Category Archives: Rights and Liberties

Why Black America No Longer Exists

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Yes Halle, Eugene Robinson and Wild Roots agrees…your baby is Black. Now Black America?? What’s UP??

Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America

Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America

In his new book, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Eugene Robinson talks about the ‘Disintegration’ of the Black monolith…

has sparked debate with his recent book, Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America (Doubleday; $24.95), in which he posits that decades of desegregation, affirmative action, immigration and interracial marriage has shattered the concept of a black monolith into four distinct groups: the Mainstream middle class; the Abandoned underclass; the Transcendent elite; and two newly Emergent groups—black immigrants and individuals of mixed-race heritage. Robinson wrote: “There was a time when there were agreed upon ‘black leaders,’ when there was a clear ‘black agenda,’ when we can talk confidently about ‘the state of black America’–but not anymore.”

via Black Enterprise

Celebrating Angela Davis’ Birthday, And Four Decades of Hard Work – COLORLINES

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Angela Davis

Photo: Keba Konte

On January 26, Angela Davis celebrated her 67th birthday. A political activist, scholar and author, Davis was a leader in the fight for social  justice starting in the ’60s and continuing on into the present day. She was part of the Communist Party, the Civil Rights movement and allied closely with the Black Panther Party. She’s also founder of Critical Resistance, a national coalition that works toward to end abuse and reliance on prisons. In 1970 Davis captured the nation’s attention when she was put on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive List on bogus kidnapping and murder charges. She was arrested after two months on the run, and it’s generally accepted that her great political presence grew out supporters in “Free Angela Davis” rallies.

Now a retired UC Santa Cruz professor, she continues to lecture at various universities and work tirelessly for prison reform and abolition. Her years of dedication have made her an iconic figure, and have inspired artists to dedicate their work to her. Check out some Angela Davis moments below.

Celebrating Angela Davis’ Birthday, And Four Decades of Hard Work – COLORLINES.

Sundance Highlights:The Black Power Mixtape, Pariah

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The Black Power Mixtape

The Black Power Mixtape

“But everyone involved with us that we approached for interviews and participation have been so generous and giving including Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Harry Belafonte, Kathleen Cleaver, Sonia Sanchez, Bobby Seale and Questlove, who also provided the film with best imaginable music.”

via Filmmaker

Pariah

Pariah

“The biggest surprise associated with making Pariah came after watching the first rough cut when we discovered that this was not a “black lesbian” movie. We had fought this BRUTAL uphill battle in funding the film with financiers and investors balking at the story because it was “too small and specific” (which is code for “too black and too gay”). After we screened the first cut, one of our early advisors went so far as to describe it as “commercial.” We didn’t know whether to slap them or celebrate.”

Dee Rees