Disqus - Latest Comments for David McQueen

Re: No talking please, we’re on a plane

David McQueen — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:02:04 -0000

I couldnt agree more. I dont mind being able to pick up SMS or even read up on some notes but I would not want voice calls on a plane. I can just about stomach them on trains and buses as it is.

Incidently I just found out that my Nokia E61 can go to offline mode when I am in a plane. Duh!

Re: why are black blogs so angry?

David McQueen — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 03:15:11 -0000

I totally agree with the sentiments of your blog. I too tire of the constant angriness. Being in such a state can make draw out your resources leaving you with little for positive energy.

Here in the UK, I find on a number of forums both online and offline that so many miss out on the celebrations that can be had within the rich fibre of the African diaspora.

Nice blog btw, and nice to see the family from MyBlogLog on here too. What a small world

Re: The Young Covenant

David McQueen — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:06:26 -0000

I have started a project in the UK called Champion Walk http://championwalk.blogspot.com. It is slowly gaining momentum as not just a place to highlight the achievements of African Caribbeans here in the UK (and further afield) but also to engage in dialogue with youth about how they want to shape their future.

I think I will post the link to this blog on my page.

Re: The Young Covenant

David McQueen — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:08:16 -0000

Sorry that link should be http://championwalk.blogspot.com

Re: paris, texas. in plain view

David McQueen — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:02:14 -0000

That is just NUTS.
Complete and total utter stupidity.

Are her counsel appealing this? Have the NAACP gotten over back slapping Bono to give this their real attention?

Its scary that in the 21st Century something like this could still happen?

Re: “Where are you from?”

David McQueen — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 05:17:23 -0000

Unfortunately Kimberley Black History month in the UK is a gimmick. I am constantly telling black students to study their history all year round. When I talk to them about WE Dubois, Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Cheik Antia Diop, Frantz Fanon and many of the heroes I discovered in my Dad's library they either are shocked that there is so much history or don't care. Schools are not allowing speakers like myself in to teach either as they are afraid of the direct speech and research of such history which flies in the face of what they have been told about world or African history.

I have Nigerian (paternal) and Ghanian(maternal) in my lineage, along with a hodgepdge of Carib, Portuguese and Celtic. By discovering where I am came from it empowers me to where I am going.

Truth be told I believe many of the students if they really understood where they were coming from wouldnt have the issues of misplaced ego and identity. Sad really!

Re: Are we tired of rap music?

David McQueen — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:33:38 -0000

The thing is that if we are to believe that it's mostly non white who purchase the majority of rap music then we need to ask ourselves why.

I was in a college today talking about how people get access to rap in London. Outside of MTV Base it was all about copying from others. Personally I cant wait to see the back of those stupid idiots like Jay Z, Fifty Cent, Eminem and all those other faux poets. Give me Talib, Roots, Common, Rakeem, KRS One, Public Enemy, Immortal Technique, Keith Murray, Nas and Tupac (old school stuff), Redman and Method (freestylin) and am a happy man.

Actually people need to be exposed to some decent French, UK, Sub Saharan African, Brazilian and Korean rap to realise that rap has long since left the sole domain of the US and is actually being used as tool of education and entertainment around the world

Re: getting a new job 2.0: simplyhired

David McQueen — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:39:05 -0000

Frederic, I honestly think Simply Hired and Indeed are really tech heavy or aimed at directorate levels.

Do they really represent value for money for blue collar or middle management worker? How do they really fare compared to say Monster or Jobster?

Re: United States of Africa

David McQueen — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:56:56 -0000

Personally I dont see much hope for this.
the original convention put forward by Kwame was on the assumption that members of the OAU were in agreement with Kwame's model of African Socialism. Time have changed much since then much of SubSaharn Africa is still terriotorial. Think Ethiopia, Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, Sierra Leone.

Nice idea, but nah, especially with Africa's dependency for the time being on aid or "Chinese infrastuctrual investment" I cant see it happening in my lifetime.

Re: Tuskegee Airmen Honored

David McQueen — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:19:07 -0000

One corner of African American History that I will always be proud of.

Re: shaquanda cotton case at forefront of texas juvenile investigations

David McQueen — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:20:45 -0000

I am wondering if we would care as much if she was a white girl?

Re: Do M.B.A.s Make Better Entrepreneurs?

David McQueen — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:49:22 -0000

Can you really teach entrepreneurship?
Seriously. How does an MBA teach about innovation and taking risk. I have yet to meet a lecturer on such courses who has actually taken risks to be an entrepreneur. Why? Because most entrepreneurs are out their doing not teaching.

