Mychal "Allegedly" Bell, the wrong martyr for civil rights.

Mychal Bell, from the "Jena Six" fame, was arrested on Christmas Eve for "allegedly" trying to steal shirts and jeans from Dillards. Bell and an "unidentified" male were "allegedly" caught on camera stealing $370 worth of clothes. Bell and his "unidentified" partner "allegedly" split up after they were noticed by mall security. Bell was then "allegedly" running through the mall parking lot trying to evade capture. The police discovered Bell "allegedly" cowering under a vehicle and when they got him out he "allegedly" began "swinging his arms wildly." Bell was arrest on multiple charges, including shoplifting, resisting arrest and simple battery. He was released on $1,300 bond and will be arraigned at a later date. Louis Scott, who is an attorney representing Bell, said that preconceived notions on the part of Dillard's employees may have played a role in Bell's arrest. "Dillard's has a tradition of being overly suspicious of young black males," Scott said. "I am predicting that once all the facts are established, he "probably" will not be guilty," Scott said. "There has been more put on this young man than anybody can bear — people trying to provoke him, trying to make him react."If he was going to break the law, I believe he would have done it before."

Five days later, Bell "allegedly" shot himself in the shoulder while cleaning out a.22 caliber pistol. He had surgery at a hospital in Monroe, Louisiana, and is recovering from his injuries. Whew, all of that within a week. I wonder what will he do for an encore? This character was the same one that civil rights organizations rallied around. This was the same kid that had radio hosts shouting from the airwaves to free him from jail. This was the same person that promised he was going to stay on the straight and narrow. Many black folks made Mychal Bell into a symbol of the modern day civil rights struggle. They went by the bus loads to go March for his freedom. If you weren't going to march, they told you to wear black in solidarity. I saw a white woman at working wearing black and I thought maybe she was down for the cause. Nope, apparently black just makes her look slender.

What does it mean when you say “he probably will not be guilty?” It can only be, yes he will be found guilty or no he will not be found guilty. Probably is a so so spades hand. Probably is having sex without a condom and waiting on a pregnancy test. Probably is not what you say when you are innocent. I know what it means to be followed by store security but “allegedly” stuffing the goods in a Dillards bag? That is a bush league type sucker move. It’s called Shop Lifting not Shop Bagging…..

The problem with this kid is that he’s not ready for prime time. He doesn’t have the integrity to be what the civil rights folks need him to be. His character is seriously lacking and it has been for awhile. They didn’t have a chance to complete a background check on him. He was plucked out of obscurity and was turned into a national figure. Things were moving too fast and he was the perfect symbol. And he didn’t mind playing the part because he wanted to get out of jail. Now the threads are starting to unravel and it’s turning into a mess.

The people that I feel sorry for are the ones that supported him. He has let them down and has damaged his credibility. I know that people aren’t perfect but it would have been great if Bell wasn’t in trouble. Because every now and then, you wish that the character matched the cause.

Mr. Blackwell, what gifts can I expect from you next Xmas?

Tennessee GOP leader Chip Saltsman, a possible candidate for Chairman of the Republican National Committee, sent Republican committee members a Christmas CD featuring a parody song called "Barack the Magic Negro." Other tunes on the 41-track CD that Saltsman sent include "I Can Talk Like a Coal Miner's Daughter," "Love Client #9" and "Down on the Farm with Al Gore." The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper that published a story about the CD on Friday, reported that Saltsman said members of the GOP committee have "the good humor and good sense" to see the tunes as "lighthearted political parodies."

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a black candidate for the chairman, said in a statement Saturday "there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race" because of Obama's election and he concluded, "When looked at in the proper context, these concerns are minimal. All of my competitors for this leadership post are fine people." Former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael S. Steele, another black candidate for the, said Saltsman's "attempt at humor was clearly misplaced," adding that the leadership of the party needs to "be a lot smarter about such things and more appreciative that our actions always speak louder than our words." "Our actions and our words are often times used to define who we are as Republicans," Steele said in a statement.

It’s obvious that some white Republicans do not want to reach out to black folks. It’s also obvious that some black Republicans do not want to acknowledge that they are black. I’m not mad about Saltsman sending out the CD. Those are the things that racists do. They make racists comments and pretend that it’s all in fun. It’s always a joke when you are talking about the other guy. What bothers me is the black man not standing up to the racism. Mr. Blackwell, are you a leader that will take your party in a new direction or a lawn jockey standing out in the yard waiting on massa to come home?

Katrina's Hidden Race War: "Victims and Vigilantes"

Hat tip to Ruth Baldwin, from The Nation Books, for this one:



In an 18-month investigation supported by The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute, reporter A.C. Thompson weaves together stories of both innocent victims and unrepentant vigilantes, painting a terryifying and never before told picture of a hidden race war in New Orleans in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Most of the incidents took place in Algiers Point, a middle-class neighborhood on New Orleans' west bank, which stood between the inundated Lower Ninth Ward and a National Guard rescue point. As black residents from the Lower Ninth tried to flee New Orleans, white residents in Algiers Point took up arms and opened fire, shooting with impunity. Thompson, in Katrina's Hidden Race War and a companion piece, Body of Evidence, interviews witnesses on all sides of the gunfire, including shooters from Algiers Point, gunshot survivors, forensic pathologists, doctors, historians, private citizens, and law enforcement officials. Thompson reviewed over 800 autopsies and state death records, and reveals a city fractured across racial lines and evidence of brutal crimes:


* According to eye witnesses, at least 11 people were shot by vigilantes in Algiers Point. In each case the targets were African-American men, while the shooters all were white. It's unclear who all 11 victims were or how many may have died, because none of the shootings have ever been investigated.


* One shooting victim, Henry Glover (his shooter remains unknown), was found charred and burned in a scorched sedan. Glover's death is particularly suspicious, with eyewitnesses reporting that New Orleans police allowed Glover to bleed to death while savagely beating the man who tried to save him, then covered up and destroyed evidence. The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute had to sue for Glover's autopsy records.


* In a companion video, residents of Algiers Point admit to forming a "mini-militia," at one point saying that shooting blacks "was like pheasant season in South Dakota. If it moved, you shot it."


*As one militiaman told Thompson, “The police said, ‘If they’re breaking in your property do what you gotta do and leave them [the bodies] on the side of the road.’


In spite of overwhelming evidence supporting all of these allegations, the New Orleans Police Department and public officials have refused comment, beyond a curt two-sentence email, for over eight months. To date there is no evidence a single investigation was ever opened, and law enforcement at every level was completely uncooperative with the investigation. As Thompson, an award winning journalist now on staff at ProPublica, wrote in the piece, "As a reporter who has spent more than a decade covering crime, I was startled to meet so many people with so much detailed information about potentially serious offenses, none of whom have ever been interviewed by police." An accompanying Editorial in the January 5, 2009 issue of The Nation magazine calls for a full and complete investigation. "Katrina still stands as a symbol of our elected officials brutal indifference to the lives of poor African-Americans," the Editors write. "It's not too late for accountability." The Editors of The Nation, America's oldest weekly news magazine, implore Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to lead a multiagency task force to get to the bottom of these crimes; Representative John Conyers and Senator Patrick Leahy to compel law enforcement to testify before congress; and incoming Attorney General Eric Holder to begin an investigation at the Department of Justice. "If we as a nation are ever truly to transcend race," they write, "tolerance for racist violence in our midst must come to an end."

Alerted by The Nation to the A.C. Thompson story, the advocacy group Color of Change launched a campaign moments after the story went to press echoing the calls for an investigation. Color of Change, a national organization that "exists to strengthen black America's political voice," played a critical role in raising public outcry around the Jena 6 case and in demanding accountability immediately following Hurricane Katrina. The organization will be launching a petition drive and an online campaign targeting Jindal, Holder and others to demand an investigation. "It's unconscionable that three years would pass without any investigation into these crimes," said James Rucker, co-Founder and Executive Director of ColorofChange.org.

