Federal Government Forgets I am a man

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2013/04/federal-government-forgets-i-am-man.html

By Torrance Stephens

This week reminds me of why Martin Luther King, Jr. was in my home town when he met his untimely murder. It was because of the garbage strike, I suspect many folk don’t know about it to even care, or even understand its corollary with today’s US economic crisis.

Ask any Black person, and they will say the economy is growing. They will also say that it is all because of the policies of President Barack Obama. Ask the same folk how the dollar is doing in the world and the present US economic picture for employment prospects, and they will say he is doing his best and that it will take time, or that he is not just the President for Black Americans. But you never hear such pronouncements with respect to Jewish people, Gay or Lesbians or even Hollywood. They get mentioned and African Americans are conveniently left out of the conversation.

It Needs To Be CED: Why Can’t We Celebrate Black History Year?

I guess I am impressed when I see people I know posting important facts (online) in Black History daily or several times during the month of February, named Black History Month. It’s the ‘cool’ thing to do, I suppose. But, I liken Black History Month right along with other ‘holidays’ like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Why do I need a certain time to acknowledge my mother, father, girlfriend or my history?

During the year, if I am in a relationship, I take my girl out, I buy her flowers, gifts, things I think she would need and/or like, acknowledging my love for her throughout the year. Same thing with my mother. I’m taking her out here and there, buying her whatever she needs or wants, checking up on her, doing the things I feel a good son should do for his mother. My father has passed on, but that doesn’t mean I only think about him or recognize him on Father’s Day. He is still on my mind throughout the year.

Now, as impressed as I am with ‘us’ being recognized ‘once’ a year, every year, I’m wondering why ‘we’ feel like we should celebrate when we are told to celebrate ‘our’ history?

Update: Oxygen Officially Cancels Shawty Lo’s Show; “Amen” to Power of the People

http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/as-oxygen-reportedly-cancels-shawty-los-show-amen-to-power-of-the-people/

By NICK CHILES

UPDATE: Oxygen officially announced it has cancelled Shawty Lo’s “All My Babies’ Mamas,” a reality show that was to chronicle the relationship between the rapper and the 10 mothers of his 11 children. Oxygen’s official statement is at the end of this post.

Let’s all say a big “Amen” to the power of the people.

With word that Oxygen has come to its senses and decided to cancel the almost-aired Shawty Lo debacle “All My Babies’ Mamas,” as reported by Allison Samuels on the Daily Beast, let us acknowledge that the final word, the ultimate authority, in our consumer-driven culture is, blessedly, the consumer.

It is fitting that in the week we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and give thanks for the changes that he wrought in this nation with his singular vision and courage, we should see evidence once again that when we marshal our voices and demand change, the powers-that-be have no choice but to fall back.

Spike Lee Is No Quentin Tarantino

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/01/spike_lee_is_no_quentin_tarant.php

Uncle Luke, the man whose booty-shaking madness made the U.S. Supreme Court stand up for free speech gets as nasty as he wants to be for Miami New Times. This week, Luke reviews the controversy surrounding Django Unchained. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD)

Screw Spike Lee. Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained is a brilliant flick that more accurately depicts the African American experience than any of the 15 movies about black culture Lee’s directed in his lifetime. It’s why the movie took home a Golden Globe award for best screenplay over the weekend and why it was recently nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Profit With Purpose: A Talk With Teneshia Jackson-Warner

By BIG CED

Not many people can brag about working side by side with one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs. Marketer Teneshia Jackson-Warner can proudly boast of her success rubbing shoulders with, arguably, the most successful Hip Hop Mogul, Russell Simmons.

Founder and CEO of Egami Consulting Group, her company is an award-winning, woman-owned, NMSDC and WBENC certified minority marketing firm specializing in linking brands to urban and multicultural consumers via inspirational platforms. She is is a multifaceted, talented entrepreneur who is the author of the book, “Profit With Purpose: A Marketer’s Guide to Deliver Purpose-Driven Campaigns to Multicultural Audiences.”

It is the first book to be published on multicultural “Purpose-Driven Marketing” and Teneshia takes time out of building multicultural marketing strategies to talk to The Industry Cosign.

What led you down this path to your current position and the company you started?

