Millions of Americans are out of work and the greater part are actively searching for work. The competition is brutal and the number of available jobs are few and far between. It can be discouraging and stressful to say the least.
The first thing that you need to do immediately is cut as many expenses as possible. Depending on your lifestyle this will likely mean going without cable tv, cutting back on Starbucks, not getting your hair done, or mowing your own lawn.
Second and most important, do not panic. No matter how hard things may seem, you must believe that everything will work out. Your belief and your faith will help you through difficult times. If you believe in a higher power, trust that your needs will be met.
“He who has faith has… an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well – even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.” -B.C. Forbes
Do not give up. With every no you are really closer to your yes. You may possibly send out hundreds of resumes and have to go on a hundred or more interviews before you actually secure a job. Just maintain a positive attitude keep in mind… finding a job is a job in itself these days.
Consider lowering your standards in terms of positions and titles. In this economy you might want to apply for jobs that are lower on the totem pole than what you are used to. If you were a regional manager, perhaps you should also apply for jobs as a district manager. Yes, the pay is less, but at least it is a job. You may have to settle for a part time position or do odd jobs to make ends meet until you get something full time. The crucial thing is that you bring in an income.
It is said that millionaires are created in times of recession. If you find yourself struggling to get a job after months of trying, create one for yourself. This might be the perfect time and opportunity to start your own business.
“What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.” -Donald Trump
In these economic times job security is out the window. My Video Talk business opportunity is growing fast and recently laid off people are making money right away!
Hi and Welcome To My Blog! If You're Looking To Start Your Own Successful Home Based Business Click Here To Find Out How Thanks for Visiting & Please Come Back Again -Marenda
Have you ever been asked “If I can show you a way to make an extra $500 to $1000 a week, would you be interested?”
Maybe someone has said to you, “Wow, you have such a great personality and I’m looking for someone just like you to expand my business.”
Maybe you’ve read an advertisement stating: Stay In Your Pajamas! Make a second income without having to get a 2nd job.
All of the above are examples of widespread ways used to approach people about network marketing businesses.
There are two standard ways that you can introduce your business to prospects:
1. Lead with your product to create a strong customer base of people that can be converted into team builders based on their experiences with the product.
2. Lead with your opportunity to build a large network of productive team builders to exponentially grow your business.
If your priority is to first build a customer base you need to be quite familiar with the products and have clear understanding of the benefits, features, and uses. This is commonly referred to as “becoming a product of the product.” This is important because in your every day activities you must carefully listen to everyone you come in contact with for opportunities to suggest your products. The more personal testimonials you have to draw from, the easier it will be for you to discuss your products with people who can benefit the most from them.
By way of example, in standard conversation someone may mention that they are on a diet or trying to lose weight.
If your company has something that can help with weight loss, this is your golden moment to propose your products. In that same conversation that same person may mention that they need to make some extra money.
You now have the perfect circumstance for sharing your products and business opportunity. The key is listening. You must be a great and attentive listener! Let people talk. The more you listen to what people have to say, you will begin to observe that they will give you the green light to approach them with your network marketing business.
If your main objective is to build a huge team, in addition to becoming a product of the product and a good attentive listener, you must learn and master the art of getting people to approach you as an alternative to the other way around. To achieve this you need to establish your reputation as a trusted expert in your field and properly create an online presence that continuously leads prospects and customers directly to you.
This is commonly referred to as Attraction Marketing and you can learn step by step exactly how to use it to sponsor 25-30 reps into your business every month free Network Marketing Training
Sending a video email making use of My Video Talk is so basic that… Yes! Even a caveman can do it. It doesn’t truly matter if you are not technically experienced. This web based software was designed specifically so that any person can use it. At times people get super excited when they get a new tool and just jump right in looking to use it without following the instructions set forth. To avoid disappointment, it is in your best interests to follow the directions for using MyVideoTalk’s video email platform for maximum results.
Once more, it’s not so difficult. You just break it into simple steps and take them one by one…
Here’s how you use MyVideoTalk video email by only taking 5 basic steps:
Step 1. Use Mozilla Firefox web browser to access your studio. The major reason this is important is the fact that all of MyVideoTalk’s software works best in Firefox. Be sure that you don’t ignore or by-pass this, because if you do, you may experience some issues.
