Ronald Bertram Aloysius “R. B.” Greaves III (November 28, 1943 – September 27, 2012)[2] was an American singer who had chart success in 1969 with the pop single “Take a Letter, Maria“. A number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, this single sold one million copies, and it earned gold record certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Greaves also had a Top 40 pop hit one year later with “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me“.
Greaves was born in 1943 on the U.S. Army Air Forces base at Georgetown, Guyana.[1] A nephew of Sam Cooke, he grew up on a Seminole Indian reservation in the United States, but he moved to England in 1963.[3] Greaves had built a career both in the Caribbean and in the UK, where he performed under the name Sonny Childe with his group The TNTs.
Kanye West, Hip-Hop’s Confederate Coon
November 5, 2013 · by the uppity negro
Recently, Kanye made headlines simultaneously for his engagement to Kim Kardashian but also for donning clothing from his own clothing line featuring the Confederate flag. The typical knee-jerk response I believe is more than appropriate. There are moments in which humanity makes the collective decisions to never resurrect the moments and the symbols of great human suffering. One of the most notable is the global disuse of the swastika. Even though as a symbol it predates the Nazi use of it, today, it is a symbol that the German government has gone so far as to ban the use thereof. While the U.S. will probably never ban the use of the Confederate flag, for many it is still a symbol of hate, of the slaveocracy that so defined the southern antebellum United States.
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I think the scary part in Kanye’s coonery is that he’s simply doing it because he can. It’s the old school equivalent of a rich guy buying his 7th car, not because he needs it, not even because he wants it, but doing it because he can–and he’s bored. There’s not intrinsic value attached to Kanye reappropriating the Confederate flag other than to add another entry into his Wikipedia page under “controversy.” Kanye didn’t do for money because the only place that would knowingly carry those flags would be the truck stop off of I-20 just this side of the Mississippi state line. No major department stores will ever carry that for mass distribution. The only place they will sell will be the pop-up stores at his concert venues.
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Now I’m not making the argument that Kanye should be grand “race uplifter” like this is the height of the Civil Rights movement, but I am having issue with a culture that seemingly has no ground to stand that seems to be directly affecting some of the random violence. No, I’m not trying to be a curmudgeon declaring some end of the world cataclysm and go around quote Yeats’ “things fall apart, the centre cannot hold” as though doom is here, but I am saying that if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything. The unfortunate part of that is that some of what you fall for may be falling toward your death and destruction. Or in this specific case with Kanye, I see him as hip hop’s Confederate coon.
The clashing irony of stanning for the Confederacy while at the same time being a coon is the rarefied space in which Kanye and Kaye alone occupies. His black skin and still other cultural signifiers identify him as black, yet he’s reclaiming the Confederate flag. No this isn’t something birthed out of the grand satirical comedy of Dave Chappelle as Clayton Bigsby, but rather Kanye enters the coon space because he seems to fail to see how what he’s doing is perpetuating more harm than good; he’s being overtly selfish.
http://uppitynegronetwork.com/2013/11/05/kanye-west-hip-hops-confederate-coon/
Dear Black People in SYG States – If You Get in a Car Accident Do NOT Seek Help Nearby
http://www.theurbanpolitico.com/2013/11/dear-black-people-in-syg-states-if-you.html
You’ve heard the saying “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action”? Well it looks like enemy action may be afoot, folks. Yet another Stand Your Ground state has claimed the life of an innocent young Black person as Renisha McBride was gunned down last Saturday in Michigan after she was involved in an auto accident and tried to seek help at a nearby neighbor’s house. That neighbor opened the door and shot Renisha in the head. She died there on the porch. Two months ago a similar scenario happened to Jonathan Ferrell in the Stand Your Ground state of North Carolina. Jonathan, like Renisha, had just been involved in an auto accident and tried to seek help at a nearby neighbor’s home. The neighbor called the police thinking Jonathan was an intruder and when the police showed up they tazed and then shot Jonathan 10 times until he was dead. Jonathan’s story gained traction after it was discovered that he was a former football player for Florida A&M.
In theory, Stand Your Ground laws sound like a good idea. Indeed, they are often presented as a necessary means to allow innocent law abiding citizens to protect themselves from the ills of society. However, more and more we’re seeing cases like Renisha’s and Jonathan’s (and don’t forget Trayvon’s) where innocent and unarmed Black people automatically trigger a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality among gun owners. Instead of protecting innocent people, Stand Your Ground laws seem to be responsible for the deaths of innocent people. Especially at the hands of those who harbor racial prejudices. Whereas before, a midnight knock at the door might have ended with somebody being told to get lost, now it results in somebody being shot in the head. Thus, it is difficult to see how laws like these are taking us in the right direction as a society.