Blacks and Small Business Credit

 

BLACKS STILL STRUGGLE TO QUALIFY FOR PERSONAL AND BUSINESS CREDIT; NEW WEB SITE WANTS TO HELP

– Web site educates small and minority business owners on how to obtain small business credit –

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — A recent Washington Post article emphasized how poor credit makes it much tougher to secure loans and gain access to credit, especially for African-Americans. The article entitled, “For Black Americans, Financial Damage From Subprime Implosion is Likely to Last” (see link below), sheds light on what has been an ongoing problem for many decades: Minorities, particularly African Americans, continue to make up a huge population of people and business owners who are unqualified for credit.

“Hoodwinked” Film to Premiere in Washington, DC

“HOODWINKED” DOCUMENTARY FILM, ABOUT NEGATIVE DEPICTIONS OF BLACK IDENTITY, TO PREMIERE IN WASHINGTON DC

– Producer/director Janks Morton explores how African Americans feel about themselves and their portrayal in society, Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 8:00pm/ET at Washington, DC’s Historic AVALON Theatre. –

– The film is an in-depth exploration of how the over-exaggerated negative depictions and statistics about African Americans has debilitating effects on Black Identity. –

[Click To Enlarge]

Washington, DC(BlackNews.com) — iYAGO Entertainment Group is proud to announce the theatrical film premiere of HOODWINKED, Director Janks Morton’s sequel to the 2007 award-winning documentary WHAT BLACK MEN THINK on Thursday, September 6th, 2012 (8p ET), at the historic Avalon Theatre in Washington, DC. The retail release of HOODWINKED and the companion book BLACK PEOPLE DON’T READ will also be made available for purchase at Amazon.com on that same date.

Breaking The Special Ed To Prison Pipeline: Helping Black Boys Get On The Path To Success

It is well documented that young Black men have higher rates of suspension, expulsion, dropout as well as placement in special education than any other group. It is also well documented that African American men are more likely to be unemployed and incarcerated or on probation than men of other racial groups. Although African Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population they represent nearly half of the male prison population across America. This is a costly issue that cannot afford to not be addressed. This workshop adapted from the book “From The Block To The Boardroom: Power Tools for Black Men,” by Cassandra Mack will explore the issues facing young black men and strategies to address the needs of this population. Specifically this workshop will cover:

• Barriers to Achievement;
• How the Premature Labeling of Black Boys Affects Their Psyche, Self-esteem, Academic Performance and Motivation;
• When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong: The Role That Internalized Deficit Thinking Plays In The Underachievement of Black Boys and Young Black Men;
• Strategies to help Black Boys Stay On The Path To Success 

Please Note - Copies of Cassandra Mack’s book, ”From The Block To The Boardroom” will be available for purchase for the discounted price of $15.00 payable directly to the facilitator by company check, cash or money order. *Personal checks will not be accepted.

Black Urban Media: The New Blackploitation

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/07/black-urban-media-new-blackploitation.html

By Torrance Stephens

Information is freely available everywhere. So much that it is easy to verify and substantiate with a little effort. However, for most African Americans, the major news topics of the day are ignored by their most treasured sources of information – black owned urban media and radio.

Now if you want to find out about the release of an album, which is sleeping with who, the latest baby momma or what celebrities were fighting at the club, black urban media is your place. Most it seems to have adopted the playbook of the National Enquirer. Now they will cover every itty bitty nuanced piece of information on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Real Housewives and Basketball Wives, as well as stories on young black men being shot by white men, but only after it becomes the focus of the world. And let us not forget President Obama, it seems as if the only politics covered dally with the commander in Chief 95 percent of the time. But rarely anything else. You won’t find anything on the Eurozone Crisis, or the LIBOR scandal, or serious presentations of what is occurring in Libya, Syria, Somalia, or even the continuing crisis in Haiti or the senseless shootings in Chicago.

Fifty Percent Unemployment for Blacks in New York – may become national norm

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/07/fifty-percent-unemployment-for-blacks.html

By Torrance Stephens

With the growing troubles of the Eurozone economic crisis, most recently as it pertains to Greece, massive bailouts for Italy and Spain and a recent request for European Central Bank support for more loans for Cyprus, the US economy continues to stall with projections of stagnant growth and perpetual unemployment above 8 percent.  Now, with major banks being downgraded across the nation, it is clear again that blacks will bear the brunt of the economic downturn.

