Have a seat, Don Lemon.

I will not be long but I just have a question that needs to be answered. We know that white supremacy or privilege has no bound. It can even be internalized and reinforced through Black people. I present evidence A, Don Lemon (see video below).

If you're keeping score, Don Lemon agrees with Bill O'Reilly. Lemon even doubles down by saying O'Reilly doesn't go far enough in his comments. Deep sigh. This is the Bill O'Reilly surprised by Black people's behavior at a popular Harlem restaurant a few years ago. This is the Bill O'Reilly that said Columbia Professor Marc Lamont Hill looked like a cocaine dealer. You get my drift and this why Don Lemon is in the wrong for cosigning to O'Reilly. 

Don Lemon is following the famous white supremacist's game plan for Black people. He's internalized it and is now enacting it on us. Help us.

So I'm left asking the following question:

Will this five point plan end Stop and Frisk policies, drug wars, access to inadequate health care, educational inequality, unequal sentencing, racial profiling, unequal access to capital, or lack of economic mobility which are effects of white supremacy?

Any takers?

I have to say this.

I'm diving right in because too much has been going. I'm coming with a series of posts over the next few days.

But anyway, I have to speak on this Paula Deen situation. I guess the discussing of the n-word is the trendy thing to do but I'm taking a different route to Paula Deen's recent debacle. If you believe Deen hasn't used the word "nigger" "nigga" or whatever in the past 20+ years, I have an island to sell you. While the media and everyone else has focused on Deen's usage of the n-word, I'm more concerned about her organization's treatment of its employees. Has anyone stopped to think about the content of the lawsuit against Paul Deen Enterprises? Cared to read it? Cared to dissect it? I went through this deposition of the lady who brought forth of the lawsuit and it doesn't look too good. There are documented instances of:

1. racial discrimination
2. sexual harassment
3. gender discrimination
4. pay inequity
5. racism
6. violence

But of course this doesn't matter, right? She made a mistake, right? These are are not mistakes. This institutionalized discrimination is based mostly on gender and race. I've seen so many people, especially these Negroes (see attached video) defending her as if she has not aided in her own destruction.  If this Mand of Gawd (black church talk) can easily defend her while excusing the actions of her companies but stay quiet on the School to Prison Pipeline, racist American Drug War, or Stop and Frisk, we'll suffer.

 

At the end of the day, Paula Deen Enterprises allowed this egregious mess to happen within its organization. Nothing was ever reigned in nor confronted. So while the endorsements are dropping left and right, I am actually okay with it. At some point, enough has to be just that: Enough! Big ups to you, Lisa Jackson.

I'm out!

When will it ever end?

When will it ever end?

Today, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice pulled her name from consideration for the Secretary of State job within the Obama Administration. On the surface, Ambassador Rice is very qualified for the Secretary of State job. She's highly educated, experienced, and competent. Her credentials are impeccable. However, the politicization of the nomination process would have reared its ugly head. Conservative lawmakers have consistently shown they will do whatever to impede economic, social, and diplomatic progress in America under the Obama administration.

I cannot necessarily blame her rescinding her nomination but there's a pattern some of you might have missed.

Remember these people:

Reverend Jeremiah Wright
Desiree Rodgers
Van Jones
Shirley Sherrod
Eric Holder

and now....Susan Rice.

Again, when will it ever end?

America, We Gotta Talk.

The 2012 Presidential Election was one of the expensive and grueling elections that I will possibly witness in my lifetime. The election, in general, was hilarious, annoying, angering, and sometimes mind numbing. Heck, I was feeling drained as if I was running my own campaign. In the end, I think the American electorate chose the best candidate that espouses the ideals for our diverse and changing society. Some may not agree with my assessment and it was quite apparent in the post-election aftermath. We had pundits in meltdown mode. This lady's meltdown unfortunately describes some of you. Just click the video.

The election aftermath revealed lingering and festering attitudes toward the President Obama’s supporters that it became overwhelming at times. Typically, I would usually engage my conservative friends but I would not on Election Night. My enthusiasm and excitement would not be challenged. The re-election of President Barack Obama was important for our country. It speaks to the optimism, ideals, and aspirations we wish to see in our children. Unfortunately, it was not viewed this way. I present none other than Bill O'Reilly.

Just look at the depressed look on his face. Absolutely pathetic. Instead of Bill O’Reilly celebrating another important milestone in our nation’s mixed history, Bill O’Reilly uses his space as a political commentator to condemn the changing dynamics of American culture. His view of a lily White America is changing before his eyes. Another pathetic moment. Then, O’Reilly took the moment to call President Obama’s supporters as being ‘takers.’ Basically, a taker is a minority or single woman (the key voting blocs of President) that looks for free stuff from the government. On the other hand, the makers are white people who support the takers. That's my interpretation of his comments. Mitt Romney’s supporters actually believe this as well.  

Romney supporters, lean forward. I need to say something to you. Here are some suggestions for you:

1.   Get OVER yourselves. You all have been some of the whiniest, angriest, hateful, and paranoid people since 2008. You've cast the President as someone who is against American values when he's nothing but a clear picture of what you want to see America as. Your post-2008 and 2012 election behavior has been embarrassing at best. I saw a lady saying she would spit in the President’s face if she came across him. I saw numerous tweets referring to the President as a n*gger. This anger is not even healthy for some of you. Heck, some people made comments on him being assassinated. Get it together.

