A few notes:

• Now that the election is done, I gotta say: I still don’t think Barack Obama parted the Red Sea or anything like that, and thus, we should still be able to criticize him and his pending administration, especially his Clinton-centric transition team / Cabinet nominees, or so it seems. Not saying we should completely flatten him for moves he hasn’t even made yet (here’s looking at you, Tavis Smiley), but let’s stay critical thinkers.
• Again, for me, it’s about disagreeing without being disagreeable. I’m not here making inflammatory comments about anyone. Seems like everyone’s snooping around to see if they’re being talked about.
• Speaking of which, dude’s made more jobs than MC Hammer. A transition team? Have we ever seen this kind of efficacy going into a presidential term?
• I knew Bush was a little grimey, but is he really this gangsta?
• If you think what the rest of us think about Joel Klein, then please sign the petition. As a matter of fact, write it in a letter, too. I’m not dissing him as a person; I’m against the idea that we can just sell off our public schools to the highest bidder. I’m against third-party practitioners controlling how children learn even when we have standards to follow. I’m against constantly changing the big ELA and Math tests for the benefit of the “higher-ups” instead of thinking about what’s good for the children, especially when it’s time for re-election. I’m against jumping through loopholes set specifically to guarantee the right people are put in the right place. I’m not against the person, but against the ideas. See?

Oh right, and before I go to the gym, this needs to be said: I am not for sale.

This morning, I got a comment that read more like an advertisement than anything else. I blocked it as spam, but before I did, I went to the site itself. It’s a site supposedly dedicated to “paying teachers more,” and it has a series of posts, all unoriginal content, and all incendiary. As much as I love that sort of blog (check the sidebar at your leisure), I’m not about to give props to any site that says “pay teachers more.” It happens in every industry; they align their message to your beliefs, leave a message on your site, and think that people are dumb enough to fall into the traps.

“Teachers don’t get paid enough!”
“This school pays a Gazillion dollars, and it’s the only one!”
“Teachers have it tough!”

Sites like this one make me sick because they fall right in line with what real teachers are saying: we’re not just asking for higher salaries. It’s about the respect as professionals. I understand; we get summers off, etc. However, it doesn’t mean we should have any less autonomy in our jobs, less respect on a professional level, less of a voice in what goes on in our schools, less chances to make this a career rather than a “Peace Corps-type tour,” or less opportunities to express ourselves in venues like these, where I feel we’re making so many strides in bringing a new dimension to how people view teachers.

As such, if you’re gonna come at me or anyone who blogs, please know we’re not gonna eat your shit. Yeah. I said it. Shit.

Jose, who is heavily ancitipating Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, The Outliers.

A few links:

• Problogger has the most comments I’ve ever seen for one post. Awesome on all ends.
• Electronic Village presents a video on Barack, Curtis, and the perception of manhood in the Black community.
• Cute babies at Boing Boing plead their innocence. They swear they’re not terrorists. You be the judge.
• The families of Brandon McClellan (Black man who was dragged to death) and Jennifer Hudson (mother and brother killed, nephew missing), I send my deepest condolences.
• Yeah, I know you don’t like getting stats about the drop-out rate in this country, but it’s not going away (Thanks, LeaderTalk).

A point to make:

Early on in my career (yes, it’s a career now), we were told that there’ll be tough moments that’ll test our mettle, but we should always appreciate the small moments and inflate them as much as possible. That moment for this blog came at this comment:

Anonymous { 08.09.08 at 11:15 pm }

I agree with everything above; I am a gay high school student, in the bible belt, and have not yet come out to even friends and family. I am not so much afraid that they will abandon me, but I am afraid that they will never be able to think of me in the same way. I really appreciate you doing this for these teens.

Before that comment, there were only 8 comments on that post, 2 of them from me. And there were good points made, but I just kept writing, not thinking much about what I wrote. I posted this in January, and that’s where most of the comments ended. Seven months later, a young men somewhere out there puts that thought out there. I was so awed, I couldn’t even reply. I just kinda nodded in silence as I read it over again.

When I read comments like that, it’s not so much about how many comments I get, but about what they say.

I’ll get into that tomorrow. For now, comment as you please. I’ll be reading and nodding along.

jose, who is always halfway between the moon and New York City …

I recently read an article about blogging that made me want to kick someone in the shins.

