Today's Special
Shaquanda Cotton of Paris, Texas. Her case is the subject of at least 400 blogs.
Source: freeshaqaundacotton.com
Frazlier Pope created a Facebook page to influence his peers on Shaquanda Cotton's case.
Source: Frazlier Pope, III
Listen to Today's Segments
TGIF! Five intense days of meetings, interviews, bookings and... We close the week with great material (if I might say so, myself...) for you.
Here's what your chefs have cooked up. Please, have a bite:
Social Networking Sites -- Are MySpace and Facebook just for making friends? We thought so, too, until we learned of their role in the case of Shaquanda Cotton, where social networking has helped to make all the difference. If you don't know who Shaquanda Cotton is, read on; and if you do, chances are it's because of what we're about to tell you: She's a teenager from Paris, Texas, who was sent to prison for up to seven years for pushing a teacher (which she says she didn't do, by the way).
Her story was first covered by a "traditional" journalist, Howard Witt of the Chicago Tribune. But then a man named Frazlier Pope read Howard's story, and decided to use the Web site Facebook as a vehicle for telling Shaquanda's story and mobilizing his peers to action. His dozens of peers soon became hundreds, which in turn soon became THOUSANDS of Shaquanda sympathizers. Why did Frazlier Pope do it? We'll let him tell you.
And (a producer's dream), we were able to locate Creola Cotton, Shaquanda's mother. She and Mr. Pope are introduced for the first time. Check it out.
*LITERALLY just in as I was writing this.*
Also...
Dispatches -- In case you don't remember (how could you forget?), this is the segment where we talk to our journalism colleagues about what's happening around the globe, namely in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. This time we went outside of the NPR family because for a decade, Univision's Teresa Rodriguez has been obsessed with one especially horrible situation in Mexico: the heinous murders of more than 400 young women in Juarez, just across the river from El Paso, Texas. Teresa joins us from Miami to talk about her book, The Daughters of Juarez, which details the unsolved killings of hundreds of girls and women...
Plus, something a bit less serious...
Sneakers! -- As part of our ongoing fascination with the "Next Big Thing," we chased down twin brothers Shane and Shawn Ward, two of New York's newest designers and creators of Detny. They are trying to make it happen in the shoe business. We asked them to talk shop with me about shoes...sneakers, specifically (or whatever they're called where you live...tennis shoes, Chucks, etc...give me a break, I'm from Brooklyn!). We chat about the details -- their designs, materials and even a little about how, in some places, your footwear can make you a target...
Then...
In Your Ear -- Another new one for us (and you, too...) Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray dropped by our studios recently and told our director, Rob Sachs, what SHE listens to (since WE like to listen to HER).
And, now for dessert...
Can I Just Tell You? -- This is where I serve up my own personal dish, or view, on something. This week, something we long for every year (at least in this office...I can't speak for you): We salivate like hounds when we hear that special knock on the door, or get an e-mail that someone is selling...Girl Scout cookies!
Well folks, that's a wrap for this week... and for the month of March. But before we go, we want to hear (or rather, read) from you.
What's your take on social networking sites and advocacy?
Do you belong to MySpace, or Facebook? What do you use it for? As in the case of Frazlier Pope helping Shaquanda Cotton, have you ever found it useful for something other than meeting new friends (or getting a hot date!)?
Also, we like knowing what you're listening to. What's in your iPod or the CD player at home... in the car... or dare we ask... at work!?
Blog on my brothers and sisters (no, you don't have to be black to fit in this category...I'm inclusive). Blog on...
3:21 PM ET | 03-30-2007 | permalink
