When black men fail their children - Part 2, NO CHARGES FILED AGAINST OFFICERS!!!

Happy Friday ONLY because it's Friday and no other reason related to this post.

I previously posted about Charles Rawlings, a pillar of righteousness in the Northeastern DC community, who father 16 children - that he HASN'T been able to take care of! The reason for the post was in response to Mr. Rawlings demand for 100 million dollars in a lawsuit for the killing of his 14 year old son Deonte Rawlings. Wait I misspelled it... It's D - e -apostrophe - Capital O-nte with an accent at the end for creative flair. Now, I'm not going to make light of this tragic situation anymore than I already have. A 14 year old boy was killed by a DC police officer because he had two stupid folks for parents.

I am extremely disappointed that the officers involved were cleared of all charges on yesterday by the US Attorney's office. My chagrin with these types of cases is that the officers are charged, placed on administrative leave with pay, and are typically cleared. They are never chastised, seldom express regret, and are often viewed as heroes by people who enjoy seeing unarmed black and brown men killed. Deadly force is the normal SOP for any incident with black men ... at least it appears that way. How can ANY sane person believe that the police are tasked with protecting and serving when it is so clear that they are dually tasked with meting out deadly "justice"?

Mayor Fenty for his part, has implicitly claimed culpability by paying for the boy's funeral and releasing the names of the officer's involved before having all of the facts in this case. What's even worse is even AFTER the FBI, US Atty's Office, and DC conducted separate investigations the results are the same. Witnesses ID'd the boy with a gun, shot recording technology recorded shots coming from a gun used by the boy, the boy stole a bike, they boy was on his way to becoming a criminal like his older siblings. It's horrible, but true. Did he deserve to die though? DC has no "self-defense" law, but the officers were able to employ one as their defense to the Federal charges. Did a 14 year old deserve to die? His parents were and are jail birds, drug abusers, and some of the most trifling people you'd ever meet. Did DeOnte deserve to die?

NO! Hell NO!!! He did not. I don't care how wretched this little boy was, unless he himself killed someone (and even then I'd have to weigh everything carefully), he did not deserve to die.

The officers have yet to express ANY regret and that bothers me. Black men are NOT safe if law enforcement has the right to use deadly and excessive force not matter what the cause.

To the family of DeOnte, I WON'T reverse my position from before because it was THE TRUTH; YOU BEAR SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW THIS BOY ENDED UP.

However, he did not deserve to die and for your your loss, you have my sympathy.

Silent Blogging Reflection *SMILE*

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I've had to take a break from blogging, because of work related commitments and just my overall bleak outlook about the world in which we live. I honestly never imagined that the world could be so unfair, so illogical, so cruel, and so unforgiving until I started blogging.

No, I ain't polly-anna-ish, but at the same time I know when to stop harping on particular issues. This has been the case with my disenchantment with black institutions, black "leaders", and the bottom-feeding ghetto mentality that seems to have a stranglehold on the poor, working poor, and lower middle classes (I am aware that middle class and wealthy blacks are no exception to having the same mentality, but let's be real here... money can insulate you from a lot of stupid shit - sometimes). Don't get it twisted though; I will call bullshit exactly what it is... bullshit (Nikki Giovanni coined that witty idiom). This is not the time for being polite or "understanding" about black folks being slack in our responsibilities to our families, communities, and even our COUNTRY.

My voice will remain the same - unapologetic, critical, and common-sense solution-oriented. Sometimes I'll be downright scathing, but I'll phrase my opinions in such a way that my sarcasm and sense of humor are reflected.

So, today will be my time for reflection. No posts about trifling black parents and their (through no fault of their own) spawn - of - Satan offspring, no posting about cowardly police officers MURDERING unarmed black men, no posts about VILE child molesting pedophilic sociopaths, and no posts about moronic-New-African-Negroes who can't even point out Africa on a MAP, let alone tell you ANYTHING factual about Africa.

No, today I'll just sit back and watch.

Tommorow, I'll be back on my soapbox; you've been warned. *Maniacal Evil Chortle*

It's OFFICIAL!!! I am gonna run out and get someone pregnant!!! NOT!!! 19 Year-old BREEDERS get into brawl over WHICH GANG 4 YEAR-OLD SHOULD CLAIM!!

I would love to have a child or children for the right reasons though. For me, the right reasons would be to ensure the survival of blck folks with common sense and to extend my lineage. However, even those reasons would be self-serving and as a result I have elected to forego fathering any children. I may adopt or become a foster parent later, but for now I'm going to keep my seed to myself.

Most of you know that for the past few days I have been on a rant about how heinous some black parents can be. In fact the most popular post on my blog (I am gaguing this based on the number of comments) Was about how black men have FAILED their children. I know I have the skills to be a good parent, but I also realize that being a father is a monumental commitment. My life would no longer be my own and anything I did would have to positively affect the life of my child.

Today's post is another episode in the life and times of children who have RETARDS for parents. Where are birth control pills, condoms, and abortion when they are definitely needed? In the mile high city, Westside Story meets COLORS meets Boyz N Da Hood and it all goes terribly wrong from there. Two WINNERS in Denver Colorado had a knock-down, dragged-out, knuckle- thumping, let-me-take-out-my-vaseline, fight over what GANG or SET their 4 year old should claim. Should I say more? Do I really need to? This is why TEENAGERS SHOULD NOT HAVE CHILDREN. I am so completely disgusted with how people approach parenthood with such a cavalier attitude.

So to these 2 winners, I present the 2nd "You Need to be Slapped Unconscious Award" and I can only hope that jail time and a possible termination of parental rights is in the near future.

*SIGH*

Has the US become an Ad-Hoc member of the Axis of Evil?

What do the USA, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China have common? Gave up yet? Still no answer? They kill people!

According to an AOL news report, the findings of a study published by Amnesty International indicate that the United States of America ranks FIFTH (5TH) in the world for the number of people put to death. The countries ahead of the United States are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China.

I know I am not the only person who finds it disturbing that the US has so much in common with nations it frequently criticizes for being sponsors of terrorism, socialist republics, human rights abuser, and simply... EVIL. As the only superpower in the world (keep an eye on China) and the guardian of freedom and democracy, one would think that the US would have a more civilized way of dealing with it's criminal population.

Now, I'll admit that I AM AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY. There are some crimes that I think are deserving of death or the same level of physical abuse the perpetrator inlicts upon the victim. I am very much an eye for an eye type guy within reason.

I find it interesting that the US shares many similarities with nations and governments it reviles. *I'll develop this more later, for now let it marinate*

In Solidarity : Global Day for Darfur AND Why Black Athletes Matter

Recently, a very good friend of mine who is a regular lurker on blogs, asked me about the black blogosphere's involvement in boycotting the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The reason for such action is due to China's involvement in Sudan and its support of the governement responsible for human rights abuses that makes China's treatment of Tibet look like some unfriendly discourtesy.

