Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
There was a time in history when education, success, progress and change inspired black Americans as a whole. When individuals loved to read and challenge the status quo. When these same individuals would learn history in order to never let it repeat itself. W.E.B Dubois was a scholar who had a great understanding of history. Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis, Cornel West and many more all had/have a great understanding of history. When they speak, they speak from a place that understands the power of not understanding ones history. In their writings they refer to historical events that portrayed minorities in a negative light and counter those arguments. History is a powerful tool that laid the foundation for generations to create change. There has been a slow transition from educating oneself to self harming oneself that has infested the youth. We’re talking about black on black crime and when discussed, it typically focuses directly on the physical harm and not the emotional generational harm.
Embracing stereotypes is black on black crime because it forces you to look at yourself through an outdated scope. Hundreds of years ago Coon and Brute were terms that described blacks. Coon portrayed blacks as childlike subhuman creatures, Coon being short for raccoon. The coon was uneducated and lazy and spoke in slang. It was an insult to be called a coon. If you were black and you embraced the characteristics of a coon you were considered a sell-out. There was a sense of unity that held blacks accountable for one another. You were, in a sense, your brother’s keeper. Psychological enslavement did not control the youth like it does now.
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Filed under: Crime, Education, Other Social Issues | 2 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
I recently read the article written by Eleanor Chute and Liz Navratil entitled “Westinghouse High: A Study of Disorganization.” As a proud member of the Westinghouse High School Class of 1966 I am saddened but as a retired School Social Worker from the Pittsburgh Public Schools I am both frustrated and angered by the situation that has been reported in this article.
My frustration is borne from the fact that this should not have occurred; our children deserve better from each of us. It is our responsibility to use all of the resources that are available so that we provide the most well planned and thought through programs that we can develop. Too frequently it appears that we service our children and families as an afterthought and not the priority that they should be.
Unfortunately, it seems that our current culture does not support the use of experience – but defers to the “new”. I learned as a teenager that “there is nothing new under the sun”. If we then follow that logic it would perhaps be beneficial to hear some of the history of our school district and how it solved similar problems in the past.
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Filed under: Education | No Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
COMMUNITY RELEASE:
Contact: T. Rashad Byrdsong
Telephone: 412-371-3689 ext. 14
Email: TRByrdsong@ceapittsburgh.org
AN OPEN APPEAL TO THE COMMUNITY
CEA and the Peace Alliance Network of Greater Pittsburgh and Allegheny County would like to offer its sincere condolences to the Grayson family and the entire congregation of Wesley Center A.M.E. Zion Church, for the untimely loss of your son, Jeron Grayson. We would like to acknowledge and commemorate Jeron for the man he was becoming, what he had accomplished in giving back to his community, the dreams that he had for the future, and the many young people that Jeron touched.
Rev. Grayson is a respected pillar in the African American Pittsburgh community. He continues to give back selflessly and is making tremendous contributions through his tireless efforts and work to improve the conditions for residents in our Communities. The best way that we can show our support, respect and honor to this family is to recommit ourselves to finding solutions to this epidemic called Violence.
There have been thousands of young men who have died at the hands of senseless gun violence. There will be thousands more if we do not tackle this disease from its root causes, which has become A Public Health crisis. What will it take for the collective cries and prayers to be heard from the thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and communities to see an end to the carnage that is hemorrhaging our communities every day? As we know too painfully well, the culture of youth and community violence has gripped this nation. Gun violence transcends race, class, social and economic status. The sad state of affairs is that we all are susceptible to the tentacles of social discord and conflict. Click here to continue and SpeakOUT! »
Filed under: Community, Crime, Murders | No Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
The House of Representatives passed the Senate Health Care Bill by a vote of 219-212 on Sunday, March 21, 2010. This has been a very passionate debate. Below is a summary of this bill from www.healthbill2010.info
Health care bill summary (passed 3/21/10, not yet signed by President):
Currently, there are 32 million without health insurance. The new health insurance coverage expansion begins in 2014. When fully phased in, 95 percent of eligible Americans would have health insurance coverage, compared with 83 percent today.
Health insurance mandate – Almost everyone is required to get health insurance or else pay a fine. There is an exemption for low-income people. Mandate takes effect in 2014.
Health insurance reforms – Starting this year, health insurance carriers would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions, and from canceling policies because someone gets sick. Parents would be able to keep older kids on their health insurance coverage up to age 26. A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion goes into high gear. Major consumer safeguards would also take effect in 2014. Health insurance providers would be prohibited from denying coverage to people with medical problems or charging them more. Health insurance carriers could not charge women more.
QUESTIONS: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PASSING OF THE NEW BILL? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? Click here to continue and SpeakOUT! »
Filed under: Health Issues | No Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
It’s Sept 9th, 2009 and WAMO is now officially off the air. This was the last summer to have WAMO playing at your cookout, the last summer you’ll hear those familiar voices, and no more Steve Harvey…
We ask the Soul Pitt visitors to act as if this were WAMO’s funeral and say your final farewell.
Filed under: Community | 30 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
On August 31st at 1 pm, the Pittsburgh City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed cable franchise with Verizon. We want you to attend. The proposed franchise is not a good deal for the City of Pittsburgh and it is not good for PCTV and Public Access. Here’s why:
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Filed under: Other Social Issues | 4 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
You may have heard by now that WAMO has been sold. This is a sad day for Urban radio and especially Pittsburgh. WAMO has been a part of the Black community for 36 years. Will you miss it? What are your memories of WAMO? Some say that it was inevitable; some feel that a minority entity should have purchased it. Some feel it has been time for something new for a while now. What do you say? Speak out! POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW….
Filed under: Community | 63 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
Congratulations to Obama, his family and America for making change happen. Sometimes words are not enough to express the pride, the joy and the victory you may feel, but if you care to share your thoughts about this historic victory, please post your comments below and tell the world about it!
Filed under: Other Social Issues | 23 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
Mike Tomlin Says Anthony Smith Not A Thug, Rips P-G Column
LATROBE, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday defended safety Anthony Smith, who’s known to be a hard hitter in training camp and was the subject of a negative newspaper column last week.
“I think at one point, his actions were referred to as ‘thuggery,’ or he was referred to as a thug. We take offense to that,” Tomlin said. “These are young, professional people that are very good at what they do and are very sensitive to how they’re portrayed in the public light. I was offended by that reference to him. He’s not a thug. He’s a young football player who’s trying to be at his best, who happens to play the game very physically.” Click here to continue and SpeakOUT! »
Filed under: Other Social Issues | 3 Comments »
Posted by SP SpeakOUT!
According to a report released Tue July 29, 2008, the report on AIDS in the Black Community is getting worse! What will it take for us to understand that there are diseases out there that are killing us. African-americans always seem to be the ones that the diseases effect the most – from high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, AIDS, etc. These last reports are staggering! Click here to continue and SpeakOUT! »
Filed under: Health Issues | 1 Comment »
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by Sharif Rasheed (www.bethe1change.com)