Step 2. Hook up your webcam to your computer. Here’s a critical step, in order to send a video you need to record. If you do not have a webcam Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 is a good one to use. If you want high quality this one of the very best options. However, you can use any webcam you select, some computers even have built in webcams. Before buying a webcam, check to see if your computer already has one.
Step 3. Log into your studio, next you will select “Launch MyVideoDesigner”, then click on “Templates” and click “New Template.. You will have to do this in order to customize and brand the look of your video email. Give your new template a name. Upload a banner for the email header. Your banner ought to be at least 700 in width. If you don’t have a banner, you can make one at bannerfans.com. Add a url so that when the banner is clicked the receiver of your email will be sent to the website you want them to see.
Upload a picture or logo which will show to the right of your video. This image should be at least 240 in width. Add a url so that when the picture or logo is clicked the recipient of your email will be sent to the website you want them to see. Once your banner and picture or logo are loaded you can pick the background, frame, and font colors to go with your brand. You can click preview to look at your design. When you are happy with your creation save your template..
Step 4. Click record and this will prompt a pop up box for activating your camera. Select “Allow and Remember” and then click close.. This means, you should now be able to see yourself on your webcam and you can proceed and record your message. You can click preview to see your video. When you are happy with your video, give it a title, description and save it to your library..
Step 5. Now that you’ve developed your template and recorded your video, it’s time to send your video email.. Simply click “Video List”, your video will appear click on the send button. You will then see a template drop down box, click the template you just made. Enter the email address, a subject line, and your message. This is where you can change the color and font size of your message. 16pt for the font is easiest to read and seems the best.
Make sure you decide on a color that blends well with your template background color. Case in point: If you have a white background, picking a WHITE font color would not work. In this example, decide on a darker color font, like ‘black’ or ‘blue’ or whatever works best with your branding. Once you’ve finished your message, click send mail!.
Congratulations, you just sent your first video email.
Rinse and Repeat. It takes practicing to achieve perfection. Join My Video Talk and take full advantage of video email to grow your business.
INCLUDES:
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When your boss says jump, is your reaction “How high?”
We actually are conditioned to follow pretty much whatever the boss tell us to do no matter how hard it may be, but when face-to-face with our own personal financial goals we typically buckle under the pressure. Why are we so we inclined to go the extra mile for the job and the employer than we are for ourselves? It is utterly ridiculous!
What would you do if you needed to make an additional $15,000 a year? Would you simply ask your employer for a promotion or beg for a raise?
Why not build your own business?
In this day and age there is no longer a such thing as job security. Workers are getting laid off left and right. Unemployment made record highs over the past few years. There are numerous people who have found themselves without a job or money to pay the bills. It is pretty tough out there.
Yet, in spite of the horrific economy, there is a flourishing group of people who are unaffected by job loss and unemployment figures. These particular people did not have bosses to begin with, so there was nobody to lay them off.
They are the Crowd Sourcers and Network Marketers, and you can be a part of their ranks.
Imagine delivering the following note to your employer one day…
****************
Dear Boss,
I write to notify you that as a consequence of financial circumstances entirely within my control, I can no longer rationalize keeping you on as my employer.
Effective without further ado, please acknowledge this letter as my formal resignation, as I will now establish a life of full-time freedom bursting with pursuits of my choosing.
Best Regards,
Your Former Employee
****************
What would your boss say to that?!
If you want for this to even materialize , first you have to commit to it. Then you have to decide when your employer will receive that letter from you. If it takes you a couple of years to be financially independent, would it be worth it? Can you imagine if you had gotten started just a few years ago…
What if your employer were to tell you tomorrow that in the near future you will be laid off, what would you do? Would it push you into action?
You have that very choice, right this moment. You can launch your own crowd sourcing business part time from home, and enhance your income. And once your home business income exceeds your job wages, no more boss!
It begins this moment. When you look in the mirror, that is your new boss staring back at you. The only person answerable for your financial future is you.
Hence… what are you waiting for…
Get started in the health and wellness industry with the lucrative Ardyss International Opportunity or make your mark in the data collection business with Crowd Sourcing International. Get started today, right now! Take charge of your future.
