American flag blowing, close-up

Just think about the words that you are about to see here. Before you get angry, before you get defensive…just think about the words that you are about to see with all of the empathy of a true human being…

We all know that Colin Kaepernick is protesting police brutality and police profiling of millions of people. When the quarterback-activist kneels at the Star Spangled Banner, he is trying to spark a meaningful dialog about life and death. Stop there…just process this; don’t think about the protest itself, but rather, think about what it is that he is protesting.

Is it unreasonable to protest the unpunished murders of American citizens by kneeling when the national anthem is played? In part, the flag stands for our constitution. I am fairly certain that one of our constitutional rights is to not be murdered by the police.

When you stand for the anthem, when you see this flag…does it wave back at you in assurance of your rights? Do you feel confident that it protects those rights? Imagine that suddenly; it only protects half of your rights. Look at your neighbor…his rights are still fully protected. Do you still feel the same about the assurances of that flag?

Suddenly, the police can murder you for the way you look. Suddenly, you think that police car behind you might contain someone who is determined to kill you! Your survival instincts are telling you to get away from that police car…even though you have done nothing wrong. Your spouse needs you…to raise the children! To provide for them! You must save yourself–for their sake!

Your neighbor knows that if he gets pulled over, he might have a pleasant conversation about  good traffic etiquette, or maybe the cop will see his daughter’s picture on the dash and the cop will be all like “I’ve got a daughter about the same age.”  You see, the flag still protects your neighbor. He might even offer to donate some money to a police ball or something like that…

We applaud similar acts of protest when they are recorded in history. Let us remember the 1968 Olympic Games. Is Colin’s protest so different?

To mount a protest by sitting through the anthem…this is not such an easy thing to do. People hurl insults…they spit at you. They boo. Some plead…but still, you feel like a target, surrounded by hostility.

But then, another person remains seated, and then another. Fortitude starts to build. An unspoken solidarity builds between you all. Those who are hostile find it more difficult to be aggressive in the face of increased numbers. I am a primary source in this respect. In years past, I have witnessed such things in person. I’m not telling you to stand, to kneel, or to sit. That decision rests upon your own shoulders, but I do personally declare that there is no wrong answer…and I mean that legally…you do have the constitutional right to protest.

By the way…others are taking a knee with Colin Kaepernick:

“Megan Rapinoe stood with Colin Kaepernick by taking a knee during the national anthem on Sunday.” (USA Today)

Anyone who refuses to talk about the real issues surrounding Colin’s protest is clearly uninterested in a resolution.

Colin said it himself, he respects the troops, he respects the first responders, he respects the very anthem to which he is kneeling.

Photo credits in order:

https://quote.com/blog/9-perfectly-patriotic-quotes-american-flag/

http://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/ostler/article/Colin-Kaepernick-s-absence-adds-to-his-mixed-9203153.php

http://time.com/3880999/black-power-salute-tommie-smith-and-john-carlos-at-the-1968-olympics/

http://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/soccer/2016/09/05/89876832/

Some people complain on and on “These celebrities…never using their status and prestige to make a difference…” Oddly, now that one is doing just that, people have a problem with it. To use a proverbial colloquialism WTF. Smh…

https://www.gofundme.com/MultiracialEquality

I created these images in photoshop, and they are part of a presentation that I did on the American Indian Movement during a project on social movements. During the presentation, each part of the photo collage was explained and put into historical and anthropological context.

To begin with, the Native-American symbolism of the Medicine Wheel was contrasted with the flag of the American Indian Movement. It was explained that in most American Indian Nations, the Medicine Wheel represents the sacred concept of four. I then made mention of the four directions, four seasons, and the four types of animals which include those with two legs, four legs, swimming animals, and flying animals. This was expounded upon to demonstrate the Native-American global perspective, including the four colors as they relate to mankind, and the importance of keeping all of these things in balance.

Next, I took a moment to explain the difference between the Indians of All Tribes movement, headed by Richard Oaks, and the American Indian Movement, headed by Russell Means and others. The different perspectives of the two movements was elaborated upon, with the more militant stance of the American Indian Movement explained.

