by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
Editor-In-Chief
http://www.blackfunk.org

We are not going to invest in the scarcity or poverty consciousness that has gripped people around the world in response to the downturn in the capital, stock, and other financial markets. We understand the power of consciousness, particularly collective consciousness, to create realities that have tangible, material consequences in people's lives. We do believe that we are in a season that is, among other things, challenging the hyperconsumerism, excess, and indulgences that have characterized the consciousness of many folks in the Westernized world as well as those Westernized folks living outside of the Westernized world. This season offers, therefore, an opportunity for each of us in those two groups to think about how we will make use of the opportunity.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
Editor-In-Chief
http://www.blackfunk.org

There are a number of fucking hilarious aspects to the same-sex marriage wars. Here are several examples:

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
Editor-In-Chief
http://www.blackfunk.org

We who believe in freedom can not rest.- Sweet Honey in the Rock

It appears Senator (now President-Elect) Barack Obama has won the 44th presidential popular vote election. He will, therefore, be the chief guardian of a political, economic, and military system that has been responsible for the exploitation, murder, kidnapping, marginalization, and/or oppression of millions of folks around the world through many means including chattel slavery, manifest destiny, white man's burden, expansionism, Jim Crow apartheid, compulsory sterilization programs, colonialism, COINTELPRO, etc.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
Editor-In-Chief
http://www.blackfunk.org

Obama 1. White/European supremacy, white/European privilege, or white/European entitlement will not disappear.

Obama 2. People of African descent around the world will not be under any less threat or targeting.

Obama 3. The wealthy one percent of the world's population will not see any decrease in their wealth.

Obama 4. Bill and Hillary Clinton will not instantly melt.

Obama 5. The streets in poor and working class communities in the United States will not be any safer.

Palin 1. Women's lives will not improve.

Palin 2. Poor and working class children with physical, neurological, or emotional challenges will not be cared for any better.

Palin 3. Conservative Christians will not have any more influence in public policy than they do currently.

Palin 4. The end of days predicted in the Christian Book of Revelation will not occur any faster, although you might wish it so after a month.

Palin 5. In the workplace, women will not be respected any more than they currently are.

No, they will not have to stock more chicken in the White House than during the previous administration. No, they will not have to install a Speak and Spell in the Vice President's office bathroom so that she can read while she's in there. No, Hay Z will not replace the military orchestra at official state functions. No, Joe Six Pack will not be named Secretary of Health and Human Services. No, William Ayers will not be named Ambassador to Al Queda. No, no, no.

In a system worth hundreds of trillions of dollars, do you really think they would put the future and success of that system in the hands of people who were elected by a group of people stupid enough to believe that they would put the future and success of that system in the hands of those kind of people? And if they did, do you think they wouldn't have already determined what was negotiable and non-negotiable regardless of who is elected?

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

Cheryl Clarke and Steven G. Fullwood, editors of the new book To Be Left With The Body, talk with me about the book and it's role in discourses on HIV prevention.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

Let me say from the start that I am not a supporter for any of the people running for President of the United States. As a rule, I don't trust politicians or anyone who chooses to become a politician. US politics is, by definition, a dirty and corrupt business. Anyone who chooses to swim in that swamp is, from my perspective, either so arrogant that they believe that they can swim in it without stinking or so corrupt that they believe that they are at home in that swamp. Therefore my remarks in this column should be considered non-partisan, not preferential toward either Obama or Clinton, but definitely not neutral either. I am biased toward critical thought, something that I feel is missing in discussions among Black folks about their support for either Clinton or Obama.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

I've been struggling with the challenge of coming up with a topic for the column for about a week now. But then I started to work on paper written by one of my students on the ideas of a current New Age guru. Simultaneous with that, I've been bumping into a number of folks on myspace.com who are working at the intersection of sexuality and spirituality. Both of these two experiences have helped me come to a topic, Something Is About To Happen.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

Earlier this month, a group of us took a trip to the Whitney Museum of American Art here in New York City to experience the Kara Walker exhibit, My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love. For those of you unfamiliar with Walker's work, she uses the medium of silhouette to explore race, gender, sexuality, and power issues during the slavery period of the United States and the Antebellum South.

