Michael Eric Dyson, Sociology Professor and Media Icon
Wednesday, January 29, 7:00 p.m.
The Spokane Academic Center address is 412 E Spokane Falls Blvd.
For more information contact Yvonne Montoya Zamora at montoyazamora@wsu.edu or 509.358.7554.
Please feel free to forward.
Yvonne
Phillip Jackson, Executive Director
The lack of response to globalization by Black America is frightening and troubling. While much of the world has adapted to the new-world economy and new-world standards of existence, most of Black America is still operating much the same way it did in the 1950s and 1960s. But now, throughout Black communities in America, there is a whisper campaign by Black people who don’t know each other and Black people who live in different parts of the country, saying to each other, “We are in trouble!” We know it and the rest of the world knows it! Black America, as we know it, is in danger of not surviving globalization.
In the 21st century, there are only two kinds of people. Not Black or White, or rich or poor, or foreign or national. The two kinds of people in the world today are those who are educated and those who are not. Although education has become the new currency of exchange in the 21st century, the old American educational paradigm stopped working decades ago for Black Americans. Simply sending Black children to American schools without a clear purpose or goal has contributed to the demise of the Black community. Black America watched formerly third-world countries catapult over America to become educational super powers while America rested on its old, stale educational laurels and fell way behind much of the world in educational performance. And because Black America unthinkingly depended on the American education system to educate its children, we have fallen way behind.
The solution to the issue of Black America’s poor response to globalization is to 1) Deconstruct value systems that have caused Black people to arrive at the precipice of non-existence; 2) Construct value systems that will rebuild the Black family as a purveyor of positive values, cultures, mores and education, and re-establish the Black family as the primary and most important social unit of our culture and society; 3) Embrace education as the highest value in the Black community; 4) Effectively manage the negative cultural influences that hugely impact the thinking and actions of Black boys; and 5) Understand that for the rest of existence, change is a required part of the living process. The faster Black America is able to put this plan into action, adopt these new principles and manage change, the more likely we will survive.
Today, many Black people seem to be having “cosmic flashbacks” to our time in slavery, which was the first crude effort at globalization that helped to set the stage for today’s globalization. For years, Black America was buffered from modern globalization by political boundaries and economic barriers. Now globalization has come to our country, our cities, our communities, onto our blocks and into our homes, schools and workplaces. Globalization has happened, whether Black America is ready for it or not. We still have time to make the necessary changes that will guarantee that Black people will survive into the 21st century and that we will thrive in this global economy. But there is not much time. With globalization, Black America has entered into the “Educate or Die” era. In this era, there are only two questions worth answering: “Will we change? Can we survive?” How we emerge from this era is up to us.
Eighteen Ugandans showed up on my doorstep needing a place to stay. Vince Lemus and his daughter said they would take half. Vince was there helping me to build the community we wanted to live in. He was building that community at the Fairchild Air Force Base, the Spokane Human Rights Commission, Workforce Diversity, Spokane School District and the GLTB community.
Now I am asking you to help build the community we all want to live in. Take a few minutes to read this letter and to respond as you feel appropriate.
Hi Bob! As you may know, our granddaughter, Marleigh Elise (5 years old), is struggling and heartbreakingly, losing her 14 month long, fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). She is currently under Hospice care. My wife and I sat with Becca and Marleigh yesterday. Marleigh proudly showed us her “pain pump.” It delivers pain meds, intravenously, every three hours. As we sat there, we saw the deep seeded pain and anguish in our sweet daughter’s eyes and voice as the cancer slowly continues to consume her baby’s fragile body.
It’s always a horrendous challenge when a family member, especially a child, is sick; however, the emotional challenge is made tougher in the holiday season, knowing it is probably your last, together. Yes, a FB message is quick, convenient and appreciated. As random as it may seem, I am asking, if you have the time and inclination to do so, please mail a short letter, a card, postcard with a few words or something of that nature, to Becca, her husband Matt, and Marleigh. Please send some written words that reflect compassion, encouragement and or empathy in this difficult time. Your act of kindness definitely won’t make the pain go away; however, it will let them know their burden is lighter with your alms of prayer, chants, warm thoughts and understanding. Please let the time you take and words you write, be your gift to this family in this season.
Feel free to send this to friends and family members, even though they may not know Marleigh or her plight. We would like an outpouring of love and support for this family, this season. Until then, let the blessings be.
Sincerely,
Vince and Teri Lemus
Address: Matt and Rebecca Erdahl 2518 W. Broad St. Spokane WA 99205
Dear Yale Students and Extended Community,
Fifty years ago today our country experienced arguably the most important mass movement in US history refered to as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom or the Great March on Washington. Ironically, the 50th anniversary lands on the exact day of the week, more importantly the nation’s first African American president will deliver the address.
It was this event (and others) that inspired the National and her young leaders in institutions of higher learning to make a profound difference.
In 1964 the Yale discussion group on Negro Affairs was formed as the University witnessed a significant (14) influx of black freshmen. By 1966 the Black Student Alliance at Yale (also known as B.S.A.Y. or BSAY) was established to expand the voice of black students at Yale.
The following year (1967) BSAY would sponsor a conference on Black Power in the midst of social unrest and rioting in New Haven. By 1968 BSAY would expand the conversation and host a symposium entitled “Black Studies in the University” in order to explore “the intellectual value and relevance of studying and teaching the Black Experience … to their respective communities.”
This symposium hosted individuals such as Harold Cruse (author of The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual) , Maulana Karenga, Alvin Pouissant, Gerald McWorter (Sociology Department,Fisk) and others. The proceedings of the symposium would later be collected in a published volume and edited by Yale students Armstead L. Robinson, Craig C. Forster and Donald H. Ogilvie. By mid-year (1968) a committee of students and faculty organized and called for a major in Afro-American Studies.
September (1968) ushered in the largest number of black students (70) to enter Yale, almost double the number the prior year. By December of 1968 the Yale faculty approved the Afro-American Studies program and major. The major would be offered for the first time in September 1969. Arna Bontempts (noted American poet of the Harlem Rennaisance) would serve as a visiting professor at Yale. The year 1969 also introduced co-education to Yale.
As the 1960s ended a new era of activism kicked of the 1970s with the Black Panther trials (April/May 1970) in New Haven and the creation of the Chubb Conference on the Black Woman organized by Sylvia Ardyn Boone (Yale professor of Art History) and Vera Wells, ’71.
The conference featured a speech entitled “Third World Women” by Shirley Graham DuBois (writer and wife of noted intellectual W.E.B. DuBois). Other notables such as Maya Angelou, Gwendoyn Brooks and John Henrik Clarke were in attendance.
Today is a time to reflect and challenge a new generation of young people to stand tall as thought leaders and solid citizens. John Henrik Clarke reminds us that history is a current event. Let us all be mindful of today’s Anniversary and continue to make history.
Sincerely,
Dean Rodney T. Cohen
Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale
WANT TO WORK FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA?
Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) — The 2013 White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program provides current undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity to learn about African American-focused education policy communications, and outreach at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Collecting and compiling research and data on African American education, institutions and communities; Performing data entry and managing the office database; Greeting and escorting visitors to meetings; Participating in strategic planning and staff meetings and other Department policy briefings and meetings relevant to the work of the Initiative; Responding to constituent inquiries verbally or in writing; and more.
Throughout the course of their internships, students will have the opportunity to attend and potentially lead in the planning and management of meetings, briefings and other special events on the Hill, at the White House and in other federal agencies.
To apply for the 2013 White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program, visit:
www.findinternships.com/2013/04/white-house-initiative-year-round-internship-program.html
To search hundreds of other internships, visit:
www.FindInternships.com
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This information has been distributed through BlackPR.com andBlackNews.com, properties owned by Diversity City Media, but the content or opinions expressed within are those of the author and/or represented company or organization.
Need A Black Expert to Interview? Visit www.BlackExperts.com
Angela Bukenya Spokane WA
A team of Clinton School students won second place Saturday in the finals of Policy Solutions Challenge USA, a national competition among U.S. schools of public policy, public affairs and public administration.
Clinton School students Mara D’Amico , Angela Bukenya , Christine Sumner and Jillian Underwood finished second among eight finalists for their presentation on “Responses to Childhood Obesity in the U.S.” which was the topic of this year’s challenge. A team from the University of Wisconsin finished first while Brown University finished third.
Other schools in the competition were American University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ohio State University, University of Southern California and University of Washington.
The Clinton School team won the South Region competition in February and competed at the finals Friday and Saturday at the American University School of Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
For more information on Policy Solutions Challenge USA, visit policychallenge-usa.org .
INEMA Arts Center SHOWS In Spokane
Viewers came to see the art of Emmanuel Nkuranga and to meet the artist. Visitors who came found a story about Emmanuel, his mission and the children of Rwanda who are changing their lives with art. (click on text below to enlarge)
Did you work in 2012? Make less than $50,270?
Single or married, with or without children, you likely qualify to get your taxes done free. Also, based on your earnings and family situation, you may get extra money back from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
If eligible you could receive (individual results may vary):
2012 FREE TAX LOCATIONS OPEN FEB 1 – APRIL 15
What to Bring: