This is significant not only because it is practically historic when someone is not excited in Texas, but because it brings attention to what the Governor refers to as “…Texas law that allows capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously…” What he’s talking about is Texas’ “Law of Parties,” which imposes the death penalty on any person involved in a crime where a murder occurs.
So what now? Use this link to send a message to Governor Perry, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and other members of the Texas legislature to ease/eliminate the use of the Law of Parties going forward.
While we’re on the subject, I wish this guy could have gotten clemency too.
This isn’t a school dress code issue, since Jena High School has no dress code. This is simply the administrators at the school being scared to deal with the realities of a situation that they allowed to become a bonafide tragedy right under their noses.
The Jena 6 are a group of young Black men that could use some lobbyists, lawyers, advocates in the Justice Department, something. If you get sentenced to 22 years for a schoolyard fight by a jury of your peers consisting on no one that looks like you, it is obvious that something or someone is out to get you for some reason. What therefore must be made equally obvious is that there are people that are out to help you as well.
The Jena 6 need your help. Please take a look at the petition here.
I am pleased to let you all know that I have recently begun serving as a Blog Host & Writer for Brave New Films. This is truly a blessing to be able to continue to share the ideals that have been birthed and discussed on The SuperSpade with new audiences. This opportunity would not have been possible without the love and support from The SuperSpade Family.
I would like to thank Robert, Jim, and the rest of the folks at Brave New Films for welcoming me onboard. I encourage you all to take a look at the site, as there is some great content that inspires actions that will change this world for the better.
I’ll still be writing here on The SuperSpade just as often, and I’ll be cross-posting items on both sites at times too.
I read somewhere that only people with options ask, what do we do? People who don’t have a choice know what needs to be done and don’t hesitate to do that and more. The time has passed to stop thinking, stop accussing, and start doing.
The mentality of needing to “weed out” weaker students in college majors — especially in the more quantitative disciplines — disproportionately weeds out women. This is not necessarily because women are failing. Rather, women often perceive “Bs” as inadequate grades and drop out, while men with “Cs” will persist with the class.
I agree that this weed-out mentality is complete BS and is actually anti-competitive because it eliminates diversity in total competition.
Also, am I the only one to read this and think, “Man, the perceived bar for success is much lower for boys than it is for girls.” Perhaps those C-student boys should have been weeded-out too…
If you live in Michigan, you need to make your presence felt at the Michigan Policy Summit, 2007. It is going to be held at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. From the site: This dynamic, first-of-its-kind daylong policy forum initiated by Michigan’s progressive community is taking place in Lansing on Sept. 8, and we want you to be a part of it! Read the rest of this entry »
Alotofgreat people made this happen, and we were thrilled to be a part of an effor that demonstrated how a few people caring and acting can destroy disease-ridden partnerships.
Imagine this: A boy and a girl are locked together, bodies sweaty, hips pressed forcefully in concert, he is behind her with a look of absolute concentration, and she braces herself, holding her ankles while he thrusts harder, faster…sex between eager teens? No silly, it’s dancing!
We’re all grownups here, so let’s talk honestly about this. We’ve heard of “freak dancing”, we know that it has to do with bodies grinding into each other in what many term as “sexually suggestive”. This isn’t just about the latest craze in dance; this is about when behavior crosses over into actual sex acts.
What’s up fam? Yes, Garlin II is still alive and well . Though I’ve been on a bit of an unofficial sabbatical, I am back with some great news.
The SuperSpade is launching a new feature called “Our Next Generation,” which will be written by our friend Sakara R.. I am both pleased and excited to have her contribute her writing to the site on a regular basis. Here is how she describes the series:
This feature is part of an ongoing project called Snapshots of America’s Black Youth. It will be a series of articles about what is going on with our youth in the Seattle area and abroad.
Enjoy the series and thanks for the continued support. As always, much love to B for holdin’ everything down.
I just checked my email to see that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned and that was a great way to wake up. I am still trying to figure out how this guy got confirmed in the first place. It will take years to appreciate how much he has done to undermine our civil liberties. In other news, I was listening to a radio show and of course, they were talking about Michael Vick. One of the co-hosts of Mojo in the morning poignantly noted that while the NFL and local police turn a blind eye to domestic abuse against women, people are getting really worked up over some dogs. How did we get to a place where animals get more respect than women?
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work, his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which one is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both.” –James Michner
“Take the work seriously, never yourself”
As summer comes to an end and school begins, it is a time of transition. If you work, it probably does not make much of a difference. Whatever category you find yourself in, it is no doubt a time of transition. And if you are like me, the rest of the year will be especially busy. In the midst of all these changes, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated and a little unfocused. Your joy may begin to chill with the weather. One thing I am learning is that life is often more responsibility than fun. And that can be a little depressing.
