In a day and age where the freedoms of Americans are being protected and defended internationally there is a sharp absence of justice in the case of 6 black young men in Jena, LA. Racial tensions from white students hanging nooses on a tree after black students decided to sit at a bench historically designated for whites only led to a schoolyard fight. While the incidents which incited this situation were ignored a decision was made to charge the young men with attempted murder- later reduced to aggravated second degree battery. The first trial resulted in a conviction for talented athlete Mychal Bell who had been in the process of obtaining scholarships to attend college after high school.

The injustice must stop now and I encourage everyone to join the Aphrosphere day of blogging for justice of the Jena 6. As black bloggers we can make a difference, as we learned from the case of Shaquanda Cotton it’s not about watching and reading- we must take action.

The Afrosphere Jena 6 Coalition “ask that the mainstream traditional media step forward and discharge their duty to provide coverage of this vitally important event to their viewers and readers and act as “the fourth institution” of governmental “checks and balance” that constitutional framers intended the press to be.”

List of Bloggers for Justice

1. Wayne Hicks http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/ Cincinnati, OH

2. D. Yobachi Boswell http://www.blackperspective.net Nashville, TN

3. Daz Wilson http://purplezoe.blogspot.com/

4. Francis Holland http://afrospear.jconserv.net/

5. Jim D. Walton http://www.blackinbusiness.org/

6. Cooper http://wonderlandornot.net

7. Yolanda http://ebonymommy.com/blog/

8. Vanessa Byers http://vanessabyers.net/ Miami, FL

9. Sincere http://sincere-thoughts.blogspot.com

10. Pia http://courtingdestiny.com

11. Adrianne George http://blackwomenineurope.blogspot.com/ Sweden

12. Eddie Griffin http://www.eddiegriffinbasg.blogspot.com Fort Worth, TX

13. PB http://www.savantwriter.blogspot.com Kansas City

14. Tom Autopref http://automaticpreference.wordpress.com/

15. Dave J. http://wanderingether.blogspot.com/ Haslett, Michigan

16. B. Medusa http://www.mnemosyne-blog.net/

17. Shawn Williams http://www.dallassouthblog.com Dallas, Texas

18. Deidra http://blackandmissing.blogspot.com Baton Rouge, LA

19. AAPP http://www.AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.com & www.Africanamericanopinion.com

20. Invisible Woman http://invisible-cinema.blogspot.com/ San Fran, CA

21. Plez http://pajoyner.blogspot.com Atlanta, GA

22. Shanikka http://www.maatsfeather.com/frontPage.do

23. Mahogony Diva http://mahogonydiva.blogspot.com/

24. Saba http://charlotte.greasyguide.com

A few months ago ETot, EBoy and I were at a playdate when all of a sudden we heard an infectious beat which stopped everyone’s playing and chatting to look at the tv. I honestly thought I was hallucinating from the strangeness of the commercial before my eyes but couldn’t get over just how much I enjoyed the music. Last week Noggin debuted a new show Yo Gabba Gabba and my hiatus from watching tv has suddenly ended.

ETot and I have a blast dancing to the music and I can’t stop singing about the party in my tummy. EDad even has us tivo the show so we can all watch and get our preschool party on. The show is reminiscent of Electric Company, Sesame Street and other children’s shows from the past (the bright fun colors and unique format remind me a bit of PeeWee’s Playhouse which was always a favorite). DJ Lance Rock is the puppetmaster of the show and his jumpsuit, hat, and groovy dancing style will have you dancing right along with his Yo Gabba Gabba friends.

Is it wrong to make the boys sing the Snacky Snack song every time they demand a snack during the day? If it is wrong I don’t want to be right. Now I’m just waiting for the soundtrack to come out, our current favorite Veggie Tales will have to make lots of room for the party in my tummy- so yummy so yummy.

Today marked a brand new phase in the life of the Ebony family- EBoy had his first day of kindergarten. He specifically requested to wear his favorite button down shirt- which refers to as his “handsome shirt”. We’re still not sure where he got his name for the shirt but I think he’s pretty cute in it.

His school uses a carpool system for dropoff and pickup but I was a bit too intimidated to try it first day. So after taking pictures, saying a prayer and goodbye to EDad and ETot EBoy and I headed off for his new school adventure. I parked and we walked in, and immediately I noticed how happy and calm the kids were while the Moms shuffled in barely holding it together (myself included). EBoy was immediately at home in his new class, put away his bookbag and sat at his name on his new desk to start drawing.

Several of the parents hung out in the hallway peeking in at our kids who seemed totally oblivious to us being there or not (most of us first timers of course, the old timers left quite easily). Everyone did great with the exception of the final little boy who had a very difficult time with his Mom actually leaving. The teacher was consoling him as we headed out. The school providing a “Tears and Tissue” room stocked with boxes of kleenex and lots of chocolate kisses seemed like such a great idea until I realized if i headed in there and saw someone else boohooing I was sure to start! So instead I opted to head home and work on emailing out the school day pictures to grandparents.

ETot and I have been having a nice time, once he got over his angst about not heading to school like his brother- his big day will come on Wednesday for nursery school. I guess the first child really is the hardest in a lot of ways because I’m in no way nervous or worried about ETot heading on to school, he’s so strong willed and independent I’m more worried about his teachers keeping up with him than how he’ll fare.

On to the pictures

Brothers parting for the day:

Daddy and me:

Mommy’s sweetheart:

All smiles at his new desk:

It’s hard to know where you are going unless you can remember where you came from. August 23 is the official International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. I haven’t heard of this special day before but was so glad to find it on a calendar listing.

Research led me to find a whole world which not only acknowledges the historical wrongs of the slave trade but also apologizes for the hurtful past our ancestors had to endure. In the UK special commemorations are made and other countries acknowledge it’s importance.

THE night of August 22-23, 1791, in Santo Domingo, a territory shared today by the independent state of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, saw the beginning of an uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. In recognition of this historic event, the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference proclaimed in 1997 the 23rd of August of every year as International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The proclamation was made in response to the great interest raised by the launching of the UNESCO Slave Route Project in 1994. UNESCO member states decided that an international day of commemoration was needed in order to increase awareness and understanding of this tragedy.

Slavery is a painful note in the history of the world and America but one that we must all learn from in order to truly inspire better consciousness and country. There are some excellent online resources for educating about the slave trade. Here some books focused on teaching children about slavery:

Blogging has been an interest of mine for the last 5 years or so. I started several blogs, never quite able to maintain the proper balance of information with privacy. EbonyMommy took years for me to evolve to and its been a very happy medium thus far. After all of these years of blogging I’m proud and happy to say I’ve met my very first real life blog friend!

Kim left a comment on my blog showing me her family blog and we struck up an instant email friendship. She is a personal organizer (who will be helping the Ebony family get our act together and hopefully finally rid our lives of moving boxes) with two adorable kiddos. We decided to meet in the mall for a playdate and had a wonderful time.

Her little one R is a cutie with the biggest dimples in the world. He and ETot spent their time trying to escape the toddler prison known as the play area. Her eldest A is an expert gymnast and African dancer at all of 4 years old. She has an extremely effervescent personality and kept us in stitches with her antics. EBoy told me as we got into the car after our meeting “Mommy, A is a very very VERY funny little girl, she makes me laugh.” We all had fun talking and playing and I am definitely looking forward to getting together again.