EURweb |
08-12-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
BERNIE MAC'S DAUGHTER REMEMBERS THE LAUGHTER: Je'niece Childress shares memories.
*Je'niece Childress, the 30-year-old daughter and only child of late comedian Bernie Mac, said she and her mother believed he would make a full recovery from the pneumonia that sent him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital last month.
"Initially when he was hospitalized we expected him to come back home, but as the weeks went on, I kind of knew," Childress told The Associated Press.
Mac, 50, died Saturday from what his publicist said were complications from pneumonia. The entertainer, born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, also suffered from sarcoidosis, but the disease was said to have been in remission since 2005.
Childress, who has a 1-year-old daughter, said her mother, Rhonda McCullough, and Mac were married for 32 years.
"He was a hard man and he made no apologies for that," Childress said. "When it came to me and my mother and my daughter he was the softest."
There were also no apologies regarding his ribald brand of comedy.
Recently, the comic got into trouble at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. His topics of menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity rubbed audience members the wrong way. Obama's campaign later said the jokes were "inappropriate."
"I kind of figured he was going to get a lot of backlash," Childress told the AP. "Telling that joke at that time probably wasn't the best idea, but that's him."
Childress said there was always laughter in their home. "Because that's just who he was. I'm sad that my daughter will never know or be able to feel how much he loved her."
"I think he will always be remembered as one of the original kings of comedy," Childress said. "I think what made him so special to people was that even though he was a celebrity he just seemed so down to earth and so much like a part of your family."
A public memorial will be held this weekend at House of Hope in Chicago, Childress said. A private funeral has been scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.
FRIENDS MOURN ISAAC HAYES: Warwick, Franklin, LaBelle among colleagues paying tribute.
*Tributes for the late Isaac Hayes have been pouring in following his sudden death on Sunday.
The music icon, 65, was found unconscious near a treadmill at his Memphis home. He died an hour later at the Baptist East Hospital.
Listed below are statements issued from some of Hayes' friends and colleagues regarding his passing.
• Dionne Warwick: "I've lost one of my best buddies and it is not easy to reckon with…I know one can never put a question mark where GOD puts a period, so I will not question the Almighty's decision to call him home…He was my "family"…He will be a part of my musical life each time I sing the song "Déjà Vu" as this was a birthday gift to me from him…My family and I send sincere heartfelt condolences to his family for their enormous loss, and we will hold them in continuous prayer."
• Aretha Franklin: "It was so sad to hear about Isaac Hayes. So musically advanced and timeless in his compositions. He was loved and appreciated by so many. He was an enduring symbol of the struggle of the African-American man and was a shining example of soul at its best. God bless."
• Patti LaBelle: "I last saw Isaac a while back in Washington, D.C. at a concert where we were both performing. Although he was under the weather, he was still performing. He was the man—he had 'the show must go on' spirit. In his absence, he will be remembered through his great music. He will forever be in our hearts and souls. God bless his family."
• Neil Portnow, President of the Recording Academy: "Three-time Grammy winner Isaac Hayes was a true renaissance man—singer, songwriter, producer, session musician, actor, activist and more…his groundbreaking theme song and score for the movie Shaft cemented his status as a musical icon…The world has lost a true creative genius and a passionate humanitarian, but his indelible legacy will remain ever present. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and all who were inspired by the man and his music."
• Jim Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: "Isaac Hayes was a multi-talented artist whose body of work had a tremendous influence on the music of the last 40 years. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he was a songwriter, producer, pianist and vocalist for Stax Records, and he played a crucial role in the development of Memphis soul music. Among his many accomplishments, he helped write such classic hits as 'Soul Man,' 'Hold On, I'm Coming' and 'B-A-B-Y'. He was a truly talented artist and he will be sorely missed."
• Concord Music Group president and CEO Glen Barros states, “Isaac Hayes exemplified all that is Stax. We are all very fortunate to have worked with a visionary who changed music in indelible and profound ways. His talent was matched only by his kindness of spirit. On behalf of the entire Concord/Stax family we express our deep sympathies to his family, friends and fans all over the world.”
• Priscilla Presley, to Entertainment Tonight: "I am shocked. We have lost not only an incredible talent but a wonderful leader to his community and a dear friend. To me there will only be one Isaac Hayes, gifting us with years of performing, writing and a voice that penetrated deep into our souls. He is to be admired for changing his life around and standing steadfast to his beliefs, his integrity and to helping others…Isaac, you will be missed but never forgotten."
• Lisa Marie Presley, to ET: "Isaac was one of the more genuine and beautiful souls I have had the privilege to cross paths with and befriend in this life. He was an incredible friend. This is a tragic loss. My heart goes out to his wife and children. Wherever he is going to just became a brighter and more beautiful place, and I will miss him dearly."
• Sam Moore, Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer: "I owe so much of my fame and success to Isaac Hayes as it was Isaac who wrote, produced and actually invented what is known as the "Memphis Sound"...I truly know I was blessed to have had his presence in my life and career...Fortunately for us all, Isaac's talent will continue to be recognized and live on as a result of his enormous musical contribution."
ARETHA SAYS BERNIE MAC WILL BE 'TRULY MISSED': Queen of Soul shares personal story about late comedian.
*An original comedy "king" is being mourned by the Queen of Soul.
Aretha Franklin released a statement Monday expressing sadness over the passing of her friend, comedian Bernie Mac.
