Jesse Jackson VS Bill Cosby

The Reverend Jesse Jackson almost never gets upstaged and I had never
> seen the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson cry in public until last month.
> Jackson invited Bill Cosby to the annual Rainbow / PUSH conference for a
> conversation about the controversial remarks the entertainer offered on May
> 17 at an NAACP dinner in Washington , D.C. , when America 's Jell-O Man
> shook things up by arguing that African Americans were betraying the legacy
> of civil rights victories. Cosby said the lower economic people are not
> holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They
> are buying things for their kids, $500 sneakers for what? But they won't
> spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics!'
> > > Bill Cosby came to town and upstag ed the reverend by going on the
> offense instead of defending his earlier remarks.
> > >
> > > Thursday morning, Cosby showed no signs of repenting as he strode across
> the stage at the Sheraton Hotel ballroom before a standing room only crowd.
> Sporting a natty gold sports coat and dark glasses, he proceeded to unload a
> laundry list of black America 's self-imposed ills. The iconic actor and
> comedian kidded that he couldn't compete with the oratory of the Reverend
> but he preached circles around Jackson in their nearly hour-long
> conversation, delivering brutally frank one-liners and the toughest of love.
> The enemy, he argues, is us: "There is a time, ladies and gentlemen, when
> we have to turn the mirror around." Cosby acknowledged he wasn't critiquing
> all blacks, just the 50 percent of African A mericans in the lower economic
> neighborhood who drop out of school, the alarming proportions of black men
> in prison and black teenage mothers. The mostly black crowd seconded him
> with choruses of Amen's.
> > >
> > > To the critics who pose, it's unproductive to air our dirty laundry in
> public, he responds, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every
> day. It's cursing on the way home, on the bus, train, in the candy store.
> They are cursing and grabbing each other and going nowhere. The book bag
> is very, very thin because there's nothing in it. Don't worry about the
> white man, he added. I could care less about what white people think about
> me. Let them talk
> > >
> > > What are they saying that is so different from what their grandfathers
> said and did to us? What is different is what we are doing to ourselves. For
> those who say Cosby is just an elitist who's "got his" but doesn't
> understand the plight of the black poor, he reminds us that, "We're going to
> turn that mirror around. It's not just the poor-everybody's guilty." Cosby
> and Jackson lamented that in the 50th years of Brown vs. Board of Education,
> our failings betray our legacy. Jackson dabbed away tears as he recalled
> the financial struggles at Fisk University , a historically black college
> and Jackson 's Alma mater. When Cosby was done, the 1,000 people in the room
> all jumped to their feet in ovation.
> > >
> > > Long after Cosby had departed, I could not find a dissenter in the
> crowd. But in the hotel corridor I encountered a vintage poster for sale
> that said volumes. The poster, which advert ised the Million Man March, was
> discounted to $5 dollars. Remember the Million-Man March? In 1995, Nation of
> Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan exhorted A million sober, disciplined,
> committed, dedicated, and inspired black men to meet in Washington on a day
> of atonement. In 2006, perhaps all that is left of that call is a $5 dollar
> poster. We have shed tears too many times, at too many watershed moments
> before, while the hopes they inspired have fallen by the wayside. Not this
> time!
> > > Cosby's plea to parents: "Before you get to the point where you say 'I
> can't do nothing with them' do something with them."
> > > Like:
> > > Teach our children to speak English. There's no such thing as "talking
> white".
> > > When the teacher calls, show up at the school.
> > > When the idiot box start s spewing profane rap videos, turn it off.
> > > Refrain from cursing around the kids.
> > > Teach our boys that women should be cherished, not raped and demeaned.
> > > Tell them that education is a prize we won with blood and tears, not a
> dishonor.
> > > Stop making excuses for the agents and abettors of black on black crime.
> > >
> > > It costs us nothing to do these things. But if we don't, it will cost us
> infinitely more tears . We all send thousands of jokes through e-mail
> without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages regarding
> life choices, people think twice about sharing. The crude, vulgar, and
> sometimes the obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion
> of decency is too often suppressed in the schools and workplaces.
> > >
> > > ; I passed this on... Will you?
> > >

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MONEY: A QUEST FOR SELF-DETERMINATION”

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MONEY: A QUEST FOR SELF-DETERMINATION”

Peace Ya'll,

The email below was sent to me. I support it, and, therefore, am passing it on. I am very pleased when I see conscious young brothers speaking up. As the bother who wrote the message below said, I, too, am saddened at how young people esp. are often pressured into feeling like they have to have the newest shoes or clothes, but aren't even passing their classes in school. What have we become? and it is WE because we all are a reflection of each other. Instead of buying each other material things, let's exchange books and spread knowledge....just think about it. I love ya'll...MY PEOPLE. Peace. Nusaiba

__________________________________________________

“AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MONEY: A QUEST FOR SELF-DETERMINATION”

By Shadagga

ã Monday, June 02, 2003

As a young African Trinidadian living in the hood I often see folks flossing as if they are residing in Hollywood. The first thing that comes to mind is a jewel that my grandmother used to drop on me and it goes like this: “ you can’t judge a person’s wealth based on their physical appearance ”. As a youth I didn’t take that statement seriously. As I grew older and wiser, I got interested in understanding what is wealth and what is not. Based on my observation, experience and reading, it seems like the majority of my people confuse consumption with wealth.

I have friends and family who are slaves to fashion and trends. From the cars they drive, clothes they wear, and their taste in food to the way they wine and dine. They live extravagant lifestyles while only earning a nickel but they spend a dime just so they can shine externally while internally they’re stressed out. Struggling to pay bills and a paycheck or two away from homelessness, yet they always seem to be flossing. Masquerading like they got it made, when in reality these folks are just trying to survive. They have failed to take the time out to read a good book on financial responsibilities and try to apply the principles. So due to their lack of knowledge they are leading a generation down a pit of hopelessness disguised as wealth or flossing when they are really losing the economic race.

