Our Legaci with J.A.M. Aiwuyor

By Mr. Dapper

I can relate to this first-hand, I have been to a couple interviews where i was told i was over-qualified. I initially thought it was some lame excuse to get me out of their office but looking at my interviews i knew i did too  well to not have made the job. Fine, i wore a dress shirt, and pants, tie, oxford shoes for an interview for a fast food restaurant (can’t remember the name). I thought everyone (at least assuming every one is civil) had to follow that dress code for an interview. That was my first taste of lesson 103 in life: “Life isn’t fair, some people are stupid and unfortunately sometimes these folks possess something you want, in order to get it you must use their stupidity – not fair but logical”. Also i was 16 then, cmon gimme a break. Moreover the employer gave me a card and referred me to a better paying job and told me to use him as a reference. Jackpot! If i knew i woulda worn a pair of sneaks and jeans…but back to the topic. Over-qualification. Asides my restaurant interview i’ve had a few instances of being ‘overqualified’. Being overqualified isn’t a bad thing, matter of fact it’s a praise and maybe a wake up call to you that you deserve more than you’re offering yourself. The company feels that someone with your qualification needs more compensation, etc. Orgs are looking to get a candidate who ‘fits’ the requirements but not necessarily exceed them. The company can see this as a threat and that you might be using them as a stepping stone. The bottom line as the guys at resume blog said is “Overqualified” is a disguise it has nothing to do with your qualifications, knowledge, or talent. It’s a catch-all phrase used to avoid being candid because the company has fears about hiring you or saw or heard something they simply did not like. They view hiring you as a RISK.

When an interviewer makes this statement, it basically means they think you have too many years of experience, you want too much money, your education is more than what is required, or they see the job as being a step down from where you are now in your career and are afraid you will jump ship.

Because they view hiring you as a RISK, you will need to break down the walls and overcome their “fear.” Find out what they mean, drill down and find out the real reason they make this statement. Then eliminate their fear. Do the best you can to find the source of this statement.

Well, here are some comebacks whenever you’re told you are OVER-qualified for the job – knowing fully well you can handle the job PERFECTLY

1. Plain ask, (in a polite way, of course) what’s wrong with doing the job better than expected?
2. Refute being labeled as OVER-qualified and tell the employer you’d rather say you are FULLY qualified.
3. Use the employer’s job description on them: ex if a job requires someone with managerial skills and you happen to be ‘over-qualified’ simply tell the interviewer that with you, you would require less man-power, office time and resources to train and prepare you for managerial duties. You can handle many more tasks than the just “fit” candidate can.
4. Let the employer know you are looking for a more ‘challenging’ job and that this job suits your neeeds and desires (*insert one of the job requirements here* ex: working with people etc)
5. Hone down the light on your pay. Of course, in a recession my major concern is the pay however in order to GET the job first, I must play card. So, in your interview try not to make very big obvious highlights on pay. You and your interviewer are both playing tact games, so play your part right,
6. When the word over qualified is used on you, expand it and try to break down the big word into simpler terms. Eg. “you are overqualified”…your response: “O i understand,  i have the skills required to for this position and more that i have garnered through experience and working *insert job req. eg one-on-one/team*, would you be willing to contact me should an appropriate position be available?
7. All you do, try and break it down to the REAL reason why you are not being hired. Watch for body language, silent cues etc but don’t get paranoid.
8. Lastly,  Deliver. All talk and no work makes jack a bluffer. That’s right, you’ve gotta back it up once you land the job. I’m guilty of this sometimes so i know how important it is.

Making the Case For Digital Activism: How Social Media Helps Causes by Jessica Ann Mitchell

The recent Troy Davis case sparked a firestorm of digital outcries. Online protests were launched along with online petitions. Amnesty International collected over 630,000 signatures in support of Davis. Twitter and Facebook were both taken over by hashtags and updates. Millions of people were discussing the case and educating others about it. The Davis case truly became an online phenomenon. Over 40,000 people tuned into Democracy Now’s live stream of the vigil held outside of the Georgia prison that was holding Davis. For many, this was the first time they’d even heard of Democracy Now, a progressive independent source of news. The live stream went viral on Twitter and Amy Goodman was trending worldwide.
During this time period, Davis supporters became a complete digital community in their own right. Many were desperately hoping for Davis to live. Unfortunately, our requests and pleas were denied. This was truly a heartbreaking moment for us all. However, not more than 24 hours after the death of Troy Davis, digital activism naysayers were on the prowl. These naysayers had a clear message, “Digital activism doesn’t work.” The main reason they believe it doesn’t work is because with all of our prayers and protesting, Troy Davis was still killed by the state of Georgia.