I’d love to link it to you, but then I’d be violating one of his “seven sins” of blogging. :: gasp:: G_d forbid! Here’s the gist: basically he wrote a blog post using the seven deadly sins and correlating them to things people shouldn’t do in their own blogs. At first, it’s easy to look at it and say, “Oh, that’s cute.” But does it really help a new blogger blog or even one that’s already doing alright, but doesn’t want to feel like he’s just wasted 20 minutes of his or her precious life on hot trash? I can’t say the blogger escaped either clause.

With all the gimmicky blogs out there, it’s hard to distinguish the ones that weren’t complete wastes of time and ones that actually may matter not just now but also in the near and distant future. Fortunately, I have a few tips for people who’ve been asking me how I do it, much of it inspired by Louis Gray.

- Write what you like: It doesn’t matter what your field is, who you know, what you do, or what your interests are, blog what you want to blog about. Write about education. Write about sex. Write about politics and entertainment (though those are certainly a little more saturated). Whatever you write, write on. Write about you, even if you’re not that interesting, make us interested, which leads me to …

- No Hoodwinking: You can use your blog to entertain, fabricate, exacerbate, and pontificate, but for the love of G_d, don’t use any gimmicks to try and make your blog look interesting or make it look like you’re trying to set some obscure standard.

- Blogging Without Writing: Writing’s great, and I love it to no end. I love taking my time with what I’m saying, and expressing myself as I please, taking my time with what I write. Others won’t. There’s a difference. However, just because you don’t write well doesn’t mean you can’t be a good blogger. (There’s a good discussion on it here.)

- Read First, Write Second: If you’re going to actually write about a specific topic, do what the great writers do: read first. Read around, talk to people, see what you like, and what you can get away with. Once you think you understand the style you’re going to go with, run with it.

- Give Props Where It’s Due: If you find a style you like, and you’re going to ask the originator about said style, then give them props. Never ever forget to give props. You can consider yourself self-made all you want, but if you’re starting to blog at this point, that’s a farce. Found a story you like? Give props. Found a blog you like a lot? Give props. Got a helpful tip from a reader? Give props. Get the theme?

- Comment Like You Post: If you want to “get the word out,” then feel free to comment on like-minded (and not so like minded) blogs. When you comment, comment like it’s a sample of your postings. Granted, some posts only warrant a few lines, but if it’s a good post, reply in kind. People will read back.

OK, I’m done giving away gems. I’m still learning some of this blog mess myself. And whatever you do, don’t be the one to write that article … ugh.

jose, who had a fun time at the Tweetup last night …

I just finished a PowerPoint for a presentation I need to do tomorrow for that big project that everyone / no one knows about. Even on vacay, I can’t go on vacay. It’s just not possible. However, I’ve been listening to some excellent music, drinking some quality beer, and learning and interacting with more people every single day.

With that said, I can’t quit this blogging shit. I’m approaching 250, and I usually write quality posts every day, not just random bulletins, so I found it imperative to just keep it light and simple. Besides, what good is my Google Reader if I can’t share everything I read? Check it out:

Tracy Rosen knows what good teaching is all about. Damian and I, though, have different ideas (it’s funny, honest).

My brother from another mother, Carl Cowan, shows us how Feist counts to 4 with the help of Sesame Street.

Andy Park still amazes me with his photo skills. If you need hot photos like that, feel free to holla at him.

Gotham Schools seems to be a good new resource for teachers to read. Nice and simple. And they like me apparently. Thanks, JD.

A Carnival of Education hosted by my people at A Voice in the Wilderness!

Me on the cover of Essence Magazine? Over Obama? I think I know why I wouldn’t make it on there, but Zack seems to think I deserve it. More power to my man, Zack.

Christina, I’ma tell you what another writer told me: find your voice.

Necole, Necole, anyone who ever says you’re not fair and balanced needs to check this post. (for the fellas … and some of my ladies, too.)

I added a few new cats to my sidebar, mainly Xicano Power, New Millenium Negro, Mike Parent, The Bowery Boys, and The Black Lounge. When you visit them, tell them I said hi. No really. It’s how I roll.

Alright, I’m going to leave you with this:

How is McCain accusing Obama of playing the RACE CARD?! BWWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Mr. McCain to you I say, good night and good luck!

jose, who is excited to mentor at least one more Teaching Fellow this coming year (congrats to those who got in)

I’m honestly not that arrogant. I just like to call madness out for what it is. Eddie Griffin might be right: I’m insane, and that’s something to be congratulated.

