Check Out Jumoke Fashola’s Radio Program On BBC Radio London 94.9 FM
Last year I started listening to BBC Radio London 94.9 FM because I simply was thirsty. I started listening to a black British woman of African heritage Jumoke Fashola and she is amazing. Jumoke’s radio program is on daily on BBC Radio London in the morning. I was thirsty to learn about the African Diaspora.
The contributions of black Canadians are only briefly mentioned during black history month. The only other times black Canadians are discussed in the Canadian media is when something negative occurs. I know there is more to the black experience then negativity and Jumoke Fashola’s show demonstrates the richness of the black race.
Canadian radio and television is basically a white out. In Canada the only news program that targets the eighteen to thirty four demographic is “The Hour” hosted by Greek Canadian George Stroumboulopoulos. Although Stroumboulopoulos is thirty five years old, is that still young? Stroumboulopoulos is considered “ethnic” by Canadian standards because he’s not Anglo Saxon but he’s still a white heterosexual male. Stroumboulopoulos he is still the mythical norm. CBC television, other Canadian networks such as Global, CTV, City TV, and Much Music are similar they are all geared towards white heterosexual audiences.
Instead of just complaining I started researching because I don’t got time to be ignored. The Canadian media isn’t going to change and since the internet is a revolutionary tool I can find radio programs that focus on issues I care about. I love listening to black people discuss the richness of black culture and the issues important to the black race. Thank goodness for the internet! I started listening to the United States National Public Radio also known as NPR. NPR has an excellent program by African American Michel Martin called”Tell Me More”. Michel’s show focuses on the black race about our achievements and black issues.
Jumoke Fashola’s show is similar to Michel Martin’s radio show except she is based in London England. Jumoke talks about the topics that relate to the black race her program is so exciting, interesting, and fascinating. I love listening to black British people talk about the issues affecting their lives. I actually have more in common with the black British them then African Americans. Most of the black British people are either African or Caribbean immigrants.
Recently in London there has been a wave of violence and young black youth are dying. It is so sad but Jumoke’s show peels beneath the surface. Jumoke’s also isn’t afraid to discuss serious issues such as homophobia, sexism, employment discrimination on her show. Jumoke also discusses other lighter topics like improving your life, being a good person, volunteering in the community. Check out Jumoke’ Fashola’s program on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM on the internet.
Monica Seles Is A Great Champion And Genuine Person. Steffi Graf Is A Monster And A Despicable Woman!
I remember the first time I ever watched a tennis match on television, it was June 1990, during Wimbledon. I saw Zina Garrison defeat Monica Seles in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 3-6 6-3 9-7. Zina went on to beat Steffi Graf in the semifinals, 6-3 3-6 6-4 but lost to Martina Navratilova in the finals that year. I was excited about seeing Zina Garrison, a black woman compete at the elite level. I was also curious about Monica Seles. I wondered to myself “why is that girl screaming at the top of her lungs?” I was just a kid back then, I had no appreciation of Monica Seles incredible talent.
Monica Seles invented the power game in women’s tennis, she was an aggressive baseliner. Monica created the power game,she was first woman to ever hit the ball hard off both the forehand and backhand. Monica also hit the ball on the rise robbing her opponents of time when they served the ball to set up and hit their shots. Seles was also left handed, so it was hard for opponents to know where she was going to hit the ball. Seles created incredible angles on the court.
In the early 1990s, the North American media wasn’t kind to Monica Seles. Monica was depicted as a care free kind of a girl, she was the bad Eastern European girl. Although Monica Seles was a great champion, she was an underdog, with the public and media. The Occidental world always favored the petulant, American brat Jennifer Capriati, and the callous German Steffi Graf.
I will never forget watching the 1991 US Open women’s semifinal match between Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati. I was only thirteen years old and I was so inspired by Monica Seles to pick up a tennis racket. I loved Monica’s attitude, she didn’t care that the fans booed her, she was only focused on winning.
Seles and Capriati were able to hit the ball so hard with incredible accuracy and consistency. Women’s tennis was no longer a game of moon balls, and boring baseline games. Monica Seles demonstrated a woman tennis player can be very aggressive and fearless.
