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📢📢📢

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In January of 1982, a young man perched himself on the roof of a building in Los Angeles. As he prepared to jump from the building, Muhammad Ali’s public relations manager spotted him. He saw the officers trying to talk him down. He got straight on the phone to the heavyweight champion who rushed to the scene and climbed up the stairs to the suicidal man.

The young man told Ali that he was a “nobody.” He relayed that he couldn’t find a job, that he was depressed, and that his mother and father didn’t love him and that nobody loves him. Ali responded by telling him that he wasn’t a nobody that that “I love him or I wouldn’t be there.” Ali told the young man that if he came down, he would help him go to school, find him a job and meet his parents and convince them that their son wasn’t a nobody. “You’re my brother, I love you and I wouldn’t lie to you,” Ali said, before offering him to come home with him and meet his friends.

The young man agreed and climbed down from the ledge with the assistance of Ali. “Everyday I’m going to visit him in the hospital. I told him I’d stay close to him,” said Ali.

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Polaroids by Andy Warhol

Jack Nicholson (1972)

Marsha P. Johnson (1974)

Mick Jagger (1975)

Muhammad Ali (1977)

Farrah Fawcett (1979)

Debbie Harry (1980)

Sylvester Stallone (1980)

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1982)

Grace Jones (1984)

Dolly Parton (1985)

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🐐

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Muhammad Ali, Fifth Street Gym, Miami Beach, 1963 - Ph. Flip Schulke

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“I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.”

— Muhammad Ali

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Fans of Muhammad Ali at the Ali-Bonavena fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 7, 1970.

Photos by Bill Ray for LIFE magazine

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The visuals for Cam Gnarly’s “SWEET” video feel like getting a custom-made, candy gram from your crush! 💌

(Search your history books for the definitions of “candy grams”, “crushes”, and “custom-made”, kids, HAHA!) 😝

It’s chocolate, marshmallowy, playful, lovey-dovey goodness that you can two-step with. And the perfect vibe for the tune that’s already been in my favorites list for weeks. This “SWEET” drop is as comforting as my favorite snack--you always want the visuals for a song you love to match the mood it puts you in--and Director/Editor Victor Hernandez has matched Cam Gnarly and DuNoise PERFECTLY. DIG-IN!! It’s deliciously indulgent, and it’s calorie and sucka-free! 👊🏿

-sondriaWRITES

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Mama!

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Happy 4/20 to us all. 🐣💚😛🌳😗💨

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“THE BEARD READER” #1

By Sondria

Gates hadn’t seen Margo in two months, even though they were each other’s favorite people and lived in the same city. She came outside in one of those dresses that are tight on everything above the knee, and split up the sides of the calves. She was standing at the top of her narrow staircase scowling, and rummaging through her large bag for something. Gates followed the top of her shaved head to her thick, animated eyebrows. Some blood rushed from his hat to his trousers when he got to her tight, angry eyes.

Gates’ brain continued to drain as he came to her large, shiny, pursed lips. The dress was the same dark chocolate brown as Margo’s skin. Gates reached down and adjusted himself at the color coordination, then readjusted himself (this time with a squeeze) at the holy trinity of Margo’s breasts, tummy, and fupa. She turned back toward the door--and the big, brown, round, glorious, gravity-defying ass jiggled and waved at Gates from the sudden change in direction. Margo opened the door and started to go back inside. Where the fuck was she going with all that?! Gates sprung into action and hit the “auto” button on his car door’s arm.

“Yooooooo!” He beckoned through the widening window crack desperately. His manhood throbbed in supportive echo (yo, yo, yo).

“I’ll be riiiiight back”, Margo smiled over her shoulder then closed the door. That voice! That fucking voice. Gates rolled his window back up and pressed his head hard into his head rest, trying to focus.

In Margo’s brief absence, some blood took the opportunity to rush back into Gates’ brain--not much, though, and he half-wondered why the fuck he hadn’t seen her in the last eight weeks and who the fuck had. The half-full brain got mad at the absence but forgot it was both of their busy schedules that kept them apart, and it downright ignored the fact that she had cancelled an interview to meet him for brunch today. Gates was just about to honk the horn in blind rage when Margo appeared at the top of the steps again. She was smiling her perfect smile and jingling the once-was-lost-but-now-are-found keys. He smiled back foolishly and imagined grabbing Margo by the ass and the back of her neck when she sat down next to him. He’d smother her lips in his.

He had to stop looking at her. He watched that ass bounce in the rearview mirror and adjusted himself again as Margo approached the passenger door and opened it. Then he tried to go cold.

“I said ten-thirty”, Gates said looking straight ahead.

“Old man,” Margo laughed pushing his thigh. “For this body in this dress?! You should be willing to wait all day.” All day. All night. All my life. Gates thought and chuckled.

