NOVOZAVIDOVO, Russia — People in this Russian town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him something equally rare – an honest politician.
Sagbo last month became the first black to be elected to office in Russia.
In a country where racism is entrenched and often violent, Sagbo’s election as one of Novozavidovo’s 10 municipal councilors is a milestone. But among the town’s 10,000 people, the 48-year-old from the West African country of Benin is viewed simply a Russian who cares about his hometown.
He promises to revive the impoverished, garbage-strewn town where he has lived for 21 years and raised a family. His plans include reducing rampant drug addiction, cleaning up a polluted lake and delivering heating to homes. Read More »
Prominent white conservatives are angry about racism.
Forget all that talk about a post-racial society. They know better than to believe in such a thing, and they’re hopping mad.
What is it that woke them up finally, after all these years of denial, during which they insisted that racism was a thing of the past?
Was it the research indicating that job applicants with white sounding names have a 50 percent better chance of being called back for an interview than their counterparts with black-sounding names, even when all qualifications are the same?
No.
Was it the study that found white job applicants with criminal records have a better chance of being called back for an interview than black applicants without one, even when all the qualifications are the same? Read More »
“USA Radical Black invites readers to enjoy another very popular media outlet, MXyMAG.com. MXyMAG.com features news and information that is Sexy and Business while providing relevant Entertainment news.”
Toronto…A model came up to me a while back, dejected because she was just told that she is too dark to be a “successful” model. As a person who understand the business very well I was thinking to myself “welcome to the new world my friend”. As a black man I was thinking you should have kicked him in his nuts. But in the end what the person had said carries a truth to it and here is why.
People want to relate to the person they interact with. Most people who aren’t black don’t know how to relate to black and in most cases it’s out of fear or intimidation. Most black people I have seen or talked to don’t know how to relate to black neither. Read More »
By Simon Cable from Mail Online – re-posted by Admin at USA Radical Black
Last updated at 1:13 AM on 4th June 2010 – A special thanks to M. Renee, San Fransisco, CA.
Claudia Schiffer has been accused of racial insensitivity after appearing on a magazine cover made up as a black woman.
The 39-year-old supermodel wore dark foundation and an afro wig in the shots taken by celebrated fashion designer and photographer Karl Lagerfeld.
His images, taken two years ago for a Dom Perignon advertising campaign, were among six shots of Miss Schiffer used by German fashion bible Stern Fotografie to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer in the pose for a 2007 Dom Perignon campaign shot by Karl Lagerfeld, which has caused a fashion race row
But Shevelle Rhule, fashion editor at black lifestyle magazine Pride, said the images of Miss Schiffer were tasteless. Read More »
Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Obama Justice Department to obtain documents related to the agency’s decision to dismiss the claims against several members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense who were accused of engaging in voter intimidation during the 2008 presidential campaign (U.S. v. New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense).
Judicial Watch filed its original FOIA request on May 29, 2009. The Justice Department acknowledged receiving the request on June 18, 2009, but then referred the request to the Office of Information Policy (OIP) and the Civil Rights Division. On January 15, 2010, the OIP notified Judicial Watch that it would be responding to the request on behalf of the Offices of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, Associate Attorney General, Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Legal Policy, and Intergovernmental and Public Liaison. Read More »
Resistance may be especially high among the homeless
Historically, African Americans have led the way when it comes to disparities in many categories. African Americans were the largest ethnic group under-counted in the 2000 Census. At the same time, Whites were over-counted by an estimated 2.2 million people. This is according to facts and data collected by groups like the National Urban League, the NAACP, the Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the Prison Policy Initiative.
In the 2010 Census, African Americans could possibly experience even higher undercounts due to the national foreclosure crisis, displacement from the Gulf Coast hurricanes, and the miscounting of prison populations reported by the Prison Policy Initiative. While many Americans are shocked at these disturbing reports, others are angry about what they see as the government’s blatant disrespect of Black people.
This anger reinforces Black Americans’ lack of trust for the U.S. government, so much so that many have vowed not to participate in this year’s Census. In search of answers from those African Americans about their reluctance to talk with Census enumerators, MSR visited the Salvation Army Harbor Light Worship and Service Center, located next to a homeless shelter downtown where about 60 or 70 people had gathered.
