The 13 year old Poet

Poems by Remy Martin

Editors Note; In collaboration with the Arnette Watson Apartments in the Tenderloins of San Francisco,A.W.A and Debug's hold weekly youth media workshops and discover the greatest 13 year old poet Remy Martin as he shares a couple of poems he's written.


As my wings spread out
and my halo grows

My clothes become
white and gold

I fly past the clouds
and the baby blue sky

through the golden gate
up the stairs of life

I go to my cloud with
the silver lining

I lay my head down
as I start to sleep

I close my eyes and
begin to dream





Why hate? Why discriminate?
Why would you hurt someone
who loves?
Why is racism so commonly used?
Why do we disrespected the the respected?
If I could get any kind of answer I would be so surprised
I bet I am living a lie, I bet there is no hope for peace.
People dont think they just corrupt.
The world will come to an end some day
and when it does then maybe people will think you never now the cycle my be able to be broken. The end might be able to knock some sense into people
why you dont accept me why do you not accept me for who i am
Why talk behind me when I cant hear?
why try to change me when Im fine how i am?
I dont understand why I cant be myself and why people cant understand me.
I wish I could be listened to
I wish that maybe for once
I can be myself and not wear a mask to cover the truth.
personally I really am but that day will probably never come.


Who am I
can you tell me
because obviously
I dont know who I am
They try to tell me Im gay
they tell me im fat,
stupid,
a faggot,
retarded
But i know they're wrong
because I realize who i am
I am me
so you just got to let it be
because thats how its going to be
So let me be.

When Did My Immigrant Rights March Become a Race to Control?

When Did My Immigrant Rights March Become a Race to Control?
story by La Marchadora





How do you measure the success of a march? Is it by the number of
people who come out? Is it by the number of media outlets that cover
it? Or the number of organizations you can list in support? I say that
gives you some kind of measuring stick, but the way you make people
feel says a lot more about your success than the 30 second mention on
the news. All I felt this year was that this march didn’t wait for
me, and I don’t think I was alone in the sense that as participants we
didn’t get fully taken into account.

May 1st in San Jose has become a day of taking the streets, where
during a three mile walk, we hold our heads high standing for
something greater than ourselves, and leading a movement that has
gained international notice. Our efforts have forced people to feel
their humanity by recognizing that these brown faces are human beings
worthy of respect. It has become a day to be heard, to raise our
voice, to raise our fist, and move our bodies in dance as we take the
familiar road from the east side to downtown San Jose.

But this march felt a lot different than previous marches. It felt
like we got gypped.

Far from the natural momentum of the marches in 2006 of folks heading
out together when they were ready, this march didn’t take a cue from
the people in the crowd. It started before many people got to the
corner and took off at a pace that seemed like a race to the finish.
And that distinction that something was different was hinted at with
the texts this year that had in parenthesis “meet in the target
parking lot,” and especially a sign that got hung up a night before
the march indicating the march started on a certain side of the
street. Since when do we need a sign to tell us where the march
starts, if in 5 years it has always started in the same place?

It is a disconnection that maybe isn’t noticed by all, but evident if
you have been there every year. The folks who have been claiming
leadership of the marches, of the movements finally positioned
themselves at the front. Starting with a program (on the Target side)
of Story and King and heading out at 4:05, only to gather folks with a
final program that didn’t reflect them or give them the customary
chance to take the mic and share what was on their minds. The groups
of people with instruments in the streets and people dancing around
didn’t form. Folks asking to speak on stage had no one to ask, and
could only turn back around.

This wrestling for “leadership” didn’t respect that folks have been
coming out for years, didn’t respect that they come out on and march
because their hearts and souls are in this cause and not because their
body guarantees that there will be big numbers. Our marches shouldn’t
loose their touch because labor can’t swallow its pride and get over
Mi Pueblo not getting unionized. If we all envision the same end of
just and humane immigration reform, why waste energy in drawing more
lines? In San Jose, we know the faces of the few folks on the ground
doing the work to spread the message of immigration reform and this
march ignored the contributions of the folks who marched by their
side, to finally be able to claim that they made May 1st happen.
However, as we learned in 2006 – this movement isn’t orchestrated by
paid organizers, it is moved by those under attack, who see it as a
necessity, not just another success to claim.

