7.30.04.e-mail

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Greetings To all, my on-line family:

For the past few months we have been experiencing a number of senseless killings of our children here in DC and Maryland, and yet another young one was gunned down early this week. 15 year old honor roll student, Myesha Lowe a lovely young lady was killed in DC while sitting in a car. I have asked on numerous occasions, why? Why are there so many killings/murders among our young folks? It's truly baffling to me why this is happening. Yesterday as I drove around the city it seemed that every other corner had a spot filled with Teddy Bears, flowers and other artifacts which I assumed was a memorial to someone who was recently killed at those spots. This is really sad, and it makes no sense. Yes, we all have to die sometime, but it should not be at the hands of our brothers, sisters, neighbors, and even friends. So again, I guess it's time for us to look within ourselves and figure out why, and then we must find a solution of how we are going to stop these horrible crimes committed by, and to our young people. A few years ago black people in America had to worry about racism, the KKK, lynchings and other hate related crimes perpetrated on us by the white majority in this country (which wasn't so long ago), now we are basically committing these hateful crimes to each other. What has this world come to? These hate groups must be sitting back laughing at the fact that we are doing their work for them. Have we forgotten our history? Do we not know our history? Well, history is very important because many died in the struggled for us to have the freedoms we have now. Please, let us all come up with a solution to stop all these senseless killings. Some may say this is bigger than us, some may say this was planned hundreds of years ago, when they took us away, but we have the power to change things. Many of you who have read these commentaries for a while know I like to refer to the "crab in the barrel" mentality, that we as black people have. I think this has something to do with the problems that we are seeing daily in our communities. We can't see others become successful, and before they achieve any type of success we try and pull them down, now it's gotten to an extreme where we kill each other. We've got to find a solution!!!!!

For the last few years you have been receiving our e-mails and the purpose was to talk about events, entertainment and things that are fun, but it seems as though even fun isn't fun anymore. It's sad when you go out for a night of entertainment, and because of what those few "bad apples" have done, we all must be panelized. Why is it when we as black people go out to a "black club" we have to be searched, humiliated, made to feel like we are criminals and guilty just for showing up. This is sad, we have a serious problem! Of course, I've been exposed through my DJing experiences, and through research (by recently attending) some "non black" clubs and entertainment establishments, and found that the treatment you receive is totally different. Everyone seems to be genuinely friendly, it actually seems as though they appreciate having you as a customer, and having your business, because if you think about it they are indeed in a service business, and the customer should be served, not "stripped searched" upon entry. Tell me who's to blame for this? Not the club, not the police, not the government...WE ARE, because it's our children that are committing these crimes. I know somebody is going to write me back and say "it's not all children" or some other excuse like that. Well, you are wrong, they are all our children, and when one goes wrong, we are all responsible. Remember the saying "it takes a village to raise a child", you are a part of that village. Just because you think you may have reached some type of success, you can turn your back on the problems of those who are less fortunate or may not have been exposed to the opportunities that the fortunate has. You need to reach back and pull 10 people up with you and teach them how to nurture our community. It's important for us here at Arious Entertainment to do our part and again the internet is a great way for us to communicate nationwide, so we intend to utilize the internet to help empower and uplift the black community in America, which I am a part of. So we will be launching another new site in the next few months called BlackNAmerica.com, where we can address all of these issues that are facing black people in America. Not only are we going to talk about the problems we face, we are going to find solutions to the problems. If you care about the black community in America and you too are troubled by what's happening, please hit me back, so together we can make a difference todd@ariousenertainment.com.

A few nights ago I had the opportunity to witness this "crabs in a barrel" mentality. As many of you know DC Caribbean Carnival took place at the end of June and from all accounts this was one of the most successful events in Washington DC. This event attracted over 750,000 people to Georgia Avenue, N.W., which was the heart of the black community in Washington DC. Carnival in DC is made up of many aspects including the parade which features masquerade bands, these are the groups that design and make the elaborate costumes that is featured in the parade that we call "Carnival". The parade here features a truck with music, where the masqueraders parade behind the trucks. Well, last night the organizers held a "wrap up" meeting with the leaders of these bands and it was a major spectacle. Instead of spending 2 & 1/2 hours discussing any shortcomings or challenges during this Carnival, along with the solutions, and most importantly how this event can grow, the leaders of these masquerade bands spent the entire time fighting, criticized and placing blame for their mistakes (in my opinion). Most of the groups that took part in this parade have done this for the love of the culture, and most don't make a profit, but the one (1) and/or two (2) major bands who were making the most "noise" in the meeting I know are probably the only groups that make a profit. However, it seems they do everything in their power to destroy an event that has given them the opportunity to make such a great profit each and every year. I know they are going to say I'm crazy and they don't make any money, but I know what it cost to put a masquerade band in Carnival. I know they have around 200 people in their groups, and I know the amounts they charge for their costumes (approximately $200.00), and when you do the math, that equals to approximately $40,000.00. It doesn't cost that much to put a band in Carnival, nor to design and make their costumes, so there's a whole lot of profit there. Not to mention if they receive sponsorships, then there expenses are a lot less, so realistically if this event has provided them with an opportunity to make this type of money in one day, I really don't think all the nasty comments that were being made, the hating and blaming are warranted. Stop trying to tear each other down. However, really and truly, I know they are not to blame, it's just an example of the "crabs in a barrel" situation. Additionally, we have this thing where we feel the "grass is greener on the other side". All I heard in this meeting was praises for other Carnivals in this area that don't have more than 4-5 bands in the parade and very few spectators and supporters. Statements were being made such as they (1) won't rushed down the street, (2) they were treated very well by the police, and the organizers. Yes, of course this is logical, indeed they wouldn't be rushed since there were very little spectators, and very few groups/bands in the parade (only 4 groups/bands). Something had to be done to slow down the parade to extend the time of the parade and to fill in many of the blank space. Something such as this Carnival, which is suppose to be fun and a way to expose the culture, we have to find a way to fight, argue, place blame, hate and pull each other down. What was truly sad to see was there were a few new groups in the parade this year, and checking out their facial expressions in this meeting was interesting, it was truly embarrassing for them to be exposed to this kind of "in-fighting." This specticle really made this cultural event (Carnival) and the band leaders look like "jokes". I've said all of this basically for the people who are creating these problems to - DON'T BE A CRAB, stop pulling each other down and start working together. Imagine the doors that would open for us and this event, if we all start working together!

