delta dandi Master Class at Scripps College
delta dandi Master Class at Scripps College:
delta dandi master class will meet for one month
Class will begin September 8, 2008. Meetings will be:
Mondays 7PM – 10PM.
Saturdays from Noon – 3PM
There will be a special rehearsal/meeting on 10/2 7PM – 10PM
Public performances will be: October 3 & 4 at 7PM.
Participants will work as cast, crew & mentees.
The master class is available for 1/2 course credit as GWS 195, Internship in Feminist Activism.
Non student community members are welcome to participate without enrolling.
This course is sponsored by Intercollegiate Women’s Studies. For more information about enrolling for credit contact: Susan Castagnetto. If you are not a Scripps student and you want to participate contact sharon AT sharonbridgforth dot com
Participants will work with Bridgforth using her “Finding Voice” method as part of the development of Bridgforth’s new multidisciplinary theatre piece, delta dandi.
Students in the *delta dandi master class will work as cast, crew and mentees in a rigorous process that will culminate in a public performance of Sharon Bridgforth’s work-in-progress, delta dandi. Participants will open for delta dandi with presentations of their own work generated during the master class.
Spoken word artists, dancers, musicians, actors, poets, singers, closet singers, jazz lovers welcome. Activists, queer people, people of color encouraged. No experience necessary. You do not have to identify as an artist. An interest in art as a vehicle for social justice is a plus. Attendance at all meetings and performances is required.
delta dandi is a weave of monologues, chants, choral tellings, blood memory and song delta dandi asks “How does collective grief and trauma inform the African American experience?” delta dandi invokes the Transmigration of a Spirit’s journey as she walks towards Transformation and Love….
Bridgforth’s work lives in a theatrical jazz aesthetic. This assumes that virtuosity, improvisation, innovation, the art of being present, listening, the fluidity of time and space, witnessing, breath, contrasting rhythms, synchronicity, circular forms, transformation and rigorous practice are a given. Prayer. Life. Spirit. Blood Memory. Revolution. Birthed in African American cultural. The work is used to build, nurture, extend, celebrate, humanity/liberation and dignity of all people globally. Bridgforth will employ her facilitation method called, The Finding Voice, to walk participants through the process of giving voice to their own stories based in the personal: identity-culture-memory-family histories-dreams to articulate and examine the socio-political realities of their lives.
*delta dandi is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Women & Their Work in partnership with Center On Halsted and the National Performance Network. Major contributors of the National Performance Network are Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information go to: http://www.npnweb.com
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
what a difference only a couple of months make...
I was cleaning out my desk and ran into this email from hir that I printed out. I got a bit melancholy but also know that the change that I made was needed in order to cleanse and grow as a person...
" Hey Luna,
Just want to tell you that I am going to miss you at the house. The house is going to feel empty. Yes, I know your Seester will be there..but it's not the same. Well it's time to move on anyways. I will be doing the same as well. Soon enough I will be moving away and starting my life here in LA Until, its time for me to go hoooome. I just wanted to thank you for everything again. I am sue if it wasn't for you, Los Angeles would have eaten me alive. I went through a lot and yet you were there to help me. Just need you to know that I am here to do the same for you."
I am no longer in contact with hir and really don't know if I would ever want to be, I think that our lives are a bit better with each other not in them. It took a long time to come to this conclusion...but it's true. There are moments when the Pisces in me takes over and it makes me a bit sad..but then I remember the growth that has happened...especially in the last 2 months, and I am proud of the strong femme woman that I have become. (a Femme Shark) ;)
" Hey Luna,
Just want to tell you that I am going to miss you at the house. The house is going to feel empty. Yes, I know your Seester will be there..but it's not the same. Well it's time to move on anyways. I will be doing the same as well. Soon enough I will be moving away and starting my life here in LA Until, its time for me to go hoooome. I just wanted to thank you for everything again. I am sue if it wasn't for you, Los Angeles would have eaten me alive. I went through a lot and yet you were there to help me. Just need you to know that I am here to do the same for you."
