The New “New Deal.” Same Ol’ Deal?

Perry County, Tennessee decreased their unemployment rate by at least 3% by following a New deal model. Started by FDR during the Great Depression, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) put thousands of people to work building bridges, parks, and highways while also employing writers and artists. The WPA was particularly successful in rural areas…

No wonder why Perry County is following its example.

In using welfare money from the stimulus package, Perry County was able to subsidize 300 new and diverse jobs. Jobs were created for both adults and students, in areas such as transportation, hotel work, and even mural painting.

Just as in the thirties, Perry County is seeing the benefits of such employment…And not simply in the numbers. Although their employment rate has increased, the benefits are displayed throughout the county. From new art work created by young people employed by local artists to an increase in hotel bookings, the advantages are giving the county new hope. As stated by recently employed Scott Kimble, “This job here is not a permanent fix…We still need some kind of industry to look and come into Perry County. But for right now we’ve got hope, and when you’ve got hope, you’ve got a way.”

Posted by:

Kiera Aaron

So a President, a Cop and a Professor Walk into a Bar!

So a president, a cop, and a professor walk into a bar…

Wasn’t last night’s meeting sort of a like the beginning of one of those old ethnic jokes. Ok not a joke, more like a weird analogy that is supposed to have some type of deeper moral meaning, except you can’t really tell what it is because all of the participants are intoxicated.

Usually those jokes end with the least powerful ethnic person, (usually the darkest skinned person) with a proverbial piece of pie on their face. But in this scenario the least powerful person was a white police officer! Talk about a change. (Did you see that they tried to balance the equation out by bringing Vice President Joe Biden into the discussion. )

I’m glad President Obama had the guts to talk about this issue. But if we are really going to solve the lingering oppression that continues to impact society we are going to have tackle this issue systematically. Structural racism is embedded in America’s DNA. Beers in the White House garden just ain’t going to cut it.

I know that it will be a tough conversation, but I think most Americans are ready to be grown ups about it. Well, maybe not Glenn Beck.

Check out what the League’s Khari Mosley had to say about this issue. He was interviewed by a Pittsburgh television station about Gates’ arrest, and he had some very insightful (some would say controversial) comments.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

All of America’s Racial Problems Will Be Solved Via An Ice Cold Beer

Ok, maybe not. But here is a pic from Obama’s “Beer Summit” with Harvard Professor Skip Gates and Officer James Crowley.

Hopefully these guys can all get along. Check back tomorrow for an update.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

The Top 5 “R.I.P. Dead Homies” Songs On My iPod

So this site is supposed to focus on civic engagement and political issues,  but let’s keep it real, music has always been our soundtrack for change. After all, where would the world be without the music of artists like Nina Simone, Bob Marley or even Michael Jackson.  Music sort of helps us get through the day, ya know what I mean?

Speaking of soundtracks, a funny thing happened yesterday when I was listening to T.I.’s album King.  By the time TIP got to the second verse of “Live in the Sky” I realized that the song was my favorite on the album.  After thinking about it for a couple of minutes, I decided that most times my favorite jam on every album is the proverbial “R.I.P. Dead Homies” song ( you know, the song where rappers pay respect to their fallen loved ones).  Unlike when MCs talk about their expanding bank accounts or sexual conquests,  rappers just can’t fake emotion when they talk about the pain of death.  I guess it’s sort of like the blues.

So this morning I decided to put together a list of the Top 5 “R.I.P Dead Homies” songs currently on my iPod. More after the jump.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Wait…Did We Get A Health Care Deal?

After months of debate, backbiting, and deal making, it finally looks like Congress is ready to start dealing with the health care crisis. Bout time they started acting like grown ups.

I’m still trying to figure out what happened yesterday, but it looks like no one is really happy with the deal. Seems like there was a lot of back room negotiating.

Check out this insightful article I found at OurFuture.org. It breaks down the all moving pieces of the health care fight. Check back for an update about this important piece of legislation.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Damn, I Have A LOT Respect For This Dude!

Say what you want about Colin Powell, but he sure is a straight shooter. You can sort of see why many of America’s loudest opponents worked with him when he was Secretary of State. You can tell he handles himself with a hell of a lot of integrity and transparency. Of course, it’s prolly easy to be so calm and collective when you’ve spent most of you career with an arsenal of F-22s on speed dial.

I really enjoyed Larry King’s interview last night. Powell kept is super real on a gang of issues including “Skip Gates Gate”, Afghanistan and the Obama administration. But the thing I liked most was that he expressed his very strong opinions without being disrespectful. He even stayed above the fray when Larry asked him about Rush Limbaugh’s ridiculously awkward critiques.

My favorite part was when he talked about his humble beginnings in NYC. Have you ever read his biography “My American Journey“? Powell’s story is pretty inspiring.

Check out the video if you missed it last night and let me know what you think.

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Why I Will NOT Be Seeing the Movie “Orphan”

“It must be difficult to love an adopted child as much as your own,” states the original “Orphan” trailer. As someone who is adopted, my only response is SERIOUSLY??? People had to complain in order for Warner Bros. to realize that this was a bad idea? No one raised their hand during that board meeting and said, Hey, maybe this might be offensive?

I’m obviously not ashamed of being adopted so I have no problem mentioning it when relevant. However, EVERY time I mention it, I can depend on being asked one question. Do you know your real parents? Ughhhh. Anyone who is adopted will know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. I know that the question is not meant to be offensive, yet it somehow implies that the family I have now, on some level, is “fake.” Like I’ve been deprived a “real” family. (I have not.)

Though the question is innocent, it definitely exemplifies a stigma; a stigma that is undoubtedly supported by the “Orphan” trailer. The trailer blatantly suggests that adopted children are less lovable than one’s “own,” just as my parents are somehow not “real.” Though the trailer may not be intentionally offensive (hopefully), they undisputedly promote the idea that a family with adopted children is inferior to one with biological children.

Such a statement, especially in today’s society, is not just offensive, it’s simply wrong. Let’s face it, there is no longer one specific familial mold. Couples get divorced; children have step-parents, step-siblings, maybe even half-siblings. Some children have parents who never married in the first place. Others may have foster-parents, adoptive parents, maybe even same-sex parents….

Thus, instead of seeing this movie, I will simply rejoice in the fact that I was not adopted by people from Warner Bros., who, for whatever reason, would not have enough love for someone who doesn’t have their DNA.

Posted by:

Kiera Aaron

The X Fact(her): White in America

Kudos to CNN for “Black in America 2″.

You get an A for effort and a gold star for correcting the lameness of the first installment. I even peeped a commercial for the upcoming “Latino in America”. Aside from them trying to educate the masses and convince everyone to empathize with our neighbors, let’s give CNN a round of applause for giving Soledad O’Brien something to do. It doesn’t hurt that her multi-racial background makes it more acceptable for her to tackle the issue of race. No one knows what she is. I’m sure she is going to ride this “… in America” thing until the wheels fall off or until Prez Obama is out of office and no one cares to talk about race anymore.

Sidenote: If you want to see an amazing documentary about Blacks in America watch ABC News’ Out of Control: AIDS in Black America. I love it when Terry Moran leaves Jesse Jackson dumbfounded.

While I was flipping the channel to purposely avoid watching “B.I.A. 2″, something occurred to me. I wasn’t interested in watching the series because I am black and I know what life is like for me. However, I would be inclined to watch a series on what it is to be “White in America”.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Chloe