Story Archives

(Note: Stanley Roberts is the host of a TV segment called "People Behaving Badly" on San Francisco TV outlet KRON 4..."The News Station". The segment includes footage of people deemed to be behaving badly in real time. It includes the "Bad Behavior" of many, excluding the bad behavior of Stanley Roberts because it is assumed--by this writer anyway--that Mr. Stanley Roberts never behaves badly...ever. Enjoy)

Bird on a wire: The Raven speaks out on Stanley Roberts

By Revolutionary Worker Scholar

Q: What’s new in the life of the raven?

A: Same stuff as the last time

Q: Nothing new?

A: I’m still trying to avoid you, why do you keep following me?

Q: Because I think your voice is important…you got something to say.

A: I think you’re full of shit

Q: That’s ok.  But seriously, what's happening with you my brother?

A: I’m trying to survive, trying to get food—its rough out here—competition from owls, pigeons, seagulls, squirrels—not to mention those pain in the ass artists who pretend to be poor, stealing my bread scraps when I’m not looking.

Q: Which artists?

A: Never mind…we’ll save that for a future interview

Q: I understand you ran into Stanley Roberts the other day. What do you think of him?

A: You mean that big guy from KRON 4 News?

Q: Yes…where did you see him?

A: Downtown. I saw this orbicular figure coming out of the bushes with another guy holding a TV camera.

Q: What did he do?

A: I’m not sure but I landed on the windowsill of a bar the next day. They had one of those flat screen TV’s. I thought it was 3 dimensional because I could’ve swore I saw Stanley’s belly pop right out of the screen. Anyway, I was watching Stanley’s segment. It was called People Behaving Badly. What a crybaby that guy is.

Q: Crybaby?

A: Yeah, a whiner. Everything out of this mouth sounded like nanny nanny nah nah. He looks like a man…with that flannel shirt and all…kind of like the guy on the paper towel package but when he opens his mouth, man, what a crybaby.  Reminds me of when i used to hover around various schools.  I'd see those kids that were designated hall monitors.  Stanley must have been one of those kids.

Q: What was he crying about?

A: Everything. Complaining whining and crying about people recycling, crying about illegal left turns, right turns, cyclists, homeless people in the park, people walking their dogs, people tossing paper cups on the street, bus drivers. But I didn’t hear him crying and complaining about CEO's behaving badly or heavyset voyeurs with accompanying cameramen. I thought: How’d this guy ever get a job? Then I figured he must have cried for it.

Q: So, you think he’s a voyeur?

A: What else can you call him, hiding behind a camera spying on people, waiting for them to do wrong and broadcast it to the world with crybaby commentary. What kind of goofy Mickey Mouse brother is this, I thought--being black myself.

A: Do you have anything positive to say about Dear Stanley?

Q: He obviously eats well, much better than I do. I think I used the word orbicular to describe him (I like that word). Stanley ought to stick with what he does best—eating. He shouldn’t stray too far from the dinner plate. But it’s unlikely he ever does.

Q: Any last words?

A: Let’s hope brother Stanley doesn’t get caught behaving badly. I’m a raven up here on a wire and my comrades are up here too. We see it all. Yes…let’s hope Stanley doesn’t behave badly. If there’s one thing I can’t stand is a crybaby. Nanny Nanny Nah Nah.

As the year winds down to the holiday season, I look forward to the compassion and cheer that I get from the people who don't forget vendors who work hard to sell Real Change paper. They show appreciation by giving gifts, holiday cards,and bigger tips. I am thankful for their action to help.

But to be frank, most of the year, I feel like an invisible man, as people walk pass me like I am not there. Some people walk right up to me and ask for directions, the time, or what is Real Change paper is all about. If I don't answer their question in a hurry, they yell out rude comments, showing disrespect to me and my job.

One of the worst things that makes me feel like a play-toy-clown is when a person walk up to me like they are pulling out money to buy a Real Change paper, instead they are pulling out a cell phone, comb, watch,cigarettes or anything to play a joke on me.

