The Black Informant

Paul Mooney gives his take on Richards

Another official gets flamed for stating the obvious

(mirror.co.uk) TORY MP Bob Spink was last night at the centre of a race row after insisting the majority of criminals are black.

Mr Spink made his claim in an exchange of emails with a constituent.

He was asked: “Are you saying that a lot more criminals are black than white - or that there are more black people in jail than white because they are stopped more often?”

The MP replied: “The former and that’s what people don’t seem to like. But I didn’t enter a beauty contest when I became an MP!!!!”

Mr Spink 58, MP for Castle Point, Essex, went on to say the problem was being ignored because of “political correctness”.

Yesterday, Mr Spink strenuously denied he was a racist. He added: “Ministers have told the Commons that pro rata more young black people are known to the criminal justice system than white people. It is a fact.

“The main parties have to address where the crime is coming from and stop that crime for everybody’s sake, particularly the black community. It is about telling the truth. I completely deplore racism of any kind but we need to identify the sources of crime.” (more…)

I pulled the following from the AIDS Rights Project of the U.K. website:

Over three-quarters of the foreign national prison population are from a BME group. The number of Black prisoners has risen by almost 60% since 1997 and the imprisonment rate of Black men is almost ten times as high as white men. In 2000, the population of white prisoners represented 188 per 100,000 in the general population and 1,615 per 100,000 for Black prisoners with Black
Africans incarcerated at a rate of 1,704 per 100,000. (source)

Now admittedly I do not have access to the full e-mails that are in question in the article, but if critics are running with the quotes that are provided, their shallowness on this issue is very evident. If Spink would have stuck to the “PC” code book and said that most Blacks are V-I-C-T-I-M-S of the criminal justice system, he would have been safe. Because he didn’t follow the rules, he will be known as a racist for a long time.

Vision must be a priority

(HealthNewsDigest.com).. Like many diseases, vision problems disproportionately affect African-Americans. Glaucoma, a condition where the fluid pressure inside the eye is too high, is one of the leading causes of blindness for Americans. However, glaucoma is five times more common in African-Americans than Caucasians and four times more likely to cause blindness.

[…]

According to a new survey, many African-Americans are not prioritizing vision care for themselves or their children. More than 3,700 adults of varying ethnic backgrounds (African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and Caucasians) expressed their attitudes toward, perceptions of and experiences with vision care in the nationwide Americans’ Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive® on behalf of The Vision Care Institute™ of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

More than nine out of 10 African-American respondents (93 percent) agree that maintaining proper vision is an important priority to them. Yet, 21 percent say they do not have a regular eye care professional and one-quarter (24 percent) say it has been more than two years since their last eye exam. (more…)

Give a gift to yourself–cut back on the salt

(myrtlebeachonline.com) “In general, eating less salt is a good idea. The average American consumes about 1.5 teaspoons of salt, or 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium, every day. That’s a lot more than we actually need. But it turns out that salt affects people differently. How salt affects your blood pressure and health depends on your genes, your age and your medical conditions.

The white crystals we know as salt are made of sodium chloride, and it’s the sodium that causes most of the problems. Some people are very sensitive to sodium. Their blood pressure rises and falls as a direct result of how much salt they get. Others don’t seem to be affected at all. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy test to determine who is salt-sensitive.

Hundreds of studies have looked at the connections between salt intake and blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Overall, they show that cutting back on salt lowers blood pressure and reduces the chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Some of the best evidence that eating less salt can lower blood pressure comes from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension trials. The first DASH trial showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and poultry lowered blood pressure, both in people with normal and high blood pressures. A follow-up trial compared a DASH diet with a control diet that was much like the average American diet. Each test diet also had three levels of sodium: high sodium, at 3,500 mg of sodium a day; moderate sodium, 2,300 mg; and low sodium, 1,100 mg.” (more…)

African Taliban declares jihad

(The Jawa Report) It’s official: war between Ethiopia and the African Taliban of the Islamic Courts Union of Somalia. The Somalian Islamists have declared jihad against Ethiopia and Ethiopia has sent troops into Somalia.

We have been warning the world about the rise of the Islamic Courts Union for some time now. The dhimmis of the European Union and the US State Department have repeated the mistakes of Afghanistan and some even welcomed the Islamists to power by declaring that at least the group would bring stability.

But stability at what price? The same stability bought by years of ignoring the growing threat of Taliban Afghanistan.

Many of the so-called warlords of Somalia, such as Mohammed Farah Aidid, were intimately connected to the global jihad. It was Osama bin Laden’s succesful support of Aidid that seems to have convinced him and many of his followers that ‘the Shiekh’ possessed mystical foretelling powers.

