-
-
Black Girls Rock!
Flickr Photos
-
Potus Takes Oath of Office
Flotus & Daughters at Great Wall of China
My Brothers Keeper
-
-
-
-
-
AFRO PUFFS
Most Adorable Shoe Stealer
Six Little Babies
Fatherhood
-
-
Even though 3Chics Politico is written and curated by three women: Ametia, Rikyrah, and SouthernGirl2, I must nominate this as one of the most engaging blogs I've found. Devoted to politics and culture, these three shine a light on contemporary life with humor and spirit.
-
3Chics Action Alert
Lets Make It Happen
3 Chics Trio
-
REALITY Blog Award
Recent Comments
Top Posts
Guard The Change
Vote 4 Democrats
-
-
-
Go to the polls
President Barack Obama
First Lady Michelle Obama
Obama Love
Your Vote Matters
President Obama & Bo
The Obama Family
-
-
-
-
Presidential hug
-
Trayvon’s Legacy
July 18, 2013
http://starlightnews.com/wordpress/2013/07/trayvons-legacy/
Many in the country are now venting their anger and grief over the failure of the justice system to hold a wannabe cop/vigilante accountable for the murder of Trayvon Martin. The lethal convergence of lax gun laws, racial profiling and institutional racism in this case has pushed long-simmering resentments to the boiling point. Suddenly, the national conversation is all about the increase in violence and death condoned by Stand Your Ground laws and the ubiquity of racial profiling that subjects minorities to disproportionate prison terms, stop-and-frisk policies and legalized victimization and murder.
The sad irony is that the deeply felt loss of the prosecution’s case against George Zimmerman has been far more potent in awakening the country to the horrors of the status quo than a satisfying win would have been. At the moment, there is an on-going sit-in at the Florida State Capitol demanding the governor open a special session to amend or preferably repeal the state’s Stand Your Ground law. In addition, dozens of protests erupted all over the country during the weekend following the Zimmerman acquittal, and dozens more are expected this coming weekend, many focused on opposing the Stand Your Ground laws that exist in multiple states. And in an extraordinary touch of synchronicity, the movie Fruitvale Station, a story about the toxic mix of racial profiling and white paranoia which tells of a young black man murdered by a white cop in 2009, comes out tomorrow.
The astrological indications for this heightened fervor are quite strong and getting stronger for the next two months. In the US chart, the progressed Sun in Pisces is nearing its exact square with natal Uranus (8Gemini55), culminating on September 19. Moreover, just as the shameful Zimmerman verdict was being absorbed by the nation, transiting Pluto was moving into a two-month quincunx with US Uranus, from mid-July through September 21, activating the latent rebellion and impulse to transform injustice that is found in the Sun/Uranus square. Under Uranus, it is often a sharp, sudden event, such as the outcome of the trial, which sparks an acute awareness that leads to action. Let us remember that when the US progressed Sun made its square to progressed Uranus in 2011 and was triggered by a long Pluto station during the first five months of that year, we were witness to the months-long demonstrations in Wisconsin against the machinations of Governor Scott Walker. The Occupy Wall Street movement came later in the year as the progressed Sun/progressed Uranus progression moved toward exact in November.
At present, under the progressed Sun square to natal Uranus, we are seeing a profound intensification of not only civil rights issues coming to the forefront, but also a growing clamor to push back against the anti-abortion steamroller and blatant voting rights suppression of Republican state administrations. The strength of these movements is likely to build through September as the aspect becomes exact, and possibly into mid-November due to the transiting Uranus sextile (8Aries55) to US Uranus, from mid-October through November 17, triggering the waning progression.USchart
September 2013 may be particularly tumultuous due to the transit of Saturn (8Scorpio55) and the Node (8Scorpio55) further agitating this volatile Sun/Uranus aspect during the last weeks of the Pluto quincunx (8Capricorn55). The Saturn/Node conjunction from September 9 through September 18, which also crosses President Obama’s Neptune (8Scorpio36), is also likely to bring a very stressful, traumatic and unexpected event to the nation. Because it will be triggering the culminating progressed Sun square to Uranus, we can expect a potent and painful wake-up call over something we have hitherto resisted addressing.
Sanford’s police chief eyeing changes for Neighborhood Watch program
http://tiny.cc/x6iq0w
SANFORD — Sanford’s police chief is looking into changes with Neighborhood Watch programs in the city following the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict.
Neighborhoods provide volunteers for the programs, but police departments help train them. Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith told News 13 he’s seriously considering changes to the police department’s role in the Neighborhood Watch program.
There’s even a petition getting thousands of signatures from people across the country, calling for Sanford Police Department to change its Neighborhood Watch guidelines.
The petition, titled “The Trayvon Martin Law – Stop This From Happening Again,” calls for changes in Florida self-defense laws, and changes in how Neighborhood Watch programs are handled.
The family that was assisted by George Zimmerman after a car accident has canceled their scheduled press conference.
********************
hmmm…I wonder why? Could it be the hoax was exposed?
Roland Martin Reacts To Juror B-37’s Comments: Zimmerman’s Heart Was Not In The Right Place.
So all the negroes wait for PBO to address the injustices and racism, then they come out of the wood work.
A massive boycott of Florida is on the way…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/jay-z-kanye-florida-boycott-zimmerman_n_3636567.html
•Mary Mary
•Eddie Levert
•Rod Stewart
•Madonna
•Usher
•Pattie Labelle
•Kanye West
•Mary J
•Trey Songz
•Jay Z
•Rolling Stones
•Justin Timberlake
•R. Kelly
•Rihanna
•Alicia Keys
•Joe
•Will I AM
•Keyshia Cole
•Young Jeezy
•Erykah Badu
•Wale
•Frankie Beverly
•Parliament
Ditto, Rikyrah. Did these musiciansthink they came from another planetand were just visiting? You mess with any of us, you’re messing with everyone. We’re all connected. No work, no money, no food, no concerts! See how this works,folks?
Sanford police deliver George Zimmerman evidence to FBI
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-evidence-fbi-20130722,0,3559428.story
Sanford police confirmed Monday they had delivered boxes of evidence from their investigation into George Zimmerman to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Orlando office.
Capt. Jim McAuliffe said the delivery — which includes the gun Zimmerman used to fatally shoot Trayvon Martin — was shipped to the FBI at its request.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which includes the FBI, opened an investigation shortly after the unarmed black teenager’s death more than a year ago but has not filed any criminal charges.
Zimmerman, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer, was found not guilty of second-degree murder earlier this month after killing the Miami Gardens 17-year-old during a Feb. 26, 2012, encounter inside a Sanford gated community.
Sanford police did not immediately arrest Zimmerman after he claimed he shot the teen in self-defense.
But Zimmerman’s freedom incurred the anger of millions worldwide, sparking mass protests after the story caught fire in the national media.
He was arrested, charged and the subsequent trial led to his acquittal after 16 hours of deliberation by a six-member, all-female Seminole County jury.
Sanford police held onto the items — including Trayvon’s clothes and cellphone, the bag of Skittles and soft drink found in his pockets — in a secure area before sending them to federal authorities.
National civil-rights leaders and demonstrators disappointed by the verdict called on the agency to investigate whether Zimmerman violated Trayvon’s civil rights.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged the Justice Department would continue its investigation and simultaneously work to ease tensions in the wake of the verdict.
Report: Jay Z, Kanye West, Rolling Stones join Wonder’s Florida boycott
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/312559-report-kanye-west-rolling-stones-join-stevie-wonders-florida-boycott
Some of the music industry’s biggest acts are joining Stevie Wonder in boycotting Florida over the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law.
Artists joining Wonder include Rod Stewart, Madonna, Usher and Justin Timberlake, a source close to the legendary musician told American Urban Radio Network’s April Ryan.
Rappers Jay Z, Kanye West, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy and Wale have also signed on to the boycott threat, as have pop acts like R. Kelly, Rihanna and Alicia Keys.
Wonder announced his intended boycott the day after a Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman of second-degree murder charges stemming from the death of Trayvon Martin.
“I decided today that until the ‘stand your ground’ law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again,” he said. “As a matter of fact, wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world.”
“For those that we have lost in the battle for justice, wherever that fits in any part of the world — we can’t bring them back,” he continued. “[What] we can do is we can let our voices be heard. And we can vote in our various countries throughout the world for change and equality for everybody. That’s what I know we can do.”
3ChicsPolitico salute all of these celebrities standing for Trayvon Martin!
Big Up!
BRAVO!
about time some of them understood that they are citizens too
http://www.scribd.com/doc/99926375/99916379-Documents-Given-to-the-Defendant-R-1
President Obama’s speech about Trayvon was so powerful and moving it sent @GZlegalCase scrambling. Why do you think they issued a response?
“We Are The Survivors…” Columbus Short Pens A Letter About Trayvon Martin, The Verdict & Race Relations
As I have sat and listened to debate after debate, in depth analysis and tempered opinions on “The Verdict” I couldn’t help but feel helpless, frustrated, hurt and yes, angry. As I plummet into the labyrinth of my mind in search of answers, solutions, or a way I could help subdue the burning desire for things to change, my only recourse was to start writing.
Presume we step back and take pause for a moment. Pause to take a cultural and personal inventory on where we have come as a people. As oppose to being blinded by the present emotional and economical condition of our nation, our community. What if we begin by acknowledging some of the triumphs, rather than becoming consumed solely by the injustice? I ask these questions for one reason being, that if I reflect and remember just how far we’ve come, instead of sitting and stewing over what has happened, I am now ensuring that I am not going to allow this “Decision” to stifle me as a human being nor as a black man in America.
It may seem quite pretentious and easy to hear coming from my heart. However, I assure you I experience the same profiling and discrimination daily regardless of what I happen to do for a living. We must recognize that if we allow this particular ‘lost battle’ in the continuing war, that is ‘Race In America,’ to take us backwards, we will be backtracking and negating the progress that we have already made to date.
Suppose we chose today to adopt a spirit of gratitude? Gratitude of what our predecessors marched for and died for, in order to allow us to even be where we are today. Without the blood shed of those who fought in this War long before us, it would not be possible for me to do what I do. Without those blistered hands and feet it wouldn’t be possible for a Black Woman to be the lead of a television series on network tv. Without those afraid, yet valiant, warriors, Oprah wouldn’t be one the wealthiest business icons in the world. Tyler Perry wouldn’t have been able to go from homelessness, to providing jobs for a multitude of unrecognized actors and actresses. Men like Steve Stout, who is an author, entrepreneur, former record executive and philanthropist, would have been only but a futile dream. Women like Melody Hudson would have never been accepted into Princeton, let alone graduate to become the President of Ariel Investments, LLC. A Chicago investment firm that manages over $3 billion in assets and one of the largest African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the United States. Oh yea and happens to be the wife of George Lucas, or should I say George Lucas is the husband of Melody Hudson.
