by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Back in the day,The Impressions with Curtis Mayfield sang a song entitled “Too Much Love” which said in part, ‘never in this world can there be too much love.’ And I certainly felt that sentiment was expressed over and over again at the PHENOMENAL WOMEN IN MEDIA Awards ceremony held at the Eubie Blake Auditorium in Brooklyn’s, Von King Park. Wow! From the moment you stepped through the door, you were treated like royalty. Adults and youth alike were all there to make sure you had the best experience and most enjoyable time ever.
And so I did; and so we did!!
You see, I, along with 24 other Phenomenal Women (I really like the sound of that - PHENOMENAL) were honored by Our Times Press and Von King Park Community Center for our various roles in the realm of the media and its impact and influence we’ve had in keeping our base -- the Black Community, I.e. YOU, informed on issues of impact and importance to you -- in such a way that it doesn’t insult you, but (hopefully) inspires you to action, give you an alternative to the propaganda being spewed out at you via the mainstream market tabloids.
Each of the recipients was a diva in her own right. Each had a mark of distinction in the Black community. And, I daresay, we take the time to read each other because we respect each other’s work. You see, we don’t see each other as competitors; because Black news venues can’t afford to compete against each other, and at the same time try to deal with the onslaught of distortions, lies and disrespect routinely found in the mainstream media. We have to be collaborative in our approach, or you’ll never get the truth. We are not here to be a minature image of the same paper that’s been insulting you all these years. We take issue with the kinds of information, the tone of the article, the content. But we are likewise not here to criticize the mainstream press (that is unless they are so blatantly racist that something has to be said).
We are here to give you the NEWS about us as a people regardless of where we are and who we are. We don’t just cover the rich and famous, the gifted and talented, the super star artist, athlete, politician, we also write about issues that affect everyday African American men, women, children, workers, educators, ministers, homemakers, families.
So far none of us have won a Pulitzer -- doesn’t mean we can’t or that we don’t want to. There were also plenty of award winners amongst us, already recognized for their prodigious body of work.
I, however, must confess that this is the first time that I was so honored, by being feted by peers and people in the community. It was the first time that I was the subject of the award, instead of covering someone who was. It was the first time that I had to stand still for the paparazzi instead of being part of those who were taking the endless photos of everything I did, every move I made. Wow!!! So that’s what it feels like.
So, before I go any further, please allow me to say to Berniece Greene, David Greaves, Graham Weatherspoon, Mr. and Ms. Lemuel and Charlotte Renee Mial;, Our Times Press, Von King Park THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! With all the heartfelt sincerity and love I can muster. You yourselves are such a blessing in this world, what an honor!
And I know that this appreciation is expressed, not just for myself, but for the women who were also so honored and revered on that Monday, March 29, 2010, listed below (These are very brief, for the full info, contact Our Times Press for the March 25-31 Edition of the paper.
MAITEFA ANGAZA (aka Judith Henry): Editor African Voices; author Kwanzaa From Holiday to Every Day; former editor of the City Sun (you remember that revolutionary Black publication, don’t you?)
NYABA ARINDE: Editor Amsterdam News; former Senior Reporter Daily Challenge (the City’s Only Black Daily); 3 time A. Philip Randolph Messenger awardee.
AMANISHA BLACK: Community activist; author of column “The Parent’s Notebook”, which currently appears in Our Times Press.
CAROLYN BUTTS: President of African Voices Communications, Inc., publisher of African Voices Magazine. Recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, NYS Council of the Arts and Dept. of Cultural Affairs challenge Program grants.
JOANN CHEATHAM: Publisher Pure Jazz Magazine, the literary arm of the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortion (CBJC), which covers stories that honors jazz artists contemporary and classical.
GAYLE DeWEES: Writes for the NY Daily News “Face:s & Places; “At a Glance,” “Faith in the City,” and “What’s On for The Weekend.” Gayle also worked for the late great jazz vocalist Betty Carter.
GLORIA DULAN-WILSON feature writer, who considers herself an Inform Actionist -- in other words she supplies you with the information that you can take action on. In addition to articles in the Daily Challenge and the African Sun Times, you can catch her blog, www.gloriadulan-wilson.blogspot.com Four of us had either written for or currently write for the Daily Challenge, started by Publisher Thomas H. Watkins: Naya Arinde, Maietefa Angaza, Janel Cross, and Gloria Dulan-Wilson. I laughingly called us "Watkins Women" (don't know if that went over so well, though).
FERN GILLESPIE: Radio producer, public relations executive who has worked with such greats as James Brown, Michael Jackson, the late Percy Ellis Sutton, John H. Johnson, among others. She currently heads public relations for the New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council.
STACY-ANN GOODEN: Jamaican-born nightly weather anchor for News 12 Brooklyn; former Good Day New York Traffic Authority; participant in Harlem USA’s Celebrity Read-A-Thon.
DR. BRENDA GREENE: Executive Director of the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY; chair National Black Writers Conference; weekly radio program Writers on Writing on WNYE 91.5 FM; professor of English at Medgar Evers College, and one of the most dynamic women you’ll ever meet --(she had just literally wrapped up the 4-day National Black Writer’s Conference the day before the award ceremony!! She did not look one bit tired; not one hair out of place - how does she do it????)
MONIQUE GREENWOOD: founder of Akwaaba House, Brooklyn’s first Black owned Bed and Breakfast; lifestyle director for Essence Magazine; entrepreneur and writer in various genre. If you have not had the pleasure of going to Akwaaba House, you must go.
JANEL GROSS: Managing Editor of the Afro Times, weekly arm of the Daily Challenge News, who takes pride in providing opportunities for local writers and photographers to be seen. Public relations officer for Jack and Jill of America.
VICTORIA HORSFORD: New York Columnist’s “What’s Going On” is published in the New York Beacon, Carib News, African Sun Times. The Public Relations specialist has worked with Spike Lee in She’s Gotta Have It, and Richard Pryor on JoJo Dancer, Your Life is Calling!
MARGOT JORDAN: Photojournalist who has worked locally and been recognized globally for capturing the moment on her lens. Former producer of KISS-FM Wake Up Club; and entertainment report for Wendy Williams (when she was on WBLS-FM).
CLAUD LEANDRO: Program Director One Caribbean Radion 97.9 HD2, the only 24-hour Caribbean-centric radio station; formerly with Radio Antilles in Monserrat.
SUSAN McHENRY: Founding Editor of Black Issues Book Review (BIBR); also instrumental in launching Emerge Magazine with the late Wilmer Ames.
ROSALIND KILKENNY McLYMONT: Editor in Chief to The Network Journal; partner in McLymont, Kunda & Co.; first Black managing editor of the Journal of Commerce, the oldest daily business newspaper in the US. Writes a monthly column entitled Africa Focus.
FAYBIENE MIRANDA: Producer of Global Medicine Review; she is a lyricist, poet, performer, having appeared with Kamau Brathwaite, The Last Poets, Mutabaruka, among others.
JEANNE PARNELL: City Lights host on WHCR-FM, former assistant principle with the NYC Board of Education; has been on-air personality for WLIB, WWRL, WNYE; and written for the Daily Challenge and Amsterdam News.
MARCIA PENDELTON: Founder and president of Walk Tall Girl Productions, a marketing, audience development and group sales company.
PAT STEVENSON: Founder and publisher of Harlem News Group, a Harlem based corporation that publishes four news papers, including Harlem Community News.
LUPE TODD: Vice President George Artz Communications, spokesperson for a variety of political and elected officials, including Congressman Edolphus Towns, City Council Rep. Albert Vann, Public Advocate, Bill De Blasio, Civil Court Judge Jaqueline Williams among others. Lupe is also currently serving as press relations specialist for Newark Mayor Corey Booker.
DR. TERESA WILLIAMS-TAYLOR: Owner/Publisher New York Trend Newspaper, the largest Black-owned paper in Long Island.
ESTHER COOPER JACKSON: Recipient of HATTIE CAUTHEN AWARD. To cap off this wonderful day, we had the honor of meeting and being photographed with the grand-dame of media and publiations, Ms. Esther Cooper Jackson, who served as editor of FREEDOMWAYS for 25 years from 1961 through 1986. The Alabama native, who is a delight to talk with, has a knowledge, understanding and love of Black history that goes far beyond just the publication of the quarterly publication into the very soul of what makes us who we are. I had the distinct honor to have an all too brief conversation with this esteemed, teenie little lady, who, at 92, continues to hold her own in the world of contemporary knowledge. She brought her best friend, who just celebrated her 95th birthday, as her special guest for the PHENOMENAL WOMEN IN MEDIA AWARDS CEREMONY. Inspirational to those who realize that if we do it right, we might just make it to that age, and look that good, as well.
Ms. TUPPER W. THOMAS: rounded out the list of recipients for her ongoing efforts to preserve the natural parklands in Brooklyn, most ostensibly Prospect Park. The HATTIE CAUTHEN AWARD, named for the lady who protected rare Magnolia Trees from being chopped down in Brooklyn, and started a generation of preservation of natural foliage, was given to Ms. Thomas. She is the co-chair of the City Parks Alliance of New York.
Those are the PHENOMENAL MEDIA WOMEN I had the honor of sharing the stage with. These are the women who have accomplished so much in their lives individually and collectively. Each of us received a statuette of a Black woman who depicted both our African and African American Roots (Routes); as well as a hand-cast “envelope” with each of our names on it; as well as some wonderful beauty products produced by Ambulant (you gotta try their stuff, it’s fantastic); as well as corporate products donated by Pepperidge Farms (thanks for their support).
A presentation by Ollie McLean's Sankofa School, whose three little Phenomenal Women in the making displayed their place in the future of Black history by totally knowing all the countries of Africa and the African pledge, was an example of what can happen when you design a program around respect for one's culture, coupled with educational excellence (one of the little ladies made an error on an African country, and her younger 6-year old counterpart took her to task -- too cute!)
Likewise, the significance of the double-duo husband and wife teams of Berniece Greene and David Greaves and Charlotte and Lemuel Mial was not lost on the recipients either (as noted by MC Graham Weatherspoon, whose wife, Irza, sat in the audience cheering him on).
However, while each has played roles in the enlistment of the Black community in their own right, who knew that Lemuel Mial had such a wonderful voice? He sings with a group called U4RIA, and nearly knocked the audience out of their seats as he serenaded us with a song he had written in honor of the occasion, entitled “Nothing Like a Woman”, which he co-authored with Larry Banks, musician and artist extraordinaire (available at www.U4RIA or 718-622-7638. In fact, from the response of the women in the audience, he compared favorably to Smokey Robinson, Teddy Pendergast and others (wow!)
Circling back to my opening statement, there can never be too much love for each other in the Black Community. In fact, an over abundance of love is exactly what is needed to offset what we’ve endured over the past 400 years and the most recent 40 coming out of the Civil Rights Era. We need more events such as these where we unabashedly celebrate the good we bring to each other in the community. Where, like the Japanese, we take the time to really celebrate each little victory, instead of waiting til the person has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel before we give them the accolades they deserve.
I would personally like to thank each and every individual who had anything to do with the ceremonies held at VON KING PARK, including the Culinary Center, for all you did to make that rainy day one of the sunniest and brightest days ever. And thank you for a gift-bag so heavy it needed an extra set of wheels to get it home! We are truly loving you for loving us so much.
Thanks muchly,
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
For Eclectic Black People
VIP: Views . Interests . Perspectives
3.24.2010
EVENT ALERT: Uptempo Booksigning March 24 and Pecong performed Friday - Sunday March 26-28
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
UPTEMPO BOOK SIGNING, WEDNESDAY MARCH 24 AT BROOKLYN'S DENIM LOUNGE
There is an old saying that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Don’t know who said it, but Nakia D. Johnson certainly must have been listening, and paying attention.
When she lost her job and joined the ranks of the terminally unemployed, she didn’t just sit on the couch moping, groaning and feeling sorry for herself. She wrote a novel!! It’s entitled UPTEMPO! published by iUniverse, Inc., New York. And it keeps you involved from page one all the way through the epilogue.
A rather prim, demure looking young lady, no one would take Ms. Nakia Johnson for a author of such a page turner.
The key protagonist, Bryon Jordon stays in more hot water than a Lipton’s Tea bag. It’s murder, conspiracy, romance, intrigue, fashion, culture, and Nakia wrote this all from the living room of her apartment. Are we Black women spectacular, or what?
Women for Annette Robinson in conjunction with Taurus Associates will host a Book signing in Nakia's honor FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 at Denim Lounge, located at 1223 Bedford Ave, near Halsey. (easily reachable by taking the B44 to Halsey; or the C Train to Franklin, and transferring to the B44 to Halsey). By the way, Uptempo is a good subway read. Pick your corner, sit back and get into the story. You know how we do.
PECONG AT NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FRIDAY, MARCH 26 UNTIL SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Keeping the spirit of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer alive in Harlem and the world, TWAS (Take Wing and Soar) Productions is presenting Pecong for an all too limited run. It commenced on March 12th and ends March 28th. So if you’re going to catch it, this is the weekend to do so.
I saw the it last Friday, and totally enjoyed the adaptation of this play from a classic Greek tragedy to a Caribbean tale of caution. You know how our ancestors (and a few of our contemporaries have the capacity to work roots, astro travel, levetate, and cause general freakish things to happen when you cross them? Well this is one of those -- but with a lot of fun and tongue and cheek.
Starring Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, as the spell casting Great Granny Root, Kim Weston Moran and Joyce Sylvester are great as the nosy gossips who appear to be in everybody’s business; Lorna Haughton is spell binding as Mediyah, the sister you don’t ever want to cross.
Couple that with the music composition and direction of Afromusicologist, David Wright, and you have to resist the tendency to jump up to the Calypso and Reggae pumping throughout the performance.