"It was so stunning and almost unbelievable to hear about Bernie Mac," she said. "He was at the pinnacle of success and legendary status. He was such a beautiful and fun guy and loved and appreciated by so many. He will truly be missed and I watched him at bedtime almost nightly."
She continued: "He got on my tour bus once in front of the Trump Hotel in New York and talked to myself and [a] group about the injustices of the world of TV concerning his show, but that he intended to stand firmly in his principles concerning the creative aspects of his script."
Mac, 50, died Saturday from what his publicist said were complications from pneumonia. He had the inflammatory lung disease, sarcoidosis, but it had reportedly been in remission since 2005.
Franklin suggests that men use Mac's death as a reminder to pay attention to their own health issues.
"Gentlemen of the world, please disband the practice [of not getting] regular check-ups, it’s far better to know sooner than later, because later, many times, is too late," she says. "If you take care of self, self will take care of you most of the way. God bless and blessed Bernie Mac."
A funeral for Mac is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.
USHER TO ROCK NFL KICKOFF SHOW: Singer joins country star Keith Urban for free Sept. 4 concert before the Redskins play the Giants.
*With his mama newly returned as his manager, Usher has been announced as one of the performers set to kick off the 2008 NFL season with a free Sept. 4 concert at New York's Columbus Circle.
The show, also featuring country star Keith Urban, will precede the NFL season opener between the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., reports Billboard.
John Mellencamp, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder and Keyshia Cole performed at last year's NFL Kickoff concert in Indianapolis.
TAVIS SEARCHES HBCUS FOR 'TALENTED TENTH': Smiley launches black college tour to find 'emerging leaders.'
*Tavis Smiley is targeting college students for black leadership and hopes to inspire new leaders from five of the nation's universities through his Talented Tenth HBCU Tour.
Presented by the Navy, the tour will kick off this fall with visits to Bethune Cookman University, Alabama A&M University, University of the District of Columbia, Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge and South Carolina State University.
"I created this tour to enlighten, encourage, and empower students to think about what their own leadership legacy will be. That is what they can do today that will echo throughout their communities, careers, and ultimately throughout history," said Smiley.
"I'm convinced that the students who attend these institutions of higher learning are the scholars, the exceptional - the leaders of the future. They possess the courage and talent to set the standard for the next generation of leadership for our country."
At each stop, Smiley will lead a two-hour interactive discussion on the characteristics of successful role models in the areas of business, public service, religion and academia. And, he will challenge the students to develop their leadership guiding principles. The title sponsor, the U.S. Navy, will host a special session to examine how leadership skills developed within its organization has helped many achieve a lifetime of success. The special session will be open to students on each campus.
Additional partners supporting the Talented Tenth HBCU Tour include Education Highway (www.eduhwy.com), Black News and Black Students (www.blacknews.com / www.blackstudents.com), HBCU Connect (www.HBCUconnect.com) and Black PR Wire.
The Talented Tenth HBCU Tour runs from September through November 2008.
Talented Tenth HBCU Tour Stops:
9/5/08: Daytona Beach, FL, Bethune-Cookman University, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
9/19/08: Normal, AL, Alabama State University, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
9/25/08: Washington, DC, University of the District of Columbia, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
10/24/08: Baton Rouge, LA, Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
11/7/08: Orangeburg, SC, South Carolina State University, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
TITO JACKSON SUED OVER LOAN: Michael's brother accused of stiffing family friend in UK.
*A lawsuit has been filed in the UK against Tito Jackson by a family friend who claims the singer owes him £12,051, which is the balance of a £20,551 loan given to him earlier this year.
BBC News is reporting that Matt Fiddes, the owner of a martial arts school, claims the loan was to pay for flights and expenses for a visit and television program in the UK.
Jackson, 55, is also said to have visited Fiddes' north Devon hometown with other family members to look at the possibility of buying a home there.
Fiddes said he had built a close and personal relationship with the Jackson family over the past 10 years after working as Michael's bodyguard.
"I have not filed the lawsuit proceedings for the money, it is more about the respect and principle of the matter," Fiddes told BBC News.
KILPATRICK VIOLATES BAIL TERMS AGAIN: Detroit Mayor broke rules by visiting a witness in his assault case – his sister.
*Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may find himself back in jail after a prosecutor accused him of violating the bail terms of his assault case by spending time with his sister, one of 11 witnesses listed by authorities.
According to the Associated Press, Kilpatrick and Ayanna Kilpatrick were together at their mother's house Saturday, a day after he was released from jail for violating bond in a separate perjury case, said Doug Baker of the Michigan attorney general's office.
Kilpatrick's defense team, however, believes the mayor did nothing wrong. Attorney Jim Thomas said Magistrate Renee McDuffee clarified Friday that Kilpatrick was allowed to have contact with his sister. Thomas has accused state Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican, of trying to play politics with the latest filing against the Democratic mayor. Judge Ronald Giles is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter today.
On Thursday, Giles threw the mayor in jail for violating his bond conditions in a perjury case involving Kilpatrick and a former top aide. Kilpatrick traveled to Windsor, Ontario, for city business July 23 without first notifying authorities.
Kilpatrick was released Friday after a higher court, acting on an appeal, set his bond at $50,000.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Chris Brown's Internet leak; Cheadle in Giant mag; Sammie leaves Rowdy Records; Madonna's baby's 'Mama' dies; Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.
