Movie Preview: Brooklyn's Finest

The last time that I was speaking about Wesley Snipes, the Government had just quietly lost it's attempt to railroad him to jail. Since the debacle, many have wondered if Snipes' carrer would ever have the chance to flourish again. That question may be answered in Brooklyn's Finest.

Brooklyn's Finest is the latest film by director Antoine Fuqua. The film is a gritty and somewhat realistic view of the "ghettofabulous" lifestyle, from the perspective of the police. It takes place in and around some of the worst, most drug-ridden projects in New York City (filmed in part in Brownsville and the Van Dyke Houses).

The focus of the film are 3 police officers. One, Richard Gere, is on his way out to retirement after a career that was just mediocre. Another, Ethan Hawke, is facing the struggle of providing for his family and trying to ensure they never have to endure the hardships he encounters every day. The 3rd officer, Don Cheadle, is a successful undercover officer that has been dabbling in the shadow far too long to be clear where his loyalties ultimately lie. Wesley Snipes rounds out this top notch cast as a notorious drug dealer Caz, who is a friend of Cheadle's Tango character.



In many ways this film is a continuation of what we saw in Spike Lee's New Jack City. It is the result of the progression of drugs and criminal life after decades of abuse and general lack of enforcement. It is the less glamorous, far more violent and real look at the toll drugs and criminals have on themselves, the police that pursue them, and the people that are caught in the malestrom of these two forces.

A question might be asked how good the film is. Wesley Snipes has long been removed to the direct to DVD sector of Hollywood. Gere hasn't had a major hit in decades. Hawke has never seemed to live up to the expactations that continue to surround him. Even Fuqua has not revisited the universal acclaim of Training Day.

But I think the answer is that most of the cast have not had the chance to really shine. Snipes was long ago stereotyped into action based roles, and then almost outcast as a result of the Government. Cheadle has only once been given the opportunity to step out into the lead of a film. Often he is deprived of the time to showcase his abilities. The same can be said of Hawke. And Gere has finally hit an age for male actors where most are found to be uninteresting and unappealing to young viewers, though their talent has not faded.



Looking at the movie trailer the feeling that this film will be a powerful drama is inescapable. Still there is no question that an excellent editor can make the worst movie look incredible. But when I consider the fact that in addition to the trailer, there is such a rich cast - who all took pay cuts so the film could be made at the modest $25 million budget - and that director Fuqua is back to a subject and theme that he has been most successful at, I come to a conclusion that this may be a sleeper hit.

Characters will take their paths to conclusions you may not expect in this film. The outcome may not be as obvious as it first seems. But the journey that each of these actors take us on looks as if it will make the 140 mintues fly.

2010 remakes, sequels, and everything else

Lastly are the films of 2010 that are a crap shoot. These are films that are revisions, remakes, ideas and sleepers that are likely to either be great or absolutely miserable. Sometimes it's just too hard to have an opinion, especially so far ahead of time. But making an opinion is what you read this for right?

Mortal Kombat - supposedly there is another film in this series coming. Is it a revisioned restart (al la Star Trek) or another sequel? It's not clear. Filming with 3 original cast members was started and stopped in 2009. Theoretically there could be a film in 2010. Will it be worth seeing? Not if it is even the least remotely like Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

Scream 4 - Yes, it never ends.

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas- How is this possible since Kal Penn is now an Obama flunky in D.C.? I guess President Obama decided to finally shrink the Government by 1 job - Penn's.

Jackass 3 - Well it's the only work Johnnie Knoxville can get, or is qualified for.

Daybreakers - good concept, but its an early January film. Studios have no confidence in its ability to make money. But sometimes a decent film slips into the January slot.

When in Rome - I'm over 15 so I wouldn't see this film if I was paid 3x my annual salary. But some people like this kind of drivel.

Valentine's Day - see When in Rome

Shutter Island - Leonardo DiCaprio's hypefest is waning. It has Max Von Syndow, and Scorcesse. Beyond that, I bet it's completely forgetable.

The Crazies - revisioned Romero films are a rage in Hollywood these days. Too bad I don't think those films are good (the revisioned ones). This will likely be no better than the other remakes.

Brooklyn's Finest - lots of stars, including Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D'Onofrio. It could be great, a big sleeper hit. Or it might be bloated by all the star weight and posturing. Not sure.

Machete - I want Danny Trejo to do well in this film. It's about time he gets to have a bigger star. But this film is anyone's guess.

Nightmare on Elm Street - revisioned remake of a classic. Normally this means instant failure. But it has the benefit of NOT being a Rob Zombie film. I still don't think it will be worth the money, but as a DVD buy it should be decent.

Shrek Forever After - Mike Meyers really needs another job.

Five Killers - unless you love Ashton Kutchner and/or Tom Selleck this is a film worth ignoring. Not as bad as some I've already mentioned in 2010, but not good by a long shot.

Footloose - yes 2010 is filled with remakes. Since it's not the 80's anymore the question is will this same 'White boys can't dance' theme work in this film like it did in the past? Dance films are popular these days (for whatever reason).

The Last Airbender - anime fans get their own live action film. Will this be worth it? That's likely the only twist M. Night Shyamalan will bring to this film. Still it can't be as bad as Dragonball Evolution could it?

Little Fockers - people love Ben Stiller, I have no idea why.

Zookeeper - everyone loves talking animals right? Right?

Burlesque - we know Cher can act. She spent decades proving it. So either she thinks Christina Aguilera can act also, or she was paid a crazy amount of money to be in this film. Either way this will bring in tons of money from teen boys (and older guys) that want to see her (either woman) in tight clothes. Hopefully it will be better than Glitter (which should be easy to do if any of the actors are awake onscreen).

Ok, there you have it. The good bad and ugly of 2010. Now all you have to do is decide which ones you agree with me on as the year goes by. Let me know what you think as the year progresses.

Wesley Snipes keeps fighting the good fight, and the media doesn't care

I know the world is busy falling because Oprah Winfrey has finally decided to stop doing her show. I personally could care less as I don't watch the show, I've not been on it, and it's been 25 years. That is not to say I don't respect what Oprah has done, it's just not earth-shattering news that she's finally stopping. Not like she will be in the poorhouse with $1 billion.

But as all eyes turn on Winfrey, I noticed something slip through the cracks of the news. It's something that the major media has avoided once it turned into something less than what they had hyped.

As long-term readers of my blogs are aware, Wesley Snipes was railroaded by the IRS and the major media not too long ago. The Government went after Snipes, implying the worst of tax evasion offenses, while he was out of the country filming. The media swooped on the story as if it were a scene from a film with some dastardly villian hidding from the righteous Government. Too bad it was mostly a sham.

Snipes did in fact not pay taxes. Well actually he paid them, and then his accountants asked the IRS for the money back. And they gave it to them, millions without instantly raising a red flag. Years later, someone noticed that there was a box not checked somewhere in the Government and they came after Snipes. They tried to brand him a criminal mastermind, forcing his accountants to do the taxes of dozens of people such that they made more money than they were supposed to. Pure evil, it was a movie plot I think.

So after Snipes returned from Africa, found out the Government suddenly wanted him, he complied. And a trial soon ensued. The media was all afluster. Snipes faced charges that would put him in jail for 16 years. Charges that other actors and celebrities have never faced. Because the Government wanted to make an example out of Snipes. Never mind that Willie Nelson owed 2x as much money ($34 million) and after LOSING his case against the IRS, never saw a day of jail. Nevermind that right now Nicholas Cage owes millions to the IRS and he has yet to be charged, and there is no media circus around him.

But the Government was sure they would win. There were about 10 charges or more as I recall (I do have several posts on the subject but I don't want to stop to check right now), with all but 3 being federal charges. The IRS lost every single federal charge against Wesley Snipes, proving his innocence of the worst of the allegations. It was a massive slap in the face of the Government - and almost all of the media suddenly forgot that there was a trial.

But the revenge of the Government was swift. Almost immediately after losing the 3 misdemeanors, Snipes was giving the absolute max for the crimes. These types of judgements normally are probation for a month or 2 at most. Given that he had 3 he should have recieved a year on probation in TOTAL. Instead he got 3 years of jail.

Snipes has not taken this lying down. Like with the hyped up and erroneous charges first made by the IRS, the punishment is also being fought in court. Snipes wants the overly extreme jail time thrown out. And I agree with him.

Perhaps this isn't as important as Oprah. Perhaps Snipes doesn't have the fanbase he once had. Maybe this isn't as questionably racial as it seems. But other than my readers I doubt anyone will ever know. Because the major media is burying this on the back page.

Had Snipes lost, it would have been big news. A major Black entertainer with bad news is always front page. But he won, and the media and Government were embarrassed. I just hope that they get over themselves and stop punishing Snipes for proving they were wrong. Maybe Oprah will talk about this before she goes off-air. Probably not though.

