Posts Tagged ‘Al Sharpton’

Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor: Did Ed Kent Get It Right?

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

This editor/writer was interested, sort of, about the turnout and the karma for this Beck rally in D.C. today. Sort of, as in sometimes the editor watches the Super Bowl and sometimes the World Series and the NBA* finals on occasion. And, of course, how the news media would give it play and review, was of interest, probably more than watching the main event (which, because of the Internet, could be reviewed easily). Also: This could be interesting,  the size of the rally.

Hundreds of thousands were expected but early news reports, though not providing estimates that made sense, reported that tens of thousands had shown up or were showing up for not only Beck’s but one organized by The Reverend Al Sharpton.

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Omar Edwards, Andrew Duton, NYPD, New York City, Civil Liberties, America, Et Al

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Was race a factor in the death of  NYPD Officer Omar Edwards?

Possibly.

Was Officer Andrew Duton acting like a racist? Trash that question. Better ones are: Does he live in a racist society? Was his fatal mistake the result of his growing up and living in a racist society? What was his mindset at the moment he squeezed off several shots? Would he have shot a white man, woman or child under similar circumstances?

Who the hell is capable of answering such questions considering the epistemological challenges, regardless of the torrent of news reporting as well as commentary manipulated to look like news reporting?

No one.

Google, this date, listed 1,184 links to news stories about Omar Edwards’s slaying. Yet, every sane New Yorker, however, knows the answer to this one: When was the last time a black NYPD officer mistakenly shot a white police officer under similar circumstances?

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Sharpton Redux [Instructor Eats Crow]

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Feature Writing, Spring 2009.

Feature Writing, Spring 2009.

Email sent to my Feature Writing students after the Thursday, April 30 class:
Andrea Leon convinced me that I missed the big picture and that she has a story that no journalist, pro or student (in recent memory), has regarding Sharpton. So, I would really appreciate it if everyone in class would send her three or four sentences regarding their likes and dislikes about Sharpton. Try to be specific about why you like or don’t like or respect or disrespect about him.

Please let her know if you can use your name or not in this special she’s working on.

For pedagogical reasons, I will offer a brief recap and opinion at the beginning of class because the tiff illustrates some journalistic matters that can’t be taught via book/class and have to be learned via real-world experience.

Thanks,

gm

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A New York Moment of Well Deserved Ridicule – Part III

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Murdoch’s So-Called Apology: Was He Snickering, Chortling As It Was Being Drafted?
The text of his apology is below, that is, tacked below the original narrative for this column which was planned as the last post on the controversy. I assume that by this date that anyone following this  cartoon tempest has read or reviewed his statement that has brought this loud New York Moment to a close, and the SOB did it in grand form. I was surprised by the sudden deus ex machina. I assume it caught the Reverend Al Sharpton and the other active participants by surprise, especially the persuasiveness of the comment: The buck stops with me.

Did Time say anything about the Post's history of overt racism directed at the black communities of New York

Did Time’s story say anything about the Post’s history of overt racism directed at the black communities of New York?

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A New York Moment of Well Deserved Ridicule – Part II

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

[ Breaking News, February 24, 11:24 p.m.: Several news organizations have reported that Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corporation that owns the New York Post, has issued “an apology.” This is a significant moment in a high stakes game of the Politics of Journalism. As well as Race Politics.

The organizers have obviously scored a hit but of what significance? I need time to process.

Selected: URLs: CNN. Rueters. NY Post. ]

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A New York Moment of Well Deserved Ridicule – Part 1

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

One of the New York Post’s cherished editorial traditions, denigrating and mocking African Americans, finally earned that publication the ignominy that it most rightfully deserved, though I wish the comeuppance had resulted from an undeniable slander rather than the one seized by the organizers of the demonstration in front of 1211 Avenue of the Americas.

Shortly after Rupert Murdoch bought the Post, its Australian and British and American editors and reporters relished its “news stories” spiting African Americans. I recall one vile tongue-in-cheek about Stepin Fetchit who was dead at the time but none the less was described in a Post article as a gifted African American actor whom the black community should be proud.

This picture of Stepin Fetchit groveling in a degenerate manner was not the one used by the Post but matches the essence of that missing picture.

This picture of Stepin Fetchit groveling in a typically degenerate manner was not the one used by the Post but matches the essence of that missing picture.

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