Sunday, September 30, 2007
Noose Lesson
Grambling State University is investigating a case in which an adult at the university-run elementary school on campus put a noose around at least one students neck.
The students were being taught the way nooses have been used as a symbol of racism as a part of a lesson on the Jena Six. The college's president Horace Judson plans to meet with all involved on Monday.
The school's student run newspaper was the first to report the story. On the newspaper website pictures of at least one student having a noose tied around his neck was shown. Judson has ordered the newspaper to take the pictures down immediately.
It's at least the second time this year The Gramblinite has tangled with school administrators. Earlier this year, the school's provost stopped publication - leading to charge of censorship. The paper was suspended for eight days before it resumed publication.
The students were being taught the way nooses have been used as a symbol of racism as a part of a lesson on the Jena Six. The college's president Horace Judson plans to meet with all involved on Monday.
The school's student run newspaper was the first to report the story. On the newspaper website pictures of at least one student having a noose tied around his neck was shown. Judson has ordered the newspaper to take the pictures down immediately.
It's at least the second time this year The Gramblinite has tangled with school administrators. Earlier this year, the school's provost stopped publication - leading to charge of censorship. The paper was suspended for eight days before it resumed publication.
Noose Hung at Hempstead Police Station
Long Island police are investigating an apparent threat to its Deputy Police Chief.
For at least 24 hours a noose was hung in the employee locker room of the Hempstead, N.Y. police department.
Deputy Police Chief Bill Dixon believes he is being targeted by a fellow police officer who wanted to send a hate-filled message.
"I'm appalled that anyone would have the audacity to do such a hateful thing in 2007," said Dixon.
Dixon did not know why he was being targeted. However, at a press conference held Saturday, members of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) said that racial tension had been running high in the squad.
For at least 24 hours a noose was hung in the employee locker room of the Hempstead, N.Y. police department.
Deputy Police Chief Bill Dixon believes he is being targeted by a fellow police officer who wanted to send a hate-filled message.
"I'm appalled that anyone would have the audacity to do such a hateful thing in 2007," said Dixon.
Dixon did not know why he was being targeted. However, at a press conference held Saturday, members of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) said that racial tension had been running high in the squad.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Rutgers Prof Possible Racist Statement
Rutgers University is back in the eye of the media.
This time a tenure professor of English and American Literature has brought up the issue of race and athleticism with comments that some are saying are racist.
Professor William Dowling, a well regarded writer and professor at Rutgers University was quoted in the New York Times as saying, "If you were giving the scholarship to an intellectually brilliant kid who happens to play a sport, that's fine. But they give it to a functional illiterate who can't read a cereal box, and then make him spend 50 hours a week on physical skills. That's not opportunity. If you want to give financial help to minorities, go find the ones who are at the library after school."
Dowling was discussing the awarding of academic scholarships.
School president Richard McCormick issued the following statement.
"Professor Dowling's characterization of our student athletes is inaccurate and inhumane. It also has a racist implication that has no place whatsoever in our civil discourse."
This time a tenure professor of English and American Literature has brought up the issue of race and athleticism with comments that some are saying are racist.
Professor William Dowling, a well regarded writer and professor at Rutgers University was quoted in the New York Times as saying, "If you were giving the scholarship to an intellectually brilliant kid who happens to play a sport, that's fine. But they give it to a functional illiterate who can't read a cereal box, and then make him spend 50 hours a week on physical skills. That's not opportunity. If you want to give financial help to minorities, go find the ones who are at the library after school."
Dowling was discussing the awarding of academic scholarships.
School president Richard McCormick issued the following statement.
"Professor Dowling's characterization of our student athletes is inaccurate and inhumane. It also has a racist implication that has no place whatsoever in our civil discourse."
Reverse 911
So this is an editorial from the New York Daily News. Its on 911.
The city is considering a reverse-911 system that would allow officials to alert the public to emergencies and transmit needed information via telephone.
This is an idea whose time has long since come, but we have been slow to adopt it. Now, we're picking up speed. Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler reported to the City Council last week that a pilot reverse-911 program could be "ready to go" early next year.
Skyler made it clear that the city needs "a redundant system that will cover all bases," including an e-mail emergency notification and a text-messaging program along with the telephone system. He said a pilot e-mail system would be up and running at the end of next month and a text-messaging pilot by the end of the year.
Municipalities, colleges, universities and school systems all over the country already have such quick-warning systems. Scarborough, Maine, had one in place as long ago as 2000. Reverse-911 has come on line recently in San Diego and Providence, R.I. Existing systems allow for both citywide and neighborhood alerts.
It is hard to overstate how useful a reverse-911 system could be in this age of terror. And anyone who was trying to get to work during the Aug. 8 storm would have been glad to get an update via home or cell phone. The city should get reverse-911 right and also get it soon.
The city is considering a reverse-911 system that would allow officials to alert the public to emergencies and transmit needed information via telephone.
This is an idea whose time has long since come, but we have been slow to adopt it. Now, we're picking up speed. Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler reported to the City Council last week that a pilot reverse-911 program could be "ready to go" early next year.
Skyler made it clear that the city needs "a redundant system that will cover all bases," including an e-mail emergency notification and a text-messaging program along with the telephone system. He said a pilot e-mail system would be up and running at the end of next month and a text-messaging pilot by the end of the year.
Municipalities, colleges, universities and school systems all over the country already have such quick-warning systems. Scarborough, Maine, had one in place as long ago as 2000. Reverse-911 has come on line recently in San Diego and Providence, R.I. Existing systems allow for both citywide and neighborhood alerts.
It is hard to overstate how useful a reverse-911 system could be in this age of terror. And anyone who was trying to get to work during the Aug. 8 storm would have been glad to get an update via home or cell phone. The city should get reverse-911 right and also get it soon.
Stolen for Caring
A Queens mom is without five-year-old her daughter tonight because the City's Administration of Children's Services believes she is neglectful.Though this story is heard hundreds of times, the mother, Vanessa James, and her husband Marvin James, feel general concern for their daughters health is being misconstrued as neglect.
In papers filed in Queens family court, ACS claims, "They appear to be suffering from an unknown mental illness which causes them to act in a bizarre manner."
Their daughter, Amber, suffered from stroke and seizures at birth and has had continual chest pains and skin rashes.
Marvin James said, "They said we took her to the doctor too much."
The pediatrician that called ACS on the parents believes the Jameses suffer from Munchausen syndrome by proxy - a disorder that causes one to believe a longed one is ill or even make them ill to seek medical treatment - or some other mental illness.
On a July 20 doctors appointment at the Queens Medical Center, the Jameses became enraged and hostile according to the physician that called ACS, after they were told their daughter was healthy.
James claim their rage was due to being in the medical center for six hours. They also believe other doctors did not take Amber's illnesses seriously because she was uninsured.
When ACS caseworkers visited the family's Rockaway home, the mother showed a suitcase full of Amber's medical records and said, "It's all a conspiracy; they are all out to get me," the report stated. Vanessa James denied she said that.
Plan B
This really doesn't have to do with race, but it does have something to do with religion and reproductive rights and if your a woman or a man that is dating a woman or wants to date a woman this is important to know.
Roman Catholic bishops in Connecticut have agreed to let hospital personnel give emergency contraceptive pills, called Plan B, to rape victims.
Previously hospitals were not allowed to give the pill to women that were raped even if they were ovulating.
Church officials had said the treatment was equivalent to abortion and had considered taking legal action, however on Thursday the leaders of Catholic hospitals and Catholic bishops decided to take a step back before a new state law requires it.
The hospitals will be allowed to administer Plan B without an ovulation test "since the teaching authority of the church has not definitively resolved this matter and since there is serious doubt about how Plan B pills work. To administer Plan B without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act."
Plan B is a high dose drug found in many birth control pills. The creator of Plan B, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., to sell over-the-counter. Plan can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. The drug stops ovulation and has no effect on existing pregnancy.
The new law will require pregnancy test be administered before the pill can be taken.
In the past few years women's reproductive rights have been challenged. Lots of people don't know this but in April of this year the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that made abortions in the second trimester illegal. The ban was first signed by Pres. Bush in 2003 and was finally resolved this year. Lots of women don't know their pregnant till they are in their second or third month. The second trimester begins in the fourth month.
The government, allegedly, gives us the right to free speech, to assemble, to capitalize however is profitable to the mass, but somehow what I do with my body the government wants to regulate. I hate it that a bunch of men and old women can dictate how I will use my body. I don't know too many women that just on a whim decide to get abortions. You weigh your options you think about how your life is going to change. How can I have a baby if I can't afford to feed myself or if I'm not stable emotionally or physically. I think lots of those people up there that are making these decisions don't understand that. You want to me to create a baby that might be living off the government.
But that's my rant for the week.
Roman Catholic bishops in Connecticut have agreed to let hospital personnel give emergency contraceptive pills, called Plan B, to rape victims.
Previously hospitals were not allowed to give the pill to women that were raped even if they were ovulating.
Church officials had said the treatment was equivalent to abortion and had considered taking legal action, however on Thursday the leaders of Catholic hospitals and Catholic bishops decided to take a step back before a new state law requires it.
The hospitals will be allowed to administer Plan B without an ovulation test "since the teaching authority of the church has not definitively resolved this matter and since there is serious doubt about how Plan B pills work. To administer Plan B without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act."
Plan B is a high dose drug found in many birth control pills. The creator of Plan B, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., to sell over-the-counter. Plan can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. The drug stops ovulation and has no effect on existing pregnancy.
The new law will require pregnancy test be administered before the pill can be taken.
In the past few years women's reproductive rights have been challenged. Lots of people don't know this but in April of this year the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that made abortions in the second trimester illegal. The ban was first signed by Pres. Bush in 2003 and was finally resolved this year. Lots of women don't know their pregnant till they are in their second or third month. The second trimester begins in the fourth month.
The government, allegedly, gives us the right to free speech, to assemble, to capitalize however is profitable to the mass, but somehow what I do with my body the government wants to regulate. I hate it that a bunch of men and old women can dictate how I will use my body. I don't know too many women that just on a whim decide to get abortions. You weigh your options you think about how your life is going to change. How can I have a baby if I can't afford to feed myself or if I'm not stable emotionally or physically. I think lots of those people up there that are making these decisions don't understand that. You want to me to create a baby that might be living off the government.
But that's my rant for the week.
Released on Bail
One of the teenagers accused of attempted murder in the beating of a fellow classmate was set free on bail Thursday after spending ten months in jail.
Mychal Bell, 17, was released on $45,000 bail hours after prosecutors declared they would not appeal the courts decision to have him tried as a juvenile.
Bell had previously been convicted in the adult courts but the conviction was thrown out earlier this month because at the time of the attack Bell was only 16-years-old.
Bell, along with the other five teenagers involved in the attack, is being charged with aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit a crime. If convicted in the juvenile court Bell would be held until he is 21-years-old.
The county prosecutor initially charged Bell and four others that were 17 at the time, with attempted murder. Prosecutor Reed Walters said he sought to have Bell charged as an adult because he had a criminal record, and because Walters felt Bell was the instigator.
Walters has come under fire for showing inequality on how he treats blacks and whites.
After protesters stormed the small town of Jena, La. Walters had an apparent change of heart in how he would treat this case. However he claims it was not the protesters that changed his mind.
In a news conference Walters stated, "The only way — let me stress that — the only way that I believe that me or this community has been able to endure the trauma that has been thrust upon us is through the prayers of the Christian people who have sent them up in this community."
"I firmly believe and am confident of the fact that had it not been for the direct intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday, a disaster would have happened. You can quote me on that."
