By: King Anyi Howell

The following was broadcast on KQED-FM.  

Adapted from King Anyi Howell’s story about the Harambee Farmer’s Market on KQED’s The California Report

(download mp3) African Americans suffer higher rates of obesity, hypertension and heart disease than the rest of the nation. In the predominately black South Los Angeles of Crenshaw, however, one farmer’s market is hoping that they can break bad eating habits by offering fresh produce at affordable rates. The Harambee Farmer’s Market (open Saturdays from 10am-4pm) is located at the busy intersection of Crenshaw and Slauson between a bank and an auto paint shop. Harambee is a Swahili word, meaning “all pull together.”

The Harambee Farmer’s Market has one produce booth and two other booths that sell hand-crafted jewelry, lotions, oils, clothing and other items. Farmer Larry Williamson is from the Crenshaw neighborhood and supplies the market with produce from his farm in Merced, Ca and other black-owned California farms. Currently the booth sells strawberries, peanuts, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, lettuce, cabbage, and beets. The booth also has other seasonal produce available at rates that compete with local grocery chains.

I was fortunate enough to discover this market a few months back. Unfortunately, the market is usually empty. But they have a loyal customer base and often offer free entertainment to attract new people. It is located in the parking lot of the African Firefighters and Benevolent Association community center. The AFIBA center wants to expand the market. I would love to see this place develop into its full potential. Imagine more booths of fresh produce and long lines of customers. Communities—like Crenshaw—need more places that promote healthy eating.

Martin Luther King Day has come and gone. The sales are over.  Sometimes all the sale ads make me wonder if we’ve all forgotten about the legendary Civil Rights leader that the holiday was named after.   I’ve felt like Martin Luther King day was a joke (the DAY, not the MAN), but it was only until recently I was able to articulate some of my frustrations with the energy around the holiday.  At a monthly poetry event in Southern California,  I was able to share my thoughts in the form of comedy.  What's your take?  

"I'm Bi-racial.  My father is black, and my mother is light skinneded." -King Anyi 

At a young age, several women in my family use to tell me... "You better not bring home no white girl!"  That was before I even started dating.  Their comments had the opposite effect on me.  I have dated several white women.  I've also dated black, Latina, Asian, and mixed race women.  I can say I don't have a racial preference.  But I can say that some of my relatives wouldn't be too pleased with my dating history.  And I find that puzzling, considering that these same relatives are light skinned.  They are the children of interracial dating.

Recently in Louisiana, a licensed justice of the peace refused to grant an interracial couple a marriage license because he didn't feel races should be "mixing."  In fact, Justice Keith Bardwell told the press, "There is a problem with both [racial] groups accepting a child from such a marriage."  The justice's actions, comments and beliefs are so audacious in this day and age.  I mistook the story for a joke when I first heard it.  How such ignorance can survive in today's current social climate is not a surprise to me.  What is shocking is how such ignorance can still exist so openly in such a public sector of society.  You would think that even if someone did harbor such prejudicial feelings that they would keep a lid on it.  Think about the countless moments of negative press and condemnation against executioners of such rhetoric that have cost them and their organizations countless millions.  Bardwell's public stance not only encourages such ignorance, it undermines our progress as a society.  More importantly it undermines the people of Louisiana by making them vulnerable to legal action and misrepresenting the citizens of the Creole State. Creole is a term used to refer to the descendants of Louisiana's early French settlers, African-Americans, and Native Americans who have been mixing in the state since before 1803, when Louisiana was purchased from France.  In fact, I am a descendant of Louisiana Creoles.

Early this week, the Federal Trade Commission unanimously approved new rules, requiring bloggers and celebrities to disclose whether or not they are being paid to mention or endorse a product.  In addition to divulging monetary compensation for product mentions, the new regulations also mandate that celebrity and social media savants disclose in-kind donations received for any endorsements.  While the FTC's mission is to "work for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them," I seriously doubt that these regulations will accomplish that goal. Not only will the new regulations-- in effect Dec. 1, 2009-- make way for even more deception and fraudulent practices, enforcing these regulations is a waste of federal resources.  

