Posts

Showing posts from 2014

DL Hughley Talks About Fairness and Accountability for All

Comedian Arnez J's Appearance on Tha1 Radio & Viewed on TAAN TV

Conversation with Tyrone Darden Former Candidate for District 2 City Council

Officer Darren Wilson Said He Would not Have Done Anything Different

Image
By Laura Thompson Believe it or not...everybody is not against us, in this country.  Everybody does not agree with the police brutality that has become second nature to some police officers and police forces across the county. I watched an interview featuring Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer (cop) that shot the unarmed Michael Brown, after he was not indicted for brutally killing this young man.  He admitted killing the young man.  Showed no remorse.  Told a totally different story from numerous eyewitnesses that watched the incident from various angles.  Everyone with the exception of Officer Darren Wilson, stated that Michael Brown was shot with both hands in the air.  Everyone with exception of Officer Darren Wilson, saw Michael Brown running away from the scene after being shot once.  Everyone with the exception of Officer Darren Wilson saw Michael Brown being pursued by the officer and yet the officer was not indicted.  And like Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown was

What the Ferguson Decision Means to Me as an African American

Image
By Laura Thompson I was not surprised by the verdict of not guilty afforded to Zimmerman regarding the Trayvon Martin murder and I am not surprised by the judges decision regarding the Mike Brown murder at the hands of a Ferguson, Missouri police officer.  And you shouldn't be either. What I am surprised about is how divided and disconnected we are as African Americans and why we continue to react the same way to these brutal attacks on our young men.  I don't understand why we are not learning from the brutality of our fallen sons and why we are not coming together and standing together long enough to change this situation. When I was a young girl reading about slavery, I would often ask my parents and my teachers, why we were in slavery for so long, when we out numbered the slave owners.  I ascertained that it was because they had all the ammunition and they kept us divided.  They made all the rules and they enforced the rules through brutality. For generations, th

Thoughts About Bill Cosby

Image
BY LAURA THOMPSON Bill Cosby is a household name worldwide.  I grew up listening to his commentary and jokes on albums; watched "Fat Albert" and ran to the TV when the Jello Pudding commercials would air.  I never had the privilege of seeing him in person, but I found him to be a person that was able to relate to his audience very well.  Those are the things that appeared on the surface.  Without accusing him of anything, his best foot forward was always presented to the world, because that's the persona he was selling. I've had the opportunity to work with many celebrity personalities behind the scenes and some of their behavior was quite surprising.  Once I came to grips that they are human and are prone to mistakes and missteps just like anyone else, I began to look at celebrities, as just people and not idols to be worshiped. Because we do not know Bill Cosby personally, off stage or behind the scenes, it's hard to grasp what he might be capable of doi

NICO LAHOOD FOR BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Image

Allan Warrick II Talks to TAAN TV Host Sietra Harvey About His Vision for District 2

UnPublished Michael Brown and Police Brutality Cases

Judge Mathis Speaks Out About Police Brutality

Conflicting Versions of Michael Brown Shooting

Abuse of Power is Harmful to Our Sons

Image
Students from Howard University take a stand against police brutality

San Antonio Based Church...Big Givers When it Comes to Education

Can We Agree On Something?

Image
BY LAURA THOMPSON This is not a good time to be divided.  There is so much opportunity brewing, so many changes taking place, so much need...we are in transitional times, which means that we can transform our communities, set new standards and make the future brighter.  We can even make it better right now.  If we could just agree on something. We have great assets in our communities.  We have talent.  We have people that can do so many great things...if only we could agree to do something together...just one thing, to improve our communities.  If we could just do one thing together, where we don't have 20 know it all's at the table who's only purpose for being there is because of our own agenda.  Can we agree on something? We all talk about the needs of our community, but are we just talking about our needs or are we looking around, seeing needs and tackling the problems as a collective? I think we fail to see the opportunity to really change our circumstances, as

Pastor Keely Petty Spearheading Many Community Initiatives in San Antonio

TAAN TV Introduces New Host

Sietra Harvey joins the ranks of TAAN TV host, Tyrone Darden.  She will be covering politics, entertainment and will produce her own shows...stay tuned.  TAAN TV has a local feel...and global reach!

