FOX NEWS & BILL O'REILLY, RACIST??? WHO WOULD MAKE THAT MISTAKE

Last week multi-platinum selling hip-hop superstar, Nasir Jones, better known to many as Nas joined political groups Color of Change and Move On.  They were joined by other protesters and fans outside of Fox's New York office to protest the Fox networks portrayal of BLACK people.  The two political groups delivered boxes to the network, which included a petition signed by over 600, 000 people who supported the demands of the organizations, however Fox did not accept them.

    At the beginning of the protest Nas spoke to about 100 guests, where he urged Fox to "stop the racist smears on the Obamas and BLACK America."  Throughout his speech, he noted examples of statements made by Fox reporters that proved to be racist and stereotypical, including a reference to Michelle Obama as Barack Obama's "baby mama," and a fist bumpbetween the couple as a "terrorist fist jabb."  "Fox News believes in a protesters exercising their right to free speech, including Nas, who has an album to promote," said a Fox News spokesperson.

    Following Nas' appearance outside of the Fox studios, conservative host Bill O'Reilly took a few stabs at the "vile rapper" on his TV show.  He responded to Nas' accusations that the Fox network is racist in their coverage of news, O'Reilly says, "This is from a person who makes a living peddling the 'n' word and violent lyrics to children and young adults.  He is a real champ. The good news is that only a few media outlets have given him any attention and his new album is a bomb, a disaster, a catastrophe and he desperately wants attention... I hope I'm not racist for pointing that out."  

    First Mr. O'Reilly, I would love to know how an album that debuted at the top of the Soundscan charts, and hit No.1 on The Billboard 200 translates to disaster and catastrophe.  As a former english teacher and Harvard grad, it would be safe to say that he definitely understands the meaning of disaster and catastrophe— a disaster was his unsuccessful attempt to play for the New York Mets; or his sexual harassment lawsuit with O'Reilly Factor producer Andrea Mackris; or his trip with Al Sharpton to Sylvia's soul-food restaurant in New York City, where he made some really crazy comments about his "shocking" observations about the restaurant and the people inside, including, " there wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' "  This man is outrageously stuck on another planet if he would expect anyone to think that he was anything but racist, and any network that would have him as a host is racist as well, in my book.  And with all of his post protest comments, he never actually discussed or addressed the issues as to whether or not his channel's news coverage is racially biased.  But we all know the deal.   

THANK YOU! BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED

Whether it was done in part for political advances (which is quite obvious), or done purely from the heart, Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen, the only white lawmaker to represent a majority black district, led the House of Representatives to issue an unprecedented apology to BLACK americans for the institution of slavery, which subsequently lead to Jim Crow laws, where BLACKS were still discriminated against and treated as second class citizens. Cohen faces a threatening BLACK challenger in a primary face-off next week. (great timing Cohen)

The resolution, passed by a voice vote, was the first given by Congress, while there were proposals delivered before, they have stalled for a number of reasons, partly because of concerns that an apology would lead to a demand for reparations, and you know the closest that we will get to that are those stimulus checks.

Congress has issued apologies before— to Japanese-Americans for their confinement during World War II and President Clinton signed the "Apology Resolution" to Native Hawaiians on November 23, 1993 for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17, 1893. In 2005, the Senate apologized for failing to pass anti-lynching laws. Five states have issued apologies for slavery, but we never received one from our United States Congress.

The Cohen resolution does not mention reparations, it just commits the House to rectifying "the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow." I am deeply interested in how they will go about rectifying the plight of African-Americans due to the institution of slavery and Jim Crow laws. Maybe they can start by appropriately funding the United States Public School Systems, or taking some of that Iraq War money and funding research for Cancer and HIV/AIDS, maybe they can even think of a brilliant plan that begins to combat homelessness, drugs and violence in the inner citites. Wishful thinking on my part, I bet. I pray to God that my pessimistic attitude is proven wrong. I just find it hard to accept an apolgy that has come 143 years after the emancipation of slavery and 44 yrs since the Civil Rights Act, and then on top of that, the apology was most likely the product of someone with alterior motives.

