#Black American Martial arts

[panafrocore]

The Legacy of Knocking and Kicking: The Little-known Traditional African-American Martial Art

Kicking and Knocking, a little-known traditional African-American martial art, has a rich history deeply rooted in both physical combat and cultural expression. Practiced clandestinely in parts of the Southern US and on the Sea Islands, this unique martial art integrates acrobatic movements and musical accompaniment, making it inseparable from dance. Its origins can be traced back to Central…

[ectofish]

Coatl: A master martial artist who's fighting style revolves around adapting to the surrounding environment

Californication: The stand attached itself to Coatl's cactus plant. Californication's main ability is the alteration of the surrounding environment into another biome (ex: Converting an area of desert into a forest and vice versa)

[welldonekhushi]

Call of Duty OC: Vasili "Bell" Sokolov 🔔

OLD DESIGN:

NEW DESIGN:

Finally, I came up with my Bell's bio-sheet as well! I abandoned him for nothing, but now I decided to give him some depth and character for good <3

GENERAL:

Name: Vasili

Full name: Vasili Mikhailovich Sokolov/Vincent Stephens

Codename: "Bell", Ворона (The Crow, by the KGB)

Alias(es): Vasya, Vince, Vasen'ka (by his parents), Adler's protégé (by Woods), Scary Old Man (by Sims), Major Sokolov

Age: [REDACTED]

Gender: Male

Nationality: Russian (as Vasili), American (as Vincent)

Languages spoken: Russian, English, Spanish, Italian, German and fluent in many other languages

Date of Birth: [REDACTED]

Place of Birth: Kamyshin, Russian SFSR

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: KGB (retired), Perseus Operative (formerly), MACV-SOG (currently, but after the true ending he leaves)

Status: Unknown

Universe: Black Ops: Cold War

Faceclaim: Danila Kozlovsky

Song: "Ostrov Nevezeniya" by Andrei Mironov

AFFILIATIONS:

Biography: Bell, unaware about his own existence and his past, sought to assist the CIA special agent, Russell Adler on the aim to hunt down Perseus. Every moment that passes, he starts gaining his lost memory back, which makes him question himself about what he truly is. Would Bell choose the right side of history, or choose his own?

Get to know about his parents too!

KGB (Committee for State Security)

General Anton Charkov

Major Dimitri Belikov (double agent)

Major Vadim Rudnik

Lev Kravchenko

Perseus Faction

"Perseus" (leader)

Arash Kadivar

Anton Volkov

Qasim Javadi

The Safehouse

Alex Mason

Frank Woods

Russell Adler

Helen Park

Lawrence Sims

Lazar Azoulay

Aleksandra "Aleks" Clarke R. (@alypink)

Yume Sieheart (@cyberghostdraws)

Koa "Hunter" Nikau (@islandtarochips)

Charles Moore (@deeptrashwitch)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Weapon induced: Knife, MI6A1, M60, MP5, Type 63, LW3 — Tundra, AK-47, Throwing Knife

Fighting style: Systema, hand-to-hand combat, a little martial arts

Special skills: Has a good sense of observation and quick to react to the situation, can compose himself in many identities

Talents: Vasily could learn languages easily at a fast rate, even after getting brainwashed, he still retained those qualities within him

Shortcomings: Has frequent headaches, loses focus at times, not very confident when it comes to taking a decision, becomes absolutely dependent on his superiors

MOODBOARD:

PERSONALITY:

Myers-Briggs Type: ISTP (The Virtuoso)

Is aware of his surroundings: Because of his career as a special agent, Bell conceals himself in terms of his personal life in seclusion. Even knowing he's hunted everywhere, he intelligently makes himself invisible from the outside world which makes others difficult for him to locate or recognise.

Works in solitude: Vasili/Bell has always prefered to work alone, but it doesn't mean he doesn't mind going on missions with the team. But, as his habit of being a special agent, that trait normally came from him back in his days when he worked with the KGB.

Observant and intelligent: Vasili was able to survive any sort of situation because of his good observant skills, and his capacity to act quicker. He was able to learn a lot of languages as well, and posed himself in different identities, that made it harder for the intelligence agencies to track him down.

Is reserved and introverted: Bell really doesn't speak to anyone much, unless when it comes to planning or going for missions, he needs to form a sort of communication to keep it lively. He is seen being more comfortable with Mason and Woods, but never felt having a good vibe with Adler. It was odd on his part, but it was going to grow very obvious when the truth would have come closer to any minute.

BACKGROUND STORY

Bell, who first used to live under the identity of Vasili Sokolov, was born in a family who had an army background, where his mother and father, both served during the Second World War, and hearing their stories, it gave Vasili a motivation to support his parents legacy by joining the intelligence — which was the KGB, going under the codename "Crow".

THE KGB ARC [REDACTED]

When Vasili joined the organisation, he showed a remarkable performance as a special agent. Some say he was born to join the intelligence and make the country proud, or he was a gifted child who could learn anything quickly and successfully perform a mission by stealing info or destroying any plans that could harm his country, without any failure. He even pointed out possible mistakes while planning out a mission, and in the end they worked out efficiently. Alongside, he made himself a friend, whose name was Dimitri Belikov, and grew closer to each other and worked together as a team.

Sooner or later, Vasili's influence spread all around the world, especially during the Cold War, the enemies of the Soviet Union had a kill/capture on him. "Kill" because Vasili knew too much about them, and "Capture" because, they wanted him to tell everything he has with him, which likely created a risk for the KGB and they couldn't do so. With that, General Anton Charkov gave him the order to "retire" and stay hidden to protect himself along with the organisation. Disappointed, Vasili protested that it was the only thing that "kept him going", but having no choice, the agent decided to leave the KGB, under the General's orders.

PERSEUS ARC [REDACTED]

It was a matter of time, when one was going to collect him instead, realising he was now no longer affiliated with the KGB. Vasili was met with someone who called himself "Perseus", and requested him to join his alliance, since he knew about Vasili from his influence, and promised to give him full security, knowing he was hunted worldwide too. Seeing that as an opportunity, Vasili agreed to join in good terms, directly becoming Perseus's loyal agent.

As he continued his journey in the faction, he had shown his skills again which made Perseus as his most trusted agent, unlike the rest. But, at times Vasili has shown inner conflict towards his ideas. During the moment when he was explained about "Operation Greenlight" with the members, it left a strange feeling within his heart. He tried to protest, but he somehow couldn't refute his superior's words, and decided to acknowledge instead. Vasili had kept showing a remarkable performance, much to Arash Kadivar, one of the faction members, being envious of his relationship with Perseus.

