Thursday, March 16, 2017

Alternative Facts Make Way for Alternative Reality in the Trump Administration



On Saturday, March 4, 2017 Donald Trump accused former-President Barack Obama of wire tapping his phones prior to the November elections; that Trump accused Obama of committing an actual crime that may be punishable by a stint in prison.

Typical of Trump, he offered no evidence and when confronted by lawmakers as well as the public, he remained silent. Naturally Obama denied doing anything.

It didn’t take long for members of the press to accuse Trump of creating a diversion that would take the focus off of allegations that have come to light in which members of Trump’s staff had met with Russian officials as well as the allegations that Russia hacked into the Democratic Party in order to ensure Trump would win the election.


If that was Trump’s plan, he obviously doesn’t understand that the press-especially those who are unhappy with Trump’s actions against them-aren’t that easily derailed or fooled.

The allegations against Obama were both sensationalist and ludicrous. The story surely made headlines, but not for long.

Four days after Trump tweeted his assertion, the media was right back on the Russia hacking story so if it was his plan to muddy the waters a bit, it didn’t work.

On March 8 an article appeared online claiming that Roger Stone, a political consultant for Trump, was in contact with the same group of Russian hackers who have been accused of getting into DNC’s computers as well as Hilary Clinton’s emails in an effort to help Trump win the election.


Around the time of the Obama accusation, social media claimed that this was all a diversion to keep the American public in the dark about certain bills that were introduced during not only the Obama accusation, but the Russian hacking claim as well.

Using the media to create a questionable news story in order to mask another more damaging one isn’t something new.

Politicians as well as big businesses and even the Hollywood publicity machine have been using this sleight of hand since the invention of the printing press.


So regardless to what Trump may believe, he did not invent the tactic.

CEOs, politicians and heads of movie/television studios have commonly hired those who were not only adept at spin control, but had the expertise in creating a divisive environment.

Someone once said, “No one can appreciate crazy like those who give out the meds.”

These people that work to create chaos and get people talking or taking action through the media to spread the necessary toxicity understand the power of such environments; that they are in a sense giving out the meds.

It’s just not necessarily the type of meds that will create calmness, provide answers and give people a few moments of clarity.

After the appropriate time in the short, brief life of the news media, everyone’s attention goes back to normal, or in these days, abnormal issues at hand.

Like the Herpes Simplex Virus, the outrageous claims and accusations seem to go away, but they just become dormant and they will eventually flare up whenever these Drs. of Chaos bring them out of dormancy.

Part of their expertise is making it almost impossible to ascertain where the stories started which is the beauty of Facebook. You don’t have to prove it, you just have to post it.


No matter how crazy something is, or if the status update is accompanied by a link to a news website that no one has ever heard from before, if the right person or persons post it, the story will eventually gain enough traction that will lend some truth to it.

Lately, such a status update has appeared throughout the social media giant’s website. A lot of times.   
Naturally there was no link provided, just an urge to copy and paste-in other words to spread the news.

The fact that it wasn’t really news wasn’t the point. It, according to the urgency of the post, was an outrage and more “evidence” of Donald Trump’s villainous rein.


The post claimed that both the Russian hack and the wiretapping allegation was a smokescreen to prevent the American people from finding out that certain bills had been introduced behind their backs.

The bills were even listed:

  • HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
  • HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
  • HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
  • HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
  • HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
  • HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
  • HR 785 National Right to Work (this one ends unions)
  • HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
  • HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)
  • HR 808 Sanctions against Iran

Really? Not really, but unless you are the type of person who likes to find out the truth on your own or are a news junkie you would have thought it was true. If it came from someone you trusted, then you were more inclined to accept the post as being true.

The truth is that all of the ideas were stated by Donald Trump (or tweeted about them) long before they became bills.

Yes, he does talk a lot and it’s hard to continue to listen to his rants, but they were mentioned in one form or another.

So here’s some actual truth:

• HR 861 (Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency) was introduced by Representative Matt Gaetz (Florida Republican) on February 3, 2017;

• HR 610 (Vouchers for Public Education) was introduced by Representative Steve King (Iowa Republican) on January 23, 2017;

• HR 899 (Terminate the Department of Education) was introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (Kentucky Republican) on February 7, 2017;

• HJR 69 (Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife) was a constitutional amendment for the state of Virginia that was introduced by the Governor of Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, on January 11, 2017.

• HR 370 (Repeal Affordable Care Act) was introduced by Representative Bill Flores (Texas Republican) on January 9, 2017, but who didn’t see this one coming since Trump won the election in November?

