Published September 22, 2007
No one said that the young men known as the "Jena Six" were innocent of all wrongdoing. But I believe it's very important and productive to look at the bigger picture. Schoolyard fights happen every day,but rarely are those involved charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Every day young, black men are arrested, charged and prosecuted forvarious crimes. Many times, there are no rallies on their behalf andno outcries from the nation about injustice.
Jena was different.
Jena isn't just a small town in Louisiana where six black kids had afight with a white boy. No, Jena is a microcosm of the sometimes strained and failed race relations in Louisiana, the South and the United States.
Thousands upon thousands of people didn't make their way to Jenabecause six black boys were punished for having a fight. People werein Jena because six black boys were excessively punished for having afight while the punishment for whites pulling out a gun on black students, nooses being hung from a tree on school property, guns being concealed on school property and whites beating up blacks were all not treated with the same conviction and fervor.
Because of that, people from all over this country gathered to stand up against civil and social inequality. Participants from Louisiana, Michigan, Georgia, Delaware, Missouri, Maryland, California and otherstates both near and far all felt that what happened in a small town with a population less than 3,000 is important enough for them to take action.
The rally was a reminder that people care. It was a reminder thatracism is, in fact, alive and well. It helped people realize that race relations have improved vastly in the past 50 years, but thatthere is tremendous work that still needs to be done.
The rally in Jena wasn't exclusive to the six individuals being charged.
People didn't just march for Mychal Bell, Theodore Shaw, Carwin Jones, Robert Bailey, Bryant Pervis and the unidentified juvenile.
They also marched for Genarlow Wilson, Gary Tyler, Megan Williams,Troy Lawrence Jr. and countless others.
Wilson is serving a mandatory 10-year sentence in a Georgia prison and considered a sexual predator because, at the age of 17, he hadconsensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl. Upon his release, hewill not be able to live with his family because he has a sister who is a minor.
Tyler has been serving a life sentence in Angola since the age of 16 for the 1974 murder of a schoolmate. The murder occurred during the attack of a school bus carrying black children by a white mob displeased with integration. Despite a lack of physical evidence and the bus driver insisting that the shot was from outside the bus, an all-white jury found Tyler guilty. Years later, all witnesses against Tyler recanted their stories saying they were forced to give dishonest testimony because their families were threatened by police.
Last week, Williams, 20, said she was repeatedly raped, burned, choked and stabbed while being held captive by six whites in West Virginia who told her that they don't like black people. Although arrests have been made in the case, people are still troubled by the situation.
In July, New Orleans teenager Lawrence was attacked by Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies after being pulled over, handcuffed and searched for speeding. The unarmed 5-foot-5-inch, 110-pound Lawrence was punched so hard the assaulting deputy's hand was broken becauseof the contact. After breaking his hand the deputy called for backupand Lawrence said this is when eight to 10 officers assaulted him.
In the Jena case, if reports are correct and prosecutor Reed Walters told students to stop making such a big deal over the nooses and thathe could make lives disappear with the stroke of a pen, he should be disbarred. If sneakers are considered a deadly weapon in Jena, the boots of Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies that were used to assault Lawrence should be also.
Though many would call the rally a success, there is much more work that needs to be done all over the country. More wrongs need to be corrected. More rallies need to be planned. More voices need to be heard. More justice and equality need to be sought. More outrage. Less Vick, less O.J. Let us be more proactive so that we'll have to be less reactive.
9.18.2007
Katrina L. Rogers: 'Kid Nation' brings Orwell, real world to mind
Published September 18, 2007
More and more, some pieces of 20th Century British literature read like current headlines.
William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" explores the lives of shipwrecked boys and how they regress without supervision, quite similar in theme to the new CBS show "Kid Nation."
One promotion for the show suggests that adults have screwed things up and maybe unsupervised children are more equipped to make better decisions.
George Orwell's two novels, "Animal Farm" and "1984," could be parodies of our current presidential administration. Our current events are an eerie hybrid of those novels, both of which were first published about 60 years ago."
Animal Farm" begins with the coup of a farm by the animals living there. They have decided that they are more capable of managing things than the farmer so they run him off his property.
Hmm, thinking that we're more capable of running someone else's home and taking over so that we can do such, that sounds familiar.
The eventual (animal) leader of the farm, Napoleon, decides to re-write history and suggests that any animal that opposes his dictatorship is a villain.
Since 2001, history has been re-written, distorted and elected officials have been appointed instead of, well, elected. Instead of opponents being called villains, we get words like unpatriotic or lost souls.
Napoleon goes against every principle that "Animal Farm" was founded on, but his lackeys spend a great deal of time convincing the other animals that he is a great leader. They say he is only going against the animals' fundamental beliefs in order to make the farm a better place.
Some of our basic rights go out of the window when it's "believed" that not having them is in our best interest, or something like that. Wiretapping anyone's conversations because we feel like it will keep this country safe and prevent any more attacks on our soil. Keeping airport passengers dehydrated will have them too weak to cause us any harm.
