This Is Ezra II

I'm not really sure what's going on here.

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Fernando

From a recent project for Oregon Humanities, exploring what it is to live in the US undocumented. Interview conducted by Luis Rodriguez.

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Fabiola

From a recent project for Oregon Humanities, exploring what it is to live in the US undocumented. Interview conducted by Luis Rodriguez.

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Maricela

From a recent project for Oregon Humanities, exploring what it is to live in the US undocumented. Interview conducted by Luis Rodriguez.

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Good Morning.

Via @Faniamusic

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Visit Original Link

First episode of some conversations I’m going be having with some friends.

Listen --> Here.

This one is with Professor Robert Arellano. We talk Fidel Castro...we discuss his family’s time in Cuba...and how his uncle intentionally broke his own arm!

Music by Eddie Palmieri - Cafe Tostao y Colao & my bird chirping in the background.

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Tax Cuts...Trickle Down...Horse and Sparrow...and My New Favorite Word, Consequently.

Tax cuts for the rich and higher tax rates for middle class/poor...create a deficit. To make up for that deficit, they cut funding to programs like Medicaid, Affordable Healthcare Act, Education, Food Stamps, etc….

Now the majority of people this hurts is white poor people….but because they make up a small percentage of the white population, the damage doesn’t devastate the white community as whole. But for people of color, these tax rates and the consequences of, hit their communities harder because the impoverished constitute a significant percentage within these communities (which is primarily due to systemic, cyclical, blatant and abstract racist policies).  Poor people lose medical coverage and consequently create debt from medical bills. They can’t afford food...their schools are worse off...they can’t go to college…and cycle of poverty continues. The not for profits, the safety nets in these communities, lose funding...hence offering less services to those in need. And so on and so on...

For the rich white politician, white poor people are the collateral damage. Overall, they don’t hurt the white community as a whole.  But in the people of color communities, these simple tax cuts cause a domino effect that are widely felt...and the rich white politician is aware of this.  

So why do so many white poor people vote for candidates that back these tax cuts?  Because of a tactic called Southern Strategy.  Generally speaking, white poor people have been poor since slavery...or to say the least, their poverty has been generational. The easiest way for politicians to gain their confidence is to blame “other” people on their poverty; to blame Black people for sucking the $ out of this nation because of their dependency on welfare (Welfare Queen); to blame Mexicans for taking their jobs; to blame immigrants for driving down wages in those certain fields of work. That fear, amongst a few other variables, drive them to vote in a certain direction. Ironically, what has kept these white poor people poor, has been white people...rich white people….even since the days of slavery.   

And so why do rich white politicians love these tax cuts? It makes them richer...it widens the gap between them and the poor people...consequently, keeping them in power of this country’s policies...consequently making sure the policies are in their favor.

And repeat.

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When Poor Became Hip #5

The Original Beer Bike.

Before the Pacific Northwest made it cool to have 15 people on one bike, using their quadricep muscles to power their way to the next beer...every ghetto and ‘hood had at least one old man powering his way to the corner store for his next beer. When Poor Became Hip.

Pic credit: http://bit.ly/29ORChw

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RACISM

I think a lot people don’t quite understand Racism...especially the folk on Facebook...where I annually explain the meaning of this word/action.  

Racism = Power + Prejudice

If I say I don’t like Filipinos because [Insert Stupid Reason Here], that’s called Prejudice. Prejudice is the human version of judging a book by it’s cover. And by the way, I have no issues with Filipinos. I have a few friends that are Filipinos. (Sarcasm...joke...I hope you caught that.)

Now, if I’m the president of a university and I say I want to reduce the number of Filipino enrollment by 25% because of my prejudice...and I devise a sneaky plan with my POWER to reduce their enrollment…now that’s Racism.

So if you’re Donald Trump, you’d only reduce Filipino enrollment by 10%, because he’s “the least racist person there is.”  

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A LITTLE CHURCH FOR YOU

Growing up I had to go to church.  My parents went to church...and even when I was a teenager, I didn't have a decision in the matter.  And I'm thankful for those experiences (I wasn't then, though).  

To see my mother so faithful, dedicated and passionate about something larger than herself...or her immediate circle of family and friends...that's a life lesson. And my mother isn't one of those lukewarm Christians.  My mother lives it everyday...and just about every moment.  She isn't like these newer age Christians who talk about ass or get too tipsy from their drink, talk shit, smoke cigarettes or watch the stupidest and/or most profane movie that even most people of any religion or non-religion wouldn't waste their intelligence watching.  For my mother, every action, every decision must be in alignment with God and her Bible...and I can respect that (even if I don't agree with everything).

There's something to be said for that kind of dedication and passion...for that consistency.  Have some Church.

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STREET SMARTS

My thoughts, taken from my conversation with a good friend back in Florida.

It's funny...cause we moved out of certain places...but we hold on to that shit...like it's our roots...

And now, we got our kids growing up...where people are like, "Don't say that...that hurts my feelings."

And I'm like, "Don't say that...or Imma knock the shit out of you!"

I want my kids to be street smart...but the craziest thing we've seen on the streets is a neighbor's Llama running down it!

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When Poor Became Hip #4

Since you're poor...you don't have much...you're life is pretty simple...you can't even afford debt...and all you have is family & friends.  You give back to your community...even though you don't have much.  And, it's always the poor folk who are the most creative.  Another case of when Poor became Hip. 

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ACT FAMOUS

A few years ago, someone suggested that I act famous on Facebook in order to get more business.

Ok...

This just reminds me of the 1.5 times I fly out a year for a small job. Typically I get row 30 something...near the bathroom.

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CONNOISSEUR

I would like to be a coffee, donut, and french fry connoisseur. 

French Fry would be the best....

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WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION?

I was talking to a friend (not the friend pictured above)...and we were having this conversation...this conversation about me having the ability to talk to all kinds of people...urban people, black, Latino, white, white affluent, etc.  He was stating it was because of my ability to change in different circumstances.  I guess I can thank my upbringing.  

I grew up in a neighborhood where black guys would call their Puerto Rican homies the N word because they were homies.  Then we had white guys listening to rap (this was before there was a Vanilla Ice).  

And then we moved.  We moved to a place where dudes played Skate or Die...and called each other dudes (this was like 20 years before the first black or Latino used the word DUDE).

And then I attended Valparaiso University...where the student population was 90+% white...and a large percentage of them were affluent.  

So I learned to communicate differently in different circumstances.  But it's 2014...why can't I communicate the way I want to communicate...the way that comes natural.  Why are we having this conversation?

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GOD'S GOD

Recently, in a interview, Kanye stated he was a Christian.

Has he heard his own lyrics to Yeezus?

If Kanye is a Christian, then I'm God's God.

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THIS WEEK'S NOTABLES:

- God putting Yeezus in his place --> God vs. Yeezus

- Sway doesn't have the answers --> Sway vs. Yeezus

- Jason Kidd's "Hit Me" --> Kidd minus $50,000

- Avery Bradley's crazy behind the backboard shot --> Swish

- And the Pacific Northwest became --> Chicago

- Ah...one more...A$AP Mob pays homage to --> 90s Hip-Hop