I grew up with lots of Love, nurturing, support, and encouragement.
My mother has always taken pride in being a mother. Her maternal instincts are on point. My mother didn’t have it easy raising me or my sister, but she certainly made it seem easy.
My mother stepped up to the motherhood plate and a lot of the time she carried the fatherhood plate too.
You know that saying “when life throws you lemons make lemonade?”
My mom can turn lemons into the best lemonade you’ve ever had in your life!
My mother definitely got that parenting thing down to a science.
We never wanted for anything, we never got into any trouble, we did well in school, and neither of us ever gave my mother any problems.
When you have a mother like mine, every day is Mother’s Day.
My mother has a smile that lights up any room.
My mother is patient.
My mother is kind.
My mother is understanding.
My mother is compassionate.
My mother listens.
My mother does not judge.
My mother cooks our favorite foods and still makes us home made soup when we get sick. My mother loves and accepts me for who I am. My mother is a giver and a helper by nature. I have seen my mother graciously provide food, shelter, love, support, and encouragement to others on numerous occasions throughout my entire life. I admire my mother and the example that she has set. I’ve learned so much from my mother over the years and I’m still learning.
Thus far, one of the most valuable lessons my mother has taught me is:
The ABC’s
A ll things work to the greater good
B e Yourself
C hoose your friends wisely
D on’t worry
E verything happens for a reason
F orgive and don’t hold grudges
G ive graciously
H appiness is priceless
I nvest quality time
J ust do your best
K eep God 1st
L ove unconditionally
M ake time for fun
N ever give up
O bserve your surroundings
P atience is a virtue
Q uality over quantity
R espect is earned
S ay what you mean and mean what you say
T reat people the way you want to be treated.
U nderstanding (having theright understanding is important)
V alues
W hat is done in the dark, always comes to light.
X oxo (lots of hugs and kisses)
Y ou reap what you sow.
Z eal for life equals living life abundantly
~Marilyn~
I Love you mom.
I am thankful and proud to have such a phenomenal woman as my mother.
I gave a progress report of how things are going with Narc That Car now Crowd Sourcing International, CSI for short. So since we just received our second check I thought I’d make a second video…
When I signed into our back office of CSI today, there was a message from the president of the company. Here’s an excerpt:
“Plan A or Plan B”… It’s Your Choice We all have a choice in our careers to make, and that is, do we follow our Plan A, which is usually our Jobs and Careers that we all have trained all of our lives for. Or do we go after PLAN B, which is to go against the grain of what society tells you to do or what has been instilled into us from birth. PLAN B is like CSI Crowd Sourcing International, where you DARE to be Different and go after the LIFE that you always wanted instead of the Mundane life of exchanging time for money.
Put your Plan B in motion visit www.CrowdSourcingIntl.com
With each day that passes things seem to just get even more ridiculous….or bizarre. There are a few different things on my mind that I’d like to address but Bad Girls Club comes on a few minutes (lol) and to touch on everything I have to say would take all night. So to keep it brief…what’s the deal with punishing soldiers that become pregnant or get another soldier pregnant? Are you kidding me?
Why are we still sending out troops to begin with…I can find my 7th grade teacher online and we can’t find Bin Laden the Taliban or whoever the hell we’re fighting. The problems right here at home are out of control. It’s time to get out of war mode quickly I’m tired of hearing about “responsibly”….we got into these wars irresponsibly right? Shouldn’t our #1 responsibility be responsibly governing our own country?
I ain’t saying no names but SOMEBODY needs to step it up (no more Mr. Nice Guy). I didn’t campaign and sit in the cold in DC last January for this… I want SOMEBODY to put his foot down hard with some real change that I can not only believe but see. I want SOMEBODY to exercise their full authority without a care or worry about another term because frankly if this one doesn’t show and prove their won’t even be another one. Now I know SOMEBODY inherited a nasty raggedy mess to clean up… I get that we all knew that beforehand. What I want now not later is No More War, No More Recession, Jobs, Money For Small Business, QUALITY AFFORDABLE Healthcare For All Americans.
