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Driving While Black

Was it November 2006 or March 1991? Was it Rodney King all over again? The recent murder of Sean Bell by New York police officers and the Taser shooting of Houston Texans offensive lineman, Fred Weary, have some wondering were the attacks racially motivated.

For African Americans, being the victims of racial profiling is nothing new, but the tactics used by police to justify excessive force against minorities recently hit an all time low as officers attempted to assassinate the character of Sean Bell and Fred Weary, the latest victims of police brutality.

On November 25, 2006, New York City police officers fired 50 shots into a car driven by Sean Bell, 23, hours before he was to marry Nicole Paultre. Police critically wounded passengers Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield in the shooting.

Bell and his friends were celebrating his bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret, a club under investigation for alleged criminal activities.

According to eyewitness reports, the three men allegedly got into an argument with other patrons at the club and decided to leave the cabaret.

Based on police reports, the undercover officers investigating the atmosphere at the Kalua Cabaret believed they heard someone in Bell’s entourage say they had a gun. Believing they were in imminent danger, police approached Bell’s car to question the three men.

According to one of the victims, Bell, fearing robbery, rammed his car into an unmarked police car in an attempt to get away. The police officers fired 50 shots in response.

Police claimed that they identified themselves as officers when they approached Bell’s car, but the surviving victims say that is not true.

The Police Commissioner admitted that he allowed the officers to have a couple of drinks, but believed they were still fit to perform their duties as officers.

According to the Associated Press, police found Bell drunk at the time of the shooting, which has angered many, including Bell’s family.

“There was no shooting by any of the victims, including Sean Bell. Their judgment one way or another is irrelevant, because they didn’t do anything,” said civil rights leader Al Sharpton.

“The question is, why don’t we have toxicology tests on how much the undercover police were drinking,” Sharpton added.

According to the AP, a lawyer for Bell’s parents called the allegation “another attempt to denigrate the victim of a police murder.”

Also in November 2006, Fred Weary, offensive lineman for the Houston Texans was arrested and shot with a Taser after a traffic stop near Reliant Stadium in Houston.

According to the police report, an officer pulled Weary over because of a missing license plate after following him because he looked “very suspicious.” The police report also stated that Weary pushed away an officer and police Tasered him after he stepped toward an officer after they ordered him to place his hands on the vehicle.

Police recently dropped misdemeanor charges against Weary. Many of his Texans teammates and acquaintances have stated that Weary is not the type of person who would have done anything to warrant this kind of response from a police officer.

“I don’t think it happened the way they said it happened. He didn’t commit any crime. He didn’t deserve to be Tasered twice and didn’t deserve to be arrested,” said Weary’s attorney.

When Los Angeles police officers brutally attacked Rodney King over a decade ago, the entire nation was shocked and appalled at the brutality inflicted upon what seemed to be a helpless victim.

The police justified their violence by saying that they believed King was high on PCP because of his “spaced out” look. Police officers shot King with a Taser but he still managed to get up. The officers responded by beating him over 50 times with a baton before finally arresting him.

Just like in the Bell and Weary case, police justified their excessive force by stating that victims looked suspicious or they thought they heard the victim speak of having a weapon. If police violence is justified by the way one looks, then who is to say the next victim might not be one of us.

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

The Life Of Ian Fleming

This year marks the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming, whose time spent in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War proved to be the catalyst that led to the creation of James Bond, the most iconic character to emerge from 20th century fiction.

The life of Ian Fleming

Fleming was born on May 28th 1908 in Mayfair, a wealthy district of London, and his early years were entirely privileged. However, First World War ensured that Fleming was left fatherless and from that moment on he found his life dominated by his mother, who was affectionately known as “M”.

Fleming’s education and early career were entirely unremarkable and after several false starts he was sent to Moscow to cover the show trial of a number of Vickers employees under Stalin’s regime, one of his early triumphs.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, Fleming was recruited into naval Intelligence by Rear Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence as his assistant. Initially as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) he was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander, then Commander, the rank he was later to attribute to James Bond.

