What Am I Going To Do?

I was talking on the phone with a friend with my friend (poet and author) Raziya, and she made the statement "When will shooting at a high school graduation becomes inappropriate?". I had to wonder to my self "When did it become appropriate?".

Recently there was a shooting at a local high school graduation. The people involved were not students yet adults. It was said that it was gang related, others say it was from a previous altercation at a club, regardless of it conception, why was the situation handled at a high school graduation? A time when students should be reflecting on their past academic experiences and the future that they are about to embark upon, they should not be running and ducking bullets. I recall last year, a friend of mind was attending a high school commencement ceremony and caught site of rival gangs exchanging words, her "inner voice" told her to gather her things, her mother, grandmother and exit the premises. Shortly after she left, the young men erupted into a fight and later shooting.

My question is "What do WE do as a generation?"What can we do? These are out young men and women ( our children and future) affected by this. I am not blaming the young men, young women, parents, grandparnets, public officials or school systems. I want to know what can I do as an individual to help regain our community and young people.

I have seen the statement "If You are Not Apart of the solution, You are apart of the problem?" Can someone tell me the equation, question.... anything? What can we do as one unit, one community, one people to solve or alleviate this problem?

I mentioned to Raziya that we are all aware ( well some people) that this is more spiritual that physical. I mention maybe the people who are seeking change and a better tomorrow should first fast, pray, and seek direct from God and to work on one accord for our people.

Whatever it is, the time is now to do it. Most of us are at an age when leaders during the civil right era were peaking. It seems like most of us are stuck. An elder told me that marching and sit ins worked for his era but WE need to think of new tactics. With the technology today, we have the world at our finger tips. Don't get me wrong, we have a activists ( known and unknown) in 2009 taking on this battle one person at a time, but taking on the world's burden is too much for a handful of people.

Somebody Help Me.

YUR 2008

So many things happened in 2007 (the start of YUR Magazine *smile*) but this year (2008) is a breathe of fresh air. This year is a year of renewal. Some us of are tackling fears, over coming obstacles and even stepping out on faith to kick start our dreams and visions.

On news year’s eve I was sick and I mean broke down for real. Dragging to work (several jobs), running errands, everything. Yes I know I need a whooping. I attended my church’s early watch night service (flu and all…yes I’m special for real), so I am sitting there in church with my scarf around my nose and mouth and coat fully zipped (I looked “special” too) and the pastor began speaking about 2008 and new beginnings. I was all fired up and excited thinking it is about time!!!! I left church and heard songs on new beginnings, turned on the TV and commercials on new beginnings, so I am thinking everyone is feeling the same across the board about this new beginning thing. So I am really excited now (but with 103 temperature and cold sweats…but it was a new beginning). So what happened to me during the very first days of 2008 …my body broke completely down to where I was in bed for almost a week. But during that down time (in and out of consciousness) I began to put all of the things and activities I was involved in perspective. What was important? What was not important? What deserved my money and time what does not? Whose voice I should and should not be listening to? Where do I see my dream and vision in 5, 10, 15, 20 years in contrast to those around me? I was sick but I now know it was a time where “He MADE me lay down in the green pastures” and meditate and really put some thoughts into my life, His purpose and His promise for me. So now I know for sure that 2008 is a year of New and continuous beginnings.


You all Be Special

La’Toyur

Barak's comments on Jena

Bet you thought Barak and other politicians weren't paying attention to Jena huh? Well, my man Barak was AND he aint ashame to make it known!!!!

The man does NOT miss a beat!
Check out Barak's comments

Bell's case overturned!

Bell's last conviction, aggravated battery, has been dismissed by the appealet court. There will be NO sentencing Thursday, September 20 2007. HOWEVER, the ralley will still continue for the priciple and the justice of our other 5 brothers in this terrible injustice.

SEPTEMBER 20 BLACK OUT IS STILL ON!!!

We must be in prayer, fasting, and meditation for our brothers and their families. Pray for the judges, lawyers, officers, and even the victims. God will prevail. This is our fight, but God's battle.

We must do what we can and the Lord will do the rest.

Time is closing in on us and we need to take heed. :-)

~peace and blessings~

4,599 votes.....

pic taken from www.nashvillecitypaper.com
... is a huge margin to win by, but that's exactly what mayor-Elect Karl Dean did to take the win as Cashville's new Head HMIC (head mayor in charge :-)

What do u guys think? Do u have faith that he will do what he said he would do? Quality education? Have Nashville's best interest at heart? hmmm

I wish I could have been at the Adventure Science Museum election night to join in the festivities. I absolutely love the fact that his first comment was about education, families, and cheerleading the cause of Nashville to have the best educational system possible.

But then again, dont they all say that? hmmm

And would u looky looky here, Nashville has a woman vice-mayor! hmmmmm. Will she be too sensitive? Will her and dean working together help move our education system along at a faster pace? Or will she be tough as nails and do what she has to do to play in a "man's world"?? ?

what about public safety?

Nows time to walk the walk. We the people voted for you. Are children are depending on you. Now What?

Noose Hung At University of Maryland

It's getting beyond serious yall. Check this new "noose hanging" situation in Maryland. They playing with fire!!

Info taken from ABC news site

Jena 6 update

www.blackamericaweb.com

Charges were reduced Tuesday, September 5, 2007 for three of the Jena Six.

The charges against Jones and Shaw were reduced to aggravated 2nd-degree battery and conspiracy to commit the same. On Tuesday, Bell’s conspiracy conviction was vacated (canceled by court order), in a hearing that began at 1 p.m. and ended late in the afternoon.

Bell’s lawyer Louis Scott, had sought to get the conviction tossed out, but that motion failed. The motion for a new trial also failed, said Marcus Jones, Bell’s father. (*dis some bs*)

“We wished we could have gotten everything we wanted, but we were glad to get one out of three,” Jones told BlackAmericaWeb.com. By having the conspiracy charge dropped, Jones said the potential sentence for his son would be less.

techn

tech

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Justice for Jena

The year, 2007. What started in 2006 has come to a head. An ugly head of flat out stupid injustice. The incident Blatant Racism. Jena, Louisiana In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. ~insert~~WTH?!~~~ There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree.



Oh, but the story does not end there. Fights broke out, white youth arrested and suspended, suspension reversed. White male pulls gun out on 3 black men. Black men wrestle the gun away and THEY, the black students, are charged with attempted murder, EXPELLED from school, and facing 8 years in prison. The original sentence was 22 years. So far only Mychel Bell, star athlete, pro football bound has been sentenced and sits in jail. What happened to the white students involved?

They graduated High School and are living happy and free.

The photo story below as taken from a post presented by Michael Murphy. Please view the video and visit his site for up-to-date info.


It is our turn to do something for someone else. This is not far from home and it definitely affects everyone nationwide. Just think, this has been going on since 2006 and we knew nothing about it until August 2007. Actually, since they have a "white only" tree this means it never stopped. Don't be fooled. We are still in the south.

These babies could be our children. If not today, some day.

Please post your comments here at Yur Magazine. We would like to know what you think and what you want to do. Open for Discussion.

Sharpton doing what he do:



Other links:
NAACP www.naacp.org/get-involved/activism/alerts/110aa-2007-7-20/index.htm SIGN THE PETITION

Democracy Now! www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413228