GOP Frontrunners Skip Debate on Minority Issues

News Headlines: Sept. 28, 2007
Baltimore Sun: At GOP Debate on Minority Issues, Absent Candidates Incur Resentment -- "Outside the debate hall at Morgan State University, African-Americans across the political spectrum used the phrase "slap in the face" when expressing their frustration at the decision of four leading Republican presidential candidates to skip last night's debate."

More: Homeland Colors live blogged the event and asked questions of the candidates in attendance.

Check out the open thread comments about the Republican snub.

More Headlines:
CNN: Mychal Bell of 'Jena 6' Released on Bail

AP: Spain Fights Migration Via Senegal Ads

ABC News: Judge Strikes Down Patriot Act Provisions

Fox News: Oprah TV's Top Earner, Followed by Jerry Seinfeld

The New York Times: McNabb: "Somebody Has to Speak About It"

U.S. News & World Report: Like Other Schools, HBCUs Must Compete for Students | The New Affirmative Action

Chicago Tribune: African-American Museum Opens Online

RTE: Pregnant Halle Berry Receives Death Threats

Geoffrey Bennett

1:28 PM ET | 09-28-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Why Don't Black Folks Want to Integrate? And What About Those Who Do?

That was one of the themes (assertions?) from a letter in our letters segment.

Look, I am but a humble radio host. I have written two books on race, but this time let me just pass on some sources on the nature of integration in America.

Andrew Hacker's Two Nations takes research and statistics on integration, among other things, and weaves them into a look at why black and white communities are so often strikingly different.

This article by a professor at American University did a quick analysis of how integration did or didn't work in several areas.

And I got a lot out of a book called In Search of Black and Multiracial Politics in America.

All of them have some information on how neighborhoods do and don't integrate, and cross-cultural coalition building.

---

And another thing entirely... in a way:

Like most of my friends, I travel in different circles, some of them mostly or all black; some of them mostly or all non-black. Sometimes we talk about integration in a way that implies it's an all or nothing. But what about people who move through many different social spaces, whether it's by choice or necessity? There's one set of burdens when you are isolated racially; another when you are constantly code shifting.

I'm curious: do you walk back and forth in different worlds, and what do you get out of it, and what price do you pay?

Farai Chideya

7:26 PM ET | 09-27-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Sharpton: Bail Being Posted for Bell

CNN is reporting: "Bail was being posted Thursday for Mychal Bell, a black teenager accused of beating a white classmate, after a district attorney's announcement that he would not appeal a higher court's decision moving Bell's case to juvenile court, according to the Rev. Al Sharpton."
[Read more.]

This comes after Bell was moved from jail to a juvenile facility today -- and follows a contentious press conference by district attorney Reed Walters.

Walters ended his statements, saying only Jesus was responsible for averting "disaster" during last week's protests:

"The only way -- let me stress that -- the only way that I believe that me or this community has been able to endure the trauma that has been thrust upon us is through the prayers of the Christian people who have sent them up in this community."

He continued: "I firmly believe and am confident of the fact that had it not been for the direct intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday, a disaster would have happened. You can quote me on that."

Update: BELL FREE ON BAIL

We'll have more on tomorrow's show.

Geoffrey Bennett

5:21 PM ET | 09-27-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Open Thread: It's All Up to You

We're trying something new.

In these open threads, it's your chance to spout off on whatever issue you want -- whatever random topic is on your mind -- in the comment section below.

And if you feel the need to write something a little lengthier, a bit more substantive, check out "Speak Your Mind," our online series that gives you the chance to sit in the blogger's seat.

That said ... open thread ... have at it.

Update: Read Moji's open thread post about "Republicans snubbing the black and brown vote."

Geoffrey Bennett

12:44 PM ET | 09-27-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Missing Chicago Woman's Body Found

News Headlines: Sept. 27, 2007

CNN: Uncle: Missing Drug Rep's Body Found -- "A drug sales representative who disappeared last week was found dead near a forest preserve, not far from where her car was abandoned, her uncle said Thursday. Nailah Franklin's family called police after she didn't show up for an important business meeting. Calumet City Police Chief Russell Larson confirmed only that an unidentified woman's body had been found in the area Thursday morning."

More Headlines:
UPI: Jena 6's Bell to Be Tried as Juvenile

AP: Dems to Try to Pass Hate Crime Measure

Reuters: In a Democratic Debate, Rivals Assail Clinton

New York Times: Blackwater Tops All Firms in Iraq in Shooting Rate

Detroit Free Press: A New U.S. Auto Industry Emerges

AFP: Don't Listen to Western Critics, Mugabe Tells UN Chief

AP: Poll: Simpson Divides Whites, Blacks

AP: Census Study Eyes Blacks in Prison

New York Times: An NPR Program Aims to Awaken a Younger Crowd

Geoffrey Bennett

11:43 AM ET | 09-27-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

You Make Us Smarter: Today, on the Jena Six, and Every Day

Today we spoke to Dr. Kali Gross of Drexel University about the wide range of response to the Jena 6 protests. But we also spoke to you!

