Cayman Islands’ Premier McKeeva Bush was removed from office after a vote of no confidence by lawmakers after being arrested last week for theft. (Google Images)
Caribbean 360 is reporting that Premier McKeeva Bush has been removed from office after a vote of no confidence by lawmakers in the Cayman Islands House of Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
The legislators voted 11-3 in favor of a “no confidence” motion against the ruling government.
Bush abstained from voting on the motion.
In recent days pressure has mounted for Bush to step down from office following his arrest last week on suspicion of theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card.
The motion to remove Premier Bush was brought by opposition leader Alden McLaughlin.
The African-American Film Critics Association named Denzel Washington as 2012 Best Actor for his performance in the hit film, “Flight.” (Google Images)
The African-American Film Critics Association(AAFCA) has named Zero Dark Thirty as the Best Picture of 2012. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the Columbia Pictures release captured a majority vote by the organization, which is comprised of leading African-American media professionals from across the nation.
AAFCA named Ben Affleck as Best Director of 2012 for Argo. Denzel Washington was named Best Actor for Flight, alongside Emayatzy Corinealdi who earned Best Actress for Middle of Nowhere. Sally Field received the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Lincoln and Nate Parker earned Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Arbitrage. Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere was voted Best Screenplay. DuVernay’s film was also honored as Best Independent Film of 2012. France’s entry The Intouchables was named Best Foreign film. Critically-acclaimed newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis was awarded 2012 Best Breakout Performance for Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Peter Ramsey’s, Rise of the Guardians won for Best Animated feature. Eugene Jarecki’s The House I Live In (Charlotte Street Films) and Deborah Riley Draper’s Versailles ’73 (Coffee Bluff Pictures) tied for 2012’s Best Documentary. Composer Kathryn Bostic and Music Supervisor Morgan Rhodes of Middle of Nowhere were honored for Best Music.
AAFCA’s 2012 Special Achievement Award honorees are Billy Dee Williams, Cicely Tyson, Clint Culpepper and Rainforest Films. They are receiving special awards for career achievement.
“The selections made this year reflect the refreshing abundance of both studio and independent work that provided a stellar array of roles for both veteran actors and new faces in front of and behind the camera,” says Gil Robertson IV, AAFCA President and Founder.
Django Unchained starring Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Think Like a Man, starring Meagan Good and Kevin Hart rounded out AAFCA’s top-ten list.
The organization will formally present this year’s honors during a private ceremony at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA on Friday, February 8, 2013 .
Multicultural education is important even though people keep insisting that we’re heading towards a post-racial society. (Google Images)
Many people believe since the President of the United States is a Black man, then everything must be equal now. We’ve been hearing post-racial this and post-racial that and that it’s time to move past discussions about race and inequality and all that unpleasant stuff, even when it comes to education.
However, the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) which recently held its 22nd Annual International conference in Philadelphia, PA, understand just how critical it is to examine how race factors into issues of equality in education in the United States. NAME is an organization developed to advance and advocate for equity and social justice through multicultural education.The theme of this year’s conference was: Realizing the Power of Movements through Multicultural Education. Educators from around the world convened to discuss how movements toward equity and social justice from revolutions to sit-ins, and strikes, have the power to change lives at the local, national, and global levels. Despite the informative and engaging dialogue, many wonder if multicultural educational organizations are still needed? It was clear at this conference that hundreds of educators and policy makers, feel that the need for this type of organization is still paramount. You may wonder why this is the case?
Well, multicultural education remains relevant to all aspects of education because it is at the very heart of what an equal as well as equitable education means to the healthy development of not only the country but the world. There must be ongoing dialogue regarding culturally relevant pedagogy and what that means for the achievement of all children. According to a recently published article by Education Week, the enactment of The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, made the achievement gap more transparent because data had to be disaggregated by student characteristics such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status. This transparency, however, did not put the energy into developing the answers needed to explain and close the gap but rather highlighted the fact that these complex issues indeed exist. This is the purpose of organizations such as NAME — to find answers to difficult questions in order to help all children have access to quality education, thus improving outcomes in the classroom and society.
The conference reminds educators that the fight is not over for all children to receive an equitable education, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In many states, the battle is being fought for funding equality because there is still an inequality that exists regarding spending per pupil. California anyone? The battle on that front as well as many others, is still being fought.
Rhonda J. Summey, Ed.D. is an educator in the Prince Georges County School system. She holds education degrees from Northwestern University, Harvard University and George Washington University.
