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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Let's support both Princess Tiana and Briana, there's room for both

This weekend The Princess and the Frog opens in movie theaters across the nation and should do very well. I urge everyone to go see the movie to show that animated movies with black leads can do well.

At the same time there is some controversy over where Disney's idea for Princess Tiana came from. In 2003 the character of Princess Briana was created by authur Yara Baker. There is some debate over whether Disney "borrowed" from the Princess Briana character. ( Read more on that HERE )

While most of us will never know what really happened I think we need to look at the glass as half full. There are two black princesses for our little girls to read or watch. I'm sure there is room for two black princesses and many more to boot.

I have brought a copy of the Princess Briana book myself and I urge you to do the same. There is a link to the book on Amazon at the end of this article.

Here is a brief synopsis of the Princess Briana Book.Princess Briana is a wonderful story for children which teaches that beauty comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Princess Briana is a beautiful, African princess who has the opportunity to attend the School of Elite's summer camp in Spain. She has never been to Spain and is very excited about the people she will meet and the things she will learn. Upon arriving, she saw many other princesses, but none who looked like her. Though questioning whether or not she belonged at the school, she continued to her classes, excited to meet her instructors. Shortly after, Briana wasn't too sure of herself, her beauty, or if she deserved to be a princess, so she tried to make herself fit in by changing her outside appearance. Young girls today are bombarded with media images, which imply they must fit society's idea of physical perfection. The messages from magazine covers, music videos, and movies train young girls to think that everyone must have flawless skin, be a certain weight, and size to be considered beautiful. Princess Briana gives an encouraging message to young ladies about loving themselves. Reading this book to young girls will enlighten and empower them to be confident in their unique physical attributes.

So let's go see The Princess and the Frog and buy the Princess Briana Book to help support author Yara Baker and her efforts to also make her book into a movie. Like I wrote earlier I have already brought the book and my daughter will drag me to the movie...LOL.

I believe that's a win win for everyone.

George Cook http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/

You can buy the book here
http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

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