John Cho Is so sexy!!!

I am so excited John Cho is going to be in the new Star Trek movie. The first time I ever saw John on television was when I watched the sitcom called “Off Centre” on the former WB network.  I was mesmerized by John’s presence and comic timing. Although John wasn’t the lead I thought he was hilarious and stole the thunder from his co stars.

I can’t wait until next month to see the sequel to Harold and Kumar in April!! John Cho is so sexy! I swear he is so cute! He is tall, handsome, fit, I mean he’s also a solid actor he’s leading man material. I wonder why casting agents never give John the opportunity to shine in a dramatic romantic leading man role?

John just drips with sex appeal he should be a leading man by now. It is nice to see John finally get bigger roles. I definitely want to see John Cho in a serious romantic drama.

Carter On Spin City Was A Breakthrough Black Gay Male Character

Prior to the emergence of Noah’s Arc there was a paucity of positive representations of black gay men on mainstream television. The only images of Black gay men on television were snap queens, sex objects, or freaky drag queens. Carter Heywood on ABC’s Spin City shattered the negativity about black gay men in pop culture.

The character Carter was also important in relation to race because finally an openly gay man was a main character on television. Far too often whenever a character is gay on television its always a white person. In North America gayness equals whiteness and gay black men are displaced due to race, gender, and sexual orientation. Finally, the writers and producers of Spin City got it right. Carter was a well adjusted young black man he wasn’t on the down low, he also wasn’t confused or conflicted about his homosexuality.

I am currently on the hunt for Spin City on DVD ASAP! I have to have my Carter fix! I remember when I was struggling with my sexual orientation in the 1990s I was lost and confused. In the 1990s the vast majority of the gay male characters on television were not black I simply couldn’t relate. One evening I was watching a new television show in 1997 Spin City on ABC. I recall Michael J. Fox from the 1980s sitcom Family Ties he was the star of the show.

The character I was most fascinated by was Michael Boatman’s character the openly gay black man Carter Heywood. Carter was a revelation because he wasn’t confused about his homosexuality, he also was comfortable with his blackness. I love Carter! The writers also allowed Carter to have romantic relationships with other men. Carter’s love life was an important part of the storyline.

I felt so connected to the Carter character because he was negotiating being a black man and also dealing with his sexual orientation. Sometimes Spin City focused on the politics that gay black men endure in our lives. Spin City wasn’t afraid to deal with polemical topics such as race, sexual orientation, and homophobia.

Carter also wasn’t just an asexual sidekick like Jack on Will & Grace on NBC. Carter was a confident openly gay black man a rarity on North American television. I never liked Will and Grace because I felt there was a reticence to dealing with male homosexuality in an honest manner. Will and Jack I believe were neutered they were asexual while Grace got all the men.Jack and Will were just effeminate caricatures.

I also was impressed that Carter wasn’t effeminate, he didn’t dress like a bizarre drag queen, or some other offensive gay male stereotype. Carter liked sports he loved basketball, baseball, football he was masculine and sensitive at the same time.

One aspect of Spin City I loved was that Carter’s best friend was a white heterosexual ladies man Stuart. Stuart didn’t care that Carter was gay in fact Stuart and Carter eventually move in together but were platonic friends. I love the fact that the writers of Spin City explored the fact that gay men and heterosexual men can be friends. The straight man doesn’t have to worry that the gay man might hit on him. In fact, Stuart genuinely cared for Carter very much he was Carter’s best friend. It was so hilarious because Stuart hated Carter’s suicidal dog Rags. Another joke on Spin City was that Stuart and Carter were a couple even though Stuart was straight. In fact, there was one episode that explored the possibility that Stuart had romantic feelings for Carter. Carter was accepted by his male peers he was one of the guys. Carter emerged as one of the breakthrough characters on Spin City.