Madonna proves why she is the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing musical tour of 2012. (Erin Kyle Photography)
by Christopher A. Daniel
It’s Oct. 6, 1982. An unknown singer, Madonna, releases her uptempo debut single, “Everybody.” The track is funky enough to crack the Top Five of the dance charts. The cover art’s collage depicts New York City’s lively Lower East Side and gives listeners the impression that Madonna is the next breakthrough “black” artist.
Now fast forward exactly thirty years, one month and eleven days. In 1984, the pop star tells host Dick Clark after a rousing debut performance on American Bandstandthat her dream is “to rule the world.” Today, Madonna is pretty close to doing just that with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing music tour of 2012 earning $224.4 million. The material girl topped Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters selling out each of her 72 dates.*
Opening to a packed venue, the stage started out as a replica of a Celtic temple with gongs, a giant revolving smoking lamp, budded crosses, chants and hooded dancers-turned-chiseled, high-heel wearing male dancers. Before long, Madonna, in an all-black catsuit, settled into euphoria with the pulsating “Girl Gone Wild.” The MDNA production and set design was nothing less than extravagant: cinematic special effects, theatrical inclining props, a live band and heavy scarlet red lighting.
What else can one expect from Live Nation’s golden ticket that inked one of the biggest deals in the history of concerts? Even Lil’ Wayne (“Revolver”), Nicki Minaj (“I Don’t Give A”) and M.I.A. (“Give Me All Your Luvin”) were intercut on-screen during their cameos performances. Madonna paid homage to Lady Gaga by performing “Born This Way.” Of course she performed her classic hits: “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Hung Up,” “Express Yourself,” “Justify My Love,” “Vogue,” “Erotica,” “Human Nature,” “Open Your Heart” (percussive and full of Buddhist chanting), “Candy Shop,” “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up The Radio.”
Madonna – the 20th Century’s best-selling female rock artist — is quite a character and consummate entertainer. She morphed into a gun-totin’, pistol whippin’ femme fatale, a flask-sippin’ action film stunt double kickin’ major ass (“Bang Bang”), a booty poppin’ baton twirlin’ drum majorette at a historically black college homecoming halftime show, a guitar twangin’ leather wearing rock star, a tightrope walker, a pin-striped zoot suit wearin’ cover girl and leader of a Southern Baptist gospel choir (“Like A Prayer”). What is a Madonna show without a few stripteases and corsets? During a stripped down version of “Like A Virgin” stylized somewhat similar to The Phantom of the Opera, the Material Girl seductively rolled across the stage in an effort to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The MDNA Tour is an indicator of Madonna’s star power and iconic status. Even at 54 years of age, Madonna’s one talent above performing is clear — pushing buttons. She even chastised the audience: one particular member with a stern face and crossed arms in the front row. “Get up off your asses. I’m tired baby; I’ve been workin’ my ass off,” she says. That’s an understatement for someone who pulled in 1,635,176 fans to music venues near and far. Madonna’s ability to rock trumped her ability to shock amid controversies in Miami (three-hour delay), Denver (waving guns post-Aurora massacre) and lets not forget Super Bowl XLVI with M.I.A.’s “middle-finger” fiasco. Nonetheless, the woman who began her career courting controversy knows what works and how far to go in order to maintain her place in music history.
*Additional reporting by Nsenga K. Burton.
Christopher A. Daniel is 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.
Madonna proves why she is the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing musical tour of 2012. (Erin Kyle Photography)
by Christopher A. Daniel
It’s Oct. 6, 1982. An unknown singer, Madonna, releases her uptempo debut single, “Everybody.” The track is funky enough to crack the Top Five of the dance charts. The cover art’s collage depicts New York City’s lively Lower East Side and gives listeners the impression that Madonna is the next breakthrough “black” artist.
Now fast forward exactly thirty years, one month and eleven days. In 1984, the pop star tells host Dick Clark after a rousing debut performance on American Bandstandthat her dream is “to rule the world.” Today, Madonna is pretty close to doing just that with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing music tour of 2012 earning $224.4 million. The material girl topped Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters selling out each of her 72 dates.*
Opening to a packed venue, the stage started out as a replica of a Celtic temple with gongs, a giant revolving smoking lamp, budded crosses, chants and hooded dancers-turned-chiseled, high-heel wearing male dancers. Before long, Madonna, in an all-black catsuit, settled into euphoria with the pulsating “Girl Gone Wild.” The MDNA production and set design was nothing less than extravagant: cinematic special effects, theatrical inclining props, a live band and heavy scarlet red lighting.
