Check out news coverage of a huge fight that occurred at Locke High School in south Los Angeles last week. According to the LA Times, “about half of the students said the brawling was prompted by their peers — bored with school and ready to ignite.” Other students blamed racial tensions and gang problems. Shout out to CL Reader I’m Gonna Tell Da Truth for the info.
KILPATRICK UPDATE
On Wednesday, a 5-4 coalition of Detroit City Council members launched an impeachment-like process of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. According to The Detroit News, a sitting mayor for the first time in the city’s history could be called before the panel to justify why he shouldn’t lose his position.
The council also voted 5-4 to ask Gov. Jennifer Granholm to oust a popularly elected mayor and fellow Democrat, something she’s never done.
Then again, having a mayor entangled in scandal opens doors to all new territory and Kilpatrick continues to say he’s going nowhere.
Kilpatrick’s attorney and staff members claim the council lacks the authority to hold hearings to remove him: “They did not elect the mayor and they cannot remove him,” said Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams.
Consultants say the mayor has slipped from a slight majority of support to a slight minority since he was charged in March…ya think?!
SHARPTON TAX PROBLEMS
Government records indicate Al Sharpton and his business entities owe nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.
As one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in the country, Sharpton calls the investigation “retaliation”: “Whatever retaliation they do on me, we never stop,” he told The Associated Press. “I think that is why they try to intimidate us.”
An investigation has also been launched on his non-profit group, which Sharpton has brushed off as the kind of annoyance civil rights leaders come to expect from the government. Sharpton’s lawyers and the staff of the National Action Network have been negotiating with the government over the debt’s size and they dispute the government’s figure.
None of this has deterred Sharpton, who was arrested last week during a protest of the three police officers who were acquitted of killing Sean Bell.
Young people please…stop the violence – this is so stupid and over what?! The color of our skin, something none of us had control over
Kilpatrick: One word: disgrace
Sharpton: Typical government
j. dakar coming to work early.. i see you bruh!
@1 I here what you’re saying, but you can’t address to the young people.It’s not their fault, all they’re doing is imitating the adults who rasied them actions. They are raised to hate black people, that they are better than black people. I’m quite sure that black are taught that about latinos. It said really becasue the latino and black community has so much in common as to how the world view us, that we should get along.LOL! So what’s need to be done is get these adults and put them in check because they are ones brainwashing these kids and it need to stop.
Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X,Medger Evers,W.E.B Dubois are all civil rights leaders, I wouldn’t consider Al a civil rights leader. More of an oppurtunist if you ask me.
SMH SO SAD THAT THE YOUTH OF TODAY IN SOME SECTIONS OF SOCIETY GOTTA RESORT TO VIOLENCE.
I KNOW LA DEOMGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED, WITH MORE LATINOS, BUT WHERE DID ALL THE BLACK FOLKS GO, CAUSE LIKE IT SAID WATTS IS HISTORICALLY BLACK DOMINATED??
@4, THANKYOU I’M GLAD SOMEONE SAID IT—HIM AND JESSIE JACKSON, OPPORTUNISTS WHO WANNA JUST DO THINGS FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS AND DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE. WHITE FOLKS HAVE BEEN SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT THEM FOR YEARS AND THEY’RE RIGHT.
Quoted from the website:
“In fact, students said that the fighting, though mostly black versus brown”
OK WHO EXACTLY ARE THE BROWN PEOPLE THEY’RE TALKIN ABOUT??!!
@7 Mexicans
I agree with #4. Sharpton does not speak for me and I usually disagree with his methods and means but yet he is all up in the camera every time something pops off. He ego is bigger than his stomach.
Kilpatrick should just remove himself from a bad situation before the investigation turns up some more crap on him.
The girl in LA said it best, we live in the same neighborhood so we should just get over it and learn to live with one another. Out of the mouths of babes
Al, if I have to pay taxes, so do you.
Locke is my rival High School (Jordan High Alumni) Uncle Charlie lived right across the street…My cousin was MVP on thier track team when we were in HS…AS for these “race wars” they used to happen ALL THE TIME, not that it is a good thing..I am glad someone decided to step up and report what has been happening in the hood…When I used to go to Dominguez High in Compton they happened there too…Never really understood why though….