Nicholas Cage is better than Method Man - so the IRS apparently thinks

I think that someone in the IRS must really be a fan of Ghost Rider. Or perhaps this head honcho just loved Con Air. It has to be something like that, since I just found out about Nicholas Cage.

Nicholas Cage owes the IRS $6 million since 2007. Which does not include a lien against him for $350,000 back in 2003 - 2005. Of course the IRS is not looking to arrest Nicholas Cage. Which sets him apart from other celebrities.

As I mentioned last week, Method Man was arrested because he owes $33,000 to the IRS. Of course part of that arrest may lie in the excuse Method Man has for not paying the taxes

"Method Man has publicly said that he suffers from memory loss due to his penchant for smoke Marijuana, and that is the prime reason he has missed his tax payments."

Even if true it's a dumb reason. And illegal. But that aside, isn't it interesting?

Method Man is facing 5 years in prison. Wesley Snipe was sentenced to 3 years in prison, after beating the IRS on charges of evading takes on $14 million and facing 16 years in prison. The 3 year sentence was for 3 misdemeanours - and is universally seen as overly harsh. On the other side of things, besides the non-action on Cage, there was Willie Nelson who owed $33 million dollars and got probation.

Perhaps it's me, but this looks like a systemic problem. There seems to be a massive issue here, and I doubt that anyone in the major media will raise it.

Why is it that Nelson got off scot-free? Why is Cage seemingly untouched? Yet there was no end of media coverage negatively implying his guilt. And Method Man seems hardly in the same category, though the IRS took and sold his car and now has arrested him.

I realize that often celebrities and entertainers are slapped on the wrist for most criminal actions. Rappers, and other entertainers, are routinely absolved of possession of drugs, sex with minors, even acts of violence. But when it comes to taxes, well things appear to be very different. Are we to infer that the IRS loves country music and occasionally bad acting so much that it will give a free pass to those entertainers, but if the music and actor is outside that realm the whole weigh of the Government is thrown at them?

Personally, I think that all the entertainers and celebrities (not to mention a host of politicians) should be treated harsher than the average person when they break the law. The perks their careers provide should be the best reason not to commit a crime - of any nature. They need to be examples as much as they are role models in the society - even if they don't wish to acknowledge that they are that.

But when I say harsh penalties, I mean harsh with a level playing field. it is the highest hypocrisy to have one entertainer face jail for $33,000 and another entertainer walking free as a bird without a care while owing $6,350,000. If nothing else it implies a favouritism and prejudice. Neither should exist and must be removed from the Government and law.

The IRS is not a movie mogul, nor an Oscar judge. It is not a Grammy official, or in record sales. It has one purpose (which no one loves, given) and that purpose sees only 1 color - green. If the IRS cannot get that right, well then why do we have it?

I wish Nicholas Cage no ill, but if I could I'd make sure he was in the same boat as Wesley Snipes. At least that would make sense.

Method Man faces 5 years for tax evasion

You know I almost feel bad for Method Man (Clifford Smith). He has been arrested for not paying taxes. To be exact, he didn't pay taxes from 2004 - 2007.

Now if I were around Method Man I would remind him of one case - Wesley Snipes. For those that do not recall I followed that case from beginning to end. The beginning was very public. With accusations of avoiding authorities and speculation on whether Snipes was a criminal mastermind of a plot to not pay taxes for a group of people.

The truth was far less sensational than what the major media made it out to be. Snipes was evading nothing, as he was in Africa filming a movie at the time of the news came out. He made arrangements to come home, and the media turned that into a scene from a movie as if he was amazingly caught by police when arriving home.

The farce got worse as the Government alleged that Snipes, and not his accountants, was responsible for a dozen people not paying their taxes. They also claimed that Snipes was the one who arranged for the filing of a 100% refund of taxes he had filed via his accountants. They hit Snipes with a dozen charges and he faced 16+ years in prison as I recall.

The major media got quiet after this point, but the facts were that Snipes fought all the charges. He made it clear that the argument the Government made was false and illogical. And he proved almost every fact as well. In the end, he went from a dozen federal counts (which he defeated) to 3 misdemeanors. Of course an embarrassed Government did not take that well. Instead of the minor probation that the 3 offenses should have garnered, Snipes was hit with 3 years in jail. It was a shocking abuse of power by the Government - sour grapes indeed.

So if Clifford Smith is paying attention, keep this in mind. Already he is ahead of Snipes in that he has not been attacked by the media in this case. He only owes $33,000, not the reported $14 million they placed against Snipes. But somehow I don't think this will end up like Willie Nelson, who walked away from owing millions ($35 million to be exact) with probation and a minor fine - without much fanfare from the media.

Smith (Method Man) is facing 5 years. Given the nature of the Government on the similar case above, I'd plea bargain quickly. If all goes well he might only get 6 months in jail. It would still be too much and insanely harsh, but considering the Snipes case it will be a cake walk.

Wesley Snipes Black Panther no longer - Marvel may pick Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

In other movie news, there has been a major change. The long talked about film Black Panther, about the Marvel Comics character and not the political party, has moved forward towards production. But the lead for the titular role has changed.

Originally this was a film that was driven by Wesley Snipes, and was set to have him star as the only other major comic book African American character to make it to a movie format. This was of course driven by the successes of the 3 Blade movies and the television series it inspired. All due to the acting of Wesley Snipes, with decent helpings of action and the vampire mystique that is currently popular.

But that was all before the U.S. Government decided to railroad Snipes for tax evasion. The negative media blast, and the 3 misdemeanor convictions, seems to have made Snipes unpopular among the Hollywood execs. Though it is unclear at the moment if his production company has lost the rights to this film.

Instead of Snipes, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has become the leading actor for the role of T’challa Prince of the fictional African nation Wakanda. Which is a decent choice no less. Agbaje is probably best known to most for his roles in the television shows Lost and Oz.

Something I do want to note though is a possible trend in Marvel Comics. The switch from Snipes to Agbaje is similar in ways to the switch in Iron Man 2 from Terrence howard to Don Cheadle. In both cases the presumptive lead was changed with little fanfare, though the quality of the actors was maintained.

What that means I cannot say. But since rumors of a Luke Cage (Power Man) movie is also floating around – obviously to cash in on the trend in Black movies popularity and the existence of President Obama – I will find it interesting to see how Marvel handles the actors there as well.

I am glad to see that the few African American heroes of comic books are getting a moment to shine. It’s interesting to watch as Hollywood, and comic book companies, are starting to recognize the importance and buying power of the African American audience. Something that would likely not have happened without the election of President Obama. Which is in itself a shame.

The only other question left is if the storyline and history of T’challa will be butchered like that of Wolverine and The Hulk (think Ang Lee’s miserable version), or maintained and promoted like Spiderman and Iron Man. If Marvel gets it right, it will be gold.

So long as the movie gets underway before President Obama’s approval rating gets too much lower. Otherwise, I bet all these movies and characters (including War Machine) just disappear.

2008 - a year in overview

With the hours ticking away I wanted to go back one last time and look at the year 2008.

It has been quite the year. Barack Obama rose from a nuisance Senator for the Clinton machine to become the first Black President, 411 years after the first African slave was recorded in this land.

The financial system started the year with rising oil, depressed profits, and fears of inflation. Which quickly became a domino of failed institutions, buy-in, buy-outs, and bailouts - most funded by the Government. And the vortex of money sinking into the blackhole of political finger-pointing, and employment worries has yet to end. But inflation and oil are no longer concerns.

And focusing on entertainment we started the year with a mediocre talent that died from his own illogical action and was catapulted to superstardom for it. As the year progressed, serious acclaimed greats in literature, comedy, film, music, and other forms of entertainment passed - barely with attention. And it looks like even into 2009, the stupid actions of 1 man will dwarf the lifetime of achievement of dozens of others.

War continues to rage in the world and in the movies. While the atrocities in Darfur continue to be waged, the screens of America are filled with blame America-for-everything political wastes of time. These films are not bad because they are badly acted (though some are), or that the scripts are irrelevant (some are just too inane to imagine being greenlighted), or even because they don't like their home nation (one of the few in the world that allows criticism of every elected official without reprisal). They just failed to entertain.

Hollywood enjoyed a year that was filled with no surprises and even fewer attempts at innovation than the year before. More sequels, spin-offs, remakes, revisioned past favorites and direct copies on the big and small screen occurred than Bill Ayers on a LSD flashback remembering his past actions. And most were as entertaining - the new 90210 comes to mind.

Filling the void of intellect was fodder so unfit as to be like sugar mainlined into a 5 year old with ADHD. There was the usual "reality" programming that did nothing but allow the public to lose brain cells without the joy of a buzz. And there was the not so subtle loss of several programs that bucked the trend - The Shield, The Riches, among others.

