disappointed in the management of Spin Nightclub Chicago. They've recently made overtly racist comments and have discriminated against lesbians (despite being a LGBTQ club located in LGBTQ-friendly/founded Boystown). All female employees have walked out (quit) on account of their unethical treatment of employees and patrons. Although I appreciate your unmatched loyalty and support, my sincerest apologies to all those that gave their hard-earned money to this racist/sexist establishment by attending the event on Saturday. Tonight, Lesbians (of all colors) and their allies are invited to attend Scarlet at 3320 N. Halsted to stand together against discrimination. There will be media coverage.

We will boycott and rage for change.

For love and liberation,
KrisDeLaRash

I.Am.Mine.

In honor of V-Day, and in preparation for the Vagina Monologues ::

author unknown but image courtesy of @hiTekfame (http://paigeisback.blogspot.com/)

Reserve your tickets for DePaul University's 2010 Production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues at vday.depaul@gmail.com.



See you there. I'll be in the red pumps ;)

"Huey Warned Us. Now The Wrath Is Upon Us" - N.E.S. & VivaFidel

It is Black History Month while America decides if homosexuals should have the constitutional right to marry.

Tuesday, I tweeted about my disappointment with the lack of visibility, acceptance and inclusion from the black community when it comes to embracing their own LGBTQ brethren ::

I just don't get why for once American "morality" seems to have beaten out American greed. #Prop8 My (gay) money aint green?
1:33 PM Feb 2nd from mobile web

Black leaders like Angela Davis and Huey Newton wrote about embracing the LGBTQ community. #Prop8 Black History Month
5:18 PM Feb 2nd from web

There were plenty of black scholars, writers, poets, artists, dancers, etc. that were lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer. #letstalkaboutit
5:20 PM Feb 2nd from web

James Baldwin, Alvin Ailey, Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, Phyllis Hyman, Ma Rainey and many, many more. #LGBTQ Black History Month
5:27 PM Feb 2nd from web

I don't intend on choosing one cause over the other. But, I recognize that one of my causes has less support than the others.
5:32 PM Feb 2nd from web

We like to pick and choose our battles, forgetting we are fighting the same war [against oppression].
5:51 PM Feb 2nd from web

Furthermore, the rate of HIV/AIDS in our community speaks to our need to create safe spaces to be gay. #downlow #lgbt #blackhistorymonth
6:20 PM Feb 2nd from web

Many of our #black #LGBTQ turn to prostitution after their parents have kicked them out of the house for being gay.
6:45 PM Feb 2nd from web

(RT)anyaelise @KrisDeLaRash 40% of Chicago's homeless youth are LGBTQ. And from being at the Center on Halsted it seems MOST of them are black.
6:47 PM Feb 2nd from web in reply to KrisDeLaRash

---- If you are on the fence about this issue and have the nerve to think of yourself as progressive, I'd like to personally invite you to read the essay written by Huey P. Newton below (via Clay Cane) ::

During the past few years strong movements have developed among women and among homosexuals seeking their liberation. There has been some uncertainty about how to relate to these movements.

Whatever your personal opinions and your insecurities about homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals and women (and I speak of the homosexuals and women as oppressed groups), we should try to unite with them in a revolutionary fashion. I say "whatever your insecurities are" because as we very well know, sometimes our first instinct is to want to hit a homosexual in the mouth, and want a woman to be quiet. We want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid that we might be homosexual; and we want to hit the women or shut her up because we are afraid that she might castrate us, or take the nuts that we might not have to start with.

We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for all oppressed people. We must not use the racist attitude that the White racists use against our people because they are Black and poor. Many times the poorest White person is the most racist because he is afraid that he might lose something, or discover something that he does not have. So you're some kind of a threat to him. This kind of psychology is in operation when we view oppressed people and we are angry with them because of their particular kind of behavior, or their particular kind of deviation from the established norm.

Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are only in the process of establishing it. I do not remember our ever constituting any value that said that a revolutionary must say offensive things towards homosexuals, or that a revolutionary should make sure that women do not speak out about their own particular kind of oppression. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite: we say that we recognize the women's right to be free. We have not said much about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the most oppressed people in the society.

