Happy Holidays from The Burton Wire! (Google Images)
The Burton Wire would like to wish you a safe and Happy Holiday season! To help you get into the Christmas spirit, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite songs. Feel free to add the name of your favorites in the comments section so we can add them to the list. Wishing you love, peace and blessings!!!
Justine Sacco, the PR executive whose hateful and hurtful Tweet about AIDS in Africa that went viral on the Internet has been fired. In case you’ve been under the radar and missed the Tweet heard ’round the world, Sacco managed to do something that is really hard to do — insult a race of people, a nation and an entire continent simultaneously. This type of tomfoolery, and from a Public Relations executive at a media company no less, reflects more than just the ability of those who lack common sense and decency to climb the corporate ladder. It also reflects the comfort that people like Sacco have with making ignorant comments under the guise of being funny. Sacco’s poor attempt at being funny turned into a comedy of errors for her with the swift rebuke of the Twitterverse for her hateful comments.
IAC public relations executive Justine Sacco was fired for her hateful tweet. (Photo Credit: Twitter)
When I first read about the tweet, I immediately thought of my father who always says, “Be careful about what you say because the mouth sometimes works faster than the brain.” In this case, it wasn’t just Sacco’s mouth, it was social media that worked faster than her brain when she decided to make public her private discriminatory thoughts. She misjudged her audience, thinking that the entire world would understand the intention of her “joke.” Communications 101 teaches that the intent of the message that is sent does not matter nearly as much as how the message is received by the recipient. As a trained PR professional, she should have taken a leaf out of her own book or consulted with a top pr agency in the Philippines to see how to handle this poor situation. It’s clear that even though she has many years of experince, she has not been able to put her own work into practice.
What Sacco tweeted was actually beyond stupid, it was idiotic and hurtful. Sacco’s comments represent some of the most vile stereotypes and ideologies about African people that exist. This so-called public relations executive exercised even more poor decision making by offering these comments en route to South Africa, the week following the burial of world leader and civil rights icon Nelson Mandela. To suggest that the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa is due to unprotected sex diminishes the seriousness of the crisis. Millions of people are dying each year from HIV in Africa. Nearly 15 percent of South Africa’s population is HIV positive, that’s almost 6 million people. Her tweet demonstrates that she knows very little about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Since she clearly doesn’t understand, I’ll make it plain for her with an example she can understand; imagine that 75 percent of the people living in the city of London were HIV positive. Would that be funny?
Now consider something she may or may not know; so many people are dying in South Africa from HIV/AIDS and other illnesses that some cemeteries are now burying caskets in the upright position due to the lack of adequate land space to accommodate the number of deaths. Now is that funny?
Further the idea that whites don’t have or can’t get H.I.V. is preposterous. According to the National AIDS Trust, 50% of those newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2011 were white. The largest proportion of new diagnoses in 2012 were due to sex between men (47 percent), followed by heterosexual sex (41 percent). Sacco doesn’t have to worry about getting HIV in Africa, because she may want to pay attention to what’s going on in London. Sacco need not think that whiteness will protect her from HIV, because unlike Sacco, HIV/AIDS does not discriminate, and that’s no laughing matter.
Since it has become painfully clear that Sacco didn’t pay enough attention to the cultural awareness and sensitivity sections of her introductory public relations courses — yes, she has made an insensitive Tweet before and kept her job — hopefully she paid close attention to the section on crisis management, because she’s going to need it to climb out of this hole she’s dug for herself.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news site the Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Ira Curry is the winner of the largest Mega Millions jackpot in U.S. history. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
Jason Hanna and Steve Almasy of CNN are reporting that a 56-year-old woman has won half of the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in U.S. history and has taken the cash option, which after taxes, will be about $120 million. Hanna and Almasay write:
“Ira Curry, of Stone Mountain, came to the lottery office with the winning ticket of hand-picked numbers, a mix of family birthdays and the lucky number 7. She did not appear at the afternoon lottery announcement in Atlanta.
Curry bought the ticket at the end of the day Friday and it was a last-minute decision, Alford said.