Add to that China's veracity is raping Sudan of its Oil and other Natural Resources and yet again, we have another nation further marginalizing defenseless innocents all in the name of making a buck. The above video talks about Sudan's Oil Boom and China's willigness to suck it completely dry.

I was glad to see that Danielle Vyas at Modern Musings had spearheaded an effort to call attention to the crisis in Darfur. I was also under the impression that there was ging to be one, singular, consistent message that would be a part of a larger campaign. Next time, I will pay closer attention to something that is so important. Most of the images you'll see in this post will be coming form various internet sources. They are not mine, but belong to whomever created them. Thank you Danielle for putting together such a collection. If I am remiss in giving credit to others for their work, please contact me and I will correct error immediately.

When I had originally decided to blog on Darfur, I was going to launch an all-out campaign to call on athletes participating in the games, black athletes in particular, to boycott the games and stay home. I was even ready to start my own viral email campaign to persuade spectators to turn away from the Olympics and to stop watching the TV networks that will broadcast the games altogether, for the duration of the summer games. I am now reconsidering this course of action out of usefulness.

I had discussed this strategy with my aunt and she asked me, "Why? Why should the athletes, many of whom have been training all their lives for this single moment, be forced to be ambassadors of global politics? Why can't they simply be athletes and engage in competetion without being politicized?" At that time I didn't have an answer for her, but I cited the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics by the US and others to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the abuses the USSR inflicted upon the Afghani people. Whether the athletes wanted to or not, they became ambassabors and they were politicized because their sponsoring country opted out of participating in the games.

When Harry Edwards asked Tommie Smith and John Carlos to boycott the 1968 Olympics, they had a better idea; compete, win, and use the stage as a platform to call attention to the Black Power Movement in the United States. I'm sure it had more to do with the era in which Mr. Smith and Dr. Carlos lived, but I am left to wonder, did they CHOOSE to be political? How effective would the Black Power movement have been if that symbolic 1968 salute had never been done? Because of their own personal commitments to social justice, these two athletes (as well as others like them) helped to change the course of history.

When I was an undergraduate student, I took an elective in Black Studies to satisfy a history/social sciences requirement. My professor eloquently stated, "Black people can't do anything without it being political." I'm paraphrasing, but hopefully the gist of what I'm trying to explain has been made clear. My expectations for Black athletes is that they will accept their onus of being political in direct opposition to the presumed idea that athletes are to be seen, celebrated for their prowess, and not heard. However they choose to act, as long as it's in a manner that is consistent with motivating people to actions that will positively affect the lives of the persecuted in Darfur and the surrounding villages, should be fully supported.

WHY ISN'T THE US MORE INVOLVED IN REPUDIATING CHINA?

One would think that with all the talk in the United States about terrorism and National Security that the US would be doing everything in it's power to curtail China's attempts at becoming a Super Power. However, I think much of the United States' indifference is instrinsically linked to China's ability to extract most of Sudan's Oil... and you know how important Oil is!

From a National Security perspective, China enjoys diplomatic relationships with other communist nations such as Russia, Cuba, and North Korea to name a few. Chinese spies have been doing all they can to obtain US Military and Nuclear Intelligence. How long does the US think it will be before China has the ability undermine the United States' global influence?

RESOLVE TO ACT

We have an awesome task ahead of us, but I think that we are ready to accept the challenge of ending the Human Rights Atrocities in Darfur.

We can start by supporting some of the initiatives being spearheaded by Dream for Darfur.

If you are a Facebook junkie you may also join the Super Group Be A Voice for Darfur.

SheCodes at Black Women Vote has also listed some tangible ways that we can work for positive change in Darfur.

Add ANOTHER Opportunistic BASTARD to the LIST!!! NORMAN PENN, Jr. FATHER OF THE MILLENIUM!!!!

*SIGH* What would you call a man who cared so little about his daughter's well being that he allowed her to be murdered by her mother, refused to legitimize her by giving her his last name, rarely, paid child support, and now that his daughter is dead wants 25 million dollars from the city of Washington, DC?

I'd call him a sick, morbid, bastard who is the SORRIEST excuse for a man (out of the previuos two I profiled on Monday night). Yes, Mr. Penn has decided that the city owes him 25 million for being an extraordinary absentee father.

The basis for his lawsuit (I am seething with anger) in his own words communicated in "legalease" by his attorney, states that is daughters death, "denied (him) the financial benefits, gifts and other contributions." He goes on further to talk about how DC was derelict in its duty to safeguard Brittany since she was an endangered child. Ummm... how about you be a PARENT, Norman? I realize that the heterosexual copulation experience, from intercourse to ejaculation can occur in as little as 30 seconds. Do you think Norman could have put at LEAST that much time into being a father to his daughter?

You all go ahead and make as many excuses for this asshole as you'd like. He's a SORRY BASTARD and his actions (or lack thereof) prove it.

When Black men Fail Their Children: A tale of 2 Chitlin Eatin' Negroes who had way too much time on their idle hands... and genitals

Today I had the extreme displeasure of having to go through the painstaking task of ordering dinner from a take-out place because I was too lazy to cook. Now grant it, this post isn't going to be about my underwhelming dining experience, but rather served as the boiling point for the rage I felt after watching Nancy Grace and then reading the Washington Post.

I'll start with Father of the Year Numero Uno, Mr. Charles Rawlings of Northeast Washington, DC! Now get this, Super Dad is the father of 16, yes, S I X T E E N children. None, of which have benefitted from his vast knowledge and skills as the patriarch of such a distinguished klan of bastards. Turns out that all of his children are fucked-up because he hasn't had the time to actually parent them. Perhaps it was because he was too busy ejaculating in someone's vagina. Now to his credit, Mr. Rawlings did have the good sense to purchase a home to house his younger progeny, but it didn't matter. I believe that it wasn't the environment that screwed his kids up; he had a guiding hand in that. Unfortunately, he will now have to live with the fact that his literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis cost his 14 year old son, DeOnte his life.

DeOnte was shot and killed by an off-duty DC police officer over a mini-bike that was stolen fron said officer's home. The shooting is currently under investigation and the officers are on paid administrative leave. Charlie and Co. filed a 100 million dollar lawsuit and have been milking this sad case to absolve himself and Deonte's mother fron ANY responsibilty for what has happened to their son. Add the usual community activists protests, the empty rhetoric about police declaring open season on black men, throw in a couple of "No Justice, No Peace" and VOILA! You have yet ANOTHER conspiracy theory plot!

Now don't get me WRONG, the boy didn't deserve to die, but was his flawed life and juvenile record worth 100 million dollars? The most outrageous part of the lawsuit is that the family believes that there is a concerted effort by the police to harass the entire Rawlings (insert other names of bastard children here) family. At what point this harassment started remains unclear. Many of the family members were well acquainted with local law enforcement well before DeOnte's tragic death, Mom and Dad included. As a matter of fact, Mommie Dearest just got out of an extended jail stay after charges for felony assault against her boyfriend were dropped. She was then acquitted of other charges after the boyfriend stood by his woman after she stabbed the shit out of him.

Charlie is a winner as well. When he isn't going to jail for Domestic Violence disputes, you can find him resisting arrest and threatening to kill police! Yes, this is a lifestyle full of ambience and splendor. I can see how difficult it would be to understand how these two stellar, stand-up individuals could produce such evil offspring. The ONLY plausible answer for WHY this family is so busted MUST be external factors. There is no way Charlie had any control of all of these randomn sperm emmissions that resulted in at least 16 fertilizations with various women. After the death of his 14 year old, Charlie realizes that he needs HELP. What a pity; if only he had this epiphany after child number one, he might have used a condom at least 15 times and DeOnte along with other members of the Rawlings et. al brood might not have been born.

NBA STAR + 8 STUPID WOMEN + BANRUPTCY PROTECTION = 10 BASTARD CHILDREN WITH NO SUPPORT!

I am left to wonder how man STDs have been passed between these athletes and the women who allow them to bang them raw. Perhaps this little morsel isn't newsworthy enough to be on Nancy Grace, but again it's Nancy Grace! She will whine about anything, but lately she's been covering stories about men victimizing women. Today's story was about former NBA Star Jason Caffey. Here's his story:

Child support, bankruptcy trail former NBA player Caffey
Sunday, October 21, 2007
By BRENDAN KIRBY Staff Reporter

Four years and tens of millions of dollars after his NBA career ended,
Mobile native Jason Caffey is in bankruptcy court seeking protection from
creditors, who include seven women with whom he has had eight children.
Caffey's child-support problems landed him in jail in Tuscaloosa earlier
this year and drew an arrest warrant in Georgia.
"The only reason I filed
bankruptcy was to get these arrest warrants off me," he said in an interview
last week. Under the law, creditors -- including women seeking back child
support -- must halt all collection efforts during the bankruptcy.
"The guy
has made more money than he has sense," said Clarence Roby, a lawyer for Nikki
Brown, a Louisiana woman seeking child support payments on behalf of two
children. "He has not paid anything since May of 2005. ... He's the epitome of a
deadbeat dad."
Jim Altman, a lawyer who represents Caffey in a Georgia
child-support case, said Caffey's $4,250-per-month obligation is far outdated.
"As an NBA basketball star, he was making millions of dollars," Altman said. "It
kind of goes to show how the system fails people like Jason."
Caffey, 34,
was a standout power forward and center at Davidson High School who went on to
the University of Alabama and the Chicago Bulls. He later signed a $35 million
contract with the Golden State Warriors before finishing his career with the
Milwaukee Bucks.
Records at U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Mobile claim more than
$1.9 million in debts against nearly $1.15 million in assets.
The records
show Caffey earns $11,500 a month from two sources: JAC Enterprises, an endeavor
that invests in real estate; and Allstars Developmental Academy, a day care
center on Springhill Avenue. Caffey said three more such day cares are set to
open in Mobile on Tuesday.
He also owns 1608 Sports Bar and Grill on St.
Stephens Road.
More than half of Caffey's reported income -- $7,000 -- goes
to alimony and child support. "Who wouldn't have trouble with that after
retiring five years ago?" Caffey said.
Caffey's assets include a $175,000
home on Fearnway Drive in Mobile, a $14,000 1967 Buick Wildcat, a $34,000 2006
Dodge Charger, two NBA championship rings he won as a member of Michael Jordan's
Bulls and nearly $4,600 in household goods.
His ex-wife, Bebe, sued Caffey
for divorce last year and got their $800,000 home in Roswell, Ga. Several other
women have also sued Caffey for child support.
Lawyers for some of the women
said they do not oppose Caffey's bankruptcy filing, since the law prohibits
debtors from escaping child-support obligations.
"In fact, that would be
better, because he would have more cash available for child support," said Randy
Kessler, who represents Lorunda Brown of Lawrenceville, Ga.
Caffey's
bankruptcy documents list his obligations to Brown at $70,000, although a
document filed by Brown pegs the amount, including interest on the arrears and
attorneys' fees, at $112,736. "Since February 2007, he's paid not a penny,"
Kessler said.
A judge in Fulton County, Ga., held Caffey in contempt last
month for failure to pay child support and ordered him arrested. Altman has
asked the judge to set that arrest order aside until the bankruptcy is resolved.
Altman said in an interview last week that he would try to work out a settlement
in the Brown child-support case. "No one needs $5,000 a month in child support,"
Altman said. Kessler said Brown understands that Caffey's income has declined
since his NBA career ended. "She's always been willing to discuss reducing it,
but he has never discussed it," Kessler said. He added, "We wouldn't be a
stickler for $4,250 a month."
Roby, meanwhile, alluded to the giant contract
that Caffey signed with Golden State when he left the Bulls after the 1997-98
season. "What happened to the $35 million?" Roby asked. Caffey said the $35
million figure is misleading. After taxes, he said, the amount was about $17
million, and he missed out on $12 million of that when his NBA career ended with
three years left on his contract.
He said his ex-wife got half of his money
in the divorce. Caffey said he has invested about $2.5 million on his business
ventures in Mobile, creating jobs for about 65 people.
He said he believes
his children will be better off in the long run if he can build the businesses.
"It's generational wealth now," he said.
Nikki Brown acknowledged that
Caffey voluntarily set up $125,000 trust funds for each of their two children
and allowed her to tap into them when she struggled after Hurricane Katrina.
"One thing I can say financially is when Jason had money, he always paid me,"
she said. "He did take care of us when he was in the league."
Said Nicole
Fuller, an Illinois woman to whom Caffey owes $80,000 in child support: "Jason
isn't a bad person. He's a good father."
© 2008 Press-Register© 2008 al.com
All Rights Reserved.

Good father? System failed him? He's broke? What the hell was he thinking when he put his uncovered penis inside of 8 different women 10 times to fill them up? Just because he was making millions of dollars a year DOESN'T give him the right to screw everything moving. And to the women who decided to "rent their wombs" to him and be human incubators for his seed, has anyone gotten STD/HIV tests lately?

Jason story eclipses Charlie's in one respect, Jason had money to take care of his bastards; Charlie did not and DOES NOT.

So what say you blogosphere? Is there anyone out there brave enough to defend your right to procreate children with multiple partners that you take a half-assed approach to being a father/mother to them?

Any deadbeat dads/moms out there who care to explain WHY you had more children than your financial resources can support?

Any women who have children fathered by a man who has more children with several different other women that he isn't able to care for wish to talk about your lapses in judgement?

Where is Harold Cruse when folks need him? Oh yeah... WE don't because we actually HAVE sense!

Many of you probably are familiar with Harold Cruse's The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual. Admittedly, I am familiar with it and I've read passages from it, but I have never gotten an opportunity to actually READ it. I am doing that now and when complete, I'm going to visit this post again and discuss its implications on black leadership.

For now, I am going to borrow the title and embellish it for the purpose of this post to discuss the current crisis of Black Leadership in instititutions we revere, politics and church.

