Sean Taylor Coverage

Interesting article on the death of Redskins safety Sean Taylor.

My response

I too have a checkered past, I fought & was suspended & high most of freshmen year in high school, but if my death is newsworthy it should be about whatever claim to fame I had. There certainly hasn't been much mention, of hTaylor's football career. Not enough coverage for my taste on how he bled to death & how long did the ambulance take to get there. The repeated million dollar question "what was he doing in Miami?" was also disrespectful, he was injured, and free to be wherever certainly at home with his daughter. The coverage & that article says pretty much he deserved what he got, for being at home with girlfriend and baby. Were Paris Hilton to be raped, beaten to death how much, live by the sword die by the sword, pushed sexy in life until sex pushed death, rhetoric should we expect?
If a white man in Jersey is a gunned down in his home, do we blame the Sopranos? We live in a violent country, 18 year olds dying in Iraq, quick-draw cowboy president, try watching TV without violence, & I was raised on it, cause my folks were working all the time. Black folks don't corner the market on violence, or misogyny, that's American, poor white people are known for violence & misogyny as well, compound that with oppression, greater, poverty, & less access to adequate eduction & it will of course be amplified. This is not evident of a black KKK, the KKK killed out of hatred & fear, how many thugs on the block do you know with enough self hatred to endure the stench of burning flesh? A black KKK would have killed Taylor, burned the house to the ground & forced his wife & child to watch, then put the charred remains on display. I didn't hear any of that in the report. I see that term as nothing more than inflammatory exagerration.
Indeed we do have problems we most certainly need to fix, hip hop needs to change & our people need to change, for sure, but recurring scathing, commentary & inflammatory name calling from the middle class, isn't going to get it. How very crabs in a barrel is that? Early in the article Whitlock says " Someone who loved Sean Taylor is crying right now.", I'm sure it's more than just one, I know some die hard Skins fan, who are having a hard time, this article probably didn't do much for healing. Those in mourning for their loved one, teammate, or favored player, were probably hoping for respect at least from black media

Come Out. Wake Up.

Join us for the 2nd Annual Town Hall Meeting on the State of Black Men and Boys in Chicago!

You won't want to miss this: workshops on things that really matter, like Street Law: Knowing your rights when approached by the police and Blacks & the Media, as well as a chance to speak openly and brainstorm with other community members about how we can improve Black life in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

There will be free meals, Service Learning Hours, and conversation that changes lives, God-willing. Hope to see you there!

Free the Jena Six National Action Day

September 20th marks a pivotal point in the Jena Six case. Thousands of people from across the country will descend on Jena in a major show of support for Mychal Bell and the other five young men. But you don't have to go to Jena to make a difference--you can make a major impact on the 20th by taking action in your own community.

We're organizing a National Day of Action on the 20th to raise awareness about the Jena 6 situation, increase pressure on Governor Blanco, and make it clear that folks all over the country will not let this injustice stand. Whether you have a few minutes to call Louisiana officials, a half-hour to pass out flyers in your neighborhood, or an hour or so to host or attend a rally or vigil, you can play a key role. Our tools and materials make it easy. Click here to learn more or to sign up now:

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/action.html?id=1768-251022

Almost 200,000 of us have taken action online in support of the Jena 6. Imagine if even 50,000 of us take time on Thursday to go further. Our power is in our numbers. Together we can force the hand of Louisiana's governor and ultimately achieve justice for the Jena 6. Thank you for what you've done so far and for whatever you're able to do on the 20th.

Cartoon Heroes

For cartoon heroes, you can't beat Kirikou, he spunk, clever, and vulnerable in a way kids can understand. The film is deep and speaks to the state of black men & women, in a way that doesn't frighten children. I of course love Huey, from the Boondocks, but he isn't exactly always kid friendly. There was Static Shock, who was incredible before he went off the air. While I don't know of any little girls who wouldn't adore Kirikou, they often have
slightly different heroine needs, clothing, and a hint of makeup are usually part of the deal, which baby Kirikou & Static don't offer.

Disney is finally rolling out with an animated film starring its first black Princess, The Frog Princess will Debut in 2009. It will tell the story of Maddy, a young woman in the French Quarter of the jazzy 1920s. It is based on the Russian fairy tale. Maddy's voice will be that of Anika Noni Rose. I am well pleased, and holding my breath, like every one else, who winces every time they hit the doll aisle, with a little cousin, daughter, or niece. We have been pushing a black princess for a while and it took Disney long enough, but she'll be here soon. Once among the Disney Princesses, Maddy's not guaranteed to stop your grimacing when you hit the doll shelves. The princesses line often only has four representatives, and the non-whites, Mulan (asian), Jasmine (middle eastern), & Pocahontas (native american), don't often make the cut.

With ample material of African descent, I wonder why a Russian fairy tale? Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters would have probably been my choice or the story of Sarah Culberson, an american who found out she was princess of Bumpe village in Sierra Leone, and set about restoring the desimated village schools. There's the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Nefertiti, Nzinga, etc. Which story would you want to see?

New IL Task Force on Black Men

In recent news...

Subject: New State Task Force on Improving lives of Black men

Governor Blagojevich signs legislation creating a new task force to address issues impacting the African American community * SB 776 creates state-wide task force to develop strategies aimed at improving the lives of African American men

In an effort to raise awareness and address the problems facing the African American community in Illinois, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation establishing first statewide Task Force on the Condition of African American Men in Illinois within the Department of Human Services (DHS). Senate Bill 776, sponsored by State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-Chicago), provides that the task force will address several issues, including: incarceration and parole rates, high school and post secondary education, economic earnings, child welfare, life expectancy and health disparities.

“As a state, we must work hard to find the solutions to the disparities and problems that plague our communities,”said Gov. Blagojevich. “This task force is one large step towards helping men in the African American community have better access to the state services available to them and aimed at improving their lives.” The task force will develop an inventory of state programs and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of African American men. The task force will aim at identifying gaps in service delivery, and to develop strategies to reduce duplication and maximize coordination between State agencies, providers, and educational institutions.

According to federal and state statistics:

• Black Americans accounted for 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2005 but were the victims of about15 percent of all of the nonfatal violent crime and about 49 percent of all homicides (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2007).

• 2.3 percent of all African Americans are incarcerated, compared to 0.4 percent of whites and 0.7 percent of Hispanics (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2005).

• One in nine (11.7 percent) African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 is currently incarcerated in a prison or jail (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2007).

• In Illinois 9.26 percent of African American students dropped out of high school during the 2004-2005 academic year, while only 2.36 percent of white students dropped out (ISBE).

• In Illinois, African American children make up 18 percent of the state's population of children, but make up 68 percent of the children placed in foster care (Administration for Children and Families,U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, 2003).

“We must educate ourselves and better understand the causes of the problems that afflict African American men in our state,” said Sen. Raoul. “Only then can we develop the best possible solutions to these troubles.” “This legislation confirms our continued dedication to fighting these social plights in Illinois,” said Rep. Colvin. “I thank the Governor for signing this bill and strengthening this promise to our citizens.” The task force will also develop benchmarks that measure its progress and will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2008.

SB 776 goes into effect immediately.

A Lost Generation?

This statement came to the steering committee...let us know what you think:

America Has Lost a Generation of Black Boys
By: Phillip Jackson

There is no longer a need for dire predictions, hand-wringing, or
apprehension about losing a generation of Black boys. It is too late.
In education,employment,economics, incarceration, health, housing,
and parenting, we have lost a generation of young Black men. The question that remains is will we lose the next two or three generations, or possibly every generation of Black boys hereafter to the streets, negative media, gangs, drugs, poor education, unemployment, father absence, crime, violence and death.

Most young Black men in the United States don't graduate from high school. Only 35% of Black male students graduated from high school in Chicago and only 26% in New York City, according to a 2006 report by The Schott Foundation for Public Education. Only a few Black boys who finish high school actually attend college, and of those few Black boys who enter college, nationally, only 22% of them finish college.Young Black male students have the worst grades, the lowest test scores, and the highest dropout rates of all students in the country.

