Oct 30, 2014

33 hours left for Rad Dad


In case you've missed it, i work with this magazine and i'm glad to volunteer my time for such a worthy endeavour-becoming better parents, to raise healthier children.

Inktober 14- 80 days, no justice

Thinking about the murder of brother Mike Brown and how the Ferguson Police and city departments have done their best to justify his murder by tarnishing his character. Do black folks need to riot and tear that city hall down? It has been 80 days since this young one was killed and no justice served. Thousands have protested, marched, organized, reported, and documented. Also, thinking about the legacy of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and how at the height of racist practices in the south Black folks had their own schools, hospitals, ambulances, clinics ,etc. With the panthers, they had their own armed defense too.

Dig this? Check out this drawing of EZLN

Inkober 13 -Umbrella for Hong Kong


Why are students in Hong Kong occupying entire highways? And what does their elections there have to do with it?

Oct 27, 2014

Latin@s in Kid Lit Guest Feature- Furqan's First


Today a blog post I wrote a few weeks back was published on the wonderful blog Latin@s in Kid Lit. It's about the social media campaign for my first self-published children's book Furqan's First Flat Top! If you are not familiar with their blog, please check them out. Not only do they invite a cool series of authors, illustrators, and book lovers to do guest posts; but they also make some pretty awesome lists of books for kids. In particular I like their list of Picture Books , The road to publishing series , and Resources for Latin@/ diverse lit

Go follow their blog and share some of what we've all been missing, more diverse books and more of a variety of Latin@ voices in children's literature.

LINK

Oct 23, 2014

Daddy Thoughts 7- Reading chapter books

The goal of reading was affirmed again last night. My son has been reading comics for the past 4 years now, reading everything from Amulet, and the Flight series to Brotherman, Ciudad 1 & 2, and Anya’s Ghost. He’s read every single Star Wars clone wars book there is and has read several other ones from Japan, Canada, and some from other places. Although we’ve found some cool ones like the Hero twins-a Mexican mythological tale about two twins from Mayan folklore its tough to find dope comics in Spanish. There are many comics featuring African American characters whether you’re looking at old classics like the Dictator of Discipline and Static Shock or the newer ones like Ajala by N.Steven Harris and the Black Comix project by John Jennings and Damian Duffy.

But the next room after walking through the doorway of comics for my son is chapter books. He reads them at school, no problem. But he reads those because he has to. It is hard to get him to pick one up and read it on his own. When we first started reading comics he didn’t want to read those on his own either. I started reading them with him. He’d read one page, I’d read another. Or I’d agree to be one or two characters, and he’d read the others. Either way, it was all about doing this together and encouraging him; which has paid off because he’ll read on his own, in the car, at school, or in the bathroom. That last part he gets from me.

But how to get him to pick up a chapter book or Young Adult novel on his own? He’s still not ready for some of the heavier titles, which are huge whether they are about young gay or bisexual teens or Harry Potter (I will introduce those as well). But we’ve started reading some chapter books together which he is starting to enjoy. One series we started to read recently is an old one entitled “Ghost Hunters” by author Cornelia Funke and illustrator Guy Francis. Last night while reading the second installment of what I’ve come to find out is a hug series he laughed at something one of the characters said. I smiled inside and asked if he could “see” the characters expression in his mind. And when he said “Yes”, that is what I had been trying to get him to experience. The joy of imagination. Some of the other books we’ve been reading so far are Alvin Ho (Asian Amer. Character) a series about a little boy who is afraid of everything. He loves the illustrations by LeUyen Pham and has read three of the books in the series by himself. And that folks, makes me very very proud. For me, the sooner he’s able to read for fun, the sooner he’ll be able to decipher the bullshit that is presented to kids and to expand his imagination!
Daddy happy. -Rob

If you're trying to get a young boy or girl to read who is reluctant, I highly recommend the Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi, it is a great door to another world.

Oct 22, 2014

Inktober 12- Anabel Hernandez

Anabel Hernandez is fierce, brave, and a symbol for what journalism should be-truth seeking. But why is this Mexican Journalist receiving death threats from Narco traffickers, Police, and Federal agencies? Hear her explain why in Spanish and English.

Want this Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Oct 20, 2014

Inktober 11- Ramona Africa

Ramona Africa said once 
"Well what happened is, because Move tells the truth and speaks out about the injustices and racism in this system and could not be stopped, could not be bought off, could not be beat into submission the government just basically decided that they needed to exterminate Move. And they used the excuse of an eviction that Move would not leave our home under an eviction as an excuse to come out, and not arrest but kill Move people".

