When will BET stop Promoting Negative Images of Black and Brown Peoples? JasiriX sends a Love Message to BET Chairman Debra Lee

The self loathing images of Black people that are promoted by BET, can be blamed somehow for many of the problems that working class communities in the U.S. have to face.

These demeaning images set a destructive example for youngsters -mostly Blacks- especially in terms of issues like education, crime control, responsible parenting, strong families, children safety and health, child pregnancy, sexist behaviors. They prevent people from wanting a better life, for men to take care of their families and neighborhoods, for neighbors to look out for each other, for women to respect themselves, for young people to respect life period.

I live in DC, a city with a majority of African American population and where preventable problems like youth crime, HIV infection, broken families, unemployment, illegal drugs abuse, and lack of affordable housing, are among the biggest problems for poor people, especially Black and Brown peoples. These are symptoms of a bid disease: broken families and failed societies.

When kids grow up seeing themselves as losers, delinquents, womanizers, sluts, druggies, haters, and lazy, dumb, immature and conformists peoples, they will tend to become one of them. Not all, but some will. As non-White kids see themselves portrayed in such negative roles in society, they are somehow being brainwashed to be that way.

This affects not only Black Americans, but also Africans in all the world -especially in Africa, Europe, Caribbean, and all the Americas- who see the trashy BET alike "culture" as the African American culture they imitate in order to reassure their "blackness" while living in racists, oppressive societies.

JasiriX. Photo by Paradise Gray

BET only cares about the money they make by promoting bad images of our peoples, and we shouldn't allow this anymore. This video made by JasiriX is right on point, I hope BET CEO Debra Lee gets to see it:

Check out JasiriX OneHood Facebook and MySpace

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When Black and Brown Fall in Love Not Everyone Likes it but Play "Platanos & Collard Greens" tells How to Deal with Rejection of Interracial Couples

When we talk about interracial couples, we tend to think of Black and White partners, not so much of other races. Also we immediately picture the controversy that too often couples of different backgrounds can sparkle among racist, ignorant, prejudicial individuals who even today choose not to respect the love of people that oversees different origins and ethnic heritages.

However and especially today, interracial couples facing controversy are Black and Brown individuals -or African Americans and so called Latinos- who also have to deal with racism, sometimes self loathing racism. Sometimes these couples are both Black peoples but because one of them comes from a Spanish-speaking country, they are seeing as different.

You would be surprised of the racism among people who deny their race and want to think they are white Latinos or Hispanics, or from Black people who want to see Brown people as white Latinos. Many Black Americans think that Spanish speaking Afro descendants are too different from them.

Photo by Platanos&CollardGreens.com

David Lamb is a play writer from New York City and he is the author of "Platanos & Collard Greens" a theater play that tells the love story of two young Newyorkers of different backgrounds, who after falling for each other have to face the rejection from friends and relatives. In the process of fighting for the survival of their relationship, they realize they are not as different as they thought.

This successful and inspiring play is presented mostly in high schools around the country. I spoke to David Lamb briefly in DC, after a panel about African American History and here is what he said:

Please share your ideas if you wish. Also if you want to book this play for your school go to the Platanos & Collard Greens website


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Protest to Demand End of Wars in Iraq Afghanistan and Africa tomorrow at International Peace Operations Association 2009 Summit in Washington DC

The World according to the U.S. Military Commands
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The controversial International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) is meeting this week in Washington, DC, and several organizations are preparing a protest against the members of this group that is involved on promoting wars and armed conflicts in the world. I got this by email:

Protest the Mercenary Industry! End War Profiteering!

Demonstrate on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Noon to 2pm Farragut Square Park (1634 I St. NW)

As the mercenary industry gathers in DC for their annual summit, we will gather in Farragut Square Park to say NO! to mercenaries profiting off of wars and the suffering of the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa.

U.S. Corporations are making billions off of conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout Africa.

On October 27, activists and supporters of human rights, peace and justice, sustainable development, and true human security will be speaking out about abuses by private military contractors in these regions, poets and musicians will help us make some noise, and we will shine the spotlight on the mercenaries' meeting in DC during a critical time for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the escalation of U.S. military involvement in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and other Africa nations.

Come out in support of peace and justice!

Sponsors:

Code Pink, Washington Peace Center, Hip Hop Caucus, Split this Rock, Resist AFRICOM Campaign, Institute for Policy Studies, Africa Action, Africa Faith and Justice Network, African Security Research Project, among others.

Read more info, map and background of the IPOA here.


Remembering the 2007 IPOA summit, video by TPM:

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Three Guys Stopped DC Metro Red Line for a Few Minutes: Can Just Anyone Do this? Raising Questions about Metro Safety

Last Friday night -Saturday morning- the DC Metro's Red line was stopped for a few minutes because three guys jumped on the train tracks, which forced authorities to cut the power system and trains coming in both directions were stopped for about 10 minutes.


Around 1:20 in the morning of Saturday October 24 , I was seated at the Fort Totten station waiting for the train when three Black guys passed in front of me running, and a police officer -with a gun in his hand- was behind chasing them. The cop was very close to catch one of them, but he didn't try hard enough to do it. The three males jumped in the train tracks as they reached the southern left end of the station.

The cop was a White male in his 30's and he seemed to have difficult while running, while the kids were young and slim -I would say around 17, 18 years old- and when they jumped into the train tracks, some of the lights of the station and the train that had just arrived were turned off, and only emergency lights were kept on. The train was going to Shady Grove.

Someone informed through the station speakers that the train service was interrupted temporaly. Most passangers were surprised but everyone waited patiently for about 10-15 minutes before the service was restarted. When I asked the station manager for the reason of the chase, he was less than friendly.

