Open Season on America's Black Women

I was cruising the web and found this article. Even though it was written in 2006, it is still very relevant today.

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OPEN SEASON on AMERICA'S BLACK WOMEN?
Public flogging of Black women must stop

Article By Dr. Melody T. McCloud


Why are Black women so increasingly ignored, abhorred, disrespected and rejected in this country? Who declared "open season" on us, and why?

Increasingly over the past decade the media has projected images that Black women are "public enemy #1" who can be battered about, cast down, kicked aside, ignored, denigrated and disrespected at the will of all who take delight and sport in doing so. I say it is tantamount to a public flogging in the modern-day Town Square—the media, the Internet, TV, movies and music videos.

The latest town square venue? The UGA campus where Chi Phi fraternity pledges distributed images of naked Black women to passers-by. Why? Because they could. It's acceptable sport in the 21st century to do so. They're just Black women; who cares? One student told a reporter he thought it was funny. It's not.

The late comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, enjoyed a lifetime of fame and fortune and received many a laugh saying, "That's the story of my life, I don't get no respect." Many of today's Black women may feel Dangerfield's battle cry is one, they too, can claim. But for many Black women, getting "no respect" is not funny and hardly any are laughing.

The public disregard and disrespect of Black women is pervasive. More and more, Black male models and actors are readily cast opposite White and Hispanic women, to the blatant, total exclusion of Black women. Magazine ads frequently engage colorism—favoring light-skinned Blacks over brown-skinned ones. Lighter Black women often get the sexy ads and poses; they're positioned to look soft and desirable while brown-skinned women are posed stern, frowning and even masculine with bald heads. Often African-born models are selected to the exclusion of native-born Black American women.

It also seems to me that the media are ever eager to show the often embarrassing antics of U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, model Naomi Campbell, Omarosa and others, but won't allow for others to be heard or seen. It seems, "well, there's Oprah," so that's all the room they'll allow for "good" Black women of richer hue.

Sadly, too, those Blacks—including Oprah—in position to present Black women in a better light, often fail to do so. Tyler Perry and Martin Lawrence, more so, get rich on the image of the fat, gun-toting, loud Black granny.

Shonda Rhimes, the Black female creator/producer of "Grey's Anatomy," has the Black male character sleeping with Asian Sandra Oh (who brushes her teeth in the kitchen sink!) while Chandra Wilson, the lone Black actress on the show, is "the Nazi," "the bitch."

And MTV—whose president, Christina Norman, is a Black woman—recently aired a cartoon to young Saturday morning viewers entitled "Where My Dogs At," which had Black women squatting on all fours, tethered to leashes. In 2004, U.S. Army reservist Sgt. Lynndie England subjected Iraqi prisoners at Abu Grhaib to the same denigration and she was convicted and sentenced to prison. Where is the justice for Black women?

Mind you, however, the Iraqi prisoners were tethered against their will. Why would the MTV president have such unconscionable racial insensitivity, and why, why would Black women participate in such debasing imagery? I submit many of these sorely misguided Black women are merely seeking acceptance, appreciation and value in a society that affords them none. Everyone wants to be valued; sadly these women choose a disparaging route that leads to shame for themselves and their race.

The effects of these demeaning images and absolute disregard for the Black female demographic in this country send a loud, disturbing message and are detrimental to our society at large. The negative imagery affects not only the psyche of Black men and women, but also that of impressionable boys and girls of all races.

As a physician I'm likewise concerned about the effect such constant societal rejection has on Black women's physical health. I can say with certainty that constant rejection, disrespect and denigration cause stress. Stress increases the release of cortisol and other stress hormones. These high levels lead to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, central obesity and more, all of which can lead to death. Prolonged stress also severely affects the immune system, diminishing its ability to fight against life-threatening diseases. Black women have a very high incidence and death rate from these killer conditions. Connect the dots.

Someone must give voice to this societal poison. White women aren't going to say anything because they readily benefit from negative images of Black women. Many white men—media executives, and obviously some UGA frat brothers—are having too much fun and cash flow at the expense of Black women's dignity and social value; and sadly, many Black men are inexplicably silent, standing sideline. And people wonder why Black women are "angry" and "tired." Some posters to message boards proclaim that any women addressing this topic are "just darkie black women with self-hatred." No. We don't hate ourselves; we know who we are. Many of us are successful, well-groomed, well-spoken entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers and homeowners, who are also loving, passionate, funny, exciting, devoted and sensual. What we hate is how we're portrayed and disrespected in the media and in real life.

