Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Food for Thought- DETROIT!!!!
So, got issues with the D? Got ideas for the future in the D? Wanna go to the D? Is your belly full but you're still hungry? Then get that good food for thought on Friday August 26th at Belle Isle in Detroit. More details... click here! Be there or be rectangular!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Passion and Plugs
Passion
"In no fashion have I lost my passion for the pen
It's just that lately life has been a lost less inspirin" -CeeLo
So this post will explain the absence of postings... well kinda. The real reason is... the Black media pretty much sucks right now, honestly, I feel like no one is writing really good critical stuff. I have been known to scour Blackelectorate, Black Commentator, Seeing Black, used to peruse Africana (plug the address in here to see the old site that I liked), but now they aren't even coming with it! And there are really few quality news sites. I have done the whole google news tracker and the NY times news tracker, but they give me a lot of not so interesting things, so I've been incognegro on the posts.
Plugs
The only stuff I've seen on the internet lately is stuff by my boy Marc Hill for Pop Matters (beginning of shameless plugs) or my boy B Sims for HipHopDx (sorry they have too many popups to put a link on my page). So where is all the good stuff? Well, I'm not sure what exactly defines good stuff, after all, this page is usually filled with negative forces impacting Black folks. Hmmmm, now that I'm in stream on consciousness, the next book I want to read is is by Sherman Jackson entitled, Islam and the Black Americans. I got a chance to meet him briefly today and I was intrigued. Oh, and I still have to get to reading Kinship by Philippe Wamba (RIP). So that's what is "on my bird". When there is something I find newsworthy or poppin, I'll post it. In the meantime, be sure to check out La Bloguerra.
Aight, much like your favorite local coffee shop, it's late and I'm outta plugs... so I'm out!
"In no fashion have I lost my passion for the pen
It's just that lately life has been a lost less inspirin" -CeeLo
So this post will explain the absence of postings... well kinda. The real reason is... the Black media pretty much sucks right now, honestly, I feel like no one is writing really good critical stuff. I have been known to scour Blackelectorate, Black Commentator, Seeing Black, used to peruse Africana (plug the address in here to see the old site that I liked), but now they aren't even coming with it! And there are really few quality news sites. I have done the whole google news tracker and the NY times news tracker, but they give me a lot of not so interesting things, so I've been incognegro on the posts.
Plugs
The only stuff I've seen on the internet lately is stuff by my boy Marc Hill for Pop Matters (beginning of shameless plugs) or my boy B Sims for HipHopDx (sorry they have too many popups to put a link on my page). So where is all the good stuff? Well, I'm not sure what exactly defines good stuff, after all, this page is usually filled with negative forces impacting Black folks. Hmmmm, now that I'm in stream on consciousness, the next book I want to read is is by Sherman Jackson entitled, Islam and the Black Americans. I got a chance to meet him briefly today and I was intrigued. Oh, and I still have to get to reading Kinship by Philippe Wamba (RIP). So that's what is "on my bird". When there is something I find newsworthy or poppin, I'll post it. In the meantime, be sure to check out La Bloguerra.
Aight, much like your favorite local coffee shop, it's late and I'm outta plugs... so I'm out!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Today was a good day...
No barkin from the dog, no smog and .... well not quite, but numbers of minority enrollment, well deposits to attend at least, at U of M increased for Black and Latino students!!! So now I'm waiting for the spin doctors on the Right decide to use this a demonstration of the need for revised admissions policies. You know, "We may have lost, but we were right."
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Back again...
So I'm dropping this post to just keep this blog alive. It's been a long time but I figured I would post on two things of relevance to me and probably you. Remember Benton Harbor, remember the uprising (note the traditional media would have called them riots), remember the community organizing in the aftermath (of course not, no one reports on organizing). Well Reverend Pinkney one of the major community leaders in BH is having charges brought against him. The people of BH are still backing him and I'll keep you updated on what I hear. It's amazing how some voting fraud cases actually end up being prosecuted, go figure. Thanks for the heads up Mark.
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation recently released its report on diversity and the PhD. The report basically outlines that there has been an increase in percentage of PhDs for the Black and Latino population but Black and Latino folks still represent a very small minority over all. You can read the report here.
