People in History they never teach us about: Billy Frank Jr.

Question for all Washingtonians.  Did you learn about Billy Frank Jr. in Washington State History?  I am trying to figure out why they didn't teach us about Billy Frank Jr. during my seventh grade year at Meany Middle School in my Washington State history class.

Courtesy of Ecotrust Blog

We were taught about various tribes throughout the Northwest in a way that implied Native Americans were no longer here.  We spent very little time talking about treaties, or Native American rights.  School never addressed the fact that Washington state policy did not honor 19th century Treaties. It would have been a perfect opportunity to show how one groups actions can have a negative affect on another groups culture.  Not one mention of fish-ins, or supreme court decisions.

"While 19th-century treaties had granted tribes their “usual and accustomed” fishing grounds in return for ceding land, 20th-century state policy was not so accommodating. The state restricted fishing in response to development practices that sharply reduced fish runs, even as commercial and sport fishermen competed with tribes for the diminishing supplies".

Billy Frank Jr. passed away two days ago.  A great man, that should be honored by all.  His-story, should be taught in schools all over this state.  Mr. Franks father fished the Nisqually river before Washington became a state.  What started out with a 14 year old Mr. Frank fighting for the right to fish on the same river years later ended with Mr. Frank spearheading the fight for Tribal rights throughout Washington that went well beyond fishing rights.  Please read the link below.

  http://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/editorials/2157552-8/billy-frank-changed-fish-debate-policy-in-northwest

The mysterious disappearance of Roy Hibbert

Amber Alert Amber Alert **Center 7'2" Roy Hibbert has disappeared, if you have seen him, please notify David West and the Indiana Pacers**Amber Alert Amber Alert

Courtesy of blacksportsonline.com

Anyone who watched Roy Hibbert last year against the Miami Heat in the playoffs is most likely scratching their head trying to figure out what's wrong with the 7'2" center.  Although he was never the best offensive player, Hibbert always provided a defensive presence for the Pacers.  

During the regular season Hibbert helped the Pacers hold the Wizard's to 66 points, the lowest total for any team in the NBA this year.  In fact Hibbert played a huge role in holding the Wizards to their two lowest scoring outputs during the regular season.  Watching Hibbert purposely commit fouls in the playoffs in order to get out the game lets me know that as of right now he has all but given up on his team.  Mentally he looks defeated, looking over to the sideline after ever mistake almost as if he is asking to come out.  Its getting really hard to watch. 

 

 What I don't understand is why they don't sit him.  The Pacers were out rebounded 53-36.  At this point, the Pacers would be better off if they reduced Hibberts minutes significantly.  They should treat his poor play the same way they would treat a player getting injured.  Adjust and bring him back when he is ready.   What ever happened to doing whats best for the team?

I commend Coach Vogel for sticking with the big man.  On the other hand I question his ability to make adjustments.  This can not be good for the chemistry of the team.  When the stakes are high, emotions usually run high as well.  The lack of effort displayed by Hibbert may have initially been viewed as a slump.  Now, more than likely its viewed by teammates as a complete lack of effort.  Vogel is at risk of losing his team if he continues to try and revive his big man.  

Starting Scola or Mahimi(who played poorly game 1), and bringing Hibbert off the bench is the best bet for the Pacers.  Anything is better than zero points and zero rebounds, that's unacceptable.  Regardless of why he is playing so poorly, Hibbert is at risk of losing everything he worked for.  

Will the real Roy Hibbert please stand up.  

Movement lost

Courtesy of www.thisnext.com

One component of mainstream Hip-Hop that is dead is the Afrocentric ideals that some of the biggest stars embraced during the 80' and 90's.  Afrocentrism was a main component of the orgins of Hip-Hop.

I remember the day my uncle who was a true B-Boy, one of the dopest ever, sent me a Africa.

 The one my uncle sent me had a silver lion in the middle of it.  I remember looking at it everyday and imagining what Africa was like.  I remember being very proud when I got the opportunity to explain what the colors mean.  My Africa was red, black, and green.  Red representing the blood of the people, the green representing the land rich in resources, and the black representing the people.

I was around 8 or 9 when I received this. Although there were many events that encouraged me to learn and embrace Africa, before and after, the fact that it came from my uncle, who was the coolest, dopest person I knew made it a little more special.

Could you imagine the impact of some of our biggest African American stars wearing Africa's today?

People in history they never teach you about: King Lapu Lapu

I grew up in a black and Filipino household.  My parents married when I was really young.  As a result I grew up with a historical perspective that the majority of my peers were not exposed too.  Half of my family was Filipino, and my grandparents just so happen to be historians who stressed the importance of embracing ones culture.  Almost every gift I received from my grandpa was about history.  

Whether it was "Time lines of African American history" or a book about black men during WWII, he made sure that the encouragement was met with endless amounts of knowledge.  It started at a very young age like 8 or so.  

One of the first books that helped me develop my perspective on history was a children's story about King Lapu Lapu, who is considered the first national hero of the Philippines despite the fact that the Philippines was not a nation in 1521.  

The book took place on the Visayans Island of Mactan which is located within the Philippines.  The focus of the book was  the Battle of Mactan which saw King Lapu Lapu defeat the Great Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.   My dad talked about King Lapu Lapu with great pride.  He was extremely proud of the fact that King Lapu Lapu defeated the Portuguese explorer.  

Although I am sure that my dad knew all about Magellan, it was not until one day in elementary school when we were talking about Europe and explorers that I learned that Magellan was credited for Circumnavigating the world.  

I noticed that my teachers talked about the Spanish and Portuguese with high regard, while my dad thought they were the worst most evil people at one point in their histories.  My father felt this way  due to the fact that the Spanish were what we consider terrorist today, pillaging, and murdering Indigenous tribes throughout the world; more specifically, Spain colonized the Philippines at one point,.  The Portuguese enslaved Africans, murdered the indigenous people of the land and created a caste system still in place today down in Brazil.  

My teacher made no mention of King Lapu Lapu, nor did he mention the fact that Magellan did not actually finish the expedition he started due to the fact that he was murdered by a group of "indigenous people".  I was confused but it was that day that I learned that school only teaches history from one perspective.  So with that said, I want to introduce some people in history that school does not teach us about. 

I said not weird.

Love this commercial.  hahaha

The NBA believes in Money Over Everything

Although I do commend NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for making the decision to ban Donald Sterling, I hate to say it, the decision to ban Sterling had everything to do with money and very little to do with racism.

 

The Clippers have surpassed the Lakers as the best team in the 2nd largest market in the United States.  The very idea of boycotting the Clippers was enough for the NBA to take action.  We are commending the NBA for doing what was in the best interest of the league.   

Some people will say that I am being cynical.  At what point is it okay to think that people are motivated by self interest?  We have reached a point in our society where the rich continue to get richer while the wage gap widens.  

We are praising the NBA instead of questioning why it took them so long.  In 2009, Mr. Sterling settled a lawsuit with the Department of Justice in which he was alleged to have discriminated against Latinos, and blacks.   According to the lawsuit, Mr. Sterling said  "black tenants smell and attract vermin".  Why did it take a private conversation when Donald Sterling had a very public record of being a racist.  

Some writers are excusing the NBAs lack of action on the fact that the Clippers up til recently were traditionally a very bad team that fans paid little attention too.  Although fans may not have known, the fact that the NBA had that knowledge further leads me to believe that they took action to protect the NBA's image, and cared very little about race relations. 

Although they have dealt with a racist, they have not dealt with racism in the NBA. 

Freedom

We learn about our struggle.  We hear the stories, we know what our ancestors went through.  We were enslaved for the love of money.  We are never suppose to be motivated by the same thing.  Although we need money to live, I always thought it was more about self respect, freedom, justice, equality, and independence.  Who are we? What do we stand for?

Is this what they had in mind when they fought for us?