Hi, everyone, I’m shani-o. G.D. asked me to contribute to PostBourgie, so here I am. He also asked me to write an introductory post, so here it is.
Who am I?
My identity, like most people’s, starts with my parents. My mother is Jamaican, my father is from the South. They’re somewhat overeducated. Mom taught me to eat healthy and exercise, Dad taught me to love reading and black people.
I do trade in the currency of the black bourgeoisie — I went to the Mecca, and I’m a member of the only sorority that matters — but my parents kept me away from most of it when I was a coming up, either out of disinterest (there was no Jack and Jill or NPHC in Jamaica), or on purpose (my dad has this black nationalist / liberation thing going for him). This makes it possible for me to love reading Jet magazine, while I hate reading The Root. Despite my access to the bourgie, I don’t rep that set. I’m grateful for my privilege, and do my best to recognize it as just that.
Other facts: I was a journalism major — and former journalist — which makes me qualified (in my head) to criticize the media. This is something I do with relish. I’m from California, and went to probably one of the most diverse high schools in the country. This diversity somehow didn’t stop most of the black (and Mexican, and South Asian) kids from getting the shaft.
My politics: I’m still working that out, so please don’t flame me if I’m wrong.
Religion: don’t have any, sometimes wish I did.
Likes: Nella Larsen, the PNP, Reading Rainbow, science fiction short stories, Walt Whitman, the Mojave Desert, and the color orange.
Dislikes: watermelon, CNN, The Da Vinci Code, Rihanna’s voice, humidity, Maureen Dowd, and the number 9.
What am I doing here?
On my blog, I tend to write about music, politics, racism and roadtrips. I’ll skip the roadtrips here, and stick to current events. I try to be funny. I usually fail, but I’ll keep at it. I’m looking forward to writing things that you find readable, if not interesting. If you have something you want me to write about, let me know and I’ll try to oblige. You can e-mail me here.
So, tell me. Who are you, and why are you here?
