The Sudanese government is accusing Israeli jets of bombing a weapons factory located in Khartoum that killed two people. The Israeli government hasn't confirmed or denied their involvement, but ironically they soon thereafter declared Sudan to be a terrorist state.
Sudanese government is threatening retaliation and has asked the UN to intervene and condemn Israel.
Victoire Ingabire, a Hutu Rwandan who fled to the Netherlands during the Rwandan Genocide, was jailed shortly after returning from exile in April 2010 and barred from a presidential election. Ingabire was found guilty of two of her six charges: treason for conspiring war against the country by sending money to Hutu extremists, as well as Rwandan genocide belittling. She was sentenced to eight years in jail, but may only serve six years due to time served. Prosecution initially asked for a life sentence.
Her lawyers contest that no true evidence was ever presented to justify charges against Ingabire.
Terrorism charges were dropped against Ingabire during the two-year trial and her genocide denial charges are a result of her questioning why Rwanda's official memorial to the 1994 genocide does not include any moderate Hutus, who were slaughtered by Hutu extremists.
Ms. Ingabire thinks the true reason for her arrest is that she dared to run in the presidential election as a candidate for the United Democratic Forces party, challenging the sitting president Paul Kagame. Mr. Kagame is the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, whose military victory ended the genocide in Rwanda. He has been the president of Rwanda since 1994. His final presidential term ends in 2017.
Ingabire doesn't consider the current Rwandan government under Kagame to be a democracy, but more-so authoritarian. Kagame has received mixed reviews from observers. Some praising him for his role in Rwanda's recovery after the genocide, but others feel he's sending a grim message to other Rwandan political parties that they could become political prisoners too.
Phil Clark, a lecturer at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, is quoted in the New York Times saying “I think this verdict will certainly cause concerns that if they contest they may find very serious charges brought against them as well,” he said. “It sends a warning to other parties who may want to run in future elections.”
Ms. Ingabire has 30 days to appeal against the verdict.
Apparently, amateur director Cynthia Mort, a Latin American doesn't think that an African American woman is good enough to play African American musician/activist Nina Simone, nor does Ms. Mort think it's necessary to conduct due diligence and depict a factual account of Nina Simone's life.
So what does Cynthia Mort do? She hires a fellow Latina, Zoe Saldana, a talented actress who is considered to be an Afro-latina but looks nothing like Ms. Simone and isn't African American. So, Ms. Mort attempts to darken Zoe's skin, adding a fake wide nose and an insulting afro wig that looks more like a giant Brillo pad; she falsely depicts Ms. Simone's homosexual personal assistant, Clifton Henderson as being her heterosexual lover; she doesn't consult with Ms. Simone's family at all and most importantly she disrespects and ignores Ms. Simone's philosophy and activism for Black Pride and the Civil Rights Movement.
Cynthia Mort chalks it up to her so-called "artistic license." Well, the African American community may chalk it up to a boycott of this inaccurate Nina Simone biopic.
Zoe Saldana
Aaron Overfield the content director for Nina Simone's website penned "An Open Letter To Anyone Who Cares About Nina Simone" addressing the issues with Zoe Saldana and Cynthia Mort's false depiction of Ms. Simone.
Here it is:
I’m writing this letter to anyone who cares about Nina Simone: her legacy, her artistry, her spirit, her genius, her music, her activism, everything. If you care at all about Nina Simone — even if you’ve only heard a few of her songs — then this letter is for you. If you’re here reading this, it’s for you.
I won’t waste time writing to Cynthia Mort or Zoe Saldana and releasing the words out into the public sphere for the chance they might cross paths, because even if that were the case the words would mean nothing to them. What they are creating proves those words would mean nothing, so why waste my breath (or finger taps)? They will not listen.
The issues surrounding this unauthorized film depicting Nina Simone, which we might as well call a biopic since they are naming the thing Nina, are complex, multilayered, and multifaceted. The discussions of the issues are as complex as they are controversial; however, they are important conversations to have and keep having. The most frustrating people are the ones who imply everyone should just shut up and “wait and see” or “leave them alone.” That kind of attitude and oppression is not in the spirit of Nina Simone whatsoever. Quite the opposite. Nina was vocal, defiant, a warrior, an activist. She would not have simply shut up and sat down. She would’ve shown up at the studio with a shotgun to speak with Ms. Mort and slapped the makeup off Zoe. So let’s get that straight first. We’re going to talk about this and those of us with strong, impassioned opinions are going to express them.
We will not be silent simply because it annoys those who aren’t in agreement.
Zoe’s complexion (the level of her “blackness”) has taken the forefront in the discussion. Her complexion as well as her phenotype/features. We’re going to have to address this since obviously it is dominating the outcry against this project, understandably so. However, I believe this issue is a byproduct of the much, much larger issue: the total gentrification of Nina Simone. This occurred at the inception of this film so it’s no wonder the script and casting have come to symbolize the total fictionalization of Nina as a person and as an artist.