I am so grateful for the determination, persistence and ambition of my enslaved ancestors, and those who fought through those state and local laws that mandated segregation of public schools, public places and public transportation, and the segregation of restrooms and restaurants. I am so glad that they thought enough of BLACK people to die and shed blood for our advancement. I am appreciative of an apology from our federal government, but it's a little to late for me to actually believe any of it. I'd much rather hear an apology from my BLACK people for the continuous BLACK on BLACK crime and the deleterious actions that prevent us from being the best that we can be. I just wasnt feeling this apology, but thanks for the belated gesture.

"CHOOSE OR LOSE"--KANYE & MTV

Kanye West partnered with MTV for the Choose or Lose documentary, which aired Monday, July 28.  It is an hour long documentary where West + MTV VJ Sway Calloway visits the homes of recently returned Iraq War veterans.  West surprises each vet with a personal visit as he listens to their stories and how they are struggling to re-acclimate to civilian life.  The vets are excited at the mere thought of Kanye West stopping by their homes, but little did they know that they were in store for much more.  West gives the ultimate gift to each of the veterans— the gift of renewed hope.  He committed to paying off their debt, paying for their college tuition, and paying their rent.  One of the veterans stated that West gave him a chance at a new life.  This same veteran sells his blood every week just to get gas money. WHAT??????  He went to Iraq and gave his blood, then he comes back home and has to sell it just to get by. . . I can't believe that this is America.  It's quite ironic that what most people go to the service for is a chance at a better life, but rather they come home often worse off than before.  West said, "There are hundreds of veterans out there who are falling through the cracks.  They make the ultimate sacrifices for us by laying down their lives, but it seems like a lot of them just get forgotten about."  "I know my music inspires and helps a lot of people but you can always do more.  I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories."  

    I truly commend West for doing this for our vets, but to be honest, he should not have to do this.  I often hear people say that they are going into the service in order to provide their families and themselves with a better life; but I am still trying to figure out how medication, debt, depression, homelessness, and being broke goes hand in hand with being a war veteran.  Maybe it is just me, but if I were to risk my life daily for this country, in another country, when I returned, I should not have to worry about ANYTHING AT ALL.  

    I'm not sure if you know this or not, but the United States government deficit will surge past a half-trillion dollars next year—that's $482 billion dollars.  But forget the deficit, we have spent over a trillion dollars so far on this war on Iraq, yet we have people that have fought in the war who can't afford to pay their rent, that's asinine. 

Well anyway, thank God for people like Kanye West, who recognizes that our veterans are in dire need of help.  Although it has aired already, check MTV for re-airing dates and times.    

    

The Good Life

Do you know what we are about to witness?  The GOOD LIFE indeed.  This year's Democratic National Convention entertainment line up will consists of 3, not 1, not 2, but 3 BLACK artists.  Kanye West, yes you heard correct, Mr. "Bush doesn't care about BLACK people" himself will join Wyclef Jean, and N.E.R.D. in a celebration to remember.  All three groups will perform in support of the presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama.  

Other Hollywood big timers scheduled to hit the scene are, Forrest Whitaker, Scarlett Johansson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ben Aflek, and Edward Norton.  

The convention will take place in Denver on Monday, August 25. 

THE DASH

Death & Dying. What do you think about when you think of these words? It probably makes you think about the friends and family members that you have lost. I am sure that you start to think of the joyous memories that you shared with them, and then because you are human, hurt and pain fills your head and heart. Death is probably the hardest thing that anyone will have to deal with, and the fact that everyone who lives will die, makes it a universal issue. NO matter if you are BLACK, White, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, or any other race and ethnicity, if there is nothing else that we have in common, we all will deal with death, and there is nothing that anyone can do to change the fact that death is promised to come your way.

Death denotes the end of life as we know it here on earth, it brings sorrow and pain for those loved ones left behind. For a very long time, actually up until this week, I hated the thought of death, and definitely hated thinking about my loved ones, and even myself, dying one day. Then this week and last week happened. Two people who were dear to my heart, someone whom I grew up with and worked with unexpectedly died, and then someone who I befriended in the ninth grade and have grown closer to each and every year since then, unexpectedly died. They both were under 30, neither was sickly, both were healthy young adults who were here, living thier lives, and then just like that, they were gone from this world, here no more. Never will I be able to call, see, or hug neither one of them. 

