Tara Lake's take on culture, the arts, politics, media, and (of course), race, gender, identity, education, and class.noreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:28:04 -0500Blogger http://www.blogger.com30125http://taralake.blogspot.com/en-usnoTara Lake's take on culture, the arts, politics, media, and (of course), race, gender, identity, education, and class.noreply@blogger.comhttp://taralake.blogspot.com/2013/03/moving-to-wordpress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Fri, 8 Mar 2013 17:05:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4842798302556179163 Hello Friends - Thanks so much for your support over the years. This blog is moving to Wordpress.  I hope you'll join me at TaraLake.wordpress.com. 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2011/11/complicated-occupy-movement-folks-of.html99 PercentAngela DavisJay ZOccupy DCOccupy MovementOccupy OaklandOccupy Wall StreetRussell SimmonsTalib Kwelinoreply@blogger.com (--------)Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:56:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-8243925303196276973 Source: Euronews.net Dr. King taught us about cashing checks.  Sooner or later, everyone's bill comes due...on Front Street (or Wall Street). In case any of us had forgotten, recent years have served as a strong reminder that hard times bring out the truth in just about anyone. The highest - and lowest representations of the nation's character have been on display in ways that are often0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2011/10/visions-of-heavenly-ted-conference.htmlDerrick BellFred ShuttlesworthSteve JobsWangari Maathainoreply@blogger.com (--------)Thu, 6 Oct 2011 13:06:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4556528452705967189Occasionally, I think the Universe is planning some mega project and calls people back to make it happen. Back in 2003, when we lost Gregory Hines, Nell Carter, Barry White, and other musical and theatre luminaries in such a short span, I was sure it was a Broadway musical or something that God was putting on.  I imagined the earth-sharttering encores. Today, I envision a heavenly TED 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2011/06/saheela-ibraheem-lesson-in.htmlEducationHarvardMorehouseSaheela IbraheemStephen Staffordnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:15:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-5803617674645609956 Photo Credit: MadameNoire.com While I haven't been posting lately, I have been thinking a great deal about education, what the community's role has to be in our (often) unspoken promise to nurture young minds for the future, and what it means to commit to that mission.  In recent weeks, I came across the story of Saheela Ibraheem of  Piscataway, New Jersey.  At 15 years old, 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/12/remembering-elizabeth-edwards.htmlElizabeth EdwardsJohn EdwardsMontiWUNCnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Tue, 7 Dec 2010 20:49:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-1925531368830089491 @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1 Sending out love tonight to the family and loved ones of the late Elizabeth Edwards. I was honored to share the stage with Ms. Edwards at The Monti, a monthly storytelling event here in the North Carolina 1http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-as-big-media-pulls-out-stories.htmlBBCHaitiMediaMichel MartinNPRRacismTell Me Morenoreply@blogger.com (--------)Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:43:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-3149897238340307725There's been a great deal of concern over mainstream media's coverage of the recent earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath. From the blogosphere, to the alternative news circuits, to the average kitchen table, many folks were asking difficult questions about what was and wasn't showing up in television and radio broadcasts and in newspaper spreads."Racism", "sensationalism", and even "staging" 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/mourning-3-giants-in-haitian-womens.htmlActivistsAfrican WomenAnne Marie CoriolanEarthquakeHaitiMagalie MarcelinMyriam MerletWomennoreply@blogger.com (--------)Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:00:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-6485669772694875408Sadly, three of the most critical leaders for women's rights in Haiti have been confirmed lost in the last week's earthquake.Myriam Merlet, founder of Enfofamn, was remembered on Democracy Now's January 19th broadcast, where Eve Ensler called her a "great feminist" and a "radical feminist". Merlet was the founder of Enfofamn, a media-driven organization for women's rights. She's known for her 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/haitis-aftershock-media-looting-and.htmlaftershockEarthquakeHaitiJournalismLootingMediaRacismUNnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:10:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-6214092605009905505When news of this morning's aftershock in Haiti - which measured 6.1 on the Richter scale - broke this morning, hearts around the world sank. It happened at around 6AM, EST, when many folks were encamped for the night in streets , on park lawns, and wherever else they could rest. Many of us know that, "aftershock" or not, 6.1 is deadly magnitude, much more significant than a mere tremor. It's 2http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/kid-prodigy-triple-majors-at-morehouse.htmlEducationMorehouseProdigyStaffordnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:36:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4040582030481063615If you have