Mychal Bell, 17, was released on $45,000 bail hours after prosecutors declared they would not appeal the courts decision to have him tried as a juvenile.
Bell had previously been convicted in the adult courts but the conviction was thrown out earlier this month because at the time of the attack Bell was only 16-years-old.
Bell, along with the other five teenagers involved in the attack, is being charged with aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit a crime. If convicted in the juvenile court Bell would be held until he is 21-years-old.
The county prosecutor initially charged Bell and four others that were 17 at the time, with attempted murder. Prosecutor Reed Walters said he sought to have Bell charged as an adult because he had a criminal record, and because Walters felt Bell was the instigator.
Walters has come under fire for showing inequality on how he treats blacks and whites.
After protesters stormed the small town of Jena, La. Walters had an apparent change of heart in how he would treat this case. However he claims it was not the protesters that changed his mind.
In a news conference Walters stated, "The only way — let me stress that — the only way that I believe that me or this community has been able to endure the trauma that has been thrust upon us is through the prayers of the Christian people who have sent them up in this community."
"I firmly believe and am confident of the fact that had it not been for the direct intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday, a disaster would have happened. You can quote me on that."
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Threats to Halle's Baby
Pregnant actress Halle Berry has hired security guards after receiving racist threats to her unborn baby.Berry received letters from a stalker. In one letter, the stalker threatened to cut her and her baby into thousands of pieces.
Sources told the British newspaper The Daily Mirror, "Halle does not normally use security but she has taken on a couple of guys to make sure."
Police are currently investigating the threats.
Berry is having a child with white Canadian model Gabriel Aubry.
Hillary Clinton Radio Ad
Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton recently released her first radio ad in South Carolina. Her ad was targeting black women. I couldn't get the audio, so I guess the transcript will have to do.
Anncr: Hillary Clinton has spent her life standing up for people others don’t see.
Hillary: Too many Americans today feel as though they are invisible... If you are a child in a crumbling school along the Corridor of Shame, you ARE invisible to this president.
Anncr: Thirty-five years as a tireless advocate for children and families…
Hillary: If you’re a mother without health care, a father without a job, a family that can’t get by on the minimum wage... you’re invisible as well.
Anncr: Time and again, Hillary Clinton has stood up to President Bush…stood up FOR us.
Hillary: And if you’re stuck on a rooftop or stranded in the Super dome during a hurricane you’re invisible to this president even when you’re on CNN. Well, you are not invisible to me, and you should never be invisible to the president of the United States.
Anncr: Hillary Clinton. If you’re ready for change. She’s ready to lead. Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President.
Disclaimer: I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
Anncr: Hillary Clinton has spent her life standing up for people others don’t see.
Hillary: Too many Americans today feel as though they are invisible... If you are a child in a crumbling school along the Corridor of Shame, you ARE invisible to this president.
Anncr: Thirty-five years as a tireless advocate for children and families…
Hillary: If you’re a mother without health care, a father without a job, a family that can’t get by on the minimum wage... you’re invisible as well.
Anncr: Time and again, Hillary Clinton has stood up to President Bush…stood up FOR us.
Hillary: And if you’re stuck on a rooftop or stranded in the Super dome during a hurricane you’re invisible to this president even when you’re on CNN. Well, you are not invisible to me, and you should never be invisible to the president of the United States.
Anncr: Hillary Clinton. If you’re ready for change. She’s ready to lead. Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President.
Disclaimer: I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
Boost Mobile Rock Corp
Boost Mobile will be helping clean up the city of New York and entertaining it's music fans at the same time.The third annual Rock Corp will be held in New York City on Oct. 6. The premise of the program is youths volunteer four hours to community service and get to attend an exclusive concert as a reward.
This years concert will be held at the Radio City Music Hall. Volunteers/Concert-goers will get to see Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Fabolous, as well as several rock groups.
Previously hosting concerts in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Oakland, Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Chicago, Portland, and Philadelphia, the New York concert will bring the tour to a close. Formed in 2005, the Rock Corp has motivated youths to volunteer more than 100,000 hours to community service this year alone, including school and playground renovations, and environmental initiatives and food drives.
Those interested in volunteering through the program can visit their website.
Man with rifle arrest at college campus
A man wearing a Fred Flinestone mask and carrying a .50 caliber rifle was arrested yesterday at St. Johns University Queens campus.
Twenty-two-year-old freshman, Omeash Hiraman, was seen walking through the campus carrying a black plastic bag with the barrel of the gun poking out when campus security approached him and took the weapon.
Hiraman struggled with the officers and a passing student assisted the security officers subdue the deranged young man. No one was injured.
Hiraman was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School, one of the top public high schools in the city. He was enrolled at Cornell University but transferred to St. Johns.
Hiraman's father, Pat, said that Hiraman had just undergone surgery for scoliosis and may have been reacting to medication.
Hiraman arrived at the campus at approximately 2:20 p.m. by taxi. Students were informed by text message to their cell phone that an armed man was apprehended on campus at 2:38 p.m.
Now I'm reporting on this because I was informed by a friend that the young man was a Guyanese Indian. I feel I must say something, seeing as I am a first generation American and my family is Guyanese. It hasn't been looking good for my people. First there was the Guyanese man that alleged tried to blow up John F. Kennedy airport in New York. Then there was the female Guyanese babysitter that was convicted of child molestation. Now this. I always knew Guyanese people were a little off their rocker but this is nuts. That's all I have to say.
Twenty-two-year-old freshman, Omeash Hiraman, was seen walking through the campus carrying a black plastic bag with the barrel of the gun poking out when campus security approached him and took the weapon.
Hiraman struggled with the officers and a passing student assisted the security officers subdue the deranged young man. No one was injured.
Hiraman was a graduate of Stuyvesant High School, one of the top public high schools in the city. He was enrolled at Cornell University but transferred to St. Johns.
Hiraman's father, Pat, said that Hiraman had just undergone surgery for scoliosis and may have been reacting to medication.
Hiraman arrived at the campus at approximately 2:20 p.m. by taxi. Students were informed by text message to their cell phone that an armed man was apprehended on campus at 2:38 p.m.
Now I'm reporting on this because I was informed by a friend that the young man was a Guyanese Indian. I feel I must say something, seeing as I am a first generation American and my family is Guyanese. It hasn't been looking good for my people. First there was the Guyanese man that alleged tried to blow up John F. Kennedy airport in New York. Then there was the female Guyanese babysitter that was convicted of child molestation. Now this. I always knew Guyanese people were a little off their rocker but this is nuts. That's all I have to say.
Guess who got hitched, Again?
Rumors have been swirling around that the king of pop Michael Jackson got married.Despite previous denials, Jackson has confirmed he wed 40-year-old Grace Rwaramba in Las Vegas earlier this year. Rwaramba has been the long serving nanny for Jackson.
A source told National Enquirer, "Grace… is one of his dearest friends. She is one of the few people who stood by his side through all of his problems - including the child molestation trial in 2005."
This is Jackson's third marriage. He was previously married to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, and Debbie Rowe.
Study shows more blacks & Latinos in jail than in dorms
In a census report to be released Thursday, more than three times as many black people live in prison than in the college dorms.
In the Latino community there are 2.7 inmates for every on-campus students. Among non-Hispanic whites, more than twice as many are in the dorms than in prison.
The numbers do not include those living off-campus. Previous census data shows that black and Latino college students - both living on and off campus - far outnumber the black and Latino prison inmates.
The report also showed that blacks make up 41 percent of the 2 million prison and jail inmates of 2006. Non-Hispanic whites made up 37 percent and Latinos made up 19 percent. Other census information showed:
In the Latino community there are 2.7 inmates for every on-campus students. Among non-Hispanic whites, more than twice as many are in the dorms than in prison.
The numbers do not include those living off-campus. Previous census data shows that black and Latino college students - both living on and off campus - far outnumber the black and Latino prison inmates.
The report also showed that blacks make up 41 percent of the 2 million prison and jail inmates of 2006. Non-Hispanic whites made up 37 percent and Latinos made up 19 percent. Other census information showed:
- Men made up about 90 percent of prison and jail inmates in 2006, down from 94 percent in 1980.
- About 9 percent of prison inmates were immigrants last year, up from about 4 percent in 1980. Immigrants made up about 13 percent of the total population in 2006.
- Non-Hispanic whites made up about 73 percent of the 2.3 million people living in college housing in 2006. Blacks made up about 12 percent, Asians about 7 percent and Latinos about 6 percent.
The Census Bureau released 2006 data on social, racial, and economic characteristics of people living in adult correctional facilities, nursing homes, and college campus housing. It is the first in-depth study on people living in group housing since the 1980 census. The report showed that nursing homes had much older residents in 2006 than in 1980.
Missing Chicago Woman found dead
The body of a woman found in a suburban Chicago neighborhood was found Thursday.Family members confirmed the victim was 28-year-old Nailah O. Franklin. The body was found near the Wentworth Woods Forest Preserve.
Franklin, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Eli Lily, was reported missing on Sept. 19. Her car was discovered in Hammond, Ind. near an abandoned building.
Shortly before her disappearance, Franklin filed a police report about getting threatening calls from a man she dated briefly. Chicago police interviewed someone Franklin dated but has not named a suspect in the disappearance.
John Jay Students search for missing woman
Stepha Henry, a 2006 John Jay College graduate, went missing while visiting family in Florida in May. Since then family, friends, and law enforcement personnel has participated in the search for the promising young woman. Now her fellow classmates have joined in the efforts.A John Jay student group has recently announced a series of fund-raisers to help her family.
Student Council President and retired NYPD cop Francis Balducci said, "She's very much a part of our community and ... we want to help our own. It's going to be a combination of celebrating her life and fund-raising."
The group has already raised more than $2,000.
Henry was last seen on May 29 at Pepper's Cafe nightclub in Sunrise, Fl., the day of her flight back to New York. Her family saw her get into a four door dark colored Acura Integra with a man. Telephone records show she last checked her voicemail at 4:13 a.m. Since then her phone has been off and goes straight to voicemail.
Henry's family hopes she will return to her home in the East New York section of Brooklyn, however Florida police believe she has met foul play.
Henry's mother quit her job as a bank officer and moved to Florida to search for her daughter, who was studying for law school admission exam.
Henry would have celebrated her 23rd birthday last Saturday.
She is petite 5'2", 110 lbs, with long reddish bronze hair. She was last seen wearing a black dress with a white tank top underneath, brown heels and a brown clutch purse.
The family is offering a reward of $15,000 for any information leading to a discovery. If you have any information about Stepha Henry please contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers tip line at 305-471-TIPS, or call detective Tom Romagni at 305-471-2400.
Air Natives
The Nike shoe corp. is releasing a shoe specifically designed for American Indians.The shoe called Air Native N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians. The shoe will only be sold to American Indians; the shoes will be made available to tribal wellness programs and tribal schools throughout the nation at wholesale prices.
This is the first shoe Nike has made for a specific race or ethnicity.
The shoe is designed to promote physical fitness in a population with a high obesity rate. All profits from the shoe will be reinvested in health programs for tribal lands.
Nike designers and researchers studied the feet of 200 people from more than 70 tribes. The study showed American Indians have much wider and taller feet than the average shoe accommodates.
The Air Native is wider with a taller toe box. The shoe has fewer seams for irritation and a thicker shoe liner for comfort.