Color of Change has set up a petition at http://www.colorofchange.org/nation/

"This is yet another tragic example of Louisiana officials not taking seriously their responsibility to protect Louisiana's black citizens. We hope that Thompson's article and The Nation will help shame officials into action."

A.C. Thompson's reporting on New Orleans was directed and underwritten by the Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute. Thompson is an award-winning journalist on the staff at ProPublica, which provided additional support as did the Center for Investigative Reporting and New American Media. Anyone interested in interviewing reporter A.C. Thompson may contact Ben Wyskida at 212-209-5426 or ben@thenation.com.

Congress never placed conditions on the bailout money.

I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the Washington Wizards. I should have been trying to figure out what was wrong with Congress. Those morons slipped up and gave the banks a free pass. Does anybody in the government believe in oversight? Now the Banks can’t seem to explain what they have been doing with the money. I guess it’s back to putting money in the mattress.

How The Hills ruined my evening……can someone please get some Diversity on this show?

This one might be the post where the right wingers finally put the prejudice label on me. I’m not going to try to defend myself with the “well I have plenty of white friends”. Maybe I could use some though, because you never know when you need a co-signer for a loan. Lately I have been too busy to go out looking for a white friend. I have been trying to fit it into my schedule but between work and this blog….well you know how it is. Anyway, this is about how the television show The Hills ruined my evening.

I started a conversation with Citizen Wifey about us needing a new dryer. The current one looks like it was made in the Nixon Administration and it’s starting to sound like a World War II fighter plane. Then she said that The Hills were coming on. I was working on my lap top and I didn’t feel like leaving so I asked her how long would it be on. You see I don’t like the show because it is stupid. Rich white girls running around doing nothing. They do nothing from Hollywood to Paris. They do nothing from sun up to sun down. They sit around talking about feelings and falling out and making up with friends. The good thing about Sanford and Son, Good Times and even Benson was that they were relatable. You could even watch Different Strokes and Fact of Life with some credibility. They had characters that you could identify with. Citizen Wifey says that the show is entertaining. Wrestling is entertaining to me but every time it comes on all I hear is complaints.

Anyway, I was trying to get her to look at Dryers on the internet and all I kept hearing was crap. Some dummy went away to Mexico and he thought he married his girlfriend. They come back to the U.S. and find it’s not a legitimate wedding. So now they have to go to the justice of the peace to get hitched. Meanwhile his girlfriends’ mother and best friend are mad at her because she married the dummy. All this was going on and the dryer sounded like someone threw rocks in it and turned it on. Having that show on was like being tortured slowly. I would have rather been water boarded by Dick Cheney than have to listen to another minute. Then during the commercials you find out that this show has spawned spin offs. Listen I don’t have a problem with white women on television, because I like Kelly Ripa just as much as anyone else. I just don’t want to see rich girls doing absolutely nothing. Why can’t they add someone from across town (Crenshaw, Watts, or Compton) to the mix? At least when you see a girl crying about her best friend a sister can add some insight. She will some something powerful such as “you don’t need her anyway, let’s go shopping, but with your money of course.”

These shows keep being created and people keep watching them and I ask myself why? What is it that makes them so entertaining? You never see them going through any real struggle. You never see them face true adversity. People are eating and shopping around Los Angeles and my dryer sounds like a leprechaun is inside with a jackhammer. We have got to have better television shows on in the Citizen household. And Black Entertainment Television, don’t think I have forgot about you. I’m still trying to get you out of my house.

When Republicans try to be down…… no, Ann Coulter will not be joining a black sorority.

Anh “Joseph” Cao, the Republican who beat Rep. William Jefferson in the second Congressional district of Louisiana race, has expressed interest in joining the Congressional Black Caucus. Apparently Cao, the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress, was elected in a predominantly minority district (64 percent African-American, and 3 percent Asian). Well isn’t this Ka-winky-dink!!! A republican, that isn’t black, that wants to join the CBC. I hope he talked to the spirit of Ronald Reagan before he made this decision.