And what made them homosexual? Perhaps it's a phenomenon that I don't understand entirely. Some people say that it is the decadence of capitalism. I don't know if that is the case; I rather doubt it. But whatever the case is, we know that homosexuality is a fact that exists, and we must understand it in its purest form: that is, a person should have the freedom to use his body in whatever way he wants.

That is not endorsing things in homosexuality that we wouldn't view as revolutionary. But there is nothing to say that a homosexual cannot also be a revolutionary. And maybe I'm now injecting some of my prejudice by saying that "even a homosexual can be a revolutionary." Quite the contrary, maybe a homosexual could be the most revolutionary.

When we have revolutionary conferences, rallies, and demonstrations, there should be full participation of the gay liberation movement and the women's liberation movement. Some groups might be more revolutionary than others. We should not use the actions of a few to say that they are all reactionary or counterrevolutionary, because they are not.

We should deal with the factions just as we deal with any other group or party that claims to be revolutionary. We should try to judge, somehow, whether they are operating in a sincere revolutionary fashion and from a really oppressed situation. (And we will grant that if they are women they are probably oppressed.) If they do things that are unrevolutionary or counterrevolutionary, then criticize that action. If we feel that the group in spirit means to be revolutionary in practice, but they make mistakes in interpretation of the revolutionary philosophy, or they do not understand the dialectics of the social forces in operation, we should criticize that and not criticize them because they are women trying to be free. And the same is true for homosexuals. We should never say a whole movement is dishonest when in fact they are trying to be honest. They are just making honest mistakes. Friends are allowed to make mistakes. The enemy is not allowed to make mistakes because his whole existence is a mistake, and we suffer from it. But the women's liberation front and gay liberation front are our friends, they are our potential allies, and we need as many allies as possible.

We should be willing to discuss the insecurities that many people have about homosexuality. When I say "insecurities," I mean the fear that they are some kind of threat to our manhood. I can understand this fear. Because of the long conditioning process which builds insecurity in the American male, homosexuality might produce certain hang-ups in us. I have hang-ups myself about male homosexuality. But on the other hand, I have no hang-up about female homosexuality. And that is a phenomenon in itself. I think it is probably because male homosexuality is a threat to me and female homosexuality is not.

We should be careful about using those terms that might turn our friends off. The terms "faggot" and "punk" should be deleted from our vocabulary, and especially we should not attach names normally designed for homosexuals to men who are enemies of the people, such as Nixon or Mitchell. Homosexuals are not enemies of the people.

We should try to form a working coalition with the gay liberation and women's liberation groups. We must always handle social forces in the most appropriate manner.

Huey P. Newton,
August of 1970.

Thoughts on the Prop 8 Trial

STOP HATIN!
Love is love is love is love.
And I got a whole lot of it!

<3 KrisDeLaRash

*Help Haiti* Every Drop Counts *Help Haiti*

Fans and friends, 

I am part of a collective of local artists and organizers working to bring clean water to Haiti. Please read the message below and reach out if you can!

For love and liberation,
KrisDeLaRash
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If there is ever a time I needed urgency from people, its now!! We are organizing a Benefit Concert for Haiti & the name of the event is: Every Drop Counts Chicago. If u see anything with this name that means it is my baby & u can trust it. please follow @everydropchi on twitter for updates & if you are interested in helping in any way, shape, or form please email: everydropchicago@gmail.com.

-Aja Monet


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We have also created a blog that you can follow as well as a facebook page and YouTube channel.

We have confirmed Reggie's Rock Bar as our venue for the Every Drop Counts Chicago benefit concert to bring clean water to Haiti. All of the proceeds will go towards the people of Haiti.

"We could progress
We could be the prophecy and the prophetess
We could be the generation without regrets
Cuz we could have so much more if we took so much less"

Please reach out with your love, effort and resources because all of those things are crucial. No lacking of those factors can there be.

Haiti needs us.

And every drop counts.

So please follow us on Twitter: @EveryDropChi
Subscribe on Youtube: EveryDropChicago
Join on Facebook: Every Drop Counts Chicago
and check out our blog: Every Drop Counts Chicago


Nikki Giovanni said, "If ever i touched a life i hope that life knows that i know that touching is the true revolution."

Every touch starts a ripple.

Every move starts a wave.

Every drop counts.

-KrisDeLaRash