The Religion Beat

After taking this class and specially reading the religion section, I have no doubts religion and ethnicity permeate most of the topics media and journalism cover.They are almost everywhere all the time because they are key aspects of people's identities and personalities.

However, media and news organization continue neglecting this fields. As we read on Religion in or Out of the News, AP, which is a huge news organization, had only one journalist capable to accurately handle the religion news. This makes no sense.

Media seem to pay more attention to beats most journalists and editors are more familiar with like sports, business or even crime. But when it comes to religion, media choose shortcuts. Help Wanted on the Religion Beat compares the differences between the staffing of regular beats and religion beats. In some news organizations, there is not even a religion department or reporter.

The religion beat is usually covered by reporters who are not acquainted with the subjects. An example of this was mention in Help the Religion Beat.... Diane Connolly was named religion beat editor for The Dallas Morning News without having any expertise. In the readings, they mention poor coverage is due to the fact that news gatekeepers don't give religion sufficient importance.

I think this happens because journalists don't receive enough training on the subject while in school. Why? Probably because religion is a rough area to walk through. Religion - and ethnicity - involve conviction, morality, and faith. All of them guide individuals' lives and permeate every aspect of life, like I said in the introduction. So everybody is somehow biased, including journalists and journalism professors.

It is probably harder to be objective and act independently when interacting with different, or even same, convictions, moralities and faiths. It also requires a sincere and open understanding of the "others", which is still society's pending class.

First Appreciation Day

 Platinum Boyz Barbershop is organizing a client’s appreciation day on June 9^th. The shop is going to offer free haircuts for kids and $ 5.00 for adults. They will open the doors with special ornament and play family-friendly music on that Saturday. They want the place look radiant and attractive for the occasion. 

Surprisingly, the idea of having an appreciation day did not come from the owner or manager. Sean Davis, a barber who has been working in the shop for a year and a half, is the motor engine of the initiative. “This is something we can do in return to the community,” Sean Davis said. 

Sean Davis believes being a barber is not only about making a living and charging money for labor. He is convinced barbershops play an important role in black communities. Barbershops have a unifying and ratifying role. They are the places where black males can freely enact their identities without the fear of being judged or misunderstood. “This is where everything happens,” said Sean Davis. 

Men of all ages gather in the shop to receive services, listen to music, make jokes, have political discussions, or simply watch some TV. The appreciation day will be another reason to stick around the barbershop at the time many families that have multiple children will benefit from the event. It will definitely strengthen the link between the Morningside community and Platinum Boyz Barbershop, the staff believes. 

Word-of-mouth is the main advertising for the event although a sign will be displayed as the day approaches. Throughout the entire month of May, barbers will inform every client about the event. “There is a good chance most of our clients receive the information because most of them come for a service once or twice a month,” Hanes Wousess, who is the manager, said. “Hopefully, other people are going to hear from our clients.”

They are expecting to be fully packed and serve as many clients as possible, especially kids. The staff thinks they might beat a number around 100 clients. There will be no shifts on that day. All barbers are on duty on June 9^th. “The boys are excited because this is the first time Platinum Boyz does this since it opened in 2009,” Sean Davis said. 

Platinum Boyz Barbershop hosted the Thanksgiving Day last year. They offered a free turkey to every client or family. The barbers assure that event was a success; but, what they are preparing for June has a totally different dimension. Giving turkeys in Thanksgiving is a tradition and is somehow predictable. “For the appreciation day, there is no other reason than giving back to the community,” said Sean Davis. 

The appreciation day will also bring more clientele as it calls the attention of more people in the community, Hanes Wousess expects. They want to do it every Summer as school is over. It is a win-win situation. The clients save money and the shop gets more recognition in the community. 

“I feel part of the community even though I’m not Haitian,” said Sean Davis.

Tell Me What Is Funny About This

This is a real situation that actually happened. Everybody knows that racism exists and is still in people's minds. But, a high state official of an industrialized country manifesting this way is more than sad. Public officials are supposed to promote civilization and advance their nations -far from this.

This was in a celebration at the Museum of Modern Art in Sweden. I can understand a piece that represents an African person. But, why putting a real person, who is not even black, as the head and play with it? That's not art. That's making racist jokes. Highly elaborated cakes can be art but it is very grotesque when it represents a human to be eaten alive. This is just twisted.

After being cut, it looks like if it was actually bleeding. Take a look at the brightness of the red used on the inside stuff. It is evidently meant to represent a living black person. In the picture on the upper right section, the face has no expression at all. The actor is playing death. The crowd gathered around seems to think this is very funny.

It is difficult for me to determine if the cake represents a man or a woman. The big chest could be a breast. The face and the genitalia seem to be those of a male however.


