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What we created was organic– a multifaceted platform. The world, as seen by three young, black millennials.
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I find it offensively amusing when the western media and people who are instinctively oblivious to the racial and social class issues in America propose unrealistic and racially biased narratives to solve the “race problem” in America.
Sadly, many African Americans and Latinos have eaten and digested this plate of biased slop. Hopefully after reading this blog you can shake your “We do this to ourselves/if we just” mentality. Today we will discuss voter turn out, or lack thereof.
“If we voted more”
In the 2012 presidential election only 13% of African Americans and 10% of Latinos came out to exercise their fifteenth amendment right. Many believe African American and Latinos cries fall on deaf ears due to a subpar voting initiative. I do not believe this is case. I believe it is lack of representation that causes disenchantment among black and Latino voters.
One reason why many African Americans and Latinos are reluctant to vote is that when we do decide to exercise our right, we find ourselves playing a game of “the lesser of the two evils” at the polls. Which isn’t a hard choice because the GOP doesn’t shy away from their bigoted agendas and The Democratic party makes a valid effort to exploit our social struggles with minimal, but slightly believable compassion to gain minority votes.
In my personal opinion, liberation and equality in America will not manifest from the Democratic or Republican party. Liberals and independent dark horses rarely get elected, so we won’t go into hypotheticals with their party agendas. Voting is only effective if the elected officials cater to the needs of the people who elected them. Otherwise it’s pointless and ineffective.
Here’s another interesting statistic. In 2012 Asian Americans had the lowest voter turn out at 3%. Ironically, Asian- Americans have the highest average family income of $68, 636. Caucasians hold a average household income of $57,007, despite leading voter turn out at 73% Hispanics Americans hold a average household income of $39,005 with a 10% voter turn out. The African American average household income is $33,321 with a 13% voter turn out.
I think it’s safe to say voting is a privilege, not a gateway to liberation, equality or financial bliss. The Asian- Americans are a testament of that. Voting is a great gesture and a right I appreciate. However I do not believe it will end racial prejudice and institutional racism. It’s an internal social issue that will be solved by the people, not elected officials.
No one should have to vote to have their human and civil rights respected and acknowledged. This is just one of the many unrealistic solutions to solve the race problem in America.
Regards,
-Terrance Thomas
By this time I’m sure the title of this post has caught your attention. Before you become apprehensive, uncomfortable and attempt to discredit my work let me plead my case. I will articulate this to the best of my ability.
Sensationalistic journalism and coined phrases seem to be the catalyst for big stories by today’s major media outlets. Many people universally agree the media is the greatest tool used to perpetuate propaganda. This of course doesn’t stop us from tuning in to get our daily dose of fear lace with biased partisan.
In regards to the well being of my conscious mind, I only watch the news in moderation. However, when I do watch the news, I can’t help but see the racial disparities when a story is being covered. Or maybe I’m experiencing what is known as “racial ear”, a disease that effects 10 out of 10 black men in America ages 5 to 99.
Its no sceret that crime is prevalent in America. So when crime occurs i expect the media to cover it without bias. But it seems when a person of color commits a crime, or the media wants to discredit someone, they receive an additional label. That label is the word thug.
I would have no issue with the word if it was used to describe a every who commits a violent crime. Unfortunately, that is not case, hence my articulate rant. I need someone to help me understand why only blacks and Latinos are carrying the social stigma as well the burden for this word. I’m my opinion when the media uses the word “thug” that is the politically correct way of calling someone a “nigger”
My suspicions were confirmed when Standford graduate and NFL corner back Richard Sherman was called a thug after a passionate post game interview. I could give more examples, but I think you get the point. Yes, I just “took it there” are you uncomfortable & apprehensive yet?
I’m a advocate for equality, even when it comes to covering stories of criminals. The word “thug” is used as tool of demonization. It is no different when the media calls someone who is of middle eastern decent a “terrorist” The problem is people loose focus of the crime & begin associating the derogatory word with the contemporary ethnic groups. We all know how powerful the unconscious mind is.
As far as I’m concerned a person who shoots and killls people in a movie theater or gables away people’s retirement & life savings of hundreds for greed and financial gain on wall street is a “terrorist” and “thug” as well.
I don’t shy away from controversy, I don’t turn the other cheek, nor do I pray for my enemies. I hold a mirror to society, unfortunately the reflection isn’t always pretty. I hope this makes aware, uncomfortable and angry. I pray this sparks social awareness, i am only a voice.