If I could whisper in SOMEBODY’s ear I’d say: Don’t ask, don’t negotiate, don’t compromise, just make it happen. YES WE CAN, my rant for tonight ~xoxo~ Deuces
Related Blogs
Related Blogs on Why Are We Sending More Troops and Punishing Them For Pregnancies…
This year I’ll be spending the day with both my mom and grandmother. I try to show my love and appreciation for them EVERY DAY not just on Mother’s Day. It is a blessing to have them in my life. Mom and Gram you are both so awesome!
Aside from having an awesome mother and grandmother, I am also blessed to have other exceptional women in my life that mentor, inspire, encourage, and nurture me and treat me as if I’m their own. I spend a great deal of time with other people’s mothers. I am often in awe of how much mothers actually do and how much they mean to not just their families but to others. Since I’m not a mother yet, when I have the opportunity to be in the presence of mothers I soak in everything because at this point I’m a mother in training lol, so I surround myself with good examples.
I have days when I’m ready to throw in the towel but ALL of the mothers in my life have some sort of radar (mothers intuition) and always always some how… some way… they just seem to know (without me saying) that something is wrong. I think that mother’s 6th sense super power kicks in and the mothers in my life just appear or will say something or do something…to lift my spirits and get me back focused. Maybe they don’t even know that they are doing it. I don’t know…but what I do know is I appreciate them, love them, and today I honor and celebrate them. You ladies know who you are…but in case you don’t (I need to do a better job letting you know how much I appreciate you smile). April Stewart, Evelyn Carney, Charlotte Gill, Cynthia Ace, & Sonja Norwood THANK YOU. I wish you all the best EVERY DAY!
Happy Mother’s Day To All Mothers Around The World!
A Song For Mama – Boyz II Men
You taught me everything
And everything youve given me
I always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life, yeah
There isnt anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldn’t feel right
If I didn’t have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You’ll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times
Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love
is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin you is like food to my soul
You’re always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You’ll always be
You will always be the girl in my life
Chorus
Aren’t The Police Suppose To Serve and Protect? I wanted to wait to post this when I felt more capable of intelligently articulating my thoughts and feelings… but I can’t so bare with me. I JUST saw this for the very first time so its raw. I’m tired of hearing about this type of abuse and I’m tired of US laying down and taking it… It makes wonder if we are desensitized. Police brutality is a part of American history, in fact, its as American as apple pie….but how many more have to be brutalized, abused, shot, killed…before we re-write history and demand something different than what we’ve been getting? I’m really upset. Aren’t we suppose to call 911 for help? Look what happened to this young man!
Doing nothing is not an option. I gotta go find my NWA cd!
When I first heard about this case I was checking status updates on Facebook and thought it was a joke, that is until I saw who it came from…Eddie G. Griffin does not joke! The more I read, the more I needed to know… It seemed crazy to me that anyone could be sentenced to double life in prison over $10! How could that be? We live amongst child molesters and rapists that do less than a year. How is it possible to serve a double life sentence for $10?
This just didn’t (and still does not) sit well with me. My consternation quickly turned to anger because the more I thought about it, the less shocking it became.
A year ago I sat in a court room w/ someone accused of a petty victimless crime…before that case was heard, we sat through a case in which a man was found with children’s underwear in his possession & child porn on his personal computer. To my surprise, the pervert got NO TIME. The judge sentenced him to some type of therapy…the person I was there with got 2 Years!
Does that seem odd to you? Would it matter if I said the person that I was there with was a Black male and that the pervert was actually a White male? I know some will be quick to say I’m pulling the race card and that those were revoked when Barack Obama was elected President, but I’m simply calling a Spade a Spade! The Facts:
» 2,310,984 prisoners were held in federal or state prisons or in local jails
» 4,777 black male inmates per 100,000 black males held in state and federal prisons and local jails, compared to 1,760 Hispanic male inmates per 100,000 Hispanic males and 727 white male inmates per 100,000 white males.
—Bureau of Justice Statistics June 30, 2008
» “Black female inmates outnumber white female inmates three to one, and their punishments don’t always fit their crimes.”
—Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Only an idiot would look at these numbers and not see the racial disparity. Lets be clear, Black people account for approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population. Why are so many Black people in jail? Black people do not commit more crimes than any other race! There is a racial bias in our legal/justice system. Denying it won’t fix it and neither will ignoring it. It is what it is, until we do something about it!
