The case of the Jena six

This travesty of justice, this unfair, extremely racist throwback to our post-Reconstruction days. Today, many in the blogging community are showing our solidarity with the Jena 6. In 2007, over 40 years after the Civil Rights movement that was supposed to bring us freedom and first class citizenship, we still face a racist infrastructure. Yet it is still my hope that the case of these young people moves us to action in support of their case and reawakens in us the spark to fight furiously for our rights.

2 years after the storm

After a moment of silence commemorating the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast region President Bush stated, "We're still paying attention. We understand'' (courtesy of the NY Times). For an administration that claims to be paying attention, New Orleans is still a city in deep need. Although many have rebounded and rebuilt homes and their lives in New Orleans or have established themselves in new cities there still remains much to be done.
The road towards full recovery will indeed be a long one, but it is my hope that the next administration will not drag its feet in helping to provide aid for the people of the Gulf Coast.

Jena Six Ignites Rally - Campus

Jena Six Ignites Rally - Campus

If you don't already know about this, please do follow the above link and show solidarity with these brave students.
(link provided by Howard University's The Hilltop, student paper)

re-orientation

Where else but college could a cynical, jaded, psuedo-world weary Brooklyn gal like me be so moved by a simple speech? It sounds hokey, but today as I listed to President Marx address the class of 2011 I was reminded about how lucky I am to be a student at Amherst (regardless of all the bull I've encountered during my tenure here).I always find college and university presidential address particularly touching because they remind one of the real reason for being cloistered in the ivy tower, learning to be intellectual snobs. We are engaging with thoughts not to simply get us that slamming job at Merrill Lynch or a coveted slot in a grad program (although my fingers are certainly crossed). It is expected that we actually, *gasp*, do something to make our time here worthwhile. To make an impact on campus, our community, and God-willing our world.
I hope this feeling doesn't fade come October...

its hot in the melting pot

My favorite melting pot, isn't. NYC only truly melts on steamy summer days, when subway platforms feel more like the fiery depths of hell. New York manages to be both the most diverse city in the world (sorry London), but also one of the most segregated (but Chicago and Boston have us beat by a mile).

With all the talk and debate over gentrification, TONY (Time out New York) has done a little something called "Ethnic in the City", in which The Assimilated Negro aka Patrice Evans wrote a little something for. Check it out... do we really want to live together or do we want to come apart?

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/article/621/21488/bring-back-segregation

Miriam Makeba - Mayibuye

Miriam Makeba is Mama Africa.
the voice of the continent.
listen and learn...

legal aid

Firstly let me just apologize for not having a regular posting schedule. I've been interning, GREing, enjoying NYC, catching up on reading, and brainstorming for the thesis. So do light a candle and keep this Brooklyn and Q-boro sista in your prayers, as I try to handle my biz.
Now back to regularly scheduled programming...

Wrapping up the "Who's Got Your Back" summer series is none other than lawyer/activist Charles Ogletree the Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, and the founder of the Charles Hamilton Houston (go Amherst!) Institute for Race and Justice. But old dude's Ivy League caliber credentials aren't all he has in his arsenal (he did his undergrad at Standford, then went on to Harvard Law); he is also uniquely committed to the struggle for economic equality, racial justice, and educational access.

He authored All Deliberate Speed, a thought-provoking assessment of the US in the years since the seminal Brown v. Board of Ed. court case. Often sobering, but written with levity and a clear voice, Prof. Ogletree at once admonishes the nation for failing its underprivileged students, but also leaves room for hope and a reason to keep fighting to serve children better than we have yesterday.

Prof. Ogletree also provided legal counsel to Anita Hill during the hot mess that was the Clarence Thomas congressional hearings which ultimately led up to his swearing into the Supreme Court. (How did we let C-money replace Thurgood "No Good" on the bench?). And today he continues to seek justice for the victims of the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921, which destroyed the Black Wall Street, through reparations. He started these efforts with Johnnie Cochran (he wasn't just acquitting OJ), and while the road has been rocky, he continues on with tenacity and purpose.

Prof. O is truly carrying on tradition, making Charles Hamilton Huston, and Thurgood Marshall proud.


And now I must ask, how will I carry on tradition? How will you? Who's back you got?

planet rock

In the aftermath of all that was last night's free Lauryn Hill concert at Wingate Field in Brooklyn, this post in the Who's Got Your Back summer series, is the music edition featuring two ladies who more than rock the mic - M.I.A. and Amel Larrieux (to your left and above respectively). Refusing to give into the booty-shaking norm of women in the music industry, these talented ladies are truly the agents of their own musical destiny. Using their music to speak on female genital mutilation, child refugees, war, poverty, and of course love. But like many gifted female artists, they don't get the level of shine they deserve (especially Amel. Meanwhile Rihanna's income is equivalent to Barbados' GDP).