BTW could she not find any other word than melee as she used it at least ten times in this one report, LOL!
Yall can say what yall want about Al and Jesse, I don’t see none of your black @sses doing anything to assist anybody who suffer injustices. Who do you see at the forefront of Jena, Sean Bell, and the mentally challenged young lady who was beaten and raped along with countless other blacks who have suffered these injustices? Please name some “black activists” who have or will assist in these case? NOT YOUR JUDGMENTAL BLACK @SS
Something needs to be done at our schools. This is pure madness. The adults needs to step up and help our young people.
Detroit mayor- Dude why you stoop so low (no pun intended)?
AL Sharpton- He really needs to go to outer space and stay there. Why these people in the public eye think they don’t have to pay taxes? We do so so do you DUMMY.
I agree with 1 and 3!
all of the people in the bakground of the last picture look dead
y do black people always look dead??
smile…
be a man
for CHIYST sake
look at the one in the red shirt….PRICCCCCCCCK!!
im blk by the way
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@12 Good point…They are civil right leaders. There just not at the same level of leadership, commitment, and influence as Martin Luther King,. Many see them as opportunist because sometimes their “causes” were politically motivated. Martin Luther King however was driven, dedicated and motivated to evoke change for the cause of blacks and dedicated every moment of his life to that. I primarily hear about Jesse and Al Sharpton when some huge media story breaks about an injustice to a black person. What else are they doing?….
well the world we live in IS A DISATER. SO, why should we be surprise about our young generation actions??
I MEAN PUHLEEZE….MUSIC..TELEVISION EVEN THE STREETS ARE PRMOTIN SEX AN VIOLENCE ON A DAILY BASIS….AND GROWN AZZ PPL ARE HELPIN TO SUPPORT THE BULLSHH THAT OUR YOUNG PPL ARE BEIN FED SO WHY DA HELL IS ANYBODY SURPRISE OR SHOCKED?
the videos young ppla re watching…when they turn on radio the shh that there brain is listenin to….and when adults feel theres nothin wrong with their child listenin or watchin filth as if it want have an effect is manily responsible. WE ARE TEACHERS WE SHOULD ALL WANT TO INSPIRE. NOT BY BEIN SELFISH. OR BELIEVIN THAT WE DONT HAVE ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THIS WORLD OR ARE PPL AKA SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I’m glad I don’t live in LA it has always been race wars between the blacks and mexicans there..
I live in far north dallas and attended school in Carrollton when I was going to school I saw maybe one or two fights. When did it get out of that 600 hundred students were fighting.
i’m south central born & bred.
i had a friend who’s cousin was shot just a couple months back by some latino gang members. he survived luckily. l.a. is gettin more dangerous by the minute. when i was in high school, i don’t remember it happening too much on our campus but then again everyone was cool with each other. lately here in l.a., everywhere i go the ratio of black to brown is 1:4. i’m am sickened by the race wars here. the “black & brown” or what have you. it’s already bad enough that blacks are killing blacks. the locke h.s. incident is just one of many that go on here. and to think they’re trying to regulate the immigration laws here.
SEND THE MEXICANS BACK TO MEXICO AND THEN THEIR WOULDNT BE ANY BROWN ON BLACK VIOLENCE!
#18: i agree, but media plays just one role. and in this case it has nothing to do with sex.
it really starts at one place: HOME. where’s ya momma at? where’s ya daddy at? WHERE ARE THE PARENTS & WHY AREN’T THEY TAKING A SERIOUS STAND? i was raised in the hood, but i rised above all that because of my mom. kids need a good foundation.
my bad, i meant #17, not #18.
#18, i’m glad you don’t live in l.a. either. you’re not missed.
I really don’t understand the term there using Black v.s. Brown. Last time I checked, Black peole are brown, even dark skinned (I was about to say black LOL!!!)aren’t black but if you look closely they are a very dark shade of brown. Why not say the African -Americans vs The Mexican Americans? Is it just me who feel that way?