It seems that both the Europeans and the State Department have awakened to the threat posed by the Salafi jihadis in Somalia. In our public statements we hope for a diplomatic solution, but privately, it seems, we know with whom our collective fates lie. We hope that the State Department’s continued calls for diplomacy are simply tactical. Perhaps they believe we can win by keeping the war a matter internal to Somalia? We cannot imagine that they belive their own press. (more…)

Congrats to Alden J. McDonald

New Orleans, LA (BlackNews.com) - New Orleans’ Alden J. McDonald, Jr. is one of two African Americans named to Fortune Magazine’s highly regarded “Portraits of Power” list for 2006. Fortune Magazine profiles some of the most powerful people in business for 2006 and their impact on the global market.

President and CEO of Liberty Bank and Trust Company since 1972, one of the five largest African-American owned financial institutions in the United States, McDonald is nationally recognized as a dynamic catalyst in the movement of minority businesses into the mainstream economy. As both a business leader and a community leader, he has devoted his life to community development through promoting entrepreneurship, supporting civic organizations and empowering businesses and individuals. More »

UK: Tony Blair apoligizes for Britain’s role in the slave trade

(SABCnews.com) Prime Minister Tony Blair will express “deep sorrow” for Britain’s role in the slave trade nearly 200 years after the legislation that led to its abolition, the Observer newspaper reported.

However Blair’s statement will stop short of a full apology despite pressure from some black campaigners and community leaders, the newspaper said.

“I believe the bicentenary offers us a chance not just to say how profoundly shameful the slave trade was — how we condemn its existence utterly and praise those who fought for its abolition — but also to express our deep sorrow that it ever could have happened,” it quoted Blair as saying in a statement due to appear in New Nation, a newspaper aimed at the black community.

Blair will also back a United Nations resolution by Caribbean countries to honour those who died at the hands of international slave traders, the Observer said. (more…)

Another one of our babies is missing (11/26/06)

TIANNA DASHAY MINIFIELD
Case Type: Missing
DOB: Oct 28, 1992
Sex: Female
Missing Date: Nov 3, 2006
Race: Black
Age Now: 14
Height: 5′2″ (157 cm)
Missing City: WINCHESTER
Weight: 155 lbs (70 kg)
Missing State : VA
Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States
Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: USVAVA06-459
Circumstances: Tianna was last seen on November 3, 2006 at 1530 hours and is believed to be in the local area.

“Dave” (Chance’s new screen name) has been banned

Since Thanksgiving I have been under the weather, so managing this site was the last thing on my mind. As I re-entered the land of the living and was able to get back into the mood for blogging, I noticed that I received quite a number of comments from a person who calls himself “Dave” (now that I think about it, he actually started right before Thanksgiving).

At first he used his time “at the mike” here to make suggestions about the site. While suggestions are always welcomed, I always tell readers to use the “Contact” link above. He refused to do so citing that it was easier for him to do it via the comments feature. From that point on he continued to stay off topic while harassing me. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was a reader by the name of “Chance” who has decided to use a new screen name. I tried to hold out for him to see if he would change his old ways–unfortunately he didn’t.

Chance has already been banned on one blog that I know about (Cobb), and now he is being banned here as well.

In other site news, I should be back in full swing with this site tomorrow. I’m still not feeling 100%, but I am getting there.

Church plans tangible change to a community

(the state.com) “In many cities and towns, the net result of diminishing government and private investment, deteriorating infrastructure, business closures and joblessness is the perpetuation of an underclass disenfranchised from mainstream society. While many of these areas are distressed and full of despair, the good news is that African-American churches are bringing the gospel of economic development to these communities and renewing hope for a better way of life.

Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, through its Midlands Community Development Corp., is helping lead the way. The church recently announced a 106-acre mixed-use project that will include affordable homes, a new worship center, a performing arts building, a recreational facility, a hotel and a commercial and medical complex. These developments could transform the Lower Richland community and have rippling effects across the Midlands.

When such developments take place in low-income areas, they increase property values, attract new residents and become magnets for diverse businesses and better-paying jobs. Church-based business enterprises help rebuild a community’s social infrastructure and provide such much-needed values-based services as child care, youth development, elder care and substance abuse counseling. These activities tend to lead to improved schools, better public safety and an enhanced quality-of-life. From this type of community economic development, everyone — those living in the area and those in surrounding communities — benefits.” (more…)

Don’t forget to give this holiday season…and beyond!

Charity Navigator is a great online resource if you are looking to donate to a charity, but are not sure about their integrity. This site breaks it all down for you so that your donations go to where you want it to go–into the hands of those that need it the most.

PS: Posting will be light over the next couple of days due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Why don’t we just cut through the bull and make it law

More on the “Kramer” outrage:

Los Angeles community activist Najee Ali and a number of other community groups held a protest outside of the Laugh Factory Monday and met with the venue’s owner Jamie Masada as well as comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was at Richards’ show and witnessed the incident.