Kadivar lures him to Trabzon Airport, where he takes Vasili, and explains that he didn't want any more "competition", resulting in him shooting the special agent in the car he was present in, leaving him to die and bleed alone. But, sooner or later, an attack situated on the airfield, unbeknownst to the dying Vasili who was growing unconscious every passing minute. Growing lost in his own thoughts, about Perseus that promised him to give him protection from the outer forces, but didn't recognise that his "own" people were against him too, as he questioned his existence at the same time.

SAFEHOUSE ARC

The voices echoed, and the man started to lose his breath.. until he woke up, and found himself in a strange place, where he couldn't remember anything of what happened. This is where, he encounters Russell Adler, a CIA agent who he curiously looks upon, having no idea. Unable to introduce himself, Adler briefed him about his name, being it under the codename "Bell". And this is where, all the very events of the canon game begin from here.

[viadescioism]

The Black Karate Federation (BKF)

The Black Karate Federation (BKF) emerged as a response to the events surrounding a pivotal tournament held in 1969, which featured a match between two prominent martial artists, Joe Lewis and Sijo Muhammad, who was then known as Steve Sanders. The establishment of the BKF was motivated by a desire to address issues of unequal opportunity and representation within the tournament circuit, particularly for African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities.

The BKF aimed to level the playing field by providing a platform that offered equal opportunities for martial artists from underrepresented backgrounds to showcase their skills and compete on a fair and inclusive basis. In doing so, it sought to break down the barriers and biases that had historically hindered the progress of minority practitioners in the martial arts community.

One of the significant contributions of the BKF was its commitment to fostering the growth and development of young people through martial arts. Recognizing the transformative power of martial arts training, the organization offered karate lessons to young individuals who may not have had the financial means to afford such opportunities. This initiative not only provided access to valuable self-defense skills but also promoted discipline, self-confidence, and personal growth among the youth, particularly in underserved communities.

"Our mission is to create a greater sense of awareness of both physical and mental health, to assist individuals, including at risk youth, in reaching their potential and expanding their social consciousness by establishing goals, building confidence and developing a strong self concept."

[super-luna-fic]

Camp Justice Character Profiles

Callan "Cal" Josephine Alvarez W.

Alias: Crow Camp Justice Age: 14 Sex: Female Species: Human Hair: Dark Brown Curly Eye Color: Dark Hazel Brown Camp Justice Height: 5'6 Race/Ethnicity: West Indian (Trinidad and India), Dominican, Caucasian Skills: Martial Arts, Stealth, Weaponry, Acrobatics, Gymnastics, TBA Personality/Traits: Friendly (most of the time), Competitive, Short-tempered, Hardworking, Optimistic, Patient (that's what she thinks), Loyal, Mischievous, Hardheaded, Playful, Caring

Richard "Dick" John Grayson

Alias: Robin Camp Justice Age: 14 Sex: Male Species: Human Hair: Black Short and Wavy Eye Color: Electric Blue Camp Justice Height: 5'5.75 Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian (Romanian, French) Skills: Martial Arts, Stealth, Weaponry, Acrobatics, Decoding (Hacking), Gymnastics Personality/Traits: Optimistic, Compassionate, Caring, Loyal, Cocky, Playful, Hot-tempered, Ambitious

Wallace "Wally" Rudolph West

Alias: Kid Flash Camp Justice Age: 15 Sex: Male Species: Human Hair: Red Straight Eye Color: Gemstone Green Camp Justice Height: 5'8 Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian (Scottish, Norwegian) Skills/Powers: Martial Arts, Stealth, Super Speed, Super Stamina, Accelerated Healing, Phasing, Science Personality/Traits: Energetic, Impatient, Loyal, Caring, Playful, Talkative, Cocky, Kind Hearted

Kaldur'ahm

Alias: Aqualad Camp Justice Age: 16 Sex: Male Species: Atlantean, Human Hair: Light Blonde Curly Eye Color: Pistachio Green Camp Justice Height: 5'9 Race/Ethnicity: African American (Nigerian Ancestry) Skills/Powers: Martial Arts, Superhuman Strength, Hydro kinesis, Enhanced Hearing, Durability, Aquatic Respiration Personality/Traits: Calm, Level-headed, Caring, Loyal, Responsible, Noble

Conner "Con" Kent

Alias: Superboy Camp Justice Age: Biological body of 15-year-old but was created 6 months before being discovered Sex: Male Species: Kryptonian, Human Hair: Black Straight Eye Color: Ocean Blue Camp Justice Height: 5'9 Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian Skills/Powers: Martial Arts, Super Strength, Super Hearing, Durability, Enhanced Vision, Accelerated Healing Personality/Traits: Hard-headed, Defiant, Loyal, Temperamental, Shy

Roy Harper

Alias: Speedy, Red Arrow Camp Justice Age: 17 Sex: Male Species: Human Hair: Red Orange Straight Eye Color: Sky Blue Camp Justice Height: 5'9.5 Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian (Dutch), Native American (Navajo) Skills: Martial Arts, Stealth, Archery, Technology, Weaponry Personality/Traits: Loyal, Short-tempered, Serious (sometimes), Playful

Artemis Crock

Alias: Artemis Camp Justice Age: 15 Sex: Female Species: Human Hair: Blonde Wavy Eye Color: Green-grey Camp Justice Height: 5'7 Race/Ethnicity: White (Scandinavian), Asian (Vietnamese) Skills: Martial Arts, Archery, Weaponry, Stealth Personality/Traits: Passionate, Loyal, Witty, Hardheaded

M'gann M'orzz

Alias: Miss Martian Camp Justice Age: Generally appears as a 15-year-old but is biologically 45 Sex: Female Species: Martian Hair: Red Straight Eye Color: Reddish Brown Camp Justice Height: Generally presents herself as 5'7 Race/Ethnicity: N/A Skills/Powers: Martial Arts, Telepathy, Phasing, Flight, Mind Control, Shapeshifting, Invisibility, Durability Personality/Traits: Optimistic, Cheerful, Playful, Loyal, Polite, Caring

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DC original characters or plots. The only characters I own are the ones I created. This is merely a fanfiction story.

DO NOT REPOST ANYWHERE!

A/N: Thank you so much for continuing to keep up with my posts. I will be posting the first chapter later this week. If you have any questions or just want to talk please do send me a message!

See ya later!

[hypnostheory]

A guide to Hyp’s Writing

Okay so I have enough fics now that I feel like I can make a little guide here. So here we go:

“Hyp, I want something sweet”

something good and right and real - After the election, Henry explores Alex’s childhood room. He finds trinkets of a young Alex that intrigue him, including a crown that gives him some ideas.

and that’s the way i loved you - Alex accidentally fell hopelessly in love with his roommate and fuck buddy Henry. He tries to plan the perfect confession, but when have any of Alex’s plots worked perfectly?

heartbeats under coats - Alex, a DC lawyer on his way back from a work trip, is stranded in New York after a freak blizzard grounds all flights. He gets the last available hotel room on the island, but a freak error means the room is double booked. Unwilling to leave the other stranded, both men agree to share the room and wait out the blizzard together.