PhDiversity
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation recently released its report on diversity and the PhD. The report basically outlines that there has been an increase in percentage of PhDs for the Black and Latino population but Black and Latino folks still represent a very small minority over all. You can read the report here.
PhDiversity
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
The Black Church and U of M, Native Repatriation, Detroit's Decay, the Daily and MSA
I recently visited the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and one thing really shocked me, the way in which the radical Black church position was barely present. Detroit is the birthplace of the Nation of Islam and the Black Christian Nationalism Movement but we seldom hear or talk about these traditions in Detroit or at U of M. Recently the Free Press ran an article about archives at the Bentley that make we wonder what else about our history is hidden in there.
On a separate but related note, the Native community has been struggling to get U of M to return the remains of a First Nation's (Canadian native folk) ancestors back to the nation. I can't find a weblink for it, but I'll post more on it. Don't know what repatriation is, well here you go.
Detroit is a city in trouble, but possibly a city with something to look forward to also. Well, you can see the ruin side of the story by watching George Steinmetz's new film about Detroit entitled, "Detroit: Ruin of a City."
Brian Stephens pens a half-intelligent commentary on the U's relationship to Black students. I'm with Brian on the not having enough institutional supports for underprepared students. By underprepared I mean students with equal intellectual blooming potential but have suffered from barriers such as lack of quality schools, etc. But after that Brian loses me is when he talks about black culture,
Certainly, minority culture, especially black culture, doesn?t encourage the attainment of education. After all, when Kanye?s ?The College Dropout? or 50 Cent?s ?Get Rich or Die Tryin? ? happen to be nominated for album of the year, something is terribly amiss. I could reference the countless refutations of the "anti-intellectual", "acting white" research, but you could find those by doing a google scholar search! Instead, I'll say, all cultures exhibit anti-education aspects. I can spew 10 names of White movies where the setting is college but the end result is students goofing off or dropping out. Second, let's not forget the majority of rap music is purchased by Whites, wouldn't that mean we should see huge drops in white enrollment. Just my two cents.
Lastly, MSA elections are coming and as usual, they're drama. Just vote, be informed, go to the NAACP meeting tonight at 8:30 and get informed.
On a separate but related note, the Native community has been struggling to get U of M to return the remains of a First Nation's (Canadian native folk) ancestors back to the nation. I can't find a weblink for it, but I'll post more on it. Don't know what repatriation is, well here you go.
Detroit is a city in trouble, but possibly a city with something to look forward to also. Well, you can see the ruin side of the story by watching George Steinmetz's new film about Detroit entitled, "Detroit: Ruin of a City."
Brian Stephens pens a half-intelligent commentary on the U's relationship to Black students. I'm with Brian on the not having enough institutional supports for underprepared students. By underprepared I mean students with equal intellectual blooming potential but have suffered from barriers such as lack of quality schools, etc. But after that Brian loses me is when he talks about black culture,
Certainly, minority culture, especially black culture, doesn?t encourage the attainment of education. After all, when Kanye?s ?The College Dropout? or 50 Cent?s ?Get Rich or Die Tryin? ? happen to be nominated for album of the year, something is terribly amiss. I could reference the countless refutations of the "anti-intellectual", "acting white" research, but you could find those by doing a google scholar search! Instead, I'll say, all cultures exhibit anti-education aspects. I can spew 10 names of White movies where the setting is college but the end result is students goofing off or dropping out. Second, let's not forget the majority of rap music is purchased by Whites, wouldn't that mean we should see huge drops in white enrollment. Just my two cents.
Lastly, MSA elections are coming and as usual, they're drama. Just vote, be informed, go to the NAACP meeting tonight at 8:30 and get informed.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Don't be alarmed.... we're Negroes!!!! Crime Alert
Okay, so for years students of color, particularly Black folks, have been complaining about "crime alerts" and incidence reports that are non-descript and detrimental, for those who thought they stopped publish them, click here. Just in case those suckas wanna change the text, I'll copy the text as it appears at 8:35pm on Wednesday.
