Our democracy has been challenged in the past few years. 

We have also seen serious threats to the very promise of democracy. Most of us are aware that in 2021, over 400 bills restricting access to the vote were proposed in 49 states. As we engaged in our first redistricting process in a decade, politicians gerrymandered district lines to keep power within their own hands rather than the hands of their constituents. And one year ago today, our nation experienced an act of unprecedented domestic terrorism aimed at discrediting the results of a fair and free election. 

Our nation is at a crucial turning point, how we proceed will determine whether our democracy survives. Our system of government is fractured, but the will of the people is strong. We don’t have a reputation for backing down and we will not give up now. Quite the opposite. 

This episode is dedicated to the threat that is upon.   We must continue to fight and continue Being Blunt!!!!

Reference: 
 https://www.lwv.org/blog/5-ways-defend-democracy-5-minutes

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/11/americans-in-denial-trump-threat-jan6-elections/

https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2021/09/a-lifelong-conservative-on-the-dangers-of-donald-trump/

Are you tired of being sick and tired?  Mass shootings? Covid? Inflation?

How much more can we take.  Sometimes, we just need to talk it out and get it off our chest.

Don't worry Being Blunt gotcha as I want to unload my opinions too.  Come join me real quick and let's talk about  Covid-19; the Slap; Mid-Terms Elections; and Angry Americans.  I won't keep  you long.  I just need 5 minutes (truthfully, its 10 minutes) but who's counting.   

Reference Material
With variant on the rise, experts warn U.S. could face a Covid resurgence (statnews.com)

https://www.rockthevote.org/

5 Ways the Trump Administration’s Policies Have Harmed Children - Center for American Progress

Americans are living in a big ‘anger incubator.’ Experts have tips for regulating our rage. - The Washington Post

https://youtu.be/Zv0mKE6uk94

https://youtu.be/ow5kHhQkeaY

Southern, the largest HBCU in the country at the time, had black faculty and a black president, but the purse strings were still being held by white elected officials. Figures showed only half as much money per pupil was being spent on students at Southern as was being spent on students at the predominately white LSU.

Three or four weeks into the fall 1972 semester, students' dissatisfaction mounted. There was a vibe of unhappiness, The students wanted more teachers, more input into the curriculum, and a better physical space in which to learn.

"And it started to build, and it started to build........

I invite you all to tune in to this episode to hear the final outcome of this tragedy that unfolded at Southern University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Links:
The 1972 Southern University Shooting • (blackpast.org)
Deadly 1972 protest at Southern University highlighted in new PBS documentary on HBCUs | Education | theadvocate.com

I do not own the rights to the music in this episode.  

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626 

Happy New Year Family!!!!

I am back.  Join me as I recap 2021 on the Being Blunt Podcast.  Being Blunt is back with all new topics to keep you informed, and alert on local, national, and international issues. 

I can't lie.  2021 was challenging.  I am glad to see parts of it in my rear-view mirror. When I embarked into this podcast, I gravitated to the role as a new era activist.  I enjoyed reporting out to the community I love about the injustices and the political strategies hurting as a people and a country.  It allowed me to vent my frustration while sharing action steps to counter those moves.  

 What I realize the emotional toll it was taking on me.  The constant attacks and maybe the disappointment of feeling like our actions were not enough.  I had to come to the realization that not everyone is ready to get off the sidelines.   And that is alright!!!   That just tells me I have more work to do but not at the expense of jeopardizing my own mental health.  Nevertheless, 2-Pac said it best, if my words and action can inspire some young person to change the world then I did my part.  And I am good with that.     

 So let’s have some fun this year while we handle our business. 

 Thank you for listening to this episode. Make sure you subscribe to Being Blunt Pod anywhere you listen to your podcasts.  Please leave a comment, rate, and review.  Do not be stingy, share the love and this episode with friends and family.  

Also follow me on IG and Facebook @ Being Blunt Pod

 LINKS:

The 10 biggest news stories of the year | TheHill

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626 

When Haiti won its independence nearly 200 years ago, it came at a hefty price -- an estimated $21 billion today. The country spent the next century paying off the debt to its former slave owners, France.

The island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was once the richest colony of the New World. The western third of the island — today’s Haiti — was known as Saint-Domingue and was a major destination of the transatlantic slave trade.

 In this episode, you will hear me address how the African slaves provided the muscle for an economy during the 1780s  which produced 60% of the coffee and 40% of the sugar consumed in Europe. The French drove their sugar cane–cutting slaves especially hard.

This cruel treatment ultimately led to the Haitian Revolution in 1791. The revolution influenced events across the Americas. The French emperor Napoleon gave up on the New World, selling the vast Louisiana Territory to the U.S. Haiti has been ruthlessly exploited by Western powers many times in its 200 years of independence.

Western powers often propped up ineffective and corrupt Haitian governments under the strategy of not wanting another Cuba. But despite government corruption and acute poverty, Haitians are among the world’s most resilient people. And we wonder why Haiti is struggling?  We need to do right by our Haitian brothers and sisters....and yall know who I am talking about when I say "we".  Let's keep it Blunt.....

How colonial-era debt helped shape Haiti's poverty and political unrest - ABC News (go.com)
Haiti remains revolutionary despite history of adversity (usatoday.com)

Now that this anti-abortion bill is a reality in Texas, the state has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. The measure bans abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.  It allows private citizens to enforce the law by suing abortion providers and anyone else who might have helped.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the law to take effect, make no mistake about it, Roe v. Wade is in jeopardy.

The Being Blunt Podcast will dive into this case and talk about steps we need to take to preserve this landmark decision.  Keep up the fight!!!!

Links:
www.theiconicbond.com

How States Can Protect Roe v. Wade in the Wake of Kavanaugh | Indivisible

Texas created a blueprint for abortion restrictions. Republican-controlled states may follow suit. - The Washington Post

Henry Wade - Wikipedia

Norma McCorvey - Wikipedia

Roe v. Wade (Decision January 22, 1973) | Subscript Law

Roe v. Wade Fast Facts | CNN

Texas abortion ban: Democrat says Roe v. Wade in jeopardy | wfaa.com

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626 

Highlights from the conversation: 

[01:45] Sean Blount

· Management position with the US Department of Agriculture

· Developed his podcast from a “happy hour” with his colleagues

[05:45] Critical Race Theory – how it’s impacting the space

Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. It is an academic framework on how we look at laws and policies that have shaped America at how it impacted us. Some of it, we hear frequently but we have done so much and are so involved. A lot of our history may not be pretty, it may have been violent and very dark, and however, a lot of it has been erased and are not taught to us.

[13:15] Suppressing what really happened – doing our part teaching the history

This could be a play on keeping what really happened which could be due to guilt. The reality is that just because history is not being taught in schools does not mean it will not get taught. This is where we have to take responsibility and learn the history ourselves so we can then teach our children what was not being taught in school.

[19:33] Taking Responsibility - Educating ourselves and sharing what we learned

Some people are busy being parents and living life that they have not just opened that door to allow themselves to take time and do the research. This is why we are on a movement to share what we learned and not keep it to ourselves. We play a big role as part of this whole movement to dismantle the system of oppression and suppression of true history and the education system.

[22:25] Ripples that create a wave

Doing things like going to the school board meetings, being a part of the PTA, educating our children – these are the small steps we can do to create that ripple. And with a whole bunch of ripples, we can create a wave!

Catch up with Dr. Miaysha Clairborne by visiting her podcast and various other sites: 

Maiysha Clairborne MD - Mind Remapping (mindremappingacademy.com)

What is NLP? - Mind Remapping (mindremappingacademy.com)

‎The Black Mind Garden: ReMap Your Mind! Create a Life You Design on Apple Podcasts

www.Anchor.fm/ReMapYourMind 

 Hosted by: Dr. Maiysha Clairborne
Guest:  Sean B.

The legalization of marijuana has spread around the country in recent years. Currently 33 states allow it for medical use and 11 for recreational. Yet scientists and researchers say a paradox about it endures: There has been broad public experience with pot, but the medical community still doesn’t know enough about the health effects — and what it does know is often obscured by enduring myths. 

Opponents say marijuana poses a public health and safety risk, and some are morally against legalization. Proponents, however, argue that it is not as dangerous as alcohol and point to evidence that it has therapeutic benefits, such as stress and pain relief.

Advocates also see it as a moneymaker for states and a necessary social justice initiative. Marijuana laws have disproportionately affected people from minority communities, contributing to mass incarceration. States where the drug is legal have sought to retroactively address the consequences of marijuana prohibition, often including provisions allowing for the expungement or vacation of low-level marijuana convictions.

Links:
https://www.livescience.com/60094-marijuana-popularity.html

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/medical-marijuana-faq

https://www.rtor.org/2019/09/06/worst-side-effects-of-medical-marijuana/

Where Is Marijuana Legal? A Guide to Marijuana Legalization | Best States | US News

Theme Song by Iconic Bond:
Iconic Bond (theiconicbond.com

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626 

Just what is critical race theory anyway?

Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.

The basic tenets of critical race theory, or CRT, emerged out of a framework for legal analysis in the late 1970s and early 1980s created by legal scholars Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado, among others.

What does any of this have to do with K-12 education?

Scholars who study critical race theory in education look at how policies and practices in K-12 education contribute to persistent racial inequalities in education, and advocate for ways to change them.

Links:
What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? (edweek.org)

econTabReport.pdf (yougov.com)

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

https://news.yahoo.com/majority-unfavorable-view-critical-race-193300830.html

Who is Iconic Bond?

www.theiconicbond.com

Iconic Bond - YouTube

Coming from an immigrant Egyptian family, Iconic Bond has always been an outsider looking in. Through that lens, he has gained the ability to connect with people of all walks of life.

Rather than use his platform as a way to “dumb-down” his listeners, Iconic strives to always have a message in his words. Iconic would “rather be the medicine, than to be sickest…rather be a man that’s a little different”

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626 

Are you aware how important Juneteenth is to our community?  Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

The symbolic and spiritual significance of a federal Juneteenth holiday can't be diminished. There are many who have fought for this moment, and we bow to the work of our elders, tireless advocates like Mrs. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth," who has dedicated the last four decades of her life to this cause.

Juneteenth marks a date of major significance in American history and shows us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for black Americans – a battle that continues to this day.

By moving forward with this legislation, Congress is celebrating the liberation of slaves in Texas in 1865. But why is it that they can mobilize such quick bipartisan action on a new federal holiday, but not voting rights legislation to protect Black voters in 2021.

Why can't they move with such urgency on anti-lynching legislation to protect Black lives, or the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to protect Black civil rights?

Yes, this is a time to celebrate but we must be more vigilant than over to continue to fight for a better America and do right by people of color. 

Stay Blunt Yall!!!!!

Links:
 Juneteenth: What Is It, Why Is It Important, And How We Should Celebrate It - Bobby Berk

Juneteenth: What It Is And How It's Observed : NPR

 Opinion: Don't get comfortable after getting Juneteenth holiday - CNN

Diverse Tax Services LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Telephone:  678-760-5626