Posts Tagged by economy
Community Building is Revolutionary
| May 20, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Last week I took the opportunity to attend the PAALF (Portland African American Leadership Forum) intergenerational forum. Whenever Black people get together to talk, skeptics ask questions like, “Why? What’s the point? What are you actually going to get accomplished?” People have no shortage of excuses for passing up these events. They will focus…
Female MCs Get No Shine and I’m Part of the Problem
| April 28, 2013 | Posted by admin under Music for Thought, Musings |
The biggest irony of the Rick Ross “date rape” controversy was that everyone saw a rise in their profile except female MCs. Everyone from Rosa Clemente to Crunk Feminist to Talib Kweli to Jasiri X made their presence felt in the conversation. I even read an article today interviewing children. With everyone talking about what…
The Privilege Bubble
| April 6, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Lack of Foresight and Bad Examples While enjoying some pizza earlier this week, a friend posed the question, “What was your favorite part of the LO (Lake Oswego) Woodshop class?” The three of us at the table chuckled. If you missed the joke, it’s because we never had such a class. Our education was based…
Believe it or Not, Your Least Favorite Artist Really Isn’t Destroying the Community
| March 22, 2013 | Posted by admin under Music for Thought, Musings |
No week goes by without someone talking about how negative rap music is destroying the Black community. Apparently, not just are these ignorant rappers not “real,” but they are killing our children’s minds. This line of thought always bothered me. I’d be lying if I said emcees don’t have an influence, especially on impressionable young…
Portland Urban League Forum Brings Black Vote to Forefront
| May 3, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
The Black vote took the forefront last Tuesday at the “Countdown to Election Day: Candidates Forum on Equity and Accountability.” Lack of representation, funding for programs that have an impact on communities of color and accountability were the defining issues of the evening. The Urban League of Portland (ULPDX), the African American Alliance and the…
54 Hours + Your New Business Plan = Portland Startup Weekend
| April 28, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
When Jeff Martens came to Portland Startup Weekend (PDXSW) two years ago, he had left his last employer and was looking for a fresh start. “I was going to look for a job but then I thought it would be great if I could start my own business instead of getting a job with someone…
Occupy North East, We Are Oregon, Rep. Lew Frederick Host Ainsworth Foreclosure Forum
| April 19, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
Instead of enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon, members of Occupy North East (ONE) – a.k.a. ‘The Black Working Group,’ We Are Oregon and Ainsworth United Church of Christ (UCC) came together to discuss foreclosure and how churches can get involved. “Our position is that the struggle has to emanate from the ground up,” says Ahjamu…
New Article: Study: Almost 30 Percent of Portland’s Homeless are Black
| March 14, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
This is my new article that appears in The Skanner. Blacks are overrepresented in Portland’s sheltered population, according to a new report by the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness (ICPH). “This is something that no one really wants to talk about,” says co-writer Matthew Adams. “Media attention is focused on the one percent and…
Don’t Let Black Become History
| February 14, 2012 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Check out my speech for Ainsworth United Church of Christ’s Black History Celebration this past Sunday. Topics include the importance of using Black History as a roadmap for current political issues, the legacies of people like my cousin Septima Poinsette Clark, the counter story to Ronald Reagan worship, gentrification in Portland and more. Watch the…
New Article: Free Homeownership Retention Program Helps Seniors Stay in Homes
| December 8, 2011 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
Check out my latest article on Portland’s Free Homeownership Retention Program for seniors here.
