Commentary by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor
We have come to an end on another great year here at Black Kos. Unfortunately we have come to the time when we the editors take our annual holiday break, we won't be returning until Friday January 6th 2012. I would like to once again thanks everyone who reads and participates in Black Kos for continuing to support us.
Putting these diaries together takes a lot of work and it really is a blessing that they are so well received. But don't be surprised if some of us editors use our break to publish some of our own diaries :-) Speaking for myself this is one of the few times of the year I have the the time to do so.
We covered a lot of ground on Black Kos this year, from Haiti to history, politics to poetry, great black scientist to vile right-wing racist. I always like to spend a little time each year looking back at the great work this teams has put together.
In many ways this is one of the saddest look backs because we lost so many great voices both here at Black Kos, and on Daily Kos overall. Although we respect their decision they are truly missed.
Here are some of the highlights from this years edition of Black Kos. So on behalf of sephius1, Deoliver47, Justice Putnum, and myself, thank you to all our readers. Have a safe Holiday season, and a happy new year. See you all in 2011!
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Some highlights of Black Kos 2011
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Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 JAN 04, 2011
Kamala Harris sworn in as first African-American Asian-American Attorney General of California
Harris’ ceremony was held at the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts.
She is the first woman and first African American/Indian-American elected as California’s attorney general.
The California Museum For History, Women & The Arts showcases the achievements of Californians throughout history. Former First Lady Maria Shriver led the effort to re-establish the museum in 2005.
The Museum was the perfect place for this historic swearing-in ceremony.
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Commentary: African American Scientists and Inventors
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 JAN 14, 2011
Kerrie Holley is a research computer scientist. Holley is an IBM Fellow, known for his contributions to the field of service-oriented architecture. He is a co-inventor of the Service-Oriented Modeling and Architecture, SOMA and the Service Integration Maturity Model (SIMM).
Holley received his B.A. from DePaul University and his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. He joined IBM in 1986 where he currently serves as CTO for IBM’s SOA Center of Excellence. During his childhood, he attended the Sue Duncan Children's Center on the South Side of Chicago where he tutored the current United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Holley was appointed an IBM Distinguished Engineer in 2000 and in that same year elected to IBM’s Academy of Technology. He was appointed an IBM Fellow in 2006 by IBM’s Chairman and CEO, Sam Palmisano.
In 2004 he was named as one of The 50 most important blacks in Research Science. [ref. wikipedia]
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dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor JAN 21, 2011
TOUSSAINT-LOUVERTURE born François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture (also known as Toussaint Bréda) was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. Toussaint was born in Saint-Domingue, the French colony that would later become Haiti. Renowned for his military genius and political acumen, he led the first successful attempt by a slave population in the Americas and the world to win independence from European colonialism. He defeated the armies of three imperial powers: Spain, France, and Great Britain. The success of the Haitian Revolution had enduring effects on shaking the institution of slavery throughout the New World. The groundwork laid by Toussaint prepared Haiti to become the second independent republic in the Americas.
Former slaves led by Toussaint proclaimed independence on 1 January 1804, declaring the new nation be named "Ayiti," both a Native American and African term, meaning "home or mother of the earth" in the Taino-Arawak Native American language and "sacred earth or homeland" in the Fon African language, to honor one of the indigenous Taíno names for the island. Haiti is the only nation born of a slave revolt.
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Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 FEB 01, 2011
Ti Tide
Since I have had one eye glued to alJazeera following their Egypt coverage, I didn’t miss this story:
Haiti allows ex-president's return
Haiti's government has said it was ready to issue a new passport to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former president, to would allow him to return to his country after almost seven years in exile in South Africa.
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History of the Maroons by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor FEB 04, 2011
When runaway slaves banded together and subsisted independently they were called Maroons. On the Caribbean islands, runaway slaves formed bands and on some islands formed armed camps. Maroon communities faced great odds to survive against white attackers, obtain food for subsistence living, and to reproduce and increase their numbers. As the planters took over more land for crops, the Maroons began to vanish on the small islands.