As I walked through the immense exhibit, I was taken by how Walker is able to use a minimalistic medium to conduct such an embodied study. For me, the body is front and center in the statements being made about gender, race, sexuality, and power. Walker's work satirizes, deconstructs, and critiques the relationship between Black and white folks. She accomplishes this in a medium that plays with whiteness and blackness and does so without losing the organic, visceral qualities of human interactions particularly interactions that involve the racing, gendering, sexing, and enslaving of bodies by other bodies.

Tonight, I caught the tail end of Bill Moyers' Journal. This episode, titled The Legacy of Lynching, featured James H. Cone, the founder of the field Black Theology. Cone provides an impassioned discussion of race relations in the United States and a powerful ecclesiastical explication of the spiritual and social connections between the cross of the crucifixion and the lynching trees of the period of lynching in the United States. The episode also features a re-airing of an interview with Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of the group Sweet Honey In The Rock. Check your local listings for the airing of the show. It is moving and wondrous.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
Editor-in-Chief
http://www.blackfunk.org

Black Funk, as a center committed to social and ecological justice, stands in solidarity with the members of our Black Funk community whose families have been affected by the colonialism and imperialism that is marked by the United States holiday, Thanksgiving Day.

As a matter of policy and principle, we do not take this day as an opportunity to celebrate but instead we take this day as an opportunity to reflect upon the social and ecological devastation that European colonialism/imperialism and European male supremacy have had on the world. We choose to use this day as an opportunity to pour libation for ancestors and to cast oracles to chart a strategy to bring social and ecological justice into existence.

We invite the members of the Black Funk community as well as our friends and allies to forward this statement far and wide and to join us in taking actions during this season that are consistent with social and ecological justice principles.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

For many reasons, I have not posted a new article to my column here. One of the principal reasons is that my family and I were supporting my maternal grandmother in her months long transition to the world of the ancestors. She made that transition on the afternoon of October 20th, 2007.

As I have come to do for the last two funerals in my family, I officiated the service. This time assisted by my two godsons, Charly and Pharon, and my sister. Below is the statement my sister read as part of the service.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

On Saturday, September 15th, 2007, lovers, friends, family, and co-workers gathered at New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center to honor the life and spirit of Brother Bill Harmon. Bill was a photograher, flutist (Native American), and gourmet.

Born on March 29, 1959, Bill made is transition on July 5, 2007. His friends organized a beautiful memorial service for him. Bill, being a friend and supporter of Black Funk, I offered the organizers to do whatever I could and Ocean, Bill's longtime friend and running buddy, asked me to perform the opening ritual of gathering the ancestors and calling Bill's spirit into the room as well as read a poem.

In the read more, I've posted the poem I wrote and recited specifically for the service.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder and Executive Director
Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality
http://www.blackfunk.org

I am on a mission to get everyone I know to go see the movie, Talk To Me. The movie stars Don Cheadle with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Sheen, Cedric The Entertainer, Vondie Curtis Hall, and Mike Epps. Cheadle is also one of the executive producers. Black woman filmmaker, Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou), directs this brilliant film. Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar) wrote the screenplay.

The movie has been given a limited release but everyone who I know who has seen it says the theatres have been packed with people seeing this summer sleeper hit. In my opinion, there is not enough marketing going into the promotion of this superb film. So let's get the grassroots marketing going. Go see this movie, immediately!

The movie focuses on the rise of Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, a brother who goes from being a resident of the DC branch of the Prison Industrial Complex to being a radio DJ and TV broadcaster who in his own words, "Keeps it real." Equally as important, this movie in a somewhat indirect way chronicles the genesis of the development of Radio One, the powerhouse radio network that Catherine Hughes has cultivated. Hughes' former husband, Dewey Hughes, is portrayed by Ejiofor as a foil, friend, and brother -in-the-struggle to Greene who is played by Cheadle. The two men show the complexities of love between heterosexually-identified, Black men. The movie's only two weaknesses are that Catherine Hughes is not represented in the movie and the significance of the events in the context of the development of the Black-owned radio network, Radio One, is given insufficient treatment. It is important to note that Radio One is the precursor to TVOne, the only major Black-owned cable network in the United States. TVOne has consistently produced a far superior product than BET.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk
http://www.blackfunk.org

Peace Everyone,

I know. Lately, I've been neglecting all of you who read my column. I apologize. I've been busier than usual.