Although he himself saw no action during the war he was involved with some of Great Britain’s top-secret operations and directly responsible for conceiving a number of plans.

Following the cessation of hostilities Fleming went to work as Foreign Manager for Kemsley Newspapers, owner of the Sunday Times. His job was to use his contacts to create a network of reporters that rivalled Reuters and one of the key clauses in his contract allowed him two months every year on vacation.

This time was spent at Goldeneye, his house in Jamaica and it was here, in 1952 that he began writing Casino Royale, allegedly to take his mind off his impending marriage.

Casino Royale was published in 1953 and immediately attracted attention in the UK. It took several more books and appearance of From Russia, With Love on the reading list of JFK for James Bond to really take off in the United States, but there was no turning back and with the film series beginning in 1962 with Dr No the Bond phenomenon took off.

Unfortunately Ian Fleming did not live to enjoy his full success; he died on August 8th 1964, before the release of the iconic third 007 film, Goldfinger.

Centenary Celebrations

Fans of the fictional super spy have a lot to look forward to in 2008, with a number of events planned. The Royal Mail issued a special set of postage stamps featuring covers from six of the fourteen books. The stamps feature Casino Royale and Dr No as first class stamps, while airmail stamps feature Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia With Love.

The Imperial War Museum is currently hosting an exhibition called For Your Eyes Only - Ian Fleming and James Bond, focusing on Fleming and his creation in a historical context. It is the first major exhibition devoted to Ian Fleming and look at how his experiences in Naval Intelligence and the post war climate influenced the 007 books and stoked the James Bond phenomenon.

The day of the Fleming centenary will be marked by the publication of a new 007 novel written by Sebastian Faulks. Entitled Devil May Care, the book continues Fleming’s chronology and sees James Bond back in action in the 1960s. The book was commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and is published in the UK by Penguin Books.

As if this were not enough for the Bond fan, 2008 will also see the return of Daniel Craig as James Bond in the new film from Eon Productions. Currently scheduled for November, the 22nd film in the series to eagerly awaited after Craig’s gritty portrayal of Bond in Casino Royale.

You can find more information about James Bond and the Ian Fleming centenary celebrations http://www.TheJamesBondDossier.com

New Films Shatter Stereotypes Of Black Men

For decades, Hollywood has portrayed African American men in a negative light. From pimps, and drug dealers to thugs and womanizers, the portrayal of Black men in the media have led to numerous stereotypes that have ultimately determined how many view an entire group of people.

Moreover, the stereotypical portrayals of Black men, have even led young African American Americans to view themselves in a negative light also. For many young African American males, the negative stereotypes perpetuated by the mainstream media, only reinforces, negative opinions of them, because Black men who fit a negative stereotype surround many.

Seeing Black men as drug dealers and deadbeat fathers leads some to believe that they are not real Black men unless they live a life of negativity. The portrayal of African American men in films such as Waiting to Exhale and Diary of a Mad Black Woman have led many Black women to believe that there are not any good Black men around, and that those no go good men are the reason for the turmoil that sometimes exist in Black relationships.

However, two upcoming films, The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith and his son Jaden, and Diary of a Tired Black Man by first time filmmaker Tim Alexander attempt to change stereotypes by portraying Black men from a brother’s perspective.

Will Smith’s role in The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a single father who transforms his life from homeless to a multi-millionaire.

Raised by a single mother, Gardner knew at an early age that he wanted to be a constant presence in his son’s life. Although he lacked a lot of material possessions and wealth, his mother, Bettye Jean Gardner, preached to her children that they could one day be a millionaire.

After a stint in the military, Gardner moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as medical supplies salesperson. Barely making enough to support his girlfriend and son, Gardner’s life changed drastically when he met a Ferrari driving stocker broker who earned $80,000 a month.

Influenced by his conversation with the stockbroker he quit his job to pursue a career on Wall Street. Despite being a high school dropout, he convinced a company to give him a chance, even though he did not have the required education.

Unfortunately, when he arrived for his first day at work, he realized the man that had hired him no longer worked there, and his opportunity had left with him.

