Prejudice

All posts tagged Prejudice

Post Trump Election Sentiment

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on November 14, 2016

Posted in: Politics, Social Commentary. Tagged: 13th Ammendment, 13th Documentary, America, Injustice, Justice, Prejudice, Racism, Trump, Voting. Leave a comment

😛 In the aftermath of one of the most shocking outcomes in a general election (the likes of which hasn’t been seen in our lifetime) the new president that “America” selected to represent the nation is Donald Trump. Many believe that the country and the pundits as well as national polls all had it wrong all along. It was the media and common sense red, white & blue believing citizens who were all out of touch with the “Law & Order” candidate in Trump and the massive number of “Americans” who voted for him. Trump a “mogul” who’s incendiary rhetoric and vitriol not to mention racist comments only helped to heighten sensitivities and further divide the nation politically, racially, and socio – economically.

I’m not going rehash every controversial statement president elect Trump has made over the past few years but it speaks the truth about what America has become versus what it’s supposed to represent. I’m finding parallels between the history accurately depicted and spoken of in the documentary 13th and how we as a nation came to select Trump as the “suitable” or “acceptable” representation for the highest position in the land. To me the election came down to race and gender bias. An appeal to the white majority to come out in droves in defense of their position in the country as it currently stands is what led to Trump’s victory over Hillary.

The day after the election I went to work still in disbelief like much of the rest of the country that didn’t vote for Trump. It was interesting though that after taking stock of the situation I was at peace. The fact that I wasn’t screaming or crying over the election or depressed was a shock to some who were like how come you’re okay and we’re not? Was I happy Trump was now president? No. Did his election make me feel any worse or better about the nation as a whole? No. Life goes on and all that really happened is another mask has been “Donned” (pun intended) to push the agenda of the elite. Donald Trump is a return to more of the same from yester – years past.

It’s too early to understand fully what Trump’s real approach to all the aspects of being the president will entail. There is no cohesive and clear vision of how to live up to his campaign rhetoric of “Make America Great Again”. For most minorities that statement has little if anything to do with our being uplifted and more to do with going backwards to where things were really only good for once again the top 1%. White America said there’s no way we’re going to allow the world to see America led by a woman when we have men and the history of the presidency being held only by men. I think too many bought into the idea that just because America has seen it’s first black President that it was so progressive as to think it would entertain a woman in that same position.

In the future months to come I expect that president Trump will undoubtedly repeal the Affordable Care Act and increase the privatization of the prison industrial complex. Let’s see how he intends to live up to building a “Wall” that Mexico is supposed to pay for and how exactly he’s going to bring back jobs to America.

Perspectives: Racism & Ignorance Are They Here To Stay?

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on October 28, 2016

Posted in: Politics, Social Commentary. Tagged: 13th Ammendment, Ignorance, Prejudice, Racism, Social Commentary, The 13th, THEJNSREPORT. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Perspectives: Racism & Ignorance Are They Here To Stay?

Written by Akan Bosemann

In short my belief currently is yes racism & ignorance are here to stay. For as many people as one reaches or attempts to educate about how upbringing, long held cultural, and historical beliefs, coupled with institutional racist systems and policies shape how we as human beings interpret our existence amongst each other, there appears to be an endless ocean of those caught holding onto the centuries old mentality that they are figments of the imaginations of those of us who live day in and day out under the burdens and plights of racism.

Humanity is flawed and can never be perfect. We will choose to do the wrong things at times even with the absolute knowledge that what we choose to do or not do is either right or wrong and ultimately has consequences that affects us all.

I find it almost comical to approach a conversation as complex while at the same time as simple as explaining to someone who may not have necessarily experienced racism or prejudice or injustice to the same degree as some others might have, what it’s like to get those who haven’t experienced the same things to understand the perspectives of those on the receiving end of injustice & racism.