Through the rain, sleet, snow or sunshine, I'll be there because the same person , one day will have a change of heart. That change usually comes around during the holiday season. Like a good street paper believer, I'll be there when they feel they giving spirit.

I want to wish all the street paper vendors a prosperous and happy holiday season. A time the homeless and poor are visible to the world has come once again. You know how I feel.

Bring it on baby stimulate me

Not only physically

4play with the mind leads to the body

Intellectual masturbation

Can keep up with a conversation

Twisting concepts & politics

With one lick

From the brain to the tongue

Whip me up

Having sex with our clothes on

Got me in your palm

Jerking me off with word play in your songs

Intellectual masturbation

Can keep up with a conversation

Twisting concepts & politics

Like a chess game

It’s all about concentration

Next move could be pleasure or pain

Got me mentally wet

Intellectual orgasm

Now that is the real sex

Gives us spasms

Shaking off racism & ablism

So the world can get off from our intellect

Salt-N-Pepa

Want more than to talk about sex

Intellectual masturbation got all the spices

Salty & peppery sweet & sour

 Intellectual masturbation ejaculates brain power

Make u do strange things without lifting a finger

Intellectual masturbation

Can keep up with a conversation

Twisting concepts & politics

Intellectual masturbation

Like this mind f-ck

She’s no tease baby got me unstuck

Use to want only eye candy

Hypnotized by MTV hoochie mamas

Baby got back but no brains

Now music videos just bore me to tears

I got no fear

So bring it on baby

My mind is waiting

For your intellectual masturbation

Head to toe full body satisfaction

By Leroy Moore

12/14/10

Kripmas Karols from Around the World by artists, poets & musicians with disabilities and allies.  Throughout 2011 I’ll be asking for more poets, writers and musicians with disabilities to send their poems, songs lyrics, jingles etc to me to make a small pamphlet for the 2011 Holiday season.  This is why, how it will work and what I’m looking for:

Why:  Every Holiday season (December) mainstream media uses a charity frame to make people give and most of the times it is people who are poor, elderly and people with disabilities that are caught up in this frame with no voice.  We have all seen it:  “Serving the Homeless!” or “Toys for the Disabled!”  And the list\framing goes on.  So Poor Magazine & I wants to help in taking back that frame with our own Christmas carols what I call Kripmas Karols.  You don’t have to be a person with a disability to be involved with this project but u do need to spit/write some activist lyrics, poems, jingles ect.

What to submit: Original poems, songs, jingles, short stories with an hardcore activist message about the ways we are used as pity and charity during the holiday season.  The goal is to flip the pity/charity message with our own Christmas carol, song, poem, story and whatever.  Email them to Leroy Moore at kriphopproject@yahoo.com.  Although this project will be ongoing there are two deadlines:  1) The end of Jan. 2011 to promote through the Internet to get more artists and (2) September 2011 to go to print for the 2011 Holidays.  I will try to send each artist a copy of the small pamphlet. The pamphlet will be used for educating purposes and not for sale.  Your rights to your piece stays with you and you can publish your piece elsewhere.  I only ask if you do publish your piece elsewhere just to mention it was printed for Krip-Hop Kripmas pamphlet of 2011. With your permission I would like to also post your Krip-Hop Kristmas Karols on social network sites like Face book and MySpace etc.

If you’re down then drop me an email at kriphopproject@yahoo.com Include your name, title of the piece, your email address and date when the piece was written and where are you located.  Krip-Hop Kipmas Karol will be an international project and that means artists, writers, poets and musicians with disabilities and allies from around the world are welcome the send in their pieces.  To make it simple please only send text no pics.

Leroy Moore Jr.

Founder of Krip-Hop Nation

1 Krip-Hop Nation (KHN):  When did you meet Joe Capers?

Terry Greene: I was introduced to Joe Capers at J-Jams Recording studio by a young lady by the name of Tonya she was doing some recording with Joe Capers at that time, later on in our friendship I met D'wayne Wiggins of the now famous group Tony, Toni, Tone, he laid down some guitar tracks on a song that I was recording in J-Jams recording studio Joe asked D'wayne to record for us.

 2) KHN: What kind of music did you do with Joe?