Gardener managed to get a job with a stockbroker, but was unable to live at his boarding house because they did not allow children, and therefore they ended up without a roof over their head.

Sleeping in such places as public parks with his young son on his back, Gardner remembered the lessons taught by his mother, and with a lot of prayer and dedication, Gardner was eventually able to take his son from public parks to the penthouse.

Tim Alexander’s first feature film, Diary of a Tired Black Man began as a three-minute clip he made simply to display some young Black actors he had been working with.

Frustrated by failed relationships, involving what he calls “angry sisters,” Alexander attempted to write a short script that would be the Black man’s answer to recent male-bashing films.

Although he is well aware that many African American women face challenges dealing with insensitive Black men, Alexander wanted to present the fact that there are many good brothers out there. Many would love to hook up with their ideal sisters, but because of such things as negative attitudes, find themselves at a crossroad in their dealing with Black women.

The clip centers on James who visits his ex-wife’s house to pick up his daughter, accompanied by a female companion who happens to be White. His ex-wife and her friends bombard him with insults for dating a White woman, saying he went that route because he could not handle a strong Black woman. James blames the Black women for their inability to keep a man on their anger and penchant for drama.

Although Alexander’s clip has generated much controversy in the African American community, he said that his film is not focusing on all Black women, just those who bring anger from previous relationships into new situations, and eventually drive good men away.

The filmmaker believes that many of the issues the Black women have with their male counterparts directly reflects an entire life of hearing negative stereotypes of Black men. Whether they hear it from their mothers or the media, many African American women have preconceived notions of Black men, and when they finally do meet a good Black man, they think something is wrong with them because they are not accustomed to positive relationships between Black men and women.

Unfortunately, many are accustomed to the infidelity and abuse that they witnessed their mothers and loved ones endure at the hands of Black men, and when there is not any drama in their relationships, they try to invent it, which leads many Black men to search for love in other places.

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

Are HBCUs Still Relevant?

Imagine a time when equality was not available to all. Imagine a time when the realization of one’s dream depended solely on the color of one’s skin.

The dream of achieving a college education and reaching for the stars in an attempt to achieve lifelong dreams became a dream deferred for many African Americans in the early years of this great nation. Dreams of becoming a doctor, an attorney, or an engineer were completely off limits for African Americans because of this country’s rigid caste system. Because of slavery and Jim Crow laws, society forced Blacks to do menial jobs, which kept the majority of them stuck in the country’s lower class, praying for a day when equality would be available for all.

From the Middle Passage to the emancipation of Black slaves in 1865, African Americans were denied basic education by their slave masters for fear that education would lead to upheaval and rebellion. Despite their efforts, many African Americans, such as Alexander Lucius Twighlight, an 1823 graduate of Middlebury College, received college degrees.

After the abolishment of slavery, White philanthropist began opening the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities as a means of providing minimal skills to freed slaves. Schools such as Cheyney State University and Wilberforce University began training Blacks in such fields as religion and various manual trades that the masses believed suitable for African Americans.

The training that the first generation of Black college students received was skills that Whites believed would help them become more accepted in the larger culture, such as etiquette, speech and dress.

The lack of opportunities afforded to African Americans led to many student protests by the next generation of Black scholars who never experienced the horrors of slavery like their predecessors, and were determined to achieve first-class citizenship and first-class opportunities. Because of the growing dissatisfaction among the younger generation of Black scholars, HBCUs began to undergo a transformation, similar to White institutions, which included a more diverse curriculum, more student activities, and more Greek-letter organizations.

Although African Americans had enrolled at predominately-White universities in the North for years, Jim Crow laws had prevented their enrollment at many top universities in the South. However, through protest and perseverance, African Americans began seeing doors open for them that had been closed since their arrival in this country, hundreds of years earlier.

In 1862, James Meredith became the first Black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi despite the protests of many Mississippi residents, including Governor Ross Barnett, who blocked the entrance of the registrar’s office to prevent Meredith’s enrollment.