*Jive Records released a statement on behalf of Chris Brown that addresses leaked material from the artist. "Recently, unauthorized Chris Brown material was leaked online. Most of the unfinished songs were demos and reference tracks Brown and his production team were writing and producing for other artists," read the statement. "Brown's record label, Jive Records is doing everything possible to prevent any further illegal distribution of these tracks."
*Don Cheadle graces the cover of the August/September Issue of Giant Magazine, on newsstands today. The actor-activist discusses his multi-faceted career, passion for performing and being one of Hollywood's leading actors. Meanwhile, a feature on actress Kerry Washington includes talk of her break up with fiancé David Moscow, being single, the Chris Rock rumors and why "if anyone wants to win an Oscar, they should work with her." Also, Beyonce's little sister Solange dishes on living in the shadows of her sibling, being a divorced mother and her plans to do things her way with the upcoming release of her sophomore album.
*R&B artist Sammie has severed ties with Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records and released his new single, "One Way Street," via his manager Malcolm Lee's independent imprint Empire Entertainment. Lee said in a statement: "The release from Rowdy Records wasn't mutual, but needed! This new start gives Sammie the opportunity to perform in front of his fans again and show that talent is still warranted in this business."
*The woman who helped to raise Madonna's adopted son David Banda in his native Malawi has died at age 60. Asineti Mwale, who had looked after David after his birth mother died and was known to the boy as "Mama," had recently been bedridden with pneumonia, reports People magazine. David's biological mother, Marita, died a week after he was born in September 2005.
So "Mama" helped take care of the baby with the child's father, Yohane Banda. Meanwhile, the New York Daily News is reporting that Madonna is preparing to adopt a Malawian girl.
*The African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, which is dedicated to honoring black and other ethnic sports legends, will induct track star Frank Budd along with seven others in New York on Saturday (Aug. 16) at The Adam Clayton Powell State Building (163 West 125th St.). The luncheon will begin with a “VIP Reception with the Stars” at 12 p.m., followed by lunch at 1 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 2 p.m.
OBAMA BITS: Sen. to release policy book; keeps things 'Real Simple'; Obama girl in Denver?; white supremacists hope for uprising.
*Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is releasing a new book on Sept. 9 that outlines his policies in full detail. "Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise"
will have a forward written by Obama and his plans for health care, energy and national security, written by members of his campaign. "Change" will be released by Three Rivers Press, a paperback imprint of Crown Publishing, which published Obama's "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope." "Change" will also include transcripts of his better-known speeches, including his talk on race and his recent address in Berlin.
*Editors at Real Simple magazine asked Obama to share his favorite photo for their new Real Simple Family special issue. The Illinois senator chose one of daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, in a moment of sheer joy spinning on a tire swing that he says makes him feel "wistful" on the road. Sasha "is a little more the imp of the two," Obama says in an essay on being their father. "She always tries to get a little more attention. ... But Malia puts up with it. She's one of the most patient people I know. She's wise beyond her years."
*Amber Lee Ettinger, a.k.a. Obama Girl, tells the New York Daily News that she plans to make an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. "We are still making plans for some fund-raisers, but we are looking to do a performance of 'Crush on Obama,'" she said.
*Several prominent white supremacists believe that Obama will be our next president, but they're hoping that his reign will cause a white uprising that they think is long overdue. Obama "will be a clear signal for millions of our people," said former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, per the Associated Press. "Obama is a visual aid for white Americans who just don't get it yet that we have lost control of our country, and unless we get it back we are heading for complete annihilation as a people."
OLYMPICS ROUNDUP: Ebony/Jet blogs from Olympic Village; Serena too tired for opening ceremony, B'ball teams advance; Cullen Jones makes history.
*EbonyJet.com has partnered with NBC to provide daily reports directly from several black athletes competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Check the Web site daily for first-person perspectives on life in the Olympic Village, daily workout regimens in preparation for events, and first (and last) impressions of Beijing.
Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams each won their opening matches at the Olympic Games on Monday, while the USA Men's Basketball squad took care of China, and swimmer Cullen Jones grabbed a gold medal as part of the 4X100 freestyle relay team.
Venus Williams, a No. 7 seed, beat Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-2 in her first match since winning Wimbledon for the fifth time. Venus, who swept the gold medals in singles and doubles in 2000, showed no sign of the knee injury that sidelined her in recent weeks.
Serena Williams, seeded No. 4, trounced Olga Govortsova of Belarus, 6-3, 6-1 in a match that was interrupted by rain and continued the following day. The effort was her first ever singles match at the Olympics. She won a gold medal in doubles in 2000 with Venus.
During Beijing's eye-popping opening ceremony on Friday, Serena said she opted to stay at the hotel because it took place past her bedtime. She also told reporters that she decided against staying in the athletes' village because she values her privacy. She said fans overwhelmed her last week when she visited Olympic Village.
"I was bombarded with lots of people," she said. "It was a lot. I can't count. But it was cool, I guess."
On a mission to right the wrongs of four years ago, the U.S. Men's Basketball Team, nicknamed "the Redeem Team," made an early statement Sunday by beating the Yao Ming-led China squad 101-70. Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 19 points and LeBron James added 18, as a sold-out crowd of 18,000 – including President Bush – looked on. During the 2004 games, the Dream Team was favored to win the gold, but ended up with a bronze medal.
