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Rangel and Sharpton Apollo Tribute to James Brown
Who could forget James Brown singing his familiar motto,  I feel good James Brown s contagious energy made us all feel good. The writers at BlackBallot join
our neighbors in Harlem in saying goodbye to the legendary singer.
On December 28th, Representative Charles Rangel and the Reverend Al Sharpton
led a tribute at Harlems own Apollo Theater where Brown got his start. To follow
is a statement released by Rangel. Audio from the event can be heard by clicking the accompanying photograph.
STATEMENT
CONGRESSMAN CHARLES RANGEL
Contact Emile Milne 202 225-4365 December 28, 2006
Elbert Garcia 212-663-3900
RANGEL JAMES BROWNS LEGACY LIVES ON IN HARLEM  AROUND THE WORLD
New York  Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement about James Brown, who passed away at the age of 73 on December 25, 2006
There will never be another James Brown. He was a unique diamond, a musical genius who will forever be in our hearts as the Godfather of Soul because he stirred and inspired us not just to dance, but to feel proud and celebrate all that we are.
Harlem has always shared a special relationship with Brown. We adopted him as a son and provided him with his musical home, the Apollo. It was here in 1962, at the famous Apollo Theater, that he recorded his groundbreaking live album. It was on our stage that audiences gave him the love that took his career to another level. It was a love that he returned on more than one occasion, supporting it not just with his music, but also financially, when the Apollo hit troubled times.
Yet he was more than just the worlds greatest entertainer. More than an innovator that inspired artists of all shades. He was a civil rights activist, lending both his name and his money to causes of social justice for more than four decades. He was a bridge between generations, lending credibility to the positive aspects, but not the negative messages, of hiphop culture.
James Brown forever redefined how we listen, experience and appreciate music. He leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten, a soulful beat and rhythm for all to rock to for generations to come.
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End of Whose Rope
By K.B. McDavid
End of His Rope. This is the macabre headline that the New York Daily News chose to use in reporting the execution of Saddam Hussein.
But I wonder, is it Saddam Hussein who is at the end of his rope or is it G.W. Bush America spent over 500 billion dollars to kill Saddam. However, the Butcher of Baghdad lionized himself as a martyr for the Arab world with his defiant refusal to be cloaked in the final moment of his life. Saddam claimed not to be afraid to die and proved his point
by defiantly dying with dignity and in control. To me, Saddam looked at peace with himself. He knew what the rest of the world knows now that in his worst moment, Saddam never did to Iraq what Bush has done to that country.
I hope mainstream America is proud of itself. The Three Amigos Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld killed half a million people, stole hundreds of billions of dollars, and created a calamity of global proportions that the world will be forced to deal with. In the 1980s, Rumsfeld personally met with Saddam. That great American hero Ronald Reagan armed and paid Saddam to attack Iran as revenge for the Hostage Crisis. America sold Saddam chemical weapons. G. Dubs knew that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction because he had the receipt. Saddam just messed up by getting rid of them before the invasion.
Obviously, Saddam was a despot and a murderous dictator. But his trial was a farce. How can a country have a trial during an Occupation when there is no formal government in place The trial was just another clumsy move by the Bush Administration to go into the New Year with some momentum. But the Bushes finally got their man Junior finally finished the job that Senior started.
The invasion has been a fiasco. Countless American soldiers, not to mention Iraqi men, women, and children, are dead. And who will care for the tens of thousands of American amputees who are coming home from this tragedy Look at what a wonderful job America did with the Vietnam veterans. I cant see how a civil war in Iraq will be adverted now. Will the small Sunni population that enjoyed privilege under Saddam now submit to the Shia majority and not seek vengeance No, obviously not. What will happen is after a long, bloody civil war, Iraq will partition into three states a militant Sunni nation, a large Shia Iranian satellite, and a Kurdish nation that will destabilize Turkey. I dont see how America can come out of this holding on to its Super Power status. The Russians are back to their old gangsta ways and now have oil and gas riches to go along with their nukes. The Chinese own America, and now Japan wants an army. After Iraq and Afghanistan, will
America still be able to afford to stand tall and dominate the world I dont know. The Republicans and Democrats in Congress approved over 500 billion dollars just to kill one man. I would die with dignity if someone spent that much money on me. In the end, Saddam will be a hero to some, a villain to others, but Bush will always be known as the fool who bankrupted America.
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Politics of Hair  Is Nappy the Other  N Word
By Kelly Harrison
I know a large group of people who openly express their contempt with the word nappy, and I am sure I have a few friends who would disown me and lose my phone number if I used this prized adjective to describe their hair. But what does nappy really mean
Growing up, I never knew the N word as a term of endearment. It was more of a slur which was hurled at me and the other speckles of black children in my class, which further
separated us from all of the other kids. The term made us all insecure after playing on the playground when our hair was a little puffier than before that game of kickball, and when we got back to the classroom where we dreaded the moment when all of the giggling kids would ask, Why is your hair nappy and the vile question Can I touch I have unpleasant memories of being rubbed like the classroom pet. It is instilled in us as children that naps are only welcome if they are premeditated. And it is the same story now as it was on the playground.
I go to a club every once in a while. But in the past, if my hair was pressed, Id say, Back off. I didnt want to dance because I didnt want my hair to sweat out. But not getting down at the club was a waste and since I like to shake it every now and then, I had to learn to embrace my hair as it is or suffer the nappy consequences. We should embrace our nappy hair and stop trying to pretend that our hair grows from our head straight because both are beautiful. Sitting out life on the sidelines for fear of naps is no way
to live.
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Thanks for the Memories
By Lynn Williams
So its farewell to the Big Blue Warrior. For the last 10 seasons the man named Atiim Kiambu Barber, better known as Tiki Barber, has been partnered with New York Giants football. This standout running back grinded out 1,200 yards a season for the last five. A three time ProBowler, Barber dedicated his entire professional football life to the Giants, which within itself is a feat in todays teamjugglingtothehighestbidder market.
Most athletes are loyal to whichever team has the biggest bang to its buck.
As notable as Tikis work on the field is, the dignity and character he brought to the game off the field are what will continue to be highlighted. With the increasing show of poor sportsmanship in the sports world sometimes punctuated with spitting, cursing, and displaying fingers, Tiki has been a refreshing change.
All too often the media portrayal of black athletes is poor. And, yes, sometimes they do not help themselves. So we celebrate Tikis lack of negative involvement with law enforcement, DWI charges, or visits to his home for domestic problems.
We thank Tiki for his respect for the game and for the fans. We thank him for stepping up to the plate and being a positive role model. The dignity he brought to the game and the Meadowlands will be missed. Tiki has a bright future ahead of him, in both broadcasting and as an author. He has several books under his belt already, authoring three illustrated children books with his identical twin brother Ronde By My Brother's Side  2004 , Game Day 2005,
and Teammates 2006.
Finally, nice guys do not finish last
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Last weeks poll shows that Black people believe, although not strongly, that there is a brighter future for African Americans now that the Democrats have taken control of Congress. However, there is not much faith in the leadership of Hillary Clinton and the Congressional Black Caucus.
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