In the past week several articles have been published on many blogs regarding the email campaign about the Dunbar Village Gang Rape and the lack of support for the victims. Bloggers have been accused of using fallacious arguments and contrived information to smear the reputation of venerated civil rights leaders and the organizations they represent. This could not be further (or farther I forget which one is epigrammatically correct) from the truth. Bloggers, at least the ones I associate myself with, maintain the same ethical standards with regard to posting information that seasoned journalists do. We do not contrive facts, twist people's words, frame messages, or spin doctor the way that many journalists do. We report things as they are so that our readers have the opportunity to be informed about a side of the story that mainstream media may not deem newsworthy.

In fact, when I write about an issue, I attempt to reference credible sources with verifiable information BEFORE posting. If one doesn't like what's being written then one shouldn't be engaging in behavior that's reproachable. This brings me to my reason for writing this post.

Last week Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit was indicted for perjury along with his paid concibine, Christine Beatty. Of course KK has vehemently denied the charges and again has rounded up a groundswell of support from people whome should be chastising him for his ridiculously illegal, immoral, and reprehensible behavior as Mayor of Detroit. A coalition of 60 ministers issued a statement supporting KK despite the fact that he is a liar, adulterer, and possible murderer. 60 MINISTERS! What the hell is going on here? A group of Detroit women also banded together and issued a statement, "Progress outweighs scandal". I mean, really? As economically depressed as the city of Detroit is, how does a 9 million dollar settlement and several hundred thousand dollars in misappropriated funds constitute progress? Just because you host a major sporting event or two doesn't mean that you are a viable leader and that you were integral in brokering such events. Even today, KK has thumbed his nose at taxpayers by wasting money on a security detail that includes a body stunt double. I couldn't make this kind of stuff up if I tried. It's completely true, sad... pathetic...but true.

What's even more discouraging is the fact that this seems to be a common theme in the black community, paricularly in cities where black people are at the helm of the community's leadership. I used to live in ATLANTA proper NOT the suburbs as many black people do and have for the past 15-20 years. Even with the black leadership in control of the city VERY little was done for the neighborhoods in which black people traditionally resided. However, when it election time drew near, these same ineffective and complacent leaders would come out to our neighborhoods, beg for votes, make emormous pledges that they had no intention to keep and we bought the bullshit, hook line, and sinker. The result of our actions? Economic depression in our neghborhoods while the white ones have flourished and continued to grow. Ours have been decimated by our own consternation as well as outside factors such as gentrification, rampant crime, drugs, and other social stresses.

These are only two examples, but this post would be pages longs if I had the time and patience to document all of the instances of failed black leadership.

When confronted by this debacle many black people provide me with the same knee-jerk response over and over again. "So What? White People have been doing this kind of stuff for years? How is this a problem?" My answer is the same; black people are in no position to engage themselves in the kind of morally corrosive behavior that many white people do. We just can't. We have not arrived at a place in this society where our corrupt actions have no effect on anyone but us. Identity and associative politics aside, no, I don't believe that unsuccessful black people who happen to be in public view mar the reputation of our race, but let's be honest; any time a black person is in a highly visible position they become a de facto representative of what being "black" means.

I take a very different approach to this belief because I believe that black people should be excel in anything they do. I believe that black people are, or in the very least, above reproach. We have the moral high-ground from years of systemic illegal and LEGAL oppresion to act in a manner that DOES not beget shame and dishonor upon our immediate family or our ancestors who DIED to allow us the opportunities to succeed.

So yeah, Harold Cruse's book holds a special place in my heart because we are in CRISIS! Not an insurmountable crisis, but a crisis nonetheless.

I'll add all links to VERIFIABLE info (as well as my response to the Chitlin' Eatin' Negroes who pollute my inbox with their bullshit TOMORROW)

THE DUNBAR VILLAGE ATROCITY: Special Cross Post from BlackWomenVote

Subject: The Dunbar Village Atrocity

Synopsis:

In the past week, a rapidly-moving viral email campaign was launched, and thousands of concerned black citizens spread the word about a shocking crime against a Black woman and her 12 year old son, in which crimes against nature were committed. (read more details of the crime here)

This email, entitled “Stop Al Sharpton and the NAACP from endangering Black Women,” described a stunning betrayal in which the NAACP and Al Sharpton held a press conference and demanded bail consideration for three suspects in custody for the crime. (source1) (source2)

Concerned Black citizens all around the country were outraged by the actions of the NAACP and Al Sharpton, and many vowed to withdraw volunteering and financial support from these agencies “until they make the safety of Black women and children a priority.”

On March 24, 2008 an NAACP memo that attempted to defend this betrayal was sent to Beverly Neal, who is the Director of the NAACP’s Florida State Conference. The memo claims that the NAACP was brought into this fray by Rev. Al Sharpton. Moreover, the memo was written by Maude Ford Lee, who is President of the West Palm Beach Branch of the NAACP. (read the memo here)

On March 27,2008, activist Al Sharpton went on the air to clarify his position on the treatment of the Dunbar Village Suspects. He invited writer Tonyaa Weathersbee and blogger Arlene Fenton to his show, to discuss the matter. Rev. Sharpton claimed that he never said that the Dunbar Village suspects were being treated unfairly, and that he did not want bail for the suspects in question.

Ms Weathersbee and Ms Fenton said that their research indicated otherwise, as indicated by video footage, eyewitness accounts, and the reporting from the Florida Sun Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post.

At the end of the radio show, Al Sharpton strongly condemned any activity that would promote bail consideration for the suspects in question. Rev. Sharpton admitted that “if the suspects were white, he would have been there sooner.” He stated that this is a problem with many black civil rights organizations. He apologized and vowed to uphold his prior promise to advocate for the residents of Dunbar Village. He also challenged all activists, bloggers, and writers to be accountable to each other.

To date, the NAACP has not made an official statement denouncing the Dunbar Village Atrocity, nor have they officially expressed regret to the victim. The NAACP also has not officially retracted their statement requesting bail consideration for the alleged rapists/torturers. To our understanding, neither agency has contributed to the Victim’s Assistance Fund or created a reward program geared toward the apprehension of the remaining rapists/torturers.


Conclusion

WE ARE SATISFIED with Al Sharpton’s qualifying statements that he made on his radio show on 3/27/2008. We will watch to see if he fulfills his promise to advocate for the residents of Dunbar Village, and we are willing to assist any effort that promotes safer black neighborhoods in West Palm Beach, FL.


WE ARE NOT CONTENT with the reckless, irresponsible actions of the NAACP (West Palm Beach chapter). We continue to urge all black people, women especially, to refrain from volunteering or giving financially to this organization until they take our safety seriously.


WHAT WE WANT

We want law enforcement to make a concerted, sustained effort to apprehend the remaining suspects. We want to see a genuine reward system in place to encourage members of the community to come forward with the knowledge of the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.

We want the NAACP (West Palm Beach chapter) to reverse their position that the alleged rapists/torturers of this case should be considered for bail.

We want both the NAACP and the National Action Network to cease downgrading the gang rape/torture/atrocity of the Dunbar Village by comparing it to an unrelated gang rape, in which guns, maiming, and forced incest were not involved.

We want to see genuine victim advocacy in the form of financial support for the relocation, medical expenses, and mental therapy for the true victims in this case.


The Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund

Individuals who would like to donate money to the victims can go to any Wachovia Bank and donate to the St. Ann’s Victim’s Assistance Fund. Donations will go directly to the mother and her son.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church will also accept donations. Checks can be made payable to the "Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund - St. Ann’s".

Donations can be mailed to: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 310 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

If you would like to post this Open Letter on your blog, you can copy the HTML here:

(Blogger HTML) A New Underground Railroad is Born
(General HTML) A New Underground Railroad is Born

For more information about this Dunbar Village Campaign, you can visit any of the following blogs:

http://www.dunbarvillage.blogspot.com/
http://adifferentstory.wordpress.com/
http://anonymissblog.blogspot.com/
http://auntjemimasrevenge.blogspot.com/
http://blackfirewhitefire.blogspot.com/
http://blackwomenvote.blogspot.com/
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com/
http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/
http://episcopalienne.blogspot.com/
http://essentialpresence.blogspot.com/
http://focusedpurpose.blogspot.com/
http://h-essays.blogspot.com/
http://lareinacobre.blogspot.com/
http://mynewblog-ravenelvenlady.blogspot.com/
http://politicalseason.blogspot.com/
http://privyconcepts.blogspot.com/
http://thesowingcircle.blogspot.com/
http://tributetoblackwomen.com/news
http://web.mac.com/roslynholcomb/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://whataboutourdaughters.com/
http://whattamisaid.blogspot.com/
http://www.blacksapience.blogspot.com/
http://yanmommasaid.blogspot.com/
http://www.somethingwithin.com/blog

CHITLIN' EATIN' NEGRO EXTRAORDINAIRE KWAME KILPATRICK TO BE CHARGED WITH PERJURY!!

Kym Worthy gave a press conference today to formally announce that she would charge Mayor Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty with perjury and obstruction of justice. I am watching the video now, but I'll elaborate more on this later.

STOP AL SHARPTON AND THE NAACP FROM DESTROYING BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK VICTIMS!!!

Right-thinking black people everywhere are stunned by the recent betrayal of Al Sharpton and the NAACP in a situation that is just too outrageous to ignore.

This is a painful story to tell, but it’s important for the moral, law-abiding majority of black Americans to understand exactly why Al Sharpton and the NAACP must be immediately stopped.

On June 18, 2007, a black woman was gang raped by 10 youths and forced at gunpoint to have sex with her own 12 year old son in a housing complex called Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach, Florida. The young men not only viciously punched, kicked and sliced this sister and her son with glass objects, but they also blinded her boy by pouring nail polish remover into his eyes.

The young men forced this sister and son to lay naked in a bathtub together, and attempted to set them on fire (they could not find matches). The youths boldly took cell phone pictures so that they could enjoy their violent, immoral and sadistic acts at a later time. The violence continued for more than three hours, and although this sister’s neighbors heard her screams, no one called the police or came to her aid.

This sister and her son had to walk a mile to the hospital, because the assailants stole her car, and threatened to kill her and her family if she told the authorities.

Only four of the young men have been apprehended, while the remaining six are on the loose, doing Lord knows what in our communities. There is no manhunt for the remaining suspects.

As devastating as this story is, what the NAACP and Al Sharpton have done about it will simply take your breath away:

Not only did the NAACP ignore hundreds of requests to assist this woman because it was 'outside the scope of their mission', but they joined forces with Al Sharpton, and sent their lawyers to speak out IN SUPPORT OF THE RAPISTS.

You heard me right.

Even though there is conclusive DNA evidence and signed confessions, the NAACP and Al Sharpton are saying that it is 'unfair' to not offer bail to these four alleged rapists. They even had a press release about it.

IT IS TIME FOR SENSIBLE BLACK PEOPLE TO STOP THIS KIND OF NONSENSE ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Al Sharpton and the NAACP are banking on the belief that you and I will be just like this black woman’s neighbors. Join me by saying NOT THIS TIME. We will not turn a deaf ear to when we hear calls for help from one of our sisters and brothers who are being victimized.

Stop the NAACP and Al Sharpton’s National Action Network from committing this disgrace in our community. Just this once, let’s stand up and be counted by saying that we demand safe neighborhoods for our women and children.

Here is what you can do:

1. Spread the word. Forward this email if your conscience and concern have been raised. Send it to every concerned black citizen that you know.

2. Demand an explanation from your local NAACP chapter about this case. Cancel your membership to these organizations, and write a letter explaining that you will return when they prioritize the public safety needs of black women and children.

3. If you do not belong to these organizations, call and write them to tell them of your outrage and displeasure:

NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free: (877) NAACP-98
Local: (410) 580-5777

National Action Network
Rev. Al Sharpton
106 W. 145th Street
Harlem, New York 10039
212-690-3070
877-NAN-HOJ1


4. If you know an African American reporter or a black radio talk show host, forward this story to them and ask them to follow up on it.

Each Friday at 9:00am, visit any of the websites below, which will give you an update on the status of this situation. DO NOT LET THIS GO. Let us start working for safer neighborhoods in black communities.

Read the history of the Dunbar Village problem here:

http://www.dunbarvillage.blogspot.com/

ON FRIDAYS, CHECK THE NETWORK OF A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK ACTIVISTS:


http://blackwomenvote.blogspot.com
http://adifferentstory.wordpress.com
http://anonymissblog.blogspot.com/
http://auntjemimasrevenge.blogspot.com
http://blackfirewhitefire.blogspot.com/
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com/
http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com
http://episcopalienne.blogspot.com
http://essentialpresence.blogspot.com
http://focusedpurpose.blogspot.com/
http://h-essays.blogspot.com/
http://lareinacobre.blogspot.com/
http://mynewblog-ravenelvenlady.blogspot.com/
http://politicalseason.blogspot.com
http://privyconcepts.blogspot.com/
http://thesowingcircle.blogspot.com/
http://web.mac.com/roslynholcomb/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://whataboutourdaughters.com
http://whattamisaid.blogspot.com
http://www.blacksapience.blogspot.com/
http://yanmommasaid.blogspot.com
http://www.somethingwithin.com/blog

NEW!!! Dunbar Village VIDEO - C R I C K E T S

Gina the warrior princess over at What About Our Daughters? posted this video on youtube regarding Fat Bastard's (Al Sharpton) latest exercise in media whoring. I like the video because it's concise, but very powerful.

Feel Good Friday!!! Let's Dance!!!

This is one of my favorite disco/club jams from back in the day. Yes, I know this song was out before I was born, but I used to hang out with a lot of DJs and dancers. This takes me back!! ENJOY!

Keith Olbermann chides Hillary Clinton for Being a Hypocrite (also reminds us that Ferraro was a racist 20 years ago)

Special Cross Post From Living Out Loud with Darian

The Tragic Homosexual

This post is the brain child of an loldarian.com affiliate who wished to remain anonymous. It's a thought provoking piece that I think everyone can relate to on some level. We look forward to hearing your feedback.

