Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Politician Swears on Mendi Bible

Bible with ties to slave ship will be used for oath
By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff | January 3, 2007

One hundred and sixty-six years ago, a prominent Massachusetts politician, former President John Quincy Adams , played a role in black history by persuading the US Supreme Court to free a group of African captives who had staged a mutiny on the slave ship Amistad.

Tomorrow, when Deval Patrick takes his place in the history books as the state's first African-American governor, he will offer a symbolic nod to that storied past, taking the oath of office on a leather-bound Bible given by the freed captives to the former president.

"This Bible is a quintessential American symbol, one of democracy, and the inner workings of freedom, and our system of laws, and the abolitionist movement, and it represents a real victory for Africans who stood up for themselves," said Beverly A. Morgan-Welch , the executive director of the Museum of African American History and a cochair of Patrick's inauguration committee.

"The Bible was given to Adams by these freed African men because they so appreciated that Adams was not just their legal advocate, but he believed in their freedom, and here we are, how many years later, and we are installing Massachusetts' first African-American governor," Morgan-Welch said.

The book, named the Mendi Bible for the men's tribe, is part of the collection of the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy.

On an inside page, the Mendi men wrote a note of thanks to Adams, saying the Bible "has been a precious book to us in prison, and we love to read it now we are free."

Adams sent the men a letter back, saying, "It was from that book that I learnt to espouse your cause when you were in trouble."

Four years ago, Mitt Romney took the oath of office using a family Bible signed by his father, George Romney, a former governor of Michigan.

Credit Rating Hurts Blacks & Latinos

Study says credit scores used against minorities
The Denver Business Journal - January 9, 2007by Renee McGawDenver Business Journal
Credit scores are used to deny African-Americans and other minorities access to credit and financial services, according to a study conducted by the University of Denver Center for African American Policy and released Tuesday by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

"Our research found that, while banks site branches in minority and lower-credit-score communities, they do not provide the same access to their services as those in higher-credit-score communities," Mississippi state Rep. Mary Coleman, immediate past president of the caucus, said in a statement. "And even worse, there is often no way for those trapped with sub-prime credit scores to establish a prime credit score -- which would enable wealth creation."

Key points of the study, which was conducted by Rickie Keys of DU's Center for African American Policy, included:

Credit scores are more closely correlated to lack of access to financial services for unbanked and underbanked communities than other factors, such as race, income and ethnicity.
Credit scores today are used for an increasing array of basic necessities, such as determining eligibility to obtain employment, rent a home, obtain insurance and open accounts for checking accounts, as well as basic utilities like telephone service or electricity.
The more than 130 million Americans lacking prime credit scores (also the unbanked and underbanked) are disproportionately African-American and Hispanic.
Although banks may be located in areas with high concentrations of low Fair Issac & Co. (FICO) scores, they do not provide proportional access to their services in these underserved areas, compared with higher-FICO-score, higher-income communities.
Researchers constructed maps overlaying FICO scores with race, income, employment, ethnicity and other variables with the availability of traditional banking and fringe financial institutions in various communities. Data came from a variety of sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Credit Union National Association, state banking agencies and telephone directories, officials said.

"Having identified the problem, we found it especially disconcerting that there is no endorsed method by which consumers can move from a sub-prime credit score to a prime credit score," said Colorado Senate President Pro Tem Peter Groff, D-Denver, who is also executive director of the University of Denver Center for African American Policy. "It's a Catch-22. To build a prime score, banks require consumers to demonstrate positive credit; but banks won't extend credit to these consumers without a prime credit score, leaving many trapped.

"Exacerbating the problem is that consumers' on-time payment histories for things like rent, utilities, and non-traditional loans are not reported to credit bureaus," Groff said. "They're responsible borrowers, but they are being prevented from graduating to a prime credit score, and thus from gaining access to the financial services and products needed to establish wealth."

Reality race harassment handled successfully

Jan 29, 2007 8:22 am US/Central

(AP) LONDON Indian actress Shilpa Shetty won the British reality TV show "Celebrity Big Brother" Sunday after enduring alleged racial bullying that triggered protests in India and sparked a race relations debate in Britain.

The 31-year-old Indian star won the public's support after a fellow contestant hurled racially tinged insults at her in an episode that led to a record 40,000 complaints to media regulators.

