michael - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-28T09:27:38Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/michaelIn Comparison, Bundy Ranch Supporters 2016 & MOVE Bombing 1985https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/in-comparison-bundy-ranch-supporters-2016-move-bombing-19852016-01-06T01:41:07.000Z2016-01-06T01:41:07.000ZNana Baakan Agyiriwahhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/NanaBaakanAgyiriwah<div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><b>NB Commentary:</b> <a href="" target="_blank">Let's Talk About the Difference Between Who is Considered a Patriot and Who is Considered a Terrorist.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_uKIqHOTUI/Vov8vKjqUcI/AAAAAAACUd0/DA8FZFE0Wx0/s1600/White%2BMilita-MOVE.png" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_uKIqHOTUI/Vov8vKjqUcI/AAAAAAACUd0/DA8FZFE0Wx0/s640/White%2BMilita-MOVE.png" width="640" alt="White%2BMilita-MOVE.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align:center;"></div></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">While the MOVE Organization was not officially declared a Terrorist Organization they were indeed treated like they were Enemies of the State. I am from the area and was there when it happened.</span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin:0in;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;color:#666666;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2014/04/11/the-politics-of-the-nevada-bundy-ranch-standoff/">The Politics Of “The Nevada Bundy Ranch Standoff”…</a> </span>Posted on <a href="http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2014/04/11/the-politics-of-the-nevada-bundy-ranch-standoff/">April 11, 2014</a> by <a href="http://theconservativetreehouse.com/author/sundancecracker/">sundance</a></span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><i><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;color:#666666;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDK2KOTMfbs/VowYgjAOntI/AAAAAAACUeY/1ZaHUD3VMSs/s1600/Armed%2Bmilitlia%2Bthreaten%2Bfaceoff.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDK2KOTMfbs/VowYgjAOntI/AAAAAAACUeY/1ZaHUD3VMSs/s320/Armed%2Bmilitlia%2Bthreaten%2Bfaceoff.jpg" width="320" alt="Armed%2Bmilitlia%2Bthreaten%2Bfaceoff.jpg" /></a></span></i></div></blockquote></blockquote></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">The group was/is called <span style="font-weight:bold;">MOVE</span>. they were/are a back to nature group of Africans who leader's name was John Africa. They felt that the government was vile and used vile language to express their contempt for it.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">On the other hand, they were mostly self sufficient, planted their own food and were vegetarians and wore dread locks.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">A group of them moved onto Osage Ave., in West Philadelphia and built a fortress within the house because they had been threatened jailed and tortured by the police for their way of life. They claimed freedom of speech and continued to express their discontent with the government, local, national and global.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3IVIAPARiw/Vovn1NnKFuI/AAAAAAACUco/x81SDenu1Gw/s1600/Delbert%2BAfrica%2Bface%2Boff%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BPhilly%2BPD.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3IVIAPARiw/Vovn1NnKFuI/AAAAAAACUco/x81SDenu1Gw/s320/Delbert%2BAfrica%2Bface%2Boff%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BPhilly%2BPD.jpg" width="320" alt="Delbert%2BAfrica%2Bface%2Boff%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BPhilly%2BPD.jpg" /></a>In 1978 they previously lived in an area of West Philly called Powelton Village</div><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family:georgia, palatino;">where a blockade was place upon them, no food or water was allowed to get to them and no one could interact with them or be arrested. This stand off ended with them firehousing the house till its collapse and the members were forced to leave. Delbert Africa was brutally beaten.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br /><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">In 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb on the house located on a city block of Osage Ave. There was a bunker on top of the house and the fortress was so well constructed that the police after firing multiple rounds could not penetrate the walls of their home. The next option was to drop a bomb, this bomb ignited a fire that cause the <b>MOVE</b> members to escape while others, women and children, died in the blaze. Because it was allowed to burn, the entire block succumbed to the fire and was destroyed, and the mostly homeowners, displaced and/or homeless.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HobAje45KWw?wmode=opaque"></iframe></div></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><span style="color:#00a1cc;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;"> <i> </i></span><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;"><span style="color:#999999;"><i><b> </b><a href="http://thegrio.com/2010/05/11/philly-neighborhood-still-scarred-by-1985-move-bombing/">Philly neighborhood still scarred by 1985 MOVE bombing</a></i></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;margin:0in;"><span style="color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span><a href="http://thegrio.com/2010/05/11/philly-neighborhood-still-scarred-by-1985-move-bombing/" style="color:#00a1cc;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Qt6-UwCzTs/Vovrhsh0pVI/AAAAAAACUdI/XtH0Gf5pTtA/s1600/philadelphia_move_bom_wils.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Qt6-UwCzTs/Vovrhsh0pVI/AAAAAAACUdI/XtH0Gf5pTtA/s320/philadelphia_move_bom_wils.jpg" width="320" alt="philadelphia_move_bom_wils.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"> <span style="font-size:14pt;">The city did a make-shift job rebuilding their homes but never could they return to those people the valuables and memories and momentums. Some of these people had lived on this block their whole lives and had grand children who visited them there. It was devastating to the neighborhood, who simply believed that by asking the city government to intervene that they would simply remove the occupants of the MOVE home and all would go back to normal. This blazing inferno could be seen for at least a mile radius. It turn a beautifully sculptured community neighborhood into a war zone.</span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;color:#666666;"><i>Jason Osder spent ten years making Let the Fire Burn, a harrowing documentary account of the confrontation – and ensuing conflagration – between members of MOVE and the Philadelphia Police Department, resulting in the death of six adult members of the Afrocentric back-to-nature organization, and five children. Read more at </i><i><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/movies/MOVE-doc-gets-theatrical-distribution-Will-open-in-fall.html">http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/movies/MOVE-doc-gets-theatrical-distribution-Will-open-in-fall.html</a></i></span></blockquote></blockquote><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">The war against civilians is not a recent occurrence. However, it is demonstrated in a certain and accurate strategy of terror, control and manipulation and in many cases is racist at best and xenophobic at worse.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;">One thing that is certain, if they can drop a bomb on a residential area in the middle of a large city, no place is safe from the aggression of the militarized police. </div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color:#332222;font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;">"I took a cab to the 6200 block of Osage Avenue this week, to the block where</span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPNOVzaDWI8/VovzOAOunYI/AAAAAAACUdY/nURQQRC0TEQ/s1600/19977_img_0472%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPNOVzaDWI8/VovzOAOunYI/AAAAAAACUdY/nURQQRC0TEQ/s320/19977_img_0472%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" alt="19977_img_0472%25282%2529.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;">the City of Philadelphia dropped a bomb on a rowhouse in 1985. I had been at work that day, in my office which is also in West Philadelphia and I wanted to see for myself what the location looks like now. While the driver waited, I walked up and down the sidewalks with my cellphone camera and my small Cannon PowerShoot A2500. The street was narrower than I had imagined. I was shocked by the townhouses that had been built to replace the homes destroyed in the bombing and fire. At most they were a step off the ground. No stairs to sit on, no porches. Small areas for a chair or two are enclosed with black wrought iron fencing. Many houses are boarded up. Others appear occupied but look unfinished. There are flowers and other signs of life where people are living. I tried to be discrete as I took snapshots. I failed. A man came up from the western end of the block … grumbling. He pointed out 6221, the location of the MOVE house; maybe he assumed that was what I was looking for. I introduced myself to a woman sitting in front of her property. She expressed mild dissatisfaction with visitors/voyeurs like me. She said that all she wants is for the city to fix up the vacant properties and allow the neighbors to live in peace. Thirty years and the MOVE fiasco is not over yet for either of us." <span style="color:#666666;font-size:14pt;">Source: </span><a href="https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/5657-collective-trauma-transitional-justice-and-two">https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/5657-collective-trauma-transitional-justice-and-two</a></span></blockquote></blockquote><div><i> </i></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wbZGjMckHw/U1DGC-hE4aI/AAAAAAACUUU/C0hvEqFCnhI/s1600/banner%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="38" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wbZGjMckHw/U1DGC-hE4aI/AAAAAAACUUU/C0hvEqFCnhI/s320/banner%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" alt="banner%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align:center;"></div></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-size:14pt;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><b><i><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;color:#666666;">Check out this information: 25 Years Ago: Philadelphia Police Bombs MOVE Headquarters Killing 11, Destroying 65 Homes</span></i></b></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/13/25_years_ago_philadelphia_police_bombs"><span style="background-color:#eeeeee;color:#666666;">http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/13/25_years_ago_philadelphia_police_bombs</span></a></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-weight:bold;margin:0in;"><a href="http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/05/12/move-30-year-anniversary/"><i>MOVE 30: Inside the May 1985 Assault on Osage Avenue</i></a></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-weight:bold;margin:0in;"><i>Remembering Philly’s infamous bomb-dropping, guns-blazing, child-murdering day.</i></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-weight:bold;margin:0in;"><i><span style="color:#666666;">BY </span><a href="http://www.phillymag.com/author/mcoard/">MICHAEL COARD</a><span style="color:#666666;"> | MAY 12, 2015 AT 12:05 PM</span></i></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MeovecYkWo/VovnFhe41sI/AAAAAAACUcg/Mlg_Zl7JMCo/s1600/Osage%2BAvenue%2Bon%2Bfire%2B1985.jpg" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MeovecYkWo/VovnFhe41sI/AAAAAAACUcg/Mlg_Zl7JMCo/s400/Osage%2BAvenue%2Bon%2Bfire%2B1985.jpg" width="400" alt="Osage%2BAvenue%2Bon%2Bfire%2B1985.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color:#807d7d;font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;"></div><div style="color:#807d7d;font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;"><span style="font-size:x-small;">In this May 1985 photo, scores of row houses burn in a fire in the west Philadelphia neighborhood. Police dropped a bomb on the militant group MOVE’s home on May 13, 1985 in an attempt to arrest members, leading to the burning of scores of homes in the neighborhood.</span></div><div style="color:#807d7d;font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;">A version of this article was <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/news/2012/05/15/phillys-bomb-dropping-guns-blazing-child-murdering-day/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">originally published in 2012</span></a>.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">On May 13, 1985 at 5:20 p.m., a blue and white Pennsylvania State Police helicopter took off from the command post’s flight pad at 63rd and Walnut, flew a few times over 6221 Osage Avenue, and then hovered 60 feet above the two-story house in the black, middle-class West Philadelphia neighborhood. Lt. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Frank Powell</span>, chief of Philadelphia’s bomb disposal unit, was holding a canvas bag containing a bomb consisting of two sticks of Tovex TR2 with C-4. After radioing firefighters on the ground and lighting the bomb’s 45-second fuse — and with the official approval of Mayor <span style="font-weight:bold;">W. Wilson Goode</span> and at the insistence of Police Commissioner <span style="font-weight:bold;">Gregore Sambor </span>— Powell tossed the bomb, at precisely 5:28 p.m., onto a bunker on the roof.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">This was followed shortly thereafter by a loud explosion and then a large, bright orange ball of fire that reached 7,200 degrees Fahrenheit. That day, Powell, the mayor, the police commissioner, Fire Commissioner <span style="font-weight:bold;">William Richmond</span>, city Managing Director <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leo Brooks</span>, and numerous police officers committed, in the words of Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission (better known as the <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/articles/move-an-oral-history/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">MOVE</span></a> Commission) member <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/10/08/remembering-great-charles-bowser-84th-birthday/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Charles Bowser</span></a>, a “criminally evil” act that led to the death of 11 human beings, including five completely innocent and defenseless children, the destruction of 61 homes, and the incineration of thousands of family photos, high school and college sweetheart love letters, heirloom jewelry, inscribed Bibles and Korans, and many other totally irreplaceable mementos.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Mr. Bowser, my mentor and the author of the powerful tell-all expose entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Let-Bunker-Burn-Final-Battle/dp/0940159082"><span style="font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Let the Bunker Burn</span></a>, told me that five of the city’s most influential black political leaders met at the mayor’s home before dawn on May 13, 1985, in response to the mayor’s invitation and warning that “I’m going to make a move on the MOVE house … (this) morning.” This was in connection to what Goode described as complaints by Osage Avenue neighbors and outstanding arrest warrants. By the way, it should be noted that those same neighbors attempted to stop the police department’s siege of their community as soon as they realized what was developing. In fact, as the five influential black leaders watched the television broadcast of the military-like assault unfolding with shots and tear gas, two of them repeatedly urged the Mayor to call it off. In particular, City Council President <span style="font-weight:bold;">Joseph Coleman</span>, sitting at the Mayor’s kitchen table, told him the 500-strong police action was “excessive” and State Senator <span style="font-weight:bold;">Hardy Williams</span>, standing near the kitchen entrance, said “Why don’t they just back up and relax? Nobody’s going anywhere.”</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">MOVE: An Assault That Never Would Have Happened in the Northeast</span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">More than 500 cops fired more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in less than 90 minutes — in a middle-class, black neighborhood. WTF? No, let me say it: What the Fuck?! This was blatantly outrageous brutal racism. It never would have happened in the Northeast or in South Philly, even if the Hell’s Angels had kidnapped then-President <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ronald Reagan</span>. And everybody knows it.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">The cops would have simply sent in a hostage negotiator. And if that didn’t work, they would have cut off access to electricity, water and food, and then waited the criminals out. And if that didn’t work, they would have sent in a professionally trained SWAT unit to storm that specific house with surgical precision. Goddamnit, even <span style="font-weight:bold;">Osama</span>’s house and neighborhood in Abbottabad weren’t firebombed. The mayor, police commissioner, fire commissioner, managing Director, and the cops — and especially the public — would not have approved, allowed or tolerated the burning down of a white neighborhood and the destruction of 61 white homes.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Trending:</span> <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/01/02/mummers-parade-offensive-brownface-caitlyn-jenner/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">People Are Angry at the 2016 Mummers Parade</span></a></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">And don’t tell me some shit about the incineration of Osage not being racist simply because the mayor and the managing director were black. It’s the victims that make it racist! They were black. And they lived in a black neighborhood. Furthermore, Powell, the bomb-dropping cop, was white. Moreover, <span style="font-weight:bold;">William Klein</span>, the cop who made the bomb, was also white. As eloquently stated by Bowser, “Goode and Brooks did not shoot 10,000 bullets into that house. They did not put military explosives into the bomb. They did not decide to let the bunker burn. And they did not shoot at children trying to escape the fire. I know none of that would have happened in a white neighborhood and so do you.” That’s exactly why the MOVE Commission pointed out, in one of its final official comments, that none of this would have ever happened <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=QRhYtDLlgMgC&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=move+commission+%E2%80%9Chad+the+MOVE+house+and+its+occupants+been+situated+in+a+comparable+white+neighborhood.%E2%80%9D&source=bl&ots=XxoMX7A9Ei&sig=3uRLHR2XI6ZcbpDcCaRxOaE8VGY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CX1RVcGAN7K1sASKiYGABQ&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=move%20commission%20%E2%80%9Chad%20the%20MOVE%20house%20and%20its%20occupants%20been%20situated%20in%20a%20comparable%20white%20neighborhood.%E2%80%9D&f=false"><span style="font-weight:bold;">“had the MOVE house and its occupants been situated in a comparable white neighborhood.”</span></a></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">MOVE: The Making of the Bomb</span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Tovex TR2 was a commercial explosive invented in the 1960s as an option to dynamite, and its purpose was to dig trenches through rock in order to lay pipes. The “TR” is the abbreviation for trench, and the “2” refers to the second DuPont Company item in its trenching products. The company’s explosive products division was located a little more than a half hour from Philadelphia in Delaware. But not one fire or police department official ever cared enough to contact DuPont and ask what could happen if TR2 were used in a residential neighborhood. And that’s because they didn’t give a shit about black people. If they had asked, DuPont would have told them that it had been designed exclusively for, and had been used exclusively for, underground purposes. And the last time I checked, every black man, woman and child in the Osage community lived above-ground.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">It gets worse. As horrifically explosive as TR2 was, Klein fired things up even more. Exercising his independent judgment, he decided that TR2 wouldn’t be strong enough to breach the bunker. So what did he do? He unilaterally placed a one-and-one-quarter-pound block of C-4 on top of the two sticks of Tovex — despite the fact that the U.S. Army in 1979 had ended distribution of C-4 to all local police departments throughout the country. But, as documented in an October 22, 1985, letter from a special agent who headed the FBI’s Philadelphia office, approximately 30 blocks of C-4 had been delivered to the city by an FBI agent without the city requesting it and as a proposed solution during discussions regarding an anticipated confrontation with MOVE. Wow! And the rest, as they say, is history — or better said, it’s Philly’s 9/11, but as our own city, state and federal governments’ inside job.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">MOVE: The Scene of the Crime</span></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">If that’s worse, and it certainly is, here’s worst: The children, and some of the adults, were shot at or shot and killed by police as they were fleeing the flames and surrendering. Wow, again! The police covering the alley leading from the rear of the MOVE house had automatic weapons and shotguns. No one ever claimed that MOVE had automatic weapons or shotguns at the scene, and no automatic weapons or shotguns were found among the ashes. Police officer William Stewart, a 28-year veteran of the department and a firearms instructor at the academy, was asked by investigators, “Did you hear gunfire at this time,” meaning when people were fleeing the MOVE house from the alley in the rear. With his lawyer present, he responded “Oh yes, automatic fire.” And when asked about who was firing the weapons, he replied, “Police officers. All the stakeout officers were running into the alley. They all had Uzi machine guns.” Strangely, though, 16 days later, he told the MOVE Commission that he never heard any police gunfire in the alley.