Tag rlsh

Catherine Ariemma is a Lumpkin County, Georgia AP ( Advanced Placement ) teacher at the center of a firestorm.
She had students dress in Ku Klux Klan robe for a racism documentary they were filming. Black students saw them strolling through the lunchroom and understandably sparks flew.
As a Georgian; Black man and RLSH I fully understand both her intent and those students outrage.
Here is a textbook example of the power of costuming! These images evoked such powerful emotions that it’s now an international scandal.
Members of the real life superhero ( RLSH ) Movement use costumes to inspire and bring attention to worthy causes.
Cases like Ms. Ariemma’s present rare opportunities to demonstrate the power of iconic symbols, pro and con.
Visual shock and awe like this challenges hard wired inequality too often unsaid in public.
I grew up under Jim Crow-Lite combating racist insults and treatment on a regular basis. Comfort was derived from devouring science fiction, pulp novels, comics and history books.
Heroic images from fact and fiction reminded me that the lop sided reality around me wasn’t the only one.
The real world offers few super villains courteous enough to wear outfits screaming ill will. At least with Klan robes on you can see trouble coming.
In suits and ties it becomes harder.
I support what Ms. Ariemma was attempting. Images instruct in ways even the best words sometimes can’t.
Breaking the conspiracy of silence on race is real life super heroism worthy of praise. Too often some envision old black and white footage when civil rights is mentioned.
Civil rights and the power of images is as relevant today as when protesters allowed themselves to be beaten on television to spur legal reform.
Images can either provoke great good or evil. It’s up to the individual to decide how he’s motivated.
To the offended Black children I offer this caveat: if it’s upsetting seeing people in Klan robes, imagine how unpleasant it is being bushwhacked by plain clothed Klan minds?
The real world doesn’t always offer easily identifiable menaces like the Joker or Dr. Doom.
Too often real life super villains wear nice suits and hide behind respectable titles while destroying lives.
I think Catherine Ariemma earned her honorary cape for courageous use of iconic imagery.
You never know where a RLSH may pop up!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info
 

If you were born in the 60s or 70s and are a member of what the media calls the ” real life superhero ” ( RLSH ) Movement one term for you could be, the Adam West generation.
Adam West’s immortal Batman portrayal was far more than entertainment for some. Young minds dealing with Vietnam; Civil Rights and Watergate could watch these reruns and wish they were its pointy eared good guy. Not only was his Batman a good guy he was actually the best guy in town ( Gotham City specifically ).
Brilliant, brave and a public icon, Adam West’s Batman inspired youth from America’s ghettos and rural areas to the most upscale suburbs. He was an antidote to possible nihilism after assassinations of real life heroes and trust in the Presidency plummeted.
For a half hour kids could see what their parents wanted them to be on the screen leaping around in a cape and cowl. West’s Batman wasn’t an angry protester nor tried to undermine traditional values. His character worked hand-in-glove with local police and even spoke at civic events.
As adults with a flair for creative concerned citizenship, the Adam West generation is known for old school values and public outreach. Anyone familiar with Florida’s Superhero knows exactly what I’m talking about. In many ways he’s our generational ambassador.
This isn’t just history to me. I’m part of the Adam West Generation too.
Growing up in a racist Southern town ( Savannah, GA. ), Adam West’s Batman showed me someplace where police weren’t the enemy and anything was possible. His weekly battles colorfully reinforced what my folks taught.
My folks aren’t here but I carry on their example. Like my peers I’m old school and really believe in corny things like honor and civic duty.
We’re the Adam West generation and don’t apologize for believing what our parents said or this show preached decades ago. Whether suited up or not we each try to show old school values aren’t just found on reruns.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captbalck.info
 