Watching Black in America over the last 2 days, at the encouragement ad nauseum of practically everyone in my Facebook, Twitter, etc., I’ve been somewhat reintroduced to the idea of Blackness and how applicable my own experience is to the ideas brought on by the segments of the show. For one, if we work under the presumption that I’m strictly Black (and not a Black-Latino, or ethnically, a Dominican-Haitian-American), then people who talk to me usually lay a foundation out for my discourse, my actions, and my dress code out of ill-wrought stereotypes. Statistically and upon first review, I’m already a victim of the same discrimination that keeps a million Black men in prison, a million more from attaining the jobs or the promotion that they want, and everyone else from achieving first-class citizenry with those who consider themselves White. We are not a monolith yes, but even in our own dialogues, we tend to indicate otherwise.

The experiences I’ve had, negative and positive in this country, have led me to understand my position as a Black man. Then there are times when my skin textures, color, and facial features are not enough to validate my authenticity as a Black person. That comes from the second level of recognition of a person i.e. my culture. Everything in my exterior might suggest one thing, but the way I speak, the languages I use, the area I decided to teach at, and even my name have always come into contention. On the one end, I can’t be mad; I love gauging the reactions of everyone when I tell them what I’m called, who I date, and my usual dinner (rice and beans, if you must know). On the other hand, it’s a little unnerving to know that, no matter how the dominant culture perceives me, I neither have absolute residence in either camp.

Not that I haven’t written about this before, but someone added a new dimension to that when they asked me the following:

Are you happy with the amount of attention your blog receives?

My response: This isn’t my full time job, so yes, I’m pretty happy with my blog’s successes thus far. Could I use a little more readership? Sure. But I won’t sacrifice why I write for that.

Well, why do you think you may not receive as much attention as some of the more mainstream bloggers?

That’s hard to say, but it could be multiple reasons. It could be because of the aforementioned limits in time, having a job and such. It could be because I discuss education and not always politics or popular culture. Oftentimes, the topic of education becomes marginalized even when I believe it should be at the forefront of our discussions. Most of my commenters are educators on some level themselves. But a small part of me, the same part of me that wonders why I won’t get nominated for certain blog awards because I’m either too Black / Latino or not Black / Latino enough, thinks that it’s because of the identity I’ve undertaken and the way I’ve chosen to express that i.e. I’m Black / Latino, I’m proud, and I’m not going to pigeonhole anyone else strictly based on one part of their being, even if we stand at opposing ends of a topic’s spectrum. Thus, even in cyberspace, we mirror the real world.

Because G_d forbid you’re told by a group of Blacks that you’re only good enough for them when they need the numbers, and not good enough when you’re trying to run your own organization. Heaven knows some group of Latinos is only good when making other Latinos look good, but not very Latino when he or she’s not out in the club or when they don’t fit a certain mold. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been looked at during high school to rap or, in more recent times, slam and speak in staccato. Yet, I can’t unstrap myself from the identities I’ve chosen either. I love my dance, my food, my language, and my people.

We have a hard time looking at ourselves (and I mean all of us), and saying, “What are our prejudices?” Imagine if we asked ourselves questions like, “Why do I use some of the prejudiced statements I do?,” “How am I holding another man or woman back from succeeding in their own right?,” and “How does my presence in my community benefit how my community does?” Sometimes, the answers to those questions shocked me, and I had no one to answer but to myself. The astounding prejudice we face in this country can only be remedied once we look at ourselves and create cogent and logical arguments for why we feel the way we do. Then, we need to let go of some of our prejudices while developing pro-peace and pro-community dialogue and not develop an ego in the process.

But a series on the world’s news leader won’t reveal that. We can go over the problems and quandaries in the Black community as much as we want to, much the way we shuffle cards on a table. We can lay them all out as many times as we want in a million different combinations. Yet, the cards are still there, and we haven’t done a damn thing to take them off. Does it make us comfortable to know that the cards are still there? Even if we somehow push the card to the brink of the table, does it satiate us to just keep the card out of play than actually taking it off completely? I’m not sure, and CNN doesn’t have the answers. Neither do we just yet.