As a Black woman I've tried for years, beginning in 1999, to shed light on this issue with media executives, television producers, literary agents and publishing editors, to no avail. And earlier this year I wrote Marc Cherry, creator of the hit show, "Desperate Housewives."

Normally, to see a Black woman get a recurring role in the number one prime-time network program would be a major coup, a step in the right direction for American media and Black imagery. But alas, once again, the lone Black woman—on a show that mostly deals with sexy, alluring women with kinky trysts and family matters—is portrayed as some psychopath who chains her sons in the basement. How did her storyline even fit the show? Did they just have to cast a Black woman and decided to make her "the evil, demented, crazy one"? These images—often to the exclusion of more positive, loving ones—must stop.

As my cries went unheard/ignored, increasing numbers of disgraceful, disrespectful and demeaning videos, photographs and movie clips with disparaging images of Black women were seen by millions worldwide.

The problem has multiple prongs, and so does the remedy. For starters, I suggest new congressional hearings and laws to effect a tangible change in the depiction of women in music videos. Black women who participate in such videos must stop; there are better, more respectful ways to gain acceptance.

Parents need to stop allowing their children to listen to the despicable lyrics in hip-hop and rap songs and stop buying those recordings; they are poison to the mind. We've gone from "My Cherie Amour" to "bitch, ho, slut and whore." This is unacceptable. This must STOP. Black boys need to don proper attire and learn to speak to girls and women respectfully. And Black girls/women need to stop allowing men to speak to them in any which way and again, stop participating in disrespectful deeds.

Beyonce' and the like need to stop shaking their booty, mimicking orgasmic seizures on stage for young girls to see and later have their children emulate in "Baby Beyonce'" contests. Black men need to step forward: Say and do something. Honor your women. Speak to young boys.

Black film and music producers need to be socially conscious and realize what effect the images they set forth have on the community and the world; you can so better "represent." White media and ad executives must advance past colorism; they also need to cast Black actresses and models of all hues in loving, desirable roles.

White (and all) parents need to stop teaching racist attitudes to their offspring. And UGA students need to find something else to do in the town square. Denigrating and disrespecting Black women is not a sport. It's sad that members of the Chi Phi fraternity think it is.

Copyright 2006 Dr. Melody T. McCloud

Heaven & Hell

HEAVEN AND HELL

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator..

"Well, I'd like to,

but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to

greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven.."

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone

by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell..

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look

miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says,

"Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted.."


Vote wisely on November 2, 2010

Back Bay Beggar Vs. MBTA Bus

Around 2:30pm this afternoon, I was shocked to see a beggar I'm used to seeing in a wheelchair, standing up and using his wheelchair to block an MBTA bus from going anywhere.

This happened on Dartmouth St. in the Copley area right in front of the Back Bay T station. The beggar was angry at the driver of the bus plying Route 10. The driver wouldn't let him on with his wheelchair because the attached pole was too high.

First, I didn't know that that beggar was capable of walking. It was the first time I'd seen him standing and walking. Anyway, some ladies came along and pleaded with the man to let the bus go in its way. They told him that he was committing a crime and also hurting other people who might be late for work, medical appointments and other business because of his selfish actions. The beggar eventually removed his chair.

They Promise How Many Virgins?

This is an editorial cartoon by Tanzanian cartoonist, Godrey Mwampemba. I have to say that his cartoons are getting bolder by the day.

Now that the World Cup in South Africa is Over

By Tanzanian Editorial Cartoonist, GADO

Bear Sign

Make sure you read the last part!

The Swahili Language

I found an interesting site with facts about the Swahili language. It's everything that we heard of growing up in Tanzania. http://www.glcom.com/hassan/swahili_history.html

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Origin

The Swahili language, is basically of Bantu (African) origin. It has borrowed words from other languages such as Arabic probably as a result of the Swahili people using the Quran written in Arabic for spiritual guidance as Muslims.