We've gotten well over a hundred blog posts on Jena, some saying that the response is ignoring the fact that a young (white) man was attacked; others saying that this is a symptom of a larger racial problem with the criminal justice system. Others say...other things. Because this is, after all, your forum.

I love it! I've been a part of some form of blogging or online community for fifteen years, and I think "News & Views" is becoming a "we," with regular contributors and people who just want to say their piece once or twice. Thank you all.

We're also experimenting with format, as with today, when we had two of you read your letters on the air.

Thanks again...

Farai Chideya

7:11 PM ET | 09-26-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Jena 6 Prosecutor Speaks

Reed Walters, the district attorney at the center of the Jena 6 storm, wrote an editorial in today's New York Times. Titled "Justice in Jena," Walters seeks to explain his reasoning for prosecuting Mychal Bell and the five other teens.

What follows are excerpts.

Walters on why he didn't levy hate crimes charges against the white students:

"I cannot overemphasize how abhorrent and stupid I find the placing of the nooses on the schoolyard tree in late August 2006. If those who committed that act considered it a prank, their sense of humor is seriously distorted. It was mean-spirited and deserves the condemnation of all decent people. But it broke no law. I searched the Louisiana criminal code for a crime that I could prosecute. There is none."

His regrets about the case:

"Last week, a reporter asked me whether, if I had it to do over, I would do anything differently. I didn't think of it at the time, but the answer is yes. I would have done a better job of explaining that the offenses of Dec. 4, 2006, did not stem from a 'schoolyard fight' as it has been commonly described in the news media and by critics."

His response to the public outcry:

"I can understand the emotions generated by the juxtaposition of the noose incident with the attack on Mr. Barker and the outcomes for the perpetrators of each. In the final analysis, though, I am bound to enforce the laws of Louisiana as they exist today, not as they might in someone's vision of a perfect world."

Read the full op-ed and tell us what you think.

Geoffrey Bennett

4:59 PM ET | 09-26-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Conyers, Lawmakers Eye Jena 6 Probe

News Headlines: Sept. 26, 2007

AP: Lawmakers Seek Jena 6 Teen's Release -- "'Our first responsibility is to get young Mychal Bell out of prison,' said Rep. John Conyers, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who said he will pressure the Justice Department to take a hard look at 'the miscarriages of justice that have occurred in Jena, Louisiana.'"

Jesse Jackson says Pres. Bush should intervene in this case. Should he?

More Headlines:
The AJC: Cosby, Morehouse Chief: Parenting Is the Answer

Chicago Tribune: Family Steps Up Search for Missing Chicago Woman

The AJC: Tyler Perry Property Dispute Creates Drama

Radio Free Europe: At UN, Bush And Ahmadinejad Talk Poverty, Tyranny | Bush's UN Speech Full of Phonetic Pronunciations

AP: Giuliani $9.11 Party Draws Criticism From Dodd

CBS News: Subtle Racism Might Make Your Brain Hurt

AP: Group Points Out O'Reilly Race Comments

Reuters: Smithsonian Opens Virtual African American Museum

The New York Times (Editorial): Detroit at the Brink

NBC News: Verdict In: Bonds Ball Headed for Cooperstown [An update to our interview with Marc Ecko.]

Geoffrey Bennett

11:31 AM ET | 09-26-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Alleged White Supremacist Makes Nice with Jena's Mayor: We Ask Mayor If He Made Nice Back

What a day.

We were already planning to go live with information on the lynching threats made towards the Jena 6.

And, because we like to cover an issue from many different angles, we decided to speak with Richard Barrett, a protester and blogger who calls himself a "nationalist," and has been called a white supremacist by several news outlets.

While on his Web site, I noticed that he had what looked like an interview with Jena, La., mayor Murphy McMillan. It read, in part:

Richard Barrett: I just wanted to let you know that people all over this country support you, the town of Jena, young Justin Barker and Justin Sloan and their friends and that I support you, as well.

Mayor Murphy McMillan: Thank you. We know that we do have support from all over.

Barrett: I just want to encourage you not to be intimidated by these invaders. They have tried this before, in other places, but, just like the British occupying Boston, they will soon be gone.

McMillan: Yes, on Friday, the sun will come up, just the same, and we will be just the same, too. You are a lawyer, right?

Barrett: Yes, and I would like to arrange to set aside some place for those opposing the colored folks or find out if you have such a place in mind.

McMillan: Actually, you are the first one to ask about that.......

