Detroit's Collapse Is Speaking Volumns About The State of African Americans & The US As A Whole!

Imagine for a moment that every single person living in the city of San Jose, Calif., plus an additional 150,000 or so, just up and left. Vanished. Poof. Gone. Leaving their homes, business buildings and factories behind.

That is, in effect, what has happened to the city of Detroit, according to 2010 U.S. Census data. The city that boasted 1.8 million residents in 1950, and was the nation's economic engine for most of the 20th century, now is home to 714,000 people, a population loss of 1.1 million - with a 25 percent drop in the last decade alone.

Video: Detroit Is Dying

It's an unprecedented collapse of a major American city. It's not as if the population was dropping nationwide; it's going up. Just not in Detroit. It's closest "outmigration" rival is Chicago, a five-hour drive to the west, which has lost about 964,000 people since 1950 but still holds about 2.7 million people, down 25 percent from its peak of 3.62 million in 1950.

Blacks Are Leaving Major Cities In Droves, Headed South

In Detroit, the loss amounts to a staggering 60 percent of the city's peak population. It is now smaller than Charlotte, N.C., and Fort Worth. More people have left Detroit than live in San Francisco; more people have left in the last decade than live in St. Petersburg, Fla. If a similar collapse happened to San Francisco or San Diego or Denver or Dallas, there would be national cries for intervention. Detroit we treat like a crash on the freeway: something to gawk at, then forget while we blame auto executives - the driver - for their follies and ignore the injured passengers.

The collapse of Detroit has roots in intentional de-industrialization by the Big Three automakers, which in the 1950s began aggressively spider-webbing operations across the nation to produce cars closer to regional markets, and to reduce labor costs by investing in less labor-friendly places than union-heavy Detroit.

Racism plays a significant role too. Detroit's white flight exploded in the 1950s and '60s, after courts struck down local and federal policies that had allowed segregated housing. That was followed by middle-class flight as crime endemic to high-poverty, high-unemployment neighborhoods began spreading. As people of all races have fled the city, its vast socioeconomic problems become even more distilled, more pronounced.

Disgraced Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Doesn't Get It

One in three Detroiters, triple the national rate, lived below the federal poverty line in 2007 - before the economic crisis and auto industry bankruptcies and bailouts - making Detroit the poorest of the nation's big cities. Detroit's per capita 2009 income was estimated at $15,310, compared with a national rate of $27,041. And that was when the population was estimated to be more than 900,000.

As a nation, and as a mature society, what are we going to do about Detroit?

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New Report Finds More African Americans Using Self-Created Blogs & Digital Content, Social Networking For News & Information

Higher Percentage Of Blacks Rely on Television News

"African Americans are more likely to have created their own web content — by blogging, microblogging and social networking — than whites or Hispanics," according to the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism's State of the News Media 2011 report.

As sites like The Grio, MediaTakeOut, Black Report, EUR Web and Field Negro have demonstrated, "Almost a quarter (22%) of blacks created or worked on their own online journal or blog, compared to 14% for whites and 13% for Hispanics. African Americans also use social or professional online networking sites in greater proportions than whites. In May 2010, some 71% of African Americans said they used online networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, compared with 58% of whites."

In another finding, "An overwhelming 86% of African Americans turn to TV for most of their news, compared to 64% of white respondents and 66% of Hispanics. Most African American media outlets either began or planned to upgrade their digital enterprises in an effort to reach new audiences. But beyond that, it was a mixed year for the sector," the report said.

Among other findings:

• The digital divide between whites and other ethnic groups is narrowing. A number of different indicators show African Americans and Hispanics turning to the internet in higher percentages than in years past.

• Despite its popularity, most African Americans do not use radio to receive news. Only 9% of African Americans used radio to get most of their news, according to a December 2010 Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey. Twice as many whites (18%) got most of their news from the radio and 12% of Hispanics did the same."