Terry Greene: My style of music at that time was an over sea's market my vision was music that the world wanted to hear but different from the norm, it was R&B, Pop, Funk, Soul, Jazz, and international mix.  As a matter of fact I was the first Artist producer to release a record out of J-Jams Recording Studio at that time the name of the Record that we worked on was called Automatic Dripp from my group Lickke we performed all around the bay area.

3) KHN:  What was your best memory of Joe Capers?

Terry Greene:  My best memory of Joe was he never let his disability stand in the way I mean that I would always ask Joe do you need any help while we were recording he would always say no Terry I know were every thing is in my studio shut up and he would just laugh he always was a jokester and a lovable person I will never forget Joe he was my mentor he taught me things in the studio that I didn't know in the recording and mixing areas even though I had been in the studio sessions in Hollywood, CA working with superstars in the music biz.

4)  KHN: Tell us about your project you’re doing for Joe

Terry Greene: Joe Capers and I recorded a lot of my music that was never released I plan on going back in the recording studio to update some of those recordings in his honor.

5)  KHN: What do you want the public to know about Joe Capers?

Terry Greene: Joe Capers was one of the most multitalented produces, songwriters, musician, and engineers, that I have ever met.  I have been in this music business now for thirty years he will never be forgotten by me I love Joe.

 6) KHN:  If Joe was alive today do you think he would still be in music?

Terry Greene: The answer to your question is yes music was his Life.  Joe was a peoples person he loved every one around him this is what I saw.

7)  KHN: Why do you think Joe didn’t get the recognition that he deserved at that time?

Terry Greene: The reason why is because Joe didn't to much care about himself he just wanted to help us all with our music because he knew that we all were shopping for a deal with major record labels he wanted to see all of us make it we all had his support.

8) KHN:  Do you think Joe Capers shaped early Oakland Hip-Hop/R & B sound?

Terry Greene: Yes very much so a lot of those Artist that make it out of Oakland were recording out of J-Jams Recording Studio I was one of them along with the famous Artist that made it back in the eighties.

9) KHN: How can the public and we keep Joe Capers’ music and other contributions alive?

Terry Greene: By continuing on each and every year to having the event that took place on October 2010 of this year this will keep Joe's memory and music and his accomplishments alive.

10)  KHN: What are you doing now?

Terry Greene: As you all might not know I'm now working in the Gospel arena my company, P. G. E. G. / Fa7ith Music Ministries, was nominated for a Gospel Soul Train Award in 2005 and has been on the Bill Board Music Charts over 12 times for Top Gospel Albums and the Hip-Hop R&B Chart from 2002-2006.  We are currently working with muti-talented singer, songwriter, producer, musician, Mizz Futcha, out of Rochester, NY her C/D was released by Fa7ith Urban Music on November 15, 2010 on all of the major retailers and is receiving airplay in the northern and southern region and is taking off worldwide as we speak her song, One Word, was listed on the Gospel USA Top thirty National Artist Chart  Debuting at number 13 on Fa7ith Urban Music.  I'm also working on songs for my long awaited C/D that has been in the making since 2002 you will hear new music from me soon I promise you that.  We are looking for Artist to work with that  are serious about careers. 

11)  KHN:  How can people get in contact with you?

Terry Greene:

P.G. E. G. / Fa7ith Music Ministries

Primus {Terry} Greene, Jr.

Prophet/CEO/Music Executive

Office: 877-856-4103

Fax: 206-376-0784

pgreene@pgentertainmentgroup.info

fa7ithurbanmusic@gmail.com

www.fa7ithmusicministries.yolasite.com

KHN:  Leave us with a saying or a funny story of Joe Capers.

Terry Greene: I can't think of any at the moment but I can tell you that Joe was full of Life he was a jokester and was always funny he loved to laugh.

