Boston's Black Newspaper, Bay State Banner Suspends Publication

My hometown Boston newspaper, The Bay State Banner has suspended publication citing a loss of ad revenues. Unfortunately as reported by the Maynard Institute Boston's Bay State Banner has stopped the presses.



AAPP: The weekly Bay State Banner is closing after 44 years. It's a damn shame that President Barack Obama's Stimulus Plan helped all the big corporations, banks and investment corporations, and did nothing for black businesses and newspapers like the Bay state Banner. The Bay state Banner is one of the few Black Newspapers that has covered the impact of Black bloggers."

I'm reminded of the article by Talia Whyte who wrote:

Today, through the use of the Internet and new media tools like blogs, YouTube and Twitter, everyone can make their voices heard. An increasing share of the African American community is taking the opportunity to do just that, including a number based here in Boston.

Many are choosing to use blogs as a medium for mobilizing around political and social justice issues. According to a 2007 study conducted by Brown University researcher Antoinette Pole, 85 percent of blacks use their blogs to engage in political advocacy and to raise money for charitable causes.

Though there has as yet been no scholarly follow-up to measure the effect of Barack Obama’s landmark presidential campaign on the black blogosphere, the explosion of online conversations about race in America and in American politics suggests that the percentage may have significantly increased.

The presidential campaign also helped some black bloggers become “cyber-celebrities.” Bloggers like Wain Bennett, the Philadelphia attorney behind Field Negro, Gina McCauley of the feminist site What About Our Daughters and Harvard graduate Baratunde Thurston, one of the founders of Jack & Jill Politics, have been featured in print and on air to offer their perspectives on the news of the day.

Recent political controversies in Boston have also been bantered about in the black blogosphere. On his popular blog African American Political Pundit, Roxbury native L.N. Rock covered closely — and sometimes harshly — the ongoing legal and financial woes of embattled former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner. More HERE

As Bob Oakes at WBUR noted, The ink has dried on what could be the last edition of Boston’s only African-American community newspaper. The weekly Bay State Banner has suspended publication amidst falling advertising revenues after more than four decades in print. More HERE

In an undated photograph, Dr. Charles Steward stands near the entrance of The Guardian, the weekly newspaper started by his brother-in-law William Monroe Trotter. Steward and his wife, Maude, ran the paper after Trotter’s death in 1934. Maude died in 1957 and with Dr. Steward’s blessing, Melvin B. Miller started the Banner eight years later. (Banner File Photo)

Media outlets, and trade publications from across the region and around America are reporting about my hometown newspaper.

It's interesting to note that one of the white newspapers, is finding the need to harass the Banner staff.

Boston Phoenix reporter Adam Reilly says:

A few minutes ago, I reported that, according to Bay State Banner publisher Melvin Miller, the Bay State Banner is just ceasing publication, not going out of business.

Now a Banner advertiser forwards a recent message from Sandra Casagrand, the Banner's VP/marketing and Miller's wife. Here it is:

I’m really sorry to report but the Banner is not publishing after this week’s paper. We cannot remain in business in this economic climate and will continue to look for new owners/investors while we are closed so at some point it can reopen and continue on its mission. Until then, there is no Banner. Real bummer – and sorry for the inconvenience. [emph. added]

Based on this, I'd say, I guess Boston like the rest of this country is not the post-racial community Barack Obama visions. The Boston Phoenix reporter Adam Reilly needs to get a life, and allow the Bay State Banner to do what it needs to do.

I salute Melvin Miller and his team, they have done a remarkable job over the years for all people in the Boston/NewEngland area.

Again, I saluate Melvin Miller and his team. It's too bad The Boston Phoenix and others don't know how to do the same thing.

Palin Wants Michael Steele's Job,

AAPP: It's unfortunate that Michael Steele can't smell the coffee. Even as Politico.com reports on how Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said he would love to see Palin become more engaged in national politics. well connected Republican sources report that Palin would love to have Steele's job in order to rebuild her creds within the party. Micheal Steeles comments that he is“very excited about the opportunity to have Sarah Palin freed up now to engage across the country to help, you know, reorient the party and grow it.” may be an omen say some party leaders who wish to remain annonymous.

But then again, Steele is no dummy, Steele has already taken Palin 2012 'off the table' as reported by Politico's Ben Smith:

Buried a bit in Fox's interview:

"Not having talked to the governor, I take 2012 off the table right now simply because given everything she's going through personally, dealing with the financial mess that all these ludicrous investigations have put her and Todd in, at the moment, I think she's trying to focus on getting her house in order, her personal house in order," Steele told Fox. News.

Bigot Bill O'Reilly Likens Michael Jackson to O.J. Simpson

More Post Racial American Hatred from the Fox News program, The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly was simply “fed up with all the adulation” over Michael Jackson. Hollywood Gossip.com reports on recent comments by bigoted Bill. Including the bigots observations on the day of MJ's memorial service:

• Jackson’s "incredible selfishness, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on himself while singing ‘We Are The World’" should make anyone nauseous.
• Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other African-Americans are shamelessly “playing the race card” by claiming Jackson as one of their own in death.
• “If (Jackson) were a white guy,” his behavior would never be tolerated.
• “You don’t become an African-American icon” if you bleach your skin.