• HR 354 (Defund Planned Parenthood) was introduced by Representative Diane Black (Tennessee Republican) on January 6, 2017 and was also a hot topic during the presidential campaign.

• HR 785 (National Right to Work) was introduced by Representative Steve King (Iowa Republican) on February 1, 2017.

• HR 83 (Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill) was introduced by Representative Lou Barletta (Pennsylvania Republican) on January 3, 2017 and has made several headlines in the news since the bill was introduced in January.

• HR 147 (Criminalizing Abortion /Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act) was introduced by Representative Trent Franks (Arizona Republican) on January 3, 2017.

• HR 808 (Sanctions against Iran) was introduced by Representative Peter J. Roskam (Illinois Republican) on February 1, 2017.



 The Russian hacking story began to float around after the election in November, but gained more traction through an investigation conducted by the U.S. intelligence departments which included the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as well as the Senate Armed Services Committee and was publicly acknowledged as fact on January 6, 2017.

It has remained in the news since that time.

All of the claims about these bills are also null and void because all of them were introduced one-two months prior to Trump’s wire tapping claim so there is no smokescreen or diversion to any of them.

This is a crucial time for America as alt facts and fake news often get mixed in with actual news and actual facts.

It is understandable that prior to Trump’s attack on the press that many people started to have ambivalent feelings towards them.


That shouldn’t stop people from finding out what the real truth is and doing that is actually pretty easy.

If you really want to know what shady shit the elected officials are up to, you can just pay a visit to www.congress.gov   If you scroll towards the bottom the website has both the House and the Senate members listed. To find out what they’re up to, you can click on their names.

This is how you stay informed. This is how you resist or support your elected officials.

If you want to know what Donald Trump is up to, you can pay a visit to the White House’s website at www.whitehouse.gov/ and get a clearer idea of what’s going on.

Getting your information from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, MySpace or left-leaning/right-leaning websites is just bad.

Everyone has the right to be heard and to voice their opinions.

Everybody has the right to demonstrate, resist, protest or support whatever it is that they believe in or who they believe in.


In order to evoke change and it open up people’s hearts as well as minds, this should be done using the truth; using actual facts that are undisputable.

Relying on partial truths, embellished truths, alt facts and downright lies won’t change anything. It will only serve to inflict more injustice and serve to destroy whatever changes you hope to make.





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Saturday, March 11, 2017

The Philly Urban Prepper: Ladies first



The prepper community is pretty diverse even though most of the people who have somehow become representatives of the community are Caucasian men because they are the ones who post or produce YouTube videos a lot.



There are growing numbers of minorities who are beginning to prep, but the largest number of new preppers is women.



There are many women preppers who are married, but being a single woman or parent who also preps is on the rise.



According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2014, there were 12 million single parent households and over 80% were run by women.




So it just makes sense then that the number of preppers who are either single women or single parents would increase as well.



In Philadelphia and probably other big cities, the number is 22%. New York’s rate is lower, at 12.6% and Los Angeles has a rate of 14%.



There are numerous cultures that migrate to the United States that come from matriarchal societies such as Indonesia, parts of Africa and Costa Rica.




Matriarchal societies are ones that are run by women and these women also serve as heads of their households.



These groups of people should also be considered when looking at the number of women preppers.



As the prepper movement continues to grow every year, women are joining it as well.




Single mothers have an advantage over most preppers because they actually already do many of the things that either have to be learned or developed into a habit such as stocking up on food and supplies, doing basic household repairs, administering first-aid, and safety.



Women have the ability to be natural born preppers or preppers by design. They are inherent nesters and, even if they’re married, they are usually the ones in charge of the household which includes managing the budget as well as purchasing items such as food, clothing and deciding whether to make non-essential purchases.



Households that are run by women are also at a slight disadvantage.



Incomes that may be used for prepping supplies by two parent households are limited when looking at single mothers who only have one income.


These single person/parent households usually have women who are able to do minor repairs, but could lack the skills needed for surviving an emergency.



Although single parents are good at assigning chores or tasks to members of the family that they live with, during an emergency situation they may have to assume tasks that are often distributed between two adults in a more traditional household.



Despite the often testosterone driven information available to people who wish to prep, many of the images of women prepping are that of them doing food prep or tending to the garden. Other images show bikini-clad women in the wilderness with high powered rifles.





In addition to these weapons being heavy, once the sun has been able to hit the said weapon for awhile they can get hot which can result in a nasty burn.



