Brother Jesse Blog

Friday, November 6, 2009

"Beware Young Girl": The disturbing trend of horrific violence and injustice towards women

Hip-hop artist Jasiri X brings it strong once again.

"Beware Young Girl" explores the disturbing trend of horrific violence and injustice towards women, including the brutal gang rape of a 15 year old girl in Richmond, California, the case of Sarah Kruzan who was sentenced to life without parole at age 16 for killing her pimp, who raped her and forced her into prostitution at age 16, and the case of Heather Ellis, a college honor student who is facing 15 years in prison for allegedly cutting the line at Walmart. Episode 24 was produced by King Sym and was directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan

Click to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXaAuC3Yr8

[Video ] President Obama's statement about deadly shooting at Fort Hood Army base

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

According to MSNBC on November 5:

Military officials on Thursday called the mass shooting at a Texas Army base an "isolated and tragic case" and said they were unaware of increased security measures at other military bases.

"This is an isolated and tragic case and we're obviously in the process of obtaining more information as the events unfold," said Lt. Col. Eric Butterbaugh, spokesman from the Department of Defense.

Twelve people were killed and at least 31 others were injured when a soldier opened fire at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas, military officials said. One gunman wounded and taken into custody, Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general of the Army’s III Corps, told reporters.

Read the full report at: Military calls Fort Hood shooting ‘isolated’ case

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Part 6 of Black Women in America Raising Boys : "Nothing New But Definitely No Easy Task"

By Alicia Jackson

When I was first approached about being a part of this documentary, I was somewhat surprised.

My mindset was that what I was doing was a common thing so surely it did not warrant much discussion, let alone a full documentary. I quickly found out that even though it was a common thing, the world deserved to hear , first hand, a single mother's story.

I have two boys and two girls, Since they are twins, I have one of each for two different age brackets so I get the best of both worlds at all times. Rearing them from birth to early adolescence was easy. Just provide food, clothing and shelter right? WRONG ! I also had to provide character foundation, values / morals and education (formal and informal). Every day I have the opportunity to see the vast differences in the needs and demands of raising girls and those of raising boys.

I have now begun my uphill battle to turn my boys into young men. I know I must incorporate all my resources because this journey can not be fully successful if I go it alone. I know most may argue my next point but I know I can not teach my boys how to be MEN. I can give them everything in me to make them productive, respectful, law abiding, God fearing members of society. I can wipe their tears and comfort them when they are missing their father.

I can provide them with most things that are essential to living but I can not give them the MAN THING because I do not have it. Therefore, unlike many of my counterparts, I will ask for help. I am blessed to have positive male role models who I can call on to assist me in making my BOYS journey to MANHOOD a smooth and successful one. But what about the sister who doesn't ?

I am happy to have had the opportunity to share my story. I am looking forward to helping the world better understand the mind of single mothers and our struggle. It is a struggle indeed.

Photo of Alicia Jackson by Hannibal Muhammad

The latest edition of The Final Call Newspaper asks the question: "What Happened to Hope?"

In this edition, you will find the following:

- The latest information on the alleged gang-rape of a 15-year old White girl in Richmond, CA, with comments from some high school students who are classmates of the alleged victim.

- The latest information regarding the case of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah who was gunned down by the FBI last week during a raid on a warehouse just outside of Detroit, MI.

- A One-on-One interview with the UK representative of the Nation of Islam, Hilary Muhammad.

Native American Elder, Chief Arvol Looking Horse speaks concerning the deaths in Sedona, AZ, along with YoNasDa LoneWolf's perspective on the misuse of the sacred sweat lodge ceremony.

....and much, much more!

Final Call Staff Highlight: Please visit the blog of Final Call Assistant Editor Ashahed Muhammad, one of my favorite journalists. Log on at: http://ashahed.blogs.finalcall.com

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Part 5 of Black Women in America Raising Boys : “It Takes A Village"

By Attorney Sadiyah Evangelista

Today I left court shaking my head disgusted and pondering hopelessly at the state of our black youth in the criminal justice system. I was technically representing a 17 year old black male for attempted robbery, a crime that carries two to ten years in the prison system. I say technically because really I represented both the mother and the son. This is what I see most days, mothers and their sons, with no father in sight or the father who is disinterested in the welfare of their progenies. This young boy’s father is currently serving 29 years in prison of which he has already served ten. This story is all too familiar.

