Jennifer Love Hewitt and I Need HD Radio

I feel like a dinosaur when it comes to things like iTunes tagging and iPods and such. I have an unopend iPod Shuffle here on my desk. Perhaps, I need to open up the box and use the iPod Shuffle. At the same time, I think that Jennifer Love Hewitt (that is her in the black bikini) may need to get HD Radio into her exercise room.

What is HD Radio? HD Radio is free, and broadcasts on about 1,500 stations in the US, but offers higher quality audio than standard FM, in addition to features like track ID and extra "piggybacked" channels (called HD2). It seems to be simple to work the HD Radio system.

To get access to these new digital radio stations, a Villagers simply need to buy a radio with a built in HD Radio Tuner, such those found here. Many new cars include an HD Radio built in when you take the car out of the showroom. HD Radio receivers such as the Polk I-Sonic ES2 will also integrate new features, such as iTunes Tagging, which will allow a listener to "tag" a song on their HD radio and easily find it later for download via iTunes.

I understand that I still have my local radio, with local content, information, traffic and weather when I get this new radio technology. However, I'll get some cool extras like having the artist name and song title right on the radio screen. Best of all, there are NO monthly subscription fees ... subscription to this service is FREE!

Sponsored Post

More Gay Men Hop on the Senator Larry Craig Train

The rules truly are different for white men. Have sex with young interns ... in bathrooms ... with escorts ... and you can stay one of the most powerful men in the country. Did you see where four men have gone public about their homosexual relations with Sen. Larry Craig?

Some would say that Craig's power in the Senate is shrinking, however, he ain't resigning. He plans to stay until his term is over in January 2009. More to the point, there are only 100 senators in the country ... and this inherently dishonest guy is one of them.

What do they call the Senator at the bottom of the rankings of all Senators? They call him SENATOR and continue to hold the doors of power open for him.

I didn't know that Sen. Larry Craig was named as a sex partner in the 1982 scandal with congressional pages. I learned about it while listening to Sen. Craig respond to allegations, rumors, his future, the 1982 page scandal and more.

This is some truly raunchy stuff.

Buy Black for Christmas

Drumbeats from Buzzology Surveys about ways that you can Buy Black for Christmas.

What is the point of having so much Black spending power in this country if we are not going to use it to uplift and enhance the economy in our own community?

Have you considered making a conscious effort to spend your dollars with a Black-owned business over the next few weeks?

Manic Monday: Ship

Morgan chose SHIP as the Manic Monday theme this week. The ultimate ship that you could take on the high seas would be in a yacht. The ultimate yacht event in the world is the America's Cup.


On August 22, 1851, the U.S.-built schooner America beat a fleet of Britain's finest ships in a race around England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it be forever placed in international competition.


Today, the "America's Cup" is the world's oldest continually contested sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.

From 1870 until the late 20th century, New York Yacht Club-sponsored U.S. yachts successfully defended the America's Cup 24 times in races generally spaced a few years apart. Since the 1920s, the America's Cup race has been between one defending vessel and one challenging vessel, both of which are determined by separate elimination trials. In 1983, the United States lost the trophy for the first time in 132 years when Australia II defeated Liberty off Newport, Rhode Island.

I was surprised to learn that the first African participant in the America's Cup was a yacht from South Africa called Shosholoza, which is the Zulu word meaning "to move forward". You can learn much more from the official website of Team Shosholoza.

There are some remarkable crew members on Team Shosholoza including Marcello Burricks (South Africa), Solomon Dipeere (South Africa), Moctar Falls (Senegal), Joe Heywood (Zimbabwe), Golden Mgedeza (South Africa) and Ashton Sampson (South Africa).

Villagers, I must tell you a secret ... I've never been on a yacht before. Have you?

Taser Nation Watches Valreca Redden and Officer Michael Wilmer On Videotape

Michael Wilmer is the Trotwood police officer that decided it was appropriate to taser a 120-pound pregnant Black woman. Over Analyze It beat the drums about this story earlier this week.

You can click here to read or download the police report.

However, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is video recap with detailed explanation of what occurred on Nov 18th at the Trotwood Police Station when Officer Wilmer decided to use his taser gun on the back of the neck of Valreca Redden. You be the judge. Does this look like a righteous use of a taser gun?

I'm surprised to learn that Officer Wilmer is still working. No suspension. No administration duties assignments. He puts a pregnant woman down and it appears that his brothers in blue are surrounding him in love as if what he did is appropriate. Of course, it could be that police enjoy using that taser gun on people who pose no theat to them.

