Blogging Black Miami

Word On the Street with Bunquisha Keylolo Brown: Hate Crime in Hialeah...Teach Your Sons Survival Skills

It’s 2012. Life in America is great but some dangers still haven’t changed. Case in point, on January 2, a man left Jerry & Joe’s Pizzeria in Hialeah claimed to have been a victim of an attempted robbery by two African-American males. After investigative work by Hialeah Police, it turns out the victim was really a perpetrator.

The two black males were located it was determined that the alleged victim had been riding up and down the street trying to run over black people. Yeah, you got that right --- trying to run over black people. Anyway, the two black guys didn’t deny the shooting but said they fired in self-defense. It’s 2012 and black men are still being falsely accused of crimes. That’s a damn shame.

Much love to the Hialeah Police because they could have tried to sweep this incident under the rug. So for all you Police haters, recognize you can’t judge a group of people by the actions of individuals.

On the other hand, don't forget this situation could have turned out differently. Black males have to be reminded how to handle themselves in racially-charged situations or in situations where they are confronted by law enforcement. You can foolishly believe the okie-doke that life is fair and there is no prejudice if you want to; or you can do like old school and teach your young people how to handle themselves in different situations.

UPDATE: Be sure to read the Miami Herald article on the incident. The alleged victim, Luis Alberto Gonzalez, now criminal, had the audacity to call Andy Alexander and Tarvis James --- "nigger" and tell them to get out of "his" town (Hialeah). My lovelies, there is so much wrong with that on so many levels.  

Gonzalez lied to police about the incident. He also said the two young men appeared "arrogant". Hmmm...arrogant...Haven't we heard some people use that term to describe President Obama? Let's be real, we know that's code for "uppity negro". It gets worse when Gonzalez said he resented blacks because of a crime against him during the McDuffie riots. The McDuffie Riots? Wasn't that like 1980? Wow. The young men didn't report the incident because they were afraid they wouldn't be believed --- another sad but true reality of life. 

 

 

Related links:

Miami Herald: After Hialeah man’s story falls apart, he faces attempted-murder, hate-crime charges

Miami Beach 411: The Arthur McDuffie Riots of 1980

 

 

Robert Champion's Death Possibly a Hate Crime [VIDEO]

Well, the word is finally out. The death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion may have been a hate crime due to his sexual orientation. Those who didn't know Champion but followed the Twitter timeline shortly after his death, saw the comments about Champion being targeted because he was gay.

Champion's parents don't feel their son was targeted because he was gay because many others were aware of his sexual orientation. Time will tell as the investigation takes it course but this new layer may explain why we have yet to hear of any arrests in this case.

I would like to think we have arrived at a point where sexual orientation is not an issue but the truth is, we are not there yet. And, for a prestigious position such as Marching 100 Head Drum Major, a homosexual male would be a problem for many people, let's be honest. No matter how tolerant many people have become, a masculine lesbian would be more accepting than a gay male. Such is the nature of our culture today.

We are seeing some things fall in place such as the bus company, Fabulous Coach Lines, being sued for negligence. The sequence of events and access to the bus have been nagging questions from Day One. Who knows what else is to come because of this incident. Let's just chill and be prepared for whatever.

Regardless of the Champion family's assertion that Robert was not killed because he was gay but because he opposed hazing, his sexual orientation disclosure has taken a life of it's own with expected outrage from the gay community and their supporters. Stay tuned.

 

 

 

FAMU President keeps his job and more than 30 students and alumni questioned in hazing death [VIDEO]

Last night’s CBS Evening News reported that the FAMU Board of Trustees did not suspend FAMU president Dr. James Ammons as strongly suggested by Florida Governor Rick Scott. The more important side notes of that story are that the investigation is taking some time because more than 30 students and alumni believed to have participated in the hazing death of Champion, have been questioned. Also, Robert Champion’s parents, visibly distressed, think that Dr. Ammons should step down. This situation is only going to get worse before it gets better.

 

 

Related Links:

Robert Champion Autopsy Report (CNN)

Dr. Boyce: Why the FAMU Hazing Incidents Make Me So Angry

Alleged FAMU Hazing Homicide Stirs Memories of Florida's Tense Racial Past

Rick Scott irks FAMU protesters when he says: 'I come from public housing.'