The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs released a report, "Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report" which analyzed the problems that black youth in the criminal justice system face. In 2002, blacks were 16 percent of the juvenile population but 29 percent of the delinquency caseload and the numbers are steady climbing.

So what are these single mothers to do so that their child will not become one of the so called proverbial “statistics” that their absentee fathers are a part of? Good question. Problem is, there is no one right and exact answer. We are all trying to figure out the right combination of approaches, solutions and remedies. The affects of slavery still carries a damning legacy that can be seen in the black family structure. However, one African proverb still holds true, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

This means that the responsibility lies not only with the parents where most often times the mother is both mother and father, but also with the extended family and community. We cannot leave mothers on an island to herself to raise “our” children, hence “our” nation.

Helping our mothers establish healthy and whole relationships with herself, extended family, people in the community through mentorships, at home, church, mosque, work and our child’s school is critical. Strong quality relationships are an extremely invaluable tool not only for both child and mother but society as a whole. When mother cannot do it all by herself, we must not turn a blind eye until Johnny goes to jail. By then it’s too late.

To show individual and personal interest in a child shows that child him or her matters. When this happens, the child feels a sense of self-worth. The child knows that they are loved. The child wants to strive to make you think highly of them. As a result, positive benefits flow from that interest, time and love. This also holds true for the mother.

So let’s help our mothers raise our babies, “one knee does not bring up a child.”

(Visit the official website of Attorney Evangelista log on to http://criminalwarriorlawyer.com/. For more information about the November 5 "Raising Boys" documentary premiere in Houston log on to: raisingboysdocumentary.eventbrite.com/)

By Ashahed M. Muhammad, Final Call Asst. Editor

(FinalCall.com) - Muslims from across the United States converged at the Muslim Center in Detroit, Michigan, October 31 for the Janazah prayer service and funeral for Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah.
The 53-year old leader of Masjid Al-Haqq was gunned down by FBI agents on October 28 after a raid on a warehouse just outside of Detroit.

Several subsequent raids were conducted at different locations and ten others have been arrested including the late imam's son Mujahid Abdullah (also known as Mujahid Carswell), who, according to the FBI was taken into to custody in Windsor, Ontario by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on October 29.

The FBI's 43-page affidavit detailed a federal investigation of the group which began in 2007 charging Imam Abdullah and the other defendants with running an interstate crime ring involving receiving and selling stolen goods, mail and insurance fraud, illegal possession of firearms, body armor and tampering with motor vehicle identification numbers.

According to FBI special agent Gary Leone, the evidence gained during the investigation came through visual surveillance, electronic surveillance (wire and oral) and the use of informants within the group.

To read the full article or comment log on to: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6551.shtml

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Part 4 of Black Women in America Raising Boys: "Being a Part of Something Great"

By Mavis Jackson

My name is Mavis Jackson and I am the mother of five children, four of them boys. I not only was blessed to be a part of the life-changing documentary “Raising Boys”, I also received the honor of being the woman that God chose to give birth to the extraordinary black man who gave birth to it. It was a privilege to be interviewed and to share my experience, strength and hope about the topic, and having first hand knowledge of that, my son knew I easily qualified.

I was a single mother and for most of my children’s lives we were on welfare and food stamps. We had some challenges, but with the help of God and my mother, we made it through them. I had friends who had boys that were going to prison, getting addicted to drugs and making other negative life choices, but my boys didn’t get caught up. Today I believe that was due to the grace of God and the love of a family that would not spare the rod.

I was raised by a single mother and had a loving relationship with my biological father. Throughout my life I saw my mother work hard and overcome the challenges associated with being a single mom. Her example gave me the courage I needed when I found myself in that same position. I became a mother at 16, and I tell everyone that my children and I “grew up together”, which made for a very special bond.

At one point in their lives, my children lived through my drug addiction. They experienced the neglect that an addiction causes, and hunkered down to take care of each other. I am not proud of my addiction but I am grateful for it, because had I not gone through it, I would not be the person I am today.

Today I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and I help people who are where I used to be. All four of my sons are successful, productive, law-abiding men. They are living proof that with the help of God and people like Brother Deric, single mothers can produce good men.

I pray that every single mother everywhere has an opportunity to see this documentary. It will encourage them, support them and help them to better understand their roles; and with that knowledge comes power.