Few minutes later, other two cops showed up from the train tracks area and one of them told me the fugitives had run away. This video shows the side of the Fort Totten station where the chase occurred, the fugitives run from this point to the end the platform, then jumped into the tracks.

This happened in a station that is very close to the area of the fatal train accident last June 2009, and it's very worrsome to know that anyone can jump in the train trucks without being stopped, even with an armed officer in charge.

My questions are, why were these guys running away? They seemed like regular people not delinquents but at any instance, was the chase worth it? They could easily have died at the high electrical powered tracks. Also, if terrorist attackers get in the train tracks, can anyone stop them before harming anyone?

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Fiesta Latina at the White House: the Racist Hispanic Circus is in Town - VIDEOS

Thalia, a white Mexican singer at the White House
Photo AP

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted a fake, Las Vegas circus-like concert at the White House, which someone decided to name "Fiesta Latina" to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

It is obvious the Obamas are being misguided and deceived by really ignorant advisers. Firstly, most of the music genres played at that "party" were created by Black, Native and mixed peoples of the Americas, not Hispanics nor Latinos. Still, not a single mention to our Indigenous, African, Asian and other communities was part of the program.

It is outrageous to see such a level of ignorance at the White House, I mean this would make sense during the Bush years with the Republicans trying desperate to catch what they call the Latino vote, but with Barack Obama, a Harvard University graduate in the presidency, one could expect better.

It was really insulting to see that Fiesta Latina on PBS completely tried to hide the true ethnic and cultural heritages of the peoples of the Americas: we are not Latino Mr. President. The concert was well presented technically enjoyable, but it was like watching Sabado Gigante recorded at the White House, really fake and misleading. They even had Thalia "singing" a fake Cumbia in there... while Obama made some bad step dances. Michelle seemed to get jealous, but I think that just part of the show:

The White House tried to present the culture of Hispanics, but they showed music of Black and Brown peoples -- presented in a way to content White America. Not coincidentaly, the party at the White House was full of white wannabe "Latinos", the only Blacks were a group of Dominican men who looked frightened at the stage although they performed beautiful songs of Afro Dominican music.

I suspect that Emilio and Gloria Estefan produced this show in part. The Italian Cuban couple from Miami are also responsible of producing the worst Univision concerts and the crappy "Latin" music artists, Ricky Martin style. What do they know about the cultures of Black and Indigenous peoples?

The racist and mediocre culture called "Latino" is basically a bad copy of the cultures of different ethnic communities of the Americas, presented in a commercial way, including sexist and violent productions like Reggaeton. Watch this video of the Miami-produced show Sabado Gigante, where a white man of German heritage mistreats his guests, in this case showing a Black woman with a big "culo", in what they present as a family friendly program:

The Obamas hosted a "Fiesta Latina" trying to please the vendidos with circus and bread, meanwhile our Indigenous peoples are suffering incarceration and torture by the Department of Homeland Security, run by a true Latina: Italian-American Janet Napolitano.

So far there are not realistic prospects for an Immigration Reform, and the Obama administration has deported more undocumented immigrants that Bush in his last year. Last Friday the White House presented the modifications and extensions to the racist DHS 287(g) Program.

In fact, the Obama administration has extended DHS 287(g) Program "which allows local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, effectively giving local police the powers of federal immigration agents. The agreements have been widely criticized for increasing racial profiling and singling out immigrants for arrest without suspicion of crime."

Watch this video, this is what the trashy Latino/Hispanic TV causes to our Black and Brown people: lack of self esteem, the destruction of our values, promiscuity and our children being abused by their own parents:

..

Please call the White House and tell them that you are outraged they have expanded the 287(g) program and signed on with bigoted Sheriff Arpaio, and that they need to stop wasting your tax money in racist, stupid parties at the White House.

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414



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War Veteran Speaks Out in Favor of Immigration Reform: "It Has to be Done Now! American Values are for United Families"

Michael Chavez is a retired USAF Sergeant Major and combat veteran, in this video he speaks out in favor of Immigration Reform and why it's important for the United States. I met Michael Chavez who came from Texas, during the rally at Congress in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2009. His son is now fighting in Iraq.

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Immigration Reform and Indigenous Peoples Rights: interview with US Representative Raul Grijalva - VIDEO

A video interview with U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) about Immigration Reform and the rights of Indigenous peoples living in the United States.

Indigenous people at the Rally for Immigration Reform in DC
Photo and Video by Carlos A. Quiroz

Congressman Grijalva talked about the racist attacks of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in his state Arizona, and who is supported by DHS Janet Napolitano. Also he mentioned the need to recognize the presence and the rights of the Spanish-speaking Native peoples living in the U.S. -called Latinos and Hispanics by racist groups- many of whom are undocumented immigrants:

"What we see is that the people that migrate now are coming from Indigenous communities from Mexico and Central America and they receive a bad treatment not only from governments but also from communities in general including the Mexican communities, we are committing the same crimes that we are accusing others and to me the Indigenous peoples is the most needed in Latin America, and their presence in the US is something that must recognize and protect at last."

This video was recorded during the rally for Immigration Reform at the Capitol building in Washington, DC, by October 13, 2009.

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Using Ximena Hartsock to Divide Black and Brown Communities in Washington DC: True Leaders must Open Path for Unity not use Race for Political Gain

The devastating consequences of racial division among Black and Brown peoples in the United States are clearly seeing in urban areas like New York, Miami, or Los Angeles, where racism and stereotypes have even caused violence and political rivalry.

