black-america

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable.”This admonition from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that African Americans should take to heart amid the pending debate over President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. With the legal gains of the civil rights movement under relentless attack by this administration, the stakes of this nomination could not be higher for our community. The Court that emerges out of this fight will determine the trajectory of civil rights and racial justice for generations to come. This is a moment to be vocal and vigilant about protecting the gains we’ve made.Here’s a look at what’s on the line:Voting RightsA host of state legislatures around the country are working to undermine fair access to the ballot, with a particular eye toward disenfranchising African Americans and other traditionally-marginalized communities. Already the Supreme Court has rendered several disappointing decisions that will make it easier for states to throw up roadblocks to voting for African Americans. Just this past term, the Court gave the green light to a voter purge program in Ohio that made it easier to remove voters from the rolls. With the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court would be poised to become even more hostile to voting rights than it already is, as his judicial record suggests that he will be sympathetic to state efforts to chip away at this most fundamental of rights. During his time on the bench, he wrote the opinion for the court in a case that allowed South Carolina to put a photo ID requirement in place.Affirmative ActionAs I write, efforts to promote racial diversity in our nation’s colleges and universities are being challenged in the courts by anti-affirmative action zealots. And there will almost surely be more attacks, financed by special interest groups on the far right, in the years to come. At the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, we are engaged in two dangerous challenges to affirmative action involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina. With Justice Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote, the Supreme Court made clear that race could be one among a number of factors that schools could consider in the context of a holistic admissions policy But with Judge Kavanaugh, who once submitted an amicus brief for an explicitly anti-affirmative action organization, that is likely to change.Criminal JusticeThe Supreme Court’s docket typically includes a number of criminal justice cases. From illegal searches and seizures to law enforcement immunity to capital punishment, the Court plays a significant role in regulating the administration of justice in this country. Judge Kavanaugh’s record and views on criminal procedure, particularly his reluctance to hold law enforcement accountable and his tendency to rule against criminal defendants, raise serious concerns for our community, given the racial discrimination that continues to infect virtually every stage of the justice system today;.Reproductive RightsWhile women of color are sometimes disconnected from mainstream movements around reproductive rights, the reality is that access to abortion and to reproductive health services generally matters a great deal for low-income African American women and women of color. A recent Pew study indicates that African Americans actually support abortion at even higher rates than their white counterparts. Specifically, 62 percent of black adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 58 percent of whites. Here, Judge Kavanaugh’s record raises real questions. His nomination comes at a time when President Trump vowed only to nominate people who would overturn Roe v. Wade. And, in a highly controversial decision this year involving a 17-year-old immigrant girl seeking an abortion, Judge Kavanaugh issued a ruling that had the impact of obstructing and denying her the ability to terminate her pregnancy, until a full panel of judges intervened.On a range of other issues, from housing discrimination to women’s reproductive rights to consumer and workers’ rights, these critical inflection points at the Supreme Court have a tangible impact on our day-to-day lives. We owe it to those who fought to make progress possible to defend that progress. How do we do that? We call our Senators to make sure they know we’re invested in this fight, and to insist that they examine Judge Kavanaugh’s record in its entirety and scrutinize his views on the constitutional and civil rights issues important to our community. We mobilize our organizations to speak out in this debate and galvanize their members. Most importantly, we vote in November because this Supreme Court nomination is a powerful reminder that elections have consequences. It is critical that we activate our friends and family members to vote, mindful of everything that is at stake.Kristen Clarke is President and Executive Director of the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The Lawyers’ Committee is active in the Supreme Court and plays a central role in evaluating Supreme Court nominees during each and every vacancy. Follow her...

