Langston Hughes: The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain (Pt. 1 and 2)

Langston Hughes: The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain (Pt. 1 and 2)

Quote: "Certainly there is, for the American Negro artist who can escape the restrictions the more advanced among his own group would put upon him, a great field of unused material ready for his art. Without going outside his race, and even among the better classes with their "white" culture and conscious American manners, but still Negro enough to be different, there is sufficient material to furnish a black artist with a lifetime of creative work.
And when he chooses to touch on the relations between Negroes and whites in this country with their innumerable overtones and undertones, surely, and especially for literature and the drama, there is an inexhaustible supply of themes at hand. To these the Negro artist can give his racial individuality, his heritage of rhythm and warmth, and his incongruous humor that so often, as in the Blues, becomes ironic laughter mixed with tears. But let us look again at the mountain.
A prominent Negro clubwoman in Philadelphia paid eleven dollars to hear Raquel Meller sing Andalusian popular songs. But she told me a few weeks before she would not think of going to hear "that woman." Clara Smith, a great black artist, sing Negro folk songs. And many an upper-class Negro church, even now, would not dream of employing a spiritual in its services. The drab melodies in white folks' hymnbooks are much to be preferred. "We want to worship the Lord correctly and quietly. We don't believe in 'shouting.' Let's be dull like the Nordics," they say, in effect. " - Langston Hughes

http://www.black-collegian.com/african/negroartist1_300.shtml

George Schuyler: Black Art

George Schuyler: "Black Art"

Quote: "This, of course, is easily understood if one stops to realize that the Aframerican is merely a lampblacked Anglo-Saxon. If the European immigrant after two or three generations of exposure to our schools, politics, advertising, moral crusades, and restaurants becomes indistinguishable from the mass of Americans of the older stock (despite the influence of the foreign-language press), how much truer must it be of the sons of Ham who have been subjected to what the uplifters call Americanism for the last three hundred years. Aside from his color, which ranges from very dark brown to pink, your American Negro is just plain American. Negroes and whites from the same localities in this country talk, think, and act about the same. Because a few writers with a paucity of themes have seized upon imbecilities of the Negro rustics and clowns and palmed them off as authentic and characteristic Aframerican behavior, the common notion that the black American is so "different" from his white neighbor has gained wide currency. The mere mention of the word "Negro" conjures up in the average white American’s mind a composite stereotype of Bert Williams, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Tom, Jack Johnson, Florian Slappey, and the various monstrosities scrawled by the cartoonists. Your average Aframerican no more resembles this stereotype than the average American resembles a composite of Andy Gump, Jim Jeffries, and a cartoon by Rube Goldberg.
Again, the Aframerican is subject to the same economic and social forces that mold the actions and thoughts of the white Americans. He is not living in a different world as some whites and a few Negroes would have me believe. When the jangling of his Connecticut alarm clock gets him out of his Grand Rapids bed to a breakfast similar to that eaten by his white brother across the street; when he toils at the same or similar work in mills, mines, factories, and commerce alongside the descendants of Spartacus, Robin Hood, and Erik the Red; when he wears similar clothing and speaks the same language with the same degree of perfection; when he reads the same Bible and belongs to the Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, or Catholic church; when his fraternal affiliations also include the Elks, Masons, and Knights of Pythias; when he gets the same or similar schooling, lives in the same kind of houses, owns the same Hollywood version of life on the screen; when he smokes the same brands of tobacco and avidly peruses the same puerile periodicals; in short, when he responds to the same political, social, moral, and economic stimuli in precisely the same manner as his white neighbor, it is sheer nonsense to talk about "racial differences" as between the American black man and the American white man. Glance over a Negro newspaper (it is printed in good Americanese) and you will find the usual quota or crime news, scandal, personals, and uplift to be found in the average white newspaper—which, by the way, is more widely read by the Negroes than is the Negro press. In order to satisfy the cravings of an inferiority complex engendered by the colorphobia of the mob, the readers of the Negro newspapers are given a slight dash of racialistic seasoning. In the homes of the black and white Americans of the same cultural and economic level one finds similar furniture, literature, and conversation. How, then, can the black American be expected to produce art and literature dissimilar to that of the white American?"

Click or Paste Link:

Article: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5129/

Mind Numbing Numbers...

While listening to a local radio show here in Los Angeles called the "John and Ken Show." The hosts interviewed a man who put up a website to constantly post up to the minute cost and population of illegals in this country....

Check it out: http://immigrationcounters.com/


Spread the word.

