Radio Hosts Call For Anti-racism ‘Blackout’
October 31st, 2007They say that Black folks can show their power by refusing to buy anything on Friday
Could African Americans put a dent in racism by agreeing not to spend a single nickel on the same day of the week? A group of Black radio talk-show hosts believe that Black folks – with an estimated purchasing power near $1 trillion – could force the U.S. government
to take a more aggressive stand against the seeming deluge of racial injustices, from the flurry of nooses and hurry to jail Black youths, to racial profiling and predatory mortgage lenders. Raleigh, N.C., Attorney and radio show host Warren Ballentine says that if African Americans keep their money in their pockets on Friday, they will send a clear message that the Black community is nothing to mess with. He says he got the idea after joining numerous protest marches this year. “After Jena, [the Louisiana march that drew tens of thousands of people] I decided there’s so many things going on in this country as far as [injustices within] the justice system,” Ballentine, who calls himself “The People’s Attorney,” told The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Among other radio personalities who have joined his crusade are Michael Baisden and the Rev. Al Sharpton. “I’m a lawyer and I’m seeing a lot of people across the board suffer from the mortgage crisis,” he said. “I’m asking all Americans to participate, not just blacks. I’m asking people — if you can — don’t spend any money.” With more than 36 million Blacks in the United States, Ballentine says an anti-racism economic boycott can be powerful. “It’s showing togetherness and unity, and it’s one thing we haven’t shown the federal government in a long time,” Ballentine said. “I know this is working because I’m getting death threats and advertisers are starting to worry that they’re going to lose money on this day.” Do you think this is a good idea? Will you participate in the economic boycott on Nov. 2?
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I demand Justice now!!!!!!!! Black hypocrites marching against racism? Affirmative action Hires millions of unqualified blacks! Almost all schools, And business’s have a racial vouchers to fill!, so they end up hiring unqualified blacks! Take New Yorkcitys fire department. They decided that blacks don’t have to score high on the test because their bias! Now we are hiring Unintelligent blacks. How the f**k can an intelligent fire fighting test be bias. Now when firefighter come to your door they will be too stupid to know what to do!- Now moving on to interracial crimes…
Interracial Crime
• Of the nearly 770,000 violent interracial crimes committed every year involving blacks and whites, blacks commit 85 percent and whites commit 15 percent.
• Blacks commit more violent crime against whites than against blacks. Forty-five percent of their victims are white, 43 percent are black, and 10 percent are Hispanic. When whites commit violent crime, only three percent of their victims are black.
• Blacks are an estimated 39 times more likely to commit a violent crime against a white than vice versa, and 136 times more likely to commit robbery.
• Blacks are 2.25 times more likely to commit officially-designated hate crimes against whites than vice versa.
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Interracial Crime
• Of the nearly 770,000 violent interracial crimes committed every year involving blacks and whites, blacks commit 85 percent and whites commit 15 percent.
• Blacks commit more violent crime against whites than against blacks. Forty-five percent of their victims are white, 43 percent are black, and 10 percent are Hispanic. When whites commit violent crime, only three percent of their victims are black.
• Blacks are an estimated 39 times more likely to commit a violent crime against a white than vice versa, and 136 times more likely to commit robbery.
• Blacks are 2.25 times more likely to commit officially-designated hate crimes against whites than vice versa.
I demand Justice now!!!!!!!! Black hypocrites marching against racism? Affirmative action Hires millions of unqualified blacks! Almost all schools, And business’s have a racial vouchers to fill!, so they end up hiring unqualified blacks! Take New Yorkcitys fire department. They decided that blacks don’t have to score high on the test because their bias! Now we are hiring Unintelligent blacks. How the f**k can an intelligent fire fighting test be bias. Now when firefighter come to your door they will be too stupid to know what to do!- Now moving on to interracial crimes…
the Blackout is a great idea. I’am also African/Native American I always find African-American owened companies,stores,doctors,
dentists,ect… to pay my money. The numbers of African-American spending dollars are slowing down due to Hispanic dollars in our nation growing. Africa actually has some great vacation sites…..
h-TOWN;
YOU DON’T SPEAK FOR US ,COWARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED
WERE NO LONGER APOLOGIZING WHEN IT COME TO THE TRUTH…….STOP HIDING BEHIND THE BIBLE GOD
DON’T REPECT PEOPLE WHO WON’T STAND FOR THE TRUTH
JESUS HAD NO FEAR EVEN WHEN HE KNEW HE WOULD
BE CRUSIFIED .MOSES HAD NO FEAR WHEN HE LED THE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT,THEY THO WE WALK TRU THE SHAWDOW OF DEATH WE SHALL FEAR NO EVIL…
WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF HARRIET TUBMAN
NO LONGER UNDER GROUND
Absolutely,absolutely!
Make it Happen!!
i’m down with it!!!! any black panthers out there….
I will not be spending a cent tomorrow.
Justice and peace for all
I get so many chain letter e-mail hoaxes that I dismissed the one about the boycott I got last Sunday, especially since there was nothing on Al Sharpton or Michael Baisden’s websites about this. Accordingly, I deleted the message along with the other chain-letter scares and prayers.
Overall, I think this is an emotionally stimulating but in reality an ineffective effort. We’ll all feel good but the economic effects of a one-day “don’t buy” will vaninish quickly if in fact they even appear.
As the 1954 Montgomery and other efforts have repeatedly shown, boycotts must be focused at a specific target (company, product, hotel chain, etc.) and maintained long enough for them to feel it. That’s why the threat of boycotting Don Imus’ advertisers had as much impact as the proposed boycott itself would have. You have to focus your boycott towards specific targets to achieve the critical mass needed to hurt them.
Telling people not to buy “anything from anybody” for one day doesn’t provide a clear enough target for people to focus on, and as many rightly point out, a day’s loss of sales will be made up in the sales spikes the day before or afterwards. One day is not long enough even towards a specific target.
Lastly , the real danger here is that if there is little more than a whimper, it will be much harder to get people to rally around a focused and sustained effort in the future.
You can only cry wolf so many times.
People you must see the big picture. Its not about if it will work or not (although I hope it will be effective), its about we as a people coming together. Look what happen in Jena. Those many people coming together. First, let me say this abou Lee, he does has some valid points. But, for him to criticize a sista like he does. There is alot of confusion because on one hand he sounds intelligent, but then he sounds like a fool. And the lady, he writes about, you are using too much of your energy to counter attack him, this is not wise. Don’t lose your focus, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Don’t even respond to ignorance. People the time is now for us to come together. At the end of March a major prophecy will be fulfilled. After Babylon aka Iraq is destroyed Father will favor his people again. Research the scriptures. There are so many wrongs that we have to make right. The White people are still going to try to oppress us, but we have to remember Yah allowed it to happen. We have to come together and get on one accord with him, then and only then our people will know how to be victorious over the enemy. Its no coincidence, these people sit behinds close walls and try to figure out how to keep our people living below the poverty line, keep us in debt, want and desire things that can’t profit. And using our Rappers, Artist, (and they don’t know it) to continue producing negative energy, so we won’t think positive. Its time people, and when you need something else to come together to do, how about lets come together fast and pray together a certain time, a certain day. He said break up your fallow ground, its time to seek Yah till he come rain righteousness on you.
Anti Racism boycott by using race as the source of unification sounds like hypocrisy. You will never end individualized racism idiots, look in the mirror, some of you are racist but you deny it. The only racism that can be elimnated is that racism supported by the government which was eliminated with the end of Jim Crow. Now when asked for example of racism, all you get from the U.S negro are weak examples, three strikes law, anti race based preferences in education, lack of social programs, so-called under funded public schools, anti welfare legislation and many other silly examples. The truth is the majority of Blacks don’t depend on welfare, social prgrams, don’t sell crack, or powder cocaine, or don’t commit crime, so don’t even need a third strike. The reason, Blacks can never unite, as the U.S Negro claims, is because these so-called leaders come up with dumb ideas. The Jena 6 received a lot of attention and people too to the streets. I didn’t participate because, although I thought the sentence was too harsh, I don’t believe it’s okay for people to attack and beat people just because they are offended. However, many Blacks took to the streets, why? because the message was clear, the sentence was too harsh. This boycott is silly, and has no meaning other than to test the power of these radion host.
Okay lets see how this sounds. We are asking Whites to not spend their money tomorrow in a effort to combat racism. Like I said, to have a effort to so-call end racism using race is in itself hypocrisy and shows that a racist can call another person who loves his own a racist, but has no problem being a racist himself. I don’t think racist should be telling others to end racism when they themselves have racist intentions.
FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE A JOB NEEDS GAS TO GET BACK AND FORTH. NOW IF ANYONE ON THIS SITE WANTS TO GIVE ME A RIDE BACK FORTH THROUGH OUT THE CITY THEN I’LL PARTICIPATE BUT I’VE STILL NEVER HEARD OF ANY ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE .GAS IS NEEDED TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. DO YA’LL THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED? EVEN BACK IN THE DAY THEY HAD BUSES TO TAKE PEOPLE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A SUCCESS. THIS STRIKE IS NOT BEING REALISTIC.
