Brandelyn: Lyrical Contradiction

There are some things that can only accurately be described by one word. The word we are going to use today is...ahem...Oakland.

            This afternoon as I drove to meet a friend for lunch, I saw a rather large army truck coming up behind me. This truck was not the standard green color, but was painted a basic yellow and donned the standard fatigue pattern. It had a large yellow material that covered the back of the truck and the back of the truck was exposed. Ahem. When the truck passed me, the driver of this vehicle was a brotha, with dreds, gold teeth, donning a white tee, blasting some sort of hyphy music (that’s bay area music for those not in the know) and shaking his red tipped dreds as he rolled his army truck down the street. Instead of trying to figure out what I just saw, only one word came to mind... Oakland.

            After an enjoyable meal, my friend told me about a woman he saw on his way to work that morning. As he waited for a light to turn green, a homeless woman to his left suddenly jumped up from the bus stop she was sitting at, started waiving her hands in the air and turning in circles. Just as suddenly, she dropped to the ground, laid down prostrate on the ground, then jumped back up, and sat back down on the bus stop as though nothing had happened. Again I say, Oakland.

            Bus drivers stopping in the middle of the street to have a full blown conversation with their friend who happened to drive by...Oakland.

            Black owned art galleries nestled in between Ethiopian health food restaurant, skateboard shops and night clubs...Oakland.

            Random plastic bags and cardboard droppings floating through downtown and any given time...Oakland.

            Homeless people with Degrees from Cal...Oakland...well, Berkeley too...let’s keep it real.

            There is always so much life going on in this land I love so much and there truly is no place like the Town. I am really looking forward to all of the adventures that will come and the many many blogs that will come from those adventures. Today is a very special day. I’m excited about it. And it is only going to get better from here.

Peace Y’all

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

UM!!!! Okay, so I’ve been trying very hard not to talk smack about the things I have been learning in working with various higher ups here on campus, but I have to speak my piece. For those of you who knows me, my unofficial middle name is Brandelyn “Go Bears” Castine. I love my school. I am an extremely proud Golden Bear and an even bigger hater of all other schools, but most specifically, USC and UCLA. However, the focus of this blog, is UCLA. Now, just a bit of background, UCLA was the second UC to be created, after CAL was created. That is why they have similar colors (or the same colors if you look at their band) they have the same fight song, a miniature version of our mascot and everything else you would need to make yourselves feel like a real school. However, last year, UCLA came under a lot of heat because of their admissions process. They admitted a little of a hundred black students, over 60 percent of which were athletes. Where Berkeley was the only UC to have an increase in Black applications and admits. Go Bears. So clearly, UCLA figured that they needed to step their game up. So who did they run to? That’s right. Papa Bear. We spent the summer training them on our admissions process and low and behold suddenly they had more black admits. Miraculous. THEN! Because they are UCLA and they know that they will never be as amazing as Cal, they decided to offer each and every black student a scholarship to try and entice them to come to UCLA. Although, when I take off my blue and gold jacket, that is an amazing opportunity for black students, but is a thousand dollars really worth getting a second rate education? Apparently not because Berkeley had more black student register than UCLA. Again I say, Go Bears.

            Just a few moments ago, my co-worker came into my office and showed me an application for a summer program UCLA is now trying to start, that is supposed to be similar to the one we have been running for the past few years. WHY did the application have our organizations Letter head, contact information and why was the application the exact same application we use for our summer outreach program?  Basically all they did was change the title of the program and send it out. At least take our name off it!!! How are you going to try and steal our program and not even be slick about it? Like I said, second rate education. UCLA is a mess. That’s right I said it! A mess. I mean really how raggedy can you get?!!

            I apologize for the rant and the rave but I needed to get that off my chest. Raggedy, raggedy, raggedy!