“I want something with action and intrigue”

trouble’s gonna follow where i go - Henry thought it was silly to hire an American to be his personal guard. He didn’t care that the man had an excellent service record, the highest level of security clearance in the American government short of the president, or a black belt in six forms of martial arts. A foiled assassination attempt changes that opinion, but Henry’s gratitude is not a passive thing – Alex’s going to have to work for it.

wanting me dead has really brought you two together - Rebel smuggler Alex is caught by his nemesis, Alderaan Senator Jeffery Richards. His prompt assassination is put on hold when Richard’s bounty hunter reels in a bigger fish; Senator Henry Fox of Naboo. Turns out, Alex has more than one rival on board the ship, but he’s going to need to work with Henry if they don’t want to get killed.

move fast (and keep quiet) - Alex is a spy tasked with securing a case of diamonds being auctioned off by black market smugglers. Henry is a rival spy who happens to be tasked with receiving the same case of stones. When Henry wins the auction, Alex has to retrieve his target, no matter the cost.

“I just want something really smutty!”

you handle it beautifully - Alex, discovering Henry is having a hard time getting out of his head enough to enjoy sex, has a clear solution: recreational drug use! While on the road to self-discovery and self-actualization, Henry surprises Alex more than once.

the only thing on my mind series - Piercer!Alex teaches Henry about the inner workings of BDSM in mid-90s New York.

secret moments in a crowded room - After getting a concerned call from the man's PPO, Henry makes an effort to ensure his body double Angus is getting properly socialized. Alex is hesitant to spend time with the Henry-shaped clone, but he quickly finds himself getting charmed by the man. Angus gracefully slides from strange phenomenon to friend.

“I just want a quick one shot”

like it’s patrón - Henry meets Alexander at a gun range, but it’s not the first time they’ve met. Alex calls in a raincheck.

where every wish comes true - Alex gets locked out his apartment on Christmas Eve. He's forced to take refuge in his neighbor and occasional fuck buddy Henry's apartment, and together the two get into the Christmas spirit with the help of a festive costume and a silk ribbon.

here the whole time - Married and bonded, Henry and Alex decide it's about time to get off suppressants and start enjoying their bond fully.

“I’m here for the angst”

you were more than just a short time - David the Beagle passes. Alex is there for Henry through his grief, and through the start of moving on.

look at this godforsaken mess that you made me - Rafael Luna gets through the election by the skin of his teeth. The other two Bastardos notice.

where others gave you scars series - Henry, after living in America, realizes some of the things he’s been living with aren’t normal. Alex teaches him that his pain isn’t in his head, despite what his family thinks.

[oneeyedsparrow]

Arthur Finch

Age: 18

Born: February 10th, Aquarius

Kamii University, Freshman

Department of Literature, Studying Japanese Literature

Gender: Male ♂

Species: Human

Size: 162.56 cm  58 kg

Blood-type: A+

Likes: Drawing, Reading, Intelligence, Martial Arts and Katsudon. Favorite Literature: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Sexuality: Gay ⚣

Hobbies: Arthur really enjoys reading or drawing in his free time. You’ll usually see him at a cafe with his favorite horror book or sketching in one of his many sketchbooks. 

Personality: Athletic, Clever, Friendly, Introverted, clingy (only to Mira and later to Hide and Kaneki once he gets to know them.) Secretive about his family ties to the CCG, Pacifist (he avoids causing harm to pretty much anyone.) He strongly believes that violence leads to more violence. While being a pacifist he still believes in self-defense. He rarely if ever holds grudges. He’s Impulsive to act when he thinks someone is in danger. He is a little bit cowardly when it comes to his own life. He’s a bit spoiled because of his rich upbringing but he doesn’t see himself above anyone. He’s also stubborn in his beliefs. Background: Born to Victor and Emma Finch in the United States, Arthur lost his father at the age of 10. His mother remarried to Benjamin Willaims, an investigator under the American version of the CCG, The Department of Ghoul Defense. His mother died when he was 12, leaving him with his stepfather who got more invested in his work due to Arthur’s mother dying from a ghoul attack. The ghoul who was framed for the murder was eventually killed, and his wife was arrested for harboring a ghoul under her care. 

The ghoul who supposedly killed his mother had two offspring: Mira and Milo Walsh, two natural born half-ghouls who initially befriended Arthur out of petty revenge, though the former of the two grew to have an actual friendship with him while the other kept his resentment at the forefront of their interactions. It was thanks to his friend Mira that Arthur was able to find other options for himself, and to aid him with a surgery before making further plans for the future. 

While distant with his stepfather, Arthur decided to leave the country to pursue his life goals, taking his best friend Mira with him as the two settled into Japan to start a new life together. Arthur has no idea that Mira and Milo are half ghouls.  Arthur's gun is a black 44 magnum that has 6 rounds. The gun uses Q bullets. Arthur only uses this gun as his last and finally option.

Ships I'm okay with: Arthur x Kaneki, Arthur x Hide, Arthur x Hide x Kaneki. Mira X Arthur. Ships I'm not okay with: Arthur with anyone who Identifies as being female. (Arthur is gay sooo) Shuu Tsukiyama (I would be okay with it if their personalities didn't clash so much.) I'm okay with: Gore, NSFW, and even death of my OC (I'm pretty much cool with it all.) If you have any more questions about Arthur Finch Please DM me @websterweaver or @oneeyedsparrow @tokyoghoulartfight2024 This is my TG OC Feel free to attack me as I will definitely will do revenge! >:3 Ships I'm okay with: Arthur x Kaneki, Arthur x Hide, Arthur x Hide x Kaneki. Mira X Arthur. Ships I'm not okay with: Arthur with anyone who Identifies as being female. (Arthur is gay sooo) Shuu Tsukiyama (I would be okay with it if their personalities didn't clash so much.) I'm okay with: Gore, NSFW, and even death of my OC (I'm pretty much cool with it all.) If you have any more questions about Arthur Finch Please DM me @websterweaver or @oneeyedsparrow @tokyoghoulartfight2024 This is my TG OC Feel free to attack me as I will definitely will do revenge! >:3 dividers by @nymphfrills

[zahri-melitor]

Full reaction to Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter: I get what Dennis O'Neil was trying for, but definitely has a giant Of Its Time stamp across it.

It's a very interesting series, in the context of riding the 1970s fascination for Asian martial arts craze. Because it certainly attempts to be progressive and fails in interesting ways.

The first thing I have to note is that three (3!) separate women, framed to be love interests, die in this 18 issue comic, and all of them are women of colour: Carolyn Woosan, Sun Ling Po, and Janey Lewis. If you want to talk about fridging, then the fact that Shiva makes it out alive from this comic is a minor miracle.