"It's truly been a roller coaster ride," Shetty said. "The highs, the lows, each one has taught me so much."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Treasury chief Gordon Brown and Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have commented on the incident, which South Asian and anti-racist groups said revealed the face of racism in Britain.

Shetty received 63 percent of viewers' telephone votes Sunday, host Davina McCall said. She did not give the number of votes cast.

Contestants on the show are locked in a house for about three weeks and are evicted one by one until someone is chosen as the winner of a cash prize for charity.

Shetty defended fellow contestant Jade Goody, who repeatedly reduced the Indian actress to tears by shouting at her, calling her cooking untrustworthy, mocking her accent and calling her "Shilpa Poppadum."

Goody became famous after appearing on the non-celebrity version of "Big Brother" and has earned an estimated $16 million fortune through television and magazine appearances, an autobiography and an exercise video — a livelihood endangered by her behavior in the house.

"She is a little aggressive and hot tempered, but she's not a racist," Shetty said.

"I don't want people here feeling they welcomed an Indian here and she created so much trouble. I want to thank the whole of Great Britain for giving me this fantastic opportunity to make my whole country proud."

Shetty has hired British celebrity publicist Max Clifford to help develop her career in Britain. He estimated Sunday that she could earn $2 million in the next year from new contracts after appearing on the show.

"It's been a huge success for her because of how she's handled these nasty attacks with dignity," Clifford said on British Broadcasting Corp. television.

The program made front-page news for days in both Britain and India, where the show's producers were burned in effigy. More than 8.8 million people tuned into the show following the racism controversy.

Other participants on the show included former Jackson Five leader Jermaine Jackson and "A-Team" actor Dirk Benedict. Model Danielle Lloyd and singer Jo O'Meara were also seen by the British public as tormenting Shetty.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Black skin is Career Limitin'

Lighter Skin, Higher Salary, New Study Finds
By Eric L. Hinton

In what may fall under the umbrella of "least surprising news of the day" for those with dark complexions, a new study revealed light-skinned immigrants in the United States make more money on average than their darker-skinned counterparts.

The study, conducted by Vanderbilt University law and economics professor Joni Hersch, looked at a government survey of 2,084 documented immigrants to the United States from across the globe and found that those with the lightest skin earned an average of 8 percent to 15 percent more than similar immigrants with much darker skin.

Hersch drew her data from a 2003 federal survey of nearly 8,600 new immigrants. Her survey used an 11-point scale for measuring skin tone. Zero represented an absence of color while 10 represented the darkest possible skin tone.

"On average, being one shade lighter has about the same effect as having an additional year of education," Hersch told The Associated Press. Her study also found that taller immigrants earn more than shorter ones, with an extra inch of height associated with a 1 percent increase in income.

"To dark-skinned Americans this is of NO surprise, but who is really listening and truly taking this to heart?" asked one blogger.

Another added, "It absolutely is true. I'm a dark-skinned African-American, [41-year-old] male. I am an [IT director] with a college degree and 22 years of experience in my field. Most dark-skinned blacks have learned that in a corporate world where whites are the majority, a dark-skinned black (especially men) have to go out of their way to put white people at ease with them, to beat the stereotypes."

Harrison conducted that study with 240 psychology undergraduates at UGA. Each participant received one of two résumés that varied by educational and work experience. Along with the résumés, the participants received one of six pictures of candidates, all black, who varied by skin tone and gender. They then were asked to rate the candidate as a job applicant and to say how likely they would be to hire the applicant themselves.

Harrison found that dark-skinned blacks are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to employment. Even when they have higher educational attainment and more qualified résumés, participants were inclined to select their light-skinned counterparts.

"I think what was most shocking to me was to find that dark-skinned black males with greater credentials were still recommended less—or seen as less of a candidate—than light-skinned blacks with worse credentials," Harrison told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Hersch will present her full findings next month at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.

Jennifer Millman contributed to this article.

Black skin is Career Limitin'

Lighter Skin, Higher Salary, New Study Finds
By Eric L. Hinton

In what may fall under the umbrella of "least surprising news of the day" for those with dark complexions, a new study revealed light-skinned immigrants in the United States make more money on average than their darker-skinned counterparts.

The study, conducted by Vanderbilt University law and economics professor Joni Hersch, looked at a government survey of 2,084 documented immigrants to the United States from across the globe and found that those with the lightest skin earned an average of 8 percent to 15 percent more than similar immigrants with much darker skin.

