Play Mas

So this weekend is a holiday weekend and I know we all need one. If you’re going to be anywhere in the City of New York there is going to be a stack of events that will fill your belly and need to whine up. So here is a list of some events in Brooklyn that you might want to check out.

Thursday, Aug. 30th @ 8 pm
Ladies Night
-male and female characters of the bands
-King & Queen of the bands

-Ole Mas caricatures

Featuring Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons, Patrice Roberts, Twiggy, Michelle Sylvester and more
Doors open at 7

Friday, Aug. 31st @ 8 pm
Brass Fest
Featuring Michael Montano, Xtatic, Sherwin Winchester, Traffik, Zen, Patrice Roberts

At the Brooklyn Museum Grounds: 200 Eastern Parkway, Corner of Washington Ave.
for info call 718 47 1797

Saturday, Sept. 1st @ 9 am
Junior Carnival: Carnival Route
Assembles at 8 am at Kingston Ave & St. Johns Place
Runs along St. Johns to Franklin Ave, south to Presidents St. to Brooklyn Museum Grounds
Parade starts at 9 am and ends at 3 pm sharp!

Saturday, Sept. 1st @ 11 am
4th Annual East Flatbush Caribbean Festival
-Live Performances
-Workshops
-Free Kids Rides
-Flee Market
All events are FREE
Holy Cross Play Ground 2530 Church Ave. bet. Rogers & Bedford

Saturday, Sept. 1st @ 8 pm

Panorama: Steelpan Competition
Over 10 Steel Pan orchestras vying for $20,000

Sunday, Sept. 2nd @ 4 pm
6th Annual Carnival All-Inclusive Fete
- Live Steel Band
-Free Food and Drinks
Advanced tickets $40, $50 at the door
A. Williams Building 225 3rd Ave. between Degraw St. and Sackett St.
contact CACNY @ 718 625 1515 for information

Sunday, Sept. 2nd @ 7 pm
Queens College of Guyana Alumni Association Annual Pre-Labor Day Jam
Hosted by DJ Hannah and DJ Flex
C-PAC 1020 E. 48th St. off Farragut

Sunday, Sept. 2nd @ 7 pm
Caribbean Carnival @ Vesta
Vesta Lounge 390 8th Ave bet. 29th & 30th

Sunday, Sept 2nd @ 7 pm
40th Anniversary Dimanche Gras
King & Queen of Carnival 2007 competition
-Soca and Calypso music by Sunshine Band
-Something Positive Dance Troop
-Rhythm Masters, Stilt Dancers, and much more
Featuring musical talents of the Mighty Sparrow, King David Rubber, Scunter, and Singing Sandra

Sunday, Sept. 2nd @ 3 am
J'Ouvert Morning
Empire Blvd
Party 'til Carnival begins

Monday, Sept. 3rd @ 8 am
40th Anniversary West Indian American Day CARNIVAL 2007
Costume Bands, Masqueraders, Moko Jumbies, Floats, and so much more
Starts at Eastern Parkway and Utica Ave, Ends at Flatbush Ave Ext.
All shows will be held at Brooklyn Museum Grounds rain or shine

Check out the West Indian American Day Carnival Association for more information.

So hope you all step outside this weekend. Hope you stop by the festivities. Eat some busup shots; buy yourself a cold Ting and lime for a while. You might catch me on the Parkway repping my GT posse, getting my hands on all the phoulorrie with tamberine sauce I can find. WHAT!!!! My mouth is salivating right now. So have a fun weekend and be safe.

Southern Trees Bear a Strange Fruit

I was listening to the Bad Boy Michael Baisden this afternoon and he was talking about the Jena 6. On the weekend of September 21 Michael Baisden, Steve Harvey, Tom Joyner, Al Sharpton, and thousands of concerned people will be heading down to the town of Jena to protest the injustices the Jena 6 have endured. If you want to stand up for something, this is a worthy cause.

I am currently unclear about the specifics, but I will keep you posted on whats going on and how you can get involved.


"Southern trees bear a strange fruit.
Blood on the leaves and blood at the roots,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees."
- Strange Fruit lyrics by Lewis Allen

King Tut Debate

Since the King Tut exhibit opened two years ago in Los Angeles, it has received a steady stream of criticism. Now that the show is in Philadelphia, visitors have become more vocal about the accuracy of the exhibit.

According to many African-American scholars believe that the depiction of King Tut in the Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs show looks too white. The debate over the race of King Tut was been taken to the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, where the show is on display.

More than 500 people showed up to hear the discussion on King Tut's race. The auditorium where the discussion was held could not fit everyone, so the Institute had to set up big-screen TVs in the lobby to accommodate the crowd.

The three speakers at the conference said that the display gives a false impression that King Tut was white. Temple University professor Molefi Asante claims the exhibit implies that Egypt is not a part of Africa.

Asante said, "We asked the students as they were coming out of the museum, you've seen the exhibition of King Tut, 'Where is he from?' You would discover that people can see the exhibition of Tutankhamen, and come out and not know that they have seen Africa."

The forensic reconstruction of Tut's head and shoulders appear to be almost lifelike, however on the side of the glass case, there is a disclaimer that reads, "The features of [Tutankhamen's] face are based on scientific data. But the exact color of his skin and the size and shape of many facial details cannot be determined with full certainty."

Nina Jablonski, author of Skin: A Natural History and anthropology professor at Penn State Univeristy, said, "Our best guess is that he was neither lily white nor ebony black. He was probably somewhere in between."

Jablonski served as an advisor for the National Geographic Society that produced the forensic reconstruction of Tut. Jablonski points out that the display is a working hypothesis. Scientist have not been able to retrieve much DNA evidence from Tut or other mummies.

I haven't seen the exhibit in person, but I'm really not surprised that Tut is being depicted as looking white. Why in every movie about Cleopatra some white lady plays her. Cleopatra was black, as black as the bottom of my shoe. But you know some people don't want to believe that some of the greatest advancements in technology, agriculture, and architecture could have been done by intelligent strong black people, black leaders. But you know I always say, "History is his story because if it was told by us it would be the truth."

Jena H.S. Bans T-Shirts

School officials at the Jena High School in Jena, La. have banned students from wearing T-shirts supporting the six students accused of beating a white schoolmate.

Approximately nine students at the high school wore T-shirts reading "Free the Jena 6" on Tuesday. According to the LaSalle Parish School Superintendent Roy Breithaupt, the T-shirts caused too much of a stir so the students were asked to take the shirts off.

