Today in Black America

Long time no see (well not see but any other choice comes of strange)

Here at the offices of the New Negro there has been many changes largely personal, partly being lazy assed about updating. So let me see if I can recap the biggest news o the last few months:

Barrack Obama is considering a run for the Presidency

A black man was shot and killed by the NYPD under curious circumstances

Michael Richards aka Kramer went bat shit crazy at a LA comedy, repeatedly saying Nigger a total of six times and even added an allusion to lynching

Paul Mooney has renounced the N-word

The Wire returned with a vengeance looking at the public school system and will soon make an appearance on BET.

Wesley Snipes stupid ass just got arraigned on tax charges

More later

The News of the World

Hear at the NNF we strive to always be topical and especially in this current enviroment (with marches, high crimes and the like) we've decided to let you read some of the news for yourself

Teacher bans laptops; Students take to the virtual seats
- This is a local story; University of Memphis law prof June Entman has banned the use of notebooks in her class begininng this month. Some students have begun to petition the rule but it appears to have the support of the law school's dean and doesn't infringe on ABA rules. The incident has brought up multiple questions especially about how technology affects classroom education. Here are the Links:

Slate (toward the bottom), "The Revolution Delayed"

The Commercial Appeal, "Laptop ban Revolt"

Concuring Opinions, "Should Proffesors ban Laptops in Class"

The Middle Eastern Conflict (Academic Edition)
- Recently to noted political science proffesors John Mearsheimer (Univ. of Chicago) and Stephen Walt (Harvard) recently made public a working paper on pro-Isreali interest groups. In the paper the proffesors suggested there is a loose confederation of interest groups, persons, and other organizations that have a great influence on American policy in regards to Isreal and the Middle East. Additonally, they argue this has negative conotations for our foreign policy. This is a controversial topic because it brings up issues of anti-semitism and the trick nature of the US/Isreali relationship. Also if someone like David Duke agrees with you, you're bound to catch fire. As with the above some articles for your parusal:

The Washington Post, "Of Isreal, Harvard, and David Duke"

The LA Times, "Who's Afraid of the Isreal Lobby?"

and the article itself, The Isreal Lobby


Two views on Black America: "Marriage is for White People" and "Plight Deepens for Black Men"
- From the NY Times and the Wash. Post respectively. The first article deals with the changing nature of marriage is seen from the perspective of Black women and men from the op-ed column. The second article describes how Black men continue to lag behind in the job market and some of it's causes.

Marriage is for White People-- Joy Jones

Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn-- Erik Eckholm

If I didn't get to any stories you wanted to get covered, STUFF IT! it's my blog get your own. I will try to update the edtiorials tommorow. As always check out my boy Marcus Seaberry's blog which you can find on the side , thank you for reading , feedback is always welcomed. Till later......

2006

I haven't been a good blogger....

Mind you the quality has been better than the quantity (even if grammaticaly incorrect). It has been a rough year for me as well as the billions of others on this strange blue orb. The events of the year 2005 are almost biblical in their symetry; war, pestilence, famine, and disease. Death seems to be flowing out of every crack and orifice. There was corruption and the taint of corruption in politics. Here in Memphis politicians danced the Tennessee Waltz and ended up in jail (of note State Sen. John Ford) our mayor went AWOL and showed back up with a baby in tow. In Washington, a man named Abrhamoff was investigated; Tom deLay was arraigned; and Bush is now considered a liar. We have seen new fads, technologies, and a war on christmas (and I apologize becuase I was really wanting to let loose with the Save Baby Jesus sticker).

