Saturday, April 07, 2012

The New Jim Crow - racism and war on drugs

Just happened to see author Michelle Alexander on RT.com talking about her 2010 book "The New Jim Crow" about how the war on drugs has been used so successfully to target and suppress black males, to kill, imprison and disenfranchise them. (Originally it also was used also to target white anti-war protesters, at least til they all grew up and joined the establishment.) The interview in light of the killing of Trayvon Martin by a defacto vigilante (as opposed to by a police officer where the issue would quickly be forgotten). Those of us active for decades against the war on drugs have used that expression frequently and its great to see an African-American woman writing a book about it. Somebody send a copy to our Kenyan-American president. And to all the African-American leaders not raising a really big stink about how their "Christian" religion is being used to turn black males back into defacto slaves of a heartless system. She makes the point there are more disenfranchised black males today than there were under slavery!!

Beatles Reunions - second generation

There's nothing that excites an old Beatlemaniac waiting for the Beatles to ignite the Apocalypse of Love than hearing about a Beatles reunion - even if it is just speculation about the four sons of the four horsemen getting together. (See my other Beatle-related posts.) Per this Guardian UK article: A Beatles reunion might be impossible, but music fans may yet get to see Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starkey on stage together, because the Beatles' sons have mooted the idea of starting a band. At first, it seemed like a joke. "What would you say to forming the Beatles – the Next Generation," BBC News' Ian Youngs asked James McCartney. But the young McCartney gave a surprisingly genuine response, revealing he had already discussed the concept "a little bit" with some of his fellow Fab Four heirs.

Once again for your pleasure, here's my video about going to see them twice in person in 1964: