The Yasmin Shiraz Retaliation Movement

Chris Brown & Rihanna? Fight? Threats? Physical Altercation?

2009-02-09T19:25:00.002-05:00

It is with much disappointment that I write about Chris Brown and Rihanna on my Retaliation blog. This blog is about acts of violence and acts of retaliation--two acts that I never thought I'd associate with Chris Brown and Rihanna. But news reports across the TV and the web (www.people.com www.bossip.com ; www.theybf.com) have all reported that Chris Brown turned himself in to Los Angeles Police for felony criminal threats charges.

I'm not going to repeat everything that is circulating in the news. I'm simply going to say that acts of violence are unacceptable. A man hitting a woman is unacceptable. A man beating on a woman is unacceptable.

I'm not going to judge Chris Brown or Rihanna, but it is my sincere hope that the things that are being reported in the news are not true. It is my hope that Chris Brown--with all that talent--knows how to treat a woman. It is my hope that Rihanna--with all of her style--knows how to treat a man.

Now, I will watch, as will most of you, to see how this story unfolds. But people if you are in a position to help either Chris or Rihanna, and you know that they have a problem, please help them. Do not wait for their business to show up on the news as it did on Grammy night. As a side note, I must say, the saddest part of Grammy night was realizing that I wouldn't see C. Breezy perform. If anger management is the problem, let's handle it because it has clearly become an issue.

Peace and love,

Retaliation made the Top Ten!

2009-01-28T17:19:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to all the authors who write great books for young adults and a huge thank you to the YALSA division of ALA---the young adult librarians who believe in promoting and supporting young adult authors.

http://http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/quickpicks/09topten.cfm

Black on Black Violence: 5 Reasons & 5 Solutions

2009-01-25T12:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the news out of Florida reported that there was a mass shooting in the Liberty City area of Miami. According to the reports, a man pulled out a gun and sprayed it into a crowd of people who were watching a game of craps being played. "Why did this happen?," people in the community are asking themselves. Why--in this predominantly black community--has this kind of violence become the norm?

Here's 5 reasons.

1. People in the community are frustrated with a lack of jobs, poverty, etc. which leads to committing violence acts.

2. People in the community are uneducated (don't know how to win in this society) and thus feel powerless over their situations which leads to committing violent acts.

3. Lack of positive, educated male figures in the home who are making it in the society results in no direction for the black male.

4. Repeated negative imaging of black males in the media leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy for some.

5. Families are making too many excuses for their children and allowing their children to get away with too much. This lack of discipline gives the children the wrong idea that a lack of self control is okay when it's not. Lack of self control leads to violent acts being committed.

Here's 5 solutions.

1. Learn a trade. Go to trade school. Plumbing, computer science, electrician, etc. These are jobs that remain in demand in our society. These jobs offer steady wages and can lift families out of poverty.

2. Graduate from high school. Go to college. Education puts an end to poverty. Learn about what you need to do to provide for your family. Education is your ticket out of America's ghettos.

3. If you're a black man, be a man. Mentor a young boy- POSITIVELY. If you are making it out here, talk to your sister's kid, or your niece's son about life. Allow a male relative who doesn't have a positive role model to hang out with you. Save his life by showing him a better way.

4. Shut off the TV. Cut off the Radio. Do not read magazines or newspapers that are constantly telling you that the black man is a menace. Read books, and listen to radio that is going to uplift you. Books by Na'eem Akbar and Haki Mahubuti are necessary reading for black males who want to change the projection of their future.

5.Do not condone slack behavior by your kid. If he is being a bully at school, put him in check. If he is doing things that aren't right, talk to him about what living right is. Just because your male child knows right from wrong doesn't mean he's a punk. When you allow your child to do the wrong things as a kid, you are guaranteeing he's going to do the wrong things as an adult. Man up or Sista Up and stand up for your child today.

And overall, as a people we need to do better in talking to our kids, being there, and being an example of how to live your life. If you are selling yourself short, you can believe your child will too. How can we ask our kids to be better children, if we will not be better parents? You know what the right things are. Get off drugs! Stop being an absentee father. Stop bringing a bunch of different dudes in front of your kids. Stop spending more time at the hair salon instead of doing homework with your kids.

When people wonder why violence is a problem I think violence took over when education stopped being the main focus. People are so excited about President Barack Obama. President Barack is an educated man. He came from a broken home, but he got his education. And people still wonder what difference does an education make? Education is the difference between your child growing up to become a murderer or the next president of the United States. Who is your child gonna be?