I promote the “superhero” solution to persistent problems like crime, hunger and hopelessness.
Please purge capes and cowls from fiction out of your minds. That’s not necessarily what I’m talking about.
By “superhero” I also don’t exclusively mean the real life superhero ( RLSH ) Movement’s activists and crime fighters. This term easily incorporates epic figures like Paul Robeson, Teddy Roosevelt and others from history.
Recent additions include Welsey Autrey, New York’s Subway Hero; Duane ” Action ” Jackson and Lance Orton, the vigilant vendors who foiled this years Time Square bombing attempt.
People famous and anonymous can impact others in phenomenal ways. The “superhero” solution advocates phenomenal impact as a way of life. A public that exercises such imagination is a safer, more compassionate one.
The more lives you touch positively the more likely you are to continue in this vein. This solution becomes ingrained behavior and eventually accepted cultural practice.
We’ve accepted virtual reality on the internet. It’s high time everyday reality was seen as susceptible to good intention and consistency. Especially with an oppressive economy and spreading despair we have to increasingly use the “superhero” solution or risk becoming overwhelmed. Benevolence and effort are what drive this solution by creating good where there may have been none.
It starts with understanding you’re bigger than apathy or problems before you. inspiration can be found in fact and fiction. Religious texts also serve this purpose. Whatever the source, understanding you’re superior to negatives around you is step one.
The next step is acting on this realization on a regular basis. The “superhero” solution isn’t a one-time quick fix. It’s a lifelong approach limited by imagination and effort.
We can imagine ourselves weak and powerless. We can also imagine ourselves strong and powerful. Too many entomb themselves in limited thoughts and misery. Our goal is to take the special few not doing so and turn them into the majority in society.
That’s the essence of the “superhero” solution.
Sources of “superhero” inspiration are: major network; talk show and publication home pages ( CNN and Parade Magazine come to mind ) and organization websites including: the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Carnegie Hero Commission.
This is not an exhaustive list and can stretch to infinity. Just like our ability to use the “superhero” solution.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development.
 

Anyone who’s read my articles or knows me is aware of my love for real life superhero ( RLSH ) philosophy.
One day I see it being an authentic academic field. If we do our job well hopefully it won’t be beneath heading, Abnormal Psychology ( lol ).
I enjoy work examining what we do. Beneath the fancy names is alot of deeply intellectual, even spiritual subject matter.
One of the best articulators I’ve encountered is a gentle giant named Silver Sentinel.
Ironically he keeps a low profile but the depth of his insight is attention getting. We’re part of the RLSH who are usually plain clothed while on patrol. He does have a Silver Sentinel outfit for special occasions while I possess a few theme t-shirts. The outfit hasn’t been a big priority and I enjoy seeing what fellow members wear!
Silver Sentinels’ two main contributions to the literature are spot on analysis of parameters we should operate within and purity of purpose that even earns kudos from real live super villains ( RLSVs )-our biggest critics and unlikely supporters.
A varied background as thinker; security professional and spiritual person informs his writing. It offers a balanced vision of how to practically pursue this dream without crossing the line into vigilantism or egotism.
Silver Sentinel has quietly emerged as an important voice for a Movement quietly stretching the boundaries of creative concerned citizenship.
There’s so much more to this than merely eccentric exteriors. There’s a world of internal treasure awaiting patient exploration.
Silver Sentinel’s writing offers as good a road map for navigating the real life superhero ( RLSH ) world as one can find.
Do yourself a favor, read his blog and postings on http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org. He really is a RLSH philosopher king in his own right.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info.