Any woman can tell you that if you go out in the woods wearing nothing but a bikini or your birthday suit, you’re going to be every insect’s smorgasbord. 



These images are nothing more than an attempt to marginalize or sexualize women.



The reality is that all women are capable of so much more than just domestic duties. Even if that’s all you can do right now, there are things women can do to become just as good as any man.



1.  Learn how to use tools.



Most single women who need some repairs done currently will either call someone they know or a handyman.



Once an emergency hits, you may still be able to contact them, but it’ll probably cost you more because the ability to fix things is going to be a skill that will be much in-demand.



Even if this person previously helped you out for free, that will probably not be the case during a shut-down of services.



In order to help you out, this person may expect payment in the form of money you have stored away or some of your supplies.



Never barter what you have unless it’s something you really need like medical care and absolutely can’t do yourself because you lack the proper training.



Learning to operate tools and be able to put them to use is a skill that must be learned before an emergency hits.



The basic tools you should have on hand are:




1. Hammer;

2. An assortment of screwdrivers in different sizes (flatheads and Phillips);

3. Saw;

4. Shovel;

5. Electrician and Slip Joint pliers;

6. An assortment of nails and screws (in different sizes);

7. Measuring tape;

8. Duct tape;

9. Polyurethane adhesive;

10. A set of Allen wrenches;

11. Utility knife with extra blades;

12. Pipe and adjustable wrench;

13. Sand paper;

14. Vice grips;

15. Caulk gun;

16: Ladder;

17. Staple gun (with extra staples);

18. Stud finder;

19. Pry bar;

20. Safety goggles, gloves and hard hat;

21. Nuts and bolts;

22. Razor blades;

23. Zip ties (in different sizes)



Although this list may seem extensive, if you purchase them one or a couple at a time it won’t seem so overwhelming.



There are preppers who will also suggest purchasing a tool box, but that could be an expense you don’t need at this time. Just use a large plastic storage bin with a lid.



You can also repurpose jars to store your nuts, bolts, nails and screws in as well as keeping lose items such as staples, sandpaper, utility knife blades, and razor blades in Ziploc bags.



If you have an electric drill or are tempted to buy one, be aware that unless you have a generator this item may be unusable the longer the electric is off.



You may be tempted to purchase a battery operated drill, but these batteries are costly and will need to be recharged using electricity.



If you have an electric drill or want to purchase an electric drill and don’t know how to use one, you can go to YouTube and learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Al6KLUF_o.



When you’re purchasing tools, never buy them because they’re cheap as they will most likely break easily. If you do decide to go that route, make sure you buy a couple of each tool.



Before buying the tool, make sure you pick it up and handle it. The handle should fit easily in the palm of your hand and not be so heavy that you can’t use it.



You may encounter a salesperson who will try to sell you a girly-type of tool-something with a pink handle. These are not tools that you want to have. If you want to color coordinate your tools with your wardrobe or nail polish, purchase some colored duct tape that is sold either in arts and crafts stores or office supply stores. You can wrap the handles with the duct tape.




While you still have electricity and the internet you can learn how to use tools thanks to places like YouTube and HGTV.com.


















If you decide to save some money and purchase tools at a flea market, make sure you carefully inspect them. The handles should not be cracked or loose. The head or working part of the tool should not feel light or hollow. No tools should have rust on them or look like they had been buried in the ground.



2. Never prep for anything you don’t believe will happen.



You have hundreds –if not thousands- of preppers who are stocking up on Silver Eagle coins because they believe that after society comes crashing down the world will be back in the dark ages and these coins will be currency.




Could that possibly happen? Anything is possible, but it’s not probable.



What is probable is that slowly cities and towns will recover; that the monetary system will return.



It’s very easy to lose track of yourself and prep for everything the more you watch videos on YouTube and visit various prepping websites because every conspiracy theorist or whack-job can make perfect sense when they have nothing to compare it to.



Single women –especially mothers- are usually more rational and, as a rule of thumb, tend not to get ahead of themselves. They’re also really good at keeping things simple.



So stick to what you know you’ll need for any situation regardless if it’s a bad snow storm or an emergency situation:




1. Water;

2. Food;

3. Clothing;

4. Shelter;

5. Activities for the kids such as books and board games;

6. First-aid supplies;

7. Ways to cook food such as a charcoal grill, a fireplace or a sun oven;

8. Candles or propane lamps;

9. CPR training;

10. Personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, etc.);



3. Be the type of prepper you want to be.



The internet is chock full of opinions on what makes a true prepper.