John Jenkins, parent of three of the students wearing the shirts and parent of one of the students charged with attempted murder, said "They weren’t doing anything other than wearing the shirts. The school doesn’t have a dress code. They were covered. They’re trying to tell them what they can and can’t wear."

A Tale of Two Brooklyn's

According to a recent census report Brooklyn has been divided by two economic extremes.

Brooklyn currently has the most poor residents of any of the boroughs. More than 560,000 Brooklynites - one third of the city's poor - live below the poverty in 2006, earning $16,600 for a family of three. In 2000, 475,905 people in Brooklyn lived in poverty. The number of impoverished people has risen from 19.7 percent to 23 percent.

While the poor are getting poorer, wealthy hipsters are flocking to Brooklyn neighborhoods forcing lower-income residents out.

Joel Berg, executive director of the N.Y.C. Coalition Against Hunger at the Child Development Support Corp. Food Pantry in Clinton Hills said, "Brooklyn has become a lot like Manhattan - ridiculously unaffordable."

The change in socio-economic makeup of Brooklyn is hurting the black and Latino communities of Brooklyn. As a child I grew up in Clinton Hills, its was a primarily African-American community. Over the past decade the community has turned to a trendy racially mixed neighborhood. The close proximity of the neighborhood to Manhattan, made it an ideal territory for Manhattaners trying to escape the rising cost of the city. Apartment owners raised rent forcing many people I knew out of the neighborhood. With all these wealthy people moving in the poor keep getting pushed out. But if wealthy people move into areas around surrounding Manhattan, then middle income people move into neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy. Then poorer people moving further into Brooklyn, where will the poorest Brooklynites rest their heads.

Diversity Hurts the SAT Exam

The class of 2007 had the lowest combined math and reading SAT scores in eight years. The College Board attributes the decline to a more diverse pool of students taking the exam.

Last spring seniors scored on average 502 out of 800 on the critical reading section and 515 on the math section. The class of 2006 averaged 503 on reading and 518 on the math section. Scores fell three points on the experimental writing section from 497 to 494.

After the college board lengthened and redesigned the exam last year, scores dropped on average seven points. The continued decline this years has raised questions of whether the new exam is compatible with the old one.

The College Board insisted the decline were within normal historical fluctuations and not significant.

Overall number of students taking the exam this year had a slight increase. However the College Board has grown beyond its traditional base of students. The under of students who speak English as a second language increased seven percent over the past decade from 17 to 24 percent. Thirty-five percent of this years SAT-takers will be the first generation college students.

Maine requires all students to take the exam. But it caused math and reading scores to drop 71 percent, the largest decline in any state.

Black students taking the exam rose six percent, the number of students calling themselves "other Hispanic, Latino, or Latin American (excluding Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans) rose 27 percent.

The combined math and reading scores of black students dropped one point to 862. Scores for the group "Mexican or Mexican American" rose two points to 921. Scores for Asians rose four points to 1092.

Arab School Attracts Attention - Both Good and Bad

In February the New York City Department of Education announced it would be opening a school that offers instruction in Arabic and on Arab culture. Since the announcement the school has had to change locations and principals twice.

The school, Khalil Gibran International Academy, was named after a Lebanese Christian poet who promoted peace, has received harsh criticism for being a potential radical Islam training ground.

The school was originally going to take space in a Brooklyn elementary school. But parents at the school objected for numerous reasons including whether there would be enough space and whether the ideological disputes would create a security risk.

KGIA's original principal, Debbie Almontaser, left the school earlier this month after criticism on her failure to condemn a use of the word "intifada" on T-shirts printed by Arab Women Active in Art and Media, which Almontaser was found to have connections to. "Intifada" has come to represent the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Almontaser was replaced by Danielle Salzberg, a Jewish woman who does not speak Arabic.

The school is suppose to open next week Tuesday with 44 sixth graders. Each year the school will expand with one additional class to end up with 500 to 600 students in grade 6 to 12.

Poverty Rate Drops

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the poverty rate has dropped. This is the first significant decline since Pres. Bush took office seven years ago.

The Bureau reported 36.5 million Americas or 12.3 percent were living below the poverty line in 2006. That is a 0.3 percent decline from the 2005 rate of 12.6 percent.

Currently the median income is $48,200, which is slightly higher than the year before. However there has been an increase in the amount of Americans living without health insurance.

The poverty level is measured by the family makeup and size. It is used to decide eligibility for federal health, housing, nutrition, and childcare benefits. Currently a family of four with two children making $20,444 is at the poverty line. Information on poverty rates is important in analyzing the economic strength of the nation.

While poverty is on the decline the numbers living without health insurance is steadily rising. Last year the number of Americans living without health insurance was 15.8 percent, up 0.5 percent the previous year.

Evelyn Brodkin, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, believes that the health insurance concern will be a major issue in the 2008 presidential debates.

Brodkin said, "It affects people in the middle, and it affects corporations. Especially those who compete globally, they are really hurting because they have to compete with companies that don’t have huge health insurance bills for their labor force."

Katrina - Where are We Now?

So its the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and all the news media outlets are asking "Where are we now?"

At an anniversary celebration in New Orleans and Bay St. Louis, Miss. Pres. Bush announced, "There’s still obstacles, and there’s still work to be done. But there’s been a lot of progress made, and that’s what people have got to understand. And I have come to this site — what we call Ground Zero, this is where the worst of the worst of the storm hit — to be able to show the American people that through their generosity, this infrastructure has been rebuilt."

He said that almost every public school in Mississippi has been reopened and 31,000 families have moved from temporary housing to a permanent homestead.

In part Pres. Bush is right. Progress has been made. New Orleans population is regenerating and certain neighborhoods are thriving. Much of the city's economic base has recovered and sales tax revenues are almost normal. In the French Quarter, the music and culture of the Big Easy is being preserved.

However, outside the French Quarter, in areas like the lower ninth ward, New Orleans looks like a wasteland. Basic services like schools, public transportation, libraries, and childcare are half of its original strength. Only two-thirds of the hospitals have been reopened. Rental properties are scarce and rent is high. Crime is rampant and the police are currently operating out of a trailer.

Along Mississippi reconstruction is hampered by economic difficulties. While the federal government committed $114 billion to the region, most of the money went to disaster relief not long term recovery.

Since the hurricane Pres. Bush has visited the gulf coast region 15 times. Each time he claims progress is being made. While having a highway built is nice, rejoicing that a highway was built two years after a disaster really isn't enough. A city is left in ruins, people are dying. New Orleans currently has the highest murder rate in the country. Something is wrong here.