Posted by Brandelyn at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The last few days have been both extremely productive and extremely solitary. I’ve been immersed in a creative project, getting ready to transition to the next phase of my life and career and the creative bubble I have been living in has been very refreshing. But this afternoon, I swooped up my twin soul, rolled to the coffee shop and worked for a couple of hours. Afterward, we decided to stop by the lake, which was looking entirely too delicious not to take advantage of, and we got to talking. Of the various topics that came up, one very important one was, when did we become so adult, that we stopped having time for our friends?

            It’s crazy because between all of the work hours and meetings and family obligations, we forgot to be there for each other. There have been more plans cancelled than actually realized and there are plenty of times when I have had to make the inevitable, ‘we haven’t talked in a few weeks and we need to catch up’ phone calls.

            This conversation also brought back memories of a ton of things I miss. Undergrad is a time you never truly appreciate until it’s over and today, I realize how good we had it. The dinners, the parties, the deep conversations, the not so deep conversations, LOL, we really had it good back then. We were constantly creating memories and building on friendships because a. we had time and b. it was important to us. But now that we all have jobs and careers and babies and husbands, when do we make time to just be friends?

            Now is the time for us to just have those random Friday night get togethers, where our conversations play the soundtrack and there is nothing but good food and good friends. My twin soul and I decided to start that back up. The summer of togetherness has begun. Life is too short not to really take the time to love our loved ones and I think now is the perfect time to start!

Peace Y’all
B

Posted by Brandelyn at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Am I the only who is bothered by flies? On days like this when it is close to 80 degrees outside, of course every possible door and window is standing wide open at the coffee shop. The light breeze is almost as refreshing as the mango Iced tea I am sipping on, but I just cannot get over these flies. It seems like every fly in America has made its way in here and while I have personally spent the last 15 minutes, tracking them to make sure they don’t come my way, the other patrons in the place don’t seem to mind them at all. They just let them buzz around their heads, land on their food, sit in their hair, whatever they feel like. Perhaps it was from growing up in Nana’s house and being taught from a very young age that Fly swatters are a necessity in any household and if there is an intruder it must die by any means necessary. I remember jumping off of couches ninja style trying to catch the flies mid air, or trying to wait until they landed on the window so I could catch them trapping them with the blinds. Whatever it took, I was Nana’s girl. But now, living in Berkeley, I suppose people feel like every living creature deserves equal rights, but my philosophy is the same, you’re good as long as you are in your own environment. But once you step into mine...watch out for the ninja.

Why is it that people can’t take a hint? I’m sitting at my favorite table by the window and there are two men sitting at separate tables outside. For the sake of this story, we’ll call them Man A and Man B.  Man A has not stopped talking since the other man sat down. In fact, he can’t even eat his food because he is flapping his gums so hard. The funny part about it is that for as long as I have been watching them, Man B has not said one word. In fact he continues to stare at Man A with a blank stare on his face and continues to let out long sighs as Man A continues to talk. I have had similar experiences, usually on the bus. A random person will just start talking and wanting to share all of their personal philosophies about life. One would think that the raising of a book past eye level, or a blank stare accompanied with long sighs would be enough to deter your average space invader. Sometimes you have to throw in the wide eyes and the exasperated look, but sometimes that’s not enough. For those of us who pride ourselves on being rude, getting up and changing location would be an optimal response. But I was raised to generally be respectful so I have learned to just block them out. I don’t respond, look at them, acknowledge their overall situations and usually, they will get tired of hearing themselves talk and eventually simmer down. However, there are those few who would keep talking regardless of your being there or not.

