diversifiedminds

Marathon Massacre: How a NYC graduate of Boston College feels

2013-04-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

I am a Boston College alum. I wear this badge of honor with the same pride I do being a son of Brooklyn. My affiliation with the best college town in the country means a lot. That's not to say that the rivalry, sometimes in fun, sometimes quite serious, between New Yorkers and Bostonians weren't real. But what was even more real was the mutual respect I felt between the two sides. As young people who ventured to Boston for college, it became more than a city where we attended school. It became a home away from home. We met the people who would become family. We met the professors that would inspire in us change and growth. We met administrators who would irrevocably change who we were and what we wanted in our lives. Boston symbolized not only home, but rebirth. We became the men and women we hoped college would help develop.

The Boston Marathon as a college student was the most awesome day on the calendar. Marathon Monday as it is called was a full day party. As a student at Boston College, we had the unique privilege of having the marathon run through campus. Our mornings would begin at 9am. We would wake up, have breakfast, imbibe in a few alcohol beverages and line the route to cheer on the thousands of runners who would pass us by. Eventually we would end up in the Mods, playing music, partying, eating and participating in joyous revelry that only Boston area college students could understand. Almost without fail, the sun would be shining, new friends would be made and the day would be grand.

Unfortunately that all changed yesterday, when the day that we as students love so much, became a place of carnage. Twin bombs let off in the middle of Copley Square maimed dozens and took the lives of some as well. I was nothing short of hurt and pained at this. I just got back from Boston at 2am Monday morning from a weekend of growth and development at Boston College's Black Family Weekend and Boston College's Day of Service. I was near the Copley area Saturday night. I know what it looks like to experience terrorism in the worst way, on what should be a great day.

I was taken back to the dark day of 9/11 when I heard the planes (having originated from Boston) pierce the skies over lower Manhattan and crash into the towers less than a mile from where I attended high school. It reminded me of the carnage that people of all ages and stripes should not have to see. Unfortunately Boston and New York are reunited again in a canopy of pain that feels all too familiar. Boston know that New Yorkers stand with you, angry, hurt, but stoic. Know that your adopted children who you took in as college students and raised well feels your pain in a very real sense. Know that the act of cowardice will not keep you down. Stand up and give a hearty Boston cheer to those that decided that hate would conquer love on that beautiful spring Monday.

The marathon will come back next year. And I know that many of your children will return home to run and cheer it on. And frankly that's the best way to overcome tragedy. As the saying goes "weeping will last a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Here's hoping for many more joyous mornings for my second home.

Inauguration 2.0: The Moral Argument for Diversity

2013-01-22T16:06:00.001-05:00

Advocates for diversity across many areas of the political, social, economic and religious sectors have long been argued the moral necessity for diversity. Equality was vital for the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement and as of late the Immigration and Gay Rights Movements. Moral diversity was on display in its most vivid degree yesterday at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

On Tuesday January 20, 2009 I was amongst 1.8 million friends and family on the National Mall celebrating the almost unimaginable election of the nation's first black president. It stands in my mind as one of the most seminal moments in my life. Four years later it was time to celebrate the validation of that election, epitomized by the re-election of our nation's 44th President. The profound nature of the moment was no less palpable than it was four years ago.

I decided to stay at home and watch the inauguration with my grandmother and great grandmother. The chance to watch this historic event with two women who have lived through some of the darkest moments in American and world history put a tremendous amount of things in perspective. America inaugurating the first black president of the United States on the same day we celebrated the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. was incredibly surreal. I sat in the living room with two women who were alive to remember Martin Luther King's life and death. I sat in the room with two women who were afraid to embrace the candidacy of Barack Obama not because he wasn't qualified to hold office, but out of fear that he wouldn't be elected by white America and/or his life would be in danger. I sat in the room with women who were now so proud of his accomplishments that it was as if they themselves had won the presidency.

As the day and the pomp and pageantry of this country's seamless transition of power began, diversity was at its core. Looking at the podium, the multiracial tableau of a newly established America was on display. From Myrlie Evers nod to the Civil Rights struggle of her late husband Medgar Evers, to the magnificent choir from my home borough of Brooklyn bringing our President to tears, to the first Latina Supreme Court Justice delivering the oath of office to a sitting Vice President, to a Latino preacher giving the invocation in both English and Spanish, to the first openly gay and Latino poet to give the inaugural poem, right down to the people in the stands. Everything about the moment beckoned to a new day in this country where scenes like this will be the norm.

As Barack Obama began to take the oath my grandmother said that President Obama reminds her of me. While some may say that this is simply a grandmother's love for her eldest grandson, the life and story of Barack Obama more represents the life and journey that many of my friends and I experienced. Americans are always shown stereotypical views of black and brown people. Very seldom are images of black people who have attended top tier schools and colleges, who are as educated if not more than many, who dedicate their lives to the betterment of others either in community service or education are shown. But in fact many of my friends have very similar stories. To see our President exude and prove that we matter has always been a source of tremendous pride for many.

"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall, just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone, to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth."- President Obama

The inauguration address was nothing short of magical. I have always viewed the struggle for women's rights, Civil Rights, and gay rights as inextricably connected. Freedom for one group is tantamount to freedom for others. Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall are all seminal moments in the history of marginalized people in the United States. People who are marginalized simply for not being part of the perceived group of power. Marginalized for simply being created in a likeness of our Heavenly Father that at times in history was not accepted by large swaths of society. Seeing those battles be connected to the movement of a man, a King, by the most powerful leader of the free world was extremely validating. It showed that the struggle for equality has transformed, it has grown, it has changed. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated that 'the arch of justice bends toward freedom." After listening to the President's inauguration it can not be ignored that the arch is now bigger and that the justice we should all seek as citizens and members of this body politic called America must continue. I applaud the President for making the moral argument of this century while still articulating the moral obligation to help all citizens via quality social programs and a good education.

As the day went on and the president and his family were together, pride swelled in me even more. The first family is an example to people of all races and socio-economic classes to look up to. They break the mold of how families are shown in society. The love that they have for each other shows that no matter the position, no matter the challenge, family is important. The president himself continues to break the mold for black men. He proves that black men can be emotional, can hug, and even more importantly, can cry. Collectively and individually the Obama family continues to break molds that will undoubtedly change views of and for people of color.

Overall yesterday was a day that could ultimately not only change the future of this country but equally the future of this presidency. Barack Obama laid out a vision both verbally and non verbally that aims to make his presidency more resembling the work of King than the work of Lincoln. While that's a lofty goal, it is my hope that the next four years brings about some of the change that the President articulated. Then and only then can we continue to achieve the more perfect union we perpetually aim for.

An Open Letter to Frank Ocean

2012-07-05T15:53:00.002-04:00

Thank you sir. On behalf of people everywhere who have had to live in shame and secrecy because of who they are and who they love. Thank you on behalf of heterosexual people like myself and countless others who support the rights of those who may not be heterosexual to live as freely as they deserve. Thank you for showing another way to be black and masculine in a society often expecting black and masculine to be defined by the most nefarious of traits known to man. Thank you on behalf of people everywhere who believe in the creed we say with arms over our hearts in our American Pledge of Allegiance "with liberty and justice for all." Simply thank you.

Yesterday, on a day that we celebrated our American Independence, you celebrated your own. You decided that at a time when the public's views on same sex relationships are beginning to shift, that it was your time to stand up. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to make that choice. Being entrenched in the hip hop community, which for its entire existence has been adversarial to LGBTQI people must have made it hard to be your true self. There is still no guarantee that you will be positively accepted in the community. We must all remember that after country music singer Chely Wright came out as a lesbian woman that she had a very hard time making it in the music business. So the financial as well as professional risks are great. But you stood your ground and made the decision nonetheless. It is said that "justice is what love looks like when it speaks in public." For your selfless bravery and ability to speak about your love in public in hopes of achieving justice for a larger community thank you sir.

I no doubt believe that the impact of your announcement will send ripples through the black and brown community as well as the music industry. It has long been rumored that many hip hop artists have been rumored to be gay or bisexual. While some of those rumors may be just that, rumors, many of those artists possibly may have been. Your coming out, but more importantly the response that your announcement will garner, will either allow others to follow in your footsteps, or go deeper into an increasingly dark closet. I pray for the former.