Follow the link below to see the comments and reactions on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334979179898370&set=a.334979173231704.76495.332350303494591&type=1&theater

"Cutting Hair Keeps Me Afloat"

Cutting hair has kept Sean Davis, a 33 year-old barber, afloat in different circumstances and places throughout his life.

The Californian born, who now lives in Miami, started to cut neighbors' and friends’ hair for five dollars at the age of 14. “I was still in school but loved cutting hair,” Sean Davis said.

Sean Davis grew in East Oakland, California. As a teenager, Sean was selling drugs and cutting hair, while struggling with school. He got into a lot of trouble. East Oakland was a hostile area - plagued with gangs, crack and poverty. "There were not many jobs,” said Sean Davis. 

Sean Davis’ mother wanted a change for him before it was too late; so, she got a job in Virginia. Sean moved to Virginia with his mother and grandmother while his two siblings stayed with his father in Oakland. Sean quickly found a job in a barber shop in the Virginia Beach area.

It was easy for Sean to build clientele in a short period of time. The shop was by the corner of a high school in a nice neighborhood and people were way friendlier than in Oakland. “There was not much pressure to be tough in Virginia,” Sean Davis said.

Star Style, where Sean worked in Virginia, was a flourishing business. They offered a regular cut for $5 and a fade plus face for $ 10. The shop was always packed and Sean got used to make an average of $ 200 per day. He quickly started to lose interest for school, spending more time working. “It was like being back in Oakland selling drugs again; but, it was legal so you couldn’t go to jail,” Sean Davis said.

Back then in Oakland, he used to sell marijuana bags for five dollars. Now he was cutting hair for five dollars on a 60 % commission plus tips. It was the same energy but more fun. He made a lot of friends and saw a father figure in some of his older friends. "Once you cut it good, they respect you as a person,” said Sean Davis.

Davis finally dropped out of high school in 11^th grade. His mother did not like that decision so he promised her he would get a GED. “I went to a night school for five months until I got my diploma.”

Sean had his first daughter at the age of 17 and came back to California as he turned 18. “I missed California and my friends,” Sean Davis said

 From that point on, Sean worked in barbershops in Las Vegas, Arizona, North West DC, and New York. At the age of 22, Sean met a girl from Trinidad and had his first son. But, his continuous trouble making forced him to leave the town again so he came back to Virginia. He was arrested for trafficking and served two years in prison after having two daughters.

Sean cut inmates’ hairs on daily basis; he did between 10 and 15 cuts a day. He used to put Magic Shave on the hairline and shave the edges with a playing card. "You got to be creative to cut hair in prison because you don’t have all the tools," Sean Davis said.

The demand was high and Sean made money on it. He had learned how to cut in layers using a scissor and a comb while he worked in a Mexican barbershop in Tempe, Arizona. His only experience in a non-black barbershop had given him the skills to be highly appreciated in prison. Officers gave them the clippers twice a week before visitation but no attachment combs. Everybody wanted to look good and Sean was the only one who knew how to do layers with the clipper and a regular comb. "I never had a fight in prison,” said Sean Davis.

Once out of prison at the age of 27, Davis came back to California. He felt he was going down the same vicious circle. Sean knew he may either go back to the penitentiary or end up dead. Nothing had changed. "My friends were doing the same shit,” he said.

Sean’s sister had been in Miami for six years already. For several months, she insisted he could restart his life since nobody knew him in Miami. “She offered me a kit of tools and a plane ticket and I accepted.”

Sean has been in Miami for the last 18 months. He first tried a barbershop at Biscayne and 62^nd street but it was to slow. He quit after two weeks and has been working in Platinum Boyz Barbershop ever since. “It was a fresh start, a new me,” Sean Davis said.

Sean lives by himself . He talks to his children everyday and support them financially. His two daughters from Virginia are staying with him for the entire Summer. "I’m very excited.”

Ethnic Media Growth Is Just Impressive

Ethnic media play an important role in democracy. They have the ability to provide a more insightful view when it comes to ethnic news.

The section on ethnic media is full of examples of the unifying, directing and watching dog role of ethnic media for ethnic groups; but, its rapid growth really caught my attention. As the immigrant population increases, so does ethnic media. That makes total sense.

The news industry, especially newspapers, has been steadily shrinking for the last several years. According to the state of the media 2011 by the Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ), 1,000 to 1,500 more newsroom jobs will have been lost—meaning newspaper newsrooms are 30% smaller than in 2000. However, the readings on ethnic media reveal ethnic media growth is skyrocketing as it reaches impressive numbers in New York or expands to states that are not traditionally familiar with minority media.

Journalists are appealing to creative and diverse forms of journalism to survive in a changing, uncertain industry. The fact that ethnic media are growing as media in general is contracting makes me think that ethnic media could be or is the way for many journalists to build a career.