By Tea Krulos
Hello my heroic friends!
Now is a good time for me to talk about what I’m doing, especially since there are a lot of new people to the forum, who may not know what I am all about. I’m a freelance writer from Milwaukee, and I’ve been working on a book for the last 13 months about real-life superheroes titled Heroes in the Night.
The book is built on three major key methods:
1. Research. That would include not only the history of the RLSH, but of comic book heroes, and groups or individuals that may have similarities to RLSH.
2. Extensive interviewing. I have interviewed over a 100 RLSH (and other people involved somehow) by e-mail, phone, and in person. I would like to point out that my lines of communication are open, and they are open to everyone. If I haven’t contacted you, please don’t be offended. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you; it’s the simple fact that there are only so many hours in the day. Another thing I’d like to mention is that I consider myself a completely neutral party. I don’t have a “side” and don’t favor one style of RLSH over another.
3. “Field work.” This is my favorite and most exciting aspect of the book. I have had the time of my life getting to travel and meet RLSH on their turf. Its one thing to read a blog post about a patrol, but it absolutely cannot compare to getting out there and joining in on one. I have fully gone out and participated as much as I can. Starting in my hometown, I’ve joined the local RLSH, Watchman and Blackbird, out on the street several times for patrol, and have helped them organize strategy in my own neighborhood. This continues to this day, and in fact we were invited to participate in a community event which will allow at least a couple hundred neighborhood residents meet the RLSH.
I also have been to Minneapolis twice and Rochester, MN once, where I met Razorhawk, Celtic Viking, and Geist. I don’t know what to say about the Wisconsin and Minnesota RLSH except that they are all fantastic guys that I admire greatly and consider personal heroes.
My next trip was to the Superheroes Anonymous 3 conference in New Bedford, an amazing weekend for sure, with 15 or so RLSH in attendance. I met several people I would say are very active participants in RLSH organizing. Civitron was a great host, and in fact everyone was very hospitable to me. I honestly had a great time participating in the workshops and just hanging out.
I then traveled to the West coast to participate in an invitation by Thanatos for RLSH to join him on the streets of Vancouver for the winter Olympics. It was a humbling experience for me, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for Thanatos and his work. Along with the other RLSH in attendance, we visited homeless camps and even the set of Watchmen.
In Seattle I not only hung out with The Irishman, but also proved I can give villains a fair shake, and had a nice lunch with the members of ROACH.
My last trip (for the book at least) is scheduled for early June, to NYC. I am looking forward to not only reconnecting with some of the great people I met at SA3, but to meeting new people as well. It is with some sadness that I report that as my last trip-there are many places I would have liked to have gone, unfortunately money restricts my travels(everything so far has been funded out of my own pocket) and also the book must have an end someplace.
Now that I’ve told you the methods I’m using, I’ll also tell you how I got into writing it. What caught my attention back then was actually a blurb in News of the Weird; a great column by Chuck Shepherd syndicated in alternative newspapers that rounds up strange news. The blurb mentioned the article on Master Legend in Rolling Stone and an article in the London Times, both of which I checked out.
My interest at first was purely because it was a unique story, which I’m always looking for as a freelance writer. I’m a lifelong fan of comic books, which also grabbed my attention. I’ve imagined how awesome it would be to be a superhero. My dad read me comic books at night as a kid, mostly DC titles- Batman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and many others. I won’t say I’m a comic book nerd- not that I find the term insulting, but I’ve never really collected heavily- I’ll buy a few random titles here or there, and then usually pass them on to someone else. I buy comics to read them, not collect them.
I did an internet search and found out that we did indeed have a local RLSH here in Milwaukee- The Watchman. At this point, I still wasn’t sure what to make of all of this RLSH business, but I was willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I got a local magazine interested in running a piece on Watchman and set up a meeting one night at a city park near my house.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after meeting the Watchman I found a lot of what he said made sense and I didn’t think he was crazy at all. In fact, at this point I asked myself who was crazier- guys in homemade costumes trying to make their neighborhoods a safer place, or people sitting on their ass complaining and moaning about how terrible everything is and asking oh, why doesn’t anyone do something?
After talking to the Watchman, and studying some people on the internet, I determined there was enough material for a book, and my adventures with the RLSH began. I have gotten to know some RLSH (and associates) pretty well, and I will continue to support these people and their efforts long after the book is sitting on a shelf somewhere.
The status of the book is that the writing should be done within the next few months. There are a couple of publishers looking at my book proposal right now. They could reject it, and I could reject them if I don’t like what they present me. For example- and I’m announcing this now for the first time- in keeping with the generous spirit of the RLSH, (as well as great people working on other RLSH related projects, like Peter Tangent and Amber Gant) I will be pretty insistent with my publisher that a percentage of book sales go to charity. I already have a pretty solid idea on this, but don’t want to mention more before things are ironed out.
Even if these publishers don’t go for it, it does prove there is an interest. I’m pretty confident it’s going to happen soon. In the meanwhile, I’m just focusing on making the writing the best it can be.
There are a few ways you can keep tabs on the project.
Some of you may not know, but I maintain a blog at www.heroesinthenight.blogspot.com where I post stuff at least a couple times a week, and in the past I’ve had special weeks where I post every day. I encourage you to add the blog to your “follow” list (if you have a blogger account) and to comment.
I post a “Hero Profile” every Thursday. By the way, that feature isn’t done because I think anyone is better than anyone else, I kind of just randomly select someone and go with it, and hopefully people get to learn a few small details of what the RLSH is all about.
In addition to the Hero Profile, I occasionally post excerpts from the book and also try to act as an unbiased RLSH news wire, reporting interesting events I see on the forum and elsewhere. The comments section often has interesting input and debates. These debates range from productive ones to ones that are kind of like people chasing each other around in fast motion like on the Benny Hill Show. What can I say? Never a dull moment.
In addition to the blog, I have social network sites and it would be great to have you as a friend-
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/heroesinthenight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heroes-in-the-Night/126906443986127
Lastly, anyone is free to PM me on the forum or at my e-mail at [email protected]
Please be safe and smart out there, and keep up the good work!
 