I offer these examples of African American trailblazers who chose not to allow social economical disadvantages to stunt or hinder their evolution as humans but, to provoke a change in our thinking, which will lead to a change in results. I truly believe that adopting this way of thinking is imperative to the survival and effectiveness of our people, our voice. Only those humans, not just black, but ALL those who choose to operate in spiritual growth, unblinded by the difference of one’s skin color, religion, and social status, will experience a drastic change of true human evolution, which in turn will spark a new dream. This will make way to understanding that WE are the owners of the spoken words from our mouths. That no matter what social economic background we are from, our word has the power to create change. Our word has the power to tear down, and to build up. If we start to speak life into our community, into ourselves, that is when change begins. Doing away with our jealous and envious ways toward each other, our own people. Putting to bed thoughts of being less than, ideals of self hate and division. Ideals that have been propagated into our people from the beginning. Dating back to the deciding of which slaves were worthy of working in the house as opposed to those working in the fields. Killing these old beliefs may rebuild a true love and unity within our communities. How can we expect to change the ideas the world has of us, unless we first begin to truly wholeheartedly commit to love ourselves? It is time to unite, and educate, as Nelson Mandela said, “Only with knowledge comes power”. We have, as a race, experienced some ugly realities but also have experienced some beautiful truths. One being that God chose us all to be here and be afforded all the the world and heavens have to offer.
We may not see the mountain top MLK spoke of in our life time. However, if we instill that same belief and that same unwavering strength into our kids and our youth. They will continue to claw their nails into the rocky mountain side and evenutally get there. Find solice in the fact that we have come so far. Granted not at the speed in which we have hoped and prayed for, for many of years but, in the ever so apparent evidence that progress has been made in spite of the challenges we’ve faced. What we do as a people, and as a nation from this moment on will decide if we are progressing or digressing. The outcome of the Zimmerman trial can’t allow us to implode on ourselves nor engage in self sabotaging behavior by looting and rioting. Reacting in self damaging behavior only reinforces all the other perceptions projected towards us. To get the right answers requires asking the right questions. Who paid Zimmerman’s defense? What companies were in support of his acquittal? By identifying those companies and choosing whether or not to economically contribute to their growth is one small example of expertly mending OUR POWER. This may seem to be a daunting task but, unquestionably effective in its result. Trayvon was a victim of racial profiling but WE are the SURVIVORS and always have been survivors. We shouldn’t let Trayvons death be in vein, but rather use this time to do a cultural evaluation into how we can unite in a way that will force our voices to be heard and undenied by our government and politicians. In the mean time, my prayers are with the Martin’s during this trying and heartbreaking time. Lets truly look at their example of what finding peace in the middle of the storm looks like. May this letter bring someone out there hope, and a desire to rise up and help lead us to change. We have work to do. But nothing we can’t handle.
Willing, Hopeful and Grateful,
C.S.
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/columbus-short-pens-letter-about-trayvon-martin-verdict-race-relations-scandal-details#ixzz2ZnsXhNDZ
This GZ bullshit news story is a PLOY to take the massive Trayvon Martin rallies held on Sat across the US out of the news cycle.
I hope folks are tweeting about the rallies and Trayvon, and not this story.
/ July 21, 2013, 11:19 PM
Outcry unlikely to spur change in stand-your-ground law
MIAMI Despite an outcry from civil rights groups, a call for close examination by President Barack Obama and even a 1960s-style sit-in at the Florida governor’s office, the jury’s verdict that George Zimmerman was justified in shooting unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin is unlikely to spur change to any of the nation’s stand-your-ground self-defense laws.
“I support stand your ground,” Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said last week.
“I do not see any reason to change it,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, also a Republican.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57594780/outcry-unlikely-to-spur-change-in-stand-your-ground-law/?tag=nl.e875&s_cid=e875&ttag=e875&ftag=TRE497675b
Holder, Trayvon Martin’s mom to speak in Philly
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130722_ap_4e3199de9b8c4f05ad5c706238b256bc.html
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The mother of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will speak in Philadelphia at the National Urban League’s annual conference, which will focus on civil rights, voting rights and job creation.
The four-day event, which begins Wednesday, comes less than a month after the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and not long after the man who shot Martin was acquitted in the racially charged case.
The league is one of the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations. The conference, titled “Redeem the Dream: Jobs Rebuild America,” is expected to attract about 6,000 people and also focus on strengthening economic opportunities for African-Americans, CEO Marc Morial said.
Holder will talk Thursday about the high court’s controversial ruling, which threw out a provision requiring all or parts of 15 states with histories of voting discrimination – mainly in the South- to get federal approval before changing the way they hold elections.
__________________
Hey, SPD! That’s the news, bitches!
They want to pivot and make us forget about the MURDERER GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, by staging heroic fakery to redeem this heartless mofo.
I hope the DOJ NAILS this FUCKER.
**********************
Puhleeze!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who the fuck do the SPD think believe their lying corrupt ass?
Who does the SPD think believes this STAGED FUCKERY?
Where’s teh REAL NEWS?
Since GZ lied to get away with murder & had a jury of ASS clowns believe him. He figures people will believe anything. GTFFOOH!
I thought Mark O’Mara said the b*tch*ss was in hiding? How can he be in hiding AND rescue someone? Mofo please!
Martin Luther King III talks Trayvon
Powerful. Thanks for this.
Dreams Lost!