What your announcement will do for black culture is yet to be seen. Many black and brown people who oppose LGBTQI rights are fans of your work. There is no doubt that at this very moment they are conflicted. I for one believe that the conflict is a beautiful one. I have long believed that people who are against equal rights for LGBTQI people would have a very different view of them if they knew personally someone who identified as a member of the community. Often the bonds we create with our artists allows us to feel as if we know them. How can they deny your right to exist now when a few days ago they were bumping your work and identifying with your music. I believe that what will rise out of the ashes of this internal conflict will be a more accepting and tolerant view of you as a man, and by virtue other members of the LGBTQI community. I know that hopes springs eternal, but here's to hope.

Your ability to refine masculinity in this new century is awe inspiring. Noted novelist Norman Mailer said "masculinity is not something given to you but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor." There can be little doubt that by this definition that your masculinity can not be denied. You publicly confronted your truth in one of the most honorable and eloquent ways I can think of. I salute you.

I hope on this day and at this time we publicly and privately consider how we view those around us. The battles that others face often are never known to us. Frank your battle is the battle of millions of people around the world. You sir found a way to make it known who you are and what you are. For that, may the creator who created you and us all in their likeness continue to bless you on this journey through life. Hopefully those living in the shadows today woke up feeling a little better that someone else was able to be honest about who they are. And even more importantly hopefully they will use this moment as a beacon in the dark ocean of bigotry and homophobia as a way to find their way home. Then and only then will the truly American ideal of "liberty and justice for all" be truly more than an ideal.

Nicki Minaj and Rosenberg: The internal battle between "authentic" and "unauthentic" music

2012-06-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

This past weekend New York's Hot 97 radio station held their annual Summer Jam concert in New Jersey (yes there is clearly some irony in throwing a concert for a radio station based in NYC in the neighboring state, but I digress). Entertainer and hip hop star Nicki Minaj, herself a Queens native by way of Trinidad (big ups) was supposed to be the headline act. It was going to be Nicki's first chance at headlining one of the most iconic, (though of late dwindling in national prominence) concerts in her own home town. Hours before Nicki was to take stage with her Young Money label mates, one of the morning radio hosts of Hot 97, Peter Rosenberg, better known as simply Rosenberg, made the commentary that Nicki's music wasn't "real hip hop" (the irony of this white Jewish man questioning the authenticity of a music form created by black and brown youth in the streets of the Bronx in the 1970's isn't lost on this writer, but again I digress). Nicki upon hearing about this public rebuke of her art was told by her label owner and fellow rapper Lil Wayne to not perform at the concert. Needless to say she was too happy to oblige. What struck me most about this whole brouhaha, while petty to some extent, is how the idea of what is real hip hop has hindered the growth of the art form.

Hop Hop was born out of the history of black and brown youth feeling that the music, culture and people around them were not talking to their experience. Out of that need to be heard and expressed came about the most fantastic musical artistic forms to grace this country and world within the past thirty plus years. As the music became older it has been so infused (read taken and used by many) so well that it is the as symbiotic with American culture as apple pie and racism. What has been a large issue is what does that growth look like, especially to those who want to maintain the "authentic" caliber of hip hop." Allow me to quickly dispel the myth that there is an authentic sound to hip hop or blackness. The idea of authenticity within the black and brown community is one of the most ridiculous ideas that continues to permeate culture. Toure, pop culture writer and critic in his book "Who's Afraid of Post Blackness" makes the argument that blackness is more diverse now than it ever has been. No one has ownership over the correct way to do blackness. Black people who like to go to brunch and attend wine and scotch tastings are no more or less black than those who like to stay on the block and listen to music at insane volumes. Blackness has to be a collection of all things possible since black people by nature are all things possible. What concerns me about the authenticity argument among black people is that often times it is some of the most nefarious of activities that are associated with being authentically black. This is deeply concerning for those who want to envision a blackness that entails a broad and realistic view of what people can be.

This authenticity dilemma is especially troubling in music. I liken those who believe hip hop should remain authentic to parents who have children and expect them to always stay the same. People grow and change over time. Music has to as well since it is created by people. I have friends my age who still only listen to Biggie and Tupac and Jay-Z and have called other artists unauthentic. They fail to appreciate the breadth of how much we have changed as a culture over the past twenty years. Music has become more global, with the infusion of European club music, Latin beats, Caribbean rhythms and African bass lines all joining forces in hip hop. This melange is what makes the art form still vibrant and amazing. There can be little doubt that this growth has made the music more appealing to various cultures.

I have spent some time traveling the world and noticed the impact of hip hop. In the tropical climates of Antigua, to the French communities in Paris, to the slums and cities in Kenya, to the streets of Montreal, hip hop has its own flavor and culture that continues to grow. There is no doubt that these countries understand the value of making the music representative of their own cultures. No one can dare say that their music isn't hip hop because it definitely is.

Maybe what we need to do is appreciate music for what it is and drop the title of hip hop and rap altogether. Maybe then artists like Nicki Minaj will not have to be ridiculed for their work being unauthentic. But frankly until black people come to terms with the push and pull of the authenticity debate as it relates to the entire culture, then the argument will permeate to other aspects of culture, at the clear detriment to the community at large.

Trayvon Martin: What his Death Means for Everyone

2012-03-19T12:54:00.005-04:00

I cried last week. One of those cries that you lock your room, get on your knees, pray to the heavens and ask the God you pray to why this happened...again. One of the cries that you hope no one walks in on because you won't be able to adequately put into words why you hurt. I hurt for Trayvon Martin, Ramarley Graham and all of the brothers and sisters who have been killed at the hands of white men and never receive justice.

Call me racially incendiary right now. Frankly I don't care. The fact remains the same. A white man, followed a black boy who had no weapon, after being told by dispatchers to stand down. At the end of the confrontation, young Trayvon was dead, and a white man walked away without barely a slap on the wrist. Again...

Some may say that Zimmerman is Hispanic. It is imperative to remember that one can be a white Hispanic as well as a black one. But frankly the race of the assailant has less to do in this story than the race of the victim. Furthermore what truly is important is the impact of race and the way it impacts people regardless of their skin tone. I would be hard pressed to believe that if it were a white teenager in a hoodie, that the results would have been the same. The impact of race on people of color will always disproportionately affect them. Simply black and brown bodies are not valued in the same way that white bodies are.

A few weeks back, young Ramarley Graham was followed into his own house by police who weren't properly trained in street undercover operations and was shot dead in his own bathroom. The most they found on him was a bag of marijuana. "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Often times that isn't the case. Yet again we have another black boy killed by a white man and nothing happened to the white man in charge.

I am tired of saying again. I am tired of seeing young men who look like me and my brothers, students, friends, family, co workers and the like being killed. I hate it when our own people do it equally as much as when white people do it. But I am incensed when it happens by those that do not look like us and they are able to get away. Parents, families and friends are left wondering why. And very often no answer can be found.

I wake up every morning hoping that my brothers come home at the end of the day. Praying that they don't get killed by someone that looks like them and someone that doesn't. I tell them often how to interact with people in authority, whether its assumed or given. I have the same conversation with former and present students. I let them know that it makes no difference whether you attend Yale, Cornell, or a city university. Your skin tone will be the first thing that authority figures see or take into consideration. Depending on how the situation is handled will make or break whether you live. Its simple as that.

The worst part is that there will be more Trayons. There always are. There will be more men like his shooter Zimmmerman, who are so caught up in racial biases that they will kill innocent black men again. There will be more families crying and burying students because they don't know why their child died. The war on black bodies is an all out assault. We must fight the war in our own communities and unfortunately amongst the communities supposedly in place to protect us. And this is why I cry. I cry because the war is simply too big to fight, too tough to battle and often ends with way too much collateral damage. I just hope in this case, even for a brief moment in time that justice can be served. Unfortunately I will not hold my breath. Because as history has shown, justice never truly is served.

