The "F" Word Promo...

This is a promo for the controversial editorial of the word "Faggot" that ^Northernstar* has been working on for a month... it will be out in March (combining eXcapethematriX with Youtube) andwe're pretty excited about it. Check it out...

"Black Life on Wax..."

Written by: ^Northernstar*

northernstar@excapethematrix.com

The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, located in Baltimore, MD, is the first celebrated wax museum honoring Black historical figures and events that have broken any barriers in the past and present.

I had the pleasure of participating in the pre-Inaugural events the weekend of January 16th – 20th. First, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the "We Are One" concert on the 18th and witnessed the unveiling of President-elect Barack Obama's wax sculpture, on the actual Inauguration Day at Morgan State University. The figure was later transported to the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum.

It was amazing viewing the “real” Obama in flesh and exuding the confidence of a man who has the world in his hands. And witnessing the wax replica of the new 44th president was amazing because the resemblance is uncanny; from the creases around his eyes when he smiles, to the dimples in his cheeks, to his extensive ears and the folding of his arms. It actually felt like I was standing next to him.

The crowd filled with mostly Black families was just as amazed as I was observing the presence of the sculpture. It was also a beautiful moment when I observed one elderly woman drop tears of joy. My interpretation of her tears was that she was happy to know that a Black man has opened the door for EVERY African-American male and female!

The museum itself was filled with many portraits depicting the many struggles and triumphs of Black people. The entire experience was fulfilling, tearjerking, and educational; yet disturbing. My favorite part of the museum was the depiction of the slave ships and how each person was stacked on each other like they were a piece of wood and the mouth of a shark extending outside of the ocean. It was really sad and was enough to make a child have nightmares.

***For more information on The Blacks In wax Museum, visit:

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum

1601-03 East North Avenue

Baltimore, Maryland 21213

Office: 410-563-7809

Museum: 410-563-3404

Website: http://www.greatblacksinwax.org/

Who Says Only White Families Home School?

Story by: luminoUS
luminoUS@eXcapethematriX.com


When I was in junior high school, I remember talking to friends about elementary school. Nothing too major; just general questions like, “Which school did you attend?” In response one of them answered that she was home schooled. This concept was very foreign to me. She was White and I figured since I’d never heard of this concept that it only occurred in White families. Sadly, I held that mentality into adulthood until I started seeing the state of the school systems here in Baltimore, Maryland and vowed that if and when I have children, I would home school them.
The more and more I contemplated the idea, the more I began to realize that home schooling transcends races. It is simply composed of concerned parents who will stop at nothing to educate their children in a manner that seems appropriate for them. I set out to gather as much information as possible and I have found out that home schooling is no longer foreign in the Black family structure. All across the world, there are Black families exercising their free-will to educate their children at home.

In the past, Black mothers were generally single parents and that meant that they had to provide for their babies by any means necessary, which also meant a lot of time spent outside of the home. Now, we have Black family structures in which home education is top priority. What the educational system deems as “standard education” is not taken as all that there is and these parents put their heads together when the status quo was not working for them and devised a plan to educate their children on their own. Even though home schooling is done on a parent-to-parent basis, many home educators work together to devise curriculums that will work for their benefit.

For more on Luminous article, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/wakeup/2009/02/2009_02_forwhitesonlynot.html

"If I Were a Girl... The Guy's Perspective"

By: Ryan Coleman-Ferebee
forbidden@eXcapethematriX.com

Well, it looks like Beyoncé has created another hit on the broad shoulders of her not so trusting male counterpart. “If I Were a Boy” is a song that gives you a glimpse into a segment of a troubled relationship and what it might feel like if roles were reversed. Granted, we as species don’t necessarily have the best historical track record with our human race counterparts. What if we could spend some time as the opposite sex for a day or an hour? What would come of this event? Let me just say that my feet hurt and I am experiencing some minor lower-back pain at the mere thought of being a woman. I make that statement not to be sexist by any means. That just happens to be the first in a series of thoughts that cross my mind when I think about the concept of being a woman. Ideally, one would think such an experiment would reveal that we are more alike than different; men and women focus our attention in different areas. If I were a girl… I would take copious notes and bring them back with me to the dark side.

The more talking one does ultimately increases the odds of a confrontation with our female friends. If we are talking, we are standing and I am sure that means not making good on some promise we said we would keep. If I were a woman, I am sure I would quickly learn that I talk too much and I just let my actions speak on my behalf. There is also the painful understanding that what I say, as man, and what you hear, as a woman, may not be the same thing. How many “discussions” have you had over the year with the opposite sex only to find out the other heard you correctly, but processed the context in a completely different manner from your intentions? Getting a woman’s point of view would allow me to better dissect how I choose my words when talking to women.