• "An estimated 71% of African Americans use the internet, according to a Pew Internet & American Life survey conducted in May 2010. This still trails whites (80%) and Hispanics (82%), but closes the gap more. . . . data show young African Americans’ time spent on the internet has almost caught up to time watching television."

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LA Radio Personality Isidra Person-Lynn Interviews Judge Ross of America's Court & Rev. Mark Whitlock on New Show 'Sunday Morning Live!'

Listen to Sunday Morning Live on Blogtalkradio!

Hosted by Isidra Person Lynn

1st Time Marathon Runner Markos Geneti From Ethiopa Battles Rain, Makes History at 2011 LA Marathon

Fellow Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba Takes Top Spot For Women

Rookie marathoner Markos Geneti took advantage of cold and wet conditions to win the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon, shattering the course record by crossing the finish line at 2 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds.

Born in Ethiopa, this was the 26-year-old's first competitive run. Although Geneti wasn't used to racing in the rain and had a pain in his stomach, it didn't stop him from recording the best time in event history.

Confounding marathon commentators with a blistering pace throughout the entire 26.2 mile race, the so-called media experts opined that the course from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier could not generate such a fast time.

Geneti nevertheless finished 2:51 ahead of second place Nicolas Kamakya of Kenya -- the second largest margin of victory in marathon history -- and 6:37 ahead of third place Laban Moiben of Kenya. When the sinewy black man plowed through shin-deep puddles to break the race record by almost two minutes, he actually surprised himself.

"I was hoping to run 2:07:30," he said, through an interpreter. "But I ran a minute faster."

Geneti not only triumphed, he crossed the finish line with the second-fastest time in the world this year and the fastest time in California history. "My muscles are a little sore," he said.

It's only a matter of time before the endorsements start coming and he becomes a household name.

The women's division was captured by Buzunesh Deba, 23, who landed in the top spot with a time of 2:26:35. Also hailing from Ethiopia, Deba has been making quite a name for herself as she continues to rack up impressive victories. This marks her seventh marathon win in the nine races she has entered.

The male and female winners each won $25,000 and a 2011 Honda Insight. Geneti also won $100,000 for being the first runner -- male or female -- to cross the finish line. The women were given a head start of 17:03 to even the field.

Smiling broadly, Geneti said he plans to invest his earnings in a school in Addis Adaba. "If I train better," he said. "I can improve."

Quickie: Are Current Gas Prices Really That Outrageous? You Betcha!

This week gas. Next week, maybe my family can afford groceries! SMH!!!

Smooth Hip-Hop Singer and Rapper Nate Dogg Dead At 41

Popular Long Beach, California Native Attended School with Snoop

US hip-hop star Nate Dogg, who worked with Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Eminem, has died at the age of 41. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, said the singer died as a result of complications from two strokes he suffered in recent years.

Snoop Dogg paid tribute to a "true legend of hip-hop and R&B".

Nate Dogg, real name Nathaniel Hale, sang on Warren G's hit Regulate as well as tracks by Dr Dre, 50 Cent and Ludacris. On Twitter, Snoop Dogg said Nate Dogg was "one of my best friends and a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at Poly High where we met".



Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Warren G began their careers in a rap trio in Long Beach called 213 in the early 1990s. Nate Dogg went on to feature on such hits as 50 Cent's 21 Questions, Eminem's Shake That and Area Codes by Ludacris.

Ludacris tweeted: "There is a certain void in hip-hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together."

His manager Rod McGrew tells TMZ that Nate Dogg’s life came to an unexpected end despite the progress he had made. He was “95% recovered from the first stroke in 2007” when a second stroke struck in 2008, rendering him partially paralyzed and causing partial memory loss. Up until his death, he had “cognitively fully recovered,” meaning that he had become completely aware and got his memory back.