I am no longer in contact with hir and really don't know if I would ever want to be, I think that our lives are a bit better with each other not in them. It took a long time to come to this conclusion...but it's true. There are moments when the Pisces in me takes over and it makes me a bit sad..but then I remember the growth that has happened...especially in the last 2 months, and I am proud of the strong femme woman that I have become. (a Femme Shark) ;)
You win some...you loose some.. Part Deux
So my friend Ivonne found the camera that I lost during that fateful night at HERE lounge....looking at these pix...yeah well I guess now I know why I lost it (too much alcohol+good times=messy)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
FEMME SHARK MANIFESTO
Thanks to "A femme fluff blog" over at wordpress for this
FEMME SHARK MANIFESTO!
FEMME SHARKS DON’T EAT OUR OWN.
FEMME SHARKS LIKE TO EAT THOUGH
FEMME SHARKS RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES COME IN ALL KINDS OF SIZES AND EACH KIND IS LUSCIOUS. WE WORK TOWARDS LOVING OUR CURVY, FAT, SKINNY, SUPERSIZE, THICK, DISABLED, BLACK AND BROWN FINE-ASS BODIES EVERY DAY. WE REALIZE THAT LOVING OURSELVES IN A RACIST/SEXIST/HOMO/TRANSPHOBIC/ABLIST/CLASSIST SYSTEM IS AN EVERY DAY ACT OF WAR AGAINST THAT SYSTEM.
FEMME SHARKS DON’T THINK ANOREXIA IS CUTE.
WE THINK EATING A BIG-ASS MEAL IS SEXY.
WE SAY SCREW “HEIGHT WEIGHT PROPORTIONATE PLEASE” IN CRAIGSLIST WOMEN SEEKING WOMEN ADS AND IN LIFE.
WE HAVE BIG MOUTHS AND WE KNOW HOW TO USE
THEM. DON’T FUCK WITH US! ASK US IF WE WANT TO FUCK THOUGH !
FEMME SHARKS WILL RECLAIM THE POWER AND DIGNITY OF FEMALENESS BY ANY MEANS NECCESARY
WE’RE GIRLS BLOWN UP, TURNED INSIDE OUT AND REMIXED.
FEMME SHARKS ARE OVER WHITE QUEERS OBLIVIOUSNESS TO QUEER OF COLOR, TWO SPIRIT AND TRANS OF COLOR LIVES.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE A CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
WE’RE OVER WHITE FEMMES AND BUTCHES WHO THINK THAT FEMME ONLY COMES IN THE COLOR OF BARBIE.
WE’RE OVER BUTCHES AND BOYS AND OTHER FEMMES TELLING US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WEAR OR BE IN ORDER TO BE “REALLY FEMME.”
FEMME SHARKS RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES, BUTCHES, GENDERQUEER AND TRANS PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SINCE FOREVER.
THAT BEFORE COLONIZATION WE WERE SEEN AS SACRED
AND WE WERE SOME OF THE FIRST FOLKS MOST VIOLENTLY ATTACKED
WHEN OUR LANDS WERE INVADED AND COLONIZED.
FEMME SHARKS WON’T REST UNTIL WE RECLAIM OUR POSITIONS
AS BELOVED FAMILY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
FEMME SHARKS AREN’T JUST DIMEPIECES AND TROPHY WIVES
FUCK THAT!
WE MIGHT BE YOUR GIRL,
BUT WE’RE OUR OWN FEMMES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES ARE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HOLD IT DOWN, CALM YOUR TEARS, ORGANIZE THE RALLY, VISIT YOU IN JAIL, GET CHILDCARE HOOKED UP, LOAN YOU TWENTY DOLLARS.
FEMMES ARE WELDERS, AFTERSCHOOL TEACHERS, ABORTION CLINIC WORKERS, STRIPPERS, WRITERS, FACTORY WORKERS, MOMS, REVOLUTIONARIES DEDICATED TO TAKING THE SYSTEM THE HELL DOWN SO WE CAN BE FREE!
FEMMES ARE LEADERS IN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS/ DEFENDING OUR QUEER AND TRANS OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
WE USED OUR STILETTOS AS WEAPONS AT STONEWALL
WE WERE THE TRANSWOMEN WHO FOUGHT BACK AT THE COMPTON
CAFETERIA
WE’RE THE GIRLS WHO STARE DOWN ASSHOLES STARING AT OUR LOVERS AND FRIENDS ON THE SUBWAY.