I’m going to go off the tracks here and say that they should let him join. Why?? In 2006, Rep. Steve Cohen wanted to join after being elected in a predominantly black district. They dissed him and didn’t give him his golden ticket for entrance. When these politicians are being elected from majority black districts, they should get a serious look from the CBC. They are attempting to join because they will be dealing with the same issues. They also might need help in trying to provide for the needs of their constituents. The CBC should be flattered that these congressmen want to join their organization. Besides, the Black Republicans definitely don’t want anything to do with them. Let’s be honest about this group. It’s not like they support a true “black” agenda. A majority of them were endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton for president. I think Rep. Cao should receive an interview from the CBC or whatever it is that they do. And he should be given the right hand of fellowship. In the spirit of President Elect Obama reaching across the aisle, the CBC should hook this Republican up. Besides he probably thinks that the CBC gives better parties than the Asian-Pacific Islander Caucus. Think about it? Kwame Kilpatrick’s mother is a member and you know how those Kilpatrick’s do……

Obama and the man from Saddleback

People are mad at Pastor Rick Warren/People are mad at President Elect Barack Obama. Gays think that Heterosexuals hates them/Heterosexuals think that Gays hate them. Obama’s pick to do the invocation has sparked much controversy. I don’t believe there is a pastor, father, reverend or bishop on this planet that would have pleased everyone. A reporter even called Obama a bigot. All this time and now we find out Obama is a racist?? I guess that reporter hasn’t seen Obama’s picks for cabinet members. I take it that lately Gays feel that they are being persecuted. Well that is another conversation that is up for debate at another time. I want to end this post on a positive note.

My Holiday message for Obama is simply this: Oh well….you can’t make em all happy.

Guilty until proven innocent: The Chicago Story.

Governor Rod Blagojevich had his press conference today in Chicago. If it was meant to be a serious event, they completely missed the mark. Gov. Blagojevich’s lawyers made me laugh with their flare for the dramatics. If I’m ever caught on tape, those are the folks that I want working my case. No public defenders for me!!! I am amazed at Gov. Blagojevich’s insistence that he did nothing wrong. As if that was someone else that we heard on tape. His lawyers are trying to say that the wire taps were illegal. Yeah right!!! The wire taps on Martin Luther King Jr, and the Black Panthers were illegal. This was someone running a wire tap on a possible crooked politician. He was on tape discussing the possibility of selling a U.S. Senate seat. If he gets out of this one, he will be the “white” O.J. Simpson.

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. went from being a number on the “wanna be” U.S. Senate carousel to Donnie Brasco. One day he was accused of floating a bribe to the Gov. The next day he was a snitch for the state. But what kind of informant was he? Did he do it because he cares about corruption or was he trying to get back at Blagojevich? This is the biggest Jackson mess since Michael burnt his perm on tour. Congressman Jackson is defending himself on two fronts. He is trying to prove that he is not a corrupt politician. He is also trying to prove that he is a good snitch and not a bad one? Or that he wasn’t a full time snitch but just a part time one? It’s really confusing and I wish someone could clear it up for me. They say there are three sides to a story and I truly believe that. Whose side is it: The Governor, The Congressmen or The person from the Obama camp that talked to the Governor?

Don Lemon interviews Jesse Jackson Jr about Gov. Blagojevich Probe

Mr. President Elect, you seem mad about something

End of the year Music Showcase

The Soul of John Black

Lisa Shaw

Jean Baylor

Inverse

Slow Train Soul

Camp Lo

Question: Why put a music link on your blog? Answer: Because radio sucks. Listen to individuals/groups that should be on radio

Stop calling black preachers Rod!!! God said the line is busy

Why is Governor Blagojevich calling on black preachers to pray for him? No, let me change my question….Why are black preachers going to Gov. Blagojevich’s house to pray with him? It is obvious this man is crooked…...i.e. the tapes that have been heard around the world. Once again, we have another crooked politician that doesn’t watch “The Wire”. Although there is some crap that comes on television, “The Hills”, you can learn a lot from certain shows. The Gov. is on tape leaking like a Sieve, and he is walking around like business as usual. He was the first politician I heard someone refer to as a sociopath. Do you know how bad you have to be to get called that? Those are terms usual reserved for leaders of international drug cartels.