I was about five years old when Tupac was basking in stardom and criticized by the media, but his music was real and I felt like I knew him. His lyrics turned into movies in my mind. I saw the people he was talking about in every story told. And I felt every emotion through his hard, but yet passionate voice. To date, no artist has made me cry in sadness, because of a true story told through song (Brenda’s got a Baby). If you’re emotionless during that record then my friend something is wrong with you. Tupac certainly had a calling to lead, but he had a lot of Jonah in him like many of us. He ran from himself like most twenty-somethings do subconsciously, not quite knowing how to direct their gifts. There is a scene in the film where Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur tells Tupac he’s a leader when they watch Vice President, Dan Quayle in 1992 criticize Tupac’s lyrics and try to connect his lyrics to a murder case. Tupac quickly denies that responsibility in that moment. Tupac’s foundation was revolutionary. Fighting for justice and understanding the “system” was in his DNA it was the mainstay throughout his life. It was what kept him moving—literally and figuratively. His mother was pregnant with him while in jail and the only father figure (in which we know of) was in prison. The release of All Eyez On Me is certainly timely, as we live in a world where we see no justice for Black men who have been murdered by police officers unjustly. Tupac was a victim of the justice system and to date, his murder remains unsolved.  This film was less about Tupac’s music and more about black men in Amerikkka. Throughout the film, you see Tupac’s evolution. We first see Tupac as a young kid being a witness to police brutality to later transition into a talented teen attending a theater arts school in Baltimore, MD. Then we see Tupac grow into a young adult in Oakland, CA navigating his way through the music industry, but still, see him victimized by the police. Also, Demetrius Shipp Jr, who portrayed the late Tupac played each stage of Tupac's life flawlessly- the resemblance between Shipp and Tupac is chilling. Although there were scenes that may have been more significant in Tupac's life that played out to be rushed on the big screen, there was still a message to receive. Tupac accomplished so much in his short time on earth along with turmoil, like sentencing disparity—like many black men see today (Kalief Browder Story).There will be many who may not see this film the way in which I did, but Tupac's story was the story of a “Black man's Amerikkka”. (I.e - a black man knows that he’s a king and becomes a threat. Therefore, systems are designed to hold him back, so he won’t get too far). The only difference was that Tupac was living his life story publicly 24/7 and blessed us with music that documented his experiences.Tupac’s time and his poetic thoughts are legendary and will live on forever and for that Tupac is still...

Donald Trump offered better insight into his "New Deal" plan for black America through an exclusive release to Media Take Out. The plan first revealed at a Trump rally last month in North Carolina touts minority outreach through a 10-point plan of "urban renewal". In a post titled, "Donald Trump REACHED OUT TO US . . . He's Offering This 'NEW DEAL' To Black Americans . . . We Have The FULL TEXT Of Pres-Elect Trump's OFFER . . . And It Sounds Interesting!! (Do You ACCEPT IT . . . Or NAH??)", MTKO readers receive a broad scope of the suggestions for revitalizing black communities. The self-proclaimed "most visited African American website in the world" also mentioned that Trump's transition team made the initial contact to publish the plan. Without further adieu, this is what Donald Trump has in store for black people. via MediaTakeOut.com 1. Great Education Through School Choice. We will allow every disadvantaged child in America to attend the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. School choice is the great civil rights issue of our time, and Donald Trump will be the nation’s biggest cheerleader for school choice in all 50 states. We will also ensure funding for Historic Black Colleges and Universities, more affordable 2 and 4-year college, and support for trade and vocational education. 2. Safe Communities. We will make our communities safe again. Every poor African-American child must be able to walk down the street in peace. Safety is a civil right. We will invest in training and funding both local and federal law enforcement operations to remove the gang members, drug dealers, and criminal cartels from our neighborhoods. The reduction of crime is not merely a goal – but a necessity. 3. Equal Justice Under the Law. We will apply the law fairly, equally and without prejudice. There will be only one set of rules – not a two-tiered system of justice. Equal justice also means the same rules for Wall Street. 