What else can one expect from Live Nation’s golden ticket that inked one of the biggest deals in the history of concerts? Even Lil’ Wayne (“Revolver”), Nicki Minaj (“I Don’t Give A”) and M.I.A. (“Give Me All Your Luvin”) were intercut on-screen during their cameos performances. Madonna paid homage to Lady Gaga by performing “Born This Way.” Of course she performed her classic hits: “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Hung Up,” “Express Yourself,” “Justify My Love,” “Vogue,” “Erotica,” “Human Nature,” “Open Your Heart” (percussive and full of Buddhist chanting), “Candy Shop,” “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up The Radio.”
Madonna – the 20th Century’s best-selling female rock artist — is quite a character and consummate entertainer. She morphed into a gun-totin’, pistol whippin’ femme fatale, a flask-sippin’ action film stunt double kickin’ major ass (“Bang Bang”), a booty poppin’ baton twirlin’ drum majorette at a historically black college homecoming halftime show, a guitar twangin’ leather wearing rock star, a tightrope walker, a pin-striped zoot suit wearin’ cover girl and leader of a Southern Baptist gospel choir (“Like A Prayer”). What is a Madonna show without a few stripteases and corsets? During a stripped down version of “Like A Virgin” stylized somewhat similar to The Phantom of the Opera, the Material Girl seductively rolled across the stage in an effort to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The MDNA Tour is an indicator of Madonna’s star power and iconic status. Even at 54 years of age, Madonna’s one talent above performing is clear — pushing buttons. She even chastised the audience: one particular member with a stern face and crossed arms in the front row. “Get up off your asses. I’m tired baby; I’ve been workin’ my ass off,” she says. That’s an understatement for someone who pulled in 1,635,176 fans to music venues near and far. Madonna’s ability to rock trumped her ability to shock amid controversies in Miami (three-hour delay), Denver (waving guns post-Aurora massacre) and lets not forget Super Bowl XLVI with M.I.A.’s “middle-finger” fiasco. Nonetheless, the woman who began her career courting controversy knows what works and how far to go in order to maintain her place in music history.
*Additional reporting by Nsenga K. Burton.
Christopher A. Daniel is 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.
Angry protesters threw rocks and “booed” Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki during a speech commemorating the 2010 revolution. (Google Images)
Africa News is reporting that a celebration commemorating the anniversary of the revolution in Sidi Bouzid was marred by angry protesters hurling rocks at Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and parliamentary speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar.
The article states:
The incident began after a speech by President Moncef Marzouki in the central Tunisian town, where celebrations are taking place on Monday to mark the anniversary of the revolution.
Mustapha Ben Jaafar, the parliamentary speaker, was about to address the crowd when the violence began.
Security forces swiftly evacuated the two men to the regional government headquarters, the AFP news agency reported.
The protesters invaded the square where the head of state had been addressing the crowd, shouting “the people want the fall of the government”.
Sidi Bouzid is thought to be the cradle of the revolution that sparked the Arab Spring throughout Northern Africa.
Protesters are not satisfied with the slow pace of change in the country since the revolution.
South African police foiled a bomb plot by a right-wing Afrikaner group to bomb an ANC Conference in Bloemfontein. (Google Images)
Al Jazeera is reporting that South African police have foiled a plot to bomb an ANC conference in Bloemfontein. The conference was expected to be attended by South African President Jacob Zuma and dozens of senior officials. Police arrested four members of a right-wing Afrikaner party who had planned to bomb the conference and other events throughout the country.
The article states:
The majority of South Africa’s whites accepted the ANC’s victory in the 1994 election that brought Nelson Mandela to power and ended decades of white-minority rule. However, a tiny handful continues to oppose the historic settlement.
“Their acts are widespread. We arrested them in different provinces,” said spokesman Billy Jones.
ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said preliminary information suggested the men were planning to bomb the marquee where Zuma and 4,500 delegates are holding a five-day meeting to choose the ANC’s leadership for the next five years.
“This would have been an act of terrorism that South Africa can ill afford,” Khoza said.
The Federal Freedom Party (FFP), a fringe group fighting for self-determination for the white Afrikaner minority, confirmed two of those arrested were FFP members but denied any role in the suspected plot.
U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was ultimately forced to withdraw from consideration for the Secretary of State position after being lambasted by angry, white GOP members led by Senator John McCain. (Google Images)
The Burton Wire‘s Editor-in-Chief wrote a post for The Root demonstrating the shared experiences of black women in the workplace as evidenced by the treatment of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and meteorologist Rhonda Lee. Read an excerpt from the post below:
EXCERPT
It has been one heck of a week for black women in the workplace. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice faced criticism about her handling of the events in Benghazi, Libya, from members of the GOP perhaps hell-bent on making Democrats pay for a 2012 U.S. election win. Rice’s reputation was besmirched as she was poked, pulled, prodded and bullied by a mob of angry white politicians led by Sen. John McCain to such an extent that The Root‘s Keli Goff proclaimed Rice to be “this generation’s Lani Guinier.”As Goff explained, Rice was being ushered into a sisterhood that women in general and black women specifically know all too well — potential censure when attempting to rise to a position of power.