Herman Cain: Why His Candidacy is an Insult to Black America

2011-11-04T01:30:00.006-04:00

Allow me to share a secret that is often said in black and brown communities. Parents often tell their children that in order to be successful and rise up in America, they must aspire to be better than white people. And when I say better I mean better in every way. Better in intellectual ability, better in style of dress, better in mannerisms, simply better. This edict is told across socioeconomic lines, from the barrios of Los Angeles, to the projects in the Bronx, to the shacks in Alabama. It is a clarion call for black and brown people to strive harder and push themselves further than their white counterparts. Then and only then, it is believed will they ever be able to be on equal footing. This being the case, Herman Cain is an insult to every black and brown parent who has told their children to be better.

During President Obama's rise to the presidency there was a feeling amongst many people, regardless of race, that there was something intrinsically good about his candidacy. Here was a man who had superior intellect, amazing rhetorical genius, a pedigree that allowed him to be one with the brothers in the hood, while at the same time comfortable in a room full of the smartest and most successful minds in the world. Here was a man who clearly listened to his mother and family, who I am sure instilled in him the edict of being better than those around him, regardless of race.

When I look and hear Herman Cain speak I ask myself, where has this country come in the past three years. While I admittedly know very little about Cain's academic pedigree, there is nothing in his presentation that says to me that he is worthy of the highest office in the land. Some of his statements would be laughable if not for the fact that he sincerely believes what he is saying. Not to know the President of Uzbekistan is one thing, but to refer to the country as "Ooze becky becky becky stan stan" is not only disrespectful to that country, but also disrespectful to the office of the Presidency. To not know that China has had nuclear weapons since the 1960's and make the statement that they are now beginning to aquire the means to make said weapons shows a wanton disregard for basic world history. It is as if he revels in his stupidity and lack of knowledge and clear unpreparedness to be on the world stage.

Why does he continue to rise in the polls? I sincerely believe that the Republican party, comprised predominantly by white people have some deep issues that they need answered. Some people say that Cain's rise is a "flavor of the month" move by the GOP who aren't enthralled with any candidate on the ballot. Let's not be so superficial. I believe that the rise of Cain speaks to two angles of the Republican party. There is a clear anti-intellectual movement amongst the base, indicative by the rise of Sarah Palin and now Cain. I believe that there is also a huge racial component when it comes to Cain. Republicans have for too long wanted to court a viable black candidate. By courting a viable black candidate they could then begin to sing the song of inclusion, even though the main musician would be but one face in an overwhelmingly white crowd. Cain plays well to both of those visions.

What Repblicans need to begin to realize is that Cain's candidacy inevitably hurts race relations in the United States. To many people, regardless of racial background, his candidacy is a mockery and a display of minstrelsy in the highest order. Among black circles Cain is referred to as "Uncle Ruckus" the character from Boondocks, not only because he has a striking resemblance to him, but because like the character from the cartoon series, Cain's views are at best comical and at worst are antithetical to the success of people who have long been disenfranchised in this country. Watching his rise (one that continues even though he has been accused of sexual harrassment) tells black and brown people that what our parents told us growing up isn't true. If you flip flop on the truth and show no real gravitas or intellectual capacity to debate and voice your thoughts then maybe some good old conservative person will support you. If you show that you can appeal to the senses of a conservative party that has alienated racial minorities for the past thirty years, then they will say that racism is a thing of the past, essentially ignoring how their own policies have continued to institutionalize it.

I had a visceral reaction to watching Cain sing at the National Press Club in Washington DC this week. At first I wasn't sure what it was that made me bristle and literally get nauseus. It then dawned on me. Watching Cain sing harkens back to the days when blacks, men in particular, had to literally perform for their survival. Minstrel shows were prevalent in the early 1900's and were often the only way that black actors could make a living to support themselves. Replace the venue, time and occassion and I ask you what is the difference between a minstrel show and Cain's candidacy. I guess the curse of Cain is inevitably a curse on all of us.

Homicide Rates Jump for Blacks in NYC: What does that mean?

2011-03-09T18:25:00.002-05:00

In today's edition of the New York Daily News it was revealed that for the 2010 year the homicide rate for black people jumped 31% while the homicide rate for whites dropped 27%. There is a lot in this data that is shocking on its head. One of the main things that shocked me is the fact that 25% of NYC's population is Black while 67% of the victims wee black. Even more shocking was that black males between the ages of 15-29 make up 3% of the city's population but a whopping 1/3 of all homicide victims. Having this data is sobering and informative but the larger questions we need to answer are why is this data so and what do we do with it?

It is clear by this data that black people killing black people is an epidemic. The fact that the Centers for Disease Control labeled gun violence and deaths amongst each other as a national epidemic, not unlike cancer and AIDS is sobering. I believe that the economic downturn that occurred over the past few years has acutely affected the black community, especially among black men. Black men, especially those in the 15-29 demographic face considerable economic and educational hardships that white people as a general group do not face in the same ways.

One of the large issues that exist as well is the lack of gun control laws in NYC. It is literally easier to procure a gun in NYC than it is to find a job. High powered weapons, extended magazine clips and weapons that do more damage at a quicker rate are all over the place. I believe that as long as purchasing gnus remains a deregulated industry then the rates of murder, especially amongst black people will continue to be high.

I am willing to believe that the murder rates from 2010 should serve as a sober reminder of just how much of a crisis black on black violence is, especially amongst the younger segment of our population. In certain African countries, generations of younger people are being wiped out by the AIDS epidemic. In America, it is safe to say, that a generation of young black men are being wiped out by gun violence. Where do we go from here? Who knows?

Vybz Kartel and the Deeper Impact of Skin Bleaching

2011-02-09T00:53:00.004-05:00

Now I am sure that all of you who follow dancehall music have been paying attention to the recent controversy surrounding dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and the images of what appear to be lighter skin that have circulated in the media. There is so much that can be said about these images but what I want to focus on is the larger message that is being said by Mr. Kartel's actions.

Now let's be clear. The idea of bleaching one's skin is not new to the black community. Since slaves came to the new world there was a systematic way that blacks were brainwashed to believe that white skin is better. Whether it was the story of Ham that were told to blacks to justify the institution of slavery in a religious context, to the clear favoritism that was shown to lighter skinned slaves, often referred to as house slaves, much of that impact filtered down through generations of black existence in this world. It's of utmost importance to remember that the reason slaves had different skin tones was primarily due to slave masters and slave wives sleeping with and raping slaves.

The creation of skin lighting chemicals came about during the early 1900's. Over the course of the century these chemicals became more and more popular. Towards the latter part of the century bleach creams became very popular in Africa and in the Caribbean. I myself was surprised to see how pervasive these chemicals were on my travels to Kenya in 2000. Not only were they popular but they were marketed on African television much like hair care products and perms are marketed toward women of color in the United States (there is a clear similarity that is not lost on me here).

I believe that the impact of slavery but more importantly western ideals of beauty sifts through peoples psyches and souls like osmosis. It is so strong that often times we don't even see it. There is something deeply concerning when a man or woman who has been blessed with whatever skin God gave him decides that he wants to be lighter and more white. It happens too often. But even sadder is the fact that younger people look up to more famous people who do this and thinks its ok. I can only hope that the discussion that is being had surrounding Vybz creates a larger discussion around beauty and what it truly means.

The Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell: What it Means for Diversity

2010-12-23T17:37:00.002-05:00

I know its been a while since I have written. Sometimes life comes in the way but I am back and in full effect. There has been so much to write about but I feel this is the perfect time to come back on the scene.

Yesterday President Obama signed legislation banning the military policy historically known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I could not be more happy for this development, not only for those in the LGBT community but for this country as a whole. I was a child when President Bill Clinton passed this legislation. As a young kid I didn't know what it really meant at the time. As I got older and began to make my own opinions about things in life, this was one of the most blatantly hyprocritical pieces of legislation that America had on its books. There is something very wrong with a country that is supposed to be founded on the premise of men and women being created equal having a law on its books that didn't allow for members of its armed services to participate fully and equally in the ranks of its military. To ask a man or a woman to potentially die for a country and a principle that didn't fully recognize their humanity is incredibly hard to fathom. What made this policy even worse was that we often ask our servicemen and women to go into battle in countries that already view America as a negative country. How could this be.

