Monday, August 31, 2009
Is Tyra Banks Already Married to John Utendahl, Or Is This Just Her Post Emmy Winning Glow?
Former supermodel and current TV personality Tyra Banks was recently spotted at a restaurant in Los Angeles (Little Next Door), which isn’t all that interesting. However, who she was spotted with was: her elusive, yet longtime boyfriend John Utendahl.Even more interesting though? What she was spotted with: a big ol’ rock on her left ring finger.
So, is Ms. Tyra and Mr. Utendahl are looking to tie the knot. According to the new second time Emmy winner, this is not true. Given how Tyra recently packed up her bags and moved her and her two shows – The Tyra Banks Show & America’s Next Top Model – to New York, there may be some fire behind all this smoke.
And just who is this guy? John Utendahl is the founder and owner of Utendahl Group, the largest African American-owned investment banking group in the United States . Mr. Utendahl is considered to be one of the most successful African Americans on Wall Street. Mr. Utendahl was born in the borough of Queens in New York City. Mr. Utendahl earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus and acquired an MBA from Columbia University.
Source
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Kinsey Collection Takes Black Art To A New Level At The Brogan Museum
Philantropists Bernard and Shirley Kinsey have spent a lifetime amassing an unprecedented collection of African American art and artifacts.The Florida A&M Unversity grads will once again allow the public a rare glimpse when The Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science on Kleman Plaza hosts "The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey"
With the theme, " Where Art and History Intersect, " the exhibition will include works by such significant artists as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Sam Gilliam, Henry O. Tanner and others, as well as historical documents and other artifacts from Frederick Douglass, Alain Locke, Malcolm X and more. The exhibit kicks off Sept. 10, when patrons can meet the Kinseys at a lavish catered reception. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. The exhibit will be up through March.
Visit The Brogan Museum.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Behind Bars, Black LA Activist Najee Ali Still Advocating For The Voiceless... Himself Included!
Early Release Candidate No. 1
By Annette Stark
It didn’t take long for Najee Ali to start advocating again — even behind bars. This time it’s for the early release of California’s nonviolent prisoners, specifically himself.
“The conditions are horrible and unsanitary,” says the hated-and-loved L.A. human-rights activist, speaking from Avenal State Prison, where he’s serving four years for witness tampering.
On a typical day, “I exercise, study and tutor inmates — many can’t read — and just try to keep a positive attitude.
“The worst thing I’ve seen?” he says. “Someone was stabbed last week and died in the hospital. He was targeted for being a child molester. Rapists and child molesters are pariahs here. I’m not advocating for the early release of hardcore gang members, rapists or child molesters.”
A year ago, Ali pled guilty to witness tampering involving a 2007 road-rage incident in which six motorcylists surrounded a car driven by Ali’s daughter, Jasmine Eskew, on a freeway. Eskew was accused by county prosecutors of crashing her car into one of the motorcycles — but the D.A. lost that case in court. At the pretrial hearing, Ali says he approached the bikers merely to “beg for mercy for my daughter” — a claim he sticks by today. But the bikers accused him of trying to bribe them, and county prosecutors again believed their version.
Ali, a former Crip who turned his life around, was on parole with two suspended sentences for a 1992 robbery, and a 2004 felony hit-and-run involving perjury. According to court records, prosecutors intended to charge him with attempting to dissuade a witness — a potential third strike that could have put him away for years. Instead, he pled to a lesser charge of “tampering,” and got four years.
Ali is at Avenal in the Central Valley, and with good behavior he is likely to be out within the year. But “based on the governor’s criteria” for cutting state spending by releasing prisoners, Ali now figures he would qualify for early release as of next month.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed letting nonviolent inmates serve their final year under “house arrest” with GPS monitoring. A federal court ordered California to cut its prison population by almost 44,000 over two years, using the savings to provide remaining prisoners with better health care. A few days later, 1,300 prisoners at the jam-packed California Institution for Men in Chino rioted.
Schwarzenegger last week described it as bedlam, with prisoners trying “to find anything they could to just hit each other, or stab each other with broken glass ... and entire housing units were burned.”
Ali says things are bleak at the Avenal: “We have eight toilets for 250 people, and the toilets back up. ... I think God put me here so I could see these Third World conditions. The only reason I haven’t gotten sick is that I can afford to buy my own food.”
He buys tuna, $1 per can.
In recent years, the extrovert Ali became an omnipresent voice, continually slamming the powerful. He was arrested for protesting what he saw as a racist Mexican stamp, he slammed Chief William Bratton as having failed to acknowledge organized hits on black children by Mexican Mafia, he called out Jesse Jackson for ignoring his illegitimate daughter, he got a restraining order against Congresswoman Maxine Waters for blocking him from entering a church.
He also advocated against the early release of heiress Paris Hilton by L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who complained that his jail was crowded. “I do regret that now,” Ali says. “I’m not afraid to say I made a mistake.”
Even more ironic, the man who openly courted controversy left for prison without a word to the media. That lull is over. “At the end of the day,” he says, “my accusers were all ex-felons, and one was a convicted child molester.” The attorney for his daughter, Anthony Willoughby, says: “I impeached all her accusers on the stand with their criminal records. The one guy who didn’t testify had a conviction of lewd acts on a child under 14.”
Now doing time for an incident that lacked independent eyewitnesses, Ali says today, “If I had been convicted of drugs or robbery, my credibility as a leader would be over. But I get letters from across the nation from people who are outraged at my situation.”
He says he’s received messages through outside contacts from state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Jermaine Jackson (“a very emotional moment for me”).
Before his incarceration, he was everywhere, holding press conferences, brokering gang truces, calling singer R. Kelly a “pedophile.” He doesn’t feel at particular risk from race-based gangs in prison, he says, because, “Gang members in the black, white and Latino population knew my gang work . ... In the Long Beach case, I supported three white young women who were victimized by a mob of black youths. There’s my support for the Latino woman who was set to die on the floor of the King Drew Emergency Room. ... I think even the Mexican Mafia respects me for standing up for justice.”
The story continues...
By Annette Stark
It didn’t take long for Najee Ali to start advocating again — even behind bars. This time it’s for the early release of California’s nonviolent prisoners, specifically himself.
“The conditions are horrible and unsanitary,” says the hated-and-loved L.A. human-rights activist, speaking from Avenal State Prison, where he’s serving four years for witness tampering.
