Laissez le Bon temp rouler

History and Culture of New Orleans. Aired tonight in my city on PBS. Try to find a broadcast in your area. I think you may also learn something new.

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans

Postmillennial

Many thought that the major disaster of 2001 would be January 1, but instead it became September 11. In these years after the turn of the century's pivotal event, the world seems to be in a time warp. I feel like I am living in my childhood during the fifties. The odd behavior of this nation, for the first time having to deal with erratic behavior of terrorist, has reverted to old habits. The suspicion, fear, which have led to witch hunts, and the comfort in xenophobia and racism has grasps many of our citizens. The war on terror has once again lost sight of its purpose, while many tire of it and eight years later there is no justice for the victims from the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers.

Light

Status of Status of the Art is a medical doctor and during his travels he takes extraordinary pictures. In this post Speakers' Corner captures Status' unique perspective of people. If you follow his link to the complete photo album, you will see others at Speakers' Corner; the pious, the enraged, the stoic and controlled lunacy. These are among other great photos of London. Even though I provide a link on my side bar, I was so impressed with these photos, I wanted to highlight his talent.

One way toward a cookie cutter world

Would be to continually consider the difference of 50 points on the SAT. Without diversity of class, race, ethnicity, and culture there can not be extraordinary creativity. See how the California University System deals with it.

HT Racewire

Hip Hop Is

Nuttin But Stringz

Fear is in the Head of the Beholder

Six years ago, a few days after the 11^th, many coworkers were discussing the fear. I said, “I am not any more fearful now than before.” One person got angry with me that I had not reacted the same as they did. I explained that I was always in a state of anxiety, when my son was out, because I never knew if he would be in a situation that could get him killed or injured. For the past few years this city has been one of the cities having a high murder rate. Much of it random, that is, without any premeditation; with many bystanders and too, too many children, being the victims. A post, 911 Six Years Later by Jonathan Adams at Racewire brought this to mind.

On that terrible day, I felt anger and like I was living in a surreal world. I felt grief as if I were part of all the families. I did not feel fear.

I don’t watch the reruns of the destruction or look at pictures. I don’t need to dwell on the images. I have in my life time seen other horrors, most not on the scale of 911. I had heard of and seen the images of the Holocaust. Others were not visually seen, but told of or read about, in the news. Learning one’s own history gives one a stoic response to violence.

The gangs that terrorize neighborhoods are not thought of when debating border security with Mexico. No thought in the national mind what these people go though day to day, just what if one Al Qaeda gets though? There are gang members that are recruited and brought in from Mexico. Their methods of enforcement of their activities in the neighborhoods are as violent as or worst than the Islamist.

Fear is now in all communities. Now their response is irrational. So new is the fear, that a war just anywhere, bringing freedom to anyone is sufficient, because “They hate our freedoms…” A slam dunk, that’ll ease the fear and as a side effect the US will have brought freedom and democracy to the Islamic world, stabilized the Middle East and enshrined the name of George W. Bush.

What I consider to be the first terrorist act in my memory was the bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church. Actually, it was not the first, but one that stood out in national infamy. Terrorism is not new on this soil and for the slave, the native and then the free black; it has been a way of life. There was no justice then, and the 911 victims have not seen justice either. I have written of this before. The War in Iraq is not Justice.

Disturbing

I don't understand why is a need for this story of the latest blond celebs, when 400 have been executed in Texas out of the national total of 1096. One person executed this past Wednesday an others to be on August 28 & 30. Not knowing the details of all, I can't say the quilt or innocence; but the numbers are disturbing, I want to know is justice different in Texas?

Black Life

With the information age, I wonder why the only online resources for a some people are the BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics and all federal agency statistics. In the news, on the blogs, reports from think tanks and sometimes in conversation, statistics are quoted about what percentages of blacks are doing such and such. Our daily lives have become a mash of statistics. With millions of people online, in forums, writing diaries and blogs, many who are black; it would seem to me, that to get an idea about black life, you would read what they have written. The picture shows the American Political Blogosphere with few links between, does this follow in all of the blogosphere?

Black people do not always write of blackness, but write about their children, grandchildren, families, health, cooking, art, music, gardening, sports, comics and many other interests. Our lives intersect with all aspects of American life. You would read about black men who are not thugs, have families, active in the community and are responsible fathers. Our people are concerned with the state of America not only with race, but the war, what the candidates have to say, their neighborhoods, taxes and how the government should work. Nothing unusual, no surprises; unless you have believed that every statistic categorizes every black person, perhaps with the exception of the few you know.

I noticed when I first looked at blog communities there were clusters of links, with only a thin link between them, some never touched. Now looking at the mapping of links it would appear that more people would be interconnected and there would be more knowledge of each other; so they would be in the position to question the statistics and their stereotypes. Internet technology has given us opportunities to explore many cultures and our own with extreme ease. Even if the voracity of every blog is questioned, the underling trends can be knowable. It just requires that we do a little more work and check a few more sources. There is a wealth of knowledge to be found about all Americans, if only we would explore more.

Gamers - Is this the post you're looking for? Here it is.

Let me just say I am not a gamer. The last video game I played was; well I have forgotten. I have not seen or played Resident Evil 5 or any of its other versions. I made a comment about the game at Black Looks from the description from the gamers and the short video representing a portion of the game. If you follow the link, you will notice the comments get awfully derogatory, sexist and racist. What gets me, is that the gamers really think they are taking the high road. They mention that it is an equal opportunity killing game, not just a white man killing African zombies. I made this comment, "This makes him a man?" When the comments section closed, the gamers found the blogger Kym Platt's other post at AskThisBlackWoman and came to this site to continue. It has trickled down to a few links, from almost a hundred the first day. I hadn't read the next post until today, it pissed me off that the gamers were still on the attack. So if more visit here and comment, I want you to know why I said what I said.

Apparently you emulate the game in real life and I still want to ask does this make you a man? In the case of woman, does this make you an honorary man? There is no honor in your comments, as there is no honor in killing any race of or people who are weak individuals. It could be only brown eyed people and the intent would be the same. One man with an extraordinary weapon killing mindless people with machetes at best. The story line is not representative of a getting rid of evil in the world. It is an allegory for the strong and privileged to be able to get rid of a perceived enemy of people they fear and deem to be less that human. It feeds into the superiority of the gamer; not skill, intelligence or logic does this test, but gives that visceral thrill. So tell me why Sokari's last statement isn't true and that you feed the bunnies.