by Dot Smith

Dona Woodham (On Bureaucratic Roadblocking Vol. 2 Issue 14) called to demand a retraction. According to Dona, by private business machine, she meant "the six (6) representatives in her office bought the fax and pay for all supplies, " except maybe the electricity. The DISH agreed a statement of clarification is needed, rather than the retraction Dona demanded. For the record, Legislative Secretary Dona Woodham is not conducting a private enterprise on public property, i.e., the Georgia House of Representatives.

However, let us be fair. On her initial call to end the facsimile transmission to the State House office, Dona did say, "This is a private business fax. The state doesn't pay for it." Erroneously, The DISH assumed Dona expressed the sentiment of the fax owner, since neither of the six representatives instructed her to make that call. Dona made that decision, as though the machine and the messages it delivered were her personal property. Given her air of absolute ownership of this "private business machine," The DISH logically assumed she is engaged in private business on public property; Dona is not an elected official.

The DISH assumed incorrectly. For that, we extend to Dona our apology. However, the commentary highlighted bureaucratic roadblocking. The DISH stands firm on its assessment of Dona's action that epitomizes this concept. No retraction is needed for that. Moreover, there is simply no excuse to justify putting impediments between the people and their elected representatives. DISHing It Up Hot!

by Malane Shani

What is a mother?

They say someone who loves you like no other

I wonder if this is really true.

Does a mother really love you

No matter what you do?

They say she opens up to you

And tells you how to live

Life through all types of pain, misery and strife.

They say she tells you of the bridges she has crossed

So that you in your life won't be lost

They say she helps you to go inside to find yourself

To have some pride

They say a mother is one of the Creator's

Most wonderful gifts alive.

She stands tall and strong and through

Anything she can survive.

They say she never says me, myself or I

And, she never ever says goodbye.

These are all the things they say a mother should be

Unfortunately, some haven't had this experience

And many never see

So, if you have a mother like the one described here,

Thank your lucky stars and always draw her near.

Never leave her side and don't let love slide

Because some people haven't heard of such

And have never felt the love of a mother's touch.

So, if you're on your own, you may not have a clue

But, just thank God you still have you.

(Reprinted from Pieces of the Heart: A Collection of Poetry, 1998)

About Me: Malane Shani is multi-talented. A spiritual counselor, vocalist and poet, Malane expresses her love for life and people through writing, singing and assisting others in discovering and aligning with their unique paths. Malane's book of poetry, "Pieces of the Heart," gives us glimpses of her life experiences, which motivate her as a "life-enrichment counselor," as well as provide the source for her inspiration and desire to share her insights to assist others in embarking on the path of self-love. Venue

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is now a big boy. Like a big boy, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro will go to school and do well to make himself proud. Bat Cave

Disgruntled says: How can we ask people to stop the violence here, when U.S. troops are in Kosovo regulating with the same weapons of mass destruction.

Disgruntled wants to know: When will the madness stop?

Disgruntled feels: Unable! Disgruntled

Congress is considering a bill that would allow telephone companies to charge for Internet access. Imagine being charged a long distance fee for e-mail! We must protest this bill. Every Internet user must participate by sending e-mails to their Representatives in Congress. Please visit http://www.house.gov/writerep AND complain to your Congressman. Don't allow this bill to pass.

The DISH encourages everyone to become involved. All of us have an interest in a free unencumbered Internet.

by John Burl Smith

The Atlanta Vibe hip hopped some very impressive accomplishments last year, even though the poetry scene lost a major spot. Closing out Poetry Month, the vibe gives mad props to Okeeba Jubalo "JB." Crashing the scene just over a year ago, JB"s first anthology Broken Spoken Words, confirms he is on the bus. Tipping our hats to some spots lost along the way, and blowing off some still hanging today, spoken word made a phat move from an open mic dominated venue to a multilevel cutting-edge performance motif.