Unfortunately, Michael J Fox had to leave Spin City due to a diagnosis of Parkinson disease in the year 2000. ABC hired has beens actors Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear to help the show. However, ABC also fired some of my favorite actors on the show such as Victoria Dillard, Connie Britton, and Alexander Chaplin. The chemistry and magic was gone. The spark that made Spin City so witty and exciting was gone the show just wasn’t the same and I tuned out. The former 1980s TV stars Sheen and Locklear ruined Spin City and the series was canceled in 2002.

I was disappointed that the producers fired some prominent characters from the show and the writers didn’t make the characters Carter and Stewart have more prominent roles on the program. Stuart and Carter were shoved to the background. Spin City shifted to Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear’s characters storylines and it just made me want to vomit. I felt Sheen and Locklear had bad comic timing both actors ultimately destroyed the credibility of the series. I still have fond memories of Spin City but I refuse to watch episodes with Sheen and Locklear. I just feel Sheen and Locklear are not funny. I miss Carter but he will always live in my memories of Spin City.

Blogs I Love To Visit

Charcoal Ink-I visit Aulelia’s blog on a daily basis she is a young black British woman of African descent based in the British city of Bristol. Aulelia’s blog is simply fire! Aulelia is a big fan of Frantz Fanon and I promised myself I will read his book “Black Skin White Masks”. Aulelia is probably the first person to visit my blog frequently.

Aulelia’s blog definitely challenges me to think about blackness in a way I never thought possible. She writes about the internal politics within the black community and also the public sphere. Aulelia’s blog demonstrates England is not just about tea and cake. The UK is no European paradise. The UK has serious racial, social, cultural, and political issues that the world needs to know about.

Opinionated Black Woman- Marvalus One’s blog is just a treat she’s funny, easy going, but her blog is also refreshing she blogs with a candor that I’ve never seen before. I was really surprised when Marvalus One said she learned about my blog through my article “Shades Of Blackface”.

The Black Actor- I visit The Black Actor’s blog a lot she discusses issues such as the status of black cinema.Right now I personally feel black cinema is actually in a very precarious place. The Black Actor’s blog focuses on black actors across the African Diaspora that are often ignored. For instance, recently The Black Actor had a spotlight on the prolific actor Jeffery Wright. The Black Actor discusses interesting themes such as white male dominance in films, the black mammy, the Jezebel, and other issues.

Invisible Woman- The Invisible Woman’s blog is excellent she writes about black cinema and international cinema. She also occasionally will write about pop culture and politics as well.

Terrance Says- The first time I visited Terrance’s blog is when the Oprah child care scandal emerged my goodness everything he said resonated with me. Of course, I don’t agree with everything he blogs about but it is refreshing to read another person’s views of the world.

Blackwomanunhinged- She is an indie filmmaker and very passionate about the craft of film making. Definitely visit this blog it is an eye opener.

Racialicious- A very important anti racist website that deals with race, class, gender, sexual orientation, politics. I visit this blog often.

Do you believe Sarah Jessica Parker Is The Ugliest Woman In The World?

According to Maxim Magazine, Sarah Jessica Parker is the ugliest female celebrity in the world.  Remember, Maxim is a heterosexual men’s magazine and  the male readers think  SJP is unattractive. SJP has complained in the press about Maxim, but I feel she’s being a bit hypocritical. SJP is a businesswoman, she is selling her image as a standard of beauty that women should aspire to.

I guess because I am man, I don’t completely understand why any woman would want to look like SJP? SJP has a gawky anorexic kind of body she is simply too thin she has no meat on her bones. Sarah Jessica Parker has thin hips, a masculine jaw line,  bony arms, thin legs, her face looks rough like sandpaper.

Sarah Jessica Parker has a very scary appearance this woman looks like she smokes a pack of cigarettes a day.

SJP has also attempted to maintain her so called “beauty” through fitness trainers, designers, make up artists, stylists, to look beautiful. So why is SJP lying that she’s trying to achieve this beauty standard? How many women in North America aspire to be just like SJP? SJP is aspiring to be pretty so why is she so upset when Maxim shatters the mystique around her and state the honest truth? SJP is not attractive even though she thinks she is.