Historically, blacks always suffer disproportionately in times of economic hardship.  Today it may be even worse than past decades, in particular in urban areas. According to a new study conducted by Dr. James Parrott, chief economist for the Fiscal Policy Institute, more than half of all of African-Americans in New York city who were old enough to work had no job at all in the past year based on an analysis of employment data compiled by the federal Labor Department.

Where is Black Twitter? In the back of Twitter like the back of the bus

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/05/wear-is-black-twitter-in-back-of.html

By Torrance Stephens

I first signed up for Twitter in 2006. I used it rarely as a means of contacting other bloggers. I left it alone for a while because all I shared was what I read in newspapers and my blog post. I didn’t like it at the time because in order to do such, I had to copy and paste, and that was time consuming. At first I followed other bloggers, but as the social outlet evolved, I began to follow less people and more news sources, publications and outlets. I really got involved when the tweet meme became prevalent and more common, allowing me to share what I read, as I did initially without actually going on twitter just by clicking on a little green button.

Twitter is a valuable tool and fits into the premonitions proffered by Gil Scott Heron when he orated that “You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip, /Skip out for beer during commercials, /because the revolution will not be televised.” For if there is to be another revolution, we have already seen the impact social media like twitter can play. In Egypt for example findings from the newly released second edition of the Arab Social Media Report by the Dubai School of Government provided empirical data that Twitter as well as facebook “abetted if not enabled the historic region-wide uprisings of early 2011.” Not to forget that use of social networking sites assisted in helping activist organize and bring attention to efforts that eventually led to the destruction of decades of autocratic rule in Egypt and Tunisia and publicity to public malcontent pertaining to the regimes in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.

Black men: Already Dead in America

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-men-already-dead-in-america.html

by Torrance Stephens

“You are already dead to the world.” This was written by the Marquis de Sade in The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings . Unfortunately, via logic and real life occurrences, it is clear that this is consonant with the manner in which men of African descent are apprised in the United States. It is so bad that many of us do not even respect our own lives let alone the life, well-being and prosperity of another.

It should be obvious to the astute and free thinker, after all even prior to the founding fathers, the historical fact is that slavery had been a prominent feature of America almost two centuries before the founders took up the process of writing a constitution and that there had been few if any real efforts to end the ugly and barbaric practice according to, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay. Even with the constitution, the development and acceptance of the continuous tradition as to how European Americans perceived individuals form Africa, whether slave or free man has been consistent upon these shores ever since.

The 411 on Obama Era Blacks

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/04/411-on-obama-era-blacks.html

By Torrance Stephens

Attribution is extremely important in writing. Over this past week, I picked up a copy of the Nation Magazine at my local library. There they have a basket where people can bring their used magazines for others to read. It is there where I pick up the Nation along with “The Smithsonian”, “Reason” and my new favorite “The American Conservative.” Strange since they attack republicans and democrats equally and tend to be libertarian in purview, but the writing is unquestionably some of the best this country has to offer. Any Who.

I was reading an article by Dorian T. Warren who currently is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. In the article he made reference to the phrase “Obama era blacks.” His piece was about how African Americans who generally support Obama have a higher level of trust in government, than we have had historically, given what he describes as the “persistently high levels of black unemployment, rising to Depression-like numbers in many urban areas during the Great Recession; increasingly punitive criminal justice policies and the disproportionate imprisonment of minority offenders; a reneged government commitment to addressing inequality and poverty, as seen in welfare reform and the declining real value of the minimum wage; and an ongoing failure to provide equal access to high-quality public education, whether K-12 or higher.”

Ignorant and Stupid At the Same D### Time

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/04/ignorant-and-stupid-at-same-d-time.html

By Torrance Stephens

 I must admit, I am disappointed, afraid and frankly appalled at the extent to which sciolism is displayed in America, especially among folks that look like me. It seems that we parade our ignorance and lack of respect and appreciation for presenting ourselves in the best fashion, as if it is something to be proud of.The badge of honor through the lyrics include: “On the phone, cooking dope, at the same damn time and Selling white, selling mid, at the same damn time.” The only lyrics that are missing and would be a better reflection of the kind of mind set that would spend time creating such garbage is “ignorant and stupid at the same d*** time.” Yes I said it and this is all it can be. On the front in there are no other words to describe this type of belief system other than brainless, deficient, doltish or imbecilic and on the back end, cloddish, birdbrained, dense, misinformed and nescient.