The 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Team beat China handily Monday night 108-63 at Wukesong Arena. Tina Thompson's game high 27 points tied Cynthia Cooper and Katrina McClain for the fourth-best single-game scoring output in the women's U.S. Olympic record book. The team was helped by 18 points and eight rebounds from Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), 12 points from Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double from three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks).
Swimmer Cullen Jones, meanwhile, was part of the U.S. 4X100 freestyle relay team that had a dramatic come-from-behind victory Sunday night. In the process, they managed to demolish the world record they had set just hours earlier in the prelims, rocketing through the water in 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds.
EUR DVD REVIEW: I'm Through with White Girls
Comedy Comes to DVD about a Brother Cured of a Case of Jungle Fever
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Although he's African-American, Jay Brooks (Anthony Montgomery) doesn't date black girls, basically because every one he's met has been more interested in the athletic type of guy.
And he's a nerdy underachiever who not only wears glasses, but can't dance, chain smokes and isn't exactly good in bed. Worse, his salary isn't enough for him to own a car, which makes it almost impossible to wine and dine a woman.
Still, these failings haven't prevented the roaming Romeo from finding one white girl after another eager to sleep with him. The only problem is that none of those liaisons ever lasts because Jay always sabotages them at the first sign that a partner wants to get serious.
Reflecting upon his series of failed relationships with Caucasians, Jay decides it's time to try to see if he can find a suitable match from among his own people afterall. So, he puts into motion Operation Brown Sugar, running a personal ad seeking a sister.
Jay proceeds to audition a string of losers without any luck, until by chance he is introduced by a mutual friend (Kellee Stewart) to Catherine (Lia Johnson), a free-spirit whose colorful hair extensions prompt him to remark, "I didn't know black girls grew blue hair." Not one to be intimidated, the feisty fiction writer snaps back, "I didn't know you could smoke through a straw."
So, unfolds I'm Through with White Girls, a battle-of-the-sexes comedy marking the delightful directorial debut of Jennifer Sharp.
Alternately entertaining and enlightening, this hilariously funny flick is proof positive that it's possible to shoot a sophisticated romantic romp on a shoe-string budget.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity, an ethnic slur and sexual references.
Running time: 93 minutes
Studi Turn Soul Films
Distributor: Image Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, Lamman Rucker audition tape, theatrical trailer, commentary by co-star/producer Lia Robinson and director Jennifer Sharp, and two featurettes.
To see a trailer of the film, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyMyjLUiu7o
EUR FILM REVIEW: Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind
Grim Doc Chronicles People's History of U.S. via Gravestones
Film Review by Kam Williams
*As typically taught in grades schools around this country, U.S. history is a series of lessons of conquest and exploitation as told from the perspective of the victors who were most often white and male.
I remember learning that Native-Americans had to go because they were standing in the way of progress and that African slaves were godless, cultureless heathens who took well to bondage.
Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind is a poignant documentary, which silently offers another point-of-view, simply by visiting the graves of famous anti-establishment figures and reading what's written on their tombstones.
For instance, there's John Brown, the messianic religious leader who perhaps ought to be considered a patriot for leading a slave revolt at Harper's Ferry, Virginia.
Also among the controversial anti-heroes appreciated here posthumously, are everyone from beheaded Indian chief Metacomet to abolitionists Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison to feminist Susan B. Anthony to suffragette Elizabeth Cady Staton to Malcolm X to Paul Robeson to James Baldwin to Crazy Horse to Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman to union organizer Mother Jones to environmentalist Rachel Carson to Medgar Evers to anti-war activist Philip Berrigan to hell-raiser Emma Goldman to Soledad Brother George Jackson to Thomas Paine to anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells.
Among the more memorable epitaphs is that of Red Jacket who died in 1830:
"When I am gone, the graft and avarice of the white man will prevail. My heart fails me when I think of my people soon to be scattered and forgotten." Equally evocative are the words etched into the tomb of Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun: "I care. I care about it all. It takes too much energy not to care."
Then there's the matter-of-fact eloquence of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer whose gravestone simply reads, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." In its own quiet way, Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind adds up to quite a moving, if belated tribute to a host of visionary iconoclasts who were unappreciated if not outlawed or outright assassinated in their time.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 58 minutes
Studi Anthology Film Archives
To see a trailer of Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j-FIjAY500
THE BRIDGE: A Hot Summer War
By Darryl James
*The so-called “Liberal Democracy” that America has been enjoying may be nearing its end.
Two important signs that the current economic and political system may be breaking down are overproduction and underconsumption. I’ll deal with those in an upcoming column, but the fallout includes the widening of the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” which is signaled by the erosion of the so-called middle class.
Pay attention to the fact that there are not enough jobs and not enough demand for services that currently exist. When 600 Starbucks close, you should pay attention.
At the end of the so-called “Liberal Democracy,” the “have-nots,” who outnumber the “haves” may just take it to the street when they finally realize that they are screwed beyond assistance. Especially when they are simultaneously blamed for everything bad and kept away from everything good.
America just may be headed to a Third World existence with the growing ultra rich and the growing ultra poor and few in between.
When that happens, all hell will break loose, and just like in the 1960’s and the early part of the twentieth century, rioting will erupt, as the people on the bottom begin to express themselves in the only voice that can be heard without filter.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called riots the "voice of the unheard." African Americans have been speaking with this voice since the days of slavery, even as American history pretends that we sat idly by waiting for good natured whites to come and save us.