Done in Afro-Caribbean dialect, the story unfolds, pulls you in, involves you from beginning to end. But I am not going to give away the plot, except to say, make it a mission to catch this performance, and have some PECONG PUNCH.
Pecong features: Phyllis Stickney, Kim Weston Moran, Joyce Sylvester, Natalie Clarke, Warren Jackson, Daralyn Jay, Aixa Kendrick, Paul Pryce, Lily Robinson, Roderick Warner & Karl O’Brian Williams. Directed by Authur French, associate Director Timothy D. Stickney. Playwright Steve Carter did a fantastic job adapting this play into a Caribbean tragic-comedy. The age old rubric that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned translates no matter what culture you're operating in. Right, sistuhs???
The National Black Theatre, which was founded by Barbara Ann Teer, is located in Harlem at 2031 Fifth Avenue (at 5th and 125th). Show time is 8:00 pm. Get there early so you can get some Pecong Punch. And enjoy the performances. They're stellar.
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
UPTEMPO BOOK SIGNING, WEDNESDAY MARCH 24 AT BROOKLYN'S DENIM LOUNGE
There is an old saying that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Don’t know who said it, but Nakia D. Johnson certainly must have been listening, and paying attention.
When she lost her job and joined the ranks of the terminally unemployed, she didn’t just sit on the couch moping, groaning and feeling sorry for herself. She wrote a novel!! It’s entitled UPTEMPO! published by iUniverse, Inc., New York. And it keeps you involved from page one all the way through the epilogue.
A rather prim, demure looking young lady, no one would take Ms. Nakia Johnson for a author of such a page turner.
The key protagonist, Bryon Jordon stays in more hot water than a Lipton’s Tea bag. It’s murder, conspiracy, romance, intrigue, fashion, culture, and Nakia wrote this all from the living room of her apartment. Are we Black women spectacular, or what?
Women for Annette Robinson in conjunction with Taurus Associates will host a Book signing in Nakia's honor FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 at Denim Lounge, located at 1223 Bedford Ave, near Halsey. (easily reachable by taking the B44 to Halsey; or the C Train to Franklin, and transferring to the B44 to Halsey). By the way, Uptempo is a good subway read. Pick your corner, sit back and get into the story. You know how we do.
PECONG AT NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FRIDAY, MARCH 26 UNTIL SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Keeping the spirit of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer alive in Harlem and the world, TWAS (Take Wing and Soar) Productions is presenting Pecong for an all too limited run. It commenced on March 12th and ends March 28th. So if you’re going to catch it, this is the weekend to do so.
I saw the it last Friday, and totally enjoyed the adaptation of this play from a classic Greek tragedy to a Caribbean tale of caution. You know how our ancestors (and a few of our contemporaries have the capacity to work roots, astro travel, levetate, and cause general freakish things to happen when you cross them? Well this is one of those -- but with a lot of fun and tongue and cheek.
Starring Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, as the spell casting Great Granny Root, Kim Weston Moran and Joyce Sylvester are great as the nosy gossips who appear to be in everybody’s business; Lorna Haughton is spell binding as Mediyah, the sister you don’t ever want to cross.
Couple that with the music composition and direction of Afromusicologist, David Wright, and you have to resist the tendency to jump up to the Calypso and Reggae pumping throughout the performance.
Done in Afro-Caribbean dialect, the story unfolds, pulls you in, involves you from beginning to end. But I am not going to give away the plot, except to say, make it a mission to catch this performance, and have some PECONG PUNCH.
Pecong features: Phyllis Stickney, Kim Weston Moran, Joyce Sylvester, Natalie Clarke, Warren Jackson, Daralyn Jay, Aixa Kendrick, Paul Pryce, Lily Robinson, Roderick Warner & Karl O’Brian Williams. Directed by Authur French, associate Director Timothy D. Stickney. Playwright Steve Carter did a fantastic job adapting this play into a Caribbean tragic-comedy. The age old rubric that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned translates no matter what culture you're operating in. Right, sistuhs???
The National Black Theatre, which was founded by Barbara Ann Teer, is located in Harlem at 2031 Fifth Avenue (at 5th and 125th). Show time is 8:00 pm. Get there early so you can get some Pecong Punch. And enjoy the performances. They're stellar.
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
3.23.2010
The MTA Holds Hearings, But They’re Not Listening to New Yorkers: It’s Time to Stop the Madness
BY Gloria Dulan-Wilson
As a former TA employee, I am thoroughly disgusted at the highhanded attempts on the part of the MTA to hijack affordable public transportation from New York.
They have been holding bogus hearings throughout New York, but they have already made their decision long before the first person spoke of the difficulty and hardship they will face if there are cutbacks in service, increases in fares, or discontinuation of lines in specific communities.
So it causes me to ask this question: Who owns the transit system in New York? Is it the city, the state, or the federal government. Or is it the people of New York? The transit system is not a private entity, although you’d think it was as of late the way the so-called transit board has been behaving.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S. state of New York, serving 12 counties in southeastern New York, along with 2 counties in southwestern Connecticut under contract to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, carrying over 11 million passengers on an average weekday systemwide, and over 800,000 vehicles on its nine toll bridges and tunnels per weekday (WikiPedia).
The MTA also receives billions in federal and state funding to keep running, along with the fares we continue to pony up every time they screw up. It seems to me they’re doing a pretty sorry job of taking care of our public trust. I would say that trust has been constantly and continuously violated.
In fact, it appears that they have an overabundance of incompetents in high places, bringing down all the good work started by David Gunn and Jim Corbin back in the mid-80’s when the system was in serious decline. It was Gunn that brought management and quality control to the Transit Authority at a time when track fires, robberies, and other atrocities were out of control. He not only got rid of the graffiti, cleaned up the platforms, brought in the modern cars we’ve become accustomed to, but had all the transit workers completely and totally retrained so they did their positions efficiently, effectively and with courtesy and respect for the ridership.
Well, it’s 25 years later -- how do you like them now? Where has the quality gone? The trains may look nice, but do you really like it when the car starts off with a jerk and you’re nearly knocked off your feet?
How do you feel about getting on a car where there’s so much debris on the floor and the seats that you have to shove it aside to sit? The cars are supposed to be cleaned when they reach each final terminal.
How do you like it when you go to a token booth to find that they've closed it down and there is no token clerk to help you; or worse yet, you have an incompetent in the booth who knows absolutely nothing about anything, including directions. Just a warm body.
Who's brilliant idea was it to close down the token booth at 34th street and 8th Ave., right at the mouth of Madison Square Garden, Long Island RailRoad, and Penn Station -- no token clerk?!! People traveling to and from the city can't info or service in the busiest stop on the planet. You have to wonder if the person making these pivotal decisions is on drugs, or are they just cutting services just be be cutting them?
By the way, how many of you can use your cell phones in the tunnels?
The Transit Authority former headquarters, located at Jay Street and Borough Hall, where the A/C and F trains run, is receiving an overhaul. The escalator that goes from the mezzanine to the street has been in operation at least 40 years. With all the money that’s being spent on the renovation, the design engineers somehow didn’t think to put either an escalator or elevator from the mezzanine to the platform for handicap usage. Who’s minding the system?
Nostrand and President Street has an escalator that goes from the mezzanine to the platform, but does not have one that goes from the mezzanine to the street, hence no handicap assistance there either. They've closed entrances that needed to remain open, or removed token booth clerks that were essential to the services. But what do they care? They don't ride the subway anyway.
Couple these oversights of the current incompetents, with the ever escalating bookkeeping and accounting errors and you have a recipe for disaster. In fact, please explain: How do you commit such and egregious book keeping error that you overlook a $400 million budget error - twice? And why are you still working? And more interesting than that, why hasn’t the federal government been called in to do a formal audit of all the books to make sure nothing untoward has happened to the dollars they are investing in the system, not to mention the dollars hard working New Yorkers are called upon to spend.
In fact, why is the MTA Board holding hearings? That's like the fox watching the henhouse!! Why aren’t we, citizens of New York, with our own legal team, holding hearings to determine what we are going to do with the MTA, their board, and the rest of the incompetents that are running the system, waiting for retirement so they collect their pensions and go home?
Remember animal farm? Well the animals are really running the zoo in this case, and we’re letting them get away with it. What happened to all the New Yorkers who stand up for themselves? Where the heck are we? This is like Wall Street robbing the people blind, causing the economy to tank, then holding hearings to tell the people how they are going to foot the bill to cover their incompetence and stupidity. Time to stop the madness and take out the trash.
I recently asked State Senator Bill Perkins if he was going to look into the recent fare increases and possible misappropriation of funds on the part of the Transit Authority, since that falls under his jurisdiction. He had acknowledged the possibility. This is now a formal request for him to do so, post haste, before we are splayed out on a spit and barbecued by the fares that seem to be increasing exponentially, each time they find out they’ve made an error.
The Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget should find out where the $400 million plus $400 million dollars really went (hey, that’s $800 million!! - and why we have to eat it.
It would also be interesting to find out why they are still trying to construct a tunnel to no where - via Second Avenue, when a monorail could have been constructed and completed in less than 18 months, would not have disturbed the integrity of the buildings they are now preparing to evacuate (you mean after all these years no one anticipated this as a possible problem?), and would have provided New York with clean air rapid transit for the first time. Think about it -- it’s worked for Japan for almost a century; Disney swears by it; even Newark has one -- the only one we have thus far is to JFK. But if you do a tunnel, instead of a monorail you get to request more money for a sink hole and no one can really see what you’re doing.
Speaking of no one seeing what you’re doing. Those TBTA toll increases are a joke. The TBTA (Tri-Boro Bridge and Tunnel Authority) Tolls are the cash cow that has the MTA raking in millions in untold profits already. There is practically no way of really calculating how much money the MTA is really receiving, and the only books they show you have to do with the Transit Authority.
Back to who owns the TA. Though the Related Organization may think they own the system, it's really New Yorkers who own the subways, buses and trains that service downstate New York. Regardless of how it was started, or by whom, everyone knows the subways are the heart and nerve and sinew of New York City.
New Yorkers are being held hostage by a group of individuals who probably only take the system 1% of the time. While whole families, students, artists, workers, intellectuals, the people who make up this great city of ours rely on the Transit System. The Subway is ours. The MTA Board obviously has no real concern about New Yorkers, or the system as far as we the ridership are concerned. Their major goal is to pull as much money from it as possible. If they can come up with plausible excuses to do so, they will.
The Transit Authority belongs to us New Yorkers. New Yorkers, we are being jerked by the MTA! It is time to stand up for ourselves. Our New York News Media is doing a piss poor job of standing for us. They are more in the mode of co-signing the publicity from the TA than they are trying to get to the bottom of the incompetence. They're trying to make it sound like a fait accompli. Not sooooo fast!
It’s time to call for an injunction against any additional fare increases; call for auditing the books, and call for vacating the entire MTA Board and replace them with people who actually ride the system and have some knowledge about what it’s relationship is to New York and New Yorkers.
Haven’t we had enough of bearing the brunt of the incompetents that have taken us to the brink of disaster? Haven’t we had enough of people trying to balance the budget on the backs of the people least able to support it? They’ve closed token booths in essential areas. They’ve cut back on cleaning stations, buses and trains. They’ve closed station entries. Rats play on the tracks as if they are in a summer resort. But this is not because the TA does not have enough money, it’s because they don’t have competent in position.
It’s going to take more than just demonstrations, attending hearings and mumbling under our breath. It takes more than a wait and see attitude. If our local officials won’t help, if they won’t pay attention; if they won’t respect us, then take it to the Hill -- Capitol Hill. Take it to DC and let the feds deal with it on our behalf.
It’s time to stop the madness. Make the MTA Listen, and then return our system to the people system it was before they recent incompetent and the previous incompetent got into the game (and we are being gamed on).
The MTA is governed by a 17-member Board representing New York City and each of the counties in the Transportation District (again, WikiPedia). We need to replace all of them! And the new ones have to have had some real experience in transit (i.e. subways as a social network as well as a means of transportation) and being a true New Yorker who regularly uses the subway, train or bus to qualify to serve the board -- not some hand picked, political appointees who are little more than yes men/women and rubber stampers for an even more sinister purpose (that of having fare zones for the subways -- which, by the way is the underlying machination behind all this b.s. posturing).
So New York, as Brother Arsenio Hall used to say, "LET'S GET BUSY!!"
Thank you,
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
PS I apologize for getting a little preachy. This has been roiling for a while now. So it had to come out. Please, if you have suggestions, expertise, or a way we can stop the madness (short of anything violent) please let me know. I am very serious about the Transit Authority remaining for New Yorkers and not some glorified cash cow. Thanks GDW).
As a former TA employee, I am thoroughly disgusted at the highhanded attempts on the part of the MTA to hijack affordable public transportation from New York.
They have been holding bogus hearings throughout New York, but they have already made their decision long before the first person spoke of the difficulty and hardship they will face if there are cutbacks in service, increases in fares, or discontinuation of lines in specific communities.
So it causes me to ask this question: Who owns the transit system in New York? Is it the city, the state, or the federal government. Or is it the people of New York? The transit system is not a private entity, although you’d think it was as of late the way the so-called transit board has been behaving.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S. state of New York, serving 12 counties in southeastern New York, along with 2 counties in southwestern Connecticut under contract to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, carrying over 11 million passengers on an average weekday systemwide, and over 800,000 vehicles on its nine toll bridges and tunnels per weekday (WikiPedia).
The MTA also receives billions in federal and state funding to keep running, along with the fares we continue to pony up every time they screw up. It seems to me they’re doing a pretty sorry job of taking care of our public trust. I would say that trust has been constantly and continuously violated.