As regards the formation of the Swahili culture and language, some scholars attribute these phenomena to the intercourse of African and Asiatic people on the coast of East Africa. The word "Swahili" was used by early Arab visitors to the coast and it means "the coast". Ultimately it came to be applied to the people and the language.

Regarding the history of the Swahili language, the older view linked to the colonial time asserts that the Swahili language originates from Arabs and Persians who moved to the East African coast. Given the fact that only the vocabulary can be associated with these groups but the syntax or grammar of the language is Bantu, this argument has been almost forgotten. It is well known that any language that has to grow and expand its territories ought to absorb some vocabulary from other languages in its way.

A suggestion has been made that Swahili is an old language. The earliest known document recounting the past situation on the East African coast written in the 2nd century AD (in Greek language by anonymous author at Alexandria in Egypt and it is called the Periplus of Erythrean Sea) says that merchants visiting the East African coast at that time from Southern Arabia, used to speak with the natives in their local language and they intermarried with them. Those that suggest that Swahili is an old language point to this early source for the possible antiquity of the Swahili language.

Words from Other Languages

It is an undeniable truth that Arab and Persian cultures had the greatest influence on the Swahili culture and the Swahili language. To demonstrate the contribution of each culture into the Swahili language, take an example of the numbers as they are spoken in Swahili. "moja" = one, "mbili" = two, "tatu" = three, "nne" = four, "tano" = five, "nane" = eight, "kumi" = ten, are all of Bantu origin. On the other hand there is "sita" = six, "saba" = seven and "tisa" = nine, that are borrowed from Arabic. The Arabic word "tisa" actually replaced the Bantu word "kenda" for "nine". In some cases the word "kenda" is still used. The Swahili words, "chai" = tea, "achari" = pickle, "serikali" = government, "diwani" = councillor, "sheha" = village councillor, are some of the words borrowed from Persian bearing testimony to the older connections with Persian merchants.

The Swahili language also absorbed words from the Portuguese who controlled the Swahili coastal towns (c. 1500-1700AD). Some of the words that the Swahili language absorbed from the Portuguese include "leso" (handkerchief), "meza" (table), "gereza" (prison), "pesa" ('peso', money), etc. Swahili bull-fighting, still popular on the Pemba island, is also a Portuguese legacy from that period. The Swahili language also borrowed some words from languages of the later colonial powers on the East African coast - English (British) and German. Swahilized English words include "baiskeli" (bicycle), "basi" (bus), "penseli" (pencil), "mashine" (machine), "koti" (coat), etc. The Swahilized German words include "shule" for school and "hela" for a German coin.


Spread into the Hinterland

For centuries, Swahili remained as the language for the people of the East African coast. Long-time interactions with other people bordering the Indian Ocean spread the Swahili language to distant places such as on the islands of Comoro and Madagascar and even far beyond to South Africa, Oman and United Arab Emirates. Trade and migration from the Swahili coast during the nineteenth-century helped spread the language to the interior of particularly Tanzania. It also reached Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Central African Rebublic, and Mozambique.

Christian missionaries learnt Swahili as the language of communication to spread the Gospel in Eastern Africa. So, the missionaries also helped to spread the language. As a matter of fact the first Swahili-English dictionary was prepared by a missionary. During the colonial time, Swahili was used for communication with the local inhabitants. Hence the colonial administrators pioneered the effort of standardizing the Swahili language. Zanzibar was the epicenter of culture and commerce, therefore colonial administrators selected the dialect of the Zanzibar (Unguja) town as the standard Swahili. The Unguja dialect (Kiunguja) was then used for all formal communication such as in schools, in mass media (newspapers and radio), in books and other publications.

Now Swahili is spoken in many countries of Eastern Africa. For Tanzania, deliberate efforts were made by the independent nation to promote the language (thanks to the efforts of the former head of state, Julius K. Nyerere). Tanzania's special relations with countries of southern Africa was the chief reason behind the spread of Swahili to Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, and other neighbouring countries to the south. Swahili is the national as well as the official language in Tanzania - almost all Tanzanians speak Swahili proficiently and are unified by it. In Kenya, it is the national language, but official correspondence is still conducted in English. In Uganda, the national language is English but Swahili enjoys a large number of speakers especially in the military. As a matter of fact, during the Iddi Amin's rule Swahili was declared the national language of Uganda. However, the declaration has never been seriously observed nor repealed by the successive governments.

