This is for Mr. Geoffrey Bennett. I am Nate Kimbrough a direct descendant of a Slave named George Woodward who lived in Alabama. Mr. Woodward was a slave under the Woodward family in Alabama in the mid 1800. Mr. Woodward was taken from him family out of Dandridge, Tn. and placed into Slavery in Jacksonville, Al. Mr. Woodward was the son of a half breed named Jack Keith who was the son of a White Judge named Charles Keith and a Cherokee Indian woman named Aggie Davis. They lived at the time near French Broad River in Tennessee. Mr. George Woodward, my Great Grandfather had several children and they were not aware of their name Keith. All of the children of George Woodward and his grand children went to their graves not knowing that their real last name was Keith. Our family has been deprived of our relatives on that side of the family, in fact until I started doing my research we never knew of this name or his birth place. I have uncovered several relatives of his but am unable to find their descendants and would like to come on your show to have this informtion broadcast in hopes of finding those relatives that we never knew. Our Cherokee heritage has been stiffened and we have been denied the benefits of the Cherokee Nation. Thanks for allowing me to tell this story.

Sent by Nate Kimbrough | 8:25 PM ET | 10-17-2007

After seeing comedian Kat Williams stroll down the red carpet at the BET Hip-Hop Awards last night, with a noose around his neck, I had a epiphany which led to this:

So... word on the street is that the noose is becoming the next bling accessory.

I hear it comes in 3 colors: bloody red, the customary KKK white, and of course rigor mortis blue.

You can even get your name engraved on it! Wow!

Sizes available include: XXL (or KING), for those who like it a little loose and sagging (expected to be the most popular model), as well as a yet to be labeled much snugger fit, that's sure to never leave you hanging, if you catch my drift.

Of course, an expected Tree add-on, will be sold separately, for those who want the full bling effect!

As expected, there are doubters of this new bling phenomenon... but supporters, as well as expected future connoisseurs of the noose bling, claim that this is partly an attempt to simply take the power out of the symbol, much like they tried to do with the N-word.

Get yours now before it all goes mainstream, like the X cap did in 1992!

Sent by Tambay A Obenson | 6:47 PM ET | 10-18-2007

I believe that the way Jena is playing out in Black popular culture is disgraceful, particularly regarding the BET events. But I have learned not to be so surprised by it this kind of nonsense anymore...

But that's not what I really wanted to focus on with my comment. I wanted to raise the issue of Farai's discussion with Michael Meyers on Thursday.

Meyers described the rash of noose hangings as no big deal...and he basically describes Black folks who speak out as whiners. Now I agree...there has probably been too much melodrama in certain quarters... however, Meyers goes off the deep end with his analysis of this problem, particularly his claim that the nooses are just harmless pranks.

You can read my commentary at the following link. Thoughts/comments are welcomed.

http://mirroronamerica.blogspot.com/2007/10/michael-meyers-says-nooses-are-no-big.html

http://mirroronamerica.blogspot.com

Sent by Ed Jones | 7:19 AM ET | 10-20-2007