a moment for a warm story, you may want to check out Stephen Stafford II, a 13-year-old budding scientist and Morehouse student who has apparently been flooring his professors for some time now. Not surprisingly, Stephen is a product of rigorous home-schooling. His main teacher - mom, is interviewed in the piece, as is his father, Stafford, Sr.Nothing like parental units/guardians 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/immortal-technique-afghani-orphans.htmlHip HopImmortal TechniqueNPRPRIThe Worldnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:00:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-6836093698874651356Okay, family. I'm guessing that at least some of you are music fans and that the rest of you may know that I am an obsessive Public Radio listener. You'll indulge me in my sharing, then.Immortal Technique, the Peruvian born free-agent rapper and political activist whose “government name” is Felipe Andres Coronel, was recently featured on Public Radio International’s “The World”as the Global Hit0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/farewell-to-teddy-pendergrass-love-we.htmlDiesTeddy Pendergrassnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:45:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4395777011804361829Soul Legend Teddy Pendergrass has died, according to ABC News. Reportedly, he suffered from complications related to a recent operation on his colon. He was 59.For many of us, “Teddy P.” has lived as an elusive legend on earth for much of our lives. We heard of his storied greatness from the old folks who had laughed, loved, danced, and made babies to his music. We held our breath with our 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-what-we-should-know-now-but-arent_13.htmlAvatarCharles DelondesDavid WalkerDisneyEarthquakeGrenadaHaitiHistoryL'ouvertureMediaRevolutionSlaverynoreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:51:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-6514543991591872701For many, the earth is still shaking.Sites like 99Problems.org have posted the videos and images that continue to tell the harrowing story of the earthquake that hit Haiti late yesterday afternoon.Tragic facts continued to emerge throughout the night, as aftershocks and news of death and destruction rocked Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. Hundreds have been confirmed dead, but there are 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2010/01/thoughts-prayers-are-with-haiti-as-news.htmlBarack ObamaEarthquakeHaitiWyclef Jeannoreply@blogger.com (--------)Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:36:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-7752528857559714085Many of us have been terribly saddened by the news of a massive earthquake in Haiti. The severe quake hit Haiti shortly before 5:00PM, hitting 7.3 on the richter scale and causing a hospital in the Port-au-Prince district to collapse. Santo Domingo, in the neighboring Dominican Republic, has also been affected. Tsunami watches remain in effect. According to the (UK)Telegraph, thousands may be 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/11/anniversaries-certain-hoped-for.htmlAnniversaryBarack ObamaBarack Obama Block PartyElectionnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:19:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-5519165788522835866A little over a year ago today, America cast ballots in one of the most significant elections in the history of our nation.(No, I didn't steal that from a corny late-night television documentary. And anyway, you can't prove I did.)Last year this time, the country was tingling with the heady reality of the election of now President Barack Obama. In that moment, we probably became more America 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/06/in-remembrance-little-michael-jackson.htmlDeathDiesI'll Be ThereJackson 5Jackson 5 CartoonMichael Jacksonnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:09:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-2221644189483737104----------"When I/ Had You/I Treated You Ba-a-a-a-a-adBut Since/ You've Been Away/Don't You Know I Sit AroundWith My Head Hanging DownAnd I WonderWho's Loving You?"----------I buried my Michael Jackson years ago.But today, I can't help mourning again the special little boy who lit up a world of possibilities for a generation learning to believe.He was a little dream boy. The powerful, 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/05/to-believe-in-america.htmlAfghanistanDavid BoiesHurricane KatrinaIraqNorth KoreaOmar EdwardsPakistanPolice BrutalityProposition 8Sakia GunnSonia SotomayorTheodore Olsonnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Sat, 30 May 2009 17:53:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-1013756011886165232____________"My Weekly Say"____________We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-- Declaration of IndependenceMarriage Equality. Affordable Housing and Equal Citizenship for Katrina survivors. Equal Justice under the law – and 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/05/to-believe-in-america-part-2.htmlAfghanistanDavid BoiesHurricane KatrinaIraqNorth KoreaOmar EdwardsPakistanPolice BrutalityProposition 8Sakia GunnSonia SotomayorTheodore Olsonnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Sat, 30 May 2009 17:50:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-36074756126121790_____________"My Weekly Say" _____________Hard week to believe in America, folks. And yet some people still do.Omar Edwards did. The African-American police officer, 25, joined the New York Police Department two years ago. On Thursday night, he was working as a plain-clothes patrolman. He was in pursuit of a suspected car thief, gun drawn, when Andrew Dunton, a white officer, took him for a 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/05/malcolm-x-and-lorraine-hansberry-may.htmlA Raisin In the SunAfrican American WomenBallot or the BulletBirthdayLorraine HansberryMalcolm Xnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Thu, 21 May 2009 14:05:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4069314820036286347-----------------------"My Weekly Say" -----------------------“Time is on the side of the oppressed today; it's against the oppressor. Truth is on the side of the oppressed today; it's against the oppressor. You don't need anything else.”