Although they languish in the shadow of Coke Cola, young sisters and brothers are pulling themselves up by their boot-straps. Undeterred by the lack of support from the Arts community, corporate interest, and the City of Atlanta, the 1997 National Slam Championship finalist and 1999 Atlanta Grand Slam Champion, Yohannes Sharriff Smith is confident "We will hang on and around, because these are our roots."

Sisters and brothers represented well taking spoken word into the community. During Black History Month, the Atlanta Vibe hip hopped Thomasville Heights Community Center in Therapy Anthology's Where I'm From. Also, Yohannes rocked some righteous rhymes at Cross Keys High School. He hip hopped a positive message about pride, staying in school and learning something while there. Students got crunk, as the ATL. Vibe, challenged them to believe they are intelligent, however, they must want to learn. Staying away from drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and violence was also a theme for Yohannes at Clark- Atlanta supporting poet Hank Stewart. Then he exploded in Lorraine McKall Winds of Change Productions in "Pieces of Inspiration," which was sponsored by Atlanta Life.

Mysteriously, fire struck Level 2 Art Gallery, slamming Atlanta's poetry scene, like a Mac truck. Level 2 hosted one of the first performance venues and became the prototype. Meanwhile, anticipating its reopening, the void is being filled by some boldly imaginative young sisters and brothers. Raising performance levels, while blowing up spots with cutting-edge provocative themes, rockers, slammers, hip hoppers and spoken word artists of all types are elevating their craft.

Yohannes was selected by Lorraine McKall and Muminah of S.O.U.P.'s (Society of Urban Poets), I Am Not A Descendant of Slaves, for his experience and character development techniques. Joining Earl "WE-One" Strozier for his directorial debut in You're Tripping at Clark-Atlanta University April 28, 1999, the Vibe rocked the house. Yohannes was one of twelve poets "WE-One" brought together, and combined their expressions to build characters and scenes.

Poetry month leaves Atlanta' s young artists hip hopping their way to the next level. Origami is Coming!! Other Essays by John Burl Smith T.H.I.N.C.

 Phantom Scribbler

Stazja@aol.com. "Dunno who the Phantom Scribbler is, but the commentary is not only offensive, it is the kind of psych/pharmaceutical propaganda that obscures the true source of the rise in violent crimes. Look to psychiatry. For all I know, the Phantom Scribbler (and why would someone on the up and up not disclose his/her real identity) is either a psychiatrist or a minion of psychiatry."

Response: I am neither. However, I am certain, as the Littleton, CO investigation unfolds and we take the blinders off, the role of parents will eventually be examined. We have turned over the other rocks, it's time to turn that one. The fruit does not fall far from the tree. We cannot continue to blame what is happening in America on books, the movies, video games or TV. What children are being taught at home holds the key. Phantom Scribbler....the pen that strikes and keeps moving! Phantom Scribbler

On April 24, 1999, The Atlanta Vibe carried love to some courageous sisters and brothers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for Ring Shout young poets' conference. Sponsored by the Black Cultural Center and the Institute of African American Research, conference coordinator Olufundke Abiola Moses stated its goal "to be a cultural carrier of ideas, knowledge and art. UNC's campus is where George Moses Horton hawked poems to young white gentry while still a slave. Black poets and writers old and young bonded during several workshops, How to Survive as a Poet, In the Spirit and Spoken Word. However, the disregarding of black artistic efforts by academic societies and arts councils was a major concern. N.C. poet, Jackie Shelton Green, shared how after more than twenty years performing and conducting workshops including the Caribbean, and Europe, she is still classed as an "emerging poet"by such societies and councils.

Another hot topic was placement of such black spoken word genres as hip hop, rhyming and free style in such rating scales. More aligned with street poets, Yohannes while vibing with "established poets," addressed this issue, "For hip hoppers, trying to regulate spoken word is like what is happening in the music industry. You know like with "Sug" and Death Row. Even though artists produce 100 percent of the product, they must beg for a piece of their own work. Why give such people the right to regulate our expression?"