But who’ll be insane enough to work towards it? Who? I guess that’s up to you and your reflection …

jose, who understands as a math teacher why solutions are important …

p.s. - I would link you to the referring Juan Luis Guerra song, but … OK, no excuse. Here it is (”La Bilirrubina“) …

What’s been up with my writing lately, you ask?

Crazy, mi gente. Crazy. I haven’t guest-posted on anyone’s site just yet (though I’m open to the idea), and I haven’t had a huge link from a big blog in a while, but certainly things are on the up and up. I already started looking into finishing my own book (finally), and got an offer to appear in another book (sweet), not to mention that I’m making a couple of handbooks for a prominent organization which I’m an active member of (see sidebar) as well as my job (and they’re going to need first aid after this one.) I’m also still designing the

All this energy I’m putting into these special projects has left a lot of stanzas scrolling through my mind, few of which have made it into a Word document or my MySpace. I’m pushing to get that next poem out, but I realize that, the more I write, the less I’m able to just “force” it out. With my poems especially, I need to feel a certain type of way. I need to feel angry, depressed, in love, determined, excited, the other excited, strong, weak … anything, but not this … poetic indifference. And something brilliant will come up as I’m walking to take the train, but I know it’s not a strong enough idea because I don’t write it anywhere.

Then again, maybe it’s because all my words are focused in these projects. Maybe it’s because my strongest evangelists don’t want to see me come weak on anything I write or I might as well “hang up the pen.” (Then again, some of them would prefer I not retire this blog.) Maybe it’s because every one of you who read from all over the world (no, really) encourage me through your e-mails, comments, and searches to read me every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Maybe it’s that little “Thank you” whenever someone likes something I wrote.

What keeps you writing? I know some of you practically blog every day. Others only write a couple of times a week. Others of you only show up once a month, but will write glorious pieces when you come back.

TALK TO ME, people!

Also, I got a special project for you all to get involved in with me, so tune in, and keep the comments coming …

jose, who will dedicate his blog to a legend soon …

Wow, I just reached my 200th post. I’m excited. When I had my 100th post, I didn’t really celebrate it. I think I surpassed my 100th, 200th, and 300th in a really small window of time. I’ve been blogging since 2003, back when even some of my closest associates didn’t think too highly of me writing my blog, or maybe it was just me doing anything, but that’s besides the point. Since the transition to my own managed site, the former host of my thoughts has given tons of shine to cats who wrote like me (with comments nearing 150-200!) and I’ve maintained a good 6-7 comment average, not including my own. Yet, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Nope, not one.

OK, maybe a couple of things:

1. I might have responded to some comments more thoroughly.

2. I would have reserved some of the blogs for articles instead, like “It Was All A Dream,” for example.

3. I might have asked more of those broad and deep questions that people ask.

4. I might have told less people about what I write.

5. I might have stretched my fingers more often in the middle of blogging.

But really, when it comes down to it, it’s my blog. My voice, my time, and my writing. Today, coincidentally, someone asked me if they could guest-post on my blog. I took one good look at their blog and noticed that they didn’t put any heart or character into their blog. I take a LOT of time writing a post, almost too much some might say. Everytime I put my fingers to the keyboard, I think of myself first, and think about whether or not I’d want to read or for that matter subscribe to these thoughts. My thoughts are definitely not for the weak of mind, and I have a tendency of attacking issues head-on, even if I don’t address the person directly. I’m open to many opinions, but I don’t compromise myself just because I might lose favor with some well-known bloggers.

I’ve even had people come here trying to find out information about me that really they could have just asked me themselves. But as I’ve said before, this is NOT a confessional, it’s a blog. I may post my thoughts, but far be it from me to spill my guts about every and anything. I like parts of my life being private, because the more you think you can trust someone with your life, the more mistrust there is. I’ve also had a couple of dissenters, who still read because it must get their jollies off.

With all that said, I’m thankful for the constant comments and feedback I get. My blog’s never been more successful, and it’s given me more encouragement to make those manuscripts happen, and also given me a flexibility I may not have had before. Thank you all, because you force me to expand my vocabulary, to respond to and report on topics that I love or that I’ve yet to fully have the answers to myself, but most importantly, for making me understand how my writing may continue to influence your lives much like your writings influence mine.

Electronically, we’re sharing our most human experiences. And the strongest way for me to thank you is to continuing to write, an acknowledgment of your continued participation in our conversations …

jose, to the 500th post and beyond …