Improvements

So, my photojournalism class was assigned to create a Photoshop document of a magazine cover including a picture of myself and a celebrity. 

I decided to choose Chris Brown since he's been in the media negatively and I also chose VIBE magazine, my dream career! And this was the final product! 

New Semester! New Things to Learn...!

So, to begin my FIRST day of my second semester as a SENIOR, I head to Clark Atlanta University to attend my Photojournalism class. To begin our class session, my professor walks the classroom through PhotoShop and shows the class how to place our photo on other photos. So, that's exactly what I did! (ABOVE)

Also, I found out yesterday, in order to be qualified a senior at Clark Atlanta University, one must have 88+ credit hours. I have 88 credit hours EXACTLY!! I am a SENIOR!!!

Blog Talk Radio

Blog Talk Radio (12/2/2008)

Join us live on the air for an hour of dialogue with America’s promising African-American collegiate from the media center of Clark Atlanta University. The students will explore issues plaguing our society: Lack of mental health care with a focus on the rise in Black male Suicide, Healthcare issues exacerbated by Economic Crisis, Student Loans & Credit Card Issues, Unemployment and Homelessness, Increased crime in the Black Community, Black Family and Black Culture Positively, and the Ongoing Racial Ugliness. Glean from an array of fresh, academically inclined, youthful, urban perspectives.

By D’Chell Crayton

Barack and Michelle Obama’s impact on black families have highly increased the want of single, black individuals to find their one true love and live their happily ever after similar to Barack and Michelle Obama.

Barack and Michelle’s affection:

1. The “dap” – when Barack went up to give his speech in St. Paul, Minnesota, Michelle “dapped” or fist pounded him while also looking into his eyes.
2. Barack kissing Michelle on her nose- The Evening Standard, newspaper from London called it the “Perfect Public Kiss,” on the day Barack was elected president. The article reads, “He is gently brushing her nose with his lips. As she leans in, their brows, nose and chin fit perfectly. Both hands support the small of her back.”
[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23583469- details/The+perfect+public+kiss/article.do]

Barack and Michelle’s togetherness:
1. They exhibit the American family: they are both in the household together with two children. There are no other women claiming Barack has children by them or that he’s cheated on Michelle; no evidence showing Barack is not a “family man.” Barack and Michelle attend parent/teacher conferences with the girls, have family time; were eating dinner at a restaurant in Pueblo, Colorado the day before Election Day, written on the Guardian.co.uk

Barack supports Michelle, Michelle supports Barack:
1. When Michelle was at the podium delivering some of her speeches, Barack was somewhere watching his wife and listening very carefully.
2. On 60 minutes, many wrote how when Michelle spoke, Barack looked directly into her eyes and listened, agreed. (60 minutes on CBS)

Obama’s history-making election win shows how important it is for black people to choose the right partner, someone who is an equal in important ways.
They have a better relationship than the past presidents and first lady’s relationships. The Obamas complete each other, they are soul-mates. Their ways of affection, support and love make them the complete envied, black, “American” family anybody could ever want.

HEAR STUDENTS OF CLARK ATLANTA'S NEWS EDITING I CLASS ON BLOG TALK RADIO:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Urban-View/2008/12/02/Clark-Atlanta-University-Citizen-Jornalist-join-The-Urban-View

1st 0p-Ed

D’Chell Crayton
RESEARCH
MMA 301


By D’Chell Crayton
Americans wonder how they will be safe from the financial crisis they are facing today. Many believe they will have to pay higher taxes; others are worried about employment and benefits and many are concerned about home foreclosures.

Taxpayers may have to pay more taxes because of the plan. Since majority of Americans fall under the poverty line, middle and low income, they are the ones paying more taxes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, African-Americans have the highest rates of unemployment with 11 percent, reaching double digits for the first time in three years. Since this financial bailout was confirmed and signed, many low and middle income African-Americans face hardships including more taxes to pay for the bailout, less jobs, more home foreclosures and no healthcare. Upper class citizens will not have to worry about their taxes rising unless they are under Sen. Obama’s platform, but lower income citizens are the most concerned due to Sen. McCain’s platform not giving them a break at all.

Of course, jobs should be made available to those who have lost jobs considering they are receiving unemployment checks months after job dismissals. As far as healthcare, if many Americans, specifically middle and lower class Americans lose jobs that provided dental and medical benefits, they will no longer receive those benefits due to loss of employment.

President Bush spoke at a presidential summit in Camp David, MD this past Saturday of ways to fix the financial system. “We will work to strengthen and modernize our nations’ financial systems so we can help ensure that this crisis doesn’t happen again,” Bush said. It’s not about if the crisis will happen again, it’s about how we are going to recover it. Bush can implement ideas and plans for now, but our next elected president can figure out how to keep his country out of any future crises. But lately, I feel the Congress and Bush and his administration have concentrated on the wrong things occurring and not taking care of their people.