Napoleon's supporters try to convince the other animals of his great doings while they are overworked, hungry and lacking proper shelter. Convincing the destitute that they're under great leadership though they are in dire need? Wow, I'm glad stuff like that doesn't happen in America.
Napoleon sells his greatest supporter (a horse named Boxer) to a glue factory so that he may purchase more liquor and drinking whiskey becomes a habit of his.
That reminds me of soldiers who dutifully serve multiple or extended tours in Iraq. They bravely fight for our country and maybe the thanks one of our injured soldiers could get is a stay in a medical center like Walter Reed.
In the end of the story, all founding principles have been reduced to one line: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote "all men are created equal." I suppose he literally meant "men" and only those who weren't black or Native American or poor.
There is still a serious lack of equality in America: compare Mississippi's federal recovery assistance to that of Louisiana's. Or compare the differences between education and health care for the rich and poor.
Maybe that promotion had a point after all.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
More and more, some pieces of 20th Century British literature read like current headlines.
William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" explores the lives of shipwrecked boys and how they regress without supervision, quite similar in theme to the new CBS show "Kid Nation."
One promotion for the show suggests that adults have screwed things up and maybe unsupervised children are more equipped to make better decisions.
George Orwell's two novels, "Animal Farm" and "1984," could be parodies of our current presidential administration. Our current events are an eerie hybrid of those novels, both of which were first published about 60 years ago."
Animal Farm" begins with the coup of a farm by the animals living there. They have decided that they are more capable of managing things than the farmer so they run him off his property.
Hmm, thinking that we're more capable of running someone else's home and taking over so that we can do such, that sounds familiar.
The eventual (animal) leader of the farm, Napoleon, decides to re-write history and suggests that any animal that opposes his dictatorship is a villain.
Since 2001, history has been re-written, distorted and elected officials have been appointed instead of, well, elected. Instead of opponents being called villains, we get words like unpatriotic or lost souls.
Napoleon goes against every principle that "Animal Farm" was founded on, but his lackeys spend a great deal of time convincing the other animals that he is a great leader. They say he is only going against the animals' fundamental beliefs in order to make the farm a better place.
Some of our basic rights go out of the window when it's "believed" that not having them is in our best interest, or something like that. Wiretapping anyone's conversations because we feel like it will keep this country safe and prevent any more attacks on our soil. Keeping airport passengers dehydrated will have them too weak to cause us any harm.
Napoleon's supporters try to convince the other animals of his great doings while they are overworked, hungry and lacking proper shelter. Convincing the destitute that they're under great leadership though they are in dire need? Wow, I'm glad stuff like that doesn't happen in America.
Napoleon sells his greatest supporter (a horse named Boxer) to a glue factory so that he may purchase more liquor and drinking whiskey becomes a habit of his.
That reminds me of soldiers who dutifully serve multiple or extended tours in Iraq. They bravely fight for our country and maybe the thanks one of our injured soldiers could get is a stay in a medical center like Walter Reed.
In the end of the story, all founding principles have been reduced to one line: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote "all men are created equal." I suppose he literally meant "men" and only those who weren't black or Native American or poor.
There is still a serious lack of equality in America: compare Mississippi's federal recovery assistance to that of Louisiana's. Or compare the differences between education and health care for the rich and poor.
Maybe that promotion had a point after all.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
9.02.2007
Katrina L. Rogers: Hurricance Katrina evacuees find hope in Shreveport
Published August 29, 2007
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans metropolitan area. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to evacuate in only a couple of days, if they had that much time.
A number of those people found their way to northwest Louisiana. Since then, many have decided to make Shreveport home. Below are the stories of three people who left New Orleans to escape Katrina and found triumph in Shreveport.
Leonard Weather
Dr. Leonard Weather makes a point of being accessible to his patients even if it means he has to travel all over the state."I typically spend my weekends on the road. I make a point of seeing my patients in New Orleans, Houston, Lafayette and Baton Rouge."
He said his move from New Orleans to Shreveport was smooth because he's been on staff with Willis-Knighton for 10 years. He also added it helps that he and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Montgomery, an OB/GYN, already had a home in Shreveport.
Not having to worry about shelter gave him the opportunity to focus his energy on helping others. "I was communicating with a number of doctors from all over the world who were willing to come to Louisiana to help out. Because of my position with the National Medical Association, I was able to help get doctors to New Orleans," he said.
He's also using those same resources to help other physicians who are still dealing with Katrina-related issues and keeping people updated about the progress of Greater New Orleans.
"I regularly send out e-mails to doctors around the country letting them know how people are dealing with health-care issues, malpractice insurance and uncompensated care. That's in addition to telling them about the city."
A man who got into medicine to help people has stayed true to his initial goal.
He added, "I decided that I wanted to practice gynecology because of the numbers for black women who were misdiagnosed with needing hysterectomies. I want to enhance the quality of health care for all people."
Michelle Coxen
Michelle Coxen says that having her sister, Anita Coxen Loud, and family open their home to not only her, but her entire immediate family gave her an opportunity to succeed in Shreveport post-Katrina.
Before becoming the coordinator of media and public relations at Southern University-Shreveport, Coxen was with the New Orleans Police Department.
