Ava DuVernay’s Netflix film ’13th’ shows how mass incarceration is a form of modern day slavery. The documentary is definitely worth the watch. It is moving and powerful and thought provoking. However, with the political climate as it presently is, it inspired a feelings of disappointment, despair and downright anger. Hands Up, my latest cinquain, best describes how I felt at the end of it. Hands up Shackled in darkness my intelligence is mocked Speak not, breathe not, live not- Be a shadow It breeds disappointment in our fellow human beings. At the same time, I think I should not be so disappointed because people were once enslave, children used as gator bait, people were experimented on and thought of as subhuman because of the different color of their skin. Have we not grown in compassion and empathy? It definitely feels like we have not because greed and selfishness seem to rule the way of the world. I am disappointed in those that only stand by to lend blame, point...

What Pains Me There are so many people that are blind to the fact that we live in seperate and distinct realities. One where everything is rosey and people cannot imagine that racism is real in this day and age. The other where good, hardworking, moral, law abiding Black people (yes they do exist. We are not mythical unicorns) face injustices (subtle and overt) like not getting a job or getting profiled and harassed by law enforcement or housing discrimination or inferior education etc. etc on a regular basis. What pains me in this situation is the indignation that the "blind ones" display when the Black community has the nerves to speak out against such things. As though we should simply be greatful that we have been allowed a seat at the table and forget that they are passing the plates to everyone but us and we are there hungry, smelling the food but unable to help ourselves to our fair portion so that we may also partake in the meal. What pains me is the complete...

The Grand Jury ruled against indictment on the Mike Brwon Ferguson shooting case. Officer Wilson will not be heald accountable for his actions. It is unfortunate but not unexpected. Just as the subsequent looting and violence, by a few (have to stress that), in reaction is not surprising. Both situations are dissapointing though. This case is not about one kid, one situation. It is about taking a stance for all of them and thus moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, now there is no direction as evidenced by the looting and rioting which is a baser response to the negative emotions that come from the decision. However, what I find to be the real dissapointment is the reaction by the mainstream.  The media seem to revel in the opportunity to display the short sighted, emotional and reactionary behavior (not that I condone the behavior). It is like they are saying see how these people are. What do you expect! The responses are no better. People have said...

Monsanto they creep they are winning the revolution's here under ignorance we'll lose the  food war

Cheney to Publish His Memoir What I want to know is who the heck cares. The main issue with this is that now I will have to put up with his media blitz for the promotion of this book. It will be just the opportunity he needs to bash all things post Bush. It is such a waste of good air time and paper. Cheney to Publish His Memoir New York Times A spokesman for Simon & Schuster said Mr. Cheney would write a book for Threshold Editions, where Mary Matalin, his close friend and adviser, ...

Obama did a great job on Leno last night. He mentioned that the banking industry needs to be reformed which was one of the issues that detractors were saying he was not focusing on. He talked about a lot of issues and made some encouraging statements and took responsibility for dealing with the current issues in the economy. Everything was going great until he made a passing remark about Special Olympics. It happened so fast that he did not have a chance to catch himself. As soon as Special Olympics came out of his mouth, I cringed. I could actually tell from his nonverbal language that he knew he just made a booboo. Truth be told, it wasn’t so bad but he is the President of the United States and just can’t afford to be politically in correct. So what are they focusing on this morning? The blunder. Forget that he handled himself fabulously and all the issues that he touched upon. Now, there is this negative aspect to focus on and let us hone in on it and break it down every which way. ...

Banks are lining up to return bailout money to the government. Not too long after the first round of bailout cash was distributed, there were a couple of banks bold enough to come out and give interviews in which they reveal that they did not want the money because they were not in financial trouble and did not need the money. However they stated that the money was not so subtly forced on them and they were not sure how to give it back. Maybe they were not trying hard enough to figure it out. It seems that after learning about the rules and strings that come attached to the funds, several banks are making it their business to give the money back, following any process they can. Banks do not want to be attached to the stigma or the rules associated with “bail out” money (they are almost like dirty words). So, the government will get billions back. In the meantime that money is sitting somewhere in money cyber land collecting interest. Are they going to give that back too? I can’t blame ...

Many republican states are refusing the stimulus funds allocated to their state by the recent passage of the stimulus bill. I am not a financial savvy guru or anything like that but I think I have a problem with my representative turning money that can potential help me out away based on not what is right for the people struggling in your state, but based on an ideological difference that was defeated with the passing of the bill in the first place. Hmmm, I think that is called holding on to a grudge, is it not? Since most Republicans are conservative Christians, you would think they would shy away from the whole grudge holding thing … then again you would think that their states would not be the top ones down loading porn - sorry, I’m a little off track. All I am saying is that the deal has been closed; the money is available; your state needs that money; take it! I know that we as a people, in general, have a problem with the concept of extra money because we tend to treat it as if i...