Faith in Action

According to Move On.Org they sure are. I found this 33 second video from Move On quite amusing and creative.

Pretty interesting piece on Baltimore from Aljazeera English. They do a pretty good job of presenting news from a different perspective and I’m heartened by their Code of Ethics.

Part 1 deals more with stories from Baltimore.

Part 2 talks about Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and race in America for the first 5:40. Remainder of the vid goes back to Baltimore.

Teen Summit is back on BET! Well, not really, but that’s what it looked like last night. Rapper T.I.P., the self proclaimed “King of the South”, was on a real humble tip - introspective deep thinking and all that as he talked to Toure’ about his recent troubles with the law and upcoming 1 year jail time for having unregistered machine guns and being a felon in the possession of firearms. Before he hits the jail cell though he has to spend 1,000 hours talking to youth about the “pitfalls of guns, gangs, and drugs.” T.I. copped a plea deal because he was about to do some MAJOR time. Rappers are going to jail these days. Ya’ll betta clean it up. Those corporations will back you as long as you pimp your people with your lyrical poison, but the minute you slip up - those commercial deals are gone! T.I. rounded out the “public service announcement” by giving a shout out to God and sharing how this whole experience I.E. - hitting rock bottom, doing jail time, and not seeing his wife and 5 children for a year has brought him closer to The Almighty. Let’s pray that his music reflects his revelation upon his release.

Not only did T.I. do some community service with the interview, but I’m sure it was an attempt by BET to get some positive imaging as well. “Black Evil Television” is reeling as people across the nation are saying “Enough is Enough!” [DID YOU CALL Proctor & Gamble YET?] Bloggers are having a field day with CEO of BET, Debra Lee, and President of Entertainment, Reggie Hudlin as a report by the Parents Television Council confirmed what many of us already knew. BET broadcasts instances of sex, violence, profanity, and/or obscenities every 38 seconds! Debbie & Reggie -these two “leading Blacks” are still attempting to justify the objectification of women, glorifying of violence, and debasing of Black Culture by basically saying, “We just play the videos, we don’t make them” which is the equivalent of drug dealers on North Avenue saying, “We just sell crack, we don’t fly it over here.” We ain’t buying it, Debra. You and all the other capitalistic opportunists who work for you are culpable in the destruction of your own people, but at least ya’ll keep us on beat as we dance to the tune of our own demise.

BY THE WAY - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOLKS…WATCH THE TWO BANNED EPISODES OF THE BOONDOCKS CARTOON ABOUT BET! Episode 1 and Episode 2 are here. Watch it fast before “they” pull it. Youtube has already banned it. In the words of The Joker, “THEY CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Thanks Common Sense.

Next - and this will be very quick because I’m sure they’re watching me too….

I have a sneaky suspicion that the so-called “DC Madam,” Deborah Palfrey did NOT commit suicide. I do not think it is ironic that early last year, one of the female escorts who worked for Palfrey’s escort service was also found dead by hanging and the official report was that she committed suicide. Now Palfrey commits suicide by hanging as well! When she gave indications to those around her that she was being followed and that there was a contract out on her life! Sorry - in the words of Jay-Z: “I don’t believe you. You need more people!” Palfrey must have had some major dirt on some politicos in Washington. They needed her to enter the bright white light quick.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

I have to speak at a Baltimore City High School today and I don’t feel like giving the white-washed, prepackaged, nicely manufactured speech. I’m tired. They need the truth. The “Sunday School” speech I.E. stay in school, don’t you be no fool, learn the golden rule, just say no and don’t have sex just isn’t working. About 100 students will be packed in a room for about 45 minutes to listen to me. The least I can do is tell them the truth.

THE TRUTH:

I’m sure other things will come out as well. I may get kicked out of the school, but hey - they need an adult to confirm what they already feel and know deep down on the inside. They may not be able to articulate it, but they know it.

In case “they” read this too and their worry prompts them to make plans for me, let me give my DC Madam Disclaimer:

I HAVE NO SUICIDAL THOUGHTS - NO REASON TO COMMIT SUICIDE - I AM LOVING MY JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS - PASTOR SANDERS TOLD ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE THAT IF PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE THEY GO STRAIGHT TO HELL AND I DON’T WANT TO GO TO HELL - I HAVE PLANS FOR TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT - I GET PAID NEXT WEEK - TOO MANY OF MY PEOPLE WERE HANGED I WOULD NEVER END MY LIFE WITH A NOOSE, A BULLET, A KNIFE, AN OVERDOSE, OR A JUMP OFF OF A BRIDGE!