WE WALK EACH OTHER HOME
ACT CRAZY ON THE BUS TO GET ASSHOLES TO MOVE AWAY
AND KNOW HOW TO BREAK SOMEONE’S LEGS
WE SHARE WHAT WE KNOW.
FEMME SHARKS STAND UP FOR THE NEW JERSEY FOUR AND EVERY OTHER QUEER AND TRANS PERSON OF COLOR IN THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX FOR DEFENDING OUR LIVES.
WE BELIEVE IN SELF-DEFENSE AND SELF-DETIRMINATION.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
AGAINST ANY KIND OF ATTACK-
FROM ASSHOLES ON THE STREET
TO RACIST WHITE CLUB OWNERS WHO WANT THREE PIECES OF ID
TO FOLKS WHO INSIST THAT WE’RE STRAIGHT.
TO PEOPLE WHO TAKE OUR LAND.
WE REMEMBER OUR DEAD- SAKIA GUNN, GWEN ARAUJO, AND MANY OTHER QUEER AND TRANS POC WHO DIED BECAUSE OF RACIST, HOMO/TRANSPHOBIC VIOLENCE
NOT AS A POLITICAL STATEMENT
BUT AS WOMEN WE LOVED IN REAL LIFE
WOMEN WHO COULD’VE BEEN US OR OUR LOVES.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE LEFT OUT OF “THE STRUGGLE”
NOT THIS TIME
WE’RE NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE.
FEMMES GODDAMN WELL KNOW HOW TO STRAP IT ON, CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CAR AND PUT UP SHELVES.
WE CAN DO ANY GODDAMN THING WE WANT!
THAT’S WHY WE’RE FEMME SHARKS!
FEMME IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING OUR MOMS
FEMMES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG WHEN WE BOTTOM
AND WE’RE HOT AS HELL WHEN WE TOP
OUR BOTTOMING AND TOPPPING ARE BOTH GIFTS TO BE MET WITH RESPECT.
WHEN WE TAKE OUR LOVERS FIST ALL THE WAY INSIDE
ASK FOR WHAT WE WANT
BE THE BEST DIRTY GIRL
OR MAKE OUR LOVERS FLIP
WE’RE A FUCKING MIRACLE.
IN THE WORDS OF JILL SCOTT, “YOU GOTTA DO RIGHT BY ME. IT’S MANDATORY, BABY.”
FEMME SHARKS SHOP AT ROSS, FOXY LADY, VALUE VILLAGE, THE HM $5 RACK, TORRID AND THE DOLLAR STORE , AND KNOW HOW TO SHOPLIFT
WE CONCOCT BRILLIANT STRATEGIES TO LOOK FINE
ON TEN DOLLARS OR LESS.
WE’RE ONLY “INVISIBLE” IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOOK FOR US.
WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER
RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES ARE EACH OTHERS’ WEALTH
HOS BEFORE BROS, ALWAYS!
FEMME SOLIDARITY AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
IS A REVOLUTIONARY FORCE
WE BELIEVE IN GIRLS LOVING GIRLS, RESPECTING EACH OTHER’S BRILLIANCE
NOT FIGHTING OVER BOIS OR BUTCHES
NOT TRYING TO BE THE ALPHA FEMME
WE’RE ANTI-DRAMA (I wish more femmes knew and lived by this -LP)
BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES THAT HEAL HURT, APOLOGIZE, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
WE BELIEVE IN BUILDING OUR QTPOC COMMUNITIES STRONG
FEMME SHARKS WERE THERE WHEN FRIDA KAHLO HOOKED UP WITH HER
GIRLFRIENDS
WHEN JOAN NESTLE, CHRYSTOS, JEWELLE GOMEZ, ALEXIS DE VEUX, SYLVIA RIVERA, DOROTHY ALLISON, MINNIE BRUCE PRATT AND AMBER HOLLIBAUGH MADE QUEER FEMME HISTORY
WHEN ZAPATISTA WOMEN HOOKED UP
WHEN AFRICAN QUEERS RESIST EVERRY DAY
WHEN OUR GRANDMAS AND QUEER AUNTIES SNUCK OUT AT NIGHT
DIDN’T GET MARRIED TIL LATE- OR AT ALL
HAS A BEST GIRLFRIEND
AND STOOD UP FOR HER
FEMME SHARKS WERE THERE
FEMME SHARKS ARE IN THE BODIES OF COUNTLESS SEX WORKERS, NEIGHBORDS AND LADIES WAITING FOR THE BUS AND IN THE LINEUP AT CENTURY 21.
