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Politics: Mean Marjorie Taylor Greene

Portrait of Marjorie Taylor Greene by the artist Tomcat23 for Tony Ward Studio
Marjorie Taylor Greene. Artwork by Thomcat23, Copyright 2024

Text by Claude2

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Edited by Tony Ward

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Marjorie Taylor Greene has made headlines since her election to Congress in 2020 for her controversial and often extreme political stances. As a vocal supporter of former President Trump and his “Make America Great Again” movement, Greene has propagated disproven conspiracy theories, expressed racist and anti-Semitic views, and supported overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

While Greene’s blond hair and brash speaking style may appeal to some of her supporters, her political positions and statements are deeply troubling. She has endorsed dangerous QAnon conspiracy theories, including the false claim that Democratic leaders are part of a satanic pedophile ring. Greene has also denied school shootings like the Sandy Hook massacre, harassed teenage survivors of school shootings, and trafficked in anti-Semitic tropes.

As an elected leader, Marjorie Taylor Greene has a responsibility to serve all her constituents, not just those who share her extreme ideological views. Her hateful rhetoric and endorsement of disinformation have no place in Congress. While she is entitled to her opinions, her false and discriminatory statements make her unfit for public office.

Rather than judging Greene’s questionable sex appeal, the media and public should focus on holding her accountable for her harmful words and actions. She was rightly stripped of her House committee assignments due to her past incendiary comments. Now her colleagues must continue to denounce her extremist stances and work to counteract her spread of misinformation.

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s loyal followers may find her blond hair and aggressive tone appealing on a superficial level. But true leadership requires integrity, compassion and a commitment to facts – qualities sorely lacking in Greene. Her presence in Congress is a danger to vulnerable groups, democratic norms and the institution itself. We must look beyond the surface and examine the real harm Greene’s views have caused. Her place is not in making policy for the American people.

The notion that blonds have more fun is a longstanding stereotype in popular culture, but does this idea actually hold up under scrutiny? A deeper examination reveals the flawed assumptions and prejudices behind this superficial belief.

The idea propagates regressive gender norms by reducing women, especially blonds, to objects rather than whole persons. It implies fun is predicated on appearance and grants white blonds an elevated social status. However, people’s capacity for joy comes from within, not their hair color. Perpetuating this stereotype diminishes the diversity and depth of all women.

Additionally, blond hair has long been associated with whiteness, lightness and purity. The “fun” ascribed to blondness is intertwined with notions of privilege and racial bias. Positioning blondness as ideal excludes and marginalizes women of color. It also reduces blond women to a narrow, sexualized stereotype rather than acknowledging their full humanity.

The notion that blonds have more fun provides a useful illustration of how even playful stereotypes normalize prejudice. Taking a critical lens to this cultural trope reveals the need to challenge assumptions, reject biological essentialism and embrace the spectrum of human diversity. While hair color provides aesthetic variety, it gives no indication about a person’s character or capacity for joy.

Nefertari Williams: Tim Scott OUR Black Man – Not yours!

Illustration of Senator Tim Scott Republican of South Carolina
Senator Tim Scott. Artwork by Thomcat23 Copyright 2024

Text by Nefertari Williams, Copyright 2024

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Tim Scott OUR Black Man – Not yours!

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This is an opinion piece so I will go easy. To understand my perspective you will have to learn a few things that are just truths within the black community. Colorism exists. Since we were enslaved individuals we were told and we watched as the Plantation master would treat the lighter skinned enslaved blacks better than the darker skinned enslaved blacks (in some cases they were his own children after he would rape his enslaved girls and women). This unfortunate “benefit” has been a mental barrier within our community although it does seem in some situations that companies and even ad agencies find lighter skinned blacks more palatable.

Another truth that you must know about some black men who grew up by a single black mother – I repeat “SOME” – become resentful towards their black mothers if their lives were troublesome when they were children. These men sometimes even turn against their entire community they didn’t have pleasant experience’s growing up in due to poverty, teasing, bullying etc.

Ok this one may be a bit controversial. Some of our black men who have experienced at least one of the aforementioned situations seem to be easily indoctrinated into the thinking differently then they may have been raised to think while attending black churches or by their low income earning black mothers. This seems to ring true if the black man has witnessed people who looked differently, acted differently as high income earners equating their value to their earring potential. With this way of thinking, that would mean that a disabled wise man with strong values who had dozens of children at his feet as he taught them life lessons, as worthless unless he found a way to monetize this simple kind act. While those of us who were taught that the value of a person is based on the content of his character.

All of these words are a prerequisite for you to understand how a man like Tim Scott (A Black Republican Senator From South Carolina) can “become”.