I read an article that SJP made over $25 million in endorsements from selling various products. SJP has always been very cognizant of selling the image of beauty and trying to achieve this beauty even though she’s an average looking woman. SJP has a cosmetic line, she was a former spokeswoman for The Gap. SJP has always presented the image that she cares very much about her appearance and about profiting from her appearance. So why is SJP surprised that Maxim is challenging her?

Has Maxim forgotten about Sandra Bernhard? The comedian Sandra Bernhard has a bad personality and her face looks like it was smashed by a dump truck LOL!

Sarah Jessica Parker’s co stars on Sex And The City Kristen Davis and Kim Cattrall are  beautiful women.  It just makes sense that men are sexually attracted to Kristen and Kim.

Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker certainly isn’t gorgeous like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Soleil Moon Frye,  Gabrielle Union, Charlize Theron, or Halle Berry that’s for sure. Sarah Jessica Parker also doesn’t have the firm voluptuous ass, tight thighs, pugnacious breasts, and all the curves in the right places she’s too skinny. Sarah Jessica Parker isn’t an ugly woman either there is just nothing about her that is sexually appealing.

Sarah Jessica Parker shouldn’t lie about the nose job though, she’s definitely had cosmetic surgery. My sister is a huge fan of Sex And The City I don’t understand the show’s popularity? I also don’t understand how any man on Sex & The City would be sexually attracted to Sarah?  I realize Sex And The City is a fantasy that an ordinary, below average,  woman like Sarah Jessica Parker can attract men. Perhaps that’s the appeal of Sex And The City?

Poem: Unattainable Crush by Orville Lloyd Douglas

You wake up every night twisting and turning on your bed trying to shake this fantasy. It feels like a pair of hand cuffs you can’t shake it off you won’t surrender. You don’t want the cold steel to be removed from your burning wrists. You want to throw the key away and remain a prisoner in this dream for an eternity.

The man’s words are intoxicating so alluring he draws you

deeper

deeper

deeper

Into a trance

The intense feelings continue to build and increase in your mind. You fall asleep and the fantasy picks up right where you left it the night before. You can see it in the man’s eyes this hunger, this flicker of hope but also of reticence. Could he be yours? Why doesn’t he belong to you? If only? If only? If only?

You open your eyes and sit up on your bed realizing this isn’t real yet when you fall back asleep it feels so right. You are at the edge of passion, of betrayal, of deceit, and pain. Standing at the cliff you would rather jump off to be with him than to live a boring life. You are ready to give up everything for this man in your fantasies he is everything you could of dreamed for in a man.

The man is closer to you then a celebrity you’ve actually met this man before. The man has been kind and affectionate towards you but he also is someone that you respect. At first you don’t think about him in a romantic sense because you don’t really know everything about him either. The man actually showers you with attention but you know two souls colliding could be dangerous like a car accident.

The smashing of bodies into the fire of your lust is deleterious. The danger is what excites you it invigorates you like an elixir. You desire and crave for more like a drunk you just can’t stop. You are so close to touching his skin, so near to his tender lips to touching yours. You can smell the aroma of the man’s breath, feel his strong manly hands squeeze your body tight in an embrace. You know whenever you are in this man’s arms you are protected he is a warrior he will valiantly fight for you. The fear of the man knowing and the stench of rejection is more fuel for you to continue to keep on going. The battle for the man’s heart is like an electrocution through your veins you feel so alive with him.

He can be a gay or straight man, he could be married, or maybe he is a doctor, police officer, fire fighter, paramedic, teacher, an acquaintance, or someone you’ve known for a long time. You think about him and you yearn for him but you know he can’t be yours because its too toxic leading to a disaster. The relationship can destroy lives but the unknown is precarious as well.

For some reason the man is within your grasp yet he is still so far away. You start to find this man more sexually appealing in your fantasies. In your dreams he can be anyone and he does anything you say and command. In your mind he’s perfect he can do no wrong. Yet in the end you wake up in a cold sweat realizing he’s an unattainable crush.

It Is Official Roger Federer Is In A Slump Loses To Journeyman Mardy Fish In Straight Sets!!!!