Suspect #1: Black male. early 20's, black hooded sweatshirt, blue bandana, black gloves, black pants.
Suspect #2: Black male, early 20's, black fleece jacket covering face, black gloves, black pants
Suspect #3: Black male, early 20's, black bandana with white pattern, black gloves, black pants
Since U of M is now alerted to look suspiciously at nearly every Black male on campus, one of my friends in law school has suggestions on how to make sure we (Black men) stay safe:
Some rules for us “students” (…like we are actually students here) about traveling at night to help avoid being interrogated:
1. Wear a button that says…”Bush for Blacks”
2. Avoid putting lotion on for three days so you are a walking snowstorm and look like some of these sorority girls
3. Get a timmy from that barbershop on State Street
4. Wear a tight t-shirt that says, “I don’t sit in a room alone white women”
5. Don’t wear black gloves…If you do, make sure that they fit. White folks will not fall for that trick twice. They will never forget OJ!
6. Wear sandals
7. Avoid wearing anything affiliated with Detroit, Ypsilanti, Detroit, Ypsilanti…Did I mention Detroit or Ypsilanti…actually, throw in Pontiac, Flint, Ecorse, Southfield, Inkster, Royal Oak Twp, Saginaw, Mt. Morris, and any other suburb or city that is more than 25% African-American
8. Cover up all tattoos….We all know all of you have gang affiliation or served time
9. Always walk with a white guy from Alpha Sigma Gamma Beta Omega UVWXYZ, Inc. after 9:00 for the next couple of weeks, kind of like a human apartheid pass. You won’t seem as suspicious.
10. Get one of those robes from that Howell auction.
Suspect #1: Black male. early 20's, black hooded sweatshirt, blue bandana, black gloves, black pants.
Suspect #2: Black male, early 20's, black fleece jacket covering face, black gloves, black pants
Suspect #3: Black male, early 20's, black bandana with white pattern, black gloves, black pants
Since U of M is now alerted to look suspiciously at nearly every Black male on campus, one of my friends in law school has suggestions on how to make sure we (Black men) stay safe:
Some rules for us “students” (…like we are actually students here) about traveling at night to help avoid being interrogated:
1. Wear a button that says…”Bush for Blacks”
2. Avoid putting lotion on for three days so you are a walking snowstorm and look like some of these sorority girls
3. Get a timmy from that barbershop on State Street
4. Wear a tight t-shirt that says, “I don’t sit in a room alone white women”
5. Don’t wear black gloves…If you do, make sure that they fit. White folks will not fall for that trick twice. They will never forget OJ!
6. Wear sandals
7. Avoid wearing anything affiliated with Detroit, Ypsilanti, Detroit, Ypsilanti…Did I mention Detroit or Ypsilanti…actually, throw in Pontiac, Flint, Ecorse, Southfield, Inkster, Royal Oak Twp, Saginaw, Mt. Morris, and any other suburb or city that is more than 25% African-American
8. Cover up all tattoos….We all know all of you have gang affiliation or served time
9. Always walk with a white guy from Alpha Sigma Gamma Beta Omega UVWXYZ, Inc. after 9:00 for the next couple of weeks, kind of like a human apartheid pass. You won’t seem as suspicious.
10. Get one of those robes from that Howell auction.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Eyes on the Prize, Critical Race, and Not burning Klan robes and more
Just a couple of things that have come across my radar recently.
1) Eyes on the Prize the amazing documentary on the Civil Rights Movement has been unable to come to DVD and be aired due to copyright issues. The solution, massive bootlegging, I mean person2person sharing of the movie! Wanna share the gift of Eyes on the Prize, download it and organize a screening in solidarity on Feb 8th!
2) The U of M Law School's Journal of Race and Law is organizing a symposium on Critical Race Theory. The panelists and topics look like they are going to be off the hook. If you don't know about CRT, click here. The only catch is that you have to register and the registration deadline has already passed. But I figure there is not harm in publicizing and trying to get people in.
3) Looks like they decided it wouldn't be a good idea to burn the Klan robe in Howell.
4)Miss Jones & Company are out! Check the statement on the front of Hot 97 webpage. Now who says social activism no longer works?
