That is the title of my latest Black Agenda Report column. The back and forth about what Donald Trump said to Sgt. La David Johnson's widow should not be the central issue. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus have an opportunity to raise the issue of U.S. imperialism directed against African countries. But as I have pointed out they are among the worst democratic party hacks. We'll get no useful information or leadership from them.
Read my column here and listen to my conversation with Don DeBar here.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Conference on U.S. Foreign Military Buses
The Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases will hold a conference in Baltimore, Maryland January 12 - 14, 2018. You can see registration and other event information here. I'll have more to say as the event approaches. And I will be among the speakers.
Russiagate Brings Black Caucus to a New Low
I haven't been on Don Debar's CPR News program for a few months. Today I was back to talk about my latest Black Agenda Report column, Russiagate Brings Black Caucus to a New Low. While you're reading BAR also check out Glen Ford's column House (of Representatives) Negroes Rally Against Russia. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) deserves a double beat down this week. They are a great danger to black people.
Listen to my conversation with Don here.
Listen to my conversation with Don here.
Sunday, October 08, 2017
Resist War and Racism Rally in New York City
Yesterday I joined this rally in New York City along with one hundred other people. It was one of many that took place across the country to protest the 16th year of the American occupation of Afghanistan. I represented both Black Agenda Report and the Black Alliance for Peace as I made my remarks. I start at about 37 minutes into the program.
You'll notice that there is footage from the Korean parade interspersed. Their event was ending as ours began. Enjoy that slice of New York City life too.
Saturday, October 07, 2017
Margaret Kimberley on White Supremacy, the Duopoly, BLM, US Imperialism
I had a great time discussing a wide range of issues with Trish Roberts on her show The Naked Empire. Thanks to Real Progressives for the Facebook Live access.
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Presstv Interview
I appeared on Presstv to discuss the March for Racial Justice which was held in Washington DC. Unfortunately my remarks were edited, a lot. I only spoke for about 3 minutes and they only used a snippet. Oh well.
There was controversy about the march taking place on Yom Kippur but organizers chose the date of September 30 for a very good reason. On September 30, 1919 a massacre of black farmers took place in Elaine, Arkansas. An estimated 100 to 200 people were killed after they attempted to protest against the sharecropper system by forming a union.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Black Agenda Report needs your support.
Do you love what we do at Black Agenda Report? Of course you do. Put something in the tip jar. Donate button is on the upper right hand corner of every page. Thanks everyone.
Interview on This Is Happening on KPFK
I enjoyed appearing on KPFK's This is Happening with host Jerry Quickley. I start at about 6 minutes 35 seconds.
Black Agenda Radio
Did you listen to Black Agenda Radio this week? Don't miss out. Hear what Glen Ford, Nellie Bailey, Omali Yeshitela, Ajamu Baraka, Takiyah Thompson and yours truly have to say.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Guest on Freedom is a Constant Struggle
I had a blast talking to Kiilu Nyasha about a variety of topics, most of which were subjects in my recent columns.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Trump and America are White Supremacist
Glen Ford and I discussed my most recent Black Agenda Report column Trump and America are White Supremacist.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
What's Wrong with Julian Assange?
I always had a great deal of respect for Julian Assange. His work at Wikileaks exposes what powerful forces want to keep hidden and that makes it inherently valuable to the world.
He always said he would face rape charges in Sweden if that government would promise not to turn him over to the United States. Even after those charges were dropped the U.K. and the U.S. are still intent on punishing him and his lock down in the Ecuadorean embassy in London continues. This is a great injustice to Assange and a warning to anyone who intends to expose criminal wrong doing committed by states around the world.
But lately Assange has made some highly questionable statements. Perhaps the imprisonment has taken its toll or maybe revealed what was already there. Perhaps he always was a misogynistic racist who parrots white supremacist talking points.
These are just two recent tweets from Assange. In the first he sounds like an old school fascist. White women must eschew feminism, go to church and make babies in order to keep the migration of brown people at bay. Oh yes, and white leaders must make babies too. Cuz brown people.
As if this wasn't vile enough Assange chose to wade into the murky waters of American history.