Wash. Times Article: Mexican wives want U.S. to return husbands

Washington Times: Mexican wives want U.S. to return husbands
By: Stephen Diana (Washington Times)

Article Quote: "You said you were only going to Arizona to get money for our house, but now you have been away and did not come back when your sister got married oh how I worry that you have another woman! Don't you love me? You told me you love me." - Abandoned Wife of Illegal Alien named "Pedro"

Article: The women of Tecalpulco, Mexico, want the U.S. government to enforce its immigration laws because they want to force their husbands to come back home from working illegally in the United States.
They have created an English-language Web page where they identify themselves as the "wetback wives" and broadcast their pleas, both to their men and to the U.S. government.
"To the United States government -- close the border, send our men home to us, even if you must deport them (only treat them in a humane manner -- please do not hurt them)," it reads.
In poignant public messages to their husbands, the women talk about their children who feel abandoned, and worry that the men have forsaken their families for other women and for the American lifestyle.
(Read More - Paste or Click Link) http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070226-010345-3459r.htm

My Response: Then by all means, lets make their request a done deal.

Pro Sports Team...Wanna Send A Message...

Over the NBA All Star weekend and what was thought to be a successful weekend for the NBA and the City of Las Vegas, turned out to be the weekend of hell for Vegas and it's hotels. According to local talk radio shows and the Las Vegas Journal. Vegas was turned upside down with thugs, female thugs and oh yeah, more thugs. Now I'm not going to cast expursions on a certain race of people, but lets put this way. Singer, Gary Taylor has a single called "Lovin' My People," and it points out the "good" things about blacks. The positive. The way we dance. The way we come together as family. All that that is good about blacks. Our style. What have you.

Yet, no matter how proud a people we are. No matter how good a people we are. No matter how respectful and law abiding people we are. There are a few amongst us that pulls unwanted publicity and unwanted criticism at us, which lumps us all, in the same damn boat.

And it's upsetting and demoralizing to see this happening. Because in the long run, it's the innocent amongst us that will bear the brunt of being denied basic services such as having a meal in a good restaurant. According to a poll, servers and/or host have a negative view of blacks when it comes to the issue of tipping. Blacks as whole don't follow tipping guidelines either by lack of knowledge or just refuse to show appreciation for the person whose job it is to serve them...

But that is a mole hill in comparison to what we are finding out about what happened in Vegas. 5 shootings, 350 arrests, multiple fights and oh by the way, more fights that involved guns. According to AOL's Sports Columnist, Jason Whitlock, a restaurant had to close down a couple of hours due to the insults and assaults lobbed at her employees.

All of this happened in four short days, in conjunction of the NBA All Star Weekend. No don't get me wrong, yeah, the league is majority black. Yes, the league is trying to separate itself from the hip hop image aka the thug image and Yes, the league is trying to crack down on a few of it's knuckle heads and in no way, am I saying that the league or it's players is responsible for the bullbleep that ravaged Vegas last weekend. However, I will tell you who is responsible for the bullbleep that was Vegas. The media. Yes, the media, because if they just do their damn jobs, we would not be getting bits and pieces of what really happened in Vegas. The media should have told the story of the waitress who was spit on and the casino hostesses who were called bitches and ho's. Should have told the story of how a new hotel, such as the Wynn was the site of thug nation. The media should have told the story of how the police were undermanned for the weekend. Who else is the blame? The individuals who ruined for the next time I go to Vegas and have to pay an additional fee for something else. Additional taxes for the additional police officers. And the half assed treatment I will get from the next hostess, who is busting her ass on the casino floors serving drinks.

I think Gary Taylor needs to remix his song and change the title of his song from "Lovin' My People to "Lovin' SOME of My People."

School Choice Advances (Editorial)

Issue: Education
School Choice Advances

Editorial Source: Las Vegas Review Journal
Column Quote: "If you want to hear some squawking from complacent school administrators, just mention "school choice."

Editoral Column: The teacher union grip on our Democrat-dominated state Assembly assures that students in most of Nevada's public schools continue to flounder in a climate of enforced mediocrity. Yet only a few hours' drive away, two of our neighboring states are among the nation's leaders in a growing and healthy trend to impose the rigors of competition on foot-dragging educrats. (Read More-click on or paste link)

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-23-Fri-2007/opinion/12741038.html

Scoop Jackson: I Don't Have A Hate Bone In My Body

Scoop Jackson: I Don't Have A Hate Bone In My Body

you know by now, Hardaway created controversy for himself during the NBA All Star Weekend, when he said on a radio interview, that he hated gay people. He has since back peddled faster than Deion Sanders in issuing apologies and equating discrimination that he claims he has experienced to his apology....For discussion purposes only, I am going to highlight some of Hardaways answers with question or comments of my own.

