Sister Souljah is coming to LA

Hello all of you Coldest Winter Ever fans, Sister Souljah will be coming to my wonderful city, Los Angeles. She will be at Barnes and Noble, on Fairfax & 3rd, at the Grove shopping center, on December 3rd. She is having a discussion, on her new book, Midnight and talking about Coldest Winter Ever, and she will be signing copies. I will be there front and center on December 3rd, at 7:30 pm.

I am so excited to hear her speak about these characters who were apart of my adolescence. And I'm exciting to have her sign my books. I don't know what I'm going to ask, but I have a couple of weeks to think about it. Any ideas?

~ JB

This Week

This was one of the longest and busiest weeks ever. I was at the polls at 7 am on Tuesday to vote and spent the day watching CNN on my cell phone and nervously pacing in my mind about the outcome of the day. I wasn't concerned about Obama, I knew he would be elected President, I was more nervous about the propositions in California, and their affects on my pocket. However, when Obama was elected, I was in the kitchen feeding the dog, and CNN showed 207 electoral votes for Obama, he was just shy of winning, and my phone rang. It was my mom screaming that he won, he won he had 297 electoral votes. But how was that possible, they just closed the polls in California not even a minute before. So how could he have won? And then I called my aunt, who was in tears. "Never in my 56 years would I have imagined we would have a black president...I'm so happy, I don't know what to do..." And then I called my 84 year old grandmother, who was also in tears. During this whole election process, the fact that he was black never crossed my mind. I listened to his speeches and his debates, and I wasn't concerned about his race. I was concerned about his policies, and what he could do for our country.


An although I was and still am a little skeptical on exactly what Obama can do for our country, especially in the state that its in now. The whole time I thought that people were putting too much faith in Obama, looking at him like he is a superhero, there are photos of him in a superman costume all over West Hollywood, and he is not a superhero, he is just a man. And then I started thinking of him like he was Harvey Dent from The Dark Knight, yet he was the White Knight, turned in to Two Face in my mind. However, when I saw him on that stage, I started crying too. It was a cry of relief, gratitude and happiness. Overwhelming happiness, and as I saw the faces of everyone in Chicago, in the audience I was in shock. Shocked by the fact that his supporters were happy, not only because he won, but because it was the biggest step in this country that this country has made towards anti-discrimination, towards being non-racist. When he gave his speech and he told America that he would do all he could, but it might take longer than 4 years, I was relieved. I think too many people had false hopes, and once he was elected everything would instantly get better. That is not the case, and there is no way that any one person, president or not can fix what has been done instantly. I'm glad that he set realistic goals but I hope that everyone understands them. I am happy and relieved that he was made president, and not that other guy. I know that this country will never erase the color lines so to speak, because as we were flipping through the channels of CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and ABC....People's main concerns were the fact that history was made with the first black president. The issues and policies went out the window because he is black. And while watching the oh so racist Fox News, a reporter who was at a party at the Century Plaza talked about how he smelled Marijuana in the air. I don't understand what or why he would say that, whether it was true or not, but there were a lot of black people there, celebrating president-elect Obama, so of course there much have been weed in the air. Whenever you get a group of black people together, weed is inevitably going to be smoked, right?


Some other reporters were climbing under the table, as if they needed to hide from what happened, and I don't understand what they were hiding from. Other reporters were rolling their eyes, and looked like they wanted to walk off the set in anger. I don't know what is going to happen in the next few years, but people are going to have to accept the fact that we have a black president now. He may not be the person that some people wanted, but he is what America needs right now. America needs stability in these uncertain times, and America needs someone who actually cares about the people.


To hear his whole speech, click here: http://beatcartelmusic.blogspot.com/2008/11/barack-obama-elected-president-speeches.html

Now, back to California, it took until the next day to find out what state propositions passed and didn't pass. Prop 9 passed...the Victims Rights Act the one I wanted no against passed, because people don't read the facts, and there were no HUGE advertisements on television against it. No one cared, they just read the title and thought oh well we want victim's to have rights, so Yes on 9. Idiots! And it makes me nervous, because these people voted for Obama too. So now, the 2039 date that my cousin could be up for parole may not happen, and he could never get out, even on good behavior. And even though he teaches classes in jail, and reads and works there, he is going to be there forever. I don't know what to say, I haven't written him a letter yet but I will drop one in the mail later today. Another prop that didn't pass, but should have was Prop 5. Five offered rehabilitation to non-violent drug offenders instead of just sending them to jail, and offered rehab to minors who are caught with drugs. People won't have a criminal record just because of their addiction. However, once again Californians misinterpreted this one, and voted No on 5. Even police officers and firefighters wanted Yes on 5, because it makes sense and helps with California's overcrowded prisons. Why put someone in jail when you can help them overcome an addiction?


