"There Is No Comfort In Silence"

Rapper Talib Kweli and my friend, poet Bassey Ikpi on World AIDS Day for Global Grind. (YouTube, FlyBlackChick)

CBC Week: It's Wrap Featuring Authors, Artists and En Vogue

R&B group En Vogue performes at the Essence Evening of Excellence during the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference. (Photo by Jada Prather)My last days at CBC were filled with barely functioning my way through workshops with my notoriously short attention span. (It doesn't matter how good the workshop. I've had this problem my entire life. Someone gets in front of a room and starts talking and go to sleep.) During the week I got to meet A LOT of Snob Readers, politicos, other journalists and reconnect with friends. I also fell my way into a lot of after hour events. But this time, I had my friend (and hobby photographer) Jada Prather with me to help document all the festivities. This means MORE PICTURES THAN EVER! (Like hundreds) Which means ...

PHOTO ALBUM (and more) AFTER THE JUMP!

Click to read more ...

BasseyWorld Live Going Down Tomorrow

The Snob is still under the weather (stupid pollen), so I don't have much to say other than ... drink lots of fluids and Zyrtec! ... but I should have A LOT to say at Basseyworld Live tomorrow. For those who don't know, Bassey is a phenomenal spoken word poet, awesome lady and prolific tweeter on Twitter. I'll be part of the panel discussion where we'll be talking about a little bit of everything! Come on down and check it out! Order tickets online here.

I'm Going To BasseyWorld!

Awww yeah, son! The Black Snob is going to be all up on the BasseyWorld panel come May 7th! Love Bassey? Love spoken word poetry? Love opinionated people? GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!

BasseyWorld: We All Need Help Sometimes

By Bassey

Today is the 5th anniversary of the day I was hospitalized. I’m stronger than I ever give myself credit for. But I also acknowledge when it is necessary to ask for and accept help. I thank her every year but @dianewah literally saved my life. She came to my apartment and took me to my doctor and then to the hospital. I wouldn’t be here if not for her. I wouldn’t be anywhere if I didn’t allow people to care for me. A few people have asked me what I was hospitalized for 5 years ago. I always say, “I was hospitalized for depression.” I’ve written about it. In that great and wonderful way that poets tend to speak of things in flowery abstraction. http://bit.ly/4raKEQ

I never really told anyone the whole story. I barely like to think about it myself.

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...