• 24th January
    2012
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  • 23rd January
    2012
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  • 23rd January
    2012
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  • 23rd January
    2012
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  • 23rd January
    2012
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Today I celebrate 9 Years of being in NYC… And one thing is for sure this city has definitely made it so much more real for me that THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO… THANK U NYC… And Thank U to everyone who has contributed to my growth, fun, love, good times, laughs and overall experience here.. My extended family, comrades, loved ones and beyond… I LOVE YOU!

  • 23rd January
    2012
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Fraternal Order of Police Ask Philadelphia Mayor to Retract Sonia Sanchez’s Poet Laureate Status Because Of Her Support of Assata

MICHAEL G. LUTZ LODGE # 5 PHILADELPHIA
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
1336 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia PA 19123-3213
215-629-3600 John J. McNesby, President

website: www.fop5.org
 215-629-5736 (fax) Robert B. Ballentine, Recording Secretary

HONORABLE MICHAEL A. NUTTER MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA 215 CITY HALL PHILADELPHIA PA 19107

Dear Mayor Nutter:

JANUARY 9, 2012

I have read with disbelief and disdain of your appointment of Sonia Sanchez as the Philadelphia Poet Laureate. The reasoning behind my concern of this appointment is that I find it difficult to comprehend how both you and the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper can give such glowing accolades to someone who has such a radical background that includes her affiliation with a convicted Cop killer.
In 1973, Joanne Chesimard, a/kJa Assanta Shukur, was arrested after a gun battle with two New Jersey State Troopers on the New Jersey Turnpike. Joanne Chesimard was wounded during the confrontation, as was one of her accomplices. Another accomplice was killed. Chesimard was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster.
In 1979, Chesimard, with the assistance by members of the Black Liberation Army, escaped from prison and became a fugitive and sought by the Jersey State Police and the FBI. As of today, Joanne Chesimard remains a fugitive from justice.

The Philadelphia FBI Fugitive Squad was given the task of locating Chesimard. During their investigation, a determination was made and verified that Chesimard was given asylum in Cuba by Fidel Castro. It is believed that Joanne Chesimard, a/kJa Assanta Shukur, remains in Cuba today.

In the early 1980’s, a book surfaced which was entitled ”Assata Speaks.” The foreword to this book was written by Sonia Sanchez. Ms. Sanchez in her ”foreword,” is said to have nothing but adoring praise for convicted Cop killer Joanne Chesimard. Sanchez even went so far as to urge Chesimard to continue with her ”struggle.”


Ms. Sanchez was residing in Philadelphia when the FBI Fugitive Task Force attempted to interview her regarding her relationship and also the whereabouts of Chesimard. Unfortunately, Ms. Sanchez refused to cooperate in any way regarding questions having to do with Joanne Chesimard.
I do not know whether or not you were aware of Ms. Sanchez’s past. However, you are now; and, with that in mind, I respectfully request your re-evaluation of your present position and appoint a more honorable, respected, and qualified person to the position of Philadelphia Poet Laureate.

Respectfully yours,

JOHN J. McNESBY, President Philadelphia Lodge #5 Fraternal Order of Police

  • 22nd January
    2012
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Okay You know I’m old song for loving this, loving this & having all type of sentimental attachments to it. YES the Spinners version of course (vs the R. Kelly remake). Perfect Sunday Afternoon Soul Song.

In a world like today its rare to see mothers like the ones when I grew up… Ain’t that the truth…

  • 20th January
    2012
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Questions Bridge Exhibit Now Showing at Brooklyn Museum.

The exhibit will also travel to the Oakland Museum of California (Jan 21 - July 8), the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (Jan 20- May 19), at Atlanta’s Chastain Art Gallery (Jan 27 - March 17) and the Sundance Film Festival (Jan 19 - 29th).

Read Huffington Post Interview with the project collaborators

More on Question Bridge Project which includes the exhibition, community outreach and a curriculum being piloted in NYC & Oakland.

(Source: yearoftheblacksmith.com)

  • 20th January
    2012
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  • 19th January
    2012
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Banned Books: Protecting Our Society or Infringing on Freedom of Speech?

iareconscious:

Challenging or banning books is a practice as old as the history of writing books. Throughout time, governments, religious organizations, and other groups ban books determined as controversial or against societal norms. In the beginning, burning books was an effective means of destroying the controversial material because of limited printing. With larger publishing capability and the Internet’s vast reach, burning books is a little less effective, but it is still done.