Videos of the week:
1. David Bowie calling out MTV’s racism back in the early days of the channel.
A really intense interview where David Bowie ends up interviewing MTV about their lack of playing black artists on the channel. This was back in the early days and is worth a look through today’s lens as well. MTV was known for it’s lack of black artists till Michael Jackson mania swept the nation with “Thriller”. And even then it was restricted until “Yo MTV Raps” came along and then many black artists were shoved over to VH1 for a more adult contemporary showcase.
2. Dave Chappelle’s reaction to George Floyd. “8:46”
You can say what you want about Dave Chappelle but his finger is on the pulse of today’s situations in America. This is intense and should be viewed by as many people as possible.
3. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Part 2
I’m learning so much from this series! I’m going to promote these in each post for certain! Whites need to educate themselves now.
4. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Part 3
5. Record-setting day for virus cases in six U.S. states : Reuters (June 17, 2020)
Let me say this again: THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON PEOPLE! WEAR YOUR MASKS NO MATTER WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN! WEARING A MASK IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT, IT IS A LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE! DAMMIT!
6. How ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Say Her Name’ gave a voice to black trans woman
#ALLBLACKLIVESMATTER Black transgender women are dying at ridiculous rates. They must be heard and protected.
News Articles
1. Lindsey Graham In New Ad: ‘Joe Biden Is As Good A Man As God Ever Created’ : Huff Post
How a person can go from this to basically licking Trump’s taint is beyond me! Where is this Lindsey Graham? What was he wanting from Joe Biden to say all this? Because it seems disingenuous now that he gives Trump so much credit. What is he wanting from Trump? What changes a person so drastically?
2. Joe Biden’s retirement reforms are the boldest we’ve seen in generations : Yahoo Finance
I think this is a solid, well thought out plan for all retirees. Of course this lays heavily on my mind as Joe and me enter our 50’s. “Biden wants to increase benefits for retirees who, on account of their low lifetime wages, had trouble saving for retirement. For the very poorest retirees, benefits from Social Security and SSI would increase by as much as $6,500 a year. The Social Security Administration estimates that a transition to the Biden benefit structure (shown in the graph below) would pull over half a million seniors out of poverty in 2030.”
3. Questions Raised About Second Black Man Found Hanging From Tree : The Daily Beast
In last week’s post, I posted an article about Robert Fuller from Palmdale, CA who was found hung from a tree. But ten days earlier and 50 miles away, another black man was found hung as well. His name was Malcolm Harsch. Both are being reported as “suicide” for now but both families of these men do not believe they were suicides. I do not believe it either. I think we are heading towards our dark past and lynching is making its way back to today’s reality.
4. Time for a History Lesson: The Tulsa Race Riots : All That’s Interesting
We have so many dark events in our American history. This is one of them. I cannot recall any history class that brought this event up and have us discuss. I was born and educated in Bucyrus, Ohio which isn’t known for being accepting of the black community.
5. Black man found hanging from a tree in Manhattan park : Revolt
This is the third case of a black man found hanging in a public place within a month; two in California and now this one in NYC. All are deemed “suicide” with further investigations and autopsies pending. In the NYC case, they have yet to release the name of the victim. Once again, I am not liking the frequency in which these hangings seem to be happening in the black community and I am very suspicious that these are actual suicides.
6. Update on Black Man hanging in NYC : NY Daily News
Per a medical examiner, Dominique Alexander is ruled a suicide. But a part of me just doesn’t want to believe that. I can’t imagine what the family is going through.
7. Trump on coronavirus: ‘If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any’ : The Hill
This pandemic is far, far, far from over! I wish we had leadership that understood science, data and numbers. I just see this getting very bad by year’s end here in the US.
8. Remembering Aimee Stephens, Who Lost and Found Her Purpose : New Yorker Magazine
We thank her for coming forward with her bravery and perseverance! Today the Supreme Court said that LGBTQ cannot be fired for their sexual orientation or gender! I wish she could have seen today’s celebrations but I know she is with us spiritually.
9. In landmark case, Supreme Court rules LGBTQ workers are protected from job discrimination : NBC News
This is an amazing day for LGBTQ folks! We cannot be fired for our sexual orientation or gender identity! This being decided by one of the most conservative Supreme Court judges we have ever seen in this country as well. Take that Orange Idiot!
