Tension in the air?

Interesting article on Boston's racial diversity from the Boston Globe. My thoughts? Boston isn't much different from any other big city. You're going to have mixed neighborhoods and you're going to have have neighborhoods with all black people, all white people, all asian people, all spanish people, etc. It doesn't necessarily mean there is racial tension. I feel no tension at all for the most part. And if I ever do chance upon an incident of racial tension, I dmn sure won't just sit there quietly. Issues are get resolved once they get addressed. If that restaurant ain't acting right; make them act right.

And for some reason, I just cannot stand phrases like this:

The 2000 Census declared Boston to be a city where a majority of residents are minorities

An oxymoron at work? It just sounds stupid to me. At least say something like a majority of residents are people of color or something a littleemore sensible. Geesh.

The Celtics took an L last night to the NJ Nets and let them slip past Cleveland for the final spot in the playoffs. Whoever fired Paul Silas is the real person who should be blamed. Point blank. So here are some requests...can we stop 1) firing Black coaches, 2) referring to current ballplayers as the hip-hop generation, and 3) exonerating catholic priests. Please, do it for th sanity of humanity.

80 degrees is not a heatwave...

but I'm sure people are scantily clad all across the state. It's nice out, nonetheless. Tomorrow is Imagine a Technology Blackout Day for schools across the country. I cannot participate because most of my work is computer-based. Go figure. I defienitly feel the premise of the effort though. And last week was ESTEME Week. Next year, I hope to be much more involved in both of these programs as opposed to the random bystander that I am right now.

In other news, this cat ins Providence was being questioned about a murder and apparently killed a cop, supposedly jumped out a window, and when he appeared in court for his hearing, his face was covered. Apparently, he either took a hard fall (cop's story) or he caught a serious mash out (most likely) from the boys in blue. My crew was discussing it over email. Here are a few of their thoughts....

Estaban might not make it through the week

He killed a cop for no reason, in the police station at that...
Its not like he wounded the detective, that's a dead man walking. Hay its an unfortunate incident, two lives are now lost. I bet you the bill which will be passed in RI making the death penalty legal will be called the Esteban Carpio act because he's going to jail, it's about the be the fastest trial ever. I'm not buying that Insanity Plea...

By no means am I going to justify what he did but there are certains things you must take into consideration. Isn't there suppose to be an officer watching the interrogation while its in progress from another room? How was a man in custody able to disarm a veteran detecive and shot him? There are allot of unanswered questions that need to be address! Ok, he killed a police officer and he's going to catch an beat down but wouln't you think RI police are smart enough to take shots at his body so his bruises won't be visiable when he goes before a courtroom. This man is never going to see daylight again but his family will win a police brutality suit against the stae of RI.

Excuse me if I'm mistaken but I thought the duties of police officer were to "protect and serve" not to "judge and sentence".

The man was in and out of the Pysch ward he needs psyhc help, the police didn;t know what they were doing. I am not saying the cops murder is justified. But the Police didn't handle it right. Now we have to ask ourselves when is Police brutality justified? Is it ever justified?There might more to come. Think twice before you talk back to a cop for while, you might get more then you asked for.

You guys ever think that this guy might have been defending himself .......i know it can get kind of heated in those rooms...

Police beat man...
Man grabs gun
Man shoot police man
Police men beat dude some more....
Just a thought

they were most likely beating him up and he had no other alternative than to grab a cops gun and shoot him. I thought u were not suppose to have a gun in the interragation room its more than what they are tellin if I am not mistaken he was on trial or being ? about stabbing a older woman so he wouldnt go crazy off that

Think twice about going to providence?
Heh, more like think twice before murdering a cop, or
givin jakes reason to think you murdered a cop.

I feel you Kerry I can't just accept this they held him down and beat the shit out of him it was probably 25 on 1. At least when he shot the cop it was up an up

America's past-time is not baseball, it's racism, murder and finding every little excuse to pimp you and everything you stand for. I bet you that this picture of dude doesn't end up on the 5 O'Clock news.

I was away from my desk, but they pretty much summed all of my thoughts in subsequent responses.

Why can't O'Neal ask questions?

So who else say the Jermain O'Neal interview Tuesday night after the Celtics game? I was with the crew after our 3Deep meeting and became consumed with the content. Basically, are age restructions for the NBA racist? Hell yeah...A friend just forwarded me this
article by Scoop Jackson and it remindede me that I had not heard much about it. Well, I guess there has been some controversy kicked up, but let's get it straight. Tennis players are pros in their teens (Jennifer Capriati, Serena and Venus); Soccer players (Fred Adu) too. Let's not forget the hundreds and hundreds of hockey and baseball (Brian Taylor, where are you?) players that have been getting drafted out of high school forever. Now, I won't go as far ast to even mention the Nobel Peace Prize since this is the same JO that threw that mean jab back at The Palace at Auburn Hills, but let's get serious here. Will the tables get reversed on him and everyone will keep referencing the fight with the Pistons or will the questions he raised get serious consideration. I pray they do. Personally, I do not think an age limit is necessary because it will adversely affect Black players more. Plus, until there is a huge clamor for similar limits in all the major sports, with the NBA booming at the onslaugt of all this youthful talent, let all the antagonist that blame hip-hop & youth culture on the NBA's demise continue to sleep in the shadows of common sense. Ya heard.

Good Black Men

I'll be damned if this didn't put a smile on my face. Shouts to A.O. at the Uphams Corner Health Center.

Good Black Men are indeed all around us. We pass them on the streets, in the malls and the halls at work.

Most we can't see because we don't know what a good black man really looks like. He usually isn't flashy enough or rich enough to turn our heads. He might not wear a suit or drive a Lexus. He might not have a "body like Tyson with a Denzel face." But, as you mature, you realize it's better to find someone who's got your back than someone who turns your head.

A good Black Man doesn't agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. He doesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He doesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, sincere, yada yada he is (he won't have to because it shows). He has his own opinions and you may clash, but he doesn't have to degrade you to prove he's right. He even admits at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.

A good Black Man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful, strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. He needs to feel that you don't live to "catch" him doing something wrong so you can declare, "Aha! I knew you were a dog!!"

A good Black Man doesn't necessarily give you a huge birthday or
Valentine's gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him. Don't judge him by TV standards. No one is really living a fairy tale. You'll miss out on your own fairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are no good. It's just not true.

Black Men, we salute you, and thank you for who you are and all you've done.