Meet The 17-Year-Old Who Blew The Lid Off Racial Profiling With His iPod
“We’re going to go out there and violate some rights.” Hear the secret police recordings that will take your breath away. In a bad way.
A secret audio recording of a stop-and-frisk in action sheds unprecedented light on a practice that has put the city’s young people of color in the NYPD’s crosshairs.
http://youtu.be/7rWtDMPaRD8
UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE. “We’re going to go out there and violate some rights.”
Yep; rights these fuckers don’t belive we should have in the first place. KKK
Total depravity!
Yesterday, I learned something that I had not known.
One of the daughters of the lady that I told you about at the rally, informed me that Mayor Yorty of Los Angeles specific sought out Southerners for his inner city police force. I will have to see if I can research that and locate some facts.
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/359009566203187201/photo/1
SG2 & Yahtc!
Ben Ferguson is DELUSIONAL & traveling down that river in Egypt called DE-NIAL.
The SYSTEMIC racism & white privlege is embedded in Ferguson’s DNA now.
systemic
adjective
of or relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part:
the disease is localized rather than systemic
@yahtc. Now you’re getting it.
I remember that during that one year-long depression that I had over twenty years ago, how 2 or 3 individuals (acquaintances) did not try to understand what it was like to be in my shoes and one simply said, “You need to pick yourself up.” Another said, “Smile, and the world smiles with you; cry, and you cry alone.”
thanks for finding this….they wanna always dismiss our views and our issues and our insights.
TELL.IT. T
hat’s why Blacks don’t need NO STINKING CONVERSATION ON RACE.
WHITE FOLKS DO! But they DON’T WANT TO, BECAUSE IT WOULD PULL THE RUG FROM UNDER THEIR WHITE SUPERIORITY/PRIVILEGE LIE.
and fall on their ass powerless, helpless, and frightened
here’s the page for
#TavisWeeps:
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TavisWeeps&src=hash
Photo:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQL9rnZhCiKXwcfgbkdaC4cNtjvlfsKTOaC8yNNG_JEvhaL4oaD
Mrs Ziggy
@MrsZiggy1988
#TavisWeeps because both his Poverty Pimp Card and His Black Card were revoked at the same damn time!
11:54 AM – 21 Jul 2013
eclecticbrotha
@eclecticbrotha
#TavisWeeps because his Poverty Pimpin’ Tour came to a screeching halt when his Wells Fargo Wagon caught a flat tire.
11:44 AM – 21 Jul 2013
LiberalPhenom
@LiberalPhenom
#TavisWeeps because Wells Fargo and Wal-Mart stopped bankrolling his anti-poverty hustle. Now he has to wait for Fox to call.
11:36 AM – 21 Jul 2013
Trust, Tavis Smiley is one big fucking DISTRACTION. Notice how he comes out everytime the President LEADS in a way that shows up the DO NOTHING GOP & CONGRESS?
Tavis leads the negative charge to take our focus off the elephant dung in the room. AMERICA’S WHITE SYSTEMIC RACISM.
https://twitter.com/JamesPMorrison/status/358850736978796545/photo/1
Yesterday, remember?, I asked that guy if he worries about someone following his daughter at night. His answer was, “No, she always carries the 9mm I gave her.”
Keep digging Smiley.
Tavis; the president has done more to lead this nation on EVERY issue, while you were on the side of CORPORATIONS getting your HUSTLE ON.
And we should be concerned about what Smiley’s thoughts are about race, because?
Tavis Smiley Says He’s Cutting Ties to Wells Fargo Over Subprime Scandal
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/20/tavis-smiley-says-hes-cut_n_292861.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2zKV1g5AI
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Tavis’ latest SUGAR DADDIES are the Koch Brothers.
BOY BYE!
Rev. Al. “We don’t need a CONVERSATION; we need LEGISLATION.’
Call out the SYSTEMIC RACIST LAWS & ABOLISH THEM.
Zing! Zap! Bam!
Right on, Al!
Photo:
http://www.gopusa.com/news/files/2013/07/sharpton_trayvon.jpg
Toure on verdict:
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-cycle/52490843#52490843
Letter to Sybrina from Melissa Harris-Perry:
**tears**
Melissa’s letter to Sybrina Fulton touched my heart. I couldn’t stop my tears. The pain is piercing.
Last paragraph, co-sign. Sybrina Fulton is from a rare breed of humans, those who are morally advanced and make the world liveable for the rest of us.
Tim Wise got a spanking this morning on MHP. Can we get the video, SG2?
Dr Martin Luther King – The Right to Protest for Right
Dr. King taught us how to apply pressure and get results. Lets do this!
@SouthernGirl2;
Hey SouthernGirl:I posted again this morning, and my post for some reason, did not show up? I posted under Deborah P. from NYC from my Facebook account. Can you please check out why it has not posted as of yet? Thanks. I would hate to have to re-post it!
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. WE WILL NOT BE MOVED.
@CharlesMBlow
When ppl point 2 the “breakdown of the blk family” but don’t acknowledge that this country has endeavored to break it down, I stop listening
Sorry Dan Riehl but Obama is not the First Racist
By: Keith Brekhus
Jul. 19th, 2013
The conservative reaction to Barack Obama’s speech on the Zimmerman case was immediately hysterical, hyperbolic and all too predictable. Pundits on the right launched into quick attacks accusing Obama of promoting divisiveness and discord. The defenders of white privilege, who seem to believe racism is dead unless it is people of color attacking white people, doubled down on charges of “reverse racism” with clueless comments that could only come from people who are willfully ignorant of American history.