[…]

“His apology is unacceptable at this point,” Ali told EUR’s Lee Bailey in a phone interview. “It’s only the first step in the process of healing.
We’re asking to meet with him and we feel he needs some racial sensitivity and anger management classes, and to support the programs that support racial conciliation.”

“We want to do the same thing the Jews did to Mel Gibson,” Ali continued. “They made him publicly apologize and to feel some pain, some contrition. And that’s what black folks need to start doing.” (source)

And of cour$e Ali know$ when a white per$on i$ truly $orry.

Last night my family and I watched Rush Hour 2 as Chris Tucker used just about every stereotype about Asians as comedy. I won’t even go through the long list of Black comedians who point out white folks in the audience to flame them and their culture. But all of a sudden this has become an intergalactic crime because a white man did it. In an effort to show themselves as culturally sensitive, some whites in the press have jumped on this story to demonstrate that they hate stereotypes just-as-much-as-we-do.

Let’s just cut through the bull here and make it law that Black folks (because of years of slavery and oppression of course) have the full license to use all forms racial stereotypes to demean other races. I say, put this one right under the Voting Rights Act Of 1965. Why stop with this unspoken code crap? Push this through the House and Senate as the “Minstrel Rights Act of 2006″. Get Bush to sign it while being flanked by all of OUR comedians that get paid to do the same thing to other races. Finish off the signing ceremony (in the Rose garden of course) with a good ol’ fashion barbecue with plenty of koolaide, booze, a few mutt strippers and of course a few comedians doing their usual stand up routines peppered with plenty of derogatory comments about other races INCLUDING ours.

Ask your local Congressman/Senator to support the “Minstrel Rights Act of 2006” because it is time for us to legalize the double standard.

Keep ‘em moving

(readingeagle.com) “The president of the Reading teachers union said Tuesday that administrators have authorized the graduation of unqualified students.

Daniel B. Grimm told the school board that a complaint is being filed with the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

In an effort to satisfy requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law by boosting the number of graduates, Grimm said, the administration gave credits to students for courses the students did not take.

“By allowing unqualified students to graduate, the administration is not upholding the moral integrity of the education process,” Grimm said. “Our teachers have a moral commitment to uphold the proper education of our students.”

Administrators and board members did not comment on the accusations.

Following the board meeting, Grimm said he could not elaborate on specific incidents but said the association has evidence of credits being given for work not performed. (more…)

Florida allocates $1M for Haiti

(floridatoday.com) Gov. Jeb Bush announced Friday that Florida has allocated $1 million to help Haiti as it seeks to rebuild its economy and infrastructure.

The money, approved by the Florida Legislature, will be used to help implement a series of recommendations provided last year by the governor’s Haitian Advisory Group. The state will work with a local nonprofit group to channel the money toward professional and technical exchange programs, as well as educational support, business development and educational programs.

[…]

Carolyn Rose-Avila, head of the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, which will oversee the funds, said about $150,000 of the money would be channeled toward micro-enterprise programs through partners on the ground in Haiti.

[…]

Last month, the U.S. announced $492 million in aid to the Caribbean country. (more…)

Like, ewwww

Seniors strut their stuff for Nets to hip-hop beat

(northjersey.com) They came from all backgrounds — teachers, secretaries, even strippers – and from all areas of New York and New Jersey. But the wannabe dancers at the Nets’ East Rutherford practice facility Monday night had two things in common: They’re over 60 and they love to get down.

[B.I. says “60 year old strippers?????!!!!????”]

[…]

More than 30 women and one man came to the tryout Monday evening. Wearing everything from jeans and T-shirts to spandex and stiletto heels — the group moved to the beat of Jay-Z’s new single, “Show Me What You Got.”

Nets dancers led them through a choreography that included waving their arms over their heads, brushing some invisible dirt off their shoulders, and pumping their fists and pelvis in the air. They laughed. They cheered. They took frequent water breaks. (more…)

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Mommy, I’m afraid.

Another list for “Santa” government

Make sure to leave the cookies and milk out as well.

New 5-Point Plan To Reduce Black AIDS Rate (BET)

The country’s leading African-American health experts, lawmakers and civil rights leaders are calling on the government to adopt a new five-point plan to address the African-American AIDS crisis.

Among the plan’s key provisions are that America find ways to reduce the Black housing crisis and astronomical incarceration rate; expand AIDS education, drug treatment, HIV/AIDS testing and condom distribution; and that Black America reduce the stigma and discrimination against gay Black men.

“We have to stop the devastation this disease is causing in our community, and I think this plan offers a clear blueprint,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). (more…)

I have a much better plan, and it only has ONE point: “Stop pushing responsibilty on society at large for your lack of sexual self-control.”