In many instances, we saved ourselves, or at least fought the good fight. It is important for us to study the history of rioting in America, so that we understand how we fought back before the 1960's. Some of those riots will provide us with a look inside the lives of African Americans that just may return, even though some people can’t conceive of it happening in the new millennium.
While the rioting that may come to America soon will be essentially between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” it is important to realize who the majority of the “have-nots” will be.
We were there before and if we return, Blacks will not only be mostly at the bottom, but blamed for the existence of others at the bottom, particularly impoverished whites.
Let’s take a look at a time in history that came to be known as The Red Summer.
There were a multitude of riots in the nation in the twentieth century’s late ‘teens and early twenties that were significant in that they were “Race Riots,” or riots between whites and Blacks. The significance is that contrary to the history lessons taught in public schools, even though Blacks were often outgunned and overpowered, they were not sitting idly by while murderous mobs burned their communities to the ground.
Popular thought is that Blacks did little in this nation outside of peaceful protests prior to the turbulent 1960’s. The truth of the matter is that racial conflict was exploding all across the nation, all throughout the twentieth century and Blacks were fighting back and spilling white blood.
The race riots of the early part of that century were just that—riotous conflicts between the races.
When the First World War ended, racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were revived as poor whites again blamed Blacks for lack of available jobs and perceived lust for white women.
Racial conflicts intensified as Black veterans returned from the “fight for democracy,” more militant than ever, after finding that they were still hated on the streets of the nation they defended.
The summer of 1919 was referred to as the “Red Summer,” for the bloody race riots that ran through the nation in more than twenty-five cities, including Knoxville, Tennessee; Longview, Texas and Phillips County, Arkansas.
Perhaps the bloodiest of all the race riots in the Red Summer occurred in unlikely places such as Omaha, Nebraska, as well as expected cities such as Washington, DC, with the most severe in Chicago, Illinois.
The conflicts were fueled by the mass migration of Blacks to northern cities where they competed for jobs with whites and felt their own frustration in overcrowded depressed urban areas.
The Washington, DC Race Riot of 1919 began, as many racial conflicts did when a Black man was accused of sexually assaulting a white woman, but later released. The white woman was married to a Navy man. The conflagration began when drunken Navy men started buzzing about revenge. That buzzing picked up momentum from whites who were already looking at Blacks with ire. Blood was spilled in the hot summer streets when the mob encountered Blacks who had frustrations of their own and were not prepared to back down.
The second riot of the Red Summer of 1919 occurred in Longview, Texas, where racial conflict arose as a result of economic progression by the Black citizens of the rural community. Samuel L. Jones and Dr. Calvin P. Davis urged Black farmers to cease doing business with white cotton brokers and sell their cotton directly to buyers.
Conflict grew to violence when a Black man was murdered by a white mob for allegedly having an affair with a white woman. The incident was written about in the Chicago Daily Defender by Jones, a local correspondent for the paper, who was subsequently beaten.
When a white mob showed up at Jones’ home, they were met with gunfire, which they returned. Three of the white men were injured and escaped, but one was found and beaten severely.
The mob returned after growing into a small army, and burning of Black homes ensued.
Martial law was declared by the governor and both whites and Blacks were arrested. None were ever tried or convicted.
On the South Side of Chicago, racial tension was higher than anywhere in the city, as Blacks were jammed into unfit housing, with poor services. As migration continued from the South, the Black population jumped from 44,000 in 1910, to more than 109,000 by 1920.
On July 27, 1919, a young Black man named Eugene Williams was swimming in the Black beach area, when he drifted into the area reserved for whites. A white man began throwing rocks, refusing to let the young man swim to shore. One of the rocks hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious, until the youth could no longer hold on and drowned.
The police were called, but they refused to arrest the white man, and instead arrested a Black man who was vocal about the incident. Crowds of Blacks and whites began to push and shove and the news of the conflict spread throughout the city. Mobs of Blacks and whites sparked fights across the city, which lasted for thirteen days. The fighting was so bad and spread so quickly, that local police could not squelch it and the National Guard had to be called in on day four.
At the end of the thirteen-day riot, thirty-eight people (twenty-three Blacks and fifteen whites) lay dead, more than five hundred were injured and hundreds of Black families were left homeless.
The Chicago Race Riot was significant in that, for the first time, America had to face its horrible racial issues. That riot was so bloody that even President Woodrow Wilson labeled the whites as aggressors in Chicago and Washington, DC.
Rioting occurs when people reach their boiling points and need to make their frustrations heard, particularly when they are on the bottom and feel that those above them are ignoring them and harming them.
If America’s so-called “liberal Democracy” continues it’s downward spiral, we just may see people taking it to the streets.
Next Week: When Them That’s Got Are Black
Darryl James won the Chicago Book Festival Non-Fiction Award for “The LA Riots, 3 Decades of Revolution,” his book on Rioting in America. James is also the author of the forthcoming powerful anthology “Notes From The Edge.” Discounted Autographed and Numbered Pre-Release copies can be ordered at www.darryljames.com. View previous installments of this column at www.bridgecolumn.proboards36.com. Reach James at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By AdviceChick @ameritech.net
ULTIMATE Ladies NITE Out Event, Chicago! Ladies, Visit http://www.ultimateladiesniteout.com NOW for details!
Advice Chick RANT!
They can’t hear me now!
