Story Archives

by tiny aka Lisa Gray-Garcia/PNN- ReViewSFoRtheReVoLutioN

The colores shimmered from their jackets... the glow of pinks y amarillos, golds and greens filled my mind as my ears and eyes wrapped around the son and the ritmo of the deep , rich sounds of mariachi that filled the stage of the Brava theatre at the opening of Imperial Silence: Una Opera Muerta/ A Mariachi Opera in Four Acts.

Una Opera Muerta, performed as part of Galeria De La Raza's Day of the Dead celebration and directed by John Jota Leanos in collaboration with Cristobal Martinez, Los Quatros Vientos and Sean Levon Nash is a mixed media, layered art production of radio, song, images, stage and dance. Perhaps all of those elements are the definition of classical opera, Im not sure, but it was one of the most beautiful and seamless pieces of performance art, culture and commentary, I have ever seen.

My five year old son Tiburcio, mi novio, Tony y yo were at home preparing the altar for my Mama Dee who passed in March of 2006 before we all arrived at the opening night of Imperial Silence at the Brava theatre. We all watched as the opening act began with a mariachi aria in full regalia. As we listened to the live music set to a children's nursery rhyme, Los ABCs QUE, an animated film took us on a tour through global and local poverty, the death of the desparacidos in Juarez, corporate destruction of NAFTA/CAFTA and the maquiladoras, global climate change, border fascism y mas. The animation was at once terrifying and hilarious, the characters resembled a dead version of Kenny and the crew from South Park. We were laughing and shaking our heads in disgusted agreement.

The next acts were intertwined with live dance pieces that combined Mexican folklorico and indigena symbology representing the duality of the experience of migrant peoples in life and death across the globe.

The third act, Radio Muerta, is a haunting radio piece heard and seen inside a car, the amazing lowrider car painted for this opera and presented at the Day of the Dead celebration at the Oakland Museum in 2007.

The fourth and final act includes a satire of corporate media with DNN/ Dead News Network and depicts, among other things, the thousand dead march.

As the last act closed with more breathtaking dancing and mariachi sounds, I remembered my Mama Dee's words, herself an amazing performance, visual and sound artist, who was honored in the radio scene of the opera, a good production of anything is marked by its ability to move you to not just tears but laughter. My mama dee's spirit was in the Brava theatre that noche de los muertos and she was muy contento.

by RWS

Dear Barack,

I didn't watch the election coverage of November 4th. I was not in front of the television watching the announcers project which states you won and which states went to senator McCain. I was sitting in a circle. What circle, you might ask? I was in the indigenous circle at POOR Magazine in San Francisco. Election night fell on the same night as Community Newsroom in which Poverty, Race, Disability, Migrant, Youth and Elder scholars from the community come together and create media--revolutionary media that tells their stories--stories of houselessness, disability, incarceration, immigration, gentrification and issues of poverty that go unnoticed or misrepresented by mainstream media. Our circle is important and we don't break it, even for the U.S. Presidential election.

Don't get me wrong, the people in our circle were most interested in the election. We glanced at the computer terminal from time to time and each time we looked, you were in the lead. Each report indicated what state went to you and what state went to senator McCain.

We were happy to see that you were pulling away from Senator McCain. The report came in that you had picked up Ohio and Pennsylvania, I said to myself, it's over.

But we had work to do. The criminalization of poor folks globally and locally is something that we are fighting. I am sure you are familiar with the UN Declaration on indigenous peoples; it is our hope that your administration will recognize this declaration and take the necessary steps to cease the criminalization of migrant peoples--to recognize that migrant peoples have families and cultures and histories that run deep in this hemisphere. Will this be part of your agenda? I believe the future of the U.S. as a country hinges on undoing the wrongs committed upon the indigenous peoples of this hemisphere. You have a helluva job in front of you. I wouldn't want the job you now have.

As you were winning in the Electoral College, our circle was talking about the civil rights movement and the fight for the vote. One of our scholars at POOR Magazine is a founding member who is Black and has dealt with homelessness and poverty for much of his life. He said that voting is important but that politics must be part of everything you do, from the places you shop to the media you access for information. It must be part of day to day living. It is the vital work that must be done that goes unnoticed.

A young woman in our circle from Tonga spoke from her heart about her family situation. She spoke of the medical system and emptiness she felt navigating through a system of providers who provide nothing that resembles spirit or compassion or empathy. Her tears brought us back to who we are as indigenous people. Our circle is stronger now. This happened as you gave your victory speech.