Lee,
I applaude your response to my comment,and very much respect your idea. In fact we as one should actually boycott in a more effective manner,such as one store/company..etc.I also agree with you,Baby,we should go for a place such as Wal-mart. I personally because of past rumors of the way the corporate does business w/ other companies(not give them the $ their product is worth..etc) have decided to not spend my money at their store already and believe me it doesnt hurt to go to another store to get your products.I think this movement is a vey good idea as long as we can all be on a common ground and we call tell by this blog that not everyone is on the same page.If we can get the majority to follow on straight plan of action then I think this would be a very effective movement.So why not just boycott one store for now,its a beginning… and keep it going until there is a change. I would promote that cause.
Lastly,to “Paleface”…..lets see…the point bro Jay was trying to make by saying that some people still endure being objects to racisim is true. Today truth is no matter if some choose to try to be blinded by their own truth or by what others tell them, racisim will always be around as long as we are human.The fact is everyone is different and it is for this reason that everyone is put in to some type of ‘class’,’sterotype’,or whatever categorie through out life. African Americans(people) feel as if we are subjected to be put in many categories simply because of our race or heritage,just as I am sure that other people who would like to live freely but are bonded by laws. African Americans still are not considered a full human by the Constitution..(did u know that? truly says only 3/4ths) so what is the other 1/4?Why is it that it is only African Americans who are completly human? Why is it that African American wrongs are given more publicity then our rights? Why does it take a ‘white’American to be knocked off their pedal stool numerous amounts of times before they get the punishment African Americans would get the first time around in most class levels?I know you personally are not the one to be held responsible to answer these questions or to fix these wrongs,but these are things that you could consider before telling someone that they are wrong for something that they believe.Not all of your race feels the way you do,just as not all of my race will agree with me..and again its because we are human and in this country we have the freedom of speech,but it is the thinking and knowledge that some seem to lack.The point is if you dont fall into the categorie that is being spoken of then you should not take offense against it because it is not directed to you,also I don’t understand how anyone can say who has the right to do something if you dont even know their situation.I am sure he was not trying to offend you personally,and yes the name calling among us is not neccessary but the points being made and the facts listed should be paid attention to. In other words dont just focus on the surface letters actually read the message if you truly want to understand.
I would have definitely participated had I known about it before today. I would bought my son’s formula and pampers beforehand. However he cannot due one more day without. It was an excellent idea but should have been advertised more.
I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS FOOLISHNESS. WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE REAL ISSUES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AIDS, VIOLENCE, THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR FAMILIES AND THE POVERTY IN OUR COMMMUNITIES. WE ARE SO QUICK TO RAISE THE PICKET SIGN WHEN WHITE FOLKS DO US DIRTY BUT WHEN A CHILD DIES IN THE STREETS OVER SOME BULLS**T WE SIT BACK AND SAY NOTHING. TELL WARREN BALLENTINE AND AL SHARPTON TO GO TO HELL. AL SHARPTON IS PIMPING EVERY RACISM $# HE FINDS AND BALLENTINE JUST WANTS TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.
IT IS A WASTE TIME. DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT A BLACKOUT DAY WHEN WE HAVE NOT CLEANED UP OUR OWN HOUSE. WE RUN TO JENA 6 BUT WHERE ARE WE ON THE VIOLENCE, PERVERSION, POVERTY, AND PAIN THAT IS HURTING THE BLACK COMMUNITY. WHERE ARE WE ON AIDS AND SUFFERING IN BLACK COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY. WARREN BALLENTINE IS DELUSIONAL AND NOT WORTH MY TIME. I TURN OFF THE RADIO EVERY TIME HE COMES ON. WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES.
Darnell, Bro Jay, Hugh-EMC,TweedyB, Shalom…TRUTH IS TRUTH..I COMMEND YOU ALL IN YOUR STATEMENTS. Bro Jay, loved the children of Harriet Tubman statement. ^5 my brother. I am so glad that we have you in the trenches and on the front lines.
Lee and Eveningstar, we have got to do better. I’ve had my moments here and its not worth the effort nor the energy to continuous cut one another down. We are on the same battle field fighting for the same cause … Black Unification and Apprecation, we need to Dedication in order for our people to receive the Edification as a Nation which is within a Nation to Achieve not only Justification but also Elevation, can yall dig the Situation? ..LOL.. now ask me what the hell I said. LOL. on the real yall put away your swords…save it for the real fight. Right now we need Organization and doing it here on this BET blog is not a good idea. It’s not good to talk family business in front of company{white folks}.
With that being said, I revert to the opening statement of “paleface” and I ask…why praytell have you been sitting on this BET blog throughout your work day reading what we as a black people have typed? Your people have spied on our people from the beginning stealing our ideas, our inventions and patenting them for self. Our true history and not your his-story tells of this. So I ask now what is your reason for reading and then interjecting your views on a Black Entertainment blog?