– El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X.“If by some miracle women should not ever utter a single protest against their condition there would still exist among men 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/05/malcolm-x-and-lorraine-hansberry-may_21.htmlA Raisin In the SunAfrican American WomenBallot or the BulletBirthdayBlack NationalismGayLesbianLorraine HansberryMalcolm Xnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Thu, 21 May 2009 13:56:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-7184678872337140750-----------------------"My Weekly Say"-----------------------It was that unshakable commitment to the truth that led both to risk every fathomable comfort, despite seemingly overwhelming consequences and the danger to their livelihood and safety.It's a testament to their integrity, and to an uncanny similarity of spirit.There remain conflicting theories, but many argue that Malcolm X risked his 1http://taralake.blogspot.com/2009/01/barack-obamas-inauguration-americas.htmlBarack ObamaInaugurationObama Inaugural CelebrationWe Are Onenoreply@blogger.com (--------)Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:18:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-872972981850074593I just realized it.I'm witnessing America's Phoenix Moment.As it happens, that Bald Eagle's a peculiar bird, indeed.It's an odd thing to wake up and realize you had your country wrong all along. I'd become quite accustomed to the notion of a cynical, divided nation too far gone to enjoy the innocent, unifying revelry that's characterized the national experience in recent days. I thought I knew0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2008/12/barack-obamas-cabinet-odettas-legacy.htmlBarack ObamaBill RichardsonDennis KucinichElectionHillary ClintonInaugurationOdettaPresident-electnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 3 Dec 2008 13:31:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4818430851669158296Barack Obama is President-Elect of the United States of America.I don't know about you, but I was so excited I threw a digital "Barack Obama Block Party". Yes, I did. Check out the new podcast and let me know what you think.A nation has leapt a hurdle - reaching a new plateau in our history. Young people, baby-boomers of all stripes, people of color, and various communities came together in an 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2008/10/jennifer-hudson-our-hopes-our-prayers.htmlJennifer Hudsonnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:09:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-3189321137091458776A promising star has lost her mother and brother. And somewhere, her nephew's waiting to be rescued and returned to his family.Celebrity provides no barrier to the pain of tragedy.And few of us have ever had to travel the difficult journey Jennifer Hudson now faces. We can only hold this woman and her family in our thoughts. If we are praying people, we can whisper her name to our God.We can 1http://taralake.blogspot.com/2008/10/obama-toot-new-york-times-endorsement.htmlBarack ObamaEndorsementMadelyn DunhamNew York TimesTootnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:40:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-7462192655725972562Sen. Barack Obama rushed to grandmother Madelyn Dunham's side Thursday.The same day, the New York Times issued an endorsement in his favor.This marks the third in a sweep of the country's most influential papers. The Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune officially backed the candidate last week.In the same news cycle, some pundits have suggested Obama risks political peril by choosing 0http://taralake.blogspot.com/2008/10/yes-we-can-mixtape-obama-approved.htmlAfrican AmericanBarack ObamaMixtapeRussell Simmonsnoreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:15:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-5735069848897108653The Green Lantern and Russell Simmons mixtape has hit the web, reports Streetcred.com.I'm sampling the hour-long offering now. The mixtape includes the work of artists like Busta, Kanye, and Nas, and contains mostly new material.I'm jammin' too hard, by the way. Can't sit still. And I'm a little misty.Why?I can't remember the last time I could listen to this much hip hop at once without having1http://taralake.blogspot.com/2008/10/two-words-colin-powell.htmlAfrican AmericanBarack ObamaCindy McCainColin PowellElectionEndorsementJohn McCainPalinSaturday Night Livenoreply@blogger.com (--------)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:52:00 -0400tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5194893366741549963.post-4877710836855816291Could last weekend have gone any better for Sen. Barack Obama?In the cosmic Obama love-fest that was the past 3 days, the senator emerged as the most prosperous, storied, and prestigious candidate in modern American political history (in the eyes of this blogger, at least).For some, the past few days must seem like a storybook political dream. For others, the recent events must seem like 0