Danielle Scruggs

Drew of Redline Graffiti at Black Cat (by d. scruggs)

BOSCO at Black Cat (by d. scruggs)

Chores:

britticisms:

It shouldn’t be, but you’ll never believe how much loving yourself can be a chore. It is much easier to believe the world. We are taught that the ways of the world are correct. This is the real world, they say. This is just how things are, they say. And yet, the real world is one full of hate, of pain. The real world says that your voice does not matter, that your feelings are not important, that who you are is not good enough. It shouldn’t be, but you’ll never believe how much loving yourself is a chore. But it is a chore you take on, a chore that becomes your everyday and then something you look forward to and then what you do eagerly. The real world may be full of hate and pain, but it is also full of people like you and me who work everyday to prove that we are more than the reality thrust upon us. 

I really needed to read this today.

(via shana--e)

Gregory Harris, D’Angelo for GQ Magazine, June 2012

tobia:

Daniel Kornrumpf
Line of sight (detail)
2012

Hand embroidered on linen. 42 x 36 inches.  

They stop homegirls too

karendurant:

One day I’ll write, in detail, of the numerous times I’ve been stopped by NYPD. Finally trading in my big black Jeep for a sleek BMW to minimize interaction. They stopped me everyday, sometimes twice a day in the Jeep. Only stopped once in the sleek car, by a crazed officer on the GWB… I was on the phone with my mother when he practically jumped on the hood shouting obscenities. Watched as his face distorted, twisted in hate - and for a brief second transported back in time, before my existence mattered. I wondered if he’d shoot me in front of so many witnesses, or if they’d even care. Imagined marches in my name and my grief stricken mother’s heart giving out. As he reached for his belt, my son woke up from back seat slumber, frightening dude…. the officer recoiled as he probably imagined the shame he would bring on his family, should he shoot an unarmed Black woman and her young son. We’ll fast forward to a post 9/11 world… Where intimidation, fear, and overt bigotry rule. Public transport another place to assert power/control. I have been stopped, and made to empty pockets, bags, etc. at least 300 times since 2004. If you live here, you’ve seen the table, about four officers standing there..you may have snickered as brownish folk, buying metro cards were pulled over. It’s no picnic. One day I was stopped four times in two hours. I gave up, gave in, hysterical. Cancelled the rest of my meetings, went home and hugged my kid. I’ve repeated the stories many times to friends, who laugh (especially the men) and tell me “yes you look middle eastern so we understand why you’re stopped,” (yep even minorities practice intolerance) or “maybe the officers think you’re cute and want your number.” Just wanted to remind people… They stop homegirls too. And touch us inappropriately, follow us home cat-calling, make our lives a living hell. We know your pain….believe that.

(via seanpadilla)

BOSCO, Black Cat, 5.13.12

tobia:

Mustafa Maluka
Speaker for the dead
2009

Oil on and acrylic on canvas. 183 x 133 cm. 

»Galerie Bertrand & Gruner.

tobia:

Alek Wek by Gilles Bensimon for Elle US (April 1997).

(Source: petrole)

Trayvon and Tracy Martin.

Family photo.