The majority of the US Open crowd was on Jennifer Capriati’s side but she choked the match. Capriati she served for the match twice, at 5-4 and again at 6-5 in the third set. Jennifer captitulated under the pressure. Monica Seles incredible mental toughness was evident, she was only seventeen at the time, and she prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-6. Capriati’s confidence was shattered after the huge US Open loss.
In Jennifer Capriati’s career, she went on to lose two more matches at the US OPEN. Capriati lost to Justine Henin in 2003, and Elena Dementieva in 2004 at the US Open. Capriati never reached the US Open finals in her career. Monica Seles career soared after the 1991 US Open she demonstrated she was the real number one on the WTA Tour. Many people thought Monica Seles could dominate women’s tennis for a long time.
Monica went on to win the US Open for the first time in 1991 destroying Martina Navratilova 7-6 6-1 in the finals. Monica Seles dominated Steffi Graf 3-1 in grand slam finals prior to the stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. The best match between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf was the classic 1992 French Open final Monica won 6-2 3-6 10-8 in two hours and forty five minutes.
A new rivalry emerged between Seles and Graf, they were superior to all the other women on the WTA Tour. Monica lost the 1992 Wimbledon to Graf due to the ludicrous grunting controversy. However, Monica bounced back blasting Arantxa Sanchez Vicario off the court 6-3 6-3 in the 1992 US Open final.
Monica Seles brought a Hollywood glamour to the women’s game, she was cognizant of the importance of fashion, she often was seen wearing a cocktail dress after winning grand slam titles.
She was the best teen prodigy to ever to play women’s tennis. Seles won the French Open three years in a row from 1990 to 1992. Seles is still the youngest French Open champion ever when she won in 1990 at sixteen years and six months. Monica Seles won nine grand slams in her career.
Monica Seles was superior to Steffi Graf prior to the 1993 stabbing incident in Hamburg Germany. Since Steffi Graf is German, I feel Steffi had a responsibility to speak out about this horrendous act of violence against Monica Seles. Steffi never made any public statements, she just acted petulant and haughty.
How can Germany justify Gunther Parche attempting to murder Monica Seles and not spend a day in prison? Why didn’t the WTA ban all WTA tennis events in Germany immediately and support Monica Seles? The WTA should of sent a clear message to the German Tennis Federation and Germany that violence in sports is unacceptable. How can a man attempt to kill a woman on live television and just walk away? If Monica Seles wasn’t Serbian would the sentence for Parche been harsher?
My perspective is, since Monica Seles is Serbian and not German the racist German judicial system ignored the tragedy. The world knows Germany is a racist xenophobic nation where African immigrants are thrown off bridges, set on fire, murdered, and attacked. Germany is also well known for murdering Turkish people. There have been numerous news stories about Turkish families homes being torched by Neo Nazis and the racist duplicitous German government does nothing. The silence of German society to these abhorrent acts of violence means they condone and accept this pernicious racist behavior. I wonder why people of colour and ethnic minorities bother living in such a disgusting racist nation anyway?
At the trial, Parche received a slap on the wrist by the racist German judicial system a two year suspended sentence. Germany makes me so sick. The suspended sentence makes me so ill I want to vomit. The German court system basically allowed an attempted murderer to walk free. Steffi Graf was able to return to a second period of dominance on the WTA Tour.Gunther Parche should be behind bars today and he would be if the stabbing had taken place in North America. Steffi Graf should be ashamed of herself she was so callous and cruel to Monica Seles after the stabbing.
Yes, Steffi visited Monica in the hospital but she ignored Monica and simply acted as though the incident had never taken place. Why didn’t Steffi try to help Monica more? It seems to me Steffi was apathetic to Monica Seles concerns all she cared about was winning more grand slam titles.
There are still rumors floating around that Steffi Graf had something to do with the stabbing. Perhaps the rumors are lies but the truth is Steffi Graf is the only person that benefited from the tragedy. Once Monica was out of the way Steffi won virtually everything on the WTA tour reducing women’s tennis to a complete bore and a joke. Women’s tennis was no longer enjoyable until the Williams Sisters and Martina Hingis emerged in the late 1990s and Steffi Graf retired from the game. Graf is such an unlikeable person she was so rude, obnoxious, and indifferent to the other players and the media.
