loveabadgirlme
Here’s a friendly reminder:
-You cannot be sexist toward men. Sexism is based on a system of oppression. You CAN be discriminatory, rude, inconsiderate, and/or prejudiced against men but you CANNOT be sexist toward them.
-You cannot be racist towards white people. Racism is based on a system of oppression. You CAN be discriminatory, rude, inconsiderate, and/or prejudiced against white people but you CANNOT be racist toward them.
This is not difficult.
nefariousnewt:thepeoplesrecord:
Alan DeWayne Blueford Murdered by Oakland Police Department
At or about midnight, May 6, 2012, Alan and 2 friends were standing on the corner of 90 th and Birch Street waiting for “some girls in a white chevy,” Alan described to his father, Alan Blueford, during a phone call. After the phone call, police officers approached Alan and his friends, with guns drawn. The police officers had been called to respond to another incident, but decided to stop Alan and his friends when they saw them because they “believed the young men had a concealed weapon.”
Alan ran down Birch Street, away from the police officers.
Approximately two blocks down Birch Street on the 9200 Block the officer chasing Alan murdered him by shooting him 3 times. The officer also shot himself.
Although, Alan had his brown wallet with his ID, Oakland Police Department never called to tell his parents he was shot and killed.
Alan’s two friends were detained for over 6 hours. After their release, one of the young men had the traumatic task of calling Alan’s parents and telling them Alan was shot and killed by an Oakland Police Officer.
Initial reports put out by OPD, stated that “a suspect” (Alan) and a police officer exchanged gun fire and the officer was shot in the stomach by the suspect and the suspect was shot by the officer. Both were said to have been rushed to Highland Hospital where Alan died and the police officer was expected to recover. OPD also included in their reports witness statements who said they saw Alan shooting. OPD reported that they retrieved Alan’s firearm at the scene.
Later OPD changed their story to state that the officer was shot in the leg and an investigation was in process to determine whether the officer was wounded by “friendly fire.”
Only one of the officers chased Alan.
What we now know is that Alan Blueford never shot the police officer, at the police officer, or anyone else. OPD changed their story yet again, admitting and confirming that THE OFFICER SHOT HIMSELF.
We also know that Alan was never rushed to Highland Hospital. Only the police officer. Alan’s body lied in the streets for approximately 4 hours.
Alan was shot multiple times by the police officer.
The family has reason to believe that Alan never had a firearm.
The family has reason to believe that Alan never caused the officer to be threatened. Alan’s body can be described as a shorter stature (approximately 5 ft 6 ½ inches) and thin built (140 lbs).•
When Alan’s family learned of the claimed circumstances surrounding Alan’s death, we all knew that the facts were not true! Additionally, because they never called to confirm his death, we were sadly left with hope that the unnamed “suspect” was not Alan. He was joy to many people. We are suffering from a great loss.
Now OPD claims that the “victim” (no longer suspect) was a convicted felon on probation. His family will simply respond by saying felony probation does not describe Alan’s character. To describe Alan, you have to share that he 1] was a Christian; 2] worked with the disabled children at Skyline, one of whom described “Al” as his “bestfriend”; 3] began his mornings at Skyline High School by praying with his Godmother and Supervisor; 4] passed out candy at his
grandmother’s every Halloween; and 5] was well known by his family and friends as a respectful young man. But even more important is the fact that when the police officers decided not to respond to the call, but rather to bother Alan and his friends, all they knew is that they were 3 African-American young men. That’s why Alan was murdered.Alan’s family is seeking justice for his death. We are determined to have this “incident” thoroughly investigated and all wrongful parties prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We ask that all of you support us by calling the City Councilman for District 7, Larry Reid, at 510-238-7007.
For any of you, out there, who feel you live in a post-racial America, I give you yet another exhibit in the continuing series: The Destruction of Black Male Youth. Black men, especially young black men, are being systematically murdered or incarcerated, usually by law enforcement officials or those allied with them physically or morally.