He always said he would face rape charges in Sweden if that government would promise not to turn him over to the United States. Even after those charges were dropped the U.K. and the U.S. are still intent on punishing him and his lock down in the Ecuadorean embassy in London continues. This is a great injustice to Assange and a warning to anyone who intends to expose criminal wrong doing committed by states around the world.
But lately Assange has made some highly questionable statements. Perhaps the imprisonment has taken its toll or maybe revealed what was already there. Perhaps he always was a misogynistic racist who parrots white supremacist talking points.
These are just two recent tweets from Assange. In the first he sounds like an old school fascist. White women must eschew feminism, go to church and make babies in order to keep the migration of brown people at bay. Oh yes, and white leaders must make babies too. Cuz brown people.
As if this wasn't vile enough Assange chose to wade into the murky waters of American history.
Warfare was the only way to end slavery in this country. The confederacy struck first at Fort Sumter. They actually began seceding immediately after Lincoln was elected. Lincoln was not anti-slavery and his dream was to send black people out of the country. But the south gambled on war because even Lincoln's limited goal of stopping the spread of slavery was too much for them. They refused any offer to be compensated for their enslaved property. They refused to accept keeping slavery where it already existed. So yes, the military defeat of the confederacy was the only way to end slavery.
I'm always suspicious of white people who make this argument. Not only is their understanding of history suspect, but they are also admitting that they don't think slavery was such a bad thing.
I know black people who never trust white people of any political stripe. Assange certainly makes the case for that point of view.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Presstv Interview on Police Brutality in America
In my latest Presstv interview I discussed protests against
police brutality in St. Louis and throughout the country.
police brutality in St. Louis and throughout the country.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Nazi Punched in Seattle
In general I have ignored the questions about punching Nazis. But if you are walking around with a Nazi armband a beat down is well deserved. I have seen many stories about this incident which took place in Seattle. The Root has the best and funniest report.Unfortunately the video is no longer available but the photo is worth 1,000 words.
Thank you Seattle!
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Presstv Interview on DACA
I appeared on Presstv last night to discuss the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Saturday, September 09, 2017
Because Assad is Winning
My column in this week's Black Agenda Report is entitled "Assad is Winning." The recent Syrian Arab Army victory in Deir Ezzor was just the latest indicator that the United States backed jihadists are on the run and that is very good news indeed. The people of Deir Ezzor certainly think so as they celebrate their government's victory.
Why are there suddenly stories about rapes committed in Syrian jails? Because Assad is winning. Why does the United Nations say that the Syrian government committed chemical weapons attacks? Because Assad is winning. And why does the Intercept suddenly claim that president Assad is beloved by American white nationalists? Because Assad is winning.
The story of sexual assault bears further inspection. It strikes me as being similar to tales of Iraqi soldiers tossing Kuwaiti babies out of incubators or Gaddafi giving his soldiers viagra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one man living in the U.K., is a part of this story as are others among the usual suspects supportive of U.S. backed regime change.
As for the Intercept, the story is is particularly disappointing. Essentially a couple of American crackers said they like Assad and presto! We have proof that the Syrian government is a hotbed of redneckdom. Moon of Alabama discusses mistranslation of an Assad speech which is used to bolster an anti-Syrian screed.
It is quite shameful that even those allegedly on the left support American imperialism. The regime change plot failed but the U.S. won't give up easily. So sad that there are willing helpers to a crime committed against an entire nation. But don't be surprised. This sorry spectacle won't end anytime soon.
Why are there suddenly stories about rapes committed in Syrian jails? Because Assad is winning. Why does the United Nations say that the Syrian government committed chemical weapons attacks? Because Assad is winning. And why does the Intercept suddenly claim that president Assad is beloved by American white nationalists? Because Assad is winning.
The story of sexual assault bears further inspection. It strikes me as being similar to tales of Iraqi soldiers tossing Kuwaiti babies out of incubators or Gaddafi giving his soldiers viagra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one man living in the U.K., is a part of this story as are others among the usual suspects supportive of U.S. backed regime change.
As for the Intercept, the story is is particularly disappointing. Essentially a couple of American crackers said they like Assad and presto! We have proof that the Syrian government is a hotbed of redneckdom. Moon of Alabama discusses mistranslation of an Assad speech which is used to bolster an anti-Syrian screed.