AT RIIS BEACH, FUNKASIA, LOVERGIRL NYC, BUTTA, MANGO, MANHATTAN’S, DESILICIOUS.
FEMME SHARKS LIVE ON THE REZ, IN CAPETOWN, NEWARK, OAKLAND!!!!!, THE SOUTH SIDE, NEW ORLEANS, COLOMBO, JUAREZ AND BROOKLYN SUBURBIA, THE FARM, AND LITTLE SMALL TOWNS.
WE’RE IN FOSTER CARE, THE PSYCH WARD, JUVIE, AND ABOUT TO BE EVICTED.
WE ARE SURVIVORS WHO ARE MORE THAN WHAT WE SURVIVED.
WE ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO HEAL
AND HOW TO MAKE IT SO THAT NO ONE
WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE EVERY AGAIN.
WE BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT
TO MAKE SOMETHING MUCH MO BETTA
AND WE BELIEVE IN MAKING OUR OWN WAYS TO FIGHT AND RESIST
ON THE DAILY.
A FEMME SHARK IS ANY GIRL
WHO IS TOUGH, HUNGRY, FIGHTS FOR HERSELF AND HER FAM
AND IS WORKING ON BECOMCING THE KIND OF GIRL
WHO FINDS GOD IN HERSELF
AND LOVES HER FIERCELY
WE’RE YOUR BEST GIRLFRIEND AND YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE
LOVE AND RAGE
THE FEMME SHARKS
FEMME SHARKS ARE ON PATROL!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT! SHARK SHARK IT UP!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL
THEFEMMESHARKS@GMAIL.COM
Written by Founding Femme Shark Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
The Femme Sharks are an idea that was dreamed up by SBBFFF (Slutty Brown Best Femme Friends Forever) Zuleikha Mahmood and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha in March of 2008, Oakland, CA.
This work is shared under a Creative Commons license- feel free to share if you give credit where cred is due.
FEMME SHARK MANIFESTO!
FEMME SHARKS DON’T EAT OUR OWN.
FEMME SHARKS LIKE TO EAT THOUGH
FEMME SHARKS RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES COME IN ALL KINDS OF SIZES AND EACH KIND IS LUSCIOUS. WE WORK TOWARDS LOVING OUR CURVY, FAT, SKINNY, SUPERSIZE, THICK, DISABLED, BLACK AND BROWN FINE-ASS BODIES EVERY DAY. WE REALIZE THAT LOVING OURSELVES IN A RACIST/SEXIST/HOMO/TRANSPHOBIC/ABLIST/CLASSIST SYSTEM IS AN EVERY DAY ACT OF WAR AGAINST THAT SYSTEM.
FEMME SHARKS DON’T THINK ANOREXIA IS CUTE.
WE THINK EATING A BIG-ASS MEAL IS SEXY.
WE SAY SCREW “HEIGHT WEIGHT PROPORTIONATE PLEASE” IN CRAIGSLIST WOMEN SEEKING WOMEN ADS AND IN LIFE.
WE HAVE BIG MOUTHS AND WE KNOW HOW TO USE
THEM. DON’T FUCK WITH US! ASK US IF WE WANT TO FUCK THOUGH !
FEMME SHARKS WILL RECLAIM THE POWER AND DIGNITY OF FEMALENESS BY ANY MEANS NECCESARY
WE’RE GIRLS BLOWN UP, TURNED INSIDE OUT AND REMIXED.
FEMME SHARKS ARE OVER WHITE QUEERS OBLIVIOUSNESS TO QUEER OF COLOR, TWO SPIRIT AND TRANS OF COLOR LIVES.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE A CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
WE’RE OVER WHITE FEMMES AND BUTCHES WHO THINK THAT FEMME ONLY COMES IN THE COLOR OF BARBIE.
WE’RE OVER BUTCHES AND BOYS AND OTHER FEMMES TELLING US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WEAR OR BE IN ORDER TO BE “REALLY FEMME.”