For every outraged white person who is “tired of being called a racist” because “they are not like that,” I submit that we, as white Americans, are just as culpable as if we held the gun or the jailhouse key in our hand, where we do not speak up, where we do not demand justice, where we do not seek restitution, where we do not attempt to even the badly disjointed scales in our country. Every young, black man who dies increases the stain upon us, that we do not speak up. Sleep easy if you can, for I won’t; too much innocent blood has been spilled defending my privilege, and I want it stopped.
I’m so sorry this happened. I can’t be the only one that’s so incredibly tired/infuriated seeing stories like this show up on my dash with such consistency. Something needs to change, America. Stop killing black male youth for no damn reason.
Say What Now of the Day: In his Equal Time column today, the New York Post‘s Phil Mushnick goes straight racist on the Nets’ new logo as the team transitions from New Jersey to Brooklyn (with a little influence from Jay-Z, who owns 1.5 percent of the team):
As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment?
Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N——s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B—-hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!
As Jack Kogod (@Unsilent) posted on Twitter: “Looking forward to not reading Phil Mushnick’s independent blog.”
AFTER TRAYVON: Black Boys Speak
An inspiring and emotionally gripping public conversation amongst 9 Black and Latino boys ages 10-17. It was shot in Brooklyn, New York in early April 2012 at the famous House of the Lord Church just days before George Zimmerman was arrested for the fatal shooting. “After Trayvon” brings together these young boys to discuss Trayvon Martin, their own feelings of vulnerability and fear, education, leadership, violence in all forms, history as they understand it, and how they view America, their America. Kevin Powell serves as moderator for the conversation.
Badvertising of the Day: Ashton Kutcher’s new $1.5 million spot for Popchips is styled like a commercial for a dating service, in which Kutcher plays four single guys looking for love. But not only is the ad, which Kutcher helped develop, tortuously unfunny, his Raj character is in brownface.
In one of many direct tweets to Kutcher’s Twitter handle attacking the spot, Raj says: “An actual Indian named Raj does not find @aplusk in brown face to be funny.”
[adweek]
Lauren Socha sentenced to 4 months in jails (suspended)
Oh Lauren why? (she was was sentenced to four months in jail suspended and 80 hrs community service)
Lauren Socha, a star of E4’s Misfits, has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault of a taxi driver.
The BAFTA-winning actress, who plays Kelly in the teen drama, was sentenced to four months in jail for attacking Sakander Iqbal in Derby city centre in the early hours of the morning on October 1 last year.….
Socha was accused of punching and racially abusing the cab driver following a nine-hour drinking session. Iqbal, 52, is quoted by The Independent as saying that the incident represents the worst abuse he has received since moving to the UK in 1970.
“She called me a P**i, a dirty b**stard and said, ‘You’re Asian, f**k off back to where you came from’,” he told reporters. “She said, ‘Do you know who I am? I’ll have your family lifted’.”
This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald, a 23-year-old transgender woman, was walking in Minneapolis after midnight last June with a group of friends, all black and either queer or allied. As they passed the Schooner Tavern, the group was harassed by several older, white bar patrons, who called McDonald and her friends “fa**ots,” “ni**ers,” and “chicks with d*cks.” Allegedly, the group even suggested that McDonald — who is in transition from a man to a woman — was “dressed as women” in order to “rape” Dean Schmitz, one of the harassers.
McDonald defended herself and her friends, saying they didn’t tolerate hate speech. But when one of the bar patrons smashed a glass in McDonald’s face, puncturing her cheek, a fight ensued, and Schmitz, 47, was fatally stabbed. McDonald now faces two charges of second-degree murder in his death; in a videotaped interview with police after the fight, she allegedly admitted that she took out a pair of scissors to scare Schmitz, and that Schmitz ran into them during the fight. McDonald says the stabbing was accidental, and that she acted in self-defense.
Supporters say the case is symptomatic of the bias against transgender people and African-Americans in the criminal justice system. More than 15,000 have signed an online petition asking the Hennepin County Attorney to drop the second-degree murder charges against McDonald.
