Black Ink Bird

I have decided to extend the coloring contest deadline to Friday, August 21st, 2009, by midnight. :)

http://joamette.deviantart.com/journal/25804301/

-Joamette Gil

Blackbirds‘ first major review: so exciting! Please take the time to read it at SequentialTart.com, if you’d be so kind. ^_^

http://sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=6732&issue=2009-08-03

Blackbirds also got a mention over at ComicsGirl.com: take a gander at that as well! ;)

Blackbirds is available for sale at IndyPlanet.com! Use the link below, or just visit IndyPlanet.com and search the keyword BLACKBIRDS.

http://www.indyplanet.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2298

This is a wonderful critique of our social institutions, particularly the failing tactics they employ against poverty everyday: our educators and welfare providers are under that false impression that the key difference between the lower and middle classes is values.

The real difference: money.

You’d think the people governing would get that.

http://elizabitchez.blogspot.com/2009/07/middle-class-values-dont-solve-poverty.html

My one qualm with the opinions expressed therein is the (what I believe to be false) dichotomy of poor students vs. gifted and AP students in schools. As I can only speak based on my personal experience, growing up I was always surrounded by children and young adults just as poverty-stricken as I was in all of my classes, which were always gifted, honors, AP, and Baccalaureate classes. The dichotomy was only false, however, because I grew up in Miami, FL, whose population is comprised almost entirely of immigrant people of color. It could still be argued that a stark divide does in fact exist between students placed in advanced classes and students who come to school every day from an impoverished household in neighborhoods and cities living under the national norm of white supremacist patriarchy.

Just keep in mind that bubbles of non-white supremacy do exist here and there in the United States, although they may be few and far between (not to mention examples of the oppressed mimicking their oppressors).

-Joamette Gil

Hey all!

I’m holding a coloring contest with a free PDF copy of Blackbirds as the grand prize. Just visit my DA page for full details and the high resolution line art! Note: If you don’t use DeviantArt, DON’T WORRY! You can still participate. That information is also available at the link provided. =)

Here’s a peak at the artwork you’ll need to color. I hope you enjoy it!

Love and peace!
Joamette Gil