Despite Barnett’s actions, Meredith was secretly enrolled at the university amidst student protests that left two people mortally wounded, and left Ole Miss littered with bricks, burned automobiles, and empty tear-gas canisters.

Despite Meredith’s success enrolling at Ole Miss, his matriculation at the school was anything but normal. He was escorted to class everyday by federal marshals, and almost completely ignored by his fellow classmates.

Although faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Meredith persevered and eventually graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1963 with a degree in History and Political Science. James Meredith’s success at Ole Miss provided inspiration to many African Americans who succeeded him at other previously segregated schools, and ignited a shift for some Black students, away from HBCUs to larger flagship universities that had previously been off limits to people of color.

Because of the acceptance of Blacks at predominately-White colleges during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the number of African Americans attending HBCUs experienced a tremendous decline. At one point, it was estimated that approximately 70 percent of all Black college students received their education at a HBCU. Not only did HBCUs experience a drastic decline in enrollment, but also many top-notch institutions began competing with HBCUs for the brightest African American students by offering scholarships and a broader curriculum.

As many teenagers prepare for higher education, the process of choosing the right university can be a daunting task. Many seek a university for the sole purpose of enhancing their education, while others seek a college that will also enhance their social development.

For young African Americans, the choice can be extremely difficult as they choose between a traditional school and a HBCU.

Some critics believe that HBCUs are outdated and that young Black adults will fair better at predominately-White institutions because its demographics prepare them better for the “real world.”

However, proponents of HBCUs believe that four or more years amongst one’s peers provide cultural pride an improved sense of self.

This debate has led many scholars to question: Are HBCUs still relevant, and are they the best institutions to train our next generation of leaders?

For Tisha Smith, who attended both a HBCU and a traditional university, the experience at a Black college was the best. Growing up in a predominately-White neighborhood, Smith’s environment taught her very little about her own culture. Growing up as a minority in an affluent neighborhood, she experienced many instances of bigotry and intolerance from her peers.

She often found herself the only Black face in her classroom, and sometimes felt she did not fit in with the larger culture that surrounded her.

However, by attending a HBCU, she became more aware of her culture and felt a sense of security and belonging that she did not feel while attending a traditional college. Attending a HBCU also shielded her from the racism she experienced as a child, and allowed her to experience life as an individual and not a color.

Although doors have opened because of the triumphs of past generations, the struggle for equality in education continues. The discrepancies between affluent and underprivileged school systems across America have many minorities falling behind other groups. However, by educating the next generation of leaders, the achievement gap should become equal, regardless if those leaders are educated at a traditional school or a HBCU.

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

The Response To Immigration Protesters By Classmates

It has been extremely difficult to watch the news over the past year and not form an opinion of the numerous protests of the proposed immigration laws. Students from across the country have skipped class on a daily basis to argue against laws that would make it a felony to be an illegal immigrant or to assist illegal immigrants in the United States.

Although the law would affect all immigrants, the majority of the students protesting are Hispanics, and many see the proposed law as a direct attack on their family members and friends. Despite the fact that most of the Hispanic students were born in this country, some have parents that will have to leave this country if legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law.

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, many African Americans faced ostracism for participation in the struggle, and some like Rosa Parks even lost their jobs, because many employers were unsympathetic to their cause. The experience of the Black struggle makes one wonder, how have classmates of other races treated Hispanic protesters now that they have returned to school?

Even though the majority of the protesters were high school students, children in younger age groups have also taken interest in the protests.

Although most of the students at Klein Intermediate School in Houston have not taken an active role in the marches, many have loved ones and friends who have taken to the streets to protest the proposed immigration laws.

Moreover, while the response from non-Hispanic classmates has usually been very positive and supportive, several students have experienced discrimination from their peers.

Eighth grader Ryan Brown said, “I tell Hispanics who are protesting to keep protesting and never give up in what you believe in.”

However, Olivia Clay who has some Hispanic family members said, “My friends are saying that this whole thing is stupid. It’s starting another Black and Mexican fight.”

Many of Klein’s student said there is a turbulent history between African American and Latino students at their school.