Well lets see what else...
in '05 BBC brought back the Doctor (I was glad) My computer went bloop (I was sad) and My brother died (I was mad and sad) I got a job (which turned out to be temporary)

So what am I trying to say; I don't really know. I don't even know if I should write wishing good tidings for '06 (I'm too much a contrarian). So I wish you luck, I wish you peace(or good medication to simulate such), I wish you good humor, moments of clarity, light in dark moments, but above all a good new year and one good thought... till next time

How not to write a Blog

You know I applaud anyone who can successfully do a blog; the kind with the links on the side , good sytax and sentence structure, and timely (none of which this site is). I strive to publish a continuous blog but many things get in the way(life, BS, etc.). So the finished product is often a haphazard work of the type often associated with third graders. So if you don't want to be like me here are tips so that you too can be a big leaguer:

Have a good hook (You just don't realize how a good title can bring the readers)

Be Topical (and not just the traditional political topics but something really controversial such as Seaseme Street's secret advocation for the use of hallucinegenic drugs)

Have links (people just love links and will visit you often)

Use adult language (look at how popular it made Richard Pryor)

Get on TV (Talk about the the Bloggis revolution and the end of the mainstream media)

Use only Blogger.com ('Cause it's free)

Do these things and you'll be HUGE

For My Brother

It is funny how we answer complicated questions with simple answers; how we view things through a prism seeing how things were and how they are all in the same viewing. And that is how I view my brother. I tried doing this earlier but it wasn’t coming (people say I have a gift for words but they are all flat to me)’ but I keep writing hoping the right ones come. As it says in the byline this is for my brother, whom died Saturday of last week. What do you say about the one who was your kin; your weekend tormentor and sometimes fellow TV watcher? How do you describe the boy you had had to preempt to a dinner table and gave you uncalled kisses on the cheek while in a headlock? How do you encapsulate a life that you’ve seen from varying perspectives? I don’t know. I can describe the instances and events that happen between brothers, the obvious fights and jealousies that encapsulate any relationship bound by blood. The time he tried to buy my silence with pizza or the time he gave me chickenpox. When I was there at his funeral I realized there was a lot I didn’t know about him and a lot of things left unsaid. I can’t say I always liked him and he was not an angel; but he was my brother, my big brother. He was the one who gave me my nieces. He was the one who I set some of my standards by. If there is one regret it is that I didn’t talk to him more. In the past week I’ve heard from people who said what he thought of me but I rather heard from him. And who I didn’t tell I loved and respected him. In the end I don’t know, He was a man; a good man and one who tried to walk with god. This is for my brother, for Quinton Roy Fowler; whom I loved.

shoutouts

Found this in my draft box and thought this was about a good way to start as anywhere else. Without delay the second post of the new year; I liked to give a shout out to anyone who has read an entry and came back (even just to place an ad). Also this is for my fellow bloggers especially those who either have blogger's block or overflowed with too much information. To my boys Paul West, Angry Nick, and Marcus S. aka King Indie aka Anwar Sadat aka MSea.(check out his site which you can find a link on the side right to the right). Also I want to hollerout to those I know who I don't see but keep in my thoughts (sorry but I forgot y'alls names). Big ups to those who labor in the shadow and the light; those who clean up our messes, the media, the buracrcy, dissenters, and all those women in the world that have made me stutter. Keep hanging, keep strong, and keep loose.

GO SIT DOWN!!

(This is a contiuation of my previous rant)

There is a new a single making the rounds on the radio lately by Maceo and it really encapsulates what some of these politicians and pundits and just plain dumb mafrockers need to do when then don't have something intelligent, helpful, or gramaticaly correct to say: HOE SIT DOWN!

(insert said idiot) sit down, every time I come around
u hollering, screamin, jumpin up and down
Jump around me h_e, I'ma hit ya wit a bow
knock ya down, and don't give a f_k if u get up hoe

On another line of thought; there should be a law against a motherfrocker showing up on TV when something happens just to say they were there (and in turns meant they did something) or to congradulate people who ain't did nothing and only did so because they thought it would play well in their district *


in the previous entry I tried to tell you how the New Negro viewed the political sitch here are some articles by those who can but the words into complex sentences.