On a typical day, “I exercise, study and tutor inmates — many can’t read — and just try to keep a positive attitude.
“The worst thing I’ve seen?” he says. “Someone was stabbed last week and died in the hospital. He was targeted for being a child molester. Rapists and child molesters are pariahs here. I’m not advocating for the early release of hardcore gang members, rapists or child molesters.”
A year ago, Ali pled guilty to witness tampering involving a 2007 road-rage incident in which six motorcylists surrounded a car driven by Ali’s daughter, Jasmine Eskew, on a freeway. Eskew was accused by county prosecutors of crashing her car into one of the motorcycles — but the D.A. lost that case in court. At the pretrial hearing, Ali says he approached the bikers merely to “beg for mercy for my daughter” — a claim he sticks by today. But the bikers accused him of trying to bribe them, and county prosecutors again believed their version.
Ali, a former Crip who turned his life around, was on parole with two suspended sentences for a 1992 robbery, and a 2004 felony hit-and-run involving perjury. According to court records, prosecutors intended to charge him with attempting to dissuade a witness — a potential third strike that could have put him away for years. Instead, he pled to a lesser charge of “tampering,” and got four years.
Ali is at Avenal in the Central Valley, and with good behavior he is likely to be out within the year. But “based on the governor’s criteria” for cutting state spending by releasing prisoners, Ali now figures he would qualify for early release as of next month.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed letting nonviolent inmates serve their final year under “house arrest” with GPS monitoring. A federal court ordered California to cut its prison population by almost 44,000 over two years, using the savings to provide remaining prisoners with better health care. A few days later, 1,300 prisoners at the jam-packed California Institution for Men in Chino rioted.
Schwarzenegger last week described it as bedlam, with prisoners trying “to find anything they could to just hit each other, or stab each other with broken glass ... and entire housing units were burned.”
Ali says things are bleak at the Avenal: “We have eight toilets for 250 people, and the toilets back up. ... I think God put me here so I could see these Third World conditions. The only reason I haven’t gotten sick is that I can afford to buy my own food.”
He buys tuna, $1 per can.
In recent years, the extrovert Ali became an omnipresent voice, continually slamming the powerful. He was arrested for protesting what he saw as a racist Mexican stamp, he slammed Chief William Bratton as having failed to acknowledge organized hits on black children by Mexican Mafia, he called out Jesse Jackson for ignoring his illegitimate daughter, he got a restraining order against Congresswoman Maxine Waters for blocking him from entering a church.
He also advocated against the early release of heiress Paris Hilton by L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who complained that his jail was crowded. “I do regret that now,” Ali says. “I’m not afraid to say I made a mistake.”
Even more ironic, the man who openly courted controversy left for prison without a word to the media. That lull is over. “At the end of the day,” he says, “my accusers were all ex-felons, and one was a convicted child molester.” The attorney for his daughter, Anthony Willoughby, says: “I impeached all her accusers on the stand with their criminal records. The one guy who didn’t testify had a conviction of lewd acts on a child under 14.”
Now doing time for an incident that lacked independent eyewitnesses, Ali says today, “If I had been convicted of drugs or robbery, my credibility as a leader would be over. But I get letters from across the nation from people who are outraged at my situation.”
He says he’s received messages through outside contacts from state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Jermaine Jackson (“a very emotional moment for me”).
Before his incarceration, he was everywhere, holding press conferences, brokering gang truces, calling singer R. Kelly a “pedophile.” He doesn’t feel at particular risk from race-based gangs in prison, he says, because, “Gang members in the black, white and Latino population knew my gang work . ... In the Long Beach case, I supported three white young women who were victimized by a mob of black youths. There’s my support for the Latino woman who was set to die on the floor of the King Drew Emergency Room. ... I think even the Mexican Mafia respects me for standing up for justice.”
The story continues...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Segregated LA Radio Hosts, The Glenn Beck Boycott & Non Urban Dictates!
Talk Radio’s Unpatriotic AirwavesBy Kevin Ross
On KRLA AM 870, a Salem Network talk station broadcasting from Glendale, the day kicks off with Bill Bennett, followed by Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, and Dennis Miller. Kevin James rounds out the evening.
Aside from the fact that each of these individuals is unabashedly conservative, they also have something else in common. All of them are men. White men!
Switch over to Southern California’s number one talk station, powerhouse KFI AM 640, and the Monday through Friday line-up is slightly more “balanced”. George Noury begins at midnight. Next up is Bill Handel’s morning drive, then the political musings of Rush Limbaugh. John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou pick up the torch during afternoon drive before former MTV personality Kennedy and Brian Suits close it out.
Although all the personalities are Caucasian, only one woman - Kennedy - is prominently featured on the roster. The no-nonsense advice from Dr. Laura Schlesinger is gone after nearly two decades.
Travel across town to rival KABC AM 790 and you’ll find the L.A. station that invented the all-talk radio format almost fifty years ago also has a white male weekday lead host in every one of its time slots. This is a far cry from when Joe Ortiz in 1971 became the first Mexican American in US history to conduct a talk show on an English-language, commercial radio station on KABC.
Up until last year, The Citadel owned outlet was home to nationally syndicated host Larry Elder.
Known as the “Sage of South Central”, Elder’s conservative Libertarian opinions were espoused three and sometimes four hours a day on the station for 15 years. In fact KABC, which also owned KMPC AM 710 The Zone before it became Radio Disney and later ESPN, had at one point six black talk show hosts on two stations as part of its line-up in the late 90’s.
Elder was among them. He was not only the most successful, but also the most controversial for what many believed were “anti-black” views.
For now, however, only civil rights attorney Leo Terrell is on the air at KABC. His show relegated to Sunday evenings. KFI has African American financial advisor Charles Payne, from 2-4 on Saturdays. Other people of color need not apply.
ALL WHITE, ALL THE TIME
This "preference for white" in Los Angeles, the second largest media market in the country behind New York, is nothing new. With Elder’s continued absence, however, the racial disparities now go beyond jarring. Of the five remaining talk outlets, not one has a Native American, Latino, or African American holding court on the dial during the week.
In fact, all the data suggests that not one Asian has EVER regularly hosted a talk show on an English-language station in Southern California.
Up until very recently this year, there were 46 individuals being given incredible opportunities to make hordes of cash and hold sway over public opinions on the issues facing the nation.
Of the cast of characters, 37 were white men, mostly over 40, and frequently accused of demagoguery. White women make up the rest, equally split in terms of their political ideology and two not sharing top billing with their male co-host.
