FORWARDEVER MEDIA CENTER
Writer Alex
Haley writing The Autobiography of Malcolm X with Brother Malcolm.
"The
media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make
the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power.
Because they control the minds of the masses."
- Malcolm X
Mission
The Forwardever Media Center is 100% committed to providing unconventional writing workshops and media literacy training to "at-risk" Black youth, particularly males, ages 14 through 24. Working in partnership with The Mentoring Center in Oakland, CA., the Center's writing workshops, website internship, and film forums, help students develop critical thinking skills and discover their creative talents. We recruit youth for our programs from the California Youth Authority (the state's largest prison for youth) as well as from universities and high schools. This cross-pollination of young minds creates dynamic shared experiences.
Programs
Whatchusay Cinema–A monthly film forum hosted at schools or community centers in Northern California that explores issues such as race, class, gender, and society. Students are joined by a panel of activists, educators, athletes, entrepreneurs, etc. to rate the films and convene roundtable discussions about corresponding relevant issues in society. For info about film screenings and schedules contact: cheo@whatchusay.com
Writing Workshops–We offer intensive seminars in journalism, creative writing, cultural criticism, new media, film production, etc. These seminars are taught at the center, located at 1224 Preservation Park, Oakland, CA, 94612. They are also available on location, at schools, community and detention centers, churches, etc. For info about class schedules contact: cheo@whatchusay.com
Internships–Whatchusay.com offers competitive internships to young writers who have clearly demonstrated a passion for the craft of writing or media production. The 3-month internship covers news writing and reporting, feature writing, creative writing, media literacy and new media. Working in partnership with community based organizations, universities and international and national media outlets, we produce a pipeline of informed journalists of color who will go on to create their own independent media organizations or work for major media organizations.
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Is Jeremiah Wright?
by Maya Pope-Chappell
The media had a field day with Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his "anti-American" antics. The "God damn America" and "Chickens coming home to roost" sound bites were broadcast in a constant loop from CNN to Fox News. The once respected preacher was quickly turned into public enemy number one. But what was so damning about the statements made by the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago? Maybe Wright could have used better phrases to describe America's shortcomings, but the fact is that Wright's sermon was taken out of context and spun to serve a political agenda aimed at altering the creditability of Barack Obama and his commitment to the American people.
At least that's what I thought when I first wrote this piece following the Wright firestorm. However, my feelings toward Wright have taken a turn since the National Press Club stint in which Wright answered questions about his beliefs, American politics, and the Black church. I went from feeling sorry for a man who I felt was crucified in the media, to a man who has abused his 15 minutes of fame trying to curb attacks to his name and his church.
Obama first denounced the statements made by Wright in an insightful and powerful speech on race politics saying, "...[his] comments were not only wrong but divisive at a time when we need unity." Now Obama has completely distanced himself from the pastor, calling Wright's words destructive and appalling in a public divorce between a man with sights set on becoming the first Black president, and a man who has made a haphazard attempt at restoring his reputation.
Although I agreed with some of the points Wright made, his sarcasm and condescending tone played right into a game of divide and conquer, splitting two forces that may ultimately lead to the defeat of both parties. Why is Wright coming out now at a critical moment in the Obama campaign? He couldn't have come out immediately after the sound bites aired or after the democratic nomination? Why now?
Perhaps Wright's selfish display is an effort to help promote his upcoming book. However, within days before democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, Wright's iron grip on the media has made Obama an easy target to criticism.
According to mainstream media, uncommitted super delegates and working class whites may by swayed against Obama or influenced to renege on their vote behind Wright's hoarding of the spotlisht. Let's just hope that Wright's chickens don't come home to roost in Obama's coop.
Maya Pope-Chappell is a writer for Whatchusay.com. Please feel free to e-mail comments about this article to mj_pc@yahoo.com
Posted on April 8, 2008 6:46 PM