FEMME SHARKS RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES, BUTCHES, GENDERQUEER AND TRANS PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SINCE FOREVER.
THAT BEFORE COLONIZATION WE WERE SEEN AS SACRED
AND WE WERE SOME OF THE FIRST FOLKS MOST VIOLENTLY ATTACKED
WHEN OUR LANDS WERE INVADED AND COLONIZED.
FEMME SHARKS WON’T REST UNTIL WE RECLAIM OUR POSITIONS
AS BELOVED FAMILY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
FEMME SHARKS AREN’T JUST DIMEPIECES AND TROPHY WIVES
FUCK THAT!
WE MIGHT BE YOUR GIRL,
BUT WE’RE OUR OWN FEMMES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES ARE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HOLD IT DOWN, CALM YOUR TEARS, ORGANIZE THE RALLY, VISIT YOU IN JAIL, GET CHILDCARE HOOKED UP, LOAN YOU TWENTY DOLLARS.
FEMMES ARE WELDERS, AFTERSCHOOL TEACHERS, ABORTION CLINIC WORKERS, STRIPPERS, WRITERS, FACTORY WORKERS, MOMS, REVOLUTIONARIES DEDICATED TO TAKING THE SYSTEM THE HELL DOWN SO WE CAN BE FREE!
FEMMES ARE LEADERS IN TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS/ DEFENDING OUR QUEER AND TRANS OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
WE USED OUR STILETTOS AS WEAPONS AT STONEWALL
WE WERE THE TRANSWOMEN WHO FOUGHT BACK AT THE COMPTON
CAFETERIA
WE’RE THE GIRLS WHO STARE DOWN ASSHOLES STARING AT OUR LOVERS AND FRIENDS ON THE SUBWAY.
WE WALK EACH OTHER HOME
ACT CRAZY ON THE BUS TO GET ASSHOLES TO MOVE AWAY
AND KNOW HOW TO BREAK SOMEONE’S LEGS
WE SHARE WHAT WE KNOW.
FEMME SHARKS STAND UP FOR THE NEW JERSEY FOUR AND EVERY OTHER QUEER AND TRANS PERSON OF COLOR IN THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX FOR DEFENDING OUR LIVES.
WE BELIEVE IN SELF-DEFENSE AND SELF-DETIRMINATION.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
AGAINST ANY KIND OF ATTACK-
FROM ASSHOLES ON THE STREET
TO RACIST WHITE CLUB OWNERS WHO WANT THREE PIECES OF ID
TO FOLKS WHO INSIST THAT WE’RE STRAIGHT.
TO PEOPLE WHO TAKE OUR LAND.
WE REMEMBER OUR DEAD- SAKIA GUNN, GWEN ARAUJO, AND MANY OTHER QUEER AND TRANS POC WHO DIED BECAUSE OF RACIST, HOMO/TRANSPHOBIC VIOLENCE
NOT AS A POLITICAL STATEMENT
BUT AS WOMEN WE LOVED IN REAL LIFE
WOMEN WHO COULD’VE BEEN US OR OUR LOVES.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE LEFT OUT OF “THE STRUGGLE”
NOT THIS TIME
WE’RE NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE.
FEMMES GODDAMN WELL KNOW HOW TO STRAP IT ON, CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CAR AND PUT UP SHELVES.
WE CAN DO ANY GODDAMN THING WE WANT!
THAT’S WHY WE’RE FEMME SHARKS!
FEMME IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BEING OUR MOMS
FEMMES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG WHEN WE BOTTOM
AND WE’RE HOT AS HELL WHEN WE TOP
OUR BOTTOMING AND TOPPPING ARE BOTH GIFTS TO BE MET WITH RESPECT.
WHEN WE TAKE OUR LOVERS FIST ALL THE WAY INSIDE
ASK FOR WHAT WE WANT
BE THE BEST DIRTY GIRL
OR MAKE OUR LOVERS FLIP
WE’RE A FUCKING MIRACLE.
IN THE WORDS OF JILL SCOTT, “YOU GOTTA DO RIGHT BY ME. IT’S MANDATORY, BABY.”