There are many who believe that if you don’t move out into the middle of nowhere or live off the grid then you are not a true prepper.



There are no requirements on how people should prep or even if they should prep at all.



It is always a good idea that people should prep even if it’s just enough water and food for about five years because it’s not if something is going to happen, but when it will happen.



Many preppers believe that the following scenarios are likely:




1. Natural disasters;

2. Bio-chemical which includes the spread of biological agents, nerve gases and diseases such as E. coli, SARS, dengue fever, sarin gas, anthrax, and pandemics to name a few;

3. A continuing increase in the human population which will put a catastrophic strain on food, water, natural resources, and health care;

4. EMP (electromagnetic pulse) which will be created if something such as nuclear bomb is detonated;

5. An asteroid or comet collision;

6. Dirty bombs;

7 Nuclear war;

8. World War III;

9. An economic shutdown of society;

10. Zombie apocalypse



However, out of all of these possibilities, a majority of the preppers believe that an economic shutdown is the most likely scenario and was already starting beginning back in 2008 with the recession.





It’s also a good idea to prep for maybe not natural disasters, but for serious inclement weather which affects many states.



In California residents often experience severe heat and there is always the problem with wildfires. Lately, the state has been rocked by catastrophic flooding in cities like San Jose.



Florida, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and even Delaware experience hurricanes and severe flooding.



Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and even areas of Pennsylvania have experienced tornados.



Utah, New York, Colorado, Michigan, and Wyoming often experience severe winters that can force people indoors for days, if not weeks, at a time.



There are people who prep because they want to live a simpler lifestyle or want to limit their dependency on the government or big business.



It is smart for urban women to begin prepping.



Doing so will save you time and money as well as prepare you for any unseen emergencies including job loss.



4. Homesteader Hannah or Urban Ursula?



The internet is also full of women talking about how they make their own soap, milk a cow, get eggs from their chickens, grow their own vegetables as well as herbs and spices, smoke their own meats that were caught with either their own hands or those of their husband, homeschooling their kids, making their own clothes, and actively protecting their property.



These women are known as homesteaders; people who live like a settler. Think of Little House on the Prairie.





These women, like stay-at-home moms or beautifully svelte and fashionable career women, can make others feel inadequate or just plain guilty if you read enough of their stuff.



Urban women who prep shouldn’t buy into the whole “you-should-be-jealous-of-me” syndrome.



Honestly, do you really think you can stuff a cow, some chickens, goats and a garden in a small urban backyard?



Most cities have laws against that kind of stuff.



Although all preppers pretty much stock up on the same things, urban prepping is much different than suburban or rural prepping.



There are different resources available to urban preppers that other preppers either have to grow or make themselves.



Urban preppers have numerous places they can go to buy what they need a lot cheaper than other preppers who have to order it through the internet or catalogues.



If urban females should learn one skill it’s canning.


In the long run canning your fruits and vegetables can be a lot cheaper and healthier than having to constantly buy canned goods at the grocery store.



You can take advantage of local farmers, produce stands as well as places like the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia or Baltimore, Maryland’s 32 Street Framer’s Market.




Having the ability to can also will serve as a marketable skill once an emergency hits because people who failed to prep will need food. You can make extra jars available to either sell or barter for goods as well as services.



For more information on canning, please read The Philly Urban Prepper’s article at: http://mchicetawn.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-philly-urban-prepper-canning.html.



You can also learn how to can on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbNNitnMuww.



If homesteading is something that interests you, please read The Philly Urban Prepper’s article on homesteading in an urban environment at: http://mchicetawn.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-philly-urban-prepper-homesteading.html.



5. Placing emphasis on safety.



It is an unfortunate misconception that many people think of women as weak or the weaker sex.

This can’t be further from the truth because there really is no such thing as a weak woman.




Still, you will always have someone willing to test this theory about the strength of a woman and that is especially true after an emergency hits.



Regardless of where you live, there might be some people who think that because you are a woman you will be an easier target.



The most important thing to take into consideration when  prepping for an emergency is that once the power goes out, stores shut down and local law enforcement or government is non-responsive mayhem and panic will ensue.



People you thought were okay or that you knew and trusted may not act that way.



Controversial times will certainly bring out the worst in people.



Here are some tips to keep yourself and your home safe:



1. Don’t go out unless you absolutely have to and if you have done your due diligence in prepping there will be no need for you to go out.