If you are the type who doesn’t particularly care for people of other races then that is your God given right to believe so. You can believe whatever you want. You can even go so far as to say just about whatever you want. This is, after all, America. Freedom of speech is enshrined within the First Amendment. But where I draw the line is when we, as a society, make it legal for people like you to DO whatever you want because then we have a problem. It’s one thing to have a society that tolerates the verbal expressions of bigots and racists; it is an entirely different thing altogether to enable those same people to legally act upon their feelings towards others.
I’ve already warned my boys. I had a talk with them a few days ago about this. I told them if they’re EVER in a car accident at night…do NOT knock on anyone’s door to seek help. All folks have to say is they were afraid of the black boogie man and shoot you dead. Take your chances in the car. God help us! We have to tell our kids not to seek help b/c they might be killed by a racist trigger happy shoot first and don’t give a damn fool.
:(
So sad. I am sorry it is necessary for you to have to tell them how to stay alive, SG2.
We can’t even seek help anymore. It’s beyond the pale.
this still boggles my mind, SG2. it’s so enraging. it’s unbelievable.
Many moons ago when cell phones were “bag” and “brick,” there was a woman with a self-defense organization who spoke at my Rotary Club. She had products with her and free give-a-ways. One of the free items was a sign that folded in 3 parts. Unfolding it, you could place it in the rear-window of the car. It said, “Please Call Police.” I had that sign — don’t know what happened to it.
So tonight, I did an internet search for that sign. Guess what? The only place I found that has “Call Police” signs for vehicles is in Canada under their “Highway Help” program. They sell them individually or in bulk of 10 or more. No prices are listed on their website, but I’m not opposed to contacting them if others are interested.
@Xena. I like this idea. And I’d take it a step further by posting it in the back window of my car permanently.
LOL@Ametia. You would have the cops following you all the time. :-)
I sent an email to the organization that has the signs and asked for the price. Will let you know if and when I receive a response.
LOL Damn RIGHT. It would be my little experiment. See how especiqally the PoPo would respond. I’d have my video cam hidden, just recording up a storm.
New book adds to deep rooted controversy
11/08/13 06:23PM
Newest “Game Changing” book contributes to the already complicated relationship between Pres. Obama and the black community. Michael Dyson and Panel discuss.
from the book:
“Obama had little patience for the ‘professional left’ and vinishly close to zero for what one of his senior african american aides, michael strauthmanis, referred to as ‘professional blacks’ (as opposed to black professionals).
“Apart from Georgia congressman John Lewis and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, Obama had nearly as much contempt for the CBC as he did for hte tea party caucus.
“New York’s Charlie Rangel, he derided as a hack; Jesse Jackson, Sr. was effectively banned from the white house. Obama remembered all too well a conversation with (Cornel) West in 2009, in which the professor used the precious time to complain about his seating at the inauguration.”
http://www.msnbc.com/the-ed-show/watch/new-book-adds-to-deep-rooted-controversy-62420035891
Wanker of the Day: Dylan Ratigan
by BooMan
Sat Nov 9th, 2013 at 11:58:50 AM EST
Dylan Ratigan in an idiot. He claims that after he left his well-paying job at MSNBC he bought a catastrophic health insurance plan that cost him $170 a month. According to him, he cannot find a health care plan on the California exchange for less than $600 a month. So, I checked. I used their shop and compare tool and entered in Dylan’s data: 41 years old, living in San Diego County, and making too much money to qualify for any subsidies. Here are the cheapest plans available to Dylan Ratigan.
Bronze (Anthem Multi State Plan Bronze 60, EPO): $237/mo.
Silver (Health Net Silver 70, HMO): $277/mo.
Gold (Heath Net Gold 80, HMO) $313/mo
Platinum (Health Net Platinum, 90 HMO) $377/mo
In other words, even if he gets the top-of-the-line platinum plan, he’ll barely be paying more than half of what he said he’d be paying for the cheapest available plan.
“Well,” you say, “maybe he’s covering someone else on his plan?”
In that case, the Health Net Platinum 90 plan would cost him $525, and the Anthem Multi State Plan Bronze 60 plan would cost him $352.
So, he’s either a liar or a moron.
