http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XnVwS6XgE4

This is Damali Ayo, panhandling for reparations. It was shot in 2003.
When I think of art’s role in racial dialogue, things like Ask a Slave, and this, come to mind. Sweeping dramas are fine, but the big screen lies. Buy a book. Better yet, buy a dozen.
Still, we need to jump start a dialogue, now. And we need to do it while side stepping all of the icky feelings that racism conjures. Icky feelings make people tell lies and make excuses, rather than getting to the ugly truth.
Damali Ayo doesn’t do this stuff anymore. I get the sense that it was a bit toxic for her. I understand. But for a while I had a serious, activist crush on her.

I don’t always write about race, but when I do I post links to it.

Here I talked about the Butler. I called it shuffle porn. Why does Ask a Slave get my approval while The Butler doesn’t? I’m working on it.

Here I talked about Trayvon Martin.

Here I talk about how Police are fighting to take away your right to make videos of them during police stops. This may not seem like it is a racial issue. Just remember that cities like New York and my home town of Philly use legalized racial profiling (stop and frisk) everyday against young Black men and women.