Hersch drew her data from a 2003 federal survey of nearly 8,600 new immigrants. Her survey used an 11-point scale for measuring skin tone. Zero represented an absence of color while 10 represented the darkest possible skin tone.

"On average, being one shade lighter has about the same effect as having an additional year of education," Hersch told The Associated Press. Her study also found that taller immigrants earn more than shorter ones, with an extra inch of height associated with a 1 percent increase in income.

"To dark-skinned Americans this is of NO surprise, but who is really listening and truly taking this to heart?" asked one blogger.

Another added, "It absolutely is true. I'm a dark-skinned African-American, [41-year-old] male. I am an [IT director] with a college degree and 22 years of experience in my field. Most dark-skinned blacks have learned that in a corporate world where whites are the majority, a dark-skinned black (especially men) have to go out of their way to put white people at ease with them, to beat the stereotypes."

Harrison conducted that study with 240 psychology undergraduates at UGA. Each participant received one of two résumés that varied by educational and work experience. Along with the résumés, the participants received one of six pictures of candidates, all black, who varied by skin tone and gender. They then were asked to rate the candidate as a job applicant and to say how likely they would be to hire the applicant themselves.

Harrison found that dark-skinned blacks are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to employment. Even when they have higher educational attainment and more qualified résumés, participants were inclined to select their light-skinned counterparts.

"I think what was most shocking to me was to find that dark-skinned black males with greater credentials were still recommended less—or seen as less of a candidate—than light-skinned blacks with worse credentials," Harrison told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Hersch will present her full findings next month at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.

Jennifer Millman contributed to this article.

Friday, January 19, 2007

ISAIAH Washington Apologizes for Homophobic Insults



This story of Isaiah Washington’s homophobic insult to another cast member , the insult which he allegedly repeated during the Golden Globe event has lit up the phone lines in protest against Washington calling on ABC to discipline him even to fire him.
In a statement Thursday Washington apologized to his colleagues on Grey’s Anatomy and the fans of the show and especially to the lesbian and gay community for using an unacceptable term to describe co-star T.R. Knight. Washington admitted that by his repeating the work on Monday night he spoiled what might have been a perfectly good night for his colleagues. “I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help."
Washington said he welcomed "the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened."
Just goes to show that our world has a zero tolerance when it comes to discrimination. One has to be careful of what one says and not just repeat outdated stereotypes that’s out there.
When we can look at each other in the eye first as a human being and see our differences as secondary to our sacred self, maybe we won’t be so offended by a person for being gay, black, white, woman, man, rich, poor. As Martin Luther King so forcefully urged us to judge a person not by colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

I’m interested to hear your take on this political correctness that has gripped our world. Is it political correctness or a changing for the better world.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

OBAMA FINALLY DECLARES


Obama Barack, the popular senator of Illinois has decided he will try for the Presidential nomination. This is huge for African Americans. He stands a very good chance if chosen to win over the Americans. His bi-racial background stands him in good stead on on sides of the fences including those who are neither Black nor White. Barack's boyish look makes him adorable to people. He has an engaging personality and a way with words. Of course he is not without a sense of humour. He has put his cards on the table, he has admitted to experimenting with Marijuana so hopefully there are no more skeletons in his closet. He is tight with his wife and daughters and that in religous Americans must count for something.
Barack has a global outlook and sees himself not as a Black American, but as a world Citizen. He is humble but confident and his heart appears to be in the right place - with the underdogs. He is smart, funny and goodlooking - rockstar like in appearance - all things Americans take very seriously in selecting a person as President. Obama will first have to face the indomitable Hilary Clinton and that's the crux of the race. He has to get past Hilary. If he does, America, brace yourself for some real drama.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Here's What I saw and How I feel about them

The Little Mosque on the Prairie

I waited with anticipation to watch this sitcom. It received a lot of hype in Winnipeg as a funny show. One of my preoccupation is to find reasons to laugh. Well I did not laugh once in this movie. I think my standard in comedy is low. I laugh at most stuff. Having said that, I liked what I heard. I liked the fact that something different, something multicultural and that it was set in the Prairie. The script was not sophisticated – many of the same stereotypes we read or hear about everyday were repeated. So there was nothing new and the delivery of the lines could perhaps improve but for me this lack of professionalism was its charm. It could have been a home movie sort of thing.
The Imam is a hot guy, easy on the eye. The African woman who played the part of Angela was I thought she played her role well.
I am sure as it continues, the script and the acting will improve. I give this a 2 our of 5 effort. I will vote for its continuance. I am sure I will get into it in a big way.