In those cities, some members of the African American and the so-called Latino communities are using their differences and the changes in demographics to create divisions and to defend their interests and rights. Unfortunately the tensions exist but most of times they are fed by myths and interest groups.

Part of this racial tension has to do with the manipulated data showing that “Latinos” are the new biggest minority in the country, which is not true. We must remember here that many of the so called Latinos are actually Black people and their children born and raised in the U.S. usually identify themselves as African Americans.

The majority of African Americans in DC is decreasing for different reasons, and some see this fact as an opportunity to promote racial division and political gain.

Photo by Sarah L. Voisin / WaPo

The D.C. Council recently voted and rejected Ximena Hartsock as the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The vote was held by Monday October 5, 2009. Hartsock is an immigrant Native woman born in Chile. A group of White media and “Latino” organizations have denounced this rejection as a case of sexist and racial discrimination.

Protests have been held in public [see photos and videos here] and according to Ms. Hartsock herself and the leaders supporting her, some DC Councilmembers have rejected her candidacy because she is an immigrant woman and also because she is not Black.

The truth of the matter is that Ximena Hartsock is a scapegoat in the middle of the disputes between Mayor Fenty and some DC Councilmembers. Look a the votes rejecting Hartsock appointment. DCist posted this:

Voting against Hartsock were Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5), Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), Kwame Brown (D-At large), Phil Mendelson (D-At large), Michael A. Brown (I-At large), and Chairman Vincent Gray.

Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and David Catania (I-At large) voted to confirm, while Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) was not present…

The accusations made by Hartsock and her supporters are serious and direct. If they were true, we'd have to regret having community leaders with a disgraced mentality that creates genre and nationality division. But that's not the case, Hartsock is a victim of both of a feud between Mayor Adrian Fenty and members of the DC Council, and the interests of non-profits eager to get more funds from the local government, in a city with a budget in crisis.

Hartsock has been the Interim Director of the DPR since April 2009 named by Mayor Fenty after he fired Ray Clark, and months after a DPR worker was fired when he tried to enforce official rules affecting Mayor Fenty’s children.


Racial tensions in DC

When it comes to the population in DC, it's obvious that African Americans are the majority, but their numbers are decreasing mostly because of gentrification, and the economic and housing crisis. Meanwhile newcomers, some of whom are Blacks and Natives from Latin America- keep coming. I am one of them.

Although the newcomers in DC have a low rate of U.S. citizenship, but the city’s services are intended for all residents regardless of their immigration status. This makes sense, as most immigrant workers pay taxes through their paychecks and we spend money in places where we live and work, regardless.

When Councilmembers Harry Thomas Jr. and Marion Barry complain to the fact that Hartsock is not a citizen yet, some used that as a claim of discrimination. In fact, Thomas and Barry have a point. An Examiner reader explains:

New D.C. employees must pledge to faithfully execute the laws of the United States of America and the District of Columbia and to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Ximena Hartsock cannot meaningfully pledge to do so because she has not yet become a U.S. citizen, the final step of which is to renounce her former national loyalties. For this reason, she is ineligible to serve in a mayoral Cabinet position. Hartsock's hostility to contracting laws may indicate her general disrespect for U.S. laws. Also consider that contracting out government functions gives greater opportunities to noncitizens, who often work for less than citizens demand. I changed parties to vote for Mayor Fenty when I still lived in D.C. and approve of 90 percent of what he has done. But on this nomination, he got it wrong. / Dino Drudi, Alexandria

The “non citizens, who often work for less than citizens demand” stereotype is kind of confirmed by Hartsock herself in an article posted by The Washington Hispanic –a weekly paper in Spanish in DC with racist tendencies and that never acknowledges the true racial heritage of our communities. Here is my translation from the original:

“We have worked like donkeys with all my team to move this work forward during summer, and they simply say that we aren’t useful. If they wanted me out, they should have done it before and not wait this long, when we had all the work done.”

Meanwhile, El Tiempo Latino another newspaper in Spanish published in the DC area –owned by The Washington Post– posted the news on its cover page this week: “DC: Council rejects Latina” in an article that portrays Ximena Hartsock as a victim of racist and sexist discrimination. The same article, which is a copy of the WaPo editorial mentioned in this post- states that Hartsock was called “evil and liar” during the public audience at the DC Council.

Also El Tiempo Latino -run by a true Hispanic born in Spain- never mentions our Native and African heritages among the so called Latino community, and they are overlooking the fact that Ximena Hartsock is not a Latina, but an Indigenous woman born in Chile.


Who are behind the protests

Let’s talk about racism. The accusations of racist and sexist discrimination started and were promoted by White people in DC. The first to protest was The Washington Post. The WaPo editorial on October 6, 2009:

Most disturbing was the ugly tone of the rhetoric. Speakers called Ms. Hartsock the devil and a liar. The worst culprit was council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8). He questioned her qualifications because of the need for someone who "understands our culture." With the exception of Ward 3 and parts of Ward 2, Mr. Barry told the crowd, the park department serves people who are "black and brown . . . that is who we are. We have a culture that is different. We have a subculture that is different."

At another point, Mr. Barry said it wasn't sexist to say that studies show that women have a different attitude about sports than men, offering as evidence the canard that D.C. School Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee doesn't care about athletics. Then, too, there were questions about why Ms. Hartsock, born in Chile and a legal permanent resident, isn't a U.S. citizen.

Since when the WaPo cares about Brown people?

We are talking about the same newspaper that posted on its cover news about a Salvadoran Indigenous man accused of killing Chandra Levy, but it ignored when that man declared his innocence, even until now. Read the racist comments allowed by the WaPo... if you got the time.