Question of the day?

What's your prediction in the primary election?

Question of the Day

What's your take on Obama? It's Obama the real deal?Whats your take young playa?

Barack Obama is the New OJ

Barack Obama is the New OJ
Story by Shamako Noble

Barack Obama is the new OJ on a much higher scale and for much higher stakes.

This whole campaign reminds me of the OJ Simpson trial. When OJ went free, Black America celebrated, even though we didn't win anything or gain any ground for our people. We just rooted for OJ because of our Blackness. All throughout the day there were news clips of Black people celebrating their victory.

I don't want a Republican President. The last eight years under George Bush have been some of the most horrendous in American history. From 9-11, to Katrina to No Child Left Behind, we have made extreme strides backwards as a country under the leadership of this administration.

But I just don't believe that the running theme of any of their campaigns -- all of them being centered around change -- is possible simply with the elections of any of them.

A friend of mind referred to the relationship of the people to the Democratic Party to be like a co-dependent or abusive relationship. Bill Clinton was the president who signed the Telecommunications Act into Law essentially privatizing media. He also instituted the destructive welfare bill. In 2006, America sounded out a voice for change with Congress, electing an overwhelming majority of Democrats to the house with the intention of putting an end to the War in Iraq.

Results: nothing. Our troops remain in Iraq with this years presidential candidates being given an opportunity to use this as another part of their platform, while simultaneously being guilty of helping solve the problem.

I've heard a lot of people state that their blackness when saying they support Obama, or the desire to have something to point to when their sons and daughters ask them what a Black Man or Woman in America can be. While the blackness in me agrees, I can't help but feel like we're setting ourselves up for the fall. Especially considering that the part of Obama that is Black (His Kenyan side) is so eerily quiet right now about what's happening in his own country (pick one).

Emcee and Hip Hop Journalist Julie C recently reported on the 300 plus Kenya's killed and 75,000 displaced as a result of protest in Kenya in the “Fresh Coast Report”. The foundation for this discussion was in part laid by Hip Hop journalist Davey D, who reported in last years World Social Forum that two Kenyan youth were involved in organizing a protest were reportedly killed by the police. A response to the report written by a young man who has recently traveled there outlined his feelings on this occurrence in relation to the candidacy of Barack Obama: “ And thus far, I have NOT found or heard any statement on the state of Kenya post-elections.”

I realize that he's running for president, and the theory goes that if you're running for an office you can't tell the people who you really are or what you're really planning because anything too “radical” could lose you the critical centrist vote. But this, as a news story is fairly safe, and might not even have been that big of a deal if not for the duel reality of use of it on his platform and the immigration issue that has become a very oddly placed discussion among both Democrats and Republicans.

I know that having a Black President doesn't end racism, but I almost feel as though Black people in this country are starting to approach this as though it does. Only months ago over 60,000 folks rallied in Jena, LA in response to the institutional racism that played out on the schoolyard and then in the courtroom. It almost seemed like there was some sort of sweltering of heat and anxiety, a hunger for a sense of justice and righteousness that hadn't been seen from the Black Community in years.

Now Obama wins the primary, and the great hope begins. But neither of these two things can possibly signal a true end in sight for racism or the struggle of the poor in this country or in countries abroad, because neither item represents the entire reality of the situation. The irony here, in terms of Hip Hop is that the very same international confusion produced by rappers like P. Diddy and 50 Cent who often give the world the impression that Black people in America are doing fine, will be in place here as Barack Obama's presidential victory could signal to the world that America has truly grown beyond it's racist and classist roots. Especially in Africa, where, as the poster on Daveyd.com pointed out, citizens of Obama's homeland are already feeling the pride. So while Obama could win on a platform of change, the euphoria and complacency that results would generate the exact opposite with many of us being under the impression change had already occurred.