In closing I received an article from a friend that I have placed below for you to read. Read it! It's very informative and it ties in with what we are trying to do here at Arious Entertainment with the CaribbeanNDUS site. See my introduction to our new upcoming site below and find out how you can profit.

"Tough choices for tough times (USA Today) By Yolanda Young

These are tough economic times, especially for African-Americans, for whom the unemployment rate is more than 10%. Alarmingly, rather than belt-tightening, the response has been to spend more. In many poor neighborhoods, one is likely to notice satellite dishes and expensive new cars.

According to Target Market, a company that tracks black consumer spending, blacks spend a significant amount of their income on depreciable products. In 2002, the year the economy nose-dived; we spent $22.9 billion on clothes, $3.2 billion on electronics and $11.6 billion on furniture to put into homes that, in many cases, were rented.

Among our favorite purchases are cars and liquor. Blacks make up only 12% of the U.S. population, yet account for 30% of the country's Scotch consumption. Detroit, which is 80% black, is the world's No. 1 market for Cognac.

So impressed was Lincoln with the $46.7 billion that blacks spent on cars that the automaker commissioned Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, the entertainment and fashion mogul to design a limited-edition Navigator replete with six plasma screens, three DVD players and a Sony PlayStation 2.

The only area where blacks seem to be cutting back on spending is books; total purchases have gone from a high of $356 million in 2000 to $303 million in 2002.

This shortsighted behavior, motivated by a desire for instant gratification and social acceptance, comes at the expense of our future. The National Urban League's "State of Black America 2004" report found that fewer than 50% of black families owned their homes compared with more than 70% of whites.

According to published reports, the Ariel Mutual Funds/Charles Schwab 2003 Black Investor Survey found that when comparing households where blacks and whites had roughly the same household incomes, whites saved nearly 20% more each month for retirement, and 30% of African-Americans earning $100,000 year had less than $5,000 in retirement savings. While 79% of whites invest in the stock market, only 61% of African Americans do. Certainly, higher rates of unemployment, income disparity and credit discrimination are financial impediments to the economic vitality of blacks, but so are our consumer tastes.

By finding the courage to change our spending habits, we might be surprised at how far the $631 billion we now earn might take us. Yolanda Young's next book is SPADE: A Critical Look at Black America.

We all send thousands of jokes through e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages regarding life choices, people think twice about sharing. The crude, vulgar, and sometimes the obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of decency is too often suppressed in school and the workplace."

ARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY OF INFORMATION, FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CREATIVE EMPOWERMENT

SEPTEMBER 1ST 2004

WE WILL LAUNCH A NEW WEB PORTAL TO THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITIES OF THE US.

CARIBBEANNDUS.COM

Caribbeanndus will be the place on the net for Information, Entertainment, Communications Targeted to people with Caribbean Heritage or people with an interest in the Caribbean.

The main feature will be the fact that this is a nationwide site but most major markets will have its own website staffed locally and eventually an entertainment and Heritage Complex.

One exciting feature will be the "N D Caribbean" Directory. This will be as a phone book was before the internet. Let's say you live in NY and you are planning a trip to Miami, but you don't want to do the tourist thang. You might want to know where you can get Jerk Chicken in Miami, where you can hear some real reggae or Soca music and vybes. With this directory everything will be easy just Log onto caribbeanndus.com and go to caribbeannmiami and all your questions will be answered. Additionally, if you live in Washington DC and you want to support Caribbean businesses, Services, and Professional. There you go! log onto caribbeanndus.com and go to Caribbean n DC and you've got the links. We will be launching in 12 east coast Cities beginning September 1st 2004.

Washington/Baltimore Philadelphia New York

Boston Atlanta Orlando/Tampa

Jacksonville/Daytona Miami/West Palm

Caribbeanndus will be an outlet to stay in touch with what's happening in the Caribbean communities of the US. From DC to NY to Miami and all the way to LA. "Caribbean N D us" will be in the Place

We will launch in 12 east coast cities on September 1st 2004.

We will create an outlet to expose and market Caribbean Businesses, Services, Entertainment and Culture to a large audience regularly!

Major Advertising will be done regionally!!!

The INTERNET, it's the new frontier. We've just scratched the surface with how the Internet can change our lives for the best.

Our 1st year projection is $1.5 million+

Opportunities For You

CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE

or log onto www.caribbeanndus.com

If you are in New York this weekend, check out THE SEVENTH ANNUAL GUINNESS EXTRA STOUT
REGGAE CARIFEST 2004 at Coney Island. We'll be there, so if you see us say "what's up"! Scroll down to the events to get more details.

Have a wonderful weekend!

For anyone in our community or those who are out of town, who wishes to submit a commentary about an event you attended, or just want to tell us about an interesting experience, please feel free to submit it to us at ariousentertainment@earthlink.net, we would be glad to include it in our weekly commentary.

Let Arious Entertainment's "Arious Creative Concepts" assist you with your marketing needs. Let us promote your next event or business via our e-mail advertising to over 35,000 people

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