Economic Empowerment Tour To Visit Philly and Baltimore

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TOUR CONTINUES TO HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA

– The Optimum Institute of Economic Empowerment (OIEE) partners with George Soros Open Society Institute to Produce the “Less Talk… More Action Tour” in thirteen US Cities. –

Ryan Mack, author, financial expert, and creator of the Less Talk… More Action Economic Empowerment Tour

New York, NY(March 21, 2012) – Maintaining its momentum of the past few months, the “Less Talk… More Action” Economic Empowerment Tour (“LTMA”) is scheduled to visit Philadelphia during April with a further touchdown in Baltimore in May, followed by more venues in the coming months.

Ethics Violations Racially Single out African Americans In Congress Disparately

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/ethics-violations-racially-single-out.html

By Torrance Stephens

Is it possible that the manner in which the congress polices itself is racist and singularly targets African American members disparately when compared to whites? Many in the Congressional Black caucus think so. To date nearly a third of current African American lawmakers in congress have been named in an ethics probe during their careers, according to research compiled by the National Journal review.

The question is why so many African-American members have been in the ethics violations and so few of any other races on Capitol Hill? Several reasons have been proposed. One is that African American politicians are being unfairly scrutinized. It has also been advanced that since many hold what are considered “safe” seats in congress, that they become too comfortable and forget to follow the ever changing standards for ethics in Washington. Last, it is speculated that another reason is due to a process that depends on outside information from watchdog groups like the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog group, who have their own agendas. Regardless the fact remains that African-Americans make up 10 percent of the House, but currently, five of the sitting six named lawmakers under review by the House Ethics Committee are African Americans.

How Obama and Black Politicians Have Reinvented the Negro

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-obama-and-black-politicians-have.html

 By Torrance Stephens

Politicians of African descent in America, in concert with the non-concern of their voting constituency have reinvented the Negro, or better yet made the Negro retro chic. What do I mean by this? Well from an etymological perspective, the word Negro is Spanish for black. The Spanish language comes from Latin, which has its origins in Classical Greek. The word Negro is derived from the Greek root word necro, meaning dead. It was a reference to the state of mind for millions of Africans. Politicians thrive and live on the fact that folk are negro as opposed to self determined individuals with the ability to reason and problem solve, thus ensuring their hold in politics. But what they fail to understand that if they truly want to deal with the economic plight of African Americans, they need to face the fact that economic improvement cannot be accomplished within the context of mass incarceration and the environment of the criminal justice arena that foster incessant Jim Crow-like practices. For the same dynamic that led to Jim Crow after the Civil war and emancipation proclamation has led to the present day mass incarceration of African Americans.

Student Told To Read Langston Hughes Poem “Blacker”

http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/student-told-to-read-langston-hughes-poem-blacker/

By Denene Millner

A Virginia high school English teacher is under fire for repeatedly singling out her sole African American student—most recently demanding that the 9^th grader read a poem by acclaimed African American poet Langston Hughes in a “blacker” style in front of his class.

Jordan Shumate, a student at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va., says he was reading Hughes’ “The Ballad of the Landlord,” a 1940 protest poem about a tenant thrown in jail for challenging his landlord, when his teacher, Marilyn Bart, interrupted him. “She told me, ‘Blacker, Jordan—c’mon, blacker. I thought you were black,’” Shumate told the Washington Post.

When the 14-year-old student refused to continue reading the poem, Bart showed him how it’s done. “She sounded like a maid in the 1960s,” said Shumate, whose story was corroborated by a fellow student. “She read the poem like a slave, basically.”

Black and Illiterate: We Can’t Read, But We sure Can Watch TV

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/black-and-illiterate-i-cant-read-but-i.html

By Torrance Stephens

Hypothetically, let us assume there is a young man who has just finished school, and he is attempting to decide where he will move on to for his personal professional development. In this process, he meets with several interesting entities, of which many offer him incentives to select their organization, for they see great talent and how he could add to their bottom line in being profitable. In some cases he is wined and dined and set up in expensive hotels with access to host who are female. In others he is given envelopes with money and in one case a backpack or briefcase filled with stacks of money. My question is what is this persons occupation and is it illegal?

A while back I wrote a piece describing the manner in which many African Americans do not take full advantage of social media. In addition I am frequently speaking out to bring attention to the fact that reading is slowly falling off among members in our community. Each time, I obtained vehement ridicule and slander for my assertions, especially when I assert that African Americans watch more television than they read; or that they use cell phones more than any other ethnic/racial population in the United States.