Another loss to the small screen flies in the face of the change in politics in the nation. While America gains the first African American to ascend to our highest office, television descended to a vision of America not seen since 2000 (or more like 1970). Several Black actors in co-leading roles were removed, or shows canceled. Hispanics and Latinos remain virtually unseen and when seen reflecting a diversity that is easily confused with another ethnicity. Native Americans and Asians remain invisible, even in background scenery. And if that sounds bad, the environment behind the camera is 1/3 as diverse.

So in 2009 the schizophrenia will be that one of the few times a Black face will be on the national airwaves will be in the news and the rest of television will be whitewashed. The hypocrisy of Hollywood and its ultra-liberal views, as opposed to its staunch 1950's actions, is amazing to behold.

And the ethical void continues to grow. The nation was deluged with images and stories of entertainers doing the wrong thing and getting away with it. From the British Winehouse (aptly named I think) to our own disfunctional and potentially child-endangering Spears. We watched as entertainers were allowed to throw children into crowds from stages, admit drug use, carry illegal weapons, abuse animals and people alike, all without a hint of true reprimand.

And as the substitution of justice we had racial revenge. OJ provided the means for many White Americans to cry out "Justice at last" though his trial was a mockery of justice from start to finish. He may be a fool, and perhaps even guilty of past crimes, but his trial was as much a kangaroo court as in any movie.

And when it comes to the law the media was very consistent. African Americans that they labeled guilty were made to look horrible, and their claims (and even jury confirmation) of innocence went unheard - like Wesley Snipes. But for the people making the media money, in music videos and records and what some call movies, there was plenty of coverage hyping their minor convictions - like Akon and DMX.

2008 was quite the year indeed. So much happened all at once it was often hard to be sure what was the most important thing to track. And just as often what the media wanted us to watch was the least important of the issues at hand. But then again this was the year where the line between journalism and cheerleading was obscured from sight. The after-the-fact admissions of several media giants that they crossed the line, "a little", says nothing of the 'feeling in my leg' they poured into televisions and thus homes across the nation.

The news media was so bad that satirical comedy shows often were more objective and less political than the supposed "neutral" media. And networks like CNN and MSNBC wonder why their ratings are so bad.

2008 was a bad year in most every manner of accounting. From wasteful spending by the Government, to political polispeak that was fair and unfair. Even in moments of honesty - like polling from various agencies during the Primaries - America showed the world that the ugly underbelly of racism still held a grip in the nation.

I won't miss 2008 overall. While I am amazed and pleased with being able to say President Obama and that I am a homeowner, there is little else that occurred in this year that makes me wish to relive it even in memories.

But 2009 is just hours away. And with it will come a new President, with a very different set of objectives for America. The new year will usher in a new direction in American thinking, where some like it or not. And the media will be forced to adjust, because even in comic books the world is changing.

2008 was they year to say "I want change", 2009 will be the year it happens in. And we can all only hope that the change is better than the reality of the year that has ended.

DMX vs Maricopa County - the wrong one wins

Oh the joy of the holiday season just does not end. At least that is what DMX is saying right now.

Earl Simmons got a late gift in the form of a plea deal. This rapper who seems incapable of avoiding a criminal act, or police, admitted guilt to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, one felony count of theft, and one count each of felony possession of marijuana and a narcotic drug. He has been busy indeed.

And for admitting his guilt, which no one questioned, he will receive the grand total of ... 90 days and probation.

Screw a gift, who might he have had sex with to get that sentence. And I wonder if he paid them after he got done?

Seriously. Wesley Snipes was proven innocent of all charges except 3 misdemeanors with the full weight of the U.S. Government against him and the media lapdogs doing phenomenal bits of staging to make him look guilty as hell. Snipes got 3 years.

Michael Vick got 23 months Federal and 3 years State for his animal cruelty. And he deserves every minute of that.

A minor rapper wanna-be Rico Wright got 20 years and 20 years probation for shooting a guy and making a rap about it.

Akon got community service for throwing a minor off of a stage in front of dozens of witnesses and more than a few police officers.

TI got away with voting though he is a convicted felon.

Remy Ma got 8 years for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion. And she "accidentally" shot a woman.

Is anyone noticing a trend here?

What the hell is wrong with the legal system. If you or I were charged and convicted with any of the things these rappers have done, repeatedly, we wouldn't see the light of day for a decade - with a plea bargain. And the bigger they are, the more the legal system is willing to ignore.

Snipes was facing 17 years if convicted. He was found innocent of everything but minor issues that normally get probation. yet he will spend more time in jail than DMX and Akon combined. And I don't think either man was allowed to vote.

Considering the way the legal system has been I would have expected Wright to have walked out the door, but I guess his song didn't get a big fat record company deal first. No wonder young kids are looking at rap as a way to live. The bigger the star the more insanely stupid things you can do with little consequence. How can we expect kids to live by the rules when the people they spend unknown hours listening to and mimicking are flaunting the law and getting away with it.

I'm glad that 2008 is ending. And that we have these examples to look at as we enter 2009. I hope judges are looking over the cases in 2009 and seeing what a revoltingly perverse job they are doing.

These criminals don't deserve to be paid, or to get glorified in music videos or movies (talk about a stupid and blisteringly dumb waste of money and talent. Yet sure to make a profit). They need to be in jails, not concert halls. They need to be serve penitence, not get served drinks.

It's one thing to be Slick Rick. But there is no question of the remorse of DMX, Akon, Remy Ma and so many others. There may be an argument to be made about their sellout shuck and jive for record executives, but outright crimes should never be excused.

If I were the people of Maricopa County I would be sure to start the New Year by calling up the District Attorney's office (602-506-3411) and let them know they need to do better in 2009. And then I'd follow that with a letter to the major record labels (to many to list but you can find them on Google) asking them to have a shred of ethics in how they reap in their money. Big Oil is bad? How about the people supplying your kids with heaping doses of convicts and ex-cons as examples of success.

The year can't end fast enough.

OJ Simpson trial - injustice unreported

I did not want to discuss this case. But when I listened to the glee from Sheppard Smith (news anchor for Fox News) as he spoke on the news I made up my mind to say something.

The case I am referring to is the OJ Simpson trial. You may not have heard much on this, you might even be surprised to know that his trial in Las Vegas is already underway. And the reason there has not been much media on this is likely because of what the outcome will be.

At this point I feel incredibly confident that OJ Simpson will be sentenced to jail for his life. For all those cheering that sentence realize this – OJ is being jailed based on prejudice and the bias of America.

Whether or not OJ Simpson is guilty of the charges, all 12 of them, stemming from his arrest in Las Vegas is not important. It’s the fact that after more than a decade the legal system, and most White Americans, now have the chance to convict OJ for the murder of Nicole Simpson; which he was found innocent of. The major news media has never accepted that answer. Shepard Smith has always made it clear he despised that verdict. And double jeopardy be damned White America could not live with this.

Every misstep OJ has made since the murder trial ended has been publicized. The media has maintained an onslaught of coverage aimed at 1 goal, tarnishing his image and guaranteeing every American would believe he was guilty of murder and deserved to be in jail. And this trial will be the fruition of all that work.

On the 10th of September the Las Vegas judge, Jackie Glass, decided that 2 members of the prospective jury being contacted by a reported member of the press was not a problem.

On September 12th the jury was selected. 9 women, 3 men. Not a single person on the jury is Black.

On September 16th, after being told not to take into account any of the news or rulings dealing with OJ’s murder trial, the prosecution has introduced it as part of their case.

So let’s look at this. Reportedly 4 men and OJ entered a hotel room to recover stolen goods that belonged to OJ. Questionably the meeting was set up by one of those men, who has given evidence against OJ for reduced charges. 2 men in the room that day are reported to have had guns, neither of which was OJ. Both of those suspected men have turned states evidence to get off their charges in return for being a witness against OJ.

9 women were reminded that this man is believed by the prosecutor, media and many Whites, to have brutally murdered a woman. They were reminded that for over a decade the media has hammered the thought that this man is guilty though proven innocent beyond a shadow of doubt.

Fear of racial bias for OJ prevented any person in the jury from being African American. Racial bias to convict OJ was never considered in the jury selection. And the potential jurors being contacted by the media, thus hinting at future media stardom – or at least their 15 minutes of fame and a nice check for a book or appearance – was not important.

And someone wants to tell me this is a fair trial. After the initial arrest superseded all other news for 1 week. After a decade of persecution. After acts of retribution by the police on Rodney King (that’s just a guess about the L.A. police). Yeah, a real fair trial.

OJ is going to be convicted of at least 10 of the charges against him. He will be sent to jail for at least 25 years. It was a foregone conclusion the day he was arrested in Las Vegas. That’s why there the huge media circus that week. Validation for all their efforts of over a decade. And it’s why right now there is so little coverage. It has to be fair if they aren’t covering ever second of this stacked deck.

I’m not saying OJ is innocent of the charges in Las Vegas. I’m not saying there weren’t guns present, or that OJ didn’t know they were there. But I have doubt, especially the way this was handled and organized, and prosecuted.

I am saying that OJ is innocent of the murder of his wife, a court said so. I am saying that White America lost their mind on this case, and the media has fed that hate and anger. I recall mobsters being acquitted of multiple murders and getting less coverage or dismay.

The glee of newscasters reporting on the OJ trial just makes me certain. It may be nearly impossible for a Black man to get a fair trial in much of the nation [Jena 6, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Wesley Snipes, and on]; but it’s impossible for OJ.

Some call that justice, I call it the legal system in action. And people wonder why people of color distrust the legal system.

Wesley Snipes vs IRS - I owe how much?

Ah the lovely major news media. Rarely has there been a more jaded and fickle industry, exceeded by perhaps the Hollywood machine only. Once again they have proven why I dislike their actions.

Wesley Snipes won another major blow against the Government and it’s silly case about tax evasion. The major news media acted in its usual biased and obtuse form. They avoided the story.

The major news media wasted neither time nor space in alleging that Wesley Snipes was hiding from the Government when this case first became public. They were like flies around feces when they manipulated the perceptions of Snipes previously agreed upon surrender to authorities – once he got news of problems in America while he was filming in remote areas in Africa. And Snipes stood his ground, claiming his innocence as the Government tried to allege that he was a mastermind behind 42 people evading taxes – which included his accountants that filed the taxes for him.

In the end Wesley Snipes faced a potential sentence of 16 years in Federal prison. A jury found him innocent of all charges except 3 misdemeanors. It was a slap in the face of the Government, and the media that was pounding away with pundits claiming his absolute guilt. But the Government fought back, giving Snipes an over-the-top and unprecedented (for anyone that wasn’t Black) sentence of 3 years and a fine.

Today the fine was announced, $217,000. Wesley Snipes trial claimed that he owed in excess of $14 million. That all that Wesley Snipes owes the IRS.

So in retrospect it seems that the Government, and the major news media, lied to the American public. Since the same reaction never occurred from Willie Nelson (who owed and lost a case for $35 million in taxes he evaded) and others, I am left with the thought that race and stardom were the driving factors of this farce. And rather than face criticism or have the general public realize what they’ve done, they buried this latest piece of news, just as they buried the fact that every serious and important charge against Wesley Snipes was found to be wrongly charged against Wesley Snipes.

Snipes is currently appealing the incredibly, and potentially racially driven, overreaching punishment. The fine is sure to be added to that appeal. A realistic penalty for what he did get found guilty for, given to most Americans – and definitely White Entertainers that the media likes, is 6 months of probation. Think about it, entertainers have been caught with excessive amounts of drugs, intoxicated while driving, and/or armed with illegal weapons and walked away with less time. What reason can you think of for this penalty?

I’ve followed this case from the beginning, and I continue to do so. The major news media may have a bias and care nothing about truthful reporting, but I do.

Slavery: House of Representatives apologizes, Senate silent, Presidential candidates without comment

Excerpt from VASS

Chalk up another victory for Senator Obama and African Americans, and America in general. It’s taken some time but another historical event has taken place, and again it has received about as much fanfare as Janet Jackson’s latest album.

When I started to first write my blogs I wrote about an issue that has plagued every aspect of American life and politics since before the creation of America. That issue is Slavery. I have long been a proponent of an apology from the Government and I am a staunch supporter of Reparations...

“If the average slave worked only 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, 360 days a year for 4 decades of life that’s 158,880 hours of work per slave. If we assume that there were 3 million slaves from 1619 to 1865 (which is a low-ball estimate) then that is 476,640,000,000 hours of work done. Those are BILLIONS of hours. This does not even touch the Jim Crow era. Assuming a pay of just .05 cents an hour in 1865 money (no adjustment for actual worth in money today) that means $23,832,000,000. If I adjust by taking an increase of just 10% for each year for 55 years that’s a 9150% increase to $2,180,628,000,000. That’s TRILLIONS of dollars, adjusted just 55 years at 10%. There’s still another 87 years to go and we are adjusting from .05 cents. If anyone feels that more than TRILLIONS of dollars of work did not change America, they are stupid in my opinion.”

But finally yesterday House Resolution 194 was passed, a mere 5 months after it was introduced to the House of Representatives. House Resolution 194 is

“Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.
Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;

Whereas slavery in America resembled no other form of involuntary servitude known in history, as Africans were captured and sold at auction like inanimate objects or animals;

…Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery , African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life;

Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as `Jim Crow,' which arose in certain parts of the Nation following the Civil War to create separate and unequal societies for whites and African-Americans, was a direct result of the racism against persons of African descent engendered by slavery ;

… Whereas on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged slavery's continuing legacy in American life and the need to confront that legacy when he stated that slavery `was . . . one of the greatest crimes of history . . . The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty and justice for all.';

Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deep-seated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

… Whereas it is important for this country, which legally recognized slavery through its Constitution and its laws, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so that it can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all of its citizens…”

Only at least 389 years late...

Yet a question has to be asked. Why has the Senate not acted on this resolution? Why did the Representatives not stand up and have their votes recorded for history? Why have both current Presidential candidates shunned and avoided the subject actively?...

The answer is, in my opinion at least, NO we haven’t. If we had there would not be cases in courts like Rodney King or Megan Williams, there would be no deaths like Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo, there would be no outrages like the one enacted by the police in Philadelphia. There would be no way that Michael Richards would have acted in the manner that he did, nor that the media would have railroaded Wesley Snipes as they did. There would be no need for comedians like Stephen Colbert to point out the obvious. And there would be no way that politicians like Frank Hargrove or Tancredo could could say what they have said....

The House of Representatives has taken a step, the Senate must follow that step, and the President must acknowledge and reiterate these actions. And in proving the sincerity and completing the rite of acknowledgement America...

See full posts here

R Kelly trial to start, or will it?

“5 years and counting. What might that refer to? Could it be the Iraq war? It could also be the amount of time since R Kelly was supposed to go to trial for the alleged rape of a minor…”

“Will R Kelly finally go to court and stand trial for his actions – and will the family of the girl that was raped still be working for him?”

I made those comments back in September 2007. Now in May 2008 with 2 days to go before the start of the trial, another delay looms, and the media still isn’t paying attention. I cannot describe how angy this makes me. A rumored and widely acknowledged pedophile is running around free and evading the law and the news media can’t be bothered.

The media makes me sick in cases like this. Wesley Snipes is an entertainer, and Black, so no time was wasted in painting him as a felony criminal – even after he was found innocent of all but the least significant charges. OJ Simpson can’t walk across the street without a news crew documenting it (as they virtually have for over a decade) – and he was found innocent. Rev. Wright had 35 years of religious service and work for the equality and imporvement of quality of life wiped out by five 10 second polispeak soundbites – and he wasn’t running for an elected position.

But when it comes to real crimes the major news media has it’s head stuck up it’s collective a**. The Jena 6 case was ignored for months. The Megan Williams case was granted all of 30 seconds and will never be uttered again. Sean Bell was discussed form the cops perspective, without ever mentioning the conflicts in their stories, and pushed to a corner as quickly as possible. Now the actions of 15 cops in Philadelphia is set to be accepted as merely a slight over reaction among a small group of officers – completely obfuscating the connection to and growing trend of excessive police brutality to people of color nearly exclusively.

And we can add R Kelly, a pedophile whos targets are near-pubescent girls. The daughters, neices, and sisters in the Black community that are supposed to be protected by the law and the community. Yet the news media can’t be bothered to know anything about this case, because Britney Spears cut her hair, Amy Winehouse is a crackhead that got arrested again, and Paris Hilton is a spoiled rich brat who was arrested for violating the law and is placed into entertainment events because she has too much money to offend.

Of course how can we blame the major news media. African Americans regularly support this vile and disgusting man every time he has a concert or makes a record. Grown women still swoon to his words and gyrations on music videos, actively ignoring the fact that were they standing in front of him naked he would prefer a clothed 13 year old next to them. What makes him any less dispicable than the Mormons in Texas?

And not a single complaint has come from the major news media about the judge’s running of the case.

“Vincent M. Gaughan, a Cook County circuit court judge… essential goal, according to one of his orders: "To preserve the dignity of the court and the integrity of the proceedings." That's an especially powerful, ironic argument, given widespread concern that Kelly is receiving preferential treatment because of his celebrity status.”

The media has been consistent in complaining that Black entertainers get treated preferentially by the legal system. They point to OJ, Wesley Snipes (who was sentanced beyond any parity according to all experts in such matters), and numerous rappers like Snoop Dogg. Yet they can’t seem to be able to see R Kelly or the fact they are giving him a pass that is underserved or justified. And many African Americans laud this as a positive.

Of course R Kelly hasn’t been taking this vacation from the law lightly. He’s used the time to lay low, keeping out of the direct spotlight – letting potential jurors only know about his records and not his deeds. He’s employed the father of his victim, paying cash to keep his a** out of jail and possibly buying testimonies in the process (isn’t that called inciting perjury – and a crime in itself?).