As far as the situation in school: It’s sad that you have to worry about whether your child will come home safely from school. Then again this is a parenting issue. Children are sponges and will do what they learn. As parent you have to know when and where that sponge is exposed. Kepp children away from gangs, in house violence, drugs, etc. As a parent you should know how to do these things because children will only do what they have learned.
As far as Rev. Al Sharpton: I do think the government is searching real hard to take him down so he can stop. I don’t agree with everything he does or say, but I do think he goes out not for just the opportunity. When people march you do need that publicity. I would’ve never known about the watch had it not been for the media coverage which is what King did, Malcom X did, and now Al is doing it. They were influential because it was seen around the world through the media. Despite what people think about AL he doesn’t just run out to be on camera. Most people actually call him to do so. For those that complain let’s see what you would do and how would you get the media to recognize it?
@20 I hope you are kidding because that was very ignorant. If a white man told you to go back to Africa, you would want to beat the crap out if him. America took this land from the Native Americans and the Mexicans, so really,they are were they’re suppose to be. Moving them back to Mexico isn’t the point anyway. The point is that we all should coexist peacefully now matter what the color our skin is. Plus if the Mexicans wasn’t there, the A.A’s (African Americans) would be going at it.
Pay the taxes Al before the Wesley Snipes you.
The school brawl is sad it’s becoming so dangerous to send kids to school.
@20, I HOPE YOU ARE “KIDDING”, WHAT AN IGNORANT BONEHEADED COMMENT TO MAKE.
I hate when ADULTS put down the youth…. YOU ADULTS raised them so if they are fukkkked up then look at the parents and people in that generation….
This is sad but its a part of our society. We must teach our children to be better then this… I have never been to CA but my mom lived in CA for 3 years as a child and she HATED it and begged my grandmother to come back to DC. She said that Hispanics acted mean and nasty to black kids back then. I remember this story because she said that nobody would play with her because the black kids thought she was Spanish and the Spanish kids knew she wasn’t and couldn’t make any friends (she was 8).
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Ok, now that I’m off of that… ARE you telling me they were randomly going around hitting black students in the face. OMG, I would have been in jail. Who is gonna sit and let some kid hit them in the face… Nobody… I would have grabbed a chair to defend myself…lol (ok, i know this isn’t funny but I’m really a silly person by nature)
It’s always funny when people use that “black vs.brown” phrase. There are no “black” people on the earth. “Black” people are actually different shades of brown, so it’s obvious that this “black vs.brown” term is being used to polarize the “black” and “hispanic” communities against each other. I wonder who’s pushing that, lol? The thing that blacks and hispanics have the most in common is their severe lack of self-knowledge which leads to the mutual delusional mentality. Blacks and hispanics are at odds because they’re fighting for the crumbs from the white man’s table. Beyond that, black and hispanic adults have nothing to teach their children other than adoration of America (a country built and sustained by blacks and hispanics), so thusly the children are going to hate themselves and each other because the images being put forth on the television are always anti-”black and brown”.
@23
You beat me to it, lol.
As soon I read the headline about Sharpton and his taxes I immediately thought, “This is happening because of the Sean Bell protest”. I think that is the case here. Well I hope Sharpton has his tax papers in order. It’s obvious the media is trying to taint his character because of what he did and what he’s continuing to do about the Sean Bell case.
Im sorry but Ive seen worse fights down the street..why is this news? Bad kids fighting, this has been going on long before our generation.
@33
You’ve seen brawls 600 deep divided by racial lines regularly down your street, lmao? There are fights in alot of these schools predicated off of race, especially here in New York, but what always entertains me is that the black kids are always the focus of the hate but the hispanic kids that attack them are always listening to rap and dressing like the black kids. Like the Lord said, it’s envy (Prov 27:4, Isaiah 11:13).
@ 20 You sound very ignorant.
This is sad people are suppose to go to learn, not fight each other. The parents need to stop being their childs friend and be parent.
Al Sharpton pay you taxes ok.
Kilpatrick needs to step down from office.
