3-1-12 Links Roundup
- Tupac Shakur Musical, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me,’ Set To Begin Casting (Huffington Post)
While Leon previously revealed to The Huffington Post that he has held small workshops with Shakur’s mother, Afeni, he also mentioned during an interview with PBS that he has always wanted to direct a production inspired by the rapper’s illustrious discography.
“The idea was always to make a musical inspired by his music and not to do an autobiographical approach to his life or anything like that,” he said. “And because I always thought that Tupac was a prophet and I thought if everybody could hear his words and hear his stories, they would see what I see. So we are going to probably do a big workshop in New York this summer and I’m going to try to bring it to Broadway in the next Broadway season.”
- Navajo Sues Urban Outfitters Over Product Names (ABC News/Associated Press)
The lawsuit filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Mexico alleges trademark violations and violations of the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which makes it illegal to sell arts or crafts in a way to falsely suggest they’re made by American Indians when they’re not.
The tribe has about 10 registered trademarks on the Navajo name that cover clothing, footwear, online retail sales, household products and textiles. Tribal justice officials said they’re intent on protecting what they believe are among the tribe’s most valuable assets.
“The fame or reputation of the Navajo name and marks is such that, when defendant uses the ‘Navajo’ and ‘Navaho’ marks with its goods and services, a connection with the Navajo Nation is falsely presumed,” the lawsuit states.
Urban Outfitters set off a firestorm of criticism last year with its line of Navajo-branded clothing and accessories — particularly underwear and a liquor flask, which the tribe said was “derogatory and scandalous,” considering the sale and consumption of alcohol is banned on the reservation that spans parts of northeast Arizona, southeast Utah and northwest New Mexico. The company removed the product names from its website after acknowledging receipt of the cease and desist letter.
- ColorOfChange Black History Month Series: Remembering Troy Davis (Jack and Jill Politics)
The racial disparity in the application of the death penalty is staggering. In 96% of states where studies on race and the death penalty have been conducted, there was a pattern of discrimination based on the race of the victim, the defendant, or both. When race factors so heavily in whether or not someone will be sentenced to death, we know we are dealing with a biased, unjust system. People of color face inequality and discrimination at every step of the criminal justice system. African Americans and Latinos make up an overwhelming majority of those who are stopped and frisked in New York City and elsewhere around the country. We also know that White prisoners are four times as likely as people of color to be granted Presidential pardons. Troy Davis’ death is a recent, heartbreaking reminder of the tragic consequences of a racist system.
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