When community newsroom ended, I got on my bike and headed home. An African descendant kid shouted your name from an open window: OBAMA! OBAMA! Young black men walked in the street chanting your name. White so-called hipsters congregated at cafes and bars celebrating your victory. I rode past navigating the San Francisco hills.

As I rode I thought of the other Obamas of the past, the talented and brilliant black men and women who never got the opportunity to achieve their dreams or show their brilliance as you have. I am hopeful that you will not forget them. I hope you remember the young kid in the window chanting your name. Our indigenous circle is not broken.

by Ingrid De Leon/Migrant Scholar - Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia

El vino a los Estados Unidos de Guatemala en Diciembre 18 del ano pasado. Devido a la profunda pobresa que el y su familia sufria, tuvo que dejar sus padres y hermanos, la tierra de su orijen, su pais.

El vino a los Estados Unidos con la ilusion de hacer algo con su vida para el futuro y despues de un tiempo regresaria a su familia, pero inevitablemente su fortuna no occurio asi.

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El Jueves Octubre 6, por las 2 de la manana, el salio de su trabajo y cuando iba crusando la calle con unos amigos, un carro lo atropello.

La ambulancia lo llevo a el hospital. Los doct ores lo operaron para salvarle la vida, pero fue imposible, porque sus piernas, estomago y columna estaban rotas y no sobrevivio el golpe, murio por las cinco de la manana.

Su primo tambien fue lastimado, pero gracias a dios todavia esta vivo. Ahora su familia y amigos aqui y en Guatemala no tienen paz.

Nelson fue un buen joven, humilde, trabajador, responsible y muy carinoso. Pero ahora todo lo que tenemos es nuestra memoria de el. El ya no esta aqui, pero su espiritu vivira con nosotros para siempre.

Apreciamos a toda la gente que nos quiere ayudar, que Dios los bendiga por su assistencia y colaboracion, gracias. Que Dios los bendiga.

Donaciones para la familia pueden ser enviadas a POOR Magazine in c/o Nelson Aguilo....

Engles Sigue:

He came to the US from Guatemala on December 18 of last year. Due to the deep poverty he and his family were struggling with, he had to leave his parents and siblings, his land of origin, his country. He came to the US with the illusion of making something for his future and after sometime he would be able to return to his family, but unfortunately fortune did not turn out that way. On Thursday October 6th, at around 2 in the morning, he came out of work and when he was crossing the street, he and his friends, a car ran him over. The ambulance took him to the hospital. The doctors operated on him to save his life but it was impossible, because he had broken legs and his stomach and spine did not survive the impact and he died at around 5 in the morning. His cousin was also badly hurt but thank God he is still alive. Now his family and friends here and in Guatemala have no peace. Nelson was a good young man, humble, a very hardworker, responsible and very caring. But now all we have is his memory. He is no longer here, but his spirit will live on forever. We appreciate the people who want to help us, God bless you for your assistance and collaboration thank you. God bless you.

Donations to the Family can be sent to POOR Magazine in c/o Nelson Aguilon; 1095 Market street #307 SF, Ca 94103

by Bruce Allison\Poverty Scholar

It all started about a year ago when I went into a senior conference, they interviewed seniors in jail. Most of these people at their age and time in life, 80s and 90s are still working while incarcerated. Not an eight-hour job, but a ten-hour job seven days a week. A statistic says their residity rate of them going back to jail is 1% to 0%. That means there is almost no chance of them returning to prison. Besides, most of them cannot do their full sentence and are there because of the three strikes law. There are some bills in the assembly that want to give them a reprieve from labor after the age of seventy, but there are opposing forces that do not want that to happen. These people are representing the prison industrial complex, so that they can make 2500 dollars a day from taxpayers. Instead, if they are put into a nursing facility or senior housing they will cost taxpayers 250 dollars a day and that is with social security if they never worked a day in their life. There is no way they can go back to their criminal occupation. Robbing a bank takes more than a walker or wheelchair can handle. This should be noted on the pardon board, or whoever gives them pardons. They are no threat to society anymore. Most seniors that I have met that have left jail have done remarkable things.