Grey's Anatomy
So tonight is the premiere of the hit TV show Grey's Anatomy. However the show will be short two cast members. Kate Walsh, who played Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, the ex-wife of McDreamy. She cheated on her husband with Dr. Mark Sloane aka McSteamy while living in New York. She followed her husband to Seattle only to find he started a new relationship with intern Meredith Grey. After a year of back and forth the Shepherd's finally parted. She dropped the Shepherd and is now on a spin off called Private Practice that premiered last night.The other cast member that will not be returning is Isaiah Washington's character Dr. Preston Burke. Burke was the top cardio-turasic surgeon in the Seattle Grace hospital. He was involved with intern Cristina Yang. After being shot, losing the dexterity in his hand, Yang and Burke decided to jump the broom. However on the day of the wedding Burke left Cristina at the alter and left Seattle Grace hospital forever.
Now I did not like the way they wrote Burke off the show. They made him go out like an asshole. That's not right. Now for all of you that live under a rock, Burke - Washington, was written off the show because of a comment he made about a homosexual cast mate that was still in the closet.
Washington felt his termination was because of the homosexual cast mate intern George O'Malley played by T.R. Knight. Though his comment might not have been right, Washington made a good point a few months ago that people make racist comments everyday and no one comes down on them but once a comment is made about a homosexual the world must stop and that person must be flogged and stoned.
I'm going to watch Grey's Anatomy tonight because I'm still addicted, however I don't know how this show will be now. If you want to know some of my other opinions about this situations hit me up on myspace.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tonight Show Sale
Fifty seven-year-old funny man Jay Leno plans on selling furniture of his late night TV program the 'Tonight Show.'The proceeds from the set will go to Bailey Cafe, an after-school program at Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn.
Have all your rich friends bid on the set," Leno said. "Hopefully, we'll call a lot of attention to Bailey's Cafe and get a lot of people interested in it."
Leno will be auctioning the wooden desk, Ultrasuede guest chair and matching couch. The eBay auction will continue until Oct. 4. As of yesterday bidding reached $7,600.
The after-school program was created by English teacher and longtime friend of Leno, Stefanie Siegel. Named after the Gloria Gaynor novel, the group seeks to form a bond between the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights communities through food, music, and fine arts events.
The money will hopefully allow the program to move out of the school and build a new home elsewhere.
Have You Seen This Woman
Nailah O. Franklin, a pharamacuetical sales representative from Chicago, Ill. has been missing since Tuesday, Sept. 18. She was last heard from at approximately 4 p.m. central time.Age: 28
Height: 5"2'
Height: 5"2'
Weight: 115llbs - 118lbs
Hair: Dk Brown
Eyes: Dk Brown
Car: 2005 Black Chevrolet Impala 2005, IL plates 1957855
We have reason to believe that she may be in danger. If you have any information pertaining to her whereabouts, or have any information that may be helpful to the authorities please contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-9259.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Bill O'Reilly eating at Slyvia's
On CNN's Out in the Open, Rick Sanchez and CNN contributor Roland Martin discussed Bill O'Reilly's statement that he was surprised there was "no difference" between Sylvia's restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan and other New York restaurants, even though Sylvia's is "run by blacks." Sanchez reported that during an "animated" phone conversation, O'Reilly denied any "racial intent" in his comments and described the story as "a hatchet job by Media Matters."
Brady Wife tells Blacks to move on
Former America's Next Top Model winner and wife of Peter Brady (Christopher Knight), Adrianne Curry, let her opens about Black History Month and BET on her myspace blog.Saying that Black History Month needed to be eradicated and the BET does more to separate the races than unite them, said the enslavement of African-Americans in this country "does suck some major balls," but suggests that blacks just get over it and "move the f**k on."
This is what she had to say:
This is gonna be hard guys. I LOVE the comedians on BET. I also LOVE the fact that they play my favorite show of all time, In Living Color. However, I do not believe in seperating ANY RACE in America. WE ARE AMERICANS! How dare we have Black History Month! In my eyes, the Native Americans deserve it MUCH more, seeing how we destroyed their ENTIRE SOCIETY. There are hardly any of them left! They also have been proven to have the WORST living conditions on their reservations. I want AN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. One where we learn about EVERY race, ALL OF OUR LEADERS, EVERYONE! I think by having a month dedicated to one race, and not one for any other, is RACIST. Every fund set up to only help people of one race is SICK and RACIST.
Yes, I get it. Black people were slaves here once. You know what? That does suck some major balls, however, it is time to move the f**k on. Do we hear the Jews crying that they were made slaves for thousands of years? Do we hear them whine that they should OWN the pyramids in Egypt because THEY broke their backs making them? Do we hear them b*tch and moan about Hitler, etc? (my hubby is a Jew)Nope, we dont. It's time for us to UNITE AS ONE. I do not think that singling out one race, giving one race opportunities to go to college (I know a TON of poor white.asian, indian, american indian, etc etc that could use that too!), giving one race the EXCUSE to blame things on others for being whatever nationality they are, is a good way at making sure we NEVER kill racism.
I am over this sh*t. WE ALL CAME FROM ONE BLACK WOMAN FROM AFRICA, THAT is our EVE! It has been proven by science, and I stand by it. If any other race had a chanel dedicated to just them, we would think it was racist. If any other race demanded a month be set aside for ONLY them, they would be considered racist. I am NOT living by this double standard any longer.
Four arrested in FIU beating
Four Miami-Dade county teenagers were arrested in the beating and attempted drowning of a black college student at Haulover Beach Park Marina.
The teens beat the Florida International University freshman Stephen Barrett with a baseball bat and attempted to drown him in the Intracoastal Waterway and called him the N-word.
The suspects, ages ranging from 15 to 18, had attended the keg party at an island in the middle of the Intracoastal along with Barrett. At approximately 1 a.m. Sunday, Barrett and two dorm mates were on a boat headed back to Haulover Marina when the boat driver told the passengers they were overloaded.
The teens told Barrett, "'Get off the boat, N-----."
Words were exchanged but Barrett and his friends got off the boat. When they arrived at the Marina later, the teens were waiting for them with bats. Barrett fell into the Intracoastal and several teens tried to hold his head under the water.
A man fishing nearby called the police. Another party goer flagged down a police officer.
Responding officer, Steven Goldberg said, ''Upon my arrival, I observed approximately 10-15 subjects trying to leave the area in a hurry. There were three victims who were hit with bats and one victim was almost drowned . . . while also being beaten.''
Two teens Miguel Aranda, 18, and Gilberto Maakaroun, 17, was charged with a hate crime, battery, and attempted felony murder. The other two teens, Nicholas Checa, 15, and Marino Biondini, 17, were charged with a hate crime and battery.
A fifth person, Jose Osorio, 21, was charged with aggravated battery and attempted felony murder, but not a hate crime.
Barrett came from New York to attend college at FIU. He declined to be interviewed by the Miami Herald on Monday.
The teens beat the Florida International University freshman Stephen Barrett with a baseball bat and attempted to drown him in the Intracoastal Waterway and called him the N-word.
The suspects, ages ranging from 15 to 18, had attended the keg party at an island in the middle of the Intracoastal along with Barrett. At approximately 1 a.m. Sunday, Barrett and two dorm mates were on a boat headed back to Haulover Marina when the boat driver told the passengers they were overloaded.
The teens told Barrett, "'Get off the boat, N-----."
Words were exchanged but Barrett and his friends got off the boat. When they arrived at the Marina later, the teens were waiting for them with bats. Barrett fell into the Intracoastal and several teens tried to hold his head under the water.
A man fishing nearby called the police. Another party goer flagged down a police officer.
Responding officer, Steven Goldberg said, ''Upon my arrival, I observed approximately 10-15 subjects trying to leave the area in a hurry. There were three victims who were hit with bats and one victim was almost drowned . . . while also being beaten.''
Two teens Miguel Aranda, 18, and Gilberto Maakaroun, 17, was charged with a hate crime, battery, and attempted felony murder. The other two teens, Nicholas Checa, 15, and Marino Biondini, 17, were charged with a hate crime and battery.
A fifth person, Jose Osorio, 21, was charged with aggravated battery and attempted felony murder, but not a hate crime.
Barrett came from New York to attend college at FIU. He declined to be interviewed by the Miami Herald on Monday.
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock nine returned to the campus that shunned them 50 years before Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary.
Classes at the school were canceled Monday and Tuesday to accommodate the celebration.
Arkansas Governor, Mike Beebe said society has made great progress since the Central crisis, however economic and educational inequalities still persist.
"There will always be a necessity to show that we are inclusive as a society. The lesson is that we need to make sure that people learn from this event and be as inclusive as possible."
The Little Rock school is currently 52 percent black.
Classes at the school were canceled Monday and Tuesday to accommodate the celebration.
Arkansas Governor, Mike Beebe said society has made great progress since the Central crisis, however economic and educational inequalities still persist.
"There will always be a necessity to show that we are inclusive as a society. The lesson is that we need to make sure that people learn from this event and be as inclusive as possible."
The Little Rock school is currently 52 percent black.
Hip Hop Congressional Hearing
Heads butted Tuesday as lawmakers, music industry executives, and rappers came together to discuss the sexist and degrading language used in hip-hop but banned together in opposing government regulation of the music.
The hearing, "From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images" delved into the use of the H word, B word, and N word rap music. Music executives testified alongside civil rights leaders. Rapper David Banner and Master P was also there to put in their two cents.
David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump, said, "If by some stroke of the pen hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities. Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed."
Percy "Master P" Miller, a former gangster rapper now fights to remove the vulgar language found in rap music. He said, "I just made the music that I feel, not realizing I’m affecting kids for tomorrow. So if I can do anything today to change this, I’m going to take a stand and do that."
The hearing, "From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images" delved into the use of the H word, B word, and N word rap music. Music executives testified alongside civil rights leaders. Rapper David Banner and Master P was also there to put in their two cents.
David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump, said, "If by some stroke of the pen hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities. Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed."
Percy "Master P" Miller, a former gangster rapper now fights to remove the vulgar language found in rap music. He said, "I just made the music that I feel, not realizing I’m affecting kids for tomorrow. So if I can do anything today to change this, I’m going to take a stand and do that."
Del. State Suspect Captured
Delaware police arrested 18-year-old student identified in the shooting of two students at Delaware State University.East Orange, N.J. native Loyer D. Braden was arrested at 3:30 a.m. in his dorm room. He was charged with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment, and a gun charge. Bail was set at $75,000 and ordered to stay away from the victims and Delaware State.
University Police, who previously assured the campus community the gunman was not on the campus, cannot explain how or when Braden returned to campus.
In response to reporters' questions, he said, "I'm sorry."
When asked why he was sorry, he replied, "She's in the hospital."
One of the wounded students, 17-year-old Shalita Middleton, was shot in the abdominal and is being treated in the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. The other wounded student, Nathaniel Pugh III, 17, was shot in the ankle. He is talking to police about the incident. Family members of Pugh said he did not know who the gunman was and what caused the shooting.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Placing the Blame
The Rev. Al Sharpton is once again placing the blame on rap.
At the Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, De. called on black Americans to lead the way to stopping gun violence. Sharpton claims the shooting on Friday at Delaware State University is a sign of reckless violence and easy access to guns that must be stopped.
Sharpton also took the time to denounce rap lyrics. He claims the acceptance of the lyrics is the first step towards accepting violent behavior that follows.
Now I think Al Sharpton is insulting the intelligence of college students and any one that listens to rap music. Just because someone talks about the thug life doesn't mean I'm going to want to go out there and live it. There are books, classic novels, about murder and mayhem, I read them. That doesn't mean I'm going to want to methodically pluck off people that annoy me. Shame on Sharpton. All those that listen to rap music, or even enjoy any of the arts, should be offended that Sharpton is talking down to you.