Barrett: I was in Forsyth County, Georgia, where they tried the same thing, to barge in and make demands on the small town. I represented the white folks and we beat all of their demands. People had a tendency to just show up in opposition and I helped to keep them organized and positive. I'll try to do that in Jena, for whoever shows up.

McMillan: At the courthouse is kind of the main point, so you might want to be over there. But, cars will be lined up pretty far, so it may be hard to get in and out of town, for a while. We have only two lanes.

Barrett: I remember the phrase, "Come, let's reason together." I am glad that we had a chance to do that, Mayor, and thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I went down to help Judge Richard Lee at Alexandria, when he and the three little girls there were under attack.

McMillan: Yes, I remember that. Your moral-support means a lot.

So, was Barrett legitimately warm-and-fuzzy with the Mayor of Jena? Had they actually had a conversation, let alone an interview? And did the mayor of Jena realize that now the first thing that came up if you typed in his name and his city's name in Google was a link to the interview by this alleged white supremacist?

Well, we put out calls to Mayor McMillan, who replied by e-mail, and we got this:

Thank you very much for your email. We are grateful for your bringing this to our attention. I was contacted by Mr. Barrett Tuesday prior to the rally. We had no idea who he is or of his affiliation. The statements you provided me are inaccurate in that I do not recall his using the term "invaders" at any point. In terms of his wanting to use a portion of the town to "oppose these colored folks," it was my impression in responding to him that regardless of his philosophy, if he wanted to exercise his rights of free speech I had to be accommodating rather than oppositional. I did not know I was being interviewed. I do not want my name or my town associated in any way with any white supremacist group or any group that preaches race hate. I indeed want the alleged interview removed from his site. My position is very accurately set out in the joint statement released yesterday where I, the DA, the sheriff, and the police chief pledged to protect any person associated with this case from persons wanting to engage in vigilante justice. We do not endorse violence of any kind, as set out in the statement. I also want to again point out that the persons who visited out town for the rally conducted themselves in a most exemplary manner and we are most grateful for that. Now that I know about Mr. Barrett's inaccurate statements contained in your email, I will insist that the conversation be removed from his website immediately.

Then I asked if he had truly accepted Barrett's support, and the mayor sent this:

To supplement my earlier response, I also take strong exception to the part where I am quoted as saying "Your moral support is appreciated." That statement was not made. I did say "We would welcome your prayers that we have a safe rally". In no way would I encourage a group espousing race hatred coming to our town. My entire thrust in the conversation was that I was hopeful for a peaceful rally without incident. For anyone to try to twist my words to bring about a conclusion that I or my town would support a white supremacist group is repugnant to me. I hope my position is clear on this and thank you again for having contacted me.

It raises (among others) the question: what constitutes good leadership in a time when your community is divided? I remember during the case of the shooting of a young man named Patrick Dorismond in New York City by an undercover police officer, Mayor Rudy Giuliani released Dorismond's juvenile records at the time of the investigation -- something that was unlawful to do. By releasing those documents, many New Yorkers felt he sided with the police and was not willing to mount a thorough investigation.

In the case of Jena, the tensions are, if anything, even higher.

What should the mayor have done, and what should be continue to do?

And how should community members, families of the Jena 6, and the many observers across the country do in the face of hate threats?

Farai Chideya

2:08 PM ET | 09-25-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Black Students Suspended in Greater Numbers

News Headlines: Sept. 25, 2007

Chicago Tribune: School Discipline Tougher on African Americans -- "In every state but Idaho, a Tribune analysis of the data shows, black students are being suspended in numbers greater than would be expected from their proportion of the student population. In 21 states, that disproportionality is so pronounced that the percentage of black suspensions is more than double their percentage of the student body."

Have you found this to be true in your experience?

More Headlines:
Los Angeles Times: A House Subcommittee Calls All Foul Mouths

Guardian UK: Gingrich: Skipping Black Forum a Mistake

Newsday: Harlem Pilgrimage to Nurture Roots in Ethiopia

AP: Africa Flood Crisis Deepens

The New York Times: The King Memorial: Dreams at Odds

MTV: FBI Probes White-Supremacist Jena 6 Response

Sports Illustrated: Mike Tyson Faces Prison for Drug Possession, DUI

Geoffrey Bennett

12:05 PM ET | 09-25-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Black and Latin American; Black and Brown?

If you read Veronica Chambers' popular coming-of-age novel "Mama's Girl," you'll read her story about being both black and Latina...and always faced by others' assumptions. She writes about a shopping trip with her mother:

I turned to ask my mother, but she had walked to the back of the store where an old Puerto Rican woman sat behind a counter. "May I help you?" the woman said in English with a heavy accent. "Estoy buscando algo para limpiar la casa," my mother replied. Immediately, the woman relaxed. It was a scene I had witnessed many times before. Latinos would look at my mother's black skin and brush her off. Then, when she began speaking in Spanish, their attitude would change. I knew, from my little Spanish, that "limpiar la casa" meant to "clean the house," but why had my mother come to a card store for Mop & Glo?

