Thursday, February 21, 2008

Question

Do you think Barack Obama, if elected President of The United States Of America, will or should apologize on behalf of the U.S. government for Slavery, Jim Crow Laws, stolen land and the many other atrocities committed against African Americans?


Japanese Americans who were interned during World War two received an apology and monetary compensation from the U.S. government. The details are below.

In 1988, U.S. President (and former California governor) Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which had been pushed through Congress by Representative Norman Mineta and Senator Alan K. Simpson — the two had met while Mineta was interned at a camp in Wyoming — which provided redress of $20,000 for each surviving detainee, totaling $1.2 billion dollars. The question of to whom reparations should be given, how much, and even whether monetary reparations were appropriate were subjects of sometimes contentious debate.

World War Two internment camp

On September 27, 1992, the Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992, appropriating an additional $400 million in order to ensure that all remaining internees received their $20,000 redress payments, was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, who also issued another formal apology from the U.S. government.


Would you hope for or expect an apology from Barack Obama?

Do you think the United States owes African Americans an apology?



Japanese Internment Information courtesy Wikipedia

25 comments:

Ann Brock said...

MDC another great question. If Obama becomes president we should expect the same thing from him an, apology. He's running on change therefore, I am looking for change. Maybe we will get our 40 acres and a mule because, it's long over due.

Sleeperwithheavyeyes said...

I don't know if an apology from Obama would mean anything. It's not that he wouldn't be sincere. But, even though he isn't descended from slaves, it would seem like since he's Black, African Americans would be apologizing to themselves. I do think the government should apologize though, I feel that it is unlikely, especially in light of the fact that the aborigines of Australia followed up their governments apology with a legal call for reparations.

Anonymous said...

No no, and no. Unfortunately, the US bases the case of slavery on the fact that many slaves never had any certification that their ancestors were slaves themselves. Also, If we really went and calculated how much money was owed to African-Americans in this country, it would be insane. The country would dive into a worse recession. Of course, some states have already issued apologies as well as some other countries, because their leaders at least have a better understanding of the responsibility the ancestors have for slavery and its continuing effects.

As for Barack saying the apology, it just wouldn't be as effective, because Barack is a Black man. That'd be like him apologizing to his own people, and that makes no sense. It'd have to be a rich, white, male Protestant leading the country in one form or another, so that apology might never happen.

Allison Miranda said...

Whew, that's a slightly heavy question! :-)

I honestly don't think that Obama should apologize for White people, the ones that actually committed the act. It would mean a LITTLE more to me if it actually came from a White president for some reason.

As far as monetary compensation goes, I do feel that we deserve something. What I found out a few years ago, some of the Japanese-Americans that received that money tore the checks up! What is so different btwn us and them that they got $20,000, and no one wants to even hear Black people hint at reparations! They feel like Affirmative Action and HUD, etc (which benefits mostly White or other minority women besides Black) are "reparations."

I sometimes feel like this country doesn't care about us Blacks at all-this is one of the reasons why I got out of the military. And the media gets angry with Michelle Obama when she said this is the first time she's proud of this country. Look at what Blacks have gone through to get what they have!

Anonymous said...

No! The victim should not apologize. I know his family history is not tied to slavery in the Americas. But, the same colonial powers responsible for slavery in the Americas is responsible for the horrible conditions of Kenya today. The British terrorized the people of Kenya, they cut off limbs of people that didn't pay taxes to them for the land the Kenyans owned for hundreds of years before the British arrived. They killed several Kenyans during the Mau Mau uprising in the sixties, so no! But, since he would be operating as the representative of the OFFICE of the President of the United States I would not be suprised if he did apologize for slavery.

tasha212 said...

I think that America owes us more than an apology. America needs to pay up. The fact of the matter is that this country wouldn't be in the position that it is if it weren't for over 400 years of black free slave labor. I don't know if Barack is the appropriate person to make the apology. Would it mean the same coming from him being that he is a black man? Why do we have to wait for a black man to get into office to get an apology?

Julie said...

I would like to see an apology and reparation from the US government. I don't know if that's what I want the next President to have as one of their top priorities. There are other, more current issues, that I think need immediate attention. Maybe after some of the last administrations wrongs are turned around - then the next President can focus on going back and fixing earlier wrongs.

I feel this way regardless of who is President. I do not hold Obama to a higher standard than any other candidate on this issue.

kayoz said...

okay, i know it could get hairy for me there, but i don't think he should apologize.
diplomatically speaking: although it would be a great gesture, when he starts apologizing to one group which had to suffer from the american way of dealing with people he soon wouldn't be able to cover up his actual political work, because other groups will expect apologies too. and it is very hard to set priorities on this one as you can easily insult people by preferring to apologize to one group and not the other...

why don't just make a cut and have a fresh start...i don't mean to forget and forgive, but taking the new chances...

Lady Di said...

@6:20 - agreed!!

Unknown said...

Mes Deux Cents,
This was a big issue proposed in Chicago by former Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman.
http://worldnewssite.com/News/2002/October/2002-10-03-9-Chicago.html

http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=13635§ionID=1

Politics are so perplexing.

I am a believer that people evolve and opinions change and ultimately I just hope he becomes a good, conscientious president who commits himself to the right causes and to the masses who have so much faith in him.

As always, you promote great think-tank discussion!

Don said...

Honestly, it wouldn't change anything no matter what mouth an apology came out of. Neither would reparations. I wouldn't take anything that is meant to "say I am sorry" for the dead wrong stuff that was did, to those who are dead and gone. I can't even imagine being a real live slave for my entire life. That's cold.

Also, Obama would be a fool if he stood up and apologized for it. lol.