Skill and craft level was off the hook Saturday night at Hanes Art Center; regionalism was on display. Ruth Forman, the UC Berkeley and the USC Film School based writer, laid down her soft, silky west coast rhythms using selections from her latest work We Are The Young Magicians. Upbeat poet, therapist, dancer, motivational speaker, and author of The Birthing of a Lioness, Thema Simone Bryant blew international smoke. Following like a pyromaniac in his explosively raw in your grill ATL. style, Yohannes touched a piece from his book T.H.I.N.C.(Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution.

The conference linked African American artist working to establish venues, which recognize and appreciate fully our expression. What happened to the Blues is a frightening lesson and foreshadows hip hop's fate, if black artists are not vigilant. Atlanta Vibe

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

Two heavy bags of trash and I am mad.

A year away from kindergarten.

In Head Start and too smart to know

I'm too young to have an attitude.

The fool remembering each excruciating step.

McLemore buzzed with bumble bee traffic.

Scores of Cadillacs, big wheels,

Dirt bikes and buses pass

Accenting the powerful smells of the ghetto.

Saturate my sense...Since its late spring

The heat is enough to cook the dumpster.

Hot garbage mixing with sweat honey suckle scent.

Over ripe hope is hanging heavy on the vine.

Late 70's sounds sing me a lullaby.

Dust bowl courtyard breathes anger breath

In twisted columns of dirt and trash.

Painfully beautiful rusted fence separating...

Segregating the poor from the poorer.

Old Oak tree graceful enough to touch the blue

Hope is at play in a child's laughter

Calling me like an angel. And you...

You have me taking out the trash.

Too lazy to make two trips

I fell down the steps, and I scraped my knee,

And no one heard me! But, I didn't complain.

Later, you took me to the river.

We lightened our load throwing rock into the mouth

Of the Mighty Mississippi. You are me father

You make sure we see eye to eye

Whether we stand back to back or side by side.

So knowing and wise. So ancient,

I tremble in your presence.

Are my shoulders strong enough to carry the load.

Can you see me trying? Can you see me trying,

Even when I don't want to?

Do you see me trying to be just like you? Intuit

HOOTER'S

CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONE? Why does racism still flourish throughout parts of GEORGIA? Something very humiliating happened to me at "HOOTER'S." The establishment is for Caucasians only, so I am told. A friend and I found out as we waited to enjoy a luncheon there one afternoon; it took almost half an hour for someone to acknowledge us. Finally, a young African American woman, dressed as if she was attending a "Daisy Dukes" rally, came over. She really did not want to serve us. Keep in mind that we are African American. According to her, "they don't like serving BLACKS because they have bad attitudes, and they don't tip" . Of course, my friend got upset and asked for a manager. We never got an apology. The manager gave us the corporate office's regional manager's number and a coupon good for a free hot wings party of 10. My friend and I decided to throw a party and advise all our acquaintances to avoid Hooters; it's for Caucasians. Food is good for this African American's soul. So I enjoy every bite. Hood Notes

"Black children came to town, the city of Atlanta found millions to pay for police overtime, but it lacks funds for a pay raise. During Freaknik, did we need twelve hours of overtime for the entire police force? The money would have been better spent on fixing out-of-order fire hydrants and giving our police and fire fighters a pay raise, as well as the equipment they need to carry out their public safety responsibilities. Makes one wonder about the city's priorities." Jimmy G., a dedicated reader.....

"Information on this little known Black History Fact can be found in the African American Archives at the Smithsonian Institute. It is acknowledged in most Black history professional circles and literature that the origin of the term "picnic" comes from lynching African-Americans. The word "picnic" is rooted in the "Pick A Nigger" theme. Individuals "pic" a Black person to lynch and make this into a family gathering. There would be music and a "picnic." ("Nic" being the white acronym for "nigger.") Scenes of this were depicted in the movie "Rosewood." E-mail from Craig@leadcentral.com. Mailbox

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