It is quite shameful that even those allegedly on the left support American imperialism. The regime change plot failed but the U.S. won't give up easily. So sad that there are willing helpers to a crime committed against an entire nation. But don't be surprised. This sorry spectacle won't end anytime soon.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Solidarity & Fightback Toronto Conference Communique
You can read the full report on the Solidarity & Fightback: Building Resistance to U.S.-Led War, Militarism and Neo Fascism conference here. More photos, videos and the Call to Action.
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
Solidarity and Fightback: Building Resistance to U.S. Led War, Militarism and Neo-Fascism
A travel delay prevented me from speaking on one of the Saturday morning panels, The Many Faces of War Militarism and Neo-Fascism. My remarks addressed the plight of people of color in the United States and made the case that there is nothing "neo" about American fascism and that Donald Trump is no aberration. He provides more continuity than most people want to admit. I'm the first speaker on the video below but please listen to the rest of the panelists too. They were kind enough to make room for me on their panel Geography of Struggle - Wars of Aggression and Peoples' Struggles. They discussed Egypt, the Korean peninsula, Palestine, Europe, the state of the U.S. anti-war movement and the local struggle in Toronto. Enjoy and learn.
I was also a participant in the workshop, The Role of the Media in Movement-Building. I'll post video when it is available.
The conference brought people together from all over the world who are struggling and working on a wide variety of issues. You can see posts, photos and video on the event Facebook page here. All the information is well worth your time.
The capitalists and imperialists want us to be isolated and to feel alone. That is why it is so vital to join with comrades and friends from around the world. We experience our power every time we work together in this way.
Long live international solidarity!
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Kurt Eichenwald's White Privilege
"A New York Times reporter [Kurt Eichenwald] not only gave money to a child pornographer, but did business with him and even signed on to an illegal porn website as a member and administrator, documents unsealed yesterday in a federal criminal proceeding in Nashville reveal. He claims in one court document, he only 'posed' as a pedophile." Counterpunch 2007
Just when I begin to think that my web surfing and social media usage are time sucking addictions, I sometimes find out something very useful from these activities. Hence the addiction. Bear with me as I weave a tale of privilege and how white people can get away with doing terrible things without risk to their lives or careers.
First, let's observe how black people are treated when they do things they should not. Janet Cooke was a Washington Post reporter who fabricated a story about a child drug addict in 1981. Unfortunately for Cooke, the story won a Pulitzer prize. She was fired and never worked as a journalist again. Jayson Blair was a New York Times reporter. He fabricated stories and was fired in 2003. He has not worked as a journalist since that time. As I said, Cooke and Blair are both black.
Kurt Eichenwald was a New York Times reporter. In 2007 it was discovered that he administered a child porn website and paid an 18-year old who appeared on that site $2,000. Debbie Nathan reported the story in Counterpunch 2007. But others like New York Magazine excused Eichenwald and repeated his claim of wanting to save a child from the porn industry.
Eichenwald was forced to leave the Times but he went on to Newsweek and to Vanity Fair. He has also been a contributor to MSNBC. The child sex scandal was a bump in an otherwise successful career.
In 2016 Eichenwald libeled Bill Moran, then a reporter at Sputnik News. Moran was reporting on the DNC email hack and mistakenly attributed an Eichenwald quote to Clinton ally Sidney Blumenthal. He realized his mistake within 20 minutes and deleted his post. But in the fast world of the internet it was still too late. Donald Trump quoted the incorrect information at a rally that very day. Eichenwald and Newsweek claimed that Moran's error proved a link between Trump and the Kremlin. Eichenwald retweeted what Moran himself admitted was a mistake more than 37 times. Newsweek and Eichenwald continued to use Moran's mistake as proof of a Trump/Kremlin connection even though they knew the story was reported as false almost immediately.
Moran lost his job at Sputnik. In a series of emails Eichenwald threatened Moran if he went public but sweetened the deal with an offer to help him find another gig. As I said, the child sex scandal didn't hurt Eichenwald. He still had connections to offer up.
Unfortunately for Eichenwald, Moran is also an attorney. He represented himself in court and succeeded in getting a settlement from Newsweek.