The documentary will premiere on November 5, 2009 at the Angelika Theater here in Houston. Anyone wanting to be in the know will want to be in attendance.

(For more information on the "Raising Boys" documentary log on to:http://raisingboysdocumentary.eventbrite.com)

Legal Lynching? Executions continue in the Lone Star State

(Reginald Blanton's mother, Anna Terrell, speaks at an anti-death penalty march on Oct. 24)

by Jesse Muhammad

Houston, Texas—It has been thirty-three years since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States and the state of Texas has killed more people by lethal injection than any other state in the country. Reginald Blanton, a convicted Black man, became the latest life snuffed out.

According to an Amnesty International report, over 1,100 people have been executed in the U.S. since 1976. Eighty percent of all executions have taken place in the South, with Texas accounting for 37% of the executions. Out of the eleven remaining scheduled executions for this year, six are set to take place in Texas.

In Huntsville, 28-year-old Mr. Blanton was executed on October 27 in connection with the murder of Carlos Garza nine years ago.

As Mr. Blanton laid strapped to the death-chamber gurney, he uttered these words in part “…what is happening right now is an injustice. This doesn't solve anything. This will not bring back Carlos. Ya'll fought real hard here to prove my innocence. This is only the beginning.”

Three days before Mr. Blanton was executed, his tearful mother Anna Terrell spoke firm before a crowd of over 500 people on Oct. 24 in Austin during the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.

“It is hard to speak of the pain that I feel. This is my son, my life, my blessing,” said Ms. Terrell.

“And I have strange people, who do not even know who my son is, wanting to kill him. It is true, that if you have deep pockets you can buy justice,” she said.

Ms. Terrell further noted that her son never stopped writing about his innocence and his first lawyers “never filed any of his pleas. “Rick Perry is sitting on his ivory chair. You’re going to pay for what you have done. You’re not going to get away with this. Little by little God is bringing you out for people to see who you really are. You are evil.”

“In Texas, it is better to be rich and guilty, than it is to be poor and guilty,” says Nation of Islam student minister Robert Muhammad. (pictured below)

“I am so angry right now. Having to stand outside the death house with these families is hard,” says Gloria Rubac, long-time activist in opposition to the death penalty.

“You would think after information coming out about the Willingham case, these executions would cease, but Reggie [Blanton] was another victim of a legal lynching,” says Ms. Rubac.

Read more about this story in an upcoming edition of The Final Call Newspaper

Photo by Gloria Rubac

Friday, October 30, 2009

New Orleans Peace Keepers initiative honored for work in the streets

In recognition of over eight consistent months of working to curb the violence in the Crescent City, Nation of Islam Student Minister Willie Muhammad was honored for his community work at City Hall.

Mr. Muhammad heads the Hour of Power Peace Keepers anti-violence outreach initiative, which includes a diverse group of Black men walking through violent neighbors in the city to dialogue and offer assistance to residents.

“The New Orleans police chief recently handed out statistics that showed drops in nearly every category of crime. I believe that our work during the Hour of Power also has played a role in this drop,” says Mr. Muhammad.

The non-profit group Community Mediation Services sought nominations for top community workers and the Peace Keepers were selected. A proclamation was presented on Oct. 15 at the City Council chambers by the At-Large City Council member Arnie Fielkow to proclaim “Conflict Resolution Day” in the city of New Orleans.

Read more about this story in an upcoming edition of The Final Call Newspaper.

(To join and follow the works of the New Orleans Peace Keepers log on to www.noineworleans.org and www.crescentrizing.com )

All photos by Cedric Muhammad

ESSENCE Magazine searching for men ready to ask "Will You Marry Me?" in style.

Marriage is the cornerstone of Nation building and ESSENCE magazine is in search again for some men who are ready right now to pop the big question to their mate in style.

Yes, that question: "Will You Marry Me?"

I am sure you have witnessed some proposals with serious flare while others may have just been simple in a park while splitting a sandwich. The method is different but can have the same impact. Either way the woman was caught off guard.

How creative are you?

Essence Magazine is offering men across the country the chance of a lifetime -- to surprise their girlfriends with a dreamy proposal in the pages of the magazine for its fourth annual Will You Marry Me? feature. Only five special men will be selected to share their love story with more than 8 million readers, who will then vote on their favorite couple and determine the winner of a dream wedding courtesy of Essence. Over the past three years, Essence Magazine has helped 17 men create unforgettable surprise marriage proposals. Now you and your beloved could be the next winners.