There’s no advice column this week because I had been without home phone AND Internet for over a week! I was shaking like a crack-head. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t eat … o.k, I actually could eat, but damn. Seriously, I stalked AT&T every day, several times a day. I wanted my service back in the worse way. All I did was move from one building to another building, where is my Internet?! I anxiously plugged in the phone jack and … nothing. Silence like a mutha …. I called them on Monday 8-4-8, and didn’t get help until Saturday 8-9-8!
So here I am typing away and talking on the phone. This feels like home again. Aaaaah. I love you guys, and hope to give you a new column as early as this week.
Cell Phones and Driving
Cell phones and driving do not mix. I don’t give a damn about your ear piece. Your eyes and attention need to be on driving the vehicle. I propose a min. two year jail sentence for anyone and everyone caught talking on their cell phone while operation a motor vehicle.
I attended a funeral for my five year old neighbor. Little Ashton Barker died after being struck by a car in a hit and run situation. His brother and grandfather suffered injuries, but he lost his life. I don’t know the situation, but we need to be more careful when driving. Lives and futures are at stake. R.I.P. Ashton.
Chicago Ladies, when was the last time you REALLY had FUN? Shout out to my girl Jennifer Jackson! It was nice meeting you today; I look forward to seeing you at the Ultimate Ladies Nite Out Event!
UltimateLadiesNiteOut.com Chicago, Male Revue is unzipping Friday
August 22, 2008! Imagine handsome and sexy black dancers performing for you to the hottest tunes! Visit the web site for full details.
I’ve received many nationwide requests, and am considering touring the exciting, sexy, and talented male revue to a city near YOU. Interested? Send an email to advicechick @ Ameritech.net.
ULTIMATE Ladies NITE Out CHICAGO will be held August 22, 2008.
Visit http://www.ultimateladiesniteout.com NOW for details!
Send YOUR questions and comments to Advice Chick right NOW! Please put “Dear Advice Chick” in the subject line so your email isn’t deleted as spam. Thanks! Send your emails t advicechick @ ameritech.net
----------
Ask Advice Chick about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to dating, sex, love, and life! She is THE resident dating expert at EURweb.com, and calls on over 11 years of dating and relationship industry experience.
THE JOURNAL OF STEPHANIE RIVERS: You Are What You Eat Part 2 of 2
*I received a handful of responses to my column last week about the common causes of cancer and some traditional ways people try to rid themselves of the disease. Most of those responses were to thank me for the information. But there was one response that said the information about the cancer had not come from the renowned Johns-Hopkins University, but instead was an internet hoax.
I’m always appreciative when people take time to read my columns. And even more so when they write a reply. But it amazes me how anxious some people are to disregard information instead of using it in the positive way it was meant.
Although I cited researchers at JHU as authors of the study, it wasn’t just the medical school’s respected status that drew me to the information. Rather it was the common sense approach to the causes of cancer, and preventative measures that are within anyone’s control. Not to mention that my own research department (me, myself and I) conducted an internet study of the information before its release. And you can do your own research. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t even do its own research before approving most new drugs and they’re a government agency.
For that reason I want to share with you the most common foods consumed by Americans that help cancer cells to thrive inside the body.
Processed food such as sugar and table salt are easily consumed by cancer cells. Cow’s milk, which causes the body to produce mucus is also a haven for cancer cells. Caffeine and meat protein are common foods which Americans drink and eat a lot of that allow cancer cells to fester and grow in the body. A meat based diet is acidic and cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. That’s why it’s better to eat chicken and fish instead of beef and pork. It’s no secret that most meat processed from animals contains antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites that can be harmful, especially to people with cancer.
Fruit, vegetables and deep breathing that comes through exercise is good for the body and bad for cancer because it helps to release toxins from the lungs. It’s also better to drink water instead of carbonated drinks.
Although there’s more to preventing cancer than eating an apple everyday, choosing the right fuel for your body is a start. Your body is the most valuable piece of property you own.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in Dallas, Texas. For public speaking inquiries, comments or questions email her at teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com.
TURNER’S TWO CENTS: Old school Bernie mac; Olympics reminds us the black is beautiful
By Cameron Turner
OLD SCHOOL BERNIE MAC
*Interviewing Bernie Mac was always a pleasure, especially when he started telling stories about his childhood. The tale of his grandmother confronting him over a neighbor’s broken window stands out in my mind. Bernie says that when the neighbor told her about it, his grandma simply said, “I’ll take care of it.” Because she was a woman of her word and a firm disciplinarian, the neighbor knew that she would. When she got back home, she called Bernie, made him look her in the eye (as she always did) and asked him point blank, “Did you break that window down there?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” Bernie recalls saying
“Well, you know you’re going to have to get it fixed.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It wasn’t simple fear that made young Bernie ‘fess up about smashing the neighbor’s window. It was respect for his grandmother’s authority and the sense of honor instilled in Bernie by her and by his mother. It was the disappearance of these values in some of today’s kids that inspired Bernie’s brutally hilarious “Kings of Comedy” routines and the in-your-face plots of “The Bernie Mac Show.”
During another interview Bernie lamented how romance had changed for the worse. He remembered how, when he was a young man, strolling in the park, holding hands and watching the sunset with your lady was cool. Bernie said that young folks today were missing out on the fun of conversation, courtship, getting to know someone, laughing, etc. because they’re in too much of a hurry to “hook up.”
