George Cook of the website Let's Talk Honestly did a special report in which he interviewed myself and other bloggers. The interviews revolved around Black Bloggers' reaction towards Michael Baisden and comments he made by towards the organization Color of Change .
Click here to listen to the interviews. Other Bloggers who were interviewed include:
Dwight Hunter Exodus Mentality
Yobachi Boswell blackperspective.net
Garlin Gilchrist II thesuperspade.com
Gina McCauley What About Our Daughters
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and continues to have a great weekend. It's hard not to have a great turkey day when the Cowboys roll the way that they did.
I'd like to thank each and every person who has made Dallas South a part of their internet routine. Of course the goal of the site is to provide positive images of African-Americas to combat the negative images portrayed by the mainstream media.
To that end I want to provide you the reader with information and opinions on happenings across Dallas, the nation and the world. Thank you for all the emails and comments, it really makes it easier to do what I do.
Lastly, I'd like to thank my sponsors:
Allmand & Lee -Bankruptcy Attorneys Dallas Texas
Smalls Travel – Cruise Giveaways
PharmAssist – Careers in Pharmaceutical Sales
Their support helped me travel to Jena and helped me upgrade my technology to proved more complete coverage.
Thanks again for reading, and may God Bless each and every one of your families.
Shawn
The following post is a paid review.
I remember moving to Dallas ten years ago and searching the area for a place to live. I called all these apartment locators who would fax me sheets with complexes I didn't know how to get to. It was the only way to go back then.
We'd call the complex and try to get as much information as possible the try to locate them with iffy directions. But what were you gonna do?
Now there is a better way to search for a place to live. You can use apartment finders to search for Dallas Apartments. Whether you're moving to North Texas as part of a relocation, shipping out across town, or upgrading your current place, this online search tool will help you to get where you want to go. This is also an excellent tool for someone interested in renting a house or in search of student housing for one of the local colleges or universities.
It's a one stop shop, get the 411 on your potential new home. All the info you need is in one place, including directions. Help define and refine your search by using Apartment Finders in your search of Dallas Apartments, the place to go for your renting needs.
Channel 8 (Belo) is running some type of expose on the SOC Basketball program tonight. I had heard this was coming and you can check for follow up info here sometime this week. Belo (Dallas Morning News) ran a story of a disgruntle NAACP official who wanted to oust president Casey Thomas. This SOC thing sounds like more sour grapes.
In today's Dallas Morning News, an opinion piece that I wrote appears in the Viewpoints section (If they build it, make sure you come). I don't really like the title or the tagline as that was only part of what I was trying to convey.
Thanks to Sharon Grigsby who edited the story and offered me the opportunity to share my views regarding development in Southern Dallas. If you like what you see please contact that Morning News (click here) and let them know.
Almost every elected official in Dallas County has come out publicly supporting economic development in southern Dallas. But it will take much more than hollow campaign promises if the area is to ever realize its true potential.
Southern Dallas is the most scenic part of the city, and with all due respect to Cedar Hill, Oak Cliff is where the Hill Country truly begins. And, according to the J. McDonald Williams Institute, crime in the area is not that much different from that of other parts of Dallas. So why does the city have such a hard time recruiting businesses south of Interstate 30? What keeps families from making the move? It's going to take some creative measures to reverse years of neglect and misperceptions.Stakeholders from all parts of the city must engage in unique partnerships to bring the vision of a holistic Dallas to fruition. Businesses, churches, neighborhood associations and government entities are all vital parts of securing a brighter future for those who live south of the Trinity River. These groups have traditionally worked independent of one another to achieve similar goals. But moving forward, everyone would benefit from synergistic collaborations that could be formed between these various groups. In 1999, a partnership between Dallas' African-American Pastors Coalition and Ryland Homes provided an early example of a successful collaboration between two unlikely groups. Together, they built 285 single-family homes just off Interstate 20 at a time when such a development was unheard of in that area. The success of Unity Estates is evident in housing projects that followed, as well as churches, car dealerships and restaurants. Target is building a store that backs up to Unity Estates and reportedly will be joined by Ross, Office Depot and Aldi. This is all the result of an atypical alliance that produced exceptional results. Another noteworthy