DISQUS

Thanks cdj2002. Interestingly, there are many people who think I am white. And it isn't because of my tone, I"m at the darker end of the mixed spectrum. And 90% of the time, it's not White people who confuse me. Case in point, I was at the DMV the other day to pick up a new license, and the woman who helped me put my race down as White. When I saw this, I turned right back around, walked up to her desk, and said "excuse me ma'am, but I'm not White. I'm Black." And she looked so aghast. That's what I mean when I speak of having to validate ourselves.

What do we think nowadays of people who pass? Or who don't acknowledge it at all? I still cringe everytime I remember the gaff of Tom Cruise when asked about whether he discussed his adopted children's race with them, and he asked "what is there to discuss?" I think this is an aspect of white privilege that isn't as heinous as outright and blatant disrespect, but can be just as damaging.

Usually not one to stir the pot....but I'd like to know thoughts. Obama is described as a Black man in one instance and a bi-racial man in another. I understand that he describes himself using the same terms. But why?
I'm curious because I do the same, albeit a Black woman or mixed woman or woman of color. Do we mixed people sometimes feel we have to validate ourselves as simply Black? Or do we claim mixed/ bi-racial because that is the only way of truly describing ourselves, without leaving anything out? Is it just too much of a mouthful to claim all colors? Or is it simply about how we identify, day in and day out? Anyone?

Mommy,
To go along with the weight watchers plug, it also is about taking the same flavors and substances you crave and looking for healthier versions. For instance, weight watchers makes this cookies and cream chocolate ice cream bar that is to die for, and is only two points. Healthy Cow ice cream sandwiches aren't bad either. Also, I finally jumped on the soy milk bandwagon, and a tall glass of chocolate or vanilla soy milk is almost as good as ice cream, plus it has all the nutrients and added benefits that are good for junebug. What's summer without (light) ice cream? ;)

Did anyone get a chance to read Grace Gibson's (Lynn Whitfield's 16 y.o. daughter) response to the segment on bi-racial Americans? If not, check it out at http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/25/i-am-neit.... Her response is impassioned and eloquent. I really enjoyed reading her thoughts.
I did not enjoy, however, the segment itself. As a bi-racial/mixed American ( meaning that I am immediately both black and white, although most americans can claim a biracial heritage), I thought one individual in particular whom they choose to interview played right into the tragic mulatto stereotype. Ya'll know who I'm talking about, the man who was the teacher. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard that mixed people have special problems, are confused, have issues when they are grown because it was difficult. Life is difficult! And why did they only interview a set of parents who were arguing, at odds with one another over the identification of their children? While they did highlight successful bi-racial Americans, they did not interview any directly on how their experiences made them the person/people they are. I would have liked to see more positivity.

Yes, I"ve been called names and gotten stares and been threatened with physical harm because of my background, like many others. Does that mean that I feel rejected by either side of my heritage? No. Does that mean that I think either side has a special hatred or dislike for me? No. I've heard plenty of people, both black and white, talk about how wrong integration was for producing people like me. But one of the things my cousins have taught me (big ups to the fam) is that the minute I walk into a room of any kind of people, black, white, hispanic, whatever, with a chip on MY shoulder because I think they have a chip on THEIR shoulder, communication shuts down.
Which brings me to my point. I don't think the show communicated as well as it could have in many respects. What it has done (as GIB noted) is contributed to the dialogue, and spurred that dialogue forward.

Lead yourself. Instruct yourself. Interpret yourself. If God is love, who are we to judge/interpret/restrict His Glory?

Hmm, combining both gas and mc'd's questions; read in the Sun-Times yesterday that you can buy a kit for $1400 which converts used veggie oil into fuel. Diesel starts your car, and when the engine gets hot enough, the veggie oil flows. Best part? Restaurants will give you their oil, because otherwise they have to pay to have it disposed of. French-fry interior, anyone?

I understand where Ms.Pippins is coming from. I too am frustrated and torn. I respect Hillary for her audacity, her accomplishments, and yes, to a degree, for her refusal to act like a woman on the campaign trail. She played the game with the best of the good ole' boys. And I am also rejuvanated and beyond ecstatic to have a Black man in the most powerful position in the world, and a Black family at the centerpiece of Americana.
Yet we as women feel we must lobby for women's issues, and we as African-Americans feel we must lobby for African-American issues. Why the dicotomy? Why aren't the issues of Black American women at the forefront of any campaign? I think we know the answer.
But here's the rub; as inspiring as Hillary may be, would she really have been able to change things for Black women? It is one thing to aim to change the realities of all American women, but Black women have specific cultural and historic issues (jobs, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, abuse, addiction, single motherhood, education, financial literacy) which need to be addressed. Would she really have been willing to do that?
Here's where my hope for the First Lady comes in. She's been Obama's rock, now maybe she can be the bug in his ear.