Villagers, what say u? Am I being too sensitive? Or does it seem like we are becoming a Taser Nation?

Stop AIDS Leadership Pledge

Villagers, do you remember where you were when Magic Johnson announced his retirement from the Lakers because he was found to have the HIV-virus? I was sitting in my office getting ready to pack up to go home. I recall how shocked I was by the news. Mostly by the fact that Magic Johnson didn't fit my stereotyped view of an AIDS victim. That was back in 1991.

Today ... in 2007 ... I still have a stereotyped view of AIDS victims. The new face of AIDS in America is a Black heterosexual woman. Sisters in our community are impacted by AIDS more than any other group. Even the AIDS Memorial Quilt doesn't reflect the growing number of deaths by Black women as a result of AIDS.

It is time that each of us take the Stop AIDS Leadership Pledge. I took the pledge this morning. The pledge asks people from all over the world to take the lead to stop AIDS. These pledges collected online, by mail and at events, will be used to create exhibitions, banners and other visibility actions during major events in 2008. With a goal of at least 100,000 signees, these pledges will serve as a persuasive tool for leveraging greater political leadership on universal access to AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support and act as a visual example for key national and international decision-makers to follow.

Take the lead Villagers. Pledge your leadership now to stop AIDS.

Click here to read more about the pledge, to download pledge forms, or get the Stop AIDS Leadership Pledge button for your website or blog.

Top Ten Black Blogs (Dec 2007)

The journey over the past four months in collecting information on the Top 10 Black Blogs has been wonderful. However, I am very open to ideas and suggestions from all Villagers on ways that this project can be more useful to you. What other features or information would you like to see in future iterations of this list?

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) is the driving force behind the Top 10 Black Bloggers list. We no longer have to complain when others put together a list of influential bloggers that doesn't contain anyone of African descent. Instead, we create our own dayum list. And our list is growing:

• Sept 2007 list ranked 75 Black blogs.
• Oct 2007 list ranked 300 Black blogs
• Nov 2007 list ranked 430 Black Blogs

Today we release the December 2007 list with 516 Black blogs in the mix. Share your village voice below if you want to know the ranking of your favorite Black blogs.

The only qualification is that the blogger needs to be of African descent. The blogger does not have to be a member of The AfroSpear or the Afrosphere Bloggers Association, although we invite all Black bloggers to join either (or both) of those organizations. We do think that these Top Ten Black Blogs are important spheres of influence. Reach out and let them know that you appreciate the work they have put in over the past few months and years to get on this list. Hopefully, they will share their village voice with us right here on the Electronic Village blog or over on the BDPA Foundation blog

Anyhow, with no further ado, here are the Top Ten Black Blogs for December 2007:

1. Pam Spaulding: Pam's House Blend (Authority: 1,130 / Rank: 2,177) - [Politics]The blog won the 2006 Web Log Award as the Best LGBT Blog. Pam has been the top Black blogger since we began these rankings. Our hope is that Pam will share some of her tips with us on ways that she grew her blog over the past few years. Pam, are you out there?


2. Angel Laws: Concrete Loop* (Authority: 1,090 / Rank: 2,329) - [Entertainment] This is a Black celebrity entertainment blog with gossip, music, celebrity interviews, pictures and such. This blog has been in the #2 slot since we began the rankings, however, this month Concrete Loops is as close to the top slot as ever!


3. Fresh Crunkjuice: Crunk & Disorderly* (Authority: 787 / Rank: 3,968) - [Entertainment] This blog was created in August 2004, however, it didn't get serious until May 2005. This is an active entertainment blog. The motto is simple and direct, "In Fresh We Trust". Yo' Fresh ... consider giving us some link-love as one of your Fresh Picks!


4. Natasha E: Young, Black & Fabulous* (Authority: 762 / Rank: 4,146) - [Entertainment] Natasha provides you with all the hot gossip in Black Hollywood. Her blog focuses on the fabulous side of Black pop culture, trends and music ... all from a young, Black, and fabulous perspective of course. As we noted last month, Natasha discontined her blogspot-based blog in favor of owning her own domain. Her newer blog has moved up to #26 on the Black Blog Rankings. As such, we may have our first blogger with multiple blogs in the Top 25 next month!


5. La Shawn Barber: La Shawn Barber's Corner (Authority: 750 / Rank: 4,247) - [Politics] Freelance writer La Shawn Barber offers political commentary from a Christian perspective. This blog is new to the Black Blog Rankings as I simply never knew about it until Sis. Barber and I were on an NPR panel discussion last month. She is an insightful sister with a powerful political blog.


