Xem VanAdams & Adam Benjamin Irby

While I was on the East Coast during my Holiday Vacation, I had the distinct pleasure of chillin and hanging out with the Carrie Bradshaw amongst noted Bloggers, in the LGBT community. Known very widely for his Bold, Abrupt and In Yo Face details regarding Love, Sex and Relationship sagas, Adam's Blog has become one of the most popularly visited and read websites amongst Men and Women across the country. As a native and writer of NYC, Adam is currently working on his debut Novel, and continues to contribute articles to an array of mainstream and up & coming periodicals.

Adam contacted me yesterday to inform me that he featured me on his debut, New Year Blog Post. Visit his Blog HERE to Read my featured post, and to See our photos taken together during our plush lil visit to this Xquisite museum Happy Hour.

Its ALWAYS a pleasure to Meet and Greet someone whose work you've followed for months. It's an even greater pleasure when the individual turns out to be as Raw, Honest, Authentic and Down-To-Earth as Adam presented before me. Great Guy.

May The Inauguration Commence...

REASON #52 Why I Get Into Barack....

On January 20, 2009, President Elect, Barack Obama, will be sworn in as the Official 44th President of The United States of America.

ABOVE

The ONLY thing SEXIER than an Older, Black Man with POWER, is an Older, Black Man with POWER and ABS.

Sin.Sational!

On the night of the Inaugural Ceremony, Legendary, R&B Soul Diva, Dionne Warwick, alongside Rap/Hip-Hip impressario, LudaChris Bridges, will Chair and Host the American Music Inaugural Balls.

With an upward expectation of 6,000 Guests in Attendance, both Balls will take place at The Marriot Wardman Park of Washington, DC.

Dionne's soiree; The Legends Ball, will be presented in the Marriot's Ballroom, and will be co-hosted by the incomprable, Yolanda Adams. Accordingly, Chaka Khan, Marvin Sapp, The Temptations, Kirk Franklin and other industry Greats will take center stage in Honor of Barack Obama and his historical WIN.

LudaChris is presenting The Urban Ball, which will be held at The Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. Co-Hosted by Big Boi of Grammy Award Winning duo, OutKast, artists such as TPain, Cedric The Entertainer, Fantasia, Lil Jon, Monica and Bobby Valentino will perform before a Live audience.


As an upwards of FOUR MILLION people from across the country are expected to be on hand when Chicago Senator, Barack Obama, takes office on January 20th, The Legendary QUEEN OF SOUL herself, ARETHA FRANKLIN has been helmed to serenade the event.

I am SO ELATED, as for a second, I ASSUMED they were going to allow Beyonce or someone else of her contemporary stature to take the Vocal Honors. I was so HOPING that there would be an executive in charge of the festivities who would book an artist of True Iconic status to accompany the prolific essence of January 20th's celebration.

...and BEFORE the Beyonce Hags, Stans, and Psycho Fans start leaving their Rude, Inarticulate comments on MY page, and in MY Email Inbox, please KNOW and UNDERSTAND that there is a time for Beyonce to perform [American Music Awards] and a time for someone of Aretha's calibur to take the reigns [The Presidential Inauguration]. By NO means am I saying that Beyonce CAN'T 'Sing'. Im merely stating the FACT that Aretha, Patti, Gladys, Chaka, etc. are better suited. IF you DONT understand WHY I say so...

...and HAVE you all HEARD that Oprah's Obsession over Barack has gotten so OUT-OF-TOTAL-CONTROL that she is NOW considering purchasing a 50 Million Dollar Mansion in Georgetown, as to be CLOSER to the White House?

MICHELLE better keep her Right Eye Cut at the O. HMPH!

2009 Tax Cuts for The Middle/Working Class?

As a part of Obama's Economic Recovery Package, Middle Class America could be seeing an Increase in their Net Pay as SOON as the first quarter of 2009.

While a $750 Billion Stimulus Package is being created to be ready for Obama's signature on January 20, 2009, he and his Economic Team are preparing to issue a Net Tax Cut for 95% of American Workers.

It has already been stated that one way to pull the Economy from the ledge, is to create Tax-Cuts for the Middle-Class. Its a Central Role in the plan and parcel of what is NEEDED when it comes to the Stimulus.

The LONG-TERM BENEFIT is that the Tax Cut will create a sense of fairness in the Tax Code.

The LONG-TERM BACKLASH is that the Tax Cut could increase already excessive consumption amongst the American public.

BASICALLY, We Spend More than We Make, and DONT $ave Enough to fund College Tuition, Mortgage, Computers for our Children, Retirement, or ANY of Life's Other MODERN DAY NECESSITIES.

The Obama Economic Team, in MY OPINION, needs to Encourage the sort of saving that will put the American consumer population on a more stable plateau.
IF Obama's 'MAKING WORK PAY CREDIT' is Approved; one of the centerpiece promises of his campaign, those making $75,000.00 or less, in annual income, will garner a payroll tax credit of $500.00 Individually, and $1,000 for Couples.

Either way, as Ive stated BEFORE, Obama is a bit Afraid to Increase Taxes for those making $250,000.00+. Hes going to wait until the dawn of 2011 to incite any increases...BECAUSE...'It Looks Good'.

Barack Obamas Economic Plan

$700 Billion Stimulus Package from Congress?

As our nation struggles to emerge from the recession compounded by a credit crunch, President Elect, Barack Obama, is going to have to reach much HIGHER than the $175 Billion that he planned to request from Congress, during his Campaign.

Recently, Obama has urged New Congress to pass a quick economic Stimulus Bill, as he has also pledged to HELP the troubled auto industry. Obama recently ADMITTED that the economy is likely to get WORSE before it gets BETTER. With less than 60 days left before Obama takes his oath of office, he has also blessed the Bush Administration's bailout of the financial industry.

In a Nut-Shell, what ALL of this means is that Barack Obama IS still going to CUT taxes for the Middle Class. HOWEVER, even with his decision to RAISE taxes for those making more than $250,000.00 a year, he's going to ALLOW the Bush Administration's Tax Cuts to Expire, first.

BASICALLY, Obama isn't going to hit those in the Top Tier of Economic wealth until 2011.

It 'LOOKS GOOD' on the part of a Politician and His Party Not to Increase ANYONE'S Taxes until a minimum of two years following his appointment. Blah! Blah! Blah!...

Ultimately, I DO BELIEVE that Obama WILL create the 2.5 Million Jobs for Americans. HOWEVER, I Do Not BELIEVE it will happen by the end of 2010 as he estimates, nor Do I BELIEVE that the Majority of the positions will open in Environmentally Friendly Technology Trades.

Time Will Tell...

Obama has, indeed, released the Names and Titles of those who comprise the New Economic Team.

TIMOTHY GEITHNER: Treasury Secretary

LAWRENCE SUMMERS: Director of National Economic Council

CHRISTINA ROMER: Chair of Council of Economic Advisers

MELODY BARNES: Director of White House Domestic Policy Council

The 3 Major AutoMaker Groups recently asked Congress to APPROVE $25 Billion in Emergency Loan Money.

Do You Feel that the Allotment is Too MUCH?

Lift Every Voice...

In my high school yearbook, the quote that rests beneath my Senior Photo is a message that hung in my household everyday of my young life. It's a message shared by the Honorable and Highly Regarded, MARCUS GARVEY. It's a Lesson I Learned, Absorbed and Follow in the Darkest Hours of Doubt....

'With No Confidence in Self, One is Twice Defeated'

They didnt Want to give us 40 Acres and a Mule,

so instead,

We Took 50 States and The White House.

May the Lives, Sacrifice, Trials and Tribulations of Garvey, Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, Phyllis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass and those of Nameless and Faceless identity, continue to be held as the BluePrint of Struggle...leading to Today's TRIUMPH.