The CBS owned KLSX 97.1 was on the FM dial. Also lacking in the diversity area, that station is officially dead, having been replaced with Top 40, which ironically, is very diverse.
When President Barack Obama talked about change coming to America on the campaign trial, was this one of the examples he was referring to?
Most answers come hastily with a resounding yes.
But this issue is not just a West Coast phenomenon. Across the country, public financed and privately held stations are banishing minorities to the unemployment line in favor of nationally syndicated hosts like Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.
According to the blog Urban Radio Nation, the only black talk radio stations in the United States are WVON Chicago; WURD Philadelphia; CBS Radio's WAOK in Atlanta and Radio One's WOL in DC, WOLB in Baltimore and WERE in Cleveland.
Journalist Michael Meyers, Executive Director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, actually began tabulating and analyzing radio stations' managers' responses to an employment survey of non-white talk show hosts in the Big Apple eight years ago. "The facts are that AM Talk radio stations all around the country have and continue to broadcast only whites," asserted Meyers.
"The results of the survey surprised us," he continued, "because of the stated and/or assumed emphasis on diversity in other media such as TV and newspapers. There are, for example, non-white journalists, columnists and editorial staff/ board members at every daily newspaper in New York; and there are non-white talk show hosts, anchors, and commentators on TV.”
Well, that was until the Tribune’s, McClatchy’s and News Corps’ started letting these individuals go as they attempt to weather bankruptcy, or write-downs of $21.7 million and $6.4 billion respectively.
Is it any wonder then that Meyers’ findings continue to fall on deaf ears? Flagrant discrimination based on race on the airwaves still exists even as America pats itself on the back for electing the nation’s first African American president.
Moreover, on-air diversity is actually receding, with many in the industry concluding that it doesn't matter if the ring leader rocking the microphone is of the same gender and race time and time again.But others are now pointing to signs that terrestrial radio’s undisputed reign may be waning, especially in a fast-changing world full of rivals like iPods, satellite radio and ever burgeoning Internet radio outlets such as Blogtalkradio.
BLAME IT ON THE ECONOMY
Per 2008 revenues, terrestrial radio is a $15 billion dollar a year hustle. And yet for many, radio is a bad business to be in right now. The industry has suffered its worst decline since 1954, its eighth consecutive “struggling” year.
ABC News puts it all in context. “The radio industry, just like newspapers and books and other forms of media, is facing an unprecedented financial crunch. Radio advertising revenue dropped by 9 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in the previous year, and many radio companies are saddled with huge amounts of debt.
As a result, more stations are turning to syndicated programming. Radio stations typically can broadcast syndicated shows at no cost; they just have to allow a distributor to sell some of the commercials on the show. In some cases, it's cheaper for a station to air syndicated programming than to hire a local talk show host.”
That may be a wise strategy, but a heavy focus on national shows creates another problem: The next generation of on-air personalities won't have the opportunity to learn their craft at radio stations if there are no on-air shifts for them to take.
Media giant Clear Channel Communications, which owns more than 1,200 US radio stations including KFI, is actually down-sizing.
The company recently laid-off 9 percent of its employees. Of those 1,850 workers, comprised of radio personalities and executives, few will be able to find jobs in an industry that will likely see even deeper cuts unless the economy rebounds by the third quarter of 2009.
At a 52-week high of $25.69, Clear Channel’s shares are currently hovering around $5.00 and there are whispers that the mega-conglomerate is headed for bankruptcy.
Other radio stocks are also performing horribly. Regent Communications sank 94% to 9 cents last year, and Citadel dropped 92% to 16 cents a share (currently it’s at 6 cents). According to Reuters, the rest of the carnage looks like this: Emmis Communications down 91%, Entercom off 90%, Salem Communications down 89%, Radio One off 81%, Cumulus Media down 79%, Saga Communications down 72%, Beasley Broadcast off 64% and Cox Radio down 51%.
Then there's the matter of precedent. Radio stations have never really embraced diversity. And without much sustained outcry from civil rights groups or the Federal Communications Commission, these outlets have absolutely no incentive to do so now.
In California, for instance, Tavis Smiley is the only minority in the state with an English language nationally syndicated talk radio show. Smiley, a popular African American author and PBS television personality who is also a KABC alum, lives in Los Angeles along with his contemporaries such as CNN’s Larry King, formerly of KGIL, and Adam Corolla, formally of KLSX, who is now podcasting via the Web. Despite the odds, Smiley broke through and is succeeding with aplomb.
This racial gerrymandering is not simply limited to on-air talent. The only discernible nonwhite employees in KFI’s news department, judging by the station’s web page, are Asian anchor Ginger Chan and Latina Editor Karla Marquez.
The rest of the 15 member crew is completely white, with 6 of them being female. While producer Ray Lopez of the John and Ken show is Latino, there are likely few, if any, other minority producers employed. Veteran radio talent Mark Austin Thomas, who is African American, was recently added to helm the on-air news department at KABC.
For most, particularly women of color, the glass ceiling is showing no signs of breaking. The recent cancellation of LA based NPR’s News & Notes with Farai Chideya (a black female national host) due to financial constraints was one small crack that was quickly sealed.
That leaves Dominique DiPrima of the Stevie Wonder owned Adult Contemporary station 102.3 FM KJLH. DiPrima offers up daily talk from 4:30-6:00 am before the all music format kicks in. Although with a much more limited reach, Bobbi Howe at 1460 AM KTYM also has a daily program on the gospel station.
With that being as good as it gets, is it any wonder why the political commentary or pop culture discussions that play out on cable news or the Sunday political shows tend to only reflect the views of a segment of the majority?
Could this further explain the recent controversy over BMW automotive company’s 'Non Urban Dictate' policy? Sure, there may be legitimate reasons for businesses not using print or electronic “urban” media outlets. It may be that Blacks don't index high in certain categories or that a company's strategy is to market to this niche down the road after they have established a strong position in their primary target.
But, NUD usually means that a company is not interested in the Black consumer. And much of this could be attributable to the media entities themselves.
DON IMUS WAS GONE… AND THEN POOF, HE WAS THERE AGAIN
When acerbic radio personality Don Imus created the “nappy-headed ho’” firestorm after his 2007 comments about Rutgers women’s basketball team sparked universal outrage, mainstream media was suddenly looking for insight from self-appointed and elected black leaders. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who himself has a syndicated program, mentioned that political talk shows don't have minorities as their main hosts, (para) "It's all white… all night."
Those partial comments came on the heels of MSNBC snatching Imus from his morning cable show and then teeing up possible replacements. As J.C “Fanz23” Lewis, Jr of the Black conservative blog “Keeping it Right” pointed out, KABC’s Elder was given the opportunity to "tryout" for a week. Afterwards, no other African American was afforded the courtesy of auditioning to be a talking head. Not one.
Ultimately congressman turned media personality Joe Scarborough got the gig (along with Bill O’Reilly’s old slot on KABC) and black screenwriter John Riley became part of the morning team briefly before quickly fading off the scene.
As for Imus, he was back on the air after a year with an undisclosed financial settlement from CBS. KABC is the current radio home for the cantankerous sexagenarian, who has seen his clout and his national ratings only slightly diminish since the incident and is currently being courted by the struggling Fox Business Channel to return with his cable broadcast.
The upside is Imus now has two African American as part of his morning crew. Bravo, considering in all likelihood they would be collecting unemployment benefits alongside other black hosts who know first-hand how tough it is to land a gig in the current climate.Even at stations where non-whites are employed as talk show hosts, tokenism seems to triumph. Meyers reports states, “There may be ‘a’ black talk show host, but seldom blacks, and Latinos, and Asians among the talk show host line-ups on the stations that broadcast all-day and into the night and even into the wee hours of the morning. Whether commercially-sponsored or listener, corporate funded, these AM radio stations possibly perceive minority talk show hosts either as hard to find or not available-- or as not "as qualified" or "as entertaining" as the Caucasians they consistently employ.”
Maybe we’re overlooking a major issue. Could it be because high ratings the stations are receiving implementing this policy that justifies the status quo?
According to figures based on the Arbitron survey of listeners from June 25 through July 22, talk station KFI-AM (640) slipped from 4.6% to 4.4% and tied for second.
So there you have it.
Well, not so fast. While KFI consistently finishes far ahead of most formats, its talk rival’s numbers tell a different story. KABC-AM (790) tied for 25th, with a 1.5% audience share, while KRLA-AM (870) was 36th, KTLK-AM (1150) was 41st and KGIL-AM (1260) was 50th. This effective use of non-people of color explains why KGIL station management finally let the station flatline, immediately replacing it with a music format effective August 28.
And CBS Radio has just announced that news station KFWB will turn to a talk format come Sept. 8, recycling Schlessinger and Fox News Channel fill-in yakker Laura Ingraham, as well as adding yet another white male outside the state, Philadelphia’s Michael Smerconish.
This of course all makes sense. It’s the same argument being advanced in sports talk, where athletes of color in fields including basketball, football, baseball and soccer take center stage. For better or worse, these shows talk about these athletes, but rarely are minorities leading the discussion.
Two notable exceptions are The Michael Irvin Show, hosted by the former Dallas Cowboy star, and The 2 Live Stews, featuring Doug and Ryan Stewart. Both are intent on muscling their way onto the scene with impressive results. But these developments may not do enough to placate talk radio junkies fired up with “Yes We Can” audacity.
And their discontent will only become increasingly impolite as the simmering battle playing out between President Barack Obama and Limbaugh, gathers steam.
FAIRNESS DOCTRINE 2.0
Radio personality Bill Press has opined that the ongoing Commander in Chief versus the King of Talk slugfest is Exhibit A why Congress should re-enact the Fairness Doctrine, the federal ruling to insure that different voices are able to speak with equal force and influence on matters of public discourse. Having recently lost his syndicated spot on OBAMA AM 1260 AM in Washington D.C., here’s a recent exchange between Press and US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI):
PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?
STABENOW: I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.
PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?
STABENOW: I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.
Locally, Press broadcasts on KTLK AM 1150 with comedian Stephanie Miller, Randy Rhodes, and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. The Clear Channel station - to their credit - has the most women on the L.A. airwaves. And we’re not talking sidekicks.
And yet KTLK’s “left leaning” ideology doesn’t square up with their hosts daily diatribes about how the Republican Party is this “bastion of out-of-touch white men”. Guess what? Everyone at KTLK Monday through Friday is also white. Public radio stations 89.9 FM KCRW and 90.7 FM KPFK, with their progressive mantras, are also woefully lacking.
So for all the hand-wringing Press engages in over the Fairness Doctrine, his angst completely obfuscates the issue that even “liberal” talk outlets can’t reconcile.
Rush Limbaugh’s assertion that traditional radio should not be regulated is actually a sound argument.
The Fairness Doctrine would negatively impact an already challenged industry in tuned to what its audience wants. The real issue is one of opportunities missed, and industry leaders having enough foresight and introspection to not only say “What are we doing?” but “Why are we continuing to do it?”
Look at Sirius XM, a satellite company whose stock was trading at 8 cents. Now up to a whopping 65 cents a share as they continue to hemorrhage money and subscribers, what will this mean for the likes of Oprah Winfrey and friends and other shows featuring minorities? Don't look to the NAACP, in the midst of their centennial celebration, for answers.
Even Radio One, the largest radio broadcast company targeting African Americans and urban listeners, had to dropped Reverend Al Sharpton and Warren Ballentine from their roster earlier this year as they had no other option but to pair down.
Within the last 21 months, Radio One has gone from owning 70 stations in 22 markets, to 52 in 16 markets. Right now, their previously announced 2009 annual shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for September 17, 2009, has been delayed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission so that the company actively fighting against the controversial “Performance Tax” could adequately respond to questions from the SEC.
INTERNET RADIO TO THE RESCUE
No wonder bloggers, and specifically the black blogosphere, have become the go-to folks for bringing issues such as these to the forefront. And for many, sites like Blogtalkradio are assisting in that effort.
One of several online stations that have come on the scene in the last few years, Blogtalkradio allows anyone with a phone and a computer to host and podcast their own Internet radio program for free.
Last year the social networking site saw exponential growth with hundreds of hosts from all racial and ethnic groups. In November 2008, some 3.8 million listeners tuned in to Blogtalkradio, nearly 750,000 or 16% of which were African-American alone. These folks clearly have something to say and are finding an audience, albeit small, eager to hear it.
Obviously, however, these hosts are playing in the minors while superstars like Limbaugh reign supreme in the big league.
"I have a very simple philosophy ... put the very best product you can on the air, regardless of origin," says Gabe Hobbs, a senior vice president for programming at Clear Channel for twenty-five years.
Hobbs was among those recently laid off at the San Antonio, TX based company as a result of low ad sales.
In 2010, blacks are estimated to spend $1 trillion dollars. Hispanics are on tap to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2011. Both groups listen to talk, yet unanswered text messages to radio execs are saying loud and clear, “I’m just not into you.”
“These hiring authorities, in contrast to their reputations for being visionaries and innovative programmers, don't appear to be as either visionary or innovative; but, rather, they seem awkward or clueless, oblivious or insensitive about their responsibility for inclusive hiring. This lack of inclusiveness appears to be a failure of leadership rather than as outright racism or the intentional exclusion of minorities,” says Meyers.
Meyers goes on to point out that the widely-held perception that mainstream, majority-owned AM Talk Radio stations are broadcasting mostly or only Caucasian talk show hosts daily is accurate.
“This is a problem of defacto racial segregation that is both easily recognizable and easily fixed. It is a challenge to the stations' executives-- people of good-will, to a person, we are sure-- for prompt, corrective action,” Meyers concludes.
These were the identical words he used in 2000. Eight years later, News/Talk became the number one format in terrestrial radio. Meanwhile, former KGIL host Glenn Beck manages to take to the mic daily despite advertisers scurrying away from his astringent cable television show in droves.
So while the vitriol toward Congress to have music artists paid royalties by radio stations plays out, media companies through their actions are sending a clear message: they are committed to apartheid on the public airways.
As one Hispanic group lamented, “There is absolutely no ethnic or racial balance in KABC programming and they have no Mexican-American or other Latino talk hosts.”
The words were uttered back in 2006. And yet during this same time period, the US Census Bureau was reporting that White Americans made up only 48.7% of the total population. While Blacks comprise 9.9%, American Indians 0.5% and Asian and Pacific Islanders Americans made up 10.8%, Latinos accounted for a whopping 31.1%
Sound check one-two, one-two! Is this thing on?
There’s a saying that goes “I can’t hear you, because your actions are speaking too loudly.” Well, for companies under the control of the FCC such as Cumulus, Westwood One, Citadel, CBS, Premiere, Cox, Salem and Clear Channel, the silence of minority voices is most certainly not golden. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
To the point now where… it’s deafening.
Kevin Ross is president and CEO of strategic marketing firm 3BAAS Media Group. A former talent on KABC, he currently hosts his own show on Blogtalkradio. This updated version of the story was originally posted earlier this year.
Meyers goes on to point out that the widely-held perception that mainstream, majority-owned AM Talk Radio stations are broadcasting mostly or only Caucasian talk show hosts daily is accurate.
“This is a problem of defacto racial segregation that is both easily recognizable and easily fixed. It is a challenge to the stations' executives-- people of good-will, to a person, we are sure-- for prompt, corrective action,” Meyers concludes.
These were the identical words he used in 2000. Eight years later, News/Talk became the number one format in terrestrial radio. Meanwhile, former KGIL host Glenn Beck manages to take to the mic daily despite advertisers scurrying away from his astringent cable television show in droves.
So while the vitriol toward Congress to have music artists paid royalties by radio stations plays out, media companies through their actions are sending a clear message: they are committed to apartheid on the public airways.
As one Hispanic group lamented, “There is absolutely no ethnic or racial balance in KABC programming and they have no Mexican-American or other Latino talk hosts.”
The words were uttered back in 2006. And yet during this same time period, the US Census Bureau was reporting that White Americans made up only 48.7% of the total population. While Blacks comprise 9.9%, American Indians 0.5% and Asian and Pacific Islanders Americans made up 10.8%, Latinos accounted for a whopping 31.1%
Sound check one-two, one-two! Is this thing on?
There’s a saying that goes “I can’t hear you, because your actions are speaking too loudly.” Well, for companies under the control of the FCC such as Cumulus, Westwood One, Citadel, CBS, Premiere, Cox, Salem and Clear Channel, the silence of minority voices is most certainly not golden. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
To the point now where… it’s deafening.
Kevin Ross is president and CEO of strategic marketing firm 3BAAS Media Group. A former talent on KABC, he currently hosts his own show on Blogtalkradio. This updated version of the story was originally posted earlier this year.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Writer George Alexander Dissects Black Privilege
Yes, We Have An African-American President. What's Your Point?
By George Alexander
Black is sometimes black, and that’s that. Well, maybe. Recent news events have pulled the focus from the economy, healthcare and Iran to the horrible practice of racial profiling. On the positive side, this forces us to examine the notion of black privilege. Just what is it anyway? Does it exist at all?
For starters, it’s hard not to see that a black man with Ivy League credentials, national prominence and wealth can escape many of the ills facing black men in America today. Let’s face it, being a black man in America today—notwithstanding a black man at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—ain’t easy.
Let’s see, where shall we begin? Black people in general, and black men specifically, are hard hit by everything from the unemployment gap, health disparities, and the HIV/AIDS crisis to the educational achievement gap, disproportionate incarceration rates, and the income/wealth gap.
It’s easy to see that blacks with higher incomes and levels of education have many advantages over less fortunate blacks when it comes to access to good schools for their kids, health insurance and the ability to live in low-crime areas with access to good quality grocery stores, with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Highlighting my point, a 2007 Pew Research Center survey indicates that African Americans see a widening gulf between the values of middle-class and poor blacks, and nearly four-in-ten say that because of the diversity within their community, blacks can no longer be thought of as a single race. So even we blacks see differences within our race.
And what we find in the recent high-profile example of racial profiling is an opportunity to examine just how far the notion of black privilege goes. The very fact that a black man could be arrested at his home for what the officer called “disorderly” conduct (though charges were dropped), underscores the point that black privilege, in spite of its inherent benefits, is still a dicey game. Are some blacks privileged? Yes. Immune to bias? Absolutely not.
Many black leaders and opinion makers, who have weighed in on the matter of Prof. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates being arrested at his Cambridge, Mass., home weeks ago, strongly contend that a white person in that situation would never have been arrested in his home after it was determined that there was no burglary or other crime being committed. It’s debatable, but I concur. This scenario happening to a white person is rather hard to imagine, given the history of racial profiling in this country.
But whatever you think about the issue, I argue that the recent Gates incident has to be examined in context of our racial radar. A new study, for example, recently reported in a story in ScienceDaily, validates the findings of the Implicit Association Test, a psychological tool created by Prof. Anthony D. Greenwald Ph.D. of the University of Washington. The test found that 70 percent of those tested have an unconscious, or implicit, preference for white people compared to blacks.
Not good.
The harsh reality is that racial bias is alive and well, rearing its head when many of us are not even aware of it. This becomes particularly tricky when you’re standing in front of a guy in blue who has a badge, a gun and preconceived notions about you. What you have are the dynamics of power coupled with—if the study’s findings are correct—intrinsic racial discrimination. No amount of privilege can necessarily combat the bias if someone is subconsciously predisposed to preferring white people, or believing that white is right.
With such latent racial attitudes, you never know when your blackness will be the issue that lands you behind bars or in the cemetery. Given the dismal fates of Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant and the countless, nameless, faceless African Americans who ended up dead at the hands of law enforcement—having committed no crime whatsoever—I don’t even want to think about it. The fact that a Boston policeman has been suspended for referring to Gates as a “jungle monkey” in an email after the widely-reported dispute, only serves to tell you what you’re dealing with here.
The fact of the matter is that blackness—well-to-do or otherwise—in America is an evolving, increasingly nuanced phenomenon. Add a black president to the mix and what you have is downright status schizophrenia on the part of some blacks. We’ve made progress. No, we haven’t. We’ve made progress. No, we haven’t. The dual nature of this reality can become confusing. What’s certain is that progress can always be put to the test. Cops are a particularly good litmus test if you’re ever confused.
Let’s see here, you’re sitting at home in your nice digs in a tony part of town watching your black president conduct a White House press conference and it makes you proud. You feel good about yourself. You feel good about America. You feel good about the world! You may even know the president and consider him a friend. You are, by all accounts, privileged.
After watching CNN or MSNBC, you enjoy a glass of organic orange juice you bought at Whole Foods. Then, you put on your $200 jogging shoes and go out for a jog in your neighborhood. At mile 2, on a route you run regularly, you’re stopped by the cops and asked if you live there.
Yes, you might be insulted, but when encountering a cop in such a situation, it’s still a good idea to err on the humble side. Chill out. The idea is to make it back home safely to your lovely wife and kids. It’s not exactly the time to show your Ivy League credentials to a man who may never have even walked on a college campus in his life, except perhaps to break up a disturbance after a Final Four game. So you will yourself to relax and remember that while it’s still not a perfect world and black privilege isn’t necessarily white privilege, you will, with any luck, probably be okay.
In other words, black privilege has limits.
Sadly, you don’t know when those limits will be put to the test. Thank, God, most encounters are not deadly. It might be a Madison Avenue store when you are followed around by a clerk (remember Oprah in Paris at Hermés? She didn’t even get in the store); it might be at a bank that steers you toward an unfavorable mortgage product despite your income or credit score; it might be at a New York co-op building whose board refuses you without explanation. It should be predictable, but it still feels cruelly random when it happens to you.
When it comes to dealing with the police, the big issue for blacks of privilege is that you can never get the idea in your head that you have “arrived.” When it comes to dealing with the police, some experts underscore the importance of always using caution.
‘It is unwise for anyone of any race to raise their voice to a law enforcement officers,” Al Vivian, who is black, told the New York Times last week. Even though there is no evidence at this point that Gates raised his voice at all, I could not agree more.
The point is that when dealing with law enforcement, privileged or not, it’s best to be prepared. That, and keeping a cool demeanor, will hopefully prevent you from ending up in the morgue.
Here’s my Black Man’s Police Survival Guide:
1.Pray.
2.Know your rights.
3.Keep your hands visible at all times.
4.Don’t argue with the police.
5.Don’t get attitudinal with the police.
6.Watch your tone of voice.
7.Don’t resist arrest.
8.Don’t curse out the police.
9.Don’t talk about the policeman’s mama.
10.Remember that less is more.
11.Smile but don’t shuffle.
12.Be polite.
13.Say “Yes, officer” and “No, officer,” but don’t shuck and jive.
14.Stay calm.
15.Avoid sarcasm.
16.Don’t say you know Barack Obama or voted for him. This is particularly the case if you are in a red state.
17.Don’t tell the cop, “You will regret this day” or “Do you know who I am?” Trust me. He doesn’t.
18.Get home safely.
George Alexander is the author of Why We Make Movies and Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair. He also wrote the VH1 series Black in the 80s.
Originally published on The Defenders Online blog -- an online outlet of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Filming on Terrence Howard's New Pic "Little Murder" Gets A Little Too Real In Hard Up Detroit!
Members of actor Terrence Howard's Hollywood film crew found some gritty real-life drama this afternoon on Detroit’s west side when two shotgun-wielding teens robbed them in the normally quiet neighborhood. They were there shooting the talented thespian's upcoming film Little Murder. The crew was in the 4800 block of Avery in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood surveying the area in preparation for a film shoot when two teens in bandanas robbed them about 2:15 p.m., said Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens Bell and spokesman John Roach.
Terrence Howard was not on the scene when the incident occurred. Probably too busy fending off all the women going gaga over the Channing Tatum film "Fighting" just released on DVD.“Both had shotguns, and they robbed them at gunpoint,” Roach said. “They got a wallet and a cell phone from a crew member and fled on foot."
Details
Jay-Z's Rocawear Line Still So Fresh And So Clean-Clean A Decade Later!
Rocawear to Celebrate 10th Anniversary75 African Migrants Feared Drowned Off Italy
NY Gov. Paterson: Media Using Racial Stereotypes
Michael Jackson Burial Moved to September 3
Spike Lee's Jackson Birthday Bash Could Draw 10K
Radio One, Inc. Delays 2009 Annual Shareholders' Meeting
Obama Calls for 'Honest Debate' on Health Care
Birth Certificate Backs South African Runner in Gender Storm
Black Teens Severely Beat White Teen for Dating a Black Girl
United Nations Hails Security Gains in Haiti
Library Moves Children's Book After Racism Claims
Kelis Eyes Retro Spousal, Child Support from Nas
Birth Certificate Backs South African Runner in Gender Storm
Black Teens Severely Beat White Teen for Dating a Black Girl
United Nations Hails Security Gains in Haiti
Library Moves Children's Book After Racism Claims
Kelis Eyes Retro Spousal, Child Support from Nas
Source: Black Report
Monday, August 17, 2009
President Obama Gets Deeper Into The Health Care Debate, Embraces Internet Talk With Blogtalkradio Appearance
This Guy Gets It... New Media That Is!
