Despite protest from some supporters, Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders has endorsed Joe Biden for President, putting an end to the 2020 Presidential Primary.
This isn’t shocking news, as the Senator has consistently stated that he would support whoever the Democratic nominee for president was, but his announcement comes as a large number of Sanders supporters have been stating that they will not vote for Biden.
The announcement came during a joint Facebook Live session that the two hosted on the afternoon of April, 13th. During the session, the Senator stated to Biden, “Today I’m asking all Americans … to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse,”
You can watch Bernie’s announcement and their entire conversation below.
]]>Yesterday during a heated debate on the Be Heard Talk show, Stanley Fritz declared to Selena Hill and the rest of the team that while he was upset that Senator Sanders had to drop out of the Presidential Primary, he was not surprised, because Sanders didn’t do enough to win the black vote.
According to Stanley, “while Senator Sanders has run on a leftist progressive message that has inspired millions of young voters, it was not enough to get them out on election day and vote. Meanwhile, Joe Biden was able to maintain strong and consistent support from the black voter base, while expanding the support he received from white voters across the country. “
“If Sanders was going to win the Democratic nomination, he was going to need to win over way more black votes than he did, instead he kept ignoring the calls for reparations, and didn’t do enough to reach out to black leaders.”
You can listen to the full discussion at the link below:
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Things went from tense to straight-up heated, and with neither side willing to fall back, Stanley gave one of the most famous rants in the show’s history. Relive the moment below.
]]>I grew up in a neighborhood that was ridden with drugs, poverty, violence, and suffering. It was also the only example I had for what black spaces should look like. I wanted nothing to do with that and was determined to leave it for something better. At the time, “better” meant white.
Everything I knew and had seen about white people and whiteness was pristine. Beautiful suburbs, a passion for education and history, strength, compassion, and love. The college would be my audition for that world and those people. From 16–24 I did everything in my power to be accepted by white people and embraced by white spaces. That embrace would mean that I arrived. All I had to do was be the best negro ever while embracing everything that defined whiteness, and rejecting all things associated with blackness. I took this mission so seriously, I stopped eating fried chicken, and disavow the community I few up in as a “hell hole.”
Then Trayvon was murdered, and my universe, along with that plantation thinking began to fall apart. It didn’t happen all at once, but I eventually realized that white acceptance was bullshit and didn’t mean shit. Stanley today, is in a constant pursuit to learn about and love his blackness. When I was still sunken, there were people that encouraged or pushed back on my pursuit to be embraced by white people and white culture. But when I finally got my shit together, it wasn’t because someone made me, it was my choice.
As Kanye continues to show his ass, by coming out in support of Trump and showing off his MAGA hat, people have begun to theorize on what changed in this once unapologetically black man. Some people blame mental health; that’s a lazy excuse and disrespects people dealing with all kinds of mental health issues. Kanye may have mental health and addiction issues, but people with bipolar disorder or anxiety don’t have a preference for nazi loving presidents.
Another set of people blame the Kardashians, specifically Kim. Let me be clear, Kim Kardashian is a trash culture vulture, she and her family have made a fortune by stealing from black, gay, and trans women, of color. And her greatest skill is the ability to weaponize her whiteness, but this ain’t her fault. Kanye, like most black people is suffering from post-traumatic slave syndrome.
We all find our ways through it, sometimes we don’t. He didn’t, and he did that on his own. If you think about Kanye’s behavior over the last five years, it becomes clearer that he doesn’t really f*** with us. He’s deathly silent on social issues; the only time he talks to us is when he has an album coming out or a new pair of Yeezy’s. He criticizes our communities for our “love of consumerism” then sells plain white tee’s for hundreds of dollars. Pricing out the poor and low-income people that supported him from day one.
Kim is not the cause of this, she is a trophy, his symbol of the white embrace. The truth is, Kanye has always desired the approval from white people and white institutions, whether it be by his desire to be acknowledged by white fashion designers, or his temper tantrums when white-run media outlets denied him accolades. Kanye has always aspired to be acknowledged by and celebrated by colonizers because white acknowledgment to him, just as it was to me (and sometimes still does) equates to success.
]]>No matter what was revealed during this very public investigation and trial, I never stopped believing in Kobe and when he gave an apology that reeked of a confession, I still questioned the victim and gave Bryant my undying loyalty.
You’re probably wondering why I’m talking about a 15-year-old case, I’ll get to the point. I was a teenager standing up for his idol. Despite a bunch of evidence, I let my adoration of Kobe block all logic; in hindsight, I was wrong. Reflecting as an adult, I can see how youth, ignorance, and partialness influenced my thinking. In the last week, I have seen the same kind of undying loyalty, and aggressive dismissal of the facts from grown men responding to Bill Cosby’s sentencing, I’m here to say that it’s not cool.
Bill Cosby is a rapist, It doesn’t matter if he raped one woman, or the 40 plus women who have accused him of assault thus far, he is a rapist. And when we, but particularly men, try to defend the honor of someone who has inflicted trauma on so many people, we’re not just sharing a “controversial take” we’re dismissing the cries of assault victims. These aren’t just random names attempting to step into the spotlight, there is no glory in having to tell the world you were taken advantage of. Especially when you’re facing off against someone with more money than most of us will ever see, and a reputation that has given him friends in high places.
I get it, Bill Cosby was like a dad to me too, like Kobe, Cosby was the ultimate role model. He represented the kind of man that I could become, and the type of family I could aspire to build. But we can’t keep making excuses for shitty things that men do. He doesn’t deserve our sympathy, and we shouldn’t be coming to his defense. This isn’t happening because he “tried to buy NBC”, no there isn’t some secret conspiracy from white people to destroy our black leaders. Well, actually, there probably is a secret group of white people on a mission to undermine or destroy black leaders, but they’re not after Cosby. This is a story of a man who drugged women so he could have sex with them. He did this to himself.
Take a step back and really think about this. Over 40 women have accused him of assault, Cosby in court documents has admitted to drugging women for sex, and now, a jury of his peers has found him guilty of sexual assault. The evidence is overwhelming, but you’re still out here defending him.
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In a matter of weeks, the coronavirus has triggered a global pandemic that has completely upended our lives, drove the U.S. economy into a tailspin, and created a worldwide public health crisis. To say this feels surreal is an understatement. That a microscopic virus could cause catastrophic effects to millions of people and bring the world to a complete standstill in 2020 is hard to phantom. Yet, here we are, facing an unprecedented crisis with no end in sight. But, as the saying goes, when America catches a cold, black folks catch pneumonia. According to reports, the looming recession will hit black and brown workers the hardest. Meanwhile, the president has used xenophobic language to polarize the pandemic and Republicans are devising a plan to bailout billion-dollar companies.
The Burden of the Rona
The crisis, however, feels a bit heavier on working-class people of color who faced discrimination and hardships when it comes to buying homes, paying off student debt, and achieving upward mobility pre-Rona. But we’re not at war against an invisible virus; nor are we fighting against the man in the White House or the racists in Congress. Rather, we’re up against the systems of oppression that were designed to empower and protect rampant corruption and corporate greed. It’s those systems that have caused the wealth gap between black and white families to continue to widen, while healthcare officials put profits over people and gentrification is displacing entire communities. It’s the same system that enslaved our ancestors, exploits undocumented workers, and locks generations of people into a cycle of poverty. The coronavirus and subsequent economic downtown only unmask and exacerbates the inequality people of color faced their entire lives.
Although black and brown folks are monetizing their creative genius and pursuing entrepreneurship to create happy and comfortable lives that fulfill their personal definitions of success, there are still many more in these communities who are falling behind. Many successful black entrepreneurs have been fortunate enough to cultivate a profitable side hustle or bring a million-dollar idea into fruition, but not enough — not because some people are less special, talented, or motivated, but because overcoming systemic hurdles gets lost in the challenge of trying to put food on the table, pay rents and mortgages, and just get by.
How I Became Woke
While these isms (sexism, racism, classism, etc.) have always existed, the true weight of them hit home when back in 2005 when I witnessed the first-ever national crisis and the epic failure of government during the Hurricane Katrina crisis. Like many millennials, it was the moment I became “woke.” A year later, I traveled to the Lower Ninth Ward, a black, low-come community in New Orleans that was neglected and forgotten after the storm. I spent the week of my 2006 spring break gutting homes, sleeping in an abandoned school, and showering in outdoor stalls. Afterward, I returned to my dorm room knowing that the days my classmates and I spent in New Orleans were not enough to keep African American families from being displaced. Nor was it enough to fill the gaping holes left open by the state and federal government.
In 2007, we returned to New Orleans only to discover that not much had changed in the Lower Ninth Ward. Again, we dedicated another week to working with locals and Common Ground Relief to rebuild the city. But still, it wasn’t enough. At that moment, I realized that the fight against government corruption, systemic oppression, and poverty required a lifetime commitment. I was also reassured that my purpose in life was to be a voice for that community and all disenfranchised groups around the world.
Letting Their Voices Be Heard
Around the same time, I launched “Let Your Voice Be Heard! Radio” as a college sophomore at SUNY Old Westbury. The goal was to be a platform for the student body and to inform, educate, and empower my peers on civic, political, and cultural issues.
Fast forward 14 years later, and thanks to an abundance of support from all of my present and former co-hosts, correspondents, friends, family, and listeners, we are still producing new episodes each week. The show has undergone countless changes and a digital evolution that has transformed us from a radio show to a social media-focused live recording. Under normal circumstances, we record new episodes every Sunday at WHCR 90.3 FM “The Voice of Harlem” while taking comments and questions from our audience in real-time on Facebook and Instagram LIVE.
Just weeks before the novel virus, my team and I rededicated ourselves to the show’s mission — to educate, inform, and empower — but with a new look, feel, and approach. We changed the name from “Let Your Voice Be Heard!” to “Be Heard Talk” and recommitted ourselves to being a voice for people of color and allies to unpack issues related to race, politics, and culture. Each week we challenge the status quote and devise and advocate for a political agenda that serves our communities. However, we always find a way to sprinkle in a bit of trap music, Beyonce, and flavor on the unseasoned news in mainstream media.
In addition, “Be Heard Talk” is an outlet for me to channel my passion into purpose; it’s my small contribution to society; and it’s my way of holding myself accountable to the goals I set more than a decade ago. And now, as we turned the page to a new chapter, it’s my way to communicate to the world that I am and will always be dedicated to hearing and uplifting the voices of those who are silenced.
We’re super excited to introduce you to “Be Heard Talk,” a podcast and multi-platform outlet for all things race, politics, and culture.
Our new logo reflects the shift in our voice and politics over the years. We’ve grown and evolved a lot and we’re happy to invite you along to the next chapter of our journey.
One thing, however, has not changed. Now and forever, we will be the friends you can rely on to educate, inform, and empower you on the issues you care about by connecting politics and social justice to hip hop and culture.
Stay tuned for new episodes of “Be Heard Talk” every Monday and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
]]>When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects.
I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects.
]]>When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!
I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects.
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