My mother died of AIDS – She deserves more than stigma

Today is World AIDS Day. On March 11^th of this year, my mother died of AIDS-related encephalopathy. My mother was an activist, a southern belle trapped in the north, a grandmother, and a recovering addict. In her life she survived multiple rapes and attacks on her humanity. She overcame drug addiction and homelessness. She turned her “tragedy to triumph” (yes Kanye) when she became a national advocate for ending homelessness in the HIV/AIDS community. She served on the first five years of the historic Massachusetts Ryan White Planning Council.  She lived with HIV for 16 years.

I write this because even at the time of her passing some of my closest friends did not know what she was dying from. In my heart I knew I was not ashamed of her status, so why was I being evasive?

Save #InvestInBoston

So your boy Mumbles pulled some corny stuff and vetoed Invest In Boston which passed in the city council unanimously. Please see action steps below and take them. This is Councillor Felix G. Arroyo's signature piece of legislation, we owe him this. Let's make sure it doesn't get lost in the power games of a rapidly shifting political landscape. ("thanks for feeling me on this y'all")

Another Summer (Annalisse) 4/26/07

We made it through Winter
We made it through Fall
Made it through the Spring
Hard times and all
But it feels good to see Another Summer

This morning I saw leaves on the trees
It felt like rebirth
Winters have become so cold here,
It sometimes feels like the frost will never break
The cold sets deep into the bones
The sun rarely shines
And then….in a cosmic plan
That you nor I could ever understand

What Happens When White People Are Finally Othered: @JenthePen vs @RaqiThunda

Last week on Love and Hip Hop NY, after arguing with Raqi Thunda about the dissolution of their radio show that never quite happened, Jen “the Pen” Bayer let her white privilege show.  From the street Raqi, an Algerian-Puerto Rican Muslim, jabs “Good luck getting on!”. To which Jen responds, from her chauffeured car, window half closed, “I’m white, honey. It will get done.” Everyone watching, and I’m sure everyone who worked on the show, had a gut level response to her statement. Raqi read the situation perfectly and responded by calling Jen an “entitled honky”. Live tweeting during the episode @JenthePen posted this in response to people calling her racist:

HERE is where the actual problem lies.

Race, Equity & Impact at Berklee College of Music

As graduating seniors in the Professional Music major we are charged with designing and executing a project that reflects both our studies at Berklee and the careers we will be entering. I came to the Professional Music department one semester shy of a Music Business/Management degree and four years after the birth of my son. The focus of my course work in MB/M was organizational structure, business systems, entrepreneurship, and ethics in leadership. In my life and work outside of Berklee I have been an educator, organizer, and leader in the movement for social and racial justice. Since my days as a City Music student in my teens, I had always desired an intersection of my studies at Berklee and my activism but never found the right outlet. When I met with Kenn Brass to join the department and learned of the structure of the final project I realized this was my opportunity.

Recent writings on the way!!

Last month after finding my blog one of my political connects suggested I write more. At first I was like *side eye* I write all the time. My work is writing (grants, newsletters, development strategies) and since I went back to Berklee in June I had been writing even more, just in a different manner than what I would blog. BUT since some of my academic writing is dope, I'm going to share it. I did want to offer some context though. Enjoy!!