1) Eyes on the Prize the amazing documentary on the Civil Rights Movement has been unable to come to DVD and be aired due to copyright issues. The solution, massive bootlegging, I mean person2person sharing of the movie! Wanna share the gift of Eyes on the Prize, download it and organize a screening in solidarity on Feb 8th!
2) The U of M Law School's Journal of Race and Law is organizing a symposium on Critical Race Theory. The panelists and topics look like they are going to be off the hook. If you don't know about CRT, click here. The only catch is that you have to register and the registration deadline has already passed. But I figure there is not harm in publicizing and trying to get people in.
3) Looks like they decided it wouldn't be a good idea to burn the Klan robe in Howell.
4)Miss Jones & Company are out! Check the statement on the front of Hot 97 webpage. Now who says social activism no longer works?
Monday, January 24, 2005
Klan robes and Morning Shows
Okay, so Howell, Michigan is buying a Klan robe and plans to burn it. The robe was displayed in the window of an auction house, oh I'm sure that wasn't intimidating, and was going to be auctioned on MLK's bday. A Howell Diversity Council is collecting money to buy it and burn it. So my question is, what is worse, some old school racist paying big money to put in their closet or good minded folks paying big money to burn it? I'm not really sure, this story is just really weird.
Well, once again radio morning shows are in trouble, as if Star and Buc had not already been ignorant enough, Miss Jones of Hot 97 got into the act recently by airing the Tsunami Song. Hot 97 issued an apology for the song and made everyone who was involved give up a week's salary, but a number of groups are calling for Jones and company's removal. One of the most interesting things about this whole controversy was Ms. Jones' on air conversation with Ms. Info about the song and Ms. Info's refusal to participate and her voicing her opposition as an APA community member.
Gotta go do work.
Well, once again radio morning shows are in trouble, as if Star and Buc had not already been ignorant enough, Miss Jones of Hot 97 got into the act recently by airing the Tsunami Song. Hot 97 issued an apology for the song and made everyone who was involved give up a week's salary, but a number of groups are calling for Jones and company's removal. One of the most interesting things about this whole controversy was Ms. Jones' on air conversation with Ms. Info about the song and Ms. Info's refusal to participate and her voicing her opposition as an APA community member.
Gotta go do work.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Affrimative Action battle is officially back on
Today the Detroit Free Press reported that the Michigan Civil Rights Intiative (MCRI) submitted more than the necessary 317,000 signatures to make Affirmative Action a ballot issue in November 2006. The first drive for the ballot intiative was stopped by legal and financial troubles, both of these troubles seem to out of the way now.
Also, the Daily today covers the lawsuit that would force U of M to refund the application fee of all rejected non-underrepresented minority applicats between 1995 and 2003. The basic premise is that students rejected under the system ruled against in the LSA case were not discriminated against. Both sides claim they will be on the winning side of the case. To me it seems most logical that U of M will settle with CIR for some sum of money and be done with it.
Also, the Daily today covers the lawsuit that would force U of M to refund the application fee of all rejected non-underrepresented minority applicats between 1995 and 2003. The basic premise is that students rejected under the system ruled against in the LSA case were not discriminated against. Both sides claim they will be on the winning side of the case. To me it seems most logical that U of M will settle with CIR for some sum of money and be done with it.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Black at Michigan's Best of 2004
I figure I would do a random best of 2004 post. These are not the favorite stories I posted, just what was important or semi-important, ya dig (remember Cross Colours)?
Music- If you don't have it, you should.
1) Jean Grae- This Week.... "The hottest thing in your hood since crack..."
We've been waiting for a Greasy product for a minute and this one does not dissappoint. Check all inhibitions at the door and listen as she pours her heart out on this mic. Refreshing and smooth. Not to mention any M.C. who is hungry enough to review her own album on Amazon gets props from me.
2) Dead Prez- RBG... The official RBG album finally arrived. Getting dropped from labels, getting arrested, and a host of other things didn't keep Stick and M-1 from bringing it on this feature length EP. Classic dead prez material with a raw video for "Hell Yeah" and a remix featuring Jay-Z, "together on the same track, what they gonna call us now?"