I cannot believe this! I am screaming at the top of my lungs! I am shaking! I am so shocked right now! I am stunned absolutely stunned! The great Roger Federer losing to a journeyman Mardy Fish. WTF!!! Fish destroyed Roger 6-3 6-2 in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters. Roger had a 5-0 edge in their head to head meetings. How could Roger possibly lose to Mardy Fish?I cannot believe this!!!! Now everyone on the ATP Tour is going to believe they can beat Roger Federer. Fish also ended Roger’s 41 match winning streak against American male tennis players. It is the first time Roger has lost to an American man in five years since he loss to Andy Roddick in the 2003 Montreal Masters.

All of the players on the ATP Tour now know its official Roger Federer is very vulnerable right now. At least last year Roger won the Australian Open and Dubai prior to his mini slump. I believe this slump is even worst! I am very concerned here.

Roger’s priorities are all over the place. I still believe he should not of played the exhibition against Pete Sampras. Roger’s focus is not on tennis his ego has gotten too big. Perhaps this is the price Roger is paying he needs to focus on tennis and only tennis. Roger needs to realize hanging out with Hollywood stars and playing exhibitions is not right. Where is Roger’s focus? Tennis must be Roger’s top priority right now. All the players are very hungry and they want to be number one. I still believe in Roger though and I am convinced he will snap back and make a return to dominance.

I don’t know what’s going on with Roger but something just isn’t right. I believe this is the worst loss of Roger’s reign as the world number one. Mardy Fish is such a low ranked player he is currently ranked number 98 in the world. I cannot believe this! Something must be wrong with Roger he must be suffering from mononucleosis still he must be physically exhausted, ill, and mentally drained or something. Something must be wrong with Roger I cannot explain this shocking and horrible defeat. Roger is now in a slump!!!

I still have faith in Roger I believe he will comeback but I wonder if he’s lying about the severity of the mononucleosis. I mean if Roger is seriously ill he shouldn’t be playing. Mario Ancic had mono last year he went away for six months to make sure he gathered his strength back. Roger claims he’s over the mono but he just doesn’t invincible anymore. I just hope if Roger is sick he really needs to take a break and disappear and return only when he’s 110% healthy.

Rafael Nadal Is The New Lleyton Hewitt

Well the result was never in doubt today Novak Djokovic destroyed Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters event. Nadal is just another Lletyon Hewitt he can run around the court like a chicken but he doesn’t have the big shots. Nadal is a complete mystery the guy is six foot one, he has huge muscles, and a strong body yet he gets no velocity on his serve. Nadal is a typical counterpuncher he waits for his opponent to make errors. The problem for Nadal is the best players have the big serves to win the easy free points and the power to blast him off the court.

Nadal simply spins his serve in and Djokovic made him pay with aggressive returns. The media have hyped Nadal to the maximum. I think Djokovic is the new player to consistently compete against Roger Federer. Nadal is still an awesome clay court player but I am not impressed with his dismal performances on the hard courts. Nadal simply fades whenever he plays a tough player on the faster surfaces. If Nadal doesn’t change his game in a few years he will end up just like Lleyton Hewitt falling into oblivion.

Black Gay And Lesbian Heroes Are Very Important

One of the reasons I started writing this blog is because I want to provide an alternative perspective to the Eurocentric mainstream gay culture. I definitely am not a spokesperson for black gay people so please don’t think that I am. I am simply one gay black man, providing my perspective and views about the world. I am no leader or expert. I am a controversial, assertive, and outspoken man.

I used to visit mainstream gay blogs only feeling empty, very bored, restless, and yearning for more. I decided I had to start my own blog to claim my space and let my voice be heard. I don’t subscribe to just going with the flow I am an independent thinker. I also wasn’t impressed with the pernicious racism on some of the mainstream gay blogs. I decided instead of just complaining about life,I’m going to take action. I want to make a difference in my own way. I know I cannot save the world but I can provide my perspective and arguments on my own blog.