Monica Seles showed up at the US OPEN in 1994, and she slammed Steffi Graf calling her out for not even getting her a “get well card”. Monica also resented the fact the other top women didn’t want her back at the number one position when she returned to the WTA Tour. Gabriela Sabatini was the only top player that supported Monica Seles. Gabriela said Monica should return to the number one position. Monica says that Gabriela Sabatini is a decent human being for speaking up for her when nobody else on the WTA Tour would.
It is well known in the tennis world Monica Seles does not like Steffi Graf. The resentment Monica has for Steffi is not jealousy. I honestly believe it is because Steffi Graf’s actions speak louder then words. Steffi demonstrates with her attitude towards Monica Seles that she is a disgraceful, despicable, and disgusting human being. Steffi always had an aloof personality, so self absorbed, and superficial. Monica Seles was different, she’s always humble, genuine, real, and a kind person.
Although Monica is ethnic Hungarian, she was born in Novi Sad in Serbia, she is also Serbian. The young Serbian tennis stars Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic all say they looked up to Monica Seles when they were children she inspired them to play tennis. The Williams Sisters always say that Monica Seles was their favorite player they love Monica too.
Unfortunately, Gunther Parche got his wish he stabbed Seles in the back and allowed Steffi Graf to become number one again. In Monica Seles absence, Steffi Graf was ruthless she made women’s tennis boring dominating the game for three years from 1993 to 1996. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario managed to have one good year in 1994 winning two slams but she simply wasn’t powerful enough to challenge Graf consistently. It was boring watching Steffi defeat Arantxa in five grand slam finals in a row. Women’s tennis desperately needed Monica back.
When Monica returned to the WTA in 1995, she wasn’t the same the focus and intensity was gone also Monica had gained weight. Since Monica plays with two hands on both sides she needed to be quick to track down the tennis balls. Suddenly, Monica started to lose to inferior players. Monica only won one grand slam event after her return to women’s tennis she stormed to the 1996 Australian Open women’s title. Monica was still talented enough to be a consistent top ten player but she wasn’t one of the “best” players anymore.
In 1998, Monica’s father died from cancer somehow during this period of grief Monica managed to reach her last grand slam final losing to Aranxta Sanchez Vicario in a tough three set match. Monica lost to Arantxa because she was not physically fit the determination was gone. After the loss to Arantxa, Monica did managed to remain in the top ten of the WTA Tour but the spark was gone. Monica’s last WTA match was the 2003 French Open she lost to Nadia Petrova in the first round.
It is now official that Monica retired she is truly a legend of the game. In my opinion Seles at her peak was superior to Steffi Graf she was dominating Steffi like nobody else has ever done before. Monica boycotted Germany and never competed in Germany after the stabbing.
Germany may have Steffi Graf but the lax and pathetic German judicial system demonstrates that the intense racism, xenophobia, and prejudice still haunts the nation. Germany has no excuse for allowing an attempted murderer Gunther Parche to not serve time in prison. Again, the how can a man caught on video tape attempting to murder a woman be allowed to walk free? Why didn’t Steffi Graf speak up and take action? Why did Graf remain silent? Does Steffi Graf have a heart? Is Steffi Graf human? Steffi Graf demonstrated she is a bottom feeder and a pathetic coward that has zero credibility and humanity. Steffi Graf didn’t mind profiting off of the tragedy in her lust for tennis glory and fame . Steffi Graf didn’t mind sweeping through all the grand slams but she never would of won so many if Monica Seles was around in her prime.
The message the German government is sending is Germany accepts violence against women, attempted murder, racism, and xenophobia because Steffi Graf a German player benefited from tragedy. Steffi Graf is not the greatest player of all time that label belongs to Martina Navratilova. Graf would never win twenty two grand slam singles titles if Monica Seles had not been stabbed. I am glad Monica Seles was honest in a NY Times interview she said “Steffi and I have no relationship”. Steffi Graf is a monster she is a disgusting human being. I cannot blame Monica she is very professional in interviews but even she cannot understand how Graf can be so evil, truculent, cruel, and shallow.
Hill Harper Is The Only Reason To Watch CSI New York!
I am so glad the three month writer’s strike is finally over now! I can now resume watching new episodes of CSI New York. The only reason I watch CSI New York is to see the talented and sexy actor Hill Harper! Hill Harper is so handsome, this guy is a hunk! Hill is also a role model he takes this very seriously.