In addition to acclimating herself to a new city, she had to get her then 11-year-old son settled. She proudly states that he's doing well and has responded positively to the move.
She describes herself as fortunate because she didn't have to endure a number of hardships that many others experienced. Despite saying there were times when things were "rough financially because of the unexpected transition," she has looked at this as an opportunity to broaden her horizons and has looked at the change as being something positive.
For now, she calls Shreveport home though she'd consider moving back to New Orleans if certain things were in place. "The federal government needs to step up and start correcting infrastructure. There also needs to be reasonable housing and education. They need more businesses in the area."
Coxen considers herself blessed because she didn't lose any family members due to Katrina. She also voiced her gratitude to her family and the SUSLA family for their ongoing support.
"I want people to be inspired and know that they can do whatever it is that they need to accomplish. Yes, Katrina was a tragedy but people should know that they can get through it and move forward," she stated.
Talmadge B. Mitchel
On making the decision to leave his Gentilly neighborhood and permanently relocate to Shreveport, certified public accountant Talmadge B. Mitchel tells a quick story.
"We went to New Orleans, looked at our house, took a picture and said bye-bye house." He said he knows that may sound cold to some but he cannot dwell on things a lot.
"The things I miss can't be replaced. I have my life, my family and my faith. What's more important than that?"
Despite the fact that many people have moved from New Orleans, they're still connected to and concerned about the city. "Although my family moved, I'm in New Orleans a lot. I still have clients in the city."
Being active in New Orleans hasn't prevented him from making Shreveport home. "Of course I feel I am a part of the community," he said. "I was fortunate enough to work on the mayor's campaign and that definitely made me feel a part."
He said the only drawback to relocating is that he has to start his company from scratch and that requires a lot of traveling. "It will take some time, but I don't mind it taking time because I want to do it the right way."
Mitchel isn't sure people are grasping all that must happen in order for New Orleans to heal. "I don't think people understand the difficulty in rebuilding a city that was 80 percent destroyed."
He said his strength comes from his faith, adding, "I know who takes care of me and I know that I'll be taken care of."
These three stories are only a few of many Katrina stories. Each person highlighted stressed the importance of his or her faith and the endless possibility of success despite hardships and setbacks.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans metropolitan area. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to evacuate in only a couple of days, if they had that much time.
A number of those people found their way to northwest Louisiana. Since then, many have decided to make Shreveport home. Below are the stories of three people who left New Orleans to escape Katrina and found triumph in Shreveport.
Leonard Weather
Dr. Leonard Weather makes a point of being accessible to his patients even if it means he has to travel all over the state."I typically spend my weekends on the road. I make a point of seeing my patients in New Orleans, Houston, Lafayette and Baton Rouge."
He said his move from New Orleans to Shreveport was smooth because he's been on staff with Willis-Knighton for 10 years. He also added it helps that he and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Montgomery, an OB/GYN, already had a home in Shreveport.
Not having to worry about shelter gave him the opportunity to focus his energy on helping others. "I was communicating with a number of doctors from all over the world who were willing to come to Louisiana to help out. Because of my position with the National Medical Association, I was able to help get doctors to New Orleans," he said.
He's also using those same resources to help other physicians who are still dealing with Katrina-related issues and keeping people updated about the progress of Greater New Orleans.
"I regularly send out e-mails to doctors around the country letting them know how people are dealing with health-care issues, malpractice insurance and uncompensated care. That's in addition to telling them about the city."
A man who got into medicine to help people has stayed true to his initial goal.
He added, "I decided that I wanted to practice gynecology because of the numbers for black women who were misdiagnosed with needing hysterectomies. I want to enhance the quality of health care for all people."
Michelle Coxen
Michelle Coxen says that having her sister, Anita Coxen Loud, and family open their home to not only her, but her entire immediate family gave her an opportunity to succeed in Shreveport post-Katrina.
Before becoming the coordinator of media and public relations at Southern University-Shreveport, Coxen was with the New Orleans Police Department.
In addition to acclimating herself to a new city, she had to get her then 11-year-old son settled. She proudly states that he's doing well and has responded positively to the move.
She describes herself as fortunate because she didn't have to endure a number of hardships that many others experienced. Despite saying there were times when things were "rough financially because of the unexpected transition," she has looked at this as an opportunity to broaden her horizons and has looked at the change as being something positive.
For now, she calls Shreveport home though she'd consider moving back to New Orleans if certain things were in place. "The federal government needs to step up and start correcting infrastructure. There also needs to be reasonable housing and education. They need more businesses in the area."
Coxen considers herself blessed because she didn't lose any family members due to Katrina. She also voiced her gratitude to her family and the SUSLA family for their ongoing support.
"I want people to be inspired and know that they can do whatever it is that they need to accomplish. Yes, Katrina was a tragedy but people should know that they can get through it and move forward," she stated.
Talmadge B. Mitchel
On making the decision to leave his Gentilly neighborhood and permanently relocate to Shreveport, certified public accountant Talmadge B. Mitchel tells a quick story.
