saw a black kid walk by today with blue cropped hair, an electric guitar and an amp. couldn't help but smile and say hello.

afropunk is alive and kicking; i've seen it with my own eyes.

been tuneing down the grunge this week however. walked around in snow boots all day monday because i was trying to make a good impression (sadly, my 'totes' are the most *pc footwear i have). been having an eventful couple of days however... big improvement from last week's midterm crises (82, 73 & 58) and my fliration with dropping out of school. After wanting to be more than a mediocre student, i feel like i've finalyl hammered out the kinks.

On Monday, after contesting my grade in political econony, I attended a lecture about EPZs in Bangladesh. Three sweathshops workers spoke to audience members in Bengali. Then, after the talk was over, I joined lecturers, professors and students for dinner. Over the meal, got the chance to chat up an anti- sweathshops expert for about 45 minutes. The conversation was thrilling.. talked strategy, considered the multi fibre aggrement, and gave him the speel on kenyan epzs. to my delight, he responded that he was interested in helping workers in Kenya. Before parting, I gave him a copy of KHRC's "Manufacturing Poverty" report, as well as mu contact info. Feeling really good about things, and really optimistic that good things will come our of the partnerhsip.

Oddly enough, sweatshops has been the theme of my week. During tuesday's marco lecture, my professor told the class sweatshops are 'necessary,' and promote sustainable development. Naturally, I felt compelled to respond. In fact, I addressed the entire auditorium of students -- 150 people in total -- and gave them my tour cents. Namely, that corporations were greedy ass bastards.

Wednesday's political economy class was also about (surprise surprise) multinational corporations (MNCs) and export processing zones. Got into a debate with several classmates for the duration of the class. Since econmists don't talk about how
mulitnations discourage sustainable development, no one in my class was willing to admit they do. However, I delivered the relevant human rights analyses at every possibly interval -- including, the way in which MNCs handicap state sovreignty and governance. It was invigorating, really. By the end of the discussion, everyone finally started to listen and agree.

Sheesh.. I'm starting to feeling really good about my campus role as activist/ antagonist... happy that I can argue down economists, happy that KHRC is starting to listen, happy that i have been able to influence my peers. also happy that i'm finally starting to get into the swing of things. if all goes well, i will begin work at a refugee resettlement agency this week. a definite area of interest.. also, since the agency works with people from all over, i might even be able to make use of my french and chinese..

yale, up yours: i am a rock i am a stone i am alone