Enter today! Here's how:

1. Tell Essence what makes your woman so extra special and why you want to surprise her with a proposal in the magazine.

2. Send your submission in English to marryme@essence.com no later than 11:59 ET October 31, 2009, along with your full name, address, daytime and evening phone numbers and a photo of you and your lady.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal male residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 19 years or older at the time of entry. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. For official rules, go to ESSENCE.com.

If you sign up and win, tell ESSENCE Magazine that Brother Jesse Blog sent you. :-)

For more information on the rules click: Will You Marry Me? 2010: Propose in the Pages of ESSENCE

Questions about swine flu vaccine won't go away

By Jesse Muhammad-Final Call Staff Writer

(FinalCall.com) - Top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the United States has exceeded 1,000 deaths from the declared swine influenza pandemic and has witnessed “many millions of cases” since the virus first emerged six months ago.

“We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic in April and May, more than 1,000 deaths from pandemic influenza and more than 20,000 hospitalizations in this country,”said Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, in a news briefing.

“We have had, up until now, many millions of cases of pandemic influenza in the U.S., and the numbers continue to increase,” said Mr. Frieden.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4,735 people have died globally from swine flu infections since the H1N1 virus was first reported in Mexico. The seasonal flu causes an estimated 36,000 deaths yearly according to the CDC.

Plans of mass vaccinations by the government are now underway and originally included an estimated 50 million vaccine doses slated to be disseminated to every state's health center. As of mid-October, just 11 million doses have been sent out and over 16 million are ready for shipping, according to the CDC.

Mr. Friedman admitted, “We are nowhere near where we thought we'd be by now.”

To read the full article or comment log on to: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Health_amp_Fitness_11/article_6541.shtml

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The 12th Annual Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors: "A spirit to be remembered”

Story and Video by ZIN, NBUF Minister of Culture

As early as Thursday, October 15th people from across the country began to converge to the cities of Houston and Galveston, Texas for one event; The National Black United Front’s 12th Annual – Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors.

The kick-off began with an edutainment component organized by the University of Houston’s Liberation Society and N.B.U.F. entitled “Drum and Chant – The Roots of Hip-Hopoetry”, featuring master poet Mutabaruka and other local Houston artists such as Sunni Patterson, 144 Elite, Empress Winter, Bishop Black, Torian, Sar, Rez and hosted by myself, Emcee ZIN. It all took place on the campus of the University of Houston (central). It was a divine mix of Hip-Hop/Poetry!

You could feel the revolutionary energy in the room, where all ages from toddlers to elders bobbed their heads, clapped their hands and gave their Ashe’ to the wordsmiths of the night. This was just the beginning of three days of reconnecting our past to the present while showing the necessity for ancestor veneration, unity in our communities and the need to settle our differences.

The theme for this year’s Caravan was “Settle your quarrels, come together…the sooner begun, the sooner done” which was taken from a quote by ancestor George Jackson.

There could not have been a more fitting theme, simply due to the immediate need for the rebuilding of a united front in the African community as a whole. This has been the mission of The National Black United Front’s Houston Chapter for the last decade, under the leadership of now National Chairman Kofi Taharka. Bringing together African communities of all faiths with the sole purpose of healing our people through prayers and actions of positive, progressive, forward motion toward the liberation of African peoples worldwide!

To read the full article or comment log on to: http://sosradiohouston.blogspot.com/2009/10/spirit-to-be-remembered-by-zin.html

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Part 3 of Black Women in America Raising Boys: "Step in and be extended parents"

By Alisha Muhammad

I am Alisha Muhammad, a person from almost a no-parent situation but definitely not a product of those circumstances, and neither are my children victims of my improper upbringing. I pray the same for all in my situation and know '”Raising Boys” will be instrumental in addressing the heartaches of single parents and their children.

My mother left my father before I was born and was a workaholic all of my childhood. I was a latchkey child; waking myself for school, getting myself ready, seeing myself off and arriving home in the evenings to be greeted by no one. When there was food I fed myself. I put myself to bed so I could be rested to raise myself yet another day. No fault of her own, my mother did the best she could with what she knew and had. She didn't know what welfare was because she came from a two-parent home of hard workers. Her resources were scarce and support nonexistent.