I once quoted

“As Huey states in one episode, [I paraphrase]
“America has done a multitude of injustice to Blacks, but that does not mean everything is an injustice, or that this makes every African American a hero.”

The fact that R Kelly can sing a song, is Black, and entertainer and has some money does not make him a hero. The fact that video tape proves he is a pedophile does make him a criminal and in need of imprisonment in my view. And the news media ignoring this case makes the injustice to African Americans no less palpable than when the media ignored Jena, Megan Williams, Sean Bell, or ignored the innocence of Wesley Snipes.

The major news media has a position and it seems to be clear. It could be said as:

• If a Black is popular and well off – find something to take them down. Crush their lives if possible. (Stories on Michael Jordan gambling on golf games, stories claiming Tiger Woods' wife was in a porno, searching for infidelities in Bill Cosby’s life or others, and so on).
  
  
• If they are guilty, or even suspected of a crime against a White, convict them at every turn (Wesley Snipes, OJ Simpson, and on).
  
  
• If they are committing, or suspected of, a crime against themselves or African Americans. Spin it as positive as possible. Publicize it as often as possible. And if it has no positive edge, ignore it. (R Kelly, Snoop Dogg and more)
  
  
• If they are the victim of a crime – only if commited by a White – ignore it. If it can’t be ignored then blame the African American and support the White (Duke rape case, Megan Williams) but never allow guilt to be a fact.
  
  
• And for any other case not covered, just look for the most negative portrayal of any person of color as possible, or avoid the issue. (How many Amber Alerts have you seen on the news for Black children? How about in the past year?)
  

So I have to wonder if R Kelly will ever get into a courtroom. Or if the media will cover it if he does. Or is the victim in the case (who is now 23 and thus won’t look as obviously a victim as she would have 5+ years ago) going to have her short past used as a weapon against her.

What would you bet?

The History you weren't taught

In light of the unyeilding fervor over the various comments and meanings of soundbites and statements made by Rev. Wright, the less covered anger and bile by men like Rev. Manning, the repetition of legal imbalances in the Wesley Snipes, Sean Bell, and Megan Williams cases, and other items I wanted to ask a few questions.

This is not a test. This is simply questions to see what you know. It doesn’t matter what race you are, what country you come from, or what religion you believe.

Some questions I will answer, some I will leave for you to find out for sure. But I guarantee that one item on this post will be a blatant lie, though it is a lie that my readers have read in my posts before. That I will leave for the end to tell you.

Africans have been in America since at least 1619. In the 389 years since then can you name a war that Blacks have not fought in?

Today virtually all people of color with brown to black skin are called African Americans. 10 years ago we were known simply as Black. What were we called going all the way back in time to 1619?

How many songs made famous by Elvis Presly were not originally songs created and performed by Black singers/entertainers?

What group of people were the ones to find the means to cure the Bubonic Plague and to realize its source?

Where is the cradle of civilization found?

Who was Thurgood Marshall, and what did he do?

What year did the military stop segregation?

Who has done more for African Americans, Republicans or Democrats?

Have Blacks always voted Democrat?

Name 2 groups of Americans that the Constitution did not cover initially?

What is the original meaning of Cowboy?

What does Jim Crow represent?

How many Black colleges exist today? How many were started? When was the first?

Did Africans ever control Europe?

How many communicable diseases did the original American Indian tribes have?

How many treaties did the American Government break with the American Indians?

How many nuclear bombs have ever been used against people?

Name 3 Empires of the world that did not involve Europe?

Who created the 0 and thus all modern math?

Who are the Tuskegee Airmen?

What is my name?

Who founded Chicago?

Where was the city of Rosewood and how many were in it?

How many years was the South Carolina House run by a Black majority?

How much was the largest donation ever made by a Black American?


Now the point of all these questions is not to embarrass anyone. Nor is it to condemn any nation or people.

The purpose is to highlight the lack of knowledge that exists in America. I have no doubt that while most of these items are known historical facts, most are not taught in American classrooms, and I would bet not in European ones either. So how can so many believe they can have a realistic conversation about race in America when I doubt most can answer half these questions without going to Google?

In case you were wondering, here are some answers you may or may not have known (and I don’t profess that these are the only facts available or worthy of knowing – in fact they are the tip of an iceberg of information). Not every question is answered though. Some things need to be sought out to be learned best.


There has never been a war in America (even when it was a colony) that Blacks did not participate in. While history classes, movies, and popular books may overlook the fact African Americans have always fought for America, even when we were not recognized by the nation as people.

Prior names for African Americans go back to Black, Colored, and Negro (beyond the repulsive and ignorant N-word). That covers just the last 50 years. Only 339 more to go.

Elvis stole all his early songs (to my knowledge), and his manager advertised in newspapers to only buy the Elvis version. Or did you really think he wore blue suede shoes and knew about hound dogs back in the 1950’s?

The Moors, an African Empire, were the first to discover that cutting the blisters helped to increase the survival rate of plague victims, and that the cause was infected rats living in the squalid conditions of European cities.

The Euphrates River is known as the cradle of civilization.

Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer and Supreme Court Justice from 1963 to 1991. He was the first Black Supreme Court Justice (there has only ever been 2).

1948. That’s after WWII where African Americans did serve with honor.

For about 100 year Blacks voted with the party of Lincoln, Republican.

The Constitution did not cover women, Native American Indians, or anyone with more than 3/5ths African blood. Proving 3/5ths was harder to prove than you might imagine.

A cowboy was originally meant as a derogatory term to describe African Americans that worked with cattle in the field. As the number of Americans moving west increased and the need for cowhands rose the term grew to encompass Whites, and was later romanticized to exclude the Black it originally meant to describe.

After 1861, 20 Black colleges and equivalent institutions were created.

The Moors conquered and controlled Spain, Italy, Sicily and several other parts of Southern Europe and Northern Africa. This says nothing of the control and influence of Ancient Egypt over the Mediterranian countries.

To my knowledge there were no communicable diseases in the Americas until after European explorers arrived. Once they were here these diseases spread like wildfire.

The American Government broke every treaty ever made with a Tribe during the Wild West expansion and well after.

Only 2 nuclear bombs have ever been used against people. Both were in Japan. Hiroshima is the most famous, but Nagasaki was also bombed. At the time it was believed that use of nuclear bombs would be the only alternative to fighting WWII right up to the steps of Japan’s Emperor. 2 bombs were used to prove that the first was not just a luck invention and that we could reproduce the results at will.

While not the only Empires, better know ones are the Ottoman, the Mongol (of either Khan), and the aforementioned Moors.

The number zero can be traced to the Babylonians. But use in mathematics in Europe is traced from the Middle East and the Islamic religion.

As stated often in various posts, Vass is not my birthname. This is the one outright lie on this page or any post I have ever made. Vass is my legal alias though. Did you catch this?

Chicago was founded by Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.

6 years.

$20,000,000 by Bill Cosby to Spellman College.

After the Sean Bell trial - now what?

So now that so many have heard about the verdict of the NY police officers involved in the Sean Bell killing (or shooting as some would prefer) the question that comes up next is what shall we do.

What did we do after the Rodney King trial and riots? What did we do after Amidou Diallo was murdered. What have we done after the media circus that was the coverage of Wesley Snipes vs the IRS (which he basically won – though you probably never heard the major news media mention that part)? What has happened after the rape torture and kidnapping of Megan Williams? What have we done about Congress (Democrat and Republican led) and the Presidency’s inaction in Darfur?

I have tried to promote information for you my readers to make comment on all these issues. I have hoped to spark intelligent debate. I ultimately hope to inspire those with more resources, time, and ability to do something. And I have donated and acted as well.

But perhaps I am too small a voice, or to little known for some people – no matter that I am read in over 100 countries every month with visitors that number better than many newspapers across the nation. So I offer the thoughts and comments of Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and Marq Claxton.

Sean Bell murder - Police absolved of guilt, African Americans endangered

Rodney King, Amidou Diallo, Sean Bell. What do these events all have in common. Black men assaulted by the police, with extreme and unjustifiable force, with officers that walked away from the incidents (crimes) without penalty. Nothing like the even hand of justice in America.

Now you may have caught some of the relatively brief news that came out today on the Sean Bell case. I have been following it since the murder was committed. The news today may well have been obscured by the shark attack or other vital news. What has happened is that the trial (which you may not have heard was underway since early this year) concluded with no charges against the police officers guilty of firing 51 shots into a car holding 3 Black men that were all unarmed.

If you never heard about this case (which you might have missed considering the short shrift the major news media gave it) it goes like this. 3 African American men are in a strip club celebrating a bachelor party for one of them, Sean Bell. They leave the club and go to their car. They are followed by a police officer. At this points all the facts end and conjecture begins.