For example a former incarcerated person by the name of Bobby Bogan is director of a non-profit organization known as Seniors Organizing Seniors. In that position he is well known, articulate, and with that gift he has been able to facilitate a childhood dream. Presently he is planning to set up a senior national convention in the city of San Francisco for especially poor seniors will be that will be held in three years. Others have been through the same situation and are intelligent and will be assets to society. They will help the community with their knowledge and wisdom as elders.

If you are interested in getting elders out of incarceration write to your assemblyman or state senator if you are in California. For national elders in jail and national laws write to your federal senator or congressional representative. I also encourage you to write to the president about the three strikes law and seniors should not be in jail because it is a burden to society. This will not bring a huge crime wave to society this is bogus policy that is based on the old myth that once a criminal always a criminal.

by Bruce Allison/PNN

The mayor has found another loop-hole for the mid-season budget cuts. The smallest of the cuts is to the Mayor’s office which is a total of $541,870.

The area that the mayor is using from the San Francisco City charter is 3.001.

Basically, this says that the portion of the charter states that the mayor has “wide and varied powers”.

The portion of the budget that will be hit the hardest is Public Health which will receive a 26 million dollar cut under the mayor’s new spending plan. Due to the hosing of the public a pandemic is possible due to the way officials are handling public finances. I guess all we can do is pray that doesn’t happen because nobody is working to prevent it.

At this time there is also a lawsuit that may be held in the city for not holding a real public impact hearing, which usually occurs when there is a cut in Public Health. The last one was held at the department of public health which is a violation of the state law which governs Bealinson hearings. The hearings are supposed to be held in the County’s Board of supervisor’s chambers.

Due to San Francisco city and county’s unique position the mayor has pulled a fast one. If it was held at the board of supervisor’s chambers then this most likely would not have occurred. Because the majority of the supervisors including an unlikely one (mayor’s appointee Alieto-Pier) would have voted against the cuts.

Since the mayor knows that, he has used this loop-hole in the state law with assistance from the city attorney. With the present board there may not be a way to have this stopped, putting us all in danger.

by Joseph Bolden

One Lone Voice

Sun smooched Saturday, prayer to holy trinity, and 100 to 200+ Kegal exercises
[think maintaining strength, stamina, and endurance].

Above explanation is all you’ll get from me folks.

Now, besides converting a dingy, dirty one-room-apartment into a save clean haven for a dear and troubled friend, food, making it a sanitary sanctuary.

I must ready myself for relatives, friend, be out of town for the upcoming holiday, return for events to be planned for the coming year as many people are doing at this time all over the world.

The radio show won’t be done this say because my place is still not fit for guests to drop by, missed lunch but will make up for it Sunday.

As I left the Main Library with a book I
ordered, crossing the street I see a young woman standing on the island where a bus stops picking up – letting passengers off exclaiming loudly
“LEFT RIGHT, BLACK WHITE, MARRIAGE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.”

She seems completely alone with a few car honking encouragement.

It’s still early in the day “so why not dash out a column” I thought.

Not much to say except like the lone voiced woman in the street
I hope to always be on the best side of history.

One must remember when all kinds of Slavery then as now was seen as the norm, violence against women, persons of same sex orientation, religious,
racial hatred, and marriage to any other than ones own people was against the law until recently in 1967.

There has always been at first one lone voice trumpeting new ideas they were always in the minority whether in social issues or new ways of applied sciences.

Eventually other voices chimed in adding to that one lone voice.

There were times in our recent past where a voice rose so high that fear demanded the sacrifice of death.

America on the one hand boldly chose a new path and new President-to-be
while simultaneously stepped backward making yes on Proposition 8 a fear many have on the sanctity of marriage.

If it’s so sacred, strong, and venerable an institution based on mutual love though children may form families.

Marriage is first and foremost about two individuals and though we’re use to seeing man and woman isn’t there room
for same sex unions of males and females?

As for the tired line
“There can be no children issuing from “Those kinds of unions.”

That is a fallacy in that Gayell’s are able to give birth and males with help from females friends can also provide offspring for male couples to nurture.

Adoption’s an option but even that made many hetro men and women feel threatened.

Which only shows me that for all the so called in-the-good book-crud the real fear is if it really came down to it both
couples raising families are no different its just a different dynamic and only years will tell what the effects will be.

Right now all I see is blind fear, envy, hatred, and religious intolerance as same sex Marriages not civic unions gain in approval.

Yes, Mayor Gavin Newsome on May 16, 2008 said. “Its inevitable, whether you like it or not, Its gonna’ happen.”

He’s no lone voice but neither are the folks who decided it would not stand.