There is more this Bill O'Reilly bigot had to say:



It appears to me that color aroused bigotry and ignorance is reaching critical mass in America. From Black kids getting kicked out of Philadelphia pool because of their color to the ignorance involving former Marion Barry the news involving blacks is getting more bizzare.

Federal Ban on Needle Exchange and Barack Obama

According to Amerblog the Obama/White House Web site pledge to support repeal of the federal ban on needle exchange? It appears to be gone.



That is why:

A group of 26 AIDS activists chained themselves to each other in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday morning, startling visitors, shutting down the landmark area and prompting their arrest by Capitol Police.

The group, which was protesting President Barack Obama’s failure to get rid of a ban on funding needle exchange programs, arrived at the Rotunda around 10 a.m.

Candidate Obama said he would help overturn the ban on needle exchange. President Obama reversed himself and banned federal funding for needle exchanges in his budget this year. Get this, 1. Obama promised to lift the ban. 2. The White House Web site reaffirmed the president's commitment to lifting the ban. 3. The White House Web site no longer reaffirms his commitment to lifting the ban. 4. The president now refuses to lift the ban. 5. The president actually affirmatively makes things worse by administratively supporting defending the ban. 6. The spokesman reiterates the president's support for lifting the ban, some day, once Congress gets around to it. More HERE

What do you think about the ban on needle exchange? is is something President Barack Obama needs to be addressing at this time?

Marion Barry, Ignorance, The City Paper and Bigotry

Now that the Stalking charges against Marion Barry have been dropped a Washington Newspaper, The Washington - City Paper is still degrading former Washington, DC Mayor Marion Barry. But then again, is he degrading himself? Check out the front page of the Washington City Paper.



And they consider themselves a newspaper? Now everyone on the internet, including, the Huffington Post are reporting how Marion Barry threw his girlfriend out of a hotel room for refusing oral sex.

Get this, The Washington City Papers' Web Servers has been under strain after the Marion Sex Barry Tapes emerged.

Local media outlets like WUSA9.com and the Washington Post.com are covering the story. The Salon.com is also reporting on how Marion Barry can't keep his nose clean.

The blog, Wonkette says, Marion Barry's Life Continues To Be Gross Public Joke.

The Washington, DC City Paper is attacking former Washington, DC Mayor Marion Barry once again. This time they are acting like a porno newsletter, rather than a real newspaper, with its ugly cover. Yes the City Paper is reporting on former Mayor and current Washington, DC Marion BarryDemocratic National Convention. The Washington newspaper reports that a black woman, Ms. Watts-Brighthaupt was working on Barry’s ultimately successful re-election campaign and traveled to the Barack Obama-crowning affair. For reasons that remain murky, she ended up assigned to the councilmember’s hotel room in the Crowne Plaza hotel. Once behind closed doors, Barry allegedly asked Watts-Brighthaupt to perform oral sex on him. Read More HERE Ward 8 Council member regarding an incident that is alleged to have occurred 10 months ago at the DNC Convention.

There is more... Prosecutors won't pursue charges against Marion Barry, while many residents in Washington, DC are questioning the City Paper's Lewd Cover.

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The $420 Billion Dollar Black Church Rip Off - Black Pulpit Pimps

There should be no question that the black community is full of Pulpit Pimps. and it looks like black folks have been giving there hard earned money away to these Pulpit Pimps.

Hat Tip: OregonSistah for the link.



A number of bloggers have been following these Pulpit Pimps for some time. Now we learn from The Harlem World Blog that a LiveSteez Investigative Report on the Black Church shows that Black churches, in aggregate, have collected more than $420 billion in tithes and donations since 1980.

As noted by The Harlem World Blog, with a Senate investigation into the finances of several mega churches underway, the “Prosperity Movement” has been the target of mounting criticism from inside and outside the Black Church. Specifically, the affluent ministries of The Reverend Creflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long and others have drawn the attention – and ire – of some clergy and laypeople alike.

Researcher Henry E. Felder’s study of Blacks’ donation habits demonstrated per capita spending of $508 per year in 2009 dollars. Another source, Tyler Media Services, estimated that Black Church revenue approached $17 billion in 2006.

One church, the Reverend Dollar’s World Changers, reported $69 million in 2006 income, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. More HERE

AAPP: Has the black community really benefited from the $420 Billion Dollar Black Church Rip Off? Just look around in black communities across America and you decide.

Attorney's Rip Off The Jackson Family - Get Control of Michael Jackson Assets

As reported by CNN, Executors of Jackson's will get control of his assets. Get this, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted control of Jackson's assets to the executors of his will. The executors -- John Branca, Jackson's longtime personal attorney, and John McClain, a music industry executive and longtime friend -- had sought immediate control of the entertainer's assets at a hearing before Judge Mitchell Beckloff. The men said control of the assets would allow them to tend to Jackson's numerous outstanding debts, legal cases and business obligations.
The judge appointed the men special administrators until another hearing on August 3.

He said they will be responsible for protecting the estate from immediate losses.

