A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE

I was forwarded a link to the BNP's website where a particular link stuck out to me. It was in their video section, and clicking on it brought the tagline "A controversial documentary... that discusses the taboo issue of race."
Racism should never be a taboo issue - its something that needs to be dealt with head on - but due to the many spiky edges it has, the blanket of hush-hush has covered it and we just go with what we see or hear in the media.A filmaker, George Bodeker has created this interesting documentary which takes what President Obama has said recently: Its time for a conversation about an issue we cannot afford to ignore.

"This is from Bodeker's website:

Is racism dead in America?
Did the election of Barack Obama mean the end of racism?
Do you know racism when you see it?
Is racism today the same as it was 20 years ago? 30? 40?
This film will change what you think you know about racism!

In his groundbreaking new documentary; A Conversation About Race, filmmaker Craig Bodeker redefines the conventional wisdom on Race and Racism. A diverse group of Colorado residents are challenged for their thoughts on:

Why do white students score better than black students on standardized tests?
Why is the NBA nearly 90% black?
Have you ever been "racist? Are whites better at anything than blacks?
Do blacks commit more crimes than whites?
Can you name a public figure who is "racist"?
Can you give an example of the racism you see in your daily life?
How do you feel about immigration from Mexico?

A Conversation About Race is just the starting point. Watch the film, and then have your own conversation about race. You'll be surprised at what you discover!"

I think you should have a conversation on racism.Click here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1084394769627714346&ei=TwctSrPXN8v3-AaQl8SuCQ&q=conversation+about+race

This is intended to make you think and to create discussion: not to incite racial hatred. An insight into how the world is today.

What do you think of it all?
Fernand

Renaming of the "Black Students Room"

**As copied from Facebook ACAS Group page - http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=8596&uid=2258735219#/topic.php?uid=2258735219&topic=8596 **

It has been it the air for a while that USSU Council was looking to rename the room for a while and yesterday we just got wind through USSU activities department, that they have FINALLY decided on a name for the Black Students room ....

Wait For It....
.................................

>>There Renaming it ROOM FOR STUDENTS OF COLOUR...

The President of the Union Coucil felt that "many students of colour may not identify themselves as 'black' in the political sense of the term, and therefore listed the room as unaccessable for them". The Welfare officer also added that "the room was not called the 'black students room in the first place, it was called the 'black student & ethinic minority students' room'".
Other council members suggested people who USE this room or those whom the room is aimed at should be consulted about the renaming of the room, however, the President of the Union Council rejected this idea!What I don't understand is that they passed (5 votes to 4) this motion on the basis "That many students do not consider themselves as 'Black' or even 'politically black' but the room is ACUTALLY CALLED "BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS ROOM"...If your 'Coloured', in any sense your still an ETHNIC MINORTY!(Within Uni. Sussex, and this Country) So what have they ACTUALLY RESOLVED??!!! All They've done in my eyes is use a more undermining/offensive term!!

>>What are your views on this name (I personally prefer Black Students room over this name) But tell me, if you don't like would you be willing to sign a petition to seek a renaming of the room + what would YOU call it!

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS!

What's Next?

I'm sure everyones waiting to see "What's Next For ACAS?"

Well we've been busying organising our Next BIG EVENT!! and ALL WILL BE REVEALED SOOOOON!! All i'm gonna say is MAKRE SURE YOUR BELLY IS PREPARED :P ...Nah, we aint asking you to come out half naked, jus make sure ur got enough room to EXPAND! :D

Also, Hol tite for the Video/Photo's from "Spoken Word" 21/05/09, Vieo/ Photo's from Love Music Hate Racism and Culture Fest 08/09 DVD (price TBC)...all will be avaliable SOON!

N.B. There will be no usual thursday meeting's until we return in the Autumn Term :(

Basket Ball Match - 12/06/09

**Sussex ACAS Vs. Brighton ACS 1st annual Basketball Match to be held on the Friday 12th June - 6:30pm to 9:30pm @ University of Sussex Sport Centre (Court 2) **

Given, the last ASS WHOPPIN' we gave Brighton Uni. in what was suspose to be the first annual bball game but has now conviently been referred to as a 'friendly'...MAKE SURE YOUR THERE TO SUPPORT SUSSEX at this one (hopefully it will be a repeat performance) NOT one to be MISSED!! There is also a CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY to be won, CASH PRIZE donated to winning society + Prize for MVP!

This event is sponsored by 3rd Base who will be providing court side music -- playing ya Uk Funky, RnB, Bashment n Afro-beats Etc and they will also be providing free refreshments!! (coz we know ppl will get thirsty!)

