The Afro Librarian: The Lynching... I mean Election Edition - Why I Will Reluctantly Vote For Hillary

Hello good people. I've been out and about getting my Afro Librarian life together. Sorry for the long delay, but I'm back... for now.

Yes, it's true. This 2016 election has me feeling apprehensive, pensive and reclusive all at the same time. I've never physically been afraid before an election, but this election has set the tone for just that emotion: Fear.

Today I watched a video of Susan Sarandon explaining why she's not voting for Hillary Clinton.

As I contemplate what I'm doing on November 8th, this video has me in a state of terror. It's true, Susan Sarandon makes some good points in her video.  But when she says

"I don't have to make the choice to vote against my own best interest because the reason we're in the situation we're in is because everyone has been voting the lesser of two evils for so long.",

her words hit me in a very personal place. Mostly because I find myself in the position yet again to vote the lesser of two evils. I've been hearing folks on Facebook talk about not voting or, like Susan, voting for a third party. Believe me, I have grappled with both choices since Bernie Sanders was forced out... I mean lost the race for the democratic presidential nomination.

Yes Bernie. Yes I do. 

I get it. Each voter has to vote based on their own convictions and understandings of the world in which they live. It's unethical to vote based on fear AND it's unethical to solicit votes strictly based on fear. But that's the reality of this 2016 election.  The fear is real. The truth is, voting for a third party is a vote against Hillary Clinton. It's also a vote for Donald Trump. That's where I get stuck. Right there.

You see, Donald Trump represents more than just non-existent political experience, financial irresponsibility, dishonesty and plain distastefulness. Donald Trump has opened the door to the acceptance of White racism the likes of which hasn't been seen (openly) since the 50's. Susan Sarandon has the luxury to give her vote to getting a third party to 5%. But I don't. I agree, we as voters must pay attention and vote the "down ticket" races.

*Pause.* I had to look up that term. So in case you are like me... the definition of "the down ticket" races according to jargondatabase.com... is a political race that are not at the highest level possible. They give as an example, a congressional race, which is considered a "down ticket race" because we are also voting for the presidential race.

I whole heartedly agree with Sarandon on that point. So many people are focusing on the race between Clinton/Trump they are forgetting the importance of the Congressional races. 

But I digress... 

I, as an African American educated woman cannot in good conscious do anything but vote for Hillary Clinton. And yes, my decision is solely based on fear. Not fear of Donald Trump as President, but fear of Donald Trump's supporters being validated in their racist beliefs. I have never seen an election that elicited so much open racism and VIOLENCE in my life. I've read our country's dark history. Black people have been lynched, burned, chased out of town just to keep them from voting. That WAS in the past... until now. I've seen the tables turn in this 2016 election. incidents like the one on September 10, 2016 where a woman, Emerjeta Xhelili, physically attacked two Muslim women and their children for being different, are increasing at an alarming rate. 

“This is America — you shouldn’t be different from us,” she yelled, prosecutors said.

I am different from "us". Donald Trump has rallied all those who would exclude, persecute, prosecute and kill those who are not White Americans. That. Scares. Me. He's the pied piper of bigots. They gleefully follow him waving confederate flags and dreaming of the good old days. The good old days look like this to me. 

Yes. This is Laura Nelson, lynched with her son on May 23, 1911 by a angry mob after being "accused of killing a deputy sheriff who supposedly stumbled on some stolen goods in her house". No trial, no jury, just murder. Sounds familiar, huh? 

So when I hear people say, "But Hillary is just as bad", believe me, I agree. Hillary Clinton is not my presidential candidate of choice. I can't think of anything she stands for that has compelled me to vote for her. To be truthful, I get angry every time I see her. That being said, I'm going to vote for her on November 8th, 2016. I'm not voting for the lesser of two evils, I'm voting against bigotry that runs freely in the streets of the United States. I want the racists to at least TRY to hide their murderous intentions. I'm voting against going back to when America was great again. I'm voting for my own best interest. Policies be damned when I'm literally surrounded by "The good ol' boys" with Donald Trump signs draping their homes and shotguns perched in the back of their pickup trucks. 