At the Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, De. called on black Americans to lead the way to stopping gun violence. Sharpton claims the shooting on Friday at Delaware State University is a sign of reckless violence and easy access to guns that must be stopped.
Sharpton also took the time to denounce rap lyrics. He claims the acceptance of the lyrics is the first step towards accepting violent behavior that follows.
Now I think Al Sharpton is insulting the intelligence of college students and any one that listens to rap music. Just because someone talks about the thug life doesn't mean I'm going to want to go out there and live it. There are books, classic novels, about murder and mayhem, I read them. That doesn't mean I'm going to want to methodically pluck off people that annoy me. Shame on Sharpton. All those that listen to rap music, or even enjoy any of the arts, should be offended that Sharpton is talking down to you.
Turf Wars
A college turf war turned bloody at the University of Delaware Friday.
Since the school year began fights between New Jersey and District of Columbia students has been rampant throughout the campus. However, the fights escalated early Friday, when two students were shot outside of the campus dining hall.
The victims, 17-year-old Nathaniel Pough, was listed in stable condition with an ankle wound, and Shalita Middleton, 17, was shot in the abdomen and is in serious condition.
Two students described as persons of interest were taken into custody and released. No arrests have been made. Police believe the suspect is a Delaware student who is no longer on the campus.
Now I have to put my two cents in about this, because it is ridiculous. I'm going to say it, GANGSTERS DON'T GO TO COLLEGE. Kids that go to college are softies. The hard one stay on the block. Not in the classroom. You little wannabe baby gangsters need to grow up and realize there is so much more to live for. See how many lives are ruined because of what, a group of people from a small state and an even smaller province have an inferiority complex or you wanted to prove your hard. If you wanted to be wild you ass should have stayed on the block. But you didn't stay on the block because someone cared enough about you to want better for you. That's why your in college so you can do better for yourself. Not to act like a hard rock when your really not. If you spent one day in the real life of the gangsters your ass would be begging to head to Organic Chem. One day their gonna learn, unfortunately for the shooter he or she is going to learn a little too late.
Since the school year began fights between New Jersey and District of Columbia students has been rampant throughout the campus. However, the fights escalated early Friday, when two students were shot outside of the campus dining hall.
The victims, 17-year-old Nathaniel Pough, was listed in stable condition with an ankle wound, and Shalita Middleton, 17, was shot in the abdomen and is in serious condition.
Two students described as persons of interest were taken into custody and released. No arrests have been made. Police believe the suspect is a Delaware student who is no longer on the campus.
Now I have to put my two cents in about this, because it is ridiculous. I'm going to say it, GANGSTERS DON'T GO TO COLLEGE. Kids that go to college are softies. The hard one stay on the block. Not in the classroom. You little wannabe baby gangsters need to grow up and realize there is so much more to live for. See how many lives are ruined because of what, a group of people from a small state and an even smaller province have an inferiority complex or you wanted to prove your hard. If you wanted to be wild you ass should have stayed on the block. But you didn't stay on the block because someone cared enough about you to want better for you. That's why your in college so you can do better for yourself. Not to act like a hard rock when your really not. If you spent one day in the real life of the gangsters your ass would be begging to head to Organic Chem. One day their gonna learn, unfortunately for the shooter he or she is going to learn a little too late.
She Said What?!?!?!
So my best friend, the racial don, is from Buffalo, NY. He told me this story about an English lesson at the high school he was going to. So here it is.
I was in my sophomore English class one day discussing plurals.
The teacher said, "The plural for goose is geese. What is the plural for moose?"
The teacher called on this very pretty girl. She hardly showed up to class and when she did she never paid attention.
So when the teacher called on her, she did not know what he was talking about. So the teacher repeated himself.
So thought for a minute, then said, "meeses."
The teacher said, "Excuse me."
She repeated, "The plural of moose is meeses."
Now I know that for maybe a first grader it would make sense for a meeses to be the plural for moose because geese is the plural of goose. But past the second grade you just sound like a damn fool. Meeses does not sound right. Even spelling it the spelling looks completely wrong. I get mad when I see dumb pretty girls. It makes all pretty girls look dumb. I'm pretty, I'm not dumb. I might forget how to spell certain things and every once in a while I speak improper English but I don't make up words (except to look cute to my boyfriends). 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?!?!?!"
I was in my sophomore English class one day discussing plurals.
The teacher said, "The plural for goose is geese. What is the plural for moose?"
The teacher called on this very pretty girl. She hardly showed up to class and when she did she never paid attention.
So when the teacher called on her, she did not know what he was talking about. So the teacher repeated himself.
So thought for a minute, then said, "meeses."
The teacher said, "Excuse me."
She repeated, "The plural of moose is meeses."
Now I know that for maybe a first grader it would make sense for a meeses to be the plural for moose because geese is the plural of goose. But past the second grade you just sound like a damn fool. Meeses does not sound right. Even spelling it the spelling looks completely wrong. I get mad when I see dumb pretty girls. It makes all pretty girls look dumb. I'm pretty, I'm not dumb. I might forget how to spell certain things and every once in a while I speak improper English but I don't make up words (except to look cute to my boyfriends). 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?!?!?!"
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Jena Rally
So there were tons of rallies yesterday for the Jena Six. In Brooklyn there was one at Borough Hall. But anyway, I wanted to post a video of the rally but honestly there are so many that I am posting ones from all over the country.
Black Bodies Swinging from Trees
Three Georgia teenagers stole a training mannequin from the fire department sprayed it with black paint and the letters KKK on its chest and hung it near an embankment overlooking I-75 south of Atlanta.
The three, Brandon McGill, 17, Jarvis McCleod, 18, and Matthew Parson, 18, were charged with burglary and interference with government property. They were released on $5,000 bond.
The mannequin was stolen from the Henry County fire department last week and seen over I-75 on last week Friday.
Some people were alarmed by the mannequin because they thought it was a real human body.
The Rev. Daniel Edwards, president of the county's NAACP chapter, said, "These young men took the time to paint the dummy black. They were sending a message that says, 'This is what we think of black people.' We want to send a message that these types of actions will not be tolerated."
The three, Brandon McGill, 17, Jarvis McCleod, 18, and Matthew Parson, 18, were charged with burglary and interference with government property. They were released on $5,000 bond.
The mannequin was stolen from the Henry County fire department last week and seen over I-75 on last week Friday.
Some people were alarmed by the mannequin because they thought it was a real human body.
The Rev. Daniel Edwards, president of the county's NAACP chapter, said, "These young men took the time to paint the dummy black. They were sending a message that says, 'This is what we think of black people.' We want to send a message that these types of actions will not be tolerated."
Wooing the Blacks
During a White House news conference Pres. Bush urged the republican presidential candidates to seek support from the black community.
Bush said, "My advice to whomever will be our nominee is to reach out to the African-American community, as well as other communities. I believe that we've got a very strong record when it comes to empowerment, when it comes to education or home ownership or small-business formation."
The republican party has tried and failed for several decades to sway the votes of blacks and Latinos. Recently the party's top contender decided to skip a nationally televised debate at Morgan State University. The debate at the historically black college in Baltimore would have focused on issues in the minority communities.
Bush said, "My advice to whomever will be our nominee is to reach out to the African-American community, as well as other communities. I believe that we've got a very strong record when it comes to empowerment, when it comes to education or home ownership or small-business formation."
The republican party has tried and failed for several decades to sway the votes of blacks and Latinos. Recently the party's top contender decided to skip a nationally televised debate at Morgan State University. The debate at the historically black college in Baltimore would have focused on issues in the minority communities.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Racial Don
The Racial Don turns 22-years-old today.Born on Sept. 19, 1985 in Buffalo, New York, Stevie B. moved to Brooklyn, NY in Nov. 2001. He met his Racial Consigliere, Ms. Fung, at that time and has been inseparable since.
Besides coordinating this blog, the Racial Don dabbles in music production and screen play writing.
So massive shot outs to the Racial Don, he is an official Grown Bad Ass!
Baltimore Considers Saggy Baggy Pants Ban
Baltimore City Council is considering passing a ban on saggy pants in the city.
Councilwoman Helen Holton introduced a nonbinding resolution Monday that she hopes will start a dialogue in the community about sagging pants that expose men's and women's underwear. Holton says she's disgusted by the style and says some offenders use the baggy styles to stash drugs and weapons.
She notes some other communities around the country have already enacted bans. Holton says there isn't enough time left in the council's current term for consideration of a formal bill banning the style and listing penalties. However, she says she could introduce a bill after the new term starts in December.
"I think it's the responsibility of the parents to say pull your pants up," said Marjorie DuVall, a mother. "I don't want to see your underwear."
Daniel Bradley of Peaceaholics agreed: "I definitely disagree with pants sagging, but this is a social problem more than a legal problem."
The American Civil Liberties Union says a possible ban amounts to racial profiling. The idea of a ban is not unique to Baltimore.
In Delcambre, Louisiana, showing your boxers or bare buttocks can already get you a 500 dollar fine or six months in jail. Trenton, New Jersey, and Atlanta are considering bans. Virginia lawmakers rejected a similar ban two years ago.The baggy pant trend first took hold in American prisons where inmates aren't given belts to prevent hangings and beatings.
Councilwoman Helen Holton introduced a nonbinding resolution Monday that she hopes will start a dialogue in the community about sagging pants that expose men's and women's underwear. Holton says she's disgusted by the style and says some offenders use the baggy styles to stash drugs and weapons.
She notes some other communities around the country have already enacted bans. Holton says there isn't enough time left in the council's current term for consideration of a formal bill banning the style and listing penalties. However, she says she could introduce a bill after the new term starts in December.
"I think it's the responsibility of the parents to say pull your pants up," said Marjorie DuVall, a mother. "I don't want to see your underwear."
Daniel Bradley of Peaceaholics agreed: "I definitely disagree with pants sagging, but this is a social problem more than a legal problem."
The American Civil Liberties Union says a possible ban amounts to racial profiling. The idea of a ban is not unique to Baltimore.
In Delcambre, Louisiana, showing your boxers or bare buttocks can already get you a 500 dollar fine or six months in jail. Trenton, New Jersey, and Atlanta are considering bans. Virginia lawmakers rejected a similar ban two years ago.The baggy pant trend first took hold in American prisons where inmates aren't given belts to prevent hangings and beatings.
Jesse Jackson criticizes Obama
The Rev. Jesse Jackson claims that Sen. Barack Obama is "acting like he's white" when it comes to the six black students in Jena, La.Obama, a democratic running for the 2008 presidential candidacy, issued what civil rights leaders called a tepid response to the case.
Jackson said, "If I were a candidate, I’d be all over Jena. Jena is a defining moment, just like Selma was a defining moment."
The 4th Annual Social Lounge
So tonight at Pace University Allhiphop.com presents The 4th Annual Social Lounge. World Renowned Hip-Hop Personalities gather on one stage to discuss Hip-Hop culture.
The event will be hosted Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur, confirmed panelist include Dr. Cornel West, Wendy Williams, Master P., and David Banner.
This event is open to the public and free to attend on a first come first serve basis.
Venue: Pace University, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
Address: 1 pace Plaza at Spruce Street
Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
How to get there:
The event will be hosted Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur, confirmed panelist include Dr. Cornel West, Wendy Williams, Master P., and David Banner.
This event is open to the public and free to attend on a first come first serve basis.
Venue: Pace University, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
Address: 1 pace Plaza at Spruce Street
Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
How to get there:
- 2 & 3 train to Park Place/ Broadway and walk east across City Hall Park to campus.