The above image in this series of three is a collage of pictures of Richard Oaks, the leader of the Native-American occupation of Alcatraz island. The protesters held the island for a year and a half. Richard Oakes wanted to establish an American Indian Nation, consisting of all Native-Americans, including the Alaskans. He want this new nation to also function as a school where everyone could come and learn Native-American culture, philosophy, and sacred ways of being.

The third image is a collage of pictures of Adam Fortunate Eagle and his wife Bobby. We know a great deal about the Alcatraz occupation thanks to Fortunate Eagle’s book Alcatraz! Alcatraz! It was further explained that Adam was a major organizer and leader of the movement, though Richard Oakes was the leader, the spokesperson, and the face of the movement.

Please take a look at the full entry along with the research paper on Portfolium:

https://portfolium.com/entry/the-american-indian-movement-1

Check out the video below of Richard Oakes making the Proclomation on Alcatraz island:

For more on the historical Alcatraz Occupation, look here:

The following websites should prove most informative concerning these images, and they are the source for the pictures in the images:

[Video of the Richard Oakes Proclamation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QNfUE7hBUc)
[Documentary: We Hold the Rock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEmae2PsWJI)
[Ilka Hartmann Photography](http://ilkahartmann.squarespace.com/indian-activists/adam-fortunate-eagle/10101210)
[Contrary Warrior: The Life and Times of Adam Fortunate Eagle](http://www.oupressblog.com/author-events/contrary-warrior-the-life-and-times-of-adam-fortunate-eagle/)

The title of the illustration above is Diesel. I illustrated him several years ago, and he has been with me at countless art shows around the city of Atlanta.

I used graphite on Strathmore bristol board, 500 series, 100% rag to create Diesel.

He represents a lot more than muscles and artistic composition. Diesel is a metaphor. He represents the concept of living up to one’s responsibilities as a man.

Imagine if every muscle on Diesel’s chiseled body represents a concept that Diesel has lived up to, paying homage to true masculinity.

He treats the woman in his life with the utmost respect; he encourages her in her goals and in her dreams. He cares for her in a way that is by no means chauvinistic, and yet, Diesel makes her feel like a true woman.

Diesel is an inspiration to his children. His intellect is as massive as his body, and he has an equally firm grasp on spirituality to match. He will teach his male children to be true men, and he will teach his female children how to be empowered women. He will show them that they are equal, and though they are of different genders, they have equally relevant gifts to contribute to society.

Despite his awesome musculature, Diesel is no bully…in fact he abhors bullies. He does not require anyone to develop themselves to the degree that he has developed himself…Diesel simply wants every member of the human race to be treated with respect and dignity. He will not judge you by your sexual orientation, your religion, your physical prowess, or by any other feature that makes you a unique member of society.

In deep thought, we see Diesel, statuesque and stoic as he meditates on humanity. Let his strength be an inspiration to us all.

I am Amazed by this! 30 minutes after I posted Diesel on Portfolium, this happened:

Your portfolio entry “Diesel: Concepts of Manhood in Musculature” has been hand-picked by industry experts, to be featured on the main discover page of Portfolium!

Check out this entry on Portfolium:

https://portfolium.com/entry/diesel-concepts-of-manhood-in-musculature

Check out my entire Portfolium site here:

https://portfolium.com/MichaelHarper7

I took the photo above of the activist Kevin Moran nearly half an hour before his arrest at a protest march in Atlanta. Mr. Moran advocates for the civil rights of people of color, and he was quite vocal during a recent demonstration down Peachtree Rd. in Buckhead. In short, the man demanded justice, specifically in regard to people of color and the biased, violent, and often fatal tactics that police reserve for us. The activism of this gentleman lead to his arrest and hospitalization at Grady Memorial Hospital with injuries sustained while he was being detained by an Atlanta police officer.

Kevin Moran was near me for the first fifteen blocks of the march, and his voice resounded with all of the authority of his years as he made his activism known. He is pleading with white America to recognize the degree to which the criminal justice system is biased, racist, and decidedly unjust.