White victimhood has become the cause du jour for many on the political right and nowhere was it more evident than in a tweet from influential conservative blogger Dan Riehl who tweeted “If you ever had any doubts, Obama is the first Racist in Chief.” In the delusional white mind of Mr. Riehl no president in our history has ever been as racist as Mr. Obama whose apparent verbal hate crime is that he had the temerity to point out that 35 years ago he was a black teenager. Wow, has any President ever done anything so racist in the history of our nation? Well, actually yes. Worse even. Much worse.
Perhaps Mr. Riehl maybe has not heard of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, James Polk or Zachary Taylor. All eight of these men owned black slaves while they were President. However, in Riehl’s world maybe there is nothing racist about owning people as chattel property based on the color of their skin. Maybe Mr. Riehl is also oblivious to presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren forcibly removing 15,000 American Indians from their homes in the Trail of Tears.
In addition, Dan Riehl is no doubt unaware that Woodrow Wilson screened the pro Ku Klux Klan movie “Birth of the Nation” at the White House and gave it enthusiastic reviews. Two thumbs up from the then Racist in Chief. Maybe Dan also forgot that FDR signed an executive order to put Japanese Americans in internment camps. I suppose Mr. Riehl has been so isolated from access to historical documents that he also never heard Richard Nixon on tape spewing racist venom.
And let us not leave out Dan Riehl’s presidential hero, Ronald Reagan who stereotyped black “welfare queens” to rally aggrieved racist white voters to embrace his campaign. Prior to becoming President, Reagan opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, calling them “humiliating” to the South. According to Lisa Mcgirr, in the book Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right, when Reagan campaigned for governor of California in 1966 he vowed to eliminate the state’s Fair Housing Act proclaiming that “if an individual wants to discriminate against Negroes or others in selling or renting his house, he has a right to do so.”
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/19/dan-riehl-obama-racist-president.html
Goldie Taylor @goldietaylor 6m
Yes, indeed… RT @Toure: Tavis is stuck in “Must Criticize Obama No Matter What” land. It’s not a pretty place.
Imani ABL @AngryBlackLady13m
👀 RT @marclamonthill: At dinner w this group of scholars & a woman comes over & asks what kind of sports team we are. pic.twitter.com/wnGtETpnyH
SMGDH
Had that btich rolled up on my table…. I would’ve shown her someof my ATHLETIC skills. There would have been NO doubt what sports team I am.
President Obama’s Recent Race Speech Colors Purple, A Call for Truth and Reconciliation
Friday, July 19, 2013 | Posted by adept2u at 2:57 PM
There’s a scene from The Color Purple that immediately jumped in my mind after hearing President Obama’s most recent discussion on race. The family Suge Avery and her boyfriend are sitting around the table, and Mister insults Miss Celie just one time too often. She grabs a knife, curses him, and declares her independence.
It Isn’t Miss Celie I’m feeling right now, although President Obama played the role, I’m feeling Ms. Sophia.
Ms. Sophia had her face scared and her spirit broken from a completely unjust interaction with a racist criminal justice system. Remember it? The White lady wanted to pet her child, and she had the nerve to speak out against it, got attacked defended herself and was beaten down in the street.
That’s exactly how I and a great many Black people felt in the aftermath of the Zimmerman trial’s verdict.
President Obama spoke the kind of truth that Black America needed to hear to go forward, and for that I will forever treasure the two votes I cast for him.. Ms. Sophia was able to wake up from the slumber the abuse had placed her. She was able to be herself again.
I’d like to add a call for action.
We are currently in the midst of celebrating the life and times of the Madiba. I like President Obama came to political activism struggling against our nation’s support of South Africa. I would like to propose a tool the South African people used to great effect, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission except an American one.
The most appealing aspect of this idea to me is that of Truth. We would have stakeholders from say, not just Native peoples, but the issues of a Native person from the plains and from Alaska. We would have not just Asians, but Japanese to speak of internment, Chinese to speak of their experiences in America’s cities. We should have stake holders for everyone to write in an event where all of American history is discussed.
We can discuss the individual experience of every wave of immigration we have been blessed with and finally expose any painful myths laying underneath like how Italian people are seen as mafia dons, or just anything.
I’ve always felt that our reconstruction after the civil war was designed to reconcile Northern White people with their Southern brothers. I call on a reconciliation of the entire American family.
The soul searching the President called for in his speech will by our history uncover nasty things, but the only way to get forgiveness is to ask for it, even if it regards something you were not personally responsible for. The only way for anyone to grant forgiveness is to feel as if the offense is recognized and forgiveness is sought.
We can do this.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/07/president-obamas-recent-race-speech.html
The prosecution concealed police corruption in Zimmerman trial
http://frederickleatherman.com/2013/07/21/the-prosecution-concealed-police-corruption-in-zimmerman-trial/
The jury delivered its verdict in the George Zimmerman trial a week ago tonight. I was shocked and dismayed by the verdict. Like most of you I initially focused my wrath on stealth juror B-37 because she basically admitted on national television approximately 12 hours after the verdict was announced to having decided that “George” (referring to him as though he were a personal friend) was not guilty before she heard any evidence in the case. Indeed, her summary of the evidence matched the false narrative that Mark O’Mara had been preaching and the national media had been duly reporting for a year.
She bought O’Mara’s Trayvon-is-a-thug story despite no evidence to support it. Her race-based criticism of Rachel Jenteal’s manner of speaking and her consequent decision to ignore her testimony was a breathtaking admission of racist thinking that she quite obviously regarded as acceptable normative behavior that no one would question.