Veronica's family is from Panama, just one of the many Latin American and Central American countries with a strong population of people of African descent. But how do these people define themselves in their cultures; and how are they defined and treated by the law?

John Yearwood of the Miami Herald decided to do a special project for the newspaper charting the lives of blacks in Latin America. Today we spoke with him and Cuban-born writer Carlos
Moore about the lives of Afro Latin Americans and what folks in the U.S. can learn from their struggles.

When I lived in New York, the black and Latino communities overlapped significantly. I'm not just talking about langugage, but about people, like Veronica Chambers, who are both black and Hispanic/Latino (depending on the language you choose).

Here in Los Angeles, there is much less overlap. What's sometimes called the "black and brown" relationship can be tense. Is there room for a black/brown alliance on social justice, or does the very question make too many assumptions about how we connect, and with whom?

Farai Chideya

7:16 PM ET | 09-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

More Facts About the Jena 6 Case

The Jena 6 case has elicited an incredible amount of dialogue online -- 96 comments and counting in response to one of our posts, a record for "News & Views."

But facts can be the first casualty amid opinions and personal judgments.

Said one commenter using the alias "Won't form opinion until I have the facts":

"I want more facts of the incident rather than strictly the news stories focusing on opinions and rallies. A woman I work with wore black in support of the people imprisoned, but didn't even really know what she was wearing black for. She passionately said to me in a confrontational tone that she was wearing black in support of the "JenO" (rather than Jena) 6, and that they were in prison for murder. I did manage to hear on the news that it was for ATTEMPTED murder and not actually murder, so apparently I'm not the only one that doesn't know the facts of the case."

What do you think? Is the public outrage a direct response to the circumstances of the case, or are people latching onto it as a symbol of more pervasive, persistent injustices?

Commenter George Beckley offers the following admonition:

"The situation in Jena is undeniably tragic. But, the number of overtly racist acts like those evidenced in Jena pale in comparison to the continuous acts of Black-on-Black violence occurring across the country. Black-on-Black violence is the number 1 public health threat facing young Black adult men. I only hope that one day we'll see the same amount of outrage to the everyday occurrence of Black-on-Black crime that we're seeing today in reaction to the Jena case."

But back to the facts. Consider this additional reporting about the case, published today by The Associated Press:

--The so-called "white tree" at Jena High, often reported to be the domain of only white students, was nothing of the sort, according to teachers and school administrators; students of all races, they say, congregated under it at one time or another.

-- Two nooses, not three, were found dangling from the tree. Beyond being offensive to blacks, the nooses were cut down because black and white students "were playing with them, pulling on them, jump-swinging from them, and putting their heads through them," according to a black teacher who witnessed the scene.

-- There was no connection between the September noose incident and December attack, according to Donald Washington, an attorney for the U.S. Justice Department in western Louisiana, who investigated claims that these events might be race-related hate crimes.

-- The three youths accused of hanging the nooses were not suspended for just three days -- they were isolated at an alternative school for about a month, and then given an in-school suspension for two weeks.

-- The six-member jury that convicted Bell was, indeed, all white. However, only one in 10 people in LaSalle Parish is African American, and though black residents were selected randomly by computer and summoned for jury selection, none showed up.

Read and respond to the full article.

Geoffrey Bennett

5:56 PM ET | 09-24-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Bush: Hillary Wins Nomination; W.H.: Obama Lazy

He said he would resist the urge to play "pundit-in-chief," but now President Bush is weighing in on the 2008 presidential election.

In an interview for reporter Bill Sammon's new book, The Evangelical President, he says Sen. Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination but lose to the Republican candidate in the general election.

"She's got a national presence, and this is becoming a national primary," he's quoted as saying.

But it's a quote from a senior White House official about Sen. Obama that is sure to raise a few eyebrows. The official is quoted as saying Obama is "capable" of winning the presidency but -- according to the Drudge Report -- "relies too heavily on his easy charm."

Drudge continues: "It's sort of like, 'that's all I need to get by,' which bespeaks sort of a condescending attitude towards the voters," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "And a laziness, an intellectual laziness."

The blogosphere is already lighting up:

From HomelandColors:

"There is a fact that we all need to face, the Republicans are better at winning elections than the Democrats. The reason for this is that the Democratic Leadership, particularly the DLC, have failed to adapt their strategies to the current political environment. That being the case the time for playing it safe and shooting for the middle, as the DLC has been doing for the last 12 years is over. Bold and decisive action is necessary to win the upcoming election for the Democrats. Clinton is a candidate that will revitalize the Republican Party should she win the primary."