Brandi Alvarez said, “A lot of Black people have told me, ‘you stupid Hispanic, go back to your country and leave, you do not belong here.’”

One male Hispanic student said there are fights every year between Black and Hispanic students, and earlier this year he said he was involved in a fight for simply being Hispanic.

On the contrary, Laura Alonso said, “Some people of other races have been very supportive and respectful about this situation.”

Elizabeth Rivera said other races have not treated her differently but she has heard of one incident when a girl brought a Mexican flag and some students took it a way from her and began stomping on it.

While most of the racial incidents at school have been minor verbal altercations, some foreign students say they experience hostility when they go out in public. Several Hispanic students say they overhear people of other races making negative comments about the protesters.

However, Quad Carden said, “Most of my peers say nothing about it … but we still understand the impact of this. I have seen people disrespecting the Hispanics, and I do believe that it is wrong.”

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

Slow Cooker Recipe

It’s a way of cooking the food in a relatively low temperature to decrease water quantity and get the best result. It’s the countertop to electrical cooking, popularly known as crock-pot recipe.

Slow Cooker and Crock-pot recipes are interchangeable. A slow cooker is oval cooking pot made of ceramic or porcelain that comes in variety of sizes. Many crock-pot recipes simply call for the ingredients to be put in the crock and have almost no preparation. The crock-pot can then relatively safely be left to run unattended. This makes for a very convenient cooking method. Generally, minimum water should be maintained to avoid uncontrollable heating. Some slow cookers are supplied with recipe booklets.

The advantage of slow cooker recipes is it can avoid overcooking and useful to tenderized smaller cuts. It utilized rated power while the success of every crock-pot recipe relies on careful timing. However, the disadvantage is that the vitamins & nutrients are tending to be lost due to longer cooking. Below are slow cooked recipes you will enjoy from appetizer to dessert.

Here is an appetizer that is so easy to prepare, best before taking the main course. Crock pot Cream of Mushroom Soup:

Ingredients:

• 12 to 16 ounces sliced mushrooms, or 3 cans (4 ounces each), drained

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 3 cups chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons onion, chopped

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 cup half and half or whole milk

Instructions:

In skillet, saut

Black Folk, Know Your Place In Jena, Louisiana

It was the spring of 1931. A freight train bound for Memphis carried a group of young African Americans in search of a better life. They were desperately trying to escape the future that awaited them because of the color of their skin.

Everyone in the Jim Crow South knew the rigid caste system and his or her place in it. Everyone in the Black community knew their life could turn upside down by the mere accusation of “disrespecting” a White person and their false sense of superiority and privilege. Everyone knew that “disrespecting” a White female was a capital offense punishable by death.

Despite knowing the grim realities that came with their dark complexion, the young group of African Americans on that freight train that day in March 1931 was still optimistic about the opportunities that awaited them in Memphis.

However, at a train stop in Stevenson, Ala., a young White man claimed that a group of Blacks had tossed him from the train. The sheriff in nearby Paint Rock, Ala ordered officers to arrest all African Americans onboard. When the train stopped, only nine African American men and two White females were onboard.

The two White females claimed the young Black men had gang raped them, and they were arrested on the spot Eight of the nine men were convicted and sentenced to death with very little evidence to suggest they were guilty of any crime.

The group became known as the Scottsboro Nine as the country was rocked by this blatant injustice. The International Labor Defense and the NAACP represented the Scottsboro Nine legally.

Eventually, one of the alleged victims recanted their story, saying that they were prostitutes who were trying to escape charges of vagrancy. The judge dismissed her story and convicted the Scottsboro Nine. On appeal, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld the convictions.

Throughout the history of the Jim Crow South, injustices were commonplace. From Emmett Till to the Mississippi burning incident, equal justice for Blacks was completely unheard of throughout the southern region of the country.

However, as time has gone by and the South has become integrated, politically correct Americans have prided themselves on the abolishment of racism and discrimination. Ask a specific demographic if racism still exists and the answer is always an emphatic “no.” Ask them about the Jena Six, and see if that answer is still as emphatic as before.