If I were a woman, maybe I would have an understanding of why women tend to be overly emotional in the eyes of men. My male notion of rolling with the punches that life deals you, move on, and get over it may not be a just way of thinking. How much of nature being male or female vs. nurture being brought up to act a certain way factors into the difference of our gender roles? I have been raised to be a problem solver and spiritual head of the house. I strive to be the poster boy that every women would dream to have as her husband. We are not necessarily raised to cry at a whim, lean on someone else for support or be dramatic about how we feel. There may be some marginal opportunity for this as a growth area where men are concerned.

You cannot have a conversation about a women and not think about the greatest emotion of them all; Love. Maybe I would have a clue as to what true love is for the opposite sex absent of one’s physical sense. I will be the first to admit that as a man, I tend to get caught in that trap of falling for physical beauty and loosing focus on the core spirit of the person. There is nothing in this world like the unconditional love a woman can provide her man or child. Women seem to have that innate ability to accept a person as they are physically and mentally. Most women possess that honorable trait of unwaveringly accepting us for our faults while continuing to stand by our side even when we may have embarrassed them the most. Throughout history women have given of themselves until there was nothing left to give. What does that feel like? What does it feel like to work several jobs for your family and you not get a thank you in return? There is nothing like the spirit of a woman. Men on the other hand typically take flight at the first opportunity if the situation does not resolve itself quickly. Maybe as a woman, I would come to understand what true sacrifice is as it pertains to love.

Check out the full story below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/future/2009/02/2009_02_ifiwereagirl.html

"If I Were a Boy... Takes an Editorial Turn"

Story by: Ccep J. Dew

westcoasteditor@eXcapethematriX.com

For a long time, I thought my life would be easier if I were male. Maybe my “superiors” wouldn’t question my thoughts and actions as often. Maybe my firm demeanor wouldn’t be taken as bitchy and when I finally snap, no one would whisper about “that time of the month”. And people wouldn’t look at me sideways when they find out I’ve always wanted to play football… Or that I used to love climbing trees and jumping off of walls… Or that I’m pretty handy with a hammer and a tool kit because my mother is the same way… Maybe, if I were a boy, this would all be acceptable…

And my relationships—and consequently the love that I share within them—would be acceptable…

I have a few female friends who I love and admire, but there are always those unspoken questions when having a platonic relationship with someone of the opposite sex: Are we spending too much time together? Are we getting too attached to one another? Does he think this relationship is more than a friendship? Are either of us crossing a line? Those same-sex platonic relationships are so much easier to handle. I can tell my best female friend that I love her and miss her. I can tell my other friend that she looks beautiful today. I can brag about the fact that another best friend went on vacation, wrote a message to me in the sand, took a picture, and displayed it for everyone to see because she cares about me. But, how many eyebrows would rise if I, a married woman, told a guy friend, “I love you and I miss you,” or “You look so handsome in that suit and you smell really good”? Don’t lie; your eyebrows are probably already touching your hairline!

If I were a guy, maybe I could say how I feel without being cautious that it could be misinterpreted by outside parties. Maybe I could simply say “I love you” more often and more earnestly to all the people who matter to me without having to add “in a strictly plutonic way” to my guy friends and “in a strictly heterosexual way” to my girl friends. It would be more like, “I love you, dude,” and “I love you, girl.” I’m thinking now I would be a smooth, charismatic dude!

Guy relationships don’t seem to get so emotional. They don’t whine or sulk when their best friend is hanging out with someone else today. I’d be jealous because after all, she’s my best friend. Not guys; they just find something else to do until their homeboy drops by for a game of Madden.

And I wouldn’t be expected to wear a bra everyday. Guys can walk around the neighborhood shirtless, in basketball shorts, but let me try walking around town topless in my panties! I’d be headed straight to jail and/or all over the internet. Guys can sit with their legs open, but it’s “unlady-like” if I do it. What’s up with that?

To view the full story, click the link below:

http://www.etmmagazine.info/future/2009/02/2009_02_ifiwereaboy.html

"Are Male R&B Artists too Soft?"

Written by: Prizmatik

Lounging around in my room on my off day, tired and craving something to sooth the tension of the outside world that has settled upon my shoulders, I meticulously search through hundreds of CDs I purchased within the last four months. Hmm… let's see... Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Avant, Musiq Soulchild, Pretty Ricky, Brutha, and the list goes on. Ne-Yo is cool, but I played him out, so what else is there to listen to in my collection besides Mariah, Whitney, Jennifer Hudson, Heather Headley, and all the other powerhouse divas of our time?