FEMME SHARKS SHOP AT ROSS, FOXY LADY, VALUE VILLAGE, THE HM $5 RACK, TORRID AND THE DOLLAR STORE , AND KNOW HOW TO SHOPLIFT
WE CONCOCT BRILLIANT STRATEGIES TO LOOK FINE
ON TEN DOLLARS OR LESS.
WE’RE ONLY “INVISIBLE” IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOOK FOR US.
WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER
RECOGNIZE THAT FEMMES ARE EACH OTHERS’ WEALTH
HOS BEFORE BROS, ALWAYS!
FEMME SOLIDARITY AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
IS A REVOLUTIONARY FORCE
WE BELIEVE IN GIRLS LOVING GIRLS, RESPECTING EACH OTHER’S BRILLIANCE
NOT FIGHTING OVER BOIS OR BUTCHES
NOT TRYING TO BE THE ALPHA FEMME
WE’RE ANTI-DRAMA (I wish more femmes knew and lived by this -LP)
BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES THAT HEAL HURT, APOLOGIZE, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
WE BELIEVE IN BUILDING OUR QTPOC COMMUNITIES STRONG
FEMME SHARKS WERE THERE WHEN FRIDA KAHLO HOOKED UP WITH HER
GIRLFRIENDS
WHEN JOAN NESTLE, CHRYSTOS, JEWELLE GOMEZ, ALEXIS DE VEUX, SYLVIA RIVERA, DOROTHY ALLISON, MINNIE BRUCE PRATT AND AMBER HOLLIBAUGH MADE QUEER FEMME HISTORY
WHEN ZAPATISTA WOMEN HOOKED UP
WHEN AFRICAN QUEERS RESIST EVERRY DAY
WHEN OUR GRANDMAS AND QUEER AUNTIES SNUCK OUT AT NIGHT
DIDN’T GET MARRIED TIL LATE- OR AT ALL
HAS A BEST GIRLFRIEND
AND STOOD UP FOR HER
FEMME SHARKS WERE THERE
FEMME SHARKS ARE IN THE BODIES OF COUNTLESS SEX WORKERS, NEIGHBORDS AND LADIES WAITING FOR THE BUS AND IN THE LINEUP AT CENTURY 21.
AT RIIS BEACH, FUNKASIA, LOVERGIRL NYC, BUTTA, MANGO, MANHATTAN’S, DESILICIOUS.
FEMME SHARKS LIVE ON THE REZ, IN CAPETOWN, NEWARK, OAKLAND!!!!!, THE SOUTH SIDE, NEW ORLEANS, COLOMBO, JUAREZ AND BROOKLYN SUBURBIA, THE FARM, AND LITTLE SMALL TOWNS.
WE’RE IN FOSTER CARE, THE PSYCH WARD, JUVIE, AND ABOUT TO BE EVICTED.
WE ARE SURVIVORS WHO ARE MORE THAN WHAT WE SURVIVED.
WE ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO HEAL
AND HOW TO MAKE IT SO THAT NO ONE
WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE EVERY AGAIN.
WE BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT
TO MAKE SOMETHING MUCH MO BETTA
AND WE BELIEVE IN MAKING OUR OWN WAYS TO FIGHT AND RESIST
ON THE DAILY.
A FEMME SHARK IS ANY GIRL
WHO IS TOUGH, HUNGRY, FIGHTS FOR HERSELF AND HER FAM
AND IS WORKING ON BECOMCING THE KIND OF GIRL
WHO FINDS GOD IN HERSELF
AND LOVES HER FIERCELY
WE’RE YOUR BEST GIRLFRIEND AND YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE
LOVE AND RAGE
THE FEMME SHARKS
FEMME SHARKS ARE ON PATROL!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT! SHARK SHARK IT UP!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL
THEFEMMESHARKS@GMAIL.COM
Written by Founding Femme Shark Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
The Femme Sharks are an idea that was dreamed up by SBBFFF (Slutty Brown Best Femme Friends Forever) Zuleikha Mahmood and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha in March of 2008, Oakland, CA.
This work is shared under a Creative Commons license- feel free to share if you give credit where cred is due.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Basking in the glow of the weekend.
Ay another weekend come and gone...
This was a great weekend for me. My friend Mica flew in on Friday from the Bay Area to stay with me and partake in the FABULOSITY that is LA!
