[efnewsservice]

December 4, 2016

Jared Gilmore and Colin O’Donoghue carpet interviews at Trevor Project LIVE

(Colin at .40, Jared at 2.05)

[socialrenaissanceproject]

He is such a nice guy!!!

[socialrenaissanceproject]

Dawn of Modern Day Culture Wars

#HETEROSEXUALPRIDEDAY

AKA

#EVERYDAYOFTHEYEAR

AKA

Dawn of Modern Day Culture Wars

You have got to be kidding me. Once again the rushing river of straight white tears burst through the dam and overflowed the valley of the actual oppressed. I am referring to the fact that someone actually had the nerve to create #HeteroSexualPrideDay. The worst part about it? It was actually a trending topic. Actual human beings supported it and shared in the sentiments of the creator about the irreverent need to have such a day. Twitter user @_JackNForTweets created the hashtag in response to Gay Pride Month, and let’s just say it didn’t go over well.

In a society where people are made to feel less than and different for being gay, Gay Pride began to be a  celebration of those differences. “Gay pride or LGBT pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.”  Not only is #HeteroSexualPrideDay trending, but ,apparantly, playing the victim card is as well. Not only playing the victim card, but wanting to keep the victim card and use it forever and always.

Of course, the idiot that created this is a glorified twitter troll that, much like Donald Trump, gets traction because he “keeps it real” or “says what everyone is thinking”. The problem with this is that he actually has people buying into the idea of a need for Heterosexual Pride Day. Hundreds of tweets followed this debauchery of a tweet from people on both sides of the argument. Here is what I am fearful of. We are getting the same sentiments from Trump supporters that enjoy the phrase “white pride”

The terms “Straight Pride" and "Heterosexual Pride" are meant to contest heterosexuality to homosexuality by copying the phrase "Gay Pride".  "Straight Pride" is a form of conservative protest to the fact as there is no straight or heterosexual battle for civil rights. Nor should there be as there are no states or countries that deem hetereosexuality taboo or ILLEGAL. There are no countries in which the idea of a man and a women getting married, is seen as an abomination in the eyes of the ‘Heavenly Father’. Gays and logical straights are in heavy opposition of this ideology however, the "Straight Pride" movement continued to gain substantial media attention.

You are probably wondering what I meant by the the Culture Wars or you are a well read and knew that I was talking about the conflict that divided conservatives and liberals in the early 90s. The expression was realized by James Davison Hunter in his book, ‘Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America’. Hunter recognized a dramatic shift  was happening that had transformed United States politics and culture, including the same issues relating to social justice that we have today like homosexuality for example. Furthermore, not only were there a number of isolating issues, but those same issues were practically divide along the same lines between the two groups. Us Vs. Them.

I want to leave you with a few questions? Why do we have to talk about things like that? Why is it that, instead of celebrating the beauty and purpose behind having Gay Pride celebrations, society finds something wrong with it? Why, in a nation that has proven time and time again that change is the answer, do we constantly revert back to a narrow minded, stubborn, and selfish mindset? Chris Boeskool said it best ‘when you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.’ Until next time. Peace!

Writer: Joshua Walker 

[socialrenaissanceproject]

Battle of the Oppressed

In the wake of the tragedy in Orlando at Pulse Nightclub, in a time where unity should be in the forefront of our mind, another evil reared its ugly head; the petty need to be the most oppressed. Do not take my frank analysis of this situation as a negative critique. Instead, consider it as reflective journey down the various avenues of blackness which unfortunately includes the idea of “slave mentality”.  This text is also meant to be a commentary on Paulo Freire’s brilliant writing, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” and how we can be liberated from said ‘slave mentality’.

The terror attack Pulse Nightclub was, of course, a tragic event that should have been avoided but, of course, gun control is another issue. With a death toll of 49 innocent victims and 53 injured, this event was deemed the deadliest mass shooting in U.S history.  I was actually out with friends that Saturday night when I heard about the shooting. Very little information was available because it had literally just occurred but I remember going to bed very sad that night.  I awoke the next morning to news of the devastation that actually occurred, friends in Orlando checking in as ‘safe’ on Facebook, and statuses expressing sorrow and support for all those affected.  I rejoiced in the unity that was shared from people of all walks of life and became hopeful that the human race would be able to overcome anything.