Hill Harper is very educated he has a law degree from Harvard law school and a Masters degree in Public Administration. Hill is also the author of the book “Letters To A Young Brother”. I will admit, I have not read Hill’s book but I plan to purchase a copy and read the book ASAP. Too bad Hill Harper is straight how unfortunate for me LOL!
Why Is The Sports Culture So Heterosexist And Macho?
LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has decided against having surgery on his finger despite having ligament damage. I wonder is this wise on Kobe’s part? I think Kobe should have surgery and have the proper amount of time for convalescence. Since the sports media in North America is dominated by heterosexual men there is a constant battle for male athletes must prove their masculinity. It is a chilling reminder to men that don’t conform to the heterosexist matrix of masculinity that other men are our oppressors.
I can’t image being an athlete because the intense pressure men place on other men is simply incredible. Sports fans on various internet blogs have praised Kobe for “fighting” through the pain and supporting his teammates.
Why is masculinity tied towards concealing physical, psychological, and emotional pain? Why are men only allowed to express anger or physical strength in popular culture? Is it masculine to deny physical pain?
I notice in North America there is so much pressure on men to constantly present this image that we are “strong” all the time. I never played that heterosexist game of trying to be macho. I guess because I am a sensitive person I never hide my feelings.I wonder if the right message is being sent to “fight” through intense pain just maintain the masculine image of being a “strong” man?
Is The Australian Government Apology To The Aborigines Sincere?
The Australian government has finally apologized to the indigenous people of Australia the Aborigines. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology has symbolic, political, and perhaps even has economic implications. The Australian government should of apologized to the Aborigines decades ago. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did the right thing by acknowledging the destructive and racist history of previous Australian government policies.
The former Prime Minister of Australia the racist bigot John Howard refused to apologize to the Aborigines. Howard has made statements of “regret” he never acknowledged the extent of the pain and the extensive deliberate racist policies that destroyed Aboriginal society.
Australia is very similar to Canada in relation to institutionalized racism against indigenous people. Canada and Australia both had state sponsored bigotry schemes such as the residential school system that was created to “civilize” First Nations and the Aborigines.
Aboriginal leaders now say the next step in the healing process is for the Australian government to pay reparations for the stolen generations. I agree I believe if the Australian government is “genuine” about the apology they need to take action now.
From the year 1910 to the 1970s between 50,000 to 100,000 Aboriginal children were taken away from their parents and placed with white Australian families. The children were often of mixed heritage. The policy was state sponsored white supremacy. The “legislation” was passed to “civilize” Aboriginals, control the Aboriginal population, and to dehumanize and destroy the Aboriginal culture.
Currently, only 451,000 Aborigines living in Australia now out of a total population of 21 million people. The genocide against the Aborigines echoes the genocide against the First Nations people in Canada.
There is already a precedent in Australia in relation to reparations. The island state of Tasmania is the only Australian state that has compensated the “stolen generations”. It is imperative that the Australian government not buckle to public pressure from white Australia and pay the compensation to the stolen generations ASAP.
The Australian media and society have created a pathology around the Aboriginal people they are treated like second class citizens. The Aborigines have the highest unemployment, illiteracy, incarceration rates, and lower life expectancy then white Australians.
People need to remember the Aborigines are the real true Australians they didn’t immigrate to Australia the Australian continent is their homeland. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd needs to continue in this process of reconciliation. An apology is just words Mr. Rudd needs to take serious action and improve the lives of the Aborigines in Australia immediately.
Girlfriends Canceled by The CW Network Is Anyone Actually Surprised?
Well, the CW Network didn’t wait long immediately after the writer’s strike ended the black female sitcom “Girlfriends” has been canceled. The truth is ever since Jill Marie Jones left the show the spark from Girlfriends was gone. Jill Marie Jones was the spark the fire that made Girlfriends special. Now for Girlfriends fans don’t forget the show is available on DVD now.
It is not hard to decipher why Girlfriends never received the attention it deserved. Girlfriends was a great show with an outstanding talented cast. Girlfriends was the best black adult comedy since “A Different World” and “In Living Single”. Girlfriends demonstrated that young black women can be hard working, have good jobs, love lives, and still struggle like everyone else.