‘Nigga please”, he said pulling away from the curb. They laughed and Margo pulled down her visor and pulled out her lipgloss.

“I think you good. Them lips already greasy as hell.”

“Greasy?! And what does your ashy-lipped-ass know about moisturizing some lips?” Margo sucked her teeth and rubbed the middle finger of her left hand in a bald patch in Gates’ beard.

“Worry about this patchy ass beard.” Gates laughed and moved his face out of Margo’s reach, covering the empty patch with his hand.

“Man, my barber fucked me up. That shit ain’t been right in weeks.”

“Mmmmhmm...your barber, huh?” They stopped at a red light and Margo cocked her head at him, swiping the wand dramatically across her bottom lip. Then she pressed and rubbed her lips together making that popping sound at the end and rolled her eyes. That was it. The last drop of blood drained from Gates’ brain and he took the back of Margo’s neck in his bigi, soft, warm hand and guided her--with swift, gentle force--to his mouth.

THE END (...or whatever…)

(Margo and Gates are characters I created for the short story “Middle of the Night” and its sequel “The People’s Pussy: Margo’s Revenge. Both stories are in my second short story collection: UNTHINKABLE ACTS. Now available in print and audiobook!)

www.sondriawrites.life

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THE FIRST POET LAUREATE OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA:

DAVID “JUDAH1” OLIVER

“It’s limitless what we can do if it’s supported.” -Judah1

David “Judah1” Oliver is the first Poet Laureate of the City of Pomona, and a testament to the potential of its support. He is also a Civil Engineering Inspector, a father, and an Official City Cultural Arts Advisor. But before he got the city behind him, he had it in his vision. Mr. Oliver started writing poetry at seven years old, but got serious about it at fifteen. A Mic and Dim Lights, founded by Judah’s mentor, Cory “Besskepp” Cofer, in downtown Pomona, October of 2000, is where the laureate would become synonymous with poetry in The City.

“I met Judah at “A Mic and Dim Lights,” about 22 years ago. We’ve been friends ever since. He’s the type of person that will change his plans to meet up with you to talk with you over a beer about your spiritual growing pains, the changing thoughts you’re experiencing. He really did this a few times with me. If I had to pick one word to describe my old friend it would be, without a doubt, “alignment.” Spirituality, purpose, art, service, community, livelihood, they’re all aligned with him, and I’ve watched him struggle to achieve that alignment.” -Devon Ward

“I was always there when there was poetry going on and I would always spit a new poem”, the first laureate shares.

“Judah has a unique gift of bringing artists together from different genres. In many cases, all under one roof at one time. It's beautiful when it happens. This gift will serve Pomona well while he is Poet Laureate, and beyond. His ambition and love for poetry resonates. His leadership and involvement in the community is consistent, infectious and wonderful for our community.” -Besskepp

Judah’s skills with the pen and on the mic got the attention of poets in surrounding communities. He was asked to compete as a part of the Los Angeles team in 2005 and 2006. Pomona hadn’t yet formed it’s own squad. Judah1 started Lionlike Mindstate--an open mic poetry staple in Pomona--in 2008. The Poets of Pomona and the Inland Empire approached Mr. Oliver shortly after to lead a team of their own, and in 2009 the team competed and got 17th in the Nation. Then in the 2010 the team headed to Minneapolis to compete again. This time they came in second in the Nation!

“He is a griot of his generation with a heart for his city and the people. There are many mountains he has moved in the name of purpose, poetry and Pomona”, Treesje--the First Lady of LionLike MindState and a member of the competing team tells me she’s “Honored to partner with him as a friend and co-host.”

In 2011 Judah opened Machine Pomona--a physical space in downtown, right next door to the Pomona Fish Market. This is where I met Judah and got to witness, first-hand his mind at work. Judah would be hosting the LionLike MindState poetry events, throwing hip hop shows, providing RAW Vegan Food demonstrations and workshops, plus yoga and capoeira classes. Judah supported his city with a space and the city answered back with the artists, artwork, and energy to fill it. “I am a machine in myself, that’s why the space was called “Machine”.

David “Judah1” Oliver’s Machine Pomona changed the way the Inland Empire treated it’s art on a scale that reached beyond poetry. More art spaces and art-based events began to spring up and flourish and Judah’s support of the hip hop community was pertinent as well.

“When I’m feeling lost or distracted I would get a text out of nowhere from Judah saying ‘what’s next?’” Noa James, a pioneer in Inland Empire hip hop shares. “My brother is a beacon of inspiration. He helps his community in every way.”

“When I joined his beautiful spoken word community, he accepted me as I was: a rapper with a worthwhile message. His humility, his wisdom, his friendship, and spoken word have left a lasting impact on me as a man and a musician”, said Curtiss King.