This whole thing is a mess and now we have the preachers getting involved. I just wish they would have sit this one out. Stick to visiting those folks on the sick and shut in list. They actually need a word of prayer. It always seems as if black preachers are supporting flawed characters. I remember watching R Kelly and his preacher on television. His preacher was talking about how R Kelly was a good man. A few months later he was back to bumping n grinding and a year or two later he was on trial. Can’t we still show love to the sinner but chastise the sin? Don’t get me wrong, everyone deserves Gods mercy and grace. But this guy is two fuses short a fuse box. When they have you on tape, that’s when you throw up your hands and say you got me. When it is he said they said that is when you fight them. A taped conversation records your voice; he said they said is your word against theirs. If he was repentant and they came over to pray, I would feel much better. But for him to act like he is innocent and that we are all confused is a bit much.

I don’t believe for a second that other democratic politicians in the state didn’t know he was crooked. Jesse Jackson Jr, had to dance before the media to clear up his story. I hope he knows that he will never be anything more than a congressman for the rest of his life. The Senate seat is a long shot. Matter of fact his father has a better chance of being president than him being a congressman for the state of Illinois. I can only voice my opinion because it is not up to me to judge. I just wish Gov. Blagojevich would have called Pat Robertson, John Hagee and Rick Warren instead.

Bob Johnson isn’t done with messing…opps, uh…changing the face of television.

Bob Johnson, business mogul, has plans for a new “urban” television network that will cater to a multicultural audience. The new network will focus on health, lifestyle, and education issues. Wow….. I can’t believe someone had the concept to create a television network for people of color. Golly jeepers…this Bob Johnson character must be a genius. Black Entertainment Television has given us such great gems like Cita’s World and College Hill…………… Sike!!!

I wish I could say this was a joke I read on a bathroom stall somewhere. But like politicians and prostitutes it’s all real!!!! Bob Johnson actually has plans to run another 24/7 network. You have got to be (this is a family blog so no cursing here but this is where you would insert curse words if you curse) kidding me!!!! We have seen this all before. The network starts off with such promise and then something happens. I don’t know if it’s greed, ignorance or the lack of intellectual curiosity. But something sinister happens. The good shows go by the wayside and the lowest common denominator shows start popping up. You go from intellectual conversations about politics to soft core porn. I’ve watched BET, like Hip Hop, go from a beautiful queen to a crack head. Now after pimping up and ho’ing down BET, Bob Johnson wants to expand his slimy touch to a wider audience.

Bob Johnson can do whatever he wants because it’s his money. I just want him to start what he finishes first. He needs to fix the Charlotte Bobcats, the basketball team that he owns. Workers are getting laid off, there is no star player, the seats are too expensive and the business community is pissed off with statements made by Mr. Johnson. You name the team after yourself and you fly in and out of town like a drunken sailor on shore leave. I’ve seen more layoffs in North Carolina than I have bobcats. How are you going to pass the bobcat off as a native cat of North Carolina…….but I digress.

You have lost all credibility in the television business so whatever you do will be scrutinized. If this network starts “cutting fool” like BET did, I am going to blow you up on this blog. Mr. Johnson, this time get it right!!!!