The case of Ximena Hartsock was again pushed by the WaPo with this article posted on October 7:

The vote followed a contentious hearing Friday night that brought cries of racial and ethnic bias after council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) implied that Hartsock, who is Hispanic, did not understand black culture.

[...] But the Fenty administration seized on Barry's remarks and slammed the council for rejecting a Hispanic nominee.

"Outrageous. Outrageous," Attorney General Peter Nickles said. "One of the most qualified Latinas in the city. A PhD. A principal. . . . She was treated unfairly." Nickles added, "I hope the community, particularly the Latino community, recognizes how shabbily she has been treated."

DC Attorney General Peter Nickles is white. Then famous DC blogger Dan Silverman aka Prince of Petworth has posted “an anonymous letter” and allowing anti-Black and Brown comments. Silverman is white. The Examiner posted on October 9 this article by Harry Jaffe, who is also white.

Barry led his colleagues into the racial realm when he said Hartsock was not qualified because she didn't "understand our culture," as in black culture.

Translation: She's not one of us. A black person can best cater to the needs of those who use the city's fields, swimming pools and recreation centers.

Then a “Rally to Stop The Attacks on Our Latino Community” was organized by The Latino Greater Federation, DC Latino Caucus, LULAC and the DC Latino Action Coalition. In the protest's email they demanded:

• No more abuses against Latina women.
• No more discrimination against Latinos.
• No more sexism! Women and men are equal.
• “Keep the dream alive”

All of that sounds great, who wouldn’t support such important values after all? But then again who is a Latino (a) in DC? Ask a Black person whose parents came from Peru, Panama or Cuba if she/he is a Latino. Also, Who are the people behind these organizations? Were they present at the Immigration Reform rallies for instance? In this case, there is an exaggeration and conflict of interests. One of the organizers of the rally is Rodrigo B. Leiva, Executive Director of the Latino Federation of Greater Washington who is also from Chile. The LFGW is a group of about 35 agencies and non profits in the DC area, focusing in what they call the Latino community:

The Latino Federation of Greater Washington (LFGW) is a nonprofit membership agency that works to empower the Latino community through advocacy, research and capacity-building resources. LFGW’s core constituency comprises Latino-serving nonprofit agencies that work throughout the greater Washington metropolitan region in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

No one can debate the good work that some of the agencies -members of LFGW- do for the DC community in general, as they promote social programs that benefit the poorest in the city. But if you pay attention closely most of these organizations are run by white people –Anglos and Hispanics- and the lower rank jobs are usually given to Black and Brown peoples. Is that a coincidence? I hope so.

This leads me to this thought: I always wondered how would I feel if I was born in DC by seeing my neighborhood being gentrified, while public funded agencies help newcomers rather than the people that have been living longer in this city. I'm just saying.


When medicine is worse than the sickness

It would be wrong for members of the DC Council IF they rejected Hartsock, based on her nationality or race –I know some people even have criticized her strong accent when speaking English- or her gender.

It's also as bad or even worse for some DC activists and the local media to present the Hartsock case as an attack “to the Latino community”, promoting racial divide and hatred among our communities. This is not true.

The protesters haven't mentioned the points mentioned in this letter posted by October 11 by the Washington Post and signed by Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.:

The council's disapproval of her confirmation was rooted not in "political spite" -- as the editorial claimed -- but in concerns about the nominee's disregard of District law and personnel practices during her tenure as acting director. Ms. Hartsock ignored laws that the council passed to halt attempts to close or privatize her agency's day-care centers, and she hired 18 employees in defiance of an administrative order that the agency's staff be reduced.

The editorial did not mention those issues, focusing instead on comments about Ms. Hartsock's strong work ethic and educational accomplishments, which by themselves are not sufficient qualifications for running a department with a $43 million budget and more than 500 employees.

In a video posted online of the DC Council hearing, Ximena Hartsock said that she is not a citizen because she neglected that personal issue. Hartsock has studied Education and Literature in a university in Chile, also she has been Principal at Ross Elementary School and earned a Doctorate from George Washington University. With such a busy educational background, who wouldn't want to get a U.S. citizenship? Darn, so many would love to even have that chance.

Hartsock also mentioned some physical education tests see took in Chile as her background in sports, in order to run the DPR. She might be well educated but Hartsock presented her case very weakly and not convincing at her confirmation hearing.


Protests in Chile also

Think about how damaging can be rumors being spread among this case among the communities in the DC area. This lies have also made the news in Chile, where Hartsock is quoted:

"I have never being discriminated for being Latina (…) the Blacks can’t digest having a Latina in charge. I have been evaluated in merits of my work”

Firstly let me insist that Ms. Hartsock is not a Latina, she is a Native woman. Secondly whatever Councilmember Barry said about her doesn’t represent all “the Blacks” in DC.

Wonder what some Chileans might be thinking now about African Americans or U.S. citizens in general?

In another Chilean website, readers go nasty about gringos, while other comments show the typical racism of Latin America by calling Hartsock “ugly, she looks like a Mapuche [Indigenous] woman".

Other readers reflect by asking “how many Mapuche people or even Peruvian or Bolivian immigrants are part of the Chilean government?” praising the fact that Hartsock is lucky enough to be appointed to a public office in the U.S. capital city. For instance, some Chilean politicians are asking to deport all the undocumented Peruvians working in Chile.


Race and money

The race of the Director for Parks and Recreations should not make a difference for DC people at all, as long as the person doing the job is capable and qualified. Personally I won’t feel better represented by Hartsock just because she is of Native heritage, like me.

When Ray Clark was running the DRP, he did an excellent work that I appreciate as I often use the city’s sports facilities. Clark was fired without justification, but we didn’t see any White organizations or LGBT groups stepping up to protest in outrage. Now openly gay Ray Clark is running as a candidate for DC Council.

People need to stop using race as a reason to fight for political and economic gain. There always will be tensions between long time residents and new comers, and leaders are supposed to lead and not divide their constituents. What is happening in DC is something being blown away and fueled by interest groups. This is a terribly damaging situation for the city’s population.

I'd rather like see a positive discussion between Ms. Hartsock and the Councilmembers who rejected her candidacy, instead of an exaggerated reaction that could do so much harm to the people of Washington, DC, and spread to other cities.


Hoping that Ximena Hartsock reads this

Ms. Hartsock you must consider some things: if an important number of African Americans had moved to Chile, it is most likely that Chileans would be less welcoming to a Black leader running their tax payers funded programs, than Washingtonians have been with you.

You can show your opponents how truly capable you are of running a department for the recreation of all people –a big part of any educational process- in this city, by showing your them with the proper and respectful attitude and open mind. You can stop others from using racism and sexism as political tools in both sides of this dispute.

I’m sure that Councilmembers Barry and Thomas will be gentlemen enough to accept your invitation. Let’s not promote more Black and Brown rivalry in DC, just to land a good job or to get more funds for the city agencies. Buena suerte.


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Thousands Rallied AGAIN for Immigration Reform at Capitol building in Washington DC "Family Unity Can't Wait"- PHOTOS

Thousands of people gathered yesterday October 13 at the Congress building in Washington, DC, to demand Congress and president Barack Obama to pass an Immigration Reform.

Yet another immigration rally in DC. What was different this time? At first sight, not much actually: the same speeches from the same leaders on stage, talking about change and justice "This is the time! Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!..." while a crowd of thousands of Brown and Black people listened hopeful, most of them immigrants living in fear, anger, uncertainty, waiting to hear something that will give them a sign that this time they will be given a chance.

Photos by Carlos A. Quiroz
Anyone can use these photos but please mention the source

In terms of turnout and impact, the rally was a success and the speeches were inspiring, for those who haven't heard them before at least. According to the organizers the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign, there were about 8,000 people in the Capitol grounds, including 750 campaign organizers that came to DC to lobby at Congress for Immigration Reform, they arrived from as far as Texas, Florida and Michigan.

RI4A has announced with this rally a restart for the long awaited Immigration Reform: "Family Unity Can't Wait: Renewed Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Begins Here, Begins Now" was the title of the day long program of events that included religious ceremonies and processions.

According to a press release Representative Luis Gutierrez (IL-D) presented the Immigration Reform principles:

• Include a rational and humane approach to the undocumented population;
• Protect U.S. and immigrant workers;
• Allocate sufficient visas to close unlawful migration channels;
• Enhance our nation's security and safety;
• Establish a strategic border enforcement policy that reflects American values;
• Keep American families together;
• Promote immigrant integration;
• Include the DREAM Act and AgJOBS; and
• Protect fundamental rights for all.

People came from far away to support this effort. Among the crowds I met Favianna Rodriguez, a nationally known graphic artist and community organizer based in Oakland, California who is promoting an online campaign to demand CNN to fire Lou Dobbs. I also got the chance to speak to Congressmembers Raul Grijalba (D-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), as well as the union leader Jaime Contreras, the SEIU Director of the DC Metro area.

Ali Noorani, Executive Director for National Immigration Forum, told me that he is very hopeful that the Obama administration will pass this reform. He said most of Americans are in support and there is a strong support among Congressmembers, both Democrats and Republicans.

At the end of the event, I saw smiling faces and happy families, hugging each other and talking about a better future. But their happiness might not have lasted for too long. While returning to their homes, they had to go back to the harsh reality of living in the U.S. without documents.

A Colombian father told me about his children growing up without him back in Barranquilla, he can't leave the U.S. A community leader told me about the need to promote mental health programs for communities that are morally defeated, slaved. A Mexican man told me about his right to be in the U.S. as he is a Native man of Indigenous roots, and a Peruvian woman took the stage at the end of the rally and prayed out loud with a Bible on hand, she was crying.

These are the photos I took yesterday. As you can see, most of the protesters were Native and Black immigrants from Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America, and Africa as well.:

Photos by Carlos A. Quiroz
Anyone can use these photos but please mention the source

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PHOTOS National Equality March in Washington DC

All photos by Carlos A. Quiroz

Yes I went at the National Equality March, sorry I didn't post anything yesterday, as I was honoring my ancestors the Native peoples of the Americas.

But here are the photos I took that day of the march and rally -very inspiring event!, I also recorded some interesting videos and they will be posted gradually -thank you to the amazing folks that helped me that day- for now, please check these pics and use them if you want to. Also I have posted an article I wrote in my other blog Two Spirits One:

LGBT Movement is Alive and Growing in the US: President Barack Obama Spoke at HRC Dinner and Thousands Rally Today in DC for Equality

“I’m with you in this fight” said president Barack Obama last night at the Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner. There he promised to repeal the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in the U.S. military (DOMA), and that he will sign into law the Mathew Sheppard Violence Hate Crime bill. These are part of his administration efforts to promote equality and civil rights for all U.S. citizens regardless of their sexuality or gender.

The HRC is the biggest and most influential non governmental organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in the U.S. and although Obama didn’t speak about gay marriage he referred mostly to “couples”, and at the end his speech has been received with optimism and protests also by LGBT peoples.