Yes, I am aware that there are people out there who unfortunately get this disease by blood transfusion, but those cases do not make up the majority. This is primarily a sexually-transmitted disease.

We are a culture that prides itself on “telling it like it is“, so to me this very notion is flat out ridiculous.

Note to the “…country’s leading African-American health experts, lawmakers and civil rights leaders”: Stop treating the community you claim to represent as a bunch of ingnorant fools who don’t don’t know the meaning of the word responsibility.

Signs that parents are getting fed up with the stauts quo in public schools

(seattletimes.nwsource.com) “Over the past few years, there has been an outcry from the public for some kind of control to the mess in many big city public school systems. While this proves the point that sinking billions of dollars in these institutions has not worked, asking the mayor of that city to take some level of control over the mess isn’t really a smart solution as well. Seattle has become the latest city to consider such an option.

It’s an idea only a few cities have dared to try.

But advisers to Mayor Greg Nickels are urging him to take at least partial control over Seattle schools.

The conditions, they say, are dire.

Superintendent Raj Manhas is quitting. School Board members are suing the district — and each other — over a school-closure plan that has divided the community. And a recent board meeting erupted in ethnic slurs and an arrest. It will be a challenge, the mayor’s education advisers say, to get voters to approve $900 million in school-district funding measures scheduled for a February election. Attracting an excellent superintendent will be even tougher.

“If I’m a stellar superintendent, what makes me want to come to this kind of place?” said Charles Rolland, a community activist who has twice trooped to City Hall in recent weeks to meet with Nickels, along with other activists, business people and educators.

Rolland and several others are urging Nickels to follow the lead of Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia, where mayors gained power to abolish the elected school boards and appoint some or all new board members, handing the mayors greater control over the public schools.

While some worry that these school systems answer more to City Hall than to students and parents, the results, overall, have been positive, according to academic experts.

No surprise here that the local unions are content with the status quo

Seattle School District and teachers union leaders — who’ve been excluded from the mayor’s meetings — oppose the idea of scrapping an elected board for an appointed one. The 46,000-student district has improved its finances and test scores and hired an outstanding chief academic officer, they say.

Translation: These parents are clueless. Don’t they realize just how good they have it?

The first major city to take sweeping action was Boston in 1991, after the Massachusetts Legislature gave former Mayor Ray Flynn power to abolish the elected School Board and appoint a new one. In a referendum five years later, Boston voters overwhelmingly endorsed the appointive system.

Chicago was next in 1995, with state lawmakers handing city officials similar authority over a demoralized district that had suffered nine teacher strikes in 17 years. Cleveland followed suit in 1998 and New York in 2002.

This year, the mayors of Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque, N.M., all have said they want some control over schools

Then someone makes a very good point:

“You don’t want to get caught in between and end up with the mayor and board having partial control and nobody’s in charge,” Kirst warned.

Read more of “Nickels urged to take some control of schools”

Atlanta becomes hotbed for “young and restless”

(atlanta.bizjournals.com) “No American metro area attracts more of the most-sought demographic of young professionals than metro Atlanta, according to Portland, Ore., economist Joe Cortright of Impresa Consulting.

The study, which was released Nov. 20 by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, shows Atlanta leads the nation in luring highly educated 25- to 34-year-olds, a group demographers call the “Young and Restless.” From 1990 to 2000, the metro area increased its young adult population 46 percent, which was faster than any of the top 25 most populous metro areas in the United States. And while the number of young adults dropped 9 percent nationally, the number of young adults increased 20 percent in Atlanta.

“The Young and Restless are the most sought-after talent in the country,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “Cities want them for their economic future. Companies want their knowledge and talent. And Atlanta is leading the nation in attracting them.” (more…)

My feelings exactly

The blog DarkStar Spouts Off expresses my exact sentiments regarding “Kramer” (Charater on the show Seinfeld ).

“Kramer” is just one in the line of thousands that should be slapped. Unfortunately my hand is getting too tired.

PS: I never watched Sienfeld

Black-owned company buys food chain

(gazette.net) “Chris Patterson always had big ideas about growing the Austin Grill brand. Now he’s got the financial backing to do it.

Patterson, president and COO of the Austin Grill chain of Tex-Mex restaurants with headquarters in Gaithersburg, has only good things to say about the recent sale of the chain to Thompson Hospitality of Herndon, Va.

‘‘It’s a great opportunity for us because they have the financial support that the former company didn’t have,” said Patterson, a Gaithersburg resident who has been running the Austin Grill chain since 2000.

‘‘It will give us an opportunity to grow the brand, something we’re excited about,” he said. ‘‘[Previous ownership] wanted to do that, but just didn’t have the financial strength.”

Thompson Hospitality has annual revenues of more than $200 million, said its CEO, Warren Thompson.” (more…)