Call for Submissions for Liberated Muse Volume II: Betrayal Wears a Pretty Face

Call for Submissions for Liberated Muse Volume II: Betrayal Wears A Pretty Face
In 2009, Liberated Muse presented our first anthology How I Freed My Soul-- an anthology that featured the literary and visual art from members of our network and others from around the world. Our first anthology featured the visual art of Liberated Muse members and renowned artist Turtel Onli, mixed media artist Shanta Monroe, singer/photographer Angela Ballard and painter Mars Davis. Writers Serena Wills, Farah Lawal, Amy Blondell, DJ Gaskin, Margaux Delotte-Bennett and whole host of other phenomenal talents were featured as well. We had numerous events celebrating our book in 2009 that took place throughout the DC area and beyond. Now, we are back at it again.

We are now putting out a call for writers and visual artists to submit work for consideration for our upcoming anthology Betrayal Wears a Pretty Face. The theme of betrayal must be implied in your submission-- whether it is betrayal of trust, love or expectation. Your story or artwork of betrayal can lead to a story of triumph or lend a heavy lesson to bear. The idea of betrayal is not merely something that we feel within relationships of friendship and love. Our political leaders may betray us. Our teachers may betray us. We may betray ourselves.

Your submission of betrayal can be in the form of original essay, short story, poetry or prose. Your entry can not exceed 5, 000 words and may be edited if selected for inclusion. Visual art submissions must be submitted in jpeg form and be your original work.

There is no submission fee. Entries selected for inclusion will not be paid, however authors and artists will receive a free copy of the anthology* and free tickets to Liberated Muse events. Selected authors and artists will also be included in upcoming performance tours promoting the book.
Submit your work to LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com for consideration. Submission deadline: June 15, 2011.

*Free copy received once one copy is sold

Obama-- The Lesser of Two Evils Says Actor Danny Glover

Danny Glover is the epitome of a performing artist who practices the art of being socially conscious. This video is indicative of his active participation in our social and political processes, building awareness and promoting the idea of the public being more active in what is going on in our government.

The interview above was taped prior to Obama's election but speaks to issues being raised now regarding Obama's commitment to his campaign promises. Find the video HERE.

Kudos to Omar Akbar aka Labtekwon for posting this on his Facebook page to share. Visit his fan page HERE

New York Post Uses Their Amendment Rights to Offend & Insult

If you hadn't read or heard about this offensive cartoon, then, my question is where have you been?

Here's the ten-second rundown: NY Post Cartoonist drew the cartoon above referencing the recent Chimp attack and stimulus plan signing and people are pissed because the inference is that Obama is the dead chimp and the cartoonist and the Post are MIA (missing in action, duh) when the questions runneth forth. (exhale...that was a run-on sentence).

It's ignorant, yes. But, really. Don't we expect things like this? I mean, we are talking about a country that has newly elected a BLACK man after hundreds of years of enslavement of Black folk, followed by legal lynching, followed by legal segregation, followed by reverse-discrimination (wtf?), followed by racial profiling...etc., etc. This country is sick...sick in every sense of the word-- mentally, physically and spiritually.

Electing a Black man is a major deal because it never happened before. The plus is that Obama is really smart, is poised and not offensive. But, the reality is is that his election has not eradicated the racist tendencies of those who still hold supremacist views of black inferiority and a sense of entitlement that screams for attention.

While I will be blowing up the cartoonist's email address at delonas@nypost.com or seandelonas@gmail.com to ask him WTF he was thinking, I believe that his racist humor and the Post's disrespectful interpretation of the Bill of Rights makes it a little bit easier for us to keep focused on realizing that the quest to create change did not end with Obama's election, but instead, has only begun.

Here's more on the story HERE

Liberated Muse Productions Partners with Y&P for Obama for the 2009 Inaugaration Festivities

Liberated Muse Productions partnered with Young & Powerful for Obama during the 2008 election campaign that won Obama the presidential election. During the week of inaugural activities, Young & Powerful will be presenting a series of activities that you can purchase tickets from through your Liberated Muse network. Tickets will sell-out pretty fast, so please get yours TODAY!

Check out some of the activities:

VISION
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Young & Powerful Launch and Networking Social

HOPE
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Young & Powerful Presidential Brunch

CHANGE
Monday, January 19, 2009
Young & Powerful Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast &

Young & Powerful Roundtable Political Forum &

Young & Powerful Black Tie Gala & Awards Ceremony

REDEMPTION
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Young & Powerful Inaugural Semi-Formal Affair

You will be able to purchase tickets for these events on the main page of our Liberated Muse social network. Click HERE to access that page and get prices.

Liberated Muse Helps You Rent Your Home for the Inaugual Festivities

Maceo Thomas, co-founder of Liberated Muse Productions, is a licensed real estate agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. He has been commissioned by various homeowners to find renters for inaugaration week. Please contact us at LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail.com so Maceo can you help you find comfortable housing during the inaugural festivities or help you safely rent your home for the 2009 inaugural festivities.

Turtel Onli: Futuristic Artist of All Realms

Futuristic imagery merges with Black power consciousness and social commentary in the artwork of visionary Onli, owner of Onli Studios. Onli is a member of the Liberated Muse social network, yet the amazing work featured on his LM profile is only a mere glimpse into the artistic vision of a man who is an artist in both the visual and performance arts. Specializing in music production (he creates soundtracks) as well as visual art, Onli also creates wearable art and artistic pieces that function as furniture and art pieces.

Onli's work has been featured in the Children's Museum of Chicago and the Museum Park in Chicago. To view more of Onli's fantastic work, visit his site HERE.

Democracy Now's Amy Goodman @ Green Festival in Washington, Shares Pearls of Wisdom

The Green Festival was held this past Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Washington DC Convention Center. With thousands of attendees, the festival offered free samples of organic food, ozone friendly products and kid-friendly activities.

One highlight was the guest appearance of Amy Goodman, the host of Democracy Now! which airs on Washington DC radio channel WPFW.

Goodman, a thorough journalist who often goes where few commercial media members go, is known for her hard-hitting coverage of the Iraq war and homeland issues of inequality and oppression. During her appearance at the Green Festival, she shared her experiences at the Republican convention where she and her news team experienced ghastly police violence while covering an episode of police brutality in the streets.


Goodman remarked how historic Obama's election as president is. "You voted for the hope and the opportunity for change," she said, "but, not guaranteed it. That's going to come with your hard work."

She urged the packed audience to establish their own grassroot groups, return to community organizing and stay on top of our elected leaders. She reminded us that Obama will always be known as one of the lone senators to stand up against the war in Iraq when no one else would in Congress. However, she added, don't forget that he ultimately voted for funding of the war. She says that the reality is that the two major parties get funding from corporations who donate money to have their interests honored.

She shared that we should work toward getting candidates to be able to have free air time with the major media so that they don't have to pay for air time and feel squeezed and forced to say certain things based on who is funding their air time.

Democracy Now! is currently broadcast on nearly 729 stations around the world. Visit http://www.democracynow.org/stations to find a station near you.

Some Words from Liberated Muse Productions Co-Founder Maceo Thomas-- Head Citizen

Wow!!!

This has been an incredible week. I feel personally responsible for getting Barack Hussein Obama elected President of the United States of America. I have been accepting congratulations from leaders around the world. And I have been offering congratulations to those around the world. When MSNBC called the state of Pennsylvania for Obama, I saw the culmination of months and years of hard work by many come to a new beginning.

Many of you have asked me if I "worked" for this campaign. I do. My title has been "Head Citizen". The responsibilities are immense; the primary one being defined as "participation"; and the privileges are awesome, too many to name here. The great part of this organizational structure is that I had the opportunity to directly collaborate with other department heads. There was no pass through. Direct contact, planning and action.

I walked the streets of Columbus with other head citizens, I sent emails from head citizens out to other head citizens. I spent a great deal of time talking to some head citizens on the phone who I have known for decades, as well as sitting in coffee shops with other head citizens I had just met. I read and stayed inform through articles and blogs written by brilliant head citizens. I supported fundraisers organized by everyday head citizens. I spent the last day of the campaign with a my 16 year old cousin Christian, another Head Citizen, who actively campaigned for a political campaign for the first time to help support his neighbor Head Citizens efforts to GOTV (Get Out To Vote). Head Citizenship has never been so exciting.

I will continue in this role for the indefintite future. The Obama campaign has been a great training program to beef up skills on the role of Head Citizen. The political camapign is completed. The governing phase is developing, however the role of Head Citizen never stops. The role of Head Citizen requires that we continue to support the rest of the department heads in working to make this organization - oh, it's abbreviated as the USA, a subsidiary of the WORLD - productive, viable and just for each and every department. Use your power!!
I just would like to thank all those who have helped contribute to my training and experience in this role in no particular order:

1. James and Margaret Thomas (dec.) for making sure my Dad and Aunt Marjorie pioneeringly (I think I made this up) integrated their schools to provide generations greater opportunities.

2. PG County Schools - where I picked up some crucial critical analysis skills for the majority part of my work in my Head Citizen role.

3. John F Kennedy, Sargent Shriver and Frank Williams for developing the organization Peace Corps which helped me understand firsthand the elements of our role of Head Citizen by contrasting it with the limited roles of citizens in other parts of the world.