John Dickerson "Political Hurricane" slate.com

Howard Kurtz "Media Notes " washington.com

David Remick "Under Water" newyorker.com

For an alternate view (I know you're out their Mr. Conservative)

The Big O (Ophrah) is on the loose nytimes.com

Also to see reporters gone wild check out this salon.com

also peep out Kanye West's new album it's good.


* be forwarned, the nytimes site requires membership to view articles (it's free 99). salon requires you to watch an add for a day pass.



*This doesn't mean I don't advocate such in certain times; but one should neither be blatant with it or try to do it if they don't have the brains or emotional range for it.

In the Middle of the Tempest

First came the hurricane;
then the levee brakes;
now we hear the moans a politicians makes.

It has been about a week and a half since the Hurricane and things have gone to shit. What we see before us has been a systemic brakedown of epic proportions. It began with the mayor of New Orleans Ray Naggin going off on local radio and continued to network and cable reporters (all of whom can be said to bge incensed by what's happend). It was striking to see Anderson Cooper, Mister I'm on mild depressant sounding; Mr I like grass watching press LA Senator Mary Landrieu about politician backslapping. Also striking was how Shep Smith of Fox News who can and does come off as a flippant American was trained of any sense of spin and polish delivering news from the highway leading out of the city. When he was on Hannity and Colmes; he had a look at one point that said if this dude (Sean Hannity trying to put this "in perspective") don't shut up he was going to come back to New York; shake his hand then put he foot down his throat and start stomping. But it wasn't just two incidents; Nightline's Ted Copple was on the tear after FEMA's director and TIm Russert basically challenged DHS head Chertoff to be a man and admit his faults (but this is the Bush Admin; only thing free flowing is bullshit and onomadapeia). However today's journal is all about the political aspect of what's happenend. I know what you're going to say, "this is above politics". To which I will reply it should be but it ain't. Especially after the last two elections and the growth in extreme partisanship (which I argue was started by conservatives). In looking at it imagine a type of strategy game for example chess and go. Chess represents the quick studied actions of a battle while Go represents the course of war (a series of skirmises and battles). the first level; the chess level involves the immediate look of the crisis. On one side is the state and local governemnts (in this case LA which has a complicated rep along with the fact they are run by democrats) and the Federal government (the Bush Admin). While the begining of this had everyone banding to gether; the delayed reaction on the part of FEMA and DHS whose job it is to handle major disasters and of George Bush to come out and comfort the nation had but blame or at least the bad smell in their court. Now we slowly hear information about the state and local gov'ts culpability in regards to the event as well as a mobilization of pundants to push to blame them (as well in some cases those left behind). This is a part of the short term chess type issue. the Go side reflects how this as well as souring opinion on Iraq will affect the rest of Bush's presidency. As we have seen for the past week; Bush and those under him are facing backlash for their actions. While this can be quieted (by the deputies falling on their swords); their actions have added to already taited legacy that is George Bush's. Also the way he and some of his party have handled relations with the opposition party have left very little good feeling to be used to ease this crisis out of their corner. Additionally, George Bush has proven himself lacking in terms of both his role as an MBA president and as a Comforter in Chief. I think Dennis Miller saying that Bush is a checkers type of President has proven false; becuase even in that game their must be a certain level of finess.