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
This has been on my mind for days! I have sought information on the Scott Sisters case. I read the trial transcripts. These ladies do not belong in jail! The state did not prove its case because it never had one to begin with… There was no physical evidence presented, no weapons, no credible witnesses, their defense was a disgrace, and justice was not served.
From what I’ve learned the Sheriff had a beef with the family (specifically the Scott sister’s father). The sisters had a cousin who was apparently an informant for the FBI. This cousin exposed a Sheriff’s illegal activities which apparently caused problems for the entire family. What happened to the cousin? I don’t know. But it seems like Internal Affairs would step in right? (or is that only on tv?)
Prior to the sisters being arrested for the alleged robbery, a restaurant in the area had been robbed. It is said that the restaurant owners were asked by officers of the law to say that the Scott sisters committed that robbery. The restaurant owners refused. Where are they? I don’t know, but it would be great if they surfaced.
It gets crazier… the 3 men that CONFESSED were told they’d get lighter sentences if they implicated the Scott sisters!
There are 3 affidavits that state the sisters had nothing to do with the alleged crime, yet these women sit in prison serving double life sentences.
There is so much more to this case. Concerned citizens can make a difference. I urge you to take and action and do something right now!
The Sisters are in need of a Mississippi Barred Attorney.
Day of Outrage Podcast:
For 14 years the case of Jamie & Gladys Scott has been suppressed by key so called “NEGRO” Leaders. We bout to tear the roof off these suckers !!! This is a story that will make you say Mississippi got DAMN !!! Join us as we hear from the mother of these 2 woman, Ms Evelyn Rasco, and a true warrior Sista , Nancy Lockhart. We are also hoping to have Dr Mustafa Ansari join in on the conversation.
As if it its not bad enough that art programs in schools are cut left and right, now a school specializing in the arts faces possible closure! When is enough really enough? When and where do we draw the line?
Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:
» 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
» 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools
» 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair
» 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
» 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem
Young artists, as compared with their peers, are likely to:
» Attend music, art, and dance classes nearly three times as frequently
» Participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently
» Read for pleasure nearly twice as often
» Perform community service more than four times as often
As a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District, I participated in the Arts in elementary, junior high, and high school. I played an instrument, participated in dance, and theater. I wasn’t an A student but I did well above average. I was an elected student body officer in elementary, junior high, and high school. I participated in a Science fair (once). My attendance was close to perfect. I never entered any essay competitions but I’m sure If I had, I would’ve done ok. I took music and dance classes after school. I was in and started a few of my own youth groups. I read for pleasure then and now. I served my community then and now. I say all of this to point out that I find Shirley Brice Heath’s research to be on point. I’m not an exception, majority of my friends can give similar (if not the same) account of their school years.
“The Arts” allow kids to express themselves and explore their creativity. In many cases, Art is a productive way to escape and/or rise above negative environmental factors. Art makes learning fun. There are numerous reasons we should all fight to keep Art education in our schools. What really hits home the most for me is:
“Art education has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in afterschool and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention.” —YouthARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts
The LAAAE student body is 91% Latino, 6% African American, 3% Asian. 90% from low-income families.
LAAAE offers college-prep curriculum that focuses on arts, enterprise, and the business of the arts.
LAAAE has increased API scores by 12% in two years.
LAAAE offers 50% more instructional minutes that allow all students to have visual arts, music, and business classes in addition to the core subjects.
LAAAE created a 501(c)3 non profit and raised $1.3MM in grants and donations in the past three years to support its enriched education.
Yet LAUSD wants to close LAAAE! Why? I have no idea. Perhaps its part of the massive layoff plan and cramming 40 kids to a class strategy. We should not allow ANY cuts to education! We need our schools. We need our teachers. We all need to step up.
Stop Teacher Layoffs & Increased Class Sizes
PACK THE BOARD
On Tuesday, March 31, the Los Angeles School Board postponed a vote on employee layoffs until the School Board meeting on April 14th.
The District plans to spread the federal stimulus money over the next two years rather than using it all up front…NOW… when it would save thousands of jobs, as Congress and the President intended.