By the time I graduated high school I had my two oldest sons. Their father came from a situation similar to mine. My mother was single raising two daughters and his mother was single raising two sons. He waited until well past the middle of his senior school year to get involved with dealing drugs. Thus, he began his trip through the revolving door of the prison system. That's when my real journey of single parenthood began.

I gave a lot of background because it's vital to know that the success or failure of having one or both parents in the home can only be determined by what the individuals have to work with in terms of knowledge, principles and support. My mother and father came from homes with both parents but weren't fit to be parents themselves. They were no different from my children's father whose parents came from "broken" homes. Most homes in America are "broken" and most of those that remain do a very good job of playing make-believe. I learned this as a child.

As a young single mother, I adopted the work ethic of my mother but at the same time always knew the value of not neglecting the other needs of my children. I was still hurting from my own childhood, or lack thereof, and used that to drive me to be all I could for my children.

I was always a spiritual person and felt connected to God. I humbled myself, prayed and cried out for guidance many, many times because I was terrified about messing up my sons' lives; I knew I was a very troubled person because of my growing up. I used everyone and every opportunity I could as a learning experience, and I still do. Had I had the intervention of such a valuable resource as the documentary of “Raising Boys”, perhaps I would have been more effective in such a worthy cause.

In raising my sons I knew that in my youth I had tried all and accomplished most in being mischievous. I commanded honesty and respect from them as infants because I knew they possessed enough intelligence to comprehend. I didn't spank my children for every little thing they did which is where a lot of parents mess up, both young and old. By doing that you build up their tolerance for physical pain and teach them violence, especially in angered situations. I offered correction and guidance in all situations that needed to be addressed.

I didn't allow my children to visit their father in prison until they were old enough to ask to go and understood those circumstances. I never bad-mouthed their father because I knew the significance of them figuring him out on their own. Nonetheless, I let it be known that he was to be respected regardless of the situation. I explained to my children about his childhood without a father or any decent male role models. I explained to them the importance of not expecting more than what he offered and how it could lead to disappointment. I explained this, I explained that and any and everything I could because they were owed that. Hell, I was owed that and couldn't get answers upon request. My oldest son will tell you to this day that I'm always teaching and explaining stuff.

Being a Mother, in it and of itself is very demanding. It's strenuous. It's draining. And every thought you think or decision you make better revolve around the children. Now factor in these boys or men that father them then walk around making decisions as if they have no responsibilities, as if they have no duties. That's a slap in the face. Even worse is the possibility that our sons may grow up and do the same.

Like most single mothers, especially coming from a single mother, there was a desire to give my sons a "complete" home. I found myself expecting my third son in what seemed to be a promising situation. It was after the birth of my youngest son that I saw absolutely no future in that situation. My son's father came from a two parent home. Be that as it was, the relationship between he and his father was based on financial need and desire and lacked affection. That attitude spilled over into the connection between him and my son. He's a lot better now, but look what it took. He's not in the home with his son.

At the age of twenty-two I was the mother of three sons and possessor of one-third of the knowledge and wisdom I needed to be successful in rearing my children. I fell and bumped my head along the way until I visited Muhammad Mosque #45. That was where I acquired another third which is knowledge of God, myself and who my sons are in the grand scheme of things. And, I am still a work in progress in pursuit of the remaining third so that my sons and I can have what we need for continued survival and eventual success.

What about others like me? Not everyone has a spiritual connection or elders giving advice. Many of us have no faith at all and we're granted that because the fathers of our children are cowards and our society does not have our back. Everyone needs to take charge of their post, that's exactly what Brother Deric is doing in bringing this infection to the surface in his documentary “Raising Boys”. There is so much truth and wisdom in the proverbial village raising a child. Black men that "know better" than what they are seeing in today’s youth need to start pulling these young boys to the side and correcting them at early ages. I literally "jack up" (for lack of a better phrase) other people's children in public places. The parents love it. They are grateful to know they have support.

We have to realize we are not the brain. We are the body, God is the brain. Just like with our bodies, when they become ill or endangered the brain sends signals throughout the body to either produce antibodies or work to filter and rid our bodies of toxins so the body can be well. Or even in the removal of some of our parts, other parts work in their place. If you lose a hand, you don't stop writing. People lose both hands and write with their feet. That needs to be how we function in the community.