2.   Stop taking a dump on people who use the social safety net to survive day to day. Poverty is real. Unemployment and joblessness is real. But, I guess some of you feel better about yourselves when you kick down people who struggle from day to day. You know what, you kick down the elderly and kids. These two groups are the primary benefactors of food stamps and other taxpayer funded services such as health care. Again, this is shameful behavior. Get OVER yourselves. When will you raise hell about corporate welfare for oil companies that cause explosions in the middle of Gulf of Mexico and then try to skirt responsibilities the disaster? Where is your outrage on the abuses of resources in the Middle East wars? Billions of dollars are unaccounted for. Listen, my humanity causes me to care much more about a kid and an elderly person having breakfast and dinner.

3.   Stop voting for politicians such as Mitt Romney who could care less about your life. He serves the rich, not you. Mitt Romney made money by shipping jobs overseas for a profit. What makes you think he'll do something differently for Americans struggling to find adequate employment. Secondly, he was referring to some you as well in his 47% comments as well. Change your mindset. Mitt Romney did not even connect with some of you but the hatred and dislike for President Obama actually made some of you compromise your values. Listen, get outside of your bubble and get with the program.

4.   If you are angry about the changing face of America, get OVER yourself. Yes, minority groups will outnumber whites soon but let me comfort you. The average face of a wealthy person will be white. The average face of a politician will be white. The average face of a teacher will be white. The average face of power broker will be white. You get my drift. The white power structure is still intact. Take comfort.

5.  If you think you and the GOP are better served to handle the needs of Black and Brown people take these suggestions:

a.      Advocate for the ending of the American drug war. The drug war is racist and overwhelmingly affect Black and Brown neighborhoods. It breaks up our families. But of course the private prison lobby is in the back pocket of our politicians so they can’t end that right? Drug treatment costs less than incarceration.

b.      Advocate for ending of no tolerance policies in schools that snares Black and Brown kids in the justice system at young ages.

c.       Advocate for adequate health care of Black and Brown people. We still get the short end of the stick when it comes to quality health care. But of course the health care lobby is in the pocket of politicians who only care about the profits of health care companies?

d.      Advocate for better employment practices. If a Black or Brown person committed a crime and paid debts to society, why should it stop them from getting employment months or years later? Better yet, why is a qualified person with a “Black sounding” name more likely not to get a call back for an interview? Isn’t this unfair? Can’t you advocate for these changes from your position of privilege? Oh yeah, quit saying that simply getting a job will solve a person's economic situation. It's much more complicated than that. If someone works a minimum wage job, guess what they'll still be in poverty.

e.      Advocate for fairer and equal access to capital. Research tells us white skin color allows you a better a chance at lower interest rates on car and home loans. Don’t Black and Brown people deserve the same chance? The foreclosure of homes in Black and Brown communities during the housing crash was and is disgusting.

f.        Advocate for the ending of racial profiling of Black and Brown men. My teenager nephew should not have to fear being pulled over and search by the police. (Yes, this actually happened for those who are wondering.)

g.      Tell the GOP to stop referring to us as lazy and entitled. Better yet, some of you need to stop using those terms as well. It cheapens the person you are as well. We have perhaps the strongest work ethic out there. Heck, my ancestors laid the foundation of the capitalist system that some of you still enjoy and exploit today.

h.      Lastly, stop treating us as second class citizens. Quit denying our humanity. Quit saying dumb stuff like “we need electric fences to keep immigrants out.” Some of you actually a supported the politician that said irrational stuff like this. Quit saying dumb stuff like “black kids should become janitors in their schools to develop work ethic.” Again, some of you voted for the clown that said this. I promise you, stopping the divisiveness and contempt will go a long way. Your party is in an absolute mess but you can help clean it up. Some of you know what to do.

I’ll close by saying, Black and Brown people matter. We really do. This sums up everything you might have skimmed through.

Oh. If you think this specifically applies to you, then yes, it does.

Peace.

JB

Reject Amendment One

The 2012 Elections will have great implications for voters across America. Outside of the hotly contested Presidential election, there are several races that will shift the balance of power with local, state, and federal governments. More specifically, Georgians will have to the chance to approve an amendment that could literally change the landscape of education in the state of Georgia. When you enter the voting booth you will see something called Amendment 1 which states: 

Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.
House Resolution No. 1162 Ga. L. 2012, p. 1364
 

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?

( ) YES
( ) NO

This vaguely and deceptively worded question will undoubtedly fool some voters into approving this measure. However, PLEASE be educated before you decide to vote on the measure.

Here are some things you should know ahead of November's election:

1. Amendment 1 re-establishes the Georgia Charter Schools Commission (which was said to be unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2011). The Georgia Charter Schools Commission will be an unaccountable, unelected group of people who will approve charter schools even if local school boards don't approve them. Anyone else see the power grab of the state government?
2. The amendment was crafted by Jan Jones. Jan Jones is a metro Atlanta state legislator. Her "school choice" beliefs were probably informed by the American Legislation Exchange Council as known as ALEC. ALEC is a group of conservative lawmakers, corporations, and other pushers of free market ideas. ALEC advocates for the privatization of public education (essentially passing off public education to the hand of greedy organizations). Jan Jones is a member of the education task force within the ALEC organization. Plus she serves on the education committee within the state government. She is pushing dangerous policies upon Georgia's schools. Furthermore, ALEC has funded the push to disenfranchised voters across America.
3. If Georgia's schools are already being unfunded and having funds taken away from them, think about the further impact of local districts who rely heavily on state funds. But of course, critical resources from schools and then when schools fail to meet certain standards....people raise hell.
4. No one is against choice but why create an extra layer of bureaucracy to approve charter schools. There is a process to approve charter schools if they aren't approved on the local level. State Board of Education anyone?
5. Ed reformers (namely politicians that put this amendment on the ballot), this issue is not about school choice and competition. This charter amendment is mostly about the funneling public funds into organizations that funded your campaigns. This is your way to reward them.

Georgians, be smart. Reject this measure to send a strong message to our state government. Oh and please share!