OPEN THREAD
I’ve never done this before, but hey - it’s Friday. Let’s try something new.Â
What do you want to talk about?Â
What’s important to you?Â
What’s the issue that everyone is missing?Â
Politics? Religion? World Affairs? Local Happenings?Â
CLICK “COMMENTS” AND LET ‘ER RIP!Â
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:37 am
Hey heber why is it that all these murders go on in the city right near the street cameras . i know for a fact that i have seen youngsters selling drugs right in front of the cameras. do they really work ?
Or was this another waste of taxpayers dollars.
June 3rd, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Why is it that not many people seem to care about all the murders, or about what is happening to black people in Baltimore City? Why is it that you always see a select few people, the NAACP, and one or two others, protesting or speaking about crime, murder, justice, fire and police department discrimination, etc…Why is it that everyday in the paper, I read about all of the great things the mayor is doing, but I live in a filthy, rat infested city, bad schools, high unemployment, exhorbitant fees and taxes, an inefficient transportation system, streets so jacked up I fear for the health of my car everytime I drive, and some really, really poor people that are getting burned up in their own homes because they can’t even afford basic essentials like electricity? Where are the people screaming out, the black and white faith based and community service organizations, Acorn, associated black charities, urban league, the lawyers, doctors, teachers, the people? Where are the doctors who have to treat thousands of poor people with neglected health issues, drug addictions, diseases? Where are the results in our communities from decades of black elected officials and democrats in city and state leadership and policy making positions, council and state positions that determine the policies and resources for the city? What are we working for, striving for, living for? How do we explain and justify our conditions to our children? Are we alone in caring about these things, Heber?
June 3rd, 2007 at 11:25 pm
I am very concerned about economic issues in the African American community. There is a widening disparity between African Americans and other races in terms of wages and the economic injustices such as inadequate healthcare, rising utility costs, higher interest rates, unemployment and etc. I have recently began writing a column once a month in the Baltimore Afro. I believe, that the same economic injustices exist today as they did when Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about in Where Do We Go From Here. King believed that the next step towards setting people free after breaking the chains of segregation was to address the problem of poverty.
June 4th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Hey Anon (June 2). I’m not a big fan at all of the street cameras. To me they represent a failed policy and wasted public dollars. The cameras are “sexy†from a political standpoint, but ineffective from a practical standpoint. They don’t reduce crime - they move it. Now the City Council is trying to put them in public schools. Go to the “search†button near the top of my blog and search for cameras (or security) and I’m sure you’ll find all of my complaints about this issue. I’ve vented about this alot over the years. Thanks for your comment.
Hi “Do We Really Believe It’s All Goodâ€. Of course, I share your frustration on the myriad of social ills outlined in your comment. As much as my frustration would sometimes have me to believe; I have no doubt that there are others out there who care just as deeply about these issues and are willing to sacrifice for the larger community’s betterment. My personal mission now involves connecting with others of likemind to work together on these issues. Revising a statement from Dr. King: we can either work together as sisters and brothers or we’ll perish together as fools. This is not a hobby for me. It’s not something that I do in my spare time because I’m bored. I was created by God to be a voice for social justice and work toward the realization of the Beloved Community. Like you, I’ll continue to raise awareness on these issues and challenge people to get involved. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Mark. Thanks for your commitment to economic equity for the African American community. I agree with you that it’s an issue of high importance. I look forward to your columns in the Afro. Please keep us in the loop as it relates to your workshops/trainings/or activities. Is your interest focused on economic advancement on the individual level or the communal level? (i.e. securing government contracts, etc.)
June 5th, 2007 at 11:07 am
keep talking brother.
June 5th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Hey C Love - I’m hoping that we can meet soon. We know some of the same people and share a mission for media justice and equity in Baltimore. May God bless you and your work.
June 6th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Bro. Heber,
My primary focus is the economic advancement of the whole African American community. Economic issues are not typically addressed in the African American community. So I try to accomplish this goal through individual financial education. I have not applied for government funding. I volunteer during the week to teach youth ages 10 and up the importance of financial management, budgeting, investing, skill development and other business principles. For adults, I have seminars and workshops dealing with entrepreneurship, credit management, basic investing and advanced investing concepts. I try to teach individuals that as the largest group of consumers in the United States, we possess great power. So that we can move from a mindset of consuming to producing.
June 7th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Heber,
Tyrone on BrothaSpeak said when you were interviewing Del. Jill Carter that if Sheila Dixon became Mayor he’d put a big sign or a billboard at a busy intersection that says “Save us Jill” and you talked about how folks need to put our time, money, voices, and energy to work helping Del. Carter and other good leaders. So, what can we do to help her run for Mayor? Is Tyrone arranging the sign?
PS I posted your interview to freestatepolitics.blogspot.com. Keep it up!
June 7th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Hey Bo,
I just finished watching that video again and I think there are some things that were emphasized that we should pay particular attention to. First, there was the admonishment to financially support real leaders like Del. Carter. The usual events like house parties, phone banking, and fundraising events I’m sure would be appreciated and definitely necessary.
In addition, you can help by doing exactly what you did today in posting content on the web about Carter. Mainstream media will not give Carter (and other strong community leaders running for office) the type of coverage that would yield widespread support so I’m sure that she would appreciate the blogger/independent media community spreading her message far and wide. Writing op/eds and Letters to the Editor are also good ideas.
Finally, volunteering (and getting others to volunteer) is a crucial component. Getting boots on the ground and activated in the community is key. Machine-backed candidates have resources on a level that makes community canvassing less necessary, however, leaders like Carter and Bundley draw strength from grassroots support/mobilization.
As far as Tyrone’s sign goes - I’ll check with him on that. Do you have any ideas for which billboard location should be used?
P.S. - I’m sure nothing I typed here was new to you, but I spelled it out anyway in hopes that others would read it and get involved.
…and FYI - Carter’s new website is up, but still under construction. I corrected the link on my sidebar.