association occurred between the Dallas Parks Department and Hawaiian Falls. The two groups came together to construct a water park (formerly known as Bahama Beach) just off Highway 67, which they bill as "the country's first inner-city waterpark." It's a stretch to say that the park is in the inner city, but its urban locale is noteworthy. Southern Dallas residents are looking for wholesome, family-friendly entertainment venues, and Hawaiian Falls has more than held up its end of the bargain. Last summer the company invested $250,000 in the park and has promised more improvements in the near future. Its owners also employed young people from the area and committed to partner with the community whenever possible. But if companies are going to disregard their business models to invest in the south, other city stakeholders must do everything in their power to ensure that, once located there, those operations remain viable. It may seem like enough to recruit a new store to the area, but a more comprehensive approach is required to ensure its sustainability. If pulpits are going to be used to solicit potential investors, then they should also encourage their congregations to patronize entities that have incurred a certain amount of risk by locating south. Residents should go out of their way to do business with those who build in the area. Finally, I would urge the city of Dallas to link up with its prodigal sons and daughters who inhabit the suburbs of North Texas. Many of these former residents worship and send their children to school in Dallas. How much more could they benefit from living in the city? Believe it or not, DISD produces many successful students who pursue careers as professionals, artists and entrepreneurs. So many of my friends who graduated from Skyline, Kimball, Carter and South Oak Cliff now live in Plano, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Duncanville. I believe their perspective would be valuable in crafting Dallas as a city where families can prosper through the generations and success doesn't have to equal skipping town. Numerous factors have contributed to the economic disparity between southern Dallas and our northern brethren. If there are any hopes of increasing the tax base in the south, all potential options must be examined. That includes unlikely associations and partnership between stakeholders from throughout the city. At the end of the day, when southern Dallas wins, all of Dallas wins. Shawn Williams publishes Dallas South Blog; his e-mail address is shawn@dallasouthblog.com.
Obsolescence – the state of being which occurs when a person, object, or service is no longer wanted even though it may still be in good working order.
I was president of the Texas A&M Chapter of the NAACP from 1994-1996 and I count Dallas President Casey Thomas as a friend. The organization is quite dear to me.
With all that said, I see the NAACP, especially the national organization, as losing touch with the very people it is charged to serve. As the realities of race in America has evolved, the NAACP has changed very little in how it addresses the issues of the day.
If the NAACP is not leading (I said leading) the effort in cases like the Jena 6, Genarlow Wilson, and Tyrone Brown that what are they doing? The group is really trying to find its way right now, that's evident in the change in leadership that occurred earlier this year.
It was a surprise to say the least when the NAACP broke with conventional wisdom and hired executive Bruce Gordon to lead the organization. Only 19 months into the job, Gordon resigned his post as president (last March).
Gordon's vision as president did not lineup with the NAACP's 64 member board . The former Verizon exec realized the NAACP was a civil rights group, but thought they could benefit from broadening their scope. He wanted to address more of Black America's pressing needs.
Julian Bond, chairman of the board said at the time, "Put simply, we fight racial discrimination and social service groups fight the effects of racial discrimination. Service is wonderful and praiseworthy and fabulous, but many, many organizations do it. Only a couple do justice work, and we're one of those few."
NAACP Mission
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
As the NAACP et. al. focus on hate crimes and discrimination, both of which need dealing with, who speaks for the other ills in the African-American community? We most definitely need to address the bias in the criminal justice, but the very soul of our communities are at stake here.
Take for instance the fact that from 2003-2005 a disproportionate number of African-Americans died in police custody. In that time period 2002 people died in police custody with 31.9% of those being black (appx. 639). African-Americans make up roughly 12% of the population. If your son or daughter made up that number, you would want answers.
But at the same time, if your black son or daughter died as a result of homicide at the hands of a black assailant, you would want answers as well. In 2003 & 2004, 16,276 African-Americans died as a result of homicide. More than 12,000 of those deaths were a result of firearms and if figures released earlier this year can guide us, then 9 of 10 of those deaths occurred at the hand of another African-American.