"We went to New Orleans, looked at our house, took a picture and said bye-bye house." He said he knows that may sound cold to some but he cannot dwell on things a lot.
"The things I miss can't be replaced. I have my life, my family and my faith. What's more important than that?"
Despite the fact that many people have moved from New Orleans, they're still connected to and concerned about the city. "Although my family moved, I'm in New Orleans a lot. I still have clients in the city."
Being active in New Orleans hasn't prevented him from making Shreveport home. "Of course I feel I am a part of the community," he said. "I was fortunate enough to work on the mayor's campaign and that definitely made me feel a part."
He said the only drawback to relocating is that he has to start his company from scratch and that requires a lot of traveling. "It will take some time, but I don't mind it taking time because I want to do it the right way."
Mitchel isn't sure people are grasping all that must happen in order for New Orleans to heal. "I don't think people understand the difficulty in rebuilding a city that was 80 percent destroyed."
He said his strength comes from his faith, adding, "I know who takes care of me and I know that I'll be taken care of."
These three stories are only a few of many Katrina stories. Each person highlighted stressed the importance of his or her faith and the endless possibility of success despite hardships and setbacks.
Katrina L. Rogers: We can all help in N.O. rebuilding effort
Published August 28, 2007
Two years ago, the largest, most destructive natural disaster changed Louisiana forever. The combination of a powerful hurricane, an inadequate Corps of Engineers design and a stalled response from the government provided the foundation to devastation all summed up with two words: Hurricane Katrina.
As some battle "Katrina fatigue" and others ponder why recovery efforts seem nonexistent in some areas, many people try to figure out how they can assist in the rebuilding of one of America's greatest cities. I have a short list of things we all can do to help.
Donations
I won't point fingers — at least not now — and say specific national or international organizations aren't using the money they received on behalf of Katrina recovery for Katrina. It goes without saying some entities may seemingly accept money under the guise of one specific effort while sending your hard earned money to, oh let's say, Asia or something.
There's nothing wrong with spreading the wealth, but sometimes you want what you send to go where you were trying to send it. Because of that, I suggest you give directly. If there's an organization, cause or field you're passionate about, give to a local branch instead of giving to huge corporations and hoping some of what you donated trickles down to the intended destination.
Money isn't the only thing you can give. Offer your time. Become a mentor or volunteer with groups or organizations that work on projects important to you. There are always opportunities with grass-roots institutions and they typically offer you a hands-on approach.
Political activism
State Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, says the biggest thing people in Shreveport and around the state can do to assist in Katrina recovery is "put pressure on their local delegation to assist in getting residents back to New Orleans." He went on to add that Rep. Patrick Williams and Sen. Lydia Jackson have been active in ensuring his city has the support it needs to recover.
Let's not limit our voices to our local politicians, we should also let New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C., lawmakers know that we're watching them and we have expectations. Even if you have no personal interest in the area, you should take note that what does or does not happen south of the Ark-La-Tex affects us here. Maybe this is a foreign concept to some, but 64 parishes create one Louisiana and we should act accordingly.
Offer a helping handand understanding
As cheesy and after-school special as it may sound, small gestures really do make a difference. Asking a person how things are coming along, being eager to introduce him or her to a support system, offering an ear or just simple words of encouragement could mean more than you'd ever imagine.
In our lifetime, there may never be a point when people can fairly ask, "When will they get over that?" For many people, especially children, the mental, emotional and social affects of Katrina will be long-term. Yes, people will rebuild houses and get new cars but that doesn't erase the damage of being trapped in subtropical conditions for nearly a week while powerful officials gave us their interpretation of what inadequate leadership looks like.
Most of us will never understand how it feels to lose your home. Not just your physical house but your home, your family, your past and what you thought would be your future. Because most us of won't experience that, we probably aren't in the position to tell people how they should feel.
With that being said, I want to commend all who have bravely endured hardships that many people will never be able to comprehend. Because of that, I don't call them Katrina victims but Katrina survivors.
###
Katrina L. Rogers is a member of The Times Community Board.
Two years ago, the largest, most destructive natural disaster changed Louisiana forever. The combination of a powerful hurricane, an inadequate Corps of Engineers design and a stalled response from the government provided the foundation to devastation all summed up with two words: Hurricane Katrina.
As some battle "Katrina fatigue" and others ponder why recovery efforts seem nonexistent in some areas, many people try to figure out how they can assist in the rebuilding of one of America's greatest cities. I have a short list of things we all can do to help.
Donations
I won't point fingers — at least not now — and say specific national or international organizations aren't using the money they received on behalf of Katrina recovery for Katrina. It goes without saying some entities may seemingly accept money under the guise of one specific effort while sending your hard earned money to, oh let's say, Asia or something.
There's nothing wrong with spreading the wealth, but sometimes you want what you send to go where you were trying to send it. Because of that, I suggest you give directly. If there's an organization, cause or field you're passionate about, give to a local branch instead of giving to huge corporations and hoping some of what you donated trickles down to the intended destination.
Money isn't the only thing you can give. Offer your time. Become a mentor or volunteer with groups or organizations that work on projects important to you. There are always opportunities with grass-roots institutions and they typically offer you a hands-on approach.
