Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
Thinking vs. Doing at GOP Debate
Melissa Harris-Perry The dominant theme of the GOP debate was that it’s time to do away with the useless endeavor of thinking and to move swiftly toward taking action.Â
An Open Letter To NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo On Gun Violence
NewsOne blogger Tamika Mallory recently submitted an open letter she wrote to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in which she implores him to confront the gun violence that marred New York City this past holiday weekend. She also speaks about the family members she’s lost to gun violence over the years. The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Dear Governor Cuomo, When my son was two years old his father was killed as a result of gun violence and before that time and after, I watched people in my community be terrorized by the everyday possibility that someone they know might not come home because they were shot and killed. I have watched as you have done powerful things for so many New Yorkers as Governor. You have used your power in Albany to pass same sex marriage when others who tried before you failed. Just this past weekend you organized a successful “labor for your neighbor†program in Upstate New York to help those families ravaged by Hurricane Irene. I guess it is because you have been so successful everywhere else that I have been so deeply disappointed at your failed leadership to date and silence on the issue of gun violence in urban New York. While you roll up your sleeves to help Upstate neighbors repair the damage to their communities over Labor Day weekend, you did nothing and said nothing while 48 people (some reports say nearly 100 people) were shot in New York City and three people were killed over that same time period. Unfortunately, that is hardly surprising. While you have been in office hundreds of people have been shot, many of them youngsters and seniors. African Americans and Latinos know you can do something here because you have done it in other areas with great success. I am requesting that you meet with grassroots, local and community leaders immediately to present your plan to remedy what many are referring to as terrorism within communities of color. I personally urge you to be a leader on this issue since you have been so alarmingly silent up to now. Yours in Progress, Tamika D. Mallory National Executive Director National Action Network RELATED: Time for Black journalists to stop criticizing Rev. Sharpton
Time For Black Journalists To Stop Criticizing Rev. Sharpton
Whenever I hear people question Reverend Sharpton’s new show, ‘Politics Nation’ on MSNBC, I find myself thinking of the theory known as ‘crabs in the barrel.’ In the ensuing debate surrounding newsrooms and diversity, many forget that there is a massive difference between a journalist and an activist. A journalist reports the news, while an activist advocates for his or her cause. In the case of Rev. Sharpton, that cause is thankfully one of social and political equality for all. After knowing him for over 20 years, I would bet my last dollar that he will continue championing justice in his new position with no apologies. Perhaps it’s time the rest of us learn the difference between these two varying roles and stop criticizing the messenger rather than recognizing the problem. To all the Black journalists out there: don’t take your frustration out on someone who is just doing what is so desperately needed. Let’s find ways to discuss a bias that prohibits equal opportunity. Throughout my years with the National Action Network, there have been a host of issues that we worked to push to the forefront – but it was by no means an easy task. One issue facing Black journalists is how many are unable to get their news organizations to dig deep into a problem and aide in our struggle. Even when we ardently fought against the use of the words ‘n_ggas’ ‘b_tches’ and ‘h_s’ in music, it turned into an almost impossible feat to get the media – including Black journalists – to cover the story, minus a few exceptions of course. Instead of challenging major conglomerates for being the source of denigration and systematic bias, these reporters would often times fall short of explaining why certain inequities exist. Obvious concerns like rampant violence in the community have been difficult to not only bring awareness to, but also keep in the news cycle no matter what the racial component of a newsperson. When things like gun violence and vulgar language directly impact people of color the most, how can so many Black journalists fail to investigate the root causes – i.e. racism, poverty, sexism and a downright disregard for Black life? Rev. Sharpton is and has always been an advocate and defender of the people, and I believe “we†should support his new endeavor for it affords him the opportunity to continue to build on his years of struggle. An activist such as Rev. Sharpton doesn’t need to be fed information on the injustices in society, because he lives and breathes them every single day. It’s in the blood of an activist; it’s what they do on a grassroots level. And now Rev. Sharpton is able to transform that same passion and vigor from the last 20+ years onto a new platform with an even larger audience. Though the mechanism may be new, the message is precisely the same – how and why we must level the playing field across all racial, ethnic and economic lines. Journalists of color are absolutely correct in their criticism of network news and its lack of diversity both behind-the-scenes and in the anchor seat. But their anger is pointed in the wrong direction. While we applaud MSNBC for bringing folks like Melissa Harris-Perry and Michael Eric Dyson onto their programming, TV news on a whole is still largely lacking in terms of minority commentators and journalists alike. But before we unleash on the problem, let’s first be sure that we understand what’s really going on – a historically closed institution that still needs tremendous improvement in terms of inclusion and diversification. So I am more than proud to congratulate Rev. Sharpton, and I can honestly say that most people whom he has worked tirelessly to defend and support are behind him 100% and can’t wait to watch as he gets us all on the good foot. RELATED: Don’t let Michele Bachmann’s agenda fly under the radar
How The Movie “The Help†Inspires All Women To Do Better
In a week where much attention was focused on maids and domestic workers, I had the unique opportunity of participating in a gathering at the White House that highlighted the ability and possibility of women – even maids in the 1960s – to transform societal norms. At the invitation of First Lady Michelle Obama, I attended a screening for the acclaimed film, ‘The Help,’ on Wednesday at the White House. As the First Lady showcased this movie centered on ideas of unity and progress, I couldn’t help but take pride in the notion that this young Black woman who works tirelessly to overcome her own battles and uplift her generation, was among those blessed to be in attendance. Set in Jackson, Mississippi, ‘The Help’ (based on the best-selling novel) focuses on three distinct women – two Black, one white – and their intertwining lives around the ideas of race, class, gender and power. The film, much like the theme at the White House’s screening, was that despite one’s racial background, we can unite and transform society. Perhaps if I was alive in the ‘60s, I would be able to comment more on what we went through as a people – and specifically as Black women. But as a child of the ‘80s, I found myself watching this film and focusing more on the tremendous accomplishments we have achieved. It is absolutely remarkable that within a few decades since the setting of ‘The Help,’ we were able to gather at the nation’s capital, at the White House for that matter, and sit with the First Lady to analyze and discuss our progress.  At the screening, Mrs. Obama said something that stuck with me: “What if Barack had given up …. What if Nelson Mandela had given up … ?†I even began thinking: “What if I had given up?†We all have our struggles in life, and though we have obviously made gains, we have much work that remains. But what we cannot do is allow our challenges to hold us back from the greater good. I lost someone very close to me to senseless violence years ago, but today I use that tragedy to advocate for methods of eliminating guns from our streets. Out of every calamity comes hope and choices – you can either wallow in the grief or you can do something to prevent others from experiencing it. The women from ‘The Help’ united and risked their lives to change the course of history. All it takes is one good person, no matter the color. And you never know who you may inspire – just as the First Lady once again inspired us all this week. RELATED: Violence doesn’t hesitate and neither should you What if Casey Anthony were Black?