Knowing what I know about Judah as an artist and a community leader--what he’s been able to do with so little for so many--I wanted to know why being the official Poet Laureate of the City of Pomona is so important. He’s already been doing the groundbreaking for so many years and already been pouring so much of himself into the people of The City and they’ve been pouring back into him.

“That’s the power of the Laureate. It’s like: Wow. The City really got behind one of us. The City is vested in me and that’s cool.”

That is cool. It’s more than cool. The City of Pomona is making a serious statement about rewarding the righteous work of it’s artist community, by backing Judah1, and it's also keeping the power of the community’s development in its own hands.

“My job is to be a fire-starter and a facilitator...and whatever else needs to be done. We need to start filling up these voids so that we don’t have to leave the area all the time to feel inspired artistically.” With a list of goals that includes the Annual Pomona Poetry Music & Art Festival, The Pomona Anthology, 6 new poetry workshops, an official poem of Pomona, and several other projects with the Mayor’s office, the Pomona Library, and the Arts Council--I can’t imagine having to go anywhere else for artistic inspiration. “If we do it right, there should never be a void of art in the I.E. again, period. That’s why I wanted to be Laureate.”

***NOTE: There have been significant updates to the Poet Laureate’s story since this interview was conducted. See below.***

David “Judah1” Oliver is now...

-Serving on the Board of Directors for the African American Advisory ALLIANCE of Pomona as the Director of arts and performance arts.

-Chairman of arts and Event of the Black Chamber of Commerce, Pomona Chapter

-Re-Appointment on the Cultural Arts Commission Citizen Advisor Committee.

-Extending of Poet Laureate Term an additional year until the end of 2022

(Interview conducted by @sondriaWRITES, 2020)

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PEACE TO THE doG, DMX

...whom I’ve always admired for his shadow work.

I’ve likened X to Anubis—the Kemetian/Egyptian god of the afterlife and guider of lost souls—who is also represented by a dog.

“My dogs gon’ STOP.

Yo dogs gon’ DROP.

And then we gon’ SHUT EM DOWN, OPEN SHOP.”

ASÈ.

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THE TRIPLETS or THE UNHOLY TRINITY

I was talking with my brother, Uncle Vonovich this morning about how the words “convert” and “convict” had to be cousins, maybe even twins.  Vono said they were twins, and “conform” is their cousin.  

I did a little sleuthing and decided they’re actually triplets with the potential to be The Unholy Trinity. 

The prefix “con-” means with or thoroughly.

“-vict” is Latin and related to the root word “-vinc”, it means conquer.

“-vert” is a Latin root word which means turn.

And the root “form” means shape.  

Conquer it.  Turn it.  Shape it.  It’s almost a triple threat, but not on its own.  I aim to conquer my fears, turn my losses into lessons, and shape my own destiny.  INTENTION has to be my deciding factor for compliance.   Conquer whom, for what?  Turning them where and why?  Shaping them into what, and for what purpose?  Isn’t that how we should decide which institutions we pledge our allegiance to with our daily participation? 

Shit, you tell me!

-Sondria

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LOVE REALLY IS...MY FAVORITE CAM GNARLY PROJECT!!!

...and I can’t choose a favorite song, so don’t even ask. At any given time, I can want the cutsie love from “Sweet”, the homey love on “Love”, the grown n’ sexy love from “Exhange”, or the self-preserving love in “Boundaries”.

This six-song record is a NON-SKIPPA—meaning I can play it from beginning to end (and on repeat) without skipping one song.

Aside from Gnorthside Gnar’s singing vocals, the standout performances for me came from Zyah Belle on “Exchange” and Nicky D’s on “Heart Talks” for their lyricism.

Don’t you love it when NEW music comes in your life and you know it’ll be there forever?

Stream “Love Really Is...” by Cam Gnarly wherever you stream music. Out now on Alpha Pup Records.

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SOCIAL MEDIA SABBATICAL

From February 28, 2021 to March 28, 2021 I was on a social media sabbatical—the first I’ve taken since my social media career began in 2009.

The necessity for the break came because of the cluster fuck that was 2020. Everything was forced online, including my full-time school schedule and most of my personal interactions—I prefer to do both of those things in real life.

So knowing that I’d have to be online for several of my upcoming projects in order to promote, (The Unthinkable Acts Audiobook, The Carverians 2, Organizing LA Zine Fest, The Earth Day Write & Sip, etc.) I decided then would be perfect timing for taking a step back from what I could, to re-organize.

During that pause, several people checked on me to make sure I was good— I am so loved, and I don’t take that for granted. I ate good, and had a whole lotta fun!. I finished Elmore Leonard’s RUM PUNCH 📚 and started Muhammad Ali: IN HIS OWN WORDS—an autobiography edited by Toni Morrison, my fave! It’s been loudly and consistently affirming.

Here are some photos taken during that 30 days. What’s been up with y’all?

-Sondria