Full Interview: paste or click link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/070222

My comments:

SJ - Scoop Jackson
TH- Tim Hardaway



1. SJ: They call them hate crimes for a reason.

TH: And that's what it was, a hate crime on my part. But I was never brought up to hate anybody, you know that. But that's just the word and that's how we used it. You know when we got a whopping we'd be like, "I hate my moms" or "I hate my dad," and at the time you really didn't hate them, but that was the word you used. You know I can go into a restaurant and say, "I hate this food, I hate the chef, I don't even know why I came back to this restaurant." But I know I can't use the word like that, or let's say I'm not supposed to. People have come up to me and told me, "Tim, you can't say that you hate gay people because it's not the same term." But that's how I talk. That's the way I am.

Me: First, Scoop, his comments were no where near a hate crime. Hardaway, had a right to express his thoughts or feeling about gays in sports. Just because the MSM and a few far leftist were offended, does not make his comments a hate crime. No, if he had said, I hate figglas, while beating the mess out of one them...then we would be talking, hate crimes...

2. SJ: But still you have issues with gays?
TH: I still don't accept their lifestyle. No.
Me: and who does, the thing is that Hardaway does not have to live their lifestyle either...It's none of his business...

3. SJ: But Tim, you've been in Miami for years now and there is a strong and public gay community there. How have you still held on to that same mentality while living in Miami all of these years?
TH: I just get away from it. I just walk away. I see it, I just go the other way, cross the street.
Me: Tim, if I didn't know any better, that whole line sounded like you were walking on one side of the street and spotted someone with a pit bull and in fear of getting attacked, you crossed the street. Tim, they are still people and nine out of ten times, they ain't interested in you...Cmon'!

4/5. SJ: But Tim, you've been in Miami for years now and there is a strong and public gay community there. How have you still held on to that same mentality while living in Miami all of these years?
TH: I just get away from it. I just walk away. I see it, I just go the other way, cross the street.
SJ: So at no point did you ever try to understand their lifestyle or way of life?
TH: No. Never did. Never wanted to.
SJ: Do you want to now?
TH: No. I don't want to … try to find some type of understanding of why they live the way they live or why they are the way they are. Maybe I could go to therapy, maybe someone can help me out with understanding [them], the sensitivity of the issue. But as a person, my beliefs are my beliefs. I don't have to condone it and I don't have to be around it. But I don't have to hate it either.

Me: You see this is what makes this debate a never ending story, is it a lifestyle, choice, sexual preference or do we have a small population that is born homosexual?

6. SJ: Lemme ask you this, because I'm really trying to get at where this is coming from, the way you came across on the radio, your choice of words, your anger. I've had people roll up on me and say that something must have happened to you in your life to make you feel the way that you do about gays. Now I've been through everything that's gone on in your life with your family -- the substance abuse, the alcoholism, you riding the CTA [Chicago public transportation] at 8 years old, surviving Altgeld Gardens, all of that. But did anything happen to you? Was there any homosexual experience that triggered any of your resentment toward gay people that happened when you were young that none of us knows about?

TH: When we was growing up Scoop, if we saw gay people or whatever, we ran across the street. We got away from them. Our parents, our friends, our families knew that that wasn't right. We didn't want to be around that and they definitely didn't want us kids around it. And it's not that they hated gay people, they just felt they it wasn't right. Let them do what they want to do. And that was my experience when I was growing up. Not acknowledging them. Now did something happen to me? No. But I did have a friend that something happened to him in a Catholic school, but that is another can of worms that it's not my place to open because it's not my life. But to answer your question, "No." Nothing happened to me. I just don't condone [being gay]. When I see gay people holding hands or kissing in the streets, I just don't think that's right

Me: Tim, regardless of what you think, they have a right to express themselves, and showcase their feelings. Just like you and your wife express in public or private...sorry.

USA Today: Re-Examining Emmett Till Case Could Help Separate Fact, Fiction

Re-examining Emmett Till case could help separate fact, fiction
Jerry Mitchell The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger (USA Today)

Few homicide cases in this nation's history have been shrouded by as much legend as the 1955 killing of 14-year-old Emmett Till.
Some of those legends took root not long after the black youth from Chicago was abducted, beaten and shot to death, apparently for wolf-whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a white woman, at a grocery store in Money, Miss. Some have sprung up since.

(Read More: Click or Paste Link)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-02-18-till-legends_x.htm

My Response: The article left me looking for more. Instead it left me wondering why is this in the paper and what is it's relevance. So in a nutshell, the legends posted in the paper does not change the "allegations" of the events.