In fact, it appears that they have an overabundance of incompetents in high places, bringing down all the good work started by David Gunn and Jim Corbin back in the mid-80’s when the system was in serious decline. It was Gunn that brought management and quality control to the Transit Authority at a time when track fires, robberies, and other atrocities were out of control. He not only got rid of the graffiti, cleaned up the platforms, brought in the modern cars we’ve become accustomed to, but had all the transit workers completely and totally retrained so they did their positions efficiently, effectively and with courtesy and respect for the ridership.
Well, it’s 25 years later -- how do you like them now? Where has the quality gone? The trains may look nice, but do you really like it when the car starts off with a jerk and you’re nearly knocked off your feet?
How do you feel about getting on a car where there’s so much debris on the floor and the seats that you have to shove it aside to sit? The cars are supposed to be cleaned when they reach each final terminal.
How do you like it when you go to a token booth to find that they've closed it down and there is no token clerk to help you; or worse yet, you have an incompetent in the booth who knows absolutely nothing about anything, including directions. Just a warm body.
Who's brilliant idea was it to close down the token booth at 34th street and 8th Ave., right at the mouth of Madison Square Garden, Long Island RailRoad, and Penn Station -- no token clerk?!! People traveling to and from the city can't info or service in the busiest stop on the planet. You have to wonder if the person making these pivotal decisions is on drugs, or are they just cutting services just be be cutting them?
By the way, how many of you can use your cell phones in the tunnels?
The Transit Authority former headquarters, located at Jay Street and Borough Hall, where the A/C and F trains run, is receiving an overhaul. The escalator that goes from the mezzanine to the street has been in operation at least 40 years. With all the money that’s being spent on the renovation, the design engineers somehow didn’t think to put either an escalator or elevator from the mezzanine to the platform for handicap usage. Who’s minding the system?
Nostrand and President Street has an escalator that goes from the mezzanine to the platform, but does not have one that goes from the mezzanine to the street, hence no handicap assistance there either. They've closed entrances that needed to remain open, or removed token booth clerks that were essential to the services. But what do they care? They don't ride the subway anyway.
Couple these oversights of the current incompetents, with the ever escalating bookkeeping and accounting errors and you have a recipe for disaster. In fact, please explain: How do you commit such and egregious book keeping error that you overlook a $400 million budget error - twice? And why are you still working? And more interesting than that, why hasn’t the federal government been called in to do a formal audit of all the books to make sure nothing untoward has happened to the dollars they are investing in the system, not to mention the dollars hard working New Yorkers are called upon to spend.
In fact, why is the MTA Board holding hearings? That's like the fox watching the henhouse!! Why aren’t we, citizens of New York, with our own legal team, holding hearings to determine what we are going to do with the MTA, their board, and the rest of the incompetents that are running the system, waiting for retirement so they collect their pensions and go home?
Remember animal farm? Well the animals are really running the zoo in this case, and we’re letting them get away with it. What happened to all the New Yorkers who stand up for themselves? Where the heck are we? This is like Wall Street robbing the people blind, causing the economy to tank, then holding hearings to tell the people how they are going to foot the bill to cover their incompetence and stupidity. Time to stop the madness and take out the trash.
I recently asked State Senator Bill Perkins if he was going to look into the recent fare increases and possible misappropriation of funds on the part of the Transit Authority, since that falls under his jurisdiction. He had acknowledged the possibility. This is now a formal request for him to do so, post haste, before we are splayed out on a spit and barbecued by the fares that seem to be increasing exponentially, each time they find out they’ve made an error.
The Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget should find out where the $400 million plus $400 million dollars really went (hey, that’s $800 million!! - and why we have to eat it.
It would also be interesting to find out why they are still trying to construct a tunnel to no where - via Second Avenue, when a monorail could have been constructed and completed in less than 18 months, would not have disturbed the integrity of the buildings they are now preparing to evacuate (you mean after all these years no one anticipated this as a possible problem?), and would have provided New York with clean air rapid transit for the first time. Think about it -- it’s worked for Japan for almost a century; Disney swears by it; even Newark has one -- the only one we have thus far is to JFK. But if you do a tunnel, instead of a monorail you get to request more money for a sink hole and no one can really see what you’re doing.
Speaking of no one seeing what you’re doing. Those TBTA toll increases are a joke. The TBTA (Tri-Boro Bridge and Tunnel Authority) Tolls are the cash cow that has the MTA raking in millions in untold profits already. There is practically no way of really calculating how much money the MTA is really receiving, and the only books they show you have to do with the Transit Authority.
Back to who owns the TA. Though the Related Organization may think they own the system, it's really New Yorkers who own the subways, buses and trains that service downstate New York. Regardless of how it was started, or by whom, everyone knows the subways are the heart and nerve and sinew of New York City.
New Yorkers are being held hostage by a group of individuals who probably only take the system 1% of the time. While whole families, students, artists, workers, intellectuals, the people who make up this great city of ours rely on the Transit System. The Subway is ours. The MTA Board obviously has no real concern about New Yorkers, or the system as far as we the ridership are concerned. Their major goal is to pull as much money from it as possible. If they can come up with plausible excuses to do so, they will.
The Transit Authority belongs to us New Yorkers. New Yorkers, we are being jerked by the MTA! It is time to stand up for ourselves. Our New York News Media is doing a piss poor job of standing for us. They are more in the mode of co-signing the publicity from the TA than they are trying to get to the bottom of the incompetence. They're trying to make it sound like a fait accompli. Not sooooo fast!
It’s time to call for an injunction against any additional fare increases; call for auditing the books, and call for vacating the entire MTA Board and replace them with people who actually ride the system and have some knowledge about what it’s relationship is to New York and New Yorkers.
Haven’t we had enough of bearing the brunt of the incompetents that have taken us to the brink of disaster? Haven’t we had enough of people trying to balance the budget on the backs of the people least able to support it? They’ve closed token booths in essential areas. They’ve cut back on cleaning stations, buses and trains. They’ve closed station entries. Rats play on the tracks as if they are in a summer resort. But this is not because the TA does not have enough money, it’s because they don’t have competent in position.
It’s going to take more than just demonstrations, attending hearings and mumbling under our breath. It takes more than a wait and see attitude. If our local officials won’t help, if they won’t pay attention; if they won’t respect us, then take it to the Hill -- Capitol Hill. Take it to DC and let the feds deal with it on our behalf.
It’s time to stop the madness. Make the MTA Listen, and then return our system to the people system it was before they recent incompetent and the previous incompetent got into the game (and we are being gamed on).
The MTA is governed by a 17-member Board representing New York City and each of the counties in the Transportation District (again, WikiPedia). We need to replace all of them! And the new ones have to have had some real experience in transit (i.e. subways as a social network as well as a means of transportation) and being a true New Yorker who regularly uses the subway, train or bus to qualify to serve the board -- not some hand picked, political appointees who are little more than yes men/women and rubber stampers for an even more sinister purpose (that of having fare zones for the subways -- which, by the way is the underlying machination behind all this b.s. posturing).
So New York, as Brother Arsenio Hall used to say, "LET'S GET BUSY!!"
Thank you,
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
PS I apologize for getting a little preachy. This has been roiling for a while now. So it had to come out. Please, if you have suggestions, expertise, or a way we can stop the madness (short of anything violent) please let me know. I am very serious about the Transit Authority remaining for New Yorkers and not some glorified cash cow. Thanks GDW).
OBAMA VICTORY HEALTH CARE BILL PASSES
by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Below is a letter I received from MoveOn, the grass roots organization that hits the ground running to help ensure people stay involved in supporting President Obama in his programs and efforts. I’m sharing this with you in case you’re not on their mailing list.
But first, some thoughts:
I must say that I am so proud and pleased that Congress not only passed the Health Care Bill, but they passed it on my Birthday, March 21!!! I feel like celebrating my Birthday all over again. Who am I kidding? As an Aries, I will be celebrating my birthday over and over again, at least until the sign changes. But now I'll have some additional "bragging rights!"
That little ego trip aside, I have want to take the opportunity, while it's still fresh, to say some things that we have to remember going forward because, somehow or other, it appears that we, as Black people are catching a very serious and contagious disease. Johnny Cochrane once said when it comes to business, education, or almost anything, there is a perception that "the white man's ice is colder."
Now what do I mean by quoting that statement? What it means it this: We seem to be harsher in critiquing our own when it comes to mistakes or taking steps that break from the status quo. Case in point: For 8 years we had a “president” who managed to take our country from a major economic surplus and turn it into a crushing deficit, such that, with the help of his cronies, the entire financial underpinnings of the government almost collapsed. And, when they began to try to bring about a "recovery," all they could think of to do was to try to cover their own asses, and make sure no damages were done to their cronies.
Had it not been for President Obama, who had enough insight to see that specific measures needed to be taken across the board, most of us, including yours truly, would be sitting in the middle of a street somewhere, trying to find shelter and food. We know the Bush Administration would not have done anything for any of us.
When President Obama was running for office, before the whole economic downturn nearly derailed the entire country, one of his key platform items was health care reform. He was perfectly clear as to what that would entail: no more bogus, overpriced medications to maintain your health when you can be cured; no denials because of pre-existing conditions; no denials because of age or employment/lack thereof; and a host of things. He was perfectly clear -- he did not stutter. He said what he wanted; he said when he wanted it; he said why it was necessary and who it would help.
It’s interesting when you allow the so called news analysts to get involved, they take the plain and make it obscure. They seem more interested in keeping confusion alive, than providing clarity.
Of course the pharmaceutical companies knew they would lose money because they can't sell you medications you don't need any more; and the surgical industry can't cut off body parts when stem cells can save them. This is why they lobbied so hard. Hmmm wonder why that public option was really canceled? Follow the money.
So, why am I hearing from some of my brothers and sisters that they didn't understand Obama's health care bill? That it was confusing and made no sense? Of course upon closer interrogation, when I asked had they read it in its entirety, they say no, they haven't. Or, some say the medical reform bill is "too expensive" -- though they can't seem to juxtapose that against nearly 10 years of war at a hefty $200 billion a year, or more. We're so in debt to the Chinese, we'd better learn to speak the language because they pretty much own the country, thanks to Bush.
Despite all he's accomplished during his first year, some of us seem to have no compunction about passing judgment on President Obama. By the way Obama is doing a wonderful job. He is on point all the time. Instead of giving him credit where credit is due, we disparage him. We who stood silently (stupidly) by while Bush nearly flushed this country down the toilet. I can understand if certain caucasians of a certain racist persuasion flap their gums. That's just a case of sour grapes. They haven't seen a president that dynamic since LBJ. That's been their stock in trade from day 1. We understand that syndrome
I want to warn you. POC's, about making sacred cows out of bulls--t. I want to warn you about trying to sound "objective". People of other nationalities do wonder about the sanity of some of us when we take the side of the media pundits; or when we play "devil's advocate" instead of standing with Obama. This is no time for fence sitting. Or trying to appear detached or sophisticated. You have to stand for and with Obama all the way through. This is not a fad. We have to stay the course.
Shows like Charlie Rose, Meet the Press, Bill O'Reilly, and others will bring on the nay-sayers, critics, and those who think they have some insight that Obama couldn't possibly have considered. And they may actually sound plausible. The whole concept is to discredit the president and make it look as if it's not personal, just business, procedure, protocol. You know the drill. The surveys that say x% of people don’t understand; x% don’t think it will help and x% think it won’t are designed to detract from the intrinsic value of the bill.
Monetizing health is rather dehumanizing and depersonalizing. You could have the best job in the world, but if you’re ill, or your insurance doesn’t cover your treatment, as far as they are concerned, you can jump in your coffin right now and pull the earth over yourself right now.
If the news media was truly interested in clarifying what Obama’s health care bill was about, they actually could have simply replayed his campaign speech in Denver, CO. He was very explicit. We are, instead, stuck with people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. For example, what is the value of the human life? What is the value of quality of life? What is more important -- how many people you can kill in a war, or people you can save domestically?
You had best believe, particularly with the Republicans, they will be doing whatever they can to protect their cronies. They’re more important than the people they are constituted to serve. And it's definitely personal, and a vendetta is under way. Despite the efforts of the mainstream right wing media and other press to distort his message, there were enough of us who maintained our senses and thwarted their yellow journalistic efforts. So called faith-based TV shows went overboard in trying to disparage the President through "realistic" news broadcasts. We were on to that as well.
The President has personally gone to communities to talk with people about the efficacies of the health care bill. He cares enough about the people who elected him that he's leaving nothing to chance in shepherding this new bill into fruition.
But what about the rest of us? Those of us who are not necessarily politically involved, but did vote; those of us who live in America, are Black, and have a stake in what happens next? What are we doing? If we think we can coast over the next few years and things will just work themselves out -- Not gonna happen.
WE have a great work to do now. We have to contact and congratulate and thank those members of Congress who supported President Obama; and then we have to send a clear signal to those members of Congress -- Democrat and Republican who did not support him (and by extension, did not support you). By that I mean, we must send more Democrats to Congress this year than ever before -- in both Senate and House of Representatives. No more slip ups. No more oops, how did he or she get in there? We have to get those out who deliberately slowed down the process of the passage of this bill, because it's clear they are not operating in our best interest. We likewise have to begin backing the ones who do. We should know as much about our congressional representatives as we do rap artists, spoken words artists, actors/actresses, or the latest hot piece of music, etc. It’s time to do our homework, our due diligence. This is serious business.
Voting takes all of 5 minutes. But you only get to do it once every two years, and the Republicans have vowed to take revenge against President Obama. Let’s turn the tables and show them what we’re really made of. Do your homework and make sure we put people in place that are there for us. If we don’t we suffer the consequences of having sharks who look upon us as carrion.
If we are going to turn this country around; bring it into being a country that puts its people first, we can't sit around and wait to see what the rest of the folks are doing. We have an obligation to get it done ourselves. We have a brother in the White House who has proven that He “does not back down and he doesn't quit.” And neither should we. So if you haven't already, dust off all those Obama buttons and wear them proudly, and begin looking for a few Obama "clones."
