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"A Black Woman’s Song” A dose of Reality from Sha Rene’s poetry book “Words Can Explain” Article by Elaine Stevenson July 25, 2008 Sometimes you come across and artist who captures things you are feeling but afraid to say. Her poem, “A Black Woman’s Song” found its way into her book, “Words Can Explain” at the last minute. Sha describes all that we are as Black Women and how we do everything. To hear everything all at once takes your breath away as the list is so long. Not only is it long, her poem puts you in the place of performing all of these tasks simultaneously.
Imagine as Sha speaks, “I am the man and the woman, the king and the queen; I am the sun and the moon, in the same scene.
Sha Rene has this to say, “I always wondered why you see a landscape painting and its either morning or night or dusk or dawn and you never see both in the same painting when I know there is this moment one is risen and one is fallen and both are bright. I feel that is what we are, the sun and the moon.”
Sha Rene’s poetry is made for stage and as we listen to the roles that black women play it is a painting in words to hear, “I am the book and the bookmaker, the idea and the dream, I am the Chef and the Secretary, I am the Mop and the Pail and sometimes I go and get my nails done. Getting our nails done is the one luxury we have after a hard days and nights work. It is the one thing that can make us feel feminine again as the media continues to portray the Black woman in as Sha Rene’ says in her poem a “vile light.” Count the times you see a Black women on TV in 2008 look like Angela Davis. No offense she is beautiful but not all we are. Media wants to strip us of our womanhood and when we are shown as feminine it’s a role in prostitution so to speak.
So where is the Million Black Women’s March? It is time. Black Women are dying young because we can’t do it all!
This week was an important week in Cable Television. CNN aired, “Black in America.” The reporter Soledad O’Brien noted the stats. The stats were unbelievable as everyone I told the stats to refused to believe the numbers. I said to Black friends, Black women out-number Black men 70-1 and they refused to believe it. 90% African Americans in DC with HIV, my friends said, “No Way!” “The numbers must be wrong!” So as the Black family becomes extinct, Sha Rene’ in her spoken words means for people not only to be inspired but aware, enlightened, amazed.
Sha recites, “I am the one who comes from “The Largest Land, from where makeup comes and kohl and diamonds in the mine” Sha says, “Be proud Black Women and stay sweet along the way. Society makes it hard to do so. And to the strong black brothers holding it down I Thank you! You can buy Sha Rene’s book, “Words Can Explain” at Barnes & Noble and hundreds of retailers as well as around the world on line.
Sha Rene’ Thanks the strong Black Men who own and run The Philadelphia Clef Club! “They are a positive role model. Keep the spoken words and neo soul alive!
A Special Thanks to Charles Gindraw and my lovely new friend Arden for making this nite possible!
What does one do when he or she has lost a child? What does one do? The African American community in the greater Philadelphia area has been faced with this problem for many years and there is an orgaization dedicated to peace! I was asked to create and recite a poem for this Blessed event, "The Mother's in Charge, 5th Anniversary, "Commemoration of Peace!" This organization is head up by Dorothy Johnson-Speight. There was a crowd of about 300 people who gathered at the Hyatt Penns Landing in Philadelphia to pay respects to those who lost loved ones. The mothers and new generation of children who want peace were the stars of the night!
"Peace in Me" I hear the sound of a sister Talkin' to her brother I hear a sound of a mother walkin' out the door from sellin Avon I hear the screech of a car and a pop of my brother's fate I see Mom cryin' at the footstep My brother's afraid of someone who looks like him I know a Mother in Charge that can be my mother's friend I see a nephew and a neice playin' with Tonka Trucks I pray for Peace so they can have better luck See God gives us hope to walk on water with our relatives and our friends My other brother did not make it to the very end I am Thankful for the Love & the family and the friends where Mother's take a stand and loudly stay the course to show the young a better way to show the young another day Yes, I can rap but choose to say or use my words to walk the faith of anyone who believes that we can Save ourselves that we can Love ourselves and there can be a "Peace in Me" Peace in our streets Peace in our homes Peace in our cars, Peace when on the bedroom floor when looking out at the stars Peace in our dreams so we won't talk in our sleepNow I hand to you the MIC!