International Presence

Thus, Swahili is the most widely spoken language of eastern Africa and many world institutions have responded to its diaspora. It is one of the languages that feature in some world radio stations such as, the BBC, Radio Cairo (Egypt), the Voice of America (U.S.A.), Radio Deutschewelle (Germany), Radio Moscow International (Russia), Radio Japan International, Radio China International, Radio Sudan, and Radio South Africa. The Swahili language is also making its presence in the art world - in songs, theatres, movies and television programs. For example, the lyrics for the song titled "Liberian girl" by Michael Jackson has Swahili phrases: "Nakupenda pia, nakutaka pia, mpenzi we!" (I love you, and I want you, my dear!). The well-celebrated Disney movie, "The Lion King" features several Swahili words, for example "simba" (lion), "rafiki" (friend), as the names of the characters. The Swahili phrase "hakuna matata" (No troubles or no problems) was also used in that movie.

The promotion of the Swahili language is not only in its use but also deliberate efforts are made throughout the world to include it in education curriculum for higher institutions of learning. It is taught in many parts of the world.

Authors: Hassan O. Ali; revised by; Abdurahman Juma

For MORE ON THE SWAHILI LANGUAGE PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.glcom.com/hassan/swahili_history.html

Pirates of the Mediterrean

This is an editorial cartoon by Tanzanian Cartoonist Godfrey Mwampemba.

President Obama at Dorothy Height's Funeral

Received via e-mail:

Late Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height

29th April 2010

Tears streaming down his cheeks, grief overcame Barack Obama today as he attended the funeral of the woman he called the 'Godmother' of the American civil rights movement.

The U.S. president was weeping openly as he watched the service for Dorothy Height in Washington today.

He delivered the eulogy for Dr Height, whose activism stretched from the New Deal right up until Mr Obama's election as the first African American president of the United States.

Dr Height died last week at 98 after a long illness. She was a pioneering voice of the civil rights movement who remained active and outspoken well into her 90s.

She often received rousing ovations at events around Washington, where she was easily recognizable in the bright, colourful hats she almost always wore.

Dr Height led the National Council of Negro Women for decades and marched with the Rev Martin Luther King Jr.

She was honoured by Mr Obama during the service at Washington National Cathedral for her leadership on the front lines fighting for equality, education and to ease racial tension.

Keepers

Keepers
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I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away..

I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return.. So... while we have it..... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken......... and heal it when it's sick.

This is true. for marriage....... and old cars..... and children with bad report cards..... and dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.




Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ and so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close!

TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY.

1.... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation..

2.... God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3.... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4.... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5.... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6.... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7.... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8.... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

9.... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10.... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows your decision.

I'm Not Giving My Black Back

I'M NOT GIVING MY BLACK BACK

I'm Not Giving My Black Back! I'm not giving up my greens or my grits or
saying "girl" and putting my hands on my hips. You see...Life for me ain't
been no crystal stair and I'm not giving up Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hammer,
Mary McCleod Bethune, Sojourner Truth, Madame C J. Walker, Toni Morrison
or Dr. Maya Angelou, 'cause you see, I am a phenomenal woman and I'm not
giving my black back.

I'm not giving up my crown, waves, braids, curls, locks, kinks, scarves
or Muslim garb. I'm not giving up sitting in Ma's kitchen eating peach
cobbler or sweet potato pie and hearing her ask me, "How you doing baby"?

I'm not giving up going to "You Buy, We Fry" on Fridays, or barbeques on
Saturday playing bid whist, spades and slammin' those dominoes.
I'm not giving back Harriet Tubman's train, Soul Train, Coltrane or the
midnight train to Georgia. Now, you can meet me at the function at the
junction but I still won't give up B.B. King, the Whispers, Fancy Ms.
Nancy, Lena Horne, the Philadelphia Sound, Motown or the Temptations.

Cause you see, it's the way we do the things we do, like building the
pyramids that still stand made by our forefathers' hands where the
diamonds, oil, silver and gold are buried in our rich dark land.

I'm not giving my black back! I'm happy being happy with my wide hips and
my wide nose and the rich melanin in my skin. I love putting lotion on my
ashy legs.

Oh, I'm happy being nappy and being in the skin that I'm in. I won't deny
or forget my ancestors who lay in a wet grave at the bottom of the sea in
the Middle Passage from slave trade.