Political activism
State Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, says the biggest thing people in Shreveport and around the state can do to assist in Katrina recovery is "put pressure on their local delegation to assist in getting residents back to New Orleans." He went on to add that Rep. Patrick Williams and Sen. Lydia Jackson have been active in ensuring his city has the support it needs to recover.
Let's not limit our voices to our local politicians, we should also let New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C., lawmakers know that we're watching them and we have expectations. Even if you have no personal interest in the area, you should take note that what does or does not happen south of the Ark-La-Tex affects us here. Maybe this is a foreign concept to some, but 64 parishes create one Louisiana and we should act accordingly.
Offer a helping handand understanding
As cheesy and after-school special as it may sound, small gestures really do make a difference. Asking a person how things are coming along, being eager to introduce him or her to a support system, offering an ear or just simple words of encouragement could mean more than you'd ever imagine.
In our lifetime, there may never be a point when people can fairly ask, "When will they get over that?" For many people, especially children, the mental, emotional and social affects of Katrina will be long-term. Yes, people will rebuild houses and get new cars but that doesn't erase the damage of being trapped in subtropical conditions for nearly a week while powerful officials gave us their interpretation of what inadequate leadership looks like.
Most of us will never understand how it feels to lose your home. Not just your physical house but your home, your family, your past and what you thought would be your future. Because most us of won't experience that, we probably aren't in the position to tell people how they should feel.
With that being said, I want to commend all who have bravely endured hardships that many people will never be able to comprehend. Because of that, I don't call them Katrina victims but Katrina survivors.
###
Katrina L. Rogers is a member of The Times Community Board.
Debit or credit: Which one is better?
Published August 17, 2007
Dillard University alum and graduate student Charlotte Lovelace said she was ready to have a credit card when she turned 18.
She said, "Credit cards are for emergency expenses in the event I do not have enough money to cover certain necessities."
Financial discipline is imperative when aiming for a healthy financial record when dealing with credit cards. Sometimes the desire to spend is far stronger than the need to save; that's when debit cards, especially prepaid debit cards, become invaluable.
The difference between a debit card and credit card is that it's usually harder to spend money that you actually have. Credit cards typically aren't as "final answer-ish."
Even better for people who haven't perfected their budgeting skills is the prepaid debit card. This card is sometimes not linked to a bank account but, more importantly, it is not an extension of your checking account.
The prepaid debit card has it's own separate account that only gives you access to the amount of money you've placed into the account. It's similar to a regular debit card except the penalties for spending more than you'd like are limited. Once you've met your limit, you simply cannot use the card until you place more money into the account.
Ken Uffman, of the Louisiana Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, says the benefits of using a debit card instead of a credit card don't especially help with establishing financial responsibility and literacy.
He goes on to explain that financial literacy and responsibility are methods to eliminating a number of problems in the future. There are a number of consequences to having bad credit and one of the biggest ones that many people seem to overlook is trouble in the job market. "There are a number of good students who can't get jobs because of bad credit," Uffman says.
He adds, "Though a job search may seem unrelated to bad credit, many companies are beginning to add credit checks in addition to other background checks on applicants before offering a job. For employers, it offers a way of tracking the applicant's level of responsibility."
Lovelace advises young adults against spending money they don't have and what they could possibly never make. She also wishes she would have known about "annual membership fees."
Some tips from Uffman for teenagers and young adults in dealing with credit cards and budgeting:
Dillard University alum and graduate student Charlotte Lovelace said she was ready to have a credit card when she turned 18.
She said, "Credit cards are for emergency expenses in the event I do not have enough money to cover certain necessities."
Financial discipline is imperative when aiming for a healthy financial record when dealing with credit cards. Sometimes the desire to spend is far stronger than the need to save; that's when debit cards, especially prepaid debit cards, become invaluable.
The difference between a debit card and credit card is that it's usually harder to spend money that you actually have. Credit cards typically aren't as "final answer-ish."
Even better for people who haven't perfected their budgeting skills is the prepaid debit card. This card is sometimes not linked to a bank account but, more importantly, it is not an extension of your checking account.
The prepaid debit card has it's own separate account that only gives you access to the amount of money you've placed into the account. It's similar to a regular debit card except the penalties for spending more than you'd like are limited. Once you've met your limit, you simply cannot use the card until you place more money into the account.
Ken Uffman, of the Louisiana Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, says the benefits of using a debit card instead of a credit card don't especially help with establishing financial responsibility and literacy.
He goes on to explain that financial literacy and responsibility are methods to eliminating a number of problems in the future. There are a number of consequences to having bad credit and one of the biggest ones that many people seem to overlook is trouble in the job market. "There are a number of good students who can't get jobs because of bad credit," Uffman says.
He adds, "Though a job search may seem unrelated to bad credit, many companies are beginning to add credit checks in addition to other background checks on applicants before offering a job. For employers, it offers a way of tracking the applicant's level of responsibility."
Lovelace advises young adults against spending money they don't have and what they could possibly never make. She also wishes she would have known about "annual membership fees."
