February 2008 Archives
Two drugstores, Rite-Aid and Meijer drugstores now carry a home DNA paternity test, which can be purchased over the counter. This is sure to cut into Maury Povich’s bookings, as people will be able to save themselves embarrassment, and test multiple partners if needed, to find the daddy. The kit sold by Identigene, can be purchased over the Internet or in stores and retails nationally for $29.99 (plus an additional $119 lab fee--cheek swab specimens collected from the alleged father and child). This is a good thing, like home pregnancy tests, and the results should be verified through a reputable testing lab. I can also see people testing children without the “other” parent’s consent or knowledge….hhhmmm
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In the beginning, he is making fun of speaking in tongues. The comment responses are mixed on YouTube, and some of the readers take offense to it. Is it okay for Christian comedians to make fun of Christianity?
According to Yahoo! News:
"Backed by a simple vocal refrain of "O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!," stars such as Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, Kerry Washington, George Lopez and others explain why they support Obama while others such as Macy Gray croon the candidates' last name to the will.i.am-penned melody.
The song is a follow-up to his inspirational video "Yes We Can," a viral sensation that has garnered more than 5 million hits on YouTube.com alone."
This video is celeb/star studded including: Zoe Kravitz, Tichina Arnold, Regina King, Malcolm Jamal Warner, and more.
We Are The Ones
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Remember him from about 8 years ago?
The closest media frenzy/public/political human interest story to the controversy surrounding this kid was the Terry Schiavo feeding tube case. Follow the jump to refresh your memory.
These posters apparently stem from a PSA print campaign by SERVE, a non-profit ad marketing agency to help fight Milwaukee's statutory rape problem. The campaign NEVER TOOK OFF, because of objections to the images.
But for the intended audience, pedophiles, and even young impressionable girls, this was a messages that probably would have resonated louder, because of the images. Images of supposedly pre-pubescent well developed girls are featured in the campaign's posters.
I don't know any girls who look like this at that age, but to men and women who prey on them, this may be how they see them. The breasts appear fake, but they could have done the poster without the overdevelopment features of the breast and sexualization to reach the ad's intended audience.
Poster captions: "Just because she has the body, doesn't mean she has the brain" and "If you see a child as anything more, it's wrong," and the fine print at the bottom reads "If you're over 18 and having sex with an underage girl it's statutory rape."
This isn't just a Milkwaukee, Wisconsin problem. It's a global problem.
Here is a Milwaukee (which could be anytown USA) based video called "Statutory Rape/Teen Pregnancy Campaign Focus Group"
Here is the YouTube video description: "This statutory rape prevention campaign was one of many ads produced to address Milwaukee's teen pregnancy crisis. A recent study found that Milwaukee has the 7th highest rate of birth to teens in the country.
In Wisconsin, statutory rape is a huge part of the teen pregnancy crisis. A recent study found that 71% of babies born to teen girls are fathered by adult males over 20 years old. In 20% of the cases, the fathers are at least six year older than the mothers. Go to www.onemilwaukee.org to find out more.
The ads were tested in several focus groups of inner city teens and young adults ages 15-25 (over half of the participants were teens moms, 43% of whom personally experienced statutory rape). The campaign was universally embraced by our target audience for its ability to attract attention and spur in-depth discussion about the pervasive problem of statutory rape. We did recognize, however, that people in the business, political and non-profit communities felt uncomfortable with these specific images. Out of respect for their opinions, this campaign will not run." Serve is the non-profit advertising agency associated with this video and ad campaign.
I am wondering, if statutory rape is such a problem, at least where this ad was targeted, would you find these advertisement images objectionable, in a region where in record numbers, young girls are already having sex and getting pregnant by older boys and men?
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Article: Teen birth rate hurts economy
Warnings of restaurant bad lemon wedges are spreading all over the Internet, and even showing up on the urban legend pages. Ever since a report by HealthInspections.com which tested 76 lemons and found 25 various types of bacteria or pathogens on 53 lemons was published. WATCH LEMON WEDGE STUDY VIDEO
News stations such as Pittsbugh's Channel 11, are conducting their own non-scientific surveys, and recently found no significant bacteria in the lemons they checked at 10 local restaurants.
I have only used lemon at seafood restaurants in the distant past, but I think I will pass on future wedges, but who is to say what else isn't contaminated? It would be naive to believe that ONLY the lemons in restaurants carry fecal material.
