Freshjive’s delivery 2 is inspired by the German Expressionist Movement’s eventual influence on the militarization and privatization of public spaces with its corporate-governmental liasions being directly responsible for the emerging police state and the growing inequality in our society.
View the full lookbook HERE and the product detail HERE. Available now at select retailers worldwide.
Written by Jason Rosencrantz
The congenital racism of the United States, the heritage of an economic order based on slave labor and the absurd culture of white supremacy, endures all too obviously.
Not only can one perceive this systemic racism in the broad brushstrokes of the demographics of poverty and incarceration, but also in the relentless cascade of tragic stories about black and brown lives disrupted or cut short with impunity by state (and state condoned) violence.
The case of Travon Martin has triggered an increase of media attention on such narratives, all of which expose the contradictions of a political order which pays lip service to an ideology of equal rights for all but which in practice adheres to a racial hierarchy of justice. Here are just a few stories from recent months:
September 21, 2011 The State of Georgia executes Troy Anthony Davis for the murder of off-duty Savannah police officer, despite that “seven of the nine nonpolice witnesses later recanted or changed their testimony, some alleging police intimidation for their original false statements.”
November 19, 2011 Police in White Plains, NY, responding to an accidental medical alert, begin to break into the home of 68-year-old former Marine Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. When Chamberlain protests that they are not needed, a police officer is recorded as screaming “I don’t give a f*** n*****, open the door.” Then the police break in and taser the elderly Chamberlain to death.
March 7, 2012 Plain clothes police enter a home in New Orleans on the authority of a search warrant for a marijuana offense and shot and killed unarmed high school basketball player Wendell Allen. Hear his mother speak in this video.
March 21, 2012. Responding to a “disturbance” in a Chicago neighborhood, an off-duty plain clothes police officer identifies himself as a cop and then starts shooting at Antonio Cross, probably because cell phones in black hands look like guns to the police. Innocent bystander 22-year-old Reika Boyd is fatally shot in the head. Chicago police call the killing “justified“. Survivors and family members speak out here.
April 4, 2012 Police in Newport, CA force baseball star Tori Hunter to present his ID at gunpoint in his own home. Luckily, he was not murdered by the police.
50% of the proceeds of this T will go to the Occupy The Hood L.A. Action Assembly, which is both an Occupy L.A. affinity group as well as a local chapter of the national Occupy the Hood network. The Occupy the Hood L.A. Action Assembly has been organizing around issues of housing rights and police harassment, as well as other issues. A media wing called Occupy Shadow Media has been producing video reports which show What The Fuck is Really Going On.
T-shirt available exclusively at Reserve Online.
Written by Jason Rosencrantz
Like D.W. Griffith’s epic 1915 film, the United States was born racist.
Though the framers of the U.S. Constitution were intellectually inspired by Enlightenment principles of universal human rights, their culture of white supremacy and economic interests blinded them to the humanity of dark skinned people.
This racism was written into the founding legal document of the United States. In Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the U.S. Constitution, a distinction is made between “free Persons” and “other Persons”:
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.
The “other persons” were of course the population of black slaves, who counted as 3/5ths of a “free Person” for the sake of determining appropriate levels of taxation and representation in the House.
After the Civil War, this “3/5th Compromise” was rendered moot by the 13th Amendment’s abolition of chattel slavery, while the 14th Amendment superseded Acricle 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution and guaranteed “due process” and “equal protection” to every “person”.
But today, even after the election of a mixed-race President, these Constitutional guarantees remain elusive in practice, where institutional and cultural racism are reflected in disproportionate poverty and incarceration rates for dark-skinned people.
And then there are those all too common and ugly episodes, like the recent killing of the unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, which throw this endemic racism into high relief.
50% of the proceeds of this T will be going to the Occupy The Hood L.A. Action Assembly. T-shirt available exclusively at Reserve Online.
Written By Max Gibson
As a sacred symbol of faith to her legions of devotees, Santa Muerte serves as a symbol of worship to millions throughout Mexico. Translated to mean “Saint Death” in English the role of Santa Muerte is inextricably tied to the omnipresence of death and the celestial. Embraced by civilians who occupy much of Mexico’s lower class, for many Santa Muerte has replaced Catholicism as their primary religion.