During a webcast chat and liveblog hosted by the blog Bilerico, many LGBT activists and online expressed both their enthusiasm and disappointment. Some say that Obama had repeated in his speech the same promises “we already heard before”, but not enough is been done by his government to bring true change among LGBT communities.

Others were more optimistic and celebrated not only the legislation announced by Obama, but also his presence at a LGBT event, as a gesture of support and commitment. The DOMA policies have caused for too many U.S. military personnel to be expelled from the service, after their sexuality was revealed. The repeal of DOMA has been long expected and fought for, by activists from all over the country.

The parents of Mathew Sheppard, the young gay man killed by homophobes, were also at the HRC dinner and were applauded when president Obama announced the legislation that would protect LGBT people from hate crimes. This is a very important and needed legislation.

The HRC dinner was also criticized by some twitters by its lack of diversity. “Besides Obama, me and my friend, I can see only two Black people not counting the servers” said a twit that I retwitted in agreement. “Com’n Carlos there are four Black peoples here” replied someone. After few replies someone else said that HRC has a mostly White leadership and they might be discriminating people of color.

When it comes to social movements, there always will be people who might feel underrepresented at some level or place. The LGBT movement in the U.S. is far from being united and homogeneous itself. For instance, Rep. Barney Frank –the first openly gay U.S. Congress member- has criticed today’s National Equality March as “a waste of time at its best,”

I was also skeptical of the effects that a HRC dinner might bring to LGBT folks. A blogger wrote that such event is important to send a message to others of activism and leadership, having the president Obama himself speaking there. Truth is, the work done by HRC and many other LGBT organizations in the country is really valuable and important, as they are promoting social justice.

President Obama received a long and loud standing ovation at the end of his speech. The movement is invigorated, and even critics are saying that Obama is already delivering some results at a Federal level. Still, everyone needs to keep the work going on in each of our communities and there is more to do ahead of us.

Today, I am marching at the National Equality. I am doing this because is important to show not only to Congress but to the whole nation that we are still fighting for equality in all 50 states. Thousands of people are out here in the streets of Washington, DC, many have come as far as California, New York, Florida and Texas. Right now I am taking a break. Some reports talk about 250 thousand marchers today.

Today is a beautiful day, I just twittered:

Im a Native gay man a Two Spirits http://bit.ly/vI0SG National Coming Out Day #NEM

Thank you for reading this, stop homophobia today.

Until next time.


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The meaning of sagging pants

What is the meaning of wearing saggy pants? What is that young men are trying to say when they show their body in public?

Photo by me

For some reason, wearing sagging pants -saggy low pants- has become a popular trend among mostly young Black men. No matter how you try to excuse it, but wearing your pants low in public will be considered by most as demeaning, disrespectful, tasteless, rude, humiliating.

For others, this is considered sexy, appealing and a sign of rebellion against the status quo. Well, it can seem attractive in some cases, but still it is important to respect others when you are in public, which means you are in a common place.

I was attending a conference in Washington, DC, and I run into this group of students who gave me their opinion about sagging pants. It seems like this way of wearing pants originated in the prison system:

Not convinced yet that you need to pull your pants up? Please watch this video and you might also want to see this website.

Thousands are expected to rally in DC at the National Equality March in support of LGBT rights

Thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender peoples and friends are coming to Washington, DC, this weekend to rally in support of equality rights for all peoples in the United States, regardless of sexuality, race or gender.

The National Equality March starts off tomorrow Sunday October 11 at noon, from Mc Pherson Square to the U.S. Capitol. Check the map here. The organizers describe the one specific demand:

Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. We will accept no less and will work until it is achieved. Equality Across America exists to support grassroots organizing in all 435 Congressional Districts to achieve full equality.

We are guaranteed equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. Free and equal people do not bargain for or prioritize our rights. Full equality necessarily includes all members of the LGBT community and encompasses, but is not limited to:

• The right to work our jobs and go to school free of harassment and discrimination.
• The right to safety in our daily lives, and protection from hate crimes.
• The right to equitable healthcare, and the right to donate blood.
• The right to equitable immigration policies.
• The right to marry.
• The right to serve in the military openly.

Many bills currently exist to address some of these issues, but we do not support a piecemeal strategy. We seek one federal solution to full equality.

This event includes also community events, that are mostly free and open to the public. This is the schedule of events for today, for more info visit the website linked in this post:

The official video:

Please visit the Equality March website and get involved, you can help promoting justice and equal rights for everyone. See you there!

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VIDEOS of Rally to Save Public Education: Parents Students Teachers are Angry at Mayor Fenty

These are videos of the Rally to Save Public Education held yesterday at Freedom Plaza, and organized by the Washington Teacher's Union and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. The rally was big, numerous and loud, the anger and frustration was obvious.

The Washington Post reports:

Several thousand D.C. public school teachers and supporters, buoyed by fiery speeches from national labor leaders and local elected officials, rallied in Freedom Plaza on Thursday evening against layoffs imposed last week by Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. [...]

A sense of frustration and pent-up anger permeated the gathering, one of the largest shows of labor muscle in the city in recent history. It was designed by organizers to ratchet up political pressure on Rhee and Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), who is running for reelection next year.

The rally was a success when it comes to attendance, several DC Councilmembers were there, along with community leaders, students, etc. But Mayor Adrian Fenty and DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee haven't responded publicly to the protesters demands.