Children: It seems as though the children that I see at the coffee shop (at all hours of the day mind you) are always some of the most out of control children I have ever seen. From the moment they walk in barefoot wearing a two piece bikini, or in flowered dresses, with boxer shorts and sparkly shoes with no socks, they run straight up to the front counter and start screaming about what kind of cookie they want. I overheard one woman tell her child to be on her best behavior and use her manners. The child’s response was...and I quote... “I already know that mom...you keep saying the same thing over and over and over...I heard you already...geez” Mind you this child was all of five years old. Of course my natural reaction was to snatch this little girl up by her sparkly shoes and ask her who she was talking to, but that was not my child. Her mother responded by sayin, and I quote... “I know that honey, but I just want you to....blah blah blah...What?! If that had been Paula K. Gardner, I would have been read all up and down in front of everybody in and outside of that coffee shop for getting smart. So after they leave, another little boy who reminded me of pig pen from the Peanut gang rolls in and decides that he wants to be a frog. So he gets on all fours and proceeds to start jumping up and down yelling Ribit at the top of his lungs. His mother was oblivious to this nonsense and was even more oblivious to the fact that her child had just picked up a piece of fallen cookie and eaten it right off the floor!!! Come on blood! That is completely out of line! GET YOUR KIDS! It is not acceptable for your children to run into somebody’s place of business, screaming at the top of their lungs, tearing up displays and then you reward this with sugar? Mom...thank you for raising me with some sense. All of those beatings make sense now. Love you!

These kids done wore me out. I’ll Holla!!
Peace Y’all

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

As I approach a major transition in my life, for some reason, I have been thinking about changing occupations. Of course this lead me to think about jobs I would enjoy and jobs that would be a challenge. But most importantly, it made me think about jobs that I absolutely could not do. Ahem...

1. A DJ...It is no secret that I have A.D.D. However, my A.D.D.ness gets much worse when it comes to music. Once I decide that I love a song, oh boy, do I love that song. I recently rediscovered Stay by Ne-Yo and I have listened to that song 368 times in the last few weeks, okay the last two weeks, but you get my point. Once I get my mind set that I want to hear a song, it’s over. Could you imagine me being on the radio? My DJ name would be DJ Repeat because it would be same 5 artists, playing the same three songs until I get bored or until something new comes out that catches my mind. Seriously, I can’t even listen to BUDDY by Musiq Soulchild anymore, and that song JUST came out. No being a DJ would not be my calling.

1. A bus Driver... For all intents and purposes, I am an LA driver. I will dip on someone faster than you can say speed limit. I can’t stand slow drivers and I promise if you got points for pedestrians...well let me just leave at that. My attorney reads my blog. But the truth of the matter is, I could not be a bus driver because couple my peaking road rage with the tomfoolery of my bay area peeps, I would never get a “Safe Driver” patch. And I overheard a bus driver talking about the insurance they have on buses that pretty much allows them to do what they want (that explains so much) so yeah, being a bus driver, especially for the AC transit, would not be the right move for me.

1. A Teacher: Now, I love the kids...from a distance. Everyone I know who is in the education field are some of the most patient, wonderful people I know. I however, am not the one. These kids with their grown attitudes and lack of home training would probably land me in jail. I’m serious. And it would be different if teachers actually made the money they deserve. It is a lot easier to deal with the kids all day when you come home to your own house with a nice jet bathtub overlooking the city. Money isn’t everything, but it certainly can make your job more tolerable.

1. A Postal Worker: The fact that Postal workers are required to carry mace should be problem number one. What do you encounter on your job that requires you to have some sort of protection right off the bat?! That’s crazy to me. The other things is the responsibility level. I can’t hold the fate of other peoples lives in my hand. Here I am responsible for peoples bills, checks, lifestyles, all of that. I am not the one! However, the main problem I would have with being a postal worker is all of the physical labor that is required. My post man has a truck with which he totes the mail around, but he parks that truck and then trucks himself and a hundred pounds worth of mail up and down the block delivering it. It would be different if the land were flat, well no it wouldn’t really, but the fact remains that my mail man carries one hundred pounds of mail up and down all the mountainous terrain of the area I live in. That is a mess! I know my limitations and walking around carrying a hundred pounds of mail up and down a mountain side is not the occupation for me.