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
By the way: The President also overhauled funds of education, so those of you who thought you could not afford college, can now receive a Pell Grant to defray some of the expenses. Say, "Thank You President Obama!"
PS: MoveOn Letter follows:
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday, the House of Representatives made history. Even with the bill's flaws, health care reform is the most important piece of progressive legislation in decades.
Below is a list of ten of the most important things health care reform will accomplish for everyday Americans—none of which would've been possible without the dogged efforts of grassroots progressives and the support of Representative Edolphus Towns.1
But Republicans are already unleashing their spin machine to target Democrats who voted for reform, so we've got to show that we've got their backs. We've set a goal of making 505 thank-you calls from Brooklyn to Rep. Towns's office today—can you join in?
Here's where to call:
Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936
(NOTE: CONG. ED TOWNS REPS BROOKLYN, PLEASE LOOK UP AND CALL YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN OR WOMAN - IF THEY VOTED FOR THE BILL; IF THEY DIDN'T CALL AND GIVE THEM A PIECE OF YOUR MIND)
And after you call, take a moment to check out the list and share it with all your friends. Big Insurance and right-wing extremists are already ratcheting up their campaign to spread misinformation about the bill, so it's critical that we get the truth out as widely as possible.
Thanks for all you do.
–Kat, Lenore, Laura, Michael, and the rest of the team
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.
2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.
3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.
4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.
5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.
6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.
7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.
8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.
9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.
10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.
Below is a letter I received from MoveOn, the grass roots organization that hits the ground running to help ensure people stay involved in supporting President Obama in his programs and efforts. I’m sharing this with you in case you’re not on their mailing list.
But first, some thoughts:
I must say that I am so proud and pleased that Congress not only passed the Health Care Bill, but they passed it on my Birthday, March 21!!! I feel like celebrating my Birthday all over again. Who am I kidding? As an Aries, I will be celebrating my birthday over and over again, at least until the sign changes. But now I'll have some additional "bragging rights!"
That little ego trip aside, I have want to take the opportunity, while it's still fresh, to say some things that we have to remember going forward because, somehow or other, it appears that we, as Black people are catching a very serious and contagious disease. Johnny Cochrane once said when it comes to business, education, or almost anything, there is a perception that "the white man's ice is colder."
Now what do I mean by quoting that statement? What it means it this: We seem to be harsher in critiquing our own when it comes to mistakes or taking steps that break from the status quo. Case in point: For 8 years we had a “president” who managed to take our country from a major economic surplus and turn it into a crushing deficit, such that, with the help of his cronies, the entire financial underpinnings of the government almost collapsed. And, when they began to try to bring about a "recovery," all they could think of to do was to try to cover their own asses, and make sure no damages were done to their cronies.
Had it not been for President Obama, who had enough insight to see that specific measures needed to be taken across the board, most of us, including yours truly, would be sitting in the middle of a street somewhere, trying to find shelter and food. We know the Bush Administration would not have done anything for any of us.
When President Obama was running for office, before the whole economic downturn nearly derailed the entire country, one of his key platform items was health care reform. He was perfectly clear as to what that would entail: no more bogus, overpriced medications to maintain your health when you can be cured; no denials because of pre-existing conditions; no denials because of age or employment/lack thereof; and a host of things. He was perfectly clear -- he did not stutter. He said what he wanted; he said when he wanted it; he said why it was necessary and who it would help.
It’s interesting when you allow the so called news analysts to get involved, they take the plain and make it obscure. They seem more interested in keeping confusion alive, than providing clarity.
Of course the pharmaceutical companies knew they would lose money because they can't sell you medications you don't need any more; and the surgical industry can't cut off body parts when stem cells can save them. This is why they lobbied so hard. Hmmm wonder why that public option was really canceled? Follow the money.
So, why am I hearing from some of my brothers and sisters that they didn't understand Obama's health care bill? That it was confusing and made no sense? Of course upon closer interrogation, when I asked had they read it in its entirety, they say no, they haven't. Or, some say the medical reform bill is "too expensive" -- though they can't seem to juxtapose that against nearly 10 years of war at a hefty $200 billion a year, or more. We're so in debt to the Chinese, we'd better learn to speak the language because they pretty much own the country, thanks to Bush.
Despite all he's accomplished during his first year, some of us seem to have no compunction about passing judgment on President Obama. By the way Obama is doing a wonderful job. He is on point all the time. Instead of giving him credit where credit is due, we disparage him. We who stood silently (stupidly) by while Bush nearly flushed this country down the toilet. I can understand if certain caucasians of a certain racist persuasion flap their gums. That's just a case of sour grapes. They haven't seen a president that dynamic since LBJ. That's been their stock in trade from day 1. We understand that syndrome
I want to warn you. POC's, about making sacred cows out of bulls--t. I want to warn you about trying to sound "objective". People of other nationalities do wonder about the sanity of some of us when we take the side of the media pundits; or when we play "devil's advocate" instead of standing with Obama. This is no time for fence sitting. Or trying to appear detached or sophisticated. You have to stand for and with Obama all the way through. This is not a fad. We have to stay the course.
Shows like Charlie Rose, Meet the Press, Bill O'Reilly, and others will bring on the nay-sayers, critics, and those who think they have some insight that Obama couldn't possibly have considered. And they may actually sound plausible. The whole concept is to discredit the president and make it look as if it's not personal, just business, procedure, protocol. You know the drill. The surveys that say x% of people don’t understand; x% don’t think it will help and x% think it won’t are designed to detract from the intrinsic value of the bill.
Monetizing health is rather dehumanizing and depersonalizing. You could have the best job in the world, but if you’re ill, or your insurance doesn’t cover your treatment, as far as they are concerned, you can jump in your coffin right now and pull the earth over yourself right now.
If the news media was truly interested in clarifying what Obama’s health care bill was about, they actually could have simply replayed his campaign speech in Denver, CO. He was very explicit. We are, instead, stuck with people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. For example, what is the value of the human life? What is the value of quality of life? What is more important -- how many people you can kill in a war, or people you can save domestically?
You had best believe, particularly with the Republicans, they will be doing whatever they can to protect their cronies. They’re more important than the people they are constituted to serve. And it's definitely personal, and a vendetta is under way. Despite the efforts of the mainstream right wing media and other press to distort his message, there were enough of us who maintained our senses and thwarted their yellow journalistic efforts. So called faith-based TV shows went overboard in trying to disparage the President through "realistic" news broadcasts. We were on to that as well.
The President has personally gone to communities to talk with people about the efficacies of the health care bill. He cares enough about the people who elected him that he's leaving nothing to chance in shepherding this new bill into fruition.
But what about the rest of us? Those of us who are not necessarily politically involved, but did vote; those of us who live in America, are Black, and have a stake in what happens next? What are we doing? If we think we can coast over the next few years and things will just work themselves out -- Not gonna happen.
WE have a great work to do now. We have to contact and congratulate and thank those members of Congress who supported President Obama; and then we have to send a clear signal to those members of Congress -- Democrat and Republican who did not support him (and by extension, did not support you). By that I mean, we must send more Democrats to Congress this year than ever before -- in both Senate and House of Representatives. No more slip ups. No more oops, how did he or she get in there? We have to get those out who deliberately slowed down the process of the passage of this bill, because it's clear they are not operating in our best interest. We likewise have to begin backing the ones who do. We should know as much about our congressional representatives as we do rap artists, spoken words artists, actors/actresses, or the latest hot piece of music, etc. It’s time to do our homework, our due diligence. This is serious business.
Voting takes all of 5 minutes. But you only get to do it once every two years, and the Republicans have vowed to take revenge against President Obama. Let’s turn the tables and show them what we’re really made of. Do your homework and make sure we put people in place that are there for us. If we don’t we suffer the consequences of having sharks who look upon us as carrion.
If we are going to turn this country around; bring it into being a country that puts its people first, we can't sit around and wait to see what the rest of the folks are doing. We have an obligation to get it done ourselves. We have a brother in the White House who has proven that He “does not back down and he doesn't quit.” And neither should we. So if you haven't already, dust off all those Obama buttons and wear them proudly, and begin looking for a few Obama "clones."
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
By the way: The President also overhauled funds of education, so those of you who thought you could not afford college, can now receive a Pell Grant to defray some of the expenses. Say, "Thank You President Obama!"
PS: MoveOn Letter follows:
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday, the House of Representatives made history. Even with the bill's flaws, health care reform is the most important piece of progressive legislation in decades.
Below is a list of ten of the most important things health care reform will accomplish for everyday Americans—none of which would've been possible without the dogged efforts of grassroots progressives and the support of Representative Edolphus Towns.1
But Republicans are already unleashing their spin machine to target Democrats who voted for reform, so we've got to show that we've got their backs. We've set a goal of making 505 thank-you calls from Brooklyn to Rep. Towns's office today—can you join in?
Here's where to call:
Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936
(NOTE: CONG. ED TOWNS REPS BROOKLYN, PLEASE LOOK UP AND CALL YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN OR WOMAN - IF THEY VOTED FOR THE BILL; IF THEY DIDN'T CALL AND GIVE THEM A PIECE OF YOUR MIND)
And after you call, take a moment to check out the list and share it with all your friends. Big Insurance and right-wing extremists are already ratcheting up their campaign to spread misinformation about the bill, so it's critical that we get the truth out as widely as possible.
Thanks for all you do.
–Kat, Lenore, Laura, Michael, and the rest of the team
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.
2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.
3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.
4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.
5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.
6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.
7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.
8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.
9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.
10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.
Gil Scott-Heron in Brooklyn March 26 for BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE & Pharoah Sanders to open the CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 27
by Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:
This week end if you are not prepared, you could miss some real classic artists. So I'm trying to get this to the blog now so you'll be prepared.
When I heard that Pharoah Sanders was performing in Brooklyn, it took me back a minute. The last time I saw him in concert was in Harlem in the 80's. Wow! So I'm sending this out over the blog in case you're one of the few New Yorkers who hasn't gotten the news:
Pharoah Sanders is going to open the 11th Annual CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 27th.
Tenor Saxophone legend, Pharoah Sanders, who has made over 39 recordings as a leader, and has accompanied 87 other recordings during his 42 year career, is coming to Brooklyn.
Anyone familiar with the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival knows that it's one of the finest gathering of jazz artists -- nuanced and traditional -- from around the world. We are fortunate that Brother Jitu Weusi and Bob Sanders have worked diligently to continue this labor of love for the past eleven years. They are to be commended.
The 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival takes place in the auditorium of Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street (A/C train to Utica or the B25 Bus to Ralph Ave.)
The Festival Gala is co-sponsored by Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium and the International African Arts Festival. The Pharoah Sanders Sextet will perform, featuring, William Henderson-Piano, Alex Blake-Bassist, Greg Bandy- Drums, Neil Clarke- Percussion and Abdus Sabor on Congas. Other Gala performers are: Omi Yesa, a Yoruba Folkloric group that recently preformed at the Obama White House, and Louis Reyes-Rivera, author of Scattered Scriptures.
Saturday’s Gala tix :718-638-6700 or 718-773-2252, or by visiting the web site: www.cbjcjazz.org (for credit card sales).
The CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ CONSORTIUM FESTIVAL runs from March 27th, 2010 through April 30th, 2010. Over 35 Brooklyn Venues will participate. As Donald Trump says: "This is going to be huge!"
For a full schedule of the 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival events visit the website at www.cbjcjazz.org or call 718-773-2252 for a free schedule to be mailed to you.
# # # #
AND ON ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE:
THE NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE presents GIL SCOTT-HERON, TALIB KWELI, and GARY BARTZ. That’s what I said!!! Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz will be appearing at Littlefield in Brooklyn!!! On Friday, March 26, 2010 from 622 Degraw history will be made in Brooklyn, New York!!
This event is sponsored by Medgar Evers College Black Writer's Workshop, which opens on Thursday, March 25 at Medgar Evers College (1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn), this is the first ever concert of its kind. You won't want to miss our personal revolutionary poet laureate extraordinaire, Gil Scott-Heron as he drops some very insightful lyrics on you. He is Black writing at its finest.
Not only will all you aspiring, inspiring, conspiring Black Writers participate in the 10th annual BLACK WRITER'S CONFERENCE AT MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE (1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.), but by attending the concert you’ll be assisting in the longevity of the institutionalization of Black writing.
Join Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli, and Gary Bartz for this historic concert in celebration of the Tenth National Black Writers Conference at Medgar Evers College, CUNY.
Gil Scott-Heron is a poet, musician and activist, and is primarily known for his work in the late 1960s and 1970s as a "spoken word" performer. In some circles, he is known as a griot. And while there are those who want to type cast him as a prelude to hip hop, I beg to differ strenuously, since the brother primarily spoke positively about Blackness as a quality, did not disparage Black women, or families.
Gil, who I am proud to say was a classmate at Lincoln University (and was smart enough to leave and pursue a calling from his soul) combines poetry with rhythm and blues, jazz, and funk and raises critical political and social issues, has received much recognition and acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." His contemporary body of work is even more compelling as he bears witness to the fact that history has proven the truth of his words. The griot in him comes out as anecdote after anecdote about the inspirations behind his pieces are shared with the audience. He reveals his unique humor and insight into the powerful dynamics spirit has on life as we know it.
Collaborating with the politically and socially conscious hip hop artist Talib Kweli, who brings a sense of spirituality and moral balance to hip hop, is a natural alliance and collaboration for this electrifying team of artists activists. And when you bring in award-winning jazz saxophonist, Gary Bartz, this intergenerational collaboration signifies an historic moment in time. Gary Bartz sums up the stance of this intergenerational group of musician writers when he states, "After all music doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to the people, to everybody." The music of Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz embody these words, for these artists create music that belongs to the global village and that speaks to the soul, heart and spirit of people.