Though Davis’ death is a heartbreaking fact, we cannot allow ourselves to sulk in the negativity of, “I told you so,” and “I knew it wouldn’t work.” Truth be told, the reason that Troy Davis died is because Georgia is still a predominantly racist and oppressive state. As a Georgia girl, I know what its like to live in the backwoods of the KKK’s resting den.

However, saying that digital activism doesn’t work is an outright lie founded in lethargic negativity and ignorance of the power of ordinary people. Public support through online petitions and social media outreach played a vital role in making members of the public aware of the injustices occurring. Even though Davis was executed, that doesn’t mean that all of our efforts have gone to waste.

Now the racial discrepancies surrounding the death penalty in the U.S. are becoming more widely addressed. It could even lead to a movement to abolish the death penalty. This case will forever shed light on the prison industrial complex and the death of black men within it. The death penalty debate is now facing a rebirth. Especially after the world witnessed what was essentially a lynching.
In these cases, yes, our voting rights play a vital role in making societal changes. However, before we can vote to make these changes, we must find a means to inform and reach members of the public. The digital era has afforded us the opportunity to distribute this information rapidly.

Digital outcries, protests and petitions are a highly effective means for change. Organizations like ColorOfChange.org have already proved that with their ability to garner public support (much of it digital) in support of the Jena 6, ending Glenn Beck’s televised hate mongering and pressuring the state of Georgia to free Genarlow Wilson. Another organization, Change.org was vital in sustaining a digital campaign that resulted in clemency for a young African American mother convicted of a felony for sending her children to a school outside of their district.

Countless blogs, news articles, Tweets, and Facebook updates by millions of ordinary people around the world also supported these digital campaigns for justice. So you see, digital activism does work. Sometimes when things don’t go the way we want them to go, it’s easy to allow negativity to take control. However, it takes true power and strength to continue pushing on for justice. We have to push for our humanity, “…by any means necessary,” as Malcolm X once stated. Right now the digital era provides a means that presents us with a plethora of opportunities.

In the 1960s, when a small group of students in North Carolina began sit-ins in all white restaurants and a young Baptist preacher was gathering people for marches, it was understood that civil rights wouldn’t magically appear the next day. What they were doing was a start. When things didn’t change immediately there were naysayers saying, “It will never work, “ and “It’s a waste of time.” I’m glad they kept marching instead of succumbing to unproductive negativity.
In 2011, it is time for us to uphold this legacy. With the help of countless organizations and ordinary people the struggle for human rights and freedom continues… And its going digital.

Love, Jessica Ann Mitchell – The Little Black Girl

Jessica Ann Mitchell is the founder of Black Bloggers Connect an entity of Lamzu Media. Mitchell specializes in multicultural outreach and communications. She also writes on her personal blog at OurLegaci.com. To reach JAM email her at info@OurLegaci.com.

If you believe in the power of people. Please share the link to this article on Twitter and Facebook and let us know about it. We will give you a shout-out on our next article and we’ll link to your blog or website.

When does a boy become a man?

“A Simba Perspective”

By Qaadir Morris

Have you ever seen the Lion King? As a child my brother loved to watch that movie and he would watch it over and over again. I loved the way that the character of Simba evolved. He went from a curious cub, to easy going teen, to finally the Lion King. That’s pretty cool if I must say so myself, but before Simba could become the Lion King he had to go through a lot of hardships. If you recall the story you can recall that Scar implanted the seed of guilt in the mind of Simba, causing Simba to believe that he was the reason for the death of Mufassa. He was supposed to never return. He was supposed to be killed by the hyenas. He was supposed to disappear so that Scar could rule the land and finally become the all mighty king. Scar wanted to be the man or I guess in this case”the lion”.   As I recall the movie Lion King it led me to ask the question: When does a boy become a man? Thanks Simba for the motivation.