Now if something happens and I’m not around anymore and the official report says I committed suicide - ya’ll betta raise all kinds of trouble to find the truth. Don’t let me go out like that. Make ‘em pay or they’ll come for you next!

SOURCE: Washington Post

Channel Changer
Three Years Ago, Reggie Hudlin Came To Save a Troubled BET. But Has He?

By Teresa Wiltz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 4, 2008; M01

NEW YORK — To understand the irony, skip back four years: Reginald Hudlin, Hollywood director and comic book nerd, is ensconced with his close friend, firebrand cartoonist Aaron McGruder, gleefully penning a graphic novel, “Birth of a Nation.” The book features as its villain the network mogul “John Roberts” — a black billionaire with a complete willingness to sell African Americans down the river to make a buck. Not coincidentally, “John Roberts” looks a lot like billionaire Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.

Skip forward to the present: Now Hudlin’s dividing his time between Los Angeles and New York as BET’s president of entertainment, the man in charge of the images tumbling from the cable network’s airwaves. His critics blame him for serving up a steady diet of the same old same old: poisonous, stereotypical images of blacks, specifically rap videos featuring scantily clad vixens and blinged-out gangstas.

On the Internet, Hudlin is the target of a savage cartoon sendup, portrayed as the morally challenged programming head for “Black Evil Television” — a parody created by none other than McGruder, his former friend. And in Washington, protesters camped for months outside the home of Hudlin’s boss — network CEO Debra Lee — each and every weekend, chanting “Enough is enough.”

“Right now, Reginald Hudlin and Debra Lee preside over a media empire that perpetuates every negative stereotype about black men and black women that we fought against,” says the Rev. Delman Coates, the Prince George’s County pastor behind the campaign against BET. “And they have to be held accountable.

“The reality is, if Reginald Hudlin were white, more black leaders and more black organizations would be raising an outcry. But for some reason we give black people a pass for participating in our own exploitation.”

Read More

ACTION ALERT!
Proctor & Gamble wants to hear from you!
April 2008

Great News!

As a result of the Parent Television Council’s “Rap on Rap” study, (in collaboration with the Enough is Enough Campaign) Proctor & Gamble would like to know whether you as a consumer would like them to change their advertising during music video programs on BET and MTV that glorify violence, drug use, drug dealing, contains sexually explicit theme, and portray men of color as pimps, gangsters, and thugs. P&G has set up a toll-free number to record your input.

Proctor & Gamble Contact Information

Please call (800) 331-3774.

Then, press 1 for “English”. You will then be prompted as follows:

“Thank you for calling P&G. If you are calling about our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1.”

(press “1″ here)

The message will then say,

“We appreciate your taking the time out of your day to share your thoughts with us. For your convenience, we’ve set up this quick and easy way for you to register your opinion. If you would like us to change our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1. If you would like us to continue our current advertising on BET, please press 2.”

(Press “1″ here)

You will then hear - “Your opinion has been counted and is being shared with the appropriate people in our company. For more information on our company, please visit us at www.pg.com. Thank you.”

END OF RECORDING!

If you are concerned about the issue of corporations sponsoring and marketing adult-themed content to children and youth, and content that glorifies drug use, degrades women, and glorifies a criminal lifestyle, call this the toll-free number above.

Also, share with ALL of your friends, co-workers, and family members who are concerned about this issue as well by clicking “Email This” at the top and send this email to those in your address book. Let’s make a change. Let your voice be heard.

You may also fax the Consumer Relations department at Proctor & Gamble at (513) 983-2881.

Once you do it, post a quick comment below sharing your experience calling the number and why you decided to support. Thank you!

