The Establishment's Blog (116)

Cross dressing cannibalism and Civil War, Liberia on VBS.tv

VBS.tv, one of our favorite online t.v networks known for their ill documentary styled content, recently released a piece on Liberia that had our jaws on the floor. We recently posted a blog about Liberian fashion and how many people are wearing classic vintage t-shirts donated from the U.S., but that was only a… Continue

Added by The Establishment on January 10, 2011 at 3:00pm — 5 Comments

It’s Not Easy Being A Young Black Republican Parody

In the age of Obama, there just aren’t as many young black Republicans as there are Democrats. Always the ones to challenge political cliches, The Second City Network made this sketch parodying the plight of the young black Republican and what the party needs to do to branch out. Inside a meeting of vibrant young GOP minds, we meet the club’s single black member. As you can imagine, he’s tired of being the only… Continue

Added by The Establishment on January 7, 2011 at 4:11pm — 4 Comments

Black Witch: "NALT" & the column has been interviewed

When I tell my Christian friends some of the social problems of being Pagan or show them my column, I am met with various reactions but the reactions that stand out to me the most sometimes are that of NALT Christians. Term borrowed from sex columnist Dan Savage, NALT Christians are the ones that says, "Oh, we're not… Continue

Added by The Establishment on January 7, 2011 at 3:56pm — 17 Comments

LIBERIAN GIRLS AND BOYS - Have Better Vintage T-shirts Than You

VBS.TV recently visited Monrovia, Liberia, where we made a film with three warlords called General Bin Laden, General Rambo and General Butt Naked. During our week there we filmed in the slums, on top of burned-out banks that have become squats, in graveyards that ex-child soldiers use to sleep in at night and, ill-advisedly, at midnight in the gnarliest brothel in the worst slum in the city. We noticed how everybody there…

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Added by The Establishment on January 5, 2011 at 2:00pm — 3 Comments

Coming out of the closet for the holidays

In the holiday season, there are halls to be decked, presents to be bought (or made), carols to be sung and family to be dealt with. For many of us, it is that yearly trek that updates us on family and for some of us, reminds us why we don’t often stay in touch for the rest of the year. It could be the teen niece wants to dress like Nicki Minaj and throws a tantrum if you tell her to turn down her Usher. The deadbeat cousin that can always think of some get-rich-quick scam – I… Continue

Added by The Establishment on December 27, 2010 at 5:01pm — No Comments

Not all Muslim Punks Approve with Film About Taqwacores

Remember that film that was released recently about the Muslim punks called The Taqwacores (originally a book depicting a fictitious Islamic punk rock scene)? Apparently, not all Muslims in the…

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Added by The Establishment on December 17, 2010 at 4:30pm — 3 Comments

Biggest Prison Protest In History Underway In Georgia

The biggest prison protest in history is currently underway In Georgia where thousands of inmates are on strike from working. On Thursday morning, December 9, 2010, Georgia prisoners refused to work, stopped all other activities and locked down in their cells in a peaceful protest for their human rights.…

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Added by The Establishment on December 15, 2010 at 3:49pm — 1 Comment

I'm a Black Pagan, Would You Date Me?

Being Black and Pagan is already difficult, but to be Black, Pagan and wanting to date? That’s a multiplex issue in itself. The problems for Black Pagans that want to date stem from mostly religious and fairly racial grounds. Many people are still fairly ignorant about Paganism, witchcraft and Wicca and will…

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Added by The Establishment on December 10, 2010 at 5:25pm — 9 Comments

Are HBCU’s Adding To Black America’s Economic Crisis?

This week, collegemeasure.org released data alerting that graduates of public and private colleges in the U.S of Historically Black Colleges and Universities are more likely to default

on student loans than any other race. According to their data, 42 percent of the 116… Continue

Added by The Establishment on December 8, 2010 at 5:43pm — 1 Comment

If it bleeds, it leads...isn't that right?

We're all guilty of it. There is something in us that wants to pass along negative news that will illicit a response from our friends. Many people in the Afro-punk community voice that they are tired of the tainted stigma people of color seem to be casted with, but sometimes, do you feel as though we slip into the trap of guilty pleasures as well (sending the… Continue

Added by The Establishment on December 3, 2010 at 5:30pm — 6 Comments

If I'm a Witch, do I celebrate during the Holidays?!?