Loved this post, as usual. Thought provoking.

GoldenAh said...

>>Would you hope for or expect an apology from Barack Obama?

Nope.

>>Do you think the United States owes African Americans an apology?

Since I'm naturalized my ancestors weren't held in bondage here. However, I've always wondered why the discussion from the US govt can't be more straightforward. I remember Clinton had a black historian heading some committee to study race relations. Clinton made some semi-apologies, but nothing more than that.

I lay the blame with the CBC. They could have pushed for this a long time ago.

I believe that there should be a national day recognizing the evil of slavery and its end in this country, which predates some Latin America and Caribbean countries by 50 years plus.

There's too much of a bury it under the rug and "get over it" mentality from media, and maybe academia, in addressing this issue. I suspect if this was dealt with in the open, that'd be an improvement. Plus, it would make for a refreshing clean slate for this new millennium.

mp1 said...

that's a really heavy question. I really wouln't expect it to happen. When blacks are in position of power, it's expected that they will neglect some of the issues that are pertinent to their community. If Obama were to issue this apology,many whites would characterize him as a "black" president, a race man so to speak. I bleieve that it'd definitely hinder any chance he had at re-election.

An apologyhowever would be in order.I just don't believe that he'd be the correct person to issue the apology. That should include the executive as well as the Congress. And if that were done, it'd set off a precedent. Demands for reparations wouldn't be far behind. That's a large part of the reason why nor formal apology has been extended imo.

Anonymous said...

How would we determine how much money we should get and who should get it. I mean, what age group. Do both of your parents have to be black. I know they use to say that if you have 1/10 black blood in your system then you were black. Seems to me that a lot of people would be claiming to be black in order to get reparations. It seems ironic that a black man as the commander and chief of the united states of america would have to apologize to himself on behalf of the government that enslaved his people.

Mes Deux Cents said...

JJ B,

That is a great point you make about change. That would be a real change.

_____________________________________

HC,

I think an apology is in order as well. I think the Australia situation is very interesting.

___________________________________

Jose,

So would you expect an apology from Hillary?
___________________________________

Randi,

I think WE all understood what Michelle meant, I think others (in the media) understand too but are playing dumb.

I totally agree with her.
___________________________________

Ensayn,

I wonder if this will come up in the general election.
___________________________________

Tasha,

I agree that we should be compensated in some way. I think an apology would be a good start.
___________________________________

FL,

Yep we do have a lot of problems to fix.

___________________________________

Kayoz,

So you don't think that Germany should have apologized and paid reparations to the Holocaust survivors?

___________________________________

Lady di,

What do you mean?

___________________________________

House on a Hill,

Thanks for the link!
___________________________________

Don,

But don't you expect apologies from people that do wrong things to you in your life?
___________________________________

GoldenAh,

John Conyers has introduced reparations legislation each year for a very long time and it has gone nowhere.
___________________________________

mp1 v.8.0

I agree that it might be better coming from Congress.
___________________________________

Anon,

I'm not sure; the question was about an apology not reparations. I just used the Japanese American example to show that the U.S. has apologized before.
___________________________________
___________________________________

kayoz said...

oh mdc, i feared that kind of response. that is not what i meant. but see, the germans only apologized to the jews, much later to the sinti and roma after they fought hard for it...what about the victims of euthanasia, about the homosexuals, the politicals, the they just don't fit into our ideal-people who had to suffer?
all i meant to say is, when obama starts to apologize, he will have to apologize to a lot more than just to African Americans!
and about the reparations, the US just put up a new record in debts... so money the country doesn't really have will have to be spent on sooo many people the economy would break down.

and as i said, it is not about forgive and forget, but perhaps it will be forgotten, if you can say: "well, he apologized for it, so let's get back to business!"

if you want to move forward as a society, as multicultural it may be, you have to find some kind of agreement. and i doubt it can be found with stressing the conflicts within.

i'd rather not be german, but that's unfortunately a burden i was given by birth and i have to live with it. but if i have to define myself, i define myself as a human being first. and nationality as much as skin color, religion or even gender truly comes last on my list of identity items...

idealistic as i am, i'm dreaming of a society which defines its members by what they have in common and not in what way they differ...

Don said...

Don,

But don't you expect apologies from people that do wrong things to you in your life?


Sometimes...but as far as your post, the real live slaves are all dead now. That's why I don't think an apology would matter.

Those are the ones who really, REALLY suffered.

Nevermind, Mes, I feel like you are picking on me...lol

T.I.C. said...

If we get an apopogy it should be from P. Bush because Hillary may not make it to the w/house, and Barack Obama can't apologize for something he had no part of.

Mes Deux Cents said...

Kayoz,

I understand what you are saying but I think that if awrong is done an apology is in order. It may not be simple to say sorry but the wrong done was not simple either.

As for reparations; that's another issue that would require a lot of thoght and time to work out. But reparations do not always have to be paid in cash. They can be paid in tax breaks and other things.

And I love your idealizm! :)

___________________________________

Don,

Lol, I'm not messing with you. I'm just saying that what we expect in our one on one relationships are the same things we should expect in our collective relationships.

___________________________________

T.I.C.,

It is very complicated insn't it.
___________________________________
___________________________________

Ehav Ever said...

I think one of the differences between what Germany did and the American situation is that, even to this day many Germans feel bad about what took place during the Holocaust. There are a lot of young Germans who come to Israel to volunteer because they feel they need to do something to make up for the past. Also, the Holocaust is still somewhat recent. There are apologetic Germans who remember what went on in their country. With Slavery in America the time span is getting further and further away.

