Live With U People - Ep #53 : Thanksgiving Misgivings

This week Olive and Hanifah come to you stuffed with turkey and madness. Olive suffers from an acute case of the “itis” and looses her mind and decides to where her sister’s wig. As Hanifah endures the randowm swinging of fake hair they talk about the awkwardness of talking grown-up sex with their mothers at the table, thanksgiving misgivings for a lesbian couple and the horror in Mumbai.

Where’s Obama: World Leaders don’t shake Bush’s hand (VIDEO)

Watch as during the G20 summit hosted by George Bush, none of the other 19 world leaders shake his hand. I mean not one, it is obvious and blatantly clear they are all too ready for him to be gone and await Obama with baited breathe. Its almost unbelievable (almost) as he walks in with his head down, he looks like the kid in school with the kooties. Well as it says in the CNN report “What goes around, comes around”.

WTF: Al-Qaida leader calls Obama a house negro

AP WIRE: CAIRO,Egypt — Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri insulted Barack Obama in the terror group’s first reaction to his election, calling him a demeaning racial term implying that the president-elect is a black American who does the bidding of whites.

The message appeared chiefly aimed at persuading Muslims and Arabs that Obama does not represent a change in U.S. policies. Al-Zawahri said in the message, which appeared on militant Web sites Wednesday, that Obama is “the direct opposite of honorable black Americans” like Malcolm X, the 1960s African-American rights leader.

Al-Zawahri also called Obama _ along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice _ “house negroes.”

Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term “abeed al-beit,” which literally translates as “house slaves.” But al-Qaida supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as “house negroes.”

The message also includes old footage of speeches by Malcolm X in which he explains the term, saying black slaves who worked in their white masters’ house were more servile than those who worked in the fields. Malcolm X used the term to criticize black leaders he accused of not standing up to whites.

The 11-minute 23-second video features the audio message by al-Zawahri, who appears only in a still image, along with other images, including one of Obama wearing a Jewish skullcap as he meets with Jewish leaders. In his speech, al-Zawahri refers to a Nov. 5 U.S. airstrike attack in Afghanistan, meaning the video was made after that date.

Al-Zawahri said Obama’s election has not changed American policies he said are aimed at oppressing Muslims and others.

“America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always,” the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden said.

He said Obama’s plan to shift troops to Afghanistan is doomed to failure, because Afghans will resist.

“Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them,” he said.

Al-Zawahri did not threaten specific attacks, but warned Obama that he was “facing a Jihadi (holy war) awakening and renaissance which is shaking the pillars of the entire Islamic world; and this is the fact which you and your government and country refuse to recognize and pretend not to see.”

He said Obama’s victory showed Americans acknowledged that President George W. Bush’s policies were a failure and that the result was an “admission of defeat in Iraq.”

But Obama’s professions of support for Israel during the election campaign “confirmed to the Ummah (Islamic world) that you have chosen a stance of hostility to Islam and Muslims,” al-Zawahri said.
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U PEOPLE OMMENTARY: I’m having my morning coffee and becoming sick to my still empty stomach. who in the hell is this fool to speak either Obama’s or El Hajj Malik Shabazz’s name with such inaccuracy and venom. this ass is like many who refuse to acknowledge the complete life and legacy of “Malcolm X’ and rather shosse to pick this line or that line from speeches that did not reflect his views post the Nation of Islam. What does this clown know about Malik and who is he to even speak on the painful yet triumphant legacy of Black American slaves. Arabs continue to enslave Africans to this day in addition to their deplorable history of African enslavement. And you Mr. Ayman “Kiss my black -ass” Alqaida are using this same racism to group black people together (Condeleeza, Powell, Obama) and forsake their humanity and individuality. And if you are unable to see, rather feel, a man for who he is because you are stuck in a cycle of hate and anger “and they liked the taste of their flesh”, then who are you to speak towards change. Because you yourself are refusing to meet change half-way. You have lost your hope and have become addicted to your condition and power within. In the years leading up to Malik’s death he refuted those who those as Ayman al-Zawahri and embraced the unifying force of today’s Barack Obama. But Ayman al-Zawahri like others who still call him Malcolm X draw the line when he was Malcolm if not Detroit Red. They stop short of his brilliance not yet matured. Because it is easy to hate and change doesn’t taste as sweet to tongues numbed by rhetoric.

Wanda Sykes: Speaks on Gay Marriage (VIDEOS)

Wanda Sykes recently exited out the closet, though she claimed never to be in. Outraged after loosing her rights to marry and essentially having her own marriage to a woman revoked she has openly spoken her mind. The video below is at a recent rally in California. The following video is an excerpt from her comedy special about gay marriage and her appearance on Ellen Degeneres:

Prince: God has had it with gays

In the 80’s there were two musicians that reigned supreme in my teenage idol loving heart. Michael Jackson and Prince. Michael has long since broken my heart when I realized in high school that his nose was getting thinner and skin lighter. And even as my disappointment in Michael grew with the very believable accusations of child molestation and the two little white kids he claims to be his biological children, I still, though with some reservation, dance to the music of who he was and not who he has become. Prince on the other hand, whose music challenged sexual norms and  has for decades been the background beat to lovemaking for all sexualities, has done little to disappoint me. Even when he  converted to Jehovah Witness and refused to play any of the songs that has given the world so much joy and quite a few babies, we, his fans, just quietly excepted his new found truth and instead went to Prince tribute parties to remember what was. His faith is no business of ours. That is until he made it.   I stumbled upon an interview with Prince in this week’s New Yorker (excerpt):

…And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”…

When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”

Where does one begin? Prince has been accused throughout his entire career of being gay. Even just a couple of superbowls ago when I found myself screaming to top of my lungs in harmony with football loving straight dudes and fellow butches; we had all become that teenager again as he sang Purple Rain in the rain at halftime. Even still he caught flack from homophobes who believed his stylee was that of ‘a gay’. And I would be hard pressed to disbelieve that throughout all of the sexual escapades made available to him in the earlier and more fruitful parts of his career he did not try at least once or thrice to lay with another man. But aside from the accusations, levels of nakedness and tight fitting costumes he still appeared at his core, to me atleast, to be heterosexual.  Heterosexual, but not homophobic. But as he ages and his hips are needing to be replaced (from years of wearing high heels) and his new religion is found, it seems he is on the fast food track to proving this to everyone and maybe even to himself. We have all done 180s in our lives, had epiphanies and either moved in a more positive direction or headed further down the rabbit hole. But who is this man or any man to judge, tapping his bible as if his bible were to say amen. Ya know brother, do what you will and believe what your believe, but who are you or any of the door knockers to judge what the rest of us need to prosper. Just live your life and leave me mine to love, explore and further understand.

This man’s ego is enormous. You may want  to leave the sex, drugs and rock and roll behind, but you have simply found another place to rest your elphant sized ego. Now you are speaking for God and getting frustrated and impatient for God. When will the fundamentally judgemental faith pushers realize God don’t need you to do a damn thing for God but live and love and even if you choose not to, then God is not effected either way; cause well its God. I seriously doubt if God gets upset, holds tantrums, gets pissed, disappointed or enraged. Those are the attributes of something much smaller, man. Eh, whatever. I will simply stick with my memories of running home to play my 45 of ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ because I’m sure God would not mind a child simply having fun in the kingdom of music.

JUST ADDED: According to Perez Hilton,

Contrary to what a recent interview with the New Yorker is reporting, a source close to the rocker tells us that Prince was grossly misquoted and misinterpreted as not down with gay rights.

Apparently, the interviewer did not even use a recorder when she spoke with His Holy Purpleness, and that when she called his people to fact check, it turned out she had several factual inaccuracies, including a little bit about Prince recovering from hip surgery, which he never even had. Like Prince is really made of bones or something and not nebulous gold glitter - come on!

What His Purpleness actually did was gesture to the Bible and said he follows what it teaches, referring mainly to the parts about loving everyone and refraining from judgment.

That sounds better, considering he’s a man who caused his own Controversy!

“We’re very angry he was misquoted,” says our Prince insider.

Live with U People #52: Black Folks Guide to Black Folks

This week on Live with U People we discuss the sticky issue of having to bridge talks among black folks across sexualities.  How do we reachout and create understanding within the conundrum of being both gay and Black. How do we deal with a larger black community that often sees gay as white and black gays as separate. We want to talk honestly about methods of effective approach that involve love and understanding. Did we do our part in regards to Prop 8? Where do we stand when white gays attack the black community as if we (LGBT folks of color) are not of it?

Live with U People #51: Prop 8

Tonight we talk about the issues within the issues around Prop 8. Racism within the gay community, civil rights and the increasing violence in LA around Prop 8.

Notes: This is our first live episode so pardon the technical difficulties with audio distortion within the first couple of minutes. If you want to see the U People Prop 8 PSA featured at the top of this broadcast click here.

SHOWTIME: EVERYDAY THURSDAY, 9PM

CHAT DIALOGUE

Register your Chat Room Name for the next show at www.USTREAM.TV

09:09 ustreamer-39705 : I can hear you
09:09 ustreamer-42899 : hear ya
09:09 ustreamer-75972 : yes
09:11 ustreamer-42899 : Whats up!
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : Olive mic needs to be adjusted
09:11 ustreamer-42899 : lol
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : yes
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : this is Z
09:11 ustreamer-75972 : you are too loud
09:18 ustreamer-75972 : I think Hispanol is now DR
09:19 ustreamer-37705 : its a trip here in LA.  it is getting violent.  and black folks should be ashamed
09:22 ustreamer-37705 : the protests in general are getting violent. my roomate ran over a prop 8 yes personal through a bottle at him yesterday and he ran over him with his bike.  but everyday someone is getting hurt and general fights are breaking everyday
09:23 Journey_Wmn : I saw a documentary about the log cabin republicans. When they were campaigning for gay marriage they completely disregarded all POC communities, because they assumed we’d be anti gay marriage
09:24 Dreamwalker : Im not sure what prop is really being used for…will it be the gauge for the nation? So if it flys or fails in CA then the rest of the nation will follow suit?! This is’nt a one state decision
09:25 ustreamer-75972 : I think we in the Gay community must create an agenda that transcends race.  The ballot was not only lost in California, it was also lost in Arizona and Florida.
09:26 ustreamer-37705 : we should be ashamed as black people because 90 plus black voters got behind obama but gays dont have rights.  a black preacher here said “they need to just give up”  huh?
09:27 ustreamer-37705 : here in LA….sorry  and i am a woman.  i will call
09:27 Journey_Wmn : I loved that workout video you guys put up the other day
09:29 Journey_Wmn : holla
09:29 zakiyyah : yes
09:33 Journey_Wmn : I love you guys!!
09:36 zakiyyah : Hard to hear her
09:37 zakiyyah : great
09:42 Dreamwalker : tru dat
09:43 Journey_Wmn : you’re absolutely right, because i’m hesitant to protest on saturday, because if someone tries to blame me or dare call me out my name. I’ll get arrested and I’m not hard enough to go to jail
09:43 Dreamwalker : Do you think the recent election will open a door into this topic
09:44 souloperator : Dream walker I will bring up your point
09:44 Dreamwalker : thxs
09:46 zakiyyah : Coretta Scott King had to say, in an address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “Homophobia is as morally wrong and as unacceptable as racism,” “We ought to extend to gay and lesbian people the same respect and dignity we claim for ourselves. Every person is a child of Go
09:46 zakiyyah : God
09:46 zakiyyah : and every human being is entitled to full human rights.”
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how about a protest for the lgbt youth homeless
09:48 zakiyyah : Ths was beautiful–Thank you.
09:48 Dreamwalker : Alright ya’ll…cya next week
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how about protest for low rates for colleges
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : how abut jobs
09:48 ustreamer-73569 : This is angel b
09:49 ustreamer-73569 : I tuned in late but this is great

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This guy voted YES on Prop 8: We gotta give him praise!

I was browsing Pam’s Hot Blend and came buy this jewel. The video is simply entitled “Voted yes on Prop 8″ and is featured on GodTube.com. It is a house music driven workout video that will have you questioning how some gay folks of color really do not see themselves beyond the choir! Note: at 5:46 he says ‘I gotta pee”, I almost fell out at that point. And with all jokes aside, the workout does make you sweat a little something.

Jasmyne Cannick on NPR: Prop 8, white gays and the black community

Jasmyne Cannick, social justice activist and political pundit passionately explains why the Yes Prop 8 campaign won over in the black community and how No on Prop 8 didn’t have a clue of how to bridge communities. What do you all think about where she stands?

Miriam Makeba dies on stage

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — She died just how she wanted to _ singing on stage for a good cause. And her recorded songs wafted out of taxis and radios, as fellow Africans struggled with their grief at her passing.

Miriam Makeba, the “Mama Africa” whose sultry voice gave South Africans hope when the country was gripped by apartheid, died Monday of a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world _ jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon _ and sang for world leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela.

Her distinctive style, which combined jazz, folk and South African township rhythms, managed to get her banned from South Africa for over 30 years.

“Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us,” Mandela said in a statement.

He said it was “fitting” that her last moments were spent on stage.

Miriam Makeba - Performs the Click Song

Makeba collapsed after singing one of her most famous hits “Pata Pata,” her family said. Her grandson, Nelson Lumumba Lee, was with her as well as her longtime friend, Italian promoter Roberto Meglioli.