You know what this race ish has gotten too out of hand. Why do so many races think that they are better than the black when we helped build America? Don’t bring your Latino butt over to American and look down upon us. Who the hell they think made it easier for them to live here in America, Black people.
Just as Rev. Al Sharpton has said Black people will stand up or we will fall for anything. Those who think lighter skin is better than darker skin will have to answer to the creator some day. Black people stand up, stand proud, and stand with dignity, love and respect for all of our ancestors who have fought on the battle fields for us to have equal right and Justice in America. This is our Country, and soon every Black person in the Country will able to show it, and be more powerful, especially when President Barrack Obama get into office.
And all of those who have something negative to say about Rev. Al Sharpton. . . .Shhhhhh!!!! Wait, Wait, Wait, Wait a minute. Al I got this, I’ll tell all of the haters and racist out there for you, and here it goes. Go To Hell, you haters, and I will continue to stand up for my people. You know that you can’t beat us, so you may as well join us, and help us win this race.
Rev. Al keep doing what you are doing. I will continue to keep you in my prayers, and for all those who said something negative, go and stick your head in a plastic bag and suffocate. . . . . . Racist haters, you know that you want to be Black. Like you guys would say, You guys are so contradicting because your always trying to be immitate Black people, hang around us and try to act like you are so down for the cause, and in another breath you want to say racial slurs and/or remarks.
Keep Those Damn Remarks To Yourself!!!!
@Judah I’m glad I’m not the only one that is annoyed with the whole characterizes us as “black”.
At 23 and 30 AMEN!!!
It’s definitely the gov’t manipulating folks and so many people(AA & Hispanics) are too ignorant to realize it.
If you dont live in LA, it’s hard to understand what’s going on, especially if you dont have teenage kids….The brown ppl are saying they are taking back LA, the brown people are killing alot of Black male youth, and the black’s are retaliating.
What I find interesting is that ppl always hate on AA or blacks but steal our culture.
white ppl, get fake azz, lip injection.
Asian ppl, trying to get kinky hair, and come into our community (liquors stores and beauty) but they aint gon let u in there community.
Latino= love our music, clothing and style.
Knew Al Sharpton was shady. Mentioned that on another post.
LA what in hell is going on with blacks and hispanics. this is worst than crack. why would we even thing to fight each other .
Detroit needs to kick that man out of office. Bet this is not his only dirty dealing. Just the one that came to light first.
seems to me latinos want our position-damn are they trying to takeover cuz if so they can have it.
Kilpa’trick = a politician.
Feds trying to knock sharpton off his flow…THEY DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SEAN BELL VERDICT CUZ THEY DONT WANT US GOING NUTS IN THE STREETS + NATL GAURDS ARE IN OTHER COUNTRIES
FUKIN BULLIES!
OK ‘TRUTH’, FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY THIS AS RESPECTFULLY AS POSSIBLE: I GREW UP IN WATTS (WHERE LOCKE IS) AND I WAS NOT TAUGHT TO HATE ANY ONE. YOU SAY IT’S NOT THESE KIDS FAULT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? DO YOU THINK THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE THE ONES ON CAMPUS FIGHTING AND ACTING LIKE SAVAGES? NO THEY ARE AT WORK TRYING TO SCAPE TOGETHER MONEY TO BUY THESE IGNORANT LITTLE BASTARDS THE NEW JORDANS. PLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY WHERE IT BELONGS, ON THESE YOUG PEOPLE WHO DON’T RESPECT THEMSELVES OR ONE ANOTHER. I AM HAPPY THAT AT LEAST 4 GOT ARRESTED AND I HOPE THE REST GET THROWN IN JUVIE FOR A WHILE. WHY? BECAUSE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN CAUSE AND EFFECT. OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION IN CLASS– THEY ARE TOO BUSY FIGHTING OTHER PEOPLES BATTLES. THIS WHOLE THING STARTED BECAUSE A BOY GOT JUMPED- INSTEAD OF INFORMING THE AUTHORITIES HE CHOOSES TO RETALIATE. MUCH OF THIS ‘MELEE’ COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDE HAD HE JUST GONE TO THE POLICE. IS THAT THE PERFECT SOLUTION- NO BUT AT LEAST 600 STUDENTS WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THEIR FOOLISHNESS.
