Was Selma's best picture nomination a "make up" call?

Unless you've been asleep for the last 24 plus hours you have heard or read the uproar over the lack of Oscar nominations for Ava DuVernay's movie, Selma. Although the picture was nominated for best picture, it missed out on what many thought would be sure bets for best director (Ava DuVernay) and best actor (David Oyelowo). Now some thinks it's due to racism at worst or the lack of diversity among the Academy Awards voters at best. (I personally think it's because the voters couldn't properly pronounce their names.) Most of the voters are white males over 65, so it goes to figure that the overwhelming majority of those nominated or white and male.

Now I know some are asking, "Well George if that's true how in the hell did Selma get nominated?"

Well I'm glad you asked that. If you have ever watched a basketball game you know there's something known as a "makeup" call. That's when the referees make a bad or questionable call on one team and then make it up to that team by making a bad call the other way. No referee will admit this happens, but we all know that it does. I think that's what happened with Selma getting a best picture nomination.

To be honest I don't even think that Selma was originally among the best picture nominees. I think that after the tallies were done someone looked at them and said, "Hey guys we didn't nominate any black people for sh*t!"

In my mind the conversation, after that was discovered, went something like this:

Old White Guy #1: What's that you say?

Old White Guy #2: We didn't nominate anyone of color.

Old White Guy #3: What about that black director that made that movie about Martin Luther King?

Old white Guy #4: You mean Spike Lee?

Old White Guy #2: Are there any other black directors?

Old White Guy #1: Well just put Spike's name up there.

Old White Guy #3: What about the voters?

Old white Guy #4: Trust me, they won't notice. It's not like they actually read the ballot.

Old White Guy #1: Hey wait a minute we can nominate up to ten movies for best picture, and we only nominated eight!

Old White Guy #2: Great idea, we just need a movie with black people.

Old White Guy #4: Oh, I vote for Ride Along!

Old White Guy #1: Didn't Tyler Perry make a movie this year?

Old White Guy #2: Guys! We can just put the Martin Luther King movie in that spot, and we will have added a tad of diversity. It's not like it will win anyway.

Old White Guy #1: Agreed!

Old White Guy #3: Agreed!

Old White Guy #4: Agreed!

Yup, that what I believe happened. Selma's addition to the Best Picture category was a makeup call. What do you think?

George L. Cook III, AfricanAmericanReports.com Email: georgelcookiii@gmail.com

Spike Lee Comments On ‘Selma’ Oscar Snubs

During an interview with Marlow Stern at The Daily Beast film director Spike Lee commented on the Oscar snubs of Selma for best director. Read his colorful comments below:

“Join the club!” Lee chuckled, before getting serious. “But that doesn’t diminish the film. Nobody’s talking about motherfuckin’ Driving Miss Daisy. That film is not being taught in film schools all across the world like Do the Right Thing is. Nobody’s discussing Driving Miss Motherfuckin’ Daisy. So if I saw Ava today I’d say, ‘You know what? Fuck ’em. You made a very good film, so feel good about that and start working on the next one.”

“Anyone who thinks this year was gonna be like last year is retarded,” said Lee. “There were a lot of black folks up there with 12 Years a Slave, Steve [McQueen], Lupita [Nyong’o], Pharrell. It’s in cycles of every 10 years. Once every 10 years or so I get calls from journalists about how people are finally accepting black films. Before last year, it was the year [in 2002] with Halle Berry, Denzel [Washington], and Sidney Poitier. It’s a 10-year cycle. So I don’t start doing backflips when it happens.”

Read the full article here: Spike Lee Blasts ‘Selma’ Oscar Snubs: ‘You Know What? F*ck ’Em’

Slain French police officer, Clarissa Jean-Philippe awarded Legion of Honor

27 year old Clarissa Jean-Phillippe was one of three police officers killed last week by terrorist in France. She along with officers Ahmed Merebet and Franck Brinsolaro were awarded France's highest honor, the Legion of Honor by President François Hollande during a memorial ceremony in their honor.

Clarissa had only been on the job for 15 days and had not even received her diploma certifying that she had met all of the requirements to become a police officer. Her mother will receive her diploma. RIP Officer Jean-Philippe and her fallen comrades.

President Holland awarding Legion of Honor to Officer Jean-Philippe.