Those people are on the wrong side of history, they may even know it and still voted for Marriage only between a man and a woman ploy.

Maybe Mayor Newsome galvanized bigots and religious folks everywhere but he is right in that the tide is changing.

Its last hurrah, a mean spirited “No Way, Not Today” votes. Those folks may have won a skirmish, small battle, but war for them is lost.

Because they are rapidly losing ground if what use to be and what is.

Fundamental change is afoot they can no longer deny people rights.

Its sad really as their power base lessens,
their children think, act, vote differently, those that
cannot hear the change, see writing on the wall, or waves about to wash over them will
have to live through this new time when most if not all their monumental power is shifted and lost breaking upon many multiple waves of change ocean seas.

Here’s to hoping that I for one can see and anticipate the coming breaking waves along the shoreline.

Send Comments to www.poormagazine.org or
www.telljoe.

by Joseph Bolden

Sunrise Ceremony/Why Are You Here?

First, a year or two ago from a few friends I heard about Alcatraz,

A.I.M. American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis Banks (Leech Lake Ojibwe). taken over December 1969 which in later began the longest walk from Alcatraz to Washington, D.C. in 1978.

4 – 5am to 9am is the time all is to take place but with lots of people, equipment, children, and infants human errors crept in.

All in all it was a well organized affair though scary to me especially when first waking at 2:40am in the morning hoping not be late because of my legendary rotten sense of direction.

This year I was given the opportunity to witness the Sunrise Ceremony.

From the bottom of my hear I apologize for petty musings on the cold, about time, mean spirits about the crowded space prior to boarding on the ship.

Yes, many people on the rock made it difficult to see personages and speakers near a ceremonial fire.

I had gotten lost after finding the restroom after the ship had landed along with others before heading up a steep hill.

Not as cold as first though but I bundled up wearing double socks, two shirts, raincoat, scarf, and gloves given to me by the person who personally invited me.

It less cold as dawn slowly creeps into an overcast gray morn.

After finding a few of my group they and I decide to leave on the first of the four boats berthed temporary here.

From there an F-bus home, sleep, and bart ting out of city.

Money gone, bart card unable to cover exit how was I to get out of the terminal?

I got out when the bart attendant let me leave by the emergency exit.

When mama arrived the question is:

“Bring any food?”

“No.”

“Bring extra cash?”

“Uh, some went to food, trips, movies…”

“Girlfriend.”

“No”

“Why are you here?”

“I need a break from the city.”

“So you’re here with no money or food.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here?”

“Ran out of money.”

“What happened to all that money saved?”

“Got used up I guess.”

“Why are you here?”

“I had to get away and
this is my haven.”

“Why are you here?”

“Its Thanksgiving,you're family.”

“Oh… ok let’s go home.”

On to Fairfield, Ca.

for a quiet, restful Thanks taking-

giving weekend holiday.

Everyone peacefully enjoy yours.

Send comments to
www.deeandtiny@poormagazine
or

www. telljoe@poormagazine.org

by Joseph Bolden

The Claus Crap, Correct It!

My turkey day was tiring.

I went to my first Sunrise Ceremony

On Alcatraz, in fact its my first visit ever.

Slightly chilled, solemn but nearly spoiled by my worries of being on time and literally missing the ship, I tend to get lost easy just like my flaky gay/gayelle radar, my geographical sense of direction is equally wonky.

Arriving in the early dawn along with dozens of cold citizens awaiting instructions on embarking, disembarking and safety tips while cruising on the ship.

I'm glad for the experience, may do so again� maybe?

Later in the day a pre Thanksgiving party where I live then off to meet family and friends out of town.

It was then I begin noticing something slightly off or odd from the corner of my eyes.

No big deal but on Bart going away, in advertisements, returning to the city I see�

Ads on a new product which usually isn't unusual but Santa Claus looks slightly different.

Thin with traditional red suit, white beard, sack of toys on a sled � then it hit me!

Santa looks soft because he's a she!

My first reaction is, "Aw Crap, can't we guys even have our St. Nick without him being feminized?"

Wait a sec', why am I steamed at a new cell phone ad?

An old movie came to mind "Skin Deep" staring the late John Ritter.

One shapely women is a lovely, stacked, sexy, bodybuilder Ms. Raye Hollitt in a black bikini showing off her muscular physique and ready for Ritter.