What Dubois and Woodson had to say about interracial hatred?

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-dubois-and-woodson-had-to-say.html

 By Torrance Stephens

“If you can control a man’s thinking, you don’t have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don’t have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don’t have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one.”

The above statement was written by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born of slaves in Virginia he was self-taught and eventually obtained his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in History from Harvard, becoming the second African-American to receive this degree. Although he is the person who established Africa American history as a monthly celebration, he is best known for his ground breaking tractate: The Mis-Education of the Negro.

The book spoke of the American educational system, with special reference to its paralyzing impact on African Americans. Mis-education from his perspective was a tragedy, that relegated blacks to a brain-washed acceptance of the inferior role assigned to him whites. The book proffers a harsh critique on both criticizes the system, that eventually ends up with people and mis-educating others and even learning and spreading hate in terms of race by the miseducated.

Dr. Boyce: Black Professionals Get Nailed by the “Bait” of Non-Existent Opportunity

http://yourblackworld.net/2012/03/black-news/dr-boyce-black-professionals-get-nailed-by-the-bait-of-non-existent-success/

I once knew a famous rapper.  We don’t talk much anymore, since all the booty and bling have distracted him.  But that’s beside the point.

A few years ago, the rapper and I were talking about women and relationships.   That was when he introduced me to a concept he called, “the bait.”  According to my friend, he was never going to get married.  He feared losing his money in a nasty divorce, didn’t want anyone judging his behavior and had a general fear of commitment.  But he said that sometimes, his greatest asset was the fact that many of the women he met on the road believed that they could win “the lottery ticket” and convince him to marry them.

So, rather than actually marrying anyone, my rapper friend forced dozens of women to jump through numerous hoops, sexual and otherwise.  Then, he would simply throw them back into the dating pool, like a “catch and release” fisherman, giving them nothing in return for months or even years of loyalty.  All they’d have to show for their efforts were a few good memories and perhaps a nasty venereal disease from all the women he’d slept with.

“West Indian Woman”

http://www.evasaidit.com/2012/02/west-indian-woman/

By Eva

::waves::

So way back when I started this blog, I promised you some creative stuff thrown in among my rants and reads, and did indeed post some of my prose and poetry.

I haven’t kept up with that promise lately though, have I?  I know. I suck. Fuck off.

I wrote this piece tonight, inspired by someone very dear to my heart…who I just confound at times with my “West Indian Woman” tendencies. (Yep. I’m an island girl. Born and raised in the South Bronx, of British Jamaican heritage. I am where Park Avenue and Halfway Tree meet, baby!)

This is in tribute to all the headstrong island girls like me, the prideful mothers, the strong wives, and determined single girls. Sisters, it’s in our genes. We can’t help it. But it’s also in tribute to the men who have to deal with us: we know…we know…

Diabetic Screening Health Fair in Los Angeles Suburb

BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW PLAZA HOSTS BLACK HISTORY MONTH DIABETIC SCREENING HEALTH FAIR

Chrystal Leary of SexyDiabetic.com

Los Angeles, CA– (BlackNews.com) — Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza opens its doors to host a Black History Month Diabetic Screening health fair sponsored by SexyDiabetic.com on February 25, 2012 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. as a service to the Los Angeles community.

With the cooperation of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Diabetes Association, Sexydiabetic.com will sponsor its first Black History Month Diabetic Screening at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on February 25, 2012 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Plaza’s center court between Macy’s and Walmart.

Dr. Boyce: Study Says that Black Men Don’t Benefit Much from Mentorship

http://www.yourblackworld.com/2011/12/22/study-black-men-dont-reap-same-mentoring-benefits-as-whites/

by Dr. Boyce Watkins

A new study conducted at The University of Georgia shows that black men do not benefit from having mentors in their organizations in the same way as whites.  Lillian Eby, one of the study’s co-authors, says that mentorship has value for African Americans, but tends to be limited by the types of mentors that black men choose or the ones that are made most readily available to them.

“If African-American men are picking mentors who are like them, then they’re more likely to be networking with people who have less power and influence within an organization,” Eby said, “which may be why mentoring is not predicting career success for them.”

