Ferguson’s glaring lack of diversity in the city’s police force is a problem is only a symptom of a larger one: Though two in three Ferguson residents are black, the city government is almost entirely white. Click on the link below to read more.
Lee Pinkerton was born in London at the end of the 1960s, the child of Jamaican and Guyanese immigrants. After leaving home at the end of the 80s to study Sociology and Psychology at University, he became seduced by the bright lights and glamour of the music industry and spent the next decade as a music journalist, first as a freelancer for magazines such as Mix Mag, Echoes, and Hip-Hop Connection and then as the Arts Editor for The Voice –‘Britain’s Best Black newspaper’.
It was whilst in this capacity that he interviewed such Hollywood stars as Samuel Jackson, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, and Morgan Freeman. At this time he also appeared on music industry panel debates, and was a regular on-air contributor to radio stations Choice FM and BBC Radio London.
But as the 90s gave way to the Noughties, and Lee entered his 30’s the glamour of the film and music industries lost some of their sheen and he yearned to do something more substantial. Not only that, but now married with children he became concerned for the welfare of his two sons up growing up in London’s poorest borough. So he left the cut and thrust of the media and the city of London taking his family to Derby in the East Midlands where they made their new home.
In 2006, he returned to University, again studying Psychology but this time at Master’s degree level and for a time was working in the area of mental health. But his passion for writing would not leave him and he has expanded the topic of his Master’s degree research project into his latest book. Drawing on his own experiences and observations working in Prisons and in Psychiatric hospitals after leaving the media, as well as extensive academic research The Problem With Black Men examines the causes of the social problems facing Black men in Britain and America today.
Lee talked about:
– Share a little about his growing including life growing up without a father but being raised by his extended family
– The values his grandfather, grandmother and his mother instilled in him
– His first music review that he wrote (Ice Cube’s “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”)
– Stories about some of the people that he has interviewed (Ice Cube, Chuck D, Spike Lee, Samuel Jackson, Denzil Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman)
– The story behind Many Faces of Michael Jackson and his thoughts on Michael Jackson’s musical legacy
– The state of R&B music today
– If video has been good or bad for black music
– The story behind The Problem With Black Men
– The five challenges that blacks are facing
– What black men are telling him
– Some of his solutions for the challenges that blacks are facing
– His message conscious blacks and black men around the world
“The best R&B music today is being made by white artists.” @_Runawayslave “Unemplyment and fatherlessness are the two major challenges that black men face.” “it is not where you are physically. It is where you are mentally.” “Black men be a father to your children.”
Marie Roker-Jones and Dr. Vibe speak with Craig McClay of America’s Promise Alliance about his report challenging the stereotypes around high school dropouts and how we as a community can re-engage young men in high and life.
Craig McClay currently serves as Adviser for Youth Engagement with America’s Promise Alliance. Since he moved from Baton Rouge, LA to Boston, MA almost 25 years ago, Mr. McClay has leveraged the arts, science and technology to best serve communities and foster positive youth development. In over two decades he has peer mentored, hired, supervised, inspired, counseled and served hundreds of young people in and around Greater Boston. He is well versed in group facilitation incorporating interactive methodologies. He continuously builds on his unique skills set to promote individual growth and catalyze positive social change.
You can find out more information about America’s Promise Alliance via:
#ManYouWant to Be Google Hangout – Re-Engaging Men of Color in High School and Life – August 20, 2014 at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. PacificCraig McClay
Join us for our #ManYouWantToBe conversation tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific. Marie Roker-Jones and Dr. Vibe will be chatting with Craig McClay of America’s Promise Alliance about his report challenging the stereotypes around high school dropouts and how we as a community can re-engage young men in high and life. Craig McClay currently serves as Adviser for Youth Engagement with America’s Promise Alliance. Since he moved from Baton Rouge, LA to Boston, MA almost 25 years ago, Mr. McClay has leveraged the arts, science and technology to best serve communities and foster positive youth development. In over two decades he has peer mentored, hired, supervised, inspired, counseled and served hundreds of young people in and around Greater Boston. He is well versed in group facilitation incorporating interactive methodologies. He continuously builds on his unique skills set to promote individual growth and catalyze positive social change.
All you need to watch the show live is to go to http://thedrvibeshow.com/ tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific.
If you’d like to follow the conversation on Twitter, please join us using the hashtag #ManYouWantToBe
You can find out more information about America’s Promise Alliance via:
Living Local, Producing Global.The Dr. Vibe Show – Info For Black Men And Those Who Love ThemTechbook OnlineChristopher “Flood the Drummer®” NorrisArthur L. Griffin Jr.Rashaun “DJ Reezey” Williams
Techbook Online (TBO) and The Dr. Vibe Show are bolstering their partnership to produce a quarterly, one-hour roundtable discussion featuring black male thought-leaders from around the world and the issues that bring them together.
TBO executives Christopher Norris, Arthur L. Griffin Jr. and Rashaun “DJ Reezey” Williams will appear live tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific to talk about “Living Local, Producing Global” and they will announce the “Black & Bold Voices: Black Men Share It, You Hear It™” collaboration with The Dr. Vibe Show.
All you need to listen to the conversation live is:
Desktop/Laptop: All you need to do is go to http://thedrvibeshow.com/ tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific.
Tablet/Smartphone: Tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific, please go to the “Mixlr” player at the bottom of http://thedrvibeshow.com/ and click on “Click To Play”.
During our live conversation, you have the opportunity to call in and share with us and ask questions via Skype. If you would like to do this, please call us at: doctorvibe42. If you get through, please be patient and we will get to your call as soon as possible.
You can also provide your comments and questions during the event via Twitter (@drvibeshow#DrVibe) and at our Facebook Fan Page at “The Dr. Vibe Show” Facebook Fan Page.
