damali ayo • gazing through big black eyes

I’m Back!
damali returns to the stage to stir things up about racism once again.

I am writing today to announce that after a few months off the racism-lecture circuit, I am returning to the stage to continue this much needed dialogue.

This year, I hit a wall of intense burn-out. There were many factors involved in my decision in April to take my leave from the battle to fight racism, but over the last six months, I’ve watched where our country is going in the new-found “age of Obama.” What I’ve seen and experienced has been profound. This conversation is needed now more than ever. This is an incredible opportunity to examine the way racism works in our country.

Earlier this month as I was photographing some of the Panhandling for Reparations performers a nearby woman, who could not stop laughing, kept saying “things are changing...one of them is about to be president.” This summed up the situation so clearly. Yes one of “them” is about to be president, so soon, none of “them” will need to be listened to any longer.

But then, what made the the timber of this time so clear to me was a simple gesture that occurred while I was walking my dog in my neighborhood one afternoon.

A man yelled “nigger” at me.

And it was here that I realized the dual level of what we will be dealing with in this new “changed” time.

I need to be with you in this conversation continuing the work I do to help people find the tools to advance their understanding of race, and to connect and learn from each other.

Let’s do this together by bringing me to your community or school to present the tools of the I Can Fix It conversation, to talk about my experience as an artist and racism educator, and to help generate dialogue in your world. In appreciation for your welcoming me back, I would like to connect personally with anyone who brings me to talk. If you help to organize my visit to your community, I would include in that visit a personal chat over coffee with you and a group of your friends.

You might be asking, “what happened to CROW Clothing?” Well, the economy happened to CROW. Sadly we launched just as things started going downhill and we were not able to get the backing we needed to continue past our proof-of-concept phase. We were not alone, two other eco-clothing companies in Portland alone closed this summer as well. It was a wonderful effort, and brilliant experiment and all of us who were involved can leave saying that we created a “first” in the world- the first sliding-scale clothing company. For this we are proud.


If you would like to bring me to your school or community, drop a line to damali@damaliayo.com. I look forward to seeing you all once again.

Yours always,

damali

Please also JOIN THE NEW BLOG at http://damaliayo.blogspot.com

Hello Portland Folks,

It is an honor to invite you to a rare talk I am giving next week at PSU.

Kick off to:
Bitch Magazine’s “Feminist Perspectives in Pop Culture” lecture series

http://www.wrc.pdx.edu/shesheet/wordpress/?p=242

This will be a candid look at my life as a social change artist. I will share my motivations, my journey, childhood photos and talk about where I’ve been, where I’m going and how I think others can continue the work I’m doing. I would really love to see you there, at this special occasion and a wonderful open-hearted conversation.

September 30th Tuesday, 7pm
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Ballroom 1825 SW Broadway
the cost is $10 at the door, all proceeds going to bitch magazine, the sponsor.

Feel free to blog and cross-post this event.

Please also visit: http://fixracism.com for info on an exciting training I’m holding in October. I would love to have you be a part of it.

damali

Please Join Us in this Exciting Event!

This powerful and effective presentation gets people to challenge racism on a very plain and basic level that they cannot avoid. Sometimes controversial, always entertaining, this guide and the presentation has been used in communities around the globe. Now you can disseminate this guide yourself.

damali trains new speakers to give her talk on 10 practical solutions for how to create healthier, more productive racial interactions. The training will be in in Portland, Oregon. Friday, participants get to enjoy damali’s humor and style as they see her give the presentation in it’s full glory. Saturday we work together to insert our own stories and experiences into the presentation to make it your own. The following Saturday we reconvene after trying the presentation in the world, and discuss challenges, further questions, and receive certification. Facilitation and presentation skills will be covered. PowerPoint slides, audio and visuals will be given as part of the training. Participants will be given a certificate of completion and encouraged to bring the talk to schools and communities.

Dates (The training takes place over three sessions):
October 17, 6-9pm
October 18, 8am -1pm
October 25, 8am -1pm

Location: Portland, OR
If you would like to bring this training to your area and have an group of 10-20 people, we would love to come to you!

Cost: $250
Participants will be certified to give the I Can Fix It! presentation and can charge for this service. Scholarship are available.

Bring:
Your sense of humor, your stories and your heart.

Further information and APPLICATION available here:
Website:
http://fixracism.com/

Blog:
http://fixracism.blogspot.com/

Email:
speakercorps@fixracism.com

This was a really really nice note sent to me by a member of my list.
Thank you Tom!
You keep me inspired to keep looking for ways to get things moving in this world.

damali

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Dear damali, I have something beautiful to share with you.

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=148028

This is a clip of the Colbert Report from January, when the writers
strike was happening, and Colbert invited Andrew Young on the show to
talk about how Young and Colbert’s father settled a strike in the 60’s
in Charleston. It’s a beautiful example of mutual respect and
admiration to achieve resolution of a conflict, and if you’ve not seen
it, please do watch.

I sent it to you because I respect and admire you very much, for all
you’ve done in the past with art and activism. You’re an example to me
that one person can and does make a difference for positive change!

Congratulations on CROW, I know it is going to grow and flourish under
your guidance to become another reason for Americans to hope that
together we can and will fix what’s wrong with this nation. You totally
rock.

Sincerely,
Tom in Sheboygan

Catch damali on the Road!
(please contact the school if the venue is not listed)
Don’t see your Town? Request a Lecture.

2007

September
4 Hampshire College, Amherst, MA Robert Crown Center 7pm "I Can Fix It" lecture
13-14 Connecticut College, New London, CT
19 College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 3pm living flag on campus 5:30 dinner 8pm  "I Can Fix It" lecture

October
10 National Day of Panhandling for Reparations Join the Performance!
18 Suffolk County Community College
19 North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 7pm  "I Can Fix It" lecture
30 Bradley University, Peoria IL 7pm  "I Can Fix It" lecture

November
6 American International College Springfield MA 7pm "I Can Fix It" lecture
 reception and book signing to follow
8 Hudson Valley Community College, Troy NY
14 U of Wisconsin/River Falls 8pm  "I Can Fix It" lecture


2008

February
Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA 11:30 am  "I Can Fix It" lecture
 with lunch and book signing after