Save Money by Finding Solutions on YouTube

Image
by Laura Thompson I don't necessarily believe everything that I read on the internet, simply because everything is not true.  But lately I have been relying on information that I search for on YouTube.  For instance, all of a sudden my cursor would not move anymore on my laptop.   For five days, my computer wouldn't function because I couldn't use the cursor. I did the normal stuff, like rebooting the computer; turning it off overnight in hopes that it would miraculously fix itself, but to no avail.  Because I have been writing a lot of proposals lately, I need my laptop because most of the information that I'm gathering is saved on it.  So I googled, "how to get my cursor to work on my laptop".  I found a few answers, but no solutions.  After becoming more frustrated, I decided to do a search on YouTube.  I don't remember where I found it, but I found a youtube video, where this disabled man was rambling on and on about his cursor not working on h

I Like Photography and Have a Pretty Good Eye For It

Image
by Laura Thompson I have really become interested in photography.  I believe I have an eye for candid shots and environmental shots.  I am amazed at quality of the photos that we can take with our phones and iPads.  I am also amazed that different people taking photos with a camera, phone or iPad, and taking pictures of the same object or person at the same event; how the photos can come out so drastically different.  I've been toying around with photography for a few years now and I am amazed at the quality of some of my photos. I believe I must have an eye for it because I have no training and have never really owned a high quality camera.  On December 4, 2014, my photography will be featured in an exhibit.   I have taken over 6,000 photos of children reading at our Read and Lead outings.  One hundred twenty five of the best photos will be featured and the exhibit will run for six weeks at the Carver Community Cultural Center.  The name of the exhibit is called Inner City

San Antonio Agent Melinda Jackson Recognized for Outstanding Volunteerism

Image
The Allstate Foundation Grants $1000 to Sistas in Business Inc. Allstate agency owner Melinda Jackson received an Agency Hands in the Community Award for her commitment to helping others. With this award came a $1000 grant from The Allstate Foundation for Sistas in Business Inc., where Jackson volunteers. Allstate agents and employees have a proud history of putting their good hands to work in supporting Texas communities, promoting volunteerism and providing financial resources to enable local organizations to help others. The Allstate Foundation awards more than $1 million every year to nonprofit organizations across the country in honor of dedicated Allstate agency owners who give back. To be eligible for nomination, Allstate agency owners must volunteer with, mentor or lead a nonprofit of their choice. About The Allstate Foundation Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The A

Changing the Game...Changes Everybody

Image
by Laura Thompson I like change.  But I sometimes do not like the process of change.  It takes a lot of courage to change they way we do things and to change what we do.  Changing how we do things and who we do things with imposes change on others and throws them off a little. We are called to change by our purposes in life.  And it doesn't come easy.  Often we resist change because we're afraid to go through the process. Many times, I've had ideas that I thought were just fantastic and thought everyone would embrace them...that they would be on board and they would be so happy about it just like me...only to find that in order for all these things to happen, they would have to change too...and so I often...we often...have to face our new ideas and changes alone...at least at the beginning. Ask many of the great men and women...who we think are different from us or have some magical formula that we don't have...ask them how change...and ideas...and stepping

Michelle Obama on the Colbert Report...talks about hiring Veterans

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes , The Colbert Report on Facebook , Video Archive

Tommy Calvert Ready for January 2015...He's Ready to Get to Work!

TAAN TV had an opportunity to speak with Tommy Calvert about the upcoming election in November 2014...He's ready to hit the ground running.  He has been serving all of his life for such a time like this.  November will be here before we know it.

Build Your Brand by Being You

Image

Watch Out for Bikers

Image
by Laura Thompson I was on my way to the office yesterday...driving down Main Street towards Houston St. and I saw someone on a bike that looked familiar to me.  I passed her up, but was stopped by a red light.  Before the light turned green, I just happened to look through my rear view mirror and saw her zooming past me.  I thought to myself, "I just passed her a quarter of a mile back...she's flying on that bike".  Then before the light turned green, she zipped through the red light and as she ran the red light...the light suddenly turned green.  I just barely saw her, as the light turned green and I began to take off. I then started noticing signs that said that bikers can ride in full lanes.   This is downtown San Antonio and unless you're paying close attention you might not see the biker right away, much less the signs.  I am writing this blog, not because I am against bikers, but just to warn people who may not be used to bikers riding n mainstream traffi

Capture the Moment...Spurs Headed to National Championship

Image

Tha1 Radio Station...Taking It Up a Notch!

No Name Calling

Image
by Laura Thompson I had an interesting day today. Attended a couple of meetings.  Learned more about a friend.  And one of my favorite things to do, I watched some young kindergarten students just being kids during their lunch break, while waiting to talk to an old friend. Educating our kids is a very important aspect to our life. Those who are teaching and leading our kids have to be extra careful how they deal with our kids.  While waiting to speak with my friend, a teacher had allowed her class to walk ahead of her at a local school in San Antonio.  They were young kids, kindergartners to be exact. They were walking back to class from lunch.  As the kids were walking, some of them begin to play, as young kids will do and so the line was not as straight as the teacher would have liked and they weren't as quiet as she would have preferred...just Kids. As she walked fast to catch up with the kids, she called them "Monkeys"...I was so appalled that I had to go up an

Dreams & Visions: Where Do They Lead You?

Image
By Laura Thompson We dream about what we want to be and sometimes spend all our lives trying to get to this visionary place that we have no idea how we'll arrive there and what it will be like once we arrive.  Yet, we get up every morning working towards reaching that dream. Although we toss and turn, if we have the will and perseverance, we tend to get closer to that "some" place. As I have journeyed towards my vision and dreams, I often wonder where I've been going and why I've been doing so many things for so long and how it relates to my initial dream. I watch people now doing the things that I've done long ago and sometimes feel within myself that they just might be wasting their time, but then I realize that everyone is on a journey, everyone has dreams and in time they, just like me, will someday realize what life is all about and what life isn't about. I've learned that we all have different points of views and perspectives and that no

Natural Beauties of Texas

Image
Two Texas Natural Beauties were showcased on our The African American Network (TAAN) Facebook along with 20 other Texas Beauties and they received the most likes.  Jasmin McNeil on your left is seen ripping the runway and Gloria Ray in her younger years (and still a natural beauty)  Congratulations from TAAN TV

Out With the Old...Make Room for the New

Image
By Laura Thompson Today was an interesting day for me.  I felt like I was in a place where I didn't belong.  I believe I'm being elevated to the next level and have grown tired of the same old mundane BS.  I am ready for the newness and fresh challenges that I feel coming. Yet I feel that I am surrounded by people that are on another path...a path that I've travelled and left way behind. I am going to step into my next level and leave all of the old behind.  I have been pruning and reinventing myself.  I no longer have time to labor to make things work.  I've been sowing seeds for years and without looking back, I will began to reap the harvest that I worked for and have been waiting for. I've built a life that I've outgrown and now I am ready for the new life that I have been preparing myself for. I'm ready for the next level, whatever that may be.  I am no longer satisfied with this place that I've outgrown.  New opportunities and new people wi

It's Mothers Day!

Image
by Laura Thompson It's Mothers Day...a time to celebrate our mothers all across the country.  There is a uniqueness in all mothers that brings out how special mothers are to their children and to the world.  Mothers can brighten our darkest hours, moments and seconds.  There is something about a mother that creates a sense of safety and protection. When we hungry...we think of our mothers standing over a hot stove, going through the drive thru at our favorite fast food restaurant, sitting at the dinner table waiting for the food to be served.  No matter how old we are...our mothers are the one's we think of in our times of need and celebration.  When we accomplish major goals...it is our mothers' name that we lift up and thank. Mothers have endured a lot...more is expected of mothers than you can imagine.  The weight of the world is carried by mothers.  Can you imagine a world without the goodness, kindness, greatness and tolerance of our mothers? The one who sta

Obama's Speech in 2004

My Take On Donald Sterling and Racism

Image
Laura Thompson SA By Laura Thompson After much thought about the Donald Sterling incident, I am deeply saddened by the world that we have crafted and the cycle of discrimination that we have allowed to go on century after century.  We act like children towards each other.  Publicly we teach our kids to play fair, share with others, be respectful towards each other, don't fight, don't call each other names, apologize, forgive...and the list goes on. But behind closed doors, we practice open discrimination and racism and our kids watch us do it.  And where our children initially come into the world untainted by our closed minded practices, the longer they live with us, the more indoctrinated they become.  Their beliefs and their feelings do not match.  And yet we wonder why they are self destructing out in a world that's ready to aim and fire...for God knows what reasons. We've really made this world so off balance with our made up stories and labeling perfectl

Magic Johnson Speaks Out About Donald Sterling

What Oprah Winfrey Says About Donald Sterling

What Friends Have to Say About Laura Thompson at Book Launch at Bayseas 20

Eliot Lee Emphasizes that Education is the Key to Loving Our Sons

As TAAN Host Tyrone Darden reaches out to the community in San Antonio and abroad gathering insight on ways that we can improve relationships with our sons and society, this weeks guest emphasizes that education is the key to the success for our young men.

