Hours after four police officers were arrested for racially profiling and abusing Latinos residents, a reporter asked East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo: "What are you going to do for the Latino community today?" The Mayor flippantly responded, "I might have tacos when I go home, I'm not quite sure yet."Watch the interview below to see Mayor Maturo put both of his feet into his mouth. [Now, I call that flexibility.]
Then, an immigrants' rights group delivered 2,000 tacos to the mayor. Now that his dinner has been delivered, perhaps he can truly address the problems of his city. Mayor Maturo apologized for his taco comment, and the 2,000 tacos were donated to a charity.
The Atlanta Jewish Times owner and publisher now apologizes for suggesting Israeli security forces should "order a hit" on President Obama. Andrew Adler, author of a January 13 opinion piece suggested three options for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because President Obama has yet to attack Iran on Israel's behalf. Adler writes, "If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don't you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel's most inner circles?"
A recent survey shows Mormons believe they are discriminated against more than African Americans.
According to the Pew Research poll, "[m]any Mormons feel they are misunderstood, discriminated against and not accepted by other Americans as part of mainstream society." But think about this: you can choose your religion, but you can't choose your skin color.
Red Tails premiered today! The biopic about the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought for this country during WWII, stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker [The Great Debaters], David Oyelowo, and Ne-Yo.
George Lucas, who had been trying to get the film financed by a major production company since 1988, emphasizes how the movie executives told him that an all-Black movie would not succeed.
[Clearly, those executives had yet to realize that the story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a story about ALL Americans.]
Instead, Lucas self-financed the $58 million film.
Aaron McGruder, of Boondocks fame, helped write the screenplay.
Lucas worked closely with living Tuskegee Airmen and, those who attended premieres of the film, enjoyed the final product.
[You can see George Lucas with his SBW girlfriend here.]
Rap mogul Jay-Z says he will keep using the b-word. In a recent interview, Jay-Z reveals that he never gave up the b word, and he has no intention on giving it up in the future. Apparently, the poem, penned to new daughter Blue Ivy, was a fake.
Read the full story here. [He took a prominent stand against brothers wearing jerseys, but no stand to be taken about misogyny.]
In between the new papa's denial of his fake decision to give up the b-word, we drafted a petition letter to Jay Z, hoping that he would use his influence for good:
DearJay-Z:
Congratulations on the recent birth of your daughter.
Also, thank you for your vow to stop using the B-word in your music out of concern for its degrading nature. It is an honorable gesture that you refuse to use a word in the future that has had such a prominent role in so many of your previous hits. We wish you would do the same with another word of frequent use.
We implore you to go further and pledge to stop using the N-word as well.
In seeking to decrease misogyny against women, why not work to decrease racism against African Americans?
Times have progressed dramatically between one of your first hits “Ain’t no N***a” and your most recent chart-topper “N***as in Paris.” [We saw you in the VIP section at Barack Obama’s inauguration as America’s first Black President in 2009 and are fairly sure no one greets him with, "Hey my, n***a. Why don't other African Americans deserve an equal amount of respect?]
The continued use of such a word in the American lexicon makes us question how much progress has really been made. We have fought long and hard to get ahead despite having so many disadvantages and have made great strides as Americans. Nonetheless, this choice of vocabulary word reminds us of a time not so long ago filled with 'strange fruit' and strife. Whether it ends with an "a" or a sharp "er", there is still shame, pain, and worst of all, degradation.
There is no 'need to take it back' in order to try to remove the hate from it or to make it a positive word. Or a term of endearment. That is an impossible task. The hate is still there no matter how many times people say it, how catchy it is, or how well it rhymes in songs.
Although there is money to be made by perpetuating racism, stereotypes, and stupidity, we all know that there is a time and a place. No longer should the N-word have a place in our society. Enough is enough.
This is a new year. Let us respect our ancestors, ourselves, and most importantly, our children.
Please help us in leaving the N-word behind. It is a vestige of the past that should remain in the past.
Sincerely,
A Strong Black Woman
Also, see Julian Curry's brilliant Def Poetry Jam:
Former President Jimmy Carter believes presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is pandering to the lowest common denominator by using terms like "welfare mama"to describe African Americans. Watch the video here.
Martin Luther King, Jr. appeared on NBC's Meet The Press on March 28, 1965. It was one week after he led the historic five-day Selma to Montgomery march.
Oprah Winfrey opened her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls for underprivileged South African girls in 2007. Now 72 out of the 75 original girls are graduating with the help of her $40 million donation Saturday, January 14, 2012. South Africa is a nation still struggling from apartheid, and Winfrey has been committed to change the lives of those South African Woman.
"Every single girl is going to leave here with something greater to offer the world than her body." --Oprah Winfrey