Posted by Brandelyn at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

5/17/07

I wanted to Stay

I wanted to stay

To remain in that tangle of your arms

With my smile resting in the crook of your neck

Quiet blanketing us like an old familiar friend

I could be

With you

This way forever

But you were restless

The weight of your pride caused you to shift

And caused me to shift

And suddenly neither of us is comfortable

Until we are able to settling into our own space

This time my lips

Blessing my pillow with a kiss

Because you pushed me

Folded down in between your internal battles

Eyes fluttering from too many memories you forgot me

And settled back into the past

When she pushed you away and

Left you just when you were falling fast

So you fight me

Paying no mind to my song and dance

Choreographed to prolong your glance

But you blinked

And said what you thought I wanted to hear

Just enough to keep me near

But the emptiness of your face

And the passion that lay missing from your voice

And I knew

That while your touch remained soft

And your kisses remained soft

And your wishes remained soft

The moments remained

When you would drift off to that place I couldn’t reach

But you would come back

With all the things I needed to hear

And I wanted to stay

Needing to be your everything

Needing to be the song you sing

Needing to be yours

But you didn’t see me

Whispering her story in the midnight of your dreams

Adding to my burden by forcing me into her wings

And I carried them

Willingly because I loved you that much

And wanted to help you move past the sensation of her touch

I wanted to help you see me

I

Wanted

And that was the problem

I wanted so much for you that

I wanted to stay

But you pushed me away

Until all I could do was walk away

Pushing myself

Forcing myself

Willing myself

To turn away

Then you blinked

Startled by the empty space beside you

Startled by the lingering scent beside you

Startled by sensation you felt to call me

Because you blinked and suddenly I wasn’t there

And I left you

Reaching out your hand to me with your poetry

Reaching out your hand to me with your song

Reaching out your hand to me

But I had long since blinked

Reached out my hand to you

And kissed you goodbye

Handing back her wings

And slowing down my dance to a walk

I get it now

Just like you say

I wanted to stay

With so much left to say

I swallow it whole

And listen to your words

Saying everything you think I want to hear

But I see you drifting off to that space I just can’t reach

And when you open your eyes

You won’t find me

Even though

I wanted to stay

Posted by Brandelyn at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“I’m so busy looking for God in people

I miss the bright yellow

Diamond shaped street signs

Hanging from their necks that caution

Devil straight ahead.”

                                   Michael Datcher

On my last trip to Half Price Books, my Sunday afternoon retreat, I came across a book called “Raising Fences, a black man’s love story.” I picked it up, glanced at the back cover and decided that it couldn’t hurt to read. I call it research for a project I’m working on. I purchase the book and it sits on my coffee table for weeks before I even crack it open. Everything else takes precedence, the timing wasn’t right.

            Once I picked up this book, it took me a day and a half to read it. Half way through it I realized that this book was not a book of fiction, but a memoir. I continued to read and found myself mirrored many times in the story he had to tell. In this book, he laid himself completely bare and do mean completely. It was so amazing to read because as women, we rarely if ever get that type of insight into what a man really and truly feels. We get the voice on the phone or the averted eyes, but rarely do we get that raw honesty. And it wasn’t just about his relationships. He talked about his spiritual battles, being the first person to go to college and what it was like adapting to that college. Coincidentally he went to Berkeley and I found myself wanting to laugh and tear up at the same time as he talked about his struggle to adapt in the overly academic environment in a part of California he’d never even been to, finding out how to survive when ultimately everyone is out for themselves and how he almost didn’t make it through.  But he did and in the process he found himself, the writer, the poet, the revolutionary and most importantly, the fighter. Reading about his struggle, I found myself wanting to thank him, for telling my story.

            He spoke about a child he found out was not his and how his initial desire was for the woman he was seeing to have an abortion, and his feelings of shame and guilt when he found out the daughter he didn’t want in the beginning was not his and now, he couldn’t have the only thing that truly taught him to love. That’s deep. It brought be me back to my own feelings toward my dad and how it always amazes me that now that I’m almost 30, I’m expected to bend over backwards and try to make a relationship, that I always wanted, work at a time that I don’t need it. Once you get used to things being a certain way, calling mom to wish her a happy Father’s day, so used to looking out of the front window searching for hummingbirds instead of waiting for him to come, I have to ask, why am I supposed to go back to the old dream because you finally woke up?

            He wrote about his involvement in a church that molded him and shaped him into something that could not be identified and I found it mirroring my struggles with “religion.” I have always had a foundation in God, all those years in church with Mom made that stone solid. But as I grew older, I found myself involuntarily rebelling against the rules. Finally free from the thumb of the church I went to Xavier and lost my mind. Drinking, partying, getting tattooed, enjoying those moonlight kisses at the pyramid, not understanding how to talk to anyone about what was going on because in the church I was brought up in, you just weren’t allowed to sin and if you did, you would go to hell. But like Michael, I had to find God for myself. I had to create my own foundation in God that was strong enough to trump any man made rules until I was once again strong enough to walk back into the church and now I feel centered. I just had to get there.

            He spoke about friendships and how essential they are to our survival. Carrying a load alone will not allow you get very far. You must have people who have your back and who will help pick up the slack when you need it. I’m talking about just a shoulder to cry on, but a friend who let you live in their house if you have no place else to go. A friend who will drop by with groceries and no judgment if they know you are struggling. A friend who will listen to you just talk and get it all out so you can ease your mind. A friend who will help you grow. Like Michael, I am so used to seeking out the God in people that I never see the caution sign until its too late. Reading this really truly made me appreciate my friends. Not my associates, but my friends. Those people I can and have called at 3 am in tears who wait until the morning to cuss me out for waking them up. It made me understand how truly blessed I am to have seen with my own eyes what a friend is, and it made me wonder how many people can honestly say that. Just like love, friendship, in its purest form is painfully rare.

And most importantly to me, he spoke about his relationship with the woman who would become his wife. The story was not about flowers and candy and romantic dinners. It was about life, tears, arguments and prayer. He talked about having a responsibility to this woman, not to dominate her, or even be her protection one hundred percent of the time, but how to be the best man he could possibly be for her. He showed me how he learned from his mistakes and stepped his game up when the next opportunity came instead of forcing those lessons into situations they didn’t belong in. I read this and realized that I’m not wrong in waiting for someone who’s worth me instead of settling for the next best thing. It is okay not to sleep with everything breathing and not to engage in discussions about condoms or no condoms, what the best position is and how fine that dude it. It’s okay to be a lady and to carry myself as such. It made me realize that most men can’t appreciate this type of woman because they are not that type of man, and that reality is what is going to make my union even more special.

Reading this book made me realize that we are all so much alike. We all share so much in common, but we don’t know because we don’t talk or share. We mirror each other but can’t see it because we’ve covered that mirror with a cloth. We hide behind our race, our backgrounds, our education, our financial status. Everyone longs for lasting relationships but we prevent them from happening because allowing them to happen means opening up and that is out of the question. Maybe it’s time to start knocking down some of those walls and really start “raising fences.” Start giving each other a peek at what we really are and bask in the healing that can come from it.

Peace Y’all

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

5/14/07

Just me

I like to drink unsweetened Iced Tea at fast food restaurants instead of soda

That’s just me

I am sensitive to extreme levels

Often feeling devastated by the smallest comment or look

Most people don’t know that about me because I mask it well

But that’s just how I am

I prefer baths over showers

And will go to Target and spend loads of money on cleaning products

Just so my house will smell amazing when I walk in

I tend to draw close to people who are like me

Sensitive

Creative

Caring

Doers

You’d be surprised at how few of us there are

That’s why my circle of family is impressively small

I’d rather sit in my house, stranded and hungry then ask someone for help

Some may say it sounds crazy

But that’s just me

I make no apologies for my political convictions and will continue to fight for what I believe in for as long as I believe in it