6. Oliver Willis: Oliver Willis (Authority: 678 / Rank: 5,041) - [Politics] Oliver began this blog in April 2005. His tag linke says that he is kryptonite to stupid. The popularity of his blog is obvious as we enter into a presidential election cycle that is topsy-turvy on both the Democrat and Republican sides of the aisle. It is worth noting that the top six blogs on the Black Blog Rankings are equally divided between politics and entertainment.


7. Sokari Ekine: Black Looks (532/ 7,745) - [Social Sciences] This blog began in June 2004. It is primarily about issues that impact our brothers and sisters in Africa. Sokari is currently in London. Her posts cover a range of issues such as gender violence, racism, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and cancer. Sokari and her guest bloggers are all progressives, Africanists and activists with a strong belief in the power of the pen to bring about change. Sokari is the highest rank blogger from outside of the United States in the Black Blog Rankings


8. Steve Spaulding: How To Split An Atom (469 / 9,160) - [Technology] How To Split An Atom is a blog about using, abusing, and surviving in the Web X.0 landscape. It's Internet culture, split open. Steve provides a sprinkling of life hacks, meta filtering, personal projects and journalism all at a break neck pace. This blog rarely goes more than a few hours without a new post. Personally, I hope that Steve is a presenter next year for both Blogging While Brown and BDPA conferences.


9. Paula Mooney: Paula Mooney’s Tips (Authority: 449 / Rank: 9,704) - [SEO] Paula is a powerful source of ideas for any blogger looking to increase their visitor traffic. Currently, she is working through some issues with the Google ranking folks, however she maintains her enthusiasm about the power of blogging. Paula was one of the first Black bloggers that I discovered when I entered this world earlier this year. She was a featured speaker at BlogHer in Chicago, IL. I hope she will be a featured speaker at the Blogging While Brown conference.


10. Darla Mack: Darla Mack News & Reviews (440 / 9,985) - [Technology] Darla is a sister with a technology blog that has a unique niche of Nokia devices, S60, Nseries, Eseries and Symbian. She focuses on mobile technology and nokia phone reviews. It says something about our society to realize that one of the top blogs in the Black Black Rankings is devoted to mobile technology.

---

HONORABLE MENTION (11-25): Sandra Rose, What About Our Daughters*, Keith Boynkin*, Afro Bella*Entre les Lignes de Jo Ann, Rod 2.0:Beta, Republic of T, The Field Negro*, A Hot Mess!, Truth & Opinion, Stereohyped*, The Angry Black Woman, BlackProf.com*, Jack and Jill Politics* and Angry Black Bitch.

---

Those blogs with an asterisk after their name are winners in the 2007 Black Weblog Award contest held earlier this year. Black Blog Rankings lean heavily on the Technorati Authority and Rank score for each blog. The Technorati authority and rank numbers are shown in parenthesis. The authority figure includes a number of factors including the number of blogs that are linked to this blogger over the past six months. The rank number indicates how many blogs are between the person listed and the #1 ranked blog in the world.

We figure that if your content is strong enough for others to link to ... that is a strong indicator of your influence. I am very open to hearing from you on other factors that should be considered in future Black Blog Rankings. Post a comment below if you are a Black Blogger interested in learning what your ranking is this month!

I eagerly anticipate your comments on this list.

Valreca Redden is Another Pregnant Black Woman Abused by the Police

We heard the drumbeats from Yeah...I Said It blog. I think that Villagers will be outraged when they hear this story. Y'all remember we told you about a pregnant Black woman that was abused by police in Missouri?


It happened again. This time in Ohio.
Police officers used a taser with 50,000 volts of pure electricity on a pregnant 33-year old Black woman who voluntarily came to them for assistance. Keep in mind that this sister was not doing anything illegal. She feared for her safety, so Valreca Redden went to the Trotwood Police Station on Nov. 18 asking police to take custody of her 1-year-old son. When the police weren't helpful, she turned to leave. The police over-reacted ... I guess out of mortal fear of a 120-pound pregnant woman ... and used a taser on her neck.

I'll stop right here and let you see the interview with Sis. Redden now.

The FBI read the Valreca Redd Police Report and they are investigating the Trotwood Police Department.

I need to hear some village voices on this one. Villagers, what say u?

Blogging While Brown Conference Call For Papers

Planning is underway for Blogging While Brown: The First International Conference for Bloggers of Color, scheduled for July 25-27, 2008 at the Georgia World Conference Center and Hilton Downtown in Atlanta, GA.

The most important purpose of the conference is to share knowledge. The conference will promote intellectual, social, and cultural development of the blogging community by bringing bloggers of color together. Blogging While Brown is an opportunity to meet other bloggers and blog readers of color for the first time, discuss current issues of interest to bloggers of color, network with individuals and organizations interested in leveraging online activity with offline results, and learn about the latest technology that will assist bloggers with publishing their work and improving their readers experience by fully engaging in the newest media technology.

Blogging While Brown is currently accepting proposals for workshops that will appear at the conference. The three Conference Tracks are:

1. From the Screens to the Streets: News, Politics, and Social Justice - This track will feature sessions related to blogging about current events, activism, and bloggers who are leveraging their online resources to get offline results.


2. Blogging Building Blocks -This conference track will feature sessions related to the nuts and bolts of blogging such as technology, blogging widgets, the business of blogging, monetizing blogs, increasing blog traffic, legal issues, design, layout and improving the reader experience.


3. The Blogs of Our Lives -This conference track will feature sessions related to entertainment, gossip, lifestyle and social networking, how not to get sued, artist promotion, and the blogs that are our favorite guilty pleasures.

Who may submit workshop proposals? - Any and all individuals interested in bloggers of color and the issues or interest to them should submit proposals. Individuals from for- profit and not-for-profit entities may submit proposals for consideration provided the proposed workshop supports the theme, goals or workshop subject areas of the Conference.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FEBRUARY 5, 2008.
Villagers, don't wait until the last minute! Download the Workshop Proposal Form or review some of the other suggested topics on the Blogging While Brown blog.

I am hopeful that The AfroSpear will find a way to market our organization. Be as creative as you want to be. Work with other bloggers and blog readers. If you have any questions, email bloggingwhilebrown@gmail.com.

Blackface is Holiday Tradition in Amsterdam

Mark Twain is credited with saying, "When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always twenty years behind the times." I live in Cincinnati ... and there are many times when I agree with Mark Twain's assessment. Today, I learn from an AfroSpear blog, Black Women In Europe, that Amsterdam may be even further behind the times.

Can you believe that they have an annual tradition of white folks wearing blackface in Amsterdam?

Wordless Wednesday: George Bush

Education & the Black Woman

Villagers, did you have a chance to watch the first part of the series, African American Women: Where They Stand on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams last night?

I have two daughters and two sisters. As such, it is encouraging to learn that almost two-thirds of Black college undergraduates are women. I thought that the example of the single mother who was a Stanford graduate being shown with her daughter who is currently attending Stanford was excellent.

I just wonder why NBC decided that they needed to denigrate Black men in order to make their point. It seemed like the story was a much about the struggles of Black men in the education system as much as the success of Black women. Perhaps I was too sensitive. What did you think about the news report on NBC re: Black women and education?

Michelle Obama Gives Excellent Reasons to Vote for Barack Obama

Michelle Obama gave a speech in South Carolina last week. I haven't seen the video of the speech, however, the content of her speech is powerful. Kudos to Black Women for Obama for sharing the full text of her speech. She gives good background information on her husband.

At one point, Sis. Obama lays out a powerful statement that hits home with me for a variety of reasons:

Ask yourselves: of all the candidates, who will fight to lift Black men up so we don’t have to keep locking them up; who will confront the racial profiling and Jena justice that continues to afflict this nation; the voter disenfranchisement that rears its ugly head every few years; and the redlining that persists in our communities, keeping prosperity out and hopelessness in. Who will use the bully pulpit of the presidency to call on Black men to accept their responsibility and raise their children; who will refuse to tolerate Corridors of Shame in this country – of all countries? The answer is clear – Barack Obama. Not because of the color of his skin. Not because of what he’s said. But because of what he has done. How he has lived his life. Fighting for justice for all Americans; from all walks of life.

I'm still amazed that Black women have any difficulty understanding the unique historical opportunity that exists. First, the perfect storm exists for the Democratic presidential candidate to sweep into office next November. Therefore, the big decision is who will win the Democratic primary ... Obama, Clinton or Edwards. This is the first time in the history of our country that an African American is a legitimate and QUALIFIED candidate for the presidency. Why are Black women hesitant to throw their full support behind this man and his family?
Villagers, why are Black women hesitant to support the Obamas?

