Hispanics & Blacks Are Literally Killing Each Other For A Piece Of The American Dream!

God, I wish I didn't have to write about racial issues in the 21st century. But,alas,these problems still persist. It is the 150th anniversary of The Civil War & the focus is on how relations are between blacks & whites. Instead, we should be talking about how blacks(and Hispanics,for that matter) are still regarded as less than. In Los Angeles,killing a black person is actually a status symbol amongst many who are in Latino gangs.

And this racial animosity between Blacks & Latinos is widespread. In New York, racial issues have bubbled up to the surface. Reports of African-Americans attacking Mexicans have become more prevalent there. What is going on? Both Hispanics & Blacks are still at the bottom of the ladder in America.

Shouldn't we be focused on changing that horrible reality instead of attacking each other for the crumbs that are being thrown our way? Why are we not collaborating with each other, Blacks & Browns?! We should be lifting our communities up,not dragging them down!

The respect for those of African or Hispanic descent is still sorely lacking in today's world. Just take the brutal murder of James Shamp as an example if you don't believe me.

No one should be attacked because of their skin color. The tensions between races must cease. Let the violence decrease & the peace increase.

Here's more from The Los Angeles Times:

"A little more than a year after the racially motivated killing ofJames Shamp, a 48-year-old black man, the prosecution of his killers appears to be drawing to a close.

Last week, Richard Bordelon, 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, one count each of attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit murder, as well as admitting to special-circumstance allegations of drive-by murder, racial killing and that he was an active gang member at the time of the offense, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Akemon of the Hardcore Gang Division.

The defendant confessed that the victim was killed because he was African American, officials with the district attorney's office said. Los Angeles police sources said the case was part of a larger series of incidents in which Latino gang members in the West Valley threatened blacks and sprayed racist graffiti.

At Bordelon’s March 24 appearance, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Martin Herscovitz sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 47 years to life. The judge also ordered Bordelon to pay $14,386 in restitution for burial expenses and mental-health costs incurred by the victim’s family.

According to police, Shamp, a husband and father of two, was taking out the trash at his job in Winnetka on Dec. 22, 2008, when a car carrying Latino gang members pulled up. A group of men approached him and shot him in the chest. Friends heard the shots and ran outside, where they found Shamp lying face down. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here.

Vybz Kartel Isn't The Only One With A Skin Bleaching Issue!

Vybz Kartel is a hardcore gangster style Jamaican DJ. So, I was surprised to learn that he wants to be lighter. He defended the use of skin bleach by pointing out that no one makes a fuss when a person seeks darker skin by getting a tan. Mr. Kartel says that he has the right to alter the color of his skin.

Unfortunately, this is a world-wide epidemic. Jamaica is in the spotlight as of late. But, the desire to have the fairest skin of all has been happening in Asia, Africa, Europe,etc... I wish that were not the case in the 21st century. I love my dark,velvety skin. You couldn't pay me to lighten my skin.

Here's more on this topic from The New Black Magazine:

"Skin-whitening or skin-bleaching is a practice whereby women - and some men - use various forms of skin-whitening products in order to make their skin appear as white as possible.

As an anti-aging therapy, skin-whitening promises to "restore" as well as to"transform" the aging skins of women and make them smooth, wrinkle-free-younger-looking. In this context, the natural aging process is systematically framed as a pathological condition which must be interrupted through measures such as "elective surgery" and or by bleaching out the signs of aging such as "age spots."

In this way, in the case of white women, skin-whitening is presented as a legitimate intervention designed to 'cure' and mitigate the disease of aging. Skin-whitening as a biomedical intervention is predicated on the pathologization of the natural aging processes in all women, white women in particular.

At least in the United States, racially white eastern and southern European women have used skin-whitening in order to appear as 'white' as their 'Anglo-Saxon' "native" white sisters. In the United States, women of colour also have practiced skin-whitening.

Many of the early skin-bleaching commodities such as Nodinalina skin bleaching cream, a product which has been in the US market since 1889, contained 10 per cent ammoniated mercury. Mercury is a highly toxic agent with serious health implications. According to Kathy Peiss , in 1930, a single survey found advertising for 232 different brand names of skin-bleaching creams promoted in mainstream magazines to mainly white women consumers in the United States.

If dark-skinned eastern and southern Europeans can "pass" for white with a little help from skin-bleaching creams, those with sufficiently light skin tones but who are legally categorized as racially black by their invisible " one drop" of "black blood", could also "pass" for white as well. The "appearance of whiteness" is the key to accessing the exclusive cultural and economic privileges whiteness accrues.

The fear of the infiltration of "invisible' blackness has fuelled both the marketing strategies of industry and the anxieties of white women that they may not appear "white enough". (END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here.

Rest In Peace Nate Dogg!

Man, I cannot believe that Nate Dogg has died. I know that he had some health issues,but I didn't think that he would die anytime soon. Now,the gangster with the suave singing voice will be collaborating with Tupac in the here after. Even though he's gone, Nate Dogg's voice will continue to "Regulate" for ever more. Rest in peace, Nate Dogg.

Here's more from The BoomBox:

"While news of Nate Dogg's death continues to sink in, the hip-hop and R&B world have turned to social networking sites to send their condolences. From Nate's musical acquaintances to those touched by his legacy, the likes of Snoop Dogg, Game, 50 Cent, Drake, Trey Songz, Monica and Erykah Badu all used Twitter as a way to express kind words about the 41-year-old crooner.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," tweeted Snoop, who grew up with Nate in Long Beach, Calif. "I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit. I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg [sic]!!"

Besides posting Twitter sentiments, rapper Game released a statement regarding the untimely passing of Nate Dogg, who joined the Compton native on the track 'Where I'm From.' "We lost a great peer in the business," Game told The BoomBox. "I will always remember the time I spent in the studio with him. He was very encouraging and professional. I will miss his voice, presence and advice. He's a part of Hip Hop's rich history. My heart & condolences goes out to his family."(END OF EXCERPT) Read more here.