Saturday, September 7

Tag: power

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Journalism

The History and Political Power of Black Motherhood

Author Dani McClain wants us to stop pathologizing Black mothers’ experiences in this country. I first became a mother at 20 years old and was 22 when I had my second child. What I learned about the technicalities of being pregnant and what to expect came from what some have called the pregnancy bible, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. But, like many mothers, the practicalities and examples of motherhood came from the women in my family: my mother, my six aunts, and my maternal and paternal grandmothers. From them I learned what I wanted to do—and what I didn’t want to do. I made mistakes. But looking back, I realize I worked at it—hard. I find labels like, “stay-at-home mom,” “homemaker” “housewife” and “single mom” disparaging; there’s something even backhandedly co...
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Journalism

The Power of Sharing Stories

A growing body of evidence points to the mental health benefits of oral storytelling. As Joe Clemons was growing up, he used to listen to family members share stories. Some stories were imaginative and rousing, while others were more monotonous. Nevertheless, hearing accounts of how his elders experienced life before him was a form of bonding and had a large part in shaping his selfhood—especially the stories his father told him about coming of age as a Black man at the height of the civil rights movement. “A lot of those stories are tied to my identity,” Clemons said. Though his father wasn’t particularly fiery in his delivery, his career as a preacher meant oral storytelling was a natural element of his parenting. Clemons now attributes his own career as a poet and spoken word arti...
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SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Smith-Carlos Black Power salute: Once vilified, now praised

Tommie Smith, John Carlos were ridiculed after raising fists during 1968 Olympics. Fifty years on, they inspire others. Australian silver medalist Peter Norman, left, stands on the podium as Americans Tommie Smith, centrr, and John Carlos raise their gloved fists in a human rights protest in 1968 [File: AP Photo] Fifty years ago, two African American track-and-field stars, having just been awarded their medals at the 1968 Olympic Summer Games and very aware that the eyes of the world were fastened to them, bowed their heads and raised black-gloved clenched fists under a Mexico City sky. Those athletes - Tommie Smith and John Carlos - are beloved icons today. There have been statues erected of them, books written about them. The importance of what they di...
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SOCIAL JUSTICE, VIDEO REELS

Does #MeToo Have the Power to Take Down a Supreme Court Nominee?

In 1991, Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexually harassing her and was vilified for her testimony. How might Christine Blasey Ford fare against Brett Kavanaugh in the age of #MeToo? The #MeToo movement does not exist to change the minds of misogynists—male or female. It is not about standing up, waving our arms, and screaming, “Hey, this violence happens to our bodies all the time and you should care!” For misogynists, the commonality of sexual harassment and assault of women is evidence that women who demand justice are hysterical and self-seeking, driven by personal vendettas, or a desire for fame or money. We are seeing this play out between U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist who alleges Kavanaugh attempte...
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The Power of Celebrity Endorsements in Social Media Marketing
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CELEBRITIES

The Power of Celebrity Endorsements in Social Media Marketing

Turn on the TV, check Facebook, look at an ad in print or online and there's a good chance you'll see a celebrity endorsing a product. This very common marketing practice has been around for decades and has only picked up more traction in today's social media driven environment. Add to our culture's fascination with celebrities and their lives, social media has enabled many people to connect and keep up with their favorite celebs on a daily basis. Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and many other social media networks, a celebrity now has instant access to thousands, if not millions, of fans to share things about their life, but also to promote themselves, their beliefs, and also products and companies. Unfortunately for many businesses, when it comes to utilizing celebrity e...
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A Populism of Hope Begins When People Feel Their Own Power
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Journalism

A Populism of Hope Begins When People Feel Their Own Power

The waning years of the 1800s bore an uncanny resemblance to the present. The U.S. economy was transforming and globalizing, leaving behind many hardworking people. Then, as now, a populist uprising was underway in national politics against politics as usual. Then, as now, tough-talking contenders tried to position themselves as spokesmen for the people. That earlier populism shared many of the complaints about widespread economic stagnation and urban elites that animated voters in 2016. But, rather than in the apocalyptic preaching of a reality TV star, the movement’s backbone lay in feats of economic self-help. And this made all the difference. The proposals those populists sought called for fuller democracy, not authoritarian retrenchment. This was a populism of hope, not a populi...
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Journalism

Power, Dear White People and More Nominated for NAACP Image Awards

The nominees are out for the 49th NAACP Image Awards! The annual event, which takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2018, celebrates the achievements of people of color in entertainment in film, television, music and literature. January’s ceremony will see Ava DuVernary, Bruno Mars, Issa Rae, Chadwick Boseman, JAY-Z and Chance the Rapper go at it for Entertainer of the Year. Meanwhile, hit shows like ABC’s black-ish, Starz’s Power, Fox’s Empire and OWN’s Queen Sugar have picked up several nominations, including ones for Outstanding Drama and Outstanding Comedy. Newcomers looking to make their mark include the Netflix series Dear White People, an adaption of Justin Simien’s thought-provoking film. Plus, Niecy Nash made waves with her portrayal as a nail salon owner with big dreams...
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Reevaluating the Black Power Movement – From Mayor Richard G Hatcher to President Barack Obama
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Journalism

Reevaluating the Black Power Movement – From Mayor Richard G Hatcher to President Barack Obama

Though misunderstood and misrepresented by the media and its opponents, the 1960s Black Power movement touched every aspect of American culture, and like the "New Negro" Movement of the 1920s, African Americans came of age, becoming self-determining and racially conscious. Black people- sharecroppers, unionists, welfare and tenants rights organizers, students, intellectuals, poets, musicians and singers and politicians-grounded in the ideology of Black Power, began to organize around controlling their own lives and institutions. The movement pointedly questioned the capacity of America's democracy to extend justice, citizenship and equality of opportunity to African Americans, castigating America for its failure to live up to the principles of democracy. Unfortunately, the confrontational...
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