ummmm, leave kwame alone. yes, he lied, but which one of ya’ll has NEVA told a lie before??? everybody makes mistakes… i’m just sayin…
I think a history lesson is in order here:
The same names that are brought up as “real civil rights leaders” of note. Were often threatened by the government regarding accusations of tax withholding (Martin, Malcolm, Adam Clayton Powell, A. Phillip Randolph, etc.) It is a common ploy often used to rid the government of what they consider trouble makers. Al Capone was responsible for the murders of 100′spossible 1000′s of individuals but the only surefire way they could prosecute and nullify him was through charges of tax evasion. I say that to say this; If you want to eliminate someone, taxes are THE way to go.
Secondly, a lot of us seem to be under the impression that Martin and Malcolm were THE great unifiyers and were singulalrly regarded as the very definition of civil rights leadership within the African American community. This is a gross inaccuracy. Just as we do leadership now, they were constantly being called into question an scrutiny by their own people. Many felt like Martin was out of touch and misguided in his non-violent philosophy. People felt like he was a trader or a “Tom” to even suggest that Black folks not take it to the streets in light of the brutality they were facing as a result of Jim Crow (lynchings, seperate but (un)equal treatment, etc. In short, there were a significant segment of the community that felt like he did not in any way speak for them and should go sit down somewhere before he did more harm than good. Some of the same critisims could be said for Malcolm and others.
What happened with their legacies is the same thing I believe will happen with Rev. Sharpton. History will define it. Until then, I pray that they keep the faith and continue fighting the good fight despite the critism they may receive from the very community they fight so hard for…Peace
I’m not from LA but I am from the Bay and similar things happen here. I don’t want to throw blame on anyone or condone any violence (I’m tired of it), but there are a lot of things that Mexicans get away with here that African Americans wouldn’t.
This state caters to Mexicans the media is one sided. I don’t hate anybody and I wish we could all live together in peace, but you would have to live here to understand. There is no after school programs, no summer or part time jobs, they are bored and when there is nothing to keep you busy you get in trouble.
The government is broke that is why they are after Al. They are reaching back in time to get the money they think is owed. This is not about Al being influential, George W. could care less about him, NY or Sean Bell. It is about money, and money only. If it was NY state pursuing Al, I may reconsider. But the Feds, all about the green. And as people if we do what we are suppose to do you would never be in this position to begin with. Shady dealings always come into the light eventually even if it is a 100 years after your death.
@# 34
You need to remember that when you use the word hispanic you are talking about all races. The last time I checked the dominant hispanic race in New York was Puerto Ricans and trust when I tell you they have nothing to envy about the black community. The last time I was in New York was during the Puerto Rican Day Parade and there were just as many blacks as there were puerto Ricans.
how come theres no post about the california supreme court ruling on gay marriage Mr. dakar
@46….ITA with you. I’m from L.A. and they get away with alot of stuff blacks wouldn’t. Not to say it’s right. But I graduated in 04 and we always had black against mexican fights at the end of the year, its strange but it was expected and nobody really was phased by it. Here is CA, its different. Blacks and Mexicans have had tensions and the state of the city is bad now, with jobs minimal, and blacks and mexicans fighting for the same thing. I don’t know what the solution is, but we need one bad.
@30, TRUE, VERY TRUE WORDS!!
@ YEAH, I SAID IT! #45
Very well said. Amen.
i live in brooklyn and the dominant hispanic population in nyc is puerto rican but i’ve never really seen any brawls or beef in school. the only time i’ve seen any brawls is when its gang motivated such as crips beefing with latin kings or something. in most schools everyone sticks with their people, the puerto ricans hang out in their own area, the italians have their own spot, etc. etc.
