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Black News: Rallies Planned for Heather Ellis Case
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From Dr Boyce Watkins
To the Your Black World family:
When the children of my assistant Shauntay (Justin and Journi) brought the case of Heather Ellis to me, I was in disbelief. I was shocked that in 2009, a young college student, with no criminal record, could face 15 years in prison for cutting line at Walmart. I was even more appalled by the threats from the KKK and allegations by local leaders that the town went as far as blacking out the local news coverage during the minutes that the family held a press conference in support of their daughter. We sent information about the case to CNN and other media outlets, and they covered it (along with BET, Essence, ABC News and others), but I don’t feel this is enough. We’ve decided that we aren’t going to take this sitting down, and we hope you won’t either
In honor of Justin and Journi, the two young visionaries who convinced me to take on this issue, we’ve created the "Journey for Justice," set to take place in Kennett, Missouri on Monday, November 16 at 11 am. On that day, we are going to meet at the Walmart where the incident took place (1500 1st St., Kennett, MO) and march to the steps of the courthouse(Square 200 Slicer St.). You can find out more information about the case and rally on the site www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com. Given that the prosecutor in the case (Stephen Sokoloff) has asked for a change of venue (to Bloomfield, MO – a town with less than 20 black people), some of the details of the rally might change (I have no doubt that they are scheming to make this as difficult as possible). But I can guarantee you this: On November 16, we are heading down there to fight against the madness occurring in this county, no matter what the cost.
Serena Williams Needs to Play by the Rules Like the Rest of Us
By
This past Saturday evening, on a second serve at 15-30, 5-6 in the second set at the U.S. Open semifinals, Serena Williams was called for a foot fault by the line judge. Based upon the judges call, Ms. Williams walked towards the judge, pointed her racquet at the judge and launched into an “f-bomb” laden tie raid saying in part, “If I could, I would take this @#$#ing ball and shove it down your @#$#ing throat…"
This exchange resulted in Ms. Williams being penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct. This penalty resulted in the match being awarded to her opponent, Kim Clijsters. Some are now questioning the chair umpire and tournament referee Brian Earley’s decision. With Ms. Williams being African American, many are crying foul based on race. Others are objecting to what some believe to be a ticky-tack call, especially at such a key point in a match.
First, the rule. According to The Rules of Tennis – Rule 8. b. “The Server shall throughout the delivery of the Service:…Not touch, with either foot, any area other than that behind the base-line within the imaginary extensions of the centre-mark and side-lines….If either foot touches the Court, including the baseline, or the imaginary extension of a line specified in Rule 8b. after his feet are at rest but before he strikes the ball, he has committed a foot fault.”
After her initial outburst Ms. Williams then said, “You better @#$#ing be right." Well, after viewing the video tape and reading Rule 8.b., the line judge was @#$#ing right. Ms. Williams was wrong for what she said, the manner in which it was said, and for trying to blame “the heat of the moment” for her reaction. Once Ms. Williams allowed her anger to go from questioning the call to making the verbal attack personal, the umpire did the right thing. Point awarded to Ms. Clijsters, match over.
Hulk Hogan Says He Understands OJ’s Rage
Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, embroiled in a bitter divorce with his wife, Linda, told Rolling Stone magazine he can "totally understand" O.J. Simpson, the former football great found liable for the deaths of his wife and another man.
Linda and Hulk Hogan enjoy happier times at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in New York in 2006.
"I could have turned everything into a crime scene like O.J., cutting everybody’s throat," Hogan said in the interview for a feature that will run in Friday’s edition of the magazine.
"You live half a mile from the 20,000-square-foot home you can’t go to anymore, you’re driving through downtown Clearwater [Florida] and see a 19-year-old boy driving your Escalade, and you know that a 19-year-old boy is sleeping in your bed, with your wife… .
"I totally understand O.J. I get it," Hogan said
A spokeswoman for Rolling Stone magazine confirmed the quote to CNN.
Genma Holmes: Nancy Grace Temporarily Breaks Her Obsession w Caylee Anthony
by Genma Holmes, YourBlackWorld
In today’s world, many individuals can deliver the news. News anchors, reporters, journalists, bloggers and talent disguised as cable hosts and then there is Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace is in a genre by herself. She is the only person on television that covers missing kids with some facts and any rumor that can be found on the streets. I am convinced that CNN’s Nancy Grace is obsessed with Caylee Anthony and needs psychiatric counseling immediately. With little objectivity and even less professionalism, Nancy conducts interviews equivalent to face offs. Nancy Grace, a former prosecutor, makes me wonder if she believes she can bypass the courts and send anyone straight to jail via her TV show.
