A native St. Louisan and former reporter for several local publications, Jabari Asim’s byline can now be regularly seen in the pages of The Washington Post as deputy editor of the book review section. But it is his own book which is earning this “hometown boy made good” national attention.

Asim’s book details the history of what is perhaps the most controversial word in our language today: nigger (commonly referred to in polite company as “the N word”).

“The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t, and Why” not only looks at the 400 year etymological history of the word, but also its origins in racism and how the use of the word has evolved.

On Sunday afternoon, Asim sat down with PubDef on the corner of 14th Street and Washington Ave, in front of the Geletaria café, to talk about his new book and the word that continues to cause so much pain and controversy.

You can meet Asim tonight at the St. Louis Public Library Central Branch, 1301 Olive Street, at 7:00 p.m. He will be discussing and signing copies of his book. The event is free to the public and all are welcome.

Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.com.

There was a time not too long ago when religious leaders in America focused the energies of their flocks on social ills like poverty, education and civil rights. But in recent decades, religious conservatives have refocused those energies on the narrow fights against abortion and homosexuality.

While the country engages in wars which result in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, with only some notable exceptions, the religious community is largely silent. What happened to the Christian calling for social justice?

The name Kennedy is synonymous with a religious calling leading to social action through politics. The family and their two most famous sons have a legacy of public service that is rooted from their Catholic values and has branched into nearly every arena of public service thanks to a family tree as large as any in Yellowstone.

Earlier this week, I sat down with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and the eldest of Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy’s 11 children. We discussed her new book, “Failing America’s Faithful: How Today’s Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way”.

Click here to buy “Failing America’s Faithful: How Today’s Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way” on Amazon.com.

Blame it on Imus. The debate over the use of the so-called “N-word” is back in the national discussion. Who can say it? Should anyone say it? Why is it apparently alright for some people to say it and others not?

Jabari Asim is a native St. Louisan and deputy editor of the Washington Post Book World. He has written a very timely book called “The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t and Why”. This week he appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” to promote the book and discuss (with some delicate humor) the most controversial word in our language.

Yesterday I appeared on WGNU’s “The Real Deal with Syl and Tim” to discuss a wide range of current events. And like at so many dinner tables across America recently, somehow a discussion of the Imus controversy led to a broader discussion about language and the N-word specifically.

Asim will be in St. Louis to discuss his book on Monday, April 30, at the St. Louis Public Library Central Branch, 1301 Olive Street, at 7:00 p. m.

Keep up with “the real deal” as told by Syl Wilson and Tim Person on their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/realdealwgnu920am

Take a ride with Umar Lee, a local white Muslim cab driver/philosopher/writer…

Umar is a frequent contributor to the Arch City Chronicle. Check out his blog at www.umarlee.blogspot.com and click here to watch Part 1 of “Cabbie Tales”.

James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, has died.

And Resurrection Lutheran Church, on the corner of West Florissant and Fair Avenues in north St. Louis, was destroyed by fire last night. Click here to see Channel 2’s report.

STILL BLUNTED – Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, father of Gov. Matt Blunt, fended off opposition to his House leadership post today. By a vote of 137-57, Papa Blunt beat out Arizonan John Shadegg to be minority whip when the new Congress convenes in January.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO… Director Frank Popper and State Senator-elect Jeff Smith have to be worried silly with excitement about the recent announcement of the Academy’s short list. I mean, will this actually be Martin Scorsese’s year?

Oh, and their “Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?” documentary might get nominated too. But really, did you see “The Departed”? Awesome.

THE TROOPS TURN THEIR BACKS ON AMERICA -- Where has the patriotism that followed September 11, 2001 gone? We can remember when Americans dared not question the leadership of our country’s elected officials! But leave it to some battle-scarred war veterans to go and disrespect our local political warrior.

At last weekend’s scantly-attended Veteran’s Day parade, eight veterans literally turned their backs on Mayor Francis Slay when he rose to speak. They told a Post-Dispatch reporter they were angry about the departure of the Soldiers Memorial’s longtime superintendent, Ralph Wiechert.

According to the Post, Wiechert, who was in the audience, said he had had “no support” from City Hall for repairs at the Memorial.

Well, I guess next they’ll be asking Congress not to cut their health benefits! Don’t they realize we’re at war? It’s about sacrifice, people.

Let’s start Friday off right — with some tunes.