“Whilst this great lady was alive she would say: ‘I will sing until the last day of my life’,” the family statement said.
Story continues below

Makeba died at the Pineta Grande clinic in Castel Volturno, near the southern city of Naples, after singing at a concert in solidarity with six immigrants from Ghana who were shot to death in September in the town. Investigators have blamed the attack on organized crime.

The death of “Mama Africa” sent shock waves through South Africa, where callers flooded local radio stations with their recollections of her. In Guinea, where Makeba lived most of her decades in exile, radio and television stations played mournful music and tributes to their adopted icon.

The first African to win a Grammy award, Makeba started singing in Sophiatown, a cosmopolitan neighborhood of Johannesburg that was a cultural hotspot in the 1950s before its black residents were forcibly removed by the apartheid government.

She then teamed up with South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela _ later her first husband _ and her rise to international prominence started in 1959 when she starred in the anti-apartheid documentary “Come Back, Africa.”

When she tried to fly home for her mother’s funeral the following year, she discovered her passport had been revoked.

In 1963, Makeba appeared before the U.N. Special Committee on Apartheid to call for an international boycott of South Africa. The white-led South African government responded by banning her records, including hits like “Pata Pata,” “The Click Song” (”Qongqothwane” in Xhosa), and “Malaika.”

Makeba received the Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording in 1966 together with Belafonte for “An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba.” The album dealt with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid.

Thanks to her close relationship with Belafonte, she received star status in the United States and performed for President Kennedy at his birthday party in 1962. But she fell briefly out of favor when she married black power activist Stokely Carmichael _ later known as Kwame Ture _ and moved to Guinea in the late 1960s.

Besides working with Simone and Gillespie, she also appeared with Paul Simon at his “Graceland” concert in Zimbabwe in 1987.

After three decades abroad, Makeba was invited back to South Africa by Mandela shortly after his release from prison in 1990 as white racist rule crumbled.

Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata

“It was like a revival,” she said about going home. “My music having been banned for so long, that people still felt the same way about me was too much for me. I just went home and I cried.”

Tributes flooded in Monday from across Africa.

Congo’s minister of culture, Esdras Kambale, called Makeba a role model for all Africans.

“We are very saddened,” Kambale said. “Fortunately, she left a large body of music that will be immortal.”

Percussionist Papa Kouyate _ who played in Makeba’s band for 20 years and is the widower of her daughter Bongi _ remembered Makeba as a giving person.

“I married her daughter Bongi and she adopted me as her own child,” he said. “I will mourn Mama Africa for a long time.”

Still, Makeba attracted controversy by lending support to dictators such as Togo’s Gnassingbe Eyadema and Felix Houphouet-Boigny from Ivory Coast, performing at political campaigns for them, even as they violently suppressed democratic movements in West Africa in the early 90s.

The first person to give her refuge was Guinea’s former President Ahmed Sekou Toure, who has been accused in the slaughtering of 10 percent of his country’s population.

Makeba insisted, however, that her songs were not deliberately political.

“I’m not a political singer,” she insisted in an interview with Britain’s Guardian newspaper earlier this year. “I don’t know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life, and in South Africa we always sang about what was happening to us _ especially the things that hurt us.”

The U.S. State Department sent condolences to Makeba’s family as international tributes for Makeba also flooded in Monday.

“Her voice and her battles influenced the process of liberation and democratic rebirth in South Africa,” Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said in a statement.

Jacques Diouf, director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, praised Makeba for the work she did for the poor as its goodwill ambassador. “We will miss her energy and her respectful concern for the world’s most vulnerable,” he said in a statement.

Album Cover Tribute to Miram Makeba

Makeba announced her retirement three years ago, but despite a series of farewell concerts she never stopped performing. When she turned 75 last year, she said she would sing for as long as possible.

Makeba is survived by her grandchildren, Nelson Lumumba Lee and Zenzi Monique Lee, and her great-grandchildren Lindelani, Ayanda and Kwame. A funeral will be held in South Africa, but details have not yet been announced.

Photographer Jurgen Schadeberg, who shot widely acclaimed pictures of Makeba for Drum magazine in the 50s, felt she epitomized the era where politics and culture collided in a heady mix.

“We are losing our great divas,” he lamented by telephone from France.

___

Associated Press Writers Frances D’Emilio in Rome; Boubacar Diallo, Maseco Conde in Conakry, Guinea and Eddy Isango in Kinshasa, Congo contributed to this report.

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