On April 14 at the board meeting demand that LAUSD use all the federal stimulus money NOW, before ANY layoffs are implemented.
WHERE: LAUSD headquarters – 333 So. Beaudry, Los Angeles (map)
update 2/20 at 10:20 am: Thanks Steve for pointing out the error in the title of this post…which had the Washington Post. It’s NY Post, the correction to the titles has been made.
Yesterday my hubby was worked up about a political cartoon I hadn’t seen. I caught a glimpse of Al Sharpton talking about it on MSNBC but I immediately tuned out. I was in my own world not wanting to take in anything that wouldn’t make me feel good. I have days when my theme song is Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News… Over the past couple of weeks its been bad news with good news sprinkled in between across all fronts.
But last night after my girl Marci called upset too about the same cartoon, I knew I had to SEE what the heck was going on.
The Cartoon by Sean Delonas As Seen In The NY Post
What’s Wrong With This Cartoon? What’s The Big Deal?
Before I get into MY interpretation of this VILE cartoon, I want to make sure that we are all clear on a few things:
1. I Love White People.
2. Some Of My Best Friends Are White.
3. I am a Black woman from Compton with preconceived notions about POLICE (to put it mildly NWA was my favorite group growing up…get the picture?)
It’s important that we all understand these three points because there is a tendency for people to see my picture in all my blackness and assume that I’m a terrorist fist bumping militant Comptonite looking for ways to blame “the man”. Thats not me! I want to make it abundantly clear here and now. The the 3rd is an important point because oftentimes our experiences do play a part in shaping our perceptions.
What is obvious to one person may not be so obvious to another. While it’s extremely hard for me to see how anyone else might see something different from what I see in this image…. I know its possible and that in some crazy way this may be like a paradigm (but I doubt it).
Now Here Are My Thoughts On The Cartoon:
“Don’t piss on my head and tell me it’s raining.” — Unknown
That drawing is very offensive. I would even go as far as calling it a borderline (tap dancing in gray areas) treasonous domestic terroristic threat. In my opinion the drawing published by the NY Posts boldly suggests that the Commander and Chief (our 44th President not the 43rd) is a monkey deserving to be shot and killed for passing the Stimulus Bill. For the past two weeks or more the stimulus bill has been referred to as Obama’s stimulus bill ….the text on this cartoon reads:
“They’ll Have To Find SOMEONE Else To Write The Next Stimulus Bill.”
The word someone is singular (meaning ‘someone’ refers to one person). The cartoonist could have said “some other people” or “some more people” etc… but he deliberately chose the word someone. Clearly this cartoon is not about any of the people (plural) that had input and/or supported the Stimulus Bill. This cartoon is a about someone in particular!!! Someone! Which one? That one? SOMEONE! Have we forgotten the whole Curious George t-shirt thing?
Here’s the bottom line:
The shot up bleeding dead monkey laying on the sidewalk (next to probably Main Street) in a city near parked cars and a beware of dog sign shot by the white police officers represents the person that signed the Stimulus Bill, President Barack Obama.
This is not the first time that monkey imagery has been used with regards to Barack Obama. It is certainly not the first time that monkey imagery has been used to depict a Black man. (*note to anyone thinking but Barack Obama is 1/2 white… yes we all know and acknowledge that he’s biracial. However, historically in this country dating back to slavery a drop of black means you’re black period…I didn’t make the rules. Apparently, it’s the American way. When you fill out a job application, the bubbles on the SAT, or the forms at the dentist… there is no box for biracial).
The Two White Police (Overseers) Officers in the cartoon represent the white supremacy system that has ruled this land with an iron fist for centuries (YES I SAID CENTURIES). Police are supposed to serve and protect (who and what is often the question). In this cartoon, the police are serving and protecting not just “the establishment” but the establishment of white supremacy. The officers have no other way to subdue or over power the animal (its stronger faster and has more power), so they shoot it! A lot of power comes with being President of the United States and while a great number of us are happy with our current president, there are still those that feel threatened by his Presidency. (Especially white supremacists).