OWN to premiere follow up to Dark Girls titled Light Girls January 19, 2015

On January 19, 2015 OWN will premiere Bill Duke’s newest foray into complexion issues, Light Girls. The film is Bill Duke's follow to last years Dark Girls documentary. Watch the trailers below:

Kamala Harris announces run for US Senate.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris has announced that she will run for Sen. Barbara Boxer's seat after the announcement that Boxer will not be running again. Harris released the following statement via her campaign website today:

I’m excited to share with you that I’m launching my campaign to represent the people of California in the United States Senate.

Your support has been crucial to me every step of the way, and I’m asking you to help me build a grassroots campaign that reaches every community of California.

From my first days as a prosecutor in Alameda County, to my work as San Francisco District Attorney to my current service as California Attorney General, I have worked to bring smart, innovative and effective approaches to fighting crime, fighting for consumers and fighting for equal rights for all.

I want to be a voice for Californians on these issues and others that impact our state in the U.S. Senate. I will be a fighter for the next generation on the critical issues facing our country. I will be a fighter for middle class families who are feeling the pinch of stagnant wages and diminishing opportunity. I will be a fighter for our children who deserve a world-class education, and for students burdened by predatory lenders and skyrocketing tuition. And I will fight relentlessly to protect our coast, our immigrant communities and our seniors.

California has been incredibly well served by the transformational leadership of Senator Boxer and the continued service of Senator Feinstein. With your help, I hope to build on their legacies in the U.S. Senate.

I’m looking forward to seeing and talking with you in the coming days and months. In the meantime, I hope you will join me on this journey. We will do incredible things together.

Thank you,

Boko Haram slaughters 2,000 in Nigeria.

This past week saw what could be Boko Haram's deadliest massacre to date, marking yet another hideous milestone in the organization's increasingly violent campaign. Amnesty International estimates hundreds of people, possibly as many as 2,000, could have been killed, but the numbers cannot be verified.

Upcoming BET mini-series Book of Negroes

"Book of Negroes" is BET's first scripted miniseries, and is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the cable network, which targets African American viewers. It will air over the course of three consecutive nights in two-hour installments starting Feb. 16.

Based on the award-winning novel by Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes tells the story of Aminata Diallo after her capture and the pain she endured as part of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Starring Aunjanue Ellis as well as Cuba Gooding Jr. and Louis Gossett Jr., The Book of Negroes will premiere as an epic miniseries that highlights Aminata's powerful journey.

The mini-series is based on a book by Lawrence Hill, check it out on Amazon.

Paperback------Kindle Edition

George Zimmerman arrested again.

This is not a re-posting of an old article, the murderer of Trayvon Martin has been arrested again on January 9, 2015.

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in the 2013 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, was arrested in Florida late Friday and has been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon.

Zimmerman, 31, was accused of throwing a wine bottle at a woman at his home, according to Lake Mary, Fla., police. A Seminole County judge set a $5,000 bond.

This incident marks the fourth time this do-gooder has had a run in with the police since being acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin.

Alert: Missing Child: Kahlajah Parker

The New Jersey State Police is seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing child:

Kahlajah Parker, 16, female, black, 5', 100 pounds, brown eyes, and black hair.

Kahlajah M. Parker was last seen on 1-5-15 at approximately 2 a.m., in the area of Oxford Circle, Southampton, N.J. She was wearing black pajama pants, a black shirt, and a pink robe. She left her residence with personal items including clothing.

Kahlajah has relatives in Trenton and Wrightstown, and she goes by the nickname Kayla.

If you have information that can assist in helping safely locate Kahlajah (Kayla) M. Parker, please call 911 or contact Red Lion Station at (609) 859-2282.

President Obama proposes making first two years of community college free

Big news: President Obama just proposed making two years of community college free for anyone who's willing to work for it. Watch his announcement below:

Post by The White House.

G.K. BUTTERFIELD TAKES HELM OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

On 01/06/2015 Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) was sworn in as the 24th Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) during a ceremony hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) at the U.S. Capitol. The historic ceremony marked the induction of the largest class in the CBC’s 44-year history, which includes five new members of which 20 are women.

During the event, Chairman Butterfield recognized Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, who were all in attendance, and welcomed Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Mia Love (UT-04), and Stacey Plaskett (USVI) to the Caucus.