From Politopics:

"I'm beginning to agree with everyone who is saying she [Clinton] is the worst choice the Dems could make because not only do more people hate her than like her; but more voters hate her than like her. Despite that, it does appear that she has stepped ahead of the pack that it would take a huge, huge mistake on her part to make this race questionable again."

What do you make of all this? Will Clinton win the nomination? If so, what role will Obama play? And break down the White House official's comment about his "intellectual laziness."

Geoffrey Bennett

12:31 PM ET | 09-24-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Little Rock Nine, 50 Years Later

News Headlines: Sept. 24, 2007

AP: 50 Years Since Little Rock Integration -- "For three weeks in September 1957, Little Rock was the focus of a showdown over integration as Gov. Orval Faubus blocked nine black students from enrolling at a high school with about 2,000 white students. Although the U.S. Supreme Court had declared segregated classrooms unconstitutional in 1954 -- and the Little Rock School Board had voted to integrate -- Faubus said he feared violence if the races mixed in a public school."

More: Photos -- Then & Now

More: Timeline

Programming Note: On today's show, Farai spoke with three of the nine: Melba Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, and Terrence Roberts. Take a listen.

What do you think is the legacy of The Little Rock Nine? Are the school districts where you live truly integrated?

More Headlines:
AP: Judge Denies Request to Free Jena Teen

Chicago Tribune: Missing Woman's Car Found; Vigil Held

TIME: Can Kwame Kilpatrick Grow Up?

The New York Times: Iran's President Faces Protests During Visit

AP: Auto Workers Go on Strike Against GM

The New York Times: Army Maj. Orchestrates Largest Single Bribery Scheme of Iraq War

The New York Daily News: Will.i.am Explains Frustration with Black Radio Stations

Variety: Whoopi-Led "View" Tops Rosie's Ratings

Geoffrey Bennett

11:39 AM ET | 09-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Jena Protest Evokes Civil Rights Era Memories

News Headlines: Sept. 21, 2007

The Times Picayune: Jena Protest Reminiscent of Civil Rights Era Demonstrations -- "Hailing from as far as England, protesters arrived at sunrise by the busload to rally behind the Jena Six, as the accused teens have come to be known, in a legal case that has drawn worldwide attention. The marchers, many of whom traveled overnight from cities such as Detroit, Philadelphia and New York, held hands and walked eight abreast, shouting, 'No justice, no peace,' and singing soul singer James Brown's 'I'm Black and I'm Proud.'"

Black College Wire: Thousands Demand, "Free the Jena Six"

Earl Ofari Hutchinson: Why Civil Rights Leaders Didn't Get Mychal Bell Out of Jail

What was your impression of yesterday's protests, and what impact will they have?

More Headlines:
Baltimore Sun: Bush Urges GOP to Woo Blacks

The Christian Science Monitor: Inspired by Obama, Rap Artists Are Shifting Focus

Associated Press: Young Whites Happier Than Minority Counterparts

Los Angeles Times: Blackwater Under Scrutiny in Iraq

Associated Press: 2 Students Shot at Delaware State Univ.

Chicago Tribune: Lawsuit: Anti-Immigrant Bias Hurt Her Son

The New York Times: A Refugee Accepts Call to Leadership

Geoffrey Bennett

12:30 PM ET | 09-21-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

The Inside Scoop on Iraq

Today, we got a chance to talk to Marine Major General William E. Gaskin. He commands 35,000 troops, most of them in Al Anbar province, an area the size of North Carolina in Western Iraq. He's also one of the highest ranking black U.S. military officers.

If you follow the link above, you'll see a selection of the transcript of our conversation.

It was a PROCESS, if a congenial one, to get this interview. First of all, the General was actually in Al Anbar, not on some swing through the U.S. The technical logistics were significant. And then, clearly, he has other things to do... so we had to reschedule the interview several times.

Since I have a cousin who recently came back from Iraq, I often think about what the U.S. troops there are living. Although Al Anbar has gotten safer, the U.S. troops--and the locals--are still dying.

The most interesting part of our conversation, to me, was asking about whether Iraq was poised for a civil war, and how and when Iraqis will govern their country.

That question also ties into the recent inquiry into Blackwater, a private security firm in Iraq that killed unarmed civilians after a driver didn't heed a warning to stop. The incident and inquiry beg the question: if there are so many contractors who are armed and performing security that sometimes turns into combat, does that already speak to the military being stretched too thin?

All of it affects people on the ground... our friends, family, and neighbors fighting the war. And regardless of our personal opinions and political dispositions, it's worth keeping an eye on the toll that the war takes on U.S. military, U.S. contractors, and Iraqi civilians.

Farai Chideya

8:09 PM ET | 09-20-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Thousands Protest in Support of Jena 6

Photo: Getty Images

News Headlines: Sept. 20, 2007
CNN: Thousands Rally in Jena 'March for Justice' -- "Thousands of protesters gathered in Jena, Louisiana, today to show support for the "Jena 6," six black teens charged in the beating of a white classmate. Today was the day Mychal Bell expected to find out his punishment for his alleged role in the beating at Jena High."

Bush: "The events in Louisiana have saddened me."

Blogs Help Drive Jena Protest | Search Jena 6 Blogs

Photos of Protest | Photos of Jena 6

Jena & Election '08 Politics

More Headlines:
Huffington Post: Black Republicans Sharply Divided Over GOP's Shunning Of Black Voter Forum

The New York Times: For Jay-Z, Inspiration Arrives in a Movie

Los Angeles Times: Deadly Medical Lapses in Calif. Prison

The Indianapolis Star: McNabb Sticks by Comments on Black QBs

The New York Times: Fossils Reveal Clues on Human Ancestor

Politico: Rep. Peter King: There Are "Too Many Mosques in This Country"

Reuters: Bush Urges Extension of Kids Health Program

Geoffrey Bennett

12:12 PM ET | 09-20-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Making the Commitment to Owning A Home ... In A Time of Uncertainty

On today's political segment with Mary Frances Berry and Ron Christie, we started off by talking through new developments in America's mortgage crisis.

According to research firm Realty Trac, home foreclosure filings have doubled in just a year. Now, the House of Representatives has okayed a new bill that would let the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to cover more of these risky mortgages. In other words, the FHA would be able to back loan refinancing for people who had already gotten behind in their house payments... people who might not be able to refinance, and who could go into foreclosure.

Now, that's the news. Here's my question. As someone who has never owned a home--shocking, and possibly stupid, I know--I am curious about the commitment. I plan to buy in the next six months, if at all possible. Some of my friends are in jeopardy of defaulting; others have made tremendous amounts of money off of buying the right place at the right time. Most of my friends and family who have bought homes view it as something akin to a marriage... everything that can go wrong will, but if you really love your partner...um, I mean, your home...you will fix it.

So, if you're a homeowner:
1) when and how did you take the plunge?
2) did you ever regret it?
3) were/are you at risk for losing your home?
4) and what do you do to keep your commitment to your house...hold on to it...and even improve it?

Farai Chideya

7:33 PM ET | 09-19-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Jesse Jackson Says Obama "Acting White"

Expect to hear more about this in the coming days: "The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Tuesday on Democrats seeking the 2008 nomination for president to give S.C. voters 'something to vote for' when they go to the polls in January.

Jackson sharply criticized presidential hopeful and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for 'acting like he's white' in what Jackson said has been a tepid response to six black juveniles' arrest on attempted-murder charges in Jena, La. Jackson, who also lives in Illinois, endorsed Obama in March, according to The Associated Press."

Here's what bloggers have to say:

From Politopics:

"Just from my viewpoint, at my law school, some of the angriest people about this issue are white students, so he is insulting white people by equating their skin color with their values. Also, 'acting like he's white' is a bunch of high school BS. I was accused of 'acting like I think I'm white' by other black students in high school for trying to excel academically. Grow up."

From Hot Air:

"What's more obnoxious -- equating Obama's refusal to behave exactly as Jackson wants him to with racial inauthenticity, the fact that Jackson would make that rhetorical move so casually as not even to remember it afterwards, the offhand insult to whites who are interested in the Jena case and support the defendants, or the fact that he's conveniently overlooking the fact that Obama is white on his mother's side? Or is that the point, to remind black voters that his blood isn't 100% 'authentic'?"

From RedState:

"I think there's more at play here than meets the eye. The last thing Jesse wants, regardless of how the 2008 campaign plays out, is the end of racial politics. And Barack Obama is a black man running a non-racial campaign ... Of course, Jesse wants Jena to become the new Selma -- what doesn't he want to become the new Selma? It's good business for him. If there's no Selma, there's no Jesse."

From Marc Ambinder:

"Jackson doesn't seem to understand Barack Obama or his candidacy, which is surprising, because Jackson is a supporter, albeit one who Obama has not seen fit to draw into his inner circle. (The reporter David Mendell, in his new book about Obama, has a great anecdote about how Jackson, spying Obama's daughter Sasha at an inauguration event, lifted her up and put her on a small pedestal to pose for pictures. When the cameras stop flashing, Jackson stepped away, leaving his three-year-old girl teetering on a tall block of concrete.) Barack Obama, while acknowledging that he owes a significant debt to Jesse Jackson, is not running as the candidate of the Democratic urban machine, or as the candidate of African Americans, or as the candidate of the African American political establishment. His run, its assumptions and the way Obama interacts with the establishment is predicated on difference ... Obama is literally a generation away from Jesse Jackson and would therefore not be expected to share his outlook, worldview, predispositions or habits."

