BART Riot in OakLand, California

Im suppose to be on HIATUS. However, I CAN'T IGNORE all of the News that is brewing at the dawn of our New Year.

A march protesting the killing of an Oakland man at the Fruitvale BART station on New Year's Day turned violent Wednesday evening as a group of marchers attacked a police car and lit a dumpster on fire.

An estimated 700 people gathered at the Fruitvale Bay Area Rapid Transit station Wednesday afternoon to protest the shooting of Oscar Grant III by BART police.

The group left the station and marched down International Boulevard in Oakland. Police were forced to respond to the crowd in riot gear after acts of vandalism and fires broke out.
Police marched down the street to confront protestors as the march got out of hand. There were unconfimed reports that police fired tear gas into the crowd.
At one point a police vehicle trapped in the middle of the crowd was jumped on by angry protestors. They hit the car with sticks, broke windows and another group of protestors pushed a burning dumpster towards the car. The officer was not hurt.
Protest organizers said a group of anarchists, who were not part of the original protest, attacked the police cruiser and set the dumpster on fire.

At about 6:30 p.m. a group of protestors started causing trouble at the intersection of 8th Street and Broadway.
At about 8:15 p.m. some protestors were seen trying to break restaurant windows in downtown Oakland. A car was also lit on fire in downtown Oakland at about 8:40 p.m. The car exploded before fire crews arrived at the scene.
For safety reasons, BART trains were bypassing the Fruitvale station, the Lake Merritt Station and the Oakland/12th Street Station while the protest was happening. Both the Fruitvale and Lake Marritt stations were reopened by 8 p.m.
A man who identified himself as Kazu, who said he helped organize the initial protest said about 700 people came to the Fruitvale station at 3 p.m.
He said a small group of people came to the BART station two hours later that were not affiliated with the peaceful protest at the station. He said that is when they seperated and started marching down the streets.
Around 8:45 p.m., Mayor Ron Dellums met a group of protestors on 14th Street in downtown Oakland. He spoke with the protestors and marched them down 14th Street towards Broadway near city hall. The mayor asked police to leave the scene and he assured the protestors that an investigation was underway and any proper charges would be filed.

The Oakland Police Department held a press conference on Wednesday evening. They said that they received a call from BART police that the protest was getting out of hand and the crowd was starting to march down the street at about 5 p.m.
Police said that at 8th and Madison streets about 150 to 250 people broke off from the march and they began to vandalize stores and vehicles. Officers followed the break off crowd and they tried to control the crowd.
Police said they used an unspecified gas to control the crowd.
Officers arrested 14 adults and 1 juvenile after that incident. One person was charged with assaulting an officer but no officers were injured.
Officers were expected to stay on the street through the night and they were also planning to be at a protest scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant III at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland early on New Year's Day has resigned, BART officials said Wednesday afternoon.

BART spokesman Jim Allison said Officer Johannes Mehserle's attorney and his union representative submitted his letter of resignation at a meeting with BART investigators this morning. The officer himself was not present, Allison said. Mehserle had been scheduled to meet with BART investigators on Tuesday but his attorney on Monday canceled that meeting and requested to postpone it until next week, Allison said. BART investigators declined and instead rescheduled the meeting for Wednesday, Allison said. The investigators have not yet spoken with Mehserle about the shooting that killed 22-year-old Grant. Allison said BART has informed the Alameda County District Attorney's office, which is conducting a separate investigation into the shooting, of today's developments. BART investigators have urged Mehserle to meet with them and to cooperate with the investigation, Allison said.

I THINK that Im actually about to film a Video regarding this Issue and these Unforseen Circumstances....

Mychal Bell Shoots HIMSELF [Jena Six]

Mychal Bell, convicted in the "Jena Six" beating case, shot himself in the chest and was taken to the hospital yesterday, days after his arrest on a shoplifting charge.

Mychal Bell's wound isn't life threatening, fortunately. The 18-year-old used a .22-caliber firearm in the shooting around 7:40 p.m. I was still out with Shanae and Steeley when all of this went down.

People are speculating that Mychal was upset over media coverage of the arrest last week.

Mychal is one of a group of black teenagers who once faced attempted murder charges in the 2006 beating of a white classmate at Jena High School. The charges for all of the defendants were reduced.

The severity of the original charges brought widespread criticism and eventually led to more than 20,000 people converging in September 2007 on the tiny central Louisiana town of Jena for the largest civil rights march in decades.