And I won't give up on our youth of today who still need a way made. I
won't give back Miles even though he didn't smile. I won't give back
Marvin Gaye, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Hyman, Billie Holiday or Billy
Eckstein, Jackie Robinson or Jackie Wilson.

I won't give back the electric slide, Alvin Ailey, Bojangles or Debbie
Allen. You think I'd give up reading my Jet, Ebony, Essence, Emerge, Black
Enterprise, Heart and Soul or Upscale magazines? For we are a colorful
people.

Like Curtis Mayfield sang, we are a people that are "darker than blue." We
are honey, cinnamon, mahogany and chocolate. We are REDD Fox, James BROWN,
Barry WHITE, The Mothers of the Church dressed in WHITE, The Color PURPLE,
the Lady Who Sings the BLUES and we are Al GREEN with love and happiness.
Oh, NO... I'm not giving my black back!

I'm not giving back Maxine (Waters), Martin, Medgar, Malcolm, Mandela,
Marley, Marcus, Muhammad Ali, Michael (Jordan) or the Million Man March.
I'm not giving my black back.

Join me in lifting up the black woman's spirit. Find a black woman and
send this to her. Enjoy.


The first duty of love is to listen.

Rest in Peace Rev. Douglas G. Whitlow

My husband, Rev. Douglas G. Whitlow was laid to rest today in Cambridge Cemetery. He died Monday January 18, 2010 from kidney failure. He had been on dialysis for seven years.

Thank you to all who came out to support me and my family.

May He Rest in Eternal Peace

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Che-Mponda Kadete family and the Whitlow family wishes to express their deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for all acts of kindness shown to them in their time of sorrow. Special thanks to the Tanzanian Community & Diaspora, Warren St. Baptist Church and The International Gospel Church. A very special thanks to Ezekiel Luhigo, Charles Jackson, Muhidin Michuzi, Laura Moloney & Pastor Jared Mlongecha.

The family also wishes to thank Cambridge 9-11, EMT’s, Fire and Police Departments. Fallon, Cataldo and PRO Ambulance Services. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Cambridge Hospital, Radius Specialty Hospital in Boston, MA. The Veterans Hospital, Jamaica Plain, MA, Embassy Rehabilitation and Health Center, Brockton, MA, Emerson Village, Watertown, MA and Haborside Healthcare in Wakefield, MA and the various Visiting Nurses who assisted Reverend Whitlow during his illness.

Rev. Al Sharpton Attacks Tiger Woods - Joke

This is a joke going around the web. I am deeply saddened to see Tiger Woods disgraced this way. I feel bad for his wife and kids as they have been humiliated even more. At the same time, even though this is a joke, I ask why is it that many sucessful black men have to go fo white women? And I can say vice versa, a lot of successful black women go for white men? What is behind this? Are they thinking, a white woman/man completes my success? We'll see how the Tiger Woods soap opera plays out.

Meanwhile, Tiger's mistress count is 14 and counting! LOL! But geez, Tiger needs to find a better calibre of woman to mess around with. I mean seriously the women he has had affairs with have NO SHAME at all! Are exploits with a married man really something to boast about?

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The Rev. Al Sharpton held a press conference today to blast Tiger Woods for the lack of diversity among his mistresses. Sharpton claims that the lack of African-American women among Woods' harem will have a negative affect on the black community, specifically young black girls.
"Why is it that a man who calls himself black can't bring himself to cheat on his wife with a black woman?" said Sharpton, speaking to a group of supporters in Harlem .
"What does it say to young black girls everywhere when you pass them over? Shame on you, Tiger Woods. What would your daddy say?"Sharpton, who has long championed taking black women as mistresses, said that today's black athletes need to stop neglecting black women when it comes to extramarital affairs, and should follow the examples of positive black role models such as Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr., both of whom cheated on their wives with black women.
Sharpton also stressed that cheating with African-American women would help the black community financially by giving black girls the chance to sell their stories to tabloids and gossip magazines.
Added Sharpton, "I'm not asking you to not cheat on your wives, I'm just asking you to give back to your own community."

Spitting Canada Diplomat Recalled!

Lucky, this guy had diplomatic immunity otherwise he would certainly have spent time in poor conditions at a Tanzanian prison!

