125th and Martin Luther King Blvd

After going to my friends' Passover Seder this weekend, and then watching the finale of "The Big Give", I decided that this week would be "Benevolence week".

I went to 125th and MLK in Manhattan to hand out buttons to passers by. I figured (correctly), that I would find a better concentration of African-Americans there than on my own Columbus and 97th street!

Although many people ignored me as I tried to hand them a button, there were far more who took one, and more importantly, several people gave me a "Thanks Brutha!", which I really appreciated. In fact, I noticed that I got more attention from someone when I called them "brutha or sista", so "Here ya go Brutha- too proud for the N word" became the opener.

I handed out 2 per person, and after a bit, an older gentleman was so into the movement, he took a bag and started handing them out with me. I felt SOOO proud that this older man (he was at least 65) with a little limp and white hair would stand out there with me handing them out. He gave short lectures and chased people down if they didn't take a button- especially the pretty women! No matter what happens after today (as I gave out all 2500 buttons that I had), I can feel like I really did something.

Now, we'll see if anyone else takes the baton....

Passing the idea around...

It's been a few months, and today I decided to just walk around handing out buttons.
I got so many encouraging thanks, and looks.

The best is when someone takes the button, and immediately puts it on.
I love that.
I heard that someone else ordered buttons, but I don't know who that is.

I would hope that people will order buttons and wear them and pass them out without me even knowing- that it will take on a life of it's own.

Will you help me?

MLK day 2008

I watched Oprah's Martin Luther King Jr. Special this week, and it was great.

I think about what he would think about how "The N-Word" is being used so much today, and whether or not he would wear one of our buttons.

I think he would. So I'll keep doing it too.

20 Days later...

Well, it's been twenty days since I started this, and it's about to become 2008.

I can't say that I've gotten any traction yet, but universally people agree with the idea.

Of course, I doubt I'm going to find too many opposers!

No one has gotten their own buttons yet, and so far, I'm the only one handing them out that I know of.
It is pretty fun though; I try to catch people reading the button, and when they do, I just ask "Do you like my button?" I get enthusiastic nods, and then I hand them two or three.
I don't leave the house without a handful- pretty funny!

I'm starting a movement

To everyone, but especiallyto the rappers of the world...

I get it.

It rhymes with trigger, bigger, and "figger",as in "I 'figger' we'll go have lunch, Margaret"

I had heard it a few times when I was younger, and knew that it wasn't to be said, knew it wasn't to be heard, and certainly wasn't to be put to music.So what happened?

I freely admit that not everyone feels the same way I do about "the N Word", and in the comedy world, in looking for a punch line,one might forget the murder, dismemberment, rape, torture,attempted genocide, drownings, brandings, whippings, tear gassings,church bombings, baby manglings,animal attacks, mental, physical,emotional and spiritual evils committed by people with "The N word" on their lips.

But for some reason I stopped laughing.
And stopped singing along.
And stopped allowing it in conversation around me.

2 weeks ago, I was on the train reading "Martin Luther King Jr.on Leadership" when some high school kids,middle school kids, and elementary school kids came on laughing and talking with each other. Girls flirting, boys trying to impress-But all I could hear was that word. Almost like it was the only thing they were saying. I didn't do anything that day- but I am now.

Now I AM doing something. And I'm asking for your help.

I had 2500 buttons made that say: TooProudForTheNword.com and would like the website and the buttons passed around.

Anyone know a publicist who wants a story?
How about a leader in the Black Community?
Anyone visible whom I can get a button (or 100) into their hand?

This is my partial list:
Oprah
Bill Cosby
Dennis Kimbro
Les Brown
Jesse Jackson
Al Sharpton
Will Smith
Barak Obama
Spike Lee
Dave Chapelle
Eddie Murphy
Al Roker
Russell Simmons
P. Diddy
Common
Magic Johnson
and the only two white guys:
Quentin Tarantino and Stephen Colbert.

I am not looking for more names, I am looking for introductions, invitations, or direct contact info.

You may feel this "isn't your problem", and you may be right. So what.

"All evil needs is for good people to do nothing"

http://www.TooProudForTheNword.com

Let Your Light So Shine Before Men,
Bones Rodriguez

"One mind awake can awaken another,The second awake can awaken their next door brother.Three awake can awaken the townBy turning the whole place upside down.Many awake can make such a fussThat they finally awaken the rest of us."- Helen Kromer