I also discovered that Eichenwald's porn interest continues. He took a photo of his computer which showed he had accessed something called tentacle porn. I have no idea what that is. I don't want to know. Don't tell me what it is. It isn't my business but Eichenwald revealed it himself and then used his wife and kids as his excuse. For real.
So what does any of this have to do with white privilege? I started out by saying that Cooke and Blair never worked again. Ever. Eichenwald administered a child porn site and kept working as a journalist. Newsweek knew he lied in libeling another journalist and assisted him in telling what they all knew to be a lie.
It appears that Eichenwald is no longer at Newsweek. He doesn't mention it on his twitter profile. He still lists himself as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair however.
So I'll just cut to the chase. White people can get away with a lot and never pay a price. Eichenwald has apparently departed Newsweek but I'm guessing he didn't leave empty handed.
Eichenwald had powerful defenders and friends who helped him keep working whether he paid for child porn or libeled a fellow journalist. Cooke and Blair can't get arrested all these years after their mistakes.
And that my friends is what white privilege is all about.
Just when I begin to think that my web surfing and social media usage are time sucking addictions, I sometimes find out something very useful from these activities. Hence the addiction. Bear with me as I weave a tale of privilege and how white people can get away with doing terrible things without risk to their lives or careers.
First, let's observe how black people are treated when they do things they should not. Janet Cooke was a Washington Post reporter who fabricated a story about a child drug addict in 1981. Unfortunately for Cooke, the story won a Pulitzer prize. She was fired and never worked as a journalist again. Jayson Blair was a New York Times reporter. He fabricated stories and was fired in 2003. He has not worked as a journalist since that time. As I said, Cooke and Blair are both black.
Kurt Eichenwald was a New York Times reporter. In 2007 it was discovered that he administered a child porn website and paid an 18-year old who appeared on that site $2,000. Debbie Nathan reported the story in Counterpunch 2007. But others like New York Magazine excused Eichenwald and repeated his claim of wanting to save a child from the porn industry.
Eichenwald was forced to leave the Times but he went on to Newsweek and to Vanity Fair. He has also been a contributor to MSNBC. The child sex scandal was a bump in an otherwise successful career.
In 2016 Eichenwald libeled Bill Moran, then a reporter at Sputnik News. Moran was reporting on the DNC email hack and mistakenly attributed an Eichenwald quote to Clinton ally Sidney Blumenthal. He realized his mistake within 20 minutes and deleted his post. But in the fast world of the internet it was still too late. Donald Trump quoted the incorrect information at a rally that very day. Eichenwald and Newsweek claimed that Moran's error proved a link between Trump and the Kremlin. Eichenwald retweeted what Moran himself admitted was a mistake more than 37 times. Newsweek and Eichenwald continued to use Moran's mistake as proof of a Trump/Kremlin connection even though they knew the story was reported as false almost immediately.
Moran lost his job at Sputnik. In a series of emails Eichenwald threatened Moran if he went public but sweetened the deal with an offer to help him find another gig. As I said, the child sex scandal didn't hurt Eichenwald. He still had connections to offer up.
Unfortunately for Eichenwald, Moran is also an attorney. He represented himself in court and succeeded in getting a settlement from Newsweek.
I also discovered that Eichenwald's porn interest continues. He took a photo of his computer which showed he had accessed something called tentacle porn. I have no idea what that is. I don't want to know. Don't tell me what it is. It isn't my business but Eichenwald revealed it himself and then used his wife and kids as his excuse. For real.
So what does any of this have to do with white privilege? I started out by saying that Cooke and Blair never worked again. Ever. Eichenwald administered a child porn site and kept working as a journalist. Newsweek knew he lied in libeling another journalist and assisted him in telling what they all knew to be a lie.
It appears that Eichenwald is no longer at Newsweek. He doesn't mention it on his twitter profile. He still lists himself as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair however.
So I'll just cut to the chase. White people can get away with a lot and never pay a price. Eichenwald has apparently departed Newsweek but I'm guessing he didn't leave empty handed.
Eichenwald had powerful defenders and friends who helped him keep working whether he paid for child porn or libeled a fellow journalist. Cooke and Blair can't get arrested all these years after their mistakes.
And that my friends is what white privilege is all about.
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