Sorry for the failed link.
Basically, I learned this past semester in my human rights lawyering class that the biggest US gold mining company, Barrick Gold Corporation, has been in litigation with the Western Shoshone Tribes of Arizona and Nevada for their strip mining procedures over traditional Shoshone lands which are central to their native philosophies. Processes to seperate gold from rock in these areas include the use of cyanide (yes, i did say cyanide) within the soil.
"The Cortez gold mine is located 60 miles southwest of Elko, Nevada in Lander County. Barrick is the owner of a 60 percent joint venture interest and is the operator; the remaining 40 percent interest is held by Kennecott Explorations (Australia) Ltd."

From the article;
"Even if the Western Shoshone win the Tenabo/Horse Canyon exploration case, the lawsuit will not stop the newly proposed Cortez Hills Tenabo Project. This development includes a new open pit, underground mining, three new waste rock facilities, a new heap leach pad and related roads and facilities, requiring new surface disturbances of 6,792 acres and the permanent loss of 817 acres of pinon trees, which produce pine nuts, a traditional Western Shoshone food source. ..The Cortez Hills Tenabo Project is expected to extract eight million ounces of gold worth $6.4 billion at today's prices. The current Cortez mining in the valley is about 15 miles from Mt. Tenabo but the new mine would blast directly into the mountain."
-From http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2007/2007-12...

A short video detailing the issues has been released by OxFam. It's available on YouTube: he Cortez Hills Tenabo Project is expected to extract eight million ounces of gold worth $6.4 billion at today's prices. The current Cortez mining in the valley is about 15 miles from Mt. Tenabo but the new mine would blast directly into the mountain.

Before you invest, consider this article
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2007/2007-12....
Investigate your options, what may be an investment for you could be a huge detriment to others.

In line with the mentoring theme, check out this NPR News and Notes interview with the head of Big Brothers Big Sisters Middle Tennessee, Lowell Perry.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?st...
In summary, there is a verifiable shortage of Black mentors, especially Black male mentors. Mr. Perry is proposing legislation that would allow for a portion of the money's allocated in his state's budget for correction institutions to be funneled to such orgs. as Big Brothers Big Sisters to recruit and attract young Black mentors.
On a personal note, I was a Big Sister in Chicago through the school program. I was the only Black mentor at my school. There were several young Black boys who were being mentored by non-Black females, and the majority of the time was spent discussing flirting with their classmates or sports. While such interaction cannot be discounted for its "value", these boys needed a Black male who could interact with them on a "realer" level. Consider passing on your blessings through Big Brothers Big Sisters, www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org

In terms of whether it is the wisest decision in promoting healthy debate of the subjects, I think we all agree that anyone who reads the comments of one who calls Senator Obama a "porch monkey" realizes that the person blogging such nonsense is nothing more than idiot with access to the internet. That being said, CBS is a news outlet with a duty to report, but unfortunately, since the Fairness Doctrine is dead, they do not have to report all sides. True, the raw emotion of anger at such commentary is justifiable, but those kinds of things will follow the Senator throughout the rest of his career. As supporters, we must not waste our time focusing on the ignorance of others. There are other outlets, such as this page, which will report adequately the issues of the campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-UpHlB9no

If you follow the link for the Door of No Return, it will take you to a Wikipedia entry describing The Slave House in Senegal.
The Door of No Return in Cape Coast castle is the one illustrated in the picture. There is a smaller room in the Castle that is connected to a tunnel like holding cell, where slaves were kept prior to being placed on ships. This smaller room also has a Door of No Return, which is much narrower and shorter than its larger counterpart in the Castle's courtyard. Today this doorway is barred, and it looks directly towards the Coast, over the beach. I asked our guides if this doorway had actually been used, and was told that the water line was much closer than it is today, and slaves were placed onto ships from that location. It is this Door of No Return that I spoke about in my previous comment.
http://www.iveknownrivers.org/read.php?id=38
See also
http://www.economist.com/world/international/Pr...
And
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264...

I was blessed to go to Ghana my junior year of college. The feeling that overcame me when I stood in the Cape Coast castle, which still has the metallic stench of blood in its walls, and looked out from THE DOOR OF RETURN to the Ocean was one of pure and total consuming pain. It was as if all of the tragedy and horror of the lives of those who had been confined in that room locked itself around my heart. I could not breathe. My life was forever changed in that moment. It may sound cliche, but you truly can have no appreciation for where you are going until you understand where you come from. If you have the chance, go.

Tom Joyner has Black America Web http://www.blackamericaweb.com/ where they post all sorts of stuff.
Start a facebook group.
Post the group on idealist.org if you can.
Ask your greek chapter, alumni associations, or business associations to start an iniative.