Initially Simba wanted to be king for selfish reasons. He didn’t care about being just and being strong for his people, he cared about being able to do whatever he wanted without restrictions. So many of us young men share ties to the character. We all crave power, yet we know not what to do with it once we obtain it. We crave the ability to do what we want and to be on top of people that we tend to forget about the other million or so people in the world. If you can recall the lead song from the movie Lion King “I just can’t wait to be king” Simba never talked about being diplomatic. He talked about being the “man”. Simba’s idea of being the man is comparable to what a lot of us in the real world think make us men. We think that our position in life determines our manhood, and that men are defined by their ability to be strong and their ability to conquer.

Sometimes in life we as young men must be humbled by our situation to appreciate our potential destination. In the movie Lion King Simba ran away as Scar instructed. He found two partners in a meerkat and a warthog. Timon and Pumba could be the grown men who race off into obscurity to escape the pressures of the real world. These two created a pseudo reality for themselves. I think a lot of us in the real world tend to subliminally internalize the phrase “Akuna Matata”. As the song says “it means no worries for the rest of your days. It’s our problem free philosophy. It’s simply Akuna Matata. How many people do you know who act as if they don’t have a care for the world? They could care less about being responsible. They could care less about being anything. They just wake up everyday to the same routine. “Chillin”. In the movie Timon, Pumba, and Simba just chilled. Constant coolin as they ate bugs, looked at the stars, sung songs and lived everyday on cloud nine. Simba at that point of the story didn’t even think about his past. Why go back to that when you can just chill and live an average life with no worries. To bring it back home so many people would rather chill and let their true potential lay dormant. Why strive to be great when you can live a care free life where responsibility does not exist. Why not embrace “Akuna Matata.”

Sometimes we as young men need wake up calls. In the movie Lion King, Nala was Simba’s wake up call. A dose of reality to awaken him from his slumber was all that the young Simba needed. Nala knew the true potential that lay in Simba. She knew the lineage that he came from, yet Simba still tried to run far from his destiny. How many people do you know that have all the potential in the world to do something productive, yet even through all your motivational tactics they still can’t see the bigger picture? I know so many people who could have been, who should have been, or would have been if they only would have awaken from their sleep. You can walk around all day in the land of the living and still be sleeping. Simba was sleeping, as a lot of my peers, and some of yours are. Rafiki showed SImba what he needed to see. It wasn’t Mufassa that he showed him, but it was himself. To bring it back home until you look deep down in yourself you can never fully become a man.

In order to become a man or in Simba’s case a Lion one must accept who you are. You have to embrace that ideal, and not run away from it. The more you continue to run the more you continue to stay in limbo. Simba after accepting who he is went back to Pride Rock. He faced his demons, and though he may have been nervous he did what he had to do. Once we as young men face our fears, and stand firm in our belief that we can succeed the sky at that point is the limit. By facing Scar and proving to himself that he really was worthy Simba became what he was destined to be; “The Lion King”

The story of the Lion King I feel applies to real life. I believe that to a certain degree we as boys share some of the same characteristics of a young Simba. We are trying to find our niche. We are experimenting. We can be pompous at times, and we seldom listen to the advice of others. It’s sad to think that until we are faced with a situation we then truly begin to open our eyes and see the bigger picture. In the case of Simba he lost his father, but luckily he was able to get back on track. The journey they say is more rewarding than getting to the destination, to overcome and to persevere is a great strength that lies in each and every one of us. As a writer I know that I am still evolving, and as a young man I know that I still have room for growth. I know that there will be trials and tribulations, and I know that how I handle them will determine how far I can go, so with that being said I conclude by quoting the infamous song that was mentioned a little earlier; “OH I JUST CANT WAIT TO BE KING”.

Qaadir Morris

You Are Not an Animal: Black Men Reclaim Your Dignity

A bizarre and controversial commentary that makes you think, react and say, “Is that possible?” It begins with a shocking premise and culminates in an unusual twist that you have to read to believe. As a show of solidarity, I dedicate this commentary to President Barack Obama, and the most enigmatic entertainer to grace the universe, the unconquerable. Michael Jackson!

by Peggy Butler

Prelude: Since 1989, much attention has been devoted to the status of Black men and their “inevitable demise.” But regardless of what western civilization thinks, Black America continues its tradition of giving props to these courageous warriors. So, to Black men from Alabama to Wyoming, this editorial is dedicated to you.