• I coordinated Black Funk's relocation to the NYC area.
• I have been working with Vintage Entity Press on the publication of Conjuring Black Funk: Notes on Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality, Volume I, my first book-length publication. It's due out at the end of this month, early August.
• Since returning to NY, I've been blessed with projects and contracts for work. It's really been great.

More on those events in an email to all the registered users on blackfunk.org.

I was at one of Lawrence's parties a few weeks ago. Lawrence is a beautiful brother, skilled physical therapist, and Sierra Leonian ex-pat. His parties are legendary for the great food, large quantities of alcohol, eclectic music, and very jubilant crowd. They started playing a Beyoncè song. I can't remember which one and honestly they all sound the same to me anyway. My personal disdain for her music and the contrasting reaction of the crowd inspired me to write the following poem. It's still a little ruff but let me know how it moves you.

What I Believe by Herukhuti

I believe in you
I believe in your ability
I believe in your ability to be you
But do you know who you are?
Do you know from where you have come?
Have you looked in those dark places?
Have you questioned the inconsistencies in your record?
I have, that's why I believe
I believe in you
I believe in your ability
I believe in your ability to be you
All of you
Not just the stuff that you like, or even the stuff you like to believe about you
But you
All of you
The you in you that knows you
Yeah
I believe
I believe in you
I believe in your ability
I believe in your ability to be you
And that's why, why I call you, and call on you to be you
Nothing more, or less
Just you
All of you
Being you, truly you
Letting nothing come asunder and vanquishing no windmills
I am merely calling you to be you
Even when it's hard to be
When it's hard to see, you
All of you
I remain convinced
Utterly resigned and resolute
To appreciate that which is you
I believe in you
I believe in your ability
I believe in your ability to be you
So be it, so be you.

That's what I believe.
You?

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual, cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

I have been involved in community activism, human rights organizing, and related efforts for 21 years. Throughout that time, I have known maybe 3, possibly 4, folks that were really committed to co-creating a socially just, ecologically harmonious world.

I'm tired of critiquing the problems. I'm tired of working with folks who are playing at working for social and ecological justice.

I am ready to work with folks who are also ready, willing, and committed to co-creating a socially just, ecologically harmonious world.

If you're there too, contact me. We have work to do.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

As soon as I got wind of the ignorant-arrogant comments made by Don Imus and his good ole boys on his show in reference to the two teams of African-American, female student-athletes, I was committed to boycotting the station I patronize that was, at the time affiliated with Imus, MSNBC until his show was dropped. At the same time, I was clear that the real issues don't reside and did not start with Don Imus.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual, cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

One of my godsons and I were talking and the discussion drifted to the topic of joining spiritual/religious communities and groups. We've known some folks who have had traumatic experiences and he was curious about the causes for such experiences. I shared my understanding and later thought that the topic would be a good focus for this installment of From the Cave. So here it is...

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk
http://www.blackfunk.org

Since the hoopla of the Academy Awards is over, i thought I'd take a brief look at performances and work that should have garnered an Oscar but for white supremacy. Some of the individuals listed have received Oscar nominations or awards for lesser work that helped to perpetuate white supremacist attitudes so it is worth noting that they were passed up for work mentioned here despite the quality.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

Those of us with a sense of history remember when Muhammad Ali, former boxing heavyweight champion of the world, refused to cooperate with the United States government when it attempted to draft him to fight in a war with the people of Vietnam. He said something to the effect that he had no legitimate reason to kill or injure any of the people of Vietnam for they did nothing to him or his people. It was the United States government and white supremacist interests inside the United States government that represented more of a threat to him and his people than the people of Vietnam. Therefore, he could not in good conscience participate in waging war against the Vietnamese people.