Only on some of the larger islands were organized Maroon communities able to thrive by growing crops and hunting. Here they grew in number as more slaves escaped from plantations and joined their bands. Seeking to separate themselves from whites, the Maroons gained in power and amid increasing hostilities, they raided and pillaged plantations and harassed planters until the planters began to fear a mass slave revolt.
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Voices and Soul
by Justice Putnam
Black Kos Poetry Editor FEB 11, 2011
I purchased and built my first crystal radio with an ear-set with funds gifted to me on my birthday in March of 1963. I was eight years old. It took a couple of weeks before the components arrived in the mail; and I set out to put the thing together. The radio was small and fit in the pocket of my coveralls, while a thin cord snaked its way to my left ear. We lived on the farm in Philomouth outside of Corvallis; and I had many chores to do before the bus picked me up for school. That radio kept me linked to the world while I milked the farm's only cow, slopped slop for the pigs, fed the geese and chickens, collected eggs and churned butter from the cream of that only cow.
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Esperanza Spalding: Hope and Jazz
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 FEB 15, 2011
Wanted to open up the first Tuesday’s Chile diary in DK4 with a celebration of music and can’t think of a better way to do it than with the music of Esperanza Spalding (her name means “hope” in Spanish), recipient of the Grammy Award for Best New Artist .
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Commentary: Having Our Own #$@%:
A Do-able Progressive Strategy
Introduction
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 FEB 18, 2011
Well we've started the year of seeing exactly what the republicans truly consider urgent -- every thing but jobs. Unfortunately the traditional media hasn't called them on this hypocrisy. And we on the progressive side can whine, and rant, about not having equal air time, or the overwhelming corporate power being exerted. But the fact is, we on the progressive side DO NOT HAVE ANY FOUNDATION. Sure we have "progressive islands" (think tanks, a tv channel here or there), but nothing cohesive. The right wing are so far ahead of us on this point it ain't even funny.
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Remembering Barbara Jordan
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 MAR 15, 2011
Some of you may not have been born on July 25th 1974, or were too young at the time to have been involved in politics. That date, was the day that the world sat up and took note of Barbara Jordan, though many of us were already familiar with her history, her roots and her imposing presence.
It was on that day, in Congress that she made her Statement on the Articles of Impeachment, regarding President Richard Nixon, to the House Judiciary Committee.
"My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminuation, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.... It is reason and not passion which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision."
- Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, July 25, 1974
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Black Women in Brazil - Jean-Baptiste Debret
Thoughts on Brazil, Black Brazilians and Barack Obama
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 MAR 22, 2011
Seeing photos of President Obama and his family in Brazil this week, meeting with President Dilma Rousseff, visting a favela, and watching Barack, Michelle and the girls watch a demonstration of capoeira there (see news below) brought back some memories of another President and the acute embarrassment I felt for this country to have as Head of State a man who could ask this question:
"Do You Have Blacks, Too?' Bush Asks Brazil President"
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Commentary: African American Scientists and Inventors
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 APR 08, 2011
Mark Dean (born March 2, 1957) is an African-American computer scientist and inventor. Mark Dean is credited with helping to launch the personal computer age with work that made the machines more accessible and powerful.
The fact that a young African-American man went on to carve out such a significant niche in a field largely dominated by white engineers and scientists isn't all that surprising, given his background. From an early age, Dean showed a love for building things; as a young boy, Dean constructed a tractor from scratch with the help of his father, a supervisor at the Tennessee Valley Authority. Dean also excelled in many different areas, standing out as a gifted athlete and an extremely smart student who graduated with straight A's from Jefferson City High School. In 1979, he graduated at the top of his class at the University of Tennessee, where he studied engineering.
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Voices and Soul
by Justice Putnam
Black Kos Poetry Editor APR 15, 2011
I'm going to do something a little different in Voices and Soul for today's edition of Week in Review. Rather than a poem, I am presenting a little prose piece I wrote a few years ago. It has everything to do though, with Voice and Soul.
It is of a dystopian world that, in fact, may not be so dystopian afterall.
