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Say What?: DEA seeks to hire Ebonics Linguists

07 October, 2010

The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking to hire Ebonics translators as private contractors to help with undercover drug investigations.

The Center for Applied Linguistics defines Ebonics as, “a dialect used by many African Americans in certain settings and circumstances that contrasts with other dialects in terms of its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.”

The DEA is looking for nine translators who are fluent in Ebonics to help interpret and transcribe wiretapped conversations of suspects under investigation and eventually be able to testify in court regarding the cases. (more…)

1 Comment | Written by Nailah Ellis Timberlake

The Risk and Reward of International Adoption

01 October, 2010

Nestled in the northernmost corner of the Upper East Side of Manhattan is a string of high-rises housing many well-to-do families from diverse backgrounds. Walking down 2^nd Avenue, you will find all manner of convenience store, grooming spa, and specialty restaurant demarcated by the 96^th Street “border” that separates the public housing projects of East Harlem from this curious yet self-contained region. One could argue that there is a lot of good coming out of the Upper East Side, in spite of its exclusive outer shell, at times. Amid the boutique clothing shops and high-end groceries, you will also come across another seemingly endemic occurrence between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues, the upper 70s through the upper 90s: the charity thrift store. There are thrift shops (more…)

2 Comments | Written by SelomeBrathwaite

Male Advocacy: Two Sides of a Valuable Coin

26 September, 2010

When most people think of empowerment, certain images and phrases certainly come to mind: Women’s movement, Equality, Grassroots Activism, and Underserved Population are just a few. The concept of empowerment and its intricate relationship to women’s struggles did not develop in a vacuum. In the United States, the 19^th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, not even 100 years ago. Owning property, being able to carry one’s own name (more…)

No Comments | Written by SelomeBrathwaite