To read the article that inspired this blogpost, click below:

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/871201.html

YALSA Quick Picks 2009

2009-01-24T17:07:00.000-05:00

Hello there,
In late 2008, my book Retaliation was nominated as a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. During the 2009 YALSA Quick Picks Conference,January 24 - 26th, 2009 my book will be discussed. These discussions will decide if my book actually makes the final cut that goes out to librarians across the country. It is my prayer and hope that my book makes this prestigious list. I'm asking everyone who has read Retaliation or who is reading this blog to send a prayer up for Retaliation during January 24 - 26th.

My independent press, Rolling Hills, published Retaliation. And we are committed to sharing real life stories with young people. So, again, it is an honor for me to be able to do what I do and get this kind of recognition. I don't take it lightly.

Peace and blessings,
Yasmin Shiraz

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T20:50:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe! Do the things this year that you only dreamt about last year.
Peace,
Yasmin

Retaliation Nominated for Award by ALA's YALSA Division

2008-12-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,
Thanks for your support. I had to let you know that Retaliation was nominated for the Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers by the American Library Association's YALSA division. It's quite an honor to even be nominated. So, I'm super excited. Let's keep our fingers crossed and keep praying...
Peace,
Yasmin

"Retaliation" Letter from teen girl in juvenile facility

2008-08-13T10:01:00.000-04:00

In May 2008, I visited the Oakland Juvenile Detention Facility and talked about my books girls being held in the facility. Here is one of the letters.

Dear Yasmin,
I really appreciate you taking the time to come out and share your thoughts with us. It really meant a lot to me. I really liked the book Retaliation. I learned from reading your book that retaliation is not always the best way to go.
From many experiences I've always retaliated and the problems only escalated. I think that your book is a book that all teens should read. It may prevent something that might have been ready to take place. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Keishawn. P.S. I may save that book for my son in the future.

I'm Gonna Change The World - Trailer

2008-08-12T23:46:00.001-04:00

This is the trailer for a documentary that I'm working on that asks young people about the different ways they would like to change the world.

14 Year Old Gunman Shoots Classmates & Teachers

2007-10-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

You’ve undoubtedly heard about the shooting at SuccessTech Academy high school in Cleveland, Ohio. Asa Coon, a 14 year old gunman who was on suspension for a fight with another student went into the school and shot and wounded four people before killing himself. As the news reports surface, I’ve learned that other students went to the principal and told her that Asa had a gun the week before and that he was threatening to harm people. Nothing was done.

In Asa Coon’s personal record is a history of mental problems, two stints in a juvenile facility, being disrespectful to teachers, arguing with other students, threatening to commit suicide while at a juvenile facility and domestic violence in his own home. This young man had problems that nobody seemed to be able to solve and yet he was able to roam free at school being a potential threat to everyone around him--Virginia Tech all over again.

Our system of government, of public schools, of community safety is failing us if we are putting innocent bystanders in classrooms with mentally disturbed children with guns. How many re-runs of this story do we need? A mentally unstable kid, gets a gun. Other kids find out and tell adults. The adults don’t do anything. Kids get hurt. Kids get killed. I’m tired of this story. I’m real tired.

Listen to the audio: http://web.mac.com/yasminshiraz

Haitians Gangs Staying Busy

2007-09-27T23:27:00.000-04:00

Today it was reported by The Miami Herald that Haitian gangs in Southern Florida are different from some of the traditional US gangs because they rule by committee, use automatic weapons, and engage in extreme violence. They don't wear the colors to distinguish themselves, but still have turf battles, peddle drugs and have been involved in investigations that have sent numerous members to prison.

It's interesting to note that I spoke at Deerfield Beach High School in Florida earlier this year and this Miami Herald article cited that Haitian-Americans and African-Americans were involved in a turf war that needed a cease fire. Haitian-Americans and African-American youth can't get along because of their culture? They're both considered minority groups and at first glance, they're both considered black--no more than the other, no less than the other.

What are the parents of these youth saying? What are the Haitian parents saying about African Americans? And what are the African American parents saying about the Haitians? Who benefits when Haitian American youth and African American youth fight? Who benefits when they kill each other? I don't see how either side benefits.

When I visited Deerfield Beach, a teacher told me of the tension between the Haitian students and the black students. I asked her why did she think that they couldn't get along? She didn't really have answer. It seems in this society, we're not happy unless we find some other culture, some other person, some other people to hate.

To read the article: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/251800.html