I try not to see the holidays as a stressful time, they should be cheerful and bright. If the holidays are too stressful, you’ve missed the meaning entirely. Since I’m Pagan and my family isn’t very aware of it, I have to work double time. Act Christian enough around my family and do Pagan stuff with my friends. I’m used to playing the part: remembering the Christian story of Christmas, Christmas songs, refresh my scripture knowledge and try to leave… Continue

Added by The Establishment on November 26, 2010 at 3:42pm — 4 Comments

Blacks in technology, why do we OD?

The history of African culture is based on storytelling. So, is it any wonder that we've taken to our personal mobile devices like no other demographic has? African-Americans talk and use the mobile web more than any other demographic. (Need proof, according to Nielsen, African-Americans use the most voice… Continue

Added by The Establishment on November 22, 2010 at 4:02pm — 2 Comments

Wtf, is that a Conspiracy Theorist on my Block?

I have learned in my experience that just like the over-skeptical and over-analytical, there's no arguing with a conspiracy theorist who believes the world is a puppet at the complete and total whim of a few old men in a secret club that conjures the devil and do all… Continue

Added by The Establishment on November 15, 2010 at 4:09pm — 23 Comments

NEGRO SKINS Nice Fucking Tattoos, Dudes

Trends in tattoos come and go. Ten years ago all the lesbians were getting Celtic knots on their arms. Now they're getting traditional sailor pieces to cover them up. All the punks used to have homemade Exploited tats. Now they're not happy until they've got an all-seeing-eye- within-a-tree- holding-a-dagger-that's- stabbing-a-scorpion-who's- reading-the-bible-upside -down-on-top-of-a -traditional-English-sixpence design. Whatever, dudes. One… Continue

Added by The Establishment on November 8, 2010 at 4:03pm — 50 Comments

My Beard + Bald = Muslim?

People's perception of other people and the world are too easily influenced by everything that doesn’t have truth in it. The looks, treatment and comments I get these days really got me thinking how we as human beings are so quick to throw everything and everyone into a category to be readily identified and scrutinized.

My Beard + Bald = Muslim?…

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Added by The Establishment on November 5, 2010 at 5:40pm — 2 Comments

An Oxymoron's Dream: The Black Skin Head

I have had the wonderful opportunity to interview Shaun McDaniel, a Black skinhead. Now, usually when people hear the term skinhead, the idea of an uber-racist Aryan Nazi-lover springs to mind and to hear of a Black skinhead appears very oxymoronic. Getting to hear McDaniel to tell his story definitely tell otherwise.

An Oxymoron's Dream: The Black Skin Head…

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Added by The Establishment on November 3, 2010 at 12:00pm — 25 Comments

Jay Smooth Video on Midterm Elections- Stop Trying to Relate!

Just days before the 2010 midterm elections (Nov. 2 for those of you who maybe forgot), we see this hilarious video from Jay Smooth from our partners from Giant Magazine, on why you should never trust a politician who says they’re “just like you.” Don't forget to vote this Tuesday, but please be advised, as Jay Smooth says, be weary of the campaign ads of people trying too hard to relate, how about just handing over your paycheck. Thanks.…

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Added by The Establishment on October 29, 2010 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Black Witch: Books and Sites for Witchcraft for the searching soul

Halloween/Samhain is on Sunday and that’s the Black Witch Ustream chat via the Afro-Punk Ustream on Afropunk.com homepage! It will be on Oct. 31 at 4:30 PM EST (Time changed). How this is gonna work: I video cast at the Mystickal Voyage… Continue

Added by The Establishment on October 29, 2010 at 2:30pm — 2 Comments

Tea Party Rep: “Black Men Prefer Drug Dealing To Education”

Republican Party leaders in central Illinois are calling on their own candidate for state senate to step down following racist remarks he made at a candidate’s forum last week. Al Reynolds, who is considered the Tea Party candidate in Illinois’ 52nd District, has been unavailable to the media since saying that African American men preferred dealing drugs to going to college, because it is “easier.”…

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Added by The Establishment on October 27, 2010 at 5:26pm — 8 Comments

Black Witch: "Witch's Halloween"

“Once upon a midnight dreary, I sat in my chamber oh so weary." Sound like me when I make a new column sometimes. Halloween is just around the corner, my favorite holiday! Aw, I just love Halloween/Samhain! I love the magickal spark in the air, the festivities and spookiness, everything filled with mystery and joy - Not to mention the free candy, dressing up in ridiculous costumes and being silly, I love those… Continue

Added by The Establishment on October 15, 2010 at 9:00am — 5 Comments