Why is it that Ramona is one of the only surviving members of the move family in Philadelphia? And why were they persecuted by the Philadelphia police department in the first place?

Dig this? Check out Free Mumia, Ava Duvernay

Oct 18, 2014

Jazz and Draw Feature

Some of my Jazz Portraits are featured on this site along side other great artists such as Lance Jackson, Nidhi Chanani, and many others. The pieces featured are of Oliver Nelson, Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, and Pharoah Sanders. Check out the site here:


Oct 17, 2014

Inktober 10- Ken Saro Wiwa

Nigerian activist Ken Saro Wiwa once said 
"To take away the resources of the people, and refuse to give them anything in return is to subject them to slavery. To take away the land from a people who depend solely on land for their survival and refuse to pay them compensation is to subject them to genocide." when referring to the multinational corporation Shell, Chevron,  and the Nigerian government

Want this Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Oct 16, 2014

Inktober 9-Iguala

Who has disappeared 43 students and why?

Update on this case: Collusion between the Mexican Army, Cartels, and local Police. 

Dig this? Check out this Inktober drawing of "Brown Berets"

Oct 14, 2014

Inktober 8- Grace Lee Boggs


Grace Lee Boggs once said in an interview:
"Do something local, do something real however small and don't diss the political things, but understand their limitations. I mean, politics.... There was a time when we believed that if we just achieved political power we would solve all our problems. And I think what we've learned through the experience of the Russian revolution and all these revolutions is that those who try to get power in the state become part of the state. They become locked into the practices. And we have to begin creating new practices."

"I don't see any leaders and i think we need to rethink the concept of leaders. Because leader implies follower. I think we need to appropriate and embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've bee looking for."

check this

Want this Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Oct 11, 2014

Inktober 7-John Trudell

Listen to John Trudell speak on Indian Rights in the US and the occupation of Alcatraz

Want this Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Oct 10, 2014

Inktober 6-Fannie Lou Hamer

Listen to what Ms Fannie Lou Hamer had to say here. For those not hip, Fannie LOU Hamer was one of the most gangster activists and voting rights advocates on the planet who was threatened and beaten just for registering Black folks in the South to vote so they could have equal representatives in the making of laws and policy which governed their lives. She was a G! I drew this for Inktober in 2014.

If you dig this check out: Olive Morris (uk) or some of my other fav inktober drawings

Rad Dad Day 10

Here is an article/interview about the Rad Dad Magazine founder Tomas Moniz explaining how Rad Dad came to be.

Its Rad Dad Day 10, if you have the time or capacity please pass along the campaign link to friends, family, and definitely other parents.



Oct 9, 2014

Inktober 5-Huey Newton

Huey Newton (Co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense) once said:
“When we started patrolling the police many community people could not believe at first that we had only their interest at heart. Nobody had ever given them any support or assistance when the police harassed them, but here we were, proud Black men, armed with guns and a knowledge of the law. Many citizens came right out of jail and into the party, and the statistics of murder and brutality by policemen in our communities fell sharply.”  

Dig this? Check out this post about Ramona Africa
“[When we started patrolling the police] many community people could not believe at first that we had only their interest at heart. Nobody had ever given them any support or assistance when the police harassed them, but here we were, proud Black men, armed with guns and a knowledge of the law. Many citizens came right out of jail and into the party, and the statistics of murder and brutality by policemen in our communities fell sharply.
“[When we started patrolling the police] many community people could not believe at first that we had only their interest at heart. Nobody had ever given them any support or assistance when the police harassed them, but here we were, proud Black men, armed with guns and a knowledge of the law. Many citizens came right out of jail and into the party, and the statistics of murder and brutality by policemen in our communities fell sharply

Oct 8, 2014

Some campaigns worth supporting


The Seshen-An amazing
 Bay Area bread band that infuses electronic, jazz, and soul music
 
Miss Rizos-An Afro-Latino from the DR who is promoting pride and beauty in Black Hair
Counter Pulse-A very awesome space where I've witnessed shows like "Our Daily Bread" and"Ampey"
 
And of course, Rad Dad-a magazine made by radical fathers of every hue

Inktober 4-Don't shoot or shoot back?


A question for contemplation and conversation. Thoughts?