Ideally, I would like to think we should avoid ALL credit cards...lol
- American Dream Credit
- New Millennium
- First Premier
- Total Visa
- Marathon Platinum Reward Card
Check out the annual fees if you watch the slideshow. Some have annual fees which amount to more than 90% of the total credit limit. You may want to tear up those pre-approved offers. Don’t fall in love with the credit limit. Study the hidden charges. Just something to think about.
For example, here is the breakdown of the First Premier Master Card:
“This gold Mastercard is unsecured and certainly appeals to those with poor credit who want the cachet of a gold card with a low 9.9% rate. But check out the fees: $29 for account setup, $95 for a "program fee," $48 for the annual fee, $84 annual for the monthly servicing fee, and $20 for each additional card. That adds up to $256 annually. And get this: The typical maximum credit line on the account is $300.” --Forbes.com READ MORE...
Supermodel (or is it former?) Naomi had emergency surgery to remove a cyst. Since when do we need to know so much of the detail, especially when a woman has surgery which may have been gynecologic in nature?
When I see phrases like "Brazil’s leading experts in the treatment of infectious diseases" or "Campbell underwent successful emergency abdominal surgery, gynecologist Jose Aristodemo Pinotti told" it does make the imagination wander, and I can only guess what some of the major gossip blog speculation will be in the morning.
This article says just enough not to tell everything, and I am wondering if she had such a procedure done in the U.S. would we even know she may have had female surgery.
Reference: Naomi Campbell hospitalized in Brazil
A nice grown folk sound...
I saw that story of that 33 year old mom, Melissa Dean, with four badazz teenage boys, out of Ocala, Florida, who went on strike. She looks 54 years old. Life is really taking a toll on her. But it looks like she tried to reach out on numerous occasions to law enforcement to get so help with those kids. I saw them cursing out and harassing the news cameraman.
I just want to know where is the father and why is he NOT charged with neglect? The day when a law is passed where ANY man who walks away from his children gets charged with neglect and abandonment could not come soon enough. As a society, what are we waiting for? It's time. And that goes for women who walk away also.
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Here is a link to Michelle Obama’s senior year thesis at Princeton University from 1985. Enjoy. The full thesis is almost 100 double space typewritten, so it should not be too painstaking to read. She is being criticized for some of the content in the paper in which she interviewed 90 black university alumni/alumnae to detail their feelings, and offer her statement on HER experience of being a young black woman at Princeton, a predominately-white school.
Should anyone be scrutinized or raked over the coals for things we have said or papers we may have written over twenty years ago or when we were in high school or college? Since her husband is running for president, should is it appropriate to question her college papers? Is this too much?
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Read her thesis over at Politico.com: Article: Michelle Obama thesis was on racial divide
According to the Boston Herald:
Rihanna, pop singer, who just became an honorary cultural ambassador for her native country Bardados, has reached out to a leukemia patient, through her charity organization (Believe) to work with DKMS, an international bone marrow donor network based in Tubingen Germany. The goal is to find a donor for Lisa Gershowitz Flynn, a 41 year old mother of two small kids.
Rihanna is quoted:
"Speaking about her charity working alongside DKMS..my own charity, Believe, works specifically with children in need. Children need their mothers more than anything else in the world. Lisa has two children. My charity will continue to work with DKMS, because in finding a way to save Lisa’s life, we will in turn be saving her children’s lives." ---Boston Herald
It's nice to see a young celebrity getting involved with giving back and philanthropic work, at such a young age, and early stage in her career.
Photo Credit: Reuters
Performed last night at the Oscars, and this song sounded so sweet. Jamia Nash's voice continues to mature. I liked all of the live performances. Music and Lyric by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas. "Raise it Up" was nominated for an Oscar for original song, but was beaten out by "Falling Slowly."
PBS Talk Show Host Tavis Smiley, Tom Joyner and 27 of America's black leaders meet in New Orleans, LA, for the 2008 "State of the Black Union." This day-long event is titled, "Reclaiming Our Democracy, Deciding Our Future." You need RealPlayer to watch the videos. http://realplayer.com/
Tavis Smiley "State of the Black Union" - Morning Session (February 23, 2008) New Orleans, LA 3 hr. 23 min.
Tavis Smiley "State of the Black Union" - Afternoon Session (February 23, 2008) New Orleans, LA 3 hr. 53 min.
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“Marshall Walter Taylor around his 20th birthday, 1898, when he shocked the cycling world with his record speed trials in Philadelphia. (INDIANA STATE MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITES)”—Boston Globe
His top cycling rival Floyd McFarland, was a racist and used to be in collusion with other cyclists to keep him behind the crowd in back or crowd around him to keep him from winning.
The book is called “Major: A Black Athlete, a White Era, and the Fight to Be the World's Fastest Human Being,” by Todd Balf.
Related article:
"For You I Will" from UK singer Alesha Dixon - winning star of Strictly Come Dancing. Dixon was a member of the girl group Mis-Teeq. She drops an album this year. Hopefully, it won't be as sleepy as this commercial.
Can you guess what she is pitching?
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
"Simmie Williams Jr., 17, was attacked on the 1000 block of Sistrunk Boulevard by two young men who wore dark clothing and might live in the neighborhood, police said. Williams, who was wearing a dress and was known in the area by his first name or as "Chris" or "Beyonce," ... READ MORE
Because Williams was wearing a dress, the case is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Yesterday, Jada was honored at the First Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. Will, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were on hand to lend support. Jada is picking up some pounds and she looks great at this weight. Healthy, normal looking. She sort of looks like actress Zoe Saldana.
The event took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Smith was honored for her work in Hollywood and in the black community.
Congrats Mrs. Smith
Photo Credit: Getty
Reference: People Magazine
Professional tennis player Dustin Brown recently did a question and answer interview with the blog Black Tennis Pros. He represents Jamaica and is their #1 player who is currently ranked #530 in singles and #465 in doubles in the world. If you visit his website he sheds some light on the difficulties of getting corporate sponsorship and playing tennis in third world countries. Dustin models also, no-ooo...who would have guessed? LOL
Nike, Reebok, HP...somebody. Please sponsor this man.
INTERVIEW
Shelia: Dustin, I'm very happy that you consented to an interview for Black Tennis Pro's. I just became aware of you a couple of months ago, so I don't know very much about you. Tell me a bit about yourself and growing up in Jamaica.
Dustin: Well, I am 23 Years of age, I was born in Germany on the 8th of December 1984. In 1996 I moved to Jamaica, which was a lot different to the life in Germany but also very important for my progress in life and tennis.
Shelia: Where do you currently live?
Dustin: I currently live in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Shelia: What began your interest in tennis?
Dustin: In Germany at the age of 5, we lived beside a tennis club, and the coach there was also Jamaican and a friend of my parents.
Shelia: I understand that Jamaica does not have a tennis federation, where do you do your training, get equipment, coaches?
According to People Magazine, Lopez representative Simon Fields informed them the couple's twins babies were born a little after midnight on New York's Long Island. The 5-pound, 7-ounce girl was born first, followed by their 6-pound brother minutes after. Congrats to the couple.
That's the infectious hook of this rap song Boston's newest on air talk radio personality AM 680 WRKO Reese Hopkins wrote, produced, and voiced last night in his studio apartment while he was bored with nothing to do. He is a transplant, new to Boston, and his family has not arrived yet.
Bored with nothing to do, he created this Barack Obama rap song. It's funny, and nice to lighten up the political atmosphere. GET AUDIO
This isn't one of those dopey parodies...lol, you can actually shake a leg or two to this one...LOL
Can you guess which famous celebrity is yelling out "Barack Obama!" throughout the song?
Follow the jump to find out who the person is.
Do you have an unusual polysyllabic name? What do people think about you when they hear your name? Does "creative" naming ultimately hurt children in the long run?
I don't watch Tyra's show, but it is surprising to learn that Tyra only recently learned that people are discriminated against based solely on their first name.
Last week was sports and I guess the unintentional dominant theme for this week is politics. Beautiful cover. Beautiful lady.
"I think she has a strong personality."-- MSNBC television host, Tucker Carlson commenting on Michelle Obama's ‘For the First Time in My Adult Lifetime, I Am Really Proud of My Country’ much ado about nothing statement, questioning whether her statements cause her to be more of an asset or liability to her husband's presidential campaign.
Photo Credit:
BarackObama.com
"A black, Haitian woman was the victim of a home invasion by up to nine male youths – who raped her for hours, forced her to perform oral sex on her 12 year old son, terrorized and brutally beat them both mercilessly, and temporarily blinded her son by pouring bleach into his eyes.
