Black Politics Blog

Race, Murder, and Meditation

Chris Owens — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:22:14 -0500

Joining me to discuss calming your mind – Jenny Phillips, she’s a practicing psychotherapist and the filmmaker behind “THE DHAMMA BROTHERS,” which tells the story of prisoners finding freedom through mediation. She explains how anyone can work towards “spiritual development” through meditation.

And journalist Gilbert King, author of “THE EXECUTION OF WILLIE FRANCIS: Race, Murder, and the Search for Justice in the American South” has his story on cruel and unusual punishment and the outrageous case that sparked his interest in the criminal justice system.

That’s this weekend on Black Politics.

Now What?

Chris Owens — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:21:59 -0500

Joining me to discuss where we go from here, post-election: Dr. David Campt, aka the RACE DOCTOR; he’s the co-author of “The Little Book of Dialogue For Difficult Subjects” with Lisa Schirch.

And James Rucker, executive director of ColorOfChange.org talks "Election Stories," Change's digital snapshot of the impact of Obama's election on Black Americans and their allies, Black online activists' contributions to the campaign, as well as voters' experiences at the polls on Election Day.

That’s this weekend on Black Politics.

'I like the way the day has begun'

Chris Owens — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:29:39 -0500

I'm talking with my favorite Republican columnist and comic, Robert George, from the New York Post, about how we both felt this week after the victory of the Obama campaign, as well as the key elements for victory and defeat and what we hope comes from this new administration.

That's this week on Black Politics.

NAACP Pushes Back

logan — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:25:58 -0400

A message from Chris Owens:

This weekend:

With our regular and urgent report on voter protection: Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP President & CEO, on the NAACP’s legal ground work to protect votes before and after the election.

** If you have problems voting call 866-OUR-VOTE and a legal expert will be there to take your call, answer questions and if necessary, come down to your voting station. **

And Ludovic Blain, Project Director, StopDogWhistleRacism.com, based in Oakland, California, joins me to explain how campaigns have often been shaped by the “dog whistle” tactics that seek to divide and spread fear. StopDogWhistleRacism.com is a non-partisan research project of the Center for Social Inclusion, which seeks to examine the ways that race figured implicitly in the 2008 campaigns, ballot initiatives and policy debates.

That’s this weekend on Black Politics.

Voter rights champs

logan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:55:00 -0400

from Chris Owens:

This week, tune in to my conversation with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and in our regular segment on protecting your vote . . . Greg Palast, co-creator of “Steal Back Your Vote,” a comic book guide written with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (www.stealbackyourvote.com)

Palast is the author of the New York Times bestsellers "Armed Madhouse" and "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" and is a Nation Institute/Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow for investigative reporting.

Waters and Palast and I will tackle some of this week’s nasty attacks on voters and voter advocates as well as tools you can use to make sure you vote is counted.

This Saturday on Black Politics . . . already trying to cast doubts on the outcome of the election

logan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:15:57 -0400

A message from Chris Owens:

We’re in the final push.

This week, a recap of the last presidential debate, including my take on the ACORN scandal and our regular segment on your rights as a voter: I’ll be speaking with Steven Rosenfeld, Editor of Alternet's Democracy Page and senior fellow at Alternet.org. He’s the author of “Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting” (AlterNet Books, 2008) and he says, with Obama well ahead, the buzz about ACORN and the tactics now being employed in Ohio and other swing states are an effort to “cast doubt on the outcome of the election.” Plus, I’ll take up these topics with my favorite conservative sparring partner, Robert George, from the NY Post editorial page.

This Saturday on Black Politics . . . Green jobs and smear tactics

logan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:29:21 -0400

A message from Chris Owens:

This week, things have gotten a little ugly in the presidential campaign, from threats and innuendo to guilt by association...

I'll take up just one part of this topic with Isabel Macdonald, communications director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and one of the authors of the “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes spread fear, bigotry and misinformation,” a profile of the “Dirty Dozen” 12 worst offenders of smearing American Muslims. http://www.fair.org/index.php

And I'll speak with Van Jones, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the new book, The Green Collar Economy. We're talking about what "green jobs" really are and what new money Americans could be making when they shift their priorities on the environment. www.vanjones.net

This Saturday on Black Politics . . . Courage my friends

Logan Nakyanzi — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:41:09 -0400

A message from Chris Owens:

I'm taking apart this week’s big news: the bailout bill and the VP debate.

And, with little over 30 days to the election, tune in for our regular segment on protecting your vote. I’ll be speaking with Sheryll Cashin, a Harvard classmate of Barack Obama’s and now professor of law at Georgetown University. She’s an expert on civil rights, so we’ll be talking about voting and activism, as well as her incredible memoir, "THE AGITATOR’S DAUGHTER: Four Generations of One Extraordinary African-American Family," which reveals her own family's involvement with politics and activism.

She is also the author of "The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class are Undermining the American Dream" (PublicAffairs, 2004) which was an Editors’ Choice in the New York Times Book Review and a finalist for the 2005 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for non-fiction.

Black Politics with Chris Owens...our weird week in politics

Logan Nakyanzi — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:42:31 -0400

A message from Chris Owens . . .

I'm recapping our strange week in politics with Political Strategist, Basil Smikle, who was a top aide to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and joined the Senator’s delegations to Vietnam and Israel for the White House during the Clinton Administration. Smikle teaches at Columbia University’s Graduate School of International and Public Affairs.

And, in our regular segment on protecting your vote: I'll speak with Ryan King, Policy Analyst with The Sentencing Project about how votes are stolen from ex-offenders. "The credibility of our elections and democratic principles are compromised by laws that exclude citizens because of their past failings," King says. www.sentencingproject.org

Black Politics with Chris Owens . . . the nuts and bolts of change

Logan Nakyanzi — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:32:44 -0400

A message from Chris Owens...

Education and voting, not sexy issues, but they are important to get that "change" we're all talking about:

Paul Tough, from the New York Times magazine, joins me for a fascinating discussion about his new book, “Whatever It Takes.” It’s the story of how and why Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone works and the larger ideas behind how to get folks out of poverty and gain skills to succeed.

And Jonah H. Goldman - Campaign Director, National Campaign for Fair Elections - has info on where to go if you're turned a way at the polls in November. We'll be covering this topic regularly, so you don't lose your vote.

For more info call: 1-866-OUR-VOTE or online: http://www.866ourvote.org/

Black Politics with Chris Owens... Palin, Haiti's hurricanes, and your money

Logan Nakyanzi — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:47:33 -0400

Hi everyone,

Today's hot topics: Palin, Haiti's hurricanes, and your money

As we brace for the hurricane hitting Texas, Haiti is still reeling from four catastrophic storms this summer. Hervé Sabin, Director The Rural Haiti Project, Inc. gives us his report. Find out how you can help at www.ruralhaitiproject.org. (And if you are in New York City, be sure to check out their upcoming benefit, website has details)

CC, host of “The Cutting Edge” at KUDO 1080, Alaska's Progressive Voice in Anchorage, Alaska shares her findings on “trooper gate,” she’s following the Gov. Sarah Palin story.

Jim Carr, Chief Operating Officer for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) joins me to de-mystify the dealings at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Last time we had Jim on to talk his group’s proof that there are major differences in how people get loans in this country and how unfair lending practices work.

And Deborah McKoy, Executive Director and Founder of the UC Berkeley Center for Cities and Schools at the Institute of Urban and Regional Development will join me later to show how the sub prime mortgage crisis impacts schools.

This week on Black Politics... with Chris Owens, Saturday September 6, 2008

Logan Nakyanzi — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:53:45 -0400

On this week's show . . . we're airing THE BEST of Black Politics because I’m finally home after an amazing trip across the country.

So, we’re re-airing my interview w/ my friend Melissa Harris Lacewell. She’s Associate Professor, of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. You may remember, I spoke with Melissa just before the DNC.

Melissa is also the author of the award-winning book, "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought" (Princeton 2004). And, she is currently at work on a new book: “For Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn't Enough.”

Tune in because you’re going to get an earful . . . Plus, and this is NEW, I want to share a few thoughts about my travels these past couple of weeks. Going to the DNC this year was especially meaningful, for a lot of reasons. I can’t get into the whole thing right now, but listen in Saturday morning at 11 am to hear more. . .

And, see me this Monday on GritTV. I'll be on the media roundtable with host Laura Flanders. Check it out Monday evening at http://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/.

The Denver Adventure: Day 10 – Homeward Bound

Chris Owens — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:28:56 -0400

September 2, 2008

Of course I went to bed way too late. I do that. I got on a roll and the laptop just kept calling me. Sleeping on a fast-moving train is interesting, but I liked it and slept hard until 9:00 am.

Grabbing the paper at my door, I skimmed through it. The speculation about Palin and McCain’s potentially disastrous judgement is rife. It is hard to imagine the intensity of the feeding frenzy that the media is enduring at this moment. Ever since Palin was selected I have wondered who will ask her the simple question regarding her loyalty to and opinion of the U.S. Senate’s most prominent abuser of privilege and dollars – Ted Stevens. In fact, what has John McCain had to say about Stevens? Palin had to have benefited from Stevens' activities over time. How can she be the corruption buster if she has been dancing the Stevens Two-Step?

What grabs me most, however, is the article discussing the DECLINE since 2004 in the number Black delegates expected at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. While the Democrats had just over 24% of their delegates considered African American, the Republicans have only 13% of their delegates covering ALL “minorities” – or non-whites. Well, I know one thing. There were definitely some Republican Blacks in Denver! They may be capitalists, but they’re not stupid!

There is something very relaxing about a long train ride – provided the accommodations are comfortable. Never having traveled so long or so far on a train, this has been a valuable opportunity to get some perspective on life and politics from a point outside of New York City.

The Denver Adventure: Day 9 – Up Chicago Way

Chris Owens — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:01:11 -0400

September 1, 2008

I got up at 5:00 am this morning. It takes me a bit longer than it should to get out of the house – just like I pack a little more than I should when traveling – and I had a train to catch. I was going to Chicago and then, after a short layover, onward to New York City.

My job was to get the Southwest Chief at 7:45, which meant that my checked baggage had to be at Union Station in Kansas City by 7:00 am. Well, thanks to Jan, we made it with no problem. Of course, we had to check with CNN first to see how Gustav was doing. Things did not look good.

It is Labor Day – a day that has come to mean many things in my life. Most notably, it is the day of the huge West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway back in Brooklyn, New York – the culmination of weeks of celebrations around independence and national pride. For people like me, the day is always burdened with a political responsibility – either I am marching with a candidate and/or an entourage or I am the candidate (only once so far.) As much as tourists flock to see the parade for the music and splendor, the politicians and their appendages are a critical part of what makes the parade a “must see’ event.

Last year, I was part of a rogue float sponsored by the Caribbean-American Weekly that hoisted a huge picture of Barack Obama with Calypso star The Mighty Sparrow and other community leaders. (The paper had already endorsed Obama.) Response to the float politely appreciative during that long, hot day. Many people, particularly Caribbean women, were enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. We were definitely “on the edge,” politically.

Well, I am missing this year’s parade, but I am sure the reaction is quite different – if there’s another float! And next Saturday I will march with working people in New York City to celebrate the now-deferred Labor Day.

The Denver Adventure: Day 8 – A Heartland Sunday

Chris Owens — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:48:02 -0400

August 31, 2008

If it’s Sunday in Kansas, it’s church day. Jan and her family members belong to a small local Baptist church and we attended the 11:00 am service. Prior to leaving the house, we were watching CNN’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav and the potential modifications being made by the Republican Party to their convention plans. I don’t know what to think.

The Democratic Convention was so important to the party; it’s hard to imagine the Republicans being helped in any significant way by this change. But they may not be hurt. I think the low-key approach is appropriate and potentially beneficial. They just announced that Bush and Cheney won’t be attending. That’s unfortunate for US! The Republican Party just got off the hook for part of its legacy!

The church was nice with good, clean modern lines. The people were all very friendly and welcoming (though some assumed that both Jan and I were visitors, despite her long-time membership – Jan’s husband is white). The church appears to do some good outreach work to the poor, including those in other nations.

There was the requisite overhead electronic screen to guide congregants through hymns. There was the requisite band to provide that soft rock feel to the music. Jan’s son, Jeremy, was playing the piano with the band on this day. And there was the requisite blonde, thin-voiced soprano to lead the songs of praise with a level of passion I simply cannot define (let’s leave it at that).

The Denver Adventure: Day 7 – KC is not NY but it's cool!

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:13:19 -0400

August 30, 2008

I’m wiped. The cold / allergy attack that has burdened me since last Sunday’s debacle at JFK has kept me off my “A game.” I wake up late simply because I could not have awakened any earlier. Janice takes me on a tour of Kansas City neighborhoods. She and her family have only been here two years and, frankly, they’re not lovin’ it. But Jan and Jerry are feisty and find a way to make things happen.

I won’t bore you with tourist details, but I will say that KC has some interesting history and a lot of (small) neighborhoods. I wanted to visit the Jazz Museum and the Negro League's museum, but I decided those were better to experience with the rest of my family (my wife is a baseball fan and she and my sons would enjoy both of these experiences.) We decided to visit the National World War I Museum (www.nwwone.org) – which seemed appropriate in the aftermath of the Convention and given our current global concerns. It was impressive and sobering. It was also a reminder of how Black Americans were always considered to be less important to this nation no matter what their level of “patriotism” may have been. (Check out my brief discussion with some of the young Museum staffers.)

One great feature is the tower at the museum, which provides an outstanding view of the Kansas City proper -- as well as other areas if you know what you're looking at!

A chunk of Jan’s family is here in KC, including her sister and her mother. We joined them for dinner at the home of friends. They live in the “Northlands” as does Jan – an area which, as I have since been informed, has had its share of racial issues over the years.

The Denver Adventure: Day 6 – Goin’ To Kansas City with Palin On My Mind

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:04:17 -0400

August 29, 2008

Getting out of my hotel this morning was pretty smooth. I packed way too much stuff, so yesterday I sent a box home via UPS Ground to meet me upon my return to Brooklyn. Unfortunately, my bags still are unwieldy, but better than they were (particularly since I would have had to carry that extra “convention stuff” as well).

My itinerary calls for me to take a Greyhound bus from Denver to Kansas City – the ride is a little less than 12 hours. I have not done that for awhile, but that’s why I’m taking this trip. Reminding myself a bit of the America outside New York City is important to me and my political perspective.

As I zip up the bags, CNN is breaking the news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain’s pick as a running mate. It’s a shocker, frankly. Not that he picked a woman; I sort of expected that as a response to the “Hillary” factor. No one seems to have really expected this particular woman, however. She’s even younger than Barack Obama (making me feel even older) and her experience in office is minimal, if impressive. The A Mayor and a Governor in a very interesting state. Palin is also clearly anti-choice and pro-gun. The latter won’t hurt her with too many Democratic women; the former is a big deal. This should be even more fascinating than I anticipated.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – The Aftermath – The Crawleys of California

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:42:38 -0400

August 28, 2008

I am still a mess. I called my father and choked up with tears as I thanked him for helping me get to this day. This getting embarrassing. I’ll get through it. I stuck around the stadium to cherish these moments and to sneak an opportunity to go up on the stage – I had done that in 1992 at the convention in New York. Now I am on the stage; no one has stopped me. A cute older couple is taking pictures of each other in front of me. They are the Crawley’s from the Bay area in California. They are very sweet and take my picture as well. Most importantly they are great-grandparents who made it their business to come to Denver no matter what to be here when Obama said “Yes” to the nomination.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – The Aftermath – New York Delegates

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:23:46 -0400

August 28, 2008

So I first grabbed members of my Delegation to comment on the speech. New York State Assemblymember Nick Perry and State Senator John Sampson (each represent portions of Brooklyn) provide some reactions, as does first-term U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (Brooklyn’s 11th Congressional District).