According to the officer, who was in the club for surveillance in a matter unrelated to these men, he believed them to be acting suspiciously. He followed them to the car where he thought they were going to get at least one gun. He approached the car, identified himself, and as the men started the car feared for his life. He then fired into the car, as did several other officers involved in the original surveillance. During the shooting of the surrounded car it was believed that a 4th man exited the car – while under fire - with a gun. In total 51 shots were fired, killing Sean Bell, and severely wounding both of the surviving men in the car. No gun was found, no drugs. No witness identified or corroborated a 4th man, nor anyone exiting the car with or without a gun.

According to the men in the car, the officer has words with their group while in the club. They left and entered their car, at which point they became aware that they were being followed. The man from the club pulled out a gun, and they – in fear of their lives from this unknown assailant – tried to drive away. The man proceeded to fire into their car, followed by several others as they surrounded the car on all sides. There was no 4th person in their group, no gun, no drugs. The man with a gun, and his companions, never identified themselves as police officers.

That is the reports of both sides from the initial day of the incident. And that begins my problems. As I stated before:

“Mr. Sean Bell and his friends were fired at 51 times. One officer fired 31 times another 11 times. The tires of the car were not shot out. Deadly force was used, though it was against official policy…As Mr. Bell continued to attempt to get away the officer seems to have become fearful for his life and the results were one dead another shot 23 times and the third shot 16 times.

Imagine that this was a car full of white males. If that would be excessive then this must be. The bigger question I have always had is why such force needs to be used solely against African American men. Mr. Rodney King had 5 or 6 officers beating him; Mr. Diallo had 41 shots from 4 officers [at least one shot was through his foot after he was laying on the ground dead]. In each case the officers walked away without a single charge. Mr. Louima was violated in a police station with a plunger. Given these facts, my own experiences and those of friends, if I had a chance to get away from a police officer in a touchy situation I’d try to run as well. It’s not about guilt, it’s about survival.”

Now what does the media say? Well Yahoo titles this : 3 NYPD detectives acquitted in 50-shot killing. They go on to mention that the murder occurred in a “seedy strip club in Queens” – inferring that this was a bad place and that bad people go there. The tone is meant to imply that the officers were in the right and the men wrong, justifying the trial outcome.

But what about the case that few ever heard about? There was no jury, only Justice Arthur Cooperman.

“Cooperman indicated that the police officers' version of events was more credible than the victims' version. "The people have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that each defendant was not justified" in firing, he said.”

He said this without 1 officer taking the stand. He said this with both survivors taking the stand. He said this even though initial reports had a mysterious 4th person running from the car, without pursuit and allegedly armed, as per the police report and news media coverage that has since been dropped as if it were haze in the sunlight.

So I ask again

“But what is it that makes it alright to go to such extremes. And it must be alright on some level because across the nation Black American men are assaulted like this often. I don’t recall a single white male that was attacked in a similar manner once in my entire life. I’m not talking about a shootout with officers, or hostage taking. I mean beatings by half a dozen officers, being fired at enough times to necessitate reloading firearms, and abuses that even the prisoners at Abu Ghraib have not received.”

And what about the news media? Well I just wrote about Wesley Snipes and the media dealing with him. And this case?

“Black American men shot to death, in a style of overkill usually only found in action movies, minor news. Black man with contribution to the arts for decades, unburied for 2+ months, not important. African American wins a trial by using high priced lawyers and reasonable doubt, bad charges, and evidence planted by the police is unforgettable. Cute (dead) blonde gets daily coverage. An argument between celebrities, daily coverage. Offensive, demeaning comments by a celebrity against a religious or ethnic group, minor coverage. Defensive coverage of accused rapists, prior to a trial or Grand Jury, prior to any actual facts being found – daily coverage. As facts are found, huge recaps of the case, furthering the defense especially if anything leads to defending the accused. Coverage of a bank robbery by ‘cute teens’ huge coverage, the fact that the charges were lessened from federal offenses? 2 minutes.” [In fact there was a follow-up on the blonde bank robbers – they got probation and 1 year, the men of color involved in this non-violent crime got 10 years each. Coverage? About double the 2 minutes mentioned above.]

What about the legal system?

“There is no question that African Americans have long felt that the legal system in America is a failure when it comes to any person of color. We have long complained of higher conviction rates, less access to bails, and harsher penalties once convicted. That says nothing of the stigma attached to those paroled, falsely accused, or who win the judicial action.

There is the examples from the past of numerous lynchings, the eradication of Rosewood, and Jim Crow laws including segregation as recent as the mid- to late-70’s. But on more recent notes there are the examples of Rodney King, Sean Bell, OJ Simpson, Genarlow Wilson, and the Jena 6." [Add to that Wesley Snipes and his unfair and uncommon sentencing for misdemeanors.]

And yet when the facts are observed we find that

“So we get this realization, Whites committed 4,297,146 acts of violent crime against a single person, and 759,079 acts against multiple victims that were White. Including the 40,249 multiple Black victims we get a total of 5,096,474. Thus once we move away from percentages and look at real numbers we learn that Whites are far more likely to commit a crime of violence against anyone, especially other Whites.”

Yet given the preponderance of facts that Whites commit more violent crimes, against everyone, there has never been a White that has been murdered in a manner and/or without punisment as African American men face on a regular basis.

The media is negaitve, the legal system unbalanced, and the facts ignored. Is anyone surprised that the officers got off without a charge? Or that the judge in this case wouldn’t believe them? Or that, looking more broadly, a couple of 10 second clips of video is being accepted as Bible truth in an attempt to assault Senator Obama’s Presidential aspirations?

When you look at the larger picture the painting isn’t very good. If you’ve read this far I have to believe you can see the point and share my anger. You can see why African Americans laugh coldly when the concept of “fair and equal under the law” is brought up.

40+ years after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and so many others fighting for Civil Rights there is still the absensce of equality in the law and law enforcement. And some want to tell me ‘It’s in your head’ or that I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Looking at all this I think we can all understand when an American military veteran religious leader says “Godd**** America” or wonders if AIDS was another version of the Tuskegee Experiments.

There are a lot of problems in America, and many can be seen in how the media reports or fails to report (like the Megan Williamns case) the facts.

But now that you see what I have seen and followed what will you do? For those White Americans that read my posts I ask you, now that another layer of the wool that covered your eyes has been removed, how do you feel? What is your response? How will you help get things to change, even if this reality makes you uncomfortable?

Wesley Snipes unfairly sentanced to 3 years, Willie Nelson free

So I was wrong. Not by a lot, but wrong all the same. Wesley Snipes was sentenced today to 3 years of prison by a judge in Florida today. I had expected him to receive no jail time and probation.

“Mr. Snipes was found guilty of 3 counts of not filing a tax return. Those were misdemeanor counts. He was up for 16 years in prison, that pundits were sure he would be convicted for, and based on the misdemeanors he will almost assuredly spend no time in prison.”

Given that the various pundits were nearly demanding his incarceration I found it interesting that he was found innocent by a jury, and that it was not publicized. There was massive media in convicting Snipes before the trial ever started as I have written. Now that he has been unfairly penalized, the media is all over this in a manner they have avoided on the positive news of this case.

Mind you that before the sentancing many entertainers offered letters defending his character. Some of those included Denzel Washington, Woody Harrelson, and Judge Greg Mathis. At least in the case of Judge Mathis, the hope was not in obtaining leniency but in ensuring a fair sentancing. That obviously did not happen.

Unlike Willie Nelson who lost a case with the IRS, owing $32 million, and received no jail time or probation Snipes was placed in jail. This reminds me of the various cases where crack dealers receive severely harsher penalties while those convicted for cocaine receive lesser punishment. In these examples of what is known to occur commonly, we see that being Black virtually ensures the longest jail sentances.

Remember that in this case we have Snipes with no prior criminal record, this is a non-violent crime, it’s a misdemeanor, and he’s a celebrity (which usually helps). Add to that that the IRS paid Wesleyt Snipes a full $7 million dollar refund, and waited 5 years for the red flags to go up.

At what point is this not the Government picking on a Black man? They used tax loss even for years in which Snipes was acquitted of failing to file a return. And the fact is criminal tax prosecutions are relatively rare. The judge in this case wanted to make a point and hurt Mr. Snipes, not unlike the courts and juries that went after OJ Simpson after he too was found innocent. They just couldn’t let the African American man walk away when they knew (in their minds), and wanted him to be found guilty and suffer in jail. Again, if you think I am wrong just refer to Willie Nelson and his freedom though he was found guilty for $32 million.

And I have to ask, why must the media play up the negatives of this case. From day one they framed this, in 30 second soundbites, to enhance the presumed and pre-convicted guilt of Mr. Snipes. Similar in the way that 35 years of sermons of Rev. Wright were summarized into five 10 second polispeak soundbites to be used against him and Senator Obama.