Bernie Mac embodied the very best of the “Old School.” Offstage, he was a sincere and effortless gentleman. Onstage he was no-holds barred but never, ever cruel. Like two of the great, observational comics who preceded him -- Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby -- Bernie Mac’s humor was, at its core, about love. Love for family, love for his people and people in general, love that made him tell the truth on folks.
The Mac Man was reflected the best of ourselves. Who we are, traditionally, as African-American people. Who we need to be again.
OLYMPICS REMIND US THAT BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
I hope rapper Yung Berg watched the Olympics opening ceremonies on Friday. The procession of international ebony beauties of various hues during the Parade of Nations proved how laughably ignorant Berg was when he dissed our chocolate- and onyx-complexioned sisters (whom he derided as “dark butts”). Anyone whose concept of beautiful blackness has been formed by the unrealistic, sexist, self-hating, white supremacy-serving images of hip hop videos and magazines would have gotten a reality check by the sight of all those gorgeous, proud, exceptionally-skilled black women marching regally into Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium.
Only the blind, foolish or prejudiced could deny the diverse beauty of black women after seeing queens like Veronica Campbell-Brown, the cocoa-complexioned Olympic 200 meter champion from Jamaica, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, champion sprinter from the Bahamas, with her rich brown skin, broad smile and tied-back cornrows, Franka Magali, track and field star from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose gleaming smile and fly horn rim glasses were accented by her Snickers Bar complexion, Benin’s flag bearer, Fabienne Fereaz, whose café au lait face was framed by soft brown curls tumbling out from her gold turban, or the unidentified athlete from Nigeria, her coffee complexion contrasting beautifully with her white-with green robe and headdress, who smiled joyfully as she blew kisses to the crowd. Not to mention our own Lisa Leslie, Venus Williams, Sanya Richards and all those fine, multi-complexioned, sisters on Team U.S.A.
But these women are not beautiful only because of their breath-taking looks, but also because of their awe-inspiring achievements. Every athlete at the Olympics, even those without a prayer of winning a medal, are part of an elite group who have worked incredibly hard to become the best of the best. True beauty has as much to do with what one has done, and who one is, as with how one looks.
Contemporary hip hop culture doesn’t really honor women for their accomplishments. Basically, women in hip hop are evaluated on how sexy they look in skimpy clothes and how well they can imitate strippers’ dance moves. That’s why there are still only a handful of women rappers. So, the Olympics remind us not only of the vast range of black women’s physical beauty, but of the beauty of their achievements which are worthy of the admiration and respect of us all.
Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.
THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL…YET!
BETWEEN THE LINES: Ode' to The Mac Man
Anthony Asadullah Samad
*One of the funniest comedians I ever heard in my life, Bernie Mac, died this past weekend. He was 50 years old. Overcoming life's challenges is often not considered funny material. Black life in America is often recalled as sad but true. Bernie Mac had a way of relating our experiences in a way that even white people didn't understand until late in his career. I first met Bernie Mac in the early 1990s at Southeastern Missouri University. I was there for a black history month speech. He was there for a college comedy show. Both programs were held in the building--the Student Union Building--on the same day at almost the same time. We stayed at the same hotel and rode the shuttle over together. Very nice and humble brother who complimented me on the traditional African attire that I wore regularly at that phase of my life. He was wearing Cross-Colors. When we got to the building, there was this huge crowd standing in line as we parted ways. I thought they were there for the black history program. They were there for something else. The black history program had about 125 students. The comedy show had about 800. That was the shortest black history program in the history of black history celebrations as the black student union students who sponsored the program were clearly anxious about trying to get over to the comedy show. They were “black,” but they weren't too black to miss Bernie Mac. Hell, I went over there too. And it was the funniest show I'd ever seen in my life. That was my introduction to the “Mac Man.” Long before television and movies, the people knew who he was.
Bernie Mac was always a crowd favorite. Seeing him again with the Kings of Comedy almost ten years later, I recalled our encounter and he remembered it. Still humble, still “real” and funny as all get out. Bernie Mac, from the very outset would incorporate social messages in his routine. Messages like “stop the killing,” or “get an education” or “get out to vote.” But it was his signature routine about adults raising their children with discipline that were the funniest. “Beating your child until the white meat showed” because that's how his mother raised him. Black people know that black parents didn't believe in “time out” and discipline was dished with love. But white audiences found the comedy “edgy” and Bernie Mac was one of the last real funny comics to get a television show because his comedy was seen as a risk that whites wouldn't understand. They not only understood it, but they got it. There are not many jokes that you can hear a hundred times and it still would be funny. This “white-meat” joke was one. It got even funnier when he mainstreamed the bit in his sit-com and integrated today's hyper-sensitive child abuse protection laws, as his niece and nephew called child protective services on him when he made the threat. Watching him explain it to the social worker was just as funny as the bit itself. He took it upon himself to sit in a chair every show and explain “black culture” to white people (“America”), and that's what made the sit-com. It refuted the notion that white people couldn't “get” non-degrading black humor, and that black people didn't care about family as his show was based on the real life situation of him adopting his drug-addicted sister's children. It was comedy and compassion at its best.