I think, why not place her, Ms. Leslie Morris, or one of the Weather Girls of "It's Raining Men" fame.

Maybe sensuous Plus Size Models, or a just as lovely naturally over developed busty magazine stars.

I wouldn't mind sitting in their laps feeling warm and comfy telling em' what I'd like for Christmas.

Ok, not too massively muscled ladies seen on websites of giant amazon women though maybe too they also can wear the red suit and beard as well as Santa's extremely healthy helpers.

I just want Santa male or fem, be they caucasion, black, brown, red, yellow, or any of rainbow hew in between to be a strong, fierce claus able to kick the mud out of Christmas hating folks.

Oh, and the elves should be just as well built, fit and healthy looking cause Santa sometimes needs backup.

I may not be on radio for a while because an un greatfull or desperate grinch-DJ ripped off radio equipment at San Francisco Liberation Radio (.) Net.

But manure happens and one rolls with it.

Joining a gym, bike riding, walking, swimming, raunchy, dirty, naturally healthy sex with a woman or two also an added bonus when it offered.

Folks, my short term goal is owning a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer and finding Terry Grossman, M.D. "The Baby Boomer's Guide to Living Forever."

I must say its hard to find that book to buy it's borrowed from the library, that book for me as is worth keeping as a reference for when its promise is done.

I'll place it with other immortal works in the Smithsonian Institute.

I don't want much out of life� living way beyond my appointed exit visa well, that's something I gotta' try for.

This could be my first test as one of those future immortals-who-don't-know-that-they are.

At least I have a heads up clue to the proposition being that I'm a mid boomer.

Born between 1946 and 1964.

I was born 8 years after the first crop of boomers, 10 years before the last '64 group so when I heard of and saw the book I knew I'd better buy it if possible and other reference, guideline books for this new age we're in.

Besides I'm curious to find out how bad the
80's and 90's or Gen'X and Gen' Next er's will do.

How badly will they screw things up in the 21st Century as each generation before them had fouled things up before correcting some of it.

It is time to go and to everyone enjoy both holidays safely and stay alive to see next year.

Send Comments to
DeeandTiny@poormagazine.org or
Telljoe@poormagazine.org

by Katrina Nellisa Twila Tuokoi/PNN Indigenous Scholar

My mother is a descendant of Tongan Chiefs, Fijian princesses, German-Irish businessmen and whalers, Portuguese sailors and British midwives and Anglo-Indian housewives. She was born in the capital city Vava’u, in the Kingdom of Tonga. The island which I consider my homeland is made up of lush greenery and wide sandy beaches.

My father was a teacher, his father was a teacher, his father was teacher [whose mother was pure Samoan from Apia], and his father started the first school in Haafeva which is another in Tonga.

My ancestry and my family have always played a significant role in my identity. I always identified myself as Tongan but never lost sight that my lineage is from all over the world. But my heart is Tongan because the values Tongans cherish are the ones I cherish too. A huge value is humility, which deals with a wealth of spiritual and Godly knowledge and values rather than material and physical worth. We didn’t always have a tola, which is our equivalent of a dollar. We’ve mainly relied on the barter system, which is like a fisherman trading a bag of fish for a bag of yams from a farmer. Now we deal with white European capitalism.

However, Tonga wasn’t always this way. In fact Tonga wasn’t always Tonga. Chiefs from as far as the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Samoa sent warriors to defend the islands. However the Dutch in 1616 came and were followed by an onslaught of many European countries to settle, send missionaries, spread their gospel, form colonies and eventually destroy the culture.

Today we have the last Polynesian Kingdom in the world. On the other hand, we have the poorest country in the South Pacific but we have the strongest cultural indentification throughout the islands. I myself was raised in America as a McDonalds kid, and all I know of my ancestry is what I’ve read in books and my one visit to Tonga at the tender age of twenty. Now I write of the degradation of these islands that outside forces have pushed upon them. What I recall now which sums up the poverty of the islands is my aunt’s paycheck when she was a nurse of twenty five years for two hundred pa’anga for two weeks, which adds up to one hundred US Dollars which U.S. nurses get paid twenty times as much.