You can teach enterprise and business but not entrepreneurship. I would say to those who want to spend such money, if you got it go for it, but all the real entrepreneurs I know and have met grafted with their ideas, surrounded themselves with other skilled people but just did it.

Sorry, but I poohpooh the idea of an MBA making someone a better entrepreneur.

Re: shaquanda cotton case at forefront of texas juvenile investigations

David McQueen — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:23:40 -0000

Hi Ace Rich, thanks for your response on this. My question was would those who were as passionate about this case, acted on it because it was a juvenile or just because she was a black girl.

I am glad that she was freed if she was incarcerated in error, but am also conscious as to how silent the same said voices will be in addressing the bigger issues of child incarceration.

Re: The World According to Whoopi

David McQueen — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:28:46 -0000

I don't even find that joke remotely funny.

Coming from the UK where my parents saw signs for accomodation stating that no niggers, no Irish and no dogs, to here people use this term willy nilly totally gets me irate.

Do blacks go around calling each other wog, coon, sambo or any of the other negative words? No. Then why is it acceptable to take on board a word that dehumanised our ancestors and try and make out it is the meaning that is important. That's bullshit.

With the extensive words available in our vernacular, we kid ourselves again by thinking it is acceptable. Then wonder why so many have problems making progress.

Know your history people, it will help to shape our future.

Re: obama: “you don’t run for second”

David McQueen — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:29:36 -0000

After last night's conversation I am beginning to understand a bit better why you believe he will become president.

Re: see darfur. save darfur.

David McQueen — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:24:17 -0000

The situation in Darfur is quite complex. even if troops go in there to try and make changes the real issues are on the ground level. Like the Hutsis and Tutsi had in Rwanda the tribal/cultural differences between the Arabic/Muslim and black populace runs deep and has done so for many years.

Why is the US/UK not as involved. Well let's be honest China has the oil reserves already sown up. So there is no real economic to drive a political incursion.

I admire your financial comittment but mine is tied up elsewhere on the continent. I just hope on the ground the Janjaweed can sort their heads out and stop this nonsense

Re: Do M.B.A.s Make Better Entrepreneurs?

David McQueen — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:41:26 -0000

N. Thomas

I supppose we will have to agree to disagree but I have met a number of the most successful entrepreneurs in the UK including Duncan Ballantyne, Peter Jones, Richard Branson, Alexander Amosu and Alan Sugar. all of them successfull millionaries and execs and none of them employing MBAs. Then I think of Warren Buffett, Steven Jobs, Bill Gates and then there are Brin and Page of Google. Only the latter actually finished university.

Not to mention Earl Graves, Robert Johnson, Oprah Winfrey and George Fraser. All entrepreneurs who I model and look up to and didnt have to spend £80k on a course designed more for corporations.

On my road to a million I know where my focus will be. Bless you on your journey also.

Re: Tony Blair joins those who have lost their mind

David McQueen — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 06:48:12 -0000

Does he not have some validity in asking the black community to take responsibility on this matter? One of the realities is that we don't have a cohesive black community in London anymore. We just don't. The elements of respect that were prevalent in my youth and ealry twenties has diminished. We are as diverse and separate as we have ever been and if it is black kids shooting and stabbing black kids (or being reported on it) shouldn't he make the same comment as he would were it any other racial group?

Thoughts!

Re: Tony Blair joins those who have lost their mind

David McQueen — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:57:32 -0000

I agree that with you. I suppose my focus was that it was sad that it ended up with him having to make the statement because no one else would stand up and make that statement within our community.

In retrospect his isolation of one section could be read that way, and one would hope that this not what he was saying.

Re: The Ten Best Cities for African Americans

David McQueen — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:58:36 -0000

Yes. Where is Chicago?
Looking at the criteria though I wonder what would happen if the median household salary was a tad lower?

Re: minus one. plus one.

David McQueen — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:40:32 -0000

I dont have any negative hip hop in my collection. However I wondered if this could be extended to some R&B that we have that is not empowering

Re: minus one. plus one.

David McQueen — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:09:45 -0000

I stand corrected.

Re: minus one. plus one.

