I will NEVER submit my work to the Washington Post again!!! Last week Saturday I went to the Washington Post website well what a surprise. The Washington Post writer Teresa Wiltz had an article published that I found similar to my piece “Shades of Blackface” which was published in the New Zealand Herald. I want to point out the lawyer for the Washington Post James McLaughlin he called me yesterday “admitted” that yes indeed my article submission about the blackface controversy was received in the Washington Post arts department by Rachel Beckman. McLaughlin is a lawyer for the Washington Post so of course he’s going to defend the company he works for. I find it interesting that my article about the blackface controversy was submitted to the Washington Post and what a surprise a few weeks later Wiltz article was published.

My article “Shades of Blackface” was published TWO WEEKS BEFORE Teresa Wiltz article was published in the New Zealand Herald on June 9th 2007. I am arguing that the unprofessional arts editor at the Washington Post obviously STOLE MY IDEA and gave it to one of their own fucking writers to write the article in house.

Its clear to me that it looks as though Wiltz lifted ideas from my article to hers. Wiltz of course denies this according to McLaughlin. Is anyone surprised? Mclaughlin just “admitted” yesterday that I was correct that the arts department had received my submission to the Washington Post a while back. The big newspapers do this all the fucking time they don’t want to pay a writer for their work so they STEAL the writer’s idea so that they can do the article IN HOUSE. They make a few changes for LEGAL REASONS. But the evidence is in the writing Teresa Wiltz obviously isn’t a good writer because a good writer doesn’t steal ideas from another writer. Also, I must point out again my article was published FIRST so the Washington Post had plenty of time to steal my idea and copy my article.

Yet its clear to me the Arts editor at the Washington Post is a liar and a thief!!!

Here is the link to my article “Shades Of Blackface” published the New Zealand Herald June 9th 2007:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=10444455&pnum=0

Here is the link to Teresa Wiltz article on the same subject and it was published on June 23 rd 2007 exactly two weeks later.

Part I

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062202029.html

Part IIhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062202029_2.html

Notice when you compare my article to Wiltz she discusses many topics in the similar order I did. For instance, I discuss about blogs, so does Wiltz. I discuss about the minstrel history so does Wiltz. I write about Lena Horne losing the role in Showboat to Ava Gardner Wiltz says the EXACT SAME THING. Also, I write about the legacy of racism against black women in Hollywood, so does Wiltz. Wiltz makes a few changes talking about Pearl’s memoir but the structure and the flow of ideas is too similar to mine.

I contacted the Washington Post Ombudsman but she’s on vacation and won’t be back until next week.

Its clear to me the Washington Post doesn’t mind stealing the ideas of writers. I want to point out this has happened to me before as well. I am so sick of this shit it makes me think about giving up writing all together.

The thing is the Washington Post did not anticipate that I WOULD get my article on the issue of “Blackface” for the movie “A Mighty Heart” published FIRST. Yet I did! My article was published a full two weeks BEFORE Wiltz piece was published. And the Washington Post own lawyer ADMITS that the arts department DID receive my article on the issue. So how can the lawyer for the Washington Post say that my article idea wasn’t ripped off? Its all status quo I say.

Update: The Ombudsman at the Washington Post contacted me she DOES NOT deny that the Arts department at the Washington Post received my submission. Yet she claims they did nothing wrong she is full of it! It is obvious to me the Ombudsman at the Washington Post must have a policy of stealing writers work since they admit to RECEIVING MY SUBMISSION. Why lie? The proof is the evidence just read both my article and Teresa Wiltz and you will see the similarities. It is obvious Wiltz is a fraud and the Washington Post believes in lifting ideas from other writers.

Well I just received an e-mail from Andre Banks from Colorlines magazine and he apologized. Banks claims it was his assistant’s “error” that was to blame for the reason my article “Is White The New Black?” for being  published on their website.  I just don’t buy it.  I mean its the classic ” the assistant’s fault excuse.” Anyhow, I’m going to let this one go. Actually I am going to talk about it anyway.

I went to Colorlines race wire website www.racewire.org  and my article “Is White The New Black?” has indeed been removed. 

 I believe a professional magazine like Colorlines is cognizant of the rules  in relation to publishing articles. And the most important rule of the magazine business is to never publish a writer’s work on a website without the writer’s permission.

 Of course Colorlines gets the token black  editor Andre Banks to e-mail me back. Anyhow, my article was removed from their racewire section of their website and I am glad. Its a matter of principle. You do not take a writer’s work and post it on your blog without the writer’s permission. I am glad the issue has been resolved by I now know to AVOID Colorlines in the future that’s for sure.

  I called Colorlines earlier in the day and I spoke to the assistant. I soon realized that maybe the assistant wasn’t going to send the message to the editors. I am glad went beyondd the Colorlines assistant and  actually e-mailed the editors with my concerns. I now know Colorlines isn’t in the business to be professional and I will indeed AVOID Colorlines for good.

See this is the part of the writing business that I HATE the most.  I HATE the fact when editors take my work without my permission. Colorlines magazine clearly violated one of the most important aspects of the writing business and that’s publishing work without my PERMISSION. Colorlines is based in America in Oakland California.

  I don’t get it? Why would Colorlines do something so unprofessional? Colorlines is a magazine that claims to be fighting racism that affects the lives of people of colour. I am a bit disturbed at Colorlines clear lack of class and character here.

  For starters, why didn’t Colorlines just ask my permission to republish my article?  “Is White The New Black?”.  As you know if you read my blog my article “Is White The New Black?” was JUST PUBLISHED by the Vancouver alternative publication The Georgia Straight just on Thursday June 21st 2007.

 Here is the proof of my article on Colorlines blog  www.racwwire.org    I don’t appreciate Colorlines taking my work and putting it on their racwire blog WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. Its a total VIOLATION of my RIGHTS. And to top it off  I don’t  SEE ANY COMPENSATION EITHER!!!!!

 It really pisses me off that Colorlines a publication that prides its self on FIGHTING RACIAL INJUSTICE FEELS ITS OKAY TO RIP ME OFF. If Colorlines is so dedicated to fighting racism and injustice why try to rip off a young black writer?

    I don’t even LIVE in America where colorlines is based. I live in CANADA. Colorlines clearly went to the Georgia Straight webiste and copied my article and PLACED IT ON THEIR WEBSITE. Now I could understand if it was just a blogger because people do that all the time. HOWEVER, COLORLINES IS A PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE ITS A BUSINESS. NO PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS HAS ANY BUSINESS ripping a writer off. Colorlines didn’t even post on the blog that they lifted my article from the Georgia Straight.

I called Colorlines but I doubt they will remove my article “Is White The New Black?” from their website. I believe this is the most frustrating part of the business. Its my article, its my hard work and yet Colorlines feels they have a right to DISRESPECT ME AS A PERSON! I am VERY ANGRY about this and I have a RIGHT TO BE.

I cannot believe a magazine that says its all about supporting people of colour against racism in this world would be so low as to publish my work without my permission and without the proper compensation. Its unacceptable.

Robert Mugabe the eighty three year old president of Zimbabwe is an old fossil whose time has passed. It’s only a matter of time before Mugabe expires. Now over 27 years ago Mugabe liberated the former “Rhodesia” from white British rule. And for a while Zimbabwe was doing very well. Zimbabwe was known as the “bread basket” of Southern Africa. However, over time money, greed, and a lust for power has clearly destroyed the respect the world has for Robert Mugabe.

Now not only is Mugabe a serious homophobe he also has an apathetic attitude towards the black people of Zimbabwe. It just goes to show no matter the race of a person when someone gets money and power many times people use their new acquired power for evil.

Mugabe claims he loves black people he loves his country well he sure is demonstrating how much he loves the African people. Mugabe was supposed to be a beacon of light for Zimbabwe he was supposed to become part of a new Africa. Mugabe failed to help his country grow into prosperity, improve education, health care, business. Now all Mugabe cares about is maintaining power.

The inflation rate is soaring in Zimbabwe the people are suffering and it doesn’t seem like the world cares at all. Oops I forgot the majority of the population in Zimbabwe are black so as far as the world is concerned blacks are at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

Remember over thirteen years ago the conflict in Eastern Europe with the former Yugoslavia? The European Union, America and the West rushed to that region because white people were involved in conflict. The reason why the West cared about the former Yugoslavia is because its a white nation in Europe. The former Yugoslavia is in the sphere of influence of the United States.

Although Yugoslavia is not a first world nation the whiteness of the nation gave it currency and importance to the Western world. And also remember over a decade ago the genocide and tragedy of Rwanda? Oops I forgot they were black as well so you know the world only gets involved when it’s too late. And people say the Western media is not biased or racist.

All we read about in the media is Iraq, Middle East, and Israel. I didn’t know Israel or the Middle East was the center of the universe? Remember though Israel has a large Jewish population so of course anything referring to the Jews is considered of higher importance for the occidental media. Well to be fair that’s all I ever hear from the American and Canadian media on CBC, CTV, CFTO, CITY TV, Global Television, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS. It becomes a bit tiresome because I know there is more to the world then Israel or Iraq. I think the Canadian media is to blame as well.