When I lived in America I don't remember a lot of Americans, whose ancestors could be linked to slavery, having emotions about it in the same way. It is hard even in this day and time to identify exactly who in the modern era carries the ancestral responsibility for it.

I also think that the call for apologies and reparations often falls on deaf ears based on how it is presented as well as a few facts I will list below.

1) I believe the use of the word slave to describe those who were enslaved makes them seem a lot less than people. I instead would call them Victims of Institutionalized Enslavement. By using this group of wording they are first and foremost PEOPLE, and the system was accepted on a corporate and governmental level.

2) When you put people in a system which is accepted on a governmental and corporate level more people can relate to that. Continuously calling said people slaves separates the human element of WHO they were, and people can't relate to things that don't have an human element.

3) Personally, I think it is really late for slavery reparations. The people who were directly affected are to far long gone. Most people today no matter what their race can really relate to the American system of slavery. Thus legally it is hard to make a direct link to every African American's situation in relation to slavery.

4) If a case should be made for the present it should be based on Legal and Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism from 1900 to the 1960's. (Just to put it into a specific time set that can be easily identified from a legal perspective.) I.e. Jim Crow and legal lynchings were Racism and Terrorism. Because the American waited to late to do something about it they are legally responsible for every lynching or racists act against American citizens.

5) Not being able to identify every African American's specific connection to people who were Institutionally Enslaved and Illegally Imprisoned also makes the case very difficult to interpret legally in terms of what they are owed. For example, specifically what families had their rights infringed on? To what degree? Was land lost or stolen? What was the value of lost land? What did the governments do to protect their rights? With specifics to these kind of questions, and the ability to make direct links it would easier to make a legal case on why an apology or reparations are appropriate. Yet, this could easily be disproportionate for different groups of African Americans.

With Japanese interned by the US government there were people who specifically could show how the government infringed on the rights of specific people. With the Jews who survived the Holocaust there were specific people who could show they were directly affected by what the German did.

Personally, I think what should happen is a group of African Americans who can trace their situation back to SPECIFIC people who were enslaved as well as SPECIFIC family members who suffered under Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism should bring a lawsuit against the responsible state and national structures that did not prevent the Civil Rights of said family members from being infringed upon. They could set a legal precedent for people who can do the same.

Unknown said...

Bill Clinton gave an apology of sorts during a visit to Africa when he was president. That was as close as i expect from any President. I don't expect or want an apology for a President Obama (if he gets elected). I want him to bring the nation together and I accept that an apology would pull us apart.

I also don't expect or want reparations any longer. Frankly, the best reparations our community can have is a Black president that has a soul (as opposed to a Clarence Thomas like president).

peace, Villager

Lady Di said...

MDC - I am agreeing with Jose. I think he summed it up for me very well.

Mes Deux Cents said...

Ehav,

You site time limitations as a reason reparations would not be feasible.

First; I didn’t really mention reparations for African Americans, only the question of an apology.

But if I were to address the point you make I'd say this; it is not our fault that we were not able to sue for reparations immediately after slavery. One because reparations had been promised but not paid, forty acres and a mule.

Second; the climate of suppression during that time would have made it impossible for Black people to sue for reparations.

So the point about too much time elapsing is due to circumstances beyond the control of African Americas.
___________________________________

Villager,

Is that what that was; an apology? I don't consider going to Africa to apologize a valid apology.

It might pull us apart but that would be on White people not us.
___________________________________

Lady Di,

Okay got it! :)
___________________________________
___________________________________

Ehav Ever said...

Hey MDC,

I think you misunderstand what I wrote. First, I wrote, "I think that the call for apologies and reparations often falls on deaf ears based on how it is presented as well as a few facts I will list below."

My comments about reparations weren't specifically towards you. There were several comparisons made in the comments between Japanese internments during WWII and about the Holocaust. When one considers that the US owes AA's an apology, the concept of some form reparations should not be far behind it. What is suitable reparations several generations later is up for debate.

I am simply pointing out the differences in groups who have received apologies and reparations in the past.

I am not placing a blame on the ancestors of modern AA's for not being able to bring up legal actions about reparations or an apology. From what I understand some of them did bring up legal actions, maybe not on the national level. I also have heard that some AA's did receive some compensation. Yet, this was not a national thing and the circumstances varied on the group of individuals and their ability to fight for such things.

I am simply stating some of the reasons that non-African Americans who run the American government may not take such things as an apology seriously for Institutionalized Enslavement of African Americans.

If everyone agrees that a formal apology has not been made on the national US level and such an apology is necessary, the question then is why not? That is what I am addressing. I am saying that maybe the approach for getting such a thing needs to be considered if it hasn't been accomplished as of yet.

Thus, I also wrote:

Personally, I think what should happen is a group of African Americans who can trace their situation back to SPECIFIC people who were enslaved as well as SPECIFIC family members who suffered under Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism should bring a lawsuit against the responsible state and national structures that did not prevent the Civil Rights of said family members from being infringed upon. They could set a legal precedent for people who can do the same.

Mes Deux Cents said...

Ehav,

I agree; maybe some people are already working on that. That would be a first step.