And of course there is prop 8, the one that amended the constitution to allow same-sex couples to marry. I think there was a lot of confusion with this proposition as well. A yes vote meant you were against amending the constitution for same-sex couples to marry. A no vote meant you wanted same-sex couples to marry, and have all the rights as other married couples in California. So when people heard it passed, Yes - 52% No- 48%, people celebrated at first, but didn't understand that the passing meant same-sex couples had no rights in California. There were protesters for two days, causing traffic on our major streets in Los Angeles, they marched from Sunset down Crescent Heights, down Santa Monica, all the way to Westwood in front of the Mormon church. People got into fights, pulled people out of cars and blocked traffic for hours. The biggest problem is same-sex couples were granted the right to marry earlier this year, and over thousands of ceremonies were held over the summer and even weeks leading up to the election day. So that is how everything went down over here....and now we wait until Inauguration Day.

Election Day

The countdown to election day is over...in 13 hours, PST, I will be waiting in line to vote. 7am sharp, since my polling place is conveniently located next door. I've had butterflies in my stomach all day, and I almost threw up earlier. I'm so nervous. Not for tomorrow, but for the next 4 years. Everything that is determined tomorrow will no doubt shape all of our futures. My American Dream will be hanging in the balance of the American people. But not just my dreams, the hopes and dreams of all people will be determined. I have a few things to say regarding tomorrow:

Just about everyone says that tomorrow is the single most important election of our time, and I agree, however shouldn't every election be just as important. In four years we'll be going through the same thing again. The thing that concerns me the most is how much faith people have put in the political figures running tomorrow, the main heads, McCain and Obama. I'm afraid that people will be disappointed, and not just based on who is elected tomorrow, but based on what they can actually do once they get in to office. It takes a while for people to understand what happens during the election process. I don't know what people think about who they choose, but in my opinion neither candidate can make the changes that they are promising. Our economy may stabilize in the next few months, but the damage that has been done has repercussions that most are unaware of, even my self. I've never been one to have faith, and maybe that's my problem, but I don't understand putting all of your beliefs in one person and then being disappointed afterwards.


I know many people believe that Obama will save us, that he will ensure change in America, but how much can he really do? I know that when Bush was elected he moved very quickly through the system and made decisions without Congress and the UN's approval. He just kept going until finally they stopped him, but by then it was too late, hence Afghanistan's quick invasion. I don't think Obama is going to be able to move that quick through the system, and I can guarantee that he may never get the respect that he deserves. I'm not saying that I'm choosing McCain over Obama, it's just that I don't want people to get disappointed. I have listened to all the debates, and the speeches while they have been campaigning, and I don't think McCain will do a better job as our president either. And that is what makes me the most nervous. Neither candidate is prepared for the job that is ahead of them, and yet the American people have to run out to the polls and do their patriotic duty to throw someone to the wolves and expect them to survive without preparation or knowledge for that matter.


Another scary thing for me is the fact that by the time I get home from work, due to my location, the president will be pretty much decided on. I don't want to hear any news all day tomorrow, and I am going early in the morning, hoping that my vote will at least count. However there are already issues at polling places in California. Forget about Florida and Ohio for the moment, but they are telling Californians that even though 100 people may be registered to vote at a certain polling place, that doesn't mean they will have 100 ballots. They are already predicting that they will run out of ballots, and have to switch to emergency ballots, which they may run out of. I'm telling everyone right now to vote as early as you can tomorrow Nov. 4, 2008, because lord only knows what will happen. Tomorrow is going to be a very scary and strange day.


Happy voting and we can only hope for the best, because no matter who will be elected the next four years are going to be extremely long. I'm just too afraid to put all of my beliefs in one person, I have to continue doing what I'm doing and working towards my goals, so I'm not let down by the results. I'll have more to say tomorrow after work.


Don't forget to vote Nov. 4th!

Prop 9 i.e. Victims Rights Act of 2008

Summary of what Prop 9 is from the voter information guide

- Requires notification to crime victims and gives them an opportunity for input from the victim and their families during almost all phases of the criminal justice process

- Victim’s safety is taken in to consideration when determining bail or release on parole.

- Allows more people to attend and testify on behalf of victims at parole hearings

- Reduces the number of parole hearings for each prisoner.