In Business: Grand Opening of Natural Trend Setters Hair Salon

 Photos: Vanessa Woodard Byers

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the grand opening of Natural Trend Setters salon at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens on September 12. With the opening of the FMU site, the owners, sisters Simone and Trudy Hylton expanded their brand to salon number three. Their other salons are located in Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach; that’s quite an accomplishment in an area with not nearly enough natural hair care services for black women.

While the salon’s reputation was built on natural hair care, they can create any style you desire, and they service women and men. From all indications, the FMU salon was well received by the students and the greater Miami community.

Check out the Natural Trend Setters website. Connect with them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Related Link:

Grand Opening Photos on Facebook

 

 

Florida A&M University Hall of Fame Weekend 2011

 

Local residents Felix Williams and Eddie Cooper were selected for induction into the 2011 class of the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame. Both played football at FAMU. Williams, a Miami native, is a graduate of Miami Central High School where he was the school’s first football player named to the All-County Football Team in 1970. He is also a successful businessman and mentor. Cooper, a native of Plant City, FL is a recent retiree from the administrative ranks of the technology department of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Other inductees were William “Soup” Campbell (Baseball); Clarence “Hawk” Hawkins (Football); Shaunta Pelham (Track & Field); and FAMU President Dr. James Ammons (Supporter).

 Photos: Vanessa Woodard Byers & LaShae Dent

Related Links:
FAMU's Sports Hall of Fame gets new members.
FAMU Sports Hall of Fame to induct six 

 

Miami Central bests Columbus in 37-34 squeaker [VIDEO]

by Va-Va

If I’m a bit sluggish this morning it’s because of the emotional rollercoaster after following the Miami Central vs. Columbus football game last night. I didn’t make it to FIU Stadium but I did get the blow-by-blow, back and forth awesome play coverage through the Miami Herald’s Colleen Wright on Twitter. That’s right, Twitter.

As a Miami Central alum, of course I wanted the Rockets to be victorious. I didn’t expect such a battle between the two teams. That must have been a game to watch. The Rockets ended up with the Win amid allegations by Central alums of bad calls by the refs.

Congratulations to both football teams for a great game. A special shout out to the spectacular play of Central sophomore Joseph Yearby. Here are video highlights of the game courtesy of Colleen Wright.

 

 

Black Gold – Struggle for the Niger Delta to Compete for the Grand Jury Prize at ABFF

Black Gold: Struggle for the Niger Delta will compete for the Grand Jury Prize at the 15th Annual American Black Film Festival, July 6-9, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The movie was nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Screen Play in the Narratives Film Competition. Director, Jeta Amata brings to the screen, a powerful story of greed, murder and corruption in the volatile oil rich Niger Delta region. 

The scope and significance of the story has attracted a noteworthy cast, including several from Hollywood: Billy Zane (Titanic), Mbong Amata (The Amazing Grace), Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Hotel Rwanda), Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break),  Eric Roberts (Dark Knight) and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs).  Based on true events, Black Gold is already following in the footsteps of Hotel Rwanda for its social and environmental statement on corruption and the violation of human rights in the Niger Delta, as current headlines on the international news carriers: CNN, BBC and Al Jezeera reveal.

“It is a region where good and evil has been blurred by shady government officials, greedy oil companies and violent rebels fighting over the control of the scarce oil resources that run the world. Now the people are seeking peaceful resolution to their grievances”, states director Amata.

Black Gold is Jeta Amata’s long awaited follow up to his award winning feature, The Amazing Grace. Black Gold was shot in his native Nigeria and the US to tell the story of a an unlikely hero, a Nigerian woman who courageously stood up to unite the warring factions and rallied the world to take notice, putting her life on the line.

“We believe that Black Gold will shed light on the degradation of the environment caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta and hope that the multi-national oil corporations and the government will clean up their act.”, states producer, Wilson Ebiye.  

The movie will screen Thursday, July 7th at 3 p.m. (with a talk-back) and Friday, July 8 at 10:30 a.m. at the Colony Theatre on Miami Beach. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by calling (305) 674-1040 starting July 6.

 

 

Shooting death of Will "Da Real One" Bell takes toll on community

 

 

by Vanessa "Va-Va" Woodard Byers

 

Willie L. Bell, Jr. BKA Will “Da Real One” Bell, was gunned down early last Sunday morning as he was leaving his North Miami club, The Literary Café and Poetry Lounge. Various news reports describe him as a “poet” but Da Real One was more than that. He was a businessman, poetry guru/advocate and community activist.  