I feel guilty when I watch television for hours

Because that very morning, I woke up and thanked God for a new day

And here I am wasting it on Girlfriends, sex and the city and flavor of love

I have a problem saying no

Even when I know for my own sanity and life

No is what I should say

But that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t say it

I think its sexy when men write poetry

Or go out of their way to express themselves

I get lost in language and can read for hours without getting bored

Listen to the same song a million times over and sing my heart out

Like it was the first time

That’s just me

My hair is natural because of a bad perm

And because I’m getting back to my roots

When I tell you I love you

I don’t take that lightly

And that means I will do anything for you

That’s just me

 I believe in life and love and in all of the amazing things that God has promised

I believe he is trying to teach me patience by keeping me waiting

But He has also given many talents to make the wait interesting

I actually enjoy doing laundry and love sitting on my couch folding fresh clothes and breathing in all of that fluffed and folded goodness

That’s just me

I can be honest about my flaws

I can be honest about my success

I can be honest about what makes me smile

And what makes me tick

I can be honest about my life

Because it is only mine to live

I can be honest and say when something hurts

Even when my ears are the only ones to hear

That’s just me

And I make no apologies for what makes me, me

Posted by Brandelyn at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So, things have been hectic the last few days. On Monday, I was rear ended and subsequently forced into the car that stopped in front of me, so yeah, No Tanto Mucho. Because of that, my car has been dubbed “totaled” although technically I can still drive it. Although this morning I realized that I don’t have any break lights or turn signals so that veto’s that idea. Physically, I’m alright. I can’t turn my head to the left or right and I have some nerve damage in my back and a strained shoulder, but its nothing that large doses of ibuprofen can’t fix.

            I know some of you are thinking, hey, wasn’t she just in a car accident not to long ago? The answer to that question is yes, yes she was. The cold part about it is that the insurance company of the woman who hit me, can’t get in touch with old girl. So everything is put on pause until they can reach her. Again I say, No Tanto Mucho.

            But other than that, things are okay. The campaign is going very well. We are getting support from people all over the country and I just sent off a formal complaint to the chamber of commerce and the city of San Leandro. So we’ll see what happens from there.

            But yeah, this is my life. God is good and that’s all I have to say about that!

Peace!
B

Posted by Brandelyn at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Greetings!

This whole situation has turned so interesting. Apparently the company we are targeting has launched their own "counter attack" but placing our personal emails and information on their website and encouraging people to email and harrass the protesters. Rather than give their efforts any attention, we will move on to the postive. The Oakland tribune wrote an article on the situation and we are extremely excited about the publicity. Here is the link if you want to check it out. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_5816622

Things are progessing and the movement is in no way over. We now have major supporters getting behind us and I will definitely have an update!!

Peace

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

            Yesterday was one of THE most beautiful things I have ever participated in. Before I get into it, let me give those of you who didn’t get my one million emails a quick background.

            Most of you know about the Rutgers Nappy Headed Ho’s shirt that we were able to have removed from the store Futura here in Berkeley. However, on Tuesday night I received a bunch of frantic phone calls telling me that the store had a shirt with a clown in black face hanging in the front window, next to a t-shirt depicting several bodies hanging from a large tree. Needless to say, something needed to be done.

            The following day, yesterday, we rallied over 70 Black, Asian, Latino, and Native American students, graduate students, alumni and staff together on Sproul. Channels 5, 11, and 2 were there along with the Daily Cal newspaper and a radio station. Donning Ragamuffin Clothing Company and “Represent” t-shirts the entire group walked down Telegraph Avenue to Futura. It was amazing. I wish I could have been there to see it from the outside. So we walked in and I asked to speak to the manager at which everyone in the store got extremely nervous. The store manager came down and with three news cameras and microphones and reporters there, I explained to him that WE were offended by the t-shirts that were being displayed and that WE demanded that not only those shirts but every racially offensive shirt in their store be taken down. I also let him know that WE would be staging a formal boycott against their store until they reversed the negative images the constantly reflected in their store.

