Friday Night Education Symposium at the Franklin Institute.....In Philadelphia, PA

A Friday Night at the Franklin Institute Examines The Schools Issue...

 

By Brother Tracy Gibson

 

 

On September 28, 2012, Friday night, I attended a symposium on Public Education held at the Franklin Institute at 222 North 20th Street in Philadelphia. A very bright group of interested Leaders was included among those on the panel.  Including: Christine Beck, the author of ``Listen to Our Voices,'' ; Stacy Holland, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Youth Network...and State Senator Vincent Hughes, who has worked on education issues for decades as a State Senator and as a State Legislator.  Other panelist included Rahim Islam of the Universal Companies {Owned mostly by Black Millionaire Record Producer Kenny Gamble}; and Mark Gleason, who through The Philadelphia Schools Partnership, a non-profit designed to assist schools that are performing ``better'' by systematically injecting $100 Million Dollars; and Sandra Dungee Glenn, former head of the School Reform Commission {She served as host}; William Hite, Jr. was asked many questions because he is the new Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Philadelphia. 

Unfortunately the event was NOT well attended at all.  There should have been a rousing chorus of parents and youth and students from the Philadelphia School system, yet there was only a sprinkling. There were no Students on the panel {Which one parent thought was ridiculous, as did I}; and there were no Parents on the Panel either {Which at least one parent mentioned and thought was equally ridiculous.} Another thing I thought was really bad is that while Shara Lomax Reese, who is with the radio station that helped sponsor the event, thanked the corporate sponsors, there was very, very little thanks to the people who took time out of their busy day to attend and help represent the struggling student body of Philadelphia. 

One parent said there needs to be an effort to stop emphasising the testing of students and their proficiency standards in various subjects and put more emphasis on helping students become whole, decent, well rounded people, ready to make our world a better, more sustainable place to live. To Paraphrase Writer-Activist Alice Walker who was recently on Free Speech TV's ``Democracy Now'' Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of her book ``The Color Purple,'' We need to be about making the world a more sustainable place for all of us to co-exist--not fight wars and learn how to kill.  Few people seemed to really understand the depth of what this particular parent was putting across.     

 

WURD Radio and Universal Companies were among the corporate sponsors.

``Your Way IS The HIGH WAY

Very often we fail to realize that, after reading our Declaration of Independence, Our Bill of Rights and our Constitution, it is us, we, who really run this sucka called North America.  We let our Captains of Industry and our Big Booted politicians act like they are in control, but as Ghandi said, ``When People Lead, Leaders Will Follow.''  So in Essence, Our Way Is the High Way.... The Way of high principal, high ethics and high moral value...if we work towards that and really want that to be so.  We only need to do our best, be honest, love ourselves and others and not be vicious and always be fair in the end, even if we are dealt a hand that is no good, we can come back to a person or people that we might have done to wrong and make corrections, if they are still speaking to us.  This is the correct thing to do and the GODLY thing to do!!!

The More Diverse We Become the More Important Our democracy Becomes...

The more the United States and the world becomes more diverse and multicultural, the more important our system of democracy becomes to us and the rest of the planet. As I have said, this is true not only for us in the U.S., but to other powers around the globe who truly appreciate our system of government and want to emulate it. {It must be pointed out that such emulation must take into consideration the cultural differences of the indigenous people in the various countries where such democracies are to take root.  I don't think everybody in the world is interested in become like us culturally.....}

Stupid Men Going to Mars Where There Is NO Air or Water After Destroying Our Planet

my question is why is there excitement created about going to Mars when we haven't done our work here on earth?  We are just way too anxious and happy to leave this planet--if we have the millions and billions to do so--and not take full responsibility for alleviating this precious planet of the many problems that plague the lives of humans here.

Why The Cuban, Palestinian and World Revolutionary People { Including Many African People} Are Chosen.....

The Jewish People, funny isn't it, are always talking about being ``Chosen People'' Where do they get such malarkey from in the first place? Certainly there is much talk and ballyhoo about Jewish People and the State of Israel in the Bible.  I am NOT a Biblical expert, but I know that the Jewish people talked about in the Bible and the European Jewish People of today are two different People. [I have written extensively about the Jewish People in other articles on this Blog.]

The Jewish people of 2000 years ago were most likely of African decent, with dark skin and woolly hair, and other African features. [We may NEVER know the truth about this for sure because the Cairo Museum in Egypt and the British Museum in London, England have hidden and covered up a great many anthropological and architectual artifacts that would likely prove African origins of Egyptian and other high cultures mentioned in the Bible].

I say African People and Cubans in Revolutionary Cuba, are the choosen people because they have authentically suffered at the hands of White, sometimes Jewish oppressors.  If you are a follower of the Bible, you know that it speaks repeatedly of the weak, the meek and the powerless one day overcoming their oppressors and ``overcoming,''

This is a work in Progress and needs more writing and editing!!!


Palestinians: The excuse many conservative Jewish Scholars give for want the Palestinian People off of ``their'' land is Biblical in context.  THey point to the many references of Israele in the Bible and say they have rights ``Given by GOD.''  However, like I said, I believe that such references were NOT made about present-day European Jewish People, but the Jewish People of Old, who were More African in theis historical orientation--I believe.  

Being Excluded From The Gay Community's Economic Development, By Brother Tracy Gibson...

Being Excluded From The Gay Community's Economic Development

By Brother Tracy Gibson...

It is a district that takes up a good chunk of the heartland of what is Center City Philadelphia.  It is ``loveingly'' called Philadelphia's Gayborhood.  It reaches from Lombard Street in the South to Chestnut Street in the North.  And from 11th Street in the East to Broad Street in the West.  It is filled to the brim with successful Gay-owned, Gay themed, Gay oriented and Gay operated businesses like florists, the historic Giovanni's Room Bookstore and bar/ Restaurants like Woody's. There are other places of business as well, but few if any of these businesses are owned and operated by Black Gay or Black Same Gender Loving people. {I can't think of one owned by a Transgendered Black person either...} We, or maybe I should just say I, don't feel a part of the ``Gayborhood'' even though I am a Board Certified homosexual.  Being Black has put me in the loop of ``Brother Outsider''--accepted as a consumer, but NOT as a potential or actual business owner, established leader or as a voice--not even a voice for the Voiceless.

The PGN, or, as it is really known in more formal terms, the Philadelphia Gay News, is owned by, of course, a Gay person.  A man named Mark Seagal who, I find to be a devoted racist--even though he is a homosexual or a Gay person.  {I don't know Mr. Seagal personally, but judging from his newspaper, I find the editorial positions, content and the vision of the PGN to be sorely lacking in racial diversity and lacking in positive news content about the achievements of Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered People of Colour.} Often the PGN defies logic in the way it present stories about people of colour. Always depicting the stories that present Black and Latin people who are trying every day to improve the circumstances of their respective communities in a bad light when they make a mistake, but forgetting about our achievements and the encouraging things we do to fight racism, exclusion, racial hatred and the fights we fight to improve our community locally, state-wide and nationally on human rights issues, Civil Rights issues and a host of other issues.....  That, to me smacks of a true and deep racism that is not only found at 505 South 4th Street, where the PGN has been situated for years, but this racism runs deep throughout Gay Philadelphia and emanates from the if-you-come-screaming-with-your-dollar-Bills-in-hand-and-are-Black-I'll-accept-you-only-on-that-level ``GAYBORHOOD!!''

But don't ask for space and Capital and financial acceptance as a business person in this bastion of liberalism and expect to get anywhere--you most likely won't. Seagel and the Philly Gay News is very, very racist and exclusionary in the way they present and report the news. If you are a top Black gay administrator for the City's office of Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Bisexual Community you will find your picture and a story splattered all over the paper if you have a minor legal infraction with the Philadelphia Police Department. But if you achieve something Big or dedicate yourself to working for your people, be they Gay or Straight, you will most likely be ignored. But the racism emanates from many other parts of the city's ``Gayborhood'' as well. If you go to Woody's on a regular basis and decide NOT to suck up to White men you may well be ostracized of even castigated.  Welcome to the Gayborhood of 2012 in Philadelphia!!!  Racism and Racial Hatred is alive and well in the Gayborhood in Philadelphia. There desperately needs to be some sharing and healing along racial lines in the Philadelphia area--especially in Center City's Gayborhood and the rest of center City.

