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MJ, McNair remind us we're all gone too soon

by Paul Mondesire
"...And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife, And you may ask yourself, well...How did I get here?"

-Once in a Lifetime by David Byrne & Brian Eno

At some point in your life, you'll have a flash of clarity that forces you to reassess all of your assumptions.

Two very public events over the past few weeks showed, once again, that our choices have direct impact on the lives we lead. The deaths of Michael Jackson and former football star Steve McNair each, in its own way, touched me deeply.

The true meaning of independence and patriotism

by Paul Mondesire
The words "all men are created equal" took on added meaning on this July 4, because the election of President Barack Obama showed the world that this nation can live up to the ideals it espouses.

The true meaning of patriotism for me is a love of country that did not necessarily embrace me and my people, and an understanding of the sacrifices made by so many, so that we could have the opportunities that living here afford us. These thoughts led me to focus on this week's Remaking America not on some patriotic organization doing good deeds, but on the actions of an (extra)ordinary person.

Harlem's Apollo Theater is still a legacy

by Paul Mondesire
Life can be amazing…especially when you are walking across 125th Street towards the world famous Apollo Theater in the village of Harlem on one of the few bright sunshiny days that New York saw this spring. Such was the case on June 8th when I was invited to the Apollo’s 75th anniversary gala. The job of remaking America is a tough one, but your intrepid reporter is always willing to make sacrifices for the cause.

Magic Johnson Foundation is remaking America by battling AIDS

by Paul Mondesire
(Read more about our Stop Black AIDS campaign.)

Remaking America – Where do we stand?

by Paul Mondesire
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…”

Most of us used to say these words every morning during elementary school, but frankly they didn’t mean much to me.  I am a Black Puerto Rican from da’ Bronx and the Stars and Stripes did not represent much glory.  Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth  which means that it’s a colony.  Folks there are U.S. citizens that can fight and die for this country, but can’t vote for President. 

Younger generations break stereotypes

by Paul Mondesire
"I believe the children are our future
, Teach them well and let them lead the way, 
Show them all the beauty they possess inside, 
Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier, 
Let the children’s laughter, 
Remind us how we used to be…"

ProPublica offers new media-style journalism

by Paul Mondesire
The world is changing fast. That is not news, but the way we find out about the world we live in is being transformed in a revolutionary fashion, and that is news. We used to get our information from newspapers, then radio, followed by television. 

The fact that you are checking out Remaking America online means that your own reading habits have changed. Googling is now a verb and you have an almost infinite variety of choices. “Traditional” media outlets are in a death match for our eyes with all types of entertainment, social networking sites and news aggregators, as well as a multitude of blogs. 

Grand gestures about race aren't enough

by Paul Mondesire
Eradicate Ignorance by every means necessary. I thought about these six words when I awoke last Thursday morning to the news that four men were arrested for plotting to blow up car bombs outside two synagogues in Riverdale (which is in da’ Bronx), and also intended to shoot down a military plane with a Stinger missile. You see, I live a block and a half from one of the synagogues and about a quarter mile from the other. This story hit a little too close to home for me to ignore.    

NCRC helps blacks in foreclosure

by Paul Mondesire
Whether it is a house with a white picket fence or a nice two-bedroom apartment in the perfect neighborhood, home ownership is a core value woven into the fabric of the American Dream. Unfortunately, it has morphed into a nightmare for far too many citizens of this country. And among them, a staggering number of people of color are facing the cold reality that everything they have worked so hard for, for all of their lives, is in jeopardy.

Making a way into the entertainment business

by Paul Mondesire
Transforming a lump of coal into a diamond is a great stunt that Superman made famous. We all know how the pressures of life can work to make us harder and stronger than we were before ... as long as we truly learn from our experiences. Celebrity lifestyles and the associated bling, high fashion, fancy cars and eye candy on the arm are intoxicating images for anyone, but especially so for impressionable teens growing up in the communities of color in Los Angeles.