Victory in LA

History made. The MTA board approves project labor agreement. from Mark Ridley-Thomas on Vimeo.

Yesterday, I got to witness an historic day in Los Angeles. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board voted in favor of negotiating an agency-wide Project Labor Agreement and Construction Careers Policy.

The purpose of a PLA agreement is to facilitate the construction industry and to promote employment opportunities by building high speed rail transportation. The PLA specifically will help out the people in low-income areas who need employment the most as well as provide a more green transportation option. 

Many organizations such as Strategic Concepts in Organizing & Policy Education (S.C.O.P.E.) came together as one coalition and fought to get this legislation passed. Check here for more info.

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LaNisha

[Video] Dee 1 Has #MissionVision

On 1.11.12, New Orleans’ Dee 1 and 99problems.org hit the streets of Los Angeles. After getting up with the homie Nipsey Hussle, Dee 1 and the crew hit John Muir High School in Pasadena. Have #missionvision #yaheardme!?

Check the video after the jump.
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Biko Baker

Can Rape Culture End with Art?

Artist Suzanne Lacy is at it again with her anti-rape campaign titled “Three Weeks in January,” based off her original landmark 1977 project “Three Weeks in May.”

Location, location, location. This time around, Lacy’s map was installed prominently on the LAPD’s main campus downtown, outside the Deaton Auditorium. It was one sign of the major support Lacy was given by the city officials.

Her original project centered around an L.A. city map on which she stenciled and stamped the word “RAPE” wherever one was reported within that three-week timeframe.

Lacy plans to continue this project, however, she admits that the social context has changed dramatically since her original project.

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Terin

[Watch] Grand Theft Auto ‘V’ Trailer

I was just recently asked to play Grand Theft Auto 4 by a 9-year old. I figured I’d join em and when I did, I was appalled to see how much the game has been modified. At the same time, I was amazed at how good of a reckless driver the kid was. He knew all the codes to re-up on expensive cars, guns and was well-versed in assaulting by-standers on the streets. He even told me to cover my eyes when the half-naked lady appeared on the screen.

I mean, I like driving and shooting people in a game as much as the next person, but this shouldn’t be a kid’s passion by any means. Of course, this is just a game, but the reality is that everything in the game is a reflection of some incident that has taken place in someone’s life. I honestly feel like a kid could play this so much that the violence around them would feel as fake as the game.

GTA just keeps getting more real as the years progress. And here comes the 5th edition. This is as real as it gets!

Watch GTA 5 Trailer HERE

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DJWillieShakes

Top 10 Films That Will Change Your Mind

As most of you know, I am a visual anthropologist. I not only study visual representations of culture, but I am also an ethnographic documentary filmmaker. That being said, I love films. I grew up making films with my father, attending international film fests, and I currently intern for Chicago’s International Children’s Film Fest. I believe films have the power to change our lives. At this critical time in American culture and politics, I think it’s a good idea to reflect on some great films that never go out of style. Check out this list; then go check out these films, and tell me what you think. It just might change your life!!

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Ife