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Fire Department Lt. <span style="font-weight:bold;">John Vaccarelli</span> and fireman <span style="font-weight:bold;">Joseph Murray</span>, who were veterans of the Vietnam War and who were in the vicinity of that very same alley, said they <span style="font-style:italic;">did,</span> in fact, hear automatic fire when the MOVE members were running away from the flames. In fact, Vaccarelli pointed out that he saw at least three MOVE members in the yard next to the alley. This was corroborated by police officer <span style="font-weight:bold;">James D’Ulisse</span>. So since these people were outside the property lines of the interior of the house itself, how is it that their bodies were later found inside those property lines among the charred rubble? Only the police (and no reporters or other civilians) had access to the sealed-off crime scene during and after the inferno. Hmmm ...</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><br /> And why does the official report of the city’s own medical examiner provide proof from the autopsies of six of the 11 dead — namely, 7-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tomasa</span>, 9-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Delicia</span>, 10-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Phil</span>, 11-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Netta</span>, 13-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tree</span>, and 25-year-old <span style="font-weight:bold;">Rhonda </span>— that they did not die inside from flame-fire but died outside from gun-fire? If, as the police later testified under oath, these victims died from the flames that exceeded 2,000 hellish degrees inside the house, why were Tomasa’s long locks still long? Why was Phil’s body not burned? Why was Netta still wearing her white blouse with red trim? Why were Tree’s pubic hair and blue jeans still intact? And why did Delicia’s body and Rhonda’s body have in them metal fragments consistent with shotgun pellets as noted by an FBI ballistician? You think maybe they were fatally hit when they all were being shot at while trying to run from the flames and surrender?</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Even MOVE Commission Chairman <span style="font-weight:bold;">William Brown</span>, <a href="http://articles.philly.com/2005-05-08/news/25440488_1_move-headquarters-oklahoma-city-bombing-move-disaster"><span style="font-weight:bold;">stated</span></a>, “I firmly believe that more people got out than <span style="font-weight:bold;">Birdie</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ramona</span> and that’s something that still nags at me. I believe that someone, someday will deliver a deathbed confession …” And the Commission itself noted in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/07/us/excerpts-from-commission-s-report-on-bombing.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Finding Number 28</span></a> of its official report that “police gunfire in the rear alley prevented the escape from the fire of some occupants of the MOVE house.”</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Also, consider this: Detective <span style="font-weight:bold;">William Stevenson</span>, who was assigned to take contemporaneous notes during the entire confrontation, wrote that Sgt. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Donald Griffiths</span>, a commander on the scene, “from stake-out is in the rear of Osage Avenue, 6221, and is pointing to an area that he states, ‘I dropped an adult male from the MOVE property who fired at me when the female and child escaped.’” And Battalion Chief <span style="font-weight:bold;">John Skarbeck</span> said he had overheard a police sergeant say, “something to the effect that 'I got one back there' or 'I shot one back there.'” But Sgt. Griffiths testified that he had been misquoted, that what he really had said was people had “dropped out of sight” at that particular time and place. Yeah. He actually said that. With a straight face, too.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">The overkill police presence, the military-style assault, the malicious bombing, the callous burning, and the evil shooting at fleeing victims were not just “grossly negligent” and “unconscionable” as the MOVE Commission properly and officially noted in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/07/us/excerpts-from-commission-s-report-on-bombing.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Findings Number 15 and 18.</span></a> They were also murderous. And justice demands the prosecution of each perpetrator because there’s no statute of limitations for murder. If it were your family, your neighborhood, your home, your property, and your memories — even if it weren’t — wouldn’t you agree?</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">If you do agree, join <span style="font-weight:bold;">Dr. Cornel West</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Angela Davis</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Chuck D</span> of Public Enemy, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Fred Hampton Jr.</span>, me, and hundreds of others by attending the daylong "Memorial and Empowerment" event beginning at 11 a.m. on May 13th at 62d and Osage — 30 years to the day after the bombing. For more info, call 215-307-3960.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;font-style:italic;margin:0in;">Michael Coard's radio show, "<a href="http://900amwurd.com/index.php?page=radio-courtroom-2"><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Radio Courtroom</span></a>," airs at noon on Sundays and Wednesdays. It can be heard locally on WURD 900 AM and on the Internet at <a href="http://www.900amwurd.com/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">900amwurd.com</span></a>. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelcoard"><span style="font-weight:bold;">@MichaelCoard </span></a>on Twitter.</div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;">Read more at <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/05/12/move-30-year-anniversary/#TZ5JqOqjU7GsIL1Y.99">http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/05/12/move-30-year-anniversary/#TZ5JqOqjU7GsIL1Y.99</a></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><div style="margin:0in;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/let-fire-burn-fallout-29-years/"><b><i><span style="color:#666666;">THE MOVE BOMBINGS 29 YEARS LATER</span></i></b></a></div></div><div style="font-family:Cambria;margin:0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UYFnkfauhQ/Vov1cWhdKCI/AAAAAAACUdk/_BSIEKf5gEg/s1600/1978let_the_fire_burn-04.jpg" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><span style="color:#666666;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UYFnkfauhQ/Vov1cWhdKCI/AAAAAAACUdk/_BSIEKf5gEg/s320/1978let_the_fire_burn-04.jpg" width="320" alt="1978let_the_fire_burn-04.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="margin:0in;"><span style="color:#666666;">"It’s the week of the 29th anniversary of the MOVE bombings, and for those who were in the middle of it and are still with us, the memories of those tragic events still linger all these years later. As the haunting story unfolds in <a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/jason-osder-let-fire-burn">Jason Osder</a>‘s <a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/let-the-fire-burn/"><span style="font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Let the Fire Burn</span></a>, which premieres tonight on <span style="font-style:italic;">Independent Lens</span> on PBS (<a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/broadcast.html">check local listings</a>), you may be curious as to what became of some of the people involved."</span></div></div></div></div>Ferguson, Missouri - One Year Laterhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/ferguson-missouri-one-year-later2015-08-10T20:50:58.000Z2015-08-10T20:50:58.000ZCharles E. Campbellhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/CharlesECampbell<div><p><span> </span> <span> </span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574277,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574277,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="275" class="align-center" alt="3828574277?profile=original" /></a></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align:center;"><b>Ferguson, Missouri - One Year Later</b></p><p></p><p>by Charles E. Campbell, Founder & CEO of The Quiet Resolution, TQR, Inc.</p><p>8/10/15</p><p></p><p>A clear example of Black Leadership Failure at every level one year later after the murder of Michael Brown. From The White House of President Obama and his Administration to Black Mayors, Black Preachers and Black Organizations, who have done nothing to address the "Apartheid-like" conditions under which Black African Americans live in America in 2015. </p><p></p><p>There have been so many murders of Unarmed Black People since Michael Brown and still no national laws proposed or passed by The Congressional Black Caucus. Here's what they could do, if they cared about Black African Americans: </p><p></p><p>1. The Congressional Black Caucus should demand an Executive Order from President Obama in exchange for Supporting his Iran Deal: The Executive Order should make it illegal to racially profile, stop or arrest Black African American in disproportion to any other group in the city, county or state. </p><p></p><p>2. The Executive Order should require and pay for law enforcement to have cameras in all police cars, on their uniforms and in jail cells. Require Digital Video from cameras be stored for 60 days and include technology that prevents anyone from editing the digital video to cover up illegal actions by law enforcement and make it a felony to do so. </p><p></p><p>3. The Executive Order should require all funds collected by court fees and tickets be used to fund County Public Defender Offices. </p><p></p><p>4. The Executive Order should require all law enforcement departments to collect data on all police stops, ticketing, arrest and murder of citizens and submit that data to a national federal database and include a public complaint component on the website. </p><p></p><p>5. The Executive Order should require the US Justice Department to investigate all law enforcement departments and file charges against Mayors, Police Chiefs, City Council and Judges found to be engaged in a conspiracy to target Black African Americans for revenue schemes and financial gain in violation of our constitutional rights, based on the data.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574323,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574323,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="305" class="align-left" alt="3828574323?profile=original" /></a></p><p>I doubt if we have any Black Elected Officials in the US Congress with the moral courage to demand anything on behalf of Black African Americans. Established Civil Rights and Religious Organizations just want to MARCH and PROTEST. Shame on them! Even if the Congressional Black Caucus has such members with that kind of courage, I doubt that President Obama has enough respect for them to sign an Executive Order to protect Black African Americans. He has done nothing so far to protect us, even after more and more murders of Unarmed Black People by Racist White Cops. Under his watch, more Black African Americans are incarcerated in mass, while he give speeches. I, for one, don't want to hear another dam speech, no matter how elegant. Actions that solve our problems are what's required! </p><p></p><p>If no one will protect, defend, uplift and empower Black African American People, then we must do it ourselves. I created The Quiet Resolution (TQR, Inc.) as a National Black Empowerment Plan, because we must stop begging others to do for us, that which we are unwilling to do for ourselves. When we stop supporting those Black Leaders and Organizations who secretly conspire to keep us in our current condition and ignore our suffering, by voting to re-elect them to political office, sitting in their churches or mosque, or owning a membership in their social, fraternal, sorority, masonic or association, we send them a clear message of acceptance of their poor leadership. We don’t demand courageous leaders willing to sacrifice their lives for us, so we reward those who do nothing to address our poor social and economic conditions and our collective suffering with leadership positions with large salaries. Because they already live high off the hog while doing nothing for us, they see no need to risk their necks. When we accept that it is our Personal Responsibility to demand solutions to our Problems, We and Our Children will benefit. A rising tide might lift all boats, but it will drown those left in the water without a life jacket. </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574210,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}3828574210,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="189" class="align-full" alt="3828574210?profile=original" /></a></p><p>The Quiet Resolution (TQR, Inc.) was created as a Life Jacket for the people I love! <a href="http://www.tqrinc.com"><span>http://www.tqrinc.com</span></a></p></div>Don Cornelius - an Icon in Black Culture for over 30 years - dead, apparently of self inflicted wounds.https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/don-cornelius-an-icon-in-black-culture-for-over-30-years-dead-app2012-02-02T12:00:00.000Z2012-02-02T12:00:00.000ZGloria Dulan-Wilsonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/GloriaDulanWilson<div><p><br /> by Gloria Dulan-Wilson<br /> <br /> Wow! That was all I could say when the announcement came across my computer early this morning. Don Cornelius - an Icon in Black Culture for over 30 years - dead, apparently of self inflicted wounds. I couldn't process it, or wrap my mind around it for a minute. Surely there was some error - you know that "the news of his death has been greatly exaggerated" type hope. But there it was.<br /> <br /> The great purveyor of everything Soul was gone from among us. Ironically I flashed back to just two weeks ago, at a party given by artist and sculptor Dudley Vacciana in his Brooklyn apartment, there were about 30 of us sitting in his parlor watching a 60" TV screen as DVD after DVD showed Soul Train Classics, from as far back as 1971! The days when we couldn't wait til Saturday to catch the latest dance, see the latest artist and hear the latest hit song on Soul Train!<br /> <br /> There he was, larger than life on that screen. And while everybody else was boogying down in the other rooms, we were checking out the clothes, the artists, the moves - and of course, Mr. Cooler than Cool, Don Cornelius. <br /> <br /> On several occasions the party's DJ came from the other room and tried to divert us from our past life revery to participate in the party at hand; and each time we ran him out the room. We held him off for nearly two hours. This was real music; these artists played real instruments and sang real songs- there were no "B" words; no put downs, no hostility. The songs had melodies you could rock to. <br /> <br /> We relived the in depth interviews Cornelius did with Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson (when he was still a kid). They were priceless. <br /> <br /> They were wearing bell bottom pants, platform shoes, natural hair (Afros); the commercials were from Afro Sheen - Watu Wazuri, use Afro Sheen! Wow! We were totally entranced looking at the peers of our yesterday, and remembering when we could kick that high, do the splits, wear slits up our thigh - we were fly!<br /> <br /> Little did we know that two weeks later we'd wake up to find the hero of our youth was no longer among us. Perhaps we had an inkling, and that was why we clung so dearly to watching those videos at Dudley's that evening.<br /> <br /> Brother Don Cornelius was an inspiration to us all. He was confirmation of the greatness of Black artist, talent, youth, creativity, ingenuity. He was a brother who made no bones about being Black and Proud. Always ending with Love, Peace and Soul, and meaning it, he set a standard for showcasing Black talent that has been mirrored, but never surpassed, to this day</p><p>Who can forget the rise of the divas: Sister Sledge, The Pointer Sisters, En Vogue, following the trails blazed by Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross - Diva Supreme, and Ms. Patti LaBelle, among others. We got our fashion tips, hair styles, and walks from watching these beautifully put together, elegant Black women.</p><p>I only met Mr. Cornelius on one occasion, when the group Mandrill performed live in Hollywood. I'm sure he barely noticed me. However, I remember how cordial, down to earth and unpretentious he was. He admired the group, and the fact that they were a self contained family. He highlighted their originality - composing and playing all their own original work. (I didn't get to dance, though - I was totally outclassed by those kids on the dance floor). It was interesting to watch from the inside out, and experience being in the company of the Mr. Cool.<br /> <br /> My daughter, who likewise grew up on Saturdays watching Soul Train, texted me "How bad could his life have been for him to have killed himself." I responded, "You never know what's going on inside a person, what kind of pain they may be experiencing."<br /> <br /> I later had a conversation with Public Relations Diva, <strong>Terrie Williams</strong>, who recently authored a book entitled, <em><strong>"Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting",</strong></em> who stated that Don Cornelius, who had recently suffered a stroke, was indeed undergoing a great deal of physical and mental pain. Whether or not that contributed to his demise is unknown, but it is a strong indication that he may have been facing a lot of challenges.<br /> <br /> Condolences to his family, friends, and those of us who have forged a soul relationship with him over the years. The sadness is that he is no longer here among us physically. The wonderful thing is that we have this tremendous body of work, those wonderful happy times we spent finger popping, lip synching, dancing, and trying to style like the dancers on Soul Train, as Don Cornelius brought into our homes on a very personal basis, artists most of us had only seen on album covers, or heard on the radio. <br /> <br /> Because of Don we had an opportunity to be up close and personal with so many wonderful, talented people, many of whom have already made their transition on to the next plane of action: Michael Jackson, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Heavy D., Etta James, Nina Simone, Nick Ashford, The Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass - what a Roll Call!<br /> <br /> And I'm sure they'll receive Don Cornelius gratefully, cordially, and happily, because he's needed to organize the next level of SOUL TRAIN, and <strong>"You can bet your last money, it's gonna be a stone gas honey! In his immortal words, "I wish you LOVE, PEACE & SOUL!"</strong><br /> <br /> <br /> NOTE: This is the beginning of BLACK HISTORY MONTH. We could do no less than honor Don Cornelius and all the wonderful artists he brought to the Black community via his show, the longest running Black entertainment show in television history. <br /> <br /> At the same time, pick up a Black history book and read or re-read it; pick up a Black newspaper and find out what's going on in your community; go see a Black play; take your kid to something that expands his or her knowledge and pride in being Black. If we don't honor ourselves and retain what we've accomplished, we will no longer be here. <span style="color:#3366ff;"><a href="http://www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com">www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com</a></span><br /> <br /> Stay Blessed &<br /> ECLECTICALLY BLACK<br /> Gloria Dulan-Wilson</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p></div>Michael Vick - From Vick-tim to Vick-toryhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/from-vick-tim-to-victory2011-09-15T04:00:00.000Z2011-09-15T04:00:00.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><b>September 15, 2011</b><b> <br />by Raynard Jackson</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p>Last December, I wrote a column titled, “Michael Vick--From Vick-tim to Vick-tory.” The premise of that piece was that Vick made poor decisions which ultimately caused him to serve time in a federal prison. After leaving prison, his lifestyle suggested that he had truly turned his life around. This again involved Vick making decisions that impacted his life. So, almost a year later, I wanted to write a piece to update my readers on this wonderful story.</p><p> </p><p>Last year’s piece focused on what Vick did to cause his troubles and how his decisions (post prison) could lead to him moving beyond his troubles.</p><p> </p><p>Vick had a phenomenal season for the Philadelphia Eagles last year. In fact, he was named to the Pro Bowl (and picked as the starting quarterback for the NFC), named by Associated Press & Sporting News as the comeback player of the year, and was runner up for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league.</p><p> </p><p>Yet, there are still those who want to continue to deny Vick his right to make a living and move on with his life. If you have that much of a problem with Vick, then just don’t watch him play football; but please let those of us who believe in redemption continue to enjoy and be a witness to this inspiring story taking place right before our very eyes.</p><p> </p><p>Vick has continued to work with the Humane Society to educate people about animal cruelty. He has continued to speak to students about making good life choices. He seems to have truly turned his life around and is a testament to those who have made mistakes.</p><p> </p><p>We all make mistakes, but through our actions, we can show that lessons have been learned through those mistakes. That’s what maturity and wisdom are all about.</p><p> </p><p>I do hope someone will do a movie about Vick’s journey. His journey can be an inspiration to us all, no matter how big or small the mistake. Just like one makes a decision to do something bad; that same process can make one reform one’s life to gain the victory over one’s circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Vick’s victory has been so complete that in July of this year Nike signed him to another endorsement deal. This is unprecedented! This is the first time a major sponsor has ever resigned an athlete they had previously dropped.</p><p> </p><p>Just last month, Vick signed a 6-year, $ 100 million contract with the Eagles, with $ 40 million guaranteed.