I have humbly engaged Marcel Proust’s questionnaire:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Laughing with my son.
What is your greatest fear?
Widespread apathy.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Compulsive cleanliness.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Pretentiousness.
Which living person do you most admire?
There are too many to name only one person.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I don’t have one yet.
What is your current state of mind?
Mindful.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience. As a Black woman I am tired of being told to wait.
On what occasion do you lie?
None. Except white lies. Wait, are Black people allowed to tell white lies?
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Acne.
Which living person do you most despise?
There are too many to name only one person.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humor.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Asking, “Did you wash your hands?”
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My son.
When and where were you happiest?
Pretty much anywhere with my son.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Speed-reading.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
The ability to change more things.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I haven’t had one yet.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Extraterrestrial life form.
Where would you most like to live?
Anywhere with trees, sunny days and no guns.
What is your most treasured possession?
A sense of humor.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not being believed.
What is your favorite occupation?
Writer.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Honesty.
What do you most value in your friends?
Humor.
Who are your favorite writers?
James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Shel Silverstein.
Who is your hero of fiction?
King T’Challa
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Kizzy Reynolds.
Who are your heroes in real life?
There are too many to name only one person.
What are your favorite names?
Van, Zachary.
What is it that you most dislike?
Bad food.
What is your greatest regret?
Being afraid to speak up.
How would you like to die?
Peacefully on a beach with Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec. Then roll my body out to sea.
What is your motto?
I don’t have a motto.
BIO
Tami Warren is the writer and creator of Namaste Negro. She lives life with daily doses of humor in Denver, Colorado. Tami earned a B.A. in Sociology, from the University of Colorado. Tami keeps it high, in the Mile High City. Humor is healthy, so cachinnate. Compassion and comedy are not required, but they are extremely helpful. We are all connected on this planet. So, we may as well greet each other and say, Namaste. Hate is heavy, be light.
ET CETERA
Originally, I wrote, Namaste Negro, years ago about my experiences living in Boulder, Colorado, considered one of the most open, progressive, liberal places ever. My son, and I endured bigotry in Boulder, shrouded in flaxseed, and hints of patchouli. Ah, Boulder…fun times, agonizing faux fun times in an ecosystem of sustainable bigotry, beautiful surroundings, and organic bias. It wasn’t all bitter, there are some sweet and savory souls in Boulder as well. Boulder is not Birmingham circa 1963 nor Boston circa…well, any time. I often wondered, if Boulder was the land of liberal, open-minded, progressive white folks, then the nation is in deep denial regarding the depths of racial bias that lies within its soul. In respectful reference to James Baldwin, “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” Contemplative, comedic, criticism.
Here are a few essays, poems, satirical thoughts, and streams of consciousness. Hopefully humor and humanity connects with everyone. Use of the word, Negro, in NamasteNegro.com, is done so with veneration. It’s intended as a cultural, respectful, soulful salutation. Illuminating a word that has been twisted to diminish, and separate. We are collectively, a bioluminescent Negro spiritual. Be light, never dim. We are Black, soulful, and bright – all connected on this planet – therefore, let us cogitate and cachinnate as humans on our shared spiritual flight.
WARNING: THIS SITE CONTAINS HUMOR, AND SATIRE. IF YOU EXPERIENCE OFFENSE, AND/OR ANGER, AFTER READING ITEMS ON THIS SITE, IMMEDIATELY LIE DOWN, RELAX YOUR ANUS SPHINCTER MUSCLES, CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND ALLOW YOUR MIND TO OPEN. THE EXERCISE OF OPENING YOUR MIND MAY BE PAINUL INITIALLY, HOWEVER, WITH DAILY PRACTICE, YOU WILL DISCOVER THE ABILITY TO SEE LIFE THROUGH AN UNOBSTRUCTED LENS.