Alford gave a few details about Curry, saying she is married and had her daughter check online for the winning numbers after a radio announcer mentioned 7 was the Mega ball number.”
It will take approximately two weeks for Curry to receive the check. Maybe in that time, she should turn her hand to the various casino on phone games to see if she can replicate her luck there.
Miss France 2014 Flora Coquerel has received racist threats on social media platforms. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
The Voice (UK) is reporting that the 2014 Miss France Flora Coquerel, 19, has been receiving racist threats via social media platforms. Rakesha Hudson writes:
“According to French media organisations TF1, Gala, and Le Télégramme there was over 1.1 million tweets on Twitter the night she won, including some horrific racist tweets.
One person tweeted: ‘I’m not a racist but shouldn’t the Miss France contest only be open to white girls?’
Another tweet simply said: ‘Fuck, a n***er’
According to French media, the most popular hashtags that night were ‘shame’, ‘black’, and ‘n***er’.
Numerous articles claimed Coquerel’s victory was ‘surfing on the Nelson Mandela wave’, implying there was a pro-black agenda in because he had just passed away, reported Elle online.
The 19-year-old, whose mother is from the West African state of Benin, insisted that France is happily ‘mixed’ was chosen by a combination of public votes and a celebrity jury.”
Unfortunately Ms. Coquerel isn’t the only pageant winner in recent years to receive such threats. 2014 Miss America winner Nina Davuluri, who is Indian-American, received racist Tweets following her pageant win. In 2000, Rwandan-born Sonia Rolland won the Miss France pageant and received 3000 ‘negative’ letters.
Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s party has won the nation’s parliamentary elections. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
AllAfrica.com is reporting that Mali’s recent parliamentary elections have resulted in a win for the party of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The author writes:
“Malian elections officials said Wednesday that Keita’s Rally for Mali party had won the the second round of parliamentary elections on December 15 , gaining 60 of the 147 seats in parliament, according to provisional results.
Together with its junior partners, it has 115 seats, Minister of Territorial Administration Moussa Sinko said on state television.
Opposition party Alliance for Democracy in Mali won 21 seats, followed by Union for the Republic and Democracy with 17 seats.
The constitutional court is expected to announce final results within the next few days, and the result is only official after its confirmation by the court.”
Reportedly, only 36.4 percent of the six million voters eligible to vote, voted in the second round of elections. It is believed that many potential voters stayed away out of fear of rebel violence and voter fatigue, with this round being the country’s fourth nationwide vote in five months.
Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s party has won the nation’s parliamentary elections. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
AllAfrica.com is reporting that Mali’s recent parliamentary elections have resulted in a win for the party of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The author writes:
“Malian elections officials said Wednesday that Keita’s Rally for Mali party had won the the second round of parliamentary elections on December 15 , gaining 60 of the 147 seats in parliament, according to provisional results.
Together with its junior partners, it has 115 seats, Minister of Territorial Administration Moussa Sinko said on state television.
Opposition party Alliance for Democracy in Mali won 21 seats, followed by Union for the Republic and Democracy with 17 seats.
The constitutional court is expected to announce final results within the next few days, and the result is only official after its confirmation by the court.”
Reportedly, only 36.4 percent of the six million voters eligible to vote, voted in the second round of elections. It is believed that many potential voters stayed away out of fear of rebel violence and voter fatigue, with this round being the country’s fourth nationwide vote in five months.
Teen Environmentalist and entrepreneur Charles Orgbon is CEO of Greening Forward. (Photo Credit: Donna Permell)
Many social activists and critics of the past believe young people of color in this generation have no motivation to create social transformation. Environmentalist Charles Orgbon III has graciously stepped up to the plate.
The 18-year-old senior at Hoschton, GA’s Mill Creek High School is the CEO and founder of the eco-friendly nonprofit organization, Greening Forward. Orgbon’s brainchild seeks to mobilize other youth to get involved in green initiatives globally.
