Archives August 2010

By Captain Black
If you think crusading out in the open against corruption is all sweetness and light, have I got a rhetorical bucket of cold water for you!
It invites any number of attempts to discredit; dismiss and/or disconnect you ( from the economy where you live ). I caution all would-be crusaders to think hard about weathering the storm when home sweet home ceases being so.
We can be full of the strength of our convictions. Our eyes firmy fixed on the prize. Neither good intention stops the opposition from slandering and even starving those labeled rabble rousers. America recognizes freedom of speech but also punishes speakers running afoul of someone’s status quo.
There is a crying need for people o speak truth to power.
Actual real life super villains often don’t have gimmicks like costumes or code names to warn the public. Lurking behind respectable masks like chamber of commerce; community leader or the titles doctor; officer; mayor; father; mother, etc. is a rogues gallery to make fiction’s top worst green with envy. Once you cross the line and become a known dissident get ready for the hatin’ to begin.
I eat hatred like candy.
Negative feedback means my job is being done and done well. The trick is possessing an invulnarable identity, i.e a sense of self no amount of criticism nor dirty tricks can penetrate. Anything less and even the most idealistic will cave in. There’s an ugly side to activism that most folks see when viewing old black and white footage of civil rights marchers being beaten by police and mobs.
Lesser known abuse impacting activists are rumor campaigns and pressure to end employment; deny new jobs; clients and even due process when law enforcement is part of the insidious act.
America and Earth desperately need many, many more crusaders. It’s only fair to be up front about crusading’s downsides as well.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK is a super rights activist promoting wellness; crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info

Original content – http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/08/01/the-real-superheroes-in-pictures/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BleedingCool+(Bleeding+Cool+Comic+News+&+Rumors)&utm_content=Google+International
The Real Superheroes In Pictures
Submitted by Rich Johnston on August 1, 2010 – 6:29 am
Bleeding Cool has run a number of articles on real so-called superheroes, people who dress up in costume and perform anti-crime patrols and responses in their local neighbourhood.
But we never thought to make them look as much as comic book superheroes as possible.
Real Life Superheroes is an online project to do just that. And the results are nothing short of spectacular.
And here are a few videos talking to these ladies and gentlemen who take cosplaying to a whole new level.
 

I believe in the real life superhero ( RLSH ) Movement. It’s the most progressive community I know.
I also believe our soaring ideals can’t magically outdistance long standing prejudices in society. That said, we’ve done a great job with inclusion, better than mainstream institutions.
Can costumes and a larger-than-life approach cure discrimination? Time will tell.
Unlike elsewhere, I’ve yet to encounter a fire breathing racist who openly hates Black people ( among others ) and wishes I’d take my non-existent cape back to my side of the tracks. Since I’m not psychic I can’t say whether this bias exists among other members. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were a handful, since crime fighting in Western countries often has racial connotations.
We’re a very idealistic group but at days end we still reside in the real world and racism is part of that reality. Add homophobia, anti-Semetism and other evils to the list.
I’ve met actual supervillains who richly deserved to wear the ” Captain Nazi ” uniform of the DC character by the same name. Growing up in Georgia afforded numerous opportunities to encounter ” respectable ” racists; low budget klan types and folks blissfully unaware their provincial worldview would be labeled Apartheid by modern standards.
Fortunately I don’t presume all White people sink this low but am aware how hard wired this mindset is throughout their community. To its credit, real life superheroes are a lifestyle anyone can adopt because it’s based on behaviors ( code names; costumes; conduct ) that transcend color; language; religion, etc.
There are a few Black RLSH who’ve made it to media attention: Direction Man; Liberator X; Lord Chain; Spark of the Capital City Super Squad; California’s Danger Man and myself. I know there are others and hope they soon make themselves known. Some may wonder if Black folks even do this type of activism given our relative scarcity in RLSH ranks?
Colorful names aren’t a problem for our community. Entertainers and regular folks have nick names, along with many possessing an e-mail address.
Colorful outfits aren’t a stretch for a group known as trendsetters in fashion.
Combining these two cultural items to adopt alter egoes who fight crime and/or do good deeds seems a bit much for most Black folks. Truthfully, it’s a stretch for people in any ethnic group to go the RLSH route.
As a Black RLSH I had far more than my fair share of hate ( literal and cyber ); media exclusion for championed causes and other slights that come with the territory.
Thankfully this hasn’t been the case with 99% of RLSH sites and individuals thus far encountered.
While promoting a life fantastic I’m firmly rooted in the realities of American life, some of which ( like racism ) aren’t much to wave a flag over.
RLSH and race may never be an issue if we’re as true to our ideals as most clearly appear.
However, if some are true to baser aspects of life this issue will raise its pointy head here as it has elsewhere.
Then we’ll see how” heroic ” real life superheroes are. I’m willing to bet on the Movement because of the open mindedness and decency I see so much of here.
I can’t say that about other groups I know.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK is a super rights activist promoting wellness; crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info