4. William and Brenda Thomas for supporting the gifts and talents of their third child by letting me explore always.

5. Nadirah, Daya, Jason, Nzinga, Takeyah, Maura, Kim Morton, Adam Barr, Catherine Poff,and those whose names I have forgotten - other Head Citizens I walked the streets with out of town.

6. Dwayne Kennedy, my first political candidate (6th grade president) and a chief strategist from the beginning of this presidential campaign and an updater on Va poll numbers for the last six months- thanks for the guarantee on Va.

7. Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X (dec.) - previous Head Citizens who exemplified the role.

8. Zachary and Justyne - new fresh Head Citizens that encourage me to make this role better for them.

9. East of the River for letting me plug Obama in so many pieces.

10. Ubi, who listened a lot.

11, My entire Peace Corps and public health family - Head Citizens extraordinaire.

12. The CHOICE Program for providing a job experience that showed the importance of the role of Head Citizen by opening my eyes, on the ground, of the inequities that other department heads face.

13. Khadijah Ali-Coleman for taking a vision and putting the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest together as a big plug for Obama...oh and some music too.

14. All my facebook friends.

15. The First Tuesdays crowd.

15. All who are reading this for doing your part. I'll see you at the office.

Maceo

Head Citizen since 1971

Inaugaration Tickets ARE NOT on Sale-- Don't Get Scammed

Tickets to the swearing-in ceremony are free — but you have to request them from your U.S. representative or senator. Best to call his or her Washington office if you haven’t already. THEY DO NOT EXIST YET.

“Any website or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth,” Howard Gantman, staff director for the the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, said in a release. “Tickets for the swearing-in of President-elect are all provided through members of Congress, and the President-elect and Vice President-elect through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. We urge the public to view any offers of tickets for sale with great skepticism.”

Anyone selling a ticket to, say, the swearing-in ceremony, simply doesn’t have the goods. The 240,000 tickets that have been printed for this event “are in a secure location,” according to the committee.

If you are one of the lucky few to get a ticket when they become available, it’s not illegal to resell your ticket, but it is, well, discouraged. “We can’t stop people from turning around and selling those tickets, but it goes against the spirit of an open public inauguration,” said media spokeswoman Carole Florman. But constituents won’t be able to pick up their tickets until the day before the event — leaving little time for an EBay bidding war.

After all that, even if you are one of the lucky 240,000 who gets a ticket held on the west front of the Capitol building, you may get shut out if the weather tanks. Inclement weather could force the ceremony inside (as it did in 1985 when President Reagan’s inauguration was held inside the Rotunda), dropping the number of spectators from hundreds of thousands to a few hundred.

Everything else: The parade and balls are organized by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is just being formed. This committee determines the type of inaugural events to hold, raises private money to fund them and decides how to distribute the tickets

People, there is always television. All the better to watch it with.

Senator Barack Obama Wins the 2008 Presidential Election!

It's 11:15pm and Senator Barack Obama has won the 2008 Presidential Election with over 300 electoral votes won already (270 needed to win)!

This electric moment has made its mark in history as the election of the first US African-American president ever!

Liberated Muse Productions extends congratulations to Senator Obama and looks forward to the new day this election will herald in.

Kudos to McCain and his closing speech which was cordial and recognized the significance of this moment as he admitted defeat and applauded Obama for his win. "I urge all Americans to join me in not just congratulating him but joining him in making this a better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are all Americans," said McCain.

His speech was met with boos and hate calls as he finished, "...the failure was mine, not yours."

Historical Presidential Election Less than 24 hours away!!

Liberated Muse Productions has been a vocal supporter of Obama for President over the past year. We have supported numerous Obama fundraising events, including those hosted by Generation Obama, Young & Powerful for Obama and DC for Obama. We have also used Obama imagery in our promotion of the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest.

We hope that you use Election Day tomorrow as an opportunity to do your part to bring to the White House your candidate of choice. We are Obama all the way!

Join us on Election Day for a Watch party where we will fellowship as we view the election results as they unfold. This event is hosted by Young & Powerful for Obama, organized in part by DC representative for Y & P, Kezia Williams, a member of Liberated Muse.

The Moment of TruthElection Night Watch Party!!!

Hosted by Young and Powerful for ObamaAdmission

is Complimentary with RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gprj7v or email election08@teambbc.com

Election Night Watch Party @ The Park on Fourteenth

Admission is Complimentary with RSVP: RSVP HERE: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gprj7v
-OR-RSVP HERE: election08@teambbc.com For more information on volunteer opportunities visit: http://www.yp4obma.com/

Liberated Muse Productions is a proud sponsor