My PRAYERS are extended to Mychal Bell and his Family as we ALL stand on the pulse of a New Year; 2009.

As one of My Celeb.u.Tantes and Leading Ladies, KIVA, would say...'MIRACLES & BLESSINGS'

Xem's Lil Xmas Elves...

Good Xmas Morning

SOCIALITES & CELEB.U.TANTES

We have decided to employ 15 Helpers Today to Aid in carrying gifts, loading food into the car, participating in MistleToe Games, and attending the Hippo NightClub tonight here in Baltimore, Maryland.

Santa took the Bois who have been NICE all year long. We gathered the NAUGHTY....

The NAUGHTIEST

Good Xmas Nite...

Sports & Locker Room Sunday

IAN'S DRY SPOT

written by Xem VanAdams

September, 2003

[UnEdited. UnCut.]

Ian was only 5'9, but his thick chest and horse shoe, arched thighs were cut like smooth pieces of mahagony brown fire wood. He had dark, curly hair, two penny round dimples, thin cut side burns, and long, thread-like eye lashes. He had pretty boy looks, but the sexiest, mandingo, Valley-thug bravado in our entire senior class at North Palisades Senior High School. His voice was deep like a dry, Saharan ditch, and he had the attitude of a fighting bull when he was leading our school football team to yet another statewide championship. He aint take no shit off of nobody. Afterall, he had a 3.6 GPA, his father was the top nuerosurgeon on the West Coast, and every football scout from the major, Division 1 schools across the country were courting Ian to start in their Fall, opening lineups. Ian lived the good life. He drove a classic, Red, 1962, Porsche Roadster, and never let anyone ride shot gun. The front seat was set in place to cushion his gym bag and prize, Dan Marino ,autographed football. Ian's family had a lot of money saved and invested, but he didn't dress the part. Everyday, Ian would wear a pair of loose fitting gray sweats, a tight, white, wife beater, and a pair of fresh, butter tims. I use to stand at the top of the second floor hallway every morning just to watch Ian walk down to his locker alongside his power plunging teammates. Ian's wife beater would cling to his chest like a hot steam engine. I could see Ian's nipples bulging through his top like two brown fingertips reaching out to be touched. Ian would carry his black, athletic bag in one hand, and his muddy, pig skin football in the other. He and the other football players had a 7 o'clock, mandatory workout with the coach each and every morning before the first bell wrang. The sweat from running up and down the testosterone cutting football field would pour from Ian's forehead, straight down to the crevis of his neck. Ian's gray sweats hung low, almost directly under his thick, brownie, banana-nut butter ass cheeks. As he walked, I could see his ass thrusting beneath the top of his crisp, white boxers; especially since his waistline was soggy and damp with beads of dirt & grass stains.
Every morning, between the final call time of their morning workouts and the sounding of the first period bell, the football team had exactly twenty minutes to shower and change their clothes. I knew for a fact that Ian showered every morning with the team because he always walked into our first period History class smelling like fresh baby powder and genuine clean, Cool Water cologne. Pebbles of water would still be dripping from the ends of Ian's dark curls, and sometimes he would have tiny mounds of soap foam still drying on the lobes of his tiny, pretzel ears. It was always so cute how Ian's arms and hands would still be so ashy from the rough, sages of water that blasted from the shower room stalls. The first thing that Ian would do before opening his textbook is that he would pull out a small, travel size bottle of pink, baby lotion, and he would lather it in his palms before smoothing it out onto his skin. My dick would bulge like a fire hose everytime a drop of lotion would ooze down the side of Ian's lotion bottle, and he would catch it on his middle fingertip before pulsating the drop over one of his dry spots. I was tired of teasing myself by laying in my bed at night and simply pretending to be a fly on the Men's Locker Room walls. What I wanted, and what I needed was to catch only a glimpse of Ian's naked, sex stabbing body, standing wet amongst the backdrops of weathering steam, and masculine, brute company. I wanted to pretend, if only for a second, that Ian could be more than the man of my teenage desires. I had to see him and smell him in the essence of his thuggish, school boy, all- star charm.