According to the polls in Louisiana, there is about a 10 percent difference in Clinton and Trump voters. Johnson and Stein take between 6 and 9 percent of the vote. So when I think about giving my vote to a third party, there's a real chance I am helping Trump to win. And THAT is my definition of voting against my best interest. 

2016 LOUISIANA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Who will win Louisiana's 8 EVs?

All Louisiana Races

Election Projection:  Donald Trump by 14.0%

LATEST POLLS
FIRM	DATES	CLINTON	TRUMP	JOHNSON	STEIN	SPREAD
EP Poll Average		35.5	49.5	4.5	1.3	Trump +14.0
SMOR	10/19 - 10/21	35	50	5	--	Trump +15
University of New Orleans	10/15 - 10/21	35	49	7	2	Trump +14
FOX 8/Mason-Dixon	10/17 - 10/19	34	54	2	1	Trump +20
JMC Analytics	10/11 - 10/15	38	45	4	1	Trump +7
Click here for all Louisiana President Polls

Hillary Clinton is not the answer to our problems as a country. She is not the best candidate for the job. But her supporters are not in favor of racial cleansing either (be it disguised as immigrant reform, supporting police, or welfare reform). This is a stretegic vote based on the fact that Donald Trump as president is a real possibility. With all that being said, this best describes me in the 2016 elections.

Ok, That's it for now. Who ever you're voting for... Go Vote! (Unless you're voting for Donald Trump. Then do like he said and vote on November 28th)

Peace and Light,

The Afro Librarian

A Slightly Different Look at Playboy Magazine... WHAT????

Hello good people. This week I got a lil tid bit of information that I just KNEW was Internet shenanigans and tomfoolery. You might want to sit down for this stroll down memory lane. K. Here goes...

Alex Haley (famous for the book Roots), interviewed Martin Luther King Jr. for PLAYBOY Magazine.

*Pause*

Yes. I heard that and almost fell out. That's almost too mind-blowing a sentence to even comprehend!

My job as Afro Librarian would not be complete if I didn't bring you this EPIC interview... so here it is... Well it's the next best thing. Playboy Magazine posted the article in 2014, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day. Their intro reads as follows:

"On Monday, America celebrates the life and work of the pioneering Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. In 1964, Playboy published an interview with King by Alex Haley, who would go on to write Roots. Their discussion of the fight for racial equality is the longest interview King ever granted any publication. Enjoy the story in its entirety, and to read every article the magazine has ever published—from 1953 until today—visit the complete archive at iplayboy.com."

I don't know about you, but this put Playboy Magazine in a whole new light for me. I mean, never once did I think I'd get to recommend a Playboy article as part of my blog... LOL. Welp here goes. You can read the entire article here...

Martin Luther King Jr.: A Candid Conversation With the Nobel Prize-Winning Civil Rights Leader

And if you are an interested in reading Alex Haley's other interviews, you might want to check out this book... the link below leads you to Amazon.com where the book is being sold. Also, feel free to check it out at your local LIBRARY.

Alex Haley: The Playboy Interviews

Have a great weekend!

Peace and Light, 

The Afro Librarian 

The Afro Librarian TBT: Trilogy of Terror revisited

Hey good people. Sending a late edition Afro Librarian for all you bibliophiles out there. Bibliophiles... Folks who love to read. Today I was inspired by a TBT video someone posted on YouTube, The Trilogy of Terror story # 3: Amelia.

Yup. Him. This lil super sonic, extra-toothy, blood thirsty demon scared generations of people for YEARS. I posted the video on my page, and all day, people commented about their fear of watching this movie because of him. So I... being the Afro Librarian from the West Side of Chicago... decided to watch it again.

Yup. He's still just as scary...

But check this out... This movie was based on "Prey", a short story written by Richard Matheson. Well, I could NOT pass up the opportunity to find such an epic tale. (As we all know, the book is always better than the movie). I haven't had the chance to read it, but it's on my list of things to do tonight. I'm going to share the pdf I found on line so you can join me. (God bless the Internets!) Maybe we can discuss the story in the comments! Click the title below and Enjoy!

Prey by Richard Matheson

Peace and light,

The Afro Librarian

The Afro Librarian Gets An Angry Note.