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Click for source:
Canadian diplomat recalled from Africa after arrest

Last Updated: Monday, December 14, 2009

A Canadian diplomat arrested in Tanzania last week on accusations he spat at a police officer and a TV journalist has been recalled home.

"In the best interest of all involved parties, the Canadian official will be leaving Tanzania at the earliest possible time and will return to Canada," the Canadian high commissioner in Tanzania said in a statement.

"We regret the incident that took place on Wednesday, Dec. 9, involving one of our officials," said Robert Orr.

The diplomat has been identified by Tanzanian media as Jean Touchette, the first secretary at the Canadian High Commission in the East African country.

Touchette was arrested by police in Dar es Salaam after he allegedly spat at a senior police officer during an argument over a traffic jam on the outskirts of the city.

Touchette is also alleged to have spat in the face of Jerry Muro, a TV journalist with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, when Muro went to the police station to interview and film the diplomat.

Touchette, who had diplomatic immunity, was not charged.

Canadian Diplomat Spits on Tanzanian Policeman

Having just come back from Tanzania and seeing the high standard or living that 'wazungu' expatriates live, I'm really offended at this matter. Okay, the guy has diplomatic immunity so they can't charge him. But, I am offended that whites go and live so luxuriously in the land of the black man and then have the nerve to feel superior and do degrading things to blacks. Some wazungu have forced even black women to have sex with dogs, or rape African children. I also blame black Tanzanians for worshipping wazungu! Like I said on Michuzi Blog, come to the USA and you will see poor white folks even begging in the streets. They aren't all rich and commit crimes too. Wazungu are humans not mini Gods.

It will be interesting to see what Canada does about it's spitting diplomat.

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Canadian diplomat arrested in Tanzania

High commission staffer allegedly spat at police officer and TV journalist

Last Updated: Friday, December 11, 2009

Tanzanian police arrested a Canadian diplomat Wednesday on accusations he spat at a police officer and a TV journalist.

Jean Touchette, first secretary at the Canadian High Commission in the African country, was arrested by police in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city and commercial capital, after he allegedly spat at a senior police officer during an argument over a traffic jam on the outskirts of the city, according to Tanzanian newspaper the Daily News.

Touchette is also alleged to have spat in the face of Jerry Muro, a TV journalist with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, when Muro went to the police station to interview and film the diplomat.

"And I asked him why was he doing it to me," Muro told CBC News. "And he said, 'I'm doing it because you are taking my pictures … and it's my privacy.' "

Muro said the diplomat insulted him, calling him "stupid" and "an idiot."

Touchette has diplomatic immunity and was not charged.

However, Touchette's case has been handed over to the country's director of criminal investigation for further action, the Daily News reported.

The Tanzanian government is reportedly considering whether to expel Touchette.

Robert Orr, Canada's high commissioner in Dar es Salaam, said members of his staff are investigating the case.

"I think we want to make sure we have all the facts before we reach conclusions about what exactly occurred and the full nature of the incident," Orr said.

"I think it's important to ensure that people understand that Canada holds its public servants and its diplomats to a very high standard of behaviour."

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dana Cryderman said the department is aware of the situation and is gathering further information

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From a Tanzanian newspaper:

Katibu muhtasi wa ubalozi wa Canada mbaroni kwa kumtemea mate trafiki

Polisi jijini Dar wamemtia mbaroni Katibu Muhtasi wa Ubalozi wa Canada, Jean Touchatte(48) kwa tuhuma za kuwatemea mate askari wa Usalama barabarani na Mwandishi wa Habari wa Shirika la Utangazaji Tanzania (TBC)

Touchatte anatuhumiwa kumshambulia askari wa usalama barabarani aliyekuwa akiongoza magari katika eneo la Banana wilaya ya Ilala.

Kaimu kamanda wa kanda hiyo, Charles Kenyela, amesema, mtumishi huyo wa ubalozi anadaiwa kufanya makosa hayo Desemba 9 saa 8.45 mchana wakati askari huyo namba E 1653, Koplo Samson akiwa kazini maeneo hayo.

Kwa mujibu wa Kenyela, wakati akiendelea kuyaruhusu magari yanayotokea Ukonga kwenda Uwanja wa Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere, Touchatte alifika eneo hilo akiwa anaendesha gari lenye namba za usajili T 17 CD 178 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado mali ya Ubalozi wa Canada.