In the battle for full and equal human rights in the United States of America, the repealing of DADT will be looked at as just as significant as the passing of major Civil Rights legislation during the 1960's. Often times people try not to equate Civil Rights in the 1960's with modern day movements, but there is no doubt that they are all related. Even listening to our President yesterday, I could not help but feel that we were on the right side of history much in the way that many who were alive during the Civil Rights Laws being passed felt that they were on the right side of history. I believe that we as Americans can all feel that the goal of equality and the creation of a more equal union while still a way off, is closer to reality.

Glenn Beck and his Disingenuous Rally

2010-08-28T18:39:00.003-04:00

Let me be clear from the onset. I do not believe that the Tea Party is intrinsically racist. Nor do I believe that Glenn Beck is intrinsically racist. But I do believe that there are elements of the Tea Party and elements of things Glenn Beck has said in the past that could lead one down the path to assume that both are racist.

With that said I have a problem with Glenn Beck's rally in Washington DC today. I fully support his right to have a rally and march, much in the same way that I would support any organization wanting to do the same. I have supported the Nation of Islam's Million Man March and have even supported the rights of KKK members to hold rallies as well. But what concerns me the most is the clear co-opting and usage of Martin Luther King Jr. as a central image in Glen Beck's rally today. The reason I feel that the use of King is in poor taste is because much of what the rally claims to be simply is a perversion of everything King stood for.

Glenn Beck stated that it was merely coincidental that his march fell on the anniversary of King's famous I Have A Dream Speech. He then took this point further by saying that since it was a coincidence that maybe it was divine powers that aligned the event and the symbolic day together. Are you serious? Glenn Beck claims to be a historian and to his credit is very well versed in dates and history. There is no way that one can believe that he was unaware of the significance of August 28. Furthermore do not forget that August 28 holds significance to the current president as well since August 28,2008 on the 45th anniversary of MLK's speech he officially became the Democratic nominee for President and delivered his acceptance speech to a crowd of close to 100,000 in Denver. I am 100% positive that Beck knew of this. Denying that he was unaware of any of this history seems short-sighted at best and down right lying at most.

My bigger problem with the rally is that it perverts what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. MLK never would have supported the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan as is proven by his increasingly outspoken views on Vietnam before he died. While he probably would have supported the troops and wanted to see them come home, his view on war in general would have been much less enthusiastic than Beck and his supporters want to portray. Furthermore much of what King believed in was creating a diverse America whereby people of all races could live in an equal society. There has been nothing in Glen Beck's past that seeks to unify people of different ethnicities. Remember this is the same man that stated on television that he believes that President Barack Obama, who is himself half-white, has racist views toward white people. King himself must have rolled over in his grave upon hearing not only this blasphemy, but the blasphemy that today's rally claimed to represent.

I spent some time looking at footage from today's rally and the March on Washington in 1963. Above anything what seemed to stand out was how different the crowds looked. Today barely a person of color could be seen amongst the crowd. In 1963 while the vast majority of the crowd was black there was a sizable white population as well. This to me clearly shows that Beck is not fooling anyone when he claims that he as well as the Tea Party are not racist. While the movement itself may not be, the elements that are in it definitely are. If that wasn't the case then people of all colors in sizable numbers would stand out publicly and privately in support of it. Frankly that has not been the case.

I have no issue with Beck holding his rally. But all it seems to show is his disgustingly tacky, potentially racist, and perverted way of looking at not only this country's present and past but ultimately the future of what he wants America to look like. If only Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive to see what was going on....

My personal apology to Shirley Sherrod: A Teachable Moment

2010-07-22T11:51:00.007-04:00

I would like to apologize to Shirley Sherrod. Not on behalf of this country that is so obsessed with race that we don't take the moment to look at the larger context of what a person says. Instead once we hear slightly offensive commentary we take it at face value and not look at the entirety of a person's statement or being. I don't apologize for an Obama administration that is so race sensitive that they were willing to fire a woman who did nothing wrong except for showing the true nature of humanity by learning from her past experiences and letting it shape her future. I don't apologize for the conservative media that has tried since the beginning of this presidency to use race as a prevailing factor in attempting to undermine not only the Obama agenda but Obama himself by using Jeremiah Wright, Henry Louis Gates, the New Black Panther Party, The Tea Party and now Shirley Sherrod to appeal to the inner racial stereotypes that we all tackle and fight each day. I apologize for none of these groups or people. I apologize for myself. As a person who has seen the effects of people jumping the gun and taking words and actions out of context, I should have been more keen on catching this when it occurred on Monday. Unfortunately I was not. I supported Ms. Sherrod's initial resignation much like Ben Jealous of the NAACP and many other groups, both for the advancements of all races, and those against. And for that simple moment of lapsed awareness on my part I am sorry.

I can only hope that at the end of this ordeal we as a country can learn how deeply ingrained race and racism is in our hearts, minds and actions. Even those of us who fight day in and day out to transcend the negative implications of its effect on us often times lose the battle. I believe that what Ms. Sherrod said was one of the most honest depictions of what racism can do to people at certain points in their lives. I for one have had moments where I have done and said things that was not indicative of my true feelings of and for other groups and people, but were said in anger of what I and people like myself have experienced for hundreds of years. Does that make these actions correct? Absolutely not. But have I learned from them and with time been more accepting, caring and careful of how I look at situations? Absolutely. At the end of the day I dare anyone of any race, political agenda, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other demographic to tell me that they have not had similar moments. I will stand before them with complete conviction and call them liars. Because it is human nature, on a subconscious, or conscious level to have these emotions at times. It is what we do with these moments that ultimately judges our individual and collective character.

Ms. Sherrod comes from a family with a painful and historic journey. Her father was murdered by the KKK when she was young. Her husband was a founder of SNCC, one of the most important groups during the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Sherrod herself helped obtain money for black farmers who were oppressed by the same department that she works for. Yet with all of these trying times in her life where she could simply exist in a cloud of hate for people that do not look like her, she was able to transcend that. We can all learn a valuable lesson from her, her speech to the NAACP and her subsequent actions since this issue broke last week.

Let this be a lesson to us all. Let us learn to continue to work on our own issues, with the hopes of being able to transcend the painful past of our history, while not forgetting it, but embracing what it means today. Most importantly let us learn that looking at the complete picture of things serves us all well in the end. Thank you Shirley Sherrod for all you have done and will continue to do in the advancements of all people. And for those who do not see it this way may the goodness in all humanity, find in you the good graces that you can not find in it.

Jesse Jackson and The Merits of the Slave-Owner Sports Analogy

2010-07-12T10:26:00.002-04:00

Jesse Jackson sure has hit a nerve with his most recent press release about the open letter that Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert released criticizing Lebron James. On the surface Jesse Jackson may seem to be a bit far-flung in saying that Gilbert is acting as if Lebron James is a runaway slave and he is a slave master. But digging deeper reveals a level of uneasiness with the way the situation has been handled that has even left me wondering about a lot of things.

I have always believed that modern day sports has clear similarities to slavery. While athletes, more often than not black and brown ones, make exorbitant amounts of money, their livelihoods are often inextricably tied to the whim and fancy of owners, almost all white, who are making considerably more money. If athletes fall out of favor with ownership they are often shipped out without any consideration of how that may impact their lives. I see no difference in this sort of ownership and what occurred during slavery when slave owners would own the rights to their slaves and sell and barter them as they seemed fit. Please realize that the slave owner dynamic is not something that only exists in sports or can only happen with people of color. In almost any profession where you are beholden to an owner of a company this dynamic can occur.

Please lets not forget that the value of the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped by almost $200M since Lebron was drafted by them seven years ago. In more general terms looking at the racial makeup of athletes in any professional sport aside from hockey, the percentage of people of color playing on the field is extremely high, while the number of owners, executives, and coaches are fairly low. While the NBA has done a very good job diversifying its management rankings proportionate to the players, there is still work to be done.

Going back specifically to the comments made by Jackson, there is one segment that is worth exploring. Jackson states that "by saying that he (Lebron) has gotten a free pass and that people have covered for him way too long, Gilbert suggests that LeBron has done something illegal or illicit." This is an interesting aspect to be discussed. For all intents and purposes while Lebron was a Cavalier, no one ever had negative comments to say about him. I find it very interesting that the day he decides that he wants to leave, there now is this maelstrom from the Cavaliers organization that Lebron is somehow a bad guy or is complicit in some behavior that is wrong. While Gilbert may not like his decision, his comments are simply out of touch with the reality of the situation.