Ben Turner also manages to spend at least half this comic off panel unable to fight, despite technically being the main support character, between getting shot in the leg, ending up on crutches, getting poisoned and landing in hospital, and then being brainwashed by the League of Assassins. It's quite noticeable when he finally gets to turn back up and be on panel for a whole story rather than getting injured and relegated AGAIN.

One thing that really struck me though is that comparing what's on page in this and where Richard, Ben and Shiva end up, you find the narrative almost mythologised in later writings, both those from O'Neil and from people like Dixon and Rucka. Richard and Ben are the best students of the O-Sensei, but there isn't really the implication that they're the Best Martial Artists On The Planet. Shiva's here to avenge Carolyn's death and keeps turning up to help Richard because she gets bored easily and thinks violence and danger is fun, not because she's yet reached the level of boredom that has her challenging every 'serious' martial artist on the planet for a challenge to kill.

It's also very interesting in that most of the heroes and villains we meet are South East Asian characters - in fact they're all based in Japan for a while - however our protagonist in Richard is a white American (and Ben is a black American). It's just a very 1970s approach to progressive storytelling (and uh there are definitely a bunch of stereotypes still floating around).

I found it a very quick read, with less comic silliness than you might expect (nuclear missiles fired into volcanoes and removed by giant magnets aside), but I think unless you're interested in the histories of the characters, the understanding you get of all three simply from their later appearances and how this period is referenced is sufficient.

I will say the odd, almost wandering way I've read various Ben Turner appearances (the main ones being this, Suicide Squad 1987, parts of Justice League: Task Force, his couple of appearances in Batgirl 2000, Manhunter 2004, etc) means that I get pretty irritated any time anyone wants to pitch him as an assassin or particularly a member of the League of Assassins. He was brainwashed into doing stuff for the LOA and broke out of it pretty soon afterwards. He's not an assassin, he's an extremely skilled martial artist who can and does kill and just happens to have a bunch of connections with the independent martial artist communities of DC, all of whom are getting progressively subsumed into factions of the League of Assassins by DC writers who seem unaware of their complexities and differences.

[lotus-flower-writes-history]

The Unofficial Black History Book

Huey P. Newton (1942-1989)

'The Revolution has always been in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution.' - Huey Newton

This is his story.

Huey Percy Newton was born on February 17th, 1942, in Monroe, Louisiana. The youngest of seven children to Armelia Johnson and Walter Newton, he was named after former Governor of Louisiana, Huey Long.

His family relocated to Oakland, California, in search of better economic opportunities in 1945. His family struggled financially and frequently relocated, but he never went hungry or homeless.

Growing up in Oakland, Newton recalled his white teachers making him feel ashamed for being African-American, despite never being taught anything useful. In his Autobiography, ‘Revolutionary Suicide’, he wrote – “Was made to feel ashamed of being black. During those long years in Oakland Public Schools, I did not have one teacher who taught me anything relevant to my own life or experience. Not one instructor ever awoke in me a desire to learn more or to question or to explore the worlds of literature, science, and history. All they did was try to rob me of the sense of my own uniqueness and worth, and in the process nearly killed my urge to inquire.” 

He also had a troubled childhood; he was arrested several times as a teenager for gun possession and vandalism.

Huey was illiterate when he graduated from high school, but he taught himself to read and write by studying poetry before enrolling at Merritt College. 

During his time there, he supported himself by breaking into homes in Oakland and Berkeley Hills and committing other minor offenses. He also attended Oakland College and San Francisco Law School, ostensibly to improve his criminal skills.

He joined Pi Beta Sigma Fraternity while still a student at Merritt College and met Bobby Seale, a political activist and engineer. Huey also fought for curriculum diversification, the hiring of more black instructors, and involvement in local political activities in the Bay Area. 

In addition, he was exposed to a rising tide of Black Nationalism and briefly joined the Afro-American Association, where he studied Frantz Fanon, Che Guevara, Mao Zedong, E. Franklin Frazier, James Baldwin, Karl Marx, and Vladimir Lenin.

Huey had adopted a Marxist/Leninist viewpoint in which he saw the black community as an internal colony ruled by outside forces such as white businessmen, City Hall, and the police. In October 1966, he and Bobby Seale founded The Black Panther Party for self-defense, believing that the black working class needed to seize control of the institutions that most affected their community.

It was a coin toss that resulted in Newton becoming defense minister and Seale becoming chairman of the Black Panther Party. Newton’s job as the Minister of Defense and main leader of the Black Panther Party was to write in the Ten-Point Program, the founding document of the Party, and he demanded that blacks need the “Power to determine the destiny of our Black Community”. It would allow blacks to gain “Land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, and peace.”

The Panthers took advantage of a California law allowing people to carry non-concealed weapons and established armed patrols that monitored police activity in the Black Community. 

One of the main points of focus for the Black Panther Party was the right to self-defense. Newton believed and preached that sometimes violence, or even the threat of violence, is required to achieve one's goals. 

Members of the Black Panther Party once stormed the California Legislature while fully armed in order to protest the outcome of a gun bill.

Newton also established the Free Breakfast for Children Program, martial arts training for teenagers, and educational programs for children from low-income families. 

The Black Panthers believed that in the Black struggle for justice, violence or the potential for violence may be necessary.

 The Black Panthers had chapters in several major cities and over 2,000 members. Members became involved in several shoot-outs after being harassed by police.

On October 28, 1967, the Panthers and the police exchanged gunfire in Oakland. Huey was injured in the crossfire, and while recovering in the hospital, he was charged with killing an Oakland police officer, John Frey. 

He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter the following year.

Huey was regarded as a political prisoner, and the Panthers organized a 'Free Huey' campaign led by Panther Party Minister Eldridge Cleaver. And Charles R. Geary, a well-known attorney who was in charge of Newton’s legal defense.

Newton was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in 1968 and sentenced to 2-15 years in prison. However, the California Appellate Court ordered a new trial in May 1970. The conviction was reversed on appeal, the case was dismissed by the California Supreme Court, and Huey was acquitted.

Huey renounced political violence after being released from prison. Over a six-year period, 24 Black Panther members were killed in gunfights with the police. Another member, George Jackson, was killed in August 1971 while serving time in San Quentin Prison.

The Black Panther Party, under the leadership of Newton, gained international support. This was most evident in 1970 when Newton was invited to visit China. Large crowds greeted him enthusiastically, holding copies of "Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung," as well as signs supporting the Panther Party and criticizing US imperialism.

In the early 1970s, Newton's leadership of the Black Panther Party contributed to its demise. He oversaw a number of purges of Party members, the most famous of which was in 1971 when he expelled Eldridge Cleaver in what became known as the Newton-Cleaver split over the party's primary function.

