Tampa Folks!- DON’T SUPPORT CEE-JAYs Martini Bar!!

I recieved a text message telling me to Boycott Cee-Jay’s because of racism. I thought that was crazy because Cee-Jay is black but then I saw this in my inbox, from Thatswzup.com.

Conversation Starter-Our Greatest Challenges PLEASE COMMENT

So I was glancing around on Essence’s Website, and they have a piece where they asked a number of current “Great Black Thinkers” “what is the greatest challenge facing African Americans in 2008?”
So often we are expected to vote for other people’s causes and told that it “lines up” with ours. Democrats tell us we need more social liberal policies and Republicans often play on our moral conservative beliefs (abortion, gay marriage etc), but what do we need and want in order for our people to progress? What challenges are tearing us down? PLEASE Comment!!

the Sludge Factor

actual “sludge”
The NAACP is leading the charge (for a change) against the governments’ funding of sewage waste being strewn on the yards of poor, inner-city Baltimore families. This was apparently a research experiment to see if the filtered crap (literally) protects people from lead poisoning. The problem is that the families didn’t know what it was. They were told that it was safe and promised food coupons and new fresh lawns. All of this took place in the late 1990’s. ( yeah super late to be hearing about it now)

Um, thanks, I guess?

This comes directly from here. I think it’s intriging.

Senate Approves Slavery Apology Save Email Print

Posted: 12:48 PM Mar 26, 2008
Last Updated: 12:48 PM Mar 26, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The Florida Senate has formally apologized for its long support of slavery in a resolution calling for reconciliation.

Senators quickly approved the resolution after hearing some of the history detailing the savage treatment endured by slaves in the 19th century and the reluctance of politicians in the last century to recognize the intolerance and mistreatment of blacks.

The House will take up the measure later today.

Florida enacted its first slave laws in the 1820s as a territory, and early political leaders in the state were some of the most vigorous defenders of slavery.

In the 1850s, at a time when Florida’s population was around 111,000, 44 percent of the population were slaves. After the Civil War, Florida’s Constitution of 1868 guaranteed blacks the right to vote and abolished slavery in the state, but inequities remained.

Feel free to comment please!

News Bits- Quotes and Sympathy from the Republicans

There are some new sympathizers in the Obama/Rev. Wright/”damn America scandal…. Republicans

Erykah Badu on the cover of Essence!

Check out the Fierce-ness of Ms. Badu on the cover of Essence Magazine’s April issue! Get it girl!

Reach Out! Black History Month Wrap up!

Black History month is almost over and soon the programs, forums, discussion groups and special events will pretty much be over until next year’s Martin Luther King Day. This month was filled with deep probing discussions about the state of black life in America. We gathered in our classrooms, forums, churches, lodges, and fraternity or sorority houses.  We piled into university lecture halls, and conference centers, and banquet dinning rooms to talk about African Americans and economics, class, gender, and health care and we asked which presidential candidate would really do what’s best for the community. Then we combine all of our degrees, and doctorates, professional experience and common sense and ask, “What’s wrong with the rest of the Negroes?” During the rest of the year, we read “Losing the Race”, Tavis Smiley’s “Covent with black America” and Bill Cosby’s “Come on People” and we continue to question what’s wrong with the rest of the Negroes? Why are our kids doing so poorly in school? Why are so many of our men put in prison? Why are those people in the mall so crude? Why don’t our people listen to the history, statistics, and change? WHY?Without fail the conversations turn to the same issues, closing the economic disparity gap, black on black crime, the state of young black men, single mothers, and the impact of negative images on young black people. I saw it at local events that I attended and on Tavis Smiley’s “State of the Black Union.” Almost every conversation touches on what’s wrong with our society and how the information should be shared with everyone so that we can grow and improve the overall status of African Americans. We all exchange ideas and cheer each other on ad we inform ourselves on the best way to empower ourselves. We all leave or turn off our TV’s feeling energized.  And yet nothing really changes maybe it’s because one very important element is usually missing when we discuss the plight of poor, young, or uneducated blacks: poor black people, young black people or uneducated black people. I have heard some really great speeches of inspiration for young people and in a room where only five people were younger than 30. I’ve seen some really great presentations about the importance of education for a group of college educated individuals, and opinion changing arguments on why/how the media’s influence is negatively affecting our kids in a room with no actual kids in sight. I know, I know what you’re thinking. “State of the Black Union” was aired in TV they could watch it just as well as I did”, “Books are free at the library why don’t they go read them?” That discussion forum was advertised in the public, everyone knew about it” and so we blame. It’s there fault that we can’t all progress.Come on! How many people watch Cspan on a Saturday morning? Wouldn’t more young people have been reached if it had aired on “BET”?  Come On  People  and the ”Covenant” had messages that were targeted towards young and/or poor blacks. But it’s a well known fact that many of our children in poorer neighborhoods are not reading at the right grade level. When a child doesn’t read well they stop reading all together and many times poor readers raise more poor readers. And yes many educational events are advertised, but how comfortable or appealing would an event be to you if it were held in a private organizations’ house? Would you want to come to an event that’s being held at a university if you don’t feel educated?We cannot continue to keep our rousing discussions in arenas that are only appealing the people that are like us. We have to learn to reach people all people where they are. Stop expecting them (depending on who you they are) to come to you! So many of us like to boast about being a part of DuBois’ “Talented Tenth” but we forget one very important part of DuBois theory. It’s the job of the “tenth” to pull up the other 90%. It’s time to take these messages of empowerment, history and change to the streets! Be the change you wish to see in your communities. Let’s make a plan of action to go out and positively affect our community.  Jump out of your ivory towers and infest the hood with good! What should we do to better reach the community? Send me your ideas!  Happy Black History Month!