Ethnic media are not only increasing in quantity but also in variety. They are extending to multiple platforms as later generations start to consume their products. Some of them provide news in their languages of origin and English. Also, they are serving populations that were not even in the media landscape in recent years such as African groups.

Ethnic media also have a unique model right now. While mainstream media are predominantly owned by private corporations, ethnic media are still owned by independents or are family businesses. This might be a factor why ethnic media is still effective fulfilling a community role and feeding democracy in contrast with mainstream media. In 2010, mainstream media were effective generating more debate but highly ineffective expanding it, according to the state of the media annual report by PEJ.

Platinum Boyz, the Story

Platinum Boyz, a black barbershop located in a multi ethnic section of Biscayne Boulevard, prospers due to the warm environment they create and the professionalism of its barbers. Fancy furniture stores and restaurants, motels, community centers, and fast-food restaurants surround the barbershop in a collage of tones and flavors. But inside the barber shop, a different world takes place.

On the front left chair, the client was facing to the ceiling as Hanes Wousess, who everyone calls Kat and is also the manager, was meticulously doing the edges of his beard. Even though this requires surgical precision, Kat managed to handle the blade and rap in unison with the speakers, smiling in between verses.

Other three barbers were working at the front right chair and the contiguous chairs toward the back, doing a goatee and two cuts respectively. Two young men were patiently waiting on the comfy, black chairs next to the entrance. Everyone seemed to participate of a celebration while exchanging singings and looks through the mirrors hanged along the side walls of the rectangular room. The smell of after-shave lotion sealed the deal.

The idea of being pleased while getting a hair cut is the core principle of Platinum Boyz. That is why it was named after the barbershop a cappella vocal quartet Platinum, which has won several international quartet championships. Barbershop vocal music began in the late 1930s with a cappella quartets that used to sign simple songs to delight the clientele according to the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Platinum opened its doors in 2009. Ever since, the shop gives service mainly to the black community split at both sides of the busy artery, in an area known as Morningside. However, some clients derive from the various business places neighboring the barbershop.

Sean Davis, 33, who has been a barber in California, Virginia, New York, Las Vegas and Miami for the last 19 years, believes Platinum Boyz stands out in comparison to other black barber shops in the area because of its prices and quality of service. A regular cut costs $ 10.00 for kids and $ 15.00 for adults. Designs that include words, symbols and arts fluctuate around $ 80.00.

“We don’t have the advertising they have; but, we have lower prices and better performance," Sean Said.    "Clients come often times from those places and we have to fix what they did. Many of them become our regulars."

However, other barbershops such as T.O. Cutz Barber Shop, owned by NFL star Terrell Owens, and Chop Shop Barber Shop are way more popular than Platinum in the area. They spend robust amounts of money in celebrity advertising; therefore, many clients gravitate towards them, making serious competition to Platinum Boyz.

The shop’s website and word-of-mouth are the primary forms of advertising for Platinum boyz. Still, they find the way to appeal to the general public and celebrities alike. Rapper Rick Ross, singer Travie McCoy and Miami Heat Dexter Pittman are some of the celebrities Platinum barbers have worked with.  

Last Class on February 23, the Mystery of Bubble/Bobby

In my first visit to the barber shop, one of the barbers didn't identify with his actual name. He said his name was "Bubble". Or, at least that's what I understood. Two weeks ago, professor Reisner asked me how this guy spelled his name or nickname. I didn't know because I didn't ask him. Last class, we watched the movie "Barber Shop".

One character named "Eddie" mentioned a word that seems to be related to what that barber told me. "Eddie" mentioned "Bobby" as the paradigm of a respectable barber. Maybe, Bubble really meant Bobby - a detail I perhaps missed due to my language limitation, his accent, and more probably because of the stress I was under in that first visit.

Anyway, I was determined to ask Bubble not only the spelling but also the meaning of it. I went to my third visit on Friday 24; but, several barbers including Bubble were not working that day. Platinum Boyz was kind of slow because of the All Stars game in Orlando. So, I couldn't see him.

I did some online research and found "Bobby's World" is a very respectable barbershop recognized by giving service to Hip Hop celebrities. This shop is run by a superstar barber known as "Bobby". I clearly remember Bubble told me, or I understood, "My name is Bubble because I live in a Bubble world." Now, I don't know if Bubble referred to the famous barber shop "Bobby's World" or to the paradigm mention by "Eddie' in the movie. Or, maybe "Bobby's World" comes from what it's mentioned in the movie. I'm going to have to wait until Bubble explains all of this to me in my next visit.

I'm amazed how the simple fact that I entered the world of black barber shops took me through this path of cultural codes that seem intriguingly mysterious for me. I don't want to draw conclusions in advance; but, if Bubble, Bobby, and Bobby's World are connected through meaning and use, that would be a remarkable example of the integrating function of slangs in a cultural/ethnic context. But, that's to be confirmed.