The media seems to take great joy in promoting any image or story that presumes guilt of African Americans. Yet they are remiss in dealing with obvious events of Whites commiting atrocities and repugnant racial attacks. Just look at all the news coverage given to Megan Williams as compared to Bobbie Cutts or the manner in which the death of Sean Taylor was covered, or the brief coverage of Michael Richards, or the unabashed and unrelenting proclamation of innocence of the Duke Lacrosse team, or the 3 month long coverage of Anna Nicole Smith as opposed to the virtual fleeting coverage of James Brown’s death. And I can go on.

With this kind of media coverage, is there any question why Senator Obama gets such strong polling, and yet reflectively few White votes? Or that Wesley Snipes is now going to serve 3 years in jail for something a comparable White entertainer didn’t spend 5 minutes in jail for?

Hell, Paris Hilton had petitions and multiple pundits proclaiming she was unfairly sentenced – though she flaunted the law and was a menance to the lives of the public on roads. Yet I’ve heard only Judge Mathis on the news media saying the same thing (the sentancing) for Wesley Snipes.

What a world we live in. And what major media we have telling us about it. Keep your eyes open because the America they are selling us isn’t the Friends they want us to believe in, but a more colorful and diverse reality. Until they get a chance to spin the polispeak against us.

A point of differnce after Sean Levert dies

In sad news I noticed that Sean Levert died on March 30th. He was 39 years old. While I saw nothing about this in the major media, I think it’s worth noting.

One thing that really gives me pause is the fact that Sean Levert was in jail just prior to his death. One hour before he died he was serving time for failing to pay child support. An autopsy has already been done and the claim is that there was no foul play. And I have to wonder.

Over the weekend I saw news about Anna Nicole Smith’s son. His death was ruled an accidental overdose. Back at the time of his death there was constant coverage, and it took about a week to get a full autopsy done. The only thing that Anna Nicole’s son is known for is being her son, and dying under odd circumstances.

Yet, Sean Levert actually contributed to society (he was a singer like his father, and working with his more famous brother Gerald for a time). While his contribution was nothing to win a Nobel Peace Prize over, in comparison to the Smith son he was King Kong. He was relatively famous in his own right, and the son of a very successful famous father. He was in jail (which the media normally loves to cover and laud when it comes to entertainers in trouble and African Americans in general as I observe). And he died very suddenly with what seems to be in comparison a rushed autopsy.

Now I’m not saying that this was foul play on the part of Cuyahoga County jail, but I am noting that there is a schism yet again. Anna Nicole Smith has been in the news, on and off, for a year. Her son generated significant news coverage a year after his death – while he was an ordinary person beyond his lineage. Sean Levert got nothing, Sean Bell was dropped in a day, Sean Taylor was vilified over his youth, Megan Williams was ignored, and they tried to railroad Wesley Snipes.

Months after his death I’m hearing even more about Heath Ledger. Why? I’m not trying to belittle their deaths, and I do give my condolences to their families and friends, but that does not change the obvious actions of the media. And then some people wonder why Preachers like Rev. Wright are upset.

If we can’t give equal, or even similar, acknowledgement of the deaths of those famous and near-famous in our nation then how the hell can we except to see equality in life?

Will Smith vindicated - 2.22.2008.1

Well here is something else that you probably won’t see in the news in the U.S. today. Not long ago I wrote a post in regard to the well publicized article of one reporter claiming that Will Smith thought Hitler was a ‘good guy’ in essence. The major news media focused on this like vultures, in another example of what I believe is their deep seated need to promote negative images of successful African Americans.

At the time I stated

“This applies to the Will Smith lead character Neville in I am Legend. For those that are not familiar with the original book, or the prior 3 movies, Neville is the bad guy. He is the monster in the night that kills people in their sleep. He is the Dracula, or Frankenstein’s monster. He is the thing under the bed. Net result, he is the bad guy that the people of the world fear, and speak of in legends and ghost stories late at night…

There is no reason to slap the image and personal character of Will Smith. It’s an affront I have never seen made of any other actor. I have heard dozens of actors of note that have made similar statements when portraying questionable or reviled characters. None have ever been accused of promoting the base nature of the character they portray.

You have never heard say Kevin Kline advocating animal cruelty or violence (Fish Called Wanda), or Al Pacino advocating devil worship (The Devil’s Advocate). How about Al Pacino being a role model for cocaine use (Scarface), Sir Anthony Hopkins being Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), or Henry Fonda as an assassin for hire (Once Upon a Time in the West). Of course not. To claim such a thing is ridiculous. But if you look at each character you can see where they have a motivation that is positive (from the bad guys perspective) and that makes the character engaging and deeper.”

But the major media never once made a similar connection or observation. I never noted this commentary in cable or television news and celebritiy telezine shows. They left the commentary, in general, that the comment made by Will Smith was odd and that he was upset. Thankfully they at least mentioned his statement about the article.

But a casual glance will show you that NOONE is covering the fact that a court has awarded Will Smith damages, vindicating his point that this article was misleading, damaging, and an embarrassment. He will also be receiving a public apology, not that the U.S. media is going to cover a second of this.

How do I know this? Because I found this news on Haaretz.com. Not on yahoo or via a cable news channel. The major U.S. media is too busy discussing how unfair and inaccurate the NY Times article against Senator McCain was (and I agree).

Is this different in any way the media covered ther Wesley Snipes trial, who was similarly vindicated? No. Was it different in the way the media ignored the Jena 6? Or the brutal and vile toture, rape, sexual abuse, and kidnapping of Megan Williams of West Virginia – or the fact that 3 of the 6 White men and women arrested for these crimes that covered an entire week have already plead guilty as charged.

I hate that examples like this exist. That discussion of the Oscar Awards, for movies the average American has not seen and an event that is not cared about this year, takes precidence. That the media wasted no time nor money in each of these events to glorify the negative view of African Americans, even if that view failed to convey the true facts and full scope of events.

Well I will simply say this. Congratulations Will Smith. I hope that the public apology will be able to be found here in the U.S. (if any of my readers in Britian see it, please forward me the link) and I will happily republish it. The major news media may not be able to cover the positive news related to African Americans (entertainers, celebrities or otherwise) – as they are too busy covering the birthday of Ashton Kuchner and obviously don’t employ enough people – but I will!

Bobby Cutts trail coverage is not what Black History Month is about - 2.11.2008.2

This was inspired by my earlier post - Grammy's versus Black History Month, and the current coverage of the Bobby Cutts trial.

As of this being written Bobby Cutts is being televised live, on trial for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend. So far this has gotten 15 minutes of non-stop coverage. Heath Ledger was discussed earlier in the day. There was about 5 minutes of coverage of a news reporters comments about Chelsea Clinton (which I did not think was so severe as to get that much attention, if any).

Compare any of these to the news coverage of Wesley Snipes being vindicated in Federal Court (with no live coverage or even film clips to my knowledge), the admissions of 3 of the rapist torturers of Megan Williams of their guilt, or the inspiring work of Will I Am geared to generate interest in getting African Americans, and the youth, to vote in November 2008.

I agree that the major media don’t care that they imbalance the portrayal of Blacks. I agree that the stereotype of African American men as violent and vicious killers is more important than any positive views.

Yes, Bobby Cutts did a terrible thing. Yes he needs to be punished to the full extent of the law. But he does not represent Black men, or the Black community. Such is not the impression that major media would provide.

Imagine that you are a European, or Japanese. You are watching the American news feeds and you see and hear the constant ‘reporting’ that focuses on American Blacks and Hispanic/Latinos murdering people. You watch American videos that feature Black and Hispanic/Latinos women gyrating in skin-tight scant clothing. You see the men brandishing weapons and intimating acts of violence. What would you think?

That is what America is sending out to the world, and our citizens. Even as Senator Obama proves each stereotype wrong. As Condoleezza Rice proves them wrong. As Colin Powell has proven them false.

This is Black History Month, and I have seen more on the exceptions of the norm, the aberrant few, than I have on actual history of the contributions of African Americans. Where are the Amber Alerts about our missing children? Where is the coverage of the Megan Williams case?

For every Scott Petersen there are 5 Bobby Cutts on major media. Yet it’s a proven documented fact that most murders are committed by White Americans. Most crimes are committed by White Americans. That most of the poor of this nation are White. But viewing the media on any given day you would never know that.

Perhaps I should not be so upset. But now into the over 30th minute of Bobby Cutts I am struck not by his guilt, but the fact that coverage of by the media is so minimalizing that the only other way to see African Americans in a positive light is as an entertainer like Beyonce Knowles or Kanye West. Not because they may be doing a positive action, like Don Cheadle and his efforts to end and open Americas eyes to 5 years of genocide in Darfur; but because they are discussing a new album or winning in a sporting competition. We are so much more than that.

This is 2008, Black History Month, and just a year ago the thought of a Black President was a joke – literally. The thought that Senator Obama could win a non-high density Black state like Idaho (where he received 80% of the vote) or Iowa was incomprehensible just 3 months ago. The fact that Whites would vote for a Black man was unnerving and irritating (to former-President Bill Clinton at least) just 30 days ago.