Nancy Grace has a special way of making you hate to watch her and hate to miss the next show. Since July, her acid tongue has been fixated on the Anthony family complete with swirling pictures and videos on the TV screen. As a self professed news junkie, I can watch any show on any network with an open mind. But I can only watch Nancy Grace in short intervals. Nancy has become as creepy as a pedophile showing the pictures of Caylee throughout her show. Speaking of perverts, she closes the show to Michael Jackson’s song “Gone Too Soon”. The irony of that is too long to discuss in this posting. I often find myself begging my TV screen to show a child of color missing as if it would answer back.
Is Your Butt Too Big and In Your Own Face?
How many of us just hates when someone stands in front of us blocking our view, especially when we are sitting down in a seat like at a concert? Now, you really can’t see or enjoy your favorite music artist that you paid, let’s say $90, to watch perform your favorite hit. Tell the truth. How many of you would touch the person blocking your view and ask them to move out of your way? Others might just sit there and complain while missing out on what is happening because for whatever reason, he or she decides to do nothing.
Earlier today I had a meeting with a client. We met to help her identify what she believed she wanted and needed to do to better herself and her situation. I simply asked one question, “what do you want to do?” She said, “anything, I just need a job.” Her response was desperate and too vague. After a little coaching and conversation she said, “I really want to go to school.”
With this in mind, I told her that at the college level she could apply for a ‘work-study position” where the school she would attend pays her a small stipend and allows flexible working hours for her to successfully complete her classes. She looked surprised and slightly relieved until SHE starting talking about all of the past bad things that she had experienced while in school. Fifteen years ago, she was told by a teacher that she had a learning disability and needed more time to read and process her work. It wasn’t that she couldn’t do it. It would only take her a little longer to finish.
Oprah Warns Rihanna Publicly
Oprah Winfrey (left) has publicly warned Rihanna to stay away from Chris Brown, saying he will assault her again. HOLLYWOOD – OPRAH Winfrey has publicly warned Rihanna to stay away from Chris Brown, saying he will assault her again.
"Both Chris Brown and Rihanna, if I were your friend, I would call you up and I would say, ‘Give it some time, get yourself some counselling, take care of yourself, heal yourself first,’" Oprah said.
"Love doesn’t hurt. I’ve been saying this to women for years – love doesn’t hurt. And if a man hits you once, he will hit you again. He will hit you again. I don’t care what his plea is, he will hit you again.’
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Global Council on Drug Policy Says What Black People Have Known For Years: “War on Drugs” Is a Failure
In a recently released report, the Global Council on Drug Policy (which includes former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, as well as former presidents of Mexico, Brazil, and Columbia) state that the decades long so-called “War on Drugs” has been a complete failure, resulting in almost no progress in decreasing the global demand for illegal drugs, while at the same time helping to destroy entire communities, in the United States and around the globe.
In addition the Council concluded that “arresting and incarcerating tens of millions of these people in recent decades has filled prisons and destroyed lives and families without reducing the availability of illicit drugs or the power of criminal organizations.” The report also references how drug cartels around the globe are thriving off of the profits made supplying illegal drugs to the world’s number one consumer..the United States.
Although the idea may be controversial to some, legalizing various drugs in some fashion should at least be given consideration. Continuing the failed drug policy of the past several decades is not an option. The devastation inflicted on poor Black communities by drugs is unspeakable, and the damage done in the supposed effort to remove the drugs from those communities has been worse. It would be naive to think that simply legalizing drugs will solve all of the problems of impoverished communities; however, alternatives to repressive policing and excessive sentencing must be enacted. The years of blatantly racially and socioeconomically biased drug policy must end. If a white person in the suburbs receives treatment and support for their drug problem, then so should a Black person from a poor inner-city neighborhood.
Although changes in U.S. drug policy are desperately needed, we must remember this is only one part of a larger picture. The “War on Drugs” was just the most recent excuse used to target communities of color and people of color for excessive arrest and imprisonment (because we definitely aren’t the main drug users, or the main suppliers). Injustice in the criminal justice system as a whole has existed long before the drug war, and won’t simply disappear, even if every drug is legalized.