- A & C train to Broadway - Nassau St./ Fulton St. Exit at Fulton and Nassau St. and walk 2 blocks north on Nassau St. to campus.
- 4,5 & 6 to Brooklyn Bridge/ City Hall. Take exit marked City Hall to street and walk south down Park Row to campus; or walk through underpass to exit marked Frankfort St. and exit to Pace Plaza and the campus.
- J, M & Z to Broadway - Nassau St./ Fulton St. Exit at Fulton and Nassau St. and walk 2 blocks north on Nassau St. to campus
- N & R to City Hall/ Broadway. Then walk east across City Hall Park to campus.
For driving directions you can visit the Pace University website.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Go Grandpa Its Your Birthday!
The worlds oldest man turned 112 today.Tomoji Tanabe, a former city land surveyor, was born Sept. 18, 1895 in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki, in Southern Japan. He was named the worlds oldest man in Jan. of this year, after the death of 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado Del Toro of Puerto Rico.
Tanabe was honored with a bouquet of flowers, a letter of congradulation, and 100,000 yen ($870) from Miyakonojo City mayor.
When recieving his birthday wishes, Tanabe said, "I want to live forever. I don't want to die."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Ja said What?
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released a statement on Sept. 14 in response to Ja Rule's previous comments.
In an interview with Complex magazine, rapper Ja Rule said the upcoming congressional hearing that will discuss the content and imagery of black women in hip-hop, was wrong when there is uncensored homosexuality on television.
Ja said, "Lets talk about all these f--king shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this sh-t. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let's talk about s--t like that! If that's not f--king up America, I don't know what is."
The statement posted on the GLAAD website stated:
"No fair-minded person can look at Ja Rule's interview with Complex magazine and believe for one second that his children could be more harmed by what they might see on television than by the vulgarity and prejudice that comes out of their father's mouth. Now that media have seen Ja Rule's intolerance unmasked by his own words, they have a responsibility not to provide in the future a platform for his ugly, vulgar displays of prejudice."
In an interview with Complex magazine, rapper Ja Rule said the upcoming congressional hearing that will discuss the content and imagery of black women in hip-hop, was wrong when there is uncensored homosexuality on television.
Ja said, "Lets talk about all these f--king shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this sh-t. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let's talk about s--t like that! If that's not f--king up America, I don't know what is."
The statement posted on the GLAAD website stated:
"No fair-minded person can look at Ja Rule's interview with Complex magazine and believe for one second that his children could be more harmed by what they might see on television than by the vulgarity and prejudice that comes out of their father's mouth. Now that media have seen Ja Rule's intolerance unmasked by his own words, they have a responsibility not to provide in the future a platform for his ugly, vulgar displays of prejudice."
Cleveland Editor Apologizes for Cartoon
The Cleveland Plain Dealer editor apologized to the family of a 12-year-old shooting victim for publishing a cartoon they found "offensive and insensitive."
The cartoon by editorial cartoonist Jeff Darcy ran in the Sept. 5, four days after the child was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout in her neighborhood.
The cartoon showed a young black girl with a shirt that proclaimed, "DON'T SHOOT! I'm a friend of a friend of friend of Mayor Jackson's daughter."
The parent's of the girl along with various community activist accepted the apology.
Newspaper editor, Susan Goldberg said, "It's terrible to lose someone you love, and I apologized to Asteve's parents because that cartoon added to their pain. We regret that the cartoon was published and realize that offended many people in our community."
The cartoon by editorial cartoonist Jeff Darcy ran in the Sept. 5, four days after the child was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout in her neighborhood.
The cartoon showed a young black girl with a shirt that proclaimed, "DON'T SHOOT! I'm a friend of a friend of friend of Mayor Jackson's daughter."
The parent's of the girl along with various community activist accepted the apology.
Newspaper editor, Susan Goldberg said, "It's terrible to lose someone you love, and I apologized to Asteve's parents because that cartoon added to their pain. We regret that the cartoon was published and realize that offended many people in our community."
Kanye West at the Emmy's
So Kanye West presented at the Emmy's last night. He has been criticized about for his reaction at the 2007 VMA's. I don't think he's wrong but some people thinks he's a big baby. I think he's an artist. But he has a sense of humor about it.
Chauvanist Cartoon
A Central Conneticut State University student newspaper has come under fire for a cartoon it published.
The three-framed comic strip, called "Polydongs," showed two people who mentioned locking a 14-year-old-girl in a closet and urinating on her.
CCSU president plans to cut off advertising for the paper, and a protest was planned for today.
Protesters want editor, Mark Rowan, removed from his position. Rowan, 21, published a satirical opinion piece in the paper called "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It." The piece called sexual assualt a "magical experience" that benefits "ugly women."
The author of the piece lost his position at the paper but Rowan remained as editor.
Psychology professor and president of the university's Latin American Association, Francisco Donis said, "We believe the climate here at Central is one that fosters this kind of behavior. So we want more systematic changes to create a welcoming environment for everyone to feel safe and secure."
Anger on campus has mainly come from facualty, not students. Editor Rowan said this is because shock humor is commonplace in the generation.
The three-framed comic strip, called "Polydongs," showed two people who mentioned locking a 14-year-old-girl in a closet and urinating on her.
CCSU president plans to cut off advertising for the paper, and a protest was planned for today.
Protesters want editor, Mark Rowan, removed from his position. Rowan, 21, published a satirical opinion piece in the paper called "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It." The piece called sexual assualt a "magical experience" that benefits "ugly women."
The author of the piece lost his position at the paper but Rowan remained as editor.
Psychology professor and president of the university's Latin American Association, Francisco Donis said, "We believe the climate here at Central is one that fosters this kind of behavior. So we want more systematic changes to create a welcoming environment for everyone to feel safe and secure."
Anger on campus has mainly come from facualty, not students. Editor Rowan said this is because shock humor is commonplace in the generation.
Fixing Mommy
A four-year-old from Brooklyn witnessed her mother being shot to death by her suicidal boyfriend yesterday.
Christina Scarabaggio, 27, was gunned down by her boyfriend as she shielded her daughter in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn.
Police say, Christopher Flynn, 27, shot Scarabaggio twice in the back and then once in the face. He then turned the .380 caliber gun on himself.
Flynn chased Scarabaggio and her daughter, Bianca Perez, out of her apartment at 4 a.m. after lighting a fire in the child's room and the living room of the second floor apartment.
The Bianca's father, Joseph Perez, said he was instructed to contact the city's Administration for Children's Services today to schedule a psychological evaluation for Bianca.
Bianca, understandably, does not understand that her mother is not going to be coming back. She said to her father, "'If I eat pizza, if I'm being a good girl, will Mommy come back?"
Bianca keeps asking, "Is Mommy fixed yet?"
Perez hopes to gain custody of Bianca, however he fears an arrest last year for selling drugs will cause an issue.
"If they take my daughter - that's all I have right now," he said. "There is no one better for her than me."
Christina Scarabaggio, 27, was gunned down by her boyfriend as she shielded her daughter in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn.
Police say, Christopher Flynn, 27, shot Scarabaggio twice in the back and then once in the face. He then turned the .380 caliber gun on himself.
Flynn chased Scarabaggio and her daughter, Bianca Perez, out of her apartment at 4 a.m. after lighting a fire in the child's room and the living room of the second floor apartment.
The Bianca's father, Joseph Perez, said he was instructed to contact the city's Administration for Children's Services today to schedule a psychological evaluation for Bianca.
Bianca, understandably, does not understand that her mother is not going to be coming back. She said to her father, "'If I eat pizza, if I'm being a good girl, will Mommy come back?"
Bianca keeps asking, "Is Mommy fixed yet?"
Perez hopes to gain custody of Bianca, however he fears an arrest last year for selling drugs will cause an issue.
"If they take my daughter - that's all I have right now," he said. "There is no one better for her than me."
Execution Style
Two men fatally wounded a man and his seven-month-old son in Sacramento, Ca.
Twenty-one-year-old Sean Paul Acquitania and his son, Sean Paul Acquitania Jr., drove to a friends house on Friday. Acquitania Sr. left the infant in the car and went to the house door. As his friend opened the door, two men ran up and forced themselves into the house.
A brawl ensued, and Acquitania was shot at at least twice in the upper body. The two suspects fled, but not before reaching into the car and shooting the child.
Investigator originally believed the child was shot accidentally, but evidence shows the child was shot execution-style.
Authorities are still looking searching for the suspects.
Twenty-one-year-old Sean Paul Acquitania and his son, Sean Paul Acquitania Jr., drove to a friends house on Friday. Acquitania Sr. left the infant in the car and went to the house door. As his friend opened the door, two men ran up and forced themselves into the house.
A brawl ensued, and Acquitania was shot at at least twice in the upper body. The two suspects fled, but not before reaching into the car and shooting the child.
Investigator originally believed the child was shot accidentally, but evidence shows the child was shot execution-style.
Authorities are still looking searching for the suspects.
She Said What?!?!?!
So a few months ago I was hanging out at home, when my sister said that she was going to be watching my niece while my other sister was at work and she was planning on taking my niece to visit my dad at work and have some lunch.
So the hungry hungry hippo that I am I invited myself. So we picked up my niece from her father and we made our way to my fathers job.
My sister decided she wasn't going to take the stroller because she felt it was going to be cumbersome and my niece is a very light child. So we alternated carrying the child on the train.
Carrying the sleeping infant was not fun but it was ok. Then she woke up, and began to cry. I was carrying her but she kept squirming around so I gave her to my sister to carry.
My sister began to complain about the child crying. So I said to her, "she's a child, children cry."
So my sister turned to me and said, "well when I have children they wont cry."
I said, "how will you manage that?"
She replied, "Because I have a car and my child will be in the car seat."
Now I have heard that children fall to sleep in car seats, play with their fingers and toes in car seats, but I did not know that a car seat can also double as a tears prevention device. What makes this situation even more ridiculous is that my sister is not a teenager, she is a grown ass woman, she's 28-years-old. She's so old enough to know that you can't stop a child that wants to cry from crying. Car seat or no car seat. But I always said my sister was blessed with all the book smarts in the world but common sense evades her.
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?!?!?!"
So the hungry hungry hippo that I am I invited myself. So we picked up my niece from her father and we made our way to my fathers job.
My sister decided she wasn't going to take the stroller because she felt it was going to be cumbersome and my niece is a very light child. So we alternated carrying the child on the train.
Carrying the sleeping infant was not fun but it was ok. Then she woke up, and began to cry. I was carrying her but she kept squirming around so I gave her to my sister to carry.
My sister began to complain about the child crying. So I said to her, "she's a child, children cry."
So my sister turned to me and said, "well when I have children they wont cry."
I said, "how will you manage that?"
She replied, "Because I have a car and my child will be in the car seat."
Now I have heard that children fall to sleep in car seats, play with their fingers and toes in car seats, but I did not know that a car seat can also double as a tears prevention device. What makes this situation even more ridiculous is that my sister is not a teenager, she is a grown ass woman, she's 28-years-old. She's so old enough to know that you can't stop a child that wants to cry from crying. Car seat or no car seat. But I always said my sister was blessed with all the book smarts in the world but common sense evades her.
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?!?!?!"
Sunday, September 16, 2007
School of Rap
Students at eight Boston schools will be learning a different type of music. Instead of heading to chorus or marching band practice after-school they will be writing rhymes and scratching records.
The program, developed by Boston Youth Hip-Hop Shop and Chris Conroy, uses local rappers like Jake the Snake, Omega Red, and Akrobatik, was mentors in the program.
