Uptown Notes

I’m literally sitting here disgusted. I just have read about and heard discussion of the latest gang rape allegations in […]

Everyone should watch this video of Tony Porter as he delivers a talk in DC earlier this month on masculinity. […]

I recently penned a piece on TheGrio.com about the Georgia Prisoner Protest that is being overlooked by too many. Please […]

Marc Lamont Hill, Susan L. Taylor, Talib Kweli, Kephra Burns, and April R. Silver invite you to a benefit celebration […]

“All the real OGs, I’m a solider cause you told me study Malcolm, Garvey, Huey/ Study Malcolm, Garvey, Huey, their life […]

As you may know, I support gay marriage (yes, it is a civil rights issue.) As you may also know, […]

“Justice for Oscar Grant!” As I sit in front of these keys I know that I could have written this […]

Recently, a firestorm surrounding Shirley Sherrod erupted. A spliced video of her speech ended in her force resignation from the USDA and condemnation by the NAACP. Following the debacle, there were multiple editorials and comments about the failures of the NAACP. While I completely agree the NAACP and USDA failed to respond appropriately to Sherrod, I don’t think the picture that has been painted of the NAACP is accurate or contemporary. Beneath I offer some reasons why and what it means for movement building.

Detroit is a microcosm of Black America. I believe if you cannot love Detroit, you cannot fully love Black people. The Detroit Metropolitan area represents the best and the worst that Black folks in this country have to offer. Detroit is under intense scrutiny as of late and the flashing lights of attention may have served to take the life of seven year old Aiyana Jones as a TV crew filmed a home-raid by the Detroit SWAT. With all the fascination with Detroit around the nation we get the problems of the city beamed into our homes via satellite, but it makes me wonder, is there more there than what we normally see?

Not too long ago, I had a chance to discuss the question of a Black Agenda and President Obama with […]