Newton wanted the party to be solely focused on serving African-American communities, whereas Cleaver believed the party should be focused on developing relationships with international revolutionary movements. The schism resulted in violence between the factions and the deaths of several Black Panther members. The Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) was one of several factions that had broken away from the main party.

Then, in 1974, Newton was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old prostitute named Kathleen Smith, who later died, raising the charge to murder. Instead of facing trial, Huey fled to Cuba with his girlfriend at the time, where he remained for three years. The key witness in the trial was Crystal Gray. And three Black Panther members attempted to assassinate her before she gave her testimony.

Huey returned to the States in 1976 to stand trial but denied any involvement. The jury was deadlocked, and Newton was eventually acquitted after two mistrials.

In 1978, he enrolled in the History of Consciousness program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned his Doctorate in 1980.

"War Against the Panthers: A Study of Repression in America," his dissertation, was later turned into a book.

On charges of embezzling Panther Party funds, Huey P. Newton was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 18 months on probation in 1982.

On August 22, 1989, Newton was assassinated by a member of the BGF, named Tyrone Robinson.

Huey was 46 years old at the time of his assassination. Robinson was convicted of Huey’s murder in 1991 and sentenced to 32 years to life in prison. 

His wife, Fredricka Newton, carried on his legacy. 'Revolutionary Suicide,' his autobiography, was first published in 1973 and then republished in 1995.

Huey Newton was not perfect, but he did fight to protect the rights of the Black Community. The rights that we're still fighting for today.

__

Previous

Ruby Bridges

Next

Henry "Box" Brown

___

My Sources

[ichodyssey]

Why Batman is a Unique Character

Who doesn't know Batman? Batman, is a character from the American superhero comic strip that created for DC Comics by the writer Bill Finger and the illustrator Bob Kane. First appeared in May 1939 in Detective Comics no. 27, Batman since then has appeared in various comics and graphic novels.

Many people do not know the origin of Batman. Doctor Thomas Wayne, his wife Martha, and son Bruce were robbed one night which resulted in Thomas and Martha being killed and witnessed by their terrified son. After the incident Bruce dedicated his life to avenging the death of his parents by spending his life fighting against all criminals.

Today there are many typical superheroes that we see who uphold justice and goodness. They are often portrayed as peacekeepers who have a black and white understanding of right and wrong - but Batman's motives are much more personal than that.

The motives that drive Bruce began when he witnessed first-hand the brutality of the world in his youth. In his youth, Bruce witnessed his parents being murdered in cold blood. This experience was the starting point for Bruce's ideas of justice and morality.

Batman's ultimate goal is to rid the world of blind immorality and prevent anyone from experiencing the depraved world he faced at such a young age. This personally-driven motive is typical of an antihero, but combining this trope with the superhero theme adds a deeper dimension to Batman's character.

Batman's moral code is also strongly emphasized by his refusal to kill anyone, as he believes that any form of killing would defy elements of the cause of evil and his moral code. No matter how much destruction or death a villain causes, he refuses to be like his enemy.

For Batman, death is not justice. This is depicted in Batman comics when the Joker repeatedly taunts Batman to kill him. Unlike other superheroes, Batman does not subscribe to the idea of sacrificing life, no matter how evil the enemy, for the greater good. It's not something that is considered easy to do, but Batman is nothing if not dedicated to his life with his moral compass. Here, Batman embodies an antihero who blurs the line between protagonist and antagonist.

One of Batman's most exclusive characteristics that makes him different from other superheroes is that he has no actual superpowers. This is one of the factors for Batman having a deeper connection with the readers. In reality, there is no difference between Batman and Bruce Wayne beyond the bat costume.

Batman provides a different vision - that it doesn't take radioactive spiders or alien technology to be a hero. Batman lets the human being himself be extraordinary. His 'powers' are something that is truly within the realm of possibility - physical discipline, mixed martial arts, swordsmanship, and intelligence are just a few of the skills that Bruce uses to combat his enemies.

Another reason why Batman connects with readers on a much more human level than others is because he is deeply flawed, like all antiheroes. There is a unique sense of humanity that surrounds Batman because of his nuanced character, and he has as many flaws as he does strengths. Bruce Wayne is portrayed as distrustful, cynical, vindictive, and arrogant - but he is also intelligent, tenacious, passionate, and determined.

What makes Batman a perfectly acceptable superhero is that he is complicated, just like all of humanity. Instead of being a superhero to admire, Batman is an inspiring superhero because he teaches readers that it doesn't take a perfect person to do good things.

[zumainthyfuture]

Jim Kelly was a prominent African-American martial artist and actor, best known for his roles in the "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s.

Kelly was born on May 5, 1946, in Paris, Kentucky, and grew up in San Diego, California. He began studying martial arts as a teenager and quickly excelled, earning a black belt in karate. He became a popular tournament fighter in the 1960s and 1970s and won numerous championships.

Kelly's big break in film came in 1973 when he was cast in the lead role in "Enter the Dragon," a martial arts movie starring Bruce Lee. Kelly's performance as Williams, a wisecracking, afro-wearing martial artist, made him an instant icon and helped to popularize the blaxploitation genre.

In the years that followed, Kelly starred in a number of other martial arts and action movies, including "Black Belt Jones," "Three the Hard Way," and "One Down, Two to Go." He also continued to compete in martial arts tournaments and worked as a martial arts instructor.

After retiring from acting in the 1980s, Kelly remained involved in martial arts and was active in promoting the sport and encouraging young people to get involved. He passed away on June 29, 2013, at the age of 67. Jim Kelly's contributions to the martial arts and film industries continue to be celebrated today.

[colorfuldonutrunaway]

I made a character sheet for one of my ocs. Took a lot of bravery to do it, but I made it.🥲 I wasn't sure how to handle the two boxes under the main picture, and I should add that this character is AroAce.🏳️‍🌈

Metrics explained here:

*Name: Peter Romanov was named purely by his mother. I would go into detail about how his patronymic works but I'm not very sure on how it works in Russian culture, so I'll keep my mouth shut. Anyways, Roman prefers to be called, well, Roman because he despises his first name for some reason.

*Nicknames: If you want to avoid a death glare, call him by Roman or Wolf.

*Race/Species: Before he became the Wolf, he was a first-generation Russian American human. After getting diagnosed with a supposedly rare fatal muscle wasting disease, he secretly began injecting himself with wolf DNA on the genetic level. This was actually working really well...until an assistant startled him during one such procedure and he injected a massive amount into his cells...and mutated into his current state. The unstable state of his cells means that every 5 days, he turns back into a human, and after five days again, he returns to the Wolf, rinse and repeat.

*Age: 30 as of 2024, being born in 1993 after his parents left Russia for the Americas.

