Should you follow McDonald’s if you’re a vegetarian?

Check out my latest blog post on my digital storytelling blog, BOUNCE, to find out how a potato farmer named Frank Martinez convinced a vegetarian to support McDonald’s.

Self-defense is a human right

Know Your History, Know Your Future

English: Lynching of Laura Nelson, Okemah, Oklahoma. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This image, although graphic, aptly illustrates the unjust, brutal and hostile environment American Blacks lived in up until the middle of the 20th century.  Mass public lynchings of people of color may no longer exist as a method of punishment in the U.S., however, the intent behind the act serves as a stark reminder for the rationale for bearing arms for self-defense.

Lynching of Laura and L.D. Nelson

As the controversial debate will no doubt rage on for years to come regarding the policy implications of gun control and the right to bear arms, I think it’s important to add another context to the discussion.  My husband and I stumbled across the documentary “No Guns for Negroes” today and I wanted to share it because it provides insight about the history of the discriminatory federal and state gun control policies that’s long been apart of America’s history.

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If you have an hour or so to spare, you may also want to watch Bill Duke’s made-for-cable movie about the history of the Deacons for Defense.  Formed in the 1960′s as a self-defense segment of the Black Power movement, Deacons for Defense were law abiding citizens who advocated for the right to defend their property, family and lives with arms (when necessary).

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Related Articles

MLK’s Arsenal and the Racists Roots of Gun Control in the U.S.

Let’s Bounce!

Greetings and Happy New Year!

I’m excited to announce the launch of Bounce, the official blog for my burgeoning content marketing consulting firm, Bahafis Creative.  Inspired by the Pinterest boards I’ve been curating for the company over the last few weeks, Bounce is a space where you can discover ideas, novel approaches, and tools regarding the growing field of content marketing.

So, what is content marketing?  Some new fandangled phrase for marketing and PR.

Kinda sorta.  In a nut shell, it’s all the stuff used to tell a brand’s story.  For example, when you land on a company’s website, Facebook fan page, Twitter feed, video, or blog, the goal is to encourage visitors to stay for a spell by giving them a reason to learn more about the organization’s brand, people, values, mission, products, and services.  The content marketing tactics used vary widely, however, those with the most bang for your buck fall into the following categories (at least for now):

• blogs
• stories (i.e., article, infographic, slideshows, etc.)
• videos (i.e., mini-documentaries, webisodes)
• eNewsletters
• social media (i.e, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)
• events (in-person and virtual)

If done well, visitors will be so enticed by the compelling, witty, and versatile sights and sounds of the company’s many stories, they’ll eventually show their appreciation by engaging in some sort of way (i.e., a Facebook like or comment; a Twitter follow or RT; a blog repost or comment, eNewsletter subscription, eBook download, product/service purchase, etc.).

For an interesting take on how content marketing has been and continues to be used to ignite one legendary hip-hop group’s brand and keep fans tuned-in, bounce to my post Wu-Tang Clan Personifies Content Marketing.

Thanks for reading and I wish you a peaceful, positive, and productive new year and beyond.  Now let’s bounce!

Nurture Your Inner DJ with mixlr

 

Create animated videos with GoAnimate

As a budding small business owner and technophile, I’m constantly in search of digital tools that allows me to build and grow a successful virtual business.  I stumbled upon GoAnimate a few months ago and I highly recommend it for any aspiring content creator looking to promote an array of entertaining, animated videos for your business or school project.

I decided to test it out by producing “Engage” to promote my budding new strategic communications firm, Bahafis Creative.  Designed using a call-in show format, “Engage” is hosted by Babs (my virtual self) and will offer brief tutorials about the plethora of tools content strategist, creators and curators can use to produce engaging online experiences.  Let me know what you think and check out GoAnimate!