By Gary Goldfarb

May 20, 2010/ PHILADELPHIA – With all the recent news of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 law, a Mexican being beaten and the Mexican president calling the law ‘racist’, does this mean that Mexicans are of a certain race?

Last I checked, Mexico is a country. Let’s switch countries around to see: So, if a Mexican police officer said, “I’m going to beat the f***ing American piss out of you, Homey! You feel me?” to an American, would that be racist?
Mexico and the United States were invaded and conquered by the Spaniards [Europeans]- remember, the conquistadors? The Spaniards beat the natives in what is now Mexico. The other Europeans [English] ‘invaded’ and beat the Spanish-Europeans and the United States is now what it is. (See below video):

Now we have the Mexican president, Calderon (which is a Spanish [European] surname), saying that the Arizona 1070 law is ‘racist’.
Once again, switch countries around to let’s say, Canada, which was also conquered by Europeans [French]. Would it be ‘racist’? No, that’s because Canada is just another country. (See video below):

Now, the United States’ people are made-up of mostly European decent, with Blacks making-up 13%. What part of Mexico is European?
In our minds, we have been trained to think of Mexicans as ‘Latinos’ – who came-up with this?
The Latin world, as we know it, is basically every single country south of the U.S. including many Caribbean, but not all, countries. Some Caribbean countries are almost all elusively Black. Are there any Blacks in Mexico? I haven’t seen any, minus tourists. At one point in time, c. 1570, Blacks outnumbered Spaniards 3:1 Brazil has many Blacks but not Mexico. Whatever happened to the Black Mexicans?

Reciprocating, if we call most countries’ people south of the U.S., ‘Latinos’ – what do the Latinos call the northern countries’ peoples?
It’s time we all recognize our true history.
And don’t forget, on these continents, both North and South, we are all Americans.

-Gary Goldfarb ©
Diverse News

Statewide Celebrity tour urges Black community to get tested for HIV

CINCINNATI, April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — This week, the Buckeye state will become Black Hollywood East, as movie and TV stars flock to participate in the Test 1 Million Ohio Celebrity Tour.

From April 21 to April 24, 2010, celebrities Danny Glover (“Death at a Funeral”), Rockmond Dunbar (“The Family that Preys”), Lamman Rucker (“Why Did I Get Married Too?”), and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Tony Award nominee) will visit Dayton, Oxford, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus to fight AIDS stigma, raise awareness about the magnitude of HIV/AIDS in Black communities, and encourage people to get tested for HIV.

“There has never been an effort to mobilize the Black community in Ohio like this,” says Mamie Harris, CEO and founder of IV Charis (www.4charis.com), a Cincinnati- and Northern Kentucky-based AIDS-service organization and the event co-sponsor. Other tour supporters include the Ohio Minority Health Commission, Orasure Technologies and a statewide coalition of 27 organizations. “We hope that combining the efforts of local organizations, including colleges and universities, churches, elected officials and health departments, with a mobile ‘billboard’ featuring Hollywood celebrities will get people’s attention,” says Harris.

“We are fortunate to have all these talented performers participating,” Read More »

PITTSBURGH, April 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pittsburgh’s largest attended Jewish community event of the year takes place Tuesday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 21, with festive and family-oriented celebrations of Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Organized by the United Jewish Federation and co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, the celebration will be held Tuesday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the JCC, Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill and Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the JCC , 345 Kane Boulevard, Scott Township.

The events will feature family activities including music, Israeli dancing, crafts, petting zoo, exhibits and a variety of artisan and food vendors at an Israeli market (shuk). Not all activities are available in both locations – for more details and a complete schedule of Yom Ha’atzmaut activities, please visit www.UJFpittsburgh.org.

Public Forum Also to Activate Black Participation in 2010 Census

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Some noted Black leaders recently have suggested publicly that President Obama does not need to focus on Black issues. In response to mounting evidence showing African Americans are disproportionately lagging behind on all economic indicators despite assertions of a so-called “post-racial” era, Tavis Smiley said Tuesday he will moderate a national conversation examining whether in fact there needs to be a Black agenda and the accountability of leadership to address issues facing Black Americans.

The nationally-televised forum, We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda, will be held from 8 am – noon Saturday, March 20 at Chicago State University’s Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center, 9501 South King Dr., Chicago, IL. The event is free and open to the public on first-come, first-served basis. Advanced registration is available at www.tavistalks.com.

“From the Carolinas to California millions of Americans are in crisis as a direct result of the recession in historic proportions. Given the joblessness rate compounded by the lack of access to healthcare and the collapse of the housing market, the statistics continue to show that Black Americans in particular are getting crushed,” Smiley said.

“I think the time has come to have an earnest dialogue between Black leaders and Black people about easing the suffering of disaffected communities. A Black agenda is America’s agenda in that what affects the least of us, affects all of us.”

Invited panelists include noted scholar Cornel West, professor and author Michael Eric Dyson, Jesse Jackson, Sr., Marc Morial, National Urban League, and Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the president for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. Others include Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink; Tom Burrell, author of BRAINWASHED; U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Ben Jealous, NAACP President; Al Sharpton, Dorothy Height, and Louis Farrakhan.

The conversation will also raise awareness about participation among Black citizens in the 2010 Census. The forms, which will be mailed in March, are due on April 1. The data collected by the Census helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Your Census form is your chance to be heard about how nearly $450 billion will be spent in your community for schools, job training, health care centers, etc. It’s too important to bypass the opportunity to be counted,” Smiley said.