According to reports , the NAACP doesn't get involved in black on black crimes. I can understand that to an extent, but does that mean that the group is now predicated on the actions of others against us even at the expense of actions against ourselves? Take for instance the NAACP STOP Campaign. Will the NAACP go after Don Imus and Michael Richards, but ignore the Ying Yang Twins and Soulja Boy?
The NAACP needs to move forward, and by all estimations that is what Bruce Gordon was trying to do. The NAACP is working, but I hope that work is not in vain as the group spins its wheels waiting for the next national outrage. As the organization nears its 100th birthday, an audit of the way they do business is in order. Groups like Color of Change seem to have taken the NAACP's claimed mission and run with it.
The good thing is that the NAACP is not going anywhere. But as the founders of the Niagara Movement took a fresh approach to civil rights, so should its legacy organization. If the national leaders won't be moved, I have no doubt the young blood like Casey as well as the college branches will help them make the transition into the 21st Century. I count myself as part of that legacy.
For the last seven years, Friendship-West Baptist Church has held an event on Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving offering assistance to the homeless, who they (we) refer to as VIP's. The event kicks of each Wednesday night with a church service a couple of hours after dusk followed by a meal provided to those who are living on the streets. Throughout the night, men of the church are on the street ministering to those in need all the way through the morning.
Around 10 am on Thanksgiving, a larger portion of the congregation comes down for a larger meal and ceremony for those on the streets. This year the church is calling the event "The Lord's Wedding Banquet."
Friendship-West, like other churches in Dallas, have tried to help as best they could with the city's homeless situation. Of course Dallas is in the midst of building a new $21 million Homeless Assistance Center. Last week, Larry James and Central Dallas Ministries designated November 11-17 as Help the Homeless Week.
The residents of the Cedars area, in the southern portion of downtown, are not excited by the Friendship-West event. Here's a series of communications between a Cedars resident to the Dallas Police Department Lieutenant last week.
(To Dallas Police Lieutenant)
Thanks for the information, and for your help in this matter. I'll forward this message on, and hopefully we can get this stopped for good. In the event that some one person does give permission for this event to held on their property, can we as stake holders in the Cedars, still get it denied on the premise that, one persons decision should not be allowed to be a detriment to the rest of the neighborhood as a whole.
Thanks again for your help in this matter.
(From Resident)
(To Resident)
I'm sure you could get it denied. It would just take a community effort of documentation and/or emails.
Thanks!
(From Police Lieutenant)
(To Dallas Police)
I received an e-mail detailing an event that Friendship West Baptist church is trying to organize in the Cedars area of Dallas. I am a member of the Cedars Neighborhood Association, and a l own property in the Cedars. While I do not necessarily object to a church wanting to help individuals in the Dallas area, I feel that it is unfair to the citizens of the Cedars, to have the churches' "Lord Wedding Banquet" imposed on us.
The church has listed an address for this event of 1990 S. Ervay. There is no such address in Dallas. They also claim that the supposed lot is a vacant "City of Dallas" lot. I've checked with the Dallas Central Appraisal District, and there are no "City of Dallas" lots from 1700 to 2100 S. Ervay, except for "The Dallas Heritage Village". All the rest are privately owned lots. We have many residents in this area of Dallas, and the noise, trash, and crowds that an event like this always brings, is not welcome by myself, and I believe most of the others residents of the Cedars. (Incidentally this same church was a disturbance to this same neighborhood last year.)
The church seems to be trying to squat on a private piece of property, in a neighborhood that is not inviting them, to hold an event that will be a nuisance to it's residents. I would respectfully ask that you Turn Down Their Request. If the Friendship West Baptist Church really wants to have this event, they should send buses to bring the people to property they actually own, at 2020 Wheatland Rd., where their church is located. I'm sure none of their neighbors will mind the noise, trash, and crowds they generate at this event, but if the neighbors do mind, at least it's on the churches land, in the churches neighborhood.
(resident)
(To Cedars Resident)
Okay Folks,
Help me get the word out to your friends and neighbors.
The Lord's Wedding Banquet scheduled for Wednesday, November 21st, and Thursday, November 22nd has been
DENIED.
HOWEVER, there is one caveat.
If they get approval from the landowner at 1990 S. Ervay or ANY landowner in 'The Cedars,' it can still be approved.