All CBC ever does is talk about Israel this, Iraq that, and the Middle East this. If anyone knew better you would think the CBC was based in the Middle East and not Canada. I am so glad there is the INTERNET I am able to read about world news without the focus of some multinational corporation.

Remember the Middle East has oil the Western media is only slowly talking about Africa because the sphere of influence in Africa is increasing.

As you probably already know Nigeria is one of the biggest oil markets in the world. And of course America wants to exploit new territories because the Middle East is becoming a bit precarious for their self interests. However, the Nigerian government isn’t doing enough to help their people. Nigeria is actually a very rich nation the problem is very little of the money is going to the people. Once again black people not helping other black people. We go on and on and complain about whites. Yet what are we as a race doing to each other?

Nigeria has the resources to help their own people yet the Nigerian government are nothing more but a bunch of racist assholes that have no respect for the Nigerian people. And that’s why you read about the desperate actions taking place such as people getting kidnapped and all that bullshit. The Nigerian people are desperate because their government knows desperate people are a defeated people.

And now there are vigilante groups that are sprouting up attacking foreign workers because the people are angry but also because they want to make a political statement.

People wonder why Africa is suffering? Part of the quandary is because of the African dictatators  are apathetic to the concerns of the African people. All these African dictators care about is filling their pockets with cash. Yet so many African dictators have lied to African people and told them promised them that they wouldn’t be like the Europeans.

If the world wanted to make a difference Africa wouldn’t be in the bad shape its in. Of course, the African people have to get involved but there are serious criminals in Africa that use rape, violence, and sabotage to maintain their power over the African people.

Yet sure enough the African dictators many with the support of Europe and America have stolen money that should be going to the African people. France has been heavily involved with their former African colonies and France is a big part of the problem.

And the European Union is a big part of the problem as is the International Monteary Fund. Stephanie Black amazing documentary called “Life and Debt” explores the problems Jamaica was having with the IMF.

The Western World is no saviour for the developing world. The Western World wants to maintain their supremacy they really don’t want Africa out out debt they just want to keep blacks poor. The West want to maintain paternalism foreign Aid is like a band aid it doesn’t solve the crisis it only maintains the status quo.

Another thing I find annoying is when the media give so much praise to these tacky celebs who clearly are not altruistic. Now that rock star Bono from U2 he is such a hypocrite. For starters, Bono did not want to pay taxes in Ireland on a percentage of his income and he transfers his money to a tax shelter in the Netherlands.

The Western media just reported the story earlier this year but certainly ignored it. I cannot take Bono seriously when he is a multi millionaire and yet he doesn’t want to pay taxes. Anyone who thinks Bono cares about helping Africa and not advancing his only public image doesn’t know better. As for Mugabe I have a feeling that old goat is going to get the boot and the sooner the better.

IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK YOUR MIND CONTACT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IN SOUTH AFRICA.

First off does the Aboriginies community in Australia’s Northern Territory have serious problems? The answer is YES.  Does something need to be done YES. I am not denying this it appears child abuse is a serious problem in the Northern Territory.  Let me be clear child abuse a very serious issue and YES something does need to be done. It also appears to me the Australian government is clearly trying to take away hard won land rights of the Aboriginies.

  However, John Howard the current Prime Minister of Australia is a racist. Howard’s racism come out again and again. Howard’s bigotry is no longer under the surface it is present for the WORLD TO SEE.   Now I wonder what the United Nations is going to say? Or will the UN just ignore this as usual? Or I wonder what Canada, USA, or the European Union will say? Or will they turn a blind eye to this obvious bigotry of Prime Minister John Howard?

  Why doesn’t Howard impose a ban on the WHITE population of Australia? Oops I forgot social problems ONLY occur with the Aboriginies and not the white Australians. I guess White Australians are perfect and do not have problems with substance abuse, alcohol abuse or child abuse?

 Yet Howard is exploiting the issue of race here he is clearly playing the “race card”  to not only demonize the Aboriginies. Howard is using race as an EXCUSE to push a WHITE SUPREMACIST AGENDA AGAINST THE ABORIGINIES.  I cannot be more blunt then this. Now remember this is the same John Howard that made a disturbing comment about Senator Barrack Obama because Obama is against the war in Iraq a few months ago.