Light in the Dark 

helping hands 

Lights in the Darkness

Someone asked me to write about the Hurricane to ring my own perspective to it. I’ve thought about it. I have had thoughts. And I pulled out a sketch pad to write them down. But nothing really came. For the past week I’ve absorbed the coverage everything from the network news to the cable shows. I have looked at the pictures of the disposed and saw internet boards of people searching for loved and letting people know they were okay. I’ve seen and heard about people doing what they can for the people in need and seen those in power do very little. I have seen grown men cry at the futility of their Herculean actions. And I have seen women and children lost. There has been talk of looters and snipers and the scenes I have witness make it look as if it is some other country; a place not my own. I really don’t know what I can add to the situation. I don’t think words or even simple gestures can answer what happened. And like in many cases it wasn’t the storm but it was what came after that made this worse. There were signs and reports detailing the possibility that this would happen and that this kind of devastation was likely. As I write this I keep stopping and starting; my feelings and observations keep coming and mingling. I keep thinking about the fact that there were lines for gas because of rumors about gas shut-offs. I am pissed a how the market doesn’t dip down in value and how Wall Street can see such hope in all this mess. I ‘m mad that at the beginning of this every damn cable news channel called people refugees when they are citizens of these United States. I’m mad at any foreign pundant, reporter, or person who sees this as punishment for the “crimes” of the US against the world. I am mad as hell that I can’t cry when looking at scenes of children and grown men and women begging to be rescued. I want to now why aren’t; why didn’t we move haven and earth to protect are people. I sick of people saying they are doing everything possible when they aren’t doing a thing. I hate that I can’t add expletives to describe the level of disgust at how my black people have said nothing. I’m mad that that no one has stopped, just stopped and mourned or just broke something. I’m mad at how this had made me realized my powerlessness and my callousness toward my fellow man. I want to hug everyone who had to make the hard choice of letting go of that hand or the one who decided to let go. I agree with the mayor of New Orleans when he said that there should be a moratorium on press conferences; especially those that are only made to show leaders “doing” something. I want to see at least one person in charge ask for forgiveness and say they weren’t there that they should’ve been. I want to agree with Clarence Paige when he said we failed because we did not and do not protect the least of these. I want to thank God that we here in Memphis didn’t suffer the fate of those in the lower half of the Mississippi. I want to thank all those around the world who offered help and comfort and prayers. I agree that their was a racial aspect to this and I don’t care if that’s popular. I wish to god that I had the words to say everything that’s in my heart; but I know I can’t. Nothing ever promised but I know there is a light in the darkness and a peace in the valley.

My America 

False Idols

I don't know who reading this, and no one gives me feedback and that makes me angry [and you won't like me when I'm angry]

Today's topic boys and girls is Idols. No, not American Idol [because I can't use the word dog more than hree times day] this is about the one's you read about in the bible. Those of the replacing God type Idols; the golden calves and new philosophies that we take up because they are the things we think give us meaning. What are the idols that you covet? What is the one thing that you cling to because without it you feel you woun't be who you are. The reason I aam speaking like this is because I read a NY Times article talking about a recent biography on Fredrick Nietche (excuse the misspell). FN was the philosopher who said God is dead, but what he left out was that he had the new relgion [for future reference when one makes such a bold statement he or she is looking to fulfill said role.] I found the article vary interesting in that it breifly explained how one man in the pursuit or exercise of his intellect became a victim of carrying out his ideas to their logical conclusions. for FN that meant leaving behind the accept norms of the day for a life best descriped as reprobated or in the words of Hobbes and paraphrased by me as short, dirty, and frequented by acts of violence and sex.


To read the article 1) go to http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/books/review/14VOLLMAN.html

2) Subscribe to the NY Times website it's free ya cheapscates

henchman #2 magical negro 

Martin Lufa daKing 

Is Your Journey Really Necessary

Just had to use that

Just visited Common's website and listened to some samples of his newest CD; must say it is truly something; this must've been what it felt like to hear BeBop ffor this first time.

In Other News:

Why is it that everybody is hollering about Jude Law banging his nanny (for the fact why the hell am I?)


Karl Rove is still at work which proves what everyone says about roaches and nukes.

Must give a shout out to all my Negroes out there in the World especially the Professor Zandria who is going to NorthWaestern for her PHd, Good Luck to ya.

What else is there to say?

Later, Da Negro

Where We Going

As I look amongst the nations I see my people on fire. They have a fever that infects their entire being and which appears no cure except for common sense and a swift kick in the ass.


How ya, how ya doin... Where the fuck are you going. It something I have been wondering as of late. What do we do after the big events; when do we stop living (after high school, college, a successful career?) Where do our dreams go? Do they shrivel up like a raisin in the sun? How do you keep hope in times of darkness? Take the Zen position Don't think, DO.



Peace in da Middle East

Misc 2

Before I begin I ask everyone to pray for the families of those who were killed or wounded today in the London bombing.


On Bush: still cannot stand him I've tried but i just can't do it Lolly

On O'Connor: Make that money girl get out before they give you sometthing

On the Net: check out my boy Marcus Seaberry's A View From the Middle especially his most recent post (http://www.mseaview.blogspot.com).

Also learn about the unknown history of the NASSA and the Negro Spacew Program(http://www.negrospaceprogram.com)


On this post: Take me home mother; I am THRU

The View from the Hood

This is an old letter that was a long time coming. I have been out of school for a few months now and I find myself wanting to go back. Despite the fact you have to do mind-numbing papers the long lines at the bookstore and having to do business with anyone from Financial Aid; I miss the stimulation and energy that comes from that setting. It is a nervous energy with everybody striving not to be where they are but to be somewhere, anywhere else. And it is strange because when you are there you would give anything not to be. And truthfully it is miles different from the place I am now. when I started school I hardly looked at the enviroment I grew up in and to tell the truth I have never really been one of the Boyz in da hood. SO it has been a rude awakening looking at the neighborhood and at some of the people in it and myself. I don'tt want to paint a negative picture and I know that there are many succes stories in the hood, but there is something that festers here something that has created a void where the highest achievment is high school and a middle level service job. There has got to be something going on when you have a whole generation that has grown up to inhabit the small squares of cement that is either at the end of a street and in front of there houses. There has to be some reason there whole slews of people who are alcoholic and drug addicted. It is like anyone form the hood can get caught up in the corner and as I see it it is only thru the grace of god that I'm not one.

NUKE NEGRO

Sorry for the delay I keep saying that (I don't mean it)

Anyway, this is a special episode of NNF and will hopefully signal a new change in the format.

About two days ago I attended an open forum put on by Central Baptist Church. They were discusing the placing of a nuclear disposal plant on President's Island (for those that don't know the island located past MLK Park in Southwest Memphis) by a company known as RACE. I came in the middle of the presentation so I missed the introductons. Now if you have ever been to a public forum populated by angry African-Americans then you know whoever they're mad at will not get a word in edgewise. I'm not going to go over the issue at hand because the whole event ended up being a confusing mess; the president of RACE along with their chief council were there to discuss what the plant does but they were constantly getting cut off by irate Negroes (especially a black woman in the front who looked like the old lady on 227). A slight aside when aking questions do not mention your life story or talk about your education in situations in which they ain't relevant. Also, keep your conspiracy theories to at least 2. going on. There were many problems with the forum. First RACE needed to have had one main speaker; one versed in both the lawsuit and the nature of the business. RACE came off looking a little amateurish. Secondly the people running the forum needed to keep a tighter reign on the event. One person would ask a question bacame five and at one point there was an argument over wheteher one guy (a worker at the plant) was from South memphis. And then there was the opposition. The lawyer for the group against the plant kept reiterating about his recieving a law degree from Stanford and the various cases he handled. Also the arguments he made in regard to case smelled funny. Lastly there was the combination of Barbera Cooper and the Rev Ralph White (both came equipped with entorages). Cooper the first to speak after the presentation talked about how she always fought for the community, about education and after that confused me so I stopped listening. White came up and for the most part talked about the persecution he faced for opposing the plant and felt so unnerved that he brought his own poss in the form of the Men Of Bloomfield. He kept running in and out the whole night. I want you to know that it is now election season in Memphis (specificaly the District9 seat of Haqrold Jr. and the State Senate seat of John Ford)

More Later