Amesema, mtuhumiwa huyo alikuwa anatoka Ukonga kwenda uwanja wa ndege, ghafla alipunguza mwendo, akafungua kioo cha gari lake na kumtemea mate askari huyo.

Kenyela amedai kuwa,kitendo hicho kiliwashangaza wengi walioshuhudia,na kwamba sababu ya kufanya hivyo haikufahamika, hivyo polisi wa doria walipewa taarifa ili kulifuatilia gari hilo.

“Askari wetu walianza kufuatilia kwa nyuma gari hilo na walipofika barabara ya Nyerere karibu na Kamata gari hilo lilikamatwa na kupelekwa moja kwa moja hadi makao makuu ya polisi Trafic Kanda Maalum ya Dar es Salaam na kuwekwa chini ya ulinzi” amesema.

Kwa mujibu wa Kenyela, wakati mtuhumiwa anaendelea kuhojiwa,waandishi wa habari akiwemo Jerry Muro(29) wa TBC walifika kituoni hapo, wakitaka kufahamu nini kilichotokea ndipo mtuhumiwa huyo akamtemea mate sehemu ya chini ya kidevu chake na kusambaa katika flana aliyokuwa amevaa.

Muro alifungua jalada la shambulio CD/IR/4818/2009, na kwa mujibu wa Kenyela, mtuhumiw alipohojiwa hakuwa tayari kujibu wala kutoa maelezo yake kwa madai kwamba mpaka balozi wake awepo.

Vielelezo vya tukio hilo vimehifadhiwa polisi Kati na kwamba maelezo mengine zaidi juuu ya tukio hilo yatatolewa na Inspekta Jenerali wa Polisi.

Casting Director Fights Open Call Fees

I have to applaud local casting director, Kevin Fennessy on this one! Unfortunately people are too willing to pay because they believe if they do, they will become A list actors tomorrow.

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Local casting agent/actor fights open-call fee
By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein
Globe Staff / November 25, 2009

It may be a while before Bay State actors and extras get back to work. A spate of high-profile films - including “The Town,’’ “The Zookeeper,’’ and “Knight & Day’’ - have all wrapped in recent weeks, and there are no new projects on the horizon.

But just as upsetting to some local actors is the arrival of a new casting firm that charges wannabe screen stars to attend open calls. Mullen/Kalivoda Casting, which is based in Florida, charges $25 for an open call, a practice frowned on by other local casting agents.

“I took it upon myself to make a stand,’’ said Kevin Fennessy, a local casting agent and actor. Fennessy has started a Facebook group, “Kevin Fennessy’s Plea: Stop the Madness (Unnecessary/Excessive Actor Expenses),’’ which has so far attracted 434 members.

He objects to M/K Casting’s practice of charging a fee for open calls, something established local casting agents Angela Peri of Boston Casting and Carolyn Pickman of CP Casting have never done. “Twenty-five dollars just to show up and register in their database?’’ says Fennessy, who cast local actors in “The Perfect Storm,’’ “Mona Lisa Smile,’’ and “Stuck on You,’’ among other films. “Do you have to pay to fill out an application at McDonald’s?’’

M/K Casting did not return our calls or e-mails yesterday. Although no movies are shooting here in the near future, M/K held open calls in Lowell and Natick in recent weeks

Turned Away from Precious

Yesterday, I was one of the over 1,000 people who got turned away from Loews AMC Boston Common for an Advance Screening of the new hit film, Precious. I was disappointed and so were so many others. The screening was to start at 7:00pm, I got there at 5:45pm and there were already hundreds waiting. Turns out, the folks who arrived at 3:00pm were the lucky ones to get in!

I'm betting that this week the film breaks some Box Office Records with its wide release. The film is based on a 16 year old, overweight dark skinned teenage girl, who is also mother of two children fathered by her own father.

The film is getting some amazing reviews and even Oscar buzz. The film stars my idol, Mo'nique and newcomer Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe.

