Eagerly and Anxiously Awaiting the “Good News”

Posted on August 14, 2008 by Shawn Williams

Much ado about nothing as usual is surrounding Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his use of text messaging to announce his VP running mate. I personally am elated with the idea of using commonly used technology to spread his much anticipated running mate.

I am a text messaging fiend will respond quicker to a text message than the actual ring of the phone. Anywho I guess its no wonder that the haters are out in full force. Truly, is it any wonder when the competitions party refers to “The Google” and “The Internets” that they might find the thought of text messaging a bit daunting.

I do know that the VP candidate will not be Edwards much to my dismay; Edwards embodied a smooth come on over I’m your neighbor let’s have a chat type of vibe. I do know that I Do Not want to see Clinton’s name come across in my inbox or I might have my first official problem with the Obama campaign. Other than that I will happily await the “good news” and eagerly anticipate the flurry of text messages to follow among friends.

The Immigrant Experience and the Black Experience

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Shawn Williams

By Jazzy of Because I Said So

Past immigrants came to this country seeking refuge from oppressive governments and economic freedom. For many of them they found their American Dream through hard work and education.

Today’s immigrants have arrived in America for many of the same reasons. But the genetic makeup of immigrants today has shifted dramatically from solely Caucasians to include a number of people of color and other ethnicities.

I imagine that most immigrants have a very forgiving view of America and an “I’m so happy to be here” (excuse the Coming to America reference) attitude. They may find it confusing and wonder why Black people have had such a difficult time adjusting.

America was our oppressor we had no other country that opened its arms and said come here and begin a better life, no other country to offer economic freedom. America to Black people is what so many immigrants ran from.

America for Black People only became the land of “opportunity” at the end of Jim Crow. So while, immigrants came to this country believing they could do better we have lived in this country hoping to achieve the same.

Whereas immigrants have had family businesses and the ability to accumulate wealth for decades to pass onto future generations, that was not to be the case for the America Negro. We are playing catch up, running a race where the leader is yards ahead. So if my outlook is different than yours please don’t think that I am ungrateful to live in this country just know that I sure as hell don’t feel indebted.

Should HIV/AIDS be viewed as a Chronic Illness?

Posted on July 31, 2008 by Shawn Williams

By Jazzy of Because I Said So

HIV/AIDS is often compared to other chronic illness which, in my opinion could pose a problem for intervention. By definition HIV/AIDS does fall into the Chronic illnesscategory because it to date still remains incurable. However, with the increase in HIV/AIDS AIDS infection rates among Black women maybe a different terminology should be used to convey the seriousness of living with HIV/AIDS and its complications.

HIV/AIDS is unlike any other disease recorded in history. It’s mechanism of infection of seek and destroy, at present has made it difficult to create an effective system of containment. Health educators can teach the importance of self protection but for many they, are still willing to participate in risky behavior.

Dr. Berkley believes that because HIV/AIDS is now becoming viewed as a chronic problem treatable with antiretrovirals, and the fact that less than 10 percent of people who are infected know their status makes interventions for prevention and treatment difficult (Koop, Pearson, & Schwarz, 2002).

It is my personal belief that a lack of self appreciation and gender respect helps to proliferate the spread of HIV/AIDS. Women often find themselves placing the needs of others above their own. The mental and emotional stress from this mentality has lead to a neglect of self, which in some ways are allowing HIV/AIDS to invade at high rates.

Two Local Organizations:

SAAVED

AIDs Interfaith Network Faith Based

Information for those looking to fund a HIV/AIDS program

National Prevention Information Network

The Great American Equalizer: Even with education African-Americans still find earning gap exists

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Shawn Williams

By Jazzy

Education and hard work are the consistent mantra that permeates the essence of the American Dream. Education, as we know, is not created equally nor is it extolled equally. Schools in lower socioeconomic areas are rife with underperforming curricula, in desperate need of updated teaching materials, and innovated ideas to excite beaten down students to achieve a goal they believe unattainable in the first place.

For many students in lower socioeconomic areas the belief that they have a chance to enter college is surreal. Many struggle with the basics because they are never driven to learn or even taught but rather pushed on to the next level. For those not lost in the public school systems they head off to college earn their degree and look forward to their future. A future, according to the America dream, should grant them privileges and entrance into a new world far from what many of them knew.

Even though -according to data-there is a closing in income among Black household incomes in comparison to their white counterparts, a glaring disparity exists between white men and black men to the tune of approximately $10,000 with the same degree and experience.

Soledad Obrien mentioned in the CNN special Black in America that White men who are ex-cons are more likely to receive a job offer in comparison to black men with an education, because the perception is that black men are lazy and don’t know how to dress properly.

There are no more visible chains and shackles than these biases, but what remains is far more pervasive, unjustified perceptions and insidious stereotypes that are used as excuses to permit and mask underlining racial prejudices; be they conscious or subconscious.

So what then happens when you do everything according to the playbook and you still come up short? How do we keep young Black adults encouraged when they realize that even with the Great American Equalizer they still come up short?

Which came first??? An introspective by Jazzy

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Shawn Williams

I’d like to introduce another voice to Dallas South – and its a good one. Please welcome Jazzy, our newest guest blogger who I hope will drop by once a week. Jazzy publishes the blog Because I Said So so make sure you check out her site. Thanks J for agreeing to share your thoughts.

By Jazzy

Which comes first my womanhood or my blackness?

This is a debate that I have had within myself since my sophomore year in college. A debate that I discuss often among my friends. Can you be a woman of color and differing ethnicity and separate these traits from your womanhood or must one take precedent above the other.

I remember reading the Invisible Man in college and often felt invisible myself and wondered who if anyone has so eloquently written the story of the invisible black woman.

Who do I belong to first? Who am I? Who needs me the most: the black community or women? I have come to the conclusion for me the two are inseparable. I am not one without the other; my womanhood is shaped by my race. I am unable to separate blackwoman into two words.

Are there any other race/ethnicity of women/men that go through this struggle or do I alone struggle with reconciling these feelings?