Bernie Mac was a one of a kind talent that the black community embraced with a special kind of love. He was from us and we were part of him. Everybody knows someone like a Bernie Mac. Someone who is rough around the edges but sharp as a tack, cusses but you don't know whether to laugh or run (sometimes you laugh and run), doesn't play with kids but loves them to death until they do wrong and then disciplines them (to make them better), knows what black people need but also knows what they want. Bernie Mac was Black America, in the flesh, uncut and unadulterated. Bernie Mac gave it to you straight, no chaser. Black America knows funny when they see it. They know “real” when they taste it. They know love when they feel it. Bernie Mac was funny and real. And he loved us as we loved him.
Here's an ode' to the “Mac Man.” He will be dearly missed as funny is not so funny anyway.
Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D., is a national columnist, managing director of the Urban Issues Forum (www.urbanissuesforum.com) and author of the new book, Saving The Race: Empowerment Through Wisdom. He can be reached at www.AnthonySamad.com
PEOPLE OF NOTE: Zan Rice: The Man and his Animation
By Deardra Shuler
*Weekends generally find children of all ages parked in front of their television sets or at the local cinema watching their favorite cartoon hero whether that be Powder puff Girls, Sailor Moon, Dora the Explorer, Pokemon, Mutant Ninja Turtles, or superheroes like Superman, Batman, Spiderman and the Hulk. Seldom is a thought given by these young spectators to the process and/or team of talented artists it takes to bring these animated characters to life.
Cartoonist and Sculptor Zan Rice, is one such talent. He is also versed in 3D Animation. A Native of New York, this multi-media visual artist recently made an appearance on Angela McKenzie’s weekly syndicated radio program “Initiative Radio” (IR) broadcast on the NPR, PRI, and Pacifica Networks. Zan showed up to give Angela’s listeners a crash course on the computer-generated techniques he uses to turn flat drawings into animated three dimensional characters. He also used the IR forum to inform Ms. McKenzie’s listeners of the importance of keeping music and art an integral part of the public school curriculum. A product of the New York City public schools himself, Zan reminisced with Angela about his own school days when as an oftentimes unruly and mischievous student, Zan, and his buddy engaged in classroom high jinx which irritated his teachers but alleviated his boredom. Zan fondly coined those episodes as “sniffing in stereo." However, it was art classes and his parent’s love that kept him in school and finally held his attention.
"For some children, the class room environment is too restrictive. They become irritable and unfocused." said the young artist. "By no means are these children dull or stupid. However, the one-size-fits-all teaching technique offered by the public school system is not appropriate for all children. Music and art classes give children who are barely getting by a chance to learn lessons that interest and inspire them. Hopefully, in turn, they take some of this focus back to their other classes or at least have their self-esteem boosted," said Zan thoughtfully.
Zan began drawing at age 2, and as he developed his love for art he spent much of his time analyzing and recreating the comic book styling of legends like Todd McFarlane, best known for his Spiderman depiction and the creation of Venom, Spidey’s arch enemy. Zan opinioned that animators Jim Lee (who is best known for his depiction of Wolverine and X-Men) and Bart Sears who is well known for his ability to capture the human anatomy in full detail, far outrank many of the comic book artists of the day.
Zan honed his craft at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where his teachers recognized and fostered his artistic talent. Currently, Zan works out of The B-Yonder Studios based in Manhattan. These days his projects range from illustrations to 3D animations. When not working on behalf of his clients, Zan finds time to indulge in his own pet projects. He created depictions of Jennifer Lopez as an Amazon woman flanked by two leopards and did a computer generated digital image of himself which he calls Big Z. His most recent work is a poster he created for singer and "Initiative Radio" host, Angela McKenzie.
"During my radio interview with Angela and after listening to her music, I was so impressed by her talent I thought a promotional poster was in order,” said Zan. “So, I went ahead and created an illustration that I hoped she and her fans would appreciate.” He completed the poster in one week.
The poster’s release also coincides with the one-year anniversary of “Initiative Radio.”
“The video game industry is very competitive field. Oftentimes, Hollywood film professionals take precedence over young and upcoming digital artists. Finding work at the large studios for young 3D artists can be as difficult as it is for fledgling musicians to find major record deals. There is stiff competition between new graduates and grads from prior years,” remarked Zan. “Globalization has seen many of the jobs that American graduates would like to have being shipped overseas to places like India, Singapore, and Korea. If beginners can afford the necessary equipment, I advise them to take the entrepreneurial route in order to gain sufficient production experience. Networking within the industry is a key component when breaking into the commercial ranks,” advised the young animator.
The B-Yonder Studios and The AMcK Initiative, Inc., (parent company of "Initiative Radio") are set to form a collaboration whereby they plan to work on numerous artistic projects designed to showcase his artistic creations and Ms. McKenzie’s musical talent, as well as aid the mission of IR and AMcK to foster media, arts and entertainment as an endeavor to uplift and educate the public.
Interested parties can view sampling of Zan’s creations at www.zanswork.com. For information about Angela McKenzie’s Initiative Radio’s activities see www.angelamckenzie.com/initiativeradio.html
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces... (such as tornados, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain.) What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control." - Leo Buscaglia
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Aug. 12: Singer Kid Creole is 58. 47. Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 45. Actress Imani Hakim ("Everybody Hates Chris") is 15.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
This "fan" blog keeps you current with the latest happenings in the world of Serena Williams, on and off the court. Try it out at: http://simplyserenawilliams.blogspot.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Aug. 12, 1922: The Washington D.C. home of Frederick Douglas is declared a national shrine. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
Click for the latest Obama - Political headlines
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