“Amazingly, in the aftermath of this racist and transphobic attack, the only person facing charges is CeCe McDonald- the victim…We refuse to allow racism and transphobia, on Minneapolis streets or in Minneapolis courts. We support CeCe. We are waiting for County Attorney Michael Freeman to honor his commitment, in his words ‘to serve all of our citizens with understanding, dignity, and respect’ by dropping the charges against CeCe McDonald.”
McDonald’s trial begins Monday.
Please visit http://supportcece.wordpress.com/ to find out more!
Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald is a young African American transgender woman who is charged with two counts of “second degree murder” after an incident that began when she was violently assaulted because of her gender and race. We say NO to racism and transphobia, and call on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to DROP THE CHARGES!Her trial starts Monday, April 30th at 9am.
The Trayvon Martin story remains in national headlines this week, but little media attention has been paid to a similarly troubling case: that of Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., a 68-year-old Marine vet killed in his home last November by police officers in White Plains, NY.
The officers were responding to a false alarm accidentally triggered by Chamberlain’s medical alert pendant while he slept. Instead of helping the man, who had a heart condition, they broke down his front door, tasered him, reportedly called him the “n-word” and mocked him, then shot him dead.
Audio throughout the incident was recorded by his medical alert device.
This man served his country and survived war. Only to be killed in the country he swore an oath to protect.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, on racism at the University of Texas, Austin (via sheikhmaat)
See also Sweatt v. Painter (1950)
The case involved a black man, Heman Marion Sweatt, who was refused admission to the School of Law of the University of Texas, whose president was Theophilus Painter, on the grounds that the Texas State Constitution prohibited integrated education. At the time, no law school in Texas would admit black students, or, in the language of the time, “Negro” students.
The state district court in Travis County, instead of granting the plaintiff a writ of mandamus, continued the case for six months. This allowed the state time to create a law school only for black students, which it established in Houston, Texas, rather than in Austin. The ‘separate’ law school and the college became today’s Texas Southern University; the law school is known as the Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
(via paxamericana)
rienne:mareeana: (via ladyatheist)
Trayvon Martin Case: 911 Audio Released Of Teen Shot By Neighborhood Watch Captain
SANFORD, Fla. — Police have released audio 911 tapes in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teenager killed by a neighborhood watch captain while walking home from a store.
In eight chilling recordings, made the night of February 26, listeners can hear the frightened voices of neighbors calling to report to screams for help, gunshots, and then that someone was dead.
In perhaps the most disturbing of the recordings, a frightened voice cries out for help and pleading “No! No!” and then wailing.
And for the first time, we hear the voice of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who admitted to police that he shot Martin, who was walking home from a convenience store to his father’s home in the gated community. Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged in the shooting.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something,” Zimmerman tells the 911 operator. “He’s just staring, looking at all the houses. Now he’s coming toward me. He’s got his hand in his waistband. Something’s wrong with him.”
Zimmerman described Martin as wearing a hoodie and sweatpants or jeans. He continues: “He’s coming to check me out. He’s got something in his hands. I don’t know what his deal is. Can we get an officer over here?”
“These assholes always get away,” he says to the operator. Zimmerman is then heard giving directions to the dispatcher. “Shit, he’s running,” Zimmerman says.
“Are you following him?” the dispatchers asked.
“Yes,” Zimmerman responds.
“We don’t need you to do that,” the dispatcher says.
This is what happens when people knowingly perpetuate stereotypes. This is what happens when college kids have “ghetto” or “hoppin the border” parties. This is what happen when the media only casts Black men in stereotypical roles. That shit isn’t innocent. It isn’t “just a costume”. It isn’t “just clean fun”. That shit gets people killed.
The calls from witnesses are worse. You can hear Trayvon calling out for help repeatedly, gunshots, and then complete silence …
[TW:Racism]
Mississippi Conservatives Talk About Their Hatred Of Obama
People in America’s poorest state talk about how they’d rather remain wretched than accept anything from Obama, that negro in the White House. They hate government handouts even though many of them are on food stamps. They think Obama care is “retarded and pointless” even while acknowledging that many in their state need health care. It’s really a sad video to watch.