The script, written by Latin American writer and first time director Cynthia Mort, is based in a series of lies. That is our starting point. Cynthia calls this her “artistic license.” Under that umbrella what Cynthia is implying is that she can pretty much do whatever the hell she wants and she doesn’t have to listen to anyone. Cynthia has focused her story on Nina’s relationship with her personal assistant, Clifton Henderson, himself a controversial person in Nina’s life. Well before Nina’s death, before talks about a movie, there were issues expressed about Clifton’s intentions regarding Nina and his efforts to seemingly keep her isolated. He was around Nina for the last few years of her life. He can be seen with her in a filming of Nina’s concert in Brazil in 2000, during shots of Nina being interviewed in a boat (http://vimeo.com/ninasimone/livebrazil).
After Nina’s death, Clifton sold his story to Cynthia and that became the basis for the movie. So, a (controversial) personal assistant’s relationship with Nina Simone for the very last few years of her life somehow became the focal point of the first ever Nina Simone movie. Moreover, that controversial relationship became fictionalized by Cynthia Mort by her writing the relationship as a romantic one (putting Nina in the role as sexual aggressor and as emotionally needy).
On Sunday, Serena Williams beat opponent Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3, winning the Istanbul hosted WTA Championship for the third time and ending the season with a 59-4 record.
After surviving a serious injury and near-fatal healthcare, Williams has had an outstanding award-winning year earning seven titles and taking the victor's role in Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal and U.S. Open, to name a few.
Ms. Williams told the Associated Press"I had such a good year, it was important to end on a good note. It was good for my sanity to win," Williams said. "I really wanted it although I didn't need it. "
Financial guru, Mellody Hobson, is replacing Roger Enrico as Chairman of DreamWorks Animation. Hobson, 43, has been highlighted several times on Society Noir for her illustrious achievements. The Princeton graduate is president of Ariel Investments a Chicago-based African-American owned firm which manages more than $3 billion in assets, and chairwoman of Ariel Mutual Funds. The beautiful MidWestern brainiac is also a financial contributor on the popular television show Good Morning America. In addition, she’s also a director of Estee Lauder, Starbucks, and Groupon, and sits
on the boards of the Sundance Institute, Chicago’s Field Museum, and the Chicago Public Education
Fund.
Hobson, whose been romantically linked to world-renowned filmmaker George Lucas since 2006, brings an interesting dynamic to DreamWorks Animation. Bucking the status quo in the male, non-black dominated world of Hollywood it will be more than interesting to see the influence Ms. Hobson will yield.
To say the least, Ms. Hobson's appointment as Chairman to DreamWorks Animation is certainly a welcomed departure.
Read our past coverage of Mellody Hobson here and here.
Transcript of President Obama and Mitt Romney’s
remarks at the second presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. on Oct. 16,
2012. Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service.
CANDY CROWLEY: Good evening from Hofstra University in
Hempstead, New York. I’m Candy Crowley from CNN’s State of the Union. We
are here for the second presidential debate, a town hall sponsored by
the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The Gallup Organization chose 82 uncommitted voters from the New York
area. Their questions will drive the night. My goal is to give the
conversation direction and to ensure questions get answered.
The questions are known to me and my team only. Neither the commission
nor the candidates have seen them. I hope to get to as many questions as
possible. And because I am the optimistic sort, I’m sure the candidates
will oblige by keeping their answers concise and on point. Each
candidate has as much as two minutes to respond to a common question,
and there will be a two-minute follow-up.
The audience here in the hall has agreed to be polite and attentive; no
cheering or booing or outbursts of any sort. We will set aside that
agreement just this once to welcome President Barack Obama and Governor
Mitt Romney. (Cheers, sustained applause.)
Gentlemen, thank you both for joining us here tonight. We have a lot of
folks who’ve been waiting all day to talk to you, so I want to get right
to it. Governor Romney, as you know, you won the coin toss, so the
first question will go to you. And I want to turn to a first- time
voter, Jeremy Epstein, who has a question for you.
Q: Mr. President, Governor Romney, as a 20-year-old
college student, all I hear from professors, neighbors and others is
that when I graduate, I will have little chance to get employment. Can —
what can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents, that I
will be able to sufficiently support myself after I graduate?
MITT ROMNEY: Thank you, Jeremy. I appreciate your —
your question, and — and thank you for being here this evening. And to
all of those from Nassau County here that have come, thank you for your
time. Thank you to Hofstra University and to Candy Crowley for
organizing and leading this — this event. Thank you, Mr. President, also
for being part of this — this debate.
Yours question — your question is one that’s being asked by college kids all over this country.
I was in Pennsylvania with someone who’d just graduated. This was in
Philadelphia, and she said, I — I — I got my degree. I can’t find a job.
I’ve got three part-time jobs. They’re just barely enough to pay for my
food and pay for an apartment. I can’t begin to pay back my student
loans.
So what we have to do is two things: we have to make sure that we make
it easier for kids to afford college and also make sure that when they
get out of college, there’s a job. When I was governor of Massachusetts,
to get a high school degree, you had to pass an exam. If you graduated
in the top quarter of your class, we gave you a John and Abigail Adams
Scholarship, four years tuition-free to the college of your choice in
Massachusetts. It’s a public institution. I want to make sure we keep
our Pell — Pell Grant program growing. We’re also going to have our loan
program so that people are able to afford school.
