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Category: diversity

activism 0

HATERS TRY AND FAIL TO SABOTAGE THE SUCCESS OF THE MOVIE THE BLACK PANTHER

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

The Marvel superhero film “Black Panther” has already broken Hollywood records in its first week. It has grossed more than $400 million worldwide, it also broke the record for a February opening, which was previously held by “Deadpool” and it is now the largest opening for a move with an African-American director.

Yet, that success of this movie, which could gross upwards to a billion dollars was not one hundred percent guaranteed.

Just as tens of millions of diverse people were exciting to see this movie about a fictional African kingdom called Wakanda, in which the film’s creators borrowed aspects from real African culture, like the Masai of Kenya and the ancient African empire of Mali. There were a lot of people; minor in comparison who were upset and fearful of this celebration of real African culture in this fictional kingdom. Some even took to social media and posted fake post about being attacked violently by angry black people.

Despite all the effort by many haters, naysayers and racists, this movie was an extreme success. I would rate this film a 9 and a half out of ten. A must see movie.

For additional information use link below:

http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/entertainment/movies/trolls-lying-assaults-black-panther-showings-article-1.3824901

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Officials In “Sanctuary Cities” Could Face Jail time Under the Trump Administration


By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

The United States’ Justice Department is contemplating criminally charging state and local officials who implement and or enforce policies that protect the rights of people classified as illegal immigrants.

This would mean that Mayors and governors and even local law enforcement who refuse to comply with federal immigration laws could face possible jail time.

Earlier this month, Thomas Homan, the acting director of Immigration and customs enforcement said:

“We gotta take ( Sanctuary Cities) to court , and we gotta start charging some politicians with crimes”.

Check out my episode “Sanctuary Under Siege By Trump” on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/leon-kwasi-chronicles/episodes/14718b8

For additional information use link below:

http://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-wants-arrest-mayors-sanctuary-cities-783010

culture 0

NOT YOUR AVERAGE DIVAS

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

If some were to mention โ€œDivas Night Clubโ€ to the average San Francisco resident in the Tenderloin neighborhood, the word โ€œHavenโ€ would not probably be the last word to come to mind. Words like dangerous, scary, drugs, homeless, hookers, police, vice, squad, are words more commonly used to describe the poverty-stricken (but quickly being gentrified) area that surrounds San Franciscoโ€™s #1 transgender nightclub.

Dictionary.com defines โ€œHavenโ€ as: โ€œany place of shelter and safety; refuge; a asylum.โ€™โ€™

And a place of shelter and relative safety is exactly Divas has been to San Franciscoโ€™s transgender community, the most vulnerable community, within the LGBTQ community. Even in one of the most gay-friendly cities in the entire world, the transgender population is still heavily discriminated against, so much so that many of them are today, being forced in the illegal sex industry, just to survive and afford their daily needs.

The National Center for Transgender equality, states: The National Discrimination Survey showed that: โ€œ26% of trans people lost a job due to bias, 50% were harassed on the job, 20% were evicted or denied housing, and 78% of trans students were harassed or assaulted. And the transphobia that drives the discrimination is exacerbated when the trans person is a person of color and also faces compounding racism. Trans people of color face higher rates of discrimination.โ€

Long before Lavarne Cox from โ€œOrange is the New Blackโ€ and Caitlyn Jenner brought the transgender movement to mainstream America, Divas was at the forefront of the transgender movement.

Despite that fact, many transgender Bills are sweeping across red-state America, attempting to disenfranchise even more, an already marginalized people, like a controversial transgender Bill that was proposed last year by South Carolina Senator Lee Bright, that aimed to block transgender people from using the bathroom for the gender they identify with. But you will not find people crying about that here, in this four-story club, with three open to the public, which has always sought to empower trans-people, by giving them jobs as bartenders, cocktail waitresses, DJโ€™s, dancers, promoters, etc.

And though far from perfect; if you were to walk pass Divas on 1081 Post street, which is next to a SFPD firehouse and a weed shop, during the night hours you will soon notice many scantily clad transgender women walking up and down the street, people buying weed at the pot dispensary next door and some shady characters in this โ€œNot so Tenderโ€, Tenderloin neighborhood.

All that being said, Divas is still the number #1 hangout spot for pre-op trans-people, crossdressers, post-op trans-people, drag queens, gender benders, female impersonators, and non-binary gender people within the SF Bay Area. It is also a place where men questioning their sexuality, bi-sexual men, straight men, and men interested in trans-women and trans-women interested in men can explore their sexuality without the harsh judgement of bigots.

Dance shows happen on Wednesday and Thursday

On Friday Night, a couple of weeks ago, I walked into Divas and met a trans-women, who goes by the name Shelley Wilde, she was behind the bar, tending to patrons, she kind of looked like a 40ish version of Adele.

When asked has Divas in her opinion been good for the transgender community? Wilde said: โ€œIt can be very good if you allow it. It has been good for men, but unfortunately a lot of trans-women you see are in the sex industryโ€™โ€™.