</p><p> </p><p>Vick’s turnaround is nothing short of miraculous. Though he is in bankruptcy financially, this new contract, along with the steady stream of endorsements, should allow Vick to regain his financial footing.</p><p> </p><p>But, more important than the money, Vick has developed into a “MAN.” His conversation is different, his game is different, and his life is different. He is now the unquestioned leader of his team, his family, and his life.</p><p> </p><p>He is almost like a person who has cheated death. People like this tend to have a new take on life and those things that are most important.</p><p> </p><p>Football has helped him make a living, but his past has helped him make a life. These are truly the things that turn boys to men.</p><p> </p><p>So, Mike, you are no longer a “Vick-tim,” you are a “Vick-tor.” Because you have learned from your past, defeat has been swallowed up in VICTORY! </p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (<a href="http://www.freedomsjournal.net/">www.freedomsjournal.net</a>), and U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com/">www.usafricaonline.com</a>).</i></p></div>Michael Blake Leave The White House for Obama 2012 Campaign Position?https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/michael-blake-leave-the-white-house-for-obama-2012-campaign2011-08-20T00:29:07.000Z2011-08-20T00:29:07.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div class="post-content"><p>Michael Blake announced that he was leaving The White House and his latest Public Liaison position of promoting the Obama Administration's efforts to address issues that have positively impacting the Black community. I first met Michael Blake representing Black Wall Street Chicago and The National Black Wall Street USA when I was one of the national community organizers for Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network's "Measuring The Movement" National Convention. I Introduced myself as a veteran activist and one who was one of the first to work with President Obama as a Chicago community organizer and offered myself to network with him. I ran into him again when he started his White House Black Town Hall Meetings promoting the president's agenda as it has related to Black people. (whitehouse.gov/africanamericans)</p><p>When Michael Blake came to Chicago and addressed over 400 people at the historic southside Fellowship church, he introduced to the Black public a new website from The White House that specifically addressed administration policies that have benefited Black constituencies communities and I must admit like others did that as I read the information coming from the website, my first response was mostly "I did not know that." As people expressed concern about how Black could keep his public commitments Michael Blake announced that his outreach office designed to promote this Black agenda was staffed ONLY by him and one intern. I told him then that with the demands on him that there was NO WAY he could be successful, but his passion and energy was certainly admirable.</p><p>Many Black community organizers I knew that had met Blake and getting used to their establishing communication with him and his office have felt a major blow because to them they had not been used to having the kind of direct rapport that Blake extended and who they knew directly had the ear of The President, and specifically through Valerie Jarrett, Obama Senior Advisor.</p><p>Well I would have agreed that Blake leaving The White House was going to be a blow to those relationships and Black community outreach efforts to get those disconnected Black constituencies connected and re-connected to those White House entities designed to benefit Black constituencies.</p><p>There may be hope to those Black outreach efforts started by Blake as I read further into his departing announcement where Blake says that he is on to his next challenge "in Chicago". Now what kind of challenge could Blake find in Chicago as one who showed so much talent and passion for President Obama and his Black agenda?</p><p>Well I would like to read into Blake's "next Chicago challenge" as the opening to take all the passion he brought to his White House position and translate that into a much needed key Black Grassroots Community Outreach Coordinator position for the Obama 2012 Re-election Campaign. It takes someone with the passion, commitment and rapport that Blake brings to continue his allegience to Obama by taking up that needed Black outreach role in the Obama 2012 Re-election Campaign.</p><p>Now I havent talked directly to Blake in several months so I have no personal clue to what his exact plans may be, but I can see the absolute void that still exists with The Obama Re-election Campaign and just how many grassroots community organizers and constituencies that are still not connected in any way to the reelection campaign and it will take a person like Blake who knows how to reach these constituencies to assume this kind of leadership role. The Obama 2012 Reelection Campaign needs a Michael Blake in the streets of Chicago much much more than the suites of The White House.</p><p>So while Michael Blake and his one intern office at The White House may be changing, but I suspect that Michael Blake's new Chicago challenge will be leading the Black voter outreach efforts from the Obama Reelection headquarters in Chicago and next time you see Blake, her will certainly be armed with more a single intern helping him with the latest Black constituency outreach efforts on behalf of President Barack Obama.</p></div></div>Ode to Michael Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/ode-to-michael-jackson-12011-06-23T04:00:49.000Z2011-06-23T04:00:49.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Originally Published on July 2, 2009</span></p><p><b> </b><b> </b></p><p><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p> </p><p>Like a candle in the wind,</p><p>Your life came to a sudden end.</p><p>With <b>“A Child’s Heart</b>,<b>”</b></p><p>You began your start.</p><p> </p><p>You brought joy to many,</p><p>But in the end, you didn’t have any.</p><p>You had money, fortune, and fame,</p><p>If that’s all we remember, what a shame.</p><p> </p><p>Now, they all say, “<b>I Want You Back</b>,”</p><p>But is that all just an act?</p><p>They all said, <b>“I’ll Be There</b>,”</p><p>I am not sure they really care.</p><p> </p><p>While you were making your journey home,</p><p>Sharpton was already in front of the microphone.</p><p>Trying to bask in your glorious light,</p><p>Doing that just wasn’t right.</p><p> </p><p>Standing in front of the Apollo,</p><p>This stunt rang really hollow.</p><p>Grandstanding in front of the press,</p><p>My goodness, such a pathetic mess.</p><p> </p><p>I thought Obama had silenced Jesse Jackson,</p><p>But, I guess he was just waiting for the next media attraction.</p><p>Come on Jesse, start being a man,</p><p>And just stay away from Neverland.</p><p> </p><p>Now, Al and Jesse are fighting over the eulogy,</p><p>Not even death can bring them unity.</p><p>I am sickened by their behavior,</p><p>Yet they claim Jesus as their savior.</p><p> </p><p>The media is airing all sorts of speculation,</p><p>None of it proven is my observation.</p><p>I am embarrassed by their actions,</p><p>They’re just trying to use Michael Jackson.</p><p> </p><p>Airing anyone who claims to have a story,</p><p>All the while, trying to diminish Michael’s glory.</p><p>Why in the world is the media so hating?</p><p>I guess they’re just trying to increase their ratings</p><p> </p><p>Some say you lived your life <b>“Off The Wall</b>,<b>”</b></p><p>But, who are we to make that call?</p><p>Yes, you had your eccentricities,</p><p>But that shouldn’t overshadow what a man believes.</p><p> </p><p>You tried to do good with your voice,</p><p>And became the people’s choice.</p><p>The choice of a whole generation,</p><p>And they gave you their total adulation.</p><p> </p><p>You saw a world that was not <b>Black or White,</b></p><p>Because <b>Healing the World</b>, was worth the fight.</p><p>You challenged us to look at that <b>“Man In The Mirror</b>,<b>”</b></p><p>So your vision of unity could become clearer.</p><p> </p><p>You wanted gangs to start uniting,</p><p>Songs like <b>“Beat It”</b> helped them stop fighting.</p><p>You didn’t have to prove you were <b>“Bad,”</b></p><p>You just talked about the childhood you never had.</p><p> </p><p>You were put on this earth to be a blessing to many,</p><p>Now everyone is going to be fighting for every penny,</p><p>What will be the true legacy of your life?</p><p>It’s hard to see in the midst of all this strife.</p><p> </p><p>You had the best friends money could buy,</p><p>Guess that’s why I see no tears in their eye.</p><p>Other friends were the best you could rent,</p><p>I pray one day they’ll repent.</p><p> </p><p>Catherine Jackson, you are a saint</p><p>With you, Michael never had a complaint.</p><p>I hope you are surrounded with those who care,</p><p>If not, just call my name and <b>“I’ll be there!”</b></p><p> </p><p><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/">www.excellstyle.com</a><i>) & USAfrica Magazine (<a href="http://www.USAfricaonline.com">www.USAfricaonline.com</a>). </i></p></div>Benefits of National Black Wall Street Registrationhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/benefits-of-national-black2011-05-09T22:12:15.000Z2011-05-09T22:12:15.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div style="text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><div class="entry"><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:9pt;"><strong><font size="7" style="font-size:1.56em;">From Mark S. Allen, National Spokesperson, National Black Wall Street District USA</font></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:9pt;"><strong><font style="font-size:1.56em;">Rev. Michael Carter, National President</font></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"> </div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:9pt;"><strong><font size="7" style="font-size:1.95em;"><img height="154" width="154" src="http://us.mg2.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1_37459816_AL0MDUwAABdpTcggCwmo1WU4Xlc&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1" alt="download?mid=1%5f37459816%5fAL0MDUwAABdpTcggCwmo1WU4Xlc&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1" /></font></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:9pt;"> </span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:10pt;"><b>Monday, May 9, 2011</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:10pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:14pt;">Register for the 2011 <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_0">Black Wall Street</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_1" style="border-bottom:medium none;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">District USA National Convention</span> and win a free 7-day</span></b> <span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:14pt;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_2">Caribbean Cruise</span></b></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:16pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><b>OAKLAND</b></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;">- The national office for Black Wall Street USA announced today that anyone that registers for this years 2011 <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_3">Black Wall Street USA</span> Convention in October will have a chance to win a 7-day Caribbean Cruise including airfare and all accommodations. Presented by: <a target="_blank" href="http://atravelmoment.net/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_4">ATravelMoment.net</span></a>. All terms and conditions apply.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;">For more information on the free cruise and for business owners to become eligible to win they must register online at:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><a target="_blank" href="http://blackwallstreetdistrict.com/2011convention/2011Convention.html"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_5">http://blackwallstreetdistrict.com/2011convention/2011Convention.html</span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">The 2011 Black Wall Street USA <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_6">National Convention</span> is scheduled for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_7" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">October 21 - 23, 2011</span> at the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_8" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">Genesis Convention Center</span> in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_9">Gary, Indiana</span>. Registration is only $65 per person, which gives you access to all Convention Weekend Events.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">In August of last year over 415 people attended the 2010 Black Wall Street USA National Convention held in Chicago. Why Gary? The historical significance is that Gary hosted the first Black <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_10" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">Political Convention</span> in 1971.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;"><b>Black Wall Street District USA is a national organization that represents 25 Black Wall Street District communities throughout the United States. Some cities Include <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_11">Atlanta</span>, Baton Rouge, Chicago-Regional (13 Districts including <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_12">47<sup>th</sup> Street</span> in Bronzeville, E <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_13" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">75th Street</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_14" style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;">Madison Street</span>, Stoney Island, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_15">Peoria, IL</span> and Gary, Ind and seven others), Minneapolis, Newark, Oakland, and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_16">Seattle, Washington</span>. Black Wall Street District USA headquarters are in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_17" style="border-bottom:medium none;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Oakland</span>. <span style="color:#000000;">For more information visit: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304961280_18">www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com</span></a>.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;"><b>-30-</b></span></div></div><div class="entry-footer pkg"><p>Tagged <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/National+Black+Wall+Street+District-USA">National Black Wall Street District-USA</a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/Rev.+Michael+Carter">Rev. Michael Carter</a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/mark+s+allen">mark s allen</a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/national+black+wall+street+usa+convention+in+gary+indiana">national black wall street usa convention in gary indiana</a></p></div><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/05/win-7-day-cruise-registering-for-national-black-wall-street-district-usa-convention.html#ixzz1LtWzKP98" style="color:#003399;">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/05/win-7-day-cruise-registering-for-national-black-wall-street-district-usa-convention.html#ixzz1LtWzKP98</a></div></div>Chicago Cardinal George Delivers Another Humiliating Blow To Father Plfeger!!https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/chicago-cardinal-george2011-04-29T20:30:00.000Z2011-04-29T20:30:00.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div><div style="text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><h1 class="entry-title">Cardinal George Delivers Another "Gotcha" To Father Pfleger By Ordering New Priest To Move In To St. Sabina With NO Notice To Staff !!</h1><p class="entry-title">Mark S. Allen</p><p class="entry-title">Veteran Political Actvist</p><p class="entry-title">Associate Editor, South Street Journal Newspaper<br /> and Editor of newsblog And The Ordinary People Said<br /> on <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1304100406_0" class="yshortcuts">www.chicagonow.com</span></a> <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_1" class="yshortcuts">773-392-0165</span></p><div class="entry-header pkg"><div class="entry"><div class="userpic pkg"><span style="font-size:24px;font-weight:bold;"><br />ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE BY THE CARDINAL. ORDERS NEW PRIEST TO MOVE INTO SAINT SABINA WITH NO NOTICE TO STAFF!!!<br /></span></div></div></div><div class="entry"><div class="clearfix"><div class="mbs uiHeaderSubTitle lfloat fsm fwn fcg">by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000154823950" target="_blank"><font color="#3B5998"><span id="lw_1304100406_5" class="yshortcuts">Chinta Strausberg</span></font></a> <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_6" class="yshortcuts">on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 11:07am</span></div><div class="uiHeaderSubActions rfloat"></div></div><div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><p>Another Slap in the Face! At approximately 8:30 a.m. on today, Father Andrew Smith called <span id="lw_1304100406_7" class="yshortcuts">Saint Sabina Church</span> to inform us that he will be moving into the rectory in 20 minutes. Father Smith arrived by 9:00 a.m. to take up residence. He stated that he was told to do so by <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_8" class="yshortcuts">Cardinal Francis George</span> and Bishop Joseph Perry. Again, the <span id="lw_1304100406_9" class="yshortcuts">Saint Sabina Family</span> has been disrespected and slapped in the face by the <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_10" class="yshortcuts">Archdiocese of Chicago</span>. The church family, the church leadership, or the church Administrator Father Thulani Magwaza received no notification from the Archdiocese of this move in. When Father Pfleger was suspended in 2008, Father William Vanecko was appointed Administrator of <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_11" class="yshortcuts">Saint Sabina</span>, yet, was not ordered to move in. According to the Archdiocese, Father Thulani Magwaza is the Administrator, and <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1304100406_12" class="yshortcuts">Father Michael Pfleger</span> is still the Pastor. Is the message that they are sending is that the Faith Community of Saint Sabina is incapable of continuing the ministry of Saint Sabina?</p><p>*************************************************************************************************************</p><div>Editor's Note -- Cardinal Francis George seems to be taking this Father Pfleger issue a lot more personal with his "Gotcha" decisions than what a conscious religious leader should be doing as a conscious and caring Cardinal should. First, he brought Father Pfleger to tears by nationally as well as internationally embarrassing Father Pfleger by allowing his suspension to be given to the press before it was discussed and given personally to Father Pfleger. Was it some sense of personal satisfaction for the Cardinal to sit back and wonder how Father Pfleger reacted to the barrage of local, national, and international media calls asking him to respond to a suspension that he didnt know had happened? Was it a proper for a "Cardinal" to make a major personnel decision in a way that he KNEW would humiliate a priest like Pfleger when he allowed his suspension announcement to be given to the media first? Now not even 24 hours later, the Cardinal delivers yet another humiliating "gotcha" blow to Father Pfleger by ordering a new priest to move in to St. Sabina with no advance notice to The St. Sabina staff !! <span id="lw_1304100406_13" class="yshortcuts">The Cardinal</span> did not take an action like this against Pfleger before, so WHY deliver another embarrassing blow to Pfleger and The St. Sabina Family and community??</div><div> </div><div>I think I have the answer to this based upon a comment a White woman said to me during yesterdays demonstration in support of Father Pfleger at the residence of Cardinal George. She said that while The Cardinal may eventually decide to let Father Pfleger stay at St. Sabina, recognize the new leader that St. Sabina has identified to succeed Pfleger and expland Pfleger and St. Sabina to the Leo High School facilities, that you cannot deny George his chance to give Pfleger these "Gotcha" type hits and public embarrassment. "WHY?" Because she says "imagine what Cardinal George feels like each time he gets media calls to respond to the many media appearances of Pfleger talking about him, and so it is now the Cardinal's turn to flp the script and now make Pfleger have to wake up to media calls on decisions that he has made regarding Pfleger!! So the Cardinal has taken his high level position of leadership into a personal "Gotcha" state of pettiness.</div><div> </div><div>So if that is the case, then now is the time to put this "gotcha" period to an end, sit down at a common table and make the proper decisions that will allow St. Sabina to continue with its leadership sucession plan, and then allow Father Pfleger to make the leadership transition to expand his leadership and ministry to rebuilding Leo High Schol and facilities as an extension of St Sabina. Thinking out loud, The Leo (St. Sabina) High School would be off to a great attendance start if the 8th Grade Graduates of <span id="lw_1304100406_14" class="yshortcuts">St. Sabina Elementary School</span> knew that they were going to be the Freshman Class of the new St. Sabina High School !!?? And from there there are so many community development projects and services that St. Sabina no longer has the room to add in its current facilities and could fit into the facilities of Leo and would add the rebuilding of the community. The Cardinal has succeeded with his humiliation of Father Pfleger and the pain he has also caused to The St. Sabina community, and now must shift back to his role as a conscious and caring Cardinal and making decsions that will help heal and help The St. Sabina community by accepting their strategic plan for leadership transition plan.