Over the next two years, Chairman Butterfield will lead the Caucus, also known as the “Conscience of the Congress” in carrying out its mission of empowering the African American community and addressing its legislative concerns.

In his remarks, Butterfield outlined the CBC’s focus for the 114th Congress to include:

· Criminal justice reform;

· Reducing poverty;

· Safeguarding social safety net programs;

· Creating educational opportunities;

· Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

· Restoring section 5 of the Voting Rights Act; and

· Ensuring corporate diversity.

Butterfield said, “We are ready for these fights. The fight for the future is not a black fight, a Democratic or Republican fight; it is a fight that all fair minded Americans should promote. We need to use political means, policy and legal means, to reduce racial disparities and move closer to the day when all African Americans will benefit from fairness and justice and realize the American dream.”

Bomb explodes outside NAACP building in Colorado Springs

A homemade bomb exploded outside the offices of the Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP civil rights group on Tuesday, authorities said, but a gasoline can placed next to the device failed to detonate and no injuries were reported.

An "improvised explosive device" was set off against an exterior wall of the NAACP building, the FBI's Denver field office said in a statement.

"A gasoline can had been placed adjacent to the device, however, the contents of the can did not ignite upon explosion," the statement said.

Read more: Bomb explodes outside NAACP building in Colorado Springs

Mia Love joins Congressional Black Caucus

Rep. Mia Love (R-UT), the first black female Republican congresswoman, was officially sworn into office today and promptly joined the Congressional Black Caucus.

The Washington Post reports that Rep. Love became the sole Republican to join this group in this morning’s swearing-in ceremony, which inducted 44 members, three of them new, and one of them Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Few Black Candidates Enter St. Louis Elections: Have Ferguson's Lessons Gone Unnoticed?

“If Ferguson taught us anything, it is the importance of having representative government. Accountability and fairness come from that,” tweeted St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, who is black and gained a national profile by participating in protests and documenting scenes on the ground in Ferguson since the Aug. 9 shooting of Mike Brown by Police Officer Darren Wilson. "Don't feel like you're being represented? Step up. Run for office."

French could not be reached by IBTimes for further comment, but he tweeted Monday that two districts -- Ward 20 and Ward 6 -- have black majorities but no black candidates. Records from the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners from Tuesday morning showed no African-Americans had filed to run since French’s tweets.

Irl Scissors, a lobbyist and former Democratic political consultant based in St. Louis, said ineffective get-out-the-vote efforts and low black-voter registration are some of the barriers black candidates face. In Ferguson, which is 67 percent black, there is only one black city councilman. There are 17 black state legislators in Missouri out of 199 seats, or about 9 percent -- fewer than the state black population of around 12 percent.

“There are cases where predominantly African-American districts are represented by white elected officials and Ferguson is no exception,” Scissors said. “I really think it has to do with voter registration, it has to do with actual voter turnout and it has to do with real grass-roots mobilizing of the African-American community.”

Read more: Few Black Candidates Enter St. Louis Elections: Have Ferguson's Lessons Gone Unnoticed?

Edward Brooke, first black senator since Reconstruction, dies at 95

Edward Brooke -- the first African-American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate -- passed away Saturday, according to family spokesman Ralph Neas and the Massachusetts Republican Party. Brooke was 95.

Brooke served in the Senate from 1967-1979 and has often been heralded by both parties as a trailblazer. He is the only African-American to be elected to a second term and was the first black Republican elected to the Senate since Reconstruction.

Read more: Edward Brooke, first black senator since Reconstruction, dies at 95

New Congress includes more women, minorities

The 114th Congress that convenes Tuesday will count more African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women than ever, although lawmakers remain overwhelmingly white and male in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Look at the chart below to see a complete breakdown.

Sheriff to take over probe of police shooting death of Tamir Rice

Cleveland has transferred its investigation into the fatal police shooting of a 12-year-old boy to the Cuyahoga County sheriff's department, city officials said on Friday.

Cleveland police shot and killed Tamir Rice at a park in November while he was carrying a replica gun that typically shoots plastic pellets. Police, who were responding to a 911 call that a man was pointing a gun at people, shot Rice within seconds of arriving at the scene.