People will often get comfortable or develop a sense of safety in their neighborhoods and cities.



The longer you live in a particular area the more likely that is.



Forget about that. The only place you can count on to be safe is in your own home.



2. Secure all doors and windows.



Prior to an emergency, make sure all locks work properly and replace any doors if you need to.

For added security, you can board up any windows on the first floor or in the basement from the inside.




Do not board the windows up from the outside as people can come and rip off the boards in order to gain access to your home. Place the boards on the inside of the window where you have control over them.



Many urban homes put either bars on the outside of their windows or attach a metal grate on the inside of the windows and although these are fine in preventing someone from breaking in, they will not prevent the windows from being broken nor keep you safe from gases, toxins or massive winds/inclement weather.



You can also attach a cowbell to all doors and purchase door braces for additional security.






3. Prep the outside of your house.



Trim or remove any bushes/trees that obstruct your views of the street or provide someone with enough coverage to spy on or attack you.



Remove anything such as tables, trash cans with lids, chairs, or children’s toys such as a slide because they can be used to either break a window or as a ladder to get in through the second floor.



 Many older houses have metal awnings attached to them and they are a criminal’s best friend as it gives them easy access to the house.



If you’re willing to, remove the awnings. If that’s not a possibility, coat the top of them with either vegetable oil or motor oil. This will cause the would-be offender to slip off.



Make sure you reapply the oil every couple of days or after a rain or snowstorm.



4. Carefully consider where exactly you hunker down at.



Most emergency preparedness websites tell you to have a room with all your supplies where you can go and basically live until an emergency is over.



If you decide to do that, pick your room carefully.



You don’t want a room where you don’t know what’s going on outside and you don’t want a room where you have no way out other than the door you came in at.

Many preppers use their basement as that room and, like the rural prepper’s underground bunkers, these are death traps.



Consider the following:



  • Flooding in basements is a common occurrence in large cities.



  • The loss of power could release toxins into the air or through the ground and these can come into your basement via the plumbing, sump pumps or even cause your gas or water heater to explode.



  • There is limited ventilation in the basement.



  • If you do choose to come up from the basement, you may not know what’s waiting on the other side of the door for you. Experienced criminals can be so quiet you wouldn’t even hear them walking around upstairs.



However, if you are attentive in your prepping you’ll be able to use your entire house or apartment.



You should establish rooms, preferably on the second floor if you have one, to go to if you have to.



Keep some supplies such as water, a bucket or a portable toilet, candles, first aid supplies, change of clothing, food that doesn’t need to be cooked such as canned goods or MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and something to keep your family occupied like board games.



6. A prepper in need is not necessarily a friend indeed.



A lot of women preppers talk about the cold shoulder they often get from the male counterparts they meet.



Many say that they feel that they are not regarded as true preppers because they are single and women.



These same women say that the men who do come across as supportive of female preppers usually show their true colors by attempting to manipulate them into parting with some of her supplies.



There’s nothing wrong with helping out a fellow prepper if you’re in the position to do so, but not if the other prepper is not willing to reciprocate.



In the real world these preppers would be referred to as rainy day friends; someone who is only your friend when it benefits them.



Developing a friendship with a prepper is the same as developing a friendship with anyone else; they need to earn your trust overtime and not be your friend only when they need something.



A true prepper would not try to take advantage of another prepper like that and anyone with honor would not take or ask for anything they can get or should get on their own.



Finally, you will have a lot of preppers (both male and female) trying to tell you that there are rules.



They will try and tell you about the established roles of men versus women when it comes to prepping or during a shutdown of society; that the man hunts and forages while the woman takes care of all the household duties.



These preppers like to dictate the importance of having an arsenal of weapons, living off the grid or moving to a prepper community in the middle of nowhere.



These things are as important as you want them to be because it’s all about personal choice.



These are not rules because there really aren’t any rules. These were choices they made for whatever reason.



Although the basics of water, food and shelter are the same, anything beyond that depends on personal choice.



Everyone’s situation is different and you should prep for that situation. Don’t prep for what you’re told you need. Prep for what you feel you need.



Being a man or married to a man who is a prepper doesn’t make you better at prepping.



Women have survived without men for hundreds of years and they will continue to do so even after society shuts down.





On YouTube there is a fabulous prepper who is not only a woman, but a person of color. To watch her videos, you can subscribe to Miss Sincere’s videos at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUY7Oad8fGuZUDncjzv99vw/videos.



To watch one of her prepping videos, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XNr4IhJlJY.



There is another woman of color who is also a prepper as well as a single parent and goes by the name Miss In For mation.






You can also watch one of her videos at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV2aepOci2g.





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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Hollywood and Racism – One Year Later




A little over a year ago, actress Jada Pinkett Smith announced that due to the lack of diversity she and her husband, fellow actor Will Smith, would not be attending nor watching the 2016 Academy Awards.
Shortly after that, actor/director/producer/writer Spike Lee voiced the same determination albeit using a lot more words to describe his feelings.


The issue was the fact that out of the 20 actors nominated, not one of them were African Americans.

Someone even came up with the catchy hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite.
In addition to the Smiths and Lee, British singer Anohni also announced she would not be attending because she had not been invited to perform as Sam Smith and Lady Gaga were even though she had been nominated.
Anohni is both transgender and a person of color.


It didn’t take the internet trolls too long to launch an attack on Pinkett Smith. In fact, they seemed to go after her more than Spike Lee.
Some of these trolls thought that the actress believed that people of color were entitled to think that just because they may have acted in a movie it doesn’t mean they had the right to be nominated; that a nomination should never be considered as a right.
Others deduced that Pinkett Smith was jealous because she wasn’t nominated for her role in Magic Mike XXL.
As usual, the trolls kept swinging the bat, but missing the ball and what a mighty big ball it was.

The point wasn’t just that there weren’t any actors/actress’ of color who had been nominated, but racism is a prevalent issue in Hollywood. This racism doesn’t just extend to African Americans, but other cultures as well.
That’s not the only problem. The industry also suffers from other maladies such: sexism, ageism and the centuries old body image type.

The industry has a nasty habit of portraying women with as much depth as a paper doll as well as overly sexualizing them, hiring younger actresses or actors to play older roles, adding padding to the abnormally svelte to play someone who isn’t the Hollywood’s perfect body type, and giving abled thespians the role of a disabled person.

There were celebrities who spoke out against the problem in their industry. Most notably George Clooney. Hollywood has been very good to him.
He stated, “If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated.”
Ten years ago, in 2007, there was probably more diversity. The nine nominees in the movie, director, actor/actress category were people of color. That was 10 years ago.
Nine years ago it was only three nominees.
Eight years ago there were three nominees.
Seven years ago there were seven nominees.
Six years ago there was one nominee.
Five years ago there were four nominees.
Four years ago there were four nominees.
Three years ago there were four nominees.
Two years ago there was one nominee.
One year ago there was one nominee.
The films themselves and their casts weren’t necessarily diverse; a few of the movies made were almost segregated. Some movies had almost all African American casts and some featured almost all Caucasian casts.
This isn’t how it should be. The world and life is diverse. Different cultures and races do interact with one another. Just not necessarily according to Hollywood.
Wait Mr. Clooney wasn’t done yet. “I would also make the argument, I don't think it's a problem of who you're picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films?”
The funny thing about hiring an actor to play a certain role is that it isn’t 100% dependent on the color of their skin. It should be about their ability to convincingly bring that character to life on both the big and small screens.
Here’s a tip: People struggle or suffer from all the same things. They feel pain, joy, happiness and anger the same; they can portray a character struggling with an issue or dealing with a situation regardless as to the color of their skin or even their physical appearance.
So, yeah, it is a problem who you’re picking or in this case who you’re not picking.
Clooney kept going, “There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, we're talking about African Americans. For Hispanics, it's even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.”
The reason why there aren’t 20, 30 or 40 films of quality is because not all films are made with that in mind. Some are made to make money or appeal to fans of a certain genre.
While the Academy doesn’t have a huge problem with movies that are blockbusters, they apparently don’t see the value of a horror film except in the categories such as sound effects, makeup, etc.
The last horror film to win an Oscar award for best picture was 1991’s Silence of the Lambs. However, this movie was also listed as a thriller, a genre that the Academy is a little more receptive to.
According to movie buffs the only true horror film to win best picture was 1973’s The Exorcist. Once again, for the Academy’s pleasure it’s also categorized as a thriller.
There is also the thought that the Academy Awards can be somewhat elitist and don’t choose certain types of movies so, in that sense, they are not embracing diversity.
In 2016 there were 594 films released and, apparently, the Academy couldn’t find 20, 30 or 40 “quality” films out of that number.
So what actually constitutes a quality film in the minds of the Academy is the real issue because out of 594 films, they could only find nine which makes them seem a little, well, nit-picky.
This is also a clear indication that there will never be true diversity come Oscar time.
Mr. Clooney also left out Asians who are even worse off than Latinos as are American Indians. He totally side-stepped the issue of roles for women over a certain age or performers of a certain body type.

Funny.
Another note worth remembering, people of Spanish descent prefer to be referred to as Latinos and not Hispanics. There are some Spanish cultures who get highly upset when they’re referred to as Hispanics.
Just a thought.
It’s not all the fault of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists. They can’t nominate a film that doesn’t exist. This is the fault of the movie studios that don’t seem to embrace or see the necessity to level the playing field; to show movies with a diverse cast.
Even if a film is made, it depends on how much money the studio is willing to sink into it through distribution. This determines how many people will actually go out to see the movie or even know that it’s there.
A movie that goes to straight to video isn’t likely to even cross the minds of the Academy come Oscar time.
The problem with Mr. Clooney is that he, as well as other actors such as Mark Wahlberg, Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Kevin Spacey, yield a lot of power in Hollywood. They can demand to make changes or at least use their influence to make changes.
George Clooney is a director. He owns his own production company. He has the power to make changes. As do the actors named above.
The real question is why hasn’t Clooney done so?
There are six African American nominees this year. One nominee is a Hindu Indian (Dev Patel is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Lion).
Did the Academy really turn itself around or is it a coincidence?
Depends.
Making a film isn’t as easy as actors learning their lines and someone filming them. Getting a film to a movie theatre can take several years.

Development can take up to three years even more if the project is independent.
Pre-production can take up to four months because they have to determine a budget, arrange/organize production schedules, rewrite scripts, get the film crew, rent sound stages and equipment, casting, and rehearsals among other things.
The actual filming of the movie can take up to 12 weeks or more.
Post-production can take up to six months and involves editing, special effects, music, ads, trailers, etc.
Finally, there’s distribution where more money is spent and finding the right distributor is crucial to the film because that’s how the studios get money back-by the film getting into the theatres.
Basically, it usually takes about four to five years for a movie to hit the theatres.
So the movies that are nominated weren’t necessarily made due to the Academy Awards announcing that there will be more nominations for people of color. The films that have been nominated just fell into the Academy’s lap and it was easy for them to make good on their promise.
The real test will come over a period of time and it will take about five to eight years before people will see whether or not the Academy Awards has turned over a new leaf or whether they do what comes naturally in the entertainment industry, offered up some really convincing lip service.
It’s just not the movie studios that have a problem with diversity. It’s the television studios as well.
Unlike the movie studios, television studios have more of an impact on people because the shows that they offer come into homes every day. Even more so now that you can stream shows onto your laptop, computer or other technical gadgets.
The television studios, in that regard, should take every precaution available to them when deciding what types of images and messages they are sending out through their shows especially with the likelihood that these shows are being viewed by impressionable teens and young children.
In a perfect world, parents would closely monitor the viewing habits of their children. Sad to say, too many children and teens have unlimited access to television shows on multiple channels.

Sure, it’s the parent’s responsibility, but it is also the responsibility of the studios to have more diversity in their casts.
Although many shows will have their token minority, there are other shows that try to have at least some color in their casts. There are several shows with all or mostly African American casts. They are:
Being Mary Jane (BET)
The Quad (BET)
Black-ish (ABC)
Empire (FOX)
Star (FOX)
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse (OWN)
The Haves and the Have Nots (OWN)
Love Thy Neighbor (OWN)
This is a sad state of affairs. There used to be a lot more shows on that depicted African American life such as Mo’Nique, Girlfriends, Moesha, The Parkers, The Cosby Show, Different World, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Hughley’s, For Your Love, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Living Single, Martin, Everybody Hates Chris, as well as Malcolm and Eddie.
There have been shows on recently that do have a more diverse cast than others. These are:
Hawaii Five-0 (three Asians, one Latino and one African American)
Rosewood (three African Americans, two Latinas)
Chicago Med (four African Americans, one Asian)
Code Black (one Latino, one Indian, three African Americans)
Quantico (three African Americans, one Arabic, one Latina, one Indian)
Scandal (three African Americans, one Latino)
Chicago Fire (four Latinos, two African Americans)
The Walking Dead (six African Americans, one Latina)


NCIS is a popular show and is going into their 14 season.
However, for the first five seasons it was an all-white cast. It wasn’t until season five that an African American character was introduced-NCIS Director Leon Vance played by Rocky Carroll.
The same season they introduced Leon Vance they also brought on Chilean actress Cote de Pablo to portray Mossad agent Ziva David.
Even so, Vance is not a central character to the show; he isn’t in every episode. The actress who portrayed Ziva David chose not to continue on the show in 2013.
The good news is that with the exodus of actor Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) in 2016 changes were made to the cast that now include an African American and a Latino.
The bad news is that it took them 13 years to add some diversity to their cast.
More bad news is that the African American character, Clayton Reeves, looks like he will be recurring and not necessarily a regular character.
 Another major disappointment is the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit which has had 18 years to demonstrate diversity in, not only their cast, but their victims and criminals as well.
They have not.
The show has, over the years, dabbled in diversity with ethnic characters such as a female African American detective Monique Jeffries who only lasted the first two seasons, a female African American medical examiner Melinda Warner who has been switched on and off between being a regular cast member and being a recurring cast member since season two, an Asian and gay FBI Special Agent Dr. George Huang who lasted from season two until season 12, Latino detective Nick Amaro who lasted three seasons, and a newer edition is a Latino prosecutor Rafael Barba since season 14.
In 2000 the show put their official token in place, the African American detective Odafin Tutuola and the character is still on the today, but is dramatically underused.
The character is one of the best on television and is a perfectly complex depiction of an urban police officer who has seen too much thus becoming a little jaded.
For years the show featured Detective Elliot Stabler as the typical alpha male which is a staple in television shows. The new frontrunner, main character, of the show is white female detective Olivia Benson.

The show didn’t necessarily decide to change the leading role to either appeal to female viewers or breathe new life into the show; they were forced to when the actor who played Stabler left the show.
Although the show seems to be, at times, pretty diverse it’s not especially for a show that is set in and about New York City which has a population of 25.1% African Americans, 11.8% Asians, 0.6% American Indians, and 25.5% Latinos.
It is a problem when television studios bleach shows that are set in New York City to make it look like only white people live there.
Currently, on television there are 12 shows that are set in New York. Out of that number most of them use the white alpha male and a token minority.
Even the ones who have a couple of cast members who are people of color, too often they are not the main character; that is still the alpha male.
These minority characters are hardly ever as fully developed as their white counterparts and are not given consideration for the same amount of storylines.
These problems with diversity aren’t just with television shows on network or cable TV, but with original shows that are featured on Amazon, Hulu and Netflix.
All is not lost, however.
In the last couple of years the trend has been slowly changing.
On USA’s Major Crimes (and its predecessor The Closer) the lead character is a female and not some young, hot female either. The female lead on this show, Captain Sharon Raydor, is an older woman.
FOX’s Rosewood features an African American male as the central figure, Dr. Beaumont Rosewood. Dr. Rosewood’s partner is a Latina female detective, Annalise Villa.
Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder and Scandal have the main characters’ as women. Although the main character in Grey’s Anatomy is a white woman and the other two shows have an African American woman as the focal point, it’s important to note that all three of these shows are featured on ABC who seems to be more ahead of this trend than other television stations.
The studio also has Dr. Ken a show featuring an Asian man as the main character, Black-ish a show about an African American family, Conviction’s main character is also a female, Quantico’s main character is an Indian female, American Housewife’s main character is a female, and Fresh Off the Boat features an almost all Asian cast.

FOX television studios have shows like Empire, Star, Rosewood, and the upcoming 24:Legacy that have African Americans as their main characters. Empire and Star are almost entirely made up with African American casts.
However, the rest of the shows rely on the tired old formula of featuring a white alpha male who although may be human they can perform death defying acts that they can just walk away from.
Cable stations such as AMC, USA, HBO and Showtime also all fail to understand that there’s a big, beautiful diverse world out there filled with wonderful characters and incredible stories to tell.
Many of these people will be minorities, women over the age of 30, people with physical and emotional disabilities, and, yes, God-forbid, wear a size large than a 6.
Perhaps if the television and movie studios can embrace this belief the awards’ shows will have a bigger selection to choose from than just the typically random white characters that really aren’t having experiences that are specific to their race.
So how did the Academy Awards actually do one year later?

Not so good because they had to be told to do it and it really didn’t have to come to that.
Hollywood and the Academy must also gain some common ground. There has be a happy medium between the type of movies Hollywood makes that gets them the money they want and making more of the quality films that generally will earn an Oscar at the same time while assembling a diverse cast to do the film.
However, unless the change happens throughout Hollywood, real change will be a long time coming if it comes at all.



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