This is what I’m talking about…another example of real hip-hop. This is HOT!!!!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvRXmm6ZNxk]
Archive for the 'activism' Category
Tonight at 7pm UNCG Pride! along with The Wellness Center will host a live video presentation from Michael Wilke, founding Executive Director of the Commercial Closet Association. The presentation will explore stereotypes and issues of LGBT people and how they are portrayed both positively and negatively by media and marketing companies, and corporations.
I came across an interesting fact the other day. In 1979, the United Nations adopted The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
…it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
Of the 192 member States of the United Nations, 184 are party to the Convention.
By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms…
Ok, so here is where the interesting fact comes in. The United States is not included in the over 90% of States who are party to the Convention.
The convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women…Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice.
So I’m back to that interesting fact. The United States has signed, “but not ratified, the treaty therefore it is not bound to put the provisions of the treaty into practice.” Now I’m wondering about the reasons for the U.S. refusal to become party to the Convention. If we were party, would that mean women would no longer have to worry about the threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned? Things that make you go–hmmm?
Last year I was introduced to the works of Frances E.W. Harper, a poet and activist of the 19th and early 20th century. A phenomenal woman who boldly addressed a crowd of white women when she delivered her speech, “We Are All Bound Up Together,” at the Eleventh Women’s Rights Convention in 1866. Her speech captured my attention because of its unapologetic discussion of race, gender, and class discrimination. Despite her limited human rights, Harper exhibited great depth and wisdom as she used the Convention as a platform to explain the ripple effect of injustice. When one person suffers, we all suffer–we’re just not all aware of the universal connection.
1866? A woman? A black woman? A black woman born in the South? How many of us know of this extraordinary woman who was one of the nineteenth century’s best-known African American writers and activists? One of my former history professors urged students to recognize that blacks were agents of historical change, and therefore critical in the formation of this country, its economic growth, as well as in the abolition of chattel slavery. In grade school I was taught–we came from Africa, we were slaves, and then Abraham Lincoln freed us. How bad is that to a young person’s psyche when they’re taught that they descended from a sea of nameless, faceless slaves? Besides the usual group of five we’re taught about during Black History Month, what about David Walker, Ira Aldridge, Prince Hall, and so many others I’ve yet to learn about.
Writers such as Harper should not be limited to the classrooms of Women’s Literature, African American Literature, or African American history. After-all, Harper stated, “We are all bound up together in one great bundle of humanity, and society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse in its own soul.” Isn’t that a quote we should all live by?
Thank you to all those, past and present, who are artists, writers, activists, musicians, freedom fighters–who inspire me to THINK FREE.
Ok, so my posts are coming about a month apart; i just haven’t felt inspired to write or film anything lately. But i did read something from the NY Times that inspired this short post. My friend Ndesanjo Macha is doing wonderful things in the wiki world. One more step toward decolonizing cyberspace.
The following is an excerpt from an email I received from the Black Family Channel:
Black Family Channel (www.blackfamilychannel.com) is developing a national show like no other called UR Television. The mission is to share the important stories in our communities that are often overlooked by mainstream media. Along with the Internet, digital video cameras, and editing software it is now possible for the average citizen to produce thought provoking stories to educate, enlighten, and entertain.
That’s where you come in. This show is designed around the idea that news content needs to be democratized, giving everyone, not just the media conglomerates, control of the stories that are told. A citizen journalist can be anyone who desires to find truth, expose inequality, and has the technical savvy to produce a story. If there’s a problem that is plaguing your neighborhood, if there’s an outstanding citizen whose contributions in your community needs to be shared, or if you’ve produced a humorous, entertaining commentary on life we’d like to see it.
We’re looking for compelling stories including, podcasts, videoblogs, documentaries and trailers that run up to four minutes. Stories are everywhere. H.I.V. affects men, women and children, is there an organization in your community to help people deal with the challenges? Black men are more likely to be incarcerated than go to college, is there anything being done in your area to reduce this trend? How about the issue of interracial dating, how do people in your community feel about it? If you have an interesting idea, pick up a camera, do and interview or two, edit a short piece, then share it with UR Television.
Submission format: BetaSP, MiniDV, DVD
Address: Black Family Channel
c/o UR Television
800 Forrest St. NW
Atlanta GA 30318
Contact: Amani Channel
Contact: Amani Channel
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