When these young Black men don't succeed in school, they are much more likely to succeed in the nation's criminal justice and penitentiary system. And it was discovered recently that even when a young Black man graduates from a U.S. college, there is a good chance that he is from Africa, the Caribbean or Europe, and not the United States. Black men in prison in America have become as American as apple pie. There are more Black men in prisons and jails in the United States (about 1.1 million) than there are Black men incarcerated in the rest of the world combined. This criminalization process now starts in elementary schools with Black male children as young as six and seven years old being arrested in staggering numbers according to a 2005 report, Education on Lockdown by the Advancement Project. The rest of the world is watching and following the lead of America. Other countries including England, Canada, Jamaica, Brazil and South Africa are adopting American social policies that encourage the incarceration and destruction of young Black men. This is leading to a world-wide catastrophe.

But still, there is no adequate response from the American or global Black community.Worst of all is the passivity, neglect and disengagement of the Black community concerning the future of our Black boys. We do little while the future lives of Black boys are being destroyed in record numbers. The schools that Black boys attend prepare them with skills that will make them obsolete before, and if, they graduate. In a strange and perverse way, the Black community, itself, has started to wage a kind of war against young Black men and has become part of this destructive process. Who are young Black women going to marry? Who is going to build and maintain the economies of Black communities? Who is going to anchor strong families in the Black community? Who will young Black boys emulate as they grow into men? Where is the outrage of the Black community at the destruction of its Black boys? Where are the plans and the supportive actions to change this? Is this the beginning of the end of the Black people in America?

The list of those who have failed young Black men includes our government, our foundations, our schools, our media, our Black churches, our Black leaders, and even our parents. Ironically, experts say that the solutions to the problems of young Black men are simple and relatively inexpensive, but they may not be easy, practical or popular. It is not that we lack solutions as much as it is that we lack the will to implement these solutions to save Black boys. It seems that government is willing to pay billions of dollars to lock up young Black men, rather than the millions it would take to prepare them to become viable contributors and valued members of our society.

~Please consider these simple goals that can lead to solutions for fixing the problems of young Black men:
Short term

1) Teach all Black boys to read at grade level by the third grade and to embrace education

2) Provide positive role models for Black boys

3) Create a stable home environment for Black boys that includes contact with their fathers

4) Ensure that Black boys have a strong spiritual base

5) Control the negative media influences on Black boys

6) Teach Black boys to respect all girls and women

Long term
1) Invest as much money in educating Black boys as in locking up Black men

2) Help connect Black boys to a positive vision of themselves in the future

3) Create high expectations and help Black boys live into those high expectations

4) Build a positive peer culture for Black boys

5) Teach Black boys self-discipline, culture and history

6) Teach Black boys and the communities in which they live to embrace education and life-long learning

More Facts:
37.7% of Black men in the United States are not working (2006 Joint Economic Committee Study chaired by Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY))· 58% of Black boys in the United States do not graduate from high school (2006 Report from the Schott Foundation for Public Education)· Almost 70% of Black children are born into female, single parent households (2000 Census Report)· About 1 million Black men in the United States are in prison ( U.S. Justice Department)

It's About Time.

It's nothing anymore to hear about black males being wrongly accused, accidentally shot, insufficiently educated, and precariously employed. For a while now, black people have been getting angry about these injustices and so many more...but have relegated their conversations to their kitchens, or out back over the chessboard. Some spoke out but went unheard by the media moguls or the just plain apathetic.

But now it's time. It's time because enough generations have suffered under racism and classism. Enough black men have been squeezed out of the job market and the free market in general. Enough black boys have been subjected to instructors' low expectations of success and high expectations of violence. Enough children have been arrested and raised by parole officers and detention center wardens. Enough women have been abused by artificial cultural images of black manhood.

It's time for black people everywhere to stand and be counted. To lift their voices and be heard. It's time to stop waiting on the civil rights leaders from the 60's to come and speak for us. It's time for us to speak for ourselves and for each other.

A movement is brewing here in Chicago...really, several movements are brewing. Bblac is one of them. Our driving force is to have real conversations about various aspects of life for black men and boys in Chicago, and then gather the people to make meaningful change in Chicago for the better.

We meet every month to cover a different area of focus--seven areas in all. We begin these conversations in the meetings, but there's always more to say...and more to hear. So, we started this blog. Think of it as the first step to making some serious noise.

Keep a look out every month for a different topic of conversation...leading up to a public Town Hall Meeting to be held Dec. 8, 2007.

Let's Move. It's Time.