TAAN PRODUCER FROM TEXAS

Image

TAAN Shares a Moment with John Martin to Kick Off Our Love My Sons Campaign

Black boys in America have been labeled for too long as lazy, gangsters, thugs, troublemakers, deadbeats, and not interested in caring for their children and families.  What's ironic about that scenario is that they are very talented, gentle, hardworking, sensitive, loving, and caring, but what troubles me the most; they have to live their lives in fear.  I'm very troubled that our school system, criminal justice system and more importantly, our own community are failing and have failed to look at our young men differently and see the potential that we throw out with the trash every day. I have a son who I love very much and standing around idle and allowing things to happen to young men all around me just doesn't cut it for me. There is however a gentleman named John Martin who is taking action and talking to communities about how they can help Save Our Sons and TAAN has his back.  This interview is just the beginning of many conversations that we will share wit

TAAN Host Tyrone Darden Speaks Briefly to Virgin Island Fashion Design Darrell Bess

Saturday night, TAAN had the distinct pleasure of witnessing some of San Antonio's most gifted and talented young people rip the runway at the Little Carver Cultural Center and our host Tyrone Darden caught up with Darrell Bess, an up and coming Fashion Designer from the Virgin Islands.  Darrell, now in his 20's, has been designer since he was seven years old.  His unique design flare captures the essence of fashion...all his clothing line includes hand painting...this guy is going places.

Photo of the Day

Image

Toni Harris at PSA gathering

Image

Norma Hollis Thompson & Donna Speeks Armstrong

Image

Founder of Public Speakers Association and Founder of SIB

Image

Les Brown and Norma Hollis

Image

Selfie with Les Brown

Image

TAAN Producer and Les Brown

Image

TAAN Producer and Norma Thompson Hollis

Image

TAAN Hosts Interviews Celebrities at the Love and Happiness Concert

TAAN Producer Voted...Go Vote Too

Image

Me and Mo'Nique

Image

Mo'Nique and Monica

Image

Ebow Mo'Nique Ash

Image

Tommy Calvert Jr. Takes Precinct 4 County Commissioner in the Runoffs...Now Headed to the General Election in November!

San Antonio's Glo Armmer Setting Up Photo Op for Her and Mo'Nique

TAAN Host Tyrone Darden Giving You a Quick Glimpse of Monica Before Her Performance

TAAN Host Tyrone Darden Talks to Comedian George Wilborne After His Performance at the Love & Happiness Show in San Antonio, TX

TAAN Producer and Mo'Nique

Image

TAAN Producer & Host with Mo'Nique

Image

Black History Fact: Martin Shot in Memphis

Image

Black History Photo of the Day

Image
Mandela in his later years Nelson Mandela

Laura Thompson, Publisher of TAAN with Shirley Franklin

Image
At The Unveiling of Reverend Claude W Black's papers

Black History Month Photo of the Day

Image

Come Get the Power @ the Power Sistas Speaking Series - Marshawn Evans, Reinvention Strategists to Speak on "Make Money Speaking"

Black History Fact: Dr. Henry T. Sampson Invented Cell Phone Technology

Image
If it wasn’t for Dr. Henry T. Sampson we wouldn’t have cell phone technology today. Isn’t it funny how the mainstream media hasn’t made him a icon based off of his invention? Cellular telephony has spawned a Multi-billion dollar industry and has freed tens of millions of people, both at home and at work, to communicate anywhere, any time. I would of thought he would on the Times and Forbes magazines next to Bill Gate and Steve Jobs for discovering one of the greatest creations of our time. Henry T. Sampson, the Black man who invented the cell phone On July 6th, 1971, Henry T. Sampson invented the “gamma-electric cell”, which pertains to Nuclear Reactor use. According to Dr. Sampson, the Gamma Electric Cell, patented July 6, 1971, Patent No. 3,591,860 produces stable high-voltage output and current to detect radiation in the ground. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 1956. He went on to the University of California, Los Ang

Who's Who San Antonio Women team

Image

2014 #SOTU State of the Union Address

Three beautful Women of Distinction

Image

Laura Thompson and Stephanie Boyd @ Women of Distinction Gathering

Image