Signing off
Terrance Thomas
Soon to be “the angry black guy”
Domestic Terrorism & False Patriotism
The word terrorist is a term used to describe someone who uses violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Seems pretty cut & dry right? The second coming of Al Queda, now known as ISIS has triggered fear among the American people.
You can’t turn on the TV without hearing the words terrorist or terrorism. What makes one a terrorist? Because it seems to me that only a small demographic is subjected to this term.
Is a terrorist someone commits a act of terror in the name of religion? Is middle eastern decent & Islamic faith a prerequisite? What about someone who shoots a elementary school or a movie theater? Are they considered terrorist? What about the Ku Klux Klan, Neo Nazis & the Arian brotherhood? What about a police officer who shoots a unarmed teenager? Are their crimes of terror any less significant.
False patriotism is a term that is seldom discussed. There is nothing wrong with loving your country. However, when the love for your country causes you to be biased & prejudice we have a problem. In my opinion people use false patriotism as justification to make generalized statements. Let’s the be frank, you’re more likely to die from peanut allergies than terrorism. Don’t use an entire demographic as a scapegoat for prejudice, especially when only a handful or responsible for acts of terror.
I’m a African American male who lives in a euro centric society, where my biggest problem is how others perceive me before i even utter a word. The only terrorist I’ve ever encountered wear badges & hold congressional seats. But that’s another can of worms. Singing off
I grew up in the southern baptist church, a loving environment where tradition, praise & worship, & the love of Christ reigned supreme. Although as a child I couldn’t fully comprehend all of the pastor’s sermons, I enjoyed the energy & enthusiasm displayed by the congregation week in & out. Not to mention the complementary peppermints & candy I would receive from the kind elderly women of the church. I distinctly remember the rattling of lipstick & other miscellaneous items as the “hand of glory” retrieved my treats. My anticipation, wide eyes, & open palms were undeniable to say the least. There was also one other thing I remembered as well, & that was tithe & offering time.
At the height of every sermon, like clock work the pastor would quickly shift his message to tithes & offering. I think this may have been the first time I experienced sensationalism, a powerful tool of persuasion. This was followed by a scripture “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year” Deuteronomy 14:22 NKJV. Followed by the quote “will a man rob God” To my recollection this was my first encounter with propaganda, a battle I lost. One after another the congregation would line up to “tithe their 10% to God” this included, but was not limited to my mother. I too was “swayed by the message” my mother always ensured I had a dollar “to give to God”
I continued to pay tithes up until my early 20s, convinced that God needed 10% of my monetary income as if my religion was some divine pyramid scheme. That is until I began to pray for wisdom, since then nothing has been the same. I began to question many traditions & beliefs that were instilled in me. I had to unlearn & use the sound mind God gave me, not regurgitate my preachers words & call it faith. I’m still “seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes”
One day I asked myself “what could God possibly do with my 10%” & “if I give God 10% of my time am I robbing God” I then realized I wasn’t giving wholeheartedly I was simply giving so I wouldn’t be the man who “robbed God” I was only giving with the expectation that I would receive something in return. This was a mind numbing paradox. However, after intensive independent research, a acquired knowledge of self & a little logical thinking I came to the conclusion that I would no longer pay tithes. I realized I do not serve a monetary God.
This was the day I decided to leave organized religion, cut the middle man off & pursuit spirituality. A work in progress, but nevertheless my progression is evident. My mother is no longer here & I am too mentally conscious to accept anything without investigation, confirmation, & logical thinking. I’m aware my quest for the truth could be a dead end, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I can’t fathom the thought of being lead astray because I was too passive to think otherwise. So I ask you now, will a man rob God? After all, money is the root of all evil
This post was not aimed to spark controversy nor am I questioning another persons beliefs. Its simply a testimony of one mans journey for the truth. God Bless & stay woke!! One fist!!!!
The NFL draft is always a exciting event fueled by high hopes, anticipation, & raw emotion. Both collegiate & NFL fans around the world get to watch their respected teams take a swing at improving their franchises via draft selections.
However, this years particular draft featured a big name daft hopeful by the name of Michael Sam. The 6’2 University of Missouri All- American defensive end was the 2013 SEC defensive player of the year. He is now better known for revealing to the world that he is a homosexual in a ESPN interview that aired February 2014.