10. How the politics of racial resentment is killing white people : Vox
This is an article from last year. It is an interview with the author Jonathan M. Metzl who wrote a book entitled Dying of Whiteness. This delves into that question why do poor white populations vote against their best interests? Why do they fall for the GOP so hard election after election. I need to read this book now!
11. Thousands show up for black trans people in nationwide protests : CNN
Our trans brothers and sisters need us right now! Especially our black trans brothers and sisters and ESPECIALLY our black trans sisters! #allblacklivesmatter #alltranslivesmatter #transrightsnow
12. Hundreds of Black men, women and children burned alive, shot, lynched by white mobs during Red Summer ignored century later : The Grio
Another piece of black history I never heard about back in my Ohio education. Another dark part of our history that needs to be heard and honored. So much bloodshed because of pure evil and racism! It is so sad and we must get to a place of equality and justice in this country. So much shame to work through as well.
13. FBI Reviewing Investigations of Recent Hangings as Third Man Found Dead in Houston : Newsweek
This makes the fourth hanging in recent weeks in the United States that I’m aware of. The two in California, one in NYC and now in Houston. The family describes this gentleman of Hispanic descent as “suicidal”. But I’m still not comfortable believing any of these are suicides cause doing such a suicide in public in this way seems very very rare. I doubt they are all connected per se since they are so far away from each other (except for the two in CA) but it could be under one group (white supremacists perhaps?). Investigations are pending on all these cases but I’m trying to keep up on all the updates.
14. Sara Hegazy, the pioneering Egyptian LGBT+ activist who was tortured for flying a Pride flag, has died by suicide : Pink News
This is such a tragic ending to a beautiful person! None of us are really free till we are free worldwide. Sara should not have endured all this torture over being at a concert and waving a Pride flag! We have to help our brothers and sisters worldwide to gain their freedom too.
15. New York City prison guards laughed & didn’t help as a transgender woman died in her cell : LGBTQ Nation
Every guard involved in this horrible outcome should be fired and prosecuted for Layleen Xtravaganza Cubilette-Polanco’s death! This is disgusting behaviour with no empathy for a human life. All because she couldn’t pay $500 to avoid jail time. This country is so screwed up with its prison system. Trans black women are such targets right now. We must protect them somehow.
16. ‘Free our kids in cages’ march directed at ICE enforcement held in LA : ABC 7
This has been forced to the background between the pandemic we are in and the protests going on with George Floyd and others. Both are important to pay attention to but this is also still happening: Kids in cages at the border! We must not forget this and hoping that the Orange Idiot is voted out so we can get that situation down there fixed and stop treating people like animals!
17. Supreme Court Will Not Reexamine Doctrine That Shields Police In Misconduct Suits : NPR
Qualified immunity is nothing but bullshit! Police need to be held accountable for actions that are unjust and include excessive force! I can’t believe the Supreme Court won’t look at this amidst all the current protests!
18. Oregon becomes first state to offer free abortions for all, including illegal aliens : Washington Times
This is wonderful news for those of who are Pro-Choice! Hoping all the other blue states follow suit and eventually nationally! (I know that is being optimistic.) This will not increase abortions as conservatives are trying to say. And I’m also sure there will be safeguards for late term abortions. They are just trying to throw red meat at their bases as they always do.
19. Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA in big win for Dreamers : NBC News
Such great news! I am so happy for these kids. It would have been disastrous for them to return to a country they do not know alongside a language that do not know and expect them to thrive. The Orange Idiot is so pissed too which is the icing on top of the cake. Tweeting away like a crazed teenager! Love it. His stacking of the court doesn’t seem to be working out the way he planned!
Things of Interest to me, Sharing with You
I will be adding new sections of interest from time to time.
1. Creative Rebellion Essays: Take a breath
I stumbled across this article through my LinkedIn and now I am subscribing to this gentleman’s blog, The Art of Creative Rebellion. We really do need to breathe more as it pertains to meditation type breathing, especially in these times of uncertainty and turmoil. I find myself just wanting to go to sleep till it all ends sometimes but I know that is depression trying to rear its ugly head into my life. I am excited to explore more of what John S. Couch has to say and try and implement these techniques into my life.
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