Twas the mic before Kripmas and all through the spot

Every Krip Hopper was rapping the mic they had rocked

The chrome was shining on every wheelchair

In hopes that Krip Nations all over would soon be there

The crowed was just watching their necks bombing heads

While visions of Krip Vixens danced making them sweat

With mirages of Nicki I turned my cap to the back

I rolled up to her and she fell on my lap

When out of the crowd I heard a big scream

KRIP NATION FOREVER AND EVER WE DREAM

Closer to the yelling I rolled to the fans

Tore off my chest strap and dived in their hands

The moon on my face as the passed me like Dro

Once back on the stage I sat lit up with a glow

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

Back comes Nikki Minaj with 8 Halley Berrys around my chair

With me as the driver I hit my joy-stick

Dropped the mic and watched it smoke up the air type thick

More rapid than eagles my verses they came,

As I hollered and shouted calling my Krip Nation by name

Now Jahid, now Pete-Ski, now Skandoe, now Harris

Come Malcolm, call OUTTHERE we meet Leroy in Paris

To the front of the plane, first class we booked

We wrote rhymes, and verses , the chorus and hook

The Stewardess spiked my drink before I sipped it down

The pilot both vixens dressed in all white gowns

Flight took 12 hours and some minutes

6 hours with 1 then 2 before the landing was finished

But then on the runways the tires heard screeching

Masked out the sound of the pilots both screaming

When the bus pulled us in I came through the door

I never let the flight go off course any more

I was dressed in fatigues from my head to foot

Jet lag set in from all that time we took

Mic cord plugged into my battery pack

Over the airport's speakers I started to rap

My voice heard throughout to the baggage check

I nominated Leroy our President

As he came in the spot limousines outside

His Lex, min Cadillac chromed riding side by side

We rode to the tower taking up the streets

Oui Oui ladies yelled c'est la vie

We got  out the limos awaits a red carpet and confetti

Happy New Years they cheered heard all over the city

Leroy plugged in the mic to the tower's intercom

Paris was amazed by this legend phenomenon

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know hip hop wasn't dead

A poet he is and spoke for a while

Had the ladies sitting down Indian style

Pulling out his back pocket a long stem rose

Brought smiles on their face tears dripping of nose

Back to the limos, to the team gave a halla,

Watch the towers light up from night til tomorra

I heard Leroy exclaim, ere we drove out of sight,

Krip Hip Hop to all, and to all a Krip Night

Professir X  of New Jersey USA

I wasn’t supposed to write this article- in fact, I was actively discouraged by someone I love in the deepest way. “You can’t write an article about (SF 49ers coach)  Mike Singletary’s firing," said Tony Robles, POOR Magazine’s co-editor and dedicated fan. I just didn't understand the basic tenets of football, winning rules all, i was informed. and he wasn't "winning".

Perhaps no. After-all US football is a multi-milllion dollar corporate enterprise fueled by  capitalist values of "in with the old- out with the new" and, "nothing matters except winning" There is no space, time or budget for feelings, loving your mama, your wife or your children. 

Which is why I feel so bad about his recent firing. How much is integrity and honor worth in the world of football? Very little, I guess. So I am  weighing in with a different football proposal. How about keeping him on as a coach and hiring a co-coach. How about bringing all the football scholars in the 49ers together and collectively thinking through how to win the next season and the next and the next. How bout bringing football closer to its indigenous roots of rugby and other early forms of football that were competitive but also operated with deep rooted cultural ideology and ethics

I know, I have seen those really mean, rock faced guys who are in the hall of fame and are seen as the “best” coaches of all time, but in a world where so many young folks are dealing with violence, peer pressure, drugs, and superficial pop culture empty-ness, how important is it to value, honor and uphold a man of color who struggled through  poverty and a racist US culture to become a great father, son, husband and dare I say it, a great human.?