Janelle Monae in "Many Moons" a short video/film

Paying with every Puff

Inhalers are going green and I mean green like the dollar. In the beginning of 2009, Inhalers will be filled with eco-friendly chemicals and not the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) that have been a cause of global warming. Who knew with every puff of my inhaler I was the one making that Indian cry on that commercial. It appears that going green is the new black. Not to be confused with gay being the new black. Because essentially black is the old black made new. Are you confused??? Anyway… The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed off on inhalers going green and drug companies are following the lead as well. An endorsement by the FDA doesn’t make me feel any better about the new inhalers. This is the same organization that can’t keep feces out of our meat, and pesticides off our vegetables. They probably thought the Bird Flu was a dance until people started getting sick. I think that it’s great to help out our environment but why does it come at a cost? The new inhalers are going to cost between $20 - $50 more dollars than the old ones. What??? Why is it that everything healthier comes at a high premium? At those prices who can afford to be sick? This is why all the natural food stores are in “well off” neighborhoods. You don’t see chicken joints in the hood selling arugula and organic chicken. Not only will the inhalers cost more but the medicine will taste different. People who have been using the new inhalers aren’t even noticing the puffs. So now the puffs are silent puffs? How are we going to know if the medicine is working without the puffs? I need my puffs!!!! Until my inhaler runs on fumes I am going to hold out. I’m not doing this to make a statement. It’s a co-pay issue. My medical insurance likes to trip sometimes….

The New Face of Foreclosure

Just when I thought the news out of Charlotte couldn’t get any worse. Fantasia Barrino is about to lose one of her homes. Yes!!! I said one of her homes. Who knew she was balling like that!!! Apparently the $1.3 Million, 6,232 square foot home is going to get the BIG “F” if she doesn’t start making payments. I have never owned anything that expensive so I don’t know what she should do about making those payments. I guess she could sell more records but at those prices she would have to put a record out every 6 months or have a monster hit. I mean a monster hit…..like The Fugees 2nd Album. You don’t see Lauryn Hill beggin for food do you??? Like I previously said she owns a second home. She owns a $740,000, 4,572 square foot home. I personally don’t know why a single mother with one child would leave a 4,572 square foot home for a 6,232 square foot home? It would have been cheaper for her to add on. I guess 3 ½ baths just doesn’t do the trick like 5 ½. This is going to be debated on television and at the barber shops as a case of financial irresponsibility. People against homeowner bailouts are going to use this as an example for their cause. Fantasia’s financial dilemma shouldn’t take away from the many people that need help saving their homes. Many good people were given loans that they were not eligible for. They didn’t know how the mortgage industry worked so they left all the details up to the professionals. People were given Arm Loans with the hopes of the economy staying strong. Well as we have just found out, we have been in a recession since 2007. Fantasia is going to be alright in the end. She will though, be the butt of occasional jokes and negative talk on the internet. The individuals that won’t be alright are the ones that do not have a second home to go to.

What a week!! 12/1/08 – 12/5/08

This week was the worst!!! There were numerous Job layoffs or as CEO’s call them “job reductions”. When you are out of a job, you really don’t sit around worrying about semantics. President Elect Obama rolled out more of his “Super Friends” to the world. Obama is steady filling up his presidential cabinet while President Bush’s cupboards are bare. I remember when people didn’t want Obama to mention his name and President in the same sentence. Now they are crying out for him to take charge. The last thing we need is for two people pretending to be president. We already have one person that fits that description.

Alan “Kamikaze” Keyes, a conservative crackpot, has filed a lawsuit to withhold California electoral votes until Obama proves he is a U.S. Citizen. Yes……….(I say with embarrassment) Alan Keyes is a black man. This is the same Keyes who lost a 2004 Illinois Senate race to Obama. He actually moved to Illinois to run against Obama. Yes……….(I say with extreme embarrassment) Keyes never lived in Illinois…NEVER! The Republicans probably figured “well It’s just one black guy” so let’s send him out against Obama. Keyes has become the Black Republican Canary (no not a superhero but a super zero). They send in Keyes (like a canary) into the coal mines (political races he can’t win) to test for toxic fumes (to lose). Republicans can then pat themselves on the back and say they are diverse. Keyes needs to stop chasing Obama around discrediting him. It’s just not cool. Keyes will never end up on the cover of Ebony for the top 25 blacks with swagger. Keyes and these other loons need to drop these lawsuits and petitions. Obama would not have gotten this far if he was an illegal alien. His mother is from Kansas for crying out loud!!!