As the team piled into the locker room one by one, each carrying their gym bags and towels draped across their shoulders, I nervously paced up and down the hall until it was clear of the other students. Today was going to be the day that made high school worth the four years of hiding my sexuality. After number 42, Charles Weston, entered the big,swinging, green and brown doors, I plunged my way behind him. My heart was beating faster than Ian's rapid speed on the grassy terf. I could feel every pound and blood vessle streaming inside of my body. I didn't know what to do now that I was through the first layer of swinging doors, and I certainly didn't know what I was going to do if I got caught. I stood in the corner of the Locker Room foyer for a couple of seconds as I tried to calm myself. I was torn between getting my ass kicked by 26 muscle bound football studs, and kicking my own ass for being this close to Ian's naked flesh and turning around to walk the other way.

As I heard locker doors slam shut, and streams of water hitting the hardwood floors, I knew that I had come too far to turn back now. My plan was to walk straight toward my old gym locker and pretend as if I had to get something important out of it. I didn't know if there would be a new lock on old number 126, but I didn't care. To see everything that I had come this far to see, I was willing to do just about anything. I could pretend that my locker is stuck, and that I couldn't get it open. Either way, I only had to get my glimpse of Ian. I counted to ten in my head, and stormed my way into the Locker Room as if I were the new team quarterback. The room was filled with thick, lines of white steam and forest fire smoke. I could hear the loud antics of horseplay and drum thumping voices echoing from every direction. The walls were sweating testosterone. My dick was dripping cum as every loin inside my droors plunged upward. I immediately walked to my old locker,number 126. The lock was still on it, but of course I didn't know the combination anymore. As I played with the dial of the lock, pretending that it was Ian's rock hard nipples, I began to let my eyes wonder the room. My locker stood parallel to the entrance way of the shower room. I could see just about everything. I was on the verge of physical combustion. I could not believe where I was now standing, and what I was finally doing.

As I stood at the locker, fondling with the lock, stallion after stallion walked passed me; dicks slinging, ass' thrusting, muscles pulsating, and water justa' drippin'. All of the white boys were walking towards the shower room already. Many of them weren't too cute, but their bodies were. To my surprise, a few of them had pretty nice size pieces. They didn't even pay me any mind as I held my head downward to allow my eyes to mentally capture their naked bulges that never seemed to pierce through their khaki cargo pants when I checked for them in the halls. OH MY GOD!!! As I turned away from the shower room to adjust the thick wood that was growing in my own cargo pants, Ian walks into the same aisle of lockers that I'm standing at the end of.

Ian catches me as I'm caught in a deep, sex savvy stare at his entire being. He smiles quickly exposing those adorable, penny round dimples of his that I'm so in love with. He says," Can't get that locker door open my man?" I didn't know what the fuck to say? I quickly looked away from him and started jumbling the lock again."Nah, I can't. This shit fucks with me everyday", I said. Ian opens his locker after banging at the door once and says to me, "Just keep juggling it. It usually gives way after you tug it a few times." He had absolutely no idea just how many times I've tugged at my dick, thinking about him, giving way to a palm full of nut everytime I would bust. Just then, Ian begins to undress. I had to watch.

Charles comes around the corner yelling to Ian about a change in the play book that coach wanted to remind the team about. As Charles is talking to Ian, and the two of them are trading off football play suggestions, Ian begins to casually strip off everything. His shoes were already off when he first entered the aisle of lockers that I'm standing in. He had already placed those on the top shelf. As Ian took off his whife beater, it wripped. It tore off of his muscles like a wet newspaper being unwrapped from a hard, glass vase. One line of sweat trickled down the spine of Ian's back and landed at the tip of his waistline. Then, Ian tossed the shirt inside of his bag, and slowly pulled his gray sweats down as he bent over, still chattin' it up with Charles. I was about to bust. Not even two seconds later, Ian turns toward his locker, throwing his sweats inside of it, and pulls down his white boxers. Ian's dick was the size of a five pound sledge hammer with a huge, mushroom shaped clamp at the tip of it. His balls hung like two chocolate covered candle apples on a stick. His ass was phat and bubbly like a thick, mud pie cut in half, and I wanted to stick my tongue between it.

Ian grabbed a towel out of his bag, shut his locker door, and told Charles that they would continue their conversation after he got out of the shower. Ian came walking towards where I was standing, and stopped in front of me.Just then he says,"If you want me to help you tug that, meet me at my car after I get out of football practice this afternoon." He grins, pats me on my ass, letting his middle finger rub the crack, and he walks away. I knew I couldn't hold it back any longer. My nut erupted inside the warmth of the patches of my pants, and I just clutched the lock as hard as I could. I knew then that Ian would be able to have me in any way, shape or form that he wanted to. I would now be the one to help him spread that baby lotion all over those hard to reach, dry spots. My high school years would be complete.

VOTE in The Name of VICTORY!

HOPE. CHANGE. PROGRESS. OBAMA

written by XEM VanAdams-Lumumba

It's one thing to sit in an elementary school classroom, learning about American History. It's one thing to lay in a college dorm room studying it between the edited lines of a text. It's often times frustrating trying to understand it all; maintaining Dates, Facts and Circumstances to pass high school assessment exams.

Its another to actually LIVE and EXPERIENCE American History Unfold.

Its the Frame of our modern day existence and an Illustration of Societal accord.

What a Wonderful and Fulfilling, Once-In-A-LifeTime experience that our children have, to be able to watch a Black Man, Senator Barack Obama, stand on the eve of being elected as the 44th President of The United States of America. His prophecy has been guided in the direction of molding an entire generation of Naysayers, Quitters and those who have lost their Hope. Through Trial, Tribulation and Triumph, Barack Obama has already reshaped the outlook of Promise; one that for so long, had appeared so Dark and Dim upon the Horizons. He is a man who has taken on the stance of our contemporary savior; a political blend of social stature, cross-cultured influence and economic ease. He is a Leader of great Spirit, and for this experience, we are ALL, undoubtedly Grateful.

Today's Election is Historical in that for the FIRST time in the HISTORY of My GENERATION, a sense of Unity above Divide, has been restored in the Faith that people are carrying on their shoulders; Young and Old alike. I give praise to God for allowing me to see this day, alongside the presense of My Grandmothers, My Brother and Sister, My Parents, Aunts & Uncles, Lifelong Friends, God-Family and extended circle.

May we ALL, through Life and Limb, hold a Torch to Truth; receiving our Daily Breads of Fulfillment and Forward Movement. I shed tears in the knowledge and know-how of a GOD who is the only Spirit, in all of his Glory, responsible for this Day.

VOTE in the Name of VICTORY!

'Creation is Representation' [Xem; August 2008]

'Knowledge and Artistry ABOVE My own VANITY' [Xem; July 2008]

'Im Drenched in Love and Showered by Support'[Xem; April 2008]

'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'
[Xem; August, 2007]

Truthfully Speaking...

So MANY of you have contacted me over the past few weeks, inquiring about why it is that I have not promoted the Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom film, here on my site. Accordingly, there are quite a few of you who have sent messages asking me my opinion on the film, and whether or not Ive enjoyed it. To be 100% HONEST with All of you, I still have NOT seen the project. I am due to check it out, here in Los Angeles, tomorrow afternoon, alongside a producer associate of mine. He has gotten his hands on tickets, and Ive accepted the invitation.

I never, TRULY, Fell-In-Love with Noah's Arc. I really started watching the series during its second season, as it premiered spring/summer 2006. Still healing from a 2005 break-up during that period, I did, however, Fall-In-Love with the relationship between the characters of WADE and NOAH. There weren't many instances or situations that paralleled my four year relationship. HOWEVER, there did exist the raw essence of passion, unity and commitment that garnered my attention from several angles. I found a sense of comfort in watching the day to day struggles between the two characters; facing break ups, hardships, and a battle of their emotions. I could relate to the push-pull dynamic of the period of time that Noah and Wade spent seperated, meanwhile, dating other men. There was a familiarity to the circumstances of their relationship that truly pulled on the strings of my heart. I remember having to get in my car, every Wednesday night after watching the show, and driving for hours. I would listen to Van Hunt, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Brandy and a slew of other artists, whose music had soundtracked a specific period of my life and broken relationship, as well.

In paying homage to writer/director, Patrick Ian Polk, for creating a project that paints media faces on the presense of Gay, Black men in contemporary, mainstream society, I commend him for being 'chosen' as the 'one' who would pioneer fictitious, Gay characters on a primetime network. In going further, it's a paramount accomplishment for any filmmaker to be granted an opportunity to bring his characters and stories to life via the Big, Silver Screen. Though the film has suffered at the hands of Homophobic, Racist attitudes from the 'Powers that Be', only being shown in FIVE theaters, in FIVE major, American cities, Patrick has been able to still pave the way for the next, innovative series.