The mainstream media hyped Sex And The City to the maximum because the cast was white. Sex And The City is pure fantasy to be rich, wear great clothes, and live in posh apartments. Sex And The City always avoided the issue of race and reality. Girlfriends was a great television the show was more truthful and realistic. Girlfriends dealt with serious topics such as body image, employment discrimination, sexism, racism, homophobia, and safer sex, in an intelligent and witty way.
I wonder why the CW Network waited until after the writer’s strike to cancel the program? I think this is very disrespectful to the fans and the actors but that’s showbiz. Why wait until now? I believe Girlfriends deserves a proper series finale. Now that Girlfriends is off the air black television is basically non existent. Notice NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, haven’t bothered to develop a black comedy or drama for years. I believe this should be a wake up call for black viewers and for people that are interested in entertainment.
here is the contact info for the CW Network Executives
CW Network Executives Info:
President Of Entertainment (CW)
Dawn Ostroff
818-977-2525
Director Of Current Programming (CW)
Traci Blackwell
818-977-2537
President of CBS Paramount Network TV
Nancy Tellem
323-575-2380
nancy.tllem@tvc.cbs.com
It Is Time For The Old Civil Rights Guard To Fall Back!
First, let me say that I respect my elders. I respect the hard work Andrew Young, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson have done for the black race. Although sometimes I think Young, Jackson, and Sharpton, are a bit inimical and too confrontational. I still believe the passion and the dedication these men have for black people is commendable.
However, I also believe everyone has their time and the time of the old civil rights guard has passed. I don’t think Young, Jackson, or Sharpton can speak to the concerns of the younger black generation. I cringe when I watch the television and the old civil rights guard are patronizing and lecturing younger blacks. I think the issues we encounter are a bit different from previous generations. It is time for Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton to fall back.
It is time for the younger black generation to speak up, to vote, to get organized and political. I am not overlooking the contributions Sharpton, Jackson, and Young have made. I just believe it is time for younger blacks to be cognizant of the importance of being involved in the political process.
Michelle Obama Is The Reason Barack Is Successful
Let’s be real here the media love to say just because Senator Barack Obama is a black man that blacks support him. It is so typical of the media to ignore the most important person in Barack Obama’s life and that’s his wife Michelle. Michelle Obama is the reason Barack is having success right now. I seriously doubt he would be doing so well right now without his wife’s support.
It is so common in the mainstream culture to see so many high profile black heterosexual men with spouses that are not black. Now of course love is a personal choice and decision. I won’t mention names but we know who these black men are. It is indeed wonderful to see in the popular culture black love both Barack and Michelle are educated, intelligent, young, black people.
Here you have a black man Barack Obama trying to become the first black president in United States history and he is married to a black woman. Yes, I think this important and it is nice to see black love in the mainstream culture.
White feminists such as Gloria Steinem tried to play the divide and conquer strategy of placing race against gender. Steinem and some other white feminists want black women to vote for their “white sister” Senator Hillary Clinton. Notice Steinem expects black women to just support Hillary Clinton due to gender and race. When have white feminists ever supported black women? The answer is never.
There are also other black females that are inspired by Michelle Obama they see her support, hard work, her dedication, and love for her husband Barack. Michelle Obama makes Barack acceptable to black women. Michelle Obama is also a very hard working professional black woman she is also outspoken that’s just fabulous. So while the mainstream ignore Michelle Obama she needs to be given her due.
Senator Obama Wins The State of Maine!
Well, Senator Barack Obama is having an incredible weekend! Senator Obama has won the state of Maine. Senator Obama is winning across the United States he’s winning in the south, the west, the north and the east. Obama is also gathering support across racial demographics as well. I must point out the vast majority of the population of Maine are white and they voted for Senator Obama.
Despite the bad weather, the voters in Maine turned out in record numbers. The tight race in delegates between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama continues. According to the Associated Press Senator Clinton has a small lead of 1, 135 delegates to Senator Obama’s 1, 106. I think this is exactly what the Obama campaign wanted they needed these victories and I hope the success continues.
Just learned that Senator Clinton has fired her campaign manager the Clintons are in a desperate mode right now.
Gayblackcanada 