McGrew spoke on behalf of Nate Dogg’s family and thanked fans for the overwhelming support. “We appreciate the enormous outpouring of response from all over the world. We greatly appreciate that and thank everyone for their prayers and support,” read the statement. “We know that Nate will be hanging out with his good friends 2Pac and Biggie.”

Black Women Fighting Over NBA Ballers - Tami, Evelyn & "Basketball Wives" Series Takes Sisterhood To A New Low!

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

After watching some of these "ladies" degrade themselves just to be reality television stars, now read this below:

Melanie White Is Determined To Be Married By 50!

The 44-year-old bank teller and mother of two has already given her long-distance boyfriend of three years the ultimatum - get married or move on.

"I'm almost at that half-a century mark. I'm wondering if I will I ever get married," said White. "All I can do is pray about it and put it in God's hands."

For White, who still considers herself to be single, the marriage will be her first, if it does come to fruition.

White is just one of a growing number of black women who are over 30 and still single.

A recent Yale study found 42 percent of African-American women remain unmarried, compared to only 23 percent of Caucasian women.

Deborrah Cooper, a relationship and dating advice columnist for the San Francisco Examiner, recently made claims on her popular blog, SurvivingDating.com, that predominantly black protestant churches, such as African Methodist, Pentecostal, and certain denominations of Evangelical and Baptist churches account for why so many black women are still single.

As you keep reading this article, ask yourself this question. Do shows like Basketball Wives do as much damage, if not more, to African American women than the church pews?

Hmmmmm...

Never Mind Charlie Sheen Getting Fired, Why Are The Academy Awards So Anti-Diversity?

(The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Board of Governors)

Oscar Still Isn't Ready For It's Close-up

Dear Governors,

A picture speaks a thousand words and the photos on your website of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Board of Governors makes it clear that the leadership of the most prestigious award in the world of film, the Oscar, is not reflective of the world wide audience it serves and certainly not the United States of America.

There are 43 photos of the Governors for 2010-2011.[1] Only 6 of these are women. Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, women are more than 50% of the U.S. population.[2] Why are women only 14% of your board? Minorities now comprise 35% of the population, yet there is no minority representation on your board. Specifically, African Americans are 12.4% of the population and 0% of your board. And, Hispanics/Latinos represent 15.8% of the population yet 0% of your board.

Every news organization has been forecasting the fact that the minority population is going to bypass the white population by 2050. Even Nielsen Media Research is predicting a shift in the film and television market as the population becomes more multi-ethnic. According to Nielsen, more than half of families with children are expected to be multi-cultural by 2025. By 2050, that number is anticipated to be greater than 60 percent.[3]

Why are you ignoring the reality?

Continue...

Hey Hollywood, Where Are The Young Black Leading Men?

BROTHERS IN SHOW BUSINESS - THE NEXT GENERATION

Shortly after the Oscars ended Sunday, Samuel L. Jackson sent an e-mail to a Times reporter wondering why no black men had been chosen to present awards on the film world's biggest stage.

"It's obvious there's not ONE Black male actor in Hollywood that's able to read a teleprompter, or that's 'hip enuf,' for the new academy demographic!" Jackson wrote. "In the Hollywood I saw tonite, I don't exist nor does Denzel, Eddie, Will, Jamie, or even a young comer like Anthony Mackie!"

Jackson may be on to something, at least when it comes to the young comers.

There is still a sizable number of black actors in Hollywood with box-office clout and meaty roles, a point that will be underscored when the NAACP hands out its annual Image Awards in Los Angeles Friday night. Will Smith is the biggest movie star in the world, a title he's held now for several years, and Denzel Washington remains at the peak of his box-office powers.

But most of the prominent male black stars sit on the other side of 40. The best known of the next generation -- say, Derek Luke (36), Chiwetel Eijofor (33), Idris Elba (39) and Mackie (31) -- are not only less influential, they're not nearly as popular in their 30s as the previous crop was at their age. (Washington, for instance, had already won an Oscar and made "Glory," "Malcolm X" and "Philadelphia" before he hit the big 4-0.)

That's not because any of these actors aren't capable of pulling off a "Malcolm X" or a "Philadelphia," of course. It's because they're not given the chance. Mackie has one of the more substantive studio roles for a younger black actor in a while as Matt Damon's guardian angel in this weekend's "The Adjustment Bureau." But it's hardly the role of a lifetime.

"It's frustrating that the movies I want to make I haven't been able to make," Mackie told 24 Frames. "Orlando Bloom was given 15 opportunities after 'Lord of the Rings.' Black men are given no opportunities."

Race in Hollywood is a subject close to Mackie's heart. He's studiously avoided the "Who's Your Caddys" and "Big Momma's Houses" of the film world, going instead to indies such as "The Hurt Locker" and, almost as frequently, to the stage.

"In the early 1990's, every black actor you know now was starting out and making movies. They were making more movies under Daddy Bush than we are under Obama, which is ridiculous," Mackie said.

Keep reading...

Writer/Director Michael Ajakwe's 2nd Annual Web Series Festival To Honor America's Court Judge Kevin Ross and Jean-Michel Albert

(Kevin Ross, Michael Ajakwe and Jean-Michel Albert)

LAWEBFEST Selections to Screen in South of France; 2011 Honorees Named

LAWEBFEST, the only all-web series festival in the world, is honoring Kevin Ross, host of tv's "America's Court with Judge Ross", with the Social Media Award for his efforts at educating the public, especially minority communities, on digital issues affecting them though his 3BAAS Media internet marketing firm and online column.

“Receiving this honor affirms what I believe to be absolutely true – in order to achieve success as each of us individually defines it, you must do what you love,” Ross said. “I’m fortunate that my passion for new media has lead to the creation of a business and me hosting my own television court show.”

Created in 2010 by veteran Emmy-winning tv producer and NAACP Award-winning playwright Michael Ajakwe, Jr., the Los Angeles Web Series Festival is the industry (and world's) first all-web series festival honoring serialized shows created for the Internet. The goal of the three-day festival is to celebrate web shows by bringing creators, producers, directors, actors and technicians together under one roof.

In addition to Ross, Jean-Michel Albert-- founder of Europe's first all-web series festival-- will be honored with the festival's “Envisioneer Award” for his efforts at organizing the first all-web series festival in Europe. Additionally, Albert is awarding 6 LAWEBFEST entries with an all-expense paid trip to Europe in October to showcase their web series to an international audience at the Marseille Webfest.

“The web series is a global phenomena and our partnership with Europe's first web series festival is just the beginning,” said LAWEBFEST Founder and Executive Director Michael Ajakwe Jr. "This year, we're thrilled that we can offer a handful of LAWEBFEST entries an opportunity to expose their wonderful shows to a European audience... Building a sense of community is one of our main goals and we have a great partner in producer Jean-Michel Albert.”

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award from another pioneer in the web series industry,” Albert declared.


Los Angeles Web Series Festival takes place March 25-27 at the Stage 52 Theatre in Los Angeles. The Marseille Webfest in Marseille, France is being spear-headed by the Paris and Marseille-based tv, film and web series producer October 14-16 2011. Last year, when the city of Marseille expressed an interest in hosting a web series festival Albert-- who was chosen to lead those efforts-- reached across the Atlantic ocean to Ajakwe.

Other festival honorees include "Maverick Award" recipient Scott Rice, whose award winning parody series “Script Cops” drew the attention of Sony Digital after it received over a million hits. The "Groundbreaker Award" will go to Hayden Black, an innovative English online media producer whose "Goodnight, Burbank" is the first web series adapted into a half-hour comedy made specifically for the web.

Festival organizers this year have seen a dramatic rise in entries and expect the number of screenings to double. Thus far, 50 web series have been selected from nearly 200 submissions. These entries hail from 19 different states and 8 foreign countries.