A few days ago, Somali youth, community leaders and law enforcement met in Minneapolis to discuss avenues to address the escalating violence in the Somali community. As you might know, in the last year, 10 young Somali have lost their lives in a series of what many think are gang-related shootings. Keep reading →
Stopping Somali Youth Violence
November 21, 2008 · 1 Comment
→ 1 CommentCategories: Society
Tagged: Somali Community, Somali youth violence
Free At Last?
November 21, 2008 · 5 Comments
This is a short one. Just a quick check.
A friend sent me a nice calendar. Pretty simple really, but still nice. It featured justapositioned images of Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr. each month. November was simply a picture of Obama with the headline, “President Obama!!!” December had the words, “Free At Last. Free at Last! Thank God Almighty We’re Free At Last!“
Here is my question: With the election of Obama as president of United States, are Black people in America (maybe to an extend, the world) “Free at Last”?
If we already were, when did we come “Free at Last”? Or maybe you think we have never been not free.
If you think we are still not free, what would it take for us to be “Free at Last”?
To put the quote in perspective, in his famous “I have a Dream” speech, after listing his dreams of a just and fair future, MLK concluded with this stanza:
“And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
→ 5 CommentsCategories: Opinion · Politics · Society
Tagged: Freedom, MLK, Obama, Obama victory, state of Black folks
TGIF! What are YOU doing this weekend?
November 20, 2008 · 1 Comment
The 2nd Africans in Minnesota (AIM) networking happy hour at Picosa (salsa night) in Minneapolis.
(Look for updates denoted by *new! to see events that we will add /update throughout the weekend)
The weekend’s here again and yes the temperatures have dipped, but there’s still much to do, places to be and causes to partake in. Take your pick - we have a pretty diverse list this time round.
- If you haven’t already, don’t forget to participate in the Refugee Winter Clothing Drive at The Lounge, ENVY, AQUA, Drink and Spin. Its already cold for those of us who have been here a while so imagine what it’s like for refugees who’ll be experiencing their first winter here. So far only about 100 hundred items have been dropped off and I know y’all can do better.
- The always anticipated monthly AIM Happy Hour is here again for the 4th time. It will be hosted at the Picosa, the last time we were there it was a lot of fun. We danced to afro-salsa (see picture above) … you want to be there. People start arriving at 5pm. Keep reading →
→ 1 CommentCategories: Entertainment · Networking · music
Tagged: Entertainment, Fun, Happy Hour, Minnesota, Networking, weekend
Former TV intern Jennifer Anato-Mensah causes chaos after being fired.
November 20, 2008 · 17 Comments
by Nelima
Just stumbled upon this story from WCCO. Wow! If anyone knows Ms. Anato-Mensah, please ask her to share her side of the story. It reads that she went crazy after being fired, but I’m thinking the only way someone could erupt like this if they’d been had been pushed to the edge. You know like if you had a boss that was constantly witch hunting you, because you weren’t getting along. I’m not supporting what she did, but I have to wonder how things got to this point? Jenny please share.
Former TV Intern Causes Trouble After Firing
A former intern at KSTP-TV faces criminal charges after she allegedly went on a tirade when she was fired.
Jennifer Anato-Mensah allegedly yelled obscenities, chased an executive producer, and smashed a window in the newsroom. She’s charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.
Danielle Prenevost is an executive producer of KSTP’s early evening newscasts. She says the intern did not understand the concepts of a TV newsroom and that she told Anato-Mensah she didn’t have enough experience.
At that point, Prenevost says, Anato-Mensah “just lost it.”
The criminal complaint says that on Oct. 13, the 21-year-old began yelling at Prenevost saying she would “mess you up.” It says Prenevost tried to walk away, and the intern chased her, eventually kicking out a window in a conference room door as she tried to get in.
Anato-Mensah is a student at the University of Minnesota. She did not return a message left by The Associated Press.
→ 17 CommentsCategories: news
Tagged: Jennifer Anato-Mensah, KSTP, U of MN
Obama’s Africa Policy Draws Concern
November 20, 2008 · 8 Comments
by Nelima
Here’s some food for thought from Africa News Journal. I am not too familiar with Paul Volcker or Lawrence Summers, but I do remember the controversy generated by Summers memo in 1991 because my mom was working for the World bank at the time. Read the memo here. Okay I got some reading to do. Then I will post a comment. Meanwhile those of you who are familiar with these folks please share your insights.
President-elect Obama’s choice for U.S. Treasury Secretary could have far reaching consequences for Africa which is why his two picks for the post are drawing critical comments from some Africa watchers.