Conroy, a three-year teaching fellow, developed the program in response to what he called a lack of after-school programming. While Citizen Schools offers apprenticeships that expose middle-school students to professionals from around Boston, opportunities to meet successful hip-hoppers were limited.
"It's important for kids to learn from members of the larger Boston community, like the lawyers and businessmen who work with kids in other apprenticeships," Conroy said. "But they also need to feel that there are talents and specific skill sets that can help them succeed within their own communities and traditions."
The program, developed by Boston Youth Hip-Hop Shop and Chris Conroy, uses local rappers like Jake the Snake, Omega Red, and Akrobatik, was mentors in the program.
Conroy, a three-year teaching fellow, developed the program in response to what he called a lack of after-school programming. While Citizen Schools offers apprenticeships that expose middle-school students to professionals from around Boston, opportunities to meet successful hip-hoppers were limited.
"It's important for kids to learn from members of the larger Boston community, like the lawyers and businessmen who work with kids in other apprenticeships," Conroy said. "But they also need to feel that there are talents and specific skill sets that can help them succeed within their own communities and traditions."
Trouble on the Beach
A Queens man claims his neighbor is trying to force him out of their Howard Beach neighborhood with racial threats.
Last month Kris Gounden filed charges against his neighbor for threatening him with a baseball bat and yelling racial slurs at him. The man is being charged with several felonies including a hate crime charge. Since the charges were filed Gounden has had 24-hour police surveillance on his home.
Despite the security put on Gounden's home, he still receives verbal harrassment from other neighbors.
Gounden said, "With the neighbors telling you blatantly in your face you don't belong here, you're not from around here, go back to where you came from, what else can I gather from that?"
No one in the home of the man arrested was available for comments, but a neighbor told NY1 News, the problem was not with Goundens race but with the construction he was doing on his home.
Gounden had received several violations for the work on his home. He said three of the violations were rectified and he was planning to get the others dismissed in court.
Last month Kris Gounden filed charges against his neighbor for threatening him with a baseball bat and yelling racial slurs at him. The man is being charged with several felonies including a hate crime charge. Since the charges were filed Gounden has had 24-hour police surveillance on his home.
Despite the security put on Gounden's home, he still receives verbal harrassment from other neighbors.
Gounden said, "With the neighbors telling you blatantly in your face you don't belong here, you're not from around here, go back to where you came from, what else can I gather from that?"
No one in the home of the man arrested was available for comments, but a neighbor told NY1 News, the problem was not with Goundens race but with the construction he was doing on his home.
Gounden had received several violations for the work on his home. He said three of the violations were rectified and he was planning to get the others dismissed in court.
Protesting BET
More than 500 concerned television viewers peacefully protested outside the Washington, D.C. home of Debra Lee, CEO of Black Entertainment Television yesterday.The rally, organized by Rev. Delman L. Coates, called Enough is Enough demanded that the network stopped showing what they called demeaning and offensive portrayals of black people. The group plans to return every weekend until Lee addresses their grievances.
Lee was not home yesterday but in a telephone interview with the Washington Post she said she was disappointed that attempts to arrange a meeting with the group last week failed. Also in a letter, she said the network planned to premiere 16 "balanced" programs by the end of the year.
The campaign is calling for corporations to ditch popular cultures depiction of black males as "gangsters" and "pimps" and black women as sexual objects.
So I want to put a company on blast, I was having some trouble with my phone and Internet since yesterday and it really pissed me off. Here's my story.
Now for the past few years I had DirecTv television service and Verizon DSL and telephone. But I was having major problems with my satellite TV, it was always "searching for satellite signal." It would be sunny as all hell, no clouds in the sky and it would still be "searching for satellite signal." So my landlord a.k.a. my mom and I discussed it and decided its time to get digital cable.
Due to the area of Brooklyn we live in we had only had one often for digital cable service, Cablevision. We decided to get the optimum triple play which is digital cable, Internet, and phone all for $29.95 a month each.
Since the day all of this was installed my cable has frozen for more than 30 minutes at least twice, one of the cable boxes just stopped working after only being installed three weeks before, even though I could use the Internet on more than one computer with my DSL I found out I had to buy a router to do that, my telephone and Internet was not working at all for almost 24 hours, and to be honest I did not like the way the guy that installed all of this stuff was looking at me.
So Cablevision, with your Optimum Triple Play, You have been put on blast.
Now for the past few years I had DirecTv television service and Verizon DSL and telephone. But I was having major problems with my satellite TV, it was always "searching for satellite signal." It would be sunny as all hell, no clouds in the sky and it would still be "searching for satellite signal." So my landlord a.k.a. my mom and I discussed it and decided its time to get digital cable.
Due to the area of Brooklyn we live in we had only had one often for digital cable service, Cablevision. We decided to get the optimum triple play which is digital cable, Internet, and phone all for $29.95 a month each.
Since the day all of this was installed my cable has frozen for more than 30 minutes at least twice, one of the cable boxes just stopped working after only being installed three weeks before, even though I could use the Internet on more than one computer with my DSL I found out I had to buy a router to do that, my telephone and Internet was not working at all for almost 24 hours, and to be honest I did not like the way the guy that installed all of this stuff was looking at me.
So Cablevision, with your Optimum Triple Play, You have been put on blast.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Jena Conviction Overturned
The La. state appeals court overturned the aggravated battery conviction of 17-year-old Mychal Bell.According to the state Third Circuit Court of Appeal, Bell should not have been tried as an adult on the battery charge because he was 16 at the time of the beating.
Attorney Louis Scott said he didn't know if Bell would be released from prison immediately.
Scott said, "It means that at the present time all charges are dismissed. But we don't know what approach the prosecution is going to take — whether they will re-charge him, where he would have to be subjected to bail all over again or not. We're working on that right now."
The charges against the Jena Six has brought international attention to the small town. The confrontation which started with a black freshman at Jena High sitting underneath a tree that only white students sat under, quickly escalated the beating of a white student by six black students.
Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Radio Personality Michael Baisden and various other celebrities, along with millions of protesters planned to have a rally in Jena on Sept. 20, the date Mychal Bell was to be sentenced. Whether the rally will still be held is unknown to me at this time.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Remembering Tupac Shakur
So today is the 11th anniversary of the death of Tupac Amaru Shakur.Tupac was born in East Harlem on June 16, 1971 to Afeni Shakur, an active black panther. Tupac was born just one month after Afeni was acquitted on more than 100 counts of "conspiracy against the United States government and New York landmarks."
In 1984, the Shakur family moved to Baltimore. Tupac attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he met his closest friend Jada Pinkett. In June 1988, the Shakur family moved once again to Marin City, Ca.
In 1991, Tupac entered the entertainment industry, with his debut single "Same Song" from the Digital Underground album This is an EP Release. Later that year, Tupac released his first solo album, 2Pacalypse Now. He later went on to release Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., Thug Life: Volume 1, Me Against the World, All Eyes on Me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, along with many others after his death.
In his life Tupac dabbled in acting performing in Nothing But Trouble (1991), Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), and Above the Rim (1994).
In Tupac's life he had a few brushes with the law, including a 1993 charge of sexual abuse against a woman. In the complaint, the woman, who had previous sexual relations with Tupac, claimed the rapper sodomized her and encouraged his friends to sexually abuse her. He was convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison.
In Nov. 1994 Tupac was shot five times in the lobby of the Quad Recording Studios in Manhattan. He accused Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace of setting him up to get shot.
On Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac attended a Mike Tyson - Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After the fight, Tupac, Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, and friend Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, went in Knight's car to Death Row owned Club 662.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., a white, four-door, late model Cadillac stopped besides Knights car and began to open fire. Tupac was shot several times. He was taken to University Medical Center where he was placed on life support until his death six days later on Sept. 13, 1996 at 4:03 p.m. He was 25-years-old. The official cause of death was respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
Though Tupac left behind no children, his legacy will live on through his music. The beautiful mosaic of socially conscious and entertaining music and acting that Tupac weaved in his life lives on through the millions he touched. Whether its the poster on a wall, T-shirt or airbrushed sneakers with his face, or the statue in Atlanta, Tupac has and will continue to breathe life even after his death.
Blacks and Latinos have higher mortage rates
Records show that black and Latino borrowers were charged a higher interest rates on their mortgage. The report also shows lenders turned down potential borrowers of ethnic minorities more than whites.
Banking regulators plan to examine the information to determine whether lenders are discriminating against blacks and Latinos or the loans receive higher interest rates due to poor credit history.
Whether the higher rates is due to discrimination or poor credit, many fear that blacks and Latinos will be hit the hardest by the US housing slump and more likely to lose their homes than whites.
According to the statistics, black borrowers were given high interest mortgages 53.7 per cent of the time in 2006, compared with 54.7 per cent of the time the year before. Hispanic borrowers were charged more 46.6 per cent of the time in 2006, compared with 46.1 per cent in 2005.
A high percentage of these high-interest loans have climbing rates, with the cost of servicing the debt rising throughout the life of the mortgage. A large amount of sub-prime borrowers will see interest rate on their mortgage rise by the end of the year.
Economist anticipate home foreclosures to swell by the end of the year.
Banking regulators plan to examine the information to determine whether lenders are discriminating against blacks and Latinos or the loans receive higher interest rates due to poor credit history.
Whether the higher rates is due to discrimination or poor credit, many fear that blacks and Latinos will be hit the hardest by the US housing slump and more likely to lose their homes than whites.
According to the statistics, black borrowers were given high interest mortgages 53.7 per cent of the time in 2006, compared with 54.7 per cent of the time the year before. Hispanic borrowers were charged more 46.6 per cent of the time in 2006, compared with 46.1 per cent in 2005.
A high percentage of these high-interest loans have climbing rates, with the cost of servicing the debt rising throughout the life of the mortgage. A large amount of sub-prime borrowers will see interest rate on their mortgage rise by the end of the year.
Economist anticipate home foreclosures to swell by the end of the year.
Lets J.A.M.
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC is trying to fight fire with fire when it comes to hip-hop. Over the past few months hip-hop has come under fire as a genre of music that is seeped in the degradation of women, gang banging, and the glorification of project living.
But DMC plans to show the positive contributions the hip-hop community has made with the J.A.M. Award.
"Hip-hop is more powerful than politics and religion. It's the only thing that brought black people, white people, German people, Asian people, African people (together). I traveled the world — hip-hop changed people's lives," DMC said.
The J.A.M. Award is organized by the Jam Master Jay Foundation and other sponsors. The awards will honor one contributor from the hip-hop community, in the respective fields of social justice, music, and the arts. The awards will also honor Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell.
The award show is set for Nov. 29 in New York City. Confirmed artist include Talib Kweli, Snoop Dogg, Dead Prez, De La Soul, and Cassidy among others.
But DMC plans to show the positive contributions the hip-hop community has made with the J.A.M. Award.
"Hip-hop is more powerful than politics and religion. It's the only thing that brought black people, white people, German people, Asian people, African people (together). I traveled the world — hip-hop changed people's lives," DMC said.
The J.A.M. Award is organized by the Jam Master Jay Foundation and other sponsors. The awards will honor one contributor from the hip-hop community, in the respective fields of social justice, music, and the arts. The awards will also honor Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell.
The award show is set for Nov. 29 in New York City. Confirmed artist include Talib Kweli, Snoop Dogg, Dead Prez, De La Soul, and Cassidy among others.
DMC - Deliver My Children
Hip-Hop artist Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC is producing a documentary titled DMC: Deliver My Children, aimed at shedding light on the foster care system.In an interview with Allhiphop.com McDaniels said, "The foster care system is totally obsolete. Kids are being killed, abused and even experimented on. I was fortunate. I got adopted. There's a half a million kids here every year here that don't get adopted."
