State of the Black Union 2008

I posted a piece on September 20, 2007 about the Black National Anthem. I raised the question of why blacks, or anyone for that matter, need a separate national anthem for their race. Again I find something that raises a similar question.

"Why does a race need a State of the Union meeting?"

This forum is being held in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Conference Auditorium. Click here to view information on the forum. It was stated in the mask head of the site that the purpose of the meeting is to "Reclaiming Our Democracy, Deciding Our Future."

I do not understand why a race needs such a meeting, but if whites held the same type of meeting (for example; State of the White Union), people would be up in arms that it was racist.

The meeting was hosted by Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner and includes New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Donna Brazile, and Sheila Jackson Lee.

It has been reported that Barack Obama was invited to attend but declined to attend, causing some stir in the African-American community. In a letter sent to Smiley, Obama offered to send his wife Michelle, but Smiley declined to have her participate.

This could possibly push some black voters to back Clinton if they see Obama's absence as a slight.

In any case, I still do not understand why it is acceptable for Blacks to host such a forum, but Whites would be chastised if they did the same.

I can understand a group whating to meet and address issues that ate important to them, but what goes for one should go for all. I have felt this way about Black Miss America, Hispanic Miss American, Black All American football teams and anything that seperates the races.

Everyone should get on the same page and go forward. RACE DOES NOT MATTER!!! WE ARE ALL AMERICANS!!!

Al Sharpton: Race a Factor in Steroids Scandals

Al Sharpton said Saturday that he believes the U.S. government has been pursuing black athletes more aggressively than white athletes in scandals over performance enhancing drugs.

In his weekly address to followers in Harlem, Sharpton compared the treatment of Barry Bonds to the treatment of Roger Clemens.

Sharpton said the members of Congress who were there for the hearing, "treated Roger Clemens like they were at a fan club meeting." He questioned why a steroids scandal had landed Bonds in trouble, but no white athlete of a similar standing.

Out of the mouth of Al Sharpton. He stirs up more troble each and every time he opens his mouth. It bothers me he is given so much credibility in the media. He is a rabble-rousing race baiter who only interest is himself and how any situation can benefit Al Sharpton.

Don Imus: A Right To Free Speech

I was reading some of my favorite blogs this evening and came across an interesting post on "Angela's Right to Free Speech."

She makes some interesting statements about how Don Imus makes a comment as a joke and people are demanding he be fired.

She further states that some people responding on talk shows use the same comment and nobody flinched.

Rappers can use the same term (and others far worse) to describe women in their songs and videos and the same people that are complaining about Imus don't raise an eyebrow.

She made the following statements in her blog:

Black rappers degrade their culture and they are making millions off that degradation but nobody cares about that. Double standards and reverse racism are alive and well in this country people.

So a rapper can express themselves in a negative light and Imus can't attempt to crack a joke? Imus isn't a very good comedian but he does have a right to try and crack a joke if he wants to.

If a black person has the right to use those words then so do I. If Chris Rock can bust on "his people" then so can I. If freedom of speech applies in this country then that would mean it applies to Imus too, right?

I am so sick of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Tired of black people blaming history for their anger. Whatever happened to live in the present? Why do I have to pay the price for what some of our prejudice forefathers did back in the day that slavery was alive and well? I'm supposed to eat crow because I'm white?

She hit the nail right on the head. These people just like to stir things up to make themselves important and keep themselves in the spotlight.

You are so correct Angela. He cracked a joke...nothing more and nothing less. If he had been black, none of this would be happening now.

He should not be fired. If he is, it will show just much NBC caters to special interest groups and that that they care less about the silent majority.

So I will close in the venacular of the people making these complains about Imus..."YOU GO GIRL!!!