this is… The Neighborhood
the Story within the Story
IN SPITE OF THE LIGHTS
THEATRE thesis: In spite of my hopes and all that I’ve done, my greatest fear, has become my destiny. But even if it becomes law of the land and establishes a new world order, I am determined to….
Abstract Background w/ Grunge Metal Designed by Freepik
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Differences
by Makaih Beats
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TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
ED. V MILLENNIALS
In Spite of the Lights
by Devereaux Frazier, An Aspergian’s Chemical Romance
In spite of the lights
I stare straight into the mist
In spite of the loud, crashing sounds
of industry and economy
I climb higher and higher out of the pit
In spite of the clocks resonating in my head
and the palpitations on my wrist
even the worst anxious breakdown, a good song can fix
In spite of the aggressive advances of the bold
the hubris of the bad
and the cunning of the brave
I can stand out from every single list
because I’m black
because I’m autistic
and when I turn on the flow, you might think I’m sick
but really I’m just flicking my wrists
and flipping you this
big bird, little bird, let all of you hear
even if they try to force us out
and box us in
you might’ve struck my greatest fear
but the runners high is near
and when I shed a tear
you think I’m down
but put your head up
cause the train is coming
and coming now
Determined to put our shame to rest
I write your verdicts, go ahead and test
my emotions and limits
but it’s a long lost bet
I’m trying to be the best at what I do
every day is a mess made
or a life saved
but without this brain it would be all a waste
an easily extinguished flame
you try to bring me down
but on these pages I punch back
now finally know what it’s like
to kiss the ground
and acknowledge the sumptuous sound
I may not be the leading man
and the stories I weave aren’t intricate
just true
not exciting
just raw
not normal
just me
and that’s the only way
I’ll ever be
As Americans, we’re supposed to be more advanced than much of the world. The standard that we’ve set for ourselves has led to incredible heights, but unfortunately many have gotten trampled for the sake of “development”. 2017 is drawing to a close, and the new year seeks to reek of the same foul essence of our fathers before us. Being black is still seen as being “less than”, and the race riots are quite simply minuscule distractions from the reality: division and diversion seems to be the law of the land. No matter how hard people try to “be in someone else’s shoes” and “act in solidarity”, the first thing people do when faced with an issue is take sides. That is a flawed mentality. Autism is just a spectrum of that side, and being both black and autistic, you can say I might get it worse than those who are either/or. Despite the misconceptions, false science, and ignorance of those on and off the spectrum, I am just like the person next to me, and they’re just like the person next to them. We are all human, we are all one. To find it and help another grow in that realization is why we’re here. Despite the bigots, racists, and supremacists that come from both spectrums, we must search our individual hearts and souls and find the strength to love our fellow man. There are walls that have been established for generations between black and white, “normal” and autistic, and every other sector, but no more. No matter what job you have, be determined to stand up not for your nationality, but for all walks of life. Up Next: A Special Guest
SWITZERLAND
THEATRE thesis: In spite of my hopes and all that I’ve done, my greatest fear, has become my destiny. But even if it becomes law of the land and establishes a new world order, I am determined to….
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Illusion
by Coyote Kisses
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TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
Ed. III – Family
SWITZERLAND
by Stephen J. Harris
Stephen J. Harris
I never thought I would be pondering this question, but it is a very good one. I cannot help but to think of my family – my sons – if nuclear war were to come to pass. I do not believe it will happen, but I imagine many people in the past thought the same thing before war arrived at their door. I would not leave the country for my sake, but that of my kids. If I thought it were at all possible for them to have a resemblance of a good life, I think I would, perhaps head for Switzerland. Who knows.
Up Next: Change
BEING YOU
THEATRE thesis: In spite of my hopes and all that I’ve done, my greatest fear, has become my destiny. But even if it becomes law of the land and establishes a new world order, I am determined to….
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Trying
by MRF, Lisa Bello, Justin Waithe feat. Yasko Kubota
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TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
Ed. IV LGQBT
BEING YOU
By Jamal Miller, Gays in the Life
The feeling of needing to provide explanation for simply being you can be a dark and daunting burden. Imagine always being told “you’re black, so you need to work ten times as hard just so they notice you” just to lose an internal job opportunity to a bubbly white woman, and be forced to face the thought of “did she, an external employee, get the job because she’s a white woman?
You see, this is water cooler talk for people of color – anyone labeled different. We’re used to doing more and hoping for the best possible outcome. Hope is what drives our spirit and what fuels the fire to push us closer to our dreams; dreams of existing as people beyond our differences or simply trying to survive.
I think back to the days of separate water fountains and wonder where queer people would need to grab a drink. White, colored, queer. The latter would not be an option, simply because there are complexities even within the black community and how we accept or reject queerness.
In spite of my hopes, my greatest fear seems destined to come alive. But even if rejecting natural differences establishes and new way of life, I am determined to influence representation and understanding.
In today’s America, Trump’s America, I’m forced to consider the fact that life as a black, queer man can only become more of a challenge moving forward. I’m not the type to roll over on the social issues we face as a country and see multiple angles as my husband is a white male. I’ve always been hyper aware of how people (could) view us. If there’s an opportunity to educate or share perspective, we’ll do it
In the workplace, there’s a great amount of commentary on the state of America and the issues we face – particularly around the water cooler. The water cooler is the place we go to throughout the workday to sustain our energy, health, and grab a bit of refreshment away from our desks.