I've never been much of an Oprah Winfrey fan before. However, I am hopeful that her four major campaign appearances on Dec 8-9 for Barack Obama in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina will provide women of all colors a reason to re-consider their support of Hillary Clinton. Women should't vote for the first woman president, they should vote for what they need. I think that America needs Obama. Villagers,What say u?

Good Day for Democrats

Today was an unusually active day for political wonks:

1. Trent Lott announced his decision to resign from US Senate. It is actually fun to watch republicans in congress scurrying about like roaches with the lights turned on 'em!


2. Dick Cheney goes to the hospital because of an irregular heartbeat and ends up having more surgery on his heart. For the sake of his family, I hope that the surgery is successful enough for him to live, however, it would be great if this guy has to resign. If not, it is a shame that he wasn't impeached earlier.


3. Al Gore visits the White House today. Ironic when you consider that George Bush and Al Gore battled it out for the presidency in 2000. You got to beleive that Al Gore will be smiling inside as he reflects on how poorly Bush as done as our president over the past 7 years.

What will happen next in the world of national politics?

Manic Monday: Rank

Villagers, the Manic Monday word this week is 'RANK'. I've shared information about African Americans in the military before. As such, many of you know that my cousin retired from the US Navy as a rear admiral. Of course, the highest-ranked Black military man that most of us know nowadays is retired General Colin Powell. If things had broken a little different for Colin Powell ... he might have become our President instead of George Bush (sigh).

Anyhow, I thought I would point Villagers to high ranking African American officers in the four branches of the military.

1. Air Force - Lt. General John Hopper was the highest-ranking African American in the US Air Force when he retired in 2005, after a distinguished 35-year military career. His last assignment was Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. The command recruits, trains and educates more than 370,000 men and women for the aerospace force and the nation.


2. Army - Colonel Charles Young was the highest ranking African American officer in the army when WW1 started. He was also the first African American to reach that rank in the army. Young thought that he would have a major leadership role in World War I as a result of his military experience and rank, but prejudice and injustice led to him being forced out of of the military on June 22, 1917 under protest.


3. Marines - Maj. General Cornell Wilson will be the highest-ranking African American on active duty in the Marine Corps when he receives his second star. He's now commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element at Camp Lejeune, NC. Wilson often reflects on the accomplishments of Black marines since the The Montford Point Marines were first established after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, which allowed African Americans to be recruited during World War II.


4. Navy - Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr., (1922-2004), was an African American Navy pioneer and a native of Richmond, VA. Gravely built a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments. He became the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship (Theodore E. Chandler), the first African American to command an American warship under combat conditions (Taussig), the first African American to command a major naval warship (Jouett), the first African American admiral, the first African American to rise to the rank of Vice Admiral, and the first African American to command a U.S. Fleet (Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet). The USS Gravely (DDG-107) has been named in his honor. A street on the east side of Richmond, VA is also named in his honor.

Anyhow, these are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I pondered the word RANK. I hope you have enjoyed my Manic Monday effort this week.

Jakaris Taylor, Dunbar Village Rapist Gets 20-Year Sentence

Jakaris Taylor is a 16-year-old boy who's life will never be the same because of his decision to join a gang. Nine of his gang buddies joined him in rape, sodomy and cruelty imposted on a 35-year old single Black mother and her 12-year old son earlier this summer. Click here for our original post on the Dunbar Village gang rape. He could have faced life sentence for the indictment on each of the three charges of burglary with battery, and two counts of sexual battery with a gun while wearing a mask.

Instead, he flipped. He took a deal.

Jakaris agreed to testify against his co-defendants in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence. His plea deal gives him a 20-year sentence on each charge to be served simultaneously, with credit for 130 days served. He will also be branded a sexual predator, according to the agreement.

Taylor will now testify against his co-defendants, Avion Lawson, Nathan Walker and Tommy Poindexter.

I wonder if the police know who the other six rapists are from the original attack? Are the other six sexual predators still living untouched by the law in the Dunbar Village apartment complex where the rape took place?

In other words, Villagers, methinks that there will be more to this story over the coming weeks and months.

Killing of DeAunta Farrow

Villagers, I feel foolish for not knowing about DeAunta Farrow until this morning. DeAunta is a 12-year old Black boy that was shot and killed by a police officer in West Memphis, AR earlier this year. Young DeAunta was in his own neighborhood, his mother knew where he was and what he was doing, he was with one family member going to another family member's residence and was not engaged in any illegal activity. DeAunta was loved and cared for.

Now he is dead.

The powers-that-be in Arkansas have declared that the police officer was not wrong for killing this young boy. The police officer, Sgt. Erik Sammis, claims that he thought the youngster had a gun. A plastic toy gun was placed into evidence at the scene, however, the boy's family indicate that the toy gun was placed on the scene by someone friendly to the police department.

Our thanx to the Police Brutality Blog and Thaddeus Matthews Dot Com for beating the drums about this case.

One lesson that we can all take from this case is to remind our children not to walk the streets with play guns or any type of gun in their hands, waist, or on themselves at all. We know now that they take their lives and place it into the hands of a cop, and they could be killed.

In any case, Villagers, have you heard about this case? Am I wrong in wondering whether this young boy would still be alive if he didn't have as much melanin in his skin?

Can Mentoring Programs Really Grow Minority Businesses?

I have operated as a full-time entrepreneur since July 5, 2002. As a result, I stay attuned to information that impacts on Black business growth.

The Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking is the leading authority on issues related to minority business development and supplier diversity. The Institute's mission is to help its clients improve the outcomes of their investments in these areas. Dr. Mel Gravely is a colleague here in Cincinnati. He owns The Institute and uses it to provide an objective, balanced and practical resource committed to providing leading edge insight about the evolving opportunities and challenges related to race and business.
I encourage all Villagers to check out the featured article in the November 2007 issue of The Entrepreneurial Thinker entitled, 'Can Mentoring Programs Really Grow Minority Businesses?'.

Are there any other entrepreneurs floating through our village?

Anna Ciriani May Need a Mortgage Calculator

It is so difficult to figure out what to do when you make the decision to buy a home. Traditional Fixed Rate Mortgage? Adjustable Rate Mortgage? 5/1 ARM? 3/1 ARM? Negative or Option ARM? You have to wonder which kind of mortgage is best. The simple answer is: There is no right loan.

I figured that Anna Ciriani needs to sell her current home in Italy and buy a new one ... probably in Hollywood. She is slowly becoming the most well-known teacher in the universe and she needs to decide which which type of mortgage will best serve her individual needs.

I suggest that Madameweb spend a little time understanding the advantages and disadvantages of various mortgage programs. With a little effort she can save thousands by choosing the right mortgage.

Anna (and anyone else that is in the real estate market), please get a Free Mortgage Calculator and a free copy of your credit report. Anna, if Italy doesn't declare your home a national monument ... then you may want to see what it would take to get out from under your current debt.

* Anna's Video
* Official Madameweb Site

Sponsored Post

Books or Bullets: The Choice is Ours

Drumbeats from Blackonomics pointed us to the Books or Bullets blog. Here I discovered a program that I encourage all Villagers to consider. Do you believe that we are experiencing not a generation gap but an information gap and we will work towards raising the consciousness of the Black community, especially our youth. We have talked about ending Black-on-Black violence ... but, are we willing to take steps to stop youth violence and replace bullets with books?

We understand that during slavery, Black people were not allowed to read and we are still suffering from that legacy today. Later, Black schools were separate and unequal giving Black children an inferior education. Even today, Black children are taught a Euro-centric education that downplays the contributions of African people. This coupled with an entertainment industry that promotes and glamorizes ignorance is the reason that our youth are in their current condition. Since information about Black history has been stolen and information about current events has been hidden, the Books or Bullets Movement says "Stick em up!"

The program suggested for Villager consideration is as follows:


The Program

1. We must return to the "each one teach one principle."
2. We must develop study groups in communities across the country that will meet regularly to discuss Black history and how it applies to current events.
3. We must aggressively develop a more informed Black community by any means necessary.

How you can help?

1. Make a point to buy at "least" one book a month to give to a young person.
2. Clean out your closets and donate your old books dealing with Black history/issues to the Books or Bullets Movement.
3. Always keep information in your posession that you can pass on to a young person, whether it be a book, CD, DVD or a news clip.
4. Develop a syllabus of reading material that you can give to others either hand to hand or via email.
5. Use http://www.booksorbullets.com/ for an information clearing house to post news stories, book reviews and announcements about current events.
6. Encourage radio DJs to become involved by featuring at least a weekly segment discussing a book that gives the historical basis for current events.
7. Encourage barbershops, beauty salons and other places where our people gather to have a small library of conscious reading material.

Villagers, are you interested in following up on this program? If so, you can get more information by phone (919.451-8283) or email (info@nowarningshotsfired.com) .