</div></div></div><div class="entry-footer pkg"><p><span id="lw_1304100406_15" class="yshortcuts">Tagged</span> <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/Father+Michael+Pfleger" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF">Father Michael Pfleger</font></a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/cardinal+francis+george" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF">cardinal francis george</font></a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chinta+strausberg" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF">chinta strausberg</font></a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/leo+high+school" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF"><span id="lw_1304100406_16" class="yshortcuts">leo high school</span></font></a>, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/st.sabina" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF"><span id="lw_1304100406_17" class="yshortcuts">st.sabina</span></font></a></p></div><br /><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/04/cardinal-george-delivers-another-gotcha-to-father-pfleger-by-ordering-new-priest-to-move-in-to-st-sabina-with-no-notice-to-staff.html#ixzz1Kw2qAzx4" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1304100406_18" class="yshortcuts">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/04/cardinal-george-delivers-another-gotcha-to-father-pfleger-by-ordering-new-priest-to-move-in-to-st-sabina-with-no-notice-to-staff.html#ixzz1Kw2qAzx4</span></a></div></div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"> </div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"> </div></div></div>The modern method used for controlling Black Peoplehttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-modern-method-used-for2011-01-15T22:02:47.000Z2011-01-15T22:02:47.000ZFranklin Jones aka thanubianhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/FranklinJonesakathanubian<div><p><b>“Instead of Waiting On The World To Change just open your eyes and see the truth"</b><br /> Educate yourselves about what is really going on, and avoid the trap that so many have fallen so deeply into.</p><p>During the 1960’s Black revolutionaries such as Malcolm X and Stokley Carmichael were most often revered as heroes of the black community. Today we often find that such like minded Blacks that are culturally conscious (Afro-centric/ Black Revolutionary types) are often misunderstood or underappreciated by the Black Masses. They are now often accused of being unconstructive militants that subscribe to an outdated rhetoric appropriate only for past conditions that have since been overcome by Blacks.</p><p>These culturally conscious Blacks are also often mocked and reviled for not accepting the popular premise that it is they themselves (Blacks) that are now their own worst enemy. Such sentiments have become so popular that it may even be found within the speeches of America’s first Black President. This popular black self deprecating consensus and common ill perceptions towards the more afro centric types among their groups are more than just some unknown phenomenon. They are in fact both the result of a well orchestrated massive insidious social engineering program. It is a deliberately deplored psychosocial program used to assault the Black psyche as a means of maintaining white dominance and control. It is being implemented through totally white control media outlets that subjects Black people to seeing only the fraudulent worst within them. Its negative misinformation, imageries and partial truths are deliberately designed to imply white superiority and to break down Black unity. </p><p>Many journalists working for public relations firms are now hired by a U.S. government department to produce fake news reports. These false reports are being presented as factual news by journalists, and are rebroadcast by news stations. It is never revealed that segments are from a PR firm hired by the government, thus giving it the appearance of genuine news. Today what are often deemed as being credible news sources are often totally made up stories made to push an agenda or meet a governmental objective. As a means of meeting its unrelenting objective of maintaining its white racial dominance and control, the U.S. government now secretly disseminates racially devaluing fake news reports and fraudulent misinformation through the national and local media regarding its Black population. This propaganda is being used to shape the mind and collective perceptions of Blacks to accept the belief of white superiority and white dominance over their lives.</p><p>Whether it is in the field of politics, religion, history, archeology, science, and all given statistics- as long as the white elites remain as the authorities over such fields they will always give to blacks only those information implying their white superiority. Because when they own the information they shape it to say what they want it to say. Therefore, as long as Black people continue to accept information about themselves that is totally compiled by white people as fact, they will always deal with self deprecating thoughts of themselves.</p><p>Many Black people can attest to the fact that they are being deplorable inaccurately depicted through the white control media. However, most Black people do not recognize the detrimental consequences of such negative portrayals. These negative portrayals of African Americans are a deliberate modern system of psychological warfare. Moreover, it works very much like any other massive public relations marketing campaign used for shaping and manipulating public opinion. </p><p>Fake news reports about African Americans are deliberately disseminated unrelentingly everywhere through news releases in magazine articles, radio, television, press releases, documentaries, and false census reports perpetuating and framing the myth of the White racial, moral, and ethical superiority over its Black population. It is an insidious yet very sophisticated system of control designed to engender self hatred and division among Black people and detach them from their sense of power. It conditions blacks to not only accept white dominance over their lives, but to also prefer it by convincing them that they are their own worst enemy. </p><p> </p><p>One example of this mass manipulation program can be seen in the all too common news video footages showing the brave white physicians giving medical aid to Africans. These imageries are deliberately over perpetuated continuously around the world. They are actually propaganda programs designed to make whites appear as saviors of the world thus engendering feeling indebtedness towards whites among the Black masses. It also leaves the Black masses totally oblivious of the fact that Africa is often the testing ground for many untested drugs made by these western countries. Drugs not yet approved by the FDA to be used in the United States [and other European countries] on humans are however being used on Africans. Most Blacks are also unaware of the CIA economic hit men strategies and unfair trade practices designed by European and American governmental policy makers that directly attributes not only to Africa remaining a third world country but also to the deaths of millions of Africans every year. In fact the policies and actions of Western governments have contributed to more African deaths than it has to African lives saved. Despite this fact, the Black masses are instead made to feel forever indebted to whites. This is due to the success of these well orchestrated PR marketing campaign favoring whites.</p><p>The media’s immense ability to manipulate the masses should never be under estimated nor can it ever be overstated. News reports about a fake swine flu out break can convince millions of people not to attend work and to even pull their children out of school. The media is often manipulated through professional public relations (PR) firms, and covert and overt government agencies which disseminate propaganda as news. These media reports are used to promote certain political policies, ideologies and governmental objectives. They are also often used as smear tactics to discredit, and /or destroy the reputation of someone or to defame or marginalize a particular targeted ethnic group. It can either involve outright lies, or a distortion of the truth that are then disseminated nationally as well as internationally reaching millions. This is precisely what is being done to African Americans to ensure that America’s white racial dominance and control be maintained.</p><p>The U.S. government now secretly uses its proven method of social engineering by way of mass media manipulation -through fake news reports- against its Black population. It is an insidious yet very sophisticated system of control that creates deplorable false misinformation and media reports about its Black population. The weapon of this psychological warfare is within the messages that it carries and how these messages adversely affect its targeted Black recipient group.</p><p>Its constant relentless bombardment of deplorably negative imageries of African Americans is a very carefully and deliberately designed psychological conditioning program. It is designed to adversely manipulate and shape the minds and collective consciousness of America’s Black population by subjecting them to seeing only the fraudulent worst in themselves. Its unrelenting daily assault on the Black psyche drills the message perpetuating the myth of Whites’ racial, moral, and ethical superiority over its Black population. It also impresses upon the Blacks psyche that they are powerless, of lesser moral, and intelligence and that they need Whites to govern over their lives. It totally detaches African Americans from their sense of power and reality. Moreover, it corrupts African Americans’ sense of racial unity and cohesion, mold the character of self-hatred, engender self-doubt, self-loathing, and distrust among their group while insinuating that Blacks admire, respect, and trust only Whites. Additionally it conditions America’s Black population to accept the dominance of Whites and white institutions over their lives by misleading them to believe that they are, themselves, their own worst enemies, therefore engendering an aberration of internalized self contempt that pulverizes Black unity and halts Black upward mobility. Its propaganda and manipulations practices divides to conquer and misinforms to exploit and suppress it Black population and it is being deployed in all sectors - government, media, health and welfare, entertainment, and education, etc- nationally and internationally.</p><p> </p><p class="ie6">This above example of the U.S. government using the media to form public opinion to meet its governmental objectives is not new at all. In an interview with John Stauber from prwatch.org he notes that issues such as “fake news” have been around for years: “There is a widespread use of fake news, we’re talking thousands of stories a year. This billion dollar sub-industry of the P.R. industry has been going on for several decades, and the mainstream media hardly ever exposes them in any length and depth.”</p><p>It is surmised that this manipulation program directed against African Americans was implemented in 1968 in the face of widespread violence that ensued after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s brutal assassination led to many demonstrations of unrest and rioting disturbances; that of which were reported in more than 100 cities across the nation. This violence resulted in the loss of lives and property that cost the nation and taxpayers millions of dollars and increasingly placed the peace and stability of the nation in dire jeopardy. America’s brutal racial mistreatment of African Americans had appeared to have reached its boiling point creating much unrest and discord. These factors, combined with the rapidly tarnishing American global image, led to the then president, Lyndon B Johnson, ordering that a commission be formed, later known as the Kerner Commission, to investigate and prescribe a cure or recommendations for the problem. The Commission concluded that blatant White racism was the single aggravating factor for the collective problems. This finding required the U.S. Government’s agents of White supremacy to reform their techniques of institutionalized racism.</p><p> </p><p>The Kerner report’s findings required that the U.S. Government abandon it’s condoning of open, blatant forms of racism to control and maintain White dominance. This abandoning of dated tactics led to the need for developing an improved method of controlling and suppressing its Black population. Changing times made it necessary for the U.S. government to change its methods to a much more subtle and socially acceptable means of continuing its racial suppression of Blacks and to maintain its White dominance. Clearly, the sophisticated method of psychological warfare met such a need. It was the logical choice, perfect for the changing times. Unlike the blatantly brutal forms of racism used in the past, which Blacks were able to identify easily and therefore unify and form counter strategies, this modern method of racism works from a psychological perspective. This provided the U.S. government a more socially acceptable method of continuing the White racial hierarchy for dominance and control given that it is not as easily recognized. This new method exists in the space between overt racism and racial respect. Its methods include the ability to both influence the national climate and engender personal psychological feelings among Americans that meet the U.S government objective. </p><p> </p><p class="style28"> The basis of this concept of mind manipulation is that the human being's most critical aspect is the mind and it works by affecting the unconscious mind through deception. Its weapon is the message that it carries and the way that it adversely affects the targeted recipient group in terms of their behavior. Here is a simplified example of how this is being implemented against African Americans. Let us, for example, imagine that a crew of people was aboard their own massive ship and that this ship was being shadowed by another neighboring ship that was constantly broadcasting derogatory messages to the first group. Such messages as that their ship was lesser, smaller, not seaworthy, perhaps slowly sinking or that their crew was incompetent and was planning a mutiny. With time, the group receiving the negative messages, being unable to refute or to confirm these derogatory messages and deficiencies will grow weary and paranoid of the negative messages and will eventually comes to accept these negative assessments of themselves. The perception created by the taunting now unconsciously influences how the taunted group perceives themselves, subsequently causing them to become distrustful of themselves, doubting themselves, hating themselves and, eventually, fighting among themselves. The taunted group may even become so besieged by deep feelings of inadequacy that they may even jump into the sea and attempt to swim towards the taunting ship now believing it to be superior to their own boat even if their own ship was in fact better.</p><p class="style28"> </p><p>Within a real life setting this mortifying psychological manipulation is precisely what is being done to African Americans through an immense campaign of false derogatory misinformation and false negative media reports, fake news, and statistics that are created by U.S. governmental agencies and then leaked to its collaborators in the news media, which either knowingly or unknowingly carry the stories as their own. These false information about African Americans is then disseminated unrelentingly everywhere; it is deliberately perpetuated through news releases in magazine articles, radio, television, press releases, documentaries, and false census reports perpetuating and framing the myth of Whites’ racial, moral, and ethical superiority over its Black population. However, the weapon is not in how the message is carried, but is instead within the messages that it carries and how these messages affect the targeted recipients.</p><p>The constant relentless bombardment with deplorably negative images of themselves that of which African Americans are so inundated with throughout the media is a very carefully and deliberately designed psychological conditioning program. It is designed to subject African Americans to seeing, through a controlled national media, only the worst in themselves-- while insinuating that they admire, respect, and trust only Whites. This unrelenting daily assault on the Black psyche is designed to corrupt African Americans’ sense of racial unity and cohesion, mold the character of self-hatred, and engender self-doubt, self-loathing, and distrust among their group. Many Blacks may even begin to feel that there is something not quite right about their Black humanity. To the detriment of Blacks, this system of applied psychological conditioning has been an extremely effective. It has successfully conditioned many African Americans to accept the dominance of Whites and white institutions over their lives by misleading them to believe that they are, themselves, their own worst enemies, therefore engendering an aberration of internalized self contempt that pulverizes Black unity and halts Black upward mobility.</p><p>Moreover, all African Americans have experienced the burden of this psychological warfare, some more severely than others have. It is experienced every time we [Blacks] read a newspaper, watch the evening news, enter a classroom, and read its racially biased textbooks. And while many Black Americans have successfully navigated through the psychology mortifying mine field and have gone on to lead successful, productive lives, but for far too many African Americans this immense devaluation can seem inescapable and tragically, over time, many begin to accept subconsciously and painfully the negative portrayals of themselves. Many also become discouraged by the acceptance that their society is also preconditioned to see the worst in them and that, therefore, if they were ever to gain acceptance, if it is to be won at all, that success would be hard won and likely to manifest negative internalized psychological pain and distress within many African Americans that can take many forms. In fact, this governmental mortifying psychological warfare against African Americans may be the most aggravating, if not core, factor of the national phenomenon of self hatred; loss of educational aspirations; loss of unity, cohesion and racial pride; and fragile psyches of many African Americans today. Moreover, this type of psychological manipulation program has been proven very effective in rapidly destroying a group’s ethical and moral values and cultural norms with regard to violence, brutality, and even murder. All people are products of cultural conditions and their worldviews operate outside of their level of consciousness. Therefore, no group can be preconditioned to see only the worst in themselves and not exhibit some degree of negative psychological impact. This mass manipulation program is In fact, so proficient at damaging the Black self-perception that tragically it has become easier for many Blacks to accept derogatory premises of themselves rather than recognizing this program.</p><p> </p><p>This mass psychological conditioning program also significantly influences society as a whole. Its ultimate goal is to foster a consensual national setting of where in which Blacks are more easily divided, exploited and ultimately suppressed. The media’s constant negative imagery of Black Americans is not only fraudulently inaccurate but is actually being done to engender a shift of victimization that changes the root problem of racism in America to be due to Black’s behavior rather than White’s proclivity for racism. Therefore insinuates that America would be a better society as a whole if African Americans were gone, thus engendering increasingly prejudiced distorted perceptions and acrimonious beliefs about African Americans that are designed to makes the nation and the entire world insensitive to their plight, tranquilizes efforts on their behalf, lessens pressure for social change on their behalf and makes any serious criticism of White racism almost impossible today and attempts discourage miscegenation between Blacks and whites. It also creates a false justification for the legal system’s mistreatment of African Americans. Wherein they are disproportionately incarcerated, given stiffer sentences, and are more likely than other racial groups to be treated brutally, beaten, and fired upon by police officers while they are unarmed. These injustices now goes ignored because the perception has become that it’s all now justified.</p><p>When contempt of Blacks is made to appear to be justifiable, it is the most fiercest and effective type of racism because its witnesses, bystanders, and even world audiences will sit by idly allowing African Americans to be brutally mistreated disproportionately incarcerated under the belief that it is justified.] It also affects attitudes that when enacted through governmental policies, laws, and other legislation actions, serve to ensure that African Americans will not advance. Its effects are manifested in ideas, education, governmental policies, economic stratification, social segregation, housing markets, hiring and promotion practices, psychological issues, and minority access to a variety of social services and opportunity. This campaign successfully stripped African Americans of the national and international support that was acquired during the 1960's civil rights struggles. This anti Black governmental campaign of psychological warfare also creates a false justification for the legal system’s mistreatment of African Americans wherein they are disproportionately incarcerated, given stiffer sentences, and are more likely than other racial groups to be treated brutally, beaten, and fired upon by police officers while they are unarmed. Moreover, some studies have shown that this shift of victimization now reflects increasingly acrimonious beliefs and prejudiced perceptions about and against African Americans that are arguably stronger today than they were after emancipation. </p><p>The objective of the United States government has always been to maintain its White dominance over its Black population, and clearly, psychological warfare meets this need—because it covertly creates a national climate that allows the government to suppress consensually the advancement of its African American population and to maintain its White dominance and national stability. These words are not the declaration of an anti white racist, but are instead the indisputable truth affirmed by thousands of years of history. Through out western history when people in power wanted to conquer a people or maintain their dominance over a people they have done so by manipulating that targeted group of people. Therefore the perception of the suppressed group is not their own but is instead impressed upon them without their knowing it.