4. Tax Reforms to Create Jobs and Lift up People and Communities. We will lower the business tax from 35 percent to 15 percent and bring thousands of new companies to our shores. We will also have a massive middle class tax cut, tax-free childcare savings accounts, and childcare tax deductions and credits. We will also have tax holidays for inner-city investment, and new tax incentives to get foreign companies to relocate in blighted American neighborhoods. We will empower cities and states to seek a federal disaster designation for blighted communities in order to initiate the rebuilding of vital infrastructure, the demolition of abandoned properties, and the increased presence of law enforcement. 5. Financial Reforms to Expand Credit to Support New Job Creation. We will have financial reforms to make it easier for young African-Americans to get credit to pursue their dreams in business and create jobs in their communities. Dodd-Frank has been a disaster, making it harder for small businesses to get the credit they need. The policies of the Clintons brought us the financial recession – through lifting Glass-Steagall, pushing subprime lending, and blocking reforms to Fannie and Freddie. It’s time for a 21stcentury Glass Steagall and, as part of that, a priority on helping African-American businesses get the credit they need. We will also encourage small-business creation by allowing social welfare workers to convert poverty assistance into repayable but forgive-able micro-loans. 6. Trade That Works for American Workers. We will stop the massive, chronic trade deficits that have emptied out our jobs. We won’t let our jobs be stolen from us anymore. We will stop the offshoring of companies to low-wage countries and raise wages at home – meaning rent and bills become instantly more affordable. We will tell executives that if they move their factories to Mexico or other countries, we will put a 35% tax on their product before they ship it back into the United States. 7. Protection from Illegal Immigration. We will restore the civil rights of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and all Americans, by ending illegal immigration. No group has been more economically harmed by decades of illegal immigration than low-income African-American workers. Hillary’s pledge to enact “open borders,” – made in secret to a foreign bank – would destroy the African-American middle class. We will reform visa rules to give American workers preference for jobs, and we will suspend reckless refugee admissions from terror-prone regions that cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. We will use a portion of the money saved by enforcing our laws, and suspending refugees, to re-invested in our inner cities. 8. New Infrastructure Investment. We will leverage public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years, of which the inner cities will be a major beneficiary. We will cancel all wasteful climate change spending from Obama-Clinton, including all global warming payments to the United Nations. This will save $100 billion over 8 years. We will use these to help rebuild the vital infrastructure, including water systems, in America’s inner cities. 9. Protect the African-American Church. We will protect religious liberty, promote strong families, and support the African-American church. 10. America First Foreign Policy. We will stop trying to build Democracies overseas, wasting trillions, but focus on defeating terrorists and putting America First. Looks like the only word missing is gentrification. Twitter immediately went in on the plan and its method of delivery. When you find out Donald Trump posted his 10 point plan for the Black Community on MediaTakeOut: pic.twitter.com/Z4qXXyyLeo — #J20 (@Delo_Taylor) November 13, 2016 I thought people were joking when they said Donald Trump released a 10 point plan for African Americans to Mediatakeout.....bro LOL — Darien (@sixerhive) November 13, 2016 People asking why are people worried about Trump being president, and this guy giving plans to better the black community to MediaTakeOut — Shablim (@EZtheBasedJesus) November 13, 2016 @JustinTinsley Trump staffer: We need a website that'll tell the blacks about our plan. Omarosa: I read MediaTakeOut. Staffer: That'll work. — ChuckyT3 (@ChuckyT3) November 12, 2016 This "new deal for Black America" is literally a plan to destroy black communities — Ejike 🇳🇬 (@TheNewThinker) November 13, 2016 Oh yes lawd, Massa Trump got a wonderful deal fo black folks who aint criminals & thugs. It's called Urban renewal. Boss got all the answers — Ferrari Sheppard (@stopbeingfamous) November 12, 2016 Looking back at the election exit polls, Donald Trump earned a measly eight percent of black support to that of Hillary Clinton's 88 percent. Let us know your thoughts on Donald Trump's "urban renewal" proposal in the comments. Loving Blavity's articles? Sign up for our daily...

Donney Rose, a Baton Rouge native and active member of the city’s poetry scene, has been performing spoken word and facilitating spoken word events for just over a decade. He works as a teaching artist and marketing director for an arts-based non-profit, Forward Arts Inc. Donney has recorded three spoken word CDs and is author of the chapbook, The Crying Buck (Next Left Press), a collection that explores the vulnerabilities of the human condition through the lens of black masculinity. His work has been featured on Button Poetry, All Def Digital and in Nicholls State's Gris-Gris literary journal. Twitter: @drose225 Website: www.donneyrose.com Tumblr:...