3) John Legend- Get Lifted (the bootleg)... So the real album is out now, but who cares? Legend's album is so smooth you'll finish listening and realize, damn, cheating is really sexy. Just kidding. Kanye's Kid comes through with a solid project that can be listened to cover to cover. So go buy it, support black music ;)
Honorable Mention- Certainly not a album but the song is so sick it has that kind of impact. Bin Ladin by Immortal Technique. If you didn't check for it before, get Revolutionary Volume 2.
TV
1) The Player-UPN- Aight, this show did not make the water cooler talk around my way, but it was easily the sleeper hit of the year. If you could make it past the terrible slang use and cheesiest metaphors, you were golden. AC took all the other cats to school as he flexed skills that would make Don Magic "oh yeah, I'm a preacher now" Juan wonder if his playbook got stolen. If it comes out on DVD, I doubt it, check it out. Until then, "hate the player, don't hate the game."
2) Chapelle's Show- Season 2 Comedy Central- I loth putting this up, but this season was killer. Was I annoyed with by the constant yells of "Yeah" whenever I rocked a fitted, YES!!! But even with that, I can't knock the hustle. Dave has some of the most poignant social and racial commentary on TV!
3) Desperate Housewives- ABC- I don't know how I started watching this, but it is definitely addictive. If you haven't watched, stay away, you'll get caught up.
Film
1)City of God- I know it was released before, but it's soooo good. Also make sure to check out the extras on the DVD.
2) Mean Girls- To me a new(er) Clueless. I don't care what y'all say, this movie is fetch! For some unknown reason, I was drawn to this movie and saw it a couple times in theaters. I haven't gotten the DVD yet, but it's my most coveted xmas gift.
3) Supersize me- I know that it's not the best documentary that came out, but the take home message was beautifully illustrated. If it could get me to stop messing with fast food, well okay, reduce my fast food consumption, it had to be on point. I still get sick thinking about eating McDonald's! FYI: There is an effort to bring Super Size Me into classrooms for health education, they will modify the original version, but there is also a conservative "movement" to stop the film from getting to kids. True story, I'm signed up for conservative listservs so I now know some of their inner workings ;)
Sports
1) The Battle at Auburn Hills- So people never eva, eva, eva get it twisted, the battle took place in Auburn Hills with some West Bloomfield thugs. So the media used it as one more opportunity to villiafy Detroit, but everybody who knows, knows. Enough of that, the OG award goes to Stevie Jackson for running up in the stands and the runner up is definitely J. O'neal with that one hitter quitter. Some straight up playground action!
2) Finally the Red Sox Win- Even as a Mets fan, I gotta give respect where respect is due. Boston took the crown and now rocks out to tunes by the Drop Kick Murphy's. Congrats... though I still hate Bean Town.
3)Kobe- Nuff Said.
Local
1)The Ann Arbor flasher- terrible crime, dumb criminal. Larry Harrison,starting tackle for the U of M footbal team, was caught because he only flashed during home game weekends. Clearly brotha needs some help.
2) Arbor Update- This year, the colloborative weblog Arbor Update emerged as Ann Arbor news central. Not only has it been referenced multiple times as as source in the Ann Arbor News, but it one of the few locations where people of vastly different political and social orientations can be found "debating" each other. Am I biased because I contribute, yeah, so what, no one said I was "fair and balanced" like Fox News.
3) Critical Moment- Critical Moment, originally known as Moment, is a great progressive voice for the Ann Arbor metro area (sorry I thought I would make up a term). It has been expanding in readership and each issue has aesthically improved. Keep submitting stories and it will keep flourishing.
Honorable Mentions- Qdoba and Big Ten Burrito- Ah, finally affordable tasty burritos.
This concludes my best of 2004. Think I got it wrong? Tell me so! One
Music- If you don't have it, you should.
1) Jean Grae- This Week.... "The hottest thing in your hood since crack..."
We've been waiting for a Greasy product for a minute and this one does not dissappoint. Check all inhibitions at the door and listen as she pours her heart out on this mic. Refreshing and smooth. Not to mention any M.C. who is hungry enough to review her own album on Amazon gets props from me.