*Gender: Born Male, identifies as such.

*Alignment: Wanting to follow the pursuit of knowledge and science for the betterment of mankind, Roman ignores the fact that he was stripped of his license to run a laboratory (after the genetics incident) and continues operating to create new inventions. Problem is, he can't patent them under his own name...

*Class/Job: As stated above, Roman shouldn't be operating a laboratory. He was banned from the high council of intellectuals and was forbidden from ever using their tools to create or invent again. That hasn't stopped him from creating a laboratory from materials gathered on the black market, hiring minions from criminal origins, and operating secretly underneath a normal Pennsylvanian town as a scientist.

*Perception and Communication: He takes advantage of his improved wolf senses to observe every detail around himself. As for communication, he's a great orator and debater, but he can get frustrated if people don't understand his high tech jargon.

*Persuasion and Mediation: He listens well and can use it to his advantage when trying to persuade someone into doing something for him and when mediating an issue between two groups. He's not the best at it, but he's good enough for most scenarios.

*Literacy and Creativity: Raised by a genius mother who noticed that her child's intellect was increasing at an abnormally fast pace, she opted to guarantee that his childhood was to be surrounded by folklore, documentaries, and educational materials. This led to a man that could be omnidisciplinary in Engineering, Robotics, programming (Python/HTML/C++), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Genetics, mathematics, and neurology. Not surprising for an IQ that reached 300 at 16 years old. (he refuses to do actual medicine though.) He also grew up speaking English and Russian at home.

*Cooking: He can bake, but actually making original meals is kinda hard for him. Especially as the Wolf, because it's led to him just settling for any food with meat in it, even if it's raw.

*Tech Savvy: From as young as 4 years old, he was fixing phones and taking apart cars.

*Combat: Roman took martial arts classes at 16, but rarely uses what he's learned. Especially after becoming the Wolf, because now he has boosted strength that allows him to easily knock out people with a punch or throw them. Not very good with guns either.

*Survival: He learned basic survival skills from the numerous books he's read, but has never really exercised it or gone camping to hone it. As the Wolf, he does have some natural instincts that help.

*Stealth: Ugh. He's never had a reason to be stealthy as a human. This worsened when he turned into a hybrid, because his clunky, furry body is harder to hide. Being 6 ft 7 inches in Wolf form doesn't help.

*Street smarts: Roman has never known a normal childhood due to his rapidly increasing intelligence netting him media attention and breezing him through school. Therefore, he's never been able to make friends with kids his age, and his overprotective parents kept him from exploring the world, leading to his street smarts being shockingly low.

*Seduction: No...just...no.

*Luck: Not anymore or less lucky than a normal person.

*Handling Animals: When in Wolf form, it's very difficult to handle animals without them freaking out on him. In human form? Animals love him.

*Pacifying Children: He's good at distracting kids with a story or a piece of candy, but his stronger senses mean that a child crying is painful to listen to.

*Strength: Probably due to his wasting disease, he's weaker in human form, (as in, weaker than the average human), but notoriously strong as a Wolf.

*Dexterity: Pretty average. Struggles in Wolf form due to not being used to the big furry paws.

*Health: As mentioned before, weak in human form, strong and vibrant in Wolf-man form.

*Energy: Usually in the middle.

*Beauty: Considered handsome in human form. Considered cute fluffy doggo in Wolf form.

*Style: While he's usually in a lab coat, whenever he ventures into the town, he's wearing designer clothes that fit his Wolf form well.

*Hygiene: So for some reason, Wolf still has human lymph nodes in the usual spots, meaning that he also sweats from those areas. So he has to shower daily or else he develops a pretty wild smell.

*Intelligence: From the age of 2, Roman's brain suddenly developed at an insanely fast speed. Nobody knows why this happened exactly, but they had no choice to accept it as Roman began to pass classes flawlessly, finish entire novels in hours, and do complex equations by himself. He's graduated highschool by the age of 12 and helped teach college classes at the age of 15.

*Happiness: Despite his current situation, he's really good at seeing the bright side of things. Roman actually enjoys being in his Wolf form, and feels more free now that the council isn't constantly watching over his back.

*Spirituality: Raised Christian, Roman became agnostic around his pre-teens, and had stayed that way since.

*Confidence: He's very confident in his skills, but not to the point where he thinks he's infallible.

*Humor: His humor tends to vary greatly. While he doesn't make jokes himself, he does find other people's jokes and references entertaining.

*Anxiety: Like with the Happiness stat, Roman doesn't let much get to him. His Wolf affliction actually saved his life, as it stopped and partially reversed the progression of the wasting disease, leading him to be relatively positive.

*Patience: He's learned to be patient with the average person since they can't make hundreds of calculations a minute in their brain like he can, though it does have limits if he can tell if someone is intentionally trying to be an obstacle in his mission.

*Passion: Developing his love for science from his mother, Roman wants a world that is as free from suffering as humanly possible, and he will invent and create as much as he can.

*Charisma: While he gives off a cool and professional aura, his social development was still stunted by his strange childhood.

*Empathy: He can feel like other people, but he sometimes thinks that other people blow things out of proportion, or can solve their problems more easily than they think.

*Generosity: Gives to those that severely need it, doesn't give to much of anyone else.

*Wealth: How does Roman fund a laboratory and a couple dozen minions? Hacking banks obviously. He's good enough that the possibility of police discovering that it's him doing it is so unlikely it's insane, and he usually steals enough that it can pay the bills and all of his minions while still having some left over for leisurely pursuits.

*Aggression: He can be fierce when he needs to be, but prefers giving off a stoic energy usually.

*Libido: Never had much of one at all. Being aromantic asexual helps in making sure that this isn't ever an issue he needs to care about anyway.

I'll add more later, but I'm tired and it's getting late.

[viadescioism]

Kicking and knocking:

"Kicking and Knocking," also known as "Knockin," "Knock boxing," or "yuna onse," is a little-known but historically significant African-American martial art. Its roots trace back to the era of slavery in the United States, particularly in South Carolina and Virginia.

"Knocking" in this context refers to a specific technique resembling a charging headbutt, reminiscent of African cattle, producing a distinct "knock" sound upon impact. Although related, knocking and kicking were often distinct practices within the art form.

Music and acrobatic movements were integral to "Kicking and Knocking," making it inseparable from dance. It was traditionally performed within black communities to the rhythm of drums, clapping, or reed pipes known as "quills." This art form likely has connections to other African martial arts like Engolo, and shares similarities with capoeira and danmyé ladjia.