“There are a lot of places in the Deep South where (almost) nothing has changed aside from the fact that segregation isn’t legal,” said Mark Potok, director of the intelligence project for the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama.

In December 2006, an African American student asked the principal for permission to sit at a “White-only” tree in the courtyard of Jena High School in Jena, Louisiana. The principal responded by saying that the student could sit anywhere he pleased. The next day students found three nooses hanging from the “White-only” tree.

Race riots followed, culminating in a schoolyard fight that resulted in six Black teens charged with attempted murder for beating up a White teen who suffered no life threatening injuries.

The Black community of Jena was outraged. Prior to the fight at Jena High school, a Black teen had survived a vicious attack for attending an all-White party. In addition, a White youth had recently pulled a shotgun on three Black teens at a local convenient store. According to CNN.com, the White kid who beat up the Black party crasher faces charges of simple battery and the thug who pulled a shotgun faces no charges.

CNN.com reports that in the convenient store incident, the three Black teens were actually arrested and accused of aggravated battery after grabbing the gun—in what they call self-defense.

Despite the recent racially charged incidents, city official believe race is not an issue in any of these incidents.

“Race is not a major local issue. It’s not a factor in the local people’s lives,” said Mayor Murphy McMillan.

After protests erupted at the school and in the community, District Attorney Reed Walters told the Black students who were protesting under the “White only” tree that he could “end their life with a stroke of a pen.”

His words proved prophetic after the Jena Six were arrested and charged with attempted murder although the victim, Justin Barker, 17, was released from the hospital after two hours for a concussion and swollen eye. Barker even attended a ring ceremony later that night, where friends say he was his same jovial self.

The District Attorney added, “I will not tolerate this type of behavior. To those who act in this manner, I tell you that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and with the harshest crime that the facts justify. When you are convicted, I will seek the maximum penalty allowed by law. I will see to it that you never again menace the students at any school in this parish.”

Mychal Bell, the first of the six to face a trial, will learn his fate this month. According to the Associated Press, an all-White jury on reduced charges of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit it convicted Bell. He faces up to 22 years in prison.

“Can they really do this to me?” Bell asked from his jail cell.

Like the Scottsboro case in 1931, the Jena Six has received support from activist groups such as the NAACP and ACLU.

Al Sharpton recently organized a demonstration in the central Louisiana town to protest a justice system that has “one rule for White kids and one for Black kids.”

Sharpton added, “I did not come to Jena to start trouble. I came to Jena to stop trouble.”

According to local residents, Jena is a town divided by race. The town of 3,000 has only 350 African Americans. Most Blacks live in the impoverished Ward 10, while Whites live in a section of town known as “Snob Hill.”

When a Black teacher was able to purchase a home in the predominately-White “Snob Hill”, local real estate agents refused to show him a “White” property even though several were advertised in the local paper, according to CNN.com.

A young African American with a business degree was unable to get a job as a bank teller despite his qualifications.

The racial lines and caste system in Jena is evident and it was only a matter of time before all of the tension exploded.

“The White kids should have gotten more punishment for hanging nooses. If they had, all of the stuff that followed could have been avoided,” said Melvin Washington, the lone African American on the school board.

Despite the negative attention that has recently invaded Jena, injustice along racial lines is still commonplace in American society.

According to the Urban League, Black men are three times more likely than White men to face jail once they have been arrested. Over 24 percent of Blacks arrested in the U.S. in 2005 ended up in jail compared with 8.3 percent of White men.

Blacks also received jail sentences that are on average 15 percent longer than Whites for similar crimes. For aggravated assault, Black men were sentenced to an average of 48 months in jail, which is 33 percent longer than the average of 36 months received by White men, according to the Urban League’s annual State of Black America report.

As Bell awaits his sentencing, and the remainder of the Jena Six await their fate, ask yourself is racism extinct from American society. Sometimes people will have you believe that everyone gets along despite physical differences, and those claiming racism are simply playing the race card to their advantage. The next time you hear this excuse, think of the Jena Six and ask yourself, have we come as far as we think we have?