We don't "write off" the children because they have missing parents. No, we need to step in and give support. We need to be the liver and kidneys filtering delinquent behaviors. We need to be the bladder and colon ridding of the filth these airwaves and public systems are putting in our children. We need to step in and be extended parents until the real parents get a clue or the children become decent adults. This is what single mothers need, because when our children feel like no one cares and they've been given up on they don't care and they give up too. I speak from experience.

I can't say I speak from success because the mere facts that I have teenagers that aren't in trouble with the law, making babies, doing drugs, etc. can't continue to be the standard in which I or any of us measure success in parenting by. Those specifics support the reality that we are just getting by. I can say my oldest son is old enough to appreciate my growth and see how he and his brothers benefit. My middle son gets the attention he needs and knows he has a place unlike many suffering from "middle-child syndrome". The both of them appreciate the person I've become as a result of the same teachings and spirituality that gave you such a powerful yet humble servant and mouth piece for single mothers and their suffering sons as we have in Brother Deric. And my youngest son is young in age and mind; he is free to dream big.

I know this is the impact this documentary will have. It will affect us all, including the absent fathers; in such a way we will be motivated and motivate others to run to the aid of single mothers and their children. It will inspire us enough to free our children so they can dream big and be successful. After all, aren't they owed that?

"Dear Debra-A Letter to BET" by Jasiri X....we interrupt your regularly scheduled Hip-Hop buffoonery

If you're tired of the Hip-Hop buffoonery, Brother Jesse Blog recommends that everyone view this video by Jasiri X and send it out everywhere.

This Episode is dedicated to the BET and their CEO Debra Lee. Dear Debra is a critical but loving letter exploring the possibilities of Black Entertainment Television. Episode 23 was produced by Kai Roberts and directed by Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan, No ducks were harmed in the making of this video.

Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWIaJ35ZyCo

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Star Struck: The good, the bad and the ugly of celebrity worship...read in The Final Call Newspaper

In the latest edition of The Final Call Newspaper, Western Region Correspondent Charlene Muhammad delivers the lead story titled Star Struck: The good, the bad and the ugly of celebrity worship.

"American society is obsessed with celebrities, whether it is Jay-Z and Beyonce, Ludacris, Chris Brown or Rhianna, rapper Kanye West and tennis star Serena Williams, or talk show host David Letterman. Some popular culture analysts say the celebrity influence is strong because people get to relax, escape pressure and avoid the stresses of their everyday lives—at least for a moment," Charlene Muhammad writes.

To read the full cover story or comment log on to: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6537.shtml

The Final Call Newspaper is published by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. It is the only remaining Black-owned national newspaper in the U.S. and has a strong international readership as well. Visit the official website at www.finalcall.com

The Final Call's Charlene Muhammad named recipient of New America Media's 2009 Stimulus Watch Fellowship

NEW AMERICA MEDIA FELLOW

Charlene Muhammad, Western Region Correspondent for the Final Call Newspaper and Los Angeles Sentinel contributor and columnist ("With These Hands"/Religion Section) was recently named a recipient of New America Media's 2009 Stimulus Watch Fellowship for Ethnic Media Journalists.

Ms. Muhammad and the other fellows, from diverse publications across the country, will use the fellowship to document the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the ethnic communities served by their publications.

More specifically, Ms. Muhammad will investigate equity issues in the employment, education, and housing sections of the Recovery Act.

"I've always considered it a privilege and a blessing to have a platform from which to produce news and information that educates, enlightens, informs, and uplifts our community. I believe that winning this fellowship from New America Media will strongly enhance that work. I am grateful to NAM for spearheading such an important project and for the opportunity to be a part of it. This is a time of struggle like our people have never experienced before. Although the Stimulus Package doesn't hold all of the answers to the issues facing the Black community, it does hold some financial assistance and I look forward to finding out what that assistance is, how it has been used so far, and how it can be accessed," Ms. Muhammad said.

The fellows will convene in Washington, DC November 12 and 13 for an extensive training on the stimulus, where they will meet national policy-makers, leading investigative and business journalists, policy advocates, and researchers. NAM will disseminate stories produced by the fellows to ethnic and mainstream media partners and nonprofit collaborators through NAM’s news wire.