AAPP: My thought is this. These two attorney's may have conspired with the doctor to kill Michael so that they could take control Michael Jackson assets. Another effort to steal black wealth.

Attorneys for Michael Jackson's mother repeatedly objected to their appointment at Monday's court hearing. Get this, these two con men said, "It's our desire to do everything we can to carry out Michael Jackson's wishes and to maximize the estate," said Howard Weitzman, who spoke after the hearing on behalf of Branca. Weitzman issued a statement later calling the judge's ruling "the correct decision."

The fact of the matter is MJ's mother, Katherine Jackson, had applied to oversee her son's estate, but that was before the 2002 will all of a sudden surfaced. Her attorney, Burt Levitch, expressed concerns about McClain and Branca's financial leadership. oops... there goes more black wealth out of the hands of a black family. Well, lets hope the Jackson's don't allow this to happen.

Was Michael Jackson Killed Like MLK and Malcolm X?

Some people are saying the music of Michael Jackson was becoming too powerful. Michael Jackson may have been killed, Like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. As an example the prison version for Michael Jackson’s music video “They Don’t Really Care About Us” was banned before the video because Michael said ‘jew me sue me’ and ‘kike me, strike me’ and media took off those words.


What do you think?



Michael Jackson-They don't care about us(Prison Version) Don't watch it if you don't like Mj. Songtext: Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Situation aggravation Everybody allegation in the suite, on the news everybody dogfood Bang bang shot dead Everybodys gone mad All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Beat me, hate me You can never break me Will me, thrill me You can never kill me Chew me, sue me Everybody do me Kick me kike me Dont you black or white me! All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Tell me what has become of my life I have a wife and two children who love me I am the victim of police brutality,now Im tired of bein the victim of hate,youre rapin me of my pride Oh for Gods sake I look to heaven to ful- fill its prophecy... Set me free Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Trepidation,speculation Everybody allagation In the suite on the news Everybody dogfood Black man black male Throw the brother in jail All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Tell me what has become of my rights Am I ivisible 'cause you ignore me? Your proclamation promised me free liberty now Im tired of bein the victim of shame They're throwinme in a class with a bad name I cant believe this is the land from which I came The government dont wanna see, but if Roosevelt was livin he wouldt let this be, no,no Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Situation,specultaion Everybody litigarion Beat me,bash me You can never trash me Hit me,kick me You can never get me All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Some things in life they just dont wanna see But if Martin Luther was livin,he wouldnt let this be no,no Skinhead,deadhead Everybodys gone bad Situation Segregarion Everybody allagation In the suite on the news Everybody dogfood kick me,Kike me Dont you wrong or right me All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us....

Assault on Black Women - Tasered While Black After her toddler Murdered

The Blog Tasered While Black has been following the Tasering of Black folks in America and Canada for some time. This blog and bloggers like Villager at Electronic Village, and Francis Holland at Electrocuted While Black have been been tracking the tasing of black folks for some time as well.

John McCusker / The Times-Picayune

But the tasering of a black teen-aged mother, after she learned her toddler son and a 6-year-old boy were killed inside an apartment at 945 East Monterey Court in Terrytown early this year goes beyond abuse of auhority and power. This particular post about the Tasering of a black Woman after she discovered her child was murdered is particularly disgusting. Yes a black mother of a 6-year-old boy killed in a triple murder in Terrytown, LA who was subdued with a Taser gun by Jefferson Parish deputies at the murder scene is just another in the continuerd attack on black women in America.

One has to wonder if this would happen in a middle class community and the women was of another color?

Handout Robert Claiborne, Jr,

Get this, as reported by ther newspaper NOLA, back in April 2009, The mother of Four Overstreet grew irate with authorities when she arrived at the Monterey Court apartment where the rampage happened before 4 a.m. Saturday. When she got physical, deputies stunned her to bring the situation under control, Col. John Fortunato said.

There is more:

Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office released the names of two other people killed in the brazen shooting, a teenage mother and her toddler son. An 11-year-old girl who was critically wounded hasn't yet been identified.

The dead mother was 19-year-old Domonique Sterling, Fortunato said. Her 23-month-old son was named Robert Claiborne Jr.

Sterling is said to have been babysitting Four Overstreet and the girl who survived the attack.

The incident happened around 3:43 a.m. in the 900 block of East Monterey Court, Fortunato said.

Authorities believe two unidentified men entered an apartment in the area and "executed" Sterling and baby Robert, he said. Wielding handguns, the men also shot young Four and the 11-year old girl in the home.

Four died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.

Robert was also shot in the head. Sterling was shot in the back, and the 11-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body, Fortunato said.

Fortunato said witnesses told authorities that two men dressed in dark clothing kicked in the door and began firing. The teenager was found lying on the floor in the living room, while the two deceased children were found in a rear bedroom. Authorities also located crack cocaine and marijuana in the apartment.

One of the suspects, said to be in his 20s, wore a red bandana over his face, a black baseball cap and a dark hooded sweatshirt. MORE HERE

It's time to have Congressional Taser Hearings into Taser Torture in America. Sign the petition HERE.

Place a Congressional Taser Hearings Widget on your blog.