My central ISSUE with Noah's Arc, as a television program that reflects the lives of Gay, Black men living in America, is its psuedo, 'GroundBreaking' label. I think we, as a community, have confused the term, 'GroundBreaking' with 'First'. The two, do NOT go Hand-and-Hand. There is very little that Noah's Arc presents in the form of plot structure, character development, or influence that has not been WhiteWashed by 'Other' screenwriters, directors or producers for the past 20 years. With extremely stereotypical characterizations of 'The Raging, Gay Slut', 'The MeloDramatic Kween', and 'The Fag Hag', to name a few, these SAME 'Types' have been projected on-screen for Years. There is nothing 'GroundBreaking' about a series that illustrates the lives of Four, Gay, Black friends, living in a prominent, West Hollywood community. There lives are more Comical than Problematic, as their Lifestyles aren't reflective of the core, Gay, Black Audience.

As a film school graduate and a student of Sociological standards regarding Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality, its CLEAR to me that television and film are often created to serve the Fanciful Escapades of its viewers. HOWEVER, when a BLACK Writer/Director/Producer is given an opportunity to use his/her voice to reach the masses, it become his/her RESPONSIBILITY to paint a portrait that is accurate and reflective of the sub-culture upon which the stories are based.

WHERE is the story about the young man who is ousted from his home and ostracized from his family for being Gay? WHERE is the story about the young man who trades Sex for Dollars so he can eat and afford to pay his monthly room rate in the downtown areas of LA/CHICAGO/NEW YORK/DC and ATLANTA? WHERE is the story about the couple who splits up for several months and one partner contracts HIV from one of his rebound pieces? WHERE are the stories regarding the Transsexual/Butch Queen Up-In-Drags who is undergoing a sexual identity disorder? WHERE are the stories that spotlight the Gay Men who hide behind the church and religion as a shield from their internal and external struggles?

These are the STORIES that NEED to be told, hence my NEXT, MAJOR project. The life of a Gay, Black Man, living in America, isnt always painted in Designer Clothes, Fancy Apartments, and surrounded by Supportive, Loving Friends. It MAY be the reality for 15% of our community, but what about the OTHER 85%? I have reached a point in my life, as well as in my career, where I am READY to continue using my Talents, Strength and creative ability to ignite CHANGE. There are ENOUGH 'Love Stories' in the world to keep audiences ENTERTAINED for hundreds of generations to come. There are not ENOUGH 'Realistic Stories' that display Pain, Hardship, Struggle, Sacrifice and Tribulation.

There are MANY layers of The Gay, Black Community and its TIME that we melt off the ICING and start digging through the molding CAKE that frames our existence.

Emerald Eye Candy

Good Wednesday Morning Socialites & Celeb.U.Tantes!
TRENT: So So ADORABLE...
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'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'[Xem; August, 2007]

Dressed in DRAG. Stripped of FEMININITY?

Dressed in DRAG. Stripped of FEMININITY?

Commentary by

Xem VanAdams-Lumumba

Photos by

www.UrbanShotz.BlogSpot.com

We are living in a Day and Time where GAY and HETEROSEXUAL Men are leaving their dwellings, daily, Dressed in a Mainstream, 'Culturally-Identifying' DRAG. Its the Baggy Jean, Fitted Cap, Unlaced Sneaker, Roped-Neck kinda DRAG that is 'SUPPOSE' to smother the Flames of Femininity. The smoke that rises from this attire is meant to fill the air with a Sense of Hyper-Masculinity, and an aura of 'ManHood'.
DRAG is practiced by people of ALL Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities. It's considered to be any outfit or costume worn that carries symbolic significance. Western Civilization has glued the term to the existence of Gay men and women who dress in clothing that is originally created for the opposite sex. HOWEVER, in its TECHNICAL sense, DRAG has become a contemporary form of masquerading Pain, Sorrow, Struggle, Sacrifice and Personal TRUTH.

Often times, ESPECIALLY amongst the GAY community, our young men have been so SATURATED by the physical exterior of how a MAN in Black Society is suppose to look. As a result, many of us spend our Teenage years, and often times, early college years, trying to HIDE the internal struggles of dealing with our Sexuality, under external clothing that is representative of the 'Everyday, Stereotypical, Black male.'

The Larger and Baggier the Clothing, The Larger and Baggier the ISSUES that our young men are battling.