After reading the Time article about Van Jones and his commitment to a green economy, this could also be a change for African-Americans. As an African-American activist for American minorities, Jones has led a Green for All movement with plans of convincing the working class and minorities that “building a green economy is the opportunity of a lifetime.” A green economy would leave the economy in less turmoil. This can be achieved through energy efficient cars, recycling, taking shorter showers to save water and even using a water filter to purify tap water are all ways to conserve energy. If all citizens worked together to accomplish the green movement, there is a chance the economy could be saved environmentally.
By saving the economy through the environment, citizens are helping reduce worries and issues that the government will have to solve and include for recovery in the ‘bailout rescues’ like they are doing now.

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WALL STREET

D’Chell Crayton
WALL STREET
MMA 301




By D’Chell Crayton
Give $700 billion to bailout Wall Street or unfreeze credit markets’ lending so people can continue to acquire loans and other positives to restore the United States’ economy?

This is just a semi gist of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s bailout plan which could result in more economic turmoil.

After the bailout bill was passed this past Friday with a vote of 263-171, President George Bush said it will take awhile to see results. Since the bill has already been passed and Bush took no time in signing it, what will be the results and impact of the bill? Bush claims results will “take time to show up in the U.S. economy.”

After reading two other proposed bills, I, personally feel that there are plenty other options that could be added to better Paulson’s bill. Although the first proposed bill was declined, it was modified and now accepted, but I feel it could still be a little modified again.

Congressman Peter DeFazio proposed a bill that I see could have positive outcomes. He suggested that the FDIC implement a “Net Worth Certificate Program,” which would require bank examiners to determine the prospects of banks’ survival whereas Paulson’s plan DeFazio also submitted a “No BAILOUTS plan,” with the acronym BAILOUTS meaning “Bringing Accounting, Increased Liquidity, Oversight and Upholding Taxpayer Security.”

Also, while scanning across the “stock-injection plan” it seemed like a good idea as well. This plan would inject capital into ailing firms, allowing the government and taxpayers’ ownership share in firms equal to amount of their investment; this also means they become stockholders and owners of banks.

In agreement with Sen. Barack Obama, taxpayers should receive share gains when the economy recovers since it’s their (our) money in the first place. Taxpayers may have to pay more taxes because of the plan. Of course, jobs should be made available to those who have lost jobs considering they are receiving unemployment checks months after job dismissals. As far as healthcare, if many Americans, specifically middle and lower class Americans lose jobs that provided dental and medical benefits, they will no longer receive those benefits due to loss of employment.

Since 55% of Americans say the government should be responsible for the bailout plan, the help and opinions of others could possibly bring about new ideas for a better, modified plan.

The economy could possibly turn in the right direction if the bill would have been modified with different circumstances. Lending would be restored; more jobs and healthcare would be available. In contrast to Paulson’s plan which would not help housing due to credit availability and jobs would not be available.

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Tornado Hits Atlanta

The City of Atlanta experienced a tornado that knocked out power in certain areas of Downtown Atlanta.

Friday, March 14, 2008, heavy thunderstorms prompted a tornado that hit and collapsed the roof of the Georgia Dome. Numerous people inside were injured where Mississippi State and the University of Alabama played in the Southeastern Conference Tournament basketball game.

The tornado also damaged homes, buildings and left students of Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College and Morehouse College without power for two days.

The following counties were under severe tornado watch as well as a flash flood warning: Clayton, Carroll, Dekalb, Fulton, Macon and Fayette. More bad weather is expected.
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Delta Charges For Second Bag

By D’Chell Crayton

ATLANTA- Due to is fuel costs, Delta Air Lines plans to begin charging customers an extra $25 – or $50 a round trip – for checking a second bag.

The new charge will go in effect May 1, following moves by other carriers to add similar fees for transporting a second piece of luggage, which previously has been included in the ticket.

Delta spokesman Kent Landers said “The change is due to rising fuel costs and … the changing competitive environment we face today.” Delta estimated that its fuel will generate about $100 million in cost savings per year, according to the Associated Press.

Landers declined to say how much money Delta expects to generate from the new fee.

Last week, Delta announced it plans to cut about 2,000 jobs and to ground dozens of jets to reduce its domestic flying 10 percent.

Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson said, “ We’re anticipating that our fuel costs will increase by somewhere between $1 [billion] to $2 billion year-over-year, so we’re going to take steps to rapidly work to cover those costs.”

FULL REPORT: Check out Delta’s story