Not sure what to feel

So lost in this maze of tradition

Consumer lies, pain & exploitation

Of the real

For so many years I can hardly stand it

Stood in free food lines, blanket giveaways, begging for housing crumbs, bread crumbs, and other scarcity Amerikkka lies with mama

Her desperation to be cared for, housed, safe and loved coulda killed most people

And did

And yet here I am

In this short time on earth

Feelin so sad

So scared for me, my son,

all my sistas and brothers without roofs, enuf food

Imperialist lies

and nothing good

Yet I know people have been built to honor this day

And there is something beautiful about the pure love of  Jesus’

On this fabricated-birthday

Spiritual inspiration, gift giving and family love

And so it is not for me to say

It means nothing and there is nothing to this day

It is only for me to question who is being loved and who is not

How can we care and share with all and never leave people

Shot, exploited –

Out in the cold & wet

Struggling with racist lies, border hate and imperialist thieves

always on the take

From Oakland to Palestine

From Haiti to the Haight

Someone’s deep rancor is always around to fuel disgust and deep

Wrong-headed hate

So please help me family

Dream of multi-colored holidaze with multi-lingual songs

And no kkkolonizer fake dates

Or capitalist inspired wrongs

No displacement or eviction – violence or

Poverty and race inspired convictions

With all gods honored and ancestors too

With all dreams realized

And all children loved too

With healthy meals for all

Our elders and our small

–

Humility for things u don’t understand

Ability to respect cultures that shouldn’t be

in anyone’s hands

Following Kwanza principals

And the purest love for pacha mama/the land

This is the PeoplesMass

Its Everyones Birthday filled with Love n justice –

And it has nothing to do with

Cash

Green waste-bins, green grass, green bottles, green jobs, green futures, green gentrification?  As I walked past the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood recycling center (HANC), I noticed there were multi-colored micro-business people carefully recycling their multi-colored bottles and cans into bright green recycling bins debris boxes. They were green like everyone’s elses’ recycling bins, but somehow the HANC bins weren’t green enough to fight the lies of green nimby-ism, green displacement, green classism and yes, even, green racism, from an onslaught of hate from housed members of the Haight Ashbury neighborhood and beyond who want to get rid of the truly green center of activism and micro-business that is HANC

In 1999, POOR Magazine released Volume 3 of the hard copy version of our magazine

(when we still had funding to publish a paper issue) It was entitled simply: WORK  and we focused on unrecognized work and workers engaged in low and no wage work and micro-business like recycling, street vending, panhandling, mothering, sex-work, workfare, day labor and prison labor.

This was an extremely controversial issue of POOR Magazine because people get very angry at the idea of panhandlers and recyclers who don’t work for corporate trash companies ( sunset scavenger, etc) and corporate solicitors (politicians, PACS and sales=people who practice so-called “legal” panhandling) being workers or micro-business people at all. We surveyed over 300 workers engaged in thousands of different industries from corporate to non-profit to underground business folk and discovered  what we already knew and few fail to recognize, there was  little difference in the schedules, workloads, hours, breaks and focus of a full-time recylcler and a corner store-owner,  of a street newspaper  vendor and a full-time restaurant worker. Our main finding, workers and business-people are those that work hard and long and take pride in their workmanship and business, just like the workers and micro-business people at HANC.

CW Nevius from the SF Chronicle  has written what equates to a multi-year hate campaign against the workers at HANC and houseless folks in general by publishing columns filled with an endless stream of stereotypes and hypocracies about people without a roof who live and work near the park versus the peaceful yuppies and hipsters who live and work near the park.

He paints the houseless residents of the Haight district as dirty, lazy and aggressive even going so far as to equate houseless folks with the coyotes in Golden Gate park, versus his characteristic of the “peaceful” hipsters who sit in the park at concerts, picnics, parties, bars, and events, who recycle in the “right” way,  never litter, get drunk, or act aggressive. Unfortunately the main difference between these two communities is one is constantly spoken for in the corporate news and the other ones never get access to a voice in the SF Chronicle or any corporate media channels,

So as we march towards the implementation of the newly voted in civil sidewalks law which not only criminalizes public space but metes out a clearly defined attack on people in poverty sitting and standing in public spaces and differently privileges those who don’t’ look houseless or poor sitting and standing in public spaces, coupled with an eviction notice served  on the HANC folks to make way for a “community garden” I wonder how did gentrification, removal, hate and racism suddenly get cloaked in green? And why can’t  people see that offering poor people a community centered space to redeem their recyclables, while working to clean mother earth, is one of the most beautifully, truly green projects ever created.