Race and politics, two topics that can ignite extreme passion and rage. As I mentioned in my blog post last week, politics can make people stupid. I am afraid of the hate that is being expressed by a few ignorant, racists who are angered to have a black leader. It scares me that in the year 2008, race is still such a damn issue. And my fears were confirmed when following Barack Obama’s win last Tuesday, 17-year-old Ali Kamara, a black Muslim, was brutally assaulted by four white men while walking home on Staten Island.

“I see the car coming. They looked at me and said, Obama!’ They were not happy.” Kamara said. “They had hoodies on. They started hitting me with bats and my body started vibrating.” -NY Daily News

Really? Really? What the f*ck did this poor kid do to deserve such a violent attack? What does anyone do to deserve a violent attack? The only time I want to kick someone’s a** is when i hear stories of meaningless, hateful a** kicking. Violence, it’s a terrible cycle. I just hope, hope, hope, and pray that people can see our new president as simply our new president and not a color.

Kamara’s family moved to Staten Island from Liberia in 2000. The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is currently investigating the incident as a bias crime. And Kamara says he heard his assailants scream the word “Obama!” but not any other racial or religious slurs.

Making racism disappear begins with educating future generations about equality. Looking for a great forum where young people can express their views on racism and connect with others interested in solving this world wide issue? takepart and check out www.takingitglobal.org. TakingITGlobal is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, connecting youth around the world. TakingITGlobal provides a portal for young people to find inspiration, access information and get involved in improving their local and global communities. Topics covered include not only racism but also global poverty, war and conflict, HIV/AIDS, the environment and more.

Photo by Kylemahan

After living through 8 dark, scary years during which we lost our moral and legal bearings, our country has finally chosen the visionary path of unity, hope and respect for all human rights and civil liberties. We’ve emerged from the darkest depths of fear, hatred and racism that were part of our nation’s founding and have been our communal struggle. While President-elect Obama’s victory hasn’t fully erased these legacies yet, it offers one of the greatest moments of hope for our country to move beyond our racist, slavery-rooted history. As I was teary-eyed through Obama’s beautiful victory speech, I stood in awe with millions of others worldwide who were blown away by his mesmerizing words and spirit. Although he has a difficult road ahead, his ability to unite people of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions and ethnicities demonstrated his ability to deliver a message to all Americans that is the first step in what will be a long journey to allow our country to be truly united and respected as a global leader.

I can also provide you updates on all of the other election-related items I’ve blogged about over the past couple of weeks. While the outcome of the presidential race seemed to be accurate and fair, Election Protection reported 50,000 calls were made. Election reform will not end today; activists will continue to press for much needed election reforms to ensure safe future elections. I’m thrilled to announce that Prop 2, the measure to provide more humane conditions for farm animals, resoundingly passed 62% to 38%. Measure R, to rename San Francisco’s sewage treatment plant after George W. Bush unfortunately failed. And, sadly, all of the ballot propositions in Arizona and Florida passed. California Prop 8 has not been decided, takepart and follow the updates from NoOn8.com

(Photo: Brande Jackson’s flickr photostream)

It seems the closer we get to the November Presidential election, the higher the tensions are run. In case you needed anymore proof check out the Al Jazeera television report below of a McCain-Palin rally in eastern Ohio. In this fascinating clip a network that clearly has little love for the Republican party talks to people who mostly have little love for the Islamic world painting a scary portrait of the United States after the November elections. Should Obama win, he’ll need to contend with the hatred and ignorance of people like those shown in this video. Should his opponent John McCain triumph it will be in part thanks to the support of these very same people. Check it out:

Read the rest of this entry »

Today in Wikincubate, the ever-expanding encyclopedia of ways to get engaged with socially conscious issues:

Police brutality

Racism

Racism multimedia, including this Dave Chappelle classic:

Pollution

Organic food

As the election heats up and folks begin to take things more personally, I was relieved to see a story on NPR that looked beyond the party lines and the mud being slung between the two. The piece, called “A Conversation: How Race Influences Two Voters” features a conversation between Greg Harden of Rochester, N.Y., and Trish Callahan of Portland, Maine - two people with very different backgrounds. Harden is white and has spent most of his life in the suburbs, while Callahan has a black biological father and a white biological mother but was raised by a white adopted family.

takepart to listen to the discussion now and takepart to join the discussion yourself and talk this issue through.