On my blog ,I have the control nobody can censor me. I was thinking to myself the other day who are my heroes? The black gay and lesbians that inspire me are too many. I decided today I am going to salute a few of the incredible black gays and lesbians that have made a difference in this world.

I remember during my undergraduate days one very important course I learned a lot from was introduction to Women’s Studies. I love Introduction to Women’s Studies because I learned about different forms of feminism. Feminism is not against men. In fact, feminism is i against homophobia, class privilege, racism, health care racism, and institutionalized discrimination and many more.

I recall reading about the black lesbian feminist group the Combahee River Collective and and intrigued with their work. One of the founding members of the Combahee River Collective was Barbara Smith. The Combahee River Collective is a very important black lesbian feminist organization. Barbara Smith is also one of the editors of the groundbreaking book “All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave”.

“All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave” was published in the year 1982, this book is still very relevant. Recent racist comments by white heterosexual mainstream feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem highlight the racial and cultural divide. The Combahee River Collective state black women cannot divorce themselves from the black race and just think about gender. Barbara Smith, Gloria T Hull, Patricia Bell Scott, and other black feminists state race, gender, class, sexual orientation are inextricably linked.

I think the book “All The Women Are White All The Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave” is such an important book especially right now. The media refuses to engage in a dialogue with the public about the racial and cultural divide in the feminist movement.If you read the book you will know the reasons why it does exist.

For example, Naomi Wolf is a mainstream pop culture feminist she’s just a businesswoman. I have read Naomi Wolf’s work in the beginning of her career the “Beauty Myth” is an important book. However, I began to read more of Wolf’s work and realized she is an elitist. Wolf may receive mainstream approval from Oprah but when I listen to Wolf I cringe she is less relevant to feminism these days. Naomi Wolf doesn’t care about black women or about people of colour. I prefer to read the works of bell books, Patricia Hill Collins, and Barbara Smith because their work puts theory into context.

Some white feminists focus only on gender and ignore race and class. Some white feminists refuse to acknowledge their role in discriminating against people of colour, their white skin privilege, and benefiting from the marriage market to powerful white heterosexual men.

Essex Hemphill is very important to me. I recall during my undergraduate days I read his incisive and incendiary book “Ceremonies”. Hemphill opened my eyes to the hidden oppression black gay men endure in North America. Although I am not African American I am a black gay man.

I was able to feel Hemphill’s pain when he discussed the hypocrisy of the black heterosexual community about homophobia. Hemphill also discussed a very important issue the ways in which black gay men are treated as sex objects by a hostile and very racist white gay male community. Television shows such as Queer As Folk are a perfect example of this bigotry. On Queer As Folk, the only time black men are on the program is during an intense sex scene. Black gay men are depicted as bodies and not as three dimensional and complex people. Queer As Folk is such a disservice but I am not surprised by the deleterious racism and sexism against black men on that program.

Audre Lorde is another black lesbian activist I love! Lorde’s book “Sister Outsider” is a black feminist classic. Lorde highlights the issue of the “Mythical Norm” which is the white, thin, Christian, heterosexual male. “The Mythical Norm” has the ultimate power in society and the white Republican party and the white Christian right are perfect examples of this. Lorde also wrote about the fallacy of the “Global Sisterhood” in feminism. Lorde says that feminism needs to be real about racism within the movement.

Patrik Ian Polk may be young but his incredible television show “Noah’s Arc” is so important to me. Ian Polk took the initiative and transformed pop culture. Thank goodness for Noah’s Arc and thank goodness black gay men we are no longer on the sidelines or in the back row we are in the front row! The issues that are important to black gay culture emerge and thank goodness for that! Black gay men we are no longer in the shadows in pop culture. Patrik Ian Polk has a huge role in demonstrating black gay men we fall in love, we have friends, jobs, careers, families, difficulties, just like everyone else.

Finally, I was able to see people that looked like me that are black and gay fall in love. Black gay love is so important and Noah’s Arc is a groundbreaking television program. I wish Noah’s Arc was able to reach a larger black heterosexual audience though. Why isn’t Noah’s Arc on BET or MTV? Viacom is the parent company for BET and MTV so I don’t see why Noah’s Arc can’t be returned to television. For a very long time I have yearned to see black gay men in love with each other.

