Land of the Free

Land of the Free

One of the most popular tourist locations in the US, Atlanta, Georgia has failed it's streets. The photograph above was taken in the midst of what proved to be a brisk winter for the city in 2010. Even worse, this kind of mistreatment is taking place just down the street from a national historic site, The Martin Luther King Center, and historical district.
This area, Auburn Ave through Boulevard, is home to a primarily black community. These streets suffer with smells and puddles of urine, panhandlers, trash piles, potholes, vacant lots, and the putrid smell of steaming sewage. It is a wonder how they got this way, as if the United States of America has completely forgotten that this region was on their map.

(Below) This man finds warmth in the toasty winter sun, as he takes a nap on the sidewalk.

If there is anyone to blame, it is first this country. How can a country honestly proceed in it's functions, knowing that it's citizens, the citizens that are that country, are suffering from poverty, sickness, and starvation? If there are homeless citizens, house them, if there are hungry citizens feed them, if there are sick citizens, heal them. These are the laws, and principles this country claims to have been founded on, however, there are so many forgotten souls, who have become victim to the suffering streets of this nation.

The institutions, such as Hope House and The Gateway Center that have been put in place to provide for the homeless population in Atlanta, are repelling, as they do not aid their clients in bettering themselves, or as the saying goes, they aren't teaching them to fish. They provide their "patients" with drugs, which would only make them more dependent on substances, rather than making them self sufficient. Many of the facilities are based out of prisons, which explains why so many people deny, or avoid the help altogether.

The State of Georgia, claims to be taking a very firm approach toward homelessness, by opening up forementioned facilities, providing soup kitchens, handing out blankets, and more forceful street sweeping. While temporary housing, a quick meal, and extra warmth for the brisk streets are all kind gestures, and serve in the battle against homelessness, they remain just as they are, temporary. A temporary solution to any problem, will only weaken any situation, but this is just what the city plans to continue to do. They, however, also feel that if they step up on hotel security, and street police, to make beggars feel unwelcome, it will in some way help the homelessness problem.

Not only are the systems that are being put in place not helping the long term problem, but they are going to become even more forceful in their endeavors, as if these human beings are criminals for being neglected by their country. Not only is the government to blame, but the citizens of America, especially the citizens of Georgia. If you have means to give, to lend a hand, or a home, then by all means give, and it would make this land more united, and more free.

A Born Entreprenuer

Student, musician, entreprenuer, Christopher Belcher is taking life for everything it's worth. Born to one of the nations most opportunistic dwellings, New York, Mr. Belcher has success running through his veins.

Christopher Belcher entered Clark Atlanta University as a music major, then re-declared as a mass media major after deciding that at this point in his life there is nothing about music that he can be taught. He decided to switch to mass media, concentrating in film, so he could learn all of the techniques he would need to be able to properly market himself. This kind of strategy demonstrates his true entreprenual spirit.

As a child, after moving to College Park, Georgia, Belcher began refining his musical talents as a drummer for his grandmother's church. He said his motivations for music were always existent, something that was always internal.

Belcher's successful self marketing strategies are evident in his many accomplishments even at this early stage in his career. He has participated in the Atlanta Jazz Festival, which is the largest Jazz festival in the country. He was asked to tour with Bobbie Brown, and played for well known artists, such as, Big Boy, Silk, Terrell Carter, and gospel artist Monique Walker. He was even talented enough to be a drummer for The Atlanta Braves drumline.

Currently, Christopher Belcher plays at many cafes and hotels around the city of Atlanta, Georgia. These include, Tapas at 225, Katt's Cafe, and Cafe 290. Through these major accomplishments, Christopher Belcher shows that he has his eye on the prize, focusing on his primary goal of having a prominent career in the music industry.

Racism: United We Stand, Divided We Fall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqrGR074AoE


On Sunday, January 17, The All American Basketball Alliance, a new professional basketball league, sent out a press release saying that it's inaugural season starts in June 2010, with teams from 12 United States cities. This would be completely acceptable, if not for the minor detail that in order to be eligible to join the league, one would have to be a U.S. citizen born in the United States, with both parents being caucasian. This is in fact, an all white basketball league.
Don "Moose" Lewis, an Atlanta based wrestling and boxing promoter, has organized the league insisting that he is not racist. He states that he just wants to get back to the fundamentals of basketball and away from the "street ball" played by "African American" basketball players. He speaks on the behavioral issues in the NBA and insists that such behaviors would cease to exist in an all white league.
"There's nothing hatred about what we're doing", said Lewis. "I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American born citizens are in the minority now. Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like."


Whether Mr. Lewis is or is not racist, this, among many, is certainly and act of segregation and discrimination. What is questionable though, is why this act of segregation, made by a caucasion American male has been unavoidably publicized when there are many acts of segregation being committed all around us? Such as, BET, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, The All my Children project, The Pew Hispanic Center, and many more. These are all forms of societies that favor, or extend their services distinctively to particular groups, races and nationalities.





The problem is that American citizens are entirely too focused on being exclusive. America needs to gain the strength to accept the fact that in order to truly be united, all of our efforts in creating a "better" country have to be inclusive. These discriminatory efforts are doing no justice to all of the freedom fighters of our past, the people who worked relentlessly to create equal rights for all American citizens.
Many people believe that racism in America has died many years ago and should no longer be a topic of discussion. Recent years have proven that racism is continuing to rear its ugly little head in this free country we call the United States. If we do not work to stop these acts before they prove to, once again, become out of control, history will surely repeat itself.
-Jazlyne Miller- Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 5:23 pm

Young Nizer: Driven for Success

America's Historically Black Universities house some of the nation's most talented young adults. These institutions are especially prestigious for their Media and Performing Arts departments and young goal-oriented students like Kenneth Nizer Jr. are the exact reason why.
Kenneth Nizer Jr., in his freshmen year, became immediately involved in the campus life at Clark Atlanta University. To utilize his vast talents and skills, such as, writing music, dancing acting, and journalism, etc., Nizer joined House Arrest 2 Championship Dance Team, Inc. With House Arrest, Nizer was able to write for national newsletters and still find time to grace the stage with his impressive dance moves and remarkable acting abilities.
In his matriculation through Clark Atlanta University, Kenneth Nizer Jr. is still active in his love for performing arts. He has joined the AUC Drama Ministry, where he has been an active member for the past month.
Nizer has great passion for performance art, however, he does not dream of flashing lights and stardom. Rather than be the star of the show, he would like to have the ever demanding job of creating those stars. Kenneth Nizer Jr. dreams to work for big name record labels as an A&R agent, working in artist development.
This dream is surely becoming a reality for Nizer, being that he has already made many career paving encounters with artists such as, Keri Hilson, Ludacris, Fantasia, and Ciara, to name a few. Nizer credits these encounters to his godfather, Jayshawn Champion, who is a songwriter, writing songs for big name artists; Omarion, Faith Evans, Mario, and even the all too well known, R. Kelly. One of Nizer's greatest successes is that he is already working A&R for EMI.
In all of his accomplishments, Kenneth Nizer Jr is observably driven for success. When asked what he has profited from these experiences he gave a very modest, yet admirable response; "I've profited a lot of personal growth and change for the better. And most importantly, I gained more confidence within myself."

-Jazlyne Miller- Interview Conducted on Monday, March 22, 2010, 8:30 pm EST