While Rice was being lambasted, a story out of Shreveport, La., emerged involving a black meteorologist named Rhonda Lee, who was fired from KTBS-TV ostensibly for explaining the beauty and validity of wearing natural hair. A viewer questioned her on Facebook about wearing a short Afro. The viewer suggested that she might have cancer and that she might consider wearing a wig or growing out her hair because he found the look unattractive. Lee replied in a respectful manner, taking the time to explain why black women wear their hair in natural styles and why Lee is proud of her African-American ancestry.
That incident happened Oct. 1. Another incident took place on Nov. 14, when a viewer suggested that a segment on the channel, called the “Three Minute Smile,” showed too many children of color. Lee also responded, explaining that the children were randomly selected. She even wished him “happy holidays.”
Apparently Lee’s explanation of the importance of natural hair and the selection process for the ABC affiliate’s segment was possibly too much for executives. They fired her for violating a policy Lee contends was never written down. KTBS maintains that Lee and another white male reporter were fired over violations of station policy about posting on Facebook, not because of her hair. They also allege that she had been previously warned. Lee maintains the memo that KTBS management offered in response to the subsequent uproar mentioned only viewer complaints, as opposed to “comments,” which are what Lee addressed. Some viewers have been outraged by the firing, and Change.org has started a petition to get Lee rehired.
What I find interesting about Lee’s case is that instead of being supported for standing up for herself like ABC’s Jennifer Livingston, Lee was punished. You may recall that in October, Livingston, the morning anchor for the LaCrosse, Wis., station was championed by her bosses and viewers for standing up to a bully, who in a letter called Livingston a bad role model because she is overweight. Livingston was given airtime to address the viewer’s personal attack. Her passionate response went viral on the Internet with the YouTube video getting more than 10.5 million views.
When I first learned of Lee’s firing, I immediately thought of Livingston and wondered how the situation differed. The one thing that the women share is that viewers feel that they have the right to insult, hurt and humiliate women in news based on their looks. The one thing that is drastically different is how their news stations, both ABC affiliates, responded.
Six people perished in a helicopter crash carrying Patrick Yakowa, governor of the central Nigerian state of Kaduna and former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi. (Google Images)
Yahoo News is reporting that a helicopter carrying high-ranking Nigerian government officials has crashed. The article reports:
“A rescue agency spokesman says a helicopter carrying Nigerian government officials has crashed in the country’s oil-rich southern delta, causing unknown injuries.
Yushau Shuaibu, a spokesman for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, said the helicopter crashed Saturday in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta. He said the helicopter was carrying high-ranking government officials, but he did not have a final manifest for the flight.
Shuaibu says rescuers have begun searching for the downed helicopter.”
“The governor of Nigeria’s Kaduna state and a former national security adviser are among six people killed in a helicopter crash in Nigeria’s oil-producing Bayelsa state, officials said.”
Nigeria’s presidency said in a statement that the governor of the central Nigerian state of Kaduna, Patrick Yakowa, died in the helicopter crash in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta.
The former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi, also died in the crash, the statement said. Azazi was fired in June amid growing sectarian violence in Nigeria, but maintained close ties with the government. The other victims were aides to Yakowa and Azazi and the two helicopter pilots, it said.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, said in a statement that their loss was “extremely painful to the entire nation.”
This story is developing. Check back periodically for updates on TheBurtonWire.com.
Professor Kamene Okonjo, mother of Nigeria’s finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been released by kidnappers. (Google Images)
AllAfrica.com is reporting that the mother of Nigeria’s finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been released. Professor Kamene Okonjo, 83, was abducted on Sunday by ten gunmen who stormed the palace of her husband, Professor Chukuka Okonjo who is a traditional ruler in Delta State.
BBC NewsAfrica is reporting that Prof. Okonjo was dropped off on a main road near her home in southern Nigeria. Apparently, she had received threats leading up to the kidnapping, which are popular in Nigeria and a lucrative criminal enterprise.
Details of the release are not being shared. While it is government policy not to pay ransoms, some families negotiate privately with kidnappers. It is not clear if a ransom was paid for Prof. Okonjo’s release. The driver of the car that dropped off Okonjo has been arrested.