And according to the major media coverage this is not only all the quota of positive Black non-entertainment news they need, it needs to be countered with re-inforcing negative events in an uninterrupted manner. It’s now been 1 hour of watching Bobby Cutts, without a single commercial break or a comment by the news reporters.

Maybe I’m asking for too much, but I’d love to see the 3 remaining defendants and the 3 that have admitted guilt in the kidnapping, torture, rape and sexual abuse of Megan Williams on national television explaining what prompted them to commit these acts. I’d like to see the uninterrupted coverage of them on the stand trying to explain or excuse their actions. I’d like to see in depth analysis of why and what caused them to act like the brutal horrendous animals that they are.

But such an honest look at America seems impossible. The major news media seems to find displaying the few worst individuals of people of color as entertainment. I don’t agree. I never will.

The actions of Bobby Cutts last year is not Black history to me. It’s not entertaining. While it is news, it’s not deserving of over an hour and counting of non-stop ‘reporting’. The 12,000 that fled from their bombed homes on Friday in Darfur is. The missing Black children in America since the beginning of the year are. Coverage of the Wesley Snipes trial and Megan Williams would at least be fair.

Don’t let the Bobby Cutts case or other such news be the history you and our kids learn this Black History Month. The major media may be afraid to discuss the achievements that have been done, schools may be remiss in detailing these facts, but they are there and they are facts. Our history in America is far grander, and more important. If we only focus on these negatives that major media force feeds us, we will never attempt to attain better while we are capable of the best.

Grammy's versus Black History Month - 2.11.2008.1

Why is it that I have seen news on ‘Cookie’ Thornton for a day last week, and then a bit later news on C.J. Turner, but I have yet to hear that 3 of the 6 defendants responsible for the rape, torture and kidnapping of Megan Williams have admitted their guilt? Why is it that I have seen maybe half a dozen missing women reports since the beginning of the year yet none of them have been Black, Hispanic/Latino or Asian. Why is it that major news media followed every aspect of the OJ Simpson Las Vegas case for 2 weeks, but there was barely 5 minutes of coverage on Wesley Snipes being found innocent of Federal charges? [Look at the linlks on the bottom for posts on the above.]

I bet right now there is more news out about who won Grammy's, and what the celebrities and entertainers wore than on Megan Williams, Wesley Snipes, and every Black woman and child that went missing in this nation since the beginning of the year. At the very least you think you would see more about African Americans since this is Black History Month, yet that isn’t the case.

In fact, there is more news about the drugs Heath Ledger took to kill himself (accidental or not), or the coverage of the news about Kayne West and Amy Winehouse winning awards than there was about the 3 villages in Darfur that were bombed on Friday, and the tens of thousands of men, women, and children that are fleeing for their lives.

But what can the major media do? It’s only Black History Month. It’s only realistic and a small portion of it positive non-entertainment related news about African Americans and Blacks in the world. That’s not something important. And besides the quota of positive Black news was filled with the coverage of Senator Obama winning Primaries and Caucuses.

I would say I’m being obtuse and sarcastic, except I don’t see anything on the major media that refutes such a thought. Nothing. In fact I will make a bet with anyone willing to take it. I say there will be more coverage (in minutes of airtime and/or number of related stories) on the Grammy red carpet and what Beyonce, Bai Ling, Soulja Boy Tell'em, Carrie Underwood all wore, than about Megan Williams, Darfur, Wesley Snipes winning his trial, and every other positive news event other than Senator Barack Obama, combined. I’d also bet that the Grammy’s will garner more attention than Senator Obama’s wins this weekend. I won’t even bother comparing it to coverage celebrating the African Americans who made 1000’s of inventions that we use every day or those that have given up their lives so that Obama can be a Senator now.

I think this is the perfect month to ask, why are those White Americans that run the major media so terrified to present positive and real events involving African Americans? Why is it that the only real media focus is on Blacks as entertainers or criminals? Even in the one, shortest month of the year when attention of a positive nature is supposed to be the secondary, or even terciary focus.

The most I’ve noticed are more television commercials with Blacks in them. Like the one from Time Warner Cable. The one with a woman comedian (who looks White – but could be incredibly light skinned) who thanks Richard Pryor (without ever mentioning his name) for letting her be able to joke about events in her life on stage. While that may be a breakthrough, I think the things that Time Warner could promote about Richard Pryor beyond that can fill hours of television time. Yet that’s the best homage they could manage. Not his writing, his work to fight Muscular Dystrophy (MS) or other events.

In fact even in schools there is a failure to recognize African Americans and there contributions to America. There are tens of thousands of things that African Americans have done over centuries to improve lives in America, but don’t think the major media or schools will mention that. From early versions of gas masks that saved lives of miners and firemen 100 years ago, to the Tuskegee Airmen who saved hundreds of lives and helped win WWII, what has been done is barely ever scratched.

I know of schools that have yet to discuss African Americans, though they are discussing the world history. Kids of all races know a lot about the Holocaust, yet few know anything about the causes of the Civil War and where freeing slaves really fell as a priority. And if it were up to major media, not a single child would learn a thing more than Blacks play games well, can sing and shake their asses, and some can make funny movies. That’s the message out there.

The more I think about it the more I get upset and insulted.

If you have kids, nieces or nephews, take a moment and ask them about Black History. See if they can name more than 5 famous names (and what those people did). See if they can name anyone beyond Senator Obama, Dr. Martin Luther King [the DR. part is important – he had a doctorate and it should be included in his memory], Malcolm X, Dr. George Washington Carver, and Booker T. Washington (rappers, sports figures, and other entertainers of general achievement don’t count). Ask them if they know the real reason America had a Civil War (freeing slaves was an afterthought – tying up loose ends). Ask if they have ever heard of the Tuskegee Airmen, or Tuskegee College for that matter. And if you don’t know these things you can learn about it too.

Everyone in America has seen the positives of White America, the positive news of various selfless acts, and the fears that occur when a White child is missing. I just wish the major media could give a little bit of attention to those same things for African Americans, or any people of color, at least during the shortest month of the year.

Since America is set against apologizing for the slavery that built the foundations of this nation, and livid at the mention of reparations fro that slavery, the Jim Crow laws and segregation that followed, a bit of positive images are the least that can be done.

Quick message from Michael Vass - 2.6.2008.1

I'm a little behind on the latest news here, particularly the way that the media has been treating recent events like the Sean Bell trial, coverage of the Wesley Snipes victory, comments by Snoop Dogg and 50 cent about their Presidential candidate picks and a few other items. Please bear with me.

The win by the Giants, which was sweet and should have been expected since historically Giants always have a good defense, resulted in a bit of a hangover that I'm sure many fans shared.

Add to that the launch of my I Love America That's Why I Vote! campaign, which you can find out more about by clicking the hyperlink above or visiting VASS and it was a busy start to the week.

Then all the activity from Super Tuesday (results of which, and my thoughts, can be seen at the aforementioned VASS) and you can imagine the backlog.

But never fear, I'm working hard and for your continued readership. In the meantime, if you would like to join the support for the That's Why I Vote! let me know, or visit my online store and see the dedicated clothing line showing your pride and Constitutional Right to vote, and/or you can make a donation to help me continue my efforts.

No matter what, thank you for visiting the site.

Vote! Your voice matters!

Wesley Snipes is innocent! - 2.1.2008.1

Wesley Snipes is innocent! That is what the headlines in the news should say, but I bet you will find few that will follow my lead.

After a year of spotty reporting by the major news media, and highly questionable charges, in my opinion, a jury has found Wesley Snipes innocent of fraud, conspiracy and three other counts of not filing a tax return. The 2 felony charges were the big issues that the government, as well as the few pundits and news organizations that discussed this case, were focused on. And Wesley Snipes won, without calling a single witness and a single day of defense.

Mr. Snipes was found guilty of 3 counts of not filing a tax return. Those were misdemeanor counts. He was up for 16 years in prison, that pundits were sure he would be convicted for, and based on the misdemeanors he will almost assuredly spend no time in prison.

This is one of the few cases against a famous African American that I agree with the decision. From the first sudden declaration of a warrant for Mr. Snipes I have consistently stated I thought this was a made up case. I have repeatedly brought up issues that not a single pundit I am aware of would speak about. And I am one of the few that kept up with the case while the major news dropped the case the second they lost the chance to sensationalize the negative aspects.

I’m happy the jury saw the truth of the matter. And I have to believe that it is the obvious truth. Because while major news media and pundits won’t say it, when a jury watches a defendant, that is African Americans thus meaning already walking in guilty, call no witnesses and end their defense in one day and then still finds them innocent of the real charges of the case – the innocence is apparent to the blind.

Let the media claim that Wesley Snipes is guilty, let them try to proclaim he was wrong. The fact is that from day one this case was questionable and wrong-minded. And Wesley Snipes is innocent.

**Just click on the Wesley Snipes label below to see all the posts I’m made on this case for the history of it.**