“One of Barack Obama’s leading advisors has done more damage to Africa, its economies and its people than anyone I can think of in world history, including even Cecil John Rhodes,” observes Patrick Bond, director of the Centre for Civil Society in Durban, South Africa.
Paul Volcker, central banker from 1979-1987, said Bond… “increased the cost of African debt precipitously, “delivering the newly independent states into at least 20 years of indentured labor”. Keep reading →
→ 8 CommentsCategories: Opinion · Politics
Tagged: africa, Lawrence Summers, Obama, Paul Volcker, Policy, Politics
Relevant Conversation to “Is Africa or Africans Cursed?”
November 18, 2008 · 6 Comments
by Eva
While reading the Daily Nation I came across an opinion piece by Koigi Wamwere which I believe is relevant to the conversation started by Ibe, “Is Africa or Africans Cursed?“
Here is an excerpt of what Mr. Wamwere opines:
To succeed however, Kenyans must jump over certain hurdles. Although we have weakened it considerably, dictatorship is not dead, and no people can develop if they are oppressed by tyranny. To develop, we must be completely free.
To develop, our dream must come from within, not without. A dream dreamt for us like Vision 2030 will not take us to the First World because it comes to us dead and cold and sparks no fire and passion in us for action. To take us there, we must embrace the dream with the same passion we desired uhuru (freedom).
Do you agree or disagree with the solutions proposed here?
→ 6 CommentsCategories: Opinion · Politics
Tagged: Add new tag
“Iron Ladies of Liberia” Screening Tomorrow
November 18, 2008 · No Comments
From Mshale Newspaper
Iron Ladies of Liberia, a documentary on the leadership of Liberia’s president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, will be screening at the St. Anthony Park Branch Library tomorrow.
The film goes behind the scenes as Johnson-Sirleaf takes the reigns of a country that has been on the brink of destruction following 14 years of a civil war. Through the film, the world gets a glimpse into the lives of Sirleaf’s pre-dominately female cabinet as they face head-on the monumental challenges it takes to build Liberia’s infrastructure and economy.
The other Iron Ladies of Liberia are: Beatrice Munah Sieh, Liberia’s National Police Chief, Dr. Antoinette Sayeh, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice Francis Johnson-Morris, the Commerce Minister Olubanke King Akerele and the Minister of Gender Vabah Kazaku Gayflor.
The film will follow with a discussion led by two attorneys: Laura Young and Harriette Badio who is also a Liberian community leader.
Presented by The Advocates for Human Rights, this film is part of series highlighting women’s rights issues around the world.
Click here for a full listing of other films in the series.
Read Mshale’s review on last year’s screening here.
“Iron Ladies of Liberia”
Wednesday, November 19, 7 p.m.
St. Anthony Park Branch Library, 2245 Como Ave, St. Paul, Minn.
→ No CommentsCategories: Politics · films
Tagged: Film, Liberia, Minnesota, Politics
Edutainment: A night of entertainment and education on HIV/AIDS
November 17, 2008 · 2 Comments
From the Saint Cloud State University Newsletter
BATTLING THE AIDS PANDEMIC
St. Cloud State University students will lead a community effort to help HIV/AIDS-ravaged Africa.
Edutainment, hosted 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in Atwood Ballroom, will feature education and entertainment about the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Edutainment is sponsored by the Organization for the Prevention of AIDS in Africa (OPAA), a student organization in its seventh year of educating the St. Cloud area about human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
→ 2 CommentsCategories: Entertainment · Perfmorming Arts · africa · poetry
Tagged: Education, HIV/AIDS awareness, Saint Cloud State University
Refugee Winter Clothing Drive at The Lounge, ENVY, AQUA, Drink and Spin
November 16, 2008 · 2 Comments
by Nelima
How’s this for some Minnesota Nice? There are many refugees here in MN who’ll be experiencing their first winter soon and can’t really afford all that expensive winter gear. My first winter here was harsh and that in itself is my incentive to join this cause to soften the ’shock’ of winter for refugees who have just relocated here. If being nice is not incentive enough, try free drinks and free entry into these HOT spots.
WINTER CLOTHING COLLECTION FOR REFUGEES DRIVE: NOV 14TH THROUGH NOV 23rd
Please donate gently used or new:
..COATS..
..HATS..
..BOOTS..
..SCARVES..
..MITTENS/GLOVES..
If you donate two or more items at The Lounge, Envy, Aqua or Spin then you will gain complimentary admission (for that evening) and a free drink ticket/voucher.Only good for the place you donate to. Keep reading →
→ 2 CommentsCategories: Uncategorized
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