Watch Your B's - By Nina S. Griffin

I would like to wish everyone reading this blog a blessed, powerful, productive and prosperous 2008. On January 1, 2008 I wanted to start my year off proactively with some "enlightenment and empowerment" by reading an article entitled "Asians, Hispanics believe in the American dream more than blacks" (see below and check out the words I've made bold red especially):

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

By Perla Trevizo

Staff Writer

Most Asians and Hispanics believe the American dream can be achieved through hard work, while blacks remain skeptical of equal opportunities to succeed, according to a recent poll.Seventy-four percent of Hispanics and 64 percent of Asians believe that "if you work hard, you will succeed in the United States," while more than 60 percent of blacks said they "do not believe the American dream works for them," a poll by New America Media, a nationwide association of ethnic media organizations, reported.Tom Pinson, secretary of the Concerned Citizens of Dalton, a Georgia organization that addresses the needs of the black community, said the American dream can be attained by blacks just as easily as it can by any other ethnic group."Some (black) people blame the system, when it could also be how we prepare ourselves to reach those goals," Mr. Pinson said.Pollster Sergio Bendixen, who conducted the nationwide telephone survey of more than 1,100 blacks, Asians and Hispanics, said in a news release that the findings "show that the immigrant brings optimism to the mix, while blacks bring hard-won realism."The poll also found serious tensions exist among the three largest minority groups in the United States -- blacks, Hispanics and Asian-Americans -- including mistrust and significant stereotyping."The friction between ethnic and racial groups is clearly rooted in the mistrust they harbor toward each other as well as the sentiment that other groups are mistreating them," the news release stated.Sandy Close, executive editor and director of New America Media, said in the poll reveals "some unflattering realities that exist in America today."Among other findings, the poll also reported blacks overwhelmingly believe the criminal justice system favors the rich and powerful, while most Hispanics and even a larger majority of Asians disagree.Also, 44 percent of Hispanics and 47 percent of Asians are "generally afraid of African-Americans because they are responsible for most of the crime."Niansen Liu, president of the Chattanooga Chinese Association, said although that's not what he believes, "most Chinese probably feel that way."Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman Jerri Weary said the department doesn't keep records of crime statistics by race.Ed Canler, chairman of La Paz de Dios, a local Hispanic outreach group, said most Hispanic immigrants in Chattanooga come from Guatemala and Mexico, and the perception they have of blacks doesn't come from interaction with them but from what they see on television."There are basically no blacks in Mexico or Guatemala, so they don't have any experience with black people," he said. "I think whatever inferences they draw are from television."According to those interviewed, 66 percent of blacks said the coverage of problems related to racial tensions by mainstream media was irresponsible, followed by 43 percent of Latinos and 30 percent of Asians.Despite the tensions, a majority of each ethnic group polled also said they should put aside their differences and work together to better their communities. Strong majorities of each group believe racial tensions will ease over the next 10 years, according to the poll.Mr. Pinson said things slowly are changing among the groups."Things are better now than before, and as more young kids become friends with children from other ethnic groups and we continue to work together, we'll help clear those stereotypes and misperceptions," he said.Mr. Canler said it's important for members of different ethnic groups to get along and reach out to each other."These prejudices and biases held by both groups (Hispanics and blacks) can do a lot of harm to (Chattanooga) as a whole," he said. "I think it will take leaders on both sides to approach each other, discuss these problems and reach out for future understanding."E-mail Perla Trevizo at ptrevizo@timesfreepress.com

After reading this piece I felt divinely inspired and ancestorially compelled to email Ms. Perla Trevizo and expound as follows:

Hello Perla: Great Article. Thank you for such an insightful and timely piece...I just have a few questions about said article....1. Why did you capitalize the (A) in American and Asian(s), (C) in Chinese, (H) in Hispanic(s), (L) in Latino(s) every time in said article below and not the (B) in Blacks ever throughout the entire article? WOW...You passed on 15 opportunities to capitalize and give a community of people their just do, honor and respect first as people and second as Americans. 2. What were you thinking dear woman? 3. Additionally, how could your editor and/or publisher not see this blatant disparity? I did personally highlight the areas of my concern in your recent article below to support my position.However, in all fairness I did notice that the one time you used "African-American" you capitalized the A's. Every time you used "American" it was capitalized as well. I look forward to hearing from you and/or someone from your publication soon. Please be more thoughtful and responsible in presenting your gift to the world. Remember sometimes once is way too much. Thanking you in advance for taking the time to read my email and address my concern. Sincerely Concerned, Nina S. Griffin, Las Vegas, NV

P.S. Your choice of punctuation and/or should I say "lack of it" speaks volumes about the very subject matter you have reported on.

This the response I received from Perla's Editor as follows:

Dear Ms. Griffin,

I am Perla Trevizo's editor.The Chattanooga Times Free Press, like most daily newspapers, follows the guidelines of the Associated Press Stylebook. The stylebook lists "black" (with a lowercase "b") as the preferred term for African Americans and suggests using "African-Americans" only in direct quotations or in the names of organizations. Perla used "African-Americans" at one place in the story because it was in a direct quote.The Stylebook also lists Asian and Hispanic (with uppercase an "A" and "H") as the proper style when referring to members of those ethnic groups.I cannot speak for the AP, but I suspect their choice to capitalize those words is based on the fact that they come from proper names — the continent of Asia and the island of Hispania — which always take uppercase letters per grammar rules.The Times Free Press' use of those terms is based on the AP Stylebook and is not intended to slight any race or ethnic group.Thanks for your input.Sincerely,Alison GerberMetro EditorChattanooga Times Free Pressagerber@timesfreepress.com

I went to JESUS first and HE directed me to the man himself..."Dr. Boyce Watkins" @ http://www.yourblackworld.com/. So I sent another email addressed to Dr. Watkins as follows:

Dear Dr. Watkins:
I trust that you and yours are blessed beyond measure in 2008. I'm the creator and host of an internet streamed and web-casted in real time radio ministry called "SAVE THE LOST AT ALL COST" - heard LIVE every Sunday @ 3:02 p.m. (PST) on WIN CITY not sin city aka Las Vegas' very own KKVV 1060 AM - http://www.kkvv.com/ - Christian Talk Radio. I need your help, Godly wisdom and expertise.
Below you will find an email that I had addressed to Perla Trevizo which is pretty self-explanatory and the recent response I received back from her editor Alison Gerber. Frankly, I'm appalled at the response I got. Please tell me this isn't true. Is referring to Black people always indicated by a lower case (b) something that is promoted and funded by OUR tax dollars in schools, institutions of higher learning and/or just plain old "business as usual" in American journalism?
Before I respond back to Ms. Gerber I wanted to hear from a trusted and respected Black journalist like yourself. If this is true what can we do as a people to get (B)lack capitalized and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the Associated Press Stylebook and beyond. Can you please write about this and/or do a broadcast about same too?
Thanking you in advance for ALL you do let the world know WE ARE BLACK with a CAPITAL "B" no matter what.
As Ever Your Sister and Sistah In Christ,
Simply "Nina" @ http://www.sheepfinders.com/

Dr. (B)oyce immediately informed me via email he was unaware of any such practice and encouraged me to bring my issue with upper and lows B's to the people. Please investigate the (B) practices of Associated Press Stylebook, share your findings and let us all know what you discovered when checking the B's in print. Please email Perla and tell her how you feel about her very questionable b's if the spirit hits you like it hit me.

Remember to "SAVE THE LOST AT ALL COST"...

GIGATT (God Is GOOD All The Time),

Nina S. Griffin

http://www.sheepfinders.com/