Patrik Ian Polk’s television show Noah’s Arc, shatters a lot of cultural, racial, and social barriers. The program does not ignore gay racism which is rampant in the North American gay communities. Black gay men we are presented as comfortable with our sexual orientation and our racial identity. We are not depicted as licentious sex objects but as real people. On Noah’s Arc, the black gay men are cognizant of the black issues. Some black straight people think just because black gay men we are gay we lose our blackness and that is false. Noah’s Arc also explored issues important to the black gay community. I can’t wait for the Noah’s Arc movie to come out this year!!!

Langston Hughes is also a gay black hero but he was reticent about his homosexuality due to the pernicious homophobia of the black heterosexual community. Hughes poetry has dealt with homoerotic themes. The poems such as joy, desire, cafe 3am, waterfront streets, tell me, young sailor all deal with homoeroticism. The writer Faith Berry also wrote a biography on Hughes and discusses the fact Hughes loved black men and he had a Jamaican lover. Arnold Rampersad also wrote two memoirs about Langston Hughes and he admits Hughes was indeed a homosexual. Hughes is a major inspiration to me because he was a black gay male writer he also believed in black activism and human rights.

Lorraine Hansberry is a black lesbian icon and she was an amazing playwright. The heterosexual black media always discuss Hansberry’s play “A Raisin In The Sun”, refusing to acknowledge Hansberry was also a black lesbian. Hansberry also concealed her lesbianism during her lifetime she encountered multiple layers of oppression. Black women encounter racism, sexism, and also homophobia. Hansberry wrote for the lesbian publication “The Ladder” in the 1950s. Hansberry is known for her electrifying play “A Raisin In the Sun” yet the public doesn’t know she was also a black lesbian.

Is The B.A. Degree The New High School Diploma?

Do I really want to return to college or university? The answer is no I really don’t. I hated York University it was so boring I definitely won’t be returning there.  The only happy moment was when I graduated with a B.A. degree it definitely opened up a few doors. Notice that I used the word “few”. It seems everywhere these days you need a B.A. degree to do anything. My goal is to have a more enriched life. I just feel like something is missing from my life right now I can’t quite explain it? Unlike my first post secondary experience this time around I’m going to actually take courses that enhance my skills.

I was on the telephone with a friend the other day and he says the B.A. degree is the new high school diploma. I remember when I graduated from university with a B.A. degree I honestly thought that all the hours of studying, staying up all night writing essays and term papers were over. Well guess what? The competition is fierce and it seems everyone is acquiring a B.A. degree.

The question is how do you separate yourself from the pack? I was thinking about these new online college and university programs that are flexible because you can work and also go to school. Get a Masters degree! However, I should caution I’m doing my research. I think I will definitely skip the University of Phoenix online university courses. I just read an article the other day that HR agents actually look down on the University of Phoenix. I was surprised because the University of Phoenix is an accredited university it is legit. However, the University of Phoenix is a for profit university and there standards may be lower then other universities.

Double Standards Pat Buchanan,Pat Robertson, and Lou Dobbs Spread Bigotry Why Is There Silence?

In the 1980s, Pat Buchanan incited fear against blacks. Fast forward to the  the present, and Buchanan he is complaining about immigrants. Where are the articles about Lou Dobbs broadcasting racism and xenophobia against immigrants on CNN? Dobbs hasn’t been fired from CNN because his program generates controversy and television ratings. Buchanan’s prejudices are well known. Robertson, Dobbs, and Buchanan are white Republicans that utilize the public stage to express their prejudices.

Where are the pieces about Pat Robertson and the 700 Club’s racism and homophobia? Robertson spreads his bigotry on television in the public sphere daily. The public should be questioning why the mainstream media are so focused on Reverend Wright? Wright is from a different generation he lived through racial apartheid and segregation. Senator Obama speech this week was beautiful he denounced Wright’s comments but also focused on the double standards of the mainstream press.