Rising R&B Singer & 99problems.org Correspondent Makes International Modeling Debut…On Accident

This past weekend, Milwaukee’s own Aliesa Nicole took part in a day long photoshoot for Elle Magazine. But when Aliesa Nicole, a burgeoning R&B singer and actress, planned her week-long trip to Los Angeles, she didn’t expect to be getting her big break as a model. A former contestant on The Voice, American Idol and Making the Band, Aliesa Nicole actually went to Hollywood to record music for her forthcoming EP entitled ’80s Baby, shoot virals for 99problems.org and record vocals for up-and-coming rap star Dee-1′s next mixtape, the Focus Tape.

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The Editor

The Top 5 Reasons The DREAM Act Is Good For Black Youth

This past weekend, the geniuses in the US Senate decided to shoot down the hopes and dreams of millions of immigrant youth by voting against the DREAM Act. Word to Micky Ward, nothing says happy holidays better than a hard, painful shot to the gut. Sheezuz! After 10 years of struggling to get this historic piece of legislation passed, undocumented immigrant youth will once again be kept out of traditional society and forced to come to grips with the harsh realities of the informal economy.

One of the arguments used by opponents of the DREAM Act, including some people of color, is that the legislation would hurt other youth of color. Some have even explicitly stated that the law would make it difficult for black youth to compete for jobs and prestige in the future.

Of course, I think that line of reasoning is some bullhonkey.

So in the spirit of shutting up the haters, I’ve decided to drop the top 5 reasons why the DREAM Act is good for African-American youth.

Check the list after the jump.
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Posted by:

Biko Baker

Black History (from a Latino Perspective)

As January moves over to make way for February, we get ready for Black History Month. You know, McDonald’s “365” commercials, jokes about black people getting the shortest month of the year, factoids about George Washington Carver and pictures of Harriet Tubman appearing on the walls of elementary schools, and reminders that we shall not simply delegate this celebration to one month. We’ve seen and heard these images, phrases and American cultural attachés to the point where the month becomes a cliché, a corporate slogan, even unnecessary in the supposed “post racial age” of Obama.

jacked via Joe Maldonado's Facebook page

Let me try to take it from a different angle.

What does black history mean to me? This is not one of those essays that says “Black History is American History”, though we are all deeply interconnected. This is also not a tribute piece to African American historical figures gave me hope and inspiration, though they did.

Let me attempt to explain and expand “Black” History Month from a Latino perspective.

More after the jump.

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The Editor