Race is of course a big issue this go around because Barack Obama is the first African-American presidential candidate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Once again, Don Imus is getting heat for what some may feel were offensive statements made on his radio show.  

Don Imus is defending a remark he made about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, saying he was trying to “make a sarcastic point.” Imus spoke Tuesday on his morning show about the on-air comments that sparked a flurry of criticism. Months ago, he pledged to mend the wounds caused by a racist remark about a women’s basketball team. Imus said Tuesday: “What people should be outraged about is that they arrest blacks for no reason. I mean, there’s no reason to arrest this kid six times.”During a conversation Monday about the arrests of Jones, Imus asked, “What color is he?”Told by a sports announcer that Jones is “African-American,” Imus responded: “There you go. Now we know.” [Associated Press] 

What do you think? Was Don Imus’s comment inappropiate or do you think it was simply a sarcastic remark? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

Brigitte Bardot Fine: Top 5 Bardotisms That Got Hot Sex Symbol In Hot Water

Obama Pound: In Historic Moment, White People Exposed To Fist Bump For First Time

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

Get a Job: Top 10 Guides to Finding the Perfect Eco Career

Schwarzenegger Declares Drought in California

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Barcelona Fines Citizens for Using Drinking Water in Pools and Gardens

Coal Power Plants Waste Two-Thirds of Energy Input

* * *

Jon Popham:

Megabus Expanding to the East Coast

Egyptian Blogger Freed from Prison

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Diamonds In The Rough: A Ugandan Hip Hop Revolution

Cluster Bomb Ban

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Interview with Nina Davenport, Director of Operation Filmmaker

KidZui : Internet for Kids (and Those Young at Heart)

For Brigitte Bardot, the whole getting fined for making anti-Muslim remarks is soooo pasee. Been there, done that.   Her repeat offender behavior has led the prosecutor to say, “I’m a bit tired of trying Madame Bardot.”

The former actress and model was famous for her sex symbol status and roles in films like “And God Created Woman” by Roger Vadim in 1956 and “Contempt” by Jean-Luc Godard in 1963. But it’s no longer her sex appeal or her films that gets the 73 into the headlines and into the blog posts of  Gina Telaroli. Bardot has been a long-time a champion of animal rights, which she takes so seriously, she had a neighbor’s donkey castrated because he was sexually harassing her mare. But Bardot is not as fond of the Muslims as she is critters, and today was sentenced, for the FIFTH time, under a French law against for inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. The equivalent of $23,325, this was the heaviest fine so far. So here are the five racism-inciting statements Bardot has made and paid for– literally– since 1997

1. “…my country, France, my homeland, my land is again invaded by an overpopulation of foreigners, especially Muslims.” - published in 1997 Open Letter to My Lost France Le Figaro.

2. “I am against the Islamisation of France. For centuries our forefathers…our fathers gave their lives to chase all successive invaders from France,” her book, A Cry in the Silence, 2003.

3. “Our lovely, kind street-walkers have been replaced by girls from the east, Nigerians, travellers, transsexuals, drag-queens, bearers of Aids and other friendly gifts… Not even French prostitutes are what they used to be.” A Cry in the Silence, 2003.

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. We brought you some excellent top 10 lists this week on art, technology, director Errol Morris, and naughty celebs who should rethink their eco-lifestyles. Don’t forget to catch up with some of our other most popular articles of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Bush’s War: PBS Frontline Brings the War to a Computer Near You

Inverted Areola, Asymmetrical Breasts, & the Miss Bimbo Game

* * *
Nicole:

Where the Wild Things Are: Top 10 Art Blogs

Dark Water: Artist Explores Consequences of Three Gorges Dam Project

* * *
Giulia:

A Pregnant Man?

Is the Lebron / Gisele Vogue Cover Racist?

* * *
Gina:

Top 10 Technology Blogs

Errol Morris’ Top 10 Films

* * *
Kerry:

Top 10 Celebrities Who Need a New Cause

Dead Bats Flying: Mysterious Fatal Illness Alarms Scientists

The cover photo on this month’s Vogue Magazine of LeBron James holding Gisele Bundchen has caused a debate over whether or not the image is racist. The image taken by the infamous Annie Liebovitz was discussed on this mornings Today Show as seen in this clip below.

LeBron James likes the photo saying

“everything my name is on is going to be criticized in a good way or bad way.Who cares what anyone says?”

So if the person in the photo doesn’t see the image as anything more than a cool photo why are people making such a fuss?

Read the rest of this entry »