The first person we spoke with was the tallest man in the crowd who gave his name as Tony Mayo. Mayo was very articulate on the subject of Census participation and clearly let us know that he understands the importance of participating in the Census and plans to do so. However, he also understands the resentment, mistrust and anger by some of the homeless. Read More »
By Donald W.R. Allen,II – Minister of Information-USA Radical Black
“Never let a good crisis go to waste.”-Rahm Immanuel, Chief of Staff, President Obama
On Sunday, January 17 the BBC reported from Port-au-Prince: “We have been hearing the constant roar of high-powered engines for days as transport planes take off and land. But like the people of Haiti, we have wondered why the cargo has not been getting to its final destination.
The incidents of unrest over food and water have been few and far between, but many people still want answers.
At one of the makeshift camps in the capital, hundreds of people made homeless by the earthquake shelter from the intense heat under a patchwork quilt of tarpaulin, zinc sheet, and blankets.
There are hundreds of men, women and children on the rough ground surviving without the basics.”
While we watch the Democratic machine go in to over-drive to raise funds for Haiti – the country has just become another photo opportunity for President Obama and his cabinet. Our hearts go out to the brothers and sisters and their families who have lost loved ones.
President Obama, who has not addressed the state of Black America, or for that matter stated his position on Africa, might have to finally take a strong stance in regards to the people of Haiti.
Haiti was a human disaster long before the earthquake. Haiti is a by-product of the United States’ gross neglect. The problems with Haiti’s infrastructure could have been addressed decades ago– but we have to keep in mind, this is a Black-led nation. What is most sad is that Haitians were living a nightmare even before this horrible situation (their unemployment rate is 65%), and we need to see the nightmare come to an end.
Long after the fanfare is over, Haiti will continue to be a “human disaster area” much like New Orleans.
Haiti’s regional, historical and cultural position is unique for several reasons. It was the first independent nation in the Americas, the first post-colonial independent Black-led nation in the world. The independence of Haiti was gained in 1791 via a successful revolt of enslaved Africans and free people of color who overthrew the slave regime and the colonial system at the same time.
Why does this become an issue for the Obama administration?
When US President Barack Obama announced that one of the biggest relief efforts in US history would be heading for Haiti, he highlighted the close ties between the two nations. President Obama said, “With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are our neighbors in the Americas and here at home.”
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have indeed become neighbors of Americans.
Some 420,000 live in the US legally, according to census figures. Estimates of the number of Haitians in the country illegally vary from some 30,000 to 125,000.
The history that ‘binds us (Blacks) together” is Slavery and our Blackness.
Haiti has been a poor country past, present and will be in the future. The so-called “curse” of Haiti is its perpetual poverty and the United States’ continuous interference with Haiti’s government, while overlooking the needs of its people. The basics, “food, water and shelter” have never been the top priority- shaping the government to the desires of the U.S. has. The people of Haiti have been starving for too long.
Why does it take a disaster to address an on-going disaster?
American administrations from President Nixon to Obama have well known the true state of Haiti. They knew that the Haitian people mixed dirt with sugar to make “cookies” to have something to eat. A significant part of the population of Port-au-Prince eats dinner out the garbage cans of tourists from the First World.
The catastrophic disaster in Haiti has gained worldwide attention. Nations like Haiti deserve the assistance of the United Nations in a humanitarian way, without the politics of government interference.
Haitian native, Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti at www.yele.org, has come under-fire by larger charities for his fund raising that have gone on long before all eyes where on Haiti. This blog endorses Wyclef and his ongoing efforts to assist his homeland.
Americans give over $100 billion dollars per year to churches, so if we simply gave one month of tithes to genuine Haitian charities, this would be nearly 8 times the Haitian government’s annual budget. Sure, there might be some corruption in charitable fund-raising, but there is corruption everywhere, including the US government.
My wife Mary’s eyes glaze over whenever I mention football. “But honey this is about life not football” I promise her. She graciously listens. Three years ago with only a few minutes left in the game, all Tony Romo, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys had to do was hold the football so his kicker could kick a game tying field goal. Romo fumbled the ball.
After his horrible unbelievable mistake, the young quarterback sat on the bench dejected with his head hung low. John Madden, former pro football coach was one of the announcers on the TV broadcast team. Madden said, “Somebody needs to tell Romo to get his head up. This game is not over and he still has to lead his team”. Wow, I don’t know why, but I found the wise old coach instructing (mentoring) the young man quite moving.
Madden was saying leadership is understanding it is not about you. As the Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. Madden is also saying, OK, Tony Romo, you said you wanted to be the leader of this team; you must do just that, Lead! You do not have the luxury of sulking over your mistakes. True leadership is putting the needs of your team before your needs.
