Myisha Cherry

I just wrote an article for the Jewish Voice about the Fake New York Times Spoof.
Check, Check , Check it out HERE.

I saw author toni morrison this week at a book reading for her new book “A Mercy”. She just gets better with age. Geesh!

This is Ayana and I reading a poem my bud Zakia wrote after reading Morrison’s Song of Solomon. She gave it to Toni. How Sweet.

You see that guy above you. His name is Malcolm Gladwell and he is pretty awesome. He is a staff writer for the new yorker magazine and author of Blink and the Tipping Point. He’s my best non-fiction writer and I can’t get enough of his work. Really, I can’t! He’s pretty well at what he does too. Both of his previous books have sold over 2 million copies each. I would like to think I had something to do with that.

Last night I went to a talk and book signing of his at Barnes and Noble. He has a new book out called OUTLIERS: The story of Success. Trust me, pick up any copies of his books and your life and mind will never be the same!

On the way home, I came across an advertising for the book while reading someone else’s new york times . (Yes I am one of them). Well, it caused me and the older guy on the train to get into an intense conversation about our views about the second chapter of Gladwell’s new book. The chapter is called the 10,000 Hour Rule.

Here’s a taste of some of the interesting work Gladwell does.

Did i mention… “I love you malcolm gladwell”!!!!!!

I’m featured in the arts Noir section of blackpower.com. Yah!
Read it right about NOW.

November 08 edition of my baby www.Un-Mute.com

So the last 48 hours has been very interesting. Ive gotten some opportunities to write for some awesome online sites and regional newspapers. More info on that to come. But within this time I was able to learn a valuable lesson from a unique source to say the least. The lesson: as an interviewer/info presenter aka writer, do your research!!! I’ve been interviewing people for articles for the last couple of years and Ive learned that the thing that separates you from other writers, is your ability to ask unique questions. It not only gives rare yet important information to an audience, but it allows the subject to really present a rare side/perspective/info to the audience.

I know, I’m rambling. All I’m saying is that I have been inspired to do just that. My inspiration is a  weird yet ingenius music video journalist by the name of Nardwuar from Canada. Writers, Radio people, etc. please watch and see how this guy does his research. WARNING: He is quirky, but he’s also impressive and inspirational to say the least.

I’m out. I have an article to write. And its time for me to get my research game on!  Holla!

Nardwuar with N.E.R.D

Nardwuar with Common

Nardwuar with ?uestlove

So word around the water cooler is that I am a pack rat. Being that I disagree with this label of me, I can only assume what people mean. Hater Definition:”She doesn’t throw away things, She keeps useless junk around”. If that is the definition, than I am most definitely NOT A PACK RAT.

What I am is a CREATIVE CAT. I find creative multi-dimensional uses for things, that some say have lost their purpose and value. (quote me on that!) I’m an Artist Maaan!. Let me give you a few pictorial examples.

Shoe Boxes

Created into an “Archival Chest”

Oatmeal Containers

Created into a  “Mobile Coin Banking Vault”

Milk Crate

Created into an “Expansive Book Center”

If you’re gonna call me anything… dont call me a pack rat. Call me this above. Bong!

Here are parts 2 and 3 of coffee talks that I appeared in. Coffee Talks is a discussion series produced by the rainbow collective. Part 2 is entitled “Tax me Not” and Part 3 is “Give Me Energy”. The shows were done to reflect on the election of President Elect Obama and whats next to come. Go to their site to check out more goodies @ therainbowcollective.com

Tax Me Not

Give Me Energy

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Self-edited/Self-filmed/Self-drawn(lol) Version

So my two new buds: Ayana and Sakeya formed a media company called The Rainbow Collective, in an effort to get people talking around issues that effect us all. Wednesday night they filmed their first series of Coffee Talk: a 5 minute roundtable discussion about obama, the election, and where do we go from here.

I was apart of the discussion along with Rod, Liz, Jen, and Rory. Check it out and then don’t forget to go head over to their site for more diverse goodies.

One of my favorite writers, the gracious and brilliant Toni Morrison, is on the cover of the Nov/Dec. edition of Poets and Writers Magazine. There is over 8 pages of interview. In it, she talks about her new book, A Mercy,(click here to read the new york times article on the book) . She also talks about her 40 year career, criticism, and more. Not too many african americans grace the cover, so please show your support by snatching this one off the news stands.

Toni Morrison is such an inspiration to me. She is both a nobel prize winner and Pulitzer. Her prose is written so poetically and her fiction always tells stories that reflect on history and contemporary truths. She reminds me that beauty can intersect with meaning. I met her almost 10 years ago and the meeting made me check off my list of things to do in this life. Oh Toni. Thank you for you!

That coveted cover of “poets and writers”.

such beauty, such strength.

The year was 2000.

Its 2:57am. Barack Obama is now the president elect of the USA. I am not an emotional person, but I am filled with so much emotion right now. I’ve cried, I’ve cheered. I am very happy, hopeful, and look forward to being a part of the solution to the conditions in this country.

Its been a long day. I’m still processing it all. Here are just a few pics and other stuff of the day. I’m going to bed now. Hopefully, this night is not a dream.

While on fulton street today, I bumped into my college roommate who was with a film crew filming a documentary about the election. I decided to tag along with them. While with them we met this 84 year old woman. They had moved her polling station, but she was determined to vote and she did.

The film crew decided to go volunteer for the obama campaign to call voters in swing states and remind them to vote.

Brownstone Books in Bedstuy held a kids election. How cute and important!

We then met the Parker family. They came together as a family to vote. One of the young men said that if obama won, it would show him that nothing is impossible.

We then went to Fort Greene and joined in on an intense conversation a group of individuals were having about the economy. The guy on the left said that this was his first time voting today because he never felt that people who ran connected to him or cared about him.

I concluded my hang out session with the film crew, as we went to see Micheal’s(camerman) 82 year grandmother vote in Crown Heights.
I then headed to an election party in the lower east side sponsored by MTV choose or loose, complex magazine, and kevin powell.

This guy (intensely) serenaded me with a stevie wonder song.

Then this news came across the screen…

We were very very very happy!!!

This is our reaction to obama winning. The video is not perfect. We were in a club and i was too excited. Just listen. Hearing it makes me want to cry all over again.

Above is my future husband, an awesome Poet from Paris. His name is ABD Al MALIK. He was recommended to me by my london based bud Qasim. He is doing some awesome things in Paris and I am truly inspired by the barriers he is crossing and the level he is taking his poetic art. Hopefully we can do a french/english collabo in the future. I’m serious, not being flirtatious. I think.

Check out his website Here. And his myspace Here.

Mos, in 2012, you have my vote. Thats if Obama doesn’t run for reelection.

So remember when I wrote this previous post. I was writing chapter 5 of my book while typing at a cafe on the west coast. Well now I am finished the first draft of my nonfiction manuscript. And words can not describe how I feel. I graduate from saying “im writing a book” to “I’ve just wrote my first book” (omitting poetry that is).

Next Steps: 10 days of Editing and more Editing.
Here’s a snapshot of the beauty on my desktop waiting to be mended and dressed. World here I come!

I Performed at Spit That last week In BK. RIP, that guy right below me, is the host and organizer. We had a dope time. While there are no pics of me playing guitar on the floor, there are some pics of some awesome people, besides myself, that was there.

Photos courtesy of Kwesi at spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com. He’s in the last picture.

spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com