Another week of watching those kooky automobile CEO’s aka “The Big 3”. Why would you drive all the way from Detroit to Washington in a compact car? If they could afford a PR Firm, they would have known to go coach on the first trip. After years of creating cars that needed to be refueled every 2 days, we are officially in a crisis (per the financial books of the Big 3). I wonder did the CEO’s sit around saying “those silly Japanese, do they really think those miniature cars will sell”. These CEO’s had a lack of foresight and were not able to prepare for the future of the automobile. So we are supposed to hand them a check because they now have a plan? I’m all for throwing people out once they show you they are incompetent. The unions that work for these companies are feeling the heat as well. They better get their stories together or they might be going to Washington by Greyhound. I just don’t know if going the MC Hammer Bankrupt route will fix anything either. Due to the lies that we have been told so far, I don’t trust any of these Economists. Citizen Wifey handles the family finances so maybe I should consult her. At least she won’t wait a year to tell us we are in a recession.

Saxby (my name sounds like a Saxophone mixed with Zaxby’s Restaurant) Chambliss won his run-off election with a whopping 57 percent of the vote. The Georgia Senator was talking a lot of trash after his victory. If he was a better politician, he wouldn’t have been in this predicament. The person he was running against must have been 7th on the depth chart of available politicians. The Democratic Party had a lot of ATLiens to choose from to run against Saxby. Usher, Jermaine Dupree, Young Jeezy, Andre 3000. Georgia proved that black folks won’t come out to vote if Barack Obama is not on the ticket. In Clayton County (which has a heavy African American population) Jim Martin received half the votes he did in the November election. It appears that we have yet to comprehend the power that voting gives us (i.e. special interest groups and lobbying). Yeah, this week really sucked…..

Julian Bond to step down as NAACP board chair

Mr. Bond, I commend you on doing the honorable thing and falling on your sword. Your poor leadership and lack of vision have placed doubts over the NAACP. Mr. Bond, I blame you for the departure of former president Bruce Gordon. I also disagree with your decision to involve the NAACP in seating the Michigan delegates. You need to let some “new” blood circulate through the organization. But please, no more handpicked subordinates as replacements.

I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry

Sniff Sniff... Yours truly has been given The Superior Scribbler Award. The award was given to me by UglyBlackJohn. You can click on the above post title to learn more about the award.

As part of the rules of this award I must pass "The Award" on to 5 most-deserving Bloggers. See rules below:

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So here we go...............rim-shot please...we can't afford a drumroll.

uppity negro network - provides an unusual brand of commentary that is part religious/part street sense/part common sense. Even if you don’t agree with some of his posts, you will surely be challenged by them and that’s what I like.

a blue state of mind - is a calming presence to the blogosphere. Her life is written as if it were a painting. When you read her posts, it’s as if you are watching someone painting on blank canvas.

aunt jemimas revenge - provides commentary that is straight with no chaser. She is unapologetic and unbossed. She says what many people are thinking and what they wish they could say. A strong black woman that doesn’t take shorts…you gotta love her.

we are respectable negroes - has some of the best ranting that you can find on the web. Don’t get me wrong because it’s not just three folks sitting around flapping their jaws. They provide insightful, well thought out rants. They have something good to read on a weekly basis. Key Word: Consistency.

makes me wanna be a writer - is the cool kid in school. I’m kept up to date with the latest in pop culture without all the sleaze you get at some other sites. Also knows how to drop a thoughtful gem on you. Make sure you stop in to check out the music selection.

I wish that I could blame Bush but I can’t find him.

I was talking to my dad about Social Security over this past Thanksgiving break. He talked about when he retires, (again!) he will have a Social Security check rolling in. I mentioned to him that when Social Security was founded they weren’t expecting people to have longer life spans. I also told him there wouldn’t be any money left for me when I get older. Point of reference on my dad’s age: He is currently trying to get the “Shaft” movie soundtrack converted from his 8-track cartridge to a Compact Disc. Please don’t ask….

Anyway, his response to me about Social Security was “I don’t know what you are going to do but I’m getting a check.” During Bush’s time in office what did he do about Social Security? I wish I could blame Bush for the lack of Social Security reform.