2) Dead Prez- RBG... The official RBG album finally arrived. Getting dropped from labels, getting arrested, and a host of other things didn't keep Stick and M-1 from bringing it on this feature length EP. Classic dead prez material with a raw video for "Hell Yeah" and a remix featuring Jay-Z, "together on the same track, what they gonna call us now?"
3) John Legend- Get Lifted (the bootleg)... So the real album is out now, but who cares? Legend's album is so smooth you'll finish listening and realize, damn, cheating is really sexy. Just kidding. Kanye's Kid comes through with a solid project that can be listened to cover to cover. So go buy it, support black music ;)
Honorable Mention- Certainly not a album but the song is so sick it has that kind of impact. Bin Ladin by Immortal Technique. If you didn't check for it before, get Revolutionary Volume 2.
TV
1) The Player-UPN- Aight, this show did not make the water cooler talk around my way, but it was easily the sleeper hit of the year. If you could make it past the terrible slang use and cheesiest metaphors, you were golden. AC took all the other cats to school as he flexed skills that would make Don Magic "oh yeah, I'm a preacher now" Juan wonder if his playbook got stolen. If it comes out on DVD, I doubt it, check it out. Until then, "hate the player, don't hate the game."
2) Chapelle's Show- Season 2 Comedy Central- I loth putting this up, but this season was killer. Was I annoyed with by the constant yells of "Yeah" whenever I rocked a fitted, YES!!! But even with that, I can't knock the hustle. Dave has some of the most poignant social and racial commentary on TV!
3) Desperate Housewives- ABC- I don't know how I started watching this, but it is definitely addictive. If you haven't watched, stay away, you'll get caught up.
Film
1)City of God- I know it was released before, but it's soooo good. Also make sure to check out the extras on the DVD.
2) Mean Girls- To me a new(er) Clueless. I don't care what y'all say, this movie is fetch! For some unknown reason, I was drawn to this movie and saw it a couple times in theaters. I haven't gotten the DVD yet, but it's my most coveted xmas gift.
3) Supersize me- I know that it's not the best documentary that came out, but the take home message was beautifully illustrated. If it could get me to stop messing with fast food, well okay, reduce my fast food consumption, it had to be on point. I still get sick thinking about eating McDonald's! FYI: There is an effort to bring Super Size Me into classrooms for health education, they will modify the original version, but there is also a conservative "movement" to stop the film from getting to kids. True story, I'm signed up for conservative listservs so I now know some of their inner workings ;)
Sports
1) The Battle at Auburn Hills- So people never eva, eva, eva get it twisted, the battle took place in Auburn Hills with some West Bloomfield thugs. So the media used it as one more opportunity to villiafy Detroit, but everybody who knows, knows. Enough of that, the OG award goes to Stevie Jackson for running up in the stands and the runner up is definitely J. O'neal with that one hitter quitter. Some straight up playground action!
2) Finally the Red Sox Win- Even as a Mets fan, I gotta give respect where respect is due. Boston took the crown and now rocks out to tunes by the Drop Kick Murphy's. Congrats... though I still hate Bean Town.
3)Kobe- Nuff Said.
Local
1)The Ann Arbor flasher- terrible crime, dumb criminal. Larry Harrison,starting tackle for the U of M footbal team, was caught because he only flashed during home game weekends. Clearly brotha needs some help.
2) Arbor Update- This year, the colloborative weblog Arbor Update emerged as Ann Arbor news central. Not only has it been referenced multiple times as as source in the Ann Arbor News, but it one of the few locations where people of vastly different political and social orientations can be found "debating" each other. Am I biased because I contribute, yeah, so what, no one said I was "fair and balanced" like Fox News.
3) Critical Moment- Critical Moment, originally known as Moment, is a great progressive voice for the Ann Arbor metro area (sorry I thought I would make up a term). It has been expanding in readership and each issue has aesthically improved. Keep submitting stories and it will keep flourishing.
Honorable Mentions- Qdoba and Big Ten Burrito- Ah, finally affordable tasty burritos.
