How many dead Black children does it take to get a Sandy Hook response?

Black death has become an addiction, a political football when convenient and a marketing tool…it is also something with each passing day can’t be ignored…If we are not bothered by this, then something is seriously wrong….Here’s a video of Hadiya in 6th grade speaking out on gangs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x60rR-CZ-A4

Below is a powerful essay from a Chicagoan who is all too familiar with the daily carnage going on in her city…

15 year old Hadiya was shot and killed in a random act of violence in Chicago

Do you remember? Remember when you were young and carefree? Think back on how excited you would have been with an early dismissal from school into warm weather and a park nearby. Remember wanting to just cool out for a minute, hang on to the laughter and silly antics of  your friends before heading home to chores and studying? Time travel to the time when life was so full and promising, back when you had the zeal and energy to really live it?

How old were you back then? When did that all end for you?

Well for Hadiya Pendleton 15years old was her time. A baby really, just getting her taste of life’s promises. A scholar attending King Preparatory High School on the south side of Chicago. An enthusiastic student, a member of her school’s volley ball team and it’s band that just performed at President Obama’s Inauguration, a trip to Paris on the horizon as a part of an exchange program. Young and carefree, yet it ended much too soon for Hadiya. Her young life snatched just as she was getting to the good part; her life counted in the number of children whose lives have been cut down before they could really fully create a memory.

continue reading this essay HERE

 

Black death has become an addiction, a political football when convenient and a marketing tool…it is also something with each passing day can’t be ignored…If we are not bothered by this, then something is seriously wrong….Here’s a video of Hadiya in 6th grade speaking out on gangs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x60rR-CZ-A4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x60rR-CZ-A4

girlslikemeblog

Do you remember? Remember when you were young and carefree? Think back on how excited you would have been with an early dismissal from school into warm weather and a park nearby. Remember wanting to just cool out for a minute, hang on to the laughter and silly antics of  your friends before heading home to chores and studying? Time travel to the time when life was so full and promising, back when you had the zeal and energy to really live it?

How old were you back then? When did that all end for you?

Well for Hadiya Pendleton 15years old was her time. A baby really, just getting her taste of life’s promises. A scholar attending King Preparatory High School on the south side of Chicago. An enthusiastic student, a member of her school’s volley ball team and it’s band that just performed at President Obama’s Inauguration, a…

View original post 705 more words

Music Mondays: A Tribute to Etta James [VIDEO]

Last week marked the birthday and one year anniversary of the death of the legendary Etta James. Last year, around this time I got an email from good friend and producer Agent of Change asking if I wanted to do a proper tribute to Ms. James. At the time I knew little of the extraordinary life of Jamesetta, but I’m so glad I took the time to learn about this incredible women. The result was the song “Etta” which we released last year, and to celebrate her life we decided to put out the above video.

Ironically, during the last inauguration, it was Etta who was at the center of controversy surrounding Beyonce. President Obama asked Beyonce to sing Etta’s signature song “At Last”. Always outspoken, Etta said, “I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her ass whupped.”  Although she latter said she was joking, I’m sure if  Etta were still alive, she would crack at smile at all the flack Beyonce’ got for lip syncing at this inauguration. RIP Etta