What's happening with people in the United States? Do we find ourselves in a time warp? Recent protests throughout the country are reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s. Have the people in the United States finally removed their blinders? Have they finally realized that's not water on their head, that it's really pee?

Whatever the reason, it's high time for this political unrest to address the issues that are important to the people of The United States and not just big business. Now that the moment has been seized, keep the pressure on by staying informed of political issues, holding officials accountable for their decisions and exercising the right to vote.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

I am so proud of the students from Florida A&M University (FAMU), Florida State University (FSU) and Tallahassee Community College (TCC) for their recent protests at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee regarding the lack of progress in the juvenile boot camp murder of Martin Lee Anderson.

Thousands of students and others, including state legislators, gathered in protest. The “new school” students used “old school” tactics coupled with modern technology to organize a sit-in in Governor Jeb Bush’s office, a march and rally featuring civil rights icons, the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Protestors wore a band-aid on their forehead to symbolize the brutality Anderson was subjected to by law enforcement personnel just four hours after entering the Bay County, Florida (Panama City) boot camp which ultimately lead to his death.

Much controversy surrounds the death of Martin Lee Anderson as prominent officials, with ties to the boot camp were allowed to participate in the “investigation”. The findings of the Bay County medical examiner were disputed by video footage and a subsequent autopsy by an independent medical examiner. The head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was forced to resign amid comments made about Black leaders.

One of the students demands was that Governor Jeb Bush meet with the parents of Martin Lee Anderson. Here it is 106 days after the young man was murdered and the governor has not shown the decency in meeting with the parents. That, in and of itself speaks to the environment in which these boot camp employees felt comfortable in brutalizing the young people who enter its doors; Governor Bush should be ashamed.

It was pointed out how Governor Bush injected himself so vigorously into the Terry Schiavo case yet had very little to say about the Anderson case. The media and attorneys for Anderson’s parents had to seek legal recourse to get the videotape of the beating Anderson suffered at the hands of guards --- and witnessed by a nurse.

The protests were covered by local, state and national media. It is time that there is justice for Martin Lee Anderson and other children who have suffered and are suffering at the hands of those whose responsibility it is to care for them.

Click here for complete coverage of the march.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

Humane Society cashes in with Richard Pryor bowl Danna Avsec

Created: 3/19/2006 12:56:12 PM Updated:3/20/2006 4:35:26 AM

SOUTH RUSSELL, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio animal welfare agency will get $7,100 from its online auction of a ceramic bowl decorated by the late comedian Richard Pryor.

The week long eBay auction ended Saturday night. Moments before its close, online casino GoldenPalace.com submitted the winning bid. The Geauga County Humane Society will get the funds.

Pryor donated the bowl to the society weeks before his December 10th death at age 65. On it, he painted a self portrait, a martini glass, lips, a cigarette, the words "Little Black Man in Big White World" and his signature.

GoldenPalace says the piece will become part of a traveling museum.

In the past, GoldenPalace has purchased William Shatner's kidney stone, toilets once owned by Jerry Garcia and a grilled cheese sandwich bearing an image of the Virgin Mary.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

In Detroit a mother dies as her 5 year-old son tries to get assistance from 911. The operator chides the young boy about making a prank phone call and he hangs up in exasperation.

What a horrible experience for a child. Alone with his mother, he did all he could by reaching out to 911. What is even more shameful is the pitiful amount the attorney is suing for. Even if Detroit is in a financial bind, he should for at least $46,000,000; one million dollars for each year that she lived.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

The Covenant with Black America has topped the new York Times Best Seller List! What is most amazing about this accomplishment is that it was done without the benefit of traditional advertisement and marketing.

Tavis Smiley did not make the rounds of the talk show circuit and Oprah did not feature it in her book club. Hmmm.... very intersting indeed. I purchased four copies for my immediate family members. I'll post my opinion soon

Congratulations to Tavis Smiley, his publisher and everyone who purchased the book. We can do whatever we set our minds to.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

The Coalition for Justice for Martin Lee Anderson and numerous other civic and community groups have organized to address the injustices in the death of Martin Lee Anderson and request your support as we "March for Justice."

On Friday, April 21, 2006, civil rights leaders, legislators and citizens abroad will be marching for JUSTICE. 105 days would have passed and no one held accountable for the tragic death of 14-year old Martin Lee Anderson.

The march procession will leave the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center toward the Capitol building at 8:45 a.m. Parking at the civic center is FREE to march participants. The program will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and will include well known activists such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. (Rainbow PUSH Coalition), the Honorable Greg Mathis and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins.

It is the intent that this march will prompt our leaders to take the following actions:

1. Release the results of the second autopsy performed on March 13, 2006;
2. The Attorney General's office file a civil suit on behalf of the State of Florida;
3. The Sheriff of Bay County, officers and nurse who were involved in the beating be arrested or reprimanded for their actions and inactions; and
4. The Bay County Medical Examiner, Charles Siebert, be removed or in the alternate throw out the findings of the initial autopsy as well as the findings of the FDLE investigation.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EVENT AS WE JOIN HANDS AND DEMAND JUSTICE FOR MARTIN LEE ANDERSON.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

CNN reported that it costs $42,000 per year to attend Duke University for ungraduate studies. In the same report, it was also mentioned that several Duke University Lacrosse players had hired high-power attorneys AND Duke University hired an attorney to assist them with "damage control'.

