Smart'n Up Black Male Summit - NOV.17 in Houston, TX

ACTIVIST DERIC MUHAMMAD HOSTS SUMMIT TO ADDRESS DROPOUT RATE, and the UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF BLACK MALES

HOUSTON-- Deric Muhammad and Lone Star Community College will host the 3rd Annual Smart’N Up Black Male Summit on Education.  The event will take place at the Lone Star College Victory Center, 4141 Victory Drive, Houston TX on Saturday, November 17, 2013.

The Black Male Summit seeks to inspire and encourage Black males to diligently pursue the acquisition of knowledge in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. We believe that education and the proper use of knowledge is the key to stopping the downward social trajectory of the Black male in America. Statistics show that several states have poor graduation outcomes for Black and Latino males.  Fewer than 60% of Black and Latino students in Texas earn regular diplomas alongside their classmates.  A recently released report from the Schott Foundation shows that only 52% of Black and 55% Latino males graduate high school in four years.

Lone Star College-North Harris, part of the Lone Star College System, is passionate about providing quality educational opportunities for the successful development of knowledge, skills and attitudes for a rapidly changing world. At all levels, educational institutions across the country are coordinating activities to promote multi-level success for African American males. Lone Star College-North Harris is proud to partner with community leaders like DericMuhammad in this effort.

This year's program features a diverse group of motivational speakers and will be hosted by Activist Deric Muhammad.  Registration begins at 9A workshops will begin at 10A  On site positive male “day mentors”, GED and college entrance information, door prizes and an iPad Giveaway will take place.

Individuals and groups may register online at www.BlackMaleSummit2012.EventBrite.com.  For more information, please call Alicia Jackson (832) 338-6719 or contact Deric Muhammad directly at (713)539-1079.

Jill Stein, Green Party: Mobilizing the Dissatisfied

2012 Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein

I really enjoyed interviewing the 2012 Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein. I've stated this to many who have asked me about it that it was one of the most interesting interviews I have ever conducted with a candidate for political office. The depth of her sincerity and conviction is not something you see everyday from those in the political realm, with whom I come into contact often.  I'd like for you to read the interview, share it with others, and as always, let me know your thoughts. 

The full interview can be read here: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_9303.shtml

An excerpt is below: 

On the international front, Dr. Stein is highly critical of Pres. Obama’s expansion of drone wars in Yemen and Somalia, as well as sending armed troops into parts of Africa, which she believes was hastened once it was discovered that there was oil in Central Africa. She is firmly against a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. She is also in favor of the creation of a “nuclear free planet” and having the same rules for all nations, across the board.

“A war in Iran would be a disaster, an unmitigated disaster in terms of the chaos in the Middle East, what it would do to global energy supplies, that alone is reason enough not to go there. This would be extremely destructive to U.S. interests alone, so from the point of view of just enlightened self-interests, this is an insane thing to contemplate,” said Dr. Stein. If the spread of nuclear weapons is to be checked, other nations should be examined as well.

“Iran is certainly not the first here. There’s a long line of other countries including Israel and Pakistan and India which contain enormous potential for destruction already, not to mention the fact that the United States is the only country that’s actually used a nuclear weapon already,” she noted.

10/20/11: The martyrdom of Col. Muammar al-Gadhafi

Love him or hate him, agree or disagree, historians will not be able to deny his impact on world affairs and revolutionary movements. Col. Muammar al-Gadhafi’s legacy will be an admirable one. He will be remembered as a theoretician, and a revolutionary always willing to provide inspiration, monetary and military resources—to aid those fighting for self-determination. That is an honorable legacy to leave behind, and more are needed like him in Africa, and in the Arab world.

Today, take time to remember a revolutionary. 10/20/11, the martyrdom of Muammar al-Gadhafi.

Further reading: An Analysis of The Green Book

Fight Islamophobic rhetoric from the right! Do your part!

Looking at the anti-Islam signs posted on buses and throughout subway stations in NYC, I could not help but think about how as a young tagger and freshman at Senn High School in the mid-80s, I would have performed MAJOR 'edits' on them with a Magnum marker or some Griffin.

This was sent to me earlier today, and represents a stance we all should take against dangerously Islamophobic rhetoric.

The Message of The Middle East by John Perkins

The Message of the Middle East

By John Perkins (Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man)

The tragic events sweeping the Middle East, including the murder of the U.S. Ambassador and other embassy personnel in Libya, have left many wondering how people can exhibit such anger against a nation that helped free them from murderous dictators.

On the one hand, we hear accusations that Muslims do not respect women, human rights, and other religions, and that violence is part of Middle Eastern cultures. On the other hand, we hear that U.S. and European policies, dating back for more than a century, have been exploitive and imperialistic, have supported brutal dictators, and created a web of discontent. Both sides draw on the sacred texts – the Quran and Bible – to justify their contentions.

The sad truth is that human history is riddled with violence and that individuals, cultures, and nations have become accustomed to solving differences by picking up weapons and attacking others, rather than by understanding that the only lasting solutions lie in cooperation and compassion.

A movie produced by an individual with suspect motives was used to justify an attack that resulted in the death of a U.S. diplomat who dedicated his life to building bridges between cultures. At the same time that the White House condemned violence in the streets of Benghazi, it also authorized drones that kill innocent civilians in Afghanistan. These two seemingly unrelated actions carry a shared message: violence has become endemic and it is totally and completely ineffectual as a method for settling differences.

Like all crises, the tragic events of the Middle East offer opportunities. They spur us to commit ourselves to finding new solutions. If we want to honor the life of Ambassador Chris Stevens, protest a film that dishonors the Prophet Muhammad, end the senseless killings in Afghanistan, and create a world future generations will want to inherit, now is the time to convince ourselves and our leaders – regardless of cultural or religious leanings – that we all live on a tiny and fragile space station. This one has no shuttles. We simply must come together. The only solution is one that embraces compassion, cooperation and peace.

I travel to Washington D.C. this next week to speak at three very different venues on this very subject. If you live in that area, I hope you will join me. Wherever you live and however you see yourself, please commit to taking some action every single day to helping create a world that future generations of all species around the planet will want to inherit. __________________________________________________________

John Perkins' events in Washington D.C.

Thursday, September 27, 2012, 7PM-Talk – NATIONAL PRESS CLUB

Saturday, September 29, 2012, 3PM-Talk – GREEN FESTIVAL

 Monday, October 1, 2012, 7PM-Talk – IRANIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

(For more information see www.johnperkins.org)

#AskFarrakhan Social Media Townhall Next Week!

Minister Farrakhan is very excited about answering your questions during the #AskFarrakhan Social Media Townhall on 9/26. Live webcast at http://askfarrakhan.noi.org 

2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC

Ashahed M. Muhammad at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC, the site of the 2012 Democratic National Convention

I've been in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past few days covering  the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  I've Tweeted and taken a few photos, posted some, and will post more in the coming days that I invite you to check out on My Facebook page. Enjoy, and tell me what you think!