"The Sabbath is not regarded by a large number of the slaves as a day of rest. They have no schools to go to; no moral nor religious instruction at all in many localities where there are hundreds of slaves. Hence they resort to some kind of amusement. Those who make no profession of religion, resort to the woods in large numbers on that day to gamble, fight, get drunk, and break the Sabbath. This is often encouraged by slaveholders. When they wish to have a little sport of that kind, they go among the slaves and give them whiskey, to see them dance, "pat juber," sing and pay on the banjo. Then get them to wrestling, fighting, jumping, running foot races, and butting each other like sheep. This is urged on by giving them whiskey; making bets on them; laying chips on one slave's head, and daring another to tip it off with his hand; and if he tipped it off, it would be called an insult, and cause a fight. Before fighting, the parties choose their seconds to stand by them while fighting; a ring or a circle is formed to fight in, and no one is allowed to enter the ring while they are fighting, but their seconds, and the white gentlemen. They are not allowed to fight a duel, nor to use weapons of any kind. The blows are made by kicking, knocking, and butting with their heads; they grab each other by their ears, and jam their heads together like sheep. If they are likely to hurt each other very bad, their masters would rap them with their walking canes, and make them stop. After fighting they make friends, shake hands, and take a dram together, and there is no more of it." - Henry Bibb, 1849

Henry Bibb, born to a white father and a slave mother in Shelby County, Kentucky, in 1815, and was held in slavery in Kentucky, Louisiana, and in present-day Arkansas. In 1837, he escaped through Ohio and Michigan into Canada.

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

DC Comics Superhero OC: Chickadee, The Boy Wonder of Toronto

Co created by @confusedhummingbird and yours truly

Civilian Name: Henry Holland

Son of Natalie Holland, Captain within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police O Division and Lieutenant Colonel Terrence Holland, of the 32 Brigade Group of the Canadian Army

Age: 12 1/2 years old

Height: 5’0”

Weight: 77 lbs

Personality: Mature Minded and Intelligent with Tactics in the Field, Formal and Professional When Addressing Older Heroes and Civilian akin to a Military Officer, Determined and Steadfast, Stubborn in his Attempts of Leading a Team Efficiently, Has a Low Sense of Humor That He tries to work on, Doesn’t Like to Show Any Weakness of any Degrees in front of enemies and allies, Deep Down All of That, an Utter Fanboy of Nightwing in particular and if his guard is down, can be an excitable, passionate and cheerful. He’s begun to slowly open up more courtesy of being around fellow heroes around his age range.

Possible Junior Partner to Flying Fox II and Definite Leader of the Canadian based Titans North

(More Below the Cut)

History: Born to both a Soldier within the Canadian Army and what are commonly referred to as Mounties, Henry is a child that easily takes much inspiration from his parents’ works whom they take with honor and distinction. Though this comes at the drawback even in the present day of being usually with his aunt or a babysitter at home during days he’s not on patrol or at school due to the consistent scheduling his Mother Natalie has keeping her away from home. As for his father Terrance, there’s an element of tragedy to him which effects both Henry and his mother to this day; during a combat tour in a war torn Middle East as part of a US led coalition, Terrance’s platoon became ambushed by extremist insurgents and in the chaos that initially wiped out most of said platoon, Terrance was taken captive. For two weeks, the Lieutenant Colonel was brutalized and tortured for any sort of intel the extremists wanted yet through it all, he maintained a stern silence and refused to talk. Eventually the insurgents found their hideout under attack by a rescue operation from other Canadian and American troops, so they proceed to execute Terrance, rather gruesomely, so much so, the other soldiers had no choice but to simply take the dog tags and leave the body behind.

Natalie and Henry of course took the loss hard given how much of a good man Terrance was for them as a husband and father respectively but both maintained a firm and strong face at the memorial service, knowing at least they have together as long as they do. They’ll remain strong. Wanting to honor both of his parents for their many deeds to save, serve and protect others, being a lifelong fanboy of the first Robin, the Boy Wonder and later the leader of the Titans International, Nightwing, in addition to some encouragement and advice from the Flying Fox, the recent one to bear that mantle and with some self teaching in martial arts and police detective work, Henry decides to create and don a mantle of his own choosing for which he can patrol and protect the streets of his native Toronto, being a hero for the city the way his parents are for their county or entire country.

As for why the Chickadee, not only are the commonly found throughout Canada and have a degree of being an equivalent to the Robin birds of America, but when Henry was five, during one of the few times the Holland family was able to have a vacation, they took a hiking trek on Mount McKay. Whilst there for a photo for both Terrance and little Henry, two Chickadees perched gently on top of their heads to which made a perfect photo for Natalie to capture and a new nickname for Henry that his parents especially Terrance would refer to him. Hence naming his mantle as such serves a tribute to Terrance as far as Henry is concerned.

Skills, Equipment, and Abilities:

- Black Belt in Judo, Yellow Belt in Tai Tzu and Lui He martial arts

- Has Proficient Enough Knowledge in Using a Grappling Hook and Wires

- Ametuer level with the arts of Disguise

- Advanced Junior Training in Forensics

- Wing suit flaps built into his suit

- Can communicate in English, Francaise, Algonquin and 3 other Amerindian languages (Related Below, also two Jewish languages)

Occupation: Student at Robbins Hebrew Academy

Physical Appearance: Light Brown Hair, Peach tone skin with freckles on the face, Green Eyes and a Birthmark on the Back of his neck

Crime Fighter Uniform:

- Black Domino Mask, Advanced in meaning containing a Holographic Heads Up Display, featuring a Radar for contacts within 50 meter radius, Heart Rate Monitor, Proximity Sensor for incoming attacks, connected to ear piece for contact with teammates

- A White Cape that extends to the back of the legs with a Light Brown Underbelly, attached to it being a black hoodie which covers the back and crown of the head, leaving only the face open

- White Bulletproof Vest with Black Long Sleeves and Light Brown Highlights throughout the buttons. Has his Logo, a Red Chickadee Silhouette displaying its wings in a white circular background with a black circle around it, on the right side of chest

- White Fingerless Gloves with Light Brown Soles

- Black Utility Belt with a buckle having said Chickadee logo; contains pouches housing Grappling Hook, Magnifying Glass, Signal Flares, Smoke Pellets, Flashbang Grenades, Snacks including Toffee, and Spare Masks

- Black Kevlar Pants with Light Brown highlights on Knee Caps

- White Robin Style Pixie Boots with built in hidden Steel Toes, and White Soles. Made from a leather and Kevlar fabric blend that makes them extra sturdy and durable in harsh environments

Additional Facts and Trivia

- The Holland family are prominently descendants of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Poland during the Interwar Period (1920-1939). While having Liberal leaning politics and values, the Hollands are Orthodox with their Faith, adhering in particular to Halakhic traditions and customs. Therefore Henry wears a black Kippah on his head even as Chickadee which his hood covers. Henry also has a Kosher diet based on said Halakhic Orthodox customs. He’s currently training in reading the Torah in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. He’s so far made it to Shemot, also known for The Christian faith as the Book of Exodus. The Hollands are fluent in both Hebrew and especially Yiddish, the latter more promotional spoken between the two languages in that front.