Over the past 20 years there has been a population explosion of Africans immigrating to North America. Children have followed and they have grown up in a radically different world than their parents. Naturally, these children soon ask the question, "who am I?" They walk into a legacy of being black without having the same historic experience as your average black/African-American. As a Ghanaian-Brit, I think the African British culture is now emerging and is doing a good job in towing the line of being British and African, however, now that I am living in North America I am sensing a confusion that once besieged us Africans in Britain. So from one child of African immigrants to others, I would like to present my 10 strategies for Africans in America to survive being an African, while also being black in America. 1) Africa is hated, and you will be mocked The perception of Africa in the media has hit black America hard, as it once did with British Caribbean’s. Because of their historic link there is an embarrassment of being associated to the negative portrayal of Africa. You as a new African are the reminder to all the negative programming they’ve subconsciously eaten, and during school you will feel their wrath! Here you have to be like Jesus, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” But if you survive the storm, they will learn better and ask your forgiveness. 2) Don't become a victim to the negative perception of Africa It is easy to want to disassociate yourself from the constant portrayal of impoverishment, aid, famine, beggars, war, child soldiers, evil dictators, etc., I completely understand when you say “I’m not from Africa, my parents are!”  I used to say the same. But you must fortify your mind to block out and attack this perspective. You are an embodiment of African culture and your acceptance alone is a rebuke to the negative campaign throughout the media. British-born Sierra Leonean Alim Kamara has embraced the Griot tradition of his culture. He is a storyteller, rapper and motivational speaker. He travels the globe sharing stories while also heads a charity named A-Scholar, which supplies educational material and scholarships for his people in Sierra Leone. 3) Being African does not make you less Black It does, however, make you less black American, but your experience as an African is equally valuable to the multi-layered fabric of being black. Although you might not be the same as your family back home, you haven't stopped being an African because of where you were born. You are simply acquiring a new experience as an African on different shores. Embrace your duality; it will serve as a massive benefit in the future to new migrants, to your family that will join you in the future and to communicating to other Africans in different parts of the world. 4) Know your history did not begin with slavery That does not make you superior than those whose ancestors did experience this tragic event. But it does say you have a different genetic experience that informed the journey of your ancestors. Those stories are no less valuable and provide an insight to children of the enslaved as to what their history was before slavery. It's your duty to get to know and share who you are, but never belittle or turn you nose up to the experience of black Americans. Their negative attitude to you is in large part due to their experience as Africans on these shores, which your ancestors were fortunate to avoid. Get to understand not undermine, for learning how to communicate who you are to who they are will challenge stereotypes and eliminate prejudices. 5) Artists have a special role to play Artists are masters of communication and can stimulate constructive discussions. Your dual heritage enables access, experimentation debate and conversation. It creates new work and perspectives and encourages discussion. There is a beauty in sound and perspective that comes along with it. Mozambique born rapper Muhammad Yaya grew up in London and has artistically fused with British of Caribbean origin Sarina Leah to form a dynamic rap-singing duo, Native Sun. 6) Not teaching your children your culture is preparing them to be lost Africans were ripped of their culture through enslavement. It is often lamented how “we lost our language religion culture and God.”  Do not throw what you retained away. As your elders pass, it will dawn upon you that for centuries the ways of your people has been passed on to successive generations and you are the last surviving person to this link. It will equally be highly embarrassing when your children ask you who they are and you are not able to respond. They will endure unnecessary identity crises that can be completely avoided. Your children will decide and invent new ways to straddle the cultures. Mi fri Ghana (I am from Ghana) was started by British Ghanaians as a way to remain connected to their homeland, enabling other Ghanaian children to be less confused about their culture and provide a tangible means to be a Ghanaian even if it is a different type of Ghanaian. 7) Infuse your historical traditions into your contemporary culture Learn how to make you culture relevant. Use the advanced technologies that are in the West to make who you are tangible. This could lead to further joint exploration, joint development, cross-cultural projects, increase in trade and access. The Bollywood and Nollywood explosions are not based solely in those native countries but on countries their people are in. Check out FUSE ODG, a UK-born Ghanaian musician who introduced the Ghanaian Ga tradition of Azonto to the non-Ghanaian world. 8) You are unquestionably an African born in America But so are African-Americans, just a different type. And just as they find their feet, you must do the same. You can be an American whose parents are African, an African who is born in America, an American who has an African background. Your contemporaries will decide to be elements of all of the above. It doesn't have to be either or; it is what you feel on top of who you are. Such diverse realities enable more authentic travel, and an exciting future. No one typifies this more than Idris Elba. Part Ghanaian, part Sierra Leonean, grew up in east London and has played characters from London, America, West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. Do you not think his rich heritage helped him in this? And with him now turning his focus to African films, who better to challenge the perception of Africa than the direct children of Africans? 