Her husband also has been working in the medical field for almost three decades as a Physician’s Assistant and he makes a little more than she does. Though they do not make the “big bucks” that the American doctors and nurses make, they live comfortably in a split-level two-story home with three bathrooms and seven bedrooms that are inhabited by their five children, two grandchildren and various extended family and visitors from overseas. The plantation that the house sits on is home to many little gardens where the family grows several groves of food such as taro, yams, bananas, plantains, which are just to name a few. Therefore, although this “little” family that is headed by parents who are professionals makes perhaps less than a tenth of what they would in the United States and subsist off of less than $US20,000 a year for a family of 10-15 people, they are not only surviving but they are thriving.

Thus far, makes poverty not only a global issue but also a matter of perspective.

Lea ‘a Lina/Lina’s Line leaves this question for all you readers out there – What is poor? In essence, how do you define poverty? What does being poor mean to you?

by Marlon Crump/PNN

"Mama, why is no one doing anything about these killings?" asked 16 year old Takeyah Chandlier to her mom, Asale (Sala)-Haquekyah Chandlier.

Asale (Sala)-Haquekyah Chandlier looked up at her daughter as if she was witnessing the earth unfold, and vowed to her, "Baby, you will NEVER have to EVER ask me that question again. From this day forward, I will do something about these killings!"

Back in June of this year, a 15 year old kid was murdered in front of the Philip and Sala Burton High School in San Francisco, CA in broad daylight. Devastated and distraught that the killings have failed to come to a screeching halt here in San Francisco (especially in S.F neighborhoods with young men of color), Takeyah came home to her mom in tears, and cried on her chest.

The body count surrounding young men of color, as well as all young men in general in this country and (worldwide) is a plague that has become even more fatal than the AIDS virus, itself. Asale (Sala)-Haquekyah Chandlier decided to implement a vaccine to the violence that forever infects the youth, using them as its host.

Sala decided to formulate the ONE LIFE WALK.

One Life Walk is a marathon movement of communities of color to unify, and eliminate the rapid violence and homicides San Francisco, CA. It is anticipated to grow into a mass non-violent movement, and inspired by the works from the likes of Ghandi’s lead in India, King lead in the Civil Rights Movement, and many people, everywhere continue to do every year on the AIDS Walk.

"One Life Walk" is featured on Sala's radio talk show "The Real Life Mermaed."

"We have only ONE life to live." Sala would later exclaim to me during an interview." It is our responsibility to live this "One Life Walk" healthy, sane, calm, cool, and collective without embracing the violent thoughts of hurting someone else to a point of death!"

Asale (Sala)-Haquekyah Chandlier attended POOR’s monthly Community Newsroom, on December 2nd, 2008. This particular meeting was unlike any other in POOR's history, due to the significant transition that was going to be a tearful reality. All of us, staff/family of POOR Magazine/POOR News Network was being forced to move from its headquarters of the Grant Building, and all of us were going to be reminiscent of what the office space meant for them in the past.

As we all traded moments of sorrows, war stories, and solace of the office space's memories; the spirit of the late great poverty hero, "Mama" Dee Gray-Garcia (co-founder of POOR) blanketed our soul with her eternal eldership in easing the pain that plagued our reluctant hearts from having to depart from what was now the past. Her spirit silently carried our own into re-porting and su-pporting for others in another space in the future.

Sala expressed her feelings and her memories of what the space meant to her in the past, as well.

Over a week later, I conducted an interview of Sala regarding the "One Life Walk" at the San Francisco Main Public Library, in the lower level which had a cafe. Despite her encountering numerous difficulties of long traffic delays, battery death in her cell phone, and keeping track of her car's parking meter during the interview; Sala still managed to arrive and meet me. She was determined in getting "One Life Walk" out into the world.

After we both managed to drown out the sounds around us, of high heels, distinct conversations by nearby patrons, and the slight windy brushes by passer bys, the interview got underway.

I looked into the dark ocean-like eyes of Sala and concluded that this, alongside of her caramel-complexioned features, and easy smile could've easily convinced someone that she did have qualities of a mermaid 20,000 leagues under the sea, or a "Real Life Mermaed" fighting to end the endless deaths on the streets.

”Two Amazon women bad to the bone!" Sala said excitedly to me and in reference to Yolanda Banks Reed, a friend of Sala and comrade of hers in the movement. "We're talking about two justice fighters representing and fighting for equality for all, meaning giving justice where justice is due!"

"The One Life Walk is an expression of the 50s and 60s where people came together for anything that had to do with injustice." Yolanda Banks would later state to me. She also explained that there was a lack of unities in the communities of color towards combating the issues that were negatively impacting them, daily.

