The People (fantastic!)
The Food (delicious!)
The Stripper (whoo!)
The Red Velvet Cake (sinful!)
the Ride Home (uneventful)
and then
The Police
Fire & Ink 3: Cotillion (Austin, Tx)
Writing can be such a solitary activity–you, the blank page/screen, and the inner critic always perched on your shoulder–that it’s easy to forget that writers need community. Fire & Ink III: Cotillion was nourishment for the creative spirit. In a world that prefers that we be neither seen nor heard, to be in a space where people don’t want you to leave part of yourself (race, gender, orientation, creativity) at the door is by itself freeing.
All of the workshops/panels were phenomenal, I met some fantastic people, and the performances on Saturday night were superb. (See clips here.)
It was a wonderful, powerful experience.
Rocky Road
It’s funny to me that as his daughter grows up, Chris Rock (concerned father) will find himself having to deal with societal foolishness exemplified by Chris Rock (the comedian).
For example, I’ve only heard Rock (the comic) address black women/hair in stand-up routines in a very negative way. (ie. you got fake hair, you got fake eyelashes–and you want me to be real!) Now, we have Chris Rock doing a documentary (Good Hair) that delves deeper into black women/hair issues–because of a question from his daughter.
Rock has been a son, a friend, a boyfriend, and a husband …but it’s his role as “daddy” that inspired him see the issue in a new way. Maybe it’s because he sees her as part of himself–and not some “other” that he has to do contend with.
In any case, when she gets older–watch out Papa Rock! I think it was in Never Scared where Stand-Up Comic Rock suggested to women that, “You can’t just whip out a 40 year old titty that’s your man’s titty… 20 year old titty community titty. That’s for all to see.”
I can just envision some lecherous dudes asking Papa Rock, “Yo, Chris! Why you got your girl dressing like a nun? She needs to be showing off them community tit-tays.” I see fisticuffs in his future…
Actually, Rock (the business man) may see another opportunity in that and do a whole new documentary about street harassment/a woman’s body belonging to herself.
Tawanna Sullivan 