So, on FRIDAY MARCH 26, 2010 at Littlefields, 622 Degraw Street (bet. 3rd & 4th Avenues) in Brooklyn, NY 11217. Doors at 8:30 pm • Concert at 9:30 pm. $25 advance • $30 at the door • 21 and over >>> purchase your ADVANCE tickets now <<<
www.littlefieldnyc.com, www.littlefieldnyc.com, or visit www.ticketfly.com.
**It is appropriate that this concert occur in conjunction with the Tenth National Black Writers' Conference (NBWC) at Medgar Evers College. The Conference, a program of the Center for Black Literature, will be held from March 25 to 28, 2010 at the College. Celebrating more than 25 years of history since its inception in 1986 under the visionary leadership of John Oliver Killens, the Conference assembles some of the brightest minds and finest pens in literature. Its theme, “And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way,” is symbolic of both the work and life of Toni Morrison and of the collaboration between Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz. Gil, Talib, and Gary draw from the past and bring symbolize a dynamic group of artists who are charting trends and shaping the future of music and the spoken word. **(I think Dr. Brenda Green said this, I pulled it from the press release, but it sounded really good, so I left it in.)
There will be more than 80 Black writers, literary agents, and editors from throughout America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa at the Conference. Writers and conference participants will examine the historical representation of the literature of Black writers and the representation of new and future directions for contemporary and emerging literary voices.
With Toni Morrison as the Honorary Chair, the National Black Writers' Conference will also honor Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite, and Dr. Edison O. Jackson.
Conference participants from the NBWC have included a stellar list of participants and honorees, including Cornel West, Susan L. Taylor, Randall Robinson, Marita Golden, Sonia Sanchez, and Terry McMillan. This year's conference attendees can again look forward to panels, readings, and workshops with highly regarded authors Chris Abani, Herb Boyd, L. A. Banks, Carol Boyce Davies, Kamau Brathwaite, Staceyann Chin, Breena Clarke, Edwidge Danticat, Bernice McFadden, Tayari Jones, Willie Perdomo, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Kevin Powell, Sonia Sanchez, Colson Whitehead, Frank Wilderson III, and Jewel Parker Rhodes among others.
Tenth National Black Writers' Conference
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Author as Honorary Chair
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - Sunday, March 28, 2010 www.nationalblackwritersconference.org
For more information, contact the Center for Black Literature
at 718.804.8884 or via email at nbwc@mec.cuny.edu
mec.cuny.edu/blacklitcenter • nationalblackwritersconference.org
Tune into "Writers on Writing"
Sundays, 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm
WNYE Radio 91.5 FM
That ought to keep you busy at least for a minute. But seriously, Brothers and Sisters, we really do have to support our Black writers, regardless of the genre. We are being inundated by propaganda, yellow journalism, and garbage now more than ever before. We have to make it our business to support each other, read each other, and become familiar with some of the more salient theories that our brothers and sisters are beginning to develop that may well be the beginning or regeneration of our own self liberation.
That said,
Hope to see you there.
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK,
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:
This week end if you are not prepared, you could miss some real classic artists. So I'm trying to get this to the blog now so you'll be prepared.
When I heard that Pharoah Sanders was performing in Brooklyn, it took me back a minute. The last time I saw him in concert was in Harlem in the 80's. Wow! So I'm sending this out over the blog in case you're one of the few New Yorkers who hasn't gotten the news:
Pharoah Sanders is going to open the 11th Annual CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 27th.
Tenor Saxophone legend, Pharoah Sanders, who has made over 39 recordings as a leader, and has accompanied 87 other recordings during his 42 year career, is coming to Brooklyn.
Anyone familiar with the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival knows that it's one of the finest gathering of jazz artists -- nuanced and traditional -- from around the world. We are fortunate that Brother Jitu Weusi and Bob Sanders have worked diligently to continue this labor of love for the past eleven years. They are to be commended.
The 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival takes place in the auditorium of Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street (A/C train to Utica or the B25 Bus to Ralph Ave.)
The Festival Gala is co-sponsored by Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium and the International African Arts Festival. The Pharoah Sanders Sextet will perform, featuring, William Henderson-Piano, Alex Blake-Bassist, Greg Bandy- Drums, Neil Clarke- Percussion and Abdus Sabor on Congas. Other Gala performers are: Omi Yesa, a Yoruba Folkloric group that recently preformed at the Obama White House, and Louis Reyes-Rivera, author of Scattered Scriptures.
Saturday’s Gala tix :718-638-6700 or 718-773-2252, or by visiting the web site: www.cbjcjazz.org (for credit card sales).
The CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ CONSORTIUM FESTIVAL runs from March 27th, 2010 through April 30th, 2010. Over 35 Brooklyn Venues will participate. As Donald Trump says: "This is going to be huge!"
For a full schedule of the 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival events visit the website at www.cbjcjazz.org or call 718-773-2252 for a free schedule to be mailed to you.
# # # #
AND ON ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE:
THE NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE presents GIL SCOTT-HERON, TALIB KWELI, and GARY BARTZ. That’s what I said!!! Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz will be appearing at Littlefield in Brooklyn!!! On Friday, March 26, 2010 from 622 Degraw history will be made in Brooklyn, New York!!
This event is sponsored by Medgar Evers College Black Writer's Workshop, which opens on Thursday, March 25 at Medgar Evers College (1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn), this is the first ever concert of its kind. You won't want to miss our personal revolutionary poet laureate extraordinaire, Gil Scott-Heron as he drops some very insightful lyrics on you. He is Black writing at its finest.
Not only will all you aspiring, inspiring, conspiring Black Writers participate in the 10th annual BLACK WRITER'S CONFERENCE AT MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE (1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.), but by attending the concert you’ll be assisting in the longevity of the institutionalization of Black writing.
Join Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli, and Gary Bartz for this historic concert in celebration of the Tenth National Black Writers Conference at Medgar Evers College, CUNY.
Gil Scott-Heron is a poet, musician and activist, and is primarily known for his work in the late 1960s and 1970s as a "spoken word" performer. In some circles, he is known as a griot. And while there are those who want to type cast him as a prelude to hip hop, I beg to differ strenuously, since the brother primarily spoke positively about Blackness as a quality, did not disparage Black women, or families.
Gil, who I am proud to say was a classmate at Lincoln University (and was smart enough to leave and pursue a calling from his soul) combines poetry with rhythm and blues, jazz, and funk and raises critical political and social issues, has received much recognition and acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." His contemporary body of work is even more compelling as he bears witness to the fact that history has proven the truth of his words. The griot in him comes out as anecdote after anecdote about the inspirations behind his pieces are shared with the audience. He reveals his unique humor and insight into the powerful dynamics spirit has on life as we know it.
Collaborating with the politically and socially conscious hip hop artist Talib Kweli, who brings a sense of spirituality and moral balance to hip hop, is a natural alliance and collaboration for this electrifying team of artists activists. And when you bring in award-winning jazz saxophonist, Gary Bartz, this intergenerational collaboration signifies an historic moment in time. Gary Bartz sums up the stance of this intergenerational group of musician writers when he states, "After all music doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to the people, to everybody." The music of Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz embody these words, for these artists create music that belongs to the global village and that speaks to the soul, heart and spirit of people.
So, on FRIDAY MARCH 26, 2010 at Littlefields, 622 Degraw Street (bet. 3rd & 4th Avenues) in Brooklyn, NY 11217. Doors at 8:30 pm • Concert at 9:30 pm. $25 advance • $30 at the door • 21 and over >>> purchase your ADVANCE tickets now <<<
www.littlefieldnyc.com, www.littlefieldnyc.com, or visit www.ticketfly.com.
**It is appropriate that this concert occur in conjunction with the Tenth National Black Writers' Conference (NBWC) at Medgar Evers College. The Conference, a program of the Center for Black Literature, will be held from March 25 to 28, 2010 at the College. Celebrating more than 25 years of history since its inception in 1986 under the visionary leadership of John Oliver Killens, the Conference assembles some of the brightest minds and finest pens in literature. Its theme, “And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way,” is symbolic of both the work and life of Toni Morrison and of the collaboration between Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz. Gil, Talib, and Gary draw from the past and bring symbolize a dynamic group of artists who are charting trends and shaping the future of music and the spoken word. **(I think Dr. Brenda Green said this, I pulled it from the press release, but it sounded really good, so I left it in.)
There will be more than 80 Black writers, literary agents, and editors from throughout America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa at the Conference. Writers and conference participants will examine the historical representation of the literature of Black writers and the representation of new and future directions for contemporary and emerging literary voices.
With Toni Morrison as the Honorary Chair, the National Black Writers' Conference will also honor Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite, and Dr. Edison O. Jackson.
Conference participants from the NBWC have included a stellar list of participants and honorees, including Cornel West, Susan L. Taylor, Randall Robinson, Marita Golden, Sonia Sanchez, and Terry McMillan. This year's conference attendees can again look forward to panels, readings, and workshops with highly regarded authors Chris Abani, Herb Boyd, L. A. Banks, Carol Boyce Davies, Kamau Brathwaite, Staceyann Chin, Breena Clarke, Edwidge Danticat, Bernice McFadden, Tayari Jones, Willie Perdomo, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Kevin Powell, Sonia Sanchez, Colson Whitehead, Frank Wilderson III, and Jewel Parker Rhodes among others.
Tenth National Black Writers' Conference
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Author as Honorary Chair
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - Sunday, March 28, 2010 www.nationalblackwritersconference.org
For more information, contact the Center for Black Literature
at 718.804.8884 or via email at nbwc@mec.cuny.edu
mec.cuny.edu/blacklitcenter • nationalblackwritersconference.org
Tune into "Writers on Writing"
Sundays, 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm
WNYE Radio 91.5 FM
That ought to keep you busy at least for a minute. But seriously, Brothers and Sisters, we really do have to support our Black writers, regardless of the genre. We are being inundated by propaganda, yellow journalism, and garbage now more than ever before. We have to make it our business to support each other, read each other, and become familiar with some of the more salient theories that our brothers and sisters are beginning to develop that may well be the beginning or regeneration of our own self liberation.
That said,
Hope to see you there.
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK,
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
3.21.2010
MARCH 21 GLORIA DULAN-WILSON'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATE AT ISRAEL HOUGHTON'S CONCERT AT BROOKLYN TABERNACLE
It's Sunday, March 21, and it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!
I'm like a kid in a candy store. I always love birthdays, yours, mine, my kids, my grandkids, others - but especially mine.
I've heard others say they stop counting birthdays after a certain point as though that stopped them from coming. But to me, it's not about counting years, or whether I look younger, older or exactly my age -- it's the fact that I'm still here to celebrate it.
It means God The Living Spirit Almighty has a great and mighty work for me to do; S/He wants me here on this side of this plane of action to get it done. It means that I'm still a vital part of the human fabric. I get to write one more day, laugh and joke with my friends; design another outfit so someone can walk up to me and ask "where'd you get that?" Or somebody will read something I wrote and say "tell it, Gloria, tell it!"
I love my birthday because my grown kids have a "race" to see who can get their birthday call in "first". Usually starts somewhere around midnight. Although my eldest, Kira, always emails me a day or two in advance to ask me where I want her to send my gift. My baby child, Adiya will call sing Happy Birthday in a comical voice, and we'd talk for about an hour or two. My handsome son, Rais, generally forgets -- so the girls have to get on his case.
I used to have big birthday bashes -- especially on milestone years -- I guess it's especially during these time that I really miss Perks - our hang out during the 80's and 90's. Each year, Hank Perkins would throw a major birthday bash for me -- we always had people show up from all over the planet. Rain or shine we boogied til we couldn't boogey no more. I've tried giving birthday parties in other venues since Perks was sold, but it never turned out the same. I guess the vibes just weren't there.
I love birthdays also because it's an opportunity to celebrate the person - which is pretty easy to do when you're an Aries. It's kind of difficult to keep us from bragging about who we are and what we do Truth be known, Aries are not necessarily known for their modesty. You generally know we're in the room. So, for us not to celebrate would be cause for concern -- if you ever hear an Aries say they're just going to stay home and meditate on their birthday -- ask them if that's before or after the party. The second question would be to make sure they're all right and not trying to cover up some illness.
Of course, because today is Sunday I am somewhat limited in what I can do -- but like the true Aries I am, I knew something appropriate would materialize. And there it was. I knew that God, the Living Spirit Almighty was really smiling on me, because as nearsighted as I am, sitting on a bus, heading for a seminar, and I still managed to see a little sign on a side walk announcing the appearance of ISRAEL HOUGHTON at Brooklyn Tabernacle. You notice that I put his name in all caps? It's because I just love the music and lyrics of this brother.
So for my birthday, I am going to the Brooklyn Tabernacle on Smith Street between Livingston and Fulton in Brooklyn, for a concert with my favorite praise and worship music leader of all times: ISRAEL HOUGHTON!!!!!
Israel Houghton is performing today, March 21, my birthday, FREE, at Brooklyn Tabernacle -- and I plan to be there front and center. Singing my heart out, and soaking up all that great inspiration Israel Houghton's lyrics impart. I wrote about him back in December when he appeared in the Bronx. I went to see him then and he did not disappoint. If you've never experienced his music and his lyrics, you are in for a treat. He's Joel Osteen's praise and worship director, but he's so much more. ISRAEL HOUGHTON is a feel.
So if you are looking for something special to do to help me celebrate the first day of my Birthday, meet me at Brooklyn Tabernacle today, Sunday, March 21, 3:00 PM. And if you can't make it there in the flesh, I know you'll be there in spirit.
So consider this an invite of sorts to my birthday. I am not only celebrating myself, and thanking God the Living Spirit Almighty for life, love and friends, but I'm celebrating you as well, because you are on your own God-designed mission, and our paths have crossed and moved in concentric circles sufficiently enough that I can call you friend.