Quick comments are shared about the tax debates, black lives matter, healthcare, taking a knee, and who could be doing whatever better. My favorite is when the conversation becomes hushed because “the black, gay man just entered the room and I’m not sure if we want to invite him into this quick exchange.” Let me not jump to conclusions though. Just last week I was at the water cooler with an executive VP when the fact that I was married to a man came up. She was very supportive, asking how long we’d been together, and said “We love who we love, and that’s beautiful.”
In that moment I was appreciative to have a place at the water cooler to share that interaction. It’s a welcome reminder that allies and understanding are still alive and well, and that it doesn’t take much to connect with someone in a place as simple as a breakroom while getting some water. We can forget as humans that we all share the same basic rights and who you love shouldn’t decide the levels of success you may or may not encounter.
I picture a scene with Africa’s most dangerous and most delicate creatures drinking from the same small body of water – simply existing amongst one another for a brief period and going on about their business when they’ve had their fill. It’s too easy to be afraid, close-minded, and to jump to conclusions when known differences are perceived as less than or threatening. It’s harder work to show up, represent your views, and engage in civilized conversation for the sake of being open – for the sake of growing as people
— Jamal Miller
this is…. The Neighborhood
TAG VOL II ED. II – FROZEN OUT
“You got to know when to hold ’em. And know when to fold ’em. You got to know when to walk away and know when to run.” – The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
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from 1978, Kenny Rogers
w/ The Gambler
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TAG VOL II ED. II FROZEN OUT
He has accomplished some pretty remarkable feats, and there was no reason why we would have ever thought he could not have accomplished this. But one look behind the curtain and it was easy to see, he was in way over his head. Combining a short story with the 2nd edition of An Anthology was easy pickings, but on Christmas Day at the end of a long exhausting year, well “me thinks it is too much.”
And so, after 5 consecutive years and over 400 performances, Kendall F. Person did not complete his contribution in time and is therefore FROZEN OUT of his own show.
The Chairs.
up next: Leadership
RIDING THE WAVES WITH JOHN LOCKE AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS
THEATRE thesis: In spite of my hopes and all that I’ve done, my greatest fear, has become my destiny. But even if it becomes law of the land and establishes a new world order, I am determined to….
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The Final Frontier
by Ignorant Intelligence
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TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
Ed. I – Politics
Riding the Waves with
John Locke and the Founding Fathers
by Perry Casilio, Politics and Economics
Since I grew up near the shores of Lake Ontario, I’m used to large bodies of water. As a Great Lake, Lake Ontario gives the illusion of being an ocean since it’s difficult to see across. Interestingly, when I moved to Oregon at 19, I found the mighty Pacific Ocean impressed me in the same way as Lake Ontario. One of the magical things in life is when the sun sets on a large body of water. The point where the sun and the water’s horizon meet has inspired mankind for centuries. Over the years, sunsets over both Lake Ontario and the Pacific have enchanted me.
Today, I come to the shores of the mighty Pacific and am feeling something different than usual. Instead of being caught up in reverie at the timeless aspect of water and how it connects us, I find myself reflecting on the current political struggles bedeviling mankind. As I walk into the water, with strong waves and wind creating decibels of sound, I begin muttering to myself…”why?” Why is it that mankind seems entranced with high levels of self-inflicted conflict?
Suddenly, on this sparsely inhabited Oregon beach I realize I can actually scream “why” at a high level without being heard by anyone. Much like someone singing in their car without being heard, a wry smile comes across my face as I scream “why” into the Pacific. After screaming into the ocean, I look out to see a mirage-like image of the water and sky meeting to become one. How surreal…
Although my family and fellow beachcombers are only a few hundred feet away, I feel alone with the ocean. After screaming “why” several times, I start screaming “what” into the Pacific. When I turn around again I realize that nobody is paying attention to me. Suddenly, I realize I can scream to my heart’s content without being heard. Still thinking about politics, I scream out “What Would John Locke & The Founding Fathers Think Of America Today?” I scream it several more times till exhausted. As the warm summer sun offsets the cool Oregon ocean, I take a few more steps out into the water and am suddenly engulfed by a wave that goes over my head and knocks me off my feet.
After balancing myself, I stand with the Pacific up to my neck and realize that if John Locke and The Founding Fathers could see America today, they wouldn’t be totally disenchanted. After all, the English philosopher Locke, who influenced the Founding Fathers, realized that mankind was not perfect and probably would never be. Since Locke lived through revolution in England in the 1600’s, he knew that harmony in mankind was a fragile concept. Likewise, the Founding Fathers would also realize that some of today’s political problems were understandable.
However…the more I bobbed about in the Pacific waves, the more I realized that John Locke and The Founding Fathers could be concerned with America today. What could concern them is the fact that vigorous debate of the issues has often been replaced by political adversaries merely “calling out and shouting down” their opposition in an attempt to intimidate and limit debate. As a result of this process, the concept of free speech is under assault in today’s America. Whether one attributes this to social media, the 24-7 news cycle and it’s need for controversy, or the lifting of the Fairness Doctrine for media, it goes without saying that our political noise and anger level is so high now many predict societal breakdown as a result.
Unfortunately, the concept of checks and balances that Locke and The Founding Fathers advocated is being replaced in America by the dubious concept of “the political ends justifying the means.” Therefore, sheer political noise and intimidation is being used to achieve political victories maybe more than ever before. As many remember, political victories in the past often were won mostly on the strength of ideas.
As I stared at the sun while bobbing in the Pacific, I vowed to honor Locke and The Founding Fathers by working to create a climate where the power of political ideas could come to the fore again. After I made my vow, I closed my eyes and floated on my back. After floating for several moments, the waves seemed to calm down a bit. At this point, a smile came across my face as I basked in the sun…
this is…. The Neighborhood
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