Is it safe to travel in African-American Neighborhoods?

The Imus in the morning show kicked Don Imus from the airwaves. And somewhere, a national dialogue about race is being booted around in cyerspace. Former President William Clinton had started such an initiative under his watch. So here we are again. We have these groups in our town called study circles-diversity. Tolerance.

Dialogue? About Race? Okay, if this dialogue is about name calling and that the use of inappropriate language in the workplace will cost you your job. Fine. Bring in African-American expertise to teach sensitivity classes with pay to raced whites who think African-Americans are their early morning joke.

But, here's my conversation for you Brothas and Sistas? Is it safe? Is it safe for me to move to your city's African-American neighborhood? Are there some things I should know before, I walk up to a person and say hello? Should I be scared?

For those neighborhoods that are not safe, how come? Would I be safer as an African-American female than an African-American male? What should my concerns be in your neighborhood?

Yesterday, I decided to walk to the neighborhood drug store. Heck, I did not get a good half block. Before, I noticed two young males, African-Americans for sure. One on bicycle one on foot, my instinct went on instant alert. Is one the lookout is my house safe? Should I backtrack to protect my possessions?

I slow my pace down as I look over my shoulder, and sigh in relief knowing that they had passed my house. But would they turn back, as I look backed, again and again. I had to make sure. It's not that I'm paranoid, it's fear. It comes from one young man, I surprised coming through one of my window, another who surprised before he reached the top of my stairs. Besides, moving from the neighborhood, how do I stop the next thug from coming through my door?

It's fear. I now see them a distance behind, coming in my direction. Hmmm, where are the safe pockets of escape, I think. Who will help me,if I need help? As the two young men turn towards the park. I feel they have given me space.distance.

I entered the drugstore, feeling secure. But shortly, I see them, the two young teenagers. Polite, quiet, friends for sure. They search for stuff they will share. Quiet, polite, handsome young boys. I am close enough to see the fuzz on the lip of the one I suspected as the look out.

I can't take my eye off of him, reminds me of my grandson, when he was that age. The young man,pulls at his pants. As he checks on his friend or brother. I am close enough to see the holes in probably his favorite jacket that he wears with pride. I am ashamed.

I have no sons. But what pain it must be to be an African-American male. We never make eye contact. Not wanting my pity. Perhaps, he had noticed each time I looked back over my shoulders. I had condemned them, me a strong sista. It was I who lacked confidence in his future. I looked back as I left the store. I would not see them, as they choose another route, safer from my watchful eye, probably.

I can't blame Jesse Jackson for this. This is my neighborhood. What happened that made me feel so unsafe among my own young kin? What must I do? Forget all the rest, but what must I do to restore my confidence and overcome the fear of youmg African-American brothas.













d

Feigned politeness and denial

The title comes from a post at G-itch spot. As I stroll through the blogosphere to eavesdrop on conversations. ConverStations with conversations about injuries and triumphs of African-American communities, black communities. Trying to get a handle on the different takes on Imus comments. I posted a few.

Temple 3 stated its all about Jackson and Sharpton. I relax.

I am not a big fan of Jackson, one of among many warriors in the battle for civil rights. But, who am I to complain? So Temple 3 has a point. Why sit on the porch and keep a waving my fan waiting for Jackson or Sharpton to cool things down. The two are busy mixing it up and being blamed for so much other mess. No wonder folks are citing the high murder rate from each others hometown, waiting. Jesse ain't coming to stop the killings. Sad as the poem on Electronic Village.


Asabagne lays out a plan. Something that he shared with the freeslave long before Imus low blow hit the blogosphere. Those who are committed are committed. You know them. They are fearless and humble. What are their names? When we see them coming, we shake their hands, and tell them we will call them on Monday. But their names, we call them nobodies. They don't have the clout of Jesse or Al.