</p><p>The insidious propaganda and public opinion manipulations (including mind control agendas) is covered at greater length in the book The Black Matrix by Franklin Jones at <a href="http://www.DivineBlacktruth.org">www.DivineBlacktruth.org</a></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>National Black Wall Street-USA Education And Appeal For Supporthttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/national-black-wall-streetusa2010-12-11T20:08:09.000Z2010-12-11T20:08:09.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><tbody><tr><td width="100%" align="left" valign="top"><table id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" style="margin-bottom:6px;margin-top:6px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="689"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;" align="left"><p><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;"><strong><img src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs061/1101271254295/img/4270.jpg?a=1104060966238" border="0" alt="" vspace="5" width="583" /></strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;"><strong><br /></strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" align="left" valign="top"><p><span style="font-size:medium;">What is going on today to rebuild the (Black Wall Street) Black owned and operated Black business and jobs districts in the spirit of Black Wall Street Tulsa?</span></p><p><span style="font-size:medium;">Join the National Black Wall Street Street-USA movement with your membership, local chapter or general financial support. "There is nothing we cannot do when our people show their commitment to a righteous, spiritual, cultural</span>, <span style="font-size:medium;">and empowerment cause as Black Wall Street-USA, said Rev. Michael Carter, National President of National Black Wall Street-USA (<a href="http://www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com">www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com</a>)</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:medium;">Mark S. Allen, Board member of Black Wall Street Chicago and new National Spokesperson for the National President states that "The Black consumer spending power when properly directed successfully built the original Black Wall Street Tulsa, in addition to Black businesses, products, services, entrepreneurs, throughout the country, and Black Wall Street Street-USA can be one of the significant Black economic and cultural empowerment movements of our time, but not without the partnerships and core financial support of the people." Join the movement today at <a href="http://www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com">www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com</a> <br /></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" align="left" valign="top"><table id="content_LETTER.BLOCK4" style="margin-bottom:6px;margin-top:6px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#333333;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;" align="left"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#333333;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:18pt;"><strong>A. Moment In Black History</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /> <span style="color:#000000;">Many Thanks To Our Forefathers, 88 yrs. ago.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>The Date Was June 1, 1921, "BLACK WALLSTREET"</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The name fittingly given to one of the most affluent All-BLACK Communities in America , was bombed from the air and Burned to the ground by mobs of envious Whites.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">In a period spanning fewer than 12 hours, a once thriving Black Business District in northern Tulsa lay smoldering -- a model Community destroyed and a major African-American economic movement resoundingly defused</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The Night's Carnage left some 3,000 African Americans Dead and over 600 Successful Businesses Lost. Among these were 21 Churches, 21 Restaurants, 30 Grocery Stores and 2 Movie Theaters, plus A Hospital, A Bank, a Post Office, Libraries, Schools, Law Offices, a half dozen Private Airplanes and even A Bus System.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">As could have been expected, the impetus behind it al l was the infamous Ku Klux Klan, working in consort with Ranking City Officials and many other Sympathizers.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The best description of <strong>BLACK WALLSTREET</strong>, or <strong>Little Africa</strong> as it was also known, would be to compare it to a mini - Berverly Hills.</span> <span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">It was the golden door of the BLACK Community during the early 1900s, and it proved that African Americans could create a successful infrastructure.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>That's What BLACK WALLSTREET, Was All About.</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">The Dollar circulated 36 to 100 Times, sometimes taking a year for currency to leave the Community.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">Now a Dollar leaves the BLACK Community in 15-minutes. As Far As Resources,There were Ph.D.'s residing in Little Africa, BLACK Attorneys and Doctors. One Doctor was Dr. Berry who owned the Bus System. His average income was $500 a Day, a hefty pocket change in 1910.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;">It was a time when the entire State of Oklahoma had only 2 Airports, yet 6 BLACKS, Owned their own Planes. It was a very Fascinating Community..</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The mainstay of the Community was to educate every child. Nepotism was the one word they Believed in. And that's what we need to get back to.The main thoroughfare was <strong>Greenwood Avenue</strong>, and it was intersected by <strong>Archer and Pine Streets</strong>.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">From the First Letters in each of those Three Names you get G..A.P. And that's where the renowned R and B Music Group <span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The GAP Band got its name. They're From Tulsa.</strong></span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>BLACK WALLSTREET</strong></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">was a prime example of the typical, BLACK Community in America that did businesss, but it was in an unusual location.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>You See, At The Time,</strong></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">Oklahoma was set aside to be a BLACK and Indian State .</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">There were over 28 BLACK Townships there. <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">One third of the People who traveled in the terrifying "Trail of Tears" along side the Indians between 1830 and 1842 were BLACK People.</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The Citizens of this proposed Indian and BLACK State Chose A BLACK Governor, A Treasurer from Kansas named McDade. But the Ku Klux Klan said that if he assumed Office that they would Kill Him within 48 hours.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">A lot of BLACKS owned Farmland, and many of them had gone into the Oil Business</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">The Community was so tight and Wealthy because they traded Dollars hand-to-hand, and because they were dependent upon one another as a result of the Jim Crow Laws.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">It was not unusual that if a Resident's Home accidentally Burned down, it could be rebuilt within a few weeks by Neighbors. This was the type of scenario that was going on Day-to-Day on <strong>BLACK WALLSTREET</strong>.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">When BLACKs intermarried into the Indian Culture, some of them received their promised '40 Acres and A Mule' and with that came whatever Oil was later found on the Properties.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>On BLACK WALLSTREET</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:10pt;"><strong>.</strong></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">A lot of Global Business was conducted, The Community flourished from the Early 1900s until June 1, 1921.. That's when the Largest Massacre of Nonmilitary Americans in the History of this Country took place, and it was lead by <strong>The KU KLUX KLAN</strong>.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">Imagine walking out of your front door and seeing 1,500 Homes being Burned.</span> <span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">It must have been amazing</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /> <span style="color:#000000;">Survivors we interviewed think that the whole thing was planned because during the time that all of this was going on; <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">White Families with their children stood around the borders of their Community and watched The Massacre.</span></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The looting and everything -- much in the same manner they would watch a Lynching.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">The Riots weren't caused by anything Black or White</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">. <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">It was caused by jealousy.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">A lot of White Folks had come back from World War I and they were poor.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">When they looked over into The BLACK Communities and realized that BLACK Men who Fought in The War had come Home Heroes that helped trigger the destruction.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">It cost the BLACK Community everything, and not a single dime of restitution--No Insurance Claims--has been awarded the victims to this day. Nonetheless, they rebuilt.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">We estimate 1,500 to 3,000 People were Killed and we know that a lot of them were Buried in Mass Graves all around the City. Some were thrown into the river.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">As a matter of fact, at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, where there now stands a Sears Parking Lot, that corner used to be a Coal Mine. They threw a lot of the Bodies into the Shafts.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Unmarked Graves</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>TULSA, Oklahoma (CNN)</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><br /> <span style="color:#000000;">Beulah Smith and Kenny Booker, Two Elderly Oklahomans, Lived through one of the <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Worst Race Riots</span> in U.S.. History, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">a rarely mentioned 1921 Tulsa Blood Bath that officially took Thousands of African-American Lives.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>The Tulsa Race Riot Commission, f</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">ormed two years ago to determine exactly what happened, will consider next week the Controversial Issue of what, if any, Reparations should be paid to the Known Survivors of the Riot</span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:10pt;">.</span> <span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:14pt;">A Group of less than 100 that includes Beulah Smith, now 92, and Kenny Booker, 86.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:14pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>'The Gun Went Off, the Riot Was On'</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>On the Night of May 31,1921,</strong></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">mobs called for the lynching of Dick Rowland, A Black Man</span> <span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;">who shined shoes, after hearing reports that on the previous day he had assaulted Sarah Page, A white woman, in the elevator she operated in a downtown building.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>A Local Newspaper, had printed a Fabricated Story that Rowland tried to Rape Page. In An Editorial,</strong></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;">the same newspaper said a Hanging was Planned for that Night. As Groups of both Blacks and Whites converged on the Tulsa Courthouse, a White Man in the Crowd Confronted an armed Black Man, A War Veteran, who had joined with other Blacks to protect Rowland.</span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><br /> <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;color:#000000;">A Fabricated Newspaper Story Triggered The Violent Riots that left Hundreds, if not Thousands, Dead.</span></strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;">Comm. Member Eddie Faye Gates told CNN what happened next.</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;">"This White Man," she said, Asked The Black Man, <strong>"What Are You Doing With This Gun?" "I'm going to use it if I have to," the Black Man said, according to Gates, "and (the White Man) said, 'No, you're not. Give it to me,' and he tried to take it. The gun went off, the White Man was Dead, The Riot Was On."</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Truckloads of Whites Set Fires and Shot Blacks on sight. When the smoke lifted the Next Day, more than 1,400 Homes and Businesses in Tulsa 's Greenwood District, a prosperous area known as the " Black Wall Street ," lay in ruins.</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Today, only a single block of the Original Buildings remains standing in the area. Experts now estimate that at least 3,000, Died.</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>We're in a heck of a lot of trouble' Beulah Smith was 14 yrs. old the Night of the Riot. A Neighbor named Frenchie came pounding on her family's door in a Tulsa neighborhood known as "Little Africa " that also went up in flames</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><strong>.</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><strong>"</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Get your families out of here because they're, <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Killing Niggers Uptown</span>," she remembers Frenchie saying. "We hid in the weeds in the Hog Pen," Smith told CNN.</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>People in a Mob that came to Kenny Booker's house asked, "Nigger, Do You Have A Gun?" he told CNN. Booker, then a teen-ager, hid with his family in their attic until the home was torched. "When we got downstairs, things were burning. My sister asked me, 'Kenny, is the World on Fire?' I said, 'I don't know, but we're in a heck of a lot of trouble, baby."</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Another Riot Survivor,</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Ruth Avery, who was 7 at the time, gives an account matched by others who told <span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">of bombs dropped from small airplanes passing overhead.</span></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong><span style="background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br /></span></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>The Explosive Devices may have been Dynamite or Molotov Cocktails -- Gasoline-Filled Bottles set afire and thrown as grenades</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:10pt;"><strong>.</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:10pt;"><strong>"</strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;background:#FFFF00 none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>They'd throw it down and when it'd hit, it would burst into flames," Avery said.</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Only A single block remains of the 1,400 Homes and Businesses that made up the area known as the ' Black Wall Street '. Unmarked Graves many of the Survivors "mentioned Bodies were stacked like cord wood, says Richard Warner of the Tulsa Historical Society.</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>In its search for the facts, The Commission has literally been trying to dig up the truth.</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>Two Headstones at Tulsa's Oaklawn Cemetery indicate that riot victims are buried there.</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>In an effort to determine how many, archeological experts in May used ground-piercing radar and other equipment to test the soil in a search for Unmarked Graves.</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-size:13.5pt;"><strong>The test picked up indications that hundreds, of people have been buried in an area just outside the cemetery.</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Michael Vick—From Vick-tim to Vick-toryhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/michael-vickfrom-vicktim-to2010-12-02T06:08:18.000Z2010-12-02T06:08:18.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14pt;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Michael Vick—From Vick-tim to Vick-tory</font></font></span></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">December 2, 2010</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Am I the only one who is sick and tired of the media coverage of NFL quarterback Michael Vick—post incarceration? Last July I wrote a column titled, “Michael Is A Vick-tim.</font><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14pt;">” </span><font size="3">I discussed Vick’s going to jail for nearly two years for killing a couple of dogs.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">He has served his time and is now playing football again in the NFL. He has had a stellar season as the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Since leaving jail earlier this year, he has done all the right things and continues to speak out against animal cruelty on behalf of the Humane Society.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So, you ask, what am I angry about?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Why is it that every time Vick is interviewed on radio, TV, or newspaper, there has to be some mention of him serving jail time for killing dogs? ENOUGH! Vick has served his time and owes no one anything and he should be free to live his life beyond the shadow of his past.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">As I reflected on Vick’s situation, the first thought I had was that this was because Vick was Black. But, then I thought further and realized that it wasn’t about race.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ray Lewis, future Hall of Fame linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, was jailed on murder charges in 2000, but was later acquitted. You rarely if ever hear this being mentioned when Lewis is interviewed. He is also Black.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You never hear the name Monica Lewinsky when Bill Clinton is interviewed (mind you that Bill Clinton was impeached as a result of the Lewinsky affair).</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You never hear about Donald Trump’s many bankruptcies when he is interviewed.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Allow me to continue.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Diana Taurasi, an all-star guard of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, was convicted of DUI in the summer of 2009. I have never heard this mentioned during any of their games on TV. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Marv Albert, famed NBA TV announcer, pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery charges (the more serious charge of rape was dropped). He was fired from announcing the games on NBC. But, less than 2 years later, NBC rehired him and you have not heard one word about his conviction since.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Even Tiger Woods messy divorce is no longer discussed when talking about Woods and it’s only been barely over a year since his private life exploded onto the national scene.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">So, what can we conclude about all this? </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Well, it seem to me that if you are a celebrity and you commit a crime or violent act against another person—no problem. If you cheat your bankers or file for bankruptcy, no problem. You still will be considered a financial guru by the Wall Street Journal (i.e. Donald Trump).</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But, God forbid you kill or torture a few animals! You will never be forgiven, nor allowed to move beyond your past; even if your life shows a total change.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">How can a sportscaster laud Michael Vick throwing an acrobatic touchdown pass, but yet somehow find a way to mention that Vick served time in jail?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">How can Vick have arguably one of the best games in football history (3 weeks ago against the Washington Redskins) and the conversation turns to him abusing animals?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Vick has paid his dues to society and no longer owes anyone anything! His life has been the model of redemption. That should be the only relevance of Vick’s past. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But, because Vick’s crime centered around animals, it seems like people are less willing to forgive and let go. Ray Lewis was implicated in the murder of a human, but it seems like he had an easier time moving beyond his transgression than Vick is having.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Donte Stallworth (receiver for the Baltimore Ravens) was convicted of manslaughter. He killed a man while driving drunk. Yet, he is shown more forgiveness than Vick.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So, Michael, let me offer you my advice as one who works in public relations. First, Michael, stop apologizing. You no longer owe society anything. Second, tell the media you will no longer talk about your past. When you were a child, you spoke as a child, but now that you are a man, you have put those childish things behind you. Finally, Michael, when the media insists that you answer their questions about your past, simply say my life is the only voice that I am now speaking with.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I am very proud of Michael Vick and the distance he has traveled. I hope he will win a Super Bowl ring before his career is over. What an exclamation point that would add to his life. We all are one bad decision away from doing something stupid. If Vick continues to live his life the way he has since getting out of prison, he will have transformed his life from one of being a “Vick-tim to one of “Vick-tory.”</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height:115%;color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</font></span></i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">www.excellstyle.com</font></span></i></a><i><span style="line-height:115%;color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </font></span></i></p></div>Macy’s Proves AfriCanhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/macys-proves-african2010-10-07T04:00:17.000Z2010-10-07T04:00:17.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">October 7, 2010</font></font></font></b></p><p style="line-height:12pt;margin:0in 0in 0pt;background:#FFFFFF;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></b></p><p style="line-height:12pt;margin:0in 0in 0pt;background:#FFFFFF;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Can you imagine Michael Jordan hitting the game winning shot and then asking the media not to say anything? Or Barak Obama winning the presidential election and refusing to talk about his victory? Or You discovering the cure for cancer, but not wanting anyone to know?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Well, that’s in essence what Macy’s Department Stores have done. </font><span style="color:#333333;">Macy's is the top department store chain in the U.S., with more than 800 stores in 45 states and annual sales of more than $26 billion.</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Two weeks ago I was a speaker at the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation’s Africa Policy Forum in Atlanta, Georgia. Macy’s was one of the sponsors and I had the chance to meet and talk with their representative, Ms. Iasha Rivers. She is their director of external affairs & corporate communications.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">I asked Ms. Rivers why Macy’s is a sponsor of the Sullivan Foundation and she began to give me a very passionate response. She gave me the history of Macy’s “Rwanda Path to Peace” basket project. The project was begun in July 2005. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">According to Macy’s, “The Rwanda Path to Peace project was established to create a viable, sustainable export business that provides economic stability and promotes an environment of peace that will positively influence Rwanda's future for its 8 million citizens. Its basic concept is that women helping each other can change the way Rwanda rebuilds its society, empowering women and sustaining economic development beyond traditional development assistance. The women receive one-third of the retail price of the baskets -- an unprecedented amount of income for individual rural households. The project has the potential to generate millions of dollars for the country, positively affecting the millions of Rwandans who normally live on less than $1 a day.”</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Baskets woven by the women are exported to the US and sold exclusively at Macy’s Department Store. They are the number one export out of Rwanda under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).</font></p><p style="background:#FFFFFF;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><span>Macy’s was adamant that, “this may have been charitable, but it was not charity.” They continued, “b</span>askets, woven from sisal and sweet grass, are inspected to verify they meet quality requirements and then paid for in cash on the spot.”</font></font></font></p><p style="background:#FFFFFF;"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">With the phenomenal success of the Rwanda Path to Peace basket project, Macy’s created Shop for a better World in 2008. This is a collection of artisans from Africa, Indonesia, and Cambodia who make one-of-a-kind crafts (all hand-made). </font></font></font></p><p style="line-height:150%;"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Shop for a Better World is a partnership between Macy's and Fair Winds Trading, which was founded by Willa Shalit, a social activist and entrepreneur.</font></p><p style="line-height:150%;"></p><p style="line-height:150%;"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Shop for a Better World is a vertically integrated operation; all steps of production take place in the origin country using only raw materials sourced from the region. The program employs a large population of women who live in the rural countryside, allowing them to maintain their current residence and avoid the often costly and disruptive process of relocating to cities in search of work.</font></p><p style="line-height:150%;"></p><p style="line-height:150%;"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Listening to Ms. Rivers share this story with me, I couldn’t hide my astonishment that such a storied company as Macy’s had undertaken such a project and I had no knowledge of it. I am a frequent traveler to Africa and consider myself one who follows the goings on in Africa. But, if people like me are unaware of what Macy’s is doing, how much more the general public?</font></p><p style="line-height:150%;"></p><p style="line-height:150%;"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Macy’s and their CEO, Terry Lundgren should be lauded and commended for finding a business approach to helping Africa. But, I am somewhat confused as to why Macy’s hasn’t built an advertising campaign around this partnership with the women of Rwanda. This is an advertising gold mine!</font></p><p style="line-height:150%;"></p><p style="line-height:150%;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Having spent years of my life in “corporate America” before starting my own firm, I have a pretty good idea as to why Macy’s executives are hesitant to talk about their partnership with Rwanda. The short answer is that this story has a “racial” angle to it. Macy’s senior executives are probably all white and they are terrified at the prospects of being viewed as “using” this story to toot their own horn for profit. </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Well, Macy’s made it perfectly clear that this was a “business” arrangement, not charity. What retail operation would not want to publicize a remarkable success story that is actually making a difference in the lives of people who have had a tragic past? Macy’s has found a profitable way of exporting the American dream to the continent of Africa. They should be asked to testify before Congress about how this partnership came about. I think Macy’s should have Ms. Rivers bring some of the women from Rwanda to the U.S. for a series of town hall meetings about how this arrangement with Macy’s has impacted their lives and their country. If Macy’s won’t tell the story, then I will. I will use all of my media outlets to tout this wonderful story that Macy’s has created.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">So, to all of my readers world-wide, I want you to express your support for what Macy’s is doing directly to their CEO, Mr. Terry Lundgren. You can reach him at his corporate offices in Cincinnati, Ohio at: 513-579-7000. I couldn’t find a general email address for Macy’s, but if you email me your thoughts, I will forward them directly to Ms. Rivers </font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I don’t normally shop at Macy’s, but as a result of what they are doing on the continent, that will change effective this weekend. I will not only buy the baskets from Rwanda, but I will also do more of my regular retail shopping there. If Macy’s can support the continent, then I can support Macy’s and I encourage all of my readers to do the same. Please contact Mr. Lundgren if this is your sentiment because Macy’s has proven that AfriCan!</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height:115%;color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</font></span></i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:10pt;"><font color="#0C4790" face="Times New Roman">www.excellstyle.com</font></span></i></a><i><span style="line-height:115%;color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </font></span></i></p></div>Ode to Michael Jackson--IIhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/ode-to-michael-jacksonii2010-06-27T06:48:59.000Z2010-06-27T06:48:59.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#FF0000;font-size:14pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Having received so many calls this week on the approaching anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death June 25, 2009, 1:25 p.m. (LA time), I decided to re-run the column I wrote last year in the aftermath of his death. This was my tribute to Michael and his family. I will have an exclusive announcement about this very soon, so be on the lookout!</font></span></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Ode to Michael Jackson</font></font></span></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">July 2, 2009</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Like a candle in the wind,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Your life came to a sudden end.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">With <b>“A Child’s Heart</b>,<b>”</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You began your start.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You brought joy to many,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But in the end, you didn’t have any.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You had money, fortune, and fame,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">If that’s all we remember, what a shame.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now, they all say, “<b>I Want You Back</b>,”</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But is that all just an act?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">They all said, <b>“I’ll Be There</b>,”</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I am not sure they really care.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">While you were making your journey home,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Sharpton was already in front of the microphone.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Trying to bask in your glorious light,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Doing that just wasn’t right.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Standing in front of the Apollo,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">This stunt rang really hollow.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Grandstanding in front of the press,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">My goodness, such a pathetic mess.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I thought Obama had silenced Jesse Jackson,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But, I guess he was just waiting for the next media attraction.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Come on Jesse, start being a man,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And just stay away from Neverland.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now, Al and Jesse are fighting over the eulogy,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Not even death can bring them unity.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I am sickened by their behavior,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Yet they claim Jesus as their savior.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The media is airing all sorts of speculation,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">None of it proven is my observation.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I am embarrassed by their actions,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">They’re just trying to use Michael Jackson.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Airing anyone who claims to have a story,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">All the while, trying to diminish Michael’s glory.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Why in the world is the media so hating?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I guess they’re just trying to increase their ratings</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Some say you lived your life <b>“Off The Wall</b>,<b>”</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But, who are we to make that call?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Yes, you had your eccentricities,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But that shouldn’t overshadow what a man believes.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You tried to do good with your voice,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And became the people’s choice.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The choice of a whole generation,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And they gave you their total adulation.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">You saw a world that was not <b>Black or White,</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Because <b>Healing the World</b>, was worth the fight.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">You challenged us to look at that <b>“Man In The Mirror</b>,<b>”</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So your vision of unity could become clearer.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You wanted gangs to start uniting,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Songs like <b>“Beat It”</b> helped them stop fighting.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">You didn’t have to prove you were <b>“Bad,”</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You just talked about the childhood you never had.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You were put on this earth to be a blessing to many,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now everyone is going to be fighting for every penny,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">What will be the true legacy of your life?</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It’s hard to see in the midst of all this strife.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You had the best friends money could buy,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Guess that’s why I see no tears in their eye.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Other friends were the best you could rent,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I pray one day they’ll repent.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Catherine Jackson, you are a saint</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">With you, Michael never had a complaint.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I hope you are surrounded with those who care,</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">If not, just call my name and <b>“I’ll be there!”</b></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><i><span style="color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can</span></i> <span style="color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;">listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to <a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com/">www.ustalknetwork.com</a> to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.</span></font></p></div>Governor Quinn's Death Sentence To Black Youth and Program That Was Saving Their Liveshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/governor-quinns-death-sentence2010-06-13T01:26:25.000Z2010-06-13T01:26:25.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:14pt;"><div><br /></div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:14pt;"><p><span style="border-bottom:medium none;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1276391398_0" class="yshortcuts">MARK ALLEN</span> TALKS -- The life and death decisions that Governor Quinn The <span id="lw_1276391398_1" class="yshortcuts">State of Illinois</span> makes when the same week that they announce the State budget will provide $6 million dollars in funds to breathe life into new downtown <span id="lw_1276391398_2" class="yshortcuts">communication buildings</span>, while at the same time cutting the desperately needed funds for <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1276391398_3" class="yshortcuts">Father Michael Pfleger</span> at St. Sabina and his SafetyNet crime intervention and prevention programs this summer to help save the lives of Black youth who are dying at alarming rates.!!</p><p></p><p>Most grassroots activists and organizations who work these urban streets and the desperate economic conditions the create deadly battles for survival, have no where near the amount of resources needed to continue the everyday demands on us to provide hands on crime intervention and prevention help. We have to work overtime also at dealing with the mindset of our at-risk youth and adults who have short temperments which result in increasing <span id="lw_1276391398_4" class="yshortcuts">senseless acts of violence</span>. The Sun Time <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1276391398_5" class="yshortcuts">Carol Marin</span> ina <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1276391398_6" class="yshortcuts">Sunday June 13th</span> column says its the guns, but more imporant that the guns, or knives, or bats, or golf clubs or beatings, its the ongoing battle for the state of mind of those whose short fuses battling these illegal street economies at the root of the violence we have to be on 24 hour call to help prevent where we can.</p><p></p><p>With these limited resources trying to prevent violence and save lives we come to know those who have some sort of limited resources that we can draw from to help us out when the calls from from certain areas to intervene in preventing violence. One of those entities was Father Michael Pfleger at St. Sabina who had some snese of limited resources we could help refer people to in times of crisis and as the weather get hotter; access to legitimate jobs is lesser, and the draw to the gangs, drugs, and illegal street economic battles and violences readies, we could lean on Father Mike and his SafetyNet Intervention resources to partner with UNTIL NOW!!</p><p></p><p><span id="lw_1276391398_7" class="yshortcuts">Chicago</span> homicides are up 4% and you would think that Governbor Quinn and The State would know that our only success is the resources to respond, yet in the midst of our plan to use Father Pfleger and his limited resources to address the summer crisis come the letter from the State that The Sun Time Carol Marin quotes in her Sunday June 13th Column,</p><p></p><p>The State of Illinois says to Father Pfleger -- <em>"Sorry, Father, it said. There's a huge <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1276391398_8" class="yshortcuts">budget crisis</span> and so "unfortunately, the State of Illinois is not in a position at this time to make . . . renewal grants to the Safety Net Works Program."</em></p><p></p><p><em>Summer is here, schools are closing, youth jobs are as rare as icicles in August, and we're out of money.</em></p><p><em>The Safety Net program deals with 14 high-risk areas across the state, 11 of which are in the city. Focusing on mentoring, crime prevention, violence intervention and more, it seeks to stem a rising homicide rate and save at-risk youth.</em></p><p><em>Pfleger dialed the governor's office immediately and left a furious message saying, "If we are going to cut out one of the top violence intervention programs as summer begins, then the state better never say another world about concern for our kids for violence."</em></p><p></p><p>Black leaders who support Governor Quinn out to be outraged and immediatelky challenge him on these type budget cuts that are now basically <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;" id="lw_1276391398_9" class="yshortcuts">death sentences</span> to the youth that we will not be in a position to save with those resources. And when those shootings and deaths occur, here will be a Governor with those symobolic press statements and photo ops with words of "why and how we have to put and end to <span id="lw_1276391398_10" class="yshortcuts">senseless violence</span>," well maybe we do that by saving one of the most successfull inner city programs that helped to intervene with hands on resources to save lives. But instead, Governor Quinn and The State of Illinois send a letter with then sentence of death to at-risk youth who otherwise could have been saved, but he takes away the funds and says "hope you can live without the help."</p><p></p><p>Its just hard to understand how a State budget can save line-item funds to provide $6 million dollars to help a <span id="lw_1276391398_11" class="yshortcuts">Bruce Dumont</span> expand his downtown broadcast museum, while on the southside where Black youth are dying at alarming rates, the same Governor and State budget cant find the money to save Pfleger's program with the proven resources to help keep Black youth alive this summer. I have no problem with Bruce's future building plans BUT my priority is the saving of human young lives.</p><p></p><p>Governor Quinn want our votes in spite of sentencing our Black youth to death should ignite our insult level, especially from those Black leaders who will try to explain why we should still consider voting for this man, and he cuts program after program that helps to keep our Black youth alive.?? The Governor can NOT issue this latest sentence of death, and continue to come into that Black community with ease with his symbolic Black agenda for support while we have have even more added pressure to do even more with less as our children continue to die, and this Governor can find money for new down the road new buildings but nothing for the "right-now" state of emergency to save out youth from violence and death. Black leaders need to show some leadership and hold Quinn accountable or they can also go somewhere with him and odnt come around here AFTER the next youth dies when you did nothing to save the program that could have saved them.</p><p></p><p>This is Black leadership at its worst if Black leaders who support Quinn do not publicly hold him accountable for this latest <span id="lw_1276391398_12" class="yshortcuts">death sentence</span> on our inner city Black youth and ther program that helped keep many of them alive.</p><p></p><p>Mark S, Allen, Founder/President of The <span id="lw_1276391398_13" class="yshortcuts">Black Leadership Development Institute</span>, BLDI <span style="border-bottom:#366388 2px dotted;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1276391398_14" class="yshortcuts">449 East 35th Street, 1st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60616</span> (773) 392-0165</p><br /><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"></div><div style="font-family:'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;font-size:12pt;"></div></div></div></div>The Mis-Education of the Black Manhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-miseducation-of-the-black-12010-05-13T04:00:36.000Z2010-05-13T04:00:36.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri"><b><span>May 13, 2010</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;"></span></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">Raynard Jackson</font></font></font></span></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">In 1933, Carter G. Woodson published his classic book entitled, “The Mis-Education of the Negro.” The premise of his book was that Blacks need to be self reliant and not look for others to do for us what we can (and should) do for ourselves. Woodson thought that the dominant society was teaching Blacks to have an attitude of dependency and subservience, as opposed to controlling their own destiny and teaching their children the truth about the contributions Blacks made to this country’s history. Woodson was a prolific journalist, author, and a historian who was known as the “Father of Black History.”</font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">According to Woodson, "<span>History shows that it does not matter who is in power... those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they did in the beginning.” Woodson continues, “When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."</span></font></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">The above quotes by Woodson could be very easily directed at the media chosen Black leaders of today. You know who they are, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Tavis Smiley, Cornell West, Michael Eric Dyson, etc. Especially when it comes to these folks singing the praises of the Democratic Party. Listening to these guys you would think the Republican Party is filled with white racists whose sole purpose in life is to advocate policies that will be detrimental to the Black community.</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">You have Black entrepreneurs who have been able to make a great living by selling goods and services to the federal government. But, they are totally unaware that former president Richard Nixon is the reason they have these opportunities.</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">On March 6, 1961, President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10925. It required government contractors to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin.”</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">It was during the Nixon administration that affirmative action became what we know it to be today. It was adopted as a federal mandate for companies with federal contracts and for labor unions whose workers were engaged in those projects. The late Arthur Fletcher (a Black Republican and dear friend) was put in charge of creating and enforcing the plan. Fletcher call it the Philadelphia Plan. Fletcher was serving in the Department of Labor. He was Assistant Secretary for Wage and Labor Standards (he was one of the highest ranking Blacks in the Nixon administration). As head of the United Negro College Fund, he coined their famous slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” I guarantee that you have never heard the UNCF or Black Democrats ever publically give attribution to Fletcher having created this (especially as a Black Republican).</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Fletcher’s plan required federal contractors to meet certain goals for the hiring of Black employees by specific dates in order to combat institutionalized discrimination on the part of specific skilled building trade unions. </font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">In 1971, Nixon issued Executive Order 11625, which was subsequent to him creating the Office of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in 1969. The order gave more authority to the Secretary of Commerce to, “implement Federal policy in support of the minority business enterprise program; provide additional technical and management assistance to disadvantaged businesses; and to assist in demonstration projects; and to coordinate the participation of all Federal departments and agencies in an increased minority enterprise effort.”</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Presidents Reagan and Bush (the elder) signed Executive Orders 12320 and 12677, respectively in regards to the board of advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The purpose was to ensure these institutions would be made aware and take advantage of a full range of partnership opportunities with various federal agencies.</font></font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span><font color="#000000">Most recently, Republicans spearheaded</font></span> <b><span style="color:#383838;">The Minority-Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act</span></b><span style="color:#383838;">. The Senate bill was drafted by then senator George Allen (R-VA) and co-sponsored by Trent Lott (R-MS). The companion house bill was drafted by Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA-4<sup>TH</sup>). The purpose of the bill was to assist minority serving institutions in upgrading their technology infrastructure. The bill appropriated and authorized $ 250 million per year for five years ($ 1.250 billion). These were not loans, but grants to help make these schools more competitive with non-minority institutions.</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#383838;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">So, my point is, the Republican Party does have a very positive story to share with the Black community if they leave the heated rhetoric behind and focus on the substance of their actions. Listening to the media appointed Black leaders, you would think Republicans are walking around in white sheets. You have Black entrepreneurs who have made millions of dollars from government contracts, but yet they savage the very party that allows them to make this type of money. You have Historically Black Colleges and Universities who poison the minds of students with liberalism without exposing them to other views. You have Black college students berating Republicans by way of email, text, and twitter messages using the very technology that Republicans made possible. It was not Democrats who spearheaded this (they voted for the bill), it was a totally Republican initiative.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#383838;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">For the Republicans who want to continue to write off the Black vote and the media appointed Black leaders, you both have been mis-educated and need to explore a new school of thought.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0000FF;font-size:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (<a href="http://www.excellstyle.com">www.excellstyle.com</a>).</font></span></i></p><p></p></div>Senator Bill Brady Avoids Veteran Black Activists Mark Allen, Wallace "Gator" Bradley on Black Agendahttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/senator-bill-brady-avoids2010-04-25T04:29:51.000Z2010-04-25T04:29:51.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><br />Today, veteran Black poltical activists Wallace "Gator" Bradley and Mark Allen accuse Illinois Senator Bill Brady of being non responsive to their overtues on behalf of few hundred Black community activists who said they would help expose Senator Brady and his campaign to Black voters who were upset and withdrawn their support of Governor Quinn and heard Brady on Black talk radio station WVON-AM that he wanted to reach out to Black voters in trying to earn their support. Bradley and Allen now report that after weeks of calls and e-mails to Brady and his campaign staffers they they have been non responsive. It seems like Senator Brady want to develop a Black agenda of his own and not one that comes from veteran Black activists. There was even one e-mail response that stated that Senator Brady took a photo with Wallace "Gator" Bradley and then instructed his staff not to release it for he had to be careful who he was seen in photo's with. No response from Brady campaign, and still no Black media of any kind has seen the photo of Brady and Bradley. Does Brady actually feel that he can gain no Black grassroots voters by being seen in a photo with Brady.<br /><br />Does Brady not want to be associated with a veteran Black political activist like Mark Allen, a close associate to national leaders like Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr and the Rev. Al Sharpton, after Republican National Chairman Michael Steele was in New York at Sharpton's recent National Convention as telling Black voters from across the coiuntry how much The Republican Party and candidates wanted to engage Black grassroots voters. Does Brady not agree with Steele by his non response to two leaders who just came out from Sharpton's convention and now back in Illinois trying to hold the Illinois Republicans accountable to what their national Chairman just shared?<br /><br />After Brady's appearance on WVON, the hosts Matt & Perri posted Facebook comments that they hoped that Brady was serious about his words about wanting to earn the Black community support and started other Facebook comments like, Will Brady actually open an office in the Black community with Black staff?; Will he actually hire key Black political consultants who know how to outreach to grassroots Black voters?; Will Brady invest in advertising with grassroots Black media?: Will Brady invest any campaign funds in Black financial institutions?; Will Brady support any of the public policy position that some feel were ignored by the Quinn Campaign?; Will Brady actuall eet directly with key Black grassroots organizations?; and more. But based upon these questions alone, Mark Allen began to reach out to Brady, his staff, and other Republcans on those mentioned issues, but as of today, no response from Brady or any of his staff.<br /><br />So when Senatoir Brady makes his next appearance on WVON as promised to hosts Matt & Perri, exactly what kind of accomplishments is he going to report to the Black commmunity audience as to his outreach to the Black community if thus far, all that can be seen is the e-mail circulating that says he des not want to seen in a photo with Wallace "Gator" Bradley and is not responsive to the outreach to him by a veteran Black activist/journalist like Mark Allen and the Black agenda items taken from the callers to WVON after Brady's appearance.?<br /><br />Well, Senator Brady had refused to offer his tax returns until after being publicly challenged to do so by Governor Quinn, well then maybe he'll finally respond to the grassroots Black agenda if he is publicly called out to do so, and after we let Michel Steele know that contrary to his promise to Black activiists in New York that Republicans wanted to engage with organzers and Black issues, that The Illinois Republicans are NON RESPONSIVE. !!<br /><br />To the credit of Republican candidate Tony Peraica, he spoke with Mark Allen personally about the fact that candidates like Brady and Roger Keats, Republican candidate for Cook County Board President would be engaging the Black community and wanted to earn their support. I guess Brady isn't talking to Peraica either. Roger Keats did return calls from Mark Allen and said clearly that he was going to raise funds and would certainly make investments in the Black outreach, but the top of the ticket Brady is still non responsive. So maybe his next return to WVON will be full of symbolic outreach to Black voters as opposed to a grassroots Black agenda with clear specifics that was being presented by Bradley and Allen<br /></div>The Media and Feminism—In The Woodshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-media-and-feminismin-the2009-12-17T05:00:52.000Z2009-12-17T05:00:52.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>December 17, 2009Raynard JacksonTiger Woods seems to be the talk of the town of late. I had decided not to write about the Woods’ situation, but after an avalanche of calls from friends and media, I deicide to share my thoughts on this issue. So, for my final column of the year, I will give you my take.For those who have been living on another planet, let me give some background. Tiger Woods has been caught up in a storm of alleged mistresses who have come out publically to discuss their sexual affairs with him. Tiger is a married man, so needless to say, it does present some problems.Let me state emphatically, Tiger owes the public absolutely nothing as far as a public comment. He is not an elected official nor any other type of public official. Therefore, he owes the public nothing. I hope he goes to his grave having never publically addressed this issue. He has not been accused of any crime; therefore the public has NO right to know anything about his personal life!The media should be thoroughly embarrassed by how they have covered the Woods spectacle. I thought the role of the media was to report the facts. So, I have a few questions I would appreciate my media friends answering.How does the media know what is in Tiger’s pre-nuptial agreement with his wife? Even if one of their attorneys or Tiger’s wife were to verbally tell a reporter what is in it; shouldn’t a reporter have to actually see the documents in order to report about its content? Short of that, how would they know that the attorney or wife is telling the truth? For the record, history will show that Tiger’s wife and her mother are the ones leaking all this personal information. This is their way of inflicting further pain and injury on Tiger.One of Tiger’s tramps claim she had sex at his California home. What proof does the media have that it actually happened? Can the media prove she has ever been to Tiger’s house?Several of the other tramps claim that Tiger never used condoms. Does the media have any proof of this? Furthermore, if Tiger never used a condom, then THEY never used a condom (unless Tiger was having sex by himself). I have not seen one reporter challenge any of these girls on this issue.The media’s response will be, “we are just reporting what people are telling us.” But, it is the media’s obligation to not only report, but also to verify. They have been totally irresponsible in their coverage of the Tiger Woods story. There is absolutely no difference between the “mainstream” media and tabloid journalism. As a matter of fact, they have become totally indistinguishable.But, the media has been even more irresponsible when it comes to covering one of their own. How many of you are aware of the explosive sex scandal involving CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes correspondent, Lara Logan? The story broke last year and made a news splash for a couple of days then disappeared.Logan is a very attractive, married 37 year old reporter (at the time of the scandal). She was married to Jason Siemon (a professional basketball player in Britain at the time of the affair). She began having a sexual affair with a U.S. State Department contractor while they were both working in Iraq. Joe Burkett was 36 years old (at the time of the affair). Their affair was widely known throughout Iraq, but it later took an interesting turn. It wasn’t enough for the female “Tiger” to have one affair with a married man; she simultaneous began an affair with one of her colleagues, Michael Ware. Ware was a correspondent for CNN assigned to cover the Iraq war. Ware and Burkett were involved in a fist fight over Logan in a “safe house” in Iraq. I can guarantee that this is the first most of you have heard of this sex scandal.But, it gets better. July 2008, Logan admitted to being pregnant as a result of the affair. Burkett is supposed to be the father of record. So, not only was she having several affairs, but she was not having protected sex either.So, what happened as a result of the sex scandal? Logan was promoted (in the midst of the scandal) to chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News in Washington, DC and continued as a correspondent for 60 Minutes. This was according to a June 25, 2008 press release from CBS News. Similarly, Ware was promoted within CNN. Burkett got a divorce.Neither CBS nor CNN took either reporter off the air, nor was there any type of punishment levied against them. According to media reports at the time, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric exploded when she became aware of the sex scandal. Couric thought the scandal reflected badly on CBS, especially the women.But, isn’t it amazing that not one feminist group has said one word about how all these women are allowing themselves to be used by “celebrities” and wealthy people and then these same women claim to be a victim. All these women knew the men were married. Despite this knowledge, these women felt no hesitation in contributing to the destruction of a person’s family. You would have thought that feminist would publically chastise these predatory women and make statements of support for the women who are the victims in all these sex scandals (the wives who had nothing to do with these affairs). But not a word.So, why is no one holding the media to the same standard that the media is trying to hold Tiger Woods to?Neither reporter was required to hold a press conference to tell all the gory details as to what happened. No one in the media was crying about how these reporters owe the public an explanation or how the media had a right to know about the reporter’s private lives.Aside from family implications, no one is talking about the most tragic part of this story. Tiger is a very wealthy person, surrounded by an extensive entourage of handlers. Typically, those who are personally close to you will begin to circle the wagons; not necessarily in defense of your actions, but in support of the person. To date, not one person seen as personally close to Woods has said anything publically. This is an astonishing fact that no one seems to notice.So, despite all the money and all the fame, while Tiger is going through his darkest moment, he finds himself all alone in the woods!Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (<a href="http://www.excellstyle.com">www.excellstyle.com</a>).</div>SATURDAY'S SHOWhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/saturdays-show-82009-10-24T14:51:51.000Z2009-10-24T14:51:51.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>For Immediate Release:Friday, October 23, 2009Contact: Corey Halstead954-243-5955(Washington, DC)— Please join Talking Right with Raynard Jackson on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 7-9:00 p.m.Saturday’s show will feature a continued conversation about Raynard’s editorial that was published on BET.com(<a href="http://www.bet.com/News/opinion_Black_Republicans_Are_Running_From_Race.htm">http://www.bet.com/News/opinion_Black_Republicans_Are_Running_From_Race.htm</a>)Because of the continued interest in Jackson’s piece, he will have two hours of open phone to give callers an opportunity to share their views on this heated issue.Jackson will also have a couple of guests on to add to the conversation. Michael Murphy and Dr. Deborah Honeycutt will discuss Jackson’s piece. Murphy was campaign manager for Honeycutt’s recent run for the U.S. Congress.According to Jackson, “Aside from Murphy’s talent and skill as a political operative, what went into Honeycutt’s decision to hire Murphy as her campaign manager? Especially when most Black Republicans never hire Blacks for their staffs.”Jackson continues, “So, to all the Black Republicans who took issue with what I wrote, here is a chance to voice your opinion and join the conversation!”This will be a very electrifying show, so please tune in.###</div>Black Republicans Running From Racehttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/black-republicans-running-from2009-10-15T04:05:34.000Z2009-10-15T04:05:34.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>October 15, 2009Raynard JacksonBlack Republicans running for various offices this election cycle seem to be running from race while running their race. This is one of the most asinine things I have every seen, but not unexpected. This is why Black Republicans have no credibility within their own community.Last week I was interviewed by Kelley Beaucar Vlahos of FOXNews.com. The story was published this past Monday (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/12/carter-obama-allen-west-race-card/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/12/carter-obama-allen-west-race-card/</a>).I was appalled at the comments of these Black office seekers and their obvious lack of understanding of how their words would be interpreted by those in the Black community. Allen West, a retired Army colonel running against Democratic Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22nd), said, “Since (Democrats) have thrown out the race card, it has made me more appealing….because it shows the contrast of our principles—how different we are even though we both have permanent tans (referring to President Obama).” West continued, “A lot of people who don’t want to be part of Obama’s policies are being called racist….Then they say, Hey, this guy, Colonel West—he’s Black and I support him…. It has nothing to do with race…People don't care about your color, they care about your character.”But, Colonel West, WAIT! You said it was not about race, then you say you’re Black, therefore people in your district are supporting you (because you are Black). Which is it? So, let me make sure I understand you. White people are supporting you because you are Black so that you can speak out against the Black president, so the white people won’t have to (because they can’t call you a racist since you are Black). Oh, I get it now. You know we have a term for people like that and it begins with the word UNCLE!Ryan Frazier is a 31 year old city councilman in Colorado and is running for the U.S. Senate in the Republican primary. Frazier said that being Black is an asset. So when he opposes the president’s policies, no one can call him a racist. According to Frazier, “I don’t think they will be able to use that argument against me or engage in those tactics against me.” So, let me interpret this. Because of the skin color that you say doesn’t matter, you are able to criticize the president because of the very skin color that you say doesn’t matter? Ok, now I understand.Michael Williams has served several terms as Texas Railroad Commissioner and is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat that current senator Kay Hutchinson is vacating to run for governor. He states that his Blackness will be an asset. According to the article, “one of the things it allows me to do….it allows me to speak very, very frankly about what I believe, and what I feel, and nobody is going to call me a racist.” Again, I am confused. His Blackness is only an asset when it comes to denigrating a Black president and his policies. According to Williams, other than giving him cover in criticizing the president, his race doesn’t exist. Wow, either he is color blind or just blind to people of color.Do these guys hear themselves and how ridiculous they sound? Have you ever heard of a Jewish candidate denying or distancing themselves from their own heritage? Or a Latino or Asian? These groups use their ethnicity to endear themselves to voters from their group while at the same time building coalitions to expand their base of support.Can you be against the president’s policies and not be a racist? Without question. But, I challenge these candidates to answer a few questions for me.What does describing Obama as a Nazi have to do with healthcare? What does calling him a liar during a joint session of Congress have to do with healthcare? How does calling him a socialist, fascist, or communist, further the healthcare debate? So, you would think that if this debate was about healthcare, the signs at town hall meetings and rallies would read, “how will you pay for your plan, Mr. President, how will it be implemented, or what if I don’t want your plan?” Those would be legitimate questions.Another question for the candidates, are there any public statements by them speaking out against the actions of Congressman Joe Wilson during the president’s speech before a joint session of Congress?Are there any public statements by them chastising individuals and party officials for some of the incendiary rhetoric coming from Republicans (Barak the Magic Negro, calling Michelle Obama a monkey, or the celebration by many conservatives that Chicago was eliminated from Olympic consideration)?Just wondering because I know they all claim to be candidates of great principles and I know they would stand up for right because they are the voice of the people, right?Finally, can you tell me if you have any Blacks on your paid campaign staffs with hiring or decision making authority? Are you spending any campaign money with Black vendors (office supplies, computer services, restaurants, caterers, etc)? Are there any Black banks in your area that you are utilizing?I would be stunned if any of the campaigns could answer yes to these questions. But, this is my offer to them. I am offering 30 minutes of air time on my radios how (<a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com">www.ustalknetwork.com</a>) to each candidate to address these issues and talk about their campaigns.So, while you are running your race, please don’t continue to forget your race!Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to <a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com">www.ustalknetwork.com</a> to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.</div>The Voice In The Wildernesshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-voice-in-the-wilderness2009-09-17T04:28:57.000Z2009-09-17T04:28:57.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>September 17, 2009Raynard JacksonIn the week since Congressman Joe Wilson’s display of ignorance, the issue of race, once again, has spun out of control. So, I will try to add some sanity to the debate.But first, let me lay the foundation for my argument. Without question, you can disagree with President Obama without being a racist. But, what does describing Obama as a Nazi have to do with healthcare? What does calling him a liar during a joint session of Congress have to do with healthcare? How does calling him a socialist, fascist, or communist, further the healthcare debate? So, you would think that if this debate was about healthcare, the signs would read, “how will you pay for your plan, how will it be implemented, or what if I don’t want your plan?”I expect some in white America and most of those in the Republican Party, to ignore the racial nature of the attacks on the president. They suffer from cognitive dissonance, which is simply the inability to see what you don’t believe.But, I am furious and will not forgive the spineless, politically tone-deaf, weak Black Republicans for their deafening silence on this issue! Or should I say, their refusal to acknowledge the existence of race as part of the issue.I am very troubled and disappointed in Michael Steele’s characterization of this issue as “a distraction.” Armstrong Williams says of South Carolina Congressman and Majority Whip, Jim Clyburn, “Some days, I just shake my head at Mr. Clyburn, because the things that come out of his mouth are more entertaining than lucid.” Maybe we are seeing two different people. Clyburn rarely talks, but when he does, he is very measured and thoughtful. Remember, Clyburn is the one who told Bill Clinton to “chill” when he tried to inject race into the South Carolina primary last year.Why do Black Republicans refuse to speak out and denounce the race baiting emanating from the Republican Party? Saying the Democrats do the same thing is no refutation. We are supposed to be a party of principles and just because our opponents engage in certain behavior does not mean we must reciprocate. We are better than that.It’s not enough to denounce Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton when they play the race card.. Other than Colin Powell and myself, can you name another prominent Black Republican who has consistently taken principled stands on issues of race within our party?I am embarrassed by the Black Republicans I see on the talking head shows on TV. Can someone explain to me the sign at last week’s poorly attended rally in D.C.: “Bury Obamacare with Kennedy?” To add insult to injury, the signs were paid for by a Catholic, pro-life group. I guess it’s OK to inflict further pain on the Kennedy family as long as it’s in the name of God.After Joe Wilson’s outburst, how many Blacks did John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, or Jon Kyle meet with to discuss this issue? I can tell you emphatically, NONE!The Republican Party is totally tone deaf when it comes to issues of race. The Blacks they would reach out to are so out of touch with our community that they are worthless. They are more concerned with being liked and invited to a meeting rather than making the party uncomfortable with the truth.How can any Black not be offended and infuriated with the language and signs that refer to our president? When protesters say they want to take their country back, who is “their”? Take “their” country back from whom? That’s the biggest problem with the Republican Party—they want to take our country back. We should be looking forward, but it’s difficult to do that when those in the party want to go back(wards)!Why won’t Black Republicans admit the obvious? These are the whites who are terrified at the changing demographics of this country. They feel like “they” are losing control of “their” country and want to go back(wards) to the good ole days! This is the real issue.If the issue is ONLY about healthcare, cap and trade, and the size of government, then why the signs of Obama as a witch doctor, him with a Hitler mustache, or with a bone in his nose?Black Republicans need to stand up and educate the Republican Party on the way these scenes are internalized within our community specifically and the country in general. Most Black Republicans have little connection with our community, therefore they don’t get the benefit of the doubt. When will Black Republicans speak out about the dearth of Blacks on Congressional staffs, at the NRSC, NRCC, the RNC, on campaign staffs?I would love to be able to write about other issues, but I can’t remain silent in the midst of such vile behavior by Republicans. The Secret Service is having fits about the security of our president and staffers at the White House are on edge every time the president leaves the building.Now, I know how the Apostle John felt in John 1:23: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.”I have been at the table in these private meetings when there were just a few Blacks in attendance. I have seen how a lot of Blacks will allow people to say very offensive things without raising any objections. So, if you, as a Black, condone this behavior towards our president or don’t object to it in these meetings, you may get invited to a reception and be told that you are articulate, and a good conservative; but what do you think they really think about you when you are not at the meeting?I am just the voice of one crying in the wilderness.Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to <a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com">www.ustalknetwork.com</a> to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.</div>Michael Is A “Vick-tim”https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/michael-is-a-vicktim2009-07-30T04:01:48.000Z2009-07-30T04:01:48.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>July 29, 2009Raynard JacksonMichael Vick has become the “Vick-tim” of his own choices and at the same time a victim of America’s hypocrisy.Vick (the Vick-tim) put himself in the position where he had to do time in prison. He was always made to feel above the law from his days at Virginia Tech. This led to his arrogance to the point where he felt he did not have to listen to anyone.But at the same time, Vick has become the victim of our hypocrisy. Putting aside all legal considerations, I am appalled at how people are outraged that he killed a few dogs. But these same people don’t lift a voice at all the teenagers who have been killed in Chicago this year alone!Even those who feel Vick has served his time feel compelled to preface their statements with, “I love dogs or what Vick did was wrong.” I am tired of everyone trying to be politically correct (PC).Let me make my point CLEAR, I don’t give a damn about these dogs! What does this say about our country that we get more upset over dogs than we do over human life?Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated Vick to the N.F.L. (with all kinds of stipulations), but it seems like everyone is piling on. Vick served nearly two years in jail, lost multiple millions of dollars in endorsement deals, and filed for bankruptcy. How much more should one person have to pay back to society?Now, juxtapose that with Dante Stallworth, a receiver with the Cleveland Browns. Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to DUI and second degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail (only served 24 because of good behavior), 1,000 hours of community service, 8 years of probation, 2 years of house arrest, and life-time suspension of his driver’s license. And he killed a human!There were no protests in the street, no picketing of N.F.L. headquarters, or no boycotting of advertisers. So, do you honestly think a damn dog is more valuable than a human life?Stallworth has been indefinitely suspended from football, but probably will be allowed to play after one year if he stays clear of further legal issues.Again, Vick put himself in the position he is in and has no one to blame but himself. But, he has become the poster child and a convenient target for America’s hypocrisy. Even the murder of the couple in Florida who adopted all the handicapped kids, didn’t cause the level of outrage as Vick killing a few dogs.Vick has suffered enough and deserves a second chance. Whether you agree with his actions are not, he has paid his debt to society and should not be required to work with the Humane Society or any other group unless he chooses to. He is doing all these things strictly to get back into football. Martha Stewart is back on TV (insider trading), Oliver North (lying to Congress about Iran Contra) is back on the radio, and Marv Albert (rape) is back in broadcasting. You never hear any mention of their crimes anymore. They have been allowed to get back into their professional fields and make lots of money without the public being constantly reminded of their past transgressions. I think Vick deserves the same treatment.My whole point is proportionality and fairness. Again, legal considerations aside, how do you justify putting Vick through all the BS he is going through over a few dogs? The justice view is that Vick put himself in this situation; the fairness view is that he is a victim of America’s hypocrisy!Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to <a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com">www.ustalknetwork.com</a> to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.</div>ODE TO MICHAEL JACKSONhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/ode-to-michael-jackson2009-07-02T05:33:12.000Z2009-07-02T05:33:12.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div>July 2, 2009Raynard JacksonLike a candle in the wind,Your life came to a sudden end.With “A Child’s Heart,”You began your start.You brought joy to many,But in the end, you didn’t have any.You had money, fortune, and fame,If that’s all we remember, what a shame.Now, they all say, “I Want You Back,”But is that all just an act?They all said, “I’ll Be There,”I am not sure they really care.While you were making your journey home,Sharpton was already in front of the microphone.Trying to bask in your glorious light,Doing that just wasn’t right.Standing in front of the Apollo,This stunt rang really hollow.Grandstanding in front of the press,My goodness, such a pathetic mess.I thought Obama had silenced Jesse Jackson,But, I guess he was just waiting for the next media attraction.Come on Jesse, start being a man,And just stay away from Neverland.Now, Al and Jesse are fighting over the eulogy,Not even death can bring them unity.I am sickened by their behavior,Yet they claim Jesus as their savior.The media is airing all sorts of speculation,None of it proven is my observation.I am embarrassed by their actions,They’re just trying to use Michael Jackson.Airing anyone who claims to have a story,All the while, trying to diminish Michael’s glory.Why in the world is the media so hating?I guess they’re just trying to increase their ratingsSome say you lived your life “Off The Wall,”But, who are we to make that call?Yes, you had your eccentricities,But that shouldn’t overshadow what a man believes.You tried to do good with your voice,And became the people’s choice.The choice of a whole generation,And they gave you their total adulation.You saw a world that was not Black or White,Because Healing the World, was worth the fight.You challenged us to look at that “Man In The Mirror,”So your vision of unity could become clearer.You wanted gangs to start uniting,Songs like “Beat It” helped them stop fighting.You didn’t have to prove you were “Bad,”You just talked about the childhood you never had.You were put on this earth to be a blessing to many,Now everyone is going to be fighting for every penny,What will be the true legacy of your life?It’s hard to see in the midst of all this strife.You had the best friends money could buy,Guess that’s why I see no tears in their eye.Other friends were the best you could rent,I pray one day they’ll repent.Catherine Jackson, you are a saintWith you, Michael never had a complaint.I hope you are surrounded with those who care,If not, just call my name and “I’ll be there!”Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to <a href="http://www.ustalknetwork.com">www.ustalknetwork.com</a> to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.</div>Enough of This Bipartisanship Nonsensehttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/enough-of-this-bipartisanship2009-02-21T18:17:54.000Z2009-02-21T18:17:54.000ZDavid A. Lovehttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/DavidALove<div><a href="http://www.blackcommentator.com/311/311_col_bipartisan_nonsense.html">http://www.blackcommentator.com/311/311_col_bipartisan_nonsense.html</a>I started to laugh when I heard that Michael Steele was selected as the first African American to chair the Republican National Committee. I don’t think much of the “new” Republican Party, but then again, that doesn’t prevent me from writing about it.But don’t get me wrong, I think that the former Maryland lieutenant governor was the best person available for the job. Then again, given the paucity of talent in that once venerable GOP, once the party of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, now the party of Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber, it isn’t as if the bar was set so high in the first place. Among the contestants for RNC chair was a man who quit an all-White country club to run for the position, and another who distributed CD copies of the songs “Barack the Magic Negro” and “The Star Spanglish Banner.” And the other Black candidate stole the 2004 presidential election in Ohio for Bush.For a party which has earned a reputation as a White Southern racist party - due in no small measure to the fact that it is primarily a White Southern racist party - the Steele pick was an attempt to put a new face on an old story. This cynical form of window dressing was a response to the election of the country’s first Black president, and an acknowledgement that shifting national demographics do not bode well for a party whose core supporters are limited to a sideshow of hicks, jingoists, bigots and homophobes, religious zealots, oligarchs and the chronically greedy. The Steele pick was more of a signal to the White Obama moderates and independents that the GOP is a safe place for them once again. This sales pitch will likely fail. And as for people of color, Don Cheadle said it best in the movie Rosewood: “We ain’t goin’ nowhere.”After all, a front man of color does not translate into a new policy and direction. Ronald McDonald is the face of McDonald’s, but no one ever thought he was actually running the company. And it can hardly be said that Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales or J.C. Watts did anything to make the GOP a better, more hospitable place. To the contrary, they decided to go along to get along, helping to shepherd the same misguided ideas and heartless, if not criminal, policies. After he became RNC chair, Steele declared that the GOP does not have a message problem, that there will be no change in the party’s stance towards immigration, and that the Republicans should look back to the Contract With America for inspiration. Steele claimed that government jobs aren’t real jobs, and the only real jobs are private sector jobs. He even suggested that people such as Sarah Palin are the future of the party.What is most telling about this back-to-the-future Republican Party is their lockstep march against an economic stimulus package. Steele said the stimulus “is just a wish list from a lot of people who have been on the sidelines for years ... to get a little bling, bling.” The GOP believes it has found its new calling, in the form of its stalwart opposition to any economic recovery package that consists of anything less than 100 percent tax cuts. They stand by the failed policy of tax cuts and trickle-on economics that have ruined the country for the past eight years, because it is all they have left. I will give them some credit, however - they stand committed to their ideals, even if those ideals originated in the test tube of some mad neocon’s scientific experiment, or in the alimentary canal of the party’s prized mascot.The unanimous rejection by the House Republicans of the Obama stimulus package is proof that the current incarnation of the GOP cares far more about positioning itself for the 2010 election than in saving the nation from the next Great Depression. For these individuals, politics takes precedence over anything else. They are banking on Obama’s failure and the complete destruction of the economy, and then they will provide the cleanup crew. If they didn’t care about the state of the nation as they ran it into the ground under their watch, why should they care now?Bipartisanship is a means, not an end unto itself. President Obama knew this when he extended an olive branch to his adversaries. By not taking the olive branch, they took his bait. He didn’t need their votes, and they fell into his trap. They failed to gauge the level of discontent and hopelessness in the land, and by failing to support measures that a majority of the public demands.In the opinion of this humble political observer, you should expect the GOP to do more of the same. In all honesty, no one really expected conservatives to reject their ill-advised supply-side beliefs and join the Keynesian bandwagon. Ideology forbids them from signing onto the new New Deal that we ultimately will require to make people whole, to save the nation from the effects of unmuzzled, runaway capitalism.True to their Southern orientation, the Republicans are an anti-labor, anti-union party. They oppose salary caps for CEOs who are receiving federal bailout money. They will oppose future economic relief programs and infrastructure investment, even though their constituencies desperately need it. They will oppose the Employee Free Choice Act, which will make it easier for workers to organize. They will oppose the nomination of the staunchly pro-union Rep. Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor. They will oppose new regulations for Wall Street and the environment, and they will oppose the greening of the economy. And thankfully they will continue to marginalize themselves and cement their status as a regional backwater party.The GOP hopes that come 2010, the economic recovery fails, along with the President and his party. However, the more likely outcome is that with all of the retiring Republican senators next year, the Democrats are poised to win a filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate. At that point, all Obama would have to do is channel his inner F.D.R. and, with the help of Congress, stack the Supreme Court with progressive judges who reflect the will of the people. It’s just a thought.Bipartisanship sounded like a good idea, but in times of crisis you need willing parties to come to the table. In this case, the other side has nothing to contribute, and since they lost the last election under the weight of their failed economic and foreign policies, it is time to cast them aside. They unwittingly allowed Obama to make their bed for them, and now they must sleep in it. GOP, we got this, we will do it without you.</div>