There is often an apathetic victim blaming mentality I seem to constantly come up against. This gnaws at me to no end partly because I have I guess a certain unrealistic belief that if you approach people with logic and basic common sense reasoning they would see exactly what it is that is being said and come to the same conclusion.

How wrong I’ve been but I guess such is the battle of winning hearts and minds. Experience is the best teacher. As weird as it may sound or unlikely to occur, I really wish that the same people who have apathy or don’t want to have uncomfortable conversations, or who want to ignore what’s been happening (due to privilege) could be somehow transported back in time to relive the same atrocities and injustices they so easily dismiss or make light of. It’s because they haven’t lived the same experiences that they are either unwilling or unable to appreciate how evil and corrosive racism, inequality, and injustice are to a human being and the human spirit.

I have flash back moments to the show Quantum Leap with Scott Bakula & Dean Stockwell wishing that you could plug and play police officers who have a history of brutality or unarmed shootings being transported back in time much like Quantum Leap into the bodies of not necessarily historical icons or figures but people who lived during those time periods receiving the harsh treatments of slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, up to present day the difference would be that now they are the ones receiving the abuse, the violence, the injustice when the courts turn a blind eye to the lives being lost.

The more we think we as a society have progressed and become more civilized the less true I find it to be. How can we as a nation tell other nations how to govern or treat their citizens without examining the history of how America has treated it’s own citizens from its beginnings right down to modern day? I suggest the viewing of the documentary 13th by Ava Duvernay as a good place to start examining what we have and continue to see as the heritage of American society. What it means to be a person of color in America and what it means to be white in America.

Zendaya & Giuliana Rancic

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on February 26, 2015

Posted in: Music & Artists, Politics, Social Commentary. Tagged: Black Hair, Black Women, E Fashion Police, Fashion Police, Giuliana Rancic, Hair, I am not my hair, India Arie, Prejudice, Racism, Stereotypes, The Oscars, Zendaya, Zendaya Coleman. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Zendaya & Giuliana Rancic (I am Not My Hair)

I unfortunately wasn’t able to catch the Oscars till Monday due to prior engagements on Sunday night. However, when I heard of the latest controversy involving E! Fashion Police co host Giuliana Rancic’s comments I felt like here was another topic to address. I’ve seen the many times in life where the image of a black woman is torn down and made to feel less than or ugly for the benefit of racist ignorant perspectives.

Having several sisters I know very well, how much this issue affects them personally when it comes to hair. And to be clear hair issues aren’t exclusive to black women, afterall there is the term “Bad Hair Day”. I’m sure it’s pretty universal that most if not every human being has had at least one “bad hair day”. All that said, this issue isn’t about a bad hair day but simply the disparaging, disrepectful, and stereotypical comments made by Giuliana Rancic regarding a young black woman in Zendaya Coleman on the red carpet at the Oscars.

Rancic stated that she felt like Zendaya’s hair smelled like patchouli oil and weed. In my opinion those comments are just a reflection if not reminder of the fact that the more we think times and things have changed, the more they’ve stayed the same. Racism, prejudice, and stereotypes aren’t going anywhere. Neither can the fight against those things go anywhere. We as people must continue to fight against these divisive issues, call them out when we see them, and not give a pass or an “Oh she didn’t know any better”.

It also reminds us of the power of the media platform and social media. Those comments uttered by Rancic were heard by millions of people and think of what those comments would/could do to the self esteem of young Afro American girls, teens, & young women not to mention the impression of black women and beauty in general when they’re broadcast on television.

Zendaya’s hair was flawless and beautiful just as she is. It is representative of the power, grace, strength, & beauty of black women. The comments offered by Rancic came off as jealous, ignorant and stupid if not racist yet far more sincere than her Paula Deen impression of an “I’m sorry I got caught speaking what I really feel on air moment”.