We are now just finding out that we have been in a recession since 2007. That means for almost 2 years we have been lied to “by the powers that be.” It feels like every American Economist just popped out of a cake and yelled surprise!!!! Apparently we weren’t told about the recession because they didn’t want us to stop spending money. People are losing their jobs, and homes and they wanted us to keep spending? But not spending on the United States or even “in” the U.S. Amazing…it’s no surprise where our jobs are going – we purchase toys from China, clothes from Taiwan, diamonds from Africa, hair weave from Korea, Beer from Germany, rock music from the United Kingdom, and cars from Italy, Korea, Germany, Japan and Great Britain. Jobs kept going overseas, no oversight on shady bank deals and a war (or two or possibly three) that has no end in sight. During Bush’s time in office what did he do about building up the Economic Surplus? I wish I could blame Bush for the Economy.

I see Barack Obama rolling out new cabinet members like appliances at Sears. I see the Chairman of the Fed and the Treasury Secretary pretending to fix the economy. I even see Condi Rice playing the piano for the Queen of England but I can’t find Bush. Is he hiding out in that bunker with the Vice President? The last time I saw him, the economy went bust, he looked scared and I haven’t seen him since. I know he has an MBA from a so called “elite” school. I guess those Ivy League Schools don’t teach economics… If Bush is still the president, then he needs to show his face. If only I knew where he was…….

P.S. It’s not Bush’s fault that Plaxico Burress (Dummy!!!) shot himself in public but if I could pin it on him I would….

Letting bygones be bygones: because my momma said so

During my time home for the Thanksgiving break, my mother talked to me about holding grudges. Apparently she thinks I hold grudges against people: family members, the girl up the street (back in the day she led me on), and Hillary Clinton. I’m not really as bad as she makes me sound. I just don’t have time for a lot of crap. I guess it didn’t help by me mentioning suing the girl up the street for the time I wasted with her. It was a long shot but who says you can’t sue people for time wasted? Anyway… my mother talked about getting into Heaven and some other stuff – how did Hillary Clinton bring all this up??? All I said was that I couldn’t stand her!!! You can’t blame a brother for being honest.

I just felt that the Clintons betrayed black folks with their campaign rhetoric. How could they do this to “us”? The Clintons wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for black folks. How did you think Bill Clinton got his street cred? There was always the cool white guy list…Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Sean Connery, The rappers from 3rd Bass and Bill Clinton. They say not to take politics personal but how could you not? Hillary call Barack Obama everything but a child of God. She even played the “whoa is me..I’m white and blacks are taking over everything card.” It made you scratch your head and wonder what christian conservative deck did she get that out of???? This lady even teamed up with Bob “pimping ain’t easy” Johnson to help with her Obama greatest dissess album. Bob Johnson had the audacity to accuse Obama of basically holding a drug corner. When did Obama become Avon Barksdale? Obama already said he used drugs in his youth..duh!!! Hillary should have known better than to get involved with a pimp…I’m talking about Bob not Bill.

So after the campaign I’m supposed to bury the hatchet (not in Hillary’s back that is) and move on. Obama (for some foreign reason – only aliens would know) has decided to make Hillary his Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton, the same woman that lied about being under Bosnian sniper fire. I don’t get it and I don’t like it. I heard the talk about her having an International Brand Name. Mariah Carey is internationally known as well but I wouldn’t send her to talk to the Iraqis. It’s not that I’m just holding beef for someone but it’s a character issue. Hillary is a shady character and if you can’t trust her - how could you want to be around her - therefore making it hard to like her. You see there is some logic to this.

BUT….because it is going to be a new year and I don’t want citizen momma going on and on about forgiveness. I will turn over a new tree (notice I didn’t say leaf) and extend the peace branch. I can’t say peace pipe because I have asthma and I think the Indians smoked the chronic. This does not mean that I won’t criticize her again. She is a politician and is using tax-payers money so she is fair game. No more personal attacks (like in the campaign) by saying horrible things about her. You see momma I’m trying and I don’t even have my fingers crossed behind my back.