Furthermore Jackson makes an outstanding follow-up to those who may defend Gilbert calling James out by stating "if he believes that LeBron quit in games 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals, then, why did he fire the coach? If he believes that LeBron intentionally quit...why did he pursue him and offer him an additional $120 million to stay in Cleveland?" It seems that as bad as Gilbert wanted to paint Lebron as, he was still ready to hitch on to the bandwagon of his prized horse and ride him yet again. Or should I say he was ready to get Toby back to the plantation because he knew Toby could reign in more cotton than the rest of his slaves. I guess Toby saw better pastures on the other plantation in South Beach (I am only being partially sarcastic.)

I compare the Lebron James situation to the Brett Favre situation. While I believe there are clear differences in each, the level of passion, and subsequently the level of hate that the Cavs fan base feels compared to the Packers fan base is very different in this situation. At the end of the day the result was the same. Brett Favre was the face of Packer country for over a decade before he unceremoniously exited the franchise and ultimately played for the archrivals. While he is clearly disliked in Green Bay, I do not feel as though he is hated nearly as much as Lebron is. There needs to be some level of understanding why Lebron's jerseys are being burned in effigy while Favre wasn't. Why is the owner of the Cavs more angry than the owner of the Packers? Essentially both players did the same thing. But by no means is the reaction of each side similar at all.

Whether you agree with Jessy or not the fact that his comments struck such a strong nerve this morning is proof enough to me that there is some validity in his arguments. People do not get upset unless deep down there is a reason for that anger. Lets not just throw away Jackson's commentary. While it may sound ridiculous on its surface digging deeper allows us to have a more robust conversation on how vestiges from our past inherently impact our present and help shape our future.

The Rise in Interracial Marriage: What It Means for America

2010-06-25T16:57:00.003-04:00

There was a recent study that surveyed the number of interracial marriages in the United States. Not surprisingly the numbers of interracial marriages have increased dramatically. According to the data 13% of new marriages are between people of opposite races. This trend seems to be increasing across all racial lines, even amongst racial groups that historically have been more hesitant than others to marry outside of their race. On its own this is great. Looking at the much bigger picture is crucial.

Amazingly it has not been that long since interracial marriage was illegal in the United States. Miscegenation laws as they were called many years ago were in place in parts of the United States until 1967. Before then it was illegal to be in an interracial marriage and often times people were thrown in jail or forced to move to places where it was legal. In just 43 years things have changed quite a bit.

Interracial marriages still have quite a huge level of taboo. Even though many more people are deciding to date and marry outside of their race, there is still some discomfort to many people, especially in certain communities. The burden that interracial couples must face should not be lost by their increase in presence.

At the end of the day the rise in interracial couples directly shows the rise in acceptance of people of different cultures. Every single person that decides to enter an interracial relationship, or decides to accept others for being in one is making a direct statement about what they hope diversity should be like in America. It is only through acts like these are we ever going to be able to begin to break the racial and cultural divide that exists to this day.

I believe that the rise of interracial marriages is one of the most important sociological developments in the past 40 plus years. The benefit of interracial marriage is that it creates broadening of people's viewpoints, accepting of different cultures and also intermingling in different areas. But by no means is it an easy go for anyone involved. But in the long run the benefits definitely outweigh the hardships.

Rand Paul, The Negative Side of Conservative Extremism and What it Means for the Republican Party

2010-05-24T01:45:00.004-04:00

In one of the more shocking moments of recent political theater, Rand Paul, current candidate for Senate from Kentucky has went from the darling of the Tea Party Movement and is now the albatross hanging from the neck of the Republican Party in less than 24 hours.

Rand Paul who is an ardent Libertarian much like his father Ron Paul was supported by the Tea Party Movement during his run for the Republican nomination for Senator. His views are very radical. The Tea Party Movement decided to align themselves with his candidacy for clear reasons. His viewpoints were on the fringe of what is expected, especially when it comes to government and its limitations or lack thereof on citizens and private businesses. He was able to make a huge push and win the nomination due to much of the anti-incumbent fervor that exists in the nation, as well as the push for more extreme candidates and views to come to the forefront. This is especially true for the conservative segment of the electorate. But a funny thing happened on the way to the nomination.

On Wednesday, the day after Paul won the nomination, he appeared on the Rachel Maddow show (coincidentally the same show where he launched his campaign). This time things went very differently. Maddow pressed him on his view on the Civil Rights Act, and although Paul said he is against discrimination, he made a point to wax philosophical about key segments of the law that banned private businesses from segregating their establishments. Paul also did not agree with key segments of the Americans With Disabilities Act that allowed for governmental protection for people with disabilities.

In what can only be described as misery loving company, Paul then said that he did not like the way that the Obama administration was attacking BP. Paul stated that “I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business. I’ve heard nothing from BP about not paying for the spill. And I think it’s part of this sort of blame-game society in the sense that it’s always got to be someone’s fault instead of the fact that sometimes accidents happen.” Comments like this shows just how out of touch Paul is with the larger viewpoints of most Americans. BP is getting blame across the political aisle and to say that criticizing them is "Un-American" may be one of the most ass-backwards comments I have ever heard, especially due to the increasing evidence that shows they are to blame for much of the disaster in the Gulf.

Common sense would say to most people that saying you are against segments of two of the most transformative pieces of legislation ever passed by the American government would be stupid. Common sense would also say that the President is un-American for calling out a big business for its handling of a disaster is equally stupid. I guess common sense increasingly is leaving the table in our discourse. I believe that Paul is such a political novice that this did not occur to him. I also believe that he comes from a segment of the electorate that is so radical in its ways that his views simply aren't in line with much of mainstream society. And frankly this radicalism falls on both sides of the political spectrum and should be called out as such. I believe that anarchists, Libertarians, Evangelical Christians, Fundamental Muslims among others all sleep in the same extremist bed and should be called out as such.

The larger problem with Paul and the GOP is that they are now connected forever. By supporting him as a candidate for Senator of Kentucky, what Republicans are saying not only to voters in that state, but to the larger country is that as a party becoming increasingly extreme is the trend. Very few people in the GOP have come out and said just how out of touch Paul is. To be silent on his views is to condone them. Essentially that is what is occurring. I remember when Michael Steele was chosen to lead the GOP. Steele had grand ideas of how the Republican Party could do a better job of reaching out to various segments of the American populace that have long felt abandoned by the Republican party, primarily younger people and non-whites. Rand Paul is just another example of how verbal rhetoric quickly meets blatant reality. What makes this case all the more interesting is that in the process not only were people of different races left out, but people with disabilities (many who happen to be military men and women) and people who are suffering to rebuild their lives after a man-made disaster. I have always believed that when people show you who they are the first time, you should believe it. Unfortunately with the GOP this is not the first time at all....

Black Unemployment So Bad The UN Investigating: What This Really Means

2010-05-16T18:49:00.004-04:00

In a recent article on www.racismreview.com the United Nations may investigate the incredibly low numbers for black employment in the U.S. The United Nations governing body is making the claim that the U.S. government is not living up to its commitment set up under previous human rights agreements. Among other absolutely sobering statistics listed in the article, the rate of unemployment for black men is at 20.2% in comparison to 9.6% for white men. These rates may be worse because the percentage does not include the numbers of people who simply stopped looking for employment. The rate of pay for black men is also lower than white men. The rate of unemployment is not monolithic. It goes across the spectrum of black life from the young, old, college educated, high school educated, urban or rural.

If the facts in this report are true, there are some serious things that need to be addressed. Systematically and socially blacks have been at the bottom of the employment ladder since Slavery. It is often said that when America catches a cold, black America has the flu. This report and subsequent investigation by the United Nation only proves that point further.

The first systemic issue that needs to be addressed is how we properly educate black people from elementary school to college graduation in hopes of gaining employment during those years and beyond. I believe that as long as education continues to be one of the most segregated and imbalanced facets of American culture, then we can not be surprised when black unemployment mirrors that. How can we expect black people to be adequately prepared for work that in today's market calls for more education, if the level of education blacks attain is not on par with whites.