So progress has been made but we have a ways to go.

God is Helping Us All

A study performed by the sociology department at the University of Arkansas showed black suicide rates decreased through religion.

The study performed by Professor Kevin Fitzpatrick focused on whether religion still plays an important role across the generations. The study found that regular attendance in church was a major factor in keeping black youths from committing suicide. While family and school are important factors, they had a limited impact on the group.

While black women are the least likely to commit suicide of all minority groups, the rate at which blacks, ages 15-19, have committed suicide from 1980 -1995 more than doubled.

University of Arkansas senior Mary Margaret Hui, said she believes "the church community is tight among African-Americans because the church offered a new family of welcoming, supportive people with the similar life struggles," and because faith "gives Blacks a place to belong."

It is understandable that African Americans have sought refuge in the church. Since conversion to Christianity, blacks have called upon God to help them through their struggles. Our greatest leaders were ministers. To be raised in a society where you are shunned by everyone and everything, going to the house of the Lord to lay down your burdens keeps you going, if even for one day.

Foxx on Vick

Actor, Comedian, and Musician Jamie Foxx defends the actions of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

In an interview with Access Hollywood Foxx said that dog-fighting is a "cultural thing." He went on to say, "I used to see dogs fighting in the neighborhood all the time… Mike probably just didn’t read his handbook on what not to do as a Black star. I know that cruelty to animals is bad, but sometimes people shoot people and kill people, and don’t get time… I give Mike the benefit of the doubt."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) president Ingrid Newkirk responded by stating, "It is cheap and dirty and wrong to call this a cultural thing, unless Foxx believes that cruelty is a Black thing – when it isn’t. It may be his thing, but it is not a Black thing."

Now this whole Michael Vick thing really doesn't interest me. That's why I haven't really posted anything about it. But what Foxx and PETA had to say really interested me. Now I didn't grow up in a culture where dog-fighting was acceptable. I think that PETA's president doesn't know what culture really is. Culture is the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Within a culture can be a sub-culture. Like America has a culture, within that culture is the black culture, and within that culture can be the local cultures. What goes on in Houston doesn't necessarily happen in Los Angeles. Now maybe Foxx did grow up in a culture where dog fighting is cool, but that's not everyone black person in America. She was putting words in his mouth. Shame on Ingrid.

It's Me Snitches!

The Florida Times-Union is regretting an editorial cartoon that sought to take shots at people who refuse to "snitch" on violent criminals.

The cartoon featured on the editorial page of the Friday, Aug. 17 edition of the Times-Union depicted two small children saying, "I didn't see nuttin'!" The gunman who was standing over the victim wearing a shirt reading "Don't Snitch" replied, "Now that's a good little ho!" The cartoon has a caption stating, "The new rule of law."

Soon after the cartoon was published the NAACP descended on the Florida newspaper. The organization was outraged because the cartoon used the same derogatory term that got Don Imus terminated.

President of the local chapter of the NAACP, Isiah Rumlin, said he found both the picture and words offensive. Rumlin said he took calls from at least 20 people outraged by the cartoon.

In the Sunday edition of the newspaper, the editorial page editor Mike Clark was quoted as reviewing and approving the cartoon for publication.

Clark to the newspapers reader advocate, "Using the word 'ho' was bad judgment, and I regret that I did not edit it out. The object of the cartoon was to comment on the rise of a no-snitching culture, something that is widely in the news today. There was certainly no intent to offend the many law-abiding Jacksonville citizens."

Nugent not so nuts for Obama or Clinton

At a recent concert, rocker Ted Nugent took time to talk some politics. Specifically he took the time to talk about Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

While wearing full hunting camouflage and wielding two machine guns, Nugent ranted, "Obama, he’s a piece of shit. I told him to suck on my machine gun. Hey Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch." He then ended his rant by screaming "Freedom!"

Kanye West PSA

Kanye West recently filmed a public service announcement for the "ED in '08" campaign aimed at compelling the 2008 presidential candidates to address issues of educational crisis and dropout epidemic.

The campaign, sponsored by Strong American Schools that is backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, seeks to make education a top priority in the '08 presidential election.

Along with the commercial, West and his mother, Dr. Donda West, have committed to a joint upcoming appearance. In return, the "ED in '08" campaign was the title sponsor for the Kanye West foundation inaugural at the House of Blues in Chicago on Aug. 24.

The PSA featured West standing in a classroom full of actual Chicago school children. According to the Associated Press, Ron Livingston (Jack Berger on Sex in the City) and Maura Tierney (Nurse Abby Lockhart on ER) will also film PSAs for the program.

Hip-Hop in the Classroom

A Southern Los Angeles school will be offering Hip-Hop education to their middle school students this coming school year.

The Global Awareness through Hip-Hop class is be going into its second year at the public charter school. The class is taught by Sebastein Elkouby, who is the founder of the Urban Youth Empowerment Foundation, created the program to address educational crisis affecting inner city students.

Elkouby said, "For a variety of reason, these students feel completely disconnected from the traditional educational process and, ultimately, they give up. This program helps students develop critical thinking skills by using hip-hop to analyze pop culture media and social movements, while simultaneously teaching students language arts, history, social studies, cultural diversity, geography and health. Using hip-hop as a medium to reach students makes sense considering they have such a strong connection to its culture. Last year’s success of the program confirms it works."

This is the only hip-hop education course taught in the U.S. school systems.

This Sh*t is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

This really doesn't have much to do with race or ethnicity but I thought it was interesting so I'm throwing it out there. If you don't like it you can throw it right back.

I was listening to the Wendy Williams Experience this afternoon and she was talking about the health benefits of Bananas (a.k.a nanners).

Many aren't eating the tangy tasty fruit lately because of the calories bananas carry, but while they can be fattening they are good for many things. Bananas are energy boosters, rich with three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose, glucose, and enriched with fiber. Research has shown that eating two bananas can provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. Bananas are the no. 1 fruit eaten by athletes.

But the benefits don't stop there. Bananas also help with a gambit of health problems.

• Anemia: Nanners are high in iron and can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.


• Blood Pressure: Nanners are high in potassium and low in salt.


• Constipation: Adding nanners to your diet can help restore normal bowel movements due to its high fiber content.


• Heart-burn: Nanners have a natural antacid effect in the body.


• Strokes: According to the New England Journal of Medicine eating nanners as a part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 40%.


• Nerves: Nanners are high in vitamin B that help calm the nervous system.