I learned of his death through William “DC” Clark’s Facebook profile page. Clark was in disbelief as were others. I did what I usually do when there is breaking news, jump on Twitter and search for tweets on the topic. Oh yeah, it was true. Another victim of gun violence. When does the madness stop?

Here is but one of the touching tributes to Bell from a friend on Facebook:

Day two without WILL DA REAL ONE !!!

by Errol Bigdee Bryant on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 11:26am

Day two with out WILL DA REAL ONE,still trying to wrap my head around it but cant.thinking back many years ago while talking with him,he said he was going to change the poetry game he was going all in full speed ahead.me being the negative person i was at the time i said poetry is for "SUCKERS",he just laughed and looked at me and in comedic Will fashion told me then just sit back and watch me "SUCK" the life outta everybody with the words im gonna spit out my mouth.Lesson learned bro,you said it and you did it,and we all love you for that and the person you were to all.you will forever be an iconic figure,not just in the hood but world wide,because you touched lives any and everywhere you graced with your presence.

I only met Bell once several years ago. He was a cool guy. The spoken word community was devastated. Friends and those he mentored poured out their hearts on social media outlets. Mainstream media captured his tragic death from local news to CNN International.

Several fans showed respect for Bell at a candlelight vigil today. Of course there was candlelight, spoken word and tears. Will Bell overcome many obstacles in his life to provide an outlet for poets and, ironically, encourage young people to stop the violence.

There were witnesses to his shooting and it’s likely someone will come forth with information. Will Da Real One was loved by too many for this case to go cold. Anyone with information on this crime should contact the North Miami Police Department 305-891-8111 or Crimestoppers at 305-371-TIPS.

Photo Credit: Will Da Real One Facebook Tribute Page

 

Related Links:

Readers react: Will “Da Real One” Bell remembered

Local poet Will “Da Real One” gunned down in North Miami

What Will "Da Real One" Bell Sounded Like

Miami-area poet Will Bell gunned down

Miami slam poet killed outside his cafe

Well-known Miami poet shot dead outside his cafe

Friends Pay Tribute to Slain Poet

Poet gunned down outside his business

Miami-Area Poet Gunned Down

Poetry slam champion killed at his North Miami cafe

Poet honored after shooting

Will Bell was shot outside his Literary Cafe and Poetry Lounge early Sunday ...

 

Stretch Ledford's Overtown Project [VIDEO]

I am frquently blown away by the people I connect with through this blog. One of my latest connections is Charles "Stretch" Ledford a currently local photojournalist and graduate student at the University of Miami. Ledford, like a few people I've met recently, are mesmerized by the people of and life in Overtown, one of Miami's poorest communities. They also want to tell the true story of Overtown. In the midst of abject poverty in Miami there is beauty, pride and a sense of community.

Check out the video below then check his presence on the web through Vimeo and his photography site. Please do read about his incident of being banned for life from the Metrorail. That story would be entertaining if it was not about an actual situation. Anyhoo, I've already typed too much. Check the video and his other work. Peace.

"This is Overtown" from Stretch Ledford on Vimeo.

 

Justice for Akil Larue Oliver: "Losing a life over 7 cents don't make no sense." [VIDEO]

^{Mr. Willie Moseley fights for justice for his grandson, Akil Larue Oliver, who was beaten death.}

 

“There comes a time when people get tired of being plunged into the abyss of exploitation and nagging injustice.”  ~Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, 1958

After attending the Martin Luther King Parade in West Perrine on Saturday, January 15, 2011, I found myself at the site of the protest of the murder of Akil Larue Oliver. This was not a planned stop but one of those moments where I was not in control but was being led to do God’s will. Anyway, before I lose some of you on a spiritual tip, let me just say that it was encouraging to see this small but dedicated group of people continue this boycott in seeking justice for Akil Larue Oliver and economic justice for the people who have patronized the Quick Shop convenience store in Perrine.

It’s 2011 and I keep feeling as though there is a need to fight for basic rights just as my parents did in the 1960’s. There are many issues that need to be addressed surrounding this store, the activities that allegedly have taken place in the store and the brutal beating death of Akil Larue Oliver.

We will continue to ask questions about this situation and interview those involved in the protest and resolution of this situation. We’ll talk about respect, disrespect and self-respect. Nothing happens to one person that doesn’t impact someone else.

On this day that we celebrate the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let’s think on this:

“If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, "There lived a great people - a black people - who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization."  This is our challenge and our overwhelming responsibility.”  ~Martin Luther King, Jr., address to Holt Street Baptist Church, 5 December 1955