Secondly the issue of black incarceration, especially amongst males needs to be on the forefront. The amount of black men in prison is completely disproportionate to their percentages in the general population. More often than not the reason for incarceration stems from non-violent drug offenses. When inmates are released, it is often very difficult to find employment based on felony convictions. The laws in the U.S. need to be overhauled so that they can be more fair to people of color. Laws also need to be reformed so that when inmates do come out of jail that they are able to obtain employment. At the end of the day the system becomes very circular. Someone gets locked up, serves their time, gets released, can't find a job and get locked up again. This cycle is ugly and often is the norm.

Blame needs to be spread around not only amongst larger segments of society. Black people can and should take their fair share of the blame for the unemployment issues that are prevalent. Black people often blame others when they do not push ourselves to be better and do better. If they do not strive for excellence and success then they can not expect it to be given to them. Black people need to create economic opportunities for others in their community as well. When black people do this, then they will not need to be dependent on others.

The issue of black unemployment is a long and deep one. The causes of low employment is very cyclical and multifaceted. There is more than enough blame for everyone to take some ownership. But at the end of the day the larger question must be asked and hopefully answered. What can we do, as a larger society to make sure this issue is addressed? It is beautiful that there are instances where black people achieve huge successes. But that needs not be an aberration, but the norm. But on a much simpler scale black people do not need huge examples of success. Simply all they need is an opportunity to make a livable wage and be fully functioning participants in creating their own American Dream. Is that too much to ask for?

Arizona Strikes Again: Now Education is Under Attack

2010-05-10T18:19:00.006-04:00

What is really going on in Arizona? As if creating an immigration law that can be perceived as racist wasn't enough, now the Arizona Legislature has decided that schools that teach courses about various races will lose state funding.

The exact wording of the document states that schools will lose funding if they "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

Now there are some major issues with this policy. Of course I fully agree that if there are teachers and schools that are promoting overthrowing the American government they should lose funding. What American wouldn't agree with a policy like that? But I believe that comparing acts of treason to courses that "advocate ethnic solidarity" is completely ridiculous and frankly racist. Under this law if schools teach the history of anti-government groups they can be grouped with schools that teach the history of the Black Migration, Harlem, Chinatown or Latinos. Where is the correlation?

History and Humanities classes already lack much true discussion of peoples of color as is. It often feels like the histories of non-white people from around the world, and even people of color that were of vital importance to the making of America are often overlooked. I often found myself struggling to find instances in American History classes both in college and before that dealt with non-white people. This caused so much frustration for me and many of my peers that we fought for changes to the core curriculum at my university. My story is not unique at all. Many of my friends went through the same struggles and decided on taking similar actions.

I find that it is completely offensive for Arizona to want to ban classes that teach the histories of diverse people. It seems that in 2010 there should be more classes of this nature and not less. In an increasingly diverse country where very soon white people are going to be outnumbered by non-whites and where people of color have been vital to the history and creation of this country, history classes of a diverse nature need to be enhanced. These classes not only benefit the student of color who doesn't hear about people that look like him often, but can be just as beneficial to white students as well. It can create an understanding of the world and other peoples that they may not have the chance to see or experience. Proper education can create more tolerance and understanding. But I suppose Arizona, the last state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. as a holiday, and the state that is implementing an immigration law that can discriminate against people of color continues the pattern of racially oppressive politics with this educational policy. Unfortunately the ones who suffer the most are the children. That is truly the saddest part.

Blacks Running as GOP Candidates: Is this good or bad?

2010-05-06T21:23:00.002-04:00

While I was sitting down watching Hardball with Chris Matthews, he had a segment on the resurgence of black people running for congressional seats as Republicans. There are currently 32 black people running for Congressional office as Republicans. This number is the most since Reconstruction. I believe that this resurgence has both good and bad aspects to it.

On one hand its a great thing that blacks feel comfortable to run as Republicans. It shows that we have come a long way in our history that while it is a story that this many are running, its not as big a story as it would have been a few years or decades ago. I believe that the election of Barack Obama as President and the selection of Michael Steele to head the Republican National Committee both have played a huge role in blacks wanting to win political office, and believing that they can. While blacks have run for political office in the past and have done well, especially in regions that have a solid black population, the election and selection of both Obama and Steele have opened up the doorways for blacks to run for office in places where they may not have felt they could do well in the past. At the end of the day this is great!

Where I have major issues with blacks running for political office as Republicans is that I do not feel that the Republican Party has been kind to people of color. Black people are not one monolithic voting block. Though it is fair to say that as of late blacks have voted almost exclusively for Democratic candidates. According to CNN's exit polls 96% of black people voted for Barack Obama in the election of 2008. While there are many reasons that this occurred, it is undeniable that the reputation of the Republican party has alienated people of color in ways that has been detrimental to the party. On issues that most concern people of color, from affirmative action, economy, war, race relations and prison reform just to name a few, the Republican party have long stood in opposition to what most people of color support.

This is not a new phenomenon. Historically blacks began migrating to the Democratic party during the 1930's during the Roosevelt era. This coincided with the creation of politically liberal ideas that more black people fell in line with. This alliance became more solidified during the 1960's when the Republican Party became the party of the South. Many believe that it was during this time that the alliance became etched in stone.

The current state of the Republican party does not appeal to the vast majority of blacks. This was no more evident than the comment made by Michael Steele at a recent discussion held at Depaul University. When asked why blacks should vote Republican Steele commented "You really don't have a reason to, to be honest -- we haven't done a very good job of really giving you one...For the last 40-plus years we had a 'Southern Strategy' that alienated many minority voters by focusing on the white male vote in the South." If this is not the most telling statement from one of the leaders of the Republican party, I don't know what is.

I fully support blacks running for office, in any capacity. It is vitally important that people of all ethnic groups get involved in the political process. The Republican party has many redeeming qualities historically that can serve as huge appeals to segments of the black populace. But at the same time it is important to see where the party is today. To me there is no greater proof at where the Republican Party is than by looking at the past two conventions held in 2008. The Democratic National Convention was a mosaic of all that America has racially and otherwise. Conversely looking at the Republican National Convention was nothing like that. Where were the delegates of color? They didn't exist. If the delegates of color don't exist then there is a huge reason for that. Maybe getting some new faces of color into the GOP will be a huge help for changing the face of the party. Unfortunately this may not be the case.

Arizona Immigration Policy: What Have We Come To?

2010-04-22T22:15:00.006-04:00

Imagine this scenario: You are walking down the street and a police officer asks you for your identification and proof of citizenship. You are unable to prove that on the spot. You are then arrested for being illegally in the country and thrown in jail. This may sound like Nazi Gernamy in World War II. Unfortunately if Arizona passes the new anti-immigration policy, this will be the new America that we live in.

The new Arizona Immigration policy is one of the most blatant examples of racial profiling I have ever seen. For those of you who may not know, this past week Arizona lawmakers legalized the strictest anti-immigration ever passed in America. If signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, police officers would have the right to stop people and ask them to show documents proving that they are in America legally. If they are not, then they can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Furthermore it makes it a crime for anyone to willingly harbor an illegal immigrant.

I believe that there needs to be new comprehensive immigration policy that seeks to strengthen America's borders and creates a system whereby illegal aliens currently in the United States can achieve legalized status, this bill is not the way to do it. While there are 460,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona, there has to be a better way to address the situation. Arresting and throwing them in jail, making it a crime to possess them in your house among some of the other measures, is too similar to what occurred in World War II.

Another aspect of the bill that is problematic is the fact that police officers would be the one responsible for enforcing the law. As many people are aware, relationships between police officers and communities of color, especially Latino and black communities have always been strained. Creating a system whereby police can merely stop you if they think you are in the country illegally creates a huge problem. Let us all be honest. Most of the people that police officers will assume are illegal will look much more like Barack Obama and less like John McCain. What this policy essentially does is make it completely legal to racially profile people. What happens when you stop someone who is legal in America, based on the opinion that you assumed they were illegal? How do you prove in a court of law that the Civil Rights of the person stopped were not violated, especially if it is considered legal under state law. This can not go on.

I wonder what would happen if I walked the streets of Arizona. I have a Muslim first name and a French last name. I look African-American, but could easily be mistaken for a dark-skinned Latino. But the fact of the matter is I am a born American. Who is to say that the next person who looks more white than me, but who happens to be illegal will be stopped? If we are honest, the odds of that happening are very slim. And furthermore why should that person be stopped? What crime did that person commit so egregious that they should end up in jail and furthermore kicked out of the country.

America is supposed to be a country that welcomes immigrants and should never seek to forget that crucial part of its history. Lets create a system where we can continue to live up to that ideal. Lets not create a Gestapo state, where it feels as if we are in Nazi Germany. The words on the Statue of Liberty should be read by every member of the Arizona legislature who voted for this policy.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Words to live by!

Bigotry In Washington: What Does it Mean and What Must We Do

2010-03-23T01:57:00.015-04:00

This weekend was a throwback to the days of the 1960s that we often have seen on television and could not have imagined we would ever see again. I suppose we have traveled back in time to the days when being racist, bigoted, and anti-semitic have returned. As a young black male I have read stories of behavior like this. Never in my wildest dreams would I expect this to occur in 2010. And its not because I don't believe that racism and bigoted feelings do not still exist, but because I assumed people had more decency to do it behind closed doors. I guess I was wrong.

What occured Saturday in Washington DC stands as one of the most disgusting forms of public behavior that this generation of Americans have ever seen. Young children, who live in a much more diverse and accepting world than any of their parents could ever dream of did not deserve to see this. Black and white kids who play with each other every day did not deserve to see this. GLBT people who have families and interact with others often and Jewish people who have fought so long and hard for equality did not deserve to see this. It goes to show that our work is never done.

It was shocking to see people calling lawmakers and icons in American history such vitriolic names. This touched a nerve that has not been touched in me in a long time. And frankly it was at that moment that I realized that Health Care Reform became much more than a simple bill and more of a moral imperative, much in the way the Voting Rights and Civil Rights Acts have become many years ago. Seeing the image of John Lewis, Nancy Pelosi and others walking hand in hand reminded me of many Civil Rights Era footage. The only thing missing was a black and white screen and strains of We Shall Overcome in the background. History never fails to repeat itself now does it?

I have no problem people speaking their minds and standing up for what they believe in. But hate speech stands no place in American political or daily discourse. It only alienates people and puts everyone farther away from the common goal of making this country better than it already is.

Those that practice hate speech need to be made examples of. We need to make a stand, speak out and call them out on their actions. Many like to say that people who make these comments are ignorant or naive. It is almost as if we are excusing their actions by making it seem that they know no better. I for one will not stand for that anymore. Hate speech is hate speech. Racists are racists. Bigots are bigots. If you have the audacity to be as insulting as you were on Saturday, then you should be able to own up to what you really are on this day.

From the day that President Obama won the election, hate speech was on the rise. I have said that much of the oppositions arguments have been steeped in racism and bigotry. I believe that Saturday was proof. For the longest while the entire debate that has gone on has not been about socialism. It hasnt been about communism. It has and will always be about conservative (mostly white people) being afraid of change. Afraid of change not because change is bad, but afraid of change because they fear the loss of their power and status in life. Funny thing about this is that often these same people are not rich or even afluent in society, just simply average people who understand and see the face of America changing and are unsure what to make of it. I believe that this ugliness will continue to bear its ugly head but as Obama showed this weekend, we must continue to try and shape our more perfect union. It is our moral imperative to continue to knock them down, call thruth to power and continue striving for the equality that we clearly need. And here is hoping that we do so with even a fraction of grace that John Lewis and others showed this weekend in the face of such hatred.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Why it is Uniquely Unamerican

2010-02-04T22:49:00.004-05:00

Over the past few days, the debate about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has come to the forefront. For those of you who do not know, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the policy that prohibits members of the LGBT community from openly serving in the United States Armed Forces. If members of the LGBT community are found to be serving in the military, they are often kicked out because "it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." In my opinion this policy is one of the most offensive policies that is on the books, jeopardizes the American military and is uniquely unamerican.

Whether or not you support LBBT issues and causes, the issue of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" must be looked at in a more global sense. If the American military is supposed to be going into countries, instilling democracy and democratic ideals, while still having a policy on the books that discriminates segments of its own population, that is a slap in the face to all the men and women who have fought and died fighting for this country. If we are going to be sending men and women to fight for the ideals of "freedom and justice for all" or "that all men are created equal" then we need to live up to that ideal, at the very least in the U.S. military. It is very hard to ask men and women to put on a uniform and risk their lives for the Red, White and Blue, when the same flag for which they are fighting for will not accept fellow Americans because of their sexual orientation. This is completely unacceptable in my view to say the least.

Furthermore there have been cases where LGBT members of the U.S. military who have unique skills have been dismissed because of their sexual orientation. Imagine a member of the U.S. military who speaks Farsi, or may be an expert in Muslim religion and culture being kicked out because of his/her sexual orientation. Well it has happened and as long as this policy continues to be on the books it will continue to happen. Countless lives may be in jeopardy as we speak because we do not have the best and most capable members of the American people on board, simply because some of them may be gay.

The American military is undoubtedly the most powerful, the most revered, the most awe inspiring and the most phenomenal military that exists today, and maybe in history. It is imperative at this point in history, when people want to destroy the ideas of America and what it stands for, that that military is a clear reflection of all that exists in American society. Every hue and color, every religion and affiliation, every education level and yes every sexual orientation should be included as well. If the military isn't reflective of the great mosaic of people that America has to offer then how can we seriously ask people to fight for this country. And furthermore how can we ask people to die for this country. It doesn't make much sense to me.

Grading Obama One Year Later

2010-01-20T12:47:00.005-05:00

One year ago today, many people experienced one of the most euphoric and amazing experiences ever. Being able to witness the inaguration of the first black president of the United States of America was a moving experience to say the least. Fast forward one year and the larger question of what has the Obama presidency done for diversity needs to be addressed.

Having a black president in office has had a profound impact on how people of color view themselves as active members of the American body politic. Being able to see a President that looks very different than previous presidents goes a long way to making people who have felt disenfranchised feel a little less so. It may simply be a matter of aesthetics, but do not doubt how important aesthetics are to many people both nationally and internationally.

Over the course of the year the image of the United States has improved greatly on an international front. President Obama made a duty to reach out to foreign countries, many of whom have been critical, or at the very least lukewarm, to the United States under the Bush administration. Overall his efforts to engage these countries have been well received. His speech to the Muslim world in Egypt was especially a powerful moment not only for his early presidency, but for the country and world as a whole. I also believe that the immediate response to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti will go a long way in showing that America cares for people outside of its borders.

While I support the aesthetic value and much of the foreign policies that the Obama administration has undertaken, I do believe that much more needs to be done on the homefront to truly make his presidency one that benefits diversity. In many instances over the past year many people have felt that President Obama has tried to steer clear of all matters having to do with race and sexual orientation (aside from the Skip Gates controversy, which he has a vested interest since Gates was a personal friend). While it is very much understood why Obama would steer clear of these issues as he has a very full slate to handle, it is incredibly important that he begins to address some of the larger issues that disproportionately affect the diverse communities that came out in droves to vote for him. Don't ask don't tell, immigration reform, race relations, the higher than average unemployment rate for people of color among many other issues all need to be addresses in some manner if not by Obama himself, then by his administration as a whole.

It is my hope that Obama taps into the high amounts of good will that he continues to have with many people in America. While many do not neccessarily support his policies (which is fair), he still can make amazing inroads on changing not only this country but also diversity as a whole. My grade on the Obama administration is a B/B-. While definitely not great, his potential is still high.

Harry Reid: Don't Kill The Messenger, Debate the Message

2010-01-12T08:50:00.008-05:00

Senator Harry Reid has put himself in quite a political bind by stating that the electorate would vote for Obama because he is "light-skinned" and "has no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one."

I will begin by saying that there needs to be a clarification between what is true or false and what is right or wrong. While what Senator Reid may have been wrong morally, he is telling the complete truth. And that is the sad part.

