“Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine as long as it’s contained.” -President Snow (The Hunger Games)
The Neighborhood Next To Silicon Valley They Don’t Tell You About
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
17•16
Frederick Douglass’s Advice To Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
17•16
Frederick Douglass was reportedly a distant relative of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first physician to perform open-heart surgery. Frederick Douglass gave Dr. Williams the following profound advice: “The only way you can succeed is to override the obstacles in your path; by the power that is within you to do what you hope to do!”
Black History Fact Of The Day
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
17•16
“The federal census of 1850 reported 13,815 blacks in Manhattan; five years later, the New York State census recorded fewer than 12,000 African Americans in the city. The federal Fugitive Slave Law likely inspired hundreds of the city’s African American residents to leave for safety elsewhere.” -From, “Slavery In New York”
TODAY IS BUY BLACK FRIDAY
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
17•16
PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:
The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.
The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.
As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.
The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.
The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”
BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:
Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].
To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.
ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.
I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.
-Elsie Law AKA Starface
Quote Of The Day
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
17•16
“The one thing you can’t have if you’re going to get justice: Confusion.” -Neely Fuller Jr.
Black History Fact Of The Day
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
16•16
Prolific inventor Richard spikes invented automobile directional signals. He also invented the multi-barrel machine gun, and the beer keg tap- which was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewing Company.
Quote Of The Day
Written By: Elsie Law
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Jun•
16•16
“An intelligence organization that fears intelligence; historically, not awesome.” -Iron Man
Quote Of The Day
Written By: Elsie Law
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May•
30•16
“The system of racism/white supremacy pays the highest amount of money to those willing to demean and degrde themselves.”- Dr. Frances cress Welsing