I know that any mention of white supremacy causes discomfort for some folks but you would have to be in extreme denial or living under a rock in another galaxy far far away to not be aware of the system that many blacks and whites have fought side by side to overthrow. YES I SAID OVERTHROW!!!!! That cartoon reeks of white supremacy imagery all the way down to the “beware of dog” sign. I’m surprised there was no fire hydrant and hose!
Right here in America, dogs were used to hunt down runaway slaves and later to attack Civil Rights Marchers. They still use dogs (don’t you watch Cops). That “beware of dog” sign in that drawing screams ugliness. I know some people think Black people need to get over it and move forward (I never hear anyone say anything like that about my Jewish brothers and sisters)…My answer to ‘Black people getting over it and moving forward’ is most of us have… but the fact that we have does not erase or rewrite the past. History is what it is! We teach history in schools because we should LEARN from our history right?
History teaches us that Police Overseers have not been kind to Black folks. In fact, we hear about cases of police brutality and killings almost every day!
Many of us have an inherent distrust of Police and it usually takes a friend or family member to become one for us to even open our minds to the possibility that all police are not the same…. (Sad huh?) So if it’s like that for some Black people, how must it be for some White police officers?
The fact that the cartoonist chose to show cops shooting a monkey on a city street is bothersome for the above reasons but also another reason… while there is no street sign in the drawing, that scene appears to be Main Street. You know the hypothetical street that every day Americans live on that President Barack Obama and others often refer to… If the monkey was shot for presumably wanting to help those on Main street, what would the officers rather happen with the folks on Main Street? (Let Them Eat Cake I Guess)
BOYCOTT:
To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion.
So why boycott? Well it’s a means of hitting them where it hurts (their pockets). They being those responsible for publishing the cartoon. (see the note from The Color of Change below).
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” — Marcus Garvey
Color of Change
Yesterday, the day after President Obama signed his stimulus bill into law, the NY Post ran a cartoon depicting the bill’s “author” as a dead monkey, covered in blood after being shot by police. You can see the image by clicking on the link below.
In the face of intense criticism, the Post’s editor is standing by the cartoon, claiming that it’s not about Obama, has no racial undertones, and that it was simply referencing a recent incident when police shot a pet chimpanzee. But it’s impossible to believe that any newspaper editor could be ignorant enough to not understand how this cartoon evokes a history of racist symbolism, or how frightening this image feels at a time when death threats against President Obama have been on the rise.
Please join me and other ColorOfChange.org members in demanding that the Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print:
The Post would have us believe that the cartoon is not about Obama. But on the page just before the cartoon appears, there’s a big picture of Obama signing the stimulus bill. A reader paging through the Post would see Obama putting pen to paper, then turn the page to see this violent cartoon. The imagery is chilling.
There is a clear history in our country of racist symbolism that depicts Black people as apes or monkeys, and it came up multiple times during the presidential campaign.
We’re also in a time of increased race-based violence. In the months following President Obama’s election there has been a nationwide surge in hate crimes ranging from vandalism to assaults to arson on Black churches. There has been an unprecedented number of threats against President Obama since he was elected, with hate-based groups fantasizing about the killing of the president. Just a week ago, a man drove from Louisiana to the Capitol with a rifle, telling the police who stopped him that he had a “delivery” for the president.
There is no excuse for the Post to have allowed this cartoon to be printed, and even less for Editor Col Allan’s outright dismissal of legitimate concerns.
But let’s be clear who’s behind the Post: Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, the Post’s owner, is the man behind FOX News Channel. FOX has continually attacked and denigrated Black people, politicians, institutions at every opportunity, and ColorOfChange has run several campaigns to make clear how FOX poisons public debate.
I don’t expect much from Murdoch. However, with enough public pressure, we can set the stage for advertisers and subscribers to think long and hard before patronizing outlets like the Post that refuse to be held accountable.
You can help, by making clear that the Post’s behavior is unacceptable, and by asking your friends and family to do the same. Please join me:
When we started our U Grow Girl! group we had no idea that our efforts would be acknowledged or even recognized by any media outlets. Our focus was simply empowering each other and growing. We are definitely growing in more ways than one!
This morning I stepped out into the sunshine and picked up my Compton Bulletin from my lawn… Guess who and what was featured at the top of page 4A……U Grow Girl! with a picture of our wonderful Coach Ace (the creator and founder of UGG!). Please go out and get a copy of this weeks Compton Bulletin. Here’s the clip, click on it to make it bigger!