And by the way, happy birth day to my TWIN, Earl. Hope you're celebrating in the grand style to which you have become accustomed. And to all my Aries brothers and sisters, you rule! Have fun, enjoy and
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
FOOTNOTE ON MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION:
Israel Houghton was fabulous. The line outside the Brooklyn Tabernacle was down the block and around the corner. They had 8 overflow rooms and still had to turn people away. He truly made my birthday a memorable one. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his concerts, or catch him in Houston at Lakeside Church (Joel Osteen Ministries) where he is the praise leader, do so. Thanks for the many birthday greetings. Stay blessed. Gloria
I'm like a kid in a candy store. I always love birthdays, yours, mine, my kids, my grandkids, others - but especially mine.
I've heard others say they stop counting birthdays after a certain point as though that stopped them from coming. But to me, it's not about counting years, or whether I look younger, older or exactly my age -- it's the fact that I'm still here to celebrate it.
It means God The Living Spirit Almighty has a great and mighty work for me to do; S/He wants me here on this side of this plane of action to get it done. It means that I'm still a vital part of the human fabric. I get to write one more day, laugh and joke with my friends; design another outfit so someone can walk up to me and ask "where'd you get that?" Or somebody will read something I wrote and say "tell it, Gloria, tell it!"
I love my birthday because my grown kids have a "race" to see who can get their birthday call in "first". Usually starts somewhere around midnight. Although my eldest, Kira, always emails me a day or two in advance to ask me where I want her to send my gift. My baby child, Adiya will call sing Happy Birthday in a comical voice, and we'd talk for about an hour or two. My handsome son, Rais, generally forgets -- so the girls have to get on his case.
I used to have big birthday bashes -- especially on milestone years -- I guess it's especially during these time that I really miss Perks - our hang out during the 80's and 90's. Each year, Hank Perkins would throw a major birthday bash for me -- we always had people show up from all over the planet. Rain or shine we boogied til we couldn't boogey no more. I've tried giving birthday parties in other venues since Perks was sold, but it never turned out the same. I guess the vibes just weren't there.
I love birthdays also because it's an opportunity to celebrate the person - which is pretty easy to do when you're an Aries. It's kind of difficult to keep us from bragging about who we are and what we do Truth be known, Aries are not necessarily known for their modesty. You generally know we're in the room. So, for us not to celebrate would be cause for concern -- if you ever hear an Aries say they're just going to stay home and meditate on their birthday -- ask them if that's before or after the party. The second question would be to make sure they're all right and not trying to cover up some illness.
Of course, because today is Sunday I am somewhat limited in what I can do -- but like the true Aries I am, I knew something appropriate would materialize. And there it was. I knew that God, the Living Spirit Almighty was really smiling on me, because as nearsighted as I am, sitting on a bus, heading for a seminar, and I still managed to see a little sign on a side walk announcing the appearance of ISRAEL HOUGHTON at Brooklyn Tabernacle. You notice that I put his name in all caps? It's because I just love the music and lyrics of this brother.
So for my birthday, I am going to the Brooklyn Tabernacle on Smith Street between Livingston and Fulton in Brooklyn, for a concert with my favorite praise and worship music leader of all times: ISRAEL HOUGHTON!!!!!
Israel Houghton is performing today, March 21, my birthday, FREE, at Brooklyn Tabernacle -- and I plan to be there front and center. Singing my heart out, and soaking up all that great inspiration Israel Houghton's lyrics impart. I wrote about him back in December when he appeared in the Bronx. I went to see him then and he did not disappoint. If you've never experienced his music and his lyrics, you are in for a treat. He's Joel Osteen's praise and worship director, but he's so much more. ISRAEL HOUGHTON is a feel.
So if you are looking for something special to do to help me celebrate the first day of my Birthday, meet me at Brooklyn Tabernacle today, Sunday, March 21, 3:00 PM. And if you can't make it there in the flesh, I know you'll be there in spirit.
So consider this an invite of sorts to my birthday. I am not only celebrating myself, and thanking God the Living Spirit Almighty for life, love and friends, but I'm celebrating you as well, because you are on your own God-designed mission, and our paths have crossed and moved in concentric circles sufficiently enough that I can call you friend.
And by the way, happy birth day to my TWIN, Earl. Hope you're celebrating in the grand style to which you have become accustomed. And to all my Aries brothers and sisters, you rule! Have fun, enjoy and
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
FOOTNOTE ON MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION:
Israel Houghton was fabulous. The line outside the Brooklyn Tabernacle was down the block and around the corner. They had 8 overflow rooms and still had to turn people away. He truly made my birthday a memorable one. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his concerts, or catch him in Houston at Lakeside Church (Joel Osteen Ministries) where he is the praise leader, do so. Thanks for the many birthday greetings. Stay blessed. Gloria
3.12.2010
THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME: Documentary Guru Eric Tait Celebrates 40 Years of Telling Our Stories
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I received an invitation by NYABJ (New York Association of Black Journalists)from several sources to attend a screening of "THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME". I first saw it 15 years ago, when my friend Eric Tait, one of the finest documentarians on the planet, first premiered it. He had left his position with ABC News to focus on completing the documentary -- a move most friends thought was either foolish or genius, depending on which side of the line they were standing.
Eric is currently celebrating 40 years in the realm of telling our stories.
They may or may not have remembered that I was there for the premiere of this fine production. What a day that was! It was there that I met the great Ms. Lena Horne and her daughter, a historian in her own right, Gail Lumet Buckley -- who had just penned her book "The Hornes." Ms. Horne was absolutely gorgeous at 80!!!
Interestingly enough, it that screening of the film which introduced me to the genius that is Eric Tait some 15 years ago, as well as the musical genius, Noel Pointer, who volunteered his time and talent to the preservation of those ancestral remains and the hallowed ground that had been desecrated by steam shovels and cranes. Noel is no longer with us on the physical plane, but his inspirational music lingers on.
Eric first premiered "THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME" at Borough of Manhattan Community College. The thoroughness, love, detail, and diligence with which he put this monumental piece together was and is absolutely awe-inspiring! Noel played his "magic" violin; his mother's chorale sang several Black (Negro) Spirituals
Eric Tait is a brother driven by perfection; by love of his people, by the need to know and the necessity to debunk distortions cover ups by a government and individuals whose interests are other than the well being and respect of a group of people who have long suffered under unorthodox reporting methods by the so-called 4th estate.
I absolutely love this film!! THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME is definitely not a sound bite. It goes into forensic detail about the people who were buried in those graves at the tip end of Manhattan. It introduces you to your brothers and sisters who would not sit idly by and allow them to sweep those remains under the proverbial rug. This was the precursor to the African Burial Ground memorial and commemoration.
It shows by graphic example what happens when you take a stand. Had it not been for the principled stand taken by David Paterson, who went against all the big wigs, all the investors, and stood for those bones, slapping an injunction on the construction company, and effectively preventing them from any further incursions on their last resting place, it would have been little more than an interesting headline.
When it was later showcased in Harlem at the Schomburg Library, it was well received by a relatively small audience - not the turn out one would expect in a predominantly Black community.
However, after that it seemed to have dropped off the map, out of sight until very recently. I kept looking for it on PBS, or the History Channel or (dare I hope, BET). So I am so glad to see that it's getting the attention and buzz it deserves.
This is a treasure that must be seen by adults, children, educators, students, elected officials -- nationally, IntraAfriCaribiNationally(just made that title up; it's another way of saying Eclectically Black. Try it on and see if it fits). There should be no one Black that has not seen this documentary and understands, chapter and verse exactly what the dynamics were surrounding the excavation and preservation of our ancestors. It should be required in schools - especially those with a majority of Black students.
I also absolutly treasure Eric Tait. Not only is he a fine Black man, he is a brain. He is a brain that whites try to say do not exist among us. He is the news man most mainstream media won't hire because he is dedicated to telling the truth. We all know how much they hate having all those lies debunked -- especially if it's one of our own who's doing it.
So for the first part of your Friday, before you go to hang out for the evening, strongly suggest that you go to Harlem Gateway at 135th and Amsterdam Avenue on the campus of City College (CCNY) and catch THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME. It's an eye opening masterpiece.
The age of Black re-awakening and enlightenment are slowly dawning; the light of truth is being shed, and it is up to us to avail ourselves of the opportunity.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
3.09.2010
NACA'S BACK IN BROOKLYN BY POPULAR DEMAND
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I am so proud to announce that we will be bringing NACA - the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America - back to Brooklyn on Saturday, March 20, for two back to back seminars at the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, 1958 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY
WORKSHOP I
The HOME SAVE SEMINAR from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, for those who are facing foreclosure or who are suffering from toxic mortgages. This workshop is specifically tailored for you to begin the process of providing you with counseling services and having your mortgages completely restructured.
WORKSHOP II
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM will be specifically tailored for those who are looking to own their own home, and who are in need of the down payment, closing costs and mortgage to do so.
Participation in the workshop is mandatory to access NACA’s services, so participants are required to be there for the entire length of time. Of course, those who are facing emergency situations with their mortgages should bring their paperwork with them.
It is recommended that you go on line and sign up with NACA in advance, get your unique I.D. number ahead of time. While NACA provides free books, it is advised that you bring a notebook and be prepared to take notes. The concept is to educate you while assisting you, so this is not a passive process, but a participatory process.
Participating in NACA’s training is mandatory. NACA is very strict in their formulation of helping people maintain affordable mortgages - they have to be; otherwise the problem becomes a recurring one. Concomitant with their foreclosure prevention program is their home buyer program, which provides first time home buyers with “the best mortgage,” which includes free down payment and closing costs, as well as a mortgage that is 1% below the current prime rate. The services are for primary residential purchases of 1-4 family homes - you must live in the home you purchase. It is not for investors. NACA's programs are predicated on an informed and prepared consumer. The mandatory two-hour workshop that NACA requires their clients to participate in before they provide any service to them.
NACA’s East Coast Regional Director, Ben Codjoe, and Newark, NJ Directors Kerrey Campbell and Darwin Munroe, in conjunction with the offices of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s, Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries, Annette Robinson, Nick Perry, Frank Boyland, Jr., Councilmember Al Vann, and the cooperation and support of Wayne Devonish, Executive Director of the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, are working to provide a permanent NACA office in Brooklyn, NY.
The last time we presented NACA in Brooklyn, it was a bitter cold Saturday, January 2, 2010 - the day after New Years! 700 Brooklynites and people from other communities braved the intense cold to come to participate in the first phase of a comprehensive foreclosure and mortgage restructuring program. So intent were these families to be part of the program, many actually started arriving at 7:00 AM. The temperature was 16 degrees!! Fortunately for them, the Boys and Girls High security and custodial staff did not force them to suffer outside, but let them in to wait in the warmth of the auditorium. Fortunately, (hopefully) the week end of March 20 (the day before my birthday, March 21) will be beautiful, sunny and balmy.
It's a prelude to what used to be called the homebuying season. There are many "bargains" to be had now that the prices are beginning to come back down to reality, and the interest rates are low. You can actually purchase a home where the mortgage will be the same or less than your rent. This is the time to gather yourselves, family members, friends, and be there to take proper (notice I said proper) advantage of these opportunities to actually own a home that you can afford, live in and enjoy. NACA also controls your interactions with realtors to ensure you are receiving appropriate service in finding an affordable home, and are not being steered by some realtor into a purchase that is more motivated by their commission check than by your ongoing ability to pay and remain in your home. A prepared consumer is a successful consumer. So come out, learn to purchase a home the "NACA" way, and join the ranks of those who are becoming a force for good in your community, your neighborhood, your borough.
NACA was formed 23 years ago to address the then predatory practices that homebuyers faced in Boston, MA. Bruce Marks, at that time a union leader, began leading union members against banks that were guilty of redlining or charging overly high interest rates for homes in certain neighborhoods. Their success in forcing banks to provide equitable services through guerilla methods has saved thousands of homes, and has provided even more opportunities for low and moderate income hardworking Americans to be home owners. However, their program is neither based on income or credit rating. The premise is to control the cost of the property, to make sure the home is the primary residence and affordable.
Tensions that usually arise amongst individuals and families because of being victimized, are mitigated. The counselors from NACA make them realize that all have been ripped off by an uncaring system; that turning on each other does not resolve the problems. The inordinate amount of cooperation to remedy toxic mortgages will be done as a community, as neighbors, not as adversaries. Divide and conquer has been the ruin of so many good intentions. NACA brings the cooperation, coordination, muscle, money and empowerment to help Main Streeters regardless of whether it’s saving or purchasing a home.
Of course the goal is to establish a permanent NACA Office in Brooklyn, NY. Currently the closest NACA center is in Newark, New Jersey, in the Robert Treatt Hotel, 50 Park Place (next door to NJPAC). It’s been there for nearly 10 years. Needless to say they are inundated. They are literally handling two states -- New York and New Jersey. There are also three NACA Centers in Connecticut, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, DC.
For twenty-three years NACA has been in existence and has been in the service of fighting for people who have been ripped off by predatory lenders, red lined by banks, or whose mortgages started off low and ended up totally toxic. NACA is a HUD approved non-profit organization.
To view the interviews with the participants at Boys and Girls High, NACA or the Javitts December Home Save workshop, log on to ON THE SPOT, www.onthespot.com. For further detailed information on NACA, log on to www.naca.com.
As new events are brought to the community, you can also check out this blog, gloria-dulan-Wilson.blogspot.com. Make sure you spread the word and keep the knowledge going and growing. If you have recommendations or knowledge of other programs that would be beneficial to the Eclectically Black community, please feel free send it to us on the blog. We look forward to hearing from you.
Again, NACA in Brooklyn, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Bed-Stuy Multi-Services Center Auditorium, 1958 Fulton Street, between Ralph and Howard. Take the A/C train to Ralph Ave., the B 25 Bus to Ralph and Howard Stop. See you there.
