BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Michael Baisden and The Family Kicked it at Atlanta Fundraiser As Controversy Swirls
November 13th, 2007
I’ve been very reserved in going after Baisden. After his completely unwarranted and factually incorrect attack on real grassroots organizers Color of Change on Monday November 5th; with my initial comments having only been on list serves and via emails, even as my fellow Afrospear Bloggers were going public in their criticism of Baisden by the end of the week. Even then my only public comment was a response to a blog post where I pointed out the ridiculousness of Marcus Jones (Mychael Bell’s dad) claiming he doesn’t know the folks at Color of Change and Friends of Justice (two social activist groups who have been on the ground in Jena for months and have long had direct contact with the families)
Baisden’s actions and words would suggest he’s never engaged in any grassroots organizing; and doesn’t seem to have a clue as to how it works. I would suggest that the Love, Lust, and Lies author hasn’t so much as read a book on the matter. Sorry, but you can’t be an organizer from the ivory tower comforts of a radio studio. Real organizing happens in the field, bruh.
Contrary to popular misconception, Michael Baisden and Al Sharpton didn’t organize the Jena March. First of all, the march was planned before either of them had ever even mentioned or apparently knew about the Jena 6. It was planned back in July as follow up to the previous march to the DA’s office (peep my post about it on Aug 2nd), which most people don’t even know about. Color of Change was one of the initiators of the September 20 march, but willingly took a back seat when Sharpton and Baisden jumped on board and the families asked them to take the lead; obviously because of their public notoriety.
Color of Change quietly played the background and worked on organizing its members across the nation in the capacity of helping to facilitate them in organizing bus trips locally. I know this firsthand as one of the folks who helped to organize 10 buses from Nashville, I was in constant contact with Color of Change in the weeks leading up to the March, getting and giving information both ways.
I’ve long wondered what Baisden was going to do with the money he’s been raising and how it was going to be distributed, and what the process of transparency would be. I was always troubled that he hadn’t given any specifics on these points, but I kept quiet on it as to not unfairly disparage the brother; and as not to cause bickering and suspicion that would hurt the movement. I only wish Mr. Baisden shared my sense of prudence.
But as Baisden himself likes to say Enough is Enough! It’s time to come clean brotha! Where’s the money? How much have you raised? Where is it going? How can we verify where it goes? Why did you attack Color of Change by proxy of Marcus Jones when Color of Change gave you the facts before you let him go on the air? Why did you personally attack Color of Change President James Rucker, who is a real and cherished social justice organizer? Why won’t you apologize? Just saying opps, we got some wrong info(when you were actually given the right info from the horses mouth ahead of time) and saying that we’re moving forward, is sweeping it under the rug. It’s neither an apology nor a correction of the distortions charged against Color of Change by you and your proxies for two days.
I’ve finally read/heard the first revelation of how Baisden plans to determine who gets the money. Even yet, its not detailed; but it’s the first info at all whatsoever. According to Eurweb “The National Bar Association led by attorney Daryl Washington will serve as the central processing hub, which will qualify cases and designate recipients/causes for these funds.”
That still doesn’t provide any transparency, or let us know what the process of accountability will be.
Our friend Howard Witt, the Journalist most credited with breaking the Jena 6 story nationally (there’s any number of entities taking credit), notifies us that “Michael Baisden…has declined to reveal how much he has collected. Attorneys for the first defendant to go to trial, Mychal Bell, say they have yet to receive any money from him.” http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/356069.html
On neither of his Baisden Show nor his Mingle City websites do I find anything about the fundraiser just days after it took place. I do, however, find a graphic to donate to his Web-a-thon to send more money to Lord knows where, that I still don’t know how will be verified and accounted for.
Color of Change has accounted for all of the money it’s collected and distributed to the Jena 6 lawyers. Also I can verify that the donation that I made to the real estate agent who was collecting outside the court house during the Jena 6 March made it to Mychael Bell attorney Lewis Scott.
So that’s two entities who can account for the donations they’ve taken in. Mike, what’s up?
If you’re not familiar with the controversy read here as Color of Change proves it gave more than 200,000 dollars in donation to Jena 6 lawyers, and Marcus Jones signed off on it.
posted in News & Events, Politics, Thoughts | | | View blog reactions |
8 Responses to “Michael Baisden and The Family Kicked it at Atlanta Fundraiser As Controversy Swirls”
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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My People, Dr. King ,Malcolm didnt have a radio shows they did not appoint themselfs .
They had a calling.
Yeah, Baisden has shown himself to be just a radio personality who needs to leave social activism and leadership up to people who are serious about it and who are willing to be seasoned by working their way through the ranks; not just jumping to the front of the line because they have a major corperate platform.
this Jena 6 issue has brought to bare the problem with the
black community that has haunted us since the passing of the
greats (Malcolm X and Dr. King) The presumptive claim of
leadership of black people by anyone person or organization is myopic.
We have made Jena central to this movement when in fact it
was just a moment. Instead of spending time criticizing Baisden
or anyone else for what they do or how they do it you and I should
should stop being watchdogs and handle the issues of our own locales,
because if “tha hood” where you live looks like “my hood” then
there is enough work to keep you busy right there under your nose.
bloggers, political demogagues, and critics of all persuasions just
get on with the work! Anyhow, how are we going to raise a nation using
a medium like the internet to communicate our best ideas and strategies for
ameliorating our myriad of problems. The movement would be over before
it began. I suggest all of you cyber-revolutionaries slow down the
attacks on Baisden. After all, we can have unity without uniformity.
peace
“the attack on Baisden”?
Sorry that’s incorrect, the attack was by Baisden on Color of Change. His attack is proven to be a lie, and he has not corrected it. I gave him a week to do the right thing before I said anything and he has not.
Please inform me of the reason you think that Baisden should be allowed to slander organizers or anyone for that matter without a response?
And being condescending with terms like “Internet revolutionaries” isn’t going to get you anywhere with anyone. You first might want to know something about the people and their work to whom you refer. I and many others of us are in the field not just on the net. But the net is a useful medium which I and many others will continue to use just as anything else that is useful.
Baisden should be in the boat as Don Imus , his words didn’t just damage it hurt the movement. It hurt the Grass root organizers.
As it is sad, his shame is upon him.
Again, Baisden want all the credit…our communty only move forward with shared responsibility and completly understanding and respecting rolls. Baisden has broken the rules. He violated the trust of his small followers. I’m sure that there is more to follow! Baisden expoised!
Yeah Ric, Mike done got way out of pocket and violated all of our trusts.