UPDATE:
Fox News has reported that noone will be prosecuted in the brutal murder of Emmitt Till. The woman who was married to one of the men and pointed out Till to her husband, was found not guilty in Mississippi. The FBI decided not go forward with the case, but passed to the State of Mississippi that the 73 year old defendant may be a person of interest.


http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Feb28/0,4670,TillInvestigation,00.html

Tale of Two Vegas NBA All Star Weekend Stories

Tale of two Vegas NBA All Star Weekend Stories -

Jason Whitlock; KC Star: All-star weekend a perfect party
LAS VEGAS For black men and women below the age of 45, NBA All-Star Weekend in Vegas was a calling you felt deep in the pit of your stomach.
You just had to be there, even if you no longer love the NBA the way you did when Magic, Bird, Michael and Isiah ruled the game, even if you had zero interest in the actual game.
All-Star Weekend is the new millennium’s "Freaknik," a once-popular, now-canceled annual street party. When Atlanta’s Freaknik died of self-inflicted wounds — looting and violence — in 1999, the NBA’s midseason exhibition rose in popularity for black people looking for an annual excuse to party on a large scale. (Read more - click or paste link)

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/columnists/16730767.htm


Jason Whitlock (KC Star - AOL.com) Mayhem Main Event at NBA All Star Weekend
LAS VEGAS -- NBA All-Star Weekend in Vegas was an unmitigated failure, and any thoughts of taking the extravaganza to New Orleans in 2008 are total lunacy.

Read more: (Click or paste link) http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/mayhem-main-event-at-nba-all-star/20070220103009990001

KC Star: Our eyes opened: Buck O'Neil writes about being a citizen after Sept. 11, 2001

Our eyes opened: Buck O'Neil writes about being a citizen after Sept. 11, 2001

You know how you watch television. With one eye. That's how I was watching television that day. I was doing this and that, glancing at the TV every so often, and that's when I saw a plane flying along. I saw it hit a building.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/special_packages/oneil/15655517.htm

Quote: Jack Tatum

I'm not a huge Raider fan, but I am huge fan of this one player. This player was my idol and my inspiration when it came to playing football, especially playing linebacker. I needed to hit hard and be aggressive. I wasn't a Dick Butkus guy, I could match the intensity of a Mike Singletary, but I always wanted to hit the hell out of somebody, like this assassin.

JACK TATUM. my idol

Quote from Jack Tatum:

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault."

Article of Interest: CS Monitor: New Fight, Old Foe: Slavery

Christian Science Monitor: New Fight, Old Foe: Slavery

Zach Hunter was only 12 years old when he became an abolitionist. During Black History Month three years ago, as he read about Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, he thought he, too, would have fought against slavery if he'd lived back then. But to his astonishment, Zach found soon afterward that people are still held as slaves today. (click or paste link) http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0221/p13s01-lign.html

Quote: "When I learned there were about 27 million slaves in the world, it blew me away I wondered what I could do." - Zach Hunter, 12 Years Old

My response: Although young Zach's research is awesome and eye opening. It ain't surprising to know that slavery still exist around the world.

Frederick Douglass Quote

"I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs." — Frederick Douglass (1817-1895), former runaway slave turned abolitionist leader, orator, editor, author, and Republican statesman

News worthy and Not News Worthy

NEWS WORTHY AND NOT NEWS WORTHY
J.Lewis/RF23 - 2/20/07

You know sometimes when I try to give the local news a chance to do exactly what they say they do, which is report the freaking news. Nine out of ten times, they will fail to open the newscast with something eventful and something that everyone, gives a damn about. So while chilling out, enjoying my long weekend and reflecting on President's day. I turned on my local news and the first story out of the jump was the undiscovered and finally released tape of both late President John F. Kennedy and Jacquline Kennedy - Onasses seconds before the President was (allegedly) assasinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. The tape was said to be about forty seconds long and basically showed the Presidents motorcade driving right by, with the first lady waving and looking around.
And thats it...The photographer didn't stick around to see or hear what transpired a full 19 seconds laters, cause if he did, and based on his angle, he would have probably caught the actual assasins in or around the grassy knolls area. So what was point of starting the news story with this film. Oh, it was show the country the best footage of the President and Jackie O going by. That little bit of footage effected me and solved the country's greatest "who donnit" how? So now after forty years, we still don't have actual assasins and we still label Oswald as the actual killer of the President....

Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070219/pl_nm/kennedy_footage_dc



News Worthy: Now this story should have hit every local news channel across the country. Why? because the City of New Orleans is celebrating Mardi Gras for the second time since Hurricane/Flood Katrina along with the assistance of "Operation President Doesn't Care About Black People." And celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans is good thing, it shows that the city has a pulse and ain't dead, and speaking of dead. It seems that the floods, hurricane, and the president is failing to get some people to look at the big picture of getting their lives together, rebuilding their homes and rebuilding their communities. No, Nawlins has some people who haven't missed a beat of committing crimes and continuing the City's high murder per capita rate. And I guess all would be okay, if these individuals were, can we say, in their own hood. (Neighborhood for the folks how are not street inclined) Then the police, oh, wait, The City is experiencing a huge exodus of its own force. Reports have it that seventeen police officers either walked off the job or take jobs some place else every month. The attached news article says there are more problems within the city that would make a cop, not walk, but run to the sweetest deal some place else. You arrest a young hoodlum on Friday nigh and see him ripping and running the streets on Saturday? Hell I'll quit too. But this story didn't make the news. Reports of the Mardi Gras did, but not the crime that is laying the coup de grat to a city that is on life support and a land mass that is living on borrowed time....