Now a little bit about the artists...

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, was born in London, but spent much of her childhood in Sri Lanka, her family's native land, where her father was a member of rebel Tamil group. During her youth, she bounced from Sri Lanka, then Madras, India, where her family went into hiding due to her father's revolutionary actions. From there her mother and siblings went back to Sri Lanka, finally settling in London as refugees in the '80s. Her personal history, love of hip-hop ignited in the music she heard pumping from the boom boxes of fellow residents of the counsel houses (aka, British projects) heavily influences her music, which is best described as an insanely danceable mix hip hop, baile funk, electro-clash, reggae, and bangra. In other words, its fire. Her first album Arular, released in March 2005 was widely acclaimed by critics and fans alike. And finally two years later, we are being treated with another taste, her sophomore effort - Kala (her hot album of remixes with DJ Diplo, notwithstanding). Check out her website for more - http://www.miauk.com/

Native New Yorker, Amel Larrieux, is been keeping the spirit of soulful R&B alive. Born into an artistic family and raised in the Village, her parents encouraged the young Amel's creative side. She even went to her high school prom with ?uestlove from the Roots. After singing in the popular duo, Groove Theory (remember the hit, "Tell Me"?), she parted ways and went on to pursue a solo career. Her sound has hints and influences from gospel and soul roots, as well as Middle Eastern and African beats.Although she was dropped by her major label after the release of her first album "Infinite Possiblities", she went on to create an indie label Blisslife. Since then, she's produced "Bravebird", "Morning" and a jazz record, "Lovely Standards". Get more Amel at her site -

http://www.amellarrieux.com/

in the name of zora neale hurston!

After calling out the foolywang material that is Wardell Connerly, I decided that the second posting in the "Who's Got Your Back" Series should be someone positive, talented and forward thinking enough to cancel out Brother C.
That fly woman would be none other than ZZ Packer. She rocks a sideways ponytail, what's not to like?

Her novel, "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere", is one of those books to make one a true believer. This novel of short stories is lyrical, humorous and at times very moving. Much like your favorite Al Green, or better yet, Chaka Khan records.

She reps properly for women of color and Black women especially, who are so underrepresented in the literary world. Support her, and pick up her book. And not from your "hook up" who sells on the corner of 125th and Lenox Ave.

Who's got your back?

Nows the time for blowing up spots...

The next few posts will be a mini-series (not of the Roots quality) of portraits on enemies and allies (maybe even a frienemy or 2) of the struggle. Won't be as dry as it sounds, just work with me. Many people don't get the shine they deserve for doing grunt work, trying to make our country more equitable. And others need to be put on blast for setting all of us back.

So here goes: First up is none other than the man to our right Wardell Anthony Connerly. Known better as Ward Connerly. Known to me as Strom Thurmond's long lost black son.

And perhaps he is a member of the Thurmond clan, especially since the brother claims to be a quadroon. Seems like somebody thinks they have a lil Indian in their family. Although his birthname is Wardell he has convinced himself he has only 1 black ancestor. cue the Jigga line, "we don't believe you, you need more people".

Anyway, this recluctant brotherman has made it his business to dismantle affirmative action nationwide one state at a time. He is jacking the same strategy that the dream team of the Brown decision,Thurgood "No Good" Marshall, James Nebrit and Charles Hamilton Houston, used for good. Making something popular as a state initiave, slowly gaining momentum until it becomes national policy.

Remember Prop 209, which ended affirmative action in all California state institutions? That was all him. After it's passage, the UC system's enrollment of Black and Latino students hit record lows.

And most recently, he spearheaded the efforts to end affirmative actions policies in Michigan. Calling the amendment the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (who doesn't like civil rights? ), the bill which passed las fall ended the state's policies to eradicated glaring inequities still faced by women and people of color. Guess most of the residents of Detroit are going to have to move to Ohio. Hopefully Wardell doens't make that his next pit stop.

He doesn't worry about the outcomes of his crusades to roll back the advances of women and people of color, and the Supreme Court seems to think that we'll only need affirmative actions policies for the next 25 years, then the need would have magically solved itself.

Affirmative action's biggest impact is felt on university and college campus, so how will they look 20 years on? Will public universities become more and more closed off to the working class, women and students of color, bearing more resemblance to Harvard circa 1915, than a multi-cultural 21st century America? Private schools and corporations have proven adept at circumventing these rulings, coming up with new ways to achieve a diverse population. However the public sector has been less and less given to affirmative action practices? And to the ones who are against it as unfair, well having a 400 year headstart isn't fair either. (Let's save this debate for the obligatory Black History Month coverage).

If only Wardell would just sit down somewhere and stop messing with progress.