All in all, Sussex make sure ur REP (lets make it 2-0 :P)! (our team colour is PURPLE soo bring out tha purple + Brighton uni heads rep BLACK)

** SUUSSSS-WHATTTT???? SUSS-SSEEXXXX =) **

ACAS Goes To...."Party Hard:...

....Official Donae'o Album Launch Party

Live on SUMMER SPLASH THURSDAYS! @ the New Refurbished CUCKOO CLUB!! (Pool Valley if ya didn't Kno!) 10pm - 4am

All taking place on tha 11th of June --- Maybe your exams have finished
(no excuse then :P) or exams are just startin (your not revisin @ 10pm so no excuse :P), SOO come an PARTY HARD!! Live Performances from: Donae'o, Princess Nyah, Zest, COLDSTEPS PLUS many more!

>>Tickets are ONLY £8 (LIMITED!! and are selling fast) sooo to get you ticket (unless you wanna pay on tha door) Call 07595956348 OR 07506707658 ....

**GO HARD OR GO YARD!!**

THANK YOU!!

HEY,

Jus wanted to say thanks to everyone who attended + performed (Katrina, Katy, ACAS Memebers, Helena, Misha, Ross, College Boy Mo, Damini, Rochelle, Kheston + Tha List Goes On!!) @ "The Spoken Word"...The event was SELL OFF, Ram Jammed, Jam Packed, Wat eva u wanna call it, IT TWAS LIVE (n sweaty but thats kool lool)

Tha SUUPPORT WAS EMOTIONAL!!! So Hope everyone enjoyed themselves + tha acts, n good luck with your revision + Exams n we'll catch u lot @ our next event on tha 18th of June -- ACAS FUNDAY! (Stay tuned for more details + photos from this event)

ALSO, Jus wanted to add, 3rd Base Nights presents SUMMER SPLASH @ Tha Newly Refurbd Cuckooo Club: Live performances from Done'ao, Cold Steps, Princess Nyah, + more!--- ACAS Will Be there, + Hope To See You Guys There Too (Get in contact with us if u want tickets, coz we got some still)

Stay Blessed!! xx

Melvyn Davis - 'Im Not Hung Up...On Race?'

This poem can be found on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=95247592736&id=849944728&ref=mf) but for those without it, I fort i'd share it, coz its got a very deep poem.

We were hung from trees,
As strange fruit*, with each gentle breeze,
We waved at passers-by,
The stench of our death,
Made our children sneeze, and brought mothers to their knees,

No trial, no justice, no dignity,
Emancipated from physical slavery, but mentally still not free,
Given liberty, but no protection,
Given equality, dressed in discrimination.

Lest we forget it was because of our race,
We were hunted and enslaved and folks spat in our face,
We were taught to believe that we were inferior,
We were uncivilised and that they were superior.

Some of us still think this way,
And some of them do too.
So do I have a chip on my shoulder - in fact I have two;
Chip one, says; I'm black and equal to you,
Chip two says; If you have a problem with that, then I've gotta a problem with you.

(c) Melvyn Davis 2009
_________________
* Strange fruit - by Billie Holiday - a term used to describe the burnt bodies of black people left hanging from trees.

He also adds that 'No one says, that Jews are hung up about the holocaust. They have coined the phrase "lest we forget' and ensured that their children never forget what happened to them in the past to ensure it never happens again.' He goes on to pose the question:
Are black people, more hung up on race than any other race? If not, then why not? and Should we be? *DISCUSS*

New 'Comic Bible'???

Saw this on the news, just fort it would be interesting to get your views on it!

Basically they've made a comically version on the bible (or certain passages from it anyways)

Do you think this is one translation too far? What does this say of the children in today's society, given that they will only read the bible now they 'cut out the boring bits' and made it more 'aggressive and graphical'? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS :)

ACAS Goes To... "Love Music Hate Racism"

"Sussex Love Music Hate Racism - Dissertation Dash" uses music, poetry, and comedy to promote multicultural diversity in the University of Sussex community and hlpe bridge gaps between race relation policies and societal realities!

This FREE Event is taking place this monday, 18th May from 12 noon till 8pm, right next to Gardener Arts Centre! Let's Go there and support this event and show support to people who we know that are performing such as College Boy Mo aka Moses, Rochelle, Navid and Sam, Kheston (who is also hosting :D) and of course everyone else!!

DNT MISS OUT!!!

The New Face Of ACAS

The New Logo For ACAS 09/10 Has Been Released!

Leave your comments on what you fink of it!! *Well add last years one so your can compare!!*

ACAS Goes To..."SpotLight"

On the 20th June Brighton Uni Hosts - "Spotlight - Brighton's Best Talent Show" - 19:00 to 23:00 in the Sallis Benny Theatre

"Spotlight its called and Spotlight it is!