  I personally believe that Howard just wants to treat the Aboriginies in Australia as though they are “wild animals” that need the paternalistic “support” of the white man. The Aboriginies in Australia have serious problems but banning porn and alcohol will NOT SOLVE the problem and Howard knows this! I say read the article and take ACTION. Do not allow Howard to get away with this racist bullshit!!!!! I also DO NOT believe Howards gives a fuck about the Aborigines in Austalia or about their problems. The LACK of  cultural insensitivity and the racism of Howard here is abhorrent! 

Anyone that believes in human rights for ALL PEOPLE will take a stand. I have included the phone number and contact link to the Prime Minister John Howard in Australia. I have also provided links to some Australian politicians and the  address of Amnesty International below. Howard just proves again he’s not just a racist I really am starting to think Howard is a white supremacist. 

IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA JOHN HOWARD. HERE IS THE CONTACT INFO AND HERE IS THE LINK:   http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

Contact Amnesty International USA:

Amnesty International USA
5 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10001
phone: (212) 807-8400
fax: (212) 627-1451
aimember@aiusa.org

Western Offices
Los Angeles Office
2999 Overland Avenue
Suite 111
Los Angeles, CA 90064
phone: (310) 815-0450
fax: (310) 815-0457
1-866-A-REGION
aiusala@aiusa.org

San Francisco Office
350 Sansome St
Suite 630
San Francisco, CA 94104
phone: (415) 291-9233
fax: (415) 291-8722
1-866-A-REGION
aiusasf@aiusa.org

Contact Us

National Office in Canada

Amnesty International
312 Laurier Avenue East
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1N 1H9

Telephone: (613) 744-7667 OR 1-800-AMNESTY (266-3789)
Fax: (613) 746-2411
E-mail: info@amnesty.ca

Toronto Office

Amnesty International
14 Dundonald Street
Toronto, ON
Canada
M4Y 1K2

Telephone: (416) 363-9933
Fax: (416) 363-3103
E-mail: toronto@amnesty.ca

Pacific Regional Office

Amnesty International - Pacific Regional Office
#430 - 319 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1T4

Telephone - General inquiries: (604) 294-5160
Telephone - Refugee caseworker:(604) 294-9450
Fax: (604) 294-5130
E-mail - General Inquiries: pro@amnesty.ca
E-mail - Regional Development: dwright@amnesty.ca
BC/Yukon regional website: http://www.amnesty.ca/pro

Contact Details

Amnesty International Australia

By Post

Locked Bag 23
BROADWAY NSW 2007

By Email

servicecentre@amnesty.org.au

By Telephone

1300 300 920

By Fax

02 8396 7663

Legislative Assembly Parliment of New South Wales 

Phone (02) 9230 2616
Fax (02) 9230 2828

Postal address:
NSW Legislative Assembly
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Legislative Council

Phone (02) 9230 2319
Fax (02) 9230 2876
council@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Postal address:
NSW Legislative Council
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000

 My new article about “A Mighty Heart” fiasco “Is White The New Black?” was published in the Vancouver alternative newspaper “The Georgia Straight.” I am just glad I was able to get my thoughts across about my perspective on the issue.

As you already know from reading this blog another version of this article was published in the New Zealand Herald. I am very proud that my article was first published in New Zealand because the New Zealand Herald is a major newspaper in New Zealand its has the largest circulation in that country. Also a lot of Australians and other people from the South Pacific and Pacific Rim read the New Zealand Herald.

However, I am very pleased that I was able to bring my thoughts on “A Mighty Heart” to a Canadian audience. One of my fears was that people in Canada most likely don’t read the New Zealand Herald. I decided to try again and I was able to get an alternative version of the article published in Canada. I know the Georgia Straight is a very popular newspaper not just in Vancouver but also in British Columbia and Western Canada.

  Here is the link to my new article “Is White The New Black?”

http://www.straight.com/article-96155/is-white-the-new-black

Its interesting today the weather is not that bad. Its kind of windy and hot but that’s okay.

I had no idea my article “Shades of blackface” was going to still be posted on the New Zealand Herald website even though its been published well over a week ago. I hope people in New Zealand and across the world were able to read it. The article was published almost two weeks ago so if you want to read it again here it is.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=10444455&pnum=0

    The photo on the left is of Billeh Nickerson he is one of the editors of the homosexual Canadian anthology Seminal. Nickerson  e-mailed  me yet again today providing the typical sob story that Arsenal Pulp Press is a small press and doesn’t have money.  I guess Arsenal Pulp Press is really trying to get Nickerson to work me overtime.