That feeling of delight soon escaped me. Major media outlets began releasing headlines announcing this shooting as the deadliest mass shooting in America and black folks and other oppressed peoples were not happy about that. Criticizers pushed back, stating the phrase was inaccurate and disrespectful to other grim chapters of American history.  Pointing out that death tolls were much higher in other massacres, including race riots and labor disputes in the early 1900s and genocides committed by the U.S. Army or settlers in the American West.  The conversation then shifted to a petty debate about word choice and how terms are defined. Questioning whether a mass shooting can be compared to the events like the East St. Louis Massacre of 1917, Tulsa Massacre of 1921, or Rosewood Massacre of 1923 where the death toll was well into the hundreds. This is a serious problem.  Innocent people were slaughtered at an LGBT night club and while the wounds were still fresh, we began to see people posting about other racially motivated atrocities as if this were a contest in the ‘Oppression Olympics’.

Make no mistake, those events were critical battles in the race war in this country. They serve as tragic reminder of the devastation that hatred and intolerance can create. However, as a people, what benefit we get from disputing a current tragedy? What benefit do we gain from arguing that the Orlando shooting was not the largest mass shooting in America? How do we progress as a nation when, with every fiber of our being, we want to be remembered as the ones who struggled the most. Who are better prepared than the oppressed to understand the terrible significances of an oppressive society?

Friere writes, “the central problem is this: how can the oppressed, as divided, unauthentic beings, participate in developing the pedagogy of their liberation?  The term liberation resonated with me as I read this. In my opinion, true liberation comes from knowing that no one can cage your mind; but you.  One issue is that there are people, of all walks, of life that still have a slave mentality.   It’s a very controversial topic within the African-American community, nowadays especially, in an age where deep philosophical conversations mostly happen on social media. A likely explanation of this is because both blacks and whites are uncomfortable talking about this in racially mixed company. This is true especially because of the hyperawareness of racism in America and our deep rooted history with slavery.

Writer: Joshua Walker

[divineninelover]

She is someone.

[socialrenaissanceproject]

When you go to dinner at your white friends house. 

[ohmylegz]

*stares collective in black confusion*

[sweet-watamelanin]

😂😂😂😂😂

[hoesome-e]

Dead

[bougieauntie-deactivated]

YO

[socialrenaissanceproject]

HAH

[notkatniss]

me searching for a new tv show to watch

[micdotcom]

Watch: He then then brings it back to his “favorite TV show”

[massmedear]

[socialrenaissanceproject]

The Sad Reality of American Society 

(X)

[socialrenaissanceproject]

When you go to dinner at your white friends house. 

[whatwhiteswillneverknow]

(source)

Akilah Johnson, a 10th grader from Washington, D.C., is Google’s top student doodler.

Johnson’s doodle, which honors her African-American heritage, is featured prominently on the Internet giant’s home page on Monday. It was selected from 100,000 submissions to the “Doodle 4 Google” competition for young artists.

Congrats!

[socialrenaissanceproject]

yas

[sandandglass]

Whose Line s11e19

[insideguppysworld]

This guy lmao!!!!

[socialrenaissanceproject]

HAH

[life-of-beyonce]

@beyonce: I’m telling my daughter everyday, you know you can be president. You know it’s possible.

@amberrose: I teach Sebastian a new word every week that would be seemingly difficult for a two year old but he kills it every time.

@ayeshacurry: & Riley make lemonade together.

because being taught from a young age that you can achieve anything is so important.

[tia-futuremd-deactivated2016122]

Black excellence

[socialrenaissanceproject]

so much yes

[socialrenaissanceproject]

New Episode of Us is live! 

[214-thotline-bling]

It’s lit 🔥

[halpertjames-deactivated2016100]

[ashleighchubbybunny]

The tea.

[normanisk]

Normani’s Clean&Clear’s Feel The Real Me