I'm sure a lot of bloggers, celebrities and advertisers will spend their energy complying with the new rules (and many ALREADY disclose such information), but I am even more confident that a great deal of them will focus on how to get around them. What is to stop an individual from sub-contracting such advertising deals, or receiving payment on the back end?  For example, let's say rapper Kanye West is seen getting totally wasted, drinking Hennessy, performs some fantastic display of egotism, and then blames it on the alcohol.  Even though Hennessy didn't contract him to do that, they would still be within FTC guidelines if they sent a "thank you basket" after the fact, and didn't tell anybody about it.

When OB/GYN George Tiller was murdered by a pro-life extremist, many people placed the blame on Fox News shout (as opposed to talk) show host, Bill O’Reilly. Bill O’Reilly not only encourages violence against abortion doctors, he mentioned Dr. Tiller on his show more than a handful of times. But, does that make him responsible for Tiller's murder?

While most NBA fans are upset that their dream match up of Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers vs. Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals will remain just that, a dream, LA fans are almost all but claiming victory.  The Orlando Magic, lead by Dwight Howard, upset the NBA world by mercilessly eliminating them from the playoffs in a series they won 4-1, has many Los Angelinos breathing a sigh of relief and are getting a little too excited.  I understand the excitement of your team going to the “big game” (I’m not TOO familiar with the feeling, as an Oakland/Golden State fan), but the drawing of social lines in the sand based on basketball loyalty is getting out of hand. 

On two separate occasions at two different parties, I was branded with the scarlet letter “H,” for “hater,” based on my response to the question, “Who do you want to win the Finals?” 

Thanks to alleged abuser pop star, Chris Brown, we all see how "hittin' them girls" (as my mother used to say) can ruin your life. Of course his pop star girlfriend at the time, Rihanna, lived through the terror of a merciless manhandling, but it is Chris Brown’s career and freedom that are now in critical condition. Read more...

I overheard a youngin', who couldn't have been older than 11 singing to himself in a grocery store: "Blame it on the Goose, gotcha feelin' loose," reciting lyrics from Jamie Foxx's hit single, "Blame It," which has spent 18 weeks on Billboard's Top 100 and is this #3 this week.  

My first thought was "Seriously, what does an 11 year old know about gettin' em loose off the Grey Goose?  Somebody needs to whoop that boy!"  I then had a flashback to my kindergarten year.  One day on the play yard, I remarked to a girl I had my eye on, "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy," in Rick James fashion.  This was overheard by an adult, and of course word got around to my mother, who beat the breaks off of my behind. Striking between each of her words to drive the lesson home, "Dont. Be. Calling. Girls. Sex. Sey." I got one for each syllable of that word. 

In 2005, music video director, David LaChapelle, directed and produced the documentary film, "Rize."  The movie was about two dance styles that emerged from the inner streets of Los Angeles, CA; Clowning and Krumping (Krumping being derived from Clowning). Read more...

Soon to be incarcerated rapper, T.I., dropped artist, Alfamega from his Grand Hustle record label last weekend after reports that he previously shared information with governement officials concerning the illegal activities of several members within the City of Atlanta.  Seeing as how informant testimony led to T.I.'s (born Cliff Harris) arrest and jail sentence on felonyweapons charges, I'd bet my gold grill that he hopes 36 year old  Alfamega, born Ced Zellars, gets dropped from more than his Atlantic Records imprint label: Like the face of the earth.  Since the rapper was fairly low on the lyrical pecking order, gained the most negative publicity for the label and it's members through brazen displays of goonery, and kept his experience as an informant a secret, I, too, say good riddance.  The muscular Alfamega, at one point in time considered to be T.I.'s protege, was known less for his raps and more for his eagerness to get into scuffles-with the police!  Here's footage of the rapper thrrowing down!