The study is going to be published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, using data from 250 college-educated black men.  The goal of the study is to find out what factors are more likely to lead to success in corporate America and similar environments.   Another co-author, C. Douglas Johnson, from Georgia Gwinnett College, was also involved.

Essential Hair Tips- Natural Hair

http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/12/essential-hair-tips-natural-hair.html

by Lisa Michelle via NaturallyCurly.com

Your natural hair is beautiful, versatile and stylish, but it can take a bit of effort and lots of love to achieve your best curls. If I had to pick some of the most important tips for type 4 hair to help retain length, maintain styles beyond the first day and foster all-around healthy curls, these would be them. I have no doubt that you will adopt your own top tips along your natural hair journey too!

Natural Hair Regimen

Dr. Boyce: Why All Poor Black Kids are Stupid

http://boycewatkins.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/dr-boyce-why-all-poor-black-kids-are-stupid/

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action

I was born to a 17-year old single mother in a housing project in Louisville, Ky. I struggled through elementary, middle and high school. In fact, I rarely met a school book that I didn’t hate. I was, in the words of Forbes Magazine columnist Gene Marks, a “poor black kid.”

The 5Ws: Maximillian L. Hamilton

Who: Maximillian L. Hamilton

What: BLACK ENTERPRISE

Why: BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The centerpiece of BLACK ENTERPRISE content is our “Wealth For Life” initiative. BLACK ENTERPRISE with a total reach of 6 million across our television, digital, print and events platforms, is your direct connection to an unduplicated audience of genuine entrepreneurs and corporate business professionals.

Where: Global Headquarters, New York City

When: Established August 1970

Ryan Mack: A Poor Man’s Plea to Black Corporate America

http://africanamericanmoney.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/ryan-mack-a-poor-mans-plea-to-black-corporate-america/

 

by Ryan Mack

If we are real with ourselves, there has to be a time when we confront the disconnect that exists in Black America between those who have become “successful” and those who continue to struggle in impoverished conditions.  If you talk to anyone living in a public housing community, prison, or shelter, I am willing to bet they will tell you it is a rarity to see an individual from Corporate Black America volunteer their time in the facility to give back and impart knowledge. I have done many financial literacy workshops in all venues and the level of surprise I receive when I initially contact them to set up workshops is usually one of shock, disbelief, or the infamous “What’s the catch?”

 

Why is this so? Why do so many within Corporate Black America seem to turn a blind eye to the struggles that exist within the impoverished African American communities even if they themselves grew up in those very conditions? I have done no official research but certainly have opinions and below are listed a few of my thoughts. I dare not make sweeping generalizations about the entire Black community, but I have to say I have met too many that fit the characteristics listed below:

Role Models Sought To Mentor Black Boys

ROLE MODELS SOUGHT FOR ASPIRING BLACK BOYS IN UNIQUE “WHAT IT TAKES” E-MENTORING PROGRAM

NFL Analyst, James “JB” Brown and Heavy Weight Boxer Eddie Chambers among those who encourage WHAT IT TAKES students to stay engaged in their academic careers during panel discussions.

Philadelphia, PA(BlackNews.com) — Getting to the top takes hard work and dedication. Trying to pass that commitment down to inner-city kids can be a challenge at times, but the What It Takes Foundation believes it has a social media forum that may get through to them.

Dr. Boyce: Did Oprah Help Fuel the HIV Epidemic in Black America?

http://www.yourblackworld.com/2011/12/01/dr-boyce-did-oprah-help-fuel-the-hiv-epidemic-in-black-america/

“AIDS has been allowed to stalk and murder Black America like a serial killer because we have been a compliant victim, submitting through inaction. It is now time for us to fight AIDS like the major civil rights issue it is…” The Rev. Jesse Jackson. 

I still remember when Oprah Winfrey had her famous show about black men living on the down low back in 2004.  The show featured J. L. King, a man who made millions telling a story about men secretly having sex with men while pretending to live a seemingly normal, heterosexual life.  Like the rest of the country, I was shocked by what Mr. King said, and I’ve seen a tremendous amount of evidence that this counter culture does indeed exist.

I loved the fact that Oprah helped to make all of us aware of what was going on in our community.  She saved a lot of lives in the process. But the flip side of sounding the alarm bell is that some of us can become excessively alarmed, and perhaps even a bit paranoid.  I argue that it was these episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show which led to a form of sexual McCarthyism in black America.