This event was produced by: Roy Campbell of Logan Entertainment Aired on NBC10 News (Philadelphia) May 13, 2008
JIGGY? Well you can git "Jiggy" wit it or you can P Puff Daddy Diddy wit it! (There I go freestylin' again) Is that Sean John? You can be "Formerly Known As!" the Artist (my Prince) or just plain "Fabulous." I like him! Pretty cool huh? This post is written for my new friends who asked about, Keeping their stage names or in writing taking on a pen name. First there are different approaches depending on where and how you wish to use your name. I keep going back to one famous line in the movie, "What's Love Got to do with it" by my favorite actress, Angela Basset. When Tina Turner responded to what she wanted from Ike in the movie, played by another great, Lawrence Fishburne. In the divorce preceeding the judge asked what she wanted and she responded, "ALL I WANT IS MY NAME!" If you are a star, its nothing hard to select your name because boy have there been some really dumb names of bands and groups over the years. I'll let you send me some dumb band names. What makes it special is that the names are "branded." Now what do I mean by branded? You can brand through the work you do or you can brand by just doing something dumb or you can brand by endorsing a product or even ways we choose not to mention here. Sometimes things are branded by just some kid in the streets making up a tag line, like Mickey D's. I bet McDoanld's doesn't even know that came from a 70's slang from a black kid in the ghetto who started making up the name and it finally moved on. KFC came from the ghetto as well. Somehow the corporate executives think it is their own when indeed we made it up! In lieu of this, even a government name may be branded like Elliot Spritzer. Many didn't even know who he was until he did something really stupid! Now I am not telling anyone to go out and be stupid. I will tell you about many ways to get your name out there in a positive light! So this blog never comes back to haunt me if I ever do or did something stupid I atest that I have no way of knowing how my name that was branded in the 80's will be branded now! So on we go to Government names!
STAGE NAME VS. GOVERNMENT NAME? Most people don't know why we blacks use the term "government name." There is a history behind that and we can use that for a further discusion. Anyone who wants to blog back on that can, but now in the streets err'body has a tag name or a nickname. Your "birthname" on your certificate is the legal name to use on contracts in the music industry as well as your legal stage name. Now I will explain what I mean by legal. Your name that is associated with your social security number is the one used for taxes and all legal documentation but when you are an artist the contract may read as the name, Sha Rene'hereto known as the recording artist, and legally known as Sharon Rene Summers confirms this agreement on this day of (whatever date). This also typically will match the signature on a check, but know that there was never a legal act designed by the government to mandate a signature. My mom used to sign her name Louella. She never liked her name Lou Ellen. She had her personal stage name because she went by that name 4ever! So you could actually sign different. If someone knows more rules on this please blog me. Now if you are the songwriter, use your legal name becuase it is the name that the Unites State Copyright must have in order for you and your relatives to get payment through your lifetime and after your lifetime. No, you can't copyright a name! You will Trademark as I will explain later in this post. I will do a post on how to create copyright for a book and a Music CD next month. On an LP record back in the day my songrwriter's legal name appears under the title of the song. On a CD the same applies in the printed jacket under the lyric sheet or in the list in the Liner notes.This is one of my records, "I'm Good For You."
STAGE NAME VS.PENNAME? There are differences in the two as pen is for books and stage is for performance. If you are a singer and a poet try to keep them the same. If you are a musician and an author try to keep them the same. Keep it simple! If you are only an author and will never perform use your pen name as the pen name becomes your media circut name. Pen name is also not the same as "Ghost writer." It's called Ghost for a reason! Your book will have both pen and legal names.
My poetry book, "Words Can Explain" as you can see has my stage name on the cover.