The Tragic Homosexual

I have been teetering on the idea of talking about the dynamics of gay, and straight relationships. I for one am a successful, attractive, outgoing black male in a booming metropolis [Atlanta] and I am single. I casually date, and often times reduce myself by logging onto sexually laced websites like Adam4Adam, Men4Now, and Black Gay Chat, but I find it incredibly difficult to analyze the totality of a 3-D individual from a one dimensional profile. So I decided get a dog this year. Hey, I figured it would be better to come home to an object that has the ability of loving another unconditionally then to come home an empty apartment. And while on the surface my story might seem depressing, or empty. Once you begin to analyze the many intricacies of my life I think you would find that my life isn't all that different from many people in today's society. Well, except for my being content with my choices.


Gay or Straight we are in a time of isolation. It seems that we are so geared towards creating plentiful lives for ourselves, by way of our high demanding jobs, whether they be one or more that often times prevent us take the time to invest in each other. Gay or Straight most of us come from shaky families where the "Family Matters" mantra was out the minute the show was cancelled. Thus making the average person a little hesitant to open up as quickly as others would like. Gay or Straight we've grown up with the ideals and principles of never settling for what we just don't want. Gay or Straight everyone is struggling with relationships.


I'm sure my incoherent rants may have you puzzled but I assure you there is a method to my madness, and a point to this commentary.


I have a friend of a friend who recently separated from his wife about a year ago. After many years of trying to live the façade of holy matrimony - my friend of a friend decided to come out to his wife and attempt to live his life – and "with no apologies". After separating from his wife and dabbling into the gay dating scene he managed to get involved with a porn star and build a life together. They dated, moved in, and attempted the "American Dream" all within a few short months. And like all rushed relationships, it abruptly ended with all the drama, and high-octane antic that even the most salacious episode of Jerry Springer couldn't make up. Suddenly my friend of a friend finds himself involved in a domestics dispute. After going through the motions of all the drama my friend of a friend bitterly decides to move on. Well after another year of casual dating my friend of a friend decides that he would rather go back to his wife and just be married then to deal with this [and I'm quoting] "empty lifestyle". And that's where I have my issue.


Since when did the gay lifestyle become some empty? Why is that we as men, or hell, as people don't assume responsibility for our own actions? Why is that when a relationship doesn't work out, which if we're being honest is probably based on some poor decision that you made, we blame the lifestyle?


I mean lets have a real talk moment. Most of us value a 32-inch waist over principles, value and virtue. Most of us are looking for that 10" pole in between their legs rather then a great personality. Yet when we go after those superficial notions, and we end up with an STD or a broken heart we blame the lifestyle, and never ourselves. And additionally, why are so many gay men under the idea that the straights have it any better? I mean many of us love Sex In The City for the shoes, and Samantha's unwavering sexcapades. But at the heart of that miraculous HBO drama is the message that dating is hard no matter who you choose to sleep with.


In conclusion I am just so over the tragic homosexual who allows their bad choices of men, and relationships erode the idea that love is possible. You can embrace single hood for all its glory, or you can simply put more value into your decision to find a mate and truly live happily ever after. But please, just stop blaming the universe for your bad choices.

Does MSM FINALLY Get It? Al Shaprton is a SELF-ABSORBED Opportunist!!

Today's story in the Palm Beach Post was nothing short of spectacular. Perhaps spectacular is an overstatement, but I just get all giddy when the Civil Rights Era rejects make themselves look like the "chitlin' eatin' negroes" (CEN) they are.

It comes as no surprise to me that during Sharpton's media circus, he stormed away from the spotlight when NAACP reps attempted to shine as well. It was just too funny, but also very telling. How is this man committed to the cause of preserving civil rights and crusading for social justice? He isn't; he is committed to himself and his own enterprises. Sure, he may be your garden variety hate-mongering, race-baiting, press-and-curl pompadoured, ghetto, pulpit pimp, but he's so MUCH more! He's a crass opportunist!

Thank you Al for showing us your morbidly obese backside. I am so glad that you had a tantrum on camera and made an ass of yourself even MORE than you usually do. My only regret is that more CEN's weren't there to partake in such a spectacle. Perhaps next time you'll get into a fist fight or a WWE brawl, but I can only hope.

You demonstrated your gross ineptitude at advancing your self-serving agenda. You also made it clear that a woman being raped and tortured by ten little fuck-ups is an afterthought and that the true victims were the sociopaths who violently attacked her and viciously raped and tortured her. You attempted to draw a parallel between the little black fuck-ups and the little white fuck-ups, and framed your argument in such a way that provided an excuse for the rape. You justified what they had done based on their upbringing and external social and societal factors.

Most of all, you have provided me with a seething anger that has motivated me to work feverishly until your organization is destroyed.

For that, I thank you!

Sidebar: Big Ups to Symphony for your quote at the end of the story!

AL SHARPTON and the NAACP WANT FREEDOM FOR RAPISTS (That way, they can rape again and kill you too!!)

So it seems that my anger fest has been capped with a cherry on top! The NAACP and Al Sharpton of the National Action Network stood with the families of the Dunbar Village RAPE SUSPECTS to host a press conference in protesting the treatment of the Rape Suspects. Sharpton compared the Dunbar Village teens to a set of white teens who raped some teenage girls in Boca Raton.

Sharpton and the NAACP support criminals. This of course is nothing new, but please remember these are the same organizations that were silent about the VICTIM of the Dunbar Village Rape. Where is the equity? Who's truly guilty of preferential treatment? Symphony of Essential Presence does a wonderful job discussing this bastard's latest bullshit rant.

What F@ckery is this? AL SHARPTON TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DUNBAR VILLAGE RAPE SUSPECTS!!!

I am a reasonable and sensible man. I consider myself pretty patient and sometimes very forgiving. However, when I reach my limit things don't stay so pretty. You see I use to have a pretty short fuse that used to get me into TONS of trouble. I learned to control that fuse for the most part because explosive anger takes away from one's credibility and demonstrates to outsiders that I can't control myself.



Today is one of those days where my anger will be evident in this blog post. I hope Al Shaprton has a heart attack and a stroke all at the same time. He is a useless, piece-of-shit, civil rights era reject, and isn't worth the flesh his sorry ass is printed on! Today, yes TODAY that fat bastard will be in West Palm Beach, Florida to advocate for the RAPISTS involved in the Dunbar Village Rape Case. To be fair, he'll also be in West Palm Beach filing a lawsuit to prevent the State of Florida from holding their Democratic Primary.

What disgusts me most about Al Sharpton and his "chitlin eating ilk" is their hypocrisy. After my counter protest of Sharpton and his Hate Crimes March in Washington, DC, I had been contacted by a resident of Dunbar Village, Ms. Citoya Greenwood. Ms. Greenwood thanked me for bringing more attention to DV and also wanted some assistance in planning a community town hall meeting to address the needs of the residents of Dunbar Village.