    Now this was not the first time that someone that I held near and dear to my heart died, and it won't be the last, but these deaths did something to me, and it was something very positive. It made me think about the dash. Some of you may have no clue about what I am talking about, but we all have a dash. The dash that I am referring to is the time spent here on earth from the moment that you are born, to the moment that you die. December 28, 1984 - date unknown. This is what will go on my tombstone and my obituary, of course with the end date filled in, but that short dash denotes everything that I have done with my life, and the good part about the dash is that we all are the authors of our own. You do not pick your birthdate and you do not pick your death date (unless of course you commit suicide, and even then you dont have complete say in that) but the one thing that you do have control over is the time that you are here. What will your dash say?

Khia "K-Swift" Edgerton 10/19/1978 - 7/21/2008

The ultimate Club Queen was 29 years old and her dash probably reads longer than many people twice her age. This Baltimore native molded, shaped, and formed her own dash. She did not leave it to anyone else to live her life for her, and she most certainly made that dash work in her favor. Swift grew up in City Temple of Baltimore Baptist Church, and it was there that she grew into the determined, successful, god-fearing woman that allowed her to become the pioneering dj that became known to the world as "THE CLUB QUEEN K-SWIFT." She was known across the country for her dynamic djing capabilities, and loved by all that moved to the music that came off of her turntables. She has been featured on a MTV music documentary, she performed at clubs up all up and down the east coast, and she was scheduled to tour overseas this year.

On the evening of her death, I sat and looked out of the window of the studios, ironically, it was the same time that she would normally be sitting in that chair doing her nightly show with her partner Squirrel Wyde, and there were hundreds of young people in the Baltimore and surrounding communities there to pay tribute to this young woman. Khia reached these young children with her music in ways that amazed many. Since she was 17 years old, she was a member of the Radio One 92Q family, and for the past five years she has been an immensely popular DJ with a radio show that aired from 6pm to 10 pm Monday thru Friday. Her dash was definitely all but short, she had a passion for music and she had been perfecting that passion since the age of 11.

Michael Christopher Strickland 2/24/1984 - 7/15/2008

Mikey was one of the calmest, coolest, and loving friends one could ever have. He was just 24 years old, and was a victim of today's violence. Even though the time surrounding his dash was short, his dash was anything but short. Mike grew up in Baltimore County, and he attended the best high school that Baltimore has to offer, the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. During high school Mike got a chance to go and visit his older brother who went to school down in Atlanta. It was then that Mike knew that he wanted to move to Atlanta to be with his older brother and to attend Clark Atlanta University. A little while later he transferred to Georgia State University. This fall Mike was scheduled to receive his Bachelor of Science degree. Beacuase Mike was always so eager to succeed and make money, which he loved to do, Mike got his real estate license while he was in college. He joined his parents in thier real estate company, Strickland Realty, in 2004 as a licensed real estate agent. He was the epitome of a self-starting successful young man, and whenever he put his mind to something he did everything in his power to finish it. I admired and loved that about him. He never knew that he would only live to see the age of 24, yet he lived his life as if tomorrow was not promised.

After sitting through his funeral today, sad and not understanding why he had to go so early with so much life to live, I realized that we are not promised to live a certain amount of years. So I promised myself and God that from today on, I would be the author of my dash. When the pastor does my eulogy he/she will have so much good to discuss that they will have to pull him from the pulpit, my obituary will be all but short. I took the time to write this to let everyone know that your dash is all that you have control of, no matter what circumstance that you are in, or situation that you were born into, you and only you are responsible for the legacy and story that you leave behind. MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND DONT BE AFRAID TO DO WHATS IN YOUR HEART...YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR DASH WILL END.

The Dash Poem
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speakAt the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth And he spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own; The cars, the house, the cash, What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read With your life’s actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they sayAbout how you spent your dash?

AFTER THIS TALK, CAN WE ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING?