Mr. Moran was injured and hospitalized during the march. His shoulder does not rotate backward with full mobility, and though he told the arresting officer about his inability to put both hands behind his back, 68 year old Kevin Moran’s shoulder was forced backward as he was handcuffed. His shoulder was dislocated, and from his hospital bed he made a plea that all brothers and sisters of color be treated with respect and dignity, citing years of oppression and indignity that has built up to this moment in history. He was among 16 protesters arrested that day. The video of Mr. Moran, posted to the twitter feed of activist Jim Chambers with the Rise Up organization is below:

Powerful Video of 68yo Kevin Moran in the hospital, injured while being detained by APD today. #ATLisReady pic.twitter.com/FyQMucsoGw

— Fergie Chambers 🇵🇸🇷🇺🇹🇳 (@jccfergie) July 12, 2016

Among the most infuriating aspects of the arrest of this elder is the fact that the police handcuffed him to his hospital bed by the ankle for several hours, despite the fact that he was clearly in pain and obviously not going anywhere. It certainly seems excessive, and this is demonstrated by a photo that was quickly posted to the Twitter feed of the activist Jim Chambers. It is below:

A published article about Mr. Moran is right here:

http://fusion.net/story/324133/atlanta-police-protests-protester-shoulder/

Protests were taking place all over the country at the same time, and while Kevin Moran was expressing his advocacy for justice in Atlanta, Iesha Evans was doing the same thing in Baton Rouge. Ieshia Evans was among 102 protesters who were arrested that day. She was peacefully demonstrating, and she stood her ground before the police arrested her. Her strength in facing these men will likely cause this image to become instantly ingrained into American history.

The two photos below were taken in Baton Rouge by the photographer Jonathan Bachman, and the unwavering poise and dignity of Ieshia Evans simply astounds me:

Protesters often wear bandannas around their mouths when police in full riot gear are deployed…the bandannas are soaked in a special solution to resist tear gas:

In contrast to to the protest in Baton Rouge, the police officers that were deployed to the Atlanta protests did not have on riot gear or body armor (for the most part). There were times that police carrying assault rifles and wearing armor underneath their uniforms appeared, but the mayor, Kasim Reid, made it clear that full riot gear would not be used unless absolutely necessary.

This gesture by the mayor, who was under advisement by Andrew Young, was well-received by those who understand that the tone of a protest changes dramatically when riot police are deployed.

Atlanta has a strong history of protest movements, and after all, Atlanta was the home of the Reverend Dr. Martian Luther King Jr. Luckily, Atlanta is also a city that is accustomed to large crowds and major events, and to their credit the police were very limited in their aggression (though dozens of arrests were made during the 5 day protest). Kevin Moran experienced more pain than most, but let us remember that many innocent people of color are treated with similar indignities as those experienced by Mr. Moran on the streets of Metro Atlanta every day

You can see a lot in the body language and in the eyes of the people that you encounter during a demonstration. Some police officers made subtle nods to us, agreeing with the message, while the expressions of others demonstrated dissatisfaction with the movement. In addition, some officers looked genuinely scared, apparently afraid of finding themselves in some controversial confrontation with protesters.

Many protesters expressed their anguish to the police that were present, making remarks that amount to the realization that skin color, ethnicity, nationality, and other factors should not be a determining factor to the level of justice that is received by citizens of this country. Many police were moved, and they responded favorably. It seemed to bring about a certain amount of healing when events like this occurred. At times people shook hands with the cops, and at other times people yelled at them.

Some protesters were angry with the police, and they verbally insulted them with foul language and pain born out of years of racist police abusing them. To their credit, I saw many of these officers simply take the verbal abuse, and some were even ashamed. I was astonished that this movement has seen protesters screaming at cops, and with the cops making no reaction, in contrast to protests in the 1960s in which it was the police screaming at protesters and receiving no reaction (of course, this does not include the beatings and atrocities committed by the police in that day and age).

