Let’s stop blaming Hip Hop for everything

George Cook of letstalkhonestly.com discusses Hip Hop being blamed for issues in the African American Community and why Hip Hop is not at fault but the lack of unity in our communities is. Watch the 3 minute video and give your opinion here:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/LTHWEEKLY.html

We need more parental involvement in our schools

George Cook a member of his local school board discusses the need for more parental involvement in predominantly black schools and how he feels it benefits our children.

Watch the video here:
http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/LTHWEEKLY.html

If we want better communities, it’s time for some truth telling.

Phyllis Holly ward a community activist and the CEO of Success Links LLC has written a great article about what it will take to build up our black communities. One in which she writes:

We can no longer cry that something is holding us down when in our homes and schools it is acceptable for our children to walk around with their pants hanging down off their butts. I once heard a very wise man say, “If you want to know where the future of your community is going, look at our children, because they are it. But when looking, keep in mind that someone led them to where they are.”

Read the entire article here:
http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Ideas to help the Black Community.

Do you have any ideas to help Black America? I don’t care what your political leanings a good idea is a good idea and help is needed. I know you guys are full of great ideas. It can be about education, finance, politics, parenting, crime etc.

So please share your ideas and discuss the ideas there by using the link below:

Ideas for Black America

New Book: One Black Man’s Thoughts

Let’s Talk Honestly: One Black Man’s Thoughts ( Kindle Edition ) just $1.50

An eBook collection of poems and essays by George L. Cook III. These writings are inspired by Mr. Cook’s experience’s as a soldier, community activist, time in politics, coach, husband, and father. And yes they are inpsired by his experiences as a black man living in the United States. The book touches on parenting, domestic abuse, Barack Obama, gang violence, education, AIDS, self esteem, missing black women, black hair and much more.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002E19JKU

African American Media struggling to survive

Just like mainstream media, African American publications and media outlets are struggling. Minority broadcasters have asked the Treasury Secretary for what amounts to a temporary bailout to keep afloat. Read the entire article here:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Community groups rally to stop violence in the Black Community

Although the actual numbers of murders in Newark NJ is down this years it seems that more and more of the murder victims are innocent bystanders who have nothing to do with gangs or crime. The latest was Nakisha Allen was shot on her way home from the store.

Several Community activist and grassroots organizations are now joining forces and rallying to stop the violence. Read the entire article by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

BET to launch Black In America type series

BET News ( please resist urge to ask when did BET get a news department ) Travels to the Frontline of the Issues Devastating the African American Community with ‘HEART OF THE CITY’ Premiering Saturday, September 12, at 10:00 p.m.* Learn more by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Why aren’t republicans reaching out to African American Voters?

Hi my name is George Cook. I am an African American writer and blogger. I am also the author of a new eBook for the Amazon Kindle Talk Honestly: One Black Man’s Thoughts available here  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002E19JKU 

I have ran in elections once as an Independent and just this year as a Democrat. Since my towns elections are non partisan I actually ran with both Independent and Democrats on the same slate.

Now my town is predominantly black so Republican is just a dirty word and as a politician you don’t want it associated with you in any way.

What’s sad is that the Republican Party seems to want it to stay that way. Not just in my town but in other predominantly black towns. They have little presecence and in many cases no prescence at all.

Now I am a Democrat but I believe that having another party vying for voters attention makes both groups have to step their games up. When people have to compete for your vote they tend to try to actually keep their promises and stay more in touch with the community.

To be honest the Democratic Party could do a lot better by African American voters who have been loyal over the last 20 plus years and some are starting to question this out loud. The Democratic Party is not trying to earn our votes they are just expecting us to vote Democrat no matter who they run without much question.  The problem is that the person running may not be the best candidate but if people blindly vote Democrat they will find that out when it’s too late.

We need some type challenger there  with very good monetary backing to try to keep this from happening. In most cases that challenger would be a republican.

This is opening up an oppurtunity. One that the Republican Party does not seem to want to take advantage of.

It’s even more sad when you stop and think that most blacks especially those that vote on a regular basis have conservative views.

Ignoring this segment of voters would be like Paramount ignoring 10-14 year boys in its marketing of Transformers 2. It just doesn’t make any sense.

I know Michael Steele has given lip service to reaching out but so far it has been just that lip service.

Can somebody tell me why Republicans are having such a hard time reaching out to us.

George Cook   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002E19JKU

Black on Black Crime

I wrote this poem after seeing another story about a black man being shot by police. While the outrage was justified I wondered why we don’t see the same level of outrage when one young black man kills another.

While police shootings and brutality are not the isolated incidents many try to make them out to be there is no comparison when it comes to the fact that black on black crime takes far more young black lives.

Until we ourselves show that we care about this issue there will be no way to stop it.

BLACK ON BLACK

We march when the cops beat us
We cry when our young men are attacked
But where is the outrage
When the attacker is black

Where are the “Civil Rights Leaders”
Where is the black press
When we are the cause
of a sad and tragic death

Where are the bloggers
When it is us that sow the pain
Where are they at
When some us don’t act sane

Maybe the truth is
We just don’t care
Maybe it’s okay for us to kill each other
But a white cop better not dare

George Cook 2009
From the eBook  Let’s Talk Honestly: One Black Man’s Thoughts
www.letstalkhonestly.com