MDC's Library

1720 Entertainment (1) 1983 DeTomaso Pantera (1) 2007 (1) 2007 Best Videos (1) 2007 Track and Field World Championships (4) 2007 WNBA Conference Finals (1) 2007 WNBA Finals (5) 2007 WNBA Western Conference Finals (1) 2007 World Track and Field Championships (1) 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (1) 2008 Grammy Awards (2) 2008 Presidential Race (28) 2008 Resolutions (1) 2008 Super Bowl (1) 3 A.M. (1) 3LW- No More (1) 59th Street Bridge (1) 7 Star Hotel (1) 7 Train (2) A Beautiful Face (2) A Beautiful Picture (131) A Cute Picture (1) A funny picture (2) A House is not a Home (1) A Rainy Day (1) A Raisin in the Sun (1) A Tribe Called Quest Leaders of the New School (1) A Week Of Positive Blogging (9) A-Ha - Take On Me (1) Aaliyah (7) Aaliyah - Christmas in Washington (1997) (1) Aaliyah We Miss You (1) Africa (1) African American Aviation (1) African American Churches (1) African American Enslavement (1) African American History (3) African American Men (1) African Americans and Cable T.V. (2) Agra (1) Airbus A380 (1) Al B. Sure - Nite And Day (1) Albuquerque (1) Alexander O'Neal and Cherelle - Saturday Love (1) Alice Smith (4) Alice Smith - Dream (Live) (1) Alicia Keys (7) Alicia Myers - I Want To Thank You (1) Allegory (1) Allyson Felix (3) AM Radio (1) Amazon.com (1) Amel Larrieux (2) America Ferrera (1) Amii Stewart - Knock on Wood (1) Amsterdam (2) Amtrak (1) Amy Winehouse (7) Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game (1) Amy Winehouse - Moody's Mood For Love (1) and Mary (1) And this is what I think about that... (1) Angel Lola Luv (2) Angela Bofill - I Try (1) Angela Y Davis (1) Angelina-Jolie (2) Antarctica (1) Arbor Day (1) Arc de Triomphe (2) Aresenio Hall (1) Aretha Franklin - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1) Aretha Franklin - Until You Come Back To Me (1) Arizona (1) Arrested Development - Tennessee (1) Art (3) Ask This Black Woman (1) Assata Shakur Part One (1) Assata Shakur Part Two (1) Astoria (1) Athletics (1) Atlanta (4) Attallah Shabazz (1) August 28 - 1963 (1) Australia (2) Autumn (1) Aviation (1) Bad Photoshopping (1) Balances By Nikki Giovanni (1) Bandy Bandy (1) Barack and Michelle (1) Barack Obama (11) Barak Obama (2) Barbara Mason - Another Man (1) Bart Simpson (1) Basia - New Day for You (1) Beautiful Earth (1) Beautiful Italy (1) Beautiful Moon Over Spain (1) Beautiful Photo (1) Beautiful Puerto Rico (1) Beautiful Rome (1) Before dawn (1) Being Prepared (1) Belgium (1) Ben Harper (1) Benazir Bhutto (2) Bermuda (1) Bessie Coleman (1) BET (1) BET/ Viacom (7) Beverly Johnson (1) BeyoncĆ© (1) Bill Clinton (1) Bill Cosby (1) Bill O'Reilly (1) Billary (3) Billet-doux (1) Billie Holiday (2) Bills (1) Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen (1) Birthdays (1) Black and Green Flag (1) Black Blog Rankings (2) Black Fire White Fire (1) Black History Month (21) Black Sea (1) Black Women (3) Black Women Vote (1) Black Women's Roundtable (1) Black-Eyed Peas (1) BlackAndMarriedWithKids (1) Blogger Protest (3) Blogger Tag (4) Blogging (14) Blogging Break (1) Blogs I love (2) Blogs I Read (3) BlogTalkRadio (1) BOB (Bombs Over Baghdad) (1) Bob Marley (1) Bob Marley - Redemption Song (1) Bob Marley and The Wailers (1) Bobby Caldwell What You Won't Do For Love (1) Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now (1) Bonnie Raitt - Something To Talk About (1) Books (3) Bora Bora French Polynesia (1) BoringBlackChick (2) Boston (3) Boycotts (1) Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (1) Brandy - I Wanna Be Down (1) Brasil (1) Breast Cancer (1) Brehat Island (1) Britney Spears (1) Brixton (1) Brooklyn Bridge (1) Browngirl (1) Brownstone (2) Brussels at Nightfall (1) Brussels Belgium at night (1) Bucky Done Gun (1) Buenos Aires At Night (1) Burj Al-Arab Hotel (1) Burqa (1) Bus (2) Bush Clinton Dynasty (2) C-Bank - One more shot (1) Cable T.V. (1) CafĆ© Society (1) California (3) California Attorney General (1) Calloway with The Nicholas Brothers - Jumpin' Jive (1) Cape Town SA (1) Cappie Pondexter (6) Carnival (2) Cathay Williams (1) CBS Corp. (1) Celia Cruz (1) Cell Phones (1) Central Park at Night (1) Chaka Khan (1) Champagne (1) Champs-ElysĆ©es (1) Change featuring Luther Vandross - The Glow Of Love (1) Character Corner (2) Charles Barkley (1) Charlotte - North Carolina (1) Cheaters (1) Chemotherapy (1) Cheryl Lynn - Encore (1) Chesapeake Bay Bridge (1) Chic - I Want Your Love (1) Chicago (2) Chicago at night (1) China (3) China's Support Of Genocide In Dafur (2) Chris Isaac - Wicked Game (1) Chrisette Michelle (1) Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (1) Christine Arron (1) Christine Beatty (1) Christmas (8) Christmas Day (2) Christmas Music (3) Christmas Party (1) Christopher Williams - I'm Dreamin' (1) Chubb Rock - Treat 'em Right (1) Chudney Ross (1) Church (1) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1) Ciara - Get Up (1) Cindy Blackman (1) Cities (2) Cities I like (1) Clear Channel Communications (1) Cloned Meat (1) Club Nouveau - Why you treat me so bad (1) College (1) Colonel Abrams -Trapped (1) Color Preference Test (1) Comment War (1) Comments (2) Common Sense (1) Community (1) Conflict (1) Consumerism (1) Conya Doss (1) Cora Brown (1) Corinne Bailey Rae (1) Corinne Bailey Rae - Like A Star (1) Corrine Bailey Rae (1) Costa Rica (1) Country Music (1) Courtney and Angela (1) Crazy Comments (1) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising (1) Crime (1) Cristal champagne (1) Cuba (2) Culture (1) Cynda Williams - Harlem Blues (1) Cynthia Tucker (2) Dallas (2) Dana Owens (1) Dance Theatre of Harlem (1) Dance Thursday Rerun with the Lockers (1) Dance Thursday The Challenge - Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis (1) Darfur (1) Das Efx - They Want Efx (1) dave brubeck take five (1) Dave Matthews Band - Crash Into Me (1) De La Soul - Me (1) DeBarge - Stay With Me (1) Debit Card (1) Debra Laws with Ronnie Laws - Special (1) Deele - Two Occasions (1) Delaware State University (1) Delegates Count (1) Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further (1) Dennis Kucinich (1) Denroy Morgan - I'll Do Anything for You (1) Denzel (3) Deon Estus (1) Destiny's Child (1) Detroit (1) Detroit Shock (1) Dexter Gordon (1) Diana and Flo (1) Diana Taurasi (2) Did you know (1) Dionne Farris - Hopeless (1) Dionne Warwick (1) DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Summertime (1) DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (1) DjennĆ© (1) Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (1) Dorothy Dandridge (1) Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Sunshower (1) DST (1) Dubai (1) DĆ¼sseldorf by Night (1) Economy (1) Ecuador (1) Eddie Murphy (1) Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue (1) Edmonia Lewis (1) Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You (1) Egypt (1) Ehav Ever (1) Eiffel from the Seine River (1) Elaine Brown (1) Electronic Village (3) email (1) En Vogue - Hold On (1) Enigma - Sadness (1) Enya - Orinoco Flow (1) Erykah Badu (2) ESPN (1) Essence (1) Essential Presence (5) Ethiopia (2) Etienne Aigner (1) EurWeb.com (1) Eve - Tambourine (1) Evelyn "Champagne" King - Betcha She Don't Love You (1) Exploitation (1) Fabulous Is A Choice (1) Faith Evans - You Used To Love Me (1) Fall (1) Fall Fashion (1) Falling In Love (1) FAME (1) Family (1) Fashion (1) Faux - Heterosexuality (1) FCC (1) Feelings (1) Fiji Islands (2) File (1) Film (3) Final Post For Now (1) Finding Jesus (1) Five Questions (1) Five Star - Let Me Be the One (1) Flashdance (1) Flava Flav (1) Flea Markets (2) Floetry (1) Floods Across Africa (1) FM Radio (1) Fog (2) Fond Memories (1) Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat (1) Food (3) Food Recall (1) Force MD's - Tender Love (1) France (2) Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (2) Frank (1) Frankie Crocker (1) Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus (1) Freddie Jackson - Rock Me Tonight (1) Freetown Christiania (1) Frida Kahlo (1) Friday Rare Groove: Chuckii Booker - Turned Away (1) Friday Rare Groove: Joyce Sims - All and All (1) Friendship (2) Fruit (1) Fugees (2) Gene Anthony Ray (1) General Electric (1) Genocide (1) George Bush (2) George Kranz - Din Da Da (1) Germany (1) Gibson Brothers - Cuba (1) Giovanca -Joyride (1) Girls (1) Giving (1) Glamour Magazine (1) Global Warming (1) Goapele (1) Goapele - Closer (1) Golden Globes (1) Good Morning America (1) GOP (1) Government (5) Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper (1) Greece (1) Greenwich Village (1) Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down (1) Groceries (1) Groove Theory (1) Gulf of Tonkin (1) Gwen Guthrie - It Should Have Been You (1) Gwen Stefani (1) Hair (1) Halifax (1) Hall and Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (1) Halle Berry (1) Halloween (1) Hanukkah (1) Happiness (1) Happy Birthday Aaliyah... (1) Happy New Year 2008 (2) Harajuku Girls (1) Harajuku Station (1) Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (1) Harper's Bazaar Japan (1) Havana (1) Havana Cuba (2) HBCU (2) Heaven Help Me (1) heteronyms (1) heterophones (1) HickTownPress (1) Highland Ave (1) Hillary Clinton (5) Hip Hop (2) Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop) (1) Hippies (1) Historic Moments (1) Holiday (3) Holland (1) Hollywood Blvd (1) Hollywood CA (1) Home (2) Homeland Security (1) HomelandColors (2) Homophones (1) Hong Kong At Night (2) Hootie And The Blowfish - Hold My Hand (1) Hope That We Can Be Together Soon (1) House Party - Dance off: Kid and Play (Music: Ain't My Type Of Hype - Full Force) (1) Houses (1) Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby (1) Hurricane Katrina (1) Hwy 101 (1) I Am Legend (1) I Hate Rap Rant (1) I have a question (3) I hope (1) I Love Music (1) I smell the 80's (1) I Want This (1) Ibiza Spain (1) Iceland (1) Idioms (1) If you