Greening Forward is responsible for global youth service days, an annual youth summit, a service day honoring the victims of 9/11 and a mentorship program in Berkeley, CA. “An environmental movement is gonna have to find creative ways to knock down those barriers to bring in young people of color, people with disabilities or young people in general. When we can catalyze all of that energy, we build more effective campaigns and more effective change,” says Orgbon.
What originally started as a service project for Orgbon in 2008 to pick up litter on his school’s campus has evolved into a crusade to encourage his peers and elders to take action. Seeing the work that needed to be done, Orgbon decided to take matters into his own hands. “It’s not about empowering young people. Young people already have the power. It’s about giving young people the opportunities to show that power,” says Orgbon.
The eco-savvy board member of both Earth Force and Youth Service of America uses his interest in the environment to further educate himself. Orgbon remembers learning how to draft press releases, develop succession plans or even carbon copy emails just to handle his business. Sighing and pausing momentarily in between responses, he doesn’t necessarily encourage people interested in making a difference to organize a charity. It’s extremely hard work, physically and mentally.
For example, in the African American community, going green, according to Orgbon, is often perceived as being exclusive or elitist. Even when Orgbon has conversations with his immediate family about organic food and products, he says the first thing they point out are the retail price points. Making a change is not always about changing behaviors, it is also about changing attitudes. Luckily, the entrepreneur is up for the challenge, dealing with all types of people.
“I am a people lover, and that’s what makes me an environmentalist. When we work together and we bring all of these communities together for positive change, then transformative things can happen,” says the Florence, SC native who now lives in Dacula, GA.
Periodically looking away as he speaks, Orgbon, with his boyish smile, adds that teamwork, conducting research and finding mentors are key to his success. “You have to be so determined. The information that you don’t know, you have to be able to learn that. Recognize the areas where you’re weak and build a team around you that can support that weakness,” says Orgbon.
Orgbon knows his visibility inspires a generation of new leadership. The Huffington Post contributordoesn’t consider himself a “superhero.”
Humbled by the honor, Orgbon simply states his objective. “I want to bring young people to the table to solve global issues. This award being given to a young person can show the power to create change in anything. We can create more meaningful, impactful and substantial things,” says Orgbon.
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, a pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
Teen Environmentalist and entrepreneur Charles Orgbon is CEO of Greening Forward. (Photo Credit: Donna Permell)
Many social activists and critics of the past believe young people of color in this generation have no motivation to create social transformation. In fact, 84% millennials have a social conscience and want to contribute towards the betterment of society and the environment, which is why TRVST was set up as a way for them to connect with others and combine efforts to achieve their humanitarian goals. It seems that this generation needs a spokesperson and environmentalist Charles Orgbon III has graciously stepped up to the plate.
The 18-year-old senior at Hoschton, GA’s Mill Creek High School is the CEO and founder of the eco-friendly nonprofit organization, Greening Forward. Orgbon’s brainchild seeks to mobilize other youth to get involved in green initiatives globally.
Greening Forward is responsible for global youth service days, an annual youth summit, a service day honoring the victims of 9/11 and a mentorship program in Berkeley, CA. “An environmental movement is gonna have to find creative ways to knock down those barriers to bring in young people of color, people with disabilities or young people in general. When we can catalyze all of that energy, we build more effective campaigns and more effective change,” says Orgbon. It’s not dissimilar to organizations like Centers for Entrepreneurial Development in that it is designed to mentor those who need support in their quest to achieve their goals (click here if you’re in need of similar guidance), and in fact Orgbon started out as an entrepreneur which is why he is able to offer such support, however this time it is focused on environmental as well as business aims.
What originally started as a service project for Orgbon in 2008 to pick up litter on his school’s campus has evolved into a crusade to encourage his peers and elders to take action. Seeing the work that needed to be done, Orgbon decided to take matters into his own hands. “It’s not about empowering young people. Young people already have the power. It’s about giving young people the opportunities to show that power,” says Orgbon.