Brighton ACS's annual talent show is back and this year its gonna be bigger and better.
Featuring:
Literature,Singing, Awards, Dances, Drama, Comedy
and a whole lot more!"

Tickets are avaialble to buy from the Brighton Student Union Office in Cockroft Building or call 07531600213!

Let's Show Our Support! :)

Samson Blog - F*ck Faye Louise!

Ha! Stumbled across this while viewing my bredrins blog...and fort that i had to upload this!

If you don't know about Samson Aka Black Tha Ripper, GET TO KNOW, hes an MC. Subscribe to his "BlackmagicTV" Now Via de YouTube!

This Guy is TOOO REALL (Well more like explicit lol)...Watch for yourself but this is what happens when you make it big, people are always there to BRING YOU DOWN! *They jus want a piece of tha fame!*

On the 21st May...Next Thrusday, ACAS presents "The Spoken Word"!!

This is one of our termly events, which was previsiouly entitled "Lyricist Lounge"
It is a night were members from not only our own society but other societies and other Uni's come to together and showcase their talent. Whether its from poetry to rapping or even just spoken literature that is influential to them ~ We got it~

If your interested in getting involved, come down and join us in the Cube from 6:30pm! Its a FREE EVENT and FREE REFRESHMENTS will also be provided during the Interlude!

Also, if you would like to perform, it's not to late!!! Contact a member of the exec, via Facebook or Email: acassussex@yahoo.co.uk or ring 07595956348 or 07956119882 We would love you to get involved! :D

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. REMEMBER DNT BE LATE, SHOW STARTS @ 7pm + DOORS CLOSE @ 7:30pm!

"One Day It'll All Make Sense" - Ra'ed Poetical

"One Day It'll All Make Sense - Street Poetry" - by Ra'ed Poetical.

I first stumbled across Ra'ed on Facebook (join his group - Ra'ed Poetical)...This dude has some R.E.A.L Talent! Something that everyone should support, regardless of whether your into poetry or not (but I grauntee, once you've heard his content, you will be AMAZED! Trust he has a way wid words!!). He's a fresh poet on tha scene (well in terms of becoming mainstream, as he's been writing since he was 15, coz FB told me so lol) and also a student @ Roehamptom Univeristy. He is Truly Inspirational, his poetry is beautiful and something that everyone can relate with as it is about general life experiences!

His book drops offically (launch date) on tha 19th of May 2009 - and it can be purchased NOOWWW at a majority of online book retailers (i.e Amazon, Tesco, Waterstones, WHSmith Etc.) I've Copped Mines!!! :P

---- BUY IT NOW!!!! :D ----

WELCOME!!! Sussex ACAS 09/10 :)

Hey guys,

Welcome to the offical ACAS Blogspot :) This is new to Sussex ACAS this year (as you can see from our archive history, only just got up and running).

Firstly, we would like to thank tha previous exec team (08/09 and ealier ones) for building up ACAS and being successful in delivering fun and informative events :) and at the same time congratulate the new Exec. 09/10:

President - Fernand

Vice President - Jade

Secretary - Paida

Fianace - Jahmella

Events Co-Ordinators - Haley & Maria

Marketting - Sean

Welfare Officers - Jasmin & Yasmin ....... :D

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But basically, I'll start off with a little introduction to ACAS, what we are and why we have set up this Blogspot.

The University of Sussex has always set out to be different, and one way we can say that we have done this is by setting up a society (within Sussex), which aims to attract students from an African, Caribbean and Asian culture, hence the name "ACAS" (with 'S' Standing for Society DUH lol! ). We can say that we are different, in a sense that a majority of other universities set up a 'ACS' (African and Caribbean Soiety), however, we try to be more INCLUSIVE :)

But yes, ACAS aims to 'educate, enlighten and entertain' its members by holding weekly meetings that can range from various events such Debate nights, Food nights (as we know ya'll love food), Poetry nights and by putting on bigger flagship events such as 'Culture Fest' (an Award Winning Event :P) etc.

So now onto why we have set up this Blogspot - As you know you can find us on Facebook('ACAS Sussex' - add us if you haven't already), but for those people who don't have Facebook (yes you! even though I dnt understand why you don't have it...), its just a easier way:

• To have on-going discussions about things we can't in every meeting
• Find out about up and coming events that either were holding or events put on by other societies that ACAS are supporting
• And just other miscellaneous things from News to Art, new music to Raves etc.

So Follow us on tha Blogspot, share your ideas and KEEP SUPPORTING THA MOVEMENT! :D

--ACAS Exec. 09/10---