@ 20…we could send them back to mexico, but then we’d have to give all the land from california to texas back too.
i’m from cali. raised in the north, went to school in south la. worked at crenshaw as a mentor. black vs brown is all over the place. i remember a huge race riot my jr year in high school. it basically comes down to two supressed cultures fighting over the same limited resources, be it jobs or corners. as these become more strained, i only anticipate a rise in incidents unless there’s a unified front against those or the forces who pitted us against each other in the first place.
i’d say that the word “Black” is fine by me vs “African American.” not African (although that’s where it all started), not quite “African-American” (not 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation migrant from the motherland…I have no concept of or current ties to the continent). being Black has its own unique set of experiences that differentiate us from our brothers and sisters anywhere across the globe. we are the byproduct of extreme circumstances (i.e. slavery, “Jim Crow,” strides in the arts, sports and entertainment, major contributions from talented inventors, etc) that has given us our own distinct culture and context. “Black” has dual meanings, but to shy away from it because of the negative undertones would also be denying a piece of our complicated history.
@48
Out ur mind, you sound out your mind! If Puerto Ricans have nothing to be envious about from Blacks please explain why THEY have Latin Jazz, Latin R&B and Latin Hip Hop? I have never known a black person to give a sh*t about creating Black Salsa! Please also explain why they see fit to jack our style and slang. I have never seen the reverse. Why can’t Puerto Rican artists (J Lo, Pun, Tony Sunshine, Fat Joe) drop solo without a Black sidekick? Please explain. Your post makes it sound as if our relationship is even in some way.
Also, Dominicans are the dominant “race” of Latinos in NY. Latinos are actually a mixture of 3 races for your information. You said there were just as many “Blacks” at the Puerto Rican Day Parade as Puerto Ricans. How do you know that the Blacks weren’t Puerto Rican? Puerto Ricans can be Black or didn’t you know that! Please reread your History books.
It’s amazing how many people come to a BLACK website who don’t want to be called BLACK!!!!
@48
No disrespect to you, maybe you’re a hispanic, but there is an old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. There is no doubt that the hispanics mimic the black Americans intensely, from style of dress, dance, walk, and talk. The different parades are set up by the white man to inspire separation and contention amongst the different black and hispanic groups with each other, when in fact none of us have a damn thing as a race. The Puerto Ricans hate the Dominicans and vice a versa. The West Indians have just as big a parade in Brooklyn as the Puerto Ricans have down 5th. Ave. and they use it to brag on themselves and their so-called “pride” as well (really in juxtaposition to and to exalt themselves over the African Americans). When you really examine it, it’s all false pride because the average black and hispanic has no idea where their people came from or who they were before the white man rebuilt them in his image (Deut 28:68, 32:26, Jer 17:4). This goes back to the point I was making about the “black vs. brown” thing. It’s a deliberate attempt to exacerbate racial strife amongst the minority groups to maintain confusion.
@54
Well said. They come to see black people be clowns, leach our culture, and they want to chime in on serious topics when they see that blacks actually think about something other than basketball and hip-hop. Like you said, the next time you see black Americans bite from the hispanics will be the first time.
Directed in reply to John: Ever notice that when people get of other races get on a blog and say somthing racial but don’t want a retaliation, they have to end their comment with “BTW, I’m black”. No you are not, you are a coward. Most black people dont need to mention they are black at the end of a statement. They are well aware of it and don’t give a darn with other people have to say because at the end of they day, they are still black and will face some form of racism by the end of the week!!!!
As far as the black man with the tax problems, I can assure all of you that AL SHARPTON does pay his taxes. He would not slip up after fighting as hard as he does, over some measley taxes. He expected that. Taxes is what the government goes after when they have searched, and searched and can find nothing else. 1.5 mil is NOTHING to AL!
nothing new in los angeles county… this happends at every school out here, just doesnt make it to news. i mean mexicans then took california what do you expect
So what about owing taxes? According to Keith Oberbman, MSNBC, Government workers owe over 500 million to Uncle Sam. These are the senators, congressmen and other state workers who are not paying their taxes. Are their names released to the media? Dont believe the hype with Al Sharpton. He pisses people off, but keep at it Al. America needs bold people like yourself.