- Requires victims to receive written notification of their constitutional rights

- Establishes time lines concerning parole revocation hearings

In 1982 Prop 8 a.k.a. “Victim’s Bill of Rights” was passed and already made all of the above true in California. This new proposition only reiterates laws that already passed with minor changes and a hidden agenda. When Prop 8 passed, it amended the constitution and other state laws to allow crime victims the right to be notified of, to attend and to state their views at the sentencing and parole hearings of criminals. Prop 8 also established the right of crime victims to obtain restitution from anyone who committed the crime that caused them to suffer a loss.

Now, Prop 9 is disguised to expand the victim’s rights by offering the below:

Crime victims would have the right to 1) prevent the release of certain confidential information about them (which they can do now) 2) refuse to be interviewed at the pretrial stage (which they can do now) 3) protection from harm from other accused individuals (which they get protection now) 4) the return of property which is no longer needed for evidence (which I wouldn’t want my shit back, especially in a murder case) 5) “finality” meaning the final decision made at the hearing (which they can find out now)

Even in the official voter guide there is a note that reads (some of the above rights now exist in statue). The only one I couldn’t find while searching online was the returned evidence items.

Another alleged expansion of this law, which is already in place, states the constitution would be changed to specify the safety of a victim must be taken into consideration by judges in setting bail. Why wouldn’t the judge take the victim and their families in to consideration, especially when they are sitting in the room when the bail/parole is being set? The judge can not ignore the fact that the crime victims are there and I’m sure they play a factor in their decision making.

With California’s overcrowding system, you would assume that the state would go back to their original plans and thoughts regarding earlier release of inmates. Under this new initiative, lifers would be expected to spend life in prison. The state constitution gives a release date to all lifers who were sentenced with a possibility of parole. For instance, my cousin’s date of possible release is 2039. Giving lifers who have a chance of parole that date not only gives them something to strive for and better themselves, but also allows them to redeem themselves. What is worse, knowing your fate, or being given a chance to change it? We are all destined to die, that is apart of life, but we have the opportunity to decide what we do with our fate. When someone is incarcerated the rest of their lives are decided for them, inmates loose that choice that was given to all human beings. A parole possibility gives inmates another chance to change that fate of LIFE in prison. This new measure wouldn’t even give lifers a release date. The average annual cost to incarcerate an inmate is about $46,000, and due to the overcrowding other facilities in prisons like gymnasiums are being used for beds. When a lifer goes up in front of the board, and is denied, they have one year before they can go up again. Under this new measure, they would have to wait 3-15 years, and what is hidden under that is it would be closer to 15 years, no matter what their prison behavior has been.

The only thing that I agree with under this proposition is so minuscule that a new law doesn’t have to be passed for the change to take place, and that is the notification of victims. Currently, victims are notified 30 days before an inmate is released, Prop 9 suggests 90 days. Notifying victims and/or their families is a good thing.

I truly believe that since California legislators received so much shit for their thoughts of releasing prisoners early, their only other option is to build more prisons, in order to deal with the overcrowding. How can they expect to build more prisons when they can’t even get the state budget approved?

The prison system has proposed to take away the only privileges inmates have. They’ve already been forced to use extra space for beds, but now they are going to cut educational/vocational services, conjugal visits and all other rehabilitation programs. It is necessary to rehabilitate prisoners and there are numerous amounts of studies about how important it is. Rehabilitation prepares the inmates for the world again, why would we want to cut those programs, and then let the prisoners out into society, and expect them to function. Many, without rehabilitation, will end up in prison again. Incarceration – Rehabilitation = Incarceration

Many of the state’s school’s furniture is made by inmates, that is all apart of their vocational training, if they take that away what will happen over time when schools need more furniture. The way I see it is, the money paid by the taxpayers, including the money saved by cutting all these programs, will help the state to come up with their funds to build more prisons. There has to be a better way without cutting rehabilitation.

I know it may be hard for some to view prisoners as people, but they are, many made mistakes, were wrongfully accused and they have and will pay for their mistakes in most cases. But at least allow them a second chance, the state already does by giving them a release date for parole. These inmates have families too, just like the victims, and should have a fair chance to survive. Cutting those rehabilitation programs will ensure that they cannot survive once released, if they are released. I haven’t seen any commercials for or against this proposition, so I know most people are clueless about it, as I was.

Voting yes on Prop 9 is not only stupid, but unnecessary, because the victims already have these rights. Voting yes on 9 will only eliminate the rights of inmates, and haven’t they lost enough rights?