Sponsored by Citizens for Change, Inc.
www.EnoughisEnoughCampaign.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2008 Contact: Julia Pollard - 301 238-4826

Joint Study On BET & MTV Video Content Complete

Washington, DC - The Enough Is Enough Campaign and the Parents Television Council will hold a Press Conference this Thursday, April 10, 2008 to release the results of a joint study analyzing the music video content on select BET & MTV music video programs. The Press Conference will be held at the National Press Club - 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

For the past eight months, the Enough is Enough campaign has been protesting the corporate sponsorship of lyrics and images that degrade women, glorify violence and criminal activity, and negatively stereotype black and Latino men as “pimps”, “gangsters”, and “thugs” in the entertainment industry. Since September 2007, the campaign has been holding weekly rallies outside the DC residence of Debra Lee, CEO Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the New York residence of Philippe Dauman, CEO of Viacom. After receiving national attention, the campaign is now expanding to engage advertisers whose commercials sponsor offensive and adult-themed programs that are marketed to youth.

Read More

Conservative Baltimore Sun columnist makes a living off of stating his opinion through print. Over the years I’ve agreed with him at times and disagreed at other times. In most cases there is disagreement and that pattern continues with his latest piece that I believe mischaracterizes the meaningful exchange had on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at New Life United Methodist Church around the issue of “Snitchin”, witness intimidation, and community-police partnership. In his latest piece, “Fighting the Code of Street Silence“, Kane basically states that nothing of note came out of the Stop Snitchin’ Townhall organized by Jamye Wooten, Founder of Kinetics: Faith in Motion. An interesting conclusion given the fact that Kane was not there! Highlighting the tragic case of Zach Sowers and his wife’s call for 25 Black Leaders to decry the “Stop Snitchin’” code; Kane plays to the cultural ignorance of a significant portion of his readers and perpetuates mainstream stereotypes of Black Humanity by drumming up in dramatic detail extremely violent crimes involving Black men and presents them as if they are the norm for all Black men.

Read More

I’m watching TV trying to keep track of the Super Tuesday results. I turn to Fox and there he is. Karl Rove is on the screen with the label “political strategist” or something under his face! Unbeknownst to me until like 2 minutes ago, Rove is on staff at Fox News now.

Wow.

The man who was often called “Bush’s Brain” has now found a safe haven to spew his ideology - Fox News. Does it concern anyone else that President George Bush’s former political strategist and chief mastermind is now sitting behind a “news” desk telling the nation what it should think about the upcoming presidential election.

Immortal Technique is right. American media, by and large, has become the Fourth Branch of the Government. And we know what that’s characteristic of right, Ladies and Gentlemen? You guessed it. FASCISM.

OTHER RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

This should’ve been the headline in all the local media today, however, Baltimore’s media is the fourth branch of this city’s government. They wouldn’t dare present the facts as they actually happened.

Here are the facts - an unarmed Black Man was shot at least 4 times by a police officer at the Hamilton Shopping Center around lunch time yesterday.

Local media attempt to soften the reality so that the masses are not riled to revolt. WJZ News’ headline is “Man Killed in Police-Involved Shooting.” Notice that their headline is written in the passive…”Man Killed” separates the action from the murderous actor. “Police-Involved” leaves the door open to the thought that the police were there, but weren’t the ones doing the shooting. (Only the Baltimore Examiner gives this story the appropriate headline.)

Notice similar literary avoidances of the facts in this Baltimore Sun version of the story. (Pay attention to how they follow their headline with a pro-police byline)

Don’t miss the ‘code words’ they use to help the reader to justify murder by this cop. Code words = “drugs” / “officer feared for his safety” / “suspected drugs taken from the man”. The media uses these code phrases to signal to its base readers that they believe that this man deserved to be killed. His murder isn’t anything we should be worried about. He wasn’t deserving of the due process of law. The cop was justified in playing judge, jury, and executioner.

I elaborate on this technique in my post entitled: “Media and Police partner in production of Murderous Propaganda.”

The problem for the police department is that this murder happened around lunch time. There were a lot of witnesses. People were in the Murry’s grocery and the Dollar General Store looking through the glass when the 25 year old Black man was accosted by the cop and then shot 4 times.

IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE ONES THAT WERE THERE AND SAW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, PLEASE CONTACT ME. (YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS)

The cops have declared war on the Black Man. The question now becomes what will we do?

As you contemplate the answer to that question, enjoy this revolutionary message by Brother KRS. As it is his custom, he speaks truth in this classic: “Sound of da Police“. Don’t miss the lyrics.