New Black Film: The Lena Baker Story

Synopsis: Lena Baker , a maid who was executed for murder by the State of Georgia in 1945, for killing her employer Ernest Knight in 1944. 

According to Mrs. Baker, at her trial she claimed that she was imprisoned and threatened by Mr. Knight, that if she tried to leave he'd shoot her and as a result Ms. Baker shot him.

A jury of twelve white men and subpoenaed peers found Lena, guilty of murder in less than six hours. She received the death penalty and her sentencing earned her a place in history as the first woman, to be given the death penalty in the state of Georgia. She was pardoned posthumously in 2005.

The Lena Baker Story stars veteran actress Tichina Arnold, and hits theaters this spring.

2009 LA

The Oldest African American Couple Alive!

Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher (seen above) always viewed marriage as meant to be forever. So, why wouldn’t they still be married after 84 years? 

The Craven County, N.C., couple at 103 and 102 years old, is the longest living married couple in the world and they have the certificate from the Guinness World Records to prove it!

Their granddaughter Iris Godette submitted their names to the Guinness, which authenticated their claim. 

Zelmyra who uses a walker to get around the house and the yard, still remembers why she decided to marry Herbert on May 13, 1924:  

“He was not mean; he was not a fighter,” she told the Sun Journal, “He was quiet and kind. He was not much to look at, but he was sweet.”

Talk about true love to the end of time!

2009 LA

Attorney Gen. Holder Calls America "A Nation Of Cowards"

Attorney General Eric Holder, brought the race topic back to the table in light of it being Black History month. 

He spoke confidently about the race relation issues that still reside within our country and I applaud General Holder for revisiting this issue, because unless we deal with the problem at hand with hopes of finding a resolution there will never be closure; minorities want closure.

We want the government to take accountability for what racism has done to whole races of people. We want a formal binding apology for slavery, we want proper acknowledgement for all achievements, we want more minority based history museums, we want reparations (which can come in many forms not just cash), and we want to give our ancestors the resurrection they deserve so they know that their deaths were not in vain. If this is done, I believe we'll be able to move on. Of course no one will ever forget the past, but at least we can begin to heal and start anew.

On the day time talk show 'The View', actor Laurence Fishburne said it best when he stated, "With racism comes shame. When people are ashamed of something, many times they're in denial and it's hard for them to come to terms with their shameful ways."

Well said sir.

2009 LA

Listen to Attorney Gen. Holder's words below

Paul Robeson (1898-1976)

Paul Robeson (seen above) was a star athlete, scholar, singer, actor, law school graduate, social activist and author. But he didn't stop there, Robeson was also Valedictorian of his class at Rutgers University, an All-American in football, and a Letterman in three other varsity sports. 

His class labeled him as a leader to lead the Black race in America, and he became the most prominent and respected African American man of the 1930's and 1940's from his academic achievements, acting, and singing.

Robeson at one point devoted himself entirely to singing, and became an international star. He sought to break barriers of ignorance by learning more then twenty languages, and was an outspoken advocate against racism.

Because Robeson supported Soviet Russia and admired their egalitarian ideals, he was blacklisted and denounced by mainstream America. Today, Paul Robeson is remembered as a prodigy, overachiever, and as a man who wore many hats.

I'm still trying to figure out how he had time to accomplish all this and learn over twenty languages!

2009 LA

Ex-Ku Klux Klan Member Apologizes to Congressman John Lewis for Beating Him Up

Two days ago, ex-Ku Klux Klan member Elwin Wilson of Rock Hill, decided to reach out to Democratic Congressman John Lewis whom he beat up at a bus station over 50 years ago.

Mr. Lewis being the humble man he is forgave Mr. Wilson, for his hateful actions back then. Lewis went on to say, "love should have the capacity to love" and that "love is much stronger then hate." 

I agree.

2009 LA

Watch the video footage below of the apology.

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