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

Wake Up Black Men

Richard Johnson and Dee Spiller had everything. They were star defensive backs for Eisenhower High School in Houston and on their way to play collegiate football at Baylor University. They led their high school team to the Texas State 5A semifinals in 1993, and seemed headed for greatness.

Unfortunately, they made the same mistake that many young Black males make, tempted by the allure of street life and eventually graduating to a life of crime. Johnson and Spiller, along with two teammates, committed several kick door robberies in the Houston area which eventually led to their arrest at Eisenhower High School on a warm spring day in 1994.

The two lost their full scholarships to Baylor and ultimately lost their future as well. They fell into the trap of being a young Black male with a criminal record, no educational skills, and no hope for the future.

“Many of these men grew up in fatherless homes, and they never had good role models. No one around them knows how to navigate the mainstream society,” said Joseph T. Jones, director of the fatherhood and works skills center in New York City.

The recent statistics are astonishing. According to data compiled by scholars at such Ivy League institutions as Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, 50 percent of Black men in their 20s without college degrees were unemployed, and 72 percent of high school dropouts were jobless in 2004.

Furthermore, 16 percent of African American men in their 20s who did not attend college were incarcerated in 1995. By 2001, that number ballooned to 21 percent. In addition, by the time Black men reach their 30s, 60 percent of those who dropped out of school would have spent time in the penitentiary.

Black men are at a crossroads. The question is what the cause of these alarming statistics is and what remedies will reverse this trend?

The lack of working Black men is in sharp contrast to Black women who have taken advantage of economic and social gains to find suitable employment.

“Over the last two decades, the economy did great and low-skilled women, helped by public policy, latched onto it. But young Black men were falling farther back,” said Ronald B. Mincey, professor of social work at Columbia University.

This phenomenon can be attributed to the glorification of the prison culture in mainstream entertainment. One only needs to turn on the radio or television to hear young Black entertainers celebrating a life of drugs and crime. It seems as if Black men earn more respect in the African American community if they spend four years in prison, rather than four years at an institution of higher learning.

Scholars attribute this trend to the lack of education amongst Black males, which disconnects them from mainstream society.

Despite the fact that crime has rapidly declined in urban areas, incarceration rates for African Americans have increased.

More troubling is the fact that among Black dropouts in their late 20s, more are in prison—34 percent—than are working—30 percent, according to analysis of 2000 census data by Steven Raphael of the University of California at Berkeley.

Although the statistics are alarming, there are remedies that can fix this epidemic plaguing the African American community.

It is time for African American men to accept responsibility for their own actions. Yes, African Americans have arguably endured more hardships and obstacles than any other ethnic group in this country, but it is up to each individual to decide which path they take in life.

It is time for African Americans to put down the drugs and guns and pick up the textbooks. The notion that Blacks are “acting White” if they strive for excellence in the classroom or corporate boardroom must be abandoned immediately, and African Americans must embrace positive role models from the Black community.

Entertainers who glorify violence in their music and movies need to become better role models to the millions of children who worship their every word.

African American men must assume responsibility and take care of their children. Successful African Americans must mentor at-risk youth who have no father figures in their life.

Lastly, African American must wake up and realize they are more than just criminals and thugs as the mainstream media portrays them. African American men need to be aware that their ancestors were royalty in Africa, and that same regal blood still flows through their veins today.

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

Remember Those Wooden Inlaid Music Boxes?

Remember how intrigued you were as a child when grandma would wind up the music box. Generations later, the music box still brings a smile to your face when you hear the music. Wooden inlaid music boxes are not only beautiful but their unique sound amplifies from the music box fills the rooms with magic, warmth, and floods the mind with soothing memories. I guess one would say, they were the radio of their day way before there were such things as radios, boom boxes, MP3 players and iPods.

Piano music is soothing and beautiful but it requires someone with skill to play. Unlike the piano, harps, or other usual musical instruments, all you had to do to the music box was wind it up and the music came forth. In this day and age of high tech MP3 music, the music box is still appreciated for not only its beauty but also the music that comes from such a hand held object of affection.