Fortunately, even those of us without a sense of history have had the opportunity to know that history because of the movie about Ali which starred Will Smith. A mainstream studio movie has yet to be made of former Olympian track and field medalists John Carlos and Tommie Smith. During the 1968 Olympics track and field medal awards ceremony, Carlos and Smith expressed to the world their affiliation with the Black Power Movement and their love of Black people by displaying their gloved black fists in the air. It was another historic moment for Black athletes and the Black world.

Ali, Carlos, and Smith are members of an important tradition of thoughtful, courageous, freedom-loving Black female and male athletes who used their celebrity, their money, and their creativity to work for the liberation of Black people around the world. They put their personal lives and their professional careers on the line in the interests of Black people and for the cause of justice for all. They were inspirational to many.

Now, let's talk about retired NBA star, Tim Hardaway, and the controversy surrounding his recent remarks.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk
http://www.blackfunk.org

So another European-Christian holiday rolls around and I am bombarded by the consequences of colonization's success at working its way into the hearts and minds of our people, particularly my friends and family. From instant messages from leather sons to scornful face-to-face conversations with my current partner, I have to say over and over again, "I don't celebrate white folk holidays, including Valentine's Day." You would have thought I committed an act of high treason against the body politic. My divestment from European cultural behavior and my defiant articulation of such divestment has been the target of much angst and irritation by those around me.

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk
http://www.blackfunk.org

The spiritual bath is much like the baths that we take to cleanse our bodies. They include liquid, some cleansing agent, our bodies, and a process for applying the liquid and cleansing agents to our bodies.

by Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

Originally published in 1903, Dubois (1989) stated:

It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his twoness, -- an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.

The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, -- this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face. (p. 12)

Fast forward to the contemporary moment and spoken word artist, Daniel Beatty, provided his perspective on the nature of double consciousness for the hip hop generation:

by
Herukhuti, PhD, MEd
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

When I was a kid, my first home was on Bedford Avenue between Lincoln Place and St. Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York. Although you may picture a house because of my use of the word home, I'm using home in the Lutherian (Vandross) form of the word home--a place where love is. And in the African tradition my home extended beyond the walls of the apartment that we lived, extended beyond the building, extended beyond the street and encompassed a place called The Muse. No I'm not being mystical or metaphorical or poetic here.

by Herukhuti, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-culture center
http://www.blackfunk.org

A few weeks ago, a community activst colleague of mine launched a new web site as part of his continuing effort to support the agency, liberation, empowerment, and health of men in the Black community particularly as it relates to their sexual practices. I felt the web site was so innovative, thoughtful, and useful that in speaking with a Black person I know who works in a public health agency I suggested that they forward the information on the existence of this web site to their colleagues who work in programs that serve Black men who may find this web site appealing and useful. The response I received, though disturbing, was not surprising and is the subject of this From The Cave article.

by
Herukhuti, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

My partner and I recently opened up our home to his twenty-something cousin and his twenty year old girlfriend in her ninth month of pregnancy, both of whom are unemployed and have not completed college. Our decision constructed a proximity to the consequences of condomless sex among heterosexually-active young people such that I began to think about the phenomena of heterosexual and homosexual condomless sex in an integrated and somewhat new (for me) way.

by Herukhuti, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

For the last four years, I've been involved in a movement within the university from which I received my Ph.D, Fielding Graduate University (FGU), called Decolonizing and Reconstructing Epistemologies (DRE). Recently, I felt moved to share with colleagues at FGU who have also aligned themselves with this movement what I feel DRE are.

Here is what I shared with them.

by
Herukhuti, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

I just finished watching episode 6, season 2 of Iconoclasts on The Sundance Channel. For those of you not aware, Iconoclasts features an interaction, oftentimes more than just an interview, between two well-known professionals of different fields.

by Herukhuti, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Founder
Black Funk, a sexual-cultural center
http://www.blackfunk.org

Like the title says there's just some shit that's been pissing me off and I wanted to share them with you, kinda like when someone tastes something that has gone bad and they ask you to taste it too.