You know that 3BAAS Media Group has been using Blogtalkradio for almost two years now. We've produced The Content Black Woman, and the ongoing Current Events program The Kevin Ross Show. So while this incredible platform is not new to us, when Barack Obama decides to get on board, it's a whole new ballgame.
President Obama will be making an appearance on a special program called “40 Minutes For Health Reform” which will stream live exclusively on Blogtalkradio. Specifically, the Commander-in-Chief's part will be the last 10 minutes of the show after he listens in on the first 30 minutes during which there will be a roundtable discussion about the topic with the leaders of the non-profit group, Faithful America
“I’ve been impressed by how President Obama has adopted innovative social-media technology during his campaign and into his administration,” says Alan Levy, CEO of Blogtalkradio. “We’re honored that he has selected BlogTalkRadio as his newest requisite platform for communicating directly with the American people.”
Tech Crunch has all the details.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
AT&T Doesn't Want You To Use Skype or Google Voice, But It's Their Horrible Service That's Driving Customers Away!
HEY AT&T, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW???By Kevin Ross, CEO of 3BAAS Media Group
So I pulled up to this AT&T store at 6:57pm on Sunday August 2, 2009. The front door said clear as day that this location closes at 7:00pm. Now admittedly, no one was in the store except three employees, including two ladies behind cash registers. When I walked up to the door it was locked, so I knocked on the glass and a late 20-something man gestured that they were closed.
I then asked him to walk over to the where I was. He complied.
After indicating that I was there to pay a bill, the man told me they closed at 7:00pm I said “It’s not 7:00, it’s only 6:59.” His retort was the registers were already closed out. My response was, “Why are registers closed when the store is still officially open?” The man shrugged his shoulders, and walk away. I don't have these issues with Skype, and AT&T knows it.
Initially deciding to just drop the whole thing and move on, I began walking towards a nearby take-out restaurant to get some dinner. Suddenly, I just happened to look at my ATT Blackberry, which was showing 6:58. I paused for a moment, turned around and headed back to the store. I asked the gentleman to come over again.
When he did, I showed him my AT&T phone with the time now reading 6:59. “Your company phone is even showing that you guys should not be closed yet,” I said. He then pulled out his black iPhone (the one some AT&T users have been complaining about) and showed it to me. At that point, it read 7:00pm.“My phone says 7:00 p.m.,” the man replied. Well, it’s clear that even with his phone now reading 7:00. I should have initially been allowed to transact business. When I asked for his name he indicated he was Jarrett and he was in charge. I asked for his last name and he refused to give it to me.
When I asked for the manager’s name, he indicated his name was Adam. I advised him that I would be contacting his manager. Jarrett rudely replied, “Well, you do that – contact him.”
That's when my Blackberry camera came in handy. After snapping the picture above, I did contact Adam Garcia, the store manager. While apologizing for the situation, he went on to defend the stores actions based on several robberies that AT&T stores had been experiencing whereby criminals are waiting right up until these stores close before stealing from them at gunpoint.As a result, AT&T, unbeknownst to the general public, has began instructing stores to close 30 minutes early then the time stated, lock the doors, and not allow additional customers to enter.
While I understand the safety precautions be implemented, it stills doesn’t excuse poor customer service being shown to customers trying to spend money with AT&T.
Mr. Garcia asked me to send him this piece before posting which I did. He said he would make sure he got back to me to discuss further. To date, Adam remains missing in action. No phone call, no email. Nothing. Nada. Zilch! Am I the only one who's experiencing this?
And yes, this is the same AT&T who’s chum (term used to measure the number of customers who leave or switch to another service) is increasing due to consumers experiencing constant dropped calls in areas where various phones show a full signal.
This is the same AT&T who is covertly trying to prevent Apple from accepting the Google Voice application because they don’t want consumers to have options. Instead, AT&T wants to subject customers to unprofessional employees. Employees that may soon need to find work in other industries, as VOIP becomes more widespread and the society finds less need for traditional phone service.
Don’t take my word on this - ask one of those 8,000 employees Verizon is laying off due to reduced demand for their product. And that’s taking place despite there aggressive marketing campaign for FIOS.
All I can say is AT&T, you need to get it together. Right now, it seems that the FCC is on you too, which means my world that has you in it does not feel close at hand. Is this thing on???
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
In LA This Weekend? Then You NEED To Check The Watts Summer Festival Going Down August 8-9
Carnival rides, exhibits, vendors, free health information, story-telling, community forums, continuous live music, drill teams, surprise celebrities, food court, arts, crafts, concerts (gospel, jazz, R&B, hip hop) and more await you at a 2-day cultural celebration.Celebrity Spokesperson - Charles Wright of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, “Express Yourself” will also be on hand. The event begins both days at 12 noon and goes until 8:00 pm. Visit the website for more information. See you there!
Peru, From A Sistah Who's Not The Kick Ass Thrill-Seeker She Thought She Was!
Where's My 'Survivor" Million Dollars?by Bonique Edwards, CEO of Kaleidoscope Consulting
What on earth was I thinking when I agreed to do an adventure vacation in Peru with my outdoor junkie friend Niki? Even though I had worked out 5-6 days per week for the past three months, my body was in no condition for the rigors of Peru.
The trip started with a 7 hour bus ride to Lake Titicaca. The only thing missing on the bus were the chickens. Needless to say, we took a flight back to the city.
The elevation of Lake Titicaca is about 13,000-14,000 feet. Even a trip up a flight of stairs makes you feel like you just finished a 5K. In 20 degree weather, we slept in a room with a broken heater.
The next morning, we visited man made islands. One of the most amazing things I've seen in my life. The indigenous people literally make their homes, their boats and the island itself out of reeds that literally are grown wild in the lake. There are no TV's or Blackberries. They use the money made from tourists to purchase solar panels for electricity. How is it possible, that people on floating islands can use solar power, but we can't seem to get it together in the US?
That night, I learned we were staying with a family in their home on another island. (yes, I was slightly freaked out!) The home was clean, but I wasn't so convinced that the sheets were washed in between visitors. With no hot water, we used our Charmin Wipes to freshen up the next day. That night, we ate dinner with the family and they dressed us in traditional clothing. They had a party in honor of the tourists and we had a blast dancing with the native islanders.
The next morning, we climbed to the top of the mountain for the views. Imagine climbing up hill for one hour with limited Oxygen. I felt like my lungs were going to explode.
When we made it to the top, I literally jumped like the people you see in a "Oh What a Feeling" Toyota commercial. My P90X workout tapes did not prepare me for the hills of Peru. Of course the view from the top was spectacular.
We ventured off to see Machu Picchu. Feeling acclimated to the elevation, we decided to hike the day before actually visiting the Inca site. We were informed that the hike was steep, but short. Everything was fine until we got to "The Ladder" The first ladder had at least 100 wooden steps against the mountain at an 80 degree angle. I have never seen anything like it. We all stared at the ladder for a few minutes before attempting the feat. The goal was to use three points of contact while climbing.
I kept thinking, "Shouldn't we have a harness or something." I literally used my body to hug each piece of wood. One slip and it was over. After we made it to top, I figured we would jump for joy and enjoy the view. (Wrong!) A couple coming down the mountain told me there were "5 more sets of ladders and then one hour to the top." Hmmmmm...
I climbed one more set of ladders and decided that my definition of a short hike did not include risking my life or climbing an hour up hill at 90 degree angles. I punked out. I just didn't feel safe. I have ridden my bike in several countries with steep terrain....I have jumped out of plane....I have white water rafted in Costa Rica and I am a solid snowboarder. Hell, I think I'm pretty adventurous, but those ladders scared the sh** out of me. I felt like I was on Survivor without the option to win a million dollars. I yelled up to Niki and Faye that I was making my way down.
Eventually, another traveler in our group Chad joined me for the descend. He told me that at one point he was literally on the ground climbing up. We ran into another couple who simply said, "It just wasn't safe." I have a whole new respect for my girlfriends Niki and Faye who made it to the top. This mountain took extreme to a whole new level.
The next day, we arrived at Machu Picchu. The site will literally take your breath away. Similar to the pyramids, its a wonder how the stones were cut, molded and shaped without the convenience of modern power tools. The site is elevated above the town below, which means that the Incas had to haul heavy stones up the mountain to build the city.
The site was rediscovered in 1911 by an American Archeologist. Of course, we took all the gold and jewelry promising to return the precious goods to Peru. It never happened. People of color continue to be disenfranchised around the world.
The steps of Machu Picchu were steep and rigorous, but it felt like a walk in the park compared to the ladders of doom. We explored the location for five hours and took dozens of pictures. It was truly a site to see.
Overall, I had the time of my life. How can you be mad at a country that serves rice and french fries for every meal? I did not feel guilty for one single fry, since my body had been pushed to the limit over the past week. I'm headed off to Brazil. I may try hang gliding. Sounds much easier!
The trip started with a 7 hour bus ride to Lake Titicaca. The only thing missing on the bus were the chickens. Needless to say, we took a flight back to the city.
The elevation of Lake Titicaca is about 13,000-14,000 feet. Even a trip up a flight of stairs makes you feel like you just finished a 5K. In 20 degree weather, we slept in a room with a broken heater.The next morning, we visited man made islands. One of the most amazing things I've seen in my life. The indigenous people literally make their homes, their boats and the island itself out of reeds that literally are grown wild in the lake. There are no TV's or Blackberries. They use the money made from tourists to purchase solar panels for electricity. How is it possible, that people on floating islands can use solar power, but we can't seem to get it together in the US?
That night, I learned we were staying with a family in their home on another island. (yes, I was slightly freaked out!) The home was clean, but I wasn't so convinced that the sheets were washed in between visitors. With no hot water, we used our Charmin Wipes to freshen up the next day. That night, we ate dinner with the family and they dressed us in traditional clothing. They had a party in honor of the tourists and we had a blast dancing with the native islanders.
The next morning, we climbed to the top of the mountain for the views. Imagine climbing up hill for one hour with limited Oxygen. I felt like my lungs were going to explode.
When we made it to the top, I literally jumped like the people you see in a "Oh What a Feeling" Toyota commercial. My P90X workout tapes did not prepare me for the hills of Peru. Of course the view from the top was spectacular.We ventured off to see Machu Picchu. Feeling acclimated to the elevation, we decided to hike the day before actually visiting the Inca site. We were informed that the hike was steep, but short. Everything was fine until we got to "The Ladder" The first ladder had at least 100 wooden steps against the mountain at an 80 degree angle. I have never seen anything like it. We all stared at the ladder for a few minutes before attempting the feat. The goal was to use three points of contact while climbing.
I kept thinking, "Shouldn't we have a harness or something." I literally used my body to hug each piece of wood. One slip and it was over. After we made it to top, I figured we would jump for joy and enjoy the view. (Wrong!) A couple coming down the mountain told me there were "5 more sets of ladders and then one hour to the top." Hmmmmm...
I climbed one more set of ladders and decided that my definition of a short hike did not include risking my life or climbing an hour up hill at 90 degree angles. I punked out. I just didn't feel safe. I have ridden my bike in several countries with steep terrain....I have jumped out of plane....I have white water rafted in Costa Rica and I am a solid snowboarder. Hell, I think I'm pretty adventurous, but those ladders scared the sh** out of me. I felt like I was on Survivor without the option to win a million dollars. I yelled up to Niki and Faye that I was making my way down.
Eventually, another traveler in our group Chad joined me for the descend. He told me that at one point he was literally on the ground climbing up. We ran into another couple who simply said, "It just wasn't safe." I have a whole new respect for my girlfriends Niki and Faye who made it to the top. This mountain took extreme to a whole new level.
The next day, we arrived at Machu Picchu. The site will literally take your breath away. Similar to the pyramids, its a wonder how the stones were cut, molded and shaped without the convenience of modern power tools. The site is elevated above the town below, which means that the Incas had to haul heavy stones up the mountain to build the city.The site was rediscovered in 1911 by an American Archeologist. Of course, we took all the gold and jewelry promising to return the precious goods to Peru. It never happened. People of color continue to be disenfranchised around the world.
The steps of Machu Picchu were steep and rigorous, but it felt like a walk in the park compared to the ladders of doom. We explored the location for five hours and took dozens of pictures. It was truly a site to see.
Overall, I had the time of my life. How can you be mad at a country that serves rice and french fries for every meal? I did not feel guilty for one single fry, since my body had been pushed to the limit over the past week. I'm headed off to Brazil. I may try hang gliding. Sounds much easier!
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