18 Tribute to Trayvon and All Youth Whose Lives were Cut Short

This song is something that should have been out there already, alas, if Trayvon hadn't been taken from us so suddenly that evening in Florida we might not be listening to it today. As you listen don't think only of Trayvon Martin, take the time to reflect on the thousands of other young Black men, women and children that we lose to gun violence in the hood every year. "18" is just the song we need to to be an Anthem to remind us of the young lives lost daily in our American communities throughout the country. I'm positive that Trayvon's family and friends would like to see this become bigger than the loss of their loved one, especially if in his honor we can bring ourselves to unite in a way like never before, to create a safe and nourturing environment for our youg people. I ask you to join with me to share this in every way you can ( facebook, google, onyour web sites, word of mouth and whatever elseyou can think of). To the point that it goes and stays viral until such time as we organize in a universal effort and resolve to bring this situation to an end, as Malcom X said "by any means necessary". Talk to your family and friends and neighbors about what it will take to bring this senseless loss of life to an end. Take it to your school organizations, political groups, community centers, barbershops, the beauty salons and your local government. Let's bring all the local organizations together in a massive effort. We have to start to end this now!



18 An Excellent work by Darryl Duncan.
  As an aside, I do not know, nor have any commercial or personal connection to the author of this song. 

 Homicide leading cause of death among young black males
 For nearly all teenagers, accidents are the most common cause of death, a national study has found. Yet for black males ages 12 to 19 years old, homicide eclipses accidents as the leading cause of death, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Wednesday. That troubling statistic — or, more accurately, the deeper problems underlying it — is garnering some local attention. Advocates say dramatic action is needed. Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2010-05-05/story/study-homicide-leading-cause-death-among-young-black-males#ixzz1tG7Ewafu

Public Safety | Daily Report

Young black males far more likely to be murder victims

February 1, 2011 | Louis Freedberg, California Watch

Black youth and young adults are nearly five times more likely to be killed in California than the average young Californian. 

 Young African-American males have the most elevated homicide victimization rate of any race or gender group. Homicides involving firearms have been the leading cause of death for African-American males ages 15 to 19 since 1969. http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/gun_violence/sect01.html 

FACT: Nationwide for 2007, gun violence killed 3,067 American children and teens ages 19 and under, a decrease of 4.7% from the nationwide 2006 total of 3,218. The total number of children killed in 2007 included 2,161 homicides, 683 suicides, 138 unintentional, 25 legal intervention, and 60 undetermined intent. This means that an average of almost 9 young people are killed each day by guns in the U.S. Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence http://www.ichv.org/facts-about-gun-violence/facts-about-kids-and-gun-violence/

Dr. John Henrik Clarke - The African World Under Seige

I've been finding quite a lot of material about and by dr. John Henrik Clarke the esteemed Afrikan historian on youtube lately, so I've been having the pleasure of sharing it with my blog readers. You don't have to wait for me to post it here, you can just go to youtube, do a search under his name and you will find enough to keep you busy for a long time if your are truly interested in the history of the people of Afrika.
  As ususal I believe dr. Clarke's message in this video to be relevant and timely. This particular lecture is directed to Afrikans on the continent and throughout the world.  He has some suggestions about how we might use awareness of some of the old ways in order to improve our circumstances in the world. Our relationship to a particular part of the globe does not change the fact of our being Afrikans dr. Clarke points out. Even in Afrika there is so much that needs to be done that the likelyhood of it happening will increase with the participation of all of us. None of us have been left untouched (in very similar ways), by the ravages of transatlantic slavery and colonialism He stresses economic unity, productivity and sacrifice throughout the diaspora, as a means to work our way to a more stable position among people of the world.  I would suggest watching this and then taking a close look at the present day map of Afrika, then the news reports of the past year in Afrika and then your local news, about the people belonging to the Afrikan diaspora in your part of the world. What do you see?

Dr Yosef Ben Jochannan VS Rabbi Arthur Seltzer

This is a very informative debate, a must see really.

Rabbi Seltzer thought he was out for a walk in the park with dr. Ben, perhaps he didn't realize that dr. Ben is jewish and certainly no less informed than he.

Leonard Braithwaite, Canada’s first black parliamentarian, dead at 88

April 5, 2012 5:30 PM

Leonard Braithwaite October 23, 1923 – March 28, 2012

Today Premier Dalton McGuinty released the following statement on the death of Leonard Braithwaite:

"I was saddened to hear of the passing of Leonard Braithwaite. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends -- especially his sons Roger and David.

Leonard lived a long, remarkable life -- one that was characterized by his strong convictions, passion for public service and powerful sense of justice. 

He proudly served his country and fought against oppression during World War II as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war, he became the first black Canadian to be elected as a member of provincial parliament.  As an MPP, Leonard spoke out against racial segregation in our schools and called for the admission of female pages in the legislature. His determination to see Ontario do what was right and just by all its citizens helped make our province the open, diverse and caring place it is today. 

We have lost a trailblazer, a champion and a friend -- but he leaves behind a tremendous legacy in the strong, diverse province he helped build."

Leonard Braithwaite

Image: Leonard Braithwaite (courtesy Ontario Black History Society)

Leonard Braithwaite was the first African Canadian in a provincial legislature when he was elected in Ontario in 1963. He served as a Liberal member of the Ontario legislature from 1963 to 1975. In his first speech to the legislature he spoke out against racial segregation in Ontario schools. Soon after, the Ontario government repealed the law that allowed school segregation.

Braithwaite was raised in the Kensington Market area of Toronto during the Depression and served in the RCAF in the Second World War. He attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, graduating in 1952, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1958, followed by a career in law. He was the first Black lawyer elected as a member of the Governing Council of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Braithwaite began his political career in 1960 as a member of the Etobicoke board of education. Two years later he was elected as an alderman on the Etobicoke council and ran in the provincial election in 1963, defeating the Progressive Conservative candidate. He was re-elected in 1967 and 1971, serving as the Liberal Party Critic for Labour and Welfare. As a politician he fought for gender equality and the rights of minorities.

In 1998, Braithwaite was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2004.