Experience Authentic Native American Culture in Scottsdale

Eighth Season of Free Native American Performances Exhibits Arizona’s Diversity

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Take an unforgettable journey through the vivid First Nations of Arizona and North America with the eighth season of Native Trails, presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau invites travelers to the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall in downtown to experience the series of free Native American festivals taking place most Thursdays and Saturdays from Jan. 21 – April 10, 2010.

“Native Trails allows us to share our art of music and movement with Scottsdale visitors,” said Derrick Suwaima Davis, artistic director for Native Trails and four-time world-champion hoop dancer. “Our performances showcase the common threads among cultures and we provide an opportunity for visitors to make an emotional connection with our performances and our tribal ancestry.”

Participating tribes including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Hopi, Yavapai, Apache and Dine (Navajo) inspire attendees with their memorable musical performances and traditional dances. Performers present their history, pottery, textiles and more to introduce attendees to the diverse lifestyles of the tribes. Musical performances incorporate traditional instruments such as flutes, gourds and drums and dances range from Navajo dancing to the three artist hoop dance, a high energy performance with synchronized movements and cameo routines. This year, new cast members will join returning artists and the performers will present all-new choreography and songs as well as favorite dances that are set to new music. Royalty from different Arizona Nations also will participate on weekends. Performances take place from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Native Trails performances began in January 2003 as part of the City of Scottsdale’s cultural tourism initiative, Culture Quest Scottsdale. The opportunity to experience Native American culture was the highest-rated arts and cultural desire revealed by the City’s study of Scottsdale tourists, which is why the program was created. Last season (January – April 2009) had an average attendance of 278 with more than 5,000 people total in attendance.

For more information on Native Trails (including black-out dates), visit www.ScottsdaleNativeTrails.com or contact the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (480) 421-1004 or toll-free at (800) 782-1117.

Editor’s Note: Native Trails images are available for print upon request.

American Jewish World Service Creates Fund to Promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Uganda

NEW YORK, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In response to egregious human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Uganda, American Jewish World Service (AJWS) has established the URGENT LGBT UGANDA FUND.The fund will support Ugandan grassroots organizations working to defend the rights of sexual minorities and to defeat a dangerous piece of proposed legislation — “The Anti-Homosexuality Bill.”

The bill seeks to broaden the criminalization of homosexuality and penalize supporters and funders of LGBT programs and rights. The passage of this bill would severely impede human rights and development groups’ efforts to ensure the safety and security of the Ugandan LGBT community. It would also make it extremely difficult for groups to implement effective prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Moreover, the bill violates the freedom of every person to live a safe and dignified life — a core value that unifies all of AJWS’s work and is central to the Jewish experience.

“AJWS’s work is propelled by a very basic value: the essential dignity of every human being,” AJWS president Ruth Messinger said. “In the spirit of b’tselem elohim — the understanding that each person is made in the divine image — we recognize that every human life is of equal value.

“We are especially reminded of this in supporting the work of LGBT communities around the globe.” Read More »

PHILADELPHIA, PA / DECEMBER 31, 2009 / DIVERSE NEWS- A.D. or Anno Domini, means, In the Year of Our Lord, I know, you may have thought it meant, After Death. But yes, this is what it is. Many countries, including Moscow and dozens of other countries around the world are already celebrating 2010, which is based on the birth of Jesus Christ.

No matter if people know Him as the Lord or a Prophet, this is what the calendar we use and almost every other country – including Islamic countries – uses to record time.

So, help bring in the New Year with tidings of peace and joy and remember what these years are based on.

Happy New Year!

-JT

By Josh Truman

PHILADELPHIA, PA / DECEMBER 12, 2009 / DIVERSE NEWS — With the exterior having an almost White House look next to its twin, the Free Library, Philly’s family court, along with its terrazzo flooring and marble accents, gives you the ‘feeling’ of a place of honor. But it has its politics like every place else.
But sure, there are some good stories that come out of here and you will hear about it in the news when it does -like every 3 years or so- and it always gets good press with almost masonic mystique.

What doesn’t get good press is the horror stories. Of course, to protect family confidentiality laws, only initials can be given.

Last week, in one of many cases over the past 14 years, M.S. (a Disabled American Veteran) was once again denied custody of his child. This after very disturbing incidents claimed by the child (you can guess) from one of the mother’s boyfriends. Yet, the court is making a path for the mother, after rehab (‘parenting classes’), to gain custody – but not the Muslim father, just supervised visitation. The father had never been part of that type of abuse but the court and its Semitic judges, who just ‘happened’ to be assigned to all of M.S.’s custody cases, have found ways and means to deny him custody. M.S. had called many lawyers over the years about this discrimination but it kept coming. Read More »

By Tiger Woods

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period. – tigerwoods.com
———————————–
Funny how the mainstream media is carrying this charade on. I mean, most sports figures have several sexual partners. Why should Tiger be any different?
Look at it this way: Saying that infidelity (that would be his sexual-orientation) is bad, according to the media – isn’t that discrimination-having more than one sex partner?

If we are talking about morals here, that would be religious as well. So they are singling Tiger out because of his religious beliefs.
I don’t know who Tiger pissed-off, but this sudden moral empathy in the media was caused by someone who had it in for him.
-Josh Truman