A message to Mayor Fenty:
parents, students, teacher, Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. (Ward 5)

This is a school counselor fired
after 10 years of work and without previous notice



A high school senior giving a powerful message
but at some point he said "get rid of that female dog" which I didn't understand well:

I met several teachers who refuse to speak on video, they were really angry but not sure if because they lost their jobs or because they cared about their students education. Some of them were actually looking at me in a suspicious way and a young man asked me for my personal information. Also I spoke to a new teacher who just got hired in DC, he is from Connecticut and he was at the rally because he wanted to get informed about what his future might be. He didn't understand why the DC government hires new teachers and layoff others under the excuse of lack of funding. He said he was a bit nervous but excited at the same time.

Mayor Fenty's arrogance is not only affecting parents, teachers and students but is also ruining his chances to get reelected. Although Fenty is done some good things for the city and he seemed to be a good leader, at the end he is hurting people's rights. What a disappointment.

Meanwhile, the DC school system is still failing for many.

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Latino in America in CNN: People Reactions to a Documentary that Hides our True Racial Heritages and Promotes Stereotypes - Watch VIDEOS

Last night I attended a preview screening of the new CNN series “Latino in America” hosted by Soledad O’Brien. The event was met with a protest outside the hosting Newseum, demanding for CNN to fire Lou Dobbs, known for his racist attacks against undocumented immigrants and people of color, especially Indigenous immigrants from Mexico.

“Latino in America” was screened in an auditorium located at the lower level of the Newseum, the DC interactive museum for the news and journalism. When I walked in, the host was speaking and soon after the screening started. I asked for permission to video record the event, but after trying with three different people I was told that video recording wasn’t allowed inside the premises. I had a seat, but later on I had to get up and stand in the back so I could have a better view.

The documentary starts showing a group of people of different races and origins introducing themselves by name and occupation. Most of them were Brown and Black peoples, Indigenous and Afro descendants not Latinos. It's obvious that the producers wanted to show our different shapes and colors, but at the end a woman says “…and I’m a Latina" although she looked Native American to me.

The strong reference to the Spanish surnames in the film as a sign of our heritage is a mistake, and the surname Garcia is mentioned as one of the top most popular surnames in the U.S. According to this concept, our history as peoples started when the Hispanics arrived and imposed their names to our ancestors. Nothing is said about the thousands of years of earlier civilizations, from where most of our cultures come from.

If you get darker you will look like an Indian

The presentation continued and they showed the story of attorney Lorena Garcia, a civil rights advocate for immigrants in Arizona. She is presented mostly in a positive way–the only person who makes reference to her heritage as being “indigenous to this land”- but at the end she is presented as a radical apologetic woman, the bad apple you shouldn't follow.

During the whole film most of the characters are in fact Indigenous peoples from Mexico and other countries of Central and South America, but they are presented as Latinos. Eventually the term switches to Hispanics. During the 45 minutes screening, there was not a single mention in reference to our African and Native roots, not even once.

At some point a couple walked in the auditorium and passed by me, a woman asked me if I was ‘Carlos in DC’ and she said she follows my blog. I was a bit embarrassed, it happens when people recognize me in public places.

This film basically presented “Latinos” in many stories -some sad but real- and the message I got was that we as people are trying to be accepted by White mainstream America. In that sense, we are willing to accept the labels White people put on our communities, because is the easier thing to do.

As the film continues I am disgusted to see the humiliation of many Native men imprisoned by the racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Our brothers are treated like slaves. At this point Soledad O’Brien does a good job exposing that reality while the film presents Arpaio as a heartless old man, which he is.

Black Hispanic or Dominican perhaps African American

The film allows viewers to take a close look to the differences, contrasts and inequalities that are common among so called “Latinos”. For instance, the new comers tend to segregate themselves in their own groups, speaking mostly in Spanish -to the delight of religious and corporation groups focusing in that market- and here a Native woman mentions having "a Hispanic face". Horror.

The opposite happens in the town of Pico Rivera, next to Los Angeles and which is populated mostly by Native Americans of Mexican heritage, who have assimilated to the “American way” of living: English speaking, baseball games, sugar cotton candy, hot dogs, cute suburban homes with U.S. flags in their porches, looks alright. But these images make the American dream seem like an effort to imitate White people, and the only different thing about Pico Rivera are the surnames. The documentary doesn’t mention that Pico Rivera population were forced to assimilate, and they had no choice. If this is good or bad, that’s another topic.

There are plenty of sad stories in this film: you will see abused undocumented Native and Afro descendant children –the horrendous images made me really angry- and also our Native men as inmates being chained down by Arpaio. In another scene, a female gang member talks about her failed young life while showing her tattoo in her behind -the film shows this for too long. At some point Lupe Ontiveros, a Native actor of Mexican roots talks about her identity, while wearing an ugly yellowish blond wig. The film moves on to show how a White girl can’t say “carne asada” to which the auditorium explodes in laughter, that I think is wrong.

The only personal successful stories refer firstly to Mel Martinez, the former U.S. Senator (R-FL) whom I like the least, he talks about his migration as a Cuban exile. Had he being Mexican and undocumented, probably he wouldn't have become a Senator. Secondly, they show the case of chef Lorena Garcia who works for Univision TV, one of the most racist stations in this country. How wrong is CNN to use Univision as a cultural reference? Anyways, chef Garcia -who tries hard to look White- talks about her growing business thanks to her image as a “Latina chef”. She said her accent used to be a reason for rejection, but now “it’s popular and seeing as cute”. Of course as long as you try to look like them.

Trying to pass as Whites

Throughout the film Soledad O’Brien plays a neutral but “Latino” friendly role at least in most of the production, eventually she appeared again on screen to say “you will see more when Latino in America airs in October…” and then the film is over. At the end some people walked out, the audience clapped but not too enthusiastically.