I’m putting my money on both.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/11/9/115850/300
https://twitter.com/mcpli/status/399292258672852992/photo/1
Went to see 12 Years A Slave today. Still decompressing from it. Powerful movie, from the opening scene to the end. Director Steve McQueen did a brilliant job, and I thank him for making this movie. An unflinching look at American Slavery.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o should get Oscar Nominations without a doubt.
Very powerful movie. I had to get myself in the mindset to sit and absorb the movie, and I’m glad that I did.
The Black Bruins [Spoken Word] – Sy Stokes
http://youtu.be/BEO3H5BOlFk
Outstanding!
Yeah, I was born on third base. UNFAIR!
I was one of those “white snowflakes” in the avalanche.
Let’s see BLACK EMPOWERMENT. Let’s see a LEVEL PLAYING FIELD!!
HOW LONG LORD?!
“Campus Unrest in late 1960s & early 1970s at UCLA”
Here is the publisher’s description of a book from the University of California Press.
The Book is entitled “The Black Revolution on Campus” and is authored by Martha Biondi:
“UCLA African American Studies Center 40th Anniversary in 2009”
The UCLA video that rikyrah posted was telling about the year
2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!
Not the 40’s, NOT the 50’s, Not the 60’s
It is RIGHT NOW !!!!
This is scary and SO, SO wrong!!!
PAY ATTENTION EVERYONE…………PLEASE!
In late 1963, Charles Cobb, a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) activist, included the following words in his booklet of poetry “Everywhere is Yours”:
correction: not 1963 but in *** 1971 ***
I was going to discuss how, in 1963, he suggested that SNCC sponsor Freedom Schools in Mississippi.
:)
Now just in case I have cause you to be curious about Freedom Schools, you may go to this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Schools
In a mimeographed letter to supporters of Freedom Summer, Phil Moore tells of the conditions in Mississippi during Freedom Summer. Here are some excerpts which I just copied from it:
(I think this must be one of the freedom singers in the Freedom Summer program.)
After listing 3 other incidents, the Phil Moore writes the following:
Always liked the song “Take a Letter Maria” .
Hi Shady! I’ve always liked it too but I didn’t know the singer was black. Where have I been?
=) Maybe you were somewhere listening to Dobie Gray. I was also surprised to learn that Dobie Gray was black.
After Emancipation, the South essentially developed another form of slavery: the convict leasing system. Many Blacks were falsely arrested on trumped up charges.
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convict_lease
Video clip: “Reflections on Convict Leasing” at this link–
http://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/convict-leasing/video-reflections-on-convict-leasing/
Often leased Blacks tried to escape these inhumane work conditions. Postcards would be sent to Sheriffs notifying them to be on the look out for an escapee.
At a paper show, I bought a postcard (3″ by 5″) that I felt could relate to this practice.
It is dated 1877 to “Sherriff of Lawrence Co., Monticello, Miss.” from Eutaw, Ala.
This was a BUSINESS writing to a sheriff.
The atrocities, atrocities black people suffered.
They were brutalized!
Now here is a correspondence that I feel is involved in getting more “convicts” for as forced labor at a turpentine camp or a logging & lumber operation:
Josephine Baker at the London Palladium 1974
Josephine Baker – 1927
House GOP Leader: No Vote On Immigration Reform This Year
The third-ranking House Republican told immigration advocates that
lawmakers won’t vote this year on the issue, confirming what many had long assumed.
California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the majority whip, said in a meeting with immigration proponents that there weren’t enough days left for the House to act and he was committed to addressing overhaul of the nation’s immigration system next year. The congressman’s office confirmed what he said.[….]
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/house-gop-leader-no-vote-on-immigration-reform-this-year
A War on the Poor
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: October 31, 2013
John Kasich, the Republican governor of Ohio, has done some surprising things lately. First, he did an end run around his state’s Legislature — controlled by his own party — to proceed with the federally funded expansion of Medicaid that is an important piece of Obamacare. Then, defending his action, he let loose on his political allies, declaring, “I’m concerned about the fact there seems to be a war on the poor. That, if you’re poor, somehow you’re shiftless and lazy.”
Obviously Mr. Kasich isn’t the first to make this observation. But the fact that it’s coming from a Republican in good standing (although maybe not anymore), indeed someone who used to be known as a conservative firebrand, is telling. Republican hostility toward the poor and unfortunate has now reached such a fever pitch that the party doesn’t really stand for anything else — and only willfully blind observers can fail to see that reality.
The big question is why. But, first, let’s talk a bit more about what’s eating the right.