While I could take the low road and let loose a slew of offensive comments about Rancic, I think Zendaya’s response to the unprovoked, and unwarranted attack are far more appropriate. They exhibit the intelligent thoughts of an eloquent young black queen speaking truth to a bitter woman that likes to throw rocks at her throne.

What are your thoughts on this?

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Trayvon Martin Murder Trial: Initial thoughts

Written by Akan Bosemann

I scarcely know where to begin as I try to compose and organize my thoughts on this emotionally charged and polarizing case for justice in the murder of a 17-year-old black male that took place over a year ago in the state of Florida.

I’m certain just from what I’ve seen on the media coverage of the case and the news reports from the time of the killing till now that this case is yet another case where America is on trial and not just Zimmerman.

My sentiments are reflective of a person who is of African-American heritage and ancestry. They are of a Black Man living in modern-day America, specifically, New York City , who has had his own experiences with discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice on different fronts.

I know there are many others from differing ethnic backgrounds who will want to chime in and express their concerns and empathize with the plight of all people who are victims of violent crimes and gun violence and not just “Black America”.

Some will want to shun the issue of ethnicity all together. I say ethnicity and not race because there is only one race on this planet when it comes to human beings and that is the human race. With that firmly established I turn my attention to what we all basically are to understand from what is happening in the Trayvon Martin Murder Trial.

And that is that the victim a 17-year-old boy who had done nothing wrong other than be black ,gets murdered in cold blood, then blamed for his death by his killer under the Florida State “Stand Your Ground Law”. The murderer, George Zimmerman is claiming he killed Trayvon in self-defense and feared his life was in imminent danger.

Tell me in what case anyone has ever heard of an accused killer being a minority in which the victim was white and the killer claimed self defense and wasn’t arrested on the day of the killing. Regardless of Zimmerman’s literal ethnicity he appears as a “white man”.

It hearkens my mind back to remember the history of America. An America that has so much of the blood of my people on its hands not even all the oceans of this world could wash them clean. Black men and women, young and old lynched and murdered where all white juries came back with not guilty verdicts patting themselves on the back and celebrating.

Zimmerman’s own words convict him and these weak and desperate attempts by his defense team and his supporters to blame a defenseless Trayvon Martin wreaks to the heavens. I’ll tell you what else wreaks to the heavens is a six person jury of all women and five of them being white and not a single black person on the jury.

The police department didn’t follow proper protocol in its investigation of Trayvon’s killing and let his murderer go free the same night just taking his(Zimmerman’s) account as gospel for what took place.

I listened with disgust as one Zimmerman sympathizer after another attemped to explain their willful ignorance and stupidity in analyzing what we know and what Zimmerman has said. The defense wants to claim it’s Zimmerman’s voice heard yelling for help on that 911 tape.

If that was Zimmerman screaming for help then the earth is flat and there is no sky. He was the one with the gun!!! Trayvon was the one who was running away from him. Zimmerman confirms Trayvon ran when he realized Zimmerman was watching him and following him, so how does that make Trayvon the aggressor?

In addition tell me of any person who has a gun on them and chases after someone after being told not to by the police forgetting that they have a deadly weapon on them. The defense’s claim is that Trayvon Martin was also armed with a deadly weapon.

Are you ready for this? What was the deadly weapon Trayvon Martin had outside of a bag of Skittles, and a can of Iced Tea he’d paid for? The sidewalk!!!! Really?!!! That alone should be enough to tell any rational and thinking person who the aggressor was.

In a light rain that night if there was blood on the pavement from where Zimmerman claims Trayvon banged his (Zimmerman’s) head on the ground shouldn’t there be photo evidence and forensic evidence collected before the blood could be “washed” away?

Asking the right questions is the key to figuring out if Zimmerman’s story even holds a scintilla of truth to it. Those heinous pictures shown in court of Trayvon’s lifeless body first face down and then rolled over were enough to churn my stomach and fill my heart with grief, compassion and sorrow for his family, while feeling nothing but contempt, and disgust for a cold, emotionless, fat fuck of a murdering bastard as he sat there stone faced. There wasn’t one instance I could see any remorse in Zimmerman’s face or body language for what he’d done.

Trayvon didn’t deserve what he got but unfortunately in this evil world we live in that doesn’t matter. My thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon’s family and many others like his. I pray that we all see real justice served and this murdering bastard found guilty, then sentenced accordingly. JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON. America… the world is watching. GOD is watching. What are you going to do?

B. B. A

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on June 10, 2013

Posted in: Social Commentary, Sports. Tagged: Abuse of Power, Arbitrary rulings, B.B.A, Being Black in America, Black Male, Black Men, Chad Johnson, Controversy, Court, Court System, current-events, Examples, Judicial Review, Justice, Legal System, Ocho Cinco, Plea Agreement, politics, Prejudice, Racism, Revoke, Unequal. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Being Black in America (Chad Johnson headed to Jail)

Written by Akan Bosemann

Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson, found out today what being a Black Male let alone Celebrity can expect to encounter in the judicial system. Prejudice and Racism are alive and well and always donning various outfits. Some of them old, some of them new, some with face lifts to present time tested tried and true practices.

For those of you who haven’t heard about this by now. Here is the crux of the situation. Chad Johnson former NFL pro bowl wide receiver had a domestic violence case stemming from an incident he had last summer with his newly wed wife, a reality show actress.

He was put on probation and missed a meeting with his P.O. and so he had a court date today to address that. The plea deal reached would allow that he wouldn’t have any jail time and was all set until an ego-maniacally acting judge revoked the deal because, as she stated she didn’t believe he was taking the court case seriously by patting his attorney on the ass and saying good job.

Now before you leap to the conclusion he deserved what he got one has to understand the context of what was unfolding right before our eyes. First off, an agreement had already been reached. The judge was satisfied with the deal. Chad was then asked if he was happy with the services and representation his attorney provided to him by the judge.

This is important because the judge asked him the question. She went on to tell him that he should be very happy with his attorney and that she knows he’s a good attorney and does good work. Chad tells her his attorney’s awesome and he is happy with his representation. It is at that moment that he lightly pats his attorney as most athletes do to one another on the ass.

The sheriffs along with some other people present in the courtroom then laugh openly in response. He did what came natural to him as an athlete in response to the judge’s prodding him almost imploring him to demonstrate physically how grateful he should have been to have this plea agreement come out good for him.

Then suddenly, she snaps and says she’s not accepting the agreement and asks if Chad thinks there’s something funny about the days events. Chad never smiled or laughed and says he doesn’t find anything funny. He even looked behind him at the people who were laughing. She yells the whole court room was laughing and she isn’t accepting the plea deal.

If you view the video footage of the black sheriffs who laughed they suddenly stop laughing when they realize their laughter just got Chad Johnson a fellow black person sent to jail for thirty days. Yet Chad gets the blame from Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless. It doesn’t matter that they believe he was stupid.

The judge simply over reacted and took her emotions out on him for what others were doing. If anything the judge should have realized he (Chad) has no control over the actions of other people. In addition it was the sheriffs who were unprofessional in their response by laughing out loud.

TMZ’s Harvey Levin spoke to all these points and I was surprised to say the least, to see and hear him in defense of Chad Johnson. That woman needs to be in jail for thirty days for her gross over reaction. Even the attorney whose ass was patted said he didn’t believe it was in any way meant as a sign of disrespect to the court.

America take a good look at yourself in the face and dare cry about how black people are always complaining about injustice. Here we have another example of it on video. The evidence is indisputable if you’re a reasonable and rational thinking person.

If not God bless you that some day your mind will be lifted out of your ass. At the end of the day what I took away from what I saw was a white female judge satisfying herself and her ego by arbitrarily sending a Black Man to jail as if she had just undergone a rite of passage. Sick to my stomach!!