David McQueen — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:45:08 -0000

Dont know if this counts but the latest addition to the old ipod are

India Arie - Testimony Vol 1
Amiel Larrieux - Morning
Raphael Saddiq - Instant Vintage
Omar - Sing if You Want It
Raheem Devaughan - The Love Experience

The last hip hip I loaded was
Lupe Fiasco - Daydream, Kick Push
Tribe Called Quest - Anthlogy
The Roots - Phrenology
Nas - One Mic

Re: Get Connected

David McQueen — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:18:38 -0000

It is one of my dreams that more black professionals can realise this. Around the globe and that no matter where you are you can always find or be part of such an organisation.

Watch this space.

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:37:24 -0000

Of course blacks can be racist. Any racial group can "make a prejuidical assumption based on their perception of that race". Racism exists in most societies. Standard, all this thing about power is misleading and if that is the case then what of black majority countries in Africa. Are they then not racist if they discriminate against others?

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:54:32 -0000

Jo, I was making the point that often racism is seen within the context of the local country, rather than as a whole. In the US and UK blacks feel the force of racism within a socio-economic context more because we are a minority.

Sometime it is about numbers as well as force. Apartheid of course stands as an example to buck that trend but then was Idi Amin's behaviour not racist when he expelled Asians from Uganda? What of the conflict in Sudan between the more Arabic northerners in comparison to the Southerners? And what of Mugabe in Zimbabwe?

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:55:47 -0000

"Blacks cannot be racist because actions have little impact on the white race as a whole?"

I am not sure I follow this line of thinking.

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:29:50 -0000

"I meant blacks can not be racist against whites - the ultimate oppressors".

How so? Or is this just an American thing?

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:01:03 -0000

I posed the question about African countries where blacks are the dominant race. I could say the same of the Caribbean where my family are from. In these societies racism does exist whether between blacks, Arabics, white or Asian. To say that the white race is the ultimate supressor is a bit small minded and is probably more local but then of course wikipedia is but one voice (albeit random) to the definition of racism.

Both here in the UK and of course in the US blacks represent 4% and 16% respectively of the countries therefore we would see whites as the oppressor because they are the dominant race and because of the more recent histories of Jim Crow, colonisations, etc. Would we say the same if we were in the Middle East, or South East Asia for example? I doubt it, hence my comment about whether it is an American position.

Racism is simply a prejudicial thought, belief or word about a race collectively. Perpetuated mainly by the dominant culture of that country, whether it is in the US, Sudan, Japan or Australia.

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:02:18 -0000

or any other country....

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:41:45 -0000

You have obviously missed my point.
For the record I lecture on history across the diaspora so don't get it twisted.

Re: “You black guys are racist!!”

David McQueen — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:28:14 -0000

If you would like to know I would be more than willing to furnish you with it. Failing that just read my blog. Who knows. You might learn something.

Re: passion vs. paycheck

David McQueen — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:33:39 -0000

Well my friend I commend you. Having taken the jump twice myself (learnt a lot of lessons from the first time round) I could only really do what my passion really is. Really focusing on what it is you want to do and how you want to contribute.

Always enjoying the journey with the end game in mind!!!
(Hope you and the good lady are fine!)

Re: massive black friday deals

David McQueen — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:11:16 -0000

The consumerist nature of most public holidays is a bit scary. Over here in the UK we dont have the Thanksgiving but we here enough stories about it and how just like Easter and Christmas it has become so commercial.

Shame really because so much of that spending ever comes back into the community that those ad are targeted at.

Re: We Need More (PayPal) Mafias

David McQueen — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:13:55 -0000

Awesome article!

Re: I Ain’t Yo Nigger

David McQueen — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:28:21 -0000

I thank God for intelligent people like you. The sting has not left that word for those of us old enough to remember the potency in it. It always strikes me as odd that many others think they can reclaim the word.

The term is steeped in ignorance and hatred, and those who I know outside of the black community are always bemused by the term being used in music, comedy, and general rapport between people of African descent.

Thank you for a timely reminder of an intelligent approach to this matter.

Re: Ghana: 50 years young

David McQueen — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:05:30 -0000

Ghana is a jewel in the African crown. Albeit that there have been many changes and challenges this country still stands tall. Fifty years away from colonial rule. As an adopted son, I am very proud.

Re: Converse (RED) Fall 2007; Africa’s NOT a country

David McQueen — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:43:38 -0000

Africa is not a country.
Something I have had to say to a number of people who visit my own blog. "How can I help Africa?"..."Errr...which country?".

Personally I detest the RED campaign. I find it rather patronising, but keep up the good work.

Re: Responsibility

David McQueen — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:00:53 -0000

Never a truer word!