The Obama administration and the media puts his needs before the best interest of the American people. They believe since Obama is the first black president, he is simply too big to fail. Consequently, every event, policy and etc is judged from a “how will this affect Obama’s presidency” point of view rather than what is best for America.
They protect him at all cost against all offenders. Rush Limbaugh was verbally gang flogged for daring to say he hoped Obama’s wacko agenda failed?
Think about this folks. We have a president that everything is about him. Despite it being the best facility to house enemy combatants, Obama has vowed to close Guantanamo Bay prison to appease far left voters. It’s all about what is best for Obama.
Months ago, Obama called the Cambridge cops stupid for arresting Gates. Black professor Gates was wrong. The white decorated arresting officer was right. Still, the Obama administration and liberal media immediately went into “defend Obama mode”. They launched a national champaign on talk shows, print and etc attempting to prove Obama correct; all police are racist profilers who abuse blacks. Can you imagine the lengths Obama and his minions will go to make him look good. Throw national relations between blacks and the police under the bus, no problem. It’s all about Obama. Read More »
Executive Director and President of Rainbow Writing, Inc., Karen Cole Peralta writes
A long time ago in the fabled southlands of America, the authorities told black people they had to use the “colored” restrooms – not the “white” people ones. It was thought at the time that “mixing the races” would lead to rape, diseases or other unfortunate circumstances. One public restroom each in a building’s common area was supplied for colored men, colored women, white men and white women; pretty idiotic, don’t you think?
It did make four “water closets” available, two apiece for each sex, which admittedly allowed for somewhat easier restroom availability. But it also undermined the dignity of the American Deep South, which was thus stuck moving from the lack of fair human rights to the promotion of greater civil rights, and eventually to manifesting independent living rights. After all, the involved country was America, and being a democracy, it couldn’t long maintain such hostile acts of racial segregation – or discrimination against the physically disabled, challenged, or handicapped.
You could say the 1950s and 60s were a time of incredible transition when it came to the full legal rights of American citizens. What was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s role in this so-called “incredible transition?” For one thing, changing racially segregated public restrooms back to the usual men’s and women’s ones was considered to be politically important. This sort of thing, along with the Deep South’s municipal bus boycotts, was to enable “colored” people to get away from such underhanded referencing to their darker and harmless black, brown or mulatto skin color.
Uniting the public restrooms enabled people to continue their normal way of life, unhampered by racism or any presumed “need” for such segregated facilities. Plus, there was the further needed transition of the municipal city buses, where black people had been forced to sit in the far backs of the buses. As with the public restrooms, there was no need for such isolation, which at the time was being corrected by the acting Civil Rights Movement, headed by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so that people could use most public facilities without suffering from further racial segregation. Read More »
By Donald W.R. Allen, II – Minister of Information/USA Radical Black
How many times do you have to be “politically” knocked in the head before you learn that the usual suspects have done nothing for you? It isn’t about Democrats or Republicans anymore; it’s about forming coalitions of like-minded people. It’s okay if you voted for Obama for president. Now, put that vote to use and change your situations locally. “Look around, you’ve had the same complaints in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Voting for the same folks (usually Democrats), has not gotten us anywhere. But the Republican Party has not let us in the tent of all-inclusion.
The friends you have are two weeks from poverty and some can’t find work. Being fiscally responsible means that wealth is spread far and wide, not just to banking fat-cats and others that need to be bailed out. If you want a better future, you should finish reading this story. In the long run, the final choice is yours.
If you’ve never experienced condescension, go to your local congressperson or state representative with a complaint. There you will discover the real meaning of the term.
How do we get the two major parties to be responsive and accountable to the people? Furthermore, how do we get the Republican Party to stop being the party of “no” and do something useful for black people?
First of all: A message to the Republican Party…Stop attacking Obama! Read More »
NOVOZAVIDOVO, Russia — People in this Russian town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him something equally rare – an honest politician.
A long time ago in the fabled southlands of America, the authorities told black people they had to use the “colored” restrooms – not the “white” people ones. It was thought at the time that “mixing the races” would lead to rape, diseases or other unfortunate circumstances. One public restroom each in a building’s common area was supplied for colored men, colored women, white men and white women; pretty idiotic, don’t you think?
How many times do you have to be “politically” knocked in the head before you learn that the usual suspects have done nothing for you? It isn’t about Democrats or Republicans anymore; it’s about forming coalitions of like-minded people. It’s okay if you voted for Obama for president. Now, put that vote to use and change your situations locally. “Look around, you’ve had the same complaints in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
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