Her neighbors heard her screams of terror through the paper-thin walls that day, and didn’t lift a finger to call police. The boys threatened to come back and kill her and her family if they told police, then they robbed her, stole her car, and left."-- BlackWomenVote.blogspot.com
This horrific crime happened last year, and the housing project's (Dunbar Village) most vocal tenant, Citoya Greenwood arranged a meeting with Rev. Al. Sharpton who was supposed to attend the meeting to discuss the horrible living conditions, and work on solutions, but he did not arrive on the 18th of the month as planned. He offered to stay overnight on the premises to try to better understand the conditions. Never showed. There were some reports of a plane delay.
For her safety, now Citoya Greenwood and her young daughter need to find alternative low income housing IMMEDIATELY. Please help this college student mother and her child. $1, $5, $10---no donation is too small. Good samaritans have already started donating. The Citoya Greenwood Relocation Fund If you don't want to donate a few dollars, there are other ways to help, especiallly if you can provide information on services or resources which can offer assistance to her, or email Miss Greenwood words of encouragement.
Background Articles on Dunbar Village:
WhatAboutOurDaughters: Dunbar Village Posts
Black Women's Roundtable Interview with Citoya Greenwood on 2/14/08
http://www.dunbarvillage.blogspot.com/
http://www.blackwomenvote.blogspot.com/
Link to USA Today story about the crime 4 doors from her apt. at Dunbar Village
http://www.weneedtostop.com/2007/07/35-year-old-woman-and-12-year.html
Bill Holeman, African American, Canton, OH Obama supporter tried to disrupt Bill Clinton's speech over the weekend. He's lucky the Secret Service Agents stopped Bill from pulling an American Gladiator move on him...LOL. I saw this over the weekend. Mr. Clinton red faced, pointing the finger, notrils flaring, and yelling.
Whatever he said to Bill, it looked like fightin' words. B. Clinton was about to get 'street' on someone. Now you know what he looks like when he is really angry and his last nerve has been tested.
Holeman appeared on one of the Fox News shows after the incident, extending his 15 minutes of fame. The guy said Bill popped him.
President Bush visited Tanzania and signed $698 million grant package for foreign aid to the country to help improve the infrastructure and combat HIV/AIDS. I guess the dresses worked. Bush Couture...lol, cute.
Photo Credit: Reuters
Uncle Tom's Bungalow- Racist Merrie Melodie
Uncle Tom's Cabana
Did our grandparents, great & great-great grandfathers and mothers watch these cartoons?
The boy has moves...
Time Magazine set themselves up for this joke question session. Diddy is introduced as actor Sean Combs on the site and they will be conducting an interview for the Feb. 25th ABC airing of the movie, Raisin in the Sun, which he stars in. Time.com invites readers to submit questions.
LOL…someone wasn’t on the ball on this one. There are some serious questions, but you know the clowns came out. People can submit questions via a web form then the questions are printed on their website. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
Here are a few questions:
Posted by Gail in Salamanca
Have you read Uncle Tom's Cabin? Honestly read it, cover to cover, yourself? How do you compare it to A Raisin in the Sun? Do you think it should be required reading for today's America? Have you faced racism growing up and even today in your adult life? With all your name changes and various identities, have you finally made peace with who you are inside and out?
Posted by Blessing in Surrey, UK
Do you , sometimes, miss J-Lo?
Posted by Ayo 'Yeye in Manchester, NH
What do you make of Hip Hop fowl languages against the women?
This is what happens when you have way too much time on your hand or Key Bank sponsors you with a nice fat check to compensate you for your time. It took this guy 25 hours to create two images of basketball player Carmelo Anthony with an Etch A Sketch. Hey, aren't those toys for kids...LOL? Anyway, here is a time lapse video of what he created. Some people are so artistic. I don't think I have ever gone beyond drawing a few lines, a square house, or box before giving up. WATCH VIDEO
Photo Credit: NBA.com
This video documents six fainting episodes at Obama rallies, and some are suggesting that people are so overwhelmed with this guy that their emotions are causing them to faint. That's a stretch. This news topic arose over the weekend questioning whether Barack Obama supporters, Obamamania, behave in a cult like manner. The whole "Yes We Can!" call and response chant probably rubs some folks the wrong way, and they associate it with cult like behavior. But call and response is nothing new. I conducted a quick Google search for the search terms: Barack supporter cult. The search produced 110,000 results. People are really talking about this.