THE MENTOR

When Tim Scott was growing up he was raised by a single mother who was a nursing aide  (under paid which is a proven and common issue within the black community) who had to work long hours So Tim was left alone often. He moved around a lot as a kid. When he was a teen he worked at a theatre. When he became hungry he would go to the local Chic- Filet and purchase fries to eat. The owner of  the restaurant took notice of Tim and asked him why he would only buy fries and Tim told him “because they are cheaper”. One day after a few encounters the man went to the theater where Tim Scott worked and gave him a chicken sandwich.

Tim appreciated the generosity shown by the man and chose to accept the life lessons that this man would teach (the man passed away from a sudden heart attack while Tim was still in his teens) 

Tim’s mentors name was John Moniz. He went on  to teach Tim about Christian conservative values strongly expressing the importance of giving.

THE INDOCTRINATION

By teaching Tim that giving leads to receiving, Tim started to question his life. Maybe the reason that the people in his life didn’t have as much as his wealthy mentor was because they didn’t give enough. The mentor never mentioned to Tim how his mother was under paid for her job as a nurses aide which was a systemic problem. He also failed to mention that the hundreds of years that Blacks gave to the country free labor was what caused the country to be the super power that is  today and most “conservatives” vote to make sure that their conservatism is mostly aimed towards restricting funds towards urban schools, unequal lending practices and so much more.

Although Tim was born to married parents who were together for the first 7 years of his life it is described that Tims parents were of the working class impoverished (Btw – there should be no such thing Tim Scott. If you work you should be able to live).

TIM SCOTT’S SOCIAL LIFE

I hate to say this is typical of a black man who has experienced the situations that I have discussed in paragraphs one and two because I hate implying that any group is a monolith- but it is walks like a duck…..

When these two factors meet up I have witnessed the black man tends to avoid dating black women. Maybe he tried and was shot down, maybe he feels “inadequate” (I’ve heard that one before). But as so many in the community have guessed, Tim Scott is now engaged to a woman who is not black. She is white like his mentor was.

So maybe a white woman will understand all that he has learned and will be a better partner because he now knows the secret to being successful in America? Well, no because just as much as I don’t like putting black men in a box I don’t like to with black women. You can find a black woman from all walks of life right here in America. To each their own I say.

Why am I writing about the ONLY black republican Senator, failed presidential candidate and seemingly a new pin cushion for Trump. I was posed the question- what does the black community think of Tim Scott.

I asked a prominent DJ of New York City his opinion on this matter and he simply said – he’s a sell out.

I’m not so sure it’s that simple. I believe there are several factors at play which I have listed.

But here is my overall opinion of Senator Tim Scott:

Come home Tim Scott – Come back to the love of your minority community. We know you may not have been treated well. We all have been bullied a little but we dusted ourselves off and “became”.  Ok so you may not have the Barack Obama swagger, or the Denzel Essence nor the Edris Finesse. That doesn’t mean you are not loved. You are no longer that little poor boy who didn’t have money for a chic filet sandwich. We watched as you stood on stage behind Trump as he called you out just to humiliate you in New Hampshire. It will never stop. You deserve better my brother. Come home. We love you!
Sent from my iPhone

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About The Author:  Nefertari Williams is a jewelry maker, activist for women with heart disease and the mother of five beautiful children.  She lives in Willingboro, New Jersey.  To access additional articles by Nefertari Williams link here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/nefertari-williams-the-epidemic-of-loneliness-part-2/

TW: A Visit From the Dead

Portrait of Ed Simmons photographer from California who passed away not that long ago
Linkedin Page: Ed Simmons 2024

Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

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A Visit From The Dead

A dear friend, Ed Simmons visited me recently. No. Not in the flesh.  Ed passed away a little over two years ago on September 22, 2022.  Never the less, there have been a series of events that I’ve experienced recently that gives me a feeling his spirit is very much alive.  As friends for over a 30 year period, our bond principally developed by our mutual love for the medium of photography and the memories good pictures can provide us. Ed and I shared many of those photographic memories in conversations we had about each others work and our dedication to making weekly phone calls to keep in touch. Although Ed lived the remaining 15 years or so of his life in Los Angelos, we never lost our commitment to a lasting friendship.

black and white landscape by photographer Ed Simmons
Dunes. 2008. Photo: Ed Simmons

The first thing that happened recently that made me feel his spirit was very much alive, was when I visited a mutual friend of  ours that was seeking my advice about selling some old photography equipment she was know longer using.  I suggested that I should visit her in person so that I could access the condition of the equipment.  When I arrived and after looking at the equipment, she opened a box that contained several photographs of which ran a chill up and down my spine.  The first three on top of the pile were photographs that Ed Simmons produced while he was spending time photographing the American West during photography workshops in 2007 and 2008.  My friend didn’t know Ed very well, although they were part of  a group of artists who regularly met on South street for coffee during that time period.  She wasn’t particularly attached to the photographs that wound up in her possession through a mutual friend, so she offered them to me as a gift.  Ed had to have been smiling down on us a that moment knowing how much I cherished our friendship and his legacy. In an instant I became the proud owner of three Ed Simmons landscapes. What a pleasant surprise that was.

