Tag Archive for 'social issues'

True Colors – It’s Punk’d & Chris Rock Rolled Into One

Published on April 9, 2009 in Entertainment and Social Commentary. Closed Tags: , , .

Ever wondered what happens if there’s a hidden camera show, but instead of doing practical jokes, it does one based on racism? How would you handle it? Crackle, a Sony owned site, decided to find out with a show called “True Colors”. It’s a show with Dwayne Smith ("Lonely Girl"), Lisa Bohacek and Circle of Confusion serving as executive producers of the series, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television. However, the show is not on TV, but on the Internet: Crackle.com.

More after the jump…

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The Credit Crisis Visualized

Published on April 8, 2009 in Social Commentary. Comments Tags: , , , , .

I may know a little bit about the current financial environment, however, I don’t know how the credit crisis. So, most of the talks about lending to banks and why this is important went over my head. So, I found this video to be very informative. I hope it helps you out as much as it helped me.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.
© Copyright 2009 Jonathan Jarvis

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.

Crisisofcredit.com

The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated. This project was completed as part of my thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

For more on my broader thesis work exploring the use of new media to make sense of a increasingly complex world, visit jonathanjarvis.com.

Support the project and buy a T-Shirt! cafepress.com/crisisofcredit

Celebrity Financial Mistakes (Learn From Their Mistakes)

Published on March 16, 2009 in Productivity and Social Commentary. Closed Tags: , , , .

imageWhat does Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Wesley Snipes, Naomi Campbell, Mike Tyson and Issac Hayes all have in common? Well, for one, they are all notable celebrities… that have trouble with their finances in one form or another. With Michael Jackson selling off Neverland and memorabilia, one would think “wait a minute. Isn’t he rich?”

(More after the jump)

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The Difference Between “White Boys” & Black Men

Published on March 9, 2009 in Social Commentary. Comments Tags: , , , .

image

Update (March 09, 7:50 PM): This is a massive re-edit. I decided to cut the blog entry shorter. Please refer to the post in question to is what got me upset and why I decided to respond to this issue.

So, I visited Alphanista, a blog that’s target towards women (but they welcome men to post comments). I love commenting on their from time-to-time because I have a good friendship with the Maryann Reid. Recently, she posted a guest blog post by Nikki Harris (soon to be Nikki Harris-Abramson in 6 months or less if she can help herself). This post is titled “Why I Date White And I’m Alrrright.”

Now, I’m not going to knock her for dating nor marrying said white, Jewish boy (her words, not mine). What I am going to knock is her post, basically bashing the black man (even thought she stated she loves black men). So, I have to take a stance on the issue. Usually, I have to stand up to a white woman about black women. Now, I gotta stand up to a black woman about her twisted views about some black men. At first, I was going to do it as a comment, but instead, I will straighten this out on my own terms.

Continue reading ‘The Difference Between “White Boys” & Black Men’

ALBe Back – Super Negro (Are We Post-Racial?)

Published on February 26, 2009 in Entertainment and Social Commentary. Closed Tags: , , , , , .

I’m so mature that my face can rearrange in days
change in ways that cops everyday need to stop me and see my ID

I’m currently living in Westchester. Somewhere in Peekskill, Montrose, around one of those places. It’s still “the real boondocks”. As a black man (temporary) living here, I think the neighborhoods are pretty much part of the American Dream. One time, coming back from NYC one late night, I walked down to where I was staying at. In order to get to there, I have to walk a mile & a half, which would take me about 30 minutes. While I was walking, the Highway Patrol spotted me. and they were going in one direction. I thought nothing of it, until 3 minutes later when they turned back to stop me. They asked me where I was going. I told them I was heading to where I “rest my head at”. They asked me if I got a home here, and I told them “no, because I’m only staying here for a while. It’s not ‘home’ to me.” Then they ask for Identification, which I gave to them. Afterward the unwarranted interrogation (questioning me about things on my own ID), I asked them for a ride, which they brush me off by saying “have a good night and get to your destination and stay put”. I almost wanted to say “why sir? Mr. Lincoln says I was free,” but kept my mouth shut.

While getting stop for an ID isn’t really something to complain about, it’s all part of the “black experience” here in the United States. It’s almost as if they want to prevent me from some imaginary crime they thought I was going to commit simply because I don’t belong there.

Going around saying “we’re post-racial” is a lame catch-all for saying “okay, we elected one of your people to the highest office of our (as in, we own this ish, you’re just visiting) great nation. So, we’re even, right?” They say this as if people that once thought that being black anything was evil now think that being black is cool. Like we have a certain swagger that makes us magical. Yet, we still have stereotypes attached to us. We are naturally talented in sports & entertainment. We are too laid back & ducked normal responsibilities (Like paying the bills). We’re the last one that people want in their family, but the first ones they will look at when someone’s wallet was stolen. Did these stereotypes disappeared and did racial profiling ended? I must have been the last one to get that memo. So, when someone asked that question, I pulled up this video that sums up the “black experience” in the USA.

Back in 2000-something, I saw ALBe Back (formerly spelled Al B. Back) performed this piece on Def Poetry. He explains how his observers look at him as though he has “superhuman powers”. He made a lot of interesting points poetically. Even thought he’s one of the few poets who read his poem, he makes up for the reading by talking in a “Superman” narrator voice.   At the end of the poem, he wishes that everyone looks at him the same way most of us wishes others outside our race can look at us.

Update (10:04 AM): I forgot to add this poet’s myspace page.

Myspace.com/albemusic

Also, I made a mistake in the spelling of his name. His name is spelled “ALBe Back” not “Al B. Back”. FYI, he’s just released his first album called “Hi.” Check it out.

Update #2 (11:57 PM): Caught a few grammar  mistakes. I usually read backwards before posting. I need to read backwards twice.