The second book of Asabagne suggest, more Gideons are needed. Jesse, nope,Sharpton no way, as a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Nelson Mandela or Gideon. They may have filled a void, Jackson and Sharpton, while we waited for someone else to come alone to solve our problems. But..

Bronze Trinity is in on a plan. Bronze Trinity wrote a petition to commit to making a change in patterns of behaviors. To push the button STOP on those who wish to play word games in debasing community. More than likely she will be very busy.

But she is in, her mind is working, young, and she will watch out for the miner's canary. Mirror of America requires us to look at us. We have such a person in our hometown. She had collected evidence upon evidence on the negative language in the music coming from our radio and its impact on our children. But few listens. Including a store stocking the shelves with something called "pimp juice." But not many are rushing to hear her message or funding her cause, because its just music. Well how long before our children starting drinking this and call it just soda pop.

Action must be taken. That is what the bloggers reinforced. Do something, write letters, email, call, walk let your voices be heard not muted. Lets' not whisper to one another, but go tell them . And we all know who them is, or do we?

That's what happen, was it not? It was all those in the know folks on the blogs , adding their ingredients into the recipe, of this is how much I know, and this is what I would do. Folks willing to share knowledge and information on how to get it done. That's what happened with Shaquanda Cotton, and what bout Katrina three years. We used the cheapest form of media outreach. We used the internet, we used cable radio, cable television, we used the tools that are public accessible to get the word out. Where those who work for MSM believe we are not news worthy.

We know Imus was wrong, and so many others before and after him will be wrong. The question was, and is what shall we do? and the answer or action was and is get rid of Imus. But Imus did not have clue that he could be brought down simply for calling those he targeted and believed it was okay to call nappy headed hos.

Yes that's what Black in Business says, Imus targeted Rutgers Women Basketball Stars. Heck, Imus probably thought, the girls wouldn't be offended, they hear it all the time. so that made it okay. But, just in case, the name calling did offend, he would sit down with them later, and maybe invite them all to his ranch. Who would care?

We cared, not corporate America, but we cared. Where is that lawsuit? It's a crime.

Go read temple 3.

Blogger Released from Jail

Josh Walsh, a blogger(8) spent eight months in jail, according to a story in the Washington Post. The federal government wanted a video that Walsh had recorded. The U.S. attorney office finally offered a deal in which Walsh accepted as a get out of jail. Walsh holds the record for the longest contempt of court charge by some one in the United State media.

A San Francisco blogger who spent nearly eight months in jail for refusing to testify about an anarchists' demonstration was released yesterday after turning over a videotape of the protest and posting it on his Web site.

Josh Wolf, 24, also answered two questions from prosecutors, after striking a deal that ends the longest contempt-of-court term ever served by someone in the U.S. media.

This should get journalists to going, a blogger as part of the media. For shame.

The case sparked a First Amendment debate over whether Wolf is a journalist and whether he deserved protection for the video he shot of the 2005 protest against a G-8 summit meeting in Scotland, since he made no explicit promises of confidentiality. Wolf sold other parts of the tape to local television stations and posted those portions online. In reaching the agreement with prosecutors, Wolf backed off his original position that he would not turn over the footage.

Do bloggers have first amendment protection?

African-Americans Bloggers Recognized by Newspaper Journalist

Howard Witt recognizes African-American bloggers. Witts was surprised by the way many African-American bloggers got the word out about Shaquanda Cotton. The power of the African-American bloggers impact crosses all borders including beyond the borders of the United States.

Witt expresses his belief that Internet blogging is more powerful in getting out information about injustices that are occurring within these community. Witt is right. Many appointed leaders in some communities are stymied in effecting change among the status quo. It is when the citizens organize en mass that change occur. Governor Rick Perry, did not want millions of African-Americans showing up in a small town in Texas, called Paris. Bottom line.

Perhaps, the virtual civil right movement will be utilized to build protest movements in other ciites where injustices is melded out on a daily basis.

Note: African American Political Pundit posted about bloggers blogging about race a few days ago, read here.