When I thought she could not possibly do more damage to herself, she added insult to injury with her giddy announcement that she had reached an agreement with a literary agent to sell her story to a publishing house before the story was even written. Never mind that she or her attorney husband must have contacted the literary agent in violation of the sequestration order, unless they contacted her in the middle of the night after the verdict was announced.
I seriously doubt that literary agents accept cold calls on late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings from unpublished authors pitching ideas for unwritten books. Thankfully, the agent had the good sense to nix the deal once she realized she was dealing with an out of control racist wacko.
I was so disgusted and angered by B-37′s false statements under oath during voir dire, her willful violations of the sequestration order and her oath to follow the jury instructions that I urged the prosecution to prosecute her for perjury. Well, I have not seen any sign that Angela Corey intends to make an example out of her to warn future jurors not to engage in those behaviors. Seems to me that such a prosecution probably is necessary in Florida to convince jurors that an oath truly is a promise to tell the truth under penalty of perjury. In addition, B-37 truly is an unrepentant racist and egregious human being who deserves to spend time in prison for who she is as well as what she did.
“…B-37 truly is an unrepentant racist and egregious human being who deserves to spend time in prison for who she is as well as what she did.”
This. And the DOJ should be investigating (if they aren’t already) those redneck Sanford lawmen and charge them with civil rights violations.
Until the people who set murderers free feel the long arm of the law, what is there to cause the system to change? Step one is to round up the perpetrators who allow this sh!t to go down.
Speak on it, Liza! I want to see charges of civil rights violations from the top down.
The DOJ needs to sweep out the SPD, hell the whole state of Florida is CORRUPT.
I’m waiting for Xena’s next installment on the Zimmerman jury. We are no ways done with ANY of these folks that let that child predator/murder George Zimmerman.
Don’t expect any actions from Angela Corey that jurors had unsupervised visits & juror B37 used info not presented at trial to decide case. The whole damn system is corrupt.
Well Angela Corey, as head state prosecutor had to put her stamp ON that foolishness. I never trusted that bitch from jump.
Keep pounding the pavement and calling for change, folks. ALL WE GOT IS JUST-US.
Black Americans Welcome Obama’s Entry To Race Discussion
by
July 21, 2013 5:56 AM
As soon as he made his remarks on race Friday, President Obama was part of an intense conversation around the nation.
In dozens of cities across the country on Saturday, protesters held coordinated rallies and vigils over the not-guilty verdict in the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Many African-Americans insist that understanding the context for black distress over the Zimmerman verdict is key to honest discussions about race.
In Washington, D.C., Djems Wolf Narcisse was visiting the Martin Luther King Memorial. He was not at the D.C. protest, but he does say that few white Americans can understand why black Americans don’t look at race the same way they do.
“You know we’re not looked upon as the people who fought for this country; we’re looked upon as the burden of this country,” he says.
White Americans, Narcisse says, probably didn’t get the president’s story of being followed while shopping because it isn’t part of their experience, as it is his.
“That’s what you gotta think about,” he says. “When you walk into a store, do they follow you around? Have you ever had that happen to you?”
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/07/21/204154690/many-welcome-obamas-entry-into-discussion-on-race?ft=1&f=&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Two Tales Of Profiling, From The Highest Offices In The Land
by Gene Demby
July 19, 2013 7:20 PM
President Obama’s surprise remarks Friday afternoon about the Trayvon Martin case, racial profiling and race more broadly was almost certainly his most extensive remarks about the role race plays in American life — and the role it has played in his own — since his presidency began.
“You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son,” President Obama said Friday. “Another way of saying that is, Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”
For Obama, discussing race has been especially treacherous. When he weighed in on the case last year — “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon” — his comments were viewed by many as an attempt to humanize Trayvon and empathize with his family, while many other people felt he was attempting to put his thumb on the scale in the case. (His comments came before George Zimmerman had been charged.)
But that’s perhaps what made in the White House briefing room so fascinating. “You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son,” he said. “Another way of saying that is, Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”
The president tried to contextualize the reaction that so many African-Americans had to the trial and the issue of racial profiling by talking about his own experiences.
There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me — at least before I was a senator. There are very few African-Americans who haven’t had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.
And I don’t want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African-American community interprets what happened one night in Florida. And it’s inescapable for people to bring those experiences to bear. The African-American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws — everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws. And that ends up having an impact in terms of how people interpret the case.
Contrast that with his .
It’s not clear just yet what prompted the president to revisit the verdict, but his statements came just days after Attorney General Eric Holder sharply critiqued stand your ground self-defense laws like the ones in Florida. (Stand your ground wasn’t directly invoked in George Zimmerman’s trial, but it has been a major part of the discussion surrounding the trial.) In his comments, Holder got pretty personal as well.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/07/19/203715163/two-tales-of-profiling-from-the-highest-offices-in-the-land
President Obama spoke to WHITE AMERICA as a BLACK MAN, Friday.
OH NOEZ, HE’S BLACK! GASP!!!
@Ametia:
Yes, the President spoke to WHITE AMERICA on Friday and informed them that he could have been Trayvon Martin 35 years ago! Racists White America has been demonizing, and spewing racist insults against Barak Obama since day 1!!! They have shown their assess from day one against him and Michelle and we are sick of it!! As for the Florida Gov. and his day of prayer? ShoVE IT BRO! PUHLEESE! Black people are tied of praying for healing! We want action! We are tired of singing and holding hands! End the SYG law NOW!!!! We are tired of racists shooting our children and getting away with it, and demonizing our sons and portraying them as Criminally Inclined thugs! We are sick of it!