love me (1) IFC (1) Imagination - Just an Illusion (1) Iman (1) Indai.Arie (1) Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (1) India (1) Indian Ocean (1) Inner City - Big Fun (1) Inner Life - I'm caught up (1) Interesting Music (1) Interesting Photo (1) Interestingness (1) Iowa (2) ipod (3) Iran (1) Irene Morgan Kirkaldy (1) Isiah Thomas (1) Isla Verde Beach (1) It's In The eyes (1) It's Ndel's World; You're Just Reading It (1) Italy (1) itunes (1) Jackie Moore - This Time Baby (1) Jade - Don't Walk Away (1) Jamaica (1) James "D-Train" Williams- Keep On (1) James Brown Lyrics - Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud) (1) Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (1) Janelle MonĆ”e (1) Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (1) January 16 (1) Japan (1) Jay Z (1) jazzfm (1) Jazzyfatnastees (1) Jean Baylor (1) Jean-Michel Basquiat (1) Jeb Bush In 2012 (1) Jeff Goldblum (1) Jena6 (1) Jennifer Beals (2) Jermaine Jackson - Do What You Do (1) Jermaine Stewart - Word is Out (1) Jimmy Jam (1) Jimmy Scott (1) Joan Armatrading (5) Joan Armatrading - Love And Affection (1) Jody Watley Still a Thrill (1) Joe Public - Live and learn (1) Joe Ski Love - Pee Wee Dance (1) Joffrey Ballet (1) John Coltrane (2) John Edwards (1) John Howard Payne (1) John Legend Corinne Bailey Rae (1) John McCain (1) John Wayne (1) Johnny Was (1) Jonathan Butler - Lies (1) Jr. (1) Jr. from the film Tap (1) Juanita Bynum (1) Judge Hatchett (1) Juneteenth (1) Junior - Mama Used To Say (1) JURNEE SMOLLETT (1) Justice (1) Justin D. Ross (1) Kamala Harris (1) Kano - I'm Ready (1) Karen Alexander (1) Karen Young - Hot Shot (1) Karyn White featuring Babyface - Love Saw It (1) Kashif and Meli'sa Morgan - Love Changes (1) Kathleen Neal Cleaver (1) Kauai Hawaii (1) keith sweat - Make it Last Forever feat Jackie McGhee (1) Kelis - Caught Out There (1) Kenya (2) Keyshia Cole (1) KFC (1) Kiva (1) Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (1) Kuala Lumpur (1) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (1) Kumari Fulbright (1) Kwanzaa (1) La Flavour - Mandolay (1) Labor Day (1) Laguna Beach (1) Lake Como (1) Lake Michigan (1) Lake Powell (1) Las Vegas Nevada (1) Latin Quarter (1) Lauren Hill (1) Lauryn Hill (2) Lauryn Hill - Little Drummer Boy (1) Law Enforcement (1) Led Zeppelin (1) Led Zeppelin - All My Love (1) Ledisi (2) Leela James (1) Leela James - Music (1) Left Eye (1) Lennox Lewis (1) Lenny Kravitz (2) Lenny Kravitz - Are you Gonna go my way featuring Cindy Blackman on Drums (1) Les Champs-ƉlysĆ©es (1) Les Nubians (1) Lily Allen (1) Link-O-Rama (22) Lisa Bonet (2) Lisa Fischer - How Can I Ease The Pain (1) Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost in Emotion (1) Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World (1) Lisbon Portugal (1) List (1) Lists (3) Live Concert (2) Living Out Loud (1) Liya Kebede (3) LL Cool J - I Need Love (1) Local News (1) Local Radio (1) Locavore (1) London (2) Long lost Friends (1) Loose Ends - Slow down (1) Lorraine Hansberry (1) Los Angeles at night (1) Los Angelista's Guide To The Pursuit Of Happiness (2) Love (2) Love De-Luxe - Here comes that sound (1) Love is alosing game (1) LTD - (Everytime I Turn Around) Back In Love Again (1) Luther Vandross (5) Luther Vandross - Your Secret Love (1) Lydia Abarca (1) M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragasam) (1) M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up the Volume (1) Machine (1) Madison (1) Mahalia Jackson - Amazing Grace (1) Major Harris (1) Major Robert Henry Lawrence (1) Malcolm and Betty (1) Malcolm and Martin (1) Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Girls (1) Mali (1) Man Parrish (1) March on Washington (1) Mardi Gras (1) Mariah Carey - Vision of Love (2) Mariah Carey - We Belong Together (1) Marion Jones (4) Marlena Shaw (2) Marshall Jefferson - Move your Body (1) Martha's Vineyard (1) Martin and Coretta (1) Martin Laurence (1) Martinique (1) Marvin Gaye (1) Mary J Blige - Just Fine (1) Mary J. Blige (1) Matisyahu (1) Matisyahu King Without A Crown (Live At Stubb's) (1) Maui (1) Mauritius (1) Mavericks Surf Contest (1) Maxi Priest - Close to you (1) Maxwell - Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (1) Maze (1) Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain (1) MC Hammer (1) MC Lyte - Lyte As A Rock (1) McFadden and Whitehead - Aint No Stopping Us Now (1) MDC Dictionary (1) Me (1) Media (15) Media hearings Negative Depictions of African American Women (1) Mel and Kim - Showing Out (1) Mes Deux Cents (1) Meseret Defar (1) Meshell Ndegeochello (1) Mexico (1) MFSB - Love Is The Message (1) Miami at night (1) Michael Jackson (1) Michael Jackson - Ben (1) Michael Vick (3) Midnight Star - Curious (1) Milan - Italy (1) Milli Vanilli - Blame It On The Rain (1) Minnie Riperton - Memory Lane (1) Minority relations (1) Minstel Show (1) Missing African American Women (7) Missing Persons (2) Mitt Romney