Journalism

Journalism

6 Moments In History That Remind Me Anything Is Possible

It’s not possible to know what’s possible. For me, these words spell freedom. On this Thanksgiving, I’m particularly grateful for their truth: that living in our world of continuous and interconnected change, uncertainty is certain, and good things can come from unexpected places. Appreciating uncertainty can be either scary or liberating, of course, but I try to stay with the latter. Reminding myself that it’s not possible to know what’s possible sets me free to aim high, and even stretch beyond my comfort zone at times. Who knows? I just might succeed. The trick, I realized some years ago, is keeping a mental list of advances I’d never have thought possible until they happened. Pretty regularly, I review it, just to remind myself that if these things happened, how I can possibly know w...
Journalism

NAACP says American Airlines has made progress, but travel advisory remains

NAACP officials said Monday they are pleased that American Airlines is addressing concerns the civil rights organization raised about the airline’s treatment of African-American passengers, but it’s not ready to drop the travel advisory it issued in October. American announced last week, that it would take several steps to address concerns raised by the NAACP and other activists, including conducting a review of its hiring, training and career development policies to determine if improvements can be made. In January, executives said, American will offer additional anti-discrimination and implicit bias training to all its employees. In addition, American will overhaul how it handles customer complaints of discrimination, with the goal of responding to concerns within 48-hours of a compla...
Journalism

How the Bankruptcy System Is Failing Black Americans

Black people struggling with debts are far less likely than their white peers to gain lasting relief from bankruptcy, according to a ProPublica analysis. Primarily to blame is a style of bankruptcy practiced by lawyers in the South. Novasha Miller pushed through the revolving doors of the black glass tower on Jefferson Avenue last December and felt a rush of déjà vu. The building, conspicuous in Memphis’ modest skyline along the Mississippi River, looms over its neighbors. Then she remembered: Years ago, as a teenager, she’d accompanied her mother inside. Now she was 32, herself the mother of a teenager , and she was entering the same door, taking the same elevator. Like her mother before her, Miller was filing for bankruptcy. She’d cried when she made the decision, but with three boy...
Journalism

The Most Important Question to Always Ask: Does It Help Me Achieve My Goals?

Why do so many people not get what they want out of life? Why do so many people find themselves falling into jobs they don't really want? Or living places that don't make them happy? Or with lifestyles that they find stressful? How does someone go from dreaming of being a rock star, to being locked in an office to enter data onto a spreadsheet? Well, there are many factors. But it usually starts by not clearly defining your goals or what you want. Because until you know exactly what it is you actually want, how can you possibly expect to get it? That means it isn't good enough to decide you want to be 'rich', you need to know what you want to do to become rich. What kind of work you enjoy, how many hours you're willing to work etc. Likewise, if you hope to become a rock star, then you...
Journalism

Does Focusing On Racism And Sexism Lead To More Racism And Sexism?

If someone pays attention to the mainstream media, they are likely to have read stories about racism and sexism. And the amount of stories that they have come across can all depend on the news sources that they pay attention to. The reason for this is that there are certain publications that focus on these kinds of issues, while others don't. One way of looking at this would be to say that there are only certain sources that give these issues the attention that they deserve. Identity Politics Another way of looking at this would be to say that there are certain publications that are obsessed with these kinds of issues. This is not to say that racism and sexism are trivial issues, far from it. What it comes down to is that due to what side of the political spectrum a publication leans, ...
Deconstructing a Hate Group
Journalism

Deconstructing a Hate Group

917. Nine-hundred and seventeen. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), there are currently 917 active hate groups in the U.S. with the exception of Alaska or Hawai'I. According to the FBI, a hate group's primary purpose is to promote animosity, hostility, malice, and fear against persons belonging to a race, religion, ethnicity/national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability other designated sector of society which differs from that of members of the organization. But, why? It begins with our socialization, the way we pass things from generation to generation. Children are taught to walk, talk, identify the differences between the colors white or red and black or green. As a child is taught that white depicts goodness, righteousness, purity, intelligence, s...
Journalism

Listen to Me – Do As I Say, Not As I Do

In many synagogues of Jesus' time, a stone seat at the front of the building provided the first century equivalent of a pulpit. It was the place where the authorized successors of Moses would sit and teach the congregation. Jesus told His listeners that they should heed what these teachers said about the Law of Moses, but not the latter, rabbinic additions to the law. They were not to mimic the actions of these teachers. Hearing the truth from repulsive people isn't easy. We must listen to them because the truth is the truth, and Jesus said to heed it. If the messenger turns you off, do not let him or her turn you off from the message. To alter a popular phrase, if you don't like the messenger, don't shoot the message. This passage shows the contrasting styles of leadership of the Pharis...
Type 2 Diabetes – A Diagnosis of Diabetes Can Have A Positive Effect on Your Life
Journalism

Type 2 Diabetes – A Diagnosis of Diabetes Can Have A Positive Effect on Your Life

Even the worst situations may not be as tragic as they initially seem. When the harsh facts are presented, it is easy to narrow your focus on what is most alarming. In the process, you may not consider the positive aspects of a situation, even if they are minimal. When the odds seem stacked against you and your circumstances bleak, it pays to hold onto hope. One frightening situation for many adults is when they are given a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. At first, the condition may seem bewildering and foreign, but as you will learn, even small changes in your lifestyle can help you to manage the effects. At some point, the disease has got to be stopped in its tracks. If you care about your well-being and ability to live a long, productive life, you will put into motion a plan that helps ...
Journalism

Useful Halloween Party Ideas

Throwing an amazing Halloween party is easy with a little imagination and the ability to create DIY games, party favors, snacks and decorations. Halloween is a highly anticipated event and there are plenty of things that can be done for the most enjoyable occasion. Here are a few practical Halloween party ideas: Set the scene Decorating the home with a haunted house theme is a great way to get ready for the party. Use the decorations to create the right atmosphere for any indoor or outdoor areas that guests are likely to gather. Also, make sure the theme matches the age groups and adjust the scare-factor accordingly. For the child friendly gatherings, try to keep the blood and gore to a minimum, while the theme is easily spooked up for the adult events. Also, the party games and activit...
The Emasculation Of The Black Man
Journalism

The Emasculation Of The Black Man

"Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs." {Ralph Waldo Emerson - American Poet 1803 - 1882} In an ideal society, one will appreciate the accomplishments of individuals who have succeeded in either expressing their talent or demonstrating a conviction to lead those who are in need of leadership. We don't, however, live in an ideal world and there are those who would use any opportunity to denigrate, degrade and devalue anyone who exhibits determination and success. The African community has been particularly susceptible to innuendoes, rumours and prejudice. After conducting a research into black heroes in modern d...