Fogen needs to go to Federal Prison for violating the civil rigths of TM and if that does not transpire, let someone on the street meet up with him! That is what I pray for! I am not a phony and will not be one now! Attending that rally in NYC yesterday told me that enough is enough already! Wake up black people! Our civil rights are slowy being siffoned away! We have not arrived or overcome! This boy was MURDERED and their was a cover up going on in the SPD and the State’s Attorney’s office. COVER UP of a magnitude going on here in the state of Florida!!
@Deborah. TELL THE TRUTH & SHAME THOSE DEVILS.
Some white folksand some house negroes are feigning shock and awe over PBO’s comments. Where the HELL have these folks been since November 4, 2008, HELL, since the beginning of time?
We’ve been calling it from day one: As leaders, PBO & AG Holder’s BLACK faces & bodies are right smack dab in the face of America. It’s MUCH TOO MUCH BLACKNESS, COMPETENCY, INTELLIGENCE, AND POWER for white America. It COMPLETELY & UNEQUIVOCALLY throws their whole construct of white superiority out the window.
Nancy Giles: On when we assume
In this commentary “Sunday Morning” contributor Nancy Giles offers her take on when “reasonable” is used to define Stand Your Ground, Stop and Frisk, and our own anxiety:
When Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, in Sanford, Fla., last year, my nephew Julius was living with me, and I worried about him all the time.
Julius is 23, bright, well-spoken, funny, never been in trouble, and wears a baseball cap and a hooded sweat shirt, like a lot of young people his age. He worked days and weekends, and when he went out at night to meet his friends, we had the regular drill:
Do you have your ID? Is your cell phone charged? Do you have one of my business cards? What’s with the pants? Is that sweatshirt warm enough?
He knew what I meant, and would shake his head and make some adjustments. And I’d watch him and blink — and see his little boy face singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in his sweet, little kid voice.
I was relieved that there were no “Stand Your Ground” laws in New York and New Jersey, but still worried that Julius might be stopped and frisked by the NYPD — not because he’d done anything, but because (according to the language of “Stop and Frisk”) he could be stopped if the police had a “reasonable suspicion” of . . . something.
A visible bulge in his pockets.
Something called “furtive movements.”
“Inappropriate attire off-season.” Hmm. He’s wearing long pants and it’s 90 degrees. Better stop and frisk.
How is that “reasonable?”
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57594672/nancy-giles-on-when-we-assume/
It’s racial profiling-stereotyping masked as law, NANCY.
Stop and frisk has got to end. Period.
Thank you!
“George Zimmerman Verdict Protesters Remain Strong” – ABC news video:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/george-zimmerman-verdict-protesters-remain-strong-19726763
Florida governor sets ‘day of prayer for unity’
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/19/florida-governor-sets-day-of-prayer-for-unity/
(CNN) – Saying “emotions are running high,” Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida formally called for a “Statewide Day of Prayer for Unity,” following last week’s verdict in the George Zimmerman trail that’s sparked large protests in the Sunshine State.
The day of prayer is set for Sunday.
Florida Governor, Rick Scott needs to set a day to ABOLISH SYG LAW in FLORIDA.
THAT’S MY PRAYER.
@Liza
Rev. Al. “We don’t need a CONVERSATION; we need LEGISLATION.’
Call out the SYSTEMIC RACIST LAWS & ABOLISH THEM.
Rick Scott’s is delusional, like most folks, if they think that all it will take is to tell black folks to PRAY. It’s the same as those s0-called Christian ministers telling homosexuals to PRAY AWAY THE GAY.”
NO! STOP PASSING THESE RACISTS,DISCRIMINATORY LAWS, targeting POC, gays, and women!
How can anyone be so tone deaf? Does someone need to explain to the guv-na what just happened?
THERE AIN’T NO UNITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Governor Scott. The lines have been drawn and they are as clear as a bright, sunny day. Florida is going to get mopped up, and Governor Scott, hopefully, will be among those who will be moving on to pursue “other opportunities.”
“CNN’s Don Lemon schools white conservative: ‘Your privilege does not allow you to see… certain circumstances in society’
from RawStory
That’s what WHITE PRIVLEGE is, whites get to frame the issues/discussion to fit their NARROW-MINDED views and support their racists constructs. It is their whole foundation for their power.
I am saving this comment of yours to my “white privilege” notebook.
My desire now is to look for the racism embedded in me. I do know I do have a feeling within me as I join these cyber discussions, but I cannot put my finger on it quite yet.
And, I do think it is racist. It is some sort of attitude I have. Keep on me about this = check in every so often to see if I have figured it out.
It has to do with choice. AA individuals do not have the choice of whether or not to pay attention to all of the implications of the verdict. I have that choice.
It is sort of illustrated by a white friend of mine who called me this morning saying she had related to her husband my account of yesterday’s rally. She said she just had to call me to say how much they admired me for what I did.
This is different than the AA response here. Here the response to my account is more that you are ENCOURAGED by it.
An analogy would be that you HAVE to take the hike whether or not your have hiking boots…….I have the hiking boots + the option of participating.
Like it is an elective for me since I am white. That creates a type of attitude.
My heart demands that I participate. But, I am not participating for my survival.
Those participating for their survival do not need or receive “admiration”. Their AA friends would not even consider speaking to the “good deed” concept. It has nothing to do with that.
