THOUGHTS ABOUT BLACK WRITER ON TOUR BOOKFAIR

THOUGHTS ABOUT BLACK WRITERS ON TOUR BOOKFAIR, Carson, CA – Saturday 29 April 2017 I first thank Doctor Rosie Milligan, founder and producer of BWOT, creator of the forum for writers, artisans, and commercial venders. This is an annual event; everyone is a consumer of one product or another – BWOT is a marketplace where you may find what you’ve been looking for. I sold a complete set of my trilogy plus a single title; and gave a free copy to a high school student. As important, I had conversations with individuals about the economic, political, and social growth of black people. Racism continues to be a constant challenge; but the growth of black people is unstoppable. www.adolphusward.net

THOUGHTS ABOUT LIFE IN THE MOMENT

THOUGHTS ABOUT LIFE IN THE MOMENT – breathing the now For reasons beyond my full understanding I have never wanted to escape any part of my living, no matter how difficult it seemed in a particular moment. In my use of alcohol and drugs my goal was never to escape life but to enhance the experience of it. Before becoming my own employer I held positions where personnel policies provided for the accumulation of vacation days. Because I never chose to be away from my job for more than a few days, a week at most, I always had unused vacation days at the end of a year; instead of long vacations I took many mini vacations. Now as a working retiree, I’m self employed as a fiction writer and character actor; I work every day and take many mini moments for other interest. For me, all I do is not different things but one thing with different moments – I have learned to live in the moment. www.adolphusward.net

THOUGHTS ABOUT CONGRESSMAN BRAD SHERMAN'S TOWN HALL

THOUGHTS ABOUT CONGRESSMAN SHERMAN’S TOWN HALL – democracy is alive and politically awake here in Reseda, California Saturday 22 April 2017 2 pm to 4 pm was the date and time of this meeting; Reseda High School Auditorium was the venue. The auditorium is said to be one of the largest public venues in the San Fernando Valley. Reseda High School is within walking distance of my apartment, so I arrived about 1:30. A huge crowd had already gathered waiting for the doors to open; once the doors opened the auditorium quickly filled to its capacity. A colors guard marched in bearing our nation and state’s flags; all stood and recited the pledge of allegiance. I couldn’t forget the pledge even if I tried. However, as an atheist I don’t repeat the, “under God” phrase – I go silent for those words. My respect for our flag and love for our country does not come from the lies I was indoctrinated with in grade school but is self-imbued with the toil and sweat of my parents and the black lives and limbs lost in defense of our nation and its ideals: imbued by the thought of those black people still relegated to the butt hole of America and the world. Black people have labored and died too many for too long to give up our earned birthright, the right for reparations, before we have it well in hand. www.adolphusward.net

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT PREVAILING POLITICAL WINDS AND FORECAST

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT PREVAILING POLITICAL WINDS AND FORECAST – forecast, no change The very-rich and those on their way to that island of economic safety, sees government as an enemy – it, government, gets in their way of profit making. What is a little puzzling to me is that large numbers of the not-rich whites and those who have no hopes of ever being, also sees the government as an enemy – it, government, spends too much money on social programs and not enough on jobs and opportunity for them. Race is always a squall in these political winds. Few white people will admit it publicly but bad economic times always find a political balance with government assistance to black people. The supposed balance is a lie – a spin on reality by the very-rich, politician, media, and racists; but the lie still thrives as truth in our racist country. I have searched, in vain, for a comprehensive development plan with strategies for securing black wealth, political economic and social, self-defined, power. Yes, there are institutions, organizations, and community groups with mission statements designed to keep them in a self-sustaining mode – enough money and other support to stay alive for another year or two. Not only is there no such comprehensive plan but there is no organization, no forum, which could bring black institutions, organizations, and community groups together with the expressed purpose of developing a comprehensive plan to better the condition of all black people. This issue is dealt with extensively in Claud Anderson’s, “Black Labor White Wealth.” I agree with him: without a comprehensive development plan black desperation will continue in our racist country and world. www.adolphusward.net

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY SOLO PERFORMANCE

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY PLANNED SOLO PERFORMANCE – not going to happen Thanks FACEBOOK for bringing memories back into focus. I did put together a solo performance with sketches of visuals, lights, and sound; a director would have enabled it to come to life. But that play will not be seen on any stage – at least not soon. The reason is caught up in the dispute between 99 Seat Theatres and my union, Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). In order for my show to be staged an Equity contract, requiring a minimum wage would be necessary – 99 Seaters have refused. I cannot work for nothing and ignore my union’s position – I don’t want to. I did a considerable amount of work for a 99 Seater under an old Equity agreement. That work gave me a lot of exposure. Love the theatre and its founders; but I can no longer work for nothing. The whole point of my solo performance was to promote and sell my trilogy of novels. My genre is Historical Black Family Fiction. The stories and characters are interesting and informing. I don’t need an equity contract to read from my books, with character voice, in front of college or university students. So like any creative person, I’ve reshaped my solo performance to a dramatic reading. All I need now is an invitation from college and university teachers and students, in the LA area, who have as interest in stories related to the African American experience. Go to my new website for more about my works and me. www.adolphusward.net