            The entire event was beautiful. I did most of the talking along with my dear friend Keyanna and it was so amazing to look behind me, in front of me, all around and see people of color standing together in solidarity. It gives me chills literally to think about it.

            To his credit, the manager was completely willing to help, and allowed us to do a walk through and take down all of the offensive shirts and is truly willing to search out other vendors who have t-shirts reflecting positive messages. So if you all know of anyone, please email me their information, let’s get the movement going.

            As of today, I had a phone interview with the Oakland Tribune and they are also going to be turning the focus of this issue away from the companies that make those terrible shirts back onto companies that are about change and uplifting people. That’s what it’s about. I’m getting all kinds of emails and phone calls from media and attorney’s and other interested parties who want to join with us in making a change. No one can tell me that change can’t happen. This is one of THE most beautiful things I have seen.

            As for the next steps, the boycott is still on. Ragamuffin Clothing www.ragamufinclothing.com , a clothing company a friend of mine started a few years ago, met with the manager of Futura this morning and has sold several designs to be carried not only in Futura but in Rasputin, which is a music store, owned by the same person. We are now seeking out other vendors who carry the same message of positivity. We are continuing our email campaign against the company that created this shirt and hopefully with all of this press and media attention we will be able to break ground. 

            It is amazing to me that this type of change can happen in such a short amount of time. I am excited to see what will come of all of all of this and I will definitely keep you all posted!
Peace Y’all

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Hey Everyone! If you are interested in getting involved in the movement, I am pasting a copy of the press release and the template of the email we are sending out here on my blog. If you have any questions let me know!

Press Release:

For Immediate Release    

May 1, 2007

On Saturday April 28, 2007, I went into Futura/Bear Basics/T-shirt Orgy, a local store near the campus of UC Berkeley and was shocked to see a t-shirt that read “Rutgers Nappy Headed Hoe’s Basketball Team” complete with a picture of a basketball with an afro and an afro pick. When the management was asked to remove the shirt, I was told that most of the shirts they sold were offensive and that they were not willing to remove the shirt because of one complaint.

Immediately a group was created on the popular networking website Facebook calling for students and alumni to call, email and fax Futura demanding the removal of the shirt. Quickly over 200 students from various college campuses, not only in the bay area but nationwide, joined this effort in support.  The following day the store was bombarded with the efforts of the group members and we were successful in gaining not only a removal of the shirt from the display, but a complete removal of the shirt from the store altogether. To their credit, the management and staff at Futura were extremely quick to respond to our efforts and in granting our request.

Upon further research, we were able to find the name of the company that created this shirt and was surprised to find that they were based right here in the progressive culture of the Bay Area, in San Leandro, CA. After looking over their website, we were shocked to find racially and culturally specific t-shirts that were equally as offensive, including a shirt with a picture of a young man wearing a sombrero crossing over the United States border with the words “Go Diego Go” written above him. This company needs to be stopped.

Our next move is to target the company, Deez Teez by using the same tactics of phone calls, emails and faxes, but on a much larger scale. This group is growing with support from various individuals, organizations and companies of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds and the goal of this burgeoning force is clear. We are uniting to compel Deez Teez to discontinue the sale all of their racially offensive shirts and to end the blatant disrespect of their message. To date, an email has been sent to the company requesting the discontinuation of these shirts and we have given them until the close of business Monday April 30th^t, 2007 to respond, or over 300 supporters of this effort are prepared to launch a full blown campaign demanding that this type of disregard and disrespect comes to an end.

We would appreciate the support of the media in our efforts.

Please contact: Brandelyn N. Castine at Beencee@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,
Brandelyn N. Castine

UC Berkeley Class of 2004

Deez Teez Contact Information: Website: www.deezteez.com, Email: info@deezteez.com, Phone: 510.483.8339

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