From Moderate Voice:

"He's like Bill O'Reilly who decides that anyone who doesn't agree with him is somehow of questionable character. Likewise Reverend Baby Daddy, as he has done in the past, is assuming that any black public figure who doesn't act in the way he thinks they should isn't 'authentically black' because somehow he is the barometer of whatever 'authentically black' is."

I'm reminded of what former Virginia governor Douglas Wilder said: "So many people have made a living off of the pimping of race. I told [Obama] when he runs, one of his big problems he would have is with the African-American leadership, as such. He didn't question it. He said, 'I think I know what you mean.' "

What say you?

UPDATE (9/20): Jackson Does Not Recall Saying Obama is "Acting Like He's White."

Geoffrey Bennett

12:44 PM ET | 09-19-2007 | permalink | comments (11) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

College Students, Sharpton, Jackson Head to Jena

News Headlines: Sept. 19, 2007

CBS News: Protest Set For Racial Beating Case -- "'We have told everyone over and over, if you don't support nonviolence, don't come,' said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who helped organize the march that is expected to draw as many as 60,000 people. Sharpton will also be joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King III."

Plus: Timeline of Jena 6 Case

More Headlines:
The Associated Press: David Bowie Donates to Jena 6 Defense Fund

ABC News: Isiah Thomas' Lawyers to Present His Case | Op-Ed: Memo to Black Leaders: Condemn Isiah Thomas

Press Release: Over 500 People Demonstrate at Home of BET CEO | Video

The New York Times: Eritreans Deny American Accusations of Terrorist Ties

The Associated Press: Alan Keyes Makes 3rd Bid for Presidency | More from BlackProf.com

CNN: Bail Set for O.J. Simpson | Skeptical Brotha: "Ain't No Jury Black Enough"

The New York Times: Health Plan Overhauled at Wal-Mart

The Washington Post: D.C. Police Trying to Explain Lack of Gun With Slain Teen

Geoffrey Bennett

11:13 AM ET | 09-19-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

What Warrants Media Attention?

Most of the comments on our blog of late have been in response to the developments in the Jena 6 case and the coverage by mainstream media (or lack thereof).

As a sampling, here's a post from commenter "JL-CLT":

"I agree something like this [Jena 6] needed to be told on CNN from the start. This happened last year and we are ALL now getting involved? What was the delay?"

From "VH":

"I totally second that entire message. The media covers so much other insignificant trivia they call news, but this incident, Marcus Dixon and Genarlow Wilson never [got] much coverage."

And from "JSU":

"'Mainstream media' has not reported this because of the same reason they are not just reporting BLACKWATER. It's all a cover-up so people who are not actually into what is happening in the world would not know about it."

Though I don't agree that the reasons for delayed or disparate reporting are as conspiratorial as some suggest, a look at Google News' index* offers some interesting results. The site is a top aggregator of news on the Web, pulling together all the stories available online. Here's what I found after searching for the following topics:

Michael Vick (Dogfighting Scandal): 21,349 stories available

Britney Spears: 11,218

O.J. Simpson (Las Vegas Arrest): 9,484 stories (a story that broke this week)

Kanye West: 6,889 stories

Megan Williams (W.Va. Torture Case): 1,829 stories

Jena 6: 410 stories

Dunbar Village: 66 stories

For commercial news outlets, journalism is a business as much as it is a service. If reporting on O.J.'s latest legal run-in can sell a newspaper or keep a viewer through another block of commercials, one could make the argument that it's one less report devoted to the Jena 6 case or the Dunbar Village violence.

What do you think?

*Search results may change, as news articles cycle on and off the Web.

Geoffrey Bennett

6:50 PM ET | 09-18-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Nona Hendryx and ... Are You a Blipster?

Today we got to talk to Nona Hendryx about her rock musical in progress. Nona was a third of LaBelle, the groundbreaking group led by Patti LaBelle.

Among other things we talked about their over-the-top costumes, which you can see in a performance of "Lady Marmalade":

Instead of moving in the gospel-soul direction that Patti did, Nona chose funk and rock.

Black rock is a tricky thing in the United States. TV On the Radio made several critics' lists last year. But the UK and Europe seems an easier nut to crack for mixed-race bands (think today's Bloc Party... and remember Big Country? The Specials? The (embarrassingly clad but fetchingly danceable) Culture Club? And, if my creaky brain is recollecting correctly, even The Cure (during one short-lived band change).)

Nona Hendryx has been trying to break down the rock-soul barrier ... for years.