But the key thing is to make sure you can get a job when you get out of
school. And what’s happened over the last four years has been very, very
hard for America’s young people. I want you to be able to get a job. I
know what it takes to get this economy going. With half of college kids
graduating this year without a college — or excuse me, without a job and
without a college-level job, that’s just unacceptable. And likewise,
you got more and more debt on your back. So more debt and less jobs.
I’m going to change that. I know what it takes to create good jobs
again. I know what it takes to make sure that you have the kind of
opportunity you deserve. And kids across this country are going to
recognize we’re bringing back an economy. It’s not going to be like the
last four years. The middle class has been crushed over the last four
years, and jobs have been too scarce. I know what it takes to bring them
back, and I’m going to do that and make sure when you graduate — when
do you graduate?
Q: (Off mic.)
MR. ROMNEY: 2014. When you come out in 2014 — I presume
I’m going to be president — I’m going to make sure you get a job.
(Chuckles.) Thanks, Jeremy. Yeah, you bet.
MS. CROWLEY: Mr. President.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Jeremy, first of all, your
future is bright, and the fact that you’re making investment in higher
education is critical, not just to you but to the entire nation.
Now, the most important thing we can do is to make sure that we are
creating jobs in this country, but not just jobs, good-paying jobs, ones
that can support a family. And what I want to do is build on the 5
million jobs that we’ve created over the last 30 months in the private
sector alone. And there are a bunch of things that we can do to make
sure your future is bright.
Number one, I want to build manufacturing jobs in this country again.
You know, when Governor Romney said we should let Detroit go bankrupt, I
said, we’re going to bet on American workers and the American auto
industry, and it’s come surging back. I want to do that in industries,
not just in Detroit but all across the country. And that means we change
our tax code so we’re giving incentives to companies that are investing
here in the United States and creating jobs here. It also means we’re
helping them and small businesses to export all around the world in new
markets.
Number two, we’ve got to make sure that we have the best education
system in the world. And the fact that you’re going to college is great,
but I want everybody to get a great education. And we worked hard to
make sure that student loans are available for folks like you, but I
also want to make sure that community colleges are offering slots for
workers to get retrained for the jobs that are out there right now and
the jobs of the future.
Number three, we’ve got to control our own energy, you know, not only
oil and natural gas, which we’ve been investing in, but also we’ve got
to make sure we’re building the energy sources of the future, not just
thinking about next year, but 10 years from now, 20 years from now.
That’s why we’ve invested in solar and wind and biofuels,
energy-efficient cars.
We’ve got to reduce our deficit, but we’ve got to do it in a balanced
way — asking the wealthy to pay a little bit more, along with cuts, so
that we can invest in education like yours. And let’s take the money
that we’ve been spending on war over the last decade to rebuild America —
roads, bridges, schools. If we do those things, not only is your future
going to be bright, but America’s future’s going to be bright as well.
Yes, you read this headline correctly, the richest human being in history is indeed an African king. According to researchers at Celebrity Net Worth, the 14th century West African king, Mansa Musa I of the Mali had a personal net worth of $400 Billion at the time of his death in 1331. Celebrity Net Worth explained their findings are based upon them adjusting for inflation "For
example, $100 million in the year 1913 is equal to $2.299.63 billion in
2012 dollars thanks to the annual rate of inflation of 2199.6%."
Mansa Musa's immense wealth was due his Malian Empire's production and trade of gold and salt. He inherited his empire via his role as deputy of the king, when the previous ruler never returned from an expedition on the Atlantic Ocean. Mansa Musa I, a devout muslim, used some of his wealth to build statuesque mosques that are still standing to this very day and a university in Timbuktu to attract scholars and encourage education.
Legend has it that Mansa Musa I was a generous king who believed in spreading the wealth to the commoners and elders. He put Mali on the map during his hajj/ pilgrimage to Mecca when he gave away gold freely to those he encountered along the way. Within two generations of Mansa Musa's death, his heirs were unable to successfully defend the kingdom from invading conquerors and civil wars and as such, his wealth was lost.
Quick Facts about Mansa Musa I
Catalan Map of Mansa Musa 1375, with translation
Mansa means "king" or "leader."
Mansa Musa I lived from 1280-1331.
Mansa Musa I was a descendant of the Mandingo ruler, Sundiata Keita (Sunjata), who was the founder of the Mali empire.
He ruled West Africa's Malian Empire (modern day Ghana, Timbuktu and Mali).
To manage successfully, his empire was broken into provinces and villages, with each village having a mayor to help manage government.
He was a devout muslim who allowed freedom of religion and occupation.
Mansa Musa I's army guarded the gold mines and also guarded the section of the Trans-Sahara Trade Route that passed by Mali.
He was highly cultured and encouraged education, even building an impressive university in Timbuktu
Mansa Musa brought back from hajj/ pilgrimage an Arabic library, religious scholars, and the Muslim architect al-Sahili, who built the great mosques at Gao and Timbuktu and a royal palace.