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Strength
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 MAY 03, 2011
I rarely write commentaries directly about our President, though I have included him, and his role, in discussions of race, racism, foreign and domestic policy from time to time – where relevant.
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Waco Lynch Mob May 15, 1916
Lynching and The Waco Horror.
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Deoliver47 MAY 17, 2011
I want to say first here that writing this disturbs me deeply. There will be text and images that are repugnant. “Lynching’ and its meaning for me as a black child in America was impressed upon me very early in life.
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Commentary: African American Scientists and Inventors
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 JUN 17, 2011
Annie J. Easley (born April 23, 1933) is an African American computer scientist who worked for the Lewis Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). She was a leading member of the team which developed software for the Centaur rocket stage and one of the first African-Americans in her field.
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Daily Kos' Newest Feature Writer!
Our own deoliver47 has been been elevated to (kewl kidz) front page status. On behalf of all the team here at Black Kos congratulations.
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Note: Kossak raina asked had inquired about a transcript of our panel because there was no signing (ASL) at NN, no closed caption and no transcription.
Thanks to the efforts of unspeakable, Yasuragi and Princss6 who volunteered to make it happen, here it is.
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Intro
Deoliver: Welcome to our session today, “Promoting People of Color in the Blogosphere. Our host, our scheduled host who was going to be with us today is the founding editor of Black Kos, David Reid or
dopper0819, and dopper sends his apologies for not being here. Unfortunately, a terrible plumbing problem in his house got in the way of him coming to Netroots Nation. So he was really looking forward to continuing this conversation which we started last time at last Netroots. So welcome to some of you here [who were] there at the last one, and welcome to some of you who are joining us for the first time in this ongoing conversation.
Our panelists today are... We have a really diverse panel here and I think we are going to look forward to having an interesting conversation, so we are going to try to have -- each person is going to give/present for about 10 minutes and then we are going to open the floor to dialogue.
And to my right over here is Kyle de Beausset. And Kyle is a pro-migrant blogger, and an activist, and an organizer and he is best known as the founder of Citizen Orange.
And sitting next to Kyle is Elsa Cade. Elsa blogs on Daily Kos and other places as TexMex. We know her for that and a whole lot of work she did around shelter boxes, as well. Getting money into a lot of communities. She is a science educator and she has taught in schools in Canada, in Buffalo, and is currently living in San Antonio, Texas.
To my left here is Neeta Lind. Neeta blogs on DailyKos as navajo. And she is the founder of Native American Netroots and she also leads here, every year at Netroots Nation, the Native American Caucus. So we are really happy to have Sister Navajo here with us today.
And to the far left -- [Laughter] Does that say something here? We have Nancy Heitzeg and she blogs on Daily Kos as soothsayer, and a truth-sayer, and she is the co-editor of a series, a really hard-hitting series called Criminal (In)Justice Kos. She is also a Professor of Sociology at St. Catherine’s University right here in St. Paul.
And in case you are wondering, my name is Denise Oliver-Velez, and I blog as Deoliver47 on DailyKos. I’m a co-editor of Black Kos, founder of LatinoKos and AIDS Action Group on Daily Kos. I teach Women’s Studies and Caribbean Studies and Anthropology at SUNY – New Paltz.
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IssaRae
The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Denise Oliver Velez JUL 26, 2011
I'm a fan and long time supporter of independent film and video production. Dating back to the time when I worked for The Black Filmmaker Foundation I had the wonderful chance to promote the work of people of color and several of them were sisters like Julie Dash, Ayoka Chenzira, Kathe Sandler, and Michelle Parkerson, who were just getting started in a world where even few black men could gain a foothold. Other organizations have continued to focus on the work of our sisters in the industry- among them is Sisters in Cinema.
Rarely did they delve into the realm of black humor. There are times that we need to laugh-with-and-at ourselves.
The internet and youtube are opening the doors to women in comedy-so join producer IssaRae in her look into the life of a modern awkward sistah.
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Commentary by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor SEP 09, 2011
Sometimes the discourse on Daily Kos revolves around deep differences on both the direction of the Democratic Party and of the United States of America. Other times the discourse revolves about pettiness, perceived grievances, vengeance, and silliness.