Some tips from Uffman for teenagers and young adults in dealing with credit cards and budgeting:
- Pay yourself first.
- You cannot properly budget if you have not set aside a specific amount for your savings account.
- Before marriage, couples should review each other's credit background and history.
- Don't ignore the consequences of defaulting on credit accounts.
- Parents should get their teens a low-limit credit card, if getting a card is necessary.
- Parents should explicitly explain the downfalls of not being a responsible consumer.
- Check credit reports on a regular basis for any incorrect information or identity theft.
- If you suspect identity theft make a police report and contact a credit bureau.
- Buy credit card reports at least four months apart.
- Focus on purchasing your needs instead of your wants.
- Remember that once you defer, you will end up paying more for the product than it's worth.
- Track your expenses for one month to pick up on and address patterns.
Lovelace says she has no financial regrets but says she's actively saving for the future. When asked if she's concerned about having credit issues in the future she responds, "No, I try to stay on top of things like that."
Unfortunately, she may be the atypical 22-year-old.
Katrina L. Rogers: CNN generation fully engaged
Published August 3, 2007
I have yet to make it to 25 years, but I vote. I've been a registered voter since I was 18. I've even been registered in two states. I care about politics and policies. I'm familiar with the candidates and I pay attention to what's going on in Baton Rouge.
I always find it so interesting when people say that my generation is an apathetic one. I participated in forums when young black women decided to take a stand against degrading music.
I worked with a group of students who launched their own fundraiser so they could charter buses from Atlanta to New Orleans so that they could assist in rebuilding the city. Shortly after Katrina and Rita devastated the coast, hundreds of students — most between the ages of 17 and 21 — went out and did what they believed needed to be done.
I have spent countless days assisting with voter registration. The majority of those new voters were people 25 and under, a group that is supposedly uninformed, void of passion and disinterested.
According to USA Today, 20 million people under the age of 30 voted in the 2004 presidential election. That's a lot of votes from a group of people who just don't care.
If anything, I'd like to believe that people 30 and under are a special bunch that's ready to implement change both domestically and internationally.
I'm glad that people of this age range are stepping up because the thought of our next group of leaders coming from the crop of individuals born in the early 1970s and teens in the 1980s concerns me.
There's not much wrong with this group besides being credited as extremely selfish with a narrow outlook on life. It's not their fault. They just happen to have parents who made the big switcheroo from civil rights and free love to McMansions and creating yuppies.
My generation, however, was the first to grow up with CNN in our homes. We were small children in elementary school when Bernard Shaw broadcast live from the Gulf War.
More than ever, global communication is readily available which gives us the opportunity to see and hear events from someone else's point of view. That explains why a presidential debate can be held via YouTube and why Bobby Jindal has a Facebook account.
I believe the Internet plays a significant role in how we not only see the world but how we're all ultimately alike in a number of ways, and why we trust that we can — and should — change things for all of us.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
I have yet to make it to 25 years, but I vote. I've been a registered voter since I was 18. I've even been registered in two states. I care about politics and policies. I'm familiar with the candidates and I pay attention to what's going on in Baton Rouge.
I always find it so interesting when people say that my generation is an apathetic one. I participated in forums when young black women decided to take a stand against degrading music.
I worked with a group of students who launched their own fundraiser so they could charter buses from Atlanta to New Orleans so that they could assist in rebuilding the city. Shortly after Katrina and Rita devastated the coast, hundreds of students — most between the ages of 17 and 21 — went out and did what they believed needed to be done.
I have spent countless days assisting with voter registration. The majority of those new voters were people 25 and under, a group that is supposedly uninformed, void of passion and disinterested.
According to USA Today, 20 million people under the age of 30 voted in the 2004 presidential election. That's a lot of votes from a group of people who just don't care.
If anything, I'd like to believe that people 30 and under are a special bunch that's ready to implement change both domestically and internationally.
I'm glad that people of this age range are stepping up because the thought of our next group of leaders coming from the crop of individuals born in the early 1970s and teens in the 1980s concerns me.
There's not much wrong with this group besides being credited as extremely selfish with a narrow outlook on life. It's not their fault. They just happen to have parents who made the big switcheroo from civil rights and free love to McMansions and creating yuppies.
My generation, however, was the first to grow up with CNN in our homes. We were small children in elementary school when Bernard Shaw broadcast live from the Gulf War.
More than ever, global communication is readily available which gives us the opportunity to see and hear events from someone else's point of view. That explains why a presidential debate can be held via YouTube and why Bobby Jindal has a Facebook account.
I believe the Internet plays a significant role in how we not only see the world but how we're all ultimately alike in a number of ways, and why we trust that we can — and should — change things for all of us.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
Article: "Katrina L. Rogers: In Black and White: Media Portrayals Impact Self-Images"
Published April 20, 2007
"I remember when I was little and told that I can't be a princess because I'm black and princesses can't be black," says teen filmmaker Kiri Davis. Davis' film, "A Girl Like Me," is informing people that the self-consciousness caused by poor race relations in America has not changed much in the past 60 years.
Davis, like many young African-Americans, struggles with constant negative portrayals of blacks in the media. Racism, misogyny, colorism, distorted values, a lackluster community base and absent leaders all play major roles in the limited positive images of blacks in the public eye. Davis' film solidifies this argument.
Nicole Duncan-Smith, youth media specialist and author of the children's book, "I Am Hip-Hop," says, "Children cannot be left to their own devices in determining who they are and what their sense of idealized self should be. They come to us for direction and we ought to give it to them."
A recent development is Disney's announcement of its first animated black princess. The company's coming feature film "The Frog Princess" will star Maddy, a black chambermaid in New Orleans. The tentative setting is the French Quarter in the 1920s.
Many African-American mothers hope this film will assist in giving young black children a boost in confidence when they see a character who resembles them, though Disney has received criticism because of its needy portrayal of women.
The first half of Davis' film shows young African-American women talking about struggles with self-worth for black girls because of a lack of cultural connection and the need to live up to a European standard of beauty.
The second half covers a doll study created by Dr. Kenneth Clark and his wife, Mamie. His test presented the harmful effects of racism on black children and was used as evidence to support desegregation in the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.
In the test, kindergarten-aged children are placed in front of a table with two dolls, one white and one black. The children are then asked to select the doll they believe is better. In Clark's study, an overwhelming majority selected the white doll.
Six decades later, "A Girl Like Me" shows 15 of 21 children tested saying they prefer to play with the white doll, or that the white doll is nice while the black doll is considered bad. One young girl says the black doll is bad and then says she looks like the bad doll. Though disappointing, these results aren't particularly shocking when a great deal of African-American images portrayed in the media are negative.
Despite the fact that many notable scholars, humanitarians, politicians, artists, spiritual leaders and scientists are of African descent, black children in America are constantly reminded that they are not ideal. English philosopher John Locke argued children are born tabula rasa, or a blank slate, and if that's the case, some outside source is making a number of black children believe they're inferior.
Melanie Davis, a fifth-grade teacher at Lakeshore Elementary in Shreveport says it comes from, "the images that they see on TV. Images that don't especially look like them seem to be the standard of beauty ... not them. It is hard to try and tell a student that they are beautiful on both the inside and the outside when all they see in the media is not their image."
Most importantly, let children know that they are loved for who they are and teach them to love themselves. Duncan-Smith adds, "I know that my daughter won't see herself as a queen if I leave it to her 7-year-old mind to interpret her world. It is my duty to place her on her throne."
Katrina L. Rogers is one of several twentysomethings columnists who appear on Fridays. Send comments to shreveportopinion@gannett.com.
"I remember when I was little and told that I can't be a princess because I'm black and princesses can't be black," says teen filmmaker Kiri Davis. Davis' film, "A Girl Like Me," is informing people that the self-consciousness caused by poor race relations in America has not changed much in the past 60 years.
Davis, like many young African-Americans, struggles with constant negative portrayals of blacks in the media. Racism, misogyny, colorism, distorted values, a lackluster community base and absent leaders all play major roles in the limited positive images of blacks in the public eye. Davis' film solidifies this argument.
Nicole Duncan-Smith, youth media specialist and author of the children's book, "I Am Hip-Hop," says, "Children cannot be left to their own devices in determining who they are and what their sense of idealized self should be. They come to us for direction and we ought to give it to them."
A recent development is Disney's announcement of its first animated black princess. The company's coming feature film "The Frog Princess" will star Maddy, a black chambermaid in New Orleans. The tentative setting is the French Quarter in the 1920s.
Many African-American mothers hope this film will assist in giving young black children a boost in confidence when they see a character who resembles them, though Disney has received criticism because of its needy portrayal of women.
The first half of Davis' film shows young African-American women talking about struggles with self-worth for black girls because of a lack of cultural connection and the need to live up to a European standard of beauty.
The second half covers a doll study created by Dr. Kenneth Clark and his wife, Mamie. His test presented the harmful effects of racism on black children and was used as evidence to support desegregation in the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.
In the test, kindergarten-aged children are placed in front of a table with two dolls, one white and one black. The children are then asked to select the doll they believe is better. In Clark's study, an overwhelming majority selected the white doll.
Six decades later, "A Girl Like Me" shows 15 of 21 children tested saying they prefer to play with the white doll, or that the white doll is nice while the black doll is considered bad. One young girl says the black doll is bad and then says she looks like the bad doll. Though disappointing, these results aren't particularly shocking when a great deal of African-American images portrayed in the media are negative.
Despite the fact that many notable scholars, humanitarians, politicians, artists, spiritual leaders and scientists are of African descent, black children in America are constantly reminded that they are not ideal. English philosopher John Locke argued children are born tabula rasa, or a blank slate, and if that's the case, some outside source is making a number of black children believe they're inferior.
Melanie Davis, a fifth-grade teacher at Lakeshore Elementary in Shreveport says it comes from, "the images that they see on TV. Images that don't especially look like them seem to be the standard of beauty ... not them. It is hard to try and tell a student that they are beautiful on both the inside and the outside when all they see in the media is not their image."