I’m well aware that those interviewed represent a small fraction of those who live in Mississippi. However, having lived in the Southeast for over a decade, I can personally attest to the fact that this way of thinking is also found in the best of neighborhoods amongst those of varying social, economical, and educational backgrounds. The leaders of the Klan and other hate groups usually wear a suite and tie and are better educated than many think. They feed this level of racist based fear and ignorance into those who listen to them and you end up with this.
I rarely talk about race on this blog for my own mental health. It’s not something that can be mentioned casually, it’s not something that blacks can get over as something in our past. It’s alive and well in America, and regardless of your status, be it President or pauper, there are always those who will look at your success or lack of success as a direct relation to the color of your skin.
I’m secure enough to acknowledge the ignorant and not allow them to impede on enjoying the successful and wonderful life I’ve created for myself. Unfortunately, this is not about me. These are the people who vote their faith and their prejudices. These are the ones who voted for McCain simply because he was white, no policy considered, just the color of his skin. These are the people who will vote GOP for the same reason.
This has nothing to do with poverty either, as this ignorance has little to do with economic status. These are learned behaviors of hate and intolerance, passed down from generation to generation. Ignorance that moves past the slums and spread across all sectors of the nation.
This isn’t a pro-Obama post, because I’ve shared before that my voting for him is strictly a result of doing my research and finding him the less of the evils. If another candidate was available that did not make me want to flee the country every time they opened their mouth, I’d be seriously researching them. This is about living in America in 2012 and having people still make political decisions based on faith and race.
Just a few of the scary highlights from this video:
“God should come into his (The President) mind in every thing that he does.”
“This is America, our President should be American not Muslim.”
“It’s not because he’s black cause he’s a half breed…”
Man: “I guess I’m a little prejudices.” Reporter: “Are you? You don’t like black people?” Man: “Not much.” Reporter: “Why not?” Man: “I just don’t”
Reporter: “So you don’t care about the economy?” Man: “No, it will take care of itself. If you put God back in the saddle it will all be ok.”
“We would rather go broke and die hungry than to give up our moral beliefs.”
“I feel like voting God and voting faith is more important to me than voting for free money…”
“I’m gonna stand up for what I believe in even if I go broke doing it.”
“…and like the tag on the front of my truck says, ‘The South Will Rise Again’.”
~ Kim
This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: The family of a slain black teen is demanding to know why the white neighborhood watch captain who shot him is not behind bars.
On February 26th, 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a Seminole State College student, shot and killed 17-year-old high school junior Trayvon Martin in the Orlando, Florida suburb of Sanford.
Martin, an African-American whose father and stepmother live in the predominantly white gated community of The Retreat at Twin Lakes, was walking home from a convenience store after purchasing a bag of Skittles, when he was confronted by Zimmerman.
The official police report says Zimmerman had earlier called to police to alert them of a “suspicious person in the area” and was told not to pursue. He complained that “They always get away,” before continuing his pursuit.
According to Zimmerman’s report, Martin, upon realizing that he was being followed, asked the self-appointed neighborhood watch captain what his problem was. At some point a scuffle ensued, and Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest with his 9mm handgun. He later told police he was acting in self-defense.
“He had a gun, and Trayvon had Skittles,” said Benjamin Crump, attorney for Martin’s family. “[The police] say they are still investigating. I’m not sure what there is to investigate.”
Martin’s family attempted to put pressure on investigators yesterday by gathering outside the Sandford Police Department to rally for Zimmerman’s arrest, but police officials refused to address the protesters.
Martin’s family filed a public records lawsuit to obtain a tape of the 911 call Zimmerman made prior to the shooting to ensure that all the facts are out in the open.
Last week, Sanford PD Chief Bill Lee said he didn’t think Zimmerman intended to shoot Martin, but said they would “present all the information” to the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office and let them decide if Zimmerman was defending himself.
WFTV has since uncovered Zimmerman’s criminal record, which includes a 2005 arrest for resisting arrest and battery on a law enforcement officer. The case was ultimately dismissed.