Stay Blessed &
ECLETICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I am so proud to announce that we will be bringing NACA - the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America - back to Brooklyn on Saturday, March 20, for two back to back seminars at the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, 1958 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY
WORKSHOP I
The HOME SAVE SEMINAR from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, for those who are facing foreclosure or who are suffering from toxic mortgages. This workshop is specifically tailored for you to begin the process of providing you with counseling services and having your mortgages completely restructured.
WORKSHOP II
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM will be specifically tailored for those who are looking to own their own home, and who are in need of the down payment, closing costs and mortgage to do so.
Participation in the workshop is mandatory to access NACA’s services, so participants are required to be there for the entire length of time. Of course, those who are facing emergency situations with their mortgages should bring their paperwork with them.
It is recommended that you go on line and sign up with NACA in advance, get your unique I.D. number ahead of time. While NACA provides free books, it is advised that you bring a notebook and be prepared to take notes. The concept is to educate you while assisting you, so this is not a passive process, but a participatory process.
Participating in NACA’s training is mandatory. NACA is very strict in their formulation of helping people maintain affordable mortgages - they have to be; otherwise the problem becomes a recurring one. Concomitant with their foreclosure prevention program is their home buyer program, which provides first time home buyers with “the best mortgage,” which includes free down payment and closing costs, as well as a mortgage that is 1% below the current prime rate. The services are for primary residential purchases of 1-4 family homes - you must live in the home you purchase. It is not for investors. NACA's programs are predicated on an informed and prepared consumer. The mandatory two-hour workshop that NACA requires their clients to participate in before they provide any service to them.
NACA’s East Coast Regional Director, Ben Codjoe, and Newark, NJ Directors Kerrey Campbell and Darwin Munroe, in conjunction with the offices of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s, Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries, Annette Robinson, Nick Perry, Frank Boyland, Jr., Councilmember Al Vann, and the cooperation and support of Wayne Devonish, Executive Director of the Bed-Stuy Multiservices Center, are working to provide a permanent NACA office in Brooklyn, NY.
The last time we presented NACA in Brooklyn, it was a bitter cold Saturday, January 2, 2010 - the day after New Years! 700 Brooklynites and people from other communities braved the intense cold to come to participate in the first phase of a comprehensive foreclosure and mortgage restructuring program. So intent were these families to be part of the program, many actually started arriving at 7:00 AM. The temperature was 16 degrees!! Fortunately for them, the Boys and Girls High security and custodial staff did not force them to suffer outside, but let them in to wait in the warmth of the auditorium. Fortunately, (hopefully) the week end of March 20 (the day before my birthday, March 21) will be beautiful, sunny and balmy.
It's a prelude to what used to be called the homebuying season. There are many "bargains" to be had now that the prices are beginning to come back down to reality, and the interest rates are low. You can actually purchase a home where the mortgage will be the same or less than your rent. This is the time to gather yourselves, family members, friends, and be there to take proper (notice I said proper) advantage of these opportunities to actually own a home that you can afford, live in and enjoy. NACA also controls your interactions with realtors to ensure you are receiving appropriate service in finding an affordable home, and are not being steered by some realtor into a purchase that is more motivated by their commission check than by your ongoing ability to pay and remain in your home. A prepared consumer is a successful consumer. So come out, learn to purchase a home the "NACA" way, and join the ranks of those who are becoming a force for good in your community, your neighborhood, your borough.
NACA was formed 23 years ago to address the then predatory practices that homebuyers faced in Boston, MA. Bruce Marks, at that time a union leader, began leading union members against banks that were guilty of redlining or charging overly high interest rates for homes in certain neighborhoods. Their success in forcing banks to provide equitable services through guerilla methods has saved thousands of homes, and has provided even more opportunities for low and moderate income hardworking Americans to be home owners. However, their program is neither based on income or credit rating. The premise is to control the cost of the property, to make sure the home is the primary residence and affordable.
Tensions that usually arise amongst individuals and families because of being victimized, are mitigated. The counselors from NACA make them realize that all have been ripped off by an uncaring system; that turning on each other does not resolve the problems. The inordinate amount of cooperation to remedy toxic mortgages will be done as a community, as neighbors, not as adversaries. Divide and conquer has been the ruin of so many good intentions. NACA brings the cooperation, coordination, muscle, money and empowerment to help Main Streeters regardless of whether it’s saving or purchasing a home.
Of course the goal is to establish a permanent NACA Office in Brooklyn, NY. Currently the closest NACA center is in Newark, New Jersey, in the Robert Treatt Hotel, 50 Park Place (next door to NJPAC). It’s been there for nearly 10 years. Needless to say they are inundated. They are literally handling two states -- New York and New Jersey. There are also three NACA Centers in Connecticut, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, DC.
For twenty-three years NACA has been in existence and has been in the service of fighting for people who have been ripped off by predatory lenders, red lined by banks, or whose mortgages started off low and ended up totally toxic. NACA is a HUD approved non-profit organization.
To view the interviews with the participants at Boys and Girls High, NACA or the Javitts December Home Save workshop, log on to ON THE SPOT, www.onthespot.com. For further detailed information on NACA, log on to www.naca.com.
As new events are brought to the community, you can also check out this blog, gloria-dulan-Wilson.blogspot.com. Make sure you spread the word and keep the knowledge going and growing. If you have recommendations or knowledge of other programs that would be beneficial to the Eclectically Black community, please feel free send it to us on the blog. We look forward to hearing from you.
Again, NACA in Brooklyn, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Bed-Stuy Multi-Services Center Auditorium, 1958 Fulton Street, between Ralph and Howard. Take the A/C train to Ralph Ave., the B 25 Bus to Ralph and Howard Stop. See you there.
Stay Blessed &
ECLETICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
3.05.2010
NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON AND THE BRAINWASHING POST TRAUMATIC SLAVERY BACK IN EFFECT EFFORTS OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
YELLOW JOURNALISM IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
About 10 years ago, Sistah Souljah wrote a book called "Slavery's Back in Effect." About 5 years ago, Dr. Joy DeGruy (Leary) wrote a book entitled "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome"; and just a scant 2 weeks ago, Tom Burrell wrote "Brainwashed", adding to yet another long, valiant list of efforts to wake Black people up to the fact that we are among the walking wounded -- zombies; remnants of a system that has made a considerable livelihood off of our misery for fun and profit.
You would think that by now we would have realized that we are part of a heinous experiment to see how low and far one race will go in its victimization of another, while simultaneously pretending not to be doing any such thing? And how long can the subjected (read, targeted) group contininue to pretend that they (read, we) are really surviving and doing well, in spite of and because of the psycho/phyiscal/spiritual/econo/material/horrors visited upon us 24/7 and twice on Sunday.
Either way, you are in this machiavellian social quagmire, it's damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's pretty much as the song says: "TRY TO MAKE IT REAL COMPARED TO WHAT?"
We make up a group of people who have tried to live, love, survive, succeed, raise families, earn a living, worship God, under a system that constantly and continuously undermines our ability to do so. While at the same time trying to say that this is no longer happening.
New Yorkers, who pride themselves on sophistication and avante garde societal trends, are as guilty as any southern racist town ever was. Perhaps even more so, because of the illusion of being multicultural and multiracial, multiethnic.
Case in point, among many, is the vilification of Governor David Paterson. The focus of a media hatchet job, with the sharks nipping at his heels, Paterson has been subjected to invectives leveled at him from the likes of the New York Post, which most Blacks acknowledge is blatantly racist and right wing, to the New York Times, who has recently shown itself to be as racist as the Post.
In fact, given the tenor of the NY Times most recent reporting style, it would make little sense to continue paying $2.00 per edition, when you can save $1.50 and just by the Post; it's the same negative. Many African Americans stopped buying the Times after the attempted character assassination of Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- I know I did. Their latest attack against Paterson and Congressman Charles Rangel confirms that I did the right thing.
While it is obvious that there have been some missteps on the part of Governor Paterson in reference to minor personal issues; it in no way warrants the hatefilled headlines of the Post, Daily News and the New York Times, which have called for his resignation over issues that are immaterial to the State vis a vis larger issues, such as the budget, and retention of essential services throughout the State.
Indeed, in July 2008, Paterson actually presaged the problems long before the actual economic collapse, and made considerable effort to reign in many of the budgetary issues New York faced, long before the s--t hit the proverbial fan. He has, in large measure, been instrumental in saving New York from a great deal of the pain other states are currently experiencing.
In contrast, check out former Gov. Pataki, who for 13 years, managed to eviscerate practically every viable program for mainstream New York, including affordable housing, educational programs, childcare programs. Stacking his record of sweetheart construction deals to his cronies against Paterson trying to level the playing field, David comes out way ahead in the short term. Of course, his reversing some of the programs Pataki undermined, establishing a viable Minority Business Division, trying to reinstate affordable housing after so many programs were removed at the State level -- may have rankled the nerves of the private interest cronies that were counting on the palm-greasing to continue under Paterson.
Now I'm not saying that David Paterson was the perfect Governor. What I am saying is that he is not deserving the invectives he's receiving at the hands of the press, and the backstabbers in his midst who are trying to see how far they can push him. Those are the kinds of people who, as kids, used to pull wings off flies to see what would happen. They have a prurient interest in seeing how much pain they can inflict through their lies and inuendos.
My word to David Paterson --" Stay Strong my Brother. You will not be the first person to make a mistake in Albany. You will not be the first Governor to screw things up. We know that the racist media, practicing yellow journalists that they are, have a double standard. They are trying to make and shape the news to their own ends, rather than report the news OBJECTIVELY. Of course, as a Black journalist myself, I can attest to the fact that objectivity in journalism is a myth, a lie and has never been practiced in reference to Black people where the white media is involved."
Which is also why I am standing for Governor David Paterson. Once again a Black man gets caught up in trying to be equitable in an inequitable situation. The David Paterson I know, the David Paterson I interviewed, who back in the day warned us to "stay out of the Bushes" (i.e. Bush I & II); who took on inequities in Harlem and tried to lessen the blow of Pataki's rapacious poliies; who stood for the African Burial Ground when the bulldozers would have just as soon buried the bones of our ancestors even deeper; who helped Black street vendors and merchants; who has one of the best sense of humors ever (and could be one of the best political satirists on the planet). The David Paterson that was thrust into the position of Governor because of an unscrupulous persecuting/prosecutor who was elected Governor through intimidation (and had it blow up in his face); the David Paterson, who as Governor, has been deliberately isolated from his resource base, has continued to maintain his composure under the slings of outrageous fortune. This David Paterson is now being the subject of a hostile media campaign which is unscrupulous, ignorant and an insult to our intelligence as Black people.
When I as a kid in Oklahoma in an all Black school, our teachers taught us a rule that I have never forgotten: When white people spend time, energy, money, and news vilifying a Black man, he must be doing something right, or he is in the way of something they want; so they try to build up as negative a persona as possible, making that person out to be a larger than life monstrousity. No one is ever as bad as they make them out to be. And when they spend that amount of time trying to make them look that bad, you know that it's racist over, under, around and through. As the late Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) used to say: "WE OVER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION!"
The lack of respect shown to Governor Paterson is reprehensible. Trial by headlines is a desparate attempt on the part of these papers to make themselves appear relevant in an era of dwindling sales and their inability to compete with online news. -- which if we Black people have anything to do with, should dwindle even further, because their obvious racism calls for a massive boycott.
By the way, there are even more merits in reading your own press. New York has one (1) daily and at least nine (9) weekly Black publications that give more information, perspective, truth about what's going on in the Black community, with no "white wash" (Daily Challenge News, Amsterdam News, NY Beacon, Our Time Press, Carib News, African Sun Times, Black Star News - among others). They consistently provide information is often more in depth, more relevant, and more timely. It's time the Black community began getting their news from publications that reflect them (there are also several Black online commentaries and publications, as well). It's time to stop paying for insults, ignorance and insensitive reports that pass as news, but is little more than slander.
Tom Burrell, author of Brainwashed, spoke of the "marketing" (read brainwashing and propaganda) job this country has done on Blacks for at least 400 years, in trying to convince them they were inferior, less than whites; ignorant and not worthy of respect. It continues unabated, some times in much more subtle forms. But much more often as of late, we have been bombarded with the blatant, garrish head-lies (yes I said head-lies) of these papers are the modern day form of brainwashing. They look for negatives and splay it out as if it is the sum total of the individual and what he stands for. There is a considerable amount of difference between the facts and the truth -- and they are definitely not one and the same, though the mainstream media would have you believe they were.
If a populartiy poll was the real measure of a politician, there would be nothing but miscreants in office -- that's how we got Ronald "the actor" Reagan for President -- such is the schizoid nature of the voting populace -- it would range from soup to nuts.
In point of fact, if you take a look at the bigger picture, you realize something very interesting -- that should make you go "wait a minute!!" or at the very least "hmmmmmm": Have you noticed that it seems to be open season on Black leaders, and on Blacks in pivotal roles: President Obama, under fire for trying to bring much needed health care to a nation where the greedy would just as soon keep us hopped up on over the counter drugs, and lopping off parts of our body; the Congressional Black Caucus, for supposed improprieties; Rev. Flake, Congressman Meeks.
Congressman Charles Rangel, head of the powerful Ways and Means Committee (the last time a Black man held that role, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the white media and Congress whites went overboard in trying to point up every little minor infraction -- [all the while Strom Thurmond was banging a Black woman had fathered a Black child, and was promoting segregation and KKK in his district -- go figure!] -- Check it out folks -- this is what is known as a "white backlash" -- something we were warned about when we were part of the Civil Rights Movement. There is a supposed Ethics Committee in Congress, that has done nothing in reference to ethics for decades until it was found the Rangel allegedly had one more property than white people thought he should have. Interesting isn't it, that they can't seem to make those determinations when it comes to others actions. The concept of Rangel stepping down, during this inquisition, is likewise as ludicrous as their trying to force Governor Paterson out of office.
Whites just don't like to see that much power on the part of Blacks at any one time. So they are launching an all out offensive to try to destroy and denigrate our organizations, leaders, elected officials. In the words of a wise rapper: 'DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!'
It's clear that for the first time we are closer than we've ever been before to autonomy -- or as close to autonomy as we have ever been in the context of a racist society. We have actually got the reigns of leadership in our hands on so many level, and we are actually doing a good job.
Even with the few missteps David Paterson has made, he has done no worse than his predecessors. We all know there is a double standard with whites, and that we are called upon to be 10 times better to even be considered on an even keel with them -- Alas, David is only 9 times better --- and therein lies a glaring flaw. When they commit an error, it's a misdemeanor -- a character flaw; when we commit one it's a felony. Most of their claims are without merit or importance in the larger scheme of things, and points to the racist lens through which they view Black elected officials. Well guess what folks, for all the hue and cry, Paterson has not really done anything of such a heinous nature that he should be pilloried, drawn and quarted by the white press. Now is the time to say STOP THE MADNESS.
Tell the lynchminded press to report some real news for a change; or take your lynch mob and go home. Tell them to ask Bloomberg when he's going after his cronies for all the monies they bilked New Yorkers out of -- we have a budget deficit, remember? or ask the MTA to really show us the real books and at the same time, trot out those accountants who are so poor and amateurish they could actually overlook major budgetary items - twice!! Why are they still on the job, when others have been dismissed for less. Tell the main stream, right wing media, and their pseudo religious televangelical cronies, to get to something that you are really supposed to be good at -- and by the way, wasn't the witch hunt in Salem Massachusetts? And isn't Lynchburg in Virginia, instead of New York? Or is it that we are really up South, but pretending not to know it?
Remember: they don't have to wear hoods to be KKK; it's the action that defines who the detractors are. They can still wear button down suits, sit in front of a camera, look authentically authoritative, and be lying through their teeth, or be as racist as any grand dragon ever was.
But I guess the bottom line for me is this: We MUST adapt the same double standard with them that they use in reference to us. They protect their own, NO MATTER WHAT. In other words, folks, one good double standard deserves another. We talk about all the time. Now it's time to learn to do the same in reference to our own. We have to embrace David Paterson, stand for him, protect him, and give him our support without compunction in the same way whites have done for each other for centuries -- because David Paterson one of us and Black is Beautiful.
David Paterson deserves to be given the benefit of belief (and the doubt) and the benefit of all the power, love and support we can muster. We must develop our own BLACKBONE and have his back, and make the hounds of hell who are trying to bring him down over specious accusations BACK OFF!!!
PS: I wrote this a week ago, and am happy to learn that on Thursday, March 4, our elected officials, activists and leaders gathered for a summit conference at Sylvia's Queen of Soul Food Restaurant to declare their support for Gov. David Paterson. Kudos to them all!! GDW
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
About 10 years ago, Sistah Souljah wrote a book called "Slavery's Back in Effect." About 5 years ago, Dr. Joy DeGruy (Leary) wrote a book entitled "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome"; and just a scant 2 weeks ago, Tom Burrell wrote "Brainwashed", adding to yet another long, valiant list of efforts to wake Black people up to the fact that we are among the walking wounded -- zombies; remnants of a system that has made a considerable livelihood off of our misery for fun and profit.
You would think that by now we would have realized that we are part of a heinous experiment to see how low and far one race will go in its victimization of another, while simultaneously pretending not to be doing any such thing? And how long can the subjected (read, targeted) group contininue to pretend that they (read, we) are really surviving and doing well, in spite of and because of the psycho/phyiscal/spiritual/econo/material/horrors visited upon us 24/7 and twice on Sunday.
Either way, you are in this machiavellian social quagmire, it's damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's pretty much as the song says: "TRY TO MAKE IT REAL COMPARED TO WHAT?"
We make up a group of people who have tried to live, love, survive, succeed, raise families, earn a living, worship God, under a system that constantly and continuously undermines our ability to do so. While at the same time trying to say that this is no longer happening.
New Yorkers, who pride themselves on sophistication and avante garde societal trends, are as guilty as any southern racist town ever was. Perhaps even more so, because of the illusion of being multicultural and multiracial, multiethnic.
Case in point, among many, is the vilification of Governor David Paterson. The focus of a media hatchet job, with the sharks nipping at his heels, Paterson has been subjected to invectives leveled at him from the likes of the New York Post, which most Blacks acknowledge is blatantly racist and right wing, to the New York Times, who has recently shown itself to be as racist as the Post.
In fact, given the tenor of the NY Times most recent reporting style, it would make little sense to continue paying $2.00 per edition, when you can save $1.50 and just by the Post; it's the same negative. Many African Americans stopped buying the Times after the attempted character assassination of Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- I know I did. Their latest attack against Paterson and Congressman Charles Rangel confirms that I did the right thing.
While it is obvious that there have been some missteps on the part of Governor Paterson in reference to minor personal issues; it in no way warrants the hatefilled headlines of the Post, Daily News and the New York Times, which have called for his resignation over issues that are immaterial to the State vis a vis larger issues, such as the budget, and retention of essential services throughout the State.
Indeed, in July 2008, Paterson actually presaged the problems long before the actual economic collapse, and made considerable effort to reign in many of the budgetary issues New York faced, long before the s--t hit the proverbial fan. He has, in large measure, been instrumental in saving New York from a great deal of the pain other states are currently experiencing.
In contrast, check out former Gov. Pataki, who for 13 years, managed to eviscerate practically every viable program for mainstream New York, including affordable housing, educational programs, childcare programs. Stacking his record of sweetheart construction deals to his cronies against Paterson trying to level the playing field, David comes out way ahead in the short term. Of course, his reversing some of the programs Pataki undermined, establishing a viable Minority Business Division, trying to reinstate affordable housing after so many programs were removed at the State level -- may have rankled the nerves of the private interest cronies that were counting on the palm-greasing to continue under Paterson.
Now I'm not saying that David Paterson was the perfect Governor. What I am saying is that he is not deserving the invectives he's receiving at the hands of the press, and the backstabbers in his midst who are trying to see how far they can push him. Those are the kinds of people who, as kids, used to pull wings off flies to see what would happen. They have a prurient interest in seeing how much pain they can inflict through their lies and inuendos.
My word to David Paterson --" Stay Strong my Brother. You will not be the first person to make a mistake in Albany. You will not be the first Governor to screw things up. We know that the racist media, practicing yellow journalists that they are, have a double standard. They are trying to make and shape the news to their own ends, rather than report the news OBJECTIVELY. Of course, as a Black journalist myself, I can attest to the fact that objectivity in journalism is a myth, a lie and has never been practiced in reference to Black people where the white media is involved."
Which is also why I am standing for Governor David Paterson. Once again a Black man gets caught up in trying to be equitable in an inequitable situation. The David Paterson I know, the David Paterson I interviewed, who back in the day warned us to "stay out of the Bushes" (i.e. Bush I & II); who took on inequities in Harlem and tried to lessen the blow of Pataki's rapacious poliies; who stood for the African Burial Ground when the bulldozers would have just as soon buried the bones of our ancestors even deeper; who helped Black street vendors and merchants; who has one of the best sense of humors ever (and could be one of the best political satirists on the planet). The David Paterson that was thrust into the position of Governor because of an unscrupulous persecuting/prosecutor who was elected Governor through intimidation (and had it blow up in his face); the David Paterson, who as Governor, has been deliberately isolated from his resource base, has continued to maintain his composure under the slings of outrageous fortune. This David Paterson is now being the subject of a hostile media campaign which is unscrupulous, ignorant and an insult to our intelligence as Black people.
When I as a kid in Oklahoma in an all Black school, our teachers taught us a rule that I have never forgotten: When white people spend time, energy, money, and news vilifying a Black man, he must be doing something right, or he is in the way of something they want; so they try to build up as negative a persona as possible, making that person out to be a larger than life monstrousity. No one is ever as bad as they make them out to be. And when they spend that amount of time trying to make them look that bad, you know that it's racist over, under, around and through. As the late Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) used to say: "WE OVER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION!"
The lack of respect shown to Governor Paterson is reprehensible. Trial by headlines is a desparate attempt on the part of these papers to make themselves appear relevant in an era of dwindling sales and their inability to compete with online news. -- which if we Black people have anything to do with, should dwindle even further, because their obvious racism calls for a massive boycott.
By the way, there are even more merits in reading your own press. New York has one (1) daily and at least nine (9) weekly Black publications that give more information, perspective, truth about what's going on in the Black community, with no "white wash" (Daily Challenge News, Amsterdam News, NY Beacon, Our Time Press, Carib News, African Sun Times, Black Star News - among others). They consistently provide information is often more in depth, more relevant, and more timely. It's time the Black community began getting their news from publications that reflect them (there are also several Black online commentaries and publications, as well). It's time to stop paying for insults, ignorance and insensitive reports that pass as news, but is little more than slander.
Tom Burrell, author of Brainwashed, spoke of the "marketing" (read brainwashing and propaganda) job this country has done on Blacks for at least 400 years, in trying to convince them they were inferior, less than whites; ignorant and not worthy of respect. It continues unabated, some times in much more subtle forms. But much more often as of late, we have been bombarded with the blatant, garrish head-lies (yes I said head-lies) of these papers are the modern day form of brainwashing. They look for negatives and splay it out as if it is the sum total of the individual and what he stands for. There is a considerable amount of difference between the facts and the truth -- and they are definitely not one and the same, though the mainstream media would have you believe they were.
If a populartiy poll was the real measure of a politician, there would be nothing but miscreants in office -- that's how we got Ronald "the actor" Reagan for President -- such is the schizoid nature of the voting populace -- it would range from soup to nuts.
In point of fact, if you take a look at the bigger picture, you realize something very interesting -- that should make you go "wait a minute!!" or at the very least "hmmmmmm": Have you noticed that it seems to be open season on Black leaders, and on Blacks in pivotal roles: President Obama, under fire for trying to bring much needed health care to a nation where the greedy would just as soon keep us hopped up on over the counter drugs, and lopping off parts of our body; the Congressional Black Caucus, for supposed improprieties; Rev. Flake, Congressman Meeks.
Congressman Charles Rangel, head of the powerful Ways and Means Committee (the last time a Black man held that role, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the white media and Congress whites went overboard in trying to point up every little minor infraction -- [all the while Strom Thurmond was banging a Black woman had fathered a Black child, and was promoting segregation and KKK in his district -- go figure!] -- Check it out folks -- this is what is known as a "white backlash" -- something we were warned about when we were part of the Civil Rights Movement. There is a supposed Ethics Committee in Congress, that has done nothing in reference to ethics for decades until it was found the Rangel allegedly had one more property than white people thought he should have. Interesting isn't it, that they can't seem to make those determinations when it comes to others actions. The concept of Rangel stepping down, during this inquisition, is likewise as ludicrous as their trying to force Governor Paterson out of office.
Whites just don't like to see that much power on the part of Blacks at any one time. So they are launching an all out offensive to try to destroy and denigrate our organizations, leaders, elected officials. In the words of a wise rapper: 'DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!'
It's clear that for the first time we are closer than we've ever been before to autonomy -- or as close to autonomy as we have ever been in the context of a racist society. We have actually got the reigns of leadership in our hands on so many level, and we are actually doing a good job.
Even with the few missteps David Paterson has made, he has done no worse than his predecessors. We all know there is a double standard with whites, and that we are called upon to be 10 times better to even be considered on an even keel with them -- Alas, David is only 9 times better --- and therein lies a glaring flaw. When they commit an error, it's a misdemeanor -- a character flaw; when we commit one it's a felony. Most of their claims are without merit or importance in the larger scheme of things, and points to the racist lens through which they view Black elected officials. Well guess what folks, for all the hue and cry, Paterson has not really done anything of such a heinous nature that he should be pilloried, drawn and quarted by the white press. Now is the time to say STOP THE MADNESS.
Tell the lynchminded press to report some real news for a change; or take your lynch mob and go home. Tell them to ask Bloomberg when he's going after his cronies for all the monies they bilked New Yorkers out of -- we have a budget deficit, remember? or ask the MTA to really show us the real books and at the same time, trot out those accountants who are so poor and amateurish they could actually overlook major budgetary items - twice!! Why are they still on the job, when others have been dismissed for less. Tell the main stream, right wing media, and their pseudo religious televangelical cronies, to get to something that you are really supposed to be good at -- and by the way, wasn't the witch hunt in Salem Massachusetts? And isn't Lynchburg in Virginia, instead of New York? Or is it that we are really up South, but pretending not to know it?
Remember: they don't have to wear hoods to be KKK; it's the action that defines who the detractors are. They can still wear button down suits, sit in front of a camera, look authentically authoritative, and be lying through their teeth, or be as racist as any grand dragon ever was.
But I guess the bottom line for me is this: We MUST adapt the same double standard with them that they use in reference to us. They protect their own, NO MATTER WHAT. In other words, folks, one good double standard deserves another. We talk about all the time. Now it's time to learn to do the same in reference to our own. We have to embrace David Paterson, stand for him, protect him, and give him our support without compunction in the same way whites have done for each other for centuries -- because David Paterson one of us and Black is Beautiful.
David Paterson deserves to be given the benefit of belief (and the doubt) and the benefit of all the power, love and support we can muster. We must develop our own BLACKBONE and have his back, and make the hounds of hell who are trying to bring him down over specious accusations BACK OFF!!!
PS: I wrote this a week ago, and am happy to learn that on Thursday, March 4, our elected officials, activists and leaders gathered for a summit conference at Sylvia's Queen of Soul Food Restaurant to declare their support for Gov. David Paterson. Kudos to them all!! GDW
Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
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