You know you’re living right when young people ask you for career advice. In a days time two aspiring members of the real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement approached me- the first on line ; the second by phone.
This is an unexpected bonus to living my dream come true: advising others how to do the same… in their own way. Last year saw me regularly e-mail; chat and talk with fellow RLSH.
I’ve communicated with some of the big names in the Movement. I’ve done the same with not-so big names and people from related groups. As of this writing I haven’t personally met any RLSH but look forward to that footnote in my history. While most of us are solo acts, communication assures success as individuals and as a subculture. I know only too well the highs and lows of visionary living. Toss in this unconventional take on concerned citizenship and there’s a definite need for dialog.
This Movement is too precious to hoard to ourselves. Having experienced its scope I know the temptation to be latter day Lone Rangers. Alot of us are the only RLSH within respective city limits. My hope is we’ll reach out not only to each other always to more conventional concerned citizens. Whether you’re a cyber crusader or actually get out publicly, building rapport helps get the job done. Our impact grows with the amount of relationships created. We’re a broad coalition of very creative ( sometimes cantankerous ) folks who use fiction to leverage fantastic results from ourselves and everyone we meet.
Any real life superhero checklist would be woefully incomplete if it doesn’t include communication as an absolute necessity.
Communication is a super power unto itself, comforting fellow RLSH and inspiring fellow citizens to become champions in their own right!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. [email protected]  ( Pay Pal account ); (912) 272-2898 and http://www.captblack.reallifesuperheroes.org
 

One phase of my stealth ” real life superhero ( RLSH ) ” activities before the Movement was keeping tabs on suspects and/or declared fugitives. Information gathered was forwarded to the appropriate agency. As a dutiful bounty hunter earning rewards drove this alongside civic duty. I’m not opposed to catching criminals for pay; law enforcement does it every day. Opponents of bounty hunting should be able to magically make policing pro bono and watch officers surge to resign!
RLSH normally don’t fight crime for profit. Many feel it’s anathema to the Movement’s overall altruism. Others reply any monies accepted should be used to fund homeless outreach or equipment needs. Real life superheroes, overtly or covertly, have access to information police would find interesting. As a RLSH whose background includes bounty hunting and security consulting I’ve made a living from what we usually do for free. Reconciling the two is easy, because I genuinely enjoy contributing to public safety. The bulk of my efforts, stealth and openly RLSH, is freely given.
Deciding whether crime fighting should become a revenue stream is a personal choice. I fight crime for a purpose: to help people help themselves become safer and alternately, persuading criminals to become their higher selves. Self-development is an even more effective crime fighting strategy than patrolling and even RLSH-inspired community coalitions ( RICCs ). The worst crime in my ” Crime ISN’T A Civil Right! ” conversations and presentation is working against being your better self. That’s what drives my activities past, present and future.
Money’s nice, but the above reasons are reward enough for me and real life superheroes generally. We fight crime for a higher purpose not merely for profit!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. (912) 272-2898 and
http://reallifesuperheroes.org/archives/3187
 

There are at least two broad categories of real life superhero ( RLSH ) members: those who are exclusively inspiration-only outreach ( food give aways; school visits; comic book convention attendance, etc. ) and others who are actively intervention-only, i.e. patrolling the streets; monitoring suspects, confronting assailants etc. Tension has arisen between each faction and is regrettable. Whether one is providing inspiration or intervention, both acts help significantly change lives encountered.
The difference goes deeper than mere preference. Some RLSH feel it’s inappropriate to seek crimes in progress. They adamantly refuse to confront criminal suspects. Their logic is it can create more problems than the immediate one attempting to be solved. Creatively promoting good citizenship and particularly inspiring young people is their top priority. Anything outside those parameters is usually considered not their role. Hopefully all RLSH can agree that interspiration-only; intervention-only or doing both is up to the individual involved. There isn’t a pecking order where some RLSH are more ” real ” in their real life super heroism than others. Individuality is a Movement strength and allows creative public service limited only by the imagination. It would be tragic if this best practice changed.
Inspiration-only RLSH are good will ambassadors who interact with the needy; parents and children. They motivate society’s most vulnerable by providing memorable moments during hard times. They boost morale for terminally ill children and families who desperately need a dose of wonder. Promoting joy and lifting people’s spirits is an invaluable public service. Inspiration drives folks to escape the ordinary. Inspiration compels people to leave the sidelines and leap into inspirational action.
What’s the value of inspiration-only real life superheroes? It’s measured by every child’s smile; weighed by weary parent’s relief that costumed strangers care about his struggle and counted by each mind influenced to do some good because of their inspiring example.
The value of inspiration-only RLSH is infinite because they positively touch so many lives. They’re not better than those who practice intervention. They just deserve much needed just due.
-NOTE: Inspiration-only real life superhero groups include:
The Skiffytown League of Heroes:
http://www.skiffytownheroes.org
http://www.myspace.com/skiffytown
The Floridian League of Adventurers and Superheroes:
http://www.myspace.com/flashteam
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. (912) 272-2898
http://reallifesuperheroes.org/archives/3187