- As stated above, leads a small Canadian branch of Titans, named Titans North, who as of yet are not yet officially affiliated with the well known Titans International but have so far managed to earn a small follow of supporters and fans across the Toronto metropolitan area and other localities throughout the state of Ontario. Often gets teased playfully by said teammates for being the youngest of them

- Among the Titans North, one member called Push-and-Pull, a 14 year old Algonquin female Metahuman with a compassionate and caring tomboy personality, possessing the ability to control and manipulate gravity with the palms of her hands (Similar to My Hero Academia’s Ochaka Uraraka) and Chickadee having a small budding crush between them or at least the starts of one in process ever since they first met

- Has a small hobby of playing video games, mainly on the console side. Not interested in competitive or online play as due to lack of friends outside his Titans North, he nonetheless has a fondness for games that are both sci-fi and military themed as befitting his background. Henry however finds himself woefully out of date when it comes buying the latest hardware; his most advanced console in possession being the DCU equivalent of an Xbox 360

- Trivia: Can in fact Successfully Curl his Tongue while the rest of his teammates can’t

- While an admitted fan of the first Robin (therefore also fond of Nightwing), Henry is rather very cautious and weary of the Batman himself. This can be attributed to his earlier childhood having been told of terrifying stories surrounding the Bat, a lot of them coming the earlier days when he worked solo and was regarded as an urban myth. As for Superman, Henry has a trust and respect for him. He’d probably however faint from excitement should he meet Nightwing in particular

- Is particularly interested and into the music elective in his school, more so in particular having a liking for classical songs and artists, mainly Beethoven and Salieri. Plays the Cello as his main instrument. While not intolerant and rather okay with more modern music, his playlist on his phone features mainly said classical songs and is working on working on compositions himself.

[actuallyastingray]

So, after my last Supa Strikas post, I decided to go ahead and make another personal takes. Watched a few more seasons and decided to make this one about the coaches. I will very much be making at least one more of these in the future.

Also, big, BIG shout-out to the Supablr community for the reception. You guys are awesome!

Vince: People simp over him and say he's 'fine AF'. Sorry ladies, but he's a bastard and I have standards when it comes to my men

Toni Vern: He's an irredeemable bastard AP college physics professor preaching to a bunch of frat boys, and then wonders why no one takes him at all seriously. I certainly don't

Inyo: Former Bond villainess/love interest. The only mysterious thing about her is how a British woman can pull off such a flawless American accent

Ura Giri: I imagine this would be Shredder in his late 70's. No matter how evil he is, after one too many encounters with ninja teenage superheroes, anyone remotely younger than you and semi-proficient in martial arts will have you walking on eggshells 24/7

Buddy Watkins: So this is how other countries stereotype America. It's okay guys, you don't have to be nice about it.

Del Aqua: In the same boat (Haha! get it?) as Coach in that he puts up with way too much daily shenanigans from his adopted charges. Is secretly glad his boys are surfers and stay out of the house, cause he is never caffeinated enough to deal with their nonsense otherwise.

Dr. Black: This guy uses billion-dollar NASA equipment to cheat at football games. I'm no rocket scientist but something just isn't adding up about this.

Colonel von Pushup: Acts super done with life but is really just super done with his dumbass kids. Isn't the best at dading coaching which is why he so often resorts to spying on the other dads coaches for ideas. Wishes Uber and Ja Nein would stop all their sexual tension infighting before someone takes notice

Belmont: His kids are perpetually dressed up as zombies, vampires, and werewolves and act the part in public too. Tell me with a straight face he doesn't have a legendary tolerance level that would make Coach jealous.

Golare: His kids are all grown up and independent, but he really, reeaaaaally wants to still be relevant in their lives

Sheikh Ali Zaman: Guys like this are why Americans hate Jeff Bezos

[midwestbramble]

American Witch Balls

aka Witch Bullets

Friday the 13th is often thought of as bad luck. So much so that it has become associated with witches in some parts of the United States. This is the day when witches in folklore would make witch balls, balls of hair that would curse people and livestock. Let’s dive into this bit of folkloric witchcraft.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

Contents:

History

How to

Conclusion

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

History

“To this mystic myrrh, To make a witch ball, I, the Devil, doth stir, To place curses on one and all.”

This is what the devil chants as the coven gathers on Friday the 13th in “How to Make Witch Balls” from Hubert Davis’ “The Silver Bullet and Other American Witch Stories.” These hairballs are unique to North America, having only the name in common with their UK counterparts. From Pennsylvania to Iowa, people believed that if their animal died and was found with a ball of hair inside, they had been cursed by a witch. So much so that there are newspaper articles detailing trials where people accused one another of using them from the late 19th century.

Not all hairballs were thought of as cursing, as some were employed by conjure persons and witch doctors for healing. Usually the ones thought to curse were found in humans and domesticated animals. If they were made from the hair of a deer, for example, they were thought to have healing properties. Similar to a bezoar.

Around the turn of the 20th century, doctors began to debunk witch balls as simple hairballs animals were unable to digest, coming from licking themselves or other animals. Still, these beliefs persist and we can employ the idea in our own craft.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

How To

The most important parts of the witch ball are the hair (usually from a black dog, cat, cow, or horse) and the beeswax. The folktale includes several gruesome ingredients from the benign spiders legs to a dead baby’s toe. For our version we will not be requiring the desecration of bodies. If you already have favorite baneful herbs you can add those to your mix, otherwise I suggest things such as graveyard dirt, hot pepper flakes, a nightshade if you’re comfortable working with poisonous plants, and maybe those spiders legs if you can find a dead one.

Once you have the hair, the wax, and anything else you would like to add, we can get started. Set the wax to melt on a double boiler. Personally I put a pot to boil and put a smaller pot in the water for a makeshift double boiler. Add in your extra ingredients, telling them their jobs as you do, and as you stir chant the devil's chant above. Roll the animal hair into a ball and cover it in the wax to hold shape. Once cool, take your own hair and tie it around the ball. You now have a witch bullet ready to deploy in whatever way you can imagine.

⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ𖦹‏‏☆.𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊.☆‏𖦹‏‏⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ

Conclusion

Hairballs may be the last thing you expected to be associated with witchcraft. Making witch bullets on Friday the 13th has become a key part of my practice. I think of curses the same way I think about martial arts; good to know how to do, hope you never have to. I have to wonder, do other witches have practices specific to the 13th?

References:

America Bewitched by Owen Davies

The Danger of Hairballs by the Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine

The Witch's Bullet: Hairball and Hexing Tradition by Via Hedera

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon