Read your King, they tell me!

mallyroyal

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Tuesday May 09, 2017 · 10:24 AM PDT

2017/05/09 · 10:24

(excerpt from)

"Letter From Birmingham Jail"

hey, yeah… that dude could write. I subbed “progressive” for “moderate” in my head, but that’s just me.

good call, folks! never heard of this guy before a monster comments thread yesterday.

I was new here, once.

mallyroyal

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Thursday January 14, 2016 · 10:14 AM PST

2016/01/14 · 10:14

Kamal aka mallyroyal, as a new kossack. Those are Obama shirts behind me.

I remember being a new kossack. I wasn’t new to commenting on messageboards by any stretch of the imagination, but the sheer size and scope of the site was daunting. I lurked for awhile before diving in. I remember noting happily the names of people I just knew had to be black, like bruh1 and icebergslim.

I remember being corrected early on by kos himself that this is a Democratic site as opposed to a progressive one. I remember my lady telling me excitedly that there was a BLACK kos. I remember being happier than I’d been since my mom died when I came across it, and joined in.

one thing I DON’T remember is being asked to prove myself as a black Philadelphian Gen X male. not with pictures or anything else. I’m sure there were people who disbelieved my commentary about myself but thankfully they kept it to themselves. I say thankfully because all it would have done was gotten them cursed out. I owe nobody here ANYTHING. nobody here owes me ANYTHING. that would have been said, and not nicely.

RainbowGirl obliquely targeted ME with her bullshit about Axelrod plants. she first made the suggestion to someone that I was in a rox/sux argument with before she fleshed it out in a diary. I knew she was a fraud, and thought she was leaving deliberate clues that she was (“Keyser Soze?” forreal??) I’m sure that makes some think that I’d be OK with the “prove who you are” tactic I’ve seen recently. I’M NOT. I’m actually disappointed with everyone who went there. yes, I remember APA Guy, yes I remember The Nephew. I’m still disappointed in some of you.

I’m public because I want to be. not because it’ll change my veracity, or prove any point. I like who I am, there’s no reason for me to be afraid of showing who I am to people online. simple and plain. if you feel like me and do the same thing, fine. if not… FINE!

don’t be that person demanding pics or making snarky comments like a person isn’t who he or she says she is. it only makes you look petty, and the frauds always come out in the wash.

Explain it to me like I'm a 3 year old.

mallyroyal

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Tuesday June 09, 2015 · 12:52 PM PDT

2015/06/09 · 12:52

Explain to me how class issues, and income inequality, and NSA spying, and Too Big To Fail banks...

mallyroyal

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Thursday November 13, 2014 · 7:06 AM PST

2014/11/13 · 07:06

Because people "speak their mind."

that's actually a POV of some kossacks, old and new. they actually think the (VERY FEW) black people on this site, and those people who sympathize with us... ARE LYING ABOUT RACISM.

EVERY SINGLE TIME one of us gets up the courage to actually call out something we think isn't right along those lines, we're met with derision, anger (nay, RAGE), disbelief. we're out and out called liars. we're asked to provide links. when we provide links, we're told we misunderstood what we were seeing.

even worse, when we're VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT ACCUSING SOMEONE OUTRIGHT OF RACISM we get

in reply. IT NEVER FAILS.

so I ask you kossacks: do you believe that's true? that I, and others like me, get our JOLLIES by accusing people of racism/racial insensitivity/bad phrasing/historical ignorance? you think we think it's fun to do, considering we KNOW we'll get HRed and joked about in long threads to the right margin?

you think this is a joke? that we think it's cute and funny?

speaking for myself... it PAINS me when I see people who are supposed to be on my side laughing about racism, chuckling that they might be accused, or making questionable comments on race. that shit hurts. every time. which is why I'm never diplomatic when I talk about it. by the time I'm talking about it, I'm OVER THE MOON pissed.

I've tried to save my blood pressure at times by laughing to keep from crying. that fucking backfired like an old truck, 'cause now there's a coterie of kossacks who will NEVER LET ME FORGET DOING SO, and think that means I deliberately game the site. I've tried disabusing them of this notion, to no avail.

I've lost "friends" over this on here. which hurt like hell. I'm constantly told what a terrible person I am because of this, but I can take that. what really pisses me off nowadays is there are some kossacks that were banned more than a year ago for (IMO) speaking forcefully to this topic while not controlling their tempers. the people who think we're all lying about racism ARE STILL FUCKING LAUGHING ABOUT THAT.

something's gotta fucking give, folks. I'm not going anywhere, so this ain't no GBCW or TTFN, but this can't keep going on like it is. I'm seeing people I argued with about this in like '10 still thinking the same old shit.

to paraphrase a recent diary, that makes me sick. I'm not adding "pie" to the poll cause THIS SHIT AIN'T FUNNY.

Poll

1070 votes Show Results

Do you think black kossacks lie about racism to game the site?

1070 votes Vote Now!

Do you think black kossacks lie about racism to game the site?

Yes

201 votes

868 votes

My Father's Eulogy For His Friend Amiri Baraka

mallyroyal

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Tuesday January 14, 2014 · 9:57 AM PST

2014/01/14 · 09:57

My pop, Everett Hoagland, the former poet laureate of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was a good friend of the recently departed Poet and Activist Amiri Baraka. I asked my dad the other day: "How is Baraka's passing affecting you?" His answer follows, over the fold.

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Tuesday October 08, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/10/08 · 07:30

Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.

Happy NEW DAY, folks, hope it goes great for you!

So... yeah, I smoke pot. A lot of it, lol. I feel very comfortable saying that amongst the Newdies, and I actually have never been ashamed of this fact. I used to wear pro-weed tee shirts in my late teens and early 20s. Blasted Cypress Hill songs outta my first car, the whole nine.

My first time smoking was my freshman year of college at the age of 17. A guy I'd known since grade school had a bunch, and a group of folks I'd gotten friendly with 'cause we were all in the Honors Program, all went to smoke one night behind the track bleachers. I was already a cigarette smoker, so I knew how to inhale. I didn't really have a personal negative attitude towards weed, 'cause I'd grown up with reggae music, and a lot of my mom's friends smoked openly (though she didn't partake, she said she was goofy enough sober, hahaha.) Plus, none of these guys and gals fit the "dirty lazy slacker" stereotype, so I wasn't worried about a loss of focus or whatever. I took a BIG puff.

The next thing I knew, I could see clearly in the dark. I swear to you all, things literally and immediately got brighter. We ambled back to my townhouse dorm room, in what seemed to me to be an unintentional parody of The Cosby Kids from the Fat Albert cartoon.

I remember little else from that night besides us basically clearing out the fridge and zoning out to "Take Two and Pass" by Gangstarr:

I could not BELIEVE that there was a current song about exactly what we were doing, lmao. Months later, Cypress Hill dropped their first album and things would never be the same for me:

Yeah that was me in college, right there, lol. I was like a skinny sen dog for real.

I will spare you all the angel dust stories (shuddering) and I had a real bad experience with X. I would NOT recommend either. Pot though? Everyone should at least eat some, IMO, lol.

How About You?

(your story doesn't have to be illegal lol, obviously)

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Tuesday October 01, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/10/01 · 07:30

Happy NEW DAY folks, hope it's a great one!

What Are You Drinking?

One of the many "man life" lessons I learned from my grandfather was that a man has a "drink." Meaning something alcoholic that's a "go to" beverage. Something one orders without thinking hard about it, but shows some manner of originality. He was old school, so in his words "there better not be any damn fruit juice in it either." Lmao. His drink was scotch and soda.

Mine's Appleton Estate rum and Coke. If they don't have Estate, Special will do. If neither are available, I'll do Myers. If THAT'S not available... well, yeah I guess I can do Bacardi:

Lol.

I drink beer, (Heineken, if I have a choice, but anything will do) wine (I prefer reds to whites) and other liquors (vodka especially.) But that old rum & Coke is my "go to." The brand comes from my mom, who kept a bottle in the house and enjoyed a Bahama Mama every once in awhile. I found I liked the taste of the rum straight (don't ask how old I was when I realized this, lol) and figured mixing it with coke would be great. I was right, heh heh.

In the non-alcoholic realm... I'm hopelessly addicted to Pepsi. That's a whooooole 'nother diary.

So, Whats Your Drink? Alcoholic or non, of course.

Hat tip to the deliciously named Kossack who inspired this diary. :)

Poll

31 votes Show Results

I drink...

31 votes Vote Now!

I drink...

liquor

1 vote

wine

10 votes

beer

2 votes

wayyyy too much

3 votes

only non-alcoholic beverages

6 votes

all of the above

8 votes

rum raisin pie in a blender

1 vote

* New Day * — Are You Urban, Suburban, Rural or Island?

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Tuesday September 24, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/09/24 · 07:30

I've described myself demographically on here many times: African American, urban, educated, Gen X, male. I put those in order of importance in my mind and you'll notice that "urban" comes second only to my race.

I think being from a "big city" in general, (pausing here to patiently endure the giggling from New Yorkers and Chicagoans) and Philadelphia in particular, has shaped many things about my personality. Firstly, being a toddler and post-toddler living in downtown (Center City, we call it) Philadelphia allowed me to COMPLETELY identify with the denizens of Sesame Street, lol. Close-set buildings and concrete everywhere. Felt like home. Secondly, it's allowed me to experience different types of people as we moved to different parts of the city, ranging from lower middle class to upper class. This also allowed me to experience almost suburban areas without leaving the city limits. Philly is great that way compared to most cities I've visited with the exception of Portland, OR.

I've lived in a rural area before, during my college life. That was the damn sticks, as anyone familiar with UMES (formerly Maryland State) will attest. That wasn't for me, and I think I'd have had a more comfortable experience going to college in a city during that time.

I've also experienced small town life because my dad has lived in one for my entire life. He calls it a "small city" which I guess is technically correct but I've walked from one end to the other without getting tired. That's "small town" in my book, lol! Anyway, I can go months living there before I go stir crazy, but it does happen. I wind up hitting one of the nearest cities to regroup.

I've never lived on an island. But the time I've spent on one, even one I love (Martha's VIneyard, MA) tells me I'd go just as stir crazy as I do in small towns. Probably squared since it's harder to leave, ha!

I'm a city kid. Always was, always will be.

How About You?

mallyroyal

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Monday September 23, 2013 · 8:27 AM PDT

2013/09/23 · 08:27

manoman. so I was reading the site on my phone this weekend. I saw the dustup. I see both sides, and am not sure on which I come down. fair warning: if you don't wanna see n-bombs dropped, stop reading now... 'cause for the purposes of this diary I'll step outside myself and talk like I'm not in mixed company.

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Tuesday September 17, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/09/17 · 07:30

Happy NEW DAY folks! Lets make it a great one!

What's The Best Deal You Ever Made?

The current site disagreement (Y'all know what it is, lol, don't make me spell it out.) got me to thinking: What was the best "deal" I ever made? What exchange of goods, services, or knowledge for monetary or other form of compensation am I most proud of?

I have to say it would be the first haggle/deal/exchange I ever made. This story takes place in (voice drops to whisper) ...Africa! Dakar, Senegal to be precise. My mom was the editor of Grio' "The Praise Singer", a scholastic magazine that focused on biographies of unsung (and some sung, lol) black folks of all walks of life. This magazine sponsored a contest, and the winners won an 11 day trip to West Africa, which included visits to Senegal, The Gambia, and Goree Island. She took me along out of her own pocket, and so I went. While I was packing, she told me to bring my old jeans that I didn't want anymore, because they'd be valuable on the trip. I shrugged and packed a couple, figuring she was overstating that.

Our second day in Dakar, we left the city and traveled to a huge outdoor marketplace. I almost forgot to bring the jeans, but mom made sure I did. I paused in front of a stand that sold carved masks and various carved animals. I saw an elephant carved of wood with white tusks inserted into holes. This looked suspiciously like actual ivory to my untrained eyes, which wasn't a good thing (I was very concerned about poachers at that time in my life) but I really liked it. I asked the six foot proprietor how much. He pointed to the jeans, much too small for even skinny young mally, that I had in my hand. I raised my eyebrows and said "even trade?" He grinned and nodded. We traded, both seemingly feeling as though we got the best of the deal. I ran to my mom and told her what I'd done. She was proud. "You're a higgler!" she proclaimed.

The next day we returned to the marketplace... and the guy was WEARING the jeans. I dunno how he got in 'em, LMAO! We exchanged thumbs up signs and smiled.

I still have the elephant. Yes, the tusks are real ivory. I thought I had a pic of it on my comp, but I don't. I'll take one for future reference.

How About You? What Was The Best Deal You Ever Made? Photobucket

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Tuesday September 10, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/09/10 · 07:30

Have You Ever Seen A Mental Health Professional?

Last week in "The Adventures of Young Mally" we discussed my chronic truancy. Specifically my avoiding the 4th grade for a solid month. This event lead to my mom and grandparents sending me to a child psychologist. It's axiomatic that Black folks don't do therapy but that doesn't apply to my family. Actually, we have a noted psychologist in the family. My cousin and young mally's babysitter: Dr. Robin Smith of Oprah fame. Anyway, I remember that time fondly.

See, my family thought, not unreasonably, that what I'd done was not normal. They were very worried about me and my ability to conform to societal pressures. The guy they sent me to was highly recommended. I can't remember his name, but I can picture him clearly, a kind-faced-middle-aged white guy with a glorious head of salt-and-pepper hair and an affable attitude.

I remember the six sessions being very laid back and conversational. I remember VIVIDLY trying to suppress a grin as, during the final session which my mom and maternal grandfather attended, he told them that I was both normal psychologically and one of the smartest people he'd ever met. I hadn't gotten feedback like that since my violin teacher told my mom I was a prodigy when I was like 5. That stuff goes to the head, lemme tell ya', lol.

That was the only time I ever saw a mental health professional, although I probably should see someone currently. I got ISSUES folks!

How About You?

I understand if anyone doesn't feel like talking about that. Join in anyway, on the topic of your choice!

Happy * New Day * folks, lets make it a great one! Photobucket

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Thursday September 05, 2013 · 7:30 AM PDT

2013/09/05 · 07:30

Happy * New Day * folks, hope it's a great one!

It's back-to-school time, which has me musing. I always hated school. I mean I despised having my day taken up with rote memorization and recitation from day ONE of nursery school. I bristled at the confinement. My mind wandered. I acted out from boredom. I refused to do homework, because, the vast majority of the time, I already knew the work.

I began plotting at a young age how I could avoid this torture. By the time I was a fourth grade latchkey kid I realized I could just... not go! BRILLIANT in its simplicity, non? Who was gonna know? My mom left at like 7AM and didn't get home till like 6PM. My aunt and uncle down the street didn't expect me until 3:15 in the afternoon. That's HOURS OF FUN!

I implemented my plan at the beginning of second semester, after New Years. I just... didn't go back to school after the break. I watched stuff like 3-2-1 Contact in the early morning (brain food, doncha' know) and set out on my bike every day around 11AM, trying to get lost and find my way back home. It was a glorious month. Yes you read that right. Young fourth-grader Mally didn't go to school for a month straight!

I finally got caught when I missed a note that a truant officer left in our front door and my mom saw it. She was livid, but not too surprised, as she knew her son reasonably well and knew how much I hated school. The next morning she made me a BIG breakfast, sat there as I ate it all (Wait... have I told you folks that when I'm nervous I can't eat a thing without puking? Yeah, well she knew that too.) and drove me to school. I'll never forget the looks on my teacher's and classmates' faces!

Have You Ever Played Hooky?

Next story: Mally's trip to the child psychologist, lmao.

Poll

36 votes Show Results

Did you ever hookeyed in

36 votes Vote Now!

Did you ever hookeyed in

grade school

1 vote

middle school

3 votes

high school

20 votes

college

3 votes

grad school

0 votes

all of the above

9 votes

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Read your King, they tell me!

I was new here, once.

Explain it to me like I'm a 3 year old.

Black People Lie About Racism. (a rant)

My Father's Eulogy For His Friend Amiri Baraka

* New Day * — A Pothead's Confession: Have You Ever Done Illicit Drugs?

* New Day * — What Do You Drink? ATTN: Minneapolis Kossacks

* New Day * — Are You Urban, Suburban, Rural or Island?

...but I say it ALL THE TIME!

* New Day * — What's The Best Deal You Ever Made?

* New Day * — Have You Ever Seen A Mental Health Professional?

* New Day * — A Truant's Confession: Did You Ever Play Hooky?