Wall Street at it Again?

African Americans are among the hardest hit by the antics of Wall Street. We all know the results of the sub prime debacle and the subsequent glut of foreclosures. High unemployment and debt are double edged swords in the African American sector, which means more families struggling to make ends meet (if at all) and more crime for young people, whose rate of unemployment, according to some experts can be as high as 50%. In the meantime here's a report that the banks are now artificially driving up oil prices to unprecedented (not to mention unjustified) prices. In my opinion we as Black people don't need to occupy Wall Street, we need to bypass it and create our own economic instruments. Historically we are capable of it but we must be aware of our history.

 

Dr Ivan Van Sertima - Black Woman In Antiquity

As Women's History Month comes to a close I want to share this video of one of my favorite historians.  I give you he illustrious Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. I'll let him tell you, as only he can,  the story of the Black Woman in antiquity. Enjoy this video.





Discover the Real Eve

The Treyvon Martin Case - The Plot Thickens

Updated April 29, 2012


 Isn't it interesting that George Zimmerman can gun down Trayvon Martin in then go on line and in less than 60 days raise $200,000? While all we can do is complain. There is plenty of outrage but where is the action? What are we going to do in order that this doesn't just become another case of Black man executed, Black folks grumble, perp gets off, case closed. In the case of Black youth being killed in the hood by their peers, it's even worse because that continues on the regular and we are not even hearing about it unless it's local. It's time we address this loss of our young people and bring it right out into the open. The publicity around Trayvons case is the ideal rallying point because it's here now, it has wide spread attention and people want to see something happen that looks like justice. Let's take some positive action that starts to address this Zimmerman - Martin outrage and bring to light the senseless killing that goes on right here in America. 


 At the outset of this case the State of Florida was responsible for the failure to bring charges against George Zimmerman. Had it not been for the uproar that came crom across the country they would have left it at that.  My personal feeling is that if Florida and the Sanford/Orlando region are apt to be so inhospitable to Black folks, we should give them what they want.  If it were up to me Disneyland and Universal Studios and Marineland as well as the surrounding hotels/motels , restaurants, gas stations and other tourist traps would be seeing few if any Black folks to be used for target practise unless they were born there. There would be no Black organizations holding annual conventions or any other group functions anywhere in the state.
Only when Florida was ready to prove that our rights would be respected and upheld to the same degree as anyone else would I lift the ban on doing business with Florida. I would go so far as to advocate the use of California orange juice if you get my drift. This is a positive action that is not beyond the realm of our ability. The most complicated part is to get the word out to the people that we intend to take this action.  The cost out of our pockets is zip. The cost to Florida is potentially a whole bunch of money. Until we do this and similar actions, regularly we will never get the respect we want and deserve as human beings. 


 What do we want in return for our patronage? We have time to work that out. There is no hurry to run to Florida before we work out the details. I still haven't forgotten that it was the disenfranchisment of Black voters in Florida that resulted in George Bush stealing an election. Have you? We would want to talk to the Black community workers in Florida to see what makes these people feel like Black folks have fewer rights than other citizens. Which brings us back to  Zimmerman vs Martin,  the fact is if Zimmerman was defending himself, then Trayvon Martin was guilty of assaulting an armed stalker, how can this possibly not be a case of young Trayvon "standing his own ground" he wasn't the one who instigated the situation. 

George Zimmerman's website collects $200,000 for his defence

George Zimmerman, the Florida man who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and who is now out on bail, had a website that raised $200,000 for his defence fund. His lawyer, Mark O'Mara, made that revelation Thursday night.

Zimmerman was released last Sunday, April 22 after posting $150,000 bail, but he was required to pay only 10 percent of that. O'Mara told CNN's Anderson Cooper Thursday that he will tell Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. about the money as, given his client's donation windfall, Lester Jr. may ask for more of the bail to be paid. The website Zimmerman set up, therealgeorgezimmerman.com, through which funds were raised using PayPal, is now closed but his lawyer said there will be other fund-raising efforts.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/323857#ixzz1tR1tg5Ao

 Recently Darryl Duncan penned a song called "18" which is dedicated to the memory of Trayvon Martin and ALL the young lives cut short by violence. I suggest that we use this song as a rallying cry to bring massive attention the Trayvon Martin case as as well to publicize the daily loss of life in our neighborhoods which must be addressed urgently. While our government and news media is putting all kinds of effort behind saving the people of Syria and making their safety a priority, our own young people are dying by the thousands and being incarcerated by the tens of thousands, basically for petty offenses and lack of employment.


Now is the time for us as Black bloggers to use our skills to bring to light the obvious injustice in this situation and to begin to propose solutions to these same injustices.









April 10, 2012


At what point does an armed individual  in a motor vehicule, who is stalking an unarmed pedestrian, become a victim who is afraid for his life? Is it when the unarmed individual feels he must defend himself? Wasn't the stalker actually the agressor? How has law enforcement failed to make this connection or at least to very seriously consider this scenario?