Our young men are being taught by their peers, the media, and even amongst their brothers and sisters that fitted clothing is 'GAY', and that wearing 'Too Much Color' is even 'GAY.er'

In looking at The most recent Sean John ADS, where NELLY is posed as the most recent Poster-Boy for Sean John Underwear, in No photos do you see Nelly posed WITHOUT his BAGGY, BLUE JEANS; exposing the fitted 'comfort' of the Brief and Boxer-Brief Underwear.

NEVER do you see WHITE or ITALIAN Ad Campaigns for Underwear, where the Male Models are wearing pants on top of the Undergarments. HOWEVER, in the BLACK COMMUNITY, especially, its 'GAY' to even wear Fitted Underwear. 'MEN' wear Boxers, or Loose-Fitted Boxer Briefs with 'PLENTY OF ROOM in the FRONT'. Even amongst the NBA, where the MAJORITY of players are Black Men, over the years, Basketball shorts continue to get Longer and Baggier, with every passing season. Black Men are AFRAID of fitted clothing, in FEAR of being LABELED as GAY.

...as our young boys play witness to these IMAGES, which saturate their daily lives, they begin to IDENTIFY themselves, by the DRAG they wear, as to 'Fit-In' and avoid the Chastizing and GAY Labels.
STYLE is a Major form of Self-Xpression. GAY nor HeteroSexual young men of our Society, of early teen years through adulthood, should feel the NEED to dress in DRAG, as to 'avoid' confrontation in the classroom or on the streets.

I am 5'8-145 pounds, and I am PROUD to be able to fit SMALL T-shirts, SMALL Sweaters, and size 31 Jeans.

'Creation is Representation' [Xem; August 2008]

'Knowledge and Artistry ABOVE My own VANITY' [Xem; July 2008]

'Im Drenched in Love and Showered by Support'[Xem; April 2008]

'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'[Xem; August, 2007]

Tops UP, Bottoms DOWN.

Tops UP-Bottoms DOWN

Commentary by

Xem VanAdams-Lumumba

Have you ever paid attention to the FACT that amongst the Gay community, MANY of us tend to Chastize, Ridicule and Label young, men who play the 'Bottom, Passive Role' as SLUTS, quicker and easier than we do the SAME young, promiscuous men who play the 'Top, Aggressive Role'?

As far as I am concerned, a Promiscuous man is a Promiscuous man, regardless of the Sexual Role that he plays in the bedroom, or car, or dimly lit park alongside Druid Hill, in Baltimore.

LP!-Laughing Profusely

[I Digress]

Ive noticed that many of my Male Friends and Associates alike, tend to judge the sexual behaviors of Bottom Boys, a lot more harshly than those who classify themselves as 'Strict Tops'. SERIOUSLY. I HATE to make this comparison, BUT it's almost as Negative and UnFair as the Freshman girl in High School who gains the reputation of being a WHORE for sleeping with the Senior Classmen, and yet, the Senior Classmen continue to garner Accolades, Praise and Machismo Browny points for FUCKING as many of the Freshman girls as he can before Graduation.

There's a Gay Blogger who has become INFAMOUS for his tales of being a 'STRICT TOP', who has conquered the likes of 'Bottom-Boys' across New York City and Beyond. I happen to LOVE his writing style, as well as his Blunt and Abrasive telling and recount of the 'MANY' young men who have stained and experienced pleasured pains beneath his sheets. I think many of his readers get a Thrill from his amusing tales of Catch and Conquer, for he's sharing them from the Point of View of a young man who is the Aggressor; hence, a reflection of societal acceptance of Masculinity and Sexual Prowess. He represents the Black, Male-Brute; whom many attribute a long line of more severe, negative Stereotypes, regarding the Black Male, Globally.

My FEAR, is that MANY of our young men of the community, are also adapting the notion that their Promiscuous behavior is Sexy, Appealing and Acceptable, for as long as they are acting as the Penetrator, as oppose to the Penetrated. The detriments in such a Thought Process, is the FACT that with this ideology, also stems the notion that the behavior is SAFE, and therefore, regarded in engagement, without the use of a Condom or any other form of Sexual Protection.

Meanwhile, the Young Men who PREFER to be Penetrated, are NOT given the same leverage and freedom, in feeling sanctioned, in their promiscuous behavior; moreso because of the passive role they play, beneath their mates. We JUDGE the 'BOTTOMS' in the Gay Community, as being inferior, in comparison to their 'TOP' counterparts. Even in 'PLAY', we will joke with our friends by saying such things as,

'Shut Up U Sloshy Bottom'...or 'Fuck U, U Lil Bottom Whore.'