Due to their lack of financial knowledge or awareness many African Americans don’t invest their money or spend it wisely. Instead they spend their dollars on things that depreciate. They are simply confusing wealth with the type of cars they drive, the name brand clothes and jewelry they wear. Necessities and wants have been confused. They use the wrong standards to validate their existence as being successful by chasing down materialism rather than “real” wealth.

We as a race have to rise up to this problem soon because as the saying goes, “A people that lack knowledge of self shall perish.” As a result of the bad lessons that are being taught to our people by our very own people we lag behind in acquiring wealth and are leading in consumption. We are the number one consumers. Why not strive to be number one in investing and wealth building rather than leaving our children in debt, without any real estate assets, businesses, mutual funds, stocks or bonds. If we are to be liberated or to be independent in this or any society we have to educate ourselves about money, so that we can learn how to use it and not abuse it.

I am a student who learns from my experience and observations, as well as from reading books. It saddens me to have friends and family who have 4 to 6 credit cards but don’t have a library card. We must become ferocious readers. I have read several books on financial issues and the book I believe is the most appropriate to build on is “SMART MONEY MOVES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS” by Kelvin Boston. This book is a blueprint for African Americans who are seriously interested in achieving financial freedom and want to manifest a sense of self-determination. This book will teach you the proper tools necessary to achieve your financial goals and dreams.

Here are the 12 jewelz that I got from the book.

1. You must pay your self first before you pay anyone else. You must invest a portion of your salary directly into a 401(k) plan and/or mutual funds, stocks, and bonds.

2. Invest in a money market fund rather a savings account.

3. Buy things you need on sale, off-season or used.

4. Shop at thrift stores, or garage sales.

5. Buy things you can afford and pay for them with cash instead of credit cards.

6. Establish and maintain your credit card status. Get a copy of your credit report and work with organizations and people that will strengthen your financial power.

7. Become an informed investor by reading books, magazines & newspapers, and watching television shows that deal with investing, so you can take the appropriate steps in investing your hard earn dollars wisely.

8. Become a long-term investor. Read up on the difference between 401(k) plans, mutual funds, stocks, bonds and money market funds. As an investor you must develop a diversified portfolio.

9. As you learn about money, investments and the true value of wealth you should share that information with your friends and family. As you grow wiser and richer your community can also grow wiser and richer with you.

10. Join or form an investment club. Form a Susu or partner with serious minded friends and family.

11. Spend your money amongst your own community. We have to recycle our dollars amongst ourselves.

12. Stop buying expensive vehicles, jewelry and unnecessary items and start investing in real estate. Become an entrepreneur; invest in your future by getting an education. Pursue a college degree. Charity begins at home therefore you should give money to worthy organizations.

I conclude this article by saying the power to free your self from economic bondage is in your mind and hands. Knowledge is potential power. What you do with the knowledge will determine your quest for self-determination. Take time out to become an informed investor and show and prove to your community that yes you can and that they can too.

Bless up

Barack Obama shares struggles with faith, policy, and politics

Read this excerpt of Barack Obama's autobiography discussing his Faith. I will write later about connections between his struggle with faith and comments of Imam W. Deen Mohammed at the 2006 Ramadan Lectures.

My father was almost entirely absent from my childhood, having been divorced from my mother when I was 2 years old; in any event, although my father had been raised a Muslim, by the time he met my mother he was a confirmed atheist, thinking religion to be so much superstition.

Visit Time.com for the full excerpt.

Overseas, I Made Them Respect Me as a Black Woman

Check out this article on Black College Wire :

http://www.blackcollegewire.org/voices/061016_huntley/

The Other Side of Condoleezza Rice

You wouldn't think it, but Condoleezza Rice is more than meets the press.

Rice's Remarks on Palestinian 'Humiliation' Offend Israelis
by Julie Stahl

12 Oct, 2006
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has offended some Israelis with her call to free Palestinians from "the daily humiliation of the occupation."

Go to CNS News to view the full story.

Kanye West produces Muslim artist with Jill Scott

Listen to Lupe's remix of Jesus (pbuh) Walks as Muhammad (pbuh) Walks.

Nurtured in the soul drenching brass and skipping beats of Kanye and A Tribe Called Quest and channeling the flow of Jay Z, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor presents a fresh direction in the world of hip hop. Throughout his album, Lupe spices his songs with lyrics that actually tell a story beyond ice, Cadillacs, and hos, which currently gums the airwaves. In fact, many of his lyrics reflect a struggle between his Muslim beliefs and the pull of the hip-hop scene he wishes to utilize.

Visit Blogcritics.org to read the full story and musical review.

Visit AOL Music Review to read more on Lupe Fiasco.

Across Europe, Worries on Islam Spread to Center

This article is an interesting read on how a small number of violent reactions from amongst more than 1 billiion Muslims worldwide has exposed agendas calling for Muslims in Europe to "integrate". Sometimes this is synonymous with abandoning Al-Islam and other times it means simply to follow the laws of their land.

Visit NYTimes.com for the full story.

Muslim Poet Pulls No Punches in his Poetry

New Yorker Amir Sulaiman pulls no punches in his poetry. As a Muslim African American, Amir Sulaiman feels he is called to use his poetry to shed light on the problems facing both Muslim and black youth today. VOA's Sondang Sirait and Ade Astuti caught up with the outspoken muslim poet as he toured Chicago, Illinois. Wayne Bowman narrates their report.

Go to Voices of America online for the full story.