Just make certain your pen name is on the cover. You can have more than one Stage name branded like who? Diddy, PDiddy, Puff Daddy, Sean John, Puffy Combs or Sean Puffy Combs! How the heck does anyone even Google him? I actually really like him. I met him in person back stage of "A Raisin in the Sun!" He is great! TRADEMARKING Your stage name if you create a logo for it becomes a mark and the name itself to be in business commerce use also may be trademarked for business use. My company was Sha Rene Music as my Music publishing company. You may register on-line at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.htmlThere are many legal attorneys who specialize in Trademark law and it is best to go through an attorney. The first time I trademarked I did this with an attorney for $500.00 Now I am sure it can cost up to $1,000.00 depending on the lawyer, where he files, how many filings he has and how much advice he supplies. I like a new web site: Legal Zoom.com I don't know if you know but Bob Shapiro is a famous trial lawyer who owns this internet site!
Subject Matter of Copyright Copyright protection under the copyright code (title 17, section 102, U.S. Code) extends only to “original works of authorship.” The statute states clearly that ideas and concepts cannot be protected by copyright. To be protected by copyright, a work must contain at least a certain minimum amount of authorship in the form of original literary, musical, pictorial, or graphic expression. Names, titles, and other short phrases do not meet these requirements.
Protection under Trademark or Unfair Competition Laws Some brand names, trade names, slogans, and phrases may be entitled to protection under the general rules of law relating to unfair competition, or they may be entitled to protection and registration under the provisions of state or federal trademark laws. The federal trademark statute covers trademarks and service marks—those words, phrases, symbols, or designs that identify the source of the goods or services of one party and distinguish them from those of others. The Copyright Office has no role in these matters.
For questions on trademarks or for information on registering a federal trademark, write to:
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks U.S. Patent and Trademark Office P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Or call the Patent and Trademark help line at (800) 786-9199 (tty: (571) 272-9950). Internet information is available at www.uspto.gov
GETTING A STAR NEXT TO YOUR NAME!
Now for the fun part getting your name out there! Here a re some tips! 1. Once you pick a name don't change it until after you are famous then you can have as many as Diddy! 2. To everyone you see intoduce yourself, "Hi my name is" Slim Shady! 3. Get your name onto everything you can, flyers, cards, posters etc. 4. Tell everyone to tell everyone about you and your CD or book 5. Get your name on the radio, TV and magazines 6. If you are somewhere where media is flashing pictures make certain to give your spelling of your name to the camera person without being pushy. 7 Use the internet and place your stage or pen name on all of your web sites! 8. Hire a publicist! Your name will be out there in a jiffy!Come back to talk with me about making your name big and getting your CD and music out there!
This week I was asked by so many artists, "How do I promote myself?" I say you should reach for the stars. I have a new campaign with this name and it is to help "Words Can Explain" get to the stage! Have you ever wondered how you can get to the people you want to meet? You have a CD and you are trying to get it played on the radio or get the CD into a real store. Have you just wrote your book and you have a manuscript and don't know what to do next? Each week I will respond to questions on, "How to be a star" Being a star doesn't mean that you wind up in Rolling Stone Magazine although it may be nice. Get as much press as you can get, meet as many people as you can meet and have as many people listen to you and they will tell 2 friends and "so on and so on."
Yes, selling your CD's or books from the back trunk of your car is one avenue. And you would be in good company like Michael Baisden or L.Ron Hubburd. I am right now doing the same but your on-line avenues are fantastic now with iTunes and CDBaby and now coutless others. I just found SNOCAP. Having your own official web site is important too. Check out mine at: http://sha-rene.com There are now YouTube Stars and Facebook Stars and MySpace Stars. Yes the virtual world has it limitations but it takes you to the outside world if you are consistent and persistant.
Remember nothing takes the place of having a real press agency and publicist working for you as they have all of the contacts. Agents and managers are needed as well. But never loose the opportunity to make yourself a star."
In my blog, I will detail how you can use industry tricks to promote and sell your Music CD and your Books. I happen to have both Music and Poetry so I have some experience in both areas. My 12" single,"I'm Good for You" played allover the world and now my book, "Words Can Explain" is available all over the world as well. So come and visit me each week to find out how you can market yourself! So you wanna be a star? Blog me and tell me about it or ask me some questions!
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