Borat

If you have not seen this film don’t bother – you are not missing anything. I paid $3 to see this at the Cheap cinema and I felt I was money badly spent. This film does not only lack content . It is gross and is filled with stupid stereotypes and scenarios. I loved the beginning and the landscape of Kazikstan and to see the ordinary folks there. The movie took a downward spiral when he left there to come to the United States. Why would someone pay to make this stupid movie. A couple people walked out the movie before it was over. I did not have the guts to do so. I felt I spent my $3 I must get some value but I would have been better off leaving and spend the time in a more productive manner. Frankly it was boring.
Here is an example of a silly part. He came to America and after spending days in the hotel he arrives at the home of some people. He asked to use the bathroom and then proceeded to bring his excrement in a bag to the dinner table to ask where he should put it. Isn’t that just gross. This just does not follow anyway. Since he stayed at a hotel equipped with flush toilet, one would think he would have learned how to use that before going to the home of this rich couple. Another part that grossed me out was when he and a fat man were fighting and the fat man sat on his face and rubbed his a** hole in Borat’s face as a punishment. That was gross and sick too.
Don’t reward sick movies and reinforce stereotypes. This movie must be busted.


Dreamgirls

This is one that is a must for you to see. It is excellent. Eddie Murphy was fantastic but Jennifer Hudson she was over the top in a good way. Her performance alone was worth the price of the movie. This is a video one might want to have in one’s home library. It is something that you might want to see over and over again. Beyonce was good too but her greatest feat is being easy on the eyes. She is a beautiful woman and for that I give her credit in this movie.
Hudson, as you might recall was one of the finalists in 2004 American Idol. I saw her there first and was upset when she was eliminated. I thought she was great then and I was right. They just did not give her a chance perhaps it is because she is a little overweight. Being overweight in the entertainment field as well as other areas as well is really a career limiting place to be. However, talent outshines this kind of handicap. You can’t buy talent. Once you have a God-given one you have to use it and it’ll be alright.
You have to see this one.

Check out my fave: www.myspace.com/maikowatsonmusic

Monday, January 8, 2007

Winnipeg Blog -

Winnipeg’s got talent

Move over Canadian Idol and Want to be a Rockstar , CBC AM radio came out with its own brand of reality radio with it’s Winnipeg got talent. Anyone who believes he or she has talent were invited to audition and it started this morning. One of the contestants was a Canadian Idol finalist Jeremy. Each week one contestant will be eliminated. The grand prize is not too shabby - $1000 in gift certificates to concerts and stuff like that. I’m sure most contestants would have preferred cold hard cash. Makes for aaight morning show..

Atacking Crime
Winnipeg Police Chief Jack Ewatxski gets tougher on crime. Before the end of this month he promises to introduce and online program that will allow ordinary citizens to track crime across the city and to also keep a watch on how police are responding to these crimes. This is awesome power for the consumer to get involved in something that affects all of us so much.
The system is modeled after CompuStat adopted by several US Cities. It will highlight neighbourhood hotspots and deliver weekly crimestats/updates..

SilverCity Cinema
This is the only cinema in Winnipeg that is showing Dreamgirls. I went to see it last weekend and I was blown away, by Jennifer Hudson’s performance. The girl was awesome, terrific, goosebump thrilling good. Eddie Murphy was great too but Jennifer Hudson took the cake. I don’t know if it is because she had the better part or that she has improved so darn much. I hope good things come to her after this. She has proved that she could sing. Some say she is this generation’s Aretha Franklin and I would agree. Overall the storyline of the movie is not completely new. There has been other movies before that examined the cut throat nature of the music industry and the way African Americans were treated. For me, it was the singing that made this stand out and the glam stuff. This is a 4 out of 5 star movie. Go check it out.

Global Eyes Magazine
The December Edition of the Global Eyes Magazine is out. Winnipeg’s only magazine that covers African Canadian issues. Pick up this free publication at Winnipeg Centennial Library. Lots of good stuff in it.