Yesterday we took our camera over to the East Side, near Brooklyn, Illinois. No, it’s not what you’re thinking. It was for a project. No, not that kind of project… Look, can we just get back to the story?

Anyway, not far past all the strip clubs and prostitutes, in a town called Lovejoy (oh boy), is a school appropriately named Lovejoy School. Six decades ago, a boy named Hamiet Bluiett attended that school. That boy grew up to become one of the most respected saxophonists on the planet. Yesterday, he returned to Lovejoy and he brought along three of his friends. Together, they call themselves the World Saxophone Quartet.

The World Saxophone Quartet — comprised of founding members Bluiett and Oliver Lake, and master saxophonists James Carter and St. Louis native Greg Osby — are currently celebrating their 30th Anniversary. They will be performing tonight and Saturday at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., across from the Fox Theatre.

All of these producers were given the same prop (a shopping bag), the same character (Leo or Linda Garren, a bank manager), the same line of dialogue (”Is that all I am to you?”), and just 48 hours to make a short movie. Here are some of the results:

“IN THE BAG”
Produced by: Andrea Dixon
Genre: Disaster
Winner of “Best Use of Prop”

“I HATE ZOMBIES”
Written and Directed by: Matt Stuertz
Genre: Horror

“FROM THE HIP”
Directed by: Phil Voissem
Genre: Western

“SPACE BETWEEN US”
Co-Produced and Directed by: Ezra Hubbard and Jonathan Eberle
Genre: Family Film

“ROVER”
Directed by: Jeff Chamberlin
Produced by: Joshua Hawkins
Genre: Road movie

And as a special treat, here are some outtakes from another film also called “In the Bag.” This one was produced by a group called Section Six.

Oh, wait! Here’s a late entry… and it’s animated!

“ROMANTIC INTEREST”
Directed by: Joe Millitzer
Written and Voiced by: Peter Wilberding
Art by: Katie Johanness
Genre: Film Noir

UPDATE: Here’s “IN THE BAG” by Section Six Productions:

There’s something for every kind of political watcher this weekend — except maybe basketball-hating conservatives.

For those pissed off that in the year 2006, Detroit is still producing vehicles that give less than 15 miles per gallon, the man who used to be the next President of the United States has a movie for you. “An Inconvenient Truth,” starring former Vice President Al Gore, will open Friday at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema. Frontenac is one of the “select cities” to get this highly anticipated documentary this week. It opens everywhere else next weekend.

For those pissed off that in the year 2006, Detroit got its ass handed to hit by Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat and therefore have no desire to watch the NBA Finals (which start tonight), state senate candidate Jeff “I love this game” Smith has an event for you. The professor and basketball coach will be heading to the northside Saturday to host his first annual 3-on-3 b-ball tournament in Fairgrounds Park.

On Sunday, Smith and his opponents (for the senate, not on the court), Amber Boykins, Yaphett El-Amin, Derio Gambaro, and Kenny Jones, have been invited to the Organization for Black Struggle’s candidate forum at 4:00, at the Rowan Community Center, 1401 Rowan Ave.

And speaking of struggle, radio host Lizz “Living Life as a Liberal and Loving It” Brown and former Ald. Irene J. Smith will be conducting their Urban Institute class on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at 1020 N. Taylor. They will be discussing the Team Four Plan and how they believe charter schools are a part of that “poisonous plan.”

For those that don’t know about the Team Four Plan, read Part 1 of our 2002 report, “Quiet Conspiracy: The Team Four Plan and the Plot to Kill North St. Louis.”

UPDATE: MoveOn.org is hosting a conference call with Al Gore on Sunday. To participate, call one of the following numbers just before 6:00 p.m. and enter the appropriate passcode:

Line 1
Toll free: 1-888-891-0496
Passcode: 8626127

Line 2
Toll free: 1-888-891-0496
Passcode: 4765019

Line 3
Toll free: 1-888-891-0496
Passcode: 5417431

Deb Peterson and Steve Patterson are reporting that a documentary about Jeff Smith’s unsuccessful 2004 campaign for Congress has been selected as one of the docs at a Washington D.C. film festival.

Smith narrowly lost to then-State Rep. Russ Carnahan in 2004. He is currently one of five candidates running for an open state senate seat.

“Can Mr. Smith get to Washington Anymore?” is directed by Frank Popper and will be seen at the Silverdocs Festival in Washington D.C. June 13-18.