9) Embrace the African descendants that claim Africa Some African-Americans still feel an almighty connection to Africa and some don’t. Malcolm X once said “The American so-called Negro can never be blamed for his attitude to race, for he is merely reacting to 400 years of conditioning.” This is also true with Africa. After 400 years of being brainwashed against Africa, there is a differing view with who they are. Think about it, if you don’t teach your children the culture and the succeeding generations thereafter don’t do the same, it won’t be long that they will question who they are; so do not admonish those who are attempting to re-establish a meaningful connection. Their analysis might provide differing conclusions with some opting for African-American others as Moors, Blacks, Africans, Afrikans, Muslims, Christians, Hebrews, Pan-Africans, etc. We must allow for these conversations to happen. Stand aside, listen and learn. But recognize the reality of this discussion doesn't apply to you. You shouldn't claim their historical nuances as your own, but you mustn't refuse those that submit and seek access to African culture, for in essence it does belong to them and it is a small concession in them rebuilding their own identity and historical legacy. 10) When all is said and done we are one Why on earth is it so easy for black people to look at different races and say “we are all the same underneath” but with people we share a visual connection and historical legacy with, it is an invitation for conflict and division. We all as Africans in America, African-Americans, African-British, African-Caribbeans, African-Latinos, etc. must begin to understand each other and propagate the slogan, “From many branches we are one!” You first generations are the best messengers for this mission. --- TUGGS.T.A.R is a motivational poet and a Youth Engagement Practitioner that has been trained as a Facilitator under Jim Brown’s A-mer-I-Can program (UK chapter). To date he has two albums, The Africa E.P: From Here to There and Home Again and Season of Lost Love. He has just released his first book, The Secret Relationship Between Africans & Blacks, which is available on Amazon. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on his website here. Want more content like this? Sign up for our weekly newsletter below. [mc4wp_form]     ...

A recent report by Nielsen highlights the dynamic growth of the  African American consumer population. The Black community is making huge gains as buyers and this growth covers a large spectrum of things, including population increase, education, diversity within the black community, advancing income and consumption of media. Here are the top 10 things to take from the report. Nielsen’s recent report, Increasingly Affluent, Educated and Diverse: African-American Consumers –The Untold Story, 1. Population Increase The African American population is growing faster than non-Hispanics whites across all income segments above $60,000. In fact, Our population grew 35 percent faster than the total population from 2000-2014 and is on the uptrend. According to the U.S Census, by 2060, the black population will increase to 74.5 million people. That would make the African-American community 17.9 percent of the total US population. 2. Education is flourishing The rate for high-school graduation for black students rose to over 70 percent. That is greater than any other race. College enrollment is also on the rise. Last year the percentage of black high-school graduates enrolled in college increased to 70.9 percent. The community is also making strides in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, which will help secure income increases.   3. We're Getting Richer The black household median rose by 3.5 percent within the past three years. The median household income also increased 2.3 percent, which outpaced the income growth for any category. Black households earning $200,000+ outdid the total population by 64 percent with a whopping 138 percent income increase from 2005-2013. The growth in household income is projected to continue.   4. The Black community isn't just about African Americans anymore. It's About the Diaspora The number of black immigrants has more than quadrupled since 1980. African immigrants are leading the pack with more than a third of the total foreign-born US black population hailing from the continent. The black community is expected to continue to diversify with the US census predicting by 2060, one out of every six black people in the US will be an immigrant. This surge in foreign-born blacks is contributing to the increased incomes for the African American community.   5. We're going back to the South The Black population is continuing to shif to the southern US. This shift is driving local development, with the most intensive growth in the number of African-American households with over $100,000 annual income. 6. Millennials and Young People Make Up the Majority of our community The average age of black Americans is 31.4 years. This is younger than the non-Hispanic white population, which is 39, and the total population, which is 36.7. This is very promising for income increases, as there are more opportunities for growth within the black community. 7. We're always online and consuming content Black adults 18 and over spend 42 percent more time viewing TV, 13 percent more time on PCs, 15 percent more time on smartphones and 4 percent more time listening to the radio than the total population. 91 percent of all African Americans listen to the radio weekly (31 million). Black incomes between $75,000- $100,000 are 51 percent more likely than non-Hispanic whites to listen to an online local radio station and 24 percent more likely to listen to a streaming music service 8. Black Twitter is Real. African-American-themed shows and characters have strong engagement levels with the overall Twitter TV audience. The show Empire is a huge example of this. The marriage between social media and television has provided a platform to create awareness about the lack of diversity recognition in popular awards shows. An example of this is the power of Black Twitter — that community is so big, the Los Angeles Times even hired someone to focus specifically on that sector.   9. Spending Money In our own community is a priority As black consumers hit peak earning years and the number of households earning higher income levels increases, the opportunity for retailers to benefit from these higher spending levels will continue to increase. African Americans earning over $100,000 say they will pay extra for a product that is consistent with an image they want to convey. 10. Celebrities and Influencers impact our buying decisions African Americans making $50,000-$75,000 are 96 percent more likely than their non-Hispanic non-white counterparts to consider purchasing a product that is endorsed by a celebrity. The increased presence of African-American-themed content and programs with at least one black lead actor or actress on the small screen proves to show our voices are being heard. Such a report is ground-breaking for the African-American community. Our influence and growth are being acknowledged and it is refreshing to see the upward trends. With increasing population to continue, education on the uprising and more diversity within the community, African Americans will be a force to be reckoned with as the years go on.   What did you find most interesting in this survey? Let us know in the comments below. ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fooSRI37AFA Follow this poet on Twitter at @aja_monet. Did this poem speak to you? Share it on Facebook below.   ...