for President (2) MLK (2) MLK Day (6) Mo Better Blues (1) Models (1) Mombasa (1) Monday (1) Money (2) MontrĆ©al (1) Montreal in autumn clothes (1) Moody's Mood for Love (1) Morehouse College (1) Mormons and Blacks (1) Morning (1) Morocco (1) Mothers (1) Mount Fuji (1) Mount Kilimanjaro (1) Mr Softie Ice Cream (1) MrsGrapevine (2) MSNBC (1) MTV (1) Music (9) Music Downloads (1) Music Saturday (11) Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie (1) My Orchid (2) My Original Writing (5) Myself and I (1) N.Y. Giants (2) N.Y.C (6) NAACP (2) Nailah Franklin (5) Nancy Sinatra (1) Nashville (1) Natalie Merchant (1) Natalie Merchant - Carnival (1) Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (1) National Secretaries Day (1) Native Americans (1) Natural Disaster (1) NBA (1) NBC (1) Negative Depictions Of Women Of Color (3) Negative Propaganda (2) Nena - 99 Luftballoons (1) Neo-Soul (1) Netherlands (1) Neutrogena Hand Cream (1) New Black Woman (1) New Edition - Boys to Men (1) New England Patriots (1) New Hampshire (1) New Jack City (1) New Jersey (1) New Jersey Turnpike (1) New Mexico (1) New Release (1) New York Citi Peech Boyz Don't Make Me Wait (1) New York City (3) News (11) News Corp. (1) NFL (1) Niagara Falls (2) Nicole Willis (2) No Woman No Cry (1) Nokulunga Buthelezi (1) Norah Jones (3) Notable Quotables (2) Nova Scotia (2) NPR (6) Nu Shooz I Can't Wait (1) NYC (2) O.J. Simpson (1) Odds and Ends (1) Odin (1) Offensive Cable Programming (1) Olbrich Gardens (1) Oleta Adams - Get Here (1) On Beauty (1) On Blogging (1) On... (18) One Of My Favorite People (4) Oprah (3) Orchids (3) Oregon (1) Oscars (1) OutKast (1) P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (1) Paganism (1) Palindromes (1) Panic (1) Paris (9) Passion (2) Patrick Hernandez - Born to be alive (1) PBS (3) PCH (1) Peace On Earth (1) Pebbles - Mercedes Boy (1) Personal Day (1) Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (1) PETA (1) Peter Brown - Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me? (1) Petronas Towers (2) Pfc. LaVena Johnson (1) Phalaenopsis Orchid (2) Phoenix Mercury (1) Photo Art (2) Photo Art Friday (3) Phyllis Hyman (5) Places I Would Like To Visit (1) Poetry (3) politics (3) Pookie (1) Pop and Politics (1) Pop Quiz (2) Portland (1) Portugal (1) Press play (2) Protest (4) Public Transportation (1) Puerto Rico (1) Purple Sky (1) Q1 Review (1) Queen Latifah (1) Queens (1) Questions (1) Quincy Jones - The Secret Garden (1) quizzes (1) Quotes (2) R and B (1) Racism (1) Radio (2) Radio Announcer (1) Radio D.J. New York City (1) Rainforest (1) Raising Victor Vargas (1) Ralph Nader (1) Rap Music (2) Rap Video Vixens (1) Ray Parker Jr - A Woman Needs Love (1) Re Posts (1) Reading (1) Ready for the World - Love You Down (1) Ready or Not (1) Ready To Wear (1) Really stupid people (1) Rebbie Jackson - Centipede (1) Recommended Viewing (5) Reginald Hudlin (1) Relationships (2) Religion (1) RenĆ© Syler (1) repost (1) Revolutionary Women (1) Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (1) Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1) Rihanna (2) Rio de Janeiro (3) Rio de Janeiro at night (1) Rissi Palmer (1) Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love (1) Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway (1) Robin Roberts (1) Rock (1) Rockefeller Center (1) Rockers Revenge - Walking On Sunshine (1) Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (1) Roll (1) Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (1) Roy Ayers - Running Away (1) Rudy Giuliani (1) Rupert Holmes - Escape (The PiƱa Colada Song) (1) Rutgers (2) Saartjie Baartman (1) Sade Adu (5) Saint John Coltrane Church (1) Sally-Ann Roberts (1) Samoa (1) San Diego (1) San Diego At Night (1) San Francisco (4) San Francisco at night (1) San Juan (1) Santa Barbara (1) Santa Cruz (1) santorini Island (1) SƃO PAULO (1) Sapiosexual (1) Sarita Choudhury (2) Sasha Bratz (1) Saving (1) Scary Spice Mel B (1) schools (1) Scotland (1) Seals and Crofts - Summer Breeze (1) Seattle at Night (2) Secret Weapon - Must Be The Music (1) Self Destruction (1) Seoul at Night (1) Seychelles (1) Shalamar - Night to Remember (1) Sheila E - A Love Bizarre (1) Sheila Escovedo (1) Shirley Bassey (1) Shopping (2) Sideways (1) Silvercup Studios (1) Simon and Garfunkel - The Boxer (1) Sisters from other mothers (1) Skate (1) Slavery (1) Slick Rick - Children's Story (1) Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (1) smart car (1) Snap - The Power (1) Snow - Informer (1) Social Commentary (1) Social life (1) Songs For MLK Day (4) Songs I Love (209) Sony Television (1) Sophie Okonedo (1) Soul II Soul - Back To Life (1) Soulsonic Force feat. Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (1) South Carolina (1) Soylent Green (1) Spain (1) Special Ed - I Got It Made (1) Special Videos (3) Spelman College (1) Spike Lee (1) Sports (10) Spring (1) St. Valentine's Day (7) Staceyann Chin (1) Starpoint - Object Of My Desire (1) Stepha Henry (1) Stephanie Mills - (You're Putting) A Rush On Me (1) Stetsasonic - Sally (1) Steve Fossett (1) Steve Miller Band - The Joker (1) Stoney Jackson (1) Strafe - Set it off (1) Strait of Hormuz (1) Studies About African America (1) Stuff (4) Subway Stories (1) Summer Rain (1) Sumner Redstone (3) Sunday Fun (1) Sunrise (1) Sunset (1) Super Tuesday (1) Superbowl (1) Surface - Closer Than Friends (1) Suriname (1) Susan Cagle (1) Svörtuloft (1) Sweden (1) Swin Cash (2) Swing Out Sister - Breakout (1) Symphony (1) Syracuse (1) Taj Mahal (1) Talented People I Like (2) Tales from the bus (2) Tanzania (1) Taral Hicks (1) Tears for water by Alicia Keys (1) Tech (1) Teena Marie - Behind The Groove (1) Tel Aviv-Yafo (1) Television (1) Tell Me (1) TEN CITY - DEVOTION (1) Terence Trent D'Arby (Sananda Maitreya) - Wishing Well (1) Terri Lynn Carrington (1) Terror Alerts (1) Terry Lewis (1) test (1) Tevin Campbell - Can We Talk (1) Thanksgiving (2) The 1985 Chicago Bears - The Super Bowl Shuffle (1) The Bevery Hillbillies (1) The Blackbyrds - Walking in Rhythm (1) The Blog Report (5) The Brothers Johnson - Land of Ladies (1) The Daily Voice (1) The Eiffel Tower at night (1) The Family - Screams of Passion (1) the FDA (1) The Fillmore (1) The Four Seasons (1) The Great Barrier Reef (1) The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927 (1) The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor. Aaron McGruder (1) The Human Race (2) The Isley Brothers Voyage To Atlantis (1) The Jones Girls - You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (1) The Neville Brothers (1) The Nile (1) The Police (1) The Roots - The Seed 2.0 (1) The Scream by Edvard Munch (1) The Shades of Love - Keep in Touch (Body To Body) (1) The Stylistics - People Make The World Go Round (1) The Supremes - Merry Christmas (1) The System - You Are In My System (1) The Twin Towers (1) The U.S. from space (1) The Ukraine (1) The Walt Disney Company (1) The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (1) The White Stripes - Icky Thump (1) Then and Now (2) There But For The Grace of God Go I (1) There is no place like home (1) These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1) Thompson Twins - Lies (1) Thoughts (73) Tiger Woods (1) Time Inc (1) TimeWarner (1) Timex Social Club - Rumors (1) TLC Unpretty (1) TLC - No Scrubs (1) Toledo Spain (1) Tom Ridge (1) Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart (1) Toronto at night (1) Toulouse (1) Track and Field (5) Tradition Of Excellence (1) Training Day (1) Transistor Radio (1) Travelling (2) Trinidad and Tobago (1) Try Again (1) Tupac Changes (1) Turks and Caicos (1) TV Theme Songs (1) Twofer Tuesday (4) Twofer Tuesday: Battle of the Classic Slow Jams - Reasons vs. Love T.K.O (1) Twofer Tuesday: Chaka Khan vs. Mary J Blige - Sweet Thing (1) Twofer Tuesday: I Shot The Sheriff : Bob Marley vs. Eric Clapton (1) Twofer Tuesday: I'll be there - Mariah vs. Michael (1) Twofer Tuesday: Lauryn Hill vs. Roberta Flack (1) Twofer Tuesday: Love Won't Let Me Wait - The Original or The Cover (1) Tyler Perry (1) U.S. Army Cover - Up (1) UCONN (1) Ugly Betty (1) Unbelievably sarcastic post (1) Undercover Black Man (2) Unknown Location (3) USA Today (1) Utah (1) Van Hool (1) Van Morrison Moondance (1) Vancouver BC (1) Varadero Cuba (1) Vaughn Mason and Crew - Bounce (1) Vegetarianism (1) Venice Italy At Night (1) Vermont (1) Veronica Cambell (1) Veronica Webb (2) Veterans Day (1) Viacom (3) Vicente Guerrero (1) Vikter Duplaix - Make A Baby (1) Violence Against African American Women (2) Violence Against Women Of Color (2) Violence On Campus (1) Virgin Islands (1) Vivaldi (1) Volkswagen (1) Volvo C30 (1) Vote (1) Wacky Wednesday: Songs with "I Like" in the tittle (1) Wanderlust (1) Waris Dirie (2) Washington Square Park (4) What About Our Daughters (4) What Black Men Think (1) What Columnists are Saying (3) What I'm Listening To This Week (3) What I'm Listening To This Weekend (1) What I'm Listening To Today (63) What I'm Watching This Weekend... (1) What I'm Watching Today (2) What Tami Said (4) What The.... File (2) What's Going On (1) Where is the Love (1) White castle (1) White Rap Music Buyers (1) Who Killed Benazir Bhutto? (1) Who Knew (1) Whodini - Big Mouth (1) Why Black Women Are Angry (1) Will and Jada (1) Will Smith (1) Willow (1) Window Shopping (1) Winter Solstice (1) Wisconsin (1) Wish feat. Fonda Rae - Touch me (all night long) (1) WNBA (4) WNBA Conference Finals (2) WNBA Finals (1) WNBA MVP (1) Woman's European Athelete Of The Year (1) Women (1) Women Leaders (1) Women's Sports (2) Word... (1) Words (5) work (2) Yaz Situation (1) Zanzibar (1) Zap Mama (2) Zhane' (1) Zoe Kravitz (1)

About Me

West Coast, United States
African American, Poet?, Vegetarian, Music lover, Agoraphobic, Social Phobic

My Favorite Poet

My Favorite Poet
Staceyann Chin

My Favorite Track Athlete

My Favorite Track Athlete
Christine Arron