Thanks!
(Dallas Police Lieutenant)
(Not sure who this is to)
We received a copy of the application for 'The Lord's Banquet' event to be held on November 21 and 22, 2007. The stakeholders in my area are very much against it. I will be fowarding all their emails to you to make you aware of their request that the application be denied. See below.
Thanks!
(Dallas Lieutenant of Police)
Helping the homeless is apparently now considered a "nuisance." I mean who would want to allow "this type of activity."
Make what you want of the above communications, but I'll say that a door has been opened, and the event will go on as planned. Thanks to the Waycross Baptist Church and their pastor, Rev. Alvin Jackson, SR, Friendship-West will serve the VIP's as scheduled. Pastor Jackson has opened the church parking lot for "The Lord's Wedding Banquet." I will post information on how interested parties can participate later in the week.
Somebody else from the Chicago Tribune is picking up on the web movement. This time it's columnist Clarence Page. Page focuses on a Chicago resident who staged a counter protest to Friday's hate crime rally. See Focus on hate crime is far too narrow .
Some of the highlights from Page's column.
I truly believe that were it not for the internet movement, the Dunbar Village case would be nowhere in the public consciousness. Through the efforts of What About Our Daughters and the Afrosphere, the light continues to shine on the horrors committed in West Palm Beach.
That Page has picked up on the story is huge for those of us who want to take a more wholistic approach to the deliverance of our people. We as a people need to look at the conditions of Dunbar Village and the condition of the perpetrators that would allow them to commit such a crime.
Residents in project complexes throughout the country are living in fear. Who's advocating on their behalf? Well black bloggers are, and Clarence Page has furthered the cause.
Today in a conversation regarding Friday's march, a friend of mine extolled Rev. Al Sharpton's ability to organize. I believe Friday will show us the true extent of this widely held opinion and offer a glimpse where Black activism stands as a result of the Jena 6 activities.
Rev. Sharpton's National Action Network is leading a March on the United States Department of Justice. "We feel that the federal government has failed to intervene in the cases of hate crimes — swastikas and nooses," Sharpton said on the groups website. "Since the federal government won't come to the people, we're going to bring the people to the federal government."
I'm at a loss on this one. I'm not in the predicting business, but I'm trying to figure out where the marchers will come from. Maybe some of the people who missed out on Jena want to get involved and will show up in D.C.
To be real, this march has been a non-factor on the internet. The only exception is a counter-protest by one blogger for what she perceives as silence by Shaprton regarding the Dunbar Village rape case. Rev. Sharpton promoted the march on radio -Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner- but there was no effort to reach out to what most have agreed is a powerful part of the new civil rights movement.
In a Chicago Tribune article regarding the place of black bloggers, Rev. Sharpton himself spoke highly of the new medium. "Ten years ago this couldn't have happened," said Sharpton, who said he first heard about the Jena case on the Internet. "You didn't have the Internet and you didn't have black blogs and you didn't have national radio shows. Now we can talk to all of black America every day. We've been able to form our own underground railroad of information, and when everybody else looks up, it's already done."
Well I guess only half of the Underground Railroad was used to promote this march. I can say I was surprised when I found out that there were meetings regarding a March on Washington and none of the bloggers that I communicate with were present either physically, by phone, or by webcam. Though I was surprised, I was not at all offended. I respect the NAN's right to organize this march as they see fit, but there's no doubt the group missed out on an opportunity.
My thought from the beginning has been, let's wait and see what happens. By now we can all agree, including Rev. Sharpton I'm sure, that there is no one leader for Black American and we are not a monolithic people. But my guess is that the blogs will be buzzing one way or another after Friday's protest.
It seems the La Salle Parish has conceded a major point in the case of one of the Jena 6 defendants. Judge J.P. Mauffray has decided to open the juvenile trial of Mychal Bell to the public.
A lawsuit filed by the Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, CNN and others seeks the reversal of Mauffray's decision to close all the proceedings in Bell's Case. According to a story that will appear in Friday's Chicago Tribune, the lawsuit is set to be heard next Wednesday while Bell is scheduled to go on trial Dec.6 on charges of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy.
Read the Howard Witt's Tribune story here.
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