"I believe that the best way to ensure accountability in a use of force investigation is to have it completed by an outside agency," Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said in a statement.

Read more: Sheriff to take over probe of police shooting death of Tamir Rice

Target uses white girls in 'Annie' ads, not black star Quvenzhané Wallis

*****Petition to get Target to show more diversity in it's Annie ads****

According to Fox News on Dec. 30, there is a controversy going on about Target's "Annie" ad. The retail store is being criticized for “Annie”-themed clothing ads showing white models as Annie, as opposed to an African-American model, or Quvenzhané Wallis, the actress who plays the lead character in the holiday remake.

Wallis, 11, has been nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for the role she plays in "Annie" alongside Jamie Foxx. In May 2014, Wallis was named the face of Armani Junior, Giorgio Armani's line for children and teens. This makes her the first major child celebrity to be the face of a luxury brand. Consumers like LaSean Rinique can't understand while Wallis is not in any of Target's clothing ads. Rinique has launched a Change.org petition to address the issue. This came to light for Rinique after her daughter, who is an “Annie” fan, noticed that a girl in the ads wearing Annie’s signature red dress and locket was white. The white model was not at all like the black Annie her daughter had gotten accustomed to seeing in the movie.

Read more: Target uses white girls in 'Annie' ads, not black star Quvenzhané Wallis

Elected Black Republicans Not Expected to be a Plus for the Community

Lorenzo Morris, a political science professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., said that the Black community shouldn’t expect much from the Black Republicans during the next legislative session, because they won largely without Black voters. In addition, he said, their rank as freshmen lawmakers will limit their influence within the party.

“Their collective impact, if they are really outspoken, will just be on the plus side of zero, barely zero,” said Morris. “The obvious impact for Republicans is positive only to the extent that it shows visually, if not substantively, an outreach to minorities.”

Scott earned an “F” on the NAACP’s legislative report card during the first session of the 113th Congress from January 2013 – December 26, 2013.

Read more" Elected Black Republicans Not Expected to be a Plus for the Community

Go tell it on the streets: Black lives also have to matter to blacks

My wife and I had the privilege of attending a prayer service in Roselle, Dec. 29, for black men gunned down by police. There were many clergy and some elected officials from Roselle, Elizabeth, Hillside and Plainfield at the service, which was put together by the Rev. David Ford at the St. Matthew Baptist Church. I heard many great speakers discuss issues of special interest to the African-American community.

Because it was an open and honest dialogue, black-on-black crime was mentioned and our responsibility to address and deal with it were discussed.

Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley gave a great speech about the need for parents to step up, instill values in their children and value education. Myrtle Counts, president of the Roselle NAACP, gave an impassioned speech that, yes, black lives matter, but they must also be of value to us as African Americans.

The Rev. Ford mentioned not wanting to live in a world without police, but wanting to have a good and respectful police corps. I heard Councilwoman Rev. Tracey Brown of Plainfield lament the fact that she had made more than 100 eulogies in 2014, and most of those were for young people.

As I looked around, I saw the nodding heads and heard the “Amen”’s and shouts of “Yes!” But I also noticed something else: As great as the speakers were, the message they were delivering didn't need to be given to the 50 or so people in the church. They were preaching to the choir.

What good is a great and possibly life-saving message if the people who need to hear it don't hear it?

We as elected officials, clergy and community leaders need to take the message that “Yes, black lives matter, but they have to matter to us African Americans, too,” from the churches and meeting halls to the streets. Delivering that message won't be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. I don't pretend to have all the answers on how to do that, but if we all work together, I'm sure we’ll find a way.

It's imperative that we get out there and deliver that message. As an elected official, I'm ready to do my part and hope that others will do the same. Our children's lives depend on it.

George L. Cook III, Hillside Board of Education. Email georgelcookiii@gmail.com

The opinions expressed here are mine and do not reflect the opinions of the entire Hillside NJ Board of Education.

Op-ed published by The Times of Trenton: http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/opinion_go_tell_it_on_the_streets_black_lives_also_have_to_matter_to_blacks.html#incart_river

The South Florida Times: http://www.sfltimes.com/opinion/that-black-on-black-crime-sermon-deliver-it

Frost Illustrated: http://www.frostillustrated.com/2015/take-message-black-black-crime-streets/