For those who are still unaware, DV is a hell hole on earth. It is the place where 12 black male teenagers forcibly entered the apartment of a 35 year old Single mother and her 12 year old son. It is the place where these junior sociopaths raped, tortured, and sodomized this woman for three hours. It is the place where her son was beaten, tortured, and mutilated and forced to have sex with his mother at gun point by these 12 little bastards. For months, not a single black "leader" or social justice group did anything to assist the victim and her son. It was not until bloggers like Symphony at Essential Presence, Gina at Whataboutourdaughters?, and Professor Tracey at Aunt Jemimas Revenge started blogging about this tragedy that MSM began talking about it. The rape occured on June 18, 2007. Where were you when it happened? Did you hear about it?

Fast forward to November 2007. I learn that the Pompadoured, Do-Nothing, Hypocrite himself, Al Sharpton would be in DC chiding the government for it less than stellar record on prosecuting hate crimes. This would set the stage for a confrontation that would ask him and his supporters, "Why the hell are you STILL silent?" There would be 5 of us and countless stories in several national newspapers. You would have thought that the publicity surrounding the ineptness of our black leaders would have shamed them into doing something to actually HELP the residents of Dunbar, but no. They greeted our protests with the usual response, "I didn't know" or " Well no one asked me" as if these opportunists EVER need an invitation to be media whores. Did the Jena 6 or Genarlow have to ASK anyone to get involved? Still, Al in fact was a liar. He had been invited to Dunbar on several occasions and for every invite he spurned or simply ignored the request.

It was not until Ms. Greenwood had contacted him directly, while he was in West Palm Beach for a completely separate event, that he and his NAN reps decided to tour the housing project. He had promised to be a part of the community Town Hall meeting (its dates were changed multiple times to accommodate HIS schedule) and he had even promised to spend the night in Dunbar Village just to get a feel for what the residents had been dealing with for years. He failed to show for the meeting and canceled 1 hour BEFORE he was supposed to show up citing inclement weather and travel conditions. No flights from NY to FL had been canceled. He simply failed to show. Ms Greenwood spent two months organizing and planning this meeting. She contacted elected officials, community groups, legal aid groups, and HUD officials. She single handedly brought them all together and Rev. Al PROMISED to be there. After all, the meeting was to convene on a Tuesday evening because that was the only time HE would be free.

He failed to show and Ms. Greenwood was forced to make this announcement to her community. She is now being harassed by other residents, Laurel Robinson, HUD Director for West Palm Beach, and has become a target because she chose to be a voice for the marginalized.

Reverend Al COULD NOT show up for Citoya, the rape victim, or the residents of Dunbar Village, but he can show up to ADVOCATE for RAPISTS! What kind of FUCKERY is that?!?!?!

The message is clear people. Negroes like Al want us to believe that Black people LOVE criminals. If we didn't, why are NATIONAL organizations so quick to run to the defense of violent black offenders and rapists? Why are black female victims ignored in MSM, while black male perps get TONS of media coverage followed by a rationalization spin doctoring that excuses their crimes?

I posted a piece that Professor Tracey wrote last Saturday about the Soul on Ice Effect and how it relates to the dehumanization of black women and children. READ IT!

I am drawing another line in the sand TODAY.

The Soul on Ice Effect - Why the Lives of Black Women and Children don't Matter by Professor Tracey

Former Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver published the world famous manifesto Soul On Ice in 1968, many consider this work a classic political text. I do not. While I acknowledge the power in Cleaver's words, the text is also infamous for Cleaver's admission of being a rapist. Cleaver attempts to justify his rapes of white women as a strike back at the white man and a way to recover his black manhood, as he states about his rapes ["an insurrectionary act. It delighted me that I was defying and trampling upon the white man's law ... defiling his women."]

As frightening and problematic as that explanation is, Cleaver admits to "practicing on black girls in the ghetto" first. Cleaver never served a day in prison for his assaults on black women, in fact he would become a celebrated black leader during the Black Power movement, a voice of the people, black people. I have always been troubled by this glaring double standard image of Cleaver and the Black Power movement. Forty years later, black women as rape victims, murder victims are considered even less valuable than they were in 1968. We are expendable. And it is not just because white people have devalued the lives of black women, we have, the black community. We make excuses for black men who hurt and kill, for black men who hurt and kill their own people.

On my blog, I have covered the gang-rape at Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach, the slaying of an entire deputy sheriff's family by her own son in Atlanta, the murder of Nailah Franklin in Chicago, the senseless murders of black women and children on Hovey Street in Indianapolis and on Lester Street in Memphis. All these cases have received more detailed attention on black-owned blogs than on the mainstream media. Our so-called black leadership, the Al Sharptons, the Jesse Jacksons, the Tavis Smileys, the Cornell Wests, including black presidential candidate Barack Obama have been woefully silent and hopelessly inadequate at making any of these cases have any sense of importance in terms of getting a resolution or some sense of justice. The overall black community has been outraged and saddened at these cases, but not enough to last more than a few days, no lasting impression. Once the bodies get buried, our collective interest wanes. We just seem to wait for the next case.

All these cases represent one black woman gang-raped, her black son beaten and terrorized, six black women and six black children murdered. I do not discount the value of the 2 black men that were murdered as well, but a running total of 12 to 2 in less than a year is shocking. When one considers that the suspects in all these cases are black men, one must feel a deep sense of unsettling despair about these cases. Where is the collective black outrage? Black folks mobilized and marched with passion for the quite frankly, extremely unworthy Jena 6 group, but have been virtually dead silent about the black women and children that have been battered, raped, and murdered, then discarded like paper cups when the picnic is finished.

Recently, the two high profile murders of a Auburn University student, Lauren Burk and a UNC Chapel Hill student, Eve Carson received the lion's share of media attention as is the habit when young and privileged white women are murdered, I was reminded again of the scant attention that black women regardless of age, social or economic background that are missing or murdered ever receive. When confronted with the fact that the alleged murderers of these women are black men, I was reminded of Eldridge Cleaver. I wondered if these same black men that murdered white women so callously and senselessly, what were they doing in the black communities where they came from? How many of their own people had they victimized before they moved on to harming people that would attract the attention to mobilize the police to stop them? How much "practice" had they had in our community before they moved on to white communities?

White people will make no excuses in these cases. They will accept nothing less than the highest level of prosecution under the law. Not just because the murderer was black, they demand the same when the murderer is white, they will demand justice because one of their own has been senselessly murdered, for no good reason at all. Where are the Megan's Law and the Polly Klass' laws for black children? Jerry Lee Lewis career was destroyed when he married his 13 year old cousin, but black folks celebrate R. Kelly for his sexual relationships with underage girls. Why does this man still have a career? Do you actually think white people would have waited this long for such a clear case of pornography, underage sex and statutory rape to be prosecuted if R. Kelly was white or his victim was?

Black people should be outraged that black murderers are allowed to "practice" in our neighborhoods first, before they move on. Black people should be outraged that convicted murderer Jessie Dotson was released from prison, only to commit multiple murders of his own family members just two months after his release.