Most importantly, let children know that they are loved for who they are and teach them to love themselves. Duncan-Smith adds, "I know that my daughter won't see herself as a queen if I leave it to her 7-year-old mind to interpret her world. It is my duty to place her on her throne."
Katrina L. Rogers is one of several twentysomethings columnists who appear on Fridays. Send comments to shreveportopinion@gannett.com.
Katrina L. Rogers: 'Sicko' quarantine in effect for local theaters
Published July 20, 2007
Because I'm a resident of "the next great city of the South," I was under the impression that I could hop into my car and head to a local theater so I could catch the latest Michael Moore health care documentary, "Sicko."
Well, I guess I can technically do that if my definition of local is liberal enough.
Longview is the nearest city that's showing the Moore film exploring healthcare — or a serious lack thereof for millions — in America.
Longview is about 70 miles from my house.
If, for some reason, I want to support a Louisiana business and see "Sicko" in state, I'd have to hop on I-49 and head towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette and New Orleans suburb Harahan are the only cities in the state that are showing "Sicko."
Harahan with all of about 10,000 residents, is offering what Shreveport cannot — a screen dedicated just for "Sicko."
Cinemark, the parent company of Tinseltown is showing "Sicko." Well, they're showing "Sicko" in Reno, Nev.
Several "great" cities of the South (Austin, Charlotte, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas) are all showing "Sicko" at local AMC and Regal Cinemas.
We have two Regal Cinemas in Shreveport-Bossier (Regal Bossier Corners Cinema 9 and the Boardwalk Theater) yet, neither are showing the documentary.
So after calling both local Regal theaters several times, I was told by a manager of the Boardwalk Regal that if I wanted to see the film I should go to a larger city.
Thanks.
But Harahan, Longview and, some could argue, New Orleans aren't larger than Shreveport-Bossier City.
Next, I call Regal's corporate headquarters in Knoxville and they tell me the film company, Lionsgate, decides when and where the film is being shown.
Of course, I called Lionsgate next and I was floored by the information the guy on the other end of the phone shared.Well, not really.
He told me, like the local Regal and Regal corporate that "Sicko" is only being shown on 700 screens nationwide. He went on to say, "If you want the movie to be shown locally, call your theater and tell them."
When I asked him how many calls needed to be made before the company took heed, he forwarded me to someone's voice mail. I left a message but I don't really expect to hear anything.
By the way, everyone I talked to said they couldn't give their names. In fact, the manager at the Boardwalk's Regal only gave me the general manager's name, Mike Nelson, after I asked her several times.
I'll leave you with what I got out of this excursion; Hollywood doesn't especially think we're the next great city of the South that we're bound to be and until they start to recognize our unlimited potential, we should call both Regal Cinemas and other theaters like crazy telling them we want to see "Sicko" — and other limited released films — until we get what we want.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
Because I'm a resident of "the next great city of the South," I was under the impression that I could hop into my car and head to a local theater so I could catch the latest Michael Moore health care documentary, "Sicko."
Well, I guess I can technically do that if my definition of local is liberal enough.
Longview is the nearest city that's showing the Moore film exploring healthcare — or a serious lack thereof for millions — in America.
Longview is about 70 miles from my house.
If, for some reason, I want to support a Louisiana business and see "Sicko" in state, I'd have to hop on I-49 and head towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette and New Orleans suburb Harahan are the only cities in the state that are showing "Sicko."
Harahan with all of about 10,000 residents, is offering what Shreveport cannot — a screen dedicated just for "Sicko."
Cinemark, the parent company of Tinseltown is showing "Sicko." Well, they're showing "Sicko" in Reno, Nev.
Several "great" cities of the South (Austin, Charlotte, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas) are all showing "Sicko" at local AMC and Regal Cinemas.
We have two Regal Cinemas in Shreveport-Bossier (Regal Bossier Corners Cinema 9 and the Boardwalk Theater) yet, neither are showing the documentary.
So after calling both local Regal theaters several times, I was told by a manager of the Boardwalk Regal that if I wanted to see the film I should go to a larger city.
Thanks.
But Harahan, Longview and, some could argue, New Orleans aren't larger than Shreveport-Bossier City.
Next, I call Regal's corporate headquarters in Knoxville and they tell me the film company, Lionsgate, decides when and where the film is being shown.
Of course, I called Lionsgate next and I was floored by the information the guy on the other end of the phone shared.Well, not really.
He told me, like the local Regal and Regal corporate that "Sicko" is only being shown on 700 screens nationwide. He went on to say, "If you want the movie to be shown locally, call your theater and tell them."
When I asked him how many calls needed to be made before the company took heed, he forwarded me to someone's voice mail. I left a message but I don't really expect to hear anything.
By the way, everyone I talked to said they couldn't give their names. In fact, the manager at the Boardwalk's Regal only gave me the general manager's name, Mike Nelson, after I asked her several times.
I'll leave you with what I got out of this excursion; Hollywood doesn't especially think we're the next great city of the South that we're bound to be and until they start to recognize our unlimited potential, we should call both Regal Cinemas and other theaters like crazy telling them we want to see "Sicko" — and other limited released films — until we get what we want.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
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