Often in my opinion what gets loss is the real pain that ordinary people are going through. Yes many people will argue that their passion for their arguments come from this place of concern. But too many diaries that mention only the ideological opinion of the author and not how decisions to support or not support the party and the president effect the "average person on the street" belies this fact.
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The Boycott SEP 13, 2011
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When talking about race and racism gets hard
Commentary by dopper0189, Black Kos Managing Editor SEP 23, 2011
Over the last two weeks there has been a lot of admirable attempts to discuss race and racism on Daily Kos. Many of the most touching include heart felt stories from people's life experiences. But it's been my opinion that many aren't dealing with some of the "root causes" for the break down of communication over race. The vast majority of break downs over race don't happen because of arguments over racial slurs or obvious racial incidents. The most heated arguments happen over how deeply or tangentially people feel an issue is affected by racism. I would like to deal with one of these root causes. When does an issue have a legitimate racial component, and how large should that racial component be before it becomes relevant.
In order to start with a "clean slate" I decided to pick an issue that the vast majority of progressives on this site feel is unjust (based on comments and diaries), and one that hasn't been frequently examined along racial lines. When companies refuse to hire the unemployed, does this harm people of color more? Is this discrimination against the unemployed also a form of racial discrimination.
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Commentary: African American Scientists and Inventors
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 OCT 07, 2011
George Edward Alcorn, Jr. (March 22, 1940) was born on March 22, 1940, to George and Arletta Dixon Alcorn. His father was an auto mechanic who sacrificed so Alcorn and his brother could get an education. Alcorn attended Occidental College in Pasadena, California, where he maintained an excellent academic record while earning eight letters in baseball and football. Alcorn graduated with a B.A. in physics in 1962, and in 1963 he completed a master's degree in nuclear physics from Howard University. During the summers of 1962 and 1963, Alcorn worked as a research engineer for the Space Division of North American Rockwell, computing trajectories and orbital mechanics for missiles. A NASA grant supported Alcorn's research on negative ion formation during the summers of 1965 and 1966. In 1967 he earned his doctorate from Howard University in atomic and molecular physics.
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Brief Thoughts on Occupy Atlanta and John Lewis
Commentary by Denise Oliver Velez OCT 11, 2011
By now you have probably seen the video, or read news stories or blogs about Congressman John Lewis not speaking or not being allowed to speak, or his speaking being postponed, or showing up and being silenced or dissed, or not dissed at the Occupy Atlanta site.
Needless to say, he handled himself with class and continued to voice support after whatever occurred.
What has disturbed me are the online comments attached to many of the news stories.
Those from the right wing are predictably racist - no surprise.
What I am perturbed about are the negative comments that purport to be from occupiers or supporters.
They are all pretty similar - and essentially impugn Congressman Lewis' integrity, call him a corporatist sell-out, warmongering has-been yadda yadda.
I'm not going to bother copying them or printing them here.
Not even going to link to them.
I'm only going to give my opinion.
We have fought a long battle to get the black vote, and black representation. We are watching continuing moves from the right wing to disenfranchise black, latino, native american and asian voters.
Our battle is not over.
Now some of these young folks have the luxury, and privilege (via their ipads and iphones) to turn their backs on our long struggles and disrespect those who died, were jailed, beaten and repressed to get our foot in the door. Folks we've been proud to vote into office. Folks who paid plenty dues.
It pissed me off - so I'm doing a short rant.
This comment is really not about what did or didn't happen. It's about what I'm reading - and yes, I've read some of it right here.