I still sometimes see pundits claiming that the Tea Party movement is basically driven by concerns about budget deficits. That’s delusional. Read the founding rant by Rick Santelli of CNBC: There’s nary a mention of deficits. Instead, it’s a tirade against the possibility that the government might help “losers” avoid foreclosure. Or read transcripts from Rush Limbaugh or other right-wing talk radio hosts. There’s not much about fiscal responsibility, but there’s a lot about how the government is rewarding the lazy and undeserving.
Republicans in leadership positions try to modulate their language a bit, but it’s a matter more of tone than substance. They’re still clearly passionate about making sure that the poor and unlucky get as little help as possible, that — as Representative Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, put it — the safety net is becoming “a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency.” And Mr. Ryan’s budget proposals involve savage cuts in safety-net programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.
All of this hostility to the poor has culminated in the truly astonishing refusal of many states to participate in the Medicaid expansion. Bear in mind that the federal government would pay for this expansion, and that the money thus spent would benefit hospitals and the local economy as well as the direct recipients. But a majority of Republican-controlled state governments are, it turns out, willing to pay a large economic and fiscal price in order to ensure that aid doesn’t reach the poor.
The thing is, it wasn’t always this way. Go back for a moment to 1936, when Alf Landon received the Republican nomination for president. In many ways, Landon’s acceptance speech previewed themes taken up by modern conservatives. He lamented the incompleteness of economic recovery and the persistence of high unemployment, and he attributed the economy’s lingering weakness to excessive government intervention and the uncertainty he claimed it created.
But he also said this: “Out of this Depression has come, not only the problem of recovery but also the equally grave problem of caring for the unemployed until recovery is attained. Their relief at all times is a matter of plain duty. We of our Party pledge that this obligation will never be neglected.”
Can you imagine a modern Republican nominee saying such a thing? Not in a party committed to the view that unemployed workers have it too easy, that they’re so coddled by unemployment insurance and food stamps that they have no incentive to go out there and get a job.
So what’s this all about? One reason, the sociologist Daniel Little suggested in a recent essay, is market ideology: If the market is always right, then people who end up poor must deserve to be poor. I’d add that some leading Republicans are, in their minds, acting out adolescent libertarian fantasies. “It’s as if we’re living in an Ayn Rand novel right now,” declared Paul Ryan in 2009.
But there’s also, as Mr. Little says, the stain that won’t go away: race.
In a much-cited recent memo, Democracy Corps, a Democratic-leaning public opinion research organization, reported on the results of focus groups held with members of various Republican factions. They found the Republican base “very conscious of being white in a country that is increasingly minority” — and seeing the social safety net both as something that helps Those People, not people like themselves, and binds the rising nonwhite population to the Democratic Party. And, yes, the Medicaid expansion many states are rejecting would disproportionately have helped poor blacks.
So there is indeed a war on the poor, coinciding with and deepening the pain from a troubled economy. And that war is now the central, defining issue of American politics.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/opinion/krugman-a-war-on-the-poor.html?adxnnl=1&src=recg&adxnnlx=1384009170-/qnl2tlg2VzAug9KSalI8Q
NYT: Cut In Food Stamps Forces Hard Choices On Poor
For many, a $10 or $20 cut in the monthly food budget would be absorbed with little notice. But for millions of poor Americans who rely on food stamps, reductions that began this month present awful choices. Mr. Simmons’s allotment from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps, has dropped $9. He has already spent the $33 he received for November.
Food stamps are likely to be cut more in the coming years if Congress can agree on a new farm bill, which House and Senate negotiators began tackling this week. The Republican-controlled House has approved cutting as much as $40 billion from the program over 10 years by making it harder to qualify. The Democratic-controlled Senate is suggesting a $4 billion cut by making administrative changes. “We’ll be on our last $3 at the end of the month,” said Rafaela Rivera, 34, a home health aide who earns $10 an hour.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/us/cut-in-food-stamps-forces-hard-choices-on-poor.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1&
If you go to The Riverbends Channel at the link below, you can find many early 1930’s and 1940’s “Black cast” films:
http://www.youtube.com/user/riverbends1/videos
Here is just one of the movies:
The Duke Is Tops (1938) – Lena Horne’s Film Debut:
Another:
“Black and Tan Fantasy (1929) – Duke Ellington”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uLJmgzMnOjQ
A hard man to please
11/08/13 11:45 AM
By Steve Benen
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appears to be one of those politicians who doesn’t want to take “yes” for an answer. John Hudson had this report late yesterday:
Over the last year, I feel like a pattern has emerged. Congressional Republicans, convinced without evidence that their vague conspiracy theories have merit, said, “Give us classified briefings on Benghazi or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point the administration hosted a series of classified briefings, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from David Petraeus or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Petraeus testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from Leon Panetta or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Panetta testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand testimony from Hillary Clinton or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point Clinton testified, offering nothing to substantiate the conspiracy. So Republicans said, “We demand to hear directly from Benghazi survivors or we’ll throw a fit!”
At which point the administration agreed to make several Benghazi survivors available for testimony.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/hard-man-please
Steve Benen: CBS backs off unraveling Benghazi tale
It’s been nearly two weeks since CBS’s “60 Minutes” aired a report that caused considerable excitement from Benghazi conspiracy theorists. Though much of the report, a full year in the making, covered familiar ground, the segment also highlighted an alleged witness to the attack, who said he scaled a 12-foot wall, beat an al Qaeda fighter with the butt of his rifle, and personally saw Ambassador Chris Stevens’ body.
The man’s name is Dylan Davies – he used a pseudonym on “60 Minutes” for no apparent reason – and he has a book coming out about his Benghazi experience, published by a CBS-owned company that releases far-right books from conservative personalities.
Almost immediately, Davies’ story started to unravel … The CBS reporters involved with the story continued to defend it anyway, brushing off broad criticism as politically motivated, and insisting that their segment was accurate. On last week’s edition of “60 Minutes,” the show featured feedback from viewers who cheered the segment, but made no mention of the burgeoning controversy.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cbs-backs-unraveling-benghazi-tale
Daisy Richardson – 1940’s Jitterbug Dancer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JE2AUn_kvMY
Uploaded on Aug 12, 2010 by MusicandDancing4Ever
http://youtu.be/6ycB3Czp26Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WA90dYBmLTU
Published on Aug 15, 2013 by lucrezia
Artist Kehinde Wiley wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kehinde_Wiley
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/11/08/remembering-d-c-blues-guitarist-bobby-parker/
Guitar Blues Legend, Bobby Parker – Part 1:
Guitar Blues Legend, Bobby Parker – Part 2
Bobby Parker at the Silver Spring Blues Festival 2013
http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_55053a10-4810-11e3-87db-0019bb30f31a.html
“Pentagon Manual Says White Males Have Unfair Advantage”
11/08/2013
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/110813-678655-pentagon-says-white-males-have-unfair-advantage.htm?p=full
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131109/GJOPINION_0102/131109276/-1/FOSOPINION
Nov. 8, 2013
Read more: http://www.hannibal.net/article/20131108/NEWS/131108902/2000#ixzz2k9ZrJb4O
“Why Detroit’s cultural heritage museums are going digital”
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/11/why_detroits_cultural_heritage.html
Excerpts:
and
“INSPIRING MINDS at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit”
http://www.metroparent.com/Metro-Parent/November-2012/Inspiring-Minds-at-Charles-H-Wright-Museum-of-African-American-History-in-Detroit/
Posted: November 8, 2013 8:28 p.m
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/54854/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2493662/Home-Depot-fires-racist-employee-tweet-African-American-drummers-gorilla.html
Grand Canyon Sunrise
“One of Little Rock Nine to speak at Pfeiffer, Livingstone”
from the Salisbury Post, NC
http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20131108/SP01/131109697/1015/SP0103
Good morning to you Yahtc
Hi dreamer!
It is good to see you here this morning! It’s a BEAUTIFUL morning!
“Professor Gates co-authors book about African American history”
http://thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2013/nov/07/professor-gates-co-authors-book-about-african-amer/
I am sending my prayers and caring thoughts to the people of the Phiippines.
Tragic destruction of lives and property:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/09/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131109
“Philippine super typhoon kills at least 10,000, official says”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110
So tragic….so devastating….I am praying that the survivors can be rescued quickly and that emergency services reach everyone in time.
Good Morning Everyone :)
I hope all of you have a great weekend!
Good Morning, Yathc & Everyone! Headine up north to catch a few more glimpses of the fall colors.
Enjoy your ride, Ametia!
Good Morning, Everyone :)
Morning, Yahtc & everyone!
Yahtc, did I tell you lately what a yeoman’s job you’re doing? You bring it everyday. Thank you so much.
Thank you, SG2.
I love 3ChicsPolitico and all that the 3 of you do!
Ditto.