Yet, we won't be, we will make excuses. We will talk about what these black men didn't have and how they didn't get what they needed. We will blame white people, we will blame the prison system, the educational system, we will blame television, music, and movies, we will even blame the victims themselves, but we will most certainly refuse to hold the murderers 100% accountable. We will refuse to call for justice and demand that these predators be locked up and the key to their freedom forever destroyed. And that makes absolutely no sense at all.

It doesn't matter if black men feel trapped by their personal circumstances and the only people available to hurt and destroy are black women and children, you don't have the right to murder people. It doesn't matter how dire your life, no matter how much you are struggling, you have no right to murder people. It doesn't matter if you suffered racism or any kind of discrimination, you have no right to murder people. No matter how hungry you get, no matter how desperate you get, you have no right to take someone's life. That is what is supposed to separate us, human beings from wild animals.

We really need to stop wondering why black women and children that go missing or turn up murdered get scant attention in the white-owned mainstream media, we, us, black people have made it a standard practice in our own communities. The black community repeatedly fails to openly and honestly discuss and confront domestic violence, rape, incest, or sexual abuse in our own communities, but we expect white people to care about black victims of these types of crimes when we do not.

The black community continuously asks and expects black women to hold black families together in the most trying and difficult circumstances without the assistance of the majority of black men and then have the nerve to ask black women to be the most forgiving and understanding victims in the universe when the perpetrators are black men. We are always expected to blindly support black men no matter what they do to us, no matter how they fail us, and never ask any questions, but do black women receive the same kind of unconditional support and protection? I think not, the Soul On Ice Effect has become standard practice in the black community.

Posted by Professor Tracey at 3:40 PM 5 comments Links to this post

Updates!!!

I see the week-in-review format has been working rather well on other blogs because it allows authors to string together completely unrelated stories in one post. Having been at a loss for words lately (totally ironic since I've been commenting on so many other blogs), I present to my readers, BLKSeaGoat's Weekly Round-Up!!! I'll try to post the good, bad, ugly, and WTF?, but not in necessarily in that order. I haven't come up with a clever name for my weekly recap and I am open to suggestions.

The Good Blogs

I have really been inspired by a number of bloggers who keep me wearing my thinking cap because of how awesome their writing skills are. If you good folks in the blogosphere haven't been to their sites already, you MUST visit Aunt Jemima's Revenge by Professor Tracey, Black Women Vote by SheCodes, and for inspiration and spiritual enlightenment, Character Corner, by AttorneyMom. I have been learning so much about so many things and I can credit reading these blogs for that. My writing skills are above average at best, but for some great thinking coupled with an exceptional use of language and mastery of grammar and mechanics, check them out PRONTO! Of course I am and will always be a fan of Whataboutourdaughters? and I thank Gina along with her readership for always being on alert and posting "news that I can use". I've also started reading some other authors, Torrance Stephens, Jasmyne Cannick, and Average Bro and I'll be getting around to all of you I see on a regular basis in the comments sections of the various blogs I enjoy.

New GIG!!

This week has been an interesting one for me. As I shared with SheCodes earlier this month, I will be transitioning into a new position with a new agency as I have been ready to move on for some time. What was so great about this new job is that my hiring manager CALLED me and basically made me an offer before the position was even available. I felt flattered and a little cocky (I have to be honest) because I was the FIRST person who came to her mind as this opening came in her department. She strongly encouraged me to submit my resume and vitae, provided me with some plausible arguments as to why I was her first choice, and recommended me with high expectations to her Executive Director. It was all so surreal that I still can't believe that things unfolded they that they did. I am glad though; I GOTS DA SKILLZ 2 PAY DA BILLZ... Okay, I know that wasn't even funny, but I am so excited!

My only regret is that I will miss the direct service aspect of my current position. However with my new job I'll be able to affect change on an even broader level; to me, my societal impact will be much more tangible than it was before.

Election updates

I am a Barack Obama supporter NOT a stan. I have rational reasons for supporting my candidate of choice as well as reasons for NOT supporting his opponent. While Sen. Clinton bested my candidate in Ohio, Texas, and R.I., he still leads in the delegate count. I have signed up to go volunteer in PA, the last great prize for the Democratic nominee unless FL and MI re-vote. I am still confident that Senator Obama can clinch this nomination and become president, but he really needs to start getting into Hillary's treasure trough of opposition research. Roland Martin stated it as plainly as possible: "make Hillary DEFINE her 35 years of experience." Future Mr. President, you have to do this if you expect HOPE for CHANGE to carry you to the Oval Office.

Hot Messes

As usual, Whataboutourdaughters? scoops a story that I would have otherwise ignored unless it was posted on their website. It seems that American Pop Culture's obsession with celebrity is so powerful that grown women will bear their naked asses on camera for the world to see, ONLY to get a date with an ugly ass mud duck inferior rapper. The contest, sponsored by Plies was called the "Bust it Baby" contest, after one of his songs about a woman he admires for her sexual prowess and penchant for casual sex. The video is NSFW and is incredibly disgusting. If watching women debase themselves in every way causes you to vomit uncontrollably, you may not want to view this video. I was so repulsed by it I created a PowerPoint response and posted it on YouTube.

Blackface Minstrel or Flattering Admirer?

Jasmyne Cannick has a bone to pick with infamous drag performer, Shirley Q. Liquor. For those of you who are unaware, SQL is a character of Charles Knipp, an obese, gay white man who performs his character in blackface. Shirley Q. Liquor is a malt-liquor chugging, promiscuous, multiple-baby-daddy-having, under-educated, poor, welfare check receiving, black woman with 19 children. Her spawn are named after food products, liquor beverages, and venereal diseases. SQL hails from the South and is the self-proclaimed "Queen of Dixie". Jasmyne has launched a campaign against SQL and Knipp in an effort to get Knipp's appearances canceled at various gay pride events and conventions. You can read more about the protest and campaign here.

Now, I have no problem with Jasmyne's position about SQL, but she actually JUSTIFIES why it's okay for black male drag performers to mar the image of black women, but scowls at the same performances being done by a white man. One cannot have it both ways. You can be upset at the media portrayal of black women regardless of the race of the person engaged in the stereotypical depictions. I signed to petition as a show of support, but I remain a bit ambivalent about Jasmyne's motivation for going ape shit on SQL. I wonder what the National Black Justice Coalition has to say about SQL? I wonder why White Gay America (there are many gay Americas) is so missive about SQL's brand of humor, but gets outraged when straight comedians use terms that are offensive to homosexuals?

R.I.P - 17 year old Simmie Williams was ambushed and gunned down for what many believe was his transgender identity. Feministe published a really great post on this tragic event .

Posting on the Regular (I promise)

I am going to start taking my blog more seriously. I know, I know, I've said that before, but I'll be freeing up my work schedule soon for some much needed blog time. I have TONS of things to write about and I'll be getting of my lazy behind to actually do more.