This week, I asked some students to be quiet in the library. It’s so cliche’. There are cartoons about being quiet in the library, there are one and a half million memes about being quiet in the library. Anyone who has ever heard of “the library” knows that it’s a quiet place.

Everyone except these students… If you haved worked with young people, you know the scenario: One person is on the computer, but their 2 friends (who are NOT working) are talking loud, laughing and eating… IN THE LIBRARY. You would think they’d lie low, but NOOOOOOO! They were so loud that students, who were actually trying to study, discretely switched computers, glared angrily, sighed, huffed and puffed, all in an effort to quiet their riotous behavior. Of course, at this point I was forced to do my job and quiet the library. I addressed the loudest friend with a choice "you can get your own computer, or you can leave, but you can't sit here and talk to your friend." (Pause. Please understand, I'd already approached the group about eating AND again about talking loudly in the library). At this point, not only does the friend leave, but so does the person who was actually doing work on the computer. I guess it was too much to work without an entourage… Yes, they left, but not before leaving a wonderful note expressing how much they appreciated my services…

Of course they didn’t give it DIRECTLY to me. So there’s that. Thank goodness, cuz I’m professional, but I’m also from the West side of Chicago and what you’re NOT gonna do is be disrespectful to my face.

What the students don’t know, is that after this incident happened, I’m the one that advocated for them not to be banned from the library. Why? Because in the grand scheme of things, it’s more important to me they are able to use our facilities than it is for me to drop the hammer on them for being disrespectful. Maybe one day they’ll realize the life lesson of being nice to people because you never know who will help you behind the scenes…

Truthfully, I can’t even get mad. This week has been really difficult, and not because I got cussed out in really bad handwriting...

I've learned that yet another one of my Facebook friends has died before the age of 50. This information shook me more than I'd expected. I've had 6 friends die since 2010 and 5 of them were due to stress related illnesses like heart disease. When I got that note at work, I internalized that negative energy as anger. But the truth is, stress, anger and bad habits are taking folks out. On top of life's daily stress, I also have been dealing with 2016 and all its stressful events. Opening my Facebook page invites constant images of young Black people being slaughtered by unapologetic public "servants". My feelings of helplessness and being ignored adds to the daily stress I encounter just living day to day. So, this week, when I felt the stress of life building around me, I immediately prayed for peace of mind and guidance for myself and for those students.

I remembered my health and my commitment to my own peace of mind. I went for a walk to release the anger, sadness and stress of this week. I followed my walk with 10 minutes of meditation. I made sure to walk and meditate near the lake so I could benefit even more from being with nature. And when I was done, I felt lighter in my heart.

This is my happy place. Lake Pontchartrain.
The picture on the life is where I walk off the stress.
The picture on the right is where I meditate for peace. 

So, remember to take care of your own mental health. Take a walk, be with people who make you laugh, go around nature or hug someone you love. When someone tries to break your spirit, release it and walk in light. These things will save your life.

Until next time

Peace and Light,

The Afro Librarian

The Afro Librarian: Two Good Books to Read When Your Soul is Weary.

Hello good people. Today’s blog gives you tools to help you explore some of the burning questions of spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Ok, ok. Not like that. Let me start with me...

My spiritual journey began when I was in my early 20's. Since then I've slowly developed my own understanding of God, spirit and my place in the world. I guess my journey was handed to me by my mother and my grandmother, both who were magical women in their own right. As a small child, I watched as my mother washed the floors with high john the conqueror and van van floor wash... burned candles for her prayers and petitions and left food out for our ancestors. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized these things were unusual.  

I've always supplemented my spiritual journey with books. (Cuz... I'm a librarian deep down in my soul!) There are a few that stand out because of their timeless message. These books have helped to shape my unique perspective of the world and how to keep my sanity. I'll start with the two that had the greatest influence on my life. 

One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 days and 40 nights towards spiritual strength and personal growth.
Iyanla Vanzant

You may know Iyanla Vanzant from the show "Iyanla: Fix My Life", the show that airs on OWN TV (Oprah Winfrey Network). This book saved my life. Literally. Picture this... The love of my life, three years into the relationship, has a come to Jesus moment and decides he needs to go a whole nother way. A way that no longer includes me. I was 20-something, with no sense of self, and I had no idea that life could go on without my ride or die love. I had to get my life together, so I took a walk with Iyanla. 

One day my Soul Just Opened Up: 40 days and 40 nights towards spiritual strength and personal growth is a wonderful book. Iyanla shares her life struggles in such and honest and relateable way... You just KNOW she understands. She breaks down the process of healing your entire life with 40 short daily exercises. Iyanla Vanzant had the foresight to create a book that gives daily affirmations, guided meditations and space for daily journaling. This is a workbook in the truest sense of the word! Iyanla Vanzant provides you with a wonderful tool to get in touch with your own personal healing power. 

Conversations With God: An uncommon Dialogue.
Neale Donald Walsch

Neale Donald Walsch is the reason I understand that God is not mad at me. I know so many people who could benefit from that message. Thankfully, Walsch's book records his transformative conversation with God. He asks all the questions you grapple with when your faith waivers. Questions like, "Why is there death in the world" and "Why do good people suffer" are some of the ones that hit home with me. But this book allows you to think of God in a totally new and different way, as a friend. Reading this book changed the way I dealt with God, how I approached prayer and spirituality and how I looked at the world. There's hope in this book. 

My spiritual path is a long and winding road (We'll get more into that as time passes). These two books helped me to find myself. These books helped me to heal my heart and elevate my spirit. I hope they bring you the same joy!

Until next time, 

Peace and Light

The Afro Librarian

Mercury Retrograde Will Debo Your Entire Life.

There. The Internet has given you a definition of the period between August 30th - September 22nd
that's easy for everyone to understand. Nice, sweet and to the point. It doesn't sound too bad huh?... yeah.

This month has brought in a mercury retrograde that's kicking butts and taking names. I don't know about you, but this month's retrograde came in stomping my flowers and kicking over my water buckets. It straight DEBO'd my peaceful life. (WHAT peaceful life???!!!) Like Red in the Five Heartbeats, it held my convictions over the banister and made me repeat it's office hours.

I've already talked to three friends who were ready to end their relationships over communication issues, otherwise known as, "He's making me want to kill him"... So... let the Afro Librarian give you some insight.

August 30- September 22, 2016 has one mission... to teach you the value of sittin daflip down and shutting daflip up! During this time, you MUST think long and hard before speaking, and even longer and harder before acting. But the good news is, if you survive, your relationships will be stronger! Yay! (IF you survive) lol.

So... Here's some books to read while you're sitting daflip down and shutting daflip up! The descriptions aren't mine... they belong to Google Books... but I'm including them so you know what to expect from each book. Enjoy! and remember, STFU!

How to Survive Mercury Retrograde: And Venus and Mars Too. 

Go beyond the fear and negativity of retrograde periods and achieve success. Retrogrades can present unexpected opportunities when you approach them with creativity and patience. How to Survive Mercury Retrograde shows you how to be better prepared for retrograde cycles and handle those areas of life that are most commonly affected. Discover the answers to questions about getting married, accepting a new job, or buying a car during a retrograde period. Explore retrograde survival tips that will help you maintain focus and correct mistakes. Look up your sign and corresponding element to see how you can cope. Whether you are a student of astrology or just someone wanting to know how to survive a retrograde cycle with less stress, this book will help you navigate these challenging astrological periods.

Mercury Retrograde

In Mercury Retrograde, spiritual journalist Pythia Peay unveils the period's deeper meanings. By working with the slower pace of Mercury retrograde, rather than going against it, we can allow ourselves to step outside the narrow framework of our ordinary lives. Rather than push forward, it is a time to retreat, if possible, from the usual harried, hurried way of doing things. 

In a book that includes a Mercury ephemeris and an astrological glossary, Peay traces the history of this powerful concept and illustrates its mythological underpinnings. She offers a practical, incisive analysis of how Mercury retrograde can be a tool for growth and insight into our fast-paced contemporary existence.

Mercury Retrograde: Your Guide to Astrology's Most Precarious Time of Year! 

When the planet Mercury shifts orbit, we experience a few weeks of missed connections and communication breakdowns. Your package never arrives. You sign a contract that turns into a disaster. You may feel it's bad luck. It's Mercury Retrograde and it's happening to everyone, all at the same time. This is a practical workbook with a calendar to make it simple to look up the times when Mercury is retrograde and plan ahead, and a survival guide with techniques to help you sail through these periods. It explains how Mercury Retrograde is a gift to make your life more fulfilling. The golden secret of Mercury Retrograde is a time to review, revisit, re-examine, rethink and reboot.

Now you'll be prepared when mercury retrograde comes at you like... 

Til next time,

Peace and light

The Afro Librarian.

Your College Library... It's kinda like heaven. Here's why.

The end of August is upon us. It’s the time when the sad truth haunts us in our sleep, gets blasted on the radio and is the fodder of commercials on tv. Summer is over and it’s now time to get back to school. In honor of this vainglorious season, I’d like to give you some tips on what resources you can find at your university/college library.

1. Text Books
   
   

Textbooks. Anyone who attends college knows the soul violation that is known as "buying books". A class textbook can run anywhere from $25 to $300. This does not include additional workbooks or supplementary readings that may run hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, the college library is a place that can give a little relief. Many libraries have a reserve section of textbooks just for students. Although you can't use the book for the entire semester, you can borrow the book for a short amount of time to read chapters, take notes, or do homework. The best way to take advantage of this service is to use your phone to take pictures of the pages, or scan the chapters you need and save them to a jump drive until you can get your own book.

SPECIAL NOTE: Please. Although it may seem like a good idea at the time, don't steal the library copy, or cut/remove chapters out of the book. Think about it, there are at least 25 other people in your class who need the book like you do. If the library has a copy, everyone wins. If the copy is stolen, one person has a temporary solution, but everyone after you (sometimes for years after you) suffers. Once the book is gone, most of the time, there's no money to replace it.

2. Computers and Printers and Scanners
   Most college students are sent on the road to higher learning with the essentials, new sheets, fluffy pillows, a microwave and a laptop. But they forget the REAL essentials... a scanner and a printer. Luckily the college library knows this. Most colleges provide several printers for those last minute print jobs. You may even have money allotted just for printing, which usually is accessed by using your student ID. Your campus library also provides hand held scanners or stand alone scanners, (the new version of a copy machine). The great thing about a scanner is that it allows you to copy material and save it to a jump drive, giving you access to your books, assignments and notes from any computer! Yay!!!! *This is a good time to mention, your student ID is a gold mine! Many business will give you a discount if you have a student ID, you can usually buy food on campus, get supplies from the bookstore and other useful things with your student ID. You might even get discount at city attractions such as museums and other exhibits! (Cool!)

3. Reference Librarian
   

   
   

   
   
   The hardest part about college is writing papers. Period. Everyone hates writing papers? Why? Because of the dreaded CITATIONS. (Booooo and hiss) Yup. APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago/Turabian style are all ways to make students feel inadequate and just plain dumb. But there's good news! Your college library has a reference librarian whose magical powers include in-text citations, work cited pages and bibliographies! She (or he) can show you websites, books and tutorials to make you a master of your writing destiny! And it's all free!
   
   
   
4. Books, books, books and more! Well... duh! LOL But really. People forget the college library has books of all genres, not just the ones related to school. Your college library can be a source for relaxation too. Most college libraries offer a variety of classic and new release movies and music for when you need a break from studying. These rentals are generally included in your library privileges and can be rented using your student ID. The library is also a good place to find the newest popular fiction, magazines and even comic books.
5. Study Rooms
   Your college library usually will have late hours and special rooms so you and your classmates can work on projects, study for tests... or do like I used to do... waste hours laughing at each other. Study rooms will be your best friend during exams. Trust me on this one.
6. Coffee…
   It may seem like a small thing, but 95% of college students would fail if it weren’t for coffee. Ok. I made that up… but I bet it’s true. Many libraries have opted for the learning commons model, which combines a computer lab, a coffee shop and a study area all in one. Students are given a more relaxed environment to meet with friends, grab a snack,  complete an assignment or relax in between classes.
   

8. Virtual help
   Today’s college library has joined the digital age. The library’s website allows you to conduct research, reserve books, watch tutorials and contact a librarian all from the comfort of your home, work or phone. Many libraries have “text a librarian”, a feature that allows you to ask a question by sending a text. Many libraries have a YouTube channel which is home to tours of the library, tutorials on all kinds of things from how to check out a book to how to site your paper using MLA. The library also allows free access to databases and Inter-library loans. This allows students access to information and resources from all over the U.S. And if your library doesn’t have what you need, they can order it for you from another university.
   

Your college library is an invaluable resource. The better you know your library the more you’ll get from your college academic experience.

Til next time,

Peace and light

The Afro Librarian.

The Afro Librarian Goes On Vacation!!!

Hey good people! I know it's been a while, but don't worry, I'm baaaaaack! My good good friend Elaine, allowed me to tag along with her and her family on a wonderful cruise excursion. It was the bee's kneesiest trip I've ever taken! Let me pause *pause* and take a moment to thank you personally Elaine for allowing me to celebrate my graduation sailing the seven seas! (or as rude people keep pointing out, "the Gulf of Mexico").

Last week, I sailed Carnival Cruise to Mexico where I visited Cozumel and Progreso. The cruise was filled with families gathering for celebrations and fanfair, couples and social groups of all sorts. I on the other hand was pretty much a loaner, which gave me a lot of time to reflect. There's something about being surrounded by water with only a man made contraption between you and death to make you stop and think... 

I began to see this trip as a spiritual journey, connecting me to my ancestors in a way I never imagined before. As an African American, it is probable that my ancestors at some point were surrounded by water also. As I sat on the deck, writing in my journal, I was mesmerized by the sheer beauty and power of the ocean. At the same time, my heart was heavy because I imagined the stress, grief and terror my ancestors endured on their journey from the African coast to the Americas. I said a prayer for the unrested spirits of millions of enslaved Africans that endured the middle passage, and gave thanks that I was able to appreciate the vast beauty of the Ocean.

Don't get me wrong. I didn't spend the entire trip in deep meditation. Nope. I AM the Afro Librarian, and being such, I had to have a unique librarian experience. Leave it to me to run into not one, but TWO infamous literary characters while galavanting around the ship.

Yes. You see it! That's the cat in the hat. (Try to contain your jealousy!) Turns out, there was a whole group of them, as that was the the theme of the night! Who knew???

I guess it's only right for me to sing Carnival Cruises' praises, in case any of you are on the line for trying a cruise. I say... do it. Do it!!!! The best part of the cruise for me were the excursions. When the ship landed in Cozemel, I opted for a getaway that had a purpose other than getting drunk and laying on the beach (although... that was done too. *Wink wink*)

Carnival had the social awareness to provide a tour of Cozumel city that went off the beaten path. The anthropologist in me was SOOOOOO geeked. LOL. We visited a church, an orphanage and part of our fees went as a donation to help the Cuidad de Angeles (City of Angels). Of course I found myself in the library... This is the library built for the children at Cuidad de Angeles.

This place was the real deal! So much good work going on there! (Check them out and send em a donation!)

Ciudad de Angeles

The next stop was Progreso. This place reminded me so much of Dakar, Senegal, it was scary. The architecture, the landscape, the weather...even the style of dress. I had to shake my head a couple of times looking at faces that looked like they could be my relatives. But nope... they were Mexican. (Yes, there are Black Mexicans. I saw them with my own two eyes!) 

I was blessed to visit the Mayan ruins... Anyone who knows anything about anthropology, knows you can't pass archaeology without knowing the Mayan ruins. So I HAD to go... 

I feel like I checked of yet another thing off my bucket list. Yay!!!!! 

I left the Triumph (the name of my ship) feeling blessed and refreshed. I can't wait to do this again. If you think you want to take a cruise, but aren't sure... Do it. It's like having 7 vacations in one. Unlimited food, inexpensive drinks, beaches, sunshine, music, movies and even a sauna and steam room. You can't beat it. Just stay away from the "night club"... Unless you are 18-23. LOL They took over! 

Anywho.... Until next time! 

Peace and Light, 

The Afro Librarian