May we forge forward with a level of RESPONSIBILITY, in aiding Barack Obama in his mission to restore the economic warfare and degradation of this Country. May we hold OURSELVES as accountable for our own Decisions, as we hold Obama accountable for the ones he makes on our behalf. May we NOT sit idle in a mode of complacency and uncomfortable comfort, engaged in the anxiety of what will 'CHANGE' and be 'REARRANGED' in the next years to come. CHANGE does not ignite from the Hiring of One Man to a controlled, political office. CHANGE ignites from the POWER and PRESTIGE of a PEOPLE who are willing to take the necessary steps in following the PLAN. The PLAN is presently Unknown. Still, in accordance with the Force and Fortune of Nature, Humanity and ALL that encompasses Faith, each day belongs to the INDIVIDUAL who lives through it.

VICTORY is WON.

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]

A Change in The Paradigm

To be Black, Respected, Powerful & Cool...

Its the Evolution of a Revolution...

Theres a LOT to be said about the Evolution of Our Mass Media Scale. Barack Obama has become the Staple of a New Movement; one in which Politics has become 'The Cool', and Patriotim knows a New Color, on the Same Brands.

I was SHOCKED, in the Best Way possible, when I recently received my copy of US WEEKLY, only to find Barack and Michelle, emblazonned on the cover. Then, as I began to shuffle through MANY of my Magazines from the past Year, I quickly took notice of the FACT that Obama has graced just about EVERY Mainstream periodical thats currently in distribution. He represents a moderate to major movement of the mainstream, and White and Middle America are also on the rails of Revolution; standing Beside and Behind him in his Mission.

My HOPE is that when Barack takes the Office in November, Americans are Truly given an Opportunity to Physically See the Prowess of his Powers, and the Headlines of his Historical Stance; all Drenched in the Paramount Promise of a New Day for OUR People.

REALIZE and..... ...Let Him REIGN

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

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

Amari YarBrough: *ENIGMAS CHILD*

This is the Amazingly Talented Writer, and Breakthrough Author of Throwback Publishing,

Mr. Amari Yarbrough.

Amari and I met in Washington, DC on October 12th of 2001; spending 5-6 months sharing Stories, Time, Creativity, and Space, until we lost touch for a Good 4 or 5 Years. Recently, over the past Year and 1/2, Amari has begun to receive Critical Acclaim for his First, Fictionalized Novel; based Upon his True Life Story, 'Enigmas Child'. Amari and I are currently Collaborating on the Feature Length, Adapted Screenplay that focuses upon the in-depth look at his life as a Young Man growing up in a household, where BOTH of his parents suffered from Cocaine addictions, amongst other Substance Problems. One of Six children, Amari managed to escape the treachery of his youth, to go on and Graduate from The University of Pittsburgh, with an Honors Degree in English.

Amari is a Semi-Professional Ice Skater, who used the Ice Rink as a Place of Calm and Tranquility, in dealing with the hands of Degradation that were dealt to him during his most poignant years. Amari has won Numerous Ice Titles across the country; eventually landing him into the MTV Network hands of Bunim and Murray Productions; circa 1999/2000. Amari was a Final Round Contender for Real World: Hawaii and Road Rules 7. He is a Young Man of Determination, who has Proven that through Sacrifice and Struggle, a Treasure can be Discovered and Uncovered; simultaneously.

Another Black Man STANDS. ENIGMAS CHILD.

The Hip Hop Summit: September 29, 2007

Dr. Benjamin Chavis & Rap/Hip Hop Mogul; Russell Simmons
Last Night, right in DC; My Old Party/Nightlife Stomping Grounds, a few artists came together in attendance of the Hip Hop Summit. The 'Get Your Money Right' Financial Education Seminar, held during last nights Festivities, were Hosted by the 37th Annual Congressional Black Caucus at the Washington Convention Center.

Letoya and Belly
Bun B
LeToya and Lyfe Jennings



'Life Without Photographs are Moments that Never Happened'~{Xem; August, 2007}~