Sometimes the police do get angry with you during a demonstration. If you become too exuberant, if too many people are paying attention to a particular message, if you touch the wrong nerve, then the police will start to use very minor laws against you; laws that they do not enforce in other circumstances. For example, if you step a foot on private property, then you are subject to arrest. In an intersection when the light is the wrong color…subject to arrest.

It was hard enough knowing that protesters were at risk for arrest in the Atlanta protests, but the courage by Iesha Evans in the face of armored police officers is impressive and inspiring. Kevin Moran’s passionate plea for social justice resounds heavily for all those who have witnessed his story. The full article in Rolling Stone that documents Iesha’s heroism is below.

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/protestor-in-iconic-black-lives-matter-photo-identified-20160711

Another photo taken with my Olympus E-410 DSLR. This view no longer exists in this form. Now, if one were to go to the place where this picture was taken, the view would be invaded by a new electronic billboard that occupies the bottom right side of the image.

Another well-received entry at my Portfolium site:

https://portfolium.com/entry/what-a-fine-city

https://portfolium.com/michaelharper7

I would like to spend this year sharing my adventures as a graduating senior, celebrating the completion of my degree in History with a minor in Anthropology. I am not undertaking this project for self-gratification; I just want the events that I have seen to be chronicled by someone who has been taught these illustrious disciplines by our fine university.

There is a lot going on in this remarkable city of ours, and I have spent a lot of time enjoying the energy of the times. Recent years have been quite passionate in America as a whole, including Atlanta, and there are events, symposiums, protest rallies, night life and ambiance all over this town. Along with the turmoil over so many people crying out for justice, there are tranquil moments in the city. Lovely moments even…

In addition to the disciplines I mentioned above, I have been taught both fine art and photography by several masters of those fields. Why wouldn’t I take a little time to chronicle what has been going on around our fine city? At the very least, I wish to share the noteworthy events to which I bear witness as I spend this final year on the concrete campus…until the time comes for a graduate degree. 🙂

To my surprise and exuberance, Portfolium.com chose my photo above as a Staff Pick, displaying it prominently.  Here is the text from my entry:

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Major cities across the United States were greeted by protests after the recent police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille. These two men were killed by police officers during events that escalated quickly, and with no provocation by these men, both of whom died as a result of unwarranted deadly force by the officers involved.

The city of Atlanta was filled with protesters, outraged that these killings happened mere days apart. News estimates of 10,000 to 15,000 people took to the streets of the city in protest. The mayor of Atlanta made appearances among the protesters, answering a few questions and presumably demonstrating leadership during trying times.

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I took the photos above during the march down Lenox Road and the subsequent march down Peachtree Rd. The sit-in that you see in these photos shows protesters shutting down the busiest intersection in the city of Atlanta! The common thread among all of the people that you see involved in the protest is the desire for true justice and human dignity.

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Many would make the argument that there is more black-on-black violence than there is police-on-black violence, and thus, those of us who protest these injustices should also be advocating for the end of black-on-black violence. Personally, I advocate for moral responsibility by all members of society, especially the police.  I advocate for an end of unwarranted violence by human beings against one another, whether they be civilians, private security, law enforcement, bounty hunters, or correctional officers, but another point must be made in relation to the black-on-black argument.

Firstly, the police are a government-sponsored entity which is to be held to the standard of “serving and protecting”. If the police are killing unarmed and innocent people, then they are engaged in state-funded violence against citizens. Further, there is indeed more black-on-black violence than there is police-on-black violence, but there is also more white-on-white violence and more Asian-on-Asian violence and so forth. Naturally, the violence committed against any ethnicity is likely to take place in that ethnicity’s own neighborhood. All that it takes is a little bit of the most basic human empathy to comprehend this. Such an understanding destroys the above mentioned black-on-black argument with ease.

Also, those who have taken to the streets are sick and tired of police killing unarmed suspects without any degree of justice or reprisal. This has caused some to even take the fight to the police, which I do Not advocate, but the level of sheer desperation that has been experienced by the public is still made manifest by these actions. Many of us would love to look up to the police, but with the knowledge that many people like us have been murdered, unarmed at that…well one can see how a simple police action can result in dread, despair, fear, intimidation, and hopelessness for many of us.