She flew in on Friday, and after settling in, we got ready and went out to 'A Taste of Brazil' this AMAZING Brazilian restaurant in my hood (El Sereno) We had a lovely dinner (including a bottle of Argentinian wine) and what made it even better was the live singer they had there.
After our lovely dinner, we went over to the grocery store to buy some more wine and get some liquor for VP who was going to be coming over later in the evening. We went back home and drank, talked and then decided to rest since we had a long day ahead of us on Sat.
Saturday morning started off a bit on the late side (I think we were in a wine daze...) But once we got it together, we were on our way to go pick up Kery so we could head over to the BBQ...and what a BBQ it was, our host/ess with the most really hooked it up. I had such a BLAST (see pix)
We left that party to quickly get ready for the Beatmo/Ceci B/BSide Players Concert at the Roxy All I can say is WOW. My ex schooled me on Spanish Reggae/Roots music and this was one of her favorite bands (her ex was the graphic designer for the band at one point) Her and I no longer have contact, so it was a bit bittersweet being at the concert, but it was cool to be there with Mel and Mica (Mel's sister is in the band Beatmo and got us tickets) Mica and I got there a bit late (blame it on us being femmes) so unfortunately, we missed out on Beatmo (I saw them in Long Beach last year and they were AMAZING, can't wait to see them again..) We caught the end of Ceci Bastida and you could feel that the place was buzzing with some kind of excitement...well we look around and notice that the one and only Julieta Venegas is chillin' in the audience (I'm sure she was there supporting Ceci, since only the night before she opened for her in Vegas) EVERYONE was on Julieta's jock so, I didn't go up to her. I was just sure that she was there to enjoy herself and listen to some music, after all isn't that why people go to a concert??
Anywhooooooooo..the most orgasmic part of the evening for me, was of course the BSide. OMG they were soo amazing...I was on a Bside mission that whole week at work, listening to EVERY CD that I had of them! I pushed my way to the front of the stage and Mica and I were there dancing and singing to EVERY song....Solark has such an awesome stage presence! I swear...him with those dreads and tattoos...YUM. So, in the rapture of the moment, I forgot all about my knee injury and I was up there dancing and singing. It was so fun! At one point, Mica went to go buy a cocktail, leaving me by myself. I just remember in that moment, that I thought 'wow, I'm REALLY happy right now' After all the drama and heartache and heartbreak that I've been thru this past year, it was nice to finally acknowledge and feel happiness. These last couple of months have been full of travel and fun and friends (and some dirty 30 moments) I'm having FUN! Here are some pix from the concert!
Well we got home around 3am and had to go to bed because the next day, I was hosting the Butches, Babes and Brew Beer Bust party at my house. The party was set up to unveil the latest brew by Mel (check out her and Raqui's Beer Blog) The name of the brew (named after me) is Lusty Luna's Lager. It was so amazing. Now, I'm not a big beer drinker, but it was so light and refreshing, that I had to have about 3 small glasses of it, before switching over to vodka tonics. The guests trickled in and we peaked at about 12 people. It was such a fascinating group of people. We were drinking and talking and having a good time. Someone mentioned food and then Kery kindly offered to go to the grocery store to buy stuff to make dinner. Well 3 of the guests went over to the store and came back with bags full of yummy stuff. There were 4 chefs in the kitchen that night and OMG it was so amazing what queers can do when they put their mind to it. We ate like kings and queens that night. It sometimes can be hard for me to deal with the fact that my family lives far away from me, but, on nights like this one, I felt sooo much love from everyone. And, YES everyone stayed and pitched in to help clean the kitchen up and take the trash out! I love my friends! Check out these shots of the night.
Ok...so now it's Monday, I'm back at work and SUPER sad that Mica has to go back to the Bay :*(
This was a great weekend for me. My friend Mica flew in on Friday from the Bay Area to stay with me and partake in the FABULOSITY that is LA!
She flew in on Friday, and after settling in, we got ready and went out to 'A Taste of Brazil' this AMAZING Brazilian restaurant in my hood (El Sereno) We had a lovely dinner (including a bottle of Argentinian wine) and what made it even better was the live singer they had there.
After our lovely dinner, we went over to the grocery store to buy some more wine and get some liquor for VP who was going to be coming over later in the evening. We went back home and drank, talked and then decided to rest since we had a long day ahead of us on Sat.