Earlier this year in an interview with Oprah, Raven Symone publicly stated that she does not identify as an African. Instead, she said, “I’m an American, I don’t like labels.” Reasonably so, the entire diaspora launched a simultaneous Black Twitter rant, dragging Symone and her New Black rhetoric. Symone’s statements shocked many of us because of her blatant dismissal of the many ways in which black people in America have been taught to disassociate from Africa. Clearly, we all seemed to be on the same page about Symone having African roots, regardless of whether or not she wanted to acknowledge them. Earlier this week, an article was published titled “Black America, Please Stop Appropriating African Clothing and Tribal Marks: Yes, that means everyone at Afropunk too.” In sum, this article draws parallels between white girls with cornrows and black people at Afropunk expressing themselves through African-inspired clothing. Ultimately, this is a lackluster comparison.  Drawing this parallel assumes that Black America can contribute to the erasure of African cultures at the same degree to which White America does. The reasons we vehemently oppose white people appropriating African cultures are because of the power dynamics at play and the very real history of whites taking credit for and ownership of African cultures. Not only is the tone of this article condescending, but it ignores major nuances about the identities of black Americans. For many, a connection to Africa forged by clothing, music, customs, etc. acts as a form of liberation — a way to unlearn the many ways white supremacy has embedded a hatred toward Africa in the black psyche. By reducing the dress of many black people at Afropunk to a mere attempt at looking “trendy,” this article dismisses the longstanding history of Black America aiming to reconnect with Africa, proving this is much more than a clothing trend. The author states “if you’re not from an African tribe, please leave off wearing the tribal marks,” without acknowledging the fact that black Americans indeed are from African tribes. They might not know which ones, but who is to blame for that? Does black America feel this offended when youth in all countries and regions of Africa wear Rocawear and FUBU? How can we criticize Black America for not identifying with Africa when they are constantly being told they aren’t African? Instead of encouraging reductionism, let’s provide this discussion with the context, nuance and thought it deserves. Rather than stress about particularities of clothing, let's focus on the real and pervasive threats to our diaspora. Instead of dictating identities and constructing hierarchies, we should provide safe spaces for people to explore and engage with different African cultures especially when those cultures reflect their lineage. Ultimately, as a diaspora, let us focus on building bridges of unity aimed at advancing the lives of our people.   What are your thoughts on the idea of Black America appropriating African cultures? Let us know in the comments below. ...

  These poets talk about the nuances of black motherhood. Their one-liners will speak truth to feelings you never knew how to express and leave you stunned, tearful and gasping for more. "There is something about being Black in America that has made motherhood sound like mourning." Check out their testimonies below. "THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD" - FREEQUENCY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjsT69qPtnM "SONS" - TERISA SIAGATONU and RUDY FRANCISCO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNPaoszr11U "WINGS" - PAGES MATAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU_7X2twVQ0 "MOTHER" - MEGA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU_Ms1V4xNc Want more content like this? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter below. [mc4wp_form] ...

  https://twitter.com/KwameRose/status/617051139792596992 I want to get excited about Independence Day. I want to fully appreciate the delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence, a historical document that signaled the end of the colonial link to England. However, before I can appreciate the artful rhetoric of Thomas Jefferson, I am reminded that he was a rapist and suggested that the true companions for black women were orangutans. I am reminded that, at the inception of the nation, my ancestors were considered (by the federal government) to be 3/5 of a human being. I am reminded that while being forced to pick tobacco in the summer sun, slave women were preyed upon by white slave owners and overseers. On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered one of his most influential speeches to a white audience. "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" highlights the accomplishments of white Americans and their ability to provide freedom and opportunity for themselves. But, despite their accomplishments and their quest for freedom, a group of people remained enslaved under their watch. Much has changed since 1852. Black people are no longer enslaved by civilians and have the legal right to organize and protest. Although these advances were made, black people are still living under similar circumstances. https://twitter.com/BlvckConscious/status/616998529899347968 1. Mass Incarceration of Black and Latino Men in The Prison-Industrial Complex After Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs in 1970, the amount of people in prison dramatically increased despite the stagnant numbers of criminal activity. Most of those arrested were people of color, which altered the demographic makeup of prisons. After the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, the war on drugs intensified, honing in on inner-city neighborhoods that predominately house blacks and latinos. Although studies continue to show that whites use drugs at the same rate as blacks and are more likely to be drug dealers, the makeup of the prison system is largely blacks and latinos. In what Michelle Alexander has described as "the New Jim Crow," "millions of blacks arrested for minor crimes remain marginalized and disfranchised, trapped by a criminal justice system that has forever branded them as felons and denied them basic rights and opportunities that would allow them to become productive, law-abiding citizens." This new Jim Crow has taken black men from communities, contributing to the stereotypical absentee hype. The push to put black folks behind bars is fueled by American capitalism. In private prisons, prisoners work for pennies to make and produce goods for industries such as agriculture, telecommunications agencies, and food packaging and processing. Many see this as a new form of slavery for black people because their free labor is supplied on the basis of a racial disparity. 2. Voter Suppression Laws Voter ID laws require people to present proper identification when at the polls. This law was said be introduced as a way to curb voter fraud, something that rarely happens. Although these IDs are free, they require citizens to present documents such as a birth certificate, which is $25 to purchase. This may seem like a small amount to some, but when you're working a job that pays $7.25 an hour and you're trying to raise a family of four, that's a lot of money. This Republican-backed legislation negatively impacts black people, especially those that live in absolute poverty. Essentially, this law makes it so that representatives don't have to attempt to appeal to a demographic in their district. Thus, the ability of millions of black people to make their voices heard through the electoral process is once again silenced. 3. Police Brutality In a few weeks, the anniversaries of the death of Eric Garner and Michael Brown will be upon us. These two deaths helped to bring to the forefront a problem black people have been fighting against since the end of slavery — police brutality. Not a week goes by where I don't happen upon a video that shows a black woman or man being beaten and bludgeoned by a cop. 4. Racism in the Name of Southern Heritage The massacre in Charleston last month brought about national debate over the existence of the Confederate flag on state grounds. Many see the Confederate battle flag merely as a symbol and a reminder that their ancestors stood up to the oppressive federal government. Many white southerners cling to their battle flag as a symbol of the attempt to set up a nation free from northern tyranny. It was also established, according to the Vice President of the Confederate States of America, Alexander H Stephens, under the notion that "the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition." The battle flag was again adopted in the 60s by southern governments to show their resistance to desegregation and integration. So while many southern whites revel in the past, wishing to go back to the days of beautiful cotton fields and Scarlett O'Hara, I am reminded that during the war, my ancestors were beaten, had their families ripped apart and were forced to work, sun-up to sun-down, making a profit to clothe and feed the mouths of their plantation owners. I am reminded that during integration, my grandparents and great-grandparents were spit upon and beaten, all during attempts to go to school or purchase lunch. Although there is so much affecting our everyday lives, we have hope. We have the voices of Black Twitter, writers, and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We have the inspiration from those such as Stokley Carmichael, Assata Shakur, Angela Davis and Martin Luther King Jr., who went before us and paved a way for us to occupy and march on. We have hope, history and God on our side. We have nothing to lose but our chains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-mt1P94cQ Want more content like this? Subscribe to our weekly digest below. [mc4wp_form]   ...