I went in Giovanni's Room at 345 South Street, {12th and Pine} a few months ago and asked the manager/owner, who I somewhat know, about the possibility of a bookstore in West Philadelphia that would host Gay and Black themed books.  I was never given the chance to meet with the owner privately to discuss my ideas, nor was I ever called or supported or encouraged to go to another source for possible funding. I have been an activist in Philadelphia for over 35 years and that was the treatment I got.  Mind you that Giovanni's Room is one of the more positive characters in the Gay community because they have a long, long history of supporting Black writers and having Black activities in their 12th and Pine Street Store.   However, when you take things to another level and start talking about ownership, shared ownership and working with marketing, Black customer development, a new second location in the Black Community or The Penn community {which is very accessible to the Black community of West and South West Philadelphia, you get blank stairs and non-answers even though Blacks make up a good cross-section of the customer base for Giovanni's Room...

MORE TO COME THIS ARTICLE IS BEING WORKED ON AND EDITED!!!  

Movie Reviews.....

Black LOVe, the color and excitement of Carnival in Rio, music, dance and Tragic death--but also, at the same time, the reemergence of new life and rebirth--are at the center of the classic film ``Black Orphis,''

This film is just perfect for young Black adults to begin to understand the power of and value of life itself. It is a film acted out through the lense which catches so much vitality and exuberance--it sees to almost pop from the screen.

 

Orphius finds and then, tragically loses the LOVe of his life. But as he himself loses his life at the end of the film, we see a new Orphius and Fuletta reborn through the hopeful eyes of children.  The movie points out to me why it is important to protect and value our young people because as life ends, it is important to bring on New Life.  Don't miss this classic film ``BLACK ORPHIUS''

available on DVD at the Philadelphia Free Library.

 

*****

 

As political thrillers go, Director George Clooney's ``The Ides of March,'' has to be rated TOP in its' class.  Mooris {Clooney} has ``All the Right Stuff'' to be the perfect Presidential candidate.  He pushes ALL the political buttons about the ``Rule of the RIch'' and how the ``Military is out of control.'' But he properly wraps himself in the American flag at the perfect times.

 

Frankly, I have never heard better political rhetoric from a fictional political character than I did from Clooney at Mooris in this picture, and that is REALLY saying something.  But the intrigue and tense drama of this film intensifies like taking a ride on a Roller Coaster as it reaches that first Big Hill--you have an idea about what's coming and that it's going to be wild, but you really have no idea what you are in for.

But the real charm of this movie is in its' ``Inside look'' at the daily operations of a top-notch Presidential campaign and the movers and shakers--and positioning which takes place.  This film ``ain't playin yall!!!'' I highly recommend it in these highly-charged political times we are living in.  The stock characters in this ensemble cast were absolutely excellent.  From the easily bought off Black U.S. Senator to the starry-eyed Campaign Executives who earns a top job by becoming jaded, ruthless and realistic--about out political system and how to manipulate it for personal political gain.  The secret, bubbling in the background creates a tense undercurrent which will keep your snow caps turned upside DOWN!!!

*******

Tyler Perry has a new movie out. Unfortunately it is NOT one of his better ones {In my opinion he only made three good films as yet: 1} ``Mr. Deeds''; 2} ``I Can Do Bad All By Myself;'' and ``Daddy's Little Girls'', The rest of his films, especially the ones where he plays ``MA-Dear'' are, frankly, trash and very destructive to the Black male image. Mr. Perry needs to come out of the closet and stop trying to play a macho man.  He is a homosexual and he needs to come clean with this fact to his audiences.  Several White Actors and performers have done it such as the gentleman who plays in ``How I Met Your Mother {Name to come}; and singer/ songwriter Sir Elton John.  Elton John was actually Knighted by the Queen of England AFTER he came out of the closet.  Mr. Perry thinks that because much of his following if from Black church-goers, that they will not accept him.  Many people don't accept the fake Macho image he tries to put across like he is doing in his new film which is full of sexual abuse and physical abuse of women; sex; violence; sudo-masochism; more violence and just the mistreatment and abuse of women like I have never seen even in film previews in ages. He should be ashamed of this fact and Never, ever make such a film again.  I refuse to go see it, not just because some of my heroes are women {Like Alice Walker --who has the gull and the WILL to stand firm in her opposition to what is going on in Israel where pass-laws, abuse, bull-dosing of homes, second rate schools for their children, no jobs and other mistreatment of Palestinian people is ramped {I will list some books to read later}...  {Palestinian People are really even less than second-class citizens}, but because I think the violence in films and on TV needs to be curtailed because it is rubbing off on our young people and on how they relate to each other; their peers; their parents and how they relate to Rap Music and to their elders and the people in the communities in which we live.  We have Tyler Perry and several others to thank for this..... Don't support the backwards movie world that Tyler Perry creates for viewers.