Maybe it is due to the popularity of “Watchmen,” which featured crime-fighters with little or no super powers. Or maybe in the “Dark Knight” was a harbinger of things to come, when masked vigilantes tried to emulate Batman on their meager budgets. The Great Recession may be the single largest factor in this growing movement. Men and women are donning costumes and hitting the streets, to protect the public, across the nation, and yes, even around the world.
What is a Real Life Superhero? According to Superheroes Anonymous, the mark of a Real Life Superhero (RLSH) is someone who sees injustice in the world, and in costume, does something about it. Over the past three years Superheroes Anonymous has help validate the purpose of RLSH, ordinary people who go out of their way to help others.
Many of these latter-day Guardian Angels help feed the homeless, perform various community services, and inspire others to take positive social action. Their members are doctors, students; people from all walks of life. Some attribute their altruism to being disillusioned with chasing the almighty dollar, after being laid off from their jobs. Others are repenting for past transgressions during their youth. The one thing they have in common is an overarching desire to make the world a better place.
Some even fight crime in the literal sense, those who do usually keep their real identities a secret. Mr. Ravenblade found his calling when he prevented a mugging/rape. Mr. Xtreme, who founded the Xtreme Justice League, patrols neighborhoods to stop violent crime in San Diego. The Black Monday Society members Insignis, Ghost, and Oni help keep Salt Lake City, Utah safe. Crimson Fist may sound like a hardened crime-fighter, but he mainly helps feed the homeless.
In New York, Terrifica, a female crime-fighter, has been protecting inebriated women at bars and parties from being taken advantage of by men since the mid-1990’s. Dark Guardian, a martial arts instructor, helps keep bad elements at bay, gives inspirational speeches, and will even clean up trash or graffiti. Life not only helps the homeless, he also teams up with other superheroes to attack drug dealers. Most of these superheroes are law-abiding citizens who help police catch real criminals. On the occasions when they do cross the line, they tend to keep it very close to the chest.
RLSH say that the main reason they don masks is more to raise public awareness than to strike fear in the hearts of criminals. They are hard to ignore which helps drive their message of community activism. They also seem to prefer myspace to Facebook. Just don’t expect an up-to-date report on their sites. They are too busy keeping us safe.
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Superheroes Anonymous trailer from beginnorth on Vimeo.

Staying Motivated As A RLSH
By: Nadra Enzi aka Capt. Black
“You can’t save the world! ” Heard this before? How about thinking it on your own? Concerned citizenship risks emotional wear and tear. Especially our brand. Problems outnumber problem solvers so fatigue often sets in. Especially when feeling alone in your concerns. Most folks hunker down trying to change nothing more than their socks in the morning. World change is out of reach. Crusading isn’t popular like apathy. Apathy is easier and neatly fits  busy schedules.
RLSH retirement levels may match dropout rates in neighborhood watch; citizens patrol and related groups. Life intrudes upon motivation variously: income problems; relationship issues; health challenges, etc. Time outs recharge initiative. Constant performance without rest undermines even peak performers. Beginning this lifestyle is addictive. Constant RLSH activity assures more of the same. Expressing your best self is intoxicating. Without balance, inevitable exhaustion happens. Toss in balancing double lives for those with secret identities and motivation suffers. Burn out is an occupational hazard, especially considering how few try changing conditions.
Motivation for extraordinary lifestyles is highly individualized. One size fits all solutions miss particular personalities. Find out what keeps you and you alone upbeat. List de-motivators to avoid like the plague. Associate with like minded people. Have an active spiritual or ethical practice to stay tuned in to higher consciousness.
Most importantly, recognize you can’t change the world. No matter how many suspects are caught or meals given, crime and hunger continue. Expanding your sphere of influence gradually changes the world around you. As it grows, so does your impact. Being overly ambitious is draining. Or worse, creates bitterness. Better to return to this lifestyle after recharging.  Nervous breakdowns accomplish nothing.
Take time out for yourself; strategically leave the lifestyle to recharge; associate with the like minded; these and other tips keep RLSH and other concerned citizens focused. I learned these tricks as a full time writer/speaker/activist. Even Dr. King took vacations. Corporate C.E.O.s have retreats. We should do no less.
It isn’t quitting. It’s not weakness. Knowing when to cut back is strength. Understanding how to stay motivated helps you to motivate others.
The views and comments of Captain Black do not reflect on the views of the RLSH community.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi.