Updates on the world.

The racism and anti-immigrant hysteria in America is not new. The super wealthy have always used racism, xenophobia, and class oppression as a means to not only divide people but to maintain control. Oligarchy is evil since it's a system dedicated to allow a few corporate interests (and political leaders) to control the vast majority of the wealth on Earth. Back in the day, my ancestors were kidnapped, placed in chains, and sent to America against their wills. Many big banks and even some universities financially benefited from my ancestors' oppression. Later, the No Nothing Party used xenophobic rhetoric. There were many eugenicists back in the 20th century who were some of the most vicious haters of non-white immigration into America. During the Gilded Age, many large corporations used bad working conditions, child labor, and lax worker protections. That is why activists came forward to defeat such evils. Today, we have anti-racist movements and other social activists desiring true freedom fro humanity. It is obvious that there are more of us than then. The 1% benefits from fear, apathy, and pessimism. After over 35 years living on this Earth, I always have hope for the future. In the final analysis, oppression is very diverse and inter-sectional. Therefore, we have to be multifaceted in our approach yet unified in the same goal of human liberation.

The House failed to pass a disaster relief bill since GOP lawmakers blocked it. We know about the GOP. Many of them believe in the myth that the free market is some magical force that can handle situations without intervention. Some in the GOP care more for ideological purity than using money to save innocent lives who are the victims of natural disasters. There is no question that those in the Midwest, who are the victims of flooding, tornadoes, storms, hail, etc., must be respected of their human dignity. We all have great, profound empathy for the victims of such tragedies. That is what we are as human beings. We harbor respect and dignity for our fellow neighbors. The bill has $19.1 billion of relief for families and other people. Congress ought to do its job.

There are many people selling their blood plasma in order to receive money for basic necessities like food, water, and housing. Giving too much blood and plasma can cause a human being to have weakness, low protein count, kidney damage, and fainting. A 2018 study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that states with a higher number of plasma donation centers were also more likely to have a higher population of low-income and minimum-wage workers. In our time, we witness record income inequality. While the rich receives huge, inordinate privilege and bailouts, the poor and the working class struggle for living wages. It is not right for some to work two or three jobs just to have some standard of living. When I was in Los Angeles weeks ago, one taxi driver told me that some in LA have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to survive on renting an apartment. That's renting. A man or a woman ought to work just one full time job to receive life saving services. Regardless of what anyone says, health care is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. That means that children, adults, and anyone ought to get basic, quality, and strong health care. We congratulate any worker or anyone who is doing the right thing, playing by the rules, and achieving magnanimous accomplishments by their own strength. Likewise, we know that the world isn't an Utopia. We don't have a true meritocracy. Therefore, structural change is necessary to address the many problems of the world.

She is a modern day icon who not only performed in stages worldwide. She also contributed heavily to the establishment of Soul Train. She was born in the South, so she knew about Jim Crow and other situations. Likewise, her passion for music is always trailblazing and excellent. She is Sister Gladys Knight, and it was her Birthday yesterday. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Being 75 years old, she has lived a long life. Many of her relatives were musicians. In 1961, Knight and her group recorded the single, "Every Beat of My Heart", which was written for Knight by R&B producer Johnny Otis. By 1966, Gladys Knights and the Pips joined Motown. Her vocals are out of this world. She and her group made tons of classic hits like: "Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy Award-winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), etc. The song the Midnight Train to Georgia is another one of her iconic records. Gladys Knight has an exceptional solo career too. In April 2004, Knight performed during the VH1's benefit concert Divas Live 2004 alongside Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Jessica Simpson, Joss Stone, and Patti LaBelle, in support of the Save the Music Foundation. She has many children and has one husband named William McDowell. She has grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For decades, she is a woman whose work isn't just about music. Her work is also about helping others in a transparently compassionate way. I wish Sister Gladys Knight more Blessings.


I want to show honor to the late, great hero Betty Shabbazz. She was a great intellectual who wanted justice. She was the rock of Malcolm X. Also, she advocated for self-defense, justice, and human wisdom. She was very educated, and she cared for the interests of the people. The 1960's changed the whole world, and she was shaped by that decade. Ruby Dee and Juanita Poitier were her friends. Betty Shabbaz educated others on nursing. She was a volunteer. She lived the life of a strong woman who loved her husband and her children. Her life motivates us to carry forward with the august goal of liberation and justice. This precisely means that we endorse living wages. That means that we believe in universal health care. That means that we are opposed to imperialism, and we believe that the Dream is for all, not just for some.

Rest in Power Sister Betty Shabbaz.

By Timothy