Picture this scenario: A colossal public housing project embodying 26 buildings, 4210 apartments and 15,000 tenants, stands unnoticed in a low-income residential district surrounded by garbage and overgrown shrubs. Entering the high-rise pigsty—you’re overwhelmed by the stench of urine and cheap wine emanating from the stairwells.

Turning a corner, you walk gingerly amid broken glass and used condoms littering the corridors. Nauseated and disgusted more surprises are in store. As you head for the exit, you pass an abandoned apartment and watch as a middle-age man jabs a syringe into his arm, trying vainly to escape reality. Forging ahead, you watch as gangs fight over neighborhood turf.

As you head for the exit, your feet graze the neighborhood drunks. Asleep in the doorway, unaware of their surroundings and too inebriated to care, they sleep soundly. Welcome to the year 2289. Common sights like the ones above are observed in the congested buildings of Chicago, the dilapidated projects of New York and the multi-complexes of Los Angeles.

It is now 278 years into the future and Black men have replaced animals in laboratory experiments. Having heard in the 20th century that African-American men were moving toward extinction, it came to fruition. Now at the mercy of ruthless scientists, many struggle to reclaim their dignity, as they try to piece together how they came to exist in this state of upheaval.

The massive public housing project, home to 10,000 Black men also doubles as a laboratory. Ninety-five years ago, 50 percent of America’s Black men, unable to cope with social discontent began wondering if there was a conspiracy against them. Thus, began their journey of mass destruction.

On June 29, 2089, a group of young Black men visited the Saravaela Laboratory in Laugford, Ohio. There, using an assortment of codes, they asked scientists to formulate an experiment using them as guinea pigs to determine the validity of the conspiracy theory. A call went out for volunteers, and millions of men permitted themselves to become human fodder. At first they were treated like any other lab animal, but as the months passed, they were subjected to inhumane cruelty.

Rebelling against their plight, a few managed to escape, but for every Black male that escaped, there were thousands more to take their place. Defenseless, his dignity gone, and his pride abandoned; the Black man struggled to free himself from his captors.

Staring through the small cubicle he called home, he wondered how he reached this point-in-time. Maybe it began in December 1989 when the conspiracy theory was first broached. Or maybe it began when Black men started judging themselves by White standards; and gave in to the misconception that they were “lazy, sex-crazed, drug-addicted thugs prone to violence.” But it did begin somewhere—and it ended in imprisonment, and the end of the race as we once knew it!

Stop! Brothers, what I have written up until now, was my pessimistic side, expressing my inner most thoughts. Now it’s time to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of the media and people in general underestimating African-American men. Similarly, I’ve grown leery of White females averting their eyes and clutching their purses in the presence of these men. Moreover, I’m tired of the media explaining in vivid details, the Black man’s demise.

Stop putting all Black men in the same category. Only a small percentage are using drugs and committing crimes. The rest are trying to do their absolute best, thus seeking the pursuit of happiness just like everyone else. By the way, there are thousands of educated and productive Black men climbing the ladder of success. ISN’T THAT PROOF THAT THEY CAN DO MORE THAN SING, DANCE, PLAY SPORTS AND CREATE BABIES?

Black men are not asking anyone for anything. All they’re saying is stop labeling, stop criticizing, stop analyzing. They are not objects to be probed, prodded and petted at will. They are in fact human. See them. Touch them. Feel them. Examine their motives. They are men subject to the same mistakes and temptations as the rest of us high polluting hybrids.

So stop speaking of them as if they were a piece of cheese or a morsel of dust. Stop having programs and panel discussions featuring Black men as the main attraction, and stop saying what a contemptible specimen they are; because we aren’t buying it.

Black men are not animals. They are men. And at this moment they are reclaiming their dignity. Hate it, dismiss it, whatever. The Black man’s motto in the 21st century is “I’m going to keep on flickin until I’m through tickin.” Hence, forget that extinct mumbo jumbo. Peace!

Peggy Butler is a freelance writer based in North Central Florida. She has written for various magazines and Internet publications including Africana.com. and TimBook Tu. Moreover, Butler who lists collecting 60s memorabilia among her hobbies; writes news, features, sports and entertainment articles, as well as commentaries and humor pieces.
Visit her website at peggysbutler.com or track her at Twitter.com/peggybutler647.