This concludes my best of 2004. Think I got it wrong? Tell me so! One
Monday, December 20, 2004
Multicultural Co-op Theme House
Gilberto Simpson has been working on organizing a multicultural cooperative them house . Rather than restate everything, the email I recieved is pasted below.
Are you serious about multiculturalism? Do you want to want to live in a
positive environment with other students interested in promoting
diversity?
A unique opportunity has arisen to create a multicultural cooperative
theme house in the north State area of Ann Arbor but we need members who
want to be a part of it. It could be whatever kind of place we define it
to be. An ongoing residential community, a revolutionary meeting hall, a
home away from home, a chance to learn about yourself, a place to be
nurtured both spiritually and culturally, a refuge where you can be
yourself, and above all a great place to live.
Physically the house has enough space for 23 people (both singles and
doubles available) high-speed DSL access in every room, cable tv,
washer/dryer and an industrial kitchen. Monthly charges would be
aproximately $450 per month (including regular meals, utilities and
supplies)
If you are interested in participating in this exciting possibility then
send an e-mail to themehouse@umich.edu or call 734-709-4921
Are you serious about multiculturalism? Do you want to want to live in a
positive environment with other students interested in promoting
diversity?
A unique opportunity has arisen to create a multicultural cooperative
theme house in the north State area of Ann Arbor but we need members who
want to be a part of it. It could be whatever kind of place we define it
to be. An ongoing residential community, a revolutionary meeting hall, a
home away from home, a chance to learn about yourself, a place to be
nurtured both spiritually and culturally, a refuge where you can be
yourself, and above all a great place to live.
Physically the house has enough space for 23 people (both singles and
doubles available) high-speed DSL access in every room, cable tv,
washer/dryer and an industrial kitchen. Monthly charges would be
aproximately $450 per month (including regular meals, utilities and
supplies)
If you are interested in participating in this exciting possibility then
send an e-mail to themehouse@umich.edu or call 734-709-4921
Born Day
"I woke up early on my born day... it's a blessin" -Nas
This line has been running through my head all day. I don't know why I'm posting, more so to give thanks to those who have come before me, with me, and those who shall come after me. It's rare for Black men to make it this far along in their lives without experiences some real systematic struggles (incarceration, children, violence), for the most part, I've survived or have been missed by all of these. So on my born day, I want to just say, celebrate yourselves, everyday on top of this earth is an amazing one. We gotta struggle, but a change is gonna come. I'll be postin more now that I'm on winter break too.
This line has been running through my head all day. I don't know why I'm posting, more so to give thanks to those who have come before me, with me, and those who shall come after me. It's rare for Black men to make it this far along in their lives without experiences some real systematic struggles (incarceration, children, violence), for the most part, I've survived or have been missed by all of these. So on my born day, I want to just say, celebrate yourselves, everyday on top of this earth is an amazing one. We gotta struggle, but a change is gonna come. I'll be postin more now that I'm on winter break too.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Ward is out... and BAMN is stupid...
So the good news of the week for me is that Wardell aka Ward Connerly will not seek another appointment on U of C board of regents when his term expires in March 2005!!!! Cue cheers and adulation. The bad news from where I stand is that he will likely dedicate more time to states like Michigan, where he has a plan to dismantle what's left of Affirmative Action. The most hilarious part of the article has to be Ward Connerly calling BAMN a "stupid organization." Ah, eloquent as usual!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
A2 achievement gap, Black Solidarity Conference, Felons and Voting
Ann Arbor is in the national spotlight, this week in Time, due to the achievement gap between Black and White students. Ann Arbor is one of the highest performing districts in the state of Michigan, but features one of the largest gaps between MEAP, SAT, and grades between Black and White students. Glad to see it's getting more coverage, sad there is no new info in it, but gives hope for the value of my dissertation which partially covers the Ann Arbor Black-White achievement gap.
The Black Student Union is organizing a Black Solidarity Conference the weekend of Feb 4th-6th. The conference is projecting an attendance of about 200 folks, so they are looking for students to host visitors. Contact bigshel@umich.edu for more information.