When asked if she is originally from San Francisco? Wilde said: โ€œNo. I am originally from Texas, I moved to San Francisco 13 years ago.โ€

When asked how long has Divas existed? Wilde said: โ€œfor over 30 years, it was first called the Motherlode, it was at another location. It has been at this location for over 15 years.โ€

After Wilde returns from serving several thirsty patrons at her bar, which is starting to get busy this evening, she is asked if she believes Divas has been good for the transgender community? Wilde said: I would say yes. Most of us are so busy with our own lives, but when weโ€™re here together, itโ€™s a little community.โ€

As it got later in the night and various demographics of people continued to arrive, drink and party, Wilde was asked one last question. Would you say Divas is friendly to non-trans and LGBTQ people? Wilde said: โ€œYes. All people are welcome. Most of our patrons are straight men.โ€

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YOU STILL CAN HELP END PTSD IN GAZA!

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

This Saturday, on October 15, 2016, the third annual San Francisco Gaza 5K will take place.

To signup for the race or donate to help fight end PTSD, please use link below :
SIGNUP OR DONATE TO THE GAZA 5K 

Proceeds from this 5k walk / run benefit the UNRWA’S Community Mental Health Program, for children in Palestine suffering from PTSD and other psychological trauma, due to the blockade and current conflict in the region.

The situation is so dire, the internationally-known scientist, historian, social critic and political activist, Noam Chomsky said the occupation in Palestine is worst than the Apartheid of the South African past.

Noam Chomsky on BDS and How the Israeli Occupation is “Much Worse Than Apartheid”

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SAY GOOD BYE TO THE 4TH AMENDMENT

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BY: LEON KWASI KUNTUO-ASARE

In a horrendous miscarriage of justice, the Supreme Court of the United States studied a criminal case from Utah, in which evidence was collected illegally by police officers to determine whether it was constitutional for police evidence collected unlawfully to be used in a court of law.

In a 5-3 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that ” Evidence does not violate the Fourth Amendment because the evidence seized weakened the unlawful stop”

According to news one:

“Justice Sonia Sotomayor disagreed, and says stops like this are all too familiar for people of color. In her dissent, she uses James Baldwinโ€˜s The Fire Next Time, W.E.B. Du Boisโ€˜s The Souls of Black Folk, and Ta-Nehisi Coatesโ€™ Between the World and Me to support her argument.”

This decision will undoubtedly disproportionately affect the daily lives of ethnic minorities and their treatment by cops.

DISCUSSION ON THE GUTTING OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION USE LINKS :

http://newsone.com/3466941/scotus-illegal-searches-ruling/

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TRUMP: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?!??????

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BY: LEON KWASI KUNTUO-ASARE

As a black man I’m still trying to figure out when America was so great, less “crapppy” yes, but great, I’m not so sure.ย 

I’m like in 1920’s there wereย  mass lynchings.

In1960’s the Assassination of our civil rights leaders and the sabotagingย  of the civil rights movement by the FBI’s counter intelligence program ( cointelpro ).ย 

The 1980’s Reagan’s war on Drugs, destroyed the black community, by throwing tens of thousands of blacks in prison for the same drugs his buddy Oliver North allowed to be brought into America.ย 

hmm maybe the 1990’s, oh wait, Bill Clinton’s mass incarceration laws , his welfare reform,  the NAFTA and trade deal with China, that help destroy the middle class and made blacks, even poorer by sending away American jobs to foreign countries .

Crap maybe the 2000’s first blackย  president Barack Obama ,ย  oh wait more unarmed blacks were killed by suspected racists on Obama’s presidency,ย  than during George “Forest Gump ” Bush and yet Mr. Black president,  said almost nothing about the white supremacist attacks on blacks.ย 

Darn, I have to find out this time America was great for everyone no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion , etc.

activism 3

JUSTICE FOR ALEX NIETO!

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BY: LEON KWASI KUNTUO-ASARE

On March 1, 2016 the local activist community in San Francisco, came together to demand Justice for Alex Nieto, who was a young man, who reportedly had a history of strange and erratic behavior , but who also was a community organizer, college student, security guard and a family man.

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY,ย  COMING TOGETHER MEMORY OF ALEX NIETO, BEFORE THE NIETO FAMILY’S CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

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Nieto was shot by SFPD two years, allegedly in a barrage of over 40 bullets, police claim they mistook the taser that Nieto used for his security job, for a gun.

Hundreds of people from a rainbow of various ethnic backgrounds, came together in solidarity in front of the Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, for the first day of the Nieto’s civil suit against the San Francisco police department.

VOICES FOR JUSTICE AT THE JUSTICE FOR ALEX NIETO RALLY!

LOCAL ACTIVIST AND POET GIVES SPEECH ABOUT ALEX NIETO.

A YOUNG POETESS PERFORMS AN EMOTIONAL POEM ABOUT ALEX NIETO.

PUBLISHED POET, BLOGGER AND SAN FRANCISCO ACTIVIST, SPEAKS ABOUT ALEX NIETO, SFPD, RACISM, AND POLICE BRUTALITY.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION USE LINK :

http://m.sfgate.com/crime/article/Civil-trial-to-start-in-shooting-by-police-in-6859592.php