Santa Muerte’s following has grown considerably throughout Mexico over the past forty years. Although the true origins of the faith vary depending on the source, many believe that the tradition of Santa Muerte personified in the form of a female skeleton is a syncretism of pre-Columbian and Christian beliefs. In European Christian traditions, human mortality is represented through skeletons in art. Moreover, in Latin American Catholic traditions, the skeleton was often used as a reminder to confess one’s sins.
After Saint Bernard of Clairvaux died, August 20, 1153, he was portrayed in the form of a skeleton. Associating the notion of death with Saint Bernard’s skeletal depictions, many people considered the Saint’s portrayal as a symbol of death. Taking on various interpretations since its inception, the skeletal image of the Saint evolved into a female form imitative of the Aztecan goddess of death, Mictecacihuatl.
While the roots of the devotion remain speculative, popular opinion points to the 1940s as the time when the cult of Santa Muerte blossomed into the form known today. Widely embraced throughout lower-class neighborhoods of Mexico City, the cults’ following has grown considerably within the past two decades.
Public Display
Although Santa Muerte’s following has grown considerably within the past two decades, the practice of devotion is only beginning to emerge in public. Previously practiced within the privacy of one’s home, shrines dedicated to the Saint have now begun to appear throughout Mexico, with many altars emerging in the most impoverished slums such as Mexico City’s Tepito barrio.
Now celebrated in an increasing number of public spaces, additional symbols have emerged as a result of Santa Muerte’s growing popularity. Worshipped by her devotees, followers of Santa Muerte often leave valued possessions in the form of offerings. Candles have also taken on their own meanings in regards to the cult as well, with offerings of different colored candles providing the promise of various forms of well being for her followers. For example, blue candles are offered to heal the sick, while green is offered to help with legal problems, the yellow candle is for monetary help while white candles are offered purely to give thanks.
Her Following
Unrecognized and often condemned by the Catholic Church, the majority of Santa Muerte’s following live on the periphery of what many consider “legitimate society.” Disillusioned with the Catholic Church for its inability to deliver them from poverty, many of Mexico’s poor have gravitated to Santa Muerte instead. Additionally, the criminal underworld joined the impoverished and unlawful in devoting themselves to the deity, as for many, the cult of Santa Muerte reflects their uncertain and often dangerous way of life.
From drug traffickers to prostitutes, to gang members and petty thieves, legions of devotees recognize Santa Muerte as their principal goddess. It’s what anthropologists call a “cult of crisis,” a social phenomenon that occurs during times of wide-spread social and economic hardship. Devotion to Santa Muerte peaks during such times, as those going through particularly trying experiences seek hope in the goddess. Although many of Santa Muerte’s followers are not criminals, the cult has still received negative public perception throughout Mexico for being linked to organized crime. Criminals and drug traffickers, often superstitious and highly pious, pray to the goddess to protect them despite their illicit endeavors. Additionally, altars dedicated to the goddess have been found in drug houses throughout Mexico and the U.S.
The influence of Santa Muerte is only growing. Originally embraced within Mexico, today the cult is spreading into the United States through immigration. In large metropolitan centers within New York, Texas and Southern California, the cult is becoming more visible as more people gravitate to the tradition.
Introducing the first official “Kid Yamaka” t shirt. Custom made from heavyweight carded cotton, the shirt will only be available at his fights or online as of this Friday. In classic boxing tradition we’ll also have available collectors pins and stickers and a limited edition hand silkscreened poster.
We’ve also designed a custom made team cardigan for his crew including his cut man and coaches Eric Brown and Freddy Roach. Made of high quality denim, canvas and velvet, the cardigan reflects Zach’s personal influence with roots in traditional boxing style.
This upcoming Saturday is Zac’s 3rd professional fight. It will be held at the Warner Center Marriot and tickets can be purchased online at Bashboxing.com. Keep up with Zac at Zacharywohlman.com
original graphic 2008