Blacks Still Pushing For Government Slavery Apology

Talks of an apology for the horrific act of slavery has made its way back to the surface. 

Last year during the summer of 2008 The White House, decided to give a formal apology for slavery from the 1870's - 1965, although slavery has existed since the early 1500's.

In 2007 this same issue was brought up in The White House, but President George W. Bush, chose not to entertain this topic. Then out of nowhere, The House decided to have a vote on a slavery apology. I guess since a black person is running for the presidency, it'd make sense to bring it up as to not look too racist? 

Unfortunately, the vote was carried out in a fashion that was unusual for votes to be carried out in The White House. The vote was passed on a voice vote and not in written format, and the resolution was non-binding meaning that the vote can be overturned at any time. 

This way of voting seemed odd to me, especially since it isn't the traditional way of voting. 

This was the first time a branch of the federal government EVER apologized for slavery, so you'd think they'd  want it to be a binding agreement so that it can't be overturned.

I didn't accept the fake apology last year and I never will until it's documented properly, made a binding agreement, and well overdue reparations are distributed. Hopefully, President-Elect Obama will make those necessary changes.

Several states have already jumped on the bandwagon issuing and documenting formal apologies for the act of slavery: Florida, Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia. 

Two days ago the Chairman of Georgia's Black Caucus, Rep. Al Williams, re-introduced a resolution in a letter asking for the state of Georgia's official apology. And back in 2007, Mr. Williams tried sending a letter to the Governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue, asking for an apology. 

Governor Perdue simply responded, "Those of us in public office today, I think we’re called to live our lives and inspire our citizens to live their lives so that our children and grandchildren have nothing to apologize for." 

What Gov. Perdue said had absolutely NOTHING to do with an apology for slavery. His response was an awful cop out, and to this day he still refuses to join the other six states with a formal apology.

Records from the 19th century at the University of Georgia, prove that Georgia owned and sold slaves so why doesn't Perdue acknowledge this fact? But what can you expect from a state that still hangs the confederate flag high for all to see? Maybe Perdue is scared that the more states to apologize -- than sooner or later reparations won't be to far behind?

2009 LA

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In memory of our Honorable Prince of Peace, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This week lets take off our hats and open our hearts to a TRUE AMERICAN HERO.

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2009 PoLiTik

San Jose Students Tour 'Civil Rights' Landmark On The Way To Inauguration

A group of students from San Jose, California, are heading towards Washington D.C. for the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. In their travels, the students have decided to stop off and visit different Civil Rights Landmarks in different States.  

(Emmet Till seen above-l with mother and seen-r dead)

The students first visit was to Money, Mississippi, where in 1955 a fourteen year old boy by the name of Emmett Till was brutally murdered by the hands of white men simply because he whistled at a white woman in a grocery store. 

 (Bryant grocery store seen-r)

The young teenager was taken from his uncle's home in the middle of the night and dragged to a barn. At the barn is where Emmet Till was wrapped in barb wire, his genitals was chopped off along with other parts of his body; he was shot in the head and then thrown into the river.

Fortunately, Till's body was found and returned to his mother. The Mississippi police officers were found to be apart of the murder, and they made the decision that Till's body wouldn't be viewed in order to cover up what was done to him. But Till's mother made sure she had an open casket funeral in order to show the community and the world, what was done to her baby. 

Reading the stories and looking at the pictures, I was completely mortified. The two white men that murdered Emmet Till were acquitted of all charges, even though there were strong witnesses that testified about what they heard and saw. Because the witnesses were black people, their voices weren't heard by the racist court.

(J.W. Milam seen-l and Roy Bryant seen-r who murdered Emmet Till were acquitted, while laughing with their wives in the courthouse)

As I listened to the San Jose students talk about their visit to the courthouse where the two men were acquitted, the church where Emmett Till's funeral was, and Bryant Grocery store where Till whistled at the woman; I cried. My tears were from the pain of the past, and as I saw a picture of Emmett Till before he was mangled beyond recognition I softly uttered the words, "Your death was not in vain. Thank you, Jesus."

Who would have known that having a black president would ignite such a curiosity within the youth to back track the foot prints of history, bringing to light all the injustices that took place in this country.

The Bryant Grocery store will be bought by a Civil Rights Organization, and used as a teaching tool for the Civil Rights Movement. The San Jose students will also stop off at the motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

This is an amazing moment in time and I extend my sincere gratitude to these students for their bravery, and for producing such a documentary that'll teach children for years to come about American history.

2009 LA

Pastors and the Churches They Steal From

This past week many pastors have been busted on fraud charges. Apparently, innocent church-goers who voluntarily tithe, are being used for the pastors' personal means.

Originally, people didn't  tithe to worship as church was free for all who came to praise the Lord. Then restrictions within churches began surfacing and as a result, certain church leaders began acting as God themselves. 

God says come as you are, then it changed to come with your wallet, come dressed up and by the way if you're gay -- don't come at all.

In 1785, our first President George Washington, disagreed with a bill commenting that "Making people pay towards the support of the religion which they profess to adapt is impolitic". 

Washington felt that passing such a measure which should have never been proposed, would have disturbed public tranquility. 

So what initiated churches to begin taking cash from its constituents, in order to praise their religion of choice? 

I've been told the generated funds usually go towards the upkeep and bills of the church. But if pastors are constantly siphoning tithes from the church, how are the church bills being paid? Is there money coming from some other organization that we aren't aware of? 

Are churches exempt from filing taxes on the money they receive, so that the IRS can't track the amount of money being brought in?  

The only businesses I can think of that are exempt from paying taxes are non-profits, and non-profits are not allowed to take money from people unless it's through fundraising. 

Non-profits usually receive assistance from the government, so if the government is paying the church's bills does that mean that the civilian donations are up for grabs?

How can a pastor steal from God's people? Does this not stay on their conscience? 

I guess the devil will hide anywhere even in the pulpit, but how do we stop corrupt pastors from entering the ministry? 

Maybe we'll never be able to, but there should definitely be oversight to enforce strict rules and regulations don't you agree?

2009 LA