• Ulcers: Due to nanners soft texture and smoothness, they are used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders. It is the only fruit over-chronic ulcer cases can eat without distress. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.


• Stress: Stress reduces our potassium levels, however eating a nanner which is high in potassium will have you feeling as good as new.


• Temperature Control: Many cultures believe that the nanner is a cooling fruit, and can reduce physical and emotional temperature.


• Warts: Rumor has it if you take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape, you can kill warts.


• Morning Sickness: eating a nanner between meals help to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.


• PMS: The vitamin B6 nanners contain regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


• Depression: A survey performed by MIND showed that those suffering from depression felt better after eating a nanner.


• Hangover: One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to drink a banana milkshake with a little honey.


• Smoking: The high levels of vitamin A1, B6, B12, C, as well as the potassium and magnesium, found in nanners help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


• Mosquito Bites: Many have found that rubbing the banana peel on a mosquito bite helps to reduce swelling and irritation.


• Brain Power: Eating a nanner with breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack has shown to increase brain power in school children.
  

So the next time you want a snack pick up a Banana a.k.a Nanner. They taste good and are good for you. Even though I'm slightly allergic to bananas I know I try to eat at least one nanner a week. You should too, your body and taste buds will thank you.

What the Heck is She Talking About?

So this is a clip of Miss Teen USA. The contestant from South Carolina was asked a very important question, however no one knows what the heck she is talking about.

She ended up being third runner up. Isn't America grand?

Personally I think all these scholarship pageants are BS. I might sound like a hater, some of you might be saying "shes only acting like this cause she can't win a pageant." Well whether or not I can win a beauty pageant is not the point. The point is what the hell does swimsuits and how good you look in them have to do with educational advancement? What are we teaching our little girls who are conventionally beautiful. I know that image matters but this Barbie doll image is what keeps so many women and men hanging their heads over the toilet bowl and frequenting the plastic surgeon. A popular high school graduation gift is the gift of breast. What is that about? What happen to being happy with what you are given. We are all snowflakes, but these pageant would want us to think otherwise.

Anyway this is just another way to keep women battling for the wrong things. Judge Judy always says "Beauty fades, stupidity is forever."

If I Did It, This Is How It Would Be Done

Former Football player and accused murderer (acquitted but still questioned) O.J. Simpson is slated to release his book "If I Did It." The book hypothetically explains how the murders of Nicole Simpson, O.J.'s former wife, and Ron Goldman, Nicole's lover.

While many would love to read the possibly gory details of the murders, they would be hard pressed to find it on the bookshelves. Many bookstores refuse to stock the book due an anticipation of lack of interest by consumers. Barnes and Nobles Booksellers have refused to stock the book in the store. Borders Bookstore plans to stock in limited quantity. B&N customers can find the book online.

The book was first scheduled to be published in Nov. 2006, however due to public outrage the publisher dropped the book. The book resurfaced after a judge awarded the rights to the book to the family of Ron Goldman, to satisfy a $38 million wrongful death settlement against Simpson.

No More Baggy Pants

An Atlanta Councilman is leading the helm to outlaw baggy pants.

C.T. Martin is sick and tired of seeing his city plagued with young black men disrespecting women with their baggy jeans hanging off their butts. So this Tuesday he plans to introduce ordinance that will fine anyone wearing jeans that show their backsides.

While Martin could not explain the connection between baggy jeans and disrespecting women, but he considers this problem a global issue. He claims he receives calls from all over the world about this issue.

While many black, white, Latino, and Asian youths let their pants sag, some believe this measure is specifically targeting black youths. A 25-year-old black male, interviewed by BET.com, stated, "People should be able wear what they want to wear... I mean, you don’t really catch white people wearing baggy jeans like we do."

While this ordinance appears to be racist, Martin, an African America, does not care. He said, "Sure, anything can be called racist. But this legislation is not germane to any specific group or age."

Under the new law women wearing jogging bras in public or who have a bra strap showing would also be fined under this amendment.

Earlier this summer, Delcambe, a small town in Louisiana, also outlawed baggy pants, with a $500 fine and up to six months in jail for violating the ordinance.

Now I gotta put my two cents in this. I'm not a huge fan of the saggy, baggy pants myself. Especially the tight saggy pants. But who is he or anyone to tell anyone what to wear. I am a woman and I do not feel disrespected when I see a man wearing saggy pants. I feel disrespected when a man talks to me like an animal. Saggy baggy pants don't do that, lack of manners do that. I swear everyday this country is becoming more like a totalitarian government, its like 1984 everyday. I believe freedom of speech applies to your attire because you say who and what you are with what you wear. Telling people what not to wear is silencing us once again.

P.S. This BS about bra straps showing is just crazy. Sometimes you can't help that your bra strap shows. Maybe if he had breast he would know that.

Alcoholism and Ethnicity

A study performed by the Alcohol Research Group showed a connection between alcohol problem severity and ethnicity. The study found that blacks and Latinos with higher severity alcohol problems seem to use abuse rehabilitation services at a lower rate than whites with a similar problem. The study found the problem was mainly due to financial and logistical barriers in acquiring help.

Assistant professor of health policy in the school of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Laura A. Schimdt said, "National surveys suggest that, on the whole, only a fraction of Americans with alcohol abuse or dependence - between nine and 16 percent - have obtained treatment for their problems. However, researchers have been at odds about the degree to which minority problem drinkers are under served."

Researchers obtained data from the most recent National Alcohol Survey (1995,2000). They compared rates of lifetime service use for adults with alcohol problems who met the criteria for alcohol abuse and/or dependency and were part of the three largest ethnic groups in the country: black, white, and Latino. The criteria for alcohol abuse were experiences of going into withdrawal, needing more alcohol to achieve the same effects as before, wishing to stop drinking but cannot, and having family or work problems due to alcohol.

The study showed Latinos have higher rates of alcohol abuse than any other ethnicity. Latinos were also less likely to seek alcohol abuse treatment at all. Black and Latinos were less likely than whites to ever seek alcohol treatment.

Finances and logistical barriers apply in Latinos seeking treatment. They are less likely to know were to find treatment, unable to pay for treatment, and unable to find childcare while in treatment. Latinos in America are less likely to have health insurance coverage of all ethnic groups, so they are unable to cover the expenses of treatment.

Associate scientist with the Alcohol Research Group, Nina Mulia said, "Keeping in mind that blacks and Hispanics experience greater adverse health and social consequences from alcohol problems, it is particularly important that efforts be made to actively screen and refer Hispanics and blacks with severe alcohol problems into treatment, and to reduce structural and other barriers to care."

ED and You

According to the Feb. 2007 Journal of Sexual Medicine, there is a link between Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and race and ethnicity. ED, which is a repeated inability to get and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse or other sexual activities, is more rampant among whites, Latinos, and blacks in the Unites States.

For white men, ages 70 and over, including white men of any age suffering from diabetes, the study showed a greater risk of developing ED. Latino men, age 60 and over, including Latino men of any age suffering from moderate lower urinary tract symptoms, hypertension, and/or depression, were more likely to suffer from ED. Black men suffering from severe lower urinary tract symptoms showed to also suffer from ED.

Among black men the odds of suffering from ED decreased in men who exercise on a regular basis and/or have a good partner relationship. In Latino men, odds decreased among men who were educated at or above the high school level.

Author of the study, Ed Laumann said, "Consistent with numerous other studies, age has again been shown to be a very important risk factor for ED. We have also learned from this study that different lifestyle and health conditions appear to play significantly different roles in different racial/ethnic groups. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms that account for these differences."

Now I know some of you guys out there are saying well 60 or 70 years old is a ways off for me. But the way you treat your body now will definitely affect the way your body treats you later. The Journal article is a few months old but still important to know. So gentlemen, treat your body like its your temple. Your lady (or gentleman) will be thanking you in the future.

He Said What?!?!?!

So back in high school, I was sitting in Earth Science class. The teacher was discussing weather and weather conditions.

So he asked the class, "Who can name a type of weather?"

Some students raised their hands and said, Partly Cloudy, Sunny, etc.

Then a student, who took this class the year before, raised his hand and the teacher called on him.

The young man looked at the teacher and said with confidence, "Volcano!"

The teacher looked at him and said, "Excuse me?"

The student repeated, "Volcano!"

The teacher said, "Are you joking?"

However, the student wasn't joking. He was very serious when he said "volcano." Now I know lots of people have something to say about public school education,but when was it ever taught that a volcano, that spews molten lava, doubles as a weather condition. How is that even possible. I know that when a volcano erupts it can drastically change the weather in an area, but it being a weather condition, now that's nuts. So I said, he said what?!?!?!

If you borne witness to occurrences of stupidity like this, send it in. Your stupid act can be a part of the weekly "S/he said what?!?!?!" post.

Lindsay Lohan Avoids Hard Time

The Mistress of Mayhem, Lindsay Lohan, has avoided a lengthy sentence for DUI and drug charges.

In a plea agreement reached between Lohan's counsel and Santa Monica, Ca district attorney's office, Lohan will spend one day in jail, 10 days of community service, and completing a drug-treatment program.

Lohan pleaded guilty to two counts of being under the influence of a controlled substance (cocaine), and two counts of driving with a blood-alcohol level of above .08, and one count of reckless driving. Two counts of DUI were dropped. All the charges were misdemeanors. If Lohan were convicted of felony drug possession she would have spend at least one year in prison.

Now I know that some of you are saying what does this have to do with race and ethnicity. But you have to read between the lines. Now the amount of drugs Lohan was in possession of was not disclosed, however I am sure there are many black, Latino, and even poor whites that have been in possession of the same amount or possibly less spend a year or more in prison. The majority of America's prison system is filled with minorities committing non-violent offenses. Those non-violent offenses are often drug use. They aren't given the option of spending one day in jail, 10 days of community service, and drug rehabilitation. They are placed in prison, for god knows how long, not getting treated, not getting education or advancement in life.

America tries to portray itself as a country that treats everyone equal even the derelicts. But that is not so when people like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton get special treatment because they are "talented" white people. I'm not saying that drug abuse should or should not be punished but I am saying equal treatment for equal crimes.

The Set Up

The 19-year-old youth accused of killing an Oakland journalist is claiming he was set up.

Devaughndre Broussard said he was told that he would not be sent to prison if he took the fall for the leader of the Your Black Muslim Bakery. According to Broussards attorney, LeRue Grim, Yusef Bey IV told Broussard that the future of the Bay area community institution was in jeopardy.


Journalist Chauncy Bailey, an editor at the Oakland Post, was investigating financial difficulties at the bakery.

Following the killing, Broussard, a handyman at the bakery, said Bey told him that the bakery would fight to see the charges would be reduced to manslaughter and he would not spend time in prison.

"Between the time of the shooting and until the raid, there was a lot of discussion in the bakery about who's going to take the fall," Grim said. "And it ended up that the handyman was the least important, the lowest on the ladder. The most expendable was selected."

Kicking a Man While He's Down

Police Officers in Indianapolis are being charged for kicking a 17-year-old boy during an arrest on July 21st.

Officer Adam Chappell was caught on tape kicking the teenager while another officer held him down at the city's Black Expo Summer Celebration. The video showed that several officers were involved in the assault.

In Officer Chappell's arrest report he claims that the youth kicked two other police officers, so Chappell attempted to kick the teen in an angle to hit his shoulder but instead hit his nose.

Chappell was arrested on Monday on the Misdemeanor charge and was released on $7,500 bail.

The teenager was arrested for public intoxication, battery, illegal possession of alcohol, and resisting arrest. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of facial injuries.

Demands List

The scene is the Chemical savings and loans (I know that bank doesn't exist anymore but who cares). A man walks, stands in line for the teller. He walks to the tellers window and hands her a note, it reads "give me all your money and I wont shoot". Then he turns around draws a weapon and screams everybody down on the ground. He ties everyone up and goes behind the counter where all the tellers stand frightened.

One brave teller presses the panic button that alerts the police. Within minutes the bank is surrounded. A phone in the bank rings. The robber tells a skinny teller to answer the phone. On the other end is a hostage negotiator. He tells the robber to compile a demands list. The robber hangs up and sits by himself and writes down everything he wants. Within minutes he is back on the phone with the negotiator. His demands list reads:

• Shock-Jock Don Imus should pay Rutgers hoop players a settlement in any defamation suits.


• Imus must allow a Black journalist on his program weekly.


• Imus must encourage all corporations, including the record industry, to stop subsidizing and promoting people who engage in racist and misogynist language, even in the name of entertainment.

I know the set up was dramatic when I first read the list of demands the Reverend Al has imposed on Don Imus just sounds like a bank robbery demand list. I don't think that Don Imus was right for calling those lovely young ladies "nappy headed hoes", I'm sure he wouldn't like it if someone called his family or friends "dog smelling sluts". But who is Al Sharpton to impose these demands. I know he isn't signing Don Imus' check. So he must be a bank robber of some sorts with a strange list of demands.