Of course, if he wins, Black America, and perhaps those of African decent all over the world will celebrate, rejoice, clap and sing the songs of victory and change. We will tell our sons and daughters that they to can be President of the United States. We won't know yet whether or not any real change is to come, or if in some ways we've set ourselves back. We won't know yet if Barack was just holding back to get into office, or that was in fact just who he is. But it won't really matter.

We'll feel too good being Black. Just like we did with OJ.

Abe Menor Photo Show :)

Abe Menor is one of the most talented photographers out of San Jo. This Saturday Abe is going to be displaying his work at the store gallery Black & Brown located at 1225 W. San Carlos st. SJ Ca. 95126. His show is famous for the feel and the pure essence of the street that he brings in his pictures. Ok well we see you at B&B this Saturday folks.

-De Bug

Yo What up Folks De-Bug is in the building so yeah show some love and lets us know whats in your mind.


Submissions:

To submit content
stories, poetry, art, commentary
Just email De-Bug at svdebug@newamericamedia.org

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701 Lenzen Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 971-4965
E-mail: svdebug@newamericamedia.org

About Us:

Silicon Valley De-Bug is a collective of writers, artists, organizers, and workers based in San Jose, California. We are a project of Pacific News Service, a national news service located in San Francisco. De-Bug started in the Spring of 2000 by reporting on the hidden experiences of working people who were employed as low-wage temporary workers. As we grew as a collective we began exploring all of the issues of our community - in the workplace, schools, streets, relationships, and everything else.

De-Bug is about allowing everybody to tell the stories of their lives, and their opinions on the world, both near and far. We operate by the principle that experience is the ultimate authority. In this way, we are creating a platform for otherwise unheard stories to be communicated to eachother and the world around us.
Organizational Structure and Projects:

De-Bug as an organization grows with the interests of our folks. Following the lead of the young adults in the organization we have developed a wide-ranging set of projects that all express the De-Bug principles of community building in different ways. For more information about any of the projects call or e-mail us. (408) 453-2517/ svdebug@newamericamedia.org

De-Bug Magazine:

The longest standing project, De-Bug magazine is a bi-lingual publication that is published every two months. To order a copy of the magazine, e-mail us at svdebug@pacificnews.org . To get involved: Open meetings to exchange story ideas are on Tuesday's 5:30pm-7pm at the De-Bug office.

Open-World.TV:

Lead by Executive Director, Edward Nieto, Open-World is a weekly television show that airs every Thursday evening at 11:30pm on Channel 15 in San Jose, Campbell, Morgan Hill, and San Martin. The show features comedy acts, local events, talent, and community issues. To get involved: Production meetings are held at the De-Bug office on Wednesday's at 7:30pm.

Block 2 Block Radio:

Block 2 Block is a radio show that airs on 91.5fm every first and fourth Friday from midnight to 3am. The show features live discussions on culture and politics. It also airs local music. To get involved: Production meetings are held at the De-Bug office on Wednesday's at 7:30 pm.

Fresno Youth Media Project:

Silicon Valley De-Bug has launched a sister media project in the Central Valley. We are working with 20 high school age youth from Central and West Fresno, helping them create their own magazine. Selected writings are also published on the De-Bug website.

Community Campaigns:
Silicon Valley De-Bug initiates community campaigns for social justice in our communities. We have organized hundreds of community members against police brutality, unfair terminations at the workplace, and discrimination of immigrants.

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De-Bug conducts regular writing, art and discussion sessions for high schools and community organizations. We can create a series or individual sessions based on the interests of the youth. We have done programs in which we work with the youth over a 3 month period, a week, or down to one two hour session. At the end of our sessions, the youth will have produced writings and art that may be published or placed online. To have De-Bug come out to your organization, just call or e-mail us.

Photo Circle:

Photo Circle is a gathering of photographers, and those interested in photography, who show their work, and discuss the craft. They produce regular photo essays on numerous issues and topics, and also have created a photo zine series called "The Roll."