According to statistics, the number of children in foster care has doubled since 1987. More than 90 percent of all states report having problems finding adoptive families for foster children.
McDaniels is in the planning process of holding a rally for adoption rights in Washington, D.C., in front of the White House along with The Throw Away Kids Foundation. The rally will include other celebrities that were adopted or spent time in foster care.
In Feb. 2006, McDaniels released a one-hour VH1 "Rock Doc" documentary, called My Adoption Journey, that explained his journey to find his biological mother, who gave him up for adoption in 1964.
McDaniels did not find out he was adopted until he was 35-years-old. At that time he set out on a spiritual and personal journey to find his birth mother.
My Adoption Journey has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming. The award show airs Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. on Fox.
For more information visit http://www.me-dmc.com/.
BET new fall line up
The Black Entertainment Television network announced its new fall line up.
BET News Hip-Hop Vs. America: Premiering (Part 1) Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.; (Part 2) Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.; (Part 3) Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m.
BET News takes a powerful and compelling look at the state of hip-hop today. Hosted by BET's own Toure and Jeff Johnson, this special showcases a candid, heated forum that will allow audiences to hear the opinions of prominent leaders in the hip-hop industry, the political realm, academia and the black church. Hip-hop recording artists Nelly, T.I., Mike Jones, MC Lyte, Master P. and the legendary Chuck D; top journalists Keith Boykin, Diane Weathers, Jeff Chang, Farai Chideya, Kim Osorio and New York Daily News columnist Stanley Crouch; filmmaker and cultural critic Nelson George; Judge Mablean Ephraim; former video vixens Melyssa Ford and Karrine Steffans; music executives Valeisha Butterfield and Benny Boom; ministers Conrad Tillard, Pastor A. R. Bernard; professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and Reverend Al Sharpton lead the lists of outspoken panelists who take the stage and share their point of view on hip-hop.
SUNDAY BEST: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.
Building on the success of Celebration of Gospel, BET introduces a nationwide search for America's next great gospel singer. Hosted by platinum-selling artist Kirk Franklin, the show searches for talent in storefront churches, parishes and mega-churches. Grammy Award-winning gospel superstars Bebe Winans and dynamic singing duo Mary Mary will judge the contestants each week while also nurturing the talented singers. The top five finalists will be coached by artists from the gospel and secular worlds as they strive to win the "Sunday Best" title. The winner will receive a recording contract, a Toyota Camry, as well as cash and prizes for their home church.
EXALTED!: Premiering Tuesday, Oct.2 at 9 p.m.
BET takes a look into the complex lives of inspirational leaders in this biography series profiling ministers from around the country. Some of these strong religious figures lead mega-churches, advise the President, and comfort the sick and destitute. The show goes beyond the public image to reveal the human side of these men and women to discover why they chose to follow this path, what sacrifices they made and the struggles they've encountered along the way.
COLLEGE HILL: INTERNS: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m.
Following the success of "College Hill 4," the highest-rated series in BET history, "College Hill: Interns" will follow 10 college students from around the country who move to Chicago to participate in a summer internship. While juggling their professional responsibilities and late night partying, these college students will learn the harsh reality of what it means to hold down a job. Dr. Ian Smith, host of BET's "Meet the Faith" serves as their advisor.
BOBBY JONES GOSPEL Premiering Sunday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.
"Bobby Jones Gospel": continues to be one of the highest-rated and longest-running shows on BET. This hour-long program, hosted by popular gospel entertainer Bobby Jones, gets viewers in the spirit with gospel artists and choirs from around the country. Watch the show and be blessed!
AMERICAN GANGSTER II: Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.
Narrated by award-winning actor Ving Rhames, the critically acclaimed show returns for a second season with 10 all-new episodes chronicling the life and times of some of African-America's most notorious crime figures. Some of this season's profiles include Larry Hoover, The Black Philly Mafia and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, as well as an exclusive interview with Frank Lucas, the real-life character that Denzel Washington portrays in the upcoming film "American Gangster."
BET HIP-HOP AWARDS 2007: Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.
BET shocked "Hotlanta" on November 15, 2006 with its first Hip Hop Awards, which drew 3.64 million viewers. This year's ceremony will pay homage to the genre of hip-hop, and viewers won't want to miss the off-the-hook performances and appearances by the biggest names in the game.
KEYSHIA COLE 2: THE WAY IT IS: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 10:30 p.m.
The sophomore season of the hit reality series documents the life of platinum-selling R&B songstress Keyshia Cole. In the news season, BET takes viewers on an exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey of Keyshia's personal growth and challenges, including her efforts to rebuild an already strained relationship with her mother.
BET News Hip-Hop Vs. America: Premiering (Part 1) Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.; (Part 2) Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.; (Part 3) Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m.
BET News takes a powerful and compelling look at the state of hip-hop today. Hosted by BET's own Toure and Jeff Johnson, this special showcases a candid, heated forum that will allow audiences to hear the opinions of prominent leaders in the hip-hop industry, the political realm, academia and the black church. Hip-hop recording artists Nelly, T.I., Mike Jones, MC Lyte, Master P. and the legendary Chuck D; top journalists Keith Boykin, Diane Weathers, Jeff Chang, Farai Chideya, Kim Osorio and New York Daily News columnist Stanley Crouch; filmmaker and cultural critic Nelson George; Judge Mablean Ephraim; former video vixens Melyssa Ford and Karrine Steffans; music executives Valeisha Butterfield and Benny Boom; ministers Conrad Tillard, Pastor A. R. Bernard; professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and Reverend Al Sharpton lead the lists of outspoken panelists who take the stage and share their point of view on hip-hop.
SUNDAY BEST: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.
Building on the success of Celebration of Gospel, BET introduces a nationwide search for America's next great gospel singer. Hosted by platinum-selling artist Kirk Franklin, the show searches for talent in storefront churches, parishes and mega-churches. Grammy Award-winning gospel superstars Bebe Winans and dynamic singing duo Mary Mary will judge the contestants each week while also nurturing the talented singers. The top five finalists will be coached by artists from the gospel and secular worlds as they strive to win the "Sunday Best" title. The winner will receive a recording contract, a Toyota Camry, as well as cash and prizes for their home church.
EXALTED!: Premiering Tuesday, Oct.2 at 9 p.m.
BET takes a look into the complex lives of inspirational leaders in this biography series profiling ministers from around the country. Some of these strong religious figures lead mega-churches, advise the President, and comfort the sick and destitute. The show goes beyond the public image to reveal the human side of these men and women to discover why they chose to follow this path, what sacrifices they made and the struggles they've encountered along the way.
COLLEGE HILL: INTERNS: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m.
Following the success of "College Hill 4," the highest-rated series in BET history, "College Hill: Interns" will follow 10 college students from around the country who move to Chicago to participate in a summer internship. While juggling their professional responsibilities and late night partying, these college students will learn the harsh reality of what it means to hold down a job. Dr. Ian Smith, host of BET's "Meet the Faith" serves as their advisor.
BOBBY JONES GOSPEL Premiering Sunday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.
"Bobby Jones Gospel": continues to be one of the highest-rated and longest-running shows on BET. This hour-long program, hosted by popular gospel entertainer Bobby Jones, gets viewers in the spirit with gospel artists and choirs from around the country. Watch the show and be blessed!
AMERICAN GANGSTER II: Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.
Narrated by award-winning actor Ving Rhames, the critically acclaimed show returns for a second season with 10 all-new episodes chronicling the life and times of some of African-America's most notorious crime figures. Some of this season's profiles include Larry Hoover, The Black Philly Mafia and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, as well as an exclusive interview with Frank Lucas, the real-life character that Denzel Washington portrays in the upcoming film "American Gangster."
BET HIP-HOP AWARDS 2007: Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.
BET shocked "Hotlanta" on November 15, 2006 with its first Hip Hop Awards, which drew 3.64 million viewers. This year's ceremony will pay homage to the genre of hip-hop, and viewers won't want to miss the off-the-hook performances and appearances by the biggest names in the game.
KEYSHIA COLE 2: THE WAY IT IS: Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 10:30 p.m.
The sophomore season of the hit reality series documents the life of platinum-selling R&B songstress Keyshia Cole. In the news season, BET takes viewers on an exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey of Keyshia's personal growth and challenges, including her efforts to rebuild an already strained relationship with her mother.
Black Caucus Appeals to La. Governor
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus appealed to La. Gov. Kathleen Blanco to intervene in the Jena Six case. But the governor maintains that state law prevents her from getting involved.
In a letter from Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Juan LaFonta to Gov. Blanco, LaFonta asked the governor to grant clemency for Mychal Bell, the 17-year-old that was convicted of aggravated battery.
In a statement Gov. Blanco made available on the Internet, she replied, "I must clear up a widespread misunderstanding of my authority in this case. Our State Constitution provides for three branches of state government -- Legislative, Executive and Judicial -- and the Constitution prohibits anyone in one branch from exercising the powers of anyone in another branch. This issue is currently a matter in the Judicial System, and should those involved in this case suffer any defects, it is their right to address them in that system through the appeals court."
According to Louisiana state law, the governor can grant a pardon only after the person has been convicted and sentenced. The person must apply for pardon and appear before the Board of Pardon. The board then gives the governor their recommendation.
In a letter from Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Juan LaFonta to Gov. Blanco, LaFonta asked the governor to grant clemency for Mychal Bell, the 17-year-old that was convicted of aggravated battery.
In a statement Gov. Blanco made available on the Internet, she replied, "I must clear up a widespread misunderstanding of my authority in this case. Our State Constitution provides for three branches of state government -- Legislative, Executive and Judicial -- and the Constitution prohibits anyone in one branch from exercising the powers of anyone in another branch. This issue is currently a matter in the Judicial System, and should those involved in this case suffer any defects, it is their right to address them in that system through the appeals court."
According to Louisiana state law, the governor can grant a pardon only after the person has been convicted and sentenced. The person must apply for pardon and appear before the Board of Pardon. The board then gives the governor their recommendation.
Where's Ja?
Ja Rule spoke out about an upcoming congressional hearing about the lyrical content and images of blacks in Hip-Hop music.In a recent interview with Complex magazine, Ja Rule gave his opinion on the hearing that plans to investigate media stereotypes and degradation of black women in hip-hop and the entertainment industry.
Ja said, "They got my man Doug Morris under fire and @#!*, they got him going down to go speak to Congress about hip-hop lyrics, are you @#*$ing serious? "There's a f--king black kid right now about to get 25 years for having a fight with some white kids over hanging the nooses over the white tree, let's get to that. Let's get into sh-t like that, because that's what's tearing up America, not me calling a woman a b--ch or a h-e on my rap songs."
He also said, "And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and f--king MGM, and all of these other motherf--kers that's making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these f--king shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this sh-t. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let's talk about s--t like that! If that's not f--king up America, I don't know what is."
He went on to say, "There's a lot of issues we can address besides hip-hop, but they want to put everything on us like we're the problem. This is going to be a shameless f--king plug, but I said, 'when everyone wants to point the finger, and ask why there's so much corruption, they only need to look in the mirror.' It starts with themselves."
The aforementioned hearing entitled "From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degradation" will take place on Sept. 25. Top music industry executives like Philippe Dauman of Viacom, Edgar Bronfman of Warner Music Group, Doug Morris of Universal Music Group, and music mogul Master P are expected to testify at the hearing.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I know this might sound loserish but I'm the first one to call myself a loser so I really don't care. But I've been wondering if anyone is even reading my blog. Like anyone other than me and like the few people that told me they looked at it. So if you happen to pass by leave a comment or send me a myspace message (myspace.com/msfung). Let me know what you like or don't like. I need your feedback to know I'm not wasting my time. Be honest I enjoy the criticism, it makes me stronger. So holler at your girl.
