How I got my blog's name is one of the most popular questions that I get. I’ve even gotten it from relatives. Folks understand the ’Booker’ part, since my blog is obviously named in honor of Booker T. Washington. It’s the ’Rising’ part that has them scratching their heads. No, my intent was not to equate Booker T. with Jesus Christ’s resurrection, as told in the Bible. The ‘Rising’ part is about putting his ideas back into the public realm - self-help, education, enterprise, character education, work ethic, and racial uplift - which I believe has been in the background for the past few decades. I believe these values will take black Americans (our primary target audience) to the the mountaintop. While the vision for my website had already been set, the name clicked when I visited the Donkey Rising site, which focuses on Democratic politics. That’s when I had my “aha!” moment.
16 comments:
Until yesterday's "News and Notes" program, I'd never heard of your blog. I appreciate the name "Booker Rising", and the point you are trying to make by calling it that. You are an intelligent young woman, but what I didn't understand, Shay, were your comments about the death of the young man killed in the boot camp recently. How could you insist that the most important thing was why was he there in the first place?! I don't know if you have any children, but if you ever leave your child (good, bad or indifferent) with ANYONE, and he/she comes back to you in any condition other than what you left them in, I want to hear you so blythely say, "well, I have to consider why did I leave my child with them in the first place".
I mean, that young man stole a car from his own grandmother - did it occur to you that perhaps the young man had some undiagnosed condition, or that perhaps he was in the boot camp because his parents were trying to find out what was wrong with him - but, really-is that your business at all!?
Or as one of the other guests suggested that all kids, no matter how affluent or poor their parents, do stupid things? Did you GET that the discussion wasn't about WHY he was in boot camp, but about WHY was he killed? You did at least note that the officers should have been charged with manslaughter, and I agree. But I also saw the video of his beating, and you just reminded me of the white jurors who watch the Rodney King beating and said that it didn't look like the officers were doing anything wrong.
I expect that from white people, NOT from people who claim they are proponents of Booker T. Washington. If you check your history, lynching black folks was a common occurrence when Mr. Washington started his movement - I think he would have been a lot more sympathetic about a black child being beaten to death within the confines of an institution which was supposed to be helping the child rehabilitate. I'm not so sure you are worthy to use his name in relationship to your ideas.
You expect that from white people, Anonymous? And you consider yourself an heir of Booker T. Washington, fit to lecture Shay? If you read Thomas Sowell's "Black Rednecks and White Liberals," you'll see that lynching was a widespread problem in the South, and not just an act of racial terrorism. By far, most of the lynching victims were white. It was a complicated cultural cancer of the South, which survives in the drive-by shootings and nightclub stabbings in every ghetto in America, well diagnosed and explained by Sowell. So maybe you should check your history instead of pretending you know what you're talking about.
I love your name, & the meaning/mission makes it even better!
Bartman: Thanks for your dressing down of Anonymous. Indeed, the problem in today's ghettos is not police or correctional brutality (re: Anonymous' comment's about the black kid who died in a correctional boot camp), but rather individuals making the poor choices that draw them into police and correctional contact.
These poor choice not only harm the person making them: they harm their direct victims, they drive up insurance rates and depress property values for the entire community, and they create a negative reputation for black folks overall, resulting in such phenomena as "racial profiling".
I am an American. I happen to be white. I love this new site and look forward to learning from the ideas shared. The commentary posted by "Anonymous" suggested the "victimhood" concept. And "victimhood" has become a part-time profession in MANY folks --regardless of race, color, creed. I am saddened by this young man's demise! However...why did he find himself in bootcamp in the first place? A loving family, who imparts accountability, mutual respect, hard work, and ethical behavior in ALL aspects of life and toward ALL fellow human beings probably wouldn't allow a child to erode to the point of being put in a boot camp. If a medical condition existed, or other social impairment --because of the culture being condoned and/or accepted in our schools was a factor --this same loving family would have intervened long before this troubled young man would have wound up where he did. A great tragedy --and unfortunately one that plays out hour by hour, involving people of all races.
Good luck to Shay and her site! I love it already!
Another apologist blog where young black folks take the torch from Thomas Sowell, and Clarence Thomas. How original, but your use of historical example is selective. Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, W. E. DuBois, Fredrick Douglas ... all exposed intellectual self-development and economic development without Tomming for the likes of Glen Beck. I look forward to using your words to initiate an analytical discussion in my next seminar. Black Conservatives crying victimization is certainly one way to get noticed, but you're no Booker T. Washington! David Duke would be proud of you.
This is an interesting site! I personally believed that if Black America had listened to Booker T. Washington and leaders after his death who were the closest to sharing his views, such as Marcus Garvey and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, our people would not have been in the terrible shape that we are in now, socially, culturally,economically and morally
very interesting take on the history of black America.
health insurance
public adjuster
auto insurance quote
Florida plumbers
medical insurance
This is a wonderful post. I will definitely use this in my classroom this school year.
Cheap Auto Insurance
This was a great post that was very interesting and historical. Hopefully I can live up to your morals and be a better person.
Thanks Suzy Reynolds
Mental Math
<span>This is very interesting and quite witty on your part. I can see you are a big fan of Booker T and I can see you are trying to help other people live a better life. </span>
Thanks Sonya Moore
Designer Jewelry
I can see you are a man that loves history. I really am interested in the same topics you are. This is great. Hopefully I can share with the world as much as you have.
Thanks Jennie Wright
Online Marketing Experts
Thank you for the posts, I learned about Booker Rising... He has a larger fan base than I thought, MaryAnn
Best Mortgage Rates
full lace wigs lace wigs lace wigs sale lace front wigs synthetic front lace wigs A Famous Dresses Shop which sell directly Wedding Dresses, Evening Dress, Bridesmaid Dresses,Prom dresses cheap wedding dresses cheap evening dresses cheap prom dresses cheap evening dresses cheap prom dresses Elegant evening dresses are always associated with the brides and their bridesmaids.Shopping for evening dresses and your wedding dress in stylish bridal
<span>From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black. The blacks lynched accounted for 72.7% of the people lynched. These numbers seem large, but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded. Out of the 4,743 people lynched only 1,297 white people were lynched. That is only 27.3%. Many of the whites lynched were lynched for helping the black or being anti lynching and even for domestic crimes. </span>
I love this site because my name is Janel Booker!!!
Post a Comment