Honoring the Underground

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to commemorate downtown Brooklyn's contribution to the underground railroad.

In a statement from the mayors office, Bloomberg said, "It's important that, as we work to bring new jobs and housing to downtown Brooklyn, we also work to ensure that the noteworthy deeds of our ancestors will not be forgotten."

The city has pledged $2 millions to creating a program to commemorate the area around Duffield St.

Local preservationist are happy by the discussion. Preservationist and the city Economic Development Corp. have been arguing over the Duffield St. houses. The E.D.C. planned to tear down the homes to build parking garages and office towers.

The city's plan for commemoration was a result of a city-commissioned study that found no definitive links between the underground railroad and any specific home in the area. However, the study did find a great deal of abolitionist activity.

There is no specific area designated for the commemoration as of yet.

Guess Who's Happier?

In a poll performed by the Associated Press and MTV, white youths, ages 13 to 24, are happier than all other racial groups in the same age range. Of the 1,280 people polled 72 percent of whites claim to be happy with their lives in general, in comparison to 56 percent of blacks and 51 percent of Hispanics.

The study also found that 67 percent of whites wake up happy while only 61 percent of minorities tend to rise is a chipper mood. In addition 79 percent of whites are happy with their relationship with parents and 88 percent of whites are happy with their friendships. Sixty percent of whites are happy with their sex lives. In minority groups, 66 percent are happy with their parents, 81 percent are happy with their friends, and 46 percent of minorities are happy with their sex lives.

When it comes to finances and employment, 35 percent of whites are unhappy with their finances, while 44 percent of minorities are unhappy with their current financial situation. In terms of employment 64 percent of whites are happy with their jobs, while only 51 percent of minorities are content with their employment.

In schooling, 73 percent of whites are satisfied with their grades in school, while 63 percent of minorities are satisfied with their grades. Most distressing about the education survey is that barely half of all minority students are happy at school while 60 percent of whites are content.

This survey comes as no surprise to me, many whites youths aren't plagued by the same adversities as minority youths. To be in the majority might help to make anybody happy. It has shown not to hurt in the advancement of life. I am not the only one who realizes this, according to the survey, 20 percent of whites believe their race will help in bettering their lives. At the same time 28 percent of minorities believe their race will hold them back in the quest to advance themselves.

AIDS Testing in Brooklyn

Former Miss America 1998, Kate Shindle, will be heading to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn next week Tuesday to advocate for HIV/AIDS testing. Shindles has advocated for this cause since her crowning nearly a decade ago.

Currently Bedford-Stuyvesant has more than 5,000 infected residents. This predominantly black community is being crippled by the disease. It is currently the most affected community in the city.

A mobile unit, where free HIV testing and counseling will be administered, will be parked on the corner of Fulton St. and Nostrand Ave. from 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Shindle is scheduled to be at the unit from 1:30 to 3:30.

Response to Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly Blasts Virginia Tech President Over Rapper NAS

David Banner Speaks Again

David Banner has decided to write a personal statement addressed to all the "so called leaders" of the black community. The response was originally featured on Allhiphop.com.

Banner speaks out to the Rev. Al and Oprah Winfrey, two extremely vocal opponents of the lyrics used in rap music.

Why do you feel the need to attack the young generation for the things we are doing? "WHO DID WE LEARN THESE THINGS FROM?" We are trying to have fun in the midst of our traumatic circumstances. People are trying to make a living by any means necessary, people are voicing their experiences, people are speaking the truth about situations and honestly the truth hurts and sometimes it’s ugly. If music/Hip-Hop/ rappers are wrong with the language they use, the images they portray in their videos – then come talk to us – I use the term ‘us’ as a collective because I’m defending what I have a passion for so this also involves me. Pull us to the side and say “hey kids, that’s not the way to go” and then we can say “change what we see daily so we can sing and rap about the roses and not about the bullets”.

We will say, help give us better situations to create better verbal material”. Don’t just go running off to the media to air the dirty laundry of the family and not expect us to fight back in some kind of way. What you are doing is wrong and it’s pissing off a lot of people with less money and camera time! Young Black America’s problem is not Hip-Hop or the music, Young Black America’s problem is Old White America. In the young black community, there is a growing level of resentment toward the ‘so called leaders’ because you guys DON’T WANT TO REALLY FIX OUR PROBLEMS.

For the full length version of the Banner address visit the link to Allhiphop.com

He Said What?!?!?!

I was at the food court in the mall one day. I decided to go to the Cajun Cafe to feed my hunger. I was standing in line behind a middle aged white man that I truly believe was mentally handicapped.

So he got his food and paid and was at the condiments counter. I was paying for my food when the man looked up from the counter. He said to the cashier, "Where is the soy sauce?"

She replied, "we don't have soy sauce."

He looked at her baffled, he then said, "What do you mean you don't have soy sauce? How can you not have soy sauce?"

She said, "This is Cajun food, you don't serve soy sauce with Cajun food."

He glared at her and then said, "How can you not have soy sauce. This is rice and rice is Chinese. How can you have Chinese rice without soy sauce."

He then slammed his hand down on the counter and stomped away.

I didn't know that rice was only Chinese, sure Chinese food often has rice, but Chinese food isn't the only type of food that serves rice. So I said he said what?!?!?!

If you borne witness to occurrences of stupidity like this, send it in. Your stupid act can be a part of the weekly "S/he said what?!?!?!" post.

Honoring a Tennis Great

Musical and Athletic superstars are coming together to honor an African-American tennis champion. No we are not talking about Venus or Serena Williams, though these women might not be where they are today if not for this extraordinary woman.

We are talking about Althea Gibson. In 1957, Gibson became the first black tennis player, male or female, to win the U.S. open.

The U.S.T.A. (U.S Tennis Association) will honor this historic event by having a tribute celebration the opening night of the 2007 U.S. Open. Aretha Franklin, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and others are set to attend. The U.S.T.A. also plans to induct Gibson into the U.S. Open Court of Champions on Aug. 27.

Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis in 1950 and went on to win 11 grand slam titles. Gibson died in 2003 at the age of 76.

Any body that knows me, knows why I might have posted this story. Not only am I a tennis fan but Ms. Gibson and myself share a common bond. She broke barriers in her day. I hope to break some of my own while I'm gracing this planet.

David Banner Speaks

In an interview with MTV news correspondent Sway, David Banner talks about his issues with Al Sharpton, his views on the IRS and the fact that there aren't any blacks in the position of power, such as Oprah, making moves for racial justice.

Can't upload the video, but here is the link to the video.

I love the final statement.

New Police Chief in Newark, NJ

Newark, New Jersey, the city where three black youths were shot execution style is making news again. This past week the city's mayor Cory Booker recently held a press conference announcing improvements in their department operations.

While the mayor boasted about new surveillance systems and high-tech gunshot detection systems, Booker slipped in the fact that the current acting Chief-of-Police will now become the official chief of police.

Booker named Anthony Campos, a Portuguese-American, police chief. He will work alongside Police Director Garry McCarthy, Campos will be in charge of maintaining law and order in a city riddled with violence and drugs. However, a problem has begun to arise.

Newark has a primarily African-American population, with a smaller population of Portuguese-Americans. Analysts anticipate racial conflicts to arise when two white men are at the helm.

In 1967, riots in Newark broke out after the police brutally beat up a black cabdriver. Since that time the Newark police department has diversified their organization. Until this decision by the mayor the position of police chief and police director was racially split.

While some police officials are wary of the decision, Mayor Booker stands by his decision, stating, "At the end of the day Newarkers care about results."

Viacom pledges money to Monument

Media conglomerate Viacom recently pledged $1.5 million to build a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. One million of the money will be given in cash, while the rest will be spent on advertisements and promotions.

The memorial will be located in Tidal Basin between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. The memorial will have a sculpture of King and 14 quotes from King.

The monument is scheduled to be completed by late 2008, however, projections show that the project may not be completed until 2009.

L.A. Hospital Closes its Doors

The Martin Luther King Jr. - Harbor Hospital located in Los Angeles closed its emergency room doors last week Friday and will be closing for good within two weeks. The closing is due to the removal of federal funds that hospital was receiving.

The federal government ruled to revoke the $200 million funding the hospital was receiving due to repeated lapses in patient care. Hospital officials announce the closure after the hospital failed its final test for patient care. Since 2004, the hospital has failed to perform in patient care, according to hospital regulators.

Community leaders in LA county are now concerned at the average 47,000 patients that visit the emergency annually. In addition more than 1,500 hospital employees are left in limbo.

County officials hope for the hospital to be taken over by private operators. They anticipate reopening in 12 to 18 months.

Al Sharpton Bites Back

The Rev. Al Sharpton bite back at David Banner for comments he made about the Reverends crusade to remove certain words from rap lyrics.

Through a representative of Sharpton's National Action Network, Sharpton told SOHH.com, "From time to time we do encounter people that have sexual fantasies about Reverend Al Sharpton, but they are always women and Crump's proposition is a first. However, in keeping with the National Action Network's Decency Initiative, I am sure Rev. Sharpton would not call Crump the "N" "B" or "H" word. And, despite Crump's personal request, I am sure Reverend Sharpton would not call him an nigger. He would just pray for him. We at NAN are pro civil rights for everyone, even Levell Crump who has not had a banner year since his debut album in 2003."

Sounds like the Rev. was getting smart, and nasty. The claws are out.

Farrakhan's Successor

Now that Islamic minister Louis Farrakhan is stepping down from his position as the leader, the question remains who will be his successor?

Well according to the Washington Post there are currently two people vying for the position. Both these candidates plan to take the nation in a totally new direction. Imam W. Deen Muhammad, son of the honorable Elijah Muhammad, said that the candidates are his half brother, Ishmael Muhammad, and a man that's name was not released. Imam said the nation is looking for a new direction to go in and these men could take the nation there.

Permed out PIMP

Rapper David Banner put his two cents in the debate about hip-hop that is spurred by Jesse Jackson and the Reverend Al. Banner said in an BET online article that Jackson and Sharpton are wasting their time, energy, and community resources on their crusade for decency in rap music. Calling the Reverend a "permed out pimp", Banner said "The next time you see Al Sharpton, tell him I said f–k him and he can suck my d–k.They're killing kids in New Jersey and all across the country, and all (he’s) got to talk about is rap lyrics?"

Sharpton is crusading to ban the use of the n-word, h-word, and b-word in all rap lyrics.

Racial Tension in Small Town

The August 20-27 edition of Newsweek magazine will feature an article on the racial tension that is tearing apart a small town in Louisiana.

When high school student Kenneth Purvis asked the school principal if he could sit under a tree that was unofficially designated as the white students hang out, he probably didn't know he would open the racial wounds of a town. But that is just what happened at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year at the high school in Jena, La.

Many white students didn't appreciate Purvis encroaching on their hangout space, so the following day three nooses were hung from the tree branches. This catalyst spurred racial turmoil throughout the town. Racial conflicts ensued including arson damage to the school and subsequently the brutal beating of a white student and six black students standing trial for attempted murder.

Recently one of the six students arrested, Mychal Bell, was convicted of attempted murder and could receive up to 22 years in prison.

These series of events that started with a freshman sitting under the shade of a tree has ended in the lose of many promising lives. While no one has died, the future of this group of youths and the town has irreparably been damaged.

FYI: the students who placed the three nooses on the tree branch were to be expelled from the school. However school administrators found the act to merely be a prank, so the kids only received an in-house suspension. Now how is that justice.

Civil Rights Activist Dies

A little known historical figured died Friday. Irene Morgan Kirkaldy died at the age on 90 in Gloucester, Va.

In 1944 Kirkaldy was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Greyhound bus departing from Gloucester, Va. to Baltimore. She was also arrested for resisting arrest. Her case was appealed in the U.S. Supreme Court by attorney Thurgood Marshall, who later became the first black supreme court justice.

In 1946 the Supreme Court ruled that the Virginia law requiring racial segregation on interstate buses was an invalid interference in interstate commerce.

Kirkaldy also triggered the first Freedom Ride of 1947, when 16 civil rights activists rode trains and buses to test the effectiveness of the supreme court ruling.

NYC Public Schools get translators

The New York City Public School System recently formulated an office to translate all school documents, press releases, report cards, and parent surveys. The documents will be translated from English to five primary languages: Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and French.

This program will greatly help the parents of the students in this system. NYC public school system has the largest immigrant population in the nation. Currently 42 percent of the parents of children in the system are not native English speakers.

She said what?!?!?!?!

I was in my journalism class one day, playing freecell in the back of the class. The professor was discussing AP style (if you don't know what it means, look it up). The professor asks "Do you use black or African-American when giving racial descriptions? And why?"