We had another powerful meeting in January it got so good we lost track of time.
Instead of our regularly scheduled meeting this month, on Friday- Feb. 27th @8:00pm we are supporting our member Tamarah. She’s a talented thespian and will be taking the stage in “The Heiress” at the University Theatre complex at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Show dates and times are as follows:
Friday- Feb. 27th @8:00pm
Sat.- Feb. 28th @8:00pm
Sunday- March 1st @2:00pm**
Friday- March 6th @8:00pm
Sat.- March 7th @8:00pm
Sunday- March 8th @2:00pm** (last show)
Individual ticket prices are $12 or $10 for students and senior citizens.
A few months ago I received the following email foward from Coach Ace:
Subject: Fw: CASTING FROM G’s TO GENTS….PASS THIS ON TO LIL POOKIE AND ‘NEM
The Power Of Email:
I forwarded the email to the usual suspects including my little cousin Miece.
As a result of that email, her boyfriend auditioned for and made the show!
Of course he granted yours truly an interview. The show airs tonight on MTV at 10pm. Here’s my interview with Blue.
G’s to Gents Season 2: Interview with Blue
(mostly uncensored… thanks Kelly for helping me think of questions to ask)
Marenda: How did you get started on the show and what made you want to be part of it?
Blue: My girl Jamice got me on the show. She made me go to the audition. I really didn’t want to be on it because I thought it was fake. But I did it for her. Eventually it sinked in that I’m 22 years old and that I need to change. I couldn’t be out in the streets forever. So I wanted to change and I finally realized that show could give me that opportunity.
Marenda: What is your personal definition of a G?
Blue: A “G” is someone who isn’t an extra. If you really hard then u not gonna put your business out there like that… that’s stupid. It’s someone who can keep to themselves. It’s someone who is real about who they are because people see through bitchassness.
Marenda: What is the major difference between a G and a Gent?
Blue: A gentleman is someone who is suppose to be respectful and have manners. Someone who is not suppose to take off on people. A “G” is a person who don’t give a f*** about his sh**. If someone is poppin off at the mouth then that “G” will be thundering (catching fade- fighting) in the street.
Marenda: Being on the show, was it harder than you thought it would be, or was it easier?
Blue: It was a lot harder because I wanted to beat majority of the dudes asses everyday. I’m a fighter, that’s what I do. But I knew I needed to change. That’s why I keep quiet and bit my tongue, so I wouldn’t hit no one and get sent home.
Marenda: Have you ever done anything like this before?
Blue: No. Never. I’m from the hood. N****s in the hood don’t do shi** like this. What hood n***a have you seen on the reality show?
Marenda: Did the cameras really follow you every where?
Blue: Yes. Every- f’n-where. They even watching you when you sleep. The only time they gave us some type of privacy is when we in the bathroom.
Marenda: Using one word, how would you describe your experience on the show?
Blue: Transformation!!!
Marenda: What if anything did you learn about yourself from the show?
Blue: That I’m not stupid. I’m not a dumb-ass like others. Instead of using my fists, I can use my vocabulary. I’m strong. I can do anything once I put my mind to it.
Marenda: If you had it to do again would you do it?
Blue: Yeah, because I’ve learned a lot. It helped me be a better person, son, brother, boyfriend, everything you can think of.
Marenda: What do you think people will gain from watching this show? (Why should people watch?)
Blue: People think that this sh** is scripted, like I did . But it’s not. It’s real life. They are watching real life things going on. They might cut some stuff out for time, but everything is real on there. The Blue you see on the show is the Blue you get in person. I’m real about my sh**, period.
This show is about real people getting an opportunity to change their lives forever when they had nothing before. I was one of those people. Yeah, there are some fake people on there, and that’s entertaining, but there are real people too.
But people should watch it because:
# 1. I’m on there; and
# 2. They can see n****’s trying to change their lives and maybe learn something from it;
# 3. The show is worth watching. Trust me!!! It’s a lot of sh** going down!
By way of example, in standard conversation someone may mention that they are on a diet or trying to 
