DISQUS

Granted. The gathering of physical beings to enact a physical event is the textbook definition, but cant that same gathering be done online with a blog as hub?

If the post has information, a widget to collect funds, a means to contact those with power (built-in form), a way to give those funds to the necessary party, and a way to show status updates (live ustream feed, etc.), the organization and amalgamation of those pieces do not constitute an aspect of community organizing?

I email, call, twitter, facebook, and myspace those online to direct them to my blog about an issue and ask them to show solidarity on an issue.

I agree with what your saying, I just don't think the innovations allowed virtually should be discounted.

Yobachi,

I'd have to disagree.

When the Shaquanda Cotton case broke awhile back, a slew of blogs organized, as a community, on the net to petition, setup websites, and give a voice to an injustice. Our actions help support the story that Howard Witt started and she was let go.

The same could be said about the momentum seen in Jena 6, the Sly Fox smear campaigns, and I think this.

Setting up a blog for a cause is just as important as getting out on the street and making your voice heard. You can connect with people, collect support, collect donations, and enact real change.

Shaquanda Cotton is a testament to that.
Barack Obama's fundraising is a testament to that.

Updated the broken video.

You can also check the label that pushes her stuff and follow them on twitter.

@Greg: Check iStockphoto. They have tons of graphics for green initiatives.

Side. Hustle. Not mad at you dude, for real.

Extending along this thought is the capacity to enjoy other's accomplishments, as well. When you're able to have a 'default positive' outlook on your own daily accomplishments, you enjoy and appreciate the accomplishments of your peers a lot more.

Too often do we fall back into the competitive crease of judging and sizing each other up, especially as YBP's. We've been conditioned to 'being the only one' that we don't enjoy when we're not! Some of that is because we have defaulted into negating our own accomplishments as a way to never get too hight on ourselves.

As you alluded to in in your post, perhaps the better medicine is feeling good and happy about our successes so that we can continue to enjoy...and encourage others to reach and enjoy theirs!

Great post dude....

Just for the record, I think my wife looks beautiful and I love her very much.

:-)

@Arthur

It's not that simple. Vices in today's world have never been that simple.

The tweener at 15 who doesn't have positive male figure feels pressured to please and hang around an older guy who treats her nice.

A young dude who is getting pressure from his friends to 'get some' from his girl thinks the world will end if his friends think he is a pussy for not.

People who go out and really like someone tend to be too nice and not demand that someone have been tested before sleeping with them after the club.

Are they reasonable excuses? No. But to simple point the finger and say 'well, you need to do better' doesn't prevent anything. We need tools, better education tools, to make the education of one's status as commonplace as brushing your teeth.

How do we do it?

It has to get out of the shadows of being taboo and be able to be discussed by everyone, in the light, on the table, gay or straight, positive or negative....without judgment.

@courtney: it still running!

I need to do a re-write, but it's still alive and kicking. Is it not working for you?

@Asha

Everything is a product of the web design firm Bright Plum, although we did elicit some help from a talented artist we'll be showcasing soon.

So I went and saw Hancock. Great movie.

It's times like these that really make me upset because I feel like the only reason why the media said what they said was pure, unadulterated racism and hate.

Will Smith - Good job dude. I know it's hard for people to see you in that light, but that is what acting is.

Mike Epps - You only got two lines, but they were damn funny.

Here is a link to Cobb's take. He is a proclaimed Black Republican and has some good insight with an alternative perspective.

The comments are also worth a look.

Side note. Funniest part is when Jeezy's verse comes in and the little puppet gets into it with his ventriloquist handler.

Not mad at the programming job, either.

No doubt. It's heating up now, though. Google Trends is spiking with searches for 'Black National Anthem' and 'LIft Every Voice and Sing'.

Can't wait for Fox's Hannity's take or O'Reilly's. It's going to be a storm!

The funniest thing, to me, is thinking of how Jon Stewart always jokes about how people somehow think Obama is going to enslave the white race when he becomes President. I can see people getting all up in arms saying 'SEE! SEE! I told you! They are already replacing the National Anthem!'

@rawdawgbuffalo,

Thanks for the shout. We have you syndicated over at rsspect.org. I've checked out your blog. Good stuff.

Well, the reason issue 1 ties into issues 2 - 4 is that the publicity and dichotomy the R. Kelly incident has created. The visceral response art (in this case) music creates, along with its creator, isn't anything new. But a statement, course of action, apology, or even donation from the artist would speak volumes about the issue at hand.

If you take a look at the entirety of Jelani's post and the pledge itself, it highlights this hope: to hit Mr. Kels in his pockets so that he may take some personal responsibility for what this incident has shown and possibly lead some of his followers towards the light that shines (and has been shining) on this issue.

Oh....props to the Times.com shoutout. Still waiting for our MSM jump-off.

Hey J.

Thanks for the response and I'm glad to see that one of writers over there frequents our blog. While I do hope that you don't take my facetiousness too personally, I still standby my original disdain for the overwhelming message I get from CL.

I went back to the site and was greeted by lots of banner ads and a ton of pictures of celebrities doing.....nothing.

I scrolled down and saw an entire post on Rihanna's $6k shoes.

I went through the bio's (again) and, I admit, give you guys mad props for doing the damn thing as YBP's. 90k+ visitors a day is big time.

But, my concern is, and will always be, the inherent message sent these sites, reality t.v., gossip blogs or t.v. shows, magazines project: That somehow I should care about what this person does!

I mean, I'm old-fashioned. I just don't get the tons of magazines about hair and clothes and clubs and drinks and cologne and perfume. I see it exploited into shame-based reality VH1 and think....wow, if we spend half this time in something that can make a difference, just think where we'd be.

But, at the same time, I can't blow myself up too hard and just dance on my soap box. Just like people can't understand why cars matter to me so much and why I read blogs about new gadgets, sites like yours have their place too. And if you're throwing a message in there every (n)th post, good for you.

Not mad.

Sheria! How is it going? Haven't seen your name around here in awhile. :-)

Yeah, Mint is that fire.

scratch that. its up officially now.

http://getfirefox.com

the site is down right now. apparently it is getting hammered.

if you want to get the release, check the ftp link

ftp://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/3.0/

if you want to watch them blabber on about the release, check the live broadcast:

http://air.mozilla.com

@Jeanne

Thanks for your comment. I understand where you are coming from. This 'fear' thing, I guess, is built into our genes and reiterated through our daily interactions. We don't know our neighbors, we don't want to immunize our children, we shouldn't spend any money or pursue our dreams....

Sheep, I tell you. Sheep.

I really don't get the drastic opposition to gay marriage and civil union.

Even if I was to believe the argument about the interpretation of 'what the Bible says', since when does American policy become an edict of all Christian values?

I mean, the this country was founded out of religious difference from the England and its patriarchy. To say that we have to sign into LAW things that people may have issue with religiously is completely contradictory.

Am I missing something?

need. iphone.

crap.