Sala told me that she considered herself as a "character." She referenced her qualities similarities to some of her favorite fictional characters, such as, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, Cleopatra Jones, and real life people that were her inspiration, Christie Love, Angela Davis, and Johnnie Mae Gibson who was the first African-American F.B.I Agent, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Elizabeth (Embeth) Chambers Ranch, and her very own mother, Dorothy Davis were her life's inspiration.

Asale (Sala)-Haquekyah Chandlier was born in Chicago, IL. At age 4, she was taught by the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense on how to read. After she became grown, Asale moved to the southside of Los Angeles, CA to start her activism against the degradation of women.

The typical derogatory slurs of "bitches, sluts, tramps, and whores" yelled by young men have often fueled Sala's anger towards their damaging degradation to the reputation of young women, on a daily basis.

"I began becoming concerned about humanity issues." Sala said. "I began my work by feeding the homeless in Downtown L.A (Los Angeles) "Skid Row." I found myself concerned about what each individual had to offer within themselves from their own mother's wombs."

In 2006, Sala (and other community members) of the Bayview Hunter's Point District unsuccessfully ran for the Board of Supervisors seat of District 10 against the current incumbent, Sophie Maxwell.

"Creativity has the ability to fill our children's lives with possibilities." Sala said, in her motivational address of youth empowerment, while she and other candidates were collectively interviewed by every at POOR.

"One Life Walk" is ABOUT and COMMITTING to life." Sala explained. "It is about putting a 9-1-1 urgency on the ongoing massacres, commonly called "homicides" of our minority children, especially African-American children here in San Francisco."

"We are here to tear down the violent death thought by wearing the thought pattern of committing to life. The commonly called "African-American" people and the fabric of their foundation are built on a lie. They're not spiritually fed, but only given religion."

Sala presented a detailed explanation of what her whole definitive analogy of what religion meant to her. "Religion is only an outside deity. For example, God he, Allah he, Jesus he, the Father he, the Son he, the Devil he, and the Angel he. None of these outside gods are from within giving all credit to the patriarchal thought pattern which is based on the fatherhood doctrine which has nothing to do with the inner life."

She also is a firm believer that men are not the superior being over the women. "The Creator Eloheem (“Eloheem” is defined as “God” in Hebrew.) has given the women the divine position to be the carrier of life." Sala explained. "If these truths are not told, women will continue to give up their divine birthright. By these common sayings that the man is head of the household and the only connection to God (Eloheem) is the greatest lie ever told on Planet Earth. It is the downfall of the whole wide world.”

"If men and women don't rise to teach their children of who they really are, as boys and girls, as women and men, as husbands and wives; we will never be able to rise in humanity giving justice where justice is due and giving equality where equality is due."

I continued to listen to Sala interesting analysis of religion and thought about this more thoroughly after the interview. The question as it seemed was intended to raise awareness of how much time is spent by a human being towards studying themselves, as opposed to studying the above said gods she stated above?

The interview became even more emotional for Sala, as she further discussed for the urgent need for more community involvement to silence the violence, and the massacres (homicides as defined by corporate media) of the youths in communities of color among themselves.

Sala expressed her disgust towards the City of San Francisco's failure to end the violence and homicides (massacres) among the youth. "The children are not seeing what is really happening, tangibly."

After the unfortunate death of the young man at Philip and Sala High School, and the emotional breakdown by her daughter Takeyah; Sala felt that a higher power was calling her to do something about the violence.

"One day I awoke at 10:a.m. I woke up my daughter and said, "Get up and let's go for a walk. Takeyah got up, got dressed, and we started to walk up Latona St. While walking up Latona, we made a left turn on Bayview St. (in the Bayview Hunter's Point)."

Sala then asked her daughter, "Would you walk for your friends that have died?"

Takeyah was silent.

" I said would you walk for your friends that have died, Takeyah?" Sala asked her, with a bit of an edge in her tone of voice, and bearing a fiery blaze in her pupils. Takeyah looked upwards at her mother.

"Yes mama!" was her daughter's response.

You can meet the "Real Life Mermaed" live at "Metaphormous" on Sunday January 11th, 2009 at 5:30 p.m on 111 Minna St South of Market. (SoMa) This is also a fundraiser for youth and families. This event is aimed at raising $5,000 for the family of Elizabeth Chambers Ranch. The fee is $10.00 at the door and the contact phone# is (415) 756-5378. One Life Walk phone# is (415) 287-7481.