Here are a few clips of hers to enjoy.

Pop-funkdafied:

Body-suited:

A recent performance for the blog/performance series Bold As Live:

In related info, I found a book called Right to Rock, about the Black Rock Coalition and its members.

Finally, I found an article quoting a term "Blipster"... Black + Hipster... for black indie rock fans. It cites some of the bands I reference above.

In popcultlandia, there is always room for another (reductive) label.

Farai Chideya

2:53 PM ET | 09-18-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Thousands Head to Jena, La. for Protests

News Headlines: Sept. 18, 2007

The Nation: Estimated 20,000 People to Protest in Jena -- "The rally is planned for September 20, the date on which Mychal Bell had been scheduled to be sentenced for attempted second-degree battery. The 17-year-old high school football star, who a year ago was being eyed as a top prospect for Division I scholarships, has been in jail since December for answering a classmate's racial taunts with a punch in the face."

Jesse Jackson (Op-Ed): Biased Justice Still Infects American Courtrooms

Plus: Clinton Praises Jena 6 Reversal | Obama Cheers 'Jena 6' Ruling

More Headlines:
Science Daily: New Study Refutes Belief That Black Men Have More Aggressive Prostate Cancer

The Associated Press: Simpson Friend: It Seemed Like a Setup

The Washington Post: Eagles' McNabb Proves You Can Be Booed Again

Broadcasting & Cable: New Programs, More Cash Boost BET

TIME: Iraqis to Review Blackwater, Private Security Firms

BBC: Million Hit by Floods in Africa

Issues in Higher Education: Morehouse President to Freshmen: 'Look the Part. Act the Part.'

Geoffrey Bennett

11:53 AM ET | 09-18-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Conviction of "Jena 6" Teen Overturned

News Headlines: Sept. 17, 2007

ABC News: Charges Dropped for One of 'Jena Six' -- "It almost came down to the wire. Mychal Bell, 17, was scheduled to be sentenced next week for his conviction in the beating of a white high school schoolmate. But a Louisiana appeals court ruled that Bell, who was 16 when he committed the crime for which he was charged, should not have been tried an adult. The three-judge panel overturned the conviction."

More: Sharpton Asks for Prosecutorial Misconduct Charge

Plus: Listen to Today's Coverage on News & Notes

More Headlines:
The Washington Post: Tape Released of O.J. Simpson in Vegas

AFP: Berlin Gets First Memorial Stone for African Victim of the Nazis

The New York Times: Using Crayons to Exorcise Katrina

AFP: Sen. Clinton Unveils Healthcare Plan

AFP: Greenspan Memoir Links Iraq War to U.S. Thirst for Oil

The AJC: In Atlanta, Assisted Living Facility Caters to Black Seniors

GQ: Colin Powell on the Run-Up to War

Geoffrey Bennett

5:06 PM ET | 09-17-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Semper Fi Media

News & Notes had a fascinating opportunity earlier this week to participate on a panel on the media... for Marines. Specifically, three of us journos spoke to Marines involved in both internal and external storytelling ... reports that go out TO Marines, and ones that go from Marines to the public ... especially on Iraq.

Our wrangler was Bob Long, a former Marine who volunteered during the Vietnam War, and did military reporting during his service. Now he's the Vice President and News Director of KNBC, the Los Angeles NBC affiliate.

And boy, is he hilarious. And pointed. And a great moderator/participant.

The other person on the panel was Andrew Breitbart, who runs Breitbart.com, a news aggregator. That basically means that he culls what he considers the best of the news and puts it on one site. As it turns out, it's a profitable business. He's also a conservative author/blogger. Very smart and VERY vocal.

As were the Marines. You have never been asked a question unless you have been asked by a Marine, standing at the back of the room, barking full volume, standing in what military folks call the "at ease" stance... which isn't very ease-y from a civilian perspective.

Continue reading "Semper Fi Media" »

Farai Chideya

7:31 PM ET | 09-14-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)

 

Completely Random News

Sometimes I just have to flag things that tickle me that have nothing to do with our show.

The co-founder of Google is offering a $20 million payoff to someone who gets a reconnaissance droid to the moon.

So pull out your duct tape and Erector Set and get cracking.

Also on the science tip, the BBC is reporting that computer-generated voices will become so good that soon there will be mass impersonations and "vocal terrorism". Just when you'd stopped giving out your personal information to those scam phishing e-mails pretending to be eBay customer service...

In other news of the random:

California is banning teens from using cellphones while driving. This wouldn't fit my definition of "news of the random" except that LA, a city with highways that stick out like the veins on a powerlifter's legs, has no "hands free" policy on cellphones. So that would explain the people I see steering with their knees while they text.

Farai Chideya

7:11 PM ET | 09-14-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post | trackbacks (0)