I typically don’t listen to talk radio outside of NPR, but thankfully I came across the Michael Baisden show today and he was focusing on the Jena 6. I know his show is broadcast across the country and I hope that his show raises the consciousness of his listeners as he lent huge support to the rally taking place on September 20th.
In a small still mostly segregated section of rural Louisiana, an all-white jury heard a series of white witnesses called by a white prosecutor testify in a courtroom overseen by a white judge in a trial about a fight at the local high school where a white student who had been making racial taunts was hit by Black students. Read the rest of this entry »
Like you, I have been busy with the end of the summer winding down and getting ready to transition into the next phase of my life. Personally, I am in a state of limbo and uncertainty.
What to do, What to do…
At first, I was a little nervous. As human beings, we are conditioned to seek security, stability. However, nothing ever changes in the face of stability. The world is constantly in flux. Things do not work out the way we planned. Que Sera. It is unsettling. In the face of all this change, it is easy to get frustrated.
However, I came to realize that life is an adventure. And there is very little to hold on to. Knowing this, it is easy for us to feel powerless. However, it is a waste of time, energy and resources to do so. We need to calm down.
Stress Kills
Stress is linked to so many different health problems. People are so busy, they barely have time to be still and regroup. And when they are not moving, their mind is. You must find a way to quiet yourself and relax. You must make that time, because it will not just present itself. Sitting still and relaxing will help you refocus and adjust to life’s punches.
And adjusting is so key. Things will not work out exactly most of the time, but you can still reach your objective. When you feel the feelings of powerlessness arise, redirect that energy into something productive.
I don’t have any kids but I have been around them enough to know that they have a very short attention span. This reminds me of the Bush administration. An article in WaPo states,
“The United States has decided to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country’s 125,000-strong elite military branch, as a “specially designated global terrorist,” according to U.S. officials, a move that allows Washington to target the group’s business operations and finances.” Read the rest of this entry »
I don’t know about you, but Obama always seems to hold back in presidential debates. Thankfully, Obama showed us a glimpse of heart during the AFL-CIO debate. Enjoy the video.
In the vast history of war and mass movements, artists have always set the cadence. Just think back to the drummer boys of the Revolutionary War or the song Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday during the Civil Rights Movement;
Given the post I just wrote about saving our girls, this post broke my heart. I pulled this from BronzeTrinity. Read all of this post!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, TX – August, 5 2007- Fresh off a battle with Black Entertainment Television, Gina McCauley isn’t slowing down on her blog, What About Our Daughters? McCauley is outraged over Al Sharpton’s planned ” Day of Outrage” scheduled for August 7, 2007, also sponsored by the BloggingWhileBrown Blog. Her next targets are Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the NAACP and other African American elites who have been noticeably silent about what may be one of the most horrific crimes committed against a Black woman in recent history, she’s talking about the June 18th gang rape of a 35-year- old woman that took place in Dunbar Village, a housing project in West Palm Beach, Florida. Read the rest of this entry »
When I was in Chicago for the YearlyKos Convention, I took the bus to the convention site. On Thursday I took the bus and a young girl, no older than 11, boarded the bus. She had thick braids, an attitude, and pimples on her face. There were no places for her to sit so she had to stand. Read the rest of this entry »
“When they said I could be anyone I wanted to be, I was foolish enough to believe them.”
This month, the Weekly Dream is two years old. And I must say it has been a blessing and an honor to have been able to share my thoughts from week to week with you and read your comments. Lately, I have been thinking about the purpose of dreams. What purpose do they serve?
The SuperSpade has joined a collective of bloggers to strategically combat the bashing of blogs in the mainstream media. Here is a video that summarizes Fox News’ disdain for [liberal] bloggers and blogs. There are even jabs in there about Yearly Kos.
B and I have been busy lately, so that’s why it’s been kind of slow around here. Brandon is at Yearly Kos representin’ well. I attended a very interesting Blogger meetup here in Seattle courtesy of KOMO-TV (Seattle’s ABC affiliate). There has also been some stuff happening behind the scenes. For nearly a year, B and I have wanted to organize & connect with Black bloggers to make some impact on the offline world. We had several ideas, but none of them really stuck to the wall. That has changed now.
black net action is an effort to create a virtual meeting of the minds in the Black blogosphere. Inspired by the work we and others did with the whole CBCI/Fox fiasco, we are going to build on those relationships to create more positive change. We will definitely keep everyone abreast as the plans for the group form more concretely. Understand that it is because of you who read The SuperSpade that we have been blessed to grow to the level we have, and form the relationships we’ve formed with you and other bloggers with similar interests. I speak for myself, B, and Steve when I say: Thank You.
About The SuperSpade
The SuperSpade: Black Thought at the Highest Level, is a forum that presents critical, intellectual perspectives on the current issues, seeking to elevate the level of Black political thought. The goal of this space is to provide actionable commentary on social, political, and personal issues affecting the daily ... Continue reading »
. Though I’ve been on a bit of an unofficial sabbatical, I am back with some great news.