A self-absorbed white girl rushes to raise her hand. The professor calls on her and she says, "You call them black instead of African-American because there are a group of black people living in England that are not of African descent."

Is that even possible? If human existence began in Africa, how is there a group of black people that are not of African descent? So I said, "She said what?!?!?!"

If you borne witness to occurrences of stupidity like this, send it in. Your stupid act can be a part of the weekly "S/he said what?!?!?!" post.

Is this really rape?

This story is so important to be told.

Genarlow Wilson was a promising young high school athlete. An A student that had hopes of attending college. However those plans were dropped when a new years eve party shattered his whole existence.

New years 2004, 17-year-old Wilson attended a party with friends in Douglas County, Ga. The party, which included alcohol and marijuana, turned into a sexual escapade when some party goers began to have sex. Wilson, who participated in the orgy was caught on tape having intercourse with an inebriated 17-year-old female and receiving oral sex from a 15-year-old girl. This whole scene was caught on tape.

A few weeks later Wilson was arrested for rape and aggravated child molestation charges in connection to the wild new years party. Others males at the party were charged but took plea bargains to avoid a trial. Wilson, however, opted to go to trial. The jury failed to convict Wilson on the rape charges, however he was convicted of aggravated child molestation for a voluntary act of oral sex with a minor under the age of 16.

Wilson was sentenced to a mandatory sentence of 10 years and one year probation. In addition Wilson be forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

This past June, the state of Georgia passed a Romeo and Juliet law, that took the age of a person accused of having sex with a minor into consideration. However this law is not retroactive. While Wilson's lawyers have tried to have this law apply to Wilson, the district attorney fervently tried to keep Wilson in prison.

Later that month, Wilson's conviction was overturned and the sentence was transferred to a misdemeanor charge carrying a year prison sentence, however the DA promised to appeal the ruling. Recently the Georgia Supreme Court began hearings of arguments in case.

While having sex with someone who is not of sober mind and body is wrong I have to believe there is better things the Georgia tax payers might want their tax dollars going to other than a promising male who was going somewhere in life. This technical sexual assault needs to show how our system needs updating. The laws are created as general outlines, however are supposed to be interpreted to serve the good of the public. What good is this serving the public? I hope he is set free, because he has already lost so much time.

BET needs to 'Do Better'

Cable Television channel BET needs to do better with their television programming. This is according to the National Association of Black Journalist. The channel received a "Thumbs Down" award at the associations 31st annual convention held in Las Vegas, NV. The NABJ claims the channels has too much low-brow entertainment that portrays blacks in an unfavorable light.

Intel Ads

Computer products company Intel Corp. recently ended an advertisement campaign that was viewed as offensive and racist. The advertisement which showed a white manager standing in the middle of an isle surrounded by six black men bowing. Intel intended for the advertisement to "convey the performance capabilities of our processors through the visual metaphor of a sprinter." But according to Intel communication officials the message was lost in the presentation.

Black Murders on the Rise

The Associated Press reported that murders in the black community is on the rise. While the black community only makes up 13 percent of the country, 49 percent of all murder victims are black. While the numbers are shocking, that fact that 93 percent of all blacks murder victims were killed at the hand of another black person is unnerving.

Throughout the country murder rates have been on the decline for the past ten years, however from 2004 to 2005 the number of blacks, especially black males, murdered has increased from 6,342 in 2004 to 6,783 in 2005. In comparison the white community only showed an increase of 81 murders from 2004 to 2005.

The report also stated that more than half of all black murder victims are in their late teens and early twenties.

The study also showed that blacks that were never married were more likely than all other blacks to be victims of violent crimes. Also poorer blacks were at a greater risk of violence than blacks in middle to high income ranges. Finally blacks living in cities were more likely to be victims of violent crimes than those living in the suburbs or rural areas.

How can this problem be stopped. Well according to the president of the National Urban League, Marc Morial, education and a revival of summer job placement programs can help the economically disadvantaged youths of this country. And give opportunities that were previously not there.

This study should be unsettling to everyone that reads it. The rate that the black community is going in, extinction can be seen in the horizon. This problem needs to not be looked at as a problem that is just something in the black community but a failure of the American community. This is a social problem that affects everyone. Poverty, lack of education and opportunity is just scratching the surface. This study just gives us the data, now as a national community we need to do something about it.

Minorities become the Majority

The Associated Press reported that in 10 percent of the nations counties whites are a minority. Information provided by the U.S. Census bureau shows that an increase in immigration and birth rate among blacks and Latinos is the cause of the shift in population.

The increase in immigration is causing issues within the nation. Many lawmakers are attempting to create legislation to curb the entrance of illegal immigrants into the country. While many are fighting against immigration there are many that are trying to help the immigrant legal or other wise.

"Greg Letiecq recently helped form a group to fight illegal immigration in northern Virginia, called Help Save Manassas. The group is named for a city surrounded by Prince William County.

'It’s not about ethnicity, it’s not about race. It’s about lawful behavior versus unlawful behavior,' Letiecq said.

Still, he complained that many newcomers eschew American culture in favor of their Latino heritage.

'It’s the folks who come in and try to maintain the culture of the country they came from,' Letiecq said. 'They don’t seem to embrace the American culture, the English language, the social norms of American culture.'

Nationally, the number of minorities topped 100 million for the first time in 2006 — about a third of the population. By 2050, minorities will account for half of U.S. residents, according to Census Bureau projections.

'I don’t think Latinos or any other so-called minority group are seeking to make white people a minority,' Jacinto said. 'It’s just a reality.' "

While many white people out there might be freaking out that the "minorities" are taking over. Don't fret, minorities are only a majority in 10 percent of the nations counties. That one in ten. As long as they stay clear of New York, LA, Chicago, and Atlanta, I think the white people will be safe.

Raging Against Rap

Rev. Al Sharpton took to the streets of Detroit Tuesday to protest the use of degrading lyrics in the music industry. This protest which was called the "Day of Outrage" specifically targeted the degrading lyrics found in rap music that is listened to by men, women, and children throughout the world.

The protest, organized by Sharpton's National Action Network, took place in 20 locations throughout the country including New York, LA, Chicago, and Houston.

While I guess I could understand that the Reverend is fighting the injustices of words. I think that some guy calling a woman a bitch or a hoe is not as big as the three kids in Newark that got shot down execution style. My momma taught me "sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me." Apparently the dead bodies of three promising black youths isn't as important as some words that were being spoken before rap music and will continue to be spoken if rap music was never played again.