When I heard of that, and this was the first time I heard of the cult analogy, I thought of Jim Jones and the Guyana Kool-Aid incident and David Koresh and the fire bombing Waco incident. Obama’s following isn’t that serious, but I think people have fallen in love with him, and many of the people who have fallen in love with him have never questioned his policies, just as those who are behind Hillary. Still at this point, I don't know who I will vote for, because my first choice is out of the race, and I don't even know if I will vote, just for the sake of voting.
Right now, it seems as if John McCain is the only candidate who is being questioned on his policies and key issues, by his own party members. For the record, McCain is not my guy.
Dwight Howard won the slam dunk contest to cap off the NBA Allstar Weekend festivities. I am not a huge NBA fan, but I enjoy watching these guys show off with the finesse, skill, and artistry that a dunk captures. He used props (I wonder if carrying a bottle of Vitamin Water was one of them) such as a Superman outfit. Maybe next year, the top contenders should considering coming dressed as a big ole ball of Kryptonite, huh, you think? They may have a chance. READ MORE...
Dwight Howard Superman Flies!
Oftentimes in the world of dancehall music, one hit wonders come along and then disappear or veteran artists just fade away, and may resurface, but Father Goose, whose real name is Wayne Rhoden found a way to keep his music career going. Back in the 80's and 90's in the reggae dancehall world he was know as the DJ called Rankin Don. Currently, he is part of the music ensemble Dan Zanes & Friends. Kids recognize the group from the Disney Channel, but I had never heard of them until this article on the NY Times surfaced this morning.
They have won a Grammy for their 2006 release "Stop That Train!" for best children's album. Who knew? He went from singing bad man tunes to Disney tunes. Hey, there's nothing wrong with change. His friends must get a real chuckle out of this one. What a nice story. READ MORE...
IT'S A BAM BAM DIDDLY!
Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr, has been busy and he will host a cooking show on MyDamnChannel.com called Cookin with Coolio. He recently sat down with Newsweek for an interview.
Excerpts from Coolio’s interview with Newsweek:
NEWSWEEK: Coolio, where have you been?
Coolio: I'm about to release [a new] album, "Steal Hear." My six children have grown up. I've been divorced. Me and my new woman are working on a clothing line. And I've developed my culinary skills to a fine point. I've also changed my style of dress--I wear a lot of suits now.
Here is a link to the interview: WATCH VIDEO
Here is a list of some of the recipes: Tricked out Tilapia, Finger Lickin', Rib Stickin', Fall-Off-the-Bone-and-Into-Your-Mouth Chicken
Here is the Tricked out Tilapia recipe
Here is a link to his Caprese Salad Video
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He has a group of folks in the kitchen including a man donning a chef uniform, so I don’t think Coolio’s claim of “Everything I cook is good” is true. If so, why does he need all of these people in the kitchen with him?
LOL…as expected, here is someone’s response to watching one of the videos, where Coolio cooks in his “Coolio’s Café”:
“What a bunch of crap !! A typical YO-YO YO , Hip-Hop Nation Swear Fest ! I KNEW this was going to be bogus when , within 30 Seconds , this clown had used the F Bomb at least a half dozen times ! Hey , I'm no prude and I'm certainly not a saintly non-swearer but , to be blunt , THIS SHOW SUCKS !”- wallyboy
Reference: www.MyDamnChannel.com
"Blending hip-hop, reggae, funk, and highlife, critically-acclaimed Afropolitan Fusion band Soulfège has electrified and inspired audiences since their inception in 2003, with driving rhythms, tight harmonies, powerful lyrics and authentic musicianship."--SoulfègeThe members of band graduated from Harvard University and are also actively involved in charity work associated with the group. Follow the jump to hear their music. As they would put it, their music is "Afro-Diasporic Groovalicious Funkadociousness."
The primary group members from right to left are Jonathan M. Gramling, Kelley Nicole Johnson, and Derrick N. Ashong.
We have heard of drive-in movies. Now here is an interesting concept, and apparently it's not new and Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church out of Florida, has been worshipping outdoors since 1953. The last time I was in Daytona Beach, I had not heard of this church. Things must get pretty creative when it's time to pass the collection plate around. And this eliminates the excuse for those who say they hardly attend, because they can't find a parking space or can't find anything to wear. All you need is gas money, and if you have a car load you can split the cost.