Public reaction to Sam’s revelation sent shock waves through the media. Many condemned Sam’s lifestyle, while others commended him for his bravery & honesty on such a controversial topic. Some speculated that this would affect his draft stock, some even speculating it may cause him to go undrafted.
With the 249th pick in the 7th round the St. Louis Rams selected Michael Sam, a emotional Sam embraced his boyfriend & kissed him. A swarm of controversy shortly followed. Nevertheless, history was made, making Michael Sam the NFL’s first openly Gay player.
I am a 24 year old heterosexual male & also a member of the NAACP. I believe in equality for all, this includes, but is not limited to ALL! I was disgusted, & appalled that people were disgusted & appalled by Michael Sam’s actions. I am not defending Mr. Sam’s lifestyle, I am defending his right to have that lifestyle. Many who disagree with his lifestyle have taken a religious or moral approach, condemning him because it violates their particular personal moral code or triggers a personal religious deviation.
I just don’t understand how a another persons lifestyle effects yours? There must be a “new God” that holds us responsible for the next mans sin. I didn’t get CC’d on this memo homie. Can someone FWD this to me via email at their earliest convenience? Often times (but not always) the catch 22 of acquiring a religion is that a person gains a lifestyle & holds a flashlight to society. Then, that same person fails to hold a mirror to themselves & examine underlying issues. Hence, your hypocrites, convenient Christians, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, back sliders etc. did I leave anyone out?
I’m no saint but I’m also not arrogant enough to believe my beliefs trumps the next mans. There’s no award for imposing your will on others, unless you’re trying to be the dictator of a oppressive regime.
👐 stay woke!
I’m not knocking anyone who is a member of the Wake Up Now movement. If you can rage against the machine & acquire a additional income thats trill to the highest decree in the land. Essentially, we all are in a involuntary pyramid scheme of some sort hence, your local/state sales & property taxes, federal withholding, toll road authorities, etc. etc.
I don’t have a marketing degree but I’m pretty sure when you’re trying to entice the consumer to buy into a particular product, insulting the consumer is not efficient or effective. I’ve had people approach me like I’m just “hanging in the chow line” or “scratching & surviving” as if my life was a recurring episode of “Good Times” very Jehovah Witness-ish I thought it was the guy from the Everest college commercial.
It wouldn’t work for me because I can’t fathom the thought of my “potential” income being dictated by the actions of others. But I’m not rebuking the club get your money my friend.
I’ve heard L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterlings views & opinions captured last week. I’ve heard both sides of the argument, some arguing from a sociology perspective he’s simply prejudice, while others are calling him a full blown racist.
To an extent I agree with both, but he tries to justify his prejudice views by stating “its the culture we live in” & again sadly I would agree, it is the culture we live in. However, since he is upholding, instilling, & justifying a prejudice culture that is indeed designed to systematically disenfranchise a particular ethnic group economically,emotionally,& socially then he is indeed a racist to the highest decree.
Him having an predominately black team & girlfriend is a mere coincidence, after all this is the NBA not the PGA. I wouldn’t be foolish or insensitive enough to compare the NBA to slavery, but he has the same mentality of a slave master. He has no problem with African Americans as long as they win games & increase his revenue, but he does not view blacks as his contemporaries “I gave them clothes, i gave them cars, I gave them houses”
Being prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on fact or actual experience. But racism is a system that operates like a well oiled machine. You don’t have to be a sociology major to draw this conclusion
I can only imagine what many of your views & opinions would be if Donald Sterling made inappropriate anti-Semitic or homosexual comments
I challenge you all to look past the content of the conversion & identify the true underlying issue, that issue is injustice! I know this may be difficult for those who have never been discriminated against,or have been the object of ridicule, or extreme prejudice.
As as far “it was a private conversation” justification goes, let us not forget “Watergate” was a private conversation (for my fellow history buffs out there.) The problem for many of us is our culture, if tradition, beliefs, & heritage causes one to become a bigot & or prejudicial pig is that culture essential for the betterment of society?
There will come a time when we all have to get off our passive horses & finally come to realization that the only race that matters is the human race.
I love that woman, her soul is a prerequisite for my happiness. I don’t have it if i don’t have her. Her kinky hair & coca skin is my reason for existence. God took his time with this woman & for that I am forever indebted
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