The term BOTTOM is used in a Derogatory manner, as to create a clear margin of seperation between the varying Sexual roles of our community.

I think MANY of us are also STILL associating the 'TOP' as this extremely HyperMasculine, Man, whose Bravado and Style are a reflection of the Hip-Hop mainstream, and Urban Trademark of 'Acceptance'. Accordingly, we associate the 'BOTTOM' with extremely Effiminate qualities that are suppose to reflect a sense of Weakness and Passive-Submissive behaviors.

It has become abrasively OBVIOUS to Me that the younger generation of Gay, Black, Males arent as 'COMFORTABLE' in declaring their Sexual Role. Now, more than ever before, EVERYONE labels themselves as VERSATILE, or VERSATILE-TOP/VERSATILE-BOTTOM. Im wondering if the 14-24 generation even exists in relationships where they ALWAYS play the same role in the bedroom, alongside their Boyfriends/Lovers/Friends/Fucks. I wonder if dudes in High School and Early College STILL ask, 'Are You a Top, or Are You a Bottom?' Im ASSUMING that dudes just enter into their 'Situations' as Versatile 'Performers'.

LP!

I'm personally ANNOYED by dudes who claim to have NEVER been penetrated, and then go on to declare that they will NEVER allow themselves to be penetrated. For me, YES, I allowed my Ex-Boyfriend to penetrate me, because I Loved him. There were no real boundaries in our relationship. Though Ive never allowed anyone else to get that close to me, and I dont particularly enjoy the feeling, I DO Believe that each of us has the ability to be SUBMISSIVE to a man who we TRULY Love. I think its almost necessary in order to determine, which role is PREFERED. Though I have a Strong, fairly Aggressive personality, I DO BELIEVE that IF I fell 'In-Love' again, at some point in my life, I WOULD be Open to the idea of being Submissive to my man. In return, even IF he was an Old School 'STRICT-TOP', I do Xpect that he WOULD allow me to do MORE with his ASS than to simply grab hold of it during intercourse.

I have Friends who entered their relationships as 'The Bottom', and naturally, over time, wanted to Explore OTHER territory. Their man wont allow them to Eat His Ass or anything that even comes Close. For Me, I could NEVER be in a relationship with a Man who would NOT allow me to Eat His Ass. Its my FAVORITE treat. Id prefer that over ANYTHING else, sexually. Seriously. I can MUNCH for HOURS...Well, for an Hour.

Im AFRAID that the Men in our community who are declaring 'STRICT TOP' Status, are the ones who Privately THINK that they are PRIZED because their Ass/Hole has never been Touched. Its So RIDICULOUS how WE, GAY Men, place Titles and Labels on Every Damn Thing we Say, Do, Wear, Touch, See, Smell, Hear and Know...

Do You THINK and/or FEEL that BOTTOMS in our community or even the Label, 'BOTTOM' is Inferior in comparison to TOPS or the Label 'TOP'?

'Creation is Representation' [Xem; August 2008]

'Knowledge and Artistry ABOVE My own VANITY' [Xem; July 2008]

'Im Drenched in Love and Showered by Support'[Xem; April 2008]

'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'[Xem; August, 2007]

Syrai Ocean: Young,Black & GAY in America

The Living Legacy

of

My SYRAI

[SeaJae Mugler]

Coming THIS Weekend:

The XCLUSIVE VIDEO Interview...

Syrai Speaks

to

Acclaimed Writer/Blogger/Filmmaker

XEM VanAdams-Lumumba

A New YouTube Video XCLUSIVE...

RAW. REAL. REFLECTIVE.

Syrai's Story about being...

YOUNG, BLACK & GAY in AMERICA

copyright(c)2008



ALL Photos SHOT-DIGITIZED & EDITED

by

Xem VanAdams-Lumumba

MALIBU, CALIFORNIA

TUNE into YouTube THIS WEEKEND...

You Do NOT Want to Miss this 2-Part Series

YouTube.com/XemVanAdams

The Living Legacy Continues...

'Creation is Representation' [Xem; August 2008]

'Knowledge and Artistry ABOVE My own VANITY' [Xem; July 2008]

'Im Drenched in Love and Showered by Support'[Xem; April 2008]

'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'[Xem; August, 2007]