Photo & Poem~ My lady

My Lady

My lady is as fine as a spring day is pretty
and sweet as Ghetto Kool-Aid
Yeah, she reminds me of a Negro Spiritual
cause every time I get near her
I just wanna Steal [her] Away to [me], and Lay Down
my Burden…down by the river side

Photo Source: Stephen Bess Photography

After '08: What's Next?

Have you ever had conversation with someone you felt would be a great writer or blogger? I mean, this person's opinion or commentary is always so insightful and interesting. This is what I think of my brother, Moorosi Mokuena. This native South African is new on the blog scene, but a veteran when it comes to politics and activism. Check him out and give him some good 'ol blogger support. In the long run, I don't think that you will be disappointed -- the best has yet to come. Peace~

Photo: Moorosi and Congresswoman Maxine Waters at South African Freedom Day reception in Washington, D.C. (photo taken by: S. Bess)

Moorosi's blog: Beyond '08

MC Spotlight: Awards Edition

I am proud to announce that I am the recipient of two awards compliments of Jack Mandora (aka Jacqueline Smith). These awards were a complete shock, and I know that I sound like one of the people on an award show, but this was so unexpected. Jacqueline, we've been blog friends for only a short while, so I am happy that my blog has had this positive impact on you and other readers. Thank you so much.



First, I want to give out the “Friendship around the World” Award; the name is self-explanatory. Now, some of you may receive this for a second time. You all have been great supporters/friends from such a long distance. Here is a toast to distant love.

This award will goes to:

1. Mickle and Zebby-Cat~New Zealand

2. Poéfrika ~Lesotho/France

3. Analia~Uraquay

4. Lady Putz~Dubai

5. Cergie~France

6. NML~London

7. Cape Slavery Heritage~South Africa

8. Emil Jung~South Africa

9. Fabrizio's Style Café~Italy

Now, the second award is the Arte Y Pico Award [translation: The peak of art] award. This award is for blogs that display/celebrate a certain appreciation for the arts. Here are the rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you feel deserve this award based on: creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community -- no matter what language.


2. Each award has to have the name of the author, and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.


3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

Now, the Arte Y Pico Award goes to:


1. Squeeze my Lemon - This is my favorite place to go when I want the Blues. I know that sounds weird, but check him out. He has cool videos and music to enjoy. Plus, this fellow blogger is a Navy vet like yours truly. Cool blog and cool guy.

2. Fabrizio's Style Café - This is my Italian connection. I visit here when I want to see some cool art. Fabrizio is a great cartoonist and cool pizon. I'm sure that he will be famous some day, so I'm just happy to know him when.

3. Cathy Delaleu- This author and artist paints and writes some of the most beautiful images that I've ever seen and read. If you like beautiful art and poetry to match then you must check out Ms. Delaleu. She is the truth!

4. Yasmeen Christian- She writes children's books, poetry, and she always has cool pictures on her blog. The pictures make you want to go where she goes -- Yeah, they're cool. Also, I like to think that I can keep my poetry short and sweet, but Yasmeen really puts it down. Check her out.

5. Tafari Stevenson-Howard - This guy started out blogging, but then he got hold of a camera and it has been like magic ever since. This will be my only Flickr reference because I love his photographs. He has made a business of it. I miss his blogging though because he can tell a great story. Anyway, check him out.

Well, that completes this blog award ceremony. I would like to thank Jack Mandora and all my readers for your support and appreciation for Morphological Confetti. In the words of Russell Simmons, “Thank you for coming – God bless – Good night.”

Ready to Die: The 1859 Raid on Harper's Ferry

Lewis Sheridan Leary

(March 17, 1835 - October 20, 1859)

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live. " ~ Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This day, October 16, marks the 149th anniversary of the John's Brown raid on Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia in 1859. It was an attempt to capture the arsenal and seize the weapons by John brown and 21 men: 5 blacks, including Dangerfield Newby, who hoped to rescue his enslaved wife, and 16 whites, two of whom were Brown's sons. This raid would strike a blow against the terrible system of Slavery that kept millions of people of African descent in bondage. Abolisionist and African American leader, Frederick Douglass told Brown that it would be a “grave mistake.” John Brown knew that this daring feat was nearly impossible, but he was willing to try, and most of all he was willing to die.

For the raid, Brown trained and brought with him five young African Americans, who were also willing and ready to die. One of them was a 24-year-old man named Lewis Sheridan Leary [pictured above]. Lewis was a harness maker from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was an ex-slave descended from African, Irish, and Native American heritage. He was a strong young man – a recent father and husband – a revolutionary. During the raid on Harper’s Ferry, Leary was mortally wounded as he tried to escape down the Shenandoah Valley. He reportedly told his capturers, "I'm ready to die." He survived for a eight hours before succumbing to his injuries. He died just 4 days before his 25th birthday. In the end, I think that all of John Brown’s men knew that this daring feat was nearly impossible, but they were all willing to try, and most of all, 22 men were willing to die for the freedom of us all. God rest their souls. Peace~




Source: americaslibrary.gov

MC Spotlight: Melvin Van Peebles

I was checking out this documentary, and I wanted to do a post on Filmmaker, Actor, Activist, and overall cool -- old skool -- Chicago bred Melvin Van Peebles, but then I saw this great article already written. So, I figured...hey, why reinvent the wheel when this one rolls so smooth; thanks, Biluxi. I Just feel there is not enough said about elders like Mr. Van Peebles. Anyway, just check out his hat and glasses; this brother has serious style. Peace~

*Check out more about Mr. Melvin Van Peebles @ Melvin Van Peebles.org.

Grandmama for Obama

I'm getting ready to watch the Palin and Biden debate this evening. This is a recent picture of my maternal grandmother. Can't you tell -- just look at that round face and nose. That's my mother and cousin in the background. Anyway, my grandmother loves herself some Barack Obama. I asked her if she was going to get out and vote and she just replied, "Yea!...Obama!" I'll take that as a yes. *smile*