If you are old enough to remember the early 1900’s, then you will remember the music box first became popular during the early 19th century. Hundred plus years later, the music box has kept it fundamental form and purpose while remaining pretty the same as compared to the earlier music boxes. The majority of music boxes had a revolving cylinder that struck the teeth of a metal comb with.

The music box teeth (or pins) of the comb produced vibrations after being struck. Each tooth gave forth a precise tone, very similar to the strings in a piano. The engine (a spring motor) would be wound up with a key to give the motor tension and as it unwind, the cylinder would turn striking the pins we have been talking about. Out would come the music. The cylinder in the music box is often wound up by hand in order to put a spring motor under tension. In its charming way, it was pretty cool while the modern versions did away with this small labor chore and replace the music box with a battery. Most people will tell you there is no difference but I am not sure.

The wooden inlaid music boxes are still popular and admired for not only their sound but also their beauty and craftsmanship. There are metal and ceramic boxes around and produced but there is just something about a music box made out of exotic wood. The beauty of the box tells you there is some beautiful to play once you wind it up. More than likely it will be a classical song or lullaby. It certainly won’t be something from the top 10 hit list of today. The popularity and demand for the music box has not declined. Collectors of antique or collectible music boxes find that these beauties of the past can command hundreds and even thousands of dollars at auctions. The next time you clean out your garage, don’t discard those old boxes, you truly might be throwing not junk but money.

Jerbob Johnson owns the Wooden Inlaid Music Boxes music box auction website that has a huge inventory of wooden music boxes, vintage and modern at great prices with possible financing available.

Free Internet Dating Service : Active Or Obnoxious?

Even with a free internet dating service, it can be easy to misread signals. Here are some solutions to avoid becoming a boor or becoming a victim.

No matter what type of dating situation you may find yourself involved in, whether it is a free internet dating service or a social scene at a singles bar, you will almost inevitably find yourself occasionally in a situation where you are receiving the attention of someone who you really don’t care to know better. They will sometimes simply refuse to take no for an answer, in which case it may drive you out of a particular site. After all, why stick around if you don’t like the neighbors? In this type of situation, it is common for particular persons to get a negative reputation that a naive person may not understand until later.

Concern for feelings

If you are sensitive about not hurting someone’s feelings, you may need to get a trusted friend to monitor your potential dates on a free internet dating service. Someone who knows that you are likely to feel sorry for an obvious loser and try to be nice to them for just that reason will stop you from making too many forays to the wallflower section of the dating service. The type of person who is so brilliant that they are difficult to relate to is an example of someone to stay away from unless you happen to be brilliant also.

Boredom

If you have been using a free internet dating service for a while and haven’t had much action, you may decide to date an obnoxious person, just for something to do. This type of action doesn’t always turn out bad. You may even find that the person you assumed was obnoxious has a wonderful sense of humor when you take the time to get to know him or her. This is a great way to expand your horizons and learn more about your fellow man on a one date at a time basis. It’s also a good way to get over your boredom with positive action.

Half a loaf is better than done

When you are using a free internet dating service, don’t settle for just anyone to date because it is the first person who showed any interest in you. This can be a perfectly wonderful match for you, or it can be someone that has too much time on their hands and caught your profile posting while it was still warm from the printing press. If you approach each new potential relationship with the goal of learning something about yourself, the experience won’t have been wasted.

The rescuer

If you habitually use the free internet dating service to find and rescue other people, whether consciously or unconsciously, you will probably be smart to get some help for yourself from a good counselor. It’s really okay for you to enjoy establishing a relationship because you genuinely like and respect the other person. It is not okay for you to see yourself as the prop for all those who can’t quite manage a relationship on their own. If you find yourself in this type of cycle, you should revisit your goals for dating.

With Free Internet Dating Service or Internet Dating, you can be sure of a great resource website about free dating service. Almost any question about dating will be answered right here in an interesting way and you can also join one free today to enjoy dating online.

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