Yet isn’t Arsenal Pulp Press tacky? I mean not a response from the publisher or the other people behind the company. Nickerson is just the coeditor it is Arsenal Pulp Press that is  behind the whack $50 dollar contract. Well I just went to the Arsenal Pulp Press website for  such  a “small press” they sure are successful.   Take a look for yourself at their best seller list. 

   Go to  www.arsenalpulp.com  and you will see what I am talking about. Just click on the no.1 book on their best seller list and you will learn all about “poor” Arsenal Pulp Press. On the best sellers list for Arsenal Pulp Press  Sarah Kramer’s two books have been incredibly successful. For example, Kramer’s books  How It All Vegan! and The Garden of Vegan, co-authored with Tanya Barnard, have sold well over 110,000 copies! Now 110,000 copies sold is a shit load of books sold! Now according to Nickerson Arsenal Pulp Press is just a  “small” publisher.

Well for a “small” publisher to sell over 110,000 copies  is simply incredible regardless of whether its a major publisher or not. Arsenal Pulp Press  is thriving and doing very well.  Any book publisher that can sell over 110,000 of just two books AND have the book in third printing is making money and doing very well. So please child spare me the bullshit!!

The success of Ms. Kramer’s books just pokes holes into Nickerson’s pathetic argument.  Any publisher would be very happy and over the moon if their writers could sell over 110,000 copies for just books. The proof is all there on Arsenal Pulp Press website. The profits made of this book are incredible and exactly the kind of sales that the big book publishers would want. So the Arsenal Pulp Press is broke is a total sob story. 

And also think of it this way the retail price for Kramer’s books are $22. 95 and $24.95 now multiply that by 110,000 copies sold and you will see the profit revenue before taxes are taken off of course is well over $2.5 million dollars. The amount of reveune generated by these two books are $2.5 millon DOLLARS gross revenue.   WOW Arsenal Pulp Press sure is a very “small” publisher to be making that kind of cash. They must be so broke so broke in fact that they have over 135 books in print and are constantly publishing new books and making money as I type this.

And think about it a publisher that can sell over 110,000 copies of just two books is not a small publisher. And let’s not forget the other shit load of books Arsenal Pulp Press  have sold. Arsenal Pulp Press wants me to sign away my world rights for just $50 dollars but is never going to happen. It is this reason why I will NEVER submit my work to an anthology the anger and the grief isn’t worth it. It isn’t worth it to deal with such a duplicitious publisher trying to strong arm me to sign a whack contract so they can cheat me out of my rights.  Talk about unfair, cruel, and just plain disgusting  bullshit.

According to the Writer’s Union of Canada’s booklet “Anthology and Contract Rates” on page six it clearly states “THE LARGER THE MARKET THE HIGHER YOUR FEE”

The Writer’s Union of Canada also warns on page six “It is very important to state clearly in your anthology agreement that the fee applies to an edition published for a particular market or territory-OR YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF HAVING BEEN PAID A SMALL AMOUNT.”

Also on page six of the Writer’s Union of Canada Anthology booklet guide says a publisher should pay “twice the amount for North American rights and THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT FOR WORLD RIGHTS.” Oh it gets even better those assholes at Arsenal Pulp Press they also want world rights. They want my  permission to REPUBLISH my work  WITHOUT PAYING ME each time the poem is republished in additonal editons.  And here is the quandary that’s total bullshit and that’s where Arsenal Pulp Press is being very shady and whack. Only a moron would agree to such shit. And I most certainly will not. I will NOT ACCEPT THIS BULLSHIT!!!!!

Now since my poem “Dear Langston Hughes” is a two page contribution to the Seminal anthology the payment should not be cheap. 

Now clearly Arsenal Pulp Press is unprofessional here. I know people that have been published by Arsenal Pulp Press and they weren’t offered only a mere cheap $50 dollars for World Rights. Arsenal Pulp Press wants to offer a crappy $50 dollars for WORLD RIGHTS. Sorry I don’t consider a cheap and unprofessional publisher’s crappy contract to be acceptable. The Writer’s Union of Canada booklet is very important. Again I strongly suggest anyone ever getting into writing or publishing find out more about your rights. Go to WWW.WRITERUNION.CA  

Also, I don’t want Arsenal Pulp Press to EVER republish my work again in any other editions. According to the Writer’s Union of Canada I am WELL within my rights to DEMAND THIS stipulation. I have a RIGHT as an aritst to LIMIT the publisher from  republishing my work because I OWN the copyright to my work its MY WORK. And since Arsenal Pulp Press has been so deleterious I don’t want anything more to do with them.