The eco-savvy board member of both Earth Force and Youth Service of America uses his interest in the environment to further educate himself. Orgbon remembers learning how to draft press releases, develop succession plans or even carbon copy emails just to handle his business. Sighing and pausing momentarily in between responses, he doesn’t necessarily encourage people interested in making a difference to organize a charity. It’s extremely hard work, physically and mentally.
For example, in the African American community, going green, according to Orgbon, is often perceived as being exclusive or elitist. Even when Orgbon has conversations with his immediate family about organic food and products, he says the first thing they point out are the retail price points. Making a change is not always about changing behaviors, it is also about changing attitudes. Luckily, the entrepreneur is up for the challenge, dealing with all types of people.
“I am a people lover, and that’s what makes me an environmentalist. When we work together and we bring all of these communities together for positive change, then transformative things can happen,” says the Florence, SC native who now lives in Dacula, GA.
Periodically looking away as he speaks, Orgbon, with his boyish smile, adds that teamwork, conducting research and finding mentors are key to his success. “You have to be so determined. The information that you don’t know, you have to be able to learn that. Recognize the areas where you’re weak and build a team around you that can support that weakness,” says Orgbon.
Orgbon knows his visibility inspires a generation of new leadership. The Huffington Post contributordoesn’t consider himself a “superhero.”
Humbled by the honor, Orgbon simply states his objective. “I want to bring young people to the table to solve global issues. This award being given to a young person can show the power to create change in anything. We can create more meaningful, impactful and substantial things,” says Orgbon.
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, a pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
The body of anti-Apartheid activist and South Africa’s first black president arrives in his childhood home of Qunu. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
Ed Cropley of Arise TV is reporting that local residents cheered the arrival of the body of Nelson Mandela when it arrived on Saturday at his ancestral home of Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Residents greeted Mr. Mandela by singing and dancing in preparation for his state funeral set for Sunday.
Cropley writes:
“As police and military helicopters buzzed overheard, the hearse carrying the remains of South Africa’s first black president rolled with a police escort into the hamlet of scatttered homes lying between green pastures.
Delighted residents broke into the South African national anthem as the cortege appeared on the road from Mthatha airport, 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg.
Cheering crowds had lined parts of the road to pay their respects as the black hearse passed.
Mandela, who died on December 5 aged 95, will be buried in his family homestead in Qunu on Sunday after a state funeral combining military pomp and traditional rites of Mandela’s Xhosa abaThembu clan.”
Peroshni Govender of Arise TV reported that a crowd of mourners broke through police barriers on Friday in order to view Mr. Mandela’s body which had laid in state for the last three days. Govender writes:
“About 100,000 mourners had paid homage to the former president, a global symbol of reconciliation, over the course of the three days with more than 50,000 paying their respects on Friday, the government said in a statement.”
Read more and watch coverage of the funeral at Arise TV.
The body of anti-Apartheid activist and South Africa’s first black president arrives in his childhood home of Qunu. (Photo Credit: Google Images)
Ed Cropley of Arise TV is reporting that local residents cheered the arrival of the body of Nelson Mandela when it arrived on Saturday at his ancestral home of Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Residents greeted Mr. Mandela by singing and dancing in preparation for his state funeral set for Sunday.
Cropley writes:
“As police and military helicopters buzzed overheard, the hearse carrying the remains of South Africa’s first black president rolled with a police escort into the hamlet of scatttered homes lying between green pastures.
Delighted residents broke into the South African national anthem as the cortege appeared on the road from Mthatha airport, 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg.
Cheering crowds had lined parts of the road to pay their respects as the black hearse passed.
Mandela, who died on December 5 aged 95, will be buried in his family homestead in Qunu on Sunday after a state funeral combining military pomp and traditional rites of Mandela’s Xhosa abaThembu clan.”
Peroshni Govender of Arise TV reported that a crowd of mourners broke through police barriers on Friday in order to view Mr. Mandela’s body which had laid in state for the last three days. Govender writes:
“About 100,000 mourners had paid homage to the former president, a global symbol of reconciliation, over the course of the three days with more than 50,000 paying their respects on Friday, the government said in a statement.”
Read more and watch coverage of the funeral at Arise TV.