There is much more to be posted very soon, including video footage that I took at various protest marches and more photos as well.

CNN Video footage of the murder of Alton Sterling is below:

Highly sensitive video of Philando Castille, streamed on Facebook:

I answered each question with my true internet behavior and each answer was correct except for one…

It is very advisable to avoid flame wars with trolls. This is a given, but instead of refusing to respond to trolls, in some places, I have a habit of giving them a chance to redeem themselves. There is a natural tendency in me for conflict resolution, and often, the rudest, most disrespectful trolls turn out to be true human beings if you take a moment to get to know them.

It’s kind of like meeting people in person. Some women and men walk around with such a stubborn, angry attitude that it is almost palatable. All it takes is for someone of the opposite sex to say “Come on now…smile sweetheart!”, and instantly, nine times out of ten, she will bust out with a big, sincere grin.

There’s a lot of people out there who want attention. Many do not care if it is positive or negative. Trolls seek negative attention. Sometimes, if they receive positive attention instead, then they will verbally bust out with a smile like the angry grad student you pass in the hall. It does not happen every time, but I’ve actually seen many trolls apologize for their rudeness…and even say thanks for setting them straight. I know this small skirmish may break out into a flame war, but it is easy for me to contain such flare-ups, though as I said earlier, it is best not to reply at all.

I do not respond to trolls on sites like Facebook or Portfolium, but there are other places where it has been completely feasible to stand up for something. I was taught to defend myself…do not start the fight, but do finish it. Instead of verbally beating a troll to a pulp, which I can do by the way, I prefer to give them a chance to explain themselves…what’s Really bothering them? This unexpected moment in which I flip the entire thing back on them usually causes the troll to exhibit respect, and even want to express remorse for being such an @$$.

Truthfully, the troll is usually not concerned with the disgusting criticism that they impose on you, but rather, they often have some self-esteem issue regarding their own life, and lash out at anyone who will hear them. If we all took a moment to recognize the scared child in a lot of “disagreeable people”, then society may actually take a moment to try and help them to heal. It really isn’t about the troll’s criticism of your point…it is their lack of respect for themselves…

But my recommendation is to Do As Your Professor Says! Do as the textbook says, and do what the Netiquette Quiz recommends. Ignore that ish. 🙂

A Breif Exploration of JustFacts.com Using Parameters in Accordance With  the CRAAP Test

Regarding Currency, the website’s copyright has been updated to the current year, and it has a fresh appearance. Consequently, it is likely relevant to current times.

Regarding Relevance, the site boasts that it is “A Resource for Independent Thinkers”. This seems to be no exaggeration, as the articles and content are very interesting, and their post on race seems quite thorough and informative.

Regarding Authority, the website boasts that is is cited worldwide by prominent organizations, and each is listed, giving credence to the site’s overall authority.

Regarding Accuracy, I have reviewed many posts on the site, and as an undergraduate senior in History and Anthropology, my searches did not find any inaccurate results.

Regarding Purpose, the site seems to exist to promote rational thought and widespread education.

A Brief Exploration of FactCheck.org Using Parameters in Accordance With the CRAAP Test

Regarding Currency, the site is certainly current, as most posts are in reference to the current race for president, and it details the stances and soundbites of various candidates.

Regarding Relevance, the site is clearly relevant, as there is much that has been written about the candidates and the current president.

Regarding Authority, the site claims that it “Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.”. There is no reason to believe this to be untrue. It has won numerous awards providing this service.

Regarding Accuracy, the site often gives rebuttals to the sound bites of various politicians, and does not seem to discriminate. For example, President Obama is categorized as misleading the public regarding the economy, and Donald Trump is categorized as having said any number of hateful things that are indeed in the press lately.

Regarding Purpose, the site certainly seems to serve a non-partisan purpose, and clearly debunks many dubious statements made by politicians on both sides of the aisle.