Well, I've definitely noticed a shift in music when it comes to R&B male singers. Some would say that today's male artists are sexy, hip, and got swagger for days. But, what about people like me who were raised on listening to men like Luther, Michael J., Prince, Al Green, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, and the Temptations? These men didn't just sell sexiness, but they had something to sing about other than bling, cars, hoes, and pimpin'. These men sung about love, commitment, romance, and making love in addition to real life struggles. And don't forget the great party hits.

Some of today's male R&B artists I consider too weak when in comes to singing melodies of substance or songs of great conviction. All this whining and begging is so sickening! Artists somehow turned to beats and hooks to suffice for a kick-ass song, yet they lack musicianship.

Let me clear up a few things before you throw something at the computer screen: not all male artists are a total disappointment. There are plenty of men who give it to us real good. Some of them really bring you a platter of sexy and plenty of them are like little kids playing at being grown.

Are male R&B artists too soft to sell? Well, it depends on your audience. Are you looking for a teenage perspective in music or are you looking for that grown and sexy perspective in music?

Now, looking at billboards Top 20 artists of 2008, according to about.it.com, 11 out of 20 of the top singles were from men. I'm one who purchases whole albums and it's nice to have a few singles hit it on the charts, but are their albums selling? In 2008 the top sells were Rap, Pop, and of course Country being the top followed by Hip-Hop. There were a few men such as Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, and Joe to name a few, but that's it. To tell you the truth, when it comes to male artists, there's conflicting views on what sells their albums.

When one equates sales of a male R&B artist, it’s not just how good you can sing. The industry looks at the face, the body, and the message. The Black community looks at music from the stand point of where they live. It's what I call a "back yard" mentality. The Black community equates music to either where they want to be or where they are. So, to be a male artist, you need to be a man (rough yet gentle), have plenty of women, and you must be a “baller”—if people still use that word— if you want to follow a stereotype that seems to taken precedence over reality.

To read the full story, visit Etm's official site:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/02/2009_02_malerandb.html

"After the Storm... Monica is Still Standing"

Story by: luminoUS
luminoUS@eXcapethmatriX.com

Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, each year around the Winter Solstice each religion practices their respective holidays. One thing that remains the same in each religious celebration is the exchange of gifts. Most children scramble to list all of the things that they wish to receive for the holidays and it is a wonderful feeling to know that you will receive what it is that you asked for. This past December, I received the gift of being able to chat with one of my favorite R&B singers.

Flashback: The year was 1995 and I was looking forward to prom and all of the new social events that came along with the title of being a junior. Midway through the year, I broke up with my first love and it was the sultry voice of Monica that got me through the breakup. Her debut album, Miss Thang, became my saving grace and I sang the words to “Let’s Straighten It Out” like they were my personal anthem.

I walked into the Boys and Girls Club #2 in Washington, D.C. as giddy as a child with a new toy. Not only was I elated, but so were the children that streamed across the gymnasium turned concert hall. Outside on the cold windy streets of D.C., the average passerby would have never guessed that Monica was inside about to perform for a crowd of 30 preteens and their parents. There were no limousines or bodyguards; it was “just the three of us,” Monica later stated when speaking on living up to what it is that she wants to represent and having to weed out certain people around her who don’t adhere to those standards.

The DJ announced Monica, who then emerged and graced the stage with a great big smile. Now a mother, she makes it a priority to perform at family-oriented functions. She kicked the show off with “Don’t Take It Personal” and to my surprise the teens in the audience sang along. I didn’t think that they would know the lyrics to the same songs that nursed me through a breakup nearly 13 years ago. Monica sang each song as soulfully as she would have in front of a crowd of millions and she closed out her set with a dance contest amongst the children. I truly felt like I was communing with family and Monica made the feeling more surreal by offering a gift from her purse to the winner of the contest.

As fast as she graced the stage, she retreated into her dressing room and it was here that we were able to talk about motherhood, her reality show, clothing line and her testimony. Monica revealed that she grew up in a family that nurtured her musical talents. She was taught that she could do whatever it was that she put her mind to and she found it hard to fathom that many children today don’t have the same support system. Monica conveys that her stepson has aspirations to become an architect and she supports him in his dreams one hundred percent.

Growing up in the public eye has its pros and cons and even during times of grief, her fans are still in fan mode. When talking about her grandmother’s funeral and being asked to autograph an obituary she states, “You can never step outside of who you’ve become to deal with situations.” With the bigger picture in view, Monica views this as simply a part of her test and contributes it to what her testimony will be in another ten to fifteen years.

To read the full story, visit the Etm's homepage: http://www.etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/02/2009_02_stillstanding.html