What was George Zimmerman Thinking?


(CNN) -- George Zimmerman should only be prosecuted if, after an exhaustive investigation and an honest assessment of Florida's "stand your ground" law, special prosecutor Angela Corey concludes that there is a strong possibility of proving his guilt at trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin.



It's good everyone want's to know what happened. It's too bad that EVERYONE didn't want to know sooner.




City of Sanford website

Important Notice - Trayvon Martin

Dear Citizens:

There has been a lot of media attention to the recent incident where George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. This is indeed a tragic situation and has caused a flood of questions and strong emotions from within our community, the region and nation. On behalf of the employees of the City of Sanford, Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family and friends of Trayvon Martin. As a father, I can only image the pain Trayvon’s family must be going though. In an effort to continue to be as responsive as possible to the public seeking information on the incident, I have asked Chief Lee to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this matter. Below are his responses. . . Read More . . .      

I have to say, there is a lot of finger pointing going on in this case. A witness claims the Sanford police were not interested in her testimony. A Sanford police officer claims that the State of Florida Attorneys office said not to file charges due to lack of evidence. The chief of police "temporarily" stepped down.
George Zimmerman claims he was only defending his life, even though he started out armed with a firearm and in a vehicule.  The only thing that's for certain about this case is that Treyvon Martin was minding his own business and now he is dead.

  Most of the commentary I find regarding this case from people of all races is that this is just wrong. This could be a teaching point for a bunch of folks, as opposed to just another notch in the belt of division. We have the opportunity here to bring together various groups on this case, to all demand with one voice that justice be served or at the very, very least a thorough transparent investigation be done regarding this young man's death. Treyvon was America's son and as such we need to give America the opportunity to claim him. Pointing fingers at people of other races or nationalities or linguistic groups will only serve to cause people to be defensive and won't allow this to play out the way it should. There is enough finger pointing at the top, when it comes to we the people "the buck has to stop here".  The only way we're going to take our alleged authorities by the tail is to not let them divide us with these kinds of actions or non-actions and show them that there is some kind of solidarity among the masses. I would call on all those who feel like Treyvon could have been their child, brother, nephew, cousin, friend to come together with one voice and act in unison to bring this issue to the proper conclusion. It'll be a step in the right direction if we're going to continue to rebuild this country for all of us rather than let ourselves be divided by the agents of the banks and the corporations.


 "The lead homicide investigator in the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin recommended that neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman be charged with manslaughter the night of the shooting, multiple sources told ABC News." 


"But Sanford, Fla., Investigator Chris Serino was instructed to not press charges against Zimmerman because the state attorney's office headed by Norman Wolfinger determined there wasn't enough evidence to lead to a conviction, the sources told ABC News. "

                                                                                    Click here to see the full story

Miss Louise Bennett

Miss Lou

Born September 7, 1919.   Died July 26, 2006

Miss Lou, was a celebrated Jamaican comedienne, poet and cultural icon, her work, as was her life, was seen to be the essence of Jamaican expression. 


 Bennett was extremely well known for her radio programs -Laugh with Louise, Miss Lou's Views and The Lou and Ranny Show as well as the 1970s TV program Ring Ding which was popular with children across the island.


 Miss Lou was loved and revered by Jamaicans of every social stripe.




See her complete bio here.

Cuss
by Louise Bennett

This poem re-stages a tracing match (quarrel) between two
Jamaican women. Common cuss-words like "boogooyagga" (low-grade) "heng-pon-nail " (bedraggled) are used.

Gwan gal yuh fava teggereg,
Ah wey yuh gwine goh do?
Yuh an yuh boogooyagga fren
Dem tink me fraid o' yuh?
Goh wey, yuh fava heng-pon-nail,
Is me yuh want fe trace?
Me is jus de one fi teck me han
An leggo pon yuh face.
Fe me han noh jine chu ch an me naw
Pay licen fe me mout',
Me wi tell yuh bout yuh--se yah
Gal noh badda get me out.
Me noh know is wat kine o' chu'ch
Fe yuh mout' coulda jine,
Yuh lip dem heng dung lacka wen
Mule kean meck up him mine.
Gwan, me an yuh noh combolo,
Yuh foot shapeless an lang
Like smaddy stan far fiing dem awn
An meck dem heng awn wrang.
Fe yuh foot fava capital K,
Koo pon yuh two nose-hole!
Dem dis big an open out like
Miss Tane outsize fish bowl.
Goh wey, yuh kean bwile sof egg
But still yuh want get ring,
Noh man na gwine fe married yuh
Wen yuh kean do a ting.
Is grudge yuh grudgeful, me kean cook
But me ben goh dah good school,
Me got intelligency yuh
Illiterated fool !
Me sorry fe de man yuh get
De po' ting hooden nyam
When you ackebus him salt-fish
An bwilivous him yam.......
Reference: Louise Bennett

Date

Month: 

9

Day: 

7

Author name: 

Bennett, Louise