Okay, so I am probably not the only person tired of hearing BLACK people just sit around and discuss our issues, then get up and act like the mere act of discussing changed something.  When will we actually discuss and then act on that discussion?  Who knows when that will happen, maybe after "BLACK IN AMERICA" airs tonight and tomorrow night on CNN.  Tonight is the first night of the two part documentary series.  The topic tonight will be "The BLACK Woman & Family," and tomorrow it will culminate with "The BLACK Man."  They both begin at 9 p.m. ET. The 4-hour documentary series will be narrated by CNN anchor and special correspondent, Soledad O'Brien. 

You know how you and your girls, or you and your boys get together and hit the club...tonight would be a good night to get some friends together, sit in front of the tube, and see what's going on with BLACKS IN AMERICA, even though I am pretty sure, for the most part, you see it everyday.

POWER PLAYERS- UNDER 30

It's 2008 and we are on the verge of seeing the first BLACK President of the United States of America!  WOW, that sounds and feels so good, doesn't it?  Of course it does.  This is our time time to shine, and there are two young BLACK siblings who are definitely shining, and they are getting involved and spreading the word with- "Barack-the-Vote."  These two young power siblings, Lori and Brandon, are creating and carrying out a vision, a vision that makes voting hip, stylish and just simply the right thing to do. They are the example of how a mere thought, no matter how big, can become your reality.  They are the definition of dreaming big.  They are the creators of BARACKAWEAR.  

 After being invited to meet Senator Barack Obama at one of his campaign events, they maximized their opportunity and wore their new line of "Barack-the-Vote" shirts and lapel pins.  Next thing you know Will.I. Am asked if he could rock one of their lapel pins, and then people began to take notice, and I'm not talking about your average everyday ordinary people, I am talking about people like Seal, Samuel L. Jackson, and Stevie Wonder.  And you know how us BLACK people are, once somebody sees something that they like, "girl/man, where did you get that from," or "that, shirt is hot, how can I get one?"  You know us and our six-million degrees of separation, its not hard to spread a word, or in this case a business.  BARACKAWEAR is a company definitely on a come up, and its all because two young BLACK people had a vision and used their resources and opportunities to make it come alive.

I first noticed the shirt on www.theybf.com, which I frequent a few times a day, and then I went to the site read their story and bought a couple of t-shirts.  And this was the beginning of more sales for them in my hometown, Baltimore city.  I work at a Radio One radio station in Baltimore, and I went to work with my shirt on and people started to inquire, and next thing you know other staff went to the site and purchased some shirts.  And of course, I can not buy something without letting my bestfriend know, so i'm sitting at BET (where I am doing a graduate independent study) ordering my shirts, and I hit up my bestfriend Kells to tell her about the shirts, and of course she ordered one, and I'm sure she has told other people.  I'm sure you all get my point by now, when you believe in something, once you take that first step, it is everything but difficult to earn respect and support.  

The message in this post is to take your destiny into your own hands young BLACK people, if you want to do something, make something, be something, don't wait on anyone to do it for you- be like NIKE, and just do it!  If you want to be a writer, then just write; If you want to be a business owner, get on the net and figure out what you need to do first and DO IT (www.sba.gov).  

Whatever it is that you desire to be, it can be done, but it is up to you.  It is time for BLACK people to redefine our own dreams, and to start taking responsibility for ourselves.  This is a new season, it our season- IT IS THE SEASON OF CHANGE. 

Go BARACKTHEVOTE!

BIENVENIDO BLACK PEOPLE!

Hey ya'll,

Thanks for visitig my blog. First, I want to say that CNN is the inspiration for this new venture of mine. I love to write, but I never thought that I would use blogging as an outlet to express myself. CNN is doing a special on "Black In America," a year long investigation that explores the myriad experiences of BLACK women, families, and men. They investigate the troubling statistics of racial disparities between students, the HIV/AIDS epidedemic, single-parenthood, and much more. This program opened my eyes to the current situation of BLACK America. I love my people, and it hurts to see my people in so much pain. The destruction in our communities is at an all time high, and I honestly believe that each individual can do something to aid in the advancement of our culture, our people, and our families. So with this said, I will use this blog to discuss current events that affect the BLACK community. I always asked myself, "what can I do?" Well, this will be my start. With this blog, I will discuss BLACK people, empower BLACK people, and do my part in the advancement of BLACK people. I will close this opening blog with a famous quote by Marianne Williamson that means so much to me, and to the BLACK experience.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”


---talk with you soon!