Friday Updates.

The extreme right wing person Jair Bolsonaro is the President of Brazil now. In Brazil, many Afro-Brazilians and the poor suffer in favellas. The police is replaced with the military to monitor the favellas. There is also a serious problem of Afro-Brazilians being murdered by the police or military forces in Brazil. Also, we have to realize the threat to democracy by Trump. Involving Puerto Rico, he has failed to advance an adequate federal response to help the people in that location. He has revoked the immigration status of black and Latino immigrants. He once allowed the splitting of families and their children at the Southern border. He refused to strongly enforce civil rights enforcement and he has promoted an immigration ban involving many majority Muslim nations. He is a stone cold racist and xenophobe. That is evidence about his profane tirade about majority black nations and his word that a Mexican American judge can't be involved in an immigration case because of his Mexican heritage (which is the textbook definition of racism). He defended white neo-Confederates and Neo-Nazis in Charlotessville, Virginia by calling them "nice people." This isn't new either. Woodrow Wilson segregated D.C. America itself was founded by slavery and the genocide of Native Americans. Chinese people were banned to go into America. Black slaves were split from their families constantly during the antebellum period. Many of my immediate ancestors were slaves like Esther Brickhouse Bailey (who was born in 1862 and she was my 2nd great grandmother). So, we have a long way to go. Yet, we have hope. I believe in black liberation and we should unite with working class people, the poor, and any oppressed people in achieving justice for all.

French President Marcon is wrong about praising Philippe Pétain because of many reasons. Petain was a member of the collaborationist pro-Nazi Vichy government in France during World War II. Petain was a fascist leader who supported oppression and other evils. He supported the mass deportation of 75,000 Jewish people from France into the death camps. He fought the French resistance and sent soldiers to the Nazis in fighting the Soviet Union. He was convicted of treason after World War II and was placed into life in prison. Marcon privatized the National Railways by decree, despite strike action and opposition from 95 percent of rail workers. Now, even as his ratings plunge and his ministerial cabinet disintegrates, he is forging ahead with cuts to pensions, health care and unemployment insurance, while strengthening the state’s police powers. Marcon said viciously racist comments about Africa that I won't mention here. So, Marcon is no liberal hero. He is a neo-liberal elitist who desire the status quo.

If you love gospel, you most probably heard of her music. Many artists now are influenced by her. Her name is Sister Karen Clark Sheard and it was her Birthday yesterday. She is 58 years old and she was born in Detroit, Michigan. She is a singer, musician, and songwriter. She sang with the Clark Sisters and has her own soloist career too. Her impact is global and helped to show gospel music to the modern audience. In fact the following musicians are influenced by her: Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, Coko of SWV, Jovan Lacroix, Blu Cantrell, Lil' Mo, Missy Elliott, and Fantasia. Karen Clark Sheard has toured to spread gospel music as gospel is an uniquely American genre of music. Gospel not only relates to the pain of life being described in total detail. It gives hope to the future since the human spirit is never meant to be confined into social stagnant. The human spirit is meant to flourish with creativity, honor, integrity, and joy. Karen has shown her joy for decades in the globe. I wish Sister Karen Clark Sheard more blessings.

Yesterday was the Birthday of Sister Yaya DaCosta. She is now 36 years old. She is of Afro-Brazilian and African American descent. Harlem, NYC was the place of her birth. She is an actress and a model. That is why she was on America's Top Model, All My Children, and Chicago Med. She is multilingual too. She can speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and conversational Japanese. She has been nominated for awards and she represents the new generation of talented, young black women. I wish Sister Yaya DaCosta more blessings. When you think about a man that can sing, you have to mention information about this man. This man was for real in terms of his singing voice. He could sing for real. His name is Brother Alexander O'Neal and it's was his Birthday yesterday. He is now 64 years old and he was born in Natchez, Mississippi. Throughout the 1980's, he made classic records that are iconic. If you lived during the 1980's, she made many duets with fellow label mate Cherrelle like Saturday Love, etc. The 1980's had a creative soul int terms of the artistry. He worked with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who are great producers. O'Neal released his debut album, the eponymous Alexander O'Neal in 1985. Since then, he has released nine studio albums, six compilation albums and two live albums. He continues to make music in the 1990's and during the 21st century. I wish Brother Alexander O'Neal more Blessings.

Some sad and shocking news is here today. Recently, Kim Porter passed away yesterday at the young age of 47 years old. From my generation of Generation Y and from Generation X, we know of her as a mother, a model, and a businesswoman. She was full of life and was a great mother to her many children. The father of many of her children is Sean Combs (or P Diddy). She had a light of compassion and love. Kim Porter broke down barriers and inspired the younger generation of creative souls too. We send prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Kim Porter. Kim Porter was a leader and a woman who represented her talents to the fullest extent.
Rest in Power Sister Kim Porter.


By Timothy