Why is this important? It's important because it speaks to the significance of the rape scandal on the University, its students, alumni and the Raleigh-Durham community at-large. $42,000 per year...students that attend Duke without financial assistance are rolling in dough. Their families are wealthy enough to "make this case go away." You can take that however you choose to. O.J. Simpson would be sitting in prison today if he didn't have the cheese to afford Johnnie Cochran and the rest of his Dream Team.

Now let's be real here, what is the likelihood that a group of wealthy white guys would hire a Black stripper unless it was for unsavory reasons? The racial climate and acceptance has not evolved that much in the United States. More than likely they hired her to do just what they are accused of doing --- degrade her and take advantage of her sexually.

Black folks can get mad as hell, but get real --- what do you expect from white boys whose psyche has been programmed with images of the hyper-sexed Black slut? It's in the videos they see everyday. It's in the rap lyrics they hear everyday. Bitch...ho...golddigger...ass out...breasts out...tattooed thighs...too much make-up...long, fake hair and baby mama drama. Black folk have to shoulder some of the blame as far as this case is concerned. It would have been just as bad if the men involved were Black.

Sure, the young woman who was hired to dance should have been able to dance naked and not be violated but the truth is, that's not what's being sold and that's not what we buy every day in this "pimped out" culture we live in. It's time for Black women to be the queens and princesses of their royal heritage. It's time for Black people to stop the madness.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

The e-mail below was forwarded to be by Perry. I seemed like fun so I'm game. here are my answers. Why don't you join in and send to your buddies?

Peace and Love,

Vanessa

Copy (not forward) this entire email and paste it onto a new email that you'll send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Send to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends, if you did not know them already.

1. What time did you get up? 5 AM

2. If you could eat lunch with one person, who would it be? Oprah Winfrey

3. Gold or silver? silver

4. What was the last film you saw at the movies? The last movie I saw at the theater…hmm… I think it was The Gospel. Maybe I just remember Boris Kodjoe.

5. What is/are your favorite TV shows? Joel Osteen, Law & Order (All of them), The Situation Room, Oprah and Girlfriends

6. What did you eat for breakfast? Grits with butter, whole wheat toast, coffee (leaded, black)

7. Who would you hate to be stuck in a room with? Flava Flav...I'm sure I don't need to elaborate.

8. Who/what inspires you? The spirit of my daughter and my ancestors.

9. What is your middle name? Yvette

10. Beach, city or country? Definitely, beach.

11. Favorite ice cream? chocolate

12. Butter or plain popcorn? butter

13. Favorite color? pink

14. What kind of car do you prefer to drive? Mercedes-Benz SL 500, black with custom pink leather interior

15. Favorite sandwich? Grilled eggplant on toasted baguette with provolone and olive oil

16. What characteristics do you despise? Ignorance, jealousy, dishonesty and greed.

17. Favorite flower? Pink tea rose

18. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? Egypt

19. What color is your bathroom? gold/white

20. Where would you like to retire? The Barbie section of FAO Schwarz in New York

21. Favorite day of the week? Friday

22. What did you do for your last birthday? Chillax

23. Where were you born? DeFuniak Springs, FL

24. Favorite sport to watch? Track & Field and gymnastics

25. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? koolbreeze

26. Person you expect to send it back first? JazzyOne

27. Coke or Pepsi? Coke

28. Are you a morning person or night owl? night owl

29. Do you have any pets? Yes, too many dogs and cats.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

Question: If "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second," how many people would be upset?

Answer: Many students at a Bellevue Community College.

College president, Jean Floten, apologized for the insensitive question. Secretary of State Rice's last name was not used but, come on, how many folks are named Condoleeza?

The next question is why are so many upset? Black comics have made far more cruel remarks about Dr. Rice and other politically conservative Blacks. Wait, there are some Black comics for whom no one is immune to cruel comments.

Let's not get into the offensive videos and songs we are subjected to on a daily basis. I don't agree with Condoleeza Rice's politics but let's be sensitive and call some folks to task about more important issues and regardless of the ethnicity or gender of the offender.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged

It pains me to watch Whitney Houston destroy her life. I don't know her personally and don't know anyone that does know her. I have enjoyed some of her songs, videos and movies. She's talented but I never thought she was the talent that she was marketed to be. It's not like I had any real voice in the matter either.

Whitney is a human being. She is a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister and an aunt. Like her or not, one has to feel sorry for Whitney and her family. If the truth be told, Whitney Houston is a slow-motion train wreck we've been watching for a few years now. How and why has she sunk to this level? Is this her turning point? I pray that it is.

At this point, Whitney has to save herself.

© 2006 VANESSA BYERS, Vanessa: Unplugged