Runaway Slave Saga
New York City Opera Opened its 64th season with a piece depicting the lives of runaway slaves that commit infanticide.
Despite its somber story line Richard Danielpour's "Margaret Garner" is a tale of liberation and triumph expressed through music and drama.
Receiving inspiration from "West Side Story", Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess," and Beethoven's "Fidelo", Danielpour was able to adapt the tale spun by Toni Morrison in her novel "Beloved."
The story is the case of Margaret Garner, a runaway slave put on trial in 1856 for killing her 2-year-old daughter.
Garner and her husband, Robert, and children escaped from a Kentucky plantation to the free state of Ohio, only to be captured. Rather than hand over her daughter to her former master, she slits the girl's throat to spare her from bondage. Garner is put on trial — not for murder but for destruction of property because her daughter was considered chattel. She and her family were returned to the Kentucky master and she was eventually sold to a Mississippi slave owner and died of typhoid in 1858.
The novel and the play have slight variation, such as in the play both Garners son and daughter were murdered.
The play was originally performed in Detroit. Performances in New York will be on the 16, 20, 22, 26, and 29.
Despite its somber story line Richard Danielpour's "Margaret Garner" is a tale of liberation and triumph expressed through music and drama.
Receiving inspiration from "West Side Story", Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess," and Beethoven's "Fidelo", Danielpour was able to adapt the tale spun by Toni Morrison in her novel "Beloved."
The story is the case of Margaret Garner, a runaway slave put on trial in 1856 for killing her 2-year-old daughter.
Garner and her husband, Robert, and children escaped from a Kentucky plantation to the free state of Ohio, only to be captured. Rather than hand over her daughter to her former master, she slits the girl's throat to spare her from bondage. Garner is put on trial — not for murder but for destruction of property because her daughter was considered chattel. She and her family were returned to the Kentucky master and she was eventually sold to a Mississippi slave owner and died of typhoid in 1858.
The novel and the play have slight variation, such as in the play both Garners son and daughter were murdered.
The play was originally performed in Detroit. Performances in New York will be on the 16, 20, 22, 26, and 29.
Baller Withdraws Suit
A Rutgers basketball team player withdrew her slander and defamation suit against shock jock Don Imus and CBS radio.Kia Vaughn contended in an August lawsuit filed in the New York Supreme Court that Imus' comments damaged her reputation.
In a statement from Vaughn's attorney, Vaughn said she wanted to focus on her education at New Jersey's Rutgers University as a journalism major and an athlete on the basketball team.
Imus' attorney said that his client did not give any money to Vaughn.
'Enough is Enough!'
A campaign to end the negative images of black people, called Enough is Enough!, plans to hold a rally and demonstration at the Washington, D.C., residence of Debra L. Lee, chairman and CEO of BET.
The rally, organized by Rev. Delman L. Coates, aims to contest the commercialization and marketing of negative and derogatory images of blacks in the entertainment industry.
The campaign argues that many American corporations sponsor artist who promote negative messages about black people through endorsements and advertising on radio and television, but they would not provide sponsorship for artist who degrade other interest.
The campaign seeks to urge the entertainment industry and their corporate sponsors to be better corporate citizens.
The rally will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The rally, organized by Rev. Delman L. Coates, aims to contest the commercialization and marketing of negative and derogatory images of blacks in the entertainment industry.
The campaign argues that many American corporations sponsor artist who promote negative messages about black people through endorsements and advertising on radio and television, but they would not provide sponsorship for artist who degrade other interest.
The campaign seeks to urge the entertainment industry and their corporate sponsors to be better corporate citizens.
The rally will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Breaking the Piggy Bank
Barack Obama has received campaign contributions from all walks of life. However he recently returned $9,200 in campaign contributions. Why you ask? Well because not only are his contributors not able to vote, but they haven't reached the double digits yets.Eight-year-old Matthew Mardirossian and his 7-year-old sister, Karis, each contributed $4,600 of their own money to the Obama campaign. Matthew and Karis parents also contributed $4,600 apiece. The family has donated an estimated $50,000 to the Illinois senator.
Obama reportedly returned the money on Monday. He doesn't accept money from any person under the age of 16.
HIV Horror in NYC
A disease that plagued the gay community 25 years ago is once again attacking the gay youths of New York City. HIV has increased in New York by a third among gay men 30 and younger and doubling among gay teens.
In 2001, there were 374 new HIV diagnoses among gay men under 30. Last year there were 499. For men between 13 and 19, cases increased from 41 in 2001 to 87 last year.
Gay black and Latino youths are most affected by the number of infections, with 81 of the 87 infections occurring in those communities.
Every borough except Staten Island saw an increase in young men with HIV. At a teen clinic in the Bronx, the number of new patients doubled in the first half of the year.
New York is the country's epicenter for the HIV/AIDS epidemic with more than 100,000 people living with the disease and more than 90,000 having died from it.
In 2001, there were 374 new HIV diagnoses among gay men under 30. Last year there were 499. For men between 13 and 19, cases increased from 41 in 2001 to 87 last year.
Gay black and Latino youths are most affected by the number of infections, with 81 of the 87 infections occurring in those communities.
Every borough except Staten Island saw an increase in young men with HIV. At a teen clinic in the Bronx, the number of new patients doubled in the first half of the year.
New York is the country's epicenter for the HIV/AIDS epidemic with more than 100,000 people living with the disease and more than 90,000 having died from it.
Another Reduced Charge
Prosecutors in Jena, La. have reduced the attempted murder charges against another one of the Jena Six.
Robert Bailey Jr., pleaded not guilty Monday to aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Bailey is one of the five students originally charged with attempted murder. The sixth student is being tried in the juvenile courts.
Bryant Purvis is the only student left to be arraigned and is still facing attempted murder charges.
Mychal Bell, the only student that has been tried, was convicted of aggravated battery. The judge threw out the conspiracy conviction. The prosecutor also dropped the attempted murder charge to aggravated battery in the case of Theo Shaw and Carwin Jones last week.
Robert Bailey Jr., pleaded not guilty Monday to aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Bailey is one of the five students originally charged with attempted murder. The sixth student is being tried in the juvenile courts.
Bryant Purvis is the only student left to be arraigned and is still facing attempted murder charges.
Mychal Bell, the only student that has been tried, was convicted of aggravated battery. The judge threw out the conspiracy conviction. The prosecutor also dropped the attempted murder charge to aggravated battery in the case of Theo Shaw and Carwin Jones last week.
Caught On Tape
A Suburban St. Louis Police Sergeant is under suspension for threatening to create charges against a driver.
The driver, Brett Darrow, 20, videotaped the confrontation on Friday with Sgt. James Kuehnlein with a video recorder he had on his dashboard. He then posted the video on YouTube.
In the video, the officer approached Darrow, who was sitting in a parked car at 2 a.m. in a commuter lot. Kuehnlein asked Darrow for his identification. When Darrow asked if he was doing something wrong, the officer asked him to get out of the car.
Kiehnlein said, "You want to try me? You want to try me tonight? You think you have a bad night? I will ruin your night. Do you want to try me tonight, young boy?"
Darrow replied no.
The officer then said, "Do you want to go to jail for some (expletive) reason I come up with?"
Darrow said, "I don’t want any problems, officer."
After ten minutes the officer let Darrow go.
After Darrow posted the video Saturday, the St. George police department received more than 300 protest calls.
Police Chief Scott Uhrig said, "I was very displeased when I saw the actions on the video. My officers are not trained and taught to act like that... Someone either violated the law or they didn’t. You don’t say, I’ll lock you up and then come up with why afterward."
The driver, Brett Darrow, 20, videotaped the confrontation on Friday with Sgt. James Kuehnlein with a video recorder he had on his dashboard. He then posted the video on YouTube.
In the video, the officer approached Darrow, who was sitting in a parked car at 2 a.m. in a commuter lot. Kuehnlein asked Darrow for his identification. When Darrow asked if he was doing something wrong, the officer asked him to get out of the car.
Kiehnlein said, "You want to try me? You want to try me tonight? You think you have a bad night? I will ruin your night. Do you want to try me tonight, young boy?"
Darrow replied no.
The officer then said, "Do you want to go to jail for some (expletive) reason I come up with?"
Darrow said, "I don’t want any problems, officer."
After ten minutes the officer let Darrow go.
After Darrow posted the video Saturday, the St. George police department received more than 300 protest calls.
Police Chief Scott Uhrig said, "I was very displeased when I saw the actions on the video. My officers are not trained and taught to act like that... Someone either violated the law or they didn’t. You don’t say, I’ll lock you up and then come up with why afterward."
Rallying Against Rent
A group of East Harlem renters rallied against the rising cost of rent on Sept. 2.
Renters equipped with posters stating, "We are here to stay" and chanting "We will not be moved" citizens of the largely Latino area of Harlem marched along 116 St. pledging not to surrender to "intimidation and displacement."
Protesters claim landlords offer low-income tenants thousands of dollars to break their lease. When the tenants move out, the landlord repair any existing damages and raise the rent.
The protest ended in front of a Department of Housing Preservation and Development center on Seventh Ave. and 124th St. where protesters pitched tents.
HPD spokeswoman Katie Maccracken called the tenants criticism unfair and said the agency responds to over 300,000 complaints annually. They issue violations, do emergency repairs and take landlords to court as needed.
Renters equipped with posters stating, "We are here to stay" and chanting "We will not be moved" citizens of the largely Latino area of Harlem marched along 116 St. pledging not to surrender to "intimidation and displacement."
Protesters claim landlords offer low-income tenants thousands of dollars to break their lease. When the tenants move out, the landlord repair any existing damages and raise the rent.
The protest ended in front of a Department of Housing Preservation and Development center on Seventh Ave. and 124th St. where protesters pitched tents.
HPD spokeswoman Katie Maccracken called the tenants criticism unfair and said the agency responds to over 300,000 complaints annually. They issue violations, do emergency repairs and take landlords to court as needed.
Disabled Vet Evicted Cause He's Black
An Iraq veteran, whose leg was blown off by a roadside bomb, was evicted from a mostly white apartment complex in Brooklyn because he was black and disabled.
After Jamel Daniels, 28, returned from Iraq and entered a 16 month intensive rehab, he decided to turn his life around. He began applying to college and tried to find an apartment of his own. He found an apartment in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn and dispute a little complication in his credit check, things were going well for Daniels.
Then after paying his landlord two months rent and getting his keys, he was told he could not move in.
In a complaint filed by Victoria Barkovich of the Brooklyn Estates & Properties brokerage firm, Daniels credit rating did not pass muster and if he did not return the keys immediately, they would be taken from him by force.
Daniels has filed suit against the brokerage firm that forced him out for an unspecified amount.
After Jamel Daniels, 28, returned from Iraq and entered a 16 month intensive rehab, he decided to turn his life around. He began applying to college and tried to find an apartment of his own. He found an apartment in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn and dispute a little complication in his credit check, things were going well for Daniels.
Then after paying his landlord two months rent and getting his keys, he was told he could not move in.
In a complaint filed by Victoria Barkovich of the Brooklyn Estates & Properties brokerage firm, Daniels credit rating did not pass muster and if he did not return the keys immediately, they would be taken from him by force.
Daniels has filed suit against the brokerage firm that forced him out for an unspecified amount.
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