Reference:
www.driveinchurch.net/
Down on My Knees
Ayo's coffee table sound is characterized as soul, reggae, and Afrobeat. She is huge in Europe and slowly making a dent in the American musical arena. She credits her music tastes to the influences from her Nigerian father. Her mother is Romanian gypsy and she was born in Germany. She divides her time between NY and Paris. Now that's a lot of influences.
“I think I’m at my peak in every kind of way right now. My mom told me it would come. I have not worked this hard in my life. I am the laziest artist you would ever want to meet. I just want to come and do the show. No interviews, no makeup, I just want to do it and be done. But this is my 36th year on the earth and I have a plethora of experiences and information and knowledge and mistakes to share with the world. Thus, the three albums, thus the magazine, thus the USB stick. It’s just a very, very interesting time in my life. I feel good today. That’s all I can say.” - Erykah Badu, after her performance at the 15th Annual Barbados Jazz Festival
She is releasing three albums this year and her new magazine Freaq, to premiere in July will be Oprah-esque as she terms it.
Reference:
Even Erykah Badu isn’t sure what neo-soul is
Photo Credit: Zuma Press
Spike Lee was awarded the Wexner Prize, an award which recognizes innovation, integrity, and quality among artists.
From the Wexner Center for the Arts:
Wexner Center director Sherri Geldin comments: “he brings to all his projects a unique and independent vision combined with an unerring ‘street savvy.’ With this prize—his first from a multidisciplinary arts center—we honor Lee’s work in feature film, documentaries, television movies, music video, and even commercials.” Leslie H. Wexner, chair of the Wexner Center Foundation Board of Trustees, adds: “Spike Lee exemplifies what the Wexner Prize was created to celebrate: a bold creative spirit who is unafraid to provoke and challenge us. He tests the American mind, and its attitudes, assumptions, and values, and in doing so he has advanced American cinema in remarkable ways. We are thrilled to award the Wexner Prize to Spike Lee.” READ MORE...
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What has Spike done lately? I have probably witnessed his advertising work and did not know it was a Spike Lee Joint project. Congrats Spike! He roped me in on She’s Gotta Have It, and I have been a fan ever since. By the way, what ever happened to Tracy Camilla Johns?
President Bush addressed the displaying of nooses this past Thursday at the White House in an event, which celebrated African American History Month. He is the first sitting President to address the noose.
Here is an excerpt from the transcript of that speech:
Our nation has come a long way toward building a perfect union. Yet as past injustices have become distant memories, there is a risk that our society may lose sight of the real suffering that took place. One symbol of that suffering is the noose. Recently, there have been a number of media reports about nooses being displayed. These disturbing reports have resulted in heightened racial tensions in many communities. They have revealed that some Americans do not understand why the sight of a noose causes such a visceral reaction among so many people.
Australian Aborigines FINALLY receive an apology from the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the government’s historical role in the mistreatment of the original indigenous people of Australia. Prime Minister Rudd was sworn in Tuesday after defeating John Howard’s 11 year administration, which REFUSED to apologize to aborigines.
He addressed the generation termed the “Stolen Generations,” who included thousands of children who were forcibly removed from their families to enforce an assimilation policy that ended in the 70s. Hundreds of aborigines were looking on during the speech and many were crying. WATCH VIDEO OF SPEECH
According to the New York Times:
In some states it was part of a policy to “breed out the color,” in the words of Cecil Cook, who held the title of chief protector of Aborigines in the Northern Territory in the 1930s.
Here is a link to the transcript of that speech:
Reference:
The Sydney Morning Herald
The New York Times: Australia Says 'Sorry' to Aborigines for Mistreatment
Photo Credit:
Patrick George Photo
According to The Toronto Star Newspaper: "Toronto trustees have chosen to launch an Africentric alternative school as a way to battle a 40 per cent dropout rate among black students."
I have gone through school and have had one black teacher that I could remember and that was back in kindergarten. My feelings are mixed about all black primary and secondary schools in a mixed race/ethnicity society, but there needs to be more African American teachers, administrative staff in some schools, and definitely more black male teachers. If there is a 40% dropout rate, then we need to look at the home environment, force more parent involvement, the current curriculum, and listen to the kids-find out why they are dropping out.
It will be quite interesting to see how this school model works in this particular district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. READ MORE...