Dellenback Dunes Oregon photo by Ed Simmons
Dellenback Dunes, Oregon. Photo: Ed Simmons

So I brought them home and have had them on display in my studio just so that I can continue to reflect on the life of a dear friend. And just yesterday while  I was browsing LinkedIn there  was an automated message from Ed congratulating me on a work anniversary. As I looked at the picture closer, I could see that he was wearing one of my t-shirts!  The memories of a lifelong friendship continues.

Bandon Oregon beach photo by Ed Simmons
Bandon, Oregon. Photo: Ed Simmons

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To learn more about the life and times of Ed Simmons, link herehttps://tonywardstudio.com/blog/ed-simmons-in_memorium/

Hamburg, Germany: A Brief History of the Village Hotel

Albanian sex workers at the Village Hotel, Hamburg, Germany
Albanian Sex Workers. Village Hotel. Hamburg, Germany. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

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A Brief History of the Village Hotel

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Looking through the archives recently I came across this portrait of two Albanian sex workers. I cast them for a shoot for Penthouse Magazine in 2003.  My producer, Suzaan Talib introduced me to the young performers while I was staying at the Village Hotel, in Hamburg, Germany. The rooms at the hotel hadn’t changed much since the 19th century. Take note of the mirror ensconced  over the bed!

Village Hotel has a long and storied past, spanning over a century of history in Germany’s second largest city. Originally built in the late 19th century, the building first served as an upscale brothel catering to wealthy businessmen and politicians who passed through the bustling port city.

At the time, prostitution was legal and regulated in Imperial Germany. The four-story brick building featured lavishly decorated rooms, a bar, restaurant, and in-house musicians to entertain guests. The brothel operated openly under the management of well-known madam Ida Schmidt, who ensured only the most beautiful and cultured women worked there. It gained a reputation among Hamburg’s elite not just for sex services, but also as a social venue for men to drink, dine, and be entertained.

Following World War I and the social changes of the Weimar Republic era, the brothel’s business declined but it remained open. During World War II, the building survived the devastating Operation Gomorrah bombing raids on Hamburg with only minor damage. Prostitution was banned after the war, forcing the brothel to close in 1949 when police crackdowns shut down Hamburg’s red-light district.

The building stood vacant for several years until a local businessman bought and renovated it in the late 1950s. In 1960, it reopened as the Village Hotel, named after the neighborhood where generations of sailors and merchants had caroused. 

Today the Village Hotel is a modest but comfortable lodging destination in Hamburg’s lively St. Pauli district. The original 19th century brick facade and open staircase hints at its history. Long-time residents still refer to it by its old nickname “Hansel and Gretel’s House”, recalling the brothel era. While the rooms no longer host sensual delights, the hotel continues to thrive by catering to tourists and conference attendees. For over a hundred years, it has survived war, social upheaval, and shifting moral standards to become an integral part of Hamburg’s heritage.

Behind The Scenes With Savanna

Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

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Behind The Scenes With Savanna

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Photographs by Al B For, Copyright 2024.

I was introduced to Savanna a few months ago at an exhibition of my work curated  by my  friend and colleague Bob Neroni, owner of Prism Arts Philadelphia.  When we met at the exhibit she seemed very enthusiastic about meeting me, so I reached out to cast her for The Vixens Series, a series of portraits inspired by women from all walks of life that exude; strength, intelligence, heroism and inner beauty.

We settled on a date and aligned the production crew to meet at my studio for the series of pictures that would define the beginning  of a new year as we enter 2024.  I contacted veteran Philly photographer, Al B For to cover the behind the scenes of the production involved in creating Savanna’s remarkable series of pictures.  Al B is quite known in Philadelphia creative circles as a go to guy for candid event photography . His bubbly personality makes everyone around him comfortable as evidenced in the photographs captured on shoot day.  Al B is the ultimate fly on the wall.

Many thanks first of all to Savanna, who was fabulous to work with.  She’s quite daring and provocative as you can see.  Thanks also to my team including: creative director KVaughn, lighting assistant Tony Colagreco, Shibari rope specialist, Scorpiana,  makeup artist extraordinaire, Octavia Monroe and behind the scenes pictures by Al B For.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To access the complete set of Savanna’s pictures for The Vixens Series, link here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/savanna-autonomy/