Read over your voter guide, go online and educate yourself on Prop 9 and all the other propositions, because November 4^th is just around the corner. Be informed and vote No on 9.

http://www.votenoprop9.com/facts.html

When my soul cries

By Raheem Ballard aka Bernard Ballard (my cousin)

When my soul cries does anyone care if apart of me dies?
Sometimes I wonder if there's anyone willing to stare into these eyes

Shameless they are they stand in a world of their own, what makes it so hard to lend me a hand from your throne?
Maybe I'm too low to reach from that place which you rise
Another peaceful sun sets, and another part of me dies

The blood of my blood, from the loins of "John" we all came
From the mud to the resurrection, will you even remember my name?

Has the blacksheep been plagued in another chapter of the blackbook?
Foreknown by those who grin but despair as they look

Lest I return am I just a burden thats better off less said?
Sojourn with me in this realm of the awaking living dead


Maybe I'm too low to reach from that place which you rise
Is it my face you see in the last generations demise?
Does anyone care if apart of me dies?

Can you fathom the innermost tears of a man when his soul cries?

Written - 11/28/2005

"John" - referred to in the 3rd paragraph was our "great grandfather" who was a slave who married Flora Ann.

Vote no on Prop 9 - Californians

Dear Jill,

Hello & How are you cousin? As usual I hope this letter reaches you in good spirits. I tried calling you about a week or so ago. Did you get my voice mail? I think I tried calling back in the morning too. (But I got no answer) I was however able to get through to your dad. We talked for a bit, and I encouraged him to be in contact with you more. He sounded for the most part to be in good spirits, despite his growing concern for the shape of our present economy. Hopefully things will get better. Right now were on a "lockdown," and have been for the past week or so. I guess from what I heard there was a couple people who tried to escape, as well as a couple stabbings, so they will be looking for metal and weapons and altered cells. More than likely we'll be locked down for at least another week or two depending on how fast they search.


Any how, there's something enclosed in this letter I would like you to 'Blog' if at all possible. It's dealing with a new measure on the ballot called "prop 9", though it's under the heading of "Victims Rights," or "Marcy's law," it's designed to keep every "lifer" inmate with a "to life" sentence in prison for ever. Being that I am serving a "35 to life" sentence/ My earliest possible parole date is set for 2039. I would be 65 years old. Well if this law passes, they (the parole board) could wait until I'm 80 before they schedule me for the next hearing - instead of 1 to 5 years. What does that have to do with "victims rights"? In all honest, the victims rights were satisfied when I was found guilty and convicted with the attached sentence, not to mention the families right to be financially compensated for their loss, which is by the way deducted from every dollar sent to me or ever dollar earned by me, their (the victim's family) are also entitled to show up to my parole board hearings and express their feelings and thoughts as to why or why not I should be released.


So you see, this is just another way for them (the powers that be) to ensure that people with the "possibility of parole" (like myself) never get out. What's not surprising is the fact that it is disguised under something "beneficial," but in reality it's only a deceptive tool used by the money hungry greedy and wealthy to trick the masses. This measure is indeed a "death blow" to inmates like myself who may possibly have a chance to go home. Vote no on prop 9, and spread the word for me cousin. For more info you can go to stopmarcyslaw@yahoo.com. Well I'm gonna sign off for now cousin, I love you.

Sister Souljah is back

I just got my Essence and read some very exciting news...Sister Souljah is back with a book about Midnight...he was the protagonist's love interest in The Coldest Winter Ever...I read that book when I was 14, and it changed my life. I've read this book so many times, that I can recite it word from word, page to page. So now Souljah has come out with Midnight: A Gangsta Love Story, and I'm so freaking excited to read it.


My friends and I would hold hour long discussions, at 15 about the coldest winter ever...about Winter Santiaga and her selfishness. We studied this book on our own. It was the second book I ever read for fun. I think they should make a movie about it because it is that great. I made my boyfriend read it, and he feels the same way. Even though the main character is a woman, its so easy to connect. You feel like you're on the streets of Brooklyn with Winter...and when she moved to Long Island, and left her hood, you felt for her.


So here is the blurb from Essence to get you prepared for the new book:

Nearly a decade ago, in The Coldest Winter Ever, Sister Souljah teased us with a mystifying brother called Midnight. Remember him? He was so fine and so deep that he was able to thaw hard-as-nails protagonist Winter Santiaga. Now in Midnight: A Gangsta Love Story ($26.95), this intoxicating character comes into sharper focus and tells his own fascinating tale.

Souljah creates a mesmerizing story about an honorable young man forced to live in a dishonorable world. It's a world that vexes and confuses him and one that will outrage and sadden you as you witness the choices that confront so many real-life men. Each day is a test as Midnight tries to reconcile his family's values with the harshness of the The Game. And then he falls in love, and nothing will ever be the same. - Ylonda Gault Caviness


Oh shit...but who does he fall in love with...Winter? Who? Damn I gotta go grab it.

~ JB