I received this via e-mail and can't agree more. Racism is alive and well in the USA. White people get annoyed when blacks complain about racism. Yet, they continue to judge people by the color or their skin. Right now, there is such an increase of negative rhetoric against President Barack Obama, it's scary. Those children calling for the assasination of our President are definitely getting that idea from theire parents and other grown-ups that they are around. READ ON....
And yes, Andrew M. Manis is white.
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Andrew M. Manis is associate professor of history at Macon State College in
Georgia and wrote this for an editorial in the Macon Telegraph.

Andrew M. Manis: When Are WE Going to Get Over It?

For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race
problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have
been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their
difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans
finally going to get over it? Now I want to ask: "When are we White
Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes"
should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in
"Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of
comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to
John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may
recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."

Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once
again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and
United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have
been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years,
conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the
right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that
anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan,
or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment,
perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone
did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case
who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.

But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties
again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven
what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is
possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear
that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to
"assassinate Obama."

Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before
we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world,
look like us? How long until we white people can - once and for all - get
over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we
white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us
superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments
about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?

How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head
of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people
end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist
jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?

I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making
racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long
until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal
responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the
Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United
States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?

How long before we starting "living out the true meaning" of our creeds,
both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that
"red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?

Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect
an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long
enough to see us white people get over our racism problem.

But here's my three-point plan:

First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House
that Black Slaves Built, I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service)
will protect him and his family from us white people.

Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying,
in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President
Obama.

Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise
the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of
our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."
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It takes a Village to protect our President.

Tanzania's Radar Scandal

The money eaten in this scandal could have used to improve Tanzania's School, Hospitals and Water Supply! SAD!

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BAE: The Tanzanian connection
Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Europe's biggest defence company, manufactures the Typhoon fighter By Andrew Hosken The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it will begin what promises to be the biggest corporate corruption prosecution in British legal history.

It is asking the Attorney General for the go-ahead to prosecute BAE for bribery under the 2001 Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act.

One of the four countries involved in the alleged corrupt deals is Tanzania. Though far from the largest deal, it looks certain to cause the biggest heartache in Downing Street.

In 2001, Tanzania, one of the world's poorest countries, decided to purchase a military air traffic control system from BAE.

Clare Short, then secretary of state for international development, says she was horrified by the move and was convinced it was a corrupt deal. "I was really shocked by the behaviour of British Aerospace and the collusion of all these government departments in such a gross and disgraceful project," she told me.

"Even when I got all the information and took it to the highest levels of the government, I still couldn't stop it."
'Grubby'Ms Short says that a number of factors convinced her that this was a corrupt deal. She says that the deal had been proposed 10 years earlier but had been blocked by intervention by the World Bank and the UK's Overseas Development Administration, the precursor to the Department for International Development.

"Then it came back as half a project. The thing was so grubby from beginning to end and, of course, it was so old that the technology was overtaken. Tanzania didn't have military aircraft. It needed civil air traffic control improvement in order to improve its tourist industry."
But Clare Short was far from alone in expressing deep concern about the BAE-Tanzania deal. In October 2001, a report by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a part of the United Nations, said:

"The system as contracted is primarily a military system and can provide limited support to civil air traffic control purposes. The purchase of additional equipment… would be required to render it useful for civil air traffic control.

However, if it is to be used primarily for civil air traffic control purposes, the proposed system is not adequate and too expensive."
Clare Short says tha Tanzanian deal was "a disgraceful project" At the same time in 2001, Clare Short had agreed a £35m aid package for Tanzania to help provide more children with education but saw virtually the whole sum being effectively gobbled up in the air traffic control system deal.

She opposed the deal in cabinet, a row which soon became public, but claims that in December 2001 one person above all insisted the necessary export licence be given: Tony Blair. "Tony was absolutely dedicated to all arms sales proposals," she says.

"Whenever British Aerospace wanted anything, he supported them 100%. He didn't seem to understand that there are matters of principle concerned. He had also been duped and bought the argument that it's always good for the British economy, which is absolutely not so."
In 2006 Tony Blair made one of the most controversial decisions of his premiership, helping to force the closure of an inquiry by the Serious Fraud Office into allegations that British Aerospace had paid bribes to win a lucrative arms contract with Saudi Arabia.

"I stick by that," he said six months later, "and the idea frankly that such an investigation could be conducted without doing damage to our relationship is cloud cuckoo land."

Cow on a Motorcycle

Cow riding motorcyles! Now I've seen everything. This photo was taken in Tanzania, East Africa.