The other fellowship recipients are: Linnie Bailey, Black Voice (Corona, CA), Marcony Almeida Barros, The Brazilian Journal (Boston, MA), Edwin Buggage, New Orleans Data News Weekly (New Orleans, LA), Maya Lolbe Corona, Rumbo (Houston, TX), Charles Ding, Sing Tao (Los Angeles, CA), Christina Fresquez-Pizzaro, El Seminario (Lakewood, CO), Khalil AlHajal, Arab American News (Dearborn, MI), Charles Hallman, The Spokesman-Recorder (Minneapolis, MN), Victor Merina, RezNet (Missoula, MT), Cristina Pastor, Philippine News (New York, NY), Eva Sanchis, El Dario/La Prensa (New York, NY), Mohsin Zaheer, Daily Khabrain (New York, NY).

The Fellowship is underwritten by a grant from the Open Society Institute. New York fellows were selected in partnership with the New York Community Media Alliance.

“The stimulus package represents the largest public investment in our economy since the Great Depression,” said NAM Executive Director Sandy Close. “This fellowship will help ethnic media journalists inform members of their communities about opportunities arising from the Recovery Act, monitor how the money is spent, and report whether their community is benefiting from the stimulus or being left behind.”

More information about NAM's Stimulus Watch can be found at www.newamericamedia.org.

(Charlene Muhammad, a wife and mother of two, is a print, broadcast and Internet journalist. She is the Western Region Correspondent for the Final Call Newspaper [www.finalcall.com] a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Sentinel, and Associate Producer of "Front Page with Dominique DiPrima," a talk radio show heard daily from 4:30-6:00 A.M. on KJLH Radio/102.3-FM [www.kjlhradio.com]. Ms. Muhammad can be reached at http://charlene.blogs.finalcall.com, and http://www.facebook.com/charlene.muhammad)

Monday, October 26, 2009

Behind the Camera Lens with Brother Jesse @ LSU vs Auburn football game

(Our cousin #28 RJ Jackson of LSU warming up)

I will admit I do not attend football games and hardly watch them on television. But our cousin RJ Jackson, who plays wide receiver for Louisiana State University (LSU), offered us free passes to the game against Auburn University on October 24. So how could I turn down free, right? (smile)

Well an entourage of my family made the journey to Baton Rouge. That was the largest football game I have ever attended with over 92,000 inside the stadium and tens of thousands more outside for tailgate parties. The band didn't have the HBCU flavor but it was pretty good and the crowd participation was highly energetic. LSU reigned victorious and RJ played a good game. He is a scholar athlete and is now pursuing a masters degree in business. We are proud of you #28!

A few game shots with my Canon Rebel XT....Behind the Lens

Global Grind Exclusive Malcolm X: Another MediaFakeOut casualty? Lets see

by Brother Jesse for GlobalGrind.com

"O you who believe, if an unrighteous man brings you news, look carefully into, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you did."--Holy Quran 49:6

Yesterday, October 25, I received a direct message on my Twitter account (@BrotherJesse) from someone I follow. The link she sent me was from a recent post by MediaFakeOut....excuse me I mean MediaTakeOut.com.

The headline read: "CRAZY ALLEGATION!!! BRITISH JOURNALIST CLAIMS TO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT MALCOLM X WAS BISEXUAL!!"

I knew I was sent this because I am a member of the Nation of Islam and she wanted my perspective on it. It's no mystery to you or anyone else the stance the NOI has on the LGBT lifestyle. People still refer to our leader Minister Farrakhan and us as extremely homophobic or pushing some sort of homophobic political agenda.....not true.

This blog is not to debate that but for the record on the inside back cover of every edition of The Final Call Newspaper you will find The Muslim Program. Point #3 of What the Muslims Want reads "We want justice. Equal justice under the law. We want justice applied equally to all, regardless of creed or class or color."

But back to MediaFakeOut.....

To read the full article or comment log on to: http://globalgrind.com/content/1091238/Malcolm-X-Another-MediaFakeOut-casualty-Lets-see/

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Part 2 of Black Women in America: “Raising Boys”

(The following is Part 2 in a series of exclusive blogs written by single mothers leading up to the Houston premiere of the "Raising Boys" documentary on November 5.)

Written by Jordannah Nathan

My name is Jordannah Nathan and I am a single working mom. I have a beautiful two year old son named Jordan. I knew that I would be a single mother the minute that I saw the positive results of the pregnancy test.

I also knew that my life would never be the same. I never wanted to be a statistic, but here I was, single, no degree, and a baby on the way. To say I was scared would be an understatement. I felt fear, dread, guilt, and shame. What kind of mother would I be? What did I possibly have to offer?

I wasn’t prepared emotionally or financially for Jordan’s arrival. I was still struggling with mixed emotions about being a mother. When he was finally born, I went through a whole new mixture of emotions. I now felt that this was the most important thing that I would ever do in my life.

It was unbelievable to me that God loved me this much to bless me with this amazing gift. I was now a mother and I have an amazing son. We’re almost three years into this journey together and although it hasn’t always been easy, I have to keep pressing because I see the potential he possesses at only two years old.

If I listened to statistics, my son’s future looks bleak and I know the odds are not in our favor. In spite of this, I can’t be deterred from doing all I can to give my son the opportunity to reach his greatest potential. I see so many young Black men wasting away in the streets and I often wonder did their mothers have the same hopes and dreams for them as I do for Jordan.

What makes my story or the outcome any different from theirs? I don’t know and I can’t predict the future. What I know for sure is that God has brought us this far and with faith the sky is the limit.

P.S. Watch the story of many single mothers on November 5, 2009 at the Angelika Theatre in Houston for the premiere of a solution-oriented documentary that we hope will change your life: “Raising Boys”.

NeNe Leakes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” headlines Rolling Out 4th annual Top 25 Women of Houston Awards

(NeNe Leakes speaks in Houston on October 13)

On October 23, rolling out and and Comerica Bank hosted the Female Success Factor’s 2009 Top 25 Women of Houston awards dinner at the Downtown Aquarium.

“The Female Success Factor’s Top 25 Women of Houston illustrate the best examples of visionaries and business titans who have found their passion and become dedicated examples of success in action,” said Munson Steed, publisher of rolling out.

(rolling out publisher Munson Sneed and regional manager Kim Floyd)

Linnethia "NeNe" Leakes, from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”, served as the keynote speaker. Leakes is the founder of Twisted Hearts, a charity that brings awareness to the plight of domestic violence against women of all races.

(NeNe Leakes with fans following her message)

Leakes briefly shared her experiences as a victim of domestic abuse and her mission in offering her voice and support to those in need of help. She has also authored the book Never Make the Same Mistake Twice, a memoir discussing her fractured childhood, abusive relationship, struggles with being a single mother, landing Mr. Right, and all the lessons she’s learned along the way.

The 2009 Top 25 Women of Houston Honorees were as follow:
Carol Mims Galloway – Board Secretary, Houston Independent School District;
Judy Foston – CEO and Founder, Foston International Inc.;
Dr. Letitia Plummer –Owner and Dentist, Maxwello Dental Spa and Wellness;
Judge Hilary Green – Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7 Place 1;
Margo Williams Handy – Principal, MWH Public Relations;
Deidre Boone – Vice-President, Ready Women and Co-Owner, The Root of You Salon and Day Spa;
ReShonda Tate Billingsley – National Best-Selling Author and Motivational Speaker;
Lora L. Mayes, R.N. – CEO, Beacon Home Health Agency, LLC;
Wanda Adams – Houston City Councilmember, District D;
Denise Bentham – Owner Operator, McDonald’s;
Donna Mittendorf – Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank.;
Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter – Co-Chair, Houston CARES Mentoring Movement;
Helen Stagg – Senior Director, Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA);
Merele Yarborough – Community Advocate and Philanthropist;
Damali A. Keith – Anchor/Reporter, Fox 26;
Debra Johnson- Director, Office of Procurement, Johnson Space Center;
Barbara Joseph– Founder and Executive Director, Positive Efforts, Inc.;
Dr. Reagan Flowers – Founder and CEO, C STEM;
Irma Diaz-Gonzalez – President, Employment & Training Ctrs & Chair-Elect, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
Sharwin Wiltz Boney – Vice-President/CFO, BoneFide Development and Investment Group;
Sheretta West – First Lady, Church Without Walls;
Thomasine Johnson – CEO, En’Terior Designs;
Jacquelyn Hoyer– Sr. Community Affairs Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch;
Nina Wilson Jones – Vice-President/Chief Programs Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters;
Phyllis J. Bailey – President, 3B Resources Group Public Relations & Associate Publisher, Who’s Who In Black Houston;
Spirit of Business Award Winner, Kim Roxie – Creative Director, LAMIK Beauty