Many people may want to make a big deal out of the use of the word "Negro." And there are valid reasons why people should. Nowadays the word is out of date. But in segments of society, especially among an older generation, the word still is used. In fact so many people self-identified themselves as Negro on the 2000 census that it is now a choice on the 2010 census. I agree that the term does have offensive connotations and am not a fan of its use. But I also agree that harping on that one word dillutes the larger point that Reid made in his statement.

The next argument is what is Negro dialect. While there is no set definition on what that is, there is a clear pattern of speech, cadence to the voice and use of urban slang that is stereotypically more ascribed to people of color. One may argue about the merits of said ascription to people of color as opposed to whites, but the fact still remains that even within communities of color the term "speaking white" and "not speaking white" is used. So let's not get upset that someone would argue about the benefits or not of speaking with a stereotypical racial dialect, when that has been a debate that has raged for decades.

As for the debate about light skinned versus dark skinned people, that too has been very charged for a long time. There are even studies that say that the amygdala, the segment of the brain that controls emotions, especially fear, becomes more active when dark images, including people are viewed. So one would assume that lighter images, including people would be seen as more safe, at the very least from a scientific standpoint. Needless to say light skinned blacks have been viewed as closer to whites because of their skintone. Again I am not arguing whether this is right or wrong, but it is true.

If we are to look at the context of what Harry Reid said, one would be hardpressed to disagree. If Barack Obama spoke more like brothers on the corner not only would whites not vote for him but neither would people of color. Now as long as there is imprircal as well as anecdotal data to suggest that lightskinned blacks are more palatable than darkskinned blacks, to not only whites but to segments of the black community itself, one would assume that his skintone was maybe not a benefit but definitely did not hurt his chances of winning the Presidency.

Now people want to make the argument that Reid's comments are similair what Trent Lott said back in 2002. This is ridiculous. To compare Lott saying that the country would not have the problems that it has if we would have elected a segregationalist president to what Reid says smacks in the face of all that makes sense. I do not even see the comparison frankly.

The debate needs to be had about wbat Reid said. But I do not believe the focus should be on his words, but on the uncomfortable truth about them and what that means for larger society. We have made great strides in race relations, but there still is work that needs to be done and discussions and thought practices that need to be addressed. I am not in the least bit upset at Reid. In fact his honesty and candor should be appreciated. Too often when it comes to issues of race and diversity we say what is appropriate as opposed to what is honest. We say beautiful falsehoods as opposed to ugly truths. And we say what is politically correct as opposed to what are societal blatancies. Maybe we should not just look at the packaging, but open up and actually look at what is inside the box. Because whether or not you choose to agree with the message, truth of the matter is the messenger was right.

Rod Blagojevich is blacker than Obama?

2010-01-11T21:54:00.005-05:00

You ever have one of those moments where you hear something so outrageous and ridiculous that you look around the room thinking that you are in a bad episode of Ashton Kutcher's "Punked". That happened to me this morning when I heard former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's comments in Esquire Magazine.

For those of you who haven't heard the quote, Blagojevich stated "I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where he lived. I saw it all growing up."

Excuse me?! Where do I begin? Firstly this commentary is so ignorant that I really wonder how a man like this even gets elected as governor of a state. I know Chicago politics are wild but come on. What I find extremely troubling with this commentary is not that Blagojevich would even say it, but the fact that he uses shining shoes and living in a small apartment to sum up what being black is.

The black culture is as diverse as any culture in the world. From the varying cultures of the African diaspora, to the hoods of cities around this country, to the affluent black communities of Sag Harbor and suburban Atlanta and Washington DC just to name a few. Even to the halls of HBCU's and non HBCU's, black culture can not and should not be defined in such simple terms. It is not only offensive, but it is so ridiculously ignorant that an apology can not be accepted at this point. One may say that we shouldn't care what a fool of Blagojevich has to say. Truth be told I doubt anyone does. But for us to let his comments go lets another teachable moment pass us by. Let the dialogue begin so that we can have a larger discussion of what blackness is and has been. Narrow minded commentary has no place in our political discourse. But narrow minded people who simply let narrow minded comments go by the wayside are even more troublesome to me.

But if Blagojevich really wants to prove that he is more blacker than President Obama, I can show him a few places where he can prove that. But like his political career he wouldn't last very long. I guess that could make an awesome episode of "Punked". How about we use all Ivy League educated Black actors who surprise him in the end with their degrees. I know I would enjoy that episode.

An Open Letter To Gilbert Arenas

2010-01-07T04:39:00.005-05:00

To Mr. Arenas,
As an avid fan of the NBA, I can not describe the level of anger, frustration and malaise that I currently feel in regards to your gun situation. I am deeply curious what was on your mind when you decided to bring four guns into a basketball arena (which is a clear violation of federal as well as local law), but even more curious as to your actions after bringing those guns into an arena. Do you honestly think that people would believe that you brought these weapons in order to play a joke on your teammate (please help me find the humor in this). Or that people would enjoy the image of you firing finger-pistols at your teammates while they pretended to be shot. Sorry Mr. Arenas, this is not working for any of us.

Many people are killed by guns on a daily basis. Too often they are of the black and brown variety. For you to make light of guns and gun use slaps in the face of the countless men and women whose lives have been taken by the wanton use of guns in this country. But I guess you didn't think about those people when you posed for your twitter pic with your team.

Lest you forget you are a role model for many young men and women who look up to you for your great talent. You have set the worst kind of example to these children. At a time when gun violence and murder affect many people that look like you, one would expect you to be somewhat understanding of the way your behavior looks to those who look up to you. I guess that slipped your mind. Well hopefully now as you sit home missing out on your $147,000 a game, you can begin to feel the true impact of your actions. But I doubt that you will. You may just continue to make light of the situation.

I wonder if you look at the other athletes like you who have gotten in trouble for ridiculous behavior. Did you pay attention to Plaxico Burress? Did you shake your head at the Tiger Woods scandal? I suppose not. Do not forget that as a black man you have been given a power and a blessing that few of us get and many of us want. The ability to do what we enjoy, and become ridiculously rich off of that passion is a dream come true. What you have shown with your wanton, flippant and insulting behavior is that you clearly have a horrible sense of humor and even more that you have a considerable amount of growing up to do.

I hope that this teaches you a lesson about behavior. But the sad thing is that it had to take something so drastic to get that message across. In my opinion if you never play in the NBA again I would not have a problem with that. Too many men would take your spot and do well with the chance. Here's hoping you get your act together, for your sake.
Yours truly,
A former fan

Blacks with College Degrees face hardships

2009-12-01T03:32:00.002-05:00

In an article published in the New York Times published 12/1/09, entitled "In Job Hunt, College Degree Can't Close Racial Gap" there has been new evidence that suggests that Blacks with college degrees have suffered more than Blacks without college degrees. The article cites the statistic that the jobless rate for black male graduates 25 and over is 8.4% compared with 4.4% for white males. The article also cites a study says White, Asian and Hispanic managers tended to hire more Whites and fewer Blacks than black managers.

The impact of this is hardly lost on me. Personally I have been on a rather arduous job search for over a year. I have often wondered whether my race plays a role in me getting hired or even called back for interviews. Many who know me would consider me unashamedly black and clearly opinionated at that. I have walked into interviews after having great phone conversations, felt that things went well to find out that I did not get the job. By no means do I sit down and automatically assume that I did not get the job because of race. But when I see many blacks and other minorities with college degrees from equally amazing universities in situations similar to mine, I tend to wonder does race play some part in the continuing battle for economic equality?

I know the impact of the recession on everyone, but as the old adage goes when the country gets a cold, black people get a flu. And in this recession the flu that Blacks are getting will no doubt erase many of the economic gains that have been accomplished during the past 20 years. The saddest part to the whole thing is that as we continue to tell our young people to go to college and get a degree and want them to believe that they will be fine, the stats show a completely different reality. By no means do I favor Blacks not going to college. In my opinion that is simply stupid, but the way we view a college degree needs to be analyzed even more.

I do believe that with time as the economy rebounds Blacks will start getting hired in positions. But as the scarcity of jobs becomes more obvious and companies have to dig through a pile of qualified candidates, people with names like Akim and Akilah will continue to struggle in comparison to Adam and Ashley. Things will change eventually, but the impact of the damage done may even take longer to recover from.