Saturday morning started off a bit on the late side (I think we were in a wine daze...) But once we got it together, we were on our way to go pick up Kery so we could head over to the BBQ...and what a BBQ it was, our host/ess with the most really hooked it up. I had such a BLAST (see pix)
We left that party to quickly get ready for the Beatmo/Ceci B/BSide Players Concert at the Roxy All I can say is WOW. My ex schooled me on Spanish Reggae/Roots music and this was one of her favorite bands (her ex was the graphic designer for the band at one point) Her and I no longer have contact, so it was a bit bittersweet being at the concert, but it was cool to be there with Mel and Mica (Mel's sister is in the band Beatmo and got us tickets) Mica and I got there a bit late (blame it on us being femmes) so unfortunately, we missed out on Beatmo (I saw them in Long Beach last year and they were AMAZING, can't wait to see them again..) We caught the end of Ceci Bastida and you could feel that the place was buzzing with some kind of excitement...well we look around and notice that the one and only Julieta Venegas is chillin' in the audience (I'm sure she was there supporting Ceci, since only the night before she opened for her in Vegas) EVERYONE was on Julieta's jock so, I didn't go up to her. I was just sure that she was there to enjoy herself and listen to some music, after all isn't that why people go to a concert??
Anywhooooooooo..the most orgasmic part of the evening for me, was of course the BSide. OMG they were soo amazing...I was on a Bside mission that whole week at work, listening to EVERY CD that I had of them! I pushed my way to the front of the stage and Mica and I were there dancing and singing to EVERY song....Solark has such an awesome stage presence! I swear...him with those dreads and tattoos...YUM. So, in the rapture of the moment, I forgot all about my knee injury and I was up there dancing and singing. It was so fun! At one point, Mica went to go buy a cocktail, leaving me by myself. I just remember in that moment, that I thought 'wow, I'm REALLY happy right now' After all the drama and heartache and heartbreak that I've been thru this past year, it was nice to finally acknowledge and feel happiness. These last couple of months have been full of travel and fun and friends (and some dirty 30 moments) I'm having FUN! Here are some pix from the concert!
Well we got home around 3am and had to go to bed because the next day, I was hosting the Butches, Babes and Brew Beer Bust party at my house. The party was set up to unveil the latest brew by Mel (check out her and Raqui's Beer Blog) The name of the brew (named after me) is Lusty Luna's Lager. It was so amazing. Now, I'm not a big beer drinker, but it was so light and refreshing, that I had to have about 3 small glasses of it, before switching over to vodka tonics. The guests trickled in and we peaked at about 12 people. It was such a fascinating group of people. We were drinking and talking and having a good time. Someone mentioned food and then Kery kindly offered to go to the grocery store to buy stuff to make dinner. Well 3 of the guests went over to the store and came back with bags full of yummy stuff. There were 4 chefs in the kitchen that night and OMG it was so amazing what queers can do when they put their mind to it. We ate like kings and queens that night. It sometimes can be hard for me to deal with the fact that my family lives far away from me, but, on nights like this one, I felt sooo much love from everyone. And, YES everyone stayed and pitched in to help clean the kitchen up and take the trash out! I love my friends! Check out these shots of the night.
Ok...so now it's Monday, I'm back at work and SUPER sad that Mica has to go back to the Bay :*(
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Just what I needed for the mood I'm in
Thank you Thank you Thank you to Fabulosa Mujer www.fabulosamujer.com
I needed this poem at this exact moment in my life
indispensable words
Dishonesty dies
Freedom flies
in your face
slashing your lies to pieces
i am that hummingbird
dandellion shredded in the air
light, with flying flare
displacing your
talk muddled in cowardly acts and vacant promises
dead
love
freedom
reigns
now that your vacant words do not occupy my mind
there’s plenty of room
for truth
to bud
without confines
I needed this poem at this exact moment in my life
indispensable words
Dishonesty dies
Freedom flies
in your face
slashing your lies to pieces
i am that hummingbird
dandellion shredded in the air
light, with flying flare
displacing your
talk muddled in cowardly acts and vacant promises
dead
love
freedom
reigns
now that your vacant words do not occupy my mind
there’s plenty of room
for truth
to bud
without confines
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