http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-02-19T230335Z_01_N19404375_RTRUKOC_0_US-NEWORLEANS-CRIME.xml


More News Worthy Items: Caught this in the Chicago Defender. Of course the defender is one of the oldest black newspapers in the country...So if the writers and editors want to comment on the state of education in the State of Illinois...Then dammit we should listen..Nevermind, what the writer is suggesting has been addressed and dismissed by so called community activist, who are based in that area.

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/editorial.cfm?ArticleID=8506

J-Whit: Display of Honest and Stupidity (Sports)

Whitlock: Display of Honesty and Stupidity

Quotable: Hardaway is too stupid to realize that racism and hate denied black people inalienable, American rights for hundreds of years. People with Tim Hardaway's mindset tried to keep people who look like Tim Hardaway out of professional sports and every other highly sought profession. - Jason Whitlock

More: "Homophobia is a not a crime. Letting it control your behavior is wrong." - Jason Whitlock

AOL's Jason Whitlock hits former NBA All Star Guard, Tim Hardaway have it with his thoughts on Hardaway's vent about "Hating gay people" and not wanting to be around gays in the locker room or the team...

Article:
Jason Whitlock - AOL Sports
Hardaway Displays Honesty and Stupidity

At first, Tim Hardaway's stupidity provoked a chuckle. He couldn't be serious. Not in these politically correct times. His remarks on Dan LeBatard's radio show in Miami had to be some sort of elaborate skit to promote John Amaechi's book. Asked to comment on the former NBA role player's decision to announce that he's gay, Hardaway decided to be John Rocker honest.

Hit or copy link for more of Whitlock's commentary: http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/hardaway-displays-honesty-and-stupidity/20070215073909990001


My Response: My thoughts on the subject of gay athletes coming out after playing is still the same..I consider it hiding in the closet and dishonest towards ones team-mates. Although I don't in any way support Hardaway's comment in regard to having a gay team-mate around. We would be way off to not think that former and present day players share the same sentiment. Hardaway basically "Bernie Mac'd" his opinion for them. He said what some of the players can't say or come close to saying...At least not while the NBA is paying them millions to run, jump, dribble and wear a tie. My problem is still that these "now out" athletes are going to the bank playing the "victim" of a self imposed situation. The claim of not being accepted and ridiculed is the reason, comments like Hardaways support it, but the missing link is that the unsuspecting team-mates never got the chance to either accept or reject.

Washington Times: Democrats Hit visa, citizenship fee raise

Washington Times: Democrats Hit visa, citizenship fee raise
Stephen Dinan - 2/15/07

Quote: "Many in the immigrant community see the increase for what it is -- increasing the cost of the American dream, telling those least fortunate among us they probably need not apply," d Rep. John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat.
More Quotes:
"Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I believe one of the marks of responsibility is people pay for what they get," Rep. Dan Lungren, California Republican


Democrats yesterday said the fee increases for naturalized citizenship and visas proposed by the Bush administration amount to a "citizenship tax" and vowed to fight it, saying taxpayers should pick up the bill for many immigrants.
More: http://www.washtimes.com/national/20070214-114630-3865r.htm

Because He's Black?

Two key black South Carolina State Senators give their support to Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama,why? he's black?

Quote: "Every Democratic candidate running on that ticket would lose because he's black and he's at the top of the ticket - we'd lose the House, the Senate and the governors and everything." - State Senate Robert Ford

More Quotes: "I'm a gambling man. I love Obama,"- But I'm not going to kill myself." - Robert Ford

Article: http://www.blackenterprise.com/yb/ybopen.asp?section=ybaa&story_id=103207628&id=blackenterprise

Runaway Love or Runaway Rap?

Runaway Love or Runaway Rap?

Yesterday, I heard for the second time a rap by Ludacris, called "Runaway love." In it the rapper is alluding to some unfortunate incidents for girls. For instance...all of the girls are under the age 14, all have been abused by someone either sexually or physically...One a friend of the subject 14 year olds was even shot by gangs via a drive by. One of the under 14 year olds, got pregnant and so on and so on. Although I get the premise of the rap, there was no message for the many young females out there, accept to, runaway. Unlike the 2006 song, S-E-X by Lyfe Jennings where he illustrates a poignent message for young girls.

The rapper, at the end, asks for the young female listeners to close their eyes and imagine running away.......with him! Whoa! partner, how old are you? This is equivalent to R-Kelly and Michael Jackson telling our young people to close their eyes and imagine running away with them!

The song is stupid and Ludacris, needs to be added to Megan's List...and ran out of town

Lyrics errr!!! Words:

Runaway Love:
Each one of the three verses of "Runaway Love" is so ripped off of 'Brenda's Got A Baby' that its confusing somebody would actually do that. He's getting paid, and you know, I really hope that he's spending money to help in the situations presented because I'm sure not many other people are. Each one of the three verses of a fictional account telling the troubles in the lives of three runaway female adolescents; a nine-year-old named Lisa, a ten-year-old named Nicole, and an eleven-year-old named Erica.

[edit] Lisa's story
The first account involves Lisa, a nine-year-old girl. She has never met her real father. Lisa's mother is addicted to drugs and constantly argues with her current boyfriend. The argument usually ends with a fight and her mother passing out. After these arguments, Lisa's mother's boyfriend sneaks into her bedroom and rapes her. Lisa tells her mother about the sexual abuse, but she does not believe her. She decides to run away from home to save herself from her mother's boyfriend.
Now little Lisa's only 9 years old
She's tryna figure out why the world is so cold
Why she's all alone and ain't never met her family
Mama's always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missing and nobody will listen
Mama's on drugs gettin' high up in the kitchen
Bringin' home men at different hours of the night
Startin' with some laughs... usually ending in a fight
Sneakin' in her room when her mama's knocked out
Tryna have his way and little Lisa says 'ouch'
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her
Lisa's stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that Hell is a place called home
Nothin' else to do but get some clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back - End
No mention of problem solving, but to encourage "running away." That's jumping from hot skillet to another, which reminds of this song from the late Rick James:
"Mary chose a pimp, he put her on the street, was not accident, she was found in a hotel suite, face down on the floor, laying in her underwear, no one even cried and no one even seemed to care that Mary chose a pimp" - Pimp a Simp, Rick James (Cold Blooded Album)

[edit] Nicole's story
The second account involves Nicole, a ten-year-old girl. Nicole believes she is not beautiful and thinks nobody likes her. Nicole's stepfather is an alcoholic and physically abuses her. Nicole's teachers constantly ask why she has bruises, and she lies to them. Nicole promises her best friend, Stacy, that they'll be close forever. However one day, Stacy dies in a drive-by shooting. Nicole packs her things and runs away from home.
Little Nicole is only 10 years old
She's steady tryna figure out why the world is so cold
Why she's not pretty and nobody seems to like her
Alcoholic step-dad always wanna strike her
Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises
Teachers ask questions, she's makin' up excuses
Bleeding on the inside, crying on the out
It's only one girl who really knows what she's about
Her name is little Stacey and they become friends
Promise that they'll always be tight till the end
Until one day little Stacey gets shot
A drive-by bullet went stray up on da block
Now Nicole's stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that Hell is a place called home
Nothin' else to do but get her clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back
Again whats the situation here? the child is being abused and there's ample evidence proving it..The school, one line of defense neglects to act on the abuse of a 10 year old! We're talking about a ten year old child who is afraid of both her parent and any other adult.

[edit] Erica's story
The third and final account involves Erica, an eleven-year-old girl who is using ecstasy. Erica is also having unprotected sex with her sixteen year old boyfriend. As things go deeper, Erica thinks her boyfriend is in love with her. After Erica becomes pregnant, her boyfriend leaves her because he isn't ready for a child. Her family is poor and Erica has no money for an abortion. Erica knows that if she tells her mother she is pregnant, her mom will be angry and disappointed at her. Erica decides to run away instead of breaking the news to her mother.
Little Erica is 11 years old
She's steady tryna figure out why the world is so cold
So she pops X to get rid of all the pain
Plus she's having sex with a boy who's sixteen
Emotions run deep and she thinks she's in love
So there's no protection; he's using no glove
Never thinkin' bout the consequences of her actions
Livin' for today and not tomorrow's satisfaction
The days go by and her belly gets big
The father bails out; he ain't ready for a kid
Knowin' her mama would blow it all out of proportion
Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion
Erica's stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that Hell is a place called home
Nothin' else to do but get her clothes and pack
She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back

No Comment
And at the end of all this, Ludacris, who is 29, tells all the girls who may be in this situation to close their eyes and imagine running away....with his old azz.....I guess he'll have them feeling like another girl....

If It's About Pride...Then Why Hide?

RF23 - If It's About Pride...Then Why Hide?
www.keepingitright.blogspot.com

2/12/07

Last week a former NBA center, John Ameachi announced to the world that he is gay. He also bashed Utah Jazz owner, Larry Miller and its coach Jerry Sloan for what he perceived as "homophoebic" attitude toward him.

Also announced was the fact that Ameachi has written a book and by the way, his public "coming out" was plastered all over ESPN and most major news medias. So what's the hub bub about?

That a guy who averaged about four points and a couple of rebounds a game has come out and said , "I'm gay." No. It's about his bottom line, the number of book sales he receives at the end of the day. It's not about his team mates, coaches or owners; it's about interviews on Oprah, Dr. Phil and other talk shows.

It's not about educating a couple yahoo's who are too ignorant to now accept the fact that someone prefers to have same sex intercourse. No! it's about being a victim to those yahoo's who express their opinions about his coming out.

But the issue here is the "pride" that gays and lesbians want to exude. Hell where is it?

If it's about pride, then why hide it? why keep it, and this is going to be ironic here, but why keep it behind closed doors. If Ameachi wants to move this country on "gay" issues, then why wait until everyone says, "who in the hell is John Ameach?" and who did he play for?

Ameachi didn't show pride in his sexual preference and who he really is and for this fact, show his team-mates who he was.... As far as the basketball world knew, is that Ameachi was from England who happens to be of mixed race, black and white. And by virtue of his skin tone, whatever prejudices he may have experienced, if any, were probably because of his perceived race. Not because of his sexual preference.

And this is why I get upset, when gays equate their sexual preference or choice to the civil rights movement. It ain't the same, it ain't even the same sport!

Blacks, Afro - Americans, African-Americans, Negros can't just come out the closet, and announce after making hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, that they're black; without hearing "no s@#t Sherlock"!

However, Ameachi was able to hide behind his preferences, go to the bank, and basically misrepresent himself to his team-mates by doing something that 80% of the leagues player's can't. Hide their skin color.

So if it's about pride...then why hide?

According to Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban. A gay NBA player would sashay all the way to the bank. Really. That player better have game like Kobe Bryant to make that big money via endorsements.

Cause if Ameachi is the player, Cuban was alluding too....and if Ameachi had the pride that gays and lesbians claim there is...

Why hide, pick and choose when you want to "come out."?

The player should come out and face the media and then let the story play out.

Not hide behind closed doors where ironically, the sexual intimate relationship should be between two consenting adults..Unfortunately, gays and lesbians opened the door to their intimate world and demanded equal treatment through this perceived pride

now they want to blush.

Mark Cuban article: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6465980?MSNHPHMA

Brent Staples OP/ED: Barack Obama

Brent Staples (NY OP/Ed Section): Decoding the debate over the Blackness of Barack Obama

Those of us who were born black in the years just after World War II had front-row seats for the collapse of American apartheid. We started out confined to all-black communities and schools at a time when skin color was still destiny. But as segregation gave way, many of us were vaulted out of this sequestered world and into colleges, jobs and walks of life that had been closed to us pretty much since the nation’s founding.

More: (Registration may be required) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/opinion/11sun3.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Prelutsky: Black Racism

Black Racism
By Burt Prelutsky
1/22/07
Whenever I start thinking about all the damage that’s been done to America by the social engineering Socialists, I have to remind myself that some of my best friends are left-wingers. That doesn’t do much for my blood pressure, but at least it serves to remind me that they’re not all as self-righteous as George Soros, as fatuous as Michael Moore, as smarmy as Jimmy Carter, as shrill as Nancy Pelosi, as hypocritical as John Murtha, Ted Kennedy and Robert C. Byrd, or as deceptive as Barack Obama, the fellow with the most liberal voting record in the U.S. Senate who has managed to convince millions of people who should know better that he’s a card-carrying centrist.

Full Column: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BurtPrelutsky/2007/01/22/black_racism

My Response: I'm clapping...kudos to Mr. Prelutsky for stepping up to the plate and finally saying something from the "white" side....

RF23 - Black Pride?

RF23\J.Lewis
Black Pride?

This month was set aside for Black History Month and for blacks to reflect from whence they came. This month is supposed to be a time of pride to look at the progress of Black Americans from slavery to present. And honestly, when I reflect on this year's Black History month, I have mixed feelings. I'm proud to be an American, and I am proud to have come from a race of people that overcame the betrayal of being sold into slavery, held in bondage, freed, denied basic civil liberties and lynchings. One has to be proud of all the shit our Black American ancestors overcame for us to live the lives we have. Well, some of us are proud and thankful. Others have somehow forgotten the beatings, false accusations and lynchings that our Black American ancestors received just for raising their voice to be heard in a country that didn't want them.

You know at times, when I try to think about what was going through Dr. King's mind, when he laid there dying. I wonder if he knew what we become of us. I wonder if he knew that a man in his camp would lead Black Americans down a wrong path with probable good intentions. I wonder if he knew that once he made peace with another murdered civil rights leader, that the same group that he helped elevate would continue to spew hate speech in the name of black people. I just wonder.

In 1968 in Mexico City, two olympic black athletes donned black gloves and raised their arms to protest for basic civil liberties. They exhibited a type of black pride that blacks chanted in the 60's and 70's. Today I wonder, what is black pride?

Is black pride, the murder of a black male by another black male? Is black pride, the feeling of entitlement for past wrongs? Is black pride the continuation of black victimization? Is black pride the insulting of young inspired minds of black youths, by calling them "sell outs" or "acting white"? Is black pride the impregnating of our black women and leaving them to raise your young? Is black pride having sex with our black women and giving them HIV/AIDs? Is black pride the using of the word "nigga"(er) ?

All of the above is not black pride...Black pride is remembering the victories of overcoming obstacles. Black pride is preserving life and not taking it. Black pride is taking responsibility and doing the right thing with our women and children. Black pride is education. Black pride does not consist of violence against our fellow man.

Which brings me to this...

Black prides was not present nor had it been learned when a group of blacks attacked with racial ephitants three white girls in Long Beach, CA. And this saddens me, because of regardless of whose in our prisons and why, these group of youth deserved to be sitting in a Youth Camp and when they turn 18, transfered to a California Penal Institution. And for a judge to take the position he did, was insulting not only to the victims, but did not serve the interest of the community as a whole to release these embarrasments to Black Americans.

Funny thing is that since I vote republican and I don't share the same views as some blacks...I'm the embarrassment, the sell out and Tom.

So why celebrate a month, when todays generation don't give a damn?

'Cause I do...and I have black pride.




"Money is life now, It used to be a time that freedom was" - A Raisin In The Sun

Congressional Black Caucus: Double Standard

The hypocrisy and the double standard of members of the Black Congressional Caucus is sickening at best. The fact that they can with a straight face disallow someone from joining their black separatist group because of their skin color must have Dr. King spinning in his tomb.

Check out the Wikipedia description of the Congression BlacKKK Caucus, but first the quote:

" Quite simply, Rep. Cohen will have to accept what the rest ofthe country will have to accept - there has been an unofficialCongressional White Caucus for over 200 years, and now it's our turn tosay who can join 'the club.' He does not, and cannot, meet themembership criteria, unless he can change his skin color. Primarily, weare concerned with the needs and concerns of the black population, and we will not allow white America to infringe on those objectives." -

Representative William Lacy Clay (D-Missouri)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Black_Caucus

I guess Mr. Clay has missed a few history lessons. Because if he had he would have know that blacks served in Congress and the Senate right after the Civil War. Then again, since they were republicans they probably didn't count.

Black U.S. Representatives (Lengthy):

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30378.pdf

Smith: Using Racism As An Excuse...

Stephen A. Smith: Using Racism As An Excuse

Bear's defensive lineman Tank Johnson, was allowed by a judge to travel to Miami with his team to play in the Super Bowl...Instead of being quiet and separating himself from the media...Johnson was asked legitimate questions in regard to the large amount of weapons and bullets in his home....Johnson equated it and his self imposed indictment to
racism....Stephen A. Smith, disagrees.


http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/columnists/stephen_a_smith/16592686.htm

Whitlock: Black Rooting For Dungy, Smith Isn't Racism.

WHITLOCK: BLACKS ROOTING FOR DUNGY, SMITH ISN'T RACISM

AOL's Jason Whitlock Opines about this Sunday's Super Bowl showcasing
two Black American men and the special rooting interest in these two
exceptional coaches....
Blacks Rooting for Dungy, Smith Isn't Racism
Coaches' Lives Provide Blueprints for Achievement

http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/nfl/_a/blacks-rooting-for-dungy-smith-isnt/20070201104709990001

Michael Smith: Character

ESPN "The Magazine" Columnist Michael Smith has had enough of the "The 1st Black" this or that in regard to Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. He says it's the character of the two men that is special. Not the color.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/columns/story?columnist=smith_michael&id=2740318

ESPN - Delayed Legacy

ESPN: Fritz Pollard's legacy follows coaches to Super Bowl. "WithGeorge Halas, as great as he was...he did so much to try to keepAfrican-Americans out of the league. Here, Lovie Smith leads his team tothe Super Bowl. But it was a different age."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2740677&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2

Elder: Obama In Search Of The Black Vote

Talk Radio and Author Larry Elder humors us with a skit of a conversation between Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and Political Strategist Dick Morris.

Enjoy: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/column.aspx?UrlTitle=barack_in_search_of_the_black_vote&ns=LarryElder&dt=02/01/2007&page=full&comments=true