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Fulfillment – Obama's Speech

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:43:36 -0400

August 28, 2008

It’s over! What a speech! What a moment! I have been in tears for the past 30 minutes and trying to collect myself. Why am I so emotional? Yes, I am honored to represent the heritage of the Owens family – Black and “mixed” – at this convention; it is hard to grasp the enormity of this moment for my Dad and for so many others who came before me.

Yes, I am thrilled by the potential of a different future for my two young sons. Obama’s candidacy – win or lose – will provide new options for each of them in their lives.

What is hard for me to articulate here, however, is the most selfish aspect of this victory. I am Obama. He is a mixed-race guy only two years younger than me whose mother could have been my mother. I went to Harvard; he went to the Law School. We both married strong, well-educated and beautiful partners. We share the burning desire to lead or at least participate in politics. We both lost our first efforts to go to Congress and it rocked our worlds. We both are liberals at heart who are unafraid to question orthodoxy and attempt to find some middle ground in order to ensure that problems are addressed. We both are concerned with the State of Black America, but act upon our concerns through a simple mantra: “What is good for Black Americans, is good for all Americans!”

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Anticipation – Booker, Sharpton and Toussaint

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:15:46 -0400

August 28, 2008

Newark Mayor CORY BOOKER focuses on education as a critical issue for an Obama administration. National Action Network Chairman REV. AL SHARPTON warns against self-destruction at this inspirational but critical point in time. TWU Local 100 President ROGER TOUSSAINT places this convention in the context of larger and longer struggles.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Anticipation - Pennsylvania

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:28:38 -0400

August 28, 2008

Delegate Colleen Cook, who happens to be white, is a professor at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. She is very concerned with the excuses that people are making when saying they won’t vote for Obama. Cook, a Clinton delegate, is responding to Clinton’s call to support Obama who hopes and wishes that her fellow Clinton supporters will fall in line – quickly and fervently.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Anticipation - Texas

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:15:21 -0400

August 28, 2008

Ms. Benita Chiles of Temple, Texas, is very proud of America today. She is motivated to get even more involved than she has been. Dr. Melanie Lawson of Texas is concerned with the response of “older’ voters to Obama’s message and capabilities. She believes that the generational gap crosses all racial and ethnic lines and may be more important than those other factors. Ms. Gwendolyn Moseley of Grand Prairie, Texas, was selected as an “at-large” delegate at the Texas Democratic Convention. Delegate Moseley believes that geography within the state is more of a factor in the ultimate outcome than race or ethnicity.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Anticipation - Mississippi

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:50:03 -0400

August 28, 2008

State Senator and City Councilmember David Jordan is a veteran of the civil rights movement and of Democratic conventions – this is his sixth DNC. Jordan was also a chemistry teacher. His father was a sharecropper; he grew up on a plantation. His wife was also a science teacher. Today, all four of his children are doing well today. Jordan believes that Obama’s candidacy is an example of a higher power at work.

The Denver Adventure: Day 5 – Anticipation – The Carolinas and Tennessee

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:26:12 -0400

August 28, 2008

From North Carolina, Ms. Hiawatha Foster is a ranking Democrat on local committees and supportive of her Congressman, Mel Watt. She is finding this situation to be unreal and she does not want ‘to wake up!” She considers North Carolina to be a blue state, but there is reason to tread cautiously. Voter turnout is critical, according to Foster, and must be maximized.

South Carolinian Juanetta Millett was a “from the beginning” supporter of Obama. She sees Obama’s prospects in South Carolina as being limited. Much work is needed. Millett likes Joe Biden and her plea to the ticket is to direct money directly to neighborhoods and bypass Mayors and developers!

Mr. Sidney Chisholm is a former State Senator and current Commissioner from Memphis, Tennessee attending his most excited convention ever – he dreamed of this all of his life. A product of segregation, he started as a Clinton Delegate because he did not believe he would live to see the nomination of a Black man. Mr. Chisholm is ecstatic about Obama’s nomination and believes Obama’s selection is based in divinity and has international significance. His favorite speeches to this point have come from Michelle Obama and President Bill Clinton.