I started this blog in 2004 to write about things like this photo of my father and James Baldwin in Birmingham, AL in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. In time, however, blogging led to investigative journalism about unpunished lynchings and other violence from the civil rights era. In the summer of [...]
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We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Support for Wisconsin Because Detroit is Burning
If you’re following me on Twitter or Tumblr, you know that I’ve been heavily preoccupied with the situation in Wisconsin. So much is at stake for Wisconsin and the country, and the labor movement legacy runs deep in my veins. But I’d like everyone to take their eyes off Wisconsin for long enough to take [...]
Gregory Isaacs when I was 13
Gregory Isaacs has died. I was first exposed to Gregory Isaacs in 1982 at age 13. The story begins with my cousin, Alan—a story I recounted here several years ago. When I was thirteen, my dad took me to the Film Forum, just outside the West Vilage in NYC. My cousin Alan’s first film was [...]
A Century of Living
Last winter I drove to Providence, RI full of trepidation and sadness. My incredible Aunt Esther, my maternal grandfather’s sister, had pneumonia. I was going to see her to make sure I had the chance to say goodbye. To everyone’s, including her own, surprise, she pulled through. “I saw the pearly gates—and they shut!” she [...]
If I Had My Way
You can’t grow up in in the home of a political radical from the 1950s and 60s without hearing Peter, Paul and Mary. I’m very sad to hear of the death of Mary Travis. She raised the roof for freedom and justice her whole career. If there’s a heavenly place where great spirits celebrate together [...]
Man in the Sand
Sometimes I think I´m gonna lose my mind But it don´t look like I ever do I loved so many people everywhere I went Some too much, others not enough I don´t know, I may go down or up or anywhere But I feel like this scribbling will stay Maybe if I hadn’t seen so [...]
Louis and Danny Tear it Up
This is very funny—and it is an absolutely brilliant bit of musical improvisation from Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye. I think my favorite moment is when Louis says “but don’t forget Fats Waller” to rhyme off of Danny’s Gustav Mahler, and without missing abeat Danny replies “I wouldn’t do that” in what to my ear [...]
5 Years Old
Today The Kid turns 5, and we’re having a party. We have a number of activities planned for the kids that will be occurring at different stations in the space where we’re celebrating. One of the stations will be for music and dancing. When I asked him what music, he quickly replied: Matt Ward, Pete [...]
Happy 80th to My Dad
I was up late getting a few things done and hanging out on twitter when … I was feeling sad that way you do when loss catches you by surprise. Then I figured out what I’d do. The older poems are all in the archives, along with a few others. Now I’m trying to decide [...]
This Was a Revelation
The Beatles were my first musical obsession. When I became a fan of the Beatles in middle school, I collected every recording, poured over every liner note, read biographies, studied the lyrics, listened to the solo projects . . . It was the first time I’d gotten into music like this. I think it was [...]
More on Look Behind
DVD Maniacs has posted a nice review and overview of the new DVD release of my cousin Alan’s fantastic film, Land of Look Behind. Here’s reviewer Ian Miller’s discussion of the film: Alan Greenberg is an interesting character. It would seem that his life is made up of random encounters and friendships with some serious [...]
Up Above My Head
While his Bubbe was here visiting this weekend, my 4 year old took her on a tour through his favorite YouTube videos—Pete Seeger, M. Ward, the Beatles (“the rooftop concert, Daddy…”). Next, I’ll post the favorite from Pete Seeger’s Rainbow Quest (“the one where she sings!”), but first you’ve got to see this one we [...]
Land of Look Behind
When I was thirteen, my dad took me to the Film Forum, just outside the West Vilage in NYC. My cousin Alan’s first film was being shown there, a film called Land of Look Behind, a documentary about Jamaica just after Bob Marley’s death. At the time I did not know Bob Marley’s music and [...]
For Veterans Day
Pete Seeger’s Vietnam era song is no less current today. For a personal tribute to the veteran in my family, see Winter. 1969.
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- St. Petersburg Police Bind Hands And Feet Of 5-Year-Old African-American Girl
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