The question of felons being allowed to vote in NY is still not "settled." Want more info on felon voting disenfranchisement, click here or here. FYI: Felons who have served there time in the state of Michigan are allowed to vote.
The Black Student Union is organizing a Black Solidarity Conference the weekend of Feb 4th-6th. The conference is projecting an attendance of about 200 folks, so they are looking for students to host visitors. Contact bigshel@umich.edu for more information.
The question of felons being allowed to vote in NY is still not "settled." Want more info on felon voting disenfranchisement, click here or here. FYI: Felons who have served there time in the state of Michigan are allowed to vote.
Monday, November 08, 2004
See you in Canada? G-G-G-OP Unit? 50 the anti-christ?
So I was all set to go to Canada (Mexico, Venezuela, or any other place people could argue convincingly about) immediately following last Tuesday's results and I know I'm not alone! William Jelani Cobb has a great commentary about expatriation. So who is down to leave?
Hadji Williams comes with some ruckus about the hidden conservative youth vote in the 2004 presidential election. It's an interesting piece about culture (really how people dress and what they listen to)and their political leanings. My favorite quote is "many of those who did vote screamed revolution for a while but went
behind the curtain and changed clothes on us and rolled with the G-G-G-G…O-P Unit!"
Lastly, reason 452, 50 cent may be the anti-christ are reports that he didn't vote after endorsing the "Vote or Die" campaign. Some are speculating because he is a convicted felon he may not have been able to vote, unless he's currently on parole, he was good to go in New York, right? And I really don't care if Luda or Paris Hilton did or didn't vote. Ludacris was probably too busy thinking about Bill O'Reilly and Paris Hilton... no comment.
Still don't have my thoughts together on the election results.
Hadji Williams comes with some ruckus about the hidden conservative youth vote in the 2004 presidential election. It's an interesting piece about culture (really how people dress and what they listen to)and their political leanings. My favorite quote is "many of those who did vote screamed revolution for a while but went
behind the curtain and changed clothes on us and rolled with the G-G-G-G…O-P Unit!"
Lastly, reason 452, 50 cent may be the anti-christ are reports that he didn't vote after endorsing the "Vote or Die" campaign. Some are speculating because he is a convicted felon he may not have been able to vote, unless he's currently on parole, he was good to go in New York, right? And I really don't care if Luda or Paris Hilton did or didn't vote. Ludacris was probably too busy thinking about Bill O'Reilly and Paris Hilton... no comment.
Still don't have my thoughts together on the election results.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Fun with Maps...
So there are a number of maps floating around the internet these days regarding November 2nd's election. Some hilarious. Some disturbing. These are the most thought provoking to me. What do you think?
This is frightening.
red counties went for Bush, Blue for Kerry, Grey were undecided
This is frightening.
red counties went for Bush, Blue for Kerry, Grey were undecided
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Say it ain't so....
Life imitating art...?
So I've had a day to process the election and its results... well after a day, I'm convinced it still sucks! Bad news, except for medical marijuana in Ann Arbor and the Detroit school board. I'm still searching for the words to describe the past couple of days... more on that to come later...
Monday, November 01, 2004
Tinkering under the hood... Voter Guide
I've been tinkering under the hood of the site since its return, it may not look different yet, but I hope the improvements will make your blackatmichigan.com experience better. It's amazing how much stuff I forgot about blogging and the web, even more amazing how hard it is to figure out how to get stuff working again.
Too busy or lazy to figure out who to vote for besides the president? Solution= A voter guide (of course from good sources. Tomorrow in Election day, ya know, go Vote or Die but while you're at it, print out Goodspeed Updates' Voter Guide. That is of course if you're in the Ann Arbor area, not in A-deuce, check out the League of Pissed of Voters' Guides for you local area. Aight, off to try to break writers block!!!!!
Too busy or lazy to figure out who to vote for besides the president? Solution= A voter guide (of course from good sources. Tomorrow in Election day, ya know, go Vote or Die but while you're at it, print out Goodspeed Updates' Voter Guide. That is of course if you're in the Ann Arbor area, not in A-deuce, check out the League of Pissed of Voters' Guides for you local area. Aight, off to try to break writers block!!!!!
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