In general, the production seemed interesting, but the chore of its script is manipulated, fake, imposing and personally it makes me feel sorry for my peoples, not proud as I had hoped. The film is supposed to help overcome racist stereotypes but it promotes them, especially when they deny our true racial heritage. It seems that CNN is trying to get its viewers to feel sympathy for “Latinos” and to show the country how profitable our markets can be.

I was approached by a museum staff who confirmed again, that video recording wasn’t allowed, but she allowed me to walk to walk up the third row of seats, while the panelists was being introduced. After their words, I raised my hand but two people were given the chance to speak first, bth of them mentioned the need for CNN to fire Lou Dobbs. That was received by a loud applause from the audience.

When I started to speak, I said: My name is Carlos Quiroz, I am a writer and a blogger based in DC. I’m not Latino, I’m not Hispanic, I’m a Spanish speaking Native American.” Whispers followed, some clapped. I spoke from my heart and thinking about those peoples misrepresented in the film: Indigenous and African American peoples forced into European identities.

While speaking I denounced white supremacy and racism among our communities –which forces Black women to hide their African hair and Native women to die their hair blond-, and I mentioned why most of us are and should be acknowledge as Native Americans even if we have Spanish surnames, because our history started before the Hispanics arrived.

Also I mentioned that Blacks in the Americas are an important population to be ignored –almost 18% of the Americas including Haiti- and this documentary failed to mention any of that. Not surprising after all, I said, since this is a production coming from a White-owned TV station, obsessed with catching with the money and political capital behind the fake Latino branding and classification.

Afrolatino Americans

At the end of my intervention, I reminded the Latino in America producers that as people we don’t need no pity, but to raise the awareness of our true heritages because we belong to this continent. Therefore we must tell the truth about who we are -because we don’t know who we are- to our youth as our history is hidden by an Eurocentric vision of the world.

The future of this country will be shaped with diversity and racial coexistence, and to get there we must respect everyone’s heritages and stop imposing divisions among people. I’m done. Applause, it felt good.

The event's host replied to me directly with excuses but no answers, and at that point I knew what was going to be said by the panelists. I walked out because I knew what they were about to tell me, but also because I wanted to interview attendees outside of the building. As I was leaving the museum, I grabbed a bag with a shirt that says "Soy Latino en EEUU".

I waited outside the Newseum with my camera ready, it was raining a bit. People started coming out, they approached me and we talked.



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Well deserved: why President Barack Obama is awarded with Nobel Peace Prize

President Barack Obama deserves well the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is not about what he has accomplished –or not- within the U.S. during his first eight months in office, but what his election as the first Black president of the United States has meant for this country and the entire world.

As the first African descendant leader of the most powerful and richest nation in human history, a country built for centuries with the work of African and Native American slaves, Barack Obama has broken many barriers with his election and directly promoted equality, respect for diversity, social justice, and change all around the planet.

This is a well deserved prize, and it represents also the hope of hundreds of millions of oppressed people in the world struggling against racism, including the over 180 million Afro descendants in the Americas, with leaders like Piedad Cordova, the Afro Colombian Senator who was also a favorite and front runner for this award.

This prize is also well timed as president Obama is close to decide on the fate of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the current conflicts are getting more complicated and a military solution seems less probable in both cases.

The U.S. has over 1,000 military bases in the world, and president Obama needs the most support to make the right decisions to spread more peace, and less wars. His current effort to strength the U.S. presence in the United Nations -a 180 degrees turn from his predecessor- is a sign that he will be focusing in peaceful diplomacy in the near future.

President Obama will receive the Nobel Prize 45 years after Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded in 1964:

..

Congratulations to president Obama, the people of the United States and the world.


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The African Presence in Mexico exhibit coming to DC Anacostia Museum by November 2009

People in DC are already talking about this exhibit.

Mexicans are not only a majority of Indigenous peoples and European migrants, but also they have a strong African heritage - at some point they had the biggest Black population in the Americas- and they had the first Mexican Black president in 1829.

The African Presence in Mexico exhibit will open on November 9, 2009 and will run until July 4, 2010.

More info coming soon.
Visit the Anacostia Community Museum website.

Not part of the exhibit, but this video is really interesting, love the Hip Hop song:

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Protest Racist Attacks of Lou Dobbs against Native Americans and Latinos: Organizations demand CNN to remove Lou Dobbs for His Extremist Views

CNN will be screening today a preview of its series "Latino in America" at the Newseum and protesters will be there to remind the news channel to stop the racist attacks against Spanish speaking Native Americans and Latino immigrants.

Photo by BastaDobbs.com

CASA de Maryland, Tenants and Workers United, Mexicanos Sin Fronteras will join the Basta Dobbs campaign today in a protest to demand CNN to fire Lou Dobbs.

"CNN cannot be courting the Latino [Native] audience while having Dobbs promote hate through their airwaves," expressed Favianna Rodriguez, cofounder of BastaDobbs.com

Protest to Remove Lou Dobbs from CNN

Thursday, October, 8
6:00PM
Newseum
Annenberg Theater
555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington

This event is also supported by human rights advocate groups and activists in the DC area, and others coming from 25 U.S. cities with the largest Native / Latino populations.

The defamation attacks promoted by Lou Dobbs have caused an increase of hate crimes against Latinos and Native peoples across the U.S. Dobbs uses his CNN program to spread lies, stereotypes, false data, racism and xenophobia againts immigrants especially the Indigenous and Black peoples coming from Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America.

This hateful campaign is fueling attacks, abuse and violence against our communities in a daily basis. For instance, CASA de Maryland received threats of violence including the bombing of their building and the assassinations of their members. Please join this protest and spread the word!

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