There is something, an attitude within me, that wrongly thinks that I am just so capable of reaching out a helping hand to you to steady you if necessary because I mistakenly think I have great hiking boots. Who the _____ do I think I am to have that kind of attitude. Who the _____do I think I am to make any assumptions about your shoes/hiking boots.
What word describes my attitude, girls?
And, it was encouragement that you offered me saying “You did great” etc. You were the ones passing strength on to me.
@Yahtc: WHITE PRIVILEGE!
= unearned superior position?
So even though I don’t consider myself superior to AAs, I act out of a position of superiority?
I am mixed up.
Where does my racism fit in. Does the fact that white privilege was bestowed upon me at birth mean that racism was automatically bestowed upon me at birth?
systemic
Syllabification: (sys·tem·ic)
Pronunciation: /səˈstemik/
adjective
of or relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part:
the disease is localized rather than systemic
Is there any chemo for a systemic disease?
All I can think of is renunciation. At the same time, even though I have renounced it, it will still be lurking.
And so I am not a racist, but I have racism lurking within me. Great. Now, isn’t that just peachy!
Where’s the confusion, Yahtc? It’s not complicated.
Racism is a belief system that whites constructed that enables them to believe they superior to black/brown peoples. This belief has been indoctrinated into our society through laws, thus systemic, institutionalized RACISM.
Thus, white folks got-get access to and benefits from these racist laws.
And they don’t understand why blacks complain about these beliefs or laws, because they somehow magically think Blacks should benefit from them, when they don’t.
Don Lemmon and Ben Ferguson’s comments highlight it perfectly. Their experinces and beliefs are totally different, yet Ferguson is telling Don he doesn’t experience what he experienced. TWO DIFFERENT experiences; two different perspectives.
Okay, I have understood that.
What do you think of how I seem to be? Do I write with slips that reveal racism even though I don’t consider myself to be racist?
inch by inch
Now I am willing to admit that because I am white and living under/benefiting from/indoctrinated by a systemic white power/structures system, I am tainted.
Okay, I accept that. I am a racist but one who values all human life and believes that all people should be equal and play on a level playing field. I have never intentionally behaved with racist motivations or consciously chosen to be overtly or covertly racist.
I think that is why one person said, “Thanks for not adding to the ugly.” instead of saying, “Thanks for not being a racist.”
Photo from one of the rallies:
http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2013/07/20/21/36/z4WdN.St.56.jpeg
Dionne Warwick has joined Stevie Wonder to boycott Florida until they abolish its Stand Your Ground gun law. via @_DionneWarwick
LOL Go, Ms. Warrick. Some how, I saw this coming! I guess I have the gift too, Dionne.
I would love to see the CNN video again of Don Lemon’s discussion with Tim Wise from today if one of you 3 chics can find it.
OK, I’ll look for it. I saw where Don Lemon kicked Ben Ferguson’s ass. I’ll look for that one too.
Thanks, SouthernGirl2.
P.S. I promise to follow your advice the WHOLE time should I find myself at another rally :)
:)
@Yahtc. You did great yesterday at the rally. Thanks for sharing with us. :-)
TY, Ametia.
I would never have as been well prepared without my AA mentors over this last year.
On your about question chemo; when folks don’t want to confront their racism, bias, and project it on to us, they’re bascially wanting us to take the chemo for their illness. Because, racism deadly.
“People Get Ready”
I will keep the trains wheels oiled.
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f40f3606fa7f520417c0c9e02d7aa7a371d004ba/r=x513&c=680×510/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/07/20/1374352430000-trayvon073013-042-1307201640_4_3.jpg
I heard this song in my car as I drove to the rally today:
People rally for Justice for Trayvon in front of the Richard B Russell Federal building in Atlanta!
The crowd make-up differs from location to location, doesn’t it. Says a lot.
There it is in “Black and White”!
It’s horrifying that we have to sit our boys down when they reach a certain age and talk to them on how to stay alive. When my boys got their driver’s license, we pounded this into their heads if ever stopped by the police.
1. Do what the officer tells you.
2. Keep your hands on the wheel.
3. Make NO sudden moves.
4. Please use Yes sir & No sir.
The AA mother today listed those very things.
Dad never had to give that kind of talk to my brothers.
I attended the rally today at 1 Police Plaza in NYC! It was a sea of faces from every single ethnic group, and I am so proud of my children who attended, my sisters, brothers and their kids! I am outraged, hurt and beyond disgusted that their has been no justice in the death of Trayvon Martin! I have a son and several nephews and two great grand nephews who I have so much fear for.We will not be moved or silenced by the racists bigots who wish to silence us! Fogen better stay in hiding because as far as I am concerned, his life is over anyway. He can never show his face EVER! He is a dead man walking, and he knows it! The jury signed his death warrant and some crazy, insane individual will catch up to him when he thinks he can sneak back into society!
No Son, you won’t be NEXT. You and the rest of the rally attendees are helping to change the laws that would target you and snuff you out.
We will Not be silenced, stopped, bought, or pandered to or moved.
WE WILL NOT BE CO-OPTED.
Reblogged this on catherinephung.
This is courage in action. Tis is unity in action.
Hey Vitamin!
I’m on the phone with Mythe and we’re saying the same thing. The entire nation is outraged b/c there was no justice serve. An unarmed kid gets gunned down and the jury let the killer WALK! Just jaw dropping!
@vitaminlover. It’s the American way. We’re not going away. The UNIFYING force is powerful.