It's about r.e.s.p.e.c.t (and the lack of it) or in Spanish, "falta respecto"
Or as a Native American commenter put it at theGrio
I am Ongwehonweh (the original people). we have inhabited Turtle Island for time immemorial and established a system where everyone and all life had a voice. I have been very excited to see this movement grow yet curious as to where Indigenous people fit into the picture.I have fought my whole life for the protection of my Earth Mother and all her inhabitants. In 2003 a small group of us filed charges at the United Nations against the United States for the continuing genocide of our people. I have NEVER been afraid to stand up, speak out and do the right thing! That being said, I was physically sick to see how a few people blocked John Lewis from speaking . You have a lot to learn about the land you are "occupying" and RESPECT! We were taught always to respect our Elders and listen to their voice as they have the wisdom of life experience that the young can not possibly know. Are you so new and insecure in your beliefs that you can not listen to an Elder speak, because you fear his job and his words might sway you from your beliefs? He has paid his dues and has much useful knowledge for you. Shame on you for this disrespect! I had planned on joining you after the harvest on my organic farm, but I must say that I am reconsidering after what I saw today! Oneh, Melissa Jacobs
Amen.
End of mini-rant.
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Commentary: African American Scientists and Inventors
by Black Kos Editor, Sephius1 OCT 21, 2011
Gebisa Ejeta, is an Ethiopian American plant breeder, geneticist and Professor at Purdue University. In 2009, he won the World Food Prize for his major contributions in the production of sorghum.
During primary school, Ejeta planned to study engineering when he reached college age, but his mother convinced him he could do more working in agriculture. With aid from Oklahoma State University, he attended an agriculture and technical secondary school in Ethiopia and also studied at what is now Jimma University. The university and the U.S. Agency for International Development helped him earn a doctorate from Purdue.
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"Fried another Nigger"
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Denise Oliver-Velez OCT 25, 2011
While attention here focuses on Occupy Wall Street I'm wondering if we will ever be able to occupy our own black and brown main streets without having to deal day in and day out, putting up with occupying police who enthusiastically pursue stop and frisk laws with reckless and racist abandon in our hoods.
So though the story got ignored here in Dkos folks in my home town didn't ignore it, and thankfully the Justice Department seems to be taking action - on this particular case.
The NY Times reported:
Officer Faces Civil Rights Charges in Stop-and-Frisk Arrest
A city police officer has been charged with a federal civil rights violation after prosecutors said he used a racial slur while bragging that he had falsely charged a black man with resisting arrest after stopping and frisking him on Staten Island last spring. The officer, Michael Daragjati, 32, an eight-year veteran, stopped a 31-year-old man on Targee Street in the Stapleton neighborhood on April 15, prosecutors said.
A search of the man revealed no contraband, but after he complained about his treatment and asked for the officer’s badge number, Officer Daragjati arrested him and charged him with resisting arrest, telling him that he did not like being disrespected, prosecutors said. Officer Daragjati then wrote in a police report that the man had flailed his arms and kicked his legs during the arrest, causing the man to be detained for about 36 hours, according to a federal complaint.
The next day, the government intercepted a phone call between Officer Daragjati and a female friend in which the officer complained that he had just gotten out of court on the stop-and-frisk case, but that it had been worth the hassle. “I sat there for a couple of hours by the time I got it all done but, fried another nigger,” the officer says on a transcript provided by prosecutors. “What?” The woman asks. Officer Daragjati uses the same phrase and then adds, “no big deal.” The woman laughs.
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Talkin' about Cain, and other Shuckers
Commentary by Black Kos Editor Denise Oliver Velez NOV 08, 2011
Logged on here last night, happened to look at hiddens, and curious - found a diary tip jar that had a pile of donuts.
A Birth of a Herman Cain Nation Moment: Cornbread Can't Help His Love of the White Ladies
Sure it had a provocative title.
Some folks had already pronounced the writer a troll. I read it, tipped it and rec'ed it.
The author, Chauncey de Vega is a member of this community.
Here's his bio.
Chauncey DeVega is editor and founder of the blog We Are Respectable Negroes, which has been featured by the NY Times, the Utne Reader, and The Atlantic Monthly. Writing under a pseudonym, Chauncey DeVega's essays on race, popular culture, and politics have appeared in various books, as well as on such sites as the Washington Post, The Root and PopMatters.
Now some folks were pretty upset about his use of Cornbread in the title. Other folks had issues with another diary he wrote.
But the late night tempest got me to thinking about how black folks view, and talk about other black people who are dead set on sellin' us all down the river. It has never been kindly. Nor do we mince words.
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Boyz II Men - It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday